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U.S. Government Under Pressure to End Partial Shutdown; Ben Hunte Interviews St. Paul City Council's Vice President; CNN's Fred Pleitgen Interviews Iran's Foreign Minister; Bomb Cyclone Drops Historic Amounts Of Snow On Southeast; 300+ Dead As Floods Sweep Across Southern Africa; Kendrick Lamar, Sza Win Record Of The Year For "Luther"; A Season Of Tradition & Celebration Kicks Off In Italy. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired February 02, 2026 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hello wherever you are in the world. You are now in the "CNN Newsroom" with me, Ben Hunte, in Atlanta. It is so good to have you with me.

Coming up on the show, under pressure to end a partial U.S. government shutdown. We'll tell you where things stand and when a vote is expected. Iran's top diplomat says he's confident a deal can be made with the U.S. and this is a CNN exclusive interview. And the music industry's biggest night, from the Grammys big winners to the political statement made both on and off the stage.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom with Ben Hunte."

HUNTE: Welcome. It is the start of the week in Washington. And first thing on the agenda, work to end the government shutdown. But a vote from the House on a group of bills to fund the federal government isn't expected until Tuesday at the earliest.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries had told Republicans they could not count on Democratic votes. But sources now tell CNN some Democrats voiced support for the package during a private call on Sunday.

The deal on the table would fund most of the government through September. Homeland Security, however, would only get funded for two weeks while lawmakers discuss potential reforms to federal immigration enforcement.

However, brief this shutdown is, federal work is already feeling a sting. More than 10,000 employees from the Federal Aviation Administration will be furloughed. That also means air traffic controllers will once again be forced to work without pay until the government reopens.

CNN's Camila Dechalus has the latest for us from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAMILA DECHALUS, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, it looks like this government shutdown could last longer than anticipated. But we are hearing that it could last until this upcoming Tuesday.

Now, at this point in time, we're hearing that House Democrats are not happy that the Senate passed the remaining spending bills that funded different parts of the government because it included a short-term funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. And that really is the issue among Democrats and Republicans. Democrats feel that that extension should not have been given, especially in light of the recent events in Minneapolis.

And now, you even have the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, telling the House speaker, Mike Johnson, that Democrats will not help Republicans pass the remaining spending bills in order to end this partial government shutdown. And this is now creating a huge problem. Take a listen to what Jeffries and even Johnson had to say about what is going on right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTEN WELKER, NBC NEWS WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Are you confident that the government will reopen on Monday with Republican votes? Do you have enough Republican support?

MIKE JOHNSON, SPEAKER OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Well, let's say I'm confident that we'll do it at least by Tuesday. We have a logistical challenge of getting everyone in town. And because of the conversation I had with Hakeem Jeffries, I know that we've got to pass a rule and probably do this mostly on our own. I think that's very unfortunate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC HOST: Will the House follow the Senate's lead and vote to keep the government open?

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): Well, it a meaningful step in the right direction. Certainly, the separation of the five bipartisan bills, which in our view promote the health, the safety, and the economic well-being of the American people, need to move forward. And we'll meet later on this afternoon as a caucus to discuss what we believe is the best path.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DECHALUS: Now, we're also hearing that House Democrats are going to be talking amongst each other just in the upcoming hours, just really talking about their game plan and how to move forward.

But to be clear, this really puts the House speaker, Mike Johnson, in a tough position because he was hoping to fast track and move these bills forward in order to end the shutdown. But without Democratic support, he's really going to have to heavily rely on the House Republican lawmakers on the House side to really move these bills forward.

But even their support is not guaranteed. We're hearing from several conservative Republicans that they are unhappy about a lot of the provisions included in spending packages.

And so, you really see that this is going to present just another challenge for the House speaker and his efforts to try to reopen the government. And really, the big picture here is that the longer that this government shutdown lasts, the more disruptions and the more delays we are going to see and how this is going to affect everyone in America just because of what is happening, how this government shutdown is going to continue.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father are finally back in Minneapolis after being released from a Texas detention center.

[02:05:03]

Federal officials had taken them into custody from outside their suburban house in Minnesota. The image of an officer holding Liam's Spiderman backpack sparked national outcry of the detention of a child. Officials were accused of using Liam as bait to get his mother to open the door, which the administration does deny.

The judge who ordered their release issued a blistering opinion calling out immigration officials for their tactics as well as their use of administrative warrants. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche responded to the judge's ruling during an interview with ABC.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD BLANCHE, UNITED STATES DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: The immigration law, the body of immigration law, is much different than our typical criminal process because of the administrative nature of what we do every day. And so, to the extent that we need to appeal that judge's decision, I promise we will.

STEPHANOPOULOS: To clarify, the lawyer for Liam Ramos and his father say they were following the legal process for asylum.

BLANCHE: I don't know what that means. There's a very meaningful dispute about whether they had properly applied for asylum.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Meanwhile, there were massive protests across the U.S. this weekend with demonstrators calling for ICE agents to leave their cities. It comes after the deadly shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota by federal officers. Demonstrations, school walkouts, and business closures began on Friday and took place from coast to coast. Protesters have been calling for an end to the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration.

Hwa Jeong Kim is the St. Paul City Council vice president and the Executive Director of Minnesota Voice. Thank you so much for being with me. How are you doing?

HWA JEONG KIM, VICE PRESIDENT OF ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MINNESOTA VOICE: I'm doing well. Thank you.

HUNTE: Thank you for being here. What has really stood out to me over the past few weeks is how neighbors have stepped in to help each other. We've seen people recording enforcement actions, delivering food, helping complete strangers. What have you seen happening on the ground and how has it made you feel?

KIM: Yes. I mean, we're seeing everyday people sort of step into the necessity of community care. I'm seeing folks moving some from sort of the individualistic mentality to what is our collective need and how do we help our neighbors. And I think right now, more than anything, Minnesotans really need to feel care and hope. And everyday action is really giving our neighbors across the state feel hope in this really dire moment.

HUNTE: Even before the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, fear of federal agents was spreading so fast in so many communities. How has that fear changed daily life for families where you are?

KIM: Yeas. I mean, they're not going to work. They're not able to pay rent. Children are not going to school, so not getting sort of the education that they need. We're seeing reduction of attendance in our rec programming and our library attendance. So, just regular everyday life. And earlier today, I was helping someone try to get their car out of the impound lot, and they're too afraid to even go to the impound lot.

So, we're seeing a lot of folks shelter in place and -- which, quite frankly, continues to necessitate the reason for collective action and mutual aid.

HUNTE: Churches, non-profits, and volunteers are also filling the gaps that the government doesn't currently want to fill. We've seen food drives, shelters, legal help. How coordinated is that effort and how close is it to being overwhelmed?

KIM: I mean, the need is very high. One family alone will need multiple months of rent, $20,000 of bail money for charges that never stick, legal aid funds, food drives. The need could not be higher. So, I don't know what point at which we start to feel the crush of the need.

And what's incredibly important to note is that a lot of these efforts are localized. So yes, it's a church, but they're serving folks in their neighborhood. Yes, it's a grocery store, but they're serving their patrons.

And so, the more we decentralize this effort, I don't think the system will ever be overwhelmed. And, again, it takes sort of consistent presence of time and dedication to give to these mutual aid systems to sustain itself. And I think that's the biggest thing to note, is that these systems can and should and must in a lot of ways continue because that's how we care for one another.

HUNTE: A lot of this does trace back to DHS funding and federal priorities. From a city perspective, what would a different funding approach actually change for communities like yours?

KIM: Well, the federal government served subpoenas for Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, which facilitates a lot of our health and human services and sort of the state-mandated programs.

[02:10:00]

And so, it would have a tremendous impact. Families potentially wouldn't get WIC or SNAP or health care. And so, sort of that struggle to just put food on the table continues to compound the issues of the federal insurgents that we're having here. It is the ability to even eat, to house yourself, and take care of your children and your family. And a lot of the social services that we facilitate are funded through the federal government as it passes through the state.

HUNTE: We know from social media that some people are pointing at local leaders and volunteers and saying that they've blocked law enforcement and they shouldn't be putting federal agents on blast. How do you respond to that tension?

KIM: I think that with a federal government that's pointing fingers at communities like mine, as sort of the boogeyman and some -- they need someone to blame. And so, for them not to take the same criticism is sort of ironic.

But I think more -- we need more and more folks to join the choir of voices that are calling for justice, calling for a more liberated future. It can't just be you are elected. We need everyday people to start these conversations at their grocery store and with their neighbors and with their congregations. This has to be a movement and a narrative that happens in mass and not just with local elections (ph).

HUNTE: As protests do continue and more are expected, what do you want people outside of Minnesota to understand about what's really driving the movement there?

KIM: That hope is a conscious practice. And even if there isn't sort of the threat of federal occupation in your neighborhood or in your area, the power of even just knowing and caring about your neighbors is the thing that's going to turn this around because authoritarianism and fascism wants us to believe that we're all enemies and that we can't take care of one another and that we should fear one another.

And so, even the simple act of getting to know your neighbor goes really long ways. Helping mow their yard, shoveling their sidewalks here in Minnesota, that is a very neighborly act to do. But it doesn't take an authoritarian regime to look up and look around and reach out to someone and care about them. HUNTE: OK. We'll leave it there for now. Thank you so much, Hwa Jeong Kim. Appreciate it.

KIM: Yes. Thank you.

HUNTE: The Department of Justice says there will be no new Epstein- related charges as more files are released. Pictures like these have been among millions of documents released over the past few weeks. More than three million pages were released on Friday, according to the DOJ. Some have been withheld based on different legal privileges. That's according to officials.

But despite what the photos appear to show or what other files contain, the deputy attorney general says none of it meets the threshold for prosecution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLANCHE: I can't talk about any investigations. But I will say the following, which is that in July, the Department of Justice said that we had reviewed the files, the -- quote -- "Epstein files," and there was nothing in there that allowed us to prosecute anybody. We then released over three and a half million pieces of paper, which the entire world can look at now and see if we got it wrong.

So, there's a lot of correspondence, there's a lot of emails, there's a lot of photographs. There's a lot of horrible photographs that appear to have taken by Mr. Epstein or people around him. But that doesn't allow us necessarily to prosecute somebody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: The fallout from the latest Epstein file release seems a bit more clear in the U.K. Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned his membership in Britain's Labour Party. According to Britain's press association, he says it's to avoid further embarrassment about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson lost his job as U.S. ambassador last year because of his connections to the late and disgraced financier who he once called -- quote -- "my best pal."

Donald Trump says he plans to shut down the Kennedy Center for two years for renovations. The Washington Performing Arts Center has faced financial struggles amid backlash from artists with several canceling performances, including award-winning composer Philip Glass and the hit musical Hamilton. Trump's aggressive efforts to reshape the center began with firing of multiple board members and putting loyalist in charge. They later added his name to the building. The renovations are scheduled to begin in July.

Russia is facing new accusations of targeting civilians in Ukraine following drone strikes on a bus and a maternity ward on Sunday. At least 12 mine workers were killed and eight others wounded after a Russian drone struck their bus in southeastern Ukraine.

[02:15:01] Their employer, Ukraine's largest private energy company, says the bus was taking workers home from a coal mine and that the strike was part of a larger attack on its mining operations in the region. That happened just hours after a separate strike on a maternity hospital in nearby Zaporizhzhia. At least six people were injured in that attack. Ukrainian officials say all medical staff and patients, including three women in labor, were able to get into shelters in time.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, calling them a crime and deliberate escalation by Russia. He later confirmed on X that another round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and the U.S. are expected to take place later this week in Abu Dhabi.

OK, still to come, how Iran is responding to President Trump's threats of military action and what its officials say about the chances of making a nuclear deal with the U.S. Plus, the bomb cyclone has come and gone, but parts of southeastern United States are still dealing with its impacts. All of that and so much more when we come back. See you in a moment.

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[02:20:00]

HUNTE: Welcome back. Iranian officials say they are confident that they'll be able to strike a nuclear deal with the United States. That optimistic message comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to take military action against Iran if it doesn't agree to negotiate a nuclear deal. In recent weeks, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Mideast, and that includes the arrival of the Lincoln carrier strike group.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warns that his country will respond in kind to any military attack. He promises any conflict would turn into a -- quote -- "regional war."

President Trump responded to those comments on Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Why wouldn't he say that? Of course, he wouldn't say that. But we have the biggest, most powerful ship in the world over there, very close, couple of days. And, hopefully, we'll make a deal. If we don't make a deal, then we'll find out whether or not he was right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: CNN senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen spoke with Iran's foreign minister in an exclusive interview to get his reaction to the latest comments from the U.S. president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: So, I'm not concerned about war. What I'm concerned of is miscalculations and military operation based on misinformation and disinformation campaigns. It is obvious to us that there are certain elements, certain parties who want to drag President Trump into this war for their own benefits. And I think President Trump is wise enough to make the correct decision.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: How can a meaningful negotiation process be jump-started right now?

ARAGHCHI: A meaningful negotiation should be based on trust. And unfortunately, we have lost our trust to the United States as a negotiating partner. We need to overcome this mistrust. There are now some intermediators, some friendly countries in the region who are trying to build this confidence. It is difficult, but they are trying. So, I see the possibility of another talk if the U.S. negotiation team follows what President Trump said, to come to a fair and equitable deal to ensure that there is no nuclear weapon.

PLEITGEN: So, if this confidence is built, if you get to that stage, you are ready and willing to sit down directly with the American side, with someone like Witkoff, and talk?

ARAGHCHI: The question of directly and indirectly is something else. That is the form of negotiation. We have to -- we have to --

PLEITGEN: That is what they say they want.

ARAGHCHI: Yes. But we have to take care of the substance of negotiation, and that is more important.

PLEITGEN: Yes. President Trump says that negotiations are already going on. He has said overnight that there are negotiations taking place. How does that work right now with this confidence building, with countries in the region also helping?

ARAGHCHI: That is through intermediators. As I said, there are some countries who convey messages and who are trying to build confidence and to prepare the ground for a meaningful negotiation. And we are working with them, and we are exchanging messages.

PLEITGEN: Would you say that these talks that are going on right now are fruitful and can lead to a de-escalation of the situation to a point where real talks can take place?

ARAGHCHI: I think, so far, yes, fruitful.

PLEITGEN: Things like enrichment, things like ballistic missiles, things like proxy forces in the region, I know that the United States has talked about wanting to negotiate about that as well. Is that completely out of the question for you or is that something you could at least talk about?

ARAGHCHI: President Trump said no nuclear weapons, and we fully agree. We fully agree with that. That could be a very good deal. Of course, in return, we expect sanction lifting. So, that deal is possible. Let's do not talk about impossible things. PLEITGEN: What do you think the consequences would be if there was a full-on military confrontation between Iran and the United States? Because I know your military has changed its doctrine, that if there is a major attack, it would be considered existential for the Islamic Republic. What would that mean for the region here?

ARAGHCHI: If war starts, that would be a disaster for everybody. In the previous war, we tried hard to limit the scope of war between Iran and Israel. This time, if it is between Iran and the U.S., since the U.S. bases are spread all over the region, then, inevitably, you know, many parts of the region would be involved, engaged, and that could be very dangerous.

[02:24:55]

Our missiles were tested in a real war last time, and we were able to, you know, understand their problems, their weak points, and their strengths. So, we learned many lessons from those 12 days of war, and I think we are now very well prepared. But, again, being prepared doesn't mean that we want war. We want to prevent the war.

PLEITGEN: President Trump said he's also concerned about the rights of those who are in custody. As you know, he said that he believes that he prevented hangings from taking place here in Iran. Can you guarantee the rights of those who have been detained and whose cases are being looked into right now?

ARAGHCHI: Of course. First of all, there was no plan for executions or hangings. So, there were no plans as such. And right now, I can, you know, affirm that the right of each and every person who is arrested and detained would be observed and guaranteed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: After nearly two years, the Rafah Crossing, the crucial lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza, is expected to reopen partially on Monday. A trial phase was conducted on Sunday. The crossing, which connects Gaza and Egypt, will allow a limited number of Palestinians to leave the war-torn enclave. But a steep price to cross and the lengthy security processes mean very few can realistically expect to leave. The reopening would bring to conclusion the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire deal. Israel had refused to open a crossing until the return of all of the hostages. The final deceased hostage was returned to Israel last week.

Still ahead, dangerous road conditions remain after a bomb cyclone dropped historic amounts of snow across the southeastern U.S. The latest on the storm's aftermath when we come back. And later, major wins and major upsets. The stars came out for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. But did the biggest performances of the year actually deliver? We'll be talking about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:30:15]

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back.

Severe cold is enveloping much of the Southeastern U.S. as that powerful bomb cyclone moves out to sea. Brutally low temperatures are expected to last for much of the week, making things tough for more than 80,000 customers who are currently without power, from Tennessee to Florida. Several Florida cities woke up today to record breaking low temperatures, which caused some iguanas to temporarily lose muscle control and fall from trees, seemingly frozen. Look at those pictures.

And in South Carolina, some beaches got more snow from this storm than many western cities have seen all winter.

Meanwhile, officials in North Carolina are urging people to just stay home as they work to clean up from the storm, which is blamed for more than 1,000 traffic accidents, including two fatalities in the state.

CNN's Dianne Gallagher reports from Charlotte, North Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT : The bomb cyclone may have said goodbye to the Carolinas, but its effects will be felt for days to come here. Record breaking amount of snow fell all across the state, the governor said that every single one of North Carolina's 100 counties had some kind of snowfall. And here in places like Charlotte, it was again record-breaking, the fourth highest amount of snow that has fallen in the history of the city, tied with a record set back in 1880, 11 inches here.

Now, there are a lot of people out and about on Sunday enjoying themselves and the snow. But there are too many people doing exactly that. They are driving. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, there were plenty of people on the roads which led to unfortunately, two fatalities as well as more than a thousand collisions that were reported to them during the storm. And there were incidents like a train hitting a semi-truck, which thankfully no one was injured, and a 100 car backup that shut down an interstate on Saturday night.

They warned that roads that look like this right now, part of it might still be packed with snow. Some of its melting look, secondary streets could take up to a week for them to get to, although they are plowing some of the main roads right now and a lot of them do look good, across the city of Charlotte. But this wet, mushy, slushy stuff, it's likely going to refreeze, continuing to cause issues throughout the week here in the Carolinas, like black ice, slick slippery roadways, and potentially, for some, the inability to get out and around town.

Officials are asking you if you do not need to, please do not drive as they attempt to clean up the streets if you can on foot, go out and enjoy this rare and record-breaking southern snow.

Dianne Gallagher, back to you

(END VIDEOTAPE) HUNTE: The cold isn't stopping the group of Buddhist monks who are trekking across America in a walk for peace. That is, despite encountering ice and snow in Virginia over the weekend. They're set to mark the 100th day of their 2,300-mile journey on Monday. Their dog is part of the trip, although he's been mostly riding in a vehicle since having an operation along the way. The group started in Texas and is set to end in Washington, D.C. Crowds have gathered along their route to share, in the spirit of mindfulness, loving kindness and compassion. And if you want to follow along, you can on social media.

More than 300 people are dead and hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes after weeks of torrential rain and flooding in southern Africa.

CNN's Lynda Kinkade reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LYNDA KINKADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Residents of Zambia's capital city wade through knee deep waters after heavy floods swept through southern Africa, with children picking their way across waterlogged alleys and streets to attend class. Community members say they've largely had to rely on their own efforts to drain the water from submerged roads and homes.

STELLA KUMWENDA, LUSAKA RESIDENT: Condition was bad. We were immersed in water, even some houses were flooded with water inside, inside and outside. So, as a community, we try to help ourselves by buying a machine to pump the water out into the main drainage.

KINKADE (voice-over): Zambia is just one of the latest examples of the catastrophic flooding that's been hammering the region, with one report finding some areas have seen more than a years' worth of rain in a matter of days.

According to the United Nations, it's estimated about 300 people have died. Another 800,000 have been affected by the intense rainfall and floods since mid-December. Mozambique has been especially hard hit, with powerful flood waters collapsing roadways in some areas and making evacuations and rescues more difficult.

ANGELINA MACHAVA, DISPLACED JOSINA ISLAND RESIDENT: So local teacher, some of them are children. They took us to the top of the desk so that we could be sitting. We sat there from night to morning. There was no way to sleep in the water. We stayed for three days in the water and we left on the fourth day.

KINKADE: Scientists say the climate crisis and La Nina are fueling the devastating floods with a new report finding the intensity of extreme rainfall events has increased by 40 percent compared to pre- industrial times.

DR. FERRIAL ADAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WATERCAN: We've experienced El Nino, La Nina for a long time. You know, it's decades, centuries. We know about it. But when you have climate change and you're dealing with a warmer climate, generally in where we are in the Southern African region, when it rains, it\s not the same kind of rain. It's much harsher. It's harder. And that is what results into the extreme floods we're seeing right now.

KINKADE: Lynda Kinkade, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Still to come on CNN NEWSROOM, it is the biggest night in music. We'll break down the best moments and wins from the 68th Grammy Awards. See you tomorrow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HUNTE: Welcome back.

The 68th Grammy Awards ended just a few hours ago, with rapper Kendrick Lamar walking away with the most awards of the night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESENTERS: And the Grammy goes to -- Kendrick Lamar.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Lamar took home five trophies, including Record of the Year and Best Rap Album. That was thanks in part to his song Luther, featuring SZA off his album GNX.

[02:40:02]

The award for Best New Artist went to Olivia Dean, whose summertime hit "Man I Need" went massively viral. It gave the London native her first Billboard Hot 100 hit, currently sitting at number two on the charts still.

And the night's biggest award, Album of the Year, went to Bad Bunny. During one of his multiple acceptance speeches, the Puerto Rican performer took aim at Washington for its immigration crackdown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BAD BUNNY, MUSICIAN: Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say, ICE out.

We're not savage. We're not animals. We're not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Nick Reilly is a content editor at "Rolling Stone UK" and joins me to break down this big night.

Nick, thanks for being with me. How are you doing this morning?

NICK REILLY, CONTENT EDITOR, ROLLING STONE UK: Yeah. I'm good. Thanks, Ben. Thanks for having me. HUNTE: Yeah, it's good to see you. This Grammy's felt pretty

eventful. Let's go through some of the biggest moments. Bad Bunny's acceptance speech was explosive. How culturally significant was it? And what made it stand out to you?

REILLY: Well, I think in terms of cultural significance, it's the fact that he became the first Spanish language artist to win Album of the Year, which goes without saying, is hugely historical moment. And I think he reflected that very much in his speech. He kind of spoke about the fact of being a Puerto Rican and the fact that he's had this incredible global fame.

And then as you kind of touched on there, he did say, ICE out. He said, we're not savage. We're not animals. And I think it was this moment, certainly, where he was able to reflect on the, I guess, the staggering power of what he had just done and the fact that his album had won.

But also, I think, very much reflecting the sentiment and the feeling that is so prevalent and the fear that is so prevalent at the moment as well. So yeah, I think he really nicely balanced the two.

HUNTE: We saw some insane visuals from Lady Gaga in her abracadabra outfit to Justin Bieber performing in just his shorts and socks. What were your favorite bits from the night?

REILLY: Yeah, I think that Bieber's really, really stood out. I think it's the fact that he had this kind of massive moment to do Grammy's performance with "Yukon" and thought that, you know, I'm just going to do something that people won't expect. And certainly you don't get more unexpected than, as you can see, there, performing in his boxers with his mixing desk and topless. I think he really kind of stripped that back. I thought that that was an amazing thing from him.

From the British side, Olivia Dean's "Man I Need" performance was incredible, like, it goes out saying she's had a massive year. I think she's doing three or four dates at Madison Square Garden in the summer. And then obviously she won best new artist, which was presented to her by Chappell Roan. So, I think it was an amazing moment for her.

Also continuing that British charge, we saw Yungblud, he won best rock performance for his performance of "Changes" from Ozzy Osbourne's final concert at Villa Park last summer. And in his acceptance speech, he spoke about the kind of power and the privilege of knowing Ozzy and Ozzy essentially kind of passing that that baton of rock and roll onto him.

We saw Lola Young win for best pop solo. So, for as much as you know, there was Bad Bunny winning. There was Kendrick Lamar winning, it was a pretty decent night to be a British artist, too, I'd say.

HUNTE: Yes, in fact, so much so. You just snatched my next question, which was going to be me shouting out London. But anyway, it's fine. We'll go on to the next one. Kendrick Lamar has now officially become the most awarded rapper in

Grammy history. What does that say about where hip hop sits right now in the Academy's priorities?

REILLY: Yeah, I think it shows that, as ever, hip hop is right up there and it's right for historical place and being awarded, given all the flowers that it should do. Let's not forget now, Kendrick has won 27 Grammys. I mean, like, where would you even consider putting 27 Grammys in your house? I mean, I guess it's a very big house. I'm sure that's not a problem for him.

But that's a hell of a lot. And also, it means that he's now more awarded with than Jay-Z. So, he won five last night. He's now got 27. Which would then make you think will Jay-Z be like, okay, right then. Kendrick, you've thrown down the gantlet. I'm going to come back and do something and try and reclaim it. So perhaps now, it's now a space for Jay-Z to be like, okay, now I've got to go and win some more Grammys myself. Although perhaps not. He seems like a very magnanimous and graceful man.

But either way, yeah, it was an amazing night for hip hop, for rap. Kendrick has now won 27 Grammys, which is no mean feat.

HUNTE: It is insane. Billie Eilish made history by winning Song of the Year for a third time, then also used that moment to deliver quite a strong political message.

[02:45:02]

Were you surprised?

REILLY: No, I wasn't. I think one of the best things about Billie is the fact that she's been an artist who is very authentic in her music and what she wants to do. But also, she's not afraid to speak out about the things that really matter to her. She's been kind of outspoken about ICE before. So, for her to then use that speech and use that platform to reinforce those sentiments and exactly how she feels was, you know, it was no surprise. So, yeah, I think that -- that using that kind of speech, no one should be surprised/

HUNTE: The in memoriam segment was amazing. Just speaking to my team about it before. Loved it.

And Lauryn Hill not only emceed, but also performed like a 12-minute performance. Do you think that she met the massive expectations that were there for her?

REILLY: Yeah, absolutely. I think a 12-minute performance more than meets that. And I think that you need someone with the kind of gravitas and the power to do something that I guess can really celebrate all those artists that have left us in the last year, and certainly a 12-minute performance. And from someone as celebrated and as brilliant as Lauryn Hill was the perfect way of doing that.

HUNTE: Love it. This night blended celebration, protest, nostalgia and spectacle in a way that we don't always see. Do you think that this Grammys marked a bit of a turning point for the show, or was it just a reflection of the cultural moment that we're in in the U.S. right now?

REILLY: Yeah, I don't think it's necessarily a turning point because I think artists, you know, whenever history dictates, whenever something of the times is really happening, they have a -- they feel like they have a duty perhaps to speak out. And that's certainly been the case before. And I think going into last night's ceremony, there was very much the feeling that ICE out would be the kind of feeling among artists, and they would use their platform to do it, and that is what they very much did.

So, I think it's a very much a reflection of the times. And I think artists will always feel like they have a duty or a responsibility to speak out when they're so required to do so. So, I think, yeah, maybe less so a turning point, but very much a reflection of the kind of, very kind of terse and heated climate in America at the moment.

HUNTE: It's a very interesting time. Yes, indeed.

For now, Nick Reilly, thank you so much for that. I really enjoyed it. Appreciate it.

REILLY: Thanks so much.

HUNTE: See you later.

Okay. Italy's famous carnival celebrations are underway and this year, there's something extra adding to the excitement. We'll take you to Venice after this break

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:51:27]

HUNTE: Welcome back.

As Italy looks ahead to a major year on the world stage, one of its oldest traditions is kicking off a season of celebration.

CNN's Barbie Latza Nadeau takes us to Venice for the start of carnival.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Let the party begin in Venice. A water parade kicking off carnival in Italy's floating city. By tradition, it's led by a papier mache rat with hundreds of boats in tow.

That erupts into streams of confetti at the rialto bridge. It's a spectacle that draws locals and tourists alike to the grand canal.

MICHELA GAROFANO, CARNIVAL REVELER: It's wonderful to see all these people in costume. Beautiful. A really nice atmosphere. NADEAU (voice-over): And you never know just who you'll see on the

waterway. Like these gondoliers from a galaxy far, far away. Or a lookalike pope who took a quick break from rowing to bless his fellow revelers.

And this year, the festivities have a special meaning. As Italy prepares to host the winter Olympic Games. Gold medals and fake torches included in some of the costumes, in a nod to the upcoming event.

FRANCESCA GIOIAMELIS, CARNIVAL REVELER: Well, the atmosphere is definitely one of joy for the games, which should always be valued, just like sport. In short, we should be proud that the Olympics are here in Italy this year and that Italy has so much to offer.

NADEAU (voice-over): Something more to cheer for, as the excitement for carnival and the games gets underway.

Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: We're now just four days away from the start of the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, and the excitement is building. The Olympic torch is making its final stop, spending the weekend passing through Lake Como. Its 63-day relay will conclude on Friday in Milan to officially mark the start of the games. More than 2 million people are expected to attend the events across eight cities in northern Italy.

And one Olympic athlete heading to Milan is set to make history on the ice. Laila Edwards will become the first Black woman to play for the U.S. Olympic hockey team. She sat down with CNN for an exclusive interview to talk about her love for the game and her hopes to inspire more minorities to follow their dreams.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAILA EDWARDS, 2026 U.S. OLYMPIC WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM DEFENDER: One of my main focuses is paving the way for future generations. I think I've been gifted that role in that position to have an impact on people and to continue to pave the way for, you know, minorities and honestly, anyone, but more specifically minorities, because this is not a sport where minorities are seen often. So, I think as of now, I'm just doing the best I can to make the game more inclusive. I've dreamt of competing in the Olympics for about 12 years now, just watching the U.S. team play in the final. It just gave me chills, and I was like, whoa, this is cool. I want to be a part of that one day.

My dad played hockey when he was younger, so as soon as I could even crawl, he had me in skates. I was about two or three, and he was getting on the ice as often as he could and playing boys hockey. Growing up, I always thought I was going to go to the NHL, where there's only men, but I thought, I'll be good enough. I'm going to work hard, but as I grew up and realized I wasn't so much of a possibility, I realized, okay, I want to be with the national team and play with them as often as I can.

Being a trailblazer is definitely been a privilege. It's been overwhelming at times, but a long time ago I decided to take it and run with it. So do what I can to benefit as many people as I can with it.

[02:55:02]

And I could have shied away from it and not -- you know, not made it a goal of mine to help others. But that's just not how I'm wired. And as much as this can be intimidating, all the pressure and all the attention, I think I'm very grateful. And I have to do what I can to positively use it.

I mean, there are times where I didn't see anyone at the highest levels looking like me, so I would have some doubt here and there. But I persevered and I think it's just so important, you know, to have that someone that looks like you, it's just -- it literally shows that you can do it, too.

A little black girl sitting at home and sees me on the TV playing at the Olympics, she's like, wow, you know, Laila did it. I can do it, too. Or Laila plays hockey. Maybe I can try it out and see how I like it. Just simple things like that, and just to be that representation is really important.

As much as I want to embrace, you know, being that role model and being a minority in this game, I also want to just be seen for who I am as a player. So, to be recognized as that after games is refreshing, and it makes me feel good that I'm also known for my ability on the ice and my leadership and my athletic ability, anything like that.

I think it's comforting to make my first Olympics still doesn't feel real yet. It's something I've literally thought about almost every day. I want to represent my country the highest level, playing the sport. I love, winning an Olympic medal. It's crazy to even think about for it to be a possibility. I'm very grateful. But to win one would mean the world and would mean that, you know, I've done something right in this long process. But yeah, it would be unbelievable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Love that. We love good news. That's all I've got for you, though. Thanks for joining me on the team. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta and I will see you next weekend.

Our coverage continues, of course, after a very quick break. Rosemary, over to you.