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Putin Appoints New Top General After Failing To Take Kyiv; Macron Facing Tough Challenge From Far-Right In French Vote; Border Patrol Bracing For As Many As 18K Migrants Daily. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired April 10, 2022 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:21]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield along with my colleague, Brianna Keilar in Lviv, Ukraine.

Brianna, we'll get back to you in a moment.

Right now, let's start with Vladimir Putin's new shifting strategy in Ukraine. The Russian President tapping a new commander to lead his forces following a series of key setbacks. The White House National Security Adviser warning that the new general has a long history of utilizing brutal tactics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: This particular General has a resume that includes a brutality against civilians in other theaters in Syria and we can expect more of the same in this theater.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The move comes as Russia retreats from areas around Kyiv, now, decimated by the war. The focus now turning to an anticipated assault in Ukraine's east. New satellite images showing a Russian convoy eight miles long, just east of the war-torn City of Kharkiv. This, just days after Ukraine's Defense Chief told CNN Russia is preparing for major offensive against Kharkiv.

And today, Russia and Ukraine carrying out their third prisoner swap, a sign of the still ongoing negotiations. The two sides also opening nine more humanitarian corridors today, civilians facing a life or death race to flee Ukraine.

And today, one of the key European leaders facilitating talks with Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron finds himself in his own race polls closing a short time ago in France in an election that could have far reaching consequences.

Let's go to Brianna Keilar now, anchoring our coverage from Lviv. Brianna, I'm glad it's quiet right now. But what is it that people are bracing for?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: A lot in the east, a lot of fears about what is ahead here, and let's talk about that. Let's get some updates here on what's happening on the ground.

I want to go now to CNN's Ed Lavandera who is live for us in Odessa. Disappointment, Ed, of this new General leading the Russian charge has so many officials worried about what's to come?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There is no question. You know, General David Petraeus calls him the Butcher of Syria. This is the Russian general that led Russians' attack there in that country several years ago, and it was really hallmarked by a devastating campaign against civilian neighborhoods, decimating cities, and civilian areas.

And there's a large reason to believe that the perhaps that is going to be the tactic that Russian forces continue deploying in Eastern Ukraine as they work to regroup and move their forces and weaponry to that area of the country, and it is something we've already seen here in the last few days. A train station attack where more than 50 people were killed, a hundred others injured in that attack.

I mean, that is why so many Ukrainian officials are really urging civilians in that Eastern Ukraine area to evacuate if they can, and, you know, time is of the essence at this moment. But there is great concern about this.

However, one European official told CNN this weekend, that this also could be interpreted as a sign of just how badly things are going for Russian forces. There is an estimate that the Russian force has lost about a quarter of its fighting power. And perhaps this is, you know, something that they're going to struggle with, even if it is a new strategy to really kind of lay a lot of -- inflict a lot of pain on civilian areas of Eastern Ukraine.

But you know, the question is, how much will the Ukrainian forces be able to beat that back? And how long or how quickly can they do that? So those are the questions that is faced or -- that are facing this country here in the coming days and weeks.

KEILAR: Yes, there really does seem to be this correlation that when Russian forces are not doing so well, they are inflicting more and more pain on civilians. So let's talk about, Ed, what we're seeing here. We're seeing Russian forces that are amassing along the border, this is east of Kharkiv. What is the latest with this?

LAVANDERA: Well, these satellite images, you know, show that convoy and that column of forces redeploying into that eastern part of the country, and as people are watching and trying to figure out what exactly the strategy will be for Russian forces. You know, there's almost like a crescent shaped area of Eastern Ukraine that is occupied by Russian forces.

And in the middle of all of that you have Ukrainian forces that are fighting them on the front lines and the concern is, is that that column will move in a just west of that in circle those Ukrainian forces and make their way further south into Ukraine essentially creating that land bridge with Crimea.

[15:05:10]

LAVANDERA: So that is what is taking place. And again, it all kind of comes back to, you know, you can talk about that is the way it looks on paper, but will the Russians be able to execute that? And will the Ukrainians have the firepower to beat it back?

KEILAR: Very good questions that will determine what happens here in the weeks ahead. Ed Lavandera live in Odessa, thank you.

Even with all of the evidence accumulating of war crimes, the White House has been hesitant to use the term genocide. CNN's Arlette Saenz is live for us at the White House. Arlette, what is the administration saying about what we're seeing?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brianna, the White House is arguing that labeling these atrocities Russia is carrying out in Ukraine as genocide is a legal determination that needs to be made, and it is one that the U.S. is not in a position to make at this moment.

We have heard President Biden in the White House repeatedly call Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine, a war crime and the U.S. is supportive of those investigations that are underway, documenting evidence of these incidents that have occurred on the ground in Ukraine there, but so far, they have stopped short of calling this a genocide even as you have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy using that term, saying that a genocide is underway, other leaders also saying that there is a genocide and some lawmakers here in the U.S. on both sides of the aisle using that term genocide.

Now, the United Nations defines the term genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national ethnical racial or religious group.

And today, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was pressed on why the administration has not used that term so far.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR AND NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: I understand that this is up to authorities, and there is a process in place. But in your opinion, how is this not genocide?

SULLIVAN: Look, in my opinion, the label is less important than the fact that these acts are cruel and criminal and wrong and evil and need to be responded to decisively and that is what we are doing.

And we're doing that not just by supporting international investigations and gathering evidence to hold the perpetrators all the way to the highest levels accountable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: And Sullivan has also repeatedly said that the U.S. will continue to monitor these incidents coming out of Ukraine, but at this moment, President Biden is not ready to yet make that conclusion that a genocide has occurred. Of course, there is a longer legal process that has to be conducted as they review each of these incidents.

Sullivan in the past has pointed to that lengthy review process that determines that genocide was underway in Burma. But at this moment, the White House is not going as far as saying that that is what is happening in Ukraine. Of course, there is always the possibility that they could make that determination down the road -- Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, we will be looking. Arlette Saenz live at the White House, thank you.

Congresswoman Liz Cheney, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, told CNN earlier today that the U.S. needs to provide more military support to Ukraine. Here is what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): We ought to be moving much faster, much more quickly, recognizing that the Ukrainians now, given what they've been able to do and how long they've been able to fight and what they've been able to inflict upon the Russian forces, they need advanced weaponry. We need to be thinking about providing them with tanks, with artillery, with armored vehicles.

We need to be doing much more and more quickly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Let's bring in Maria Mezentseva. She is a member of Ukraine's Parliament. She's also here in Lviv.

So Maria, first I want to talk about what we're seeing right now, just the changing battlefield. There's this eight-mile convoy, and I wonder what you think what you worry is going to be coming from the east.

MARIA MEZENTSEVA, MEMBER OF UKRAINE PARLIAMENT: Well, as a representative of the east, I very much hope to speak to you in a day from Kharkiv myself. The assessment is as follows: The reshuffle which has happened after the liberation of small towns around the capital, Kyiv, was conducted to the north and to the east. This means that the regrouping happened next to the temporary occupied territories of Donbas, where exercises started more than eight years ago, and now they will try to move towards Kharkiv, and this poses an additional humanitarian threat to smaller towns located next to Kharkiv, which we cannot reach.

And this issue, I've raised last Sunday, just a week ago in front of the President of the International Red Cross, Mr. Maurer talking about the small towns which are now blocked and it means that we don't know how many more Bucha might be uncovered, unfortunately. Well, fortunately, there will be none if we regain this green corridors, which we're calling for the Russian side to be very responsible, and to accept the International Red Cross support and mediation as an independent part to -- and play an independent role here with a mandate dedicated to these issues.

[15:10:41] MEZENTSEVA: We definitely understand that there was no call for Kharkiv citizens to evacuate, even though smaller towns are evacuating right now, if they can.

Of course, there is another issue, which we'll have to --

KEILAR: Wait, Maria. Maria, can I just ask you, though, because you mentioned there are humanitarian corridors, we know, from Donetsk and Luhansk. Sometimes, they are working and sometimes they're not.

Do you think that enough people are leaving those areas?

MEZENTSEVA: So Donetsk and Luhansk have been occupied since 2014, and this temporary occupied areas are being misused by the Russian forces, when they're not agreeing to what Ukraine is offering and the International Red Cross is supporting.

Instead, they're offering alternative routes, which are occupied territories of Donbas, which you've mentioned, the occupied territories and of annexed peninsula of Crimea, Belarus, and Russia, and this people are being forced to evacuate.

Therefore, we understand that this is a simple breach of human rights. These people are deprived from their right to relocate where they wanted to relocate to safer place. So imagine how silly is that? A person who attacked you is inviting you to go with them or let's say to move to Russia. That's absolutely unacceptable.

Moreover, they are forcibly depriving people from their identities, passports, and they are leaving them no choice. This is what we are trying to prevent with international community and this poses a huge threat to our population.

KEILAR: Are they getting out, Maria? Are they getting out as they need to?

MEZENTSEVA: Yes, I can confirm that there is a success at a particular stage. The Special Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories, Madam Vereshchuk is doing a great job every day. So there's like 80 percent of corridors, which are confirmed are functioning, but as I've mentioned, there are so many devastated small towns across Kharkiv like Cirkonitiski (ph) is the area of Kupiansk, these names wouldn't tell you much.

But let's say there is a very, very important strategic town called Izyum, which is translated as raisin, very tasty name. But as I say, there is no access of people to food and drink and water over there, just because the Russian forces to not allow the humanitarian convoys to enter.

KEILAR: It has been a struggle -- it has been incredibly frustrating to watch. From around the world, people are watching these humanitarian corridors and wondering why they cannot just be open for people in a widespread way.

Maria, thank you so much for being with us, Maria Mezetseva, we appreciate it.

MEZENTSEVA: Thank you.

KEILAR: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meeting online today with several Ukrainian troops who are training in the U.S. The group is part of a prescheduled professional military education program, and today is their last day of advanced tactical training before returning to Ukraine.

Secretary Austin, thanking them for their service and pledging continued U.S. support coordinating security assistance against Russia's invasion.

And still ahead, I spoke with one of the many military families in Ukraine about their experiences sending their loved ones into war and their fight for survival.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:18:24]

WHITFIELD: Welcome back.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is tapping a new Commander to lead his forces following a series of key setbacks in Ukraine. Russian forces have retreated from areas around Kyiv that appear to be intensifying their assault in the east of Ukraine.

Let's bring in now James Clapper. He's a CNN national security analyst and a former Director of National Intelligence. Always good to see you.

So in your view, what is this appointment of this Russian Commander with the reputation of brutality in Syria mean? Is this a sign of desperation, and perhaps even impatience on Russia's behalf?

JAMES CLAPPER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, I think that it means more of the same and maybe mean more organized brutality, there's such a thing, based on this guy's track record in in Syria, so it is certainly not surprising.

I think it's an indicator of problems that the Russians have, and apparently now, the hierarchy understands that. And the other significant point, apart from the reputation for brutality that this General has is the fact that apparently, they're putting some -- one General -- in charge of the whole operation, which hasn't been the case in the past, which has contributed to the many problems that the Russians have heard.

WHITFIELD: If indeed this brutality intensifies, do you believe this will have a different kind of impact or influence on the international community's response?

[15:20:02]

CLAPPER: Well, it's an interesting question. It is you know, what is the threshold of pain that the international community can stand before it is more activist in helping Ukraine to include the United States?

And so, you know, that remains to be seen?

You know, it appears that the Russians are going to try to mass more force, which has been a problem they've had. But I really question just, you know, how ready the Russians are? How much combat power -- a term that's kind of thrown around -- they actually have to mount an offensive in Eastern Ukraine, which by the way is -- that's an ambient war, if you will, that's been going on since 2014.

So the Ukrainians are pretty familiar with the territory and how to fight the Russians there.

WHITFIELD: I want to play now, some audio from intercepted radio communications of what is believed to be a Russian soldier talking about the war and it was released by Ukraine Defense officials. Listen.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE speaking in foreign language.)

TRANSLATION: We are so fed up sitting here, and I just hope we are not going to get hit.

(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE speaking in foreign language.)

TRANSLATION: But you are going to be a veteran after this special military operation in Ukraine. Putin has signed a decree.

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE speaking in foreign language.)

TRANSLATION: What veteran? They promised us we would all get medals, and money with each medal.

But I want to go home. I don't need those medals.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So I don't know if you were able to watch the translation there, because I know you're on your laptop, but that soldier is saying they're fed up sitting there. They were promised medals and money, and almost want to just give up and you know, abandon ship, so to speak.

So what does it say about morale, if that one person is an anomaly or representative of a good amassing of the soldiers? Of the forces?

CLAPPER: Well, I think it is probably typical of Russian morale. We've seen other indicators of that. Just Russian troops giving up, sabotaging their own vehicles, assaulting their own Commanders. So this intercept is yet another graphic example of the poor state of morale and the poor state of discipline of the Russian soldiers. And the fact that they really are exhibiting in my view, a lack of will to fight Ukrainians, which is in stark contrast to the Ukrainians who do demonstrate a will to fight the Russians.

WHITFIELD: The U.S. and Europe say they will target more sanctions on Russia. There are calls to cut off more of Russia's oil sales. Is there a sense among the Intelligence Community that sanctions are having an impact on Putin and within the Kremlin?

CLAPPER: Well, I think they are having an impact in Russia, and they are probably affecting, you know, slowly, the Russian populace. They will have over time, a deleterious effect on the Russian economy.

As for Putin himself, I doubt it. I think he is probably insulated from the immediate effects of the sanctions, and that is one of the frustrations that people have with sanctions, is that they don't result in instant gratification. It takes time for them to gain traction and actually start to exert pain. I think that process has started.

But, you know, whether it actually will serve to change Russian behavior that remains to be seen.

WHITFIELD: So James, how do you think this is going to end?

CLAPPER: Well, you know, I have to whip out the crystal ball here, Fred. I don't know. It appears to me -- I mean, the hope here is some form of negotiation. And right now, it doesn't seem as though either party is disposed towards negotiations.

The Russians have to, you know, Putin almost got to have something to show for all of this, particularly by May 9th, and if anything, the Ukrainians have gotten more intractable, dug in their heels about negotiating, so I don't know how it's going to end.

A thing that concerned me at the outset was that if Putin were able to somehow exert control over Ukraine, they wouldn't be stopping with just the Ukraine. Well, I think that picture has changed.

WHITFIELD: All right, you mentioned May 9th, that's kind of the Russian imposed goal. But you know, it's all very loose, still to be determined.

James Clapper, thank you so much.

All right, thousands of Ukrainians gathered at a train station hoping to find refuge from Putin's war; instead, they became victims of Russia's assault while waiting to evacuate. A close look at the devastating aftermath of the missile strike, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:29:42]

KEILAR: Officials at the U.S.-Mexico border are warning of a record- breaking surge of migrants after the repeal of a pandemic-related restriction that blocked entry into the U.S.

The Biden administration and many Democrats are growing increasingly anxious as estimate say more than 18,000 migrants could try to cross each day.

CNN's Priscilla Alvarez is with us now in Washington.

Priscilla, what are members of the President's party saying about these warnings?

[15:30:09]

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN REPORTER: Well, simply put, Brianna, they're saying that now is just not the time to lift these restrictions, and they want to see a comprehensive plan for the administration as to how they are going to address what they anticipate is going to be an increase in arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Now, the administration has said that they are putting these plans in place, but the political fallout and the pushback from senators like Kelly and Warnock has really put into sharp focus the difficult position that the White House finds itself in.

As you recall, the Biden administration has already grappled with a surge of unaccompanied minors last year, a surge in Del Rio, Texas, part of the Texas-Mexico border last September, and now, they are anticipating more arrivals because of the restrictions lifting, because of pent up demand and the deteriorating conditions in Latin America.

Now, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security have said that they are bracing for this, but they are also planning for it. That means increasing capacity to process migrants, surging personnel to the U.S.-Mexico border to also help in that effect and leaning on Federal agencies and state and local agencies where they may need assistance.

Now, while they outline these plans, while they try to brief lawmakers on this, they are still getting that pushback from Republicans and Democrats who say they should hold off, that now is not the time. But as we know at this point, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said that on May 23rd, those Trump-era pandemic restrictions put in place back in 2020 will terminate -- Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, Priscilla, thank you so much for that. We do appreciate it.

More than four and a half million refugees have now fled Ukraine. Half of them fleeing to neighboring Poland. The sheer number of refugees flooding into the country is overwhelming many of the people who are trying to help.

Salma Abdelaziz has this story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER (voice over): What does it take to care for just a few dozen refugee families? Storerooms packed with food, endless hot meals, hundreds of bunk beds, and lots and lots of love says volunteer, Kamil Prusinowski.

KAMIL PRUSINOWSKI, VICE PRESIDENT POLANDWELCOMES.ORG CHARITY: As you saw this, women with the child on hands and they say they have nowhere to go.

ABDELAZIZ (voice over): 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: To use my skills, everything -- what I've got to help these people.

ABDELAZIZ (voice over): Now the challenge is to keep this place up and running, the organizers say.

PRUSINOWSKI: Up until now, we received zero USD, zloty, pound or whatever from any NGO or government and there are huge bills, which we need to pay.

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

(VIKTORIA speaking in foreign language.)

ABDELAZIZ (voice over): "It was so scary, but we had to go for the children," she says.

ABDELAZIZ (on camera): I'm very, very sorry. Do you finally feel safe?

(VIKTORIA speaking in foreign language.)

ABDELAZIZ (voice over): "It will come," she says. "Every time we hear a loud sound, we flinch and look up at the sky. We still feel fear."

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

(IRINA GORODNIA speaking in foreign language.)

ABDELAZIZ (voice over): "It is getting easier," she says, "But he flinches in his sleep."

"Mom, I have nightmares," he tells her.

ABDELAZIZ (on camera): Does he still feel scared?

(IRINA GORODNIA speaking in foreign language.)

ABDELAZIZ (voice over): "Yes, sometimes, but I try to calm him. We go outside and breathe fresh air," she says. 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.

ABDELAZIZ (on camera): 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 (voice over): These helpers need help, to keep their doors open for the many forced out of their homes.

Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, Radymno, Poland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Quick update now on that devastating train attack in Eastern Ukraine. The death toll now standing at 57. Thousands of civilians were packed into that station just trying to get to safety. The latest attack just speaks to the brutality, continued brutality of the Russian forces in their approach there, now moving to the east.

Next, we're going to speak with a Ukrainian military family. While dad is on the frontline, what they are doing to try to win the war at home. We'll have that story, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: In war, there is always a focus on the warriors and for good reason. But for every person on the frontline, there are so many more at home supporting them and their experiences are also fraught.

I spoke to one of those Ukrainian families about the risks and the threat to those at home.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: What is on your mind?

LIUBA, HUSBAND FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINES (through translator): I feel angry. Sometimes I'm angry at him that he rejoined the Army again, but more often, I'm angry at the very fact that this war is happening.

[15:40:10]

LIUBA (through translator): My son was waiting for his dad to come back from the war eight years ago. Now, my daughter has to wait.

KEILAR (voice over): Back in 2014, after Russian forces first invaded Eastern Ukraine, Liuba held down the home front as well, while her husband Mikhail served for more than a year in the Ukrainian Military.

LIUBA (through translator): He is a veteran of war. He's on the shortlist of Reserves that goes in the first wave.

KEILAR: "Mikhail received a call from his old unit," she says, asking him to join immediately. Liuba who is pregnant with a couple's third child had been hoping that she would weather this war with her husband. Instead, he deployed the day after Russia invaded, and she moved nine-year-old Semen and five-year-old Yustyna out of their home in the center of Lviv to her sisters, on the outskirts of the city where they are safer.

KEILAR (on camera): How are the kids doing? How do they make sense of it?

LIUBA (through translator): My kids, they know that the war is happening. They know that their father is in the military. Semen is going through this as an adult, but he understands everything.

Yustyna will sometimes run to me in cry and say that she is afraid her dad will be killed, but I always explain to her that her dad is big and strong.

KEILAR (voice over): Yuliana (ph), Liuba sister isn't just hosting her niece and nephew, she is running supplies to the front line to their father's military unit, just like she did for him back in 2014.

YULIANA ((through translator): It was a really funny story. I had to bring washing machines to the military unit because they didn't have a way to wash their clothes.

KEILAR (voice over): This time, Yuliana trekked a thousand kilometers to deliver night vision goggles, long underwear, even a car and a drone to Mikhail's unit. She only saw him for a few minutes, long enough to snap these pictures. The front line was too dangerous to stay any longer.

LIUBA (through translator): I was very worried when she went there the first time a couple of weeks ago, because the front line right now is not a clear line because the airstrikes can happen anywhere. So, the front line is very blurred.

KEILAR: Even Pufa, the family dog is a veteran of war. In 2014, Yuliana took Pufa, then a puppy to serve with Mikhail's reconnaissance unit. She is seen here sleeping with him on a personnel carrier.

Now, Pufa comforts children while he is away fighting.

SEMEN (through translator): I think our dad is protecting all of us very much. And they know I think that he didn't want to do this. But that's what he had to do.

YUSTYNA (through translator): When he comes back, I want to buy a big cotton candy and I don't want him to go to the war, and I want all of us to stay together.

KEILAR (voice over): It's all they hope for. It's what they fear this war may take from them.

KEILAR (on camera): What do you worry about?

LIUBA (through translator): That he will not come back. KEILAR: Liuba, what are your hopes for the future?

LIUBA (through translator): First of all, I hope that when it's time for the third child to see this world, that my husband will be back from the war, that the war will end by that time and that the war will end with our victory. Because if we don't win this war, then probably in 15 to 20 years, my son will have to go to the next war and defend our country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: One of the remarkable things is how everyone has been touched by this war. Liuba was telling me that she and her friends were trying to count how many people they know with family members deployed and within this particular family, everyone is doing everything they possibly can to help military efforts including the family dog.

And to learn more about ways that you can help the people of Ukraine you can go to cnn.com/impact.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:48:18]

WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back.

Nearly 10 million people in the Midwest are under the threat of severe storms today across portions of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.

Tulsa, Oklahoma Springfield, Missouri and Fayetteville, Arkansas are under a level two severe storm watch this afternoon. Meanwhile, strong thunderstorms could also develop this evening in parts of Northeastern Oklahoma into Missouri.

And we're also monitoring this developing news. A spokesman says that New York City Mayor Eric Adams has now tested positive for COVID-19. He is said to be experiencing mild symptoms. Adams is isolating and canceling all public events for the week.

The Mayor is fully vaccinated. He attended several events recently including the elite Gridiron Club dinner in Washington where at least 67 people contracted the coronavirus. It's unclear where Adams got the infection. The spokesman says the Mayor will work remotely while he isolates.

All right, despite the odds, he made it back to Augusta National with the crowds roaring five-time champion Tiger Woods return to the Masters just 14 months after last year's horrific car crash.

But he struggled this entire weekend and in his signature red shirt today, he finished 13 over for the tournament, his worst showing at the Masters, but does that really matter really big picture?

Let's bring in Armen Keteyian. He is the executive producer of the HBO documentary, "Tiger." He's also a coauthor of the book "Tiger Woods." All right, so Armen, I mean, I say doesn't matter because nobody thought 14 months ago that he could possibly be in physical condition to be at the Masters. So even in his losses, Tiger wins, right?

[15:50:04]

ARMEN KETEYIAN, ARMENIAN AMERICAN TELEVISION JOURNALIST AND BEST- SELLING AUTHOR: Without question. I think this is as great of a comeback story as anything that Tiger has experienced in his 46 years. And as you know, Fredricka, he has had quite a few of them.

I mean, if you look at some of the biggest moments of his life, it's been 25 years since he won in '97 at the Masters. He ran away with the U.S. Open in 2000. In 2008, on a broken leg and a torn ACL, he wins the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

And then a storybook of all storybook kind of finishes, 2019, he wins the Masters. I think this is his finest hour, I really do. It's an otherworldly kind of experience to watch him even walk this course, let alone finish four rounds, after what you mentioned, experience in the car.

WHITFIELD: And in that walking of these grounds. I mean, it's hilly, I mean, it's a pretty treacherous terrain, beautiful nonetheless. But you know, he was limping, particularly in that final round. Still, you heard him say this weekend, he's a fighter, every day is a fight, is what he said. So essentially, you know, this is just might be par for the course so to speak, from this point forward, when he does, you know, hit the greens.

KETEYIAN: Well, I mean, Tiger, he thrives on pain, you know, his will to win and his pain threshold is really second to none as any athlete I've ever covered in some 45 years, and he really draws strength from that.

And I think, in a weird way, you know, he was so attracted to this event, not only because it's the Masters, because he could prove once again that he can do things that no other athlete I've ever seen during my lifetime, and I would venture to say a few others have seen could withstand this. I mean, it's a very, very tough walk.

You know, and it's easy to forget, it was almost 13 years ago, when you know, his basically, his fall from grace began with the car crash on that Thanksgiving weekend. And then it's been only five years since he was found on the side of the street in Florida, a road in Florida thinking it was in California with powerful opioids in his system.

So for him to even get -- and then as you mentioned, obviously the car crash, which he almost lost his leg, for him to be anywhere near this golf course, is just -- it's almost something out of a Marvel Comics. I mean, it is super heroic at this point in time.

WHITFIELD: Yes, it seems adversity only inspires him to dig even deeper. So your prediction? Do you think we're going to see him back in a major tournament after this? I know, you know, he's got some favorite courses out there. KETEYIAN: I don't know. I think, you know, he built up to this. It was obviously a moment that you know, fathers tell sons and sons tell sons, generationally for years to come.

I think he's going to pick and choose where he plays next very carefully, and people are talking perhaps it's going to be the Open Championship this summer. That would seem to be a more likely event. I can't see him just showing up on tour anymore just to play a regular tour event. He doesn't need it financially, obviously.

And moments like this, he is just built for, I mean, if you saw it, and I was watching it, standing ovations at 16 and 18 and that walk off the course there was so reminiscent of '97 ...

WHITFIELD: That was so amazing.

KETEYIAN: ... and 2019.

WHITFIELD: So true.

KETEYIAN: So, you know, I don't see him showing up very often, honestly.

WHITFIELD: Okay, well, when he does, we'll still be cheering him, right?

Armen Keteyian, so good to see you. Thank you so much.

All right, chef, writer, traveler, friend, Anthony Bourdain played a special role in millions of people's lives around the world.

And now as CNN prepares to bring you the new film "Roadrunner," a film about Anthony Bourdain, some of Tony's closest friends and family share some of their favorite memories.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER BOURDAIN, ANTHONY BOURDAIN'S BROTHER: Tony always used to joke about his meal we weren't together at because it was our first trip to France as kids and my mom was, you know, totally into discovering France staying with my dad who had been as a child, and they booked a reservation at some really fancy restaurant out in the country somewhere and made Tony and me wait in the car for three hours.

But I think it added to the mystery like, oh, what are they eating in there? And what is this holiness about food?

I still remember and I know Tony did, too. I mean, we had things like just these amazing steaks and we had these great ham sandwiches on a baguette which just -- best ever, you know, and there was a garlic saucy, you know, the sausage kind of a salami thing.

I remember that we had picnics on the beach in Southwest France, not far from Bordeaux, which we -- I mean, if Tony were still alive today, I would probably be talking about that with him still. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The love of food, the love of Bourdain. Watch the new CNN film "Roadrunner: A film about Anthony Bourdain" tonight at 9:00 PM right here on CNN.

[15:55:08]

WHITFIELD: And thanks so much for joining me today. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. The CNN NEWSROOM continues with Jim Acosta after this.

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