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Hala Gorani Tonight
Draft Brexit Deal Reached; Trump Goes on Twitter Tirade Against Macron; At Least 44 Dead, Dozens Missing as Multiple Fires Rage in California. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired November 13, 2018 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00] HALA GORANI, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. Live from CNN London, I'm Hala Gorani. Tonight, after hundreds and hundreds of days of
negotiation, a Brexit breakthrough. A draft deal is on the table. But will Theresa May be able to get it past her own cabinet?
And another Twitter tirade. Donald Trump is lashing out, this time at the French President, Emmanuel Macron. Just wait until you see what he wrote.
It involves Germany.
And that is as CNN sues the White House, after our Jim Acosta had his press pass revoked, we'll have that story in detail ahead, as well. We begin
tonight with that huge development in Brexit. We've been covering this since June 1206. It's been nearly 900 days since Britain voted to leave
the European Union, and now finally, finally, a draft deal has been reached. Now, the big question is, will it be accepted? Here's what we
have learned in the last few hours. Theresa May's cabinet will meet tomorrow afternoon to decide on the next steps. Ministers have been
invited to read the document ahead of that meeting. They're being called in, one by one, to be shown.
There are reports that the prime minister will meet some of those cabinet members tonight. The pound, by the way, briefly surged on the news, rising
1.4 percent. It stabilized since. Let's get view from both sides of these negotiations. Bianca Nobilo joins me. Erin McLaughlin is in Brussels. So
Erin, what do we know about this draft text? What is in it?
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, LONDON BUREAU: Well, at this point, Hala, this draft text is being closely guarded by Michelle
Barnier, the chief Brexit negotiator for the EU and Downing Street. A diplomat telling me that the member states at this point have yet to
receive a copy of this draft agreement, although the diplomat telling me that they are aware of the contours of this draft deal, that it involves
some sort of customs arrangement as a temporary backstop for the whole of the U.K., as well as regulatory alignment for North Ireland to resolve that
North Ireland backstop question, which really has been this sticking point for months in these negotiations.
The ambassadors for the EU are expected to discuss the state of play here in Brussels tomorrow, but another EU diplomat really casting some
skepticism about whether or not Theresa May will be able to push this draft agreement through her cabinet at that critical meeting tomorrow, noting
that we've been here before in October the sides very nearly reached a technical agreement. But that was killed on the political level. But at
this point, the sense I'm getting here is they're very much in a wait-and- see mode.
GORANI: Yes. Bianca, let's talk a little bit about what Theresa May needs to achieve. Otherwise, her job may be at risk. She needs to get through
this her own cabinet and then through parliament.
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And cabinet is just a test. They see themselves as a litmus test to whether or not this deal can make it through
parliament. And quite rightly so. Because cabinet is made up of arch Remainers and ardent Brexiteers who were really unhappy with Chequers to
begin, who thought, best stay and try negotiate from within and then resign like Boris Johnson or David Davis.
It's interesting what Erin just said about how the EU is closely guarding the elements of the deal, where as a wonderful display of the negotiations
so far, in the U.K. we've had Boris Johnson and the Democratic Unionist Party commenting on Twitter, leaks of the deal in the U.K..
GORANI: This is a mystery. We don't know what's in this.
NOBILO: It is a mystery. But it's chaotic.
GORANI: But the story today is finally it looks like the U.K. and the EU have agreed on something. And this is as far as we've gotten, right?
NOBILO: Yes.
GORANI: Now it's a question of, do we get it through cabinet, does Theresa May get it through parliament? And to you, Erin, if the prime minister of
Britain, Theresa May, is not able to get it through her own cabinet, and therefore this dies a political death, what happens?
(14:05:00) MCLAUGHLIN: Well, at that point, it very much remains to be seen. No one, I can tell you, Hala, has definitive answer to that
question. If she's not able to get the political space to push this through cabinet, which is very much in doubt, the divisions between
Brexiteers within her cabinet and the remainers are deep. As I said, diplomats very skeptical as to whether or not she's going to be able to
pull that off. And I think it's telling that today at European commission, for the first time, they published over 70 papers. The EU's preparations
for that no deal possibility, they're looking at possibility that this could then be barreling towards that no deal. Keep in mind, the reason why
there's so much pressure around this process this week is Theresa May really wants to get this done, by this week, in order to have a summit, a
Brexit summit at the EU level by the end of November, which would pave the way for a parliamentary vote on the deal, for the end of December. So, if
she can't get this deal done now, the question is when. And no one has the answer to that at this point.
GORANI: And she probably wants to enjoy her Christmas dinner for a change.
NOBILO: The MPs are probably banking on that.
GORANI: Who doesn't? And what's the timeline now? What's the next hurdle here?
NOBILO: So, if cabinet can get behind this deal, then that would greenlight a deal -- sorry, a summit between the EU and U.K. in late
November. That is why this deadline of tomorrow had so much emphasis upon it, because it was last chance for them to have an emergency summit this
month. If they do so, and if this deal gets approval from both sides, then it can start to move through the house of commons, which is likely to be
the most precarious stage for this deal. Because nobody can guess whether or not the parliamentary arithmetic is such that this deal will pass.
Because she faces opposition not just from the party opposite the labor party where you'd expect it, but from within her own party. And it is
fierce.
GORANI: Tomorrow, 2:00 p.m., local time is the cabinet meeting. So that will be 3:00 p.m. central European time for all of you keeping score at
home. Thanks very much, Bianca and Erin. Let's turn now to science of a deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and French Presidents. Donald
Trump is declaring on Twitter, "make France great again." He's airing some major grievances with Manuel Macron in a series of tweets, after having his
nationalist views called out in Paris, as he was sitting there. The list is long and takes him at everything, from wine to approval ratings. He
even mocked the country's performance in the world wars, writing, quote, "Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against
the U.S., China, and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars I and II. How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in
Paris before the United States came along. Pay for NATO or not?"
By the way, as an aside, that is a mischaracterization of what Emmanuel Macron said. He did not suggest building a European army to protect
against the United States. This is something that Donald Trump added then into his tweet. Not factually correct. We're covering this story from
every angle. Our Melissa Bell has the latest from Paris. Sarah Westwood joins me from the White House. So obvious first question to you. Melissa,
what is the reaction in France to these tweets? I would imagine "make France great again" coming from the President of the United States might
not have gone down so well across the country?
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Not terribly well. And you have to remember, Hala, this is, of course, the third anniversary of those attacks
in November of 2015, that France marks every year. So, it is a fairly somber mood. No official reaction to Hala. This is really in keeping in
what Emmanuel Macron always does. He says, I will not do diplomacy by Twitter. But we are expecting to hear from him tomorrow evening. We shall
see if he chooses to address it then. It was an extraordinary series of tweets. All of them sent out in quick secession and none of them terribly
friendly. In fact, most of them quite personal.
GORANI: Right, certainly the reference to World War II and how the French were learning to speak German before the U.S. came and saved them. Sarah
Westwood at the White House, what are your sources telling you about what prompted this tweet storm? Is there dismay? Is there resignation? What's
the overall kind of response you're getting from the White House?
(14:10:00) SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hala, the President has clearly been fixated on the largely negative response to that
brief trip to Paris he took over the weekend. He tweeted five times this morning about it, clearly something that's on his mind. And after being
exposed to three days of negative coverage of his decision to skip that planned visit to the American burial site in France, he tweeted out a new
defense of why he didn't go, again blaming the weather for the fact that his helicopter couldn't make the trip to the site, as the White House had
previously said.
But this time also blaming the Secret Service for denying his, what he claimed was a follow-up request to travel to that site via motorcade. Now,
the President has not really come out and defended the trip beyond that. But obviously, that was read as a potential slight from the President his
decision not to go to the cemetery and his decision not to travel for the next day's ceremonies. This was a trip that began with what the French had
described as a misunderstanding over military spending in Europe, and it ended with French President Emmanuel Macron, once a close friend of the
President, decrying his -- describing himself as a nationalist. So obviously, this trip really exposed the tensions that do exist between the
French and the U.S. right now.
GORANI: And it's not always been this way. They've been friendly in the past, although this time, there was yet another Macron/Trump sort of like
ironman handshake. We see one of those pretty much every time they meet. But I wonder, will this have an impact in terms of the diplomatic relation?
Graver consequences in the relations between the two countries?
WESTWOOD: It's certainly possible. The Trump administration has been dealing with growing tensions with the European Union since the President
took office, since he called for potentially abolishing NATO. This is something that has really affected the transatlantic alliance. And there's
no word on whether the President focusing on what he described as unfair trade practices with France, specifically with wine like you mentioned, but
potentially more broadly, whether that will manifest itself in actual trade actions. The President demanding these concessions. Larry Kudlow, a top
economic adviser to the President was asked about that this morning, but he didn't have a good answer.
GORANI: Sarah, thanks very much, live from the White House. Well, I want to speak with the editor in chief of "Paris Match" in Paris.
First of all, how are French journalists reacting to these tweets, the make France great again one obviously caught many peoples' eyes and that
reference to World War II, and how France without the U.S. would basically be speaking German today, was the implication. How have French journalists
reacted to this?
OLIVIER ROYANT, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "PARIS MATCH": Actually, what was said before is that our feelings today and tonight is about the commemoration of
the November the 13th, the terrorist attack on Paris so I think our mind is somewhere else. But what we're finding is that once again, there is this
tweet diplomacy of Donald Trump. And once again, what we're sigh is that the reflect of reality tv for the Trump presidency. When you talk to
people around Macron, there is a difference. Macron seems to adjust to this real tv presidency. And he goes beyond him. What we have seen --
when we saw Trump and Macron Saturday, things seem to go -- to be all right. What Macron is saying, I mean, what has been doing. In one of
these tweets, Trump say, many things were accomplished in Paris. It was behind this tweet, these tweet diplomacies, there was something else, that
Macron managed to get around table at the dinner -- at the museum, Trump sitting next to each other. As the Elysee palace at the lunch after the
commemoration, there were just four people talking together. Macron was -- Trump was sitting on the left side of Macron, facing Putin and the
Secretary General of the UN, Gutierrez, was facing Macron. And they were able to talk for an hour about -- the issue on the table --
(14:15:00) GORANI: So, from you're saying, these tweets are one dimension of the story, but when it comes to them meeting in person, according to,
for instance, this dinner, that there is actually dialogue going on, potentially. That this is, what, for show? Is Emmanuel Macron, does he
show this as the reality star's outburst that he's ignoring and when it comes down to business, let's have a serious discussion over dinner?
That's another -- kind of another dimension of his relationship? He separates the two? Is he able to do that?
ROYANT: Yes. We have following Trump and Macron relationship for more than a year now. You'll remember bastille day last year, then we were in
the oval office with them and in mt. Vernon. Macron seems to adjust. He doesn't pay too much attention to the tweets. When he's talking to Trump
on a regular basis, what we hear is that the relation is not easy, but they talk. And then, the two Presidents and the two first ladies sit around the
table, it's a friendship. I think Macron was saying before that Trump came to Paris, he was -- Trump was tired because of the midterm campaign, but he
came to Paris out of friendship, to Macron, to personal friendship. There is -- Macron is trying to adjust to this diplomacy, this personal
chemistry, diplomacy of Donald Trump. I think it's not easy, but the tweets are something that Trump is doing for his base. Macron is -- he has
to stimulate his base on a daily basis and that's what reality television is about.
GORANI: Olivier Royant, thank you so much.
ROYANT: Hala?
GORANI: Go ahead.
ROYANT: I think the issue that was on the table this weekend was Yemen. I mean, the French -- the French diplomats he knows that the Russians are the
one that can make this move to the Iranian -- to the Iranian government and they know that Trump is the one that can pressure Saudi Arabia to move --
to move and to reduce the pressure on Yemen. I think that was discussed in Paris this weekend, this crisis, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
GORANI: Well, we know the Iranians, according to a Reuters report, at least, are increasing their financing for Houthi groups inside of Yemen.
So hopefully that doesn't mean that this conflict will extend itself indefinitely. And Olivier, I just wanted to show our viewers the cover of
your magazine that's coming out on Thursday and you've chosen the photo of Donald Trump smile, a broad smile at Vladimir Putin, while other world
leaders look at him with not as friendly expressions. Olivier Royant thank you so much for joining us live from Paris. Still to come tonight, much
more on our top story. A Brexit breakthrough. I'll be speaking with someone who's very clear on what they want out of all of this -- a second
referendum. Will they get it? Is it still possible?
And weather is playing a huge role in the battle to contain those terrible wildfires in California. We'll tell you where why firefighters think
today's forecast could mean the flames will spread again, unfortunately. We'll be right back.
(14:20:00) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Let's get you back to our top story. That Brexit breakthrough. So, there was a draft agreement that is on the table, that the U.K. and the
EU seem to be in agreement on, except that the prime minister, Theresa May, needs to get it through her cabinet, and then she needs to pass it through
parliament. So, this is not the end of the road, far from it. Some Brexiteers, though, are not happy. The former British foreign secretary,
Boris Johnson, had this to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, FORMER FOREIGN SECRETARY, UK: We're going to stay in the customs union on this deal. We're going to stay effectively, in large
parts of the single market. And that means it's vassal states stuff. For the first time in a thousand years, this place, this parliament will not
have a say over the laws that govern this country. It is a quite incredible state of affairs. It will mean that we are having to accept
rules and regulations from Brussels over which we have no say ourselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: That was Boris Johnson. While lawmakers are working out what to do next, there are some here in the U.K. who are very clear on what they
want and what they want to see next. And that is a second referendum on Brexit. One group pushing for just that, as best for Britain. They're
holding a rally around the corner from parliament right now. Their CEO, Eloise Todd, joins me now. So Eloise, what was your reaction when you
heard that there was a draft agreement, a draft text that was agreed upon between the prime minister and the EU? Because if this goes through
parliament, then essentially, that's it. There will be no second referendum and the U.K. will Brexit.
ELOISE TODD, CEO, BEST FOR BRITAIN: Our reaction is, we need to see what's in that deal. And MPs need to make a judgment on whether that deal is
better than the deal we currently have with the EU. And what prime minister has been trying to do is to avoid the reality that actually,
either we're a rule taker, as Boris Johnson actually said, and we don't have a say over laws we currently have a say over, and possibly, we're also
economically much worse off, which the government's own figures show that any kind of Brexit leaves us worse off. So, what's absolutely crucial is
the MPs from every single party look at that deal, and they don't get scared into thinking that no deal is an option, because actually, that's
just scare-mongering by the government. They need to compare it with the deal they currently have and do what's best for the country.
GORANI: But how do you get a second referendum here? Really, anybody in charge who could make this a reality before march of next year, what's the
political will behind it? How do you think, logistically, practically, this can happen?
TODD: Well, actually, we put a poll out at the weekend that shows that actually two to one people in this country wants a final say on Brexit. 65
percent of the British population now want to have a say on that deal. It's an overwhelming majority and parliamentarians really need to listen to
those people and understand that they can't just get away with making a deal, fudging it through the parliament. The country won't forgive them
for that. So, it's actually democratic to put that country back to the country. And --
GORANI: Sorry, Eloise, a lot of people would agree with you. They'd say, yes, it makes sense to have a second vote on the terms of the -- all of
that makes sense. It is democratic. Those who might even be in agreement you will still say, the clock is ticking. How do you make that happen in
the real world before march of 2019, when Brexit is due to actually happen?
TODD: It's absolutely clear that all of the EU leaders have said that if we had some kind of democratic process, if there was an election or another
say on Brexit, we would absolutely be able to extend article 50 to do that. That is not in question. Where there is political will, there is
absolutely a way. And right now, what we need to understand is that for a year and a half, ever since the election of 2017, a majority of people in
this country want to stay in the EU. It's now at 54-46. That's a six- point shift overall. It would be non-democratic, anti-democratic not to go to the people again. Because the parliament and government would be at
risk of delivering a Brexit that actually no one wants anymore.
(14:25:00) GORANI: Well, it's a question of political will, as you said. And whether it's there, is the question. You've invited -- can you tell us
who's attending this evening? I presume you've invited members of parliament and politicians? Who will actually physically be there this
evening in support of your cause?
TODD: We're really proud of cross-party support this evening. This is a rally put together in the last few days and thousands of people have turned
up. We've got thousands of people outside the door, around the block, waiting to get in. And we've got party politicians, we've got David Lammy
from the Labour Party, Caroline Lucas from the Green Party. We're hoping to have joe Johnson as well from the conservative party. It's a stellar
lineup of people, responsible politicians who are saying, look, we need to do what's best for the country. Whatever that's right they're from, they
actually think that this should go back to the people and give the people a final say on Brexit.
GORANI: Eloise Todd, the CEO of Best for Britain, thank you so much for joining us. Word on what's happening in southern California, because
everyone is watching, not just the fire, but the wind. The forecast is for nearly -- imagine this, with what you're seeing on your screen -- nearly
hurricane-force winds around Los Angeles today. And that is going to make fighting the fires in the area a lot more difficult. High winds help fires
grow and can blow embers into new areas, setting off brand-new fires. This video from late last week shows what we're talking about. Watch how
quickly the wind pushing flames on to the car. It only takes seconds for the vehicle to be completely engulfed in an inferno. For a better
understanding of the winds and how they're moving the flames, we spoke just a few moments ago to bill we're, who's on the front line of the firefight.
Take a look.
BILL WEIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is very windy and very rocky and a high, perfect sort of front-row seat to what is a war zone, really. We showed up
here about an hour ago. And to give you some perspective, the fire line was maybe a half a mile back, in that canyon. And it has advanced. And we
have been watching this steady flight line of helicopters coming in, dropping fire retardant. If you've ever flown in a bumpy airline ride
across the country, you know how turbulence feels. Imagine being in one of these machines, bouncing in these 40, 50-mile-an-hour gusts as they drop in
these hot spots. On the other side of that ridge is hidden hills. We're above Westlake Village. Sherwood Country Club. They are getting water out
of the lakes nearby. Thousand oaks, the scene of the shooting, the tragic shooting at the border line, just in the dance here. But it's been
fascinating to watch the coordination of these helicopters as they come in. There was one chopper who's sort of the air traffic controller, who flies
in a counterclockwise direction, and then directs these big Sikorskys with the big twin rotors that can suck up that retardant and drop it in place.
They're using Blackhawk helicopters now. I was told by some firefighters from orange county, because they're bigger and stronger. They can drop a
lot of water, retardant. And the county has just ordered, I think, a dozen more.
GORANI: Bill Weir there. And you can see how strong the winds are. Scott McClain is in Malibu. So Scott, what's the situation where you are? It's
not as windy. I can tell just from the leaves on the trees behind you. But what's the situation in terms of the progression of the fire?
SCOTT MCCAIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Hala. Certainly not as windy here. But nothing like bill is facing. Here in Malibu, it's calm.
People obviously hoping that it stays that way. The damage seems to have been done here and it's pretty extensive. You look over here and that car
is burned down. That house has been completely destroyed. The same with the one next door. And I want to take you on to this property here.
Because we just interviewed the owner of it not long ago, whose parents actually owned it, excuse me. But this was his childhood home. And he's
been in his family for 50 plus years. You know, every time you think about Malibu, you think of the rich and famous, they were not that. But take a
look at the yard, though. It's really just -- this is the garden area here. And the home started where you see that hot water heater and went
all way through.
And as I was digging through this area with him, he was looking for certain things. He was looking for anything that was salvageable. The family had
antiques and things like that. He found an antique rifle that was still there. He actually found an antique pure silver cutlery set, as well.
These were folks who were working class. They had bought the property in 1965, for just $39,000 American. Right now, obviously, it's worth a heck
of a lot more. And the folk who is lived here, they were 94 and 97 years old. And believe it or not, they still plan to rebuild, despite that this
looks like. The reason is, they say, look, we have spent the last 50-plus years putting everything into this home. They have done remodeling, they
have done renovations, they've expanded the property and they want to pass it on to their family, because it's something -- it's a place where the
family had always gathered for Christmases and occasions and things like that, so they want to make sure that keeps on. So Hala, as I said, it's
not just the rich and famous here. There are some ordinary people in Malibu that have lost everything. But it's just amazing to hear that they
are in such good spirits, despite the obvious circumstances here. Obviously, the concern, as you mentioned, is the wind over the next couple
of days. Some of those hot spots, some of those smoldering areas might reignite and cause more problems. The red flag warning, which means that
conditions are really ideal for this fire to flare up will be in place for tomorrow. So the job of firefighters, more than 3,500 of them, it won't be
over for some time. Hala?
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Scott McClean in Malibu, thanks very much. A lot more to come this evening, including this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why?! Why?! Why?!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, there have been rockets fired into southern Israel and there has been military activity in Gaza by the Israeli army, but now it, appears
there is a truce between Hamas and Israel. Will it last? We're live on both sides of the border.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: CNN sues the White House for pulling the credentials of our chief White House correspondent. More on that, coming up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: CNN is suing President Donald Trump and several of his aides, seeking the immediate restoration of CNN chief White House correspondent,
Jim Acosta's press pass. As you may recall, Acosta's White House credentials were revoked last week, after he questioned the president
during a post-election news conference. CNN says the White House has violated the First Amendment freedom of the press, as well as Acosta's
Fifth Amendment right to due process.
Joining me now with more on this is CNN chief media correspondent, Brian Stelter. So tell us more about this lawsuit. What happens next?
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: CNN and Acosta are claiming that both his First Amendment and his Fifth Amendment rights have been
violated. And that's the core of this lawsuit, Hala. It says that at that press conference on Wednesday, Acosta, of course, did nothing wrong. And
when his press pass was revoked later in the day, it was a way of punishing him for fair coverage, instead of, as the White House claims, response to
inappropriate behavior.
Look, here's a part of the statement from White House press secretary, Sarah sanders, who is one of the six defendants named in the suit. She
says, we've been made aware of this lawsuit from CNN. They say it's just more grandstanding from the network and we will vigorously defend against
this lawsuit."
Sanders' statement went on to claim that Acosta acted inappropriately at the press conference by trying to ask too many questions and not giving up
the microphone to other reporters. But, of course, follow-up questions are common at press briefings. Acosta is far from the only person to ask
follow-up questions.
And the real thrust of the lawsuit, the heart of the lawsuit has nothing to do with press conferences. It's about the processes, the rules of the road
for granting and revoking press passes.
[14:35:07] This has been litigated in the past, back in the 1970s, and it was very clear, the secret service has to have very specific reasons for
taking away a press pass and in practice, the only real reason is if the reporter is deemed a threat to the president. Obviously, no one is
claiming that Acosta is a threat to the president.
GORANI: Right, and that has never happened before, it's unprecedented, right?
STELTER: Yes. There's never been a case like this before, where a reporter like Acosta has been denied entry to the White House. And
frankly, there's never been a lawsuit quite like this before. To see a major news organization like CNN suing the president and several of his top
aides. This lawsuit also names the secret service director and the officer who took away the press pass.
So here's what CNN's outside lawyers are saying. Ted Boutrous is one of these lawyers. He says CNN did not want to sue, it sought a private
resolution, but that failed. So CNN had no choice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TED BOUTROUS, COUNSEL FOR CNN IN LAWSUIT: CNN tried to work this out, requested that the pass be restored. Mr. Acosta was denied a day pass in
France, even though the French government would have allowed him to go cover President Trump's appearance at a cemetery. But the White House has
basically just been ignoring these requests, so we really had no choice but to sue.
We didn't want to have to go to court. We wanted to just report the news. Mr. Acosta wants to report the news, CNN wants to report the news. So
that's what the courts are for. The First Amendment and the Fifth Amendment arguments, the due process arguments are very strong. We're
asking for emergency relief, because every day that this pass has been revoked is a First Amendment violation and it's irreparable harm in the
words of the law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STELTER: The other outside lawyer in this case, Theodore Olson is a well- known Republican lawyer in Washington. He says, quote, "The White House cannot get away with this."
GORANI: Yes. So will there be a -- how does this -- will there be a trial, if there's no agreement made before it gets to that stage? How will
it manifest itself?
STELTER: There could be. Yes. I mean, the White House is saying they're going to vigorously defend this. We're about find out what that actually
means.
Right now, CNN is asking for a hearing as soon as possible. That means either in the coming hours today, or more likely, some time on Wednesday in
Washington. That hearing would be for a temporary restraining order, which would in essence get Acosta's press pass back in his hands right away.
But then the longer term issues are really important here. CNN is seeking what's called permanent relief. A permanent answer from a judge that
ensures this won't happen again, to some other reporter from CNN or another news outlet.
Because the bottom line here, Hala, is today it's Acosta, but it could have been another reporter who was targeted by the White House. Maybe in the
future, other reporters will have their press passes revoked. So CNN is hoping that through this legal mechanism, that will be avoided in the
future.
GORANI: Right. Yes, because the president did imply that if he's unhappy with reporters a few days ago, perhaps he'll do the same to them.
Brian Stelter, thanks so much for joining us.
STELTER: Thank you.
GORANI: In the Middle East, there is a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza after the most severe fighting between the two sides
since 2014. Hamas says it will abide by a ceasefire as long as Israel adheres to it. Israel hasn't commented yet, although that's in line with
previous ceasefires.
At least eight people were killed in this latest escalation of violence on the Palestinian side, including one Israeli officer. Militants in Gaza
fired hundreds of rockets into Israel the past two days and Israel air strikes hit more than a hundred targets inside Gaza, where entire buildings
have been taken down.
We're covering both sides. Oren Liebermann is in Ashkelon, Israel. Arwa Damon is in Gaza City. So, Arwa, tell us about the situation now in Gaza.
Is the truce holding?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is. And it's quite quiet. There have been a fair number of people that were out in the
streets celebrating after evening prayers, celebrating what Hamas and Islamic Jihad are saying was a victory. But of course, as we all know,
these victories hardly look like a victory in and of themselves. And this is a cycle that Gaza has been through numerous times in the past.
And when you talk to people here, they'll just tell you about how exhausted they are by everything. But they don't really feel as if they have many
options at this stage. Many of them, prior to the ceasefire coming into agreement were absolutely terrified as we were coming in this afternoon.
We were talking to some people who were saying, look, we don't know what's going to happen at night. We don't know what we're going to do. And we're
in this situation we've been in the past when those bombs start coming. We don't necessarily know how to keep our children safe, what to do, when it's
going to end, how it's going end to.
So there is a fair amount of relief at this stage, but that's also coupled with the reality that in effect, this is just a pause on the hostilities.
Because we've seen this before. Gaza has been here before.
[14:40:01] GORANI: Yes. And, Oren, what about for on the Israeli side, are you -- according to the sources, you're speaking to getting indications
that Israel is also going to keep to this -- abide, sort of -- what's the word I'm looking for? Buy into this truce?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, truce may be too strong of a word there. Ceasefire, a cessation of hostilities, especially as it
relates to what we've seen over the past months in terms of these sharp escalations.
You're absolutely right, Hala. The Israel has not responded to it. Israel has not officially commented on it. Not from the prime minister's office,
and not really from anyone else accepting that there is a ceasefire in place. Israel, has in the past, rejected the idea that there is a
ceasefire, instead saying only quiet will be met with quiet.
There were some Israeli reports that there was a unanimous decision in the security cabinet to go with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and accept
this ceasefire. That was vigorously denied by both the education minister, a right-wing politician, as well as the right-wing defense minister who
said, we voted against whatever it was that was in the security cabinet meeting, which is in and of itself, a secret meeting.
That being said, as Arwa pointed out, it is a quiet night, a very different story from what we saw here last night. And the ceasefire, the cessation
of hostilities, whatever either side wants to call it seems to be holding.
As for the streets here, a very different story from Gaza. We've seen some protests about the ceasefire. There are people incidentally who have
protested against the government's decision to engage in a ceasefire or to essentially not carry out a stronger blow against Hamas. That being said,
tonight, as we look around, Hala, it is quiet here.
One more thing I'll point out quickly, we're starting to get messages that those who live in the Gaza periphery have gotten instructions that they can
resume their daily lives, going to work, going to school, not being near bomb shelters. That's the strongest indication here that this round is
coming to an end or has come to an end.
GORANI: All right. Oren Liebermann is in Ashkelon and Arwa Damon in Gaza city, Gaza, thanks very much.
There are -- there is rather I should say some chilling news and chilling claims about the killing of said journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. The New York
Times is reporting that in an audio recording of the killing, a member of a Saudi hit team can be heard saying the words, "Tell your boss that the deed
is done," over the phone. Who is the boss is the big question? This will go all the way to the top.
The Times says U.S. officials believe that is a reference to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Saudi Arabia has long denied any knowledge of
the operation coming from above. Jomana Karadsheh is live for us in Istanbul with more.
Jomana, we were exchanging messages earlier. And I was asking you, because it's important if this was said in Arabic to know exactly what words were
used, how it was translated into English, but we don't have any of those details. We have not seen a transcript or anything like that of what the
Turks alleged they have an audio recording of.
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No. And this has been the issue, Hala, with this case, is that you've had this drip feed of leaks, mostly
coming from Turkey over the past several weeks. But now, we're hearing these leaks coming from Washington with this New York Times report. And we
don't really specifically know from Turkey what was said.
But according to the New York Times, they say that three people who are familiar with this audio reporting of the killing, that Turkey has, they
say that a phone call took place and that the individual, one of the 15 who made the phone call is Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, who CNN has reported on.
He's a former diplomat at the embassy in London. He is a member of that inner circle of the Crown Prince. He's a member of the intelligence
service and also a security force close to the Crown Prince. And they say that he spoke to a superior, not much detail there. We don't know who he
spoke to.
And in that phone call, as you mentioned, he says, "Tell your boss." And then goes on to say something along the lines of, "The deed is done." And
at no point, according to this report, does he mention the Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman specifically, but this is based on what U.S.
intelligence officials believe that this is a reference to the Crown Prince.
And as you mentioned, the Saudis have repeatedly denied that he has any direct link. But U.S. officials have told us, you know, several officials
have said this to CNN that an operation like this, Hala, that involves members of the inner circle, would not have taken place without the direct
knowledge of Mohammad bin Salman.
So when you look at these leaks, as they continue, this is definitely putting more pressure, keeping this case in the spotlight, not only putting
pressure on the Saudis, but also on the United States to pressure their Saudi ally to respond to some of the pretty much straightforward questions
that Turkey has put forward and that is, who ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi? Hala.
[14:45:07] GORANI: All right, Jomana Karadsheh in Istanbul, thanks very much.
The New York Times saying there's an audio recording of one of the hit men calling someone and saying, "Tell the boss it's done. The deed is done."
Still to come tonight, explosions light up the night sky in Syria. We take you to the frontlines of the last few battles against ISIS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: In Eastern Syria, the final push to regain control from ISIS is gaining momentum. And CNN has some extraordinary video showing rare access
to the frontlines, as Syrian Kurds fight to rid the area from ISIS. Here's Nick Paton Walsh with our exclusive report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: ISIS are more than just ghosts out here, in the dust of Eastern Syria for top leaders.
The last symbolic territory are in a distance, haunted by the cover of darkness.
Syrian Kurdish fighters pummeled by coalition air power and push back towards the Iraqi border. Dark means chaos here, but above, it's a lethal
advantage for American technology.
That were an apache attack helicopter finding its target. These are rare pictures of the daring nighttime operations that have taken back suedes of
land from ISIS.
It is startling to see how rudimentary the tools are in a fight so essential to the world. Triage by phone light. Saline solution and
dressings. How young the fighters are? This one, apparently deafened by shilling.
"Can you talk?" They asked him. The dead, those who survived as walking wounded. And those in need of urgent surgery begin a long journey to
better care.
Through a night sky that still echoes with the sound of further deaths.
Lurking below in these remaining villages could be ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, defended by diehard loyalists and foreigners and car bombs. The
street-to-street battle as ferocious as before, but unseen by a world who have believe President Donald Trump when he says ISIS is being defeated.
There are holdouts around the village of Sousa, still grip on to what they have, as daytime brings a new set of challenges. ISIS mortars close in.
Up on the roof, ISIS snipers pin them down.
[14:50:01] It is startling, how this chaotic and young force loosely in control of their weapons have got so far.
Then, the constant in this war, American airpower, behind both its advances and much of its destruction, intervenes.
"Uncle Trump never disappoints," he says. Yet, this sheer force can't answer the key question of how to handle the civilians who gave ISIS
shelter and members in the long-term.
"The biggest battle," he says, "is going to be freeing the people from ISIS' way of thinking. They've been dragged here by ISIS from their former
capital, Raqqa, but they still think ISIS will come back one day and give them a caliphate again."
This family say they risked arrest by ISIS, who only fled this afternoon.
"I was in a refugee camp," he says, "that ISIS surrounded and imprisoned."
Yet, it's impossible to balance their immediate human needs with what their real sympathies may be.
They asked this old man, why didn't he die in the airstrikes? "It's in the hands of God whether I live or die," he says.
And so they return, like thousands of others to the camps behind the frontline, where ISIS' victims and possible future flagbearers form a well
of suffering and hatred that will smolder across these plains for years to come.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: More to come, including on the lighter side of things, the Prince of Wales is -- was on a royal tour in West Africa. In a CNN exclusive, he
talks about the economic policies he hopes to see there. Also, it's his 70th birthday and Max Foster has our story, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Britain's heir to the throne marks a milestone birthday tomorrow. Prince Charles will turn 70.
But instead of slowing down, his royal duties are actually going to increase. He was in Africa on a royal tour recently.
In an exclusive interview, he spoke candidly with my colleague, Max Foster, about the issues he is focusing on right now, before he becomes king.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: At 70, most Britain's are settling into their retirement. But the Prince of Wales is taking on more than
ever. He's come to West Africa to help boost U.K. ties to the region and to find out more about local issues, such as cocoa farming.
British forces are also helping train Nigerian forces in the battle against Boko Haram, so the prince has come aboard this ship to try to emphasize
those military ties.
How's it gone for you?
PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES: It's always interesting in the heat, if you're not used to it. But otherwise, the only sad thing to me is not
being able to go further into other parts of Nigeria. It is such a vast country. And obviously, there are so many other states and interesting
areas that I know many are facing different challenges and other opportunities, so it was a pity not being able to do that.
But otherwise, it's always marvelous coming here, because people are so friendly and I'm always intrigued by the way, you know, so many of these
young princes are developing really interesting ideas that they can turn into businesses and things like that. Helping to tackle some of the real
issues we face around the environment and waste and goodness knows what else. They're ingenious characters.
[14:55:23] FOSTER: Well, thank you for having us and happy birthday.
PRINCE CHARLES: Oh, you're (INAUDIBLE)
FOSTER: Security concerns meant the Prince of Wales wasn't able to travel to all the parts of Nigeria that he was hoping to see. Traditional
regional rulers had to come to Abuja to meet him instead.
SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI, EMIR OF KANO: He's been talking about climate change. His particular demographic implosions. He's been talking about
town planning. We do not make the connection between these three issues, for example, as some of the conflicts that we see.
FOSTER: Charles does spend time thinking about what sort of king he's going to be, particularly what he will and he won't be able to say,
according to a senior royal source.
But he's more focused now on his current role, where he has the freedom to express himself on issues that he cares about, such as youth unemployment,
which is rife here.
PRINCE CHARLES: Over the years, I have had the great pleasure of meeting some of those people of Nigerian heritage, who also call Britain home.
Some I have met through my prince's trust, which I started some 42 years ago, to help young people in difficult and disadvantaged situations, to
turn their lives around.
FOSTER: Well, just as Charles is going to be king, so, Camilla is going to be queen. And she's constantly having to think about her position going
forward, too.
How are you?
CAMILLA, DUCHESS OF CORNWALL: Hot. How are you?
FOSTER: Very good, very good. Nice to see you. Are you enjoying your visit?
CAMILLA: Yes, it's really nice. Everywhere we've had such a warm welcome.
FOSTER: Yes.
CAMILLA: But it has been a bit on the hot side.
FOSTER: Enjoy your lunch.
CAMILLA: All right. Bye.
FOSTER: It's not clear whether she'll use the title of queen. But for now, she's dedicating her time to supporting the monarchy and on issues
that she cares about most, such as child literacy.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are busier than ever despite the fact that they're beyond the normal U.K. retirement age and their
workload is only increasing.
This is Max Foster, CNN, on the (INAUDIBLE) flight to Abuja.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: That's going to do it for me for tonight. Thanks for watching. I'm Hala Gorani. There is a lot more news ahead with, of course, the very
latest on what the reaction to Donald Trump's tweets, as well as the very latest on a potential Brexit draft agreement. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is up
next.
END
