Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Dies; Scalia's Death a Big Topic at GOP Debate; S.C. Primary This Week; Pressure for Russia to be More Careful About Targets in Syria; Pope Francis Visits Mexico. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired February 14, 2016 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00] GEORGE HOWELL, "CNN NEWSROOM," ANCHOR: One of the longest serving U.S. Supreme Court justices' dies, tributes for Antonin Scalia pour in from across the U.S. political spectrum.

Scalia's death set the stage now for an especially fiery Republican presidential debate in South Carolina. We will bring you the highlights and the lowlights to that debate.

And if all of the political squabbling is getting you down, we promise to give you that warm and fuzzy Valentine's Day feeling. By the end of this hour, you'll definitely want to stay with us.

From CNN World headquarters here in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world, I'm George Howell. "CNN Newsroom" starts right now.

Good day to you. Scalia, the U.S. Supreme Court justice known for his strict reading of the U.S. Constitution, has died. He is one of the longest serving justices.

For almost 30 years, Scalia actively opposed abortion, same-sex marriage, and what he deemed overly broad interpretations of the constitution. But, he was also known for his incisive and sometimes controversial writings and comments. He was also known for his warm relationship with others on the court, especially with liberal justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Scalia died while on holiday in Texas. He was 79 years old.

Outside the U.S. Supreme Court, the American flag was lowered to half- staff, late Saturday. U.S. President Barack Obama offered his condolences. He praised Scalia's commitment to the job in his years of service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: Justice Scalia dedicated his life to the cornerstone of our democracy, the rule of law. Tonight, we honor his extraordinary service to our nation and remember one of the towering legal figures of our time. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: And now fair to say, a partisan fight may be brewing over the vacancy that Scalia has left behind. It is up to the president to nominate a replacement, and then it is up to the Senate to approve or reject that nominee. And one top Republican Senator hinted that that won't come smoothly.

Senator Chuck Grassley said, "The fact of the matter is that it has been standard practice over the last 80 years to not confirm Supreme Court nominees during a presidential election year."

Just a short time ago, my colleague, Natalie Allen, spoke with Criminal Defense Attorney Page Pate, who has experienced with the Supreme Court and Justice Scalia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NATALIE ALLEN, "CNN NEWSROOM," ANCHOR: And you've had a case go before the Supreme Court, but you won it without having to argue before the justices.

PAGE PATE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: That's right. It doesn't happen often, but there were a bunch of cases that were going up to the Supreme Court right after Justice Scalia issued the court's opinion in the Booker case which changed the way that federal courts sentenced defendants.

So, it was a Scalia case that got my case up there and sent it back, and we won.

ALLEN: Well, what do you think, what are the main things you think about when you think of the court that was Antonin Scalia for so long?

PATE: Well, Scalia clearly anchored the conservative wing of the court for a long time, ever since he was appointed back in the mid '80s. And while the court used to be conservative as far as oral arguments, Scalia changed all that. He made the bench hot.

The justices would start questioning people that came before it. Litigants would go in there and if you weren't 100 percent prepared, Scalia would know and would tweak you as much as he could to try to get at the logic of your argument.

The way he wrote the opinions, very different from other justices. Not only did he have great legal insight and great reasoning ability, he made it interesting to read. He would bring in literature. He would bring in the bible. He would bring in humor. So his opinions, while sometimes caustic to the other side, were always fun to read.

ALLEN: But, I was just hearing that, you know, he would quote a great literature and "Sesame Street."

PATE: Absolutely, yeah, both sides of that was him.

ALLEN: He had a big personality, and it came through ... PATE: Yeah.

ALLEN: ... his opinions. And if he wrote a dissenting opinion, he didn't hold back.

PATE: Not at all. And I think recently, you know, the opinions in the last few years, he's even been a little bit more biting, he was, especially in cases dealing with same-sex marriage. He totally disagreed with the majority decision in that case. And you could tell from his dissent he did not hold back.

ALLEN: And let's talk about issues that are before the court right now. Some very heady issues including a gun issue, and he was very pro-gun, and he was the fifth vote.

PATE: Right.

ALLEN: So, it's going to be interesting how they deal with the issues without his presence.

PATE: Right. This Supreme Court is evenly split now. It was really 5-4 on a lot of pivotal issues, affirmative action, gun rights, same- sex marriage, certainly.

[04:05:00] Immigration is another issue where the court was 5-4, pretty conservative 5-4.

But now, with Scalia gone, it really depends on who appoints the next justice. The court could go more conservative or it could go more liberal or moderate. So this is not just an important justice. It's an important seat.

ALLEN: And final question, do you expect that President Obama has said he will go ahead and name someone? Do you expect that congress will go ahead and consider that? We're in an interesting time right now with the election.

PATE: I cannot imagine that the Senate will go ahead and pass on the nominee. The president will make a nomination, that's what he said tonight. Constitutionally, he certainly has the right to do that. The way the constitution reads, the Senate should give that person an up-or-down vote. But I don't see how it's going to happen politics being the way that they are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: And that was a big topic at the U.S. Republican Presidential Debate in Greenville, South Carolina. Candidates, though, they did pay tribute to Justice Scalia Saturday night. They observed a moment of silence in his honor on stage, and then the gloves came off.

Marco Rubio said President Obama, since he's in the final term of his office, should not appoint anyone to succeed Scalia. And rival Donald Trump agreed, urging the U.S. Senate to "delay, delay, delay" confirmation of anyone that Mr. Obama might nominate. Well, the candidates were in agreement about Scalia. They were sharply clashing on almost everything else. Ted Cruz was branded a liar, I should say, by Marco Rubio and Donald Trump. And Cruz then fired back calling Rubio weak on immigration and charging Trump would nominate liberal judges.

Sarah Murray has our debate roundup from Greenville, South Carolina.

SARA MURRAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was the nastiest Republican debate so far. Jeb Bush sparred with Donald Trump, and at times seemed to get under his skin. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio went to war with Ted Cruz over immigration, and Ted Cruz finally took the attacks this campaign as the making on the trail and brought them to the debate stage, questioning Donald Trump's conservative credentials.

Well, perhaps, the moment that will be played over and over again leading up to South Carolina was when Donald Trump said George W. Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction, taking aim not just the W and the Jeb but basically the entire Bush family.

And I asked him later on in this venue after the debate whether that might hurt him in a state like South Carolina which is very pro- military and has deep affection for the Bushes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Where there weapons of mass destruction? You know better than I do. The answer is no. And when Jeb said his brother protected us, the World Trade going to came down during his brother's reign. I mean are people forgetting that?

MURRAY: I guess there's a lot of affection for the Bushes in South Carolina.

TRUMP: I like the Bushes also. I mean I think it is fine. I think the Bushes are fine. But he can't lie about his brother's record.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MURRAY: Now, they say the politics gets a little bit sharper when you get down to South Carolina and when the field starts to get smaller. And we certainly saw that tonight, forecasting a very tough week ahead before the South Carolina primary. Back to you guys.

HOWELL: It was a fiery debate, and the stakes could not have been higher in the debate. The South Carolina Republican Primary is less than a week away.

Earlier, CNN's Erin Burnett asks the panel of experts who they thought were the winners and the losers on stage in Greenville.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: I think it was Jeb Bush's best debate. He was combative. He participated more than I've seen him in the past. And I think and I'm always wrong about Donald trump, but I think this was also the debate in which we saw Donald Trump participate the most. But I think accusing the Bushes of lying about weapons of mass destruction may have crossed the line in pro-military South Carolina.

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: This was more demolition derby than debate. This was a really raucous screamfest. And there were I think there were bad moments for every candidate. But you know, Ted Cruz has decided from the beginning that he wants to be the most conservative candidate running. I think that's what he was tonight. And that's what he wants to be.

ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Nia?

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLTICAL REPORTER: I thought Rubio's rehabilitation strategy pretty much worked tonight. He didn't have any major gaffes. At times, he looked a little robotic. At least he wasn't repeating himself over and over again.

He got in I thought a good talking point around poverty. That's the candidate I think he wanted to be originally talking about poverty. And I think in some ways George Bush was a winner and a loser it's hard to tell.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: George?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: George?

HENDERSON: George Bush. You know, some people wanted to hug him. Jeb did, Marco Rubio did, too. Kasich did, as well. And then you had Trump there dumping over him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: It will be an important vote. South Carolina Republicans will have their say on February 20th when their primary takes place.

Switching to weather, some cold air is plunging across the Great Lakes in the northern part of the U.S., and it's produced heavy snow for some. But also some dramatic water spouts, a possibility of that.

[04:10:005] Let's bring in Derek Van Dam to talk about it.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's all because the Great Lakes do not have the ice coverage of typically see this time of year and we can thank El Nino for that.

HOWELL: El Nino is doing all kinds of things.

VAN DAM: El Nino, our good friend. We've got a lot to talk about, George. I'll want to show you this plus some great surfing footage coming in just one second but first, let's explain to our viewers at home exactly what we've been experiencing.

We've had some areas downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario picking up two feet of snow within the past few days. This is all what we're used to this time of year, lake-enhanced snowfall that occurs when we have that extremely cold Arctic air that rushes over the relatively warm lake waters of the Great Lakes.

We're talking about water temperatures right now between 32 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit which is warm for this time of year, more in that in just one second. But, this creates a huge temperature contrast between the atmosphere and the lake water.

So, we have the very unstable air mass that takes place. We get our lake-effect snow. But sometimes when the conditions are just right, we get a bit of a spin in the atmosphere when we get that interaction with the water and the land, as well as the Russian air over this region and we get water sprouts. That was the threat through the course of the weekend.

And it could potentially exist into this morning across the downwind areas of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, but I'm not too concerned about that. But, what's more astonishing here is the fact that our Great Lakes ice coverage has really, just decreased this particular season compared to the past two winter seasons.

Look at 2014, we had over 88 percent ice coverage, 2015, 60 percent to this particular date. Now, February 14th, Valentine's Day of 2016, we only have a 12 percent ice coverage across the Great Lakes.

You ask. "Why is this significant?" Think about it. If we don't have ice, we continue to see that lake-enhanced snowfall downwind of Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and into Lake Superior, as well.

So, this is a significant weather pattern changer for the upper Great Lakes. And it's all because of this cold Arctic air that we've been experiencing over the eastern half of the U.S.

We are going to set records this morning. We have wind chill warnings and advisories for all the major cities along the East Coast including New York and Boston, possibly 18 record lows when people start waking up this morning.

Now, I'm going to end with this. I want to show some dramatic footage coming on of Half Moon Bay just south of San Francisco. I'm a surfer, I love seeing these videos. But, George, this is called the Titans of Mavericks.

This wave has been described like Niagara Falls meeting Mt. Everest. That's how dramatic that it was. And there was an invitation event only that was held when the surf was just right.

20 surfers faced 18-foot waves in this heart-stopping competition, great aerials, and yeah, it was really just a great sight to see.

HOWELL: I know you'd love to be right there, Derek.

VAN DAM: I would. That seems a bit scary, though, I must admit.

HOWELL: Derek, thank you very much.

VAN DAM: Thanks, George.

HOWELL: You're watching "CNN Newsroom."

Still ahead, very strong language at the normally diplomatic security conference in Munich, Germany on Saturday including warnings and stern responses between Russia and the west.

Plus, the pope wants Mexican bishops to step up their fight against the drug trade, details ahead. You're watching "CNN Newsroom."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:17:27] HOWELL: Pressure is mounting on Russia to be more careful about who it targets in Syria. On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of States John Kerry told a Munich Security Conference Session that many of Russia's attacks have been against legitimate opposition groups and not ISIS.

Russia has denied bombing any civilians. The tension, however, is very clear. Russia's prime minister even said Saturday that Russia's current relationship with the west is similar to the Cold War.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DMITRY MEDVEDEV, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translation): Nature's policy with regard to Russia remains unfriendly and opaque. One could do as part as to say that we've slid back to a "New Cold War. Almost an everyday basis we're cold one of the most terrible threats either to NATO as a whole or to Europe or to the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: CNN International Diplomatic Editor, Nic Robertson joins us live from Munich. Nick, good to have you this hour.

So, what has been the response from NATO given the icy perception stated by Russia's Prime Minister?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, pushback from NATO I sat down and told with General Philip Breedlove, he is the U.S. four-star general that's in command of NATO Military Forces Supreme Allied Commander of Europe. That's his title.

And, he told me that he sees Russia -- NATO's perception of Russia right now is a country that is not just trying to rewrite the sort of international rule book, it's trying to create a new set of rules.

He said, "Look, Russia is the one that cross the international boarder. Russian forces crossed the international border into Ukraine. Its Russia that is annexed Crimea."

NATO sees and observes increasingly dense-growing clusters of Russian Military, sophisticated military air, sea and land defense systems from the north to the south essentially of the sort of border between Russia/Russian interests, NATO, NATO countries.

Kaliningrad in the north all the way down to the north of Syria, one of these missile systems is being installed there. Russian Missile System is being installed there which denies area access to land forces to potential attack by air to the sea as well.

So, from his perspective, he says that NATO doesn't feel like it's in a Cold War with Russia. But, Russia's open to its own interpretation. This is what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Isn't this by definition the Cold War arms build-up for instance?

PHILIP MARK BREEDLOVE, NATO COMMANDER FOR EUROPE: Well, they are entitled to their understanding of this and their description of this.

[04:20:01] We in NATO do not want to see a Cold War. We do not talk about it. It is not what we want to have happen or anticipate happening.

We're a defensive alliance who are arraying our self to face a challenge and we see that challenge is a nation that has once again decided that it will use force to change internationally recognized borders. And, so we take those appropriate actions to be able to assure, defend and deter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Well, Russia's ambassador to the United States has weighed in on this debate, as well. He says the relationship between the United States and Russia is probably at one of its lows -- deepest lows since the Cold War.

He says that Russia perceives the United States as trying to isolate it. Now remember, this is a very important week for US/Russian relations because Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry agreed two days ago that in a week that's five days from now, there would be a cessation of hostilities inside Syria.

On that day, United States and Russia would lead the partners in this to determine the modalities of how the cessation should happen. So this is hugely important step for the peace process in Syria if it can happen.

It is going to be at the whims, if you will, or certainly caught in the cross winds of what is clearly now a public deterioration in the relationship between these two countries. George?

HOWELL: So, tensions and the relationship at a low, as you mentioned, between the West and Russia. You know, Nic, so security also came up during the Republican presidential debate. That we heard Marco Rubio size up security threats. Let's listen to that and we can talk about it here on the other side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MARCO RUBIO, U.S. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think there are three major threats that you want to immediately get on top of. Number one is, what are we doing in the Asia-Pacific Region where both North Korea and China post threats to the national security of the United States?

Number two is, what are we doing in the Middle East with the combination of the Sunni/Shia conflict driven by the Shia Arc that Iran is now trying to establish in the Middle East and also the growing threat of ISIS?

And the third is, rebuilding and reinvigorating NATO in the European theater, particularly in Central Europe and in Eastern Europe where Vladimir Putin is now threatening the territory of multiple countries, already controls 20 percent of Georgia, and a significant percentage of Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: So, you heard it there, reinvigorating NATO and that certainly something that Russia does not want to see. So, is there a sense there at the security conference that the relationship could go one way or the other depending upon what happens in a year?

ROBERTSON: There is certainly a recognition that in any election year that the U.S., United States hands are in some ways a little tied, although the Iran nuclear tools was seem to speak against that that despite the back dropped of Republican saying that they would tear up that deal.

Iran was still convinced to go ahead and make a deal when it is so far following through on it. But, you know, for some of the NATO's eastern members with those closest to Russia, and the United States and NATO's allies, if you will in the Arab/Sunni world in the Middle East, some of what we go is talking about is, will be music to their ears. This talk about a Shia Arc really reflects a Sunni feeling that there's a Shia as they call it, crescent of influence that stretches across the Middle East that many of those countries would like to see broken, you know, stretching from Iran, Iraq, Syria all the way through the Hezbollah in Lebanon. So that will be music to some sort of Sunni allies' ears.

And the thought that there could be stronger defenses for the countries in the East of Europe at the moment they feel most threatened by Russia's actions in Ukraine. That would certainly be something that some of those countries would welcome. But, in the balance, I don't think anyone expects things to change in this next year.

HOWELL: Nic Robertson live for us in Munich. Nic, thank you for reporting there.

We move to the Pope's visit in Mexico. Pope Francis saying that it is a great country, but one with a history of difficult moments.

On his first visit to the nation as Pope Francis urged the president to fight against corruption and drug-related violence. He also called on the clergy to be more proactive against the drug trade there. Thousands of people gathered in Mexico City to greet the Pope.

CNN's, Shasta Darlington has more from the view in Mexico City.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The crowds just keep growing. More and more people turning out, in fact, about a million expected to line the routes will that Pope Francis will pass by in his pope mobile.

Some of them are pretty excited, a lot of them anxious, many of them holding placards like this one, "I love Pakito," his new name in Mexico.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

[04:25:04] DARLINGTON: Brother Francis, you're already Mexican, some great chants here. But, from Pope Francis himself, we heard a lot of tough words, in the National Palace talking to the president, he warned the dangers of trafficking, inequality, and of course corruption here in Mexico.

Then, at the Cathedral, he spoke to the bishops about their role in the drug war. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE FRANCIS, THE 266TH AND CURRENT POPE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translation): I urge you not to underestimate the moral and anti-social challenge which the drug trade represents for Mexican society as a whole, including the church.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DARLINGTON: The day ended at the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the most revered shrine in Mexico and much of the Americans.

Pope Francis celebrated his first mass in Mexico in front of over 30,000 people using a torch to light a flame of mercy.

During the homily, he talked about the down trodden, those who don't feel wanted, and of young people without a future.

Shasta Darlington, CNN, Mexico City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: On Sunday, Pope Francis visits a notoriously poor area just north of Mexico City. It's an area known for the highest number of women killed there.

Stay tuned for us, the live coverage from that and the rest of his visit. You can find it here on CNN. You're watching "CNN Newsroom". Still become U.S Presidential Candidate, Donald Trump says, Pope Francis is getting too political on his current trip to Mexico. We'll find out how Trump's comment will be playing with voters.

Plus, more from that fiery debate in South Carolina, Donald Trump flashes with Jeb Bush over 9/11 and the Iraq war, they called Ted Cruz a liar. That story and more next. You're watching "CNN Newsroom."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:30:20] HOWELL: A warm welcome back to our viewers here in the Unite States and around the world. You're watching "CNN Newsroom." Good to have you with us. I'm George Howell.

The headlines after weeks of angry protest, Haiti lawmakers have chosen a new interim leader. AFP reports that lawmakers elected Senator Jocelerme Privert as interim president early Sunday.

It comes after Michele Martelly step down last week in the wake of the postponed run of election. Privert will serve as president for up to 120 days.

Search and rescue operation in Taiwan are over one week after a deadly earthquake there. One hundred fourteen people were killed in the 5.9 quake, 289 were rescued. Many of them are still in the hospital.

Republican presidential candidates, they clash sharply at the debate in Greenville South Carolina on Saturday night. Among other things, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump accused Ted Cruz of being a liar.

Trump also bash rival Jeb Bush's brothers saying George W. Bush did not keep the U.S. safe when he was president during 9/11. The South Carolina Republican primary is February 28.

An influential power on U.S. Supreme Court has died. Antonin Scalia was a key voice in the courts conservative wing for nearly 30 years. He was 79 years old.

U.S. President Barack Obama describes Scalia as "a towering legal figure". Whoever President Obama picks to replace the conservative justice will likely inflamed passions in this U.S. presidential race.

Antonin Scalia was not a politician but throughout his career he was a consistent protector of conservative Republican positions. Joe Johns has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANTONIN SCALIA, U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: I'm Antonin Scalia do solemn and swear.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The first Italian-American just set on the nation's highest court. Justice Antonin Scalia was a conservative in thought but not in personality. Antonin Gregory Scalia was raised in the Elmhurst neighborhood of New York City, the only child of a Sicilian-born college professor and the school teacher mother. They instilled in their precocious child a love of words and debate.

SCALIA: I was something of the greasy grind I have to say and I studied really hard.

JOHNS: He was top student at public and private Catholic schools in the city. Scalia's interest in law began in college and so too an interest in Maureen McCarthy with whom he later married and have 9 children.

His exuberant embrace of conservatism attracted the attention of Republicans and President Reagan ultimately named the 50-year-old federal judge to the higher court in 1986.

There, he developed a reputation as reliable conservative and his own style helps live in the public face of the higher court.

PAUL CLEMENT, 1993-94 SCALIA LAW CLERK: Some of the other justices including the justice who are already in the court and had been in the court for a while where kind of well, you know, if the new guy gets to ask all these questions. I'm going to sort step up and ask him questions, too.

JOHNS: On abortion, the death penalty, affirmative action, homosexual rights, Scalia clashed early and open with more moderate or left- leaning bench mates.

JOAN BISKUPIC, SCALIA BIOGRAPHER: If he was trying to get anybody to sign on opinion, it was harder when he would use more combative language. But, you know, as much as they would say, you know, I'd like to strangle, you know, he was still there in many ways.

JOHNS: And those in the sense helped him hone a creative. Some said often cruel, streak in his writings becoming a master stylists.

He once referred to the junior varsity congress. He quoted Cole Porter, Shakespeare and "Sesame Street" songs.

Off the bench came admiration from young conservative who wrote books and created websites and tribute but controversy, too.

A hunting trip with Vice President Cheney had the same time the court was considering a lawsuit against the number two over access to privileged document. A Sicilian gesture some interpreted as obscene and captured by a Boston newspaper. He called it, dismissive in nature.

Justice Scalia a man both respected and dismissed, feared and celebrated.

BISKUPIC: He has to be remembered in many ways. Certainly as this larger than life figure, larger than bench figure, someone who embraced both the law and a life beyond the court. JOHNS: A judge who combined street smarts with a well-calculated conservative view of the law and its limits on society.

SCALIA: I'm not driven. I enjoy what I'm doing. As soon as I no longer enjoy it, I am out of there.

JOHNS: Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END VEDIOTAPE)

[04:35:00] HOWELL: At the presidential debate in Greenville, South Carolina, Republican rivals also commented on the death of Antonin Scalia. While they agreed that President Obama should not nominate a successor to Scalia, they didn't agree on much else.

In fact, much of that debate was contentious and combative at times real verbal brawls. Here's a look at some of the moments that stood out from the debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The next president needs to appoint someone with a proven conservative record, similar to Justice Scalia.

TRUMP: I think it's up to Mitch McConnell and everybody else to stop it. It's called delay, delay, delay.

TED CRUZ, U.S REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have 80 years of precedent of not confirming Supreme Court justices in election year.

JOHN KASICH, U.S. REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE: It's not even two minutes after the death of Judge Scalia, I just wish we hadn't run so fast into politics.

TRUMP: Obviously, the war in Iraq was a big fat mistake. Took him five days, he went back. It wasn't a mistake. It wasn't a mistake, took him five days before his people told him what to say.

George Bush made a mistake. We can make mistakes, but that one was a beauty.

BUSH: I am sick and tired of him going after my family.

TRUMP: The World Trade Center came down ...

(CROSSTALK)

KASICH: I got to tell you, this is just crazy. This is just nuts, OK. Cease, oh man.

BEN CARSON, U.S. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you for including me in the debate. Two questions already. This was great.

CRUZ: Marco has a long record when it comes to amnesty in the State of Florida, as speaker of the house. RUBIO: I don't know how he knows what I said on Univision because he doesn't speak Spanish.

And second of all, the other point I would make ...

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

BUSH: I feel like I have to get into my inner Chris Christie.

CRUZ: You shouldn't be flexible on core principles.

I like Donald. He is an amazing entertainer. Right now the day as a candidate, he supports federal tax payer funding for Planned Parenthood. I disagree with him on that. That's a matter of principle and I'll tell you ...

TRUMP: You are the single biggest liar. You probably are worse than Jeb Bush. You are the single biggest liar.

CRUZ: Donald has this weird pattern. When you point to his own record, he screams liar, liar, liar, you want to go ...

TRUMP: Where did I support it? Where did I support it? Hey Ted, where did I support it?

CRUZ: If Donald Trump is president, he will appoint liberals. If Donald Trump is president, your Second Amendment will ...

KASICH: These attacks, some of them are personal. I think we're fixing to lose the election to Hillary Clinton if we don't stop this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: All right. So, while Republicans locked horns in Greenville, the comedy sketch show "Saturday Night Live" turns its attention to the increasingly close contest on the Democratic side of the race. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AIDY BRYANT, SNL CAST: I mean, I like Hillary's foreign policy experience, but I love Bernie's whole vibe.

CHRIS PARNELL, SNL CAST: Oh, I'm obsessed with his vibe.

JANE CURTIN, SNL CAST: Because I can't make you love me if you don't.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mommy, he is the best.

CURTIN: You can't make your heart feels as something it wants.

TINA FEY, SNL CAST: Bernie is change.

CURTIN: Here in the dark, in these final hours. I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power, but you won't.

BRYANT: I like what Bernie yelling.

CURTIN: I know you won't.

BRYANT: But not when Hillary does.

CURTIN: Because I can't make you love me if you don't.

FEY: Oh, did anybody else just get so cold for a minute?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have made appearances on "SNL" this campaign season.

And as we've been talking about, the next big event for the presidential candidates is South Carolina's primary. It's just a few days away. Republicans vote in their primary, February 20th, and Democrats a week later.

U.S. presidential candidate, Donald Trump is anything but silent even on matters involving the Pope. Now, Trump is weighing in on the Papal visit to Mexico.

Ahead, what he's saying about the head of the Roman Catholic Church?

Plus, for this Valentine's Day, a love story that is 70 years in the making, a beloved lost and found with the help of the internet. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:42:28] HOWELL: By now, it should come as no surprise to you that the outspoken U.S. presidential candidate, Donald Trump does not mince words, even when it comes to the Pope.

And now, he's speaking out about the Papal visit to Mexico, calling the Pope's message, too political.

CNN's Miguel Marquez learned that the criticism may actually work toward Trump's advantage with some voters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Donald Trump is at it again, staking out a position that on the face of it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, but may actually work in his favor.

This time, it is Trump versus the Pope.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

MARQUEZ: Pope Francis, donning a sombrero, Mexico-bound, and stirring controversy in the U.S. presidential race.

TRUMP: The Pope is a very political person. I think he doesn't understand the problems our country has. We're going to run the table.

MARQUEZ: That's the brash billionaire turned presidential hopeful from a Fox Business interview taking on the Pope, or as Catholics believe, God's representative on earth.

TRUMP: I don't think he understands the danger of the open border that we have with Mexico.

MARQUEZ: The Pope, who has staked out traditionally, liberal views on everything from climate change to capitalism to the poor is headed to the northern city of Juarez where he will hold a prayer service with immigrants in the shadow of the fence separating Mexico and the U.S.

If elected, Trump promises to transform the fence into a wall.

TRUMP: I think Mexico got him to do it because Mexico wants to keep the border just the way it is because they're making a fortune, and we're losing.

MARQUEZ: It's not the first time the pot-stirring candidate has called the Pope out.

TRUMP: I have a great respect for the Pope. I like the Pope. I actually like him. He's becoming very political, there's no question about it, but I like him.

MARQUEZ: And oh, what a difference a political campaign makes. Following Francis' election, Trump twitted, "The new Pope is a humble man, very much like me, which probably explains why I like him so much."

So, what gives with all the Papal boohooing now?

CHIP FELKEL, THE FELKEL GROUP: It is pandering, no question about that in terms of positioning himself with that evangelical base.

MARQUEZ: Chip Felkel, a South Carolina Republican Consultant and long-time adviser to GOP candidates says Trump maybe crazy like a Fox.

Donald Trump taking on the Pope gets him attention and gets him on the radar in South Carolina?

FELKEL: It's a way to try in some kind connection with the evangelical vote that Cruz is expected to do well in.

[04:45:04] MARQUEZ: Trump has consistently vested Cruz by double digits in South Carolina polls.

But, it seems after tasting defeat in Iowa and victory in New Hampshire, he prefers to win leaving no political stone unturned.

MARQUEZ: Well, Felkel ought to say there are very few Catholics in South Carolina, but this may end up back firing on Trump in later states where he will face far more Catholic voters.

That's it for now. This is a high-stakes gamble of the entertainer and businessman is making, hoping that it garners him more attention and votes in the South Carolina primary.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: You're watching "CNN Newsroom."

Still ahead, meet a family that has helped bring characters to life on the big screen for seven generations now. And you may recognize some of the costumes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom." I'm George Howell.

American and British actors are getting ready to shine in London for Britain's film awards on Sunday evening. This year's BAFTA will be hosted by Stephen Fry at the London's Royal Opera House. And CNN will take you on the red carpet for the event. So stay with us for it.

[04:50:07] Now, to a story about a family of tailors who have been helping to create movie magic for seven generations now. It's the Angel family, one of the world's biggest providers of costumes to the film industry.

From the recent Oscar nominees, "The Bridge of Spies" to classics likes "Star Wars." You've likely seen their magic at work.

CNN's Nima Elbagir, takes us through the family's breathtaking London warehouse.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The warehouse at Angel Costumiers.

TIM ANGEL, ANGEL COSTUMIERS OWNER: We create (worlds). We make believe. We've got a huge dressing out folks.

ELBAGIR: This is just part of the 8.5 miles of clothing realms out here (ph), housing the imaginations of some of the most famous directors, writers and designers in the world.

ANGEL: This is one of my favorite films which was "Where Eagles Dare". It's got a label here, I think, that will probably say Clint Eastwood.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got company.

ELBAGIR: For seven generations, Tim Angel's family has been making costumes worn by some of the most beloved characters on the stage and screen.

ANGEL: "Fiddler on the Roof" which we did and "The King and I" which we did. "Star Wars" was one. We worked on "Game of Throne"...

(Off-Mic)

ANGEL: "The Danish Girl."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only person who makes sense to me (ph).

ELBAGIR: These wares play host to a multitude of worlds, including Mars.

ANGEL: I loved "The Martian." When they were doing that, the costume team would come in here to get -- in the most (inaudible) inspiration for what they do.

ELBAGIR: This is "Shakespeare in Love."

ANGEL: Yeah.

(Off-Mic)

ELBAGIR: Just feeling this, the detail is extraordinary.

ANGEL: And this was "My Week with Marilyn."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is my special pleasure to introduce a woman who clearly needs no introduction.

ANGEL: She had a false bottom.

ELBAGIR: She had a false -- Michelle Williams wants to have a false bottom?

ANGEL: Oh yeah, because Marilyn Monroe had a very narrow waist and big hips.

ELBAGIR: Yeah.

ANGEL: I presume.

ELBAGIR: It all adds up to an awful lot of work. But even the simplest concepts still need an intricate attention to detail.

One of the films the Angel's worked on recently is "Lady in the Van."

(Off-Mic)

ANGEL: This is Maggie Smith from "Lady in the Van." It all looks believable. And my mother-in-law sewed it.

ELBAGIR: Even with a meticulous organizing system, things still go missing, including one of the most iconic costumes of all time.

Obi-Wan Kenobi's robe turned up one day after the blue.

ANGEL: It was a monk's robe that was being hired out and had been hired out for fan's dress parties.

ELBAGIR: So someone inadvertently hired the original Obi-wan Kenobi ...

ANGEL: No, you know, just one person. I think lots of people.

ELBAGIR: Angel says they never know whether the film they're working on will be successful. But, often it's enough just to know they've played their part in making movie magic.

ANGEL: We're working in a make-believe world. We're working with people that are larger than life, and it's great. You know, you still get star struck.

ELBAGIR: Nima Elbagir, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: All right. So, it is Valentine's Day in many parts of the world. And we have a story now about a couple who met in the 1940s, but they parted ways for 70 years after a big misunderstanding. But now, they are reunited and inspiring others to never give up on finding true love again.

Ivan Watson, tells us how their children and some total strangers helped out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NORWOOD THOMAS, LONG LOST LOVE OF JOYCE MORRIS: I'm going to give her a squeeze

IVAN WATSON, CNN'S SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Norwood Thomas never stopped thinking about Joyce Morris. The pair first met in 1944. She, a 17-year-old British girl living in London. He, a 21- year-old paratrooper for the U.S. Forces. Young love blossomed.

JOYCE MORRIS, LONG LOST LOVE NORWOOD THOMAS: We (inaudible) as he courted, you know, and it was stopped, you know, because -- say yes.

WATSON: But their brief romance was interrupted when Thomas was deployed to Normandy to fight in World War II.

After the war, he returned to the U.S. and invited Morris to join him. But she misunderstood his letter and thought he was already married. So, she refused his invitation and they went their separate ways.

They married other people. Thomas eventually became a widower. Morris got divorced.

Last year, one of her sons found Thomas online and they reconnected on Skype after more than 70 years.

MORRIS: (Inaudible) and I say good morning to you every morning.

THOMAS: I will say good morning ...

MORRIS: Because I want to miss you every (inaudible).

THOMAS: And I will say good morning back to you.

[04:55:02] You broke my heart.

MORRIS: I don't believe that for a moment.

THOMAS: What would you do if I could give you a squeeze?

MORRIS: Oh, it would be lovely.

WATSON: A crowd-funding campaign raised enough money to make that actually happened. This week, Thomas made the journey from Virginia to Adelaide.

MORRIS: Were you still vertigo? Hello.

THOMAS: I'm going to give you this squeeze.

WATSON: A couple that first met just before D-Day, reuniting seven decades later just in time for "V" or Valentine's Day.

THOMAS: You're the most wonderful thing that could have happened to me.

MORRIS: You look gorgeous.

WATSON: Ivan Watson, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: That is a great story. Ivan, thank you so much for that.

And before we close this hour, I want to challenge you not to find love in your heart when you see these images.

Volunteers from the American Heart Association wrapped newborn babies at the Washington hospital in a special red and pink outfit. You see it there, just in time for Valentine's Day and I have to say it just -- it does not get more lovable than that.

We thank you for being with us this hour.

I'm George Howell at the CNN Center at Atlanta. I'll be back after the break with another hour of news from around the world.

You're watching CNN the world's news leader.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)