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North Korea: "Very Important Test" Conducted; FBI Identifies Gunman In Pensacola Shooting; U.S. House Judiciary Committee Prepares For Monday's Hearing; Giuliani Digs Deeper For Dirt On Bidens; Iowa Voters Consider Electability; Authorized Pro-Democracy March Fills Hong Kong Streets; Australia Firenado. Aired 5-6a ET

Aired December 08, 2019 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00]

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NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): We have a developing situation in North Korea. They say they have conducted a test at a launch site and that it was a success. We'll go live to our reporter to talk about that.

Also, it's Sunday morning in Washington, where House Democrats are working overtime to gear up for another hearing. The very latest from Capitol Hill for you also this hour.

And we'll show you a phenomenon rarely caught on camera. A firenado spinning in Australia.

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Natalie Allen. We come to you live from Atlanta where it's 5:00 in the morning. Thanks for watching. This is CNN NEWSROOM.

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ALLEN: Thank you again for joining us. Our top story, North Korea says it has carried out what state media calls a, quote, "very important test" at its Sohae satellite launch site. We don't know what was tested but they say it was a success and will change the strategic position of the country in the near future.

Our Will Ripley joins us now with more about it. Of course, Will, has made many trips to North Korea over the years.

You've reported on the nuclear program and their missile program. Let's talk about how significant could this test be.

What do we know?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think, Natalie, this has the potential to be highly significant. Keep in mind, this is the 14th weapons test in the last 10 months, ever since the summit talks with President Trump and Kim Jong-un collapsed in Hanoi.

Up until now, President Trump largely brushed off the tests because they have been of the shorter range variety. But given how North Korea is cryptically describing this as very important and given the fact that we have seen imagery from the Sohae satellite launch facility and showing activity at the missile engine test site, it looks like this is a missile engine test.

We know they are solid fuel engines, solid fuel that could power an intercontinental missile. North Korea could launch it with almost no notice. It can be spotted by spy satellites many days in advance.

If this was indeed an engine test, this would be a major turning point for the ballistic missile program at a time we are weeks away from the deadline they have given the U.S. for diplomacy to work out.

They say if something hasn't happened by the end of the year, 2020 could be different from this detente. Certainly not a good sign as we get closer and closer to that deadline, Natalie.

ALLEN: Right, Will. And Kim Jong-un declared he wanted significant changes by the end of the year. That has not happened. And it looks like time is running out.

RIPLEY: That's right. And, you know, remember, North Korea just within the last week or so, talked about sending the United States a Christmas gift. What we don't know at this stage, is this the Christmas gift or is this the stocking stuffer, precursor, if you will, to something much more provocative, the kind of launch President Trump said repeatedly back in 2017 he would not stand for.

Remember the fire and fury days. There is a lot of concern, if this is a new escalation for the Korean Peninsula, we could go right back to the tensions that had the world on edge. This could all be dialed back as well. It's up to Kim Jong-un what he decides to do.

If the test leads to the launch of an ICBM that could hit the United States, all bets are off as to where we could be headed in 2020, an election year and already difficult time for President Trump. And the North Koreans know that and it's why I believe they are ratcheting up the pressure.

They want sanctions relief. They are frustrated they haven't gotten it from the United States. And their diplomacy hasn't gotten either side anywhere. North Korea still has its arsenal. And all the sanctions are still in place. Neither side has shown any willingness to change its position to break this stalemate.

[05:05:00]

RIPLEY: So this could be perhaps North Korea signaling they are about to break it in their own way.

ALLEN: Right. We have had historic meetings between President Trump and Kim Jong-un. Basically they have gone nowhere. And now this. Will Ripley, thanks so much, Will.

Authorities are hunting for a motive after Friday's deadly shooting at a U.S. Navy base in Pensacola, Florida. The FBI says the shooter was 21-year-old Saudi air force lieutenant Mohammed Alshamrani. He was shot dead by law enforcement after killing three sailors.

Sources say authorities have not found apparent ties between the killer and terrorism but the investigation is still in its early stages. One official says concerning materials and online statements have been discovered. And they're looking into that.

The U.S. Navy says the sailors killed in the shooting showed exceptional heroism, running towards danger and saving lives. Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson was 23, from Coffee County, Alabama. He hoped to fly jets after flight school.

Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham was 19, from St. Petersburg, Florida. His father says he was an all-star athlete.

Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters was 21, from Richmond Hill, right here in Georgia.

We still do not know why the killer went on this rampage. But as CNN's Brynn Gingras reports from the scene, investigators are going to great lengths to find out.

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BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a global investigation. There are FBI attaches in Saudi Arabia, there are investigators here on the ground in Pensacola, Florida, and also communications happening with the FBI in Washington.

We know the Joint Terrorism Task Force is also contributing, among others. One of the big questions that is still outstanding is, what was the motivation of this gunman?

And that is what investigators are really trying to find out now. We are hearing the communications going on between investigators about whether or not to call this a terrorist act.

We know that Defense Secretary Esper says he is not going to say that this was an act of terrorism until investigators can do their work.

Now here in Pensacola, we know that there have been people on the ground for the last two days, really collecting evidence. We know the crime scene is two levels of a classroom building. And they are collecting evidence, both inside and outside, along with other members of the FBI.

As far as FBI Jacksonville, which is the lead investigative authority, they are remaining pretty tight-lipped as to what is going on with the investigation. A little bit more detail, though, of what we are learning from sources.

We know that other Saudi nationals were brought in for questioning. So that is certainly something where they are hoping to glean more answers, again, about the motivation of this act.

And we also learned from "The New York Times," again citing a source familiar with the investigation that this gunman was viewing mass shooting videos at a dinner party the day before the actual shooting on Friday.

Again, all of these little details coming out in this broad investigation that is moving pretty rapidly. This all happening in Pensacola, where this community is honestly grieving.

We talked to a woman not long ago, who basically said that her daughters -- she tugged them closer because she just can't believe that this happened in her community. So certainly people still coming to grips with what actually happened here in Pensacola. I am Brynn Gingras in Pensacola, Florida, CNN.

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ALLEN: The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have had a mixed relationship even before the shooting. The Saudis are promising to cooperate in the investigation. And President Trump says they are condemning the attack.

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I spoke with the king of Saudi Arabia. They are devastated in Saudi Arabia in finding out what took place, whether it's one person or a number of people. And the king will be involved in taking care of families and loved ones. He feels very strongly. He's very devastated by what happened and what took place.

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ALLEN: CNN's Nic Robertson has the story from Riyadh.

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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: So establishing that motive really is going to be key to understanding why this attack took place and really fully understanding what the repercussions and implications could be.

Now his family here in Saudi Arabia, his uncle, who we have spoken to, says that he was a good student, that he did well academically and that is why he made it into the military and made it onto this prestigious long military training in the United States. That was something that the family was proud of. They say there was nothing in his background that indicated anything untoward. They have been speaking to him over the past few years during his training.

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ROBERTSON: They say there is nothing that has changed substantially about him that would give them cause for concern.

The bigger family, the tribe are saying this attack does not speak for the people of Saudi Arabia, does not represent the people of Saudi Arabia. They put their faith in the kingdom and in the king.

But what we are learning or appear to be learning at this stage, as indicated by a radical propaganda monitoring site, indicating that perhaps this attacker tweeted out some of his thinking or intentions in the minutes before the attack, anti American sentiment.

If that is true, that will make this shooting a more complex issue for the king of Saudi Arabia to deal with, with the United States. We know that he has called and spoken with President Trump and has called this a barbaric act, that it does not speak for the people of Saudi Arabia.

He has called on Saudi officials to give full cooperation with U.S. investigators but of course, if there is a hint of terrorism behind this, then this will reawaken a lot of old fears, going back to the 9/11 attacks and also to the killing of the Saudi journalist for "The Washington Post," Jamal Khashoggi.

So all of that relationship with factor in but, at the moment, the investigators undoubtedly digging into the attacker's social media, speaking with his family, with friends, to find out if his mood or his attitudes had changed in recent days or weeks.

But at the moment really, Saudi Arabia, stunned, surprised, shocked, angered, according to the king at what has happened in Pensacola, Florida -- Nic Robertson, CNN, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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ALLEN: Let's talk more about it with Fawaz Gerges. He's the author of "Making the Arab World" and a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics.

Thank you for coming in and good morning to you. We heard Nic Robertson outlining the complexities of this tragedy and how it involves Saudi Arabia.

What could this mean to the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, an important ally?

FAWAZ GERGES, DIR. MIDDLE EAST CENTER, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: Well, first of all, my take on is that the best friend the Saudis have in the United States is President Trump.

President Trump has made Saudi Arabia a foundation of his Middle Eastern policy. And we have seen time and again that President Trump has repeatedly defended Saudi Arabia, including after the killing of three military personnel in the past few days.

To President Trump, Saudi Arabia is very critical. It is very critical because he views Saudi Arabia as the key state in his effort to deter Iran. Iran has emerged as a very key player in this particular puzzle.

Secondly, Saudi Arabia is very important for Trump in terms of it is the second largest oil producer for the world economy, even though the United States does not really need oil from Saudi Arabia.

And finally arms deals, you are talking about the economical relationship, hundreds of billions of dollars. My take on it is we are not going to see major changes as long as President Trump remains in power.

The only problem is the Saudis have put most of their eggs in President Trump's basically basket. And I think, my take on it, if a Democrat is elected as president, I think the relationship is going to witness major shifts and changes, negative shifts and changes.

Even Joe Biden, the leading Democratic candidate, has described Saudi Arabia as a pariah state. And he says he will likely do some punitive measures for Saudi Arabia for what it did and what it has done in Yemen and in terms of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

ALLEN: Right. The kingdom has not exactly had a stellar reputation of late. Someone pointed out President Trump went so far out of his way to say they're so sorry, they're devastated, they condemned what happened, it almost sounded like he was protecting the Saudis because he does have a relationship with them that many have questioned what's behind it.

GERGES: Well, I think Trump has made it very clear all along that Saudi Arabia is one of the key important Middle Eastern states after Israel.

[05:15:00]

GERGES: To him you have Israel and then Saudi Arabia. In terms of the investigation, we need to focus. It's too early to reach any definitive conclusions as your reporters have made it very clear. The investigation is early on.

Saudi military personnel have been training in American military facilities since 1995. This is the first major incident carried out, bloody and horrible and vicious attack by a Saudi -- by an alleged Saudi lieutenant.

Even though it is too early, the first point is American -- the U.S. authorities found no link between the suspect, Lieutenant Mohammed Alshamrani, and international terrorist groups. So obviously no major terrorist groups directed the suspect to carry out these attacks. I still have several questions.

Was he mentally OK?

Did he suffer from any mental complications, point one?

Point two, my take on it from everything we have seen so far -- and it's too early -- he probably was a self-radicalized individual. He bought into the rhetoric and ideology of terrorist groups.

This tells you a great deal how difficult to get into the mindset of a self-radicalized individual like the suspect, Lieutenant Alshamrani.

Finally, I am surprised how a foreign national, who just made it to the United States, can go out and purchase basically a weapon and with ammunition to carry out his attacks on the United States in the military, a major military base.

This tells you a great deal about the importance of arms controls that, at the end of the day, I think we have to wait, be patient to see what the investigations will show, regardless of the motives of Lieutenant Alshamrani.

ALLEN: Absolutely. And the FBI is on that case. So we will wait and see. We appreciate your expertise, as always. Thank you.

GERGES: Thanks.

ALLEN: As Monday's impeachment hearing inches closer, U.S. Democrats are taking the weekend to prepare. Next, a look at their report outlining historical grounds for impeachment.

And later, protesters are back on the streets of Hong Kong. Yes, look at that. Another sea of people. We've been seeing that for six months. We'll take you there live to get the latest a little bit later.

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ALLEN: In the coming hours, U.S. Democrats will once again be on Capitol Hill preparing for Monday's impeachment hearings. House Judiciary Democrats held a mock hearing and released a report laying out historical arguments for impeachment this Saturday.

The White House is refusing to take part in next week's proceedings, which they have continued during this process. CNN's Jeremy Herb has more from Capitol Hill.

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JEREMY HERB, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Democrats on the Judiciary Committee are returning for a second straight day of prep on Sunday as they gear up for a key impeachment hearing on Monday.

We are learning new details from Democratic aides, who say it will operate like a trial, where they give opening statements and their theory of the case as they lay out the evidence against President Trump. They have brought in a Harvard law professor to give a presentation to lawmakers.

What they are trying to do is make sure they have every detail finely tuned. After the hearing is done, it will set off a frenzied week of activity, where we could see articles of impeachment introduced and voted on in the Judiciary Committee.

It could lead to a vote on the House floor before Christmas to impeach the president. Now a key question Democrats still have to resolve, what exactly is in

the articles of impeachment?

And do they include allegations of obstruction of justice detailed in the Mueller report?

Liberal Democrats want to include them into the articles against the president. Moderates are wary about going beyond the narrow scope of the Ukraine investigation. It's one of the key things Democrats have to resolve as they push forward into this hearing -- Jeremy Herb, CNN, Capitol Hill.

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ALLEN: Scott Lucas, a politics professor at the University of Birmingham.

Good morning to you, Scott.

SCOTT LUCAS, POLITICS PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM: Good morning, Natalie.

ALLEN: House Democrats refuting President Trump's criticism of impeachment proceedings and referred to writings of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and other framers of the Constitution.

How important could it be that they're infusing these important historic tools with this process while the president has debunked it outright?

LUCAS: Here's my reading, Natalie. That is the Democrats or those who favor the impeachment of Trump, I think, are really confident they have established the evidence for that through the 17 witnesses for the House Intelligence Committee, the current and former U.S. officials and because Republicans really didn't take on the evidence as much as try to undermine the witnesses.

If you consider this a court hearing, we actually know the defendant has a case to answer. But the question moves to the legal basis for this.

In other words, is this legitimate?

That's what Democrats are now focusing on. They know Trump will shout sham and say it is a coup against the president.

What they have done is two things. The House Judiciary Committee, with what it has come out with this weekend, said here's the legal and historical basis for what is impeachment, say the bribery charge.

Second, you nailed it. To really emphasize the importance of this and to say this isn't a sham, this isn't a hoax, you're talking about the Constitution. You're talking about the founding fathers. They are talking why that Constitution said that no person should abuse power so that he acts as a monarch rather than a president.

As you and I both know, this is isn't just a legal and constitutional battle, it is a political battle as well.

ALLEN: Absolutely. And how far will they go?

Will they stay in the realm of Ukraine or go beyond and discuss obstruction?

You used the word bribery. We have heard the word treason used.

Democrats on the left want it open; middle of the road Democrats want it more narrowed.

Which way might they go?

Will this put pressure on Nancy Pelosi?

LUCAS: There might be a middle way. Bribery will almost certainly be a charge. They can go to the Ukraine case to obstruction of Congress as an impeachable charge because we know that the White House has tried to block witnesses, block testimony, has told staff to defy subpoenas.

[05:25:00]

LUCAS: Whether that constitutes obstruction, do they really want to test that?

But as you mentioned, it's the obstruction of justice charge, the third charge. Robert Mueller said in his report, there is significant evidence for at least eight occasions when Donald Trump attempted to obstruct justice.

But Mueller said in his testimony, it's not up for me to file the criminal charge because I can't. It's up to you, Congress.

We know, through spin, the Mueller report was effectively buried.

Is there a political risk to revive it even if the evidence is significant?

ALLEN: All the while President Trump continues to call this a big silly nothing. He said the Democrats have gone absolutely insane, they have no case. And the process is demeaning the country. He said in an email to supporters, it's us against them.

Is the president wise to try and debunk this as we see Democrats roll out this very intricate report?

LUCAS: He's got no other option, Natalie. He's got no other option in terms of the case. I think the case has firmly established that, yes, he did ask Ukraine to interfere on his behalf to investigate his political rivals and that he pressured them, for example, by withholding military aid.

I don't think he has any choice to divert and say, hey, look over there. Secondly, I don't think he has any other choice personally. Donald

Trump doesn't know defense. He only knows offense. We have seen it as a businessman, a reality TV star.

Can he throw up enough spectacle to make this like a wrestling match where he was a star for a year and say it's me versus my evil opponent?

You and I know this is not a wrestling match. It's the U.S. Constitution. But we are talking Trump spectacle versus the American system. And I can't tell you which way that one goes. I just know he will shout all the way to the end of the process.

ALLEN: He and perhaps Rudy Giuliani, who is back in Ukraine. We will have to digest that some other time. Scott Lucas, we always appreciate your insights. Scott, thank you very much.

LUCAS: Thank you, Natalie.

ALLEN: As I just mentioned, the U.S. president's personal attorney has been in Ukraine getting what Donald Trump calls a lot of good information.

Coming up, why did Rudy Giuliani travel to Kiev in the first place?

We'll explore that.

Also, with the Iowa caucuses looming, they are shifting to what is the best candidate to beat Donald Trump. How an electability factor is playing a role.

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ALLEN: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Natalie Allen. This is CNN NEWSROOM. Let's take a look at the headlines we're following this hour.

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ALLEN: As the impeachment inquiry ramps up now for another round of hearings, the issue at the core isn't holding back the president's personal attorney. Rudy Giuliani took a trip to Ukraine where he met with former officials to investigate Mr. Trump's political rivals.

On Saturday, the president told reporters that Giuliani had, quote, "found plenty of information" while in Kiev.

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TRUMP: He says he has a lot of good information. I have not spoken to him about that information. But Rudy, as you know, has been one of the great crime fighters of the past 50 years. He has not told me what he has found. But I think he wants to go before Congress and say and also to the attorney general and the Department of Justice, I hear he's found plenty.

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ALLEN: Plenty of what is the question?

Bureau chief Nathan Hodge joins me now.

What was Giuliani fishing for and what might he have found?

Any insights from your vantage point?

NATHAN HODGE, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Natalie, if Giuliani has found plenty, we haven't seen it yet. Ahead of his trip, Giuliani said he was going to blow the lid on evidence, $5.3 billion in U.S. assistance had been misused in Ukraine.

CNN did a quick fact-check and we found that number was not accurate, it reflected a larger basket of money being given to Ukraine. And the phrase used was it was improperly accounted for, which does not mean that it was misused.

As well Giuliani was meeting with the same questionable, let's say, cast of characters, that's been feeding him information all along in the Ukraine scandal. We managed to track down one of them, a former junior Ukrainian diplomat who has been at the center of some of the information that Giuliani has been coming publicly forward with -- Natalie.

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HODGE (voice-over): In a whirlwind trip across Europe, Rudy Giuliani was on a mission to dig up dirt on President Trump's political rivals, meeting ousted Ukrainian prosecutors in safe houses and making a surprise visit to Kiev to bolster dubious theories designed to defend President Trump amid impeachment.

[05:35:00]

HODGE (voice-over): Andriy Telizhenko said he was with Giuliani every step of the way.

ANDRIY TELIZHENKO, FORMER UKRAINIAN DIPLOMAT: Right now it is the process of Mr. Giuliani to protect his client, as he says, and to have the witnesses there to protect his client. That's the main thing. He is the attorney for the president of the United States. That is the main goal, to make his part of his story to protect his client.

HODGE (voice-over): Telizhenko was a former junior diplomat at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, who has promoted a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, conspired to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Giuliani didn't meet any current officials of President Zelensky,

whose July 25th phone call with Trump is at the heart of the impeachment inquiry. Instead, Telizhenko says he met with former officials described as corrupt in impeachment testimony and gave face time to two Ukrainian politicians trying to promote another fringe theory about alleged corruption under the Obama administration.

Giuliani's new allies both have a questionable track record. A YouTube blogger and a graduate of a Russian FSB academy both publicly called for an investigation into Hunter Biden and Telizhenko's claims that Ukraine meddled in 2016, a theory denounced by Russia expert Fiona Hill in a recent testimony.

FIONA HILL, FORMER WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIAL: This is a fictional narrative that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves.

HODGE (voice-over): Telizhenko says he's concerned the theory was picked up and amplified by the Russians but is willing to present it in an interview with the Senate.

TELIZHENKO: It does bother me because, first of all, it's for me and makes discredit my -- to try to discredit my source for that story of Putin. And if Russia was smart enough, they would be quiet and let you talk. And if Putin is using them, unfortunately, they not -- we can stop him from saying whatever he is saying.

HODGE (voice-over): And while Giuliani is gathering new claims in Ukraine, back home, he is under greater scrutiny than ever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HODGE: This, Natalie, is, again, what we have here in a lot of ways what Giuliani seems to be getting, he's talking to the same cast of characters that he has talked to before and rehashing a lot of the allegations that have been previously forwarded by President Trump supporters, including the dubious and disproven claim that it was Ukraine and not Russia that in the 2016 U.S. elections -- Natalie.

ALLEN: All right. We will wait and see what he brings back to the United States. Thank you for that reporting, Nathan Hodge for us.

Well, electability has been the buzzword for the 2020 U.S. Democratic primaries, a nirvana candidates are trying to reach to convince voters they are the best to beat President Trump.

So how is that electability factor steering voters' decisions when they head to the polls?

CNN's Jeff Zeleny traveled to the all-important state of Iowa to find out.

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MAGGIE WILLEMS, IOWA DEMOCRAT VOTER: I identify as a Democratic socialist. Progressive policies speak to me and that's what I prefer. JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Maggie Willems is a proud liberal. But two months before the voting begins, she's in a moderate mood.

WILLEMS: I also understand I'm not representative of the whole electorate and we need to be sure to select a candidate that can defeat Donald Trump.

ZELENY: Here in Mount Vernon and in towns across Iowa, Williams and others are thinking about electability as they search for the best candidate to defeat President Trump.

For most of the year, the Democratic race has been driven by left- leaning proposals from the Green New Deal to Medicare For All to free college.

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When we give up on the big ideas, we give up on the people.

ZELENY: But in the final weeks of 2019, moderates are fighting back. Like in this ad from Pete Buttigieg where he takes a thinly veiled swipe at Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren's plans.

PETE BUTTIGIEG (D-IN), 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There are some voices saying, well, that doesn't count unless you go even further, unless it's free even for the kids and millionaires, but I only want to make promises that we can keep.

ZELENY: Worried about Trump winning an election, a pragmatic awakening is underway for some voters like Willems, a teacher who once thought she might support Warren.

WILLEMS: I would see that politically I agree with nearly everything that Warren has to say.

BIDEN: You think I can do this?

ZELENY: When we first met Willems on Labor Day, she was weighing two options.

WILLEMS: Biden would be my pragmatic choice and Warren would be a bit of a leap of faith in my heart.

ZELENY: But now she's ruled out both, souring on Warren's embrace of Medicare For All and skeptical of Biden's appeal to younger voters. She's leaning towards Buttigieg.

WILLEMS: He has an ability to maybe talk across the aisle that more overtly progressive candidates might not.

BIDEN: Let me tell you, if they can't bring the country together, we're in real, real, real trouble.

ZELENY: While Sanders and Warren are still electrifying the party's liberal base, Buttigieg, Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar are steering the conversation to the middle, saying it's critical to appeal to a broader swath of voters.

[05:40:00]

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CADIDATE: You want to put someone on top our ticket that brings people with them and doesn't shut them out.

BIDEN: Not a joke.

ZELENY: The message is resonating with Katie Haverkamp, an independent voter who plans to take part in the Iowa caucuses for the first time because of her disdain for Trump.

What kind of Democrat are you looking for?

KATIE HAVERKAMP, IOWA INDEPENDENT VOTER: I'm looking for someone that is moderate, that is strong leader and has integrity.

ZELENY: She and her mother came to see Biden when his bus tour passed through Iowa Falls. They hope to check out Buttigieg soon.

Back in Mount Vernon, Willems' social studies classroom is decorated with posters from campaigns gone by. She said finding a candidate to motivate Democrats and win over Trump voters is her chief concern.

How often do you think ability electability?

WILLEMS: Often. And I try and think of that middle third and how they might be persuaded to vote for the Democrats ticket.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: All right, the all-important state of Iowa.

Well, next here, protesters are once again filling the streets of Hong Kong. We'll have a live report and find out why police are allowing this rally. From our Ivan Watson. He's there. We'll be right back.

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ALLEN: In Hong Kong, huge numbers of pro-democracy activists are once again staging a massive march in the city. But unlike many of the recent protests, police are allowing this rally. It comes just weeks after pro-China candidates suffered devastating losses in local elections.

[05:45:00]

ALLEN: It is 6:44 pm in Hong Kong. It's dark. Ivan Watson is there.

It was dark. You saw people. You saw an American flag waving in the middle of these people. I know you've been talking to some folks there about why they continue this.

What are they saying?

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean, I think we have seen a demonstration, Natalie, that, after six months of protests against the government, violence between some demonstrators and police, that there is still a mass movement here in Hong Kong that is deeply unhappy with its unelected government and, by extension, the central government in Beijing.

We have seen a huge demonstration, signs from both the organizing group of this protest, Civil Human Rights Front, and law enforcement they are trying to avoid up until now instigating clashes and they are trying to keep this peaceful thus far.

But clearly a sign that there is still a massive gulf between authorities and a significant portion of the population. Take a listen to what some of the demonstrators had to say to me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We only want our demands to be realized, which is all five demands not one less. We want universal suffrage and we want fair treatment for all the protesters. We just want freedom and we want Hong Kong to be managed in a sustainable way.

WATSON: Do you think the government is going to listen to you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, absolutely not.

WATSON: So why come out here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because we need to tell the government, we are not afraid of you. Even if you didn't listen to us, we will still stand here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Now the authorities have appealed for peace as well. We have seen riot police trying to stay at the edge of the land route for the march.

Natalie, it's important to note it hasn't been since last August this group, the Civil Human Rights Front, has been allowed to stage a march like this through Hong Kong. On that day it was pouring rain. A large number of people were out.

Today many more demonstrators have their faces covered. I think that indicates the lack of trust between the opposition and the authorities after thousands of arrests, some 10,000 rounds of tear gas fired, including right here in the commercial heart of Hong Kong.

A lot of people holding up five fingers. That is part of their five demands, which is something they have called for since this whole thing began last June. We have not heard signs from either side that there is any sign of

compromise, a peaceful way out of this standpoint, which has plummeted Hong Kong into economic recession, which has devastated the retail district and the tourism industry in a city which was once known for safety, efficiency and law and order.

ALLEN: Interesting that man said there is no chance that the government will change. But yet they go into the streets for months now demanding it. We know you'll be there for us, Ivan Watson.

Bush fires are still raging across Australia. Why conditions are making it tough to breathe. Plus, we'll see if there's any relief to come in the days ahead. Derek Van Dam will have that for us.

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ALLEN: Extraordinary aerial picture here to show you of what is called a firenado. This is in Queensland, Australia. Emergency crews there in the country continue to battle more than 100 bush fires burning across Queensland and New South Wales.

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ALLEN: We have this one for you. Monica Ruiz is the actress featured in the Peloton bike ad. He she has finally spoken. If case you haven't seen the Peloton ad, here's a clip.

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MONICA RUIZ, ACTOR: A year ago I didn't realize how much this would change me. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This holiday, give the gift of Peloton.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: The holiday commercial shows the woman watching a compilation of her year long experience riding the indoor exercise bike as she thanks her husband for giving it to her. The ad has been getting roasted online, some calling it sexist. Ruiz says she's thankful for the opportunity to play the part.

Here's what she said in a statement, "I was happy to accept a job opportunity earlier this year from Peloton and the team was lovely to work with. Although I'm an actress, I am not quite comfortable being in the spotlight and I'm terrible on social media. So to say I was shocked and overwhelmed by the attention this week, especially the negative, is an understatement."

All right. We'll leave you to contemplate that. Thanks for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Natalie Allen. If you're joining us from the United States, you'll see "NEW DAY" in just a moment. If you're an international viewer, I'll be back with our top stories.