Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

CNN International: Biden and Trump Dominate Super Tuesday Contests; Final Votes Being Counted After Super Tuesday Primaries; China Sets Growth Target of Around 5 Percent for 2024. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired March 06, 2024 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Volodymyr Zelenskyy said they took 15 fighter jets out of the sky in February alone. They are doing things that nobody felt they could do at the start of the war, but the one thing they're not able to do right now is hold key parts of the Donbass front line because they haven't got the munitions they need from the West.

And that is because of the hold-up in Republican-held Congress. No sign of that changing at all, and we hear from Ukrainian fighters on the front line here that it's simply a matter of life and death until that changes. And already the resurgence of Russia is changing the front-line calculus daily.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, eastern Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BIANCA NOBILO, CNN ANCHOR: The head of Russia's foreign intelligence service says opposition figure Alexei Navalny died his own death -- that's a quote -- in prison as pressure builds on the Kremlin to provide answers about what happened.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Navalny, a long-time critic of the Russian president, died unexpectedly in prison last month. More than 40 countries, including the U.S., have blamed Vladimir Putin for his death and are calling for an independent investigation. The Kremlin denies any involvement.

And an American detained in Russia says Navalny's death is extremely worrying for him.

NOBILO: Paul Whelan was arrested in Moscow in 2018 and is serving a 16-year prison sentence on espionage charges, which he vehemently denies. He spoke exclusively to CNN as he was spending his 54th birthday in prison.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL WHELAN, AMERICAN DETAINED IN RUSSIA: I can't say too much for obvious reasons, but one thing I will say is that if they can get to him, they can get to me. And what that means is, if they are willing to face the repercussions from the world for doing in somebody like Navalny, they are not going to think twice about doing in someone like me and then blaming the United States for not bothering to get me back in five years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: The U.S. State Department says Whelan has been wrongfully detained.

Still ahead, Super Tuesday has come and gone in the U.S., but what do the results mean for the rest of the campaign season? We'll discuss.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NOBILO: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. If you're just joining us, here are some of today's top stories.

[04:35:00]

Farmers in India are intensifying their protests with plans to enter the capital, New Delhi, in large numbers, leading to heightened security there. Many farmers have spent months demanding higher prices for their crops.

And U.S. Senator Bob Menendez is facing a dozen new criminal charges, including conspiracy and obstruction in an alleged years-long bribery scheme. Prosecutors say that the New Jersey Democrat and his wife received gold bars, cash and other luxury gifts in exchange for favors for three businessmen, as well as the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Menendez denies any wrongdoing.

Japan's Mount Fuji is putting new regulations in place for climbers amid concerns about overcrowding litter and hikers without proper attire. The UNESCO World Heritage site will now charge $13 per climber there, and there will be a limit of 4,000 climbers a day.

FOSTER: Well, the votes from Super Tuesday are being tallied, and it appears U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump took big steps towards making their seemingly inevitable rematch official.

Trump rolled to victory in at least 12 of the 15 states holding contests on Tuesday. Nikki Haley kept him from a clean sweep by winning the Vermont primary, but Trump is clearly closing in on clinching his party's nomination.

Meanwhile, President Biden has shown that he has the backing of his party's rank and file. He won every contest on Super Tuesday except for American Samoa. A Biden campaign official brushed off the loss, calling it silly news.

Meanwhile, Trump spoke to supporters in Florida after the results came in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT, 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our cities are choking to death, our states are dying, and frankly, our country is dying, and we're going to make America great again, greater than ever before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Texas is home to the second highest number of delegates, and they're going to Donald Trump as well. His firm grip on the state's Republican Party shows just how much it's changed, as CNN's Ed Lavandera explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There are 161 delegates up for grabs here in Texas, and it is the second largest number of delegates that could be won by political candidates on this Super Tuesday, and CNN is projecting that Donald Trump has won the Texas Republican primary. And it is, you know, what we heard over and over from voters at this polling location in El Paso, Texas. It's immigration and the economy very much top of mind.

But Trump's commanding performance on this election day really kind of speaks to just how much the Texas Republican Party has changed in recent years.

Of course, this was home to George Bush, senior and junior. They were the ones that kind of dominated the political landscape here in the state for so long, and Nikki Haley kind of represented that wing of the Republican Party here.

But it is clearly a Republican Party that has changed dramatically. Donald Trump really influencing much of what has happened here in the state with a dominating performance tonight with a victory over Nikki Haley.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, El Paso, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NOBILO: Poll workers are counting the ballots in California right now, and CNN's Veronica Miracle has that story for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's very busy here at this election center here in Santa Clara County. As you can see, all of the activity behind me. As soon as the polls closed, all of the votes from the 104 voting centers all over the county, they were brought here by the carload, and you can see that's exactly what these workers are unpacking vote by vote. They're counting and sorting all of these ballots, which will be counted starting tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, this room was also very busy, as they were counting all of the vote by mail ballots, because on average, 88 percent of Californians vote by mail, and so a lot of that was happening here today.

Now, we did see some voters who did come to the polls. There was not a whole lot that came in person, but those that we did speak to really talked about the economy as being the most important thing right now.

No surprise, as here in the state of California, it has one of the nation's highest living costs, and many people also spoke to us about the presidential race being incredibly important.

One man saying he cannot fathom, you know, a future where the former President Donald Trump is reelected, so he wanted to make his voice heard by voting for President Biden today. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Joining us, Thomas Gift, director of the Center on U.S. Politics at University College of London. Were you up late watching every twist and turn of this election?

THOMAS GIFT, DIRECTOR, CENTER ON U.S. POLITICS, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LONDON: Actually, Max, I went to bed early, because I knew how it would end.

FOSTER: Well, that's the point, isn't it?

GIFT: Absolutely. I mean, Donald Trump, since the very outset, has been framing himself as the inevitable nominee, and he was absolutely right.

I mean, Donald Trump has completely remade the party in his image. Go back to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, there was absolutely no suspense. We knew how this party was going to end, and we saw it last night.

[04:40:00]

NOBILO: In terms of warning signs for Trump, though, obviously, Haley had this nice sort of surprise pyrrhic victory, really, in Vermont. But could it be an issue for Trump that a chunk of Republican voters who do support Haley might not switch to him?

GIFT: Well, Bianca, I certainly think that there's a fraction of Republican voters who are not going to turn out for Donald Trump, or at the very least, are going to be reluctant to do so. And so the concern for him is that they're either going to stay home on election day, or they're potentially even going to support a third-party candidate.

Trump is particularly having challenges with upscale suburban voters, with women, and making inroads with minorities as well. So it's not all good news for Donald Trump, you know, despite the fact that he's winning by 50 percent, 60 percent, 70 percent in some of these states. There's still 20 percent to 30 percent of Republicans that seem to be never-Trumpers.

FOSTER: So this is the beginning of the election campaign, really, when you see Trump only talking about Biden, going in for the kill there. Didn't see much of Biden, did we?

GIFT: No. I mean, I think that this is really where we see the tip-off of the general election, and both candidates are going to be pivoting more toward the center.

But for Donald Trump in particular, it's hard for him to make that shift, simply because his entire narrative up until this point has been about mobilizing the base. It's been taking hard-right positions, ensuring that the right-wing is energized. So the extent to which he's able to attack toward the center is going to be a little bit more challenging for Joe Biden.

But both of these candidates are incredibly unpopular right now. 70 percent of Americans don't want to see this rematch. It's the rematch from hell, but this is what we're getting.

NOBILO: And what about the uncommitted voters on the Democratic side as well, and the issue that Israel and Gaza have become some key constituencies when it comes to Biden being able to not just sort of have their support, but energize the base that you're talking about, making sure that people actually go and vote rather than just deciding not to vote at all?

GIFT: Well, we saw about 100,000 voters in Michigan pledge uncommitted. We actually saw a higher fraction of that last night in Minnesota. And this is an issue, right? In an election that's going to be determined in a handful of swing states by a few percentage points, any lack of enthusiasm on the part of the base has to be a concern.

I don't think that this is the key issue, though, Bianca. Because if you look at Biden's poll numbers, they have stayed more or less flat going back all the way to October 7th. You also see some others in his party, like John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who have taken a very hardline position in favor of Israel, and his poll numbers have never been higher. So I think Democrats like to look for a scapegoat and think that this is the culprit, but the reality is his unpopularity is much more pervasive than that.

FOSTER: You're talking about how they're both moving more to the center, or they need to move more to the center. There's not actually a huge amount of difference between the two sets of policies, are there? I'm just wondering what people around the world can see in terms of a change of foreign policy, for example, depending on who gets in ultimately.

GIFT: Yes, I actually think on issues like China, for example, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, there's not a whole lot of daylight. There's a general consensus that they're going to take a tough on Beijing approach.

Certainly, though, we do see some differences, like, for example, in Ukraine, where the president has been very stalwart in his support of more funding for Kyiv, whereas Trump said that he would end that war on day one by essentially just snapping his fingers. So there are some big foreign policy challenges.

Domestically, of course, there are some issues on immigration, on abortion, on health care and education.

But I really think, Max, that this election is going to come down to personalities. You basically have two candidates who are running as de facto incumbents. And so everybody kind of knows what they're getting with these two. And I don't know if there's a whole lot of room for persuasion.

NOBILO: Did we learn anything new from exit polls in terms of what issues are important? I agree with what you're saying about personality.

But obviously, the Democrats, when they were setting out their initial stall, were obviously focusing on things like abortion, defending democratic values. Is there any indication that those issues are actually resonating in a way which is going to help them electorally?

GIFT: Well, I think abortion is the gift that keeps on giving for Democrats. And that certainly is a concern, particularly among suburban women. And I do think that that's going to be a drag on the Republican Party generally heading into November.

Donald Trump has privately talked about a 16-week abortion ban, trying to sort of tack toward the center on this issue, where he's still kind of giving a bone to the hard right, but saying that he is still trying to appeal to centrists.

But generally, I think the other issue that continues to be the weight around the neck of Joe Biden is the economy. Certainly, we've seen a stock market that's booming.

[04:45:00]

We've seen a stock market that's booming. We've seen inflation plateau. But at the same time, I think Americans still look at the prices of their grocery bills and say that this is too high compared to what we had in 2020. So this is a big issue for Biden.

FOSTER: OK. Thomas, thank you so much for coming in today.

GIFT: Thank you.

NOBILO: Federal aviation authorities are investigating after a small plane made an emergency landing in Washington state. You can see the plane drifting in the wind as a parachute keeps it from free-falling. Police told CNN the plane suffered some sort of issue, forcing the landing.

FOSTER: Authorities found the plane in a swampy area. Neither the flight instructor nor the student on board were hurt. No one -- no word yet on what actually went wrong. We're told the plane was not at a risk of catching fire.

Louisiana is now the fourth U.S. state to approve the use of nitrogen hypoxia in executions.

NOBILO: Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill into law on Tuesday, allowing the state to execute prisoners with the method. The bill also authorized the use of electrocution for the first time since 1991. Louisiana's approval comes after Alabama became the first state to ever use nitrogen gas in an execution last month. Opponents say it could lead to excessive pain or even torture.

FOSTER: In Pakistan, at least 35 people have died and dozens are injured after heavy rain and snowfall.

NOBILO: Roads have been blocked and some houses buried during this cold spell. A meteorologist says the intense cold experienced during the past five days was rare for March. Pakistan's northwest region was the hardest hit.

Rupert Murdoch is pulling his right-wing channel, "TalkTV," off British Airwaves. The media mogul launched the Opinion Focus network just two years ago, hoping to replicate the success of Fox News but in the U.K. "TalkTV" will stop broadcasting in a few months' time and switch to online only.

FOSTER: The decision comes weeks after political commentator Piers Morgan announced he was leaving TalkTV and taking show uncensored to YouTube, where he has more than 2 million subscribers.

Britain's King Charles, keeping up with his royal duties despite a cancer diagnosis last month that forced him to step away from his public role. On Tuesday, he sat down for a private audience with U.K. Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt at Buckingham Palace. That meeting coming before Hunt is set to deliver his budget statement to Parliament, which is today.

NOBILO: Ahead for you on the show, China's top brass reaches for the gold. Leaders in Beijing set an ambitious new target for the economy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Putting productivity front and center, China's political elite have been gathering for the annual National People's Congress.

NOBILO: Beijing has already set an ambitious growth target of around 5 percent as leaders work to restore confidence in the world's second largest economy.

NOBILO: Kristie is looking at that and probably wondering whether that's realistic.

[04:50:00]

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, not just me, investors all over the world and the economy is under so much pressure in China. President Xi Jinping is now a step forward and he's calling for China to unleash what he calls new quality productive forces.

And on top of that, just a few hours ago, we heard from China's top economic leaders at a press conference in Beijing at the National People's Congress. They are speaking out to try to restore confidence.

Now at the Congress, China set this ambitious growth target of around 5 percent this year, but no major stimulus was announced.

So analysts have been fearing that China, yes, it may have a target, but does it have a plan to get there? Now, one analyst at UBS says this, let's bring up the quote for you.

Quote: The growth target is OK, but the missing part is how they want to achieve that. What sort of stimulus is unclear for now? Unquote.

Now, this afternoon, we heard from China's top economic leaders and they address concerns about China's economic health. We heard from China's National Development and Reform Commission Chairman Zheng Shanjie. We have the quote for you. And this is what he said, sounding quite bullish.

He said, quote: It -- referring to the 5 percent growth target -- is a goal that can be achieved with a positive attitude and hard work. Unquote.

We also heard from China's central bank governor, and he added that China still has rich monetary policy tools at its disposal. So that was a strong suggestion that China might continue to cut rates.

During the Congress, Xi Jinping spoke to a delegation from Jiangsu province, and he used again this new catchphrase, his mantra, saying this. Words from Xi Jinping up on the screen.

He says: Developing new quality productive forces does not mean neglecting or abandoning traditional industries. He goes on to say: It is necessary to prevent a headlong rush into projects and the formation of industry bubbles.

Now, that term, new productive forces, that was coined by Xi Jinping late last year when he highlighted the need for a new growth model, new growth model based on science, technology and innovation.

But Xi Jinping, he may be putting the focus on future growth. But China today is facing a number of challenges that we continue to report on here on your news program. Talking about the property crisis, the demographic crisis with the low birth rate, weak spending, deflation, high youth unemployment, et cetera, et cetera. And the situation has gotten so bad, Max and Bianca, that China's economy has been called, quote, a drag on world output by the IMF.

So the plan set in Beijing this week is a plan that has global ramifications. Back to you guys.

FOSTER: Absolutely. Kristie, thank you so much for joining us with that from Hong Kong.

NOBILO: Still to come, the Oscars, it just stays away now. Hear what host Jimmy Kimmel is doing to prepare when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NOBILO: Former tennis world number one Simona Halep has been cleared to return to the sport. The two-time Grand Slam winner received a four-year ban last September for anti-doping rule violations. But the Court of Arbitration for Sport has found those violations were not intentional. So it's reduced the ban to nine months, applying it retroactively.

Halep issued a statement after the ruling saying, in part, I am and always have been a clean athlete.

Now to the stories in the spotlight for you. Comedian and late night host Jimmy Kimmel is preparing to host the Academy Awards on Sunday for the fourth time. And he's not too worried about messing it up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[04:55:00]

JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, 96TH ACADEMY AWARDS: I do my best. I always remember that this is a night that these actors and directors and writers, et cetera, have dreamed of for their whole lives. And the last thing I want to do is ruin it for them. But, you know, we also want to be funny.

I don't have talents, really. It's not like I have a secret love for dance. I am a, you know, I'll go out and tell some jokes. They'll either laugh or they won't. And then afterwards, everybody will say, you are terrible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Why would you do it?

NOBILO: Kimmel previously hosted Hollywood's Biggest Night in 2017, 2018 and just last year as well.

FOSTER: It's a tough gig, isn't it? It's stacked -- it's a stacked competition in multiple categories, including the award for best picture, possible winners. It's always guesswork.

The award darling so far, they have been "Oppenheimer," "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Barbie," distributed by Warner Brothers, which is part of our parent company.

A particular species of whale has been spotted in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in centuries.

NOBILO: An aerial survey team with the New England Aquarium spotted a grey whale 30 miles or about 48 kilometers south of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Grey whales are common in the North Pacific, but in the Atlantic, we thought that they were long gone. The whale disappeared from the Atlantic around the 18th century.

FOSTER: Can we prove that? Scientists say climate change is likely the reason for the whale's reappearance. The Northwest Passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans has regularly been ice-free in recent summers. Ten years after the death -- of his death, the fans of Colombian

writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez are celebrating the release of a new novel.

NOBILO: The posthumous book, "Until August," was written in 2004, but Garcia Marquez decided not to publish it.

He was best known for his novels "100 Years of Solitude" and "Love in the Time of Cholera." "Until August" is being released in Spanish today, March 6th, which is Garcia Marquez's birthday.

FOSTER: Thank you for joining us on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster.

NOBILO: And I'm Bianca Nobilo. CNN "THIS MORNING" is up next after a quick break.

[05:00:00]