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CNN NEWSROOM

Gold Star Moms Remember Their Sons Killed on Mother's Day 2005; Shark Attack Kills Man Swimming Off Maui; Comedian Colin Quinn's "Red State, Blue States" Premieres Tonight at 9:00 P.M. Eastern; Hiker Found Alive After 17 Days in Forest in Hawaii. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired May 27, 2019 - 14:30   ET

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


(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[14:30:00] BETH BELLA (ph), GOLD STAR MOTHER: And we're soul sisters, that's what we've said, about each other. We dearly love each other.

LEESA PHILIPSON (ph), GOLD STAR MOTHER: Beth is Larry's Arlington mother, because we live from afar. And when she comes, she always gives him a hug for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: And what you're hearing in the background just off camera, a Marine is bag piping. I believe it's the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." This young Marine has been out here bag piping for all the families since early morning, again, in this blistering heat. He's walking up and down the aisles and playing for the families who are here.

Every year, 14 years for Beth and Leesa, and they say they absolutely, like other families, they just want their loved ones to be remembered on Memorial Day, 2019 -- Brooke?

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: As they should be and as they are. Soul sisters as they describe themselves.

Barbara Starr, thank you.

He is one of the world's most notorious criminals who has escaped prison twice in the past. Hear why officials fear "El Chapo" may do it again here in the U.S. if one request is granted.

Plus, it's been almost four years since the last time it happened. A shark kills a swimmer just off the coast of Maui. Hear from one witness, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:35:50] BALDWIN: At one of Maui's most popular most beautiful beaches, a deadly shark attack, the first one in Hawaii in nearly four years. It happened Saturday. The victim, a 65-year-old man, identified as Tom Smiley, a repaired optometrist. He went for his last swim before he was set to return home to California when a shark suddenly mauled him. He was just 60 yards from the shore. First responders got him out of the water, gave him CPR, tried to save him but they couldn't.

Horrified beach goers saw it all in unfold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALLISON KELLER, WITNESS: They pulled the man up. He looked unconscious when they transferred him to the other gurney. And we could see they were trying to do CPR on him. But as we got closer, I saw blood on his stomach. And then I got to looking a little bit more, and his wrist, it looked like the skin on his wrist was just torn off. Then I got looking closer, and his entire left leg from his knee down was just missing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Oh.

Josh Moyer is a shark biologist.

Josh, to think this happened to close to shore, 60 yards. How unusual is that?

JOSH MOYER, SHARK BIOLOGIST: Well, unfortunately, it's not as unusual as we'd like to think. Shark attacks, in general, are pretty unusual. There are only, on average, about six fatal shark attacks globally a year.

But of the ones that do occur, that surprising number happened close to shore. Which makes sense if you think about it, because that's where we're spending most of our time. So it stands to reason that if a shark and the human were to come into contact, it would probably be where the humans are spending most of their time, which is about waist-deep water.

BALDWIN: No, it makes sense. I think of the movies I think of sharks deep, out in the deep part of the ocean but, alas, they are coming in closer and closer.

I know the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources says this was the sixth shark attack in Hawaii already this year. That is double the number of attacks there last year. What do you think is spurring the increase?

MOYER: I think that whenever you look at the number of shark attacks, either locally or globally, you need to understand that it's not a single factor that's responsible for those numbers. Everything from the number of people in the water to things like the physical environment, what the weather is, is it highlight, low light, because that effects visibility, the presence or absence of other animals, bait fishes, things like that.

So when it comes to asking the question, why are attacks happening in a given area, there's rarely one single answer.

BALDWIN: Oh awful for this person and his family and for anyone who was there and saw it.

Josh Moyer, thank you so much for coming on and sharing a little bit of your shark expertise. I appreciate it.

MOYER: Absolutely.

[14:38:55] BALDWIN: How about a little bit more of an optimistic one? This woman survives 17 days in a forest. She gets by on berries and guava and river water. Is it her own skills or some of a miracle, is she just staying smart? Hear from her and the person who rescued her and a survivalist on how she managed to stay alive.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Overtly political and pure comedic genius, the two collide tonight in a CNN original series special presentation, Colin Quinn, "RED STATE, BLUE STATE." In the special, Quinn brings the funny, tackling the absurdities and hypocrisies on both sides of the political divide.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN QUINN, COMEDIAN & CNN HOST, "RED STATE, BLUE STATE": I understand it's sad breaking up the United States, but we're already broken up. This would be acknowledging it.

We're already tribal. We're broken into tribes already. It's over. Liberal, conservative, white, black, Latino, Asian, Wall Street, Main Street, the working poor, the forgotten middle class, feminists, soccer moms, dad bods, man tits --

(LAUGHTER)

-- mom jeans, muffin tops, unibrows.

(LAUGHTER)

The paleo, cardio, keto, intersection trans vegan.

We're more tribal than 18th century Afghanistan.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

QUINN: Just admit it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: He's good. He got some laughs.

Here he is, Colin Quinn, with me now.

Nice to see you.

QUINN: You, too.

BALDWIN: Nice to have you on the show.

QUINN: Thanks.

BALDWIN: The Colin Quinn.

So in terms of comedy, this must be fun for you guys in a time that is insane. First, just if you're writing jokes about, let's say, start with Democrats --

QUINN: Right.

BALDWIN: -- what's your go-to funny line? What are the stereotypes of Democrats you jump on?

[14:45:07] QUINN: They're the ones that are intolerant of speech and they're the ones that are just very like --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Politically correct?

QUINN: Yes. Their political correctness is their angle. You know what I mean?

BALDWIN: What about Republicans?

QUINN: The Republicans are just like nuts for -- they refuse to move on anything, guns and - they're just like they refuse to go anywhere. And they're more -- they're more uptight. And Democrats are -- I mean, it's different styles of being uptight, I guess.

BALDWIN: You're taking both on in the special?

QUINN: Yes.

BALDWIN: Do you -- I mean, because politics can be so personal and --

QUINN: It is, yes.

BALDWIN: -- and it makes people -- do you like making people squirm?

QUINN: I don't like it. Maybe I do, but I don't realize it. But I do hate extreme -- I hate people that somehow have decided they have all the answers, which is everybody on social media. And nobody ever says, in my opinion anymore. And first off, people say, in my opinion. Now people are like this.

BALDWIN: A fact.

QUINN: Yes. And it's just a Colin, this, and it's like, it makes me sick.

BALDWIN: But to your point about tribalism --

QUINN: Right.

BALDWIN: -- do you think [- what's the -- what do you hear from people when you're poking fun of Democrats and Republicans, like, it's all fair in the game of comedy --

QUINN: Right.

BALDWIN: -- and because it is so divisive, what do you get after a show? What was the feedback you get?

QUINN: Well, I mean, I've always been -- I've always gotten pretty good feedback. You're supposed to make it funny. If you're lecturing people as a comedian, I feel like you don't want to be scolding other adults that have families and lives. You know what I mean?

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: What do you want people to get out of it?

QUINN: I want them to laugh.

BALDWIN: Yes.

QUINN: I want people to involuntarily laugh, and then they're going to go, all right, that was a good point about my group. You know what I mean?

BALDWIN: So we're about a month away from the beginning. So the first presidential debate --

QUINN: Right.

BALDWIN: -- all 23 spread over two days. When you're watching, what will you be looking for, for material?

QUINN: Just whose got -- you try to look for what everybody else isn't looking for. You know what I mean? You're like, oh, the gold is going to be -- every late-night show is going to get it, get it, get it.

BALDWIN: With the obvious stuff.

QUINN: Yes. By the time you get there, you've got to go for something -- you look for another angle, like a third-tier candidate.

BALDWIN: And then you find that little thing?

QUINN: Yes. And something more human and backstage stuff. You try to look for moments like that, you know.

BALDWIN: OK. "Saturday Night Live."

QUINN: Right. BALDWIN: I remember meeting you in the halls of 30 Rock, way back in your weekend update days. There was this whole opinion piece in "The Daily Beast" about how making the case that "Saturday Night Live" should get rid of the Donald Trump/Alec Baldwin impersonation. One of the quotes is, "To wit: if 'Saturday Night Live' wants to be great again, it has to start ignoring Trump."

Do you agree?

QUINN: It's impossible to ignore Trump. I mean, come on. I mean, they don't have to -- maybe they don't have to have everything built around this thing, but you can't ignore Trump. You can't ignore him. How could you do it? I can't even conceive of that.

BALDWIN: Yes.

Can we have a little fun on Memorial Day and play word association?

QUINN: Sure.

BALDWIN: OK. Just because -- I'm going to rattle off words and you tell me the first thing on your mind.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: You're sitting up straight.

QUINN: I want to tell you up front, every time I see somebody do this, I think, I hate this, I hope I never have to do it. Now I have to do it.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Here we go. Colin Quinn, this was just in the news today, Kim Jong-Un.

QUINN: Kim Jong-Un? Stable genius.

BALDWIN: Stable genius.

FOX News.

QUINN: FOX News? I'm not -- I'm not going to be at CNN.

BALDWIN: 2020.

QUINN: 2020? I don't know. What is --

BALDWIN: When we elect the next president?

QUINN: I was thinking of the show, "20/20."

BALDWIN: Barbara Walters, "20/20."

QUINN: Break up.

BALDWIN: Break up.

Joe Biden.

QUINN: Joe Biden? Affectionate. Touchy feely.

BALDWIN: Elizabeth Warren.

Elizabeth Warren.

QUINN: Elizabeth Warren? Scold.

BALDWIN: Scold.

"Game of Thrones."

QUINN: "Game of Thrones?" Prescient.

BALDWIN: Prescient.

Beyonce.

QUINN: Beyonce? I mean, I'm not going to -- what am I going to say about -- I don't even think about things like that.

BALDWIN: Queen B.

QUINN: I know. I was going to say queen --

BALDWIN: And the last --

QUINN: But then I'm like, yes. I mean, Jesus.

BALDWIN: I don't want to get you in trouble. Because, because congrats, you're engaged.

QUINN: Oh, yes.

BALDWIN: So marriage.

QUINN: Beyonce? Oh, marriage? A dream come true.

BALDWIN: Is she watching right now?

Thanks, buddy. I just came up on one year.

QUINN: If she's not, one of her friends is.

BALDWIN: OK.

Colin Quinn, good luck.

QUINN: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Thank you so much.

QUINN: Thank you so much. BALDWIN: Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Colin Quinn. Make sure you watch the comedy special that's bigger than both sides. Colin Quinn, "RED STATE, BLUE STATE," premieres tonight, 9:00 Eastern and Pacific, only here on CNN.

Thank you.

[14:50:05] During his trip abroad, the president is siding with a murderous dictator over his advisers, America's allies, and he's also agrees with Kim Jong-Un's insults against Joe Biden. So there's that. We'll talk about it.

Also, more on our breaking news. We're getting word another person has died trying to summit Mount Everest, an American. Some climbers are getting stuck in traffic jams up on the mountain. We'll talk about that as well.

You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:54:55] BALDWIN: A harrowing story with just a spectacular outcome. A woman who went missing for 17 days has been found alive. She's Amanda Eller. She credits her survival to a will to live. And she survived on berries and river water.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANDA ELLER, LOST HIKER FOUND AFTER 17 DAYS: The last 17 days of my life have been the toughest days of my life. And it's been a really significant spiritual journey that I was guided on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Eller has been released from the hospital. Her doctors shocked that she suffered only minor injuries following her rescue on Friday. She was airlifted out of this heavy tree canopy in the Makawao Forest in Maui.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, my god.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Eller said she set out her shoes to dry when she they were suddenly swept away by a flash flood. She also broke a shinbone. She couldn't walk. Her ankles and feet became so sunburned, they became -- oh, those photos -- infected. Her doctor holding back tears as she praised Eller's survival skills.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ZORA BULATOVIC, HIKER'S ATTENDING PHYSICIAN: She was able to manage to stay hydrated with the river water and taking in -- eating fresh fruits from the trees, trying to keep her nutrition up. So she was well educated in that, and she knew exactly what to take and managed to stay well hydrated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Eller's mother says, on May 8th, her daughter went for a three-mile walk and took a different path than usual. She stopped to meditate. She took a short nap and woke up. Then she couldn't figure out where she was or how to get back to her car.

Her mother says her family never gave up hope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIA ELLER, MOTHER OF AMANDA ELLER: I had those moments of despair. It was hard going out there every day, high on hope that we were going to find her, that today was the day, to come back without finding her.

I'm only human like anyone else, but I felt in my heart that my daughter was alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Amanda Eller sending a powerful message about her will to live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELLER: There were times of total fear and loss and wanting to give up. And it did come down to live and death, and I had to choose. And I chose life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Bill Schindler is the host of the National Geographic series, "The Great Human Race." He's also the director of Eastern Shore Food Lab in Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.

So, Bill, thank you for being here.

I mean, 17 days. Put yourself in her situation. You wake up. Somehow she was discombobulated, didn't realize where she was and must have gone deeper in and totally got lost. What is the first thing you want to do?

BILL SCHINDLER, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HOST, "THE GREAT HUMAN RACE" & DIRECTOR, EASTERN SHORE FOOD LAB, WASHINGTON COLLEGE: That's an incredibly long period of time. And it really speaks to her will and her character more than anything else.

And the first thing you need to do is make sure you stay calm, conserve resources, stay safe. Hydrate yourself, hydrate yourself which are all things she certainly did.

But I think what is again really speaks to is her will. She's incredibly strong mentally to be able to survive this. And if we look into our past in a role that even evolution played, we

are one of the weakest species on the planet. Biologically, we are. We require technologies to feed ourselves and to protect ourselves in the elements. If you look at what she was facing, she had none of those things. From shoes to a cell phone, she had no technologies whatsoever.

BALDWIN: On the cell phone point, and I can understand as someone who has to be constantly connected, it is the best day in the world when you're out in the middle of nowhere, and you're on a hike, and you say, I'm going to leave my phone behind, I'll be fine. What is your advice for people who want to disconnect and don't want to bring their phone with them?

SCHINDLER: My suggestion is to bring the phone and turn it off. You at least have the option to turn it on. And in absence of that, it's difficult to communicate over long distances in the wilderness. Things like climbing metal, those sounds will carry far, but just screaming is exhausting, and it doesn't do much good.

BALDWIN: What do you think in that -- in her situation for those 17 days was the biggest challenge? Was it not knowing if certain water was clean? Is it the sun? You saw her feet. What was the hardest part for her?

SCHINDLER: It had to be mental. And that, again, speaks to how incredibly strong she really is. Water is certainly important. And she overcame that.

But again, just speaking to that role that technology plays and the way we interact with the environment, and after all, we're animals. We love these stories of survival because we can't survive without technologies. We can see how that played a very large role in her losing 15 pounds.

Even though she ate -- the only food we can access with just our hands and our bodies are insects and plants, and she did that. And that was fantastic. She still lost 15 pounds.

And her exposure to the elements, her legs and the sunburn, and her absence of the shoes, all of that was incredibly difficult.

[15:00:00]