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Laura Coates Live

Manhunt Intensifies for Charlie Kirk's Assassin. Aired 11p-12a ET

Aired September 11, 2025 - 23:00   ET

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

[23:00:00]

REP. TONY GONZALES (R-TX): -- from within. The answer is put your phones down, spend some time with your family, go out touch some grass. When you look at the best things in life, not just tearing each other down, we -- we get back to that individually, the country will be better off.

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN ANCHOR AND SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Ana?

ANA KASPARIAN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND HOST OF "THE YOUNG TURKS": I've noticed a lot of bot accounts on X, you know, purporting to be left wingers, saying inflammatory, disgusting things that being cited by people on the right as reason to go to war with the left. Please be careful with what you come across online. They're bots, they're not real people, and they're purposely being inflammatory to sow division.

PHILLIP: Everyone, thank you very much for joining us. And thank you for watching "NewsNight." "Laura Coates Live" starts right now.

LAURA COATES, CNN HOST AND SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Thirty-two hours and counting. That's how long it has been since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the suspected gunman remains on the run.

Good evening. I'm Laura Coates. Tonight, the suspected assassin's escape caught on camera. Just a short time ago, the FBI revealing new video from moments just after the shooting and asking the public for help in finding the killer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN (voice-over): So, here, you see the -- the suspect ran behind that upper -- upper building. He's going to come out on the right, moves to this far right corner. As he does, he's going to climb off the edge, and then drop down to the ground. As he did that, he left some palm impressions. There are some smudges in some places. We're looking to collect DNA. There's a shoe imprint.

Here, you see the suspect after dropping off the building. He moved around across this grassy area, around the parking lot. We're going to pan to the right. After he crosses the street, this is where he moves over into the wooded area.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: This new video showing roughly the first full minute after Kirk was shot. The suspect calmly walking across the street after scrambling off a building and dashing across the lawn.

And on top of that, law enforcement released four new photos from security footage captured before the shooting. It shows a man wearing a long sleeve black shirt with an American flag and bald eagle, sunglasses, a ball cap, and a backpack.

Earlier in the day, the FBI put out these two grainy images showing the same person. Agents are now trying to retrace the shooter's movements before and also after the attack. An analysis shows that he took aim at Kirk from about 150 yards away, firing from the roof of a building on Utah Valley University's campus.

And police believe that they found something absolutely critical, the murder weapon. A source says a bolt action rifle with a long-distance scope has been recovered in a wooded area behind the campus. It is believed the gunman fled there after the shooting.

These two videos appear to show the killer around the time of the attack. On the left, a person lying on the roof about an hour before. And on the right, a figure moving across that same roof right after the shot rang out.

Police are also analyzing this imprint. It was left in the gravel on the roof where the shooter was laying.

But as police trace the gunman's path, Kirk's family is grappling with what reality they have lost. His remains are now in Phoenix, where he lived with his family. His wife and two kids flew back from Utah on Air Force Two with the vice president, J.D. Vance. Vance was Kirk's close friend and personally helped carry his casket on the plane.

Let's go right to CNN's Ed Lavandera, who is in Orem, Utah. He was at the FBI briefing just about an hour ago. Ed, what else did officials reveal at that briefing?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, beyond that video, not much. Those pictures, clearly, they're hoping that this will inspire someone out there to notice it, to notice the suspect, and that will inspire them to call in and give them a lead.

But it's clear from the -- you know, they did not take any questions at this press conference. The FBI director, Kash Patel, was there. He did not even speak. So, you know, clear indication that there's very little information that authorities have as to the identity and the whereabouts of the suspect, and they're hoping that they can get a call in from the public looking at these video clips and these pictures. So far, they said they've gotten more than 7,000 --

COATES: Hmm.

LAVANDERA: -- tips into their hotline now. So, I mean, that's a staggering number. But at this point, we are now into day two of this massive manhunt and nothing has really come to fruition. [23:04:56]

But, Laura, one of the things that struck me of the video that was released today, if you watch it toward the tail end, you see the suspect get to a street, and it is across the street from there, the wooded area, where we noticed authorities today.

We spent a lot of time in this neighborhood because this is kind of the gateway into this neighborhood on the edge of the campus, and that is the wooded area where authorities found the rifle that they believe was used in the killing of Charlie Kirk. And we also spoke with a number of residents there.

And we know that authorities have been canvassing that neighborhood, going through -- I spoke with one person today who told me that they had someone on a work site, had noticed someone matching the description of this suspect, asking to cut through the property because they were scared and trying to get away. They were -- this person was just ahead of the rest of the people who were scrambling to get away from that. It wasn't until after that they put two and two together. They started seeing these images, that maybe perhaps that was the suspect.

But we don't know for sure if that's the case. These are the kinds of things that people in this neighborhood are kind of like looking back on and thinking about. It's the kind of details that authorities are desperately trying to get a hold of.

But, you know, here, the governor of Utah trying to reassure people that despite all of this process of trying to track this person down, that they believe that they will be able to find him, bring him to justice, and they're already talking about putting the death penalty after convicting the gunman in this case.

COATES: Ed Lavandera, thank you so much. I want to go right to the experts as well. CNN chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller. CNN senior law enforcement analyst and former deputy director of the FBI, Andrew McCabe. Also, former senior FBI profiler, Mary Ellen O'Toole. There's a lot to unpack right now.

John, I mean, authorities, they've got the alleged weapon, you know, the type of footwear. They're talking about palm and forearm imprints from where he dropped off that roof, pictures, some grey video, but no suspect. Why release the video tonight? And what is it telling you about where this investigation stands?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: You know, the video, which is very dramatic --

COATES: Uh-hmm.

MILLER: -- and people are going to want to watch it, does not help you identify the subject. It's just a black silhouette of a man jumping off a roof and running away.

But what it does is it stirs the pot. There's going to be tremendous interest in watching that video. And that is going to draw people to that page where they're also going to see the pictures that have been released and now the new pictures that have been released.

So, releasing the video is to drum up mass interest on social media to get those pictures in front of more people because that palm print, that impression on the roof, that weapon that may have DNA or something else on it, they're all great to match to a suspect if you have a suspect.

But without that person, they don't help that much. It's these pictures that they are hoping will drive that tip that is going to come from someone who says, I know this person.

COATES: Or I saw something, it reminds me of somewhere. I mean, Andrew, I want you to listen to what a Utah official told NBC.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: I know you can't say too much here, but is it your understanding that this individual may be close by or still in Utah?

BEAU MASON, COMMISSIONER OF UTAH, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY: We have no idea. We're exploring leads for individuals out of state and individuals that live close by. We literally have persons of interest, tips coming in on the tip line that are spanning far -- far and wide.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: I mean, obviously, Andrew, this is no longer perhaps a local matter. The FBI is involved. It's, like, 33 hours later. This person could be anywhere, including maybe not even inside the country.

ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST, FORMER FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR: Yeah, that's exactly right, Laura. So, they -- they have no choice but to really expand, open up the aperture of this investigation, and look as -- as wide as they possibly can.

And as John was saying, like, their primary strategy for identifying this person is this crowdsourcing effort. And that means getting as many eyeballs on those pictures in that video as you possibly can. He's absolutely right, the video is what attracts people to the website, it attracts people to the press releases.

But it's those very detailed still photographs in which you can see, as they said in the press conference, things like the baseball hat with the triangle on it or the kind of what appeared to be gray Converse, maybe Chuck Taylor-style sneakers with the white rubber tips, those very distinctive sunglasses that he's wearing.

Now, if this -- if this is person is as capable and as good a planner as we think he is, those are all new clothes that he has never worn before and has probably changed out of and dumped and is -- and is dressed very differently now.

COATES: Hmm. MCCABE: But nevertheless, those are the details you have to work with. And so, you want to put those details out in front of as many people as you can. Someone might see that and say, hey, you know, I know that guy down the street, he wears sneakers just like that, and pick up the phone and make a call. That's how these cases are -- are oftentimes, you know, brought to end.

[23:10:00]

But they have to look very broad. Fortunately, they have the strength of the entire FBI behind them. So, if they get a lead that, you know, somebody saw someone in Kansas City who looks like the person, they're going to be able to put two agents on that doorstep in a number of hours to determine whether or not there's anything there to investigate.

COATES: Mary Ellen, add for us up the idea of this is almost a kind of generic wardrobe in some respects. I mean, it's not particularly unique. It seems -- I don't know what the area that we use in. But you've got the -- the escape video, him coming off of a building, then running across a grassy field of some sort, and then sort of walking calmly, crossing the street to blend in. Clearly premeditated. What are you seeing with your profiler eyes when you watch this kind of escape?

MARY ELLEN O'TOOLE, FORMER SENIOR FBI PROFILER: Sure. So, what I'm seeing at that point where he's running across the roof and then, for me, it looks like an awkward way of half sliding, half holding on to the side of the roof, and then falling a little bit on the ground, I look for mistakes that the offender makes after the crime.

So, beforehand, I'm sure he was -- been at that scene before, so he knew the lay of the land. But it's after the shooting take place -- takes place that he begins to make mistakes. And I think that's where he begins to deteriorate in some of his behavior. And that also includes in his ability to make decisions.

And that's oftentimes what happens with these offenders. It's their post-offense mistakes that will cause them to be -- make a statement or to do something that comes to the attention of law enforcement that they didn't intend.

And as John and Andy had just said, he left fingerprints, then he leaves his gun, then he has a particular interesting gait that somebody might recognize.

COATES: Hmm.

O'TOOLE: And he also dresses all in black, but at the same time he has a shirt on that stands out. So, it looks like he wore a costume like a lot of these shooters do because for him he was giving a message. So, he's not a perfect defender, and I think he begins to deteriorate after the shooting.

COATES: And it's something about what you're seeing in those images. Do those signal a message to you or you just mean that he wore something that was -- that could be described?

O'TOOLE: He's wearing something that was important to him. So, the message is his message. It's like the Columbine shooters and the subsequent shooters. They even went through dress rehearsal. So, he picked his outfit probably pretty carefully. It means something to him.

But that shirt with the American flag in the front, it is so distinctive that that's not a very smart thing to wear because people will recognize it. If they've seen him wear it before, if it is brand new, it still stands out. So, somebody could have seen him post- offense and say, I saw him run through my yard, he went that away. So, again, he dressed for himself, but I think he dressed with a particular message.

COATES: Andrew, as you mentioned, the FBI director, Kash Patel, at the briefing, did not speak. The governor took the lead. Was it even typical to see the FBI director at a scene like this and then not be the one to lead the conference?

MCCABE: Yeah, Laura, not typical at all for an FBI director to travel out to the -- to a field office that's engaged in the immediate aftermath of a critical incident and is deeply enmeshed in a massive investigation, trying to find an assassin on the loose, right?

You would rarely ever do something like that because even in the best circumstances, you want to put the -- you want to put the spotlight on your partners, you want to let the local partners who are really leading this investigation and have to take this prosecution forward to be on the front edge of releasing information and building a relationship to community.

Also, the travel of an FBI director, not to mention, in this case, an FBI director and the deputy director --

COATES: Uh-hmm.

MCCABE: -- but even either one of those people individually, when they visit a field office, it imposes a massive burden on the field office to attend to their security concerns, their transportation issues.

There are all kinds of briefings that will take place that aren't normal to their kind of day-to-day pattern of life, telling the bosses what's going on, things like that. And that takes people, time, and resources.

It's a -- it's a very tough time to be imposing that sort of burden on the field office when they're in the middle of this critical investigation. So, the whole thing was a really curious decision.

COATES: Hmm.

MCCABE: And then to get there and have that moment at the -- you know, in the press conference, which has been delayed a significant period of time, we're not sure why, but possibly to give the FBI director the opportunity to speak --

COATES: Uh-hmm.

[23:15:07]

MCCABE: -- at the press conference, and then to not say anything, to not take advantage of that leadership moment is really -- it's confounding. I don't really -- I can't understand why -- why he went, but having gone, why he would have missed that opportunity.

COATES: We don't know. Maybe we'll find out in the days or hours to come. The manhunt continues. Thank you so much, everyone.

There is a lot more on the manhunt ahead. Somebody must have seen something. That's what authorities are hoping because there's new insight on just how critical the public may be in trying to catch the killer. Could a tip be what breaks the case wide open? Well, Callahan Walsh from "America's Most Wanted" is standing by next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SPENCER COX (R-UT): We cannot do our job without the public's help right now. We -- the public has answered our call for action. So far, we've received more than 7,000 leads and tips. I would just note that the FBI hasn't received this many digital media tips from the public since the Boston Marathon bombing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Tonight, law enforcement officials are asking the public for all the help they can get, releasing these new images of the man they believe to be Charlie Kirk's killer and asking people to pay close attention to what the suspect was wearing. Converse tennis shoes, a black shirt with a flag on it, a black backpack. The Utah governor, Spencer Cox, reiterating the FBI is also offering $100,000 reward.

With me now, co-host of "America's Most Wanted," Callahan Walsh. Callahan, this has been quite the 36 hours at this point, almost. I mean, from your experience, how important is the public role in a manhunt like this at this hour?

CALLAHAN WALSH, CO-HOST, AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: You know, I'm so surprised we are reaching that 33, 34 hours after this without the suspect or the person of interest apprehended.

But to your point, we know the power of the public on "America's Most Wanted." We've harnessed that power for decades. In fact, we've caught nearly twelve hundred worst of the worst fugitives out there. In fact, 17 off the FBI's top 10 most wanted list --

COATES: List.

WALSH: -- with the help of the public. They are the force multiplier, plain and simple. And it's not just individuals and in being vigilant with eyes and ears, which is super important right now, but it's the cell phone footage, the doorbell cameras, trail cameras, you know, the data and the footage that public may have of this individual.

That's why the FBI in that press conference said it themselves, we're relying on the public at this point for any tips, please contact us, let us know if you have any information.

What I thought was very important as they even said, even if you think it's inconsequential, let us know, because they're looking at the whole investigation. There's absolutely information that they have that they haven't released yet --

COATES: Uh-hmm.

WALSH: -- to the public. They're looking at it from a top-down perspective. They may be missing just one tiny piece of the puzzle. And that little bit of information that you think is insignificant might be the key that breaks it wide open and really helps them lead to where the suspect is. And so, I really implore anybody out there.

COATES: What I found so fascinating, what you said as well, Callahan, was the idea of the cell phone footage. My ears really perked up at that point because you can imagine so many people who were either filming their escape, running in some way. We know the presence, the ever-present telephone footage that's happening. Maybe someone was running and the person was behind them in some way, and they have no idea what they're actually capturing. It might entice them to do just that.

We're also hearing a lot about emphasizing what the suspect was wearing. You can see what the person is wearing in these images. These details are not insignificant. But I do wonder about what people should be looking for, in your experience, to give a tip. We already know there have been thousands akin to what happened in the Boston Marathon bombing. What should people be looking for and telling?

WALSH: Well, they should be actually looking for the items of clothing that you're seeing on the screen now that have -- with the sort of triangle symbol on the front, that shirt with the American flag and the bald eagle. Of course, he could have dumped all of his gears, right?

COATES: Right.

WALSH: It didn't seem like he's that planned out, but it's absolutely possible that he had a change of clothes. He knew he'd likely be seen on camera, on campus but could have changed in that woods where he had left his -- his rifle.

So, the public should be looking out for these clothes. In fact, if they come across these clothes in trash cans or dumped in a wooded area or in somebody's backyard in that neighborhood, they should be looking for these articles of clothing, whether he's wearing them or not.

COATES: You also know that many people have been looking at this investigation. Social media has played a very big role in all this. The footage, the images, all over the place. But then the governor warned that foreign actors are trying to sow disinformation. And I wonder how people can be certain about the legitimacy of what they're seeing. Are there any tips you can offer based on your experience and knowing how vital the public has been with "America's Most Wanted?"

WALSH: Uh-hmm. You know, I'm a -- I'm a true believer in Occam's Razor. Do I think this guy is backed by a foreign entity? I don't believe that. But they could absolutely be using this as a catalyst to sow more discourse amongst the American population. And so, I absolutely think people are going to use this to their advantage for whatever they -- however they want to twist it.

[23:25:00]

But the fact is we have an assassin on the loose, and he needs to be caught. You know, this was a targeted attack. We know that. But just because he had the intention of killing one person doesn't mean he won't kill again. We've seen these manhunts --

COATES: Hmm.

WALSH: -- you know, where -- where they spill over into the public, where individual on the run will try to -- try to carjack somebody and -- and -- and kill them in the process or break into a home looking for resources and kill the homeowner. So, the public needs to be vigilant not only to catch this guy to make sure public safety is brought in order.

COATES: Really important. And, of course, rely on what has been officially released by the investigators, not just rely on what you've seen online. Callahan Walsh, thank you so much.

WALSH: Thank you for having me.

COATES: We have much more in the manhunt ahead this hour. Plus, a future president. Donald Trump reflects on just how far he thought Charlie Kirk could have gone. Kirk's fan base mourns his loss in a mix of anger and sadness.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COATES: Whether you agreed with him or not, there is no denying of the influence of Charlie Kirk and what it had on conservative politics, especially among young people. Listen to just what one young conservative describes to CNN's Elle Reeve and why she thinks people were just so drawn to him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MADISON CAMPBELL, YOUNG CONSERVATIVE: It was because of his quick wit. His debate style was much different than anyone, really, any conservative movement had. He disagreed with a lot of people. He had his opinions, they had theirs. But at least he was opening up a channel. And so, when we talk about political divisiveness in this country, he was in a way trying to mend that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: You know, my next guest stood in the front row at the event where Charlie Kirk was killed. Leland Osterhout joins me now. Leland, I can't believe it, but you were only about 20 feet away from Charlie when the shooting happened. I know you and your husband were there extra early to get those very spots to be up close and see him. Can you tell me what it was about him that made you so eager to hear him speak?

LELAND OSTERHOUT, FRONT-ROW WITNESS AT EVENT WHERE CHARLIE KIRK WAS SHOT: I feel like, in politics, it's really easy to ignore the youth and ignore -- you know, because people will say, oh, well, you don't have as much experience.

COATES: Hmm.

OSTERHOUT: You don't have as much -- you know, you haven't lived life as much as everybody else. Charlie never did that. Charlie embraced the youth of America. He embraced their learning experiences. And he wanted to help them learn. And he wanted to help them thrive through life. And that really -- really drew -- drew me towards him.

COATES: You know, for many people, he was a fascinating and magnetic individual. Other people were not as familiar with his work, his style of politics, especially if they were not among the generation, as you say, that he was welcoming in and inviting into the conversation, even if just to debate their views. Can you explain what Charlie Kirk meant to the generation of young conservatives specifically?

OSTERHOUT: Oh, man. He meant a lot to us. I personally -- I went to two of his political conventions, America Fest.

COATES: Hmm.

OSTERHOUT: And I enjoyed every second. Every time that he would get up to speak, it was just like -- it was just so exciting to be able to hear what he was about to say and to be able to hear what he was going to challenge us to do.

COATES: His loss, what would that mean for you?

OSTERHOUT: I -- I can't even comprehend his loss yet. I'm still kind of in the denial stage of grief. It was really hard to fall asleep last night.

COATES: Hmm.

OSTERHOUT: It's -- it's -- it's hard. I -- I can't imagine what Erika and his kids are going through right now. And -- and my heart goes -- goes out to them 100%.

COATES: Leland, the brutality you witnessed, should not be. Thank you so much for being here.

OSTERHOUT: Yeah. Thank you.

COATES: We're going to talk more about the legacy that Charlie Kirk leaves behind. Will Sommer is here, senior reporter for "The Bulwark." Also, Eric Cortellessa, national political reporter for Time Magazine. He is the author of the cover story in Time simply titled "Enough."

I want to begin there, Eric. You write in your piece, America is a nation shaped by political violence and steeped in its aftershocks. Describe the aftershocks you see here of that killing.

ERIC CORTELLESSA, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, TIME MAGAZINE: Well, I think, you know, the aftershocks you're seeing come from the conservative right, young conservatives, the MAGA movement, who see Charlie as someone who is now a martyr for their movement, a martyr for young conservatism, a martyr for nationalist populism, a martyr for Trump himself.

And while, you know, they're shaken by what happened, it's a tragedy. A lot of them are mourning their loss. Charlie was not only a very prominent person, a gregarious one with personal ties with people all across the movement.

They recognize that this is an inflection point for them where they believe that it can serve as a rallying cry and even a moment that will ultimately bring more people over into their sort of ideological fold.

[23:35:03]

So, it's possible that they understand that this is a moment that can really galvanize an even deeper shift, especially among young people toward conservative cause.

COATES: It's interesting to think about that prospect, particularly he has been -- his views well-documented, those that people were drawn to and those that were provocative to others. Can you just describe some of his more combative moments that people are also looking to now, um, as a sign of his debate style?

WILL SOMMER, SENIOR REPORTER, THE BULWARK: Yeah, I mean, look, I mean, Charlie Kirk was someone who was obviously a great communicator and spoke to a lot of people, but also did make some remarks. I mean, he said he didn't want a Black pilot piloting his airplane. He was critical of women. He made, you know, minorities -- I mean, he had a sort of a long list of -- of things that I would find offensive, I think people would find racist or sexist.

On the other hand, obviously, this is a very tragic moment and people, I think, across the aisle or across the political spectrum are looking at that and mourning him. And so, you know, as Eric mentioned, I think this has become a very big moment for both grassroots Trump supporters and conservatives and Charlie Kirk fans, and also kind of the broader -- the leaders of the Trump movement as well.

COATES: President Trump mentioned that he thought he could have been president one day. He never actually ran for office, didn't seem to be drawn to that particular vehicle. Why?

SOMMER: Well, you know, it's interesting. I mean, he was still very young, right? I mean, he was still 31. He had an enormous political machine behind him. He was sort of unique in a way because he was a right-wing media figure with a huge platform, a YouTube podcast, talk radio show. But he also had this enormous organization, Turning Point USA, that had connected him with so many people, both activists and politicians. And so, I think that certainly could have been something in his future.

COATES: You know, there was a tremendous amount of respect from the vice president. His body was transported on Air Force Two, and the vice president personally aiding in carrying that casket. Take me inside that personal relationship between Vice President J.D. Vance and Charlie Kirk.

CORTELLESSA: Oh, it goes very deep. I mean, Charlie Kirk was really the first person to vouch for J.D. Vance, not only with Trump, but other people close to him in his orbit, including his son, Donald Trump, Jr., that J.D. Vance had made a conversion, a genuine conversion from being an anti-Trump critic to someone who is now fervently a part of this movement, someone who is a Trump loyalist.

He was the one who connected J.D. Vance to Donald Trump, Jr., helped to get him in the room with Donald Trump, pushed for him to get that endorsement in the 2022 Ohio Senate race, and then again to be selected as his running mate. Charlie Kirk was just an enormous champion for J.D. Vance.

COATES: Why?

CORTELLESSA: Well, I think he saw him as someone who could carry forward the Trump vision. I think he saw him as a torchbearer for the kind of brand of nationalist populism that Donald Trump had spawned throughout the country, and he really wanted him to be the person to carry that forward.

In fact, in my last conversation with Charlie Kirk in Arizona three weeks ago, he said that if J.D. Vance runs for president in 2028, he would support him from the start. He said he'd be there row one, day one.

COATES: Was he concerned in your conversation at all about his own personal safety or the way in which he was perceived?

CORTELLESSA: I think that he and his aides always recognized that there was a risk involved with the kind of work he does. He goes to campuses, he draws large crowds, he can be provocative deliberately so, and that rendered him vulnerable.

I don't think they necessarily saw this coming. I mean, last time I spoke to him, he was so excited about this fall campus tour he was planning based on the mammoth crowds he was able to draw last year.

COATES: It was his first stop. And, of course, accessibility was part of his brand. Thank you both, Will and Eric.

Up next, rage, sadness, exhaustion at our broken political system. With two parties more divided than ever, is there any off-ramp? Former Congressman Dean Phillips joins me next.

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[23:40:00]

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COATES: Tonight, here in Washington, bipartisan fears about safety in the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk. Members of Congress telling CNN they're delaying outdoor events, hiring private security, and canceling town halls.

One Republican lawmaker even telling "The Wall Street Journal" he promised his wife he would avoid parades and other large public events where he could be exposed to violence.

But despite those fears of violence, they're still fighting, pointing fingers at who is to blame for the death of Charlie Kirk, even going so far as to call the other side pure evil. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. BOB ONDER (R-MO): There is no longer any middle ground. Some of the American left are undoubtedly well-meaning people. But their ideology is pure evil. They hate the good, the truth, and the beautiful, and embrace the evil, the false, and the ugly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Joining me now, former Minnesota Democratic congressman and presidential candidate, Dean Phillips. Congressman, thank you for joining. This is a very somber week and it continues to be for so many reasons. Do you think your former colleagues on Capitol Hill, can they meet this moment given what you're hearing already?

DEAN PHILLIPS, FORMER MINNESOTA REPRESENTATIVE: Well, Laura, I think -- I and a whole country would like to say yes, but based on my personal experience, based on the debacle yesterday just when a prayer was called, it turned into a madhouse, I'm afraid the answer is no.

And when I see speeches like the one you just shared a moment ago, you know, this notion that everyone on the left or everyone on the right is part of the problem, that is the problem right there.

And Charlie's assassination yesterday didn't just take his life, which I'm mourning with most of the country, but it also assassinated a part of the American democratic promise, which is that we use words, not weapons to litigate policy.

[23:45:00]

And I think it is time for everybody in this country, everyone, to take a hard look in the mirror, recognize what's at stake, and ask those who represent us in Washington, every one of them, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Thune, President Trump, Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Johnson, to prioritize the union of this country above all else because if we don't work on that, no other policy is going to matter.

COATES: So, what does that look like in terms of trying to do just that, to have that hard look? We're looking hard at Congress. Oftentimes, there is some guidance on the what now. What does that what now look at? Is it merely reflective? Is it legislative?

PHILLIPS: Uh-hmm. Well, I'll tell you, Laura, I posted yesterday on Twitter what I thought was a little bit of a bright light in this whole sad affair, and that was the Connecticut young Republicans and the Connecticut young Democrats doing a joint statement together condemning the violence --

COATES: Hmm.

PHILLIPS: -- and essentially demonstrating to our country -- to our country, you know, how we move forward. And I think the answer to your question is actually quite simple. We need leaders in state houses, in municipalities, and in Washington to prioritize breaking bread, sharing stories, building relationships, and leading the way that Americans have for most of our wonderful history.

And I think President Trump has an opportunity here, actually, a really important opportunity to prioritize reconciliation and leading by bringing people together rather than dividing. This is not rocket science, but what's at stake is the most consequential of our lifetimes.

COATES: One of the things that Elon Musk, when you have Republicans blasting Democrats, Elon Musk's words going so far as to call the left -- quote -- "the party of murder." And then you've got, congressman, Democrats calling Trump a threat to democracy and even a fascist since he took office. You've got Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna blaming that rhetoric for Kirk's killing. Obviously, we do not know the motive. We do not know where the shooter is.

PHILLIPS: Uh-hmm.

COATES: We do not know so many things about this investigation even 30 plus hours in. But how do Democrats and Republicans demonstrate that there is an end to this type of dialogue and tamp it down?

PHILLIPS: Uh-hmm. I'll tell you, Laura, I'm thinking about this every day because, of course, it was only weeks ago that my friend and dear colleague, Melissa Hortman, the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, was gunned down in the middle of the night at her door --

COATES: Hmm. PHILLIPS: -- by a man impersonating a police officer. And he was, of course, a Trump supporter. But that's not what matters. That's not what matters. But I'm astounded by how some are talking right now about the violence only on the left when, of course, the facts would indicate that this is a pervasive, apolitical issue.

And I think it is time that -- if our leaders aren't going to do something about it, Laura, and, by the way, I don't think they will, there is no appetite to look at who is able to obtain weapons of war.

And, frankly, there's no appetite right now to invest in this country's mental and emotional health system because if you look objectively at what's going on right now, many, if not most, 80% of mass shootings, the perpetrator gives signals well in advance, and we have no mechanisms, no mechanisms right now to intervene.

So, this is not that complicated. When I see Mr. Musk or Mr. Trump, our partisans on both sides spew this nonsense, I mean, any commonsense, American would say that is the problem. Maybe I'm in a minority here of trying to bring people together and seeing decency on both sides of the aisle because there is. But when we only give air time and platform to the anger-tainers, and I'll say it again, the anger-tainers in this country --

COATES: Hmm.

PHILLIPS: -- we are corrupting an entire generation, that, I'm afraid, is going to cause great consequence if we don't intervene now, and I mean now.

COATES: Dean Phillips, thank you for joining.

PHILLIPS: Thank you.

COATES: More on the shooting after a quick break. But first, a look at the beams of light in Lower Manhattan honoring the lives lost on September 11th, 24 years ago today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COATES: All this week, we're shining a light on our "Champions for Change." And tonight, CNN anchor Erin Burnett introduces us to her champion, Kara Hartigan Whelan, who is the president of the Westchester Land Trust. Kara not only protects farms and forests in New York, but also teaches kids to grow what they eat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAX: I have three squashes.

KARA HARTIGAN WHELAN, PRESIDENT, WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST: Wait, can you do this pepper, too? Your hands are so full. What's your name? MAX: Max.

HARTIGAN WHELAN: Max. Okay. Do you know how to harvest this? You do? Twist it. Okay.

ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Max is learning to grow real food in real dirt.

HARTIGAN WHELAN: I almost got it. There you go. Good job. Awesome, Max.

BURNETT (voice-over): Something rare in America today.

HARTIGAN WHELAN: What are these? Do you know what you're watering? Collard greens.

[23:55:00]

Those are delicious.

BURNETT (voice-over): Kara Hartigan Whelan leads the Westchester Land Trust.

HARTIGAN WHELAN: Westchester Land Trust is one of 1,300 land trusts in the country. Together, we protect more than 60 million acres of land.

BURNETT: Sixty million.

HARTIGAN WHELAN: Yes.

BURNETT: Wow!

BURNETT (voice-over): She's turning conservation into a fight for healthy food and stronger kids.

HARTIGAN WHELAN: I think children like to have ownership and they like to have a say. And so, if you invite them into the work early --

BURNETT: Yeah.

HARTIGAN WHELAN: -- there's a lot of buy-in that you may not see otherwise.

BURNETT (voice-over): Kara has literally helped hundreds of kids get their very first taste of healthy food.

HARTIGAN WHELAN: I made a commitment that I would spend the rest of my life trying to protect natural areas that other people could benefit from and experience. The land that we protect safeguards our communities.

BURNETT (voice-over): Like Stuart's Fruit Farm. Family runs since 1828.

BOB STUART, STUART'S FRUIT FARM: My dad has been approached since the 50s about selling the place. Big corporations to small developers. And I said, no, we're not going to sell.

BURNETT (voice-over): Kara fought for 10 years to save it.

BETSY STUART, STUART'S FRUIT FARM: One man gave me a proposition. He said, oh, you've got two days to look it over. And I -- and I said to him, hmm, let me look at it. I took it and ripped it right in front of his face. I said, I need two days, I only needed two seconds.

(LAUGHTER)

BOB STUART: My dad passed it on to me, and we're going to pass it on to the next generation.

BURNETT: Farms like this are becoming increasingly rare. It is really hard for them to survive.

BOB STUART: Mother nature can be good and can be cruel. Two years ago, it ran every weekend, which hurt business, cut it down about 40%. We had $100 left in our savings.

BETST STUART: But we made it!

BOB STUART: We got through.

BURNETT: What happens when something like that is lost? Suddenly, it becomes a development?

HARTIGAN WHELAN: Just across the street from Stuart's, actually, there is a development. So, a farm was developed fully. And so, you can actually see what happens. I visited Stuart's as a child in school. And to see that farm finally permanently protected, words can't describe, how meaningful it is.

UNKNOWN: Oh, how you doing?

BURNETT: How you feeling?

UNKNOWN: Good.

BURNETT (voice-over): For me, this is personal. My dad spent decades protecting farmland in Maryland, including our own.

BRUNETT: Like the fence?

This is where I had one of the schools. In my imaginary town, this was the school.

Your mommy used to cut the grass.

I actually recently asked my dad why he did that. He said, it just felt good that the place that I love is never going to change. It can never be turned into a development. It was that love of land that my father had that has always inspired me and given me an appreciation for what conservation can do.

Your need is increasing right now, but the funding has gone down. I mean, it's part of all of the cuts in Washington and the things that are happening. I mean, how significant has the cuts been for you?

HARTIGAN WHELAN: It put pressure on our other fundraising sources and it's also just led to just an unknowing that leads to anxiety, and just trying to figure out of when we're going to need to replace the fence.

BURNETT: What do you want people to know, to sort of understand about the connection between eating healthier food and preserving the land, land conservation?

HARTIGAN WHELAN: We need lands to grow food on. It's just that simple. If we don't have these farms, we won't have that local food.

BURNETT: Do you grow your own tomatoes?

MAX: Yeah, but not this year. Our garden got destroyed by mint. The mint took over the garden.

BURNETT: Oh, the mint? Ah!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COATES: And Erin is with me now. Erin, we just saw Kara fighting to save these farms at a time when federal support, well, it's shrinking. And you could hear that uncertainty in her voice. So, how big of a challenge is that for her?

BURNETT: I mean, Laura, it's incredible. You hear the uncertainty in her voice. And she says, you know, that's what she thinks about every day when she wakes up, the uncertainty about where the money is going to come from for them to fulfill their mission. You know, she says it puts their entire mission in question. And, you know, I asked her, well, what funding is gone? And essentially -- essentially everything that would affect their base operations.

So, Laura, we're talking about their crops, the farmers that they pay, apprentices that they pay, improvements to the soil, all of those things, just the very basics of saying running are gone.

So, for this year, they're now, you know, relying on funds from donors. And it's great that they can do that. But to her, that's a short-term fix. And for all those land trusts, you know, she referenced the tens of millions of acres and trust nationwide, and the need for this, bipartisan desire to support it. You know, you look at the USDA, $4.5 billion in cuts that includes conservation programs.

So, this is something that is affecting people coast to coast. But just, you know, you talk to one person, you feel the uncertainty and the fear in her voice because it's just a question of, okay, maybe we can get through this, but then what about next year? And it's a big question mark.

[00:00:00]

COATES: Like a champion, she keeps going, Erin. I'm so glad you're highlighting her work. Thank you. BURNETT: Thanks, Laura.

COATES: Be sure to tune in Saturday at 10 p.m. Eastern for the "Champions for Change" one hour special. Thank you all for watching. CNN's live coverage of the manhunt for Charlie Kirk's killer continues right now.