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Trump Adds 3 Attorneys, with TV Experience to Defense Team; Interview with Former Sen. Russ Feingold, (D-WI), Senate Impeachment Trial for Bill Clinton; Senate Prepares for Showdown Over Witnesses, New Evidence; WAPO Poll shows 8 in 10 Black Americans Believe Trump is Racist; Controversial "Joker" Film Nominated for SAG Award; Judge Upholds Temporary Gun Ban Outside Virginia's Capital; Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) Opens Up About Her Struggle with Hair Loss. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired January 17, 2020 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: -- Your point about how much let's say politics are at play here with these Senators. I know during the Clinton impeachment you were a Democratic Senator. You broke with your party in favor of you wanted to hear from Monica Lewinsky.

I'm just curious, what was it like to break with your party, and how much do you think at the time you were thinking about what's best for the country versus what's best for me in getting reelected?

FMR. SEN. RUSS FEINGOLD (D-WI): Well, I could promise you I wasn't thinking about my reelection at all. I was too, frankly, stunned by the gravity of the fact that this was the first impeachment trial in 100 years. And you know, my colleagues, I think, almost to a person were sincere in trying to look at this issue. I did not feel that it was overly partisan, but naturally, they came in with certain biases given their political background.

Nonetheless, the trial was treated seriously, and some of my Democratic colleagues gave me a hard time a little bit about having voted to hear witnesses. But they understood what I was doing, and in the end, I didn't feel the case had been made against President Clinton.

But I did feel strongly because I took this oath for impartial justice that we had to hear witnesses. You know, Senator Schumer said on your network last night, there's never been an impeachment trial in the history of this country that's gone to completion that hasn't had witnesses.

If these Senators prevent witnesses from being called in this case, they have basically spat on the Constitution and ignored the whole idea of an impeachment trial, and that really can't be allowed to happen.

BALDWIN: If you were sitting in the Senate and you were going through this now, who are the two or three witnesses you would absolutely want to hear from? FEINGOLD: Well, I think you'd absolutely have to hear from Bolton. I

think after hearing Lev Parnas yesterday, you need to hear from him. Mick Mulvaney, I think these are some of the people they want to call and should call.

I mean, to not have them called or at least not have videotapes of them, depositions, is basically scoffing at the charges, scoffing at the process that the founders created, and I think scoffing at the American people who have a right to have justice done in this case.

BALDWIN: Here's my last question for you. Going back to a point you made a second ago about how you weren't thinking about your own reelection, Senator. I don't know if we can say that of everyone in, and you know, current situation. And so I'm just wondering what do you say to the more moderate Republicans, the Lisa Murkowskis, the Susan Collins who maybe are mulling over do I break from my party? Do I want to hear from these witnesses? What kind of position might this put me in, you know, in a state like Maine for example? I mean what would you say to those more moderate Republicans who are having a similar kind of come to Jesus.

FEINGOLD: Look, I don't want to suggest that I didn't think about my reelection when I was a Senator, I did quite often as every politician does. But this is a very special moment. This is a very unusual situation. It's a procedure that almost never occurs. And this is probably the strongest case against an American President in the history of our country.

And frankly, Susan Collins understands that. I work with her closely on a bipartisan basis. During the impeachment trial with Clinton in order to make sure we understood this, we called in experts and met with them together privately to make sure we understood the law of impeachment.

So I have confidence that Senator Collins and a number of other Senators will simply say, look, we've got to do the right thing here. We've got to hear witnesses and we've got to vote according to what our conscience tells us. Did this President create a high crime or misdemeanor or not? I think he clearly did. But that's up to the Senators and they need to take it seriously.

BALDWIN: It starts Tuesday, Senator Feingold, thank you so much.

FEINGOLD: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Still ahead here on CNN, a blow to President Trump after a new poll shows more than eight in ten African-Americans in this country consider this President racist. This as he tries to rally the black vote ahead of this November's vote.

Plus, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley shares her struggle with losing her hair with alopecia. She describes the heart wrenching moment she lost all her hair the day she voted to impeach the President. Hear from her coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [15:35:00]

BALDWIN: Ever since he announced that he was running for President, Donald Trump has tried to court African-American support on the campaign trail. He's repeatedly tried to convince black voters that life would be better with a President Trump, and since taking office, he has constantly taken credit for economic improvements in the black community.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I say it again, what do you have to lose? Look, what do you have to lose? You're living in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs. 58 percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?

TRUMP: Look at my African-American over here. Look at him. Are you the greatest? Do you know what I'm talking about?

TRUMP: The unemployment rate for African Americans is at the lowest it's ever been in the history of our country. They're finding jobs, and they're getting good jobs, and if you don't like that job, you can get another one because you have a lot of choice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Despite those pitches, a new poll shows an overwhelming majority of African Americans are deeply pessimistic about the state of the country under the President.

A new Washington Post-Ipsos poll shows that 90 percent of African Americans disapprove of the President's performance, 83 percent believe that he is racist, 77 percent say Trump deserves little to no credit for the unemployment rate and 76 percent believe Trump's policies are bad for black people in this country.

[15:40:00]

Aisha Moodie-Mills is a Democratic strategist and a CNN political commentator. I read this this morning, eight in ten, and not only that, here's another number for you, 65 percent say it's just a bad time to be black in this country, and this crosses political, generational, income, across the board.

AISHA MOODIE-MILLS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. So here's the thing is that black people have not really thought that it was great to be black in

America because we've always felt the undertone of white supremacy in this country. The thing about Donald Trump is that he and his candidacy and his presidency have stoked it.

Donald Trump is the voice and the face of white nationalism, at least racists think that he is racist, which says everything. He is the face of white identity politics in this country. The first people he hired into the White House were known white nationalists. Steve Miller still sits in the White House as one of his senior advisers. And it is well-documented that he is a bigot and he is a racist and he has architected our immigration policies that are based all on racism.

So it's very difficult for black people to look at this administration when this President is rolling back civil rights protections and say, oh, this is our guy. Because everything that he has done and all the people he's surrounded himself with show that he isn't, and it shows who his friends are.

BALDWIN: The White House would say, hey, look what we've done. You can pay your mortgage. We've giving you jobs. The unemployment rate is at this historic low. Why is that funny? That's what they said.

MOODIE-MILLS: It's great this President is taking credit for a lot of things that happened in the Obama administration that are really now manifesting in terms of the unemployment rate.

And so again, the poll shows that black people don't believe that Donald Trump has done things for black people. And what that poll also shows, which is interesting, which has been our experience in America, is that our own self-resilience to some degree is what we can credit our astuteness with moving ourselves economically through this world.

I think there was one person that was quoted that says, I work my tail off, right, and that is why I feel like my household is doing OK right now. It's certainly not because of Donald Trump and the White House.

BALDWIN: What about, think ahead to November, I mean even looking at the debate stage the other night. Like it started out as the most diverse field ever. The other night it was all white folks.

MOODIE-MILLS: Yes. Disappointing.

BALDWIN: So whoever wins in November, how does this improve?

MOODIE-MILLS: Yes, yes, well, first and foremost, you have to be honest and call a spade a spade about what's happened in America. The truth is, is that we have an him entire political policy system that is based upon the subjugation of African-Americans.

It is the founding of our country that is why we see so many disparities in the racial wealth gap, in health and wellness and otherwise. We're not just going to bridge those through lip service.

And I think that when you look at the Democratic debate stage as white as it was, there are still more people on that side that have some understanding of a structural racial analysis of how black people in this country are positioned. How we got here and acknowledging that is the beginning for figuring out how to fix it. Donald Trump hasn't a clue. He doesn't have a clue.

BALDWIN: Aisha, thank you.

MOODIE-MILLS: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Thank you. CNN, by the way, has just announced a series of town halls live from Iowa where the Democratic Presidential candidates will make their final plea to voters ahead of the Iowa caucuses. The special two-night event starts January 28th, 8:00 p.m. right here on CNN.

Coming up next, three suspected neo-Nazis arrested ahead of a pro-gun rally in Virginia state capitol. The tensions sparking comparisons to Charlottesville. I know, speaking of what we're just discussing. Live report coming up next.

But first, the Screen Actors Guild awards are Sunday where the controversy over the movie "Joker" could be once again be ignored. Here's Stephanie Elam.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Joker" getting the last laugh this awards season.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "Joker."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "Joker."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Joaquin Phoenix, "Joker."

ELAM: Already Joaquin Phoenix with two big wins, now nominated for a Screen Actor Guild Award and an Oscar.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The more I read, the more upset I got.

ELAM: Only months ago, some critics argued the film could inspire violence.

SANDY PHILLIPS, DAUGHTER KILLED IN AURORA SHOOTING: UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are other survivors of not just Aurora but of gun violence going to react to being triggered again?

SCOTT FEINBERG, AWARDS COLUMNIST, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: If there were to be another incident around the time of voting or whatever, you could see how that would maybe make people not want to elevate this movie further.

ELAM: But in his Critic's Choice win for best actor, Phoenix flipped the script, while praising Joker's director.

JOAQUIN PHOENIX, ACTOR, "JOKER": Instead of inciting violence, you invited the audience in to see what it feels like when you're one of the forgotten.

ELAM: Hollywood seeing strength in numbers, the public rewarding "Joker" with a billion dollars worldwide box office.

MATHEW BELLONI, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: The creative community's position on this is that no one should censor themselves because they don't feel like the message of the movie is for the masses. If that were the case, you wouldn't have any art.

ELAM: If Phoenix wins the SAG awards Sunday, an Oscar win seems to be no joke.

Stephanie Elam, CNN Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[15:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The people in Richmond, Virginia, are bracing for what is expected to be this massive gun rally, this upcoming Monday. In the run-up to that rally, the FBI arrested 3 alleged neo-Nazis who were planning to attend. And in a matter of hours the temporary gun ban on the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol takes effect. And a judge is upholding that ban following a series of online threats from hate groups.

[15:50:00]

CNN's Jason Carroll is on this for us. And we were talking about this the other day, but the new pieces that they're concerned about this online threats that are echoing sentiments of Charlottesville.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, without question. And you remember when we talked about this earlier, the Governor in the case made it very clear that his office, that law enforcement was receiving credible dangerous threats. Threats coming from out of state, from militia groups, from hate groups and then again, right after that, we saw look what happened, the FBI arrested those three men that you saw there.

They're facing a number of charges, firearms offenses, immigration offenses, one of them coming from Canada, and so it is clear that the threat is there. But having said that, you still have gun rights groups who are saying, still not fair. And so they're to appeal that judge's order.

We're going to see what happens with that, right now, it is still standing, the state of emergency expected to go into effect this evening.

BALDWIN: And they were arrested in Georgia?

CARROLL: Right. And there is a bit of a connection there, because the three men that the FBI arrested are members of a white extremist group called The Base. Well, they also arrested three other people in Georgia who are also allegedly affiliated with this group, The Base.

These three other white extremists not related to going to this gun rights rally, but what it does show is just how serious is.

BALDWIN: Jason, thank you.

CARROLL: You bet.

BALDWIN: Still to come here on CNN. Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley gets real about her personal struggle with alopecia. Hear her story of losing her hair in her own words. Plus, breaking news from the Supreme Court on the Electoral College. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:55:00]

BALDWIN: Here's some news just in from the U.S. Supreme Court. They have agreed to take up two cases related to the Electoral College and whether a state can force a Presidential Elector to vote for the state's popular vote winner. More than half of the states bind electors to that outcome. And some believe that the issue could come up more frequently in the current political atmosphere. Remember back in 2016, 10 of the 538 Presidential Electors voted or tried to vote for someone other than their pledged candidate.

And I want to leave you with this. This is brave revelation from Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. She is Massachusetts' Congresswoman with signature hairstyle known as the Senegalese twist. But recently the Congresswoman took to Twitter.

Quote, as a black woman, the personal is political. My hair story is no exception. And so in a move that can only be called brave, she debuted her completely bald head giving and an emotional interview to "The Root" revealing that she has alopecia. That's condition that can cause permanent hair loss. Here she is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. AYANNA PRESSLEY (D-MA): I did not want to go to sleep, because I did not want the morning to come where I would remove this bonnet and my wrap and be met with more hair in the sink. And an image in the mirror of a person who increasingly felt like a stranger to me. And so, impeachment eve, the last little bit of my hair came out. I was completely bald and in a matter of hours was going to have to walk into the floor of the House chamber, House of Representatives and cast a vote in support of Articles of Impeachment.

And so, I did not have the luxury of mourning what felt like the loss of a limb. It was a moment of transformation not of my choosing. But I knew that the moment demanded that I stand in it, and that I lean in. And I exited the floor as soon as I could. And I hid in a bathroom stall. I felt naked, exposed, vulnerable. I felt embarrassed. I felt ashamed. I felt betrayed, and then I also felt that I was participating in a cultural betrayal. Because of all of the little girls who write me letters, who come up to me, and who take selfies with me, and #twistnation and I thought of the t-shirts and I kept revisiting that.

And I immediately knew that I was going to want to, when I felt ready go public, because I had felt like I owed all of the little girls an explanation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: While the Congresswoman says she is coming to terms with the loss of her hair, she says she still misses it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESSLEY: I think that you might overly intellectualize it and say, it is just hair. People who are well meaning have been reminding me of the India Arie song, I am not my hair, you are not your hair. And that's true but I still want it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And this is one of the favorite lines she said to "The Root."

I am not just here to occupy space, I'm here to create it. I want to be free.

Thank you so much, Congresswoman Pressley for speaking your truth there. I am sure you are inspiring so many men and women today as well.

That is it for me, I'm Brooke Baldwin. Let's send it to Washington. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: A defense team dynamic duo that kept Jeffrey Epstein out of jail. "THE LEAD" starting right now.

[16:00:00]