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New Day

Death Toll of Earthquake in Italy is 252; At least 20 Turkish tanks crossing into Northern Syria; Hillary Clinton Giving a Speech Today. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired August 25, 2016 - 06:30   ET

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

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He needs to really refocus what voters are going to the ballot box on. And he is making this about race even as he keeps trying to get away from it.

[06:30:13] POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: And it could be about the economy, clearly. Guys, thank you very much, Maggie and Philip nice to have you. Coming up next, we're going to take it to Italy, amid the death and destruction there following that horrific earthquake in Central Italy. We'll tell you a remarkable story of survival. The detail of that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: The death toll from that horrible earthquake in Central Italy is now up to 252. And remember they still haven't made it through much of the rubble. There are still aftershocks. These skinny little roads that we all see is beautiful there, in that part of the world are keeping access to a minimum.

Rescue workers are now having to still go by hand. Look for yourself. Look at your screen right now. This is the reality in Italy. They're digging through, and sometimes a miracle, a firefighter trying to see who's there, finding a little girl. They believe she's 8-years-old. A rare moment of jubilation among just a true, true pain and it's going to last for days.

[06:35:05] HARLOW: Absolutely. All right, in Indiana, Indiana's governor, Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, off the campaign trail today. He's touring the damage from Wednesday's tornado outbreak in his state. Take a look. Terrifying scenes like these playing out in Kokomo in rural Howard County. There are reports of as many as seven tornadoes touching down there yesterday. Indiana State Police they're about 20 people were injured, mostly from flying debris. Pretty amazing no one was killed.

CUOMO: Hope Solo, you know her, she was given a red card by the U.S. Soccer Federation, suspending her for six months. Andy Scholes has more in this morning's bleacher report. People thought something was going to happen, now this.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Chris. You know, no one likes a sore loser, especially at the Olympic. And that's exactly what Hope Solo was after the U.S. bounce in the quarterfinals after their loss to Sweden. Solo said the Swedish team well, the played like a bunch of cowards. U.S. Soccer caller comments "unacceptable" and suspended her for six months. Solo responded to the suspension on Twitter saying in part, "I could not be the player I am without being the person I am, even when I haven't made the best choices or said the right things."

All right, Joey Bosa's holdout with the San Diego chargers, it's turning ugly. The team put out a release yesterday saying they're pulling their contract offer to the number three overall draft pick. Now the beef between the two sides isn't even over the amount of the contract. Rookie deals are offset. The two sides are arguing over when Bosa will get his money. Bosa the only first-round draft pick who has not signed with his team.

And finally, swimmer Katie Ledecky throwing out the first pitch at last night's national's game. Just one problem, what's she going to do with all those medals? Well, check this out. She handed them over to Bryce Harper, for safekeeping. And then, let's look at this. Ledecky is going to fire in a perfect strike. What can't she do? 19-year-old set to begin her freshman year at Stanford.

And Poppy by going the swimming in Stanford, Ledecky is passing up millions of dollars in endorsement money that she could have earned. But she said, hey, it's all worth it because she wanted the college experience.

HARLOW: It's all about the long game Andy Scholes, you know that my friend. All right, thank you so much.

Turning the page here to ISIS and with ISIS and its sights, a covert military force plots to take back the Iraqi city of Mosul from the terrorists. The view from the front lines, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:41:28] CUOMO: At least 20 Turkish tanks crossing into Northern Syria in a bid to wipe out ISIS. Military forces seized control of this border town known as Jarabulus Wednesday, one of the militants' last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border.

So, Iraqi forces are now inching closer to disbanding ISIS in the key City of Mosul. Troops there say they're less than 37 miles from the key city. As we learn of a secret network that's also taking on the terrorists. What is that about?

CNN's Senior International Correspondent, Arwa Damon live on the ground in Northern Iraq. What can you tell us about the state of play on ground and this secret network, Arwa?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris. Well, the Iraqi army is making as its advances. But it's very difficult to get accurate information and an understanding of what's happening inside Mosul. But we are beginning to put together a picture of what it is that this one little battalion is trying to do when it comes to the fight against ISIS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAMON: Operating deep within the shadows of ISIS territory in Mosul is a network so secretive, even its own members do not know each other's identities.

The letter "M" spray painted on Mosul's walls. "M" from "Muqawama" the resistance, the message to ISIS, we are here, we are among you.

The Mosul battalions watch for weaknesses in ISIS' defenses, carrying out hit-and-run operations, or waiting for a moment to strike isolated targets, like this checkpoint on the outskirts of the city.

This man Abu Ali is one of their liaisons.

How did the Mosul battalions even manage to initially organize themselves?

ABU ALI, (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): It started as two friends who trust each other, and they would arrange to target ISIS in a particular point.

DAMON: The same happened elsewhere, and by the end of 2014, the Mosul battalions had formed.

Their weapons are basic. What they found and hid in the city or what they snatch from ISIS.

ALI, (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The roadside bombs they use, they would steal from ISIS. ISIS puts bombs in certain areas, and those who have previous military experience would go and steal those bombs and place them where they target ISIS.

DAMON: They operate in two to three-man cells, independent of one another. No cell knows specifically of another, no fighter knows the name of more than two others.

Abu Ali called a man he says is with the battalions in Mosul. He's speaking from orchard just outside of the city. Talking on the phone is punishable by death.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE, (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We carry out assassinations, sniper operation against senior ISIS members. We target the houses that they live in.

DAMON: Distorted voice in this video says they assassinated an ISIS fighter. The images been show what they say is the dead man's I.D., pistol and suicide belt.

And Abu Ali said, they are providing through intermediaries intelligence and coordinates to the coalition. Here are the aftermath of a strike they say was based on their information. And they are waiting for what they call zero hour, distributing leaflets warning ISIS its end is coming. They are ready, ready for the day the Iraqi army breaches the city and they rally the people to rise.

(END VIDEO CLIP) [06:45:09] DAMON: And Mosul has another plan in place, another secretive organization, Poppy, one that calls itself the peace battalion. Their job is going to be a bit different to that of the Mosul battalions. They're going to be focusing on preventing chaos, things like looting, but also ensuring that the civilian population in that city is protected.

HARLOW: Incredible reporting, Arwa. Live for us from Erbil, Iraq. Thank you so much.

All right coming up next, the politics and tying Donald Trump to a movement called the "Alt-right". All right, what exactly is that? We'll dig into that ahead.

Also, Hillary Clinton will highlight it today in a big speech. She says it's a disturbing connection that Trump has, that speech today in Nevada. And details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: All right. Hillary Clinton giving a speech today where she will tie Donald Trump to a far-right movement fueled by racist and hateful rhetoric. It's called the "Alt-right". We're going to dig into what it means and the implications ahead.

[06:50:03] With me now, CNN's Senior Media Correspondent and Host of Reliable Sources, Brian Stelter and also with us this morning, media columnist for The New York Times and contributor for the New York Times Magazine, Jim Rutenberg. Thank you both for being here, nice to have you on.

Brian, let me begin with you. The "Alt-right" quickly for our viewers, explain what this movement is.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: There are many definitions. But it's a mostly online movement, mostly men, mostly young men, mostly young white men who talk about race realism, who talk about ethno-nationalism. You might describe them as people who believe in white pride. You might even say they are white nationalist. Some of them are outright racists.

However, some of these commenters online again mostly in online movement would say, "They're just joking. They're just being provocative." The reality is though, as you go deeper on to this website, the uglier and uglier it gets.

HARLOW: And as you say when you say things enough, at what point is it this really what you think.

STELTER: It might be fully like there's a reality here that there's a lot of rhetoric about race and about gender as well. These so-called men's rights activists, what that really means is anti-women.

HARLOW: Yeah, all right so Jim, Hillary Clinton is going to tie Donald Trump to this, today in Nevada in the speech. This comes after last night he said very loudly she is bigot, about Hillary Clinton. Clearly either trying to get, you know, convince some voters, white voters that he's not a racist or actually trying to gain some points among African-American voters.

Either way, the question becomes, will she -- will this help her, and with what group will this help her? And some have said this risks her elevating the "Alt-right" movement.

JIM RUTENBERG, MEDIA COLUMINIST, NEW YORK TIMES: I think first of all the latter is probably true, but I think it arguably does help her. I think the Trump campaign thinks it's a vulnerability which is why he used the bigotry line last night.

So I think though the voters that are really important right now are white swing voters who don't like these sort of charges of racism floating around his campaign, the idea he plays and sort to white nationalist movement. So I think it's definitely about white voters.

By and large though, any percentage of minority voters that he can get for his vote chair, it's critical. He needs to build a broader coalition.

HARLOW: Guys at 1 percent with African-American. I want to -- let's listen to part of Anderson's interview with Hillary Clinton last night. Brian as, you know, the first national interview she's given in about a month.

STELTER: Yeah

HARLOW: And he asked her specifically about, why aren't you talking to the press more?

STELTER: Right

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, Anderson, I'm talking to you right now. And I've given, I think, way in excess of 300 interviews this year. So I'm going to continue talking with the press and answering questions.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Why not give a press conference though with a lot of different reporters?

CLINTON: Well, you know, I mean I've got a lot so -- a lot that I have been sharing with the press, talking to press as I'm doing with you right now. So, you know, stay tuned. There will be a lot of different opportunities for me to talk to the press.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: All right. It's just important to note here for context by the way. Donald Trump's team has declined all interview requests from us, CNN, NBC, CBS and ABC.

RUTENBERG: Right

HARLOW: He's talking to Fox, somebody doing "Friendly interviews" on Fox with Hannity, who says by the way I'm not journalist. She's not getting down with Chris Wallace or Megyn Kelly for example. So but given Clinton's answer to Anderson there, by the way, she talked to Jimmy Kimmel before she did the Anderson interview.

RUTENBERG: And she talked to Jimmy Kimmel on a day that there were new questions about her foundation and her work at the State Department. I think that this is parsing. She needs to do more engagement with the press. Maybe strategically, she doesn't think that's in her interest. But this is about the presidency of the United States. It's not always about strategy. And it won't be when she's president.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Is it run out the clock?

STELTER: It's the one thing these two candidates have in common. That they don't want to do interviews right now.

HARLOW: You call it allergic. They're allergic.

STELTER: I think they're both allergic to interviewers right now or maybe that I'll change after Labor Day.

For Clinton, it is a set on your lead and run out the clock strategy. However, there are reasonably that's no entirely successful. Already in the past couple weeks, we've seen the polls tighten a little bit. And I think she felt like she needed to at least spend a few minutes explaining and defending the Clinton Foundation issue and explaining her e-mail situation to Anderson last night.

HARLOW: Oh and then she's going to get hammered on. They've been that in the debate. So there's no question about that.

I wonder Jim if you think it's just that she's sort shell shocked still from that press conference at the U.N. back last march.

RUTENBERG: Oh, that's a long time ago though, really long time. I think she shells -- you could argue she's been shell shocked in general. She has a lot of scars from her public life, as anyone in public life as long as she has been in it would have. That said, she wants to be president of the United States. There was point where Donald Trump was out all the time. Now he has kind of reverted to friendlier media.

STELTER: Yeah.

RUTENBERG: But I think that -- at times have served him well. Sometimes it doesn't. But he's out there.

STELTER: By the way ...

HARLOW: If she's in the White House, how will she be with the White House press corps? I've got -- I've got to wrap it out there but ... STELTER: ... do you think she ever imagined she'd be up against Donald Trump?

HARLOW: No, I don't think she ever imagined.

STELTER: It's been quite a campaign.

HARLOW: All right, guys, thank you very much. We appreciate it, got to leave it there.

What's your take in one way on a way you think? Do you want Hillary Clinton to hold the press conference? It's been 265 days. What would you ask? Tweet us @NewDay or post your comment on facebook.com/NewDay. Chris?

[06:55:06] CUOMO: All right, thanks, Poppy. Trump isn't just reaching out to African-American voters. He's changing his stance on illegal immigration too. Will his new push for minority votes work?

We're going to ask the executive director of Trump's National Diversity Coalition, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: My work as secretary of state was not influenced by any outside forces.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She's got bad judgment. Hillary Clinton is a bigot.

CLINTON: Donald Trump has shown us who he is.

TRUMP: She's going to do nothing for African-Americans. She's going to do nothing for the Hispanics.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This area has seen remarkable devastation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The death toll from the earthquake in Italy has nearly doubled.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People working around the clock to try to save lives.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Zika is spreading in South Florida, and the stakes are high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Children who suffer from this would not be able to cope.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's concern that the chemical being sprayed may also be harmful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota.

CUOMO: Good morning. Welcome to your NEW DAY. Alisyn is off. Poppy Harlow, joining me this morning. Good to have you as always.

HARLOW: It's good to be with you.

CUOMO: We got big news for you this morning. Donald Trump is backing off his signature hard line immigration position. No more deport them all, create a task force to round them up, and anyone who says otherwise is weak. Remember those statements?

[07:00:04] Now there's a new line. It is that he would work with undocumented people. And guess what, his former rivals has some tough words for him.