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Search For Savannah Guthrie's Mother Intensifies As Ransom Deadline Looms; Seattle Seahawks Crowned Super Bowl Champions, Bad Bunny Delivered A High Energy All-Spanish Halftime Show; Japanese Prime Minister and Ruling Party Wins Sunday's Snap Elections; Pro- Palestinian Protests Stormed Israeli President's Visit In Australia. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired February 09, 2026 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[03:00:00]

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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world, I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead.

Investigators return to the home of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie in the search for the missing mother of today's host Savannah Guthrie, more than a week after she disappeared.

A Super Bowl champion is crowned, the Seattle Seahawks are taking home the trophy, we'll have a report from the field.

And a stunning snap election victory for Japan's ruling party. The coalition can now override votes in the upper house of parliament.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: I appreciate you joining us.

Well, the search for the missing mother of "Today Show" host Savannah Guthrie is intensifying ahead of Monday's reported ransom deadline at 5:00 p.m. local time in Arizona.

Investigators returned to Nancy Guthrie's home on Sunday, but they have still not publicly identified any suspects linked to her disappearance just over a week ago. The alleged ransom note reportedly threatens Nancy's life and is demanding $6 million in Bitcoin in exchange for her safe return.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Tucson with the latest on the search.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SR. U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It has now been more than a week since Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home here in Tucson, and there is still no word on where she might be or what her fate is in all of this. So we're following this story on a couple different fronts. Obviously, we know that Savannah Guthrie, Nancy's daughter, and her siblings had put out the latest video on Saturday afternoon saying and communicating to the author of these alleged ransom letters that the family would indeed pay.

An affiliate here in Tucson KGUN is saying that that amount could be as much as $6 million. But we do not have any kind of follow up as to whether or not that response from the Guthries has triggered another response from the ransom letter writer. We still await news on that.

And we're also following and watching investigators continue returning home where Nancy Guthrie lives in this neighborhood in Tucson. We've seen them on Sunday going through continuing more searches around the property and in the surrounding area. And even on Saturday night, we saw a small number of sheriff's deputies at the home of Nancy Guthrie's daughter, Savannah's sister, who lives here in Tucson, about 15-20 minutes away.

They spent about three hours inside the home. We saw an investigator come out wearing latex gloves, another investigator perhaps carrying a bag.

We're unsure of what the contents are, putting it in one of the law enforcement vehicles, as I said. They spent about three hours out there late Saturday night as well.

So sheriff's deputies and investigators are saying that investigative work continues all across the city as well. All of this happening, there's still no word as to whether or not, or we know that what investigators are saying, that there is no suspect, no person of interest that they are officially announcing at this time, this week into this desperate search for Nancy Guthrie.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Tucson, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: The other story we're following, celebrations in Seattle after the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, just the second in franchise history. The team getting revenge against New England 11 years after the Patriots took the Super Bowl title in 2015. This time it was the Seahawks and quarterback Sam Darnold coming out on top 29-13 in a game dominated by an outstanding defensive performance, on the offense, standout running back Kenneth Walker III was named Super Bowl MVP.

CNN's Andy Scholes was there for all the action and has more from Santa Clara.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Well Seattle Seahawks' odds to win the Super Bowl before this season were 60-1. Boy were those odds wrong, because in the end the Seahawks proved to be the best team in the NFL. The Seahawks' defense, which gave up the least amount of points this season, just dominated the Patriots in Super Bowl 60, pitching a shutout through three quarters. They sacked Drake May six times in this game, and for a while it was Seahawks kicker Jason Meyers' world and we were all just living in it. He made a Super Bowl record five field goals in this one, and a huge play near the end of the third quarter. Derrick Hall sacking May and forcing the fumble.

[03:05:05]

The Seahawks would recover, and then we finally got a touchdown in the fourth quarter as Sam Darnold finds A.J. Barner for the score. That made it 19-0, and it might as well have been 100-0 the way the Seahawks' defense was playing. Uchenu Nwosu putting an exclamation point on this one in the fourth quarter, returning the interception, 44 yards for the score.

Seattle would end up beating the Patriots in Super Bowl 60 by a final of 29-13 to claim their second Super Bowl title, and for Sam Donald, he completes one of the best comebacks in NFL history, and he was once considered a bust, but he never gave up. The Seahawks, his fifth team, and now he's a Super Bowl champion. Darnold sharing a special moment with his family on the field as he completed his epic comeback journey.

SAM DARNOLD, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS QUARTERBACK: I'm here because of their belief in me, and they believed in me throughout my entire career, and I think that's why I was able to believe in myself almost ad nauseum. Some people called me crazy throughout my career for believing in myself so much and having so much confidence, but it was because of my parents, because of the way that they believed in me throughout my entire career, and it allowed me to go out there and play free and have a ton of confidence.

SCHOLES: Now, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, at 38 years old, is now the third youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl, and he did it in just his second season in charge in Seattle, and he joined CNN right here on the field after becoming a Super Bowl champion.

How do you feel right now?

MIKE MACDONALD, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS HEADCOACH: Couldn't be any better. I mean, honestly, it's surreal right now. You look at the Jumbotron, their quarterback, just with our team, can't wait to go celebrate with them. It's pretty unbelievable.

SCHOLED" Now, 11 years ago, Malcolm Butler broke Seattle's hearts with that epic interception to win Super Bowl 49 for the Patriots, but those tears, a distant memory, as the party is now on in Seattle as they celebrate their second Super Bowl title.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: CNN's Andy Scholes there in Santa Clara, where he, alongside Elex Michelson, spoke with a number of Seahawks players after their Super Bowl win, and here's just part of that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) A.J. BARNER, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS TIGHT END: Our defense has played incredible all year. The amount of great players that we have on our defense, that's the expectation, and they did it again.

GEORGE HOLANI, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS RUNNING BACK: We want to do the best we can out there and go out there and operate, but our defense always has our back, and we're grateful for those guys.

JARRAN REED, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS DEFENSIVE TACKLE: By the time he got there Thursday, we was ready to play, man. We had to slow down, man. Guys was ready to hunt.

We just ready to come out here and just let it all out, man, to come win this ring.

CONNOR O'TOOLE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS LINEBACKER: Like Coach Mike said last week, it's always been about us. Since OTA, since training camp, since week one to the Super Bowl, we just do what we do every single week. We treat every week like it was the Super Bowl, and it was just another game for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The most recent release of the Epstein files by the Justice Department is shedding light on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's links with billionaires, royals, and government officials in the U.S. and abroad, and in the coming hours, Epstein's longtime accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, is expected to give a virtual deposition to the House Oversight Committee, but her lawyers say she's likely to assert her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and not answer questions.

House Republican Thomas Massie is calling for the resignation of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik for his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnik previously said he cut off communications with the late sex offender after 2005, but documents reveal he tried to contact Epstein several times after. A Commerce Department spokesperson told CNN last month he, quote, had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.

Here's what Massie told CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): No, he should just resign. I mean, there are three people in Great Britain that have resigned in politics. Howard Lutnik clearly went to the island, if we believe what's in these files.

He was in business with Jeffrey Epstein, and this was many years after Jeffrey Epstein was convicted, you know, lightly sentenced, but was convicted for sexual crimes. So he's got a lot to answer for. But really, he should make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign.

If this were Great Britain, he'd already be gone. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Meanwhile, a deepening scandal in Europe as well after the latest release of Epstein files, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff has resigned. Morgan McSweeney -- his exit as his boss deals with blowback over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as an ambassador.

McSweeney told reporters he takes full responsibility for advising the prime minister to make the appointment last year.

[03:10:01]

He says he didn't oversee Mandelson's vetting process, but believes the system must be overhauled to be a, quote, "safeguard for the future."

And here's a live look at Capitol Hill, where Friday's deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security is fast approaching as Democrats attempt to extract concessions from Republicans.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says he's not willing to accept anything less than their full list of demands. And here's what he had to say to CNN's Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY), U.S. HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: In our view, the ball is in the court right now of the Republicans. Either they're going to agree to dramatically reform the way in which ICE and other immigration enforcement agencies are conducting themselves so that they're behaving like every other law enforcement agency in the country, or they're making the explicit decision to shut down the Coast Guard, shut down FEMA and shut down TSA. And that will be very unfortunate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Joining us now is CNN senior political analyst and Bloomberg Opinion columnist Ron Brownstein. Thanks for joining us.

ROB BROWNSTEIN, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST, AND OPINION COLUMNIST, BLOOMBERG: Hi, Rosemary. Good to see you.

CHURCH: So, Ron, let's begin with the looming Friday deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats refusing to accept anything less than their full list of demands for reforming ICE and you've been writing about how immigration enforcement has become a major dividing line between red and blue states. How do you think this will likely play out?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, look, the history of this is pretty unequivocal, that government shutdowns have never been a sufficiently powerful lever to get a president to do something he really doesn't want to do. They're not going to get all of their demands. But the question is, what does the president really want to do in this circumstance? You know, there's a lot of evidence in public opinion that even though

the Supreme Court has given ICE extraordinary latitude with them, allowing them to stop people based on racial characteristics, and even though the Republican Congress has given them an awful lot of money, a $75 billion over the coming years in the One Big, Beautiful bill, that there is still an enormous constraint on them, which is the limited public tolerance for the kind of tactics they have seen and the damage that is kind of spiraled out from that, including the killing of two middle-aged, middle class white American citizens.

So, you know, I don't think Democrats are going to get everything they want. But is it possible that even Trump and some Republicans will feel the need to recalibrate their position on this in a way that would allow Democrats to claim some kind of victory more than you usually get in a government shutdown? That does remain possible.

But as is almost inevitable, you see Republican hardliners kind of digging in very quickly against any kind of concessions in this circumstance.

CHURCH: And we certainly watch to see what happens there.

And while I do want to move to the Epstein scandal, his longtime accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, is expected to appear virtually for a closed door deposition in front of the House Oversight Committee in the coming hours, which is not expected to answer any questions. What may end up being more significant is the fact that members of Congress will be able to view unredacted versions of the Epstein files. What are you expecting to come out of that?

BROWNSTEIN: You know, the Epstein files, the whole controversy over Epstein is so unique in American life, as we are seeing literally daily now with the President attacking Olympic athletes and attacking the halftime show at the Super Bowl. I mean, there is almost nothing in American life that does not get sucked into the whirlpool of the red versus blue divide and seen fundamentally differently by people who watch Fox and NewsNation from those who watch other sources. The Epstein files is kind of the exception.

I mean, there is revulsion, I think, across the ideological spectrum among the American people over really every aspect of this is chumming nature with so many powerful people at home and internationally long after his initial crimes were disclosed.

The way this disclosure has been handled with names of victims appearing and the names of the abusers being redacted, there is I mean, at this point, I don't I can't imagine what the Trump administration or the Republicans in Congress can do to convince the American public that they are getting a full and fair accounting of what happened here, much less any accountability for anyone in the U.S. that compares to some of the things we've already seen abroad.

CHURCH: Right. And on that very topic, we have seen three people in Britain resign as a result of their links to Epstein. And now there are calls here in the United States for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik to resign over his links to the late sex offender. [03:15:04]

But there are others in President Trump's orbit, including Elon Musk and Steve Bannon, who also had very clear links to Epstein. So how likely is it that they'll have to testify and perhaps even resign ultimately?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, you know, when you have the kind of level of interaction between Epstein and Donald Trump, that is, you know, kind of radiates through this, even though he has not been accused, credibly accused of specific wrongdoing, his immersion in this world and all the evidence of his chumminess with Epstein makes it really difficult and unlikely, I think, for him to try to hold others accountable.

And that's why it really is going to have to come from the outside in. I mean, you know, the whole idea, part of Trump's initial appeal always and really throughout has been that he is someone who knew the kind of seedy inside dealing and, you know, corrupt interplay of the of the upper reaches of American life and that he would be the warrior for average people to kind of tear all of that down.

And we are certainly seeing, I mean, there's obviously a lot of questions about how serious that was ever. But the Epstein files, I think, show very powerfully the limits of what he is really willing to do to turn on his milieu.

I mean, he was very comfortable in this world and I don't see him leading any effort to hold anyone accountable. And that's why it really is going to continue to be public pressure expressed through members of Congress.

CHURCH: Ron Brownstein, thanks for joining us and sharing your political analysis. I always appreciate it.

BROWNSTEIN: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: Of course.

Still to come, Japan's first ever female Prime Minister was gambling on her popularity when she called for a snap election. It did pay off in a surprising way, in fact. And we will explain that next.

Plus, the Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, is in Australia visiting the country. A report from Sydney on the mixed reception. He's getting there.

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[03:20:00]

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CHURCH: Japan's markets are soaring after the Prime Minister's massive victory in a snap election this weekend. Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party secured a two thirds majority in the lower house of Parliament, that's the LDP's best ever result. And it gives the ruling coalition the ability to override votes in the upper house of Parliament.

CNN's Hanako Montgomery has more now from Tokyo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Sanae Takaichi's huge political gamble, one where she literally put her job on the line, has paid off. I mean, to the extent that we could not really expect.

I mean, most experts I've spoken to really said that it was likely that the Liberal Democratic Party would secure a majority in Japan's lower house of Parliament. But the fact that the LDP was able to secure more than two thirds of seats is truly something unexpected and historic. And what that now means is Takaichi will be able to pass through any bills really with little to no opposition.

So making her leadership and her really, I suppose, her job as a politician much easier. Now, Takaichi has a long list, a long laundry list of issues that she must tackle from the get go.

First, of course, is the Japanese economy. We've seen record high inflation, a sliding Japanese yen against the very powerful U.S. greenback.

And of course, just voters feeling very frustrated with the fact that their wages aren't increasing. So she will have to tackle the Japanese economy to appease these voters, to appease the Japanese public, and show that she's on the right track to make Japan a much stronger economy.

Now, she must also deal with foreign policy. In her brief time as Prime Minister, less than four months, she has shown that she's quite able and adept at really tackling different foreign policy issues and developing deeper ties with foreign nations. For example, Italy's Prime Minister, South Korea's President, also the U.K., Canada, and including the U.S. President, Donald Trump.

In fact, when it comes to Trump, Takaichi has shown that she has a very good personal relationship with him. In fact, last week on Truth Social, Trump went so far as to endorsing her as the Prime Minister of Japan, encouraging the people of Japan to vote for her in this very local election.

Now, Takaichi, as early as Monday, so just a few hours ago, thanked Donald Trump for that endorsement and for his kind words, also adding that, quote, "the potential of our alliance is limitless." So really just emphasizing the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance here, also mentioning that her visit to the U.S. in March, her expected visit, will be one of greatness and, of course, will be an opportunity to develop that alliance further.

So again, long list of issues Takaichi must tackle, but for now, a moment of victory for the Japanese Prime Minister.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: The Israeli president is in Sydney as part of a multi-city trip to Australia. President Isaac Herzog laid a wreath at the site of the deadly Bondi Beach shooting, where 15 people were killed during Hanukkah celebrations in December. But pro-Palestinian groups are protesting the Israeli president's visit over his role in the war in Gaza.

And CNN's Angus Watson joined us now live from Sydney. So, Angus, what more can you tell us about this split reception the Israeli President is receiving in Australia when he started his trip at the site of the Bondi Beach attack?

ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: Rosemary, scenes here have gotten quite tense as police are blocking thousands of protesters here from marching from Town Hall in the center of Sydney down towards a convention center where Isaac Herzog is meeting members of the Jewish community here in Sydney. I've seen at least one person pulled out of the crowd and arrested as protesters chat, let us march.

Now, the room scenes have been peaceful up to this point where the tension is starting to bubble over.

[03:25:02]

People here demanding that the Australian government arrests the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, who does not have an international arrest warrant against him. But people here believe that he is complicit in the killing of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza as Israel has prosecuted its war against Hamas since October 2023.

Now, Isaac Herzog is here in Australia at the invitation of the Australian government, and members of the Jewish community have welcomed him, saying that he's of great solace to them in their time of grief.

So as you say, Rosemary, a split here between Australians who condemn Isaac Herzog, the head of state of Israel, and those who welcome him, saying that after that horrific terror attack in December of last year, that he's needed here to show support to them, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Angus Watson brings us that live report from Sydney. Many thanks, I appreciate it.

Well, Russian investigators say that Ukrainian intelligence is behind an attempted assassination in Moscow on Friday. A suspect in the shooting of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev has been arrested after being detained in Dubai. Ukrainian officials have denied any connection to the incident.

Meantime, in Ukraine's southern city of Kherson, regional officials say eight women were injured in overnight Russian strikes on residential areas. This follows last week's devastating drone and missile attacks that left many across Ukraine without power. The latest in a pattern of targeted strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure as the country struggles to cope with extreme winter cold.

Still to come, Bad Bunny turned the Super Bowl into a massive party with everyone invited. More on high energy halftime show, next.

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[03:30:00]

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CHURCH: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom." I'm Rosemary Church. I want to check today's top stories for you.

The family of Nancy Guthrie is pleading for her return ahead of a possible ransom deadline on Monday. The alleged ransom note reportedly threatens Nancy's life if her family does not pay $6 million in Bitcoin by 5:00 p.m. local time in Arizona. Her children, including "Today Show" host Savannah Guthrie, have said they will pay it as the search for their mother continues.

Japan's Prime Minister is thanking voters who handed her party a major victory in Sunday's snap election. Sanae Takaichi and her ruling coalition have secured a super majority in the lower house of parliament. She called the snap election just three months after she was voted in, saying she hoped to gain a strong mandate for her fiscal policy agenda.

The Seattle Seahawks are celebrating their Super Bowl win. The team took the title Sunday night, topping the New England Patriots 29-13. This is the second championship for Seattle and the first for their head coach, Mike McDonald, in his second season in the post.

And of course, the other big thing, apart from the final score with the Super Bowl, the next biggest moment of Sunday night was the much anticipated halftime performance from rapper and singer Bad Bunny. And the recent Grammy Award winner made sure to bring the block party from Puerto Rico to California.

CNN's Maria Santana watched the show with crowds in New York and has their reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA SANTANA, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Bad Bunny literally brought the house down in the Bronx, New York. We are at Barrio BX, a restaurant in the heart of the Puerto Rican community where fans got together to watch his performance.

And let me tell you, it was electrifying. It was emotional. People danced, people sang, people cried.

Many said this was the greatest display of Puerto Rican and Latino pride they had ever seen in such a big global stage. Let's listen.

UNKNOWN: My reaction, I thought I was going to be crying, but instead I was jumping. It was electrifying every bone in my body. I'm just really proud to be Puerto Rican.

UNKNOWN: It was just so emotional. I couldn't believe how important this moment was for us as Latinos. It was such a moment to bring the pop culture into our culture, how we have our presence in this day and age.

SANTANA: And of course, everybody's favorite song was Nueva York. New York.

When that song came on, this place went crazy. How special is New York, Nueva York, to Bad Bunny, to the Puerto Rican community?

Well, he dedicated an entire song to it in his Grammy winning album, "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos." A large number of Puerto Ricans live in New York, most of them here where we are right now in the Bronx.

Maria Santana, CNN, Nueva York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And still to come this hour, a landmark sentence for one of Hong Kong's most prominent government critics. We will have the latest on the Jimmy Lai case.

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[03:35:00]

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Let's check your business headlines now.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is working to tackle the housing affordability crisis here in the United States. Members of both the Senate and House have introduced bills to address high costs and the shortage of affordable housing by reforming zoning and reducing federal barriers to construction. A floor vote on the House bill is expected this week. The Senate could vote on its bill in the coming weeks.

Documents in the latest batch of Epstein files suggest the sex offender attempted to cozy up to Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin. Emails show Epstein had offered to help the son of Russia's then-ambassador to the United Nations get a job at a New York wealth management fund in 2018. It's unclear if Epstein ever connected with the Russian president.

Sports betting apps and A.I. tech secured some highly coveted Super Bowl ad slots this year. Companies like DraftKings and Fanatic Sportsbook used celebrity star power to encourage Americans to wager more money on events. And industry giants like Meta, Google and Open A.I. took the opportunity to showcase new cutting-edge software developments.

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in a landmark national security case. The sentence handed down just hours ago is the culmination of a years-long legal saga for the 78-year-old billionaire. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout is outside the Hong Kong courthouse with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm standing outside the court where the former Hong Kong media mogul and long-time critic of China Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. In December, he was found guilty of sedition and two counts of colluding with foreign forces.

Now, collusion here in Hong Kong under the Beijing-imposed national security law is a very serious crime punishable by up to life in prison. Jimmy Lai earlier had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

In December, the three judges presiding over the case and convicted Jimmy Lai, they called him a quote, "mastermind of conspiracies." They pointed out his lobbying of U.S. politicians during President Donald Trump's first term, as well as how he used his empire, namely his "Apple Daily" newspaper, to call for international sanctions against China and Hong Kong during the 2019 protests.

Now, this has been the most high-profile national security case since the law was imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020. It's been roundly criticized by Western governments.

The U.S. and other countries have called for the release of Jimmy Lai. In fact, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly pressed Chinese leader Xi Jinping to free Jimmy Lai during their talks last year. Now, China has repeatedly warned against any interference and Hong Kong has insisted that Jimmy Lai has received a fair trial.

[03:40:03]

So, what happens next? Well, an appeal could be a long, drawn-out process with a low success rate.

As for Jimmy Lai, he is 78 years old and has already spent more than five years in prison.

Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Researchers in China have reportedly developed a humanoid robot that uses A.I. to help diagnose and treat autism in children. According to state media, the robot is fitted with a non-invasive wearable brainwave sensor embedded in a headband. That sensor picks up on electrical signals within the brain, converts those patterns into commands for the robot, and generates data that can then be analyzed and interpreted.

Researchers say the robot can adjust how it interacts to suit each child's unique needs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KONG XIANGZENG, A.I. RESEARCH INSTITUTE, FUJIAN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY UNIVERSITY (through translator): When a child struggles to respond to certain questions, the robot can guide them more flexibly and quickly towards the correct answer. It also provides therapists with precise baseline data, making it easier for them to work together with the parents to develop personalized treatment plans for the child's next stage of therapy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: More than 13 million people in China live with autism. The robot is already being used in collaboration with hospitals and autism rehabilitation centers.

Well, for our international viewers, "World Sport" is next. And for those of you here in the United States and in Canada, I'll be right back with more "CNN Newsroom." Do stick around.

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[03:45:00]

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CHURCH: U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn is recovering after breaking her left leg at the Olympic Games in Italy. She is in stable condition after undergoing surgery to treat the fracture after being airlifted to a hospital in Treviso. She was just 13 seconds out of the start for the women's downhill when she hit a gate and fell.

U.S. team officials say a team of American and Italian doctors is caring for Vonn right now.

So joining us from Milan for more on the Olympic Games is CNN Sports anchor Amanda Davies. Good to see you, Amanda. So what is the latest that we have on Lindsey Vonn's condition?

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Good morning, Rosemary. I have to say the more you see those pictures, they really don't get any better. And I've seen them so many times over the last 24 hours, which is the time period we're now approaching after that accident.

And those reports that you mentioned coming out from the hospital in Italy about Vonn's surgery on Sunday evening here in Milan. We still haven't heard any more from U.S. skier and snowboard since that very short update that they issued slightly earlier in the day saying that she's in a stable condition and receiving medical care from those doctors from both the United States and Italy.

The suggestion is we might get something in the coming hours, which we will of course bring you as and when we get it. But the reaction across the Alpine skiing and Olympic community really does tell you everything that you need to know about Vonn's status and the appreciation of what she's done in her career. A true trailblazer who had already become the oldest female Olympic

downhill medal winner. That was when she took bronze two Olympic Games ago in Pyeongchang at the age of 33. And then when she became Olympic champion in Vancouver in 2010, that was a huge milestone moment, the first American woman to ever claim downhill gold.

So yesterday's ultimate winner, Breezy Johnson. And we should take nothing away from her at all. Despite so many of the Vonn headlines, Breezy becomes the second U.S. woman only in history to win what is one of the most prestigious honors in sports. And her emotions were clear for all to see.

The celebration of her biggest career achievement to date, mixed with concern and sadness for Vonn.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BREEZY JOHNSON, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL ALPINE SKIIER: The work that we put in, the careers, I think obviously, you know, my heart aches for her. And yes, it's a tough road and it's a tough sport. I think that that's the beauty and the madness of it, that it can hurt you so badly, but you keep coming back for more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIES: That, of course, Team USA's first gold medal of this Games for Breezy Johnson. And she's actually not going to have too long to celebrate. She's expected to be back on the slopes this morning for her training run for the new team combined event, that's the event she and Michaela Schifrin won at the World Championships 12 months ago.

But that was the success that kicked off yesterday.

Late last night, Team USA ended things very much on a high, defending their team figure skating gold. But only just.

They were pushed all the way by Japan, but ultimately won it by a point. Thanks to the quad god, Ilya Malinin, pulling out all the stops in his free skate.

Heading into this final segment of the competition, the U.S. and Japan had been tied on 59 points. But the four-time national champion Malinin knew he needed to put on a show.

It was brilliant to see 24-time tennis grand slam winner Novak Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, there cheering them on. They certainly enjoyed it. Malinin scoring 200.03, ultimately, to get the celebrations going.

And hopes had been really high for this U.S. team, being dubbed perhaps the greatest U.S. figure skating team in history.

Today, the competition continues there with the ice dance, rhythm dance as well. And the other thing to look out for today, Stanford student Aileen Gu, aiming to win the one Olympic gold that eluded her in Beijing four years ago, that is the free ski slope style. The double Olympic champion, who of course represents the country of

her mother's birth, China. She became the first person to win three freestyle skiing medals last time out.

[03:50:07]

But we know she always strives for better than perfection. And she gave fans something of a scare in qualifying over the weekend. She fell on her first run, she then joked afterwards, keeping people on their toes but she put in a great second run.

And so she's qualifying to set up what is being billed as a head-to- head between her and Switzerland's world champion and defending Olympic champion Mathilde Grameau. And that all gets underway in about three hours' time, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Amanda Davies joining us live from Milan, you have a great assignment there. Go and have some fun, many thanks.

Well, after a team USA Olympic skier expressed mixed emotions about representing all aspects of America, President Trump reacted by calling him, quote, "a real loser" on his Truth Social platform. Mr. Trump went on to say Hunter Hess shouldn't have tried out for the team and that it would be, quote, "very hard to root for someone like this." Hess is from Bend, Oregon, and he said there's a lot going on in the United States that he's not the biggest fan of.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTER HESS, TEAM USA SKIIER: I think it brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think it's a little hard. There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't. Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Hess' comments came after several skiers fielded questions on the political climate here in the United States.

All right. Joining us now for more on the Olympics is reporter Les Carpenter, who joins us live from Milan. Les, great for having you. Great to have you with us.

Before we get to the events, you're staying to cover the Olympics, despite getting that shocking news of being laid off as part of those massive "Washington Post" job cuts. You knew this might happen when you flew to Italy. But what was your reaction when your worst fears were confirmed?

LES CARPENTER, OLYMPIC REPORTER, "WASHINGTON POST": Well, I think like everyone, it's, you know, sort of shock and disappointment and sadness. Mostly the emotions I've had here are sadness. I mean, the Post has been this wonderful sports section for dozens and dozens of decades.

And, you know, it was my dream sports section. And in a lot of ways, we were the last great American sports section.

But I think the Post has always had this great connection with its readers, especially with sports. And they gave me the option to stay or I could go home. And to me, I thought, no, this connection is so great.

If this is the last that we do as a sports section, I feel that I have to be here to write for these readers. And there's a couple of other colleagues of mine who are here as well.

Barry Svrluga, columnist, he's in the same situation. He's in Cortina and I think he feels the same way.

Rick Mays, whose job is going to be moved. And Robert Samuels is here as a news writer. But so he's unaffected.

But I think every one of us feels that same sense of obligation. And there's nothing else I would choose.

This was the obvious. I didn't even think about it. Of course, I'm going to stay and I think the others felt the same way.

CHURCH: Right. I mean, that actually was going to be my next question. I was going to ask, you know, why you decided to stay.

But of course, it makes sense now if you say you were given that option. So presumably your stay will be paid for at least right to the end of the Olympics. Is that correct?

CARPENTER: Well, sure. Yes, I mean, you know, and that's fine. It's just but, you know, I just there never was a choice for me.

And I don't think for the others who are here there. I think we all came to this newspaper because we loved it, because it meant so much to us. So many people have come up to me and I assume the others as well at this Olympics and they all say the same thing.

We, you know, they want to embrace me and hug me. And I realized that they really just want to hug the "Washington Post," that they care, that they believe this is an important part of our society.

And how could I not say no? How could I not be here?

CHURCH: So what are some of the other Olympic highlights that you've been covering throughout this?

CARPENTER: You had mentioned just before about the figure skating and the American figure skating team this year really is tremendous. And it's probably the best all-around American figure skating team in years. Last night, they won the team medal, the team event medal, which is the first of kind of the big series of gold medals they hope to win and it was in dramatic fashion. But I think the fact that they brought their best skater, Ilya Malinlin at the end to win it kind of speaks to the depth that the skating team here has.

I think that's going to be an exciting story through here. Obviously, Lindsey Vonn story that I'm not covering in mountains that Barry is has been has been tremendous to watch. I think you're going to see some really gripping stuff in the mountain events.

[03:55:06]

But for me right now, I think the figure skating has been the biggest highlight that I've had so far.

CHURCH: And of course, I would imagine you're savoring every moment because of the circumstances. And it must be very distracting knowing that this is your last assignment with the "Washington Post." So what are you looking forward to covering in the next day, the days ahead?

CARPENTER: Well, I will do a lot of the figure skating that's going on there.

There's also Jordan Stolz, a great speed skater for the United States that actually has a chance to win more than two gold medals, maybe three. No American except for Eric Heiden in 1980 has ever won more than two gold medals in a Winter Olympics. So there's something that could be extraordinary there.

As far as this being the last assignment at the Post, I'm not focusing on that. You get I think any journalist would tell you get into what you're working on and you're lost in that moment.

I would say, too, especially as I've gotten older, my career, I savor every moment. I mean, every one of these is a treat. Every one of these things that we get to do, these stories we get to tell the people we get to meet, the things we get to see.

They're always a treat. This is something I always savor, I'm not trying to necessarily look at it any more special now. It's just a chance to keep doing what I do.

CHURCH: Yes, totally understandable. And I hope you get some exciting options while you're there.

Les Carpenter in Milan reporting there on the Olympics. Good luck in the future. I appreciate it.

CARPENTER: Thank you. Thank you for the interest in us.

CHURCH: Of course.

Well, Elon Musk is switching his focus from taking humans to Mars to getting them back on the moon. The billionaire posted online that his company, SpaceX, wants to build, quote, "a self-growing city on the moon." Musk did not explain what a self-growing city is exactly, but he suggested his moon settlement could be achieved in less than a decade.

And we'll leave it there, thanks for your company, I'm Rosemary Church. Have yourselves a wonderful day. "American Pulse" is next.

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