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CNN This Morning
Firefighters Battle Blazes in Los Angeles; Today: Trump to Be Sentenced in New York Hush Money Case; Winter Storm Strengthening as It Treks Across South. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired January 10, 2025 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR: It's Friday, January 10. Right now on CNN THIS MORNING.
[05:59:45]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADAM VAN GERPEN, LOS ANGELES CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT: This fire is far from over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: Surveying the damage. Residents in Southern California returning to the charred remains of their homes. But the threat is not over yet.
And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'll do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their political opponent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: Sentencing day. Donald Trump about to cement his status as the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.
And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): We're going to find things to work together for a better Pennsylvania and a better nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: Reaching across the aisle. John Fetterman becoming the first Democratic senator to make the trip to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump.
And then later --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): We're not used to driving on ice and snow. We're not used to driving in conditions like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: A powerful winter storm hitting the South, dumping several inches of snow in Texas and leaving dangerous conditions in its wake.
All right, 6:00 a.m. Here on the East Coast. So live look at Kansas City, Missouri, where it is rather snowy on this Friday morning.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Kasie Hunt. It's wonderful to have you with us.
For the fourth straight day, residents of Southern California are waking up to unimaginable scenes of devastation. Several major wildfires continue to burn in and around Los Angeles County, including the Palisades Fire, which is already the most destructive in L.A. history and is only 6 percent contained at this point.
Complicating the fight, an incident in which a firefighting plane like this one collided with a drone that was illegally flying in restricted airspace. The crew was able to land safely, but the plane sustained damage, and it was taken out of service. The FAA is now investigating.
And new overnight: police announcing they've arrested a person suspected of trying to start a fire in the Woodland Hills area. Now, the LAPD is not confirming whether the suspect had any connection to the newly formed Kenneth Fire that we saw explode overnight.
At least ten people have died in these fires, and 10,000 structures have been lost across Los Angeles County. The progress in getting the fires under control is slow as the weather conditions continue to remain treacherous.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VAN GERPEN: We're hearing some weather reports from the National Weather Service that there might be some more red-flag conditions coming up next week. So, that's -- this -- this fire is far from over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: And while the threat, as he says, is far from over, so many have already lost everything.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right over here is my kitchen, my living room. Oh my God. Pots and pans and stuff right there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh. Oh my God.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, 25 years I've been here. Easy, 25. Gone. Less than three hours.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you look out at your neighborhood, what happened here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just looked like a war zone here. This is a war zone. Looks just like a war zone.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw the fire at 2 o'clock. I took a picture, and at 4 o'clock, my phone went off, and it says evacuate. Evacuate. And that's what we did.
There's nothing. There's nothing left. I literally just have the clothes on my back. There's nothing. Things that my grandmother gave me. My granddaughter, she's always making me something. And I put it in a frame. You know, I don't have those no more.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yvette said that this guy's house was touched by God.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It had to be, because it sure didn't burn.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But if his house is touched by God, what happened to the rest of the neighborhood?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God didn't -- didn't care about u. It shows it right now.
But I'm going to let this go, and I'm going to close my gate. And I'm going to get out of here, because it's just making me sick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: Just so many tragic stories unfolding all across Los Angeles County.
CNN's Marybel Gonzalez has been on the ground over the past several days. She is joining us now.
And, of course, Marybel has been with us each morning throughout this as these flames have continued to burn. This is from Thursday in the Pacific Palisades, California.
Marybel, what are you seeing where you are right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep going, keep going. Don't -- Don't point the mic right at her.
MARYBEL GONZALEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kasie it's just a devastating scene here. We talked about thousands and thousands of people who had had to flee their homes and into safety. Many of them will be returning to scenes just like this one.
Almost their entire neighborhood burned down, reduced, their homes reduced to ashes and debris.
Now here where we're standing, this is the scene that's replaying over and over again all throughout Pacific Palisades. As we know, this has been one of the hardest hit areas. And, Kasie, yesterday we were in the downtown area where we saw
multiple buildings burning overnight. The threat of the fire damage still very real, as in this area, the fire, the largest one of all five, is at 6 percent containment.
[06:05:13]
HUNT: All right, Marybel Gonzalez, live on scene for us this morning. Marybel, thank you very much for that.
All right. Let's turn now to this. We're going to bring in Brian Rice, who is the president of the California Professional Firefighters.
Brian, we're so grateful to have you back on the program this morning.
Can you talk to us a little bit about -- I mean, these -- your firefighters have now -- this is the fourth day of this. Many of them, I'm sure, have not slept in days. What are you hearing from those on the front lines about this disaster?
BRIAN RICE, PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS: Good morning, Kasie, and thank you.
The firefighters are on the line. We're hearing much the -- you know, they have a job; they're focused. You're going to hear much the same thing that you're hearing from the residents.
They're stunned. They're in disbelief. Nobody thought that a wildfire could transition into an urban interface, into an urban conflagration like this.
And most of the firefighters on the line right now are entering into probably about hour 96 plus. And those men and women are not going to stop working outside to, you know, hydrate up for a minute, get -- get an energy bar, maybe get something hot if they're lucky.
Because they're going to focus right now, and in the overnight, of trying to build containment anywhere they can. These men and women are not going to be resting, probably. I'll bet you they have 48 hours plus more of straight work here.
And -- and then you're going to see, probably, some rotations. But this is a job that all conventions are out the window until we have the residents taken care of and in safe harbor and the fire beginning to see some containment around it. The men and women on this, the boots on the ground, are committed 100 percent without -- without stopping. Because that is what you have to do.
And here's the other thing. It's us. There's nobody else coming. We're the men and women or excuse me, the men and women on the line are the ones that are going to take care of this and make the situation safe.
HUNT: It's pretty stark when you put it that way.
Brian, when you say that no one expected this to jump from, you know, basically, a wilderness brush fire to an urban conflagration, can you talk a little bit about why that might not have been expected? And, you know, help me understand a little bit.
My understanding is it's kind of different sets of skills and different training to fight these different types of fires. What does that mean for those on the front lines?
RICE: Yes, I'm going to correct myself a little bit, Kasie. When this -- when this fire started, and the winds were blowing so hard, it was an interface fire, and it quickly transitioned into an urban conflagration.
I think that we all knew that that was a major possibility. I don't think anybody realized the scale. Because how do you imagine this?
I look at this and, to me, I equate it to 1906 in San Francisco and the earthquake itself and the devastation after. That's what we're looking at.
The firefighters in -- California firefighters, in particular, they're CAL FIRE, you know, predominantly in the Southern Cal area -- L.A. City, L.A. County. But all municipal fire departments in California, the firefighters are urban interface fire trained, meaning the men and women down there are trained to deal and work in this kind of an environment.
They're equipped with it. They're equipped to attack this type of a fire.
But we're seeing it in a scale, I think, worldwide that's never been seen before. And even the most hardened, seasoned professionals, when they get a moment to themselves to reflect on what they've done, they're going to be stunned.
And it's going to be -- it's going to -- it's going to be a tough recovery for everybody in that area that has played a part in this. Whether you're a resident, evacuee, somebody who's lost your home. We know some families have lost loved ones.
But California firefighters, we are trained, we are equipped. These men and women are some of the best in the world. And, you know, even though the training is that high, the level is that high, and the qualifications, no one is -- no one is set up to deal with Mother Nature in the way that we have just seen it in the last four days.
HUNT: Yes. Brian, briefly, we learned that there was a civilian drone flying in restricted airspace, and it damaged one of the two large water planes that are that are able to -- to fight. It's now been grounded.
What's your message to anyone who may be putting up such a civilian drone, that, you know, may interfere with the firefighting effort in this way?
[06:10:04]
RICE: Kasie, if I could give a little safety message. Overall, if you're a drone pilot as a hobby enthusiast, stay out of the evacuation zones, the fire perimeters. This would be a time when you should ground your drone and not be flying it.
They did have one hit. One of the air tankers. Successfully landed, but it did damage the asset. That aircraft is not flying.
The second thing is, this is not an area that you want to be a sightseer. And we know that there's, you know, 15 million people living in Los Angeles County. That environment is toxic.
The International Agency on Cancer Research has classified firefighting as a group one carcinogen. And they do that because of the smoke and the byproduct of smoke from building fires.
Y'all, we've lost thousands of homes down there.
HUNT: Yes.
RICE: And that thick, dark black smoke, it's toxic.
And so, stay out of the area. Evacuate. If you're a drone pilot, do not put your drone in the air, and -- and stay off the roads in the area.
Because right now, when the weather is somewhat calming and we have anticipation, now is the time for firefighters to make gains.
And if we have things that interrupt, like drones that strike an aircraft, or people that want to sightsee or -- or have good intentions, but they impede the roadways, all these things complicate this emergency.
So, that would be my caution to all, all Californians: stay away from the area.
HUNT: Yes.
RICE: And pay attention to what's going on. And take care of your neighbors.
HUNT: An important message. Brian Rice for us this morning.
Sir, very grateful to you. And of course, everyone on the front lines fighting these fires. Thank you.
All right.
RICE: Thank you, Kasie.
HUNT: Coming up -- of course -- on CNN THIS MORNING, after a failed last-ditch effort, today, Donald Trump will be sentenced. The president-elect's vow to keep fighting.
Plus, the fate of TikTok in the hands of the Supreme Court. Today, the justices will hear arguments about the future of that popular app.
And utter devastation. Apocalyptic scenes across Southern California as those wildfires continue to burn. (BEGI VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Surreal doesn't even begin to describe it. It just feels like I mean, were in the land of movies, and it felt like beyond a movie.
Our (ph) entire history, we watched burn, live on TV.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:16:47]
HUNT: Welcome back.
Hours from now, President-elect Donald Trump will face sentencing in his New York hush money cover up case and, in just ten days, will become the first convicted felon to assume America's highest office.
After months of delays and a slew of appeals, the Supreme Court denied Trump's emergency request Thursday to delay the sentencing.
Following the high court's decision, Trump attacked Judge Juan Merchan, who has already said he will not impose jail time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're going to appeal anyway, just psychologically, because frankly, it's a disgrace. It's a judge that shouldn't have been on the case. So, I'll do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their political opponent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: Two of the court's conservative justices, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joining the three liberals, making it a 5 to 4 decision.
Our panel is here: Molly Ball, CNN legal analyst. No, she is the senior political correspondent at "The Wall Street Journal." CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Elliot Williams is also here. Kate Bedingfield, CNN political commentator, former Biden White House communications director; and Brad Todd, who's a CNN political commentator and also a Republican strategist.
Welcome to all of you. Elliot, were you surprised by this decision?
ELLIOT WILLIAMS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes and no. No, in that it is the right decision legally. Now, we can set the politics aside, and I'll talk about the legal end, right?
Yes, only insofar as nothing has been predictable when it comes to legal matters with respect to Donald Trump and where the courts are going to go on. So, there is an element of surprise to it. Legally, it's quite straightforward. In order for Donald Trump -- not
even, say, "Donald Trump" -- the defendant, to be able to have his rights as a defendant, to move on with his appeal, to make the arguments he's talking about, the sort of challenges at the underlying lawsuit, he's got to be sentenced. That's a basic fact in American law.
The Supreme Court, a let's say bipartisan or at least cross- ideological segment of the Supreme Court, said, let's let this play out in the future. Sentence this defendant. If he has other arguments in the future, he can raise them.
So, it's a quite straightforward legal matter. Now, there's all kinds of politics around Donald Trump, and I get it legally.
BRAD TODD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I have a question, though. That the court said that it -- because the judge had indicated that his sentence would not include any jail time.
WILLIAMS: Yes.
TODD: It was going to be just an unlimited discharge, that that also gave them the flexibility to - to make this ruling. Do you think if Merchan had not sort of foretold what his sentence would be, that the court would still rule this way?
WILLIAMS: That's a great question. They might have, but there were two different arguments Trump was making, which is a legal one -- I have other arguments to make -- and a practical one, which is, well, I -- you know, I might go to jail. And that's problematic for me to be president. And he's -- you know, frankly, he's -- he's right on that.
I think on that practical point, they were saying, look, the court has already said that you're not going to jail. So that practical argument doesn't make sense.
To the extent you still have a legal one, then have at it; make your legal arguments. But your legal arguments are not triggered until you're sentenced.
And the Supreme Court, more than anything else in the world, likes to punt and give parties opportunities to raise legal arguments in the future.
So again, as a straight up, the state versus John Doe issue, this was absolutely the right call.
HUNT: Molly, the politics, though, are -- are what they are. And this is going to mean that, when he -- that conviction will -- will be there on his record, when he stands on the Capitol steps on Monday, January 20th.
[06:20:15]
MOLLY BALL, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL": Yes. Well, but politically, Donald Trump has already beaten the rap in every meaningful sense, right?
HUNT: That's fair, yes.
BALL: I mean, and he -- he feels that the election to some extent was a referendum on these charges. And the American people decided they were not disqualifying. They did not care, or at least, weighted against other concerns, they were not that important. And -- and he won the election anyway.
He tweeted yesterday, or he truthed yesterday that this was, you know, the pathetic dying remnants of the witch hunt. And -- and that really is how it feels, right? Not without, you know, necessarily agreeing with his language about a witch hunt.
This is the sort of pathetic, dying remnants of all of the legal cases against him. There were so many. And for so long last year, it seemed like he was going to be mired in all of this stuff.
The Supreme Court took a lot of it off of his plate with the immunity decision. And this is sort of all -- all that's left. And like, what are -- what are they going to do, put him under house arrest? He can't leave the White House?
There really -- it really is sort of over when it comes to these legal cases.
KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. Look, I don't -- I don't disagree with any of that. I think this is fairly politically irrelevant at this point, which is, you know, still, I think a sort of shocking thing, to accept that the incoming president of the United States, you know, criminal convictions are politically irrelevant. But that's just the fact of the matter. They are.
And I think in the way that -- you know, I think the way Trump is responding and sort of downplaying it and kind of saying, you know, let them do their little thing rather than, you know, getting riled up and fighting it also just kind of indicates, you know, it's just not -- it is not going to have a whole lot of political salience in this moment.
TODD: I think it is a pathetic design, dying remnants of a witch hunt. That's a pretty good description. But I also think one takeaway from this is all the left wingers who got their knickers in a twist over Amy Coney Barrett and saying she would do whatever Trump wanted, they owe her an apology today.
BEDINGFIELD: Oh, I'm not. Brad.
TODD: And let's -- let's -- let's see it.
BEDINGFIELD: That will not be forthcoming. I'm just going to tell you right now.
HUNT: All right. Our panel is going to be back a little bit later on in the show.
Ahead here on CNN THIS MORNING, a winter storm is sweeping across the South. Hundreds of flights already impacted by the conditions.
And Democratic Senator John Fetterman accepts a bipartisan invitation from the president-elect. Michael Smerconish will be here for "Smerconish Friday."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:26:45]
HUNT: All right. Welcome back.
A winter storm is growing in strength this morning, dumping snow, ice and rain across the Southeast. That combination causing dangerous road conditions. You can see it here in this footage from Arkansas.
The storm also prompting nearly 2,000 flights to be canceled. Let's get to our meteorologist, Allison Chinchar, with more on this.
Allison, good morning.
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And good morning.
And I can confirm that it's actually snowing outside of our downtown Atlanta office. I ran out just before the commercial break to go take a look.
And it is snowing in several places, pretty much most of the state of Tennessee. You've got some heavy snow coming down across Arkansas and Missouri right now. And yes, even portions of Northern Georgia, Northern Alabama and Mississippi.
Now rain is on the Southern end. And as it starts to warm up here, sun coming up, you're going to see more of this start to transition more into a wintry mix where you get that sleet, the freezing rain and even rain mixing in Atlanta sitting right at 32 degrees right now, 29 in Birmingham, 30 degrees in Memphis.
Now we talked about as it warms up, you're going to see that transition more over to ice and sleet. And some of these areas are looking at pretty significant ice accumulations as we go through the day Saturday.
Some of these areas, a quarter of an inch maybe possibly as much as half an inch of ice. A little bit farther North, where those temperatures are cooler and you're mostly going to get snow, a lot of these areas could get 3 to 5 inches of snow. Yes, even some of the Southern states. And then we'll start to see more of that transition back over to the warmer precipitation by the afternoon.
HUNT: All right. Allison Chinchar for us. Stay safe. Getting home. I -- it's been tough here in D.C. I'm sorry you guys are having to deal with it, but thank you for the update.
Coming up here on CNN THIS MORNING, a viral moment at the funeral for Jimmy Carter. Barack Obama and Donald Trump all smiles with each other as they gathered to honor the 39th president. Plus, thousands of Californians coming to realize they no longer have
a home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I teach people to save lives, and I couldn't even save my house. And I'm just shattered.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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