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Democrats To Unveil Articles Of Impeachment Tuesday; Zelensky & Putin Hold First Face-To-Face Meeting; Volcano Blast In New Zealand Kills At Least Five; Final Push By Candidates Ahead Of Crucial Vote; Streaming Services Dominate in Golden Globe Nominations; Republican Counsel's Shopping Bag Doubles as Briefcase. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired December 10, 2019 - 01:00   ET

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

[01:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to everyone around the world. Thanks for being with us. I'm John Vause. Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM. It's beginning to look a lot like impeachment. Just hours now before Democrats revealed charges of wrongdoing against the 45th President of the United States.

A major breakthrough in the ongoing conflict in Crimea with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia agreeing to a ceasefire by years end. And no signs of life. Rescue efforts in New Zealand moved from a rescue operation to recovery operation after a deadly volcanic eruption on White Island.

We begin with breaking news out of Washington. Just a few hours now, Democrats plan to announce the Articles of Impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump. Sources tell CNN at least two are on the table, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. This comes after the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment hearing on Monday turned into a shouting match between Democrats and Republicans, a day-long temper tantrum one commentator described it. CNN's Jessica Schneider has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: The diametrically opposed Democrats and Republicans repeatedly at odds during what was likely the final public hearings on impeachment.

REP. JERRY NADLER (D-NY): The President welcomed into foreign interference in our elections in 2016, He demanded it for 2020, then he got caught. The evidence shows that Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States has put himself before his country.

REP. DOUG COLLINS (R-GA): At the end of the day, all this is about is about a clock and a calendar because they can't get over the fact Donald Trump is president of the United States.

SCHNEIDER: The hearing spotlighted counsel for both sides arguing they're clashing cases. Democrats council Daniel Goldman described President Trump's efforts to convince Ukraine to investigate the Biden's as a threat to American democracy.

DANIEL GOLDMAN, COUNSEL, HOUSE DEMOCRATS: President Trump's persistent and continuing effort to coerce a foreign country to help him cheat to win an election is a clear and present danger to our free and fair elections and to our national security.

SCHNEIDER: While Republicans counsel Steve Castor portrayed it all as a ploy to remove a president Democrats don't like.

STEVE CASTOR, MINORITY COUNSEL, HOUSE REPUBLICANS: To impeach a president whose 63 million people voted for over eight lines in a call transcript is baloney.

SCHNEIDER: The day-long debate often erupted into disputes over process and the witness list.

REP. MATT GAETZ (R-FL): Is this one we just hear staff ask questions of other staff and the members get dealt out of this whole hearing? For hours, you're going to try to overturn the result of an election with unelected people giving --

NADLER: The gentleman will suspend.

GAETZ: We got a problem.

SCHNEIDER: Republicans railed against Democrat's refusal to call House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff as the main witness since Schiff authored the 300-page impeachment report sent to the Judiciary Committee last week.

COLLINS: Where's Adam? Where's Adam? His report, his name, Mr. Goldman, you're a great attorney, but you're not Adams Schiff and you don't wear a pin.

SCHNEIDER: Republicans press their own competing narrative, blasting Joe Biden and drilling into a disproven claim that Biden push to get a Ukrainian prosecutor fired to stop an investigation into Burisma where Biden's son served on the board.

COLLINS: So Joe Biden, of everybody that we discuss, but he's the only one that's done a quid pro quo. He's the only one that has use taxpayer dollars to actually threaten the foreign government. And we're sitting here pretending that this is not happening?

SCHNEIDER: And Republican Counsel Castor tried to validate claims Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election.

CASTOR: Contemporaneous news articles in 2016 noted how President Trump's candidacy lead Kiev's wider political leadership to do something they would never have attempted before, intervene however indirectly in the U.S. election.

SCHNEIDER: Something the Intelligence Community concluded these not true. Republicans also seized on the speedy pace in which the impeachment inquiry has proceeded, saying it's rushed.

CASTOR: Obviously, we all wish there was an easy button, but Congressional investigations of consequence take time.

SCHNEIDER: Democrats though urge, time is of the essence.

NADLER: The integrity of our next election is at stake. Nothing could be more urgent.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: On the second day of public hearings by the Judiciary Committee, Republican lawmakers seem to have made a very conscious choice. When it comes to President Trump, see no evil, hear no evil. With a rapid-fire pace which added a perception of urgency mixed with outrage, Republicans vigorously defended Trump claiming he was the victim of a three-year law conspiracy by Democrats trying to force him from office. He didn't do it, they said, and if he did, it still wouldn't have been wrong. And if Joe Biden wins in 2020, all presumably any Democrat, they'll impeach him for doing the same thing even though he didn't do it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LOUIE GOHMERT (R-TX): We've already got the forms. All we have to do is eliminate Donald Trump's name and put Joe Biden's name in there because he's on video, he and his son. He basically has admitted to the crime that's being hoisted on the president improperly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: And just to add further confusion to chaos, Republicans continue to spin Kremlin conspiracy theories, accusing Ukraine of meddling in the 2016 election. But in reality, the CIA, FBI, NSA, they all say with high confidence, Russia conducted a sophisticated campaign to sway the election results.

So if Ukraine was actually trying to influence or impact the election, it was really a pretty woeful attempt. (INAUDIBLE) Michael Genovese, President of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL GENOVESE, POLITICAL ANALYST: And in politics, facts don't matter as much as perception. And whoever can control the narrative and create the perception of what the truth is, they win the argument. And Donald Trump is a master at that. He's a salesman, and he's a master salesman. And he is painting a picture that is in direct opposition to what is true.

We know that it was the Russians. Everyone knows it was the Russians. And yet you paint the picture and the republicans in the Congress are willing handmaidens for Donald Trump, that it really is the Ukrainians.' VAUSE: This could be a perfect storm in a sort of a post-fact world that there is so much information out there. It's just hard to know exactly what is true and what is not as true and there's just tidbits which just muddy the waters. You know, for example, The Washington Post put together a list of more than 60 countries -- 60 countries whose leaders made negative comments in public about Donald Trump either as a candidate or was a president.

Comments like this one from Ecuador's president at the time. His discourse is so dumb, so basic. The Danish prime minister also noted, he changes opinions like the rest of us change underwear. And you know, Mexican president at the time, that's the way most Mussolini arrived and the way Hitler arrived.

You know, so Republicans keep pushing this line about you know, Ukraine being anti-Trump and pro-Hillary, you know, whether it was true or not, it doesn't actually matter. Because what does matter is that a lot of countries said mean things about Donald Trump and Ukraine was the only one to lose their military aid?

GENOVESE: That's right. And I mean, you saw it at the NATO meeting where people were openly laughing. Leaders were opening laughing at Donald Trump and mocking him. And so I think the world has a much better sense of Donald Trump than we do because we see him every day. And every day, he paints the picture, in words, and he's a master at that.

And so you know, the perception is created that the world is very different than the one you read about. And he even said, don't listen to what you hear, don't read what you read, listen to what I say only. And so as long as we do that, the president has the advantage. He has the bully pulpit. And as long as he has the bully pulpit, he can shout louder than anyone else, get their attention, and he's very good at convincing you of things that you know -- you must know aren't true.

VAUSE: OK, you know, the President continues to do you know, what's been described as the Kremlin's work by repeating a lie, even though he was told by his former Homeland Security Advisor he's likely to get this Ukraine thing. It was a conspiracy theory, he said, which has been totally debunked. Last week, Fiona Hill, the senior advisor on Russia or the former White House Senior Advisor, I should say, she lectured republicans telling them, this is a fictional narrative that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves.

Explain the calculation here for me among the Republican lawmakers, you know, justifying this line which is clearly wrong. They know it's wrong. They've been told it's wrong. There's no evidence to support it over and over and over again. I mean, I know this is the political winner for them. They want to see Donald Trump protected. But what are the long term consequences?

GENOVESE: Well, you're right and then the 9-1/2 hour, it only seem longer than 9-1/2 snooze fest today. They kept on ironically, not defending Donald Trump but attacking everyone else. What are the long term implications of such a thing? It debases the truth, it debases our democratic argument. It allows us to be manipulated because we will let ourselves be manipulated.

And the Republicans are basing I think their strategy on the Donald Trump notion that the people aren't smart enough to figure it out. They'll follow me. They'll follow the pretty pictures, and they'll follow the shiny objects, and I'll paint a beautiful word picture, I'll say it over and over again, repeating things matters, and he'll keep repeating it and people will just get worn down, and they'll believe it.

And so, if debases democracy and it debases the rational choices that people are supposed to make in a democracy.

VAUSE: You know, if anyone who was part of the high school debate team knows the easiest way to destroy an argument essentially is to take each point one at a time, take them out of context, and discredit them. Republicans have done that repeatedly over the last couple of weeks, over the last couple of years, actually. So that brings us to Democrat Eric Swalwell who's on the committee. He had these questions late in the day. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ERIC SWALWELL (D-CA): Who personally asked President Zelensky to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden?

GOLDMAN: President Trump.

SWALWELL: Who stood on the White House lawn and confirmed that he wanted Ukraine to investigate Vice President Biden?

GOLDMAN: President Trump.

SWALWELL: Who stood on that same lawn and said that China should also investigate Vice President Biden?

GOLDMAN: President Trump.

SWALWELL: As to anything that we do not know in this investigation, who has blocked us from knowing it?

GOLDMAN: President Trump and the White House.

SWALWELL: So as it relates to President Trump, is he an incidental player or a central player in this scheme?

GOLDMAN: President Trump is the central player in this scheme.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: I just wondering, what should be the strategy here for the Democrats, just keep focusing on those core issues, the facts. It's very hard to, you know, ignore facts when the other side has a clown show which is going on. GENOVESE: Ronald Reagan used to say, facts are messy things, and I think he was right. You have to articulate a message. You can't just rely on throwing the facts out. And I think the exchange who just presented is very clear, very to the point, but is it very relevant? It should be relevant. But the question that you have to ask is, are the people listening?

The hearings that we had today did not move the needle, did not change views, they just hardened views. And so you have to be in an environment where people are willing to listen and willing to be persuaded by the truth, or by version of the truth. We aren't in that world. We're in a hyper-partisan world where we take sides and my tribe is attacking your tribe. Whatever my tribe says, I'll accept, whatever your tribe says is a lie. And so in that kind of atmosphere, rational argument, it just goes by the wayside.

VAUSE: Yes, we're out of time, Michael, but we had those articles of impeachment possibly being unveiled the next couple of hours. I thought there would be some movement on the Republican side, but it's gone the other way. Republicans have hardened their defense around Donald Which seems kind of bizarre of everything that we've heard. Good to see you, Michael. Thanks for being with us. Michael Genovese live from Los Angeles, thank you.

GENOVESE: Thank you, John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)'

VAUSE: Well, it's been a favorite Trump talking point. A huge applause line of those campaign rallies, you may have heard it, it's all about the deep state controlling the FBI and the Russia investigation is part of the big conspiracy which is all against the U.S. president trying to force him from office.

Well, now a 435-page report from the Justice Department's inspector general says none of that is true. Just like Trump's claims that his campaign was spied on by the FBI, not true. The reporter just outlined 17 mistakes, some serious on how the FBI applied for surveillance warrants targeting Trump campaign advisor at the time Carter Page.

Now, in commenting on the reports, the President still had what you can say politely or kindly is a unique take on the Russia investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This was an overthrow of government. This was an attempted overthrow and a lot of people were in on it, and they got caught. They got caught red-handed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: In the aftermath of the Inspector General's report, President Trump is set to meet with Moscow's top diplomat. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due in Washington in just a few hours. They will have a lot to talk about including Ukraine, Syria, and North Korea. But that may be overshadowed by a Russian related controversy surrounding the president.

Lavrov was at the White House in 2017, which Trump reportedly shared classified information. The President's allies in Congress are also repeating the claim that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 U.S. election, a talking point promoted by Russian security services.

There are encouraging signs that the war in Ukraine may be winding down, that's after a positive summit in Paris. Volodymyr Zelensky had his first face to face meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks about endings conflicts. They pledged to work towards local elections in separatist regions though they did not set a timetable but importantly, they have agreed on a ceasefire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): Ukraine insisted the solution is not possible without achieving the most important goal which is the security in the east and part of Ukraine.

[01:15:00]

And when the security is achieved, we could start a political solution. Today, Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia Federation discussed some very important matters. First of all, it's urgent measures to secure peace in Ukraine and complete ceasefire in the Eastern part of Ukraine, which should start before the end of 2019.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: The government then five years ago when Russia occupied an annex, Crimea, then backed pro-Russian separatists in Donbass, but since then, about 13,000 people have been killed in the fighting, mostly Ukrainian civilians.

Police in New Zealand are not yet opening a criminal investigation into the death of at least five people who died in a volcanic eruption. They said it's just too early at this point. 47 people, a bunch of tourists for a cruise ship were on White Island at the time of the explosion. Officials say at least eight more people are missing, presumed dead. There is a video from the scene which shows people fleeing as the eruption happens. The emergency crews evacuated dozens of injured to nearby hospital. Those victims include visitors from seven countries. The first responder described it was a terrifying scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUSSELL CLARK, INTENSIVE CARE PARAMEDIC: It was like I've seen the Chernobyl miniseries, and there was just -- everything was just blanketed in ash. It was -- it was quite an overwhelming risque feeling. There was a helicopter on the island that I see being there at the time. It was -- three of the blades were off it. It's quite a -- it's quite a -- it's quite a shocking experience. (END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: (INAUDIBLE) now live to journalist Donna-Marie Lever who is in Tauranga in New Zealand. So Donna, we spoke last hour, we're talking about this police investigation. You know, it was very early stages, so the stories change, facts change. What do you know about this change of decision by the New Zealand police not to begin this investigation?

DONNA-MARIE LEVER, JOURNALIST: Well, police have moved very quickly to really clarify what they meant by that. They've said there was a mix up of words. It's not a criminal investigation, but what they mean is it's a standard investigation, one that you'd expect to see with an incident like this. And this stage, they will be assisting the coroner. Any talk of a criminal investigation could be a little bit further down the line. Those numbers again, 47 were on White Island when it did erupt, five confirmed dead, eight are still missing, and those missing are confirmed dead with police saying there was no sign of life.

VAUSE: What we know about this explosion is there was a steam-driven explosion and that means there's an expectation, I guess, of further explosions and eruptions to come. Kind of they're smaller, but they're still there. Has that been the case and what are officials expecting in terms of, you know, more rumblings from the volcano?

LEVER: Look, it's -- there could well be one. And of course, as much as there could be, they might not be. This sitting on the fence a wee bit if you like. (INAUDIBLE) scientists here in New Zealand are advising police emergency services and authorities because the problem with the recovery operation which we're now in is it has to be absolutely safe for teams to go in on the ground. Wind has picked up this afternoon. That's hampered more drones going up to have a look. So, really, they are waiting for the absolute clearance on that volcanic activity. And it just simply can't be given at this stage.

VAUSE: OK, Donna, we appreciate the update there. Donna-Marrie Lever live for us in Tauranga in New Zealand, thank you.

Two days to go until Britain decides, and CNN has been talking to voters across the country. Coming up, (INAUDIBLE) Brexit on letting everything know it's a question of trust. We'll explain more on that in a moment.

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[01:20:09]

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGIST: A chilly Tuesday across portions of North America. I'm meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. We've got a massive front stretching out of portions of Southern Canada all the way into the Gulf Coast states. And with it, of course, not only some heavy rainfall that we had down across the southern tier of this region, but maybe even with a cold air in place, could see a flurry or two out of areas of the Tennessee Valley, which would be the first of the season across that region and with a cold air also filtering in into portions of the northeastern United States, expecting some snow showers potentially on Wednesday across the Big Apple.

So, you'll notice the trend, morning snow showers, highs at four degrees, a big drop with that front and temps in cool further into Thursday at zero, but we do expect another round of warmer air and more rainfall as we go in towards this weekend across New York City. How about this trend, 18 below, that is the afternoon high in Winnipeg. It certainly feels more like February as opposed to the last few weeks of autumn.

Chicago, minus four for an afternoon high. Rainfall expected in Atlanta, highs there around 19 degrees. And the tropics, tis the season here, and of course, the hurricane season has all but waned across the area. The temperatures on the warm side still in plenty of sunshine to be had in Kingston. 32 degrees there with sunny skies and the forecast. And then, you kind of glance over the tropics and you see not much in the way of activity. So, this is the time of year to make your way down towards the tropics. We'll leave you though with areas across South America.

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VAUSE: Hard to believe it's almost election eve. With general elections just two days away, Brexit and the National Health Service are taking center stage, as the leading candidates are making their final pitch to win voters. CNN's European Affairs Commentator, Dominic Thomas, joins us now up from Berlin. Guten morgen. Good to see you.

DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Guten Morgen, John.

VAUSE: OK. So, here we go, the final days, the finishing line is in sight, the clock is ticking down, the leaders of the two major parties, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn may well could best be described as closing arguments over the weekend. Here they are.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN: It's a close force election, isn't it, everybody? But we got -- we got to get back to rugby. We would drive now, drive for the line, keeping the ball firmly at the back of our feet, and we're going to get that. We're going to get that, but we're only going to get there if we work very hard.

JEREMY CORBYN, LEADER, LABOUR PARTY: Our manifesto is serious, well- prepared, and fully costed. We've got a grey book that identifies every single item of expenditure we wish to make as a Labour government. We're the only party to have done that because we're absolutely serious about this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Can't wait to read that gray book. There really is a significant difference between the promises made by Johnson and the conservatives and the sweeping reforms Mr. Corbyn is proposing. First hundred days, he would nationalize public utilities, I mean, increase in public spending. 32-hour workweek, retirement age frozen at 66. This seems really ambitious in a country which is already facing massive social upheaval with Brexit.

THOMAS: Right, John. I mean, the whole point of this election was to try and, you know, break the paralysis and move this country along. You know, it's something particular to the -- to their system, you know, a constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy that is by nature adversarial. And at the very time in U.K. history, when you need people to come together and try and compromise, these divisions are even more entrenched. And I think we're going to see that in the voting that takes place on Thursday.

But yes, you're absolutely right. You have Boris Johnson here, who is at the helm of a party, where he's been talking about nothing else but Brexit, and on the questions of the NHS and Social Services and so on. He sounded rather weak, and his party really comes across as being very detached, very elitist from the rest of British society. Now, diametrically opposed to that is what Jeremy Corbyn has to offer.

[01:25:01]

And in many ways, it is the vision of a much fairer society that he has on offer. But both characters, both candidates have these incredible unfavorable ratings and it's going to be interesting to see as people go to the polls. Who it is and whose perceptions they're able to find palatable, as they go about voting for the third time in three -- in -- since 2015.

VAUSE: Well, maybe they'll get it right this time. I guess, if nothing else, you know, this is possibility. I think many are hoping they'll draw a line under three years of political bickering over Brexit. I want you to listen to the chief Brexiteer of them all, Nigel Farage. Here he is.

THOMAS: Uh-hmm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIGEL FARAGE, LEADER, BREXIT PARTY: We are now going to get Brexit. It's going to happen. That we're going to leave at the end of January. I've got no doubt about that. The debate now isn't whether we get Brexit, it's whether it's Brexit in name only or something meaningful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Specifically, what does he mean by Brexit in name only?

THOMAS: Well, this is really, you know, it's like, you know, your hard boiled eggs. Do you like them hard or soft? You know, as far as Nigel Farage is concerned, anything short of sort of full on, you know, nationalist independence is going to be unsatisfactory. So, when it comes to, you know, the divorce failed and breaking old ties with the European Union over legalities, et cetera, et cetera, he wants that.

Now, the irony of this, of course, is that Boris Johnson is going before the British people in this general election having negotiated a new withdrawal agreement with the European Union. And in theory, that's what he's running on. And that particular vision does not really coincide with that of Nigel Farage's. What is of great concern to people, though, and this will depend on whether Boris Johnson is able to get a solid majority going into Parliament, is whether the Brexiteers around him will, in fact, push him for that much harder Brexit which Nigel Farage is being -- has been talking about here. And I think that that's going to play in to people's decision making when they go to the polls on Thursday.

VAUSE: In some ways it seems like this is the election that no one really wants, has all the excitement and buzz like a trip to the dentist. Even Boris Johnson which is, you know, basically hijacking a scene from the much love Christmas movie "Love Actually" all seemed a little forced. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEXT: -- with any luck, by next year, we'll have Brexit done if Parliament doesn't block it again. And we can move on. But for now, let me say your vote has never been more important. The other guy could win.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Seems almost cute, doesn't it? But, you know, last point, anything could happen, but really, has Corbyn still have a chance of winning this?

THOMAS: Well, I mean look, John, when you look at the, you know, the broader situation, he's alienated many people within his party over a number of issues that have been much discussed. It's clear that his Brexit policy is not going to appeal to those who want to remain in the European Union or his position on Brexit, let's say. And when it comes to -- and this is really going to be the big determining factor in this election -- is whether his acceptance of some kind of Brexit is going to be enough to satisfy those constituents that want to leave in those -- in those areas in which Labour can potentially pick up seats. But there are many other problems that he -- that he faces.

And I think, really, it's not so much a question as to whether there's any real possibility of him actually winning, but does it actually the conservatives, underperform and you end up with a hung Parliament, is what the road might be for Boris Johnson to building a new government and a new cabinet. And if that doesn't work, what role Jeremy Corbyn might play in trying to negotiate some kind of opposition government. But I think that if he doesn't perform well, you know, in this, then ultimately, his days -- his days are going to be numbered.

VAUSE: I hear you saying it looks like we're in for what a lot more quite possibly --

THOMAS: Yes. VAUSE: -- in the days after the election as we saw the days before.

We'll see what happens. Dominic, thank you for being with us. Talk to you again tomorrow, appreciate it.

THOMAS: Great.

VAUSE: Cheers.

THOMAS: Thanks, John.

VAUSE: The Golden Globe nominations are out. Why do they do this in the morning? It's kind of crazy. But the big winner already is Netflix.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:32:42]

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: If U.S. network television needed another sign of trouble, the Golden Globes gave it to them in spades.

The nominations for the 77th annual Golden Globe awards are out. The streaming services were prominent to say the least while the broadcast networks came up with nada, nothing.

Netflix dominated with 34 nominations, Amazon Studios or Prime Video who got eight nods, Apple TV even got a nod with three nominations, and Hulu got five.

Sandro Monetti joins us now from Los Angeles. He's the editor-in- chief for the "Hollywood International Filmmaker" magazine.

Hey, you know, it kind of feels almost like these are what you call (ph) like death rattle for the (INAUDIBLE) networks like, you know, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX?

(CROSSTALKING)

SANDRO MONETTI, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER" MAGAZINE: They're not so much nominations. They're more a coronation of Netflix, the dominant force in the awards game.

It's a remarkable rise to the summit in such a short time. In the movie categories they have 17 nominations. The likes of "The Two Popes", "The Irishman", "Marriage Story" leading the way.

In the TV categories, you know, there they have -- you know, they got 17 again, narrowly ahead of HBO, the perennial awards powerhouse.

It's a changing of the guard and never mind cutting the cord, this really is -- can you hear that -- that is the death knell for the broadcast networks. And slightly behind, them the major Hollywood studios. Netflix has spent big and they are winning big.

VAUSE: I guess, you know, at the end of the day though when you look at these awards I mean there's always this question of, you know, who gets nominated, who gets the nod and all the rest of it.

And there's this headline out of the "Washington Post". "The Golden Globes did not nominate any women for the best director or screenplay or motion picture." You know, this is sort of -- the sort of the history of the Golden Globes. I mean what -- Barbra Streisand is the only woman whose ever actually won a directing nod from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. So should we actually not be too surprised by that?

MONETTI: It's absolutely scandalous especially when you consider that some of the year's best films and TV shows have been directed by women. There are encouraging signs in the industry that things are changing but it's like the awards voters didn't get the memo.

[01:34:58]

MONETTI: The Golden Globes are a very small group -- less than 100 voters. You know, next month we will have the Oscar nominations where they have over 10,000 voters. Let's hope this pattern is not repeated, because yes, in the year of the woman in Hollywood it's yet another year of the snub from the Golden Globes.

But talking about women in Hollywood, I think Netflix's best purchase has been the company of Lisa Taback. Now Lisa Taback is not a name that's known publicly but for the last two decades she has been the best awards strategist.

Started off working for Harvey Weinstein. Films -- getting films like "Shakespeare in Love" Best Picture Oscars, ahead of "Saving Private Ryan". A lot of the long shot winds in recent years and awards have been hers.

And Netflix two years ago put out a strategy. We want to dominate the awards. Let's go out and buy Lisa Tabacks' company. They did. And she clearly is bringing in a lot of these nominations. The final frontier is to get these female directors and writers nominated.

VAUSE: So ok. If you want a strategy to get women nominated for being best director or best writer or whatever they should change their name to Meryl Streep.

MONETTI: They should. You know, we have talked a lot haven't we in this reports about Hollywood is always changing. One thing that never changes is Meryl Streep is there in the awards race.

Today, she has broken her own record. She has got her 34th Golden Globe nomination. We've just seen her in clips from "The Devil Wears Prada" there -- one of her classic performances. Her latest one in "Big Little Lies" has seen her nominated in the Supporting Actress category on television.

So no matter what changes in Hollywood, you know what we say about the year of the woman, it is always the year of Meryl Streep and long may it continue to be so. What a legend.

VAUSE: Speaking of legends, Ricky Gervais has been convinced to come back and host --

MONETTI: Yes.

VAUSE: -- the awards show again. I think it's a good call but it seems always he kind of catches the spirit of the Globes which is sort of irreverent and, you know, a little bit naughty.

MONETTI: He is back. This is his fifth and he says his final time hosting the Golden Globes. And everything is so -- I mean award shows, they've become so boring. What they need is Ricky Gervais back. And so one very wise thing the Golden Globes, you know, has done is hired him as host.

I love it. He takes no prisoners. He slaughters all the sacred cows in the room and it is great to watch. He is not everyone's taste, but awards shows has become really boring.

Ricky Gervais is never boring. He'll be worth watching, even if the parade of winners isn't so.

VAUSE: Because I remember, you know, about a couple of years ago and there was a lot of criticism that he just went too far, that he crossed the line, that he was mean. That his humor was kind of nasty, which is the funny part of his humor. So do we know if he has been -- you know, any restrictions? If he has agreed to pull it in a bit or what?

MONETTI: Absolutely not, you know. It would -- it would certainly be in his agreement not to hold back and, you know, these multimillionaire movie stars, you know, can take a bit of ribbing.

I mean, it is different from when he last hosted it, after all, because there is so much abuse on social media, it will get much worse there. So, you know, I'm sure they can take a few lighthearted jokes.

You, know it's not as mean as anything they'd say here, you know, with one flick of the laptop button, I think.

VAUSE: Let's ask Mel Gibson and see what he thinks.

MONETTI: He's never recovered.

VAUSE: By the way, happy birthday.

MONETTI: Thank you very much. Thanks for having me on my birthday.

VAUSE: It's always a pleasure. Cheers.

Up next, are you a high powered attorney that somewhat can't find a briefcase? Have no fear -- the big, green shopping bag is here.

[01:38:39]

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VAUSE: If you've left your shopping to the last minute, especially for Christmas, here's some help for you. Because for that man who has everything, well, here is an idea -- a green (INAUDIBLE) tote bag perfect for groceries, clothing, and all the legal documentation you need to defend the U.S. President from impeachment.

Here is Jeanne Moos.

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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You may use them to carry groceries, but counsel for the Republicans used one to carry impeachment documents. You would think he committed a high crime or misdemeanor from the reaction.

Hey, you're bringing your briefcase today for you're nationally televised impeachment hearing, right? No, no, I'll be fine with this.

Steve Castor was pulling out documents from his recycle grocery bag as if he were yanking out sandwiches and milk. Well, at least we know what he needs for Christmas. Instead of a monogrammed briefcase, his bag read, "live, eat, shop, reuse". Maybe it should have said --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hearsay, presumptions and speculation.

MOOS: Or --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bribery, extortion or whatever.

MOOS: Someone tweeted it should read, "recycled, wacky conspiracy theories". The bag's maker, The Fresh Market, is now calling itself the official briefcase maker of Steve Castor and offering a free bags for a limited time to anyone who mentions Castor's bag.

Someone even made a Ukrainian joke. "My Ukrainian husband would call this his Ukrainian suitcase."

But amid all the mockery, some came to the defense of the bag. "Don't shame reusable bags. "Maybe Castor should have used one of the "Be Best" bags Melania Trump was hanging out that same afternoon.

Pastor could have worn his impeachment documents backpack style. His reusable tote was compared to the big reusable water bottle from which a previous witness drank. Castor sipped from a less eco-friendly plastic bottle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is badgering the witness.

MOOS: Make that badgering the bag, literally on the floor of the House Judiciary Committee.

This impeachment brought to you by The Fresh Market.

Jeanne Moos, CNN -- New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: He's probably thinking everyone will remember the most from the impeachment public hearing on that day.

Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm John Vause.

"WORLD SPORT" is next.

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[01:44:55]

("CNN WORLD SPORT")

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