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President Biden To Speak At Campaign Rally In South Carolina; Texas Continues To Not Allow Border Patrol Access to Shelby Park Despite Supreme Court Ruling; Jury In Defamation Case Orders Former President Trump To Pay E. Jean Carroll $80 Million In Damages; WWE Founder Vince McMahon Steps Down After Lawsuit Alleges Sex Trafficking And Abuse; Workers At U.N. Aid Agency In Gaza Fired After Israel Alleges They Had Role in October 7th Attacks; Federal Orders Cause Museums Nationwide To Close Exhibits Featuring Indigenous Artifacts; Arizona Republican Chairman Jeff DeWit Resigns After Leaked Audio Appears To Show Him Trying To Convince Arizona Senate Candidate Kari Lake Not To Run; Aryna Sabalenka Wins Second Straight Australian Open Title; Jim Harbaugh Hired As Head Coach Of Los Angeles Chargers. Aired 2-3p ET.

Aired January 27, 2024 - 14:00   ET

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

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[14:00:27]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

And at any moment now, President Biden is set to depart from the White House as he heads for the campaign trail in South Carolina. Today's event in that early voting state comes on the heels of Biden endorsing a deal that could lead to the U.S. shutting down the border with Mexico. The president is now throwing his support behind a bipartisan Senate bill that sources say gives the U.S. the authority to crack down on illegal migrant crossings at the southern border using tough new measures, including implementing a shutdown when the border is overwhelmed.

For more on these developments, let's bring in CNN White House reporter Priscilla Alvarez who is already in South Carolina. Priscilla, what can you tell us about Biden's expected plan while in that state?

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN REPORTER: Well, he's going to be rallying black voters here to vote for him. I mean, this is a state that buoyed him in 2020. It's one that he credited for turning the tide in 2020. And it's also a state that will kick off the Democratic nominating process for the first time, a change that Biden himself supported.

But of course, all of this comes as President Biden is also navigating the complicated politics of the U.S.-Mexico border. The statement that he released on Friday marked a stark shift from where the White House has been in the early days of the administration as he tries to also fend off incoming attacks on immigration policy from former President Donald Trump. And in this statement, President Biden said that the compromise that

Senate negotiators have been working on was tough and fair, but it was one line in particular that really struck current and former administration officials that I've been speaking with, and immigrant advocates. That was the following, quote, "It would give me as president a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed, and if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law."

What that means according to our colleague Manu Raju is that the Department of Homeland Security would be able to shut down the border if the daily crossing average was over 4,000 people in a one-week span. Now this is something we've seen to some extent in practice during the coronavirus pandemic when former President Donald Trump invoked a restriction that allowed authorities to turn away migrants. That was something that Democrats and immigrant advocates condemned, and it's something that could come back in a different type of authority in this compromise. And it's also one that the president is embracing.

And that really just goes to underscore the realities that this president has had to face on this issue. He's had to take a tougher stance amid record migration on the western hemisphere and as Republicans criticize his administration for the way they're handling the U.S.-Mexico border, but also fielding intense and fierce criticism from allies, including progressives and immigrant advocates who say that this is not the position President Biden was ever expected to take when in 2020 he was campaigning to restore the border and asylum.

WHITFIELD: Priscilla Alvarez, thank you so much.

As lawmakers battle over a border deal, the U.S. government is demanding access to areas along the southern border with Mexico that are currently being blocked by the state of Texas. CNN's Rosa Flores has details from Houston.

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ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are two separate issues that we are following on the U.S.-Mexico border in the Eagle Pass area. First of all, the ruling issued by the U.S. Supreme Court and then the standoff that's going on between Texas and the Biden administration in Shelby Park and in an area that encompasses about 2.5 miles of river.

About the Supreme Court ruling first. What that says is it gives Border Patrol authority to cut razor wire in that area. According to a law enforcement source, the U.S. federal government does not have a plan to remove all of that razor wire. And instead, what the federal government plans to do is exercise discretion. Whenever that wire needs to get cut for medical emergencies or operational needs, they plan to cut the wire.

As for the standoff on Shelby Park and the 2.5 miles of river, Texas has been doubling down, erecting more razor wire barriers and also more fencing which keeps migrants out and also Border Patrol out of that area. That's what's so extraordinary about this is that the state of Texas is keeping Border Patrol from an area where Border Patrol normally would be enforcing federal law.

[14:05:00]

And that is what is so remarkable here, because Governor Greg Abbott and Republicans have been accusing the Biden administration of not enforcing federal immigration laws. In this area of Eagle Pass, in Shelby Park and in these 2.5 miles of river, Border Patrol can't enforce federal law because they don't have access.

Rosa Flores, CNN, Houston.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, the border remains a major issue on the campaign trail. In just under two hours from now, former President Donald Trump is holding a rally in Las Vegas. And a short time later his competitor for the GOP nomination, Nikki Haley, will be speaking to South Carolina voters.

CNN's Alayna Treene and Eva McKend are following both of these campaigns. Alayna, you first. It's been a pretty busy week for Trump on the campaign trail and beyond, first winning in New Hampshire, then suffering a huge financial blow in court. So what are we expecting to hear from him as he takes the stage later?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, Fred, this is a state, Nevada, where Donald Trump's team feels like they already won. Nikki Haley is not on the ballot for the caucus in this state. She's on the ballot for the primary, and remember the caucus is actually the race where the state's crucial delegates will be awarded. But because she is not on the ballot here, they're acting like Donald Trump already has this state in the bag.

And because of that, it gives him and his team a good opportunity to try and make the pivot that they've been wanting to make for some time now toward a general election. Today we're going to expect to hear from Donald Trump. He'll talk about the economy, about crime, and also the border. As you mentioned, definitely an issue now that has all eyes on it.

Already this morning, the former president has issued five different posts on social media railing against the border. One of them -- in one he said -- excuse me, I lost the quote. Here we go. In one he said, "It is the worst border in the history of the world, an open wound in our once-great country. Terrorists are pouring in unchecked from all over the world."

Now, Fred, I think the timing of these posts is very noteworthy. It comes as Donald Trump has been in private and publicly urging lawmakers to reject a bipartisan deal to secure the southern border. Part of that, I'm told, is because Donald Trump wants to continue talking about this in the leadup to November. But he also does not want President Joe Biden to have a big victory on an issue that he thinks is a vulnerability for a lot of Democrats.

And so I think today you're going to hear him talk a lot about the border, you're going to hear a lot about attacking against -- making attacks on Joe Biden. And I also do expect -- a big question is whether he will bring up the E. Jean Carroll verdict where he has to award $83 million to her. Donald Trump is very furious about this. I've talked to his advisers. He's called it ridiculous on social media. He said that he plans to appeal it, something his attorney has also said. I expect Donald Trump will bring it up today just given how fresh it is, but that's something we'll be watching for. Fred?

WHITFIELD: Right. But he also knows that if he says anything it could cost him many millions more potentially. All right, Alayna, thank you.

Eva, to you there in South Carolina, right? OK, well, Nikki Haley on the trail, what is she expected to do and say today?

EVA MCKEND, CNN NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER: Well, Fred, she's banking on the voters in this state knowing her and knowing her well from her two terms here as governor. What we also have heard from her in recent days is really her needling the former president. Historically she has said that she doesn't want to get into a personal battle with him. But she has in recent days called him unhinged, called him thin-skinned. And this is part of an effort to resist his calls and the calls from the Republican establishment to step aside, to exit this contest.

In the next three-and-a-half weeks, she's holding 13 fundraisers in five different states. Her campaign says she raised upwards of $2 million since New Hampshire. And so certainly no indications that she's slowing down at any point and exiting the field.

And her message to voters really is that she can capture the voters that Trump can't -- the moderates, the independents -- in a general election. Time will tell, Fred, if that message is receptive to enough South Carolinians to really change the trajectory of this contest, Fred.

WHITFIELD: And then I wonder, Eva, is Nikki Haley saying anything about that E. Jean Carroll verdict, or sentence, or penalty?

MCKEND: Yes, that big sum of money, Fred. She is. She really -- it lends itself to an argument that she has long made, that Trump essentially is too distracted, too mired in controversy to really be a credible candidate or to really compete for the presidency. So her statements saying in part "Donald Trump wants to be the presumptive Republican nominee, and we're talking about $83 million in damages. We're not talking about fixing the border. We're not talking about tackling inflation. America can do better than Donald Trump and Joe Biden."

[14:10:05]

So essentially, she's saying that he foments too much chaos to really focus on the needs of the American people.

WHITFIELD: All right, Eva McKend, thanks so much, and Alayna Treene, as well. Appreciate it, ladies.

Still to come, a scandal shocking the wrestling world. The founder of WWE, Vince McMahon, resigning after disturbing allegations of sexual assault, trafficking, and physical abuse.

Plus, museums across the country are starting to cover or restrict access to Native American art. What's behind that? Our team has the latest.

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WHITFIELD: Vince McMahon is out as executive chairman of the WWE parent company TKO.

[14:15:00]

The embattled WWE founder stepped down just one day after a former staffer leveled disturbing allegations of sex trafficking and abuse in a lawsuit. McMahon has denied the allegations and said that he is prepared to defend himself in courts.

Joining me right now is CNN correspondent Rafael Romo. So I understand the allegations are actually not new, but it has come to the surface now.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: That's right. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday, but they're not new at all. And there are actually reports that McMahon had paid out settlements to multiple women while serving as WWE's CEO and chairman had been circulating since at least 2022. But a lawsuit filed Thursday that accuses McMahon of explosive allegations of sexual assault, trafficking, and physical abuse was apparently the straw that broke the camel's back.

The lawsuit was filed by Janel Grant, a former WWE staffer who worked at the headquarters of the wrestling behemoth McMahon founded. Grant is alleging that McMahon dangled a job offer at WWE and later promotions in exchange for sex. Grant's lawsuit also alleges that McMahon trafficked her to other men inside and outside the company, including John Laurinaitis, who worked in the company's talent and relations department and also named as a defendant in the suit.

McMahon has denied the allegations and said he's prepared to defend himself in court. Attempts by CNN to reach Laurinaitis previously did not yield a response. And Fred, CNN has so far been unable to get reaction from Laurinaitis.

After Grant's allegations were made public, McMahon resigned Friday night from his role as executive chairman of TKO, the parent company of WWE. TKO in an email to staff and in a statement to the press addressed only McMahon's job status with the company but did not discuss the specifics of the allegations. The statement says the following, "Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his position as TKO executive chairman and on the TKO board of directors. He will no longer have a role with the TKO group holdings or WWE."

As early as Thursday, TKO was apparently already distancing itself from McMahon. In a statement it made it clear that, quote, "Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE. While this matter predates our TKO executive team's tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant's horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally."

WHITFIELD: And then has McMahon actually addressed the allegations himself?

ROMO: Yes, he did, Fred. But notably in a statement published after his resignation, he did not address any of the allegations, choosing instead to focus on his role at both TKO and WWE. "Out of respect for the WWE universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and superstars who help make WWE into the global leader it is today," McMahon said, "I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors effective immediately."

WHITFIELD: What about the alleged victim? These allegations are pretty horrific.

ROMO: Yes, horrific, indeed. And the allegations are there in the complaint. There's one disturbing incident, Fred, detailed in the lawsuit where both McMahon and Laurinaitis allegedly forcibly restrained Grant behind a locked door as she begged them to stop. One of the men allegedly said to her, "No means yes." In a statement to CNN on Thursday, Janel Grant's attorney Ann Callis said the lawsuit sought to hold accountable two WWE executives who sexually assaulted and trafficked plaintiff Janel Grant as well as the organization that facilitated or turned the blind eye to the abuse and then swept it under the rug. Very serious accusations indeed.

WHITFIELD: Very serious. All right, Rafael Romo, thank you so much for bringing it to us. Appreciate it.

We're also learning new details of a damning new report on Andrew Cuomo's actions when he was governor of New York. On Friday the U.S. Justice Department concluded that Cuomo sexually harassed multiple state employees. The department also found that his senior staff not only failed to report the incidents but also retaliated against some of the women. The DOJ findings support many of the claims from the damaging 2021 misconduct report from New York Attorney General Letitia James which ultimately led to his resignation. A spokesperson for Cuomo responded saying the Justice Department's work isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

A dozen workers at the U.N. aid agency in Gaza were fired after Israel alleged they had a role in the October 7th attacks.

[14:20:00]

How that could potentially complicate talks for release of hostages in Gaza. We'll go live to the region for the latest.

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WHITFIELD: The United Kingdom and Finland are joining a growing list of countries saying they are temporarily pausing funding to the U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees. The announcement comes after Israel accused some of the agency's staff of being involved in the October 7th attacks. Twelve members of the U.N. agency staff have been fired, and there is now an investigation into the allegations. The U.S., Italy, and Australia are also among countries suspending their funding. Israel says it won't allow the U.N. agency to operate in post-war Gaza.

Let's bring in Gershon Baskin. He is a former hostage negotiator. Great to see you. So will these accusations complicate talks for any other hostage release deals?

[14:25:05]

GERSHON BASKIN, FORMER HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR: I don't think it's directly connected to the hostage release deals. It is definitely connected to all the thinking and talking about the day after the war in Gaza. The United Nation agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, which was created after the establishment of Israel 75 years ago is a unique agency within the U.N. system. It is the only refugee agency specifically for Palestinian people. And there's a lot of criticism about its existence as one that sustains the refugee problem. Certainly, if we're going to be talking about a two-state solution and the creation or establishment and recognition of the state of Palestine, then there's no room for Palestinian refugee agency within the state of Palestine where these people will be citizens. But until there is a state of Palestine, there is a made it for such an agency, which has played a crucial role in supporting 80, 85 percent of people who live in Gaza who are children and grandchildren of refugees.

WHITFIELD: Do you believe there's credibility behind the accusations?

BASKIN: I think there is. I think that it's very difficult for anyone to exist in the Gaza Strip for the last 18 years and not have collaborated in some way with Hamas. Hamas is a very centralized organization. They impose themselves on everyone who lives there, and there's no doubt that the 30,000 Palestinian workers of the U.N. agency were under the watchful eye of Hamas and had to give in to whatever Hamas demands there were.

WHITFIELD: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under tremendous pressure to secure the release of the hostages. He's also facing criticism from allies and even some in his own cabinet over the war in Gaza. Is that potentially undermining his role in working to free the hostages?

BASKIN: Well, I think we all recognize that Netanyahu's days are numbered. When this war is over, there will be a national commission of inquiry into the failures that led to October 7th and the failures on October 7th itself, and the man at the top of the chain of command holds the key responsibility.

He is negotiating today, I think not in good faith, that he wants to prolong the war in order to postpone the national commission of inquiry. There are a lot of suspicion about his motives in governing right now, and I think that someone who's in his position, indicted, in trial for crimes of a suspected alleged crimes of corruption as well as being in a positions to run this war, that not everyone agrees with the direction that it's going, is very difficult to put this man in charge of the crucial issue of bringing back the hostages. That must be done, it is a moral responsibility, and yet Netanyahu is balking at the opportunities that might be there to do this.

WHITFIELD: Is it your feeling that the hostage release is secondary to the war in terms of Netanyahu, that he is not appealing to families enough about the importance of trying to release the hostages, instead focusing on ridding, eliminating Hamas?

BASKIN: Right. I think when we say the hostages can't wait and the war effort can wait, Israel can finish the job of removing Hamas's ability to govern and threaten Israel after the hostages are home, every day that the hostages are in Gaza is a risk to their lives. And of the 136 hostages that we believe that Hamas is holding, it is suspected that less than 100 of them are alive. And more could die every day either as a result of the Israeli bombing or executions done by Hamas itself.

WHITFIELD: And then long term, is a two-state solution the only way to a lasting peace? Do you believe it's obtainable?

BASKIN: I think it really will depend now on the international community. I noted that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used to say the parties have to want it more than us. That's no longer the case today when this war has spilled over to the rest of the region and endangers global security. And when President Biden says that he's committed to the two-state solution, I think it's time after 30 years of talking about a two-state solution that the United States formally recognize the state of Palestine. How can we talk about a two-state solution when only one of the states is recognized? There are 139 countries in the United Nations that recognize the state of Palestine. It's time for the big ones, the OECD countries led by the United States, to do the same because we have to make Palestine real for the Palestinians if we're going to fight Hamas.

[14:30:00]

Fighting the ideology of Hamas means giving the Palestinians the hope that they will eventually, soon succeed in achieving freedom and dignity.

WHITFIELD: Gershon Baskin, we'll leave it there. Thank you so much for your time and expertise. Appreciate it.

BASKIN: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Still to come, your favorite museum may start closing or covering Native American artifacts. Why museums across the country are reevaluating how indigenous artifacts are displayed.

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WHITFIELD: New regulations under the Biden administration have museums nationwide closing or adapting exhibits that feature indigenous artifacts. New federal government regulations now require a consultation, collaboration, and in some cases consent from descendants of Indian tribes or native Hawaiian organizations. [14:35:05]

And in response, the American Museum of Natural History closed two halls that feature such objects. CNN's Gloria Pazmino joining me from outside the museum in New York. Gloria, what happens now what those exhibits are closed?

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's going to take a little bit of time to find out, Fred.

And I just want to mention the American Natural Museum of History is just one of the most iconic buildings certainly here in New York City, but really all around the world. It's one of the most visited in the world, attracting more than 4 million people every single year. So the fact that the museum is making this change actually sends a pretty major signal to the rest of the field.

Now here's what's happening. As you said, today the museum has closed two major galleries dedicated to the eastern woodlands and the great plains. Now, these galleries house several items, including Native American cultural items. And they are now going to be closed to the public. You can't walk through those galleries anymore. And so many of the display cases have been covered. We actually asked to go inside of the museum to get some video of these display cases, but they didn't let us. The whole idea here is to no longer display or show off these items.

Now, why is this happening? You mention the federal rules that are going into the -- into effect. And what these rules require is that museums and federal agencies now have to consult and obtain informed consent from descendants, tribes, or native Hawaiian organizations before displaying or researching human remains or cultural items.

Now, this is actually an update to a law that's been on the books since the 1990s. That's the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. But for many years there's been a lot of criticism that this law did not center the voices and experiences of the nations or of indigenous people to decide how these objects should be displayed. Take a listen to the museum president who spoke to our Victor Blackwell this morning talking about what's behind this change.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN DECATUR, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: The intent of the regulations, and I think the intent of this process, is to make sure that the voices of indigenous peoples have a say both in how their stories are told in museums and participate actively in the presentation of their narratives in museums.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: So it's not just this museum here in New York City, but also other major organizations around the country, including the Field Museum in Chicago, the Denver Museum, as well as the Cleveland Museum. All of them have taken measures to either remove or cover up their displays as they begin this process of engaging with the nations and indigenous people and bring them into the process of deciding where some of these items actually belong.

And of course, the question here, Fred, is whether or not we are going to be able to see or have access to some of these items, many of them which, of course, provide an educational purpose to people who are visiting the museum. The idea is that they will go through that process. Some of the exhibits may come back, but some of them might not after they are returned to their rightful owners, something that was acknowledged in that -- in a letter by the president sent to his staff here yesterday.

WHITFIELD: All right, Gloria Pazmino in New York, thanks so much.

Camels and zebras and a mini horse, oh, my. Drivers along an Indiana highway had a pretty unusual sight overnight after a truck carrying the animals caught fire, shutting down the traffic. But thankfully, none of the animals were injured. It happened along Interstate 69 north of Marion, Indiana, about 80 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The Grant County sheriff's office responded after the trailer that was carrying the animals caught fire. And officers captured these images after all the animals were safely rescued. And they gave them some hay to snack on, which seems to pair nicely with the grass, as you see right here, before loading the animals back up for transport.

State police told CNN affiliate WISH-TV, Wish T.V., that the fire was likely caused by an equipment failure. The first responders posted the incident on Facebook, reassuring Hoosiers that no harm came to those furry friends, and the northbound lane had eventually reopened. Oh, and a camel, can't forget that. What a sight.

[14:40:03]

All right, still to come, Arizona Republican Chairman Jeff DeWit is out after leaked audio appeared to show him trying to convince Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake not to run. How Donald Trump is getting involved in the swing state scandal, next.

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WHITFIELD: He's not even in office, but he is politically influential. Former President Donald Trump is throwing his support behind conservative election activist Gina Swoboda to head the Arizona GOP. This after leaked audio surfaced of former chairman Jeff DeWit trying to convince Kari Lake not to run for the U.S. Senate seat.

[14:45:05]

DeWit has since stepped down amid the controversy, claiming he was set up by Lake. Here to discuss is Ronald Hansen, national political reporter for "The Arizona Republic." Ronald, OK, lots of scandal here. What are you learning?

RONALD HANSEN, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, ARIZONA REPUBLIC: This is once again sort of a mess that feels like the Republican Party is struggling to get on the same page in trying to move forward. This is really poor timing on their part to have to be choosing a new chair under these circumstances, facing the important races that they have from the White House, yes, but also a U.S. Senate race, some competitive House races, and the Arizona legislature, as well. The party seems to be sort of in chaos.

WHITFIELD: Oh, yes. And so at issue, this recording where Lake even says in the recording of like, you know, you're asking me to throw the race type of thing. So what's behind this whole recording? Does anyone know now the source of the recording. And DeWit is saying it was edited, and so it's not exactly -- it's not representative of everything he had to say truthfully and honestly? What's the scoop?

HANSEN: You know, Kari Lake took to an online streaming half-hour question-and-answer session after this story broke. It was sort of evident that this was a recording she made. This is something that is not a surprise to the media here in Arizona. We have known that she records all her contacts, it seems, with certainly important officials, and Jeff DeWit would have qualified under that. It seems that it was also probably a video, at least the way that Lake described it repeatedly. So she's had this in her possession and just chose the time to unveil it.

WHITFIELD: OK, so then Donald Trump was going to attend a fundraiser hosted by the Arizona GOP. He's since backed out. Is it because of this scandal?

HANSEN: Mr. Trump has been busy doing other things, as well. Of course, this week he had the civil trial that was ongoing. I think that it would have been very difficult to have the president come to Arizona under these circumstances. The purpose of his visit was to raise money for the party, and the party seems to have had to take a major time out.

WHITFIELD: Oh, OK. So then what about for Kari Lake, what's next for her and the Arizona GOP given all of this?

HANSEN: In light of what Donald Trump did yesterday in sort of selecting who he wants to have as the party's chair, the party has to formalize that wish. It's something that Kari Lake approved of along with other very influential, important Republicans across the state. And so it's a matter of how quickly the party falls into line. And her campaign, again, I think the genesis of this, she want control and loyalty of a party that she needs to have fully behind her for her Senate run.

WHITFIELD: All so fascinating. Ronald Hansen, thanks so much. Good to see you.

HANSEN: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: Still to come, major shakeups in the football world. Why everyone is talking about Jim Harbaugh's return to the NFL.

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[14:52:57]

WHITFIELD: All right, let's talk a little tennis, shall we? Aryna Sabalenka clenched her second straight Australian Open title today in dominating fashion. The number two women's player dismantled China's Zheng Qinwen in straight sets, six to three, and six to two. The win caps off an impressive two-week run for Sabalenka. The 25-year-old Belarusian swept aside every opponent in the tournament in which she didn't drop a single set. Sabalenka is the first player to win the Australian Open in back-to-back years since Victoria Azarenka did so in 2012 and 2013.

Now to football. Just days after winning college football's national championship, Jim Harbaugh walks away from the University of Michigan and back into the NFL. Harbaugh will return to the NFL as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. He previously played quarterback for the team in 1999. Oh, what a way to go home again.

Joining me right now is "Bleacher Report" college football reporter Morgan Moriarty. Morgan, great to see you. This is a beautiful homecoming, isn't it? And he is kind of getting his wish again to go back to the NFL.

MORGAN MORIARTY, "BLEACHER REPORT" COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORTER: Yes. So Harbaugh's biggest goal, he hasn't won a Super Bowl yet. That's kind of the one thing missing from his trophy case.

WHITFIELD: Who doesn't want that?

(LAUGHTER)

MORIARTY: Right. This is the one thing he hasn't done as a player or a coach in the NFL. But this is a great hire for the Chargers. He has won everywhere that he has been, starting at Stanford when he inherited a one and 11 program. When he left in 2010, they finished 12 and one, won the Orange Bowl. Then he goes to the NFL, three straight NFC championship titles, a Super Bowl berth in 2012. He fell short to the Ravens that year. His brother, John Harbaugh, coached against him in that game.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh.

MORIARTY: And during that season, that was when Colin Kaepernick was the quarterback, and he was really running a duel-threat running quarterback system before it was the norm in the NFL and college football. And then he goes to Michigan, six double-digit win seasons with the Wolverines.

[14:55:02]

And to go out undefeated, first national title since 1997, what a way to go out.

WHITFIELD: That's impressive, I know. And even despite some hiccups with Michigan, right? With the whole recruiting problems, et cetera, but I guess seemingly he escapes that kind of unscathed. He is able to move on, but, as you say, it's kind of like obtaining or clenching a portion of a dream. It would be nice if they would go to the Super Bowl, but first we've got to get through his first season once he gets there. MORIARTY: And I think for the Chargers they're in a really good spot to win -- not win a Super Bowl next year, I'm not going to say that, obviously. Especially, they have to play Kansas City and Pat Mahomes every year in that division in the AFC west. That doesn't sound fun. But Harbough knows that that's what he is up against. And he has been able to win big really early on wherever he has been.

And I think with Justin Herbert as quarterback, with all the openings that were, eight NFL openings this cycle, and Harbaugh, I think, picked the Chargers because they have a proven guy like Herbert under center. His record as a starter isn't great, 30 and 32. But he is really talented, and Harbaugh has been able to develop some quarterbacks in the past. What he has done with J.J. McCarthy the last couple years is really, really impressive.

WHITFIELD: Room for improvement. Who doesn't want that kind of challenge.

And then Michigan, meantime, is wasting no time promoting offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to replace Harbaugh. So what do you think about that?

MORIARTY: Yes, it makes a ton of sense. This was something that was expected for a few days. He served as an interim head coach for four games this past season, won every single one. He has been at Michigan since 2018. So he understands the culture, what it takes to win. Recruiting-wise, that also helps because he knows the kids that they're going to sign next month with early signing day and then moving on the years to come.

The other thing is, it's a lot cheaper to hire a first-time head coach. His buyout if it doesn't work out three or four years down the line, it won't be as much as some of the other big-name coaches that they could have gone after. It's also really late in the coaching carousel cycle to go after a big name like that.

So it's exciting. Any time a black head coach is named the head coach of power five level is a win. So really, really a great situation for Michigan, and we'll see if it works out.

WHITFIELD: It is really exciting. College ball, we were talking about this before we came on the air, college ball has really, I guess, risen to another level of interest. And sometimes as you are watching -- look, I'm a neophyte in terms of watching it all, but sometimes in watching it, it seems like there is becoming a difficult distinction of seeing what's pro, what's up and coming college, because some of these college players, some of the college coaching is just so unbelievably impressive. And it has just reaching new heights.

MORIARTY: Yes, and for Moore, it will be a little bit of a rebuilding year for Michigan just this year. A lot of the core players that they had, J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, Junior Colson, their leading tackler, they're all going to the NFL. And then you deal with USC, UCLA, Washington, Oregon, they're all joining the Big Ten starting in 2024. Ohio State looks really, really good with recruiting in the transfer portal. So it will be a rebuilding year, but the hire is great. It makes a lot of sense, and we'll see how it works out.

WHITFIELD: All so exciting, and this all still ahead of big playoff weekend and around the corner Super Bowl. So it all kind of blends together for me.

MORIARTY: Can't wait.

WHITFIELD: But it's great and very exciting. Morgan Moriarty, thank you so much.

MORIARTY: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Good to see you.

A fascinating episode of "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper" this Sunday. Alisyn Camerota looks at the booming business of the world's largest private boats. These aren't just any ordinary boats. Some of them are bigger than a football field, and many outfitted with pools, discos, spas, and the highest level of service imaginable. And today there are more of them than ever before.

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ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: They are a higher caliber of wealth that even a beautiful penthouse apartment, a private plane. That's all chump change compared to these.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the end, expensive art is perhaps $200 million for a Warhol. The most expensive apartment ever sold in New York city was $240 million. In yacht terms, that's pretty ordinary money.

Actually, these things can become $300, $400, $500 million. A giga- yacht, in the end, is the most expensive thing that humans have figured out how to own.

CAMEROTA: Giga-yachts are the largest kind of superyacht. We'll show you the different sizes, but on board it seems no expense is spared. We saw mosaics made of Italian leather, a working spa complete with a hair and nail salon, and massage rooms. Dive centers with walls that open on to the ocean, wooden flooring made from a 16th century monastery, glass-encased pools to swim laps, and a swimming pool in a bedroom ceiling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A sort of floating city. And Alisyn takes us along for the ride, an all new episode of "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper", one whole hour, one whole story, airs tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. eastern and pacific right here on CNN.