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Four Dead In Record-Breaking Heatwave; Anti-Trump Delegates Plot New Effort To Stop Trump; Clinton Spending $23M In Ads In Key States, Trump Spending Zero; Britain Mourns Slain Lawmaker Jo Cox; Navy SEAL Receives Posthumous Honors For Undisclosed Fight. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired June 20, 2016 - 06:30   ET

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

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[06:31:23] JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. Extreme, dangerous, and record-breaking heat on this first day of summer. At least four people have died in Arizona where the temperature climbed to 120 degrees in some places. That blistering heat expected to grip the east this week.

CNN meteorologist, Chad Myers joining us now. So Chad, any relief in sight. It is coming this way.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, if you consider 110 relief from 120, then maybe, but I'm not sure where you draw that line, Jim. Look at the record yesterday in Phoenix, 118. The old highest, highest temperature ever was 122, didn't break that but close enough, really.

If you could feel the difference between 118 and 122, you are better than me. One hundred thirty people die every year in the United States from heat. That is more than flooding, tornadoes, lightning, and all that other stuff.

So we have to be careful out here. People were without hiking without water and it was 115-120 degrees. It will be that way again today. It is hot all the way in L.A. so not maybe so close.

If you are Huntington Beach, you might get little wind off the ocean, but it's going to be a hot day again today. Going to break records in Phoenix, Vegas, and the like. There'll be a bunch of records broken again today.

So here is how it sets up. We have a big ridge of high pressure on top of the southwest. Temperatures are going to be hot again. Look at Phoenix, you are in the hundreds, over 100. Right now at Sky Harbor Airport, it is 98 degrees. It is not even cooling down at night.

That's another part of the problem where it is hot forever. Now Lax, Huntington Beach will cool down for the rest of the week but not today. It is still hot. Palm Springs is going to be 117. So go to the ocean if you can.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: My gosh, that's just incredible. Look at your map, it looks like it itself is on fire. Thank you for that update.

Well, the "Dump Trump Movement" is still alive and kicking. A last ditch effort by some GOP delegates to stop Trump from being the party's nominee, what they are doing and their chances of success next.

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[06:38:41]

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am working daily on getting the votes and I have a very good group of Rules Committee members. In fact, two called me right before this. They have signed on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: All right, the never-Trump movement continues its fight as you just heard. Some 1,000 people reportedly took part in a conference call last night, part of a last ditch effort to change rules and block Trump at the GOP convention.

Joining us to discuss this and more, CNN political commentator and Donald Trump supporter, Jeffrey Lord, and CNN political commentator and Republican consultant, Margaret Hoover. Good morning to both of you.

Good morning, Jeffrey. Let's talk about this phone call last night, 1,000 Republicans, including some delegates and some apparently Rules Committee members trying to figure out how at the convention to stop Donald Trump.

Margaret, he is the nominee. I mean, this would be subverting the voters of the United States. How do they plan to do this?

MARGARET HOOVER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It would be subverting a plurality of Republican primary voters who have put Donald Trump over the top in terms of the people who have said they would vote.

CAMEROTA: That's how it works.

HOOVER: Those are the rules. But you know what, actually, this is their point. There are no rules yet because the Rules Committee has the rules for each new convention. If they change the rules to allow delegates, in some cases, these delegates from the early primary states are legally bound to vote for Trump. In other cases, they are not legally bound to vote for him.

[06:40:04]So the rules will be set the week before the convention. What they are saying, if they can change the rules, might they not get enough people to vote for him on the first ballot, I think this is not go anywhere.

I will tell you, I am not a deep Trump supporter in any way, shape, or form, but I really don't think that it's realistic, A, because even if they do it, who is going to be the candidate if it's not Donald Trump.

I mean, I'm sure Ted Cruz will be delighted to come in -- and maybe they could change it, but you know what -- it is incredibly unlikely that this happens.

It is incredibly unlikely, but what it does demonstrate, Alisyn, more than anything else is the lack of confidence that Donald Trump has engendered from the Republican Party, from the delegates across the country.

CAMEROTA: Jeffrey, how about that. I mean, how about them trying to change the rules before the convention to try to get rid of him?

JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, two things, and Margaret has hit the nail on the head here. They don't have a horse, as it were. The last time, not to date myself, but the last time this happened was 1964 when Governor Nelson Rockefeller had lost the primaries to Barry Goldwater.

And at the last minute, right about this time, in June of 1964, Governor Scranton of Pennsylvania was pushed to get into the race. He did get into the race. He got clobbered in San Francisco and lost.

However, at least they had a candidate. There is no candidate here. There is no Mitt Romney. No Jeb Bush. So number one, you have to have that.

Secondly, Alisyn, let's just say for the sake of the argument, what if they succeeded, there would be an uproar like you wouldn't believe from the 14 million people that voted for him.

CAMEROTA: I would imagine. I mean, you know, voters don't like being told that they didn't know what they were doing when they went to the ballot box.

HOOVER: I don't know. Yes, and no. Sure, he won a plurality of votes, but if you take all the other delegates, all the other people, he did win a majority of Republican primary voters --

LORD: Neither did Mitt Romney or John McCain.

HOOVER: But, Jeffrey, we have seen a lot about the candidate. A lot has happened since the early votes, since South Carolina, since New Hampshire, since Iowa. We have seen a candidate who increasingly has not been able to engender increasing support for the Republican primary.

CAMEROTA: That brings up the conscience clause thing, Jeffrey, you know, that they think they're going to be able to hang their hat on. The conscience clause, if you cannot in good conscience, even Paul Ryan sort of obliquely referred to this, then you don't have to vote for that candidate.

LORD: If their conscience won't permit it, they should resign and get someone else to do job. I've been a member of the Pennsylvania delegation, they have what they call alternate delegates. If you can't vote for Donald Trump with your conscience, then resign and let the alternate delegate do the voting.

HOOVER: But Jeffrey, you know, I mean, this is how extraordinary this year is now. The speaker of the House, the highest, most prominent Republican in the country is telling delegates and any of his members that they don't have to vote for the nominee. That's how bad this is. This is a sign of how weak the presumptive nominee is. How --

LORD: This is a sign, Margaret, the establishment --

HOOVER: It's not just establishment, Jeffrey, if you call 1,000 delegates at that convention, these are people that are part of the process. They are not the elites. They are not the people who were elected in Congress. These are regular operatives who are part of --

LORD: Neither are the 14 million people who voted for him.

CAMEROTA: All right, I want to move on because something interesting is happening on the Trump side. I want to talk about the strategy that he is using. Jeffrey, will start with you.

There are millions of dollars in battleground states being spent by the Hillary Clinton campaign as well as by super PACs supporting her in terms of campaign ads that are already deluging the airwaves.

Zero from Donald Trump, from Donald Trump's campaign or from super PACs. Now, I know it is June. We still have five months to go. But do you think that that's wise?

LORD: You know, I think they will get there. He is running his campaign in his own unique fashion, which has won the nomination here and let us not forget that in January of this year, the word on the street as it were in Republican circles was that Jeb Bush, who was busy raising $100 million was going to walk away with this.

Of course, he got clobbered. He too failed, failed big-time with all of that money. So I would suggest that what we may see is that Hillary is the new Jeb and over time, this advantage is not going to be there.

CAMEROTA: OK, so money does not always equal success. We know that. What do you think about that disparity?

HOOVER: Look, I mean, this idea that Hillary is the new Jeb is incredibly comforting I think to some Republicans who don't like Hillary Clinton. But it's just -- it's simply. This is not apples to apples, right?

The Republican primary versus the general, $100 million in the primary, trying to fend off other guys, versus fighting Hillary Clinton, fighting a democratic candidate that has the increasing unification of her party behind her and half the country starting off at a baseline, it is cold comfort.

[06:45:05]I mean, what -- Mitt Romney was raising $1 million a day at this stage of this presidential race. What is needed is not just for Donald Trump to have money for his race. It is not about him anymore as a presumptive nominee.

It is about all of these down ballot races. It is about all of these swing districts. It's about the Senate, the House. If he is not raising money not just for himself but for the rest of party, not only do we lose the presidency or the Senate, we have tighter margins in the House of Representatives.

CAMEROTA: But guys, I'm sorry, we are out of time. Jeffrey, I owe you one. Great to see you. Margaret, thank you very much.

One quick programming note to tell you about it. Chris Cuomo will be hosting a town hall with the Libertarian Party nominee, Gary Johnson and his running mate, Bill Wells. So tune to that primetime event. It is Wednesday night, 9:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN -- Jim.

SCIUTTO: Well, shock and grief gripping England today. Brits set to decide whether to leave the European Union in just three days as they mourn a beloved Member of Parliament who was murdered. A live report right after this.

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SCIUTTO: The highly anticipated Brexit vote is this Thursday. But today, Britain's parliament will set aside political differences to pay tribute to a slain British lawmaker, Jo Cox.

[06:50:09]In just a few hours, a memorial will be held for the 41- year-old who wanted to see Britain remain in the European Union.

CNN senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen, he is live in England with more. So what's going to happen there today, Fred?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Jim. Yes, there is going to be -- that memorial is going to take place for her in parliament where the senior members of parliament are going to have a procession and then, of course, just remember Jo Cox, the person she was and the role that she played in the parliament there.

But here, in her community, where I am right now and exactly the place where she was killed last Thursday, some people here are still very much sad and angry that something like that could happen in a small community like this one.

And also many people here in Britain, quite frankly, are shocked at some of the political rhetoric that was taking place in the run up to that vote on whether or not Britain will stay in the European Union, which, of course, could have massive consequences not just for Britain and Europe, but for U.S. companies doing business here in Europe and in Britain as well.

So certainly, a lot of people here still shocked, angered and very sad. Many people coming out to this makeshift memorial that you see here in the center of town bowing their heads still very much in disbelief.

Just a quick word on the vote itself. It is still very unclear which direction it is going to go. It seems as this point in time, there is a small lead for the people wanting to remain inside the E.U. But again, at this point in time, way too close to call -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, Fred, please keep us posted. That one is so important. Thank you for all that reporting.

Well, courage under fire. A Navy SEAL killed in combat and honored in death. But he's being recognized for bravery in a battle that no one even knew about until now. We have details ahead.

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SCIUTTO: We are learning new information about the death of a Navy SEAL killed in Northern Iraq during a fire fight with ISIS. Charles Keating IV recognized for valour, but as it turns not for the battle that he died in, a previously unknown skirmish, which carries some painful parallel.

CNN's Barbara Starr is live at the Pentagon this morning with the details -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Jim. Well, you know, U.S. military advisers in Syria and Iraq are not supposed to be in combat, but combat is coming to them one Navy SEAL team caught twice.

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STARR (voice-over): It was a fire fight last month in Northern Iraq against 100 ISIS fighters that lasted more than two hours. When it was over, Navy SEAL Charles Keating, was dead on a tour of duty that was not supposed to involve combat.

Hundreds of friends and family gathered to remember him. He was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third highest citation for valour, but not for the battle north of Mosul that killed him but for a different fight two months earlier, one that was not disclosed until after his death.

That March 4th morning, Keating's SEAL team and local Kurdish forces were attacked by more than 100 ISIS fighters. The initial assault was pushed back. Keating kept up a counter attack running back and forth along the front lines to stop the enemy advance.

Exposing himself to automatic weapons, mortars and rocket-prepared grenades. When a suicide car bomber approached his position, his team attacked with sniper and rocket fire.

Then, on May 3rd, it happened all over again. ISIS assembling a large attack force again in Northern Iraq. Keating's unit was behind the front lines as advisers with local Kurdish forces.

At 7:30 a.m., the SEALs and local forces are attacked by more than 100 ISIS fighters who charged the front lines with bulldozers, trucks and weapons.

At 7:50, the Americans call for help. Keating and about 20 other SEALs arrived quickly. The SEALs moved to each side of the front line, military sources tell CNN initial battlefield reports describe fighting so intense ammunition was running low.

Then, Keating's weapon malfunctioned. He went to a nearby vehicle for a new weapon and more ammunition. Now, equipped with his sniper rifle, he climbed on top of the building and began firing at ISIS when he was hit.

His death and the two fire fights, a stark reminder that U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria are in combat more than the military discloses.

Former Navy SEAL, Jeffrey Ebbert, says there are new dangers for special operations forces.

JEFFREY EBBERT, FORMER NAVY SEAL: What's new in this environment is that the advisory admission even though it's not a combat mission, another words, they are not supposed to be doing the majority of the fighting themselves is close to where the fighting is taking place.

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SCIUTTO: Barbara, I have to tell you, I look at those exchanges there, about the one where he was killed and the one he was awarded the medal of valour in. How can the Pentagon and administration call that anything other than combat?

STARR: You know, Jim, what the Pentagon will tell you and I know they have told you the same thing, they are not putting troops in there to be in combat specifically. Combat is coming to them. They are in a very dangerous situation.

ISIS is nearby. They are not on the front lines, the U.S. troops. They are supposed to be advisers. Jeffrey Ebbert, that SEAL we talked to, as he pointed out, he said, he said, this is the new reality. This is the gray zone somewhere between peace and war -- Jim.

SCIUTTO: One thing we know, they are definitely putting their lives on the line. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, thanks very much. We are following a lot of news this morning. Let's get right to it.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This was an act of terror and an act of hate.

CAMEROTA: The FBI is releasing these partial transcripts of the three phone calls between the gunmen and the hostage negotiators.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He talked about his motivations for why he was committing this horrific act.