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CNN International: Some Flights Resume At Heathrow; Musk Not Briefed On China War Plan; Next-Gen F-47 To Be Built By Boeing; Use Of Alien Enemies Act "Frightening" Says Judge Boasberg; Alison Kosik's Money Advice For Women; Hamilton Takes First Ferrari F1 Pole; "Snow White" Controversy. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired March 21, 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 HOST: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world and here in the U.S. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Good to have you with us.
Just ahead this hour, Heathrow Airport says some flights are resuming after a fire at a substation shot down Europe's busiest airport. A U.S. judge says the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members is frightening. And controversy surrounds Disney's "Snow White" as the live action remake hits the theaters.
Well, flights are slowly resuming at London's Heathrow airport, which was shut down for almost 24 hours after a nearby electricity substation caught fire and caused a complete power outage. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but authorities say it's not being treated as suspicious. Firefighters are still on the scene.
Travelers returned away for much of the day disrupting tens of thousands of those who are journeyed around the world. Heathrow says it should return to normal operations Saturday, but questions are being asked about how this could happen at one of the world's busiest travel hubs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS WOLDBYE, CEO, HEATHROW AIRPORT: What happened around midnight last night was obviously that we lost a major part of our power supply. And I like to stress that this is -- has been an incident of major severity. It's not a small fire. We have lost power equal to that of a mid-size city. And our backup systems have been working as they should, but they are not sized to run the entire airport.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Willie Walsh, the former head of British Airways and now the leader of the airline industry's top trade group had this to say. How is it that critical infrastructure of national and global importance is totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative? If that is the case, as it seems, then it is a clear planning failure by the airport. Well, our Max Foster has been at Heathrow Airport pretty much all day today covering this story. Good to have you there for us tonight, Max. So, it's hard to believe that a fire, one fire at one substation could cause the entire airport to shut down, impacting hundreds of thousands of travelers around the world, right?
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, well it felt like a national crisis this morning. The anti-terror police were brought in because they thought, how on earth could this happen? But as you say, very quickly they realized it was just an electrical fault at one place. And that backup system didn't work. And then, the backup to the backup system didn't work. And I have to say, there's quite a lot of frustration, I think Willie Walsh was speaking to it there, with the airport because they're saying it was a systemic failure.
Also, another layer of frustration from all the passengers stuck around the world. You can't get hold of the airlines, particularly B.A. But then, Richard Quest was telling me earlier that actually some sympathy for B.A. because they're so inundated, they can't cope with all the calls right now. So, everyone incredibly frustrated.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER (voice-over): A giant blaze lights up the night sky in West London. The fire at an electrical substation knocking out power to the local area and to Europe's busiest airport. By the morning, the flames were under control, but London Heathrow had entered complete shutdown, planes grounded, and thousands of passengers in the UK and around the world stranded.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kind of unbelievable. Just kind of like, what the hell? because this whole trip's been a little bit of a, let's just say, bad luck.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've called Delta and all the lines are busy, so they're not answering. I just called American Express Travel to see if they can help. I'm waiting.
FOSTER (voice-over): The power outage lasted for hours. As the fire also impacted Heathrow's backup power supply. And with an average of 1,300 flights a day, the hit to this major travel hub caused global disruption.
Many flights on route to Heathrow had to be diverted elsewhere. Others kept on the tarmac for hours only for passengers to be told they couldn't fly.
[18:05:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A couple hours ago right as we were about to leave Newfoundland, we were rerouted back to Minneapolis.
FOSTER (voice-over): Some flights resumed late on Friday. The airport's hoping to be fully operational on Saturday. Meanwhile, counter-terrorism police have been called in to lead the investigation. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no suggestion that there is foul play.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just a catastrophic accident is what we're looking at.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is the -- I mean, the conversation I've had is with the National Grid, the chief executive of the National Grid and certainly, that's what he said to me.
FOSTER (voice-over): The chaos caused by this incident could take days to resolve.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is an unprecedented situation and we have not seen a closure of Heathrow on the scale for many years. Unfortunately, it will have a huge impact on all of our customers flying with us over the coming days.
FOSTER (voice-over): Meaning thousands more passengers are heading for delays.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER (on camera): Night flights normally aren't allowed over London, Lynda, but they are being allowed tonight to try to take some pressure off the system. I think the big test will be tomorrow trying to get all those planes back in the right places from all the wrong places they are around the world right now and dealing with the backlog, whilst dealing with all of the bookings they've already got in place. I mean, it is going to take so long to unravel.
KINKADE: Yes, it certainly is. Good to have you there, staying across the door for us today out there in the rain. Thanks, Max. Appreciate it.
Well, I want to hear firsthand now about the disruption affecting one passenger. Steve Wall is at Heathrow Airport Hotel. He's trying to get to Iceland from Australia. Good to have you with us, Steve.
STEVE WALL, PASSENGER STRANDED AT HEATHROW: Well, thanks for having us. Yes. It's been an adventurous last 24 hours.
KINKADE: I bet. So, you've been in transit for over 24 hours. You traveled from Australia, one of the 290,000 passengers stranded as a result of this shutdown at Heathrow. What happened?
WALL: Yes, we were about an hour out off -- touching down in Heathrow this morning. The pilot gave us a heads up. There was going to be a slight change of plans that we'd be diverting to another European airport, or potentially Gatwick, one of the other London airports. It didn't seem like too big a deal at the time, but when we touched down in Gatwick a few hours later and saw the chaos, it was -- yes. It's not what you want to hear after nearly two days of flying, that's for sure.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. And you are heading for Iceland. What's the delay going to cost you? Because we've obviously heard the sudden shutdown, forced planes to divert over Britain, over Europe. Some of the long-haul flights had to return to their departure point. You were thankfully already -- you landed, at least in London, you didn't have to be sent back to Australia.
WALL: Yes, I think it's been a bit of a mad rush for a lot of people to join the dots with connecting flights to get one way or another to wherever they're trying to go. You know, it will cost me a day or two. In the end, I'm going to try and head to the airport first thing tomorrow, and fingers crossed it's all running smoothly. We'll see. But yes, fingers crossed they can reboot everything and get it all going. It's an -- task.
KINKADE: So, which airline were you flying with, Steven? Did they help out with accommodation and meals or did you kind of sort that out yourself?
WALL: I was with British Airways and they've actually been really good and I don't envy their task. They mentioned they had 28,000 passengers to sort of house and deal with today. And I guess this is an unprecedented situation. So, you know, we spent hours sitting around in the airport waiting to get our bags and waiting to get on a bus, waiting to get to a hotel. But, you know, it could have been a lot worse. I'm glad we just made it into London and didn't turn around at the halfway point and have to do it all again.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. And so, just finally, what's your reaction to the fact that like one fire at a substation could shut down Heathrow Airport?
WALL: Yes. It seems unimaginable that it could be a systemic failure on that level with the worldwide ripple effect that obviously is being felt all over right now. Yes. It's hard to imagine.
KINKADE: Well, Steve, I hope you get to take off tomorrow and head back to Iceland after your expedition in Australia. Thanks so much for your time and hope you get some rest tonight.
WALL: Thanks for having us. Cheers.
KINKADE: Well, President Trump dismissing a New York Times report that Elon Musk was going to be briefed on the U.S. plan for potential war with China, saying the head of DOGE was at the Pentagon, rather to discuss cost cutting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Who would do such a thing? And the first thing I did is I called Susie and I called Pete. I said, is there any truth to that? And they said, it's ridiculous. No, he's over there to talk about cost. You might want to address that, Pete. But Elon was over there today to address cost. DOGE, a thing called DOGE, which you've heard about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[18:10:00] KINKADE: Well, the president also acknowledged the Tesla CEO has his own business interests in China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I don't want to show that to anybody, but certainly, you wouldn't show it to a businessman. Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible perhaps to that, but it was such a fake story.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, the time says Musk had been expected to attend the briefing, but instead he had a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after its report. It comes as President Trump announced that the U.S. military's next generation fighter Jet, the F-47, will be built by Boeing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: The Air Force is going to be awarding the contract for the next generation air dominance platform to Boeing. The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, CNN Pentagon Correspondent Oren Liebermann is following this story from D.C. and joins us now. Good to have you with us, Oren. So, the sixth-generation fighter jet. We now know Boeing will take on that contract, but it's going to be named after Donald Trump, the 47th president. What more can you tell us?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: So, I spoke to an Air Force official who gave several other reasons it would be called the F-47. The most obvious one of those is that President Donald Trump named it after his own presidency, but the official says other reasons include a tribute to the P-47 that is a legendary World War II fighter, as well as 1947, the year the Air Force was founded by, I think it's pretty easy and clear to see that the main proponent or the main driver of this is Trump effectively congratulating himself with the name of the fighter jet, and that's unusual in and of itself.
The Air Force is normally the one that designates what we call bomber and fighter aircraft. In fact, that's exactly what we saw with the B- 21 Raider several years ago. But this was Trump on display showing it himself here.
In terms of the details, he repeatedly said it was a sixth-generation fighter. Very advanced and capable. He talked over and over again about its speed. But other than that, he gave very few details and he didn't peg a cost for this fighter jet saying that would reveal some of what's in it. Of course, that also means there is no benchmark for which we can measure it against.
Boeing perhaps a bit of a surprise. Trump himself has railed against Boeing in the Air Force One. That program is very far behind schedule. The KC-46, a tanker aircraft, that the aircraft is purchasing, that's years behind schedule, behind its own timeline for reaching full rate production, and yet, Trump was effusive in his praise of this program and how it will look from here on out.
Lynda, perhaps it's also worth pointing out that Boeing is more traditionally known for producing and designing, I should say, bomber aircraft. It did that for decades. It now has the F-15 and the F-18 Super Hornet. But those were originally from a different company that ultimately merged with Boeing.
So, this is just at the beginning here. A prototype did fly several years ago, but these programs go not over years, but over decades. So, we will have a lot to track here.
KINKADE: And, Oren, just quickly, Elon Musk reportedly was going to the Pentagon according to the New York Times, to have a meeting about a plan for a war with China. The -- Donald Trump obviously denies that today. What more can you tell us about that visit?
LIEBERMANN: So, the outright denial on this has been incredibly not loud, not only from Trump, and you saw that just a couple moments ago, but also from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, essentially a full court press to try to deny this reporting from the New York Times that Elon Musk was coming to the Pentagon essentially to receive what would be a highly classified briefing on U.S. war plans in the event of a war with China.
Now, Musk was in the building for less than 90 minutes. He was there for about 80 minutes or so. There was a crowd outside of the Tank. Now, the Tank in the Pentagon is the room where you would have highly sensitive briefings. We saw the acting chairman of the joint chiefs go in. We saw the Defense Department's chief of staff go in, but Musk never entered that room. Instead, he went upstairs and met with Hegseth. He later, as they walked out, described it as a good meeting. Neither of them would answer questions about what they talked about. It was only later the Trump says when he saw the New York Times reporting, he called his defense secretary and asked if there was any truth to it. He says that Hegseth told him that he was there for DOGE not there for China. So, the administration has clearly come out about where it stands on this story.
KINKADE: Interesting. All right. Oren Liebermann staying across for us from D.C. Thanks so much. Well, staying in Washington, there is a battle over deportation flights, and it continues between a federal judge and the Trump administration.
In today's hearing, Judge James Boasberg called the implications of the use of the Alien Enemies Act, quote, "awfully frightening." The Trump administration evolved the 18th century law when it deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members last weekend despite the judge's order to halt the flight.
[18:15:00]
James Boasberg also said, quote, "I will get to the bottom of whether they violated my order." Larry Sabato joins us now. He's the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. Good to see you, Larry.
LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND EDITOR, "A RETURN TO NORMALCY": Thank you, Lynda.
KINKADE: So, the issue is not whether the government can deport illegal immigrants or undocumented immigrants, it's more how it's being done with no due process. There was no hearing for these migrants that were deported and sent to El Salvador. What stands out to you in the way this is being handled and the grilling we saw today, the judge questioning the Department of Justice lawyers?
SABATO: Well, the first thing is it is becoming apparent that at least a couple, maybe more of the people who were deported to El Salvador were deported on the basis of incorrect information, a misinterpretation of the tattoos they had. So, there's great consternation, obviously, among their families and others.
But as far as the judge is concerned, we have a real conflict between the executive branch and the judiciary. And basically, the executive branch is saying to the judiciary, we will listen to you and obey your rulings when it suits us. That is directly contradictory to the entire history of the relationship between the executive and the judiciary.
It also conflicts with what Chief Justice John Roberts issued in his provoked statement. He didn't mention Trump, but it was very clear that he was sending a message to President Trump that he was to obey judicial orders, and that if he had a problem with them, he was welcome to appeal to the next highest level in the judiciary. That's the way it's worked for 200 years. Obviously, it had no effect on the Justice Department and on Donald Trump.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. I mean, and that rebuke from the chief justice came, of course, after Donald Trump said this judge should be impeached because, obviously, he didn't agree with the outcome. What is the judge saying though about the implications for the Trump administration using a sweeping wartime authority in this way?
SABATO: Well, he's strongly suggesting that this isn't going to hold up. This is not wartime and that it probably will be struck down by higher courts if they're not going to pay attention to this district court or other appellate courts.
So, I think it's possible that this will turn into the constitutional crisis that people have been talking about. I don't think it's quite there yet, but it is shocking that you've had so many high-level officials in the Justice Department just basically giving BS to a judge and refusing to accept his authority, really misleading him, and this is infuriating. The judge, who by the way, has an excellent reputation and was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush.
KINKADE: I want to turn to the other story. New York Times was reporting that Elon Musk was going to the Pentagon today to discuss a war plan for China. Donald Trump came out and said, that is not the case. Of course he wouldn't do that. He has business interests in China, and therefore, it'd be a conflict of interest that despite the fact we've seen both Donald Trump and the commerce secretary try and pitch sales for Tesla stock and Tesla cars. Isn't that a conflict of interest?
SABATO: In my definition it is, it always has been in the definition of conflict of interest. And it's one of many that's developing. This is becoming the central story about Elon Musk, and we're going to see a lot more of this.
Does anybody believe that this very wealthy -- wealthiest person in the world isn't going to use the information that he is gathering from all corners of the federal government for his own advancement and wealth? If not right now, then once he is no longer kind of in and kind of out of the administration. He has no official position. He's not filling a cabinet department. He's not filling a cabinet post. So, this is going to be a problem for Elon Musk, whether he admits it or not, it's going to be a bigger problem for Donald Trump. It's going to be one of those accumulating problems that you can see a mile ahead of time. And there are, you know, almost four years to go.
KINKADE: Yes, we're just at the very beginning. Larry Sabato, good to have you with us. We'll speak soon. Thank you.
SABATO: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, still to come, as the legal arguments continue over the deportations, let's get more on the actual people today's hearing is about. The more than 200 who are deported to El Salvador on those much debated flights, and their families are asking why. Priscilla Alvarez has the details.
[18:20:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Yuli has been searching for her brother. She is one of several Venezuelan families whose relatives have disappeared. They were subject to a sweeping wartime authority that allowed their swift removal from the United States, all accused of having ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Their tattoos appearing to factor into that determination.
She says he's not a criminal. Yuli's brother Jan (ph) arrived in the United States last October after securing an appointment to request asylum where he was later detained. Jan (ph) is a tattoo artist with tattoos of his own, but she says he has no criminal record or ties to the gang. The Department of Homeland Security did not provide CNN the basis for his deportation despite multiple requests.
YURILANA CHACIN, SISTER OF VENEZUELAN DEPORTED TO EL SALVADOR (through translator): He was asked at that time about the tattoos and if he was associated with the gang.
ALVAREZ (voice-over): While in detention, Jan (ph) called his sister often, sometimes multiple times a day to check in.
ALVAREZ: Every morning she says she would sign on to this app, including in the evenings or whenever she got a notification so that she could talk to her brother who is in detention. ALVAREZ (voice-over): In early March, he was moved to a facility in Texas. He had become more anxious, his sister says, and believed he might be deported to Venezuela. Then he vanished. On Sunday, Yuli learned planes had arrived in El Salvador carrying migrants and had a lingering suspicion he might be one of them. As videos and photos released by the Salvador and emerged, Yuli spotted a photo on the news. She felt confident it was her brother.
ALVAREZ: So, she sent this photo her family because she could see the -- she put the arrow to send it to them and say, this could be our brother. She noticed his hair was cut.
ALVAREZ (voice-over): She needed confirmation. Then finally, a call with the Department of Homeland Security confirmed her worst nightmare. Her brother had been sent to a notorious mega prison in El Salvador.
ALVAREZ: Where was he removed?
ALVAREZ (voice-over): It was the answer she was desperately seeking, but also feared. El Salvador Center for Terrorism Confinement known CECOT is the largest prison in the Americas and is infamous for its harsh conditions.
Her brother, like other migrants, is now in Salvador in custody, raising questions about what happens to them next. Trump officials have maintained that those sent CECOT were, quote, "carefully vetted" but also conceded that many of those removed did not have criminal records in the United States.
ALVAREZ: The United States has given you some opportunity, as you've described, but also it's the U.S. government that sent him to El Salvador.
CHACIN (through translator): I just think it's their laws, but you can't judge in prison or jail an innocent person based on your laws. They had to investigate thoroughly.
ALVAREZ (voice-over): Yuli now has some answers, but also plenty of questions among them, how and if she'll ever get her brother back?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, still to come and correspondent Alison Kosik's new book about financial advice for women. Her message, making big decisions about money shouldn't be feared or avoided. We'll have that interview next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:25:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade. An upbeat end to a challenging week on Wall Street. U.S. stocks finishing Friday's session higher in a roller coaster session. The S&P 500 was able to snap a four-week string of losses. All this despite new warnings from corporate America about the uncertain business environment.
FedEx shares fell more than 6 percent after it cut its earnings outlook. Nike also lower after warning of softer sales and the negative impact of tariffs. Tesla ending a turbulent week with gains rising more than 5 percent.
Through our reports. Elon Musk held a live stream meeting with Tesla staff Thursday, where he touted the firm's prospect that helped ease investor fears. He's been spending too much time working for the Trump White House and not enough time running the company as sales slip.
Well, Alison Kosik, a familiar face on CNN as a former business correspondent explaining money and markets for 15 years, but offscreen, she says she lacked the knowledge to apply her experience to her own finances when she worried about how she'd manage if she'd divorced her husband. Well, now, she's laying out strategies for women about making big decisions about money in her new book based on research and interviews called "What's Up with Women and Money?" And she joins me now. Lovely to see you, Alison.
ALISON KOSIK, AUTHOR, "WHAT'S UP WITH WOMEN AND MONEY?": Great to see you as well, Lynda.
KINKADE: So, you spent decades and many years with me talking about finance and financial strategies. Yet, you wrote this book because you realized that you, in your personal life, didn't actually manage finances and it became an issue when you thought about going through a divorce. Just talk to us about that period of time in your life.
KOSIK: Yes, and this is what's embarrassing is, yes, I was CNN's business correspondent and anchor, often reporting from the New York Stock Exchange. But in my own life, I wasn't involved with managing my own financial life. I let my husband handle all things financial, and that wound up being one of the biggest mistakes of my life because when the marriage went bad, when, you know, I realized that he was the one who controlled all the finances, I felt stuck. I stayed in the marriage years longer than I should have.
I just didn't feel confident about making big financial decisions. I didn't feel like I had the knowledge or good judgment to make those big financial decisions because I hadn't actively been making them. I didn't have the experience of making them, you know, what if I made a mistake? What if I lost all of our money? I had two kids under 10 years old at the time.
Fast forward to getting through all that, I realized that there are actually a lot of women who feel like I felt, and I've obviously moved through it. I handle my own finances now. But there are women who are across the economic spectrum, from high earners to low earners, whether she's married, divorced, single, widowed, who are not actively involved in her finances, and it's not something that women readily admit because there's a lot of shame and embarrassment, and there's fear that they're going to be judged by their peers as seeming unintelligent.
So, women don't readily admit this. So, they sit in silence, not getting the financial literacy that they need. So, I wound up writing this book to try to help women not make the same mistakes I did, and to help them get through what they feel might be overwhelming when they start to actually tackle those finances.
KINKADE: And you spoke to a number of well-known business leaders for this book, including actress and the founder of the Honest brand, Jessica Alba. I just want to bring up a statement that she had in your book, speaking about imposter syndrome. She said, it's the fake it until you make it mentality and focusing on the ideal outcome. In a way, you have to start behaving as if it's already happening, and then you eventually believe that it will manifest, it will happen.
Just explain what she means by that.
KOSIK: Yes, she means dive right in. It's almost like when -- for many women, we feel like we have to be experts at everything that we do. And with investing, you really don't have to be, you know, a financial genius to dive right in and to -- you know, to roll up your sleeves and start investing. And I go through these steps in the book, but you know, now with fractional investing and now with, you know, online investing, it makes it so much easier.
[18:30:00]
And I did these interviews, Lynda, for the book because I wrote this book through a journalist lens and not just to give the tips and tools and mechanics of financial literacy, which are clearly important, but to tell the stories of women. So, readers know they're not alone in this. So, you know, these celebrities, they told more inspirational money stories in their own words, but I also talked with a lot of other women with not so recognizable names to tell their cautionary tales of why it's so important for women to have full visibility over the finances in their house and to why they really should be involved in every aspect of the finances happening in their house.
Because life can seem fantastic now, but it can change on a dime. You know, you have to know, you know, where are all your assets? How much debt is your family carrying? What does the life insurance policy look like for your husband? You know, do you know how to pay next month's mortgage? What are the passwords to your investment accounts? Who are the beneficiaries on your accounts? These are things we don't think about every day because we're just living our daily lives. But I realized when I wanted to get a divorce that I didn't know a lot of this, if not all of it.
KINKADE: Yes. And interestingly, you know, historically, culturally, legally men are more likely to look after finances. But it was interesting seeing some of that analysis by fidelity that women actually handle money better when they take that chance. We'll have to leave it there for now, Alison, but it's lovely to see you. All the very best on your book. I can't wait to read it in full. Thanks so much. Your book is --
KOSIK: My pleasure. Thank you.
KOSIK: -- "What's Up With Women and Money?" Alison Kosik, thank you. Well, stay with CNN. We're going to have much more news in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Here are more of the international headlines we are watching today. London's Heathrow Airport is resuming some flights after being forced to completely shut down for most of the day. It all started when a fire at an electrical substation caused a power outage. Heathrow canceled all flights and planes already in the air were diverted to other airports in Britain and Europe.
[18:35:00]
Protesters in Istanbul held a large demonstration over the detention of the city's mayor. He was also the top political rival of Turkey's president, Tayyip Erdogan. He's being investigated for corruption and terrorism, and has denied the charges. He was expected to be named the party's presidential candidate this weekend. Protesters in Istanbul and other cities turned up despite a ban on demonstrations, many were detained by police.
The Sudanese army is celebrating a major battlefield victory after retaking the presidential palace in the capitol Khartoum. The palace has been under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since the early days of the country's civil war. The Sudanese army says it will now continue its push to retake the rest of the capitol. Much of it is still held by the RSF, along with huge swaths of the country.
Well, back now to one of our top stories. President Trump has dismissed a New York Times report that Elon Musk was going to be briefed on the U.S. plan for a potential war with China. Mr. Trump says the head of DOGE was at the Pentagon to discuss cost cutting.
Across the Pacific, Taiwan has been closely monitoring the situation. Our Will Ripley is in Taipei and file this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Taiwan does its own war simulations.
RIPLEY (voice-over): We are inside a top military think tank in Taiwan's capital, tracking Chinese warships just 24 nautical miles off the coast. If China invades Taiwan, it could mean war with the U.S.
RIPLEY: Are there Chinese warships around Taiwan right now?
SU TZU-YUN, DIRECTOR, TAIWAN INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY RESEARCH: Yes.
RIPLEY: Always? Are they always there?
TZU-YUN: Yes.
RIPLEY: So, they could theoretically fire at any time? TZU-YUN: Yes. Conduct a so-called new kind of missile surprise attack.
RIPLEY (voice-over): A new round of Chinese military drills, the People's Liberation Army says are meant to suppress, quote, "Taiwan's separatist forces." The island is responding with its own military exercises preparing for the possibility of war.
RIPLEY: How likely would a surprise attack be with no warning?
TZU-YUN: From their missile to the target, just three minutes.
RIPLEY: Three minutes warning is all you'd have?
TZU-YUN: Yes. There are three stages --
RIPLEY (voice-over): Taiwan runs constant military simulations, the same kind of planning Elon Musk was reportedly expected to be briefed on at the Pentagon according to the New York Times.
ERIC SCHMITT, REPORTER, THE NEW YORK TIMES: The kinds of targets that you might hit in China. The timing of these kinds of strikes. So, it can get into very technical detail.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Trump pushed back on that reporting. In Beijing, the official response silence. But on China's tightly controlled social media, sensors are allowing comments like this. Musk will brief the military on this week's layoff plan. Is this meant to have him pass the message to China? Shanghai Tesla could switch to making shells for China during wartime. Don't worry, Musk is one of us.
The billionaire mogul's close relationship with Chinese officials helped him build this, Tesla's massive Gigafactory in Shanghai. Finished fast with state support. Now, producing more than half of Tesla's global output.
Musk has publicly praised China's leadership, raising alarm here in Taiwan. He once questioned whether Taiwan's status is similar to Hawaii's in the U.S., even suggesting it could be a special administrative zone under Beijing's control. Taiwan's former foreign minister criticized his comments and said, the island is not for sale.
RIPLEY: Do you think the PLA is preparing for war with Taiwan and even with the U.S.?
TZU-YUN: Yes. I do believe that China will conduct a war.
RIPLEY (voice-over): China is developing tools to move tanks and troops across the sea fast. CNN obtained Maxar satellite images taken Friday. China testing a new method to rapidly transport military vehicles and personnel using three stacked barges and a civilian ferry that could be loaded with tanks. Analysts say this kind of drill may be used in a Taiwan invasion scenario where speed and surprise would be critical.
RIPLEY: Why is China building such a large Navy? What do they need it for? TZU-YUN: It's not only just for unification of Taiwan. The real answer is China trying to become a sea power.
RIPLEY (voice-over): And he says, a power in the air and in space. For Taiwan, who the U.S. chooses to trust, it could mean the difference between peace and war.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY (on camera): Elon Musk's SpaceX is now seen as so critical to the Pentagon, Lynda, that China actually considers it a part of the U.S. military. Chinese military university even published a paper on Starlink and its militarization. Now, Starlink, incidentally, is not active here in Taiwan because the company won't comply with local rules requiring 50 percent Taiwanese ownership.
[18:40:00]
So, that means Elon Musk could turn it off at any time, even during wartime. And, Lynda, here in Taipei, that is a risk they are not willing to take.
KINKADE: Wow. Interesting reporting. Will Ripley, good to have you there in Taipei. Thanks so much. Well, much more news to come, including a stunning turn in Shanghai, how Lewis Hamilton has won his first sprint pole position for Ferrari in dramatic fashion. We'll have a live report next.
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KINKADE: Welcome back. Race car driver Lewis Hamilton has secured first sprint pole position for Ferrari in Formula 1. He's said to compete in the sprint race on Saturday at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Hamilton had a disappointing season opening race last weekend in Australia.
Our Patrick Snell is following this and joins us now. So, he didn't have a great start last weekend in Australia, but certainly, he seems to be making up for it in Shanghai, shattering a record, right?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, he does. Lynda. Yes, it wasn't the best of starts as you write you say in Melbourne, but now, the focus is on this coming week. I think we're all still getting used to, right, seeing him in the iconic red of Ferrari. The seven-time world champ from England, hoping to win a standalone record eighth time this season. And on Friday came something that will likely give him a nice jolt of optimism after admitting he still had a lot to learn from last weekend in Australia.
The 40-year-old Hamilton declaring a shock and pry. Look at this, Lynda, after claiming his first pole positions for Ferrari for Saturday Sprint Race in China. Hamilton pipping Red Bulls Max Verstappen with a lap record time of a minute 34 and 849 seconds at the Shanghai Circuit. Incredible performance from him. Oscar Piastri in third. The sprint race taking place on Saturday with qualifying for the main race after that. Let's hear now from Lewis, reflecting on a highly significant Friday in Shanghai.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEWIS HAMILTON, SEVEN-TIME WORLD CHAMPION: I didn't expect that result. But so, so happy and so proud. I think obviously the last race was a disaster for us. And clearly, we knew that there was more performance in the car, but we just weren't able to extract it. So, to come here to a track that I love, Shanghai beautiful place. And the weather's been amazing and the car really came alive from lap one. So, we made some great changes. The team did a fantastic job through the break to get the car ready. And yes, I'm a bit in shock. I can't believe it's actually -- we got a pole in a sprint. It's pretty -- it's obviously it's not the main race. So, we've got work to do for tomorrow, but this puts us in good stead for the race.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[18:45:00]
SNELL: He's really struggling, Lynda, to take it all in. And you know, he is going to be very keen to build on this because the Brit won twice while with the Mercedes team in 2024. His only two wins, by the way, over the last three seasons going into this 2025 campaign. So, huge few months ahead for him starting with this weekend, Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, it's great to see. And, Patrick, turning to soccer or English football, if you like, the new manager of England off to a winning start.
SNELL: Yes. Well, I personally enjoyed this one, a new era, Lynda for England's men's national team. German head coach Thomas Tuchel taking charge of the three lines for the very first time on Friday, England, hosting Albania in 2026 World Cup qualifying action at the iconic Wembley Stadium.
Now, Tuchel, just to reset for our viewers, he was announced as the new manager last October. So, he is had quite the wait to get started, and he will have been utterly delighted to see his team ahead on the 20-minute mark. Myles Lewis Skelly, an incredible moment for the Arsal youngster. He is only 18 and he will never forget this day, I can tell you as he becomes the youngest player in history to score on his senior England debut. What a moment for him. He's the youth.
Here's the veteran. It's the brilliant Harry Kane, doubling the lead, the 31-year-old, with a great touch and finish. And guess what? That's his 70th goal now for his country. Two-nil, the final. And, Lynda, a winning start for Tuchel. He will go for win number two on Monday against Latvia back at Wembley. Back to you.
KINKADE: All right. We might speak on Monday then.
SNELL: OK.
KINKADE: Patrick Snell, have a great weekend.
SNELL: And you.
KINKADE: Wel, still ahead. One of the world's most beloved fairytales gets a glitzy and controversial remake. Why some people are seeing red over Disney's just released "Snow White," next.
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KINKADE: Mirror on the wall, what is the most talked about movie of all? Well, this week, without doubt, it's Disney's remake of the classic film "Snow White." But for all the wrong reasons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a human.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did you think I was?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ghost.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The film which opened in U.S. theaters Friday has had a troubled rollout with the New York Times saying, quote, "Just about everything that could go wrong did." Rachel Zegler, a Latina actress faced racist trolling for not being white enough to play the title character, with some calling the choice "Snow Woke."
Zegler was also criticized for posting free Palestine on X and for speaking out against Donald Trump after the U.S. election. She also raised eyebrows after seeing the original "Snow White" had its issues as well.
[18:50:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL ZEGLER, "SNOW WHITE" ACTRESS: The original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so. There is a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird, weird.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Super weird.
ZEGLER: So, we didn't do that this time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Disney's decision to use CGI instead of real actors to play the seven Dwarfs isn't sitting well with a lot of people either. And amidst all the drama, Disney decided to hold a low key film premiere in Los Angeles last week. But all this begs the question, is the film critic and controversy proof? After all, families are sure to flock to see it. Entertainment journalist Segun Oduolowu joins me now. Good to see you. I'm excited about seeing it with my girls. How you doing?
SEGUN ODUOLOWU, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: I am doing good, Lynda. Thank you for having me. And I did not think that we would be talking about this subject, but let me just put it out there that we will -- I will either be canceled or I will be championed by what I say because if politics makes for strange bedfellows, my goodness gracious, the would-be woke warriors and the rabid right-wing watchdogs need to both just sit down and shut up for a second.
This is a Disney movie. OK. When "Aladdin" debuted in 2019, nobody got mad at Will Smith, a black guy playing a blue genie. Nobody's sensibilities were bruised. That movie grossed a billion dollars. When Halle Bailey, in 2023 played Ariel, a mermaid, mermaids don't exist, no one seemed to have any problems ponying up money, it made half a billion dollars.
So, the bottom line is, will this movie be good. And the would-be woke warriors, Rachel doesn't need to carry the baton for a Latina "Snow White" and try to bring everybody under the tent. Can she sing? Can she act? Will the movie be good? And on the right-wing side of the people that are so angry that a Latina is playing "Snow White," I would ask them to look at Hollywood in its totality, this is a place where I've seen John Wayne play Genghis Khan. I've seen Elizabeth Taylor play Cleopatra. I've seen a man named Christian Bale play a -- play Moses from the Old Testament, right? Christian Bale playing Moses? Like they never seem to complain when it's on the other side.
So, everybody, just pump the brakes a little bit and shut up because Hollywood, you also have some explaining to do letting Al Pacino, who's Italian play "Scarface" from Cuba and then do it again in "Carlito's Way." Both sides really can argue. Bottom line is the movie good? If it is, people will go watch it. Leave your politics at the door.
KINKADE: I love how fired you up. This has really fired you up. So, this film is meant to make somewhere between $45 to $55 million on opening weekend. That's according to Variety, but it is lower than other Disney live action remakes. How has this film be been reworked? Because traditionally, you know, a lot of these Disney princess movies are about a damsel in distress needing to be saved by a prince. Is there a slight change in the way this film is done?
ODUOLOWU: Yes. There have been a lot of writers and basically a Brain Trust has written and decided how this movie is going to come together. Greta Gerwig was brought on to do some rewrites. There have been reshoots due to scheduling changes and people getting sick.
So, the movie, and anyone who knows the movie business at all knows that it's a lot of moving pieces to make the puzzle come to life. And in this case, there have been a lot more puzzle pieces. So, the final product will probably suffer because too many chefs spoil the meal. And there have been a lot of chefs, a lot of rewrites, a lot of people putting input into what is a simple story? It's "Snow White" for goodness's sake. It's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." I have literally heard people in the dwarf community say that this is pandering and a stereotypical way of depicting them. And then, hear people in the dwarf community say the fact that the dwarfs are CGI means you're taking roles away from people, from people with dwarfism that need roles. We can't have it both ways.
Right now, in Hollywood, it's cord cutting. It's people not going to the movies like they used to. They're staying at home and they're streaming things, or they're just not watching movies at all. So, the box office numbers will be down.
But, again, is it good IP? It's "Snow White." This story has been around for hundreds of years. Is it a good movie? And if it isn't, all of the politics be darned, because I can tell you it's not as offensive as "Tropic Thunder" is. And "Tropic Thunder" is a great movie, and it had Robert Downey Jr. playing a black guy in black face and words that I can't say on TV that Ben Stiller was doing, but the movie was funny.
[18:55:00]
And will this movie be entertaining to children? It's a children's movie after all, or for young adults. So, all of the old people weighing in, let it go. And I'm so worked up that my earpiece has just jumped out of my ear. So, I'm reaching back to like put it in because I am so worked up that people are mad about "Snow White." OK. I'm back with you.
KINKADE: There's so much controversy. I mean, even the political tension I've been reading about between the two leading ladies, so much so apparently, they didn't want to do press together, right?
ODUOLOWU: And they shouldn't. Listen, I'm here for actors and actresses with a platform speaking their mind, but remember that you're an actor or an actress and not an activist. OK? Let's not let the exception be the rule. There are the George Clooneys and the Sean Penns that go to the Darfur and the Haiti and speak out about injustices. There are the Spike Lees and the Jane Fondas that have been doing this type of work for a long time.
Rachel Zegler talking about free Palestine, I'm sorry, but unless you've been there, like you're not Ta-Nehisi Coates writing a book after visiting and seeing what's going on in the Middle East. You don't have the gravitas especially to talk to a Gal Gadot, who is Israeli and was in the Israeli army. For sure there's going to be tension there.
KINKADE: There is some tension --
ODUOLOWU: No delaying actors and actresses. (INAUDIBLE).
KINKADE: There is a lot to discuss. I wish we had more time. Segun, good to see you. As always. I'm going to check out the film this weekend. I hope to chat with you again soon. Thanks so much. Have a good weekend. ODUOLOWU: You too. Always a pleasure. My earpiece will stay in next time.
KINKADE: And thanks so much for your company. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Have a great weekend.
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