Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
All Nine Bodies Of Skiers Killed In Avalanche Now Recovered; Trump Imposes New 15 Percent Global Tariffs After Supreme Court Ruling; Trump Weighs Iran Action Amid U.S. Military Buildup In Mid East; Police: Search In Ex-Prince Andrew's Former Home Likely To Continue Until Monday; Minneapolis March Marks Four Weeks Since ICE Killing Of Alex Pretti. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired February 21, 2026 - 17:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:00:46]
JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: And we are following breaking news as rescue crews have recovered the bodies of nine backcountry skiers killed in the deadliest avalanche in California's history. The victims were a group of friends from all across the country. They were on a ski trip over Presidents Day weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF SHANNON MOON, NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Nine victims have been safely recovered for their families and their loved ones. While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Six people survived and were rescued from Tuesday's avalanche, but recovery efforts were slowed by heavy snow and dangerous conditions.
A defiant President Trump pushing back today after the Supreme Court ruling that found he exceeded his authority with his sweeping emergency tariffs, saying they are illegal, now using a trade law.
The president has announced he's raising worldwide tariffs to 15 percent. That 15 percent, coming after signing a 10 percent global tariff yesterday.
The president continuing to lash out also against the Supreme Court, calling its decision "ridiculous, poorly written and extraordinarily anti-American".
Let's bring in CNN correspondent Julia Benbrook, who joins us now.
Julia, the news today, these 15 percent now tariffs. What more are you learning?
JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jessica. The tariffs in general have been a very big part of President Donald
Trump's second term and his agenda. And he is making it clear that even after this ruling, he's not walking away from that entirely.
As you pointed out, he put that 10 percent tariff into place yesterday on top of other levies that are already imposed. And that's using a separate law than the one the Supreme Court ruled against that Section 122. But he is now raising that rate to 15 percent.
I want to pull up his post for you from today. This is where he announced this. He said in part, "I, as president of the United States of America, will be effective immediately, raising the 10 percent worldwide tariff on countries, many of which have been ripping the United States off for decades without retribution until I came along to be fully allowed and legally tested 15 percent level."
While he does say they're effective immediately, we do know that the plan for the 10 percent tariff was to go into effect at 12:01 on Tuesday, early Tuesday morning. And we have asked for clarification on that 15 percent rate if that will follow the same timeline.
Now, this new rate could stay in effect for up to 150 days. And then after that, he would need congressional approval to keep this going longer.
During his press conference yesterday here at the White House, he was frustrated obviously, saying that he was deeply disappointed in this ruling and was pressed by a reporter on bipartisan criticism that he has received for bypassing Congress here.
And he essentially said that he still doesn't really think that he needs to work with them. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are several people have said that.
(CROSSTALK)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes, a few people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why don't you just work with Congress to come up with a plan --
TRUMP: I don't have to.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- to push tariffs?
TRUMP: I have the right to do tariffs. And I've always had the right to do tariffs. And it's all been approved by Congress. So there's no reason to do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BENBROOK: And Trump since that ruling he has taken aim at the justices in the majority here. It was a 6 to 3 ruling. And two of those justices he appointed himself. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, as well as Justice Neil Gorsuch, and they joined Chief Justice John Roberts, as well as the three liberal justices.
On the flip side of that, he has also praised those who sided with him. In a post earlier today, he called Justice Brett Kavanaugh his new hero of the Supreme Court.
DEAN: And Julia, there are still a lot of questions here specifically about how or if the government should go about returning these billions of dollars that have already been collected from importers. What is the White House saying about that?
[17:04:51]
BENBROOK: You're exactly right. A lot of questions going forward. And Kavanaugh noted this. He highlighted this in his dissent that there was not a roadmap for next steps and that it could end up being a mess.
What is the administration about -- saying about this? We did see Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent comment. And he did not sound optimistic when it comes to if those funds would reach the American consumer. I want you to listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: That's going to be a food fight going up to $175 billion in it. So I got -- I got a feeling the American people won't see it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BENBROOK: So that's what a lot of people at home are wondering what do these next steps look like, and will they see any of this revenue collected in some way?
Now for Trump's part, he has not committed to any of those next steps, instead saying that he believes this will be litigated for years to come.
DEAN: All right. Julia Benbrook at the White House, thank you so much for that.
Some leaders around the world are welcoming the Supreme Court ruling, others expressing uncertainty.
CNN's Will Ripley has more on the global reaction, Will.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Really the word you're hearing around the world right now is uncertainty.
In Europe the reaction is cautious but pointed. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the decision saying it shows the value of checks and balances. Macron also said after Trump announced a new 10 percent global tariff that France would assess the consequences and adapt, stressing trade should be based on reciprocity not unilateral decisions.
More broadly in Brussels, the European Commission says it's analyzing the ruling and seeking clarity from Washington, emphasizing businesses need stability and predictability.
In the U.K., the government says it expects its favorable trading position with the U.S. to continue. But Britain's business community says this ruling does not really clear up much especially since other tariffs remain in place under separate laws.
Here in Asia, the tone is measured. South Korea says it will comprehensively review the ruling and discuss next steps.
New Zealand says any tariff reduction would be welcome but warns uncertainty with U.S. trade policy is likely to persist.
And here in Taiwan, right at the center of President Trump's tariff strategy, officials are watching this Supreme Court ruling very closely trying to figure out what actually changes.
And President Trump is still framing this around Taiwan and chips. He talked about Taiwan at his press conference at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Taiwan came in. They stole our chip business. Now all of those companies in Taiwan are building factories in Arizona, Texas and various other places because they don't want to pay tariffs. They're all pouring into the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WILL RIPLEY: Last year, for the first time in decades, U.S. imports from Taiwan overtook those from China. December data shows imports from China fell sharply, while imports from Taiwan surged.
Taiwan's cabinet says it's closely monitoring the ruling and insists the newly announced 10 percent global tariff would only have limited effects here.
But the reality is nobody is entirely sure how this plays out and what will happen when President Trump flies to Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the end of next month.
Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DEAN: Yes, that is a big question. One sector watching all of this very closely, the nation's ports including the port of Los Angeles, which is the busiest container port in North America, handling almost 20 percent of all U.S. trade through seaports.
And joining us now is Gene Seroka, executive director of the port of Los Angeles. Gene, thank you so much for being here with us. We really appreciate it.
First, if you can, for people out there, we just laid out how busy and important the port of Los Angeles is. How do you see this new ruling impacting business and traffic at the port?
GENE SEROKA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PORT OF LOS ANGELES: Good evening Jessica. Yet to be determined. More questions than answers at this point.
But realistically speaking, we close 2025 with the largest trade deficit as the United States since 1960. So now we're in the middle of a Lunar New Year holiday in Asia. There's not a lot of manufacturing or business activity.
But back in Los Angeles, customers were telling me yesterday they were trying to figure out what the cancellation of these international emergency economic tariffs would be replaced by the Section 122 tariffs at 10 percent.
Now, all that went in the scrap bin because they're focused on what 15 percent means at the bottom of their ledger.
Probably, being that this is temporary, we'll see more and more activity leading up over these five months of the temporary measures that were put in place or announced just today.
I don't know that we're going to see an overnight reaction on cargo flows. This is typically our slower season following the Lunar New Year holiday. There's more to come in the days and weeks ahead.
DEAN: Yes, and I think one thing that everyone keeps underscoring here is just the uncertainty. And you were just alluding to it there where they started to work toward 10 percent and had to scrap it and move to 15 in the span of 24 hours.
What does the uncertainty, that factor, how does that -- how does that complicate things with all of this?
SEROKA: Businesses have been consistent in telling me that they just want the ground rules so they can go to work.
DEAN: Yes.
[17:09:48]
SEROKA: But because of all this uncertainty, hiring has been light, capital investment weak, and the overall growth of the economy in the fourth quarter kind of slowed a little bit at 1.4 percent.
Companies' planning horizons don't go more than six months. And now this is more evidence to that. So it's really tough to plan strategically longer term for talent, investment and technology when you don't know what the rules are going to be.
DEAN: Yes, certainly. And so how do you see -- what do you see -- obviously it's hard without a crystal ball. We say that a lot on this show because we're looking ahead and there is a lot of uncertainty still.
But in the immediate, what do you think Americans should know? How might this, you know, go from whatever's coming into the port of Los Angeles that they're buying? What kind of connection might they make there?
SEROKA: It's going to be a bumpy road. First on those refunds, it's going to be very difficult. And I agree with Will and Julia, this is going to be a long time before we see any conclusion.
Secondly, 15 percent tariffs are really important because that means prices go up. As CNN has reported, coffee and bananas, footwear and furniture are all up at the stores by more than 10 percent compared to last year. and I don't see any relief for the American farmer.
As one barometer, the port of Los Angeles exports are down nine of the last 13 months. Soybean shipments to China from the U.S., down 90 percent year over year. The American farmer is hurting, and we need to get them propped back up.
DEAN: Yes. Soybeans down 90 percent is quite significant. I'm curious, just more broadly on that theme. What has been the overall impact year-to-year now that we've seen this, obviously the so-called "liberation day" back in April to now, what has been the impact that you've seen overall?
SEROKA: Jessica, it's been like a roller coaster. When hard trade policy comes out, importers in particular slam on the brakes, not knowing if a new announcement would happen in two hours, two days or two months.
And when that policy was soft and tariffs come down or there were changes, importers took advantage of those windows and really pushed cargo through the system.
So it was an up and down scenario for workers, and truckers, warehouse people to really be ready when that flow came back in and then sit back and wonder where their next job was coming from when the cargo dipped down, as we saw last year.
And if that's any precedent coming up now, folks are going to try to bring some cargo in. I think after the Lunar New Year because they know that there will be more to come on the tariff front after this temporary order goes away.
DEAN: Yes. And I know a lot of these businesses have tried to absorb as much as much of the tariff costs as they can to protect the consumer. What does that mean, do we think, in terms of these potential refunds for these businesses?
SEROKA: That's going to be interesting, too. As you've reported, over 300,000 companies -- 125,000 of which utilize the port of Los Angeles, are now saying, I've got to get in line. There will be litigation.
There are about a thousand companies that have signed up to try to get the ground rules set for what refunding could look like. And then how do they pivot and help us as consumers who are all paying more than we were last year.
So this is going to be quite a unique circumstance. The tariffs that were rescinded by the Supreme Court yesterday amounted to about two- thirds of all tariffs assessed since last year. It's a lot of money.
DEAN: It sure is. Gene, thank you so much. We appreciate you being here.
And still ahead, President Trump threatening military action against Iran unless a nuclear deal is reached. The growing military buildup in that region and how Iran is preparing for possible U.S. strikes.
[17:13:34]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DEAN: The clock is ticking when it comes to diplomacy with Iran as President Trump weighs his options for possible military action. The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is now in the Mediterranean Sea on its way to join a significant buildup of U.S. military assets in the region.
The president saying on Friday he's considering a limited strike to pressure Iran into making a deal. There are a number of options on the table, and we're told he hasn't committed to any one particular option at this point.
We're joined now by CNN national security analyst and former deputy director of National Intelligence, Beth Sanner.
Beth, it's great to have you tonight.
This is such it seems like a critical time for all of this as we're seeing the Gerald R. Ford get into place and again, as we're waiting for Iran to come back on what might be a new proposal.
Do you think that pressure, either military pressure or economic pressure, works as a tactic with Iran?
BETH SANNER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: You know, it has in the past, certainly pressure can yield some results. But I think that, you know, we're in the situation now where Iran is really at its weakest moment, both domestically and in terms of its regional deterrence. And you know, ironically, that makes it actually less likely to agree to a deal, which you know, it's hard to get our heads around and certainly the administration doesn't believe that.
But I think it's true, because any deal that Iran does, the regime would see that as weakening their ability to deter future attack.
[17:19:45]
SANNER: And I think complicating this is the idea that they're not sure we actually want a deal. We might actually be going for regime change. And so I think this is part of the nub here. And I don't think that
pressure is necessarily going to get us the demands that we're asking for.
DEAN: And obviously, you have set in on, on a lot of meetings where Iran is discussed but also to the strategy around potential strikes, things like that.
Do you have a sense of what the president's ultimate goal is here? Brett McGurk was saying in the last hour, it's really important for that to be defined at the outset of any potential military action. But do you have a sense of what his goal is here?
SANNER; No. And I think we're all over the map. You know, if we can remember, how did we get here? We got here because I think the president absolutely with the right thought, you know, in his heart, wanting to support the protesters and seeing them getting mowed down was upsetting. And he said, go out attack the institutions. Help is on the way. So this was all about the protesters.
Then, it was about missiles, because that's certainly a legitimate concern for Israel and other neighbors is Iran's missile forces and now we're back to nuclear, but then we're still talking about regime change.
And so no one knows. This makes it almost impossible for a negotiation. You actually need to know that. So that's a problem.
DEAN: Yes.
Meantime, the U.K. media is reporting that the Prime Minister Keir Starmer has blocked this request from Trump to use the U.K. air bases during any preemptive attack on Iran and "The Times" reports this is because of concerns it would be a breach of international law. What do you read into that dynamic?
SANNER: Well, you know, Keir Starmer comes from a background in international law and prosecution. And I think that he has been very consistent. In June, the U.K. also refused to join into Operation Midnight Hammer.
Part of that is this idea that international law actually matters. And when you're a country that supports Ukraine against Russia and their illegal invasion, it kind of brings that to home.
But there's also this hangover from the Iraq war under George W. Bush, where the U.K. felt that they were sold a, you know, a bill of goods, and they joined in on something that wasn't what was a cause that was -- that was justified.
And so, you know, under international law, you have to have either the U.N. saying, go forth, or you have to have some imminent threat.
And the U.K. looks at the situation and says, yes, you know Iran is absolutely a concern and a horrible country, but we're not sure this is justified. And this is why the president is doubling down on this idea that the
U.K. should not be having a new deal with Mauritius over the Diego Garcia base.
And so there's a lot of complication here, but I think the U.K. is actually playing it straight, you know. And ironically, I -- you know, where we are, Jessica, in this decision, we're on the verge of either having a deal that is not a great deal, but a deal on nuclear that legitimizes a regime that just killed tens of thousands of its citizens and is completely illegitimate.
Or we're going to attack that regime in a way that will not lead to democracy. There's no straight line from an air campaign to democracy. So we're in a very significant conundrum right now. And our choices are pretty, pretty serious and stark.
DEAN: Yes. And -- just I keep underscoring this, but just the military buildup that is there really underscores how serious the potential is. It's really as unlike anything we've seen in decades, frankly.
I do want to ask you one additional thing on the nuclear front before we go. Multiple sources have told CNN that U.S. intelligence agencies believe China is developing a new generation of nuclear weapons and have conducted at least one covert explosive test. And sources say the assessment is fueling debate in the intelligence community about whether there has been a shift in Beijing's nuclear strategy.
What are you thinking as you're reading this reporting and learning about this?
SANNER: Well, you know, as an intelligence -- former intelligence analyst, I still play one on TV for you all. But, you know, I think that there are a couple of things when we look at, you know, what is going on with an adversary.
And just like with Russia invading Ukraine, like you're looking at what is actually happening. You know, what is happening with the number of missiles, how are they -- how are they armed? What's the doctrine? What are they talking about?
You're counting things and looking at things. You can see either overtly or covertly, right.
[17:24:48]
SANNER: But the thing I think is really underappreciated in the discussion and very, very key to arms control and, you know and right now, we now have no strategic arms control with the end of New Start with Russia. And we would like to have that again with both Russia and China.
But we have to understand why a country's doing things. Is China in part doing something in terms of building up their capabilities to go around our missile defenses like with hypersonics or with tactical nuclear weapons or multiple warheads? Are they doing that because of what we're doing or at least in part because of what we're doing. And, you know, the cold, hard fact here is that Golden Dome in addition to some other things that we're doing, could actually be fueling an arms race. And that's the discussion that it's so complicated but I'm so glad you asked this question, because I want the American public to actually know and be able to engage in this. Because that's a cost-benefit analysis that we should be making.
DEAN: Yes, it is a fascinating conversation, and I'm glad we could touch on it.
Beth Sanner, great to have you. Thank you so much.
SANNER: Bye.
DEAN: And still to come, police searches of former Prince Andrew's home are underway. A closer look at the investigation.
That's next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
[17:26:06]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:30:30]
DEAN: Right now, British police still searching the prior home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following his shocking arrest and subsequent release from custody. Detectives also contacting his former and serving protection officers to find out if they have any relevant information.
The former prince is under investigation for suspicion of misconduct in public office, after the latest release of the Epstein files. He has not commented on the case, but has previously denied all allegations related to Epstein.
CNN correspondent Nada Bashir, picks up the story from here.
NADA BASHIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL REPORTER: The investigation is still ongoing, but Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been released under investigation. He isn't under bail. So, he is not under any conditions, specifically, but that doesn't remove the possibility of him being re-arrested for further questioning if police deem it necessary.
Now, we understand that he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct while in public office, and it's understood that this is all centered around his time as the U.K. trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, and this comes after documents were released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the Epstein files, which appear to indicate that the former Prince Andrew may have shared sensitive government information with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
So, somewhat different from the allegations surrounding the Epstein scandal. And as you mentioned, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has not commented on these most recent allegations, although he has previously denied any wrongdoing in -- wrongdoing in relation to the Epstein scandal.
But, of course, as you mentioned, the investigation is ongoing. There are multiple calls now for further accountability, including questions around the possibility of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor being removed from the line of succession. That is something that lawmakers in Parliament may be considering following the end of this investigation, once it does come to a close.
He is already, of course, been stripped of his royal title, but he remains eighth in line to the throne here in the United Kingdom. But, of course, as the investigation continues, police will be looking for further evidence to substantiate any claims that have been made against him. That includes searching his properties, but also includes, according to London's Metropolitan Police, reaching out to his current and former close protection officers for any information they might be able to provide with regards to things they may have witnessed while serving for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
DEAN: All right. That was Nana Bashir. Thank you for that reporting.
Governors in the Northeast are declaring states of emergency as millions of people are bracing for a blockbuster winter storm.
New York, Boston, D.C. and other big cities could see blizzard conditions, strong winds and heavy snow. The worst impacts of the storm are expected to happen tomorrow, when more than a foot of snow could pile up. Those conditions could trigger widespread power outages and also make driving quite dangerous.
Across the Great Plains, more than a dozen wildfires have scorched tens of thousands of acres this week. The largest, the Ranger Road mega fire, which grew to twice the size of Chicago, is now 30 percent contained.
The fire began in Oklahoma. It spread about 60 miles into southern Kansas, injuring four firefighters and forcing that mass evacuations.
Still to come, a popular makeup brand standing after the Trump administration's war on DEI initiatives. Will have a look at the strategy behind e.l.f. Cosmetics. That's next.
And also, tonight on "HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU", comedians Larry Wilmore and Jordan Carlos join the crew. Here is a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROY WOOD JR., AMERICAN STAND-UP COMEDIAN, ACTOR, AND WRITER: Question, which retail giant is part of a lawsuit to recoup their lost tariff money?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: J.C. Penney.
WOOD JR.: I said giant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh.
LARRY WILMORE, AMERICAN COMEDIAN: It's probably Costco, because everybody goes to Costco.
WOOD JR.: Points. It's Costco.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh.
WILMORE: Costco?
WOOD JR.: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
WILMORE: It has to be.
WOOD JR.: Costco. A bunch of companies have already joined a lawsuit to get their money back, including Costco, Revlon, Bumble Bee Tuna and Kawasaki.
WILMORE: Oh.
WOOD JR.: I know -- I have not know, Bumblebee Tuna had that gangster in them.
WILMORE: I love Kawasaki sneaking in there. We are made in America. If Kawasaki? Yes. Well --
WOOD JR.: The irony of it is that Costco is the one place where you can get tuna and a Kawasaki.
JORDAN CARLOS, AMERICAN COMEDIAN: It's true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[17:34:56]
DEAN: That airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. and tomorrow on our CNN app.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DEAN: President Trump says he will now increase new global tariffs from 10 to 15 percent, after the Supreme Court ruled the sweeping tariffs, he implemented earlier in his presidency are illegal. That ruling, a huge blow to Trump's economic agenda, and it leaves a lot of business owners wondering if they will be refunded for the tariffs they have already paid.
In the meantime, as large corporations roll back their diversity initiatives and raise prices, one makeup brand says inclusion and affordability will remain at the core of its messaging.
[17:40:07]
CNN's Clare Duffy visited e.l.f. Cosmetics and joins us now with a look at their operations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER (voice over): E.l.f. Beauty CEO Tarang Amin, is on a mission to build a beauty empire for Gen Z. His formula, low prices, social media savvy, and last year, the $1 billion acquisition of Hailey Bieber's Rhode. A beauty brand that young consumers line up around the block for.
DUFFY: E.l.f. has always been so good at having its pulse on what younger consumers want. How do you keep up?
TARANG AMIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, E.L.F. BEAUTY: Some always learning. But we were one of the, actually the first -- one of the first beauty brands on TikTok, as a way of, kind of engaging with Gen Z.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lok at you.
AMIN: The first beauty brand to have our own channel on Twitch. The first beauty brand with their own branded experience on Roblox.
DUFFY (voice over): For Amin, the key to understanding the brand's customers is to hire them.
AMIN: No one is ever going to accuse me of being a makeup enthusiast. So, I absolutely rely on our young, passionate workforce to have a pulse on what consumers want, because they are our community. 76 percent of our team are women. 74 percent are Gen Z or Millennial. 44 percent are diverse. They absolutely represent the community we serve.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Donald Trump's war on DEI is on. The president --
DUFFY (voice over): That focus on diversity stands out at a time when companies like Meta and Walmart have scaled back their diversity initiatives, in the wake of right-wing pressure.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our country is going to be based on merit again.
DUFFY (voice over): For Amin, diversity is a priority.
DUFFY: Why have you decided to stick with it?
AMIN: What would be riskier is us abandoning what we stand for. Our community would know about it right away, and they would hold us accountable for it. We believe if your team represents communities you serve, your results will be better, and we are living proof of that.
DUFFY (voice over): Last year, White House trade policy threatened another pillar of e.l.f. success, affordability. To account for tariffs, the company announced it would raise prices by $1 on many products, despite warnings from President Trump to eat the tariffs.
DUFFY: Was that something that worried you prior to this announcement?
AMIN: No, it didn't worry me at all. Our whole point is being transparent with our community, and what I find consumers are smart. So, if you try to put some other twists, it actually gets in the way of that genuine dialog we have with our community.
DUFFY (voice over): According to Amin, roughly 75 percent of e.l.f.'s products remain priced under $10, an effort to protect the affordability that made the brand a disrupter in the first place.
AMIN: We are known to make the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, and face, and frankly, that resonates in any economic environment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DEAN: Clare Duffy, thanks for that.
Still to come, the aftermath of President Trump's immigration crackdown in Minnesota. How businesses are beginning to pick up the pieces, following the controversial ICE operations. Stay with us. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
[17:47:32]
DEAN: Tonight, people are flooding the streets of Minneapolis to mark four weeks since federal agent shot and killed Alex Pretti.
The death of the 37-year-old, ICU nurse has been a flash point in the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown. And although, the Minneapolis operation is beginning to wind down, many people in the community say they still live in fear.
CNN's Omar Jimenez has been following this story. Omar?
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jessica, I've seen this in a few different cities now, sort of after the peak of these increased immigration enforcement operations from the federal government comes sort of this economic dynamic where many of this immigrant led businesses, or in many majority immigrant neighborhoods, you see the sets of customers really disappear, largely driven out of fear.
And, by the way, that's regardless of whether they are in this country illegally or actually have legal status. Here is what we saw in Minneapolis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: You look out here, I mean, look, there are plenty of tables here, but I don't see anybody here.
DANIEL HERNANDEZ, OWNER, COLONIAL MARKET: Plenty of tables, 99 percent close, you know.
JIMENEZ (voice over): It's typically full at this immigrant-led market in South Minneapolis, residents say.
Danny Hernandez comes here often. He owns a set of grocery stores in the area and worries about what comes after ICE agents begin to leave Minnesota. HERNANDEZ: After the storm, there is the cleanup. There is the aftermath. How many people actually are going to be able to reopen their businesses?
The next biggest need in Minnesota is going to be eviction.
JIMENEZ (voice over): We walked this market just before the Trump administration announced it was ending its surge of federal agents. But the fear from it was already deep rooted.
GLADYS RAMOS BENITES, SHOP OWNER (text): We only want to work.
JIMENEZ (voice over): Gladys Ramos Benites flagged us down as we walked through. She owns two newly struggling shops in the market. And tells us she has legal status. But that for the first time in her decades working in the U.S., she is now behind on her house payments.
BENITES (text): Go after the scammers. Go after the thieves, but not us. We pay taxes. We support the United States. I'm desperate. I'm sick. My nerves can't take it anymore. My anxiety is killing me. I can't sleep. But I can't stop coming.
JIMENEZ (voice over): It hasn't just been business either.
BRIAN O'HARA, CHIEF, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE: It's just been a dramatic increase in calls for service around ICE activity that's happening in the city.
JIMENEZ: In terms of task forces tracing weapons that are used in crimes, you work with federal partners every day.
[17:50:04]
O'HARA: Yes. Every single day.
JIMENEZ (voice over): Has this changed those relationships in any way?
O'HARA: It hasn't changed the individual relationships, but many of the prosecutors have left. Some of the agents are now gone, saying a lot of people's time is being diverted from the serious cases that had the most impact to immigration issues.
JIMENEZ (voice over): Some of the federal immigration enforcement efforts have arrested or detained people with violent criminal records, but many haven't. Like this refugee family, here legally, as they move forward with their process. They now largely stay indoors. Their son was detained for days. He suspects it was because he recently got a speeding ticket.
They didn't want their faces or names used in this interview.
JIMENEZ (text): You still can't sleep?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
JIMENEZ (text): Why? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have nightmares.
JIMENEZ (text): What are you thinking of?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because all of this is really affecting my family, truly. Sorry.
JIMENEZ: No, no. It's OK. It's OK.
JIMENEZ (voice over): In the middle of the interview, a neighbor was at the door asking about one of our team members black SUVs parked outside.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, we are only doing a report.
JIMENEZ (voice over): Our photographer reassures him, we are just doing an interview.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't worry, everything is OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are all scared.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Relax neighbor, nothing is going to happen.
JIMENEZ (voice over): Neighbors, vigilant. Business owners navigating a new reality.
BENITES (text): All vacant. This was not like this.
JIMENEZ (voice over): This day, she says she took a babysitting job later just for extra cash, and that this shop may not survive.
BENITES (text): I am almost 70 years old. My plan was different. But now, with one kick they knocked it all down, and this may possibly come to an end.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JIMENEZ (on camera): And the city of Minneapolis preliminarily estimates the federal surge cost the city more than $200 million in January alone, and that it would take at least that funding for community groups, businesses, and more to be made whole.
Now, another business leader I spoke to, liken the recovery here to COVID, and that it's not going to come back overnight. It was more of a gradual return as people felt comfortable.
The Trump administration has defended its surge in the city. DHS has claimed it arrested thousands of undocumented immigrants from the beginning of the operation through early February.
But remember, this is also an operation that included two dead Americans, another person shot by an ICE agent, whom ICE is now investigating for potentially lying about the incident, and now, this trail of fear in its wake for some residents, that, again, won't change overnight. Jes?
DEAN: All right. Omar Jimenez, great reporting. Thanks so much for that.
Still to come, gold and more gold for team USA. We are going to take you to Milan for a look at all the action during the final weekend of the Winter Olympic -- Olympics.
And look at this live look of the Verona Olympic Arena, where the closing ceremonies will take place tomorrow. Stay with us. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:57:57]
DEAN: Today, Team USA picked up its 11th gold medal at the Olympics, when the trio of Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Chris Lillis took the title in mixed aerials. The medal lifted the U.S. to a total of 31 overall for these Winter Games.
And now, the stage is set for a major gold medal showdown for the U.S. Men's hockey team, and CNN's Coy Wire is in Milan with that and more. Hi, Coy.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Johannes Hosflot Klaebo has done it again -- and again -- and again -- and again -- and again. The Norwegian wonder becomes the first ever athlete to win six golds at a single Winter Olympic Games after a victory in the men's 50-kilometer cross- country skiing mass start. The most successful winter Olympian ever. Also extends his lead at the top of the all-time list, after picking up an astonishing 11th career gold medal.
He said, it's hard to find the words to describe what this means. I feel you. I can't really describe it either. It is incredible.
Now, to the fastest mullet on the ice. The Netherlands' Jorrit Bergsma, winning the men's speed skating mass start at 40 years old. His second medal of these Milan-Cortina games, first Olympic gold since 2014. He is the cherry on top of the elder movement here at these games, third athlete in his 40s to win a gold. Before this, there had only ever been one.
Finally, for the very last event at these Winter Olympics, we get an epic men's hockey gold medal game, just like the women's final the USA versus Canada on Sunday.
February 22nd, same date as the 1980 U.S. versus Soviet Union Miracle on Ice game. These teams have combined for 27 Olympic hockey medals. Canada has the most all-time. The U.S. third most.
Both teams fully registered and rostered with NHL players, celebrities, and dignitaries will be in the stands. Get ready for these games to end with drama ahead of the closing ceremony, also on Sunday in Verona.
DEAN: All right. Coy Wire for us. Thanks so much.
The next hour of NEWSROOM starts right now.
[18:00:08]
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hi, everyone. I am Jessica Dean, here in New York.
