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Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Hears Arguments on Trump's Travel Ban; Republicans Rebuke Senator Warren During Confirmation Hearing; U.S. Firefighters Saving Lives in Mediterranean. 8:00-9:00a ET

Aired February 08, 2017 - 8:00   ET

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

[08:00:15] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream.

An appeals court has heard the arguments around President Trump's controversial travel ban. And now we're waiting for a decision.

Plus, a leading Democratic voice abruptly silenced on the Senate floor. How people are showing support online saying Let Liz Speak.

And a controversial law in Russia signed by Vladimir Putin. Why opponents say it gives

offenders a free pass when it comes to domestic violence.

For the billionaire businessman who now holds America's highest office, it is anything but business as usual this week in Washington. First, the

travel ban. Now President Trump is learning the potential limits of executive power as a U.S. federal appeals court

considers whether to lift the suspension of his travel ban.

And Mr. Trump faces toughest confirmation battle yet. Betsy DeVos was sworn in as Education Secretary but only after she squeaked by in the

Senate. Lawmakers were split 50-50 with Vice President Mike Pence stepping in to break the tie.

And a highly unusual reprimand, the Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced during a debate on the nomination of Jeff Sessions as attorney

general. Republicans said that she violated a senate rule against impugning another senator, and she was asked to sit down.

All of these issues underscore America's system of checks and balances. And here's a quick reminder of an overview of the separation of powers in

America.

The executive branch includes the president and the cabinet. Its function is to carry out and

to enforce laws, but all presidents have the power to issue executive orders to make government policy.

Mr. Trump has issued eight, including that controversial travel ban. Those orders carry less weight than laws passed by congress. The legislative

branch also confirms or rejects presidential appointments.

Now, remember, Republican Party currently controls congress.

Now, the president cannot reverse a law passed by congress, though he can veto it.

Now the president also cannot reverse a decision made by the Supreme Court.

Right now the clash of powers is between Mr. Trump and the judicial branch. And the fate of

his travel ban is in the hands of three federal judges. They will determine whether the ban remains on hold or whether that suspension is

lifted.

Mr. Trump's order bars citizens of these seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days. All refugees for 120 days and all

Syrian refugees indefinitely.

Joe Johns tells us where the case stands right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Three federal judges of the ninth circuit court of appeals grilling lawyers from the Justice Department and

Washington state in a hearing by phone Tuesday night. Both sides fighting back skepticism from the court.

JUDGE RICHARD CLIFTON, NINTH CIRCUIT COURT: Either you have the evidence presented in the record or you don't.

JOHNS: The Justice Department attorney August Flentje arguing Donald Trump has the legal authority to impose the travel ban without review citing

national security.

JUDGE MICHELLE FRIEDLAND, NINTH CIRCUIT COURT: Are you arguing then that the president's decision in that regard is unreviewable?

AUGUST FLENTJE, JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ATTORNEY: The -- yes.

JOHNS: Judge William Canby pushing back on Flentje's logic.

JUDGE WILLIAM CANBY, NINTH CIRCUIT COURT: Could the president simply say in the order we're not going to let any Muslims in?

FLENTJE: That's not what the order does here.

CANBY: Could he do that? Could he do that? Would anybody be able to challenge that?

FLENTJE: That's not what the order does here.

JOHNS: Flentje acknowledging his argument might not be working.

FLENTJE: I'm not sure I'm convincing the court.

JOHNS: Judge Richard Clifton questioning Washington state's claim shows a direct intent to discriminate against Muslims.

CLIFTON: I have a hard time understanding why we're supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be

affected as residents of those nations.

NOAH PURCELL, ATTORNEY: Your honor, the case law from this court and the Supreme Court is very clear that to prove religious discrimination, we do

not need to prove it harms only Muslims or that it harms every Muslim. We just need to prove it was motivated in part by a desire to harm Muslims.

CLIFTON: Do I have to believe everything you allege and say, well, that must be right? That's not the standard.

JOHNS: President Trump continues defending his hastily implemented ban.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some things are law and I'm all in favor of that. And some things are common sense. This is common

sense.

JOHNS: While the president's new homeland security secretary told a House committee he regrets how the presidential order was rolled out.

GEN. JOHN KELLY, DHS SECRETARY: I should have delayed it just a bit so that I could talk to members of Congress, particularly the leadership of

committees like this to prepare them for what was coming.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[08:05:24] LU STOUT: And that was Joe Johns reporting.

Now, tensions aren't just escalating over President Trump's travel ban, another showdown played out on the floor of the U.S. Senate over his

nominee for attorney general. Democrat Elizabeth Warren was silenced by Republicans in an extremely rare rebuke.

Now, CNN's Sunlen Serfaty joins me now from Washington with more on this story. And Sunlen, in fact, the #letlizspeak. It was trending not just in

the U.S. but around the world. So tell us why was Elizabeth Warren silenced in the U.S. senate?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this all stems, Kristie, from a rarely

used Senate rule. We're getting very deep into procedure here, but that something that Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell called up saying that

it is against the decorum of the Senate for another senator to really impugn, was the word, the reputation of another senator. So he used this

rarely invoked rule to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren overnight, but certainly the tone of this, this rather rare confrontation really

signifying how fierce and how tense and how partisan the tone has become up here on Capitol Hill as they work through Donald Trump's cabinet nominees.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R) KENTUCY: The Senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama.

SERFATY: A stunning moment on the Senate floor.

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I am surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate.

SERFATY: Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren formally silenced by her Republican colleagues.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The senator will take her seat.

SERFATY: The incredibly rather dressing down stemming from this statement.

WARREN: Mr. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens.

SERFATY: Warren quoting a scathing 1986 letter from Martin Luther King Junior's widow opposing Senator Jeff Sessions's failed nomination to a

federal judgment to explain why she is against Sessions current bid to be attorney general.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The senator is reminded it is a violation of rule 19 of the standing rules of the Senate to impute to another senator or senators

any conduct unworthy or motive of becoming a senator.

SERFATY: Republicans arguing Warren violated Senate rules by demeaning a sitting senator.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stated that a sitting senator is a disgrace to the Department of Justice.

MCCONNELL: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.

SERFATY: At issue, whether quoting Coretta Scott King should be exempted from the rules.

WARREN: I appeal the ruling of the chair.

SERFATY: But the Senate voted strictly down party lines to reprimand Warren, prohibiting her from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the

Sessions debate.

WARREN: The truth hurts, and that's all the more reason to hear it.

SERFATY: Refusing to be silenced, Warren taking to social media, continuing to read Scott King's letter on Facebook live and calling into CNN.

WARREN: They can shut me up, but they can't change the truth.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SERFATY: Now despite all this debate and fireworks overnight, Senator Sessions' confirmation is not in question. He will be voted on by the full

Senate tonight, Kristie, and likely, very likely to be confirmed to go on to be the next attorney general - Kristie.

LU STOUT: Got you. And Sunlen, Betsy DeVos has been confirmed. She is the U.S. Education Secretary, but it took a little bit of history to make

it happen. Tell us how.

SERFATY: It certainly did. And you can categorize this as a big win for the Trump administration because Betsy DeVos for education secretary really

surprisingly emerged as one of the more controversial nominees that Donald Trump chose. It was razor close, as close as it could become, because in

the end the administration needed to send Vice President Mike Pence up here to the U.S. Capitol. He is in his capacity as the senate president able to

cast a tiebreaking vote, and that's just what he did. It came down at 50- 50. With Pence's vote it was 51-50,

So in the end, Betsy DeVos did get through, but really by the skin of her teeth.

LU STOUT: All right, Sunlen Serfaty reporting for us live. Thank you..

Now, Betsy DeVos has been a controversial pick for the position of U.S. education secretary. Here are a few reasons why. Now, first senators from

both parties have raised concerns over her lack of experience at the public school system pointing out she doesn't seem to understand what public

schools need. This is linked to her advocacy in education issues.

Now, DeVos is a highly prolific donor and advocate of voucher programs and charter schools. And during her hearing she said that she will push for

alternatives to public education.

Now, Senators also questioned her lack of familiarity with the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act known as IDEA. Now, it requires students

with disabilities to get equal educational opportunities.

Now, aside from the educational issues here, there are also concerns about conflicts of interest. Now, DeVos has previously donated to at least four

Republican senators at her hearing.

Now, let's talk about one of Donald Trump's closest allies: Kellyanne Conway. As the president's top aide, she has staunchly defended, and in

some cases, had to clarify her bosses more controversial statements and attacks on the media.

Now, my colleague Jake Tapper spoke with Conway one-on-one, and we want to show you part of that exchange. It starts with Tapper asking about the

president's dubious claim that news networks have failed to cover, or simply ignored dozens of recent terror attacks. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Kellyanne, CNN and other media organizations cover terrorism around the world all the time saying that we don't cover

terrorism. That's just false.

KELLYANNE CONWAY, WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: What the president is saying there, Jake, is that there are attacks that don't get as much as coverage.

Obviously, the very sad incidents that you related were frankly, CNN did amazing coverage for weeks at a time. I saw you all there on the ground

doing that and telling the human interest stories and the tragic stories, and frankly, the involvement of the terrorists in those brutal attacks.

Those get coverage. The other ones in the list not so much...

TAPPER: What we're talking about is the fact that the White House is waging war on people who are providing information sometimes risking their

lives to do so. Saying that nothing we say is true. All of it is fake.

I would much rather be talking to you about veterans issues. In fact, I would -- when it comes to the Trump administration I would be much rather

be covering immigration, I would much rather be covering trade and I would much rather be covering draining the swamp and counterterrorism.

But instead, every day, there are these sprains of attacks and sprains of falsehoods coming from the White House. It would be better if they were not

covering from the White House for me and for you.

CONWAY: Agreed. And let me just say it has to go both ways. I mean, I do, Jake. I sincerely don't see a lot of difference in coverage from when he

was a candidate. And when he became the Republican nominee, the president- elect, and then indeed the president.

Some outlets, some people cover him the same way and it doesn't have great deal of respect I think for the office of the president, its current

occupant.

TAPPER: But, Kellyanne, I guess the problem is it is very difficult to hear criticisms of the media for getting -- for making mistakes. And certainly

the media makes mistakes. But it's very difficult to hear those criticisms from the White House that is such little regard, day in and day out for

facts, for truth, and who calls us...

(CROSSTALK)

CONWAY: That's not completely fair.

TAPPER: ... and who calls us fake news for stories that they don't like.

CONWAY: And so, look, I hear you completely. And Sean Spicer is out there every day doing his press briefing. I'm happy to have the platform in CNN

and other places to explain and to talk about what we're trying to do inside the White House.

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: Are we fake news, Kellyanne? Is CNN fake news?

CONWAY: No. I don't think CNN is fake news. I think there are some reports everywhere in print, on TV, in conversation, that are not well researched

and are -- and are sometimes based on falsehoods.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: And that is just part of Jake Tapper's compelling 25-minute interview with top White House adviser Kellyanne Conway.

You've got to watch the discussion in full, and you can find it on our website. Just go to CNN.com. You'll find it there.

Now, you're watching News Stream. Still to come, and after the break, she gave a voice to the

children of war-torn Aleppo and now CNN finds out how this 7-year-old Syrian girl is adapting to her new life as a refugee.

And Russia decriminalizes a form of domestic violence. Find out why critics fear dangerous fallout from the called slapping law.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:16:12] LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. You're watching News Stream.

Now, Turkish state media reports President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed his situation in Syria during his phone call with the U.S. President

DonaldTrump on Tuesday. They talked about safe zones. They talked about the refugee crisis and the fight against terror.

Now, Mr. Erdogan also told President Trump the U.S. should not be supporting Kurdish groups

inside Syria.

Now she gave a voice to the children of war-torn Aleppo through a Twitter account that was watched and seen around the world. And followers of Bana

Alabed, they were stunned in November when her mother posted that good-bye message, believing that they would be killed in air strikes as government

forces closed in.

But two months later, CNN's Jomana Karadsheh met up up with the 7-year-old girl and here is her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BANA ALABED, SYRIAN REFUGEE: If you promise to me you will do something for the children of Syria. I am already your new friend.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): Bana's letter to President Trump last month was full of hope that America's new

leader would hear her pleas, pleas from the 7-year-old refugee who became the face and voice of Syria's children after tweeting with her mother about

life under siege in Aleppo. But far from extending a hand of friendship, America's president slammed the door. Bana and her family know they're more

fortunate than others. Because of Bana's high profile, they were admitted into Turkey in December.

At a park in Ankara, war seems like a distant memory. Bana's 3-year- old brother Noor born into war had never been to a playground before arriving

in Turkey.

NOOR, SYRIAN REFUGEE: I'm very happy so much, safe and peace and play. There is no bombing.

KARADSHEH: At the age of five, her brother Mohamed is too young to remember life before war. The impact is evident. Whenever he sees strangers, Mohamed

hides. Fatemah says there's no escaping the trauma they suffered. Now, her children are overwhelmed by the simplest of things.

FATEMAH ALABED, SYRIAN REFUGEE: When they saw this fruit, vegetables and the sweets and milk, clean water, my kids thought they are in heaven.

KARADSHEH: Fatemah and Bana want to keep speaking out for Syrian refugees. They hope President Trump would "delete his decision."

FATEMAH ALABED: Like he has now a power to ban the people, he has the power to make a difference in this world and make all the world work for

supporting the Syrian people and refugees and stop the war.

KARADSHEH: Bana might be too young to understand why the American president may not have the time to write back to a little Syrian refugee girl.

"I sent him a letter asking to help Syrian children. I would love Syrian children to stay alive," she says, "but he banned Syrians, but children are

not terrorists." A plea from a child once in danger, now in safety, for the millions of others living in fear.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Ankara.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Wonderful to see a childhood restored there.

Now, thousands of migrants flee to Europe every day hoping for that better life. And many get there by crossing the Mediterranean Sea, risking their

lives in the process.

Now, Ana Cabrera spoke to two American firefighters who went to the Mediterranean to help save the migrants.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get this guy right here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grab on. Grab on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You never know what you're going to get. We know where the search area is, and you just prepare for the worst.

[08:20:05] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, there's somebody over here.

TOM PICKLES, FIREFIGHTER: I have a certain skillset, as most people on this department do, and I -- I feel like I would be wasting it if I didn't

use it for a greater cause.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look for people without jackets.

JIM HOUCK, FIREFIGHTER: We pulled up on scene and there was life jackets in the water and people in the water and -- and we -- we went right to

work.

UNIDENITIFIED MALE: We're coming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me know if you see life anyone without life jackets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to grab this guy here. He's...

UNIDENITIFIED MALE: We'll get you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's OK. It's OK.

UNIDENITIFIED MALE: My friend, come here. Come here, my friend.

Relax, buddy, I got you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grab him.

JASON POHL, JOURNALIST: It's intense. It's amazing how quickly things can change and it's amazing how dire the circumstances can be.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come and rescue me. Come and rescue me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will.

POHL: There's a lot of shouting, a lot of crying, and a lot of people, you know, who are just standing there and floating there and just look

helpless.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are hypothermic. They were exhausted. Who knows the last time they had eaten, probably days ago.

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: did you learn where these people were from?

POHL: They are launching off the Libyan coast. And so they are coming from places like Senegal, Libya, Sierra Leone, Iraq.

And a boat full of Syrians, too, which if you look at a map that had to be quite a journey

for them.

They are trying to get somewhere where they might actually be able to make something for themselves. There are people who are fleeing oppressive

governments, people who are fleeing war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three. Excuse me, there's down below?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's one gentleman - we had a small fiberglass vessel that - there was about 25 on board and half of them were children

under the age of 10. A lot of kids.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yousef.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How old is Yousef?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One year.

HOUK: He just wants to find a place to live and a place that he can raise his family.

CABRERA: What do you of the president's travel ban that affects some of the citizens of countries inwhich you are encountering refugees?

PICKLES: First and foremost, when we are there, we are apolitical. We are just preventing people from dying.

UNIDENITIFIED MALE: Grab the rope right there. Grabe the rope. Grab that rope.

All the way in, my friend.

HOUK: From my experiences with these people, they are no different than anyone else you run into in this country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Climb, climb, my friend.

HOUK: You know, if I was absolutely dirt poor living in central Africa or the Middle East and I was trying to get my family away from violence, I

would probably be doing the exact same thing they are doing. They are just a product of pure random chance which country they were born in.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Those are men of compassion and action. Incredible stuff there.

Now Pope Francis is sending a message of solidarity to the Rohingya people in Myanmar. Now, speaking at a Vatican mass on Wednesday, the pontiff

launched a pointed criticism of the brutal treatment the Muslim minority group has suffered in its home country. Now,

take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE FRANCIS (through translator): They have been suffering for years. They have been tortured, killed, simply because they want to live their

culture and their Muslim faith. Let us pray for them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, of course, the pope isn't alone in defending the persecuted Rohingya people. The UN recently published a report detailing the, quote,

devastating cruelty suffered by Myanmar's Muslim minority. And human rights group Amnesty International described killings, rapes and the

burning down of Rohingya homes by Myanmar's security forces.

And now to Russia, and the law that opponents say gives a free pass when it comes to domestic violence. And parliament has overwhelmingly passed

what's being called the slapping law.

Clare Sebastian has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For 22-year-old Masha, the abuse she suffered at the hands of her step-father is still fresh in her mind.

MASHA, ABUSE VICTIM (through translator): My brother and I were playing in our room and he accidentally fell over. My step-father thought for some

reason it was me who pushed him and he beat me so badly that the next day I had black bruises all over my body.

SEBASTIAN: Masha is now happily married with a 2-year-old son. For legal reasons, we are concealing her face and real name because her step-father

was never charged with any crime.

MASHA (through translator): The police dismissed it. They said it happens. The child was punished. It was just a family row.

YULIA GORBUNOVA, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: The message basically is that, you know, bruises are okay and it sort of echos a response that police usually

gives to victims of domestic violence which is, unfortunately, you know, contact us when you're in the hospital.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's because domestic violence victims in

Russia already feel they are often ignored or dismissed that there's so much concern about a new law that softens punishment for domestic violence.

If it's a first offense and doesn't cause serious medical harm it's no longer considered a criminal offense.

The legislation which focuses on forms of battery comes just six months after Russia decriminalized minor assault, but made an exception for

domestic violence, angering conservative politicians.

VITALY MILNOV, RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER: this attacks the traditional family, because government shouldn't put its red face into a small

conflicts between man and women, between husband and wife.

SEBASTIAN: So you're not worried that this law will make domestic violence victims, who are already frightened to speak up, even more frightened to do

so?

MILNOV: This law frightens only human rights organizations and international observers and also feminist groups and lesbian groups.

SEBASTIAN: The increasingly powerful Russian Orthodox Church is also in favor. It is said that criminalizing domestic violence contradicts moral

and family values in Russian culture. And those opposed to the law have struggled to be heard.

These activists wanted to hold an organized rally. Their applications were repeatedly denied.

Even these individual protests, the regulation 50 meters apart met with some opposition.

"We think it will make the problem worse," one of the organizers tells me. "At least when it was a criminal offense people were afraid."

In a country divided by family values, Masha says she now lives by just one rule: never to lay a hand on her child.

Clare Sebastian, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And still to come, another clash of views in Washington. The Pentagon weighs in on violence in eastern

Ukraine and its conclusion is at odds with President Trump.

And now that he's away from the pressures of the Oval Office, former U.S. President Barack Obama is enjoying his time in the sun. His new vacation

photos ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:30:43] LU STOUT: Now, Yemen's government is telling the U.S. not to carry out anymore anti-terror missions without its permission. It comes

after a raid targeting a top al Qaeda leader resulted in the death of a U.S. Navy SEAL. Now, medics at the scene say civilians, women and children

were also killed in the raid.

Now, let's go straight to the Pentagon now. Ryan Brown has been speaking to his source about Yemen. And, Ryan, again, there were civilian

casualties, children killed in the crossfire of that recent U.S. raid there. We know that Yemen is angry.

Exactly how is it now responding?

RYAN BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Kristie. We're hearing from both Yemen officials and now officials here in Washington is that, you

know, this - the result of this raid, including as you mentioned, the civilian casualties, has kind of changed the relationship between the U.S.

and the Yemeni government.

And, of course, as you know, Yemen is beset by a civil war so you have Houthi rebels backed by Iran in the northern part of the country. You

have a government that the U.S. does coordinate with as well as Saudi Arabia military coalition that the UAE participates in that the U.S. also

coordinated with in this raid. And UAE special forces actually participated. So it's a very complex dynamics on the ground in Yemen and

getting the buy-in of the critical people, these critical governments in the region is kind of necessary to kind of pursue these raids. So this is

something that they are looking at.

Of course, Yemen officials didn't rule out future raids. Tthey are saying that closer coordination is needed so this is kind of examining how that

process, how green lighting that process will work in the future is now being looked at.

LU STOUT: Yeah, but still that request from Yemen still a little bit of a hit against U.S. counterterrorism operations there in Yemen.

Another issue that is being weighed there in the Pentagon is that of Russia's involvement in the

Ukraine. The Pentagon appears to be saying one thing, the commander-in- chief another. What's going on here?

BROWN: Well, the Pentagon has held this line back into the previous administration as well under Barack Obama that they very much believe that

Russia in their words has its fingerprints all over what's happening in eastern Ukraine. They believe that Russia is

arming the separatists there, helping with military logistics and coordination and that Russian troops have actually been in eastern Ukraine

in the past.

Now, in the recent fighting, Pentagon officials are saying they are not seeing any signs of a

broader offensive being directed by Russia. They are not seeing any Russian troops kind of pour over the border to support some kind of major

push by the separatists. That being said, it is a very different tone than what Donald Trump said in a recent interview where he

said that he wasn't sure how much control Moscow had over these separatist groups. The Pentagon saying that they see the Kremlin and the separatist

groups as very closely linked.

LU STOUT: And, Ryan, separately, the Defense Department is looking to rent space in Trump Tower in New York. What's the logic behind that?

BROWN: Well, that's right, again, this is not unusual. The Pentagon always has to have

some kind of space near the president's private residence. And there are certain functions that the Pentagon needs to carry out in close proximity

to the president. So whether it's coordinating the movements aboard Air Force One, or Marine One, but also the nuclear football, which is of course

this briefcase containing the nuclear codes, some of the kind of the actual tactics and code book for launching nuclear strikes. They have to be in

very close proximity to the president at all times.

So, it requires having space near where the president is living. It just so happens this president is living on Fifth Avenue in Trump Tower, one of

the most expensive pieces of real estate in the United States.

LU STOUT: Yeah, expensive rentals, no doubt, but this is all about proximity to POTUS. Ryan Brown reporting live for us from the Pentagon.

Thank you so much and take care.

Now, former U.S. President Barack Obama seems to be adjusting well to life after the White House. He's taken up a new hobby with a billionaire buddy.

Here's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He waved good-bye, flew away in a chopper. Next thing you know he's flying a kite. Kite surfing actually

in the Virgin Islands with a smile so big one poster commented, "Ah, he looks younger already."

"How was your weekend?" was the caption comparing Obama's face to President Trump's. Tweeted another, "Wait, he's having fun? Is he allowed to have

fun? Why isn't he saving us?" He can't even save himself from the golf course where even an ex-president gets teased from missing putts.

In the Virgin Islands Obama kicked back with his hat backwards in photos obtained by "The Daily Mail."

"Obama got his hat to the back like it's 1990 and Trump isn't president. Get your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) back here, with respect, sir." But Obama's

(EXPLETIVE DELETED) kept falling in the ocean as he and his host Richard Branson learned new water sports. Branson learned foil boarding while Obama

kite surfed. And when the two competed to see who could stay up longer, the former president won.

If you're missing Obama and looking for the next best thing to a hug, here it is. Dreamed up by an inventor in New Hampshire.

[08:36:04] PETER CONNORS, FOUNDER, HUGZ: It's 28 inches fingertip to fingertip and will literally hug you. MOOS: Like many hugs it can be

awkward. Where exactly do you put

this hand-painted illustration?

CONNORS: And of course you can do that diagonal hug, right, around the neck and the arm.

MOOS: Peter Connors says he was devastated when Donald Trump won. He launched Obama hugs and is now developing an app that lets you turn your

own image into a hug back and front. And while many may be missing Obama, does he look like he's missing them?

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And still to come, a trip through decades of

mechanical marvels this exhibit shows you the incredible changes that have been made to robots over the past, get this, 500 years.

(COMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Protesters in Romania want the government to resign over an ongoing corruption decree scandal. Half a million people rallied in the

streets after the ruling coalition approved the decree without input from parliament.

The decree was quickly rescinded. It would have protected many politicians from prosecution for corruption.

Romania's president sharply criticized the decree and warned the ruling coalition it must fix

a problem that it created. But he decided not to the call early elections.

Now, London Science Museum is celebrating 500 years of robots with a new interactive

exhibition and robo thespian is one of the chattier robots on display. So who better to tell us what we can expect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBOT: That sense of unease or something you cannot quite put your finger on goes to the heart of our or, should I sayyour, long relationship with

robots.

Some of the earliest robots, intricate objects like the automaton monk go to 1560 were expressions of faith, but also of your human desires to amaze,

enthrall, and world power.

Building robots to amaze has continued right up to the present day. Eric, a modern recreation of the UK's first robot. (inaudible) was once a

receptionist, KingsCollege London and will answer your questions and offer fashion advice.

ROBOT: I don't think that's quite your color.

ROBOT: Gino R25 replicates visitor's facial expressions.

And Rosa will move its camera eye and head to watch you as you move.

(inaudible), the most life-like android of its time, reads news, bulletins about robot kind.

ROBOT: Japanese (inaudible) teaching, a custom (inaudible) to escape from attacks.

ROBOT: It is time for you to celebrate my past and behold your future. I declare the Science Museum's robot's exhibition ready for your inspection.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: And that is something definitely to look out for.

Now, one final note for you in an update on a story we've been closely following here at CNN. AnIiranian baby who has been temporarily caught in

President Trump's travel ban will get the critical surgery she needs. Now, 4-month-old Fatemah Rashad (ph) was admitted to a hospital in Portland,

Oregon on Tuesday, and she was born with a life-threatening heart defect that physicians in Iran are not able to treat.

Now, doctors in Oregon say that they are, yes, optimistic about her fate. Now, she and her family were initially denied a visa to the U.S. over the

weekend, but many state and federal officials intervened so they could get permission to enter the U.S.

And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout, but don't go anywhere. World Sport with Alex Thomas is next.

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