Pence Talks to CNN about Trump Campaign Shake-Up; NY Times: Sean Hannity an Unofficial Advisor to Trump
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: 78 days to go until Election Day. Donald Trump is facing fresh criticism for his latest campaign shakeup changes. Now on board the campaign is "Breitbart" executive director, Steve Bannon, as we've been reporting for the last week. The right wing media exec is known for his bare-knuckled, unapologetic style that angered a number of women, a number of minorities in this country, two groups Trump is trying to court. But his running mate, Mike Pence, says there's nothing to worry about. Governor Pence tells Alisyn Camerota here at CNN that Trump has everything under control.</s>ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: In terms of Steve Bannon, he is controversial. Let me read to you the headlines in "Breitbart" lately: "Big trans hate machine," in reference to the transgender community, "There's no bias against women in technology, they just suck at interviews", "Birth control makes women unattractive and crazy." Are you comfortable with that flame throwing or incendiary messaging?</s>MIKE PENCE, (R), INDIANA GOVERNOR & VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think Donald Trump is bringing around him a team of people, in Steve and Kellyanne and those that have been a part of this team for a long period of time, that I think is delivering a message that is resonating with millions of Americans.</s>CAMEROTA: Even if it's incendiary?</s>PENCE: As I travel -- look, Donald Trump is the name on the ticket. I'm honored to be on the ticket with him.</s>BALDWIN: With the addition of Steve Bannon, his conversations as we've been reporting with his, quote/unquote, "old friend, Roger Ailes," it seems as though Trump is may be assembling quite the conservative media as advisors. Now you have a high-profile FOX News personality who could be helping as well. According to a piece in "The New York Times," Sean Hannity has offered Trump, his family members, even campaign advisors, suggestions on strategy and messaging. In his piece, Hannity is quoted as saying, "Do I talk to my friend who I've known for years and speak my mind? I can't not speak my mind," he says. The report going on to say Hannity has been behaving as if he wants a role in Trump's administration, although when he was asked about that by the reporter, he laughed it off. Joining me now, senior media correspondent and host of "Reliable sources," Brian Stelter. It's a fascinating piece in the "Times," but notable how Hannity laughed so much of that off.</s>BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT & CNN HOST, RELIABLE SOURCES: Right.</s>BALDWIN: How much is he having conversations with Trump, other than every hour at night?</s>STELTER: That's what's so interesting. Even what Hannity says on the air can be construed as advice, but according to the "Times," it's in phone calls. This isn't necessarily a shock because Hannity isn't pretending to be one thing behind the scenes and another on camera. He's the same off as on camera. And I give him credit for that. He's not secretly giving Clinton advice instead of Trump. It's almost a reminder of how politics and media have blended. If politics is a chocolate chip cookie and media is a Brownie, this is a Blondie.</s>BALDWIN: That was good.</s>STELTER: I haven't had lunch yet. That's what that's about. So it's blending and mixing in new ways, whether that's Roger Ailes, Steve Bannon running the campaign or Sean Hannity on the phone with Trump giving advice.</s>BALDWIN: Which leads to what Trump's plans are post-election if he doesn't win. I know, I know. In this piece Hannity said "I'm not hiding the fact that I want Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States. I never claimed to be a journalist." So on this potential of a Trump media empire --</s>STELTER: Right.</s>BALDWIN: -- a possibility?</s>STELTER: If Donald Trump were to lose the election, if he were to launch a television network, I think Sean Hannity would be the first person logically who would be in line for his show. If we were going to dream up Trump TV, Sean Hannity would be a prime time host. Who knows what will happen during this election and after this election? But it's an idea being talked about because Donald Trump has to do something with the energy and the audience he's cultivated, if he doesn't win the election, and use it somewhere else. No one knows how.</s>BALDWIN: We talk about cultivating an audience. At the same time, Trump has been doing FOX for -- I know you're keeping track -- each and everyday. And by the way, Hillary Clinton not speaking to the media as much as we would like.</s>STELTER: Think about what we're not seeing on television. We're not seeing Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton give the TV interviews you and I would like to see them do but Donald Trump's campaign is making a big deal out of the fact that Hillary Clinton has not given a press conference in 621 days. That's since last December a full-pledged press conference. She has other media availabilities but journalists on the campaign trail would like to see her give a press conference. The Trump campaign is saying she's in hiding however the Trump campaign isn't giving interviews either. He hasn't appeared on CNN or other networks besides FOX News. What Trump keeps doing is appearing on Sean Hannity's show and on FOX's morning shows, almost the shelters, very favorable places for him. He's not going on other networks giving interviews --</s>BALDWIN: But at this point in the general election cycle, would it not behoove him to step outside the FOX box?</s>STELTER: That's what a normal political strategist would say. In August of an election year, you would appear on all the channels, all the major news outlets, in order to reach undecided persuadable voters. But Trump isn't doing that and Clinton not giving interviews, either. Maybe she's just trying to sit on her lead --</s>BALDWIN: How many days? 261?</s>STELTER: 261. We'll see. There's only 77 days to go in this election. The pressure is building for her to give a press conference but so far she's been able to withstand that pressure.</s>BALDWIN: Let's keep holding both of their feet to the fire. Brian Stelter, thank you.</s>STELTER: Thank you.</s>BALDWIN: We'll get you a Blondie later.