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CNN International: Trump Signs Order to Dismantle the Dept. of Education; E.U. Leaders Vow Support for Ukraine; Israel Launches Ground Operation in Gaza; "Crisis" Times at Tesla; Legal Standoff Between the WH and a Federal Judge on Deportation Flights; New IOC President Elected; Boston Celtics Sold for a Record-Breaking $6 Billion. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired March 20, 2025 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:00]

LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the U.S. and around the world. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Good to have you with us. Just ahead this hour, President Trump signs an executive order that he claims will shut down the U.S. Department of Education once and for all. European leaders vowed to support Ukraine without approving Kyiv's request for more artillery. And the Boston Celtics sell for a reported $6.1 billion, the highest price ever for a North American sports franchise.

We begin in Washington where President Donald Trump has signed an executive order trying to dismantle the Department of Education. His order follows through on a promise on the campaign trail which he says will drive up standards in schools. The president is urging Democrats to support the measure to completely close down the department which would require congressional approval. He's directing his education secretary, former pro-wrestling executive, Linda McMahon, to shut down key functions and return authority to the states.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: And it sounds strange, doesn't it? Department of Education, we're going to eliminate it. And everybody knows it's right. And the Democrats know it's right, and I hope they're going to be voting for it, because ultimately, it may come before them, but everybody knows it's right, and we have to get our children educated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Well, Stephen Collinson joins us from Washington. Good to see you, Stephen. So, this Department of Education was established back in 1979. It would require approval of Congress to completely eliminate it. So, what does Trump's executive order do?

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I think what the president is trying to do is strangle this agency financially, and he's trying to downgrade many of its functions that Republicans very much disagree with.

Conservatives, as you say, have been trying to get rid of the Department of Education ever since the Reagan presidency in the 1980s. So, this is a huge ideological win for Trump, even though it requires an act of Congress to eliminate this agency. I think what the White House is trying to do, as it is with many other of the agencies in the U.S. government, is to cut off the funding, take away functions and wither the size of the federal government. The question is now, whether the functions of the Education Department, whether taking them away or removing them to the states, which already controls 90 percent of education in the United States, is that going to have a tangible effect on voters?

KINKADE: Yes, or will it actually improve schools.

COLLISON: Right.

KINKADE: In terms of the department's size, Stephen, we know 4,000 people worked for the department when Donald Trump came into office. How many people will be left after today's executive order?

COLLISON: It looks like it's going to be about half of the workforce will be dismissed. This will add to the thousands of government workers and bureaucrats who have been furloughed or laid off or simply fired without much compensation since the president took office in January. This is an extraordinary attempt to roll back the bureaucratic state in the United States.

Republicans believe that there are officials and civil servants in these agencies, career civil servants who thwart Republican presidents and their attempts to institute Republican and conservative policies every time they get one in the White House. So, this is a very significant venture, and it's something that it's going to be very difficult for a future Democratic president to run on and to reconstitute all these departments.

KINKADE: And speaking of the key functions within the Department of Education, there was some suggestion that certain elements would move to other departments like the Student Loan Department. Is that going to happen or will that stay under the Department of Education?

[18:05:00]

COLLISON: Well, for a long time it looked like student loans, which is a massive trillion-dollar business every year, that was going to go to the Commerce Department. But today, the White House said that that would remain within the Education Department.

That does beg the question. If they're getting rid of half of the department staff, how are they going to be able to administer this issue? It's hugely complicated. Every summer when new generations of students go to university, which are exceedingly expensive in the United States compared to Europe and other parts of the world, and they apply for their student loans, there's always a log jam. It's a real administrative problem. problem. So, we're going to see how that works out. The White House is also now saying that some other important things that the Education Department does, including, for example, funding for programs for disabled children throughout the states. And that's going to remain with the department as well. That is actually something that's quite popular, and many Republican lawmakers will vote to finance when the next budget comes up.

So, it looks like what they're trying to do is get rid of half an agency, and it's still going to have some very critical functions. So, I think we need to be looking out. In the months to come whether this works out at all or if it creates huge administrative and political problems that could actually rebound against the White House, even though today for many Republicans is a day of triumph.

KINKADE: Yes. I mean, it could create a much bigger burden for those left behind at the department. Stephen Collinson, good to have you with us from D.C. as always. Thanks so much.

COLLISON: Thanks.

KINKADE: Well, today's executive order by the president may begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education imminently. But what could be affected? What department responsible? It's not the main source of public-school funding. More than 85 percent of that comes from state and local governments, but the department does provide federal grants for schools and programs in need. It also oversees student loans, as well as the Pell Grant program for lower income college students.

Well, for more, joining me now is Kim Anderson, the executive director of the National Education Association Teachers Union. Good to have you with us, Anderson. You went between an office, you are in a car. What happened?

KIM ANDERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: I am. I was having a meeting in a federal building. And my host told us that DOGE was in the building and that we needed to get out. So, I apologize. I'm not sitting at a desk. I'm sitting in my car to talk with you.

KINKADE: Wow. Well, we appreciate you still doing this interview. I understand you represent some --

ANDERSON: Absolutely.

KINKADE: -- 3 million educators. What are they telling you about this executive order by Donald Trump?

ANDERSON: Well, they're devastated and they're angry because this is the wrong direction for America. This isn't just about, you know, cutting the size of the department staff. Those are dedicated public servants that make sure that the money that goes to states and localities actually gets to where it belongs and that programs are administered properly.

Our Department of Education personnel are there to ensure that student's rights are protected. There are critical signature programs, like the Individuals with Disabilities Act, like Title I, like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, that were born out of the civil rights movement when states and local school districts had two separate systems of education for students.

And sadly, we still have gaps in public education. And so, dismantling the department and defunding public schools is absolutely the wrong thing we should be doing right now. We should be fully resourcing our schools because 90 percent of America's students go to public schools and 95 percent of students with disabilities go to public schools.

KINKADE: Kim, Trump called the -- this a common-sense move, to send funding back to the states. If the core functions of the department continue and more funding goes back to the states to better access that spending and assess the need, couldn't that be a positive?

ANDERSON: What we know about their agenda is what they're going to do. They wrote it down. They told us in Project 2025. They want to dismantle public education and give vouchers out to people. What are they going to do in places where there aren't any private schools? Why they do that to 90 percent of America's public-school students and families.

We know the evidence is true. Also, that communities, parents, students they don't want vouchers. They stood up loud and clear and they stand up loud and clear and say that. 95 percent of students with disabilities go to public schools. 90 percent of students go to public schools.

And in -- for example, in Kentucky and Colorado and Nebraska, just last November, voters voted on whether or not they wanted vouchers and resoundingly, in all three of those states, people said no.

[18:10:00]

KINKADE: And of course, the department -- the federal department is responsible for a little bit over 10 percent of funding for public schools across the country. Some of that funding, a lot of that funding goes to rural areas, rural schools in largely conservative leaning areas. How are they going to be impacted?

ANDERSON: Well, they're going to have a lot fewer dollars to spread around to take care of student's needs. Class sizes will go up. Afterschool programs will go down. We can barely get a school nurse in every school.

And so, think about what happens in rural schools. What happens when a student with a disability who has a need for a speech and language pathologist can't access one? And the school district is legally required because of that signature, unbelievable civil rights law called IDEA, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

What happens when that student doesn't get what he or she needs? What happens? So, they're not thinking this through. There are so many gaps that are going to impact students and what they need to thrive and to live into their full potential. This is wrong. There's no way that you can have a functioning democracy without informed citizens. There's no way that we can have a vibrant and innovative economy without students, 90 percent of our students, going to public schools and learning and having an engaging curriculum and wonderful learning opportunities with qualified and caring staff. This is just ludicrous.

KINKADE: Kim Anderson, we appreciate your time from your car in D.C. Thanks so much for joining us.

ANDERSON: Thank you. Thank you so much.

KINKADE: Well, E.U. leaders are vowing to back Ukraine's military needs, but despite the bloc's strong rhetoric after Thursday's meeting in Brussels, they made no concrete offers to Kyiv and they stopped short of approving its request for 2 million artillery shells.

Now, all this, as peace talks are set to continue between Moscow and Washington, our Frederik Pleitgen reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Moscow has confirmed that the next round of talks between the Russians and the United States is set to take place in Saudi Arabia this coming Monday. And the Russians are also saying that they have already chosen their negotiators and that they are ready to go, essentially.

However, at the same time, the Russians do seem to be trying to tone down the expectations somewhat. They are calling these next round consultations rather than negotiations, and it's unclear how much headway can actually be achieved.

Now, one of the things that the Russians say is definitely going to be talked about is the so-called Black Sea initiative, that is essentially trying to stop fighting in the Black Sea area. For the Ukrainians that would be extremely important because the Ukrainians do use the Black Sea and the ports that they have there to export a lot of their grain, which, of course, is very important for world markets, but also for the Ukrainian economy as well.

And for the Russians, the Black Sea has become very difficult in recent months at the beginning of their special military operation, as they still call it. They use the Black Sea and the Black Sea Fleet to really target Ukrainian cities with missiles that were launched from ships. Now, they can't do that to the same extent because the Ukrainians themselves have developed seaborne unmanned vehicles that have destroyed a lot of Russian ships.

Both the U.S. and Russia, though, say that they hope that headway can be achieved. And at the same time, of course, the fighting in Ukraine continues unrelenting. The Ukrainians are saying that the Russians are still launching drones towards Ukrainian territory, dozens in the night from Wednesday to Thursday.

And the Russians say that the Ukrainians targeted one of Russia's main airbases, called Engels, where the Russians have a substantial part of their strategic bomber fleet with several drones as well. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Well, turning now to Gaza, where the Israeli military says it has begun a ground operation in Gaza's southern city of Rafah. It comes as IDF troops also push into Northern Gaza. Palestinian officials say airstrikes killed at least 85 people Thursday.

Well, meantime, Hamas has confirmed that it fired rockets into Israel for the first time since the ceasefire collapsed. Our Nic Robertson has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The IDF say they have launched a limited ground operation. They're describing it as limited but we do know that part of it is in the distance behind me, along the Mediterranean coast. That's where some of that ground operation is going on. But while we've been here overlooking Gaza, the town behind me, Beit Hanoun, we've seen that hit by what appeared to be an Israeli airstrike. We could hear the fighter jet. We could see the huge plume of smoke rising up from that.

[18:15:00]

And when you zoom in with the camera here and take a look at the terrain there, Beit Hanoun is already incredibly damaged from the previous 15 months of fighting. It is an area that was hit in the overnight strikes by the IDF here, Khan Younis in the center, Rafah in the south as well, according to health officials inside of Gaza.

The IDF dropped warning leaflets telling people in this northern area behind me to evacuate the ground, the defense minister is saying that what could come now in terms of air and ground operation could be worse than the people, the Gazans have seen before. And in fact, he implied that if they didn't get rid of Hamas themselves, then there could be complete ruin and destruction inside of Gaza. So, the threat at the moment does seem to be very big.

And for the first time Hamas, since the ceasefire broke down, and they would say. because Israel never engaged in the phase two talks as they were expected and as had been previously agreed, phase one to phase two talks, Hamas launched rocket strikes, not just small rockets, by the way, some of their larger ones that could reach as far as Tel Aviv. That's what they said they were targeting.

One of those rockets was intercepted by the IDF. The IDF said the other two fell into open spaces. It's not clear yet where Hamas will take their military operation. Will they try and step up a barrage of strikes? But certainly, what we saw over the waning months of the 15 months of fighting was that Hamas' arsenal of rockets was incredibly depleted. They fired only very, very rarely.

And now, the people in the north of Gaza really being prepared by the Israelis, by the IDF to expect a ground operation. (END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Thanks to Nic Robertson there. Well, still ahead, one of Tesla's fiercest defenders on Wall Street says the firm is now in the middle of a full-blown crisis. Dan Ives tells us what the car company must do to turn itself around. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:20:00]

KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade. A not so sunny first day of spring on Wall Street. U.S. stocks finishing Thursday's session lower across the board, with investors failing to build on Wednesday's rally. There was some potentially good news for global trade. The E.U. says some retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods will be delayed from April 1st until mid-April to give both sides more time to negotiate. That's a welcome development for makers of American whiskey, motorboats, and motorcycles. Their goods are facing a 50 percent tariff in the E.U.

Accenture was one of the big losers Thursday, down more than 7 percent. The consulting giant warns that its work for the U.S. government has fallen sharply since Elon Musk and his DOGE team began recommending federal spending cuts.

Well, another volatile day for Tesla on Wall Street. Shares of the electric vehicle giant are lower for most of the session, but managed to claw their way back into the green and finish slightly higher. That said, shares have fallen almost 40 percent this year so far, and that is obviously concerning for Musk, and his polarizing work for the Trump White House will remain a drag on that brand.

Well, increased competition from Chinese EV makers has also been weighing on Tesla stock. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has become the latest Trump official to offer his support for Tesla, and it's beaten down shares. He said on Fox News Wednesday that Tesla is a bargain at these levels.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD LUTNICK, U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY: I think if you want to learn something on this show tonight, buy Tesla. It's unbelievable that this guy's stock is this cheap. It'll never be this cheap again. When people understand the things he's building, the robots he's building, the technology he's building, people are going to be dreaming of today. And, Jesse Watters, and thinking, gosh, I should have bought Elon Musk's stock.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Well, the Trump administration also continuing to support Musk and Tesla amid a wave of vandalism aimed at Tesla cars and facilities across the U.S. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt coming out strongly against those attacks on Tesla during a briefing this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We certainly think it's despicable, the violence that has taken place against Tesla, the company, its employees, and also just Americans who have chosen to drive an electric vehicle. Many of them are Democrats, by the way. Democrats were big supporters of Tesla and of electric vehicles until Elon Musk decided to vote for Donald Trump.

So, we would like Democrats to also come out and condemn this heinous violence that we have seen, and I believe the attorney general has said she's investigating these incidents as acts of domestic terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Well, Tesla dealerships have also been the targets of organized protests over Musk backed cuts to government funding, like this one in Boston last month.

Well, one of Tesla's most high-profile supporters on Wall Street is calling the company's predicament nothing short of a crisis. Dan Ives, who remains a long-term bull on Tesla, says the company is facing, quote, "a defining chapter in their future," and says the next few months for the firm will be crucial.

Dan Ives, the global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities joins me now live. Good to have you with us.

DAN IVES, GLOBAL HEAD OF TECH RESEARCH, WEDBUSH SECURITIES: Great to be here.

KINKADE: So, Tesla's seeing a global drop in sales for the first time ever. And for those who already have Teslas, they're trying to trade them in. I just want to play some sound from Sheryl Crow, the musician.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Now, Dan, Musk famously slept on the floor of his vehicle assembly plant in California. Is it time for him to return to the office?

IVES: Look, I think it's a brand crisis that they're going through. And, you know, I think there's only one person that can fix it. It's not Trump. It's not Lutnick. It's Musk. And I think it comes down to balancing being Tesla's CEO. He could still do some do it yourself initiatives, but the brand issues are at the core, and that's why, you know, this is something. Clock struck midnight, it's time for Musk to now lead what leaders do.

KINKADE: And if he doesn't return, I mean, what's the chance he will step down as the CEO? Should he? IVES: Yes. I mean, look, I think, Musk is Tesla, Tesla is Musk. They're synonymous. And I think this is something where he's going to continue to lead Tesla into this next gen when it comes to autonomous robotics. So, much of the technology innovation ahead. But no doubt, I mean, this is a brand crisis tornado that's essentially happened. It's something where the last thing you want to see is Tesla becoming a political symbol.

And that's -- look, and that's what it's become. And that's the frustration. That's been a huge overhang in the stock.

[18:25:00]

KINKADE: Yes. Because it's interesting seeing the commerce secretary make a sales pitch for Tesla stock. And you know, earlier we saw the president at the White House pitching Tesla cars. Do you think they're hurting the brand?

IVES: I think ultimately that's something that does more harm than good relative to the stock. And when investors are focused on them, because it makes it more and more political. And that fundamentally is the core whether you're red, blue, purple, it comes down to like -- you're talking about one of the biggest disruptive technology companies the world, bestselling car in the world last year Model Y.

And that's something that Musk -- look, Musk -- we've been here before many times in terms of different crisis situations. And there's only one way and only one person to lead Tesla out of this chapter, it's Musk.

KINKADE: So, Dan, what does this mean for Tesla's competitors? Are they doing better?

IVES: Well, I mean, they're clearly looking to gain share, right? I mean, whether it's in U.S., Europe, China, everyone's trying to take advantage because, look now, I mean, Tesla, there's some scrapes, bruises, and stitches and they're trying to take advantage and some have, right? But for Tesla, this is the opportunity where it's a fork in the road moment.

And Musk, you know, really, which way he takes is going to be key in terms of the future of Tesla, which is so bright. But again, the brand issues, balancing it with DOGE is the key. You cannot just be 110 percent in DOGE.

KINKADE: All right. Dan Ives, the global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, appreciate your time. Thank you.

IVES: Thanks.

KINKADE: Well, still to come, a growing legal standoff between the White House and a federal judge. The latest on the battle over those deportation flights next.

And later on the show, everyone's fine in Finland. A bit of a generalization perhaps, but a survey suggests that that nation is the happiest place on Earth.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:30:00]

KINKADE: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Here are more international headlines we're watching today. There have been protests in Turkey over the detention of a key rival of President Tayyip Erdogan. Thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul despite a four-day ban on political gatherings. Istanbul's popular mayor was arrested Wednesday before his party was set to nominate him as the next presidential candidate. Ekrem Imamoglu called on his nation to unite and urged the judiciary to take a stand. Experts say his arrest is aimed at removing challenges to Mr. Erdogan.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has condemned the execution in China of four Canadians convicted of drug smuggling. She told reporters that all four were dual citizens and that Ottawa would ask for leniency for the other Canadians facing the same fate. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged Canada to, quote, "respect the spirit of the rule of law and stop interfering in China's judicial sovereignty."

New details in the investigation of the Delta Airlines crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport last month. Canadian authorities say a landing gear support broke as the plane was coming to land. The crash ripped off a wing and ended with the plane rolling upside down. Incredibly, all 80 passengers and crew on board made it out alive. Although 21 were injured.

Woefully insufficient. That's what a federal judge in Washington says about the Justice Department's response to his request for more details on the deportation flights. Judge James Boasberg says the department submitted a sealed filing shortly after today's deadline where it evaded its obligations. He's now ordering the Trump administration to explain by Tuesday how it did not violate his order over the weekend,.

Boasberg had ordered a halt to flights carrying suspected Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador under the Wartime Alien Enemies Act. Well, now the administration is having to justify why it sent hundreds of people to El Salvador anyway and didn't bring them back.

Norm Eisen is a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution. He investigated President Trump as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee in the first impeachment trial and litigated cases involving Mr. Trump previously. Norm, good to have you with us.

NORM EISEN, FORMER HOUSE JUDICIARY COUNSEL IN TRUMP'S FIRST IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, SENIOR FELLOW, BROOKINGS AND CO-FOUNDER, CONTRARIAN: Thanks for having me.

KINKADE: So, Judge Boasberg has given the Justice Department several opportunities to provide details about those deportation flights and when they took off. After today's deadline passed the judge said the details given were woefully inadequate. If Trump defies the courts, what can the judge do?

EISEN: The judge, in the first instance, can hold the government in civil contempt, he can fine against them in the case, he can penalize them by saying, I'm going to rule against you or draw an inference against you in the case. He can, in the most extreme case, refer for criminal contempt, although that would have to be prosecuted by the government.

It's no laughing matter to run afoul of a judge. If the higher courts, as I think they will, will back up Jeb Boasberg. This is a judge who has been nominated twice for judgeships, once by a Republican president, once by a Democratic president. The chief justice of the United States, himself a Republican nominee, chose Judge Boasberg to be the representative on the -- our FISA court, our court that oversees surveillance activities. He's widely respected.

And looking at the evidence, he seems to be right. His court orders were apparently flouted. So, I think this is going to end badly for the Trump administration.

KINKADE: And of course, Trump carried out these deportation flights under this rarely evoked wartime statute. Some family members of those kicked out of the country said they're not gang members. They were simply in the U.S. trying to seek asylum through the right channels.

Trump, as you know, has called Judge Boasberg a leftist lunatic. You've known him for decades. Tell us more about his track record and what it suggests.

[18:35:00]

EISEN: I first met him when I was a young defense lawyer here in D.C. and he was a prosecutor in our D.C. Superior Court. He's respected by everyone. He's ruled against Democrats often in his career. He plays it down the middle.

The rhetoric that Donald Trump and his allies have used about Judge Boasberg and other judges is so extreme and inappropriate that we saw something, Lynda, we never see in the United States judiciary. The chief justice of the United States, John Roberts, a Republican appointed judge spoke out and condemned Trump saying calls for consequences against judges is not how we do it in the United States. If you don't like an order, appeal it. So, I think that Trump has picked the wrong judge to unfairly attack.

KINKADE: And just to remind our viewers, you, of course, Norm, investigated Donald Trump in the first impeachment. I just want to play some sound of what he said about you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: There's a guy named Norm Eisen. I don't even know what he looks like. His name is Norm Eisen of Crewe. He's been after me for nine years. I don't know who he is. I don't know what he looks like. But everything I read is Norm Eisen of Crewe. And Crewe is a charitable organization. And, That's a political thing. His sole life is to get Donald Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: I mean, just how dangerous is it, Norm, when you say politicians personally attack people in the judiciary?

EISEN: It's terribly wrong, the attacks that Donald Trump has done against judges and others. But why is he singling me out there, Lynda? Because I've been taking him to court at my current nonprofit, the State Democracy Defenders Fund, and we've been winning case after case. We got an order protecting 6,000 FBI agents from being targeted by Trump. We got a preliminary injunction with our partners restoring over 20,000 federal employees to their jobs just on Monday. This week, we won a huge case in federal court that Elon Musk and DOGE, his organization, acted illegally in shutting down USAID. Donald Trump is losing constantly, and he's lashing out because of losing.

But if he thinks he's going to intimidate me, he's got another thing coming. I'm going to work that much harder. And the same is true of our federal judges. Do you know over 80 percent of cases coming before Democratic judges, Democratic appointed judges, Trump has lost also over 80 percent before Republican appointed judges.

KINKADE: Wow.

EISEN: Our judges are not going to be bullied this way, and neither am I.

KINKADE: And speaking of bullying, Trump has lashed out again just moments ago, posting on Truth Social, writing that, Judge James Boasberg is doing everything in his power to usurp the power of the presidency. Here's a local unknown judge. A grandstander looking for publicity and it cannot be for any other reason, because his rulings are so ridiculous and inept. Save America. What's your response?

EISEN: Well, saying one of our most distinguished federal judges is unknown is like when Donald Trump said he doesn't know who I am. When I was in court for his criminal trial, he would glare and point at me multiple times. Jeb Boasberg is one of the most well-known, well respected judges in D.C. and in our country. He's simply applying the law. Donald Trump had no cause and his administration to deport people.

Now, we learn, Lynda, there's innocent people, it appears, who are on that flight. That's why we have the rule of law in America. That's why we have judges. No, Donald Trump cannot ignore the Constitution that says judges make these decisions. And I just think he's making his own situation worse with these tweets, but he can't help himself. That's why he's losing over 80 percent of the time no matter who appoints the judge.

KINKADE: Interesting fact. Norm Eisen, good to have you on the program. Thanks so much.

EISEN: Thanks for having me.

KINKADE: We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back. Stay with us. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:40:00]

KINKADE: Welcome back. A judge has just ruled that a Georgetown University researcher detained by U.S. immigration officials on Monday can't be deported until she reviews the case. Without presenting evidence, the Trump administration accuses Dr. Khan Suri, an Indian national on a visa, of quote, "spreading Hamas propaganda." And says Suri has a close connection with a senior Hamas adviser. CNN's Tom Foreman reports on the immigration crackdown.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A flurry of men in black masks, brandishing weapons, grabbing a Georgetown University fellow as he returned home at night. That is how a lawyer describes the arrest of Dr. Badar Khan Suri by ICE agents. Never mind that a letter from a school official says, we are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity.

The Trump administration insists Suri, now being held more than a thousand miles away in Louisiana, was actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism with close connections to a known or suspected terrorist. It fits neatly into claims by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that academics legally in the country can be legally booted out.

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is not about free speech. This is about people that don't have a right to be in the United States to begin with. No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card, by the way.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Those comments came amid questions about Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, Palestinian rights activist, and permanent U.S. resident. Khalil says immigration agents locked him up for exercising free speech in protest about the Israel- Hamas war. CNN has now obtained images of the flyers that a White House official says is the Hamas propaganda distributed by the group organized by Khalil, a claim Khalil's lawyer denies.

LEAVITT: We have a zero-tolerance policy for siding with terrorists, period.

FOREMAN (voice-over): And there is the case at Brown University of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, deported to her native Lebanon after the White House learned she attended the funeral of a slain leader of another U.S. declared terrorist group Hezbollah.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to keep this press conference on topic.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Administration officials are answering few questions about this case or the others, no matter how hard reporters press. But online, the White House mocked the doctor from Brown in keeping with the stance the president long had during his campaign.

TRUMP: We will revoke the student visas of radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners at our colleges and universities. And we will send them straight back home. They go back home. Enjoy your life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[18:45:00]

KINKADE: Our thanks to Tom Foreman for that report. Well, coming up, breaking barriers. The International Olympic Committee enters a new era with the election of its first female and African leader. We'll have the details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: It is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and a busy day for the sports world. Zimbabwe's sports minister, Kirsty Coventry, has been elected president of the International Olympic Committee. The gold medal Olympian is the first woman and the first African to get the big job.

And here in the U.S., the Boston Celtics is sold for $6.1 billion. If approved by the NBA's board of governors, it would be the largest sale of a sports franchise in history in North America. Well, for more, I want to welcome Patrick Snell. Good to see you, Patrick.

Let's start, of course, with the IOC. Kirsty Coventry smashing the glass ceiling. Now, I got the -- really, the biggest job in sports, right?

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, this is absolutely groundbreaking, Lynda. Kirsty Coventry, a swimming great. I remember for her story career. She won two Olympic gold medals. She's now an absolute trailblazer after landing the most powerful job there is in world sport.

During that story career, I mentioned she was a standout athlete for Zimbabwe, winning seven of the eight Olympic medals her country have ever won so far, including those two goals at the 200 meters backstroke at the '04 Summer Games and then '08 Games in Beijing. She's also the first African, as you mentioned, to head the IOC. And at 41 years of age, Lynda, the youngest ever president too. It's truly groundbreaking history everywhere you look.

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KIRSTY COVENTRY, TWO-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST AND FORMER SWIMMER FOR ZIMBABWE: It's a really powerful signal. It's a signal that were truly global and that we have evolved into an organization that is truly open to diversity. And we're going to continue walking that road in the next eight years.

The IOC and the Olympic movement have lasted so many generations because it brings people together and the diversity is a unifying way for us to connect with each other. So, right now, in today's world, this is our biggest platform to showcase the good of humanity and to share our values as the Olympic movement.

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SNELL: There's so much on the table as well for the new IOC president. Coventry arriving at a time more scrutiny than ever on issues concerning such as gender identity, equality as well. Other issues on the table, how to navigate the unpredictable Trump administration over here in the United States in the lead up to 2028, the Summer Games in Los Angeles, California.

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And you can be sure Lynda, geopolitics will be front and center, as well as the Russia situation the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, just around the corner. How do you reintegrate Russia and Belarusian athletes back into the Olympic fold? Fair to say there's a lot for Kirsty Coventry to tackle.

KINKADE: Yes, a lot of challenges ahead. And I want to ask you about the amazing deal, record-breaking deal for one of the most successful NBA teams in history. The Boston Celtics. Selling for a record $6.1 billion, right?

SNELL: Cool, $6.1 billion. Yes, they're defending champs. Boston Celtics have been sold for a valuation of that staggering amount. It is the largest sale for a sports franchise here in North America. A group led by Bill Chisholm will be the new owners. Chisholm, the managing partner at Symphony Technology Group, is a lifelong Celtics fan, was born and raised in the Boston area, according to ESPN. The current owner CEO, purchasing the team in 2002 for $360 million, he'll continue as CEO through the '27, '28 season. But that is quite the return, Lynda, for one of the most iconic franchises in the whole of sports.

KINKADE: Yes.

SNELL: A busy, busy Thursday, no question. Sending it back to you.

KINKADE: I'm glad you could join us to keep us up to date. Thanks so much, Patrick Snell. Well, finally --

SNELL: Cool. Thank you. Thank you.

KINKADE: -- if you're happy and you know it clap your hands, and flea to Finland. The home of the untamed wilderness, the Northern Lights, and probably the best saunas in the world has been named the happiest place on earth for the eighth year running.

It's joined by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands to make up the top five. The World Happiness Report says these nations benefit from things like high quality health care and education and low inequality.

Australia comes in at number 11, I have to report, but Americans may be extra disappointed. The U.S. falling to number 24, its lowest ranking ever. Well, Michael Plant is one of the report's co-authors. He's also the founder of the Happier Lives Institute, a nonprofit research organization. Good to have you with us.

MICHAEL PLANT, FOUNDER, HAPPIER LIVES INSTITUTE: Happy, happy to stay.

KINKADE: Happy to have you. So, Finland topped the list yet again. What can we all learn from Finland?

PLANT: Well, so, the reason that the Finns keep topping of this is because they're doing a number of things well. So, that there are six factors which go into explaining why some countries are happier than others, and the Finns, they've got a high GDP, healthy life expectancy, their trust in society is high, you can really count on others. There's a sense of freedom, generosity, and there's a very low corruption. So, these things together are kind of what combine to make Finland, let's say, an easy place to feel like your life is going well.

KINKADE: And no surprise that a lot of its neighboring countries, other Nordic countries, are also up there in the top 10.

PLANT: Yes, there's a bit of a theme there. The Nordics are doing something right and there's perhaps one or two things we can learn from them.

KINKADE: Yes, exactly. But sadly, I'm here in the U.S. where it slipped to 24. A huge drop from a decade ago when it was ranked 11th. What's gone wrong?

PLANT: Well, so, I mean, a bonus is that the special relationship continues. The U.K. -- is we are just one place ahead of you. And both countries have been seeing a slide over the last 12 years since records began. In the U.S., the slides are up twice as big as it is in the U.K. So, there is a kind of a steady decline. And the kind of the story here is a bit of a reduction in trust, greater amounts of social isolation.

So, World Happiness Report is kind of it's well-known for its rankings, but they also try and talk about happiness will generally and in the U.S. rates of people eating alone have gone up by 59 percent over the last few years. So, the sort of the social fabric is fraying a bit.

But one of the positive things that comes out of this report, looking at -- is that people -- you can trust other people more than you think that you can. And this relates to studies looking at wallet drops. So, your people are about twice as likely to return your wallet as you think they are.

KINKADE: Wow.

PLANT: So, that kind of a message here is that we should be reaching out to other people. We should be trying to eat with them. And kind of restore and bolster those social bonds. KINKADE: Yes, but as you pointed out, loneliness also on the rise. In terms of population size of nations and generational gaps, what else stood out to you?

PLANT: So, the biggest story which actually came out of last year's Happiness Report and really explains what's going on is the differences in age groups. So, if you're an elderly person in the U.S., actually, you're quite satisfied with life. What's been happening is that young people's life satisfaction has been going down. And actually, the U.S. hasn't changed enormously, but it's really dropped down the rankings quite a bit because young people have been getting happier in other bits of the world.

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So, in Central and Eastern Europe, young people are getting more satisfied with life, and that's what's driving their rise and pushing them up the rankings. So, this kind of story of is it all social media doesn't quite seem to work because, you know, presumably people have phones, you know, in Poland as well.

KINKADE: And nations with smaller populations seem to be doing better. Is that a factor?

PLANT: That is right. I don't quite know why that is. But yes, it seems to be big countries which becoming less happy rather than smaller countries. But stay tuned for someone else to work out the answer to that research question.

KINKADE: So, 30 seconds left. What can we all do to improve our happiness?

PLANT: OK. Well, one thing you can do is you can you can give to charity. So, this is the chapter that my team and I produced in the World Happiness Report. So, we did the -- it's good for your happiness and you can do a huge amount to help other people as well.

So, we did the first ever global comparisons of how much happy charities produce with your money. So, all of this happiness, cost effectiveness work has only been done in the last five years. It's really new. And we find the best charities are hundreds of times more cost effective than others. Put that in context, if you're -- if the least cost-effective charity is the height of a person, the most cost effective charity is going to be four times the height of the Empire State Building, a mile high.

KINKADE: Amazing.

PLANT: So, there really are big differences. You can have an impact if you want. Check out (INAUDIBLE).

KINKADE: Excellent. Good advice. Michael Plant, thanks so much. We've got to leave it there.

And thanks to everyone joining us. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Stay with CNN, much more news next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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