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Donald Trump to Hold Rally in New York; Hillary Clinton Attends Fundraiser in California; Earthquakes Devastate Parts of Ecuador; Death Tolls Rises From Deadly Japan Earthquakes; Democratic Race More Contentions Ahead Of New York Primary. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired April 18, 2016 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: We also have to talk about the Democrats this morning. Hillary Clinton is hoping to finish off Bernie Sanders with a decisive win come tomorrow. Senator Sanders drawing enormous, enthusiastic crowds in Brooklyn, ripping Secretary Clinton repeatedly for refusing to release the transcripts of her Wall Street speeches. And Senator Bernie Sanders will join us live in studio here in mere minutes. Stay right here on CNN.

We have the New York primary covered for you only the way CNN can. We begin in Manhattan right in front of Trump tower with my friend, Jason Carroll. Jason, good morning.

JASON CARROLL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Brooke. Trump is expected to have a rally tonight at 7:00. If history serves as any lesson, expect more sharp criticism about the way those delegates have been awarded.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have a system that's rigged. We have a system that's crooked. We have this delegate system, which is a sham.

CARROLL: Donald Trump doubling down on his war with the RNC and continuing to criticize Ted Cruz's ground game in the race toward 1,237 delegates.

TRUMP: The fact that you've taken all these people out and wining them and dining them, nobody does that stuff better than me. I just don't want to do it.

CARROLL: The frontrunner tweeting over the weekend "Lying Ted Cruz can't get the votes. I am millions ahead of him, so he has to get his delegates from the Republican bosses. It won't work."

Cruz responding, tweeting that over 1.3 million people voted in contests five against Trump, "#no whining."

REINCE PRIEBUS, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: And RNC Chairman Reince Priebus explain that the RNC can't alter the rules between now and the convention and that it's up to each state to decide the rules. PRIEBUS: The majority of delegates is the goal, and you need to be

able to play within the confines of the rules to make sure that you get there.

CARROLL: Trump's complaints coming on the heels of Ted Cruz's sweeping win in Wyoming, a state where delegates are won through a convention not a primary. Cruz was the only candidate to attend the convention and aggressively campaign in the state.

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Wyoming matters. We're in a battle, a nationwide battle for delegates.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: And Trump weighing in on Twitter, as we've seen him do before in the past, Chris, saying this. "Lying Ted Cruz can't win with all the voters so he has to sell himself to the bosses. I am millions of votes ahead. Hillary would destroy him, K, as in Kasich." Again that's the kind of plain-spoken language that seems to appeal to those who support Donald Trump. Chris?

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Plain to some, offensive to others, and that is the contest in front of us right now. Jason, thank you.

All right, so, let's talk about the issues that matter behind all this process that we're suffering through in this election right now. We have the chairman of the committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson. As yet, no endorsement from you. So let's talk about the issues and then we'll get to the politics.

SEN. RON JOHNSON, (R) WISCONSIN: That's a really good idea.

CUOMO: Thank you very much. National security. This lawsuit, basically what's going to happen here -- it's not a lawsuit yet. Congress, if they pass this law that allows citizens or allows for lawsuits by entities against the Saudi government for what happened on 9/11, that would be a very big deal. That would make the Saudis very angry. The president is about to go there this week. He is going to hear about it. Why do you believe this would be a good idea?

JOHNSON: First of all, what's surprising me is why did this all of a sudden become controversial? This law was actually passed in the Senate unanimously back at the end of 2014. I think what you really need to take a look at is the Saudi reaction. They're talking about selling potentially $750 billion of U.S. government bonds. There's the problem. America has $19 trillion worth of debt and you have that debt held by foreign governments like the Saudis, like China, that could really do some real economic harm. We need to focus on the real problem there, which is our enormous debt and the size of government.

CUOMO: No question the debt is huge and it doesn't get talked about it enough. But this has a foreign policy implication to it that goes beyond fiscal policy.

JOHNSON: Right. CUOMO: They're saying we're making that threat because you're

threatening us. We don't allow people to sue the U.S. government for all the stuff you guys do with your huge footprint. If citizens are responsible, then they're the problem. If your companies are, then they're the problem. Why aren't you allowing us that same freedom as Saudis? Those were Saudi citizens involved on 9/11, not the Saudi government. Al Qaeda was trying to take us out. Why would we have been a part of their own violence?

JOHNSON: Again, I'm saying why all of a sudden is this thing controversial?

CUOMO: Because it's very real. It's real right now.

JOHNSON: We'll look into this and see exactly what the administration is saying, what the Saudis are saying. But from my standpoint, if there are people in Saudi Arabia culpable for this -- let's face it. We certainly froze Iranian assets. I'm not saying you freeze all Saudi assets. That's what they're concerned about. But those individual in Saudi Arabia that could be culpable for this should be held accountable.

CUOMO: But why does that then include going after the government there?

[08:05:02] JOHNSON: Well, again, I think you need to take a look at this in a very narrow way. I think that bill actually attempted to do that. If it doesn't do it in a very narrow, focused way, I think we need to do take a look at that. But again, this was noncontroversial in 2014. Something has changed and new information obviously has come to the fore, or the administration is finally paying attention. We'll take a look at it. Again, I think we can more narrowly focus that so the victims actually do have the rights.

CUOMO: Another thing that's talked about in a little bit and then it fades away. New Hampshire. All were the candidates were talking about heroin. It's on the march in this country like we have never seen it before. The dealers got smart. They made it smoke-able. They're starting to use synthetics. They're making it more concentrated so it's more quickly addictive. It's bubbling up in the popular culture now. "SNL," in my opinion, did a really bad joke this weekend, joking about heroin that's something that's easier for take for soccer moms and stuff. It's a huge problem. You believe in it very acutely it's a war that has to be fought. You're saying we want to talk about the border, we're missing the biggest issue. How so?

JOHNSON: It's not going away from my standpoint. We held two hearings last week, one in Washington, D.C., one in Wisconsin. And one of the points I've been trying to make as chairman of the homeland security committee, we've held 15 hearings on border security alone. Mt conclusion is the root cause of our unsecure border is our insatiable demand for drugs. You take a look at the price for heroin. It the early 80s it was over $3,000 a gram. Now it's down to $100 a gram because our borders are so porous. That's $10 a dose. This is like a craft beer here in Wisconsin at a fancy restaurant here in New York. CUOMO: That's nothing.

JOHNSON: It's $10 for a glass of beer. That's the problem. You have such an enormous supply feeding that demand.

But we have to use an all of the above strategy. We have to look at treatment and address that demand side. We've been very effective at reducing the use of tobacco. I know the same campaigns have not been effective against drugs. We have got to refocus our efforts, address the demand side, but we also have to interdict the supply as well.

CUOMO: You haven't taken a stand on a candidate. I won't push you in that direction.

JOHNSON: Good, thanks.

CUOMO: You will let me know when you're ready. But your party, your system, do you believe it is rigged. Do you believe it is designed to keep an outsider like Donald Trump from gaining power within the GOP.

JOHNSON: I'm a business guy, never been involved in politics. The first thing I learned in Wisconsin is grassroots people, those people who have been really involved in the party, they're the ones who really select those delegates in each state, the different processes. For my standpoint, it has to be a very open, transparent process. Whoever wins, that's the individual I'll be supporting for president.

CUOMO: It's not dirty, it's just about knowing the rules?

JOHNSON: I don't think so. You really do need to understand the rules, and they are complex in different states. And that's all part of running a campaign is to understand you have a 50-state effort here. And it's a pretty rigorous type of effort.

CUOMO: Senator Ron Johnson, thank you for talking about what matters on NEW DAY today.

JOHNSON: Appreciate it.

CUOMO: Michaela?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the Democrats are pressing the flesh, seeking to gain the most juice out of tomorrow's high- stakes New York primary. Can Brooklyn native Bernie Sanders keep his momentum going or will Hillary Clinton add to her delegate lead with a win in her adopted home state? Our Chris Frates is watching the sparks fly. Hey, Chris.

CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Michaela. So Hillary Clinton, she is feeling pretty good about her lead, so much so that she rolled to the west coast this weekend to raise money and some eyebrows, including from her host, George Clooney, who called the amount of money raised at his fundraiser obscene. And Sanders returned from his visit with the Pope to a huge rally in his native Brooklyn.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRATES: Bernie Sanders has been hammering Hillary Clinton for her ties to Wall Street.

BERNIE SANDERS, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You cannot have a super PAC raise many millions of dollars from Wall Street or special interests and then tell the American people with a straight face that you're going to stand up to the big money interests. Not true.

(APPLAUSE)

FRATES: The Vermont senator is also ramping up rhetoric on his attacks on her campaign donations. Clinton spent some of the weekend in California raising money for herself and other Democrats with two events hosted by George Clooney. VIP ticket prices hit over $353,000. A group of Sanders supporters were showering her motorcade with 1,000 $1 bills on Saturday, Clooney admitting he understands the frustration.

GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: It is an obscene amount of money. The Sanders campaign, when they talk about it, is absolutely right. It's ridiculous we should have this kind of money in politics.

FRATES: Sanders praised Clooney's honesty, quipping the actor is backing the wrong horse.

SANDERS: We are not going to have a government that represents all of us so long as you have candidates like Secretary Clinton being dependent on big money interests.

FRATES: On the campaign trail Bill Clinton making several unscheduled stops around New York, was taking a swipe at Sanders.

BILL CLINTON, (D) FORMER PRESIDENT: I think it's fine that all these young students have been so enthusiastic for an opponent who sounds so good. Let's shoot every third person on Wall Street and everything will be fine.

[08:10:04] FRATES: And Hillary Clinton was talking up her experience to voters across the five boroughs on Sunday.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's easy to diagnose the problem. You have got to be able to solve the problem.

(APPLAUSE)

FRATES: Even cutting loose to Latin music at a block party.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRATES: Now, Clinton continues to lead Sanders by wide margins in the polls, but both candidates are campaigning hard today in New York City. Clinton will hold a get out the vote rally this afternoon in Manhattan, and Sanders has a rally scheduled tonight in Long Island. Sanders, he needs a big upset here tomorrow if he wants a shot at narrowing Hillary Clinton's lead, Michaela. PEREIRA: He is going to join us here Chris in just a few minutes,

Chris. Senator Bernie Sanders will be live in studio on NEW DAY coming up this hour.

BALDWIN: Before then, let me tell you this morning about this big showdown at the Supreme Court today as leaders from Texas and 25 other states argue against President Obama's executive action on immigration. The future of as many 5 million undocumented immigrants resting on this decision. But the recent passing of Justice Antonin Scalia may leave the eight justices with a split ruling. CNN's Pamela Brown is live for us outside the U.S. Supreme Court with much more. Pamela, good morning.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Brooke. This is a case that ought not only impact millions of people but it has broad implications for the relationship between the president and Congress. The stakes are high. You can see that out here this morning in front of the Supreme Court. There are a lot of demonstrators out here, both for and against the program.

Those who came out for the program that the Obama administration set forth say that it will bring 4.3 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows so that they can pass a background check, pay taxes, apply for work benefits so that the homeland security can focus on the highest priority people for deportation. The president said he came up with this program because of congressional inaction.

On the other side, those against it say that this is executive overreach at its worst, that it bestows benefits on a class of individuals that Congress has refused to bestow benefits on. And Texas, the state that's leading the charge of the 26 states bringing the lawsuit, says that it is hurt financially by the program because it will have to spend millions of dollars subsidizing driver's licenses.

The death of Antonin Scalia could have an impact on the outcome because if there is a four-four split, that means the lower court's ruling would stand and the program would continue to be blocked. But another issue at play is whether Texas and these states even have the standing to bring the lawsuit in the first place. If the justices find that they didn't, that means the program would effectively go into place. Oral arguments begin at 10:00 this morning. Back to you.

CUOMO: Pamela, thank you very much. We all have to be reminded because that court is only eight right now. A tie would go against the executive in that case. So we'll tell you more about that coming up.

We have big headlines for you this morning, some natural disasters still taking their toll in Ecuador and Japan. A series of powerful earthquakes have killed hundreds, injured thousands, and the threat is still ongoing. In Ecuador, 272 people have lost their lives. That number, as always, is expected to go higher as the crews continue to search. We have both tragedies covered. Let's begin with CNN's Boris Sanchez live in Ecuador. Boris, what are you seeing down there now? BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Chris. We're

seeing a lot of this. Take a look at the bridge behind me. We're in a city on the west coast on Ecuador's coast where most cities were impacted by this devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake. And this really illustrates the biggest problem with figuring out the total death toll from this earthquake. The infrastructure in Ecuador has suffered considerably because of this earthquake. A lot of it has to do with weeks of pounding rain coming down because of El Nino, weakening roads and this earthquake essentially decimating them.

Some of the hardest-hit areas are very difficult to reach because the roads are simply impassable. The president of Ecuador was actually at the Vatican this weekend with a visit there. He cut that short and came directly back here to address the aftermath of this earthquake. There are about 10,000 soldiers on the ground right now digging through rubble, another 4,000 police officers. We're actually standing across the street from a police station where we've seen them pour in all morning long since about 2:00 A.M. local time. So this is a serious effort that will take quite a bit of time to complete. We've also have neighboring countries offering help, Venezuela and Mexico have offered support to Ecuador obviously at a time of very serious need. Michaela?

PEREIRA: They're getting help. Those situations certainly stretch resources on the ground locally. Thank you so much, Boris.

Meanwhile, two people were found among the rubble in Japan following crippling back-to-back earthquakes. Dozens of people have been killed, more than 1,000 there as rescuers search furiously for survivors. Matt Rivers is live near the epicenter of that 7.3 earthquake that rocked Japan Saturday.

Matt, tell us what you know.

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we know at this point is that rescue efforts continue into the evening amidst very difficult circumstances. It is night time here so that of course makes things harder and then they are actually working in the face of continued aftershocks.

It wasn't 20 minute ago that we felt a 5.8 magnitude aftershock. It really swayed the ground underneath our feet. Frankly, these rescue workers are actually putting themselves at risk, going through rubble, trying to find the nine remaining people that are trapped according to officials.

As if the aftershocks weren't enough, take a look at this house behind me here. This is a good example of the kind of destruction that we have seen throughout our time here. This house sat on a solid concrete foundation.

During the earthquake on Saturday actually started shifting down the hill. The second floor collapsed on to the first. That is what homeowners are dealing with here. You hear the helicopter ahead -- above us right now. The U.S. military providing support at this point to their Japanese colleagues with logistical air support as tens of thousands of people will likely spend the night in evacuation shelters here in Southwestern Japan because of the continued aftershocks and the kind of rubble and damage you see behind me -- Michaela.

PEREIRA: Hard to even understand how they can bear it, the aftershock threat so frightening after you have gone through something like that. Matt, thank you and out thanks to Boris. For information on how to help the victims in both those quakes, in Ecuador and Japan, go to CNN.com/impact -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: New York's primary could be a game changer in the Democratic race. Right now, Hillary Clinton is leading Bernie Sanders, but can he pull off an upset tomorrow in New York? We have insight from a congressman who is backing Secretary Clinton.

Plus, we will talk with the senator himself, Bernie Sanders, live in the CNN studios here on NEW DAY in mere minutes. Don't go anywhere.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:20:45]

BALDWIN: We are now less than 24 hours to go until polls open here in New York. Bernie trying Sanders clearly has an uphill battle against Hillary Clinton, who is beat back the challenge from the senator from Vermont, set her sights on the Republican come November in the general election.

Joining me now, Congressman Charlie Rangel, Democrat here from New York and a Hillary Clinton supporter. Congressman, a pleasure. Good morning.

REP. CHARLIE RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: Good to be here.

BALDWIN: Good morning. Good morning. As far as tomorrow, just quickly off the top, prediction time, how well do you think she does?

RANGEL: Extremely well. It's not an uphill battle. If you gave Bernie a pencil, he couldn't win here. It's good to have him exciting young people.

BALDWIN: Did you see 28,000 people across Beck Park in Brooklyn over the weekend? By the way, he has out fundraised her three consecutive months in a row.

RANGEL: I see where he's throwing away money, dollar bills, too. I wish he would invest in some of the Democratic candidates that are running. The fact of the matter is I see this as an exciting change in American politics and it has very little to do with Bernie. Bernie has the aspirations that anybody, even an old Democrat like me, would want to achieve.

BALDWIN: Isn't he more in line with candidates you supported through the years, Congressman, even yourself? RANGEL: You bet your life he is except he can't get it done. Don't you think we've been down there, trying to reform the election system, trying to break up Wall Street, trying to go along with the Dodd amendments, doing all these things?

Don't you think Obama has been doing these things? Don't you think those Republicans have stop us from the aspirations we have?

We want an immigration bill, God knows. With all due respect to Bernie Sanders, nobody can ever think in the House and Senate years he has done anything legislatively.

BALDWIN: We'll hear him speak for himself coming up in a couple of minutes.

RANGEL: I don't care who speaks for him.

BALDWIN: I understand, Congressman. I want to ask you. You mentioned dollar bill so let's get to money in politics. George Clooney and his wife, Amal Clooney, they threw this star-studded fundraiser for the Clintons and also the entire ballot, they were saying.

Even for a VIP table, $353,000. George Clooney referred to it as, yes, it's obscene, the money in politics. You've agree with that? Aren't you throwing fundraisers for Hillary Clinton and making some serious dough for her?

RANGEL: If you're talking about unilaterally disarmament because of the most distasteful thing in politics that's crazy. If you have to roll over and play dead, saying collecting money, raising money is a terrible, obscene thing and I'm not going to do it, you might as well forfeit the election.

It's the most disgusting thing that you have in public life to call someone, ask for money, promise them nothing and expect them just to contribute. It's a terrible thing and the fact that we could have one vote in the Supreme Court that could change all of that is one of the things that we have to win this election.

And bigger than Bernie is Trump and the Republican Party. That's scary.

BALDWIN: Before we get to Trump, to put a button on the video we just showed of the Senator Sanders supporters throwing dollar bills at the motorcade. Isn't that stupid or is it more than that? I'm curious. She is the only female running for president and it's dollar bills. I'm curious if you read anything more into that?

RANGEL: I think it's stupid. They have money to throw away, literally. That's not changing anything. And that he should collect that money and make certain Democrats in the House and Senate will be able to support a Democratic president.

If he thinks that he is going to become president, he ought to have more than one person in the Senate supporting him. Maybe if he tried to get some Democrats instead of socialist Democrats elected, maybe it would help him and the Democratic Party.

[08:25:02]One thing is abundantly clear. His goals and aspirations are not expressed by Cruz, Rubio, Kasich and Trump. If he's concerned about the themes, even though there's real differences between him and the next president, Hillary Clinton, in my opinion, then I think he ought to not have his people throwing money in the street. It's a complete disregard to the value of dollars.

BALDWIN: Congressman Charlie Rangel, we will have the senator in studio and I'm sure he can respond to some of that. Thank you so much.

RANGEL: Thank you so much.

BALDWIN: We really appreciate your time this morning -- Michaela.

PEREIRA: As you said, he will be here, fresh off his trip to the Vatican, just hours before this crucial New York primary. Bernie Sanders will make his case to voters, live. He joins us right here on NEW DAY next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: All right. Here we go with the five things to know for your NEW DAY. We start with breaking news on the developing situation very concerning in Houston. Look at this. Flash floods wreaking havoc in Houston this morning. Wee looking at this video from moments ago.

This driver was rescued from a car that became -- submerged in those flood waters.