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China Retaliation for U.S. Tariffs Could Come Monday; Uyghurs Find Refuge in Turkey after Fleeing China; American Couple Say Kenyan Police took their 3-year-old Son; Growing Chorus of Calls to Break Up Facebook; Manchester City Celebrates Second Straight Title Success. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired May 13, 2019 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: U.S.-China trade talks at a standstill. Beijing could retaliate in the coming hours and the lack of a trade deal has Asian markets and nervous. Trump's week ahead. A standoff with Congress as the White House stone walls more than a dozen investigations. And a dramatic raid in Kenya. Police take an American couple's child. Now they're trying to find out what happened and why.
It's all ahead this hour. Hello everyone, thanks so much for joining us, I'm Natalie Allen coming to you live from Atlanta, and this is CNN NEWSROOM.
Our top story is China which could retaliate against the latest U.S. tariffs in the coming hours and the lack of the trade deal is making the markets jittery. Let's take a look. Asian markets open down. You can see the Nikkei is down 0.45 percent, the Shanghai Composite over a point, and the Seoul Kospi down 0.61 percent.
And U.S. market futures suggest a down day on Wall Street too. Dow Futures down just under a point, the Nasdaq just over a point, the S&P 500 Futures at one point down. But President Donald Trump remains confident tweeting, the U.S. is "right where we want to be with China.
Though Mr. Trump claimed the U.S. would collect tens of billions of dollars from the tariffs, his top economic adviser admitted that just isn't the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS WALLACE, ANCHOR, FOX NEWS CHANNEL: It's not China that pays tariffs, it's the American importers, the American companies that pay what in effect is a tax increase and oftentimes passes it on to U.S. consumers.
LARRY KUDLOW, DIRECTOR, UNITED STATES NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL: Fair enough. In fact, both sides will pay. Both sides will pay in these things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: The question now how will China retaliate against the U.S. CNN's Senior Producer Steven Jiang is in Beijing. He's been watching this story unfolds. So far though, as far as we know, Steven, leaders aren't saying what they're going to do, right?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING SENIOR PRODUCER: That's why they still haven't announced any specifics of their promise to countermeasures against the U.S. Now, they could impose counter tariffs on American imports, but not dollar for dollar because China imports a lot less from the U.S. than the other way around. So they're literally running out of American products to tax on.
But they do have other options though. They could cancel major purchases from the U.S. especially in terms of agricultural and energy products which could hit hard on the political base of Mr. Trump in the U.S. They could also favor non-us parties when it comes to granting market access here or even launch unofficial retaliations in the form of delaying the issuance of business licenses or even sending fire inspectors, basically making life very difficult for American companies here in China. Natalie?
ALLEN: Yes. And both countries continue to be dug into their positions, it seems. Are there any new talks in the near future?
JIANG: That's the interesting thing. Even though we have seen this escalation industry war with a potentially a vicious cycle emerging, both sides at this point are still saying they once keep talking even though as you said their positions have hardened and they remain far apart on a number of key issues.
So I think this is increasingly a political calculation by both leaders in the U.S. Mr. Trump probably has figured it's more advantageous for him to be tough on China than signing any deal that could be described as weak by his opponents especially as the U.S. is fast entering the campaign season for the 2020 election.
And here in China President Xi Jinping is also under domestic pressure to stand his ground against the U.S. so being tough on the Americans would benefit him politically as well. And you are already seeing the same media here. Their coverage, their tone on this issue has become increasingly nationalistic.
Now, the thing is Larry Kudlow was suggesting earlier how both leaders could still meet next month on the sidelines of the G20 summit. But at this point, it's really hard to imagine what can be resolved or achieved in that meeting. Natalie?
ALLEN: All right, thank you so much, Steven Jiang, following it for us from Beijing. Well, let's take a look at how tariffs work. The U.S. imposes a tax or tariff on foreign goods. In this case, its merchandise from China. We buy a lot of it. The U.S. company importing the products then pays that duty to the U.S. government.
Many companies then pass that extra cost to consumers with higher prices. A number of common household items are already affected. These are just a few examples there on your screen. According to Oxford Economics, the new tariffs could cost the average American family an extra $800 a year. The increased costs for consumers are easy to spot at one New York
business. Prices rose on the first round of tariffs last year and Polo Sandoval reports another increase is on the horizon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[01:05:33] POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Step inside Ryan Zagata's New York City showroom and you'll see the unintended consequences of a trade war.
RYAN ZAGATA, OWNER THE BROOKLYN BICYCLE COMPANY: With this new tariffs, it's inevitable. We're going to have to increase the price on this model.
SANDOVAL: Like many of America's small to medium-sized businesses, the Brooklyn Bicycle Company is already dealing with the burden of increased Chinese import tariffs. These bikes are assembled in China using foreign-made components to keep the cost down for the consumer. In September, the Trump administration's ten percent tariff hike on nearly $200 billion in Chinese goods for Zagata to raise some prices.
ZAGATA: This is one of our most popular bicycles. It was a $449 bike last summer. It's now $499. Then on Friday, the White House announced that ten percent will increase to 25. A change that will result in yet another price hike on the showroom floor.
ZAGATA: For every $100 we spend on bicycles, $5.50 we pay in duties. Since September, we've been paying an extra $10.00. Now we're at $15.50. If this -- with this additional tariff, now it's another $15.00 We're talking $30.50 for every single bicycle we import on $100.00, not for everybody. Every $100.00 we spend, $30.50. So on a $200.00, our cost too factory is $200, it's $61.00 that we're paying in duty to the government.
SANDOVAL: Zagata says that means some of his customers will be paying more for this same bike.
ZAGATA: It's difficult for me. I can't call my customers. Guess what, you're getting a better wheelset, you're getting better grips, and this luxurious leather saddle, it's -- that's not what you're getting. Effectively this money is going to the -- to the government.
SANDOVAL: It's been a rough ride for many business owners since President Trump waged his trade war with China. Zagata blames the uncertainty that comes with trade negotiations.
ZAGATA: It's not difficult for us, the business, to you decide what to do. We've built financial models that we can punch in these variables regardless of what the scenario is. And the model effectively will spit out, this is what you need to do. The challenge with the models now is we're missing one main variable. We don't know what the final duty is going to be with these trade talks still ongoing.
SANDOVAL: There is some optimism coming from the President to -- on Friday took to Twitter saying, tariffs will make the country quote much stronger. Just sit back and watch. That may be hard to do for some U.S. importers with China now vowing to hit back after Friday's tariff hike.
ZAGATA: I think the tariffs are grateful and I applaud the administration for what they're doing. I just think that six months, nine months in, it's becoming really difficult and like come on already with these negotiations. Like let's move ahead.
SANDOVAL: Polo Sandoval, CNN New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ALLEN: Alarming developments in an already tense region of the Middle East. An alliance of Middle Eastern nations is calling for calm after four commercial ships were targeted near the United Arab Emirates. The Gulf Cooperation Council says Sunday's incidents risk maritime safety. Saudi Arabian state media report to Saudi oil tankers are attacked in the area causing significant damage. As CNN's Nic Robertson reports it comes amid a standoff between Iran and the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: What we've learned late Sunday from Emirati, authorities is what they describe as a dangerous development for commercial vessels they say were targeted in their territorial waters off the port city of Fujairah.
Now, that is an important oil facility in the Emirates and it is right next to the Straits of Hormuz. And of course, this comes at a time when the U.S. intelligence assessments have been that there is a growing Iranian threat to shipping in the region. The Pentagon had been concerned as of late last week concerned that there was a threat to U.S. shipping, commercial and military in the region and also the shipping of U.S. partners in the region.
Now, what the Emiratis are describing these attacks is as sabotage operations, subversive operations. That's how they're describing it. And this came late Sunday evening in the Emirates, this information from the Emirati authorities.
However, earlier in the day, pro-Iranian T.V. in the region and in Iran have been broadcasting a story saying that seven oil tankers in this port city of Fujairah were on fire. And when we contacted Emirati authorities earlier Sunday to ask about that, they said they had no information about it.
The Emiratis, this is in their words a dangerous development and coming at a time of heightened tensions in this region. The United States is sending more of its naval forces and Patriot missile batteries and B-52 bombers into the region as well. The tension is growing. And this incident, whatever it turns out to be, this incident, it does seem to be something that's going to add to those tensions. Nic Robertson, CNN Abu-Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE) [01:10:29] ALLEN: We are getting a word. The U.S. Secretary of State is canceling a trip to Moscow on Monday. He will instead meet with his European counterparts in Brussels to talk about pressing matters including Iran. Mike Pompeo departed to Brussels just a few moments ago from Maryland. And before leaving, he reiterated the U.S. does not want war with Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE, UNITED STATES: We're not going to miscalculate. Our aim is not war. Our aim is a change in the behavior of the Iranian leadership. We hope the Iranian people will get what they finally want, what they so richly deserve. The forces that we're putting in place, the forces we've had in the region before, you know, we often have carriers in the Persian Gulf.
But the president wanted to make sure that in the event that something took place, we were prepared to respond to an appropriate way. And as the Secretary of State, I wanted to make sure that we had all the political-diplomatic tools in the right place and we want to make sure that we can provide the president with an option set in the -- in the event that the Iranians make a bad decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Pompeo will head to Sochi on Tuesday as planned for meetings with Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin, a first visit by a U.S. official since the Mueller report came out.
Next here on CNN NEWSROOM, President Trump has his hands full this week with China, Iran, and the fight over subpoenas. We'll take a look at that. Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some voice concerns about you getting Hillaried in the election, meaning that you get held to a higher standard than your opponent for potentially arbitrary or maybe even sexist reasons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Is sexism undermining support for women running for U.S. president. We'll have a report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:15:00] (WORLD SPORT HEADLINES)
ALLEN: Welcome back. President Trump faces yet another critical week in his presidency. The U.S. leader is not backing down in the face of subpoenas but may end up threatening his administration. CNN's Jeremy Diamond has a preview for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The battle between the White House and Congressional Democrats very much continuing this week. It's been several weeks since the President vowed to fight all subpoenas issued by House Democrats and we've seen that strategy play out in the last several weeks.
But on Tuesday, we're expecting a resolution on at least one of those subpoena requests. That's because the federal judge is expected to rule on the subpoena from the House Oversight Committee, demanding financial records from one of the President's former accounting firms.
And then on Friday, that is when House Democrats have laid out a deadline for the Treasury Department and the IRS to respond to their subpoenas on the President's tax returns. That's the demand that the administration has so far resisted. The Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has categorically refused that request just last week.
But the White House's position is remaining firm. They are insisting that they are not going to comply with several of these subpoena requests. The White House Deputy Press Secretary, Steven Groves, he issued a statement on Sunday, saying there are rules and norms governing congressional oversight of the executive branch, and the Democrats simply refuse to abide by them.
This White House will not and cannot comply with unlawful demands made by increasingly unhinged and politically motivated Democrats. So, the White House very much remaining firm in its position on that.
But House Democrats, meanwhile, are grappling with how to get the White House to comply with the 20 plus investigations that, so far, we've seen simply stonewalling from this White House, and from the President and his allies.
Some Democrats are also now calling this a constitutional crisis because of that stonewalling from the White House. The President, though, very much, pushing back on that. He said, in a tweet, the Democrats new and pathetically untrue sound bite is that we are in a constitutionally crisis, the President very much rejecting that notion.
Jeremy Diamond, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ALLEN: Joining me now from New York City, via Skype, is CNN Political Analyst and Professor at Princeton University, Julian Zelzer, Julian, thanks for being with us.
JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST (via Skype): Thanks for having me.
ALLEN: Let's begin with Congress, in a serious showdown with the U.S. President, Democratic leaders say it is a constitutional crisis. Whether or not, it is certainly a dangerous place, Mr. Trump says he will not succumb to subpoenas, the Democrats say it's their duty to conduct congressional oversight. Where could this go this week? What might end the deadlock? ZELIZER: Well, one side could concede, meaning, the President might concede to some of the investigations, they're handing over some of the material, this is a negotiation point. It could end up in the courts if there's no resolution and it could move towards some kind of impeachment proceedings.
All of those are on the table this week. And that's what happens when you have a crisis of this sort, where the ordinary mechanisms of government aren't working.
ALLEN: We heard one Democrat say on the Sunday talk shows that he thinks President Trump is goading the Democrats toward impeachment. What are your thoughts?
ZELIZER: Well, he might be. He certainly might be testing them, that does not mean it won't end up there. I think what he is doing is he's offering a blanket argument about presidential power, and his rejecting, really, the notion that congressional oversight is legitimate.
That might goad the Democrats, and it might be a strategy, but it's also raising pretty serious issues and questions about the power of the presidency that Democrats are grappling with.
[01:20:05] ALLEN: As far as the Mueller report, the President says he was exonerated, and now, this is just presidential harassment, what the Democrats are doing. He sent a barrage of some 60 tweets over the weekend, blasting, in part, his former counsel, Don McGahn, for not sitting publicly as requested, that there was no obstruction.
What do you think about the President's fury over that, and why isn't McGahn willing to come forward?
ZELIZER: Well, he was not exonerated, that's not what the report says, so that's not true, his statement, and one of the things that really bothers in the report, are the material that's presented about Don McGahn, about his efforts to use him, to get rid of the investigation, McGahn is refusing to do so.
So, I think the President is leaning from a defensive posture. I think, clearly, he's upset and worried about where this all goes, and he's trying to spread his arguments about what the report says. What people like McGahn, are about, and ultimately, what this whole investigation is. But there's a discrepancy between what he says and all the other facts we have on the table.
ALLEN: Finally, with Mr. Trump's refusal to cooperate with any subpoenas, including to release his tax returns, could that hurt him in this election season? This is quite a lot of fuel for this large Democratic field.
ZELIZER: Oh, it could. Look, he's hoping that this helps him and let it solidifies his base. On the other hand, the ongoing questions about him, about his accountability, and about what he did, is clearly hurting him. He has terrible approval over ratings, he always has, nationally. And this hurts him, as much as it hurts Democrats in terms of shaping the issues and the agenda, going into 2020.
And many Democrats are really upset, and this can mobilize them in the same way it mobilizes the Republican base. So, this is not cost free for the President. And, of course, there's still the possibility of where this investigation actually goes between now and 2020.
ALLEN: We always appreciate your insights, thanks so much, Julian Zelizer for us. Thanks, Julian.
ZELIZER: Thanks for having me.
ALLEN: Well, as countries across the world, including United States, celebrate Mother's Day, women candidates for president are in a unique position, making their roles as moms, part of their message. CNN's Kyung Lah has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you all.
KYUNG LAH, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: In the heart of West Virginia, Senator Elizabeth Warren joined, by her son.
WARREN: By the way, with the guy over in the blue shirt? That's my son, Alex.
LAH: Her experience as a mother, part of her pitch to voters.
WARREN: Child care never stopped being an issue. For me, like, for so many working parents today, it was this weight I had to carry around every single day, and it never let up.
LAH: The motherhood identity, once viewed as an albatross, in 2020, is getting a makeover, with a record number of women, running for president.
Senator Kamala Harris, married to Doug Emhoff, father of two children from a previous marriage, Ella and Cole.
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I, therefore, have two children that are Cole and Ella, who are here, and they named me their momala, and their mother -- yes, and their mother, Kerstin, is here, who is a dear friend of mine, and we have a real modern family.
LAH: The portrait of a modern candidate. In a personal essay, in honor of Mother's Day, Harris writes about the heartache of missing her stepdaughter's graduation for the 2017 James Comey testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
HARRIS: I am not perfect. Our kids are not perfect. My husband is not perfect. And I don't think that the American people want perfect.
LAH: Senator Amy Klobuchar, at a CNN Town Hall, explained how getting kicked out of the hospital, 24 hours after giving birth to her daughter, who was born with a condition that made her unable to swallow, made her fight back and become a lawmaker.
SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That was when I got hooked on public service, because I could see that you could make a difference.
LAH: To even joke about motherhood, means backlash in 2020. Beto O'Rourke quipped about barely helping his wife with the kids, prompting this public apology.
REP. BETO O'ROURKE (D-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not only will I not say that again, but I'll be much more thoughtful going forward.
AMY O'ROURKE, WIFE OF BETO O'ROURKE: Really looking forward to getting a chance to say hello.
LAH: Today, Amy O'Rourke is on the trail. She's doing the driving.
SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've got little Henry with me.
LAH: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand brings her children on the trail, her mom status, a credential, as a candidate.
GILLIBRAND: I'm going to fight for people's kids as hard as I would fight for my own, and I'm going to fight for their families and their communities.
LAH: Kyung Lah, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:25:07] ALLEN: Well, we turn now to what's going on in the South Eastern United States, heavy rains, flooded streets, and overflowed rivers in New Orleans on Sunday. Parts of the South Eastern U.S. have been battered by storm systems over the weekend, and now we hear a new storm could be threatening Southwest Texas on Monday.
Our meteorologist, Pedram Javaheri joins us now. Hello to you, Pedram, and what a busy and difficult time it has been for parts of the south.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGIST: It has. You know, I was just looking into some of the numbers, Natalie, and as far as the rainfall, the amount of rainfall we have seen, some of the cities, the ones you should across that video, and also potions of Texas, the heaviest period of rainfall since the early 1900s.
So, really speaks to how much rain has come down across this region, records amounts of rainfall and severe weather, of course, on top of this, now going across portions of Western Texas. And unfortunately, the pattern here, going to remain unchanged, at least, over the next couple of days. The intensity of the storm dies down a little bit.
So, on a scale of one to five, it is a two there, for severe weather, encompasses an area home to about a million people across this region impacted by the severe weather, going in towards at least Monday afternoon.
The flooding concern, really, a dominant concern here, because look at this, upwards of nearly 300 river gauges reporting at least some flooding, about half of those gauges reporting moderate to major flooding for a wide-reaching area, northern portions of the U.S., all the way down towards the Gulf Coast.
And the amount of rainfall, upwards of 100 to 300 millimeters in a matter of just the last couple of days, really has caused the rivers, across this region, to balloon.
In fact, look at this, June 2008, so going back roughly a year ago, across the Mississippi River, and look at the outer periphery of the river and compare it to what it looks like today here, as the rivers have essentially expanded dramatically across this region, of course, with it, consuming some of these communities in the immediate path of them.
So, certainly, a major flooding event taking place across portions of the U.S., as well. Natalie?
ALLEN: All right, heading on Downriver, as well. All right, Pedram, thank you.
JAVAHERI: Thank you.
ALLEN: Well, the trade battle lines are drawn, how the U.S.-China stalemate will affect consumers, we'll look at that coming up. Also --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want freedom, and we want justice, so we want to know where our relatives and what kind of life they are having now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Safe in Turkey but fearing for loved ones in China, how Uyghurs want to bring global attention to a crackdown. We'll have their story right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:30:53] ALLEN: And welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Natalie Allen with our headlines for you this hour.
The Gulf Cooperation Council has condemned the targeting of four commercial ships near the United Arab Emirates. The alleged sabotage incident happened off the port city of Fujairah. The U.S. has warned that Iran could be targeting vessels in the area.
At least six people were killed Sunday when gunmen attacked the Catholic Church in central Burkina Faso. State media reporting a priest is among the dead and the church and other buildings were set on fire. The west African nation has seen a spike in extremist violence by militants linked to al Qaeda and ISIS.
U.S. President Donald Trump says the U.S. is right where we want to be with China. The stalled trade talks have investors nervous though about possible retaliation from China. Dow futures point to a down day on Wall Street. Asian markets also are down.
Andrew Sullivan joins us now from Hong Kong. He is the former head of sales trading for Haitong International Securities. Andrew -- we appreciate your time in weighing in on this, as well.
First of all, again, we were just talking about it. China pledges to retaliate over these U.S. tariffs. What are you expecting from Beijing? How severe could it be?
ANDREW SULLIVAN, FORMER HEAD OF SALES, HAITONG INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES: Well, I think as your previous -- you said there, I mean they're it running out of things to actually put tariffs on and so some of the measures they're likely to take will probably come down to more to sentiment from the public.
And we saw this when the Patriot missiles went into South Korea, a number of the public just generally boycotted Korean goods. And again, this is something I think you've seen over the weekend that the nationalists flavor of China has been welling up there. And it's quite likely that you'll see people start to boycott American good because they feel that America is being unfair against China.
And that allows the government a little bit more wiggle room in order to -- when it comes to actually at tariffs. To be more measure and that, again gives them though the upper hand to again show that it's not them being the aggressive ones. And I think that's something that they certainly want to show to the world stage really, that they are not being protectionists. That they're in the free markets and that they want this thing, you know, to work well for the whole economy.
ALLEN: Since you mentioned the world stage, I mean this isn't just about China and the United States. This could have certainly a trickle effect and affect other economies.
SULLIVAN: Well, that's it. And we've seen over the weekend, you know, you've got the South Korean government again lobbying Washington not to put tariffs on the autos there. You've got negotiations coming up with Europe which again that's a rather testy stage and then we'll have the agreement with Japan coming through later.
And so, you know, this is really probably being seen as a benchmark by everybody as to where they are going to set the standards for the other agreements that are going to come through.
ALLEN: Right. And President Trump maintains that tariffs will hurt China mostly. A quote from him on Sunday. "Remember" he said, "they broke the deal, they did China with us and tried to renegotiate. We will be taking in tens of billions of dollars in tariffs from China."
But that is not exactly accurate. The impact will be fairly severe on U.S. businesses and consumers. Can you talk about that?
SULLIVAN: Well, yes. I mean we have not seen the Chinese exporters lowering their prices to take on part of the tariff cost. So, at the moment it's being wholly passed on to the American consumer, or the, you know, American importers are absorbing some of the costs which is going to hurt their earnings going forward.
But also remember that until Friday, a lot of consumer goods weren't actually covered by the tariffs. So this is going to be the change. Now, it's not going to happen overnight. It's going to take, you know, a few weeks for these costs to start coming through.
[01:34:55] But then you'll see it on things like smartphones, laptops, things that really affect the general public in America, and they're really going to see the impact of it. And that could, you know, backfire against Trump.
And we've had a couple of brokers coming out with reports again just highlighting the fact that it's going to be the American consumer that pays this money.
ALLEN: Then of course, there's the market to talk about the economic impact there. Asian markets dipped lower in early trading Monday. The Dow is set to fall sharply again when trading opening in a few hours.
President Trump says we are right where we need to be on China. But if markets falter, could the President's tone change?
SULLIVAN: well, he always made that very much a success sign of how well he is doing as a president is how well the markets are doing. So I think if the global markets, and especially the American markets takes a nosedive, then yes, he will certainly have to rethink his strategy there.
And again, you know, I think he is feeling that the American economy is doing well and it's quite buoyant. But I mean I think a lot of the earnings going forward. We've just got through one earning season and it wasn't as bad as people are expecting.
But certainly looking to the second half of the year, if this dispute continues, then I think you'll see a number of those American earnings starting to suffer and that will hurt.
ALLEN: Andrew Sullivan -- thanks so much for joining us. We really appreciate your insights. Thanks.
SULLIVAN: You're welcome.
ALLEN: The State Department is slamming China for its crackdown on religious minorities. One of the groups that's been targeted is the largely Muslim Uyghurs. Many have fled to Turkey and they are trying to bring attention to the treatment of their loved ones.
CNN's Jomana Karadsheh has our story from Istanbul.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On this bitterly cold Istanbul morning dozens of Muslim Uyghurs are undeterred by the near freezing temperatures and the rain. They are out on the street desperate for their voices to be heard and for the world to see the faces of loved ones who've disappeared without a trace. Some clearly too young to understand what this is all about, and what the older generations have endured. But they still join in the chants.
They've all come together as more and more Uyghurs around the world are breaking their silence, hoping this would put pressure on China to reveal the fate of their disappeared fathers, mothers, some entire families.
Everyone here with a story, to many for us to try and tell.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did not have any contact with my family, I cannot hear my mother's voice. I did not know if he's alive.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want freedom. We want justice. So we want to know where our relatives, and what kind of life they're having now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole world is in deep sleep.
KARADSHEH: In this attempt to wake the world up, not everyone is taking to the streets. In her Istanbul apartment Hazhir Ahmed (ph) tells us she's no longer afraid of retribution. She just wants her husband back. As she speaks, her 13 year old daughter Nazireh (ph) quietly cries. It has been three years since Nazireh last saw her father.
Ahmed says that China's crackdown on Uyghurs Muslims in Xinjiang Province intensified, life became unbearable. Leaving her no choice but to flee with her two daughters in 2016. Their presence she says made things harder for her husband, Abdugafort Serab (ph) who was banned from traveling.
"They never left us alone. There were always policemen coming to our door because my daughter and I were covering our heads as Muslims. It became very hard for us to live there.
KARADSHEH: But family member of Uyghurs who leave the country are often detained or harassed by authorities she says. To spare her husband that, they divorced on paper. The last time they spoke over video chat was in April 2017. Then he vanished. Until this.
In January they spotted him in what they say is a state propaganda video of one of the camps, where according to a U.S. government report, hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs and possibly up to two million are believed to be held.
HAZHIR AHMED (PH), UYGHUR MUSLIM: I think he lost weight, and looking SO small. And not how he is.
KARADSHEH: How did you feel when you saw him in that video?
AHMED: So sad. I'm happy too because he lives.
KARADSHEH: The Chinese government did not responded to CNN's request for comment on (INAUDIBLE) alleged detention. But China has repeatedly denied it is imprisoning or reeducating Uyghurs in Xinjiang instead saying that it is undertaking voluntary vocational training as part of an anti-extremism program.
Uyghurs we've spoken to her in Istanbul say that after years of the world ignoring their plight, they feel that things are starting to change now with the crackdown getting more attention. But that's enough they say. They say that countries like the United States and Muslim majority countries like Turkey should do more.
[01:40:04] As the world stood by so much was lost, they say. Now, they're speaking up not just for what was lost, but to try and save their future.
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN -- Istanbul.
ALLEN: An American couple with guardianship over a three year old boy say police in Kenya kidnapped him. But some officials say police were simply following the law.
We'll have that, right after this.
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ALLEN: An American couple in Kenya is desperate for answers about why police took their three-year-old son, and where he is now. But Kenyan officials say they rescued the little boy from trafficking. It is a case that has divided opinion in the country.
Robyn Kriel has our story from Nairobi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN KRIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kenyan police enter an American couple's home in Nairobi and takeaway their little boy.
DAISY MAZZONCINI, KIANO'S LEGAL GUARDIAN : I have just finished putting him to bed. And he had just falling asleep. and I walk out of his room and I see all these people in the living room and I looked at Matt's face and I think -- I just knew something was really wrong.
Kiano, who is Kenyan, was found in a ditch as a newborn, emaciated and sick in a plastic bag along with (INAUDIBLE). Since he was six months old, he has lived with Daisy and Matt Mazzoncini. The couple were named his legal guardians in the children's court of Nairobi in 2017.
But they say that plane clothes police showed up at their home, and told them that guardianship order was fraudulent.
MAZZONCINI: They said they were going to take him but you know, there was nothing we could do. I mean at this point there was 13 people, you know, and they like Matt said, they had literally made a human wall. [01:44:59] KRIEL: The group offered no ID, no search warrant or court
order.
MATT MAZZONCINI, KIANO'S LEGAL GUARDIAN: I just stood up and started yelling, I was like, is that Kiano. And then I just started screaming. You are kidnapping a child right now. You are kidnapping our son.
KRIEL: After Kiano was taking away, the Kenyan police directorate of criminal investigations tweeted from verified account.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Detectives acting on information worked around the clock to rescue three-year-old Baby John Kiano, alias John Xavier from American citizens Mr. Matthew Sean Mazzoncini and Ms. Daisy Louise Wake Mazzoncini who had planned to travel with the baby back to the U.S. Child is well and in safe hands.
KRIEL: The tweet was later deleted. CNN has reached out to Kenyan police for comment, but they did not respond.
The couple alleges their ordeal started when the orphanage where he used live contested their guardianship in court. The judge ruled in the couple's favor, and that's when they say orphanage employees started harassing them.
D. MAZZONCINI: They would come to the gate of where I was living -- where we were living. And you know, wanting to see him. I would get reports of this when I was out, of these people came in a white van. They were blocking the driveway. They refused to leave.
So I reported that to the police. We actually ended up having to get a restraining order against that home.
KRIEL: When CNN contacted Mogra's Children's Center, they hung up on us. The Mazzoncini's applied to take Kiano to the U.S. for medicine for his severe epileptic seizures on the advice of Kenyan doctors.
The situation escalated. Kenya's child welfare society, a semi- autonomous government agency, accused them attempted child trafficking. And said the guardianship was fraudulent because they're not Kenyans.
IRENE IMEE MUREITHI, CEO, CHILD WELFARE SOCIETY OF KENYA: A Kenyan child cannot be given right now to a non citizen. And that is law.
KRIEL: Ok.
MUREITHI: That violates every other option.
KRIEL: While this is true for adoptions, it is not true for guardianship. Under Kenyans Children Act passed in 2001, guardians are not legally required to be Kenyan citizens, or residents.
Kenya's child welfare society says that Kiano is in state custody but it's been more than a month since he was taken from the Mazzoncini's home, which was the last time they saw him. D. MAZZONCINI: I just think of him being alone and not understanding
where mom and dad went. And that's really hard. You know, you've been through a lot in his life and we are the only parents he has ever known.
KRIEL: And the Mazzoncinis say they won't rest until their boy is home.
Robyn Kriel, CNN -- Nairobi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:47:51] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ALLEN: Welcome back.
Facebook is pushing back against growing calls to break up the tech giant. On Thursday Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, wrote an opinion piece in the "New York Times". He says Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unchecked power far beyond anyone else in business or government. Hughes adds U.S. regulators should dismantle the company, and force it to give up Instagram, and WhatsApp.
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CHRIS HUGHES, CO-FOUNDER FACEBOOK: We want markets to be dynamic, competitive and fair, and sometimes government has to step in when a single company gets too big and too powerful. And I should say this is not just a Facebook problem. You know, three-quarters of American industries have become more concentrated, over the past 20 years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: But former U.K. deputy prime minister turned Facebook vice president for global affairs and communications Nick Clegg, argues against that.
NICK CLEGG, VICE PRESIDENT, FACEBOOK: I don't think dismantling companies altogether is the way to deal with some of the complex issues, which quite right highlighted, say to use, privacy, they attempt by folk from elsewhere to try and interfere in our elections. These are -- I don't in any wat want to diminish the interviewer electronics.
I don't in any way want to diminish the importance of those, and they heavy responsibility that Facebook dares to play, a prominent role in solving those problems.
But chopping a great American success story, into bits is not suddenly going make those problems go away. They won't suddenly evaporate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Mark Zuckerberg signaled he is open to some regulation.
Well, it came down to the wire, but Manchester City won the English Premier League for the second straight season. Man City retained the title after defeating Brighton four to one. The win allowed them to edge out Liverpool 98 points to 97, and become the leagues first back to back champion in ten years.
Mark Bolton has more on their incredible path to the title.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK BOLTON, JOURNALIST: (INAUDIBLE) But Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City said this was the toughest to win. His first words was to congratulate his rivals Liverpool. Not in terms of the challenge they put up here --
(CROSSTALKING)
BOLTON: -- but instead the caliber of the challenge and what it demanded of their own side, a heightening in general level of football in the premier league, he said --
(CROSSTALKING)
BOLTON: -- in terms of quality, class and sheer determination.
The premier league pendulum had swung to and fro right from the start. It never seemed to want to stop, Liverpool one week, Manchester the other. And indeed that's where it played out in the final day.
Expectation ahead of kickoff quickly turning to dismay. Liverpool ahead slipping (ph) behind, the unthinkable about to happen.
But the 2012 savior stepped up again. When required as always, Sergio Aguero was there. The fight back was on and was soon sealed. Champions again, they defended it and for a fourth time in eight seasons, Manchester City, kings of England.
[01:55:00] But how does it rank overall? They (INAUDIBLE) company has won four, he said this is the best.
In terms of entertainment, and how much we've enjoyed, well there's no doubt it has been.
Mark Bolton, CNN -- Manchester.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ALLEN: Finally this hour the Duchess of Sussex celebrated her first ever Mother's Day by sharing a picture of her newborn child. She and Prince Harry posted this on Instagram, showing the feet of Baby Archie. The caption read, "Paying tribute to all mothers, past, present and mothers to be. In the background you can also see Princess Diana's favorite flowers -- forget me nots.
The U.K. celebrates mother's day in March. The U.S. where Meghan Markle is from well, we celebrated Sunday.
Well, thank you for joining us. That will do it for me. I'm Natalie Allen.
Another hour of news is next with George and Rosemary. See you soon.
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