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Trudeau Calls for Freeze on Handguns; EU Agrees to Ban Russian Oil; Hurricane Hits Mexico; Commuting Costs Puts Strain on Americans; Jury Returns in Depp Trial. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired May 31, 2022 - 06:30   ET

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

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[06:32:27]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: In the wake of the Uvalde school massacre, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is making a push to strengthen gun safety in his country, introducing new legislation that will implement a national freeze on handgun ownership.

CNN's Brynn Gingras here with the latest on this.

Brynn.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, I mean, a stunning proposal. And then, like you said, in response to what happened in Uvalde and Buffalo.

Trudeau's proposal puts a freeze on handgun ownership in Canada by not making it possible to buy, sell, transport or import handguns anywhere in the country. Now that includes finding gun smugglers and traffickers and helping law enforcement actually enforce and investigate those crimes.

In addition, if this passes it would be illegal for long guns to hold anything more than five rounds. Gunmakers would actually be forced to make rifles that way to complete (ph) that.

The proposal would also bargain anyone involved in acts of domestic violence or criminal harassment from owning a gun.

Now, Trudeau did say, listen, he understands most gun owners use their guns safely, but there is no need for assault-style weapons in the country. This is an issue the prime minister campaigned on. And here's more of what he had to say about it.

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JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: As a government, as a society, we have a responsibility to act to prevent more tragedies.

Canadians certainly don't need assault-style weapons that were designed to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. Gun violence is a complex problem. But, at the end of the day, the

math is really quite simple, the fewer the guns in our communities, the safer everyone will be.

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GINGRAS: And his government has taken action against guns before after the country's deadliest massacre in Nova Scotia two years ago. It banned 150 (INAUDIBLE) type of military-style assault weapons.

Now, handguns make up about eight - 59 percent of violent crimes that included a firearm over the last ten years. This is just a proposal, but it has support and it could be passed as early as this fall, John.

BERMAN: It's in Canada. Not that far away.

Brynn Gingras, thank you so much.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: European Union leaders agreeing to immediately ban more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports, cutting what they say is a huge source of financing for Vladimir Putin's war machine.

So let's bring in CNN's Melissa Bell, live for us in Zaporizhzhia with more on this.

Melissa, this is a big step. How is this being received?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look, it is a big step. The European Union are taking a hit, saying we're going to phase out these oil export by the end of 2022.

[06:35:07]

The point is, I think, on the ground, however strong the signal that the European Union wants to send about its backing of Ukraine and this war, here on the ground there's a much greater sense of urgency. Not only are those oil exports going to be phased out by 2022. Russia, of course, remember, continues to draw huge revenue from oil prices that have just continued to rise as a result of this crisis.

Here on what is a hardening front line, Brianna, because we're talking about Severo (ph) Donetsk to the north that is falling even now to Russian hands, all the way down now to Kherson, through Zaporizhzhia, where I'm standing now, that is essentially a front line that isn't simply inching forwards as Russia gains the upper hand militarily, but that is also hardening.

I'm speaking to you here from a camp of Ukrainians who have been trying to move back across that hardened border to places like Mariupol and Kherson, to get back to their homes, get back to their families that have been trapped on the other side for a number of different reasons, not simply military. That border is now hardened.

So, what you're talking about is a situation that has humanitarian implications, some of these people have been in their cars for a week or so trying to get back across. You have all the people who find themselves in Russian-controlled lands unable now to get through. And you also have that military question and that plea from Ukrainians that they really need those long-range rocket systems because what you're seeing just south of here, and I'm talking 40 kilometers or so, we've just been hearing that soft thud of outgoing artillery fire, they're not able to reach the Russian positions from here with a lot of difficult that continue to get closer to Zaporizhzhia, with the Russian side using not only cruise missiles from the Black Sea, artillery fire on the villages south of Zaporizhzhia, but also their own long-range rockets. And Ukraine says they need to get their own quickly if that front line is not going to keep inching forward, Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes, some of those long-range missiles still on the table, not too long range, as we understand from -- coming from the U.S. As we've just understood the president's thinking, he doesn't want to send rockets that could reach all the way into Russia. We'll be watching that.

Melissa, thank you so much, live for us from Zaporizhzhia. Thank you.

So, the first named storm of the year slamming into Mexico, bringing life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.

Plus, a potentially significant development in the January 6th investigation. Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro says he's been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury.

BERMAN: Plus, three young people running just feet in front of a high- speed, moving train. The heart-stopping video ahead.

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[06:41:53]

KEILAR: This morning, many homes in southern Mexico are without power and their roofs have been ripped off after the first named storm of the year, Agatha, made landfall as a report-setting category two hurricane, now a tropical storm. Experts are warning about mudslides now and life-threatening flash flooding.

CNN meteorologist Chad Myers has more.

What are you seeing, Chad?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Already seeing the flash flooding here, Brianna. Came on shore as 105 mile per hour storm, a category two, and it is still working its way through the state of Oaxaca (ph), over really Puerto Escondido (ph) for the most part. To the south of there, Puerto Angel (ph), that's the area where it truly made landfall. And a lot of ex-pats live down here. So, they're going to see a lot of damage with this. And, like you said, roofs are off. At least 10 inches of rain has already come down. Five to six more inches still on the way. And the potential for something in the Gulf of Mexico later on this week. This is the European model by Friday. Something there with a big circle around it, south of the Florida Straits. But this is the American model. Nothing to worry about here. We'll have to see which one is right coming up in the coming days.

Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, let's hope for nothing to worry about here.

MYERS: Yes. Correct.

KEILAR: All right, Chad, thank you so much.

MYERS: You're welcome.

KEILAR: With gas prices soaring, commuting to and from work is just putting a squeeze on millions of Americans.

Plus, the Mona Lisa still smiling after a visitor to the Louvre in Paris attacked the painting, smearing it with what appeared to be cake.

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[06:47:37]

KEILAR: As inflation fuels the cost of transportation, a simple commute to work every day can take a big bite out of your wallet. And with more Americans heading into the office now, they're feeling this pinch every time they fill their gas tanks.

CNN's Gabe Cohen is joining us now on this story.

It does make you wonder if at some point employers are going to have to address this, either by maybe helping foot the bill or say, you know what, maybe you don't have to come in.

GABE COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And we are starting to see that in some cases. There have been companies that are offering some sort of gas stipend or pay bump and now we're also seeing workers who are pushing back about actually returning to the office.

The U.S. government is predicting the average household is going to spend hundreds of dollars more on gas this year. For a lot of families, especially lower income families, that can be a big chunk of their annual savings. And some workers have no choice but to eat that cost.

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COHEN (voice over): It seems twisted that getting to work is financially crushing Liz and Scott Angstadt. Their combined commute more than 500 miles each week through New Jersey, with Scott paying $6.19 a gallon for his diesel-powered pickup. Their monthly gas bill has nearly doubled in a year, now over $1,000.

LIZ ANGSTADT, COMMUTER: We cut back in our groceries in what we eat. We cut back more than half of what we're going to travel this summer. We didn't think that we would be talking about money every single day. COHEN: While this couple's commute is longer than most, as more

workers get called back to the office, millions of feeling this squeeze. With the natural average gas price more than $4.60 a gallon. At some California stations, the price is higher than the federal minimum wage.

: It's already bad. It could get worse. And it's definitely not going to get much better.

COHEN: The average U.S. commute now costs an extra $35 a month compared to pre-Covid. Far more ion cities like L.A., San Francisco, Chicago and New York.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not able to work from home.

COHEN: Spencer Toole (ph) says he's paying an extra $50 a month to get to work in Greensboro, North Carolina.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When is it going to come to an end?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't work -

COHEN: In Atlanta, Kiersten Ashley says gas is too pricey for her to take a job.

KIERSTEN ASHLEY, LIVES IN ATLANTA: It's not worth it almost because I'm getting paid maybe $10, $12 an hour.

COHEN: An international survey conducted last November found 64 percent of workers would consider looking for a new job if forced to return full-time.

[06:50:01]

In Washington state, more than 100 contracted Google Maps workers signed a petition refusing to return to the office.

TYLER BROWN, MAPS OPERATOR, CONGNIZANT: It's a huge additional expense.

COHEN: Tyler Brown would have to drive 74 miles each way.

BROWN: It doesn't make sense for me at the moment for $19 an hour. So, I'm going to have to look for a different job.

PAUL MCDONALD, ROBERT HAF: Workers are looking at it from the standpoint of, can I afford to take that new opportunity, or can I afford to stay if required to go back to the office.

COHEN: But some don't have easy options.

SCOTT ANGSTADT, COMMUTER: It's very frustrating, but there's nothing I can do about it.

COHEN: Scott Angstadt is eight years from his pension as a railroad engineer. ANGSTADT: To throw that away, I mean, that's throwing away a lot.

COHEN: So there's no plan to change direction, even as they pump the brakes on long-term plans.

L. ANGSTADT: That picture has kind of altered. We might not be retiring in eight years.

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COHEN: Now, a lot of people are cutting down on their summer travel because of these prices, but the impact on employees returning to work isn't totally clear yet. There was a survey in April that found only about 40 percent of workers said gas prices are actually impacting their decision to go to the office. But, Brianna, as these prices continue to climb, experts are telling me it's only going to become a bigger factor for those workers.

KEILAR: Hearing her say that, we might not be retiring in eight years.

COHEN: Yes, it's pretty heavy. And for a lot of families, as I mentioned before, especially lower income families, this is taking a big bite out of their wallet.

KEILAR: It really is.

Gabe, thank you so much for the story.

So, the man who ordered officers to hold off on storming classrooms where children were laying shot during the Uvalde school shooting is now facing intense scrutiny. We'll have more on that ahead.

Plus, the jury in the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial set to resume deliberations this morning.

BERMAN: And America's love for nostalgia, helping theaters recover from the pandemic.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning, aviators. This is your captain speaking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we're off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here we go. In three, two.

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[06:56:15]

BERMAN: This morning, verdict watch. The seven-person jury in the Johnny Depp versus Amber Heard defamation trial resumes deliberations.

Joining me now, CNN correspondent and attorney at law, Laura Jarrett, and CNN entertainment reporter Chloe Melas.

Laura, I want to start with you.

Just to remind people what this jury is actually deliberating, the legal part of this case.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR, "EARLY START": Yes, the legal part of this case sort of got overshadowed, I think, by some of the ugly details. And you can understand why. They had a clearly violent relationship, no matter whose side you believe. The details are just kind of grotesque and horrific.

But it's a defamation case. It's all about this op-ed that she wrote back in 2018, and whether, in fact, she lied about being a victim of domestic violence.

Now, she would say she has a First Amendment right to speak out as a survivor. Depp's lawyers would say you don't have a First Amendment right to lie about it.

The challenge here for Depp is that if she can show that jury and convince that jury that there was even one instance of domestic violence, under the law, Depp is supposed to lose, full stop.

BERMAN: Because the truth is a defense in a defamation trial.

JARRETT: The truth is always a defense. And so even -- even if they think that she, you know, engaged in a whole bunch of stuff that was problematic, they heard a bunch of phone calls, they saw text messages, there's this whole thing with slicing of the finger. Even if all of that is true, if he - if he did anything violent to her, then what she said was true and he should lose his case.

BERMAN: Defamation cases usually long deliberations, short deliberations? What do you expect?

JARRETT: It kind of depends on - it kind of depends on the case. But, look, they have all of these pages of jury instructions to sort through and it's dense, it's thick. They're going through terms. They have a lot of work to do, if they choose to, you know, actually follow the assignment, which, you know, they're trying to get this right. This could take a while.

BERMAN: Chloe, we've talked a lot about this. I think this case is actually a very important case for people to see because it shines a light on violent and toxic relationships. But something odd has happened here also which there does seem to be a palpable public support for Johnny Depp, in the courtroom, on social media and elsewhere. How do you see this playing out inside of the court of public opinion?

CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Well, OK. This has been unlike anything I have ever experienced in my courses of entertainment journalist for the last 15 years. And I think it really is, with the age of social media and TikTok. And, you know, when it comes to the court of public opinion, it's heavy tipped in Depp's favor. And I think that's just because he's been in so many movies. He has such a legion of fans. And, you know, people are, unfortunately, having a lot of fun with things that are distracting. Whether it's Johnny Depp's outfits, his demeanor, the jellybeans on the table, him coloring and being really harsh on Amber.

You know, I did a piece over the weekend for CNN and I spoke to casting directors and publicists who all say that it's going to be difficult for both of them to bounce back in Hollywood, although Hollywood is a forgiving place. Are big movie studios, like the ones that do "Pirates of the Caribbean" going to want to align themselves with either of them.

You know, she's in the next "Aquaman" movie, and she's already said on the stand, she said that her role was cut back. There's a petition with millions of signatures to cut her out of the franchise altogether.

But something I do want to point out, though, is that there were people from Hollywood, in film studios, and people who worked with Depp for decades who said that it wasn't Amber Heard's op-ed that kept him from getting work, it was the fact that he would be allegedly late to set. He had to have his lines fed to him through an earpiece. So that maybe it is going to be that the jury does come out and actually does maybe rule in Amber's favor or gives us perhaps something where they don't award either of them anything and they both are losers in this situation.

JARRETT: Right. The problem - the problem for him there is damages, right? So, even - even if like somehow they manage to come back in his favor, if they don't think that he suffered any damages as a result of her op-ed, and that he didn't get any work because of his own behavior, then he's going to lose.

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