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New Day Sunday

Rocket Attack On Zaporizhzhia Kills At Least 17 People; Satellite Images Show Aftermath Of Crimea Bridge Explosion; Crimean Bridge Explosion Disrupts Key Russian Supply Line; North Korea Fired Two Short-Range Ballistic Missiles; U.S. Holds First Sit-Down Meeting With Taliban Since Al Qaeda Leader's Killing; Biden To Make Campaign Stops In Western States This Week; New CNN Poll: Democrat Holds Edge In Arizona Senate Race; Arizona Senate Race Heats Up As Candidates Clash On Key Issues; Teen Shot By Officer While Eating A Hamburger In His Car; Frustrations Boiling Over For Many Who Need Help In Florida; CNN Poll: Nearly 50 Percent Of Parents Say Pandemic Negatively Impacted Children's Mental Health; Manufacturing Jobs Are Back, More Workers Still Needed. Aired 6-7a

Aired October 09, 2022 - 06:00   ET

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

[06:00:27]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Buenos dias and welcome to your NEW DAY. I'm Boris Sanchez.

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Amara Walker. Ukraine says at least 17 people are dead and dozens injured after a rocket attack strike on a residential area in Zaporizhzhia, it comes as Russia is scrambling to repair a key bridge crippled by a massive explosion. We'll tell you what that may mean for Putin's next move.

SANCHEZ: And back here in the States less than a month to go until the midterm elections President Biden now gearing up for a campaign swing out west. We're going to tell you where he's headed and how he's trying to help Democrats keep control of Congress.

WALKER: And from long drives to costly care, a growing number of parents are concerned about access to mental health care for their children. We'll ask an expert about what more can be done.

SANCHEZ: Plus, two weeks after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had trouble walking but was cleared to go back out on the field, the NFL is rolling out new concussion protocols. How the new rules are different and what they mean for players.

A new week. We are grateful that you're starting it with us. It is Sunday, October 9th. Good morning, Amara.

WALKER: I'm grateful to have you by my side, Boris. Good to see you. Good morning, everyone. We begin with a deadly rocket attack in Ukraine.

SANCHEZ: Yes. At least 17 people were killed, dozens more wounded in an attack on Zaporizhzhia last night. That's according to the city's acting mayor. Another local official says that two kids are among the wounded. Fortunately, though, we understand their injuries are not life threatening. Images from the scene show this fire and smoldering rubble from the attack.

WALKER: This comes just a day after a massive explosion damaged the only bridge linking Crimea and the Russian mainland. Russians officials say at least three people were killed in that explosion. And satellite images show the bridge before and after the blast. The Ukrainian officials celebrated the explosion though without directly claiming responsibility.

SANCHEZ: We want to get the very latest from Ukraine and take you now live to Kyiv with CNN senior international correspondent Frederik Pleitgen who's there for us. Fred, let's start on what's happening in Zaporizhzhia. What's the situation there right now?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, we just got some new information from the Ukrainian military and they believe that those missiles that were launched to those residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia that they were launched by aircraft. Those were cruise missiles, some of them actually launched from strategic bombers. So you can really see the Russians not pulling any punches when it comes to hitting that major population center, obviously putting a lot of civilians in danger with that as well.

You know, those videos that we've seen from the scene overnight obviously devastating. You can see those very large soviet area residential buildings some of them, you know, partially flattened. And the Ukrainians coming out saying 17 people were killed, 40 people were injured. And it comes just days after that city was already hit and some residential buildings that were struck by rockets or missiles partially collapsed there as well killing 11 people. So certainly that town of Zaporizhzhia very much under fire and all of this just a couple of -- just a day after the Crimean bridge was hit by an explosion.

We have there is the Ukrainians and the Russians continue into point the finger at one another. But there is no doubt that this is a huge blow to Russia's logistics in southern Ukraine. Here's what we're learning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN (voice-over): A devastating blow to Vladimir Putin's war effort in Ukraine both strategically and symbolically. The Kerch Bridge that links Russia's mainland with occupied to Crimea on fire and heavily damaged. Moscow's investigative committee acknowledging the severity of the attack.

SVETLANA PETRENKO (through translator): According to preliminary information, a truck exploded on the automobile part of the Crimean bridge from the side of the Taman Peninsula in the morning today, which caused seven fuel tanks to ignite on a train heading towards the Crimean Peninsula. As a result, two lanes partially collapsed.

PLEITGEN: This CCTV video appears to show the moment of the blast. A truck is seen driving on the lane leading towards Crimea when all of a sudden there's a massive explosion, though it's not clear whether it is a truck that actually blew up.

[06:05:05]

Russian officials saying several people were killed in the attack. Moscow already pointing the finger at Ukraine but so far no claim of responsibility from Kyiv's leadership. "Crimea, the bridge, the beginning, everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled," an adviser to Ukraine's president tweeted.

While Russian authorities say fuel and food supplies to Crimea are ensured, videos released on social media show long lines forming at gas stations on the peninsula just hours after the blast. The Crimean bridge is a vital supply artery for Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, but it's also a prestige project for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin personally drove a truck across the bridge when it was opened in 2018. The attack came just a day after Putin's 70th birthday, leading Ukraine's national security adviser to tweet this video apparently mocking Russia's leader.

MARILYN MONROE, ACTRESS (singing): Happy birthday, Mr. President.

PLEITGEN: Ukraine's postal service was quick to issue a stamp commemorating the bridge explosion. Residents in the capital taking selfies in front of the main post office.

SVITLANA STEPUN, POLTAVA REGION RESIDENT (through translator): We have waited for the moment the bridge burns. I think all Ukrainians waited for it. And we are very satisfied it has finally happened.

PLEITGEN: Moscow says it got the railway section of the bridge up and running again quickly, but the damage to the road section is more extensive, creating another bottleneck for Russian forces in southern Ukraine already struggling with logistics.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: And by now, Boris, the Russians are saying that are also some cars are able to get across that bridge again but only one lane is open in both directions, which means the trickle from what you normally have going across that bridge. Again, this remains a huge bottleneck for Russians and with that a big logistical problem for their forces in southern Ukraine, Boris.

SANCHEZ: A strategic and symbolic blow to the Russians. Fred Pleitgen reporting live from Kyiv. Thank you so much, Fred.

WALKER: All right. So let's talk more about this. Joining us now is CNN military analyst and retired Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton. Colonel, always good to see you.

Let's first talk about this latest rocket attack in Zaporizhzhia. Do you see that to be a direct response from Russia to the destruction of the bridge?

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I do, Amara, and good morning. I think that the Russians are responding, you know, with the kinds of forces that they have available in order to send a message to the civilian population in Ukraine that there will be a response to anything that the Ukrainian government does to the Russian supply lines or the Russian military. And this is something that unfortunately is to be expected.

WALKER: And just to expand on what Fredrik Pleitgen was reporting on, strategically, obviously, we've been saying it's quite a large setback for Putin. We know the explosion of that bridge that connects Russia to Ukraine, obviously, as we said a big setback, especially for Putin's ability to move weapons and hardware into Ukraine, right? How do you expect Putin to adjust to this?

LEIGHTON: So it's going to be difficult for him to do this, Amara, because there are very limited supply lines for the Russian forces that are fanning out from Crimea into southern Ukraine. So what they need to do is resupply by sea as much as they possibly can. They do have some land capabilities from Russia itself into the eastern part of the Donbas region, which then connects now via the land bridge that they've created in the wake of their invasion to Crimea and to other parts of the occupied territories.

So they can do this but they are going to -- in essence, it's truncated. In other words it's very limited to what they can do. They will be able to resupply some of their element, of course, with the reopening of parts of the bridge. They can probably withstand some of this disruption but it's going to be a bit more difficult for them to move stuff into the front lines and to actually have an impact operationally in a military sense.

WALKER: You know, Ukraine as you know hasn't officially claimed responsibility for that, although, you know, we have seen hints of the fact that they could be behind it, especially with the media posts, the social media post of Marilyn Monroe mocking Putin just before his 70th birthday, you know, basically implying that this was a gift to Putin right before his birthday. Do you have any doubt that the Ukrainians were behind this?

LEIGHTON: Well, my doubts are minimized, let's just say that. I mean, it is certainly possible that somebody else was involved. But whatever they're doing, they're doing it in support of the Ukrainian war effort. And, you know, it's pretty clear that, you know, this was done as part of, to me at least, it was done as part of a strategic plan to limit the Russian supply effort and also to have a major psychological impact on the Russians.

[06:10:08]

And as such it's really a brilliant move from an operational standpoint.

WALKER: I'm just curious because I was looking at the images, especially the aerials of this Kerch Bridge. I mean, it's huge. I mean, it has four parallel spans. What kind of preparation and what kind of intelligence would one need to pull this off?

LEIGHTON: Yes, it's pretty precise the kind of intelligence that you would need, Amara, for something like this. You know, it's part of a what we would call a target preparation package. And what they would do is they would understand things like the type of tensile strength of the metals involved in building the bridge, how thick the concrete is, where the weak points are, what the precise point would be for an explosion to have the most effect. And the fact that it happened just as a train was coming through that area, whether or not the explosion was on the train or on the truck or underneath the bridge, you know, that's all, you know, something that, you know, further investigation would have to bear out.

But regardless of where it was the timing of it was absolutely perfect from an operational perspective. And the fact that they did this, they not only buckled lanes of traffic going -- you know, going into Crimea, but it also impacted the rail service and that was exactly what you would want to do in a case like this.

WALKER: Yes. And you alluded to psychological warfare. I mean, we were saying symbolically this is also a major setback because this is a bridge that opened in 2018, that Putin -- it was a source of immense pride for him after -- I think he did that four years after illegally annexing Crimea. So, obviously, emotionally and mentally that's a huge blow to him as well.

We're going to leave it there. Colonel Cedric Leighton, thank you so much.

LEIGHTON: You bet, Amara.

SANCHEZ: We want to pivot our focus to Asia now because this morning tensions there are continuing to rise. Both South Korea and Japan's military say that North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the waters off the Korean peninsula's coast.

Let's take you to Tokyo now and CNN's Blake Essig is there for us. Blake, this is the 25th missile launch from North Korea this year, several in the past two weeks. What are you hearing? Have the North Koreans taken credit for these launches?

BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Boris, at this moment as you mentioned, 25 tests so far this year, just seven in the past roughly two weeks, North Korea fired two missiles that fell into the sea off the east coast of the Korean peninsula in the early hours of Sunday morning local time. Each of these missiles flying about 200 miles meaning that these missiles were likely short-range ballistic missiles.

So far this year, as you and I both mention now, 25 different times North Korea has fired missiles, the highest total since Kim Jong-un took power in 2011, that includes seven tests in just the past two weeks. And as a result South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff released this statement saying that, "North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launch is a serious provocation that harms peace and safety of the Korean Peninsula as well as the international community, and it is also a clear violation of the UNSC resolution."

Japan's minister of defense also weighed in saying that they are looking into the possibility that this morning's launch was from a submarine and had this to say about North Korea's recent series of tests.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOSHIRO INO, JAPANESE STATE MINISTER OF DEFENSE (through translator): Since the end of September, they have launched missiles seven times escalating its direct provocative actions. These actions by North Korea are a threat to the peace and security of our country, region and the international community, and it absolutely cannot be tolerated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ESSIG: For now the big question that's being asked is, why is North Korea firing so many missiles? And experts told CNN earlier this week that North Korea could be trying to show off its arsenal or remind the world that North Korea can't be ignored. There's also the possibility that this latest flurry of missile tests by North Korea demonstrates that its missile program is in rapid development, that it's likely that these tests are going to continue while this current round of modernization is finished.

But if you ask Pyongyang through North Korean state media the reason for this latest string of tests is because of the recent joint military drills that have been conducted by the United States and South Korea. They say that these repeated missile tests are just reaction because of those drills and they consider them extremely provocative and threatening. And, Boris, the U.S., South Korea and Japan feel the same way about North Korea's frequent missile tests calling them dangerous, reckless and destabilizing for this region -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Blake Essig, thank you so much for that update.

[06:15:00]

To a different part of Asia now. CNN has learned that top Biden administration officials met in person with the Taliban on Saturday. This was the first meeting since the U.S. killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in his apartment in Kabul in late July.

WALKER: The talks were in the Qatari capital of Doha and included the CIA's deputy director and the U.S.'s -- America's top state department official responsible for Afghanistan. Now, after Zawahiri was killed in the strike the U.S. accused the Taliban of a clear and blatant violation of the Doha agreement brokered by the Trump administration which said the Taliban would not harbor terrorists if U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan.

Still ahead this morning, President Biden is planning to travel out west next week in a final push ahead of the midterms. His message to voters is up next.

SANCHEZ: Plus, residents of Fort Myers Beach, Florida, finally getting their first chance to return home this morning to see the damage left by Hurricane Ian as some they are becoming frustrated over access to aid.

WALKER: And teams will now be following new concussion rules on this NFL Sunday. A look at the terms and what this will mean for the players moving forward.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:20:24]

SANCHEZ: With exactly 30 days to go until the midterm elections, President Biden is headed west on a campaign swing stopping in California, Colorado and Oregon.

WALKER: And Democrats are focused on touting the president's efforts to bring down rising gas prices and inflation as the U.S. economy remains top of mind for many Americans.

Let's go now to CNN White House reporter Kevin Liptak who is with the president in Wilmington, Delaware. Good morning, Kevin. What more do we know about President Biden's upcoming trip?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes. Good morning, Amara. This is kind of an interesting trip because the president isn't stopping in some of those marquee states that we're talking about when it comes to the midterms, your Pennsylvanias, your Wisconsins, your Arizonas, but he is visiting some states that have some closer-than-expected races. And remember heading into this midterm election cycle is sort of an open question of how welcome President Biden would be on the campaign trail, whether he would be a help or a hindrance to Democrats.

He does have some accomplishments that he wants to tout and his poll numbers are ticking back up, but he does remain underwater. So it is interesting to see how the White House calibrates these trips.

And so on Wednesday he will begin in Colorado. The Democratic incumbent senator there, Michael Bennet, he is facing a tighter than expected reelection campaign. And what the president will be doing is declaring a new national monument. It's actually a World War II training ground really high up in the mountains on the continental divide that had been a priority of Bennet. So the president certainly looking to boost his Democratic colleague there.

From there the president will head to southern California. Of course, Los Angeles is always ripe fund-raising ground for Democrats. And I'm told by sources that the president will hold a fund-raiser for House Democrats on the west side of Los Angeles later this week.

And then from there the president will go to Oregon. There is a tight race for governor in that state and so the president certainly wants to boost the Democrat there. The White House says the president will be talking about infrastructure, the Inflation Reduction Act on all of these trips and aides do say he will continue to ramp up his travel in the weeks before the midterm elections -- guys.

WALKER: All right. I know you'll be following that closely. Kevin Liptak, thank you very much.

And in the critical battleground state of Arizona, new CNN polling finds that Democratic Senator Mark Kelly holds a narrow lead over Republican challenger Blake Masters.

SANCHEZ: There were some really interesting findings in the survey. Right now 51 percent of likely voters are behind Senator Kelly while 45 percent are supporting Masters. With the race neck and neck, both candidates are now doing whatever they can to swing voters.

CNN's Kyung Lah has more on the state of this race.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Arizona Senator Mark Kelly arrived to the one and only scheduled debate for U.S. Senate. The Democrat facing off with challenger Blake Masters. The Republican hopes to flip the state red by tying Kelly to President Biden, especially on the economy.

BLAKE MASTERS (R), ARIZONA SENATE NOMINEE: Joe Biden is spending like a drunken sailor and at every single opportunity Mark Kelly just says yes.

LAH: Kelly defended his record by distancing himself from the president.

SEN. MARK KELLY (D-AZ): I've been strong on border security and I've stood up to Democrats when they're wrong on this issue including, by the way, including the president. You know, when the president decided he was going to do something dumb on this and change the rules, you know, that would create a bigger crisis, you know, I've told him he was wrong.

LAH: The incumbent on defense from the economy to immigration.

MASTERS: Have you done everything in your power to secure our southern border?

KELLY: I've been focused on the border since day one.

MASTERS: To no great effect because we have a wide open southern border. So if that's the best you can do I respectfully request you resign.

KELLY: This has been -- this has been a crisis and D.C. --

MASTERS: Let's get someone in the seat who will actually secure our borders.

KELLY: -- Washington, D.C. has failed on this issue of border security and immigration for decades. LAH: This debate highlights how tight the Arizona Senate race remains. One third of voters in this battleground are independents why Kelly highlights his bipartisan image and Masters morphs to the middle. This was an ad he ran in the Republican primary.

MASTERS: I think Trump won in 2020.

LAH: But Masters now?

MASTERS: Yes, I haven't seen evidence of that.

LAH: The Republican dodged answering why his Web site scrubbed extreme abortion language after he won the primary.

[06:25:01]

Choice a key issue in Arizona now that abortion is essentially illegal except when the mother's life is in danger.

KELLY: This is code for throwing women into jail. I think we all know guys like this. You know, guys, I think, they know better than everyone about everything. You know, you think you know better than women and doctors about abortion. You think you know better than veterans about how to win a war. Folks, we all know guys like this.

MASTERS: I think state should decide but I believe in a federal backstop.

LAH (on camera): The latest CNN poll shows Senator Kelly ahead of Masters by just six percentage points, still a very close race here in Arizona with early vote starting in just one week.

Kyung Lah, CNN, Phoenix.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Thanks to Kyung Lah for her excellent reporting. Still ahead, two Michigan bus drivers are being held as heroes this morning. They helped a two-year-old boy get back to his family after their car was stolen. The video and details on exactly what happened when NEW DAY returns.

[06:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: The story and the video of it has gone viral over the last few days. A 17-year-old parked at a fast-food restaurant just eating a hamburger is now in critical condition, his attorney say, fighting for his life after he was shot by a police officer in San Antonio who said he recognized him from a previous stop.

WALKER: Wow. Well, the department has fired that officer and then release video what of happened, but we do warn you, it's quite disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out of the car. Shots fired. Shots fired. t Shots fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: The District Attorney's Office said they would not move forward with any charges against the teen but they will be reviewing the shooting.

Now, to an incredible moment in Michigan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Call the police. Somebody steals the car. The baby is inside.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wait. All right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Two frantic parents, as you can hear there, waved down a public school bus driver after their car was stolen with their 2-year- old inside. CNN affiliate WXMI reports the bus driver then called 911.

SANCHEZ: Yes, they also radioed other drivers to be on the lookout. And after that, another bus driver, as you can see in the footage, found the toddler near where the car was stolen. The driver put the child in the bus, wrapping them up, and keeping the boys safe. It's thanks to the action -- the quick action, quick thinking of these bus drivers that the child was safely returned to his parents.

WALKER: Thank goodness.

SANCHEZ: Yes. So, in just about 30 minutes, Fort Myers, Florida -- Fort Myers Beach, Florida will be reopening to evacuees who own homes and businesses there. That means that for the first time since Hurricane Ian hit, they're going to be allowed to see for themselves the damage the storm did to their properties and their homes.

WALKER: I can only imagine what an emotional moment that is going to be. The area will only be open to residents and property owners along with insurance adjusters. And as the cleanup efforts continue, frustrations are boiling over for many of those who need help. Here's CNN's Nadia Romero.

NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Boris and Amara, we've seen people coming in and out of this recovery center, just trying to get some relief after the storm. We've spoken to so many people who lost everything due to Hurricane Ian. So, behind me, you can see the library here. We saw about 100 people lined up hours before the event started where they can meet with FEMA. One man arrived at 4:00 a.m., five hours before those doors open.

And you see here this blue bus next to me. That blue bus is carrying people and has been throughout the day back in front -- forth in town and Fort Myers busing people to come to this location. Because so many people lost their only mode of transportation. They lost their vehicles during the storm. So, that bus has been so critical to people for them able to get here and talk to not just FEMA but to state agencies as well.

I want you to hear from one woman. She was a victim of the storm, she lost her vehicle, her job is no more. And then today, she found out that she is an identity theft victim as well. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have no income and no car. And I went into apply for FEMA, and just found out that somebody has already applied a fraudulent claim using all my information and my Social Security Number. So, I have to call the fraud hotline now to see what's going on. And they told me that this is becoming a big problem that people are filing -- using somebody else's information.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMERO: So, besides talking to FEMA, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity was the number two stop for a lot of folks here, people who had small businesses throughout the state and people who also are looking for unemployment and assistance. Now, some people lost their livelihoods during the storm, along with their vehicles and their homes as well. So, this was a stop that people made to see if there would be any help coming from the state. Boris, Amara?

WALKER: Nadia Romero, thank you for your reporting. And still, ahead, a new poll reveals nearly all Americans agree the nation is facing a mental health crisis. And many worry that children are the most at risk. Why parents say they are struggling to get access to care and what can't be done. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:35:00]

WALKER: This week, new CNN and Kaiser Family Foundation polling revealed that an overwhelming majority, 90 percent of adults say they believe the U.S. is experiencing a mental health crisis with more than two-thirds of people saying the opioid epidemic is a top mental health concern.

Joining me now to discuss is Dr. Julie Goldstein Grumet. She is director for the Zero Suicide Institute at the Education Development Center in Washington DC. Good morning and thank you so much for joining us. First off, why are we seeing this uptick in adults in the U.S. saying that the country is dealing with this mental health crisis?

[06:40:02]

DR. JULIE GOLDSTEIN GRUMET, DIRECTOR, ZERO SUICIDE INSTITUTE AT EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER: Thank you so much for having me today, Amara. And, you know, I think that there's been a mental health crisis for years. I think we're just paying more attention to it now. So, I think the pandemic did actually highlight for people this lack of connectedness and lack of structure and support. And you know, certainly parents spending a lot more time with kids and kids being, you know, absent from school, a place where they get a lot of support.

But in truth, this mental health crisis has been coming for many, many years. It's just really good that we're talking about it now.

WALKER: Yes, I'm glad we're talking about it. I mean, how did the pandemic, I guess, accelerate or exacerbate this mental health crisis? Because we're -- and what really stuck out to me in this polling, it said that nearly half of parents, 47 percent, said the pandemic has negatively affected their kids mental health.

GRUMET: I know. Isn't that -- it's very frightening as a parent. I have three kids too. And they did not like -- they did not like Zoom school. And it -- you know, it definitely -- you know, a lot of their own mental health needs kind of emerged during this time. But, you know, I think that's really alarming. We didn't have a chance in schools where we get some mental health support, some of that was cut off. People missed appointments, early on during the pandemic, kids especially really thrive, as we all know, you know, in most cases on that social connection.

Despite the fact that they can use social media, it's not the same as in-person care. And there's a lot of scary things happening in the world. You know, are you going to get COVID? Is your loved one going to die of COVID, as well as all the other things we have happening in the country --you know, racism, and, you know, these tremendous challenges really are all converging on us at once. And it's a lot for any adult to process, let alone -- let alone a child.

WALKER: Right. And obviously, this is in the back of a lot of parents minds and people's minds, right, during the pandemic, how are --- our kids, we know they're resilient, but how will all of this social disconnectedness manifest. What did you see in terms of the impact of the pandemic on children and now that classes are back in school, and there's not much mask-wearing where we can actually see what the other person is saying, you know, how has that helped them along? What do we need to look out for as parents?

GRUMET: You know, I think you mentioned resilience. And the truth is, people are really resilient. Our kids are really resilient, adults are really resilient. My expertise is suicide prevention in particular. And so, we know that a lot of people, a lot of adults and a lot of kids have thoughts of suicide. About 12 million people a year think about suicide, but very few go on to die by suicide.

And I think part of the key that you asked is we have to talk about this. We have to ask questions when we're concerned about our loved ones. You know, I -- it really feels to me like you're just -- you've got something going on, or I'm really concerned about you, can you can you tell me about that, what's going on for you, and then listen. Listen, without judgment.

This is not a time to say, oh, you know, don't worry about that, or that's not worth getting so upset about. It's a time to just sit back and listen, be compassionate, concerned, caring. Talk about how you're handling things. I think we have to model for our children that mental health -- talking about mental health is no different than talking about allergies or migraines. And if one thing I think is really critical, is if our child was having chronic headaches or seizures, we wouldn't hesitate to get medical support. We would ask all our friends, who do you know, who's the best, how do I go see somebody? You know, we'd research it, we do everything we could.

I think we have to see mental health in the same way. We have to support one another, but we also really have to ensure that we're getting care.

WALKER: I agree with you 100 percent. And I really do hope that we can all take time to listen to each other and ask each other questions without judgment. Dr. Julie Goldstein Grumet, I really appreciate the time. Thank you.

GRUMET: Thank you for having me.

WALKER: And if you or a loved one of yours is struggling with their mental health and need someone to talk to, the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline can help. You can text or call that number to speak to trained crisis counselors. You can also reach out to their website 988lifeline.org.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:45:00]

SANCHEZ: There is some very good news for the U.S. economy. Made in America appears to be making a comeback.

WALKER: Yes. Post-pandemic manufacturing boom has increased profits and created scores of new jobs but there's still a demand for more skilled workers. CNN Chief Business Correspondent Christine Romans with more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They gave me an official offer today.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): One open position filled.

NEIL ASHBAUGH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NEW CENTURY CAREERS: This is our open requisition job book.

ROMANS: Countless more still open.

ASHBAUGH: The number of jobs there's just -- it's just incredible.

ROMANS: At this training facility in Pittsburgh, job seekers are learning new skills to seize on a post-pandemic spike in manufacturing.

ASHBAUGH: What's really heightened the issue of the big need and the big demand for these types of individuals is with the coupling of COVID and the individuals that were already looking to retire in the next three to four years.

ROMANS: Neil Ashbaugh is President and CEO of New Century Careers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come back.

ROMANS: It's a nonprofit for adults looking to enter the industry in the most competitive environment in years.

ASHBAUGH: We have individuals that are completing these skilled training programs and yet are going out on five, six, seven interviews. And those companies are all competing for that single source, skilled individual.

ROMANS: Since 2020, U.S. manufacturing has increased its profits by more than $200 billion offering hundreds of thousands of jobs each month. So, what's behind the latest boost. At the Jettison Corporation, workers are busy making everything from firefighters equipment to construction machinery. Hayden Jettison (PH)says recent supply chain issues overseas mean more new customers.

[06:50:19]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was taking months for parts to not only get manufactured but come across and they decided that they were willing to pay U.S. manufacturing pricing to be able to get that much faster.

ROMANS: Pricing and product demands have changed drastically in recent years. When service industries became scarce over the pandemic, demand for consumer products, and of course, PPE, and medical equipment kept factory workers essential.

ERIC ESOTA, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NORTHEASTER PA INDUSTRIAL RESOURCE CENTER: Among the average consumer, we did see that hey, there's a real value for American-made products.

ROMANS: Industry expert Erica Esota says new technologies are also paving the way forward.

ESOTA: We often take a look at the images of manufacturing and we see the sparks fly in a welding environment or perhaps a little bit dingy, dark. But by and large, our manufacturing jobs today are high-tech.

ROMANS: But today's techs are also requiring higher salaries and more flexibility.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've had to significantly raise our wages to stay competitive in the industry.

ROMANS: Jensen says there's enough work to staff another full shift at this facility. But even at 20 to $30.00 an hour, finding the right team has been difficult. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hiring has been a problem since 2020. Hiring

experienced candidates that understand the industry and understand what they're doing has been very difficult.

ROMANS: Newly trained candidates like Ishmael are glad to be coming in now. Laid off during the pandemic, he's now in high demand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After that happened, it was a little rough and tumble but I landed here and I'm actually pretty happy with how things turned out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: And that was CNN's Christine Romans reporting.

And this programming note. Don't forget to watch an all-new episode of the "CNN ORIGINAL SERIES," The Murdochs: Empire of Influence. That's tonight at 10:00 p.m. Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUPERT MURDOCH, CHAIRMAN AND CE, NEWS CORPORATION: If I go in on a bus tomorrow, the four of them will have to decide which of the one should lead them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your four children?

MURDOCH: Yes, well, and my -- well, two little girls are too young to consider this at the moment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The four kids have to decide who among them ought to be the heir apparent.

MURDOCH: In terms of power, yes, in terms of leadership, they'll get treated equally financially.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After the Charlie Rose kind of mumbled announcement --

MURDOCH: So, we resolve everything very happily.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Media writers like myself, and also particularly the Murdoch family, they're all trying to figure out the implications in how this works.

The four adult children will maintain the votes of the Murdoch family trust, and that his two young girls would share in it financially but not have voting control.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: You can watch the full episode tonight at 10:00 p.m. right here on CNN. Back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:55:00]

WALKER: The NFL will have new concussion protocols when games kick off today. The league and the players union struck a deal late last night.

SANCHEZ: CNN's Coy Wire joins us now. Coy, the guidelines are supposed to prevent what happened to Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa from happening again.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yes, Boris, good morning to you and Amara. NFL and the Players Association agreed to add a new term, ataxia to their no-go list. Meaning any player showing symptoms of it, even if the player says they feel fine, cannot return to play.

After suspected head trauma, physicians, trainers, and spotters are all going to be looking for signs of ataxia, which is any abnormality of balance, or stability, motor coordination, or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue. Now, under these new guidelines, Tua would not have been allowed to return against the Bills on September 25. Though the investigation by the league and union found the Dolphins did not violate the concussion protocol. Rather, they determined that the protocol was simply insufficient.

NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills says the updated language should give gameday spotters more clarity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ALLEN SILLS, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, NFL: We want to become even more conservative. And if we think that ataxia is present, let's just go ahead and assume that it's coming from the brain and we'll hold someone out. Because if we're going to be wrong, we'd rather hold someone out who doesn't have a brain injury but we're being cautious than to put someone out who might have a brain injury and we weren't able to diagnose.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: MLB playoffs now. Scary scene -- Blue Jays' star George Springer colliding with teammate Bo Bichette while chasing a fly ball in the eighth against the Mariners. Springer eventually carted off the field. His manager did say afterwards that he's doing okay. Mariners would score three runs on that play to tie the game. So, in the ninth inning, Seattle's Adam Frazier hits a rocket to write to drive in the game-winning run. Seattle was down seven but winds 10-9, completing the second-biggest comeback in postseason history. Mariners moving on to play the Astros and the ALDS in their first postseason is 21 years.

And the other AL wildcard Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians scoreless through 13 and that's ever happened in the postseason. And still scoreless in the 15th until it wasn't. Oscar Gonzalez hitting the game winning home run. Guardian punching their ticket to the next round. They'll face the Yankees.

And number one Alabama Crimson Tide surviving a major scare from Texas A&M. Tied up 24-20, 11 seconds to go and the balls kicked off in the endzone. It looks like Bama has got it one but it's waved off for pass interference so the Aggies get one more chance. King's pass high and wide, roll down tide. Alabama wins without their Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young out with injury. They'll now have a huge matchup in Knoxville next week versus undefeated Tennessee.

Speaking of undefeated, how about that Syracuse Orange?

SANCHEZ: That's right, Coy.

WIRE: And how about -- and how about those USC trojans.

WALKER: What? Yes, yes, yes, you're right.

WIRE: Yes, they're loud and proud.

WALKER: Thanks, Coy.

SANCHEZ: Legends this morning. Coy Wire, thank you so much. I appreciate it. The next hour of NEW DAY starts right now.

[07:00:00]