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Bridge Blast Delivers Major Blow To Putin's War Effort; Thousands Of Men Flee Russia To Avoid Putin's Draft; Herschel Walker's Ex-Girlfriend Claims He Urged Her To Have Second Abortion; Trump Holding Back-To-Back Rallies In Nevada, Arizona For His Endorsed Candidates; Election Deniers On The Ballot As Midterms Near; OPEC Plus Moves To Cut Oil Production, Threatening Surge In Gas Prices Ahead Of Midterms; Florida Residents Wait In Hours-Long Lines For FEMA Aid. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired October 08, 2022 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:44]

JIM ACOSTA, CNN HOST: You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Jim Acosta in Washington. And we begin this hour with a major symbol of Russia's power erupting into flames.

This is the moment an explosion blew up parts of the Kerch Strait Bridge. It's the longest bridge in Europe, connecting the Russian mainland to annexed Crimea. And it's used extensively to resupply Russian forces. Russia's government scrambled to insist the damage was under control but avoided the world. Ukraine is not claiming responsibility but they are directly mocking Russia.

The Ukrainian government's official Twitter account tweeting "Sick burn." Ukraine also announced new stamps that depict a famous scene from "Titanic" and instead of the ship the backdrop shows the broken Kerch Bridge. And then there's this. Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 70 on Friday so Ukraine sent a birthday greeting tweeting a video of the bridge explosion next to Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe famously singing "Happy Birthday" to U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

(MUSIC)

ACOSTA: CNN's Fred Pleitgen is following the latest on this from the Ukrainian capital in Kyiv.

Fred, obviously trolling is a big part of the Ukrainian arsenal as we're witnessing today. How are Russia and Ukraine reacting?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, both sides are essentially blaming each other. You've already mentioned that the Russians are saying that it was the Ukrainians who are behind all of this. A senior official in Crimea calling it Ukrainian vandals that allegedly were behind those. But also some pretty other -- some other pretty senior figures in Moscow making the same allegation.

The Ukrainians, for their part, this is in the form of an adviser to President Zelenskyy saying they believe that it might have been some sort of infighting within Russian security services that was behind all this. But just to give you an indication, Jim, of how important this Kerch Bridge is, the Crimean bridge, is to the Russians to their logistics and of course as a symbol as well, Vladimir Putin tonight signed a decree to strengthen the security of that bridge obviously in the wake of this incident.

Here's what we're learning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN (voice-over): A devastating blow to Vladimir Putin's war effort in Ukraine, both strategically and symbolically. The Kerch Bridge that links Russia's mainland with occupied Crimea on fire and heavily damaged. Moscow's investigative committee acknowledging the severity of the attack.

SVETLANA PETRENKO, RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE (through translator): According to preliminary information a truck exploded on automobile part of the Crimean Bridge from the side of the Taman Peninsula in the morning today which caused seven fuel tanks to ignite on a train heading towards the Crimea Peninsula. As a result, two lanes partially collapsed.

PLEITGEN: This CCTV video appears to show the moment of the blast. A truck is seen driving on the lane leading towards Crimea, when all of a sudden, there's a massive explosion, though it's not clear whether it is a truck that actually blew up. Russian officials saying several people were killed in the attack. Moscow already pointing the finger at Ukraine but so far no claim of responsibility from Kyiv's leadership.

"Crimea the bridge, the beginning, everything illegal must be destroyed. Everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine. Everything occupied by Russia must be expelled," an adviser to Ukraine's president tweeted.

While Russian authorities say fuel and food supplies to Crimea are ensured, videos released on social media show long lines forming at gas stations on the peninsula just hours after the blast.

The Crimean Bridge is a vital supply artery for Russian forces fighting in Ukraine but it's also a prestige project for Russian Vladimir Putin. Putin personally drove a truck across the bridge when it was opened in 2018. The attack came just a day after Putin's 70th birthday, leading Ukraine's national security adviser to tweet this video apparently mocking Russia's leader.

[16:05:08]

Ukraine's postal service was quick to issue a stamp commemorating the bridge explosion. Residents in the capital, taking selfies in front of the main post office.

SVITLANA STEPUN, POLTAVA REGION RESIDENT (through translator): We have waited for the moment the bridge burns. I think all Ukrainians waited for it and we are very satisfied it's finally happened. PLEITGEN: Moscow says it got the railway section of the bridge up and

running again quickly but the damage to the road section is more extensive creating another bottleneck for Russian forces in southern Ukraine already struggling with logistics.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: And, you know, Jim, you were saying that the Russians are very quick to announce that the bridge is at least in some ways, shape or form up and running again. We've seen some images of the road traffic that seems to be functioning there again. It really is only a trickle of what normally would be coming through. Right now it's one lane of four lanes where a few cars can pass.

Also the Russians saying that one train has gone across that bridge already. But really it's also at a much slower pace than you would normally see. And that's a bit problem for the Russians because of course we've seen that in the past week especially they've suffered some serious losses in the south of Ukraine, have retreated from a lot of positions there, and they are having huge logistical issues in the south of Ukraine as well. Of course, those are said to be exacerbated by the fact they now have this big bottleneck on their hands as well -- Jim.

ACOSTA: Yes. More damage for the Russians to deal with, with things not going in their direction obviously especially on this day.

Fred Pleitgen, thank you very much.

All of this on the backdrop of Putin's new military draft that has men abandoning their homes and in some cases their families in order to avoid fighting a war they don't support.

CNN's Ivan Watson is in Kazakhstan where thousands of Russian men arrive there every day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russians abandoning their homeland. Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to conscript men to fight in his war in Ukraine has created an exodus of Russian draft dodgers. They line up daily here in neighboring Kazakhstan to register with the local authorities. The Kazakh government says more than 200,000 Russians fled to this country in less than two weeks.

ALEXEI, RUSSIAN WHO FLED TO AVOID DRAFT: Yes, we ran away from Russia.

WATSON: Vadim and Alexei fled Moscow last week to escape the draft.

VADIM, RUSSIAN WHO FLED TO AVOID DRAFT: We don't want this war, and we not recognize the position our government.

WATSON: Many of Russia's land borders choked for weeks with long lines, as citizens run for the exits. Draft dodgers traveling by land wait days in line or pay big money for scarce plane tickets to escape. And that's just the first step.

(On-camera): Every day, more Russians arrive at this train station in Almaty with their backpacks and they all tell you the same thing, they were afraid they could be sent to fight in Ukraine, and they abandoned their country on very short notice.

(Voice-over): This married couple left together.

(On-camera): Did you come because of the mobilization for the war in Ukraine?

SERGEI, RUSSIAN WHO FLED TO AVOID DRAFT: It was a final kick to start our journey, I guess.

WATSON: Yes?

SERGEI: Yes.

WATSON: Were you afraid that you would have to go fight in the war?

SERGEI: Yes, it's not something I want to participate in.

WATSON (voice-over): The flood of new arrivals surprising local business owners, like the operator of a co-working space in the center of Almaty.

(On-camera): This gentleman, just walked in. Is this unusual to see?

MADINA ABILPANOVA, MANAGING PARTNER, DM ASSOCIATES: Very usual. Every day is like this. They come in with huge suitcases because they couldn't find a place for living. And they come in here for working and sitting and, you know, looking for some, you know, accommodation.

WATSON: These are fresh arrivals from Russia.

ABILPANOVA: Yes. Yes.

WATSON: Arriving with their backpack on their back.

ABILPANOVA: Yes.

WATSON (voice-over): In this city, hundreds of miles, from the Russian border, I spoke with dozens of newly arrived Russians, ranging from doctors.

ANASTASIA ARSENEVA, RUSSIAN DOCTOR WHO FLED TO AVOID DRAFT: If we refuse to go to this war, we should go to the jail.

WATSON: To engineers, IT specialists and university students.

(On-camera): You ran away from Russia?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, from mobilization, from --

WATSON: From military service?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes.

WATSON (voice-over): Most don't want to be identified to protect loved ones still in Russia.

GIORGI, RUSSIAN WHO FLED TO AVOID DRAFT: How can I take part in the war without a wish to win this war?

WATSON: This man says Putin's draft left him no other choice but to flee the country, leaving his wife and child behind.

GIORGI: We do not trust our government. We don't believe in what they say.

WATSON: He says the Russian government crackdown on dissent has made protesting futile, leaving hundreds of thousands of men now suddenly adrift, trying to find work and accommodation in foreign countries.

[16:10:04]

GIORGI: I am the citizen of the country that started that war. I did not support this war, never did. But somehow I'm still connected with this team because of my passport. And I am, at the same time, a refugee and the aggressor.

WATSON: Russians on the run, sharing a collective sense of hopelessness and guilt over the destruction caused by their government.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Almaty, Kazakhstan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: Now to a developing story we are following at this hour. South Korea has confirmed that North Korea has launched two short-range ballistic missiles. Both fell outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the missiles do not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory or to allies. This is the 25th missile launch by North Korea this year. We'll continue to monitor all of this and bring you the latest as it comes in.

In the meantime, back here in the U.S., scandals are piling up for Georgia's Republican Senate nominee, Herschel Walker. New reporting that Walker asked a woman to have a second abortion. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:16:23]

ACOSTA: In Georgia, more controversy for Herschel Walker. The "New York Times" is reporting that the woman who said the Georgia Republican Senate nominee paid for her abortion in 2009 now says he also urged her to terminate a second pregnancy but she chose not to. The woman tells the "Times," quote, "As a father, he's done nothing. He does exactly what the court say and that's it." She adds, "He has to be held responsible just like the rest of us. And if you're going to run for office, you need to own your life." You'll recall Walker supports a national ban on abortions with no

exceptions. This new allegation comes as we learned the campaign fired its political director on suspicion of leaking the information to the press.

Joining me now to talk about this Democratic strategist James Carville who famously advised Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. Also with us, CNN political commentator and former special assistant to President George W. Bush, Scott Jennings.

James, how much trouble is Herschel Walker in right now?

JAMES CARVILLE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, if anybody had any (INAUDIBLE) he would be in a ton of trouble. Look, abortion is a complicated issue. I think he actually did the honorable thing when he helped tried to pay for the first abortion the woman had. He's got four children that he is not involved in their life. All right. We know what Jesus thought about that. We don't know what he thought about gays. We don't know what Jesus thought about guns. And yet we do know what he thought about harming children.

That is the time millstone around someone's neck and throw them to sea. He's got four kids that he's got nothing to do with and he's being supported by so-called Christian evangelicals? Give me a break. The massive and staggering amount of hypocrisy here is beyond belief. It's not -- abortion is bad enough. Just another Republican hypocrite. And the (INAUDIBLE) of children is a sin of the first order. That cannot be forgiven unless he gets to be involved with his children's lives. It's really disgusting, Jim.

ACOSTA: Scott, your response? I mean, there is hypocrisy here. No question about it.

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, I mean, look, Herschel Walker is not a perfect vessel. Republicans in Georgia, though, would tell you they don't think Raphael Warnock is either. And so they're trying to sort out, OK, what else do I care about in this election? The, you know, you've got to two imperfect vessels and, you know, what else is going on? The direction of the country?

And the average Republican is going to say, I don't necessarily agree with his personal choices, but I don't like Joe Biden, I don't like Raphael Warnock voting with Joe Biden nearly 100 percent of the time so they're going to balance that equation. But sure, I mean, he's spending awful lot of negative press right now.

I do believe that the Republican establishment, the committees, are going to stick with him. I do believe that they think they're in the race in Georgia. I also think that they're probably in the field right now, taking a look at it, and they won't really know until maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, when they can get solid data back on it. But, you know, it's a sticky one but I very much believe Herschel can ride it out.

ACOSTA: And James, you know, before this latest story, Republicans have tried to defend Herschel Walker. I mean, you just heard a defense right there. Let's take a listen to what the former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, someone you're familiar with, had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I talked to Herschel about this this morning, and I've known Herschel a good while. I think he's a remarkable person. I think he's the most important Senate candidate in the country because he'll do more to change the Senate just by the sheer presence, by his confidence, by his deep commitment to Christ, by the degree to what she has -- you know, he's been through a long, tough period. He had a lot of concussions coming out of football. He suffered PTSD.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: James, Newt Gingrich using the concussion excuse.

[16:20:01]

CARVILLE: I am totally flummoxed. I'm totally flummoxed by Mr. Jennings' remarks. This man neglects four children. Am I a flawed human being? Of course I am. You and everybody else, yes. Child neglect -- and without asking for redemption, without reengaging with his children, denying that his children exist, trying to choke one of their mothers, putting a gun to the head of another mother, you're going to tell me we're all flawed human beings? And you put Newt Gingrich's picture up there?

I mean, there's something wrong with this. There is something fundamentally wrong. Any human being is flawed. All right? Anybody can have a difficult decision vis-a-vis a pregnancy. I understand that. Child neglect to me is unforgivable. If that's fine with Scott Jennings and it's fine with Newt Gingrich then that's the modern Republican Party. It ought to be exposed.

JENNINGS: Do you mind if I respond to that?

ACOSTA: Please. Yes, Scott.

JENNINGS: I mean, Mr. Carville, I think is unfamiliar with Raphael Warnock's record on this. I mean, he's got a wife out there saying he was neglectful to her, possibly abusive, and not keeping up with his child support obligations either. It's why I said when I started my answer that both of these guys are imperfect vessels and so there are other issues in the campaign that people are going to take into account.

I fully admit Walker's issues are going to weigh on some voters' minds but so are Warnock's. And this is not the only thing going on in Georgia. I mean, a head of lettuce down there is like $1,000 a head or something. I mean, we have major problems in this country and people are not only focusing on the personal issues of two very flawed candidates.

CARVILLE: Come on, man. They are gradations of being flawed. Everyone is flawed. You're telling me that this man neglects his children, doesn't acknowledge them and that's happened over a period of time? I mean, get real. Is there anything -- is there any bottom to Republican Party? Is there any bottom to somebody that they won't support? This is not to me -- and then you tried Newt Gingrich out there, the great moral authority of all?

And he says look, Herschel has mental issues, he would be a great senator. Well, I want to have sympathy for mental patients, we ought to give them drugs and treat them. They don't need to be in the United States Senate. That's just absurd argument and it's absurd just to say well, we're all flawed human beings and stop right there. That's ridiculous. It's a ridiculous argument.

ACOSTA: Yes. Let me move on to the Wisconsin Senate race because I mean the Senate could hinge on that race as well, the race there between Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Mandela Barnes. In a debate last night, the two sparred over the issue of funding the police. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): He has a record of wanting to defund the police. And I know he doesn't necessarily say that word but he has a long history of being supported by people that are leading the effort to defund. He uses the code words like Cory Bush said. Talk about reallocating.

MANDELA BARNES (D), WISCONSIN SENATE NOMINEE: The senator on the last question didn't mention, you know, police officers. Now with that being said, I'm sure he didn't have the same interaction with 140 officers that were injured during the January 6th insurrection. One officer was stabbed with a metal stake. Another crushed between a revolving door, another hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. So when we talk about respect for law enforcement, let's talk about the 140 officers that he left behind because of an insurrection that he supported.

JOHNSON: I immediately and forcefully, and have repeatedly condemned it and have condemned it strongly. But I've also condemned the 570 riots that occurred during the summer. So many people ignored those.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Scott, does that response there make you wince a little bit?

JENNINGS: Look, I think the crime issue is rising. I think Republicans are putting it to good use in several campaigns. Wisconsin is one -- by the way, Barnes is the most -- one of the most liberal Democrat Senate candidates in the country on the crime issue. I think it's also working in Pennsylvania against Fetterman and I think it's working against Beasley in North Carolina. And people know it. This thing is rising among voters.

That's why Republicans are using it, this idea of defunding the police, redirecting the money, whatever you want to call. They're not going to be able to run away from it in the middle of a national crime wave when you've got stories in every major media market in the country about crime. And so I understand the Barnes deflection there but overall the issue

of public safety and feeling safe when you walk out of your house or drive to your place of business or take your kids wherever you got to take them, it's a major problem and no amount of deflection by Barnes is going to run away from his very, very liberal record on this topic.

ACOSTA: James, is that how Democrats should go after Republicans who are involved in overturning or attempting to overturn the election results? What are your thoughts?

CARVILLE: I think crimes, I think Mr. Barnes misspoke on defunding the police. I think he acknowledged that. Ron Johnson has endorsed the Rick Scott plan to get rid of Social Security and Medicaid. He's endorsed Rick Scott's plan that would raise taxes significantly on lower and middle class Americans. What you do in something like this, you say, look, what I said was unwise. You continue to support this.

[16:25:02]

This is who Ron Johnson is. To sunset Social Security, sunset Medicare, to tax hotel maids. That's his idea of public policy. So when you make an error you take the position that is unwise, admit it and then go to a position that he took that I think is utterly absurd and destructive to people but that's something that Mr. Barnes is going to have to do in how own campaign. I can't advise him any better than that.

ACOSTA: All right, James, Scott, good exchange so far. We'll be back in a moment. We have more to talk about.

Coming up, former President Donald Trump steps up his midterms campaigning by heading west to two key states. Will the Trump factor help Republicans in some of these closely watched races? We'll talk about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:30:17]

ACOSTA: One month to go until the midterms and former President Donald Trump is headlining a rally in Nevada tonight, a state home to a closely-watched Senate race.

CNN senior international correspondent, Kyung Lah, joins me live from Las Vegas.

Kyung, that's a big race there. If the Democrats don't hold onto that Senate seat, the majority in the Senate could be on the line. What's the latest?

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We asked that question to the incumbent Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. She's here in Clark County with the culinary union. They are a turnout machine.

And she concedes, yes, she understands that she is probably the most endangered Democratic Senator in the entire country. And that the path to control the U.S. Senate will run through the state of Nevada.

So she is going to multiple events today really trying to focus on Democratic voters here.

Meanwhile, we're seeing former President Donald Trump hitting the rural region. And what he's doing up there is focusing on the Trump ticket.

He's doing a western swing. It begins in the state of Nevada. It will continue in Arizona. But here, today, the focus completely on the Silver State and trying to make sure that the Republican base, especially in the rural counties.

Because that is a strategy that the Republican nominee, Adam Laxalt, had worked for him once in a previous election and hoping that it will work again to drive up the vote in those more conservative rural areas.

And that's where Donald Trump remains a true asset -- Jim?

ACOSTA: And Democrats will focus on Vegas. I remember covering Harry Reid when he was running for re-election. He made it a job to get the union members there in Las Vegas to the polls. That's job number-one for Cortez Masto.

And, Kyung, everybody is watching Arizona, as well. That's another states that will be highly critical. And Trump will be there tomorrow.

LAH: Yes. It's no secret that the population shift in the states of Nevada and Arizona, which we call the Sunbelt states, especially in Arizona, which has one of the fastest growing counties population- wise, Maricopa County, that's going to be a focus for the former president tomorrow.

He, too, is going to be boosting the Trump ticket. He's going to have a large rally in Mesa, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. It is an area that is a true battleground, where you see the college liberal -- more liberal women out there.

But you also see this base of conservatives, traditional conservatives that are in Mesa, as well.

And the message you'll heard from Donald Trump is going to be watched very carefully. In part, because the governor, the nominee there, Kari Lake, has made election lies central to her campaign, especially through the primaries.

She's called herself Trump in a dress. She says that's one of the proudest things she's been called. She's going to be standing next to Donald Trump.

We're going to see if she will moderate to the middle. Because one- third of Arizona voters are Independents. They do not -- it's not registered Republicans or Democrats. It is the Independents who will determine who wins the state of Arizona -- Jim?

ACOSTA: All right, Kyung. I'm trying to get past the visual you laid out for our viewers there.

But thank you very much for that report. It's critical races that you're watching out west. Thanks so much.

Democratic strategist, James Carville, and CNN political commentator, Scott Jennings, are back with me.

James, how remarkable is it to see Donald Trump, after everything going on in this country, whether it's a classified documents scandal at Mar-a-Lago, or the insurrection on January 6th, attempting to overturn election result, to see him out there as the standard-bearer for the Republican Party and having these rallies?

CARVILLE: First of all, he is the Republican Party. That's not surprising at all. And they can activate non-college whites to come out and vote.

And their view is, that the females will just forget. Alito, Gorsuch, Trump, all of them say, look, they're going to go back to moving the furniture. They don't care. They don't have a large enough attention span.

And the giant bet, the giant bet here -- and I don't know, it may pay off -- is that women will forget and not vote. And they can stoke up the rural non-college whites.

I don't know. Maybe women will go back to moving the furniture. That's what they think they're going to do.

In New Hampshire, the Republican Senate nominee said last night, fact- check me, that women should leave it up to Republican gentlemen in the legislature.

[16:35:06]

Well, I'm not a woman. I have two daughters. But you better take charge of your own life here. Because you know exactly what's getting ready to happen to you.

They're telling you they're going to do this. And they're telling you that you don't have a sufficient attention span to remember to vote in November. We'll see who is right. We'll see who is right.

ACOSTA: And, Scott, Republicans have a lot of extreme candidates on the ballot, including Kari Lake, in Arizona, who we just mentioned against Cortez Masto, and Tudor Dixon in Michigan. They've all embraced Trump's lies about the election in one form or another. That's the way it is.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARI LAKE, (R), ARIZONA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: And if we don't win, there's some cheating going on. BLAKE MASTERS, (R), U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE FOR ARIZONA: I think Trump

won in 2020. Maybe you disagree. But you got to admit, this election was really messed up. We saw states change the rules at the last minute, to flood the zone with mail-in ballots.

GOV. DOUG MASTRIANO, (R), PENNSYLVANIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: As governor, I get to appoint the secretary of state. I have a voting reform-minded individual, that's been traveling the nation and is voting reform extremely well. That individual has agreed to be my secretary of state.

As governor, I get to decertify any or all machines in the state. And I have my eye is on several of the machines that I believe were compromised.

BRETT BAER, FOX NEWS HOST: Do you believe the 2020 election was stolen?

TUDOR DIXON, (R), MICHIGAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: It's a concern to a lot of folks in Michigan, because of the way the election was handled by our secretary of state. She did things that were considered unlawful by a judge.

We have to make sure our elections are secure and what happened in 2020 doesn't happen again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: We should note that Blake Masters, that you saw in the montage, has tried to pivot from some of the election lies.

Scott, I want to ask you, isn't it true that you have Republican candidates in very crucial states essentially running against reality, almost two years after the November 2020 election?

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. Some of these people are, I would say, more extreme than others. And some of them are out of their campaigns, let's be honest.

Mastriano from Pennsylvania seems out of it. Tudor Dixon seems out of it in Michigan.

Arizona, one of the states where Trump is going, it seems like the Republican ticket is competitive at the gubernatorial line. And Masters seems to have closed a little bit of a gap with Kelly. And you saw Masters pivot on the issue, as well.

I think in some of the cases, these campaigns have already faded away for the Republicans. But in at least one case in Arizona it has not.

ACOSTA: James, Kari Lake could become the governor of Arizona.

CARVILLE: What's going to decide it is Arizona women. That's going to be the deciding factor. If they contribute 51 percent of the electorate, Kari Lake may win. If they contribute 55 percent, Kari Lake is going to lose. It is really up to that is how will they react? Blake Masters said we shouldn't have gotten involved in World War II.

I mean, that's how crazy he is. Yet, everybody is fine with him. The evangelicals are fine with him. Gee whiz.

But, yes, I'm worried. I don't think the Republicans are right. But maybe the women of Arizona will be moving furniture in November. I have no idea. I hope they don't. I hope they see what's at risk. I hope they see the threat that Kansas did.

But that's the best that they're making. I hope they are wrong but I fear they might not be.

ACOSTA: James and Scott, I want to ask you both about gas prices because they will be going up across the country as we get ready to head to the polls.

In this country, obviously, Democrats are increasingly concerned about that, after OPEC-Plus decided to cut oil production by two billion barrels a day.

James, are the Saudis meddling in the midterms? How do you see it?

CARVILLE: Of course, they are. Of course, they are. Our will is being tested.

And right away, Putin has enormous support in the American conservative movement. See Tucker. See Trump. See J.D. Vance. See it all over the place.

It's going to it's going to be difficult. The Russians will try to do everything to influence everything so they can try to win this war.

We have to hold out. This is a classic case of good and evil. When you're on the side of good -- they had petrol rationing in World War II. I hope this doesn't work. We're ramping up domestic production. So we'll see where it goes.

The Saudis are trying to control our politics. And the only way that will happen is if we allow them to do that.

ACOSTA: Scott, what do you think?

JENNINGS: Yes, if I can respond to that. First of all, I think, to the average Republican, this is evidence of the president's weakness. One day, he gets caught on a hot mic saying, "No one Fs with Biden." The next day, OPEC cuts production by two million. Everybody say they were considering a one billion cut and they go to two million.

And he's been over there. He legitimized the Saudis, met with them after saying he was going to be hard them. And this is a real mess for Joe Biden.

[16:40:02]

And at the same time, he's reducing sanctions on Venezuela so they can pump oil there. And a lot of Republicans are saying, why are you being so hard on domestic production when encouraging it in Venezuela. Is that more climate-friendly to do it in Venezuela than it is in the United States?

I think entire issue --

(CROSSTALK)

JENNINGS: -- is a total mess because they touted so heavily gas prices going down. Now, they are going up. And it feels like the president doesn't quite have a handle on the foreign affairs side of it.

I think you will see this issue adjudicated at least in some of the debates they're we're seeing in the races this October.

ACOSTA: Scott, you see it as foreign meddling in a midterm election cycle?

JENNINGS: No, I don't.

(CROSSTALK)

ACOSTA: You don't see that at all?

JENNINGS: No. I see it as foreign countries reacting to the current president of the United States. And for whatever reason, they don't think Joe Biden --

(CROSSTALK)

ACOSTA: Attempting to weaken him? Are they attempting to weaken him?

JENNINGS: I don't know if they're attempting to weaken them. But I certainly think he went and met with them. He's made -- according to reporting, he said, I'm putting on a full-court press to stop OPEC from cutting production.

I mean, I think they see Joe Biden as weak. I think this issue has been plaguing him. I know they were touting it when the gas prices were coming down. But on average, gas prices are way beyond when he took office.

And so, always in elections, gas prices are like the national scoreboard. It's the one thing we can see. You drive down the road --

(CROSSTALK)

JENNINGS: -- they're on every corner. Do they look like they're high or going up? This has an impact on people's thinking. You know, it's October, not a great time for the incumbent party on what's going on.

ACOSTA: Thought from you, James?

CARVILLE: Do you know who doesn't think Joe Biden is weak? Vladimir Putin, the Republican hero of the United States. The man the Republican Party worshiped is getting the crap kicked out of him right now with U.S. support and a Joe Biden-led coalition. If they want to love the Saudis, that's their business. The United

States is making a successful stand. And my opinion, the most successful foreign policy initiative since World War II.

And do I know where gas prices are going? No. But do I know that Vladimir Putin and the people that support him, the people, I do. I'm 100 percent sure. There's not just gradations. We're not just all foreign people.

He's a bad human being that's conducting an illegal warfighting that is being met by President Biden and his coalition with unbelievable and successful force. To that, I am very proud.

ACOSTA: Yes. And he is getting his butt kicked right now just a little bit.

All right --

(CROSSTALK)

ACOSTA: -- James Carville, Scott Jennings, thank you very much.

Coming up, the mega-site constructed in Florida for victims of Hurricane Ian. Look at these pictures here. Just incredible what these folks are going through in southwest Florida.

We were down there last week and it just continues on for the folks who have been recovering from that hurricane. We'll have more on all of this in just a few moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:46:59]

ACOSTA: So many families in southwest Florida lost their homes and livelihoods in Hurricane Ian. And the road to recovery is going to be a long one.

This is a FEMA disaster recovery area in Lee County, Florida. That's where Fort Myers and Cape Coral and Sanibel Island are all located. And people have been waiting in line for hours just to get emergency aid.

CNN's Nadia Romero is in Fort Myers right now.

Nadia, I was down there in that region with you last weekend. And to me, it's still mind-boggling to get your head around, just how much destruction, devastation, heartache, people are dealing with down there.

What are you seeing?

NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jim, and that's the sad part about this. We are days, now, after the storm over a week now. And people have nothing. They're starting over from scratch.

They're trying to be optimistic. But sometimes it's hard to do that. You look around and see destruction.

People have come to this site, this disaster recovery center at this library here, in Fort Myers. About 100 people lined up before the doors even opened. One man arriving five hours early just to talk to a FEMA representative.

I want you to hear from two different people. One woman, a small business owner. She lost her restaurant on Fort Myers Beach. Another man who lost his condo there. They had very different experiences.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE LEVY, FORT MYERS BEACH RESTAURANT OWNER: We have mortgages. We have a COVID mortgage that we need to return. We have no way to return it from.

All they offer, FEMA, doesn't offer businesses anything. And what the Department of Business is offering just loans.

So on top of the loans we have, on top of the debt, we have no way to deal with that. We have to take more loans.

I don't know how we're getting out of it. That's the situation small businesses are in right now.

WALLY COUDRON, FORT MYERS BEACH RESIDENT: Very great experience. They've been helpful and personable. And just supportive of our needs.

It looks like I will have housing assistance. And an advancement for necessities.

I don't know what the next step is. They just told me about the $700 for sustenance and hotels.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMERO: So you're talking about two people that doesn't have more different experiences, just today, talking to FEMA representatives.

The Disabled American Veterans are here, set up at the Hertz Arena where they play hocket in Fort Myers. They're helping vets.

They say, if you can't get help from the Small Business Administration, from FEMA, from state agencies but you're a veteran, come and see us and we'll help you out.

Jim, people are just looking for anyone that can help them restart their lives.

ACOSTA: And we've got to get them all of the help they can get.

All right. Nadia Romero, great to see you. Thanks so much. Terrific reporting down there.

[16:49:54]

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: Get ready for more food, more fun, more amazing adventures. "STANLEY TUCCI: SEARCHING FOR ITALY" is back with an all-new season.

Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STANLEY TUCCI, CNN HOST, "STANLEY TUCCI: SEARCHING FOR ITALY": In typical fashion, my relatives have been up day and night for half a week preparing a feast of some of our favorite dishes.

Like this -- stockfish Chita nova style.

[16:55:00]

This is a Tropiano (ph) family dish that is similar to the bakala (ph) and tomato sauce I grew up with.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

TUCCI: Ah. My mother would make this with kombakala.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kombakala.

TUCCI: Si.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

TUCCI: Wow. It's so good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: All right. The all-new season of the Emmy-award winning "STANLEY TUCCI: SEARCHING FOR ITALY" premieres tomorrow night at 9:00 right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)