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DNC: Russia Hacked E-mails to Help Donald Trump; Rocky Start to DNC; Heavy Hitters Speaking at the DNC; Sanders, Wasserman Schultz Booed at DNC; Clinton Feels Burdened by Hillary Standard. Aired 2:30- 3p ET

Aired July 25, 2016 - 14:30   ET

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


[14:30:00] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: First things first, just on balance, do we know of any RNC e-mail hacking or is this straight-up DNC?

DAVID CATANESE, SENIOR POLITICS WRITER, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT: We don't know of any RNC.

BALDWIN: OK, just curious.

And talking to Brian Fallon, with the campaign, he was saying to me, Putin's pal is Donald Trump and this is curious and potentially intentional, and especially when you look at e-mails that date months back and here just released on the eve.

SUSAN PAGE, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, USA TODAY: Pretty extraordinary. And I think Americans would be very concerned if they believe that Russia is aggressively interjecting itself in our politics. We know Donald Trump has spoken about Putin. I don't know if that would be part of it or not. We --

BALDWIN: Comments he made to "The New York Times" on NATO.

PAGE: That's right, on NATO that's more in line with what Russia would like to have our position be. But these are pretty serious charges we need to know more about before we can draw big conclusions.

CATANESE: It's pretty circumstantial. We don't know the motive. These types of hacking incidents, from what I understand from other people's reporting, they're very hard to track but politically we know the Clinton campaign wants to link Trump to a tyrant. They want him associated with Putin and Trump seems to want that as well, which is sort of an odd -- that they sort of agree on that.

PAGE: The one other thing is we don't know what other e-mails may be out there to get dumped. We don't know that all the DNC e-mails having leaked. There might be more of those.

BALDWIN: 20,000 so far, 8,000 attachments. It's a lot. It's a lot.

PAGE: This may be a story that keeps building. This may be chapter one of a story.

CATANESE: People have asked me why haven't any Republican e-mails been leaked. Regular people have asked me that and I don't have an answer and that's where the motive come into play.

BALDWIN: Have you seen Al Gore's tweet?

(CROSSTALK)

CATANESE: I just did.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: Al Gore, officially on Twitter, here he is, "I'm not able to attend this year's Democratic convention but I will be voting for Hillary Clinton."

I didn't realize he hadn't endorsed?

PAGE: He hadn't endorsed her. Almost all the Democrats who have been in the position Al Gore has been, I think he's the only living presidential candidate who won't be here. Not a surprise. Is he going to endorse Donald Trump? Not a surprise he would endorse Hillary Clinton. It's taken him quite a while.

CATANESE: It just seems a little late and he's trying to mail it in. It's odd that a sitting vice president of her husband's administration is too busy to be at her convention. That tells you a little thing. And just two days before she accepts the nomination of course we've seen.

BALDWIN: It a lot of previous presidents not at the convention last week.

CATANESE: That's true.

BALDWIN: OK.

CATANESE: Quite a year.

BALDWIN: Quite a year, indeed.

Thank you guys, so much.

Coming up next, let's talk about tonight. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Michelle Obama set to take to the stage here in the Wells Fargo Arena, to speak night number-one at the Democratic National Convention. What we want to know is what should we expect from the first lady?

Plus, what is Donald Trump -- what is his week looking for. Could his counterprogramming shift the spotlight, as he's hoping, away from the party in Philadelphia and away from the Democrats? Let's talk about that, too.

You're watching CNN's special live coverage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:37:39] BALDWIN: Let's look ahead to tonight. Talk about a show of force on night number-one in the Democratic National Convention here in Philadelphia. The Dems coming out of the gate with some of their strongest heavy hitters. Among this evening's speakers, you have First Lady Michelle Obama, the political superstar known for her straight talk, candor. She's become increasingly popular among the aisle. Tonight, the first lady will not only use her prime time spot to make a case for Hillary Clinton but she'll also talk about continuing President Obama's legacy.

Here to discuss, Kate Anderson Brower, she is the author of "First Women, The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies."

Kate, awesome to see you again. Welcome back.

KATE ANDERSON BROWER, AUTHOR: Thanks for having me, Brooke.

BALDWIN: All right, let's rip the Band-Aid right off and be real about this.

ANDERSON BROWER: President Obama there was a lot around the edges during the Clinton administration, the president's expressions and also the idea that on Hillary's side that Michelle Obama hasn't done know, she should have had a West Wing office like Hillary did. There's West Wing offices. Michelle Obama said she wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if her husband wasn't running. So these are two very different women. One can't wait to leave. One can't wait to come back. It will be fascinating.

BALDWIN: On Michelle Obama, "Vanity Fair" dubbed her the coolest first lady. But this isn't just about Hillary Clinton tonight. I think in one of the papers I was reading there's almost like the beginning of the passing of the torch from the Obamas to as Dems hope to the Clintons.

ANDERSON BROWER: I think it's about cementing the president's legacy. Michelle Obama doesn't like politics and Donald Trump has attacked her husband and questioned his citizenship. This is personal for her. She's there for Hillary Clinton but she's also there for Barack Obama. I'm sure she'll be passionately defending Hillary in the general election going out on the campaign trail even though she doesn't particularly like campaigning. I think she will do it and be gracious and excited. She's a great advocate for Hillary because her poll numbers are higher than her husband's.

[14:40:28] BALDWIN: Do we think, a week ago everyone was watching Melania Trump and what do they say about imitation is the finest form of flattery. I imagine there will be no mention of the word "Trump" tonight but just so many people mindful of these two women taking this mega stage.

ANDERSON BROWER: It would be really interesting. The only person who could do it would be Michelle Obama, to do it in a very light hearted funny way. I doubt she'll do that because first ladies traditionally don't go right after the spouse of their husband's opponent. It's just unlikely but she would be t one to do it if she said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery or something like that. It was incredible to see Melania have to say -- the Trump campaign that she admires Michelle Obama that's extraordinary to hear that so we'll have to wait and see what happens tonight.

BALDWIN: All right, Kate Anderson Brower, thank you very much for coming on. I appreciate it again. Your book, wonderful "First Women." Thank you so much.

ANDERSON BROWER: Thank you so much.

BALDWIN: You've got it.

Coming up next, not exactly the picture the Democratic Party wanted to kick off the week. We'll take a look outside of Philadelphia's city hall here. Bernie Sanders supporters are marching through these city streets as I speak. Can he convince them as he speaks tonight to vote for Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine?

Also ahead, any moment Donald Trump will be holding an event with his running mate, Mike Pence, in Roanoke, Virginia, just an hour before the Democrats kick off their own convention. Obviously, he's hoping to upstage them. How successful might he be?

Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:46:15] BALDWIN: There she is in a gorgeous red jacket. That's Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords here. She's here. I believe you see her husband, Scott Kelly, there to her right waving. Wonderful to see her.

Welcome back to Philadelphia. I'm Brooke Baldwin, at the Democratic National Convention.

We have breaking news though involving the woman in charge of all of this, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the outgoing chairwoman of the DNC, will not gavel in these proceedings. She will not be speaking, either. She's not opening the convention. No doubt she was feeling crushing pressure from critics. She announced she would resign after leak e-mails revealed top staffers showing a bias against Senator Bernie Sanders during primaries. Her resignation goes into effect after the convention is over.

And if her public event today, her first one was any sign, Democrats avoided a scene of major chaos and boos by keeping Debbie Wasserman Schultz from gaveling in, let me show you what happened at a delegate breakfast for her home state of Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's hear from our speaker and other speakers as well.

(SHOUTING)

REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, (D), FLORIDA & CHAIRWOMAN, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION: Thank you all so much.

(BOOING)

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: We know the voices in this room that are standing up and being disruptive, we know that that's not the Florida that we know. The Florida that we know is united.

(APPLAUSE)

(CHANTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let me point out she is not the only reason for some boos we have seen here at the convention area in Philadelphia. Look at what happened an hour ago at a Bernie Sanders rally.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANDERS: We have got to defeat Donald Trump.

(CHEERING)

SANDERS: And we have got to elect Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine.

(BOOING)

SANDERS: Brothers and sisters --

(BOOING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Just being out and about in Philadelphia, there's a lot of Bernie fans in this city.

Let's go to Brianna Keilar, traveling with Hillary Clinton in Charlotte, North Carolina.

So two story lines, Brianna, two major story lines, manifestations of perhaps a lack of unity in the party. I know the theme tonight is "United Together." How does Hillary Clinton plan to address that?

[14:49:30] BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: She hasn't really addressed it yet, Brooke. She was asked about it during her "60 Minutes" interview she did, a co-interview with Tim Kaine. She basically dodged the question and said, you know, she didn't know much about it. But her campaign has been out there saying the people response big for this. Who we saw the e-mails go between them, that they should the disciplined but it's interesting because they're rejecting the idea that this affected the primary outcome at all. You've also heard that from Bernie Sanders campaign manager. He said he wasn't sure it would have affected the outcome.

What Hillary Clinton has been focusing on in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the promise that the Democratic National Convention is going to be a lot different than the Republican convention. (END VIDEO CLIP)

(CHEERING)

[14:50:19] HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We're going to have a very different kind of convention than they had last week.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: Watching the divisiveness, finger pointing, fear-mongering, woo, I'll tell you, it is a site to behold, talking about building walls, a very different vision about bringing Americans together. I am very excited about contrasting our vision and values with what we saw from Donald Trump and Republicans because this election poses such a stark choice, doesn't it?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Now that was Hillary Clinton speaking earlier at an organizing event. She had two very different audiences today. The other was here at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention where vets certainly -- they're more likely to be Republican than Democratic so what we saw was a very polite reception but there wasn't a lot of energy for Hillary Clinton and she altered some of her comments. She took on Donald Trump but didn't mention him by name she said he insulted the military, the way he's characterized the progress that needs to be made in the military, she said he's she's obviously trying to strike a chord with this crowd that takes so much pride in that. And she also took him on for saying positive things about Vladimir Putin and Saddam Hussein while not saying his name again -- Brooke?

BALDWIN: Brianna Keilar, thank you very much. We'll see you in Philadelphia soon enough. For now, in Charlotte, thank you, my friend.

Hillary Clinton and her running mate, as Brianna just mentioned, sat down for this first joint interview, "60 Minutes," and Secretary Clinton spoke about how she feels a special sort of burden. Here she was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: I often feel like there's the Hillary standard and then there's the standard for everybody else.

SCOTT PELLEY, ANCHOR, 60 MINUTES: What's the Hillary standard?

CLINTON: Unfounded, inaccurate, mean-spirited attacks with no basis in truth, reality, which take on a life of their own.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's begin there with my CNN political commentators, all women. I love this. Angela Rey, an attorney who served as executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus; Scottie Nell Hughes, political editor for rightalerts.com and a Trump supporter; and Sally Kohn, a Clinton supporter who is also a columnist with "The Daily Beast."

Ladies, the Hillary standard.

You heard -- Angela, let me begin with you. Do you think she faces a Hillary standard?

ANGELA RYE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think it's fair. I think the challenge is I think the Hillary standard is one thing when you're talking about the way in which they've continued to stay she wants to abolish the second amendment and we know that's not rooted or grounded in any fact. I don't think she should take that and apply that to the e-mail challenges she's had at the State Department. I also think she should allow surrogates to talk about the Hillary standard and not go all Bernie Sanders on us in the third person and use that same type of thing I just love that he goes "Bernie Sanders beers --" she needs to be careful.

BALDWIN: Why are you laughing?

SALLY KOHN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I'm just happy to be here. No

(LAUGHTER)

KOHN: That was a funny illusion.

BALDWIN: Yeah.

KOHN: Angela made me laugh, that's all. Which was nice. I have to be honest, I laughed because I want to laugh right now because my heart is sort of -- is really hurting, feeling really heavy over the behavior of some Bernie Sanders supporters this morning --

BALDWIN: Boos.

KOHN: -- both to Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Senator Sanders himself.

I was a faithful and devout Bernie Sanders supporters, I still believe in his vision. I am from the Warren wing of the Democratic Party proudly. You know, we agree on so much more than we disagree on and our --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Tell that to the thousands of people marching through Philadelphia right now.

KOHN: And 85 percent of Bernie supporters are backing Hillary Clinton, which is a higher percentage of Hillary Clinton supporters than backed Obama in 2008. So they have the right to keep speaking, to keep protesting, I support that right, I'm a community organizer by training and heart, I would like to see us do in the a way that is civil and does not sink to the insults and jeers and hurtful behavior that I think of -- with Donald Trump and his party. We're better than this. BALDWIN: We saw Mr. Trump do this multiple times, I imagine, perhaps

as we see him in Roanoke next hour. The Trump folks -- and I'm looking at you -- want those Bernie or busters.

SCOTTIE NELL HUGHES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: We see there a lot of things they do have in common. They put American workers first. Listen, I agree with you. My heart is breaking. This is deja vu for us. I feel like I've been in this seat a week ago. I think the bump Mr. Trump had in the polls comes from the fact that the Ted Cruz people are supporting Mr. Trump after what happened so I think Bernie Sanders and his supporters have to understand they'll be a part, and it's up to the entire Democratic team to bring them in. That will be your goal, your job. We obviously have done a good job with it because everything is showing that last week was a success in continuing to unify the Republican Party. Now it's your turn.

[14:55:24] BALDWIN: I'm watching your face Angela Rye.

(CROSSTALK)

RYE: I love Scottie but there's one point. You can't say that Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have the same agenda for workers --

(CROSSTALK)

HUGHES: Absolutely.

RYE: No, you can't say that.

HUGHES: Why not?

RYE: Because it's not true.

(LAUGHTER)

HUGHES: It is. They put the American worker first.

RYE: So I think that sometimes you have to dig into the definition about putting --

(CROSSTALK)

HUGHES: TPP, he supports it.

RYE: It let me finish. When you talk about putting the American worker first, there's a difference between doing that in word and doing that in deed. One of the best ways to put the American worker first, simply raising the minimum wage. If Donald Trump is willing --

(CROSSTALK)

HUGHES: That is not a proven fact of how to help the American people.

RYE: That actually is. It helps the economy.

(CROSSTALK) HUGHES: No, it -- if you look at the states that are actually --

(CROSSTALK)

HUGHES: You cannot sit there and raise the federal minimum wage when you're --

(CROSSTALK)

HUGHES: We're already pushing businesses out of the United States.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Ladies, ladies, ladies.

You get the final word.

KOHN: States that have higher minimum wage, workers are doing better, businesses are doing better. But --

(CROSSTALK)

HUGHES: When their taxes are so high --

(CROSSTALK)

KOHN: When we talk about Donald, first, you say American workers. I'm curious why he didn't put them first when he was making his products overseas or bringing foreign workers to run his company or when he said --

(CROSSTALK)

KOHN: Forget it. Even if --

(CROSSTALK)

HUGHES: Are you going to allow me to respond.

KOHN: I'm going to finish first.

He said American workers are making too much money so I'm a little confused what putting the worker first.

(CROSSTALK)

RYE: It sounds good.

HUGHES: Three things. He did not necessarily -- take it in context when he said American workers are making too much money. The key is he was talking about that they don't need to sit there and raise the federal minimum wage. We've already strangled businesses out. TPP, he ran in and had to make stuff across the board because the regulations were too much to have a price point for a product here. Over 30,000 jobs he has made. How many as your guy or girl made? None. It's not exactly -- (CROSSTALK)

RYE: Tell me about the worker. Tell me about --

(CROSSTALK)

HUGHES: I'm happy to.

BALDWIN: Ladies, ladies, this is where we are right now in this country. You have a couple of months. We have a couple months. November 8. We'll see how this works out.

(CROSSTALK)

HUGHES: Numbers don't lie.

BALDWIN: Thank you, thank you.

Coming up any moment now, Donald Trump, he's in Virginia with Mike Pence holding an event there just an hour before the Democrats kick off their big party in Philadelphia. We will take both.

Stay here. Woo.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)