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NEWS STREAM
Crucial Vote For Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation; Fiery And Emotional Senate Hearing; Elon Musk Being Sued By SEC; A 7.5 Earthquake Shakes Indonesia; President Erdogan Visits Germany; World Headlines; Trump Responds to Kavanaugh Hearing; Holistic Healing Through Nature and Simplicity; How a Shampoo Bottle is Saving Your Life. Aired 8-9a ET
Aired September 28, 2018 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:00] KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to "News Stream."
He said, she said -- emotional and angry testimony dominates Capitol Hill as Brett Kavanaugh and one of his accusers make their case.
A crucial vote, Senators weigh whether that testimony will send Judge Kavanaugh to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.
And facing a lawsuit, Elon Musk faces the crosshairs of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for false and misleading statements.
Now, Brett Kavanaugh's road to becoming a U.S. Supreme Court Justice has been filled with allegations of sexual assault, forceful denials and
partisan bickering, but today may be the most critical moment so far. In the next hour on Capitol Hill, the Senate Judiciary Committee will take the
first in a series of votes on his confirmation just a day after that raw and emotional hearing with Kavanaugh and one of his accusers, Christine
Blasey Ford.
"New York Times" summed it up this way, "She said, He said, now what will senators say?" One Republican source tells CNN that the full Senate vote is
simply to close to call. And four lawmakers may be one reason why. You can see them there on your screen. We have three Republicans and one Democrat
whose decisions could seal the fate of President Trump's pick.
Top Republicans, they say that they are optimistic, but they won't say they have the numbers. Kavanaugh tried to make his case to the senators
yesterday placing the blame on Democrats in this angry, defiant opening statement. And his remarks follow those of Blasey Ford, who was unwavering
in her claim that he assaulted her more than 30 years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRETT KAVANAUGH, U.S. SUPREME COURT NOMINEE: I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process. You've tried hard. You've given it your
all. No one can question your effort. But your coordinated and well-funded effort to destroy my good name and destroy my family will not drive me out.
CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, ACCUSER OF BRETT KAVANAUGH: I am here today not because I want to be. I am terrified. I am here because I believe it as my
civic duty to tell you what happened to me while Brett Kavanaugh and I were in high school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: President Trump, who CNN learned, was unhappy with Kavanaugh's Fox News interview early in the week. He praised on his nominee. In a
tweet, Trump said in part that, "He showed America exactly why I nominated him." Our CNN congressional correspondent Sunlen Serfaty joins us now live
from Capitol Hill.
Sunlen, welcome back. We have right now four senators to watch including three potential swing Republican senators. Arizona's Jeff Flake, Alaska's
Lisa Murkowski, Maine's Susan Collins. Have you seen any sign or indication on how they're going to vote?
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fully (ph) not, Kristie. To put it more simply, they have not revealed how they will vote yet and
certainly in the next hour we will most intensely pay attention to what Senator Jeff Flake does. He is the only Republican among those groups that
you just noted on the judiciary committee.
And they will be moving forward today to a committee vote. That's the first step that needs to happen to advance Brett Kavanaugh's nomination. So, it
will be a big clue on how Jeff Flake could potentially vote when he reaches the full Senate. And that you note this moment where you have the leaders
in Republican leadership, Mitch McConnell, saying he's optimistic basically as the (inaudible).
But they are pushing full force ahead with this nomination even though it's very unclear at the moment if they have the votes especially after that
emotional and historic hearing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAVANAUGH: You may defeat me in the final vote, but you'll never get me to quit.
SERFATY (voice-over): Republican senators moving forward with the vote to advance Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination. After an extraordinary hearing
that began with Christine Blasey Ford emotionally recounting her alleged assault.
FORD: I believed he was going to rape me. I tried to yell for help. When I did, Brett put his hand over my mouth to stop me from yelling. This is what
terrified me the most and it had the most lasting impact on my life.
[08:05:00] SERFATY (voice-over): The proceedings later devolving into bitter partisanship after Judge Kavanaugh angrily took the stand in his own
defense.
KAVANAUGH: My family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed. This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and
orchestrated political hit. Revenge on behalf of the Clintons.
SERFATY (voice-over): The focus this morning on four undecided senators who met privately after the hearing could sink Kavanaugh's nomination.
Senator Susan Collins tightlipped as he left the capital after a day of testimony were both Kavanaugh and Ford stood firm.
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D) ILLINOIS: Dr. Ford, with what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you.
FORD: One hundred percent.
SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R), LOUISIANA: None of these allegations are true.
KAVANAUGH: Correct.
KENNEDY: No doubt in your mind.
KAVANAUGH: Zero. One hundred percent certain.
SERFATY (voice-over): Ford testifying first rejecting the idea that she's part of a left-wing conspiracy against Kavanaugh.
FORD: I am no one's pawn.
SERFATY (voice-over): And describing the lasting impact of the alleged assault.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D), VERMONT: What is the strongest memory you have? Strongest memory of the incident?
FORD: Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter, the uproarious laughter between the two and they're having fun at my expense.
SERFATY (voice-over): The all-male Republican majority feeding their time to sex crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell who noted that the hearings format
was well suited to a trauma investigation. Republican's leader taking back the floor after Sen. Lindsey Graham's furious denouncement of the
proceedings.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLNA: Which you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold the seat open. Boy, you all want power. God, I hope
you never did it. I hope the American people can see through the sham.
SERFATY (voice-over): The "New York Times" reports that Mitchell later told Republicans privately that she did not believe there was enough
evidence to prosecute, but the White House was reportedly questioning the decision to hire Mitchell and President Trump was concerned after Ford's
testimony.
However Kavanaugh's combative opening statement, encouraging the president, who later applauded his nominee's testimony as powerful, honest and
riveting. Kavanaugh's defiance on display as he repeatedly dismissed questions about his history of drinking and partying.
KAVANAUGH: If you're asking about, you know, blackout. I don't know. Have you?
SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D), RHODE ISLAND: And did the word "Ralph" you used in your yearbook --
KAVANAUGH: I already answered the question.
WHITEHOUSE: -- alcohol? Did it relate to alcohol? You haven't answered that.
KAVANAUGH: I like beer. I like beer. I don't know if you do.
WHITEHOUSE: OK.
KAVANAUGH: Do you like beer, Senator, or not? What do you like to drink?
WHITEHOUSE: Next.
SERFATY (voice-over): And about whether the allegations should be handled through an FBI investigation.
DURBIN: Personally, do you think that's the best thing for us to do? Do you want to answer?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SERFATY: And the American Bar Association overnight released a statement calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay their vote until an FBI
investigation is done. That is a significant and notable development, Kristie, because this is something their endorsement, something that Brett
Kavanaugh leaned on and held up multiple points during that hearing yesterday.
And I have to say, this just in from the White House, Raj Shah, who is a spokesman for the White House. He was asked this morning if they believe
they have the votes on Brett Kavanaugh. He said at this moment I cannot say for certain. So that is still a big question mark.
LU STOUT: Yes. Big question mark in this vote. A little over an hour away. Sunlen Serfaty, reporting for us live from Capitol Hill. Thank you. Now,
joining me from New York is CNN senior political analyst, John Avalon. John, good to see you. Let's talk about the impact of what happened
yesterday.
We got Ford's testimony. It was tough to watch. It was gut-wrenching. She also came across as credible. Kavanaugh then came on. He was in attack mode
with those firm denials. Who do you think in your view, managed to persuade those undecided senators?
JOHN AVALON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: You know, that is the jump for a moment wherein that is the open question. Here's what we can say for
certain and who it really resonates what speaks to their sensitivities and their experience perhaps. Dr. Ford came in warm and unassuming and self-
effacing and was viewed as incredibly compelling and credible on both sides of the aisle.
And then Judge Kavanaugh came in and he came in hot. He was angry. He felt personally aggrieved and pointed his finger politically at the opposition
in a way there was a huge contrast to his own proceedings and nomination hearings today where he presented himself as yes, a Republican, yes, a
conservative, but someone who is committed to be a an independent jurist.
That contrast could not have been more clear. I think what would -- the catch-22 you've got is they're both insisting a hundred percent certainty
in their opinions.
[08:10:03] And most senators don't want to criticize Dr. Ford but there's a lack of corroborating evidence. And some of them may see themselves in
Judge Kavanaugh and worry, you know, the standard of high school era behavior being applied going forward, absent corroborating influence. And
it's all part of this escalating politics of personal destruction we've seen for decades.
It would be surprising to me if these centrist senators and really, there are three in either party who are still up for grabs. Don't look for an off
ramp which the American Bar Association has provided, which to say it's time for further investigation, that surely a majority can agree upon that.
Delay the vote, do the investigation with the FBI.
It may not be conclusive but it will provide more information. That seems like an elegant offer. Absent that, it gets to cold, hard politics. Now,
keep you eye on Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. If those two women, Republicans, are persuaded that will be decisive. If they are not then it
will -- the vote will go to the other way against Kavanaugh today.
LU STOUT: And those are two senators to watch when the vote takes places. The first vote just over an hour from now, and we don't know how it's going
to play out at this point, but if Brett Kavanaugh gets into the Supreme Court, will that be considered a win for the Republicans or could they lose
out big time at the midterms because there could be a massive backlash.
AVLON: There could be, and let's pull on a little bit of history here. In 1991, when Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill squared off which is the closest
analogue version to what we're seeing today. Yes, Clarence Thomas got through on a narrow but largely party line vote, but the backlash was
extraordinary in the next election.
That was the so-called Year of the Woman. The number of female senators tripled. The number of women in the House of Representatives doubled. And
there is certainly is that potential. Both parties are motivated by the idea that their bases will be motivated by this culture war clash in the
Supreme Court.
Republicans desperately want to win. They want to fill the swing seat with Justice Kennedy with this -- with Brett Kavanaugh. If they don't, they fear
Democrats to block it for potentially, you know, until a Democrat is in the White House as Republicans did with Merrick Garland for one year.
And Democrats can see motivation either way. The problem is this fight is only about politics. It's a cultural (ph) fight and it's divided along
gender lines, and that's why those two votes, Murkowski and Collins, are so keys, so crucial and will be fascinating to watch how they resolve it
within themselves.
LU STOUT: Absolutely. And history could very well repeat itself. You know, we'll see how this will plays out. But I want to get you thoughts on the
politics of this moment under Trump in relation to the truth, right, because we heard from Dr. Ford. She is 100 percent certain.
She is convinced that he assaulted her. She looked (inaudible) for down (ph). And we also heard from him, Kavanaugh, saying that she is wrong. That
he also said 100 percent certain swear to God. So where is the truth and in Trump world, does the truth matter anymore?
AVLON: Well, let's bifurcate the two. Let's deal with Donald Trump first. Obviously, Donald and his presidency has devalued the truth because the
president of the United States (inaudible) comes from the top and he does not have fidelity to facts in the way that other presidents have tried to
do -- think about American traditions. Honest Abe Lincoln, for example.
This is not a president who aspires to that. He believes as a real estate developer and what he might charitably call truthful hyperbole, which is
i.e. not the truth, marketing hype, and often much worse than that. In the conflict were confronting right now between Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh, I
think we're dealing with something more subtle, more personal, but perhaps as pernicious, which is the rise of emotional truth.
Both people may be telling the truth, but they may be telling their truths. I think part of the problem is there's nothing murkier than adolescents and
alcohol and 36 years distance between an event that may have indelibly scarred Dr. Ford, but then forgotten by Judge Kavanaugh because he did not
know what was significant at the time because it was not reported, because there wasn't any kind of confrontation.
She believes and feels like she might have been raped at that moment. That is a horrific feeling that has clearly scarred her over time. That may not
have been anything resembling Brett Kavanaugh's intension at the time. And so when we deal with some of these murkier aspects of 36 years in the past
and adolescence and alcohol and emotional truth, it is very difficult.
Even with an FBI investigation, which is what Mitchell said in close door meeting on the Senate yesterday, that anything conclusively could be found.
Can there be more done? Should they have called Mark Judge, his friend, who was in the room at the time? Yes. Is that perhaps a way to try to square
the circle? Yes. Are we ever going to get to the definitive truth what those factors involves? It is unlikely.
[08:15:02] LU STOUT: John Avlon, always, always appreciate your insight. Thank you so much joining us. Talking about what was supposed to be what,
effectively a job interview for Kavanaugh that's turned into something so much more about Trump, about the (inaudible) facts, about the MeToo
Movement. John Avlon there, thank you.
AVLON: Thank you.
LU STOUT: Now, up next. One tweet, one major lawsuit. Whey the head of Tesla, Elon Musk is facing new trouble over his new online comments. Plus,
the Turkish president lands in Berlin and its mounting protests. More on his visit to Germany coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: OK, breaking news from Indonesia. A series of earthquakes have hit near the city of Palu including a 7.5 magnitude tremor. That's a big
one. The U.S. Geological survey says that has caused "severe shaking that damage is likely to be moderate to heavy." For more, let's go straight to
Chad Myers. He joins us from the World Weather Center. And Chad, this was a very strong quake, what more can you tell us about the force of this tremor
and the likely damage it caused?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: 7.5 is a very large quake. I mean, we we're not up to what Indonesia saw in 2004, but really, there are only about 15
quakes like this, equal to this per year across the entire globe. And Palu City really was in the area here. Palu City is kind of an area where it's
kind of shaky ground anywhere.
It's an alluvial fan where some of the dirt and some of the stones from up above have gone down and people have built homes on that-- that kind of
turns into a bowl of Jell-o at times. So, yes, about 73,000 felt very, very strong shaking, strong shaking by about 600,000 and severe shaking by about
20,000 people from this earthquake.
We do know that there was a tsunami warning put out, reduced to an alert but we have seen some social media pictures of what looks like a valid
tsunami that came in either towards Dongala or somewhere near Palu City itself. Estimated fatalities somewhere between one and 100. I know that s
very large number, that's not even including what may have happened with the tsunami there.
But somewhere around 10 would have been what the USGS, the United States Geological Survey, would think about this type of quake in this type of
area. Also with the tsunami as we see little seem floor rupture, that's when we get the water coming into the buildings. Somewhere around the meter
would be a normal tsunami for this type of earthquake because it was under a piece of land.
It wasn't under really the ocean. Now it shakes a lot. So, even if it's under land or it was near the coast, there was some shaking under the ocean
as well. We will get significant numbers. Many, many aftershocks. We've already had at least 10. We will get some in the 6.5 range on these
buildings that are already damaged, people in the streets, facades falling off some of these buildings.
It is really a tough time for the people there. This really just happened, but now we are going to see the significant aftershocks. The magnitude
frequency somewhere only about 15 per year here, this big and we are in town rather than being in the middle of nowhere this time, Kristie.
[08:20:10] LU STOUT: Wow. And with even more aftershocks to come, our thoughts go out to everyone affected, everyone in the quake. We thank you
for your reporting Chad. Any additional information we'll bring it to our viewers right here on CNN. Chad Myers, reporting there.
Now, whether it's making offensive remarks about a cave diver in Thailand or using a flamethrower during a podcast, some of Elon Musk's recent
behavior has lead to everything from controversy, to headlines, to concern, but now things are taking what could be a far more serious turn, as the
boss of Tesla finds that nine little words are all it takes to land him at the center of a lawsuit.
I'm talking about this tweet, "I am considering taking Tesla private at $420 funding secured." And because of this, Musk is now being sued by the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Let's explain from the start. Now, at the end of July, Musk met with the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund and said he
expected the group to fund the plan to take Tesla private.
Then came the tweet we just referred to you on the big wall just now, one which Musk backtracked on a few days later. And now the SEC says he may
"false and misleading statements to investors" and it is asking for some serious penalties. Musk says that the lawsuit is unjustified. For more,,
let's speak to Paul La Monica in New York.
And Paul, the SEC as CNNMoney headline (inaudible) colorfully just went nuclear on Elon Musk. How damaging can this be for him and what more is he
saying in response?
PAUL LA MONICA, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. This could be very damaging, Kristie. I mean, clearly, the SEC is alarmed by the fact that
Musk put out information that even though he is defending it as being, you know, perhaps true at the time, didn't wind up panning out because Tesla
decided to not go private.
The stock price has plummeted as a result and typically, you know, stuff like that is kept under wraps until you have an official announcement. So,
cavalierly tweeting about it set off a lot of alarm bells. So, the SEC potentially is trying to, you know, come up with a plan where maybe Musk
would have to take a step back and no longer serve as CEO of a public company for a certain period of time, kind of like what happened with
Martha Stewart.
Not sure if that's going to happen and Musk is definitely going to fight this. He said, as you point out, that, you know, he is deeply saddened and,
you know, upset about this, but that he feels that Tesla did the right thing by trying to go private even though it didn't turn out to work.
LU STOUT: Yes, I mean, Elon Musk is saying that this is an unjustified response. He is also trying to shore up his personal integrity, but this is
just the latest in a string of bad news for Elon Musk. You know, we have the DOJ investigating him. He is being sued for defamation by a man who
worked in the Thai cave rescue.
You know, Elon Musk, we know he's been under fire for going after analysts and attacking the media and the question has been out there for weeks now.
Is he OK?
LA MONICA: Yes. I am not going into whether or not Musk is OK, either mentally or physically. I think you can definitely argue that the behavior
is seemingly erratic and at the very least unconventional for a typical CEO. He even mentioned going on a podcast and, you know, taking a pop for
the joint. So, clearly there are a lot of things going on.
And I wrote a column a few weeks ago. I think the best thing that Musk could do right now is try and find a chief operating officer, someone to
help him run Tesla so he didn't have to have the burden all on himself because remember, he runs SpaceX too, which is a very high profile company.
And that company has a widely respected chief operating officer in Gwynne Shotwell. So, Musk has a history, at least with his other company of being
able to have a capable lieutenant, a number two person. Why doesn't he have that in Tesla is a mystery to Wall Street?
LU STOUT: Yes, I'm thinking about the "New York Times" interview earlier this year when he called the last year excruciating as he suggests, you
know, getting his COO onboard that would help sort of share the burden of it, right. We're going to leave it at that, but Paul La Monica, thank you
so much.
LA MONICA: Thank you.
LU STOUT: Take care. Now, the president of Turkey has touched down in Berlin on a visit that he hopes will improve very strained relations with
Germany. Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he wants to rebuild trade ties as Turkey is struggling to recover from that economic crisis. German Chancellor
Angela Merkel says she will discuss economics but also plans to bring up human rights as was the fate of German citizens in Turkish prisons.
Mr. Erdogan, he faced a frosty reception as Merkel stayed away from the official welcome ceremony and demonstrators are protesting his visit. Atika
Shubert joins me now live from Berlin. Atika, the two leaders, they did manage to meet. They had a press conference, you know, what was revealed
from that press conference or are the tensions easing between these two leaders?
[08:25:01] ATIKA SHUBET, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think what is clear is that they have to have a working relationship. And
you're right, Chancellor Merkel didn't attend the official welcoming ceremony but she doesn't have to. He's here on a state visit so he was
actually welcomed by the president. So, she doesn't have to attend those more sort of formal events. She does however have to work with him and she
held a press conference with him earlier today.
It is clear there is still fundamental differences between the two leaders really about human rights in Turkey specifically rule of law and freedom of
speech. And Angela Merkel really opened it up by saying -- by urging for the release of German citizens held as political prisoners in Turkey.
She has had some success for example negotiating the release of Deniz Yucel, a German-Turkish journalist who was held there. But there are still
five others so, she urged for that release. In return, prime minister -- excuse me -- President Erdogan then demanded the extradition of Can Dundar.
This is the editor of Cumhuriyet newspaper.
He's wanted because he published several reports that Turkish intelligence had supplied weapons to Islamist groups within Syria. And that according
Erdogan is a release of state secrets, that's why he's wanted for arrest. Dundar fled here to Germany where he's been living for the last two years.
Here is what the President Erdogan said about his case in particular, "We have a legally accepted sentence." He also went on to say, "could be the
other way around as well," pointing out that if somebody was wanted by Germany in Turkey he would expect the same treatment. He said, "If I would
be presented with such a case, I would do this. There are no excuses. I would certainly hand over such an individual."
So it did become a bit of a diplomatic sparring match. There was also one brief interruption in this press conference. Apparently, a journalist was
escorted out. He was a Turkish journalist who was wearing a T-shirt that said press freedom in Turkey. So, a very controversial start to his visit
already, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes, those protest outside and politics discussed behind closed doors. Atika Shubert, reporting live from Berlin. Thank you so much, Take
care.
Still to come right here on "News Stream," Brett Kavanaugh comes out swinging and U.S. President Donald Trump praises his Supreme Court nominee.
We'll head to the White House for more reaction to Thursday's dramatic hearing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong, you are watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines.
A make or break vote in Brett Kavanaugh's bid to be the next member of the U.S. Supreme Court is now just hours away.
[08:30:00] The Senate Judiciary Committee will decide whether his confirmation moves forward as vote. Sources tell CNN it's to close the
call. It comes one day after a fiery hearing where Kavanaugh angrily denied claims of sexual assault.
A series of earthquakes have hit near the Indonesian city of Palu including a 7.5 magnitude tremor. U.S. Geological Survey says that has caused "severe
shaking" where damage is likely to be moderate to heavy. We will bring you updates on the story as we get them.
Moscow is denying a report which claims one of the suspects in the Salisbury poisoning case was a top Russian military officer. A British
investigative website named him as Anatoly Chepiga, who previously won the Hero of the Russian Federation award. He traveled under a different name.
Moscow says both suspects are civilians.
Brett Kavanaugh's defiant Senate testimony is getting high marks from the man who talked to him to join the Supreme Court. On Twitter, U.S. President
Donald Trump called Kavanaugh's appearance riveting while slamming what he says is a Democrat-led effort to in his words destroy his nominee.
Let's go straight to Abby Philip for more on the reaction from the White House. Abby, Kavanaugh's testimony on Thursday, we all thought he was
angry, he was combative, he expressed clear partisan support. Was that a performance that Donald Trump fully approves of?
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: In many ways, an audience of one for Kavanaugh yesterday, Kristie. It was exactly what the White House
and what President Trump had hoped to see from him as he testified on Thursday.
They were worried initially earlier in the week when he sat down for Fox News interview and he seemed, according to a source, wooden (ph) to
President Trump. That was a performance that the president thought lacks a certain degree of passion and outrage about the situation.
And he made up for that in measures (ph) yesterday in his testimony. He came out virtually yelling in his opening statement at the senators on that
dais. He is accusing Democrats of a partisan witch hunt, accusing them also of seeking revenge on behalf of the Clintons, on behalf of Democrats who
lost in the 2016 election.
And so that was the tone that he started out with, and the White House received that very positively. President Trump was glued to the television
all day, according to our sources, watching from the residence of the White House for most of the day. And later in the day, he told his supporters at
a fundraiser that he attended, that he thought Kavanaugh did a great job.
He thought that the testimony, probably both Ford's and Kavanaugh's, was hard to watch. But at the end of the say, what we've seen this morning from
White House is a full-throated endorsement of Kavanaugh's strategy yesterday which was to fight back and not to back down in the face of this
kind of headwind for his nomination.
LU STOUT: Yeah, and today's vote is only the first vote. And if Kavanaugh gets through and ends up on the Supreme Court, you know, it is safe to say
Donald Trump will see this as a win. But is the president also considering the potential backlash that this will generate for the midterms?
PHILLIP: Well, I think the White House is considering backlash on both friends (ph). When you talk to aides, they are concerned that if Kavanaugh
doesn't get through, that could be catastrophic for Republicans, that they could be punished by their voters in November for not working harder for a
Supreme Court nominee.
But at the same time, as you pointed out, yesterday was a pivotal moment, I think, for this country when it comes to the "Me Too" era. The Christine
Blasey Ford's testimony was so powerful and it evoked so many emotions in women across the country, that they are also concerned that this could
really mobilize moderate suburban women who have been leaning toward Democrats for some time now and might be galvanized by what they saw
yesterday from board.
So I think this could cut both ways but ultimately the White House right now more concerned about making sure they get Kavanaugh through because I
think they believe that the risks to them is far greater if, for example, evangelical voters who -- for whom the Supreme Court is such an important
issue viewed that as not being committed enough to that.
President Trump basically won on the the premise that he would put a conservative on the court and if he's unable to do that, the White House
believes that could be disastrous for them in November, Kristie.
LU STOUT: President Trump wants a win but at what cause? This is the "Me Too" era, after all. Abby Phillip reporting live from the White House,
thank you so much.
You're watching "News Stream." And still to come, a doctor in Bangladesh has found a simple innovative way to treat infant pneumonia. That story is
next right here on "News Stream."
[08:35:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong on a Friday night, welcome back. This is "News Stream." Now, in a small village outside of Bangalore,
India, holistic healing is a mantra for everybody.
And at the Anahata Healing Centre, its founder believes that he can do that through having a simple lifestyle. So, expect minimal electricity, spotty
WiFi, and the pay is your own philosophy. Amara Walker takes us to our next "Destination India."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: This rustic farmland located in a small village of under 3,000 about four and a half hours from Bangalore, it seemed like
an unusual setting for a wellness retreat.
But this isn't your typical retreat. This is the Anahata Healing Centre, where simplicity is key, and the price to stay is as pure as the intention
of its founder, Kiran Ravandar.
KIRAN RAVANDAR, FOUDER, ANAHATA HEALING CENTRE: Anahata is a community project. So many people are coming here to experience the real authentic
India in a village life. And also people like coming here also for healing.
WALKER: Ravandar who grew up in this very village wanted to give people a needed break from the stresses of day-to-day life.
RAVANDAR: You know what happen because of maybe digital or modern -- in a modern lifestyle, so people are forgetting the small things. For the
nature, I think everyone is the same. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor or whatever is your position. We try to make it as simple as possible
to bring healing to them through nature.
WALKER: The cost for his guest? Well, it depends on what they want to pay. The Anahata Healing Centre is donation-based.
RAVANDAR: It is (ph) as a donation-based so we don't ask them to -- you know, like force where you have to pay this. Because (INAUDIBLE) India we
call (INAUDIBLE), whoever comes, so treat as a god. And whoever comes here, so we try to give our best. Our philosophy is to help. You know, healing
should reach everyone.
WALKER: Wellness for everyone. No matter their background. A noble endeavor from someone who believes wholeheartedly in the force of good
(ph).
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: And healing takes many, many forms. One doctor in Bangladesh created miracles when he repurpose the simple plastic shampoo bottle and
used it to save infants suffering from pneumonia. In many underdeveloped countries, hospitals use low-flow oxygen, a low cost alternative to
ventilators to help patients breathe. It is recommendation by the World Health Organization, but as Dr. Mohamad Chisti saw in his first night as an
intern, the success rate of this method is very low.
Let's bring in Dr. Mohamad Chisti of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh. He joins us from Dhaka via
Skype. Dr. Chisti, thank you so much for joining us.
The WHO says that pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children around the world. You know, we know that first world hospitals, they can
afford expensive treatment and ventilators. But how much is that type of treatment? How much does a ventilator cost? And how much does your device
using a simple plastic bottle cost to make?
MOHAMAD CHISTI, PEDIATRICIAN, INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR DIARRHOEAL DISEASE RESEARCH: Mechanical ventilator is highly expensive. It costs as high as
$15,000.
[08:40:03] Our device only costs less than $2.
LU STOUT: Incredible. It costs just $2. You are just using a shampoo bottle. I know that you introduced this plastic bottle designed to
hospitals there in Bangladesh. Has it worked? Have you been able to save lives?
CHISTI: We had a trial for two years which has been shown that it was associated with 75 positive (ph) reduction of (INAUDIBLE) severe pneumonia
and hypoxemia under five children compared to (INAUDIBLE) standard oxygen.
LU STOUT: It's incredible. It's a remarkable innovation. It appears to be working. You discovered the simple but very inexpensive and effective way
to treat pneumonia in children by using again a plastic shampoo bottle. How does it work?
CHISTI: (INAUDIBLE) patient takes oxygen through nasal prong then he or she exhales air. That air easily passes through the water filled shampoo
bottle and it produces bubble. Then bubble did the back pressure (ph). And by this back pressure (ph), lung remains open. You know that in case of
pneumonia, there is loss of lung volume and that back pressure (ph) recruits that lost volume that has already lost during pneumonia.
As a result, oxygen can easily diffuse into the blood. This is why it really works. Then respiratory distress (ph) becomes easy by the fact that
it actually resolves (ph) the functional residual capacity which actually needs to breathe easily.
LU STOUT: You are saying you have been sharing your innovation to the world. Do other hospitals in developing countries have plans to use your
design?
CHISTI: Yeah. Already government of Ethiopia and Nepal expressed their interest. We have already started work in Ethiopia in 20 hospitals.
Hopefully by the next two months, we are going to start implement there and it might take two years. We have already visited those 20 hospitals and
they are (INAUDIBLE) to the implementation there because the pneumonia- related death in Ethiopia is also enormous.
LU STOUT: The idea is spreading and that is very good news. Dr. Chisti, thank you for joining me.
CHISTI: Thank you.
LU STOUT: Healing takes many forms. And that is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with Amanda Davies is next.
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[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)
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