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Live from New York: It's Donald Trump; New allegations About Louisiana Officers' Past. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired November 8, 2015 - 08:00   ET

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


[08:00:00] VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump making some waves on "Saturday Night Live". Even though he poked fun at himself, not everyone is laughing.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: And we dig into the records and two police officers charged with murdering a 6-year-old. What we found out about their past as that town remembers the little boy.

It is always good to have your company. Thanks for being with us. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Good to be with you.

And we're starting this half hour with big news about Donald Trump. His big night on "Saturday Night Live." The GOP candidate poked fun at his mean tweets, his hair, showed off dance moves, if you can call it dancing.

He also gave a sneak peek into what the White House would look like if he's elected president. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: General, how are we doing in Syria?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, ISIS is completely eliminated, sir. The country is at peace, all the refugees have returned and they have great jobs as blackjack dealers in the Trump hotel and casino in Damascus.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, the president of Mexico is here to see you.

TRUMP: That's great. Send him in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Donald.

TRUMP: Enrique.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I brought you the check for the wall.

TRUMP: Oh, it's so wonderful. I'm so proud of you and changing Telemundo to all English for me, you changed that to all English.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.

TRUMP: Great thing.

Jimmy, how is the economy?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amazing, sir. In the words of our new national anthem, it's huge. I have no idea how you did it, sir.

TRUMP: Well, you know what? I don't have to get specific. With me, it just works. You know? It's magic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Just magic.

Joining us now to discuss CNN political commentators Ben Ferguson and Jeffrey Lord.

Jeffrey, I want to start you. You know, you had that just magic line there. What did you think of his performance?

JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I thought it was huge. You know, he's terrific. Frankly, when you go on "Saturday Night Live" and poke fun at yourself and you're a politician, you're running for office you can't possibly lose. I mean, this is big deal in America. Presidents or potential presidents who have self-deprecating sense of humor and are willing to go out there and do this and poke at themselves, they always come off looking terrific. And he did a really great job last night.

BLACKWELL: Ben, any major gain or loss last night from this performance?

BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think in these type of performances by him really are good for him and his base for people to like him. They think, wow, Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live". Now, next stop, the White House.

Whether it makes other voters undecided look at him differently, I don't know? But any time you can get on there and be a person, an individual and show a little bit of your humor and be funny, it makes people able to connect with you a little bit more.

The big question is, when you see him up there. As good as he is as an entertainer. And Donald Trump is one of the best entertainers I've ever seen especially when it comes to live TV or reality TV. I'll give him full credit.

There's some part that goes this may be the skit at the Oval Office. How is everything doing? It reminds me of how ridiculous some of his ideas and plans are. For example, having somebody else pay for the wall. I think if you're

smart and listen to that you're going, wow, this may only be possible literally if it's written in "Saturday Night Live" because outside of that, it's not reality. I don't know if I want that guy in the White House.

BLACKWELL: I want you to take a look at probably one of the funnier sketches. A music video spoof. Watch this.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

BLACKWELL: That's just bad. It's just bad.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: Jeffrey, let me come to you, although I think a lot of people have laughs watching the show last night, but Ben got to a serious point there, that, you know, all though Trump is in on the joke, people are looking for specifics after a fun night

LORD: Well, you know, as they are with everyone and they're coming through his campaign. I mean, he's out there with veterans, with the economy, with taxes, and all of that sort of thing -- I mean, this is -- this is happening. You know, one of the things they thought was well done was the business with Larry David. He was really, you know, mop these people.

Frankly, I hope they, you know, they wanted to -- the group protesting said they would pay $5,000 for somebody who did it. I hope they ante up and pay Larry David.

BLACKWELL: Yes, the reporting is they will. Let's watch the moment as Larry David is making a cameo on the show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY DAVID, COMEDIAN: You're a racist!

TRUMP: Who the hell -- oh, yes. I knew this was going to happen. Who is that?

[08:05:01] DAVID: Trump is a racist!

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: It's Larry David. What are you doing, Larry?

DAVID: I heard if I yelled that, they would give me $5,000.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Yes, Ben, a group offered him $5,000 to anyone who would heckle Trump. Do you think that was an appropriate treatment of an issue that so many people take very seriously?

FERGUSON: On "Saturday Night Live"? Absolutely. Everything on "Saturday Night Live" is a joke. You have to put it in comparison, this is not policy.

That's the reason why if I was advising Trump, I would tell him to host every Saturday if they offer it to him until election night.

LORD: Right.

FERGUSON: Because it is satire, it is humor, it is to make fun of things and people, the weekend update is a great example of that. So, I don't think it had anything to do with it being a serious or non- serious issue. I think when candidates can go on there and do things like this.

Remember, this is Donald Trump's wheel house. He's a reality TV show host. This is like coming home for the incredible Thanksgiving dinner for him. I think it was a smart move when it comes to issues like that.

BLACKWELL: Jeffrey, you agree?

LORD: Absolutely I do. You know, to be serious here for a second, these people are professional race card players, the critics on this sort of thing. I think it was the right way to deal with them.

BLACKWELL: All right. Jeffrey Lord, Ben Ferguson, thank you both.

LORD: Thanks a lot.

PAUL: Meanwhile, we should see Dr. Ben Carson today. He is making a campaign stop in Puerto Rico. This, course, after he's been pushing back against the media's questions concerning his past. At the press conference Friday night Dr. Carson made an interesting prediction, as well.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty was there. And she's with me now.

We're wondering --- with this campaign now wondering we're going to expect from the doctor, but also talk to us about the prediction he made.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christi.

Well, he is predicting that this intense period of media scrutiny, all these questions over his past is really going to help, he thinks, galvanize his supporters. Here's what he told us earlier this weekend in Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think it's causing a complication. And here's is my prediction -- my prediction is that all you guys trying to pile on is actually going to help me, because when I go out to these book signings, I see these thousands of people, they say, don't let the media get you down! Don't let them disturb you. Please continue to fight for us. See, they understand that this is a witch hunt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And he is out already touting a big haul of campaign contributions he raised in this week during the intense period of media scrutiny, tweeting out over this weekend, quote, "We the people have made 10,000 donations each day this week, totaling $3.5 million this week alone." And then added, "Thank you, biased media."

So, a big jab at the media there which keeps in line with the more combative tone we've seen from Ben Carson this weekend, more aggressively going after the media in the wake of all these questions about his past.

Now, here in Puerto Rico, he'll hold a statehood event later this morning. The campaign, Christi, of course, really hoping to rechange and take control back on the area that dominated this week for him -- Christi.

PAUL: Sunlen Serfaty, always appreciate it. Thank you, ma'am.

You know, we are digging into the records of the two police officers who were charged with murdering a 6-year-old. I want to tell you what found out about their past as a town is remembering this little boy right here.

BLACKWELL: Be sure to stick around for more Donald Trump. He's said to appear on CNN "STATE OF THE UNION WITH JAKE TAPPER". We'll take a look ahead at that interview in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: I want to show you new information that we're learning about one of the police officers charged with murdering a 6-year-old boy. We're talking about 23-year-old Norris Greenhouse and 32-year-old Derrick Stafford. They're charged with second degree murder and attempted murder in Tuesday's shooting in Marksville, Louisiana, 6- year-old Jeremy Mardis.

Take a look at the little guy. He was shot five times in the head and chest during a police pursuit involving his father who was also shot. That boy's viewing is later today.

And Nick Valencia is there in Marksville this morning. He's got more on what we're learning about the officers.

Hi, Nick.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christi.

We are learning at least one of the officers involved in this shooting has a checkered past, a troubled history according to the local newspaper. Thirty-two-year-old Derrick Stafford, according to local newspaper is indicted in 2011 on two counts of aggravated rape. The indictment was dismissed a year after it was ended down.

We looked into the history of the other officer involved. He's tied to several civil lawsuits related to excessive force. Now, CNN reached out to local officials here in this area, as well as

the families of the officers. We have not heard back from either one of those. But as far as we can tell, neither one of them has been convicted of a crime.

We should mention that 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis. A viewing is being held today in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. We expect his funeral to be held sometime tomorrow morning or sometime tomorrow on Monday in Hattiesburg.

Also, interestingly enough, we did reach out to the district attorney's office here. We're told we should expect a motion to be filed this week. An assistant district attorney is the father of one of the suspects involved in the shooting. They're going to be asked to be recused from the case so that the Louisiana attorney general can take this over.

But this small town here in Marksville, about 5,000 people. It seems that everyone is impacted by the shooting death of the 6-year-old. It is still unclear how all of this started on a press conference on Friday night, the head of Louisiana state police said, offered very little details only to suggest that body cam footage played a part in these charges, the second-degree murder charges. The second degree attempted murder.

Earlier this morning we reached out to the hospital and we learned the father of the 6-year-old is continuing to recover. His condition has been upgraded but he remains hospitalized -- Victor and Christi.

[08:15:01] PAUL: All right. Nick Valencia, appreciate the update. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Some strange sightings in California has people talking this morning. It's not a plane. People are asking is it a UFO? Well, the military says it is responsible for the lights in the sky. We'll tell you what that is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: A gunman is on the loose this morning as investigators search for the person who shot this Texas judge. Police say Julie Kocurek was shot outside her Austin home. It happened Friday night. A police commander says her injuries are serious but not life threatening.

BLACKWELL: Did you see the video on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram? People recorded this light over southern California last night. Lots of calls to police, too.

Well, we've got answers on what this is. People were asking is it a plane? Maybe a UFO. Well, the military says it was part of a missile test, but don't worry because this missile was not armed.

PAUL: President Obama is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in D.C. tomorrow.

[08:20:00] The two leaders looking for ways to mend their relationship. Of course, it became strained over the Iran nuclear deal. So, expectations if are the visit aren't particularly high. Officials say no final agreement is planned on U.S. defense aid to Israeli.

BLACKWELL: Nobel Peace Prize winner and Myanmar opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi cast her first vote in the country's first free elections in 25 years. The polls are now close. Pro-democracy supporters are optimistic the election could bring real change to the military-dominated government. But an anti-hate speech campaigner told CNN, there were some incidents of violence and attempted voter fraud.

Well, fresh off the heels of hosting "SNL", Donald Trump joins our Jake Tapper on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" at the top of the hour. Jake is going to join us with a preview in just a moment.

PAUL: First, though, this week's travel insider takes us to Tennessee for a personal tour of Nashville with country music singer Craig Morgan. Take a listen.

This old boy got it going on

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SINGING)

CRAIG MORGAN, COUNTRY SINGER: I'm country singer, Craig Morgan and Nashville is my city. It's the capital of country music. We'll take you on a VIP backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry.

First thing we do when we get in is we have to check in and find out where our dressing room is. Where am I at tonight?

As a member off mailbox so the fans can send mail to us here.

Not everybody that plays at the Grand Ole Opry is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. To date, there are just over 200 members. This is list of every member past and present.

There's 19 dressing rooms. Well, actually there is only 18 because there's not a number 13.

You never know who you're going to run into.

What is y'all's favorite thing about being here at the Opry?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Porter, Roy Acuff and standing in them big tall shoes.

MORGAN: Look who we have here, Mr. Rickey Skaggs.

This is the green room. During the flood of 2010, this is how high the water level got.

This is the infamous circle here at the Grand Ole Opry where the legends as well as the new artists stand to perform. Thanks for spending time with me backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.

Hope to see you in Nashville soon. It's time for me to hit the stage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome, Mr. Craig Morgan.

(CHEERS)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[08:26:39] TRUMP: They've done so much to ridicule me over the years. This show has been a disaster for me. Look at this guy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great, great, great, great, great. Isn't he fantastic?

(APPLAUSE)

I've got to say, you're going a great job. In fact, I think the show got better by about 2 billion percent!

TRUMP: Look at this.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think you're this terrific person. You think you're this, you think you're that, ba, ba, ba.

You're being very naive, and quite frankly, you're fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: He's so good. In that three minutes fresh off his incident as "SNL" host GOP candidate Donald Trump, the real one, gets set to appear on "STATE OF THE UNION."

The show's host, CNN's Jake Tapper, of course, is joining us.

Is it safe to assume he's not going to be quite as comical this morning?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST, STATE OF THE UNION: Well, we're not going to provide him with the forum to joke, but we'll ask him a couple of questions about his appearance.

I understand that he had to veto a couple of sketches that the "SNL" crew wanted him to do. They were a little bit too racy for the Iowans he's trying to who. We'll ask him about that as well.

As well as, of course, lots of stuff going on the campaign trail from Marco Rubio to Dr. Ben Carson. Lots of policy issues from immigration, to what the U.S. should do if it was an ISIS terrorist bomb that took down the Russian passenger plane a week and change ago. So, we have lots to discuss with the Republican frontrunner.

PAUL: What else do you have planned?

TAPPER: We're also going to have Dr. Rand Paul, who will join us live on set to talk about foreign policy, talk about the Republican race, a big Republican debate coming up.

And then, of course, a panel and special state of the cartoonion, we'll be taking a look at Jon Meacham's autobiography of George H.W. Bush.

So, we got a lot coming up on "STATE OF THE UNION."

PAUL: Always a good one. Jake Tapper, we appreciate it. Thank you so much.

TAPPER: Thank you.

PAUL: Again, Donald Trump on "STATE OF THE UNION" with Jake Tapper starts at the top of the hour, 30 minutes from now, 9:00 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

BLACKWELL: All right. And just in case you were up late, we can guess you weren't because you're up early with us, but take a look at the dancing from Donald Trump last night.

PAUL: Is that what it's called?

BLACKWELL: You can try to call it that, I guess. Let's watch it.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

BLACKWELL: Oh, boy. Although, let me say people are criticizing Drake's dancing in that video in the original, but, you know, I think -- I think if you can laugh at yourself and let other people laugh at you, then --

PAUL: It's always a good thing.

BLACKWELL: (INAUDIBLE) to you.

PAUL: It's always a good thing.

Thank you for sharing your morning with us. Go make great some memories today.

"INSIDE POLITICS WITH JOHN KING" starts right now.