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Putin Names New Commander For Ukraine As Russia Shifts Focus; Ukraine Braces For Major Russian Offensive In East; Polish Citizens Trying To Provide A Home For Ukrainian Refugees; Urgent Search For Suspect After Three Killed, 40 Weapons Stolen At Georgia Shooting Range; Ukraine Accuses Putin, Russian Military Of War Crimes; Crews Battling 5-Alarm Fire At California Home Depot; Ketanji Brown Jackson Is First Black Woman On Supreme Court; Texas Families Move To Find Refuge For Their Trans Children. Aired 10-11p ET

Aired April 09, 2022 - 22:00:00   ET

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

[22:00:00]

LARRY CONNOR, PILOT, SPACEX MISSION: And I'm sure it's going to fly by.

RACHEL CRANE, CNN INNOVATION AND SPACE CORRESPONDENT: And Jessica, they're going to be very busy while they're on stage in there. They will be doing over a hundred hours of scientific research, running 25 different experiments, one on aging, another on brain, health. A really interesting one on hologram teleportation, which is essentially a fancy way of saying a two-way video dialogue.

So, in addition to those experimental, of course, be taking some breathtaking views in before they make their splashdown around eight days from now. Back to you, Jessica.

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: All right, Rachel Crane for us. Thanks so much. Your next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

Hi, everyone. I'm Jessica Dean in Washington. And you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And we begin with the latest news in Russia's brutal and unprovoked war against Ukraine. An evidence tonight that Vladimir Putin is not happy with his army's progress. U.S. and European officials say he has appointed a new general to direct the war. Army General, Aleksandr Dvornikov was the first commander of Russia's military operations in Syria in 2015. The European official says this change in command quote speaks to a Russian acknowledgement that it is going extremely badly and they need to do something differently.

Meantime, disturbing allegations about tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians, adults, and children reported missing from Mariupol. According to Ukraine's government, humanitarian watchdogs and U.S. officials, there's evidence Russian and separatist troops are taking them to so called filtration centers before moving them to Russia. It's now estimated some 45,000 Ukrainian citizens, again adults and children have been forcibly deported since the war began. Also, in the wake of today's surprise visit from British Prime

Minister, Boris Johnson. President Zelenskyy says Ukraine will always be grateful to Boris and Britain. Among additional financial and military support the U.K. is sending additional lethal aid to Ukraine and that includes more armored vehicles, anti-ship missile systems, and high grade military equipment.

And turning now to Odesa where authorities have imposed a curfew lasting from tonight until 6:00 a.m. on Monday. During this curfew, no one is allowed on the streets or in any public places without special permission. And it's all due to the threat of Russian missile strikes throughout the region. CNN's Ed Lavandera is there with details. Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jessica, a curfew of this length here in Odesa is rare, and it comes as this area has seen an uptick in the number of missile strikes from Russian forces.

These women are leaving flowers at a memorial in Odesa. It's a tradition usually reserved for April 10th, which marks the city's Liberation Day from the Nazis. This Memorial Plaza would usually be filled with people but not this year. The entire city will be under an extended 36-hour curfew.

Sergiy Dratchuk is the spokesperson for the Odesa Military Administration. He says the curfew is necessary because of the deadly attack at the train station in Kramatorsk in Eastern Ukraine.

SERGIY DRATCHUK, SPOKESPERSON, ODESA MILITARY ADMINISTRATION (through translator): He says, when this treacherous missile attack on civilians took place and we know that there is a high probability that such missile strikes are possible in Odesa. The main reason is to protect people's lives.

LAVANDERA: In the last week, there's been an increase in the number of airstrikes in Odesa. Most of the attacks have targeted strategic locations around the city, like a fuel storage facility and a military installation where several people were killed and injured according to Ukrainian military officials.

But just hours before the curfew went into effect, the head of the Odesa administration office said the latest explosion targeted this office building. It is not described as an attack by the Russian military.

MAXIM MARCHENKO, HEAD OF THE MILITARY ADMINISTRATION, ODESA (through translator): The cause of the explosion is under investigation, he says. The information about possible act of sabotage is under consideration.

LAVANDERA: This kind of explosion heightens concern that pro-Russian saboteurs could be working in the city. Odesa is a city with a history of pro-Russian sentiment among some politicians and residents. It's a mood that lives just below the surface, and it's difficult to get anyone to talk about it especially during this time of war.

The usual buzz of this vibrant port city is now far more subdued. Many businesses are closed, city officials estimate about 20 percent of the city has evacuated since the start of the Russian invasion in late February.

[22:05:01]

LAVANDERA: The chess players gathered in this park aren't reflecting on the recent attacks or the looming curfew, they were relaxed, more interested in chess strategies, not war strategies.

We did meet 70-year-old Julia who sells paintings in this park. She poured me a cup of wine while we talked about the curfew on Odesa's Liberation Day. And if she's worried it could mean her city is facing imminent attack.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Julia tells us she thinks the curfew was called to keep people from public gatherings on Odesa's Liberation Day.

LAVANDERA: Is there ever a moment do you-- where you think you would leave Odesa to save your life?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): No, no, she says, I won't leave Odesa even to save my life.

LAVANDERA: As we've mentioned, this extended curfew is rare. But it also comes at a time when residents here in the Odesa Region are trying to figure out what Russia's intentions are for this part of Ukraine. Is it part of a greater push as Russian forces entering to Ukraine from the East? Do they intend to push this far South? That's just the question that so many people here don't know the answer to. And that's why there's a high level of apprehension and nervousness about what's coming next. Jessica.

DEAN: Understandable. Ed Lavandera for us. Thanks so much.

And joining me now, retired Air Force Colonel, Michael McClung. Colonel, thanks so much for being up late with us tonight. We appreciate it. I want to start with this new news that we have that Putin has put a new army general in charge of operations in Ukraine. And this man is known for his command in Syria when Russia aircraft back the Assad Regime and they laid siege to the rebel held Eastern Aleppo, and they bombarded neighborhoods caused very heavy civilian casualties.

What is your reaction to this change of leadership? And can we anticipate more attacks on civilians do you think?

COL. MICHAEL E. MCCLUNG, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET.): It's good to be with you, Jessica. Yes, I think the short answer is yes. Because of his history in Syria, and also his current job as the commander of Russia's military district in that area, the Southern Military District, so he has been responsible for the eastern part of Ukraine.

So he comes with that baggage of being in command of troops that have conducted atrocities in the past. He comes with some familiarity of the area. Oftentimes, when changes like this are made, nations are looking for a general who's going to be more innovative and for militaries, like Russia, maybe more brutal. I'm afraid with the new general we may be getting a little bit of both.

DEAN: Yes. And one European official says this change, quote speaks to a Russian acknowledgement, that it is going extremely badly, and they need to do something differently. You know, we've been on the air now for several hours, we have seen Russians targeting civilian locations. We know they've targeted places like shelters and hospitals, the train station most recently. How much worse do you think this can get? And do you agree with that assessment that this change shows that things are going very poorly for Russia?

MCCLUNG: Yes, I think so. And unfortunately, we might see more of this type of brutality, you know, is-- in the United States, we train our military officers to study war crimes, so we don't commit those on the battlefield ourselves. So, whether it's the names of places where people were war criminals were held accountable, or whether it's the places where war crimes took place. Places like Nuremberg, My Lai, Srebrenica have been etched in our collective psyche. I'm afraid we'll have to probably add more Ukrainian city names to that lexicon, Kramatorsk, Bucha, Mariupol.

It looks like it may get worse, especially with this new artificial, early made deadline that I've been hearing about that may force troops on the ground and the general to take extreme actions are driven by artificial deadlines and not conditions on the ground.

DEAN: Yes. And given your own military experience, what is your analysis of the Russian Air Force and Russia's air defense systems? Are they performing as you'd expect at this point?

MCCLUNG: You know, Jessica, like many analysts, I was shocked that the Russians did not take out the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces early upon in the war. You know, the pop culture term shock and awe really is a euphemism for how the U.S. and allies proceed on night one of this type of operation where we take out our enemy's ability to threaten our air operations.

The Russians did not do that for some reason. Many People think it's because they thought they would sweep all the way to Kyiv early on and not need to do that, obviously, that didn't happen and they're paying the price.

[22:10:10]

MCCLUNG: The Ukrainian Air Defense Forces are able to knock planes out of the sky on a regular basis, several fighters, transport aircraft. So the Russians have not acquitted themselves well. But, you know, there is a caveat when we think about outfitting a force, you know, it's a triad of organize, train and equip. And the Russians have been lacking in the organization and training part of it.

They still have very capable equipment, their surface to air missiles, their fighter aircraft, their long range aviation are highly capable systems. So on another day, on another battlefield, if they've had time to address these gaps in strategy, tactics, organization, and training, they might equip themselves better because they have the equipment to do so. A military industrial-based that although hurt by sanctions, could reconstitute and things might be different down the line.

DEAN: Yes. All right. Colonel Michael McClung, thanks so much. We appreciate it.

MCCLUNG: Good to be with you.

DEAN: Thank you. According to the United Nations, at least 10 million Ukrainian people have fled their homes as the Russian military advances across the country. And many of these refugees have opted to stay inside Ukraine in safer places, but at least 2-1/2 million have fled to Poland, where people are doing their best to patch together a temporary home for them. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz has more from the Poland Ukraine border. Salma.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Jessica, across Poland, many volunteers are asking how they can continue to care for the over 2-1/2 million refugees spread out across this country. The welcome they received has been extremely generous. Friends opened up their doors to Ukrainian families fleeing violence and good Samaritans stepped up to try to help where they can. We met one of those volunteers, and he told us he wants to keep his doors open. He wants to allow more families to stay in his shelter, but he's running out of money.

What does it take to care for just a few dozen refugee families? Store rooms popped with food, endless hot meals, hundreds of bunk beds, and lots, and lots of love, says volunteer Kamil Prusinowski.

KAMIL PRUSINOWSKI, VICE PRESIDENT, POLAND WELCOMES: As you saw these women with their child on hands, and they sit, they have nowhere to go.

ABDELAZIZ: This abandoned school dormitory was in disrepair, unused for over a decade. But in just three days, Kamil and his best friends turned it into a shelter for women and children fleeing Ukraine.

PRUSINOWSKI: I need to use my skills, everything what I've got to help these people.

ABDELAZIZ: Now, the challenge is to keep this place pop and running, the organizers say.

PRUSINOWSKI: Until now we receive zero USD, zloty, pound or whatever from any NGO or government. And there are huge bills which we need to pay.

ABDELAZIZ: Behind each of these doors is a story of trauma. Viktoria and her grandkids arrived here only yesterday. They still feel so raw.

VIKTORIA DUDARIEVA, UKRAINIAN REFUGEE (through translator): It was so scary, but we had to go for the children, she says.

ABDELAZIZ: I'm very, very sorry. Do you finally feel safe? DUDARIEVA (through translator): It will come, she says. Every time we

hear a loud sound, we flinch and look up at the sky. We still feel fear.

ABDELAZIZ: Irina and her son Krial (ph) fled from Chernihiv after spending days hiding in a cellar.

IRINA GORODNIA, UKRAINIAN REFUGEE (through translator): It's getting easier, she says, but he flinches in his sleep. "Mom, I have nightmares", he tells her.

ABDELAZIZ: Does he still feel scared?

GORODNIA (through translator): Yes, sometimes, but I try to calm him. We go outside and breathe fresh air, she says.

ABDELAZIZ: And that's what is most needed here, a sense of security stability. But Kamil doesn't know how much longer he can provide it. You have zero money. How does this work?

PRUSINOWSKI: Good friends who are helping, some volunteers who are helping, but there is no sustainable support for us.

ABDELAZIZ: These helpers need help to keep their doors open for the many forced out of their homes. Jessica, I asked Kamil what happens if he doesn't find any more funds. He said, "Look, if we don't have any money, we just won't pay the heating bill and there will be no heat. If there's not enough money for food, then at least they have shelter, they have a roof over their heads." You're going to hear stories like this repeated across Poland.

And the Polish government is appealing for help. They're calling on the international community to step in to shoulder a part of this burden. And what's special about Kamil's place is that he allows families to stay as long as they can.

[22:15:08]

ABDELAZIZ: Other places only provide shelter for a few days. What that's done has create essentially a nomadic population of refugees across this country with many wondering how they can get a more permanent sense of home. Jessica.

DEAN: Home, what everybody wants. Salma Abdelaziz, thanks so much.

And still to come this hour. A CNN special report reveals why Texas families with trans-children are being forced to flee back state.

Also ahead, authorities offer a $15,000 reward for information after a triple murder at a gun range in Georgia.

And Will Smith gets a slap back from the Oscars. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) DEAN: Tonight, we're learning more about an apparent robbery and a shooting range in Georgia that left three people dead and dozens of weapons missing. CNN's Nadia Romero is following this story for us. Nadia.

NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jessica, it's a devastating scene really in Grantville, Georgia. It's in a rural part of the state about 50 miles southwest of the city of Atlanta. And the county coroner they're confirming to CNN that he is related to all three victims.

The owner of the gun range, Tommy Hawk (ph) and his wife Evelyn (ph) Hawk and their 19-year-old grandson, Luke (ph) Hawk. The County Coroner, Richard Hawks says the Tommy and Evelyn are his parent. So you can imagine how hard this must be for their entire family and this very small community also knowing that 40 firearms were stolen Friday night.

[22:20:11]

ROMERO: Now, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the ATF are investigating, and there's a combined reward for $15,000 for any information, leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible. And we know that this is a top priority for the ATF and our crime stats show us that stolen firearms are sometimes used to commit other crimes.

And if you remember back in January in New York City, there were two New York City police officers very young, just 22 and 27 years old, they were gunned down in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. And Police say the suspect use a stolen firearm, a firearm that was stolen from Baltimore in 2017 then showing up in New York City and in the-- in January of this year.

And that's why the ATF is sending out this message, a releasing message Saturday morning saying, "ATF and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to bring the killers to justice. The brutality of these senseless murders along with the fact that these killers have acquired additional firearms makes solving this case our top priority." Again, Jessica, three family members killed, 40 firearm stolen, and there is a $15,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or the people responsible. Jessica.

DEAN: Nadia, thank you. It was the slap scene around the world and now Will Smith knows the cost. He's now banned from attending the Oscars for the next 10 years. CNN's Camila Bernal has more now from Los Angeles.

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jessica, this 10-year ban is what the academy believes is the right consequence for Will Smith's actions. Actions that they called unacceptable and harmful behavior. Will Smith did respond to this ban releasing a very short statement saying he accepts and respects the decision of the academy.

Now, the board is made up of famous actors, producers, and directors and they were supposed to meet on April 18th to discuss the consequences here. But once Will Smith decided to resign, they decided to move the meeting forward. And that's where we get this 10-year ban.

After the meeting the president of the academy and the CEO releasing a statement saying in part that they wanted the Oscars to be a celebration of the work and the achievements of so many people throughout the year. And instead, all of this was overshadowed by Will Smith's actions.

I want to read part of that statement where they say, "During our telecasts, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry, this was an opportunity for us to set an example to our guest, viewers, and our academy family around the world, and we fell short, unprepared for the unprecedented."

They also said that this was all part of a bigger goal here in terms of safety and also entrust in the academy. They also went on to thank Chris Rock for essentially keeping it together. And I think a lot of people still waiting for Chris Rock to speak out. The other thing that we're waiting for is to see what happens next year because Will Smith was supposed to present the Best Actress Award. That is the tradition for the Oscars. And of course now he won't be able to attend. So there will be some changes next year. Jessica.

DEAN: All right. Camila, thanks so much. In Ukraine, allegations of war crimes, but who would they prosecute and when?

Coming up. My conversation with a former lawyer with the International Criminal Court.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:27:35]

DEAN: Ukrainian refugees in displaced persons are telling horrific tales of abuse and even war crimes committed by Russian troops. So far, more than 4 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded and millions more have left their homes when the fighting got close. CNN's Ivan Watson takes us on board a train carrying refugees from Eastern Ukraine, hopefully to safety.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ukrainian families on the run. More than a month after Russia invaded, civilians are still fleeing from the threat of the Russian military, hurrying towards a waiting train. An air raid siren rings out as the train begins to move. This couple just a few minutes too late.

The evacuation train is now leaving the station, there are about 1,100 passengers on board this train, all of them are evacuees who are traveling for free. They'll be traveling for the next 24 hours. This train is carrying this human cargo to safety in Western Ukraine.

The war forced everyone here to flee their homes, including the crew of the train, head conductor, Sergey Hrishenko ran the last train out of the city of Mariupol on February 25th. The day after Russia launched its invasion. There have been no trains from Mariupol since as a month long Russian Siege has destroyed much of the city.

SERGEY HRISHENKO, HEAD CONDUCTOR (through translator): My whole team 20 conductors everybody left with me. Many of them were made homeless lost their apartments, some of them lost relatives.

WATSON: Hrishenko says his team spent the next month living and working on the train nonstop struggling to evacuate crowds of desperate and panicked Ukrainians, especially during the first weeks of the war.

Sergey estimates that during the month that he and his team were working, they evacuated around a 100,000 people. These days the crowds have gotten smaller, but strangers are still packed together for this long trip. Everyone seems to be fleeing a different part of eastern Ukraine.

[22:30:00]

Galina Bondarenko fled her village outside the city of Zaporizhzhia with her 19-year-old son after enduring two weeks of Russian shelling.

GALINA BONDARENKO (through translator): I feel outrage, complete outrage. And I feel fear when they are shooting.

WATSON: Some evacuees brought their pets. The kitten is handling the train ride a little bit better than the puppy. The two families sharing this compartment met each other on the train for the very first time.

I've been speaking with Katya (ph), who is eight months pregnant right now. And she's traveling alone with her daughter heading West, because they don't know what will happen. And I asked, "Where are you going to give birth to your child?" And she said, "Well, wherever it's safe right now." And that's just-- that's just an example of one family. She's left her husband behind. He's serving in the military right now.

Further down the train, I meet a group of women and children who just escaped Southern Ukraine. How long did you live under Russian military occupation?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One month. One month from 27th of February.

WATSON: How would you describe that experience?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All this time, I went outside only two times. Just because I hear a lot of cases of (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

WATSON: Rape?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rape.

WATSON: In addition to hearing unconfirmed stories of rape. The women tell me they've seen drunk and filthy Russian soldiers asking residents for supplies like food and toilet paper.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have with red flags on the-- on our building, main building.

WATSON: Which flags?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russia flags. Just like that.

WATSON: On the police station?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everywhere. They just love this, I think. And they think that flag can change our minds, our Ukrainian minds, but it's not work like this. I want the Russian people also come back on their land. They have a lot of land, just a lot of land on the map. And I hope it will be enough for them just because enough, stop, please. It's very painful for everyone here, for everyone in this train and outside. It's-- it was very peaceful life without these attacks.

WATSON: I've gotten off after a relatively short journey, this train still has more than 20 hours to go across country, it will end up in the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv, but for most of the more than 1,100 evacuees on board, all forced to flee their homes by this terrible war. Their final destination is likely unclear. Ivan Watson, CNN in Eastern Ukraine.

DEAN: Ivan, thank you. And Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says there is clear evidence of Russia committing war crimes, but prosecuting Vladimir Putin and his military would be a complex and time-consuming challenge.

Earlier tonight I spoke with Rebecca Hamilton. She's an expert on prosecuting war crimes and spent time at the International Criminal Court. Here's our conversation.

These are some of the example-- examples that we have seen. Mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture taking of hostages. You see here, a list of what would fall under war crimes. And we just think about the recent headlines what we've seen recently coming out of Ukraine, and you're talking about the executions in Bucha, the train station attack that we talked about earlier in our broadcast, hospital attack. Rebecca, how would you start to lay out a case here? How would that come together?

REBECCA HAMILTON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF LAW, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: So we have an abundance of information that we're seeing literally on the screen right now of what prosecutors would call Crime-based evidence, all of the bombings, all of the dead bodies showing that atrocities have happened. But the challenge for a prosecutor is to link that to an individual perpetrator. That's what we call linkage evidence.

And that requires getting in there as a professional investigator, interviewing victims, witnesses, perhaps insiders in the Russian military, intelligence, intercepts, and forensics that can actually make the connection between these scenes that we're seeing, and an individual who can be held accountable in a court of law.

DEAN: And when you lay it out that way, it sounds like that would take some time. HAMILTON: Yes, it is never a fast process.

DEAN: Yes.

HAMILTON: What I would note, though, is that there is an incredible amount of political will around, seeing accountability for the atrocities in Ukraine, more in fact that we've seen in any other conflict outside of Europe.

DEAN: All right. And so I think that kind of leads us to the next question, which is, when could we start to see this play out? And you know well, the Darfur, for example, has taken some 20 years for this case to now start to be prosecuted. Set expectations for everybody, we're seeing these atrocities and people are horrified. They want somebody to pay now, they want Putin or whomever to pay now. But this could take some time.

[22:35:07]

HAMILTON: Yes, and I think it's important to manage those expectations. I would love to see with all the political will that we have got. Some arrest warrants come out by the end of this year. But the challenge is then enforcing them. So it's one thing to get the lower level commanders, perhaps Ukrainian officials could arrest them. But the ICC, for example, the International Criminal Court doesn't have its own police force, it relies on states to execute those warrants.

And for the people who are sitting comfortably in the Kremlin right now, this could take a very long time.

DEAN: Yes. And they probably know that, right?

HAMILTON: Right. They're not going to travel out of Russia anytime soon, and put themselves at risk of arrest. But the work on doing the accountability has to start now to secure that evidence, so that we can see these people held accountable in the future.

DEAN: And are you confident that that's happening right now at the way that it needs to?

HAMILTON: I am. I am.

DEAN: What makes you so confident?

HAMILTON: Just because I've never actually, in sort of 20 years of covering accountability and conflict zones, seeing the amount of political will and resources dedicated to the task of accountability that we're seeing right now.

DEAN: What do you think makes it different this time?

HAMILTON: I think it matters that it is happening in Europe, I think the structural racism within the international system. That means we haven't been this attentive, war crimes have been happening in Syria, in Sudan. And I think that is a challenge for the international community to take up. Ukraine absolutely deserves every bit of attention that we're giving it. But in the future, we need to do better for other situations as well.

DEAN: And I-- you also have told us, you think the world needs to have an important conversation about what's called a crime of aggression. And here it is right here, the planning, preparation, initiation, or execution of an act of using armed force by a state against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of another state. Why is that so important? Why is that important to this case?

HAMILTON: Crucially important, because this is the initial crime, the decision to go to war, from which these other crimes, the atrocities that we're seeing flow. And it is a leadership crime, it goes directly to the heart of leadership in Russia, to make the decision to resort to war. Now, this is one where the International Criminal Court doesn't have jurisdiction in this case over that crime.

And so viewers should be looking out in the coming weeks to see is there the political will to create perhaps a new tribunal specifically for prosecuting this crime of aggression?

DEAN: That is something to watch for it, sounds like. And it-- going back to just how much political will there is, we also are getting so much video. People can see it on their phones, they can-- they have been following along with this. What is the new technology or just the technology as it exists today? What kind of role is that playing in all of this?

HAMILTON: It's huge. So, thinking back to when I was at the International Criminal Court, we're trying to do the Darfur investigation, we couldn't get on the ground in Sudan. Have we had situations like today where you have individuals with their cell phones, able to do documentation in real time, that would be extremely helpful.

Now, not all of it is going to be useful to prosecutors. And again, we need to manage expectations, make sure that citizens who are doing documentation aren't taking unnecessary risks to do so. Because the professional war crimes investigators are getting in there.

DEAN: And again, our thanks to Rebecca Hamilton, they're an expert on prosecuting war crimes. We appreciate her taking the time.

Breaking News. Out of California now, where firefighters are battling a huge fire at a Home Depot in San Jose. And you are looking now at live pictures from that scene, and its devastation. We're going to have more details on that in just a moment. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:42:25]

DEAN: Of course, on a scene of a five-alarm fire in San Jose, California. These are pictures from our affiliate KGO from just a few moments ago. Fire officials say that is a Home Depot store that's burning. Ambulances are on the scene, but so far no reports of any injuries. People in the area say the smoke though can be seen for miles. The National Weather Service reporting it can even be seen from space, a pet hospital in that area also had to be evacuated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KETANJI BROWN JACKSON, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, U.S. SUPREME COURT: The path was cleared for me, so that I might rise to this occasion. And in the poetic words of Dr. Maya Angelou, "I do so now while bringing the gifts my ancestors gave. I am the dream and the hope of the slave."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson officially confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the first Black woman nominated and elevated to the Supreme Court. She will take her seat as Associate Justice this summer. When for the first time ever White men will not be the majority on the Supreme Court.

CNN Political Analyst and White House correspondent, April Ryan joining me now from Baltimore. April, it's always great to see you. You were so moved by Judge Jackson's choice of words when she invoked Maya Angelou. And you tweeted those same words afterward. Tell us why that struck such a chord with you?

APRIL RYAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: It struck a chord. I'm still emotional about it. Struck a chord because that poem by the late ancestor, elder poet, Maya Angelou is something that's read in so many churches or programs, so many civic organization engagements, those words struck a chord because those words are prolific (ph) for Black America. She was talking about, still, I rise in the midst of the moments of despair from slavery.

She's rising to the highest bench as a Black woman. And this is humanity, this is not reporting, but as a Black woman in America, many Black women, Black women who work at the White House, who work at Capitol Hill, who are teachers, who are preachers, who are average everyday people felt heard from her statements, from her use of the words from that poem. Just her being there, by her being grilled actually as well during the confirmation hearings.

[22:45:07]

RYAN: And Cory Booker having to come to her aid to put the perspective on the moment, as a Black woman-- as Black women have stood and watched this historic moment, you feel heard and seen. And that backdrop of the White House that was built by slaves.

DEAN: Yes. It is remarkable. President Biden said that this is a moment of real change. We'll listen to a clip from him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: This is going to let so much shine-- sunshine on so many young women, so many young Black women, so many minorities that it's real, it's real. We're going to look back and nothing to do with me, we're going look back and see this as a moment of real change in American history.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: And April, you you've been in DC a while, you know, how cynical everyone can be here. But to see that sight and to see her become the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court, do you think this ignites real change for women and people of color?

RYAN: You know, I've been watching change. I've been on Washington for about 25 years now. Twenty five years, I am the longest serving Black female journalist at the White House. And in that time, I have seen the change, the shift in leadership as President Biden and other presidents have noted it is a White male dominated institution.

We've had the first Black president, within those 25 years I've seen. We've had the first woman of color who identifies as Black as the vice president. You also now have the first woman U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Black women are now at the table. Women of color are at the table, women are at the table in this White male dominated organization called politics.

So, I'm seeing a shift. And it's not just the shift in women. We're seeing the leadership change, the shift and leadership. You know, Harvard, Yale, MIT, the Ivy League Schools, where the schools that lead. Now, you're seeing HBCUs, leaving the helm. Kamala Harris, Howard University, Bennie Thompson, who is the head of the January 6th select committee from (INAUDIBLE) another HBCU. We're watching a shift that's being marked. It's not just going along the wayside. The shift in who is leading is changing.

DEAN: Yes.

RYAN: It's people of color. It's women, Black women.

DEAN: Yes. And it goes back to you. You cannot be what she cannot see. And you never know what little girl is out there watching. All right, April Ryan for us. Thanks so much. We appreciate it.

RYAN: Thank you.

DEAN: Texas is threatening to open child abuse investigations into families with transgender children, and that has some of those families leaving the state. We're going to meet some of them. Next.

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[22:52:00]

DEAN: This week, Alabama became the third state in the country to pass laws that restricting gender affirming care for minors. But it's the first to include criminal penalties for doctors to give children transition related medical care. In Texas, Republican Governor, Greg Abbott is asking for child abuse investigations into families whose children are receiving this type of care. For now, an appeals court has blocked the administration from carrying

out these investigations. But a CNN's Lucy Kafanov reports. Some Texas families are already leaving the state to find refuge for their trans children.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let it go, let it go.

LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This little corner of Texas--

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, my age is six years old. And my name is Isa.

KAFANOV: -- is Isa's world. And we're just living in it. So you're a princess?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Because I have a princess dress.

KAFANOV: The 6-year-old Dallas native is both sparkly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey guys.

KAFANOV: And spunky. Although it wasn't the gender on her birth certificate, her mom Violet Augustine says Isa referred to herself as a girl ever since she started talking. But by the time she turned four, the conversation took a darker tone.

VIOLET AUGUSTINE, ISA'S MOTHER: Say like concerning things about how she hated herself. And she wanted to get run over by a train. And then like even like scarier stuff related to her anatomy that she didn't want.

KAFANOV: Concerned, Violet took a new approach.

AUGUSTINE: One day I was just like, "So you're a girl?" And she was like, "Yes", and I was like, "Okay." And it was almost like after that it was like a whole new kid was born. And I was thrilled obviously, to finally see my kid, and to see her thriving in a way I hadn't seen before.

KAFANOV: But now Violet worries it isn't safe to raise her daughter in Texas. That's because Governor Greg Abbott has directed the state's Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate certain gender affirming care as possible child abuse.

For now, the directive is tied up in Texas courts. And even though Isa is too young for gender affirming care, like puberty blockers or hormones, her mom has decided to uproot their family and move hundreds of miles West.

AUGUSTINE: I'm not going to have a support network out there.

KAFANOV: But you feel like it's important to do it. Why? And all of this is because you don't feel safe in the state of Texas?

AUGUSTINE: Yes. We've-- I haven't felt safe with her since we transitioned her. KAFANOV: Other parents of trans children are also not waiting to see

how the battle plays out in court. With some hospitals already pausing gender affirming treatment.

KATIE LAIRD, SON RECEIVING GENDER AFFIRMING TREATMENT: My son is very into anime, you can see Cowboy Bebop here.

KAFANOV: Katie Laird lives in Houston where she's been getting gender affirming care for her 15-year-old son.

LAIRD: There's nothing in this room that doesn't just totally scream his wild and interesting personality.

KAFANOV: She said she hadn't heard from the state's child protective services. But she says the fear of being investigated for child abuse is dehumanizing.

LAIRD: The reality that our trans kids existence is the opposite of child abuse, it's to be listened to, it's to be loved unconditionally, it's to be supported no matter what. That is not child abuse. That is alone in action.

[22:55:12]

KAFANOV: Katie is now planning to move to Colorado, where her son's gender affirming care can continue uninterrupted. What do you say to someone who might say, "Well, look, why don't you just wait until your son is 18 and there's no problem?"

LAIRD: We don't have the luxury of time. Like I have seen what life was like before we understood what was going on with our son's Gender Dysphoria. We just don't have that luxury to just hold off and wait.

KAFANOV: Can these treatments mean the difference between life and death?

LAIRD: Oh, 100 percent. Yes, we definitely believe that gender affirming care is literally life-saving. Literally.

AUGUSTINE: Is this the school?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. So this is the elementary school. Here we can get out actually.

AUGUSTINE: Oh my God.

KAFANOV: Violet is now hoping to raise Isa in Los Angeles.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's why I love this neighborhood.

KAFANOV: Where she was recently shown around by a guide from a local LGBTQ support group.

AUGUSTINE: At the end of the day, as Isa's mom, my entire job is to make sure that she thrives, and I have-- whatever I have to do to make sure she thrives is what I'm going to do. KAFANOV: A dream that some parents of transgender children believe is

no longer possible in Texas. Lucy Kafanov, CNN, Dallas.

DEAN: Well, thank you so much for joining me this evening. I'm Jessica Dean. Pamela Brown is back with you tomorrow. Our coverage of Russia's war in Ukraine continues in the CNN NEWSROOM after this break.

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