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What We Know with Max Foster
Countdown To Artemis II Mission To Orbit The Moon; Iran's President Releases Letter Addressed To American People; Trump To Give "Important Update" On Iran In Today's Address; U.S. Supreme Court Considers Future Of Birthright Citizenship; Trump's Approval Rating On Economy Hits New Low. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired April 01, 2026 - 15:00 ET
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[15:00:21]
MAX FOSTER, CNN HOST: Artemis II is nearly ready for launch.
This is WHAT WE KNOW.
A clock ticking then towards humanity's return to the moon. We are just a little more than three hours away from the planned launch of NASA's Artemis
II mission to space. It'll put four astronauts in orbit around the moon. The likely travel further from earth than mankind has ever actually been.
Just doing the checks there.
This will mark the first time in more than 50 years that anyone has ventured outside of low earth orbit. It's a key step in NASA's goal of
putting people back on the moon, which they expect in 2028.
We've already seen some significant moments in the preparations for this launch. The four-person crew went through a final suit check a little more
than an hour ago. The crew includes the first woman, first Canadian, first person of color to ever leave earth's low orbit. After that, the crew
walked out to say one last goodbye to family and friends and colleagues before making their way to the launch pad. It was only about an hour --
well, about half an hour ago, that we saw them arrive at the launch pad and finish gearing up just outside the capsule, and then a major moment as they
climbed on board, took their seats in the Orion spacecraft will be their home for the next ten days as they journey to the far side of the moon and
then back home to earth.
Here's what we expect of the next three hours then as we approach liftoff - - the hatch on the Orion capsule will be closed at any minute. We'll bring that to you. It seals the astronauts inside for their journey. After that,
NASA continues an exhaustive list of systems, checks and sensor readings on the rocket and the spacecraft.
It all leads up to the flight director of polling, his full team with a go/no go question with exactly 17 minutes left before the liftoff. If all
goes as planned, Artemis and its Orion spacecraft will take off at 6:24 p.m. Eastern Time. That's about three hours from now.
Now, it's a moment of huge significance for everyone involved with the space sector. Here's how retired British astronaut Tim Peake described it
to us as he watched today's astronauts prepare.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM PEAKE, RETIRED ASTRONAUT, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY: It's the cusp, a new era of space exploration, and the reason why Artemis II is important. It's
the first crewed mission on this new Artemis program, and this time we are going back to the moon. But it's not like Apollo. Apollo were one-off
missions. This time. It's to have a sustained presence on the surface of the moon. So, Artemis III, Artemis IV, and so on.
We will eventually have a laboratory at the south pole of the moon where there's water ice. Now the moon is rich in minerals. Everything you think
is here on earth. Well, we've got that on the moon as well. It was once part of Earth. So, it's not just a repository like a pristine repository of
4 billion years of the solar system. It can teach us a huge amount about our own planet. And so, the intention here is to land on the moon, set up a
base there, and in 10, 15 years time, we'll have astronauts spending six months on the surface of the moon, just like we see them going to the
International Space Station for that period of time today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: It's an incredible idea, isn't it?
Let's get more from CNN's aerospace analyst Miles O'Brien, who we've just lost due to communication issues. Our satellites, no doubt, to make it
appropriate. But there's the live image of the set off point. But we'll bring you Miles in just a moment because he's going to talk us through all
the preparations they're going through right now.
For those who don't follow the space industry closely, big question is why one of the astronauts taking part in this mission says it could solve some
of the biggest questions of our species.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINA KOCH, NASA ASTRONAUT, ARTEMIS II MISSION: There's an industrial benefits. There's the commercial benefits, scientific technology,
innovation, inspiration. And I hope that we talk a little bit about those as a crew.
I'll also just mention that high level, really the question is not should we go, but should we lead or should we follow? That's how I see it, because
everyone, many, many countries have recognized the value that there is in exploring further into the solar system, to the moon and onto Mars. They
recognized that not only can we gain all these extremely tangible benefits, but that we have the opportunity to answer the question that could be the
question of our lifetime, which is, are we alone?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Are we alone? Are they going to see aliens on the other side of the moon? Who knows?
Let's go to Miles O'Brien because he's the expert in all of this.
[15:05:00]
Miles, I know you're pretty excited like the whole of your industry, really. But I wanted to go inside the cockpit. Is it called the cockpit? I
think it's called the cockpit.
Can you just describe what we're looking at there, what they're going through right now?
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN AEROSPACE ANALYST: Well, it's -- it's a tight environment to say the least. You know, the International Space Station and
for that matter, the shuttle, kind of spoiled astronauts with a little bit of extra space. This is the size of a couple of minivans, no more.
Four individuals will have to spend nine days in those close confines and do everything humans do in that period of time, eat, rest, use the
bathroom. And that's a big part of what this mission is all about, to make sure the environmental systems, the life support systems, the potty, the
food preparation, all of that works to make sure future crews will arrive at the moon and begin their mission, hopefully on the surface, feeling up
to snuff.
So that -- that's a big part of this mission. This is a test flight where as much as anything, they're testing out that cockpit to see how it works
for four people on a relatively extended period of time.
FOSTER: We heard one of the astronauts there talking about that big question, are we alone out there? Is this mission really going to tell us
that?
O'BRIEN: I don't think we're going to get an answer on that one on this. I'd be a little surprised on that front. But hey, you never know what they
might encounter out there, right? It's -- no, this is a mission as much as anything that is going to tell us a little bit more about us and our
environment, the moon 4.5 billion years ago was created when two protoplanets, one of them, Earth, collided because they were in the same
orbit, and out came a bunch of crust stuff, and it coalesced and created the moon.
We know now that the moon is made of basically the crust of our planet. So, the moon is us. And what makes it interesting is it's kind of a witness
plate for all that has happened over 4.5 billion years. We have an atmosphere. We have tectonic shifts, we have vegetation, and it covers over
what has been happening over these billions of years, not on the moon. It might as well be freeze dried version of history for all of us.
So, you look at those craters, those craters are a reminder. We live in a really tough neighborhood and understanding those craters and how often
that happens. And what are the newest and oldest ones is very important.
And then ultimately, of course, this is about humanity learning how to spread its wings and live on another celestial body, because this is not a
flag and footprint mission in the end, this program. The idea -- and that is for humanity, a fundamental shift. And that's what makes it very
different. I've covered 40 shuttle launches from here. Nothing like this. This is -- this is a different level. It's a different kind of exploration.
And for those of us who care about exploration in space, it's a very important day.
FOSTER: And we're looking inside the capsule there. So they're on these seats, aren't they, which if successful, they'll remove the seats. This is
where they live. This is where they work, work. It's a very cramped space.
But they understand obviously everything that's around them. And that just speaks to the training these guys have been through because they have to
cover all of the professions really, don't they, that exist on earth, but just between the four of them.
O'BRIEN: Yeah, that's a very good point. And when we look toward long duration missions on the moon and maybe someday mars, you know, you're not
necessarily looking for the hotshot test pilot to do that, right? You're looking for the guy or the gal who's good at fixing their car or really
good at home improvement, or really understands computers and how to reboot, rewire things. Those are the people that you really need when
you're out there and you're a long way from the home improvement store.
So yes, versatility is a key thing. It's not the right stuff in the way it was back in the `60s. You know, these hotshot test pilots who flew fast and
high and wanted to go faster and higher? This is a different skill set as we look toward long duration missions in space. And that crew, as they get
in there, that should be like a being, fit them like a glove. Every little nook and cranny is accounted for. They know where everything is. They know
the routine.
And I will say, as cramped as it is when you add another dimension in space, that dimension of being weightless. Suddenly, you're talking about
cubic volume instead of square footage and that changes the space and allows you to access it more. So, in any case, I'm not going to feel too
sorry for them because they're going to be pressing their nose against the glass with the best view they can imagine.
FOSTER: Yeah. And you've also explained why I'll never be in space, because I wasn't good at any of those things you listed.
But let's talk to Cady Coleman, who can talk -- who can talk to what it's like in this moment.
A retired NASA astronaut, author of sharing space, an astronaut's guide to mission wonder, and making change.
Wow. What a moment for them, right? Just describe what will be going through their minds.
CADY COLEMAN, RETIRED NASA ASTRONAUT: Well, just now getting strapped in. I mean, these are the -- these are the final moments. It's really like it's
getting settled in to do their job, I have to say. But I think they're also just realizing like, this really might be the day we go. And of course,
they're ready.
And at the same time, they're just trying to stay really, really focused. But there's got to be a little bit of a thrill. Like, you know, as miles
was saying, this is not, this is not your grandmother's rocket launch, right? It's going to be tremendous, stupendous. And to be on board that
rocket with, you know, so much more thrust than we've had on any rocket in what, 50-something years? It's amazing.
FOSTER: So, they seem to be doing everything to time. If I'm right, and they're due to close the capsule door soon, is that a significant moment in
this process?
COLEMAN: It absolutely is. Partly because that is, you know, essentially really the last goodbye, except over the comm loops. But it's also a really
important one. I mean, that hatch is their safety. This is their spaceship. You're securing it.
And it can be tricky to make sure that it all happens right and doing that by the procedure takes a while. It's frustrating in the movies, it happens
fast, but it's important to do it just right. So, we'll hope that goes well.
FOSTER: Take us -- I've read a lot about how this is a risky mission. I mean, they're always risky missions, aren't they? Take us through the risks
-- these very brave people have taken to get on board there.
COLEMAN: Well, the risks are many. You know, we don't mind admitting that because spaceflight will never, ever be safe. And so, you know, you're
relying on a lot of really smart people, capable people. And with good conscience -- consciences who will speak up when they think that something
is not right or a calculation that's being made like, okay, this engine has flown before. We think it could fly again, this is the performance we
expect from it.
You know, there's so many complicated pieces that all have to come together. And I will tell you that when the launch happens, for me, for my
-- myself, just when that happens and you're -- it's just so clear in a visceral way that everything has to go exactly right, especially during
this launch part. But for this mission, those -- those sort of firsts are continuing. They're going to spend 24 hours getting checked out in orbit.
We've never had humans in a spacecraft before, before they actually make that burn to the moon and around and back. And it's based on calculations
that people have made that we trust. And at the same time, you know, it is sort of our religion as astronauts to say, what if this happens? What if
this happens? And that's how our team reacts as well.
FOSTER: Yeah. Miles, just take us through the key moments. You know, there are people who want -- don't want to miss anything, but they've got other
things to do and they can't be watching the TV the whole time. Take us through the key moments people should be looking for here in the next few
hours.
O'BRIEN: Well, we're -- yeah, I mean, Max, we're about three hours and 15 minutes to the opening of the window. So, folks, if you got an errand to
run, you know, make it a two-hour or 2-1/2-hour, and then you'll be back in time to see the real deal.
Now, I should point out, Katie did her missions to the International Space Station and those launch windows were five minutes in length because it's
kind of like throwing a pass in American football. You got to time the throw just right to hit your receiver because you're going to the space
station. In this case, there's a much wider window because there's not that kind of rendezvous that they're attempting.
So, it's two hours and that would afford some delays for maybe a pop-up cloud or shower or a boat that goes into the restricted zone, which we've
witnessed a couple of times here, that kind of thing. But if, if they've met the 500 and I'm not exaggerating, there are 500 launch commit criteria,
that means green little boxes. They have to check before this thing goes anywhere.
If they met those at 6:24 Eastern Time, we're going to see a big show right about then. So, and at that point, and Cady will attest to this, that
you're once those solid rocket boosters, the twin boosters on the side shuttle lineage, but with an extra segment to give it a little more oomph.
[15:15:03]
Once they light, you're going for a ride. There's no turning them off. It's like a Roman candle.
And, so if you get to that point and you see that happen, you know, we're sending some astronauts to space, and I will point out, risky as this is,
there is the ability to abort on the eight-minute ride to space, which the shuttle did not have a true abort capability. The crew can -- Reid Wiseman
can pull a handle and a rocket on top of Orion will pull the Orion capsule away from the rocket, the stack of the rocket and allowing them to return
to earth under a parachute.
So, there's a degree of safety here that we never had with the shuttle program. So, there's a ton of risk here. But as Cady pointed out, these are
well-meaning people who try to wring out every last bit of that risk to get to this point. And the crew knows that. And so, as they get in there and
they strap in, they can clear their mind and focus on what's ahead. Probably have a few butterflies, but ultimately, get ready for the ultimate
game day.
FOSTER: Yeah, Cady. It's a diverse crew as well, isn't it, this time? Is that important? Is that something we should be speaking about? Because
clearly, they were also just the best of the best.
COLEMAN: I just didn't hear that -- what crew? I didn't hear the first part.
FOSTER: It's quite a diverse crew. A lot has been made up -- made of that. How important is that really? Does that represent something important or
are we just looking at the four best that were selected?
COLEMAN: I think you're looking at both. And there are a lot -- there are a lot of really amazing folks to choose from, but they've got different
backgrounds in terms of what they, what they do, but they also have different heritages and different ways that they see the world. And what's
really, I think very important is that I mean, astronauts really know this is that when they go to space, they bring others with them.
And part of our job as a space program, as exploration is to really inspire the next generation to be ready to solve our problems and challenges here
on earth. And so, it's important that they're diverse as well, because each of them speaks to so many people. I mean, all of us speak to somebody
different. All of us inspire someone different.
And they don't always look like us. Actually, I'll throw out that, somebody who I talked to in third grade, wrote me a note and said that they are now
the head of propulsion for a really major space company. And it was because of meeting me in third grade. So --
FOSTER: Oh.
COLEMAN: All of us can change the future.
FOSTER: That's a wonderful story. Cady, I really appreciate it. Miles as well. We hope to speak to you a lot over the next ten days because it's
going to be extraordinary, isn't it? Thank you both.
We'll be back when we see the hatch close. Because Cady was saying that's a significant moment as well.
Breaking news to CNN, though, Iran's president urging Americans to look beyond political rhetoric and reconsider their view of his country. In a
letter addressed to the American people, Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran has never in its modern history chosen the path of aggression and never
initiated any war. He added that the relationship between Iran and the U.S. is misunderstood.
And all of this comes as a source tells CNN that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a stern message to relay to Iran, President Donald Trump is
impatient, is said to reach a deal to end the war. Vance told mediators, which include representatives from Pakistan and Turkey, that the United
States would put more pressure on Iran's energy infrastructure if Tehran didn't come to an agreement.
Meanwhile, President Trump says Iran has asked for a ceasefire, a claim the regime has yet to confirm. In a social media post, the president wrote that
he will only consider that request once oil tankers are able to move safely through the Strait of Hormuz.
The White House says President Trump will deliver a primetime address on the war in just a few hours from now, which, of course, will bring to you.
But let's go to Kevin Liptak.
Before we talk about the address, interesting to see the Iranians trying to reach out directly to the American people, bypassing the president,
actually.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah. And in a way, trying to rebut what the president is going to say in his speech tonight. You
know, I think it's clear that they view an opening here. You know, it's no secret that the war that the president began in Iran is unpopular among
American voters. It has caused energy prices to spike around the world, but also in the United States.
And there are still, I think, a lot of questions, even among some of the president's most staunch supporters, about what the objectives are here,
what the president is trying to accomplish. And I think the Iranian president, in trying to reach out directly to Americans, seems to recognize
that there are some doubts that he might be able to exploit if he's looking to aggravate some of the questions that Americans already have about what
precisely is going on over there.
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I think it's been interesting to see how the president has been messaging in the lead up to this address tonight. You know, that Truth Social post
talking about how the Iranian president was now willing to agree to a ceasefire, but the president says that he won't do that unless Iran reopens
the Strait of Hormuz. It's somewhat contradictory.
You know, it was just yesterday the president was really dismissing the question of the strait, saying that that was a problem for other countries
to try and solve. You see him again today lashing out at European nations for not doing more to patrol the strait, and even suggesting that he would
be willing to withdraw from NATO or diminish the U.S. role in NATO somehow. If those countries don't step up further.
And so all of this, I think, leading up to the president's speech tonight, you know, I'm told by a White House official that the president in that
address will reaffirm this timeline that he laid out yesterday for ending the war that he thinks will end within two to three weeks. He'll talk about
those four objectives that the White House has continually pointed to in terms of what he's trying to accomplish in Iran.
You know, a lot of ways this speech is coming fairly late. You know, he did not deliver an address to the nation, either before the war began. But when
he was openly considering it or in the first four weeks as it was raging, this is kind of coming after many, many questions have been raised about
what his message is and all of this and what his precise end game is exactly.
I think there is a recognition among the president's advisers that perhaps some of that needed to be buttoned up, just given how unpopular the war
actually is. And so well see how he addresses all of those issues tonight.
One thing that the White House is not saying at this point is whether the president will address the question of sending ground troops into Iran. We
know that he's left that option on the table. There have been various deployments, including if the 82nd Airborne, if the marine expeditionary
units who are heading to the region.
Of course, the president has various options for using them there, whether it's taking over Kharg Island or trying to go after the enriched uranium
that's buried deep underground. Those are all decisions that the president will have to make, presumably before the end of that three-week time frame
that he has put out there to end the war. So, it will be interesting to see if the president addresses that tonight. And I think it's a question a lot
of Americans are having as they're watching how all of this unfolds.
FOSTER: Kevin, got a late night. Thank you for joining us.
Coming up, new CNN poll numbers. What many Americans think about President Trump's handling of the economy, in particular in the wake of the war with
Iran.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:25:39]
FOSTER: President Trump attending today's historic arguments at the Supreme Court for about 90 minutes, unprecedented. Justices are looking into
whether the president's executive order limiting birthright citizenship constitutional. This makes President Trump the first sitting president to
attend an oral argument. But there are signs of trouble ahead for his administration.
U.S. president's executive order, signed on his first day back in office, that's how important it is to him, faced a series of deeply skeptical
questions, including these from Chief Justice John Roberts.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS, U.S. SUPREME COURT: The examples you give to support that strike me as very quirky. You know, children of ambassadors,
children of enemies during a hostile invasion, children on warships, and then you expand it to a whole class of illegal aliens are here in the
country. I'm not quite sure how you can get to that big group from such tiny and sort of idiosyncratic examples.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: It's a case that could affect millions of people.
Let's dive in with Joan Biskupic.
Interesting, wasn't it? It felt like it took a bit of a turn as we got into it.
JOAN BISKUPIC, CNN CHIEF SUPREME COURT ANALYST: It did, Max, and it's great to see you. And you know, it's terrific that you said right at the
outset that he had signed this on his first day back in office. And what a kind of symbolic move that was. And I think the fact that he wanted to show
up in court today reinforced that, that this is really meaningful and important to Donald Trump.
But as much as his presence added to the energy and excitement in the room, it did not change the arguments and the tone that you picked up from Chief
Justice John Roberts. And that question just now continued throughout.
And there was one point where Donald Trump's -- the U.S. solicitor general, who was defending Donald Trump's effort to roll back birthright
citizenship, said to the court, you know, you have to understand that, you know, it's a new world. Immigration has changed. And the chief justice
responded, "Yeah, new world, same Constitution."
And just a reminder of, you know, how big a boulder they're trying to push up a hill here is that the 14th Amendment of the Constitution ratified in
1868, said guaranteed birthright citizenship than in 1898. The Supreme Court reinforced that. There's just a lot of tradition and history that the
Trump administration is trying to fight here. And it just seemed from key justices like John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who often
straddles the middle, that it looks like he's going to lose this case.
We know -- we won't know, Max, until late June, probably. But I would say at this point, just looking, just listening to the oral arguments and
knowing the history of the 14th Amendment and where our country has been in terms of American identity and citizenship, I think it's a very tall order
for the Trump administration, and one that it's likely to lose at this point -- Max.
FOSTER: The expert in these narratives, and you're seeing it go one way, but thank you. Joan Biskupic, thank you so much.
BISKUPIC: Thank you.
FOSTER: President Trump's approval ratings, meanwhile, for his handling of the U.S. economy is at a new low and it's issue number one as Congress
heads into the midterm elections. A new CNN poll finds roughly two-thirds of Americans say Trump policies have experienced worsened economic
conditions. That's up ten points from January. President Trump's overall rating has held relatively steady at 35 percent, one point off his all-time
low in CNN polling, at least.
What we don't know is how damaging these approval numbers will be to Donald Trump's presidency.
Well, joining us now is Rana Foroohar, global economic analyst at "The Financial Times".
Thank you so much for joining us, Rana, because obviously it's not unusual for poll numbers to reduce at this point in a presidency. So, I guess were
looking at how much its reduced as opposed to other presidents in this period.
RANA FOROOHAR, CNN GLOBAL ECONOMIC ANALYST: Tremendously. So, this is -- this is really kind of an unprecedented move, certainly within -- within
modern presidential history. You know, you'd have to go back to the `70s to find something similar in terms of such a downward movement in approval
ratings. And it's easy to see why, you know?
[15:30:01]
You have a war of choice with Iran. This is something that most Americans did not want. They will say that they don't want even Donald Trump's MAGA
base. Many of them elected him because he said he won't get into any more forever wars.
Most people don't believe there's going to be a quick end to that. This was already coming on the back of a certain amount of price hikes due to tariff
issues. And then in addition to that, you've got A.I., you've got a lot of job disruption in the U.S. and you just have this kind of pervasive feeling
of uncertainty about where things are going to go next. So, Americans turn and they look at the White House and they blame the president. And I think
it is really going to hurt Trump at the polls in the midterms, the Republican Party, I should say.
FOSTER: Yeah. I mean, Kevin Liptak has been talking to us about gas prices. You know, his politics. It's the White House and he's looking at
gas prices because it's so defining for many elections, isn't it? And actually, the shortage hasn't hit America yet. It's on its way because
we've got this gap in supply --
FOROOHAR: Yeah.
FOSTER: -- which is making its way towards the United States. So they're only going to go up actually, they may come down eventually, but they'll
take a while to come down. And then we are, aren't we, towards the midterms? Are I right up to them?
FOROOHAR: Right. Well, the midterms are coming up in November and even before the war in Iran and the and the oil price and gas price hikes, you
were seeing a big downturn in sentiment by most Americans. A lot of polling thinks that the Democrats are going to win the House, may even win the
Senate. And I don't see a lot that the president can do in advance to really change that scenario.
As you say, the supply shortages are coming to the U.S. They're already hitting Asia. They're going to be hitting Europe soon.
But that raises another point. Even after liberation day, big American companies get 35 percent of their revenues overseas. And that's a big deal.
So, what's happening in Asia, what's happening in Europe, that's going to hit American companies. There's already a big slowdown in hiring.
And so, that combined with the fact that gas prices are something that Americans see every single day, that's the one price that you see wherever
you go. Hard to get away from that number and hard to ignore the fact that it has gone up sharply.
FOSTER: Yeah. Rana Foroohar, thank you so much for joining us.
Still to come, we are going back to Kennedy Space Center as the countdown continues for NASA's new mission to the moon. Just about three hours till
lift off now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:35:51]
FOSTER: All eyes on Artemis. There we are. The world is watching right now as NASA prepares to send humanity back to the moon for the first time in 50
years or so.
They are closing the hatch on the Orion spacecraft atop the Artemis rocket right now. So that is telling us everything's on time. Also a very symbolic
moment, of course, inside for astronauts who are now less than three hours from beginning their journey to orbit the moon and see the other side.
Hundreds of spectators gathering near the launch site to watch the liftoff. One young space fan explained his excitement in pretty blunt terms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Why do you want to be here? Why do you love space? Why do you love being a part of history?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going back to the freaking moon. That's why.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: David Culver at the watch party in Florida without a camera on your head like the little guy. But you've got one following you.
CULVER: You're on the Max Brewer Bridge, Max. This is where folks are gathering.
Let me show you the other side of the bridge. By the way, I love -- I love that guy saying going back to the moon. That's what several folks are
wearing shirts saying the exact same thing here.
And we're still under three hours before the scheduled launch window opens. But you've got hundreds that are building up here. And this is the middle
of what is roughly a mile long bridge that connects Titusville, Florida, to Merritt Island. And then I can show you way out there, about eight miles
from where we are is the launch pad.
But this is a great vantage point for folks who have essentially turned the bridge into a pedestrian bridge and are setting up camp. Youve had some
folks who have been here since late last night, folks who have been taking their RVs, some of them cross country to get to this place and have camped
out hoping it happens tonight, but are preparing to stay through Monday evening if there for any reason is a scrub in the days that follow.
So, the anticipation is obviously building up for this evening. This is the biggest hope, obviously, but you've got folks who are very patient and
quite frankly, really positive and happy. And I'm trying to show you here, you've got folks who are sleeping, who are painting, who are playing cards,
who are acting as kind of faux mission control, listening in on the NASA feeds and radios and a lot of families who have just made this their focus.
In fact, I've talked to some families who said, yes, we were in the Orlando area, and the plan was to go to Disney. This is now where our focus is for
the next few days. Hoping, of course, that its tonight and then they can move on to their family vacations. And a lot of folks have also made this
their spring break getaway.
I met a couple of students who said, we're skipping class actually to be here and to take this in because it is that historic of a moment. And it's
also rare, Max, that you get one of these moments where walking the bridge on the other side, where the crowds are basically blocking the pathway.
Now you get smile after smile after smile, and it's so rare that when you have this many folks gathering together. I mean, there's so many protests
and there's a lot of division and tension, but you have this place where there's unity and there's calm and there's hope and anticipation for what
is expected to take off, in a few hours from now.
And right now, it seems like the weather is holding up. There are rain showers earlier today, but people are all keeping close to their phones,
have extra charges, solar panels, and hoping that they'll be able to see not only from the live streams that they're holding on their hands, but
also with the actual backdrop of the takeoff from here that they'll see it, that they'll feel it.
FOSTER: Yeah. A real moment of history, isn't it? From a bridge on a pavement, some holiday. But they're going to love it, aren't they?
David, thank you so much.
We are into the final moments of trade as well on Wall Street, stocks are up. The Dow Jones continuing to gain ground today on hopes of de-escalation
in the Middle East.
This is our Business Breakout.
More news from the world of space for you. We can't stay away from it today. Elon Musk, already the richest man in the world, could soon be even
richer. Multiple reports suggesting his rocket company, SpaceX, is planning an initial public offering this summer. It's unclear how much money the
company wants to raise, but Musk is expected to control a majority of voting shares.
[15:40:06]
Nike shares are down more than 15 percent today. This after the sporting giant forecast a surprise drop in quarter or fourth quarter sales. Nike
also expects sales in China to drop 20 percent this quarter.
Americans stepped up their spending in February after three months of declines. U.S. retail sales rose 0.6 percent in February from a previous
month. That's despite weak jobs growth and low consumer sentiment.
Australia's prime minister is urging people to avoid driving and using public transport if they can. Fuel prices have surged in Australia since
the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The country has already cut fuel taxes. Whilst there's no widespread oil shortage, Anthony Albanese says the
less fuel Australians use, the better.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY ALBANESE, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: And over coming weeks, if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work, do so. That builds
our reserves and it saves fuel for people who have no choice but to drive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Anna Cooban is with me now.
We were talking, weren't we, about how Asia is starting to see the fuel shortages and politicians here in Europe -- you know, Australia, probably
not the United States at this point, really trying to get people ready for it completely.
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINES & ECONOMICS REPORTER: I mean, you heard those words by the Australian prime minister just there. And tomorrow, we're
expecting a forum which is hosted by the U.K., 35 countries, to really discuss how they can get the strait open again, because there is this
prospect now, this serious consideration that while we might get a ceasefire, we might also have the Strait of Hormuz still blocked off, or at
least not what it was a month ago, which was navigable.
And so, these countries are coming together to talk about, you know, naval escorts and potentially military equipment that could be deployed to resist
attacks, potential attacks from Iran. So, we're in a state right now where, yes, the markets are in the green oil is down today, but many countries,
Australia included, are thinking about what post-ceasefire might look like. It might not look like it looked like a month ago.
FOSTER: Yeah. I sometimes wonder about this idea like, you know, conserve fuel. You know, don't go out as much, does it not -- quite often have the
opposite effect because people think, oh wow, I better get ahead of everyone else?
COOBAN: Well, this -- we talked about this panic buying --
FOSTER: Yeah.
COOBAN: -- you know, phenomenon, which we've seen throughout history. And Japan has warned its citizens, please don't panic. Don't buy toilet roll.
You know, we are seeing people in parts of the world do a bit of that.
We are seeing physical shortages now in Asia. We're starting to see that. We, as we discussed, a couple of days ago, JPMorgan came out with a report
which was really talking about how this crisis is going to shift increasingly westward and within the next couple of weeks, if things remain
as they are, we'll start to see similar things happen in Europe and Africa.
FOSTER: In terms of the oil market, obviously, there's an expectation it's going to go up. Is there a projection to when it will peak, do you think?
COOBAN: So, the analysts I've been speaking to, they're saying $150 a barrel for Brent is likely if we continue to see the status quo for the
next few weeks to months. I don't think there's a, you know, a kind of very specific date at which that will happen.
But the United States or Trump has sort of talked about how the U.S. is the biggest oil producer in the world. That is correct. But it's not insulated
from this. And it will experience the impacts of this further down the line, but it will eventually experience the impacts of this because it
imports some of its fuel.
FOSTER: And exports as well, doesn't it? So that's the other thing about they're talking about U.S. supplies. But if Asia's running out, they're
going to be buying lots of American oil.
COOBAN: Exactly. It's going to be pushing up the price of American oil. And if you're a U.S. producer, you're going to be sending your barrels to
where you're going to get the best price. So, it won't be in the United States.
FOSTER: Yeah. They're not suffering at the moment, are they, the producers?
COOBAN: Not -- not right now, no.
FOSTER: Anna, thank you so much.
Still to come, three straight days of brutal violence in Haiti. Armed gangs have left dozens dead and forced thousands more to flee. We'll look at
what's next for the island nation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:47:03]
FOSTER: Deadly gang violence against civilians in -- is surging in Haiti. The latest attacks, which began on Sunday, have mainly targeted the west of
the country, and they come ahead of the expected arrival of an international gang suppression force this coming month.
CNN's Rafael Romo has the latest in this report, which contains some disturbing images.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The streets have emptied in this farming village and gunshots break the silence as violent gang attacks
surge in western Haiti. These and other videos verified by CNN show gang members launching attacks across Artibonite, Haiti's major agricultural
region, where armed groups stormed communities, opened fire on civilians and set homes ablaze.
So far, dozens of civilians have been killed, according to estimates by local rights groups. Many more have been displaced as gang members moved
in.
Footage shows civilians fleeing across farmland, some with children in tow. One clip shows large plumes of smoke emanating from Jean-Denis, one of the
villages targeted. The extent of the damage remains unclear, but heat signatures analyzed by CNN show large fires across at least three
communities in the region, each appearing just hours after armed men were seen there.
STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: This attack underscores the gravity of the security situation faced by the
Haitian population. He urges Haitian people -- Haitian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
ROMO (voice-over): Just four miles east, additional footage shows a familiar scene as gang members swept through more nearby villages.
Young men armed with rifles fire indiscriminately into the air, standing in the center of the town.
HAROLD ISAAC, INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST IN HAITI: This has been really the culprit of the gang issue in Haiti is the firepower, where essentially
you're washed with armed smuggling in Haiti, which has led to increased firepower on the side of the gangs, and which is creating really a
challenge even especially for legitimate authorities that are really struggling to quell this surge of violence.
ROMO (voice-over): Now, these farming communities far from Haiti's capital are left to deal with rising gang violence in anticipation of a new U.N.-
backed security force, but previous efforts to fight the gangs have failed. For now, dozens of families are left to mourn and remain exposed as attacks
continue.
Rafael Romo, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Coming up, the U.S. Army doesn't like it when you fly helicopters over a rockstar's house. The defense secretary, however, is singing a
slightly different tune. Details ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:52:24]
FOSTER: The U.S. Army pilots who flew attack helicopters near the home of longtime Donald Trump supporter Kid Rock are no longer suspended. The
musician posted this video online showing the helicopter flyby at his home in the Nashville area. The army launched an investigation and suspended the
crews involved, but now Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has intervened and reversed their suspension.
Pete Hegseth thanked Kid Rock, saying, "No punishment, no investigation. Carry on, patriots."
Kylie Atwood is with me. I mean, just everything about this story ups and downs.
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: A bit bizarre, obviously some tension between the decision that the U.S. army had made and the
decision that were finding out now that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has made an overruling. Of course, the army decision, which came after
there was this flyby of these U.S. Army Apache helicopters over this home in Tennessee of Kid Rock. As you can see in that video there that was
posted by Kid Rock.
This is obviously something that the U.S. Army should not be doing, flying by the homes of U.S. rock stars. And that's why the U.S. army responded in
saying that they were going to be suspending the crews who were involved in this and launching an investigation, but of course, to find out today that
the secretary of defense, we should note also that President Trump was actually asked about this, and he said, you know, that's probably something
that they shouldn't have been doing. But he also said that he really likes Kid Rock as well.
And after -- after those comments came this decision that was brought to us on social media by the secretary of defense, saying that there is not going
to be a suspension, there's not going to be an investigation. And he said, as you read there, "carry on, patriots" effectively allowing these U.S.
army pilots to fly by the home of a rock star, even though, of course, that's not part of their mission at all.
FOSTER: No. Kylie, thank you.
Staying with helicopter news, not a lot of dogs get -- lost dogs get found by a helicopter. But we found one. A border collie named Molly had a
remarkable rescue after spending a week missing in a remote area of New Zealand. Molly's owner had fallen down a waterfall whilst hiking. She was
lucky to survive, but the two got separated and news of the missing dog spread.
And by Sunday, enough money was raised to hire a helicopter crew. They miraculously found her as well. Wet, cold at the base of a waterfall. She
was reunited with her owner, who said, quote, "With both of us back home, I can add this adventure to the list."
[15:55:01]
And we're keeping a close eye on Artemis II for you. Don't forget, NASA preparing to send humanity back to the moon for the first time in more than
50 years.
This is what's going on inside at the moment. Four astronauts who are now less than three hours from beginning their journey to orbit the moon. The
mission will be the first time in more than 50 years that humankind has ventured beyond earth's low orbit.
We will have full coverage as the -- as we approach liftoff. So don't go away for too long. So, you've got a couple of hours to watch that.
I'm Max Foster. That's WHAT WE KNOW. Do stay with CNN.
END
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