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Justin Bieber Cancels Shows After Suffering Partial Face Paralysis; Trump's Top Advisers: Drunk Giuliani Urged Him To Declare Victory; Fox News Airs Today's Hearing After Ignoring First Prime-Time Hearing; Bipartisan Group Of Senators Announce Agreement On Gun Control; Mickelson Reacts To Criticism About Jump To Saudi-Backed LIV Golf. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired June 13, 2022 - 15:30   ET

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


[15:30:00]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Justin Bieber is pulling out of upcoming shows. Half of his face is paralyzed. This is the result of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. Watch this, he posted this video on social media.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN BIEBER, SINGER: As you can see, this eye is not blinking. I can't smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move. So, there's full paralysis in this side of my face. I'll be using this time to just rest and relax and get back to 100 percent so that I can do what I was born to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here. Two things I'm wondering, how does this happen, and is rest enough? Can you just take time off and this goes away?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: So, Victor, the way that it happens is that when people get chickenpox as a child, that virus can lay dormant for decades and then pop back up again either as shingles -- which I think a lot of people have heard of -- or Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which fewer people of have heard of.

We don't know his history -- Mr. Bieber's history for sure, but the chickenpox vaccine was not introduced where he lives in Canada until he was around 10 years old.

[15:35:00]

So that means that it's pretty likely that he did have chickenpox as a child, and that that is what is happening here.

So, let's talk a bit about these symptoms, and then we can get back to the treatment question that you asked. So, the symptoms are a painful rash in and around one ear.

Vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial weakness or paralysis which Mr. Bieber talked about. Now rest is not always going to be enough. The best treatment for this is antivirals and it's best if it's done very early on so we're really hoping that he got treatment as quickly as possible -- Victor.

Absolutely. Watching that video was heartbreaking for him. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you so much for explaining that.

COHEN: It is.

BLACKWELL: Ahead of this week's U.S. open, Phil Mickelson is on defense after participating in the controversial Saudi backed LIV tournament. Details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: During today's insurrection hearing, the House Committee used video testimony of Trump's family members including his daughter Ivanka to illustration what election night in 2020 was like inside the White House.

The committee also played clips from Trump advisers who claimed drunk Rudy Giuliani urged Trump to falsely declare Victory.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was there anyone in that conversation who in your observation had had too much to drink?

JASON MILLER, FORMER TRUMP CAMPAIGN ADVISOR: Mayor Giuliani.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me more about that, what was your observation about his potential intoxication during that discussion about what the president should say when he addresses the nation on election night?

The mayor was definitely intoxicated but I did not know that his level of intoxication when he spoke with the president, for example.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Giuliani's lawyers deny that his client -- their client, rather, was drunk on election night. Bill Carter is a CNN media analyst. He is with me now. Bill, good to see you. Let's start here with Ivanka being used in the presentation, Giuliani as well.

What we heard from Ivanka was, yes, I was there that night. I did not have an opinion on what the president should say. They weren't necessarily material to the case they were making. Was this just to needle, the former president?

BILL CARTER, CNN MEDIA ANALYST: Well, it's hard to say they were just needling him. I think they're trying to say, look, we have this testimony from even his daughter, and obviously part of what they're doing is setting up the future, and I think they aren't telling you that they're laying the groundwork.

So, we don't know exactly where they're going with Ivanka, obviously they already had her saying they believed what Bill Barr told her. And I think they know it's under Trump's skin, and I think there's part of this that you can see they're going after him with absolutely guns blazing.

There's no question about that now. They're even blaming him, going after him about grifting his supporters for money. So, part of it is I think a strategy to get under Trump's skin.

BLACKWELL: One place to watch the hearing today where people could not watch it last week was on Fox News. They aired the hearings live.

CARTER: Yes.

BLACKWELL: Some of the commentary, though, the analysis afterward and during the intermission, the break, was not much new here. What do you make of Fox airing it?

CARTER: Well, I think they're trying to still dismiss it, but it's getting harder, and I think they recognize it's getting harder. Because, you know, they put it on now today.

So, their viewers are going to see this, and it's all Trump's people talking this way. It's not Democrats, it's not the hard left going after him. It's his own people, and it's very hard for them to deflect that.

And they may say, oh, this has been out there. It's been out there, but it hasn't been out there on their air. They haven't been covering it. They aren't the ones who have been out there saying Trump was lying about every aspect of this being a fraud.

And now the audience is hearing that, and I think that could have some impact where people have been saying there's not going to be any minds changed.

Well, you have to sit there and say, gee, I have to believe that even his own supporters didn't believe him, you know, maybe that does open up some eyes.

BLACKWELL: Yes, we saw there, Chris Stirewalt, who is Fox News former digital political editor who called Arizona that night. The president has tried to vilify that man. You think he can be effective with the Fox News audience?

CARTER: Well, look, this is a guy who was employed by Fox News and his job was to call various states. He did his job. And he called Arizona, and guess what, he was right. It turns out he was right.

So now they have to argue, well, he was right, but we didn't like it anyway, and we fired him for that. So, if you're in the news business and you have a guy who's right and you fire him for being right, I think it says a lot about your approach to news, that you're not really interested in the facts, you're interested in ideology or propaganda.

BLACKWELL: You think these should all be prime time, and would the networks give up the air time for these hearings? CARTER: Well, that's a really good question. I think they're great

compelling television, and I think people watching them are riveted by it. But, you know, if you're in the business you might say, well, you know, we love it during the daytime but not so much at night, and you know, the Watergate hearings were famously in the daytime.

But I think putting him in prime time in summer, it's not really a big loss if your network. And obviously if you're a news network like CNN you're going to cover no matter what and there are more viewers available in prime time.

[15:45:03]

So, if the point is to get as much exposure as you want, I can see why the committee wants it. And I think there's enough there now that networks are going to say, it's pretty hard to turn them down.

BLACKWELL: Bill Carter, always good to see you, sir, thank you.

CARTER: Good to see you, Victor, thanks.

BLACKWELL: A bipartisan group of Senators say they have an agreement on gun reform but will the 10 Republican Senators who are currently on board stay on board. We're live on Capitol Hill next.

[15:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: The bipartisan group of Senators working on gun safety legislation have come to an agreement. Ten Republican Senators they've signed on in support, but getting the bill written while keeping their support, that will be a challenge for lawmakers.

CNN's Congressional correspondent Lauren Fox has been following the negotiations closely. All right, what's the latest -- Lauren?

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Victor, like you said, the key right now is keeping these 10 Republican Senators onboard. This is just a framework that was announced yesterday.

It is not legislative text. It is not a fully written bill. There are still, according to Republican and Democratic aides that I'm speaking with, so much detail to be worked out in this legislation. So, the challenge, of course, keeping those 10 Republicans onboard.

Already outside groups like Gun Owners of America, are pleading with their constituencies to try and call these Senators offices, to distract just one of these members so that this Bill could be filibustered.

But right now, this framework includes key changes. The Democrats and Republicans say are very significant despite the fact they may not go as far as some Democrats had hoped.

One of those key changes is more money and incentives for states to pass so-called red flag laws. There's also more money for mental health funding and school security. As well as the closure of the so- called boyfriend loophole.

That's important for domestic violence advocates who have been arguing for years that one of the key problems in the system is that people who abuse their partners but don't live with them are still able to purchase a gun. That would be changed under this legislation.

There is also additional rigorous review for buyers between the ages of 18 and 21 who go to buy a gun like an AR-15. So, Victor, a lots of big and substantial changes in this framework.

But like I said, this final bill text still has to be written. That could take not just days but potentially weeks. Lawmakers departing for a two-week recess in just two more weeks -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right, thank you, Lauren.

Phil Mickelson is defending his participation in the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf series. He says he respects any feelings of betrayal held by PGA tour players. Mickelson is scheduled to play in another tournament this week.

We're talking about the U.S. open in Massachusetts. That's where we find host of CNN's "WORLD SPORT," Don Riddell. Don, what more did he say?

DON RIDDELL, CNN HOST, WORLD SPORT: Hey, Victor. He didn't really say much, to be honest. Of course, this is the first press conference of this major week, and hardly any questions were about this tournament.

It was all about Saudi Arabia, LIV Golf, and the morality of Mickelson's decision to join this breakaway league.

He was specifically asked about the connection between Saudi Arabia and the 9/11 terror attacks 21 years ago. Coincidentally, one of the planes involved in the attacks took off about 20 minutes from this golf course, Logan Airport.

The families have accused Mickelson and other golfers involved of a betrayal. They say they are outraged. They have said to Mickelson and others these are your partners. You appear pleased to be in business with them.

So, Mickelson was pointedly asked what he would say to the families. How would he explain it, and would he communicate directly with the families. This was his answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHIL MICKELSON, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: I think I speak for pretty much every American in that we feel the deepest of sympathy and the deepest of empathy for those who have lost loved ones, friends, in 9/11. It affected all of us and those that have been directly affected, I can't emphasize enough how much empathy I have for them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: We are used to seeing Phil Mickelson freewheeling in press conferences, calling people by their names. There was none of that today. It was controlled, it was measured. As I said, he didn't really say much.

He used to be one of the most popular golfers on the PGA tour. He will have done very little today to appease his growing number of critics.

BLACKWELL: We'll see how he's received in Brookline. Don Riddell for us. Thank you.

Let's take a look at the big board here. Stocks down more than 900 points. Investors are watching the Fed and more rate hikes. We, of course, will follow that. The closing bell coming in a few seconds. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper will have more on the markets after a quick break.

[15:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Everyone told Trump it was not going to happen. "THE LEAD" starts right now.

Trump's Attorney General, Trump's campaign manager, Trump's own daughter, the January 6th Select Committee lays out evidence that Donald Trump knew what he was saying about the election was a lie, but he kept going anyway.

Then, flipping the script. Vladimir Putin now publicly admitting the real reason he invaded Ukraine. The new propaganda message being spread as Russia scoffed as sanctions.

Plus, a woman in China brushes off a man's unwanted advance. What happens next in the video is sparking outrage as women across China say it's not surprising.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

TAPPER: Welcome to "THE LEAD" I'm Jake Tapper. We start today with breaking news on our "MONEY LEAD." The Dow plummeting, about to close down more than 850 points.