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Pennsylvania Woman with Superbug Sparks Nationwide Concerns; Libertarian Party Convention Can Provide Third-Party Nominee On Ballot in All 50 States; Pentagon Denies Reports that U.S. Forces are Assisting Iraqi Government In Assault on ISIS; Police Release Video Of Shooting in NYC Overnight; Texas Rains Continue; Pentagon Welcomes 350 Family Members Of Fallen Military Members. Aired 10:30-11a

Aired May 27, 2016 - 10:30   ET

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


[10:30:50]

WILLIAM MORRONE, FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST: One of the answers going forward, is going to be better decontamination, prevention, and antibiotic combinations.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: So but what do you do. I mean what does this Pennsylvania woman do now after trying all of these antibiotics? Is there any hope for her to get rid of the bacteria, beyond just her body fighting it off? Because as we know, that may not happen.

MORRONE: Well the isolation and blood culture confirmation is going to prove that it's what we call, the CRE -- Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The standard set of antibiotics that we use is usually something that's oral. But in very severe cases we put people in hospitals and they get IV antibiotics. Learning from her, the big thing is, he said isolated from her urine.

So flank pain, kidney pain, early signs of bacteria -- flank pain and kidney pain -- is going to be trying not to show that we missed this in other people. The fact that we have this in America now is that -- we really have had it, we just admitted it. It's been here and now we need to have better decontamination -- avoiding contact with feces and infected skin, and if you have procedures, make sure that the procedures are minimally invasive. And that's how we'll prevent the spread of this.

BROWN: So how significant is it that this woman did not travel outside the U.S. in the last five months?

MORRONE: What this says is that it -- she picked up the bug, the CRE, nationwide and domestically. And that shows us that it's probably been here for a couple years and the isolation of this bug is going to be seen in certain places where people are vulnerable. The most vulnerable place is going to be nursing homes. Nursing homes where contact with feces and skin and infection in elderly and immunocompromised patients are going to be where we really need to screen this out. Because they're at greatest risk. Younger, healthier people are going to have antibiotic options. So we'll -- for whole body infections that are sometimes called sepsis, urinary tract infections, and the signs of high fever that we can't explain. BROWN: So we know about this woman in Pennsylvania, but -- so you think that there are other people walking around the United States right now, who have the same strain of the bacteria that's incurable?

MORRONE: Guaranteed.

BROWN: Wow.

MORRONE: It's here and we just don't know -- so the effort should now be to prevent excessive contact, and screening. And screening when people come in who have flank pain ...

BROWN: M-hm.

MORRONE: ... excessive fevers -- and the other part is, he was very specific about urinary tract infections and cultures. Maybe doctors have men and women pee in a cup and they check it to see if there's an infection. We need to do more urine cultures and blood cultures to isolate out the antibiotic-resistant strain, so we can identify it.

BROWN: OK. Doctor William Morrone, thank you for coming on and sharing your expertise. That was very interesting and frightening.

MORRONE: Thank you. Happy to.

BROWN: Do appreciate it. On Capitol hill, meanwhile, lawmakers have begun a Memorial Day recess without passing funding for another potential health crisis, the Zika virus. Democrats are scolding their Republican counterparts, saying that critical time is being lost because the mosquito-borne virus will spread as the weather heats up. Republicans say they have already passed measures to fund more research.

And still ahead on this Friday morning in what's been a very contemptuous race for the White House. One third-party candidate is hoping to cash in on contempt for Trump and Clinton, and become a household name.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:38:40]

BROWN: Republicans and Democrats aren't the only ones picking their Presidential candidates. Starting today, more than 900 delegates of the Libertarian Party are gathering in Orlando, Florida to choose their nominee. Well many believe it will be this man, Former New Mexico Governor, Gary Johnson. Who was also his Party's nominee in 2012. CNN National Correspondent, Ryan Nobles joins me from inside the main hall of the convention. Hi Ryan.

RYAN NOBLES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey Pamela. And a lot of the Libertarians here are very excited. They think they have an historic opportunity in this 2016 election. And they're really focused on two numbers. The first number is 50. That's because other than Republicans and Democrats, the Libertarian Party right now, is the only other party positioned to be on the ballot in all 50 states in a race for President.

Now the other number is 15. Fifteen is the polling percentage number their nominee will have to meet in order to gain access to those nationally televised general election debates. And if that -- and the recent polls are any indication, that number is within reach. Gary Johnson, who you mentioned, Pamela, is polling at 10 percent according to the latest FOX News poll. He is trailing Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. But 10 percent is significant when you consider that he's received very little media attention and has very little financial backing.

Now that could be an indication though of the overall voter dissatisfaction with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. And that is something that former Governor Johnson acknowledges. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY JOHNSON, LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Just appearing in the polls, I think, has a self-fulfilling prophecy of, "well, what is this guy really saying?" And right now with the polarization Hillary and Trump present, look, I'm -- if I'm the nominee, I'm going to be the only third-party candidate on the ballot in all 50 states.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NOBLES: Now but before he can even think about the general election, Johnson first has to win the nomination here and that is not a given. He is facing pretty serious opposition from two candidates in particular, Austin Peterson who is a conservative candidate. He actually has the backing of some prominent conservative Republicans who are looking for an alternative to Donald Trump. And then there's also the eccentric software billionaire, John McAfee, who is putting a great deal of his own money into this race.

Now these candidates will debate here tomorrow night, and the delegates here will select their nominee on Sunday. Pamela?

BROWN: Ryan Nobles, thank you so much for that. And stay tuned, our Victor Blackwell sits down with the Libertarian Presidential candidate Gary Johnson, and Vice Presidential contender, William Well, today. You can watch that interview at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN. In what has become a highly contemptuous race for the White House, some speculate a third-party candidate could have a big impact on what happens in November.

Joining me to discuss this is Rebecca Berg. She is a national political reporter with RealClear Politics. So first off, Rebecca, for those people, those "Never Trump" people who want to have an alternative to Donald Trump, is this man, this Libertarian candidate their best hope?

REBECCA BERG, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, REALCLEAR POLITICS: Well as Gary Johnson himself said in that clip we just saw, he is going to be the only other candidate besides Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump who is on the ballot in all 50 states. So he is the only one who theoretically, would have a chance at some sort of path to victory. And he is the only option who is going to be available to everyone across the country, other than Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

So just from the pragmatic standpoint, that's very important. And it's very interesting also, that you now have a Libertarian ticket in Gary Johnson and William Weld, his would-be running mate, if they do prevail at this convention this weekend, that's comprised of two former governors. So actually, some people with elected experience. And I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot about that from them, as well.

BROWN: And just -- because some people may not know -- exactly what they represent, what their issues are. Can you kind of break it down for us, what their issues are, compared to the other parties?

[10:42:45]

BERG: Sure. Well what sets them apart, really, from the Democrats and the Republicans, is that Gary Johnson and William Weld, and the Libertarian Party in general, really, are socially liberal and fiscally conservative. So really inline with many younger Republicans who don't care as much about the social issues like abortion, gay marriage, those sorts of things. But still want to see a fiscally conservative policy platform embraced by candidates. And so they think they could bring -- sort of meld the two parties, bring those two ideas together in a way that's actually very attractive for many younger people across the country. And even some older voters, as well.

One of the things that really sets Gary Johnson apart, and has really sort of defined him as a national politician, is that he's actually very vocally pro-marijuana legalization and actually some legalization of other drugs. And that might be an obstacle in him coming into the mainstream a little bit more. But when you have two candidates in Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump who are so disliked by so many Americans. Two of the most unpopular Presidential nominees in the history of this country, then a third-party candidate does start to have a chance.

BROWN: And with that in mind, the latest Washington Post/ABC poll -- I think it was something like 44 percent of registered voters said that they would want a third-party option if their major party choices were Clinton and Trump. How significant is that?

BERG: It is very significant. This is something that we really haven't seen for very many years in modern Presidential politics, if really at all. Two major Party nominees who are so disliked, even by people within their own Party. The recent Washington Post/ABC News poll found that 28 percent of Republicans view Donald Trump unfavorably still, at this point in the election cycle. Even as they're sort of coalescing behind him and starting to hold their noses and support him.

But that's really what's happening here is, with both of these candidates, a lot of these people aren't necessarily excited about voting for them. They're holding their noses because they don't feel like they have another option. If Gary Johnson and William Weld can make the case that they are a viable third option, maybe they can gain a little bit of traction, maybe enough even to get into some of these debates.

BROWN: All right, Rebecca Berg, thank you so much for breaking it down for us. We do appreciate it.

BERG: Thank you.

BROWN: And still ahead on this Friday, he was viciously attacked and set on fire as a child in Iraq. Well now he's a thriving teen in California. An update on the story of Youssif is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:49:10]

BROWN: Well the Pentagon is denying a report that the U.S. Special Forces are fighting ISIS on the frontlines in Syria. The comments come as the AFP News agency published photos that it claims show those forces in Raqqa, ISIS's self-declared capital. U.S. Special Forces are in the region on an advise and assist mission to help locals battle the terror group. But Pentagon officials say rules of engagement ban special ops from conducting offensive/offensive military operations against ISIS.

I want to update you now on a story that captured the hearts of millions of people worldwide. It is a story of a young Iraqi boy by the name of Youssif. Who at the age of four, was attacked by masked men in Baghdad, and set on fire as he played outside his home. Well Youssif and his family were later granted asylum and they moved to the United States where he has undergone surgeries for his injuries. Senior International Correspondent Arwa Damon caught up with Youssif in this CNN exclusive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Youssif has grown in numerous ways. He has been a hero for many over the years. Superman is his.

YOUSSIF, IRAQI BURN VICTIM: A little project in my English class. And so each person got to choose one superhero.

DAMON: Do you identify with him?

YOUSSIF: Yes.

DAMON: In what sense?

YOUSSIF: I try to fit in with everyone.

DAMON: And is that still hard for you?

YOUSSIF: Not really. Because now I make friends easily.

DAMON (voice-over): Youssif was just 4-years old when masked men attacked him outside his Baghdad home. We reported his story. The outpouring of support came from across the globe. And Youssif and his family ended up in Los Angeles. Where his parents heard their son laugh and shriek for the first time in the months since the attack. Where strangers gathered in prayer on the beach, moving his mother to tears. He has since undergone multiple surgeries. The memory of Iraq and the evil he experienced all but erased.

DAMON: You were saying you don't remember anything about Baghdad.

YOUSSIF: Yes, I don't. I don't remember my family that much. Only my grandparents.

DAMON (voice-over): In many ways he is just like any other teen. Obsessed with soccer, has loads of friends. And still wants to become a doctor to help others. But he knows he may not see his homeland in his lifetime.

DAMON: You've been following the news about what's happening in Iraq with ISIS and ...

YOUSSIF: I feel really bad for all the people. And all those kids and stuff. It's like those terrorists aren't Muslims. They're just extremists.

DAMON (voice-over): We still can't disclose his father, Wissam's (ph) identity. For the security of the family back in Iraq.

WISSAM (ph), YOUSSIF'S FATHER: I'm trying not to wait and see what's going on because whatever I see is sad there. Everything is just sad.

DAMON (voice-over): And life as a refugee is never easy. Wissam (ph) has only been able to find a part time job and is looking for more work.

WISSAM (ph): At the same time, as you see like, so many people looking for jobs. It's not only me.

DAMON (voice-over): They're all profoundly aware that they are fortunate to have survived and escaped the war zone. Thanks to the kindness of strangers who continue to finance Youssif's medical care.

YOUSSIF: Every surgery that I have is like one step closer to the finish line.

DAMON: But you're starting high school?

YOUSSIF: Yes. I'm really excited, too.

DAMON (voice-over): Arwa Damon, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[10:52:40]

BROWN: What an incredible story, so glad to see he's doing so well at the age of 13 now. Thanks to Arwa Damon for that report, and we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:56:55]

BROWN: Portland, Oregon is known for many things. It's music scene, it's coffee shops, and its hipsters. In this week's episode of CNN's original series, UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA, comedian W. Kamau Bell explores how the influx of hipsters is impacting the city.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

W. KAMAU BELL, COMEDIAN: So the beard.

UNKNOWN MAN: Yes.

BELL: That's a thing?

UNKNOWN MAN: It's a thing.

BELL: A thing Portland's known for.

UNKNOWN MAN: It is.

BELL: The bearded ...

UNKNOWN MAN: The whole look.

BELL: This is about as much beard as I can grow, so does that mean I would fit in?

UNKNOWN MAN: No, no. I mean it's got like the next door rugged thing going on. You got like a bit of the plaid and stuff.

BELL: There is a thing about Portland, about the hipster.

UNKNOWN MAN: Yes.

BELL: Now is that a dirty word here? Is that how we feel about that.

UNKNOWN MAN: I guess it's kind of a dirty word. It's just like a silly word, like ...

BELL: Would you, would you use that word to describe yourself?

UNKNOWN MAN: Isn't that the whole point, no one does? I mean sure obviously ...

BELL: Isn't that the problem? Nobody in Portland really knows ...

UNKNOWN MAN: Well everybody knows what you mean when you say it though.

BELL: OK.

UNKNOWN MAN: It's just like -- I don't know I think it's kind of like a convenient slur for like millennials and people working in coffee shops, I don't know. Like, I think it's just a very useless word. BELL: So am I putting too much in by saying "hipster" is the n-bomb

of Portland?

BELL (voice-over): Oops, I think I just broke a hipster. The funny thing about hipsters is that no one here will even admit to being one. Wait a minute, is that another person of color? I gotta talk to her.

UNKNOWN WOMAN: The biggest thing I've noticed lately, and that we've talked about a lot, is that there are not visible communities of color here.

BELL: We can talk, we can talk, you --

UNKNOWN WOMAN: Do you think it's OK if I can say it?

BELL: ... wait a minute hang out, wait a minute hang out ...

UNKNOWN WOMAN: OK.

BELL: Look, I'm ...

UNKNOWN WOMAN: No, yeah.

BELL: Codeword , I'm one of those, too. It's fine, it's fine, we can let it all hang out. So say it.

UNKNOWN WOMAN: I feel like Portland is a place full of really liberal accepting people, but it's very much like a bubble.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: See W. Kamau Bell's journey through Portland on UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA. That's this Sunday at 10:00 p.m., on CNN. And checking our top stories on this Friday, New York police releasing shocking video overnight of that deadly shooting before a T.I. concert. The man you see here is now in custody after a shooting spree that killed one person and injured two others. And he's charged with attempted murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Right now he is in stable condition recovering from a gunshot wound to the leg.

Much of Southeast Texas is under a flash flood emergency this morning after getting pounded by more than 16 inches of rain yesterday. And more storms are in the forecast. In one county, heavy rain's forcing classes to be canceled today. And it comes after some 50 students got stuck at an elementary school Thursday when their buses couldn't make it through flood waters. Officials say less than 20 kids are left and are expected to be reunited with their families in the next few hours.

Well tonight the Pentagon opened up to 350 family members who have lost their loved ones in the military. It's part of the TAPS Good Grief Camp. Which stands for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. It will be hosted by Defense Secretary, Ash Carter. And the events are a way for families to honor fallen loved ones. This is the third year Carter has opened the Pentagon to the group at the start of the Memorial Day weekend.

Well thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Pamela Brown in for Carol Costello. "AT THIS HOUR" with Berman and Bolduan starts now.