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New Day Sunday

FBI Releases Declassified Document On 9/11 Investigation; Children Reflect On The Legacy Of Loved Ones Lost On 9/11; Biden Honors 9/11 Victims, Defends Afghanistan Withdrawal; Unvaccinated COVID-19 Patients Overwhelming U.S. Hospitals; Former President Bush Compares Domestic Extremists To Violent Extremists Abroad; Congress Returns From Recess With Major Deadlines Looming; Push To Recall Newsom Enters Final Stretch. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired September 12, 2021 - 07:00   ET

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

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Welcome to your NEW DAY on this Sunday. I'm Christi Paul.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Christi. I'm Boris Sanchez.

The FBI releasing the first newly declassified document on its investigation into the September 11th terror attacks.

[07:00:03]

What we're learning about who may have been involved and who may have helped two of the hijackers.

PAUL: Yeah. And the U.S. Capitol police is recommending disciplinary action in six cases against its officers, following the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

What we know about those cases today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT: And we have seen growing evidence that the dangers to our country can come not only across borders, but from violence that gathers within.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Plus, in a speech commemorating the September 11th attacks, former President George W. Bush calling on Americans to confront violent extremists at home. This amid concerns surrounding another rally in Washington planned for this week.

PAUL: Also, in California voters heading to the polls in just two days, on Tuesday, to decide whether to recall Governor Gavin Newsom. At issue at the top of voters' minds as they head to the polls.

(MUSIC)

SANCHEZ: Thanks so much for waking up with us this Sunday, September 12th. We are thrilled you are with us. I'm thrilled to be with you, Christi.

PAUL: Good to see you, Boris.

Well, we are talking today, first, about the FBI release of this declassified document on its investigation of the September 11th terror attacks. The document details the investigation into whether a Saudi official and a suspected Saudi intelligence officer provided support for two of the 9/11 hijackers.

SANCHEZ: Yeah, this the first of several documents expected to be released under an executive order signed by President Biden. Family members of those killed on September 11th have demanded that the information be maid public for years.

PAUL: CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson joining us live from Kabul right now, Afghanistan, of course.

So, Nic, talk to us about what we know to be in these documents.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, we've just had a reaction to the FBI's release from the Saudi foreign minister in the last half an hour in Saudi. But before I get to that, let's look at what the FBI is saying here.

There was a person of interest, that there was suspicion a Saudi living in Los Angeles, suspicion that he was a Saudi intelligence agent, Omar al Bayoumi, and when two of the 9/11 hijackers, Nawaf al Hazmi and Khalid al Mihdhar, arrived in Los Angeles they didn't really speak any English and they needed help and support. And what the FBI has released in documents is saying that they were getting financial support from Bayoumi, that they were getting support for translation, lodging, and flights.

And the FBI has also said, and I'll just read this because the detail is important here of what they are saying because this is strengthening their belief Bayoumi was acting for and with the Saudi government in connecting these two hijackers that would go on to fly the plane into the pentagon. This is what the FBI is saying.

They are saying that approximately one month after 9/11, there is a redacted line here, ex-wife, redacted, was interviewed and stated she met with Bayoumi multiple times and Bayoumi was always talking about the Islamic community needs to take action. He told her and her husband, name redacted, on several occasions they were at jihad.

So, this is what the evidence that the FBI has released. The document is still very heavily redacted. Saudi foreign minister has just said he welcomes the release of these documents by the FBI, he says that the Saudi government has been calling for this for some time. He says it's important to focus on the current fight on global terrorism, he says, which the Saudis are a partner of the international community in pursuing those terrorists.

The Saudis all along have rejected the allegations and belief that Bayoumi was an agent of the Saudi government working for the Saudi government. The flow of monies that were suggested going to him from Saudi officials and ending up supporting two of these hijackers is central to that. So these new details, the families of the victims of the 9/11 attack have said they welcome these new details, they are substantial. They are disappointed at the level of redactions.

So this seems to take a step, the process a step forward. It hasn't changed the Saudi government's position that they reject that Bayoumi, central to this, that through him they were helping the hijackers. They reject that.

SANCHEZ: Yeah, and nick, for these family, the fight for answers through lawsuits continues to get that information that's still being reacted. Nic Robertson from Kabul, Afghanistan, thank you.

[07:05:00]

Some of the most touching tributes yesterday came from those who are born after September 11th, 2001.

PAUL: Yeah, we are talking about young people who lost fathers and mothers and aunts and uncles in the attacks.

Here is a look at some of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know you through stories told and your legacy. But I will make sure to let that legacy live on and to never forget you. I am proud to hold your first name as my own and I am mostly proud to be able to carry on said legacy for generations to come. We love you and we miss you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my uncle, (INAUDIBLE) we love you and we miss you. Thank you for being our guardian angel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my hero and my guardian angel, my uncle, Lieutenant Jeffrey P. Walls (ph), FDNY, Ladder 9, Great Jones Street. Although I never got the privilege to meet you, so many people tell me that I remind them of you in so many ways and I'm so honored to your name as my middle name. We love and miss you dearly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my uncle Christopher Noble Engracia (ph), even though you died more than eight years before I was born, your memory lives on through me and so many of your family and friends. Now grandpa is in heaven with you, too. May you both rest in the peace of his kingdom and may God bless America.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my grandfather, Phillip T. Hayes, even though I never had the chance to meet you, you will always be my hero. I have heard so many amazing stories about you and I am blessed to have such a great role model as my grandpa. I miss and love you so much. You are forever in our hearts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my uncle, Firefighter Joseph Patrick Henry from Ladder Company 21, I wish I had the chance to meet you, Uncle Joey. I heard you were a great person.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my grandfather David Francis Rugio (ph), we all miss you and even you know I didn't get to meet you, I still love you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my uncle Robert G. McColvin (ph), although I wasn't lucky enough to meet you, your spirit lives on in myself, my brother, and sisters and all those who loved you. I am honored to carry your name and I'm living proof that life loves on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Very touching. So emotional to see the legacy of those lost on that day live on in the youth and their memory clearly not forgotten.

So, President Biden visited Ground Zero in New York yesterday. The Pentagon and the 9/11 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to honor those lost on September 11th. The anniversary of the terror attacks coming almost two weeks since the last U.S. troops left Afghanistan.

The president defending his handling of the withdrawal as the nation marks the somber milestone.

PAUL: CNN White House reporter Jasmine Wright is traveling with the president. She's with us now from Wilmington, Delaware.

Good morning to you, Jasmine.

Talk us to about what you're hearing from the president as he -- as he had to talk about Afghanistan yesterday even during ceremonies when we were remembering all of these people.

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's right, Boris and Christi. Listen, you heard President Biden once again make the case that the U.S. had been in the Afghanistan war for far too long. And you hit the nail right there, Christi, right?

This was what the White House intended yesterday to really mark the lives on to the lives of those lost on September 11th. That's what they wanted to focus their message on, focus their message on President Biden's calls for unity, calls for focusing on the future, but instead he had to answer questions about that chaotic Afghanistan exit.

Now, Boris, you just said that we saw President Biden go to the trio of memorial sites. First in New York. Then in Pennsylvania. Then at the Pentagon just outside of D.C., again trying to re-instill those calls for unity.

But while visiting a fire department in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the first fire department that was on site at that crash of the United Flight 93, he again had to defend his decision to withdraw.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Seventy percent of the American people think it was time to get out of Afghanistan spending all that money, but the flip of it is they didn't like the way we got out. It's hard to explain to anybody how else could you get out?

For example, if we were in that Tajikistan, we pulled up a C-130 and said we are going to let, you know, anybody who was involved with being sympathetic to us to get in the plane, you would have people hanging in the wheel well. Yeah.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WRIGHT: But the fact is, Christi and Boris, those images that President Biden just described we actually did see in Kabul airport at one point.

[07:10:04]

We saw a person hanging from the wheel wells of the plane. So that did actually happen.

And now, of course, secretary of defense, General Austin, also yesterday did his part in defending the administration when he told our own Wolf Blitzer that it would be more difficult but not impossible to track threats in Afghanistan now that there are no longer any boots on the ground.

But bottom line is that this is an administration that has spent the last two weeks trying to move past Afghanistan. We have seen the president focus back on his infrastructure package, back on that $3.5 trillion spending package, really mandating new things on vaccines, trying to get this pandemic back in order. So if this -- if yesterday was meant to be a bookend on Afghanistan for this administration, it's very clear that the questions are just not yet going away. Boris, Christi.

PAUL: Jasmine, thank you so much. We appreciate it.

SANCHEZ: We want to bring you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic this morning because 26 states across the country have fully vaccinated more than half of their population, but the unvaccinated COVID-19 patients are still putting a major strain on the nation's hospitals.

PAUL: The CDC data shows people not vaccinated are ten times more likely to be hospitalized from coronavirus. And people are still gathering, of course, regardless of vaccination status and a lot of times without masks.

You probably saw it over the weekend. Still the weekend, we're still probably going to see it today, football stadiums across the country packed with thousands of fans unlike last season, there are a lot foregoing COVID-19 restrictions all together.

Dr. Steven Joffe is with us. He's interim chair for the department of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Joffe, we appreciate you being here so much.

First of all, I do want to get to something that you posted on Twitter. You actually re-tweeted this article from "The Washington Post." It's an editorial from the page editor there.

And she said this: I'm going to come right out and say it: in situations where hospitals are overwhelmed and resources such as intensive care beds or ventilators are scarce, vaccinated patients should be given priority over those who refused vaccination without a legitimate medical or religious reason.

She writes also that she recognizes that the idea doesn't coincide with medical ethics, which is something we want to hear from you because this is part of your expertise. She also cites her reasoning being that these are extraordinary times.

So what is your assessment, first of all, of the proposal such as that?

DR. STEVEN JOFFE, INTERIM CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL ETHICS & HEALTH POLICY, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: Thank you so much for having me on the show, Christi.

I have a lot of respect for Ruth Marcus, who wrote that op-ed. But I have to say, I disagree with her. I understand the desire to give priority to people who are vaccinated over people who are not. It's really tempting to say they made their bed, they need to lie in it, but there are a number of reasons why I think this would be the wrong course of action.

I think first not everybody is unvaccinated by choice, right. Some people can't get final away from work or can't afford a couple of days they might need away from work, if they have side effects from the shot. We haven't done a good enough job of making sure everybody get the shot. And we don't want the doctors and nurses to decide who has a good excuse for being unvaccinated and who doesn't.

Second is, we teach our health care workers to give the very best care they can to whoever needs it. If both a criminal and a victim are injured in a crime, the hospital cares for them both. We don't want to lose this ethic of nonjudgmental care and we don't want our doctors and nurses deciding who is worthy of care. We don't want to go down that road.

I guess the last thing I would say is that there's some groups have historically been mistreated by the healthcare system. So, it's understandable why people who need to gain trust in the vaccines might take a little bit longer to do that.

PAUL: So, when we hear a proposal like this from Ruth, how potent are these conversations within the medical communities because we have heard stories of potentially medical professionals who themselves don't want to get the vaccine.

JOFFE: I'm sure these conversations are happening and there are some people who feel this way who work in the medical community. I am convinced that the dominant view is the ethic that we have been taught, of the people who need care, the people we could help with our care are the people we should be treating. We shouldn't be asking what did they or not do that could have

prevented them from getting sick in this way. We just don't want to be asking those questions in medicine and nursing.

PAUL: Sure. So the White House says more than 75 percent of adults have received at least one shot. With that said, do you think we are close to herd immunity?

We talked a lot about that in the beginning of this pandemic and the numbers were 80, 85 percent being vaccinated, that that would prompt herd immunity.

[07:15:02]

Do you think we're close to it and do you think it will be effective at this point?

JOFFE: All I can say it's very hard to know what the right number is for herd immunity in part because the pandemic keeps changing. The nature of the virus keeps changing. Delta has changed the equation.

What I can say is that in states and communities that have very high vaccination rates and also that are compliant with masking and other kinds of things to prevent the pandemic rates of illness and rates of hospitalization are much lower than they are in states where vaccination rates are low, where there is not as good compliance with masking.

So, it's not just vaccination. It's all the other things to keep the pandemic under control. And with those all of those things, we can do that. We've shown that we can do that because it's not just the vaccination. It's the whole package.

PAUL: We know unvaccinated -- from the CDC just this week, unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die are from COVID. With the statistics that we see coming out and I'm sure what you see certainly, help us understand your level of comfort or lack thereof of some of the pictures we are seeing at these football games. People are packed into together. They don't seem to be mitigating factors at play.

What would you say to the people in those stands who are hungry for normalcy but we are still living in pandemic. To that you say what?

JOFFE: Clearly, being in outdoor settings is safer than being in indoor settings. At the same time, when you got tens or hundreds of thousands of people packed together in close quarters, you have no idea if the person who's sitting in the seat next to you if they are asymptomatic in shedding or if they are mildly symptomatic and shedding.

The way to protect ourselves is to be masked and take those precautions. So, I am very uncomfortable in these very closely packed outdoor settings with people not masking. On the other hand, outdoors is clearly safer than indoors. And what makes me the most uncomfortable is people gathering in indoor settings without masks and without vaccination requirements.

PAUL: Yeah. Very good point. Dr. Steve Joffe, we are so grateful for your perspective. Thank you for taking time for us today.

JOFFE: Thank you so much.

SANCHEZ: Coming up next, former President George W. Bush delivering emotional remarks on the anniversary of 9/11, and a warning on the threat of domestic terrorism. His critical words for the January 6th insurrections after a quick break.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:21:37]

SANCHEZ: Eight months after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Capitol police are recommending disciplinary action in six cases against their own officers, after internal investigations into what happened on January 6th. The violations include failure to comply with directives, improper remarks, and improper dissemination of information. It's not clear whether these cases involve separate officers.

CNN has asked Capitol Police for clarification. We'll update you, of course, once we get it.

In February, six officers were suspended with pay, 29 others were placed under investigation for their actions during the insurrection.

PAUL: So, yesterday, former President George W. Bush alluded to the Capitol Hill riots when condemning violent extremists. He spoke in Pennsylvania at the crash site of Flight 93.

The former commander in chief called on all of us to confront domestic extremists comparing them to violent extremists in other countries.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: There is little cultural overlap between violent extremists abroad and violent extremists at home. But then there is disdainful pluralism in their disregard for human life, in their determination to defile national symbols. They are children of the same foul spirit and it is our continuing duty to confront them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Meantime, one of the Capitol Hill rioters who threatened to kill Speaker Nancy Pelosi has pleaded guilty.

Cleveland Meredith Jr. drove from Colorado to Washington with two guns and 2,500 rounds of ammunition. In text messages, he threatened to kill Speaker Pelosi on live TV.

PAUL: The charge carries a maximum potential prison term of five years. Prosecutors say they will ask for as much as two, but a CNN analysis has found about 10 percent of the defendants charged in connection with the deadly riot have already reached plea agreements.

SANCHEZ: Meantime, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers are returning this week and they have a lot on their plate, including major parts of President Biden's agenda. Of course, looming deadlines to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling.

PAUL: Yeah, it's going to be a challenge to get it done in a closely divided Congress, obviously.

CNN congressional reporter Daniella Diaz with us now.

Daniella, good to see you this morning.

What do we expect to see on Capitol Hill this week?

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Christi, Boris, the Senate is in session as the House continues to work on writing this sweeping $3.5 trillion economic bill that would expand the nation's social safety net.

But, look, clock is ticking. You know, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi actually told Democrats in the House on a call earlier this week that she is sticking with this Wednesday deadline to try to finish writing this legislation. And they are eager to put this bill on the House floor by the end of the month so that it can pass, because, look, this is a priority for the Biden administration for President Joe Biden. He promised Americans he would pass this bill.

A little bit about this bill. It contains funding to combat climate change. It would have paid family and medical leave. It would expand the child text credit. It has a lot of policies that progressives and the Biden administration really want to pass this Congress.

But it's going to be a test of unity for Democratic leaders these next couple of weeks because they need to unite progressives and moderates behind this package.

[07:25:07]

You know, moderates want to bring down the price tag of this $3.5 trillion package. Progressives want more money in this package. You know, it's a debate between progressives and moderates to see what they'll actually include in this legislation which is why House Speaker Nancy Pelosi putting this deadline for Wednesday to try to pass this.

You know, not only that. The other issue is the debt ceiling. And not even -- I haven't even mentioned there is going to be a committee hearing tomorrow with Secretary of State Antony Blinken to dress the U.S. withdrawal of -- in Afghanistan.

So, lots of things happening this month. But, you know, Democratic leaders are eager to try to pass these two infrastructure bills by the end of the month -- Boris, Christi.

PAUL: Daniella, thank you so much. SANCHEZ: So we've got two CNN political commentators. Two great voices

joining us this morning to talk politics. Democratic strategist Maria Cardona and Republican strategist Alice Stewart. They are also the co- hosts of podcast "Hot Mics From Left to Right".

Ladies, we appreciate you joining us this morning sharing part of your weekend with us.

I want to start with what we saw yesterday, the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Two former Republican presidents taking two very different approaches. Former President Bush talking about the country we know, making this emotional plea to ditch politics of resentment and anger and, conversely, you have Donald Trump skipping Ground Zero to visit a firehouse, attacking President Biden for his withdrawal from Afghanistan.

And, Alice, from your perspective, if it's still possible for the modern Republican Party to embrace the values that George W. Bush described and embracing immigrants and Muslims and putting country above party while Donald Trump remains the de facto leader of the GOP?

ALICE STEWART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Boris, we have to. Look, it is clear that Donald Trump is the de facto head of the GOP, but we have no power. We have no control in the House, in the Senate, and in the White House.

So we have to move from that. And the more we can move back to what the message that we heard from President George W. Bush, a call for unity, a call for coming together and a call for looking at America as the beacon of hope and also with regard to 9/11 honoring the first responders and those who helped others and brought this nation together. We have to do that. That is critical for us to do so.

And we can do so if we look at the policies that unite the Republican Party and not the personalities that divide us. And I think yesterday was very telling when we had former President Bush at a ceremony along with former Democratic presidents at other ceremonies as a way, as a call for unity, and that's the message moving forward.

And Republicans realize that, while Donald Trump might be titular head right now, moving forward, that's not the path to victory for Republicans.

SANCHEZ: I do want to get in a question about the path forward for Republicans because there is a lot to dig into there, but, Maria, I want to shift the focus to polling indicating that President Biden's approval rating is dipping. The two most frequently mentioned issues in a CNN poll coronavirus and the economy. Case rates going up, job growth stalling.

They are tied hand in hand. There is the messy withdrawal from Afghanistan, drawing criticism from even members of your own party.

How do you think President Biden turns the tide while he is facing so many challenges and tries to, you know, shift the focus away from a tough summer? MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, first of all, Boris,

that's what leadership is all about, right? Facing these challenges head on and saying like he always does, the buck stops with him and taking responsibility for everything that is happening.

And he has already started to turn the tide, Boris. His speech on the requirements for vaccines I think was incredibly strong. That is speaking to a large probably the majority of Americans who have also lost their patience with those who refused to get the vaccine.

All of that is intertwined with the issues that are at the top of that CNN poll, the coronavirus and the economy. The more that we can get Americans vaccinated, the better our economy is going to be in terms of bouncing back and letting us all get back to, you know, whatever the new normal is, but at least a way to be able to get our economy back on track. So I think he is doing that.

Let's remember that these polls are snapshots in time. And even though everyone is talking about the dip in approval rating, he is still 52 percent approval, you know, Donald Trump never reached that I think ever in the four years that he was president. And there is still a lot of time to turn this around before the midterm election.

[07:30:00]

So I think they are in a very good position to continue focusing on the top issues for Americans. In August, there were 4 million more people that got vaccinated than in July. So again, there are these trends that you are seeing that even though the coronavirus is still red hot in a lot of states, mostly Republican states, there are focuses on how the administration is starting to turn this around and that, I think, is what Americans are going to be tuned into.

STEWART: Boris, if I could weigh in. These polls are snapshots in time. The trends are going down, down, down for Biden.

While my friend Maria says the great thing about President Biden is he says with Afghanistan the buck stops with me, well, then, why is he blaming everyone else except himself for Afghanistan? He blamed the previous administration, the Afghan government and everyone except himself.

Meanwhile, we have still hundreds of Americans stranded in Afghanistan that are fighting for their lives to get back. And Afghan allies that we're trying to get back here to this country.

So --

CARDONA: And they are getting being back here. They are.

STEWART: They are not getting back here.

CARDONA: There were stories of Americans, flights that are leaving Afghanistan full of Americans and our Afghan allies. There is no question that is going to be a tough issue and has been. And President Biden is not blaming other administrations. He is just

talking about history. What he is saying is that he is keeping his promise to get us out of this endless 20-year war, which is what he ran on, and he has been the one president in the last four administrations that has been able to keep that promise to the American people.

SANCHEZ: I think the issue though is that a lot of people are concerned about the way that the exit took place, right, Maria, in the sense that, for instance, Bagram Air Base was shut down and the exit was planned out of Kabul international airport much closer to a big city, a much bigger target for a terrorist attack.

Quickly, Alice, how can Republicans potentially capitalize on what appears to be a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan moving forward if midterm elections are still a year away. Seems like Americans may forget.

STEWART: Sure. It's sad to capitalize on a complete failure where lives are lost. It's simple, Boris. As you say, we closed Bagram Air Base, which was instrumental in withdrawing and evacuating. We had a deadline on removing our troops without a plan in place to get Americans and our allies out of the region.

We left very valuable and meaningful military equipment there in the hands of the Taliban, which they will use against us. Not a matter of if, but when. Those are all areas we can look at his complete failures with regard to foreign policy.

It is ripe for criticism and the fact that we have lives lost, Republicans can and should and will use that against President Biden and the Democrats who have supported this withdrawal efforts in the midterm election and that is just one of many issues with regard to the failures of this administration.

Also, the economy and the increasing COVID cases are many issues that will be front and center in 2022 because this president has not delivered on the promises that he made.

SANCHEZ: We have to leave the conversation there. I figure, Maria, your counterpoint is if the Biden administration can get some of these huge spending bills passed to move forward on the economy and address climate change, then voters will potentially be not so concerned about withdrawal from Afghanistan a year from now.

Again, we have to leave the conversation there --

CARDONA: I think the Republicans --

SANCHEZ: Quickly in.

CARDONA: -- they politicize Afghanistan, that will be at Democrats' peril.

SANCHEZ: Ladies, thank you so much. We appreciate your time.

STEWART: Thanks, Boris.

CARDONA: Gracias, Boris.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Good to see them back together again.

All right. Two days before the major California recall election. Why some Democrats, Democratic voters have real fear that this race could be close.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:38:23]

SANCHEZ: California's Governor Gavin Newsom is making his final pitch to voters ahead of Tuesday's recall election.

PAUL: State Republicans are pushing for him to be recalled. But recent polls suggest the majority of Californians want him to stay.

Here is CNN's Natasha Chen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christi and Boris, more than 7 million votes have been cast so far in this recall election. Many of them mail-in ballots because every California voters receives one automatically in the mail. With a few days left before the election, there are-in in person vote centers like this one in Beverly Hills to walk in.

And we talked to people in this heavily Democratic area who tell us that this election is about preventing a Republican takeover. What they are seeing in other parts of the country are influencing their decision in this state election.

DANIEL FINK, VOTER IN BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: Thanks to the deliberate incompetence of the Republican governors in Texas and Florida, I am a grandparent, our sons are all in their 30s, but I am a grandparent. Parents are not allowed to protect their children going too school because the governor prohibits mask mandates in the school.

CHEN: The people we spoke to said they voted no, to keep Gavin Newsom in office. They said they don't feel 100 percent confident that will happen. They noted that there is still a lot of division, even in this very blue state.

Now, the ballot has two questions but it can be confusing for some. The first question asks voters whether they want to recall Gavin Newsom. If the majority of people say no, he stays in office. If the majority says yes, the second question becomes important.

[07:40:00]

The second question asks voters who should replace Newsom if he is recalled, and lists 46 candidates to choose from. The person with the most votes becomes governor. You can choose one of

those candidates for governor even if you oppose the recall, but Governor Newsom's campaign has been telling people to leave the question blank.

Christi and Boris, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: Natasha, thank you.

So, did you see this historic finale at the U.S. Open? How 18-year-old Emma Raducanu went from really being unknown qualifier to grand slam title winner.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:45:17]

SANCHEZ: There's a really touching moment at the Yankees/Mets game last night to commemorate the 20th anniversary of September 11th.

PAUL: Yeah, hundreds of New York City's first responders standing shoulder to shoulder as the crowd recognized their service.

Andy Scholes is with us now.

You know, I mean, there is no doubt sports really plays a role in helping our country heal.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, and no matter if you are a fan of the Yankees or Mets back then, following 9/11, everyone was cheering for them, everyone was tuning into the games in New York. And, last night, the two teams honoring those who lost their lives 20 years ago.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

SCHOLES: A moving rendition of "America the Beautiful." Joe Torre and Bobby Valentine throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

As for the game, it was great. Yankees down two in the eighth. Aaron Judge his second home run of the game. Yankees add another in the inning and go on to win 8-7 on an emotional night there in New York.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AARON BOONE, NEW YORK YANKEES MANAGER: I think they could feel the emotion in the building. I thought they did a great job of honoring the servicemen and women, just paying homage to the memories of the people that lost their lives. It was a beautiful night. It was a perfect night. And the two New York teams played it out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: And not far down the road at the U.S. Open, 18-year-old Emma Raducanu pulling off one of the most improbable grand slam wins of all time. The English teenager the first player ever, man or woman, to go from having to qualify to a major champ. Beating 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez of Canada in straight sets yesterday. Raducanu didn't lose a single set in the entire tournament. She is the youngest major champion since Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon 17 yeas ago.

And CNN's Carolyn Manno caught up with Raducanu after her historic win.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMA RADUCANU, 2021 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION: It still hasn't sunk in, to be honest, because after the match I haven't had a moment to just stop and embrace everything that just happened. But, yeah, I can't wait to just really sink in with my team tonight and enjoy and celebrate and then when I get back home to see everyone at home. It's been seven weeks away now. So to go home, I'm just really excited to see my family and friends.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. The college football, a stunning upset in Tallahassee. Florida State was up three with six seconds on the clock against Jacksonville State. For some reason, the Seminoles not playing the Hail Mary. He eludes two defenders and scores with no time on the clock. Coach Mike Norvell of Florida State apologizing to fans, coming it unacceptable.

All right. And finally, a stray cat hanging or for dear life from the upper deck at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami last night. All the fans in the area below trying to figure out a way to save the cat and some grabbed an American flag they brought to try to catch it.

Amazingly, they do. They brace that cat's fall. The entire crowd goes absolutely crazy when they realize that the cat was okay.

Boris and Christi, that right there is one of the most amazing things I think I have ever seen inside a stadium at a sporting event.

PAUL: And look at him holding the cat up like, we got it!

SCHOLES: Yeah, like Simba in "Lion King."

PAUL: Yeah, forget the trophy. We got the cat.

SCHOLES: What a fall. The cat was okay. But great teamwork by the fans in Miami.

SANCHEZ: I love that the American flag was playing a life-saving role last night.

Good to see you, Andy.

SCHOLES: Yeah. All right.

PAUL: Awesome. Andy, thank you. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:53:46]

PAUL: So, the Gulf Coast is still recovering from Hurricane Ida but there's new flooding on the way.

SANCHEZ: Yeah, meteorologist Allison Chinchar joins us now live from the CNN weather center.

Allison, a lot of activity in the Atlantic.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And I can't emphasize enough how many coastal cities have the potential to get a foot of rain out of this next system. Now, it may not look very impressive right now.

Not a whole lot organized but this tropical wave could end up becoming tropical storm Nicholas in the next 24 hours. Now, the models are a little varied some of it making landfall close to south Texas. If that's the case, it doesn't have a lot of time to strengthen.

Other models have it further east towards Houston that gives it more time over the open waters to get a little stronger. But rain is really the big story here. Look at how widespread the rain is, from New Orleans all the way down to Brownsville, Texas, widespread eight to ten inches. You could be looking at some areas 15 inches of rain.

So, excessive flood outlooks are in effect not only for today, Christi and Boris, but also tomorrow, Tuesday and likely even Wednesday, as well.

PAUL: All right, Allison --

SANCHEZ: Allison Chinchar, thank you so much.

PAUL: We are so grateful for you. Go make good memories today.

SANCHEZ: Kaitlan Collins in the chair for "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY".

[07:55:00]

That is next.

PAUL: We do leave you with a preview of tonight's CNN's special, though, "America's Longest War."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Two trillion dollars. Thousands of lives lost.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Was the war worth it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before I go to my grave, I will have that question answered. ANNOUNCER: What went wrong in Afghanistan?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think we had a good definition of winning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Corruption was one of the reasons of how things turned out.

TAPPER: Was Pakistan our enemy?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, but Pakistan was not our friend.

ANNOUNCER: The tough questions that still need answers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If everybody gets an A, but the overall effort is still an F, who do we hold accountable?

(END VIDEO CLIP)