Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

3 Hostages taken at Veterans Home in California; White House Qualifies Trump Meeting with Kim Jung-On; 2017 CNN Hero Opens Another Restaurant Staffed with the Disabled; Florida Governor Signs Gun Control Bill. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired March 9, 2018 - 15:30   ET

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


[15:30:00] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Let's get you more information as far as what is happening in Napa Valley, California, this veterans home, about 1,000 veterans live here in Yountville are sheltering in place after reports of an active shooter. Stephanie Elam is with me now. And, Stephanie, I understand some local media is reporting that there -- this is a hostage situation?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, that's what we are learning at this point. We are looking to confirm this, but our affiliates in the San Francisco Bay Area telling us that there are three hostages being held. Our understanding of this is this has happened near the dining hall on this massive campus. Keep in mind it is some 600 acres large and there are some 1,000 elderly and disabled veterans that live on this property.

Saying they have told them to shelter in place, that the property is on lockdown. We know that at this point CHP SWAT teams are responding. ATF is also now responding to this. They are asking people to stay away from this vicinity while they try to work out the situation. But we know that the call came in at 10:40 in the morning, local time, that there were reports of shots fired, that they were also saying that there was a man in body armor who showed up on the property. So, this is why they are taking these precautions and have cordoned off this area. As you can see from this live shot, they have people on the perimeter who are checking into this, but they are

asking people to stay area from the away right now, Brooke.

BALDWIN: All right. Stephanie, thank you. Art Roderick is with me, our CNN law enforcement analyst, to just talk us through just looking at the campus, Art, it is massive. Who knows where the shooter or shooters could be. And given the fact that there are potential hostages. You're law enforcement. What are you doing?

ART RODERICK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Yes, I mean unfortunately, this is the type of response we've seen in all these instances now. So, what we got is a S.W.A.T. team showing up. It sounds like if they are referencing three hostages being held, they more than likely know the location of the shooter. What they're going to do is start evacuating all the areas around there, make sure that the only individual involved. We heard earlier reports, of course, none of this confirmed yet, as we usually go through these types of situations, we never have real correct information in the beginning, but it sounds like there was an earlier report said at least 30 rounds fired.

That means that more than likely there is a semi-automatic weapon involved here, probably a rifle. We don't know that for sure. The body armor is very disconcerting. That obviously means this individual showed up to do some damage and possibly --

BALDWIN: Premeditation.

RODERICK: And possibly survive through it. So, this is the type of response that you're going to see. It's at a facility that's a government facility. And most of these government facilities are very well trained. I'm talking about the public as to how to respond to these types of situations.

BALDWIN: Art, thank you. We're making a lot of calls on this and as soon as we get any more information, we want to be super, super careful about what we put out there, as this is ongoing. You see these live pictures from different pieces of this property. A 1,000 veterans living here, active shooter situation. Art, thank you. We're on that.

We're also on the breaking news today the White House appearing to back off the conditions just slightly surrounding the president's meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jung-un. We'll talk to Erin Burnett about this. She has been to the DMZ. We'll talk about what could come next.

[15:35:00] COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The White House now putting some conditions on this meeting between President Trump and the leader of North Korea, Kim Jung-un. The White House Press Secretary just last hour now saying that Trump will not meet with Kim Jung-un unless North Korea takes concrete actions to fulfill pledges the country has made. Erin Burnett is with me. She is the host of CNN's "ERIN BURNETT OUT FRONT." And my goodness you had quite the evening to juggle -- just going back to your hour last night when all of this started breaking and I don't want to say devolved, but slightly walked from what we saw after briefing last night.

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: Yes, there is no question about it. There was the president obviously running into the briefing room completely of his own volition. There's going to be this big announcement. No one knew what to make of it. And obviously was going to happen live at seven o'clock last night.

So. We're getting ready for it at the White House. They weren't sure was it going to be in the briefing room, was Sarah Sanders going to introduce him, was it going to be outside, was going to be in Korean, was a going to be in English. And it wasn't that they were trying to stonewall. I think they literally weren't even sure.

They were trying to figure it out because the president sort of threw this curve at them. When they finally came out, they made the announcement that this was going to happen, this meeting. Trump had accepted it, it was going to happen by May. By the end of our hour, the White House had come out with a statement and they had taken "may" off the table. They had already set a time and place TBD. So, first thing they did, they took "may" off the table and then of course as you were just here, during your program they are now saying the meeting itself is only going to happen if.

[15:40:00] So it is a real change from what the Koreans presented as what president had explicitly accepted.

BALDWIN: Let's discuss potential location. TBD, you and I have both been to the DMZ, been inside these little blue houses where you can actually see the old school tables and the phone lines, on one side you are on North Korea, on one side you are on the south side. Might that be somewhere?

BURNETT: You know, that's the big question. Whether it would of course be in Seoul which has obviously been instrumental and pretty much delivered so much of this. Some are saying well could it be in China? Because China is the largest trading partner of North Korea. There are so many questions about where it could be.

But you know I know because you are talking about going to the DMZ, one of the most interesting things when I was in South Korea, I was there with then Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. And it just strikes you how militarized it is. In a way that you don't necessarily realize as an American. You don't realize what it means that you don't have a ceasefire. You had an armistice.

We were at an air base and then you're flying in helicopters right over downtown Seoul and you see them all the time and there are so many Americans there, and they are Americans who are in the military. It's a totally different thing. And then on that border, I mean it is like you say, a flashback to the 1950s. You go into North Korea in those little blue houses, and you are standing next to a North Korean soldier. Eye to eye. Just the strangeness of the moment.

BALDWIN: It was like I was saying you even talking to some of our guys or some of the Republic of Korea, the ROK soldiers who stand there, you know, on one side of the demarcation line, and how they are so much larger. They kept saying to me you think it is the boogeyman these North Korean soldiers, and they are so small, they're 5'2", 100 pounds. And that is the reality on the other side.

is the trip we took back in September. Also, key in the timing this whole, you know, tariff thing that the president signed this week and how it could impact our friends in South Korea which the timing not awesome given what we need from them to make this happen on the peninsula. They have asked for an exemption.

BURNETT: They have. So, actually the South Korean security adviser who made the announcement last night, and to and met with the president, he is the one who in that meeting apparently, it is being reported, formally requested a waiver. Now there hasn't been a response yet. But first of all, South Korea is the third largest provider of steel to the United States right after Brazil and Canada. And the South Korean free trade deal which is currently up in question was the biggest free trade deal the United States has done since NAFTA. It was a huge deal.

The president is certainly not alone, there were a lot of people with a lot criticism that the U.S. didn't use all its leverage. South Korea and Iran do a lot of trade. We didn't use that leverage to have them pull back there at the time. But what's going to happen with that? It is such a crucial question. But there is no question South Koreans in that meeting about this meeting put it on the table. There was no mincing and no beating around the bush when it came to that.

BALDWIN: Totally fascinating. Thank you so much for coming on and coming by.

BURNETT: Wonderful to see you.

BALDWIN: We watch you every night here on CNN, 7:00, "ERIN BURNETT OUT FRONT," thank you so much.

Back to the other breaking story here we have been watching very closely out of Yountville, California. This is Napa County, this veterans home sheltering in place after reports of an active shooter, reportedly 30 or so shots fired, reports of body armor. Dan Simon is now there. What do you know?

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Brooke, law enforcement responding as you said to what appears to be an active shooter situation with someone apparently taking three people as hostage. This occurring at the veterans Home of California, in Napa County. This is the town of Yountville. I'm told as the crow flies, the home is about 600 yards from where I'm standing. There is quite a heavy law enforcement presence here.

We've seen a number of police officers roll on to the scene, number ambulances as well. There's some helicopters buzzing overhead. I think at this point law enforcement are still trying to figure out what exactly they are dealing with. But we don't know if this person, this hostage taker, is somebody who lives at the home or is a veteran. We know that KGO television is saying, this is our affiliate saying that this happened just before 11:00 AM, somebody walked in with some body armor and apparently firing as many as 30 shots. But at this point the information is still developing, and as soon as we know more, Brooke, we'll get back to you.

BALDWIN: I know we all want to know about the safety of those thousand veterans and staff in the facility. Dan, thank you so much. As soon as you get more information, we'll get you back on TV.

[15:45:00] In the meantime, in Florida, breaking news there, the governor of the state there Rick Scott has just signed this new school safety bill in the wake of that Parkland school shooting. We will tell you exactly what is changing in that state.

Also, new details this afternoon in this whole Stormy Daniels saga. President Trump's personal attorney it turns out used his Trump organization email address to negotiate that $130,000 payoff. We'll be right back.

[15:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Next week we are revealing our first CNN Hero of 2018. But first, an update about last year's CNN hero. Amy Wright was honored for opening a coffee shop in North Carolina that employs people with disabilities. Anderson Cooper explains how she has expanded her mission.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Amy Wright!

AMY WRIGHT, CNN HERO 2017: Oh, my gosh. I cannot believe this is happening.

COOPER: Incredible night, but two months later, Amy has opened a second coffee shop, this one in Charleston, South Carolina. For most of the 17 new employees, this is their first job.

WRIGHT: People with intellectual disabilities aren't valued. And so, this coffee shop has created a place where people see their value.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: You can nominate someone you know right now. Go to CNN heroes.com.

Now we go to Florida and some big news there. Florida Governor Rick Scott just signed a new school safety bill into law while standing next to some of the parents of Stoneman Douglas High School, some of the shooting victims. Among some of the sweeping changes in this now law it raises the age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21. It requires a three-day waiting period. It bans bump stocks. And has more mental health protections. But when it comes to arming teachers, this is what the governor said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT, FLORIDA: There are things in this bill that I oppose, and I've been pretty open about that. I still think law enforcement officers should be the ones to protect our schools. I've heard all the arguments for teachers to be armed. And while this bill was significantly changed on this topic, I am still not persuaded. I am glad however the plan in this bill is not mandatory which means it will be up to locally elected officials.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, let's start there with my friend, CNN political commentator Van Jones. Host of the "VAN JONES SHOW." And we will get all into your big guest this weekend, but Van, I wanted to start, we just heard, out of Florida. This is a big, big deal. The fact that this new law flies in the face with so much of what the NRA stands for, especially that movie news from 18 to 21. This is a Republican governor, this is a Republican majority state house and state senate, is this progress? VAN JONES, CNN HOST: I think it is progress. And obviously people

who want more aren't going to be satisfied. And there's some stuff people didn't like. On stuff like this you'll always have some stuff that should be in there that's not. Stuff that's not in there that should be. But this is progress. It should be, listen, how many times did we sit here, you're in tears, you're talking to somebody in tears.

Year after year, month after month. Incident after incident. And nothing got passed. Not one bill got passed. So, the idea that now the seal has been broken. The NRA can say we do not want something to happen and a Republican governor can say it is going to happen and guess what. We're still here. The world hasn't come to an end. That means other governors can also step up and we can start trying to figure stuff out.

Let me just say one more thing. I don't know if any of these things will make a difference or not. But that's the problem. After ten years of this, we should have a lot of experiments that have been going on in this state, that state, at the federal level, trying to get the violence down. The NRA has essentially stopped all progress so there's no ability for us to do anything to figure out what might work. If it turns out this bill doesn't work or has some negative consequences, you can change it, you can amend it. That's called democracy. But you can't pass any bill ever? That's not democracy.

BALDWIN: So that's Florida. Let's talk Trump. I wanted to get your take on this meeting with Kim Jong-un, of course the North Korean dictator. Now Vice President Mike Pence says it proves Trump's strategy to isolate the regime, that strategy is working. But lawmakers, Van, in both parties have historically said negotiating with foreign adversaries can be quite dangerous. Many were extremely critical of your former boss, President Obama, after he said he would be open to meeting with enemies of the U.S. without precondition. This was a 2007 debate. Roll the tape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I think it is not that you promise the meeting at that high a level before you know what the intentions are. I don't want to be used for propaganda purposes. I don't want to make a situation even worse.

[15:55:00] GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they've been wrong all along. We've heard this foolish delusion before.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: Such a statement betrays the depth of Senator Obama's inexperience and reckless judgment. These are very serious deficiencies for an American president to possess.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, point being, you know where I'm going with this. All the Republicans saying what they did then, why is this different? JONES: Well, it's not different. We're in a very dangerous moment.

Part of what's going on is there's so much nonsense and shenanigans and porn stars and that sort of stuff, that it is hard to remember that we've been inching closer and closer to a military conflict with a nuclear power ever since he got into office. So, in some ways, some people might say we're being rewarded by a meeting. The North Koreans aren't stupid.

They know how to think and how to maneuver. But they're not putting away those nuclear weapons. And we continue to ratchet it up the pressure and ratchet up the tension. So, my concern about the entire Trump presidency this is reckless disregard.

And there may be one day where something good happens, but I guarantee you there will be ten more days where bad stuff happens. I don't think the Republicans should be patting themselves on the back for our posture toward North Korea.

BALDWIN: Let's talk about you. Let's talk this show of yours. Now I thought you started pretty well with Jay-Z as a guest. I thought all right. Van Jones, he's got pretty rolodex. But the fact you have Oprah on your show, and by the way, sit go next to another incredible queen director in Ava DuVernay, I want to show a picture because you were so lovely to let me. I walked off my set the other day. And it was like, excuse me. I need to meet these ladies. That was the moment. That was the face I got before I got some air kisses from Orpah. I mean what -- tell me everything.

JONES: I don't know what to say, listen, 8:00 on Sunday, east coast, 5:00 on the west coast. We do an hour with Orpah Winfrey. Van Jones, Orpah Winfrey. And then Ava DuVernay comes out. And all I can say was, it was church. It was Oprah Winfrey from like 1996, 1997. She starts dancing, she's preaching, the crowd is going nuts. And we think maybe we'll get five minutes, ten minutes. We got an hour of Oprah Winfrey on the "VAN JONES SHOW." It's insane. Totally insane.

BALDWIN: Let's watch a clip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: I want to get practical with you. Someone can say she can say that because she's a gazillionaire. But --

OPRAH WINFREY, ACTRESS AND PRODUCER: But the way I got to be a gazillionaire.

JONES: Talk.

OPRAH WINFREY: But the way I got to be a gazillionaire. This is what I have understood for a long time.

JONES: Everyday. I'm going to tell you about my life. Every day, I wake up in the morning, I try to be a warrior. I reach for my cell phone. And I look at it. And I start freaking out. What do you do every day? What are your rituals? WINFREY: So, I wake up in the morning. The first thing I say is

thank you. That's the first thing. Even before I'm awake. Before my eyes are really open. I say thank you. I can feel the gratitude. I'm still here. I'm in a body. Thank you so much, I thank you for that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So powerful.

JONES: We had an hour of that. Listen. I forgot I was on TV. She can hypnotize you, man. Just sitting there --

BALDWIN: I think I blacked out just that whole meeting her. Blacked out.

JONES: it's just crazy. You feel like you're levitating half the time. I have not had a conversation --

BALDWIN: you, give me a little tease. Obviously don't give me the answer. But you had to have had a conversation about politics?

JONES: About the White House? We have it. We have it. Some people will like her answer. Some won't like her answer. I think she's trying to do something even more profound than politics. I think she thinks we've gone off the deep end. When she had her show, she was bringing people together, man. She was the one person that everybody wanted to hear from and have confidence in. I think she's trying to figure out, how can I use that for good again.

[16:00:00] This film, by the way and can't not talk about the film. The "Wrinkle in Time" is coming out this weekend and it is mind- blowing and beautiful as well.

BALDWIN: Right, right.

JONES: If you've ever met any small people by Ava DuVernay, "Wrinkle in Time."

BALDWIN: Van Jones. Thank you. Watch the "VAN JONES SHOW" Sunday night, 8:00 eastern. You see her, you know her. Oprah Winfrey on the show for the hour. And immediately after the CNN's new original series "The Kennedys" premiers. Here's a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know their name. You don't know their whole story. Ambition.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was bear of Wall Street.

JONES: You're never running against one Kennedy. It is a full family affair.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wealth.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Kennedys always find a way to make their dreams come true.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Power.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This compound is the center of the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're only the beginning.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Let us not forget, they were not angels.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They've more than their share of scandals.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then there are these moments of greatness.

JOHN KENNEDY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We choose to go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A rare and intimate reveal of America's most famous family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some people enjoy a life. That's normal and mediocre. Other people respond to challenges. That's who we are.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "American Dynasties, The Kennedys" premieres Sunday at 9:00 on CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: "THE LEAD" starts now.