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Double Storm Threat Building; Top Clinton Aide Separates from Husband Amid Sexting Scandal; Prosecutors: Suspect Admits to Shooting that Killed Aldridge; Rubio Running for Senate Re-Election in Florida. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired August 30, 2016 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:31:41] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI arresting a Massachusetts man with a stockpile of weapons who prosecutors said was a would-be assassin. Court documents reveal 48-year-old Joseph Gargiulo wanted to bomb a police station, burn down a mosque and threaten to assassinate President Obama. The FBI says he was also stockpiling food and water. Gargiulo is in custody pending a court hearing in Boston tomorrow.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: The United States has now admitted 10,000 refugees from war torn Syria meeting that commitment by the end of the month. The number is far lower than some U.S. allies. Germany has taken in hundreds of thousands. Canada has admitted nearly 30,000 people. Syrian refugees, of course, have been a point of contention in Washington and the election with Republicans and some Democrats pushing to toughen the screening process over terror concerns.

CUOMO: Double trouble churning. What are we talking about? Two other systems are about to become tropical storms. They're both taking aims at coastal states.

Let's bring in Chad Myers. Nobody tracks the storm like Chad.

What do you see, my friend?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I see two storms that are having trouble getting going, but once they do will be something to contend with.

North Carolina, you have tropical depression number eight. That will likely be Herman or Ian. Don't know which one is going to be first. Which is going to get first, nine or eight? Because nine looks pretty good this morning. Cloud showers around in the Gulf of Mexico. That will affect the Gulf Coast somewhere.

We are going to see if approach to North Carolina on the first one, number eight, not going to be a big deal, 45 miles per hour.

This, though, I'm more concerned with. It is in very warm water. We know what hurricanes do in warm water. They get bigger. And this thing could get bigger, even bigger than the hurricane center is saying, but it's going to be somewhere between Tampa and Panama City as it makes the big turn across the loop current, that warm water in the Gulf of Mexico.

It's going to be a rainmaker, even if it doesn't become a lot of wind, it will be 6 to 10 inch rainmaker. But I do believe that could become a hurricane.

And the big island, if you're still awake out there in the big island, you're going to get hurricane, category 1 out there. It is Madeline, about a 90-mile-per-hour storm making a south pass on the very edge, the southern edge of the big island. That will on be Wednesday.

So, almost triple trouble, Alisyn. We have them all over the place.

CAMEROTA: Thanks for keeping an eye on it, Chad. We'll talk with you again.

MYERS: All right.

CAMEROTA: In today's "New Day, New You", some promising research in the fight against the Zika virus. Scientists have discovered three existing drugs use to treat cancer, hepatitis C, and parasitic infection that could be useful in counteracting the effects of the disease. The experiments so far have only been conducted in Petri dishes, but the results were dramatic, even reversing some of the damage previously thought to be impossible. Still it remains unclear if the drug can penetrate an adult's body to treat the brain of an unborn baby impacted by Zika. The results were first reported in Nature Medicine.

CUOMO: Colin Kaepernick, national anthem protest, big news all over the country the embattled 49ers quarterback has taken hits from both sides of the aisle. Two former NFL players share their views with us, ahead.

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[06:38:56] CAMEROTA: Long-time Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin announcing that she is separating from her husband, former Congressman Anthony Weiner, after another sexting scandal. Huma Abedin keeping her typically low profile during the news.

Who is this woman described as Hillary Clinton's right hand?

Let's bring in William D. Cohan. He's a contributing editor for "Vanity Fair". He's written several in-depth stories about Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner.

Bill, thanks so much for being here.

WILLIAM D. COHAN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, VANITY FAIR: Great to be here, Alisyn. Thank you.

CAMEROTA: So, Huma Abedin is a somewhat mysterious figure because you see her all the time. She's captured in the photos next to Hillary Clinton, whispering in her ear often, but she is rarely heard from.

So, you've studied this. You've investigated her for your pieces. Who is Huma Abedin?

COHAN: Well, she's obviously a very bright and loyal and devoted colleague of Hillary Clinton. She has been at Hillary's side since the mid '90s when she left George Washington University and became an intern at the White House.

[06:40:02] I think she wanted to work in the press office actually at the White House. She -- her hero actually was Christiane Amanpour, somebody who you all know very well, and ended up, without choice of her own, working for Hillary Clinton and she basically has not left Hillary's side since then. She was with her as first lady, in the Senate, at the State Department, and now, she is co-chairman of the Hillary Clinton for president campaign.

She has been seen everywhere with Hillary. She's basically Hillary's body person and she will probably be with Hillary in the White House. So, she's got Hillary's trust and they're very loyal to one another and so they have a very devoted friendship.

CAMEROTA: Yes. So, interesting to hear those details, Bill, because to hear that she had wanted to originally be a journalist and started as an intern. We didn't know all of that.

So, what did you learn about their marriage?

Because from the outside, it doesn't seem as though anybody could be more different than Anthony Weiner. You know, he is obviously sort of a showman. He likes to stir the pot. He likes the limelight. Huma Abedin does not seem to like the limelight.

What was their marriage like?

COHAN: Well, I mean, obviously, I don't know the details of their marriage, but sometimes opposites attract.

You're right. They could not be more different. Huma was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and raised for much of her young adult life and childhood in Saudi Arabia. Her parents were intellectuals. Both got their graduate degrees at the University of Pennsylvania.

Anthony Weiner kind of goes without saying, brash, New Yorker, out there, aggressive, had a very high trajectory in his political career as a congressman when they met. And so, I think they both shared sort of high power, political opportunity in careers. And I think given how difficult it can be for Huma to get away and have time to herself, I think that they both shared sort of that insidery, Washington feel which attracted them to each other.

Now, on their first date or whatever became of their first date, Huma at one point went to the bathroom and never came back. She wanted to get away from Anthony.

CAMEROTA: Oh my God! COHAN: She should have stuck with her first instinct. But over time, they spent a lot more time together. He's obviously very charismatic and she, you know, in a -- you know, to appreciate something like that and being very different.

CAMEROTA: Bill, that's an incredible detail. If you're climbing out the window in the bathroom of your first date, or whatever, sneaking out somehow, that is telling. So, obviously, none of us can ever know inside, behind the doors of a marriage, of course.

But you did write an article saying why is she still with him? I mean, obviously, right before this third sexting scandal, why did she stay with him as long as she did?

COHAN: Well, so we make it through the first two and the second one, of course, came during the middle of Anthony's sort of resurrection effort to try to become mayor of New York. Obviously, that knocked him out of the mayoral race.

By then, they've had their child, Jordan. And basically Anthony is -- remains unemployable, was unemployable. So, he actually provided a very valuable service to the family. He stayed home with Jordan, allowing Huma to continue to be at Hillary's side in what clearly is the opportunity of her lifetime, what she had been hoping for for, you know, half of her life now since she's been at Hillary's side, the chance to see her through this presidential campaign, thinking that she'll be president of the United States and being in the White House.

And Anthony makes that possible because he stays home with Jordan, who obviously is very important to both of them. And it came -- turned out to be a very convenient relationship, not probably dissimilar -- look who she turned to for advice after the first two sexting scandals. She turned to Hillary who obviously stayed with Bill Clinton throughout his indiscretions.

And so, that is sort of probably the mindset. You can understand why she would stay, but I think this time, clearly, this was the straw that broke the camel's back. Because when you're continuing to do through and with your son at your side -- well, that's too much.

CAMEROTA: That does seem to have certainly crossed the line.

Bill Cohan, thanks so much for all the insights. People can read more about your articles on them online at "Vanity Fair". Thanks for being here.

COHAN: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Let's get over to Chris.

CUOMO: All right. We have new developments surfacing in the deadly shooting of the cousin of NBA superstar Dwyane Wade. The latest on the gun attack and the historic wave of violence that has rocked Chicago, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [06:49:00] CUOMO: We have new developments in the shooting that killed NBA superstar Dwyane Wade's cousin. Court documents show one of the two brothers charged with Nykea Aldridge's murder admitted to shooting at a different intended target. Aldridge was shot four times pushing her baby in a stroller. The shooting is now part of the most violent month in Chicago in almost 20 years.

For some context on this particular crime and how it fits in, CNN's Ryan Young is live in Chicago with more.

What do we understand, my friend?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Chris. You know, this is one of those hard stories. It's heartbreaking to hear the essence of it. I think it's important for us to go through the parts of this. The fact that she was walking with her child, stroller in front of her and, all of a sudden, she was shot four times, twice in the head.

Now, the brothers now say they were aiming at someone else, but in Chicago, this has become far too common. In fact, people are talking about the violence all the time. The violence is up 43 percent compared to last year. You're talking about 487 murders, last year, there were 496 murders.

[06:50:00] So, you see the increase. But all across the city, people are asking for change. What's going on right now that's creating this crime that's being pushed forward? More than 30 kids have been shot this year. People are asking for something to happen, but so far, there have been no answers in terms of what will happen next.

We know these two men have been arrested, but there are far too many crimes in the city that haven't been solved. In fact, the homicide solve rate here is pretty low and neighborhoods are asking for some change pretty soon.

But, Alisyn, that hasn't happened and people want to know what will happen next.

CAMEROTA: All right. Thanks so much for all of that reports.

Up next, Marco Rubio facing a big primary challenge to keep his Senate seat. Now, he's speaking out on CNN. The promise he will not make to voters during this election. That's next.

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CUOMO: Trump looms large over all the Republican races this cycle. Certainly in Florida, as voting begins in the state's high stakes primary in just minutes. One-time presidential hopeful Senator Marco Rubio will likely face off with Democratic rival Patrick Murphy in November.

Now, the outcome could have a very big impact on Capitol Hill.

Covering this for us, CNN senior political reporter Manu Raju, live in Orlando with more.

Tell us about it, my friend.

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Hey, Chris.

Florida once again at the center of the political universe, not just for Donald Trump's chances of winning the White House, but also Republican chances of keeping control of the Senate majority, which is one reason why Republican leaders essentially begged Marco Rubio to run for re-election and change that mind and do that, and he eventually did.

[06:55:09] And now that Marco Rubio is in the race, he has to navigate the cross currents caused by Donald Trump who won this state's Republican primary by nearly 20 points in March.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAJU (voice-over): Marco Rubio used to be Donald Trump's harshest critic. Now, Rubio is on Florida's ballot in today's Senate primary and he is giving the GOP presidential nominee a lukewarm embrace. Rubio is open to campaigning alongside with Trump, and he won't take the GOP nominee to task for calling Hillary Clinton a bigot.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: Democrats have been calling Republicans a bigot for a long time. I think Hillary Clinton has a lot of problems. I think she is corrupt, she is dishonest. I do think some of the policies she stands for do harm minority communities, absolutely.

RAJU (on camera): Too far to call her a bigot, though?

RUBIO: Well, I'm not -- you have to ask other campaigns about the terms they use. I'm not -- I can tell you I don't want Hillary Clinton to be our president.

RAJU (voice-over): After ending his presidential bid, Rubio decided to run for re-election after the GOP lobbied him to break his pledge to run for the Senate. And he won't be making anymore pledges, not even to serve out his full six-year term if he wins this November.

(on camera): Could you now commit to voters here in Florida that you'll serve an entire six years if you're elected?

RUBIO: No one can make that commitment because you don't know what the future will hold in your life personally or politically.

I can commit to you this, and that is that if I am running to be a U.S. senator, I am fully prepared to allow the U.S. Senate to be the last political office I ever hold.

RAJU (voice-over): To keep control of Congress, Republicans need Trump to stay competitive with Clinton in battleground states like Florida. That means Republicans like Rubio need to court Trump supporters, as well as independents who may be turned off by the GOP nominee. Polls now show Rubio edging his likely Democratic opponent, Congressman Patrick Murphy.

RUBIO: Florida cannot afford a hyper-partisan liberal in the United States president.

RAJU: But while Murphy is a staunch Clinton supporter, Rubio has done battle with Trump.

RUBIO: He will be a disaster for America.

RAJU (on camera): You said a lot of things about Trump during the primary that you have not taken back yet. You call him a con artist. You call him a sham artist. You still don't -- you're not taking that back.

RUBIO: The primary is over. No, but the primary is over. Right now, the primary is over. The Republican voters have chosen a nominee and we have a choice between two feel. I do disagree with Donald on a number of things. I disagree with Hillary on everything.

RAJU: You said that he's too erratic to be trusted with the nuclear --

RUBIO: The primary is over. I'm not focused on the primary argument.

RAJU: How could you support someone you still have not --

RUBIO: How can Patrick Murphy support Hillary Clinton? How can he stand with Hillary Clinton when over and over again, she's proven to be untrustworthy?

RAJU (voice-over): Murphy, who's facing progressive firebrand Alan Grayson in today's primary, says he trusts Hillary Clinton, despite polls saying most voters feel the opposite.

(on camera): Do you trust Hillary Clinton? Do you 100 percent trust her?

REP. PATRICK MURPHY (D), FLORIDA: Yes, I do.

RAJU: What issues do you disagree with her on?

MURPHY: Yes. Well, you know, look, I -- her support of the Iraq war early on.

RAJU (voice-over): But Murphy is eager to tie Rubio to Trump.

MURPHY: I was shocked, there's a lot of people I spoke with were shocked about the support Marco Rubio has given to Donald Trump. Donald Trump is perhaps the most racist, bigoted person ever make this far.

RAJU: Yet, Rubio's primary challenger Carlos Beruff says GOP voters are frustrated that the senator has not embraced Trump tightly enough, while adding this attack on Rubio.

CARLOS BERUFF (R), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I don't respect the guy. RAJU: Trump is slated to give a major speech on immigration Wednesday. But despite their contrasting views, Rubio hold his punches.

(on camera): Do you hope that he reverses his position to deport the 11 million undocumented --

RUBIO: Well, I consistently said that that's not -- I don't think that's a realistic approach.

RAJU: Is it realistic to build a wall on the border of Mexico?

RUBIO: Sure. Not -- I mean, you don't need to have a wall across the entire border. But key sectors of the border, absolutely you need a wall.

RAJU: Force Mexico to pay for it?

RUBIO: Well, Mexico will not pay for it. I've already said that. But we should -- that's our national security interest.

RAJU: Should Donald Trump soften his rhetoric?

RUBIO: Again, you'll have -- I'm more focused on the Democrats rhetoric on this issue.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: So, again, the good example there, Manu, of the tough line for him to walk. As you said, the political crosswinds.

Now, another race, there's going to be an echo effect in is going to be out there with John McCain. In his primary today, the latest CNN polls show him ahead, probably not by as much as he wants. But what affect have we seen Trump have on his race?

RAJU: Pretty significant because lot of those Donald Trump supporters in Arizona simply don't like John McCain because of his incumbency and because of his role in immigration. John McCain like Marco Rubio trying to cut a big immigration deal and a lot of those folks do not like that in Arizona.

But the real challenge for John McCain is in November against a well- funded Democratic candidate, favored by the establishment, Ann Kirk Patrick, because John McCain would not only need those Trump supporters to come to the polls but also Hispanic voters in that state who have been turned off by Donald Trump. So, also a fine line for John McCain to walk and not just today in today's primary but also in November -- Chris.

CUOMO: Big contrast in styles, though, between McCain and Rubio.