Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Scientists Design White Paint To Cool Temperatures; Biden Raised $72 Million In First Quarter Of Fundraising; New Barbie Movie Could Boost Slumping Sales. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired July 14, 2023 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

MELANIE ZANONA, CNN CAPITOL HILL REPORTER: He voted for it in committee. In fact, this bill went out of committee with a 59-1 vote. Almost every single lawmaker from both parties voted it in committee, to now where you have a nearly party-line vote where just four Democrats voted for it, four Republicans voted against it. So that's the dynamic that we are confronting here in the House. And there's no signs that it's going to be any better in the Senate. They'll come up with their own products and then they're going to have to come together and figure out what, if anything, they can agree on in the House.

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN HOST: Melanie Zanona, live for us on Capitol Hill. Thank you, Melanie -- Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Still to come, Messi mania is at full speed. How Miami fans reacted to seeing the football legend -- soccer legend for Americans -- at a restaurant, and at the supermarket. Stay with us.

[15:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: We are watching as more than a third of the country is bracing for even more extreme heat this weekend with temperatures soaring well into the triple digits coast to coast. The priority for millions of Americans is finding ways to keep cool and to stay safe. A jug of white paint, the world's whitest paint may actually be the answer. A group of scientists have created a type of white paint they say that can cool surface temperatures -- actually cool it -- and in turn ease global warming. Xiulin Ruan is one of the scientific minds behind this very interesting phenomenon. He is a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University and he's with us now. Thank you so much for talking about this invention. Can you just explain to us how it works first?

XIULIN RUAN, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROFESSOR, PURDUE UNIVERSITY: Sure. You know, I'm showing you one from Purdue. And the paint works in a way flat and reflects up to 98 percent, which means that almost does not absorb any of the solar heat. Just like a human body, the paint emits heat to the deep space. So what there happens is that the absorbed heat from the sun is much less than the heat emitted by the surface. So, you see we lose more heat than gaining heat from the sun. So, it can cool the load ambient temperature. You get free refrigeration basically.

KEILAR: So it can actually cool whatever it is on, right? So if you had it on a house or something. Can you explain what you would paint in order to use those cooling properties inside of, saying, a building or whatnot?

RUAN: Yes, it can be applied to any surfaces outdoor that you can cool, for example, the kind of the first thing that comes to our mind would be the building. If you paint the roof, it will like just sends back the sun rays to deep space and then lose heat. Of course, we've got many other potential applications like the automobiles. We have car companies who are actually interested in it. And other infrastructures, even like curb sides of roads, you can cool them and, you know, you can reduce the heat and the impact also for a city.

KEILAR: OK, so I want to ask you, because I did see one clip on PBS where it said it took 18 hours to make enough of this paint to cover a 3 by 3-inch square. That really the issue here being that main material that is so essential to this paint that you use, it has to be mined. And so, is this a long-term solution, the time, the mining, the potential carbon footprint from the mining?

RUAN: Actually I want to clarify this time data, is that we still have a way time. Not really that humans need to spend that much time. So, we need to kind of makes the paint for about an hour or so. It's actually the human is similar with the other commercial paints. And the mining right now, yes, indeed it's like a commercial TR2 based paints that need to be mined, but the barium sulfate is very abundant.

I will say now that this is a solution that we can use together with other solutions to help cool down our cities and our earth. It's not the only solution. And it can be one of the long-term solutions together with others.

KEILAR: So, and also, I read that there was one expert saying that if you painted one percent to two percent of the earth with this paint you would actually see surface temperatures not rise. Can you explain how that would work?

RUAN: Sure. So because our paint can reduce the heating by 100 watts per meter square -- that's a meaconing power -- now our earth's temperature is going up, because the average heats up by one watt per meter square. So that's why, you know, when we apply about one percent or two percent of the earth's surface it can totally offset the heating experience right now and bring kind of the earth to stop warming up anymore. I think this is my colleague professor Jeremy Munday at the University of California Davis. Yes, it can directly cool down the earth. That's the amazing part of it.

KEILAR: OK, and last question -- when can we buy it?

RUAN: Well, you know we've been making good progress over the last few years, you know, doing further development to make the paints ready for market. Some of the issues we've already solved, other issues like how to make it and how soon, we are still being working on and we're making good progress.

[15:40:00]

I would say it probably will take at least another year before we can really push to market. But it takes time, you know, for any product from the lab to market, so please be patient. Thank you.

KEILAR: Well, thank you so much for being with us. It's really interesting just to see the ingenuity that you are applying to this problem that we're certainly feeling very much right now. Professor Xiulin Ruan, we appreciate your time this afternoon.

RUAN: Thank you very much too, Brianna.

KEILAR: Rahel.

SOLOMON: And Brianna, from white paint to pink and lots of pink. Coming up, she is a fashion icon, a movie star, and yes, a toy. I think you know who we're talking about. Barbie, ready to make her comeback after years of slumping sales. How one of the world's most iconic dolls is planning to put it off. Coming up next.

[15:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOLOMON: Welcome back. President Biden's campaign just announced a significant fundraising haul. The president raised $72 million in his first quarter, since launching his reelection bid back in April. This fundraising total is more than any other 2024 presidential contender. CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us now from the White House. So Jeremy, how are these numbers being viewed within the Democratic Party?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT Well Rahel, I think the best way to put it is that it's certainly going to quell some of that anxiety among Democratic fundraisers and party strategists that we've seen about questions about a lack of enthusiasm for the president. But it's not the kind of blockbuster number that's going to put those concerns to bed altogether. And that's because $72 million is certainly a substantial haul for President Biden.

As you mentioned, it's more than any of the other 2024 contenders have raised. That being said, those Republican contenders are vying for the same kind of Republican donor pool, so they aren't expected to match up exactly with President Biden. But where this stacks up, you look back to President Obama in 2011 when he launched his reelection campaign, a few weeks before President Biden along the same quarterly cycle, he raised $86 million. And since then, of course, contribution limits have increased.

That being said, the Biden campaign officials are pointing to the fact that the Obama had a three-week head start on the fundraising, and they say that day per bay the Biden campaign actually raised more per day.

Now how do these donations actually break down? Nearly 400,000 individuals donated to Biden's reelection campaign, and the Democratic National Convention's joint fundraising committee $39 average donation, 97 percent of those donations were under $200. That 400,000 number and put in context also compared to Obama in 2011, he had 550,000 individual donors to his campaign.

Campaign officials that I spoke with today say that the grassroots fundraising environment is very different now compared to them. There's certainly been some fatigue across the political spectrum. But nonetheless they point to some signs that their grassroots is getting off the ground. And one of those numbers is the fact that 30 percent of the donors to the president's election this cycle -- this quarterly cycle -- they are new donors. They did not previously donate 2020. And they certainly say that that's a positive sign for how things are going to go going forward -- Rahel.

SOLOMON: The president may feel pretty positive heading into the weekend, especially coming from Lithuania and a visit there with NATO, and everything that happened with Turkey and Sweden. Jeremy Diamond at the White House for us. Thank you, Jeremy -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Well some other headlines that we are watching this hour.

The Biden administration trying again when it comes to student loan debt relief. The new plan would cut monthly payments to zero for millions of borrowers who make $32,800 or less and save other borrowers at least $1,000 per year. The White House estimates that this new plan could affect more than 800,000 borrowers.

Also, an extreme heat wave in Greece has forced officials to briefly close the Acropolis of Athens, home to the Parthenon temple. According to the Greek meteorological service, temperatures are expected to peak at nearly 180 degrees Fahrenheit in Athens over the weekend \.

And international soccer legends or football, they are just like us. Newly minted Miamian, Lionel Messi has been captured on cell phone video doing all kinds of things, leaving restaurants, grocery shopping even with his family around South Florida. The 36-year-old World Cup winner arrived in America on Tuesday. Messi is expected to make his debut for Inter Miami on July 21 -- Rahel.

SOLOMON: Grocery shopping. I'm wondering if this where Boris Sanchez is. If he is, can Miami be safe? Thank you, Brianna.

Well after decades as one of the top toys around the globe, next week Barbie steps into the big screen. And on to the big screen. This live action movie hits theaters next week, and it could bring a big boost to the iconic brand which has seen a bit of a sales slump in recent years. CNN's business and politics correspondent Vanessa Yurkevich joins us now with more. Vanessa, it's safe to say, Barbie has certainly evolved a lot since her debut in 1959.

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Barbie has been around for 64 years and she's done her fair share of franchising. But nothing quite like is live action movie. Mattel is hoping that this brings back the nostalgia for Barbie fans, and that it also helps brings some Barbie haters. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

YURKEVICH (voice over): "Barbara Millicent Roberts" you know her as Barbie, parents, Mattel born in 1959, but doesn't look a day over 19.

[15:50:00]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone had a Barbie, and it was the thing to have a Barbie.

YURKEVICH (voice over): Next week Barbie comes to life in a new movie with an A-list director and actors.

KEN: Hi Barbie.

BARBIE: Hi Ken.

YURKEVICH (voice over): Distributed by CNN's Parent Company, Warner Brothers Discovery.

RICHARD DICKSON, PRESIDENT AND COO, MATTEL: It's an incredibly important milestone for the brand.

YURKEVICH (voice over): Barbie, beloved by girls and boys around the world has had ups and downs.

DICKSON: Back in 2014, 15 we hit a low and it was a moment to reflect in the context of why -- why did Barbie lose relevance? She didn't reflect the physicality, the look, if you will, of the world around us.

YURKEVICH (voice over): Now Barbie, Ken and friends have many different skin tones, shapes and special traits that make them look more like us. But this year's first quarter sales of Mattel slumped down 22 percent from last years.

YURKEVICH: How is Mattel and Barbie viewed as a brand?

KATIE MANCINI, GENERAL MANAGER, LANDOR AND FITCH BRANDING: There's been a lot of decline, and that differentiation and that relevance that keep a brand fresh and top of mind from a purchase perspective. And when that happens, brands go into a place of fatigue.

YURKEVICH (voice over): Mattel hopes this new movie will give them the boost they're looking for.

DICKSON: We also now have the opportunity to reach new ages and stages that ultimately from a business perspective provides huge merchandising and monetization opportunities.

ILENE GAYER, OWNER, HOMBOM TOYS: We are standing in front of Barbie.

YURKEVICH (voice over): At HomBom Toys, owner Ilene Gayer can't keep movie Barbie on the shelf.

GAYER: Within a day they were gone. YURKEVICH: Have you always had Barbie and Ken in -- in store?

GAYER: Absolutely, it's a staple; it's the moms and dads who are more nostalgic than the kids.

YURKEVICH (voice over): But that nostalgia isn't for everyone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know how she's evolved like does she have a college degree now.

YURKEVICH (voice over): The movie that's calculated for that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, BARBIE MOVIE: We haven't had a Barbie since we were like five-year-old.

YURKEVICH (voice over): And for others, you're never too old for Barbie.

CAROL SPENCER, FORMER BARBIE CLOTHING DESIGNER FOR MATTEL: I am 90 years old. Or I should say 90 years young.

YURKEVICH (voice over): Carol Spencer didn't grow up playing with Barbies.

SPENCER: This was my first project.

YURKEVICH (voice over): But Barbie wouldn't be, well, Barbie without her.

SPENCER: I was a designer for the Barbie doll starting in 1963 for over 35 years, and I loved every minute of it.

YURKEVICH (voice over): While Carol helped make Barbie, Barbie helped make Mattel. As other toys have come and gone, Barbie is still strutting.

SPENCER: Barbie really carried Mattel for a great many years. I thought of every child who played with the Barbie doll as my child. So let me tell you, I have a big family. And I love it.

YURKEVICH (voice over): And that is the magic and power of Barbie.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YURKEVICH (on camera): And when Barbie debuted in 1959, she was a teen fashion model. She then went on to be a flight attendant, you also had nurse Barbie. But consumers started saying, hey, wait a minute, why does Barbie only get to have traditionally female careers at the time. And so, then Mattel started to evolve her in more male-dominated careers. So then we saw Air Force Barbie. We saw surgeon Barbie. And then eventually, Rahel and Brianna, we saw reporter Barbie. And then we saw camerawoman Barbie. So Barbie clearly evolving through the years.

But Mattel says, listen, Barbie's a blank canvas. She can be whatever she wants to be. But you know, Barbies have been controversial. People think maybe she's not great for body positivity for women. But you know, girls of all ages and, you know, maybe even me, still have some nostalgia for her.

SOLOMON: You know, Vanessa, it was a great story. But we can always count on you to bring out the props. Vanessa Yurkevich is going to have props in her story.

KEILAR: Because she's -- she's still -- Barbie's still, no matter what career she has, she still has weird feet, Vanessa. Show us -- right? They are shaped -- that's not a normal foot. What, did they get normal?

YURKEVICH: They're a very different place, Brianna. These are a little flatter here. But, yes, a little flatter. But these ones still have the traditional -- the heel.

SOLOMON: Great stuff.

KEILAR: I stand corrected Vanessa Yurkevich.

SOLOMON: Thank you, Vanessa. Great stuff.

KEILAR: All right. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper is going to start in just a moment. First, a CNN hero. Let's get to know her.

[15:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Law enforcement says they have caught a serial killer. "THE LEAD" starts right now.

The suspect is a married father of two and an architect in New York City. And he just made his first court appearance after being charged with the deaths of three women whose bodies were found on a Long Island beach in 2010. We will tell you how a car, burner phones, fake email accounts, and DNA from a piece of pizza led police to the suspect. At any moment authorities are going to give all of us an update.

Then, it's so hot in parts of the United States, temperatures could hit 130 degrees.