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Imminent Threat Posed By Soleimani; Iraq Missile Strikes; Shooting Down Plane; Executive Privilege To Block Bolton; New CNN/"Des Moines Register" Poll: Razor-Tight Race In Iowa; Triple-Threat Storm Threatens Southern States; Sanders Tops Poll In Close Four-Way Race In Iowa; After Spending Tens Of Millions On Ads, Tom Steyer Qualifies For Final Debate; Three Of "Jeopardy's!" Best Players Fight For Greatest Title & $1 Million Prize. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired January 11, 2020 - 17:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York. Appreciate you being here.

Developing, by the hour this weekend, we have changing stories about what brought down a huge passenger plane overseas and the American justification for the sky-high military tension with Iran. The government of Iran, today, flipping their story. First deny and now admitting that they shot down a commercial airliner on Wednesday, killing 176 innocent people. Iran's official position, it was a mistake made by their forces who were extremely on edge because the United States killed their top general just days before.

It was also the same day Iran set missiles flying into Iraq, striking bases where thousands of U.S. troops are deployed. No injuries, no deaths in that case.

Now, at the same time, in Washington, nothing is crystal clear as to why the White House decided to target Qasem Soleimani. The State Department says he posed an imminent threat but won't say what they mean by imminent. And the president, at one time, said one U.S. embassy was in danger of attack, now says something different.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA INGRAHAM, ANCHOR, FOX NEWS: Don't the American people have a right know what was specifically targeted without revealing methods and sources?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I don't think so. But we will tell you that probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad.

FEMALE: Do they have large-scale attacks planned for other embassies. And if those were planned, why can't we reveal that to the American people? Wouldn't that help your case?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: CNN White House Correspondent, Jeremy Diamond is with us now. Imminent or not imminent? One embassy or four embassies. Are you hearing any clearer message today from the White House?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ana, it's been nine days since the president ordered the targeted killing of that Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani. But it appears that the administration's messaging around that is only getting more muddled and, frankly, leading to more questions from the public and on Capitol Hill about the administration's rational for carrying out that killing.

And, also, about the specific -- the specific information about the threat that led to Soleimani's killing. The president, of course, adding to all of that, as he said in that clip from an interview with Fox News, that he -- that there were four embassies that were being targeted by these Iranian threats. The Baghdadi embassy and three others, of course.

But the president, even in that clip from Fox News, he also then goes on to say that, perhaps, they could have also been military facilities. So, it appears that the president shying away from giving as much specificity as possible to that threat.

That being said, two senior administration officials are telling "The Washington Post" that there was only vague intelligence about a potential plot against the embassy in Baghdad. Then, you also have the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, and these questions about how imminent this threat truly was leading to questions like this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You were mistaken when you said you didn't know precisely when and you didn't know precisely where?

MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: No. Completely true. Those are completely consistent thoughts. I don't know exactly which minute. We don't know exactly which day it would have been executed. But it was very clear. Qasem Soleimani, himself, was plotting a broad, large- scale attack against American interests and those attacks were imminent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAMOND: And that, to sum it up, really is the message from this administration. We didn't know when, where, specifically. But, at the same time, we insist that this was an imminent threat. And, of course, this isn't just a matter of transparency or better understanding how this strike took place. It's matter of the legal justification behind the strike, because the administration is hinging this on the fact that this was an imminent threat. And that's why it was able to act unilaterally without consulting Congress.

At the same time, we're also hearing from the president of the United States about protests in Iran. The President tweeting to the brave, long-suffering people of Iran, I've stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my administration will continue to stand with you. He says he's following their protests closely and is inspired by their courage -- Ana.

CABRERA: Jeremy Diamond at the White House for us. Thank you.

Now, something you will only see here on CNN. An up-close look at the air base in Iraq where U.S. troops rode out two hours of missile strikes and explosions this past week. It was Iran's retaliation for the U.S.-ordered killing of their top general.

CNN's Arwa Damon is the only journalist allowed access to the wreckage left by those missile strikes.

[17:05:03]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: These were living quarters, sleeping quarters. The troops that lived here lost everything. There was very little, if anything, that was salvageable, because there was also a fire that ended up raging here for a few hours after the missile impacted in this particular area.

The reason why no one was killed, not here, not in any of the other locations of impact, is because there was advanced warning. We don't know what. We don't know how. That is very sensitive information. But we are told that hours before the attack even began, they knew something was happening. They just did not know, specifically, what it was going to be. So, precautions were taken.

By 11:00 p.m., troops who could hunker down were hunkered down in bunkers. Some of them in Saddam here are bunkers. Others who had to man their posts, because of the security situation, they were still out there. And then, the strikes began at about 1:34 in morning. This the crater left behind by one of them.

There are so many stories that we're hearing of heroic, so many stories that we're hearing of, really, extraordinary close calls. Those who lived through this say that it's clear that Iran wasn't that concerned with trying to save U.S. lives. A lot of these impacts did happen in places where they could, potentially, have caused significant U.S. casualties. And this is Lieutenant Colonial Staci Coleman. We've been speaking all day. And, I mean, you were telling us what was that night like? How do you even begin to describe it?

LT. COL. STACI COLEMAN, U.S. AIR FORCE: It's very hard to describe it. I will tell you, it was extremely scary. Some of my team and myself were hunkered down in one of those bunkers. And when the first wave started hitting, you could feel the shock wave. And even inside the bunker, the pressure was so strong that we watched our bunker door sink in towards the inside of the bunker and then escape back out.

About seven of the impacts were in very close proximity to where we were hunkered down. And, like I said, you could feel every last one of the shock waves. It was extremely scary.

DAMON: And very lucky or was it the training, the precautions that were taken that there were no U.S. casualties?

COLEMAN: I'd say it was all of that. I'd say it was a combination of God looking out for us. It was a combination of, you know, the little bit of intel and advance warning that we got. And then, it was the smart commanders on the ground, making on-spot decisions to get people out of harm's way.

DAMON: And how do you begin to describe, I mean, what this was like? And then, of course, what kind of security precautions you're having to take now, given this situation?

COLEMAN: This was, like I said, we knew something was happening but we didn't know exactly what. As the time grew closer, we kind of felt we had an indication of what it might be but we still weren't certain. So, we had advanced warning that there may be some rockets, followed by a base incursion. And so, we had to keep our security forces out to make sure that we were safe from that.

So, there were a good number of folks out along the perimeter and within the airfield keeping it secure.

DAMON: Out there on the perimeter keeping it secure, while these missiles were coming in?

COLEMAN: Yes. They were outside, during every last one of the missile strikes.

DAMON: Well, it would seem that it was very fortunate. And, also, as we've been saying, because of this advanced warning that exist, because of these precautions that were taken, there is the sense that while this phase of what is unfolding has concluded, everyone here is still very much on high alert. Arwa Damon, CNN, Al-Asad Air Base, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Arwa, thank you so much for that access and that reporting.

Joining us now, former Marine Captain, Senior Fellow at Defense Priorities, Gil Barndollar. And also here, Iran expert, Karim Sadjadpour. He is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Captain, I just want to go back to Tuesday night. It was an uncertain time. The U.S. and Iran on the brink of war. Iran says it was a mistake, thinking that they shot down a cruise missile, when, instead, it was a passenger commercial air flight. Is this indicative of just how close the situation could have spiraled out of control the ramifications of Iran counter striking against America?

GIL BARNDOLLAR, FORMER U.S. MARINE CAPTAIN: Yes, I think this is -- I think this is pretty straightforward. I mean, it was incompetence by the Iranian air defense forces getting jittery at -- you know, at a time of high tensions.

[17:10:04]

And shortly after -- a few hours after the missile strikes. I think that is what it is and they've now admitted it and dropped the pretense it was something else.

But it -- certainly, it shows you what the outcome of ten -- of these tensions are of this escalation to the brink of war. We can call it a state of war if we want, but, obviously, it's not a full-blown shooting war. So, if anything escalates further, we're going to see this and far worse, certainly.

CABRERA: Karim, what will the geopolitical ramifications be for Iran, after they've now admitted to shooting down a civilian airplane with 176 people on board? People from Iran, people from Ukraine, people from Canada and other countries.

KARIM SADJADPOUR, SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: Well, the Iranian regime has had an incredible change of fortune, because, last week, there were hundreds of thousands of people protesting on their behalf in solidarity with the assassination of Qasem Soleimani. Today, after the announcement that Iran was, indeed, responsible for the bringing down of that passenger plane and killing 176 people, there are now 10s of thousands of people protesting throughout Iran.

And I think the strategic implication is that it may constrain Iran's ability to avenge Soleimani's killing and retaliate against the United States, because they have lost popular support. And people in Iran are really tired of the cycle of violence and retribution, because they realize that they, often times, pay the highest price for it.

CABRERA: Gil, right -- or Captain, I should say. Right about that time, multiple airplanes took off from that same airport in Tehran. So, I mean, it's interesting that those flights were not impacted. How plausible is it that this 737 800 could have been mistaken for a cruise missile when others were not?

BARNDOLLAR: Oh, I think it's plausible. I mean, the Iranian forces, you know these are probably conscripts that, at their dispense, falls under the IRGC. But that doesn't mean it's an elite force, by any stretch. I think it's totally plausible that it was a mistake. I wouldn't put, you know, a broader conspiracy theory around it or anything like that. I think -- I think it, kind of, is what it is, at this stage.

CABRERA: Karim, you mentioned how, in the wake of the killing of General Soleimani, we saw, you know, so many scenes, like this, of thousands of protesters outraged and mourning throughout Iran. And then, today, following Iran's admitting it downed that Ukrainian airliner, CNN obtained video of the thousands of anti-government protesters now in front of the former American embassy in Tehran.

Who are these people and is either side more indicative of the Iranian people at large? SADJADPOUR: Well, Iran is a polarized society, Ana. But I think, for

many of your viewers, what's important to note, if you've never lived under an authoritarian regime, it's easy for authoritarian regimes to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people. You're incentivizing people to go out. Often times, you're coercing them. And, certainly, there was -- there was genuine popular solidarity when Qasem Soleimani was killed.

But the anti-government protesters are really risking their lives and their livelihoods by going out into the streets. So, I think, in many ways, 10s of thousands of people protesting against a government, against an authoritarian regime is, often, times, more noteworthy than a regime mobilizing hundreds of thousands of people on its behalf.

CABRERA: Karim Sadjadpour and Captain Barndollar, great to have you both here. Thank you for taking the time.

BARNDOLLAR: Good talking to you. Thanks.

SADJADPOUR: Thank you.

CABRERA: From the brink of war, now to America's longest war. Two U.S. Service members were killed in Afghanistan after their armored vehicle hit a roadside bomb. This happened in the southern province of Kandahar. Two other American troops were injured, we are told. The military members have not been identified but officials say they were conducting operations for NATO's resolute support mission.

Last year, was the deadliest in five years for the U.S. in Afghanistan; 23 service members were killed in 2019 during operations in that country.

Senator Susan Collins says she's working with some of her Republican colleagues to include witnesses in the upcoming Senate impeachment trial. So, is the president's GOP line of defense cracking? That's next.

[17:14:19]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: Here's what we know this Saturday about where the impeachment of President Trump goes next. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is preparing to send the articles to the Senate next week, after a stalemate that began the week before Christmas. But, even if that happens, this trial might not start until January 21st. And, yet, just as it looked like Democrats would get nothing for their delay, Republican Senator Susan Collins now says she's working with some of her GOP colleagues to see if there can be an agreement for the House and the president's lawyers to call witnesses.

But one of the president's most ardent supporters, Sean Hannity, over at Fox, is trying stop any talk of that by suggesting he'll give out GOP's phone numbers if they consider the idea. A vote to call witnesses would only require a simple majority in the Senate. That means just four Republicans need to vote with Democrats. Let's discuss now with CNN Political Commentator S.E. Cupp, whose program "UNFILTERED" follows us at the top of the hour. And CNN Political Commentator, and former Clinton White House aide, Keith Boykin. S.E., who do you think those four Republican senators could be?

S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, obviously -- I think, obviously, you've got to look at -- you've got to look at Susan Collins.

CABRERA: Number one.

CUPP: You could think maybe Mitt Romney would be open to this. As I've said before, he's got the longest runway. He's not up until 2024. A lot of these other guys are up in 2020. So, he's got some time, if there's going to be payback to, maybe, recover from it. You could look at Cory Gardner. You could look at Lisa Murkowski.

CABRERA: Because they're in purple states, essentially.

CUPP: Well, yes, I mean, Alaska's a red state. But, yes, their -- they can --

CABRERA: States that have shown support.

[17:20:00]

CUPP: -- they can take a risk. They can take a risk, potentially. And they might want to take that risk. So, I'm sure she's talking to those guys plus some others. I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that she could get four.

CABRERA: OK. So, you think there will be witnesses?

CUPP: There might. There might. It's not -- it's not impossible.

CABRERA: And what do you think, Keith, about this precedent that has never, really, taken place, that there's no witness at an impeachment trial? We know the president and Republicans want this wrapped up quickly, especially his allies. They want it done by the State of the Union. That's February 4th. They want it to be an opportunity for him to, sort of, take a victory lap and tout his acquittal in the Senate. That's not long. Do you think that's realistic that it's going to be done by then?

KEITH BOYKIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, there have been 15 impeachment trials in the U.S. Senate in the history of the Senate. Two of them involved U.S. presidents. In the U.S. Senate trial of Bill Clinton, there were three witnesses. In the trial of Andrew Johnson, there were 41 witnesses. We've had 55 witnesses in impeachment hearings and impeachment trials for judges before.

So, the idea that you're going to actually have an impeachment trial for the president of the United States, and the president claims he's innocent, and he said previously that he's willing to have witnesses come in favor and testify for him in the Senate trial. And then, you get to the Senate trial and, suddenly, we don't want any witnesses. And we don't want nobody to contradict what we already believe.

I don't think that's going to fly with the American people. The American people want some sort of honesty about this. And if you're innocent, why don't you want people do come and testify and say you're innocent? These are the people who have direct knowledge of the facts of the case. If he did nothing wrong, let mem come forward and say he did nothing wrong.

CABRERA: Do you think this will be wrapped up by the State of the Union? Is that realistic, S.E.?

CUPP: I don't know but it just really, I think, clarifies how political this is on both sides. As you said, Trump and the administration want to be able to do a public victory lap at the State of the Union in the House of Representatives and say, I was exonerated. But our CNN reporting from Jeff Zeleny also shows that Nancy Pelosi was thinking about the State of the Union and wanting to get the trial to happen through the State of the Union so that it was, kind of, hanging over him as he addressed the American people.

So, you know, there's real things at stake here for the American people. And I am not surprised that so many of them see impeachment as a political maneuver, as theater, because both sides are playing it.

CABRERA: Let's talk more about witnesses, because here is President Trump when he was asked about the potential for John Bolton, his former national security adviser, to testify. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You can't be in the White House as president -- in the future. I'm talking about future, many future presidents, and have a security adviser -- anybody having to do with security, and legal and other things.

INGRAHAM: You're going to invoke executive privilege?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I think you have to, for the sake of the office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Why are you laughing?

CUPP: For the sake of the office? How about holding a press briefing? How about doing anything for the sake of the office or to respect the office of the presidency? This president has shot through every convention, every orthodoxy, every institution that democracies hold dear, to protect and promote and push his own agenda, which is himself. So, for the sake of the office is the height of irony and hypocrisy.

CABRERA: Keith, over, under, John Bolton testifies at all.

BOYKIN: I can't imagine you could have a fair hearing without having John Bolton testify. I mean, even Joe Manchin, who is a moderate conservative, Democratic Senator from West Virginia.

CABRERA: But the president says he could claim executive privilege. Wouldn't that just get caught up in the courts?

BOYKIN: Well, I mean, we could litigate this forever. But, at some point, you've got to make a decision. Did the guy -- did President Trump do anything wrong or not? And if he claims he did nothing wrong, then why not have witnesses? Why not have John Bolton testify?

He's no longer a member of the administration. He has every right to come and testify. It's questionable whether Trump could even stop him from testifying, considering he doesn't, necessarily, have to reveal or disclose anything that might be classified information or divulge anything that might violate executive privilege.

But if you really believe -- and, again, I go back to this. In December, Donald Trump said in early December, he wanted witnesses to testify. He wanted Pompeo and Mick Mulvaney and others to testify in the Senate where he said it would be fair. Mitch McConnell runs the Senate. He's got his own party in charge. Is he afraid that Mitch McConnell is going to set him up or something? Why won't the president of the United States allow his own people to come and testify to his own party?

CUPP: But I don't think it's him. I think it's Mitch McConnell. I think Mitch McConnell knows better than to let witnesses come in. Trump doesn't think he did anything wrong, so he thinks any witness that's going to come in is going to amplify that he did the right thing. Mitch McConnell knows better. Mitch McConnell knows no witness will be good for him.

[17:25:00]

CABRERA: That's so interesting you brought in Mitch McConnell because --

BOYKIN: With that said, he's guilty then.

CUPP: Yes.

CABRERA: -- and I know that we've got to cut this off. But, really quick, though, because you bring up Mitch McConnell. And while you listed a bunch of senators who may not be, necessarily, loyal to the president. Aren't they loyal to Mitch McConnell?

CUPP: We're about to find out.

(CROSSTALK)

CUPP: I mean, that is the -- that is the push and pull. That is the battle between Trump and McConnell. And some senators, I bet, are betting that McConnell will be there longer than Trump. We'll have to see.

BOYKIN: But what happened to being loyal to the Constitution and the United States of America? Why do you have to pick between being loyal to one Republican operative, Mitch McConnell? Or another Republican operative, Donald Trump? Why not be loyal to your country?

CUPP: Politics.

CABRERA: Sure.

BOYKIN: The party of national beliefs and family values and patriotism and all these other things. And they don't even seem to care about this. And whatever happened to that? Let's be loyal to America, not loyal to Donald Trump or Mitch McConnell.

CABRERA: Keith Boykin, S.E. Cupp, you guy always have a great spirited discussion. And I always appreciate that. Thank you. And make sure to watch S.E.'s show, "S.E. CUPP UNFILTERED." She'll bring it there, too. It's under an hour, right here on CNN.

A new CNN poll shows the top 2020 candidates locked in a tight race for that crucial state of Iowa. And this says some of them have to exit the campaign, at least the campaign trail, to serve as jurors in Trump's impeachment trial. We'll have details, next.

[17:26:20]

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[17:30:45]

CABRERA: Just three days left until the Democratic nominees come face- to-face in Iowa right here on CNN. The debate serves as the final chance to sway voters in the state.

With just over three weeks until votes are cast, a new poll is giving us a fresh look at how tight the race has become. Senator Bernie Sanders at 20 percent. Senator Elizabeth Warren at 17 percent. Major Pete Buttigieg at 16 percent. And former Vice President Joe Biden at 15 percent.

Keep in mind, the margin of error is 3.7 percent. We have four candidates in the top tier.

CNN's Jessica Dean is in Las Vegas, where Biden is set to appear in an hour or so.

Jessica, how is the Biden camp feeling about his position right now in Iowa?

JESSICA DEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ana the Biden campaign will tell you. and they have said over the last period of months, look, the polls will do what they do. They will go up. They will go down. We're going to focus on running the race we want to run. That's been their message from the beginning.

They wanted to keep their eye on Joe Biden and the message he wanted to deliver. To that end, they say they have seen the candidates go up and down. They have seen Warren surge and come back down. Buttigieg come back up and down. They want to keep looking forward. They want to keep putting out their

message that Joe Biden is ready the go on day one. He's the person that can assume the office of the presidency and be ready to go on that very first day.

While he's in Nevada doing some outreach at this Latino event, he has his surrogates on the ground. John Kerry is there campaigning on behalf of Joe Biden. Selling that message, with all that's going on in Iran, that Joe Biden knows the foreign leaders, he knows foreign policy, and he's ready to go and ready to be president -- Ana?

CABRERA: Jessica Dean, keep us posted on what happens there. Thank you.

Millions around the country are preparing for dangerous weather. A tornado has already impacted parts of the south. Flooding rain, ice storms are moving across the country. Details on where those storms are headed, next.

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[17:37:04]

CABRERA: Puerto Rico today hit by another earthquake. This packing a 5.9 magnitude. It follows Tuesday's bigger 6.4 earthquake. It killed at least one person, destroyed homes and left most of the island without power.

Today, Puerto Rico's governor announced she sent a letter requesting FEMA emergency aids. Listen to this. Puerto Rico has experienced more than 500 quakes just since December 28th. Officials say more than 6,000 people are now staying in shelters.

Meantime, eight people are dead and 80 million are at risk from the extreme weather that's tearing through the U.S. Meteorologists are calling it a triple-threat storm packing tornadoes, heavy snow and torrential rain.

CNN Meteorologist Karen Maginnis is tracking it for us.

Karen, what parts of the country are threatened most?

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: The world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson is experiencing these big storms rolling through. If you're watching from the airport, this is the reason why you're not moving.

There's a traffic management program in effect meaning they are waiting for the weather. They are waiting for traffic that's been snarled elsewhere. As this funnel system moves through -- we know it happened pretty quickly. This will move in and out but you'll have traffic flow delays.

We have severe thunderstorm warning out up and down this frontal system marching towards the east. Not just across Atlanta. We have big storms rumbling across Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. This is where we've seen some storm damage.

In Memphis, storm damage there. Not tornado damage. These were high wind reports. We also had the high winds being reported across Oklahoma and Texas.

Once the front moves through, those temperatures are dramatically colder behind it. Look at the storms rumbling across the region in the vicinity of Knoxville and towards North Carolina.

Back side, this is where we have real problems. This right around Grand Rapids could see some icing. That may produce some power outages and very dangerous road conditions. We have power outages to the tune of almost 400,000 people in about seven states.

Temperatures ahead of this system 60s, and 70s. More indicative of a springtime pattern. Ana, Kansas City is 18 degrees. This shows you just how dramatic this particular weather system is.

CABRERA: It's like the definition of wild weather.

Karen Maginnis, thank you very much.

Everybody, please stay safe out there.

Three weeks until Iowa. And three days until the final debate before the voting begins. A CNN/"Des Moines Register" poll out of Iowa finds that Senator Bernie Sanders is on the rise in what is now a close four-way race in that state. Sanders has 20 percent. Warren at 17 percent. Buttigieg at 16 percent. And Biden at 15 percent.

Joining us for analysis, CNN Political Commentator and Democratic Strategist, Maria Cardona, and Charles Blow, also a CNN political commentator and op-ed columnist for the "New York Times".

Good to see you guys.

CHARLES BLOW, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Thank you.

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Hey. How are you?

[17:40:04]

CABRERA: Great.

I'll start with you, Maria.

Half of the top contenders in that CNN/Iowa poll could be jurors at an impeach trial in a lead up to the caucuses. Who does that hurt the most?

CARDONA: I think what you'll see is, regardless of what happens with the impeachment proceedings, you'll see these Democrats focus on the race.

As long as they can focus on the race, continue talking to voters about what they would do about their vision for the country and how different any of them would be to the unfit, unqualified president we have now, and then when they are called to serve as jurors during the impeachment proceeding, they will have that call to their service and do the best they can.

CABRERA: The logistics would be challenging.

CARDONA: No question.

CABRERA: Bernie Sanders putting ideas to join him in chartering a flight to go in the evening, do a quick event, and get back to Washington hours later.

CARDONA: Sure.

(CROSSTALK)

CABRERA: Do you think that's what we'll see happen?

CARDONA: I think you'll see a lot of creativity, especially from the four Senators taken off the campaign trail. That's the nature of a campaign. You never know what will happen. You've got to be ready for anything and everything and especially with what they are facing now.

They can't not come to Washington to serve as jurors because clearly they've made that a priority as well, given what we're facing with this man in the Oval Office.

I think you'll see creativity. I think you will find they will find way to continue talking to voters about their vision for the country.

CABRERA: Right, that connection with voters is what's so crucial at this time.

Charles, I want to ask about another poll and some more information that's out there from the "Washington Post". It shows Joe Biden is the preferred choice of black Democratic voters nationwide. He maintains huge support, 38 percent. What do you attribute that huge lead to?

BLOW: I think that Biden's loyalty to Obama still carries a tremendous amount of weight.

When I talk to black voters, small sampling, clearly, but they say things like he seems down to earth. It's personal. It's a personal relationship that they feel, like they have with this candidate or this person who can identify with their struggle. He seems like an everyday kind of guy.

There's something about the combination of the Obama connection and this kind of everyday man sensibilities around Biden that is attractive to a group of black voters.

The interesting thing though is whether or not Biden is attractive to the most active and black vocals. You could have a big -- a support among older people but they are not going to canvas and knock on doors. They don't have the energy.

(CROSSTALK)

CABRERA: Isn't it the older voter more reliable to turn out to vote?

BLOW: Right. But the problem is you also need legs on the ground in the black community. Who is going to go out and canvas? Who will make the radio appearances in the local market? Who will make the television appearance in the local market? Who will make the noise on social media?

I'm not exactly sure the enthusiasm around Joe Biden is there among that group of people. I think you do need that. That's what the marker of enthusiasm looked like.

If it's coasting, and I'm going to vote for him because I feel like he's a friend of Obama, that's not the same as enthusiasm. I think he has a hurdle there many that regard.

CABRERA: Maria, money can't buy you love but it sure buys you eyeballs, and it looks like support. We have California entrepreneur, Tom Steyer, shooting up to double digits in Nevada and California.

He has spent tens of millions on ads in the states. With these part- time spikes in the polls, he qualifies for the next debate, when Booker and Yang haven't qualified. Are you surprised?

CARDONA: Yes and no. Yes because it clearly is -- you would think it's also a matter of having this relationship with voters that Charles talks about, which is incredibly important.

But money does buy you airtime. And airtime can be incredibly effective, especially when you've had the time and the run up to the campaign that Tom Steyer has had.

This is a man that before he jumped into the presidential campaign, he was running an impeachment campaign for two years. Remember all of those ads about Trump across the air wave, across the country? I think in all 50 states these ads were airing and digitally as well.

I think he is taking advantage of that. I think you have voters that remember him from that and all of that counts.

[17:45:03]

I think, at the end of the day, however, you're going to have to see whether he has made that personal connection with voters. Eyeballs is one thing but to have voters give you their trust with their vote is something completely different.

He clearly has done what he needs to do in Nevada and South Carolina. You have to give him kudos for that. I think you still cannot take away the importance of that personal relationship with voters.

CABRERA: Maria Cardona and Charles Blow, thank you both for being here.

Charles, I owe you a question next go around. We're out of time today. Thanks guys.

CARDONA: Thanks, Ana.

CABRERA: Make sure you tune in Tuesday night. The last debate before the first vote. The top Democrats head to Iowa for a live CNN presidential town hall -- I should say, debate, in partnership with the "Des Moines Register." That's Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

We'll be right back.

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[17:50:35]

CABRERA: Fast, don't even think, for $10,000, could you name Popeyes's favorite food.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED "JEOPARDY!" HOST: One question, one answer. Whoever gets it, you are playing for $10,000. Name Popeye's favorite food?

UNIDENTIFIED CONTESTANT: Chicken. Oh, my god.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED CONTESTANT: Oh, my god.

UNIDENTIFIED "JEOPARDY!" HOST: Show me chicken.

(LAUGHTER)

Spinach.

(CHEERING)

UNIDENTIFIED "JEOPARDY!" HOST: Show me spinach.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Spinach. Of course, it's spinach. But don't feel too bad, even though not knowing Popeye the sailor loved spinach cost her $10,000, because Popeye's, the fast-food chain, is giving her $10,000 in free food.

Who will win the greatest title of all time in "Jeopardy!" and $1 million in prize money? Time will tell. It's the ultimate of tournament champions. Three of the show's best players are fighting for that title. The first to win three matches will take it all and greatest of all-time bragging rights.

"Jeopardy!'s" Alex Trebek laid out how it's gone so far.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ALEX TREBEK, HOST, "JEOPARDY!": Ken Jennings got us off to a great start on Tuesday evening, winning a close one by 200 points. Yesterday, James came on strong and won handily.

Perhaps that is well for Brad. Today might be the brad he gets to make the big move to put himself in to prime contention for that $1 million first place prize.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Joining us now is Brad Rutter, one of the three contestants.

Brad, you hold the title for the most money won on "Jeopardy!" and there's no winner yet. But so far, as far as we know, you are not on the scoreboard. Were you surprised to get to game three and have no victories?

BRAD RUTTER, "JEOPARDY!" CONTESTANT: Yes, and no. Ken and James are obviously awesome, so it was going to be tough sledding no matter what. Yes, I was probably a little surprised to get shutout through the first three.

CABRERA: I want you to listen to what you told me back in May during Holzhauer's epic run.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: I bet you would love a shot to go up against him?

RUTTER: Sure, I would like my chances against anybody.

CABRERA: Do you think you can beat him?

RUTTER: Yes, like I said, I like my chances against anybody. I'm not, you are not going to get to talk trash on him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: No trash talking. Will you the today? Are you feeling as confident as you did then?

RUTTER: I would not say quite as confident. But, I think it was Ken I had to be worried about.

CABRERA: Talk to me about what it's been like just, you know, in the room, and the pressure and have you ever felt the same kind of pressure that you felt up against those other players?

RUTTER: It's weird, there's that pressure because they are so good. But also, you know, we are having fun up there. We have all been there a ton. The more you are on the show, it's strange. The less appreciate -- the less pressure. Though there was a lot of pressure, we relaxed and tried to have a good time with it.

CABRERA: You are going up against anybody who is as good as you, have the other titles of sorts. Did you change your strategy at all in or have you made adjustments along the way?

RUTTER: I didn't, but, hey, maybe I should have.

CABRERA: We don't want to give anything away, there's more to come in the episodes, and they were taped.

RUTTER: That is true. I have plenty of time to come back.

CABRERA: You do, you could make a comeback. And the ratings have been bonkers. They are still rising. More than 15 million people tuned in for the last match on Thursday. That is more people than watched the first five games of last year's NBA finals, the world series. Are you surprised at the interest?

RUTTER: I'm surprised at the ratings and not the interest. "Jeopardy!" is an institution. And in the social-media age, you see viral clips all the time.

The first one I remember was when the contestants had no idea about the baseball category and Alex was getting snarky with them, that's the number I saw, the 18-24 was just out of this world. That I could not believe that.

There's sort of this stereotype that "Jeopardy!" is for your grandparents but it's not true anymore.

CABRERA: It's mainstream, brother.

I have to ask you, because you mention Alex Trebek, and we have been following for a while now his battle with pancreatic cancer, who you-- how is he doing?

[17:55:06]

RUTTER: I saw him on Wednesday and he was feeling great. He said he was feeling great. He says he has good and bad days.

I think this was -- I think this helped him out a lot. I think the job does. Because, you often hear athletes say, if they go through tough things, the field or court is a sanctuary for them. And it's the same for him. It's what he does. He has been doing it for 35 years. He is the best at it. And he can take his mind off of everything that is going on and focus on hosting the show.

And of course, all the love and support he has received from around the world has helped him immensely, too.

CABRERA: So much love out there for sure.

Brad Rutter, good luck to you as the tournament continues. Thank you for being here.

RUTTER: Don't call it a comeback, Ana.

CABRERA: All right. Still there, right?

I'm Ana Cabrera, in New York. I will see you one hour from now.

My colleague, S.E. Cupp, continues our coverage of today's news after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)