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Iraqi PM Speaks about ISIS; Belgian Terror Attack Foiled; North Korea Says Top Liaison with South Korea Killed in Auto Accident; Latest Trump Statements. Aired Midnight-1a ET

Aired December 30, 2015 - 00:00   ET

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

[00:00:18] JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: This is "CNN Newsroom," live from Los Angeles. Ahead this hour, a triple blow to ISIS: Ramadi falls; coalition airstrikes take out a group of ISIS leaders; and, an alleged terror plot is foiled in Belgium. The North Korean official that keeps the peace dead in a car crash, but some have suggested this is no accident. And, Donald Trump about to open his wallet, and it's going to be huge. Spending $2 million a week in campaign ads, even more if he doesn't like you.

Hello; we'd like to welcome our viewers all around the world. Great to have you with us; I'm John Vause. "Newsroom L.A." starts right now:

It was a triumphant moment for Iraq's Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, as he walked through the streets of Ramadi and raised his country's flag. ISIS still controls about a quarter of the city, but the Prime Minister says his military will now focus on Mosul, the largest Iraqi city under ISIS control. Meantime, the Iraqi government will rely on local Sunni tribes to deal with security in Ramadi.

CNN's Nima Elbagir joins us now, on the phone, from Baghdad. Nima, you're about to head off to Ramadi in a military convoy in the next few hours. I just wonder, once you get there, is there much of Ramadi left after such intense fighting?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT, via telephone: Well that is really the absolutely crucial question here. The sense we're getting is that there is such widespread destruction in the city. In keeping with the usual passing, what doesn't destroyed by Coalition airstrikes was destroyed by ISIS themselves, rigging up booby-traps, IEDs, hiding in amongst the houses to launch their fight back. But, also, of course, part of it is mass punishment for the civilian population who, (inaudible) defense sources have been telling us throughout the offensive, have been used as human shields, often as the fighting has intensified.

It really does sound like a pretty heartbreaking situation, but at the same time, within this, Haider al-Abadi doubling down on the claims of victory and liberation, and extraordinarily jubilant, John; talking about 2016 being the year that they're going to beat back ISIS. Of course, it is a very long and tough road ahead but many people will be taking some solace from the fact that Ramadi, so strategic, so key, finally looks like it is somewhat under government control. VAUSE: And with that in mind, Nima, you been reporting from Baghdad. And, of course, Ramadi, not far from the capital there. Is there a sense of relief now, that that threat from ISIS, which was pretty much on the doorstep of the capital, is no longer there?

ELBAGIR: There is, but of course you still have the glaring reality of Fallujah, which has always been a problematic spot, i think, would be putting it very lightly; not just for the Iraqi government but for the U.S., when they were attempting to suppress that rest of the region.

Our understanding is that even before the offensive for Ramadi had been launched, that in the middle of this month they began an operation to attempt to encircle and lay siege, and at least kind of try to isolate Fallujah; not just in terms of what can come out of Fallujah but as a line of retreat for many of those ISIS fighters. So as long as Fallujah remains so close to the Iraqi capital, i don't think people will really feel 100-percent comfortable breathing out. But there's, at least, finally, a sense here post the humiliations of this summer, at the hands of ISIS, some sense of momentum, John.

VAUSE: And with that momentum comes the responsibility of the government there, in terms of keeping those Shiite militias out of Ramadi. How important will that be?

ELBAGIR: Well part of that has already been put in motion, and that's really, kind of, bringing together both the Shia and the Sunni, even some of the Christians that have joined up to fight ISIS, bring them together under an official government law, which is the Popular Mobilization law. So they're trying very much to move away from the sense of the sectarian groupings, these militias.

There is, of course, the reality that Ramadi is the first major city where the government has taken it without the support of Shia forces in the direct line of confrontation with ISIS. So that is a big moment for the Iraqi government, that achievement, given that Tikrit and (inaudible) were taken very much fighting alongside those Iranian- backed popular forces. So, in that sense, this is almost a blueprint for how they're going to look to take any other of these areas within the region, that has a Sunni majority population, Fallujah and then on to Mosul.

VAUSE: Nima Elbagir on the ground there in Iraq, in Baghdad, about to head to Ramadi and we will look forward to the rest of your reporting throughout the day, here, Nima. Thank you.

(HEADLINES)

Joining us now is our military analyst, Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona. Colonel Francona, thanks for being with us. There's a lot of good news out there: ISIS is being pushed out of Ramadi; the U.S. says an ISIS leader linked to this Paris attack has been killed; we've had this alleged New Year's Eve terror plot disrupted in Belgium. But it's easy to get caught up in the day's headlines and think this is a turning point. What is the big picture? Where do things stand right now? RICK FRANCONA, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I think it is a turning point. There is good news, but we can't lose sight of where we are. As we just heard Nima's reporting on her way to Ramadi, Ramadi is key, yes; but she is absolutely correct. Fallujah is the next step. As the prime minister of Iraq says, we have to go to Mosul and that is an order of magnitude larger than what they're doing in Ramadi, in Fallujah. This is going to be a long-term effort.

Then we see what is happening in Belgium; this is good. The cell that was discovered there is ISIS inspired, not ISIS directly. And this poses a real danger for all of Europe, and the United States. Look at the San Bernardino attacks. These people are not directed by ISIS, but they are inspired by ISIS. We're going to see more of these pop up. So on one hand, while you see the military situation in Iraq sort of taking shape, we're seeing ISIS inspired operations spreading out, more of a cancer, throughout the rest of the world.

So there is reason for optimism as we head into the New Year, but we can't lose sight that this is still going to be a long-term fight.

VAUSE: And, Colonel, we've heard from the Iraqi Prime Minister. He said he wants to rid Iraq of ISIS by the end of 2016. You know, i guess the difference between a goal and a hope is a deadline. But just how realistic is that?

FRANCONA: A year is a long time, and a lot can happen in a year, and the Iraqi's are on the momentum. They're going to be going to a city like five-times the size of Ramadi. They have to clear out Fallujah first, and then they've got to lay that line of supply. I mean, it's a long way. I mean, we're looking at, Ramadi to Baghdad, 90 kilometers. Fallujah to Baghdad, 50 kilometers. Now, we're talking about 600, 500 kilometers away. They have to lay out the supply lines, get everybody up there and then take on the teeth of the ISIS stronghold in Iraq.

A year is probably a good timeframe, but I think it would be wise not to put deadlines on this.

VAUSE: Yes, deadlines. People tend to hold you accountable for deadlines. Colonel Francona, thanks for being with us. We'll talk to you next hour. Thank you, sir.

FRANCONA: Sure thing, John.

VAUSE: As the clock ticks down to New Year's Eve, officials are on alert for possible terror threats. Here's Jim Sciutto.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: With New Year's fast approaching, authorities across the world on alert for terror, from Belgium to Bangladesh to New York City.

JAMES P. O'NEILL, CHIEF, NYPD: People should feel safe this New Year's Eve because we're there. You're going to have one of the best policed, best protected events, at one of the safest venues in the entire world.

SCIUTTO: Police in Belgium arrested two men Tuesday in connection with a plot, they say, to attack historic sites in the Belgian capital, on or around New Year's Eve. A senior Belgian security official tells CNN the target was the Central Square, The Grand Palace. The plot inspired, though not directed, by ISIS.

Police conducted several terror raids Sunday and Monday, seizing military uniforms and ISIS propaganda. The Belgian government raising the threat level to three out of a possible four, meaning an attack is likely.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, the U.S. Embassy warned U.S. citizens of possible attacks on New Year's Eve.

New York says there is no credible threat to the New Year's celebrations, but it is dispatching 6,000 officers to Times Square, where more than 1 million people are expected on Thursday night.

The Secretary Of Homeland Security encouraging New York Police Academy graduates to be vigilant on their new beats.

JEH JOHNSON, SECRETARY, HOMELAND SECURITY: In the face of this current threat to your country, to our country, i encourage you to build bridges to the communities in this city, that the Islamic State is attempting to target for recruitment.

SCIUTTO: Underscoring the homegrown dangers, a British couple [00:10:11] were convicted today of preparing for acts of terrorism, after investigators seized stockpiles of chemicals and bomb-making materials at one of their homes; and this video, showing them testing an explosive device.

LAURA NICHOLSON, ASSISTANT CHIEF CONSTABLE, LONDON: It is clear that a radical and violent Islamic extremist ideology was the motivator for these offenses.

SCIUTTO: On the battlefield in Syria, the coalition announced that airstrikes killed ISIS leader Charaffe al Mouadan, who officials say had links to the mastermind of the Paris attacks and was actively plotting more terror.

Jim Sciutto, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Steve Moore, retired Special Agent with the FBI who dealt with terrorism throughout a 25-year career is with us. You're also now a CNN contributor, which is great.

STEVE MOORE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Very happy about that; thank you.

VAUSE: Good to have you onboard. Okay, does it matter if we're talking London, New York, Sydney, Paris, Rome, in terms of the security challenges here? Is it all pretty much the same all around the world? MOORE: It's going to be pretty much the same: large city, large group of people, large potential terror target.

VAUSE: Okay, so, we're looking at New York. We've got 6,000 police officers, and some of them are going to have automatic weapons. Some of them are going to -

MOORE: A lot of them.

VAUSE: -- automatic weapons; dogs out; radiation detection, that kind of stuff. 3,000 officers out on the streets in London. Now, officials in both cities are saying there's no specific terror threat. This show of force is to reassure the public. Does this actually reassure the public, having 6,000 guys with automatic weapons at Times Square when the ball goes down?

MOORE: When i was part of that system I always wondered, does it? Some people are going to be reassured by this. Some people are going to be terrified by this. The ones who are terrified aren't going to show up. The ones that are reassured are going to be there. I think by the attendance you see, absent any gross weather changes, you're going to find out how much they believe they're safe.

VAUSE: How much confidence they have in the authorities --

MOORE: Absolutely.

VAUSE: Okay, look, we're also hearing from - very different advice from two different officials here. We're getting one Russian official who is with the Upper House Tourism Committee. He said this - let's put up the graphic. "Right now, when the issue of terrorist threat becomes to be highly relevant, a family celebration of New Year's Eve at home is the safest and best format in the current situation." Now, a British M.P. responded to that saying, I disagree with him. "We should never allow the threat of terrorism to frighten us into change our normal lives. We need to continue with our celebrations."

This is the issue which a lot of people, as we come up to New Year's Eve, are looking at: do i go out? Do i stay home? i don't want to change my lifestyle. i don't want to give in to terrorism, but then I want to keep my family safe. I don't want to die. I don't want to be injured in a terrorist attack. What do you do?

MOORE: Totally understand. I'm with the British M.P. Again, i can't say, and New York can't say, that they're the safest place in the world on that day but --

VAUSE: So you disagree with the mayor, as well as the police chief?

MOORE: I just don't think you can say that, but with 6,000 --

VAUSE: Right.

MOORE: By the way, i don't know if I've seen any more robust security than they're going to have. They are really on the ball with this. But, at the same time, you can't guarantee anything. So, I'm going to go with the British M.P., though. I'm going to say, don't let them ruin your life.

VAUSE: Okay, so just be aware?

MOORE: Right.

VAUSE: Now, you say you haven't seen a robust response like this; and I'm always suspicious when officials come out and say nothing to worry about. i mean, is that -- are they being totally up front? Because, I mean, 6,000 police out there with automatic weapons, as you say, the most robust response you've ever seen. i tend to think there's something else going on here.

MOORE: You know, i don't think so and here's why: I spent several years coming up to New Year's Eve, running the al-Qaeda Squad and each time they would come down to us and say, what's going to happen? We don't know. This would happen regardless. The fact that there is no specific intel, the fact you are not seeing large groups of people being taken into custody, the fact there are no specific warnings, leads me to believe that they are that way.

VAUSE: It's all basically because of what's happened in Paris and San Bernardino?

MOORE: Yes, but it terrifies people in law enforcement not to have anything on their radar.

VAUSE: Okay. Steve, we'll talk to you next hour. Thanks for being with us.

MOORE: Thank you.

[00:15:16] (HEADLINES) Let's go to Pedram Javaheri with more on the weather forecast. So, in a lot of these places, Pedram, the rain is sort of over but the flooding continues.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yea, you know what, it's a slow- motion disaster, John, when we talk about these flooding and river flooding in particular. I recall, it was 2010, i believe, in Pakistan, we had the Indus River take on tremendous water and flooding there, and essentially officials were calling this a "slow motion tsunami." That's really the best way to put this in perspective because no rain really, significant rain, at least, in the foreseeable future. We have some 443 river gauges that are reporting flooding across the this region of the United States. Every single one of those circles indicative of flooding that is taking place along a very expansive region. John touched on the 18+ million people dealing with the flooding situation. Again, the rainfall, very little to speak of across this region but just laying the land and showing exactly how this area plays out, when it comes to the Mississippi River Basin.

We have dozens of rivers scattered about that feed right into the Mississippi River Basin. As you go in for a closer look, of course, a lot of us were spending a quite of bit of time talking about the tremendous tornado that took large scale damage and also lives across the region. But the amount of rainfall here, we're talking 15 to 30 centimeters; upwards of a foot of rainfall in the same period that we had all the tremendous tornadoes taking place over this region. So as you watch the water and how the volume of water moves across downstream, from what occurred across parts of the state of Missouri, eventually on in to the Mississippi River, you notice that this will continue downstream for several days, potentially several weeks, even under sunny skies. So the water will continue to want to rise.

If we go in towards this region, and this is something that a lot of people are taking seriously across that region. Much the same going on in parts of the U.K.

Persistent wet weather diving right in to this region. We think the water levels will continue to rise downstream, about 20,000 sandbags have been brought towards this region. The Cambria region, southern Scotland, still could see upwards of 150 millimeters of rainfall coming down, inside the next coming couple of days. We know some of these structures, John, were built back in the 1700s. So, incredible history behind some of the buildings that are being damaged, some of the structures that are being damaged. This is something that a lot of people are working very quickly to try to protect in the coming couple days.

VAUSE: Yes, there is a lot going on, Pedram, and we've been saying, it's going to go on for a while yet. Thanks, PJ.

JAVAHERI: Thank you.

VAUSE: Still to come here, a wanted a teenager and his mother will soon be returned to the U.S. to face new charges. We'll get what's next for the so-called "Affluenza" teen, Ethan Couch. And a man reported to be Kim Jung Un's closest comrade is dead. We'll tell you the ramifications for the region when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:21:38] VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. (HEADLINES) North Korea says its top liaison with South Korea has been killed in a car accident. Kim Yang Gon, seen here on the far left, with South Korean officials, died on Tuesday, according to North Korea's state media, which described the 73-year-old as leader Kim Jung Un's "closest comrade."

Alexandra Field joins us now from Seoul with the very latest on this. Alexandra, let's start with the big picture here: what are the ramifications for the region following his death?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, this is somebody who, of course, played a very significant role on the international stage, as a diplomat for the country, who was very much engaged with South Korea and, really, in his role as Head of the United Front Department, was overseeing a lot of the policy towards South Korea. He was a key part in the talks between the two countries in August, those crisis talks that emerged after a land mine explosion in the DMZ. Those talks led to the ratcheting down of tensions between the two countries at that time.

He was also, just last month, involved in talks with South Korea, and the development last month was that there would be a plan for more talks between the two countries in the future, although a date had not been set.

So as we speak to experts here in South Korea, particularly one analyst from a think tank here in South Korea, he says it is at least reasonable that there could be concern, at this point, about whether his death could stall in any way any of the talks between the two countries because we know that a successor for Kim Yang Gon has not yet been named, at least publicly. John?

VAUSE: You know, there's always so much speculation about what happens and why inside North Korea. So what are the theories behind Kim's death? It was a car accident? There's no a lot of traffic in Pyongyang.

FIELD: Right. So it's speculation because so little is able to be known to the outside world. It's not even clear, entirely, where the traffic accident happened; but, yes, this is fueling speculation from experts on the region, particularly this word of a car accident, with not a lot of explanation surrounding it.

South Korean intelligence officials have said that Kim Jung Un has ordered the execution of at least 70 officials since he came to power in 2011, 15 senior officials in the last year alone. So they're looking at this word of a car accident and they're wondering is it just a car accident? Could it mean more? Here's what one expert had to say about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREG SCARLATOIU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN NORTH KOREA: Most of these fatal traffic accidents affecting senior officials used to happen on the way to or from a party organized by Kim Jong-Il. Now, are we seeing the same pattern developing under Kim Jong-Un? I think this will be very interesting and it will be very interesting to see if this accident indeed happened on Kim Yang Gon's way to a end of the year party or to his way from an end of the year party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[00:25:31] FIELD: All right; and certainly, there will continue to be speculation about what exactly happened in this case. We don't expect that we would learn anymore details about the car wreck. It was something that the state news agency reported, just that Kim Yang Gon had been killed in a car accident.

there are plans underway for the funeral. We know that Kim Jong-Un is part of the planning committee for the funeral, so it's possible that he will be in attendance at that funeral. A lot of people are reading into that because, look, the message from the regime here, John, that's being put out clearly by state news agency, is that this is somebody who was considered among the most trustworthy of Kim Jong- Un's comrades and he was also a "loyal warrior" to Kim Jong-Un's predecessors. John?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Alexandra, thank you very much. Alexandra Fields live this hour in Seoul.

Still to come here, Donald Trump has called Bill Clinton's marital indiscretions fair game and now the billionaire is inviting the media, and his rivals, to investigate his own personal life. That story and a whole lot more when "Newsroom L.A." continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. You're watching "CNN Newsroom," live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause; the headlines this hour:

[00:30:00] (HEADLINES) U.S. Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump has been boasting for months that he's spent very little on his self-funded campaign, but that's about to change. Starting Monday, he says he plans to start spending a lot of money on advertising in early voting states.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, R-NY, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I feel i have an obligation, even to myself and to the country, to spend; and so we're going to spend a minimum of $2 million for the first and then we'll see what happens. If somebody goes after me, i will spend a lot of money against the people that go after me.

[CROSS TALK]

TRUMP: I'm just saying, if somebody attacks me, i will attack them very much and very hard, in terms of ads. So - you've got to understand, I'm $35 million under budget. I thought, as of January 1st, i would have spent $35 million on ads. i spent nothing. So I'm $35 million under budget.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jeb had spent $40 million. Can you get --

TRUMP: No, he's not spent $40 million. He's wasted $40 million.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Trump says his ads will focus on border security, trade and protecting the United States from ISIS.

Meantime, Donald Trump says if his opponents and the media want to investigate his personal life, they should go right ahead. His remarks come as he called Bill Clinton's marital indiscretions, in recent days, a "fair topic" on the campaign trail. Here's CNN's Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I was able to get along with Clinton. I was able to get along with virtually every politician you can imagine.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donald Trump getting along with the Clintons? That seems like ancient history.

TRUMP: She says, oh, we'd love to run against trump. It's her worst nightmare.

BASH: Now, trump seems determined to relive a nightmare in Hillary Clinton's life, her husband's philandering; even invoking the names of Monica Lewinsky and Paula Jones.

TRUMP, via telephone: Certainly if they play the woman's card, with respect to me, that will be fair game.

BASH: A total 180 from Trump's defense of Bill Clinton in 2008 when he told Wolf Blitzer that the former President's dalliances should be a non-issue.

TRUMP: Look at the trouble Bill Clinton got into something with something that was totally unimportant and they tried to impeach him, which was nonsense.

BASH: The reality is Trump and the Clintons were really friends.

TRUMP: I always respected him. I've actually liked him over the years.

BASH: The two men golf together and Trump even famously invited the Clintons to his most recent wedding.

BILL CLINTON, former U.S. PRESIDENT: It was perfectly nice; I'm glad we did, but he also told me on more than one occasion what a good job she did in the Senate, for New York, after 9/11.

BASH: The way Trump tells it now, they were playing the you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours political game, one the billionaire argues he won't have to play if he's president.

TRUMP: With Hillary Clinton, i said be at my wedding and she came to my wedding. You know why? She had no choice because i gave. I gave to a foundation that, frankly, that foundation is supposed to do good.

BASH: Regardless of the Senior Clinton and Trump relationship, their daughters, Ivanka and Chelsea, are genuinely close. Chelsea saying this about Ivanka to "Vogue" earlier this year: "She's always aware of everyone around her and ensuring that everyone is enjoying the moment."

For Ivanka, the feeling is mutual about Chelsea.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IVANKA TRUMP, DAUGHTER, DONALD TRUMP: We, -- it has not been an issue for us. I have great respect for her. she's been a great friend to me. I've been a great friend to her. you know, the politics of our parents is not relevant to our friendship.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Dana Bash, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Joel Strom joins me to talk more about the ins and outs of the this U.S. presidential campaign. Joel, just as background, President of Strom Political Strategies, also an adviser to Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who, was also a Republican who made a run for the White House, as well. That's when you were working with Mayor Giuliani.

So let's start with the news from Donald Trump, earlier tonight, that he plans to spend a lot on campaign ads. He kind of gave a bit of a mixed message there. He said he doesn't have to do it, but the race is very close. So which one is it and why is he doing it now?

JOEL STROM, PRESIDENT, STROM POLITICAL STRATEGIES: Well I'm certainly not a spokesperson -

VAUSE: Sure.

STROM: -- for Donald Trump and I don't know, really, what's inside of his. But, it seems to me that he's a legitimate candidate and he's realizing that he's going to have to spend [00:35:38] some money, as most candidates do at some point in time.

VAUSE: I guess a lot of people would be curious, like, is this the indication that he sees the race is closer than it really is? Is he concerned about people like Ted Cruz? Does he realize he has to win those early states? What do you think?

STROM: Well, a lot of questions you just asked, but i think overall the answer is that, like, I said, he's realizing that this political game, the political season, you have to invest some money. He may have started out thinking he didn't have to; but, then again, he may have planned this all along. I think in the past he just said he hasn't spent any money but now he realizes he's going to spend some money. It may have been his plan all along. You know, we're not in his head.

VAUSE: It would be an interesting place to be, if we were. Mr. Trump is also doubling down on his attacks on Bill Clinton and history of marital infidelity. Three times married, Donald Trump. You know, couldn't this open himself up to sort of similar scrutiny here? In fact, he was asked about that a few hours ago. Let's listen to what he has to say.

STROM: Sure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Are your own personal indiscretions fair game in this campaign?

TRUMP: Yes, they would be. And, frankly, Hillary brought up the whole thing, with sexist. All i did is reverse it on her because she's got a major problem. It happens to be right at her house. So, if she wants to do that, we're going to go right after the president, the ex-president, and we'll see how it all comes out. I feel very confident that it will come out very well for us. I will say this, the last person that Hillary wants to run against is me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Okay, so Donald Trump there basically saying, bring it on. If you want to talk about marital indiscretions, I'm fine with that. I'll probably come out better than Hillary Clinton. But, really, is Donald Trump, you know, the best person here when it comes to marital loyalty and taking on someone like Bill Clinton? Couldn't he be, in fact, opening himself up to a lot of trouble here?

STROM: Well, sure. The thing is, people keep talking about Donald Trump opening himself up by his use of language, use of language, accusations or his inexperience. Every time the experts seem to think it's going to be a problem for him, he just goes up in the polls. So I'm not sure that -- i believe he just responds to Hillary Clinton's use of the sexism charge, that she has used before and continues to use today, that everything boils down to we need a woman president who can understand women and protect women. If she does go that route, many Republican candidates in the past, they don't know how to deal with that. So perhaps he's just getting a head start and putting her on the defensive somewhat. Whether it hurts him or not, because he was married three times, i have no clue; but he certainly isn't afraid to bring it up.

TRUMP: Yes, if anyone was going to do it, it would be Donald Trump. There is a lot to talk about here, but we are out of time. We will see where this goes with Donald Trump and his attacks on Bill Clinton; the campaign has a long way to go. thank you for coming in. John, thanks for coming in.

STROM: Thank you for having me.

VAUSE: Nice to speak with you. And, still to come here on "CNN Newsroom" we go to a restaurant in Beijing where customers must use their smartphones; and time to break out those old Guns and Roses t- shirts. Axl rose and Slash may be ready to reunite.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:40] VAUSE: [00:41:27] You know what it's like: you go out to dinner and some guy is using his cell phone. Yap, yap, yap. It's all really loud. These cellphones, they just ruin the atmosphere at any good restaurant. But in Beijing, there's one restaurant that requires people to use their smartphones. There's no hosts, no waiters, no cashiers and people have to use their phones to place an order. Here's CNN's Andrew Stevens.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's lunchtime in Beijing and here, indeed across the country, workers are joining their friends and colleagues for a bite to eat. But we've found a restaurant that's offering something slightly different in the dining experience. It's linking mobile technology with the city's deep love of food.

Welcome to Renrenxiang. The first thing you'll notice about this restaurant is there's no waiters. They've been replaced with an app; but it's not just any app. I'm now on Wechat, the most popular messaging app in China. When I say "popular", we're talking hundreds of millions of people on this. So I've got the menu up. I've got seven choices. I'm going for the spicy beef rice noodles. It (inaudible) a bit of a discount, so all together that is about $5.00. It's now giving me a number, which will be called out on the speakers in a few minutes and that will be my dish.

One place there are staff, the kitchen; a team of chefs turning your digital orders into your lunch.

Okay, here we are. It's been about five minutes and there's my beef with spicy noodles.

All through the power of the smartphone and a helping hand from the kitchen; but the restaurant owner is looking at cutting his overhead even more.

LIU ZHENG, FOUNDER, RESTAURANT, via translator: There will be four no's in this restaurant, that is: no waitress, no cashier, no merchandiser and no chef. I did this because I'm following the technology development trend in China.

STEVENS: In an age where smartphones are signaling the end of face- to-face conversation around the dining table, why not take it one step further and take out the need to speak to a waiter, too?

Andrew Stevens - delicious -- CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: (HEADLINE) Hey, awesome stuff! Thank you for watching CNN Newsroom, live from Los Angeles; I'm John Vause. Stay with us, "World Sport" is up next. I'll be back with another hour of news from all around the world. You're watching CNN.

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