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Alito Mocks Foreign Critics Of Decision To Overturn Roe V. Wade; CNN Goes Inside Clinic Treating Monkeypox As Outbreak Grows; Kentucky Governor: 15 Now Dead, Including Multiple Families And Children. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired July 29, 2022 - 07:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL)

[07:31:43]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, we're hearing from Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. This is for the first time since writing that reversal of Roe v. Wade. Speaking in Rome, the conservative justice mocked foreign leaders who criticized the opinion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMUEL ALITO, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: I had the honor this term of writing, I think, the only Supreme Court decision in the history of that institution that has been lambasted by a whole string of foreign leaders. One of these was former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but he paid the price. What really wounded me was when the Duke of Sussex addressed the United Nations and seemed to compare the decision whose name may not be spoken with the Russian attack on Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: And Alito's speech was focused on protecting religious liberty. That was the overall theme.

CNN's Joan Biskupic is joining me now. A lot of sarcasm there, Joan.

JOAN BISKUPIC, CNN SUPREME COURT ANALYST: It was so classic Samuel Alito, Brianna. You know, he exudes a sense of aggrievement all the time, even as he is winning. He had the majority in the decision that he said whose name cannot be said, and that's the Dobbs ruling where the justices rolled back a half-century of reproductive rights -- women's privacy rights in America.

And he also has been in the majority plowing ahead on all sorts of religious conservatism. But yet, he cannot help but engage in sarcasm. That's his way.

There have been times when the court didn't go as fast or as far as Justice Alito wanted it to go and he exuded this sense of persecution in various dissents or concurrences. But now, the brakes -- the brakes are off and he is winning. He held onto his majority -- a narrow five- justice majority -- to reverse Roe v. Wade from 1973. And then also this session, the conservative majority allowed more

prayer in public places, such as prayer on a football field. And, also, more government funding of religion.

So, Samuel Alito is winning despite how he sounds.

KEILAR: So curious to know how the chief justice would feel about this.

Joan Biskupic, always great to have you. Thank you.

BISKUPIC: Thank you.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. on high alert this morning as the monkeypox outbreak continues to grow. There are nearly 5,000 recorded cases at this point.

And CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta goes inside a clinic treating the virus. We do want to warn you some of the images you're about to see are graphic.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What you're looking at are monkeypox lesions on 33-year-old Adam's arm, face, legs -- even his eye.

ADAM, CONTRACTED MONKEYPOX: Right underneath the eyelash next to the eyeball.

GUPTA (voice-over): The previous week, he had gone to a festival. And after he returned, he received an email from festival organizers saying someone who attended had monkeypox.

ADAM: The last exposure that I can think of was on the third of July. And then, by the 11th, that's when I first noticed the marks on my arm.

[07:35:02]

GUPTA (voice-over): That's important. It's called the incubation period -- the time between being exposed and first developing symptoms. It can be anywhere from six days to as long as 21 days in this outbreak.

ADAM: And then by the 12th, that's a full-on fever.

GUPTA (voice-over): Within three days of getting that fever, Adam continued to break out in rashes, even in the back of his throat -- and those were the worst. Adam could hardly eat or even speak. The only thing that seemed to help, gargling with lidocaine solution.

GUPTA (on camera): Had you ever experienced anything like this?

ADAM: I would kind of liken it to a crossbreed between COVID, strep throat, and mono, in addition to the pox. GUPTA (voice-over): Dr. Stacy Lane is founder of the Central Outreach Wellness Center in Pittsburgh. It's a center focused on LGBTQ health. She is also Adam's doctor.

DR. STACY LANE, FOUNDER, CENTRAL OUTREACH WELLNESS CENTER, PITTSBURGH: He had a lesion on the inside of his lid, but if that would rupture, he would autoinoculate his eye.

GUPTA (voice-over): It turns out about 25 percent of people infected with monkeypox do develop lesions around their eyes, and if the infection spreads to their cornea it can cause blindness.

LANE: And that was what pushed me to treat him.

GUPTA (voice-over): That's right -- there is a treatment for monkeypox. It's an antiviral known as TPOXX. It's been approved since 2018 in the United States to treat smallpox. That's a virus in the same family as monkeypox. And recent studies have now shown effectiveness against monkeypox as well.

GUPTA (on camera): What are you seeing in terms of response to this medication?

LANE: I've really only been involved with three cases now intimately to watch the progression through pictures and literally melting away within, I would say, three doses.

GUPTA (voice-over): But here's the issue. At least 4,900 people have been formally diagnosed with monkeypox. And as of July 22, the CDC says just over 230 patients have actually been treated with the medication.

GUPTA (on camera): What is the level of awareness of TPOXX?

LANE: Yes. I think it's minimal. This is a disease that is just personally affecting the gay community.

GUPTA (voice-over): In many ways, the story of TPOXX is a remarkable one. Years ago, out of concern that smallpox could one day be weaponized, the federal government stockpiled at least 1.7 million doses. But now, even in the middle of this new outbreak, getting those doses to those in need has been a real challenge.

LANE: You're talking about a 5-6-day time lag to get that medication to you at a -- at a local doctor's office. And the paperwork and all of the bureaucracy to make that happen is very cumbersome. It takes a few hours of your time. And that's the barrier.

GUPTA (on camera): I marvel sometimes at the idea that even after we had fundamentally eradicated smallpox there was still the wherewithal to say hey, let's still put close to two million doses of a treatment potentially, just in case. Great preparedness, but I feel like the response is lagging now.

LANE: There's a ton of health disparities in the LGBTQ community. GUPTA (voice-over): Even in this interview, Adam did agree to speak with me but asked that we only use his first name and keep his face hidden. The stigma is real.

ADAM: They do associate it with being a gay man's disease or a bisexual man's disease, which I think is not a great way to approach it because any disease can be anybody's disease.

GUPTA (voice-over): Last week, the CDC did streamline the process for TPOXX approval, reducing the amount of paperwork and follow-up requirements. Dr. Lane says that helps but it's still not enough.

GUPTA (on camera): If this wasn't being defined or at least described as a gay, bisexual man's disease, do you think some of these barriers that you're talking about wouldn't be there or wouldn't be as big?

LANE: Most likely, right? I mean, we'd like to think that homophobia doesn't exist anymore or that racism in medicine doesn't exist anymore, but I think we have lots of evidence to say that it does.

GUPTA (voice-over): Lane's Pittsburgh clinic is seeing such a high volume of patients with eye lesions she was able to get approval from federal and local health authorities to keep doses on hand in their office -- but they are precious, and they are kept under lock and key.

GUPTA (on camera): How quickly did you think it made an impact?

ADAM: Within the first couple of days.

GUPTA (on camera): Really?

ADAM: Things are night and day from where they were a week -- especially, two weeks ago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: So, John, two to three pills a day, twice a day for 14 days. You've got to take this with high-fat meals. So, it's quite a cumbersome sort of treatment course.

But all the lessons we've learned from COVID in terms of needing the testing, needing the therapeutics, this was a disease that already existed. For COVID, we had to develop those things. So now it's just a question of actually getting these existing therapies out to the people who can most benefit from them.

[07:40:01]

BERMAN: Sanjay, I'm so glad that you did this reporting to give us a look at what's going on here and why people are so concerned -- people who are dealing with this and this fight. So, thank you for that.

We do want to ask you about some news that's developing overnight. The New York Times is reporting the Biden administration is planning to offer updated COVID boosters in November. Now, these boosters would apparently be modified to deal with the new Omicron variants. Now, they're apparently waiting to offer new guidance that people under 50 should get boosters now. They're waiting until then -- until the updates come through.

What do you think is going on here?

GUPTA: I think they're trying to walk the line here. I think there's a couple of things.

First of all, the guidance that if you are over the age of 50 and you have not received a shot in 2022, you should get it. You should not wait for these updated boosters. If you go below the age of 50, what you find is hospitalization and death rates are significantly lower.

And so, the idea of saying hey, look, you don't necessarily need to get the existing booster, but you should wait for the updated boosters -- which are going to be more protective against these variants of Omicron -- seems to be what they're saying here. Not as concerned for people under the age of 50, but over 50, a different sort of story.

It's a bit arbitrary I think, and that's the confusing part. But I think they're trying to draw a line as much as they can in terms of that particular age group. If you're over 50 and haven't gotten a shot this year, don't wait. But if you're under 50, you can wait for these updated boosters in September.

BERMAN: All right, Sanjay. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you very much.

GUPTA: You got it. Thank you.

BERMAN: So, the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot in history -- $1.1 billion -- is up for grabs tonight.

KEILAR: You're rushing to get your tickets. I know you are.

And the Beyhive is buzzing and bumping this morning. Beyonce's album "Renaissance" dropping overnight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEYONCE, SINGER-SONGWRITER: Singing "Cozy."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL)

[07:46:20]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEYONCE: Singing "Alien Superstar."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Beyonce releasing her seventh studio album "Renaissance" overnight. That song there, called "Alien Superstar," is one of 16 tracks on her R&B dance and house music-infused project. It pays homage to industry trailblazers Grace Jones to -- pardon me. It pays homage to a number of trailblazers, including --

BERMAN: Comma.

KEILAR: Comma, right? Including Grace Jones, who is featured in the song "Move." And then, Donna Summer --

BERMAN: From Boston.

KEILAR: Oh, what? Nice.

And then, Donna Summer's -- who I love -- "I Feel Love" is sampled on this song, "Summer Renaissance."

BERMAN: I get it.

KEILAR: That's what I'm hoping for this summer.

This album leaked three days ago after copies were reportedly sold early in Europe. But they Beyhive stuck by their queen. Beyonce addressed the leak in a handwritten letter on Instagram. She thanked her fans for waiting for the proper release time so that they can all enjoy it together. Just like we've been enjoying in the break, right?

BERMAN: Crisis averted. So glad everyone waited. They can all be happy together.

$1.1 billion -- that is the Mega Millions jackpot for tonight's drawing. It is the second-largest pot in the 20-year history of the game.

I want to go to CNN's Omar Jimenez live in Chicago. And Omar, let me just say this first. We win the lottery every morning when we have you on. You are like a lottery jackpot in and of yourself.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh my gosh.

BERMAN: And I say this because I'm not sure that America knows this right now.

JIMENEZ: You're just trying to get a portion of this lottery.

BERMAN: Maybe. No, I'm just saying this because you are now --

JIMENEZ: You're just covering our bases.

BERMAN: -- an Emmy nominee. Omar was just nominated for an Emmy --

JIMENEZ: Yes.

BERMAN: -- as an Outstanding Emerging Journalist, which I'm sure you're going to prove in this groundbreaking report on the Mega Millions jackpot coming.

JIMENEZ: Yes.

BERMAN: No pressure. JIMINEZ: Honestly, my whole career has worked up to this live shot right now. Because as we know, there is a certain feeling in the air when the Mega Millions jackpot gets to this level. You've got people who wouldn't usually play the lottery going why not? And why not?

This is only the third time in Mega Millions history -- you've got -- I've got some blank tickets right here. This is only the third time in Mega Millions history we have gotten over a billion dollars in this jackpot. And so, because no one won on Tuesday, it went from $1.025 billion, with a b, to $1.1 billion, with a b.

So we asked someone a little bit earlier what they are thinking about doing if they're one of the lucky ones who actually win.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: Why are you playing?

LULA BARNES, CHICAGO RESIDENT: To win. Try my luck.

JIMENEZ: Now that it's gotten over -- you know, I'm sure you know what it's now over. It's over a billion dollars. When it crossed that threshold, what was the first thing that went in your mind?

BARNES: A house. No more working. That's about it.

JIMENEZ: What do you do now?

BARNES: Work. That's why I said no more work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: I think that's the main thing on everyone's mind -- house, car, and no more work.

So, the record, though, is $1.5 billion and that was someone who won back in 2018 out of South Carolina and chose to stay anonymous.

But the main question I have for you two is which option would you take if you won? Take the lump sum, of course --

BERMAN: Yes.

[07:50:00]

JIMENEZ: -- or the annual installments for 29 years. And then, the third option, pay me 10 percent.

BERMAN: You know, the lump -- the lump sum actually -- I mean, I think this is actually a noble thing. I mean, you take the lump sum. You're better off with the lump sum --

JIMENEZ: Of course.

BERMAN: -- and then investing it and you can make more in theory than you can. It's just better for tax purposes. But you know that because you've been nominated for an Emmy as an Outstanding Emerging --

JIMENEZ: Of course.

BERMAN: -- Journalist who doesn't need charity if we win the Mega Millions.

KEILAR: But that's if you have self-control. Like, John Berman would have the self-control --

JIMENEZ: That is the main question.

KEILAR: -- to invest it and to wait. Maybe you need someone to build that in for you when you get it, you know, year to year, Omar. What would you do?

JIMENEZ: You all are making a great pitch. I would take the lump sum. I'm not going to think about it. I'm just going to take my money and run. I don't how long I'd be able to play it off that I hadn't won but I would be -- I'd be doing this from the comfort of my couch. I'll put it that way.

KEILAR: You could buy your Emmy.

BERMAN: That's the other thing. They're expensive.

JIMENEZ: Oh, there we go.

BERMAN: If you win, they're really expensive --

KEILAR: They really are.

BERMAN: -- just so you know. You need to win the lottery to buy it.

Omar, all joking aside, congratulations. You know, you're the best.

JIMENEZ: Thank you, guys.

BERMAN: You really just are wonderful and we're lucky to have you. So, thanks for being with us this morning.

JIMENEZ: Thank you all. It's a pleasure being here as many mornings as I have.

BERMAN: More lottery live shots to come.

Former Trump White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has just testified before the January 6 committee. What did they want to know? And what does he think about this developing news over the federal investigators trying to get around executive privilege? He joins us live in moments.

KEILAR: And we just had that live report from Kentucky a short time ago as deadly flooding there is hitting the state. Next, we're going to be joined by the governor on what's happening there today.

(COMMERCIAL) [07:55:26]

KEILAR: Historic deadly flash flooding in Kentucky with more than nine inches of rain recorded. Water inundating homes, vehicles, and roads. And at least eight people have died. The death toll expected to rise today.

Joining us now to talk about what we're seeing there and these devastating floods moving through his state, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Governor, thank you so much for being with us. We're so sorry for what your state is enduring here.

Can you -- can you tell us what you're expecting here as the day is getting started?

GOV. ANDY BESHEAR (D), KENTUCKY: So, this disaster is ongoing, and we had more rain in some areas last night. And the water isn't expected to crest in at least one area until 6:00 pm tomorrow. It is devastating.

Our number of Kentuckians we've lost is now at 15. I expect it to more than double, and it's going to include some children. It's been a hard couple of days. Hundreds of people have lost everything. Most of them didn't have much to start with.

We are out in full force, from the National Guard to the State Police, to Fish & Wildlife. We have the National Guard helping from West Virginia and Tennessee. We've made about 50 aerial rescues, hundreds of boat rescues, but still a lot more to do.

I would ask the people of America to say a prayer for us as we get through this next day.

KEILAR: So, that is a change now from eight now, and you're saying that the official number now stands at 15 and is expected to rise -- and that includes children.

Can you tell us about --

BESHEAR: It's going to --

KEILAR: -- the circumstances here. Were these -- was this a family or what can you tell us about that?

BESHEAR: Well, until -- sadly, until it -- until it goes through the coroner, we can't release specific details on individuals. But there's going to be multiple families that we've lost. Kids that won't get the opportunity to grow up and experience so much that we have. This is so deadly, and it hit so hard and it hit in the middle of the night.

But listen, Eastern Kentucky floods a lot. We've never seen something like this. Folks who deal with this for a living and have been doing it for 20 years have never seen water this high. Whole roads washed out. We still can't get to a lot of people. There's so much water and the current is so strong it's not safe for some of the water rescues that we need to do. Cellphone service knocked out. Power down to 20,000+ households. Water

systems knocked out as well.

So, we'll be in the search and rescue certainly today and tomorrow. And then we're going to be looking at a year's worth, at least, of rebuilding.

KEILAR: A year's worth of rebuilding.

You requested federal assistance yesterday. Have you -- have you spoken with the president or other administration officials?

BESHEAR: Yes, I've spoken to the White House. The FEMA administrator, I've talked to personally and she's going to be on the ground with us today.

The president called. Admittedly, I've only had about two hours of sleep since this all started, and it was during those two hours. But he expressed his support, just like he did during the tornadoes. I have all confidence that we will have the full support of the federal government. We have requested a disaster declaration and we expect to get that this morning.

KEILAR: Sir, you mentioned that you're expecting this as multiple families who have died. What were the circumstances? You said this happened overnight. Was this -- were these families just stuck in their -- in their homes? Were they trying to get out in the -- in attics? I mean, are -- is there any details that you can share with us?

BESHEAR: Well, by the end of this, we're going to have lost people in many different situations. Some people's houses completely swept away in the middle of the night, possibly while they were sleeping. Others trying to flee to safety. We think we had a tractor-trailer totally washed off the road that likely we lost everybody inside.

This is an event the likes of which flooding we hadn't seen, and it comes on the back of the worst tornado disaster that we've ever seen in Western Kentucky. I don't know why this keeps hitting us, but I know we're strong. I know we'll band together. In Kentucky, we open our homes and our hearts to each other and that's what we're doing right now.