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House Judiciary Impeachment Hearings Begin December 4; Interview with Rep. Debbie Dingell, House Senior Whip, on Impeachment Vote; Lebanon Protests; U.S. Race for 2020; Call to Earth; French Chef`s Suit against Michelin. Aired 11a-12:00p ET
Aired November 27, 2019 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trump found out about the whistleblower and the fact it`s become public, he knew what he did was wrong so he released the aid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So much for no quid quo pro. So much for I want nothing. He only said that after he got caught.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Adam Schiff and the Democrats attacked a very successful president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Essentially what it shows is consciousness of guilt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): This hour, a new revelation completely undermining Donald Trump`s position on Ukraine. So we speak to
one of the most powerful women in Washington to get her perspective on what is going on there.
Plus, he is holding up money to Lebanon. We speak to that country`s former interior minister.
And CNN`s spectacular #CallToEarth. Details on all of that ahead.
We are looking this hour ahead to what is sure to be another huge week in the impeachment inquiry of president Donald Trump. Next week there will be
a passing of the torch between the House committees handling the probe.
The Intelligence Committee, which held those weeks of backdoor and public hearings, will present its report on impeachment to the Judiciary
Committee, which has scheduled its own public hearings to start a week from today.
That committee`s chairman has invited president Donald Trump to testify. I want to talk about what`s ahead with the Democratic senior whip in the U.S.
House Debbie Dingell. She`s also co-chair of the House Communications Committee.
Very important views on impeachment that all of our viewers should hear. Kicking off with a very simple question, Donald Trump has been invited,
certainly will be, to testify.
What chance at this point?
REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): You know, he has said it. We`re not focused on that. We`re focused on getting the facts, staying in the process, being
very transparent, having the American public understand what the issues are.
I think a more important question right now is, in the process of trying to be fair, he is allowed to have counsel at the hearings that begin in
Judiciary and at the considerations that will occur.
He has sent mixed messages about whether he will have counsel there. People are trying to be fair to make sure, as we`re in a process right now,
decisions have not yet been made about what`s going to happen.
He can`t say he`s not being treated fairly and not have his own counsel there representing him so he can ask questions. It can be a fair process.
ANDERSON: Whatever he`s thinking privately, publicly Donald Trump is keeping up his strategy of utter total defiance. Listen to this from last
night`s campaign rally in Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: And they`re pushing that impeachment, witch hunt. And a lot of bad things are happening to them. Because you see what`s happening in the
polls? Everybody said that`s really (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You heard the language there, bleeped out of course. He is wrong. Our new poll shows opinions on impeachment haven`t budged at all.
But to some extent, you could argue they haven`t budged at all and that ultimately the American public aren`t massively in favor, massively in
favor of impeachment or renewal.
There will be people watching this show who say, what is the point?
DINGELL: Well, I get a lot of -- I`m going to tell you that this country is divided. No question about it. And by the way, I think that there are
some foreign interests that are trying to divide us.
But the group of people that support President Trump who do not support impeachment have been very strong. That number just has not changed. I`m
not for impeachment or against impeachment. I don`t believe that anybody`s above the rule of the law.
I did not come out in favor of impeachment last summer and Tom Steyer bought ads against me and moveon.org targeted me. But when we had a
President Trump-appointed inspector general said it was urgent and could be of danger to our national security, my job is to protect our Constitution
and our national security.
[11:05:00]
DINGELL: I took an oath of office to do that. And so now we`re in a process, the Intelligence Committee is wrapping up its work, it`s writing a
report. I`ve seen or tried to watch as much of the public hearings like the American public has.
I`m not part of what`s been in those other committees. It`s going to move to the Judiciary Committee.
They`re going to determine does it meet the threshold of impeachment, is it a threat to our country?
I`m waiting to see what their recommendations are. Doing my job, by the way, which is in committee, trying to lower prescription drug prices, et
cetera. I also will tell you I have a whole lot of people yelling at me about why he hasn`t been impeached.
Where do you draw the line?
I think there is very general acceptance in the country that some of the things he did were very wrong, inappropriate. They don`t look right.
Doesn`t rise to the level of should he be impeached. That`s what`s being studied right now in this transparent process.
ANDERSON: Let`s talk about the numbers from a new CNN poll on impeachment that show the partisan divide: 90 percent of Democrats favor it, only 10
percent Republicans do. Those independents who may decide the election in your state of Michigan and other swing states are split down the middle.
What is your strategy as a senior whip at this point to get that needle on the move?
DINGELL: I have to say that I think that this is a very serious time for our country. I think it`s a sad time. So I don`t have a strategy to move
a political needle. I think my job is to do what`s right to protect our democracy, to protect our country and to protect our national security.
I do know nobody`s above the law. I`ve never thought I would ever have to vote on impeachment, to make a decision. It`s not one I want to make.
But when I decide how -- where we`re going to go and what that vote`s going to be, it`s going to be totally based on the facts. And I think that`s
what we`re trying -- the American people are trying to see, is what those facts are. We do need to be aware.
Look, let`s just be blunt. Russia is trying to divide us as a country. They`re trying to destabilize democracies around the world. And I`m really
aware of that every single day, too. And that`s something that endangers our national security.
And I want to make sure the American people are getting the truth and the facts. And that they`re not going to disrupt our democracy or our next
elections.
ANDERSON: Debbie, in the midst of this entire scandal and the chaos in Washington, the president does have what`s, for now, a big advantage in the
2020 race. That is the economy.
A new CNN poll shows 50-50 -- sorry 55 percent of voters approve of how Donald Trump is handling the U.S. economy. That is 5 percent more than
want him impeached and removed from office.
There was very good economic news today in the U.S. with revised figures showing a faster than expected expansion. It is an inconvenient truth,
isn`t it, that the economy, which tops every poll when American people are generally asked, is on the move. And it`s on the move in Donald Trump`s
favor.
DINGELL: First of all, I don`t think it`s an inconvenient truth. I want the economy to do well for everybody. In this country, I was one of the
people that predicted -- nobody believed me. They all thought I was whatever three years ago.
And I said Donald Trump could win because he was talking about the issues that mattered to working men and women across the country. We didn`t do a
good enough job as Democrats talking about that.
We have to, in this next election when we`re in the Midwest, we have working men and women, who are going to care about what the economy is.
They want to know we`re going to fight for them, talk about everyday issues about how their job is going to be safe. Are they going to be able to
educate their kids?
Are they going to have a safe and security environment. As Democrats we have to talk about that.
The president has made a lot of promises. But they`re closing auto plants in my state, in neighboring states. So he`s going to have to talk about
that as well. But I don`t want to close plants. I want us to work together for the American people on what the issues are that are going to
help working men and women and make them secure.
ANDERSON: Take a listen to what one of your Democratic colleagues had to say, if you will.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. BRENDA LAWRENCE (D-MI): We`re so close to an election, I will tell you, sitting here, knowing how divided this country is, I don`t see the
value of taking him out of office.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.
LAWRENCE: I want him censured. I want it on the road that the House of Representatives did their job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Brenda Lawrence over the weekend, your response to what she said.
DINGELL: You know, Brenda`s one of my colleagues from Michigan. She put out a clarifying statement yesterday, making it clear. She was one of the
very early people, she came out before I did, saying that she thought that the president should be impeached.
I have not made -- I`m letting the process play out. She said yesterday she was still supporting impeachment in clarifying those positions. I
think what matters is that we can`t allow people to be above the rule of the law.
And I think that, you know -- it`s not for me, a political calculation about what`s right or wrong. For me, it`s how do I protect this country
that I love.
And that -- and I think a lot of my colleagues are going to be voting on what`s right for this country and that we have to put all partisan politics
aside and vote for what`s going to protect our national security and what`s going to protect our democracy.
ANDERSON: Busy times coming up before those votes, of course. It`s Thanksgiving, so we`ll wish you a very happy Thanksgiving from the entire
team here in Abu Dhabi. I hope the weather works out for you. It`s been a pleasure having you on, thank you.
DINGELL: Happy Thanksgiving and I think it`s warmer there than the 10 inches of snow we`re expecting.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: It certainly is. We wish you the best. Thank you.
At the center of this impeachment scandal, frozen military aid to Ukraine. Ukraine not the only place where U.S. aid is being held up.
During the closed door hearings earlier this month, one diplomat pointed to Lebanon as another example where that is happening. David Hale, you`ll
remember his name, he`s a top State Department diplomat.
He said Ukraine is not an isolated case, saying, according to a transcript, quote, "There was information that came to me starting in late June that a
hold had been placed on both Ukraine assistance and Lebanon military assistance without any explanation."
He said at the time that the aid still had not been fully released. When asked why, the White House would not release money that Congress had
approved, he said there was a quote, "dispute," over how well it was working.
We`re going to do more on the situation in Lebanon coming up this hour. That frozen military aid just one of the country`s many problems as
tensions boil over amid both a political and economic crisis. We`re going to take an indepth look at that as we should straight ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On September 18th, 1997, Ted Turner stunned the world with this announcement.
TED TURNER, "CAPTAIN PLANET": I decided that what would be really exciting to do is I`m going to donate $1 billion to the U.N. causes myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You heard it right, it was $1 billion. It`s been called a changing point in American philanthropy; a look at how our founder gave the
United Nations a financial leg up when no one else would. All that coming up.
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ANDERSON: Welcome back. It`s a quarter past 8:00 here in the UAE.
Now violent clashes still erupting across Lebanon 41 days after the massive demonstrations against the country`s ruling political elite began.
Citizens are still outraged. The outgoing prime minister resigned last month and there is still no sign of a new cabinet being formed.
And it has emerged that, during the U.S. impeachment inquiry earlier this year, the White House put an indefinite hold on military assistance to
Lebanon. On Tuesday, the U.S. secretary of state was asked about that aid.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Lebanese, on this, on the military aid to the Lebanese army.
MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I don`t have anything to say on the Lebanon funding issue today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So pretty much skirting the issue there. Ziyad Baroud was Lebanon`s interior minister from 2008 until 2011, one of the most powerful
positions in the country. He now joins us from Beirut.
I want to start with this aid, this U.S. aid. I want to drill down on exactly what you understand that aid is for and why you believe it has been
withheld, sir.
ZIYAD BAROUD, FORMER LEBANESE INTERIOR MINISTER: Well, I don`t believe this aid could be withheld for long. The Lebanese army has excellent
relations with the United States. The Lebanese army has a track record on mutual relationships with the United States.
I do believe this is only a matter of a couple of weeks or months until things are clearer here in Lebanon before we get -- I mean, before the army
would be able to get again the proper support and aid from the U.S.
ANDERSON: Well, you say you hope it will be a couple of weeks or a couple of months before that aid is forthcoming.
On Tuesday U.S. Democratic senator Chris Murphy tweeted on this aid to Lebanon, saying, "I`m on my way back from Lebanon. People there are
shaking their heads as Trump still refuses to send congressionally mandated security aid. Lebanon may become the next Ukraine or Kurds.
"Let me tell you how dangerous this moment is. It`s important and you need to know."
Do you concur with his position here?
Do you understand where he`s going with that narrative?
BAROUD: Well, I understand that in the United States this is a controversial issue. I`m not saying this is really across the board that
this is a -- that U.S. politicians are unanimous on the support of the Lebanese army.
But I`m saying that the Lebanese army is still performing the same way it has been performing previously, when the U.S. assistance was given to the
army for many years. And I`m saying we`re going through a tough time in Lebanon currently. But it doesn`t mean that the Lebanese-American
relations would suffer from the current situation.
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BAROUD: I do believe that this is only a matter of time until things are clearer for the United States to see how it will continue supporting the
Lebanese army, the army that fought terrorism in a way that was really applauded by everybody.
ANDERSON: In a letter to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, a man you well know, Jeffrey Feltman,
wrote this, "As a first step, the military assistance now under review should be rapidly released.
"This would put the U.S. on the side of national credible institutions at a time when the LAF" -- the Lebanese armed forces -- "popularity is trending
mostly upwards, compared to what appears to be Hezbollah`s reputational decline.
"We can reinforce what is, for us and for Lebanon, a positive momentum."
He talks about this being a time when national credible institutions need support from the U.S.
I think many on the streets of Lebanon today will say, what are you talking about when you name check national credible institutions?
As far as the protesters are concerned, there are no national credible institutions at this point. That is their protest. At this point, there
is no cabinet, there is no transitional government. There is no caretaker prime minister. The president is still in position. His son-in-law, the
foreign minister, who was derided by so many of the protesters, still in position.
What is going on?
You say things will change in weeks, perhaps in months.
Are you sure?
BAROUD: Despite the whole picture that is largely true, yet the Lebanese army is still a credible institution. I do believe that the Lebanese army
is performing in the best way it can under its commandment and is giving enough guarantees to the Lebanese people. It`s giving enough protection to
the protesters in the streets.
The Lebanese army is not a regime army. It`s the people`s army. That`s what we feel on the ground. You can ask whomever you want on the streets
and they`ll tell you they believe the Lebanese army is protecting them.
So this is maybe one of the rare institutions in Lebanon that are still credible, are still delivering protection and enough confidence within the
population.
Now the cabinet is a caretaking government. We are -- we hope that in the very near future we`ll have a capable government able to provide enough
guarantees on many levels on the political, economy, finance.
We have major issues and major challenges coming up. We definitely need the government that would inspire confidence for the Lebanese people, for
the international community in order to give Lebanon some relief because we`re going through tough times and very challenging times in terms of
finance.
For instance, the banking sector is suffering and people are getting concerned. Their demands are legitimate and they`re calling for a cabinet
that can undertake what I mentioned.
ANDERSON: You`re absolutely right to point all of that out. What the protesters will tell you, 41 days in, is that this government or those in
positions of power still are completely tone deaf. That`s what you hear from protesters in the streets in cities across Lebanon.
The Lebanese army had to step in on Tuesday as Hezbollah supporters blocked a building with anti-government protesters inside.
How concerned are you that, before any credible solutions are provided for a cabinet, for a budget, to sort out what is going on politically and
financially, that things could get very, very violent?
[11:25:00]
BAROUD: Yes, indeed. We`re all very concerned. But in the coming days, if we don`t have a cabinet or at least the parliamentary institutions that
are to take place, yes, we`re heading towards something that is very much unknown.
At the end of the month, salaries must be paid. The Lebanese government has to honor some of its engagements in terms of service of the debt.
We -- I`m not saying this is easy but I`m saying that at least people are expressing their legitimate demands and the political class, the
traditional political class, cannot keep not answering, not replying, not giving people what they`re calling for.
This is vital things. They are calling for vital minimum, I would say, requirements from the political class. But one thing is sure. After the
October 17th, things are totally different. The formation of the cabinet is today subject to the approval of the people.
There was a time when only political groups would gather and make an understanding on the cabinet. Now it`s different. People have their say.
I think this is something exceptional that we need to develop further.
ANDERSON: With that we`re going to leave it there, sir. We thank you very much indeed for joining us. I do want to stay on this story.
CNN`s Ben Wedeman`s been covering these protests since the very beginning. He`s been living in Lebanon for years and throughout the Middle East for
decades.
I hope you don`t mind me using the term decades, Ben. You and I were together at the end of last month in Beirut, when there were concerns about
whether salaries would be paid then. A month on, it seems very little has changed.
What`s your perspective of the current situation?
I know you`ve been out and about amongst protesters.
What are they telling you?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, it does appear in the absence of a -- I`m having audio problems. But I think I can answer
your question.
What we have is a political paralysis. The government of Saad Hariri resigned on the 29th of October. There`s been lots of talk among the
political elite about forming a new government but we`re no closer today than we were on the day that the prime minister resigned.
And looming over this political paralysis is a dire economic crisis that is already -- has already begun. The Lebanese lira, which, for more than 20
years, was trading steadily at about 1,005 to the dollar has dropped. Keep in mind that Lebanon imports almost everything: fuel, medicine, food, you
name it. Therefore, the prices have all gone up.
I went shopping yesterday for groceries and was shocked at how much more expensive things have become. As I said, the protests aside, which we`ve
seen Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening, there have been violent clashes.
Those protests aside, in the absence of some sort of political authority -- a government -- to deal with the economic crisis, the situation is only
going to get worse. And there`s no solution in sight.
Unfortunately, my audio connection to you is also not in sight either, Becky. So I`m going to have to pass it back to you.
ANDERSON: You managed magnanimously, as you always do, sir. Always the ultimate professional.
Thank you, Ben Wedeman in Beirut for you. An extremely important story.
We`re going to take a quick break. Back after this.
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ANDERSON: This is CONNECT THE WORLD and a very big welcome to those of you just joining us. You`re more than welcome. A quick recap of our top story
this hour and that`s the impeachment inquiry in Washington and the big revelation today.
"The New York Times" reporting President Trump was aware of the whistleblower complaint about the call to the U.S. president when he
finally released military aid to Ukraine.
Also, newly released transcripts show the former budget official who initially signed off on the president`s aid freeze deemed the request so
unusual, he feared it could violate federal law.
All this as a second House committee prepares to hold public impeachment inquiries next week with President Trump himself invited to appear.
Joining me now, Doug Heye.
Doug, is there any realistic chance that Donald Trump would appear in front of that committee and testify?
He says he`s done nothing wrong.
DOUG HEYE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Not only has he done nothing wrong, obviously it was a perfect phone call.
Most people would agree it would be a big mistake for Donald Trump to show up. He would open himself to so many legal vulnerabilities, it`s unlikely
for him to do so. The one caveat is we know two things: Donald Trump loves attention and this would be the biggest show in the world. So it`s
possible that Donald Trump could do that.
And, two, that Donald Trump likes talking about himself more than anything else.
So those two things are small caveats in the otherwise what should be overwhelming proof that Donald Trump won`t testify. It`s not in his best
interest. But we`ve seen so many times Trump doesn`t always act in his best self-interest.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: We`re learning what Donald Trump really knew and when about military aid, an invitation extended for a meeting at the White House to a
Ukrainian president on the understanding of -- that the Ukrainians would play ball, it seems, with the president and his gang when it comes to the
Bidens and corruption issues -- sorry, the 2016 election.
How close -- the Democrats feel they have -- this is a done deal. They also know that the Republicans have no sway with this in the Senate.
So where does this go from here, sir?
HEYE: Yes, I think that`s the big question in Washington right now. What we see hopefully is a country that`s very divided. If you looked at
everything that happened in the Senate -- the House Intelligence Committee over the past two weeks, I think it`s almost an inescapable conclusion all
of it was bad for Donald Trump.
But that`s if you`re in a normal political world, which we`re clearly not in right now. CNN`s own polling shows, after two weeks of negative
headlines for the president, bombshells against what the president knew and when he knew it and the past 48 hours beyond what the House Intelligence
Committee has reported out.
This is CNN`s own polling, the numbers haven`t changed. If you supported impeachment before, the numbers are the same. If you opposed impeachment
before, the numbers are the same.
I had a conversation just a little while ago with a House Democrat who represents a conservative district that went for Donald Trump. And what
she said to me is, she`s hearing it overwhelmingly on both sides that you have to impeach and that you can`t impeach.
The country is divided and it doesn`t look like it`s going to change anytime soon.
ANDERSON: President Trump denying Rudy Giuliani, now denying that Rudy Giuliani was acting on his behalf in Ukraine. Have a listen to what Mr.
Trump told Bill O`Reilly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You have to ask that to Rudy. Rudy, I know he was going to go to Ukraine and I think he canceled a trip. but you know, Rudy has other
clients other than me. No, I didn`t direct him. But he`s a warrior. Rudy`s a warrior. Rudy went. You have to understand Rudy has other people
he represents.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Look, very difficult to understand how the president can still be denying this, despite all the witness testimony that`s come out about
what the Rudy Giuliani was doing in Ukraine at the behest of the president.
I guess that begs the question at this stage, given his tone in that interview with Bill O`Reilly is whether we should expect the U.S. president
to chuck his personal lawyer under a bus at this point.
HEYE: If you`re Rudy Giuliani his team you have to be prepared for that responsibility. Trump is not responsible for anyone that goes wrong. If
you`re Rudy Giuliani, that means you may be target one on this.
The other thing I would say also is this is why I think it`s incumbent on the president and his team to be more strategic about what they`re doing.
This interview and previous interviews he`s done, if you want to protect the president in a legal case, you have to protect him.
You can`t have him out there just spouting a stream of consciousness all over the place. These things do not help the president.
ANDERSON: One of the latest polls shows Joe Biden as the top choice for Democratic nominee for president. Former Vice President Joe Biden is 11
percent ahead of Bernie Sanders.
Would a Joe Biden as Democratic contender be a gift to Donald Trump at this point?
HEYE: I don`t think we know that yet. For so many voters that we look at, who flipped for Trump, these are people who could be comfortable for Donald
Trump. These are voters in Pennsylvania, in Wisconsin, in Michigan.
These are areas that Barack Obama won, which means Joe Biden won them as well, but then flipped for Trump in 2016. So in theory, Joe Biden,
especially in Pennsylvania -- he was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania -- should be the best Democrat they have.
Obviously his campaign has stumbled a bit. But he remains on top. It`s a weird and fluid situation at the same time that makes it hard to predict.
[11:40:00]
HEYE: One thing we should remember, looking at the Republican race the last time, is every other week in 2015, going into 2016, there was a
different Republican who was leading. Biden`s been consistently on top. But there`s a lot of fluidity in this race. We`ve got long way to go
before we get to New Hampshire and Iowa.
ANDERSON: Sure. Sure. Finally, we saw last hour some of Clarissa Ward`s reporting, my colleague, from inside Syria. Kurds telling her they feel
completely betrayed by the United States` decision to pull U.S. troops from the Syria-Turkish border. Even President Trump`s backers were appalled.
Now it seems that the United States are back in bed with Syrian Kurds against ISIS. This whiplash foreign policy is a real issue in this region
where we are, this region of the Middle East, where the reliability of America as a partner is really in question at this point. That sense is
reflected in the response from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in Washington.
Is that also a feeling shared by the American public?
HEYE: They aren`t paying attention to this the way they would in other issues in part because the impeachment conversation dominates absolutely
everything that we deal with.
Just for some context, when Barack Obama walked back from the request for the use of military force in Syria. I helped write that. That was a
terrible decision.
This is also a terrible decision, I think even more so. As you say, it shows that America isn`t necessarily a reliable partner. It means we`re
sending the wrong message to our allies and our adversaries as well. That`s something that`s not breaking through to the American people.
Because the reality is all they hear is about Donald Trump and impeachment all day every day. Even, unfortunately, on our holiday tomorrow, probably.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: With that we`ll let you go. I`m sure that you, as everybody else, has got to get home and it seems in some parts of the States the
weather isn`t helping out. Happy Thanksgiving, Doug, whatever you are up to over the weekend. We hope you get quality time with family and friends.
You`re watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Still to come, we have the story of how CNN`s founder used his personal wealth to help one of the world `s most
important organizations carry out its work. That is next.
And for some chefs, it represents the pinnacle of their career. For others, a Michelin star can be a curse. Now a top French chef is in court
fighting that guide. More up next.
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ANDERSON: Whether you`re joining us from London or from Tokyo or perhaps right here in Abu Dhabi, we all have one thing in common: a duty to
protect our one and only planet.
All this week on CNN, we`re launching "Call to Earth." This is a long-term call to action to protect our world. CNN`s Sanjay Gupta takes a look at
how our very own founder was already doing his part to better the world decades ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (voice-over): On September 18th, 1997, Ted Turner stunned the world with this announcement.
TURNER: I decided that what would be really exciting to do is I`m going to donate $1 billion to the U.N. causes myself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody saw the billion dollar donation coming.
AL GORE, FORMER VP OF THE U.S.: I thought that was really inspiring to people, giving a billion dollars of his personal funds to the United
Nations.
KATHY CALVIN, U.N. FOUNDATION: The U.N. was back on its heels. The U.S. wasn`t paying its dues. It was in trouble in a lot other countries and it
needed a shot in the arm.
GUPTA: A lot of people would say it`s the government`s job. Let them handle it.
TURNER: I agree. But if the government doesn`t do it, then somebody`s got to do it.
GUPTA: That was you?
TURNER: That was me.
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Ted Turner, who, tonight, as you know -- that`s one of the largest -- is that -- I guess it`s got to be a record, huh?
TURNER: We don`t know. And I didn`t even know. I didn`t check. I only made the -- got the idea 48 hours ago.
KING: Knowing you, there will be a way you`ll make money --
TURNER: Well, I`ve always felt like you have to learn to give. It`s like --
KING: Not easy.
TURNER: You`re not born as a giver. You`re born pretty selfish.
(CROSSTALK)
TURNER: People love money, it doesn`t matter how much you got, you want more. Look at the ball players, look at Bill Gates.
He feels like he can`t get by, you know?
BILL GATES, ENTREPRENEUR: My name is Bill Gates. I have known Ted Turner for about 40 years. I think I got called like the day before and there was
even a period of time after the announcement, where he was kind of criticizing even Warren and I by name.
TURNER: Bill Gates could give a --
(CROSSTALK)
TURNER: He`s got a whole lot of money. I mean, he can buy and sell both of us, you know, and they`d keep the change.
GATES: There was some good natured criticism there, which, you know, it`s ironic, because later, we would come together, have this initiative that`s
encouraged philanthropy by people who are very, very successful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it was a turning point in leaning on and changing the face of American philanthropy.
GATES: If you said, OK, if Ted didn`t give to the United Nations, who would have done that?
The answer is very clearly no one would have done that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Tomorrow, another chapter in Ted Turner`s story. We take a look at one of the largest ranches in America, which he has dedicated to
conserving a rare native species with some help from the public.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Ted has a really great quote, "When we connect with nature, we heal ourselves. When we protect nature, we heal
our planet."
I think that happens when people are here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This is a full-on CNN effort. Every part of our international news operation is on board right here on TV. We`re also up on the website.
You can find this fully interactive hub at cnn.com/CallToEarth. It`s unlike anything we`ve done before. It`s well worth checking out,
cnn.com/CallToEarth. It`s your world and we`re connecting for you.
Still to come, how a world famous restaurant in Tokyo lost its spot in the Michelin guide, despite being sold out every night.
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[11:50:00]
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ANDERSON: Right now, a French court is hearing about a top chef`s suit against the Michelin guide after one of his three stars was removed over a
souffle. Michelin stars are considered the ultimate measure of culinary success, as you all know. Most chefs can only dream one day of getting
one.
Just how important are they?
Well, here`s a clip from Burnt to explain.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know about the Michelin?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s a book.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s the book, the Bible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michelin allows its inspectors to restaurants to eat and award stars, one, two, three.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Or none.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, are the stars not burning as bright?
Saskya Vandoorne had the rather delicious task of finding out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN PRODUCER: In France, food is given a special place. In the best restaurants, it`s given an almost ceremonial reverence. And
for the top chefs, the ultimate measure of their success is the Michelin star.
What if, far from being something to wish for, the Michelin star was more of a curse?
VANDOORNE (voice-over): One of France`s most famous chefs has earned nine stars in all. But in January his restaurant in the Alps lost its third
star over a souffle that a critic said tasted of cheddar, an affront that he has not even begun to digest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking French).
VANDOORNE (voice-over): Now the 69-year-old is taking the guide to court. He says no longer wants the stars and wants the guide to clarify the
reasons behind its decision. It turns out it`s not that simple. It insists its first duty is to inform the consumer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The food, especially in France, is about passion. It`s about emotion. Chefs are real artists. So they are quite proud sometimes
excessive (ph), fragile and I think it`s that case, is saying, OK, I deserve three stars because I am who I am. We have to avoid any kind of
let`s say, emotional blackmail.
VANDOORNE (voice-over): It isn`t the first time that the pressure placed on chefs by the star system has caused controversy. The 2003 suicide of
the three-star chef was linked to a system of intense gourmet critique. Several chefs have asked for their stars to be removed, citing the
psychological as well as financial pressure of maintaining their rating.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking French).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking French).
[11:55:00]
VANDOORNE (voice-over): There are hopes the hearing today will force the guide to be more transparent about how it awards stars and, more
importantly, why it takes them away -- Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Michelin now says it won`t recommend one of the most famous sushi restaurants in all of Japan. Tokyo`s Sukiyabashi Jiro has been
removed from the Michelin guide, not because the quality has declined but because it is nearly impossible to eat there.
The restaurant can seat a maximum of 10 guests at a time and visits from celebrities and heads of state has only increased demand.
Tonight before we go, we remember the life of one of the world`s most famous and remarkable chefs. Gary Rhodes has died at the age of 59. In a
statement, the family said he passed away on Tuesday evening with his wife, Jenny, at his side.
Rhodes was the head chef at six different Michelin starred restaurants. That`s six. What an epic and incredible achievement. A fellow chef,
Ainsley Harriott, called Rhodes a, quote, "true culinary icon and a lovely man. Rest in peace, my friend," he says.
I`m Becky Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD, thank you for watching.
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