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At Least 74 Dead Following 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake in Colombia; Embattled Rep. Max Miller Stays in Race Past Deadline for Withdrawal; Jury Selection Begins in Trial for Man Accused of Murdering 2Pac. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired August 10, 2026 - 13:30   ET

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


[13:30:00]

RICHARD EMBLIN, DIRECTOR AND FOUNDING PARTNER, THE CITY PAPER BOGOTA: -- kind coffee growing capitals of Colombia. Pereira, Manizales, which is beautiful, graceful church has all the spires -- where one of the spires has collapsed.

Now we will see Abelardo, Colombia's Tiger, is right on the ball right now. He's activated -- he's declared a national emergency. And what's worrisome is what happened in Colombia's third largest city, Cali, where we're beginning to see scenes of widespread devastation and at least 20 buildings that have collapsed.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Yeah, I mean, Richard, that's really, I think, the story that you're zeroing in on. When we see that picture of Cali, and if we can bring that back up, we see basically the landscape and you almost see these puffs of debris from what appear to be buildings that have collapsed.

At this point, can you talk to us about the challenges of even understanding fully what is happening there and what the casualties may be

EMBLIN: Well, they are saying that, right now, there are 19 dead in Cali. Now, Cali is at the heart of Colombia's agricultural breadbasket, the Valley of Cauca, this large expanse of sugarcane plantations. So that could in some ways help buffer slightly the impact of what was a very deep quake.

This was a quake that was first registered by the Colombian Geological Society as a 6.6, but rapidly ramped up to a 7.4. The problem with Cali is it has a large vulnerable population and very poor neighborhoods. And these houses, these buildings are built very, very informally with bad construction material. So we don't know really how many of these buildings have fallen down.

In 1999, on the 25th of January, the coffee region was also struck by a very powerful earthquake. And since then, in close to three decades, the Colombian and the local (inaudible) have reinforced their buildings. So I think the tragedy will be now to see how this earthquake, which was quite far away from the capital of the Valley of Cauca, what kind of devastation it has left on this large industrial and agricultural city. KEILAR: And as you mentioned, obviously things are kicking into motion, but you did mention that Colombia has a brand new president. I mean, brand new, right? Just sworn in on Friday. What kind of challenges are ahead for the government here?

EMBLIN: Well, I think it's a real call to action because unfortunately, over the last four years, there's been a lot of inaction from the outgoing president, Gustavo Petro. So now, this is Abelardo or Colombia's Tiger's time to shine and administer and with his Vice President, the highly capable economist, Jose Manuel Restrepo, they're going to be able to do absolutely show the Colombians that they have the capacity and the resources to respond.

Immediately, Abelardo canceled his agenda today and is dedicated in Bogota, now at the Unified Command Post, to oversee all the emergency response. Now the sirens are going off again. One second. In the background, I'm beginning to hear sirens again in Bogota. So this is supposed -- we could have aftershocks and most likely there will be aftershocks along the Pacific Coast, which was also this large quake today in San Jose del Palmar was even felt in Ecuador, Panama, and some reports are saying across the Colombian border with Venezuela. So this was powerful.

KEILAR: Yeah.

EMBLIN: Now I think Abelardo has decreed this national emergency and all the resources of the state will be put to attend the most vulnerable and the people impacted.

KEILAR: Obviously, a lot of people are watching this. What's the country most in need of right now?

EMBLIN: At the moment, they're calling for blood. They're asking anybody who can donate blood to go to your local health post. This is going to be very important. Colombia, this is quite an affluent area of Colombia, the coffee region, as you can imagine. It's got very well-developed cities, large financial infrastructures, and it's really the heart of what people know in Colombia as the coffee axis.

So no call yet for clothing and donations, but what people will be needing urgently is first response in hospitals.

KEILAR: Unfortunately, we just lost Richard's signal there, as he just said, and we don't know if this is connected, but he was hearing sirens in the back there, as he said. Actually, Richard, I think we just re-established the connection there. You were saying that they will need first response, and what else will they need?

EMBLIN: Well, definitely, maybe food donations if people want to donate food from the larger cities in Colombia. Medellin is Colombia's second largest city, and it's also a very highly developed capital. So -- and it wasn't terribly impacted, despite the fact that it was closer to the epicenter than Cali, just because of the way of the geological formation and the ridges.

[13:35:00] So obviously, this long earthquake, because it took over a minute, it lasted over a minute, we saw it in Bogota. Antennas were shaking at the top of skyscrapers, bus stops were rattling, and this is Bogota, which is actually in a completely different Andean ridge than where the epicenter, let's say, took place.

KEILAR: Yeah, unbelievable pictures that we're seeing. Richard, thank you so much for being with us and just giving us such an idea of the geography and what people are dealing with there. We really appreciate it.

EMBLIN: Well, thank you very much, Brianna, and thank you very much.

KEILAR: So it has been 30 years since Republicans won a Senate seat in Michigan, but they believe they have their best chance yet with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed as their opponent. Could though their attacks backfire? We'll look at that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:40:38]

KEILAR: A U.S. House seat once considered safe for Republicans could suddenly be back in play now that Congressman Max Miller is officially staying in the race despite allegations of abuse by multiple women including his ex-wife. Miller's refusal to step aside by a deadline over the weekend means GOP leaders will not be able to find a replacement before November to go on the ballot.

CNN's Annie Grayer is tracking all of these developments for us. Annie, Miller is still on the ballot, so what happens now?

ANNIE GRAYER, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: He is in this race, Brianna. He is fighting for his political career and he is defiant that he is innocent that he has done nothing wrong and he -- that is why he ultimately decided to stay in this race.

He has not been charged with any crime and in fact, he pushed the House Ethics Committee to launch an investigation into him which we know it's going to take time to play out. But behind the scenes, ahead of this deadline that just passed, Republican leaders were pushing Miller to try and get out of the race because they were concerned that the allegations that are so serious surrounding Miller could hurt his chances of winning in November and the Republican effort to try and hold on to the majority because we know that the midterms and the power -- balance of power in the House is going to come down to just a handful of seats.

And even though Republicans carried Miller's district by 11 points in 2024, they are concerned that given the allegations running Miller that it could hurt their chances and give an opening to Democrats. So lawmakers were pushing Miller behind the scene, some have come out publicly because on top of all of this, Miller's ex-wife Emily, her father is Republican Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio, and he has been leading the charge among Republicans in the Senate to say that Miller needed to step aside and was trying to get more colleagues to also call on Miller to get out of the race and that list was growing.

But Miller has remained defiant through all of this. He even through this process spoke with President Trump who were told didn't tell Miller to get out of the race, but just said it would be a difficult re-election campaign. And our colleague Lauren Fox went to Miller's district last week to talk to voters about all of this and some said, Brianna, that they wanted to give Congressman Miller a chance that he is innocent until proven guilty and that he should run his race.

Others were very deeply concerned about the allegations surrounding him and said it could impact their vote, so it's really going to come down to this district in Ohio that wasn't considered a swing district before these allegations, but now all of a sudden is in play because Miller is staying in this race.

KEILAR: Yeah. Now it's really one to watch. Annie Grayer, thank you so much for that report. Boris?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Now to Michigan where another closely watched race could tip the balance of power in the Senate after a bruising Democratic primary. Republicans see a real opportunity to win a Senate race there for the first time in more than 30 years. In an interview with CNN, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina says that Republican Mike Rogers has a great chance of beating Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and better odds than if El-Sayed's primary opponent, the more moderate Haley Stevens had won.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): But we know is certain is that Abdul El-Sayed is making it easier why because he is inconsistent with Michiganders of either side of the aisle by the way, somebody wants to defund police, defund ICE, who wants to abolish our concept of a border, he's just -- he's just wrong for Michigan.

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And I saw your early attack ads against him, you're using his full name in these attack ads which has gotten some attention. Abdul Rahman Muhammad El- Sayed. He goes by Abdul El-Sayed. Are you trying to say hint-hint to voters he's Muslim?

SCOTT: Not at all, what we're only saying to voters is a simple thing, he says he's the most dangerous candidate you can find. He's right. We should trust his words, not ours.

RAJU: But do you -- why not just use his name Abdul El-Sayed, which he goes by.

SCOTT: Well, listen, I go by Timothy Eugene and so I get called that all the time. Here's what I know with that question, it's about what he stands for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: With us now, CNN Senior Political Commentator, former Congressman, Adam Kinzinger. Adam, great to see you as always. Do you agree with Senator Scott that progressive candidates like Abdul El- Sayed have made it easier for Republicans this November?

[13:45:00]

ADAM KINZINGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah. Now let me first off say about Tim, he knows exactly what they're doing with that commercial and he's a man of faith. I don't doubt that, so tell the truth. They're exactly signaling the fact that he is Muslim, and so just be honest about that, right?

But yeah, I do think, look, there's no doubt in my mind that Hayley Stevens would have had a much better shot against Mike Rogers. Not that El-Sayed doesn't have a good shot, but I can't see a situation where you're going to see Republicans that would have voted for Mike Rogers now be convinced to vote for El-Sayed, whereas the other way around, it could have been.

The interesting thing about Mike Rogers, I knew him, I served with him in the House, this was a guy who had a strong disdain for Donald Trump that all of a sudden has made a decision that Donald Trump is his best friend. I think that's going to hurt him, but no doubt it's a tougher -- it'd be a tougher road to hoe for the Democrats in Michigan.

SANCHEZ: Well, it's interesting you mentioned President Trump there, because his Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, predicted last year that he would be campaigning during these midterms like it was 2024, like it was a presidential cycle. He has not done that yet.

I wonder if you think that would change. Are there Republicans out there who perhaps don't want the president to stump with them, given the political circumstances we're in?

KINZINGER: Look, there may be six or seven Republicans who want him to come to their district, but I think the rest of them are kind of like, hey, he is a very unpopular, to use Sarah Longwell's comment, there's the Bush line, which is what George W. Bush got out to at his lowest number, and it was really generational damage to the GOP. That's where Donald Trump is now.

So if you're a Republican in any kind of a competitive race, you probably want to have Donald Trump stay out of your district. Donald Trump doesn't love working right now. He hasn't traveled much, but I think certainly, the White House, to their credit, their political operation recognizes that they're not going to try to force Trump on people.

The only problem is they're not giving people the opportunity to vote against him. You know, people like Bill Cassidy in Louisiana, instead they still have to fall in line, and that's what's going to damage them.

SANCHEZ: Notably, a big part of that unpopularity, according to polling, is the war with Iran and the growing likelihood that the war is going to drag on through the midterms. I wonder, if you were running again, how would you try and sell the current situation to voters? Is that something you think voters would even believe, that you try to sell them this scenario of this ongoing war, an apparent quagmire, without easy solution, as some sort of win?

KINZINGER: I don't think there's any way you can sell this as a win. I mean, even, I'm trying to like rack my brain, if I was running and I had to try to sell this as part of my campaign, I don't think there's much you can do. You can't point to any of the existing situations and say, hey, yeah, we depleted most of our high-precision weapons, the Strait is still closed. But that's a good thing, because X, Y, and Z.

And, you know, they tried early to say they've depleted their missiles or their drones, but they're using missiles and drones. So this is a very difficult one. Now, you know, if I was running and I said I didn't agree with the war, which I don't think we should have launched, but now it's a matter of, OK, do you want to just vacate that area, let Iran have control, let them be stronger, or should we try to put at least economic pressure on them? I think that's the best answer, the economic pressure, given the bad scenario.

But there is no way, I think, to sell this with a straight face. They're going to try, right? They have to. But I don't think anybody on CIA truth juice is going to actually look and say, we're better off today because we launched this war.

(LAUGH)

SANCHEZ: We might see Hunter Biden perhaps giving some truth juice as he sits down with Tucker Carlson today. Their interview is getting released. I'm interested in watching it, in part because over the last few days and weeks, speculation has been growing that Carlson is going to run for president. Last month, he vowed to help build a third party. What do you think of him as a potential candidate?

KINZINGER: I mean, look, outside of my views of him, he would certainly be able to pick up a following. I would love them to start a new party because I think that's great for the country because it would allow the Republicans to actually get back to being normal and not have to worry about this. But these guys, let's keep in mind, Tucker Carlson is basically a mouthpiece for Russia. You know, dislikes Ukraine.

I was very disappointed, honestly, to see Hunter sit down and talk with him. I'm all for going to audiences that you need to reach out to, but when you have somebody that is so clearly in the pocket of Russia, to give them any kind of more attention, I don't know.

But look, if he wants to go out and run, I think he would make a compelling case, a compelling candidate because there's a good 10 to 20 percent of the GOP that likes what he says.

[13:50:00]

He certainly won't win. And I think it would be good for the country if there were more opportunities and if the Republican Party could actually maybe try to get back to being a sane party like it was maybe 10 years ago.

SANCHEZ: Adam Kinzinger, always appreciate your perspective. Thanks for joining us.

KINZINGER: You bet.

SANCHEZ: Of course. Up next, jury selection is underway in the Tupac Shakur murder trial. We have the latest after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:55:00]

SANCHEZ: Happening now, after nearly 30 years, the trial surrounding one of hip-hop's biggest mysteries is getting underway. Jury selection has started in the case against Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the man accused of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rap legend, Tupac Shakur.

Now, what has kept this case in the limelight and what has moved it forward is some of Davis' own words about what happened that night that will now be used against him. Nick Watt is breaking down how we got here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Keffe, Metro Police, come over her.

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Duane "Keffe" Davis, a.k.a. Keffe D, was arrested three years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what they got you for, man?

DUANE "KEFFE D" DAVIS, ACCUSED OF MURDERING TUPAC SHAKUR: Biggest case in Las Vegas history.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yeah?

WATT (voice-over): The shooting, the killing of Tupac Shakur at a stoplight in Vegas late one night after a Mike Tyson fight nearly 30 years ago. Back then, many thought 2Pac's death was down to the East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry that had flared up in the early '90s.

Just three months before he was killed, 2Pac released "Hit Em Up," dissing and threatening his friend-turned-rival, Biggie Smalls, and other East Coast rappers.

TUPAC SHAKUR, AMERICAN RAPPER: Westside, when we ride, come equipped with game. You claim to be a player, but I [expletive] your wife. We bust on Bad Boys, [expletive] for life.

WATT (voice-over): Biggie was gunned down and killed six months after 2Pac. No one has ever been charged with his murder. But here's what prosecutors will argue at Keffe D's trial that starts this week, detailed by a homicide detective just after Duane Davis, Keffe D's arrest.

LT. JASON JOHANSSON, LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: As we all know, Tupac Shakur was an artist who was signed with Death Row Records. And that Death Row Records and its CEO, Marion Suge Knight, were closely affiliated with the Mob Piru criminal street gangs, and that they had an ongoing feud with the South Side Compton Crips. Duane Davis was the leader and shot caller of the South Side Compton Crips.

WATT (voice-over): Members of both gangs were, say police, at the Tyson fight in the MGM Grand that night. And afterwards, in the lobby, 2Pac, Knight, and others spotted Keffe D's nephew, Orlando Anderson, and beat him up.

JOHANSSON: Little did anyone know that it is this incident right here that would ultimately lead to the retaliatory shooting and death of Tupac Shakur. Duane Davis began to devise a plan to obtain a firearm and retaliate against Suge Knight and Mr. Shakur for what occurred inside the hotel against Mr. Anderson.

WATT (voice-over): Anderson, his uncle Keffe D, and two other men allegedly got into a white Cadillac and followed Knight and 2Pac, who were in a black BMW en route to a club. Investigators allege it was Anderson who actually pulled the trigger.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Were you involved in any way in the death of Tupac Shakur?

ORLANDO ANDERSON, KEFFE D'S NEPHEW: No, I was not involved.

WATT (voice-over): Anderson was shot and killed eight months after that interview with CNN. Keffe D is the only man who was in that white Cadillac who is still alive. He's now 63. No one says he pulled the trigger, but he was, they say, the shot caller. And under Nevada law, he can still be charged with murder.

JOHANSSON: Within the first few months of the investigation, our detectives knew most of the information I just briefed you on. However, we never had the necessary evidence to bring this case forward.

WATT (voice-over): His own words say investigators were Keffe D's undoing.

JOHANSSON: Specifically, Duane Davis' own admissions to his involvement in this homicide investigation that he provided to numerous different media outlets.

WATT (voice-over): He described the moment, he says, he handed Anderson, who he calls Lane, a gun while riding in the white Cadillac. It's an audio featured in the documentary, "Murder Rap: Inside the Biggie and Tupac Murders."

DAVIS: I gave it to DRE and DRE was like, no, no, no. And Lane's like, dude, fuck you.

WATT (voice-over): But in July, Keffe D denied being involved in the killings, telling a Las Vegas news station he wasn't even in Nevada when 2Pac was killed. Suge Knight is also still alive, right now serving 28 years for manslaughter in an unrelated case. He's on the prosecution's witness list.

DAVIS: I ain't worried though, I didn't do [expletive] so --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I mean, that's what court's for right?

WATT (voice-over): 2Pac died six days after he was shot. And now, nearly 30 years later, Keffe D gets his day in court.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And Nick Watt joins us now. Nick, a key piece of evidence in this trial is going to be Davis' tell-all book.

WATT (on camera): Yeah, Boris, I mean, the key piece of evidence. 30 years later, there's not much other evidence left. The book is called "Compton Street Legend." And what we're probably going to see in court is going to be strange. It's going to be Keffe D in his defense saying, don't believe what I said. And the prosecution saying, do believe. They are interviewing jurors right now.

Latest we hear is they'll probably have them seated by Thursday lunchtime --