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Hala Gorani Tonight
Third Democratic 2020 Debate Recap; Former Prime Minister David Cameron Calls for Second Referendum; Benjamin Netanyahu Meets with Vladimir Putin; Soon: Felicity Huffman Sentenced In College Admission Scam; Kremlin Carries out Raids On Russian Opposition; Anthem Of Defiance Unites Pro- Democracy Protesters; World's Northern-Most Town Has A warning For The Planet; 25 Years Of Iconic Sitcom "Friends". Aired 2-3p ET
Aired September 13, 2019 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:22]
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN HOST, HALA GORANI TONIGHT: Hi, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Robyn Curnow, in for my colleague, Hala Gorani.
So, tonight, 10 top Democratic candidates face off. Find out who stood out and who fell behind in the race for the presidential nomination.
Then, former British Prime Minister David Cameron has broken his silence on Brexit. He won't rule out a second referendum.
And, Felicity Huffman is in court, this very hour, to receive her sentence in the U.S. college admissions scandal.
So there was no big knockout punch or spectacular breakout moment. But the third U.S. Democratic presidential debate did give voters a chance to see
some significant policy divides, as the top 10 candidates, battling for the chance to unseat Donald Trump, took the stage together for the very, very
first time.
Well, CNN's Athena Jones has a wrap of the debate in Houston.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Frontrunner Joe Biden started Thursday night's debate with a new strategy.
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I know that the senator says she's for Bernie. Well, I'm for Barack. I think the Obamacare worked.
JONES (voice-over): Wedged between Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, the former vice president took the two progressives head-on over
the cost of Medicare for All.
BIDEN: My plan for health care costs a lot of money. It costs $740 billion. It doesn't cost $30 trillion, $3.4 trillion a year. How are we
going to pay for it?
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: How do we pay for it? We pay for it. Those at the very top, the richest individuals and the
biggest corporations, are going to pay more. And middle-class families are going to pay less.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Every study done shows that Medicare for All is the most cost-effective approach to providing
health care to every man, woman and child in this country. I, who wrote the damn bill, if I may say so --
JONES (voice-over): But Biden, not relenting, jumping on the opportunity to paint Sanders as too left.
BIDEN: For a socialist, you've got a lot more confidence in corporate America than I do.
JONES (voice-over): More moderate candidates like Senator Amy Klobuchar, joining in.
SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And while Bernie wrote the bill, I read the bill. It says that we will no longer have private
insurance as we know it. And that means that 149 million Americans will no longer be able to have their current insurance.
SANDERS: Medicare for All is comprehensive health care, covers all basic needs. Moving to Medicare for All is the way to go.
JONES (voice-over): Former Housing secretary Julian Castro, clashing with his fellow Obama administration colleague.
JULIAN CASTRO (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What you support, Vice President Biden, is that you require them to opt in. And I would not
require them to opt in, they would automatically be enrolled. They wouldn't have to buy in. That's a big difference. Because Barack Obama's
vision was not to leave 10 million people uncovered. He wanted every single person in this country covered. My plan would do that, your plan
would not.
BIDEN: They do not have to buy in. They do not have to buy in.
(APPLAUSE)
CASTRO: You just said that, you just said that two minutes ago. You just said, two minutes ago --
BIDEN: They (ph) do (ph) not have to buy in if they can't afford it.
CASTRO: -- that they would have to buy in --
(CROSSTALK)
BIDEN: Your (ph) grandmother (ph) would (ph) not (ph) have (ph) to (ph) buy in if she qualified for Medicaid, she'd automatically be --
CASTRO: -- are you forgetting what you said two minutes ago?
I'm fulfilling the legacy of Barack Obama, and you're not.
BIDEN: That'll be a surprise to him.
JONES (voice-over): After that heated exchange, the other Democrats on stage, quickly jumping in.
MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is why presidential debates are becoming unwatchable.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
BUTTIGIEG: Because this reminds everybody of what they cannot stand about Washington, scoring points against each other, poking at each other and
telling each other that -- your -- my plan, your plan -- look, we all have different (ph) visions (ph) --
(CROSSTALK)
CASTRO: yes, that's called a Democratic primary election, Pete --
BUTTIGIEG: -- for (ph) what (ph) is (ph) better (ph) --
(CROSSTALK)
(APPLAUSE)
CASTRO: -- that's called an election. That's an election, you know? This is what we're here for, it's an election.
KLOBUCHAR: A house divided cannot stand. And that is not how --
(CROSSTALK)
YANG: Everyone, we know we're on the same team here.
JONES (voice-over): Many candidates, praising Beto O'Rourke's response to the El Paso mass shooting. The former Texas congressman, laying out his
plan that goes further than his rivals, vowing to confiscate weapons of war.
BETO O'ROURKE (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hell, yes. We're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.
(APPLAUSE)
We're not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore.
JONES (voice-over): Senator Kamala Harris kept her attacks aimed at President Trump.
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The bottom line is this. Donald Trump, in office, on trade policy, you know, he reminds me of
that guy in "The Wizard of Oz," you know? When you pull back the curtain, it's a really small dude?
(LAUGHTER)
JONES (voice-over): Something Senator Cory Booker said should be a focus for 2020.
[14:05:00]
SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We've to one shot to make Donald Trump a one-term president. And we cannot lose it by the way we
talk about each other or demonize and degrade each other.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: Now, Julian Castro's attack on Joe Biden's memory is still making headlines today, with some of his fellow Democratic candidates calling his
remarks unnecessary, and even something that Donald Trump might tweet.
But Castro is standing firm. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CASTRO: I wouldn't do it differently. That was not a personal attack, this was about a disagreement over what the vice president said regarding
health care policy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: Beto O'Rourke is also feeling some heat for his strong call for a mandatory buyback of assault-style rifles. He says he's far more worried
about the deadly consequences of those weapons than politics and polling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'ROURKE: I'm going to say the necessary thing. Which is, background checks are important. Red flag laws, essential. We should stop selling
weapons of war. But if we leave 10 millions of them out there, they will become the instruments of terror that we've seen in El Paso, in Midland,
Odessa, in Sutherland Springs. And those are just three mass shootings in our state, but all across this country. So we've got to do the right
thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: OK. So we are joined, now, by a Democratic strategist who believes that Joe Biden won last night, by not winning or losing the
debate.
Mike Morey joins me now from New York to explain. Mike, great to have you on the show. Thanks for joining us.
MIKE MOREY, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Thanks for having me.
CURNOW: So, did Joe Biden win in your opinion because of the path of -- taking the path of least resistance here?
MOREY: Well, I think -- so I think Joe came out really strong in the first half of the debate. I think that he wanted to send a message that he can
take on any of his opponents, up on that stage, and demonstrate that he has a pretty good command of the facts.
Like, I thought it was pretty interesting that he made a calculated decision to challenge Elizabeth Warren directly, before he was engaged by
anyone else on that stage, which I think goes to show the degree to which he's trying to make it clear to people that despite what they may have
thought about previous debate performances or whether he is in total command, he is. And he's willing to challenge people on the facts, he's
willing to challenge people on the cost of their health care plan.
I think the second half, you know, he stumbled a little bit, but Joe Biden has sort of been up and down in most of the debates so far. But at the end
of the day, Joe Biden didn't get ruffled. I think everything was fairly status quo.
And what we've seen consistently throughout all the debates in the campaign thus far, is that even when Joe Biden has tough moments, his polling
numbers have stayed remarkably strong. Some of the other candidates have certainly climbed a bit, but his numbers have been pretty stable. So
that's the reason I'd say, at the end of the day, I think Joe Biden won by both winning and not losing, and sort of -- just sort of status quo.
TEXT: Top Choice for Nominees Who Can Beat Trump: Biden, now, 26 percent, August, 35 percent. Warren, now, 21 percent, August, 15 percent. Sanders,
now, 11 percent; August, 14 percent.
CURNOW: Yes, and these are the numbers here. I mean, he loosened a little bit in the last poll, the CNN poll, in terms of the man to beat Donald
Trump, and that's what this is all about because someone out of that lineup is going to be taking on the U.S. president. However, they were very
focused on policy minutiae. Is that just where this is, in the stage in the election process right now?
MOREY: Well, look, it is 10 Democrats, and then there are some who didn't make the stage. But there are Democrats trying to talk to Democrats, as to
why they're the best-positioned to carry the party banner, to take on the incumbent Republicans.
So the policy details do matter at this point for a Democratic primary electorate. But on top of that, what we've seen consistently in all the
polling among Democrats is, people want someone who they think can defeat Donald Trump, who has the best shot at defeating Donald Trump.
And I think what Joe Biden has done is try to demonstrate that some of his rivals, as good as they are on policy, may not be able to appeal to the
broadest cross-section of America in order to defeat Donald Trump.
But I don't think Joe Biden's the only one who recognizes that. I think if you paid particular close attention to Elizabeth Warren, Elizabeth Warren
was very -- worked really hard not to get into the specifics, as to whether her policy positions, particularly on Medicare for All, will result in a
middle-class tax hike.
She never answered the question, rightfully and smartly, she didn't answer the question because she also knows that at some point, someone's going to
emerge from this field and going to have to start competing for the center. And if that's Elizabeth Warren or that's Joe Biden, you don't want to be in
a place in which the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, can get out there and say that they are going to raise taxes on the middle class.
CURNOW: So if the point of this conversation is about policy, whether it's health care or guns, for example, are these going to be single issues that
Democratic voters, independents are going to be looking to? How much mirroring (ph) are we seeing, say, into the leadup to the midterms for
example? Or is this all going to just be about Donald Trump?
MOREY: Look, for now, it's going to be -- interestingly, in this debate, I think Kamala Harris was, really, one of the only people who made Donald
Trump a centerpiece of any of her remarks in the debate last night. And it was really the candidates positioning themselves vis-a-vis each other, as
they talk to a Democratic electorate, in order to get the eventual nomination.
So, yes, it's going to be a policy debate because right now, they are competing for a subset of the wider American political electorate. And as
they compete for that subset, they want to appeal to both the hearts and the minds of Democrats. They want to inspire Democrats with broad sweeping
proposals, but they also want to make sure that they send a broader message about the ability to defeat Donald Trump, which is goal number one for any
Democrat in the U.S. right now.
So I think you're going to have a little bit of both, and I think at this stage of the game, in this debate last night in particular, I think you saw
the candidates really just trying to position themselves for the Democratic primary electorate, who will then determine who it is that's going to take
on Donald Trump.
CURNOW: OK, Fascinating stuff. Mike Morey there. Great to have your perspective, thanks for joining us.
MOREY: Thanks for having me.
CURNOW: OK. Now, to the U.K. Former Prime Minister David Cameron is finally, finally speaking out on Brexit. He was in office, if you
remember, when he called for the Brexit referendum, back in 2016. Well, now, in an interview with the "Times" ahead of his book release, he says a
second Brexit referendum can't be ruled out because, in his words, we're stuck.
He also says Boris Johnson and fellow Leave campaigner Michael Gove acted appallingly int he runup to the referendum. And this: He said, "Some
people will never forgive me for holding a referendum. Others for holding it and losing it."
And it's also a critical week ahead for the prime minister, Boris Johnson. On Monday, he goes to Luxembourg for Brexit negotiations with the European
Commission president. On Tuesday, the U.K. Supreme Court will hear an appeal to a Scottish court ruling that found Mr. Johnson's suspension of
parliament unlawful.
The prime minister still believes there is a way to get a Brexit deal done before the October 31st deadline.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: I'm seeing the president of the Commission and the chief negotiator Michel Barnier on
Monday, and we'll talk about the ideas that we've been working on. And we'll see where we get. I mean, I am -- I would say, I'm cautiously
optimistic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: Cautiously optimistic. Melissa Bell joins me now from London. Hi, Melissa.
So is the prime minister cautiously optimistic? Or is there a lot of wishful thinking going on here?
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's difficult to tell at this stage, Robyn, which of the two it is. But clearly, the pressure is very much on
Boris Johnson, at this stage, to find some kind of compromise that will allow for a deal to be reached at that summit, when those E.U. leaders come
together on the 17th and 18th of October.
Because if he doesn't, remember that of course the M.P.s, the British Parliament, have passed a law now that would oblige him to ask for an
extension from the E.U. And yet he's been suggesting -- and he did it again in that speech that you just heard from him in Rotherham today, up in
Yorkshire, suggesting that either way, he would be coming out of the E.U. on the 31st of October, once again, suggesting, therefore, Robyn, that he
will go not only against the wishes of the Parliament, but find some way of circumventing the law.
So there is huge pressure on the prime minister, at this stage, to find some kind of give, some kind of change that could get past everyone. He
can't expect many concessions from Europe. They've been very clear, throughout this, that there simply won't be any more.
The pressure, the areas that are being looked into is what room for maneuver there might be with the various Northern Irish parties and the
Irish Republic's government, to find some kind of solution that would, perhaps, shift things with regard to the backstop there, allowing him to go
back to Europe on the 17th and 18th of October, with something that might get past the 27 other leaders.
But, of course, this is again an extremely risky strategy. It's very difficult to see how he's going to get all this done in the time that he
has ahead of him. And again, with all that pressure that you mentioned, from Parliament and from the British judiciary, that has only been
increasing over the course of the last couple of weeks.
CURNOW: Yes, it certainly has. There's still so much political uncertainty. But I'm also fascinated by David Cameron. He's come out,
obviously addressing a lot of the criticism that he called this referendum. What else is he saying and how's he justifying what many say was a massive
blunder?
BELL: Well, he was very damning of Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, explaining that they had frequently, throughout that E.U. referendum
campaign, left the truth at home, as he put it, as they set out on the campaign trail, calling their behavior "appalling," and of course being
very critical, also, of the way that Boris Johnson has handled things since he's become prime minister, and in particular, the prorogation of
Parliament, whose -- which the legality is going to be tested in the High Court in that crucial ruling on Tuesday.
[14:15:00]
And, of course, remember that David Cameron is, of course, explaining that people will not forgive him for having done this, but he's also speaking to
an important part of the Conservative Party that is not happy with the way things are being handled by the current government.
We are where we are, it is the way that Boris Johnson has chosen to exclude some of the leading Tory members, as he seeks to drive home this
negotiation with the E.U., keeping on the table the possibility of a no- deal Brexit. It is the way that he has gone about it that is being criticized by David Cameron, who speaks for a lot of Conservative members
of Parliament.
CURNOW: Yes. And some of them who might have been kicked out of the party. That's fascinating stuff. Let's see what that -- is in that book.
On another note, I see you're in London today, which is probably a good thing because, as we know, you're normally based in Paris. It seems like
metro workers had a massive strike -- I want to look at these images here - - causing chaos for commuters. What can you tell us about these scenes? Why?
BELL: I'm extremely glad to have escaped them. The levels of chaos on the streets of Paris have been described by authorities as similar to those
back in 2007. Now, that, Robyn, was the last time that the French government tried to reform the pension system.
The way that it works in France is that many different professions have different sorts of pension systems. Emmanuel Macron, one of his most
ambitious reforms -- and it's been put off several times; now, they're getting into it -- is to make a universal pension system. So of course,
the number of professions that are going to come out and oppose this are going to be substantial. These were rail-workers with the metro lines, the
buses, the suburban lines, very badly affected today, especially in Paris.
But you can expect, next week, to hear from lawyers, medical workers, all kinds of other people who are going to go on strike over this, as Emmanuel
Macron tries to hold on, to push through with that promise he'd made when he was elected, to be the first president in a number of years to manage to
substantially reform France where it needs to be reformed -- Robyn.
CURNOW: Yes. Some bold moves, potentially. Good to have you, good to see you. Who would have thought that being on the tube on a Friday night is
going to be considered a luxury. Thanks so much, Melissa Bell. Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
CURNOW: All the best, have a great weekend.
OK. So, switching gears now, prime minister -- Israel's prime minister gears up for key elections next week, but he squeezed in a quick, quick
trip to Russia on Thursday. Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, as you can see here. These talks could be
critical for Mr. Netanyahu, as he seeks re-election.
As Oren Liebermann now reports, he's courting the Russian vote back home in Israel.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One of Donald Trump's closest allies is cozying up to one of America's biggest enemies. Just
days before he's up for re-election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is playing both sides internationally, making a lightning-fast
trip to Sochi to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to tout their relationship.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL (through translator): Tightening the relations between us, Mr. President, is also the result of
two other things: our mutual rational policy, and the direct connection between us.
LIEBERMANN (voice-over): While Iran and security topped the official agenda, analysts say there's another reason for a quick trip out of the
country, just days before ballots are cast: Netanyahu is pushing for the Russian vote in Israel, immigrants from the former Soviet Union make up
some 15 percent of Israel's population, a vote that's generally in the hands of this man, Avigdor Lieberman.
Originally from the Soviet Union, Lieberman once worked for Netanyahu before launching his own party. Now, the former defense minister is the
secular right-wing thorn in Netanyahu's side, having quit the Israeli leader's government, saying he was too soft on terror and caved to the
religious.
AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN, FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER OF ISRAEL: I hope that we will establish a real (ph) national white (ph) liberal government without
orthodox and without orthodox and without radical members of our Knesset.
LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Polls show Lieberman with enough seats to prevent Netanyahu from getting the right-wing religious government he wants. And
while Lieberman's strength begins with his Russian base, his appeal is growing across the political spectrum.
ANNA RAYVA-BARSKY, ISRAEL CHANNEL 9 (through translator): The joint interest is secularism. They feel that the country is changing, and they
feel the religious population is becoming a majority, and more and more dominant. And it scares them. And Lieberman tells them, "I am holding
your flag."
Roni Milo is the former mayor of Tel Aviv. He once belonged to Netanyahu's Likud Party. Now, he says he's voting Lieberman.
RONI MILO, FORMER MAYOR OF TEL AVIV: He is right-wing, but not extreme right-wing, but moderate right-wing on the one hand. And on the other
hand, he is not connected to all kinds of corruption.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Avigdor Lieberman.
LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Lieberman refused to join with Netanyahu in April's elections, forcing new elections. With a renewed popularity, he is
one more obstacle standing between Netanyahu and an Election Night victory.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[14:20:02]
CURNOW: Now, the final polls before the election show a very close race, and they suggest it could be a rocky road to forming a governing coalition.
Oren Liebermann joins us now from Jerusalem, with more on these polls. Hi, Oren. Talk us through them. I mean, it seems like they're suggesting a
tight race here.
LIEBERMANN: An incredibly tight race. And what's impressive here is that five separate polls done by separate pollsters all suggest very similar
results: a very, very tight race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party, and former chief of staff Benny Gantz's Blue and
White Party. Two of them show an actual tie when it comes to the number of seats, another two show Netanyahu with a slight lead, and the fifth and
final poll shows Benny Gantz with a slight lead.
Regardless, all of the polls suggest that neither of these leaders has a chance to form an easy, clear path to forming a governing coalition. And
that is the political sort of quagmire that we were in back in April, which is what led to the elections to begin with. In that sense, all of these
polls suggest the political deadlock that led to those elections is still here, but neither of these leaders, neither Netanyahu nor Gantz, can easily
put together a government.
And why? This goes back to who we were just talking about, Avigdor Lieberman. He has grown. He only had five seats after April's elections.
All of the polls now show him somewhere between seven and nine seats. That means he has more leverage. And when you look at Israel's political
spectrum, he's in exactly the spot he wants to be in.
He said, from the start, he wants to form and force a unity government between the two largest parties that represent a large swathe of Israel's
sort of secular population, from the center-left to the center-right. And as of right now, Robyn, it appears he has the leverage and the seats to do
that. But with three days left here, four days, all of it could change and we will certainly watch it until the very last minutes of Election Day.
CURNOW: We certainly will because it's going to be intriguing, as you say. The potential for a lot of jostling in the coming days and weeks,
potentially. Thanks so much, Oren Liebermann. Good to see you.
So, still to come, here on CNN, the Bahamas braces for yet another storm. Look at this image. This is coming just weeks after Hurricane Dorian
ripped through this area. We'll take you to the storm-ravaged island chain in just a moment to talk through these sat (ph) images.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURNOW: I'm Robyn Curnow in New York. Thanks for joining us this hour. So almost two weeks after Hurricane Dorian devastated its northern islands,
the Bahamas is once again bracing for dangerous weather: A tropical storm warning is currently in effect over the area.
Well, Allison Chinchar joins me now with the latest. So what are they experiencing now? Particularly all these survivors who lost their homes,
they don't have shelter. What are the conditions that they're in now?
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. So you're starting to see some of the outer bands bring some rain showers across portions of the
Bahamas. Winds are also starting to pick back up, and that's going to be the case, really, for the next 24 to 36 hours, as the storm continues to
make its way off to the north and west.
[14:25:01]
Right now, though, it is stationary, it's not moving at all. So any of the areas that are getting some of the showers are likely going to keep getting
them until the storm can finally make its way out. It's very weak at this point in time, but that's to be expected.
This is the location right here, and a lot of this water, here, is much cooler than normal. You can thank Hurricane Dorian for that, after having
churned up all of this water as it also moved, stationary for quite a period of time, over this general region. But at some point, we do expect
this to pick up. It will start to move off to the north and west, get very close to the state of Florida before finally veering back out over the open
Atlantic.
The good news is, this storm, as of right now, as it goes through the Bahamas and even approaches Florida, is only expected to remain, at best,
about a tropical storm at its strongest. It may potentially get up to a Category 1 after it goes back over open water, but this is expected to be a
much weaker storm than Hurricane Dorian was.
There is some discrepancy within the models. This yellow line is the European model, the red line is the American model. The American model
still wants to edge this a little bit closer towards Florida, the European model has it, just as it's crossing over the Bahamas, then veering back out
over open water.
And, Robyn, at this point, I think everyone is really kind of hoping that yellow line, the European model, ends up being the correct one.
CURNOW: Yes, most definitely. Allison Chinchar, thanks for that update.
So this new storm system also threatens ongoing relief efforts, as I said. There's 1,300 people, still remain missing in the aftermath of Hurricane
Dorian. This, as officials expect the death toll to climb as more bodies are recovered from the debris. Now, that figure currently stands at 50.
So let's go straight to Nassau in the Bahamas. Dianne Gallagher is standing by. It's clearly sunny there, tropical storm hasn't hit where you
are within the island chain. But certainly, areas that were particularly vulnerable is what we're concerned about.
DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And, Robyn, we're concerned about them, A, because of the possible damage that they could get from the
water and the potential winds. These homes that already have roof damage, structural damage. The ground is already soft. And there are still people
who are out on Abaco, who have stayed in their homes that have damage.
Now, I can tell you that there are different relief organizations that have gone around, they have provided additional tools to them, there on Abaco,
to try and help them weather the storms. They're working to make sure there are additional shelters available as well, even though the Bahamian
government has already asked them to go ahead and start moving towards some of these sanctioned shelters if you're in the areas that are expected to
have some sort of effect there.
But it's also the emotional and the mental effect, that the people who have already survived Hurricane Dorian, there's 2,000 evacuees, who are here in
the Nassau area, staying in shelters right now, who've been evacuated from their islands due to the devastation there.
Having those winds come through again, that -- those rains coming again, and just sort of retraumatize them once more. So there's that emotional
toll that the Bahamian people have to deal with as well.
I can tell you that the relief agencies are expecting to -- those that are stationed in Marsh Harbour or in Abaco, say that they're going to ride it
out there, they're going to continue to try and assist people there. They're not planning, at this point, on coming back to one of the islands
that's expected to get a little bit less of the effect.
But I spoke on -- I spoke with a Customs and Border Protection pilot, who said that they don't think they're going to be flying, as this is coming
through, obviously. So this will prevent some of the aid, initially, from getting to those islands, but it's going to be more of a delay.
Again, though, it's an emotional toll, that so many people who have already been through so much, who don't have much right now, who are staying in
these shelters here, or chosen to stay in their homes that are already damaged, just sort of that impending doom of this hitting them, again.
CURNOW: Yes. And we also know -- I know from some of colleagues at the World Weather Center, that there were a lot of lightning strikes around
some of these areas. That in itself must be terrifying for people who lost their homes.
Thanks so much. Great to have you there on the ground, and we'll continue to monitor your reports in the coming days. Thanks so much. Dianne
Gallagher there.
So, still to come tonight, the actress Felicity Huffman is about to find out her punishment for her role in the U.S. college admissions scandal.
Her sentence could set the tone for the dozens of others charged in this scheme, so we're watching that.
[14:29:29]
Also, a sweeping crackdown across Russia, against some of the Kremlin's biggest critics. The latest on this nationwide -- on these nationwide
raids that are targeting opposition activists. We have Matthew Chance's report, that's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:30:04]
CURNOW: So happening right now actress Felicity Huffman is in a U.S. federal court. She arrived just a few moments ago and she's the first
parent, if you remember, to be sentenced in what authorities are calling the largest college admission scandal ever in the U.S. Here's the pictures
from a little bit earlier.
Prosecutors say parents, either paid someone to change their children's test scores or bribed university officials. While Huffman has pleaded
guilty and says she will accept whatever the punishment the court hands down.
Well, Brynn Gingras reports. Huffman sentence could actually set the tone for others accused in the scandal.
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Today, Felicity Huffman will have one more chance to ask a judge to spare her prison time. The
award-winning actress admitting and apologizing for her involvement in the nationwide college admissions scandal.
In a letter sent to the judge prior to today's sentencing, Huffman wrote, I have a deep and abiding shame over what I have done. Shame and regret that
I will carry for the rest of my life.
Huffman admits to paying the mastermind of the scandal, Rick Singer, $15,000 to alter her oldest daughter's test scores. In that same memo, she
explains how she worked with Singer legitimately for a year on her daughter's college application process before saying "yes" to the cheating
scheme.
It's a decision she says has damaged her relationship with her daughter. Quote, when my daughter looked at me and asked with tears streaming down
her face why didn't you believe in me, I could only say, "I'm sorry, I was frightened and stupid."
The actress is the second person to be sentenced in the scandal that broke in March, resulting in the arrests of more than 50 people, including
college coaches, administrators, and wealthy parents. More than a dozen of the parents struck plea deals with the federal government on a single fraud
charge.
In June, former Stanford sailing coach, John Vandemoer, received no prison time for his role in the scheme after the judge in that case determined
there were no victims since he didn't pocket any money exchanged.
The prosecution believes Huffman should spend a month behind bars and pay a $20,000 fine, setting a tone that the privileged aren't above the law.
U.S. Attorney, Andrew Lelling, wrote in a filing, quote, "Home confinement would be a penological joke, conjuring images of defendants padding around
impressive homes waiting for the end of curfew; probation with community service is too lenient and too easily co-opted for its "PR" value; and a
fine is meaningless for defendants wealthy enough to commit this crime in the first place."
Huffman's attorneys are asking for one year probation, community service, a fine, and no prison time.
Today's sentencing may also have future implications on those who are fighting the charges, like actress Lori Loughlin, who is accused of paying
hundreds of thousands of dollars to get her two daughters admitted to USC as crew recruits.
Brynn Gingras, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[14:35:02]
CURNOW: Let's bring in Paul Callan, our legal analyst whose joining me here in New York.
Paul, hi. Good to see you. We haven't had an update, as Brynn was reporting there. We know that Felicity Huffman -- the sentencing is
actually going on right now. And she's in court with family and friends about 12 to 13 loved ones, along with her husband, William H. Macy, who we
know acts in a fabulous T.V. show called "Shameless."
So I don't know if life is imitating art here, but we certainly got to have some sort of consequence for her behavior. When can we expect it?
PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, this is what's going to happen in court. The judge will give the prosecutor an opportunity to make a speech.
He'll give the defense attorney an opportunity. Felicity Huffman will have the right to address the court and then the court will hand down the
sentence after the judge would make little speech as well.
So, usually, these things would last about half an hour to 45 minutes or so. And I think we'll have a sentence by then.
CURNOW: OK. So we might or might not have it within the show, and we'll definitely come back to once we have it.
She's just one of a number of people but she has said that she's guilty, she's apologized, she paid less than many of the others accused. And she
said she'll accept the court's decision. Does that all work in her favor?
CALLAN: Yes. All of that helps her, and as a matter of fact, this sentencing will kind of set the standard, I think, in these cases, because
she's the first parent to be sentenced.
Now, there are about, I think, 34 other parents who await sentencing. The amount of money though that she spent or used as a bribe to facilitate her
daughter cheating on the SATs was $15,000. Now, there were other parents in this scandal who spent as much as $6 million to get their kids into the
college of their choice.
So, on a comparative bases, her offenses sort of, at the low end of the scale, but she's an American celebrity, she had a big television show,
everybody knows who she is. So the judge is going to be thinking, I don't want to look like I'm just bending over to a nice to a celebrity because
she's rich and famous. So the judge is in kind of a tough spot determining what's the appropriate sentence.
CURNOW: So what you're saying is that she could be used as an example and set the tone. So where could -- what could she expect for a famous
actress, a well-respected acting family, in fact, could she expect to go to jail and for how long?
CALLAN: Well, I think the maximum she's likely to see in jail would be one month in jail which, I think, most people would view as a slap on the risk.
The reason I say that is because, in her case, the prosecutor only recommended 30 days in jail and a $20,000 fine as well as 250 hours of
community service.
Now, most of the time, when a prosecutor recommends a sentence, that's kind of the high end of what the defendant is likely to get. The defensive
course has set because she cooperated, pled guilty early on, and has expressed remorse that she should get a lighter sentence.
And, usually, judges compromised between the two figures. So it's also possible that she'll whine up with no jail time and simply community
service and a fine because of the nature of the case.
CURNOW: OK. So let's see what happens. Hopefully, we get to chat in the next 20 minutes or so. But certainly, CNN will be covering this. Paul
Callan, great to get your expertise. Always good to speak to you. Thank you, sir.
CALLAN: Thank you, Robyn.
CURNOW: OK. So the Russian government is cracking down on political opponents. A Kremlin's spokesperson confirms a series of nationwide raids.
Among those targeted, opposition leader is Alexei Navalny.
Our Matthew Chance now reports of theorist follow summer protests and a setback for the Kremlin in recent Moscow elections. Here's Matthew.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (vice-over): This is how the Kremlin is taking revenge on its most prominent opposition
critic. A mass crackdown in towns and cities across Russia.
Opposition activists say more than 200 addresses have been raided so far. I mean, the offices and apartments of figures linked to Alexei Navalny, the
anti- corruption campaigner who's become a defiant thorn in the Kremlin side.
ALEXEI NAVALNY, RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER (through translator): In the first place, I would like to say that we will not stop our work. Do not
worry. Indeed, we expect some hard times coming. But we never actually had easy times. We won't give up, we will regain power, and continue
fighting against crooks and thieves.
CHANCE: The crackdown comes after a tense summer of protests in Russia. We saw riot police dispersed crowds gathering almost every weekend,
demonstrating against opposition candidates being barred from regional elections. The vote in Moscow left the pro-Kremlin ruling party with a
badly-dented majority, something for which Navalny who advocated tactical voting has claimed credit.
[14:40:08]
State media says the authorities were investigating fraud by Navalny's organization, but the opposition figured says the election results is why
his activists are now being targeted.
NAVALNY: This time, Putin got really upset because of the tactical vote, and that his sweet child, the United Russia Party, has been busted in
Moscow and seriously beaten in the regions. Yes, he is upset and he is stomping his little feet.
CHANCE: Problem is, when Putin's feet stomp, those in the way tend to get squashed.
Matthew Chance, CNN Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: Thanks, Matthew. So coming up next here at CNN, Hong Kong protesters are breaking out in song, literally. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: Protest anthem is uniting a movement. That's next.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURNOW: Remarkable scene here in Hong Kong. Hundreds of protesters turned out on Thursday at a major mall singing "Glory to Hong Kong." The song was
writing just a few weeks ago and it's about the pro-democracy movement. It's already becoming an anthem of defiance against China's influence.
Well, CNN's Kristie Lu Stout spoke to a young composer who first posted this anthem online about how this song unite the people of Hong Kong.
Here's Kristie.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(ORCHESTRA PLAYING)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An orchestra in full protective gear wearing gas masks, helmets, and black
shirts, they performed a new unofficial anthem for the Hong Kong protests. "Freedom shall shine upon us," they sing. It's a prodemocracy performance
that is spread like wildfires with over 1 million views on YouTube. "Glory to Hong Kong" was composed anonymously and later modified by the crowd in
online forums, consider it the musical equivalent of the decentralized and leaderless protest movement.
The earliest version of the anthem was posted online by Thomas. The 20 something composers who asked to be identified only by first name.
LU STOUT (on-camera): What is the message, the core message of this song?
THOMAS, COMPOSER: The core message of this song is to unite all Hong Kong people. It can never suppress Hong Kong people's will to fight for freedom
and democracy. And that's one of the main reason I composed this song.
LU STOUT (voice-over): At a recent World Cup qualifier, thousands of Hong Kongers turned their backs and booed when the Chinese national anthem was
played. They're sang "Glory to Hong Kong" instead.
[14:45:00]
Across the city, crowds in the hundreds and even thousands have gathered in shopping malls to sing the protest song. A peaceful act of defiance that
has led to tension. At one upscale shopping center, rival protesters saying that Chinese national anthem which led to a literal sing-off when
many arrived to sing glory in Hong Kong in retaliation.
Singing has been part of the protest since they kicked off in June. Demonstrators have belted out this fable from Les Miserable.
And this Christian hymns.
But "Glory to Hong Kong" has gained traction in a way that political observers like Jason Ng have never seen before.
JASON NG, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND AUTHOR: This song has have a tremendous unifying impact on movement. As you know, the protesters is not
one group. There's a lot of tension between the more radical factions versus the people who really believe in non-violence form of protest.
And this song comes along, it helped people to set aside their difference, they came together and really galvanize them.
LU STOUT: After months of protests, a crowd source anthem has united the movement with the chorus of dissent becoming the latest act of defiance
against the government.
Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: And speaking of protests in London, climate change activists took their protests to the city's fashion trade week show. Some doused
themselves in fake blood and staged what they called a die-in. others tied themselves to the main entrance.
The group calls the fashion industry one of most polluting industries in the world.
And staying with that theme, Norway's wilderness is offering a stark warning to the world about climate change.
As Michael Holmes now reports its melting ice could spell trouble for the race of the planet.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Glaciers creak in the sunshine, slowly dripping into the warming waters.
Here in the northern most town in the world, the sights are spectacular. But scientists say they could be disappearing as climate change is not only
melting the ice, but eroding the very land the local people live on.
KIM HOLMEN, NORWEGIAN POLAR INSTITUTE: We are losing the Svalbard we know. We are losing the Arctic as we know it because of climate change. This is
a forewarning of all the hardship and problems that will spread around the climate.
HOLMES: According to a Norwegian report on climate change, the temperatures of the Svalbard Archipelago have risen by four degrees Celsius
over the past 50 years and that is creating warmer conditions with some very unusual effects in town.
Take a look at this church in Svalbard. The graveyard is eerily shifting. Rocks from the landscape above had slid down on it and occasionally what's
buried in the ground below as resurfaced.
IVAR SMEDSROD, SVALBARD CHURCH: As the permafrost thaws, things that are in the ground tend to be pulled up. That's happening, more or less, all
the time. So we might see that the graves literally come up -- the coffins.
HOLMES: The softening of the ground has also caused landslides and avalanches in the area which have wiped away several houses and scared away
some of the residents.
CHRISTIANE HUBNER: This was a very nice slope towards the coast. And one day, 30 meters disappeared just in one event.
HOLMES: Local businesses are also feeling the heat. The owner of this husky dog farm says the rising temperatures are impacting his livelihood
and could threaten much more if the thermometer pushes deeper into the red.
AUDUN SALTE, BUSINESS OWNER: On the highway when people slowdown to look at a car crash, the whole climate change is kind of like that, because
everyone is slowing down to kind of look at the accident but not realizing that we are actually the car crash.
HOLMES: Michael Holmes, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: Kind of warning. Thanks, Michael, for that report.
So more to come here on CNN, including 25 years and they'll still be there for you.
Of course, you remember, and probably still love "Friends" and a lot of businesses are also trying to cash in on that fact.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:05]
CURNOW: Now, to one of the most popular T.V. shows of all-time. "Friends" turns 25 years old this year. Can you believe that? Every Thursday night,
remember millions tuned in to see six friends in their 20s, sharing apartments here in New York City as they navigated work, life, love. So
CNN's Clare Sebastian now explains many businesses, even 25 years on, are still trying to cash in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: From product placement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, but this wonder broom is amazing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, wait.
SEBASTIAN: To memorabilia and even haircuts, "Friends" has always been a brand that sells.
SEBASTIAN (on-camera): And 25 years on, that hasn't changed. It still not enough of viewers just to watch the show. They want to live in the world
of Monica, Chandler, Ross, Rachel, and Phoebe, and Joey, and that means eating their food, sitting on their couch, and of course, drinking their
coffee.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): And businesses are taking advantage. Coffee chain Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf jumps to the chance of a tie-up for the
anniversary, launching a special edition range of coffee, specialty drinks and memorabilia.
DARRIN KELLARIS, VP MARKETING, COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF: Our "Friends- themed" coffee, we pre-released and actually sold out in about three hours.
SEBASTIAN: They also hosted two pop-up Central Perk events in Los Angeles in August.
KELLARIS: Those two locations we saw significance spike in foot traffic.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Isn't it cool? It's an apothecary table.
SEBASTIAN: Pottery barn also brought back the famous apothecary table, which despite its thousand dollar price tag, is a top seller in its
department, the company says. Must be the antic properties.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can almost smell the opium.
SEBASTIAN: Even Lego is getting in on the action with the $60 replica of Central Perk. Lego says it's one of its fastest selling sets ever.
SEBASTIAN (on-camera): Now, of course, none of these promotions would work nearly as well if Friends haven't experienced the revival in the age of
streaming. Last year, it was Netflix's second most watched show. And the company reportedly paid around $100 million to keep the rights to the show
for one more year, before it goes on a break moving to one of media's HBO Max streaming service in 2020.
DAN IVES, EQUITY ANALYST, WEDBUSH SECURITIES: It's an iconic show and, ultimately, it's really one of the crown jewels of streaming. Everything
changed now with HBO coming in a major shot across to battle Netflix, taking "Friends."
And I ultimately believe two to three percent of Netflix viewers watch it just because of Friends.
SEBASTIAN: So for those who say friends and the money don't mix --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's more important, your friends or money?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Friends.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Money.
SEBASTIAN: -- This 25-year-old sitcom still gets the last laugh.
(LAUGHS)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: Clare Sebastian joins us now. I mean, Phoebe, you still -- I mean, she's still divine as a character, isn't she? I mean, we even got
Laura, our producer, to sing smelly cat in the ad break.
So, I mean, I'm done for the week. I'm not going to ask you on air to do it. But who's watching? You know, who's connecting with friends now? Is
it just people like me who remembers Rachel's haircut or is it a whole bunch of millennials who finds some connection with a bunch of 20-year-olds
who didn't have iPhones or iPads?
SEBASTIAN: Right. And this is the extraordinary thing, Robyn, is despite the fact that it certainly looks like the 90s, it's very much rooted in the
90s, it is being watched by generation, who are frankly younger than the show itself, now that it's 25 years old.
And I think a lot of that has to do with Netflix. It's been on Netflix since 2015. But you see this in the way these promotions work around these
anniversaries, these companies are creating Instagram moments, the couch has been doing it all, you have these pop-ups. There's another pop-up in
New York where you can do all kinds of things, you know, from pushing a couch out the stairs.
If you remember that episode where they were yelling pivot, to wearing all of Chandler's clothes, all kinds of different things made for the Instagram
generation. So this is something that is being watched by multiple generations.
[14:55:01]
And it really is translating into real dollars for these companies. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, who I spoke to for that piece. They said that it will
impact their profits for the full year in a positive way. So it's an extraordinary reaction from fans around this anniversary.
CURNOW: What do the actors have to say about all of this?
SEBASTIAN: Well, I mean, one of the questions that often gets asked, Robyn, is will it come back for a revival and they are, you know, mixed on
that topic. The actor, Matthew Perry, talked to Variety about that a couple of years ago and he said like, I really -- you know, that keeps me
up at night, the idea that we would come back and do a revival, and people wouldn't watch.
So I think there's a sense that, you know --
CURNOW: Well, they're still going strong.
SEBASTIAN: -- they want to leave it as it was, keep the magic as it always was.
CURNOW: Frozen in the 90s. That's good. OK. Great to have you. You have a wonderful Friday, Clare Sebastian, thanks so much.
So if you'd like, a longer lookback, watch the CNN "Friends" special. It is called "25 years of Laughter." It is on this weekend on CNN. That's on
Sunday at 10:00 p.m. in New York.
Now, we should also probably warn you about this next video, but then maybe not. You judge for yourself. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: Fishmonger's display case. It is full of fish ready to be bought and cooked. Now, seeing raw fish may not be to everyone's taste, but as
this fishmonger Instagram a (INAUDIBLE) it could be even called offensive or disturbing, at least to vegans.
Rex Goldsmith who sells fish to celebrity chefs posted this short video on Instagram, only to have it censored. Instagram has since apologized,
saying the post was flagged by mistake. But Goldsmith says it's the second time this has happened over the past two weeks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OK. So thanks for watching tonight. I'm Robyn Curnow here in New York. Stay with CNN "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is up next.
But we also, because it's Friday, why not? We want to leave you these -- with these incredible images, some of the finalists for this year's Comedy
Wildlife Photography Awards photos. They're gold, enjoy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
