Return to Transcripts main page
CNN This Morning
Disaster Response Collides With Campaign Politics; Israel Escalates Airstrikes Against Beirut; Caitlin Clark Names WNBA Rookie Of The Year. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired October 04, 2024 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:30:13]
KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR: Just before 5:30 a.m. here on the East Coast. A live look at Miami, Florida on this Friday morning. We made it to Friday. Good morning, everyone. I'm Kasie Hunt. It's wonderful to have you with us.
One week ago Hurricane Helene began its path of historic damage from Florida to the Carolinas, and now seven days later as the search for the missing continues the aftermath has become a central campaign issue.
During a tour of damage in Georgia, Kamala Harris striking a tone of unity and underscoring the federal response, including the deployment of active-duty troops.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are here for the long haul. There is the work that we have done together that was the immediate response -- well, preparation for and then the immediate response after. But there's a lot of work that's going to need to happen over the coming days, weeks, and months.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp was not with Harris, the sitting vice president, during her visit. But he will be Donald Trump today in the former president's second trip to the state this week in the wake of the storm.
Trump has been claiming, without evidence, that the Biden administration is withholding aid from states, including Georgia and North Carolina -- states that are much closer in polling since Kamala Harris entered the race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They stole the FEMA money just like they stole it from a bank so they could give it to their illegal immigrants that they want to have vote for them this season. You know, they're trying to get them on the voters, but we cannot let that happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: The White House pushing back against this allegation. They released a statement that reads this. "This is false. The Disaster Relief Fund is specifically appropriated by Congress to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate impacts of natural disasters. It is completely separate from other grant programs administered by FEMA for the Department of Homeland Security."
Joining me now to talk more about this, Kevin Frey, Washington correspondent for Spectrum News NY1. Kevin, good morning. Wonderful to see you.
KEVIN FREY, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, SPECTRUM NEWS NY1: Good morning.
HUNT: Let's talk about this -- these disaster politics because the optics of this in a campaign season can be very significant.
FREY: Yes.
HUNT: If you remember back to Chris Christie and Barack Obama in the wake of Superstorm Sandy really got under the skin of Romney aides to see those pictures. Now Brian Kemp not appearing with the sitting vice president.
What does that say to you about the state of -- the state of things, and how do you think this ultimately cuts in the election?
FREY: Right. So, I mean, look, for Kamala Harris, this is both a difficulty and also an opportunity for her because she can play this presidential role of politics and also be the consoler-in-chief, taking on one of these presidential responsibilities where you're actually outreaching to folks and making them feel better in their time of crisis.
At the same time it has given rise to a new -- a line of attack, even if it's not based in fact, for the Trump campaign. And Trump is able to appear with Brian Kemp and with other folks to show that he is making inroads with parts of the party that, quite frankly, were quite critical of him just within the last few years.
HUNT: Yeah.
The central challenge here, too -- I mean, as this response goes in there is potentially some risk I think for Democrats in -- there are a lot of questions about all of the people that are still missing in the --
FREY: Yeah.
HUNT: -- mountains of North Carolina.
How much of a challenge is that potentially for Harris considering she is the sitting vice president?
FREY: Right, and we -- I believe it is now the second-deadliest hurricane incident since Hurricane Katrina. Correct me if I'm wrong there. And we all remember the devastating impact that had on --
HUNT: Um-hum.
FREY: -- George Bush's legacy in the immediate aftermath of that in terms of people questioning his ability to lead through such a crisis.
HUNT: Yeah.
FREY: As we continue to see these communities that are cut off in North Carolina and other parts of the country, particularly in these key battleground states -- let's not forget that -- that could pose all sorts of difficulties for her as she tries to outreach to these Sun Belt states.
HUNT: And just the logistics of --
FREY: Yeah.
HUNT: -- these communities to have people voting in communities facing the kind of damage that we're seeing on the screen right now. That's going to be another piece of this as we kind of hurdle, frankly, towards Election Day.
FREY: Correct.
HUNT: Kevin, I want to ask you about another story that broke yesterday, which is Congressman --
FREY: Yeah.
HUNT: -- Mike Lawler. You, of course, cover the New York delegation from here in Washington. He is in a swing district.
There was this photograph that has surfaced -- it was obtained by The New York Times -- of him using makeup to darken his face. He was on CNN last night and he did apologize for it. He tried to explain himself. Let's watch what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE LAWLER (R-NY): I can't change what happened 18 years ago but I certainly, with wisdom and age, understand that is not something I would do today, and certainly understand why people would be upset or offended by it. And for that, I'm sorry.
[05:35:03]
But, you know, for me there was no ill intent. There was no effort to malign, or make fun of, or disparage Black Americans. It was really an effort to pay homage to somebody who was a musical idol for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HUNT: How is this story and his apology going to play in this race.
FREY: Right. I mean, the language that I found interesting was this idea of intent. Where is the line drawn between homage and offensive given the history of blackface?
This is a district that is incredibly critical for Democrats though folks that I have spoken to in New York see this as probably the most difficult one for them to flip, or at least one of the most difficult ones for them to flip within the constellation of competitive seats across New York.
You're seeing, obviously, Democrats are kind of getting their act together after 2022 when they lost all these seats across New York. But they're seemingly like, oh, we have all this oppo research. Maybe we should start dumping it in these last couple of key weeks in the leadup to the Election Day.
For Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who wants to become speaker -- Hakeem Jeffries -- all of these districts in his backyard are critical to his pathway to getting that. So whether or not how this plays, even if it's just on a razor-thin edge, could be critical in this district. And keep in mind, the guy that he's running against is a Black man.
HUNT: Yeah. Tell us a little bit more about the dynamics of that race. Who is his opponent? And what's the makeup of the district in terms of people who may be affected by this story?
FREY: Right. So his opponent is former Congressman Mondaire Jones who was in Congress for one term. Ultimately, during the redistricting shuffle of a few years ago, ended up running in Manhattan in a different district in New York, and then decided to come back to the Hudson Valley to run in this district again after he lost his bid for the Manhattan seat.
So Lawler has been basically pinning him as kind of going wherever he wants to try to get the political edge, be that trying in Manhattan, trying that in the Hudson Valley. How can we trust him?
Mondaire Jones is trying to basically paint Lawler as being a Trump sycophant. Even if he is a moderate that he would be willing to vote along with him.
There are thousands of African American voters in this district so how this might play with them is going to be one of the big questions.
HUNT: Yeah.
So, Kevin, big picture. I mean, we obviously hear Trump talk a lot about New York. He has campaigned in New York --
FREY: Yeah.
HUNT: -- at certain points. Unclear how much that is connected to some of his court cases back in New York. But when you are kind of looking at this campaign every day are you
seeing anything in these House races on the ground there that gives you a sense of how this race may play in swing states that we think are actually going to move for Trump?
FREY: So I want to emphasize that New York is not going to turn red in the presidential cycle.
HUNT: Yes.
FREY: Let's make that plain and clear. However, the word battleground has been tossed around involving New York, and as Democrats have argued to me it is a battleground when it comes to the congressional districts.
HUNT: Um-hum.
FREY: When Joe Biden was at the top of the ticket Democrats behind the scenes would argue to me that he is not polling as well as they were in these congressional districts. Kamala Harris has ultimately somewhat flipped that dynamic and they've seen, like we have seen across the country, kind of this galvanizing affect of people getting excited. The question is will it be enough to tilt the edge?
Twenty-twenty-two, at the top of the ticket, Gov. Kathy Hochul did not perform all that well against the Republican opponent --
HUNT: Against the governor, yeah.
FREY: -- within a single-digit margin.
If Kamala Harris can push it back in the double digits perhaps there could be a down-ballot effect.
HUNT: That's really interesting.
I was talking to one member of the New York delegation not long after the top of the ticket was switched --
FREY: Yeah.
HUNT: -- and they were saying that all of a sudden, they were getting volunteer calls.
FREY: Yeah, exactly.
HUNT: People to go knock on doors. Yeah, really interesting.
Kevin Frey, always great to have you. Thank you very much.
FREY: Thanks for having me.
HUNT: Come back soon.
All right. Coming up here on CNN THIS MORNING the IDF escalating attacks against Lebanon. Now tens of thousands of people are being forced from their homes in the region as the region anticipates Israel's next move.
Plus, Kirk Cousins lets it fly in a rollercoaster ending between the Falcons and the Bucs. That's coming up in our Bleacher Report.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:43:35]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERZI HALEVI, CHIEF OF STAFF, ISRAEL'S ARMED FORCES (through translator): We will not allow Hezbollah to settle itself in these places in the future. The severe blows against Hezbollah in all areas -- in Beirut, in the Beqaa Valley, in south Lebanon -- will continue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: The southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital of Beirut pounded overnight by Israeli airstrikes. The U.S.-backed Lebanese Army says two of its soldiers were killed.
Israel is still considering how it will retaliate against Iran for last week's deadly missile attack. It's not clear how much influence, if any, the U.S. will have on their decision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEW MILLER, SPOKESPERSON, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: Look, they're a sovereign country. They do make their own decisions. We talk with them at a number of different levels about what we believe is in their interest and what we believe is in the interest of the region. We'll continue to do that. But ultimately, it's up for them, as it is for any sovereign country, to make their own decisions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: All right. New this morning, Iran's supreme leader taking the rare step of personally leading Friday prayers in Tehran. In his remarks, vowing, "Israel will never defeat Hamas and Hezbollah," and promising that Iran will attack Israel again "if need be."
Colonel Cedric Leighton joins us now. He's a CNN military analyst and former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer. Colonel, good morning. It's good to see you.
You heard Matt Miller there. He's the State Department spokesman. He says Israel is a sovereign nation. They make their own decisions.
[05:45:00]
Is that a veiled way of saying that Israel's not listening to the U.S. anymore?
COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILIARY ANALYST, FORMER U.S. AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER (RET.) (via Webex by Cisco): Good morning, Kasie. Yes. I think it -- in this case it probably is. Of course, it is absolutely true that Israel is a sovereign nation. But in the past, we have been able to dissuade Israel from mounting attacks against Iran directly.
There were indications back a few decades ago that the Israelis wanted to go and attack the Iranian nuclear facilities even as late as the late 2009 to 2010 area. So there have been places where the U.S. has exercised a great deal of sway over the Israelis and dissuaded them from doing operations like that -- from conducting operations like that.
But in this particular moment in -- at this particular moment in time there have been several instances -- the operations in Gaza are a prime example -- where the U.S. has wanted to curtail what the Israelis were doing in terms of the veracity of their attacks and the Israelis have not listened.
HUNT: Colonel, does it seem to you that the Israelis may be prepared to strike Iranian nuclear facilities here? I mean, we've heard several hawkish, mostly former Israeli officials coming on the air here at CNN, quite frankly, and urging the current leadership to take advantage of what they are arguing as an opportunity.
Obviously, President Biden came out and said pretty directly that he doesn't -- he said no, he doesn't think that that's what Israel should do.
Where do you think this is headed next in that regard?
LEIGHTON: Well, what will probably happen, Kasie, is that will go with a -- the Israelis will go with a tactic where they'll go in and take out economic targets and military targets and not necessarily go after the heart of the Iranian nuclear program.
That actually is a difficult target just from a technical standpoint because the Iranians have hardened the facilities -- the nuclear facilities, and they actually do things like study how strong you can make concrete in their universities. So they've had a lot of time to harden their facilities. They've had a lot of time to make things very difficult.
But Iran is not invulnerable, so for the most part, the Israelis will probably seek to break them economically. That is attack, for example, oil terminals such as the major oil terminal around Kharg Island.
Those are the kinds of things that could happen and probably the most likely, although I do think that this will be a much more severe response than the one the Israelis mounted back in April when they basically took out one facility in -- near Isfahan. So this is something that will be beyond the symbolic and will actually have some teeth to it.
HUNT: Colonel, do you see this escalating out of control? President Biden also was -- said yesterday -- we played him a little bit earlier in the program saying that he thinks there is still possibly a way to avert a wider war. Do you agree with that assessment, or do you think this is on track to really escalate?
LEIGHTON: Well, I think we're kind of at a fork in the road, Kasie. I think President Biden is right that there is a very good possibility that this can de-escalate at some point.
Of note, yesterday, the president of Iran -- the new president of Iran was in Qatar talking to the Emir of Qatar. Qatar is the grand interlocutor, if you will, between Iran and the rest of the world. And that indicates to me that there is some movement on a diplomatic front where the Iranians are trying to de-escalate it from their point of view. Of course, the Israelis are very angry at what happened to them both from Hamas and from Hezbollah, and they are at the very least going to pursue those targets in both Gaza and Lebanon.
As far as Iran is concerned, because of the latest attack, they believe that they have to do something against that.
So there will be -- I think there will be some degree of conflict still coming. If it blows out of proportion, that could very well be the case. But I think there is definitely the possibility for an off- ramp after the Israelis respond to what the Iranians did to them.
HUNT: Right. And, of course, this all taking place against the backdrop of an unprecedented historic presidential campaign that is entering its final days and undoubtedly something that Israeli officials certainly are extraordinarily aware of as they make their various decisions here.
Colonel Cedric Leighton, always grateful to have you on the program, sir. Thank you very much for being here.
LEIGHTON: You bet, Kasie. Always good to be with you.
HUNT: All right. Have a good weekend.
All right, it was a sports fan's dream last night. Both the football and baseball games go down to the wire with a pair of fantastic finished.
Carolyn Manno has this morning's Bleacher Report. Carolyn, good morning.
CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Yes, the remote controls got a workout last night and maybe a multiscreen affair if you're so lucky.
[05:50:00]
But let's start with playoff baseball and the winner-take-all game three between the Mets and Brewers in Milwaukee.
New York down 2-0 in the top of the ninth inning of this game. Two runners on base for New York's Pete Alonso who had not hit a home run since September 19. That slump ending in one of the most special moments of his career. A 3-run blast for the man known as the "Polar Bear" off of All-Star closer Devin Williams to right. That gave the Mets the lead, stunning the home crowd in the process.
Jesse Winker would tack on an insurance run as New York wins 4-2 to advance to the National League Division Series.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETE ALONSO, FIRST BASEMAN, NEW YORK METS: This is something that you practice in the back yard as a kid. I'm just happy to come through for the boys. I mean, we've worked really hard all year. I mean, I had some great at-bats in front of me.
I'm really happy I got to come through for the team right there. It's just such a special effort all series that we -- yeah, I mean, we've worked so hard all year to get to this point. I'm just so happy I was able to contribute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANNO: Incredible moment. The Mets popping bottles in the clubhouse afterwards. But they will not have long to savor this victory. Next up, a clash with their National League East rival Philadelphia Phillies. But a really good night last night.
Game one set for just after 4:00 Eastern tomorrow afternoon. It's part of a quadruple-header of playoff games starting at 1:00 with the Tigers and the Guardians. You'll be able to catch that one on our sister channel TBS along with the Royals and Yankees at 6:30.
The Falcons hosting the Buccaneers on "THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL." And Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins stepping up when it matters most in primetime. Down by three with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter and no times outs, Cousins leading his team downfield to set up Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time would expire to force overtime. But that extra period did not last long. Cousins hitting KhaDarel Hodge on the first drive. He somehow breaks loose and scampers 45 yards for the walk-off touchdown.
So, Kirk Cousins breaking the franchise record with 509 passing yards in a thrilling 36-30 win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KHADAREL HODGE, WIDE RECEIVER, ATLANTA FALCONS: It still to me feels like a movie right now. I checked in for one play and go to the crib? Me? Man, I don't -- I don't know what to say. Like I said, when I scored, I kind of blacked out and I seen the guys coming. I came back and -- like I said, you can't make this up. It's like a movie to me.
KIRK COUSINS, QUARTERBACK, ATLANTA FALCONS: I've played in some crazy games, and I've been on the losing end. And so, to come out with one like this in overtime -- walk-off -- at home on Thursday night against a good football team in the division, it was a great performance, and it showed a lot of character resilience. We kind of had to claw our way back into the game late and gratefully, won the coin toss. And it was a -- it was a big night -- one I'll remember -- yeah.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANNO: After a record-breaking season in which she exceeded lofty expectations, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is officially the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old receiving 66 out of the 67 votes for the award. One person voting for Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky.
But Clark setting a league single game and single season assist records and also become the first rookie in league history to post a triple-double, pulling off that feat twice. So, well-deserved.
The WNBA Playoffs continue tonight with the two-time defending champ Aces on the brink of elimination against the Liberty. Game three set to tip off at 9:30 Eastern. That is after the Lynx and the Sun square off at 7:30.
It was such a good night of sports, Kasie. It was one of those nights where I just could not go to sleep. I knew I had to wake up early but all these games coming down to the wire. I was like, oh -- it was good.
HUNT: So full disclosure, I will say I was asleep, but I woke up to a -- my husband is a Mets fan, and I woke up to a play-by-play. At the end of that game I was really excited to see the highlights.
So he texts me and I'm -- this -- you'll have to fact-check me that one of the statistics they put out there -- the Mets are going to face the Phillies. They have played each over -- each other over 1,100 times but never in the postseason.
MANNO: I have to call your husband. It sounds right.
HUNT: Apparently one of the announcers on whatever broadcast he was watching.
But, like, can I just say do we need extra security in Philly and New York for these games? Like, these teams --
MANNO: Yeah.
HUNT: -- are like going to be at each other's -- like, I don't know, man.
MANNO: This '95 rivalry is so good. It's going to be incredible. The Mets have been up and down all year long and now they're showing up on the biggest stage. It's very Mets. It's going to be very fun.
HUNT: OK, yes. Well, we'll see if my -- I'm not supposed to root for the Phillies now. I do. They're my National League -- they were my National League team for many years. My husband doesn't like it. But the Phillies fans are a special bunch. So I guess we'll see how this goes.
Carolyn, thank you. I really appreciate it.
Coming up next on CNN THIS MORNING, backed by the boss. MANNO: Right.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, SINGER-SONGWRITER: Singing "Born in the USA."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: Bruce Springsteen says he's voting for Kamala Harris. Will it move the needle?
Plus, battleground blitz. Both campaigns testing out different strategies in swing states.
[05:55:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. J.D. VANCE (R-OH), U.S. VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There are seven battleground states. I actually think we have a chance at winning all seven but only if we bust our ass for the next 32 days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL)
HUNT: It's Friday, October 4. Right now on CNN THIS MORNING --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I love to be in Michigan.
HARRIS: It is so good to be back in Wisconsin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: All hands on deck. A little more than a month to go. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump getting high-profile help as they campaign in must-win states.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were out of work for two months, and now we're out of work a few more days. We're very excited to be back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: Back to work. The port strike ends for the moment as union members reach a tentative agreement.
And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MILLER: We do not believe they should strike nuclear sites.
TRUMP: I mean, that's the craziest thing I've ever heard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: How to retaliate.
