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Biden Officially Launches Reelection Campaign In Philadelphia; Migrants Flown To California Say They Felt Deceived And Lied To; ISIS- Linked Group Attacks School, Killing Dozens; GOP Grapples With Historic Trump Arrest; New Developments In Trump's Indictment On Classified Documents; Today: Russia Launches 37 Air Strikes In Ukraine; Study: Climate Change Intensifying California Wildfires. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired June 17, 2023 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:26]

JIM ACOSTA, CNN HOST: You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Jim Acosta in Washington. Good evening.

We begin this hour with President Joe Biden officially kicking off his reelection bid earlier today in Philadelphia. It's no coincidence that Biden gave this speech to a big pro-union crowd.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Let me tell you something. When Republicans come after what I've done, when they come back to try to get rid of all these clean energy investments, they try to stop the plan on infrastructure, when they do these things, guess what, they're coming for your jobs. They are coming for your jobs. They are coming for your future. They're coming for the future you're building for your kids and your grandkids.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: CNN's Priscilla Alvarez has more on the significance of this event in a state Biden hopes will propel to a second term -- Priscilla.

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Jim, this union rally here in Philadelphia really underscore the president's personal ties and his political ties, as he revs up his campaign for 2024. He spoke to about 2,000 union members, all of whom were enthusiastic and were cheering him on throughout his speech.

And President Biden touched on the issues that these unions themselves have highlighted, including, for example, low unemployment rate, adding jobs, investments in clean energy, manufacturing, and so President Biden speaking to all of those issues which are ones that the union members ahead of his speech were already congratulating and heralding the president on.

And when you speak to folks what they say is that President Biden had initially campaigned on this in 2020 and they have seen the follow- through, giving them the momentum and the opportunity to provide that early endorsement of a presidential candidate, in this case President Biden. And he himself heralded himself as the most pro-union president.

And of course this is an important group that's coalescing here. It is one that President Biden hopes will mobilize voters and will serve as a key constituency as he kicks his reelection campaign into gear. Not only just for 2024 nationwide but in the crucial swing state here of Pennsylvania. So all of that coming together today as the president kicked off his reelection campaign in earnest -- Jim.

ACOSTA: All right. Priscilla Alvarez, thanks for that.

Today in Charleston, South Carolina, GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley visited the Citadel to attend the deployment ceremony for her husband who serves in the South Carolina National Guard. Michael Haley's brigade is heading to Africa in support of the United States Africa Command. One person familiar with the details of the deployment told CNN that Michael Haley is likely to remain deployed through the spring of 2024 just as primary season gets underway and the former South Carolina governor is back in full campaign mode during that critical part of the upcoming election year.

And in Gardnerville, Nevada, another Republican presidential hopeful made a pit stop at the Annual Basque Fry. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was the guest speaker and delivered his own pitch for change.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think what we're going to see in this election coming up is America has got to make a decision because we need to restore sanity in this country. We need to restore a sense of normalcy to our communities. We need to make sure our institutions have integrity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Meantime the latest CBS News polling finds little change in the race for the Republican nomination. 61 percent of likely GOP voters say former President Donald Trump is their current pick, 23 percent named DeSantis.

This week California's attorney general submitted a public records request to Florida officials including Ron DeSantis after the Republican governor's administration helped dozens of migrants travel from Texas to Sacramento earlier this month.

CNN's Camila Bernal traveled to Sacramento to meet the asylum seekers and find out more about their journey and what their future holds. She joins me now from Los Angeles.

Camila, what do these asylum-seekers say. I'm sure they had some very emotional story to tell you.

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They absolutely did, Jim. They say they suffered a lot, and now they feel like they were lied to and that they were deceived, that they were promised a job and a house here in California, and they say of course they were happy to get on the plane. They've never been on an airplane before. They thought people were genuinely trying to help them, but then realized that that was not the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERNAL (voice-over): Walking the streets of Sacramento is a dream come true for this 31-year-old migrant.

[19:05:02]

But the first time she set foot in the California capital she felt confused, angry, and betrayed.

Unfulfilled promises, says the migrant who asked not to be identified for legal reasons. It was in a shelter in El Paso, Texas, where she says two men approached her with the offer of a lifetime. A paid trip on a jet to California and the promise of a job and housing.

(On-camera): She said they offered her a job so she was happy and signed.

(Voice-over): This after she spent two months traveling from her native Colombia to the U.S.-Mexico border. She describes the difficulties of the jungle, the train, starving, sleeping on the street, begging for money.

(On-camera): She is emotional and says it's the worst because you feel like you're at your lowest.

(Voice-over): The offer in the end was too good to be true. But it was made to a total of 36 migrants, who traveled on two separate charter flights.

When we got here, we didn't have a job nor a house nor a direction in life, said this 34-year-old Venezuelan migrant who was part of the first flight.

The migrants are at the center of a political battle over immigration policy, with Republican governors like Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida sending thousands of migrants from Texas to Democratic-led cities.

(On-camera): We didn't come here for political reasons. We came here for work.

(Voice-over): But he says he wants people to understand their suffering. And their desire to work.

(On-camera): Says they're human beings with feelings and families.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERNAL: And the attorney general is looking into these flights he says for possible criminal liability, pointing to the possibility of kidnapping or false imprisonment. So that will take some time, but in the meantime these migrants say they're trying to get used to the U.S.. They've got classes on figuring out exactly who to call if there's an emergency. They're getting medical help. They're getting attorneys.

But they say they're just so happy to be welcomed here with open arms and of course they want to make a life in this country -- Jim.

ACOSTA: Absolutely. All right, Camila Bernal, they've been through quite a lot. Great job getting their story out there. We really appreciate it.

In the meantime, police and security forces are investigating a horrific attack on a school in Uganda. Officials say a group of rebels with ties to ISIS broke into the school yesterday killing dozens of students and setting fire to a dormitory.

CNN's Larry Madowo has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Horror and heartbreak in western Uganda. Authorities say the Allied Democratic Forces, ADF, an armed group linked to ISIS, attacked this high school on Friday night. They struck neighbors speechless as police try to piece together what happened.

A heavy security presence, but for many here too little too late. Dozens of people were brutally murdered, most of them students, some as young as 13. Staffer Brenda Masika heard it all.

BRENDA MASIKA, SURVIVOR: The students were crying, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Some (INAUDIBLE) in my room. They tried to open my room. They failed.

MADOWO: It's an unspeakable tragedy that shocked the nation that hit this area especially hard, like this man who says he lost four relatives.

CLAY BIRUMUNANE, MPONDWE RESIDENT: We are still in shock. People are crying, everyone is in shock. And the schools around, the allied schools, they've already released the students were in that section.

MADOWO: Survivors are being treated at a nearby hospital, with some said to be in critical condition. The Ugandan military says it is in hot pursuit of the rebels it calls terrorist across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They also abducted six students prompting this apology.

COMMANDER DICK OLUM, UGANDA PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC FORCES OPERATIONS SHUJAA (through translation): It's very unfortunate. Please forgive us that a mistake happened and our children died. This was a very peaceful are. I live in Congo, that's where I spend all my time. But what happened here is a real shame.

MADOWO: But residents and their leaders are outraged that this tragedy happened despite assurances from the Ugandan military.

FLORENCE KABUGHO, KASESO DISTRICT WOMAN MP: If they are telling us the borders are secured. Security is tight.

[19:10:02]

I wanted the security to tell us where they were when these killers came to kill our people. They are rebels that came to kill our people. Is this security within Uganda?

MADOWO: The Friday night massacre saw 17 girls attacked with machetes and a petrol bomb thrown into the boys' dormitory where 20 students had barricaded themselves. They were burned beyond recognition. Ugandan First Lady Janet Museveni said.

JANET Museveni, UGANDAN FIRST LADY AND EDUCATION MINISTER: Parents across the country, please do not panic. Our children are safe and they will remain safe. They are evil people and they are trying to harm our children, but they will not manage always.

MADOWO: Neither the ADF nor ISIS have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Larry Madowo, CNN, Kampala.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: Could Donald Trump's stash of classified documents put lives in danger? I'll ask former CIA officer and Republican -- former Republican Congressman Will Hurd. That's next. Later new developments in the case against the former president conservative lawyer George Conway joins us live to talk about that. Plus the catastrophic effects of climate change on California's forest and wildlife. A new study explains why it could get much, much worse. That's coming up.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:15:34]

ACOSTA: A stunning and historic week in the United States as former President Donald Trump was arrested and arraigned on federal charges. Remember this is what Trump had to say back in 2016 when he was running against Hillary Clinton.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In my administration, I'm going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information. No one will be above the law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Joining us to talk about this, former Texas Congressman Will Hurd. Congressman, you also used to work as an undercover CIA officer. Just

your -- what was your reaction to the indictment of the former president and the documents case, and do you think it's possible Trump could have put the lives of intelligence officers at risk by refusing to return some of these documents?

WILL HURD (R), FORMER TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE: He absolutely could have put people's lives at risk for not returning these documents. And look, when I first read the indictment, it's shocking. The fact that you have recorded audio of Donald Trump saying that he has documents he shouldn't have and it's highly classified, and he is showing it to people. Who else did he show this kind of information to?

He hasn't talked about all the people he showed it to. Why is he trying to hold this information or to not let the National Archives know the kind of information he has access to? When you look in that indictment, some of the classification is classified, that is how sensitive this information is. Some of the information is what's called SIG-IN, signals intelligence. This is stuff that the NSA collects, and some of the most expensive and hardest kind of intelligence that we used in order to keep our homeland safe, to keep our troop safe overseas.

There were questions about the imagery that we use and there was information in these documents allegedly -- and again I haven't seen these documents, Jim, but you can discern some of the things that were in it based on the classifications. That talks about what our capabilities are. And so when you give away what your capabilities are, then your adversaries know what you can and can't do, and that's a position that you don't want to be in.

ACOSTA: Yes.

HURD: And to me we would not be in this situation if Donald Trump just gave the documents back. He could've had access to them if he wanted to review them, and so we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for his own decisions evading it.

ACOSTA: And that's what I was going to ask you. Have you heard a good reason as to why he didn't simply just return the documents when he was asked to?

HURD: Well, no, we haven't heard one. He lied to his lawyers about whether he had access to information. He pulls in his valet to help lie to them and the fact that it seems -- and again, yes, everybody is innocent until proven guilty, but the details in this affidavit are so clear. And I'm curious to see what other information comes forward during the actual trial whenever that may begin.

And no, I don't know of any reason why you would want to hold information on attacking Iran and how we would actually do that if something were to happen, why you would want to hold that in a paper box in your bathroom, right? There's no reason for that. And the only reason you want to use it and pull it out is to show something to a reporter or somebody who was writing a book about, you know, how cool you are? Like that to me is outrageous. And look, for all of the folks in my

party that want to defend this kind of behavior, guess what, like he didn't have to keep these things. All he had to do is give it back, and we wouldn't be in this situation. And is this the kind of behavior that we want in the president of the United States. Someone that's not even willing to protect basic information that could lead to the loss of life and impact our sons, our daughters, our espouses that are serving all around the world.

Now you also have a concern that -- some of our allies going to want to work with us and share information with us because they're afraid that stuff is getting out. Oh, and what else -- what steps did Donald Trump take in all of his properties to prevent other people from getting access to these things?

[19:20:09]

What steps does he take to ensure that his staff is not potentially being --

ACOSTA: Well, they were -- there are some leaders on the Hill who are saying, well, the bathroom -- there are some leaders on the Hill in the Republican Party saying that, well, the bathroom doors were locked, and that's -- you're not buying any of that?

HURD: It's really easy to open a door to a bathroom, OK, like that is not the kind of steps that should be taken to protect some of our most sensitive information and most importantly to me, it just shows a complete disregard and disrespect for the thousands of men and women that put on a uniform every single day in order to protect us overseas from our adversaries.

I always say from my time when I was in the CIA, if most people knew the threats to our country that would happen on a daily basis, most people wouldn't leave their homes. And to have the former leader of the free world completely disregarding this, based on the information we already have access to, to me it's outrageous.

ACOSTA: And just recently you're up in New Hampshire, raised some eyebrows, some questions about whether you might jump into the Republican field. Any announcement you want to make on that front?

HURD: Well, look, I'm evaluating what my next step is. And whether I have an opportunity to serve my country again, I have to make a decision on my future real soon and once I do, Jim, I'll let you know.

ACOSTA: All right. We'll stay on top of that one. Former Republican Texas Congressman Will Hurd, thanks so much for your time. We appreciate it.

HURD: Of course.

ACOSTA: All right. New developments in the classified document case against the former president, conservative lawyer George Conway is also here. We'll talk with him. There he is. We'll talk with him in just a few moments next here in the CNN NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:26:08]

ACOSTA: Joining us now with more on the Trump documents case is conservative lawyer George Conway. He's also contributing columnist at "The Washington Post."

George, great to see you. I don't know if you heard some of what former Congressman Will Hurd, Republican Congressman Will Hurd was just saying a few months ago. You know, he's a former CIA officer, George, and he was saying that lives could have been put in danger, may have been put in danger by the former president by retaining these documents and refusing to return them. What you think about that?

GEORGE CONWAY, CONSERVATIVE LAWYER: Well, I'm -- you know, I'm not certainly going to dispute the opinion of a former CIA officer. And I think it's pretty clear from the allegations in the indictment and from the news reports that this material is very, very sensitive, includes methods and sources information which means that, you know, if the material is released it could compromise the sources and possibly get them killed.

So it's a very, very serious thing. And if you read the indictment it's just very clear that Donald Trump did not care one whit about whether or not he was compromising any of that information, and making it potentially available to people who could walk in the bathroom and bust the door down as you are pointing out.

And remember the door is only locked from the inside, so somebody had to be in there, and if no one was in there somebody could walk right into the bathroom. And you have that problem that you're talking about.

ACOSTA: Yes. I mean, anybody who has teenagers -- and Happy Father's Day to you, George. Anybody who has teenagers know you could get into a locked bathroom door. I'm just going to not to get too lighthearted with this but, George --

CONWAY: We won't get to -- yes, we won't get too graphic.

(LAUGHTER)

ACOSTA: Yes. But, George, what you think about the challenges facing the special counsel in all of this. Of course the Judge Aileen Cannon is a Trump appointee. She's been under scrutiny for her past rulings that have favored the former president, but there is also just the prospect that this case could just take a long time. And you may not get any kind of a verdict before -- probably not before the primaries and caucuses. But maybe not even before the election of 2024.

Is it that big of a challenge do you think?

CONWAY: Well, I mean, the challenge -- that will be the challenge, the challenge is getting this case to trial. I think it will also get to trial at some point, probably next year, and that's where also the judge has a great deal of impact. Judge's discretion in timing, the timing, deciding motions, and granting continuances is something that could delay the case. But I do think and I hope that Judge Cannon is cognizant of how important this case is not just to the defendant but to the United States of America, to the government and to its people, and the importance of getting it resolved on a timely basis.

And I think that if she acts consistently with the way a very efficient federal judge, a very smart federal judge would in any other district I think there's a good chance you could get this case tried next year, and that would be to everyone's benefit.

ACOSTA: And let me ask you, Trump has been railing against all of his political foes on Truth Social. You're no stranger to that sort of thing. And that includes the special counsel, Jack Smith, who he called deranged. What do you think about these attacks on the special counsel, and the potential to impact this case? And I guess also potentially, I don't know possibly becoming a security problem for the special counsel and his team?

CONWAY: Well, it's clear that Jack Smith isn't a deranged person.

[19:30:00]

I don't think these attacks on Jack Smith are going to deter him, I do think that he is going to be the same Jack Smith no matter what Donald Trump says about him and that he is going to do everything he can to take this case to trial and be professional about it, and I just don't think -- I don't think he's going to be intimidated by it.

I think the security issues there, the Justice Department is already confronting them. There was a security team, as I understand it from the reporting of your people on the ground in Miami last week. There is heavy security for the for the federal prosecutors, and there will continue to be such security.

And I don't think that is going to impact them at all. I think they're just going to plow through it.

ACOSTA: And a Trump adviser tells CNN that Trump's co-defendant and body man, Walt Nauta, will continue to travel and work with the former president.

What do you think? I mean, do you think that there's a chance that Nauta will flip on Trump? Is it possible that Trump will go after and try to blame all of this on Nauta?

I mean, knowing Trump's track record, what are your thoughts on all of that?

CONWAY: Yes, I thought about Nauta flipping as I think it's possible but I don't think it's going to benefit Nauta that much because Nauta doesn't have that much to offer the government because the government has such strong evidence already. They don't really -- they have basically all the information they need about what Nauta did on Trump's behalf. Now, he could plead, but I don't think it's going to -- I don't think

it's going to -- I think he is going to not get an easy sentence because of the fact that he is out there and did not plead earlier.

And as for Trump, Trump, I think, would -- I don't think he's going to be able to change the outcome by his conduct toward Nauta.

ACOSTA: And, you know, it's been a few days now since the indictment came down, and you've been a lifelong Republican, George. Do you think that the Republican Party has really come to grips with the magnitude and the importance of this documents case?

And I guess I was also wondering what your thoughts were on this deflection that we've been hearing in recent days? Well, there are two types -- there are two forms of Justice in Washington, one for Democrats, one for Republicans. What is your response to all of that? When you hear that, what comes to mind? George, what are your thoughts on that?

CONWAY: I mean, I think it's complete nonsense that the Republicans are pretending that this is somehow some unjust prosecution. They clearly -- I mean, they clearly are coming to grips with the seriousness of these allegations, as you know, reflected by the fact that they were out criticizing the special counsel and the indictment before they had even seen it.

And you know, the truth, the fact of the matter is, if this had -- if these charges had been made and leveled against a Democrat with the same evidence, the same substantial evidence, they would be saying -- they would be calling for that Democrat to be put in jail, and it's completely hypocritical, and it is really just a disgrace, because the Republicans have always professed to be the party of law in order.

And here, they're basically saying, no, they're basically saying that we don't want to enforce the law. We don't want to enforce the law against one of ours. And that's just that's just -- we're just bouncing our way to becoming a third world country because of that.

ACOSTA: And George, at the end of the day, do you think Donald Trump goes to jail as a result of this case? And does that happen before the 2024 election?

CONWAY: I think there is a substantial possibility that he goes to jail. I think that he is going to be found guilty of multiple felonies in this and other cases. And I think the only -- you know, I think that given the fact that he shows no remorse and no willingness to bear any responsibility for his misconduct, I think that a substantial sentence of incarceration is in order.

Now, the question will be, what kind of security can be provided for a former president in a US Bureau of Prisons facility? I don't really know what -- how they're going to handle that, but I think there's every reason to believe that they're going to want to work something out where he is not able to walk the streets. He can, at a minimum, they could use some kind of home detention at one of his residences.

ACOSTA: All right, we'll be following that prospect as well. George Conway, thanks very much for your time. Great to talk to you.

CONWAY: Thank you.

ACOSTA: Appreciate it.

President Biden is talking today about Ukraine's bid to join NATO. Why he is refusing to make it easier for Ukraine to join the Alliance. We'll explain what that means, coming up next.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:39:14]

ACOSTA: Just in to CNN, you're looking at some live pictures right now. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in China for his high-stakes visit with officials there. In just a couple of hours, he will meet with China's Foreign Minister.

Blinken says he hopes to reestablish lines of communication with China this weekend. Biden administration officials say they're confident Beijing shares their view on the urgency of attaining that goal.

We are waiting for the Secretary of State to deplane. That should happen any moment from now.

In the meantime, we're following a new barrage of Russian attacks in Ukraine. Today, Russia launched 37 airstrikes, most of which struck near Bakhmut. Despite the large scale aerial assault, Ukraine's military claims new Russian offenses have been unsuccessful.

This comes as President Biden makes new comments on Ukraine's bid to join NATO. He told reporters he won't make it easier for Ukraine to join the Alliance because they must meet the same standards as other countries.

[19:40:10]

The President went on to say he believes Ukraine is capable of meeting all of the requirements.

To talk about this and other items that pertain to what is happening in Ukraine right now, CNN military analyst Wesley Clark.

General Wesley Clark joins us. He is also the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander.

Let's start with Biden's comments. General, your reaction with what he had to say there?

GEN. WESLEY CLARK (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, I think that's the open door reaffirmed, and so it is up to Ukraine to meet the standards.

ACOSTA: Yes. I guess the president has to be careful how he answers that question as well, right?

CLARK: Right, because I don't think you can get Alliance consensus to bring Ukrainian while the fighting is still going on.

ACOSTA: Yes.

CLARK: I think that would be an invitation to a NATO conflict, and there are some corruption issues that people talk about in Ukraine, but there is this corruption in many different countries that are in NATO right now. So I think it's a matter of holding the Alliance consensus together, and bringing Ukraine closer and closer to coming into NATO.

ACOSTA: Let's talk about some of the heavy fighting that we've seen in Ukraine today alone. Russia launched 37 strikes, the vast majority of those were in and around Bakhmut.

The Russians have not given up on Bakhmut, I mean, this has just been an area of just incredible intensity. What's your assessment of what we're seeing there?

CLARK: Well, I think there is an effort by Ukraine to penetrate the defenses around Bakhmut and the Russians are stubbornly resisting this. But this is only one of several Ukrainian offensive efforts.

Right now, none of these efforts have really penetrated beyond the first line of Russian troops, that is the security zone, that security zone is defended by minefields, obstacles, direct and indirect fire, and it has a reserve force that can counter attack.

So there are three lines of defense in the doctrine of the way the Russians defend. They've hit the first line in the south. In the north, they're just a little bit beyond where they started. So they're not -- they haven't penetrated the security zone, and the Russians are digging in. They're trying to make this a very, very strong defense, as you would expect.

ACOSTA: And did you see some of these comments that Vladimir Putin made? He just made these in the last 24 to 48 hours, said his Jewish friends say Zelenskyy is "no Jew." and that he quote "shames the Jewish nation."

We've heard these kinds of anti-Semitic nonsensical comments coming out of Russia before. Is this just more Russian propaganda trying to sell this thing back at home?

CLARK: It is that. It is also part of the hybrid war strategy. One of the things that Putin wants to do is make sure that Israel doesn't come in and support Zelenskyy and Ukraine. So there has been a heavy Russian effort to keep support from Israel and other nations in the region, away from Ukraine. This would feed into that effort.

So, it is more than just a silly statement designed for propaganda. There's a purpose behind this.

ACOSTA: Yes. All right, General Wesley Clark, thank you very much for your time. Great to see as always. Really appreciate the insights. Good to talk to you.

A new study shows California's wildfires are already affected by climate change and they could soon get much worse. That story is next. You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:48:06]

ACOSTA: A devastating new study captures just how catastrophic the effects of climate change have been on California's forests and wildlife. New data published this week shows the amount of land scorched by wildfires in northern and central parts of the state has increased fivefold in just the last two decades.

Even more alarming, the study estimates by the year 2050, the amount of land burned could increase by another three to 52 percent.

Joining us now is Daniel Swain, a climate scientists at UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.

Daniel, it does not sound like good news. What do you make of this report?

DANIEL SWAIN, CLIMATE SCIENTISTS AT UCLA INSTITUTE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY: Well, I think it reinforces some of what a lot of folks in California already knew to be true, which is that there's been recently in the past decade or so a dramatic escalation of the wildfires situation in that part of the world, and it really puts a more specific number on just how much climate change has been involved, in this case, it suggests that climate change really is the dominant factor in this observed trend towards larger and more severe wildfires in California.

ACOSTA: And the study largely points to human cause. Climate change as the culvert for these fires, goes on to paint a pretty frightening future for California. Is it possible to change course here or is this just basically the new reality?

SWAIN: Well, there are sort of these, sometimes I like to call them dueling realities, because climate change is driving most of this long-term trend towards more severe fires in California's forests and in many other regions as well that are making the news right now.

But it's also simultaneously true that other factors are still contributing, things like the fact that more people live in harm's way. So there are more homes and more neighborhoods potentially at risk than there were decades ago.

[19:50:04]

A century of fire suppression in some fire regimes, we essentially prevented all of the beneficial fires and we prevented a lot of the indigenous and cultural burning that had, essentially through stewardship kept these forests healthier and reduced the risk of high intensity fires in centuries past. So all of these factors are coming together in a confluence that is

sort of coming to a head right now where climate change is multiplying these other things that are going on.

So the bad news is, the climate is still warming, and this problem is likely to get worse before it gets better, but the silver lining here is there is a lot that can be done to tackle those other challenges in the short term.

ACOSTA: And Daniel, I mean, one thing that we heard from a lot of Californians, when we had all that smoke here on the East Coast was sort of welcome to our world. This is welcome to what we deal with out here in California.

Is that something that people on the East Coast better get used to that the potential for more of this kind of stuff happening in Canada where you could have wildfire smoke blowing down into the United States carrying down into the United States on the East Coast?

SWAIN: Yes, as you mentioned, the West Coast and California, in particular, has really seen a lot of years recently with profoundly disruptive air pollution episodes as a result of wildfire smoke affecting millions of people for many days on end in some cases, and this year, it does turn out to be the Eastern US that's bearing the brunt of it from fires in Canada.

And really, what it illustrates is that wildfire smoke is one mechanism by which increasing extent and severity of forest fires in many regions, as a result of both climate change and other factors too can affect people who live quite far away from the fire zone, hundreds or even thousands of miles downwind, if you're under that smoke plume, you can really be under the gun and have these air pollution crises really, in highly populated areas.

ACOSTA: Yes, there is no question. That's what was happening over here in DC and up in New York. It really caught everybody's attention. We're going to have to stay on top of this topic.

Daniel Swain, thanks very much for your expertise. We really appreciate it.

SWAIN: Thanks for having me.

ACOSTA: All right, and the rise of social media brought political, social, and technological upheaval. It redefined America.

This weekend, the CNN Original Series, "The 2010s" takes you through the social media boom. See it tomorrow night at nine right here on CNN.

A driving test went horribly wrong for one woman. Take a look at this. Not only did she leave her lane, she flipped the car.

More on this dangerous drive next. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [19:57:08]

ACOSTA: In England, Patriots player, Jack Jones has been arrested at Boston's Logan Airport after TSA officers discovered two loaded firearms in his carry-on. These are the weapons they found. Jones faces multiple weapons charges including illegal possession, lack of proper identification and carrying weapons in a secured area. He has been released from custody and will be arraigned next week.

Take a look at this video of a woman in Argentina taking her driving test. First, she blows through a stop sign, hits a few curbs and then suddenly speeds into a light pole and flips the car.

The 63-year-old suffered only minor injuries. No word if she passed the test, but we can venture a guess. Glad to hear that she's okay. Incredible video there.

Talk about taking one for the team, the Yankees' longtime broadcaster, John Sterling took a foul ball to the head while calling a game recently.

CNN's Jeanne Moos has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It is one thing if fictional characters like Kramer or Sophia get bonked by a baseball, but there's nothing fictional about Yankee broadcasting legend. John Sterling.

JOHN STERLING, YANKEE BROADCASTER: The Yankees win.

MOOS (voice over): He still managed his signature line just moments after Red Sox third baseman Justin Turner smacked a foul ball that hit Sterling on the noggin.

Three two, swung, a pop foul back here. Ow. Ow. Ow.

MOOS (voice over): Yankee fans praised the 84-year-old: "Bro is more durable than our players."

STERLING: So, I took one for the team. I am okay, just a glancing blow.

MOOS (voice over): Posted one admirer: "John Sterling it's like a Timex."

ANNOUNCER: Timex, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

MOOS (voice over): But you know what didn't keep on ticking, a drone that the YouTuber known as MrBeast challenged Tom Brady to knock out of the sky.

MRBEAST, YOUTUBER: First try.

MOOS (voice over): Brady bonked the drone, Sterling got bonked by a ball that his broadcasting partner later took down to the Red Sox clubhouse. It came back adorned with a Band-Aid that match the one Sterling wore and an inscription from the batter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Justin Turner wrote: "To John, no matter where you sit at a ballgame, you're never safe."

STERLING: How nice is that.

MOOS (voice over): "I'm very impressed how I used no swear words.."

STERLING: Ow. Ow. Ow.

MOOS (voice over): Three ows and he's still not out.

Jeanne Moos, CNN.

STERLING: Ow.

MOOS (voice over): New York.

STERLING: Ow. Ow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: Put that man on the broadcasting Hall of Fame. Way to go.

Thanks very much for joining me this evening. I'm Jim Acosta.

I'll see you again here tomorrow night starting at five Eastern.

Next, "The Whole Story" with Anderson Cooper. "Indicted: The Case Against Trump."

And as we go tonight, look at Capitol Hill on this beautiful evening here in Washington. Enjoy it out there and we'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night.

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