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Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Killing Daughter Of Major Putin Ally; Kyiv Bans Events Amid Fears Of Independence Day Attack; Pentagon Announces $557 Million Aid Package For Ukraine; Pakistan's Former PM Accused Of Threatening Police & Judge; Trump Team Seeks "Special Master" To Review Mar-a-Lago Evidence. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired August 23, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone you're watching CNN. Coming up here on Newsroom, Ukraine set to back independence from the Soviet Union amid concerns Moscow will soon wrap up missile attacks and airstrikes on major cities. It's going to get worse before it gets better, the grim outlook for the global economy.
And in China, Xi's minions go to work censoring the latest Minions movie. What was changed, and why.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with John Vause.
VAUSE: In the coming days, Ukraine will back 31 years of independence from the tyranny of the Soviet Union. And now to be in a brutal fight for the freedom from the tyranny of Russian President Vladimir Putin. A war that has left nearly 5,600 civilians dead according to the U.N. More than 13 million forced to flee their homes.
And ahead of Wednesday's national holiday, public gatherings have been banned in Kyiv. Outdoor celebrations canceled in most major cities, with fears of increased Russian missile attacks and airstrikes. The State Department spokesman telling CNN, an escalation could in fact be imminent retaliation in part for the weekend assassination of the daughter of a prominent Putin ally.
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NED PRICE, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: We have reason to believe, and we had reason to believe even before this event in Moscow, that Moscow does plan to intensify its campaign against Ukraine in the coming days, targeting civilian infrastructure, targeting government infrastructure. That's why it's so important that in the days and the weeks ahead, the United States and our partners continue to provide that massive amount of security system will have more to say on that this week.
(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: Russia is blaming Ukraine for that car bombing which killed the daughter of this influential Russian ideologue. According to state media, Russia's Federal Security Service says the attack on Darya Dugina was prepared by Ukraine special services carried out by Ukrainian woman on Saturday. But a senior Ukrainian official dismissed the allegation saying Russian propaganda lives in a fictional world. Meantime, Dugina's father, Alexander Dugin, is calling for, quote, victory against Ukraine in response to his daughter's killing.
We have more details now from CNN's Fred Pleitgen reporting in from Moscow.
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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Shortly after the explosion that caused Darya Dugina to crash on a Moscow highway, her car engulfed in flames. Darya Dugina was dead at the scene, police say. Her father pro-Kremlin ideologue, Alexander Dugin looking on in dismay.
Tonight, Vladimir Putin with an angry response, quote, "A vile, cruel crime cut short the life of Darya Dugina. She proved by deed what it means to be a patriot of Russia." The Russian leader said in a condolence letter.
After only a short investigation, the Russians now blaming Ukraine for the murder. The Intelligence Service releasing this video which CNN cannot independently verify, claiming to show a Ukrainian special services operative who allegedly entered Russia together with her young daughter Chateau (ph) Dugina, who carried out the car bombing and then fled to neighboring Estonia.
Alexander Dugin, who some believe may have been the actual target of the plot, lashing out against Ukraine. "Our hearts yearn for more than just revenge or retribution. It's too small, not the Russian way. We only need our victory. My daughter laid her maiden life on her altar. So win, please!" Dugin wrote in a statement.
Dugin has long advocated Russian expansionism and some believe laid the ideological groundwork for Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainians deny they had anything to do with his daughter's killing. Russian propaganda lives in a fictional world and adviser to Ukraine's presidential administration said and hinted the Ukrainians believe it may have been an inside job adding, quote, "Vipers in Russian special services started an interest species fight."
The incident comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine nears the half year mark and Moscow is keen to keep public opinion in favor of the operation. With a massive show of patriotism on Russia's National Flag Day in a series of events around the country.
[01:05:06]
(on-camera): In these trying times as Russia's military is fighting in Ukraine and the country is under heavy sanctions, it's become increasingly important to display patriotism. At this event, the organizers have brought together hundreds of people to create a giant Russian flag.
(voice-over): Flags in public spaces and on Moscow streets. At this massive nighttime convoy, many of the drivers flash the Z symbol of Russia's invasion forces fighting in Ukraine.
Our commander in chief and the army are doing everything right, this man says, as the pro-Putin convoys circles Moscow in a display of power, trying to show that Russia won't be deterred from its current course.
Fled Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.
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VAUSE: With us this hour is Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, a CNN Military Analyst and former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army. Genera, good to see you.
LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good to be with you, John.
VAUSE: OK, so with regards to Darya Dugina reporting from the Russian news agency, TASS was blunt. The murder of journalist Darya Dugina has been solved. It was prepared by the Ukrainian special services by a citizen of Ukraine. The denial from Ukraine has also blunt, the secretary of the National Security Council saying, "We don't work that way. We have more powerful tasks that our guys are doing. We have nothing to do with the murder of this lady. This is the work of the Russian special services."
At this point, who has the most to gain by her death?
HERTLING: Well, first of all, what I'd say is it's fascinating the fact that Russia has come up with accusations less than a day after she was killed. And interestingly enough, they've produced an ID of the alleged killer, showing that she's Ukrainian and has somehow fled to Estonia. It just seems a little bit too quick to me for an investigation, John.
To answer your question on who has the most to gain? No one, really. I mean, this is an assassination attempt. But what I do believe is Russia and Mr. Putin specifically may use this as impetus for upping the attacks. Remember Dugina and her father, Dugin, have -- were the ones that were pressing Mr. Putin to work harder to go big in Ukraine. And Mr. Putin knows that he can't quite do that, he doesn't have the capability to do that. So they, you know, they were very supportive, but also to a degree an enemy.
So who has the most to gain if Mr. Putin decides to go bigger? You know, he'll use the assassination of Dugina to do that.
VAUSE: Well, it concerns the Russian retaliation has been that gatherings in Ukrainian Capitol have been banned until Thursday, head of the key city military administration saying the order was made. So the security forces could respond in a timely manner to threats of missile and bomb attacks by the troops of the Russian Federation on decision making centers, military facilities, defense industry facilities, critical infrastructure and nearby residential areas.
Similar bans are in place in cities across the country, across Ukraine. But the question is, what's -- what capabilities do the Russians have at this point to increase those missile attacks? How long can they keep those missile attacks going? Because if they could have done it, you would think they would have done it by now?
HERTLING: Well, they certainly have some caliber missiles left, there's indications that are close to 48 or so or are on ships in the Black Sea, and they can reach out as far as they'd like to target. But the interesting piece is, you know, when you're talking about the missile attack, potential missile attacks on Kyiv, going back to your earlier question, this is exactly what Alexander Dugin said Putin should be doing -- attacking the main street in the Capitol.
So that would be interesting. It's also in line with the 24th of August, which is Ukraine's Independence Day. So, is it smart for Mr. President Zelenskyy to say, be prepared for more missile attacks in the city? Yes. Is Russia going to be able to do it with the capacity and the capability they have in the past? Probably not. They're quite frankly, running out of either precision or regular missiles. And it's very difficult for them to continue their operations is what our intelligence agencies are telling us.
VAUSE: We've heard a lot about this Ukrainian counter offensive, we've waiting for some time, not a lot of evidence who have buildup of troops and vehicles which would normally be used. But there is some hints perhaps in what we saw Friday the announcement of U.S. military assistance, which includes 40 armored MaxxPro mine-resistant vehicles, 15 ScanEagle surveillance drones, which increased missile accuracy.
They're sending lighter Howitzers, which are easier to move, recoilless rifles, which range of, you know, a few 100 yards, missile launchers limited to less than 3 miles, you know, which all indicated it's close qualified, if you like. But when it does happen? It seems that this will not be a classic counter offensive. So what's the strategy here, the Ukrainians are likely to use?
HERTLING: No, and I've said that John, that the Ukrainians do not have the capability to meet the definition of a true counter offensive on a large strategic scale. They can potentially do smaller scale, strategic -- or excuse me, smaller scale, counter offensive operations, some counter attacks, but in order to do that, you have to have maneuver forces.
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And what I mean by that is anti-armor, infantry, artillery, intelligence, engineers to go through rivers and minefields. And the Ukraine Army is starting to build that force up. But you're exactly right, the package, the $775 million package that the U.S. military has given them, it has a bunch of wheeled vehicles. More than 60 MRAPS and Humvees. It has tow weapon systems, which are the precursors to the javelins that can be anti-tank missiles, 1,500 of them.
It has the UAVs, like you said, but it also has a whole lot of other mind clearing equipment and demolitions. And all of that is for contributing to maneuver operations. That's what the Ukrainians need to do in any kind of counter attack. I wouldn't call it a counter offensive. That's a much larger scale. But I think what you're seeing is the Russians have extended their supply lines to the point that they can't move any further. They're on the defensive.
So as they've transitioned to the defense, Ukraine is going to is going to transition to more offensive operations and use the terrain to their advantage. And I think that's what you're going to see in the southern locations.
VAUSE: I guess the question is when, the next couple of days, next couple of weeks? What do you think?
HERTLING: No, I think this is going to be very slow. You're going to see small scale counter attacks, just like we saw in the Donbas over the last several months, but in each one of them it's a continued attrition battle.
VAUSE: General Hertling, thanks so much.
HERTLING: Pleasure, John. Thanks.
VAUSE: Concern over ongoing shelling around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex will now be the focus of a special session on the Russian parliament. Recent increase in shelling has raised fears of a nuclear meltdown. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the attacks. U.N.'s nuclear watchdog says it's negotiating with both countries to arrange a safety inspection.
Until that happens, those living close to the plant living with the fear of possible disaster at any moment.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): Of course, we are worried. How can this not worry us? We are worried. We are like sitting on a powder keg.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): The roof, windows, garages, roof over their, glass, doors, everything has been affected. I want just peace. What else can I wish?
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VAUSE: Vladimir Putin's Russia there is little tolerance for those who are openly critical of the Kremlin. Those who publicly oppose the war in Ukraine risk jail time, or voices of dissent from within Russia's armed services are practically unheard of. But CNN's Matthew Chance met with the first serving member of the Russian military to speak out against Vladimir Putin's war of choice. And for that crime, he's now living in hiding in exile.
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MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): The first wave of Russian forces, crack airborne troops like we met outside Kyiv just hours after the war began. Outgunned, these men were quickly pushed back. But elsewhere in Ukraine, others held on fighting what the Kremlin still calls its special military operation. But now six months on, there are very public signs of discontent.
PAVEL FILATYEV, RUSSIAN SOLDIER (through translation): It's awful to realize that Russia is destroying Ukraine and Ukraine hates Russia because of what we are doing. And that the whole world thinks Russians are animals and bad people.
CHANCE (voice-over): We traveled to a secret location, thousands of miles from the war zone to meet that disillusioned Russian soldier in hiding, who says he feels compelled to speak out despite the risk.
(on-camera): Well, this is the place where we're told he's currently holed up. We've spoken to him on the phone already. He's very paranoid, concerned the Russian security forces are trying to track him down. But he has agreed to meet with us and to speak with us.
Hi, Pavel.
FILATYEV: Hello.
CHANCE (on-camera): Pavel (INAUDIBLE).
(VOICE-OVER): Pavel Filatyev serves in Russia's elite 56 Air Assault regiment deployed to Ukraine's Kherson region as part of that first invasion wave. He fought for more than two months on the front lines, he told me, and was appalled by what he saw.
FILATYEV (through translation): We were dragged into the serious conflict where we're just destroying towns and not actually liberating anyone. All of that's a lie. We are simply destroying peaceful lives.
CHANCE (voice-over): And we've seen those lives destroyed. Russian troops killing thousands of Ukrainian civilians in a bloody rampage across the country. Human rights groups and others documenting alleged war crimes, including rapes and killings.
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But that's something Filatyev denies witnessing at all, although he does describe how grinding battles, poor conditions and a severe lack of basic supplies, turned Russian soldiers like him into savages.
FILATYEV (through translation): Many of us had no food, no water, nor even sleeping bags. Because it was very cold at night and we couldn't sleep, we would find some rubbish, some rags just to wrap ourselves in to keep warm. Some took laptops, computers and other technology, perhaps because their salary does not provide for them to get those in an honest way.
Many robbed abandoned stores with mobile phones and other things. I don't want to justify their actions. But it is important to understand that their poor level of life pushes them to do such things during war. CHANCE (on-camera): A lot of Ukrainians feel that you should be held responsible for what you've done, and for the actions that you've taken part in. Do you think that you should be held responsible? Do you feel responsible for what you've done?
FILATYEV (through translation): Look, the majority of Russian servicemen did not break the laws of combat. But morally, I feel guilty. Guilty for being used as an instrument in political games, which will not even bring Russia any benefit. Our army has been destroyed. My government has destroyed almost every sphere with corruption and everyone in Russia knows it.
CHANCE (voice-over): But Filatyev is the first Russian soldier to speak up, publishing his scathing frontline memoirs on social media before fleeing his homeland. Now he's in exile and he fears a potential target too for the powers he's criticized.
Matthew Chance, CNN.
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VAUSE: When we come back, Imran Khan supporters rally to his defense to Pakistan's former prime minister, accused of violating anti- terrorism laws. Also Donald Trump's legal team opts for the long game, hoping to stall the investigation into classified documents found by the FBI in Trump's Florida home.
Also ahead this hour, redistricting in New York state. These Democrats, the Democrat, the Democrat in primary races Tuesday. Details in a moment.
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VAUSE: The Finnish Prime Minister right there on the screen, cleared for drug use or narcotics use after a drug test. I mean, the political uproar over her dancing. Sanna Marin's political opponents were quick to criticize the 36-year-old leader after a video of said dancing was leaked to the media. Marin image she was partying in a boisterous way, but she's angry the images were leaked in the first place.
Women across Europe have been making TikTok videos of themselves dancing in support of the Prime Minister.
The leading candidate to be Brazil's next president is defending the integrity of the upcoming election as the current president says doubt. Lula da Silva says he believes the results of the vote will be accepted despite political polarization. Lula slammed the incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro as a botched copy of Donald Trump for attempting to discredit the electoral system.
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Bolsonaro says he will accept the presidential results as long as it's, quote, fair and clean. He's routinely attacked Brazil's voting system and other democratic institutions. The loser of Kenya's presidential election is now challenging the results of the Supreme Court. Raila Odinga made allegations of vote rigging declare the results to be null and void and claimed corruption cartels were to blame for his narrow loss to William Ruto. Odinga submitted a truckful of documents to the court on Monday. Still remains unclear what evidence he has, if any, the vote was rigged.
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RAILA ODINGA, KENYAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is a do or die battle for the corruption cartels who have everything to lose to the forces of democracy take over. For the sake of Kenya's future, the corruption network must not only be stopped, it must also be crushed.
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VAUSE: Tensions arising in Pakistan as police investigate with a former Prime Minister Imran Khan violated anti-terror laws.
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(CHEERING)
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VAUSE: Khan supporters rallied his defense. Authorities accused him of hate speech for threatening to take action against Islamabad's police chief and a female judge for the arrest of his former chief of staff on sedition charges. But Khan says he was only calling for legal action against them.
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IMRAN KHAN, FORMER PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER (through translation): I called to take legal action against them and the government registered a terrorism case against me. In the first place, they do the wrong thing. When we say we will take legal action, they register a case against me and take out a warrant against me. What does it show, that there's no rule of law in our country?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Well, details now from CNN'S Sophia Saifi reporting in from Islamabad.
SOPHIA SAIFI, CNN PRODUCER: Political tensions in Pakistan continue to get ugly as we saw late on Sunday night and early into the hours of Monday. The police in the capital of Islamabad announced that they would be investing, engaging Imran Khan for breaching anti-terrorism laws. They claim that he made threatening statements against the chief of police for Islamabad as well as a female judge while making a speech on Saturday night.
The speech was made at a rally in Islamabad, which Khan had held in support of his former chief of staff, who is a senior aide in his party. Khan has claimed that this party member of his is being tortured while in police custody. That is something that government has strongly refuted and something that CNN has not been able to independently verify.
Khan's lawyers on Monday went ahead and filed protective bail in order for Khan not to be arrested until at least Thursday. That gives him some breathing space. The police cannot go ahead and arrest him until at least Thursday this week because of that protective bail that has been filed in the Islamabad High Court.
Khan's all -- many supporters gathered into the early hours of Monday late into Sunday night outside his residence. Those supporters continue to gather outside his residence of Bani Gala in the suburbs of Islam, but Khan has said -- his supporters have said that any arrest of Khan is a red line and that they will prevent him from being arrested.
We saw similar outpours of support in the cities of Karachi as well as Faisalabad. Khan is claiming that he is being censored. That while he was making a speech on Saturday, his YouTube was blocked in Pakistan. We do have independent watchdogs claiming that this is correct. But we've reached out to YouTube as well as to the information ministry and have not received a response.
We still have to wait to see there is -- there are local elections coming up in the city of Karachi. Khan's party won a by-election of a vacant seat on Sunday in the city of Karachi as well. So he's continuing to have that strong political support in front of the people. He does have that strong grassroots movement, people do come out in large numbers in support of him. But there is a lot of political pressure against him at the moment and we'll just have to wait to see how this plays out on Thursday, and in the days to come.
Sophia Saifi, CNN, Islamabad.
VAUSE: New York Times reporting new details just what was recovered from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. More than 150 sensitive documents were recovered by the National Archives back in January. But when FBI agents returned earlier this month with a search warrant, they found another stack of highly classified material.
All up, the government has recovered more than 300 documents with classified markings from the former president since he left the White House, according to the Times. Some were stored in boxes in the basement of the home which sources tell the times the former president described as mine.
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Meanwhile, Trump's legal team has asked a federal judge to appoint a third party attorney known as a special master to oversee the review of evidence taken by the FBI from the Florida home. CNN's Katelyn Polantz has details on this latest legal maneuver from the Trump team.
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER: Donald Trump's legal team has gone to court to hit back against that search of Mar-a- Lago two weeks ago. Now in court on Monday, his team has filed a request for a third party to be appointed by the court, something called a special master that can come in and review that the evidence, the FBI, the Justice Department collected out of Mar-a-Lago was appropriately handled, and that they have the ability to use that in their investigation.
Even more so, though, Trump is requesting for a pause on what the Justice Department is doing at this time as they examine whether there have been federal laws broken related to the handling of federal records and National Defense Information. So in his new foot court filing today, Donald Trump is arguing his constitutional rights. May be at issue here, his -- he may have potential privileges that should be protected that these are things a special master should consider.
And on top of that, his attorneys are laying out some details we hadn't known before, such as what happened in June, between the Justice Department and Donald Trump and his team. And specifically, they are describing Trump having some agency in authorizing a search of Mar-a-Lago by the Justice Department to see where documents may have been held at that time, locking storage room to secure them and also complying with the subpoena for surveillance documents.
On top of that, Trump's team does make public and unusual message that his attorney sent to Merrick Garland just a few weeks ago after that search, in the days after Trump said in his message to Garland, whatever I can do to take the heat down to bring the pressure down, just let us know. That is an unusual thing for someone even a former president to be sending during an ongoing investigation.
Now on top of this all, as we're looking at it, the Justice Department has not yet responded in court. They say through a spokesman on Monday night that they'd like to. The judge also has not responded to this request in the Southern District of Florida federal court. But a few caveats here, it has been two weeks since that search of Mar-a-Lago and there has been a filter team already at work at the Justice Department, making sure that evidence that should not be used as this investigation continues is used.
Katelyn Polantz, CNN, Washington.
VAUSE: A newly formed U.S. Congressional District is putting veteran Democrats Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney against each other Tuesday's primary. And battling these congressional heavyweights in calling for generational change is Suraj Patel. CNN's Athena Jones looks at this crowded Democratic field in New York State.
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ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A rare late summer election in New York.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm running, I need your vote.
JONES (voice-over): Candidates in two high stakes congressional primaries. on the hunt for votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello Congressman Nadler. JONES (voice-over): Political heavyweights and longtime allies Carolyn Maloney and Jerry Nadler, both in their 15th term in office, now facing off in a redrawn 12th congressional district after a messy redistricting process led to a new court approved map that combines their districts. Both in their 70s with similar ideologies, they've spent the summer trying to draw contrast with one another.
JERRY NADLER, U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRAT: I voted against the Iraq War, she voted for it. I voted against the Patriot Act even though 950 --9/11 occurred in my district, she voted for it.
CAROLYN MALONEY, U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRAT: You cannot send a man to do a woman's job.
JONES (voice-over): Maloney, Chair of the powerful House Oversight Committee leaning into her history as a champion of equal rights for women. At a time when the battle over abortion rights has reshaped the midterms landscape.
MALONEY: This is the year of Roe where we need experienced, talented, hard working women in Congress more than ever to protect our rights.
JONES (voice-over): As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Nadler led historic impeachment proceedings against former President Trump. He's been endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Elizabeth Warren.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jerry is always leading the big fight.
JONES (voice-over): And by the New York Times editorial board. Maloney and Nadler's main challenger --
SURAJ PATEL, NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: This race couldn't be closer. It's time for the Obama generation.
JONES (voice-over): Suraj Patel, a 38-year-old lawyer and former Obama aide who argues it's time for generational change.
PATEL: These people have been in office since 1992. The city is significantly different from them. The challenges we face are significantly different than them and the underlying diversity and dynamism in New York has dramatically changed but its representation has not.
JONES (voice-over): In the 10th district comprising Lower Manhattan and much of brownstone Brooklyn, , the crowded field includes city and state level politicians and a sitting first term congressman who moved to compete for an open seat in the newly drawn district.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As a member of Congress I thought to bring real change to a broken system
But much of the attention is focused on former impeachment lawyer, Dan Goldman, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune who has spent millions of dollars on his race.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He has uncommon experience.
DANIEL GOLDMAN, NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump will run again in 2024 and he will try to steal the election. As the lead counsel in his first impeachment, I was in the trenches protecting and defending our democracy.
JONES: The Trump factor?
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you. Thank you very much.
JONES: Ever present.
HANK SHEINKOPF, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Donald Trump dominates social and political discourse in this country right now. If it hadn't had been for him Dan Goldman would be nowhere.
JONES: Athena Jones, CNN -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Still to come, rising water and dangerous floods in north Texas after a summer's worth of rain fell in less than one day.
Also, cities and towns across China desperate efforts to cut power use, amid a brutal heat wave that just won't quit.
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VAUSE: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Welcome back everyone. I'm John Vause.
Heavy rain and high flood waters in Texas with first responders in Dallas and Fort Worth making hundreds of high water rescues over the weekend. The rain keeps falling in some parts.
CNN's Ed Lavandera has more now reporting in from Dallas.
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ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A one in 100-year rainfall event in Dallas, Fort Worth drenching some parts with more than ten inches of rain in less than 24 hours.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my God I can't get home.
LAVANDERA: The storm left major roadways flooded, vehicles submerged and some residents waking up Monday morning to kitchens, living rooms and hallways submerged in water.
Emergency officials in Dallas and Fort Worth say they have responded to hundreds of high-water incidents in traffic accidents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think everybody wasn't anticipating this much rain this fast.
LAVANDERA: The sudden and drastic change in weather has stunned the Dallas Fort Worth area after months of extreme and exceptional drought.
Since January, there has been a rainfall deficit of more than ten inches. That deficit has been erased after a summer's worth of rain soaked the area in less than a day.
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LAVANDERA: These storms have been moving over the same path since the overnight hours, dumping relentless amounts of water along the way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ground is very dry but it can only absorb so much so fast
BRITTANY TAYLOR, DALLAS RESIDENT: I'm freaking out. My apartment is literally flooding. I just woke up. Should I call 9-1-1? What do I do?
LAVANDERA: Brittaney Taylor says she moved into this Dallas apartment just two days ago.
She woke up at 3:00 a.m. to what she described as quote, torrential rain and two feet of water on the first floor of her home.
Now she's wading through the aftermath to see what, if anything remains undamaged.
TAYLOR: Oh good you guys look. Books can float. There is all my childhood keepsakes.
LAVANDERA: We are also learning of tragedy in this rainstorm. Officials confirmed that a 60-year-old woman was killed when her car was swept away in THE floodwaters. The police chief in Mesquite, Texas says she was actually on the phone with her family when they lost contact with her. And that's why they're urging everyone around the area to beware of any kind of high-water they might encounter anywhere, especially when they consider the forecast as more rain is expected in the days ahead.
Ed Lavandera CNN -- Dallas, Texas.
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VAUSE: Meteorologist Karen Maginnis joins us now with more on the forecast. What do you have, Karen?
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. This has been so devastating because it happened so quickly and it was unrelenting. What you're looking at the images here are from the Dallas, Fort Worth area. It submerged cars, it submerged apartments and homes and interstates. It wreaked so much havoc because it's so widespread. Interstate was shut down. Flights were canceled. And there was additional rainfall.
Now there may be evaluations or reevaluations as to whether this is a one in 100 year flood or maybe a one-in-1000-year flood. Now these are just technicalities when you are affected by flooding. It doesn't really matter how often or (INAUDIBLE) it happens.
All right. Right now a couple of flood warnings issued right along the Texas and Louisiana border, also over her across east central Texas. More rain is expected.
Now we know for Dallas, Dallas did pick up additional rainfall. About 125 millimeters or just about five additional inches of rainfall. That's why I say there may be a reevaluation as to how frequent an event this may be.
Now that wet weather travels over towards Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and there will be excessive rainfall in some of these areas as well. Over the next several days, not just for what's happening for Tuesday but also into Wednesday.
So John, this is an unrelenting event. It could impact many more coming up over the next several days.
VAUSE: Ok, Karen, thank you for that. We appreciate the update.
Cities across China are going dark as officials ordered drastic cuts to electricity use amid a crippling heat wave. That includes the bright lights of megacity Shanghai. New York Billboard, (INAUDIBLE) advertising, skyscrapers are barely lit.
CNN's Kristie Lu Stout live for us in Hong Kong with more on this. And, you know, the heat wave is taking so much power away from the energy grid, those people blowing their air conditioners and that kind of stuff, it's leaving very little for industry and there's also this drought which is affecting hydroelectricity.
So how can they deal with this all at the same time?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So this is why we have officials and communities across China taking action to address this. For example, in Shanghai you have (INAUDIBLE) billboards, electronic advertisements have been switched off.
And that also includes the iconic bund skyline is literally in the dark. You see the pictures on your screen, it's usually partly illuminated at night. The iconic bund in the dark all in a desperate bid to save electricity.
And then you have the situation in Chongqing (ph) where over 5,000 personnel working in emergency services have been dispatched to put out these bush fires that have been set off as a result of this drought and extreme heat.
And According to local officials there in Chongqing they say that blazes are under control. They also say that no casualties have reported.
Now in Sichon (ph) province, we've learned that in this mega province that's home to f 84 million people, that they have been forced to cut their hydro power capacity by half which is very significant for a province where 80 percent of their electricity is from hydro power.
So in a desperate attempt to make up the difference, they are now relying on its largest coal-fired plant and running that nonstop. They have also taken another measure of extending a blackout in factories in 19 cities. (INAUDIBLE) has 21 cities total, so the blackout has been extended and this will affect the high tech manufacturing sector that is there.
[01:39:48]
STOUT: You have major companies that include Apple, Intel, Foxconn, that operate in Sichon (ph) province and as a result of the power crunch in Sichon province, that has led to supplies and disruptions amount automakers in Shanghai.
And among the reportedly affected automakers -- this is according to state run media -- you have Tesla, the EV giant, as well as SAIC motor which is China's biggest automaker. And it runs joint ventures with the likes of GM and Volkswagen.
You know, for a few months now, you know, this is a prolonged heat wave. This has been going on since June -- a prolonged and intense heat wave has been scorching China affecting an estimated 900 million people.
I want to show you what the forecast looks like the next three days and it's pretty grim. More extreme temperatures ahead. But earlier today China issued a red alert heat warning, the highest level to at least 165 cities and counties across the country.
And across China, the human toll is serious., the economic toll is growing and the temperatures will only continue to be scorchingly hot.
Back to you.
VAUSE: Yes. Kristie, it's getting hotter and the power is getting lower. Thank you for that. We appreciate it. Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong.
Well the U.S. (INAUDIBLE) interest rate hikes at least not yet, amid fears of recession is not going away. The latest warnings from economists.
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VAUSE: Reality bites on Wall Street as recession fears grow. The Nasdaq and S&P both plunged more than 2 percent Monday. The Dow dropped more than 640 points or 1.9 percent. It's all tied to worries the U.S. Federal Reserve will once again hike interest rates by three- quarters of a point next month.
Markets could see a volatility all week and there's a gathering of central bankers on Thursday with a speech by Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chief on Friday.
The question many are asking right now, are we on a one-way express to economic Armageddon or maybe all the bad economic news is just, you know, transitory.
To help answer that and more we're joined now by Rana Foroohar, a CNN global economic analyst, as well as global business columnist and associate editor for "The Financial Times". Good to see you.
RANA FOROOHAR, CNN GLOBAL ECONOMIC ANALYST: Great to see you John.
VAUSE: Ok. Here's a snapshot of economic news from Monday. Michael Watts reporting --rather CNN is reporting this, I should say. 72 percent of economists expect a U.S. Recession by mid- 2023. Now there's MarketWatch, U.S. house values fell for the first time since 2012. The U.K. economy shrank 11 percent in 2020, worst since 1709. That's from the Reuters News Agency.
Forbes says its grim forecast for the U.K. -- Inflation, interest rates and economy. City warrants U.K. inflation on course for with 18.6 percent next year.
Most disturbing of all though. Kate Middleton flies economy with kids to Scotland. That's the point here, you know. This is the wife of the heir to the British throne, in the back of the bus.
[01:44:50]
VAUSE: But that's what most of us are doing right now. We're cutting back on spending where, you know, sort of not buying what we used to like, although the Royals could actually fly commercial to regulate. But the point is you know, are we doing enough in cutting back what we're doing -- buy generic brands and that kind of stuff to end this cycle of rate hikes or is there much more to come.
FOROOHAR: Well, I fear that there is more to come and that there may be more coach flights in Kate Middleton's future. I think that's a nice gesture by the way.
You know, we are at the beginning of what I think is going to be an economic slowdown, there's no question about it. We are probably due for another few rate hikes.
This week there may be talk about that in Jackson Hole where the central bankers in the U.S. are meeting. I think that we are just at the beginning of a point where consumers are really beginning to button up their wallets and say what do I really need? What do I have to have?
In the U.S. for example consumer debt is finally started to rise again. You know, for a while following the great financial crisis, people were really trying to get their balance sheets in order.
And now inflation, despite higher wages in pretty good job market is just forcing people to run down savings and go back into debt. So there's a lot of sobering news out there.
VAUSE: Apparently there is summer camp for central bankers and policy wonks, politicians that's held annually in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
This is the first one wince the end of the Pandemic. The theme this year. Reassessing constraints on the economy and policy.
Wow, what a fun time. This Friday though the Federal Reserve chief -- this is the big headline. Jerome Powell will speak publicly. At the same day July inflation numbers come out. A lot of focus will be on what he says and the decisions that come after that.
So in terms of global economics, is this like a left turn, right turn moment in history? You make a wrong turn and it's world war I and you know, economic (INAUDIBLE) all over. Then make a Make a right turn and we're all okay again?
FOROOHAR: Well you know, that's a great point. Jackson Hole is typically a place where central bankers talk about big terms and lay out new policies. You could argue but that's already happened. We've entered a period of rate hikes. Know that the era of easy money is over. We're getting used to that, slowly but surely.
You know, we're getting used to that, slowly but surely. But I think it is kind of let's call it a Copernican moment maybe for central banks and for economists in general because, I think they've just gotten a lot wrong in the last couple of decades, you know, from the financial crisis to the idea that you could never again have 10 percent inflation, that was never going to happen.
These are things that big deal economists have gotten wrong, some have gotten wrong in the last few years. And I think that a lot of people are feeling a loss of trust in this institution as in so many, and they are being called to account to explain for their mistakes.
VAUSE: And the former U.S. Treasury secretary Larry Summers, to that point is advising the Fed that honesty the best policy, he points out that unemployment in his opinion in the U.S. needs to rise from 3.5 percent right now to somewhere north of 5 percent before inflation starts easing.
And basically it's time to come clean with the public and say that there is pain ahead. Seems that message has not reached the Fed? Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEEL KASHKARI, PRESIDENT, MINNEAPOLIS FEDERAL RESERVE: And so the question right now is can we bring inflation down without triggering a recession? And my answer to that question is, I don't know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: You know, Summers is pretty blunt. He says you can't have your cake and eat it too, basically. So where do you stand? What do you think?
FOROOHAR: Well I think that that is a fair comment. I have been saying for many years actually that I think we have had easy money policies for way too long. And this is something, to be fair, that many people right before Larry Summer's have been saying, both on the left, and on the right, there's been a buck passing on the part of politicians to central bankers.
But central bankers have-limited tools in their tool box, right. They can lower rates, they can control the money supply, they can bolster asset prices, but they can't create a new factory. They can't invent new products and services. They can't really change things on Main Street.
And that's why you have this big divide between Wall Street and Main Street. Central bankers (INAUDIBLE) at a crisis. They can't necessarily create real Main Street growth.
So I think being honest about that and saying look there are limits to what we can do would be a good thing at this moment.
VAUSE: Everyone's expecting some kind of magic from the Fed and I just don't think the magic is going to be there for much longer.
FOROOHAR: Yes.
VAUSE: Rana -- good to see you.
FOROOHAR: No magic wand.
VAUSE: Good to see you. Thank you.
FOROOHAR: Thank you.
VAUSE: When we come back, the new "Minions" movie gets a makeover courtesy of Beijing's censorship machine. Chinese (INAUDIBLE) saying the ending they see is not like the one everyone else gets to see.
[01:49:28]
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VAUSE: In China, the new "Minions" movie has fallen victim to the unkindness cut of all. On mainland China, audiences of the new animated film "The Rise of Gru" have flooded social media with complaints the ending was changed.
The international version, the main super villain Gru is seen riding off with another villain named Wild Knuckles, after a heist. But in China audiences say Gru returns to his family in the end, (INAUDIBLE) as a father to three girls, while Knuckles gets sent to jail.
It's not the first time Beijing has altered offered a film to make it more politically correct from a Chinese point of view.
So for more on that Sandro Monetti, editor-in-chief of "The Hollywood International Filmmakers Magazine" is with us there in his home in L.A. Good to see you mate.
SANDRO MONETTI, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "THE HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKERS MAGAZINE": You know, the "Minions" tried their best to corrupt the youth of China but the Beijing government had other ideas clearly John. VAUSE: So what exactly, who demanded the change I guess? Where did it
come from? Do we know this? Did they come from the Chinese government censors or was it the makers of the movie sort of preemptively trying to smooth the way for release in the Chinese market?
Because either possibility is fairly outrageous but for very different reasons.
MONETTI: Here's how it works. The Chinese censors had asked for cuts as they have done so many times with American movies. Just a few dozen American movies seen in China every year. But it is the world's biggest movie market.
And with movies struggling at the international box office, the distributors, Universal in this case really needs the money from the Chinese box office.
So they could've said no way but they said yes, ok go and make that cut. And it came in the form of a title card, and addendum if you like. Some change in the end of the movie saying that a sort of happily ever after Beijing style. Respect authority is the message.
VAUSE: Yes. Hollywood at least in the past has done some serious sucking up to ensure actors to the Chinese market. you know, "Transformers: Age of Extinction", ring a bell.
But you know, these takes many -- not so much -- if you remember back in 2019, the headline "Top Gun" faces ban in China over a bomber's jacket Taiwanese flag. There was a Taiwanese flag with Tom Cruise's jacket.
When the movie though was released, "Top Gun: Maverick" reversed controversial change from 2019 trail. The Taiwanese flag was back. So too, the flag of Japan.
More recently, Sony pictures said no way to editing out the Statue of Liberty in the blockbuster "Spider-Man, No Way Home".
You and I both know studio executive have no moral compass whatsoever for the most part. They're driven by profit. Does this suggest that maybe, you know, that revenue that you are talking about that they though potentially was there in China maybe just isn't quite the pot of money that it was. "Top Gun" went on to add more $1 billion, I believe.
MONETTI: Yes. But if you look at the box office figures in America this year, they are so weighed down before the pandemic. Yes they're up from last year. But way down on 2019.
Movie theaters are closing. They want to drop the money wherever they can. And so yes whereas before they may have been less well-disposed, the suggestions of censorship, now the first word in their mind is ca- ching.
VAUSE: Well, you mentioned the numbers for the U.S. box office. And they are interesting for this year. Year-to-date -- more than $5 billion, which is a big increase over last year, but not a surprise given that was the year of the pandemic or a pandemic year.
And its weigh down from the same period compared to 2019, which was a "blockbuster" year, and 2018 as well.
And look at the big money earners for this year. All of them at the box office being those big special effect movies like "Top Gun", except for "Minions" mean is I guess.
[01:54:55]
VAUSE: Does that suggest that the future in theaters is, you know, with the blockbuster actions, CGI movies and streaming, if you like. It's with drama, slower a lot of talking in the movies? Is that where we're heading?
MONETTI: No, I think we are heading to the end of the movies, the theatrical experience seems to be doomed. What we are watching here is a slow death. Streaming is the killer.
Plus, it's not the fun communal experience it used to be. People seem to have forgotten how to behave since the pandemic. Once they're back in the theaters -- and I still go every week -- people behave like animals. It's awful.
They're (INAUDIBLE), they're talking, they're tapping (ph). Some of them are filming the movie. Why would you not prefer to watch a movie at home?
The movie theaters don't have enough staff to police it. You know, it's not as nice, welcoming environment like it was before. There has to be a major reinvention to save the theatrical movie business, otherwise the whole cinematic experience is done for.
VAUSE: Fine. But I usually to go to movie cinemas that serve meals with a glass of wine. They're usually quite pleasant. I don't know where you all go.
MONETTI: Well, you are sorted (ph).
VAUSE: Thank you Sandro.
Sandro Monetti there in Los Angeles. Good to see you. Take care.
MONETTI: Good to see you.
VAUSE: Well, the new HBO (INAUDIBLE) "Game of Thrones" prequel, apparently a hit with roughly 10 million viewers watching or streaming the first episode of "House Of The Dragon".
It's the largest audience for any new original series in HBO's history. The series takes place almost 200 years before the original show. HBO is owned by CNN parent company Warner Bros/Discover.
Finally a step forward for LGBTQ rights in Asia.
Singapore's prime minister says sex between men will be decriminalized with a repeal of a colonial era law that has not been enforced in decades. The law carried a potential punishment of up to two years in prison. Civil rights activists and members of the gay community say this is just a small victory given Singapore still refuses to recognize same-sex marriage.
Other parts of Asia have recently made their own advances in gay rights. In 2019, Taiwan became the first place to legalize same sex marriage. Lawmakers in Thailand recently passed bills giving more rights to gay couples. And four years ago, India's highest court overturned a ban on sex between consenting adult men.
With that we wrap up the news. Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause.
The news continues next with my colleague and friend Rosemary Church after a very, very short break. I'll see you right back here tomorrow.
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