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Women's Combat Roles; Trump High with GOP Women; Allegations Tarnish Prep School's Image; State Department Flags 305 of Clinton's E-mails for Review; Teaming Up Against Cancer. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired August 18, 2015 - 09:30   ET

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


[09:30:00] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: That's an intensive training program. The combat course so grueling, only one-third of those who start it actually finish.

I'm not just talking about push-ups and sit-ups. Take a look at this list. From parachute jumps to several obstacle courses, a five-mile run in 40 minutes, and 27 days of mock combat patrols. These women have truly proved they can more than hang with the boys. And while the graduation marks a major step forward for women, they're still not getting the same opportunities as their male peers.

Barbara Starr joins us now from the Pentagon to explain.

Good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

This is absolutely a huge step forward, not all the way, but forward for women in the volunteer force of the United States military. The effort has been for the last couple of years to try and figure out a way to open up combat jobs to qualified military women. And that decision about really opening combat to women will be made later this year. But this is a step along the way, Ranger school.

They are now on Friday going to be awarded their Ranger tab, and they have more than earned it. As you say, this is some of the most grueling training. Men and women often drop out. These are the first two women to finish the course.

Let me go -- just go back a minute. I don't think you can explain enough how tough this training really is. You pointed it out, 49 push- ups, 59 sit-ups, a five mile run in 40 minutes. All of that in 40 minutes. Chip-ups, swimming, a 12 mile foot march in three hours. Several obstacle courses. Four days of mountaineering, parachute jumps, air assault, 27 days of mock combat patrols. You know, that would be enough to put any of us, you know, flat on our backs I suspect. But these women have made the effort. They have gone all out and they will be awarded their Ranger tab.

Now, they will not be able to join a Ranger regimental unit in combat any time soon. Again, the Pentagon still looking at the end of the year, the first of next year, to make that all-important decision about what exact combat units women will be allowed to join. This is a huge step forward, however, and is being very closely watched by military women. I can tell you already in Pentagon hallways this morning, a lot of women are talking about it and men and women very proud of the accomplishment.

Carol.

COSTELLO: And some, what, 288 men dropped out. These women are amazing.

STARR: Indeed.

COSTELLO: Barbara Starr, many thanks. Indeed. Thank you so much, Barbara.

Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIMMY FALLON, LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST: Yes, so the Donald Trump reported for jury duty today in New York City. Yes. Marking the first time someone didn't have to pretend that they were racist or sexist to get out of jury duty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Oh, go on, joke about The Donald, but a new CNN/ORC poll shows Trump is no joke. He leads the Republican field bigtime. Twenty- four percent of GOP voters love the real estate giant. Jeb Bush comes in a distant second. But what's most surprising about this poll is this, 60 percent of Republican women have a favorable view of Mr. Trump. Apparently they do not care that Trump called Rosie O'Donnell a fat pig or called Fox News star Megyn Kelly unprofessional or dissed Heidi Klum by insisting to "The New York Times" the supermodel and master business woman is no longer a 10. Klum hit back tweeting out this video to her followers.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

COSTELLO: She has a sense of humor. Let's talk about all this in a serious way with Republican political consultant Mindy Finn. She's worked as a digital consultant for Mitt Romney and George W. Bush. She now runs the nonprofit called Empowered Women. Also joining us, author and columnist for townhall.com, Katie Kieffer.

Welcome to both of you.

MINDY FINN, REPUBLICAN POLITICAL CONSULTANT: Thanks for having me.

KATIE KIEFFER, AUTHOR, "LET ME BE CLEAR": Thank you for having me on.

COSTELLO: Thanks to both of you for being here.

So, Mindy, 60 percent of Republican women like Trump. Seventeen percent of independent and left leaning women like Trump. That is a major league gap. How do you explain that? FINN: Well, I think if you look at the issues -- and in the same poll

it was asked, who do you trust to handle specific issues like the economy, like the fight against ISIS, like national security, and Trump's rating on those issues are through the roof. It's skyrocketed over the last couple of months. Those are the top issues for women as well. So I think that's how you explain it.

You know, Trump's support among women has slipped a little bit and I think that's notable. But I think we make a mistake when we think that, you know, women necessarily vote on different issues than men do. The economy is tops for them as well.

[09:35:07] COSTELLO: So is that it, Katie, because Trump often says he cherishes women and he'll take care of women. Does that strike a chord with women voters when Mr. Trump says those kinds of things?

KIEFFER: Well, besides his amazing hair, I believe that Donald Trump resonates with women, primarily because he plays the game of politics the same way that Maria Sharipova plays the game of tennis. He's out there and he's confident and he's aggressive, working hard, taking risks, much like her on the court. But also, Maria Sharipova is famous for shrieking and yelling and Donald Trump, likewise, is also a grunter. He will make some very unpalatable statements. But that doesn't impact his core game. And another thing that those two share in common is that they're entrepreneurs. And in researching my latest book where I talk about millennials and spent three years researching them, I found that 70 percent of millennials aspire to become entrepreneurs. So they look at Trump as one of 16 candidates who's the only one who's an entrepreneur and that's why I believe that millennial women look up to him and do see him in a positive light.

COSTELLO: Interesting. Interesting. And just -- so, but, Mindy, everybody thought, you know, Donald Trump really dissed Megyn Kelly, called her unprofessional. I thought she asked a great, fair question. And everybody thought that would matter. Why didn't it, in your mind?

FINN: Yes, I mean, I think the -- Trump is a brand and he talks about -- you know it's for -- a lot of -- not just women, but men, they look at politics, they look at the conversation that's happening in Washington and it doesn't -- it's like showing up at a dental conference when you're not a dentist. I think what they like about Trump is he -- he just simplifies everything and it's not just for women but for men. He's appealing to the common man.

I think Katie's point is really sound, which is that for many, and particularly younger women, they aspire to start and run a business every day. No matter what their situation is right now, they would love to be able to rise from nearly nothing to become a billionaire. And they do see that Trump and the Trump family as achieving that American dream.

COSTELLO: So, Katie, is there any other Republican candidate out there that might appeal to women?

KIEFFER: Well, Carson is resonating pretty strongly with them, primarily because he is not a politician, as well as Rand Paul has political opinions that resonate strongly with them, such as his willingness to crack down on the NSA. You see that millennials are -- have lost a historic level of trust in the federal government according to the latest Harvard poll and so they are going to align themselves with candidate who do not come across as politicians.

COSTELLO: Interesting.

So, Mindy, when all is said and done, because I know you have extensive experience with presidential campaigns, how do you think this will shake out?

FINN: I do think that Trump will hit a ceiling. I think the other important statistic to look at is, who do people think should represent Republicans in the general election, who is the most electable? Fifty-eight percent said that the Republicans would do better without Trump. You know, we're talking about primary voters and him resonating. But a lot of the things, like the insults against Megyn Kelly and some of his positions on the issues do not resonate with the general election audience. So, at the end of the day, I don't believe that Trump will be the nominee and I think Republicans will be better for it in appealing to women.

COSTELLO: All right, Katie Kieffer, Mindy Finn, thank you so much to both of you. I appreciate your being with me this morning.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, sex, lies and prep school? The hidden tradition at this prestigious institution that has one former student on trial for rape.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:43:20] COSTELLO: We turn now to that prestigious prep school facing national scrutiny. At the crux, a tradition called "the senior salute." At the top of the hour, opening statements will begin for this recent grad. He's accused of raping a 15-year-old girl. The trial exposing a culture of sexual conquest at St. Paul's, a school renowned for grooming future leaders like John Kerry. He once roamed those halls. But today those same halls are marred by allegations of a secret sex competition. Boris Sanchez has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Six congressmen, 13 U.S. ambassadors and our current secretary of state, John Kerry, have all called this prestigious prep school home. But today the steep traditions of St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, are getting a closer look as allegations of rape put the school under a spotlight. Nineteen-year-old Owen Labrie has been charged with the sexual assault of a 15-year-old student on campus last year, just two days before his graduation. Citing a police interview with Labrie, the Associated Press reports the alleged rape may have been part of a tradition called the "senior salute." "The Concord Monitor's" Jeremy Blackman says Labrie was not in the contest alone.

JEREMY BLACKMAN, STAFF REPORTER, "CONCORD MONITOR": This case raised an issue that a number of students are taking part in an annual tradition of competing with one another to have sexual encounters with under classmen.

SANCHEZ: According to the AP, senior boys kept a running tally of sexual encounter with marker on a laundry room wall. And later, the teen told detectives he was trying to be number one.

[09:45:00] BLACKMAN: Oh and Labrie claims there were a couple of different kinds of senior salutes, some that were not sexual at all, some that were just going for a walk with a student or kissing someone.

SANCHEZ: Court documents obtained by Blackman show Labrie's encounter went well beyond kissing.

BLACKMAN: According to his account, she was acting very aggressively towards him and that he in fact had a condom in his pocket that she pulled out, according to his account. And that he put it on but quotes divine intervention and that it went no further than that.

SANCHEZ: According "The Monitor" however, a medical examination shows the female student had a, quote, "laceration that would be consistent with penetration having occurred." End quote. Labrie has plead not guilty to all charges.

A spokesperson for St. Paul's tells CNN, quote, "current allegations about our culture are not emblematic of our school or our values, our rules, or the people who represent body, alumni, faculty and staff." End quote.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Boris Sanchez reporting. CNN has also learned that Labrie was set to attend Harvard this year to study theology. But he is no longer enrolled.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, officials think hundreds of e-mails from Hillary Clinton's private server could contain secret information. Hear her response, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:50:54] COSTELLO: The State Department has only just started combing through Hillary Clinton's private e-mail server, and they've already found hundreds, yes hundreds, of potentially classified documents. After looking at just one-fifth of her e-mails, they've already flagged 305 of them. In other words, some 5 percent of her e- mails could be filled with secretive government information.

CNN's Evan Perez live in Washington with more. Good morning, Evan.

EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: Good morning, Carol. And that's right, U.S. intelligence agencies are now taking a closer look at 305 documents from Hillary Clinton's private e-mail server for possible classified information. The State Department told a federal judge on Monday that the e-mails were flagged as part of a review by five intelligence agencies. The government lawyer said that, quote, "Out of a sample of approximately 20 percent of Clinton e-mails, the reviewers have only recommended 305 documents, approximately 5.1 percent, for referral to their agencies for consultation."

Clinton has said that she didn't send or receive any e-mails that were labeled as classified. Now here's how she views this controversy, Carol.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And you know what? It's not about e-mails or servers either. It's about politics. I will do my part to provide transparency to Americans. That's why I have insisted 55,000 pages of my e-mails be published as soon as possible. I have even offered to answer questions for months before Congress.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREZ: And, Carol, as you hear, she's very fiery there in responding that this is about politics, but we should add that the FBI and the Justice Department, run by the Democratic administration, is doing its own investigation of the e-mail server, so this appears to be beyond just political.

COSTELLO: All right. Evan Perez reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, two competing baseball managers teaming up. The reason may make you cry.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:57:03] COSTELLO: A scary moment on the mound for New York Yankees rookie pitcher Brian Mitchell. He took a line drive to the face. This is hard to watch, I just want to warn you. But Mitchell is OK and he's lucky. Watch this. Oh, wow. He suffered a small nasal fracture after that. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation. He was later released. Of course, team doctors are monitoring him for concussion-like symptoms. Our best to him. Wow.

Well, here is proof friendship is stronger than sports rivalry. As the Cleveland Indians get ready to take on the Red Sox tonight, the team's managers are putting aside their baseball battle for a different kind of fight.

CNN's Andy Scholes is here to tell us more. Good morning.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Carol. Friday, Red Sox manager John Farrell announced that he had Stage 1 lymphoma and would not be managing the team for the rest of the season. He's set to begin his first round of chemotherapy today at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Indians manager Terry Francona, well, he'll be right by his side.

Farrell and Francona, they've been friends since they played together on the Indians back in 1988. They also coached together with the Red Sox. Farrell was Francona's pitching coach when the team won a title in 2007. And when Francona found out that Farrell would be starting his treatment while the Indians were in Boston for a three-game series with the Red Sox this week, well, Francona told Farrell he was going to go to the hospital with him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERRY FRANCONA, CLEVELAND INDIANS MANAGER: I mean, I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. None of us do. But he's one of my very best friends, and if somehow maybe he ends up laughing or, I don't know, maybe I get in the way like I usually do, but I just felt like I wanted to be there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: And, Carol, Farrell is a pretty lucky guy. Doctors discovered the cancer while he was undergoing surgery for a hernia. And Farrell says this cancer is highly curable and that he fully expects to be back in the dugout for the Red Sox next season.

But, you know, Francona coming along with him to the hospital, Carol, just shows what a great guy he is. Everyone always speaks so highly of Francona, and Farrell said he, Francona is always a guy that's just joking and making fun of every situation. So he's probably just going to be there and give him a nice laugh while he's going through such a tough time.

COSTELLO: But I really think what he said is important, because when a friend of yours comes down with something like cancer, you really don't know what to say and you don't know what to do. But you want to be with them in some way. So I think that was a beautiful thing he said.

SCHOLES: Yeah, you know, those two guys I'm sure have been together through a lot of different things. They were in the Red Sox dugout together for years when Francona was the manager of the Red Sox and Farrell was there as his pitching coach. So I'm sure they've been in a lot of dicey situations, none of them comparing to what Farrell is about to go through. But I'm sure he's going to be happy to have Francona right there by his side as he, at least as he begins this treatment.

COSTELLO: That's awesome. Thanks so much, Andy Scholes. I appreciate it.

SCHOLES: All right.

COSTELLO: The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, hunting the man in yellow.

[10:00:00] Police in Bangkok say he is the suspect in the deadly bombing of a popular shrine.