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Evacuations Ordered in California; Russia Hits Back Over Sanctions; First Muslim Woman in Congress; NCAA Rule Changes. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired August 09, 2018 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:32:01] ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: We're following breaking news from southern California. Twenty thousand people ordered to evacuate because of the threat posed by the Holy Fire which has exploded. A suspect accused of starting that fire is under arrest, due in court this morning.

CNN's Nick Watt is live in live in Lake Elsinore, California, with the latest for us.

Nick, good morning.

NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Erica, you mentioned 20,000 people evacuated and many more told to get ready. As we were driving through the valley this morning, you could see people had parked their cars in their driveway nose out, ready to go at a moment's notice. And if you look behind me, you can see the fires up there on that ridge and we are in a subdivision. Those flames are not that far away.

Seven thousand structures are apparently under threat here. Twelve have burned so far. Just really cabins up in the forest. The real problem will be if these flames reach the valley and reach these subdivisions. They've been dropping fire retardant from planes to try and contain this fire and limit the damage.

As you mentioned, a suspect is due in court later today. He has been named as a local man. Forrest Clark is his name, 51 years old. And according to "The Orange County Register," the local -- one of the local newsletters, he was sending threatening e-mails over the past week. One of them said this place will burn. We he appears in court, we might get a little bit more of an idea of how he did this and, more importantly, why he did this.

And, of course, this fire is just one of many burning across California and the west right now. We've got the Mendocino Complex Fire, it biggest in California's state history, which has burned now more than 300,000 acres. And, of course, the Carr Fire, also up in the north, which has burned more than 1,000 homes.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Nick Watt for us. Nick, we're lucky to have you there. Thanks so much.

Russia is hitting back on the U.S. after the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on Moscow over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the U.K. A spokesman for Vladimir Putin calls the move categorically unacceptable and also illegal.

CNN's Matthew Chance live in Moscow with the very latest.

Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, thanks very much.

Well, I think we have to consider that these sanctions basically came as a major surprise to the Kremlin. They were not expecting to see sanctions imposed by the United States against them on the basis of anti-chemical weapons legislation. What they had been expecting is in the weeks and in the months ahead, the U.S. Congress to debate and perhaps to impose further sanctions on it because of its alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

But as I say, these anti-chemical weapons sanctions somewhat came out of the blue and the Kremlin respond is reflecting that. You say that they -- they called them categorically unacceptable and illegal.

[06:34:56] But they also went on, not only to reject the idea that they were involved in this Skripal poisoning in March this year, of course, the Novichok poisoning. The Russians have always said they had nothing to do with it. But they're saying it's -- it's, you know, a work -- they're calling the United States, and this is interesting, an unpredictable participant in international affairs. This is something that is relatively unusual for the Kremlin to do, saying you can expect anything now. And so kind of, you know, casting the U.S. administration as a body that cannot be depended upon, cannot be particularly interesting considered the close relationship that President's Putin and Trump have attempted to forge in their various face to face meetings.

The Kremlin statement goes on saying that the two presidents have discussed the creation of a constructive relationship with each other. We are sorry, this statement says, that we're not met with cooperation on this account. And so another sign of Kremlin dissolutionment (ph) with the ability of Donald Trump, President Trump, to deliver on his promise to make the relationship with the Kremlin better.

BERMAN: Yes, unpredictable participant in world affairs. That is very interesting language.

Matthew Chance in Moscow for us.

Matthew, thanks so much.

So, she is poised to become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress ever. Will she be part of a blue wave in November? Rashida Tlaib joins us next.

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[06:40:19] BERMAN: So if Democrats ride a big blue wave to take back control of the House in November, our next guest could have a front row seat and make history to boot. Rashida Tlaib is poised to become the first Muslim woman in Congress. She won the Democrat primary in Michigan Tuesday to succeed John Conyers and will run unopposed in November.

Rashida Tlaib joins us now.

I can see the smile on your face when we continue to say, even two days later, the first Muslim woman ever elected to Congress poised to make history there.

So, congratulations on your victory.

RASHIDA TLAIB (D), MICHIGAN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Thank you so much.

BERMAN: If there is this big blue wave in November, it still remains to be seen if it will happen, but what do you think is driving it?

TLAIB: Look, you know, first of all, I always tell people, waves come and go. We need to own the ocean. And what I mean by that is, you know, we need to be inspiring just a whole new generation of people that have just not been engaged in our political system, in our government. And I think that's what's been really disconnected right now with Congress and the people -- and the American people.

I don't know exactly what's going to happen, but I know in the 13th congressional district, I mean the families I talked to, it was always around issues, not different identifiers, not about specific things that are happening right now in D.C., but more about what's going on in their homes now, the challenges they're facing now, and feeling like they don't have a seat at the table or feeling like they don't -- that they're not being heard. That seems to be resonating, I think, even when speaking to other people that won their primaries, us leaning on each other, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who I absolutely admire. We talked about this. It's -- it's -- we do feel that even with the questions from so many people around us, that there is -- seems to be a disconnect between the American people and what's happening in Congress.

BERMAN: You brought up Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Last spring when you were running you said, we are changing the Democratic Party, getting rid of Democratic sellouts. Who are the Democratic sellouts?

TLAIB: I don't know, but I can tell you this, the number one thing I was asked at the door is, will you sell us out? I can tell you, I -- I felt the pain from my own colleagues.

BERMAN: But you wrote -- but you -- but you did write that. You wrote, we're getting rid of the Democratic sellouts.

TLAIB: Oh, yes.

BERMAN: You must have had someone in mind there. So who do you have in mind?

TLAIB: Well, some of my opponents that support large tax breaks for, you know, a hockey stadium downtown that took away millions of dollars from schools, watching my neighborhood schools close down, watching the fact that the city of Inkster, which is part of my district, lose their school district. It's been really hard to see that -- those public moneys shift away from schools and city services and to for profit development. To me, that's against the Democratic values. And, to me, that's selling out. Selling out on our families and so many people that put so much effort to get us in office, expect us to put them before corporate profits.

BERMAN: When you are elected formally in November, you will have a vote as part of the Democratic caucus as to who will be the next Democratic leader, whether it be the minority or the speaker of the House. Will you vote for Nancy Pelosi?

TLAIB: Probably not.

BERMAN: Probably not?

TLAIB: That's my answer, no, probably not.

BERMAN: Why not?

TLAIB: I -- look, I think, for me, I need someone that, again, is connected with just the different levels of poverty that's going on, the fact that there are structures and barriers for working families in my district that need to be dismantled. And supporting big banks and supporting efforts that I don't think put the people first is troubling. And I need somebody that fully understands why I'm so passionate about those issues, why I'm so eager to make sure their voices are heard.

And, at this point, even people back here, right here at home in Detroit and the Metro Detroit area, they don't feel like they're being heard. And I think that starts at the top of leadership.

BERMAN: Is she one of the people you're referring to as a Democratic sellout?

TLAIB: Look, I don't know. All I can tell you is, she doesn't speak about the issues that are important to the families of the 13th congressional district. And they are priority for me. They are the ones who put me here. They're the ones who put faith in me. And I have to listen to them. And I have to make sure that I never back down and that I don't sell out personally. And if that person that is in leadership is still OK to take away the transparency requirements for big banks, to making sure that my families are not being discriminated by, you know, health care --being discriminated for getting health care coverage, or, more importantly these days, it is about the fact that half of my families don't own their own homes in the 13th congressional district because the discriminatory practices by big banks are still happening and no one is doing anything about it. This is happening right now on their watch and no one is talking about it. All they're doing is taking away. You know, look at Dodd-Frank. I mean look at what has been done, just

in the last 12 months in Congress. And, again, that was done on specific people's watch and specific people's leadership.

[06:45:05] BERMAN: Right.

TLAIB: And it's something that I just can't forget.

BERMAN: It -- well, done -- it was done with Republican leadership. We're talking about Nancy Pelosi as the Democratic leaders, but I take your point right there.

You say that you're running on the issues, you talk about all the issues that the voters in your district are discussing. But it has been interesting to me that you were more willing than many Democratic candidates to say that you're all in on impeachment. If you get elected, you very much expect to vote to impeach the president. Where does that rank in terms of priorities for you?

TLAIB: Look, you know, when I talked to a senior constituent (ph) literally after I -- I won, she's like, you're going to take care of it? I said, you know and I know that the -- there is -- there is some sort of -- being recklessness on the part of the president of the United States and some of his actions and that those all need to be discussed openly in a public hearing, in the public process. I think that the investigation that's happening now is important, but I hope that it's going to be open and transparent and not be done behind closed doored, that the American people deserve to know exactly what the president of the United States has been up to.

I personally am not about just focusing on that. But I can tell you, as anybody who know anything about me, I'm pretty good at the second half of law and order, which is always about the accountability, about making sure that the truth is at the forefront as we proceed to making sure that every single American person and family is represented properly, from the White House down to the members of Congress.

BERMAN: Rashida Tlaib, again, congratulations on your historic victory.

TLAIB: Thank you so much.

BERMAN: We look forward to having a chance to speak to you again in the future.

TLAIB: I really appreciate it. Thank you.

BERMAN: Erica.

HILL: A bombshell from the NCAA. New rules for college basketball. We've got the details in the "Bleacher Report."

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[06:50:58] HILL: The NCAA announcing some big rule changes on Wednesday aimed at cleaning up the sport of college basketball. Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."

All right, so the big question, of course, will it work? Andy what are the new rules here?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Erica, we'll have to wait and see. But, you know, after that recent FBI investigation into the recruiting scandals in college basketball, the NCAA, it was determines to do something to stop cheating in the sport. But these new rules announced Wednesday, they're being criticized for not really solving any of the big problems.

This "Bleacher Report" is brought to you by Ford, going further so you can.

Now, the two biggest rule changes are elite high school prospects and college players can now hire agents to advise them, but they can't have a financial relationship. And if a player enters the NBA draft but then goes undrafted, that player can now return to school.

Now, the responsibility of who determines who is a, quote, "elite player," has been put on USA Basketball. And according to ESPN, they were blindsided by this announcement and want no part of ranking young players.

And both of these new rules also not going to matter much at all unless the NBA gets rid of the one and done rule. It's something they are discussing, but it's not expected to happen until 2022 at the earliest.

All right, Yankees and White Sox last night. Umpire Bruce Dreckman had to leave the game in the 9th inning to have a Yankees' trainer check out some discomfort in his ear. What was the issue? Check this out, a giant moth had flown into his ear. And look at that, they just yanked it out with some tweezers. And look at the moth, still alive and kicking. I love his face when he realized he had gotten something, and he got it out.

And, John, you know, I have a pretty big fear of things flying into my ear, and it did not get any better after watching that.

BERMAN: I was thinking of "Star Trek 2," the wrath of Kahn right there, when, who was it, Checkoff (ph) gets the thing. Of course you know what I'm talking about.

HILL: I love that you always have a "Star Wars" reference for everything.

BERMAN: But this is "Star Trek." But the thing --

HILL: Oh, sorry, "Star Trek." See.

BERMAN: But his ear right there, was the moth taking over the umpire's brain and then affecting the calls and strikes?

HILL: Depends which scene you ask (ph). SCHOLES: Well, he wasn't -- yes, I think he was out there at second

base anyway. But props to him for being able to go and continue. The Yankees (INAUDIBLE).

HILL: I never had a fear of things flying into my ears, but now, thanks to the two of you, I do.

BERMAN: Until -- did he not know he had a moth in his ear? That's an odd thing to be surprised by.

SCHOLES: Another reason to avoid White Sox games this season, I guess, right?

BERMAN: Oh.

HILL: Ouch.

BERMAN: Andy Scholes, thank you. Shocking. That was shocking. I am shocked and disgusted.

HILL: We should -- we should take a moment to process that.

BERMAN: OK. OK.

The president's legal team sends its interview counter offer to special counsel Robert Mueller. Can the two sides agree here or is what Giuliani is trying to do, just drag the negotiations on past the midterms?

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[06:57:45] BERMAN: Love the new music.

All right, the Mueller probe looming large in late night. Check out some of the best late night laughs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SETH MEYERS, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS": That's right, Trump's lawyers have rejected Robert Mueller's terms for an interview. Apparently Mueller refused Trump's request for a phone a friend if he gets stuck.

JIMMY FALLON, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON": I heard that Donald Trump Junior called into a radio show the other day, but when they asked about his Trump Tower meeting with the Russians, his phone suddenly had technical difficulties, or as Vladimir Putin put it, you're welcome.

STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": CBS News has exclusive footage of Collins on the phone at the picnic. There he is in the circle, on the phone right there, presumably calling his son. Now, while CBS News has acquired the video, "The Late Show" has acquired the audio.

Jim, enhance. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello? Sell! Sell! Sell, sell, sell! Sell! This is

Chris Collins! Sell! Sell! No, we'll never get caught. Sell!

COLBERT: According -- according -- it's hard to hear but I think he's saying sell.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Not a good morning to be Chris Collins.

HILL: Not so much.

BERMAN: All right, thanks to our international viewers for watching. For you, CNN "TALK" is next. For our U.S. viewers, NEW DAY continues right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LAWYER: Stop the nonsense. You are trying to trap him into perjury because you don't have a case.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you tell the truth and you have nothing to hide, then there's no perjury, there's no trap.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: The ball very much in Mueller's court.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vegetation is critically dry. Every spark starting a new fire.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Grieving the loss of our home and everybody else's around here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're trying to make a stand here to stop this fire from growing any further.

HILL: Disturbing new details emerging about what went on at that New Mexico compound.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The defendant had trained the child in the use of an assault rifle in preparation for future school shootings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Five peaceful adult (INAUDIBLE) trying to make a better life for themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.

BERMAN: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to your NEW DAY. Alisyn off today. Erica Hill with me right now, which is delightful.

HILL: The delight is all mine.

[07:00:00] BERMAN: Thank you very much. This may be the last, best chance for President Trump to get face to face with Robert Mueller, at least according to Rudy Giuliani. The Trump legal team has submitted this new offer of terms to the special counsel on just how the president would be willing to answer