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Hala Gorani Tonight
British Lawmakers Vote On Government's Brexit Plans; Opposition Leader Corbyn Mocks May Over Brexit; Canada, U.S. And Mexico Selected As 2026 FIFA Hosts; Dramatic Day For World's Biggest Sporting Event; Trump: North Korea "No Longer A Nuclear Threat"; Trump Bashes Media Over Coverage Of North Korea Summit; Source: Spain To Grant Refugee Status To Aquarius Migrants; Lawmakers Back Theresa May On Customs Union Issue; Bitter Divide Within Conservative Party Over Brexit; Trump's Personal Attorney Hunt For New Legal Team; North Korea Media Depict Summit Victory; Uber Driver Ejects Women Who Kissed Each Other. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired June 13, 2018 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:42]
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Live from outside the Houses of Parliament in London, I'm Hala Gorani.
Tonight, another day and yet another big battle for Theresa May. Right now, lawmakers in the building behind me are voting on her Brexit bill.
Also, it's just hours until the World Cup kicks off in Russia. We found out which country or countries are hosting in 2026. It's a long way away
but an important decision we'll covering.
And sleep well tonight, that's what Donald Trump is saying as he defends his historic summit with Kim Jong-un.
The U.K. prime minister, Theresa May, is staring down yet another battle in parliament just a day after she cut a last-minute deal to save a different
part of her Brexit bill. Right now, lawmakers are voting.
They are voting on a series of amendments to that Brexit bill. The crucial one today is how close Britain's trade length will be with the E.U. after
it leaves the block. Now some rebel factions within May's own conservative party could side with the opposition and vote that the U.K. remain in the
Customs Union, something that the Prime Minister, of course, strongly opposes.
Let's discuss all of this, political analyst, Carole Walker, is here. So, this all sounds awfully procedural, but it comes down to really one
important thing, is Theresa May going to survive this rebellion in her own party or not?
CAROLE WALKER, POLITICAL ANALYST: Hala, you know, I think she will survive tonight, but she is undoubtedly in a very precarious position and she has
had yet another very, very difficult week. What's going on at the moment is that MPs are voting on whether Britain should stay or whether the
government should try to get the U.K. inside something called the European economic area.
That's something which, for example, like countries like Norway are in where they have close ties with the European Union, are not though inside
the Customs Union. I think the government is fairly confident that it will overturn that and ensure that it pursues its own cause on Brexit. But what
that cause is going to be, there is still so much haggling on it.
GORANI: How much power does parliament have in opposing any deal that the government comes up with that they do not think is satisfactory, that they
think might harm their country?
WALKER: What the government has said is that ministers -- the prime minister, and David Davis, who is the main negotiator, cannot have their
hands tied by parliament. They have got rebels on their own side, who are saying, look, parliament should be able to say what happens if there is no
deal.
The key thing on this is that when the Prime Minister comes back to parliament in the autumn she hopes and says she hoped she's going to deal
with the E.U., she wants to be able to say to them take or leave it.
They are saying that parliament should be able to direct what happens next. She had to scramble around to get a last-minute concession to avoid the
defeat yesterday and now both sides are arguing about what the concession means. We are still waiting to see the wording of it.
GORANI: And it's such a surreal environment that the foreign secretary of this country, Boris Johnson, jokingly are not said if Donald Trump were
handling this, you know, we have a bunch of rows and arguments maybe, but at least we get something done.
And the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, mocked the Prime Minister in parliament today, let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEREMY CORBYN, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY LEADER: Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister met President Donald Trump last week, did she do as the foreign
secretary suggested and asked him to take over the Brexit negotiations?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: She didn't look too amused.
WALKER: She didn't join in the laughter there, did she? Boris Johnson was laughing. She wasn't. Boris Johnson was recorded at a private meeting
when he said, at least if we had Donald Trump, there'd be rows, fury, there might be walk outs, but at least we might make some progress.
And you know, I think quite a few MPs in the Houses of Parliament might secretly share that view because I think there is huge frustration.
[15:05:08] That we are less than a year to go until Britain leaves the European Union at the end of March next year, there's still no agreement on
what the trading relationship should be with the E.U. even within the prime minister's own cabinet let alone within the wider parliament and the rest
of the country.
There is no agreement on immigration system. There is no agreement on the environmental laws. There is this huge -- huge divisions to be overcome.
GORANI: Right, yes, it's going to take a while. Carole Walker, thanks very much as always.
They are voting on the Customs Union amendment now, I understand. How far are we? I'm asking my producer. It will be a while, but here we go. They
are streaming in now casting their votes.
WALKER: Yes, that's right. The vote has just started. It usually takes them about nearly a quarter of an hour because all MPs have to actually
file through the yes or the no lobbies. Of course, it's a packed hour. Everyone on all sides is crowding.
They'll be voting on that. We'll get that result in about 40 minutes or so. The government will be hoping that this is one of those amendments
which the House of Lords voted on which they (inaudible).
Theresa May says that Britain has got to be outside the Customs Union otherwise it won't be free to form new trade deals around the world.
GORANI: It will be big news if that amendment were not rejected. The expectation is that Theresa May will survive this. Carole Walker, thanks
so much. And in fact, if there's breaking, we'll just call you back and we'll discuss the breaking news. Thank you.
Now the world's biggest sporting event will be returning to American soil for the first time in 24 years, but not just the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The member associations of Canada, Mexico, and U.S.A. have been selected by the FIFA Congress to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: So, this happened a few hours ago today. It will be Mexico and Canada that won a joint bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The U.S.
President Donald Trump, of course, took to Twitter tweeting his congratulations after the three countries beat Morocco. Yes, no insults
directed at Justin Trudeau this time.
On the other side of the world, Russia is just a few hours away from kicking off its own World Cup. Amanda Davies is in Moscow ahead of the
2018 tournament. All right, so let's talk a little bit about the atmosphere, how things are feeling a day before the kickoff match --
Amanda.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, Hala, well, I can tell you it really does feel like the world's biggest sporting event is about to get underway.
There's been a really big buildup, of course, it was 2010 that Russia won the rights to host this tournament.
You might be able to hear behind us there's an opera concert going on. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is there. Opera performance from across
the globe here to celebrate the start of the football World Cup.
And it's a year actually since I have been here in Russia and I've felt a real switch in atmosphere over the last 12 months. This time a year ago,
the feeling amongst Russians because of the political situation, all those scandals surrounding doping in Russian sport.
The feeling was very much let's just get through this even without any problems. But you have to say now there's been a switch and everybody is
arriving from across the globe very much since we landed at the airport on Saturday, we've seen more and more fans arriving from Peru, Argentina,
Saudi Arabia, Iran, some very vocal Brazilian fans.
People descending here on Red Square as you would expect, one of the focal points if you're coming to Russia, you come and visit Red Square.
Everybody just very excited about what is to come over the next four and a half weeks.
GORANI: And let's look ahead to 2026, it's years and years away, there is Qatar in between, of course, but the U.S., Canada and Mexico beating out
Morocco. So, what does it mean for those three countries?
DAVIES: Yes, it was a very, very big day here. You could sense the real anticipation from waking up this morning even though the first match of
this tournament isn't until tomorrow Thursday. It's the first time that a World Cup will be hosted across three different countries.
The first time in 34 years that the (inaudible) region, the North and Central American region will host the football World Cup and for Canada
actually the first time they will ever have hosted at least part of a men's world cup.
[15:10:05] They did host the women's world cup in Vancouver in 2015. The U.S.A. and Mexico have both been there and done that before. But this is
going to be the biggest world cup ever held.
It will be the first world cup with 48 nations from around the world that have been qualified to play. As you can imagine that logistically is a
massive, massive cost and what was fascinating about this bid, Hala, they were going up against Morocco.
And this is meant to be the first vote in the new era of FIFA, the new transparent era of FIFA after all those scandals surrounding that double
vote from 2010 that saw both this world cup in Russia and Qatar awarded at the same time.
Instead of just 25 people voting, it was all 200 plus FIFA confederations getting their say and right up until this morning, (inaudible) would not
make a call. They didn't know how it was going to go.
As expected, it was the united bid that took it and they have a very busy eight years to come.
GORANI: OK, Amanda Davies in Moscow, thanks very much.
Now as often is the case, politics often spillover into sport, well, there is a bit of trouble for the Iran World Cup team and that's because Nike,
the U.S. company says it will not and cannot supply them with footwear.
And that is because of American sanctions, new American sanctions against the country Iran under the Trump administration and there you have it, a
team that is not going to be able to wear Nike shoes.
And the question is, what will they use to make their World Cup appearance in an all-important competition for Iran. More from Russia later in the
show. We'll look at some dramatic twist and turns there in the football world.
Also, coming up, you can sleep well tonight because the North Korean nuclear threat is over, that's according to Donald Trump. We'll see what
he's tweeting after that historic summit in Singapore.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: After one day of meetings with Kim Jong-un, Donald Trump has declared that the North Korean nuclear threat is over. Now it's a bit of a
stretch to put it mildly as Kim agreed only to a vague commitment to denuclearize, a commitment North Korea has made and broken before.
But the U.S. president is sounding supremely confident about Tuesday's summit on Twitter. He wrote that he is averted a possible war and said,
quote, "President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem. No longer. Sleep well tonight."
Interesting to note that Mr. Trump went on to tweet that America's biggest enemy is not North Korea, nuclear threat, but its own free press.
[15:15:08] Let's bring in CNN's Boris Sanchez live at the White House. First off, Boris, you have new information about what the secretary of
state, Mike Pompeo, briefed reporters on the content, additional information on the content of the agreement that was signed in Singapore.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Hala. And the secretary of state almost echoing what the president said in the way that he
approached reporters when he was asked about some of the details of that agreement.
Specifically, he was asked why certain contentions made by the United States were not included. First off, there was no mention of a verifiable
denuclearization by North Korea. That is that independent monitors will be able to enter the country and inspect with their own eyes that North Korea
was following up with his commitment to denuclearization.
Secondly, there was no mention of an irreversible denuclearization. that is making it impossible for Kim Jong-un from one day to the next to simply
snap a finger and restart his nuclear program.
Though, those exact words are not included in the agreement, Mike Pompeo pushed back on reporters saying that they were wrong, that that is part of
the spirit of the agreement and that anyone who understands what denuclearization is would understand that that in itself is part of that
document.
Despite that there are still questions about just how much President Trump was able to get from the North Korean leader in the form of concessions.
There has been a tremendous amount of criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, wondering aloud if the president essentially gave up
too much and got very little in return -- Hala.
GORANI: So, essentially Mike Pompeo is saying it may not spelled out in this communique that we signed, but the idea that the denuclearization
process is irreversible, unverifiable is in the quote, "spirit of the deal?"
SANCHEZ: I'm not quoting him saying that it's in the spirit of the deal. The exact quote was that, "anyone who understands what denuclearization
means understands what this entails."
That's essentially his argument, but you know, we have seen North Korea make a number of deals before along these lines, and they have essentially
been ripped up and disposed of. So, the question really is, how exactly the United States plans to get to a point where these goals are met.
Where we can have independent monitors going into North Korea and making sure that at least, you know, in their eyes this sort of progress is being
made -- Hala.
GORANI: But there's no commitment on paper basically. I mean, it's what we have been reporting and it's not something that Mike Pompeo was able to
shed more light on in terms of how the United States could be sure, so sure that Kim Jong-un and North Korea would agree to irreversibly denuclearize.
SANCHEZ: Right. Those two words again were not included in there neither verifiable nor reversible, and you know, some would argue that ultimately
is a trivial thing considering that North Korea has ripped up these agreements before.
But, you'd think that there would be at least some sort of safeguard to keep that from happening in the form of some language in there that would
create these sorts of expectations of North Korea.
GORANI: And very briefly, the president tweeted again about what he called wargames, which are joint military drills between South Korea and the
United States defending his decision to cancel them, to suspend them.
"We save a fortune by not doing wargames as long as we are negotiating in good faith which both sides are." This came as a surprise to a lot of
people, including the regional military command in that part of the world. What about in Washington? Are people wondering how that came about?
SANCHEZ: Yes. That is totally correct, though, we have received word from sources that the secretary of defense, James Mattis, was aware of this
decision. A lot of lawmakers were not.
There was some confusion because apparently the vice president, Mike Pence, communicated to some of these lawmakers that some level of military
exercise was still going to take place.
So, you have some like Colorado Senator Cory Gardner arguing that there was some sort of miscommunication, that the president did not mean what he is
apparently suggesting in these tweets.
And I should note that in that press availability with Mike Pompeo in South Korea where he spoke to reporters, he also defended the idea saying that as
long as these talks were progressing in good faith that there would be no need for the United States to take part in these exercises with South Korea
and Japan.
Though, it is notable that the president is sort of making a different kind of argument here suggesting that this decision was made, at least in part,
for financial reasons. Not necessarily just, you know, to move these talks forward.
GORANI: Boris Sanchez at the White House, thanks so much.
Mr. Trump's warm talks with North Korea's dictator come just after a contentious summit with long-standing friends in the G7 allies. Let's talk
about the big picture here with senior economic analyst, Robert Reich, the former U.S. labor secretary, and a professor of public policy at the
University of California Berkeley.
[15:20:08] So, what did you make of what came out of that summit and then the subsequent tweets by the president telling Americans, people around the
world that they can sleep well at night now that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat.
ROBERT REICH, CNN SENIOR ECONOMICS ANALYST: Well, it's interesting, Hala. I certainly hope the president is right and that we are better off, I
suppose, having the president of the United States sitting down with the chairman of North Korea, certainly better off than having them hurling
epithets at one another.
But our security is premised not only our military security, but also economic security is premised first and foremost on our allies and the
president has absolutely -- he has done everything he can to alienate those allies.
I mean, Canada is our biggest trading partner, our closest neighbor, our friend. Canada has been with us in through everything and to have treated
the Prime Minister of Canada the way the president did and the way that his assistants have talked about even though there was a little bit of a Peter
Navarro did correct himself.
He did say that he was -- he was sorry for the comment he made. I mean, to do that is just simply inexplicable.
GORANI: But what do you think is the strategy behind it? I mean, do you think that this is a way to just negotiate a better trade deal? What do
you think is behind this strategy?
REICH: After a year and a half, I think we can with some confidence say that there is no strategy behind anything that comes out of the White House
except trying to increase the stature of Donald Trump in his own eyes.
I mean that this man is a walking, talking example of diplomacy that is narcissism. I mean, how can I possibly explain that there is a concern
that Canada really does pose a national security threat to the United States in terms of steel from Canada or aluminum from Canada.
I mean, a rational person just looking at the data, looking at the world right now would say this is beyond absurd. Again, I want to hope, and I
certainly hope that Donald Trump has made the right decision with regard to North Korea.
I hope we are on the road to denuclearization even though actually nothing of any substance came out of that except a handshake, a photo op, but to
turn to -- look at what he's done to Europe.
Europeans are, you know, feel that -- the exit from the Iranian deal, exit from the Paris Accord on the environment and everything else that Donald
Trump has done to antagonize Europe and now Canada. I mean, this man is not on their side. That is what they feel.
GORANI: Robert, a lot of supporters, Donald Trump supporters would say, fine, you do not like his style, unconventional, but look at the numbers,
you are an economist, look at the numbers. Unemployment is extremely low. African-American and Latino and Hispanic unemployment is also at record
lows.
You know, if you look at the overall economic GDP numbers, they are also pretty encouraging. The stock market is at record highs. So, they'll say
if you don't like his style, that is your right, but you cannot deny the achievements. What's your response to that?
REICH: Look, I hope that the economy stays good. I mean, we have had a recovery that began in 2009 and continued to pick up steam since then. It
is a continuation of that recovery destroyed 2009. Presidents do not have a huge amount of control over what happens in the economy.
I hope that the economy stays very, very good and the fundamentals are sound, but you got a gigantic budget deficit and a trade deficit that is
actually continues to be large, but a debt of the United States that is remarkably high and it will get higher because of this -- this tax cuts
mostly for corporations and the very wealthy.
Nothing is trickling down as far as we can see in terms of median wages and certainly wages of people in the bottom third. You know, I hope for the
best. I want this president to succeed but let's be honest me, I mean, when he attacks the press of the United States, First Amendment values, the
Constitution, undermines the constitutional values. I mean, let's be realistic about what is happening here.
GORANI: So, what is happening? Is this irreversible damage do you think to the institutions? Do you think the damage to the western alliance is
also -- the institutions will withstand constant attacks against the press, the free press, you know, I guess, agencies like the FBI, all sorts of
things like that, direct attacks against foreign leaders from allied countries?
Do you think -- how do we recover from that if you are saying this is so damaging to -- internally and also to alliances abroad.
[15:25:10] REICH: We are resilient, and those alliances are very strong, but they have been damaged and not to realize that they've been damaged I
think is to put our head in the sand. Now how long will it take after Trump for our constitutional system, our democratic system to regain the
strength and confidence and trust that people had in it.
How long will it take for those allies to regain the trust that they had in the United States? How long will it take for the United States to reassert
world leadership. Well, it may be a few years post-Trump and maybe an entire generation.
But we need to be clear about the damage that is happening, and it is happening every day. You know, I talk to people who say, well, we are
going to have a constitutional crisis if this keeps up.
Believe me, we are already in a constitutional crisis and a constitutional crisis keeps getting worse almost every week that goes by.
GORANI: So, just quickly -- I'd love your take on the Robert De Niro saying because the president, took him a few days but in the end, he did
tweet about it. "Robert De Niro very low IQ individual has received too many shots to the head by real boxers and movies. I watched him last night
and truly believed he may be punch-drunk.
I guess he doesn't realize the economy is the best it has ever been. Companies are pouring back into our country, et cetera." So, there you
have it. So, I wonder you are critic of Donald Trump.
For those who oppose it and did not want him reelected, Robert De Niro said FU, Donald Trump at the Tony. What's the way to oppose Donald Trump do you
think?
REICH: I don't think it is appropriate to call Donald Trump names even though he is certainly thin-skinned and vindictive. I think it is
appropriate to call him out on the behaviors that we see.
But the best way to oppose Donald Trump, if you are frustrated and you are sick with the United States, you vote against him and one way to vote
against him is to put in a Congress this fall in November, November 6th, that will restrain him. That will put -- be something of an opposition
force, a countervailing power.
That is the best way of beginning to constrain Donald Trump. I mean, if you have a megalomaniac, a megalomaniac that is -- who is unconstrained
will fill up the entire space that then continue to fill up the space until he is actually some boundaries are set.
And one of the problems we now have structurally in this country is there are no boundaries because the Republicans have both houses of Congress.
Some would say that Republicans also control the Supreme Court.L
And you have a Donald Trump that is basically without any constraints and that is extremely dangerous to the United States and also to the world.
GORANI: Robert Reich, thanks so much for joining us as always. Appreciate it.
From a standoff to possible sanctuary, hundreds of migrants are now heading for Spain and hopefully for them safety. Italy, you'll remember, refused
to take them in. It left them stranded in the Mediterranean.
A source close to the Spanish government tells CNN the country will grant refugee status to all of them, but it is still a long uncertain journey
ahead. Melissa Bell has those details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BELL (voice-over): Leaving one ship for another yet again. On Tuesday, hundreds of migrants disembarked from the Aquarius onto Italian Navy ship
that would help ferry them to Spain. Ahead, another four days at sea after Italy closed its ports on Sunday leaving the 629 migrants in limbo. A
crime according to the cofounder of the NGO that operates the Aquarius.
SOPHIE BEAU, CO-FOUNDER, SOS MEDITERRANEAN (through translator): On board the Aquarius today, we have 51 women, 45 men, and 10 children. We had to
(inaudible) Monday and Tuesday morning first by Damortis (ph) then by Italian boats, however, there are not enough provisions on board if the
trip increases because of bad weather conditions.
BELL (on camera): But even as the Aquarius headed to Spain, another ship carrying even more migrants, more than 900 on this one was allowed to talk
here in Catania this Wednesday morning. The difference this is an Italian Navy ship and Rome now says that these are the only ones that will be
allowed to dock in Italian ports.
Italy's interior minister and the leader of the right-wing League Party today explained Rome's new policy to parliament.
MATTEO SALVINI, ITALIAN INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): I spoke with a German colleague with whom we shared the fact that we need to
protect the exterior borders of Europe not just Italy. We can't be the only ones to do what we are commendably doing in the Mediterranean enduring
economic and social costs. If Europe is with us, speak now or forever keep quiet.
BELL: A new policy that has also created a rift in Europe with the French ambassador summoned by Rome of the French president described the policy as
cynical and irresponsible. European division that comes even as the E.U. looks for unity on this question, what to do with the tens of thousands of
migrants who continue to land on European shores barefoot and desperate after a journey that has just been made a little more dangerous still.
[15:30:00]
Melissa Bell, CNN, Catania.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: A lot more to come this evening, Theresa May is walking a fine line, isn't she always? When it comes to
convincing her own party of her Brexit plan. I'll speak to one of the rebels in her own party who says he wants to make sure Britain gets a good
deal.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Some news just coming into us, Theresa May's government has just won an important Brexit vote on the Brexit bill. Lawmakers just rejected
an amendment that would have required the government to negotiate a customs union with the E.U. Final tally, 325 to 298. This is something that
Theresa May that imminently opposed. No customs union.
Apology. There is pollen floating around in a significant way around us. I may be coughing here and there. My apologies in advance.
Perhaps one of Theresa May's biggest challenges in getting a deal on Brexit is walking the delicate line between those horrid line Brexiters, those who
want to leave, no matter what at any cost, and pro-European members of her own party. Remember, made majority and parliament is razor thin, so every
vote matters.
Jonathan Djanogly is a Conservative MP and also one of the so-called Tory rebels. I asked him about the key sticking points in getting a deal
through.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONATHAN DJANOGLY, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE MP: So we have 15 amendments come back from the lords. Most of them actually have it compromised. So out
hundreds and hundreds of amendments and hundreds and hundreds of debating time and now down to about two issues, I would say, the first is the
meaningful vote which we had yesterday. The government pull forth a compromise which a lot of conservatives, myself included and think went
quite far enough, so that now goes back to the laws and negotiations will continue.
The second is a C thing, which is customs union and on that one, the government has put forth a proposal which I think will be agreed tonight.
GORANI: Let's focus on the meaningful vote one, because initially, it was a question of deciding how much power MPs, members of parliament would have
if a Brexit deal didn't satisfy the House of Commons. Do you have any power? What is the government puts forward a deal that you disagree with
fundamentally?
[15:35:05] DJANOGLY: So the meaningful vote actually means two things. Firstly, the government do agree that it would mean a veto. So for the
first time in this history of this country. I mean, it's actually constitutional revolution in some ways. The first time the government have
agreed upon that will have a meaningful vote on the deal. So, parliament can veto it. But then the question came out, what would happen if
parliament did veto it?
GORANI: Yes.
DJANOGLY: Why are you going to go from there? So, the government against it, well, you know, it's unconstitutional to say that parliament can bind
the hands of executive. And again --
GORANI: But what happens if you see this deal in the autumn or whenever and you think this is just not good for my country. What happens then?
DJANOGLY: Well, I would vote against it.
GORANI: And then what?
DJANOGLY: Well, that's the question, so --
GORANI: Can you block it? Can you force the government to renegotiate?
DJANOGLY: The motion actually could be amended. Say firstly, what we actually get to vote on could be changed, firstly, and secondly if it was
lost, yes, you could bring back another motion, if the government went to renegotiate. Now, originally the government was saying, if it's lost
there's no deal. But obviously, the vast majority of those parliament don't want this be a no deal. There's a small number, maybe 10 percent of
parliament who wants no deal, because they want to fall off the pick.
GORANI: But this sounds like a procedural --
DJANOGLY: This is complicated procedure.
GORANI: For our viewers around the world, with the March 2019 date looming and maybe a transition period of two years, is this doable? We're still at
the stage where we're discussing procedure, not the big thorny issues like the customs union or the Northern Ireland, Ireland border.
DJANOGLY: Well, actually both of those were debated today. So we're doing both. But we are going --
GORANI: You know, yes, they're debated. But you haven't disagreed with Brussels, anything not even a start. So we're still talking procedure
here.
DJANOGLY: We are still -- well, we're talking procedure and policy. They're different lines there. And, yes --
GORANI: Well, without any clear answers on you?
DJANOGLY: All I can say is -- all I can say is that the procedures we're putting in place are unique. So there again, it's not every day that we
leave an institution, the amendment for 45 years, dictated a very loft proportion of our laws.
GORANI: Is this the right thing for your country to leave the E.U. do you think?
DJANOGLY: Well, I campaigned against anything. So --
GORANI: But now that it's happening.
DJANOGLY: Yes, I would say that 95 percent amends of parliament except that we will be leaving. Certainly in the labor and conservative parties.
So it's a question of how we leave, not where do we leave. No.
GORANI: Yes. Would you be prepared to vote against your government? I mean, the government of Theresa May, if it meant her downfall --
DJANOGLY: I think you're looking at it from the wrong direction. I look at it from the direction of making sure that the government have a good
deal to teach the E.U. that's been agreed, but we do agree and I'm not looking to vote the deal now.
GORANI: I'm not saying that. But at some point, you also -- if you vote against a plan, and it could lead to that government falling, and it's not
looking at the wrong direction. It's one of the effects of your actions. Are you ready to go that far?
DJANOGLY: Well, the motion that we have last night, because that's the laws now and it's the law that's standing part of this bill in effect.
It's exactly looking at that. Saying what should the government do if we did both done the deal. And basically from my point of view, we need to go
to plan b. And all this start negotiating again rather than fall off the cliff.
GORANI: Well, then you're talking -- I mean, will we be sitting here in five, 10 years, still talking about negotiating a better deal?
DJANOGLY: No. That's the problem. I mean, we are on this rail track towards leaving. And not much that keep, we're out.
GORANI: Is it reversible?
DJANOGLY: Parliament can do whatever it wants, ultimately. But in my view, it's not reversible. SO it's really key that we get it right in
terms of getting a good deal.
GORANI: Jonathan Djanogly, thanks so much for joining us. Really appreciate your time.
DJANOGLY: My pleasure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right. More now on that thorny issue we've been discussing. The question of what sort of customs arrangement the U.K. should have with
the E.U. after it leaves.
Isa Soares takes us through the options on the table through a different kind of medium. I'll let you have a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There are three roads the U.K. could go down for its future customs relationship with the E.U.
First, it could stick with the path it's on and stay in the customs union.
This would mean no hard borders with Ireland and no changes in tariffs the goods coming into the U.K. from outside the E.U. But it will mean the U.K.
is unable to strike with only trade deals with countries outside the European Union like the U.S., Middle East, or Australia.
[15:40:02] The second option, one that is favored by Theresa May is a customs partnership.
Under this, the U.K. will set its own tariffs, and when goods arrive from outside the E.U., companies would have to pay whichever is the highest
tariff, the U.K.'s or the E.U.'s. Then if goods ended up staying in U.K., companies can later apply for a refund of the difference. Now critics say
the system will put a huge burden on businesses and would keep Britain too close to the European Union.
So there is this third option favored by pro-Brexit members of the U.K. government, and it's known as maximum facilitation. Under this
arrangement, the U.K. would set its own tariffs, but it would mean some kind of border would be needed between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Proponents say this could be done in part by technology like number plate recognition cameras and it would mean the U.K. would be free to make its
own trade deals with other countries. While a Brexit fast approaches on customs arrangement, this is a long road ahead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right. Essentially a long road ahead for the U.K., for the E.U. And there you have it. Live now just to reiterate Theresa May's
government is -- has won, has just won an important vote on its Brexit bill. Lawmakers rejected an amendment that would have required it to
negotiate a customs union with the E.U. And of course customs union is something the government opposes and the hardline Brexiters opposed.
Now to some big news involving U.S. President Donald Trump's personal attorney and longtime fixer, Michael Cohen. We're learning that Cohen will
no longer be represented by his own legal team, as he faces an ongoing criminal investigation in New York. Cohen is on the on the hunt for new
attorneys, figuring speculation that he could be contemplating a change in legal strategy.
Let's bring in CNN justice correspondent, Evan Perez for details. So Michael Cohen now has no lawyer, is looking for new representation. What
did that tell us?
EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it tells us, Hala, that he might be trying to perhaps take a new tack with regard to the investigation
that he is a subject of a criminal investigation that's been run out of the federal prosecutor's office in Manhattan. And as you know, he's had this
big Washington law firm, very expensive Washington law firm that's been representing him in the congressional investigation, as well in the federal
investigation. And we're told that there's essentially a deadline this week where they're going through hundreds of thousands of pages of
documents, and so it's a good moment for him to sort of prepare for the next phase of what could be a very lengthy, very expensive legal fight.
Now, we're told that by source that one of the things he's doing is bringing on the law firm that has more experience in Manhattan, dealing
with the federal prosecutors there in New York.
But it is, as you mentioned, leading to speculation as to whether or not he's contemplating perhaps trying to find an arrangement, a deal with
prosecutors. Now, at this point, we don't even know whether prosecutors are interested in striking a deal with Michael Cohen, may well be certainly
in court, in court papers, they seem to suggest that they have a lot evidence against him. They say that there are financial crimes, there's a
lot of personal business crimes that they say that they've been investigating. And so we don't even know whether they want to do a deal
with Michael Cohen.
And here's the other possibility, which is that Michael Cohen may simply be trying to get the attention to the president. We know that the
relationship has been a little bit of a complicated one, especially in recent months. And so the president we know has said that if Michael Cohen
is somebody who he doesn't believe is going to flip on him. But Michael Cohen might simply be trying to send out a signal to the president saying,
look, there's a lot of trouble here and I need your help.
GORANI: Right. Very briefly, if he's charged with state crimes, he cannot be pardoned by a president, correct?
PEREZ: Not for state crimes, but he could be pardoned on federal charges. That is correct. And so we know that obviously some of these crimes, these
alleged crimes that are under investigation, that he has not been charged with anything yet, but certainly some of these alleged crimes do have state
-- New York State jurisdiction, and so he could be facing that as well.
GORANI: Evan Perez, thanks so much, appreciate it.
Still to come tonight, what really happened at the Singapore summit, what the world is hearing, and what North Koreans are hearing, just a little bit
different. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:45:53] GORANI: North Korean media outlets are full of glowing assessments of the trump-Kim summit. But their accounts don't appear to be
totally accurate. Our will Ripley takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The image being instantly around the world, except for the one place that matters most. In North Korea, the
news came a little late, but for supporters of Kim Jong-un's government, it was good news for those who wait.
The icons of state media, North Korea's big name television presenters, including the biggest of all, Ri Chun-hee were buoyant on Wednesday.
RI CHUN-HEE, NORTH KOREAN BROADCASTER (through translator): The U.S. president has expressed his intention to halt the U.S.-South Korea joint
military exercises.
RIPLEY: They got the chance to deliver the news that one day earlier, their leader, Kim Jong-un had achieved one of the country's national role,
a meeting with the president of the United States.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much.
RIPLEY: Whether the achievement will cost the leadership something else that has strived for its nuclear arsenal remains to be seen. But for now,
North Koreans are reacting to news of a great victory in Singapore.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We will go forward (INAUDIBLE)
RIPLEY: State media's captive audience is hearing a lot about how the U.S. has agreed to stop the military war games that puts on with the South. But
their journalists may not be painting the complete picture. Korean Central television reported, the U.S. will drop sanctions, but here is Trump with a
big caveat.
TRUMP: The sanctions will come off when we are sure that the nukes are no longer a factor.
RIPLEY: Nor are they likely to see this video. A message that Trump said he played for Kim Jong-un, to show him what life could be like for North
Koreans in the future.
It's not strange to hear the North Korean propaganda machine reporting big victories, patriotic images that glorify their country or pretty much all
that's on television and in the papers. But this time, they're not the only ones reporting a win for North Korea. Not to be outdone in Singapore,
the North Koreans state broadcaster was well placed to capture the moment that other broadcasters could not. All part of a slick operation just like
the deep coverage of Kim's meetings with South Korean president, Moon Jae- in.
It's very rare to see Donald Trump pictured like this in North Korean state media with such tight restrictions on what has reported, North Koreans
probably never heard him insult their leader with names like Little Rocket Man, but now through state media, they're seeing Kim Jong-un treated by the
world as a statesman.
Will Ripley, CNN, Singapore.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: More to come including there's already drama at the World Cup and the tournament hasn't even begun. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:50:31] GORANI: Well, it's the eve of the 2018 World Cup. Even people who don't watch football or club football, they get excited about the World
Cup. Obviously because countries are competing. It's been a dramatic few hours and earlier today, in fact Spain had a lot of drama. They fire their
manager. They fire their manager just two days until they're due to kick off against the World Cup -- against their campaign, against Portugal.
All right. Let's get back over to Russia where the country is counting down the minutes. Amanda Davies is in the capital. So let's talk about
all of this drama affecting Spain's team.
DAVIES: Yes, Hala, we had -- something of a surprise here yesterday, Tuesday, when it was announced that the current Spanish coach, Julen
Lopetegui words replace Zinedine Zidane as the Real Madrid's manager at the end of this tournament. That sends kind of ripples of shock throughout
Russia with all the football media and football community here. And then today, there was quite a shock when a press conference was called at the
Spanish camp and they said that the man who will become the new Real Madrid manager will no longer be the Spanish coach with immediate effect.
I was sitting actually at (INAUDIBLE) where the first game kicks off tomorrow evening, and there were proper (INAUDIBLE) amongst the journalists
who were sitting with me, then a few chuckles are very quickly start to getting text messages from some of my international friends who really
think for one of the pre-tournament favorite Spain, this is certainly not ideal preparation. We have football teams at this point in this tournament
that worried about their big stars getting injured or sometimes they've had pay disputes within the national teams. But you do not expect to a coach
who has led your team to 20 games unbeaten since he 3took over in 2016. To as I said, that point of labeled as one of the World Cup favorites. You do
not expect that team to then sack their manager with just two days to go until their first game.
But ultimately what7 happened was that the heads of the Spanish football federation said he felt -- he had been forced in a position by that
announcement by one of Spain's top clubs, of course, Real Madrid yesterday, that he could not continue in his job. So here we are Spain preparing for
their opening game without their top man in charge.
GORANI: All right. We'll see who prevails. I'm a France supporter, I have bene since I was a kid, so we'll see how they do. I think they have a
good team this time. Thank you, Amanda Davies. Appreciate it. We'll speak to you soon.
A New York City Uber driver has been suspended after he kicked two women out of his car for kissing. The city and Uber are investigating the
incident. Now, the women say that after they shared a kiss in the backseat, the driver pulled over to the curb and tell them to get out. One
of the women recorded the incident on video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I begged the first time to don't do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, is it illegal for an Uber?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is illegal. You don't do that.
[15:55:00] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kissing isn't illegal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it is illegal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, it's not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't do that here in the car.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are you (BLEEP) anyone can kiss in an Uber. You are sick.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're not allowed to do this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know. Now we're telling you. Sir, why are we not allowed to kiss in an Uber?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're not allowed. You're not allowed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are not allowed?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: OK. So this has caused online, some outrage and it's people has been sharing a lot on Twitter and other social media platforms. The driver
told the New York newspaper there was his car and he didn't feel comfortable with the women kissing there. Uber has rules against riders
touching or flirting with each other. But the company says it doesn't tolerate any form of discrimination, so in this particular case, it severed
ties with the driver.
Now, there's a lot of bad news going on around the world and we cover so much drama and tragedy, so I'd like to end this hour with just a bit of
good news. And it involves a raccoon. They're known to be great climbers, but if there's a Guinness Book of world records for raccoons, this one,
this little guy from the Midwestern United States has to be on page one. Look at him. He was spotted climbing walls in downtown St. Paul Minnesota.
He was scared. He took a few rests every once in while on a ledge. But when maintenance workers moved in, it scurried away and started scaling one
of the tallest buildings in town. Fans around the world followed the climb on Facebook and Twitter. I'm being told it's a she. She is a great
climber. The escapade finally ended when they trapped her alive and well on the roof 25 floors above the ground. One tweet declared, we needed this
win. Yes, we did.
I'm Hala Gorani. Thanks for watching. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:00:04] RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: You got ahead that now on this (INAUDIBLE) closing bell ringing on Wall Street. The head of Cubic
will be on the show. Three solid --
END
END
