Return to Transcripts main page

WOLF

TSA Attempts to Quell Outrage at Long Lines; Attack in Afghanistan as Taliban Names New Leader; Is Ryan Ready to Endorse Trump; Future of Wasserman Schultz as Chair of DNC in Doubt; Clinton Speaks at Buena Park, California, Rally. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired May 25, 2016 - 13:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:34:14] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: The Transportation Security Administration here in the United States is making two very public attempts to quell outrage over the brutally long airport security lines at several major airports. One of them is happening right now at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson. They debut experimental screening lines there. And the changes are small, but the TSA hopes the impact will be big. They include rerouting bags that need better inspection away from the general security line, bins that automatically re- circulate, and special areas for people to take off their shoes. Those lines are set to open tomorrow in Atlanta.

The TSA is also front and center here in Washington up on Capitol Hill. The head of the agency, Peter Neffenger, just finished testifying before the Homeland Security Committee. Lawmakers asking him, what's behind the growing lines and what's being done to stop it.

For all the latest information, I'm joined by CNN aviation correspondent, Rene Marsh, following this.

Are we getting answers?

[13:35:15] RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION & GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: The number-one question they wanted to know, lawmakers, is how did we get here and the head of the TSA saying that there are three things that happen that all came together to create this nightmare situation at our airports. Number one, they stopped letting passengers who didn't have Pre-Check into those Pre-Checked lines to ease congestion. That doesn't happen anymore. Enough screeners and you have this situation where the number of travelers, essentially, has exploded. So those have come together to create this nightmare situation where you have people being asked to show up at the airport three hours ahead of time and they're still missing their flights.

But you know, Wolf, this inconvenience. It's also a security issue. You saw what happened in Brussels, the soft area of the airport. The concern is having so much congestion in the soft area of the airport could be problematic. So there are lots of actions that TSA has taken. We know by at least mid June they're going to have more than 700 new TSA officers in place to help alleviate this problem. BLITZER: How long is it going to take to see if these experimental

programs that are beginning in Atlanta will work and should be replicated elsewhere?

MARSH: Sorry to tell the people traveling, that is not going to solve the problem right now. That's more of a long-term solution to this issue of long lines at airports which looking at there, that's the video of the demonstration we saw today. Essentially, this technology, what it does is it, once you put your belongings in that bin, it would automatically separate any bin or any item that needs a closer look. It would put it on a different conveyor belt. And essentially, the idea is to not slow the line down, just keep the flow going and that's what you're looking at there.

But they need to study this. It would be at least five years before we saw it in other airports. So the short answer is that is not going to solve the problems we're seeing today.

BLITZER: One of the problems is people are carrying more luggage on board instead of checking it, because there's fees.

MARSH: That's right. A lot of lawmakers say they want the airlines at this point, because we're going through what we're going through, to waive those fees. Airlines haven't shown an indication they would do that. But you're right. People are trying to get around paying the extra $20, $25 so they carry more luggage on board.

BLITZER: Rene, I know you're checking and watching this story for us. We'll be in close touch. Thank you.

We're also following developments in the investigations of EgyptAir flight 804. New documents obtained by Egypt state media shows the pilot of the plane signed off before takeoff that there were no technical issues. This comes as an official at the morgue where remains are being held is telling CNN, so far, no signs of an exPLOsion, but that further testing is needed to confirm that. As of now, searchers from multiple countries are looking for the fuselage of the plane and the so-called black boxes. The search area is roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. These pieces are critical in trying to find out exactly what happened. We'll update you as we get more information.

Coming up, the Taliban revealing a new leader at the top of its chain of command. Will it mean more attacks on the West or a better chance for peace? What we already know about the new man in charge.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:42:58] BLITZER: The battle against ISIS is now being fought on two fronts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(GUNFIRE)

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: This is Fallujah in Iraq. Iraqi artillery in position as troops begin their push to try to liberate that city from ISIS. ISIS snipers are in place to prevent civilians from actually leaving Fallujah. Tens of thousands of people are believed to be trapped right now.

There's also fighting in Syria right now outside of the de facto capitol of ISIS, Raqqa. Kurdish fighters are now teaming up with air forces to try to retake areas north of the city. One activist tells CNN that ISIS allowed some of the residents to flee.

Meanwhile, more bloodshed in Afghanistan. At least 10 killed while a suicide bomber targeted a mini bus carrying court employees. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

It comes on the same day the extremist group announced the name of its new leader.

With more on that, let's go to our senior international correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh -- Nick?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the new leader of the Taliban, Maulavi Haibatullah, is not really a particularly public figure. We don't know a lot about him. We know he was Mansour's deputy, but he was killed over the weekend in a U.S. drone strike just inside Pakistan. But he was a man around during the fighting against the Soviets back in the 80s during the Taliban's brief rule over Afghanistan. And he's considered more a cleric than someone with front line experience but he hails from the south of Afghanistan, to Kandahar, with a lot of their constituency.

What's he going to do next? We don't know at this stage. His deputy, a man who thought perhaps might have go to be at the helm of the Taliban, whose been in charge of military operations under the previous now-deceased leader, and will keep that job. He's the guy that the U.S. says is the main facilitator of al Qaeda, and definitely a radical and still in charge of battlefield operations. So it's likely we see much of a let up in terms of the pace the insurgency is showing against the Afghan security forces.

I think the loss of their leader, so abruptly, with such accurate U.S. intelligence, a symbolic blow for them. But likely the new man will attempt to try and galvanize his role as the leader by taking further victories against the Afghan security forces. So a clear statement here from the Taliban that they were able to find an appointment and appoint the successor quickly.

It also came on a day when 10 people lost their lives from the suicide bombings. No obvious indication we'll see a let up in the violence or a lurch of the Taliban suddenly towards peace talks, which is what the White House hoped killing Mansour may engender. Still, a lot of question over who is this man, Haibatullah -- Wolf?

[13:45:50] BLITZER: Nick Paton Walsh reporting for us. Nick, thank you very much. Coming up, President Obama's apology. The crime that has him

expressing deepest regrets and condolences to the people of Japan.

And you're looking at live pictures of the Hillary Clinton campaign event in Buena Park, California. We're keeping an eye on the stage. We'll bring you some of the event once she starts speaking.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:50:09] BLITZER: Live pictures coming in from Buena Park, California. Hillary Clinton getting ready to address supporters out there. You can see Jamie Lee Curtis will be introducing the secretary. We'll go there once the secretary starts speaking, and we'll hear what she has to say.

Just moments ago, by the way, here in Washington, House Speaker Paul Ryan responded to reports that he's finally ready to endorse the Republican presumptive nominee.

Our senior political reporter, Manu Raju, just spoke to the speaker. He's joining us from Capitol Hill.

Manu, the speaker, what did he have to say?

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: He said he's not any closer to endorsing yet. He said he didn't know where those reports were coming from. Reports saying that he may make an endorsement this week. One actually cited Trump supporters, Trump aids saying an endorsement was coming. But I'll read you what he had to say. I asked him specifically about this report. He said, "I don't know where all this is coming from. I haven't made a decision." And I said are you moving any closer to this? He said, "I have nothing more to add. I have not made a decision. Nothing has changed from my perspective." We're still having, quote, "productive conversations."

And those conversations revolving the Republican House agenda that the speaker and House Republican colleagues are rolling out in the coming weeks, a campaign agenda that they want to campaign on. They are briefing the Trump campaign on that. But also to talk about common issues on policies and conservative principles, hoping that the Trump campaign comes and aligns more closely with House Republicans. Those issues that Ryan actually said are being discussed on a daily basis between the staff and the Trump staff.

But he said endorsement discussions really are not there. It's not really clear what we'll get Paul Ryan to endorse Donald Trump. Several reporters are trying to push him on that, and he would really not say. He would just say I'm not there yet. I have no time line yet. He wants to continue these discussions going forward.

One interesting thing, Wolf, they are talking about the areas where they agree, not the areas where they disagree, on the House Republican agenda that Paul Ryan is worth on. They're not going to deal with issues, like how -- what to do with the 11 million undocumented immigrants and whether to deport the undocumented immigrants, which, of course, has been a center piece of the Trump agenda. Ryan said we're not even going to deal with that issue. He obviously disagrees with that -- Wolf? BLITZER: I know you're speaking to various members on another issue.

The future of Congresswoman Debbie Wassermann Schultz as chair of the Democratic National Committee. What are you hearing up there?

RAJU: Really tepid support for her, Wolf. We talked to a number of Senators this morning. They are really not willing to get behind her. Some, of course, are. But Chuck Schumer, the number two, number three Senate Democrat, who is going to be the Democratic leader next Congress, he said, "No comment," when I asked him, do you have confidence in Debbie Wassermann Schultz. Others, like Claire McCaskill, who I spoke with earlier, said Debbie Wassermann Schultz needs to think about her role going forward, given the Bernie Sanders campaign sees her as a problem.

A lot of anxiety in the Democratic circles, but it's not the Democrats on Capitol Hill's decision. It is both Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Hillary Clinton's campaign, assuming she gets the nomination -- Wolf?

BLITZER: And I assume the president of the United States will have something to say about all of this as well.

Manu, thank you very much.

In Japan right now, on the second leg of his historic Asia trip, President Obama is making amends and he expressed regret for the murder of a young Japanese woman for which a U.S. civilian base worker has been charged.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to emphasize that the United States is appalled by any violent crime that may have occurred or been carried out by any U.S. personnel or U.S. contractors. We consider it inexcusable. And we are committed to doing everything that we can to prevent any crimes from taking place of this sort.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The president of the United States speaking a little while ago in Japan on this historic visit.

Let's go out to California right now, Buena Park, California. The former secretary of state, the Democratic presidential front-runner, has just started speaking.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I've got to tell you, it was -- it was a treat to be introduced by Jamie Lee Curtis.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: I am thrilled that she is here. I really did like "A Fish Called Wanda" and "Freaky Friday."

(CHEERING) CLINTON: But I like her enthusiasm, her energy, her heart.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: And I'm so pleased, too, to be here with my long -- someone who is -- I'm going to put this back in here because clearly -- it's OK, it's OK. It's fine. We don't mind. We don't mind because you got everybody all revved up.

But I want to also --

(CHEERING)

[13:55:13] CLINTON: I want to thank my friend, my former colleague, both in the Congress and in President Obama's cabinet, Hilda Solis.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: Hilda has been a congresswoman, the secretary of Labor, and is now L.A. county supervisor.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: And -- and in every job she's had, she has performed magnificently and helped so many people, and she's a dear, dear friend of mine.

Now, we are here at the home of the UFCW Local 324.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: I want to thank Greg Conger and Rick Eiden (ph) and Greg Halabozek for welcoming us here, and all of the UFCW family. And thank Andrea Sindher for appearing on the pre-program. Thanks also to Art Brown and everybody from Buena Park who has made us so welcome.

And mostly, I want to thank all of you.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: And one of the great things about campaigning across the country is to stand where I'm standing and look out at this audience and audiences like it and really see America, see what we are as a nation.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: I have this old-fashioned idea that we are stronger together.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: Stronger together when we make the economy work for everybody, not just those at the top. Stronger together when we knock down all the barriers that stand in the way of any American getting ahead and staying ahead. (CHEERING)

CLINTON: And I -- and I love all of you, too.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: Now, you know what's at stake at this election because here you are. You understand. We have a big, big choice, as you just heard from Jamie Lee. This is a point in our history where there are not just one but several hinges here at home and around the world. The decisions we make, who we are as a people, whether we're going to continue moving forward together or we're going to build walls instead of bridges. We have decisions to make. And I've talked a lot in this campaign about what's at stake. And I'm going to continue talking about it because I don't want anybody to be surprised. You know, when people run for office and they tell you what they want to do, you should believe them.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: You know, one of my great friends and one of our great American icons, Maya Angelou, said, when somebody shows you who they are, believe them.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: And that's why I've gone across the country now for more than year, ending up here in California --

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: -- talking about what kind of country I want, for all of us, not just some of us, a country where we are creating more good jobs with rising incomes, a country where we are not only growing the economy but making it fairer by raising the minimum wage and guaranteeing equal pay for women's work.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: A country where an education system works for everybody, starting with early childhood education so every single child can be better prepared to succeed.

BLITZER: All right. So we're going to continue to monitor Hillary Clinton. She's speaking at a big rally in Buena Park, California. We'll keep an eye on that.

We're also keeping an eye on a Donald Trump rally, set to start an hour from now in Anaheim, California. After some violent protests at a campaign rally last night in Albuquerque, police are out in full force to prevent similar protests from happening today. We'll stay on top of all of that for you.

I'll be back at 5:00 p.m. eastern in the "The Situation Room."

Meantime, the news continues right now.