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New Day Saturday

Man Accused of Suicide Bomb Plot at Army Base; Funeral Today for Man Shot and Killed by Cop; North Charleston City Councilwoman Says Protesters Trying to Stir Up Deadly Shooting; Obama Shakes Hands with Raul Castro; Clinton to Announce Presidential Bid; Tornado Cleanup Request Goes Viral; Deadly Police Encounters Caught on Tape. Aired 8:00-9a ET

Aired April 11, 2015 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:40] VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Homegrown terror. New details this morning about a former American Army recruit accused of trying to bomb a U.S. military base in Kansas.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: New dash cam video from the fatal police shooting in North Charleston showing the passenger now who might know why Walter Scott ran from police.

BLACKWELL: An important image getting lots of attention this morning. President Obama and Cuban president Raul Castro shaking hands.

PAUL: And you know what, it's about to become official. Hillary Clinton is set to announce her candidacy for president. She's not the only one getting ready to announce this week, though.

Happy Saturday to you. 8:00. It is right now. And we're so grateful for your company as always. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: A pleasure to be with you. I'm Victor Blackwell. Let's start with these new details this morning into the federal surveillance program that took down a 20-year-old man and his plot to bomb Fort Riley Military Base. We now know more about the sting operation that led to the arrest of John T. Booker Jr. from Kansas. We've got this 13-page federal indictment. And we're learning now that Booker, also known as Muhammad Abdullah Hassan, has been charged with attempted to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempted to damage property by means of an explosive and attempted to provide support to ISIS.

PAUL: CNN's justice reporter Evan Perez has been following this story.

Hi, Evan.

EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: A 20-year-old American man was arrested as he prepared to carry out what he thought was a suicide bombing at Fort Riley Army Base in Kansas. John T. Booker enlisted last year in the Army. But the Army cancelled his enlistment before he showed up for basic training. That's after the FBI says it found Facebook postings claiming he wanted to carry out jihad attacks. Booker also goes by the name Muhammad Abdullah Hassan. The FBI says

he wanted to carry out Friday's attack for ISIS. Two undercover FBI informants helped orchestrate a sting operation, helping him buy components in what he thought were explosives.

Booker was interviewed last year by the FBI about the Facebook posts. One of them read, "I will soon be leaving you forever. So goodbye. I'm going to wage jihad in hopes that I die." The FBI says he told agents he wanted to carry out an insider terrorist attack like the one on Fort Hood in 2009 that killed 13 people -- Christi, Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right. Evan, thank you so much.

And John Booker is one of several Americans who have been trying to join or help ISIS in the past few months. Listen to what a U.S. attorney, Barry Grissom, had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARRY GRISSOM, U.S. ATTORNEY: Unfortunately today's announcement once again reminds us that we in law enforcement have to remain vigilante. That there's not a moment where we can let our guard down. We can't think of something as horrific as the Alfred P. Murrah Building 20 years ago as something in the distant past.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: So let's bring in CNN military analyst Major General James "Spider" Marks to talk about this.

General, you know, we saw in this case, at least we're learning from the indictment, that this man was inspired by the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. What does the military do, if it does anything, to try to eliminate these copy cats and these inspirations within the military?

MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good morning, Victor. Like any other organization, the military must stay diligent in terms of how they evaluate, how they evaluate their existing personnel and how they bring on new personal. So when anyone tries to join the army, join any of the branches of the service, there is a crime or credit, there's background check that takes place.

And in this individual's case that's exactly what happened. They -- under all other requirements for enlistment in the service, he met the criterion. The individual criterion. They then did the background check and they had a flag. And they said we have to -- we have to stop this. There is, in fact, an issue. And then they turn it over to law enforcement. So routinely, primarily within military organizations, those are made up of very tight folks that learn, grow, train, exist, prepare for future missions together.

So you're on top of each other all the time. So the very first defense, if you will, in terms of identifying a potential rogue like this is those around him. And that's called good leadership. And that's what's really essential here. BLACKWELL: Those around him because, as we understand from an earlier

segment, we had a conversation with General Hertling, there is no direct monitoring of social media for the hundred thousand plus enlisted men and women. You have to rely on one another. How does that affect morale of soldiers?

[08:05:22] MARKS: I don't think there's an issue at all. Nobody in the military feels like there is an omnipresent breath on the back of your neck of somebody checking up on you in terms of what you are trying to achieve that might be nefarious. My point is that these units coalesce. They come together, they grow together.

Mark Hertling is absolutely correct. Unless there is a -- unless there is some legal authority that allows you to look over somebody's shoulder and dig into their social media activity, you're free to do what you want. But the units police themselves so incredibly well, you don't feel like you're -- like you're being watched. What you feel like is that you are now a part of an organization that has a larger, broader mission.

You now are growing and expanding and can contribute to that mission. That's what it's really all about.

BLACKWELL: Understood. Understood.

Major General Spider Marks, thank you so much.

MARKS: Thanks, Victor, very much.

PAUL: So let's bring in HLN's legal contributor Joey Jackson now to talk legal aspects.

Joey, good morning to you.

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning.

PAUL: This was a sting operation, and it was months in the making. We have, as we understand it, two FBI informants who are posing as loyalists to his cause. You would think that they probably have all the evidence they need against the guy. Do you believe that to be true?

JACKSON: You know, Christi, what ends up happening is in a -- generally in a federal prosecution, particularly of this nature, what the federal government does is they monitor, they detect, they usually do wire tapping. They have informants, as you mentioned. And so they build a mound of evidence before they even approach you.

Now, to be clear, you have FBI agents assigned. You're working with the United States attorneys' office. And, you know, they have matters well in control. For example in here, there's the indication that no one was in any real danger. Obviously, they would have stopped it. But from a defense perspective point, generally by the time you and your client walk into that federal courtroom, they have a mountain of evidence against your client, which is very difficult to overcome. PAUL: Well, not only that, but they were alerted to him by Facebook

posts. One where he said, "I'll soon be leaving you forever. So good-bye. I'm going to wage jihad in hopes that I die." What defense does this guy have?

JACKSON: Well, exactly right, Christi. And in addition to that, there was a posting that said, you know, I'm scared. Not because I'm scared of dying but because I'm eager to meet my maker. And so, you know, in instances like this, where you have mountains of evidence, it's very difficult to overcome. You know, many might say that, although some mental issues or some other issues, well, that's very even difficult to establish.

You're meeting with informants, you're engaging in a plot. You're posting Facebook items. You engage yourself into the military. You enroll and enlist in the military. And so that seems to be pretty strategic and pretty premeditated. And so generally from a defense perspective, what you're always looking to do here is not get him out of this, he's then acquitted, but you're looking to mitigate, in some way, maybe make a deal that would spare him from what he's facing, which is life in jail.

Will that be possible? That's the open question. But that's how you're looking to attack something like this, from a defense point of view.

PAUL: All right. Joey Jackson, always appreciate your perspective. Thank you, sir.

JACKSON: Pleasure, Christi. Have a great day.

PAUL: You, too.

So we are really feeling for all of you in Illinois, especially those of you obviously trying to recover after those monster twisters just ripped through the Midwest.

BLACKWELL: Yes. And now they're trying to start this cleanup. We're going to have the story, a really incredible story of a gesture of goodwill shown to one survivor who lost everything.

And this handshake that has the world talking. President Obama and Raul Castro, they shook hands in Panama. What does this mean, though? Breaking the cold silence between the two countries after more than 50 years? Is there more to come?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:12:16] PAUL: Twelve minutes past the hour right now. In just about three hours, friends and family are going to gather this morning in Summerville, South Carolina, to lay to rest Walter Scott who was shot and killed, remember, by a North Charleston officer a week ago today. This, as new details are emerging about the mysterious passenger who was captured on dash cam sitting next to Scott before Scott took off. This was during what started to be a routine stop. But I want to show you this new video here. That is the passenger

there in the striped shirt talking with another police officer. State authorities have told us now that they have met with this person, that he's been released without charges.

Let's bring in CNN's Polo Sandoval who's in Summerville with the latest on today's funeral.

Polo, what have you learned about this gentleman? Because as everybody talks about he, we would think, would be a witness at least to something.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, Christi. And the reason why it's so important that we hear from this individual, because he was essentially the last person to speak to Walter Scott before that 50-year-old man decided to really jump out of that vehicle and then run away. Now we know, obviously, the tragic end to that story.

Meanwhile, back here in South Carolina, I can tell you that it has been a very difficult week for the people of North Charleston and also the surrounding communities. But today, any potential protests or demonstrations, all of that put on hold because it's really about supporting the Scott family as today they get ready to say good-bye.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help bring this movement to where it is now.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): It's a brief pause for peace after a week of anguish, anger and outrage in North Charleston, South Carolina.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the name of Walter Scott, we can change this government.

SANDOVAL: Much of the community will join the family of Walter Scott for a final farewell.

MAYOR JOSEPH P. RILEY JR., CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: It breaks everyone's heart, the citizens of Charleston are sharing the grief.

SANDOVAL: The 50-year-old will be laid to rest with these images still fresh on people's minds. The deadly ending to the confrontation that began as a routine traffic shot when North Charleston Police Officer Michael Slager pulled Scott over for a broken taillight.

MICHAEL SLAGER, FORMER NORTH CHARLESTON POLICE OFFICER: License, registration and insurance, sir.

SANDOVAL: Moments later, Slager's dash cam video showing Scott making a run for it, the amateur cell phone video picking up the deadly shooting. The same video leading Scott's family to believe Slager apparently planted a taser gun he accused Scott of trying to grab from him.

ANTHONY SCOTT, VICTIM'S BROTHER: There's a little bit of both of those. Angry and hurt. That somebody would stoop to that low ground to cover up what you have done. The wrong thing. And gun down someone like that.

SANDOVAL: And Scott's mother is still grieving, trying to focus on family and faith.

[08:15:05] JUDY SCOTT, VICTIM'S MOTHER: I feel forgiveness in my heart, even for the guy that shot and killed my son.

SANDOVAL: Slager's family is caught in their own struggle.

KAREN SHARPE, MICHAEL SLAGER'S MOTHER: I can't imagine him doing something that -- it's just not like him. That's not his character.

SANDOVAL: The videos offer a glimpse into what may have happened last week. But questions still remain. A local grand jury may take up the case as early as next month. Until then, the journey for justice for one family and a struggle to see their loved one out of jail continues for another.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: And those grand jury proceedings could potentially lead to the next significant developments there in the coming weeks.

Back to today, I can tell you that this funeral procession just under three hours should be making its way here to Summerville, South Carolina, from nearby downtown Charleston. It's a drive that should take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. The family choosing to hold the actual funeral at the location you see behind me here, Word of Ministries.

Christi, the event is open to the public. Obviously the family is hoping for a larger venue as opposed to what they had in downtown Charleston -- Christi.

PAUL: Absolutely. Polo Sandoval, we appreciate it. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: A North Charles City Councilwoman Dorothy Williams has been vocal about protesters surrounding this tragedy. Here is what she said earlier this week on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOROTHY WILLIAMS, NORTH CHARLESTON CITY COUNCILWOMAN: Believe it or not, the community is very calm because it happened, that he got arrested and charged so quickly. And they are very content with that. Now we have a few people that's trying to stir it up by having some march this morning, just to get their name out there for no reason. But the neighborhood and everyone is so happy that this police officer is in jail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: OK. So joining us now is Councilwoman Williams.

Good to have you with us this morning.

WILLIAMS: Yes, thank you.

BLACKWELL: So I wanted to get some clarity here. You say that people there are happy that this -- that the murder charges came quickly and the mayor and the chief are moving in a certain direction here. And you say protesters are there, trying to get their name out. Are you asking protesters not to demonstrate in the community?

WILLIAMS: No. I'm asking them to voice their opinion, but I'm asking them to do it in a positive way, and make it easy on the Scott family and not have such a negative impact on everything. I think 99 percent of the people of North Charleston and the surrounding area, they are very happy because of the quick response from the mayor and our chief. And also the video that came out so fast. And that really just made everything quicker and better for everyone.

BLACKWELL: Well, what we've heard from state legislators, Christi spoke with one this morning, I believe Senator Kimpson, discussed that there is some -- I wouldn't say animosity but between the black community and police in that community and these protesters are trying to improve that relationship and expose those tensions.

Do you see that as a negative and how would you rather that process happen, if not through these demonstrations?

WILLIAMS: No, it's not a negative. That has been happening off and on. I've been on city council now for 22 years. And that has been happening off and on ever since I've been on city council and maybe before. But they need to come out and speak. And if they have problems, they need to come out and let us know. And if they were holding back anything, now is the time for them to let the city of North Charleston know how they feel.

So I'm not asking anyone not to voice their opinion, not even on a negative note. But do it in a proper atmosphere and a proper way and not try to make such a riot. That's what I'm asking.

BLACKWELL: OK.

WILLIAMS: But they should be heard. And I want them to speak.

BLACKWELL: Councilwoman, I'm sure you've heard by now that the young man who shot the video of the encounter between this officer and Mr. Scott said that he was fearful for his life in releasing that video. But after learning about the details in the report, then decided to release it. I understand that you say that people are happy there, but this young man said he was afraid that he would be hurt.

So it seems that there's some indication that there is no space for people to come out and speak, if they have these fears and concerns.

WILLIAMS: Yes, that's true. And I'm not going to deny that. And I do not blame him for being afraid, you know, afraid for his life. Something may have happened to him. But now that it's all in the public, if anyone or any police, person feel that they want to go after him, that would be one of the worst thing in the world that they could do.

[08:20:23] I am so proud of this young man. I wish I could meet him and just give him a big hug and kiss. I am so proud of him. Sorry about the circumstances, but I am just so glad that he stood his ground and videoed and taped that whole event. And I love him for it. And we -- I will -- we will try to protect him. And I just hope that there's no one trying to go after him.

BLACKWELL: All right. You're calling for people to come out --

WILLIAMS: But there's a possibility. I'm not going to -- I'm not going to say no, but, you know, I'm pretty sure that we are protecting him.

BLACKWELL: And we are hearing that there are other people who are coming out with stories. One specifically about this Officer Slager and possibly more about other instances throughout the city.

Councilwoman Dorothy Williams, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

WILLIAMS: Yes. Any time.

BLACKWELL: Thank you -- Christi.

PAUL: Big moment in the history of the U.S. and Cuba. President Obama and Raul Castro shaking hands. Will the leaders be meeting to discuss future U.S.-Cuba relations?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: A pretty powerful moment, an encounter here, let's call it, for U.S.-Cuba relations.

[08:25:04] PAUL: President Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at a summit in Panama. They even spoke on the phone earlier this week.

CNN's Rosa Flores is live for us from Panama City.

Good morning to you, Rosa.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. You know I want to take you behind the scenes, behind that photo. Because if you look at it, it's not an official photo. It's not official video. This was actually taken before the inauguration of the summit at the leaders' lounge. So leaders were mingling and there happened to be a photographer shooting that picture, shooting that video. And that's how we have the first picture of President Obama and President Castro mingling at the Summit of the Americas.

But the obvious question is, will they actually have a formal bilateral meeting? The answer to that is no. But I'm wondering why not? Both of the leaders are here. Why not just put them in a conference room and have a bilateral meeting?

Well, I asked that question to the White House and here was their answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN RHODES, ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT: I don't want people to kind of over think this in the sense that a lot of this is just about the fact that we'll be setting up discussions with other leaders on the margins of the summit tomorrow. At the same time that there are ongoing planning discussions. So a lot of this is -- it's not conditional on policy. It's how do we work through the ability for him to have discussions with a variety of different leaders in the context of that summit?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: Now the other obvious question is, is this just a symbol? Are things actually changing for the Cuban people on the ground? And while a lot of organizations there are still very concerned about human rights violations by the government, I can tell you that some businesses are moving in. Most recently, Airbnb, offering about 1,000 listings in Cuba. And that, of course, is money that goes directly to the Cuban people.

So, Christi and Victor, huge symbolic handshake, symbolic mingle. But things definitely appearing to change. But like the White House mentioned, nothing is going to happen overnight.

BLACKWELL: All right. We'll see what happens in the weeks and months ahead.

Rosa Flores, thank you so much.

PAUL: Well, some potential movement in the 2016 presidential election. First, we had Republicans, you know, starting to jump into the race. Now we're hearing Hillary Clinton is about to become the first Democrat to kind of tap her toe in there.

We have the latest on this weekend's announcement.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:30:50] CHRISTI PAUL, CNN HOST: Thirty minutes past the hour right now. Welcome.

Sources are saying that Hillary Clinton is ready to start her campaign to become president. That long-anticipated announcement is expected tomorrow.

But the former secretary of state isn't hosting a big, live event to break the news. Rather, she's simply launching her campaign with a video online before hitting the campaign trail in New Hampshire and Iowa. Remember, Clinton's third-place finish in Iowa back in 2008 ultimately led to the collapse of her presidential aspirations back at that time.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty is live in Washington with the very latest. What are you hearing this morning -- Sunlen? SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Christi, this video will be

posted to social media at some point on Sunday. Then Clinton will quickly get out to the early stage. She'll travel to Iowa soon after. Aides say the goal here is to demonstrate that this time around she doesn't want to take anything for granted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm back.

SERFATY (voice over): A new version of Hillary Clinton when she hits the campaign trail. Less of this --

CLINTON: Thank you so much.

SERFATY: And more of this.

CLINTON: Looking forward to coming and having a conversation with a few people.

SERFATY: The campaign's expected new strategy placed Clinton in smaller, more intimate settings, intended to try to highlight her softer side -- aides say.

CLINTON: Thank you.

SERFATY: And avoid the perception of inevitability that dogged her and led to her defeat in 2008.

CLINTON: Good to see you.

SERFATY: Central to that new pitch, a focus on Hillary Clinton, the person. She is aiming to reintroduce herself not as a former first lady, not as a former senator or secretary of state, but as a grandmother.

CLINTON: I have to say, I am still kind of in the grandmother glow six months in. It's better than a spa treatment. I highly recommend it.

And I suppose it's only fair to say, don't you some day want to see a woman president of the United States of America?

SERFATY: She's already coming in bruised. Controversy still swirls over her use of a private e-mail server while secretary of state.

CLINTON: Looking back, it would have been better for me to use two separate phones and two e-mail accounts. I thought using one device would be simpler and, obviously, it hasn't worked out that way.

SERFATY: And her trustworthiness has taken a hit. A Quinnipiac poll out this week from the crucial swing states of Iowa, Virginia and Colorado show more voters believe she is not honest -- an area of vulnerability Republican candidates have already pounced on.

SEN. RAND PAUL, (R-KY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The question here is, are they skirting election law? Are they taking money and potentially getting influence bought by foreign countries through a foundation? It is unseemly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SERFATY: And polls show that Clinton enters this race with a big lead over her potential Democratic challengers. But if she wins the nomination, the general election -- well, that will be a different story. Polls also show there are many leading Republican contenders who have started to edge ahead of her in key swing states -- Christi.

PAUL: All right. Sunlen Serfaty, thank you so much.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: So let's talk more about this with Republican strategist Lisa Boothe; and Democratic strategist Robert Zimmerman.

LISA BOOTHE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Thank you -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: Good to have you both.

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Good morning.

BOOTHE: Hi -- Victor. Hi -- Robert.

BLACKWELL: So let's start with you, Robert. You know the old political adage is that Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line. It seems that this year that's being turn on a peg with Democrats falling in line and Republicans having the opportunity to fall in love. What do you think?

ZIMMERMAN: Well, Victor, I don't want to disillusion you but we're really not that organized.

BLACKWELL: Ok.

ZIMMERMAN: The reality is, if you look at the remarkable support that Hillary Clinton has on the grassroots level of our party, you see the incredible crowds of young women and young men coming out and she's running now approximately 50 percent higher than her nearest Democratic competitor. It speaks to the fact that on the grassroots level, the Democratic Party is very much in love and it's a romance that gets better and better over the years.

So there's a lot of it -- and it's a stark contrast from what you see with the Republicans. As they campaign around the country, attacking each other, attacking Hillary Clinton -- they're like an advertisement for anger management therapy and I think it's a very important distinction to draw.

[08:35:07] BLACKWELL: Let me come to you, Lisa, with this. Senator Marco Rubio expected to throw his hat into the ring on Monday. He released a five-minute video ahead of this, quote, "big announcement". We have part of it here. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: For me, America isn't just a country. It's the place that literally changed the history of my family. It's a nation of equal opportunity. It's the most powerful force for good that the world has ever known. This is the America that welcomed my parents.

And so now I know that every chance I have ever had and everything that I will ever accomplish, I owe to God, to my parents' sacrifices and to the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: So, a pull on the heartstrings there from Marco Rubio, full of the music, strings and piano there. The conservative candidates often say that the party should go with its heart and not just the cynical "who can beat the Democrat". Do you think that's an opportunity that can be taken by Marco Rubio?

LISA BOOTHE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Look, Victor, I think Marco Rubio does have this, you know, phenomenal American dream story to tell. But I think what you're highlighting is the fact that Republicans have a very deep bench right now. We've got sitting governors, sitting senators that all could potentially be running for the Republican nomination.

But the problem that Democrats have is that, you know, this coronation with Hillary Clinton is going to prove problematic for them because look, not only is she a polarizing figure, which is something that David Axelrod has admitted to, but her candidacy is going to mired in scandal.

When she goes to Iowa, when she goes to New Hampshire, she's going to be asked questions about her e-mail server. She's going to be asked questions about why she wiped it clean. She's going to be asked questions about Benghazi. She's going to be asked questions about the Clinton Foundation. And that is -- she's not going to be able to escape those questions.

But the biggest problem for her, Victor, is the fact that those scandals are catching up for her. That's what we saw in the Quinnipiac poll. That those scandals are catching up to her in states like Iowa. They're catching up to her in states like Colorado and Virginia.

ZIMMERMAN: Here's the bigger problem -- Lisa.

BOOTHE: No, Robert, let me finish.

BLACKWELL: Let her finish. We'll come to you in a second, Robert.

BOOTHE: Those scandals are catching up to her. Voters do not find her trustworthy. They do not believe her anymore and they do not think she's an honest person.

BLACKWELL: All right. Let's go to Robert -- go ahead.

ZIMMERMAN: Lisa here's the bigger problem for you. They're not scandals and the questions you're raising --

BOOTHE: They are scandals -- Robert. How can you --

BLACKWELL: Let him finish now.

ZIMMERMAN: Excuse me -- can I finish my point?

BLACKWELL: Lisa, let him finish now.

ZIMMERMAN: Can I finish my point. The questions you're asking, the scandals you're alluding to -- they've already been investigated by congressional committees led by Republicans that in fact have exonerated Hillary Clinton.

And the bigger issue here Lisa is that your soliloquy you just delivered is really a perfect illustration of why the Republicans have lost the vote in five of the six last presidential elections going back to 1992 because not once did you articulate a new idea for the Republican Party or an agenda for the future. In fact quite to the contrary, the Republican Party you're describing is one that relates more to the 1950s with their advocacy of discrimination against the gay and lesbian community, or limiting voting rights or denying that climate change in science exists or advocating deportation of undocumented workers.

That reflects a Republican Party out of touch with the mainstream of America. BOOTHE: But Robert, how can you possibly -- how can you possibly say that Democrats are representing the future when Hillary Clinton has been running for a decade? When the middle class families are the ones who have been suffering under President Obama? When Hillary Clinton, as a senator, paid female staffers 72 cents to the dollar to men? How can you possibly say that Democrats represent the future when Hillary Clinton has been running for a decade? When she represents the past -- she does not represent the future. She doesn't represent the future of this country.

(CROSSTALK)

ZIMMERMAN: Excuse me, Lisa.

BOOTHE: No. She should represent the future of the Democrat Party. If you guys are in trouble, she does.

BLACKWELL: We've got to wrap it up. Ten seconds to Robert.

BOOTHE: Thank you Victor.

ZIMMERMAN: Ok, very simply Lisa -- if you want to see the future of America, then you come with me to a Hillary Clinton rally as my guest and you see the young women and young men who are there --

BOOTHE: If you think she's the future you're in serious trouble, Robert.

ZIMMERMAN: -- you'll see the future. You're my guest at that. BOOTHE: Democrats are in serious trouble if you think she's the

future of your party.

ZIMMERMAN: Ok.

BLACKWELL: All right. Lisa Boothe, Robert Zimmerman -- thank you both. Lively conversation.

ZIMMERMAN: Thank you.

BOOTHE: Thank you, Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right.

PAUL: Always is. And make sure to tune in to CNN tomorrow for a special two-hour edition of "STATE OF THE UNION"; the focus, of course, Clinton's 2016 campaign. It all starts Sunday at noon Eastern right here.

Also this morning, lots of people trying to clean up the aftermath of those deadly storms that hit the Midwest. We're going to take you live to Illinois so we can see what's happening there this morning.

Also Ella Jones won an historic election in Ferguson, Missouri. The newly-elected city councilmember says she wants to put a new face on Ferguson. We're talking to her next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:43:15] PAUL: All right. Take a look at these pictures. If that were your home, would you not look at that and think I just don't even know where to begin?

BLACKWELL: It's terrible. Now there are crews who are trying to help these people put their lives back together, trying to assess the damage from Thursday's deadly swath of tornadoes here in -- you see here Rochelle, Illinois.

PAUL: CNN's Nick Valencia is in Fairdale, Illinois. And that we understand is where there was one survivor who lost her home and she got the help that she needed because of Facebook and a simple request. Good morning, Nick.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christi.

It was an incredible outpouring of support for Lauren Hintzche. She was one of those homeowners who really just lost it all. She woke up the next morning on Friday morning and she took to Facebook to ask for help and she learned that even in tragedy there's always somebody willing to lend a helping hand.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a friend's camper coming in.

VALENCIA (voice over): A day after her home was destroyed, Lauren Hintzche found help.

LAUREN HINTZCHE, RESIDENT: Family, friends -- I'm a schoolteacher. A lot of schoolteachers came out for us today.

VALENCIA: On Friday morning, word quickly spread on social media that her home in Lindonwood, Illinois, was one of the dozens leveled by an EF-4 tornado.

HINTZCHE: I just put it out on Facebook and just said we're fine but this is what we need. And, you know, people just came out this morning.

VALENCIA: One by one -- neighbors, family and friends all showed up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just thankful to be here to help pick up. It's a wonderful thing and all these people came to help.

VALENCIA: Some with gifts.

HINTZSCHE: I had a port-a-potty here before I knew it. I had containers and trailers.

VALENCIA: Others to help her pick up priceless possessions.

HINTZSCHE: Oh, I know. My heartrate. That was so -- I saw it down in the garage. I'm like, please, be ok. Please be ok.

[08:45:05] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know.

HINTZSCHE: Between that and my running shoes. That's what I was worried about.

VALENCIA: Everyone seemed to show up with something.

HINTZSCHE: Tons of food is donated. If you're hungry, please stop and get something.

VALENCIA: Her small farmhouse may be uninhabitable for now but even still she has plans to rebuild.

HINTZSCHE: Well, it's probably ok kind of for now because obviously, the roof is still -- I mean, there's something over the top of it.

VALENCIA: Hintschze wasn't home at the time of the tornado but her husband was.

(on camera): How long have you guys been here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About 17 years, 18 years I guess.

VALENCIA (voice over): Long enough to form some pretty strong bonds with people who want to help.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's pretty neat really.

(END VIDEOTAPE) VALENCIA: And this morning, more residents in Fairdale are slowly starting to come back to their properties. You see behind me the owners here of this facility here that was probably one of the most devastated structures in all of Fairdale. They're picking up the pieces. I just asked them how they were doing. They said they're just trying to get by like everybody else -- Victor, Christi.

PAUL: All right. Nick Valencia -- thank you so much for bringing us that. We appreciate it. Certainly keeping our thoughts on all those people there.

Let's talk about Yemen here. And international aid organization trying to bring relief to people as a deadly sectarian violence in that nation just seems to be falling out of control. UNICEF says a shipment of 16 tons of medical supplies has finally reached Yemen's capital, Sana'a. The World Health Organization saying at least 643 people have been killed and more than 2,000 injured in three weeks. Hundreds of refugees are trying to get out of that country as well.

But for more on how you can help keep children safe as this violence continues to escalate there, check out CNN.com/impact. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:50:41] PAUL: Ten minutes to 9:00 and this week's police shooting of Walter Scott in South Carolina once again brings attention to police-involved shootings and whether police should wear body cameras. It's often tough to make a call and the right call at that. CNN's Randi Kaye takes a look at all kinds of deadly encounters that were caught on tape.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Tense moments at a gas station near Columbia, South Carolina. Shawn Gruber, a highway patrol officer, has just pulled over a man. Watch what happens next.

SHAWN GRUBER: May I have your license, please?

Get out of the car. Get out of the car.

Get on the ground. Get on the ground.

KAYE: When the man turned back inside his car to get his license, the officer fired in an instant.

GRUBER: Are you hit?

LEVAR JONES: I think so am. I can't feel my leg. Why did you shoot me?

GRUBER: You dove head first back into your car.

JONES: I'm sorry.

KAYE: The victim, 35-year-old Levar Jones survived. Officer Gruber was fired and charged with aggravated assault and battery.

In Billings, Montana a police officer approaches four men sitting inside their car.

GRANT MORRISON, POLICE OFFICER: Hands up. All four of you. Hands up.

KAYE: Officer Grant Morrison appears to recognize one of them as a suspect from an earlier shooting. He tells him he's making him nervous, then this.

MORRISON: Hands up. Hands on the (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Get your hands on the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) or I'm going to shoot you. I will shoot you. Hands up. Hands up. Hands up. I will shoot you again. Hands up. Hands up. You (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I'm going to shoot you. Get on the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) ground.

KAYE (on camera): The man killed, it turns out, was unarmed. But Officer Morrison said he feared for his life because the man kept dropping his left hand despite the officer's warnings to keep his hands up. The shooting was ruled justifiable homicide.

(voice over) In Arizona, this video from Officer Tyler Stewart's body camera captures the last moments of his life. On it, a casual conversation between the officer and a man suspected of domestic violence. Officer Stewart doesn't even have his gun drawn. But watch what happens when the officer asks to frisk the man.

TYLER STEWART, POLICE OFFICER: Mind if I pat down your pockets real quick? You don't have anything in here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no.

STEWART: Ok. Nothing in here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. This is my smoke.

KAYE: The video ends there, just as the suspect pulled a .22 caliber revolver from his pocket, firing six shots at the officer. Hit five times, the officer never had a chance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There were a series of rounds fired at the time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know where his injuries are?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In his face.

KAYE: The 24-year-old officer died at the hospital. The suspect, meanwhile, used the officer's weapon to take his own life.

Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: All right. Our thanks to Randi Kaye for that report. Coming up on "SMERCONISH" at the top of the hour, if you haven't

heard, Hillary Clinton is running for president. I mean it's the worst-kept secret in all of politics.

PAUL: Really?

BLACKWELL: Smerconish is going to talk to the man who wrote the book on her life, really wrote the book on Hillary Clinton but insiders discuss a new campaign strategy.

But next it's a return to form for Tiger Woods but one young phenom has taken the spotlight from the golf superstar at the Masters.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Coming up to the top of the hour now. We've got new video of the moment that thieves pulled off this huge heist in London's jewelry district last weekend. Authorities have not put a price tag on this stolen loot but they speculate it's roughly $300 million.

PAUL: Wow.

BLACKWELL: The kicker here is police are saying we heard the burglar alarm going off but they didn't respond.

PAUL: Don't know what they were doing.

A Secret Service member is facing a felony charge now. 29-year-old Arthur Baldwin was charged with attempted burglary and property destruction. He was off duty when he was arrested yesterday after he allegedly tried to break into a woman's home. That woman, by the way, is believed to be his ex-girlfriend. Secret Service has placed him on administrative leave.

BLACKWELL: A 21-year-old phenom has captured the attention of sports fans for his historic score at golf's biggest tournament, the Masters. But don't look now because Tiger Woods has made the cut.

PAUL: CNN's Coy Wire is with us now. So Tiger is stepping it up, is that it?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS: He is -- stepped up. Stepped onto the scene, onto the greens, he's doing his thing. He's playing a lot better than people expected after being away from the game. He's at under par right now. That puts him even with Rory Mcilroy who's also at minus 2. Tiger shot a 69 yesterday. That was the first time that he hit under 70 at a major since 2011. He's got this new presence about him. He's smiling, he's upbeat. While he's 12 shots behind the leader, Spieth, he said, quote, "I'm still right there. I'm 12 back. There's not a lot of guys ahead of me. With 36 holes here to go, anything could happen."

And he's right. You know, the four-time Masters winner hasn't played in a tournament for over two months, taking time off to recover from injury and readjust his game a bit. Now Tiger's showing some signs of his old self. So that's going to make today and tomorrow's round quite interesting guys. Tiger will tee off today with Sergio at 1:15. We'll see how it goes.

PAUL: Your predictions?

WIRE: Predictions?

PAUL: And leader, what do we know about him?

WIRE: I don't see Spieth stumbling and this guy is balling. This kid is 211 years old. Doing his thing like that. I'm cheering for him.

BLACKWELL: I would love though to see Tiger come back, to see the old Tiger again.

PAUL: I don't think there's such a thing as an old Tiger, is there?

WIRE: You know, I don't know if he can ever get back to that but I like the new Tiger. And I think a lot of people do, too.

BLACKWELL: All right. Thanks Coy.

PAUL: Coy, thank you.

WIRE: you're welcome guys.

PAUL: All right. Just a reminder to Watch the CNN "Bleacher Report Special" all access at Augusta, it's hosted by Rachel Nichols, and it's set to air today at 2:30 eastern. We hope you could be here.

BLACKWELL: All right. That's it for us. We'll see you back here at 10:00 Eastern in the CNN newsroom.

PAUL: "SMERCONISH" starts right now for you.