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Buttigieg Slams Biden Attack Ad Questioning His Experience; Joe Biden Pushes Back After Iowa Performance; Trump Launches Attacks On Twitter On Impeachment, 2020 Dems; Interview With Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) On Attacks Against Buttigieg; Twenty-Nine Dead In Thai Shooting Rampage; More Than 800 Dead From Coronavirus Surpasses SARS Pandemic; Trump Attacks Faiths Of Romney, Pelosi At Prayer Breakfast; Sanders On Jewish Heritage: It Impacts Me Profoundly; Best Picture Race Could Make History On Several Fronts; Audio Released From Kobe's Final Interview With The L.A. Times; Kobe Bryant's Widow Shares Video Of Daughter Learning To Stand. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired February 09, 2020 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:00]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: And it's still anybody's race, you know, to win and candidates are not leaving anything to chance.

Democrat are fanning out across New Hampshire this weekend, each making their cases to be the next president. And now there's a new battle brewing within the party. This time, it's former vice president Joe Biden on the attack. He released a blistering new campaign ad, criticizing Pete Buttigieg's record as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and mocking his lack of experience on the national stage, but Buttigieg fired back today on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE BUTTIGIEG (D-IN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's a typical political attack and it's too bad because, you know, so many communities, communities like mine in South Bend, we know that we might look small from the perspective of Washington. But to us, it's what's going on in Washington that looks so small and small-minded. And you know, communities, whether they're my size or rural communities or even neighborhoods in our biggest cities that feel completely left behind are frustrated with being made into a punch line by Washington politicians.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And now with just two days before the New Hampshire primary, we're getting a clearer picture of where this race stands. A brand new CNN-University of New Hampshire poll is out today. And this one was partially taken after Friday's Democratic debate and it shows little change at the top. Senator Bernie Sanders maintaining a strong lead, heading into Tuesday's vote.

We got team average in New Hampshire. Let's start with CNN's Abby Philip, live on the trail with Pete Buttigieg's campaign. So, Abby, you know, he is at second in this latest, you know, poll,

and he is facing stiff pushback from the person in the number three position, Joe Biden. How is he handling it?

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, I can tell you for sure that even though today is in the teens, it really hasn't dampened the sense of enthusiasm on the ground here. We're seeing a lot of people showing up at these events for Buttigieg just over the last couple of days.

And I think what it reflects is two things. One, New Hampshire voters are taking this really seriously. They know the time is running short. And two, Buttigieg is taking advantage of being at the center of attention and certainly being at the center of all of these attacks, not just from Joe Biden but also from Bernie Sanders as well.

And in some ways, the campaign is really completely fine with that. They have used this as a way to pivot back to a message that they have been using on the trail since Iowa. They're now redeploying it here in New Hampshire and using Joe Biden's attacks on Buttigieg as their way of getting into this idea that a mayor is actually the type of leader that the country needs next.

Listen to what Pete Buttigieg told his supporters today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUTTIGIEG: Remember, mayors have to get things done. You're never going to hear of a city government shutting down because two parties couldn't agree. We just have to make sure that the water keeps flowing through your tap so we figure it out. You'll never hear mayors able to print their own currency. Imagine if you could just run Nashua dollars if the budget wasn't adding up, or South Bend dollars.

No, you've got to solve the problem. And that problem solving instinct that mayors have is just one reason why we need to start getting Washington to look a little more like our best-run cities and towns instead of the other way around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP: So you've also seen Buttigieg really taking on Bernie Sanders by name in the last couple of days. He has been saying that Sanders is not being transparent about the cost of his health care plan. And I think that that is a lot -- more related to what you saw in that poll that you just talked about, that Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg are right there in the top tier.

Buttigieg really wants to get as close to Bernie Sanders as possible, perhaps even overtake him here in the Granite State. So we're seeing a little bit more of a focus on the Sanders' line of attack in a really direct way. And he's using Biden as a way to get back to his core message here -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Abby, thank you so much.

Jessica Dean is also with us. She is following the Joe Biden camp.

So what has been, you know, Joe Biden's approach here? And do his supporters like kind of this new Joe Biden, the grittier one?

JESSICA DEAN, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, right, right. Well, more outspoken one, more direct attacks on Pete Buttigieg, on Bernie Sanders. I mean, that's what we saw as they came out of Iowa with that disappointing fourth place finish. And listen, his campaign always said, we don't have to win Iowa and New Hampshire in order to get where we need to go, the path to this nomination that we see for Joe Biden.

That being said, he has certainly shown up weaker in these polls than they anticipated. And so yesterday we saw him really come out and forcefully make these direct criticisms of Pete Buttigieg. The campaign releasing a video comparing their experiences, Vice President Biden's experience with Mayor Buttigieg's, drawing those comparisons out.

[16:05:04]

And then he was very explicit in talking to reporters yesterday about why his experience matters. So we've heard more from Joe Biden today. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I congratulate Pete. I congratulate Bernie. They did a great job and they were really organized, better organized than we were in Iowa. But I don't think that that -- I've viewed from the beginning, and I really mean this. I knew from the beginning that you have to take the first four as one. We got two primaries and two caucuses back-to-back basically.

Not a single person has won without overwhelming support from the black community, overwhelming, overwhelming. OK?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: And Joe Biden again drawing that explicit contrast, making the argument that he is the candidate with the overwhelming support of black voters, of the African-American community, which make up a huge portion of the Democratic electorate.

Fred, they have always made the argument, the Biden campaign, that this is a package of early states, that we've got to get through South Carolina to really get a clear picture and they are looking ahead. They are ready to get to Nevada and South Carolina and see how things play out there -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jessica Dean, Abby Phillip, thanks to both of you. Appreciate it.

All right. Wow -- hey, look, the snow is falling even more there. Well, and as is the intensity of this race, Ryan. RYAN NOBLES, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Accurate way to describe

it, Fred. You're absolutely right. And we have two very smart people here to talk about the New Hampshire primary. With me is James Pindell. He's a political reporter for the "Boston Globe," and our good friend Margaret Talev, politics and White House editor for Axios.

James, I want to talk to you about something you've been looking into, and I feel like this is an underreported story in the Democratic primary now and that's the role of gender, the role of female voters and female candidates. You know, we started this campaign with the most female candidates of all time. And now we're in a situation where there are two strong female candidates but they're certainly not at the top of the ledger.

You know, from your experience covering New Hampshire for a long time, this is a state that actually does elect women at a fairly regular clip.

JAMES PINDELL, POLITICAL REPORTER, BOSTON GLOBE: Yes, at historic levels. New Hampshire has set many records for the amount of women that they elect to office. Just a quick one was, you know, the first woman to ever serve as governor and U.S. senator is Jean Shaheen. The second one is the state's other senator, Maggie Hassan, for example.

And this is exactly how Hillary Clinton had her comeback, right? She was likable enough in the debate from Barack Obama and then later on she shed a tear over the role that being a woman and running for president is relatable. And I've been looking and waiting to see how this could play out in this primary. You saw a little bit of that from Elizabeth Warren last night when she -- brought back, nevertheless she persisted argument.

NOBLES: Right.

PINDELL: But you see a number of women, you hear a number of women and men who say they really want a Democratic nominee, and we still got two white guys on the top of the polls here.

NOBLES: Yes. And Margaret, you've been looking at this also, and you and I both have talked to a lot of voters in Iowa, here in New Hampshire. They say they want a woman to become president but so far it's not resonating in the polls. Should Elizabeth Warren be leaning into this more?

MARGARET TALEV, POLITICS AND WHITE HOUSE EDITOR, AXIOS: Well, I mean, Elizabeth Warren right now is really in a make-or-break position. She is of course should have some extra help from Massachusetts coming into this race. But when you look at her standing in the polls, it's strong enough.

Money is about to become a real issue for her. At this 100 Club dinner that we're all out last night, this Democratic Party dinner right before the primary in New Hampshire, there was a tremendous amount of energy and support for Elizabeth Warren among that crowd from women's voices you could hear, the women's voices rising up, not just in our cheering session but around the room. People whose preferences in other candidate like her very much also.

And that was just an affect you did not hear as much with any of the other candidates in the room. But for her, it's really a challenge of how she does it. And I think we spent months thinking about Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in the same lane. But as we see the polls diverge, and I talked to people in this rally crowds, I don't think that's exactly right.

I think a lot of the Elizabeth Warren supporters are more moderate, or less radical, let's say. Less likely to use the word revolution, more likely to talk about words like unity or, you know, more incremental approach, a more policy-based approach. So she has a few different ways to play it, but she's running out of money and time.

NOBLES: Yes. It's interesting you talk about the political spectrum and those of us who cover the campaign a lot, I think the simple way to think of it is just a straight line. It's really kind of more of a vin diagram. You know where you have little pockets.

TALEV: Overlapping.

NOBLES: Of voters here and there. So let's talk about Joe Biden. We saw Jessica's report from where he is today. It seems as though he's shifting his tone yet again. We had him going on the attack with Pete Buttigieg yesterday but moments ago, Biden focusing his importance on having empathy and he actually went after President Trump. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: Look, folks, this is incredible what we're going through now. We have a president has not an ounce of empathy in his body.

[16:10:08]

He has no idea, I don't think he can connect in any way. It's not about being a Republican. There's just simply no empathy. What in God's name are we doing?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NOBLES: So, Margaret, we know that his donors have gone to him and said you need to be more aggressive. You can't just play the frontrunner here and go after Donald Trump. He tried that for a day and now he seems to be tracking back. Can he have it both ways? Can he show empathy and be aggressive?

TALEV: He wouldn't be doing any of these things if he was in a strong position. And he's always talked about South Carolina as a firewall. It's two weeks away and it's a real question. If this race breaks in New Hampshire the way the poll suggests it will now about whether that firewall in South Carolina begins to erode. And so he's trying all of these arguments at the same time. To be empathetic but to be strong, to go after Pete Buttigieg but to do it in an appropriate way.

I talked to one of Biden's surrogates yesterday, Jim Blanchard, the former governor of Michigan, and showed him the ad, the one that goes after Pete Buttigieg on race issues, relatability, and Blanchard said, I think it's fair game. If it's true, it's fair game, and you know Trump would do it, too. And it's better to do it now. And that is Biden's best defense that he's only testing what Trump would try anyway if Pete Buttigieg were the nominee.

But the fact that this is how the tables have turned, that we're now just a couple of days ahead of this contest and that the former vice president trying to overtake Pete Buttigieg shows you what a difficult position --

NOBLES: And I think we -- for a long time this was such a very tame primary because everybody was so concerned about unity. And now you start to see the attacks start to sharpen but is it perhaps too late?

All right, Margaret, James, thank you guys both for being here. We appreciate it.

And still ahead, as the Democrats sweep New Hampshire ahead of Tuesday's primary, President Trump is opening his playbook. Planning his first rally since he was acquitted. And guess where it is? Right here in New Hampshire. The strategy next.

Plus Pete Buttigieg talks about being a presidential candidate who also happens to be gay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUTTIGIEG: I'm not running to be the gay president in the United States. I'm running to be a president for everybody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NOBLES: His message to voters, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:16:24]

WHITFIELD: All right. In just two days, the New Hampshire primary and the Democratic presidential candidates are in the spotlight. But tomorrow President Trump will actually try to capture some of that attention in New Hampshire, traveling to the Granite State for a campaign rally in Manchester. It will be the president's first rally since he was acquitted of impeachment charges in the Senate.

For more on this, let's bring in CNN's Kristen Holmes at the White House.

So, Kristen, you know, what can we expect from this scheduled rally in New Hampshire for the president?

KRISTEN HOMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, tomorrow's rally looks anything like today's Twitter feed we can expect President Trump to be in full-blown attack mode. As you said, this is the first rally after his acquittal. And despite this positive outcome in the impeachment for President Trump, he's made it clear in the last several days that he is still reeling. And today was no different.

He name-called senators who voted against him, he slammed Democrats, the impeachment process. So I want to pull up first that senator name- calling. He says, "They are really mad at Senator Joe Munchkin," of course he means Joe Manchin. "In West Virginia. He couldn't understand the transcripts. Romney could but didn't want to."

He also hit Democrats, he hit them on impeachments and Iowa. He said, "The Dems are crazed. They will do anything. Honesty and truth don't matter to them. They are badly wounded. Iowa vote count was a disaster for them."

And Fred, you need to know here, these are messages that are intended for his base. They are intended to rile up that base. And to be clear, President Trump shocked political establishment when he won the New Hampshire primary back in 2016 and he did it with this rhetoric. But the thing that's different this time around is that campaign advisers have acknowledged the fact that President Trump needs moderate voters to succeed in 2020 and those moderate voters, they don't like this messaging.

So as President Trump ramps up for this campaign as we know he's adding rallies to his schedule, it will be interesting to see how the campaign works around this type of rhetoric -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kristen Holmes, thank you so much.

All right, a lot of action there in New Hampshire right now and in the days to come for both Democrats and Republicans.

All right, Ryan. I wonder how much this might impact, you know, the voter turnout on Tuesday.

NOBLES: You know, it's interesting, Fred. At a lot of these rallies that I've been to for Democratic candidates, you do see supporters of President Trump kind of counterprogramming. So you can bet that the president is going to have a pretty big crowd here on Monday night and, he is of course in the back of the minds of many of these Democratic candidates as they head into Tuesday night.

Let's talk now about Senator Bernie Sanders still going after former mayor Pete Buttigieg. In an interview with our Jake Tapper today, the Vermont senator calling out Buttigieg for accepting campaign donations from billionaires. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm running against a candidate, Pete Buttigieg, among others, who has raised contributions from more than 40 billionaires, including the CEOs of some of the largest drug company s companies in America. So we are independent, our revolution, all these other groups. They are legally able to do whatever they want.

So my message to all of the candidates, let's end all of that stuff right now. You want to do it today, let's do it today. (END VIDEO CLIP)

NOBLES: Joining me now to discuss this is Pete Buttigieg supporter and Democratic Congressman Anthony Brown.

Congressman, thank you so much for joining us.

REP. ANTHONY BROWN (D-MD): Hey, Ryan, great to be on.

NOBLES: You're out on the campaign trail for the mayor. So, respond to that point by Senator Sanders. Can a President Buttigieg not be unduly influenced by these wealthy donors that are funding his campaign?

Well, what I would say whether you're president, governor, or member of Congress or U.S. senator, if you can't say no to your donors, you shouldn't be in this business.

[16:20:03]

But let's look at the facts. Ninety-eight percent of Pete's donations are small-dollar donations. The average donation is less than $40. He doesn't have the years and years and years and years that Senator Sanders has had in building a national network of fundraising. But what we see in our campaign, as we win in Iowa, as we're really surging here in New Hampshire, grassroots support and low-dollar donations to pick up even more. So it's already a low-dollar fueled campaign.

And the other thing that's important that we point out is, you know, the most important thing to do is to beat Donald Trump. He raised a few weeks ago $25 million in one day. So if the contribution is lawful and those are the only contributions that we take, then whether it's $5, then go to PeteforAmerica.com and donate $5.

NOBLES: You got the talking points there.

BROWN: Or $2800 which is the maximum under the law. The only thing that Pete promises, the only that this campaign promises, we will use every dime to defeat Donald Trump. That's the only promise.

NOBLES: So obviously he finds himself in a position now where he's among the frontrunners. So he's taking a lot more incoming, not just from Senator Sanders but also from Vice President Biden, and the former vice president putting out a digital ad this week, essentially highlighting his experience as a member of the Obama administration and a vice president, and downplaying the mayor's experience as only being a mayor from a smaller Midwestern city. What do you make of that comparison? And do you think it's a fair one?

BROWN: Well, first of all, I'm disappointed to see the Vice President do that and it seems more a statement about his campaign than Pete's record. It's also somewhat insulting to residents of midsized cities like South Bend, which is similar to the size to where we are today, in Manchester, to think that they don't wrestle with difficult issues, they do. Affordable housing and economic revitalization and public safety. These are difficult issues that so many Americans, whether you're in a

small town or whether you're in neighborhoods, even in big cities, are wrestling with. So for the vice president to suggest that small town America or a mid-size city aren't experiencing challenges.

NOBLES: But part of -- you know, there is a lot of things that presidents have to deal with that mayors don't, right?

BROWN: Absolutely.

NOBLES: You talked about, you know, helping to craft the Iran deal, there was the capture of Osama bin Laden. These are things that mayors don't have to deal with, right? Is this something that Mayor Buttigieg is going to be able to step in in day one and be able to take it on?

BROWN: Yes, look. His experience on putting on the uniform. I mean, he's the only candidate who has actually put on the military uniform, got on the C-17 with men and women in uniform, went to Afghanistan, served as a naval intelligence officer. So he -- while it may not be a prerequisite that you served in uniform to be president, certainly coming after President Donald Trump, who has a complete disregard for our men and women in uniform I think it's a preference and a preference that voters will recognize.

Pete knows the importance of a strong military. But more important, he knows the impact of that decision, if you're going to send men and women in harm's way and he also appreciates that there are alternatives to the use of military force like diplomacy and development. So he brings that experience along with his experience as a leader and a manager of a -- you know, a midwestern industrial city.

NOBLES: So let's talk about one area of weakness for the mayor that has been very evident in his polling, and that's the lack of support that he has from voters of color particular African-American voters. And there have been many of these advocacy group, Black lives matter being one of them. That have been very critical of his candidacy. What can he do to encourage more voters of color to get behind this campaign?

BROWN: Sure. It's like, you know, the challenge that every campaign faces. And that's, you know, meet the voters where they are. This morning I was at an African-American church in Nashua. And, you know, Pete was on with Charlemagne the God in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

We've made a pretty sizeable digital ad buy in South Carolina and Nevada. It's meeting voters where they are, and when voters, whether African-American or others, learn about Pete, who he is as a person, his values, his faith.

But more importantly, what plans he has to improve your quality of life and the quality of life of your family, then that's when Pete enjoys the support. He gains, he earns the support of voters. And if you look at, for example, in South Bend, Indiana, the community that knows him the best, the African-American community, and the leadership, business leaders, Councilwoman McBride have all endorsed him. So this is a campaign where got to meet the voters where they are. And

as we do, that's where you see the support surge. In Iowa, Pete was an unknown a year ago. He comes out of Iowa victorious. In New Hampshire we're surging and you know --

NOBLES: He hasn't been declared the winner in Iowa but I see your point.

(LAUGHTER)

BROWN: We say victorious. He's still victorious. I mean, you know, a year ago, and that was a year ago today That Pete had his first four meet-and-greet. A handful of people turned out and then by the end of the year and certainly by the time we got to the caucus, he was having, you know, record-breaking townhalls.

NOBLES: Right. Let's talk quickly, time for us to wrap up but, how important is a win in here New Hampshire? Do you think he needs to come out on top, in first place, on Tuesday night?

[16:25:02]

BROWN: Well, let's not forget. We are in Senator Sanders' backyard. And he did exceptionally well against Hillary Clinton four years ago. So, you know, we need to harness that enthusiasm, that excitement that's out there for Pete. We've got a great organization. A lot of volunteers. The voters are really hungry for change, the kind of change that Pete Buttigieg promises. And so I think we're going to do very well.

NOBLES: OK. All right. Congressman Brown, thank you so much for being here. We appreciate it.

BROWN: Okay, Ryan.

NOBLES: All right. And Fred, let's send it back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you so much, Ryan, and Congressman.

All right, still ahead, new, alarming details on the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. The number of people who died larger is now more than the SARS outbreak. Can authorities contain the outbreak?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:30:16]

WHITFIELD: Welcome back. Authorities in Thailand say the death toll from Saturday's shooting rampage is now 29 with another 58 injured. The gunman was a Thai soldier who began his rampage at a military base and then ended up at a mall where at least seven bodies have now been recovered.

At one point, police say they brought in the gunman's mother to try to convince him to give up, but then he was eventually killed. Thailand's prime minister said the rampage began following a dispute over money. And right now, the World Health Organization is sending a team to China to help with containing the coronavirus outbreak. Another team of experts is expected to follow. As David Culver reports from China, this comes as the outbreak hits a grim milestone.

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Wuhan coronavirus has now surpassed the 2003 SARS outbreak in the number of lives it's claimed. The number of deaths per day here in mainland China has steadily risen over the past few weeks.

The country's national health commission announced a total of 89 people in mainland China died from the Wuhan coronavirus on Saturday alone. That is the highest single-day death toll since the Chinese authorities began issuing daily updates, and it comes as officials here in China are announcing some new measures in hopes of stopping the spread.

In one part of Hubei Province, which is the epicenter of the outbreak, authorities are offering up financial incentives to stop the spread. The local county government will pay patients with a fever the equivalent of $140 to turn themselves in to the hospital.

Additionally, people are also being offered cash if they catch someone else with a fever and report them. It's a reward system essentially. But nationwide, efforts to contain the virus are becoming law with harsh consequences for violators.

On Saturday, officials announced seven medical-related crimes. Now, they include attacking medical personnel, refusing medical checks, and damaging or destroying property at medical facilities. Anyone who violates the new virus control regulations will face arrest, jail or even the death penalty, according to an official statement.

Meantime, the second of two brand new hospitals opened up this weekend on the outskirts of Wuhan. The newest one has capacity for another 1500 patients. Military medical personnel are staffing it.

David Culver, CNN, Beijing.

WHITFIELD: And coming up, it may have been the "National Prayer Breakfast", but that didn't stop President Trump from taking shots at the faiths of Mitt Romney and Nancy Pelosi when religion and politics collide, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:37:01]

WHITFIELD: All right. Religion took center stage in the world of politics this week. President Trump at the "National Prayer Breakfast" calling out House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Mitt Romney after Romney voted to convict the president on one article of impeachment.

(START VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): I am profoundly religious. My faith is at the heart of who I am. I take an oath before God as enormously consequential.

PRES. DONALD TRUMP, POTUS: I don't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong.

REP. NANCY PELOSI, (D) HOUSE SPEAKER: I don't hate anyone. I pray for the president all the time.

PRES. TRUMP: Nor do I like people who say I pray for you when they know that that's not so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Joining me right now to discuss, Jack Jenkins, a national reporter for Religion News Service and the author of "American Profits: The religious roots of progressive politics and the ongoing fight for the soul of the country", and Mark Galli, the former editor in chief of the Evangelical Publication, "Christianity Today", Mark making headlines not long ago after writing an op-ed calling for President Trump to be removed from office back in December.

Good to see you both.

MARK GALLI, FORMER EDITOR IN CHIEF, CHRISTIANITY TODAY: Good to be with you.

WHITFIELD: All right. So, Jack, you first. Romney and Pelosi, you know, have each been very out spoken about the role that faith has played in their lives and these attacks by the president at the "National Prayer Breakfast", you know, are very, very personal for them. So, you know, did that insult, you know, or galvanize people?

JACK JENKINS, NATIONAL REPORTER, RELIGION NEWS SERVICE: Well, I think what's interesting about this entire impeachment process is there's been a lot of God talk. You've heard both Republicans and Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez talk about scripture and invoke it throughout this process.

Now, it speaks a lot to how there's been some religious debate in political circles of late. And Republicans don't have ownership over, you know, invoking religion in a political sphere as they might have once had. And I don't think it's -- the critiques that Trump has made are playing particularly well even among religious conservatives.

I mean, one of the things to remember about --

WHITFIELD: But this was different.

JENKINS: Right.

WHITFIELD: I mean, this was something remarkable this week. And so, I'm wondering how it is being gauged. I mean, that really is kind of the question I guess I'm trying to get at which is, how is that gauge that the president would have such remarks saying that he doesn't like when people use faith as justification for doing what they think is wrong -- what they know is wrong? GALLI: Well, the thing -- the thing you have to realize is that it's not that unusual. I mean, living kind of at the ground level of, certainly, evangelical religion, I can assure you that people on the right are constantly questioning the faith on people on the left and people on the left are constantly criticizing the faith, questioning the faiths of the people on the right.

So, this is like part and parcel of the conversation that's going on in religious political circles now. So, he's especially egregious for doing it in a national setting, at a prayer breakfast. I mean, he basically violated two of Jesus' commands in one fell swoop; not to judge and to love your enemies.

But the fact is, this is part of the national conversation that most people aren't aware of that's pretty disturbing to me.

[16:40:20]

WHITFIELD: And then, really, that turned out to just be the starting point, you know, for the president, you know because later on, he would double down on, you know, attacking Romney and this is just within the same day. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. TRUMP: Then, you have some that use religion as a crutch. They never used it before. An article written today never heard him use it before. But today, you know, it's one of those things. But, you know, it's a failed presidential candidate so things can happen when you fail so badly running for president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. So, Jack, pick up on your point.

JENKINS: Yes. What I was saying is that in people who were in the room at the "National Prayer Breakfast", the reports are that it -- this did not play particularly well, these kinds of attacks. And there are some more moderate evangelicals as well as Mormons who have actually been pretty critical of Trump for quite some time and that's kind of the group that Mitt Romney kind of spoke of and spoke for in his, you know, conviction vote that don't respond particularly well to these critiques.

And I think, you know, there's very small margins that the president is looking at in 2020 and he doesn't have a whole lot of votes to lose. So, these are a mixture of, you know, shoring up the base and there are evangelicals who celebrated this sort of rhetoric. But there are others for whom this may not play particularly well.

WHITFIELD: All right. So, let's broaden it out a little bit because Senator, you know, Bernie Sanders was asked about how his Jewish heritage impacts his view of the world, in politic at a CNN town hall last week. Listen to his response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think at a very early age even before my political thoughts were developed, I was aware of the horrible things that human beings can do to other people in the name of racism or white nationalism or in this case, Naziism.

And in the community that I lived in, there were people -- when you go downtown and you shop -- people had their tattoos from the concentration camps on their arm. How horrible people can be to other people in the names of racial superiority, or et cetera, has certainly has been with me for my entire life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So, Mark, you know, what do moments like this do, you know, for a candidate, when they open up about their faith?

GALLI: Well, whenever you open up about your faith, it's a twin-edged sword. On the one hand, you are signaling that you are in some sense accountable to a higher power, a higher level of moral thought. On the other level, you -- now, all your actions will be judged by your supposed moral and theological and spiritual commitments. So, it cuts both ways.

And I think it's better for the nation, the more people will admit to their religious and theological influences I think that's good. It doesn't necessarily solve a lot of problems but it does bring -- it does take issues and moves them to a higher level of conversation. Unfortunately, that higher level of conversation right now is not very high at all. But it has a potential of doing that.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Jack, how do you see it?

JENKINS: I do think it's also worth noting that Bernie Sanders -- this is him kind of really embracing his Jewish identity in a way that he did not in 2016. And I think what happens at the end of that same clip is he kind of connects that, you know, claiming a Jewish identity proudly. He's doing that in the context in which there are spikes of anti-Semitism and spikes of hatred and acts of hatred perpetuated against Jews.

And so, he kind of sees -- claiming a Jewish identity as kind of a protest against those sorts of actions. And he, you know, ascribes some level of that divisiveness to President Trump. So, this is also a critique of the president at some level.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jack Jenkins, Mark Galli, we'll leave it there for now. Thank you very much.

JENIKINS: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: All right. Hollywood's biggest night is just hours away. And this year's award show could make history. CNN is live on the red carpet next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:48:49]

WHITFIELD: All right. Hollywood's biggest night at the "Oscars" just a few hours away. The 92nd Academy Awards had the potential to make history on several fronts depending on which way the best picture race plays out.

CNN's Stephanie Elam is covering all of this for us from the -- that's right, it's red this time. You know, last time, I misspoke. It was like silver at the SAG or something like that. Anyway, so there you are at the "Oscars", ravishing in a pink, raspberry, you know, frock there. So, what's going on? What you got?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're right. You know, sometimes the carpets change. But when it comes to the "Oscars", they're pretty much classics, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

ELAM: And they stick with the red carpet here, right. They keep it pretty much what they expected.

We do have a bit of an unwanted guest this afternoon, I have to tell you. It's raining.

WHITFIELD: Oh, yes. Darn.

ELAM: It's pouring. And it's now coming down the back. They're running around with velvet-covered pulls to push the water off the top of the tents to make sure it doesn't pool over the lights. So, that has everyone very excited.

Sometimes, the screaming is about that. Other times, it's about the stars of "1917" walking by right now. If you -- you'll probably able to see them right them. There's the stars right now who are walking by, who starred in "1917".

WHITFIELD: Nice. Hi, stars. OK.

ELAM: They're going to go and take their pictures and then they'll come back. And so, they'll make their way around. But that's what everyone's here for, right?

[16:50:02]

WHITFIELD: Yes.

ELAM: You want to see all of these folks who are responsible for these great productions this year. There are some expect winners that we already expect will win. We expect that Brad Pitt is going to win best supporting actor.

WHITFIELD: Oh, "The Morning Show" stars.

ELAM: We expect that Laura Dern is going to win best supporting actress. We expect that Renee Zellweger is going to win for "Judy", and also, for "Joker", that win is going to go to Joaquin Phoenix. We expect that.

The best picture one though, not as clear. Will it be "1917", could it be "Parasite" which would be that big, breaking news you're talking about because it would be the first international feature film to win best picture or will it get that prize on that category and not get the best picture? So, that's what we're keeping our eyes out for tonight.

WHITFIELD: Aha! OK. So, the "Oscars", the celebs, always fixtures. Also, always a fixture, Wolfgang Puck and food. So, this is kind of new. You're going to do the big reveal on, you know, what the palettes are going to be, you know, receiving?

ELAM: This is what he does every year. I asked him this time. I'm like, how early do you start thinking about this menu? And he says in December. He sends it out, put the menu together. They start working on it. There's all sorts of delicious things like caviar. There's beef and they've got fruits and veggies if you want.

Like, they have a nice plate that had like a winter root vegetables on it. And then of course, the staple that I have to show you --

WHITFIELD: Yes?

ELAM: -- the staple that I have to show you is --

WHITFIELD: What's that?

ELAM: -- the little gold men. These are chocolates.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

ELAM: And so, Wolfgang Puck always gives these out. So, I just got mine when I stopped to talk to him for a little bit.

WHITFIELD: Oh, fine. I was just going to ask you that. Did you get one?

ELAM: So, traditions live on, rain or not.

WHITFIELD: OK. Very good. Did you say beets earlier? OK. I mean, I like beets but, you know, that would be like, you know, a featured thing. I don't know. OK. Bye, Stephanie. Got to go. Have fun.

ELAM: Bye.

WHITFIELD: We'll be watching. All right.

Coming up, "The Los Angeles Times" gives fans around the world one last chance to hear Kobe Bryant's voice. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:56:31]

WHITFIELD: Just two weeks after the tragic death of NBA great, Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gigi, and seven others, Bryant's widow, Vanessa, releases a sweet video of their youngest daughter, Capri, the 7-month- old, with her striking resemblance to dad, wobbling very so gently in her attempt to stand there and smile.

For Bryant's NBA family, his loss still very painful, at last night's "L.A. Lakers", "Golden State Warriors" game, hugs, a video tribute, and Warriors' star, you know, player, Steph Curry there, even wearing a Lakers jersey, all of this as the voice of Kobe Bryant comes to life again in a "Los Angeles Times" audio interview conducted last October, which the newspaper posted this weekend.

(START VIDEO CLIP)

KOBE BRYANT, NBA PLAYER, L.A. LAKERS: I think coaching young kids is the most important thing we can do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Helping the next generation reach their full potential was at the root of why Kobe Bryant opened the "Mamba Sports Academy" in 2018.

BRYANT: That's why I love working with young kids because it's a great opportunity to not just prepare them for the game but put them on the path and hopefully prepare them for life. I wanted to create something where kids can learn structure, --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: -- learn ball movement and learn how to shoot properly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the 16-minute audio only interview with "The Los Angeles Times", Bryant talked eloquently about using his NBA career as a tip-off toward greater achievements as a coach, creator of projects including an Oscar-winning, animated short film, and most important role of all to him, father.

BRYANT: When you can create stories and create moments and events and companies that can provide opportunities for more diverse opportunities --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: -- and inspire kids --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: -- and create situations where people can be better. I think that has a lasting impact more so than winning championships does.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On why after retirement, Bryant didn't attend "Lakers" games?

BRYANT: I have my routine at home. It's not that I don't want to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: It's just I'd rather be giving B.B. a shower. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel you, yes. You're a father.

BRYANT: You know what I mean? And singing our Barney songs and stuff like that. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'd rather --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel you. It all makes sense.

BRYANT: -- because I've gone through 20 years of the majority of my career with my kids and Natalia and Gianna --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: -- and not being able to have that consistently.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: You know what I'm saying? So, to me, to make a trip up to Staples Center that means I'm missing the opportunity to spend another night with --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: -- with my kids when I know how fast it goes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His 13-year-old, Gigi, who died in that helicopter crash with Bryant, the NBA great gushed.

BRYANT: What I love about Gigi is her curiosity about the game. She's very curious about the game.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: And even in a very heated situation in a game where it's very competitive with back and forth, she can detach herself and come over and ask a very specific question.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: All our girls can do that. But that's the part that I think is most exciting is that it's her curiosity and I believe to think critically --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BRYANT: -- in tight situations is just pretty damn cool.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Devoted to the game and devoted to family, a public memorial for Kobe and Gianna Bryant will be held at the "Staples Center" in Los Angeles on Monday, February 24th, and tonight at the "Oscars", a planned acknowledgement for the legend.

All right. Thanks so much for being with me today. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. The CNN NEWSROOM continues right now.