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CNN This Morning
Europe Welcomes Zelenskyy after Oval Office Disaster; 'Anora' Takes Home 5 Academy Awards. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired March 03, 2025 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: It is Monday, March 3. Here's what's happening right now on CNN THIS MORNING.
[06:00:39]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Your country's in big trouble.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Can I say -- can I --
TRUMP: No, no. You've done a lot of talking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: After the blowup with Trump at the White House, Ukraine's president gets a warmer welcome in Europe. Can relations between Ukraine and the U.S. be repaired?
Plus, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you all keep cutting me off, if you're rude, which you're being, I'm going to leave.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Republicans face angry voters across the U.S. Can Democrats seize this moment? We're going to have New Jersey Senator Andy Kim to join me live to talk more.
And this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILLY CRYSTAL, ACTOR/COMEDIAN: And the Oscar goes to --
MEG RYAN, ACTRESS: "Anora."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: From first-time winners to an independent sweep, we'll break down all the big moments from Hollywood's biggest night. It is 6 a.m. here on the East Coast. A live look at the Washington
Monument here in the nation's capital, where we are all just waking up.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Audie Cornish, and thank you for waking up with me.
Now, just days after getting berated at the White House, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy received the royal treatment in the U.K. The U.S. and Europe now at a historic crossroads over how to end Russia's war on Ukraine.
Britain's King Charles extended a warm welcome to Zelenskyy, meeting with him for more than an hour on Sunday. Leaders across Europe held an emergency summit in London, where they stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine's president, a reception far different than that in the Oval Office on Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.
ZELENSKYY: No playing cards.
TRUMP: Right now, you don't. You're playing cards, you're playing cards.
ZELENSKYY: I am serious. I am a president at war.
TRUMP: You're gambling with the lives of millions of people.
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We will go further to develop a coalition of the willing to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: So, what happens now? Because this means that for the first time since World War II, the role of the U.S. as the anchoring power has come into question.
Washington and its European allies are now disagreeing on some major strategic questions. They disagree on how to end the war in Ukraine; on whether Russia is a friend or a foe; and even if the U.S. can be counted on going forward.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION: We urgently have to rearm Europe. It is now of utmost importance to step up the defense investment for a prolonged period of time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Joining me now to talk about all of this: Jonah Goldberg, CNN political commentator and co-founder of "The Dispatch"; Astead Herndon, CNN political analyst and national politics reporter at "The New York Times"; and Lulu Garcia, CNN contributor and "New York Times" journalist, also host of the podcast "The Interview."
So, Jonah, I want to thank you all for being here. So, Jonah, I want to start with you. Over the weekend, you heard Republicans talking a lot about whether Zelenskyy should apologize. Like, what is necessary to bring Putin to the table?
And a pretty exasperated Marco Rubio kind of saying, like, look, we got to get Putin there. What do you make of, like, how they're trying to get Putin there?
JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think it's a little bewildering. I watched Marco Rubio this weekend saying how -- I think he literally said, we have to have peace before we can get them to the negotiating table. And it seemed like they got the causality a little backwards.
CORNISH: Yes.
GOLDBERG: Look, for decades, American foreign policy eggheads debated who lost China. And I think for the first time in our lives, since I think I'm the oldest person here.
We're seeing the beginning of what could be the debate of who lost Europe. And, this is serious stuff. I think the U.S. was right to lecture Europe for years about rearming and getting tougher. But this is not the way to do it.
CORNISH: Let me bring in Lulu for a second. I know you watch Marco Rubio carefully in terms of how he talks about this publicly.
LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: My former senator.
CORNISH: Yes. What do you make of this?
GARCIA-NAVARRO: I was pretty shocked. This is the son of Cuban political exiles. And the idea that he is having to be so deferential to Putin.
[06:05:05]
So -- pushing a foreign policy that is upending everything that the United States has stood for, I think, is pretty shocking. And I think that what we're going to be seeing going forward. There's been a lot of bets by people like me, like how long Rubio is going to last in this cabinet, because --
CORNISH: Yes. Astead, are you in that pool?
ASTEAD HERNDON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I mean, I get why the bets are going, because it does seem like a team of rivals.
CORNISH: Jonah, are you in that pool?
GOLDBERG: I'm not.
CORNISH: Am I the only one not in this pool?
HERNDON: No.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Maybe not. I mean, the bets are going, but like of everybody, he seemed to be the one that wasn't going to last that long, right?
Like, because he, you know, he stood for something very different. In terms of his foreign policy, he was very hawkish. He was very anti- Russia. He was -- he had spoken very, you know, forcefully against Vladimir Putin.
And so, to have to be pushing this now seems very, very -- kind of a complete about-face. And so, you know, that's the question.
HERNDON: That's the kind of about-face Trump requires. Right? Like that. The -- Rubio' s 180 is a similar 180 that a lot of Republicans have been forced to do, because it's the position this administration has put them in.
I think the kind of lecturing of Zelenskyy was a bet that you could see coming from the trail. Right? This was a --
CORNISH: Well, anyone could see that, right?
HERNDON: This is a fight --
CORNISH: I think everyone at home was like, what the heck is going on?
HERNDON: I guess --
CORNISH: Usually they're so performative, right? World leaders, when they meet.
HERNDON: The tone and the space. But the message is one that they've been saying --
CORNISH: Yes.
HERNDON: -- over and over and one. And it's a course correction they have wanted to pick, to believe that --
GARCIA-NAVARRO: This was -- this was -- this staged.
HERNDON: I'm not saying it -- I'm not saying it doesn't make it shocking. But I am saying the result is a recalibration, a fight that they have chosen. They -- I mean, that was a trap that they set to make. Yes.
GOLDBERG: Entirely agree with that. I mean, look, I thought what happened on Friday was appalling, but for 40 minutes, it was fairly conciliatory, where the problem was -- I think it has more -- I agree with you.
The larger they want to fight with Europe, this is good for them. But I blame more Vance than I do Trump on this.
CORNISH: Right.
GOLDBERG: And I --
CORNISH: Do you think that was the intention?
GOLDBERG: I think Vance -- look, it's -- first of all, it's just sort of -- when was the last time a vice president chimed up in a pool spray with a foreign leader? It was a very strange thing, right?
This thing should have been two minutes long. That's what pool sprays normally are. Trump, through self-indulgence and through incompetence, and through the lack of some grown-up in the room, some professional who says, OK, thanks everybody. Send the press out there. Obviously, we have some stuff to work out. Let it go for 40 minutes. And then Vance waited for his moment to just start playing with matches.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: And why did he do it? He did it because of, I think, the Elon factor. And I think he wants to show his own influence. And because this is something that he wanted.
CORNISH: Meaning Vance needs to show, I'm a part of this situation.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: I'm a part of this administration.
CORNISH: OK. We've got lots of great voices on this coming up in the next few minutes, and I'm glad you guys helped me set the table on that.
Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, the Carolinas on alert. Dozens of fires burning across both states. When will conditions improve?
Plus, voters across the country are angry as DOGE cuts hit too close to home. Democratic Senator Andy Kim in New Jersey joins me live to discuss how Dems are responding.
And Hollywood's biggest night shines a spotlight on independent films. How a movie that only cost $6 million to make stole the show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMANTHA QUAN, PRODUCER, "ANORA": We made this with very little money, but all of our hearts. To all of the dreamers and the young filmmakers out there, tell the stories you want to tell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:12:49]
CORNISH: It's 12 minutes past the hour. Here's your morning roundup of some of the stories you need to know to get your day going.
Wildfires are burning across the Carolinas, putting people on high alert to evacuate, South Carolina's governor even declaring a state of emergency. Firefighters are working against dry and windy conditions.
One large fire near Myrtle Beach is only about 30 percent contained.
The U.S. is suspending cyber operations against Russia. That's according to a senior U.S. official, who says the move will make the U.S. more vulnerable to cyberattacks from Moscow.
The pause comes as the Trump administration tries to strengthen ties with Russia, three years into its war against Ukraine.
And this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're drinking in public. That's not allowed. The speaker, that's not allowed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rule after rule after rule.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: That's not allowed. If you're headed to Miami Beach for spring break, be on your best behavior.
The city put out its ad listing new rules to cut down on booze-fueled crime and violence. Partiers can expect nightly curfews, bag searches, DUI checkpoints, and even early beach closures.
And in just a few hours, the Iditarod, the world's most famous sled dog race, kicks off in Alaska. This is video from the ceremonial start on Saturday.
And if you're looking at this video and thinking, that's not a lot of snow on the ground, you would be right. The lack of snow forced organizers to change things up.
This year's race actually went more than 100 miles longer just to find more snow.
And you've got to see this. Breathtaking images of our moon, courtesy of the Blue Ghost lunar lander. It's the first step in returning astronauts to the moon.
The uncrewed spacecraft successfully soft-landed on the moon's surface Sunday morning. Firefly Aerospace, now the second private company ever to score a moon landing.
Up next on CNN THIS MORNING, the Oscar record that stood alone for 70 years until last night. How the director of "Anora" matched the legendary Walt Disney.
Plus, a familiar face enters the race. New Yorkers, are they ready for the return of Andrew Cuomo?
[06:15:03
And good morning, Cincinnati, Ohio. If you're heading out the door, grab a coat. It's a chilly 23. Twenty-three degrees there right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CRYSTAL: And the Oscar goes to -- Are they playing us off?
RYAN: No. Well, maybe.
Oh, "Anora."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Indie dramedy film "Anora" taking home the most hardware at last night's Academy Awards. The movie won five of the six awards it was up for, including Best Picture and Best Actress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUAN: To all of the dreamers and the young filmmakers out there, tell the stories you want to tell. Tell the stories that move you. I promise you, you will never regret it.
[06:20:03]
SEAN BAKER, DIRECTOR, "ANORA": This film was made on the blood, sweat and tears of incredible indie artists, and long live independent film.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Cornish: "Anora's" director, Sean Baker. They're making history by winning four Oscars in one night. The only other person to pull that off: Walt Disney.
The big difference here: when Disney did it, it was for multiple films. Baker won all his awards for the same movie.
And there was this moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BASEL ADRA, DIRECTOR, "NO OTHER LANDS": "No Other Land" reflect -- reflect the harsh reality that we have been enduring for decades and still resist, as we call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: That was one of the few political moments of the night, as the award show mostly stayed, on purpose, away from anything too contentious.
Joining me now, CNN entertainment reporter Lisa France. So, Lisa, I want to talk to you just very briefly to say that the chief of the Oscars was like, please don't talk about politics. So, that was like, out of the gate, a stated goal. LISA FRANCE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Yes. And people seem to
pretty much, for the most part, stick to that.
CORNISH: Yes.
FRANCE: And that it helped the night feel pretty light. You know, I mean, Conan O'Brien definitely met the moment. He was funny. He was dancing. He was doing his pratfalls.
Managed to get a Drake and Kendrick Lamar joke in.
CORNISH: And that's really the only requirement at this point for a pop culture moment.
FRANCE: Absolutely.
CORNISH: OK. So "Anora" is a film about, basically, a sex worker who -- who falls in love with the son of a Russian oligarch and their attempts to get a divorce. Wackiness ensues.
Now, not a lot of people saw this film.
FRANCE: They will now.
CORNISH: But it took -- it took everything.
FRANCE: It did. It was a sweep. Mikey Madison was such a surprise. A lot of people thought Demi Moore was going to win for Best Actress.
CORNISH: Because she had won some prior awards.
FRANCE: She had won some prior awards.
CORNISH: Right?
FRANCE: Exactly. Exactly. But the thing about honor is that it reminds us exactly what last night reminded us of. The love of film. Right?
CORNISH: Yes.
FRANCE: The love of movies. And it feels like for a really long time, everything that's been successful at the box office has either been a reboot or a franchise.
CORNISH: So, here's the thing. Remember, they expanded the Best Picture --
FRANCE: They did.
CORNISH: -- nominee category, in fact, because of "Black Panther." It was a sense that, like, popcorn films should be rewarded. So, what do you make of the fact that it was the smaller films that won again?
FRANCE: I feel like people are leaning into authenticity. People are leaning more into creativity. And this film had that. And, you know, we saw Sean Baker when he got his -- when they won the
award for Best Film, and he gave his speech. He really talked about the need to -- for people to return to the theater to see films.
And I feel like from the beginning to the end --
CORNISH: It was different hearing him say it versus hearing, like, the guy who made "Avatar."
FRANCE: Exactly.
CORNISH: And you're like, OK, sure. You go to the films.
FRANCE: Right.
Sean Baker -- Sean Baker did everything for this, which is why he won so many awards. You know, he wrote. He directed. He edited.
CORNISH: Yes. But can I talk about some of the ones that -- we had Zoe Saldana.
FRANCE: Yes.
CORNISH: Win for -- was it Best Supporting Actress?
FRANCE: Best Supporting Actress for "Emilia Perez." And that film went in with the most nominations with 13.
CORNISH: Oscar campaign completely fell apart under the weight of old tweets.
FRANCE: Yes, it did. Yes, it did.
CORNISH: Which is from Karla Sofia Gascon.
FRANCE: Yes, because social media is forever.
CORNISH: Yes.
FRANCE: And people have a tendency to forget that.
CORNISH: Clean your timelines --
FRANCE: Please do. Please do.
CORNISH: -- people, OK? Clean your timelines.
FRANCE: So, it ended up only winning two awards. Zoe. And then also for Best Original Song.
So, it was not the night that they were expecting, but again, with "Anora," what I'm seeing a lot of people say is it felt good to see a film that people were so passionate about making get rewarded for that.
CORNISH: But there's the criticism, some people say, when they expanded the pool of voters in the attempt to diversify, they brought in a lot of international language voters. And that that may be the reason why there were so many international films and films people really hadn't seen that appeal to a U.S. audience.
FRANCE: Right.
CORNISH: What's your take on that?
FRANCE: I think sometimes people do split the vote, but I think in this case, this was a film that, when you looked at the guilds like the Directors Guild and things like that, they loved this film.
CORNISH: Yes.
FRANCE: And --
CORNISH: And it is an American film.
FRANCE: It is an American film. Right. And I think that this now gives people the opportunity to notice this film, because I've been calling it the little film that could --
CORNISH: Yes.
FRANCE: -- should and did.
CORNISH: And keep an eye on Mikey Madison, dressed last night in a nod to Audrey Hepburn.
FRANCE: Gorgeous.
CORNISH: Which the vibe is "Breakfast at Tiffanys." If we're talking about old sex worker films, I think.
FRANCE: Love it, exactly.
CORNISH: "Pretty Woman."
FRANCE: "Pretty Woman." Right.
CORNISH: OK. Lisa Frank [SIC] -- thank you. France, thank you for being here.
FRANCE: Thank you.
CORNISH: Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, what are they going to find? Today DOGE will release its report on whether to cut inside the Defense Department.
Plus, European leaders describing it as a crossroads in history. We've got Democratic Senator Andy Kim joining us to discuss the fallout from Ukrainians -- from the Ukrainian president's trip to Washington.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:29:52] CORNISH: Its 20 minutes -- 29 minutes past the hour here on the East Coast. Here's a live look at Hollywood Beach in Florida.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Audie Cornish. Thank you for joining me on CNN THIS MORNING. Here's what's happening right now.
Europe steps in after the Oval Office blowup between President Trump and Zelenskyy.
