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Trump Administration Cutting Funding For Alzheimer's Research?; Interview With Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO); Interview With Frankfort, Kentucky, Mayor Layne Wilkerson. Aired 11:30a-12:00p ET

Aired April 09, 2025 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:04]

LAYNE WILKERSON, MAYOR OF FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY: And over the weekend, we really were expecting, based on the projected crest of the river, that we were going to have a record-breaking flood, something we haven't seen since 1978.

And over the weekend, we really were expecting, based on the projected crest of the river, that we were going to have a record-breaking flood, something we haven't seen since 1978.

And that's right where we landed over the weekend. So, right now, we have got a disaster in place here. We have had hundreds of homes affected here in the capital city, including at least 150 that are majorly destroyed.

And so, right now, the situation is cleaning up as the waters recede. And we're still at a level where this is a major flood. So we're encouraging caution, stay away from the river, make sure it's safe to go into your homes if you choose to do so. And public safety, life safety is still our priority.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: You mentioned that -- the great flood of 1937.

The Kentucky River crested just shy of the city's protective flood walls. Did that stop an even worse disaster here?

WILKERSON: Oh, it did, absolutely. The flood wall has been here since the early '90s. It's protected us a couple of times, but, this time seemed different in the -- when we were preparing for it, because the projections kept creeping up.

We thought we might have a situation where the flood wall would be overrun. And if that had happened, we would have been in unchartered territory. So we're thankful that didn't happen. But, still, the flood wall did hold, but it had been pressured more than it has been. So we wanted to make sure, visual inspection, having engineers look at it, make sure it was safe before we encouraged people that it's safe to go back into their homes.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Mayor, is your beautiful city of Frankfort getting what it needs from the state and federal government right now, at least to begin the process of recovery? WILKERSON: So far, Wolf, yes.

We -- Kentucky Emergency Management, they have been so helpful. They mobilized resources in advance before we had to ask for them. And we have been in constant communication with the governor and his team. Our federal delegation have been communicating with us. They have been reaching out.

And the days ahead, that's going to be the task here. We're going to be needing some federal assistance in terms of FEMA resources, not only as the city, but our residents as well. We want to make sure that they are provided for. We have local resources. Volunteers, of course, are coming out in droves.

And we're trying to coordinate that, harness that energy, creating -- we have set up a Frankfort-Franklin County relief fund to get the money in one place where we can make sure it's distributed appropriately, that so far, so good, Wolf.

But, of course, we're going to be expecting a little bit more in the days ahead.

BLITZER: Well, let's hope that all happens.

Mayor Layne Wilkerson of Frankfort, Kentucky, thanks so much for joining us. Good luck to you. Good luck to all the folks there.

BROWN: Yes, I have never seen they like that in Kentucky.

BLITZER: I know, it's terrible. Sure.

BROWN: I mean, just seeing Buffalo Trace Distillery underwater like that, I worry about the tourism in Kentucky as well.

Up next: More Republicans are getting vocal about President Trump's trade war. Ahead, we will talk with the House Republican leading the charge on giving Congress more power over tariffs.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:37:36]

BROWN: All right, let's get back to the breaking news.

President Trump's trade war is sparking new retaliation today from China and the European Union.

Joining us now is Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd of Colorado. He is helping to spearhead bipartisan legislation to take back congressional authority over tariffs.

Congressman, thank you so much for coming on the show.

So you're pushing back against the president now, but he explicitly campaigned on these broad and sweeping tariffs. The White House points to that all the time. Did you not believe him when he said he would do this?

REP. JEFF HURD (R-CO): Thanks, Pamela. It's great to join you.

I would say I fully support the president's efforts to onshore domestic manufacturing, particularly when it comes to critical national security issues, to increase the number of American jobs, our manufacturing base here in the country and export that.

So I'm on board 100 percent with what the president's doing. I just want to make sure that we do it in the right way, in a way that follows the Constitution. Specifically Article I, Section 8 says that Congress has the authority with respect to tariffs. And so making sure that we respect that congressional rule is something that's important to me.

And I think that's one of the things that's animating my support for this legislation.

BROWN: Well, what about the fact that the White House has said that the president will veto this? And it doesn't appear at this point that there is a veto-proof majority. So what do you say to that?

HURD: Well, you never know where things are going to go in politics. That's something -- I have only been in Congress for a little while, but I have learned already.

You never know where this will end up. But what I would also say was, when I campaigned in my district, we talked about supporting the Constitution and making life better for Colorado's Third Congressional District. That's what I campaigned on. And I think this legislation is consistent with that campaign promise I made, regardless of where it goes.

But I'm cautiously optimistic to see that it might progress forward in the legislative process.

BROWN: And just to follow up. You say you're supportive of what the president is doing in terms of what the mission is here. But do you support the execution of this and the wide and sweeping tariffs to so many countries, including many of America's allies, and sort of the across-the-board tariffs as well? Do you support that?

Because we have also heard from others, particularly in the business community, who say that they wish that the president had done more strategic, targeted tariffs. Where do you stand on that?

HURD: Well, I have heard those concerns as well. And that's what this legislation is supposed to do, is make sure that Congress exercises its authority under the Constitution to look at tariffs and make sure that the terror policy that we're implementing is thoughtful, that it's strategic, and that it advances the interests of American manufacturing, domestic manufacturing, exporting American energy.

[11:40:00]

There are all sorts of great things that we can take advantage of here that we all campaigned on, along with President Trump, and I think we really have an opportunity to deliver on in the coming months and years.

BROWN: Just to drill down on that a little bit, though, where do you stand? Do you think that the tariffs should have been more strategic and targeted? Or do you agree with the wide, sweeping, broad tariffs against so many countries that President Trump enacted?

HURD: I do have some concerns about some of the breadth of it.

But I would say, fundamentally, I think strategic -- tariffs can have an important strategic role, particularly when it comes to boosting our manufacturing base here in the United States. In my district, we have great manufacturers as well. Across the country, I know that's similar, also our agricultural producers, the people that grow the food that we eat.

I think, strategically, it's probably the more prudent approach. But, fundamentally, I am on board with the president's priorities of making sure that we do everything to grow our American economy, export our energy and create opportunities for average American families.

BROWN: Right. And, as you know, a lot of your constituents are employed in agriculture and manufacturing, both of which are heavily reliant on exports.

You heard Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this morning dismiss concerns about China imposing retaliatory tariffs on American products. He says -- quote -- "So what?"

Is that the right message to send to businesses in your district who do export?

HURD: Listen, China is a big strategic competitor of ours. I'm very concerned about their role in our global economy and national security. So I think we should be taking a hard line on China.

We just need to make sure that we're doing it in the best way possible to protect American jobs, to grow our American manufacturing base, and to make sure that we're doing everything we can to protect citizens like those that I represent in rural districts in the Western part of our country.

BROWN: But just to follow up on that, because essentially the U.S. is in a trade war right now with China, these two economic superpowers.

And there is concern about the ripple effect to the everyday American. You met with President Trump at the White House just two weeks ago. In a post on X, you thanked Trump for -- quote -- "fighting to lower the price of gas and groceries."

With prices, when you look at the grocery store expected to jump because of these tariffs -- the grocery store is just one example of many -- do you think the president is breaking the promises he's made on the campaign trail? HURD: I think one of the best ways to lower the cost of groceries, to

lower the cost of gas, lower the cost of your everyday electric utility bill is by growing our energy economy.

And that energy dominance that President Trump is talking about, I think, is a terrific way to lower those average, everyday costs that all of us have to pay. I say that bad Democratic energy policy effectively operates as a hidden tax on every single American. And President Trump has really taken the lead in advancing policies that will reverse that trend and that will lower costs for people like those I'm privileged to represent in Colorado.

BROWN: And you say it's a hidden tax from the Democrats, but aren't these tariffs also a tax on everyday Americans who are trying to get groceries, like coffee, avocados, bananas, that are now going to be more expensive?

HURD: Look, there's all sorts of inputs when it comes to what you buy, but I will tell you one of the biggest hidden costs is the cost of energy, the cost of transportation, getting these goods to our grocery stores.

So, certainly, there's -- it's going to be a various mixture of things, but fundamentally the energy piece I think is really important. And it's also a great thing for us to be exporting and growing. In our economy in Western Colorado, Southern Colorado, we have so many of these resources. Let's export those across the world and help create more American jobs, including those in Western and Southern Colorado.

BROWN: But just to better understand what you're saying, I'm talking about exports. Now you have these countries like our allies in the E.U. and China, as we just discussed, retaliating with countermeasures, which would mean the exports from the U.S. being more expensive to our -- to, for example, our allies in the E.U.

How much does that concern you?

HURD: Well, it's certainly something that concerns me. We have manufacturers in Western Colorado.

I was talking with one this morning that exports products to Europe that is going to be impacted by these tariffs. That's what we're trying to get at with this legislation, is making sure that Congress fulfills its fundamental constitutional responsibility to work, to craft a tariff policy that's thoughtful, that's strategic, that advances our national interest, and that makes sure that we protect our domestic manufacturers like those in my district.

BROWN: Before we let you go, I want to get your thoughts on the budget fight happening inside the Republican Party.

Right now, President Trump is pushing House Republicans to pass the Senate's budget plan, but we have been hearing from some fiscal conservatives that are worried it could significantly raise the national debt. Where do you stand? HURD: Well, I understand those concerns. What I would say is, we need

to move this process forward, and I think it's important that we pass this resolution.

And I know leadership is on board, the president is on board. So am I. Let's get to work. Let's do the job that the people sent us here to do and get working on what the specifics are. So I'm cautiously optimistic that we will see this pass today, and we need to get to work and continue to work hard to deliver on all those things that we promised for the people that we represent.

BROWN: Just to follow up, when you talk about the tariffs in particular, there's the spending bill we were just talking about, but the tariffs in particular. You say this is about the Constitution.

Why do you think then the speaker, Mike Johnson, and other Republicans are not joining you on this bipartisan bill? Why are they ceding their congressional power, as you say, that is protected under the Constitution?

[11:45:12]

HURD: Well, that's something that you would have to ask those

folks. What I will tell you is what I believe, which is Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, is clear that this authority resides with Congress. And I think it's a fundamental problem that we have had as Congress not -- giving away its power in a way that's not good. It's not consistent with Article I of the Constitution.

And, like I said, one of the things I campaigned on when I was running was supporting the Constitution and supporting my district. And I think this legislation is a perfect example of those two priorities in action.

BROWN: How else do you think it's given up its power?

HURD: Oh, well, when it comes to the regulatory state, we are farming out the regulatory authorities. Congress has given up and dispersed the authority that it has in the legislative branch in Article I to Article 2, to the executive branch.

It's just an example. When it comes to environmental regulations, energy regulations, a whole host of things, energy, energy policy, all of those things, I think, Congress has not done its job. We need to bring that power back into the legislative branch, just like it's envisioned in the Constitution.

BROWN: All right, I wish we had longer, would love to expand on that.

But we'd love to have you back on the show, Congressman Jeff Hurd. Thank you very much for your time.

HURD: Thanks, Pamela. Take care.

BROWN: More when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:50:56]

BLITZER: New this morning, a new study shows a blood test is detecting a remarkable 90 percent of potential Alzheimer's cases. It's part of an encouraging wave of recent progress against the disease.

But "The New York Times" is now reporting that two research programs on diseases that impact millions of people, including dementia, diabetes and kidney disease, are being cut under the Trump administration.

Our next guest is the senior author of that Alzheimer's study on blood markers. Dr. Richard Isaacson is the director of research at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Dr. Isaacson, thanks so much for joining us. Thanks for all the important work you're doing.

I know you're not connected to the two programs that have already been terminated, but do you think cuts to research funding will compromise medical advances?

DR. RICHARD ISAACSON, INSTITUTE FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES: Yes, well, super important that we're bringing attention to this.

You know, we're entering a renaissance in Alzheimer's disease research prevention, treatment and care with the blood testing and at-home test, digital interventions to democratize access. We had two NIH grants that were supposed to be under review last month, and then they were delayed until this month.

And that brings up a lot of anxiety and a lot of questions. Is this important work going to be moved forward? So, what I would say is, we really need to keep moving the ball down the field in Alzheimer's research.

You know, I get it. We're spending a lot of money and maybe some cuts are good, but not all cuts are good. And when it comes to Alzheimer's and brain health, 47 million Americans are affected with the earliest symptoms, the earliest signs of Alzheimer's. There's no symptoms, but it's starting in their brain silently. We need to attack that.

And cutting Alzheimer's research is going to really impair that.

BLITZER: When do you recommend that someone actually take this new blood test to determine if he or she is potentially going to wind up with Alzheimer's?

ISAACSON: Well we still have a long way to go for these blood tests to be able to be offered in a way where everyone should be taking them.

But I believe that, in just months to years, everyone, just like we get a cholesterol test where we get the HDL and the LDL and everyone knows those numbers,we're going to understand the cholesterol test for the brain and which numbers to look at. And whether it's a number like a p-tau217 or an amyloid ratio, we're going to basically in the coming few years have access to these types of blood tests.

The problem now is, Wolf, that we don't exactly know which tests are best. And our research and others, we're trying to figure out which tests are best, which has the least variability and which are accurate to follow progression and trajectory over time.

BLITZER: And do we already know, if someone tests that they are likely to wind up with Alzheimer's, what steps they can start taking to prevent that or delay that?

ISAACSON: Well, anyone today can make brain healthy choices. And whether it's sticking to an active exercise regimen, building muscle mass, losing body fat, staying engaged, following a Mediterranean- style diet, seeing their doctor on a regular basis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes -- people with diabetes have twice the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

We want to slam the brakes on cognitive decline in Alzheimer's, seeing your doctor on a regular basis, taking control of one's individual risk factors. And there's now drugs that may also be helpful, some vitamins, some supplements. See your doctor, talk to your doctor.

We have free education online at IND.org. It's totally free. There's videos and coursework. I mean, get educated, get informed, grab the bull by the horns, and we can win the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

BLITZER: It's so important indeed, lifesaving information.

The Trump administration, Dr. Isaacson, has made very severe cuts to medical research, as you well know, including the National Institutes of Health. That is now being challenged in a lawsuit. It also has frozen $790 million in funding to Northwestern University, which researches Alzheimer's.

What happens when research falls into sort of a limbo and stalls? How damaging is all of this?

ISAACSON: Yes, so we're also stuck. And I get it. Like, making reforms and thinking things through and reevaluating all the costs, I get it. That may be important.

[11:55:05]

But Alzheimer's, there's nothing more important. Alzheimer's may bankrupt our health care system. We had a grant funded, the software that we're testing. Anyone from the comfort of their own cell phone will one day be able to get Alzheimer's risk reduction advice.

We got the funding. We had a positive NIH-funded clinical trial. And now we're waiting for the money, the next grant. Are we going to get it so we can get this important software in the hands of millions of people? I think what happens is, is that we have made such progress, but we don't want to stop that progress.

And funding for Alzheimer's research is so, so, so important.

BLITZER: It's potentially so lifesaving.

Dr. Isaacson, thanks to you and all your colleagues for what you're doing. We are all grateful to you. Appreciate it very much.

ISAACSON: Thank you.

BLITZER: And to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us -- Pamela.

BROWN: Yes, such an important conversation there, Wolf. My grandmother had Alzheimer's.

You can keep up with us on social media @WolfBlitzer and @PamelaBrownCNN.

We will see you back here tomorrow and every weekday morning for our expanded two-hour SITUATION ROOM at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: And "INSIDE POLITICS WITH DANA BASH" is coming up next, right after a short break.

[12:00:00]