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CNN NEWSROOM

Boat Rescue After Deadly Flooding in Louisiana; Photo Finish in Women's Olympic Race; Biles Wins Gold in Gymnastics Floor Exercise; Trump to Speak at Milwaukee Police Event; 16 Year Old Started Foundation Helping Buy Prosthetics; Roger Ailes Helping Trump Prepare for Debates. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired August 16, 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: Welcome back. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Let's talk about the breaking news out of Louisiana. Just absolute catastrophe there. The deadly flooding sweeping through the state capitol of Baton Rouge. The scenes you see right here, eerily similar to the destruction left behind by Hurricane Katrina. Thus far, at least eight people have died. Right now, rescuers are still searching the water for any signs of possible survivors. More than 20,000 people have been rescued from those floodwaters. Many of their homes gone. Nearly two feet of rain has already put the city under water and more could be on the way. The governor of Louisiana declaring Baton Rouge and surrounding cities federal disaster areas.

Rosa Flores is with me now.

I've seen you out today in some of those boats. Extraordinary pictures. Talk to me about the people you've talked to.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Brooke, the water rose so quickly late last night that those people, the pictures that you are looking at right now, people living in those homes had to evacuate very quickly. We went with first responders as they knocked door to door checking for people, asking if they were OK, also asking if they needed provisions because some people decided not to evacuate. They decided to stay inside their homes. So these first responders, aside from checking welfare, they also ask if people need food, if they need water. We were on the boat and in one of these areas when we started -- the first responders in the boat that we were in started getting water from other first responders, from National Guardsmen that were also distributing water. Why? Because they were in a tall water truck and we were in boats. We were able to get into some of those areas further in. So we're seeing a lot of that, first responders going in and who don't want to leave because they don't want to leave their homes.

We're live right now. This is the command center. This is the actual boat that we were on earlier today. The first responders that we were out with are here. They're actually in these trucks and in this command center behind me. Here's what happens, Brooke. The calls come in here if someone needs to be rescued, if someone needs supplies, if they lose power or their cell phone dies all of a sudden. These calls come in here and then they respond. So my team is actually on stand-by. If those calls come in, if a call comes in, then we'd be able to go with them and capture that for our viewers and for the world to see as to what's going on here in Louisiana.

BALDWIN: Now let me ask you a question for first responders who are passing out supplies and actually are able to check on people, they're not able to go into the homes yet. Do we know when they'll be able to do that, Rosa?

FLORES: They will be doing that tomorrow. Today all they are doing is knocking on doors, asking if people are there. They call their name. But a lot of just neighbors are helping neighbors. A lot of people here in south Louisiana have boats. Some of these neighbors have been taking their neighbors out to higher ground in their boats. First responders at this time are only going by and checking on people. Tomorrow they will be actually knocking on doors and if those people do not respond, they'll be kicking in the door to see if people are still inside, if they're OK. And, unfortunately, also to see if they're no

BALDWIN: Rosa Flores, we'll stay in close contact with you. If you get the call, we'll pop you back on TV and share those pictures with the viewers.

Our thoughts, of course, with the folks in Baton Rouge and beyond.

Rosa, thank you for now.

Still ahead on CNN, Donald Trump is expected to make a stop in Milwaukee to meet with police and veterans a couple minutes from now. All of this is the backdrop of the visit in the wake of the shooting over the weekend. We'll take you live to Milwaukee for that.

And next, did you see the end of the woman's 400 meter final in Rio? The runner from the Bahamas, who was behind, falls over the finish line, so she wins apparently. Does that count? We have the ruling, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:38:42] BALDWIN: Let's talk Olympics for a second here. A dive on a track? Bringing home the gold for one Olympian and heartbreak for an American sprinter. Dramatic photo finish happened during the women's 400 meter race. American Allyson Felix trailing the leader early, closing the gap near the end. Just as Felix nears the finish line, victory in her grasp, that is until this last-second lunge by the Shaunae Miller, the Bahamian, clinching the gold. She dives, clinching the gold. The teary-eyed American, stunned, taking silver. The photo finish showing Felix lost by half a body length. A devastated Felix lay on the track for 20 minutes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALLYSON FELIX, U.S. OLYMPIC RUNNER: It was tough. I was just trying to dig deep and find another gear.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The emotion of not coming here and getting what you wanted, how are you dealing with that?

FELIX: It's going to be tough. You know? I'm just going to try to pick myself up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So with me to discuss that is CNN's sports analyst, Christine Brennan.

Christine, we'll get to that in just a second. But we have some news just in. Spoiler alert. Mute me if you don't want to hear about this. Don't turn the channel. Hit mute. Spoiler alert involving women's gymnastics. Simone Biles has won the women's gymnastics floor exercise. She got the gold at the Olympics. Four career gold medals. This is a tough cookie.

[14:40:13] CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Oh, and she came back from the disappointment of the balance beam yesterday. If anyone doubted how strong this woman is as an athlete, her brain, her mind, all the talent, the body, everything, she had to throw it back in to today and she won the gold medal in the floor exercise, one of her key events. This means Simone Biles, the 19-year-old, has won four gold medals at these Olympic Games. That's history. First American to ever win four golds in a single Olympics. She joins only three other women from other countries in winning four golds in an Olympic games. A master full performance and a terrific ending for Simone Biles.

BALDWIN: Outstanding. Love her. She's got some sass. But let's talk about that photo finish. Throw that picture back up on the screen. My question is, how is that legal to dive, thus win?

BRENNAN: First of all, we're not sure that she meant to dive. Track and field, the history of track and field is littered with stories of at least who stumble, trip, fall, get back up, literally crawl across the finish line. That is obviously not something you want to do. Than means you are usually out of the medals if you do that. Gail Devers, the U.S. sprinter, in 1992, tripped over the last hurdle in 1992 and literally fell and crawled to seventh place. These things do happen. Here's why she won, it's when your torso crosses the finish line. If you look at those pictures, as crazy as it is, with arms flailing or whatever, Miller's torso, the Bahamas woman's torso crosses the finish line before Allyson Felix's torso.

Rest assured, if this were illegal, if this were unfair, if some unjustice had been done, Allyson Felix would have protested and would have that gold medal today. So you can trust the result as it is for Allyson Felix.

BALDWIN: She sat there on that track for 20 minutes. Can you blame her?

Christine Brennan, thank you so much.

Simone, go, Simone.

Thank you. BRENNAN: Thanks.

BALDWIN: Meantime, back to politics today, all eyes on Milwaukee. Donald Trump is set to attend an event there with members of law enforcement, also some veterans within that community. All of this comes after days of violence and racial tension in the city streets in the wake of that shooting over the weekend. We'll take you live to Milwaukee coming up.

Also ahead, CNN learning more about Roger Ailes, the former head of FOX News, and what he is doing behind the scenes for the Trump campaign to prepare for the upcoming all-important presidential debates.

Stay with us. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:46:53] BALDWIN: Just talking to my next guest here. We are live. It is election year. One priority for a number of Americans is health care. That's been the priority for Jordan Thomas, who, at age 16, was in a boating accident and lost both of his legs.

Here we were.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN (voice-over): The family's annual boating trip went terribly wrong. Just hours after these photos were taken, Jordan jumped into the ocean to test the waters.

JORDAN THOMAS, FOUNDER, JORDAN THOMAS FOUNDATION: The wake pushed me behind the boat. I remember just being underneath the boat and hearing the motor go. I knew immediately what had happened. I looked down, my black fins were all gone. All I saw was just red everywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Spent a big of time with Jordan and his family back in 2009, telling his story, how, at age 16, he made had his mission to help kids whose parents just couldn't afford to buy prosthetics. He started at 16 the Jordan Foundation.

We traveled to Capitol Hill together as he pounded on the doors, demanding change. He went on to be honored as a "CNN Hero."

I haven't seen this guy in nine years. He just sat down next to me. Being honored tonight by the Yankees!

Jordan Thomas, so good to see you!

THOMAS: So good to see you.

BALDWIN: First of all, we'll get to more of your story. But what is a southern boy doing at a Yankees game? THOMAS: That's a good question. I grew up a braves fan my entire

life. Now I switched over to the dark side, so to speak. Now I am a Yankees fan. They heard about the foundation. They just called and said can you send some logos so Joe Girardi can wear them. I said I'd rather come.

BALDWIN: Ice Cube came and he brought three. You're rolling deep today.

(LAUGHTER)

THOMAS: We roll deep. That's how we do it.

BALDWIN: I saw you in 2000. I remembered we talked to Senator Corker, your Senator in Tennessee. You really cared. You visited the wing in the hospital when you lost your legs in the accident. You saw kids whose parents couldn't afford it and you wanted to do something about it. Where have you been since?

THOMAS: Absolutely. I've been all over world. Right now I'm absolutely devoting my life to this. I'm committed to this to give kids access because I know what that can do for humanity. I'm fired up. I'm committed to it.

BALDWIN: I was reading something you told me when we were on Capitol Hill in 2009. Again, here we are on the precipice. This is a mega election and health care is a key piece of that. You said at the time, to me, it is not a red state issue or blue state issue, it is an ethical issue.

THOMAS: Absolutely. I mean it absolutely is. That's something that there is bipartisan support. Children deserve access to quality health care. I don't think anyone can refute that. Prosthetics is a huge component of that. I see that every day in my foundation. I see the impact. It is such a gift for me to give back to them and see them grow and become happy, productive members of society that are joyful, productive people. If that's not something you can get behind, then I don't know what is.

[14:50:06] BALDWIN: When it comes to health care, this was way pre- Obamacare when we were in D.C. Are you paying close attention to the election and how Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are talking health care?

THOMAS: Yeah, not really. I actually tend to stay away from the election. It is so vitriolic and charged. But it is something that's imperative. It is something that we have to address especially in the amputee community because obviously the insurance industry is why my foundation exists because of the way the industry is.

My first pair of legs were $24,000. And kids are outgrowing them every 18 to 24 months. Imagine the burden on families. Right now is to start to address that.

BALDWIN: Beyond the Yankees game tonight, you're going global with the Jordan Thomas Foundation. What's the next thing? THOMAS: Continue to make an impact in the lives of others and

continue to do that and blow it up on a global scale. It is not just about the U.S. anymore for me. It is about impact the lives globally.

BALDWIN: Final question. I remember when we first met and we went out to some area of Tennessee. I remember this little boy was showing me off his leg. He was so excited because it was bending. I think it was above the knee. Just tell me a story. What's the best thing any young person has ever said to you when they realize you've been able to help them and their family?

THOMAS: That's tough. Just that I'm their hero.

BALDWIN: Wow.

THOMAS: That's like -- to really allow that and let that sink in for someone to say you're their hero. It is completely reciprocated for me. I feel like I'm the one given the gift to help them and get them through difficult times. We just paid for Noah to take hip-hop dance classes. He's on to big are around better things.

BALDWIN: Go, Noah.

THOMAS: Go, Noah. Go, boy.

BALDWIN: Jordan Thomas, thank you.

THOMAS: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Since 2009. You look good.

Jordan Thomas Foundation, if you want more information.

Back to politics in a couple of minutes. Donald Trump is set to attend this police event, also with some veterans in Milwaukee. We'll bring that to you live.

Also in to CNN, the FBI has now turned over a number of documents related to their investigation into then-Secretary Clinton's use of her personal e-mail server. More on that in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:56:54] BALDWIN: Matt King is a blind engineer at Facebook. He's the company's first. When a billion people are watching viral videos and reading messages that blind users can't see, how does the social network resonate with those who are blind? That is King's job.

Here is CNN's Laurie Segall with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT KING, FIRST BLIND ENGINEER AT FACEBOOK: When I first signed up for Facebook, trying to get into my account, trying to find my list of things felt like work.

LAURIE SEGALL, CNN DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Matt King is Facebook's first blind engineer.

(on camera): You are helping to bring this experience to so many folks that don't have that ability. What exactly are you doing here that's helping that?

KING: I've been working a lot on our messenger product. Another thing that Matt's been helping with is the system for describing photos to people who are blind.

SEGALL (voice-over): With over a billion users, Facebook now has a team focused on building accessibility tools. That team created an empathy lab to show different ways people use the product. The tech is in its early stages but the implications for someone like Matt are far reaching.

KING: The steps that we're taking today and the direction of being able to describe photos to people who are blind by using artificial intelligence, that's baby stuff. It is moving in the direction of a world where nobody's left out. It is like you are telling people who are blind, look, we care about you, we want you to be part of the global community, we want you to -- excuse me -- sorry. We want you to be -- you matter. Your life matters and being connected with other people matters. And we're going to do everything we can to make that possible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: We continue on. Top of the hour. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for being with me.

Any minute, Donald Trump, the man who calls himself a law-and-order candidate, is expected to make a stop in Milwaukee to attend an event with law enforcement. But it is the backdrop of in entire meeting that's upsetting a lot of people. This city, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, gripped by racial divisiveness, violent protests after the shooting death of what police black police officer. At least six businesses burned and cars torched. Critics say the meeting today is polarizing, inflaming this growing divide between police and the African-American community. Others call it a surprising move politically considering the latest polling has Mr. Trump at just 1 percent approval among black vote. That's was an NBC News/"Wall Street Journal"/Marist poll. Mr. Trump will hold a rally there this evening before he gets his very first classified intelligence briefing. That occurs tomorrow.

Let's go to Milwaukee, to our colleague, Jason Carroll, in Milwaukee, talk to me more first about this visit with law enforcement and veterans.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, first, let me set the stage of where we are. We are actually now in West Bend. We're about 40 minutes or so from Milwaukee.

In terms of this meeting that you are talking about, Brooke, this meeting in terms of some of some of the details have been kept sort of private by the Trump campaign. I can tell you we have --