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Officials Update Condo Collapse Search & Rescue; Biden To Sell Plan As Benefit For Working Class Families. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired June 29, 2021 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:00]

ALAN COMINSKY, MIAMI-DADE FIRE CHIEF: So, yes, I mean, we definitely searched and went through --

MAYOR DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA: In the safety issues of the --

COMINSKY: I'm sorry. I don't think (ph). And the other share as well. I mean, there's definitely structural issues and I kind of went off topic there. We can't go back in the building. OK? We have -- with our use our teams, our structural engineers, we have engineers on site, with now the federal incident support team arrived, and they also assist with the engineer component. And right now it's a -- we will not go back in that building. You know, we have a section cordoned off away from that building that we won't search in this way. OK? So there's definitely concerns on all aspects. And we keep going.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you Chief. A follow up by the AP.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey Governor --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Governor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Governor, can you tell us about your meeting with the North Bay Village police today?

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): OK. So the question is about meeting with the chief of police for North Bay Village whose a, I think she was 93- year-old mother was in the towers. And it was, on the one hand heartbreaking, because this is somebody that he had just dropped off back to her home just I think two days before the collapse. But it was also inspiring, because I could see the difference that she made in his life, in his wife's life, and in her grandkids life.

And I think that, that the life that that she led, and for all these years, and obviously, you know, they -- no one's given up hope. But you see that those types of stories replicated throughout with these families. And none of these tragedies are ever easy. It's very difficult to see somebody who's just asleep in their bed, and then you get news that they're building just collapse. And then you're waiting to see, what is the resolution? Can they be saved? Can they be identified? And many of these families obviously are waiting. These guys are working their tails off. And as the fire chief said, it is a very difficult scene. And they are leaving no stone unturned. And they're going to continue to do that. But it's been a very, very difficult time. And I think the grief has been, in some respects unique, just given the scale of the tragedy. But, man, I was inspired, just talking with them. And you could tell what he's been able to do, what his kids have been able to do very successful family, and it all traced back to that matriarch. And God bless her and God bless that family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Associated Press?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire Chief. Mayor Cava mentioned that there was debris falling from the building this morning. Was that new? Is it getting worse? Does that indicate that there might be some shifts in the remainder of the building that you guys are worried about?

COMINSKY: Well, in regards to the building itself, we're constantly monitoring. So no, we haven't seen any shift at all. So we have special technology that's measuring to make sure there's not any shifts. So that's a constant in regards to the debris falling. I wasn't briefed, what transpired there. As I mentioned, there's that 45 foot area that we're not which is next to the ability that we are not working in because of the overhangs, though, the hazards that we have overhead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Spanish over here. Ma'am, Spanish over here. Spanish? Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. The group of Mexico that they are called the couples, that they are special in these situations are here voluntary willing to --

CAVA: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- help in a situation.

CAVA: And we are accepting their help. Thank you so much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

CAVA: Yes. Yes. Thank you so much. They they've been in communication with the (INAUDIBLE) group.

OK, excuse me, just to clarify, as was said here before, we have so many groups on standby and that is part of their -- that's what we're seeking from them. We are circulating, we're rotating groups. And there are 210 people on the mound. We can't put anybody else on the mount. So we're circulating in and they are part of our backup team. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking in Foreign Language).

CAVA: (Speaking in Foreign Language).

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: I'm John King in Washington, again, the briefing in Spanish for a moment. Let's bring in CNN's Nick Valencia on the ground. Nick, striking as you just hear them describe the challenge here the fire chief saying there's a 45 foot area just on the side of the building essentially where they cannot work because debris overhanging area. He also said at one point we cannot go back in that building. Again, laying out the safety risks that should -- enormous safety risks for the first responders on the scene at a time when I know you've been reporting, the families wish more could be done and get frustrated.

[12:35:13]

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And it was those families that were taken to the site to see the scale of the response to themselves. And according to Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue, John, they witnessed a man, part of the first response team, fall 25 feet the day before yesterday while working to find any sign of life in that debris. Let's go back to that press conference.

CAVA: Evacuate those areas.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Mayor, how many building --

CAVA: The last two questions is going to be in the black and the lady over here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the Governor or the Mayor, if you guys can talk about whether or not there's an accurate number of how many foreign nationals were in the building, and how many were among on the unaccounted or confirmed victims. Also, how many foreign nationals have been given visas about the help of families together?

CAVA: Well, I'll answer first to say that obviously we have a fluid list of those who are still on unaccounted for, and they definitely include foreign nationals. It is a fluid list. So we can't say it's a final list. And we've been in touch with the consulates for the various countries represented and we are working with the State Department as well.

(Speaking in Foreign Language).

KING: We've been listening to the county officials, the Mayor, the Governor, other first responders on the scene of what you see on the right of your screen there, the horrific collapse of that condominium tower in Surfside, Florida. Let's bring into the conversation right now one of those most concerns Rabbi Ariel Yeshurun, he's the congregational rabbi and spiritual leader at Skylake Synagogue in Surfside. Rabbi, I'm grateful for your time today, Sir, I know you're dealing with grief.

You have in your congregation, some of the relatives of three missing residents of this tower. As you listen to these briefings where officials are describing the enormous risks, the challenge, and also in a sad way no giant headlines out of this event because since last night's briefing, no further discoveries of survivors or victims for that matter. Take us inside without violating privacy, the meetings with your congregants about, is it anger? Is it frustration? Is it grief? Is it all of the above? ARIEL YESHURUN, CONGREGATIONAL RABBI & SPIRITUAL LEADER, SKYLAKE SYNAGOGUE: It's all of the above, John. It's been very difficult. We're trying to offer emotional support. But we're treading between giving them their space and privacy and trying to be as proactive and emotionally supportive as possible. It's been very difficult few days, a lot of uncertainty, the situation is very fluid. And we're living with that fear that one of the unaccounted for will be turned up, not among the living and that fear is constant. And it's overwhelming.

KING: You hear our fantastic reporter on the scene, Nick Valencia, speaking with many of the families who are understandably frustrated, and then you hear the first responders and the politicians talking about this, the risks and the challenges that they're doing all they can. What is the feedback you're getting from the community? Do they feel at least in this anger and frustration that they're getting constant updates, are they've been kept up to speed on just how and when things can progress?

YESHURUN: I think people are happy with the information they are receiving. It's prompt and it's very informative. And I haven't heard anyone complaining. I think everybody's huddling together and trying to shoulder the weight of this pain and this grief right now.

KING: And moments of tragedy and grief. You also see moments of heroism, and people coming to the aid of strangers. Some people are friends and neighbors, but some are strangers. We just have some pictures of some of the work you're doing just to bring in supplies for the family members who have been displaced from their homes for others who are rushing to the scene to find out about relatives. Just walk us through the enormity of that challenge.

YESHURUN: As soon as we heard about the tragedy, we reached out to the community and the support was overwhelming, people came from all walks of life, of all backgrounds and ethnicities and religious faith and came together all the way from Coral Gables in the Thao's to Boca Raton in the North, Scalix Synagogue turned from synagogue into a collection center distribution center. People came in with supplies and volunteers came rushing in. We were able to truck the supplies to the center here and the synagogues locally and to warehouses.

I mean, the outpour of support is impressive. We just proved to the entire community, the entire country that our differences can give way to brotherhood and love and it's a great tribute to the greatness of this community here in Miami.

KING: Amen. Amen to that, Sir. I want your thoughts on as we've watched this play out and as everybody hopes and prays as the clock ticks, those hopes and prayers become more important that survivors can be found. You get this new information including this letter in 2018, back to the condo board warning that there were serious structural damage in this building. When you talk to members of community, are they aware of that? And does that add to their anger that perhaps, perhaps this didn't need to happen?

[12:40:15] YESHURUN: They are aware but I think right now their focus is on their loved ones. They're not thinking ahead in that respect. They're really, really coming together to grieve, to come together as families and support one another. There will be enough time for that in the future. Right now they're focusing on this situation, and they're trying to keep each other as close as possible and as strong as possible.

KING: Rabbi, grateful for your time today and taking time away from your very important work. We appreciate it. We'll stay in touch as this plays out. And as you mentioned, people needing support. The President of the United States revisiting your community on Thursday as well, I'm sure that will be welcomed by those in the community. Thank you, Sir, for your time.

YESHURUN: Thank you very much, John.

KING: Thank you.

And when we come back, as I note the President off to the Surfside area on Thursday, today he is in the middle -- Midwest, trying to sell a big bipartisan infrastructure deal.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:45:33]

KING: You see the video right there, the President of the United States Joe Biden just landing moments ago in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is there to sell a bipartisan infrastructure deal as a lifeline to blue collar workers. That battleground state sales pitch comes as the package is being fiercely debated back here in Washington. Senate Republicans are wary because -- some Republicans are wary excuse me because Democrats plan to follow up the bipartisan deal with a giant spending package and Democrats have their own, I'm going to say this politely, family fights over just how big and bold that next plan should be.

So the bipartisan plan is still in some jeopardy. But the President is pitching it now as proof that Washington can work. And the Democrats and Republicans can yes sometimes get along. In a new op-ed, the President writes this. It is a signal to ourselves, and to the world, that American democracy can work and deliver for the people. But we'll see if the President can actually get it to the finish line.

With me in studio to share their reporting and their insights, Rachael Bade, the POLITICO Playbook co-author, Francesca Chambers, White House correspondent for McClatchy, Phil Mattingly, our CNN senior White House correspondent and current immersion congressional reporter for The Washington Post. Mr. Mattingly, I will start with you. The President wants to sell this to the heartland as I told you so, I can get things done and it will create jobs. Is it done? Or are there still questions about how to pay for it, the follow up package that could put us in the trap door?

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Here's a good window into where things stand while the President will be making this sales pitch. And let's be very clear, the President is more likely to endorse Mitch McConnell's reelection at some point than he is to talk about process. Again, if White House officials have their way based on what occurred of course over the last four or five days, they want to talk about the merits of this deal. They know that it's the largest infrastructure package in a generation. And they know that bipartisanship matters, they've seen it in their polling, they believe that that's an animating feature of what President Biden brings to the table. They want to talk about that.

But while the President will be speaking in Wisconsin, his top two legislative advisors are on Capitol Hill meeting with House Democrats trying to, is when they told me, play whac-a-mole a little bit right now from their intra party dispute. You obviously still have Republicans who are concerned, as you noted, about how the bill is paid for, about the scope of the entire thing, about the process most definitely.

So no, this has a very, very long way to go on both tracks. The infrastructure proposal and the Democrat only proposal, I think I'm going to steal what Rachael said during the break, this is going to die a number of deaths before it gets across the finish line if it gets across the finish line. However, the White House believes at least at this point in time, they're still on track with a lot of potential pitfalls to come.

KING: The White House is hoping that everyone or enough of everyone wants to at least get this modest deal done. But the complication is progressives have said, OK, you want us to vote for a smaller deal. You need to promise us we're going to get more and we're going to get more quickly in our bigger package. That's so called reconciliation, my apologies to America, is Washington speak. It's a process in the Senate. The issue there is though, you know, Bernie Sanders wants to write this giant $6 trillion plan. Moderate Democrats say, wait a minute.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): And I probably won't be where Senator Sanders is. But I think there's a lot of worthy goals in his plan.

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): But we've already spent how many trillions of dollars as attending to a lot of those needs? How much more can we afford?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: To which Senator Sanders response in a tweet for those who say the budget framework I proposed cost too much, what would you cut? Combating climate change? Childcare? Universal Pre-K? Paid family and medical leave? Dental, hearing, and vision? Housing? Long-term health care? Child tax credit? Waiting, dot, dot, dot.

So, you have the smaller infrastructure plan, but then you have this giant wrestling match in the Democratic Party? RACHAEL BADE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, I mean, this is just a reminder that, you know, for all the weeks we have talked about this bipartisan deal is it going to come together, is it going to die. The hard part is just now beginning. And that is, you know, Democrats trying to come together on this reconciliation bill, this Democrats only bill that addresses like human infrastructure, you know, family leave, et cetera. And, you know, the cost is going to be the first issue that they have to iron out. I mean, both chambers, Schumer and Pelosi want to pass a budget, through their, through both of their chambers.

In order to do that, they have to identify what is this top line number, and you have the moderates who are saying, let's not go higher than, you know, $2 trillion, Sanders wants $6 trillion. And there's a whole different sort of moving part here that you need to watch as well. And that is the debt ceiling. I mean, the national debt right now is $28 trillion. They're going to have to raise the debt ceiling and then in the next few weeks. And that is also going to make the moderates, you know, dig in deeper, so it's going to cause a lot of conflict.

KING: And so if the President desperately wants this smaller package, is he willing to do all the refereeing he needs to do on this other piece?

[12:50:01]

FRANCESCA CHAMBERS, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, MCCLATCHY: Well, the White House today essentially pushed it back on Capitol Hill when asked about Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying that she wouldn't bring for a vote a bill that does this for infrastructure until reconciliation and pass. They said, we'll let the House work that out. But this is a seesaw, John. You've got -- every time you moves closer towards Republicans, then you lose more progressives, and they've got to find a balance.

KAROUN DEMIRJIAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: And this is the thing, that's the test of how this presidency is going to work, right, because Biden wants to be the mediator. But unfortunately, sometimes in this time, this sort of situation, you need somebody from the top saying, this is how it's going to be. And he's not doing that right now, because he's worried about losing the Republicans. He needs an infrastructure if he plays too hard for the Liberal Democrats that he needs to bring the party together that he has to pick his dog in the fight and he hasn't.

KING: He hopes to prove out there in the middle of the country that they want this that he'd come back here and say, let's get it done. Ladies and gentlemen, we shall see if it works.

When we come back, President Biden will head to Florida to Surfside, scene of a tragedy with details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:55:39] KING: President Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden, we now know we'll head to Surfside Florida on Thursday. Their plan, to go to the scene, meet with first responders who've been working around the clock, and to spend time with some of the families now struggling through the anxiety, the hope that their loved ones might still be alive in the rubble of that condo.

Thanks for joining us in Inside Politics today. My thanks to Nick Valencia for his help for the breaking news at the top of the hour. Erica Hill and Wolf Blitzer pick up our coverage after a quick break. Have a good afternoon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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