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Monarch Shaken by Controversies; Israel headed into a General Election; Gordon Sondland Points a Quid Pro Quo by President Trump; Dying Koala Saved by a Hero; U.S. Democratic Debate; United Kingdom Elections; Conservatives Under Fire For Rebranding Twitter Account; Impeachment Follies, Oddball Moments In Impeachment Hearings; 2020 Grammy Awards; Pope Francis In Thailand. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired November 21, 2019 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. And this is CNN Newsroom.
Britain's Prince Andrew is stepping back from public duties. The latest fallout from his friendship with the convicted sex offender.
Quid pro quo. The U.S. ambassador to the E.U. delivers devastating testimony in the Trump impeachment hearings.
And a standoff in Hong Kong a handful of protesters remain hold up inside a university with no way out as police urged them to surrender.
Good to have you with us.
We begin with the shakeup at Buckingham Palace. Prince Andrew is stepping away from public duties for the foreseeable future following the outcry over his explanation of his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The British royal has been trying to limit the damage to his charitable causes as more corporate backers abandoned him.
CNN's royal correspondent Max Foster joins me now from London. So, Max, what's the latest on this and how will stepping away from his public duties help Prince Andrew?
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Well, he really had no choice. I don't think any of this helps Prince Andrew. This has become about helping the institutions that he was born into. And it's pretty clear that that interview with the BBC at the weekend didn't just expose him, it exposes the wider monarchy.
And the red line was really crossed early in the week where there was a general election debate, and the main contenders, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn were asked whether or not the British monarchy is fit for purpose.
So, the monarchy became part of the election debate, and that meant that this was not just about Prince Andrew, it meant that Prince Andrew's actions had started to damage the monarchy, and that was the red line that he crossed.
And there was a crisis meeting yesterday. The queen was involved, the prince of Wales who's in New Zealand at the moment was involved as well. And the decision was made by him. That's what the statement says at least.
Prince Andrew said that he, he said he would sit back from public duties, effectively resigning from his role. And the queen agreed to it. And it's extraordinary to think that the queen actually agreed to this, because she, you know, in some quarters being seen as her getting him out of public life and accepting his resignation.
So that's a big moment. She could've said no, he says he wants to do the honorable thing, I think that's his message here today.
CHURCH: Right. And there are calls for Prince Andrew to speak to law enforcement. He has said that he will do that if required, that's the critical phase, isn't it? So, where do things stand on that issue?
FOSTER: Well the investigators haven't asked to question him yet. So that's not actually a thing yet. And I think what he is suggesting is that if that is the case then he will answer questions.
But there is pressure from some of the victim's lawyers for him to make some depositions on their behalf in civil cases, for example, and we wonder whether or not he'll start to do that. That's a different kind of question, I think.
But certainly, putting himself out there and saying he will get involved in the investigations. It's important. He's trying to do the best thing now. It was interesting the statement yesterday he really expressed regret for his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. He expressed sympathy for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein.
These were two things which were noticeably absent from his BBC interview and that was his big failure. Now in a statement he's trying to address that but it's simply too little, too late. He is no longer a functioning member of the public royal family. He'll have to give up his public fans because he's not carrying out the public role. So, his career is pretty much over.
What is important now is for the queen and Prince Charles are Prince William to try to rebuild from this. Their very strong position that they were in previous to this.
CHURCH: Yes, we shall watch to see where it all goes from here. Our Max Foster bringing us that live report from London. Many thanks.
[03:04:57]
Well, three more key witnesses testified in the House impeachment inquiry on Wednesday, but the most dramatic testimony came from Gordon Sondland, the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, connecting President Trump directly to the quid pro quo with Ukraine.
Sondland said everyone around President Trump knew he wanted Kiev to announce an investigation that would help him politically, and he even provided investigators with e-mails and the text messages to prove it.
CNN's Sara Murray has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORDON SONDLAND, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION: Was there a quid pro quo? As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and the White House meeting, the answer is yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Gordon Sondland, an ambassador who spoke directly with President Trump testify that the president engaged in a quid pro quo, and everybody knew about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SONDLAND: To Secretary Pompeo, Secretary Perry, I mentioned to Vice President pence before the meetings, with the Ukrainians that I had concerns that the delay in aid had become tied to the issue of investigations.
A lot of people were aware of it and --
(CROSSTALK)
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): Including -- including Mr. Mulvaney?
SONDLAND: Correct. Everyone was in the loop. It was no secret.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: The U.S. Ambassador to the European Union explain that President Trump withheld a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to publicly announce investigations that could boost Trump politically. An effort the president directed through Rudy Giuliani.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SONDLAND: We did not want to work with Mr. Giuliani. Simply put, we were playing the hand we were dealt. Mr. Giuliani was expressing the desires of the President of the United States, and we knew these investigations were important to the president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: Sondland said he quickly concluded military aid was also being held up in exchange for an announcement of investigations into 2016 and Burisma, the Ukrainian company Joe Biden's son served on the board of. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SONDLAND: If he can't get a White House meeting without the statement, what makes you think you're going to get a, you know, $400 million check? Again, that was my presumption.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: But Trump never told Sondland explicitly, a victory for Republicans in otherwise damning testimony for the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE CASTOR, REPUBLICAN COUNSEL: Did the president ever tell you about any pre-conditions for anything?
SONDLAND: No.
CASTOR: OK. So, the president never told you about any pre-conditions for the aid to be released?
SONDLAND: No.
CASTOR: The president never told you about any pre-conditions for a White House meeting?
SONDLAND: Personally, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: Still, Sondland piece it together when security aid remains frozen along with the White House meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANIEL GOLDMAN, DEMOCRATIC COUNSEL: It's this kind of a two plus two equals four conclusion that you reached?
SONDLAND: Pretty much.
GOLDMAN: It's the only logical conclusion to you that given all of these factors that the aid was also a part of this quid pro quo?
SONDLAND: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: Sondland also recounted his colorful conversations with the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOLDMAN: You confirmed to President Trump that you were in Ukraine at the time and that President Zelensky, quote, "loves your ass," unquote. Do you recall saying that? SONDLAND: It sounds like something I would say. That's how President
Trump and I communicate. A lot of four-letter words. In this case, three-letter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: And Trump's claim that there was no quid pro quo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SONDLAND: He seemed very cranky to me. I just said what do you want from Ukraine? I may have even used a four-letter word. And he said I want nothing. I want no quid pro quo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: But even though Trump refused to call it a quid pro quo, Sondland testified Trump was still demanding a public announcement of the investigations before any White House meeting.
He also said no one seems to care whether the Ukrainian president actually carried out the investigations which could undercut the White House claim that Trump was simply trying to fight corruption.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SONDLAND: He had to announce the investigations. He didn't actually have to do them as I understood it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: After lawmakers on both sides of the aisle took shots at Sondland's credibility --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (D-NY): Hold on, sir.
SONDLAND: Excuse me. I've been very forthright and I really resent what you're trying to do.
MALONEY: Fair enough. You've been very forthright this year, third t try to do so, sir. Didn't work so well the first time, did it? We had a little declaration coming after you, do you remember that.
And now we're here the third time and we got a doozy of a statement from you this morning. There's a whole bunch of stuff you don't recall. So, with all due respect, sir, we appreciate your candor but let's be really clear on what it took to get out of you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: They move on to testimony from top State Department official David Hale, and top Pentagon official, Laura Cooper, where Cooper revealed for the first time that the Ukrainians already knew something was up with the first security assistance the same day as Ukrainian President Zelensky's call with Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHIFF: On that day you got inquiries, your staff got inquiries from someone at the Ukrainian embassy who was concerned about the status of the military assistance. Is that correct?
LAURA COOPER, MEMBER, U.S. SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE: Sir, that's correct. I would say that specifically the Ukrainian embassy staff asked what is going on with Ukrainian security assistance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:10:06]
MURRAY: Sarah Murray, CNN, Washington.
CHURCH: And the House impeachment hearings continue Thursday. Our special coverage begins at 7 a.m. Eastern, that is 12 p.m. in London.
Well, Israel could be heading toward its third general election in less a year after opposition leader Benny Gantz failed to form a new government.
Now, lawmakers have 21 days to find a candidate who can master a majority in the Knesset, or an election will automatically be triggered.
CNN's Oren Liebermann joins me now from Jerusalem. Good to see you, Oren. So why was Benny Gantz unable to form a new government, and can a third election be averted at this juncture?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz couldn't form a government for the exact same reason that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu couldn't form a government. Neither of these leaders ever had the numbers.
They were both, for their period, trying to court the kingmaker here, former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman who made his own demands, but crucially said what he wanted was for Gantz and Netanyahu to get together and form a unity government.
But because neither would compromise on their election campaign promises, that unity government never materialized. And the after Netanyahu and Gantz both failed Israel seems inevitably headed for a third election.
There is, as you point out, this 21-day period. During which, any member of the Knesset, including Netanyahu and Gantz could try to form a government if they could get majority support behind them.
But given that it hasn't happened until this point, it seems very unlikely that anything major will shift over the course of the next 21 days to allow this sort of give, the sort of room to maneuver that will allow Israel to form a government. And if that happens, if the clock ticks down in those 21 days, we're looking at an election in March.
CHURCH: So, is there any possible elusive third candidate who could form a majority in the Knesset? Does he or she exist?
LIEBERMANN: There are -- there are some names that will certainly try, that may try to maneuver, but it doesn't seem likely that they'll be able to form a government, that they'll get the necessary support.
For example, one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chief rivals and the Likud might try, but to do would mean essentially backing away from Netanyahu and nobody on the right seems ready to do that just yet, which means we're back to where we started which is an election.
So, it was an election in April, an election in September, and an election likely now in March. And, Rosemary, if that doesn't change anything and it's not certain that it will, we'll talk about an election in September again.
CHURCH: All right. Our Oren Liebermann joining us there from Jerusalem. Many thanks to you.
We'll take a short break here. Still to come, Hong Kong's police are waiting it out, and protesters remaining inside the besiege Polytechnic University must now decide what to do next.
Plus, an appeal for campaign transparency. Why Britain's conservative party is under fire just weeks ahead of the U.K. election.
Back with that in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:15:00]
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Hong Kong's police appeared to be waiting for the standoff with pro-democracy protesters to run its course. About 1,000 demonstrators have left Polytechnic University and were either arrested or turn over to their parents. Police say there are currently no plans to enter the campus.
Anna Coren takes us inside where protesters are running out of options.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After days trapped inside Hong Kong's Polytechnic University, a group of protesters search the campus looking for a way to escape.
As they dash into a doorway, police shine the spotlight. The protesters have been spotted and must come up with a new plan.
Another group make a run for it. But within seconds they are chased down by riot police who have surrounded the campus waiting to arrest anyone who dares escape.
Police have called on all remaining protesters to surrender. Approximately a thousand have turned themselves in, including 300 minors. Among the dozens refusing to leave, is 20-year-old Winnie (Ph). It's not her real name, she's asked us not to reveal her identity. She's physically and mentally exhausted, but won't give up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: Why won't you surrender?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because so many people like me they sacrificed their lives but they will say it doesn't matter because I love Hong Kong. So, I want to stand for them or maybe to support them.
COREN: But within half an hour --
How are you feeling?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am just tired.
COREN: You're tired.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My lawyer is outside waiting. Because --
COREN: Winnie has changed her mind. She's decided to surrender. Her 18-year-old teammate decides to join her but as we start to leave, we come across another protester. Do you want to come?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
COREN: No. You don't want to walk out and surrender?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. No, sir.
COREN: As we walk across the trash campus littered with debris from the siege, Winnie ask me to contact her lawyer, terrified of what will happen next.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maybe you give your phone number to my lawyer. Then my lawyer --
COREN: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- will tell you whether I'm safe.
COREN: All right.
Lawyers, teachers, and social workers have been granted access to the remaining protesters. Many pleading with authorities to be lenient.
LINDA WONG, BARRISTER: They have to understand these are young people. So, no matter what, even though they've done something wrong, even though they think that they should be arrested, I hope the police can be restraint.
COREN: Two other protesters join Winnie and her friend as they are escorted off the university grounds by legal representatives.
Spent and defeated, they navigate the countless bricks, nails, and broken glass littering the road which days ago was ground zero of the Hong Kong protest movement.
[03:20:05]
Police now wait on the other side. After a brief search, they are arrested. Expected to be charged with rioting, an offense that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
A generation of Hong Kong youth, potentially facing a future behind bars.
Anna Coren, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Iran's leaders are claiming victory in the ongoing protests over a hike in gas rises, but it's difficult for the world to assess the situation because the internet blackout imposed by the government remains in place.
Amnesty International believes at least 106 protesters have been killed since Friday. The U.N. is now urging Iran to show restraint and get the internet back online.
Well, Bolivia's interim government proposal a bill on Wednesday that would annul the disputed October 28th election, appoint a new electoral board and prepare the way for another vote.
Earlier this month, Bolivia's former president, Evo Morales stepped down and made anti-government protests following accusations of election fraud.
At least eight people died in clashes with Bolivian security forces, a Morales supporters Tuesday, bringing the number of people killed to at least 31 since the disputed October vote.
Well, a heavy blanket of smoke is raising concern in eastern Australia after dozens of the bush fires have devastated the area. The lingering haze is triggering health warnings as the city braces for extreme heat, and -- but it's not only people who are affected. The wildlife is suffering as well.
More than 350 koalas are believed to have been killed in the fires. And one woman who risk her own life to rescue a badly burned koala was reunited with him as he recovers in hospital.
Nine News Australia's Lizzie Pearl reports.
LIZZIE PEARL, REPORTER, NINE NEWS: Emerging from burning bush land, these tiny fire victims scared and confused, he ran into the fire which had jump the highway inland of Port Macquarie on the New South Wales Coast.
A certain casualty if it wasn't for Toni Doherty, a grandmother of seven who put her own safety aside following him in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONI DOHERTY, KOALA RESCUER: He just went straight into the flames, and I jump out of the car and ran towards him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PEARL: Using the shirt from her back and bottles of water to dust the koala. His fur on fire, they bundled him in a (Inaudible) heading for Port Macquarie hospital. And today, a reunion of a rescue that's gone global.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're a legend. He was a thug.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PEARL: Toni welcomed in by medical staff back with a little man she's named Lewis, after one of her grandkids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOHERTY: Good boy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PEARL: Lewis is badly burned. Overnight, he was given a lot of fluids. His pores carefully wrapped in bandages, and today he managed to have a munch on some eucalyptus leaves. Toni says she didn't think twice when she saw him in trouble.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOHERTY: It's just a natural instinct. I knew if we didn't get him down from the tree, then he would've been up there in the flames.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PEARL: Lewis is being cared for by Cheyne and the team at the koala hospital. Their wards are full of fire victims bandage and battered. Lewis, she says, has feared the worst.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHEYNE FLANAGAN, STAFF, PORT MACQUARIE HOSPITAL: He's got really badly burned hands and feet, he's got burns under his arms, his nose is burnt.
(END VIDEO CLIP) PEARL: And for those koalas which aren't badly burned or killed in these bushfires, survival isn't guaranteed. Already the fires have claimed one-third of the koala habitat here in the Port Macquarie region alone.
Thanks to Toni, Lewis is one of the luckiest unlucky ones.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER DOHERTY, TONI DOHERTY'S HUSBAND: Yes.
PEARL: Yes.
P. DOHERTY: She's bright
PEARL: She's pretty tough.
P. DOHERTY: She's tough, you're right.
FLANAGAN: The woman is a legend. Just a legend. No other word for us.
PEARL: She's at least.
And there's a chance the little guy is too badly burned to go back into the wild, so he may join the breeding program where there is a mate ready to meet him.
Lizzie Pearl, Nine News.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And she was most certainly a legend there.
We'll take a break here. Still to come, the impeachment hearing dominated the fifth U.S. Democratic debate and we will tell you what the candidates had to say. That's next.
Plus, new calls for campaign transparency in Britain as voters prepare to go to the polls in just three weeks.
[03:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Welcome back to our viewers joining us from all around the world. This is CNN Newsroom. And I'm Rosemary Church.
Time to take the headlines for you.
Prince Andrew is a stepping away from public duties for the foreseeable future after his widely criticized interview where he tried to explain his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement, the British royal now says he deeply sympathizes with Epstein's victims and he is willing to cooperate with investigators. Israel's former military chief Benny Gantz has failed to form a
government after nearly a month of negotiations. That means the country could be facing its third general election in less than a year if lawmakers can't find a candidate with a majority of support in 21 days.
The U.S. Ambassador to the European Union stated on Wednesday that the Trump administration was engaged in a quid pro quo with Ukraine. Gordon Sondland testified before Congress that everyone around President Trump knew he wanted Kiev to announce an investigation to help him politically.
Two more U.S. officials will be testifying in the impeachment hearings on Thursday.
Well, the 10 leading U.S. Democratic presidential candidates faced off for a fifth debate just hours after Wednesday's impeachment hearings wrapped up. And while a whole range of topics from race to health care were discussed, it was the candidates' views on impeachment that dominated the first half of the evening.
Take a listen.
[03:30:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), 2020 U.S. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: -- that's what happen with Ukraine.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I-VT), U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Sadly we have a president who is not only a pathological liar, he is likely the most corrupt president in the modern history of America. But we cannot simply be consumed by Donald Trump. Because if we, are you know what, we are going to lose the elections.
MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG (D-SOUTH BEND-IN) 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We were absolutely going to confront this president for his wrongdoing, but also each wanting to be the president who will lead this country after the Trump presidency comes to an end, one way or the other.
JOE BIDEN, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I learn something about these impeachment trials. I learned number one that Donald Trump doesn't want me to be the nominee. That's pretty clear. He held up aid to make sure that -- while at the same time innocent people in the (inaudible) are being killed by Russian soldiers. Secondly, I found out that Vladimir Putin, they don't want me to be president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: And although the impeachment hearings dominated part of the debate, Bernie Sanders told everyone that if they continue to be consumed by Donald Trump, they would lose the election. Boris Johnson says, there is no evidence of Russian interference in
British politics. The U.K. goes to the polls on December 12th and that a campaign stop Wednesday, the British Prime Minister was asked why the government won't go public with parliaments report on hostile Russian activity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are the government withholding the dossier on Russian interference in U.K. elections and referendums when it's already been given the greenlight by secret services?
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: There is absolutely no evidence that either of the scene of any Russian interference in U.K. Democratic presidents is that particular report. I saw no reason whatever to change the timetable for publications the report just because there was a general election going on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And Boris Johnson's Conservative Party is under fire after one of its Twitter accounts was rebranded to look like an independent fact checker. The U.K.'s electoral commission is now urging all political parties to be transparent in their campaigning.
So, let's go to CNN's Hadas Gold, she joins us live from London. Good to see you Hadas. So, what's the latest on this and what are the ramifications?
HADAS GOLD, CNN POLITICS, MEDIA AND BUSINESS REPORTER: Rosemary, what happened when a political party essentially deep fakes itself? That's pretty much what we saw happen on Tuesday night during the first head to head debate of the U.K. general election. Well, it's not unusual for a political party to try and fact check one another, this is the first time we've seen a stunt quite like this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOLD: Two weeks into the election campaign the leaders faced off for the first time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now it's time for Boris Johnson versus Jeremy Corbyn.
GOLD: Clashing over campaign red meat like Brexit and the National Health Service, in fielding questions about their personal integrity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does the truth matter in this election?
JOHNSON: I think it does and I think it is very important. I think it's very important to hear --
GOLD: No truth may have mattered on stage, off screen, the Conservative Party was being accused of misleading voters. With the parties press office rebranding its Twitter account to look like a fact checking service. A stunt that drew swift condemnation from the actual fact checkers.
WILL MOY, FULL FACT: Pretending to provide information -- independent fact-checking when you're actually providing Party lines many of which were not accurate, is doing (inaudible) and disservice.
JAMES CLEVERLY, CHAIRMAN BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY: We are calling out the Labour Party willful misinformation about the NHS and every time they do that, we will call it out.
GOLD: Though the party chairman claims the account was clearly marked as belonging to the Conservative Party, it may not have been obvious to users just scrolling through their feed.
The move prompted a stern warning from Twitter. A company spokesperson saying any further attempts to mislead people by editing verified profile information in the manner scene during the U.K. election debate, will result in decisive corrective action. The U.K.'s electoral commission has also urged both sides to campaign with transparency.
It's not the first time the Conservative Party have come under fire for its misleading used of social media. Earlier this month, it posted a selectively edited clip that appear to show the Labour Brexit spokesperson faltering for words in an interview.
The reality was (inaudible), answer that question immediately, a conservative cabinet minister ended up admitting that the clip was edited and potentially misleading. After Tuesdays stunt, it appeared the lesson may have not been learned when it comes to fake news, it's better to stick to the facts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLD: And Rosemary, the Conservative Party has so far been standing by this stunt. They have not apologized for it. But they have not yet confirmed whether they plan to try to do it again. Excuse me, next time, especially after that warning from Twitter.
CHURCH: Yes. Certainly, a problematic for the Conservative Party. So, where do things cowardly stand on the upcoming election and what are the poles signaling at this juncture?
[03:35:04]
GOLD: Yes. So, today is a pretty big day here during these general election. Jeremy Corbyn is set to launch Labor's manifesto. A manifesto that's pretty much showing to the voters exactly what each party plans to do if they were to win in Labor's manifesto, they are going to focus on housing, they want to build a hundred thousand more public housing units in the next five years.
They're going to also do a tax windfall for gas and oil companies. There are going to talk about their second referendum on Brexit. That will all be launch in just a few hours in Birmingham. The conservatives have not yet launched their manifesto, but they are going to talk about lowering taxes. We'll see more about that come out soon, but it's not clear how much his manifesto will actually change minds. This is being called a Brexit election, because so much of the folks is going to be on what each Party plans to do on Brexit. But so far the latest polls do show that Boris Johnson's Conservative Party is in the lead.
CHURCH: All right, we'll see where things stand going forward. Hadas Gold, many thanks to you. Joining us live from London. Up next a look at the funny side of Gordon Sondland's testimony during Wednesday's impeachment hearings. We are back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Well, Pope Francis is in Thailand for the first stop in a tour of two Asian nations. He visited a hospital earlier and met with the supreme Buddhist Patriarch. Thailand has a relatively small catholic population, less than 400,000 people. But the pope is there to highlight the importance of harmony among different folks. After Thailand, Pope Francis travels to Japan where he will visit both Nagasaki and Hiroshima to further his call for a total ban on nuclear weapons.
Well, as the impeachment hearings stretch on hour after hour, day after day, sometimes a little humor helps. Wednesday star witness was surprisingly (inaudible), CNN's Jeanne Moos finds out why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It could leave you in stitches, wonderful day (inaudible) and watching the impeachment as they needle each other.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Moved on to their next asinine theory.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is Donald Trump your friend?
AMB. GORDON SONDLAND, E.U. AMBASSADOR: I remember the first girl I kissed.
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI (D-IL), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: He called you quote and quote, the Gordon problem.
SONDLAND: That's what my wife calls me.
MOOS: Ambassador Gordon Sondland was laughing, drinking, drinking and refilling his drink, fidgeting in his seat, but generally jolly. Has anyone ever looked happier to testify in an impeachment hearing than Gordon Sondland? One body language expert says he was signaling his emotional relief.
KRISHNAMOORTHI: The president tweeted that you are a really good man and a great American. One month later he said, let me just tell you I hardly know the gentleman.
SONDLAND: Easy come, easy go.
MOOS: It didn't look easy for ranking Republican Devin Nunes. When the committee took a break, so did his face. Someone put it to music.
[03:40:07]
Participants could barely curve their enthusiasm from Matt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this kind of a two plus two equals four conclusion that you reached?
SONDLAND: Pretty much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two plus two equals four.
SONDLAND: That's your two plus two part of the equation right?
REP. JIM JORDAN (R-OH): It's not two plus two, it's for three.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two presumptions, plus two presumptions does not equal even one fact.
MOOS: But who's equal to playing Gordon Sondland in the impeachment movie, there are plenty of suggestions like Howie Mandel. Someone making a cameo at Tuesday's hearings shot the viral stardom. The reporter guzzling coffee behind the witness told slate, luckily I didn't miss my mouth, she should gallop the last drops. Samantha Bee noted this pair of enthusiastic spectators when you get put on the jumbotron at the impeachment hearing. The star witness so far seemed almost giddy. Until the chairman called a break. That risk making Sondland miss his flight, now that's an impeachable facial expression. Jeanne Moss, CNN, New York.
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CHURCH: Very catchy. All right. Well nomination for the 2020 Grammy awards are out, and there are some new faces in the mix.
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CHURCH: Lizzo one of three newcomers leads the way with eight nominations, including album, songs, and record of the year. She is also up for best new artist.
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CHURCH: Seventeen year-old Billie Eilish is close behind with six nominations. The two will go head to head in all the major categories.
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CHURCH: In an unusual move, social media style, Little Nas X who has the blockbuster head of the year with old town road, also picked up six Grammy nominations. Also getting a Grammy, former U.S. first lady Mitchell Obama, she will compete in the best spoken word category for her work on the audio book of her memoir becoming. The Grammy Awards will be handed out on January 26th. And thank you so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. World Sports is coming up next. Have yourselves a great day.
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