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Trump Threatens New Tariffs On Canada, Including 250 Percent Tax On Dairy; NYT: Trump Cabinet Clashed With Musk In "Explosive" Meeting; Speaker Johnson Unveils Bill To Fund Government Through September; Ukrainian Officials: At Least 23 People Killed In Russian Strikes; Officials Rule Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa Died Of Natural Causes; Canadians Fight Back Against Trump's Tariff Threats. Hamas Sees "Positive Indications" For Launching New Ceasefire Talks; Trump Issues "Last Warning" To Hamas To Release All Hostages; Trump Admin Pulls $400M In Funding From Columbia University Over Anti-Semitism Claims; Global Demonstrations Held To Mark International Women's Day; L.A. County Fire Captain Speaks To CNN on International Women's Day. Aired 1-2p ET

Aired March 08, 2025 - 13:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:00:19]

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

All right, President Trump is threatening a new set of tariffs on Canada. Late last night, the President said Canada was cheating U.S. dairy farmers. Hours earlier, he vowed to impose a 250 percent tariff on Canadian dairy, just days after delaying tariffs on Mexico and Canada for the second time since taking office.

CNN's Betsy Klein is in Florida where the president is spending the weekend. Betsy, President Trump just delayed tariffs earlier this week. If the president goes through with these new tariffs on Canada, how soon might they take effect?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: Well, Fredricka, it's been a week of tariff unpredictability and whiplash at the White House. And President Trump, for his part, really views tariffs as a negotiating tool, particularly the threat of tariffs. And in this particular case, we see him taking aim at Canada and Mexico on the issue of cracking down on fentanyl.

So first up on Tuesday, we saw the president unveil these 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada. He spoke at that joint address to Congress just that evening as markets had been rocked. And he said that there might be a little disturbance and urged American farmers to bear with him.

Then on Wednesday, after a direct appeal from automakers GM, Ford and Stellantis, the president decided that he was going to reverse those tariffs on automakers, pausing them for one month because those U.S. automakers warned him that those tariffs could have some impact on domestic sales.

Then on Thursday, a major reversal as President Trump delayed most tariffs on Canada and Mexico for another full month. That came after he spoke with the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, who told him that there had been a dramatic reduction in fentanyl seizures on the U.S. side of the southern border.

Now, on Friday, we saw the president backtrack once more, announcing a new threat on Canadian dairy and lumber sectors, 250 percent that would be unveiled in the coming days. The president says that this is about fairness.

But taken together, these actions have roiled markets, really erasing some of the key gains they have made in the initial days of the Trump administration and really concerning businesses and consumers. Also, Fredricka, setting up a major test for the leaders of Mexico and Canada, whose economies depend so much on U.S. markets.

WHITFIELD: Betsy, we're also getting some new details about the reporting in The New York Times about a spat between Elon Musk and Trump's Cabinet. What is the president saying about that?

KLEIN: Well, it was a really explosive report in The New York Times about a very tense meeting this week between President Trump and his Cabinet and Elon Musk, as Musk has sought to dramatically slash federal spending, particularly interactions between Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, whom Musk castigated for not making more significant staffing cuts.

But President Trump making clear that in this meeting that he is willing to put some limits on Musk and that his Cabinet leaders are in charge of their staffing. But asked about this meeting by reporters, President Trump downplayed any tension. He said there was no clash and said the relationship between Musk and Rubio is a great one, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Betsy Klein, thanks so much.

All right, this just in to CNN. House Speaker Mike Johnson has just released a new bill aimed at funding the government through September. The stopgap funding bill is intended to avoid a potential government shutdown that is set to go into effect on Friday if lawmakers cannot agree on new legislation.

For the very latest, let's bring in CNN's Julia Benbrook. Julia, good to see you. So what more are you learning about this new push to avoid a shutdown and what are the prospects of it actually passing?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, House Speaker Mike Johnson is outlining his plans for a stopgap measure known as a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded through the end of September. And as you mentioned, he has a fast approaching deadline that he's working against to extend government funding. They are facing a potential government shutdown on March 14th. Now, this measure, that September 30th extension, if it passes, it would buy time for President Donald Trump and GOP leaders to steer some of Trump's priorities through Congress this summer. Now, as far as getting it passed, Johnson does face some challenges. He leads with a very slim majority.

[13:05:02]

He can only lose one vote from Republicans if he has no Democratic support to get it across the finish line. And Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky has already said that he does not plan to support it.

Trump has supported the measure that Johnson revealed today and GOP leaders are hoping that Trump's support will help them get the support they need from the rest of their party. Here's what Johnson said while speaking with reporters on the Hill last week.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: I believe we'll pass it along with the party lines, but I think every Democrats should vote for the CR. It is a fundamental responsibility. We have to fund the government and a clean CR with a few minor anomalies is not something that they should vote against. So we'll see what they do.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

BENBROOK: Now, according to people familiar with the plans, Johnson does plan to bring this to the floor to a vote in just a couple of days. Tuesday is the expectation. And the text that he revealed is about 100 pages. It's 99 to be exact.

Both Johnson and Trump have described this as a clean stopgap bill, noting that it doesn't include language to enshrine certain Trump priorities like DOGE cuts. Now, for the most part, it freezes spending at levels used during the Biden administration. But Democrats say that it does not include the specific language that would have protections that would be included in a more long term spending bill.

And they say that that's needed in order to keep Trump in check if needed. Now, if the House is able to pass this CR, it would, of course, need to pass through the Senate where Republicans hold a slim majority as well. Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right, Julia Benbrook, thank you so much.

All right, now to Ukraine, where officials say at least 23 people have been killed in a wave of overnight Russian missile attacks. Dozens of others are reported injured. And authorities say some people could still be trapped beneath the rubble of damaged buildings. Ukraine's forces no longer have any new U.S. military aid.

And this week, the U.S. also removed Ukraine's access to its intelligence on Russia. President Trump threatened Russia with new sanctions after attacks earlier in the week. But just yesterday said Vladimir Putin was, I'm quoting now, "Doing what anybody else would do on the battlefield".

CNN's Senior International Correspondent Melissa Bell is following these developments. Melissa, is Russia seeing this as an opportunity with the U.S. cutting off access to intelligence on Russia?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think it's difficult to overstate, Fredricka, just how crucial American intelligence has been throughout this war in the run up to it. Arguably, it's what allowed Ukraine to fend off the initial Russian invasion as best it could.

And its withdrawal is, of course, a blow, particularly when you consider that Ukrainian troops really under a great deal of pressure up in the Kursk region that they captured from Russia last August. It was considered a key victory for the Ukrainians and no doubt something that might have been useful to them in their forthcoming negotiations with Russia.

They're under pressure there. Some 12,000 North Korean troops playing a key role in allowing Russian forces really to seek to cut off some of their key supply lines. And there are fears that Kursk as a whole may be fragile. Certainly, Ukraine's hold on it is more tenuous than it's been at any point since its capture in August.

In that context, the intelligence that the United States provided was crucial. Remember also that another key component of American aid, Fredricka, has been to Ukraine's air defences. And again, they were severely tested over the course of the last day. That missile strike that killed 11 people in an eastern city.

But as you said, there were many other deaths among civilians and injuries the result of huge missile and drone attacks that will be all the more difficult for Ukraine to fend off in the future. That American supplies of those -- the ammunition needed to fuel the patriots, we know for now on hold. So that general sense of weakness, of course, is a key factor as Ukraine looks ahead to these continued talks next week, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And in fact, on these talks next week, Melissa, set to take place in Saudi Arabia and the Ukrainian officials are scheduled to be there, including Zelenskyy?

BELL: We know that President Zelenskyy is travelling to Saudi Arabia. He'll be meeting with Crown Prince Salman. We do know that he's been holding talks with British officials in Kyiv today that are said to be fruitful.

Remember that Europeans are really trying to step up their support, not just in terms of military aid, but in terms of that post-peace plan deployment of what we expect will be British, French and Turkish troops to try and monitor any ceasefire that emerges.

President Zelenskyy now pushing for a partial ceasefire. This was something that was initially proposed by the French president, the idea that a limited ceasefire that would apply, say, to the air, and allow for limited prisoner swaps would be an important first step in trying to consolidate a ceasefire along that huge thousand kilometer front line that divides the troops.

[13:10:14]

So yes, meetings this week. We understand that Ukrainian officials have been meeting with American officials. Whether Zelenskyy will be at those meetings with Americans for now is unclear, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Melissa Bell, thank you so much.

All right, still ahead, officials say a rare disease killed Gene Hackman's wife in their New Mexico home, likely days before the Oscar- winning actor died himself. We have the latest on the investigation.

Plus, $400 million worth of government contracts and grants canceled while the Trump administration is pulling funding from Columbia University.

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[13:15:32]

WHITFIELD: All right, new details in the investigation into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Officials in New Mexico have revealed the details surrounding the couple's deaths.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

DR. HEATHER JARRELL, CHIEF MEDICAL INVESTIGATOR, NEW MEXICO OFFICE OF MEDICAL INVESTIGATOR: The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributory factor. The cause of death for Ms. Betsy Hackman, aged 65 years, is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The manner of death is natural.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

WHITFIELD: I'd like to bring in now Dr. Peter Hotez, professor and dean of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Hotez, great to see you.

Let's zero in on Betsy Arakawa's cause of death. And, I mean, we're hearing about this hantavirus, a lot of us, for the first time. I mean, it's a rare virus linked to rodent droppings. It is a virus, you know, that is unknown to many of us. Can you walk us through what it is, its origin?

DR. PETER HOTEZ, PROFESSOR AND DEAN OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: Yes, it's primarily this syndrome, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, is primarily found in the southwestern part of the United States. New Mexico actually has the largest number of human cases. It's still relatively uncommon or rare.

The New Mexico Health Department reports around seven, on average, six, seven, eight cases a year, particularly in the northwestern section of the state, so not so much Santa Fe. But what happens, Fredricka, is the deer mice, and it's a type of mouse called Peromyscus, living in that region.

Many of those mice without any symptoms themselves, no illness to the rodents, the mice, will shed virus in their urine and other droppings. So if you have a house or a cabin that has a pretty big mouse infestation, that virus in rodent urine will eventually dry, and the dust will aerosolize.

And if you're unfortunate enough to inhale a large number of virus particles that are in the dust in the atmosphere, then you could become infected. And the problem is it starts out as a flu-like illness a couple of weeks after initial infection.

But then if it's going to progress, you go downhill very quickly in terms of heart involvement, it causes inflammation of the heart, lung involvement, and your lung fills up with fluid. It's called pulmonary edema. And your only chance for survival is to have -- be in intensive care where you can possibly be intubated.

Sometimes we see something called ECMO, which is extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. It's a very, very severe illness with a very, very high mortality. Fortunately, it's very rare, but it does occur in New Mexico.

WHITFIELD: So what's the elapse of time? Because, say, someone who has been exposed to this, they develop those flu-like symptoms, they try every kind of over-the-counter stuff, you know, nothing really works. Maybe they go to the doctor or, you know, can you go to the doctor? And then there is a test in which to diagnose you? Or is it, you know, how is it really discovered since a lot of times when people have the flu, they just kind of stay at home?

HOTEZ: Yes, that's the whole point. So if you live in an area where you know hantavirus can occur, you have to have a high index of suspicion. You have to go to a physician who's aware of the illness. More in the western part -- northwestern part of the state, they have a higher level of awareness.

But, you know, most emergency rooms in that region will be aware of it, and that you can do specific tests for it or admit for monitoring. That -- and the tricky part is if you're going to have heart and lung involvement, you do progress very rapidly. So the key is having a really smart health care provider.

WHITFIELD: What's the treatment then once the diagnosis is clear? You happen to be in a place where they know to identify it. You mentioned being intubated?

HOTEZ: Well, there is an antiviral drug called ribavirin, but it's not clear how effective it really is. So it's primarily supportive care that often requires monitoring in the intensive care unit and sometimes requires intubation or even more active procedures such as ECMO.

[13:20:04]

The key is a really good intensive care monitoring in order to preserve oxygenation, keep fluid out of the lungs with diuretics, and improve heart function. Sometimes those are called inotropic drugs. It's pretty big-gun stuff that you need in an ICU, however.

WHITFIELD: Wow, incredible and incredibly sad.

All right, Dr. Peter Hotez, thank you so much.

HOTEZ: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Canadians are mystified by the rollercoaster of tariffs ordered by President Donald J. Trump. Some of them say it has changed their view of America and Americans forever.

Up next, CNN's John King goes north of the border and gets an earful from everyday Canadians.

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[13:25:09]

WHITFIELD: President Trump's tug-of-war trade policy is already having an impact on Canadians and it's affecting how they view the United States. CNN's John King went north of the border for a first-hand look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is American steel in Western Canada for custom finishes. One belt is to burn a few notches and drill a few holes. Another to weld some angled braces, soon back on a rail car and back across the border for an office project in Alaska.

It is a partnership that supports 100 jobs here at AI Industries in Surrey, British Columbia. This just one piece of nearly $800 billion a year in trade between the United States and Canada, now, though, a partnership in peril because of President Trump's insistence on new tariffs.

KARIM WALJI, CANADIAN RESIDENT: He wants to show that U.S. is strong, and because I'm bigger than you are, I can bully you around, and this is how I'm going to do it.

KING (voice-over): Trump paused the tariffs Thursday, just two days after imposing them, another about-face. Yes, Walji prefers no tariffs, but he says weeks of threats and contradictions from Trump make it impossible to plan and are already hurting both economies.

WALJI: Even with the threat of tariffs, prices have gone through the roof and have gone higher. So we're seeing right now, when we're bidding a job today versus we're bidding at three months ago, our cost has gone up almost 15 percent.

KING (voice-over): British Columbia is a living post card, scenic mountains and gorgeous waters. The importance of trade is everywhere you look, Canadian lumber waiting at Rivers Edge, rail cars to carry Canadian crude oil, crops and more, the bustling Pacific Rim, Port of Vancouver.

PETER XOTTA, CEO, VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORITY: You'll watch it for eight hours. You'll see, on average, we've got 10 ships arriving and 10 ships leaving. We did about 160 million tons of cargo last year. 75 percent of that is those bulk commodities, but grain, coal, potash, sulfur and other agricultural products outbound.

KING (voice-over): Peter Xotta is the Port CEO. He says shippers who normally plan six or nine months out are now taking things a few weeks at a time because Trump is so unpredictable. And he says Trump's threats and his tone leave Canada no choice but to find new markets, new partners.

XOTTA: It's been a wake-up call, right? It's been a wake-up call for Canadians that we need to figure out a way to not be as dependent.

KING (voice-over): This rift goes beyond what Canadians see as Trump's bad math. They are furious at his bad manners, his constant insults, calling Canada the 51st state and its Prime Minister, Governor.

DARRYL LAMB, CANADIAN RESIDENT: We've been in this together for a long time. We fought wars together. We went to Afghanistan. We did all this stuff together. Why? What are you doing here?

KING (voice-over): Darryl Lamb is the brand manager at Legacy Liquors. Yes, this too is a front in the new trade war.

LAMB: There is Yellow Rose right there from Texas, right there.

KING: Yellow Rose. So, is it popular?

LAMB: It is.

KING: And if this goes into effect, you can't sell this.

LAMB: That'll be off the shelf.

KING: It's gone.

KING (voice-over): Tito's vodka too, also from Texas.

KING: Diagram of a trade war.

KING (voice-over): The premier of British Columbia says, if Trump imposes tariffs, he will ban sales of alcohol from states that Trump won, that also have a Republican governor.

LAMB: We've gone through this before with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We were asked to remove all Russian products from our shelves.

KING (voice-over): Lamb says some customers rushed to stockpile American favorites, but others want all American products off the shelves.

KING: So mad at Trump for what he is saying about Canada that they're saying, get it out of here.

LAMB: No, 100 percent. Absolutely. I'm just worried about this eternal relationship that we've had for 200 plus years being soured for four.

KING (voice-over): Vikram Vinayak is a short haul truck driver carrying berries destined for the United States on this run.

KING: What are other loads that are pretty typical?

VIKRAM VINAYAK, CANADIAN RESIDENT: Nursery trees, auto parts and produce. Sometimes we take frozen fish.

KING: How much of your work or products that you know are going to end up in the United States?

VINAYAK: More than 80 percent, 90 percent of our loads are going to U.S.

KING (voice-over): As many as five runs a day, 40 to 50 hours a week. But tariffs will cut shipments to the United States and cut Vinayak's hours.

KING: You have a wife and two daughters?

VINAYAK: Yes.

KING: And so, what does that mean about planning, thinking maybe we won't make a vacation or maybe we won't buy something? What is it?

VINAYAK: No, no. Just planning is nothing. The main thing is, how to get out of this situation by finding another job.

KING: Does that make you mad you might have to find another job? Do you like this job?

VINAYAK: Yes, I love this job.

KING (voice-over): One of many jobs now at risk because of a U.S.- Canada relationship Trump just shifted into reverse.

John King, CNN, Surrey, British Columbia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Straight ahead, breaking years of precedent, the U.S. is negotiating directly with Hamas. Details on the upcoming talks.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. New this afternoon, talks on launching phase two of the Gaza ceasefire between Hamas and Israel show positive indications. That was the word from a Hamas spokesperson.

[13:34:59]

A delegation is now in Cairo trying to lay the groundwork for new talks, according to Egyptian state media.

Israel, on the other hand, is looking to extend the first phase of the ceasefire and continue the exchange of hostages, but without a commitment to end the war.

President Trump this week issuing what he called a "last warning" to Hamas to release all of the hostages immediately.

Let's bring in Fawaz Gerges to talk about this. He's a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics and the author of "What Really Went Wrong: The West and the Failure of Democracy in the Middle East."

Great to see you, Professor Gerges.

So, so talks are going on in Cairo, but we also know that Hamas has been talking directly to the White House. Should anyone be encouraged here?

FAWAZ GERGES, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS & AUTHOR: I think -- it's really a pleasure.

No, I don't think we should be encouraged. I think it's very difficult to make sense of President Trump's position. He is contradictory and he is chaotic. He is temperamental.

On the one hand, he says he wants to seize Gaza. He wants to own Gaza. He wants to clean out Gaza. He wants to displace 2.4 million Palestinians from Gaza.

On the other hand, he sends his officials to meet with Hamas, officials in Qatar in Doha. How do we make sense of it?

I think this is all about performative politics. It's vintage Donald Trump. He wants to exert pressure on Hamas in order to release the five American hostages with dual Israeli nationalities, in particular, one American hostage who's alive. So we have to wait and see.

But at the end of the day, I don't think we're seeing any major progress because the -- there is a huge divide between Hamas, on the one hand.

And Israel and the United States on the other hand regarding the morning after in Gaza, what will happen in Gaza after the release of the Israeli hostages and more Palestinian captives and prisoners in Israeli jails?

WHITFIELD: Does that divide only further widen the longer Israel restricts any kind of humanitarian aid from getting into Gaza?

GERGES: I mean, you're talking about Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war. In the past 15 months, Israel repeatedly denied using starvation as a weapon of war, even though U.S. officials and humanitarian aid have made it very clear that Israel consciously prevented the entry of humanitarian aid. Now, Israel does not really have any obligation to say, well, look,

saying no humanitarian aid to Gaza. I'm more concerned that Donald Trump's statements are pouring gasoline on a raging fire. He's already complicating a very complex situation.

Here is what I fear. What I fear is that Israel does not really want to go to phase two of the ceasefire. Why? Because phase two means the end of the war.

Phase two means the temporary ceasefire becomes a permanent ceasefire. It means the Hamas will release all Israeli hostages for hundreds or thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

And we know that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it very clear he wants to have a free hand in Gaza. He wants to maintain Israeli forces in Gaza. He wants to have a similar security upper hand in the same way that he does in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

And without really pressure by the American administration, I doubt it very much whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will go into phase two, which means basically a defeat for Benjamin Netanyahu and probably the collapse of his political coalition.

WHITFIELD: So when you say fuel to the fire, you're talking about Trump saying there will be hell to pay if more hostages are not released?

GERGES: Idea, Fredrika, for you and your viewers, what I mean by that. One of his statements was extremely alarming. He said to the people of Gaza -- I'm paraphrasing or, in fact, I'm really saying exactly what he said.

"To the people of Gaza. If you don't release the hostages, you are dead," to the people of Gaza, as somehow the people of Gaza hold the hostages, as somehow Hamas and the people of Gaza are synonymous.

And this is really a genocidal statement to come on -- I mean, from the president of the United States. More importantly, President Trump has speeded up the delivery for billion dollars of arms to Israel.

[13:39:54]

In a way, what I fear the most is that Benjamin Netanyahu has either a green light or yellow light to resume the war in Gaza. And in fact, everything that I have seen -- and there is relative consensus in Israel -- is that Benjamin Netanyahu is already preparing the way to resume the war in Gaza.

It will be more brutal, more devastating than the last 15 months, the first phase of the war.

WHITFIELD: My goodness. Very sobering thoughts there.

Fawaz Gerges, always a pleasure to have you. Thank you so much.

All right. The Trump administration said Friday it is pulling $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia University. The government cited it's reasoning over what it describes as the schools failure to address anti-Semitism on campus.

Joining us right now, CNN's Gloria Pazmino.

Gloria, where does the university go from here? What's it's response?

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, a lot of uncertainty. I think that's the thing that we can say about this announcement so far, a lot of uncertainty here on the campus of Columbia University, particularly as research leaders are preparing for the upcoming academic year and working out their budgets.

Now, it's not yet clear exactly how this cut is going to affect research and other programs that happen here at the university. So one thing is clear is that the university is taking it very seriously and trying to understand how to respond and how it's going to affect operations in the short term.

We have a response from the university, which said, in part, "We take Columbia's legal obligations seriously and understand how serious the announcement is and are committed to combating anti-Semitism and ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff."

Now, Fred, the Trump administration said it was cutting the $400 million in federal grants because of what they say is a failure to police anti-Semitism here on campus.

You'll remember, Fred, that Columbia University became the epicenter of college campus protests to the war, the Israel-Gaza war last year. There were several confrontations here between protesters and local police.

And a long -- a days-long standoff between university leaders and students who we're protesting over the war and how to get them removed off of campus. So this is just yet another piece of the fallout that we have been seeing since those protests began last year.

Now we have a statement from the education secretary, Linda McMahon, who said that, "Universities must comply with all federal anti- discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus."

Now, this is being received with pretty mixed reaction here on campus. There are some students who say that this is going to send a chilling effect to not just the university's operations but also raises serious questions about free -- free speech.

And then there is, of course, students who say that they are in support of this because it sends a message about the importance of combating anti-Semitism here on campus.

Columbia, still working through its response. Another question, Fred, it's not yet clear whether or not we're going to see similar cuts affecting other universities around the country -- Fred?

WHITFIELD: Gloria Pazmino, thank you so much, in Manhattan.

[13:43:32]

All right. Today, millions of women around the world are gathering to acknowledge International Women's Day. I'll speak to one incredible woman, the Los Angeles County fire captain, who even received flowers from Beyonce.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:48:25]

WHITFIELD: From marches and protests to charity runs, events are taking place across the country and around the world, as a matter of fact, to mark International Women's Day.

March 8th is a day for celebrating women's achievements but also advocating for them. This year, the theme is Accelerating Action for Gender Equality. And it comes amid fears that the current political climate may lead to setbacks for women.

Our next guest is a true example of a woman breaking gender barriers. Captain Sheila Kelliher Berkho is the first-ever female public information officer for the L.A. County Fire Department.

And earlier this week, in California, Kelliher Berkho was part of a panel showcasing achievements of women.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHEILA KELLIHER BERKHO, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, L.A. COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: And it wasn't until 2019 with U.S. women did legal action and everything like that to get equal pay and has really led the way.

And what I do know is that when women get together and women organize, there's nothing women cannot accomplish. And I'm blown away by that.

(APPLAUSE)

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And Captain Sheila Kelliher is joining us right now.

Captain, great to see you.

You and your fellow first responders have had a very challenging first few months of this year. Devastating wildfires in Los Angeles in January, leaving 29 people dead and scorching nearly 60,000 acres.

So tell us more about, especially throughout all of those hardships and challenges, what continues to empower you?

[13:49:59]

KELLIHER BERKHO: Listen, I know the mission and I have an incredible team that work with (INAUDIBLE). And we're here to support the community. And that's what we signed up for.

And for me, that was over 25 years ago. So it's easy to stay focused because that's what all the training that we do goes into. And when we get the opportunity to do it at such a high level, that's what we're made for.

WHITFIELD: Twenty-five years. I mean, what is your personal mission? What, you know, continues to, you know, keep that that desire burning in you?

KELLIHER BERKHO: I think it's because, not only do I love my job and I love the people that I work with, but, boy, I see the effects of what we do every day, whether it's helping people on the street or through these massive fires, however, we can be of assistance.

And when you see the outcome of that, it's really easy to raise your hand and say, yes, I'm happy there.

WHITFIELD: You've been paying it forward for a long time, mentoring future female firefighters through programs like the Women's Fire Prep Academy. How do you prepare girls and women for a career in firefighting, being on the front lines?

KELLIHER BERKHO: Oh, I have --

WHITFIELD: Oh, no. OK.

KELLIHER BERKHO: Sorry, I lost you for a second.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

KELLIHER BERKHO: You we're talking about --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: I was getting worried there.

KELLIHER BERKHO: Is that correct?

WHITFIELD: Yes. So you're back. Thank you.

I'll repeat that. I'm just wondering, you know, since you have been so involved in mentoring --

KELLIHER BERKHO: Yes, we're here at the women --

WHITFIELD: Yes. Go ahead.

KELLIHER BERKHO: Oh, I'm sorry.

WHITFIELD: I know you go back.

(LAUGHTER)

KELLIHER BERKHO: I was just going to say we're here at the women's fire -- we're -- sorry. Sorry.

We're here at the Women's Fire Prep Academy. This is our ninth year. It's an incredible program that a handful of us put together early on. And now, you know, so many people come and help support this, which is really incredible.

And they're here learning what it's like and what it would take to become an actual firefighter. And our goal is quality, not quantity. And when you take care of quality, the numbers will take care of themselves.

But these girls are really getting an upper hand to be a fire -- (TECHNICAL PROBLEM) -- better prepare them. So it's a mentorship program that's second to none.

WHITFIELD: What's the most valued lesson that you really want them to -- to gain from you?

KELLIHER BERKHO: That -- I think, if you get up and you try and you keep putting your effort in and you know what you're up against, you know, to how to prepare for it.

So one of the biggest lessons is preparation. And that's what firefighters are great at. It's -- we're preparing and we're also super flexible. And we can adapt to whatever the situation is.

So if you don't own those skills, this job might not be for you. But if you do perseverance, you can get to whatever it is you're trying to accomplish and always reach up, reach out, because that's what we're here for.

And that's the other beautiful part of my job is the mentorship element. I love helping other people come up and follow in my footsteps, because I've had an incredible career with Los Angeles County Fire Department.

WHITFIELD: Oh, an incredible career you have had. I mean, you are on the front lines on a regular.

And recently, we saw you front and center on stage during the Grammy Awards. You helped announce Beyonce winning album of the year. I mean, what did that feel like? You seem like a natural. It was like, no thang.

(LAUGHTER)

KELLIHER BERKHO: You know, I think when you grow up loving music and watching all the award shows, you always picture yourself up there some way, somehow.

But to be able -- just timing, good timing. And I love music and I'm super happy for her. I'm a fellow Texan, you know? That's where I went to college, Texas A&M. So I was just -- I got lucky and I just had a great time.

WHITFIELD: Well, you look like you had a great time. It seemed like a very easy fit for you as well.

So the theme of this year's, you know, International Women's Day, Accelerate Action. If you had any advice for women of any field and endeavor, what might it be to help women bring their best, be their best, and achieve gender equality if at all possible in this world?

KELLIHER BERKHO: Yes, I think it's super possible. I think it is reaching out to each other and helping someone who is coming up in your footsteps.

I think just that simple act of letting them know that, hey, you can do this, I did this, and you're not only can you do this but you're going to do it better than I did because I'm going to give you some of the cheat codes so you don't waste your time with things that don't matter.

And I think a lot of times women's biggest barrier is their own, where they think, oh, I'm not ready or I need more preparation. Listen, connect with somebody who's been there and then they can really help you.

You know, I was super lucky. I think you showed a little clip of our time with ShelterBox and all those women on that panel are doing that exact same thing.

They're reaching out to the communities and they're elevating the younger generation coming behind. So the women that are in power, reach out, help somebody take your spot.

WHITFIELD: I love that. Great advice.

Captain Sheila Kelliher Berko, thank you so much and all the best. Appreciate all that you do on a regular 24/7.

KELLIHER BERKHO: Thanks. Thanks for having us. Thanks.

WHITFIELD: Thank you.

[13:54:59]

All right. In today's "START SMALL, THINK BIG," we meet a former fashion blogger and plus-size model who has opened her dream vintage store.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINA URIEGAS REYES, OWNER, HELLO TALLULAH: My name is Christina Uriegas Reyes and I own Hello Tallulah, a beautiful vintage boutique in San Antonio, Texas.

I always wanted to open a vintage store, but I never knew it was possible because I didn't know anybody that did it. I just started collecting for no reason. I turned my hoarding into a job and now I've opened Hello Tallulah. For over seven years.

It was really important to me for the store to be super inclusive of everyone, whether age, size. I wanted everyone to feel welcome. I wanted this place to be a magical, safe space where you could play dress up.

I have created that and I'm really, really proud of that. Like whether it's a trans teen who's able to try on things for the first time, or a drag queen, or just a plus-size girl who once told me this is the first vintage store that doesn't hurt my feelings.

Vintage is a win-win for so many reasons. First of all, nobody is going to have what you're wearing. Secondly, the quality is definitely going to be much better. Last of all, it is very sustainable.

I hope to keep growing Hello Tallulah as the years go by.

GROUP: Cheers!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)