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One World with Zain Asher
Israel Launches Ground Offensive, retakes Key Area In Gaza; Kremlin: Ceasefire Talks Set For Monday In Saudi Arabia; 24,000 Articles On Chopping Block In Pentagon Website Purge; Families Of American Vets Who Died By Suicide Fight For Benefits; Georgetown University Fellow Detained By DHS; IRS Discusses Sharing Confidential Taxpayer Data With DHS; Ukrainian Prisoners Of War Reunite With Families; Boston Celtics Sold For a Record- Breaking $6.1 Billion; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired March 20, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:41]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of ONE WORLD. I'm Zain Asher in New York.
After a brief two-month reprieve, Palestinians are reliving a nightmare, as Israel pushes ahead with a renewed assault on Gaza. The military is
expanding a ground offensive and airstrikes rain down on the enclave for the third night in a row.
I want to warn you that the images you're going to see here are indeed very disturbing. Civilians are once again paying a heavy price. Palestinian
health officials say that more than 500 people, including 200 children, have been killed since Israel resumed its bombardment Tuesday, shattering a
January ceasefire with Hamas.
Some Gaza residents say they were having the pre-dawn meal before Ramadan fasting when the attacks began.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We woke up to have Sahur and were surprised by a missile that struck our house, hitting us without any prior
warning. Most of the victims were women and children.
This is a massacre against our family, as you can see, without prior warning. They are all civilians who woke up to have Sahur.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Israel blames Hamas for the renewed violence, saying it refused to accept new ceasefire terms. Hamas fired rockets at Tel Aviv for the first
time since the truce collapsed. It says it remains committed to the original ceasefire deal.
CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us live now from Tel Aviv. So, Jeremy, just in terms of Israel renewing this additional ground offensive in northern Gaza,
just walk us through what the latest is, what's happening on the ground right now.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, yesterday, Zain, we saw Israeli troops began pushing in through the Netzarim corridor, which is
that strip of land that the Israeli military had control during much of the war, separating northern Gaza from the rest of the strip.
Israeli troops pushed in till about the halfway mark of that corridor, likely with the intention of going all the way, and once again, being able
to control the flow of people and militants from northern Gaza to the southern part of the strip and vice versa.
And now what the Israeli military is doing is they are pushing in along the coastal road in northern Gaza near Beit Lahia, which again indicates this
intention to begin encircling the northern part of the Gaza Strip, which traditionally has been a real power center for Hamas, both in terms of its
militant but also its governance capabilities.
And that would also include Gaza City, where, of course, there are hundreds of thousands of people who are living.
And as the Israeli military begins to carry out these kind of limited ground incursions into Gaza, they are also ordering the evacuation of
residents of civilians who are living in some of these areas, although after having already struck many of these areas in those, you know,
overwhelming airstrikes that we saw earlier this week.
And so we are once again seeing the displacement of Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza with the prospect and the very likelihood even of it
getting much worse and much more significant in terms of numbers as the Israeli military prepares for a ground incursion that could likely bring in
as many as some 50,000 Israeli troops into combat in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
As all of this is happening, we've watched as those airstrikes are indeed continuing, killing at least 85 people just today, according to the
Palestinian Ministry of Health, bringing the death toll, from just the last 48 hours or so, well above 500 people who have been killed. About two out
of every five people who have been killed are children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
We have also seen Hamas resuming its rocket attacks on Israel, today, firing three rockets towards central Israel, setting off air raid sirens
here in Tel Aviv. As we saw, one of those rockets was intercepted, two others fell in open areas. There were no injuries or people who were killed
as a result of that rocket fire from Hamas, but obviously an indication that both sides are willing to continue escalating the situation further
after Israel broke that ceasefire earlier this week, carrying out these attacks, demanding that Hamas release hostages and vowing to continue to
escalate these attacks unless Hamas agrees to release additional hostages.
[12:05:09]
We know that the mediators are furiously working to try and revive this ceasefire, to try and get Hamas to agree to release more hostages in
exchange for some kind of extension of this ceasefire, as Israel and the United States had previously been seeking before this Israeli offensive.
But the Israeli government has made clear that any further negotiations will be conducted under fire, that there will be no pause in this fighting
in order to allow space for those negotiations, only if Hamas agrees to some kind of a new deal along these new conditions that Israel and the
United States have been pushing for will that fighting pause for the near future. Zain.
ASHER: Jeremy Diamond live for us there. Thank you.
All right. For some more analysis on the deteriorating situation in Gaza, let's bring in Firas Maksad. He's the managing director for Middle East and
North Africa at Eurasia Group and joins us live now from Washington for us. Thank you so much for being with us.
So, what are the regional consequences of the fact that there is now, once again, a full-scale war happening between Israel and Gaza, especially as it
pertains to the re-involvement of the Houthis here?
FIRAS MAKSAD, MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, EURASIA GROUP: Yes, Zain. Thank you. It's good to be with you again.
There's certainly a regional element to what's going on in Gaza. I'll talk to that in a minute, but there's also a very real domestic Israeli
component to this.
It's no coincidence whatsoever that the Israeli campaign, the renewed campaign on Gaza coincides with the budget discussions in Israel. Israeli
prime minister has a very narrow coalition. If this budget doesn't pass by the end of the month, March 31st, his government collapses and he's forced
to call for early elections.
So while the war and the resumption of the war is broadly popular amongst the Israeli public, they don't want to see Hamas rearm. At the same time,
there's a real domestic factor.
The regional angle here is also no coincidence that we saw the American campaign against Hamas essentially unleash at the same time when Israel
decided to go back into Gaza. The Houthis has been -- have been threatening to come to the Palestinians aid unless there's a siege that's lifted on
Gaza.
And they're really the only formidable Iranian-backed proxy still out there after the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the collapse of the Assad regime
in Syria.
And so here, President Trump is taking a blow to the Houthis to help Israel, but also as a lever of pressure in his attempt to force the
Iranians to come to the negotiating table to talk about their nuclear program.
ASHER: Yes. And I'm glad that you brought up the domestic angle in your -- in your answer there, because that is why we've seen these demonstrations
in the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, because a lot of Israelis feel as though Benjamin Netanyahu is prioritizing his own political fortunes over
what is best for the Israeli hostages who are still trapped in Gaza. I believe there are about 24 living Israeli hostages still in Gaza at this
point in time.
So, obviously, Israel is hoping that the resumption of fighting is going to force Hamas back to the negotiating table. But Hamas is saying, listen,
that's not going to happen. Resuming the war is not going to lead to us giving in or us changing what we believe is the most sort of favorable
terms in terms of getting to a ceasefire agreement.
So with neither side backing down, where do we go from here, Firas?
MAKSAD: Yes. I truly do believe that what Hamas is right, it did sign on to ceasefire that called for getting to phase two of this, which is
essentially ending the war. But I do also believe that they've misread the balance of power in the region since a lot has changed, not in Hamas'
favor. Because of all the things that we've discussed, Trump now in the White House, Hezbollah defeated no longer being able to come to their aid,
the Iranians on their back foot.
So they miscalculated by essentially not accepting the new American proposal. So the one put forward by Steven Witkoff, the presidential envoy
on these issues, which called on Hamas to release half of the living hostages for a two-month extension of the ceasefire.
I think that was a mistake, a blunder on Hamas' part, and now clearly Bibi Netanyahu is taking full advantage of that.
We've got this window where Netanyahu needs to get past the budget debate and get it approved by the end of the month. I think once we're past that
two-week window, and particularly if Hamas realizes that it's not in a situation to continue resisting the American proposal, we can get back to
some of -- some kind of an extended ceasefire quiet in return for the release of the hostages and then maybe discussions about ending the war in
phase two.
But Hamas here in a really difficult situation and already making noises that it's still open to negotiations.
ASHER: Yes. Difficult situation because they've seen various members of their leadership killed. You mentioned that Hezbollah is too weak to assist
them as it once did, and then you've got the fact that you've got President Trump in the White House.
[12:10:01]
They do have one card left to play, and that is the hostages. They've got 24 living hostages, I believe about the bodies of 35 others.
So based on that, based on the fact that that is their, really their only card here, what options do they have in terms of how they respond to this?
MAKSAD: That is precisely Hamas' policy dilemma. The catch-22 situation that they find themselves in. They're being asked by the U.S. and
obviously, the plan is also supported by Israel to release more and more of these hostages.
But the more hostages that Hamas releases, the less leverage they have, the less of a guarantee they have that Israel will, in fact, agree to ending
the war. There's no way to go about this except Hamas having to first acquiesce to releasing at least some of the hostages, around 10 living
hostages is what's on the table.
But also what Israel is demanding, supported by the Trump administration, is that either Hamas completely relinquish its weapons or have its
leadership leave into exile, leave the Gaza Strip. There really is no room and no scenario left for Hamas here where they continue to either control
the Gaza Strip or maintain their weapons.
And for the benefit of the Palestinian people, it would be beneficial if Hamas realizes the new balance of power in the region and the limited
choices it has, given the current conflict. I do not say -- see another way out of this.
ASHER: Firas Maksad, good to have you on the program. Thank you so much.
All right. Ukraine's president says, don't believe the propaganda claims, Russia is still striking Ukraine. Moscow and Kyiv both accuse each other of
attacking the other overnight among the targets residential buildings in Ukraine and a Russian airfield. This comes a day after Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Donald Trump about the ceasefire.
Meantime, the White House confirms talks between the U.S. and Russia to work out a pause in fighting are set to -- set for Monday in Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia.
Alexander Marquardt joins us live now from Washington with the details. So just in terms of what is on the agenda for these talks in Riyadh on Monday,
and obviously, a key part of it is the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. Take us through that.
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'm not sure it's even clear what the details are on this energy part of the
ceasefire yet, Zain. All we know from the different sides is that they have this narrow agreement to not strike each other's energy infrastructure.
As we saw from the strikes overnight, clearly, the Russians continue to bomb well beyond that and are hitting civilian infrastructure. There was
some confusion about whether that would be included too. I think those Russian strikes really do highlight how small and narrow this is.
So the talks in the coming days will be to really refine the agreement on this narrow ceasefire about energy infrastructure. But really, the U.S.
hope is to broaden out the conversation to move from that to a broader ceasefire, to include the maritime fighting in the Black Sea, where
frankly, Ukraine has been doing a very good job at hitting the Russian naval fleet. And then they'll want to expand beyond that to a complete
ceasefire all along the front line.
Remember, the top Trump administration officials, just last week in Saudi Arabia said, we want to see a full, immediate, complete 30-day ceasefire.
And essentially, President Putin said, no, I don't want to do that. And he gave all kinds of reasons for why it wasn't really tenable at this point.
And so they ended up settling, the U.S. ended up settling, for this very narrow ceasefire, which, of course, the Ukrainians agreed to very quickly.
They are trying to seem agreeable and proactive right now in order to stay in Trump's good graces after that disastrous Oval Office meeting.
So, Zain, in terms of what's going to happen in the coming days, we know that technical teams, so these are senior officials, but not the top
officials that we've seen negotiating this so far, they will meet together to try to hash out those details because we now have the bigger picture.
Now the details need to be worked on. The U.S. is meeting with the Russian side on Monday in Riyadh. We do believe that at some point, the U.S. and
the Ukrainians will also get together in Saudi Arabia. That's what President Zelenskyy and the Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday,
don't have a date and time for that just yet.
One final interesting thing, Zain, is yesterday, President Trump said that in the meeting with President Zelenskyy, they talked about the U.S. taking
ownership of nuclear and other power plants in Ukraine, that that could serve as a kind of security guarantee if the U.S. owned those power plants.
That is being directly contradicted by President Zelenskyy today, who said that that is not something that they discussed and really that it's not up
for discussion.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe, he said, must remain in Ukrainian hands. So a bit of a discrepancy
there from what was otherwise, according to both sides, a fantastic call, as the U.S. put it. Zain.
[12:15:03]
ASHER: All right. Alexander Marquardt live for us there. Thank you.
The European Union is holding off on new retaliatory tariffs on American goods. The tariffs and products like American whiskey had been set to go
into effect on March 31st. It will now be delayed a few weeks, while Europe and the U.S. negotiate.
The tariffs who announced in response to Donald Trump's plan to levy are stiff 25 percent tax in European steel and aluminum coming into the U.S.
All right. After two years in Taliban custody, an American man is on his way home. Qatar mediated the negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban
for the release of George Glezmann.
The Taliban has been holding the 66-year-old hostage for the last two years. Glezmann, a mechanic for Delta Airlines, was in Kabul as a tourist.
A U.S. official tells you then no one was exchanged for Glezmann's release.
All right. Coming up here, a Pentagon purge. You may be surprised when you hear about the content that is being removed from Pentagon websites.
And just for the later this hour, Georgetown University speaks up for one of its scholars caught up in the Trump administration's immigration
crackdown.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: The Pentagon has removed thousands of pages of information from its websites and topics like the Holocaust, September 11th, sexual assaults,
cancer awareness and suicide prevention. It was part of a purge ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of any pages that include any element of
diversity.
Tens of thousands of images have been flagged for removal across every military branch and the eventual total could actually be much higher. The
vast majority of the purge targets women and minorities.
For more on this story, let's bring CNN national security correspondent, Natasha Bertrand, at the Pentagon.
So this massive purge on Pentagon websites, I mean, includes everything, including content on Holocaust remembrance, sexual assault, suicide
prevention, the list goes on. This is all an attempt to scrub diversity. What more can you tell us?
NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Zain, I mean, separate and apart from the many historical figures that have been scrubbed
as part of this anti-DEI effort, including Jackie Robinson, including private first class Ira Hayes, who is a Marine, a Native American Marine
who served in World War II.
These scrubs have targeted websites and articles that have absolutely nothing to do with diversity, equity and inclusion, and in fact are related
to things like Holocaust remembrance.
[12:20:10]
For example, one article that was scrubbed was about Holocaust survivor Kitty Saks. A couple others were about Holocaust Remembrance Week.
And there were also articles that were scrubbed we found that had to do with suicide prevention resources as well as sexual assault prevention
resources and things having to do with 9/11 commemorations and remembrance.
So there really seems to have been no real rhyme or reason to the massive purge that took place here other than the fact that it was -- it had to be
done so quickly because of Secretary Defense Pete Hegseth's order back in February for the entire department to remove all DEI content that was on
public-facing websites, that the department actually had to create an automated script to go through all of these websites, you know, not using a
human hand to this, but actually basically like AI to comb through all these websites and figure out what might have been related to diversity,
equity, and inclusion and needed to be taken down.
Now the ADL, in particular, they have taken extreme issue with this and they gave us a statement saying that the DOD should immediately reverse
course and restore the pages on historical figures, including survivors and victims of the Holocaust.
But this is really an example here of how they have been trying to really move fast and they have been breaking things in the process. And we're told
that now there is a mandate to all of the components within the military to go back and look with actual people to make sure that they didn't remove
anything that should still be up, which of course did occur. And also to ensure that the historical figures who were removed, including people like
Jackie Robinson, are going to be restored.
But it's going to take quite a bit of time because over 24,000 articles have been removed as of today, Zain.
ASHER: All right. Natasha Bertrand at the Pentagon. I'm sure you'll be keeping an eye on it for us. Thank you so much.
All right. Now to an in-depth investigation into the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, CNN has found that the agency has denied crucial benefits
to hundreds of families of American veterans who died by suicide after being discharged from active duty.
Those families are left to pick up the pieces without the financial assistance they think the VA owes them for what they say are service
related deaths.
CNN's Kyung Lah reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EMILY EVANS, SURVIVING SPOUSE: I feel stuck. We're stuck and the VA is keeping us there.
KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Emily Evans can't move forward.
LAH: And your kids?
E. EVANS: Stuck.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It makes it feel like he's almost still here but just in a different way.
LAH (voice-over): Four children and their mother suspended in time, trapped in loss and bureaucratic battles with the very agency dedicated to care for
the soldier's family.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: I love daddy so much that if I don't have his baby blanket, I'll get nightmares.
SGT. MICHAEL EVANS, DECEASED ARMY VETERAN: Morning love, got me some coffee?
LAH (voice-over): Her father was Army Sergeant Michael Evans, an infantryman who deployed to Iraq twice, surviving more than two years of
some of the war's worst combat, suffering traumatic brain injury from multiple IEDs.
E. EVANS: It's not bad.
M. EVANS: It's not bad?
LAH (voice-over): Once home, a full life appeared to resume, but the war never left him.
E. EVANS: He came in the house one day, he stood -- he stood right here. He just wanted to be held. And it was like his demons were standing right here
in the room and I was trying to pull him back, and that was probably three days before he just snapped.
LAH (voice-over): Two years ago, after a months' long depressive crisis that strained their marriage and family, Michael Evans died by suicide.
LAH: After Michael passed, did you reach out to the VA? Did you file a benefits claim?
E. EVANS: They eventually sent a letter and they decided that Michael's PTSD was not significant and that the reason he died by suicide was because
he was having increased stress at work and going through a divorce, which was just all part of this crisis.
LAH (voice-over): The VA denied her request for death benefits, a monthly payment to family members after a service-related death.
LAH: Positive for PTSD, positive for depression. These are the VA's --
E. EVANS: These are the VA's --
LAH: Own tests. Own doctors.
E. EVANS: Own documents. It's all PTSD. It's all his service. It's all from combat.
LAH (voice-over): A CNN Investigation found the VA denied crucial benefits to hundreds of families of veterans who died by suicide. We counted nearly
500 cases, but that's likely just a fraction of the total number.
The VA says it doesn't track how many suicide-related claims it processes. So exactly how many families have been denied remains unknown. And many
veterans are reluctant to seek help. It's up to survivors to prove their loved ones suffered from PTSD.
[12:25:17]
LINDA GOULDING, SURVIVING SPOUSE: I would not wish these last nine years on my worst enemy. This is everything that I had given to the VA.
LAH (voice-over): Linda Goulding is a widow who was denied and appealed. Goulding submitted to the VA doctor's reports and a letter from her
husband.
GOULDING: And it started out that it had started on this day and it will end on this day.
LAH (voice-over): That day marked 40 years that Goulding's husband James had left Vietnam.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want? Do you want a --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You sing happy birthday and I'll sing happy birthday.
LAH (voice-over): Even as a loving grandfather, Goulding carried the weight of his Marine Corps battalion known as "The Walking Dead." It suffered one
of the highest casualty rates of the war. On that 40-year anniversary, he threatened to end his own life. His wife called police.
GOULDING: They banged on the door. They called out his name, and when they went in, they heard a shot and then a thud.
LAH: When you went to the VA, what did the VA say?
GOULDING: I had to prove that he had PTSD.
LAH (voice-over): Proving it took her nine years. Our investigation found families like the Gouldings spent on average five-and-a-half years trying
to win benefits. Many don't ever get them.
GOULDING: I want the VA to help the other people with more empathy, so other women would not have to do this ever, ever.
LAH (voice-over): Emily Evans is in the middle of her battle with the VA, haunted, she says, by promises not honored.
LAH: What would you like to tell the VA?
E. EVANS: I would like to see VA take responsibility for this. I would like to see them step up. My husband did not die in the war, but his mind did.
And he deserves better. He deserved better. And he's not the only one.
LAH: The VA declined CNN's request for an on-camera interview. Instead, we got this statement. VA is under new management, a spokesperson says,
nodding at the change in administration and said the VA is working across the department to improve survivor programs so families can have the most
supportive, convenient, and seamless experience possible in their time of grief.
Kyung Lah, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Just an important point here, if you, a friend of yours or a loved one are facing any sort of mental health struggles, you just need somebody
to talk to, the Suicide Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. offers judgment free support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You call or text 988, 988.
We'll be right back with more after the short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:02]
ASHER: Welcome back to ONE WORLD. I'm Zain Asher.
Georgetown University says it's looking for fair play from the legal system after one of its scholars was detained by the Department of Homeland
Security. In a letter obtained by CNN, Georgetown says that Badar Khan Suri, who is an Indian national who is on a visa to, quote, continue his
doctoral research on peace building in Iraq and Afghanistan, the DHS says that Suri was, in its words, spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-
Semitism. Suri's visa was revoked as the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown.
Right now, the Trump administration's battle with the U.S. federal judge over deportation flights to El Salvador hangs in the balance. The judge
gave the Department of Justice a deadline which expired about 30 minutes ago to turn over information about the flights that left the U.S. on
Saturday despite his order for them to stay grounded.
Time now for The Exchange. And I want to bring in attorney Lee Gelernt. He's the deputy director for the ACLU's immigration rights project. Lee,
thank you so much for being with us.
I do want to talk about this Georgia -- Georgetown researcher, Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national. He's a researcher at Georgetown. We know that he
was on a student visa.
What immigration officials are essentially saying is that they're revoking his student visa because, in their words, he supports Hamas. There's no
evidence of that though. We know that he is married to a Palestinian woman and there is some belief that that is part of this.
The Trump administration promised that when it came to Mahmoud Khalil, that Mahmoud Khalil might be sort of the first sort of prominent academic
activist, but he would not be the last. And we are seeing that play out.
Just explain to us, what are the consequences of the U.S. government of immigration officials in this country rounding up students who are here in
this country legally, either as permanent residents or on student visas, and sort of basically taking away their First Amendment rights. Give us
your take on that.
LEE GELERNT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ACLU IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS PROJECT: Yes. So I think the administration is trying to chill and deter people from speaking
out. And we believe that using that kind of retaliation against protest is wrong under the First Amendment. And that they should not be going after
these individuals and using the immigration laws.
So, you know, we are pushing back very hard, but I think it's part of a larger piece of what they are doing on immigration. I know you wanted to
talk about the Alien Enemies Act and the confrontation that's going on in federal court here in Washington, D.C.
The Trump administration had a noon deadline to file answers to the court's question about whether it violated the court's order to turn planes around.
These are the Venezuelans who were sent to El Salvador under a wartime authority, the Alien Enemies Act. We don't know if they've missed the
deadline or filed something in secret. And we'll be looking into it.
[12:35:02]
But the larger question beyond even this, whether they violated this court order on the Alien Enemies Act front, is whether they can use a wartime
authority during peacetime.
What the administration is essentially saying is we can declare anybody an alien enemy. The courts can't review that. And then we're going to send
people to a notorious Salvadoran prison. And so I think we're all in danger if the government is not going to adhere to any of the limitations Congress
has set on using wartime authority.
ASHER: Initially, the deadline for that court order to provide additional information that was set for 12:00 noon yesterday, it got extended and then
it got extended again.
Just talk to us why, about why it does continue to be extended. Is it about providing the appeals court some kind of window to intervene beforehand? Or
is there more to it than that?
GELERNT: Yes. And that's a good question. I suspect some of it is trying to get the appeals court to rule. The appeals court has said now that they're
not going to rule before Monday or they at least, it appears that way, because they've scheduled oral arguments on Monday afternoon.
This district court judge has set a hearing for tomorrow. So we will have back to back hearings one in our lowest federal court, the trial court and
then in the appeals court. And the government is using every attempt not to answer basic questions about the flights.
They have repeatedly pushed back. They have asked the Court of Appeals to take this district court judge off of the case to tell him that he can't
ask questions about whether his orders are violated.
So, you know, I think the government is just refusing or looks like they're going to refuse to answer these questions or declare them state secrets. I
think we're going to have to see. But we do think there's enough public evidence out there for the court to make a ruling on whether his order is
violated.
And we, on the merits, hope that the court will say this wartime authority that's only been used three times in United States history, all during
actual wars, the war of 1812, World War One and World War Two, could not be used during peacetime to just take people off this.
You know, they're just taking them out of detention with no process whatsoever. We don't even know who these men are and they're ending up in a
Salvadoran prison. I see you're showing some of the video now.
I mean, I think there's no question these men are doomed if they're remain in a Salvadoran prison. So there's been no chance for these men to say,
no, we're not gang members. We don't think the law can be used at all. But if they can, they certainly shouldn't be having due process. But they can't
be swept away, you know, without anybody knowing where they're going.
ASHER: You've got two factors here, as you point out. I mean, just this idea of taking people under the cover of darkness, removing them from the
country, putting them on flights to El Salvador without any kind of judicial review, without any kind of --
GELERNT: Right.
ASHER: -- a due process. I mean, that is -- that is unprecedented in the United States. But then you also have the fact that President Trump defied
a court order in order to do that. So that's another part of this. And we don't necessarily know that what's happened with the deadline, whether or
not anything has been filed or whether or not the judge has gotten the additional information that he has been seeking.
But when you look at all of that, I mean, how does that reshape a nation? The idea of a president defying court orders, not listening to the courts,
and then attacking the judge who is asking. I mean, we saw Chief Justice John Roberts actually having to intervene because President Trump was
attacking the judge in charge of this. Just give us your take on that.
GELERNT: Yes. I think we're in somewhat uncharted territory. And so the court has not made a finding yet that his order was violated. We think
that it was, but, you know, we'll let the facts speak for themselves and see where the judge does go with it.
But the more general point you're making, I think, is right. I mean, we're seeing real resistance from this administration to allowing the federal
courts to do their job properly. You know, calls for impeachment are really extraordinary of a federal judge because they don't like the ruling. So
that's why I think Chief Justice Roberts felt compelled to speak out about that.
But, you know, I've been doing this work for more than three decades. And I think this is different. Just -- I don't know what else to say, but it's
just different the way the administration is acting toward the federal courts.
ASHER: Different. That's an interesting word. That is certainly one way to put it. Different.
GELERNT: Yes. I mean --
ASHER: Unprecedented, extraordinary.
GELERNT: Right.
ASHER: Other words. All right. Lee Gelernt, thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate your perspective.
GELERNT: Thank you so much.
ASHER: Of course. Meantime, there are active discussions happening between the Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service over
sharing highly confidential taxpayer data.
Multiple immigrant rights groups have filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from turning over this data to immigration authorities as
they ramp up deportations.
But on Wednesday, a district judge declined to issue an emergency order blocking the IRS from sharing the data.
[12:40:05]
CNN's Marshall Cohen is following these developments from Washington. Just explain to our audience what exactly we understand that the Department of
Homeland Security would be doing with this information.
MARSHALL COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Zain. That's a great question. And this would be a very big deal if they got this information, but they don't
have it yet. And obviously, we'll have to wait and see how it all goes because the Trump administration is trying to get it.
Well, OK, here's the deal. There are ongoing discussions between DHS, which is the Department of Homeland Security, and the IRS, which is the tax
collecting agency in the U.S. to provide this information.
Very sensitive data like home addresses, which of course could be used to find someone and deport them if they are here illegally.
Now, remember, undocumented immigrants in the U.S. pay tax about $60 billion last year in federal taxes was paid by undocumented immigrants,
more in state taxes.
And in exchange for coming forward and registering with the IRS and paying with what they owe, the agency is supposed to keep their information secret
and confidential like they do for all taxpayers, including U.S. citizens.
But last month, there were reports in the press that the Trump administration had requested those home addresses and other information for
700,000 people that it believes might be here illegally.
Now, the IRS rejected that request last month. And we were all wondering, was that the end of the road? Or were they going to keep trying?
And we learned yesterday in court, an administration lawyer from the DOJ told a judge that there are active and ongoing discussions between the IRS
and the DHS to hand over that information.
He made clear that nothing has been turned over yet, and if anything is provided in the future, they pledge to follow the law and only turn over
information if there is a legal basis in the tax code to do so.
But, Zain, not everyone is taking them at their word. There was a group of Senate Democrats that sent a letter yesterday to the Treasury secretary
raising concerns about the situation. And as you mentioned, two immigrant rights groups filed a lawsuit to try to stop this. They fell short
yesterday in terms of getting an emergency order that would block the Treasury from doing anything like this, but they will be continuing to
press their case in court and waiting and watching to see if there is any movement. And then they will go back to the judge and ask them to shut this
down.
But for the moment, no order from the judge to stop this. She said in court basically that look, you can't just come to me and tell me that you're
afraid that they're going to do something when they haven't done anything wrong yet. And they do have a legal basis to share this information if they
want to. Zain?
ASHER: Marshall Cohen, live for us there. Thank you so much.
Hugs, tears, and a birthday cake. CNN witnesses some emotional reunions as scores of Ukrainian prisoners of war finally make it back home. Our report
after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:56]
ASHER: Scenes of joy and emotional reunions after Ukraine and Russia carried out what the Ukrainian president calls one of the largest prisoner
exchanges since Moscow's invasion began.
Our Clarissa Ward was there as Ukrainian soldiers were reunited with their loved ones.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're waiting now here with family members of the 175 Ukrainian prisoners of war who have
just crossed over the border back into Ukraine, some of them after three years in captivity in Russia.
The images that we've been seeing of that moment, as they sprint through the border crossing, grabbing a Ukrainian flag and now on their way back to
be reunited with loved ones.
Who's the cake for?
WARD (voice-over): I'm waiting for my husband who has been in captivity for almost three years, and yesterday was his birthday. Alyona (ph) tells us.
It's like splashes of fireworks and emotions. My heart is beating out of my chest.
WARD: If you take a look now, the bus doors just opening and people rushing forward, desperately hoping to get a glimpse of their loved ones.
People calling out the names of loved ones as they try to find their family members amid the 175 Ukrainian prisoners of war who are getting off of
these busses.
Some of them seem to have some injuries. Others look like they're in good shape, though clearly dazed.
You can see Alyona has found her husband, Andriy (ph). She gave him a huge, huge hug and presented him with that birthday cake that she's waited three
years to give him.
It's just incredible to see how much emotion there is in this crowd. Everywhere you walk, people are hugging. They're crying, they're laughing.
And just the sense of relief. Some of these men held for three years.
This man is talking to, I think, his wife for the first time. You can see just how emotional the incredible toll of what these men have been through.
Can I ask you guys, how does it feel to be back home in Ukraine?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amazing.
WARD: Amazing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Beautiful. Magnificent. Great. Super.
WARD: How long have you been dreaming about this moment?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three years.
WARD: Can I ask? You look thin. How were the conditions in the prison where you were held?
WARD (voice-over): Look, if I tell the truth, it'll affect the guys who are still there, Yevhen (ph) tells us. But I would say, in the 21st Century,
people should be treated better than us.
WARD: We don't know exactly how many Ukrainian prisoners of war there are in Russia. The estimates are around 8,000 or even more.
I asked President Zelenskyy a question at a virtual press conference yesterday. I said, what could President Putin say or do that would give you
more optimism about this peace process? And he said to return all the prisoners of war.
Clarissa Ward, CNN, Chernihiv, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:12]
ASHER: Kirsty Coventry has been elected president of the International Olympic Committee. Coventry becomes the organization's first female
president and the first from Africa.
Moments ago, the Olympic gold medal swimmer from Zimbabwe addressed the historic nature of her election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIRSTY COVENTRY, IOC PRESIDENT-ELECT: It's a really powerful signal. It's a signal that we're truly global and that we have evolved into an
organization that is truly open to diversity. And we're going to continue walking that road in the next eight years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Coventry takes over the IOC in June. And the first Olympics under her care are the Winter Games in Italy next year.
All right. The Boston Celtics, commonly regarded as one of the most successful NBA teams in history, has sold for an eye-popping $6.1 billion.
It is the largest sale of a sports franchise in North America. The owner of a private equity firm led the group behind the purchase.
Coy Wire joins us. Live now. So this is major news, Coy, of course, in the world of basketball, just the fact that it's sold for 6.1. I mean, this is
a record-breaking amount.
COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes.
ASHER: It's huge. What can you tell us about that?
WIRE: That's a whole lot of dough, Zain.
ASHER: Yes, it is. More than I have.
WIRE: The Celtics selling for a valuation of 6.1 billion, largest sale for a sports franchise in North America. A group led by Bill Chisholm will be
the new owners. Chisholm, the managing partner of Symphony Technology Group. A lifelong Celtics fan, born and raised in Boston area.
According to ESPN, the current owner CEO purchased the team, Zain, in 2002 for $360 million. He'll continue as CEO through the 2027-28 season.
But if my calculations are correct, Zain, a $5.7 billion return on a $360 million investment over 23 years is a whole lot of money.
All right. Now more big basketball news breaking today. The start of March Madness, the NCAA tournament, the annual college basketball tournament
where some future NBA stars, some amateurs get their final shot at becoming a national champ.
After the Super Bowl, Zain, it's the biggest sporting phenomenon in America. Sixty-four teams, single elimination, slugfest, anything can
happen. You have 16 games today, 16 tomorrow. The upsets, the buzzer beaters, this madness.
We already saw a great comeback last night in one of the playing game. Xavier and Texas fighting just to earn a spot in March Madness. Xavier
trail by as many as 13, but the Musketeers rallied and closed the game on a 16 to 6 run to beat the Longhorns, 86 to 80. I think this is the point
where my neighbor with whom I was watching the game and went to Texas, he started to cry like her, the Xavier fan. Their fans were crying because
they were so excited.
This tournament is so big about a quarter of a million Americans fill out a bracket to enter competitions, maybe to win some money or just sometimes
for fun with your friends, families, co-workers.
[12:55:08]
Zain, this tournament is so big, Zain. I'm not even kidding you. It's must- see TV. Yes.
There are lines out the door and booked out completely. Men go to schedule vasectomies so that they have a couple of weeks where they can't work. They
have to sit at home on their couch and do nothing but watch basketball.
ASHER: What? What?
WIRE: I'm not even kidding you. Google it.
ASHER: I don't believe this for a second. What?
WIRE: It's a thing. It's legit.
ASHER: So, who's in your bracket, Coy?
WIRE: OK. So I am rooting for kind of an underdog, really. Typically, number one seeds overwhelmingly win this tournament. So some of the
favorites are Florida. Many people are cheering for those Gators.
You have Auburn is another number one seed. The Houston Cougars are. But the team I'm going with is St. John's. And they are one of a two seed in
this tournament.
But here, we're looking at some of the mascots. Mascot culture here in America is incredible. And the energy, the excitement, the enthusiasm that
this tournament brings, it's just magical.
And so, yes, I'm going with St. John's to win it. And the main reason I'm doing that, Rick Pitino, their head coach, he led them to the conference,
first conference championship in like a quarter of a century, but he showed up in one of their games wearing an all-white suit, Zain.
He came out there looking like the Godfather. So I just want to see that white suit come out again. But so much fun over the next couple of weeks.
I'm sure I'll be on quite a bit to talk about --
ASHER: I'm sure you will. We always love --
WIRE: -- all the madness with you.
ASHER: We always love having you, Coy. Good to see you.
WIRE: Awesome. You too, Zain.
ASHER: Thank you.
That does it for this hour of ONE WORLD. I'm Zain Asher. Appreciate you watching. "AMANPOUR" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:00:00]
END
