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Demonstrators Clash With Police As Canada Cracks Down On Protests; Ukraine President Calls For Diplomatic Solution To Crisis; Biden Convinced Putin Will Invade Ukraine, Target Kyiv; Team USA Bobsledder Wins Historic Medal; New Comic Book Series Honors The Brave Tuskegee Airmen; More States To End Indoor Masking As Many Ready To Move On. Aired 1-2p ET

Aired February 19, 2022 - 13:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:00:19]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Breaking news, a dramatic escalation in those trucker protests in Canada.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guys, guys, guys, guys, we're CTV. OK. OK. OK. We're moving back. We're moving back.

WHITFIELD: Tensions boiling over for a second straight day as police crackdown on the protests that have been causing disruptions for weeks now. Police say the demonstrators who are opposed to COVID health restrictions threw gas canisters at officers today. At least 100 have been arrested so far. Police say several of those arrested were wearing body armor, and some had smoke grenades and fireworks in their bags.

CNN's Paula Newton is in Ottawa.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And so, just hearing these details seems awfully reminiscent of what we saw in the U.S. at the Capitol. So, what is happening right now?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well -- and Fred, I have to point out. That has been the great fear here that even protest organizers, some of them have said it was about COVID measures. Others have said that this is about overthrowing the government. But look, let's get to what's going on on the ground now. Police say that their patience is over that they will begin to use more aggressive tactics.

And then for the last few hours, we have seen that unfold on Wellington Street. That is the street, Fred, right in front of Canada's national parliament. It would be as if this was going on in front of Capitol Hill. So, what has happened? A few 100 protesters and not more than that have continued to try and confront to police -- confront police. What have police done, they basically met them with overwhelming force in terms of the amount of officers out there.

The protesters have really been overwhelmed as police continue to move through what has been really like a village and encampment with tents. And of course, those trucks blocking key intersections here in downtown Ottawa. Now in the last few minutes. I also want to say that I know, Fred, when you and I spoke last we were talking about the fact that just a few 100 feet, where these protesters now are confronting police legislators we're debating.

In fact, the Emergencies Act, which is the emergency order now in place that allows this kind of law enforcement and legal application to continue, then the Parliament decided to put in what they called a secure and hold. That's essentially the fact that Parliament is in lockdown right now. Having said that, the protesters are now in about three different groupings off the main road of Parliament, but still very close to it.

The protesters continue to say that they will remain there. And being there myself over the last three weeks, you hear over and over again, Fred things like it's freedom, my body, my choice, referring back to those COVID-19 measures that they are protesting. And, Fred, before I let you go here, a reminder that we had at certain times a handful of border protests right across this country.

And those are the kinds of things that legislators want to avoid going forward as they continue this law enforcement initiative.

WHITFIELD: All right. Paula Newton, thank you so much. All right. And now to our other major story, the escalating crisis of in Ukraine. Ukraine President Zelensky earlier today calling for a diplomatic solution to the threat of a Russian invasion, as Moscow continues to amass troops along three sides of Ukraine's border. But Zelensky also saying his country will not remain passive to the Russian threat.

Zelensky is attending a key global security conference in Munich, Germany today and spoke with CNN's Christiane Amanpour about the importance of the threat of sanctions in defusing the crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We had a discussion some time ago was one of the leaders of -- one of the leading countries and we were talking about the sanction policy. We had a different vision on how sanctions should be applied when Russian aggression will happen. And we are being told that you have several days and then the war will start. And I said, okay, then apply the sanctions today.

Yes, they say we apply sanctions when the war will happen. I'm saying fine. You are telling me that it's 100 percent that the war will start in a couple of days. And then what are you waiting for? We don't need your sanctions, the BAFTA, the bombardment will happen and after country will be fired at who after we will have no borders. And after we will have no economy other parts of our countries will be occupied. Why would we need those sanctions then? What is this about?

[13:05:01]

ZELENSKY: So, when you're asking what can be done, well, lots of different things can be done. We can even provide you the list. The most important is willingness.

The question is not about introducing them today. If the whole the whole world understands that tomorrow there is a high probability of escalation by Russian Federation, and if Russian Federation is not pulling out their military, I think that would be (INAUDIBLE) if they are pulling back, then there will be no question. That's a soft option. I'm talking about the diplomats who cannot apply sanctions automatically.

I'm talking about the logic. If they pull back their troops, well, there will be no sanctions. But today even the question of just making it public preventively, just the list of sanctions, for them, for Russia to know what will happen if they start the war. Even that question does not have the support.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: President Joe Biden saying now he is convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the decision to invade Ukraine. But he's also emphasizing there is still room for diplomacy. Let's bring in Now Nic Robertson in Moscow and Arlette Saenz at the White House. Nic, you first. Vladimir Putin today overseeing more Russian military exercises. So why are these particularly important? Why is it even happening?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, you could look at these are their biggest show of strength. These have been long, ongoing military exercises. And this -- the biggest signature event of it so far, you know, 150,000 troops around Ukraine, plenty of tanks, plenty of artillery. But this was the big strategic defensive stuff. The Kinzhal hypersonic missile that has a speed of 10 -- Mac 10.

The caliber cruise missile the Zircon ultra-hypersonic missile as well speed of MAC 6. That sub launch missiles, the Yars missile that could fly and did fly halfway across the length of intercontinental ballistic missile that flew halfway down the length of Russia. Missiles launch from aircraft as well. So, this was a big show put on by Putin from his command bunker at the Kremlin with the Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko at his side.

But the reality of the way things are stacking up at the moment, just look at what was happening in Munich today. A real show of unity and solidarity. That's what Putin is seeing. And, you know, comments as strong as this from Jens Stoltenberg, their NATO Secretary General, saying that Russia is setting a new normal of threats to get what it wants. This is how he framed it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: They have demanded that we should leave our enshrined commitment to open door. And they have demanded that we should remove all NATO troops and forces from almost half of the member states. And then -- and then they have said that if we don't meet those demands, they have repeatedly said, they will be what they call military technical consequences.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So, a unified position coming from NATO. You heard as well, President Zelensky saying that he's ready for diplomacy continue. He's ready to meet directly with President Putin. But that offer has been out there for a while, Putin has ignored it. What has Putin been saying? Putin has been saying that Zelensky must meet with the rebel leaders. Well, what has happened in Ukraine about those rebel leaders?

Well, they're calling for -- they're calling up troops. They are evacuating civilians, there's been an increase in hostilities across the Line of Control. What does that tell you that there is very little chance or worsening possibility of Zelensky talking to these rebel leaders. And that tells you I think how dire the situation is. Putin is not going to meet with Zelensky. Zelensky is not going to meet with those rebel leaders. That's the picture of where we're at at the moment.

WHITFIELD: And then, Arlette, Vice President Kamala Harris, she was at that security conference in Munich, the same security conference where President Zelensky was. So, what was the role that she was playing?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, friend, Vice President Kamala Harris's goal during this weekend trip is to really rally allies to present that united front as U.S. officials are warning that Russia could attack Ukraine in the coming days. Vice President Harris gave a keynote remarks this morning where she talks about the dire circumstances under which the Munich Security Conference is meeting.

And she also issued stern warnings about the consequences that Russia would face if it moves forward within an invasion. She made that -- those comments and remarks in front of the conference as well as in a sit down with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Take a listen.

[13:10:09]

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If Russia further invades your country, as I mentioned earlier today, we will impose swift and severe economic sanctions. We have been clear about that. We are also clear that we would prefer that this would be resolved in a diplomatic way. And we have remained open to a diplomatic path to resolution. However, if Russia takes aggressive action against Ukraine, we are prepared to implement. And to do that work in a unified way with our allies around the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAEZ: Now, this all comes just one day after President Biden revealed he is convinced that President Putin has decided to move forward with an invasion. That was a significant change in messaging from the president who for weeks has said they did not know whether Putin had made up his mind. And initially, the President did not reveal that assessment in his initial prepared opening remarks.

It was not until reporters asked him whether he believes Putin has decided to invade, that President Biden said yes. Now sources have told us that this is based in part on intelligence that has showed that half of Russian forces have a mask around the borders of Ukraine ready for an attack position. That is something that was also echoed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin a bit earlier today in Lithuania, saying that those troops are preparing to strike.

Now President Biden had considered leaving Washington going to one of his Delaware homes this weekend. But officials tell us he ultimately decided to stay here at the White House in order to monitor and talk with his national security team about this ongoing threat posed by Russia. At this moment, the President is having lunch just a few blocks from the White House with his granddaughter.

So, we will see whether he might decide to talk to reporters afterwards as this threat of a Russian invasion looms.

WHITFIELD: All right. We look forward to that. Thank you so much. Arlette Saenz and Nic Robertson in Moscow. Appreciate it. All right. Still ahead. Major rulings against former President Donald Trump this week. A judge saying, he may be culpable for the attacks on January 6. We'll discuss straight ahead.

Plus, overdose deaths are on the rise among one of America's most vulnerable groups, children. How kids and teens are falling victim to this deadly epidemic. Straight ahead.

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[13:16:33]

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. A federal judges ruled that civil lawsuit seeking to hold Former President Donald Trump accountable for the January 6 insurrection can move forward. Democratic members of the House and police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6, sued Trump last year claiming he prompted his supporters to attack. And in his 112-page opinion, the judge said that Trump's statements to his supporters before the riot, I'm quoting now, "is the essence of civil conspiracy."

Michael Zeldin is a former federal prosecutor and the host of the podcast That Said With Michael Zeldin. Michael, always good to see you. So, what's your -- what's your reaction to this ruling that former President Donald Trump can be sued for his role in that capital riot?

MICHAEL ZELDIN, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Well, it's an important decision, it will be appealed because the question is whether or not this is First Amendment protected speech. And whether the President has absolute immunity as a former president, are important legal issues. But at this stage, what the judge has said is that there is plausible basis to conclude that a conspiracy was entered into in violation of the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 which allows people to sue if they are intimidated in some sense in performing their official duties.

And he's going to allow the parties to have discovery. That means get documents and take testimony, and then he'll decide finally, where the case can proceed to trial or should be dismissed.

WHITFIELD: And if the former president loses the appeal, if the case is not dismissed, are there options for the former president to avoid testimony in a trial?

ZELDIN: Not really. Where we are right now, let's say the no appeal. The parties, the plaintiffs, this case, the police officers and members of Congress would notice the deposition of the President and whomever else they wanted to take testimony from. And they would be obliged to give that testimony. And there's no real easy way around that. The appeal, as we've seen, in past cases, would probably put the case on hold, pending the determination by the Court of Appeals.

And most likely the Supreme Court on these questions of immunity and the First Amendment. But if there is no appeal, then the case moves forward to discovery, and then ultimately to a decision by this court, whether or not the case can go to trial.

WHITFIELD: And then separately, a New York judge also ruled this week that Donald Trump and his children Ivanka and Don, Jr. must sit for depositions in the state attorney general's probe of their business practices. Attorneys for the Trump family claim the depositions in the civil case would undermine their constitutional rights. What do you think to that argument?

ZELDIN: Well, there are two things going on going on in New York, there is the civil action for fraud that the Attorney General of New York is bringing. And then there's the investigation as to whether or not there was a criminal law violations by the Manhattan V.A.'s office. This ruling relates to the civil case by the Attorney General and what he is saying is you have to come in and give us a test -- give us testimony so that we can figure out whether or not your conduct constituted fraud for which you have to pay money damages.

He is most likely going to take the Fifth Amendment if he is required to go in there because he's going to say there is a parallel case going on for criminal sanctions and until that case is resolved I'm not telling you anything because it violates my -- potentially violates my right against self-incrimination.

[13:20:14]

ZELDIN: So, I think the likelihood that you'll get testimony is low, but the ruling says she's entitled to it.

WHITFIELD: So, how do you classify this week for the former president? I mean, legally was this, you know, in a couple of words, a bad week for him and the family? ZELDIN: Yes. He lost all of the cases that he is a party to. He lost his arguments that he's immune from prosecution, that he has a First Amendment right. That Letitia James is acting out of a political witch-hunt. All the court said, no, thank you, Mr. President. Those are not good arguments. You have to proceed in these cases. So, in the words of the Charles books was terrible, horrible, no good, very bad.

WHITFIELD: All right. Michael Zeldin, thank you so much.

ZELDIN: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Still ahead. Russia is running a series of military exercises today as the Ukrainian President calls for sanctions against Russia to be made public now.

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[13:25:39]

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. Russian President Vladimir Putin is overseeing military drills this weekend in Belarus ruse on Ukraine's border. For the last several days 30,000 Russian troops have been gathering in Belarus for those mock war games. Russia's Defense Ministry says the exercise will include practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Belarus and its dictator are crucial to any plan by Putin to invade Ukraine.

CNN's Fred Popkin is in Belarus and has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Russia's army on the offensive in major live fire drills with Belarusian forces inside Belarus but close to the border with Ukraine. Practicing for a massive onslaught, the commander explaining their objective.

Today, at the live fire demonstration, a defensive battle was shown and then a counter strike to restore the forces position along the front line he says.

These troops are part of the more than 150,000 soldiers Russia has amassed around Ukraine the U.S. believes. Washington fears Belarus could be one of the launching pads for an attack on Ukraine. Even though Moscow claims it has no such plans.

(on camera): In these very tense times Russia is really flexing its military muscle not just with these massive drills here in Belarus, with exercises elsewhere as well involving some of Russia's elite combat units.

(voice over): Vladimir Putin himself oversaw nuclear drills near NATO's borders involving some of Russia's most dangerous weapons like the Kinzhal hypersonic air to ground missile, or the intercontinental ballistic missile Yars fired from a mobile launcher. Russia fired missiles from air, land and sea showing off the Kremlin's nuclear arsenal.

The main goal of the ongoing exercise is to work out actions to inflict guaranteed defeat on the enemy. Putin's top General said. The widespread military power play comes as the U.S. believes Vladimir Putin has already made the decision to invade Ukraine.

LLOYD AUSTIN, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I believe that we should continue to try up until the very last minute until it's no longer possible. But I think -- I think if you look at the stance that he is in the day, it's apparent that he has made a decision and that they're moving into the right positions to be able to conduct an attack.

PLEITGEN: Russia denies that will attack Ukraine but its leadership so far has not announced any timeline for the withdrawal of the massive forces it has placed around Ukraine.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN (INAUDIBLE) Belarus.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. American bobsledder Elena Myers Taylor is now the most decorated black athlete in Winter Olympics history after winning bronze in the two-woman bobsled today. Details straight ahead.

But first, this President's Day weekend, CNN is premiering a CNN original series focused on the life and Presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson. He passed -- or rather he signed major legislation like the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, but his decision to escalate the war in Vietnam overshadowed his legacy. See how his presidency was as complicated as the times he served when LBJ triumph and tragedy premieres tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: LBJ was intensely aware that he came into the office under the cloak of tragedy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It drove him to try to do things no one else had ever achieved.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said to his aides, what the hell is the presidency for? If you're not going to do something old by being here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Lyndon Johnson would be seen today is one of our greatest presidents because of all that he did. But he made one bad mistake.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Vietnam really pulled him apart. He couldn't make a wind out of this. No matter how hard he tried.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: LBJ said I wish they knew that I want peace as much as they do.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON, 36TH U.S. PRESIDENT: It's important to reflect and look back and see what has been done because there's no better way to judge the future than by the past. [13:30:06]

ANNOUNCER: "LBJ: TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY," premieres tomorrow night at 9:00 on CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, this just in. A win for Team USA has set new records for the Olympic Games.

Bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor is now the most decorated black athlete in Winter Olympics history.

[13:35:02]

This came after she won the bronze medal in the two-woman bobsled, her fifth medal overall. Shani Davis held the previous record with four medals.

CNN "WORLD SPORT" anchor, Don Riddell, joins me now.

Don, this is not the only record she broke today. By the way, she's traveling in Beijing with her baby and her husband. She's amazing.

DON RIDDELL, CNN "WORLD SPORT" ANCHOR: Absolutely. This story is amazing from so many different angles.

Let's talk about that other record, the oldest American woman to medal at the Winter Olympics. She's 37 years of age.

And when she landed in Beijing with high hopes, they were almost dashed immediately because she tested positive for the coronavirus and had to go into isolation for more than a week.

She had to send breast milk out to feed her young son. And at that point, she wasn't really sure what was going to be possible.

She was picked to be flag bearer in the opening ceremony. That had to go by the wayside. She had to watch that on television.

But she was able to train while she was in isolation. She was able to get out. Won the silver medal in the inaugural mono-bob and now the bronze as well.

When you think of all that she's been through, I think she's still just trying to struggle to wrap her held around what she's achieved.

Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELANA MEYERS TAYLOR, U.S. OLYMPIC BOBSLEDDER: This has been an incredible Olympics. You know, starting off in isolation, I had no idea what was possible.

But fortunately, I had a great team behind me, who believed in me, who believed that this was possible.

And I couldn't ask for a better outcome. I couldn't ask for a better Olympics.

It just goes to show you that even when the cards are stacked against you, if you have the right support behind you, you can still achieve great things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: Elena Meyers Taylor is from Douglasville, Georgia, which is about 20 minutes away from where we are.

She began with an athletic career dreaming of the Summer Olympics. She went to college on a soft ball scholarship.

And she was inspired by Vanetta Flowers, who won bobsled gold for Team USA in 2002.

She's helped to completely change the face of bobsled for the American team. Now seven of the eight women in the Team USA are all black, including Sylvia Hoffman, who won the bronze medal earlier today.

Just an extraordinary story.

She has, it's really great to report, been picked as the flag bearer for the closing ceremony. She couldn't get to do that in the opening ceremony for reasons we've mentioned.

She'll get to carry the flag at the end. That's how much her team believes in her.

It may well be the last time. She's hinted this could be her last Olympics, having made the podium in four consecutive games -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: She's extraordinary. I love her smile, too. And seeing the smile of her little baby boy. So sweet.

Thank you so much, Don Riddell. Appreciate it.

All right. Still ahead, capturing a piece of history with contemporary artistry. How the stories of the Tuskegee Airmen are coming to life in a brand-new way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:42:43]

WHITFIELD: As we celebrate Black History Month, we look at the contributions of so many past and present.

The Tuskegee Airmen served, a courageous group of black pilots and airmen, who bravely served this country and broke barriers during World War II.

Now a new comic book series aiming to inspire the next generation by paying homage to their legacy.

It's called "Tuskegee Heirs" and follows a young group of black pilots fighting in a futuristic sci-fi action adventure.

Joining me now, the co-creators of "Tuskegee Heirs," Greg Burnham and Marcus Williams.

So, good to see you.

MARCUS WILLIAMS, WRITER & CO-CREATOR, "TUSKEGEE HEIRS": Very good to see you. Thanks for having us on.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic.

Perhaps, Greg, you first.

What was the inspiration behind creating this?

GREG BURNHAM, WRITER & CO-CREATOR, "TUSKEGEE HEIRS:: BURNHAM: Honestly, just the Tuskegee Airmen, we were so enamored with their legacy that we wanted to do something kind of new and fresh but that could also bring attention to, you know, their awesome legacy.

WHITFIELD: Marcus, I mean, their legacy is just gigantic. We're talking about, you know, a few hundred mostly black men who were challenged to become Airmen.

The U.S. Army and others were doubtful they could do it, and they would exceed expectations.

Very few of them are alive today, in their late 90s and early 100s. We said goodbye to Charles McGee recently this year.

Talk to me about how your comic book is paying homage to all they did. But you have a different spin, right? Because this is sci-fi. So what is the story line? How does it go?

WILLIAMS: We set our initial conversation, we made sure to not disrespect the actual real, live, living heirs. So our best, you know, solution was to put it in the future from now. So we set it 80 years in the future from today.

So there's five young pilots. They are not blood descendants, but we say they've inherited the legacy and are being trained by a fictional descendant.

[13:45:04]

And we made up a Colonel Morris, of the Tuskegee Airmen. And he's giving them all of this wonderful information and training them in the ways of being fighters as the Tuskegee Airmen were and so forth.

And that is where they look up to -- and, of course, the Tuskegee Airmen and everything they do. The look, everything from the gear they wear, to uniforms to -- they practice in the P-51 Mustangs, the same planes that the actual Airmen flew.

WHITFIELD: Greg, how did you all do your research, or how did you incorporate the research or perhaps even interviews with, you know, Tuskegee Airmen or members of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

To try and tell the story of what these incredible heroes have done but then taking it into the future years-plus ahead? How did you do this?

BURNHAM: So, you know, I'm a bit of a history buff, and, you know, I wasn't able to conjure up the things I already knew.

But along our process, early in our process, we met a lady named Miss Zellie Orr.

WHITFIELD: I love Zellie Orr. I know her well.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: She's amazing.

BURNHAM: Right. She's amazing. She's awesome. She's always been a resource for us since the first day we met her.

She's always contacting us, like, hey, I have new information for you guys. And we contact her to ask questions, as we, like Marcus said, we have such a loyalty to making sure that we keep the legacy going strong.

So, yes, Miss Zellie is our primary resource on anything that we don't know. We actually made an A.I. character out of her in the comic book just to show our respect to her. Yes.

WHITFIELD: Zellie Orr is something else. I didn't expect you to bring her up. But she is an incredible resource for me as well. I mean, she is the utmost, she epitomizes historian, especially on Tuskegee Airmen.

She helped me better understand my own dad's history as a Tuskegee Airman well before I or any of our families member ever knew. She's been an incredible resource.

And she continues to teach us all so much about these pages in history, that for very long, including my dad, these Airmen didn't want to talk about their experiences because they were so difficult.

They were very proud of their participation and proud of their experiences, but they also endured so many indignities. It was so difficult.

So she has helped us all learn about the things that many of our ancestors and loved ones, you know, were reticent about talking about.

So, then, Marcus, how do you strike a balance between this futuristic, you know, sci-fi storytelling, yet at the same time, pay homage to and respect the history of these incredible individuals, these American heroes?

Especially at a time when so many classrooms, so many school districts, states, are now disputing the value of teaching black history?

WILLIAMS: Yes. No, it's a wonderful challenge that -- me and Greg, we co-write the story. So we constantly have this conscious effort where we're trying to make it not feel like we're teaching history.

That's not the goal. We set out to make an all-ages book, an all-ages story that, of course, we enjoy.

But we also had in mind that this is going to be in the hands of young people, it's going to be in the hands of history buffs, you know, older folks, adults and so on.

And the balance that we struck, generally, as soon as we were contacting, we started pushing towards the future.

I love technology. I love Anime, Japanese animation, comics. Greg, a lot of the same.

So that balance comes in to where we wanted to make it feel entertaining but also educational, but it's very subtle. We introduce concepts, locations around the world as their mission takes them around the world.

But everything from putting, you know, technology where, you know, their jets transform into giant robots. You probably can't see that very well.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

WILLIAMS: Their technology is constantly, you know, part of their missions, but the history is absolutely fueling everything that they do. So they have to look to respect everything that Airmen did.

And it also gives the answers to how to solve problems, even well into the future. And that is at the heart of the book that, really, me and Greg want to push.

[13:50:01]

So that young people can look back at all of the greatness that's got them to where they are today and actually see, you know, being inspire and being encourage.

And then actually rise above any kind of oppression, anything pushing you down using all of the information, and all of the tools that you have.

But some of the best tools are our family. It is our lineage. So that is one of the things that me and Greg strive for in every story, really. And we find new things even around the world that we feed into that.

WHITFIELD: Oh, Greg and Marcus, I am so glad that I had this opportunity to talk to you about this venture. Because it really helped to talk about the importance of engaging this next generation through your creativity.

But also to your commitment to upholding the amazing history of the Tuskegee Airmen. And this is just so exciting.

And I am so excited, too, that younger people will have a new way in which to connect with this kind of the history because of the courage of the artistry and the story telling in this comic book form.

So fabulous.

WILLIAMS: Thank you so much.

WHITFIELD: Greg Burnham, Marcus Williams --

BURNHAM: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: -- what a pleasure. I look forward to maybe seeing you in person one day.

WILLIAMS: Yes, that would be awesome.

BURNHAM: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic.

Congratulations. Thank you so much.

WILLIAMS: And we have another new cartoon coming.

WHITFIELD: Oh, I look forward to that.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. We will book an appointment and talk about this cartoon, next.

(LAUGHTER)

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. Thank you so much.

All right, well, this week, CNN is launching a new series, called "TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS," featuring business owners of color turning the personal passion into personal success.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAYNELL STEWARD, CEO & FOUNDER, CRAYON CASE COSMETICS: I always have had the hustle in me. Hello. My name is Raynell Steward. I'm the CEO and founder of the

Crayon Case Cosmetics. And we're located in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Before the Crayon Case, I was The Housekeeper, selling T-shirts, fanny bags, earphones, and everything to take care of my son.

When I first got on social media, people connected with me, because they felt like they were going through the same thing.

I realized I wanted my products when all of my followers asked me, what is the product that you are using? So I came out on my own thing.

The whole Crayon Case thing is for you to teach yourself how to do makeup. I used to walk down school supply aisles. Whatever the name of the school supply was, I would turn it into something that was about makeup.

So the first day of the launch was June 1st, 2017. We made like $33,000. On Cyber Monday, I made $1.3 million in 90 minutes.

And I said, this is going to happen with me.

I was only coming out with seven products. And I made over $100,000. I estimated that the Crayon made up to $50 million and it's not even five years yet.

When people actually see you struggling, and they see you getting it from the bottom, and they really appreciate you more.

And that's why I feel like I really made it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:57:50]

WHITFIELD: All right. As of now, only four states, Puerto Rico and D.C., are requiring a mask-indoors policy as COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to fall nationwide.

CNN's Camila Bernal has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Living with the virus, turning the page endemic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am COVID tired. I'm tired. I think I'm COVID tired.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The fatigue is real.

BERNAL: No matter what you call it, many wanting to move on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just feels exhausting and very tiring. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is over. Let's move on.

BERNAL: This week, more Democrat-run states are moving to end mask mandates.

New Mexico announcing an immediate end to its indoor-mask mandate.

Washington State, too, but starting March 21st and ending.

GOV. JAY INSLEE (D-WA): We will no longer have an state mandate for wearing masks in indoor spaces. We think that's a very important step in the next part of our journey to normalcy.

BERNAL: North Carolina governor encouraging local governments and schools to end mask mandates.

GOV. RAY COOPER (D-NC): Now we take a positive step on mask requirements to help us move safely toward more normal day-to-day life.

BERNAL: California's Governor Gavin Newsom focusing on the next phase of living with the virus.

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): We have all come to understand what was not understood at the beginning of the crisis, that there's no end date, that there's not a moment where we declare victory.

BERNAL: Newsom's plan includes the ability and resources to continue testing and vaccinating, and the expansion of school-phased vaccine sites.

Local governments can impose their own mandates. But the state's mask mandate for indoor businesses expired this week.

Opinions and emotions on this still high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you feel more comfortable, you should wear the mask. And if you don't want to, you don't wear it.

[13:59:52]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of people are sick, and a lot of people died. We could have done a lot of things better. But at this point, I feel like we should still be kind of trying our best.

BERNAL: Dr. Anthony Fauci saying that getting rid of the masks is risky.