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Residents Shocked by Mother Nature's Wrath; U.S. and United Nations Watch North Korea's Erratic Action; Missile Attack in Zaporizhzhia Destroyed More Buildings; Police Under Investigation Finds New Job Fast; Mental Health a Serious Crisis in U.S. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired October 06, 2022 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States
and all around the world, you are watching CNN Newsroom. And I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead, escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula as Pyongyang fires off a new round of missiles and the U.S. sends an aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
a CNN exclusive. How a former trooper is being investigated over her response to the Uvalde school massacre landed a new job protecting some of the very same children who survived the shooting.
Plus, one thing the vast majority of Americans can agree upon, the nation is facing a mental health crisis. So, what can be done about it? We'll get the matters.
UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church.
CHURCH: Good to have you with us.
We begin with growing tensions around the Korean peninsula. Right now, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is reportedly moving into waters off the Korean peninsula after North Korea fired two more missiles Thursday. Seoul says Pyongyang conducted six missile tests in less than two weeks, the latest launch came shortly after the U.N. Security Council held a meeting on Pyongyang's weapons program. At the meeting, the U.S. indirectly accused both Russia and China of enabling North Korea.
For more on these developments we turn to Paula Hancocks who joins us live from Seoul, South Korea. Good to see you, Paula. So, what is the latest on these escalating tensions in the region?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, to start off with the U.N. Security Council hearing it was interesting because there was obviously a line drawn in the sand between the U.S. and its allies on one side and then Russia and China on the other side when it came to North Korea.
You mentioned that the U.S. Ambassador indirectly blaming Russia and China for enabling North Korea, they responded by blaming the United States, and saying that it was Washington that was actually raising tensions in the area. China saying that they are poisoning regional security environment.
Now that's very similar to what we heard from North Korea themselves earlier this Thursday through state-run media KCNA, the foreign ministry announcing that the reason that they are firing these missiles is a counter action to U.S./South Korean joint drills. We have seen these drills over last week. Last week we saw naval drills between the U.S. and South Korea also one involving Japan as well.
So, Pyongyang is saying that that is the reason why they are carrying out these missile launches. But they have been widely condemned. The Japanese prime minister calling them absolutely unacceptable. There was a national security council meeting here in South Korea today where they warn the North Korean will face a strong response and they did say that the USS Ronald Reagan was moving back into Korean waters. A U.S. navy spokesperson saying that they don't comment on a future operation.
We also heard from the U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken, he did condemn the launches as well but also said the way forward is dialogue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We believe that North Korea would be much better served by not only refraining but engaging in dialogue. I think (AUDIO GAP) what we are seeing is that if they continue down this road it will only increase the condemnation, increase the isolation, increase the steps that are taken in response to their actions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: Now secretary of state did talk about the increased of isolation, but what we saw on the United Nations Security Council is that Pyongyang does have support from both Russia and from China.
[03:04:49]
And experts say because of that, because Pyongyang knows that it will not face increase resolution, security council resolution against it, and Russia and China would not support the U.S. when it comes to more sanctions against Pyongyang, then they have the ideal testing time at this point that they have been emboldened to be able to continue these launches.
And experts I have spoken say that is that exactly what they expect to continue to happen. Rosemary?
CHURCH: All right. Paula Hancocks joining us live from Seoul, many thanks. Joe Biden set aside his frosty relationship with Florida Governor Ron
DeSantis on Wednesday as the U.S. president and the first lady toured areas hammered by Hurricane Ian. They focus instead on the common cause Florida's recovery and the people affected by the storm.
Biden promised a continued federal presence to help the state recover, that leaves 125 deaths have been reported so far from Hurricane Ian in Florida and North Carolina.
On Wednesday, residents of Sanibel, Florida were allowed back for the very first time since evacuating their homes before the hurricane hit. The city's vice mayor told CNN every single home on the island is damaged in some ways. And while some houses were mostly intact not all were as lucky.
CNN's Randi Kaye was with residents as they stepped into what's left of their homes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: It's 7 a.m. and Julie Emig and Vicki Paskaly are on a boat for Sanibel Island. This will be the first time seeing their home up close since Hurricane Ian swept through here, and they no idea what to expect.
How do you feel about coming here today?
VICKI PASKALY, SANIBEL, FLORIDA, RESIDENT: Very apprehensive. I almost don't want to know, I'm afraid of what we are going to see.
JULIE EMIG, SANIBEL, FLORIDA, RESIDENT: This time it's not going to be the same. Our island has been changed.
KAYE: We made our way to the mainland across the Gulf of Mexico because the one road in was destroyed.
When you see where the Causeway used to be, what do you think?
PASKALY: Troubling. Troubling to know that Mother Nature is that powerful.
KAYE: With the island cut of, Julie and Vicki had to hire a private boat to take them to Sanibel. Captain Brandon Lawson was at the wheel for the hour-long journey.
UNKNOWN: It looks like there's an opening right here.
KAYE: As we edged closer to Sanibel now just a couple of miles out, the destruction left in Ian's path became clear.
EMIG: It's just gone, our beach is gone.
KAYE: Once off the boat it's around a mile on foot to their home. What they see is overwhelming?
EMIG: We live down this way, it's a beautiful street. It's been forever change. My God, their house is gone. Total devastation. Totally changed. It's just heartbreaking to see this. Unbelievable.
KAYE: They are closer to their house now but still unsure what they will find until they make the turn around the bend.
EMIG: I think I see the back of our house.
KAYE: Remarkably their house is still standing. There is all kinds of stuff that doesn't belong to them in their backyard. We found these. These are somebody else's camera negatives, certainly not theirs. And then also in the backyard, this bag of birthday cards for someone's 60th birthday, certainly not their name on it and not their collection of cards.
And look at this. This is what's left of a door from a women's restroom from a clubhouse at a resort that is blocks and blocks away from here.
PASKALY: How do you ever start with this?
KAYE: With the power out, it took about an hour to get the hurricane shutters opened manually.
EMIG: Upstairs is, we're good here. Dr.
KAYE: But on their lower-level, Hurricane Ian had left his mark. In the garage the floors were slick with mud and sludge and the smell was unbearable.
PASKALY: We were wondering how high the water got, well this tells us the story. Right here. This tells us the story. So.
EMIG: Five -- a little over five --
PASKALY: A little -- about six feet of water in here.
KAYE: And their mini cooper which they left behind when they evacuated, full of water and mold, all of this just beginning to sink in.
PASKALY: I know.
KAYE: And in their lower-level apartment the force of the water destroyed the kitchen, the island flipped on its side. And the refrigerator? Yanked out of the wall and left to rest on top of the kitchen counter.
EMIG: This was our dream home, Sanibel provided it to us for two years, it was wonderful.
KAYE: Until Ian took it away?
EMIG: Until Ian took it away.
KAYE: Randi Kaye, CNN, Sanibdel Island, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: And if you would like to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian, you can go to cnn.com/impact for more information.
A rescue operation is underway in the city of Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine after Russian missile strike destroyed several buildings, at least two women have died and at least five people are still trapped in the rubble.
[03:10:06]
One official said many people have already been rescued including a three-year-old girl. That strike comes as a rapid Ukrainian advance is underway in the neighboring Kherson region. And to the east in Luhansk social images show Ukrainian forces in at least one village and one official says several settlements have been liberated.
CNN's Frederik Pleitgen is following developments and has more now from Kyiv.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ukrainian forces on the move, Kyiv says this video shows its shoulders advancing in the east of the country under heavy fire. Since taking the strategically important town of Lyman, Ukraine's army says its forces have managed to enter the Luhansk region, one of the few areas that had been under Russian control almost completely.
Residents greeting the troops as they sweep small towns and villages. Ukraine's military says it's not only beating Russian troops back in the east, but in the south as well where Kyiv claims Russia's defensive front is collapsing in some areas.
The Ukrainian military release this video purporting to show its forces in a major firefight in the Kherson region. Thousands of settlements have already been liberated since the Russian pseudo- referendum this week alone, Ukraine's president said.
All this as Russia's president Vladimir Putin this morning moved quickly to sign off on the annexation of four Ukrainian regions even as his forces are increasingly losing ground there. Putin's spokesman brushing off concern about the Russian retreat.
Certain territories will be taken back, he said, we will continue to confer with the population there that wishes to live together with Russia. And Russia continues to unleash havoc in many regions of Ukraine.
This is the sound of kamikaze drones hitting buildings about 50 miles south of Ukraine's capital. Ukraine says several Iranian supply drones like these shown in an Iranian military video hit the town of Bila Tserkva in the early morning hours causing massive damage to several buildings and wounding at least one person.
"There was a roaring noise, a piercing sound, this man says, I heard the first strike, the second I saw and heard, there was a roar and then boom followed by an explosion.
Drone and missile strikes so far, have shown no signs of halting Ukraine's recent advances though, and Kyiv says it will continue to press forward in its quest to expel Russian troops from all of its territories.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Kyiv.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Sources tell CNN the U.S. intelligence community believes elements within Ukraine's government authorized the car bombing that killed the daughter of a prominent Russian political figure. Darya Dugina was killed in the blast on August 20th. But one source says intelligence official believe she was driving her father's car and he was the actual target.
Alexander Dugin has been a fierce proponent of Russia's war in Ukraine. Sources say the U.S. was not aware of the plan beforehand and it's unclear who exactly the U.S. believe signed off on the car bombing.
Well, more fallout to the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. CNN has learned a former state trooper who is under investigation for her actions that day has been hired as a police officer in the school district. Those details just ahead.
[03:15:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Investigators say their worst fears have been confirmed in the search for a missing family of four in California, a local sheriff says all four were found dead in a rural farm area Wednesday afternoon. The victims include an eight-month-old girl along with her parents and her uncle. Authorities did not say how they died.
Investigators say this surveillance footage shows them being taken at gunpoint from the family's tracking business on Monday. An armed man is seen leading them to a truck with their hands tied behind their backs. Police say they have a suspect in custody, he tried to take his own life and is not receiving medical attention. His motive is still unclear.
A former Texas state trooper is under investigation for her actions during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde has been hired as a police officer in the Uvalde school district, what's not clear is whether the school officials knew she was under investigation when they hired her.
CNN's Shimon Prokupecz went there to find out and has this exclusive report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: School shooting. UNKNOWN: Which building?
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER: In a community reeling from one of the worst school shootings in history.
UNKNOWN: I'm behind you. I'm behind you.
PROKUPECZ: Still begging for answers and accountability.
UNKNOWN: I got it, I got it! I got it.
[03:20:03]
PROKUPECZ: CNN has learned that one of the Texas state troopers under investigation for her actions at Robb Elementary has a new job as a newly hired school police officer at Uvalde elementary, trusted with protecting some of the same students who survived the massacre.
Parents of children who were killed at Robb were the first to notice the officer, Crimson Elizondo on campus. Recognizing her from body camera footage of the shooting. Elizondo, a four-year veteran of the Texas Department of Public Safety was one of the first law enforcement officers on a scene on May 24th. She resigned from the DPS over the summer and was hired by the Uvalde School District soon after.
I actually have some questions for you now.
CRIMSON ELIZONDO, FORMER TEXAS STATE TROOPER: I'm not answering any questions.
PROKUPECZ: On the playground outside her new post, Elizondo can be seen here in the dark blue uniform. Officer Elizondo, I'm doing a story about you and your time at DPS. I'd like to ask you some questions if possible.
Before Elizondo resigned from DPS, her actions and the actions of six other DPS officers at the scene of the shooting were preferred for further investigation. In a redacted internal memo to the organization's director, obtained by CNN, DPS cited, quote, "actions which may be inconsistent with training and department requirements as the reason for the referral."
Despite early efforts by state officials to blame the local police department in Uvalde for the failed response.
UNKNOWN: Are we going in or we're staying here. What are --
PROKUPECZ: A timeline from body camera footage shows Elizondo arrived on scene just two minutes after the shooting began. The new information now indicates she was among several DPS officers on scene who potentially could have taken action to stop the gunmen.
Footage shows her without a tactical bulletproof vest or long rifle, at a step with active shooter training. She spends most of the 77 minutes before the classroom was breached outside the school. According to sources familiar with the investigation, Elizondo told
investigators that without her gear she was not comfortable joining the others inside. Out of nearly 400 law enforcement officers who responded to the shooting, 91 were from the Texas Department of Public Safety, seven of those officers were referred for further investigation for their conduct that day.
UNKNOWN: Shut the windows out.
PROKUPECZ: Crimson Elizondo is one of them. The other six still work for DPS, while the investigation into their actions continues. It is unclear if the Uvalde School District was aware of the investigation at the time of Elizondo's hiring.
Sir?
The district has not responded to e-mails, calls or direct questions from CNN.
Sir, do you know this officer who you have recently hired, are you aware that she is under investigation for her actions on the day of the shooting? Do you think she is fit to serve here? Considering that her actions are under investigation? Mr. Miller, you don't want to respond to that?
Elizondo's hiring raises further questions about the Department of Public Safety and the lack of transparency around the investigation and the conduct of its troopers. DPS did not comment for this story.
UNKNOWN: I'm not --
(CROSSTALK)
PROKUPECZ: Well, I think this is important. Speaking to CNN in September, DPS director Steven McCraw promised he'll resign if his agency was shown to have culpability for the botched response.
STEVEN MCCRAW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY: Hey, I'll be the first to resign, OK? I'd be gladly to resign, (Inaudible) my resignation altogether, OK, if I think there is culpability on the Department of Public Safety. Period. OK? So we're going to hold officers accountable, no one gets a pass. But every officer is going to be held accountable.
UNKNOWN: Hey, Crimson.
UNKNOWN: Yes, I mean, as good as you can be.
PROKUPECZ: CNN also learning that Elizondo was recorded on video after delivering medical care to survivors, reflecting on the horrors of what she saw inside. An officer asked if her children attend Robb Elementary, Elizondo's response --
UNKNOWN: Your kids are there?
ELIZONDO: Yes. My sons in daycare, he's not -- he's not old enough. UNKNOWN: I saw you.
ELIZONDO: Yes, no. If my son had been in there -- I would not have been outside, I promise you that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Well, the pandemic, politics, the drug addiction and much more, all contributing to a mental health crisis in the United States. We'll speak with a mental health professional about the results of a surprisingly new survey on the issue.
[03:25:01]
That's just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: An overwhelming majority of Americans, 90 percent, now identify mental health as a crisis in the United States. That is according to a new CNN poll with the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Now according to the survey, the epidemic of opioid addiction was identified as the top mental health issues facing Americans, followed by children and teenagers with mental issues, anxiety and depression in adults, chronic problems with politics, and loneliness playing significant roles, and getting help is not as easy as it sounds.
[03:30:05]
Large percentages of those surveyed cite the cost of getting quality care as a major barrier and say insurance companies are not doing enough to help pay for it. And then there are those who won't seek help because they are embarrassed and don't want to be stigmatized.
The survey also notes there aren't enough trained mental health providers to serve everyone who does seek help.
Dr. Judy Ho is a clinical and forensic neuropsychologist and author of "Stop Self-Sabotage." She joins me now from Los Angeles. Great to have you with us.
JUDY HO, CLINICAL AND FORENSIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST: Thank you so much for having me, Rosemary.
CHURCH: About 90 percent of U.S. adults say this country is experiencing a mental health crisis, that is according to the CNN and Kaiser Family Foundation poll. So, what do you think is driving this? What are the main reasons we are seeing this rise in mental health concerns, particularly in the last few months?
HO: Rosemary, mental health concerns have been on the rise over these past months starting from a couple of years ago at the beginning of the pandemic. And I think it's because of a few reasons, people have been in this long-term fight or flight mode, and our mind and our bodies are really designed to have these short bursts of fight or flight for survival purposes.
But when it's in long term fighter flight it makes it so much harder to get good sleep, to make good decisions, to regulate our emotions effectively, and to have more positive social connections.
All of these things contribute to good mental health. Also, a lot of people are neglecting their self-care because their lives feel very continues between work and their home, and their social life, and it's harder to separate and compartmentalize in this new way of living like we once did before the pandemic.
I also think that there is this community wide trauma because the entire world has been dealing with COVID and all of its negative consequences in the aftermath, and people also still have different comfortability about socializing and how to connect. And friendships and family relationships have experienced some fracturing for this particular reason.
CHURCH: So, if the COVID pandemic and the consequences of that such as economic and personal finance woes, tough working conditions during tough times, are at the center of these mental health issues, what can people do about it? What are the solutions here?
HO: Well, one big part of this is to give back to the basics, and that means getting better quality sleep, eating more healthily, moving your body throughout the day, and this does not have to be an exercise routine but just, you know, doing a few stretches. You know, getting up throughout the day just taking a quick walk around the block.
The key is that these basics are crucial to your mental wellness overall. If you don't have these basics down, you're not going to be able to effectively deal with the stress when it comes up. I also think that it's important to prioritize your self-care. Self-care is essential and crucial, it's not a bonus, and what's important about self-care is that you do it every day and that it is intentional, but it does not have to be a long activity.
So sometimes your self-care activity might just be ten deep breaths that you take in the morning when you first wake up. But as long as that's intentional and you're saying this is part of my self-care routine, that's what's going to make the difference.
There's also six different types of self-care, so I always encourage people to kind of rotate towards activities from things that help with your emotional self-care, to physical, to social intellectual stimulation. Sometimes also people find out practical self-care like, just organizing your closet and washing the dishes is very helpful.
And then spiritual self-care, which, for some people might include religious activities, but for other people it's just about connecting with the world around you and understanding that you are part of a bigger picture.
And the last thing that I would advise people is to really amp up their social connections. We are social beings. Human beings need social connections even if it's just with a couple of people. But it's important that those meaningful social connections are still happening.
So, if you find the urge to isolate, because you're not doing so well, or feeling so well, then please, do reach out to one or two trusted people, even just a quick conversation can make such a big difference.
And finally, if your mental health is really suffering significantly and you've tried these tips and they're not really helping, it might be time to reach out for professional support.
CHURCH: Yes. And of course, we don't have any control over when the pandemic or the war in Ukraine might end or when markets stabilize, gas prices return to normal along with the supply chain issues. So, what else can we do on a daily basis to take back some control of our lives and at least remove some level of anxiety? I mean, would you suggest meditation and other things? You mentioned those daily changes in one's life, so what about meditation?
[03:34:58]
HO: Yes, Rosemary, great point. And there's a lot that we can't control, and I think part of the struggle is that we wish we could control it and it can create a negative cycle. So, one thing to do is just to really try to list out the things that you can control in your life, and to try to move in a positive direction for those things.
And as you mentioned meditation is a great form of mindfulness. Mindfulness just means that you are going to bring yourself back to the present moment and try to enjoy the present moment for what it is, but also, if meditation is not your speed, you can do what I call practical mindfulness.
This just means doing activities that you are going to do anyway but really focus on just that activity and not also making up to do list in your head or also calling someone at the same time.
So, for me, it's my coffee in the morning, I always have coffee every single day including on weekends and I just tried to make those five to 10 minutes completely mindful, try not to focus on anything else other than really savoring my coffee.
CHURCH: Great advice. Thank you so much, Dr. Judy Ho. I know it's certainly helping me and it's going to help a lot of our viewers to follow some of your advice there. I appreciate it. Thanks for joining us.
HO: Thanks, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Anti-regime protests in Iran have been raging for weeks now. But supporters of the government also want to be heard. The latest demonstration and calls for action in Iran and beyond.
We're back in just a moment.
[03:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: The anti-government protests tearing through Iran show no
signs of letting up. In the city of Shiraz, female demonstrators in black shouted "Basij, get lost." Basij refers to the volunteer militia that acts as the country's morality police.
They've been blamed for the recent death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, after she was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. Authorities deny any wrongdoing but her death has been a catalyst for nationwide demonstrations against the regime.
On Wednesday, a large rally in support of the government was held in the capital, Iranians state media aired images of demonstrators, many of them women chanting and waving flags.
Meanwhile, European lawmakers are getting ready to vote on resolutions on the death of Amini and the Iranian government's violent crackdown on women's rights protesters. Earlier, a member of the European Parliament delivered an impassioned speech about helping these activists, that included a bold move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABIR AL-SAHLANI, SWEDISH MEMBER, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: We, the peoples and the citizens of the E.U., demand the unconditional and immediate stop of all the violence against the women and men in Iran. Until Iran is free our fury will be bigger than the oppressors. Until the women of Iran are free, we are going to stand with you. Women, life, freedom!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: I want to bring in CNN's Nada Bashir. She joins us live from London. Good morning to you, Nada.
So, this bold act, part of the growing calls for the international community to do more to help these anti-government protesters in Iran, what is the latest on this?
NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Yes, absolutely. We have seen growing support internationally for this protest, we've been -- we're seeing demonstrations being staged in cities across the globe in solidarity with this movement.
And we've been also, of course with solidarity with the women of Iran who have been taking a defiant stand against the Iranian regime, and in particular against the morality police which has long governed and enforce these restrictions on how women are supposed to dress, how they present themselves in particular, the wearing of the hijab in Iran.
As you said there, that was sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. She died while in custody after being detained by the morality police.
Now, of course, this has spread across the globe. We've seen videos on social media of people also taking a stand cutting their hair in solidarity with the women of Iran. We've just seen a video circulating now of a high-profile woman in France, including several French actresses cutting their hair also in solidarity with the women of Iran.
And as we saw that in that impassioned speech at the European Parliament, the Swedish lawmaker Abir al-Sahlani taking a stand cutting her hair, voicing her support for the women of Iran. But also, she was also critical of the E.U.'s leadership.
She spoke to CNN shortly after that address at the European assembly, critical of the E.U.'s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, as well as the E.U.'s -- European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen for what she's described as not taken an adequate enough stand in solidarity with the protest movement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL-SAHLANI: Our high representative for foreign affairs, Mr. Josep Borrell who actually just mumbled a press release about the peaceful protesters, not even mentioning that it is the young women and girls of Iran who are paying the ultimate price for freedom, their lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASHIR: Now E.U. leaders are set to vote later today at the European Parliament on a resolution which could see further sanctions being imposed on Iranian authorities connected both with the death of Mahsa Amini, as well as violence against peaceful protesters.
[03:45:05]
We've seen that really violent crackdown on those demonstrations, as well as calling for an urgent investigation into both these instances. Rosemary?
CHURCH: All right. Many thanks to our Nada Bashir for that. I appreciate it.
Liz Truss keynote address to fellow Tories on Wednesday was supposed to be her moment to shine as the newly minted prime minister of the United Kingdom, but the tepid response suggests all is not well in the fractured party. Even so, Truss used the forum to promote an aggressive economic agenda just days after an embarrassing about-face on a key part of that plan. Here she is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIZ TRUSS, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Low growth means lower wages, fewer opportunities, and less money to spend on the things that make life better. It means our country falling behind other countries including those who threatened our way of life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Well, for more on this we are joined by CNN's Salma Abdelaziz from London. Good to see you, Salma. So, after stumbles, missteps and U-Turns, the new prime minister's speech to her party conference was not well received, was it? What is the latest on this and what happens now?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Absolutely. I mean, it was a very lackluster performance at best, and it comes as the prime minister is set to be on the world stage today, she is very much been part of the domestic politics of course with the party conference, but today she traveled to Prague for the inaugural meeting of the new political club, the European political community.
An idea that's been proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron in the wake of the war in Ukraine. An idea to try to bring closer those countries outside the E.U. with that 27-member bloc. So, Prime Minister Liz Truss traveling today, of course will be greeted by the Czech prime minister upon arrival.
She'll have this very important bilateral meetings including of course with the French president, with Emmanuel Macron. And there's real opportunity here, Rosemary, to potentially bridge the divide, to try to create and forge a new relationship in this post-Brexit world.
But as you mentioned, the prime minister will face some serious challenges. She is absolutely on shaky grounds, make no doubt about that. This last week has been an absolute debacle for this new government laying out this new mini budget, this new economic plan. Huge backlash at the Bank of England had to put out an emergency intervention. The pound plummeted then of course this U-Turn a few days ago, this very lackluster performance at the party conference.
And now the prime minister trying to display strength on the world stage in front of European leaders at a time when they will be discussing very serious issues of course, like Russian aggression, post-Brexiting -- like post-Brexit issues such as Northern Ireland and other issues.
So, a very serious time when you're looking at a prime minister who is trying to demonstrate herself on the world stage but suffering from this fallout. Rosemary?
CHURCH: Indeed. Salma Abdelaziz joining us live from London with that report. Many thanks.
And coming up, a Florida father faces multiple felonies after allegedly using his own child as a human shield against the police. More on that story straight ahead.
[03:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Now to a disturbing case in Florida where a man was charged with using his nearly two-year-old son as a human shield while trying to evade arrest.
CNN's Gary Tuchman has the details on how it all happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNKNOWN: Show me your (muted) hands, dude. Put the baby down! Put the kid down!
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The man holding this 23- old-month toddler is the child's father, Brandon Loehner who is now under arrest after allegedly kidnapping the little boy from his girlfriend, the child's mother, and using the toddler as a human shield.
A charging affidavit from the Flagler County Florida Sheriff's Office stating he had a firearm as he drove away from the home they shared, and ended up in a high-speed chase that led to this fast-food restaurant in Palm Coast, Florida, about 12 miles south of their home.
The toddler identified only as B.L. was not hurt but a warning that what you are about to see is violent and disturbing.
UNKNOWN: Put the kid down! Put the kid down!
UNKNOWN: Get on the ground now! Get on the ground now!
TUCHMAN: The deputy fires his taser. The child is rescued.
UNKNOWN: It's OK.
UNKNOWN: (Inaudible) another truck.
UNKNOWN: Stop, dude.
TUCHMAN: But Brandon Loehner is not stopping and the crying little boy calls for his father.
UNKNOWN: Daddy!
UNKNOWN: I have a tango deployment.
TUCHMAN: A crazy scene ensues with deputies and the barking K9 still attempting to apprehend the suspect.
UNKNOWN: Hands behind your back!
TUCHMAN: In the affidavit a sheriff's deputy says the suspect later told him he decided to grab his child and leave his house when a neighbor, quote, "looked at him weird which gave him weird vibes."
UNKNOWN: Stop resisting! You get tased. You're going to get tased! Put your hands behind your back.
UNKNOWN: Stop!
[03:55:06]
UNKNOWN: Put your hands behind your back!
TUCHMAN: The affidavit declares that suspect continue to despite being given, quote, "loud precise and lawful commands," and he was again tased, the handcuffs finally go on after the K9 got involved.
UNKNOWN: Put your hands behind your back!
TUCHMAN: Brandon Loehner was treated for his dog bites. He has been charged with four felonies, including kidnapping a minor.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And CNN has reached out to the Flagler County public defender's office but has not heard back.
And thank you so much for spending part of your day with me. I'm Rosemary Church. CNN Newsroom continues with Max Foster, next.
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