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Trump Campaign Boasts Nearly $53 Million In Donations Since Verdict; Biden Details Three Phases Of Israeli Ceasefire Proposal; White House Could Announce Executive Action As Early As Tuesday; U.S. Abrams Tanks Struggle In Ukraine's War Zone; Biden Allows Ukraine To Strike Inside Russia With U.S. Weapons; NASA Says Starliner Will Not Launch Tomorrow; Emory Hospital Diverting Ambulances, Moving Some Patients Due To Atlanta Water Outage. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired June 01, 2024 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:46]

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hi, everyone. I'm Jessica Dean in Washington and we begin this hour with the latest developments here in the US and around the world.

The Trump campaign saying it has raised nearly $53 million since the former president and now convicted felon, Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in his hush money criminal case.

Trump painting himself as "a political prisoner" as he awaits his sentencing, July 11th. President Biden speaking out for the first time since the verdict came down, condemning Trump's false claim that the trial was rigged.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict.

Justice should be respected and we should never allow anyone to tear it down. It is as simple as that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: In the Middle East, the president hopes to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. On Friday, President Biden laying out a new Israeli proposal calling for a three-phase plan to end the war. It includes a ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages.

But even as the US and key negotiators in the Middle East like Qatar and Egypt call on Hamas to agree to that deal, Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister says the war will not end until Hamas is "eliminated."

And in Ukraine --

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

DEAN: Smoldering buildings following a Russian attack on Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv. Officials saying at least 12 people were injured, including eight children. This, after a series of Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy system, drones and missiles hitting several facilities in five different regions.

Joining us now, former Trump National Security adviser and former US Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton. We are very pleased to have you on tonight. There is a lot to get to. We've just laid out some of the topics.

Let's start first with your reaction to the former president's conviction. What did you think of that?

JOHN BOLTON, FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Well, I wouldn't have lost any sleep if this case had never been brought, and I certainly share the view many have said of the four indictments against Trump in terms of seriousness, this ranks number five.

But the case was brought. The prosecutor campaigned for the job of Manhattan District Attorney basically saying he was going to go after Trump, which raises an interesting question of democratic theory because he was elected and then did what he told the voters he was going to do.

There will be appeals, obviously, and questions of whether this is selective prosecution or malicious prosecution in New York. We will see what happens on appeal, but it seems to me the trial itself was fairly conducted. The New York law was applied and 12 citizens rendered 34 guilty verdicts and whatever Trump wants to say about why he was prosecuted, the case itself seems to me to be very hard to ignore.

And I think, for most Americans who don't follow politics, the way we do in Washington, when 12 of their fellow citizens convict somebody is a felon, that's going to have an impact.

DEAN: And so I will ask you, I want to follow up on two things that you said there. First of all, the Republicans that we've seen, people like Marco Rubio and others who come out and really said that the justice system, just attacked the justice system and questioned our judicial system, do you -- are you concerned that that undermines a tenant of our democracy with leaders like that attacking the justice system when you just said, look, this is 12 people that convicted their peer in a courtroom in a trial and then separately, do you support jail time for the former president?

BOLTON: Well, for decades, Republicans have been the party of law and order and I am very glad of that, and they've tried to prevent exactly the kinds of allegations that the entire justice system is racist or its this, or it is that or the other thing.

[18:05:06]

All of which call the integrity of a fundamental constitutional institution into question. I just -- I don't think because even if you believe, even if you believe everything that the critics say about the bringing of the indictment and the conduct of the case, that doesn't say that there are broader questions about the judicial system.

I think a great answer that people should look at is a series of tweets by Garry Kasparov, the former world chess champion and exile from the Soviet Union, who goes through why the criticism that some like Marco Rubio have levied is just wrong.

Again, look at Garry Kasparov's tweets for a real education.

DEAN: Okay. I want to talk about -- I do want to get to Russia, and I want to talk about Ukraine. Some of Trump's European allies have rallied around him. That includes Russia's Vladimir Putin. A Putin spokesperson said: "It is obvious that political rivals are being eliminated there." He is talking about here in the US -- "... through all legal and illegal means. This is visible to the whole world with the naked eye." Again, that's Putin spokesperson.

It is a bit ironic and rich that this is coming just months after Putin's own fiercest critic, Alexei Navalny died in a Siberian prison. What do you think of this comment from Putin's spokesperson?

BOLTON: Well, I know Dmitry Peskov. I had dealings with him and I want to say he is an extraordinarily accomplished propagandist, and this is just throwing another rock in the pool of the American political process.

It is probably the case that Putin wants Trump to be elected in November because he thinks he is an easy mark and he'd rather deal with him because he thinks he knows how to manipulate him.

But again, the Russian, Chinese, Iranian, North Korean efforts here are to call Americans' faith in our basic institutions into question. If they can disrupt our own faith in our system, if they can cause us to grow increasingly distant from one another, they win regardless of what particular candidate wins.

And I just think we need to focus on that and not lose sight of the threat that we face in the broader world from this kind of efforts to interfere in our political process.

DEAN: And you know, it is interesting you say that because I am thinking about the House Intelligence chairman, a Republican and others who come out and said essentially they do believe that Russian propaganda has infected part of their party, some people in their party that they here talking points from some of their colleagues.

Do you think that too? Does that concern you?

BOLTON: Well, it does concern me and it is not coming from fly-by- night sources. These are Republicans very well briefed on exactly what Russia's propaganda is and they see the influence right there in the house.

I think this is part of the general aberration that Donald Trump represents, that Republicans, some Republicans have forgotten that we are a party of conservative principles. That is our philosophy. We are not a cult of personality. DEAN: And just to put a bow on talking about Trump and this trial, do you support jail time for him? What do you think about potential jail time for a former president of the United States?

BOLTON: You know, it wouldn't bother me, but I know what Trump's reaction would be. It would be one more indication of "Poor Donald Trump. Everybody picks on him. It is just so unfair."

I think the objective -- I am not going to vote for either Trump or Biden, but I certainly think one objective here should be to make sure Donald Trump is not president again, and I don't want the lawfare advocates and their zeal just to feel good and signal their virtue to get jail time if it helps elect him. I'll be just that straight about it.

DEAN: Do we write somebody in?

BOLTON: I wrote in Dick Cheney in 2020 and I am going to write him in again.

DEAN: All right, let's turn to the Middle East and talk about that for a minute. This proposal that the president laid out yesterday offered by Israel to Hamas, what makes this different? And do you think it has a better chance of working this time?

The president obviously trying to put a tremendous amount of public pressure on Hamas right now.

BOLTON: Well, I think the pressure is more on Israel, frankly. I mean, I think this is motivated -- the White House announcement is motivated by their own domestic, political situation. They want this conflict ended, or at least put on ice before November.

I think that's a huge mistake. I think Israel's reasonable implementation of its right of self-defense includes eliminating Hamas, and every day that goes by strengthens Hamas' position, increases the risk of higher Israeli casualties.

[18:10:06]

And doesn't at all come close to what the real problem is here, which is not what is going on in Gaza because, it is what is going on in Tehran where the ayatollahs are continuing to implement what they themselves called the ring of fire strategy around Israel at a time when the Biden administration unbelievably is trying to pressure our European allies from running a strong resolution against Iran's nuclear program at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

This is the world turned upside down. So I think Netanyahu has made clear, this ceasefire is dead on arrival, and the only thing -- the only question have is why they haven't gone further into Rafah and done more conclusively to bring about Hamas' elimination because there is no peaceful answer to Gaza until Hamas is no more.

DEAN: Mr. Ambassador, we've had various military analysts on and others and they have said in their opinion that eliminating Hamas, wiping them off the face of the Earth, which is what they say the objective is, that until that is reached, as you just mentioned, the prime minister says, we are going to continue this war, is impossible, that you can't do that.

But it sounds like you think is a possibility and that -- but at what cost is acceptable do you think?

BOLTON: Well, you know, if you don't get every one of them, it would still be good if you got 99 percent of them if you couldn't get 99 percent of them, it would be good if you got 98 percent of them.

I don't buy the argument that you can't try to eliminate the threat.

We wanted to eliminate the threat of Naziism in World War II, among other things, and we did.

DEAN: So, what do you think? You think that they should continue to press on in Rafah despite the pressure from the US and internationally? That that is their only option to succeed here.

BOLTON: Well, if they had gone against Hamas and the tunnels under Rafah three or four months ago, we would be way beyond this and onto a different subject. The fact is that by slowing Israel down by trying to get them to stop. Objectively, that is a pro-Hamas outcome because it saves the leadership of Hamas and some at least publicly unknown quantity of their fighting capabilities.

The Israelis have previously said there are four battalions under Rafah. I don't know what today's count is, but the leadership is still down there and that is the head of the snake that certainly deserves to be eliminated.

DEAN: All right, let us also talk about Ukraine.

President Biden has now authorized Ukraine to carry out these limited strikes inside Russia using US defense weapons. Do you think that's going to make a difference? And what kind of difference might it make?

BOLTON: Well, I think it can make a difference. I think it is about two years too late unfortunately, and part of the non-strategic way that we and other NATO allies have assisted Ukraine, it has been a continuing source of difficulty for Ukraine.

It has dragged the war out. It has allowed Russia to get some recently, some modest gains and I am very worried that Putin at some point here again before our election could offer a ceasefire and open negotiations that the Europeans would snap up, and I am afraid the Biden administration would snap up, too to get this other ongoing war off the front pages before the November election.

I am worried about what happens even more if Trump wins given his relationship with Putin. But I think, we have not carried this struggle out as effectively as we could have, unfortunately.

DEAN: And is that to -- because the world is watching, China is watching as it keeps its eye on Taiwan to see how this all plays out. BOLTON: Well exactly. And I think if the United States and the West as a whole doesn't stand up for Ukraine to the point that we achieve the objective, I believe every NATO member has endorsed, which is a restoration of Ukraine's full sovereignty and territorial integrity, that China will draw the conclusion that if the US isn't willing to assist the defense of a nation in Eastern Europe, it is not going to come to Taiwan's defense.

DEAN: All right, John Bolton, thanks so much for your time. We really appreciate it.

BOLTON: Glad to be with you.

DEAN: Thanks.

Ahead, how Republicans and Democrats alike are looking to leverage former President Trump's historic conviction as the race for the White House appears to be razor-thin.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:19:21]

DEAN: President Biden now responding to the guilty verdict passed down in New York against Donald Trump. Biden fiercely disputing Trump's accusation his prosecution was somehow rigged, calling Trump's words reckless and dangerous.

Priscilla Alvarez with me now and Priscilla, what is the latest from the Biden campaign from the White House on this because they had been really staying away from this issue?

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, and they are certainly still trying to strike a very delicate balance, and that came through in the president's remarks yesterday where he made the point that no one is above the law. But generally, he was quite technical in framing what occurred and walking through the American justice system, defending its integrity and also saying that it is irresponsible to call a process rigged.

Remember, the president came out shortly after we heard from former President Donald Trump. Take a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: It's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[18:20:21]

ALVAREZ: Now, of course, over the course of the trial, the White House remained largely silent. In fact, right after the verdict was reached, it was the campaign that was really leading the charge in its statement and making clear that at the end of the day, this is going to be a decision that needs to be made at the ballot box, not the courtroom.

That is what the campaign message has been, and frankly, they don't think that this is going to change the election calculus in a big way at this point.

The question remains though, how they use this, if at all moving forward.

DEAN: Right, and I also want to ask you about your new reporting.

You've learned that the White House is reaching out to mayors of cities along the US-Mexico border potentially to join them for an announcement on an executive order.

ALVAREZ: Yes. Sources telling me that the White House is preparing to roll out this executive action that would essentially limit the ability of migrants to seek asylum at the US southern border. That is something that is expected next week.

I am now learning from sources that the White House has been reaching out to border mayors to come here to the White House so that they can flank President Biden as he makes this announcement.

Now, of course, the president has met with border mayors over the course of his administration, but this is going to mark a moment, should they make this announcement on Tuesday where the administration has really evolved on the issue of border security.

What they're trying to do here is also happening just before the first presidential debate in trying to preempt his Republican rival on one of his key campaign issues and try to flip the script on Republicans after they walked away from that failed bipartisan border bill.

So this executive action is quite controversial if you're talking to immigration advocates. There are others who say this type of action is needed to clamp down on unlawful border crossings, but what its certainly marks is a change in the way that the White House has talked about this issue by being far more forceful and aggressive on border security.

DEAN: Right, and you're putting it all together with that context as we are close to the debate and with the election looming.

Priscilla Alvarez, great to see you. Thanks so much.

And with us now is CNN political analyst, Julian Zelizer, a historian and professor at Princeton University. Great to have you here in the studio with us.

JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: It's nice to be here.

DEAN: I think it is fair to say we've seen a lot of comments from Republican lawmakers that are meant to appeal directly to former President Trump. We've seen them call out the judicial system. We've seen, not to say they won't on its face accept the election results, things like that. What do you make of the GOP, these elected leaders in the GOP doing this sort of thing?

ZELIZER: It is predictable. We've now seen it with two impeachments, with an effort to overturn the election, and with all four indictments. There is usually a moment of outrage or venting, but then they rally around the president and embrace his rhetoric. This time they generally skipped the outrage and went right to rallying around him.

So this is where modern Republican politics have landed and there is little distance between the former president and the rest of the party.

DEAN: As somebody who studies history, presidential history at that, help us put into context this trial of a former American president, potential jail time, what that could mean, if he does or doesn't go to jail. Where this kind of sits in the broader piece of American history?

ZELIZER: Well, it is obviously not something we've seen before. Look, there are rare elements about Trump's run. We had Grover Cleveland who ran out after losing in 1892. We have unprecedented situation here.

We haven't had a convicted felon at the head of one of the two major political parties. And then we have what is this moment in history for the GOP? What has happened to the party of Lincoln? To the party of Reagan? Where does it stand now?

This becomes yet another test of what the party is willing to tolerate and thus far, it seems they will tolerate a lot.

DEAN: It is interesting. We just had Ambassador John Bolton on and he made the comment that the Republicans were the party of law and order for years and years and years, and they were making the case that the justice system is fair. That it is righteous.

And now they have flipped, not only have they flipped that, but they could potentially be -- they are uniting behind a convicted felon that could potentially be serving jail time.

ZELIZER: No. I mean, look, since Richard Nixon was president in the late 60s and early 70s, that was a central theme of the GOP. That was a way they wanted to distinguish themselves from the Democrats, rightly or wrongly. But now, it is harder to make that case.

You not only have someone who has been found guilty, but someone who consistently rails against the institutions of justice which is what President Biden was referring to as illegitimate and something that can't be trusted anymore.

So the party has a problem with one of its central arguments.

DEAN: And we heard from Speaker Mike Johnson who says he wants the Supreme Court to get involved.

[18:25:10]

I think we have the clip. We can listen to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): I do believe the Supreme Court should step. I think that the justices on the court, I know many of them personally, I think they are deeply concerned about that as we are.

So I think they will set this straight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: So within what kind of ripple effects might that potentially have?

ZELIZER: Well, you know, it would make Bush v. Gore look like nothing given how explosive that would be. It is unclear to me how that would happen and --

DEAN: But legally, yes. yes.

ZELIZER: Legally.

DEAN: Logistically and legally, yes.

ZELIZER: I think the last thing the Supreme Court wants to do is to get involved. They are already on the cusp of making a big decision on presidential immunity and so this would just inflame the tensions even more.

DEAN: And where are the American people when it comes to legal troubles for their elected officials? Where have they historically been in terms of accepting someone that is not just in legal trouble, but convicted at this point?

ZELIZER: Well, we are going to see where they are in this. They've never had this. They've only had theoretical arguments, but look, go back to 1974 when Richard Nixon faced the scandal of Watergate, the arguments of abusing presidential power as opposed to a post- presidential issue and the public moved away from him.

I mean, Republicans felt in '74, they could no longer stand with Nixon in large part because they realized it would be disastrous for the party and in the '74 midterms, Republicans paid a steep price from voters because of what Nixon represented.

Is the United States the same? Maybe we have changed and maybe there is more tolerance for someone found guilty many, many times now to be president again.

DEAN: That is an interesting question. Julian Zelizer, thanks so much, good to see you.

ZELIZER: Thanks for having me.

DEAN: President Biden is clearing the way for Ukraine to use some US weapons to strike targets within Russia's borders as Russia continues its slow push to take over a key city in Ukraine.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:31:27]

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: The right kind of weapon for a different kind of war. That's how some Ukrainian soldiers are describing the U.S. Abrams tanks coming from Washington. As Nick Paton Walsh finds out in this exclusive report, the $10 million tank seems to be a poor fit for Ukraine's battlefields.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They hide feverishly as they're a prime target for Russian missiles. But if Moscow knew the trouble these U.S. supplied Abrams tanks are causing Ukraine, they might not bother. Let them keep them.

The M1 Abrams, America's main battle tank, a veteran of fighting Saddam in Iraq and dozen insurgents but muddy Ukrainian fields and $500 attack drones not so much.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH (on camera): There was such a fuss around whether Ukraine would get these but from the moment the decision was made, yes. Through the training, through the time it took to get to the front line, the war has enormously changed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH (voice over): All 31 America gave and now in one area in the east where Ukraine is losing ground. Training in Germany, the interior in Ukrainian and while there is gratitude for all U.S. help, they can't pretend this is working.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

"JOKER," UKRAINIAN 47TH MECHANIZED BRIGADE: Its armor is not sufficient for this era. It doesn't protect the crew. For real, today it's a war of drones. So now when the tank rolls out they always try to hit it.

"DNIPRO" UKRAINIAN 47TH MECHANIZED BRIGADE: Number one target.

JOKER: Number one target.

DNIPRO: On the battlefield without defense the crew doesn't survive.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WALSH (voice over): They've learned the hardest way here in the pitched battle for the City of Avdiivka. One of their drivers lost a leg recently.

Off camera, they show us how they're adding active armor plates on themselves. Then there were the shells. Not enough of the wrong type for the wrong sort of fight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOKER: We have (ammunition) for direct tank to tank battle. Much more often we work as artillery. We take apart a tree line or a building. Once we fired 17 rounds into a house and it was still standing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH (voice over): Better than Soviet tanks they still say even though this one fresh from Poland is already broken down. Condensation can fry the electrics they also say. Really, this is a solid gold wrench of a gift. This is a tank for a kind of war NATO would only fight backed by huge artillery and air power. They're being asked to do things NATO never would.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOKER: They would never do it. Aviation, artillery, then the tanks enter. And infantry. Call the aviation, call the artillery. We have no aviation and artillery. We have only tank. And it's the problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH (voice over): When Abrams was captured and paraded in Red Square recently, the crew here joke at least the Russians managed to tow it away. They've been struggling because these are so heavy. This threadbare army losing ground perhaps wish they'd got a gift receipt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH (on camera): If you could ask the Americans for one thing now what would you ask for?

JOKER: I have only one question: Why is this taking so long and why it comes partially? We are losing time. It's death to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH (voice over): Machines built at the peak of American hyper power decades ago, sent half-heartedly it seems to hold back a fast changing world.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH (on camera): I Should say we reached out to the Pentagon for comments and haven't heard back. But this feeds into the wider debate on the quality and speed of equipment weaponry being given to Ukraine by its allies. [18:35:07]

Most recently the focus is on allowing weapons given to Ukraine to be fired into Russia proper to hit weaponry and troops attacking Ukraine itself. Poland where I'm standing here, quite clear, they want Ukraine to do that. The U.S. sort of having a debate it seems increasingly in public about that. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying today they continue to adapt and adjust the support they give to Ukraine, not really clarifying where they are on that.

But as you heard from the troops there, driving those Abrams tanks every delay, every shift in policy essentially buys them to cost them time and lives as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DEAN: All right. And joining us now to discuss this and the war's latest developments is retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton.

Great to see you here.

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Thank you, Jessica.

DEAN: We were talking about that piece. What do you make of what you were hearing from those Ukrainian soldiers that were saying these U.S.-supplied Abrams tanks are just ineffective in this war.

LEIGHTON: Well, one of the key things is that last phrase in this war. And Jessica, when you look at this, these tanks were made beautifully for the Iraq war. They could run over the desert like there was no problem. But one of the key things in Nick's reporting was the fact that condensation actually impacts the electrical systems of these tanks.

The other thing, dealing with armor, they need armor plating that is even more stringent than the armor plating that you see right here. The tank is vulnerable in certain areas and with drones being the key element in this war where both sides are using drones they can pop up anywhere.

And if the tank doesn't have air protection over it, air defenses as well as basically an air force that can help protect it then that tank is not as effective as it was designed to be.

DEAN: Yes, I mean that certainly makes sense and the desert obviously very, very different than where they are right now.

LEIGHTON: Absolutely.

DEAN: Also this week, President Biden gave Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia or inside Russian territory with American munitions. What does that mean for the broader conflict?

LEIGHTON: So one of the key things here is this particular area around Kharkiv. Basically, this is the region that we're talking about right here This is Ukraine's second largest city and this is, right here, where the Russians have made some advances, some very significant advances. They've also made some advances right in this region right here.

But the key thing is this, what the U.S. administration wants the Ukrainians to be able to do is to attack the Russians and the Ukrainians want this in these areas. They've got various staging areas in Belgorod, which is this major city on just across the Russian- Ukrainian border on the Russian side. And if the Ukrainians are allowed to do this using U.S. weapons, they'll be even more effective.

They've used Ukrainian weapons to do this but they haven't been able to use U.S. or other Western weapons. And the idea here is to be able to go in and take out the Russians that are massing in this area and relieve pressure on Kharkiv The second largest city of Ukraine.

DEAN: Which has been under such an onslaught in the last several weeks. Now, but it does come with some limitations, especially when it comes to these long-range missiles. They can't use those, right?

LEIGHTON: That's correct. So the weapons that they can use are such as the 155 millimeter rounds right here as well as the HIMARS system right here, which is pictured right here. What they cannot use is the ATACMS systems. A derivative of this system can actually reach 180 miles out. So that's the kind of range that would be much lot larger than the kind of range that you would see with this.

So in other words, if they were able to go way beyond this area right here ...

DEAN: Right.

LEIGHTON: ... they could conceivably attack Russian aircraft and ships all the way in the Black Sea and with longer range even in the Caspian Sea, which is over this way. I - but if they can't do that, then what they can at least do is hit more localized targets in these areas and that would be exactly what they want to do.

And the key thing here, of course, Crimea - if they can do Crimea, then they put this area at risk and that changes the game as far as the Black Sea is concerned.

DEAN: Mm-hmm. And it comes as Russia continues to target Ukraine's energy facilities. There were attacks overnight on this.

LEIGHTON: That's right, absolutely. One of the key things here is that they've attacked targets in these areas right here. Lviv, a city in the southwestern part, notice how close this is to Slovakia, Hungary and Romania and Poland. This is a potentially a major supply route and this is why the Russians attack this.

Key area here is if we had those air defenses, if the Ukrainians had those air defenses, that would not be happening.

DEAN: All right. Cedric Leighton, always great to see you. You always give such good context to help us understand it better. Thanks so much.

LEIGHTON: Thank you, Jessica.

DEAN: Breaking news to bring to you, close to half of Metro Atlanta does not have water right now, partly because of this water main break that you're seeing. It's a big one. Now, we're learning this is forcing one of the area's largest hospitals to move some patients. We'll have more news for you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:44:30]

DEAN: This just in, NASA saying it will not try and launch the Boeing Starliner again tomorrow, that's after today's liftoff was scrubbed less than four minutes before liftoff. The computer that launches the rocket stopped the countdown clock after an automatic hold was triggered. The astronauts left the capsule safely, went back to their quarters. NASA says the next possible launch window will be on Wednesday.

We have breaking news now. We are learning more about the growing impact of two large water main breaks in Metro Atlanta. Much of the city has not had water since Friday afternoon.

[18:45:05]

And now Emory Hospital says it's going to have to move some patients because of the lack of water. CNN's Rafael Romo is right beside one of those big breaks. We see it right over your shoulder, Rafael. What's the latest?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jessica. If you can imagine this, it's been almost 24 hours since this water main break behind me here in the Midtown neighborhood started, and as you can see the water is still shooting up in the air about 15 feet high.

Let me get out of the way so you can take a good look at what's happening here. And so what you see is the water, gallons and gallons of water that are being wasted hour after hour. And Jessica, throughout the day we've been reporting about how the multiple water main breaks in Atlanta like this one here in the Midtown neighborhood have paralyzed vast portions of the city, including the areas where some of the top attractions in the south are located.

We just learned that Megan Thee Stallion concert schedule for tonight has been canceled and that's according to the venue State Farm Arena. And also, Grady Memorial Hospital, one of the top ones in the region announced earlier that they continue to experience low water pressure, but remain fully operational and their emergency room is accepting all patients. Emory Healthcare. Another major medical services provider told CNN in a statement that they have had to take several measures, including diverting ambulances, transferring dialysis patients to other facilities and bringing in, imagine this, 58,000 gallons of water for the hospital chillers and cooling towers. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens just a few hours ago, Jessica, apologize saying that he understands what people are going through and assuring people that city teams are doing everything in their power to try to solve the situation. But again, this water main break behind me is not the only one, Jessica. There are several. But as you said at the beginning, it is two major water main breaks that are causing all of this problem.

And before they can start fixing them, they need to stabilize the pressure or the other possibility is that there may be more of them and that's something that the water department here in Atlanta is taking a look at trying to fix as we speak. Jessica, back to you.

DEAN: Yeah, serious stuff. All right. Rafael Romo for us in Atlanta. Thanks so much for bringing us that breaking news.

He's now our country's first former president with a felony conviction, so what's next for Donald Trump, who has vowed that his case isn't over. We'll explore that ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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[18:52:18]

DEAN: Espionage has always played a vital role in Russia's relations with the West from the Cold War to Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine. Now, some Russian insiders furious over the bloodshed in their country. (INAUDIBLE) the FBI and some - and the CIA, some valuable secrets. CNN's Josh Campbell takes a closer look.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Foreign language).

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JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Amid Russia's brutal ongoing invasion of Ukraine, a rare opening for U.S. intelligence to recruit Russian insiders, furious at the handling of the war.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Disaffection creates a once in a generation opportunity for us at CIA. We're very much open for business.

DAVID MCCLOSKEY, FORMER CIA OFFICER, AUTHOR OF "MOSCOW X": That business is the exchange of information that the asset or agent would provide for something that they want. We want people who have some sense of what those leaders' priorities are, what they're trying to accomplish.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CAMPBELL (voice over): The recruitment effort is far from a state secret. America's spy handlers have publicly taken to social media, releasing videos appealing to the patriotism of disaffected Russians.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a absolutely brilliant ploy by the CIA.

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CAMPBELL (voice over): But while the technology is new, spying has underpinned and undermined U.S.-Russian relations for decades. That secret battle between intelligence services now the focus of a new CNN/BBC documentary.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I spent 10 years as an illegal undercover agent for the KGB in the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): This is the unseen story of the Cold War fought not by politicians but by secret agents.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was complete misunderstanding on either side.

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CAMPBELL (voice over): With interviews and never before heard audio from spies and the traitors who sealed their fate.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Aldrich Ames put some of those names to death by sharing them with his KGB case officer.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN SENIOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Not only was the CIA and its intelligence sources in the Soviet Union completely compromised, he also was in a compromised position.

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CAMPBELL (voice over): For each side, espionage was used to gain strategic advantage. The ultimate cost of discovery, the highest form of punishment.

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ALEXANDER VASSILIEV, FORMER KGB OFFICE: What do you do to officers who betray their own motherland? You execute them.

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CAMPBELL (voice over): In the new modern-day shadow war, espionage remains a vital tool.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The backbone of our understanding about Putin, the people around him, the basis for all of that will be sources inside Russia.

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CAMPBELL (voice over): And the lessons of the Cold War could very well determine future global stability.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to know your enemy. If you don't, you can scare your enemy into doing something that neither of you want to see happen.

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CAMPBELL (voice over): Josh Campbell, CNN.

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[18:55:04]

DEAN: The all new series, "Secrets and Spies: A Nuclear Game" premieres tomorrow night at 10. We've got more news for you straight ahead.

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[18:59:51]

DEAN: You are in the CNN newsroom. Hi, everyone. I'm Jessica Dean in Washington. We begin this hour with former president and now convicted felon Donald Trump boasting a surge in campaign donations following the verdict in his historic hush money criminal trial.