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Trump Ramps Up Attacks On Haley In New Hampshire; Fears Of Regional Conflict Grow After Strikes In Syria, Iraq; China's Population Declines For Second Straight Year; Trump, Haley Trade Jabs Ahead Of New Hampshire Primary; Dangerous Wintry Blast Hits Much Of The U.S. And Europe; AC Milan Players Walk Off After Alleged Racist Abuse. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired January 21, 2024 - 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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[02:00:41]

PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR: A very warm welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Paula Newton. Ahead right here on CNN Newsroom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIKKI HALEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When you're 80, that's what happens. You're just not as sharp as you used to be.

DONALD TRUMP (R), FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT, 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My mind is stronger now than it was 25 years ago is that possible?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Attacks and low blows, Republican candidates make their pitches as the finish line nears in New Hampshire, we're on the campaign trail.

Plus, fears of a widening escalation in the Middle East, Iran is promising to punish Israel for a deadly missile strike in Syria.

And later, a big winter freeze is gripping much of North America with icy temperatures impacting millions. We're monitoring conditions ahead.

And we do begin here in the United States where the New Hampshire primary is just two days away. The three major Republican candidates are making their final push to Republican voters as the presidential race becomes increasingly bitter.

On Saturday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis abruptly canceled two Sunday T.V. appearances including an interview right here on CNN citing scheduling issues. The governor spent the day campaigning hundreds of miles away in South Carolina whose primary is now a month away. His campaign leader announced he will be back in New Hampshire campaigning on Sunday.

Meantime, former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley ramped up attacks against each other. On Saturday, Haley questioned Trump's mental fitness after he appeared to confuse her with former U.S. House speaker and Democrat Nancy Pelosi. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: By the way they never report the crowd on January 6th, you know Nikki Haley, Nikki Haley, Nikki Haley, you know they -- did you know they destroyed all of the information, all of the evidence, everything? Nikki Haley is in charge of security. We offered her 10,000 people, soldiers, National Guards, whatever they want. They turned it down.

HALEY: And he's going on and on mentioning me multiple times as to why I didn't take security during the capital riots. Why I didn't handle January 6th better? We can't have someone else that we question whether they're mentally fit to do this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: OK. Our reporters are on the campaign trail. CNN's Alayna Treene is traveling with the former president. But first to our Kylie Atwood who is following the Nikki Haley campaign.

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Nikki Haley is barnstorming the state of New Hampshire, of course, just days ahead of the primary on Tuesday with her campaign really focused on having a strong showing here in New Hampshire. And she is hitting former President Trump in a more distinct way than we have seen her do previously questioning his mental fitness after he had a gap and a campaign rally where he confused her and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and also going after him for the ads that he has put on the T.V.s here in New Hampshire saying that they're full of lies, trying to correct the record when it comes to what her positions are on gas, tax and social security.

But former President Trump is campaigning with Tim Scott, Senator of South Carolina and the governor of South Carolina also this weekend. And of course, that isn't a great thing for Nikki Haley. She is from South Carolina. Her campaign for their part says that they are not focused on racking up endorsements that they claim don't matter. They're focused on a strong showing in New Hampshire. They're not defining exactly what that means.

They're also focused on beginning to compete in South Carolina, announcing that they will be investing $4 million in the media ad buy in South Carolina starting just next week.

Kylie Atwood, CNN, Nashua, New Hampshire.

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN REPORTER: Well, it's just three days to go until the New Hampshire primary. Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on his rival, Nikki Haley. And part of that strategy is by using leaders from South Carolina and trying to paint her as not being very well liked by people in her own backyard.

On Saturday, Trump called up us series of South Carolina lawmakers to the stage including South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a fierce Trump ally who endorsed him back in 2022. And of course, that comes after Friday night where Donald Trump also picked up a massive endorsement from South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. I'm told from my conversations with Trump's campaign that they'd really been courting his endorsement ever since he dropped out of the presidential race last year.

[02:05:27]

But they had really accelerated that timeline, because they wanted to try and have it come right before New Hampshire. Again, New Hampshire is a state where they are worried about Nikki Haley's rise in the polls, especially her popularity with moderates and independents. And so you're seeing the campaign and Donald Trump himself trying to implement every tactic they can to undercut her in these final days.

Now, another thing I'd like to point your attention to was Donald Trump also defended his cognitive abilities while on stage I that comes after a gaffe that Trump had on Friday, where he seemed to confuse Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi, when talking about security at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

We should point out that Nikki Haley was not an office then and had nothing to do with security at the Capitol during that time. But Donald Trump continuously brought up her name on Friday. And that's your response from Nikki Haley. She had said that perhaps it shows Trump is not mentally fit for office. Take a listen to how Trump responded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: If I'm sarcastic or like I a lot of times, I'll say, and President Obama is doing a lousy job, meaning that Obama is running the show. They'll say Donald Trump doesn't know who our president is. No, no. A few months ago, I took a cognitive test my doctor gave me. I said give me a cognitive test, just so we can, you know, because you know what the standards were. And I aced it. I'll let you know when I go bad. I really think I'll be able to tell you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: Now I can tell you that this is an argument that actually bothers Donald Trump personally. We know that Donald Trump often likes to use these attacks on Joe Biden and doesn't really like the fire being trained on himself. And I think that's why you saw him trying to bring this up tonight and address it head on.

Alayna Treene, CNN, Manchester, New Hampshire.

NEWTON: The Israel Defense Forces says it found a tunnel in Gaza that Hamas used to hold hostages. Israeli officials released this image, you see it there, saying the tunnel is in the city of Khan Yunis. Inside, they say, they found prison cells, explosives and blast proof doors. The Palestinian Ministry of Health meantime in Ramallah says the death toll in Gaza is now nearly 25,000. And about 70 percent of those killed were women and children.

Palestinian officials estimate that in addition to the dead and wounded, more than 8,000 people are still missing. And they're believed to still be buried under the rubble. And there are fears now that the Israel-Hamas war could be spilling over to the rest of the region. Iran is vowing to punish Israel for this missile strike in Syria that killed five members of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard who were on a military advisory mission in Damascus.

Iran's president is calling the strike cowardly. Israel suspected of being behind the attack. But Israeli officials as usual are not commenting on these kinds of efforts. In Iraq, meantime, Iranian- backed militias have claimed responsibility for an attack that injured Americans on the Al-Asad Airbase. It's not clear how many Americans were hurt. U.S. Central Command says a number of U.S. personnel are being evaluated for traumatic brain injuries.

Joining me now is Aaron David Miller. He's a former U.S. State Department, Middle East negotiator and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment. And good to have you on hand because we definitely need you in moments like this. There is a lot going on. That is an understatement. I will get to Israel in a moment. But first let's think about Iran here. They've really been flexing. What do you make of Iran's actions? And importantly, what does it tell us about their motivation? What's their endgame in this new reality we all find ourselves in?

AARON DAVID MILLER, FMR. U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT MIDDLE EAST NEGOTIATOR: You know, I think the Iranians have two or three strategic goals. Number one, try to push the United States out of either the Middle East, certainly out of Iraq and Syria. Iraq is critically important to them, because, of course, demography and geography. Second to oppose where they can, anything remotely resembling a U.S. dominated, quote unquote, world order.

Here they align, of course with both China in many respects, and with Putin's Russia. And the Israeli-Gaza crisis, I think is important and critical opportunity for them to flex their muscles, show their influence. They're demonstrating. And some of these missile launchers are very sophisticated missile technology and to reach in through proxies, Hezbollah in Lebanon, pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq and of course the Houthis in the Red Sea.

[02:10:08]

The Iranians frankly in so many respects appeared to be the big winners so far in this Israeli-Gaza war because they're prepared to fight the Israelis and the Americans, not to the last Iranian to the last Houthi, to the last Lebanese until the last Iraqi and Syrian. So far, they've been untouched.

NEWTON: And yet we do have Israel hitting back. Israel's not taking responsibility for the airstrike in Syria. We shouldn't expect it to. These assassinations are not actually new. But how risky are they in this environment?

MILLER: Well, I think as long as the Israeli-Gaza war goes on, you've got a pretext and justification for the Iranians to use their proxies. I don't think we're on the cusp of a regional war. I could outline for you what I think a regional war would look like the Middle East has never experienced one. We're not there yet.

But again, there's always the possibility of a miscalculation, misdirection. One party, including the United States, reading the situation incorrectly makes a move that begins an escalatory ladder. So I don't think in recent years, I've seen so many complexities, so many fires that appeared to be burning in so many areas of this very troubled region.

NEWTON: Yes, it is hard to keep track of in any Foreign Affairs Department at this hour. You know, Netanyahu will get to him now risked alienating nearly every international ally he has this week, with his comments on the Palestinian state. Hours ago, he doubled down, tweeted, I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over all of the territory west of Jordan.

And he says it here himself, right? This is contrary to a Palestinian state. You know, I do want to mention here that while Biden was restrained in his comments, not the E.U., right, we want to go to now from the foreign affairs chief from the E.U. Josep Borrell. And he said, we believe that a two-state solution, Israeli and Palestinian, must be imposed from the outside to bring peace back, even if, and I insist, Israel reaffirms its refusal of the solution and to prevent it. They have gone so far as to create Hamas itself.

I mean, in those two phrases, right there, in terms of the quotes, you cannot get two more on opposite sides. Where's all this headed?

MILLER: Where's all headed? I mean, again, you've got the centerpiece here is whether two -- there are two realities. Number one, you have what is now a conflict between Israel and Hamas that shows no signs of abating. The basic goals of each side are mutually irreconcilable. The Israelis in the wake of the terrorist surge of October 7th, one who destroy Hamas militarily and ended sovereignty in Gaza.

Hamas, or at least the senior leadership, ensconced in tunnel -- tunnels, as many as 450 miles worth of tunnels. The Israelis are discovering, or is interested in surviving. They want ultimately to trade the 130 photographers (ph), how often do they have both dead and alive for an asymmetrical number of Palestinian prisoners and the cessation of hostilities.

Right now, I see no way out of that particular conflict. And as we've talked before, Iran, I think, is benefiting from this regional escalation. And through its proxies is creating the maximum amount of trouble at least, it can while avoiding the direct confrontation with the United States. I think the balancing mechanism here is neither Hezbollah nor Iran nor the United States, and I would add to the list, although there's some who are arguing for preemption against Hezbollah in the north, I don't think the Israelis wanted two front war right now, either. NEWTON: Yes. I remind people that these conflicts actually can go on for years and years and years. And as you said, a cul-de-sac with no way out so far. Aaron David Miller for us, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

MILLER: Paula, thanks for having me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): Is this Donald Trump country?

CROWD: Yes.

SCOTT: Oh, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: As voters in New Hampshire prepared for the state's primary election this week, we hear firsthand what some of them think about former U.S. President Donald Trump.

[02:14:40]

Plus, whether it's because of the commitment or the cost, one thing is for sure, China is facing a baby bust. That story after the break.

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NEWTON: So whether they have one of the largest total populations in the world, but China is seeing yet another year of population decline. In fact, the population fell to just over 1.4 billion in 2023, a drop of more than 2 million people over the year before. Now, as demographic change comes amid economic uncertainty and record low birth rate. CNN's Marc Stewart takes a closer look now at China's baby bust.

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MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Thirty-five-year-old Jessie on the move. Her focus, a career in marketing, having children not on her agenda.

STEWART: Do you want to have children?

JESSIE, SHENZHEN RESIDENT: No.

STEWART: No?

JESSIE: Not at all.

STEWART (voice-over): And that is a big problem facing China. For the second year in a row, its population dropped. A record loss of more than 2 million people, according to the government.

JESSIE (through translator): I think having children will disrupt all my life plans. I think life is already very hard. STEWART (voice-over): Besides commitment, there's also the question of cost. Right now, in China, a sluggish economy makes it hard for young people to find a job. Getting married and having babies just isn't a priority.

JESSIE (through translator): Giving birth to a child is only one of my choices. It should be up to me, not anyone else.

[02:20:03]

STEWART (voice-over): Listed among countries with low birth rates, China now has more people who die each year than those who are born.

STEWART: This is not one of those issues where the government is staying silent. It is talking about it and has taken steps to encourage young people to have children.

STEWART (voice-over): This includes everything from financial incentives to more holidays for pregnant parents.

At a women's conference last year, President Xi Jinping even told female leaders to actively promote the idea of marriage, childbirth, and family among young people.

FRANCIS, SHENZHEN RESIDENT: This is my first son.

STEWART: Yes. Do you want to have more children?

FRANCIS: Not, not, not -- no. No.

STEWART (voice-over): For some parents who already have children, like Francis, her little boy, Chen Chen, is enough. A reminder of the recent past when the government, fearing overpopulation, only allowed most urban couples to have one child, with forced abortions and sterilizations linked to its sometimes-brutal enforcement.

But this isn't just about choices. The population slump is a demographic blow to the world's second largest economy as it struggles to find a workforce for the future.

Marc Stewart, CNN, Shenzhen, China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: With us now is Xiujian Peng. She is a senior research fellow for Victoria University Center of Policy Studies. And she joins us now via Skype from Melbourne, Australia. And good to have you with us on what has been a fascinating but a troubling topic for many that you say the population decline is a signal that China's economic structure needs reform, specifically, what can the government do to try and mitigate the significant challenge?

XIUJIAN PENG, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY: Yes, I think that China can do a lot to mitigate this declining region's -- economy. And so China have to invest more on the human capital. So because with a declining labor force, it means that we're courting (ph), according to the labor force it will decline, and the China will rely more on the quality of the labor force, so invest under human capital is the best way to increase quality of the labor force.

And secondly, I think China needs to utilize, better utilize his current labor force, for example, they needed to increase the retirement age, because not hundreds of times at least a year (ph) in China, remains only 60 years older for woman's for some is only 50 or 55 years old. So with the life (inaudible) is already the increase that we nearly eight years old. So that's why I think people can work longer and the retirement age increase or your one hand to truly increase the labor force, another hand, we will, yes, release this pressure on the pension.

And thirdly, I think that China will continue to encourage people have more, more children, like we discussed before. So it's very important even though the policy may be not that effective, that is in the moment. But even without continue to discover people have more children than the fertility will decline further.

NEWTON: Now, given the size and the scope of China's economy, I mean, we all should be paying attention to this, right? What kind of an impact do you believe this population decline and it will at least continue for at least the next few years, what impact will it have in both the short term and the long term on the global economy?

PENG: Yes, I think that do you mind if we cut this cartilage with the answer, maybe the fibers (ph) on Chinese economy yonder. I think in the short term, you know, this decline on population will make put a downward pressure on the consumption spending and as is of course not, does not help, so already subdued consumption demand China experiencing in the last two to three years.

So this, yes, this subdued consumption demand, we of course, will put a challenge on the economic recovery of the world economy. So for the country, who rely on a more on China's market and we felt more or less negative effect, particular for the country who export a lot of their resources to China such as a minerals or fossil fuels. They will find more lower demand from China. So this is a short term effect.

And they use a longer term I think for China of -- that declining work -- declining population, especially, we were accelerated this decline of labor force will directly reduce China's economic growth. It means, I mean to reduce means slow down China's economic growth. So China we will definitely you -- we'll going to say I think, China we work -- we cannot say the high growth rates are like 8 or 10 percent experienced in the last two or three decades.

These are high economic gross period. It will most likely be over. The normal, we will we say normally China gross will be around 3 to 5 percent, so this will be normal because the declining labor force will directly reduce economic growth as well, one of the primary factor. So I understand that these are labor productivity will also increase will -- the increase --

[02:25:25] NEWTON: Right. Which is a tough challenge for many governments trying to get that productivity increase. I don't have a lot of time left. But I was also fascinated by the fact that you say there will be climate dividends, perhaps from the slowdown in the population increase in China.

PENG: So, you mean, climate what, sorry, can you say --

NEWTON: Sorry, that there will be a climate dividend that there will be better for the environment in some ways.

PENG: Oh, yes, yes. Yes, I think because, yes, OK, because China is the now is the largest CO2 emissions award. So with a declining population, this means China -- a Chinese government already committed to a peak carbon emission in -- by 2030. And also trim a (ph) carbon neutrality bed was on the 60. So in that case, we'll have a declining population. This means is that our goals will be much more easy to achieve, and this will be good for the, not only for China and also for the world.

NEWTON: OK. We will leave it there for now. It's a fascinating topic as we continue to follow China's efforts on that score. Xiujian Peng, thank you so much for joining us. I really appreciate it.

And we've got much more news straight ahead for our international viewers, though Quest's World of Wonder is next. And for those of you here in North America, CNN Newsroom continues in a moment. Stay with us.

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[02:30:41]

TRUMP: So here in New Hampshire, Nikki Haley, I know her well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: With two days to go before the second primary of the election season, Donald Trump has said you could see there, stepped up his attacks on rival Nikki Haley on the campaign trail. Speaking to reporters in Manchester, Trump rattled off a familiar list of complaints defending the January 6th Capitol rioters criticizing the 2020 election and lashing out at Haley.

For her part, Haley jabbed at Trump's suggesting he's too old to serve as president again following an incident in which he repeatedly confused her with former House Speaker, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Now missing from all the action, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who abruptly canceled his Sunday morning T.V. appearances, including one here at CNN and steady was laying the groundwork for his presidential campaigns last stand far away in South Carolina, even though its primary that's more than a month away now. CNN's Steve Contorno reports now for Lexington, South Carolina. STEVE CONTORNO, CNN REPORTER: The New Hampshire primary may be just days away. But Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spent his Saturday 900 miles away in South Carolina where he is trying to convince the state's Republican voters, it's time to move on from Donald Trump and also their former Governor Nikki Haley.

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GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I also had one of the Republican debates coming up. And so I was like, you know what, I need practice debating somebody that's almost as liberal as Nikki Haley. And so we did that. And, you know, it's we got differences on the Republican side, too. You know, it is what it is. Now, can someone tell me, I mean, seriously, I've been asking crowds, what her big achievements were as governor here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CONTORNO: Those comments were made in Myrtle Beach and they were actually seen by a Nikki Haley supporter, who decided to confront the Governor at his Lexington events later that day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This why I can't -- I want --

DESANTIS: Well, listen, school choice. Did she do it? Yes or no. Because she promised it. But I'm talking about big -- I'm talking about big conservative achievements. That's what the name of the game is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CONTORNO: We caught up with that voter as she was leaving, and here's what she had to say about how she felt she was treated.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did not expect him to shut me down like he did. I expect him sincerely to take my question and be respectful of me and answer, or at least say, well, you know, OK, but he didn't even acknowledge that I said as he reads. He heard I was a teacher and that was it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CONTORNO: The DeSantis campaign contends he is not giving up on New Hampshire just yet. And he will be appearing in that state later today.

Steve Contorno, CNN, Lexington, South Carolina.

NEWTON: Now Donald Trump again pushed his assertion that U.S. presidents should have full and total immunity from prosecution. On Saturday night, Trump invoked former U.S. President Harry Truman's use of the nuclear bomb in Japan in 1945 as an argument in favor of immunity. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: But you have to give a president immunity, otherwise, take a look at Harry Truman he wouldn't have done if you think Hiroshima, not exactly a nice act, but it did end the Second World War probably, right? Nagasaki, he wouldn't be doing that. He says I don't want to do that because my opponents will indict me. You have to give a president full and total immunity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Now groups in several states are looking to remove Trump from their ballots for his role in the capital insurrection. But that's not the only legal challenge the former president is facing as the election approaches. Voters in New Hampshire meantime are weighing whether the former president's legal problems will have any impact on their votes. CNN's Gary Tuchman went there to find out. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We came to downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with two specific questions for people who plan to vote in Tuesday's Republican primary, both questions that were asked on CNN's entrance poll in Iowa.

The first --

TUCHMAN: The question that was asked to people, is Donald Trump fit for the presidency if convicted of a crime? And 65 percent of the Republicans said yes, he's fit for the presidency, almost two-thirds. How do you feel about that? Is he fit if he's convicted of one of these crimes?

[02:35:08]

MATTHEW PRATT, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: I do feel as though he is still fit to be president of the United States, yes.

TUCHMAN: So if he's found guilty, you would still vote for him?

PRATT: Yes.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): But this man who had told us he's voting for Nikki Haley, feels much differently.

RICHARD ANTAL, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: If he's convicted of a crime, I don't think he should be the president.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Hank Boucher says he hasn't decided who he will vote for, but does say he likes Trump.

TUCHMAN: Is Donald Trump fit for the presidency if he's convicted of a crime, 91 counts against him?

HANK BOUCHER, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: I would say yes, because I don't think there's any legitimate things that they're charging him for.

TUCHMAN: Why is that?

BOUCHER: What are they him charging for? It's all crap stuff that Biden wants him out.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): We told him there's no evidence whatsoever that President Biden is behind any of this. But Hank Boucher is sticking with what he believes.

BOUCHER: So Biden's going to do anything and everything he can do to get him out because --

TUCHMAN: I mean, that's what Donald Trump is saying, that Biden's against him. But you're believing Trump about that.

BOUCHER: Yes.

TUCHMAN: You say it's Biden's fault, that these are not legitimate charges.

BOUCHER: Yes. Definitely.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Then there was the second question from CNN's entrance poll, also showing nearly two-thirds of Iowa caucus goers siding with Trump.

TUCHMAN: You're voting for Donald Trump. A question for you is, do you think Joe Biden legitimately won the election in 2020?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Dick Porzio (ph) says he's probably voting for Ron DeSantis.

TUCHMAN: Do you think Joe Biden legitimately won in 2020?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Marilou Carr (ph) is voting for Haley.

TUCHMAN: Do you think Joe Biden won legitimately in 2020?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I do.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Carvel Tefft is also voting for her.

TUCHMAN: Do you think Joe Biden legitimately won the election in 2020?

CARVEL TEFFT, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: I do.

TUCHMAN: Does it bother you that Donald Trump keeps saying that's not the case?

TEFFT: No, it doesn't bother me. I expect that from him.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Alex Zadeh feels much differently. He's a Trump supporter who's pretty much all in.

ALEX ZADEH, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: There was a lot, a lot of finagling going on. There's no doubt about it. Whether it caused him to win, I don't know.

TUCHMAN: What kind of finagling?

ZADEH: Just with the voters stealing of ballots, I think, hearing things about trucks carrying ballots from here to here.

TUCHMAN: That's pretty what you're saying, you're talking about hearing about these things.

ZADEH: Well, seeing him on T.V., seeing him take --

TUCHMAN: And seeing things, but there's no evidence of that. It's something that Donald Trump keeps talking about and saying, but there's no evidence of any widespread fraud. But yet you believe there was?

ZADEH: I really do, yes.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): So what happens if Donald Trump ends up hearing one or more guilty verdicts? This was not a lonely sentiment.

TUCHMAN: So if he's convicted of one of these crimes, which could result in prison time, would you still vote for him for president?

ZADEH: Yes, I would.

TUCHMAN: Do you think it's possible that Donald Trump is just making up things as he goes along, that he's basically punking you?

BOUCHER: No.

TUCHMAN: Do you know what "punking" means?

BOUCHER: No.

TUCHMAN: Tricking you.

BOUCHER: No, he's not.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Gary Tuchman, CNN, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: OK. Be sure to tune in to CNN on Tuesday for the New Hampshire primary election coverage starts at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. That's 6:00 p.m. in London.

OK, still ahead for us on CNN Newsroom, dozens have died from dangerous winter storms in the U.S. And now the U.K. braces for a powerful storm system.

[02:38:20] Plus, one of the most international crews ever assembled arrives at the International Space Station on a mission organized by a private space company. Details when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: There are reports now that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to visit North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong-un. The two leaders increasingly isolated on the world stage met in Russia last September. Now North Korea's state media says Putin will travel east. The U.S. has raised concerns the two nations could be working on advancing arms negotiations as Russia seeks weapons for its war in Ukraine. The Kremlin says dates for Putin's visit are still being worked out.

Anger is mounting in Germany against a far right party and its stance on migrants. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered right across the country Saturday, calling for a ban on the Alternative for Germany Party. It comes after it emerged that senior party members met in November and discussed a plan for the mass deportation of migrants, a move that has been compared to the Nazi era. Demonstrations were held in several cities and Germany's Chancellor praised the protests.

We are following dangerously cold temperatures blasting through much of the United States but while many are still in a deep freeze, there is hope ahead just have to hang on for a little bit longer. CNN meteorologist Elisa Raffa has the latest.

ELISA RAFFA, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Arctic air continues to plunge south and settle in as we go into Sunday with temperatures still way below average for this time of year and even in a dangerous levels again, for parts of the upper Midwest. And we were looking at overnight low temperatures Sunday morning of minus 5 degrees in Chicago, minus 4 in Omaha that's not including the wind chill. You've got temperatures in the single digits down to Nashville even in the teens.

As far south as Atlanta, daytime highs won't break freezing for many cities like Chicago and Cleveland and St. Louis. Temperatures in the 40s in Atlanta is still a good 10 degrees below average. But look at what happens when you look at the four-day forecast. You start to find the other side of the hill with temperatures starting to warm up. We start out the workweek with temperatures a little bit closer to average.

And then look at these numbers in the 60s by Wednesday in Atlanta, some 40s are from D.C. to New York. We'll keep things again on the chilly side on Sunday. You see these temperatures still about 10 degrees below average. We're closer to average by Monday and Tuesday. And then all the oranges start to spread and you're looking at temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above average by Wednesday and Thursday nearing 70 degrees from Atlanta and Charlotte.

Temperatures again very warm and thawing out for this time of year, I mean look at Atlanta seven-day forecast. Overnight lows below freezing in the 20s over the weekend, and then we'll warm up with daytime highs up around 70 degrees with some showers and storms. That's what's going to pull in some of that warmer air. And even for a place like Cincinnati that won't hit 70. You're still looking at a huge warm up where your overnight lows are in the teens, and then they warm up to the middle 40s which is warmer than your average daytime high which is around 39 degrees for this time of year. Your daytime highs will get near 60, so big thaw, a big warm up for a lot of the U.S. is coming.

NEWTON: And not too soon.

Now, dozens have died across the United States as temperatures plummet and snow and ice cover much of the country as we just heard from Elisa. But the United States is not alone. The United Kingdom is also bracing for storm ice show which is expected to bring powerful hurricane force winds.

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NEWTON (voice-over): Encrusted in ice, Milwaukee is frozen over, a frigid snapshot of the winter blast gripping parts of U.S. right now. Nearly a third of Americans are under weather alerts this weekend. The National Weather Service warns that states from Florida to North Dakota could be impacted by dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills. That's on top of snow and ice storms that pelted the east, west and south of the country over the past week.

Officials say at least 70 people across 13 states have died because of the extreme weather conditions. Parts of Europe are also feeling the chill. Temperatures in Paris dropping to 1 degree Celsius making for a frosty commute for those braving the cold.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): When there's snow on the roof, it's pretty but it doesn't last long. It's only in the evening. Then on the ground with cars and people walking, it's horrible.

NEWTON (voice-over): Earlier in the week, tourists enjoyed some of France's fame tourist sites sprinkled in snow. But there were heavier accumulations, especially in the north of the country that snarled traffic and disrupted train schedules.

In northern Spain, the army teamed up with local police to help stranded motorists stuck for hours on treacherous roads in temperatures that dropped to minus 13 degrees Celsius. The U.K. is bracing for a different kind of storm Sunday into Monday after its own dose of snow in the past week. This time Storm Isha is expected to bring heavy rain and powerful winds with gusts of up to 80 miles per hour in some cases. Forecasters warn there could be very dangerous coastal conditions.

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NEWTON: Now, it's nice, right, when visitors just pop by perhaps especially so in outer space. The multinational crew who launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center just days ago on a SpaceX rocket has now docked at the International Space Station. The four member team is on a 14-day mission organized by the private Texas startup Axiom Space. And that's along with SpaceX and of course the U.S. space agency, NASA. And American mission commander, a member of the Italian Air Force, a Swedish military pilot and a Turkish Air Force veteran will work on experiments and research during the mission.

It is in fact the first Axiom mission where a government or space agency has bought all of the seats. And it's the first time a citizen from Turkey has visited outer space.

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ALPER GEZERAVCI, TURKISH ASTRONAUT, FIGHTER PILOT: We are happy as Turkey to step for the first time in our history and looking forward to contribute into the science and research efforts over here.

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NEWTON: Still to come for us, AC Milan players walk off the pitch mid game over alleged racist chants directed at the team's goalkeeper. We'll have the details after the break.

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NEWTON: At least 10 police officers were injured Saturday in the Italian city of Vicenza in clashes with protesters demonstrating against Israel's military operation in Gaza. Now the demonstration took place at a jewelry fair. According to local media, protesters oppose the presence of Israeli exhibitors at the event. Police fired water cannon in demonstrators who carry placards bearing slogans like stop global war and free Palestine. The mayor of Vicenza said there was no justification for the, quote, scenes of guerrilla warfare.

And we stay in Italy now we're an AC Milan players. Many of them walked off the pitch on Saturday over alleged racist chants directed at the team's goalkeeper by the opposing team's fans. Now the incident occurred during a match against Udinese in the 33rd minute. These were extraordinary circumstances and we get the latest now from CNN's Patrick Snell.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, football is meant to be a place that features the joy of winning the pain of defeat, but never, never should it feature chance of racism and occurrence, we have seen far too many times over the years. Now the latest incident taking place on Saturday in Udine, Italy where alleged racist chanting was directed towards the AC Milan goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, the French international keeper, alerting the referee, Fabio Maresca, in the 33rd minute of play shortly after Milan had taken a one-nil lead over their opponent, Udinese.

Now Maignan would leave the field of play, followed by each and every one of his teammates. The match would then be restarted after about a 10-minute delay. During the game AC Milan taking to social media and posting on X, there is absolutely no place in our game for racism. We are appalled. We are with you, Mike. And then right after the match which Milan won 3-2 in dramatic fashion, his club sending a picture of their keeper with the words quite simply, and very powerfully, we love you, Mike. The Italian said they are sending a statement condemning any form of racism as well. Saturday was not the first time that Maignan has been racially abused by supporters in Italy as he was targeted by a Juventus fan in September of 2021.

Italian football authorities are sure to look at this incident and likely issue out a punishment you would expect in the coming days. We will of course stay across the very latest and keep you updated right here on CNN. But for now, I'm going to send it right back to you.

NEWTON: Our thanks to Patrick there.

And the Baltimore Ravens have now advanced to the AFC Championship game following a 34-10 victory over the Houston Texans. Now the team is now back in the conference title game for the first time since the 2012 season. And will play the winner of Sunday's AFC divisional matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

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The last time the Ravens advanced this far. OK, this is a good omen, they won the Super Bowl. Now the San Francisco 49ers meantime advanced to the AFC Championship game. They ousted the Green Bay Packers and came away with a 24 to 21 victory, a squeaker. They will play the winner of tomorrow's matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions.

Meantime, the Buffalo Bills will serve up some interesting game day goodies during their divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. We just mentioned their inspiration from the pop star and newly minted Chiefs fan, Taylor Swift.

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NEWTON: OK. So you know where we're going with this, right? In a nod to Swift's music, the Bills culinary team will offer a triple decker karma quesadilla and bad blood waffle fries, I'm not sure that's a good one, loaded with both city specialties, buffalo chicken of course and Kansas City cattlemen barbecue pork. I'm getting hungry already. Swift has been regularly showing up to games. I don't have to remind you right to support Kansas City and her presumed love interest, Travis Kelce. But it's unclear whether Swift will be at that game on Sunday. Perhaps we should consult her concert schedule. Many people will be waiting for that.

All right, our favorite story of the day, hands down, a six-legged spaniel puppy abandoned in a parking lot in Wales will soon be walking normally, listen to this, after a local pet charity arranged for her surgery. Now, the little dog was named Ariel partly because of her mermaid like extra limbs. The charity says Ariel received dozens, pardon me, donations from a shocking number of people, some as far away as Australia. And now a four legged pup she will become. Ariel is set to be discharged this weekend and will go home to a foster family.

I'm Paula Newton. I will be right back with more news in a moment.

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