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Clinton in California; Bernie Sanders Met Up with Pope Francis; Nigerian Senate Demands Briefing on Missing Girls; Warning to the U.S.: 9/11 Bill Will Cost You Billions. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired April 16, 2016 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:03]

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: And results are expected any moment now.

For democrats, 247 delegates are at stake in New York. Bernie Sanders just landed in the Big Apple after meeting with Pope Francis earlier today at a Vatican guest house.

And meantime, Hillary Clinton is thousands of miles away on the West Coast. She just wrapped up a rally in Los Angeles. Tonight she will be hanging out with Hollywood power couple George and Amal Clooney for a big money fundraiser.

Let's go straight to Sara Sidner right outside the Clinton campaign event in Los Angeles. So Sara, tell us what's been playing out there.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are actually inside this event. It turned out that Hillary Clinton came to this crowd, the crowd came to her hoping to be able to really listen to what she's saying. Most of the folks in the crowd were certainly here supporting Hillary Clinton, hoping that she is going to be the democratic nominee.

She talked about things like climate change and said look, there are some Republicans who deny that there is global warming, they need to maybe come to this college, listen to scientists, if they're not scientists themselves to understand what's really going on. That got a big cheer from the crowd.

She also talked women's health, about women's right to choose, that also got a big cheer. Talked about salary and disparities in salary for women. That also got people really hyped up here. But she really went after Republicans. She did not say a single thing or name her competitor in the democratic party, Bernie Sanders, but she did talk about Republican frontrunner Donald Trump and made a very big distinction between what he thinks and what him and other Republicans think.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think there's been a more important, consequential election in quite some time. Why do I say that? Because you could not have a bigger difference, bigger difference between us and the Republicans led by Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

Everything I have fought for my entire life, everything I stand for in my public service, everything I will do as your president is exactly the opposite of what they say and how they treat people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: And one the things that she mentioned was - she said "look, I keep mentioning what Donald Trump said about not allowing Muslims into this country because I want to make sure the world sees another narrative coming out of America, that this is not how Americans are, this is not what our country was built on." She said "immigrants, in the backs of immigrants." That's got a cheer from the crowd as well.

She is going to move on, as you know, Pam, to a fundraiser, she did one on Saturday. She's now doing one here at A-lister George Clooney and Amal Clooney's house. That has gotten some criticism as you know from Bernie Sanders' camp and protesters saying what is with this huge amounts of money that is required for you to attend an event like this. That was in contrast to her here talking about pay equality, talking about equality and the effort that people have to make, and how she is going to help lift people out of poverty. Pam?

BROWN: Sara Sidner, thanks so much.

To discuss what Sara just reported on, I'm joined by political strategist and Bernie Sanders' surrogate Jonathan Tasini. He challenged Hillary Clinton in the primary contest for her Senate seat in New York back in 2006. We're also joined by CNN political commentator and Hillary Clinton supporter Maria Cardona.

So Maria, I'm going to start with you. A ticket to this event as we heard Sara say can cost you more than $350,000. New Yorkers vote in just three days. What they're seeing is Hillary Clinton raising millions of dollars at fund raisers across the country. Is this not what exactly what Sanders talks about when he says Clinton's campaign is funded by big money?

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, he can try to talk about that but the fact of the matter is these fundraiser was for the Democratic National Committee. The Democratic National Committee raises funds for democrats, for democrats to win all across the board, up and down the ticket to make sure that democratic values, which are the same values that Hillary Clinton is talking about day in and day out, about breaking down barriers, about making it easy for middle class families, and working class families to achieve the American dream, to make sure that there are pathways to opportunity for every single demographic in this country and for everyone who has been left behind, those are the things that she is fighting for. That's where the money is going. Frankly, her message is working.

BROWN: How many families could pay to go to a fund-raiser like that. I mean, does that send the wrong message with that optics?

CARDONA: No, not at all, these fundraisers are exactly for that, to raise funds so that these democrats can run for office. You know, many times they're outspent by their Republican counterparts. The fact of the matter is that Hillary Clinton talks about how we need to take big money out of politics. She talks about getting rid of Citizens United.

[16:05:02]

But until that happens, why should we just unilaterally disarm, let Republicans be the ones to raise all this money when Democrats can raise money in order to put that money into campaigns so that Democrats can win and make sure that they can fight for those values and those middle class families have the voices that up until now a lot of times have been missing.

BROWN: OK. Jonathan is biting at the bit to talk. You're talking under your breath. First, I want to go to this new ad released by Bernie Sanders targeting these fund-raisers, then we'll talk after. I promise, Jonathan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: $27.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it is the best $27 you can spend.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The average donation given to Bernie Sanders.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: $27.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Make college tuition free.

UNIDENTIFED MALE: For better care of veterans.

UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: For women's rights.

UNIDENTIFED MALE: For health care for all.

UNIDENTIFED MALE: To make Wall Street corporations pay their fair share.

UNIDENTIFED MALE: To keep us out of unnecessary wars.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To ensure a living wage.

UNIDENTIFED MALE: Get big money out of politics.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For the poor.

UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: For the rich.

UNIDENTIFED MALE: For all of us, give 27 to transform America.

BERNIE SANDERS, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am Bernie Sanders, I approve this message.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Jonathan?

JONATHAN TASINI, SANDERS SURROGATE: Well, in fact I have my $27 here, I calculated it would take about 1,200 people. I'm going to hand this here. We could start a fund-raiser.

BROWN: Is this for my dinner tonight?

TASINI: $27. This is what it would take. This is what the average contribution is to Bernie Sanders' campaign. It would take about 1200 people to get into that one ticket to enter that fundraiser. Maria and I have great affection for each other. But what I am going to say is this is really indicates the problem with the party. It underscores the kind of person and the kind of politics that Hillary Clinton represents. It has some history to this.

Bill Clinton basically sold off the White House and the democratic party to big business, to corporate contributors, to Wall Street.

BROWN: (INAUDIBLE) statement, Jonathan.

TANSINI: I tell you what, with the help of his batman, Terry McCauliffe, the governor of Virginia. What happened is they opened the whole process to allow the Wall Street donors, the big donors, to come in, and buy access. That's where it started.

You can go back and track that. That's why NAFTA passed, one of the worst trade agreements that Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton supported. The notion that we shouldn't cut that off, the notion that we have to continue that corrupt politics which is corrupt the system is belied by the $27 average contribution.

Bernie Sanders has raised more money than Hillary Clinton, in the last quarter from these small contributions, that shows the power of individual Americans. What you see it happening in California is the power of the one percent, the power of the Wall Streeters, the power of the very people who have hurt this country, and created policies that hurt average Americans.

BROWN: I got to let Maria jump in on this. Because you made some bold claims there, Jonathan. Go ahead, Maria.

CARDONA: First of all, all of that is just complete ridiculousness. The problem is not with the party, the problem is with the system. Like I said before, Hillary Clinton and many Democrats who do raise money and go to these high level fund-raisers talk about getting rid of money, taking money out of politics and getting rid and getting rid of - Jonathan, can I finish?

I didn't interrupt you. Thank you. So democrats don't have to unilaterally disarm, because then we will not have the means to fight this fight across the board and up and down the ticket. So let democrats get elected. Let's make sure the Supreme Court is tilted towards getting rid of Citizens United, and then the system will be fixed. That is how you (INAUDIBLE).

(CROSSTALK) BROWN: Jonathan, hold on. Maria, I'm going to stay with you because Hillary Clinton as we know is up in the polls in New York by at least 17 points, I think, on the last poll. She was also up in the polls in Michigan and lost in that state. Do you think that she's being overly confident, that she's going to win New York and that's why she's out in California this weekend?

CARDONA: No. At least she's in the country. Bernie Sanders is not even in the country. It is not a criticism of going to meet the Pope, as a Catholic, I think it was terrific. But that doesn't really matter. I think the focus is she's fighting very hard for New York. She's not taking any vote for granted. She has been campaigning there vigorously for the past several weeks. It is her home turf.

She feels confident, at the same time she is not taking anything for granted. By the way, her campaign has said that they believe that this race is closer than what the polls show. I believe she will win. I think it is up to Bernie Sanders to blow her out of the water. If he doesn't do that, it's going to be very difficult to prove that he has any reliable path to the nomination.

BROWN: Before we wrap up, I want to go to you, Jonathan, about Bernie Sanders' defense of Palestinians during the democratic debate. You said it was a powerful moment for you. This is something virtually unheard of from a democratic presidential candidate, particularly ahead of the New York primary, right?

[16:10:04]

TASINI: I just want to say in response to this, the notion that you unilaterally disarm is nonsense and Bernie Sanders has proven that if we got to the people, we can raise money. I am going to try not to - I actually cried when he said that. I'll try -

BROWN: And you're Jewish, by the way.

TASINI: Yes, I'm Jewish. I lived in Israel for seven years, half my family lived there. I have been involved in the fight for Palestinian rights for many, many years. What Bernie Sanders said was extraordinary and we have never heard that from a presidential candidate to say that we must treat Palestinians with dignity and respect and that Israel attacked Gaza in a disproportionate way.

It is contrast with Hillary Clinton who has wrapped her arms around, I think, one of the most dangerous world leaders in the globe, Benjamin Netanyahu, who I think is along with Donald Trump a pathological liar who unleashed an assault on Gaza. Hillary Clinton has been completely 100 percent pro-Israel in a negative way, supporting a very right wing government, it matches with her war hawk kind of policies.

Bernie Sanders did the most amazing thing. He recognized the Palestinian people. The rights the Palestinian people have and the notion that until the United States plays a role that supports Palestinians, that recognizes their dignity, we can't have peace there. I literally sat at home and I cried. It was amazing.

BROWN: OK. Jonathan.

Final word, quickly - real quickly, Maria.

CARDONA: Hillary Clinton would not disagree that Palestinian people have rights. I think what she is focused on, she has demonstrated this, she was the one who negotiated the ceasefire between the Palestinians and the Hamas government, by the way, and Israel. So she's the one who has experience to actually see through real peace, which is what everybody on both sides deserves.

TASINI: People should watch what the debate and watch what Hillary Clinton said in response which was -

BROWN: OK.

CARDONA: (INAUDIBLE) you can still watch the debate, Jonathan Tansini, Maria Cardona. Thank you all. We have a lively discussion when I have both of you on.

Meantime, both Bernie Sanders and the Pope are giving details of their meeting. What they discussed, up next. Plus, the emotional trip the pope took afterwards visiting hundreds of refugees and even bringing some of them back to the Vatican.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:15:27]

BROWN: Well, Bernie Sanders met briefly with Pope Francis today and shook the Pope's hand. Sanders describes the meeting as "extraordinary." It occurred in the hallway of the Vatican guest house where Sanders and his wife stayed for a conference on economic and social issues.

Pope Francis shot down any suggestion his handshake with Sanders was political. As for Sanders, he says he praised the Pope, despite the fact he has conflicts with the Catholic faith. He spoke with our Ben Wedeman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANDERS: It is not a secret that my view on women's rights, on gay rights, on contraception, is different than the church's. But I think in this world what we have to do is work with people when we can work with them, and his leadership in terms of the need to create a moral economy, the need to make sure that we transform our energy system so as to prevent climate change from wreaking havoc on this planet has been extraordinary. So you work with people in those areas you can, where you disagree, everybody knows what the disagreements are. Let's work together where we can.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And certainly, in the reporting leading up to the conference yesterday, there was an indication that there's an element within the Vatican that has felt the Bern, so to speak. SANDERS: That maybe the case, if so, I am honored and (INAUDIBLE) because the truth is, I think it is fair to say there are a few members of the Senate, if any, who have been more outspoken in support of the role that the Pope is playing in the fight for not only economic justice, but talking about the need to create a moral economy, what we have now. Where so few have so much, so many have so little.

In my view, it's not only immoral, it is unsustainable, certainly in terms of climate change if we don't boldly address this crisis. I worry very much about the kind of planet we will be leaving our kids and our grandchildren.

WEDEMAN: Now why do you suppose the other people running in this election and this leadup to the election, none of them were invited, Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump?

SANDERS: You'll have to ask them and you'll have to ask the Vatican.

WEDEMAN: Now, there has been some talk that you sort of abandoned the campaign trail to come over here to Rome. How do you respond to that criticism?

SANDERS: If anyone has been following me in New York state for the last week to talk about abandoning anything, we have been doing rally after rally after rally. We had 27,000 people out in Washington Square Park. We are going back for do another rally I think tonight, we're going to be working very hard for the next few days.

We will have talked to over 100,000 people in upstate New York, in almost every borough in the city of New York, we have been working very, very hard. But I did feel that getting this invitation from the Vatican, given my enormous respect for the Pope, is something that I could not refuse.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: No photos were taken of Pope Francis and Sanders meeting. Sanders just arrived back in New York a short time ago.

Don't miss tomorrow's "State of the Union." Bernie Sanders talks to CNN about the fight for New York. That's at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, only on CNN.

Well, after the Pope met with Sanders, he made an emotional visit to Lesbos, Greece to meet with hundreds of displaced refugees. In a gesture, practicing what is long preached about welcoming migrants, the Pope returned to the Vatican, a few hours ago with 12 Syrian refugees. The three families rode on the papal plane with the Pope. You can see them right here disembarking. They were selected in a lottery type process and were in a camp for those considered to be most vulnerable.

More than 40 confirmed dead, who knows how much higher that number will get. Southern Japan, a second very powerful earthquake hit just a few hours ago. People are afraid and rescue work is very difficult. CNN is there and we'll bring you there after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:23:00]

BROWN: Southern Japan, it is a disaster area this weekend. Two powerful earthquakes two days apart. More than 40 people are confirmed dead, but that number is fluid because there are so many people are unaccounted for, and crowds of frightened people are packed into evacuation centers. CNN's Matt Rivers is inside one of them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): We are inside one of dozens of evacuation shelters that have been set up here in the Kumamoto region for people displaced as a result of the two different earthquakes. You are seeing people inside here from one of two different sort of tracks. On one hand, people have had their homes destroyed so they have nowhere to go.

The reality is that most people that are inside this evacuation shelter are here because they're afraid to go home. They're not sure maybe there might be another aftershock. We have been here for about 12 hours now, and we felt several different tremors on our own. That certainly has people here very spooked, given what we've seen over the last two days.

Frankly, these people were able to make it out of a very, very difficult situation where others were not so lucky. We know that at least 40 people have died as a result of both the earthquake on Thursday and the earthquake early morning here on Saturday, and because of those two earthquakes, the amount of rubble, the amount of destruction that's gone on in this area is immense.

That's the task that is facing rescue workers right now. You see these trucks behind me, these are from the Japanese defense force that will be sending some 25,000 of its members here by the end of the day tomorrow, that would be Sunday here, local time, to help with these rescue efforts. But they face a Herculean task. It is raining outside right now. There's a lot of debris to go through to try and find anyone who might be still be alive trapped in the rubble.

[16:25:10]

A very tense situation, a very nervous situation here for people in southwest Japan.

Matt Rivers, CNN, Kumamoto, Japan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: Thank you to Matt Rivers.

Meantime, Wwyoming delegates are being chosen right now as we speak. We are expecting those results at any moment. Could the loser be more important than the winner? Donald Trump is now painting himself as a possible political martyr, being taken down by a corrupt system, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Moments ago John Kasich talked to reporters while grabbing some lunch at PJ Bernstein's Deli here in New York. He was asked whether he thinks the GOP nominating process is rigged. A question that led to a testy exchange with the reporter. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), PRESIDNETIAL CANDIDATE: No, I don't think.

Let me ask you this, that show we had on TV, was that rigged, if somebody didn't get picked, did they jump out and say this is rigged? I don't think so.

UNIDENTIFED MALE: Governor, if you get to the convention in Cleveland and you have only won Ohio, do you think -

(CROSSTALK)

KASICH: There's no if in there. There will be when. Listen, at the end of the day I think the Republican party wants to pick somebody who actually can win in the fall.

UNIDENTIFED MALE: But if you've only won Ohio -

KASICH: Can I finish? I'm answering the question the way I want to answer. You want to answer it? Here. Let me hold that. Let me ask you, what do you think?

UNIDENTIFED MALE: I think you should answer the question.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Well, Donald Trump has not been shy about calling out what he thinks is a corrupt system, including the delegate selection system in Wyoming. Officials there are expected to announce delegate results very soon, and Cruz is poised to pick up most if not all of them.

With me to discuss, CNN political commentator Tara Sethmeyer and CNN political commentator and former Reagan White House political director, Jeffrey Lord, otherwise known as the dynamic duo.

[16:30:00] So, Jeffrey, first to you here. You support Donald Trump. Trump rallied against the system during the rally earlier today. Let's take a listen and talk to you on the other end.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I guess I'm complaining because it's not fair to the people. The people have to -- when you look at what happened in Wyoming and what's happening there, when you look at what's happening in Colorado where the people never got a chance to vote, and they're going nuts out there, they're angry, the bosses took away their vote. And I wasn't going to send big teams of people three, four months ago, have them out there. Again, I'm self- funding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Jeffrey, why didn't we hear the complaints earlier in the campaign. Presumably, he knew the rules before now, right?

JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: All things in due time, in due time. You know, when you have a Colorado Republican voter burning his Republican registration in a YouTube video that goes viral, that ought to be enough to say something is up. I really do think, and I was talking earlier today with someone else who's been with Republican campaigns, there's a problem here and it has to be addressed.

Obviously, at this point, it is too late to address it for this campaign, but calling attention to it is a very good thing.

BROWN: Right. Tara, on that point do you think this is a spotlight that needs to be shining, even though these are the rules and people have accepted them for all these years, is it -- do you think Donald Trump is doing a good thing shining a spotlight on them?

TARA SETMAYER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think it's contrived feigned outrage of convenience because he is losing this aspect of the rules of the game that he agreed to participate in when he decided to throw his hat in a recent to run for president. It is a tough job. It requires more than flying in on a private jet and having big rallies and ginning people up, and then flying out. There's an actual apparatus and structure involved in becoming president of the United States.

So, and just something else, you know, Jeffrey brings up this guy that burned his Republican registration card in Colorado, he brings it up all the time. The reason that guy was unable to cast his vote for and a delegate for Donald Trump is because he wasn't eligible. He didn't even know that he needed to be elected at the precinct level. He just showed up and thought, oh, he is going to show up at the state convention and have opportunity to be on the slate. That's not how it works.

So, whose fault is that, that he didn't know his own process? Then he wasn't turning around and using it as if oh, it is because the party bosses took it away. No, 60,000 Coloradans had the opportunity to participate, did participate. Millions, whoever is registered voters in Colorado could have participated at the precinct level to select their delegates. That's how it works.

Jeffrey, you're from Pennsylvania. He should know that in the 1820s, the idea of caucus originated in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. And that's how we got to the county convention. It started back then.

BROWN: Well, history lesson.

SETMAYER: Jeffrey is bringing up history, figure I would turn it back around, further back than 1912. That's what people don't understand. I want people to understand, this is not something that's untoward. Historically in our country, this is the way the system and process worked.

BROWN: And these rules are no secret, Jeffrey. I mean, you have been through this before. You can learn the rules, learn how you play the game. Cruz, meantime, is being touted as having a strong ground game. He could walk with as many as 23 delegates today.

Doesn't seem like a lot obviously, but when it comes to a race like this, every delegate counts, why isn't Trump fighting harder for the delegates?

LORD: Well, I think he is fighting hard for the delegates. I think this is why Paul Manafort is there.

BROWN: But he's not in Wyoming and he wasn't in Colorado.

LORD: Right, right, these are strategic decisions you make in any campaign, where you're going to go, where you're not going to go. I mean, Senator Cruz is in Wyoming, apparently, he's not in New York. It would seem to me he would get more delegates in New York if he could win New York, but he's obviously made a decision, he's running a bad third in polls, so he is not there.

So, good for him, that's his strategic decision to make, just as Donald Trump makes the same kind of decisions, any candidate does.

SETMAYER: But, Jeffrey, why is Donald Trump then whining and complaining about the fact he won't get delegates in Wyoming or that he didn't get delegates in Colorado when he had opportunity to go there himself and pitch to the people of Colorado why they should choose him. He chose not to because he doesn't care about them. I think that's insulting to them. He has a private jet, he can fly there all he wants.

LORD: Tara, you make decisions on what's best for the campaign at the moment. Obviously, the best thing for him is to be in New York. He's poised to win --

SETMAYER: Why?

LORD: He is poised to win significantly. That's what you do, Tara.

And I say, Ted Cruz is not there today. John Kasich is there. You know, if John Kasich can be there arguing with some reporter in New York, I don't understand why Senator Cruz can't be there.

[16:35:01] The answer is you can't be in two places at one time. We haven't reached the beam me up Scottie portions for political campaigns.

SETMAYER: He could go, he could fly into Wyoming, could have gone to that convention and flown right back. There's no reason to continue to do this unless he is setting up the narrative to play the victim when he doesn't win delegates in Wyoming. That's all it is about, so he can play the victim and whine when he loses.

LORD: What you seem to not want to mention is, that Donald Trump is, gasp, ahead. He is winning. So --

SETMAYER: But the game is not over.

LORD: He is going to keep going until he wins that nomination. But he's ahead. There's no question.

BROWN: Let me ask you this, Tara. Trump is poised to win New York according to polls. Of course, you never know until primary day comes along, but what would the path forward be for Ted Cruz after that.

SETMAYER: Yes, something interesting about this, is that even though Donald Trump is going to win New York, this is not going to be news, how much he wins by is something that we'll pay attention to. But let's just say that Donald Trump wins all 95 delegates in New York, which I don't think he will, say he does. You count the last four contests, Ted Cruz is net 33 delegates. This is a delegate race.

So, he's won -- Ted Cruz won 128 to Donald Trump's seven, you got that 95, let's say Ted Cruz doesn't win another delegate, let's take Wyoming out of there. Ted Cruz is still net 33 delegates. Then include Wisconsin, then Donald Trump would still be behind 45 delegates moving forward.

So, this whole thing about he's winning now, but the game is not over. When you're in baseball, you have seven games in the World Series. You don't cut and run, I won three in a row. Ask the New York Yankees and came back to beat the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS, you don't end the game now. You have to get there.

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: A little baseball analogy. All right.

SETMAYER: Well, I mean, that is analogy that's relevant because if we don't end now, we have the convention, we need the majority of delegates, which he doesn't have.

BROWN: All right. Tara Setmayer, Jeffrey Lord, appreciate the lively discussion. Thanks so much. The dynamic duo.

And this Tuesday, as we were just talking about, it is a battle for New York, the stakes couldn't be higher. Could all come down to this, the New York primaries, all day coverage on Tuesday only on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:41:06] BROWN: New outrage in Nigeria over the plight of more than 200 girls kidnapped from their school dorm by Boko Haram militants two years ago. The country's lawmakers are now demanding security officials brief them on the case. The demand comes on the heels of CNN's report showing the first proof of life video. Fifteen of the missing girls in Boko Haram custody are seen in it right here.

CNN senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir brings us this exclusive report -- Nima.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's been two years since the Chibok girls were first abducted, sending ripples of shock not just here in Nigeria but around the world. And almost two years since any evidence was given by captors that they were alive until CNN obtained this video.

(voice-over): Lined up against a yellow wall, 15 girls, only their faces showing.

An off-camera voice asks each girl, "What's your name? Is that the name your parents recognize? Where were you taken from?" the voice asks.

Chibok School, and the date they say is the 25th of December 2015.

The video was obtained by CNN from a person close to the negotiations to get these girls released. For the parents, it's finally a glimmer of hope the girls are still alive.

Two years ago, we met Mary Ishaya, Rifqatu Ayouba and Yala Galang on our visit to Chibok after the abduction of their daughters and more than 200 other girls.

We ask them if they recognize any of the girls in the video.

They lean closer. Another girl is identified, Hawa. One by one they name all 15 girls.

But one mother, Yala, realizes her daughter isn't there.

The off-camera voice asking the questions is familiar to CNN as that of Boko Haram spokesman Abu Zinnira. A source close to negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government said the video was provided by the terror group as an asked-for show of good faith.

Nigeria's information minister told CNN they have received the video but are still reviewing it.

LAI MOHAMMED, NIGERIAN INFORMATION MINISTER: If you study the video, you find that the questions were asked in a rather controlled environment. We were a bit concerned too that after two years in captivity, the girls in the video were under no stress whatsoever, there has been little or no transformation to their physical appearance.

ELBAGIR (on camera): Is your government negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of the girls?

MOHAMMED: There are ongoing talks. We cannot ignore leads but, of course, many of these investigations are, you know, cannot be disclosed fully because it could also endanger, you know, the negotiations.

ELBAGIR (voice-over): We took the video to a classmate of the Chibok girls. She had been at home with family the day the other girls were kidnapped. For her safety, we're not showing her face and not using her name.

She told us there's no doubt the girls are some of her kidnapped classmates.

CHIBOK GIRLS' CLASSMATE (through translator): These two were prefects. Watching the video, I'm reminded of how we used to play together. How we used to do chores, do our homework.

[16:45:02] ELBAGIR: She says seeing her friends again will likely give her nightmares.

CHIBOK GIRLS' CLASSMATE (through translator): Sometimes still, if I hear news about them, I have bad dreams and I wake up crying.

ELBAGIR: The video ends with a girl addressing the camera with a message to the Nigerian government: "We are all well," she says pointedly, perhaps suggesting girls not seen in this video.

She then delivers what sounds like a scripted plea, urging the Nigerian government to fulfill unspecified promises.

For the mothers of these girls rapidly becoming women far from home, the video is overwhelming. They say they just want someone to finally bring their daughters home.

(on camera): And with this sense of renewed hope has come a renewed invigoration of the campaign to hold the government accountable for exactly why it's taking so long to find these girls. Nigeria Senate as a result, they tell us because of CNN reporting passed a bill, summoning the country security chiefs to give an accounting in front of the Senate for the search for the girls. That will be early next week.

Whether that accounting will lead, though, to further action and whether it will lead to the girls being brought home safely to their families remains to be seen, Pam.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: Powerful, gripping report there from Nima Elbagir. Thank you so much.

And for more information on how you can help girls around the world receive an education and impact your world, just go to CNN.com/impact.

We'll be right back.

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[16:50:23] BROWN: Well, Saudi Arabia is reportedly threatening the United States. Here's the ultimatum from the Saudi government. State Department sources tell CNN the Saudis say they'll unload billions of dollars in American assets if America passes a bill that would potential see the kingdom sued for a role in the September 11th attacks. It's a bill that the Obama administration wants to block.

The warning rubs 9/11 survivors the wrong way.

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TERRY STRADA, HUSBAND DIED IN WTC ON 9/11: I'm shocked what's going on. Do the Saudis have that much influence on our government? Are they really calling the shots in Washington, D.C.? Are we really not able to pass legislation in Congress because of the Saudis? It is unbelievable.

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BROWN: Fawaz Gerges joins me from London to discuss. He chairs the Middle Eastern studies department of the London School of Economics. This is his new book right here, "ISIS: A History".

Professor Gerges, let's talk about this threat from the Saudis that we just discussed, particularly what assets are they talking about folks selling off, why do they see that as deterrent to the bill before Congress?

FAWAZ GERGES, AUTHOR, "ISIS: A HISTORY": Well, first of all, the Saudis own between $700 billions and $1 trillions in assets to the United States, particularly invested heavily in securities in the past ten years or so. So, you're talking about really a significant, massive sums of money.

Secondly, I don't think it is an ultimatum. I think this is particularly a threat on the part of Saudi Arabia that what's been happening in Congress is more of a political act as opposed to a legal case designed to discredit Saudi Arabia and they're terrified, Saudi leadership, if the bill passes in Congress that their billion of dollars could be frozen in U.S. courts.

So, it is a very serious matter to Saudi Arabia, and by the way, I don't think this is a bluff. The fact that Abu Jubeir, the foreign minister, comes to Washington and delivers the message on part of the leadership of Saudi Arabia, it tells you how serious the matter is being considered by the Saudi leadership.

BROWN: And President Obama, we know, will be in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to talk about the current terror threat. Do you think that a face-to-face meeting with the king could diffuse the tension? Given the backdrop of what's going on, it sure to be an interesting meeting.

GERGES: You're absolutely correct. President Barack Obama will be arriving in Saudi Arabia Wednesday. He will be holding several meetings. We do not know if this contentious issue will be on their agenda, but I'm sure it is.

As you know for your own American viewers, American-Saudi relations have been strained the past few years. The Saudis believe the Obama administration has abandoned them because of the nuclear deal with Iran. They believe that the Obama administration has sacrificed the strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia at the altar of the rapprochement with Iran. So, you have a context, a very poisonous context. And that's why the president has been trying to meet with Saudi leaders and reassure them. So, this particular question, the Congress bill, for American viewers, the Obama administration finds itself to be between a rock and harder place. The rock, as you said, the pressure of the families that lost loved ones on 9/11, and the harder place that this is a strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia that American diplomats and soldiers could also be taken to legal, in legal cases if Congress passes the bill.

That's why the Obama administration is trying very hard to reassure the Saudis and basically lobby Congress so that the bill does not really go all the way in the U.S. Congress in the next few days and next few weeks.

BROWN: All right. Professor Fawaz Gerges, thank you so much for coming on, share your perspective.

GERGES: A pleasure.

BROWN: Coming up on this Saturday, another state makes their choice for Republican presidential nominee without a popular vote. We are awaiting results from the GOP convention in Wyoming.

Plus, Hillary Clinton is not the only big name draw as a big bucks fund-raiser. Those stories in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM.

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[16:58:29] BROWN: A near fatal accident derailed the career of a gifted violinist. But her passion for music gave her the strength to play on. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has her turning point.

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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rachel Barton Pine knew what she wanted to be at five years old.

RACHEL BARTON PINE, VIOLINIST: So, I started signing my kindergarten papers, Rachel violinist.

GUPTA: At 10, she soloed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

At 17, she became the first American to win gold in violin at the International Johan Sebastian Bach competition. Her start was on the rise until a train ride in 1995 changed everything.

PINE: As I was exiting, doors slammed shut on my straps of the bags I was carrying. The train started moving. I had to decide, well, do I let myself be dragged, or try to free myself which may flip me under the wheels.

GUPTA (on camera): Rachel did wiggle free but the train severed her left leg and crushed her right foot. She endured more than 45 operations. PINE: I am grateful to be here, that they were able to put me back

together.

GUPTA (voice-over): Six months after the accident, she returned to the stage. The following year, she performed at the Democratic Convention. Twenty-one years after she was injured, Rachel has released her 30th CD, continues performing across the country, and as added mom to her repertoire.

PINE: There's a myth that you have to undergo angst and tragedy to become a better artist. What about all of the positive, wonderful moments in our lives? Those moments enhanced who I am as a person and therefore who I am as an artist?

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

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