Return to Transcripts main page
Hala Gorani Tonight
Military's Patience With Mugabe Running Thin; CNN's First-Hand Insight Into Libya's Slave Auctions; Italy Holds Funeral For Immigrant Girls Drowned At Sea; White House Briefing Amid Roy Moore, Al Franken Scandals; Pussy Riot Brings New Show To London; US Lifting Ban On Some Elephant Trophies From Africa; Searching For Root Causes Of Nationalism; "On Japan": High-Tech Craftmanship, Surprisingly Showcased. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired November 17, 2017 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:33]
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Hala Gorani coming to you live from CNN London. Thanks for being with us.
Tonight, Mugabe emerges, Zimbabwe's president appears at a graduation ceremony. So, is he or is he not under house arrest by the military?
Also, this hour, Libya launches an investigation after CNN's exclusive reporting of people being sold as slaves at auction.
And President Trump blasts Senate Democrat Al Franken after groping claims. So, why so quiet on the sexual conduct allegations against Republican
Senate Candidate Roy Moore?
We start with Zimbabwe. The only ruler many Zimbabweans have ever known appears determined to hang on to whatever power he may have left. Making
his first public appearance today since an army takeover.
Robert Mugabe emerged from house arrest to attend a university graduation in Harare. The event was carefully staged to give the appearance of
business as usual. Yet behind the scenes, it's anything but.
The generals pulling the strings are trying to force Mugabe to step down desperate to avoid the impression they've staged an illegal coup. But a
deal in the works has apparently broken down.
The military's patience maybe running thin. Forces telling CNN, a top commander says Mr. Mugabe must give in soon or, quote, "we do it the hard
way," unquote.
CNN's Farai Sevenzo is live in Hariri tonight with the very latest. What more are you learning about the fate of Robert Mugabe and the status of any
deal?
FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A deal is still very much (inaudible), Hala. It is unclear whether or not Mr. Mugabe would accept the terms of
the ministry that he should leave. But one thing is absolutely certain is that his support base especially in the rural areas of Zimbabwe is fast
evaporating.
The people are seeing what's going on and they are not happy. They are saying that he really has to go. Here's what we found out today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEVENZO (voice-over): The streets of the capital, Hariri, maybe gridlocked by a military dragnet, but on the rural outskirts, though, it is calm and
free of soldiers. These villages are for decades home of the bulk of Robert Mugabe's support base and now with his dramatic fall from power, all
but signed off by his army, the people who so often voted for him are watching and speaking quietly about the nation's drama.
(on camera): Even in rural areas like this, you get the sense that the news of the apparent coup has reached them all and in general, people have
come to accept it. And now they are waiting to see what the generals would decide for the future of Zimbabwe.
(Inaudible) Makunde (ph), who served as a signatory for his village's branch of (inaudible), Zimbabwe's ruling party. The fate of his long-
serving president and his politically ambitious wife is on Makunde's mind.
(on camera): What about Mrs. Mugabe, what do you think of her?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She still young woman to rule the country.
SEVENZO: She's too young.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's too young. (Inaudible).
SEVENZO: She didn't even to go to the war, you're saying?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SEVENZO: So, is this the feeling among (inaudible) supporters --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. They want someone who is -- yes, with the experience.
SEVENZO (voice-over): It is a slow and unhurried life here, but they more than the city folks are feeling the pain of the imploding economy and the
lack of prospects (inaudible).
(Inaudible) who says he stopped supporting the ruling party a long time ago, and (inaudible) for them in 1980. He says Zimbabweans have suffered
for too long.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I support the army for what they did and they must keep on putting (inaudible). We love him (inaudible) want to negotiate with him
but he must leave. If he doesn't leave, (inaudible) suffer more than what he had suffered.
SEVENZO: It is a young (inaudible) like Petro (inaudible) who feel not loyal to Robert Mugabe. They were not even born when he came into power.
(on camera): (Inaudible), if the president goes, are you going to miss him?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
SEVENZO: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible).
SEVENZO (voice-over): Nobert (ph) say they are too afraid to talk politics, but they are curious about what comes next.
[15:05:04] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are listening about (inaudible). We wait for the result. What the (inaudible)
SEVENZO: Do you think that the army did a good thing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's good thing (inaudible).
SEVENZO: And it's not just the future for the young. Sagre (ph) has lived in this village all his life. He's in 80s and has seen the best and worst
of an independent Zimbabwe. He says there's nothing to do now but wait and see what the future brings.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SEVENZO: And there you have it, Hala. It is the base, the biggest support base of Robert Mugabe as an individual, as a president for the last 37
years, are fleeing away from his rule. And it doesn't look happy for the first couple of this country.
GORANI: All right. Thanks very much, Farai Sevenzo reporting live from Harare, Zimbabwe. We'll stay in close touch with you, Farai, for the very
latest on that story.
But for our next story, I want you to try to imagine what might seem impossible. Imagined you've lived a life of hardship and brutality, that
any chance of a future has been snatched from you, and now you see your children heading down the same path.
If you were given the chance to escape all of that, I think you'd probably take it, but then imagine at the last moment being betrayed, kidnapped, and
sold at an auction like an animal. This is not a scenario some people have the luxury of imagining.
For some in Libya, it is reality, but now thanks to our reporting, those people and their families may have just been handed a shred of hope. The
Libyan government says it's going to open a formal investigation into the slave trade after CNN got exclusive access to a horrifying human auction.
Earlier this week, we brought you the full CNN report that spurred this action, the human slave auction, that Nima Elbagir and her team witnessed
that night in Libya, shocked them. I'll speak to Nima in a moment. First, though, a reminder of her reporting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We are ushered into one auctions happening on this same night. Crouched at the
back of the yard, a floodlight obscuring much of the scene. One by one, men are forced down as the bidding begins.
Four hundred, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, very quickly it's over. We asked if we can speak to the man, the auctioneer seen here refuses. We asked again
if we can speak to them, we can help them, no, he says. The auction is over with and we are asked to leave.
(on camera): That was over very quickly. We walked in and as soon as we walked in, the men started covering their faces, but they clearly wanted to
finish what they were doing. And they've kept bringing out what they kept referring to it in Arabic is (inaudible), the merchandise.
All in all, they admitted to us that there were 12 Nigerians that were sold in front of us. I honestly don't know what to say. That was probably one
of the most unbelievable scenes I've ever seen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And Nima is here with me now. So, Nima, we are hearing that the government of Libya is promising to launch an investigation, but as we've
discussed they don't really control the entire country. So, what is that really mean?
ELBAGIR: So, what it means is that they are going to try essentially. They are hopeful that the areas under their control, they'll be able to
interrogate. Their hope is not only to bring these criminals to justice, but also to try and release and most importantly track some of the people
that you saw there being auctioned off and trying to get them back to safety. But, yes, right, the reality is they don't control the whole
country.
GORANI: Because where the auction happened, is that area the central government controls?
ELBAGIR: There are some areas that are under central government control. The areas like (inaudible) down in the south is not, and also, we spoke a
little earlier to the International Organization of Migration, and they point out another two very worrying issues.
One, the smugglers themselves are going stronger because there is so much money to be (inaudible) and because of the insecurity that the law
enforcement officials themselves aren't safe. So, you prosecute these people and then you go home, and they come after you.
GORANI: Then who are these auctioneers and these smugglers? Are they Libyan mainly?
[15:10:03] ELBAGIR: Yes. They are Libyans and so where is the protection for the law enforcement officials from their own countrymen.
GORANI: Right. So, they are profiteers and they are taking advantage essentially of a collapsing state and money to be made from trading human
as they call it merchandise, which is horrible to hear, yes.
ELBAGIR: And this is where the international community has to step in. The Libyan government has proved its willingness, but without support,
there is a limited amount they can do.
GORANI: What could the international community do? I mean, what forum would that take?
ELBAGIR: Well, they can actually -- I mean, you saw those detention centers. They can actually provide greater support to the detentions
centers, first and foremost. So, that people who are rescued from them actually have food, clean water.
Some of them didn't even have clothing and then they also need to provide greater support for the security infrastructure. Libya is essentially
teetering towards being a failed state.
GORANI: Thanks very much, Nima Elbagir. And also, as we mentioned, it's your investigative report there that has led to this announcement from the
central government, and hopefully, it will it will lead to some measure of justice and relief for those who have persecuted.
Still to come this evening, President Trump blasts Senator Al Franken on Twitter over sexual harassment. What the president dared to tweet is just
ahead.
And later, a tragedy at sea as 26 young girls lose their lives. Today, they were buried in the land they so desperately wanted to reach. We'll be
right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: At least 44 crew members are missing at sea after the Argentine Navy lost contact with one of its submarines, according to a report by the
state-run news agency. Now the ARA San Juan submarine scene here was traveling up the country's Atlantic Coast, but hasn't been spotted since
Wednesday. A Navy spokesperson says a search has been launched for the missing vessel.
A growing list of sexual harassment allegations appears to be tanking support for Alabama Senate Candidate Roy Moore. A new Fox News poll shows
his support is falling. Democratic challenger, Doug Jones, leading Republican Moore by 50 to 42 percent right now among likely voters. Jones
appears to be gaining support among previously undecided voters.
Roy Moore says he has no intention, though, of dropping out of the race. CNN's Nick Valencia joins us now from Alabama with more. So, we are
hearing as well from the wife of Roy Moore. What is she saying?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are -- she was part of a group of women that gave a press conference today in support of the Republican
candidate. They say the allegations that have been leveled against him aren't indicative or representative of the man that they know.
They believe that he is a target of a smear campaign and they say that he is probably the most valiant leader running for office right now, that's
their words. Kayla Moore took the podium about 30 minutes after the press conference got underway and she said that she and her husband are in a
battle against the GOP establishment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[15:15:04] KAYLA MOORE, WIFE OF ALABAMA SENATE CANDIDATE ROY MOORE: Even after all the attacks against me, against my family, against the
foundation, and now against my husband, he will not step down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VALENCIA: Those women that you all see on the steps there all personally know Judge Roy Moore. They say that they don't believe one iota of abuse
allegations. In fact, they say the women that have come forward to allege sort of sexual misconduct or sexual assault, they say they are making it
more difficult for real victims to come forward by crying wolf.
But this all seems to have an effect on him, Hala, in the polls. You talk about that Fox News poll. He is trailing his Democratic opponent, Doug
Jones, by at least 20 points among women and eight points overall.
But from what we've seen here on the ground, that doesn't seem to translate. His most ardent supporters, it doesn't appear at this point
that Roy Moore can do anything wrong in their eyes.
We've actually had a lot of people come up to us to say that they believe him over the women alleging sexual assault -- Hala.
GORANI: But that was going to be my next question because obviously these allegations came out in a quite well-documented report with many sources,
many women telling similar stories. Why are Roy Moore's ardent supporters still backing him? What reason do they give for believing him over the
women, over the media, over the Republican establishment?
VALENCIA: That is a great question. They point to the 40 years of public office and say in the multiple times that he's run for public office, none
of these allegations have ever surfaced. They also questioned the timing of this saying that the GOP establishment did not want Roy Moore to win.
You remember President Trump back to his opponent in the Republican primaries, Luther Strange, and they say it's because of that they spent
about $30 million trying to defeat Roy Moore. They say now he's gaining momentum.
He is not somebody that compromises his Christian values. It's someone like that that they want to send Washington. So usually in an instance
like this, it's natural instincts for the person that's getting allegations leveled against him to point towards the other party to suggest that they
made up these allegations so to speak.
But this time, it's Roy Moore supporters that are going directly after the GOP just as much as anyone else -- Hala.
GORANI: Thanks, Nick Valencia, with that live report from Alabama. It's not just the Republicans, the Democrats are facing a sexual misconduct
scandal of their own. Al Franken has apologized after a radio anchor accused him of forcibly kissing and groping her all the way back in 2006
before he was a senator.
But unlike the selective silence Donald Trump has shown with Roy Moore, the president is lashing out very publicly at Franken and is ringing the
president's past back into the conversation. Suzanne Malveaux has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump going after Senator Al Franken over this 2006 photo showing the Democrat
groping radio host, Leeann Tweeden, while she slept. This taken before he was elected.
In a series of late-night tweets, the president calling the picture really bad and speculating about where else Franken's hands may have gone before
criticizing the senator's recent efforts to speak out against sexual harassment.
Mr. Trump wading into the Franken controversy while continuing to ignore questions about the accusations against Republican Senate Candidate Roy
Moore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, should Roy Moore step aside, sir?
MALVEAUX: Press Secretary Sarah Sanders referring to last week's White House statement when asked about Mr. Trump's position on Moore's future and
punting the decision to Alabama voters.
SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president believes that these allegations are very troubling and should be taken seriously, and he
thinks that the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their next senator should be.
MALVEAUX: Mr. Trump going after Franken despite the fact that a number of women have accused him of similar conduct.
JESSICA LEEDS, DONALD TRUMP ACCUSER: He was grabbing my breasts and trying to turn me towards him and kissing me.
MALVEAUX: The president has denied the accusations attacking the women who came forward.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Every woman lied when they came forward to hurt my campaign.
MALVEAUX: Although he's on tape admitting to assaulting women in his now infamous tape.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You know, automatically attracted to beautiful women. It's like a magnet -- and when
you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever you want.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Grab them by the (inaudible). I can do anything.
MALVEAUX: Tweeden says then-comedian, Al Franken, forcibly kissed her while they were rehearsing a skit during a 2006 USO Tour.
LEEANN TWEEDEN, ACCUSED AL FRANKEN OF GROPING: And he just mashes his mouth to my lips and, you know, like wet and he puts his tongue in my mouth
-- I was so angry.
MALVEAUX: After returning home, Tweeden says she came across the photo of Franken groping her on a CD given to her by the tour photographer.
TWEEDEN: It's belittling. It's humiliating. I mean, is that funny? Is that ever funny?
[15:20:07] MALVEAUX: Tweeden choking up while explaining why she's coming forward after 11 years.
TWEEDEN: You know, you always -- I would be cliche, but you know, you talk about trying to leave the world a better place for your kids, you know.
MALVEAUX: Franken initially saying that the picture was intended to be funny but wasn't before issuing a second statement apologizing, "There's no
excuse. I look at it now and I feel disgusted with myself. It isn't funny. It's completely inappropriate.
TWEEDEN: That one did seem heartfelt and I believe it. I gladly accept it and thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Suzanne Malveaux reporting there.
Let's talk about the latest from Washington with CNN's Dan Merica. Dan, of course, everyone has noticed and has been talking about the condemnation
and the tweets that the president sent out regarding Al Franken but silence on Roy Moore. I mean, what's the reaction from the White House?
Right now, the briefing is going. Sarah Huckabee Sanders hasn't taken to the podium yet, but clearly, she'll be asked that question.
DAN MERICA, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: In the briefing is going on right now, an economist is talking about tax reform before Sarah Sanders takes
questions. Of course, she'll be asked about this. It creates a difficult situation for President Trump clearly.
There's 13 women who have accused him before he was president obviously of some form of sexual harassment. Before he tweeted about Al Franken's
allegations, many Republicans and our White House source had told CNN that it's difficult for the president to comment on Roy Moore because of those
allegations.
Knowing that if he comments on Roy Moore, it dredges up those old stories. That's exactly what's happened now that he commented on Al Franken and it
creates this difficult situation politically as well.
What the president is effectively saying is that women who accused Democrats like Franken should be believed and women who accused me or Roy
Moore shouldn't be believed off the bat. That is a situation that, of course, Sarah Sanders is going to be pressed on.
And politically that's somewhat untenable especially when Republicans in the Senate are coming out and saying they believed the women who are
accusing Roy Moore. It's all a very complicated situation here at the White House.
It's difficult for them to talk about clearly and it's further complicated by the fact that the president has so far commented on Franken and remained
relatively silent on Roy Moore -- Hala.
GORANI: And what's likely to happen to Al Franken? I mean, he is the senator from -- he's a Democrat obviously from Minnesota. Could he be --
could he resign? Could he be forced out? I mean, what is the sense that you have in Washington about what's in store for Franken?
MERICA: It's going to be a long process no matter what. There are some Democrats in Minnesota, who backed Al Franken, who think he should resign.
Now that's a minority opinion at this point.
Democrats here in Washington think -- including some Republicans actually think this should refer to the Ethics Committee on Capitol Hill and they
should look into this process.
So, that's kind of a place where investigations somewhat go to die frankly. It's a long process. It can be drawn out and very rarely does anything
come out of an investigation like that.
But many Democrats on Capitol Hill have been saying that these allegations should go there. Some of those Democrats have been giving money back that
Al Franken raised for them. It's a complicated process because Al Franken was a very prominent member of his party, one of the most well-known
members of the Democratic Party because he was a comedian.
So, I don't think he's going to be forced to leave the Senate as long as the allegations stay with what they are right now.
GORANI: And what if Roy Moore is elected and takes a seat in the U.S. Senate then what?
MERICA: It would be remarkable because he has basically now run against every single Republican, who is in that Senate right now. Almost
universally Republicans have said -- have either pulled their support, pulled money back, the RNC has pulled back the funding agreement.
It would really be remarkable situation where a Republican from Alabama is elected, sent to the Senate, and is approached basically by 51, 52
Republican senators, who think he shouldn't be there.
They could elect to expel him from the Senate that's a remarkable stuff. It really doesn't -- has rarely if ever happen, but he can also just be
accepted. This could blow over. He could come to the Senate and it could all over and go away.
Really, it's in the hands of the Alabama governor at this point, who can either decide to cancel the election, move it to a different date, but she
has been very clear that she wants to have election in December, and has said that while she believes the women who are using Roy Moore, she thinks
that she will also vote eventually vote Republican Senate candidate.
GORANI: All right. Dan Merica, thanks very much. Yet another issue dividing the Republican Party, silence from the president on this
particular one. We'll keep following that and Dan, as you mentioned, we are expecting Sarah Sanders, the press secretary to make an appearance any
minute.
One of U.S. President Donald Trump's major campaign promises, the proposed Keystone XL pipeline now has one giant hurdle in its way.
[15:25:10] Its sister project, the existing pipeline, well, it just leaked almost 800 kiloliters of oil in South Dakota. That's just about the amount
that would fill an Olympic-size swimming pool. That's a problem.
And while there is never a good time for an oil spill of that size, it's especially bad timing for people who backed expanding the line and is just
days before officials announced if those plans can go ahead.
On another note from Washington, CNN is learning about the health of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a civil rights activist and two-time presidential
candidate, today announced that he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Reverend Jackson is 76 years old. In a statement, he says this is not a stop sign, but rather a signal that he must make lifestyle changes.
We are going to take a very quick break. Their boat capsized off Southern Italy days ago, today, Italy paid its respect to the 26 girls who lost
their lives trying desperately to reach Europe. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: A group of girls set out on journey unlike anything most of us will ever have to face and today, there are 26 coffins were lined up in a
row as they were buried in Italy. The girls some as young as 14 are believed to have been migrants, who wanted to reach Europe, but they
drowned before they could make it to the shore. Another journey which began with a vision of a better life but ended in tragedy.
CNN contributor, Barbie Nadeau, has more.
BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hala, it really was a very solemn and somber day here in Solano in Southern Italy as members of the local
community and the refugee community that lives here among them came here to the cemetery to pay their respects to the lives lost at sea.
So, many of them followed through procession laying white flowers on the caskets of these 26 young women. Let's watch for a minute how the day
went.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADEAU (voice-over): Twenty six coffins, a mass casualty funeral, these victims are the latest in ongoing disaster that has seen thousands died in
Mediterranean Sea over the last several years. There is little known about these victims. They are all women likely from Nigeria and Niger.
Two were pregnant. One was wearing a t-shirt with the words "I'm super happy." All were between 14 and 20 years of age. Their bodies brought to
shore November 5 after their boat capsized off Southern Italy. Sixty-four survived. About 100 are missing.
(on-camera): These represent just some of the 26 victims of this disaster. Inside each of these coffins is a photo of the victim and information like
whether or not they had tattoos, their dental scans, anything that might be able to identify them one day.
In the meantime, those who have not been identified are known only by this ticket on the front of their coffin. This one, simply number four.
(voice-over): Most of the young women fit the classic profile of those being trafficked to Italy for sex. Corrado Lembo, the prosecutor in charge
of finding out who is responsible for the deaths of these young women, tells us they're working on the investigation with diligence and
compassion.
He wants to clarify, not over-dramatize the reality of the phenomenon of sex trafficking, so he can shine a light on its complexity and, hopefully,
help stop it.
Refugees and area students laid flowers on each casket at the end of the ceremony.
Representatives from both the Catholic and Muslim communities blessed each coffin. Monsignor Antonio De Luca told those who had gathered that these
young women had died on their search for freedom. Instead, he said, they found death.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NADEAU: The city has declared a day of mourning here just to commemorate the latest disaster in the migrant crisis. Hala?
GORANI: Barbie Nadeau, thanks very much. I want to take you live to the White House for a little bit. Sarah Sanders is taking questions now as
she's being peppered by question about Al Franken and Roy Moore and sexual misconduct allegations. Let's listen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In light of the national discussion about the importance of taking these kinds of accusations seriously, I wanted to
check, is it still the White House position that all the women who have accused the president of sexual misconduct are lying?
SANDERS: The president has spoken about this multiple times throughout the campaign and has denied all of those allegations. Blake.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks Sarah. Let me ask you about the pending potential AT&T and Time Warner merger. The president had said on the
campaign trail back in October 2015, and I quote here, he said it was a deal we will not approve in my administration because it's too much
concentration of power in the hands of too few. Does the president still feel that way?
SANDERS: The president was asked about this a few days ago. Maybe a week ago while we were on Air Force One. And I would prefer you back to those
comments. April?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sarah, is this an uncomfortable conversation about the sexual allegations for this White House, be it Al Franken or be it Roy
Moore?
SANDERS: I think it's an uncomfortable conversation for the country. I think that this is something that is being discussed pretty widely. And we
certainly think that it should be taken very seriously. And it's one of the reasons I stand up here to answer your questions every day. And will
continue to do so and continue to address them.
Obviously, it's something that should be looked at. And I think it should be looked at widespread, not just in the political sphere, but in the
business atmosphere and across the board in this country and something we certainly again take seriously. Alex? I'm going to (INAUDIBLE), April.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: - Hillary Clinton today about the president's past. And going back to that, she said, look, I worry about everything from his
past because it tells you how he behaves in the present and will in the future. What do you say to that as it relates to these allegations against
the president?
SANDERS: I think Hillary Clinton probably should have dealt with some of of her own issues before addressing this president. Alex.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two questions. One on taxes and one on immigration. A recent Quinnipiac University poll said 61 percent of voters think the
Republican tax plan will benefit the wealthy. The White House has pitched this plan as a working class tax cut. Why the disconnect?
And then on immigration -
SANDERS: Let me answer the first question. Look, we've actually argued that this tax plan benefits all Americans. That's the point of it.
Specifically, our priority is to target middle-class Americans, and make sure that that is addressed first and that that those people are
prioritized in any piece of legislation for either the House or the Senate.
But at the same time, we want all Americans to benefit by a growing economy and a tax system that actually works for our country versus one that
penalizes people. We are going to keep moving just because we are tight. John.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I could as you the same thing that I asked Kevin. You've got six Republican Senators either no or seriously on the fence
here. Can you win enough over in order to pass this? And if the president gets snookered again by the Senate, what's his reaction going to be?
SANDERS: We certainly are still very confident that we're going to get this package passed and we'd love to see some of the Democrats come on
board and support this historic piece of legislation that we feel will be one of the great legacies of this presidency.
[15:35:02] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fact that you didn't get any Democrats in the House, how does that portend for getting them in the Senate?
SANDERS: There's always hope. We'll hold out hope that Democrats in the Senate want to put partisan politics aside and put the people of this
country first. We haven't ruled it out. And we're certainly going to keep pushing forward and we are still confident we're going to get it done.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Safe to say the president will not be pleased if he gets snookered by the Senate again?
SANDERS: I think the American people will be the ones that won't be pleased because they are going to be the ones that lose out the most if
this doesn't go forward. Slew (ph)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sarah, the administration has put out a disaster funding request for $44 billion today. It's much less than what a number
of different governors and officials in the various impacted territories and states have requested. Can you explain why the number is so low
compared to what the local officials say they need?
SANDERS: I don't think $44 billion is a low amount. And my guess is if you ask any average citizen across this country, they wouldn't feel like
it's low either.
At this point, Texas has not put any state dollars into this process. We feel strongly that they should step up and play a role and work with the
federal government in this process. We did a thorough assessment. And that was completed, and this was the number that we put forward to Congress
today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it expected that much would be requested for in the future, specifically for Puerto Rico?
SANDERS: Yes, absolutely. At this point, the request that went in today of the roughly $44 billion primarily addresses Texas and Florida. Those
storms took place ahead of Puerto Rico -
GORANI: All right. And Sarah Sanders there, at the beginning of that briefing, answering many, many questions about allegations of sexual
misconduct against Al Franken, Roy Moore, the Senate candidate in Alabama, as well in defending the president's decision to tweet about one and not
the other and fending off, in fact, questions about accusations leveled at him during the campaign.
We'll get back to that briefing if there are newsworthy lines coming out of it. But now to this. As investigations continue around the world into
Russian meddling in other people's election, back in Moscow, the fight for change is alive and well.
That's what Russian punk group Pussy Riot would say. They're, obviously, vocal opponents of President Vladimir Putin. They've just opened a new
provocative theater production here in London. I sat down with one member of the group to hear why she still risks her life to protest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI (voice-over): It was this demonstration in a Moscow cathedral which brought Pussy Riot and their distinctive style of protest to the world's
attention. Singing their anti-Putin punk song as shocked members of the church looked on.
It was also the moment that landed Nadya Tolokonnikova and her two bandmates in Russian jail, convicted of hooliganism and sentenced to two
years. Two years, Nadya says, of appalling conditions and abuse, being forced to make hundreds of police uniforms every day. She ended her
sentence in a Siberian prison hospital. She'd been admitted there after going on hunger strike.
It was this experience that shaped the immersive theater performance at London Saatchi Gallery.
NADYA TOLOKONNIKOVA, BAND MEMBER, PUSSY RIOT: Hello and welcome to the offices of state police. You're all under arrest for hooliganism and
hurting the state's feelings.
GORANI: I caught up with Nadia during preparations for the show and I asked her what impact she wants it to have on participants.
TOLOKONNIKOVA: You're here one-one with this prisoner - with this prison guard who is abusing you and that's part of the journey. They will scream
at you. They will abuse your rights.
Hopefully, in my mind, it will help to motivate people to commit harder to political actions, to protect their freedoms.
GORANI (on-camera): Your political actions have gotten you, as I said, sent to prison. Now, a year after the election of Donald Trump, who you
are very critical of, you released a song called "Police State". In the video, you see images of Donald Trump and your president of your country,
Vladimir Putin.
When you're on, what are your thoughts about where your country is and where the world is headed?
TOLOKONNIKOVA: I don't like the current state of affairs in my country definitely, but I'm full of hopes because I've seen big rallies against
Vladimir Putin and we do have a really brave person who is running for president against Vladimir Putin. His name is Alexei Navalny. And he does
have a lot of supporters in Russia.
GORANI: And when you protest, you protest at your own personal risk because anytime you say -
TOLOKONNIKOVA: Of course.
GORANI: I could get arrested again and I could be sent to prison again.
[15:40:03] TOLOKONNIKOVA: It's not a really pleasant thought to know that you can be sent to prison and it's kind of weird for me to rebuild prison
knowing that I can actually be on in prison tomorrow when I'll be in Moscow.
But if you're not willing to take risk, you will not achieve a lot.
GORANI: But that's not just a small risk. It's not like getting a fine or getting fired from your job. It's like spending two years in prison,
possibly longer, making police uniforms when your daughter and your husband are at home. I wonder, personally, how do you have this courage to do
this?
TOLOKONNIKOVA: I'm just pushing these unpleasant thoughts from my head and I'm putting my political goals in front of me like a carrot and I'm trying
to pursue it.
But, surely, it's not some pleasant right now to be a political activist in Russia because you can be not just in prison, but you can be beaten,
attacked, killed.
GORANI: What do you say to people who say, she and her Pussy Riot bandmates - and not all of them, by the way, show their faces. That tells
you how dangerous it is. They have the balaclava on and everything - but she's just a provocateur. It's not ideology, it's attention seeking. Your
critics would say that about you.
TOLOKONNIKOVA: That's fine because I think politics is attention seeking in a way. What's wrong about it? Every politician who is vying for it,
who wants to take seat, or who wants to make a change, they do have to have a certain platform. That's fine.
Regarding provocateurs, we're just sharing our worldview. And it's quite different. But if you want to live in a diverse world, then you should
tolerate all kinds of people, including the punks.
GORANI (voice-over): Pussy Riot are still touring their punk protests around the world, recently staging this demo in Trump Tower over the
jailing of a Ukrainian activist.
And Nadya wants the Saatchi show to make people think about prisoners' rights, not just in Russia, but all over the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Immersive theater. It feels like it's going to be quite an experience in London.
Don't forget. You can check our Facebook page for more, Facebook.com/HalaGoraniCNN and check out my Twitter feed at @HalaGorani.
Well, it's a win for hunters, I guess, you could say, but a new challenge for conservationists and animal rights advocates. The Trump administration
says it will now allow people to bring elephant trophies back from Zambia and Zimbabwe into the US.
It's something the Obama administration restricted back in 2014 after the African elephant population dropped. With that story, here is Tom Foreman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The pictures for some are brutal. Wild African elephants killed by people paying tens of thousands
of dollars to pull the trigger. Donald Trump, Jr. has traveled to Africa to hunt many times and defends it.
DONALD TRUMP JR., AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN: Once you get exposed to it, you realize it's not this, like, you know, savage thing.
FOREMAN: And the new rules from his father would allow more Americans to hunt the elephants and return home with their trophies, tusks and all. The
money from their sport in theory helping to protect other elephants.
As Safari Club International puts it, "Hunting is beneficial to wildlife and these range countries know how to manage their elephant populations."
And it fits neatly into President Trump's promise to cut the government restrictions.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We want regulation for environmental. We want regulation for safety. But the regulations are
massive and we -
FOREMAN (on-camera): This bull was killed, it seems, just a few days ago even.
(voice-over): However, the move stands in stark contrast to Obama-era efforts to stop elephant poaching by cutting off the world ivory trade. In
2015, a joint deal was struck with China, the biggest ivory market, to ban virtually all ivory imports and exports.
In New York, a ton of illegal ivory was crushed.
REP. GRACE MENG (D), NEW YORK: The US is the second largest market for ivory in the entire world.
FOREMAN: Some elephant hunting was still allowed under Obama, but outrage over this broad change of plans has been swift. Chelsea Clinton,
"Infuriating! Will increase poaching, make communities vulnerable, and hurt conservation efforts."
Habitat loss and hunting have had devastating effects. At the start of the 21st century, there were 3 to 5 million African elephants according to the
World Wildlife Fund, which says only 400,000 remain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, if you want to generate economic activity in Africa, in Zimbabwe and Tanzania and Kenya and South Africa, keep the
wildlife alive.
[15:45:00] FOREMAN (on-camera): President Trump's plan does not open all of Africa. It just expands hunting opportunities in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Places where advocates of this move say they feel that elephants are doing comparatively well.
Still, for critics, it is a colossally bad idea for a species that's been under so much pressure for so long.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Tom Foreman, thanks very much. A lot more to come this evening. Anger pouring on to Europe's streets and into ballot boxes around the
world. What's behind the frustration, I'll try to drill down to the root causes of nationalism. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. Last weekend, in Poland, tens of thousands marched through the streets of Warsaw to mark independence day.
Among them, scores of demonstrators chanted and held up signs reminiscent of another era. They were white nationalists, burning flares, some holding
up banners reading death to the enemies of the homeland or Islam equals terror and featuring other anti-Islamic and anti-Semitic imagery.
It was like the Charlottesville, Virginia demonstration had taken steroids. In the crowd, some claiming immigration, Islam and Judaism are corrupting
the Catholic fabric of their homeland.
Anti-immigration chants in an EU country, one that ironically has benefited tremendously from emigration, hundreds of thousands of its own citizens
have traveled abroad thanks to open EU borders after all.
It has been said that populism and nationalism are the results of economic disenfranchisement. That jobless and economically frustrated people need
someone to blame for their woes.
But consider this, for Poland and many other countries where right-wing populism has been brought to power, that is just not true.
Since 1991, Poland hasn't had a single year of negative growth. In the last 25 years, GDP per capita has shot up from just over $2000 to $13,000.
Polish unemployment is now so low that, according to one "Bloomberg" article, it's time for Poland to worry about it. It seems, in this case,
it's not the economy, stupid.
And consider Brexit which happened in a country which is nearly at full employment.
Or the surprise election of Donald Trump in the US where jobless numbers are at historic lows and economic indicators are higher than in many
Western democracies.
Or in the Czech Republic, where the party of a Eurosceptic Czech billionaire won the most votes in recent election and far right parties
made big gains. You think the Czech Republic is doing poorly economically? Wrong again. Its growth is strong. Unemployment, the lowest in the
European Union at 2.7 percent and its national debt is low.
[15:50:00] So, what is going on. Poland's former foreign minister explains.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RADOSLAW SIKORSKI, FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER OF POLAND: As a result of globalization, I think there is a despair among some majorities and fear of
becoming minorities. And it takes different forms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Add to that, shocking levels of income inequality. They have fueled frustration and a desire to reject the establishment. It's those
who feel they've not reaped the benefits of growth who are most likely to vote for right-wing populist politicians, whether in America or Europe.
Redressing that balance has become urgent.
But for one Polish expert, the resurgence of right-wing nationalism can be attributed to one thing. She told me this about the November 11 march.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The current government, which is not very vocal in condemning this type of event, so a lack of clear criticism, although some
were voiced today, are, in fact, support. So, this type of comments, racists, probably anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic are gaining force just because
they're not being actively called out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: So, when at best politicians fail to condemn hate speech or, worse, scapegoat immigrants and minorities for the insecurities of the
majority, that is when a certain brand of white nationalism flourishes.
Unchecked, it's dangerous. And, ultimately, it hurts everyone, including those who embrace it.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Let's take you to Japan now, a country known for cutting-edge technology, but with a rich history, often defined by high-quality
craftsmanship. Our Will Ripley shows how these characteristics are showcased in a surprising - very surprising way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: If you've ever been to Japan, you've probably been greeted like this. These high-tech toilets
have become synonymous with the country. And there's one company that's been the pioneer, Toto.
MADOKA KITAMURA, PRESIDENT, TOTO (through translator): Japanese people possess the spirit of the technical quest. This might have about change
from toilets to Japanese toilets.
RIPLEY: Nineteen-fourteen, that was the year when Toto's founder first introduced Western-style toilets to Japan. And it's fair to say, their
toilets have come a long way since then.
Tot's innovation starts at the beginning, with a level of craftsmanship reserved for fine art. Every part of the process is meticulously poured
over. Each toilet is coated with a special stainproof blades and fired in a kiln through a full 24 hours.
This shiny new toilet will become one of Toto's newest Neorest models and it'll sell for $6,000. But beneath its beauty is a whole suite of
technology.
So, let's start pushing buttons and see what happens. You can open and close the lid or seat. Electrolyzed water is sprayed into the bowl after
every use. It acts as an antibacterial cleanser. Want some privacy, just play some soothing sounds.
[15:55:08] Now, comes the interesting part. You can clean your front or your rear. Toto actually spent two years researching what exactly would be
the perfect angle. Turns out, it's 43 degrees.
And then, there's the flush. Toto developed what it calls a Tornado flushing system, meaning the water comes from the side, and each flush only
uses 3.8 liters of water.
Of course, Toto is not the only company in the high-tech toilet game, but says it's committed to staying ahead, by spending 3% of its revenue on
research and development. And it seems to be working, as Toto still holds the majority market share in Japan.
So, as Toto celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, we want to know what will come next.
KITAMURA (through translator): There are so many more ideas for us to evolve and we should welcome design ability as well as on development of
producing technology to lower costs, to achieve more reasonable price in order for our products to be used by many people, especially by those from
emerging countries.
RIPLEY: Will Ripley, CNN, Tokyo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: And before we go, I want to update you on an interesting answer from White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. She was pressed on
President Trump's response to sexual harassment allegations against Sen. Al Franken and how Mr. Trump himself faces similar allegations. Listen to
the exchange.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this also fair to investigate this president and the allegations of sexual misconduct made against him by more than a dozen
women?
SANDERS: Look, I think that this was covered pretty extensively during the campaign. We address it then. The American people, I think, spoke very
loud and clear when they elected this president.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But how is this different?
SANDERS: I think, in one case, specifically, Sen. Franken has admitted wrongdoing and the president hasn't. I think it's a very clear
distinction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, there you have it. That exchange was the first questioned asked at the briefing.
Thanks for watching. If it's your weekend, have a great weekend. I'm Hala Gorani. Do stay with CNN. "Quest Means Business" is up next.
END
