Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Dual Rulings On Abortion Pill; Vice President Kamala Harris Meets With Expelled Tennessee Dems; Violence Escalates In Middle East; Planned Chinese Military Exercises Underway Around Taiwan; U.S. Investigates Leak Of Classified Documents; Russia Charges American Journalist Evan Gershkovich Charged With Espionage; Hunter Biden's Paintings; Warming Climate Linked To More Home Runs In Major League Baseball. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired April 08, 2023 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

LAILA HARRAK, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world. I'm Laila Harrak.

Back to back court rulings on the most common abortion pill in the U.S. puts future access to the drug in jeopardy.

Tourists hit in what Israel is calling a terrorist attack, as tensions mount in the Middle East.

And American swimmer Riley Gaines says she was ambushed by trans rights activists at a speaking engagement she was invited to attend.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Laila Harrak.

HARRAK: The abortion rights debate burst suddenly back into the headlines Friday night in the U.S. This time a fight is brewing over access to medication abortion pills after federal courts issued conflicting rulings, just minutes apart. Rosa Flores has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are two conflicting orders on abortion that is causing a lot of confusion in the United States. First, there's one out of the state of Texas. A federal judge suspended the FDA approval of an abortion pill called mifepristone.

Now a federal judge out of the state of Washington also issued an order but ordering that that drug stay on the shelves of at least 12 liberal states. Now because these are two conflicting orders by two federal judges in the United States, legal experts say that this is likely to land in the hands of the United States Supreme Court. Now let me get you up to speed about what we're talking about here.

Mifepristone is an abortion drug. It was approved by the FDA back in 2000, so it's been on the shelves for decades. It is the most common way to terminate a pregnancy in the United States.

It has been used by more than 5 million women, is considered safe and effective. And medical groups say that the risk of death is quote non existent. Now the plaintiffs were asking this judge in Texas to completely take this medication off the shelves.

Who were the plaintiffs?

The plaintiffs are a coalition of anti abortion groups.

Who is the judge?

The judge is a man by the name of Matthew Kacsmaryk. He was appointed by president Donald Trump and before rising to the federal bench, he worked for a religious right law firm on anti abortion advocacy.

Now the hearing for this particular case was a preliminary injunction hearing that happened last month. It lasted for about four hours. And on Friday, Kacsmaryk issued this ruling, suspending the FDA approval of mifepristone.

But this judge also paused the ruling for seven days, saying that this will give time for the United States Department of Justice to appeal the order -- Rosa Flores, CNN, Houston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: President Kamala Harris made a last minute trip to Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday, a day after two Black Democratic state lawmakers were expelled for protesting for gun reform while on the statehouse floor. A third lawmaker involved in the protest, a white woman who is white was threatened with expulsion but was spared.

Harris met with all three as well as other Democratic lawmakers. In a passionate speech, the vice president renewed calls for a ban on assault style weapons and targeted the politics behind expelling those lawmakers. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It wasn't about the three of these leaders; it was about who they were representing. It's about whose voices they were channeling. Understand that.

And is that not what a democracy allows?

A democracy says you don't silence the people. You do not stifle the people. You don't turn off their microphones when they are speaking about being the voice of life and liberty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:05:00]

HARRAK: CNN's Gary Tuchman is in Nashville and has more on the protests, the fallout and whether Justin Jones and Justin Pearson might soon be back in the legislature.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New energy at the Tennessee state capitol after a day of protests, debate and consequential votes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Mr.. Speaker. The House stands in recess until 5:00 pm on Monday, April 10th, 2023.

TUCHMAN: Two Democratic legislators had just been expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives by Republican supermajority.

In the hallways of the state capital in Nashville, demonstrators yelling and crying, with some staging a die-in in protest.

As legislators filed out of the House chambers, a chaotic scene. Tennessee state troopers standing between them and demonstrators, yelling was loud but all stayed peaceful.

And then out came the representatives who had been the subject of the expulsion discussions. Justin Pearson on the left, Gloria Johnson in the middle, Justin Jones on the right.

The two men expelled, the woman surviving by one vote. They were punished by Republicans for their demonstration on the House floor last week, calling for gun reform, walking up to the well of the chamber and protesting, following the horrific school shooting in Nashville last month.

DEMONSTRATORS: No action, no peace. No action, no peace. No action, no peace.

TUCHMAN: Republicans saying their behavior was disorderly and as a result, they made the decision to kick the two men out of the legislature.

So what does the woman who survived have to say about that?

GLORIA JOHNSON (D), TENNESSEE STATE HOUSE: I think it's pretty clear. I'm a 60-year-old white woman and they are too young Black men.

TUCHMAN: The chairman of the Tennessee Black Caucus is Sam McKenzie.

SAM MCKENZIE (D), TENNESSEE BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS CHAIR: The world saw the optics. I don't have to say a word about the fact that our two young African American brothers were unfairly prosecuted. Information, evidence introduced inappropriately but they handled themselves like true champions.

TUCHMAN: Republicans deny a racism allegation, some saying that Gloria Johnson was not leading the protest effort last week. One Republican leader told us further investigation taking into the ethics committee, a lesser punishment was not something his party wanted to do.

JEREMY FAISON, TENNESSEE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS CHAIRMAN: This group, my caucus, which is the supermajority, there are 75 of us said no, that is not. We don't want to go to the ethics route. We don't want them censured. We want them expelled.

TUCHMAN: But one of those expelled representatives stands by what he and his two Democratic colleagues did, saying they were not being allowed to talk about what they feel needed to be talked about, gun reform.

JUSTIN JONES (D), EXPELLED TENNESSEE STATE REPRESENTATIVE: We have been expelled for standing with our constituents but I have no regrets. I will continue to speak up for District 52 and for Tennesseans who are demanding change.

TUCHMAN: Notably, both expelled legislators could be back in office and soon their county commissions will appoint temporary representatives prior to the next election and they are permitted to select the two men who were expelled.

When the Tennessee state House of Representatives reconvenes on Monday, there are expected to be protesters where we're standing, showing their support for the two legislators who were expelled and the one who was almost expelled.

And those three, Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson, it's anticipated they will be here, too -- Gary Tuchman, CNN, in Nashville.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: Israeli authorities have mobilized reserve units after reporting two deadly terror attacks on Friday, the latest acts of violence in a week of heightened tensions in Tel Aviv.

Police say a car hit a crowd of tourists before flipping over on a beachfront walkway. An Italian citizen was killed and seven other people were wounded. Police killed the driver.

Earlier Friday, a separate shooting attack in the West Bank left two British Israeli sisters dead and their mother seriously wounded. Those attacks happened after Israel struck Palestinian militant targets in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is being tested by its opponents and he pledged that it would come out on top.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: I can only say one thing, our enemies are putting us to the test again.

And once again, they will discover, even in this test, that we stand together, united, confident in our righteousness and we will act together with the complete backing of our forces, the IDF and the security forces, who also worked on the holidays to ensure the security of our citizens and the security of our homelands.

And together, united, we will win."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRAK: Let's get more now from CNN's Salma Abdelaziz, who is in Jerusalem for you.

Salma, what's the situation right now?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a very tense weekend, Laila, even though it is a holiday weekend. Three different holidays coinciding, Passover, Ramadan and Easter. But after three days of escalating violence, the Israeli military says it is on high alert because these are, quote, "very volatile times."

[03:10:00]

ABDELAZIZ: It all began on Wednesday when Israeli police twice raided Al-Aqsa mosque, of course, a holy site for Muslims, sitting on the Noble Sanctuary, as it is known to Muslims, Temple Mount as it is known to Jews.

And very inflammatory images coming out of that raid. There was widespread condemnation across the Arab and Muslim world and response in the form of rocket fire from two separate fronts.

Southern Lebanon, more than 30 rockets fired from there. The Israeli military blaming Hamas operating inside Lebanon, not Hezbollah, going to great lengths to make that point, so as to not further widen this conflict.

And then in Gaza as well, several rockets being fired from there. There was a tit-for-tat response if you will after prime minister Netanyahu vowed to retaliate. Sites being struck inside Gaza, sites being struck inside southern Lebanon as well.

But yesterday this conflict appeared to widen even further, escalating violence first in the occupied West Bank. Israeli authorities seeing a terror attack, a shooting killing two sisters, 16 and 20 years old, their mother also seriously wounded in this attack. They were British Israeli citizens, these two sisters.

And then later in the evening, this very horrifying attack again Israeli policing a terror attack, a car being used essentially as a weapon. This driver, this attacker ramming right along that very popular promenade in Tel Aviv, ramming pedestrians. All the victims were tourists. One Italian was killed.

Again, this is Passover weekend. You can imagine that promenade was busy, full of people, full of visitors here to be with their families during this period.

And now, of course, just this period of bated breath as authorities wait to see what comes next.

But again, all of those factors that have led to ever escalating violence in this period continue, still very much underway in Ramadan and Passover. So there are concerns and fears that this continues to spiral.

HARRAK: Salma Abdelaziz, reporting from Jerusalem, thank you.

A last minute change of plans for Pope Francis. Just ahead why he wasn't at a traditional Good Friday procession and what to expect for the rest of the Easter services.

Plus three abstract paintings in a New York gallery are carrying hefty price tags.

So why do some Republicans care who buys them?

Because of who the artist is. That story still ahead.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:15:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HARRAK: It's Easter Saturday on the Christian calendar. But Holy Week services have not gone completely as planned for Pope Francis. He was expected to lead the Good Friday Way of the Cross procession yesterday but opted out at the last minute. CNN's Delia Gallagher explains why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: The news that Pope Francis would not be participating in the Via Crucis at Rome's Colosseum on Friday evening would normally be cause for concern.

But considering that the pope is 86 years old and recovering from a bout of bronchitis and given that the Via Crucis is an outdoor event, 9 o'clock at night in an unseasonably cold Rome, it seems simply to be a prudent decision on the part of the pope and the Vatican.

In fact, Pope Francis, for the entire week since Palm Sunday, has been participating in all of the events at the Vatican. We saw him on Thursday at a juvenile jail on the outskirts of Rome for the traditional washing of the feet of 12 young people there.

And indeed on Friday, late afternoon in St. Peter's Basilica for Good Friday services. We also expect to see the pope for the Easter vigil in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday and, indeed, on Sunday for Easter mass in St. Peter's Square.

So it is a challenging week for the pope no doubt but he gives every indication that he is up to the challenge -- Delia Gallagher, CNN, Rome. (END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: China's military has begun three days of exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island. Taiwan says at least eight Chinese ships and 42 aircraft have been detected over the strait.

And this follows the Taiwanese leader's 10 day trip to Central America and the U.S, which Beijing denounced as a provocation. Tsai Ing-wen did not mention the Chinese drills when she met with a visiting delegation of U.S. lawmakers today. House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Michael McCaul had this to say afterward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R-TX), CHAIR, HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: In a democracy people are free. In a democracy, people have guaranteed rights. In a democracy, human rights and human dignity are respected. Taiwan and the United States share the same ideals and values and our relationship is strong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRAK: CNN's Will Ripley is in Taipei and has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's not entirely unexpected that, just after Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen arrived back from the United States and Central America, that 10 day diplomatic trip, which included that transit stop in California and that meeting with the U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which infuriated China, that this would be happening.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command announcing United Sharp Sword, these military drills starting on Saturday, saying they're going to end on Monday, of combat ready patrols and exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait, to the north, south and east of Taiwan, both the sea and the airspace, as planned, the PLA says.

They put on a quote, saying that, "This is a serious warning against the Taiwan separatist forces' collusion with external forces," a reference to the U.S., "and a necessary move to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

[03:20:00]

RIPLEY: Dozens of PLA warplanes were also spotted in and around Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone beginning on Saturday morning. Now Taiwan's defense ministry of course they have -- they're monitoring this. They're on high alert if you will. But their statement seems to downplay the significance of this Sharp Sword exercise by China.

This is what the statement reads, in part, "In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has continued to send aircraft and ships to harass the region, which has threatened the regional situation.

"It even used President Tsai's visit and transit to the United States as an excuse to conduct military exercises, which has seriously damaged regional peace, stability and security."

So here in Taipei, this act, that they believe is an attempt to intimidate them, they say will not cause Taiwan to react in a way that will escalate this situation. It seems to be China, you know, doing all of this, angry about President Tsai's transit through the United States.

Meanwhile President Tsai didn't even mention the military drills when she made comments on Saturday because she's meeting with yet another bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, including some of the men and women in Congress who will be making a decision about whether to sell Taiwan even more defensive weapons to defend against a potential Chinese invasion -- Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: Well, those military exercises around Taiwan began not long after French president Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his three day visit to China. Ukraine top of his agenda for talks with Xi Jinping, who said it's in nobody's interest for the war to drag on. CNN's Marc Stewart has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARC STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: French president Emmanuel Macron's visit to China has centered on diplomacy and business. Let's start on the diplomatic front.

Macron told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that he was counting on him to, quote, "reason with Russia" to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. Macron blamed Russia for disrupting decades of peace in Europe.

China has refused to condemn the invasion, as diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations have tightened. According to a readout published by Chinese state media on Friday night, Xi told Macron that it is in nobody's interest for the Ukraine war to drag on.

And it's in everyone's interest to bring a ceasefire and an end to the war as soon as possible. Earlier, according to French diplomatic sources, Xi said he'd have a call with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the right moment.

And then on the business front, Macron did not travel alone. He went to China with a group of French business people with the hope of dealmaking. Macron also spent time in Guangzhou, which is seen as a commercial center in China -- Marc Stewart, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: An ordeal is over for a group of Ukrainian children, allegedly deported by Russia. Still ahead, we will show you the moment when they finally came back to Ukraine.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:25:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HARRAK: Welcome back to all our viewers around the world. I'm Laila Harrak and you're watching CNN NEWSROOM.

Ukrainian artillery is fighting to keep Russian troops at bay as they press ahead with their offensive in the east.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRAK (voice-over): Ukraine says Russia launched more than 40 attacks across the eastern front lines in the past 24 hours. Officials say Russian forces are not giving up their attempt to take full control of Bakhmut. And as Nick Paton Walsh reports, they could be making some headway.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: The battle for Bakhmut has been one of lengthy and deadly attrition for months, most of the winter, frankly. The key focus of Russia, be it its mercenary group Wagner, trying to stake a symbolic victory there to prove its military mettle, or the traditional, rational military in the background there as well.

But the U.K. intelligence assessment not entirely clear what it's based upon, suggesting they believe that Russia now has the momentum inside Bakhmut may be making progress. And it does cite greater cooperation between those Wagner mercenaries and the traditional Russian military as perhaps being behind that.

But on the ground level, it does appear to be vicious street-by-street battle near the railway station in the center of the city, near Bakhmut market, according to videos we've seen emerging in the last 24 hours. And Ukrainian forces holding on in the west of the city, possibly in less territory than the weeks in the past.

But it's been hard, frankly, to definitively make statements about the progress of that battle territory, changing hands back and forth so consistently. And Ukrainian forces now relying very much on, it seemed, a singular supply route in and out of there.

But putting aside, frankly, Russia's statements about how what it's doing there, the question for them is certainly how many resources they expended over the winter to try and take a city, which most analysts considered to be of limited strategic value. But it has also provided for Ukrainian forces essentially a bit of a pause. Many of their men have been sent to Bakhmut and fought bitterly there. But across the rest of the front line, that has, some suggest, been a moment in which they've been able to focus, think about the counter offensive coming forward.

A lot of speculation this day about that counter offensive after an apparent leak possibly of documents have yet to be authenticated that may have suggested elements of what NATO and the U.S. know about Ukraine and Russia's positions ahead of this potential counter offensive.

[03:30:00]

WALSH: The Pentagon are looking at these documents and probing the situation.

Ukraine has made a very emphatic denial that this is anything other than a Russian misinformation operation, pointing out why, if Russia had this confidential information, would it place it out on the social media where these documents have been found?

But still these papers genuine or not, again, tightening focus and anticipation of Ukraine's counter offensive. So much riding on it in the summer and spring months ahead. And certainly those documents providing tantalizing glimpses of what one side may or may not know about the other -- Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: More than 30 Ukrainian children are back home after their alleged illegal deportation by Russia. They crossed the border on Friday after spending months in Russia and occupied Crimea, according to humanitarian group Save Ukraine.

It says some of the children were released after their mothers went to Russia to track them down. Those women also had the power of attorney to bring back the rest of the children.

Ukraine says more than 16,000 children have been illegally deported by Russia, which led to an international arrest warrant against president Vladimir Putin. Russia denies any wrongdoing.

Some U.S. military secrets about Ukraine were apparently posted online for anyone to see, included in what appears to be classified documents that started showing up on social media at least a month ago.

The U.S. Justice Department is now investigating how they leaked out. And as Natasha Bertrand reports, there are many key questions still unanswered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The Pentagon says it is investigating reports of social media posts that appeared to show classified information about U.S. and NATO assessments of Ukraine's military capabilities.

Now it is unclear how these documents appeared online, how long they have been online and, crucially, when the U.S. actually became aware of these documents that have been circulating on Twitter and Telegram.

But we are told from sources that these documents do appear to be largely authentic. They are part of a daily slide deck that is created by Pentagon officials to brief senior officials on the situation in Ukraine.

But there's an important caveat to that, which is that officials say that at least some of these documents appear to have been doctored. One of those documents shows that it has been doctored to show that the Russian casualty rate is actually far lower than the U.S. has actually assessed it to be.

And that suggests to U.S. officials that someone with an incentive to convey that the Russian killed in action rate is far lower than what the U.S. has assessed it to be actually doctored that document.

So there are a lot of -- there are a lot of -- there's a lot of caution being expressed here by U.S. officials when -- with regard to how the U.S. and the public writ large to treat these documents.

But look, the Pentagon and U.S. officials are fairly very concerned as a whole about the fact that documents that do appear to have legitimately classified information about Ukrainian training and equipment appear -- have appeared online just ahead of a very crucial Ukrainian counter offensive.

Now the Ukrainians are projecting calm about the situation with a senior Ukrainian official in the president's office saying that they believe that this is just part of a Russian disinformation operation. And that the leaked documents do not actually show anything particularly sensitive about Ukraine's military plans.

But the Pentagon taking a really close look at this and it remains to be seen what comes out of their review -- Natasha Bertrand, CNN, at the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: Russia has now formally charged "The Wall Street Journal" reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage. Russian authorities detained the American journalist last week, accusing him of spying, which he denies. Matthew Chance reports on where the case against him goes from here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In some ways, it's just a legal formality. The authorities here in Russia have 10 days to formally charge a suspect before they have to let them go. And it's exactly 10 days since Evan Gershkovich was arrested in the

city of Yekaterinburg on suspicion of espionage. And so these very big, slow wheels of bureaucracy in Russia are turning.

And of course, it dashes any hopes that the Russians might change their mind, might think twice and might set Evan Gershkovich, "The Wall Street Journal" reporter, free. Certainly that's been the call of his newspaper.

They've issued a statement over the course of the past few hours, saying they categorically rejects as false the espionage charges against their reporter and they're calling them unjustified and again calling for his immediate release. In fact, that's incredibly unlikely to happen.

[03:35:00]

CHANCE: Gershkovich has been remanded in the Lefortovo prison in Moscow until May the 29th while the authorities build their case. It could be extended even longer than that, if the authorities decide they want more time.

And of course, when this trial eventually starts -- and that could be months away -- and reaches its conclusion, there's a 99 percent chance if statistics are anything to go by in Russia, there will be a conviction, which means that Evan Gershkovich will be facing a possible sentence of 20 years in prison.

It's only after that process is over that there's a possibility of some sort of deal with the United States. In the past, there have been prisoner swaps. I think the expectation, at least the hope is, that something can be arranged to set Evan Gershkovich free as well -- Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: U.S. swimmer Riley Gaines says she was ambushed after giving a speech in San Francisco. Gaines wants trans athletes banned from women's sports. We will have more coming up.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:40:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(SPORTS)

HARRAK: You may not know this but Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, is a successful artist, whose works have been priced at six figures. He currently has three paintings on display in a New York gallery, each priced at $85,000.

That may seem like a lot and it is. But the gallery owner says valuing works of art depends mostly on what the buyer is willing to pay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGES BERGES, GALLERY OWNER: We're in an industry where I can name dozens of artists that are 27 years old and, overnight, because of who, the who represented them, what gallery represented them, all of a sudden they're selling over $1 million.

I mean, we're in an industry that, tape a banana to a wall and sell it for $100,000. So when you talk about rationale in the art world, you really don't know the art world. But ultimately, it's the free market. I can price something for $1 million.

If no one's going to buy it, it's not worth $1 million.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRAK: Hunter Biden's business dealings have been a frequent target of conservatives and his artwork is no exception. House Republicans want to know who is buying Biden's paintings and how much they paid but say the gallery owner has declined to divulge that information.

[03:45:00]

HARRAK: Diamonds are forever. But this next gem is one for the history books.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRAK (voice-over): This stunning 55 carat ruby will go under the hammer in New York in June, less than a year after it was discovered in a mine in Mozambique. It's the largest ruby ever to go to auction.

And Sotheby's says it's expected to fetch more than $30 million. Sotheby's says the gem's cut and polish resulted in, quote, "vivid red hues with outstanding clarity."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRAK: Still ahead, the climate crisis could drastically reshape Major League Baseball. I'll speak with the author of a new study, which looked into global warming's impact on this sport.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:50:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HARRAK: New research suggests the climate crisis could reshape a touchstone of American culture: baseball. A new study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society found that more than 500 home runs since 2010 can be linked to global warming.

And if temperatures continue to rise, then climate change could end up driving hundreds of more home runs season in the coming decades.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: Joining me now, Christopher Callahan is the lead author of the report. He's a PhD candidate in climate science at Dartmouth College.

Christopher, so good to have you with us. Very interesting study; players hitting too many home runs. So many theories already why this is happening. But you and your colleagues decided to research it.

What did you find?

CHRISTOPHER CALLAHAN, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE: We found that climate change increases home runs. The short version is that, when the air is warmer, it's less dense, which means there's less air resistance for balls to encounter as they fly through the air.

And so, as temperatures warm, balls are going to fly farther. This effect is relatively small at present but could get stronger as we continue to admit greenhouse gas emissions.

HARRAK: And can you explain how you were able to rule out all the other potential factors maybe at play and focus in on the influence of temperature?

CALLAHAN: Absolutely. We did two different things. The first is that we used data on over 100,000 baseball games, going back 60 years, on temperature and home runs and all those games.

And we were able to control for the factors like ballpark elevation, the distance of the fences and these other factors that also might affect the likelihood of a home run.

The second component was to use climate models. So these computer simulations of the climate that allow us to distinguish between human caused climate change and natural variations in the Earth's temperature. And so we can specifically attribute home runs to human caused climate change.

HARRAK: Now what happens if temperatures continue to rise?

CALLAHAN: We believe that, if continued, temperatures continue to rise and everything else remains relatively stable, there will be more home runs because the air is less dense because it's warmer.

Now many other things might change. Parks might be built with domes over them or other adaptations might occur. But if these adaptations don't occur, we will definitely see potentially hundreds more home runs per year.

HARRAK: And why is this bad for baseball?

I mean, we don't think too many dunks as being bad for basketball.

CALLAHAN: It depends on your opinion. Some people love home runs and the more the better. And if that is how people think about it, I have no problem with that.

Personally I find that there has been a trend toward many home runs, often at the expense of other plays in baseball, which can, in my opinion, lead to it being a little bit less interesting. But that's just one fan's perspective.

HARRAK: And so what can be done?

What are some of your recommendations?

CALLAHAN: The short version is that we have to cut our greenhouse gas emissions. That's the conclusion of every climate study and it's the conclusion of this one as well.

But in addition to that, MLB could take steps, like putting domes over stadiums, moving day games to night games, so they take them from the hottest part of the day into the evening, when temperatures are a little bit milder.

I could also imagine changes to the baseball that would allow it to fly just a little bit less far to compensate for this effect.

HARRAK: And do you know if other major American sports face the same challenge?

CALLAHAN: I haven't studied other major American sports. But I certainly expect any sport that relies on balls flying through the air to face this challenge -- so football, golf, potentially cricket might all experience similar effects.

HARRAK: And do you know if the MLB is aware of your findings?

Have they responded?

CALLAHAN: I haven't heard from them directly. But I'd be interested to hear what they say, now that folks have been talking about it today.

HARRAK: Absolutely.

Now what do you think, what role do you think the MLB can play to inspire people, to persuade people to engage in climate action, commit to sustainability?

Because, as you know, sport can be such a force for good.

CALLAHAN: Absolutely. I mean in the short term, it obviously would be great for the MLB to take a leading role in calling for sustainability. Our study in particular, I think, highlights that pervasive ways that climate change will affect every aspect of our lives.

It's not just hurricanes and heat waves. It's the influence of it on our leisure activities and the things we do for fun. So I think highlighting the role of climate change in this context may help drive it home for some people. HARRAK: Now, Christopher, you are a baseball aficionado. Next time

someone hits a home run record, should there be an asterisk next to it?

CALLAHAN: I don't want to commit to anything at the moment. I know Aaron Judge hit a lot of home runs last year and I don't want any angry Yankees fans coming after me, of course.

But you know, I think, as we move into the future, I do think that records set 50 or 75 years from now will need to be considered in the context of climate change.

[03:55:00]

HARRAK: Christopher Callahan, thank you so much, greatly appreciate you.

CALLAHAN: Thank you for having me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: Maybe you've heard of the movie, "Snakes on a Plane," but this is the real life story of cobra in the cockpit. A pilot of a small plane heading on a domestic flight to Pretoria, South Africa, says he felt something cold under his shirt while he was at the controls.

At first, he thought his water bottle was leaking. Then he looked down and saw the snake slithering back under his seat. It was a Cape cobra. Their bite can be deadly.

Well, the pilot calmly told his passengers about the situation and landed the plane safely. And by the way, the snake has not been found.

That's nerves of steel.

Thanks so much for watching. I'm Laila Harrak. CNN NEWSROOM continues with Paula Newton and I'll see you tomorrow.