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China Reports 500 Plus Cases Of Coronavirus In Prisons; Intel Officials Warn Of Russia Interference In 2020 Election; Trump Ally Roger Stone Sentenced To 40 Months In Prison; Democratic Candidates Step Up Criticism Of Rivals; Iran Goes To Polls To Elect New Parliament; America's Choice 2020; Russia Targets to Meddle in U.S. 2020 Elections; Coronavirus Infects 500 Inmates in China; Virus Chooses no Faith; Far-right Extremism Rising in Germany. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired February 21, 2020 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINA MCFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Election interference 2020. U.S. President Donald Trump gets angry over a warning to U.S. lawmakers about Russian plans to meddle in this year's election.

New coronavirus concerns in South Korea will tell you about the special precautions one mayor wants everyone in the city to take.

Plus, tears and outrage in Germany over a deadly shooting carried out by a far-right extremists.

Hello, and welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Christina Macfarlane in London. And this is CNN Newsroom.

We start in the U.S. where once again intelligence officials are sounding the alarm about Russian meddling in a U.S. election.

Three sources tell CNN that those intel officials warn member of Congress last week that Russia is already taking steps to ensure President Donald Trump wins a second term. And after learning about that briefing, the president became irate and lashed out but not at Russia. Rather, he replaces his acting director of national intelligence with a Trump loyalist who has no experience in intelligence.

CNN's Kaitlan Collins has details from the White House.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We've now learned there was an intelligence briefing last week with lawmakers on Capitol Hill behind closed doors and in a classified setting where top election security officials warned lawmakers that Russia is expected to try to intervene in the 2020 election, and that they are looking to favor President Trump to get re-elected.

Now we are told by sources that House Republicans grew angry during this briefing, and that when the president later learned about it, he did as well, fearing essentially that the Democrats in the room would try to weaponize this information against him, namely pointing to the House intelligence chairman Adam Schiff who was in the room, and of course the president has feuded with ever since his committee was leading that impeachment inquiry against the president.

We're told that this led to a meeting last week, the day after that briefing with lawmakers where the president blew up on his acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, someone who up until that time had widely been seen by many other officials as someone who was expected to be nominated to the top job.

But of course, now we saw yesterday and in the days since then the president instead has picked a loyalist, Rick Grenell, who is currently the U.S. ambassador to Germany, instead to take that position.

Now we are being told by two administration officials that they believe the timing of this report on potential Russian interference and the president picking Rick Grenell to take this job is purely coincidental that there are some people in the West Wing raising their eyebrows at this, and of course there are going to be questions going forward if the president went to this kind of a measure, this great of a length to put a loyalist in a job because he was upset about what the intelligence was showing.

Kaitlan Collins, CNN, the White House.

MACFARLANE: Well let's go straight to CNN's Moscow bureau chief, Nathan Hodge, who is joining me -- joining me now live from Moscow. And this, Nathan, a bombshell revelation once again implicating Russia. What is the reaction been from Moscow to this?

NATHAN HODGE, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Christina, Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently said since 2016 that Russia has not, does not, and will not interfere in the domestic politics of other countries, and of the United States. Although he has conceded that patriotic hackers could have targeted the U.S. election in 2016.

And interestingly, President Trump appears to have taken Putin at his word. Appearing at the Helsinki summit alongside Putin back in 2018, here is what Trump had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: So, I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HODGE: Yes. And interestingly enough, it's also the U.S. intelligence community and Russia watchers who have also pointed out that Russia has also tried to forward a conspiracy theory, for instance, that it was Ukraine in fact that was interfering in the 2016 election on behalf of his opponent Hillary Clinton. So, certainly, most experts, and of course the Mueller report have

concluded that the broader aim of Russian interference in 2016 and going forward is to sow discord inside American society and to capitalize on divisions within the American electorate.

[03:05:06]

So, certainly, it seems that we've seen this movie before, but this is definitely going to be one to watch in the election season. Christina?

MACFARLANE: Yes. And Nathan, isn't it true that really whatever Russia says about the truth of these allegations, the fact is, is that Russia in some ways, kind of wins here either way. Still seeing to have the power to influence the American vote despite the ongoing U.S. investigation efforts.

HODGE: You're right. I mean, again, I think this sort of broader effort has often been pointed as a way of kind of undermining confidence in the American Democratic system, and generally kind of creating what in Russia's called information noise, the sort of doubt, just sowing doubt in general about the veracity of information, and of course, of the veracity of U.S. officials.

And of course, Trump has often and repeatedly said that he believes that many of these allegations of the Russian meddling interference are part of this broader, quote, unquote, "deep state" campaign that's meant to pitches (Ph) name essentially.

But again, we're looking at some situation that certainly one can only -- we haven't had comment yes -- yet from the Kremlin about it. One only imagines that they'll be watching this with some relish, Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yes. And we will keep an eye out for that comment. Our Nathan Hodge there from Moscow, thanks very much for joining us, Nathan.

Well, let's turn to senior political analyst and senior editor at The Atlantic, Ron Brownstein who joins me now from Los Angeles. Thanks very much for your time, Ron.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Pleasure.

MACFARLANE: What we are seeing here, of course, Ron, is a return to the nightmare scenario once again with U.S. elections just nine months away. Let's just talk a little bit about that briefing and the aftermath of that, because explain to me why the president would get angry at his director of national intelligence over this briefing if he didn't do the briefing himself. And secondly, these briefings are required by law.

BROWNSTEIN: Right. And look, I mean, this is a very consistent pattern of behavior. I mean, from the beginning, the president has viewed any discussion of Russian meddling, not as an issue of American national security, but as an issue of his personal credibility and viability. He's always seen any discussion of this as effectively casting doubt on the validity of his election.

And he's been unable to separate his personal interest from the national interest. I mean, this just continues, really what we have seen for three years, I think, on that front.

MACFARLANE: Yes. And how difficult does it make it for us to, you know, for the Americans to protect the election if the president's opposition to this sort of intelligence briefing continues in this manner?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, I mean, the Republicans will argue that, you know, there is a process that goes on by itself and that we are hardening our systems, but there's no question. (Technical difficulty) not only as you pointed out, I mean, taking Putin's word over his own intelligence agency, but now actively punishing people who are raising the alarm about this is extraordinary.

And to me, I mean, it really is the continuation of what we have seen over the short term. I mean, you know, Susan Collins, the Republican senator from Maine now sort of famously said she believed Donald Trump learned a lesson from impeachment.

It's pretty clear the lesson he has learned is that he believes he can act with utter impunity on almost every front and that Republicans in Congress will not hold him to account on any.

So, I mean, this is -- this is part of a trajectory going on in many directions like what we have seen in his interjections and comments about the criminal justice system that points towards a feeling of being completely unshackled and unrestrained because of the unwillingness of Republicans to impose any consequence for his behavior in the Ukraine matter.

MACFARLANE: Yes. And as his point to, you know, pattern of behavior after the impeachment acquittal.

So, after this briefing, Ron, the president decided to replace his director of national intelligence with a loyalist, Richard Grenell.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes.

MACFARLANE: Now as you know he is a man with little or no experience of intelligence. Do you really think it's appropriate for him to be put in charge to lead now the U.S. intelligence agencies?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, it's astonishing inappropriate, but again, it continues the pattern, you know, that we have seen that the only way to survive in this administration is to essentially see your independence and allowed Trump to, basically project you as an extension of his will.

And that, and that is what is happening kind of in agency after agency. You know, whether replacing John Kelly, (Inaudible), chief of staff with Mick Mulvaney, or moving from John Bolton to the current national security adviser.

[03:09:57]

Even William Barr at the Justice Department who has been, you know, by any objective standard more willing to kind of bend the administration of justice toward the personal whims and grievances of the president. Even he is finding himself question whether he is efficiently flexible or loyal to what the president is demanding.

It is a -- you know, President Trump has seen the government really from the beginning as simply an extension of his will. Over the period, over the many months of his presidency, he has gradually eliminated more and more of the officials who hold any objection to that view.

MACFARLANE: And given what we now know obviously coming out of this briefing, it makes it all the more important who will, of course, become the directing -- the director of national intelligence, that position, you know, still to be confirmed.

But the president did say Thursday night that he is considering nominating Congressman Doug Collins as the permanent DNI. Collins, of course a staunch defender of the president during the impeachment inquiry. Is he in the range of people being considered for this job, is he himself qualified for that?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, first of all, he is running for another job at the moment, right? He's running for Senate in Georgia challenging an appointed Republican senator who is seen a somewhat more moderate.

So it's not clear that he would give that up for the DNI position, you know, especially given that it's an election year, and you don't know whether there is going to be for, you know, 61 months of the Trump administration, or you know, or 12, or 11.

So, I'm not sure that he would want it, but I think he would be seen as, you know, more qualified then Grenell, but basically on the same continuum as someone who would put his loyalty to the president above all other considerations.

MACFARLANE: So, Ron, the former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper spoke with our Wolf Blitzer earlier about the high turnover in the position since Donald Trump has become president. Just take a quick listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES CLAPPER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Another dimension of this that I worry a lot about, is the impact of the intelligence community writ large, and specifically the staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

So, the Ambassador, Grenell will be now the fourth DNI or acting DNI since I left in January of 2017. So, the turbulence and the turmoil that this creates, the lack of continuity and the lack of stability in running a major enterprise, local (Ph) enterprise, is for me, very bothersome.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Ron, I just want to ask you what you think about that statement, and also what kind of impacts a high turnover can have on the intelligence community and even the security of the United States?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, first of all, this is, you know, consistent to what we are -- sort of a parallel to the career prosecutors in the Justice Department who either had to resign or remove themselves from the case over the president's intervention in the Roger Stone matter.

I mean, what you are seeing is, and for that matter, the Environmental Protection Agency. The regulators of the environment and the described similar processes. Again, it goes back to this idea that the presidency is all of these agencies and departments is simply an extension of his will.

He has said article two of the Constitution means I can do whatever I want. And all of these departments and agencies that to varying degrees are used to operating with a, you know, a certain level of independence. And the ability to make independent judgments about following the law as they see it are operating under a president who completely rejects that concept.

And you are getting the friction intention of those traditional missions of the agency being pulled and pushed against his desire to have it all be an extension of his personal will.

So, yes, you know, the turmoil here is extremely destructive, but it is probably no more disruptive than what is happening at the upper regions of the career officials in the Justice Department, or the environmental agencies, or the interior department, or many others.

MACFARLANE: Yes, indeed. It does mirror of what has been happening across the board. Ron Brownstein, it's great to have you with us. Thank you for your time there. Ron, live from Los Angeles.

BROWNSTEIN: Thank you.

MACFARLANE: Well, another one of President Trump's associate could soon be soon heading to prison. On Thursday, a judge handed down a 40- month sentence to President Trump's close friend and long-time ally and adviser, Roger Stone.

He was charged with lying to Congress, obstruction of justice, and tampering with witnesses in connection to the Russia probe. President Trump says he is not going to pardon Stone just yet, but he says he hopes to see Stone exonerated.

Well, a religious group in South Korea now the suspected source of dozens of cases of coronavirus. More on that just ahead.

And outrage in Germany after what's been described as a deeply racist attack shakes the nation. What the leaders are saying, coming up.

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MACFARLANE: Welcome back.

The coronavirus outbreak in China has now spread to its prison population. More than 500 confirmed cases have been confirmed in prisons in three provinces including Hubei. The overall death toll is well past 2,200, the vast majority are in Hubei province. Just 11 of those fatalities were not in the mainland.

Of the 76, 000 confirmed cases, more than 1,200 are outside of China. The number of cases in South Korea has tripled, most of them linked to a single religious group.

CNN's Paula Hancocks travel to the South Korean city where the religious group is located.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a city of Daegu. It's about a three-hour drive south of the capital Seoul. And it's really become ground zero for South Korea's efforts to try and battle novel coronavirus.

This building is one of the major reasons why Daegu is now in focus. This is the building of a religious movement, Shincheonji, and this is where we have seen a significant cluster over recent days.

[03:20:01]

Now, Korean health officials have been calling it a super spreading event. There was one individual who came to services at this religious group, and then we understand that dozens and dozens of further cases have been confirmed since that time.

Now health officials say there are about 1,001 members of this congregation they are trying to get in touch with every single one of them to make sure that they are trying to contain this outbreak. But what they say, is that there is at least 57 as a Friday morning that they still haven't been able to get in touch with.

The mayor of Daegu has asked everybody to be wearing a mask. And I have to say I haven't seen a single person not wearing a mask at this point, even some within their cars are taking that protective measure.

He also went one step further saying that he would like to see residents not even go out at all, but to stay inside their homes.

Now there is a military aspect to this as well, there is a heavy military presence in and around Daegu, both South Korean and U.S. military. What we have learned as far though, is that three South Korean military personnel have been confirmed with having the virus. And that has led to the defense ministry to decide that there have to be restrictions on holidays for the personnel on going off base. There are restrictions also of any overnight stays and any visitors.

Now the reason for this is one of those who has been found to have the virus actually met up with his girlfriend who was from Daegu and who attended services at this religious movement. Now when it comes to the U.S. military, U.S. forces in Korea have

their own precautions, they say that they are prohibiting all but essential travel to Daegu. They are restricting movement of base as well.

So, certainly, everyone in this particular area which has now become the focal point for coronavirus in South Korea is taking this very seriously.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Daegu, South Korea.

MACFARLANE: Now the German government is facing calls to do more to combat the threat of far-right extremism after a gunman open fire at two bars in a town near Frankfurt killing nine people. Several hundred people gathered at the vigil outside Berlin. They remembered victims and held a moment of silence.

Melissa Bell joins us now live from the scene where the rampage took part. And Melissa, Germany is still very much in shock and I think coming to terms with not only what's happened but with the growing problem of xenophobia that exists there. You've been on the ground there now since yesterday, what are people telling you about how they are feeling in the aftermath of this?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you mentioned just a moment ago that anger, the fact that more has not been done to prevent this sort of tragedy, and to prevent the kind of hate speech that a lot of people are saying has been getting more and more prevalent in Germany.

We saw it out on the streets yesterday around the vigil, people who were very angry at the government not having done more. And after that initial phase of grief yesterday, I think today is much more about that, considering what has gone wrong, what the authorities might have done, what more they could do to prevent this sort of thing.

A lot of accusations as well this morning in the German press and from German politicians, mainstream politicians about the far-right AfD. And the fact that as the second largest party in the Bundestag, it has facilitated or normalize the kind of hate speech that we see in the manifesto of the gunman who took on and began his rampage at 10 p.m. on Wednesday night outside this shisha bar.

The AfD in fact tweeted yesterday, Christina, distancing itself from the attack, and yet, linking to that very manifesto that the gunman has said that he wanted widely disseminated across the world. So, a lot of finger pointing this morning, the head of the Green Party has referred to the AfD as the political branch of hate, and I think the party is coming under a great deal of pressure.

Remember that it began as an anti-euro, anti-euro party, it then morphed with the refugee crisis and to something that was much more about protecting German culture, and in particular, protecting German culture from the Muslim onslaught.

And I think that new face of it is the one that people are bringing under attack today, and it is the one that is raising all kinds of concerns here.

We are expecting another vigil later today, much more of a demonstration really. Again, an indication that grief here has really turned to anger, Christina.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

BELL: Mohammed first heard rounds of gunfire, then he saw a man entering the bar.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He shot straight to the head of everyone he saw. He laid down and then he fired at all of us. I hid behind the wall, as I was moving to hide, he shot me in the arm. I laid on somebody, somebody laid on me, and somebody else laid on him. We became a pile.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BELL: This is the man now identified as 43-year-old Tobias R. who police say shot nine people and wounded six others in two shisha bars in Hanau on Wednesday night. The diverse community in the heart of Hanau is shock by the attacked.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[03:25:03]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It was a massacre, a killing spree, there was blood everywhere. And people were laying on the ground.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): One of the young guys took a bullet in the shoulder, but he was taken to the hospital and he made it out. He managed to escape.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BELL: The police tracked the suspected gunman's vehicle to his apartment shortly afterwards. He, along with his mother were found dead. A gun by his side. Investigators are treating the massacre as an act of terror. Prosecutors say the attacker's home page posted videos to spread deeply racist ideas and conspiracy theories.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): There are many indications at the moment that the perpetrator acted on right wing extremist, racist motives out of hatred towards people of other origins, religion, or appearance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BELL: The bloodshed cost Germany into mourning with condemnations coming from around the world. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY (through translator): I believe that the German authorities will make every necessary effort to throw light on all aspects of the attack.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BELL: French President Emanuel Macron tweeted that he supported Merkel in the fight for our values and the protection of our democracies.

Germany's far-right extremism is on the rise. Only last week, a dozen people were arrested, suspected of having been plotting large-scale attacks on mosques.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MERKEL (through translator): Racism is a poison. Hatred is a poison. And this poison exists in our society, and it is to blame for already far too many crimes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BELL: It isn't just the German political class that have come out and condemned what happened in Hanau on Wednesday night, but also ordinary residents, ordinary Germans who have come out and with a great deal of emotion this evening attended this vigil that has turned into something of a demonstration, a demonstration against racism and the sorts of attacks.

This is the third far-right attack in the country in less than a year that we have been seeing happen over and over again. This, they're saying with their placards and their candles and their words here tonight is not the Germany that we know, it is not the Germany that we love.

MACFARLANE: That was our Melissa Bell reporting there from Hanau. And for our international viewers, African Voices Change Makers is coming up next. And for our viewers in the U.S. I'll be back with more news after the break. Stay with us.

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[03:30:00]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States. You're watching CNN Newsroom. I'm Christina Macfarlane. The headlines this hour.

China now reports the coronavirus has spread to prison population in three provinces. More than 500 cases have been confirmed among both inmates and staff. The overall death toll has risen to more than 2200, most of them from China's Hubei province.

U.S. Intelligence officials are warning lawmakers, Russia is already interfering with the 2020 elections. Three sources tell CNN that includes takings steps to ensure President Trump stays in office. And that's similar to what intelligence officials say the Kremlin did back in 2016. President Trump's close and longtime friend and political ally, Roger Stone may soon be heading off to prison in connections to the Russia probe.

A judge handed down a sentence for lying to Congress, obstruction of justice and tampering with witnesses. It's unclear if President Trump will pardon Stone. The judges making it clear the truth still matters.

CNN's Jim Acosta report now from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump threw his support behind his convicted former adviser Roger Stone but stopped short of offering a pardon to the dirty trickster. Just hours after he was sentenced in federal court.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not going to do anything in term of the great powers bestowed upon a president of the United States. I want the process to play out. I think that's the best thing to do. Because I'd love to see Roger exonerated and I'd love to see it happen, because I personally think he was treated very unfairly.

ACOSTA: And in an event honoring rehabilitated prisoners in Las Vegas, the president ripped into the jury forewoman at the Stone's trial, accusing her of being an anti-Trump activist that was in response to her Facebook post defending the prosecutors in the Stone case.

TRUMP: So, if this woman was tainted I hope the judge will find that she was tainted. And if she isn't tainted, that will be fine too. Now you would know about a bad jury. Anybody here know about a bad jury?

ACOSTA: The president question how Stone could be sentence to 40 months in prison impart for lying to Congress, but Mr. Trump unleashed a flat-out false hood of his own when he said Stone was not involved with his campaign. In 2015, the trump campaign said it fired Stone.

TRUMP: Roger was never involved in the Trump campaign for president. He wasn't involved. I think early on, long before I announce he may have a little consulting work or something, but he was not involved when I ran for president. And he is a person who -- again, he knows a lot of people having to do with politics.

ACOSTA: Stone is now part of a growing group of Trump associates sentenced or awaiting prison sentences. Democrats worry the president is floating the idea of pardons to try to keep those associates quiet.

REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI (D-IL), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Well, I think that he's dangled the pardon often with regard of Mr. Stone and Mr. Flynn in part to in my opinion to signal to them that if they stay on the team, that they don't reveal further information that they might possess about the president that they will be taken care of. ACOSTA: The judge overseeing Stone's trial took a jab at Mr. Trump at

one point saying at the former Trump campaign adviser's sentencing, that he was prosecuted for covering up for the president. Mr. Trump had been teasing the possibility of a Stone pardon tweeting a video of a Fox host calling for leniency.

TUCKER CARLSON, FOX HOST: The whole thing isn't up to shake your faith in our justice system unfortunately. President Trump could end this travesty in an instant with a pardon and there are indications tonight that he will do that.

ACOSTA: Trump allies are also reminding the president he has the power to pardon Stone with GOP Senator Lindsey Graham tweeting, under our system of justice, President Trump has all the legal authority in the world to review this case. In terms of commuting the sentence or pardoning Mr. Stone for the underlying offense. As with the attacks on the forewoman in the Stone trial, a fellow juror in the case of the president and the Attorney General are doing damage to the justice system.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They cast doubt on the bedrock of the equaled administration of justice that is so important to our country. I think he damages our democracy by attacking this way and I wish he would stop.

[03:35:05]

ACOSTA: Speaking to a group of former prisoners, the president was trying to relate to his audience at one point comparing his plaque to those in the crowd insisting he didn't do anything wrong, but still got impeached. As for a Stone pardon, Trump advisers tell me they expect the president to eventually settle the score if Stone's conviction isn't ultimately overturned. Jim Acosta, CNN, The White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: The U.S. Democratic presidential contenders are back on the campaign trail after Wednesday's bruising debate and some are sharpening attacks against their opponents. CNN's town hall hold on first, Senator Elizabeth Warren took Michael Bloomberg to task over his refusal to release some employees from nondisclosure agreements.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), 2020 U.S. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: So, I used to teach contract law and I thought I would make this easy. I wrote up a release and covenant not to sue and all that Mayor Bloomberg has to do is download it. I'll text it. Sign it, and then the women, or men, will be free to speak and tell their own stories.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: And Joe Biden also made an appearance during CNN's Democratic town hall on Thursday. The former Vice President took aim at President Trump. He spoke about the importance of reaching across the aisle and why his Republican colleagues might be reluctant to do so and it was especially (inaudible) about Senate majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, first of all, Mitch is not my closest friend. But I tell you what, I guarantee you there are a number of Republicans, especially with this president out of the way, who are ready to work on things like a rational immigration policy, are ready to work on thick things like dealing with infrastructure, ready to work on things like health care. I promise you that's there, but right now they're definitely afraid because this president is so vindictive. So vindictive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Now all the Democrats will head to the polls Saturday to decide who should face President Donald Trump in the election -- in the general election. But with questions remain about whether the state can avoid a repeat of Iowa's debacle. CNN's Dianne Gallagher reports on the steps officials are taking ahead of Saturday's caucuses.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Tonight it looks like Nevada's first ever early voting in a caucus is paying off with huge numbers. But will it make getting results more complicate? The Nevada Democratic Party says nearly 75,000 participated in the first ever early caucusing. Nearly the total number of voters in the 2016 caucus when roughly 84,000 people participated on caucus day.

In 2008, 118,000 Nevadans caucus in the Democratic race. And while the Party celebrated the high turnout, it adds the uncertainty of whether Nevada is ready for Saturday. Or will it be a repeat of the Iowa fiasco or final results are still pending.

TOM PEREZ, DNC CHAIRMAN: Our goal is to have a successful caucus. And we provide multiple sets of eyes and ears and wisdom and observations and lessons learned from Iowa. So, that's we could be successful here in Nevada.

GALLAGHER: Volunteer, Seth Morrison, raised a red flag early in the training process. Now he's more optimistic saying things are getting better but worried about lingering issues.

SETH MORRISON, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER: We still don't know any details of the back office of how will the early votes were tabulated, how this two works. Second of all there a massive shortage of volunteers.

GALLAGHER: The Democrats are scrambling to train caucus volunteers, having added 55 additional training sessions. Volunteers can now also try out the much talk about caucus calculator which Morrison says is user-friendly. MORRISON: The tool is very well designed, it's very intuitive.

GALLAGHER: But he does see potential problem for people who aren't familiar with iPad.

MORRISON: Somebody who is not use that kind of technology would find it challenging.

GALLAGHER: This slides replicate what CNN saw during a party hosted demo of its calculator. They did not allow our cameras to film the demo. The calculator will have preloaded early vote information which will be combined with the choices of the people there on Saturday to determine the winners and losers through two rounds of elimination.

The backup, if the calculator doesn't work in those early vote totals aren't available, it's tedious are likely lengthy process of manually searching a paperless of early voters rank choices. Still, the chair of the Democratic National Committee says he believes everything it will be smooth sailing come Saturday.

MORRISON: I am very confident that we have thought of every contingency.

GALLAGHER: Dianne Gallagher, CNN, Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[03:40:04]

MACFARLANE: Now, Iran heads to the polls to pick a new parliament. Will the deteriorating relations with the U.S. lead to pit hardliners. We'll get the latest from Tehran next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Polls are open in Iran where voters are choosing a new parliament. Increased tension between Tehran and United States seems to be influencing the final vote. Hardliner and anti-U.S. candidates are expected to win a majority against reformist who support President Hassan Rouhani. The moderates seem set for major losses, not just because Mr. Rouhani is under fire but also because many of their candidates have been prevented from running.

CNN's Fred Pleitgen joins us now live from Tehran. And Fred, we know that voter apathy has been a real concern in the run to this elections. Not least because many of those moderate candidates as mention were unable to be put forward. What are Iran's leaders doing right now to try to increase the turnout and is it working at the polls that you've been at this seen this morning.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Christine. Well, it's probably too early to tell whether or not it's working and how high the turnout is going to be. But you're absolutely right.

The leaders here in Iran, they have tried a lot to try and get people to come out and vote. In fact the supreme leader of Iran, he came out earlier today and he was the first to cast his ballot in this election and he also urged folks to come out here and to cast their ballot because he said, that this election was obviously very important one for this country, but then it was also their civic duty to come and vote. Let's listen in to what the Supreme Leader had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANINAN PRESIDENT (through translator): It is a religious beauty and responsibility, which I have shared that with my compatriots on previous occasions. The elections are the guarantee of our national interests. And all of those who love the national interest of their nation must participate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:45:12]

PLEITGEN: Now on top of that Christina, there was also a big campaign to try and get out the vote. There were posters here all over Tehran. And of course the candidates here only had about a week to actually campaign before the election took place.

Now, I think you're absolutely right. At the moment it does seem to be the more conservative forces who have the upper hand, there's a lot of people here who do have a certain form of discontent with some of the economic policies of the Rouhani admiration. But of course, a lot of that also feeds into the international tensions that are engulfing Iran at the moment especially the maximum pressure campaign from the United States and of course the international sanctions that have been devastating for this country's economy.

On top of that, it's also correct that a lot of candidates were not allowed to run in this election and actually ask the guardian of council that barred a lot of those candidates from running, why exactly that happened? What the process was? They say that had nothing to do with the candidates political leanings, they said, there were other factors at play.

We are going to wait and see whether or not that is something that could have effect on voter turnout here. The authorities are saying that they're still aiming for something around 50 percent of voter turnout. We are going to wait and see whether that happens. Of course there are some other factors at play like for instance, the new confirm cases of coronavirus here in this country, Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yes, I wanted to ask about that, Fred, because obviously we have this two confirm reports of two people dying earlier this week. How much is that sort of impacting the day-to-day there and how authorities responding quickly with these election going on right now?

PLEITGEN: Yes. Well, it certainly doesn't make things easier for the authorities here and you can see that at some of the polling places. I think we had been to four now here are just in the early hours of voting here in Iran and you do see more of the election workers wearing protective gear, wearing masks, wearing gloves also a lot of the folks in the public, doing the same thing as well.

There were some health officials in the town of Comb which where those two deaths came from who were telling people yesterday not to go to public places, but of course that's something that's extremely difficult. We're they're trying to hold a parliamentary election in the entire country.

So, the authorities are trying to come to terms to that, are trying to get people to come out and vote and at the same time dealing with this new threat of coronavirus. Because it's not just those two people who have died from the virus, but there's three other confirmed cases and some other suspected cases here in Iran as well.

One of the measures that we've seen in the authorities taking some places in Tehran, but then also in other areas of Iran is that the mandatory fingerprint I.D. that people have to leave in order two vote or to be identified that something is optional in some of these areas, just to make sure that there's a little contact that these people could have that could cause any sort of transmission if indeed coronavirus is in that area.

So it certainly something that I would say is a factor that the authorities are aware of. We are going to also have to wait and see whether or not that's something that could affect turnout here in this election as well, Christina.

MACFARLANE: All right, our Fred Pleitgen for now, thanks very much, live form Tehran with this election are ongoing today.

OK, a winter storm has knocked out power to thousands in North Carolina. Our meteorologist Gene Norman is at the World Weather Center and gene, what's going on here?

GENE NORMAN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Christina, it's kind of unusual to have snow in the South, but that's exactly what folks in Raleigh and other pasts of Virginia even far North Georgia saw, 3.5 inches there, 5 inches in Virginia, 2.5 in Raleigh is actually a record for the day. And in fact, it's been a longtime since they've had snow in that part of the state, 437 days to be precise since the last measurable snowfall. And they really overtook that by quite a bit with the 2.5 inches.

Now it's just about over for the most part. Schools are going to be close for tomorrow and parts of southern Virginia also in and around the Raleigh area in eastern parts of North Carolina and eventually all of this will begin to move out by the afternoon. Nevertheless would still lingering snow there is a winter -- winter weather advisory and a winter storm warning in parts of eastern North Carolina in additional 2 to 4 inches as possible. And by afternoon all of that will be moving out, some would be out and most of it will melt by then.

Bitter cold though is moving into the northern Great Lakes in the Northeast, temperatures are really going to plummet. Wind chills will drop out of four in Chicago by morning, 11 for Boston by Saturday. Even New York will be seeing another cold weekend. But by Monday, and late Sunday, we are going to see these temperature rebound very nicely, Boston into the mid to upper 50's. Christina, they've only had a half an inch of snow. I don't know if they want all of Raleigh's but the folks in Raleigh are saying, we wish it would go away.

MACFARLANE: Strange weather happening at this time of the year or whatever the place though. Thanks very much.

[03:50:00]

All right, well when is a shameless plug a little too shameless when you're running for president perhaps? A fun look at some unabashed political salesmanship after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Welcome back. In the race for the White House, candidates are pulling out all the stops to get voters to check out their campaign website. Jeanne Moos explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amid the babble of debate, they ring out loud and clear.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I-VT), U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Join us at Bernie Sanders.com.

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I ask you to join me at Amy Klobuchar.com.

MOOS: Reactions range from so incredibly cringe to better to have a tip jar in the podium. The candidates keep plugging.

BUTTIGIEG: As a matter of fact, if you're watching right now, you can go to PeteforAmerica.com.

MOOS: Going to town plugging website at town hall.

KLOBUCHAR: You can see it on our website, at Amy Klobuchar.com.

MOOS: As unsaddle as a late night infomercial. Though occasionally a candidate will work one in.

WARREN: It's not a plan, its power point.

MOOS: In the heat of debate.

BUMP: I don't know if there are any power points on it, but you definitely find the document on PeteforAmerica.com.

[03:55:05]

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, CEO BLOOMBERG, 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You can join me at my Bloomberg.com too if you want, but I'm not asking for any money.

MOOS: And his website doesn't, unlike the billionaire, the others have to beg.

WARREN: So, I ask everybody to go to elzabethwarren.com, pitch in 5 bucks.

MOOS: At least their plugs aren't as blatant at this one outside the Roger Stone sentencing. D.C.BlackTours.com offers tours billed as unique to black experiences. The founder of (inaudible) sign wherever hordes of cameras gather. The candidates tend to close with their plugs. Joe Biden once confuse texting with his web address.

BIDEN: If you agree with me, go to Joe 30330.

MOOS: Joe Biden just told us his pin number. If you agree with me, go to Joe nuclear code sequence. Boom. Did Joe Biden just give out the combination to his luggage, que the space balls clip?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's the stupidest combination I ever heard in my life. That's the kind of thing some idiot would have on his luggage.

MOOS: When someone says Joe's long record means he carries a lot of baggage, remember this?

BIDEN: 303, 30.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I changed the combination on my luggage.

MOOS: CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Made me want to find out. You can go to our website at CNN/politics. All right, that is it tonight. That wraps up this half hour of CNN Newsroom. Thanks for joining me. I'm Christina Macfarlane. Early Start with Laura Jarett and Christine Romans is next.

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END