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Storm Strengthens into Major Category 3 Hurricane; Mandatory Evacuations in Florida Ahead of Powerful Storm Ian; NASA's DART Mission Successfully Slams into Asteroid; Video of Roger Stone May be Featured in Next January 6 Hearing; Dow Falls into Bear Market; Japan Holds State Funeral for Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Amid Protests. Aired 4:4:30a ET

Aired September 27, 2022 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:00:00]

PAULA NEWTON CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Paula Newton live in Atlanta. Just ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This could very well be that next hundred-year storm.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to hunker down and hopefully we don't get hit to bad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The sheer order to evacuate. You must comply.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the dinosaurs had NASA, they would've deflected that asteroid that took them out 65 million years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We only have one home. So, we ought to take care of it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, the mood here on Wall Street is gloomy and it is getting gloomier.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Investors seemingly worried about more interest rate hikes from the Fed. Which do not really spare anyone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: It is Tuesday September 27th 4 a.m. here on the U.S. East Coast were hurricane Ian now a major category three storm. And it's making landfall in Cuba at this hour before then taking aim at Florida.

Right now, the storms eyewall is nearing the coast of western Cuba You see it there. Tens of thousands have already been evacuated fearing a life-threatening storm surge and flooding. The hurricane is then expected to move over the Gulf of Mexico and intensify even more in the next 24 hours. Now the U.S. government has preemptively declared a public health

emergency for Florida. Officials there say that the storm's projected path is raising fears of a near worst-case scenario for the entire Tampa area. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RON DESANTIS (R) FLORIDA GOVERNOR: Don't think that because eye may not be in your area that you're not going to see impacts. You're going to see significant impacts.

BARRY BURTON, PINELLAS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: This kind of storm can flip a house. It can tear a roof off of your neighbor's house.

KEN WELCH (D) ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA MAYOR: This could be the storm that we've hoped would never come to our shores.

JAMIE RHOME, ACTING DIRECTOR NOAA'S NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: The one thing I hear most common after these disasters is if I had only known it would be this bad. And so, I think that that's my message to them. It is where trying to communicate to you that it can be that bad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: OK and many in Florida are heeding those warnings with long lines for water, fuel, sandbags and other supplies, schools and parks are closing. And Tampa's international airport is set to suspend operations entirely Tuesday evening. Now hospitals meantime are transferring patients and putting up these large barriers to protect them from the potential storm surge.

Now the National Weather Center already has a storm surge watch in effect for a large swath of Florida. Tampa's mayor says the city is bracing for the brunt of the storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANE CASTOR, TAMPA, FLORIDA MAYOR: The reality is, is that this water in most areas is going to be too high for our first responders to go out. And then once the winds that passed 45 miles an hour, you know, nobody is going out there. So, people need to heed the warning. They need to get out now. Especially from where the storm, the waters, the surge is going to affect them. Because we're not going to have the ability to come out and get them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: And then there are these images from the Grand Cayman Islands and they showed the impact of that storm surge with sea water flooding areas right along that coastline.

CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri is tracking this storm for us. So, tell us what is the latest modeling showing and how will it actually track in terms of its impact on Florida?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know the model certainly show an eerie perspective here when it comes to what the forecast is moving forward, Paula. Of course, you notice this major hurricane initially making its first push here towards landfall in the coming hours. So, across portions of western Cuba 115 miles per hour, the storm surge there up to 14 feet. And that's kind of the early indication of what this storm has to offer.

And you'll notice the guidance of the model kind of tightening up quite a bit here. Pushing it closer to land and unfortunately closest to be Tampa Bay area there as early as Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

[04:05:00]

Now over the past couple of days we've had some variability and we know typically 48 hours prior to landfall there's about a 50-mile average error for the spread of where this system could end up. Now you notice the initial indication here is that this will strengthen beyond where it is right now from a category three up to a category four possibly maintain that intensity over the span of 24 hours into early Wednesday morning.

Now the track right there is really what's most concerning because a lot of people think that you have to make landfall for the system to make its most impactful imprint across portions of western Florida. But at this point even a close push with the storm of this magnitude and major hurricanes will have significant impact.

And you've got to look at the coastal region of Florida. Because we know this system is forecast to slow down, once it does the incredible amount of rainfall and, Paula, look at the latest model coming in for rainfall amounts. White indications on these color contour is the top of the charts around the Tampa Bay area. Possibly both models now possibly showing a 20 inch spread there of rainfall over the next several across this region of Florida. Incredible impacts just associated with that.

And of course, there's a storm surge threat with an incoming system of this magnitude. Especially when you look at the lay of the land of western Florida, the bays, the waterways, the inlets and how water can pile up into these waterways. That's a big concern moving forward as well so we're following all of this with the system as it approaches this region of western Florida.

NEWTON: Yes, so ominous on their end. Before I let you go could you tell us exactly why that storm surge may be so dangerous.

JAVAHERI: This area of Florida very much the most susceptible area of anywhere in the United States when it comes to storm surge threat. In fact, when you have a category three, category four especially in an area where you have what is known as the continental shelf here about 200 or so, 150 to 200 mile spread of shelf there that extends away from Western Florida. The depth of this particular shelf about 300 feet in depth there. So certainly, a shallow and expansive shelf that allows the water to really efficiently pileup. And when you have a storm that's essentially sitting over this continental shelf for a span of two, three days moving gradually. And you'll notice these waterways -- Tampa Bay in particular -- the counterclockwise flow around this system will usher more water into this region. And a storm surge threat in some of these areas could push up to nine, maybe ten feet come Thursday morning.

And you've got to look at the numbers here. Because when it comes to the storm surge about half of all lives lost to a tropical system, they're not because of those wind speeds, they are because of these storm surges. And even if the system remains off shore the highest wind speeds remain offshore, the water with the system being so close to land could still usher in the most destruction across this region.

NEWTON: Yes, so worried, Pedram, and we hope the people of Florida are listening and they evacuated if they need to. Pedram Javaheri for us, thanks for that update.

And now here's a look at the hurricane from space, right. The International Space Station caught the eye of the storm. You see it there. Authorities in Florida are warning as you've been saying it could be the storm of a lifetime when it arrives.

Now hurricane Ian has also forced NASA to start moving the Artemis 1 moon rocket back to its hanger at Kennedy Space Center just to be safe. The very slow 4 1/2 mile trek began last night to move or delay the third launch attempt for the unmanned rocket for at least a few weeks. Possibly now until November.

But as one national mission is delayed by weather another it crushed it -- crushed it. In the first of its kind mission an unmanned NASA spacecraft has slammed into an asteroid all in the name of defending our planet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten, nine, --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my goodness. Eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my gosh.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, wow!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm getting visual confirmation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right! We got it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we have impact. (INAUDIBLE) in the name of planetary defense.

KRISTIN FISHER, CNN SPACE AND DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT Well, there were big tours at the John Hopkins applied physics laboratory where I am right now. The place that it is responsible for building and operating the DART spacecraft. When it is successfully hit its target, the Dimorphos asteroid on Monday night. This spacecraft had been traveling in space at about 14,000 miles per hour, four miles per second for ten months. And in the vastness of outer space, this spacecraft was able to successfully hit an asteroid that's about the size of the pyramid of Giza. And this spacecraft not that big. About the size of a vending machine. So, really just an incredible feat that NASA was able to accomplish just that.

[04:10:00]

But the big question of course is was NASA able to successfully push that asteroid Dimorphos just a little bit off its current trajectory? And the reason that's so important is because this asteroid poses no threat to planet Earth whatsoever. But the reason this is important is, if there ever were a potential killer asteroid in the future bound to wipe out all of life on planet Earth this type of technology, this type of maneuver could potentially save all of us, all life on the planet.

And so, this was NASA's first ever planetary defense test mission. We know half of it was successful now we have to wait a few days perhaps even weeks before we'll know if it was successfully able to bump this asteroid off course.

Kristin Fisher CNN in Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: So, we're getting an exclusive look at Roger Stone's whereabouts and involvement surrounding the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Now the longtime Republican operative, an ally of former President Trump was followed around by a Danish documentary film crew for about three years and they have shared eight minutes of footage with the House Select Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection. In one of several clips obtained by CNN hear what Stone says about refusing to accept the results of the 2020 election months before the vote even took place.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER STONE, TRUMP ALLY: What they're assuming is that the election will be normal. The election will not be normal. Oh, these are the California results. Sorry, were not accepting them. We're challenging it in court. If the after show up At the Electoral College armed guards will throw them out. I'm the president, f**k you.

You're not stealing Florida, you're not stealing that. I'm challenging all of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: OK now, CNN's Don Lemon interviewed the filmmakers who shot that documentary. They said Roger Stone appeared to hide detailed information from them about the Stop the Steal Rally on January 6th and the planning around it. Now the filmmakers say that they did pick up on other clues that lead them to believe Stone was part of a conspiracy to overturn the election. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CHRISTOFFER GULDBRANDSEN, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER, A STORM FORETOLD: This clip is actually from the day before President Trump commutes Roger Stone sentence. And this planning what this also shows is I think the first small movements towards what became Stop the Steal in 2020, that that we are -- we are here seeing, actually seeing Roger in the middle of a conspiracy, basically. I mean, that is what it is, a conspiracy to overturn the election. And Roger was right in the middle. And here we actually see documented how it kind of began this spring.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, is it -- I mean, he's exactly saying that that's what they're going to do in that clip. He actually says it.

GULDBRANDSEN: Exactly. And as we discussed just before, he's saying what they're going to do and that's exactly what happened more or less. And -- but it's so outrageous when you hear it that you were prone to just discard it as bravado or exaggerations. But if -- when you look back in hindsight you can see that was actually more or less unfolded.

FREDERIK MARBELL, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY, A STORM FORETOLD: But yes, in hindsight everything was communicated pretty bluntly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Now a statement provided by Stone's attorney reads: I challenge the accuracy and the authenticity of these video and believe that they have been manipulated and selectively edited. I also point out that the filmmakers do not have the legal right to use them. How ironic that Kim Kardashian and I are both subjected to computer manipulated videos on the same day. The excerpts you provided below prove nothing certainly they do not prove that I had anything to do with the events of January 6th. That being said, it clearly shows I advocated for a lawful congressional and judicial options.

In Atlanta meantime, prosecutors are calling on Donald Trump's former White House chief of staff to testify today before the special grand jury investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state of Georgia. Now Mark Meadows is on a phone call between the former president and a Georgia state official in January of 2021. In which Trump asked that leader to find more votes to put him ahead of Joe Biden in the election.

CNN is also learning new details about text messages Meadows had in December of 2020. Revealing his direct communication with Phil Waldron. A pro-Trump operative behind a plan to seize voting machines. The tech shed new light on the extent to which Meadows was -- kept abreast of plans for accessing those machines. We have more now from CNN's Sara Murray.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Waldron hunting for proof of baseless fraud claims told Meadows Arizona was our lead domino we were counting on to start the cascade. And complained opponents were using delay tactics, according to text messages obtained by CNN.

Pathetic, Meadows responded. Waldron and his attorneys didn't respond to our request for comment, nor did an attorney for Meadows.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[04:15:00]

NEWTON: News of those text comes as the House January 6 Committee prepares to meet on Wednesday. It's expected to be their last public hearing before the committee releases its final report. And to be sure make sure that you are front row center for CNN special coverage the committee's hearing. Including detail analysis and interviews. It all starts noon Eastern on Wednesday. That is 5 p.m. in London.

Still to come for us, we'll look at how U.S. markets might react in the hours ahead after economic uncertainty on Wall Street Monday.

Plus, Japan holds a state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Protesters didn't want the multimillion dollar ceremony to happen. We'll have the reason why.

And later, more protesters and unrest over Russia's calls for a mobilization. The rare criticism coming from a prominent Russia TV host. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: All eyes on U.S. markets this morning after a choppy trading Monday. Here's where the features are headed. They're headed up and that just hours before the New York Stock Exchange opening bell. When they were closing though as you see it was a rough day there and features looking healthy for now.

[04:20:00]

Now U.S. stocks that lower day was over fears of a strong dollar which is taking a bite out of so many economies now. The Dow dropped more than 300 points and entered a bear market for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. Think about that. Already back to the beginning of the pandemic.

Now the Dow has been reacting to bad news from across the Atlantic. The British pound hit a record low on Monday against the U.S. dollar amid growing fears about the stability of the U.K. government's finances. The Bank of England said it was monitoring the markets -- in its words -- very closely. But stopped short of delivering an emergency rate hike. In fact, they didn't even have an emergency meeting. The euro also hit its lowest value versus the dollar since 2002.

Now a new report is putting a price tag on the U.S. president's plan to cancel federal student debt. The Congressional Budget Office says that Joe Biden's effort to council up to $20,000 in student loans for low and middle income borrowers could cost us much as $400 billion. Mr. Biden announced the forgiveness plan in August and the White House is expected to released its own estimate of the plan in the coming weeks.

Meantime President Biden will host French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on December 1st. This will be the first state visit of his administration and marked the return of a tradition not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic. The White House says the events will include a state dinner and underscored the deep and enduring relationship between the two countries.

Now just hours ago Japan held the state funeral for Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. Japan's longest serving Prime Minister died in July after being shot during a campaign speech. Dozens of world leaders were on the guest list of some 4,300 people including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

Now meantime, protesters marched in the streets of Tokyo speaking out against the government's use of some $12 million in public funds to bankroll this memorial.

CNN Will Ripley has more from Taipei. But we want to go first to Tokyo where our Blake Essig has been standing by and watching all of these events. And Blake, this was supposed to be a solemn event. It definitely was inside. But outside much more contentious.

BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Paula, a little chaotic would be a good way to describe the scene outside of the arena. Shinzo Abe of course a politician who had a unique set of skills to forge close relationships with other foreign leaders -- which is really why roughly 700 foreign dignitaries are here in Japan to honor Abe's legacy.

Of course, this state funeral which is now over has been extremely controversial. We've seen that play out throughout the day as protesters both before and again this state funeral had made their presence felt.

Of course, inside Japan's famous Bunraku indoor theater, a completely different scene played out. Now throughout the service each guest had the chance to offer flowers, a video tribute with images of Abe was played. And the two most recent men to succeed Abe as Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga and current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida each delivered a speech. The constant theme throughout the event from almost everyone who did speak including the current Prime Minister, focused on Abe's accomplishments. How much he will be missed and that he had so much more life to live.

As a result of the high ranking officials on world leaders in attendance including multiple heads of states, roads have been blocked off and the police presence around Tokyo has been drastically increased to ramp up security. And just around the corner from where I'm standing, they are still long lines of people telling us that they have been waiting for hours for the chance to lay flowers. An area set aside for mourners to pay their respect and pay a final goodbye to Japan's longest serving Prime Minister.

And at the same time a constant stream of protesters had been marching, chanting and getting into altercations with the police. Here where I am near the state funeral, again, Paula, I mean at least, you know, the good news about that things are starting to calm down at this point now that the state funeral has wrapped -- Paula.

NEWTON: Yes, the split screen was quite jarring. You had the protesters and inside, as I said, the reverence and those flowers being presented as everyone took their turn to bow to Shinzo Abe's widow.

Will, to you now and we really will lean on you here, you know, you lived in Japan and cover Japan for us for a time. And now you are in Taiwan. And when you look at the relationship of Taiwan and China and Japan and then this funeral. There is so much more that meets the eye.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you're right and you can really kind of look at just what different countries did in terms of their delegation to give you a clue as to where the relations stand. For example, China they sent a former technology minister to officially represent after sending their vice premier to the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth just last week.

[04:25:00]

Here in Taiwan, they sent two former legislative speakers, they sent their de facto ambassador. And they are doing everything that they can to show that they appreciate the work that Shinzo Abe did to really deepen the friendship between the self-governing democracy which is not officially diplomatically recognized by Japan because Beijing has made sure that most countries around the world only recognize one China and Taiwan no longer is representing China by their view. They believe that they are their own entity but they won't go so far as declare independence because Beijing is made that clear that's a red line.

But what Taiwan has done is they've made these friendships with like- minded democracies. Japan the closest literally 100 miles from its outlying islands. But also, the United States as well. Who did send their Vice President Kamala Harris.

And so, when you see the fact that Taiwan's name is going to be you know right out in the flower ceremony, the offering of flowers and they said Taiwan. They used the name that Taiwan calls itself. They didn't use the official title Republic of China. That is pretty significant. Because it hasn't always been that way for Taiwan to be recognized by name.

Other things that are noteworthy though, the seating arrangements. Taiwan put in a section, you know, regions as opposed to countries. They're sitting next to the Palestinian's who also don't have an officially recognize state.

The Chinese that had a very, very difficult and controversial relationship, Paula, with Shinzo Abe. They were upset about a number of things that happened during his time. But the overall view is that the relations between China and Japan really, really hit a deep freeze during that time and he was never really able to thaw them out. Xi Jinping never did make a state visit to Japan as was planned. The coronavirus pandemic saw to that.

NEWTON: Yes, so many political implications just to this memorial both inside and outside Japan. Blake Essig for us in Tokyo and Will Ripley. Thank you so much, appreciate it.

Ahead of this hour, growing opposition to Russia's troop mobilization. We'll break down the fear and defiance it sparked.

And then to Pakistan where first rain wouldn't stop, now the suffering.

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