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NEW DAY

Bernie Sanders Holds First Major Rally; GOP "Underdogs" Have Bite With Their Bark; "Washington Post" Reporter Accused of Spying For U.S.; Rockets Take Game 4 Over Warriors. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired May 26, 2015 - 07:30   ET

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


LISA LEHRER, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Well, I think certainly -- Ash Carter is certainly saying what a lot of people in Washington believe. But I mean, this is a difficult situation. The administration does not want troops on the ground.

[07:30:02] They're limited in the airstrikes they can do, because they feel that there are too many civilians killed that will sort of give ISIS a propaganda coup. So the politics is really...

ED O'KEEFE, THE WASHINGTON POST: And really, for Biden, I mean, if you track his movements closely, you know, he doesn't do a lot in public that catches public attention.

But if you read the information that comes from his office he spends an awful lot of time still talking to Iraqi leaders, to Kurdish leaders in the north and to regional leaders across the Middle East.

He's still very concerned and invested in this. Undoubtedly Carter's comments will perhaps true cause a lot of consternation over there at a time when we know now there is a new offensive under way in Ramadi.

JOHN KING, CNN HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": New offensive under way and the debate playing out here, largely between the Republicans. There aren't a lot of Democrats saying let's send more ground troops in.

But there is a conversation about Republicans as to whether that would be necessary, what impact does it have when the U.S. defense secretary says and the American people here and they're very worried what happened last go-around in Iraq.

Iraqis aren't willing to fight. Is that going to create public support for sending troops?

LERER: I mean, I think it's hard to create public support for sending troops after so many years of war in the United States. Certainly there's a sense in the Republican Party and the Republican primary that people want a more muscular defense. An interesting quick switch for the Republicans who just a few months ago were pursuing more noninterventionist approach here.

KING: Things have changed. One guy to keep an eye today who will not be calling for troops in Iraq is Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, now a Democrat he says. He'll run in the Democratic states when that's necessary. He's officially in the race already. But today he's going to do the big rally, the lakeside in Burlington, Vermont. It's a beautiful site. Bernie Sanders is a little different.

He says, look, he's not going to be Clinton Inc. He can't raise a billion dollars. But he does tell the AP, your organization, he thinks he can raise $50 million for primaries and he gets about $4 million since launching the average contribution.

I was at a big benefit last week for a community service organization, a lot of young people there. Literally a dozen approached me, don't forget Bernie. No evidence he can beat Hillary Clinton yet, but there's something going on here.

LERER: I mean, there is certainly is a desire in the Democratic Party amongst the more liberal quarters of that party for an alternative to Hillary. Senator Sanders wasn't the guy they wanted. They wanted Senator Warren, but he's the guy they have.

The question I have is whether he's not going to attack, he doesn't do character attacks, but does he take these tough shots at Hillary Clinton, does he go after the foundation and speeches like that, then we'll have a race.

I think if that doesn't happen it's more of sort of a campaign to push to the left on certain issues.

O'KEEFE: He is a cathartic figure for Democrats, who just want the chance to rally behind somebody who's saying what they're thinking, he may not have any chance, but they'll get maybe nine months out of him, get a good exercise out of him.

Look, he's very popular in certain pockets of New Hampshire and Eastern Iowa. You're looking Western New Hampshire and Eastern Iowa, the two liberal parts of those two states.

That will force Clinton to go to those areas, to say things, to do things to win those Democrats back. I think mostly he'll serve as a cathartic figure, allow them to get some of their frustrations out, probably drag Hillary Clinton a little more than left.

But ultimately, the more likely attack dog is Martin O'Malley, who comes on Saturday.

KING: Comes on Saturday, we'll keep an eye on that. Just a quick look at the pictures here, we don't see them together in public all that often. Hillary Clinton marching in a Memorial Day parade up in Chappaqua, New York, their home.

Yesterday, you see them there, the former president and the former secretary of state and now the Democratic frontrunner. Smart to her part she refused to take any questions about politics saying that's not the reason for this day and it's not the reason for this day so good for her and good for them to march in the parade.

Let's focus a bit on the Republicans. Do I call them under dogs? Do I call them long shots? Rick Perry is about to get in. Rick Santorum is about to get in. George Pataki is about to get in, the former governor of New York.

Look at the bottom of the pack in the polls. We're just showing you here the bottom of the pack. Jeb Bush is on top at 17 percent on our national poll. Scott Walker, but look from Cruz to Pataki, 7 percent, 4 percent, 4 percent, 3 percent, 3 percent, 2 percent.

You could look at this and say, you know, OK, what are these guys doing or you could look at this and say, Ed, there's no front runner, the guy who's on top of the national polls is at 17 percent.

Rick Santorum at this time four years ago is at 1 percent or 2 percent in Iowa only had to get to 24.6, just shy of 25 to win. Are they under dogs, long shots, nobody? Who are they?

O'KEEFE: They're sitting tight and knowing that most Republicans, most Americans aren't paying attention to this at all. And I think one or two of these guys catch fire they will quickly jump.

I mean, we've seen this flavor of the month, flavor of the season thing before, I think we're seeing a little of it right now with people like Carly Fiorina in Iowa.

Maybe Walker has gone up and has come a little bit because he hasn't done as much lately. I think if you're a 2 percent right now you don't have to be worried. If you're 2 percent in December hang it up and go home.

[07:35:05] LERER: And the whole system has changed. All you need if you're one of these guys is to find a freelance billionaire to float your campaign and you can stay in this thing for a long time.

If you don't win the presidency, you can get a nice contract, a book deal, and a TV contract. So there are a lot of incentives to run and there are far fewer incentives not to run just because of the structural changes, and how we run primary elections.

KING: Are you keeping a list of these freelance billionaires?

LERER: Yes, I need some freelance billionaire money in my -- yes.

KING: You make an interesting point, though, right now there's no reason.

O'KEEFE: And let's be honest this is not -- the debate you're going to do with the lower tier, somebody could catapult out of that debate into the top tier based on one 30-second sound bite. All they need is a moment.

KING: It's crazy. This is campaign number eight for me, presidential campaign, never seen anything like this and you've got some serious people. Governors down there and interesting people, sometimes they take off.

As we close and get back to you, Alisyn, show you pictures yesterday of Vice President Biden. We showed President Clinton and Secretary Clinton in the parade.

Vice President Biden was also doing some Memorial Day work yesterday. This is the ride to recovery from D.C. to Virginia. They start at the naval observatory where the vice president lives saluting veterans, saluting those who served our country.

Memorial Day, a day for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, of course, but it is always a good day, 365 days plus a year to honor those who have served in the -- kudos to the vice president for taking part in that.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Right, nice to see him getting involved and it looks like everybody was happy to have him along for the ride. John, thanks so much.

All right, the trial of "The Washington Post" reporter accused of spying begins this morning in Iran. When and how will he be freed? We get all the details from his brother coming up live on NEW DAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:40:38]

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: The espionage trial of American journalist, Jason Rezaian, is finally under way in Iran. The public is banned from the courtroom. "The Washington Post" correspondent is fighting allegations that he was spying on Tehran for the U.S.

Let's bring Hillary Mann Leverett, the co-author of "Going to Tehran." She is a Mid-East analyst and she's negotiated with representatives of Iran's government during her time at the State Department and she did so for both Republicans and Democrats.

All right, Hillary, it's good to have you. You understand how this government works very well. What makes this different is that they're not saying this man is charged with political crimes, which is what they usually do.

But what makes it the same is that once again it seems Iran is doing something that just flies in the face of justice. What's your take?

HILLARY MANN LEVERETT, MIDEAST ANALYST: Well, you know, I think from their perspective it's a debate that they have in Iran, where do you draw the line between aggressive reporting and what they would consider activities that harm the state or even espionage.

Every society defines that differently. Here in the United States Representative King came out on CNN and demanded that Glen Greenwald be tried for espionage. And Glen Greenwald refused to come to the United States for several months because he was afraid he would be charged with espionage here.

It's a crime that I think has a political connotation to it because of course a state is interpreting on its own how it sees its interests and how it sees them harmed. Here you have a particular problem with Iranian-Americans who are not entering Iran on a visa. They enter Iran on an Iranian passport. So they're also treated as Iranian citizens and they're not given the same kind of consular access that foreigners would be given even though they have -- he has American citizenship.

CUOMO: All right, but let's go from the subtle to the more severe on this. I'm not supporting the allegations that you're referring to about Glen Greenwald, but that was about the responsibility of a journalist and what to do with information that you're given.

And what wasn't redacted and what was put out there in the open space for good or bad reason. So that was very separate. This is this guy resigned. What proof has come up in any way that he was doing anything but his job?

LEVERETT: You know, nobody knows the specifics or the details of the case. Nobody outside of the prosecutor's office from what I understand in Iran has actually read the file.

But when the Iranian foreign minister was here a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see him in New York and he spoke publicly. Where he said the case against Jason Rezaian involves him being taken advantage of by someone working for the United States in some way to actually divulge information about Iran that would harm Iran.

So in some ways it is similar in terms of how the Iranians see it to the case of Glen Greenwald where Jason was not acting in their perspective in ways that would protect the Iranian state.

You and I may think this is terrible, we sympathize with him greatly. But in terms of this debate between aggressive journalism and espionage, this is a problem a lot of countries have and Iran is in the spotlight for this problem.

CUOMO: It seems like there's no fine line between reporting and espionage. They're very different things. They are doing it in the kangaroo style court it seems to come at the same time you have one of their military chiefs coming at the U.S. and saying that President Obama hasn't done a damn thing to help in Iraq. It seems like they take every chance they can to poke a stick in the eye of the United States, is that unfair appraisal?

LEVERETT: Well, you know, there's an ongoing war. For 35 years the United States and Iran have been essentially at war. Some people call it the twilight war. But since the revolution in 1979 we have never accepted the Islamic republic of Iran and this is a core problem.

We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars both in terms of covert programs and covert activities to undermine if not overthrow that government. So we really shouldn't really be shocked that they then turned on individual Americans or American interest wherever they are.

CUOMO: I think the shock is that you're at the table at all. This is why people are saying why are you negotiating with these guys when they do nothing but cause chaos in places, bad mouth you, and attack their citizens?

The same thing could be said of China. The reality is in today's world we are not the one and only super power. We have to deal with rising powers as they are. Whether it's the Islamic Republic of Iran or the People's Republic of China there's no getting around it.

[07:45:08] We can sympathize with Americans, who fall into a bad situation in these countries, but we can't say that we're not going to deal with these millions of people in these countries with an extraordinary amount of power.

We need Iran in Iraq, in Yemen, in Syria, throughout the Middle East to achieve any of our objectivities. We can't close our eyes to that.

CUOMO: What do you think happens here?

LEVERETT: You know, I think the family needs to be braced for the worst unfortunately. I think the treatment of Jason and what he's gone through shows that I think underscores that the prosecutors are very serious about their case.

That said though there is a process as there is here for clemency. And I think it behooves anybody who cares about Jason to try to push at the time as soon as the judicial proceedings are finished for clemency and for him to be able to return to his family.

CUOMO: Obviously the frightening possibilities that a trial expected to last two to three days could wind up resulting in years of this young man's life. Thank you very much, Hillary, always good to have you on the show. Appreciate it.

LEVERETT: Thank you very much.

CUOMO: We're going to talk more with Jason Rezaian's brother live because this is really about what this family is going through -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, Chris, we'll look forward to that interview. Meanwhile, who will buy Time Warner Cable and what will it mean for your cable bill? We have answers ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:55:34]

CAMEROTA: Time for CNN money now. Chief business correspondent, Christine Romans is in our Money Center talking mergers.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Cable mergers, guys, Charter Communication is announcing a $55 billion deal to buy Time Warner Cable and Smaller Bright House Networks. The Charter is the third biggest cable provider. Time Warner Cable is number two with customers and key markets in New York and Los Angeles.

Together the company would add 18.8 million broadband internet subscribers, 17 million TV subscribers, that's one in six households. Those numbers will be a big advantage when negotiating with channel owners.

The merger still has to pass government regulators, of course, that's what stopped Comcast's plan to buy Time Warner Cable earlier this year and the executives are saying that it could mean better customer service -- guys.

CUOMO: Or it could not.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Cynics. We shall see.

CUOMO: Cynics, also known as cable subscribers.

So the Rockets, they had a big win last night over the Warriors, but that's not their real opponent right now. This flooding is so severe down there and it's going to get worse, hundreds of people were stranded at the Toyota Center.

Let's bring in Andy Scholes, who got this morning's "Bleacher Report." It wasn't about the game in that place, that's for sure.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: Yes. Chris, you know, I am from Houston. When it floods there, it gets pretty bad. I spoke with my father-in- law a few minutes ago and he works at the Toyota Center and he is still there right now.

And he told there were about 200 fans in the arena until 6:00 a.m. local time, that's when most of them were finally able to leave the arena and make their way home.

This was a pic from a few hours ago, with all the fans in the stands. Now minutes before the game ended last night, officials recommended to fans that they stay in their seats after the final buzzer because it's just a massive storm cell that was coming through at that time.

Now Dwight Howard was among the people who could not get home last night, so he came out on the floor to hang out with the fans after the big win, pretty cool moment for the fans that were stranded in the arena.

Now as for the actual game, this was a must win for the Rockets. They were down 3-0 in the series, and a scary moment, Steph Curry goes tumbling over Ariza and lands on his head. He would leave the game, but after going through concussion tests, Curry would return in the third quarter.

Now things are getting a little chippy between the two teams in the second half, Howard and Andrew getting into it. Howard swings, and he was called for a flagrant foul. Lucky he wasn't ejected from this game.

The Rockets sure hope he won't be suspended for game five. Now after air balling his first shot, Curry heating in the fourth quarter. This three right here gets the Warriors within six, but James Harden is too good in this one.

He scored a playoff career high 45 points as the Rockets live to fight another day with the 128-115 win. The silver lining for all the Rocket staff members and all the fans that had to stay in the arena at least they did win this and they were not mourning the end of the season.

At least they had something to cheer about and have some camaraderie as they were all sitting around for hours and hours.

PEREIRA: One of the games you will never forget, though.

CUOMO: Good luck to your in-laws down there.

SCHOLES: Thank you.

PEREIRA: We actually want to show some live pictures of the massive flooding in the Houston area this morning. We are live at the top of the hour with a look at the unbelievable devastation. Is there any relief in sight?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:58:08]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's like I don't know if I'm going to make it, but he's like I love you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Homes wiped clear off their foundation. People still missiong.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The challenges are not over yet. There's going to be more rain to come.

CAMEROTA: A major operation now underway in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The military operations will be northeast of Fallujah.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course includes Ramadi.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Four hundred and eight people who have been killed in the city of Baltimore this year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have come too far to have this type of setback.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We cannot walk in our neighborhood without getting shot at.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People really fear for their own life out there, man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The skies over Baghdad have been illuminated.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thirty five years of --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: CNN.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: CNN.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: All right, good morning, and welcome back to your NEW DAY. It's Tuesday, May 26th, 8:00 in the east. We are following breaking news here at home and overseas.

In Iraq, government forces are going all in against ISIS in a must-win fight for Anbar Province.

And Texas and Oklahoma just getting crushed by flooding, deaths are rising as the waters do, and the desperation as well.

CAMEROTA: The intense rain and flooding blamed for six deaths and at least 12 people reported missing at this hour. The deluge is so bad that officials in Houston have closed schools for today. CNN's meteorologist, Jennifer Gray, surveying the damage, she is in hard hit, Wimberley, Texas. What are you seeing, Jennifer?

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, so now that the sun is up and we are finally getting a first glance of this, and we are on the banks of Blanco River. You can see it raging behind me, and this looks more like tornado damage than flood damage.

At one point over the weekend the water was above these trees, and this river rose to 43 feet.

[08:00:01] Now it is starting to recede, but the damage has been done. There are houses on top of hills that have been completely wiped off their foundations, 200 to 300 homes completely destroyed in this area and of course 12 people still missing.