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Ukraine Bracing For More Russian Missiles Strikes; G7 Vows To Stand by Ukraine As Long As It Takes; Zelenskyy Demands Russia Be Declared A Terrorist State; ; Biden No Intention of Meeting Putin; Aung San Suu Kyi Sentenced to Another Three Years in Prison; NASA Changing Asteroid's Motion a Success; Military Rescue in the Gulf of Mexico; Singer and Rapper Lizzo Takes on Her Critics; CNN Asks McConnel About Trump Insulting his Wife. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired October 12, 2022 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[02:00:30]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Lynda Kinkade. Thanks for joining us. Ahead on CNN NEWSROOM. Russia deliberately targets civilian infrastructure in Ukraine for a second day. This as NATO defense ministers is set to meet in Brussels to discuss the ongoing war.
And the worst is yet to come. That sharp warning from the International Monetary Fund's on the global economy.
Plus three more years behind bars for Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi. I have a live report.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Lynda Kinkade.
KINKADE: It is 9:00 a.m. in Ukraine where the country is bracing for more possible missile and drone strikes from Russia. Attacks just this week have killed at least 19 people and wounded more than 100 others. The Ukraine is doing all it can to defend its cities. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims his military shot down 20 out of 28 missiles fired by Russia on Tuesday.
He praised one soldier for bringing down two cruise missiles with a shoulder fired rocket. Ukraine's Energy Minister reports that about 30 percent of the country's energy infrastructure has been hit by Russian missiles since Monday. He tells CNN that crews are working around the clock to restore power.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERMAN GLUSHCHENKO, UKRAINIAN ENERGY MINISTER: We're trying to reconnect quickly from the other sources from the other transmission operators. So in fact, we are doing this work and I must say that we quite succeed on this. Of course, we understand that taking this into account we -- yesterday we asked our citizens to understand that in some regions we supposed to stop supplying of electricity for a number of hours to help -- to stabilize the energy system.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: While leaders of the G7 are promising to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for the recent attacks on Ukraine. They met by video conference Tuesday and vowed to provide financial military and humanitarian support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. Ukraine's president asked them to help establish an air shield to protect against Russian missile attacks. He also wants Russia declared a terrorist state.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The leader of Russia feeling the approach of his end is trying to force the democratic world to surrender with a terrorist rush, to retreat, to lose. This can only be the desire of an insane person more than 100 missile strikes in less than two days against civilians, against civilian infrastructure. Sham referenda, a criminal attempt at annexation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, the war in Ukraine is expected to dominate a meeting of NATO defense ministers Wednesday in Brussels. Britain's spy chief says Russian losses on the battlefield are staggering, and that Vladimir Putin's troops are running out of ammunition and supplies. More now from CNN's Fred Pleitgen.
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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As the Russian military continues to fire barrages of missiles at Ukraine engulfing the area around the Capitol in thick black smoke.
In an exclusive interview, Ukraine's national security adviser tells me Kyiv will strike back on the battlefield.
OLEKSIY DANILOV, UKRAINIAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR (through translator): Our reaction is at the front only. We are not at war with the civilian population in the Russian Federation. We're fighting with the Russian military.
It's only a matter of time when the Russian Federation will collapse under the problems it's accumulating.
PLEITGEN: The Ukrainian say they've been able to shoot down about half the missiles Russia fires off, but some have hit civilian targets like in the southern city of Zaporizhzhya. Ukraine's president on an urgent G7 video call also attended by President Joe Biden demanded more Western air defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities.
ZELENSKYY (through translator): When Ukraine will receive a sufficient number of modern and effective air defense systems the key element of Russian terror missile strikes will cease to work. PLEITGEN: The Russians continued to claim their strikes in Ukraine our revenge for the weekend attack on the Kerch Bridge linking Russia and occupied Crimea even though Kyiv hasn't acknowledged it was behind the blast.
[02:05:02]
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatening even more strikes in the future if Ukraine attacks Russia's infrastructure but the head of the U.K. s py agency says the reality is Putin's troops are in trouble.
JEREMY FLEMING, DIRECTOR, GCHQ: The costs to Russia in people and equipment are staggering. We know and Russian military commanders know that their supplies, ammunition are running out.
PLEITGEN: Ukrainian officials say they take the threat of possible Russian nuclear strike seriously as Putin forces lose ground on the battlefield. But that national security adviser says even tens of thousands of additional Russian men now being trained and mobilized will not turn the tide in Moscow's favor.
DANILOV (through translator): We're going to push them out of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia. And all the regions where these rats have entered our territory. We will send them all to the Lord. They will all return home either alive or dead. They will have no other way.
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PLEITGEN (on camera): But the Ukrainians do acknowledge that those Russian missile strikes are causing serious problems for them. In fact, the country's energy minister told CNN that 30 percent of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has already been hit by those Russian strikes. Now the Ukrainians are trying to do something about that. They're urging people to conserve as much energy as possible. But at the same time this is turning to a real crunch for Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN Kyiv.
KINKADE: Well, CNN's Salma Abdelaziz is following developments live for us this hour from London and joins us now. Good to have you with us, Salma. So as we were just hearing that from Fred, 30 percent of Ukrainian energy infrastructure hit in the last two days, Ukraine says is many of the missiles fired at its country was shot down and power is now being restored in some areas. Just bring us up to speed with the latest.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Lynda. I mean, today, Ukraine will be waking up to yet another worrying day. Yes, we saw a decrease in the number of projectiles fired by the Kremlin at Ukraine yesterday. It was over 80 on Monday, yesterday, President Zelenskyy saying that there was around 28, 20 of those of missiles taken down by Ukrainian Air Defense System. So we're adduction there. But does President Putin's retaliation continue today? So that will be the first thing on everyone's mind in Ukraine when they wake up this morning, when they had out with their families, when they tried to take their kids to school because it was Monday that we saw families with their children huddled in basements, huddled in bomb shelters. And the other thing that will continue today of course, Lynda is this flurry of diplomatic activity, this rush by Ukraine's allies to try to respond to President Putin's attacks on Ukraine that came after of course, the Kerch Bridge explosion over the weekend.
So you saw yesterday of course, that emergency meeting with G7 leaders, President Zelenskyy being this ever present leadership -- ever present force for Ukraine had already spoken to six out of seven of the leaders unilaterally. So really went into that meeting, pleading yet again, for those air defense systems. You heard there in Fred Pleitgen's package, President Zelenskyy saying look, I can save more lives. We can prevent more civilian carnage, if we have these air defense systems and not wish seems to have been granted yesterday.
Yesterday the White House saying that they are going to send to new air defense systems as quickly as possible, as fast as they can. They're going to expedite those to Ukraine, no clear timeline. But again, White House officials saying as quickly as they can, they're going to move those air defense systems in. But the reality here, Lynda, that we all have to remember is that none of this retaliation from President Putin has actually changed matters on the ground.
Has actually changed the facts on the battlefield which is that Ukraine is absolutely got the upper ground right now, the upper hand right now, rather continuing to push back Russian forces all along the front lines. Meanwhile, of course civilians continuing to suffer because of those energy hits -- the hit on energy infrastructure, as well. But the sense of resilience really in that country continuing as Ukrainian forces continue to push in.
KINKADE: Yes, resilient indeed. Salma Abdelaziz in London thanks very much. When NATO Defense Ministers is set to meet in Brussels in the coming hours to discuss the war in Ukraine and Russia's military escalation, they're expecting to hear from Ukraine's defense minister about the latest situation on the ground in the country's urgent needs. NATO Secretary General has made it clear the alliance will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
And he said while NATO was not party to the conflict, if support is playing a key role in helping Ukraine defend itself from Russia's attacks.
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JENS STOLTENBERG, SECRETARY GENERAL OF NATO: Ukraine has the momentum and continues to make significant gains while Russia is increasingly resorting to horrific and indiscriminate attacks on civilians around critical infrastructure. President Putin is failing in Ukraine.
[02:10:04] KINKADE: Jim Townsend is a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy. He joins me now from Washington, D.C. Good to have you with us.
JIM TOWNSEND, FORMER U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR EUROPEAN AND NATO POLICY: It's great to be here. Thank you.
KINKADE: So NATO secretary general so the alliance was made to step up and support Ukraine this week. What does that look like logistically and tactically given Ukraine is not a member?
TOWNSEND: Well, it shows the unity of the alliance. That's the number one thing for this meeting, this defense ministerial is to message once again, to Putin as well as to the Zelenskyy and the Ukraine people that the alliance stands behind Ukraine, even though they're not a member of the -- of NATO. NATO nations are providing a lot of assistance. And that assistance will be the topic of conversation during this defensive ministerial.
KINKADE: The U.S. ambassador to NATO Julie Smith said closed door conversations in Moscow could get increasingly tense as Russian President Putin continues to fail strategically in Ukraine. Given the brutal widespread attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure we've seen this week, how does NATO expect those tense conversations to play out on the battlefield going forward?
TOWNSEND: Well, I think we're going to see for sure continued shelling and firing missiles at civilian targets. As he lashes out, Putin lashes out at Ukraine and the west by doing this. But also he's showing his domestic audience that he is a tough guy. And this is how he shows that. He shows those people who will be behind closed doors and pointing fingers at him and saying that you're not being tough enough.
As he does this, this missile campaign, this is -- he's acting out in a sense. And he's trying to message both Ukraine of his anger. He's messaging the same thing to the west, and to his domestic audiences saying, look, I'm a tough guy. And that's what we're going to see on the battlefields, that kind of thing.
KINKADE: Secretary Townsend, there are reports from western intelligence that Russia may be running low on sophisticated missiles. Russia does, however, have a large supply of tactical nuclear weapons about 2000. Far more than the roughly 100 that NATO has positioned around Europe. In recent weeks, we have heard or at least seen the prospect of Putin raising this prospect of using nuclear weapons, although NATO and the U.S. sort of haven't seen any signs of Russia moving towards nuclear weapons. How big of a concern is this for NATO? And are they working to mitigate this potential risk?
TOWNSEND: Well, I think this nuclear saber rattling is of great concern to the U.S. and to NATO, to our European allies. It's something that we have to take seriously. But I -- but what we can't do is allow this brandishing of that nuclear saber to scare us, to make us afraid. We have to stay solid and united. But we have to be -- we have to be very vigilant and watch very carefully to see if he begins to put into motion some of those events that occur when you begin to deploy a nuclear capability.
We know what that looks like. We have to watch for that. And as you said, this is something we haven't seen happen yet. But, you know, the allies are going to meet in Brussels, they're going to meet today. Part of that meeting is the nuclear planning group, the NPG and they're going to be talking about these things. So they're going to be exchanging views on what the alliance response should be.
Should he decide to use a weapon like that, which I don't think is something that we're going to see. But the alliance is talking about this, is determining what kind of -- what kind of options the alliance might have been a case like this. And the U.S., of course, has been looking at this now for months as we first heard about this from Putin earlier in the invasion in February-March timeframe.
So this is something that we have been watching and we've been talking about and planning for a long time.
KINKADE: And Secretary Townsend, Turkey's President Erdogan will meet with Putin Thursday, he has been seen as a crucial figure in the mediation between Ukraine and Russia. And he wields a good deal of influence. At times, Turkey appears to be a bit of a headache for NATO like when he threatened to block Sweden and Finland from joining the alliance. Erdogan certainly can be viewed as a bit of a wild card. What do you think is his end goal?
TOWNSEND: Well that's a great question.
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And I think that's what everyone watches and tries to figure out as they look at these moves that Erdogan makes. You know, I think Erdogan one plays a dangerous game with the Russians. He's playing both sides. He cuts deals with the Russians, he tries to find ways in which the Russians can help him and on a regional basis, but at the same time, he finds himself on the opposite side of the argument in places like Libya and other hotspots in the region where the Russians are on one side and he's on the other.
So, you know, he's an opportunist. And he feels that he can use Putin for leverage and vice versa, whether it's on the west or on regional powers. So, they'll be talking about a lot of things, I'm sure and we'll just have to see what comes out of it. I do hope that what he can do is keep the grain moving out of the Black Sea and to the Mediterranean and to the mouths of hungry children who are looking for their next meal.
That's something that Erdogan was very helpful with. So let's see if that can continue. And maybe we can get some other type of movements in terms of how Putin conducts himself in Ukraine. Maybe Erdogan will have an impact on that. But we'll have to see. I'm sure Erdogan has a big want list as well, that he's going to raise with Putin.
KINKADE: Yes. Certainly some crucial meetings in the days ahead. We will be following those closely. Secretary Jim Townsend, thanks so much for your time. We appreciate it. TOWNSEND: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, Vladimir Putin says he's concerned about the situation in Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in Ukraine. He met with the head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog in San Petersburg Tuesday. The Russian president says the nuclear issue has become highly politicized but he's open to dialogue.
Meantime, Ukraine says the deputy director general at the Zaporizhzhia Plant has been kidnapped. Russian troops are forcing workers to sign contracts to work with Russia's nuclear operator.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is denying a report that he spoke with Vladimir Putin about a peace plan for Ukraine. Musk tweeted last week about a plan that aligns closely with Russia's goals, including military neutrality for Ukraine and acknowledging that Crimea is part of Russia. Multiple sources tell CNN and Musk had been floating a similar plan at think tanks and conferences and hinting at contact with the Kremlin.
Musk tweeted Tuesday that he last spoke with President Putin around 18 months ago, and they talked about space.
Iran's interior minister says anti-government protesters are the work of foreign-backed terror groups.
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KINKADE (voice over): He believes groups of students like the one shown here and protesters across the country have been deceived by the enemies. It's according to Iranian state media. The protests began in response to the death of Masha Amini after her arrest by the morality police last month. The government cracks down a Norway-based human rights group says the number of people who have died since the protests began is at least 185.
CNN's Nada Bashir joins me now from London with more on these protests. And Nada, this is not the first time the regime has blamed foreigners for its own internal crisis since these protests began.
NADA BASHIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL REPORTER: No, it certainly, isn't, Lynda. We've heard previously the Iranian authorities blaming what they've described as riots, the unrest that we're seeing in the country on the United States and on Israel. Now, we've heard from Iran's interior minister speaking yesterday blaming what they've described and continue to describe as riots or unrest across the country on foreign-supported terror organizations and in particular, separatist terror organizations.
That is how the Iranian regime has turned and we heard from the Iranian interior minister speaking yesterday, say whoever disturbs the tranquillity of the people is the enemy of the Iranian nation. And also vowing that Iran's law enforcement forces will firmly deal with so-called rioters and they will continue to do so to neutralize their fruitless efforts. So a clear and stark warning there from Iran's interior minister. Of course, he was speaking in the city of Sanandaj which is in the northwestern Kurdish region of the country. Much of the unrest that we've been seeing, much of the clashes that we've been seeing in recent days have focused around this Kurdish region. And the Iranian interior minister really touched on that suggesting that these groups responsible were part of Kurdish separatist groups. And we've seen real signs of violence from the Iranian security forces targeted in this region.
KINKADE: And Nada, these protests have now reached Iran's oil and natural gas sector this week. Workers seen on social media protesting.
[02:20:10]
How did the oil strikes play a critical role back in the 1979 Islamic revolution?
BASHIR: Well, this is certainly a significant reflection at least of the mood across the country. We did see those protests in the southwestern petrochemical complex in Assaluyeh. We saw protesters there at the plant oil and gas workers chanting anti-regime slogans, death to the dictator. And this is really significant. And although this hasn't really transpired into organized strike action at this stage, the potential for that to take place is very significant.
In the 1979 revolution that was certainly a pivotal moment seeing oil and gas workers taking part in demonstrations there. Really played a key part in paralyzing and fracturing the states, so this could certainly be a significant development. Lynda?
KINKADE: All right. Nada Bashir for us from London. Thanks very much.
Well, international support continues to pour in for protesters in Iran. Former U.S. president and first lady Barack and Obama issued a statement Tuesday, saying they stand with those fighting for women's rights. And that everyone deserves the right to express their identities without facing violence. Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani known largely for staying out of politics as the people of Iran just want basic freedoms.
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GOLSHIFTEH FARAHANI, IRANIAN ACTRESS (through translator): It's simple. They want freedom of choice. It's not a movement against or for wearing the veil or for or against Islam. It's just about being free. That's all veiled or not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, still ahead. The International Monetary Fund says batten down the hatches as the agency issued a gloomy warning about the global economy. Plus, two sworn enemies, Israel and Lebanon reach an historic agreement to resolve a maritime border dispute. We have the details when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KINKADE: Welcome back. The outlook for the global economy is bleak. With the International Monetary Fund warning after a difficult year that there is much worse to come. CNN's Rahel Solomon has more from New York.
RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The International Monetary Fund forecasting storm clouds ahead with a sharp recessionary warning and another economic downgrade. The IMF warning that "the worst is yet to come" as it slightly downgraded its global growth forecast for 2023 to 2.7 percent. The agency said that to say it expects one-third of the world next year to experience two quarters of negative GDP which some economists would call a recession.
And that many people around the world will feel like it's a recession. Russia's war in Ukraine, persistent inflation and continued law downs in China all a factor in the darkening outlook.
[02:25:03]
Also predicting a gloomy forecast, J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon saying in an interview with CNBC that these headwinds are serious and likely to push the U.S. and world and to some sort of recession in the next six to nine months. One silver lining in the otherwise bleak report. The IMF expects global inflation to peak late this year before lowering in the following years. We'll also learn a lot more about the state of the economy when the big U.S. banks kick off earnings season later this week.
Friday, we'll hear from J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley. Rahel Solomon, CNN, New York.
KINKADE: Well, French lawmakers have warning they might step in to end the blockade on gas refineries as workers strike enters its fourth week. Long lines of gas pumps have become common in France. 31 percent of gas stations across the country are facing shortages leading to rationing in some regions. Refinery workers are demanding a pay hike to cope with soaring inflation.
And lawmakers want talks between workers unions and energy companies to resume.
About this date in your calendar. The coronation of King Charles III will take place on May 6th next year at Westminster Abbey in London. Buckingham Palace says the service will be a more modern affair than previous royal coronations, but will still be rooted in long standing traditions. King Charles will be crowned alongside his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort.
This will be just the second coronation in British history to be televised. Queen Elizabeth's was the first back in 1953.
Well, U.S. president has been warning about the risk of "nuclear Armageddon," if Russia uses a nuke against Ukraine. CNN's Jake Tapper asked him about that threat and if the Russian president is of a sound mind. Stay with us.
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KINKADE: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Lynda Kinkade. The Ukrainian president is calling on Western powers to help create an air shield to repel Russian missile attacks that have been terrorizing his country. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says about 20 of the 28 missiles fired on Ukraine on Tuesday were shut down. But those that got through have been hitting Ukraine's energy system.
Authority say about 30 percent of it has been damaged since the wave of attacks started Monday. Crews are rushing to restore electricity
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ZELENSKYY (through translator): Where there was destruction, the infrastructure will be renewed everywhere. Where there were losses, there was already or will be construction. Where there were any hopes of the enemy there will be ruins of Russian statehood.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[02:30:09]
KINKADE: We're nearly eight months into Russia's war of Ukraine, President Biden sat down for an exclusive interview with CNN's Jake Tapper. They spoke about the Russian nuclear threat and the mental state of President Vladimir Putin. Here is part of that interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: You recently said that this is the first time since the Cuban missile crisis that there is a legitimate possibility of some to use a nuclear weapon which could lead to Armageddon, that is the word you used. How realistic is it do you think that Putin would use tactical nuclear weapon?
JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: Well, I don't think he will but I think it's irresponsible for him to talk about it. The idea that a world leader of one of the largest nuclear powers in the world says he may use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine. And the whole point I was making was it could lead to just a horrible outcome. And, not because anybody intends to turn into a world war or anything, but just once you use a nuclear weapon, the mistakes that can be made, the miscalculations, who knows what would happen.
TAPPER: Do you think that Putin is a rational actor?
BIDEN: I think that he is a rational actor who's miscalculated significantly. I think that he thought -- you may recall, I pointed out that they were going to invade, that all those hundred thousand or more troops there and no one believed that he was going to invade Ukraine. You listen to what he says, if you listen to the speech he made after, when that decision was being made he talked about the whole idea of that he -- was needed to be a leader of Russia, that united all the Russian speakers. I mean, it's just -- I think it's irrational.
TAPPER: So, if he is not rational and --
BIDEN: No, I didn't say he is not rational.
TAPPER: You said the speech is --
BIDEN: I think the speech.
TAPPER: OK.
BIDEN: His objectives were not rational. I think he thought -- Jake, I think he thought he was going to be welcomed with open arms. That this was been the home of Mother Russia in Kyiv and that he was going to be welcomed and I think that he just totally miscalculated.
TAPPER: Would you be willing to meet with him at the G20?
BIDEN: Look, I have no intention of meeting with him. But, for example, if he came to me at the G20 and said, I want to talk about the release of Griner, I'd meet with him. I mean, it would depend. But I can't imagine -- look, we've taken a position, I just did the a G7 meeting this morning. The idea, nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. So, I am not about to, nor is anybody else, prepared to negotiate with Russia about them staying in Ukraine, keeping any part of Ukraine, et cetera.
So, it would depend on specifically what he wanted to talk about. But, look he's acted brutally, he's acted brutally. He -- I think he has committed war crimes. And so, I do not see any rationale to meet him now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: U.S. President Biden with our Jake Tapper there.
Well, a court in Myanmar has sentence opposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi to another three years of prison. This time it is for corruption charges. It's the latest in a series of military trials critics have denounced as a sham. CNN's Paula Hancocks is following this for us from Seoul and joins us live.
And, Paula, the former Nobel Peace prize winner accused of corruption among many other charges has seen her prison sentence extended yet again. Just explain why.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Linda, her supporters and human rights groups say because the military junta wants to keep her behind bars. There are more than 20 charges against her. We're going through one by one it appears within these military courts each charge and she's being found guilty time and time again despite the fact that she is saying that she is not guilty, her supporters say these are trumped up charges. And human rights groups say that the military leadership simply wants to keep her behind bars because they know how popular she still is within her own country.
So, this latest one now brings the total time that she has been sentenced behind bars to 26 years. She is 77 years old. So clearly, if this does go ahead as expected, then she will spend the rest of her life in jail likely. This particular one today, according to a source with knowledge of the proceedings, she was found guilty of receiving half a million dollars in bribes from a local tycoon. This source says that she said she was not guilty and there will be an appeal.
Also, the source did mention that she does seem to be in healthy condition. But what we are seeing here is that these court cases, as court cases are happening against other individuals as well, are all behind closed doors. They are military courts. There is no access. The lawyers for Aung San Suu Kyi have also been gagged. And this is really becoming the norm now in Myanmar, in a country where some are still calling for democracy but there is a bloody crackdown against them. Linda?
[02:35:00]
KINKADE: All right. Paula Hancocks for us from Seoul. Thank you so much.
Well, still to come on CNN, watch the dramatic rescue of three fishermen who were lucky to be alive after their boat sank in the Gulf of Mexico.
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KINKADE: Welcome back. NASA says that the world's first ever mission to change an asteroids motion in space was a success. The double asteroid redirection test or DART, as it is known, happened late last month when NASA slammed a spacecraft into an asteroid altering its orbit around a large asteroid by 32 minutes.
Well, this image taken by the Hubble Telescope Saturday shows the debris which broke off of the smaller asteroid. And while no asteroids are currently threatening earth, NASA calls the test a watershed moment for planetary defense and all humanity.
Well, three fishermen are lucky to be alive after a weekend trip turned to a nightmare. They battled sharks and rough seas for more than 24 hours after their boat sank off Louisiana's Gulf Coast. CNN's Randi Kaye has the story of their dramatic rescue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Going outside (INAUDIBLE). Going down
RANDI KAYE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): 28 hours, that's how long three Louisiana fishermen were stranded in shark infested waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Here is what they told ABC News.
PHONG LE, RESCUED BY U.S. COAST GUARD: We made a distress call on the VHF radio to the Coast Guard and let them know that we'd taken on water. We'd taken a lot of -- the vessel was sinking. And not even seconds after that, the boat was nearly halfway underwater.
KAYE (voiceover): Half underwater and no land inside. The only thing that they could see were sharks. Lots of them. LUAN NGUYEN, RESCUED FISHERMAN: We put the life vests. And it didn't touch me. It bit the vest. And boom, it hit it. And I pushed them in the face. And I think that's where I caught these finger -- I mean, there injuries on my hand. They wouldn't leave. So, I took my two thumbs and jab them in the eyes and he took off.
KAYE (voiceover): The men had tied a couple coolers together to form a raft. They tried to stay afloat and out of reach of the sharks.
NGUYEN: That was critical in surviving, trying the ice chests together.
KAYE (voiceover): But time is not on their side. The men had set out for a fishing trip from Venice, Louisiana on Saturday morning. When they did not return home, friends and family began to worry and called the U.S. Coast Guard. And somehow in a stroke of luck Sunday, one of the fishermen was able to text a friend his location in the moment before his phone died.
LE: I sent the -- my location to my friend and it was only 2 percent left. The minute I sent it, I see him trying to reply to me and the phone cut off. I ran out of battery.
[02:40:00]
KAYE (voiceover): That friend alerted the Coast Guard, which searched for the men by air and sea. The search area spanned more than 1,200 square miles, slightly larger than the State of Rhode Island. And then, another lucky break, the men had been in the water for more than 24 hours already, but within just two hours of receiving the text for help they spotted the men from the air, 25 miles off of the Louisiana Coast. By now, it was around noon on Sunday. One man was hoisted up to the chopper with the help of a rescue swimmer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's halfway up.
ANDREW STONE, U.S. COAST GUARD: When the fixed wing aircraft saw the other two men floating about one mile away, that's when we sprung into action and sped the boat up to go get these guys. We pulled up to them and they were getting harassed by sharks when we pulled up.
KAYE (voiceover): He says that the sharks were about four feet long.
STONE: One of the men had been bitten up on his hand, as you saw, and was bleeding into the water. His lifejacket, his orange life preserver had been ripped about halfway down by the fish. So, we got him on board first. Pulled him out of the water.
KAYE (voiceover): All three fishermen suffered from hypothermia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They had multiple lacerations on their hand, almost down to the bone. We actually were able to recover one of the lifejackets that had been eaten through by a shark.
KAYE (voiceover): A nightmare fishing trip with a happy ending, one these men will never forget.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE (on camera): And all three men were taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans. They are recovering. But, of course, one of them, no surprise, is saying that he is in no rush to get back in to the water. Just imagine those conditions, three-to-five-foot waves, surrounded by sharks, the water was cold, they had no idea if anyone was actually coming to get them. They were 25 miles offshore. And they might not have even known that.
Luckily, they had the coolers which had some water in them. So, they were able to stay hydrated. But again, just imagine 28 hours or so in those waters, wondering if help was ever going to come.
Randi Kaye, CNN, Palm Beach County, Florida.
KINKADE: Angela Lansbury, an iconic star, stayed on screen for nearly eight decades has passed away. The star's family says she died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles just five days shy of her 97th birthday.
The actress got her big break back in 1944, earning her first Oscar nomination at the age of 19 for her role in the movie "Gaslight." She is possibly best known for her role as America's favorite TV sleuth, Jessica Fletcher in "Murder, She Wrote." And she was the popular voice of Misses Pots in the Disney animated film "Beauty and The Beast."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELA LANSBURY, ACTRESS: Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the beast. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the beast.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: And what a life and what a talent. Well, thanks so much for joining us. I'm Linda Kinkade. World Sport is coming up next and then I'll be back in about 15 minutes with much more on "CNN Newsroom." Stay with us.
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[02:45:00]
NAYYERA HAQ, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: And let's take a look at this panel and how we've all come prepared and looked a certain way. I guaranty there are other men on here not nearly as concerned about having everything exactly the right place. And that's what I find so refreshing about Lizzo. And I had a hard time with her at first, because I do not understand. Like, wait, she plays the flute and she can rap and she can do splits and she's heavy, like, this is a lot that I'm absorbing right now.
But the part that I realize I was struggling most with was her radical self-love. Because she has showed us that you should love yourself for who you are right now, and that was not something that I was used to hearing or even experiencing because I'm constantly in that phase of I can be better, I can do more and be better. And she's like, love yourself right now. Embrace it. And that really seems to bother people.
COATES: Well, let's agree right to stop calling her heavy. First of all, I'm saying this right now.
CAMPO: And she calls herself a fat, fat women.
COATES: She does. Yes, she does. But here's the issue. I mean, we mentioned the flute, one second, she got hate for the flute.
CAMEROTA: Well, sort of.
COATES: She got hate for playing the flute.
CAMEROTA: For twerking. For twerking with James Madison's flute.
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: I don't think his flute minded this moment frankly.
COATES: Here's the moment.
CAMEROTA: So, she was -- she such a great musician, and she's a classical flautist, OK. So, she was here playing. And I think -- it's hard to see, but at this moment, she gets this rousing applause. And then, I think she --
COATES: It's a crystal fluid.
CAMEROTA: It's crystal flu. And I think you're going to see that she twerks. But I mean, it's truly -- that's it. OK. The end. The end. It was like one second thing. And you know, Ben Shapiro, who is a well- known conservative, said that that was sort of degrading -- he said -- again, I'm correct, Lizzo's performance wearing actual clothing in Library of Congress was delightful. That was something different. Twerking with pieces of American history is however degrading and vulgarizing. And that's the clip the media celebrated. I don't know about the media, but why is he so bummed out?
ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Honestly, it's worth watching the Ben Shapiro thing if you haven't because it seems like a parody. Like if western civilization is so fragile that Lizzo to twerking with James Madison's flute is going to throw you into a tailspin, like we should just call it a day.
But that moment, actually, I loved it so much. The thing about her that's so captivating is her confidence and her excitement. And you could tell she generally appreciated the history of it. None of us I bet even knew that James Madison had this flute until she went to the Library of Congress. By the way, a black woman going to the Library of Congress, playing a flute of a former slave owner.
COATES: Under a black librarian of Congress. GRIFFIN: Under -- the first, I believe.
COATES: The first librarian of Congress.
GRIFFIN: That's a cool powerful American moment. I'd argue a conservative should be proud of it. She is the success story and something you should be proud of. But it has a way of triggering certain people. I don't know what it is about her, I love her, I listen to Lizzo all day long.
COATES: She's on the cover of "Vanity Fair," by the way. I mean, she's also having -- having to respond to Kanye West who wanted to weigh in on her as well. Because, you know, his opinion is so invaluable.
CAMEROTA: Well, he talked about the weight as well and he said that, you know, basically that why is being overweight the new goal? And she said -- and he said, it's demonic. But basically, he said it's demonic that people are promoting that. She said, I'm minding my fat black beautiful business.
CAMPO: But also, I mean, Kanye West is making this point about her health, right? He's saying he's concerned about her health, when this is someone who is clearly neglecting his own mental health. So, why does he have a right to comment on what she is doing with her body when she is bothering nobody?
HAQ: Because apparently America loves to hear from people who want to pick on black women on television.
CAMPO: That's a sport. It's a national sport.
HAQ: That is part of that, right, of what we are seeing here is that she represented is so much about what is complicated about America's moment right now and our history that her even celebrating and being in awe of playing James Madison's flute has people saying you know, well, you know, why aren't we celebrating a white person playing his flute? And that got -- it's -- you know, let's put some context here, right?
At the founding of our country James Madison said that revolutionary principles were against slavery. Yet, he brought slaves to the White House, right? So, this is part of what she was unpacking in that moment and should be celebrated for that experience.
COATES: Is this the moment we should plug my social media, so that people can attack another black woman? No? You think so? You think so?
CAMPO: I don't need you need to plug it to get those attacks.
CAMEROTA: No, you're getting lovely comments
COATES: Well, you know, I'm going to tell you something, here is a lovely comment for Lizzo. I think we can all agree. I'm so glad about your artistry and your talent, full stop. Everyone, thank you. Speaking of talent and full appreciation -- no, I'm just kidding --
CAMEROTA: I was wondering about the segue
COATES: What did Mitch McConnell say --
CAMEROTA: I was waiting for this segue.
COATES: What did Mitch McConnell say in response to Trump? Well, hurling some insults to his wife. We're going to tell you about it next.
CAMEROTA: Did he play a flute? I don't know. We'll find out.
COATES: Actually, maybe he can.
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[02:50:00]
COATES: So, Donald Trump recently took to his social media website to -- well, to insult Senator Mitch McConnell and level a racially charged dis at his wife, Elaine Chao. Trump referred to her as McConnell's "China loving wife." And these were his words, Coco Chao. How insulting. And he also said that McConnell has a death wish, which as you can imagine, is particularly dangerous rhetoric for a time like this.
Well, today, CNN caught up with Mitch McConnell. And when he was asked about Trump's comments about him, and of course, this instance, McConnell said, "I don't have anything to say about that." Now, he was then pressed further -- and don't take it out of context. He was asked more about the racist comments about his wife, which McConnell did not want to respond to that specifically apparently. But he did say, the only time I have responded to the president, I think, since he left office is when he gave me my favorite nickname, Old Crow. Which I considered a compliment. And after all, it was Henry Clay's favorite bourbon.
How is that for Kentucky? I mean, I guess, the idea of him not commenting, at first blush, Alisyn is kind of like, why wouldn't you comment? Why wouldn't you respond in some way? He's insulting your wife. He's a member of his cabinet. Then, it's almost maybe a -- is it sort of a kick rocks?
[02:55:00]
CAMEROTA: Yes. It's that he doesn't want to poke the bear, and I understand that. Like not -- no good comes from picking a fight with Donald Trump. However, isn't there a way to just take the high ground and say something to the effect of -- I mean, I think Mitch McConnell missed an opportunity because he could've just said, I consider it low class to insult someone's wife or someone's spouse. That's it.
Like he doesn't have to say Donald Trump's name, but I just think that just walking away and pretending that didn't happen, I don't know if that's the most effective thing, or if it stops Donald Trump from then insulting you in the future.
Tell us what you think, what is the right response if someone insults your spouse? You can tweet us @AlisynCamerota and @thelauracoates.
COATES: And everyone, next, big sit down with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Not with us, with Jake. Would he ever consider a run for office, seriously? Yes, and what is it about celebrities that make us think that, well, maybe they'd make great presidents or great governors or anything else?
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[03:00:00]
