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Search for Nancy Guthrie Enters Eighth Day; Guthrie Family Begs for Mother's Return in New Video; Trump Refuses to Apologize for Video Depicting Obamas as Apes; Voting Underway in Japan; Injured Vonn Set to Compete; Protesters Clash with police Near Milan Olympic Village; Iran: Not Ready to Entirely Give Up Nuclear Enrichment; Russia-U.S. Nuclear Arms Race Fears. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired February 08, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada, and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, TODAY" SHOW HOST/NANCY GUTHRIE'S DAUGHTER: We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Another heartfelt appeal by Nancy Guthrie's family is the search for their missing 84-year-old mother enters an eighth day. Voters head to the polls in a snap election in Japan. We'll look at what's at stake for the country's first female leader. Plus, a dramatic comeback. American skier Lindsey Vonn is set to compete at the Olympics as she battles through a bad knee injury.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: Nancy Guthrie's children are making a new plea for her safe return more than a week after she disappeared from her Arizona home. Police believe Guthrie was taken from her home against her will. They haven't identified any suspects in the case, but the search continues.

Earlier, at least three deputy sheriffs were seen at her eldest daughter's home. They appeared to be taking photos. Nancy Guthrie's youngest daughter, NBC Today host Savannah Guthrie, posted this video on Instagram on Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, TODAY" SHOW HOST/NANCY GUTHRIE'S DAUGHTER We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Now, it's not clear if the Guthrie family has received any new information after they called for proof of life from their mother's possible captor. Federal investigators are examining two messages related to the case that were sent to media outlets this week. One was an apparent ransom note. CNN's Ed Lavandera brings us the latest on the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Another painful turn of events in the investigation and search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. Late Saturday afternoon, Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings released another video communicating directly with whoever is sending the family messages about the ransom for Nancy Guthrie.

Still to this point, after the release of this latest video, investigators have not said whether or not these messages are authentic or legitimate. But clearly, the Guthrie family behaving and speaking with whoever is writing these messages as if this is, in fact, the conditions and the situation that the family is facing at this moment.

Some context about how this message was delivered. Remember, on 5:00 p.m. Thursday, that was a deadline that FBI investigators said was alluded to in one of the initial messages sent to the various news organizations, too, here in Tucson, as well as TMZ. There was a video put out by Savannah Guthrie's brother Camron right as that deadline hit on Thursday. But it wasn't until Friday morning that a second message was received. And now, more than 24 hours later, the Guthrie family putting out this other message. It's also important to explain that this is a situation where FBI hostage negotiators are the ones helping the family.

I spoke with the sheriff a couple days ago who told me that he was not aware that the Guthrie family was putting out the first video. So, clearly, this is a situation where the federal investigators are managing this part of the investigation and the communications with whoever is writing these letters. But it also comes as investigators continue to do groundwork across the Tucson area. They were searching these areas Friday night, and we know investigators say that they continue to search for video or other clues around the city as well.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Tucson, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Now, earlier, criminologist Casey Jordan shared her insight into the specific language Savannah Guthrie used in her video pleading for her mother's return. Here she is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CASEY JORDAN, CRIMINOLOGIST: Yes, some curious choice of language and maybe a little bit coded. Here's my first reaction as a criminologist, is that there is no honor among thieves and criminals and kidnappers. And I think that there is a certain amount of tenuous desperation and trust when she says, we will pay.

[04:05:00]

I'm not at all convinced that they do have proof of life, but perhaps they got enough detail in the latest communication that arrived yesterday for her to, if you will, gamble on the idea that her mother is still alive, even if she doesn't have it. Perhaps they had micro- specific details, things that only Nancy could know, that they communicated there, which at least convinced Savannah and her family that whoever sent that email does have Nancy within their control. And whether they could provide proof of life in an email, kind of incredulous about that.

But at this point, yes, we see the desperation, the exhaustion of this family. And when she says they will pay, they are going to, I'm sure, transfer some agreed upon sum of money into a Bitcoin account. But I do think, I agree with Josh, from here on out, we probably will never know the details.

I also want to point out that we may not get Nancy back, even if the money is paid. We certainly are hoping and praying that's the outcome. But at this point, I think we all have a heightened sense of, do we trust this? Are these hoaxsters or is this really going to bring Nancy home? And I think there is not a family in the world out there that wouldn't take the risk and send the money if it meant getting their mother back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: President Trump is showing no sign of backing down from his refusal to apologize for posting a racist video that depicted the Obamas as apes. Now, the video was online for almost 12 hours before it was removed. The White House blamed a staffer for posting the offensive material. CNN's Julia Benbrook picks up the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In his most recent remarks about this, President Donald Trump said that he saw the beginning of the short video which focused on debunked voter fraud claims, but did not watch it all the way through and did not see the racist image that was included in his post. He also said that his team took it down as soon as they knew it was there.

It's important to note, though, that that post was up for 12 hours before it was taken down. And during those 12 hours, we saw a dismissive statement from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt who said that the response to this was, quote, "fake outrage."

Now, the outrage, the anger toward this post was very real and it was coming from both sides of the aisle including sharp criticism from some of Trump's most loyal allies. Republican Senator Tim Scott, he posted and he said that he was praying that this was a mistake. He said that this was the most racist thing he had seen from this White House and that it needed to be taken down. The White House says that a staffer made this post in error. It's an unnamed staffer, and when Trump was pressed on if that staffer would be fired, he declined to say.

Now, Trump was also pressed on if he should take responsibility for this post, if he should issue an apology. I want you to take a listen to his response.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, a number of Republicans are calling on you to apologize for that post. Is that something you're going to do?

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: No, I didn't make a mistake. I am, by the way, the least racist president you've had in a long time as far as I'm concerned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: Now, sources familiar with Trump's social media use have told our team that he does often post personally on his accounts, especially when it's late at night or early in the morning, but that there are others who do have access.

Traveling with the president in Florida, Julia Benbrook, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: A key Trump ally is awaiting the results of what's sure to be the biggest gamble of her political career. Voting is underway in a rare winter snap election that could deliver a major win for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Now, the popular leader has vowed to step down if her party fails to secure a majority. CNN's Hanako Montgomery has the latest from Tokyo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Much of Japan is seeing a snowstorm, but that isn't stopping millions of people from casting their ballots in Japan's lower house elections.

Now, the Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has called this election just three months into her premiership for really two main reasons. The first reason is because she wants to get back a majority government. Currently, she is ruling a minority government. Of course, it's much more difficult to pass legislation to push bills forward. So, she is hoping to gain that majority and make it easier to govern, make it easier to do her job.

Now, the second reason is because she is banging on the fact that she is very, very popular right now among the general public. If you look at her personal approval ratings, I mean, these are ratings that we haven't seen in recent years. Some polls putting her at an approval rating of over 80 percent.

Now, her party, on the other hand, the Liberal Democratic Party, is not doing so well at the polls. So, she is again hoping that her star power, her popularity, will translate at the polls and people will vote for her party and thereby for her.

[04:10:00]

In fact, last week we spoke to some of her fans to understand why she is just so popular among young people and old people alike. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): She's a drummer. I'm a rock and roll musician. Ms. Takaichi is the same age as me. And when she became prime minister, seeing her work so hard made me feel like life was worth living.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MONTGOMERY: And it really does seem as though it's more of her personality rather than her politics that's what makes her so popular at the moment. I was speaking to some young people who also said that they just appreciate the way that she's posting on social media. They like the videos that she posts. She's easy to understand. And that isn't something that we've had with recent Japanese prime ministers.

So, again, voters here in Japan, they approve of her personality. They approve of her as leader. But, of course, it still stands to see what her policies actually will be if she does again secure that majority and still remains as the prime minister. There is a whole list of concerns among voters right now, including high cost of living, inflation, also a poor Japanese yen, one that keeps sliding against the dollar. So, again, a long list of issues that Takaichi and her government must deal with if she does secure that majority and stay on as a Japanese prime minister.

Now, according to recent polling, it does seem as though she will secure a landslide victory. But, again, we will confirm those results in the coming hours.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: And in just an hour or two from now, American skier Lindsey Vonn will compete in the women's downhill, one of the premier events of the Milan Cortina Olympics. And she's fighting through a tear of a key ligament in her knee suffered in a skiing wipeout about a week ago. The 41-year-old competed and completed two training runs on Saturday and posted the third fastest time in another run cut short by weather. Vonn already has three medals, including a gold from previous games. She wants a gold this time to cap her return from a six-year retirement. Her coach says she landed awkwardly on one training run but is in good shape and ready to go.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: So, the first gold of the games has been decided. And what a way to kick things off here in Bormio. Thousands of Italians arrived with their flags waving, their faces painted and expectations high of the hosts kicking things off on the right note.

But Switzerland's reigning downhill world champion, Franjo von Allmen, had other ideas. In his Olympic debut, the 24-year-old skied his way to gold with a near-perfect run on the downhill course, dubbed by many as the toughest and most physically challenging track in alpine skiing. We were watching, surrounded by a group of his friends from his home just outside Berm. They said the party tonight is going to be so good, we just couldn't imagine.

For the hosts, a silver and bronze to kick off their medal campaign. A second-place finish for Giovanni Franzoni to add to his iconic Kitzbuhel victory as the season of his life continues. And a bronze for the man dubbed the king of this Stelvio hill, Dominik Paris.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIES: So, I know there was a lot of excitement that Italy might win gold today. Do you see this as a win, a success or a failure?

DOMINIK PARIS, ITALIAN ALPINE SKI RACER: I see it absolutely as a win. I mean, we knew that the Swiss team was probably the better one and the strongest one. But, I mean, we had a lot of hopes for Paris and Franzoni. So, no, we are -- if the race finishes like this, we are pretty satisfied.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With Franjo von Allmen, I mean, it's such a nice story. A young guy, 24 years old, and he just brings it home. So, it's a brilliant story. And as Swiss, we like the Italian friends. So, I mean, second and third for Italy as being the host of the Games, I think they're going to be happy as well.

DAVIES: But you're stealing gold from the Italians.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, that's OK. That's a fair trade.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are very happy for our athletes, Franzoni and Paris. And we are happy.

DAVIES: Toasting the success.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks. Thanks very much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIES: Sunday will all be about the women over in Cortina. And Lindsey Vonn surprised a few people on Saturday morning. Opting to take part in the final training session ahead of Sunday's downhill. Rather than resting, despite taking on this race with that entirely ruptured ACL. But let's not forget, for all the attention on the 2010 Olympic gold medal winner.

There are 45 other athletes taking part in this race. All with their own Olympic dreams. Including the Italian pair, the five-time Olympian Federica Brignone and the 2018 gold medal winner, Sofia Goggia.

Amanda Davies, CNN, Bormio, Italy. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Well, protests against the Olympics in Milan turned violent after a night fell over the host city on Saturday. Have a look.

[04:15:00]

Clashes began after demonstrators shot fireworks and smoke bombs towards athletes' housing near the Olympic village. Police in riot gear responded by charging the protesters. Dispersing groups using water cannons and tear gas. Many demonstrators claim this year's Olympics will be the last in a row. Environmental, economic, and social harm.

Travelers saw delays in northern Italy on the first full day of the games because of what authorities are calling a possible premeditated attack on the rail lines. The railway says there were three separate incidents, including one involving an explosive device. Electrical cables were also cut and a fire was set in an electrical cabin. Investigators aren't ruling out anarchists, citing similarities to the rail attacks during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

While diplomatic wrangling is going on after high-stakes nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran still ahead, the U.S. sends a message about its military might as Iran pushes back on a key U.S. demand. That story and more coming up. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:20:00]

BRUNHUBER: After indirect nuclear talks produced a handshake and some statements of goodwill, the U.S. is reminding Iran about its military muscle. American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Saturday. It's part of the military force that President Trump has deployed to the region for possible strikes if there's no new agreement. A source told CNN that Tehran knew about the visit in advance.

Iran is still pushing back. It repeated on Saturday it would hit U.S. bases in the region if it comes under attack. Iran's foreign minister says Tehran isn't ready to fully give up its nuclear enrichment saying no one will tell Iran what it can or cannot have. That's according to an Iranian news agency. President Trump called the talks very good and says they'll resume next week but Iran says no date has been set. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the U.S. and Iranian talks.

Well, thousands of people were killed in last month's horrific crackdown on anti-regime protesters in Iran but going to the hospital isn't an option for many others who were injured and terrified of being caught. And as Jomana Karadsheh explains, some doctors are going underground to give them a treatment. Now, we just want to warn you, some of the images in this report are graphic.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a night of horror. The gunfire, chaos, and fear captured in this video, a scene that was replicated across Iran. Many of those who barely escaped the regime's onslaught are still on the run. With security forces hunting down the injured and those who aid them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): What happened on January the 8th and 9th, the scenes at the hospitals were like those end-of-the- world Hollywood movies.

KARADSHEH (voice-over): This doctor we're not identifying for his safety is part of an underground network of medics treating injured protesters inside Iran.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Government hospitals were controlled by security forces and monitored by cameras. If injured people went there and were identified as protesters, staff on duty had to report them, and they would be arrested.

KARADSHEH (voice-over): Never have the wounded needed their doctors more than they do right now. With activists reporting more than 11,000 injured in the most violent regime crackdown in the history of the Islamic Republic with the widespread use of live ammunition and military-grade weapons. It's also extremely dangerous being a doctor in Iran right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The doctors who didn't cooperate were detained, or the next day security officers would summon them, or they were thrown out.

KARADSHEH (voice-over): Images like this have emerged showing injured protesters too scared to go to hospitals, being treated in secret. Some so desperate have also been reaching out to Iranian doctors abroad for help. Hospitals are no sanctuary in the Islamic Republic.

Security forces have raided facilities like this one in the city of Elam, and that was even before the most vicious and bloody clampdown on the protests began on January the 8th. Since then, the doctor and others say it was the feared revolutionary guards who took control of hospitals searching for injured protesters. Reports of security forces detaining protesters from hospitals are widespread. The U.N. and rights groups have also raised concerns about the arrest of doctors.

KARADSHEH: Speaking with us could mean prison for you or even worse. Why did you agree to speak with us?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I've locked the door with five different locks. I expect that at any moment as I give this interview, they could break in and arrest me. I've chosen to put my own safety second and make sharing information about the injured and the war crimes that have occurred my first priority.

KARADSHEH (voice-over): The risks he's taking, he says, fighting back tears are nothing compared to the young protesters who paid the ultimate price. UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I promised myself to be a voice for the injured and for those who have been killed. I promised myself to make sure the voices are heard by the world.

KARADSHEH (voice-over): Voices like that of 16-year-old Arvin's (ph) family. He was shot in the head. They killed him, this relative cries, as they try to speak out at the hospital. They are silenced. These are the voices the regime doesn't want the world to hear.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Sources tell CNN that the Trump administration plans to hold the first meeting of its Board of Peace on February 19th. It's expected to take place at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington which President Trump renamed in his own honor. This would be the board's first meeting since the signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

[04:25:00]

The group was originally pitched as a way to oversee Gaza's reconstruction but its mission has since expanded to other world conflicts. Most European allies of the U.S. haven't agreed to join.

Russia's security service says it's arrested the shooter in the attack on a top military general but the statement says the man who pulled the trigger wasn't working alone. Details ahead and the rising fears of a renewed nuclear arms race as the last remaining nuclear agreement between the U.S. and Russia is allowed to expire. We'll look at what it means ahead here on CNN Newsroom. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN newsroom.

The Ukrainian president says the U.S. expects Russia and his nation to be back at the negotiating table in about a week with a peace deal concluded by June. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the next meeting will be likely in Miami and Ukraine will be there. He spoke as his country was picking up the pieces after an attack on the backbone of its power grid. More than 400 drones and missiles targeted high voltage power lines and thermal plants overnight on Friday, causing widespread outages. Zelenskyy says the attack also forced Ukraine's nuclear power plants to scale down their production.

To a developing story out of Russia, the country's security service says it has arrested the suspected shooter in the attack on a top general in Moscow. The statement says the attacker was caught in Dubai and an alleged accomplice has been detained in Moscow.

[04:30:00] Well, another person reportedly involved in the attack fled to Ukraine. General Vladimir Alexeyev was shot and seriously wounded on Friday before the attackers fled. He reportedly has regained consciousness and doctors are now cautiously optimistic.

Well, for the first time in decades, the world's two biggest nuclear superpowers are operating with no limits on their arsenals, and that's raising fears of a modern-day nuclear arms race. The New START treaty was the last remaining nuclear agreement between the U.S. and Russia. It expired on Thursday. Signed in 2010, the treaty capped the number of nuclear warheads the U.S. and Russia could have to about 1,500 for each country. Nuclear capable missiles were limited to 700.

Now, President Trump criticized the treaty as a badly negotiated deal and said the U.S. should work on a new and improved version.

Now, I'm joined now by Nikolai Sokov, senior fellow at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Nonproliferation. Thanks so much for being here with us. Really appreciate it. So, the doomsday clock, I mean, our viewers might remember that. That's the symbolic measure of how close we are to global catastrophe. The clock just moved to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it's ever been. The fact that New START expired is a major reason for that. You spent decades working on these treaties. I mean, how worried should we be right now?

NIKOLAI SOKOV, VIENNA CTR. FOR DISARMAMENT AND NON-PROLIFERATION: Well, we should be worried about possible conflict that's really fraught with escalation. At the same time, of course, the clock is very symbolic. When you talk about expiration of the treaty, one thing we should not expect is a new arms race beginning, you know, on Monday, tomorrow. Any changes or strategic balance will take several years, at least five, seven years, most likely. So, we do actually have time to negotiate something new.

We do, however, need some guardrails, yes, as we pursue some organization, possibly as a buildup in the United States, in Russia, in China, in the U.K. and France. So, it's all official nuclear powers.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. I want to get to some of those other countries in a second. But first, just talking about the U.S. and Russia and the incentive to get something done. Now, the chief U.S. negotiator for New START told CNN that Russia could leave America in the dust because they have active warhead production lines ready to go. Is that a real concern?

SOKOV: Well, there are so many, actually, nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia, they can easily actually leave the other one, the entire northern hemisphere in dust. So, yes, I would not be too concerned about that. Although, yes, the United States has actually stopped the production of nuclear weapons. That production was actually resumed some years ago, but at a very, very low scale.

BRUNHUBER: OK. So, then, the flip side of that, there's an argument that that Moscow is actually more anxious to renegotiate because Russia's economy and defense budget are a fraction of that of the U.S. So, you know, they would need the treaty more than Washington does. Do you buy that argument?

SOKOV: No. Well, it's actually never been the case. Well, you know, compared to the entire defense budget, or to all the requirements of spending on nuclear weapons, including strategic, actually, weapons, in the Soviet Union and in Russia has never really been that critical for the health of the economy. Yes, there are a lot of other actual polls there to waste the money, but strategic weapons have never really been the biggest one.

BRUNHUBER: All right. So, you mentioned some other countries here. I mean, the Trump administration has said it wants China at the table for any new arms control deal. Beijing says its arsenal is too small to join talks with the two superpowers. How do you actually get China into this conversation?

SOKOV: That's extremely actually difficult, because the Chinese say, yes, we're too small. But they are actually growing. So, yes, their arsenal is likely to increase more. So, at least some transparencies -- some predictability would be really, really desirable, at least we'd like to know at which point China plans to stop. And that's really vital, because otherwise, the United States will actually need to start building up. Yes, and then the Russians will start building up. Yes, and it's really no good.

But talking to China is very hard. Another challenge is that both Moscow and Beijing say that the future treaty cannot actually be trilateral, because it also then has to include the French and the British. Yes, and the French, especially, are very much against that.

[04:35:00]

My guess, quite frankly, is that in the future, it might be more actually difficult to talk France into participating in arms control than China.

BRUNHUBER: And the more --

SOKOV: But yes, that's kind of a challenge there, five (INAUDIBLE) is alone with two or do have at least some kind of --

BRUNHUBER: Yes, presumably, the more players involved, the more complicated it will be. Listen, we'll have to leave it there. But obviously, so much on the line. Nikolai Sokov, thank you so much for speaking with us. Really appreciate it.

SOKOV: Thank you very much. My pleasure.

BRUNHUBER: Well, a new initiative born from tragic loss wants you to know you're not alone in your pain. Coming up, we'll meet the founder of a suicide prevention project sending messages of encouragement between complete strangers. That plus what the website's apparent success says about the times we're living in. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRUNHUBER: A mental health advocate in Britain is channeling his grief into a project aimed at helping you cope with your own. It was eight years ago when Ben West was just a teenager that he lost his younger brother Sam to suicide. In late January on the 8th anniversary of that tragedy, Ben launched the website reasonstosay.co.uk.

Now, he invites ordinary people to submit short letters with simple messages of encouragement. You see them each time you click on or refresh the site. Things like the world is a better place because you are in it. No matter, you matter more than you know and I'm so glad you're here.

Now, in the short time the site's been up, it's delivered nearly three quarters of a million such letters. And Ben West joins me now from London. Ben, eight years after losing your brother Sam and we have to say our condolences go to you for your loss. What made you decide this was the right time to launch Reasons to Stay?

[04:40:00]

BEN WEST, FOUNDER, REASONS TO STAY AND MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGNER: Thank you and thanks so much for having me on this morning. For me, you know, the anniversary of Sam's death every year is a really horrible day. It was one of the worst things that could ever have happened to us as a family. And so, every year I have a rule, which is that I use that day to do something positive. And so, every year I'll try and launch something that I think is a good thing into the world.

And I've had this idea for a number of years that, you know, with suicide specifically, how amazing would it be if we were to connect people who need to be cared for with people who care? And there are so many people out there that really care about the lives of strangers. Some of those people have been there before, have felt feelings of suicidal thinking before. How amazing would it be to connect those people with the people that are in that moment of crisis and go, it is better if you stay. And it's been one of the most powerful reactions.

I put it out on the 21st of January, just three weeks ago, thinking this is a good idea. It probably won't reach that many people, but it's a good idea. And to be able to sit here now knowing that we've sent almost a million letters, we've reached 40 million people in 160 countries in three weeks, just shows you the power that everyday strangers have in the lives of other people. And I think it's one of the most incredible experiences I've had in the entire time I've been working in mental health. And it means a lot deeply to me, obviously, knowing that this sort of tool could have made a difference for Sam. And I like to hope it would have done. And that is deeply meaningful to me.

BRUNHUBER: Let me ask you, I want to pick up on one of the last things you said there, this format. I mean, these letters are written by complete strangers, but they're personal and warm. What is it about hearing from a stranger, specifically, that can reach someone in a way that maybe other support can't?

WEST: I think it's a really good question. I think for a long time with suicide prevention, we've got a lot of options out there for people in terms of crisis support and helplines and all these amazing resources. But the one thing that we haven't really addressed is that to go from crisis to reaching out to someone to speak to is a huge step. I mean, that's a really, really challenging thing to do. And there almost needs to be something in the middle, a sort of little stepping stone to get someone to the place where they start to feel comfortable doing that.

And I think that's where strangers can make such a difference. This website is not intimidating to use. You're not face to face with someone. You're not speaking to someone. But you are speaking to them in a really meaningful way. And also, what we get the opportunity to do through this project is allow people to connect with letters from people who have that experience. And I don't think there is anything as powerful in suicide prevention as hearing from someone who survived their experience and can tell you how beautiful life is because they survived.

And in terms of giving someone hope in that moment, connecting them with someone that knows what it's like and also knows that life gets better can give someone that belief and that hope that can just bring them through that moment. And then allow them the confidence, the self-belief to actually go, you know what? I do deserve support. And I'm going to reach out to a helpline or reach out to some professional support that can change things for me.

So, I think it really fits that gap that goes, this is the light touch support that you need to be able to then go forward and avoid dying, but also go and get the support so that you can start the process of making life worth living.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, on that, I mean, you've shared that someone wrote to you saying they read a letter on your site and it helped them choose to stay. I mean, what went through your mind when you got that message?

WEST: Oh, I mean, I'm fairly exhausted. It's been a really long three weeks. Exhausted in a really good way. I mean, I've loved that it's got such a massive reaction. But I did get an email from someone that, you know, is alive because of the website. And we can be fairly confident that that's true.

And knowing that the pain and the absolute devastation that we as a family felt in 2018 when I lost Sam, you know, to be able to do something and put something in the world that stops that happening for another family, for another person, you know, there is nothing in the world that is more meaningful than that. And I saw that email and I completely broke down because it's so deeply, deeply meaningful.

You know, suicide is awful. And what happened to Sam was so bad. I mean, it was so, so bad. So, to be able to know that that bad thing has eventually led to something good happening in the world, that is a really, really, really special feeling.

[04:45:00]

BRUNHUBER: It must be. I mean, widening this out, you know, there are so many causes, of course, for suicide, but loneliness has become such a huge issue, you know, where you are here as well. I mean, the U.K. created a minister for loneliness here in the U.S. Our Surgeon General has called it an epidemic.

I mean, why do you think we're all feeling so disconnected right now? And how does something like Reasons to Say kind of fit into that?

WEST: Yes, we're definitely seeing an increase in people talking about loneliness and feeling socially disconnected. I mean, it's quite ironic, isn't it, that we live in a world now where we can do something like we're doing now, linking London to America for a TV. We're so connected, we carry computers in our pockets that connect us to pretty much anyone in the world, but we feel more disconnected, arguably, than ever before.

And I think what we lack is emotional connection with people and that deep connection. We have a very -- we have the ability to connect in a shallow way with a lot of people, but we don't have opportunities to really deeply connect with people. And that's where I think this project has really been so amazing, is that you do feel, when you read a letter, even if you're not in a crisis moment, if you read a letter, you do feel a real sense of connection with the person that wrote it. And it's quite a beautiful thing, actually, to experience.

But I do think we -- you know, with social media, it's not the same as human connection. It's a very short, it's very -- you know, it's a very shallow sense of connection. And a lot of people at the moment feel quite isolated from other people. We also know that, you know, we're going through a tough time here in the U.K., same in the US, where a lot of services are being cut, youth services are being cut. There isn't as much access to green space. There isn't as much access to community groups. Communities are becoming a little bit more fragmented. And actually, for the everyday person, there is just less spaces to connect with other human beings.

And so, I think we are seeing the effects of that in terms of the mental health crisis that we're in. And I think sometimes we overthink the solutions to mental health. And we get very tied up in all these very complex ideas about what needs to happen and what needs to change. And I think this project has really presented a very simple solution to that. Maybe it's about human beings talking to human beings.

And if you think about it like that, suddenly, the mental health crisis doesn't seem so simple after all, doesn't seem so complex after all. And actually, if it's as simple as human beings talking to human beings, we're all very good at that. And we can all be much better at that. And so, if that's really going to make a difference, then actually, it doesn't seem so complicated after all.

BRUNHUBER: It's really well said. Just an amazing project. And I'm sure your brother would be tremendously proud of what you're doing. Ben West, thank you so much for joining us. Really appreciate it.

WEST: Thanks so much.

BRUNHUBER: All right. We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:50:00]

BRUNHUBER: All right. Well, you're getting a live look at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Later today, more than 100 million people are expected to tune in to watch the Super Bowl matchup taking place here between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Viewers will also have a historic halftime show from Puerto Rican superstar and recent Grammy Award winner for album of the year Bad Bunny. CNN's Andy Scholes is in California with more on what's at stake for both teams in the biggest game of the year.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: We are now less than 24 hours away from Super Bowl LX here in the Bay Area. Come tomorrow night, either Drake Maye will become the youngest quarterback ever to win the Super Bowl or Sam Darnold will have completed the incredible comeback journey from bust to champion.

Now, Maye is just 23 years old and when he was 13, his dad brought him to the Super Bowl here in the Bay Area to see his favorite team, the Panthers, play Peyton Manning and the Broncos. And Maye says it's pretty incredible that he is now back playing in the big game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DRAKE MAYE, QUARTERBACK, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: It's a full circle moment. I think that's the biggest thing. You know, what a moment. I'm just so thankful for my dad who was able to take -- you know, take me to a Super Bowl -- you know, don't it for granted. You know, not every kid gets to experience that.

I was watching my favorite team at the time and got a chance to watch, you know, Peyton Manning's last game. You know, what a cool experience that was. And now, to be here and playing, you know, one myself, you know, I don't take it for granted and know how special this is and just trying to enjoy it. You know, enjoy with my teammates, enjoy with everybody who, you know, helped get me here. And from there, I'll go try to win it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: And when talking with people here in the Bay Area this week, a lot of people are pulling for Sam Darnold, but if he is to win the game on Sunday, Darnold's going to have to do something he's never done before. And that's play well against the Patriots. In his career, Darnold is 0 and 4 against New England with one touchdown pass and nine interceptions, but he's not dwelling on the past. He's looking to complete his incredible comeback journey on football's biggest stage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAM DARNOLD, QUARTERBACK, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: I grew up dreaming of this moment. So, you know, I grew up watching, you know, a ton of great football players and a ton of great football teams get to this moment. And make great plays. And I feel like, you know, whenever that happened after Super Bowl, I was always, you know, emulating that in my backyard, my front yard with my friends. So, yes, I always dreamed of moments like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now, according to the American Gaming Association, a record $1.76 billion is expected to be bet on Super Bowl LX. And of course, there are tons of fun prop bets you can do. For example, what will Bad Bunny's first song be? "Titi Me Pregunto" is the favorite. Now, will Stefon Diggs propose to his girlfriend Cardi B after the Super Bowl is another one. Yes, pays 11 to 1. And there's actually a lot of Cardi B bets. She's the betting favorite to join Bad Bunny during his Super Bowl halftime performance. J-Lo, also one of the favorites there.

[04:55:00]

You could also bet on if a player or coach will be shown crying during the national anthem. We've seen it beforehand. Well, the odds suggest we're going to see it again. And of course, you can bet on what color Gatorade is going to get poured on the winning coach. Orange, yellow, and blue, basically all the same odds. Yellow did win last year. And before the game, there's always the coin toss. You can bet on that. And tails is actually winning right now, 31-28 in Super Bowl. So, I guess heads is due.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: And if you need a cuteness break during the big game on Sunday, well, there's always the Puppy Bowl. Have a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he leaps into the stand to celebrate another touchdown.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's football, only better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: A beloved classic. While the puppies, of course, are adorable, there's a bigger message behind the frolicking. The Puppy Bowl is the longest running television program that raises awareness about pet adoption. 150 dogs will be featured in the show on Sunday, and that's a new record. Now, this year's pups are from 72 different shelters across the U.S., Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands. The Puppy Bowl airs on Animal Planet, which is owned by CNN's corporate parent company.

All right. That wraps this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back with more news in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [05:00:00]