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CNN This Morning

White House, House GOP Reach Agreement In Principle; Texas House Votes To Impeach Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton; Polls Open In Turkey's First-Ever Presidential Runoff; Former Mississippi Police Officers Indicted In Man's Death On NYE; Three Killed, Five Wounded In New Mexico Biker Rally Shooting; Beachgoers Warned To Use Caution This Holiday Weekend; Social Media Presents "Profound Risk" Of Harm For Kids. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired May 28, 2023 - 07:00   ET

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

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[07:00:21]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Sunday morning. Ease into it. Don't rush. Good morning. Welcome to CNN This Morning. I'm Victor Blackwell.

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning everyone. I'm Amara Walker. And thank you so much for spending a part of your morning with us. So after weeks of tense negotiations, lawmakers have finally reached a debt ceiling deal in principle though. And now the race is on to get the votes to pass it and get it signed in order to avoid a default.

BLACKWELL: If you are planning to go to the beach this weekend, be cautious. Officials are telling people to be on high alert after a string of recent shark sightings and some attacks. What you need to know to protect yourself and your family?

WALKER: And a new warning from the surgeon general. Why he says social media presents a, quote, profound risk for children. We're going to talk to an expert about what parents can do to protect their children.

BLACKWELL: Have you seen this? I mean, it was a huge night for Boston and the Celtics. This buzzer-beater, it really is a fraction of a second at the end. And you got to look really closely to see it. They force a winner-take-all game seven. We'll show you highlights ahead.

WALKER: All right. We begin this morning with the race in Washington to craft legislation, the text of it all, to raise the nation's debt ceiling and avoid a historic default. Last night, White House -- the White House and Republican negotiators reached an agreement in principle, but there are still concerns of a potential default.

BLACKWELL: Yes, the proposed legislation still needs to be written, and of course, passed to get to the President by June 5th. That's the date the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says, the government will run out of money to pay its debts, and there are skeptics in the House and Senate who will have to be won over before the measure makes it to the President. We have team coverage this morning. CNN's Kevin Liptak is in Wilmington with the President. We'll start though on Capitol Hill with Lauren Fox. All right, so let's talk about -- again, we don't have the legislation, but some of the headlines, the contours of the deal. What do you know?

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, this is a major victory for both sides who had been working tirelessly over the last seven days to try to craft this deal in principle, and that is what they have. Like you noted, this is not a final bill. They still have to write legislative tax, which will take a little bit of time.

They are hoping to post this piece of legislation later today to give their members three days to review it. But inside this deal, there are some wins for both sides. What you're getting from Republicans is that they got some new work requirements for social safety net programs like food stamps.

There is also from the White House, a feeling that they won on the spending side of things, arguing that this deal will hold spending in the next year at about the levels that it is at right now. Now, Republicans disputing that a little bit arguing in their private call last night that this actually cuts spending back to levels last year.

So a little discrepancy there, but that gives you a sense of sort of the messaging wars that are going to be part of who won and who lost in this hard-fought negotiation. There is an expectation that this is going to be a tough fight to get the votes that they are going to need on both the Republican and Democratic side.

You're already hearing some concerns from conservatives who spoke up in a private conference call last night, arguing that this deal does not cut spending enough. Now, it was always expected that Kevin McCarthy was going to lose some on his right flank, but how big of a rebellion that is is still a huge question.

Here's the Speaker last night on some of those conservatives who are pushing back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: You got a lot more excited than depressed on this. And I think once people read the bill, they'll be pretty excited. But most important, it's America wins on this one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOX: And Democrats are going to have their own call tonight at 5:00 p.m. White House will be briefing them. It's important to note that they could lose votes on both the progressive side of things and on the conservative side of things. The idea was always they were going to have to pass this through the middle of both the Republican and Democratic caucuses.

WALKER: All right, Lauren Fox, thank you very much. Let's go now to CNN White House Reporter Kevin Liptak. All right, Kevin, you know, we've been hearing four days now, you know, just frustrations from rank and file Democrats concerns about too many concessions from President Biden. I guess, you know, of course the big question will be, will President Biden have enough support from Democrats to get a deal passed?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, that is the question that is hanging over the White House this morning. And I think what you're hearing from officials is very cautious, optimism and of course, they're very guarded in their optimism because really the marathon is not over yet.

[07:05:11]

The threat of default remains very much on the table this morning as they begin this most intensive phase of the process so far to try and consolidate support around this deal that was struck last night. And that effort on the Democratic side, we'll begin later today when the White House gets on the phone on a conference call with Democratic members of Congress to try and sell this package.

We also expect President Biden to speak again by phone with Kevin McCarthy later today. But I think for Democrats, one of the biggest snags in this deal is the idea of work requirements for food stamps that had been something that many Democrats said were a non-starter as these negotiations were proceeding.

This final package does include an expansion of work requirements on food stamps for those under the age of 54. But what the White House says is that the President did protect Medicaid, that was certainly something that was a key priority for him. And he also expanded food stamps for homeless people and for veterans.

So they do say they accomplished something in this bill, but bottom line, this is a compromised deal. And the President did acknowledge that in a statement that he released very late last night. He said, in part, "It is an important step forward that reduces spending while protecting critical programs for working people and growing the economy for everyone. And the agreement protects my and congressional Democrats key priorities and legislative accomplishments."

And then the President goes on to say, "The agreement represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want. That's the responsibility of governing."

And so the question now is whether there were too many compromises in this package to secure enough support on the Democratic side and on the Republican side. And so the effort now will really begin. Kevin McCarthy did say yesterday that he would allow that 72-hour-period for members of Congress to review this package.

The vote will occur on Wednesday. Of course, it could get held up in the Senate as well, but the timeline here is quite short that June 5th date remains in place for when the Treasury Department says it will run out of cash to pay its bills in full. Guys? WALKER: It's a very small window to iron out. So many details.

Kevin Liptak, thank you.

Joining me now is John Chambers, the former chairman of Standard and Poor's Sovereign Rating Committee. Good morning to you, John. You may --

JOHN CHAMBERS, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF S&P'S SOVEREIGN RATING COMMITTEE: Good morning, Amara.

WALKER: -- best known -- be best known for downgrading the U.S. credit rating in 2011 during your time with S&P. That unprecedented blow to the American economy happened even though there was ultimately no default. But, of course, we saw the fierce political battle between President Obama and House Republicans bringing us to the brink.

And John, here we go again. We're up against the clock. There is a deal in principle, it could fall apart potentially before June 5th. What goes through your mind as we watch this movie play once again?

CHAMBERS: Well, it's certainly welcome that we have a tentative agreement between the Speaker and the President, but clearly this is no way to run a government of the 130 governments that Standard & Poor's rated at one time or another. Almost none of them have split the budgetary process and the funding process in this manner, so that we are within a week of potentially running out of cash and defaulting on our debt.

This is simply not consistent with a AAA rating, and I think it validates the decision that Standard & Poor's took 12 years ago to lower the rating.

WALKER: So yes, I was just going to ask you that because you have said that this was probably the most important decision of your life or your professional life, and you -- do you stand by it bringing down the U.S. credit rating from the, you know, coveted AAA --

CHAMBERS: Yes, I think it was --

WALKER: -- to AA plus?

CHAMBERS: Yes, I think it's not only my judgment, but it's a judgment of the markets. If you look where the short-term treasury bill is trading, if you look where credit defaults swaps are trading, the market has come to the same conclusion.

WALKER: So what goes into such a decision?

CHAMBERS: Well, it's a committee decision and the committee looks at the five broad areas, which include the budget and debt. It includes the external position and the monetary accounts. It looks at what's going on in the economy itself. And most importantly, it looks at what's going on in the politics.

And here in the United States, our political system is very fractured. And you saw that, for example, two years ago in the failed coup d'eta. This is really as probably as a divided a country as we've seen since the 1850s.

WALKER: So, you know, as you know, I mean, there are three major credit rating companies including S&P, and now you have Fitch who has put the U.S. on notice for a potential demotion from its AAA rating.

[07:10:09]

Even if the U.S. government avoids a default, do you think the U.S. deserves to lose its top tier rating with Fitch or the other -- with Moody's?

CHAMBERS: Well, Fitch and Moody's will have to speak for themselves, but as I've said, when you've got a situation where you can default on your debt within a week and a non-trivial possibility of that, it's simply not consistent with a AAA rating. Going from AAA to D is a very bad rating transition.

WALKER: You know, that few countries maintain debt ceilings. I think it was Australia that had a debt ceiling and then abolished it after experiencing a lot of political infighting. Do you think it's time the U.S. does the same, just get rid of this debt ceiling?

CHAMBERS: I think that you need to combine the funding decisions and the budget decisions in a single act. All of these deficits that now need to be funded have been approved by Congress in the past. So that when you pass a budget, you need to pass the funding that goes along with it. So, yes, I think the debt ceiling should be abolished.

WALKER: So each time a spending bill is passed, that should be tied to the debt ceiling and automatically be raised, or should the Treasury Secretary have the unilateral power to do -- to raise it?

CHAMBERS: Either way, it would come out to be the same.

WALKER: Yes, yes.

John Chambers, appreciate your time. Thank you very much.

CHAMBERS: Thank you.

WALKER: All right. And make sure that you tune in at 9:00 a.m. for State of the Union. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal will join Jake Tapper to talk about the tentative debt deal right here on CNN.

BLACKWELL: This was a stunning vote against one of their own. Texas GOP lawmakers in the State House voted overwhelmingly to impeach Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. It was after legislative investigation that alleged years of corruption.

Under state law, Paxton is now temporarily suspended from his duties as A.G. and will await a Senate trial. CNN's Rosa Flores has more.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor, Amara, Ken Paxton has been impeached by the Texas House of Representatives and under the Texas Constitution. That means that he's immediately suspended and that the Texas governor has the power to appoint a replacement.

But let me take you inside this historic vote. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have all members voted. There've been 121 ayes and 23 nays. Two present, not voting. Three absent. The resolution is adopted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: Now, this is Republicans policing Republicans. The Texas House is led by Republicans and the committee that investigated Ken Paxton is a Republican and he issued a statement after this historic vote that said in part, quote, "Throughout the course of the investigation, we discovered numerous activities that constitute unethical and potentially criminal conduct. These violations of the public trust are alarming and show a systemic pattern of behavior that every member of our committee felt needed to be addressed in a public forum".

Now this is already a historic vote. Ken Paxton is the first attorney general in the state of Texas to ever be impeached. But there was another bombshell during this long debate that happened in the House on Saturday. And that was that several members of the House stated that Ken Paxton called them, threatening them that if they voted yes, there would be political consequences.

Though there was concerned about this, so much so that one member took to Twitter, saying, quote, I will be submitting a journal statement to amend charge document to include abuse of power, intimidation of House members, and Senate jury tampering in light of Charlie Geren's statements that A.G. Paxton called and threatened House and Senate members".

I asked Ken Paxton's office about those threats and I did not hear back. Now, Ken Paxton did take to Twitter in response to his impeachment sane in part, quote, "I am beyond grateful to have the support of millions of Texans who recognize that what we just witnessed is illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust. I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just".

So what happens next? The trial happens in the Senate and what we know is that the lieutenant governor serves as a judge. The 31 senators serve as jurors, and that a two-thirds vote of senators present is required to convict. Victor and Emma?

BLACKWELL: All right, Rosa, thank you.

Still ahead, voters are going to the polls in Turkey today. It's the country's first ever presidential runoff election. So what are the international implications?

WALKER: And parents will want to hear this, a stark warning this week from the surgeon general about kids and the risks of social media.

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[07:18:58]

WALKER: Voters in Turkey are back at the polls this morning in the country's first ever runoff. The two candidates, current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and main opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, are facing off once again.

BLACKWELL: Both cast their votes earlier today. In the first round of voting, Erdogan secured a near five-point lead, but fell short of the 50 percent threshold needed to win.

CNN's Nadia Bashir -- Nada Bashir, rather, is in Istanbul for us. Nada, what is the mood there for voters today?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, we have seen voters streaming in all morning into these polling stations here in Istanbul. Many of them, of course, still deeply hopeful here to make their voices heard. And over the last few days, we've really seen the campaign efforts on both sides being stepped up. Both parties hopeful that they will be able to sway enough voters to get over that crucial 50 percent plus one threshold to declare a victory today.

Now, of course, as you mentioned there, we did see President Erdogan's incumbent AK party securing 49.5 percent of the vote in the first round two weeks ago. They are hopeful they'll be able to make the difference and secure a victory today.

[07:20:11]

But hope is not lost in the opposition. We've been speaking to many supporters here who have been voting for Kemal Kilicdaroglu's alliance of six opposition parties. It has to be said six opposition parties from various spectrums -- various points on the spectrum, of course. And this is a huge feat for the opposition.

They remain hopeful. They secure just under 45 percent of the vote in the last round. They are hopeful they'll be able to get the votes needed to get across the threshold this time. But, of course, there are some significant challenges ahead. There is a lot on these voters' minds not lease the economy.

This is a country facing a severe cost of living crisis, rising inflation, a plummeting lira here in Turkey. And we cannot forget the aftermath of the devastating February earthquake. That is something many are still thinking about.

The government has seen a real backlash against its response. Many accusing the government of a chaotic and delayed response in February. Questions around liability. And responsibility processing. Of course, we can't forget that Turkey is playing a huge role on the global stage.

President Erdogan over the last, now more than two decades in power, has secured Turkey's place as a key NATO ally, a very influential regional power broker. And over the last few months, we have seen President Erdogan positioning Turkey as a sort of mediator figure in the war in Ukraine, securing that Black Sea Grain Initiative deal last summer through delegations from Ukraine and Russia.

So, of course, there is a lot at stake here. This is a significant election. It's the first time we have seen the presidential election go to a runoff vote. So the stakes are high and many will be waiting anxiously late tonight to hear the results of who will be declared Turkey's next president. Victor, Amara?

WALKER: Ye, I can't state it enough that it really is a high stakes election.

Nada Bashir, thank you very much.

Coming up, officials across the country are on high alert for shark attacks as many flock to the beaches this Memorial Day weekend. What you need to know, next.

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[07:26:08]

BLACKWELL: Some top stories for you now that we're following today. Three former Jackson, Mississippi police officers are indicted for a man's death after a confrontation. A warning for you about this recently released body cam footage we're about to show, it's graphic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put your hands behind your back now. Put your hands behind your back. Both of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: A video shows officers pinning down Keith Murriel and tasing him multiple times at a hotel parking lot. This is New Year's Eve. Attorneys for his family say an independent autopsy found that he died because of failure to receive aid after a severe beating. Kenya McCarty, Avery Willis, they're charged with second degree murder. James Land in the middle here is charged with manslaughter. They're also facing a civil lawsuit.

WALKER: No injuries reported after an overnight fire erupted at a Marina in Arlington, Virginia. D.C. Fire and EMS worked alongside Arlington and Fort Myers fire departments to put out those flames at the Columbia Island Marina on the Potomac River.

Officials say foam was used to extinguish the fire. Several docks and at least three boats were damaged. Investigators are now on scene.

BLACKWELL: At least three people are dead and five others wounded after a shooting at a motorcycle rally in Red River, New Mexico yesterday. Police say several people were taken into custody and are members of biker gang.

The rally draws tens of thousands to the town's main street for Memorial Day weekend, and the mayor says a curfew was put in place overnight and most of Main Street is closed this morning because of the ongoing investigation.

WALKER: South Korea's Asiana Airline says it is suspending the sale of some seats in the emergency exit row as a safety precaution. This, after a man opened a plane door, while it was still in the air just before landing on Friday, about 700 feet in the air, putting more than 200 people at risk.

Starting today, the airline has halted the sale of C26-A and some of their planes and 31-A and others, the exit row. Officials say these terms will apply even when the flight is full.

BLACKWELL: Ruin that extra leg room for everybody.

WALKER: Sorry.

BLACKWELL: That's a shame.

WALKER: Yes. That doesn't impact me, but you actually.

BLACKWELL: I need it.

All right. If you're headed to a beach, the warning is for you to use caution. Stay vigilant in the waters. This Memorial Day weekend, officials are tracking a string of recent shark attacks and sightings.

WALKER: CNN Miguel Marquez shows us some of those close encounters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tiger shark.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Season of the shark.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tiger shark, Rambi.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): A close call in Hawaii. Shark attacks happening almost any place anytime.

MAGGIE DROZDOWSKI, NEW JERSEY SHARK ATTACK VICTIM: I realized my whole foot was like in its mouth. And I was shaking my foot as hard as I could.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): Maggie Drozdowski was surfing in Southern New Jersey when she was attacked.

In the Turks and Caicos, a 22-year-old woman was snorkeling beyond the reef when a shark attacked taking her leg. She was saved by a fast- acting captain from a nearby tour boat.

ANDY CASAGRANDE, FILMMAKER & HOST, DISCOVERY'S SHARK WEEK: There's a number of reasons why sharks will occasionally bite people, sometimes eat people. And mistaken identity is one of these big factors.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was like right there, right in the whitewater.

CASAGRANDE: In an attack in Fort Pierce, Florida, a teen was sitting in shallow water near the shore.

ELLA REED, FLORIDA SHARK ATTACK VICTIM: It kind of just slipped in and got my finger and my arm and it like, super round and got my leg.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): New York States taking no chances this summer increasing the number of shark spotting drones and patrol boats.

How much respect do you have to have that this is their front end backyard.

CLARENCE "TOBY" TOBIAS, SURFER: Oh 100 percent. 100 percent. I'm playing in their home, so I'm playing by their roof.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): Toby Tobias has surfed for 35 years.

[07:30:02

His closest contact with a shark, right here in NYC.

CLARANCE "TOBY" TOBIAS, SURFER: I just like glimpsed to my side and I just like a fin and I just -- I glimpsed and he came straight to me and just like make a big splash and just turn away.

MARQUEZ (voiceover): And just this morning, a suspected pressure shark spotted by this frequent surfer.

NICK SZWARC, SURFER: It looked pretty big. So, it was like the size of my surfboard. So --

MARQUEZ (on camera): You were not going to mess with it?

SZWARC: Yes. I paddled in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Amara, Victor, this is Rockaway Beach in New York, and the surfers have been out here all day. There is only going to be more and more surfers now that Memorial Day is upon us and the summer has begun.

Look, it is extremely rare to get bitten or attacked by a shark anywhere, but there are a couple of rules of the road or the ocean that New York officials are suggesting. If you see seals or schools of fish, birds diving in the water, stay away from those areas because you do not want to get mistaken for a shark meal. Victor, Amara.

WALKER: Don't want to turn into a shark meal. Miguel, thank you for that advice.

Still ahead, a new warning from the surgeon general says, social media presents a profound risk of harm for children. We're going to discuss this next.

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[07:35:00]

WALKER: This week, a new warning from the surgeon general that social media creates a profound risk of harm for children. Those concerning words detailed in a new advisory that cites several ways in which social media may cause harm to young people's mental health. Our Erin Burnett sat down with Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy this week, and here is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. VIVEK MURTHY, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: On average, teens are spending three and a half hours a day on social media. That's on average. I mean, many kids are spending much longer than that. But the key point is that the data also shows when kids are spending more than three hours on average, that they face nearly double the risk, increased risk of depression and anxiety symptoms. That's really profound.

And, you know, they are more concerning facets here, but what we have to understand from all of this is that it is urgent that we take action to protect our kids and to make sure that their experience on social media is safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Yes. All of this is so concerning just knowing how prevalent social media is. Joining us now is Jacqueline Nesi. She's an assistant professor of psychiatry at Brown University. Thank you so much for joining us.

So, I mean, talk to us more about what the research shows in terms of the kind of harm to mental health that is happening to our children when they are on social media.

JACQUELINE NESI, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY, BROWN UNIVERSITY: Yes. So, at this point I'd say, you know, the research is really not actually settled on this issue. It's not definitive. But we do have some evidence that social media may have a negative impact on mental health for some teens.

And so, I think there's two things that are really important to understand here. One is that, you know, the impacts of social media on mental health are actually somewhat complicated. So, it depends on how it's being used. We know social media can have both risks and benefits. It also depends on who is using it. So, social media can impact teens very differently depending who they are.

And then, the second thing is that we also know mental health issues are actually incredibly complicated and they're rarely the result of a single cause. So, it's very unlikely that social media would be the sole cause of a mental health concern.

But all that to say, you know, I think the key is that we need to be -- protect youth from the potential harms of social media, but we also can't ignore the many other factors that may play a role in supporting youth's mental health.

WALKER: Yes. Let's get a little specific here, especially when we're, you know, hearing about high rates of depression and suicidal thoughts. You know, is it that -- and look, I don't want to simplify it, but in terms of examples, I mean, are young people, especially, you know, young girls, seeing things on social media, self -- and there's, you know, self -- having self-image issues as a result and getting depressed? I mean, just give us more examples as to, you know, how this is impacting young people.

NESI: Yes. So, there are a couple of different name categories of risk, I think, when it comes to social media. So, the first of that would be overuse and the second would be harmful content. So -- and these are outlined in the surgeon general's advisory.

So, with overuse, you know, the concern is that social media use can be used to a degree where it's really getting in the way of everyday functioning. So, it's getting in the way of activities that are important for health, like sleep, exercise, in-person socializing, and the other piece is exposure to problematic content. So, yes, that could include anything from, you know, exposure to content related to self-harm or eating disorders through, you know, bullying, or hate speech. And again, you know, these are things that teens, obviously, should not be exposed to.

WALKER: Yes. And of course, one of the things that Dr. Vivek Murthy has mentioned in interviews is this overuse or this addictive nature of social media. So, just walk us through what parents can do to protect our children.

NESI: Yes. So, I think first thing to say here is that, you know, it's becoming really clear this is not something that parents should have to do alone. They shouldn't have to manage this on their own. It really needs to be a multifaceted effort with involvement from policymakers and tech companies as well.

At the same time, we know that parents do play a major role in helping their children navigate social media. And I think there are three aspects to that. Communication, setting boundaries and modeling. So, with communication, we want to be asking our kids questions, understanding what they are up to online, with setting limits. We really want to be putting boundaries and limits in place on what they are doing online and how much time they are spending.

[07:40:00]

And then, with modeling, we know that parents' own social media use can actually have a major impact on teens' use of social media. So, we really want to be modeling those healthy habits that we want to see on social media from our kids.

WALKER: Yes. You know, my question as a parent is how long can I keep my little children away from social media before they start asking, mom, can I please get on? Are there any benefits to social media?

NESI: There are. So, the research does suggest that there are benefits to social media use, and we don't hear a lot of this, but I think primary benefit would really be social connection and support. So, opportunities to maintain friendships as well as to make new friendships.

Other benefits would be things like learning and discovery, opportunities for identity exploration and affirmation. And, you know, the research suggests that some of these benefits may actually be even more powerful for youth who may be marginalized or maybe vulnerable in different ways their offline lives. So, these are really important.

WALKER: That's an interesting perspective. Well, great to talk to you. Jacqueline Nesi, thank you very much.

BLACKWELL: Coming up, to honor our nation's fallen military heroes, one group has made it their mission to visit cemeteries across the country to stand in for families and friends who are unable to visit their loved ones this Memorial Day weekend. We will speak to the woman leading that charge, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:45:00]

BLACKWELL: This Memorial Day weekend there are a lot of people who are reflecting on specific friends or relatives who are serving in the U.S. military or honoring the thousands of fallen service members who died fighting for our nation.

Here with me now is the sister of First Lieutenant Travis Manion who died in Iraq in 2017 while trying to save his fellow service members. Ryan Manion is now the president of the Travis Manion Foundation and co-founder of the Honor Project, which pays tribute to fallen soldiers at cemeteries across the country.

Ryan, thank you for your time. Let's start with just telling us about your brother and why he decided to serve.

RYAN MANION, PRESIDENT, TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION AND GOLD STAR SISTER OF FIRST LIEUTENANT TRAVIS MARION: Well, thank you so much for having me. My brother was a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps, born into a military family. My dad is a retired colonel in the Marine Corps. And I think from a very young age, Travis had a desire to serve. And he understood what service to this country meant and, you know, he wanted to make a difference.

BLACKWELL: If not me, then who, the ethos of the Travis Manion Foundation. Explain where it came from and what that means to your organization.

MANION: Sure. So, those were the five words that my brother shared when asked why he had to go back for a second tour to Iraq. And they became the mantra for everything we do at the Travis Manion Foundation.

You know, when Travis was asked those five words, he said, you know, if I don't go back, somebody much less prepared is going to go in my place. And so, we've have taken those five words and we turned them into a movement.

BLACKWELL: So, let's talk about the Honor Project. We've got a map here of now the expanded reach at the cemeteries across the country that people affiliated with your organizations will visit to stand in for those who cannot travel, maybe across the country in some cases, to honor those who gave their lives in protecting the freedoms in this country. Tell us about the project and what's going to happen over the next day or so.

MANION: Sure. So, the project is designed to make sure that no fallen hero spends Memorial Day alone. So, families can register their loved ones and we will make sure that a volunteer goes and pays respects to their loved ones.

I was at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday with over 400 volunteers. And over course of the weekend, we will visit over 10,000 gravesites across the country.

BLACKWELL: What do you feel when you're there this weekend?

MANION: You know, when I was there yesterday, one of the things I said to the crowd was, as a Gold Star Sister, it means so much to know that my brother and these young men and women who have given their lives for us are being recognized this weekend. But the biggest and most incredible thing for me was seeing all the young children there. Families had brought their kids out to teach them about the importance of Memorial Day, and I think we have a responsibility and an obligation to pass on the meaning of what Memorial Day is to the next generation.

BLACKWELL: Yes. You're going to have so many people who are participating and volunteering with your organization every year, but, you know, for some people, this is a three-day weekend, they see it as a time to get to the beach. They -- you know, it's the start of summer. What should people be doing this weekend from your perspective to honor those who gave their lives?

MANION: Yes. You know, I'm OK with that. I am OK with it being the unofficial start to the summer and people enjoying themselves and doing the things that all of these men and women who gave their lives for us enjoyed doing too. But what I ask is that each and every one of us take one minute out of the day to understand and recognize why this weekend exists and acknowledge why it exists.

And I say, if you can't get to participate in the Honor Project, learn the story of a fallen service member. And while you are eating your hot dog and drinking your cold beer, pass that story to the person you are sitting next to and make sure that the legacy of these men and women continues.

BLACKWELL: That's not too much to ask. Ryan Manion, I appreciate your time and I also appreciate your family's sacrifice. Thank you. We'll be right back.

MANION: Thank you so much.

[07:50:00]

WALKER: OK. Did you see this? It was a stunner at the buzzer. The Celtics are one game away from pulling off the biggest comeback in NBA history.

BLACKWELL: Boston lost the first three games of their playoff series against Miami. And now, they've won three in a row. Carolyn Manno joins us now.

Carolyn, I watched maybe the 15 seconds around this shot, probably about 20 times this morning.

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: You're not alone. Everybody did. I mean, we're talking about history. My jaw was on the floor. I mean, when the Celtics were facing four straight elimination games a couple of people thought that they could put themselves in position to make history. Not many. I mean, they are top seed for the reason. So, I thought maybe there's a chance, but I did not expect them to do it in the most dramatic way possible to force this game seven.

[07:55:00]

Boston up by two with less than 10 seconds left to go. Jimmy Butler has the ball for Miami, he gets forced into the corner, has to throw up this wild shot. Gets fouled and Al Horford and Jimmy Butler who struggled all game long showing up huge, calmly seeking all three free throws, giving Miami the lead with just three seconds to go.

At the time out, Derrick White inbounding for the Celtics. And this is where it got even crazier, passes the ball to Marcus Smart. Three pointer comes up just short. Nobody covers White. White grabbing putback, letting go of the ball just before the clock hit zero. Incredible awareness from Derrick White. The Celtics win 104 to 103, becoming just the fourth NBA team to ever force a game seven after being in a three-game hold to start the series.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DERRICK WHITE, BOSTON CELTICS GUARD: We won. Whatever it takes, we got our backs against the wall. Just happy we won.

JAYSON TATUM, BOSTON CELTICS FORWARD: Oh, my God. That was incredible. I'm still like in disbelief. It was crazy.

WHITE: We are a resilient group. We pick each other up. We fight for each other. And I mean, the job isn't done yet, we've got a tough on game seven and we got to find a way to get one more win here.

JIMMY BUTLER, MIAMI HEAT FORWARD: Basketball at its finest. Very, very, very, very entertaining. That's good basketball and I think I believe, as we all do, like you don't get the same test until you pass it. I swear. We're in the same position last year, and we can do it. I know that we will do it. We got to go on a road and win in a very, very, very tough environment. But we are capable of it. So, let's get busy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANNO: It's winner take all in Boston Monday night. It's anybody's guess. Tipoff is at 8:30 on TNT. Don't miss it. The Dallas Stars are also trying to keep their season alive against Vegas. Check out this incredible save by Adin Hill, diving, losing his stick to stuff the shot that would have given Dallas the lead. Really nice. Hill couldn't stop them all though. And Ty Dellandrea scoring two goals in the third period as the Stars win four to two, forcing a game six back in Dallas tomorrow night.

A remarkable story in England that sounds like it's actually right out of Wrexham, if you're familiar. Luton Town punching their ticket back to the top flight of football with a dramatic win over Coventry City in penalties. So, after being relegated the 1992, falling all the way to the fifth tier, being stuck there for nine years, the Hatters climbing all the way back. They're going to make their long-awaited premier league debut next season along with a $200 million congratulations. Not too bad. That is about 10 times the club's annual revenue. So, a great story there.

And finally, for you today, the biggest day of the year is motor racing, beginning with Formula 1's Crown Jewel, The Monaco Grand Prix, of course. A beautiful tradition out there in Monaco. Two-time reigning champ point seater Max Verstappen earning his first ever pole in that Monte Carlo. He's the man to beat. Flag drop at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

And then, at 6:00 p.m., you've got the longest race of the NASCAR season, The Coca-Cola 600. William Byron starting first in Charlotte, North Carolina. And sandwiched in between those two at 1:00 Eastern, you've got the greatest spectacle in racing, the 107th edition of the Indianapolis 500. Spain's Alex Palou getting his first pole at Indi. So, a lot to look forward to, guys.

BLACKWELL: Yes. You got a lot going on. I mean, the debt ceiling deal was a big deal, but I mean, you are busy as today.

MANNO: I got to go.

WALKER: Yes, you got to go. We'll let you go. We'll let you go. Thanks so much, Carolyn.

BLACKWELL: Thank you.

WALKER: Good to see you.

BLACKWELL: OK. So, this next story is a definition of a bad day turning into a win. It starts with a man in Kentucky. He says his day started out unlucky when he ran out of gas on the way to the pump.

WALKER: All right. So, Michael Schlemmer's tank was so critically low, he had to coast up to the station. And when he went into that station his luck turned around. So, he had $40 in cash.

BLACKWELL: OK. WALKER: So, what do you do with all that money? Do you put it all in the gas tank? No. He took half, $20, used it for the gas and then, $20 he used to purchase scratch off tickets.

BLACKWELL: OK. We'll come back to that. It paid off though because he won the ticket's top prize, $1 million.

WALKER: What? What?

BLACKWELL: They opted to take game's lump sum $862,000. He says he plans to buy a new car with his winnings and save the rest. It -- I am out of gas. I've got two $20 bills. I'm putting both in the tank.

WALKER: Me too. I'm with you.

BLACKWELL: Barely that's the wrong decision.

WALKER: I mean, maybe $5 for scratch off, but --

BLACKWELL: The only thing I've ever won on a scratch off is another ticket that losses. So --

[08:00:00]

WALKER: Bad luck.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

WALKER: Yes. You just don't have the luck.

BLACKWELL: Yes. I'm not really good.

WALKER: Priorities. The next hour of CNN THIS MORNING starts now.