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One World with Zain Asher
Khanna, Massie Want More Answers from Justice Department; British PM Wants Former Prince to Testify to U.S. Congress; British Lord Resigns from Labor Party Amid Epstein Files Release; Father & Child Detained by I.C.E. Return Home to Minneapolis; Rafah Crossing Partially Reopens After Nearly Two Years; Stars Speak Out in Support of Immigrants & Against I.C.E. Tactics. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired February 02, 2026 - 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)
ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Right, nothing to prosecute, that's what the Justice Department is saying after the release of millions of new pages
from the Epstein files. "One World" starts right now, as the fallout from Jeffrey Epstein continues in the U.S. Across the pond, a British Lord quits
his party amid growing tensions and questions about his past ties to Epstein.
Also, after a judge rebukes the White House, a five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father are back home in Minnesota a week on from being snatched and
detained by I.C.E. We'll look at what's next in their fight to stay in the United States. Plus, the biggest night in music gets political.
We'll break down the wins, the losses and the criticism of I.C.E. at the 68th Grammy Awards. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher. You
are watching "One World". The USS Department is signaling there is no case for fresh charges after released the latest cache of files from the
investigation to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday.
That's more than 3 million pages of videos, photos and emails, many of them to or about prominent people. The Deputy Attorney General says that some of
the materials released were disturbing but didn't meet the threshold for prosecution. Todd Blanche spoke to CNN's State of the Union on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD BLANCHE, U.S. DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: I can't talk about any investigations, but I will say the following, which is that in July, the
Department of Justice said that we had reviewed the files, the quote, Epstein files, and there was nothing in there that allowed us to prosecute
anybody.
We then released over 3.5 million pieces of paper, which the entire world can look at now and see if we got it wrong. There's a lot of
correspondence, there's a lot of emails, there's a lot of photographs. There's a lot of horrible photographs that appear to be taken by Mr.
Epstein or people around him. But that doesn't allow us necessarily to prosecute somebody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: The Republican and Democratic co-sponsors of the law that forced the DOJ to release the files want more answers. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie say
they are prepared to move forward with contempt or impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi if they don't get access to the
remaining material.
Some Epstein survivors say the Justice Department failed to properly redact all of the victim's names. Meantime, the house is expected to vote on
whether to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt. They refuse to testify about possible connections to Jeffrey Epstein's as well.
Their attorney says they're also being unfairly singled out. Now to the fallout in the UK, in an undated photo that was part of the latest Epstein
release. Former Prince Andrew is seen leaning over a woman or a girl on the floor. It's unclear when or where this image was taken.
CNN has attempted to contact him for comment about the photo in the past, in past statements, rather, he's always denied any wrongdoing. And Former
British Ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson has resigned from the UK Labor Party after he was featured in the latest batch of Epstein files as
well.
CNN's Max Foster joins us live now with more in terms of the fallout from London. So Max, just in terms of Peter Mandelson quitting the Labor Party.
And also, there's some question about this apparent $75,000 that Jeffrey Epstein allegedly paid Peter Mandelson as well. What do we know?
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Well, the UK media have been trawling through the Epstein files, looking for anything, Mandelson related, and
things keep dropping all the time. So, you mentioned this $75,000 which it's alleged she received from Epstein.
Mandelson, saying he has no recollection of that, which people struggle to believe, because who wouldn't remember having $75,000 deposited in their
account. But nevertheless, that's his story, and he's going to investigate that himself. Separately, the prime minister has come out saying he doesn't
believe Mandelson should be sitting in the House of Lords, and he shouldn't have his title.
So now we're looking at someone's title being stripped away, a very complex process, as you know, Zain, but it's interesting the prime minister is now
getting involved here. That's because part of the allegations here is that Mandelson was sharing information with Epstein whilst he was a senior
government minister under Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
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Some suggestion that he could have broken the Official Secrets Act. So, it's this web of information, what was he being paid for? What was he
supplying to get this money? He denies any wrongdoing. Just appearing in these files doesn't imply any wrongdoing.
But when the prime minister is calling for his title to be taken away and an investigation into his role as a minister and any rules that he broke it
does get pretty serious for him.
ASHER: And just in terms of Prince Andrew, a lot of pressure on Prince Andrew, especially coming from the prime minister, to possibly testify
before Congress. What more do we know on that front is it likely to happen?
FOSTER: Well, it's interesting, because obviously -- we've been interviewing survivors. And in particular Virginia Giuffre, who has now
passed speaking to her brother about this whole issue. And the one thing they want is to shed light on actually what happened. It's not just about
Prince Andrew for them, but what they do appreciate, really, is how the UK is on the front foot on all of this.
And many of the other men that are named in these files aren't facing any sort of sanctions whatsoever. The one thing they would like from Prince
Andrew is for him to even without implicating himself, just to talk about what he saw, because the more we learn, the more we see that he had a lot
of involvement in Epstein's life.
Can he just go to Congress, be part of the investigation and answer some basic questions, and that's what they want from all of the men named in
these files. And it's really interesting to see the prime minister calling for the same thing. And he's really sharing the widespread view, I think,
of most people, is that, why do we keep putting the men at the center of this story, when it should be the survivors and what they want.
And simply by giving as much information to the survivors about what they knew, what was going on here is really what most people want to see here.
But again, lot of these men just seem to be protecting their positions.
ASHER: Max Foster live for us. Thank you so much. Right, a preschooler and his father taken by federal agents over a week ago are now back home in
Minnesota. You may remember this image of five-year-old Liam Ramos wearing a bunny hat with an agent clutching his backpack.
Ramos and his father Adrian, were arrested just outside their home and flown more than 1300 miles to a detention center in South Texas. The
response of many Americans was outraged, the case becoming a flash point in the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown.
Texas Representative Joaquin Castro says the father and son returned to Minneapolis Sunday morning. The judge who ordered their release had
scathing words the Trump Administration blaming it for quote, an ill- conceived and incompetently implemented pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.
Meantime, new details are emerging after the Alex Pretti's shooting in Minneapolis. ProPublica, citing government records, say that both of the
federal agents who shot Pretti are from South Texas. Let's discuss all of this with Whitney Wild just in terms of five-year-old. Liam rain was being
released from detention.
The judge's order, as I mentioned, was scathing. Walk us through what reaction you've had from the Justice Department to that.
WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Justice Department didn't respond directly to the judge's comments, but Deputy
Attorney General Todd Blanche said that they might appeal this ruling. So, their fate is certainly not, is not clearly determined yet.
I think, you know, I actually have the order here, Zain, and here's one other thing I think is important to understand here. So, this, as you had
this quote from earlier in the order that you know, the judge was saying that this was ill conceived, it was incompetent. But the judge also makes a
note that the court regularly sends undocumented people to prison and orders them deported.
But does so by proper legal procedures, and this order is really an indictment on how the administration seems, according to this judge, to be
moving quite outside the confines of the Constitution, what is permissible under the law, also saying that administrative warrants issued by the
executive branch itself do not pass probable cause muster.
And what DHS has frequently been relying on is this idea that administrative warrants allow officers to enter into enter into buildings
even without a judicial order. Judicial order is signed off on by a judge. It is a different check and balance here, and the judge is pointing out
that if the administrative warrant doesn't have a check from an independent judicial officer, then there's no checks and balance.
He described that as effectively the fox guarding the hen house. So, a really scavenging rebuke. This order was short, but it was sharp, and it
ended with two biblical references. The final is simply Jesus wept.
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As you point out, ProPublica is giving people more information about the two agents who have been involved in this shooting. And according to
ProPublica, one of those agents joined Border Patrol in 2018. The other is a Customs and Border Protection Officer who joined in 2014 that CBP officer
was assigned to the special response team and conducted high risk operations.
Special Response Teams are like they're like the federal version of a SWAT team. Both of those men are from South Texas. DHS would not confirm the
identity of either one of those people, saying that these attempts to dox their agents and officers presents a risk, not only to those law
enforcement officials, but also to the lives of their families.
They say the matter remains under investigation, and they say that agents and officers working for DHS have seen an enormous increase in death
threats against them, Zain.
ASHER: Whitney Wild live for us there. Thank you so much. Right, let's continue this discussion with my next guest, Andrea Flores. She's the Vice
President of Immigration Policy and Campaigns for the Policy Organization FWD.us. Andrea, thank you so much for being with us.
So, my question to you is, if the appeals court grants a stay, what does that mean for five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father, just in terms of
uncertainty living arrangements, could he be redoing? Just, just give us your take on what it means going forward for them.
ANDREA FLORES, VICE PRESIDENT OF IMMIGRATION POLICY FOR THE FWD.US.: Well, thanks for having me. And I think first of all, we have to start with the
fact that there is no legal or public safety reason that Liam and his father ever needed to be detained. The family detention facility where they
were held, you cannot even detain adults with any criminal history.
So, they are only detaining these families to make a point and to try and encourage them to self deport. So, I hope in this entire process there is
no reason that Liam and his father should ever be sent back there. But there's another wrinkle in this right now, which is that there's a measles
outbreak in that same facility that Liam just left.
And it's really showing in this moment that there's not a safe way to detain these families, which we've known for years, but also whatever
happens in their case, I think it is likely that, given some of the health risks, he will hopefully be able to stay home for a while.
ASHER: Yeah, I mean, we are going to be covering the measles outbreak, just in terms of what's happening in South Carolina and also at this I.C.E.
facility a little bit later on in the show. But just back to Liam Ramos and what he's dealing with his father as well.
Obviously, as you point out from your perspective, the Justice Department is trying to make an example of this five-year-old and his father, but
generally speaking, even prior to some of the work this administration had done with obviously, you know, just the forcefulness with which I.C.E. is
patrolling the streets in in Minneapolis and other places.
From your experience, how common is it for families to be re-detained, for example, after a release order? Just walk us through how common that is
generally?
FLORES: Well, we're in unprecedented territory right now, because in previous iterations, when I was in the Obama Administration, family
detention was reserved for people who recently crossed the border, and so that was a different process, under Biden, family detention was actually
one -- it was wound down.
So, there weren't families being detained under Biden in this way. So now what they're doing is families who have been here now for years in the
United States, including U.S. citizen children are being detained. So, I actually don't know how they may try and justify re detaining a family when
there's no public safety or flight risk.
And you're right. They are trying to retaliate around cases like this one, where the public has been outraged. And it's part of a pattern that they've
done any time the public has won and sort of ensured safety for one of these immigrant families. So, I actually don't know, because they shouldn't
be detaining families in the interior, and we haven't seen this before.
ASHER: For our audience, especially our audience who are watching internationally, who might not know, explain to us what detention at an
I.C.E. facility is like, I mean, Liam Ramos was detained for about a week or so. What is that like day to day for a five-year-old boy?
FLORES: It is completely inhumane. We have known this since President Obama tried it in 2014. We have had physicians speak out that there is no safe
way or safe facility to detain children. They do not have adequate space to play. They cannot receive adequate education.
There is often insufficient health care. We saw images come out of Liam where there were concerns about his mental health. We have known the harms
of this practice now for over a decade, and the fact that President Trump is trying to expand it, bring it back. That's an intentional choice to
recreate conditions that experts have been united are uniquely harmful for children.
ASHER: I also wonder about just the level of powerlessness for Liam's dad in particular. Just explain to us how much agency some of these migrants
have over their own cases when they are in detention?
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I mean, how hard is it for them to advocate for themselves in that kind of situation?
FLORES: It's extremely difficult. What we've seen across the board with this administration is preventing people like Liam's father from accessing
counsel. They are moving immigrants across the country to different detention centers to ensure that their lawyers cannot file claims asking
for their release in time.
And this is a broader attack on asylum seeker that we've seen in this administration. They want Americans to believe that anyone seeking asylum
is faking it or lying or threat to us. And so, their justification for detaining Liam's father in the first place was that he was going through
the asylum process that is criminalizing asylum.
It is criminalizing migration. And so, I'm very concerned about the way that they're moving people around and restricting access to lawyers, and it
is multiplying so quickly, I really want to convey we've never had 70,000 people in immigration detention before. That is a huge number, and prior,
when we had, say, 30,000 it was hard to keep them safe, it was hard to give them access to health care.
So, this is becoming a dire human rights situation as we speak.
ASHER: Yeah, one of the things that the judge mentioned in his order is that a part of the reason why Liam Ramos was detained in the first place is
because this administration was putting so much pressure on I.C.E. officials to meet certain quotas. And even though Liam has been released
along with his dad at this time.
And obviously they've won in one way, right? They're not in a detention facility right now. It does introduce other questions and another layer of
uncertainty and more stress for them, because just talk to us about this idea. Yes, you are released, but you still don't know necessarily what's
coming down the pipe next, especially as it pertains to a possible appeal.
FLORES: Absolutely, it's nothing that we should be putting families who are going through our legal immigration system through. Just to remind viewers,
this family entered legally with permission through a process for asylum seekers, and they have been complying every step of the way.
And so, to throw in, this uncertainty is from an administration that we've seen since, if you recall the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, when he was
wrongfully deported. They have been willing to use the full weight of the government, both in the media, to defame individuals whose cases have
gotten attention.
And so, I'm nervous and want to make sure that they have their full rights protected right now, but there is great uncertainty about how this family
could be targeted for simply capturing the imagination of so much of the public.
ASHER: Andrea Flores, live for us. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Right still to come here on "One World", Gaza's only border crossing with
Egypt is now partially open again after Israel kept it shut for nearly two years, but Palestinians still face restriction, will explain.
Plus, what the U.S. President is saying after Iran's Supreme Leader warned him not to even think about launching attacks. Have that more ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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ASHER: Right, Donald Trump Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Israel Tuesday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We're
hearing that from an Israeli source. It comes after the Head of the Israeli military held talks with Pentagon officials in Washington over the weekend.
Meantime, in Gaza was once a crucial lifeline for Palestinians has partially reopened. Israel had kept the Rafah crossing shut for nearly two
years. The Palestinians movements are still restricted, and it's worth noting, in the past. The seat price of using the crossing meant it wasn't
an option for most Palestinians, and that's certainly not clear if that is still the case.
CNN's Nic Robertson is live for us in Jerusalem. So just in terms of Steve Witkoff meeting with Netanyahu, the topic that they will likely discuss is
how to sort of maintain the second phase of this ceasefire, how to keep that going, especially given that it's going to be very difficult to ensure
that Hamas completely disarms.
But just in terms of the Rafah crossing opening, that means a small number of Palestinians can actually have access to Egypt for medical aid, and some
Palestinians will be allowed to return. Nic, walk us through that.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, it's quite a small number, and we don't really have a precise number yet, of those who
are able to cross today, it's possibly in the region of 50 or 60 people who were able to leave Gaza to go to Egypt.
So, it would be about 20 people who were injured in some way, needed medical treatment, plus two relatives per person. And it's expected a
similar sort of number to be able to cross back into Gaza, they face a number of controls. There's obviously the Egyptian side of the border.
Then there's an EU part of the border, where there'll be some Palestinian officials working there. And then, of course, they'll need to go through
the IDF checks as they go back into Gaza, because the IDF Israel still controls the border, and that was one of their prerequisites for moving to
the next phase.
This phase of the peace deal was to have all their hostages returned, and the last body of the last remaining hostage was returned last week, which
has sort of paved the way for this moment in the peace process. But it is clearly, you know, still fraught with technical issues. It's not been a
very open process, quite opaque.
The reverse to open, if you will, for us to be able to sort of know precisely what's going on in the border process. And the same really
applies to everything else that's going on with the bigger peace process, you know, the peace board, the Executive Board, the high representative,
the Gaza peace board, and then you have the sort of technical Palestinian grouping to run it, how that integrates all together and works together.
Where is the international stabilization force, the military force that's expected to disarm Hamas? Where all of that is at the moment, and what the
next precise step will be in this peace process? Really isn't clear. But regardless of that uncertainty that a handful of gardens were able to Get
out through Rafah today to get treatment in Egypt, but a lot more remain in Gaza.
According Gazan health officials, about 20,000 people in Gaza could really use medical help and attention over the longer term outside of Gaza.
ASHER: Right, Nic Robertson live for us from Jerusalem. Thank you so much. Iranian state media are reporting that senior Iranian and U.S. officials
may meet in the coming days to try to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington. President Donald Trump has threatened to use force against Iran
amid a brutal crackdown by Tehran on anti-government protesters.
We're hearing from officials that Washington's allies are working to head off possible U.S. military strikes. Iran's Supreme Leader is warning that
if the U.S. does attack, it will mean a regional war. Asked about that, Trump referred to the U.S. as Navy's significant presence in the region,
before saying he hopes negotiations work.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Why wouldn't he say that, of course you can say that, but we have the biggest, most
powerful ships in the world over there, very close couple of days, and hopefully we'll make a deal. We don't make a deal, then we'll find out
whether or not he was right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: In recent weeks, the U.S. has stepped up its firepower in the Middle East, sending Naval Strike Group headed by the carrier Abraham Lincoln to
the region. And CNN's Senior International Correspondent Fred Pleitgen spoke with Iran's Foreign Minister in Tehran in an exclusive interview to
get his reaction to all of these tensions and the latest comments from the U.S. President as well.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: So, I'm not concerned about war. What I'm concerned of is miscalculations and military operation based on
misinformation and disinformation campaigns. It is obvious to us that there are certain elements, certain parties, who want to drag President Trump
into this war for their own benefits. And I think President Trump is wise enough to make the correct decision.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: How can a meaningful negotiation process be jump started right now?
ARAGHCHI: A meaningful negotiation should be based on trust, and unfortunately, we have lost our trust to the United States as a negotiating
partner. We need to overcome this mistrust. There are now some intermediates, some friendly countries in the region, who are trying to
build this confidence.
It is difficult, but they are trying. So, I see the possibility of another talk, if the U.S. negotiation team follows what President Trump said, to
come to a fair and equitable deal to ensure that there are no nuclear weapons.
PLEITGEN: So, if this confidence is built, if you get to that stage, you are ready and willing to sit down directly with the American side, with
someone like Witkoff and talk?
ARAGHCHI: No, the question of directly and indirectly is something else that is the forum of negotiation, and we have to --
PLEITGEN: They say they want that.
ARAGHCHI: Yes, but we have to take care of the substance of negotiation, and that is more important.
PLEITGEN: Yeah, and President Trump says that negotiations already going on. He has said overnight that there are negotiations taking place. How
does that work right now, with this confidence building with countries in the region, also help --
ARAGHCHI: That is through inter mediators. As I said, there are some countries who convey messages and who are trying to build confidence and to
prepare the ground for a meaningful negotiation, and we are working with them, and we are exchanging messages.
PLEITGEN: Would you say that these talks that are going on right now are fruitful and can lead to a de-escalation of the situation to a point where
real talks can take --
ARAGHCHI: I think, so far fruitful.
PLEITGEN: Yes, things like enrichment, things like ballistic missiles, things like proxy forces in the region. I know that the United States has
talked about wanting to negotiate about that as well. Is that completely out of the question for you, or is that something you could at least talk
about?
ARAGHCHI: President Trump said no nuclear weapons, and we are fully agreed. We fully agree with that, that could be a very good deal. Of course, in
return, we expect sanction lifting, so that deal is possible. Let's do not talk about impossible things.
PLEITGEN: What do you think the consequences would be if there was a full- on military confrontation between Iran and the United States, because I know your military has changed its doctrine that if there is a major
attack, it would be considered existential for the Islamic Republic. What would that mean for the region here?
ARAGHCHI: If war starts, that would be a disaster for everybody. In the previous war, we tried hard to limit the scope of scope of war between Iran
and Israel. This time, if it is between Iran and the U.S., since the U.S. bases are spread all over the region, then inevitably, you know, many parts
of the region would be involved, engaged, and that could be very dangerous.
Our missiles were tested in a real war last time, and we were able to, you know, understand their problems, their weak points and their strengths. So,
we learned many lessons from those 12 days of war, and I think we are now very well prepared. But again, being prepared doesn't mean that we want
war. We want to prevent a war.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Fred Pleitgen reporting there speaking to the Foreign Minister of Iran. Right still to come a fast-growing measles outbreak in South Carolina
is the virus making a dangerous come back in the U.S., that's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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ASHER: All right. Welcome back to "One World". I'm Zain Asher in New York. Here are some of the headlines we are watching for you today. The fallout
from the release of millions of new Epstein files by the Justice Department is being felt in Britain as well. Prominent politician Peter Mandelson
resigned from the UK Labor Party after his name was featured in the latest batch.
He had already been fired from his post as British Ambassador to Washington because of his connections with Epstein. After nearly two years, the Rafah
crossing between Egypt and Gaza has partially reopened. That's according to an Israeli official. The crossing currently being operated by the EU will
allow only a few dozen Palestinians per day to pass in or out of Gaza.
After one week pause, Russia's assault on Ukraine has resumed. The drone struck a bus in the southeast of the country, killing at least 12 miners.
The mine operator said it happened Sunday, near the City of Dnipro as miners had just finished their shift. The Ukrainian Prime Minister says
Russia also hit a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, injuring at least six people.
Early results in Costa Rica's presidential race show conservative populist Laura Fernandez as the winner at last check, she had 48.9 percent of the
vote, enough to avoid a run-off. The Central American country has long been seen as a peaceful tourist hub, but voters say that gang violence one of
their biggest concerns, along with a decline in overall quality of life as well.
All right. The U.S. is in the throes of a measles outbreak more severe than anything it's seen in over two decades. The highly contagious infection is
spreading in South Carolina, where 847 cases have now been reported, including 150 new cases over the past week. In Texas, two cases of measles
were reported at an immigration facility.
The Department of Homeland Security says steps are being taken to prevent others from being infected as well. The Executive Director of the American
Public Health Association, Georges Benjamin, joins us live now. Thank you so much for being with us. I think what is most concerning, aside from the
fact that we are seeing measles outbreak at all in the U.S., is how quickly the cases are spreading in South Carolina?
By certain stats that I read, we're seeing the cases in South Carolina reach the same number in 16 weeks as it took seven months to reach in
Texas. So, these cases are spreading very, very quickly in South Carolina. Can you explain why?
GEORGES BENJAMIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION: This tells you how infectious this disease is. You know, it's
if someone with measles walks into a room of 10 people and none of those 10 people are vaccinated, nine of them are going to get measles.
It's that infectious if the virus hangs around for a couple of hours, even after everybody leaves the room. So, if someone else comes in the room
later, who's unvaccinated, they're likely to get measles. It's terribly, terribly infectious.
ASHER: So, when you hear that, based on those statistics, I mean, obviously, if you're unvaccinated, of course that, I mean, you know, you're
at a much, significantly higher risk. But when you hear that, there's an outbreak somewhere contained, for example, like an I.C.E. facility.
What's the first thing that goes through your mind? Just talk to us about your concerns, especially given that you know you can't exactly leave. If
you're being detained there, you can't leave the facility.
BENJAMIN: Yeah, understand this is a contained environment. It's a group of people whose health status you do not know.
[11:35:00]
You don't know what their vaccination status is. You don't know that they have any underlying diseases. And so, there's an extremely high risk
anytime you put together a bunch of people in any kind of contained facility, whether it is a homeless shelter or an I.C.E. facility or a jail.
ASHER: So, officials, health officials, both of South Carolina, both I.C.E. facility in Texas are taking steps to contain the virus. How do you do that
in a detention facility number one, and how do you do that more broadly, just in terms of quarantines? You know, vaccination clinics, just walk us
through what the apparatus is to really contain the spread.
BENJAMIN: The short thing is, you isolate the individual that may have measles been exposed, you contain them, you vaccinate them. You make sure
everybody gets vaccinated. That's the sure far way to reduce the incidence of measles. Now, you may still get people that are going to get measles in
that situation, but the other thing is, you have to, you know, work with every one of their contacts.
Remember that not only are they going to be exposed to other people in the facility, but every worker in that facility, everyone who's gone in and out
of that facility, every food worker lived to that facility. This is a big outbreak when that happens.
ASHER: And these outbreaks are happening at a time when this administration has essentially undermined confidence in vaccines overall. I mean, the fact
that this is happening at the same time, as you know, the public sort of being a little bit more concerned, more nervous about vaccines because of
some of the policies from the HHS, for example. Just walk us through your take on that as well.
BENJAMIN: Yeah, not only have they undermined the confidence in vaccines by speaking negatively on about the efficacy of the vaccine, but also passing
around false therapies like vitamin A for routine use in measles, it is not preventative. But even more importantly, normally, what would happen when
you have such a big outbreak like this is that we would declare it as a public health emergency.
Money would flow. Resources would come in. There will be a big national educational campaign. And, quite frankly, a large vaccination campaign
across all the areas of our country, including there, where you have the epicenter, I can, in the Carolinas.
ASHER: And finally, just in terms of the short term and the long-term health risks for people who are infected with measles, what does that look
like?
BENJAMIN: You know, measles is a terrible, you get really sick. It's like having a really bad case of the flu. You know, sore throat, ear rack. You
can get ear infection, you get pneumonia, you get inflammation of the brain. Of course, people can die, but understand that there's two really
serious things that can happen, sometimes years later, where you get a neurological syndrome that occurs seven years or later for some of these
people.
And for this the one virus that caused what we call immune amnesia. That means it tricks your immune system to not recognize the other infections
that you have and to undermine the infections for many other things. So, you're also at risk for other infectious diseases.
ASHER: All right. Georges Benjamin, thank you.
BENJAMIN: -- is a bad book.
ASHER: Thank you.
BENJAMIN: Thank you.
ASHER: Thank you for walking us through that. We appreciate it. All right, there were celebrities and certainly many surprises at last night's Grammy
Awards will bring you the big winners and also the controversy ahead. Stay with us for that. Plus, Grammy Host, Trevor Noah, probably won't be getting
an invitation to the White House anytime soon.
Joke that prompted President Trump to lash out on social media, coming up.
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[11:40:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Grammy goes to Kendrick Lamar.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Kendrick Lamar heard that a lot. He had his own name a lot at Sunday's Grammy Awards, he broke Jay-Z's record as the most awarded rapper
in Grammy history after his five wins last night. Among them, was Record of the Year for his hit "Luther" with SZA.
The ceremony featured a lot of new faces, including Olivia Dean, who won best new artist. She and the other seven nominees all performed at the
ceremony. And just a week before his Super Bowl halftime performance, Bad Bunny won three Grammys. Among them, the first ever all Spanish album to
win Album of the Year.
He was one of several artists who criticized the government's brutal immigration crackdown. Stephanie Elam joins us live now from Los Angeles
with the highlights. I mean some of these highlights. I mean Bad Bunny, for example, making history with an all-Spanish album getting Album of the
Year.
Olivia Dean as breakout star. Kendrick, I mean, who doesn't love Kendrick Lamar. No surprises there that he won as well. Just talk to us about the
winners, Stephanie.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, you're right. Zain, I mean, Kendrick Lamar, he's just kind of had anthem after anthem. I mean, he won
Record of the Year last year as well for not like us. And then coming back and winning it again for "Luther", which is a great big song, obviously
playing over to Luther Vandross that he did with SZA.
They were both there on stage, and you could just feel the excitement for Kendrick. He won five of the nine Grammys that he was up for, nominated for
last night. So that was exciting to see. And then obviously, there's so much energy behind Bad Bunny and " Debi Tirar Mas Fotos", his album winning
Album of the Year.
He's California dreaming right now, because at the Grammys great night a week later, he's going to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. And really
making that stance and reminding people that Puerto Ricans are, in fact, Americans, he said that a couple of times during the show.
So can't at all take away from the production itself, though, Zain. It really was one of the best Grammys that I have seen. Won the best award
shows just really well produced, and it just felt like you were in an immersive concert, watching all these different acts take the stage.
ASHER: Stephanie, do you realize that you have the best job? You have the best job.
ELAM: I mean, I also stand out in storms, and I cover protests --
ASHER: That for sure -- but a lot of the artists who spoke on stage, they did obviously comment on ISIS practices in Minneapolis and beyond, walk us
through what was said there.
ELAM: Yeah, I was on the red-carpet last night, and I can tell you, there were a lot of white buttons, very plain small buttons. They were white with
black words on them. You see them there on Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber. They just said, no I.C.E. And you saw a lot of people, and some people who
you normally don't hear, getting political, you know, having those pins on.
And there were several people who took to the stage and mentioned this. And I talked to the Recording Academy Head, Harvey Mason Jr. I interviewed him
earlier in the week, and he said he expected that the artist would, you know, make their feelings known on this because they are by definition,
vocal.
Just take a listen to what some of the people who did get on the stage have to say about politics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLIVIA DEAN, BEST NEW ARTIST WINNER: I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn't be here. Yeah, I'm a product of bravery, and I think
those people deserve to be celebrated.
BAD BUNNY, ALBUM OF THE YEAR WINNER: I'm going to say, eyes out.
[11:45:00]
We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.
BILLIE EILISH, SONG OF THE YEAR WINNER: I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. And our voices really do matter,
and the people matter. And I say, sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: Yeah, there were some choice words that were used as well. Billie Eilish also said no one is illegal on stolen land. So, the presence was
there of politics. Trevor Noah did not stray away from it. This was his sixth year hosting the Grammys. He said that this will be his last time
doing it.
And he even said in the show, listen, I'm not holding back on. I'm going to make the jokes that I want to make and seeming to already upset the
President of the United States with one of his jokes in particular.
ASHER: And that is the story we are going to next. Stephanie Elam, live for us there. Thank you so much. And the award for joke that most enraged
President Trump, as Stephanie Elam was just talking about there, did go to Trevor Noah. It came right after the Grammy for Song of the Year was
actually awarded. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TREVOR NOAH, HOST OF GRAMMY AWARDS: That is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense. I mean,
because Epstein's Island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton. So, oh, I told you, it's my last year. What are you going to do
about it?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: President responded overnight posting, I can't speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and he threatened to
sue Noah for defamation, for plenty of dollars. Alayna Treene joins us live now from Washington with the details.
So, Alayna, I mean, listen. A lot of people have been talking about Donald Trump's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged ties to Jeffrey
Epstein. It's something that people in the media have spoken about quite a bit. Why is it these comments by Trevor Noah specifically, that really seem
to get under the president's skin?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it's often too, and I apologize for that loud truck going on behind me, but look, it's often when
you see these types of celebrities, particularly Hollywood, that comments from them have often gotten under the president's skin.
You saw him repeatedly, you know, criticize Taylor Swift in past years for her critiques on him. So that's part of this. And then also, the president
really does not want anyone, you know, referencing him and Epstein in the same line. He's been very defensive over the last year or so regarding, you
know, the calls to have the Epstein files released.
And I will say that you know, all of this comes as we saw the Justice Department release more than 3 million materials and documents related to
what they have in their possession, related to Jeffrey Epstein on Friday. We did hear from the Justice Department saying that this is kind of the
final batch that they are going to be releasing.
I'd remind you that this wasn't them just deciding to do this. Congress passed a law really forcing their hand in releasing these files. But one
thing that's been clear is there, you know the president's name, President Trump's name, is actually in these files more than 1000 times, but so are
the names of other very high-profile people like the president mentioned, like the Former President, Bill Clinton.
And what we've heard now repeatedly from people at the top levels of the Justice Department, as well as here in the White House, in that building
behind me is that, a lot of what is in these files were tips, unverified tips, allegations, accusations that really do not have any legal standing.
And we did hear the Deputy Attorney General yesterday kind of saying that regardless of all of the materials that they are releasing, and kind of
noting that much of it is very much disturbing when you look at the photos or the correspondence that certain people had with Epstein.
That none of it is really going to be able to be prosecuted from a legal standpoint, that they do not expect to have any ongoing criminal
investigation into individuals based on what they have released, or really moving forward, I want you to listen though to exactly how he put it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLANCHE: There's a lot of correspondence, there's a lot of emails, there's a lot of photographs. There's a lot of horrible photographs that appear to
be taken by Mr. Epstein, or were people around him. But that doesn't allow us necessarily, to prosecute somebody.
The Attorney General wants that more than anything, but that doesn't mean we can just create evidence, or that we can just kind of come up with a
case that doesn't -- that isn't there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TREENE: Now Zain, I'm not sure that that answer is really going to be satisfactory for many people who have been pushing, of course, for years
now, really, obviously, a lot of it has heightened over the past year after President Trump came into office, but have really been pushing for several
years to see some of these high profile people who many have suspected might have been involved or tied to Jeffrey Epstein, to see them held to
account.
[11:50:00]
Now, the release of these files was, of course, a major victory, particularly for the victims and the survivors from getting caught up in
Jeffrey Epstein, you know, sex trafficking and all of the other things that he was convicted for. But there are still questions about what this could
mean long term, and whether or not there actually will be, you know, any more legal cases related to it.
So, all of that coming as we are expecting Capitol Hill to turn their attention specifically this week to potential impeachment and contempt
proceedings for the Former President Bill Clinton, as well as the Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for what they argue is them not showing
up and cooperating with House investigators.
And we've heard other people saying if they're going to face contempt proceedings, perhaps Pam Bondi should also face contempt proceedings for
not getting some of these files out in a timely manner. All of that expected to take place on Wednesday, Zain.
ASHER: Right, Alayna Treene, live for us there. Thank you so much. Right, Italy's famous Carnival celebrations are underway, and this year there's
something extra adding to the excitement. We will take you to Venice after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: As Italy looks ahead to a major year on the world stage. One of its older traditions is kicking off a season of celebration. CNN's Barbie Latza
Nadeau takes us to Venice for the start of Carnival.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): Let the party begin in Venice, a water parade kicking off Carnival in Italy's floating city. By
tradition, it's led by a paper mache rat with hundreds of boats in tow. That erupts into streams of confetti at the Rialto Bridge.
It's a spectacle that draws locals and tourists alike to the Grand Canal.
MICHELA GAROFANO, CARNIVAL REVELER: It's wonderful to see all these people in costume, beautiful, a really nice atmosphere.
NADEAU (voice-over): And you never know just who you'll see on the waterway, like these gondoliers from a galaxy far, far away, or a look
alike pope who took a quick break from rowing to bless his fellow revelers. And this year, the festivities have a special meaning as Italy prepares to
host the Winter Olympic Games.
Gold medals and fake torches included in some of the costumes in a nod to the upcoming event.
FRANCESCA GIOIAMELIS, CARNIVAL REVELER: Well, the atmosphere is definitely one of joy for the games, which should always be valued, just like sport.
[11:55:00]
In short, we should be proud that the Olympics are here in Italy this year. And that Italy has so much to offer.
NADEAU (voice-over): Something more to cheer for as the excitement for Carnival and the games gets under way. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: And Super Bowl week has officially started in the San Francisco Bay Area. The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks arrived in San Jose
yesterday. The patriots are looking for an NFL record, the seventh Super Bowl win. It would be their first, actually, since 2019 a Seahawks win
would be their second in history.
Seattle wants revenge after missing out on what seemed to be an easy touchdown in the final seconds of the big game in 2015 and last two. Of
course, the New England Patriots Super Bowl 60 kicks off Sunday at 06:30 p.m. Eastern Time. And finally, this hour, 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz is
now the youngest man to complete the coveted Career Grand Slam in tennis.
He pulled off the historic victory at the Australian Open against Novak Djokovic in his first ever major title down under Alcaraz, lost the first
set to Djokovic, but went on to win the other sets. Djokovic is a 10-time Australian Open champion. This was his first loss ever in a Melbourne
final.
All right, stay with CNN. There's more "One World" with my colleague, Bianna Golodryga after the short break.
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