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Connect the World
Macron: The Path Forward is Before Us; U.S. and Germany Appear Divided on Nord Stream 2; Jakara Anthony wins Gold in Women's Moguls Ski Event; India.Arie Asking Spotify to Remove her Music; Dual Nationals Caught in Iran-U.S. Standoff; China Limits Movement of those Inside Close Loop. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired February 08, 2022 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: And a very warm welcome back if you are just joining us, you are more than welcome. French President
Emmanuel Macron is heading back to Western Europe for talks with his partners there to build on his diplomacy in the Ukraine crisis.
Now Mr. Macron has just wrapped up a meeting with the Ukrainian President, he said there is a path forward although it may not be quick. Listen to
what Mr. Macron had to say about his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin a day earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: We had an exchange with the president who told me that he would not be the cause of an escalation. The second
important element is that there will be no fixed base or deployment of sensitive equipment in Belarus.
I believe this has been confirmed. And as for the rest, no one is naive. France since the beginning of this crisis has never made excessive
statements on the subject. But in the same way, I do not believe that this crisis can be resolved by a few hours of discussion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, meantime, the U.S. President standing here with Germany's Chancellor warned that if Russia invades Ukraine, the U.S. will put an end
to its Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. President Macron's next stop is Germany and that's where we find our Frederik Pleitgen. Fred what's next in this
crisis? What can we expect in these talks between two extremely important the most important to European leaders?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think what we - what we can expect. And what we are seeing right now already is
really an escalation of the shuttle diplomacy that's been going on. I really think one of the things that we saw, especially this week, Becky is
really Europe starting to get into the fold.
If you look at the past couple of weeks as this crisis near Ukraine was unfolding with those Russian forces amassing there, what you saw in that
time is really the U.S. President speaking with the Russian President, you had Sergey Lavrov speaking with Antony Blinken so it was really the U.S.
and Russia doing a lot of the messaging.
But you did have Emmanuel Macron in the backdrop of certainly already speaking with Vladimir Putin, but you didn't really hear very much for
instance, from the Germans, they've now come into the fold. Olaf Scholz has a very important visit that he had to the United States yesterday to meet
with President Biden there.
And I think one of the things that many have been waiting for as this crisis is unfolding is for Germany to really show where it stands on a lot
of things. And the German Chancellor has said that he's firmly within the Western alliance that he's in lockstep with the United States.
The U.S. for its part, though, says that the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline definitely will not go forward if there is a further invasion of Ukraine.
Olaf Scholz not willing to go that far, even though he is saying that the German is very close to their allies, let's have a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR: You can be absolutely sure that Germany will be together with all its allies, and especially the United States that
we take the same steps that will be no differences in that situation. What we do today is giving this very strong answer to Russia saying, if you
invade the Ukraine, this will have a very high price for you, which will have high impact on your economy and deep chances for your development. And
we are ready to take steps that will have cost for us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Willing to take steps that will have costs for the West as well, it was quite interesting, because President Biden said something very
similar as well, yesterday in the press conference with Olaf Scholz. He said yes, of course, if there are those strong sanctions against Russia, of
course, it'll have an impact on the U.S. economy, but especially also on the European economies as well.
But of course, first and foremost, it will hurt the Russian economies. And I think one of the things that you're seeing is really the leaders of the
West and especially Europe now more and more, aligning their position with the United States Becky.
ANDERSON: Nord Stream 2 is a pipeline owned by Russia's Gazprom, which runs from Western Siberia to Germany is it Washington's to stop?
PLEITGEN: Well, it certainly does appear to be the case that nominally obviously this is a project that it's not actually a German Russian
project. There are other European nation's European companies that are involved as well.
But of course, the pressure that Washington can exert is something that de facto can stop that pipeline. And I think one of the things that we're
seeing in these talks with Olaf Scholz, President Biden also but other European leaders as well is essentially they've all signed on to the U.S.
position, essentially, to all of them.
[11:05:00]
PLEITGEN: It's absolutely clear if there is that further invasion of Ukraine that the Nord Stream Pipeline is not going to happen. You don't
hear Olaf Scholz mentioning the words Nord Stream 2; you don't hear Olaf Scholz saying that the pipeline will not happen.
But you do hear him say that they are in lockstep with the United States and that all the measures will be coordinated. And the U.S. is saying that
pipeline will not happen. So de facto, it certainly seems as though the positions have been aligned.
And it would mean or spell the end, at least, at least the interim of that pipeline going online, which, of course, is one that is also still very
much in the approval process it has not been approved to trend down the gas yet in the U.S. also believed that the Germans could use that as a leverage
as well, Becky.
ANDERSON: Let me bring in Nic, from Moscow, Washington has tried carrot, it's offered a whole bunch of different sort of off ramps, in diplomacy
that Vladimir Putin hasn't bitten on as it were yet. And so it seems that this pipeline is the stick. Will it work?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: So far, no. I mean, the sort of general response from Russia, and we really still don't know a lot
of what Putin is actually thinking. But some of the lines we've heard over the recent weeks, is that well, you know, depending on what the sanctions
would be, and depending on if it was the pipeline, but the implication has been, you turn off our, you know, access to money through certain
sanctions.
And we'll turn off the fuel supplies that you're relying on in Europe, that sort of been implicit, by some of what's been said. Just Putin factor this
into his calculations. Of course, he must there's but is he giving us an indication of that? No. His conversation last week with President Xi was
about some joint energy, energy enterprises, not enough to fill the vacuum that would be left if he cut off supplies to Europe and lost that incoming
finance.
But at the moment, Putin seems to be very, very focused on his core demand, that he hasn't got satisfaction from NATO, ruling out Ukraine, being able
to enjoy. These sound like issues that we go over so many times. And indeed they are, but partly it is because Putin hasn't advanced his position
hasn't changed his mind on it so far, Becky?
ANDERSON: Thank you, Nic. The Nord Stream 2 Pipeline then a key point of leverage and a possible bone of contention between allies in what is this
Russia/Ukraine crisis I want to talk more about the pipeline's future and its significance?
Amena Bakr is the Chief OPEC Correspondent and Dubai Deputy Bureau Chief for Energy Intelligence joining me tonight from Dubai, what are the
implications for Russian energy flows into Europe? Should this pipeline be used as the steak that certainly Washington is prepared to telegraph at
this point?
AMENA BAKR, CHIEF OPEC CORRESPONDENT, ENERGY INTELLIGENCE: Becky, this pipeline is incredibly important for the supply going into Europe, as we
all know, right now that most of the flows go from Russia to Ukraine, and that's the transit point.
If Nord Stream 2 comes online, that means that the majority of the gas will flow from Russia into Germany and be dispersed from there. It's
understandable that the German Chancellor is quite vague when it comes to the pipeline and the supply and so on. He can't be as straightforward as
President Biden was.
Because it's not just Germany that needs this gas supply it's the rest of Europe, it's Austria, Bulgaria. So they will use this as part of the
negotiations. And it will be part of the talk and the possible sanctions on Russia, if it invades Ukraine. And we've seen that I mean compensating
Russian gas into Europe is really a big problem.
There isn't a single country that could compensate the supply that Russia brings to Europe, which is around 43 percent of Europe's supply coming from
Russia, so it's very difficult to compensate.
ANDERSON: You and I talked about this the other day and the European Commission President has talked about Norway being an option as a supplier.
You and I talked the other day about Qatar being leant on quite heavily by Washington as a potential supplier at the time you said that that's really
an outside chance.
I mean, short term, certainly that would mean diverting supplies from Asia and you can't see Qatar doing that in the short term.
[11:10:00]
ANDERSON: This standoff then has massive implications, doesn't it and as we have seen this developing so we also see the price of oil going to 90 and
some suggest, possibly $100 on the bow the entirety of this crisis really causing some major tabulation in the energy markets as a whole. Just step
back for a moment explain what you are witnessing here.
BAKR: Absolutely Becky this is a complete crisis. I mean, Europe has been facing the gas crisis for months now. I mean, the gas price is an
equivalent of a $200 barrel of oil, which is incredibly expensive for governments to keep up with, there's a lot of pressure on all of the
European states and now having to agree to a stopping North Stream II or stopping supplies from Russia, it's not something that they could take
lightly.
Because they know even if the U.S. says that they have secured supplies for them, it's not easy to secure these supplies. Until now, we're not seeing
any kind of evidence that these supplies could be compensated for so easily. So the entire situation is incredibly difficult to deal with.
ANDERSON: And meantime, as I understand it and just looking at S&P Global here to ensure that I'm right in this. Russia was the number three oil
supplier to the U.S., certainly in October, after Canada and Mexico, the U.S. importing over 600,000 barrels a day of Russian crude and fuel oil
feed stocks in October, that was down from a record high, but there is some U.S. reliance on Russian oil itself, isn't there?
BAKR: Yes, there is some reliance. But at the same time, I mean, Becky, you mentioned that prices are improving. Now we're seeing Brent trading above
$90 a barrel, and it's heading towards that $100, which will revive some of the shale producers' production. So potentially the U.S. could make up for
those volumes by increasing its own.
ANDERSON: Bottom line here, do you while we consider that this Nord Stream 2 Pipeline is being used as a stick? And let's be quite frank, I mean, you
know, we're hearing it from the horse's mouth as it were from Joe Biden, the U.S. President, at this point, clearly causing a level of insecurity,
anxiety, and potentially providing a wedge to be driven between two important European leaders at this point. And this is a highly significant
story, correct?
BAKR: Yes, absolutely. It's a highly significant story, because it's, it's Europe's main supply of energy. And this is something that the Europeans
will have to revisit at some point and reassess the sources of their energy, and perhaps it will accelerate the transition and reduce reliance
on oil and gas or the upstream sector in the future.
And this is something that I - we've heard that U.S. officials have discussed with the Europeans that it's time to speed up the transition and
be less reliant on oil and gas.
ANDERSON: Amena, the German Chancellor sidestepping the pipeline question, we talked about this at the top of this interview. Others in Europe are
blunter, the French Economy Minister saying the Americans will not have to bear the same consequences of a conflict in Ukraine as the Europeans,
especially in terms of energy prices, let us not be dragged by the Americans to a position that is not that of the Europeans.
I thought that was a very interesting quotes there, you spend an awful lot of time speaking to energy ministers, your beat is OPEC and the wider
energy story. You must have been speaking to those involved in the Russian energy story of late, not just on the oil story, but on the wider energy
story. What's your sense of positioning in all of this?
We certainly heard and we had some Intel on CNN yesterday about a sense reservation by some Russian officials as to exactly what Vladimir Putin
himself is up to and the efficacy of any further invasion into Ukraine. Are you getting any feedback from your Russian sources at this point?
[11:15:00]
BAKR: At this point Becky we are kind of ruling out the idea that Russia is going to cut off gas to Europe completely. That's a very, very unlikely
scenario. Partially possible there might be a partial drop and we've already seen that Russia has only committed to the minimum contracts it has
with Europe it hasn't been incrementing or adding any kind of supply it seems that the demand is out there but they haven't been meeting that extra
demand.
But do we see a complete like disaster scenario where we're Russia would cut off supply completely? We don't expect that and we haven't been hearing
that at least from our Russian sources.
ANDERSON: With that I'm going to leave it there. Thank you. Amena Bakr on the story for you and importantly extremely important stories we continue
to watch the developments both on a diplomatic front and in detail some preparations for any potential conflict from both sides.
Well, if you thought supply chain problems have been bad during the Coronavirus pandemic and indeed potentially supply problems to come with
this conflict. Have a look at this; dozens upon dozens of Canadian truckers are blocking access to the busiest international crossing in North America.
The Ambassador Bridge outside of Detroit spans the U.S./Canadian border and is a major supply chain artery. Truckers jammed up the bridge on Monday and
are still out there today. What are they doing? Well, they are protesting Canada's COVID restrictions some say they are not leaving until Canada lift
its vaccine mandate for truckers.
CNN's Paula Newton live for us in Ottawa. It does appear that these truckers are digging in and a major border crossing involved which has huge
knock on effects.
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely Becky. And remember that's border crossing number two, the crossing between Alberta and Montana,
another major commercial supplier close again, RCMP told us in the last few hours.
Listen this entire movement has really gained a momentum all its own. I mean people who have been here nearly for two weeks in this city Becky I
can tell you the downtown core here in downtown Ottawa remains gridlocked.
And we are just a few 100 feet from the National Parliament building here and you can see behind me roads completely closed. Residents here feel as
if they have been taken hostage in fact that they say that the gridlock the fact that they can't get on with their daily lives.
And yet the protesters that are here are saying that they are just fed up. Becky, if we take you back to how this started, it was a trucker protests
they wanted the vaccine mandates dropped but now it is turned into so much more. They're saying that they want not just the vaccine mandates dropped
but also masked mandates in fact, all COVID restrictions.
Becky before I let you go, Justin Trudeau came out of isolation in a dramatic way last night for an emergency debate in Parliament. He's saying
look, these people are blockading our economies our daily lives our very democracy. He says it must end Becky.
ANDERSON: Paula thank you! Well, born in the U.S. but representing Team China Eileen Gu China's slow princess delivers a message of unity at the
Beijing Olympics. And also ahead, we speak with Grammy winning Singer Songwriter India.Arie why the Joe Rogan controversy has prompted her to ask
Spotify to take down her music that is coming up?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Well, we've told you all in "Connect the World" about the rise to stardom for free-skier Eileen Gu ahead of her Olympic debut for Team China.
Well, today, China's Snow Princess delivered, she won gold in the women's big air skiing event. She made a perfect landing on a trick she says she
has never attempted before. Here's what Gu who was born in the U.S. said about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EILEEN GU, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: I think of all my tricks as a rhythm, and music and like kind of motion. So in that sense, the wind in my ears the
speed of my turn, when I wrap the spin, it speeds up. And so like there's a change in tempo.
And so I was visualizing that I was thinking about that going into the trick, I felt very confident that if I didn't land it, it would be safe,
and that I would still be able to participate in my next two events. But more than anything, I thought that it was opportunity to represent myself
and this message that I've always had of breaking your own boundaries. So no matter if I landed it or not, it was I feel like a testament to my
character and that is something that I wanted to show the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Wow! Well, her have fans went wild and Weibo the Chinese version of Twitter temporarily crashed after tens of millions of fans rushed online
to celebrate. Let's get you to Coy Wire for more Olympic action.
But before we do, we've have to start with voice over anything else. We've got to start with Eileen Gu I mean this is remarkable and she's just as
eloquent as she talks. What a - what a story of unity of uniting of its inspirational stuff, isn't it?
COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORT: It is. And just 18 years old she mentioned composing music. That's how she sees her sport. She actually is a piano
playing prodigy she plays Beethoven was born in San Francisco; she chose to compete for China because of a strong mother daughter bond Becky.
Gu is a horseback riding star. She graduated high school in just three years, she's already been admitted to her Dream School, Stanford, she's
modeled for Louis Viton, she's racked up about 20 brand partners in big time dollars. Now she's the poster child for these Olympic Games.
After winning that goat earlier Tuesday, she talked about her decision more to compete for China instead of Team USA listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GU: So I definitely feel as though I am just as American as I am Chinese. I'm American when I'm in the U.S. And I'm Chinese when I'm in China. And
I've been very outspoken about my gratitude to both U.S. and China for making me the person who I am.
I don't feel as though I'm you know, taking advantage of one or the other because both have actually been incredibly supportive of me and continue to
be supportive of me. Because they understand that my mission is to use sport as a force for unity, to use it as a form to foster interconnection
between countries and not use it as a divisive force.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: Becky mentioned her being so eloquent. She said she wants to unite people promote common understanding, create communication and forge
friendships between nations. She's already won one Olympic Gold and she has a chance to win two more of them here at these Beijing Games.
ANDERSON: I think it was Nelson Mandela who once said sport has the power to change the world. I've quoted that before and I will quote it again. I
think it's really apt at this point. And well, Eileen Gu has a future ahead of her.
Coy you spoke to Jakara Anthony, who just won Australia's first Olympic gold medal. That was the first in 12 years. What did she tell you?
WIRE: Yes, Australia's sixth ever Winter Olympics Gold - she won that freestyle mogul. I caught up with her just hours before she took off to go
back home to be with her family. I asked her about her incredible journey.
[11:25:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAKARA ANTHONY, MOGULS GOLD MEDALIST: It really hasn't people keep saying it to me and it kind of surprises me every time someone says it. I think
once I finally get a good night's sleep and get home see my family and I think it'll start to sink in a little.
WIRE (on camera): Australia's first winter Olympic gold in 12 years.
ANTHONY: Yes.
WIRE (on camera): What was the night like after? It was the celebration.
ANTHONY: It was crazy. I realized it had been 12 years. And I'm only the sixth person in Australia to win a Winter Olympic gold. It's just mind
blowing and just to be able to celebrate that with my team and the whole Australian Olympic team here in the village was so special level played
such a big part in it. And it really is a team effort.
WIRE (on camera): How's that feel to represent your nation like that?
ANTHONY: It's so incredible to be able to represent my nation. And yes, people kind of think that we're a bit of an underdog in winter sports. But
we've actually proven that we're pretty strong on in the World Cup field, World Championships and Olympics in the past, so to be able to take home a
gold medal for Australia, it's just it's so special.
WIRE (on camera): Born in Cannes.
ANTHONY: Yes.
WIRE (on camera): You got a beach, not snow.
ANTHONY: Yes.
WIRE (on camera): So how do you become a winter Olympian gold medalist to boot? I mean, that's like a surfer coming from the Swiss Alps.
ANTHONY: Yes, actually, it's pretty bizarre when you put it like that, you wouldn't really pick someone from where I live to be so successful at
winter sports. But my parents met at one of the snowfields mount villa in Australia when they were younger.
And then there's a primary school there that runs just during the winter, and they would take me and my brother out there for three months of the
year, would ski on weekends, we had like inter school skiing competitions. And that's how I got introduced to mobiles. And I was like, alright, this
is it. This is me. I'm, this is what I'm going to do.
WIRE (on camera): You started skiing, because you were taking to where your parents first met?
ANTHONY: Yes.
WIRE (on camera): What are they meant to you on your journey?
ANTHONY: My parents have been so incredible the opportunities they've given me as an athlete, and just as a person, I really can't thank them enough.
Your family is such a crucial part of your support network, and they really give you those opportunities from day one. And they sacrifice a lot of
things.
They put a lot of faith in you and they really don't know how it's going to go. But I can't thank them enough for everything that they've done for me
over the years.
WIRE (on camera): What was that first conversation like with them?
ANTHONY: I was so excited. I couldn't even tell what they were saying. They were just screaming in my ear. It's just so special to say that I'm so
hyped up and I really can't wait to see them in a couple of days' time.
WIRE (on camera): What do you think it will be like when you finally get to be home with your family?
ANTHONY: I think that when I finally had to be home with my families, when it's really, really going to hate that. I've like achieved my childhood
dream. And yes, I think it's going to be pretty emotional.
WIRE (on camera): I think you're going to cry a little bit?
ANTHONY: I think so.
WIRE (on camera): Had you cried yet?
ANTHONY: I've been pretty close. Yes, I think there's definitely been a couple of tears come out. I know my family back home. Definitely have
coaches support staff. There's so many people that are so invested in this journey in these mailers as much as mine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WIRE: Now, Becky, I asked the hard hitting questions. Where is she going to store that Olympic gold medal when she gets back home, so she might not
take it off ever? But when she does, she's going to keep it in her sock drawer.
ANDERSON: Good stuff. We need those hard hitting questions. Look, I mean, you just don't you're right to what you just don't associate Australia with
winter sports, so good on her and what a lovely story she's got.
But the size of that team, we put a shot up with her amongst her teammates, and she was saluting them for all of the support that they've given. And
it's actually a really pretty big contingent, right amazing.
WIRE: Yes, yes, they're showing up here. You know, she had a teammate test Cody, who also got a bronze and they're tearing it up, so good things come
in. And they're definitely inspiring the next generation of Aussie winter Olympians.
ANDERSON: Lovely, Coy, always a pleasure, sir. Thank you very much indeed. Coming up on "Connect the World", we speak with full time Grammy Award
winning singer songwriter, India.Arie. Why she has asked Spotify to remove her music - alert Joe Rogan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: Well, that ladies and gentlemen is four time Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter India.Arie. If you've heard her music on Spotify,
while it may not be there for much longer, she is one of the big name artists who have asked the streaming platform to take down their content.
She posted a video compilation on her Instagram showing the host of extremely popular podcasts, the Joe Rogan experience ushering racial slurs
repeatedly on a show over the course of 12 years.
Now, the CEO of Spotify has condemned Rogan's comments and Rogan has apologized, saying he's not a racist. But Spotify is the exclusive carrier
of his show. And while it has removed dozens of episodes, it isn't taken Rogan off its platform completely.
This controversy is not limited to racial slurs. It does follow several major artists' objections to his shows misinformation about COVID 19.
When it was just about a week ago, that India.Arie made the announcement that she was pulling her music and podcast from Spotify saying and I quote
here Neil Young opened a door that I must walk through.
It's a response she says to both the misleading COVID interviews and Rogan's language around race. Well, India.Arie, I'm absolutely delighted to
say joins me now live; it's good to have you on. Thank you.
INDIA.ARIE, GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING SINGER AND SONGWRITER: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Joe Rogan did issue an apology for this that we will just play for our audience, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE ROGAN, HOST, "THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE": Now I know that to most people, there's no context where a white person is ever allowed to say that
word, never mind publicly on a podcast. And I agree with that now, I haven't said it in years.
But for a long time, when I would bring that word up, like if it would come up in conversation and instead of saying the N word. I would just say the
word. I thought as long as it was in context, people would understand what I was doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's his apology. What's your reaction to that, India?
INDIA.ARIE: It's funny, because I have listened to it twice, but hearing it now just fresh makes me want to react to that actual part. But aside from
that actual moment that you just played, I think he did well, with his apology.
He said a lot of what I would want to hear someone say. But I also think he knew that there was no context because people I've heard in the comedy
community that he had to be defended by some of his friends of color like that his comedy and he's being edgy.
He knew that there was no context and he was doing it anyway that's what I think. But his apology was sound, I think it was sound he said a lot of
what I wanted - what I would have wanted to hear partisan say.
[11:35:00]
INDIA.ARIE: And the main thing that he said that I thought was that I thought was very acceptable for me was when he said, it's not my word to
use because the people, a lot of people have a conversation about them. Why does the black community say it? Which is a whole other conversation that I
don't want to have here?
There are too many nuances for this short conversation. But whether or not we say it in the black community or not, if we ask non-black people to not
say it, they should just not say it. And so I like that. He said it's not my word to use, because it's not. Well, he can't use it within - we have to
accept the consequences of using it.
ANDERSON: --look, you say you don't believe in canceled culture, and you say you aren't asking for the podcast to be censored. So what are you
asking for here?
INDIA.ARIE: Change the behavior. Simple, that he just wouldn't do that again. And also, I don't believe in censorship. But I do believe in, I
learned something from a writer named Roxane Gay, which many people will know, she's an amazing writer. She said there's a difference in censorship
and cultivation.
So cultivation of a space is choosing where you want to be and what you want around. Spotify has made that choice. Censorship is someone at the
risk of their life, or the risk of their freedom for the things they say, no one's being censored here.
So I don't believe in that. I also do not believe in canceled culture, I think people Garner love or hate based on their actions, and it is going to
be what it's going to be. What I'm asking for here is changed behavior.
And what I'm also asking me to be able to have the cultivation of my own space. If I don't want to be on a platform with someone who speaks that
way, it should be my choice of the cultivation of my own space.
ANDERSON: You've also said when I was looking at the Instagram posts that your beef with Spotify is also a matter of respect. And you've said that
they pay musicians next to nothing for their content while signing $100 million contract with Joe Rogan. What needs to be done here, in your view,
India?
INDIA.ARIE: Again, part of what makes these kinds of interviews hard, is because there's so many nuances involved, because it's not just Spotify.
There's also the labels and the treatment of artists and how it all comes together between the labels and Spotify.
But what needs to be done here is for songwriters and producers to be paid fair rates. That's what needs to be done. Nobody's asking for $142 million,
like Joe Rogan, we're asking to be paid fair rates.
Because I think a lot of people conflate celebrity culture and who you see on TMZ arguing about their kids or whatever they're doing. And the average
working musician who writes the music for your commercials, someone wrote Baby shark, someone writes your favorite songs, I believe from the Beatles
down to, to me.
Someone writes every song and as a producer, and writers, multiple people that make this music, and the conversation is can we be paid fairly? That's
been the legal battle, the ongoing legal battle, there's another trial coming up in a few weeks about these digital streaming platforms and how
they pay.
And so the conversation and what needs to be fixed, is not that he can't be paid what he's being paid, is that if he's being paid fairly on this same
platform, the musicians who build the platform need to be paid fairly to. And again, it's not just Spotify. It's also the labels. People just want to
be paid for their work.
ANDERSON: No, I understand. Spotify has long been an outlet, of course, for young and up, up and coming musicians to gain a following to all intents
and purposes. I guess that begs the question, is there a realistic alternative at this point?
INDIA.ARIE: I don't think there's a realistic alternative to streaming. I think there's always going to be here now. I think there can I think there
can and are about to be new models of streaming that are more fair to the songwriters, and the producers and the rates they're paid. I think that
conversations like this create solutions.
Spotify is the biggest streaming platform, but it's not the only one. And because, you know, technology is so vast, there's going to be new ways that
I'm heartened to believe that there will be new ways that artists are compensated fairly for digital streaming.
ANDERSON: Your success stands before you, we are great fans. Thank you for the time you spent with us today.
INDIA.ARIE: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Best of luck with everything.
INDIA.ARIE: Thank you.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: Thank you, an important conversation. Well, a shake up a peloton the fitness bike maker is replacing its CEO and its cutting 2800 jobs. The
company is trying to get a grip on slowing demand. CNN's Paul R. La Monica joins me now live.
Slowing demand you might not have forecast this when this company was riding high, skews the palm, remind us what happened and what's going on
now?
PAUL R. LA MONICA, CNN REPORTER: Yes, what really happened is that during the pandemic, a lot of people did hunker down by peloton equipment so that
they could work out from home. But there have been a couple of things Becky at play since then. People have been vaccinated people are going back to
the gym. There's also a lot of competition.
Peloton sells very expensive equipment that admittedly there's about 6 million people that are devoted peloton users. But there are a lot of
people out there who don't need to have that sophisticated a bike or treadmill.
There are cheaper options out there, you add all that up and growth is really slowed. And peloton had to make this unfortunate decision where
they're laying off nearly 3000 workers. Their CEO is moving up so to speak to the executive chairman ranks, but they're bringing in a new CEO who has
experience at Netflix and Spotify.
So two consumer giants that know a thing or two about subscriptions as India.Arie just spoke to you about, it's going to be very fascinating to
see whether or not peloton can fix its problems or will it be still spinning its wheels and I do apologize for that either.
ANDERSON: One way we get a sense of whether this is a good decision, good corporate decision or not is whether or not the markets like this decision
as far as I can tell the stock is on the up today.
So as far as those investing in the organization is concerned, this is a decision they like that doesn't you know make up for the fact that 2800
people have of course lost their jobs, that's not a great story by any stretch of the imagination, will be - to those who have lost their jobs for
the markets like this right?
MONICA: Yes, the caveat I was just going to say is that, I think the stock price is up partly because there is change and that is something investors
want but their outlook for you know, subscribers for revenue, for earnings is still not great, peloton is still losing money.
So what I think that's happening here is that investors are maybe hoping now that John Foley is stepping aside as CEO. Maybe this opens the door for
peloton to become part of a larger company. There's been speculation that Amazon Nike or Apple could make an acquisition offer for peloton.
And we've seen this you know in technology distressed companies Activision Blizzard, the gaming company that had some issues. They got a white knight
bid from Microsoft and they're now going to be a part of that empire. So I think investors are hoping that maybe peloton too get saved by a larger
firm.
ANDERSON: Yes, thank you, Paul, always a pleasure sir. Coming up is a talk over Iran's nuclear program continue in Vienna. There's a separate track of
negotiations happening that you might not be as aware of. My closer look is just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Last hour, we spoke with - about the latest round of talks resuming today in Vienna, between Iran and world powers. You know the story
by now Iran has to agree to limits its nuclear program and the West primarily, the United States has to guarantee it'll lift sanctions that
have hurt Iran's economy.
But if Tehran and Washington are to reach a deal, they first have to resolve an issue that has nothing to do with Iran's nuclear program. Let me
explain. For years, Iran has held several dual nationals on dubious charges of espionage and security related matters.
We've talked about the issue a lot here on this show and it is once again in the spotlight. The U.S. says they are hostages being used as pawns in
Iran's political games.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NED PRICE, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: The release of the Americans and third country nationals who were being unjustly detained in Iran is a
top priority for the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Iran says it doesn't recognize dual citizenship and based on the number of dual nationals it's arrested in recent years, it's clear
its intelligence services have a deep suspicion of their intentions.
One of the most well-known cases is the arrest of British-Iranian dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Now she has been detained since 2016
after being accused of working with organizations allegedly attempting to overthrow the regime.
The UK government and several human rights organizations have been calling and advocating for her release, her husband even went on a hunger strike
for 21 days. So far, none of that has convinced her captors to release it.
Iran does say it would consider a humanitarian gesture when it comes to releasing prisoners. Now some say humanitarian gesture is a useful
euphemism for prisoner exchange. And there's some evidence to back that up.
Back in 2015 four Iranian American prisoners were freed, right as the first Iran nuclear deal was being finalized. One of them was Washington Post
journalist Jason Rezaian, who was held you'll remember, for 544 days.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON REZAIAN, GLOBAL OPINIONS WRITER, THE WASHINGTON POST: I think that there is the means and the resources to address this issue. Whether there's
the political will or not, is another question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, if you ask U.S. officials negotiating in Vienna today, they probably say there is political will, at least from their side. In fact,
the American diplomat leading the talks in Vienna, Rob Malley says, Washington is unlikely to strike an agreement unless Teheran releases four
U.S. citizens it currently has in prison saying and I quote, "They are separate and we are pursuing both of them.
But I will say it is very hard for us to imagine getting back into the nuclear deal, while four innocent Americans are being held hostage by
Iran". And let's not forget that behind the geopolitical brinksmanship that's going on right now are people and families, families who haven't
seen their loved ones for years.
People like Siamak Namazi, Baquer Namazi, Morad Tahbaz and Emad Shargi. Siamak, a businessman was detained in Iran in 2015. His father, Baquer, a
former UNICEF official was detained a year later in 2016.
Morad is an environmentalist in early 2018 and Emad, a businessman a couple of months later that same year. Emad's family will feature in a new
documentary called "Bring Them Home".
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: When I spoke to two of the people behind that film, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAY WHITEHOUSE, DIRECTOR/PRODUCER, "BRING THEM HOME": I think at the end of the day, this film is about many things. But it is at, at first a film
about love and about family and about hope.
And I think that what we tried to show in the film is that what keeps the family going is their reliance on each other and their belief that they
can, at least in some small way, have an impact on bringing a model.
KATE WOODSOME, PRODUCER, "BRING THEM HOME": The issue of hostages is separate but related to the nuclear deal. But you have seen that there was
a small window to bring Americans home before Iran elected a new government in the U.S. Mr. didn't take that opportunity in its efforts to secure a
fuller package of nuclear --components.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Unfortunately, this isn't the first time the powers that be in Tehran have reported to or resorted to hostage taking to make a political
point. You'll remember the infamous 1979 Iran hostage crisis that was the spark that lit the fire in tensions between Washington and Tehran in the
years that followed.
Barry Rosen was one of the 52 Americans who was held in the U.S. Embassy for 444 days and recently started a hunger strike to demand the release of
all hostages held by Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRY ROSEN, IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS SURVIVOR: For me, it's important to do it to support the hostages and their families. They've gone through grievous
human rights violations. And I think I can do something to the system.
My experience and - the imprisonment that I went through and the psychological torture that I went through, I don't want any other person to
go through that again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, as Washington moles over how it wants to deal with Iran going forward, the families of those detained are left with the mental
anguish of feeling helpless and the hope that someone will bring their loved ones back home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BABAK NAMAZI, SON AND BROTHER OF AMERICANS HELD IN IRAN: And beyond desperate, I have been desperate for the moment my brother and was taken in
shortly thereafter my dad was taken.
But right now, we desperately need the administration to engage and deploy whatever tools it has its position to save the lives of my father, my
brother, and obviously there are other Americans were held hostage in Iran as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A desperate plea for help that might very well penetrate the diplomatic bubble in Vienna and that is my closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Our correspondents saw part of an army of international journalists covering the Beijing Winter Olympics. Their movements being
tightly controlled inside what's known as this Olympic bubble is closed loop which is not only limiting the spread of COVID but it's our
correspondence report the narrative surrounding the games as well. Here's CNN's Selina Wang and David Culver.
[11:55:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's been a long time since there were this many foreign journalists in Beijing. But we're strictly
controlled under COVID rules. I can't just walk out of the hotel. And my driver can't just take me wherever I want to go. We have to stay in our
lane literally. This is the closest we can get to Beijing residents.
WANG (on camera): He said the police will take me if I were to walk out of the gate. It's really hard to get into China right now as a journalist. But
to cover these Olympic Games, we can get in without any visa issues. But the catches we have to stay strictly confined into what the organizers are
calling the closed loop.
WANG (voice over): Other than our hotel, our only options are the Olympic venues. The authorities know where we are at all times.
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Restrictions, lack of access, a daily occurrence for journalists living in Beijing.
CULVER (on camera): I'm from U.S., but I live in Beijing.
CULVER (voice over): CNN has regularly had run ins with the Chinese police around Tiananmen Square in secret of Shin Jang, and throughout my coverage
of the first COVID 19 outbreak in Wuhan.
Oftentimes, our reports on subjects deemed sensitive by Chinese officials are censored in Mainland China. As the relationship between Chinese and
Western leaders has crumbled so as the international press corps based here. Journalists have been forced to leave.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not a particularly good experience too.
CULVER (voice over): Perhaps the most chilling case recently, Chinese State News Anchor Cheng Lei, an Australian citizen detained since 2020 on an
accusation of spying, we don't know where she's been held.
CULVER (on camera): Now the Olympic Games are a carefully managed opportunity for China to reintroduce itself. Journalists like me who live
here now joined by hundreds of new faces, albeit separated by barriers.
WANG (voice over): But our sources in China live with much greater risk, like human rights activist, Hu Jia, a prominent critic of the Communist
Party. Speaking to me from house arrest, he says authorities are frightened he might stage a demonstration during the Olympics while the world is
watching.
He tells me he'll be locked in for months. They've threatened to stop him from seeing his elderly mother if he doesn't comply. He's used to getting a
knock on the door from police, who he says have visited him four times in the past eight days.
The security of the closed loop is keeping people safe from COVID as more cases are registered among Olympic personnel, but also keeping journalists
from telling their stories, Selina Wang with David Culver, CNN Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well thank you for joining us. That was "Connect the World" from the team working with me here in Abu Dhabi and those working with us around
the world. It is a very good evening. "One World" with Zain is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:00]
END
