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Fate of Separated Families; Scoop on Non-Dairy Ice Cream; Giving Homeless a Fresh Start. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired June 21, 2018 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00] REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: The author, Covey, has a book called "The Speed of Trust." And when you it -- and he talks about how when you stop trusting in a relationship it's almost impossible to get anything done. The Trump administration has told us all kinds of untruth, so why should we believe them now?

The second thing that I think we need to consider in answering your question is, why are you -- if things are OK, why are you hiding our children? Where are our girls? Where are the toddlers? Where are they? And so -- I think nobody -- nobody should be -- these adults who lost their children should be deported until they have their children. There's -- you know, there's a gap. You have, in some instances, the parent gets deported, and because the children are lower priority, they -- their hearings may come up a lot later. So the parents are gone and there is no -- to my knowledge -- tracking mechanism to match child with parent.

And so we got to do better than this. I'm sorry. We -- and we've come to a new sense of normal where people may be drinking champagne and said, oh, the president did something great, that's what he was supposed to do. He created this policy and he carried it out. And I would just say to the president, Mr. President, you broke up families. You broke them up. And now you have to fix them by bringing them back together again.

And I do consider it a very deep and unfortunate situation where children have been harmed already. A lot of people say, oh, they got a nice little cot and I see them playing games and I see them watching the video and playing video games. No, no, no, no, no, no, they're in detention. There are some of these children in cages. That is not America.

And I would say to America, we have to defend this democracy that we have. Don't take it for granted. And so when we start hiding things from the press -- you know, you got correspondents going down there, can't get -- can't even get in at the border in some of these places. Why is that?

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Congressman, I want to stop you there for a minute --

CUMMINGS: You go ahead.

HILL: Because I also want to get -- you know, I do want to point out, there are a lot of people across this country, from both sides of the aisle, obviously, who are outraged at those pictures and what has been happening to the children.

CUMMINGS: Sure.

HILL: There are still questions this morning. Even Jim Jordan's telling us that he is going to ask the president, what is the plan for reunification. So perhaps we'll get an answer there.

CUMMINGS: Right.

HILL: We're also hearing from the president this morning, tweeting out just a couple of tweets in the last 15 minutes or so, noting we shouldn't be hiring judges by the thousands as our ridiculous immigration laws demand. We should be changing our laws, building the wall, hiring border agents and ICE and not let people come into our country based on the legal phrase they are told to say as their password. Going on in another tweet to say, the border has a big mess and a big mess and problem for many years. At some point Schumer and Pelosi, who are weak on crime and border security, will be forced to do a real deal. So easy that solves this long time problem. Schumer used to want border security, now he'll take crime.

I'm sure you have some thoughts on that. But, look, there are two bills we know. There's not a good chance that either will pass in the House today. But there is some movement here, especially in terms of that compromise bill. Is there more in there at this point for Democrats?

CUMMINGS: No, I don't think so. I think -- this is a very complicated issue, as one of your guests said a little bit earlier. And we've got to really sit down and address this very complicated issue. If you'll remember, we had a comprehensive immigration bill that the Senate passed a few years ago, and that went nowhere. But we've got -- I mean it's complicated but the (INAUDIBLE) -- but --

HILL: It is complicated, which the American people understand. But in terms of sitting down, this is not something that's resolved easily, as we know.

CUMMINGS: I think -- I think --

HILL: But has there been enough of that conversation happening? Are both sides really having that (INAUDIBLE) compromise (ph)?

CUMMINGS: I think that -- I think -- I think -- I think all of us need to sit down at the table and try to work this out. But, you know, one of the things that the Republicans want is to do all kinds of restrictions with regard to people coming into this country. We already see what has happened with regard to the Muslim ban. A whole group of people are not able to come to our country.

So it's things like that, that makes it very difficult to compromise. But -- and to sit down. But we have to do that.

Meadows, one of my best friends in the Congress, I mean he's a very reasonable guy. I think that, at some point, we can hopefully come together and resolve this. But, for right now, we've got children that are screaming. We don't even know where they are. Can't see them. The press is locked out. We got to do better.

[08:35:15] HILL: You've got to do better. You want to talk to people.

Look, there is also the thinking that maybe this is better for Democrats to not act on this right away, to not follow through on some sort of comprehensive reform legislation, even conversation.

Here's Representative Mike McCaul from earlier today. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE MCCAUL (R), TEXAS: Unfortunately, no Democrats supporting this even though we have a DACA fix to it.

And I think they are completely interested in making this a campaign issue. And even though the president resolved the family separation issue on a temporary basis, they condemn him for that. I don't think they have any interest in working constructively with us but rather use this in the 2018 midterm elections.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Is this about the midterms?

CUMMINGS: Yes, as far as I'm -- as far as I'm -- not for me. As far as I'm concerned, that's a very insulting statement that my friend made.

This is a moral issue. And there's something about moral issues you just don't mess with them like that. When you have -- and when I'm talking about children, babies, three months old crying for their mother, no. No, it's not about that. I would love to have a resolution to this, but you do not, in America, break families apart.

And the other thing that we're doing are -- imagine these kids. They are going to grow up angry at the United States of America if they're torn away from their parents. And we have no tracking mechanism. And even the administration has said that some of these kids will likely not be united with their parents. That's not acceptable.

And as far as judge -- the tweet that the president made this morning, we have to hire whoever we have to hire so that people can assert their rights with regard to asylum. And we don't do -- we should not do what the attorney general has said. He said that certain types of problems in the country where they're leaving, like gang violence, will not do with regard to asserting asylum privileges. That's not good enough. And basically he's saying, I'm going to prejudge you before you even get to even hear -- have a judge hear your case. That's not right.

HILL: Congressman, we're going to have to --

CUMMINGS: That's not the United States of America. HILL: We're going to have to leave it there for this morning. Appreciate you taking the time. And we do look forward to hearing more about those conversations between you and your fellow lawmakers both across the aisle and those within your party as well. Thank you.

CUMMINGS: All right, thank you.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we do have some breaking news. We just learned that President Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this summer. More details just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:41:49] BERMAN: All right, time now for the "Five Things to Know for Your New Day."

Number one, the fate of more than 2,300 children taken away from parents at the border, it remains unclear after President Trump reversed his policy by executive order. The order does not address exactly when and how these families will be reunited.

HILL: CNN has learned President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are planning to meet this summer. It's expected to happen in mid-July around Mr. Trump's trip to the U.K. and the NATO summit. One official says Vienna has been discussed as a likely location.

BERMAN: Protests in Pennsylvania after an unarmed teenager was gunned down by police. Seventeen-year-old Antwon Rose was shot several times in east Pittsburgh after police say he ran from a car allegedly connected to a shooting.

HILL: The wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing fraud charges. The indictment alleges Sarah Netanyahu misused nearly $100,000 to pay for hundreds of meals from gourmet restaurants in violations of rules at the prime minister's restaurants.

BERMAN: New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gives birth to a baby girl, becoming the second elected leader in history to have a child while in office. The baby shares a birthday with the first leader, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

HILL: For more on the "Five Things to Know," just head to cnn.com/newday with the latest.

BERMAN: All right, we're going to continue CNN's series "Champions for Change." Bill Weir takes us inside an organization trying to find homes for the homeless.

HILL: Looking forward to that.

First, though, how you can treat yourself to ice cream even if you can't have milk. Here's today's "Food as Fuel."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA DRAYER, CNN HEALTH CONTRIBUTOR: If you love ice cream but can't have dairy, good news, you have plenty of options these days.

Frozen desserts made from soy, almonds, cashew and coconut milk have gone mainstream and can taste as delicious as the real thing. If you're watching your weight or concerned about heart health, you can find option that's fit within your daily calorie and fat budgets.

For instance, this soy milk dessert has only 120 calories and zero grams of saturated fat per serving.

But not all non-dairy treats are created equal and they may not be any healthier than the traditional version.

Take coconut milk based desserts. Generally speaking, they're higher in saturated fat, which raises bad cholesterol. So pay attention to labels. Look for those with less than 200 calories, 16 grams of sugar and 3 grams of saturated fat per serving.

And keep an eye on portion sizes. They're typically only a half cup, or about the size of a light bulb.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:48:20] HILL: All this week we've been bringing you stories of people who make a big difference in the world. The series, of course, "Champions for Change."

BERMAN: Today we look at the champion on a mission to give homeless New Yorkers dignity, support and a fresh start.

Our Bill Weir here to tell us about an organization very close to his heart.

Hey, Bill.

BILL WEIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, friends.

Yes, you know, it's a scene in the big city's that can either break your heart or harden it. And I'll be honest, when I became a New Yorker, I was frightened by street homeless. And then I looked for a way to sort of lean in instead of looking away, and found an organization that makes me think about the problem in a whole new way.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WEIR (voice over): In the richest city in the world, a place with so much to see, it's a sight that make so many look away.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello.

WEIR: But they lean in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello? Are you OK?

WEIR: Rain or shine or constant rejection, they refuse to forget the forgotten. Because these angels in orange know that with enough relentless compassion, they can turn a life like this --

ROBERT OFFLEY: Look how great my closet is. I've (INAUDIBLE) got shelves for my shoes. I put my sneakers up there.

WEIR: Into one like this.

OFFLEY: Look how big my bathroom is. Big!

WEIR: This is Robert.

OFFLEY: I got a shower and I got a -- and I got a hand shower.

WEIR: And he's kind of excited about his little studio apartment because for a decade he lived here.

OFFLEY: This is like the bench here.

WEIR (on camera): This is your old home right here?

OFFLEY: Yes, where I got -- where I got the aneurism.

WEIR: You had the aneurism here?

OFFLEY: Yes.

WEIR: Wow.

WEIR (voice over): For years he sneered at those angels in orange, until a near death experience urged him to trust for a change.

[08:50:03] OFFLEY: My real story is about these people. My family. They saved my life. They saved my life.

WEIR (on camera): I think about that story a lot walking around my city and I wonder, if we repeated it enough times in enough cities, could America rid itself of homelessness? And you think about it this way. You see a sick and lost person on the street every day, day after day, you feel sorry and maybe give them a couple bucks or buy them a sandwich. Well, years of data shows us that that good intention actually feeds bad habits and a vicious expensive cycle of emergency rooms and shelters and drunk tanks. What that person really needs is a home. So instead of the money, maybe you give them a card to a place like Urban Pathways, charities that believe in housing first.

FREDERICK SHACK, CEO, URBAN PATHWAYS: It's not as complicated as it appears. If you can provide people with stable housing and with support, they, in conjunction with you will do the work to find their dignity and to basically reach their full potential.

WEIR: Which is different from the old model, right?

SHACK: Totally different.

WEIR (voice over): With the old model, a person had to get clean and sober first. They had to get housing ready. But years in scary shelters and shadows can make this near impossible. OFFLEY: And my giant sized microwave that I love so much. Oh, yeah!

WEIR: They do so much better with a place of their own.

WEIR (on camera): This is a long way from a park bench.

OFFLEY: Yes. Oh, yes. And it's (INAUDIBLE).

MARTHA VALENTINE, CASE MANAGER, URBAN PATHWAYS: And the best part just to see them come through at the end. So years down the line, you see them, you won't even recognize them.

WEIR (voice over): In over 20 years of outreach, Martha has seen so many transformations, including Charles, her street team partner.

WEIR (on camera): You were on the street? How old?

CHARLES YARBROUGH, CASE AIDE, URBAN PATHWAYS: Eighteen.

WEIR: Really? And what happened? How did you get there? How did you get out?

YARBROUGH: My family didn't approve of me being gay, so I left.

WEIR: Oh, geez.

YARBROUGH: So I stayed in a shelter. I -- like I just got my first apartment and I'm like 33.

WEIR: Congratulations.

WEIR (voice over): While they are out here building trust, their colleagues are building homes with a creative mix of public and private financing.

WEIR (on camera): On behalf of your friends at Urban Pathways, welcome home.

ROBERT BURROUGHS, FORMERLY HOMELESS: Thank you, sir.

WEIR: Can't waiting to go check it out.

WEIR (voice over): After losing his mother to cancer and his home to a scamming landlord --

BURROUGHS: This is beautiful.

WEIR: This Robert's bipolar disorder could have led to a life on the street. But thanks to donors like Extel (ph) Developments and a small government subsidy, his new apartment costs about the same as keeping him alive with shelters and emergency rooms.

SHACK: Ask any New Yorker, would you rather spend $22,000 a year and have a person sleeping on the sidewalk, or spend $23,000 a year and have that person living in an apartment like this?

WEIR (on camera): So what kind of future do you imagine now that you're in a place like this for yourself?

BURROUGHS: Well, I mean, you know, I -- the goal is to, you know, start working again. I want to eventually get my social work degree.

WEIR: Oh, OK.

BURROUGHS: You know.

WEIR: Give a little back. All right.

BURROUGHS: Exactly. Absolutely, give a little back.

WEIR (voice over): And that is why the angels of Urban Pathways are my role models.

WEIR (on camera): I want you to hang onto this card, OK?

WEIR (voice over): My "Champions for Change," out there proving what can happen with a little old fashion compassion and a new idea.

WEIR (on camera): You trust me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I trust you.

WEIR: You trust me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know --

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Look, I love the idea of jumping into the arena like they are. And the arena isn't always pretty. You know, and it's tough.

WEIR: No. I mean folks are -- they are delusional, they are addicted in a lot of ways, they are anti-social. So how do you help somebody who acts that way? But they just don't give up. They keep leaning in. And you can see the trans -- sometimes it takes years to crack those sorts of things.

Robert, who has that apartment, will pay about $400 a month, which for an apartment that cost about $1,000 on the open market. He's subsidizes. But Urban Pathways will argue, well, we subsidize lots of people's homes.

HILL: Yes.

WEIR: If you have mortgage interest or property taxes, you write those off.

HILL: Right.

WEIR: People don't think about it, but we forget about the people at the very bottom.

HILL: I love their approach too in that, yes, we're starting from a different model and here's why it works because, to me, too, and correct me if I'm wrong, on the people that you speak with and the people that you met, you're immediately showing them how much they matter.

WEIR: Of course.

HILL: And that they have dignity. And they deserve this home of their own. And you trust that they deserve that.

WEIR: Yes.

HILL: That's so important.

WEIR: And they are in perpetual survivor mode.

HILL: Yes.

WEIR: You know, flight or fight. And to ease that down and like Robert's family is back in his life for the first time. So much potential out there if we just think about the stories behind why they're there.

HILL: Fantastic.

BERMAN: Bill, thanks so much.

HILL: Thank you. Good to see you.

WEIR: Thanks, guys.

[08:55:02] HILL: More good stuff is next.

BERMAN: Never enough good stuff.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Time now for "The Good Stuff." Very much in the news. One couple in San Francisco inspired to help children separated from their parents at the border. It was this image that broke Charlotte and David Wilner's (ph) heart because it reminded them of their own little girls. So they decided to raise money to help these families post bond and be reunited with their children. Over the weekend they created a fundraiser on FaceBook. Their goal was to raise $15,000, just enough to free a single parent with a relatively low bond. Get this, the couple's raised nearly $16 million.

HILL: Wow.

BERMAN: Crazy.

HILL: That's amazing.

There you go.

BERMAN: That helps more than one family.

[09:00:02] HILL: That's the power -- that's the good power of social media right there.

BERMAN: Absolutely.

HILL: It's a pleasure being with you today.

BERMAN: Great to have you.

HILL: I think Alisyn's back tomorrow.

Time now for CNN "NEWSROOM" with Poppy Harlow.