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Trucker Protests Threaten Border Trade between U.S. & Canada; Russia, Belarus Scale Up Joint Military Drills; Chloe Kim Breezes Through Halfpipe Qualifying. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired February 09, 2022 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR. So Miguel this protests, it could in particular be a problem for the automotive industry. Why is that?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, look, because there are all sorts of goods that pass over this bridge every single day that have to get to factories that are made in Canada that have to get to factories in the U.S., and they have to be put into cars.

Right now it's only been about 24 hours, 36 hours since this protest has been going on. It may not disrupt it much at the moment. But as it goes on, it is going to be a problem right now all commercial traffic on the U.S. side is being directed up to Port Huron, which is about an hour north of here.

And there's a very long line of commercial trucks trying to get through there too many trucks to smaller bridge, not enough customs officials to get them through that area. Cars can go through the Windsor Tunnel, which is right in Detroit, so that's somewhat less problematic.

We are seeing a slow trickle of trucks coming in from the Canadian side now into the U.S. We've seen that for about 24 hours now Windsor police dealing with the protesters on that side. And most the protesters, as it appears are in their personal cars, trucks, cars, pickup trucks in the like blocking the access to the bridge on that side.

So it's not necessarily truckers, most truckers in Canada are vaccinated and want to get over that bridge and get to their final destination. So how long this will go on? It feels very much like a standoff right now between Windsor police and those protesters back to you.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, hundreds of millions of dollars transported across that bridge every year. Miguel Marquez thank you so much.

SCIUTTO: Joining me now is Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Mr. Secretary, thanks for taking the time this morning.

PETE BUTTIGIEG, TRANSPORT SECRETARY: Good to be with you. Good morning.

SCIUTTO: Lots of things on your plate right now. So I'm just trying to run through the list here. Let's begin with what's happening on the Canadian border you have truckers blocking, the U.S. border thruway. Now Canada, of course, this is one of the busiest trading borders in the world. How is this impacting the supply chain already disrupted here in the U.S? And what's the administration's plan to deal with it?

BUTTIGIEG: Well, we're monitoring this closely. We've been in touch with the State Department CBP all taking steps to try to keep things moving smoothly while the demonstrators have blocked the Ambassador Bridge. There's also the Windsor Tunnel and then traffic can be redirected through Port Huron.

So that's what's going on in the short term but obviously watching this to see if it develops into something that could impact us in the medium to long term.

SCIUTTO: Is it impacting this blockchain here already?

BUTTIGIEG: Well, look, this is really been a matter of, you know, hours into days, but clearly something that that we're watching closely because Canada is such an important trading partner and because that's such an important crossing.

SCIUTTO: OK, I want to get on to the issue of masks. As you know, a number of Governors, including Democratic Governors are lifting mask mandates. Does the administration plan to drop mask mandated falls into your portfolio, which is for trains and planes in the U.S.?

BUTTIGIEG: I don't have any news to make on that today. But of course, we're constantly and continually reassessing based on the public health guidance and the facts on the ground. I think all of us are looking forward to a day when we don't have to wear these things on a plane or train or anywhere else for that matter.

And as you continue to see guidance adjusted in different environments where there are different considerations, the hospitals not the same as the school, school is not same, not the same as a bar. And a bar is not the same thing as a plan.

But let's just say when we have the guidance saying that that's the right thing to do. I will be as relieved as any traveling American that we can move on to the next phase.

SCIUTTO: Are you saying you are considering lifting those mandates for planes and trains?

BUTTIGIEG: Yes, again we're always considering what makes sense. We don't lock in forever around a date - deadlines had to move often in a disappointing direction when we thought we were going to be able to lift it and had to continue it for public health reasons. If they can move in the opposite direction, so much the better, but it's always going to be guided by public health and by science.

SCIUTTO: OK, let's go right to your portfolio. Here a focus for you today, electric vehicles. The president wants half the vehicle sold in the U.S. to be electric or plug in hybrids by 2030. Now, the Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has said, the administration will not hit these goals without a significant investment in domestic chip production.

As you know, Congress is working on legislation on this right now, but it's going to take years, frankly, to significantly boost that production. What gives you confidence the U.S. and the president can hit this goal.

BUTTIGIEG: Well, look, we're already moving in this direction. You see what's going on right now with U.S. EV production and importantly, the production of the chargers too you don't think about that as much. But making and installing those chargers creates a lot of jobs.

Just yesterday, we were with the president and a company that has decided to locate in America and they're going to create 500 jobs making these fast chargers which are going to need to be installed we're hoping to do half a million across the country as far as our total network.

But look, we do need to continue building up our U.S. based manufacturing supply capability. This is one of the reasons why the president has been relentless from day one. One on talking about Buy America; Buy America principles are a very big part of this infrastructure law.

[09:35:00]

BUTTIGIEG: And frankly they're a very big part of how we deal with some of our supply chain issues? As long as the things we really need are on a boat in China, we're going to be vulnerable to any number of supply and other economic disruptions. It's why the president is fixated on making more right here in the U.S.

SCIUTTO: OK, another thing in your purview. And that is the issue of unruly passengers in this country. You said this week that we do as a country need to take a look at placing unruly passengers on a federal no fly list that the airlines have asked the DOJ to make it. So DOJ is now referring it back to the relevant agencies. Have you has the administration - has the FAA made a decision on this and will it?

BUTTIGIEG: Well, first, let me tell you about what we have done. And then this is something as I said, that does deserve a look, although it's not something that you could just flip a switch on. What we've done is a zero tolerance policy from the FAA passengers who would have gotten maybe a warning are now being referred for civil penalties.

We're seeing more criminal prosecutions, things like pre-check, right, you're going to lose your pre-check if you behave this way on an airplane, and it appears to be having a pretty strong effect if you look at the numbers across the year.

But look, there is no acceptable level of unruly behavior on aircraft, especially when it is not only disrespectful but dangerous toward flight crews and other passengers. And so as you've seen, DOJ got the referral there. They're passing this on.

And it's something that needs to be looked at while we continue using all of these other tools to drive those numbers down. And also, just since I'm on TV, I'm going to say it even though nobody should have to say it. When you are on an airplane, do not act disrespectfully or dangerously toward anybody, or while you're not on an airplane.

But when you are on an airplane, listen to the flight crews. They as the pilot always says they represent the captain and they're there for your safety.

SCIUTTO: I've been in places where it happened. It is not a pleasant experience. I do want to ask you about Florida's don't say gay bill. Your husband Chaston is speaking out against the legislation. He says in particular, that it could lead to more suicides among el LGBTQ. U.S. President Biden has slammed the bill as well, in your view, is this dangerous legislation?

BUTTIGIEG: Absolutely, yes. And the reason is that it tells youth who are different or whose families are different, that there's something wrong with them out of the gate. And I do think that contributes to the shocking levels of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth.

You know, Chaston, my husband pointed out that, you know, if our kids Sunday, some Monday morning, come into class and, you know, kids are sitting around the teachers got the morning circle talking about how everybody's weekends went.

And one of them says, I best weekend with my dad's is a teacher supposed to say though we don't talk about that here. You know, if it's at any age where it's appropriate to talk about, you know, a kid's mom and dad, and then it should be appropriate to talk about a kid's mom and mom or dad and dad, whatever family structures we live with. That's part of what it means to be pro families to be pro every family.

SCIUTTO: Secretary Pete Buttigieg, we know you got a lot on your plate. Thanks so much for taking the time to join us today.

BUTTIGIEG: Thank you, great to be with you.

GOLODRYGA: Both covered a lot of important topics in that interview. Well, still ahead, CNN goes to the frontlines in Ukraine how life is going in on the face of a looming possible Russian invasion?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:00]

SCIUTTO: This morning the Kremlin announced that Russia's Top General has arrived in Belarus ahead of joint military exercises there. This follows Russia's saying that the drills which are expected to begin tomorrow last around 10 days have scaled up claiming the two countries are facing unprecedented threats, of course ignored the fact that Russia has more than 100,000 troops on the border of Ukraine.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, we still don't know how long those troops in Belarus will stay there after these exercises? CNN Senior International Correspondent Sam Kiley spoke to Ukrainians living just miles from the Russian border as the threat of invasion looms.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): -- Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine. Russian troops and ships muster on land and at sea. And few places in Ukraine feel more vulnerable than --

KILEY (on camera): Here is only 30 miles from the Russian border. It's a city of about a million and a half people at least 75 percent of them speak Russian as a mother tongue. Demonstrations like this are important because this city could be one of the first to get attacked in the event of an invasion.

KILEY (voice over): Volodymyr Zelensky, the President has warned as much that U.S. officials are saying that Vladimir Putin could order an attack at any time.

ANNA ZYABLIKOVA, KHARKIV, UKRAINE RESIDENT: Every day I'm trying to be called and I'm trying to go through my daily routine. But I'm trying to have the thought OK, where are my documents? Where is food? Where is my mum? Do I have enough money?

KILEY (voice over): In a city that's been identified as a potential Russian target by the Ukrainian President there are attempts to carry on as normal that for many this is the new normal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't want to flee. So to protect see to my life --

[09:45:00]

KILEY (voice over): Ukraine has expanded its military but it's a long way behind Russia in military might. So it's taking these REQ T64 tanks from the 1960s and rebuilding them from the chassis up to rush to the frontlines, much like Ukraine is trying to build and defend a democracy in a landscape, much haunted by the Russian dominated Soviet Union.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KILEY: Now, Jim and Bianna, the ego --, who is the most Senior Commander in the Russian Air Force, Russian Forces that's Army, Navy, Air Force and all the others, particularly special forces, has arrived in Belarus ostensibly to oversee the increasing number of Russians that will be jointly exercising, there just across the border from Ukraine. That will be something that is deeply worrying to the Ukrainians and indeed, to NATO, because the - of doctrine is very simply put chaos in the ranks of the enemy is victory. And that is a doctrine that has been applied pretty effectively in terms of Russian foreign policy, not just in in Ukraine, but put countries like Syria too.

SCIUTTO: The Architect of Russia's hybrid warfare he'll be there out on the border. Sam, Kiley, thanks so much.

GOLODRYGA: And still ahead, a New York woman who fancied herself a rapper has now been arrested and accused of trying to launder more than $4 billion in stolen Cryptocurrency. You have to stick around for this bizarre story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:50:00]

GOLODRYGA: A couple of New York has been arrested accused of trying to launder $4.5 dollars in stolen Cryptocurrency.

SCIUTTO: Billion. Heather Morgan and her husband, Ilya Lichtenstein are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Morgan also apparently dabbles so little in rap post videos under the name Razzlekhan.

GOLODRYGA: OK. Well, CNN's Sean Lyngaas joins us now. And Sean, this is a very interesting couple and not necessarily because of the rap there. But what the feds are saying about their scheme.

SEAN LYNGAAS, CNN CYBERSECURITY REPORTER: Right. Bianna - what you will about the rap video and plenty of people are saying what they will about it. But there's obviously a serious alleged crime that took place here.

There was a hack of a Bitcoin I'm sorry, a Cryptocurrency exchange in 2016. And about $4.5 dollars in Cryptocurrency was attempted to be laundered allegedly by this couple. So there are a lot of victims out there who had some of their money taken and the FBI and others are starting to try to trace where it came from and hopefully get it back to victims.

I've been covering cybersecurity for about a decade. And this is one of the more bizarre stories I've come across. Because it has everything stereotypically involved with Cryptocurrency influencers rap videos.

The one of the accused Heather Morgan also wrote an article for Forbes offering consumers tips on how to protect themselves from cyber criminals? The irony there speaks for itself. So this is a case that we're going to be tracking closely because it speaks to the modern elements of cybercrime and what can be done to try to thwart them Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: And the largest Cryptocurrency crime to date Sean Lyngaas thanks you! Well, it took five days, five days but we got here Jim, and the U.S. finally has a gold medal.

SCIUTTO: Yes, it took some work. CNN Sports Anchor Coy Wire is live outside Beijing and today, I mean, some good news. Yes, but also, another heartbreaking scene for the U.S. this morning. Tell us what you saw.

COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes. Mikaela Shiffrin, giant slalom. She crashed out now slalom, there were two favorite events Jim. Good morning to you and Bianna. She said if she was going full gas, there was no room for error and she crashes out again.

She says now Jim and Bianna she's second guessing everything she's done the last 15 years that's no place to be in mentally. Shiffrin hopes to - in all five alpine skiing events now come down to just three chances left.

Team USA finally getting that first gold snowboard cross Lindsey Jacobellis in her fifth Olympic Games gets her first ever gold redemption because she crashed out in the 2006 games in this event. She's an inspiration for us all. 36-years-old she's the oldest American woman to ever win gold at a Winter Olympic Games.

Snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim is back after winning Halfpipe gold at the PyeongChang Games as a 17-year-old in her Beijing debut Chloe cruise to the final with flying covers. She says she had a lot of trouble dealing with all the success she's had over the past several years. She talked about just how difficult that was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHLOE KIM, 2018 OLYMPIC HALFPIPE GOLD MEDALIST: I experienced something incredibly difficult to overcome and it was just learning how to relive my life just kind of becoming more accustomed to that and I guess incorporating that into my new life was very challenging. And at that time, the only thing I could blame was that medal but don't worry, I got out of the trash. It's not in there anymore.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[09:55:00]

WIRE: She had actually thrown her gold medal in the trash can is back she's ready to defend her Olympic title and we're all hoping and rooting for her to be able to do just that.

SCUITTO: If I ever got one I would throw the trash. But I'm not going to get one of them settled.

GOLODRYGA: Well listen, we are all celebrating Lindsey and we're pulling from Mikaela. It's tough when it becomes a mental challenge at this point. She still has opportunities in the days ahead. Coy Wire thank you as always have fun out there!

Well, still ahead two more states are expected to roll back COVID restrictions, how should parents navigate mask rules and schools? We'll have that coming up next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)