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Uncertainty on Eve of Britain's Monumental Election; Final Day of U.K. General Election Campaign; Scotland Voted to Remain in the European Union; Liberal Democrats Leader Vulnerable in Constituency; Interview with Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Impeachment and Why Donald Trump Thinks the Case Against Him Is Weak and Pathetic; Volcano Tour in New Zealand Turns into Nightmare. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired December 11, 2019 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I don't know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: This hour, all roads lead to uncertainty. Britain just hours away from a once in a lifetime vote that will set the
stage for generations to come.
Plus -- it's going to be a long, long night in Washington as lawmakers from both sides pitch against one another to discuss the charges of high crimes
and misdemeanors against the U.S. President.
And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That menacing ash cloud started to roll over the cliff and engulf the island.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We meet a man who barely scraped away from an erupting volcano in New Zealand.
It's 7:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi, 10:00 in the morning in D.C., it's 3:00 in the afternoon in London. A very warm welcome to your extended CONNECT
THE WORLD show with me, Becky Anderson.
The big story this hour, almost everything you know about the U.K. could be about to change. The way it works with the world, its economy and who
lives there and why. As we are in the final day of campaigning for an election that is going from the balmy to the downright shocking. And with
so much at stake, the men who want to be the next Prime Minister are going all in on one last push to get their parties over the line.
Boris Johnson's Conservative Party is still comfortably ahead in the latest polling. Jeremy Corbyn's opposition Labour Party is closing that gap hard
and fast. It really could go any way on Thursday. And the pressure seems to be making things, well, just a little bizarre. Just hours ago, the
Prime Minister apparently dodging a reporter's question about appearing on the morning TV show and then seeming to run off to take cover in a milk
truck. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Come on. Very good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me sir, will you deliver on your policy (INAUDIBLE) for Britain?
JOHNSON: Of course I will. Thank you very much. Put that right there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well this after an election that no one seems to have wanted in the first place except perhaps Boris Johnson himself.
CNN's Matthew Chance starts us off this hour with two of the most marginal seats in the country to find out who, if any of the candidates, can win
voters over. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Welcome to Dudley in the English Midlands where ancient traditions are
being overturned. Don't worry, the old town crier is still going strong but the overwhelmingly Brexit supporting locals are questioning long-held
political allegiances thinking of voting for the other side.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would possibly vote Conservative now.
CHANCE (on camera): Conservative?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CHANCE: This is a traditional Labour place.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I know it is. But I would vote Conservative at the moment now. I'm going to change.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've always voted Labour. I've always voted, but now I don't know.
CHANCE: What's making you -- you've always voted Labour. What's making you hesitant for voting Labour this time?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know if Jeremy Corbyn is up to the job.
CHANCE (voice-over): And it's not just the voters here turning their backs on Labour. In a local pub, we met the area's former Labour MP now urging
the people of Dudley to vote Conservative.
[10:05:02]
IAN AUSTIN, FORMER BRITISH LABOUR MP: For the first time in my life, I've decided to vote for Conservatives. And I did that because I think that
Jeremy Corbyn is not fit to run our country. And I don't think he can be trusted to defend our country. I don't think he's a patriot.
CHANCE: It's a big step to take, isn't it? I mean, for people around the world watching this -- changing support from Labour to Conservative is
huge. Isn't it?
AUSTIN: It's a massive thing. I join the Labour party at the age of 18 -- 35 years ago here in Dudley. I've never been a member of any other
political party. I've never voted for anybody else until this year, I could never have managed that this would happen.
CHANCE: What's happening in this constituency of Dudley is also taking place across the country. Brexit, disillusionment with politics and
politicians are turning traditional party loyalties upside down making this British general election particularly tough to fight and hard to predict.
(voice-over): And, of course, the changes cut in all directions. Take the suburb of Kingston outside London where a mixture of disillusionment and
anger at Brexit among remain voting locals like Rick the barber is threatening a long-held Conservative Party majority.
RICK, BARBER: I'm not going to vote. I won't be voting, no.
CHANCE: Why?
RICK: I won't be voting because I don't agree with any of -- I think it's all corrupt. And whoever we vote for -- I don't even count it anyway.
That's my view.
CHANCE: Are there any politicians in Britain that you think deserve your vote?
RICK: No.
CHANCE: No? No one? Boris Johnson?
RICK: Nope.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This year I'm changing because I heard it wasn't happening about the leadership.
CHANCE (voice-over): It's a mood the local Labour candidate hopes she can turn her way in an area once represented by Winston Churchill himself, the
doyenne of British Conservative leaders . She admits she's facing an uphill struggle to engage voters at all, especially in the dark winter
months of this election campaign.
(on camera): To what extent are you hearing mad on the doorstep.
FAIZA SHAHEEN, U.K. LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR CHINGFORD AND WOODFORD GREEN: A lot of people are disillusioned with politics right now. And I don't blame
them. You know, I think there's a lot of mistrust and they've seen so much misinformation and lies. People are really struggling to see who they can
trust in this world.
CHANCE (voice-over): And who in this most consequential British election deserves their vote.
Matthew chance, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well CNN will have extensive coverage of the election in the hours ahead. Our reporters found out across the British Isles. This hour
we get the story in Edinburgh and Scotland with Scott McLean and on some of the dirty tricks of the campaign, Hadas Gold standing by in London for you.
And I'm delighted to welcome back to CNN a man who has forgotten more about British politics than many of us will ever know. He's taught me everything
I know about British politics, Mr. Robin Oakley, our political analyst. Let's start with the story, if we can, at the top of the country as it were
or the British Isles, and Edinburgh in Scotland, what's the story there -- Scott?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Becky. The battle lines in Scotland are much less about party and more about Brexit and Scottish independence.
That dynamic is more likely to benefit Conservatives in the Scottish National Party squeezing out Labour and Liberal Democrats. Even Liberal
Democrat leader Joe Swinson is facing a serious challenge for her own seat.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jean, why don't you go with four and I'll go to number two and Tom you can do five.
MCLEAN (voice-over): At 27, Amy Callahan is young for political standards but has no shortage of life experience. The Scottish National Party
candidate in suburban Glasgow has had to fight for her own twice. At age 19, she had a cancerous lump removed from her cheek. It came back two
years later. She was treated by Britain's Public Health System, the NHS.
AMY CALLAHAN, SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY CANDIDATE: My experience with cancer has only spurred a desire to make sure NHS is protected. And I'm not
silent here as a candidate for the Scottish National Party. Five years cancer-free because of what NHS has done for me.
MCLEAN (on camera): It saved your life?
CALLAHAN: Yes, it saved my life twice.
MCLEAN (voice-over): In this election, though, Callahan has another uphill battle against Liberal Democrat leader Joe Swinson. Political heavy with
the advantage of a national profile and 12 years as the MP for East Dunbartonshire. But she's been beat once before.
CALLAHAN: No one has got a divine right to a seat here. You need to earn that right.
MCLEAN: From the outset of the campaign 39-year-old Swinson set her sights on Number 10. Boldness dwarfed only by her party's central campaign
promise to cancel Brexit without a second referendum.
[10:10:03]
After a strong start in the polls, Liberal Democrats have been on a steady slide. Katie Gordon is Swinson's longtime local campaign manager. She
remembers how it felt to lose the seat in 2015 and to win it back two years later.
KATY GORDON, LIBERAL DEMOCRAT CAMPAIGN CHAIR, EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE: This time I'd say it's somewhere between the two. You know, there's warm
support. There's also a lot of people fundamentally motivated by independents.
MCLEAN: Independents has transformed Scotland from reliantly Labour red to S&P yellow. Conservatives have since made inroads but Liberal Democrats
who oppose a second independence vote have felt the squeeze.
GORDON: So if you have one dividing line that's about, you know, your loyalties to deal with independence or not, and then you have another
dividing line about leave or remain in Europe, and so it's much harder to predict these days, I think.
MCLEAN: On the High Street in Kirk and Tele we found another dividing line when we asked --
(on camera): how do you feel about Jo Swinson?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I cannot stand her personally.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a nice person. Doesn't deserve to be in power in any way shape or form.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So 17.4 million people who voted to leave would have no voice. So no, I won't be voting Lib Dem.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's not done much for this end. They say you're fine if you are for her at the other end of East Dunbartonshire in the very
affluent end.
MCLEAN: But even seven miles west we found kind words.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's been an excellent MP for the area.
MCLEAN: But not a lot of votes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jo Swinson, she started well but some of the things she said, like Article 50 revoking. I don't think she's got a good grip at
the moment.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's lost the floor completely. I used to vote for her, but I don't anymore because I think she's just become too extreme.
MCLEAN: In Scotland, there are no safe seats, not even it seems for a national party leader.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCLEAN: Now Jo Swinson is wrapping up her campaign in Conservative held parts of London. Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party currently holds 35
of the 59 seats near Scotland. Obviously, they would like to win more, but the former Scottish Conservative leader has promised to skinny-dip in Loch
Ness if the party wins more than 50 seats -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Hadas, the Lib Dems not likely to win this by any stretch of the imagination, but there are appeals for tactical voting. Which may be one
of the reasons we're seeing a narrowing in the polls between the two major parties that of Boris Johnson and his Conservatives and indeed the Labour
Party run by Jeremy Corbyn. And if we thought that this campaign would be clean, well we were entirely wrong.
HADAS GOLD, CNN REPORTER, EUROPEAN POLITICS, MEDIA AND BUSINESS: Yes, Becky, that's true. Campaign tricks are as old as a campaign buttons or
slogans. But this election in particular has been very, very dirty. Some experts I've spoken to said that it's the dirtiest campaign they've seen.
Especially when it comes to online information.
So here are some of my top dirtiest tricks of the U.K. election. The first is the fake fact-checking Twitter account we saw from the Conservatives
during the first live debate. They changed their party press account to make it look like a fact-checking account.
The second is selectively edited videos on social media. This is for example, like we saw the video where it seemed as though Keir Starmer, the
Labour Brexit secretary was not able to answer a question in an interview. When in fact, he did answer the question in the interview completely.
Then we have the anonymous misleading briefings. This is when you get briefings from senior government sources or senior political sources to
reporters. Reporters then get -- put that information online but it might not turn out to be true. We might see that later on the story is totally
different.
We've seen campaign pamphlets that look exactly like the local newspapers. These are pretty much fake newspapers. It might be hard to tell at first
glance but they're campaign pamphlets.
And then of course the classic dodging of the interviews or dodging a debate. We saw from Prime Minister Boris Johnson who failed to show up to
the climate change debate by channel 4.
And I think what these issues, especially around social media show, is that it's a wild west when it comes to online. Though we have regulations in
the U.K. around for example political ads on broadcast, there are absolutely no rules or regulations when it comes to online. And all of the
political parties, nobody has clean hands in this election when it comes to posting or using potentially misleading information online. And especially
because these regulations can continue through polling day, the experts I've spoken to say the next few hours will be especially important to be
vigilant about the information that people see online.
ANDERSON: Robin, we care about this election, not least because the outcome will effectively decide Brexit. Which, of course, is the biggest
issue in at least a generation, facing not just the Brits, but Europe. So what's the latest polling suggesting at this point?
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, the latest polling is suggesting it's getting a little bit closer. Early polling for most of the
campaign, it appeared the Conservatives had a lead of 10 or 12 points over Labour. That seems to be squeezed a little bit. A little bit of tactical
voting coming in.
[10:15:03]
The Tories, the Conservatives have a lead of 10 or 12 points over Labour. That seems to be squeezed a little bit, a little bit of tactical voting
coming in. The Tories are clearly worried that those polls will have made some of their own voters complacent. And some of the ones who voted remain
in the referendum who don't like Boris Johnson's line on Brexit and have been tempted to vote Lib Dem, they're trying to bring them back into the
Conservative fold by saying that a vote for anyone except Boris Johnson could put Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street.
The thing is Boris Johnson has got to win a decent majority in order to be able to push through Brexit. Jeremy Corbyn, he doesn't have to win a
majority necessarily to finish up at number 10 Downing Street because he could get help at a price from the Scottish National Party or indeed from
the Liberal Democrats.
ANDERSON: This campaign began with reports of Russia trying to wield influence in U.K. politics. Now we see all the hallmarks of election
meddling, fake news, social media and leaked documents linked to Russia. I can't now remember how many elections you've covered, but what do you make
of all of this and who are you betting on at this point should you be a betting man?
OAKLEY: I think this is the most mendacious, dispiriting, depressing election I've covered and this is the 14th I think, Becky, actually. And
there have been so many lies on both sides. The promises being made by the two major parties to a large extent unbelievable and both major parties,
Conservative and Labour, have narrowed themselves into narrow sects of the faithful. When they both used to be broad-based parties with room for a
range of opinions. That is completely gone in this election. It's a result largely on Brexit. And Brexit is now the biggest determinant I
think of people's voting intentions.
The tribal element in voting has gone. And of course, that's what Boris Johnson is counting on. He's hoping that he can breach the so-called red
wall. That he can pick up Labour -- traditional Labour seats in the midlands and the north and in Wales on the grounds that a number of those
seats were heavy supporters of leave in the referendum campaign in 2016. He's hoping that he can bring those people across. But will it happen when
they finally get into the ballot box at the last moment. Will people who have traditionally vote forward one party all their lives, will they say,
oh, you know, Brexit is the most important thing or will they revert to their traditional loyalties? That's a big question -- Becky.
ANDERSON: This was an election that Boris Johnson said nobody wanted. Sort of slightly slyly because many people said it's the election that
Boris Johnson absolutely wanted. Whether he will get the result that he hoped for we will know in the hours to come. Thank you, guys.
CNN is where it's at for the latest on what is this crucial U.K. election. We'll have special coverage on Thursday as the polls close. That starts
just around 10:00 p.m. London time.
Impeachment efforts against U.S. President Donald Trump move full steam ahead. What you need to know before the public debate in Congress on the
charges against the president. That's next. \
[10:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All eyes are on Washington for an historic day on Capitol Hill. I know you've heard me say that before, but this really is and has been
historic. We've had weeks now of history in the making, and here we are once again. U.S. House Democrats are now just hours away from taking a
major step down the road to impeachment.
It's been 24 hours since Democratic leaders announced two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump accusing him of abuse of power
and obstruction of Congress. Well, tonight formal debate over those articles will begin in the Judiciary Committee before a vote to move the
debate to the House floor.
This is all extremely important. And the U.S. President is in full attack mode at a rally in Pennsylvania Tuesday, Mr. Trump called the case against
him weak and pathetic. But that doesn't erase the fact he's likely to become just the third President in American history to be impeached.
Suzanne Malveaux has the very latest for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The House judiciary committee will begin formal discussions on the articles of impeachment
tonight. Just one day after making this historic announcement.
REP. JERRY NADLER (D-NY): The House committee on the judiciary's introducing two articles of impeachment charging the president of the
United States, Donald J. Trump, with committing high crimes and misdemeanors.
MALVEAUX: In their first article, House Democrats charging President Trump with abuse of power saying that he solicited the interference of a foreign
government, Ukraine, to publicly announce investigations that would benefit his re-election.
NADLER: It is an impeachable offense.
MALVEAUX: The second article, obstruction of Congress, where they allege the president directed the unprecedented, categorical and indiscriminate
defiance of subpoenas of top White House officials.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): I wish the president's actions did not make it necessary. If we did not hold him accountable, he would continue to
undermine our elections.
MALVEAUX: The committee will officially start considering amendments to the articles tomorrow morning. Setting the stage for a possible floor vote
by the full House next week. President Trump lashing out against Democrats, downplaying the historic nature of impeachment.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All of these horrible things, remember, bribery and this and that. Where are they? They said
these two things, they're not even a crime. This is the lightest, weakest impeachment.
MALVEAUX: But Democrats insisting they are acting on their oath.
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): The argument, why don't you just wait amounts to this. Why don't you just let him cheat in one more election? Why not let
him cheat just one more time?
MALVEAUX: Meantime, a divide widening between majority leader Mitch McConnell and Trump over the likely Senate trial, sources tell CNN.
McConnell hoping to keep impeachment short and simple. But the president wants a political spectacle in an effort to hurt Democrats' chances at the
ballot box in November. Two people familiar with Trump's thinking saying. In a trial President Trump wants to call Hunter Biden. House Intelligence
Chairman Adam Schiff and the whistleblower, the sources report. Trump also lied at last night's rally once again insisting his campaign was spied on
by the FBI, which was debunked by the Justice Department's IG report earlier this week.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: In the past hour, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been meeting behind closed doors with the Democratic caucus as it's known. In
the sweeping reporting, a formal debate opens in just hours from now. This is over the articles of impeachment against President Trump.
Let's bring in a House Democrat. Tony Cardenas is a representative from California. Democratic assistant whip and member of the House committee on
energy and commerce and joining us from Washington.
It's good to have you on, sir. Not only does the president think the case against him is weak and pathetic, at a rally in Pennsylvania last night, he
said this. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You saw their so-called articles of impeachment today. People are saying, they're not even a crime. What happened? All of these horrible
things. Remember bribery and this and that. Where are they? They said these two things. They're not even a crime. This is the lightest, weakest
impeachment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:25:00]
ANDERSON: He calls the (ph) impeachment light, sir. Not even like an impeachment. Your response?
REP. TONY CARDENAS (D-CA): Well, President Donald Trump says a lot of things, and much of what he says, you can't take it to heart. He just says
what's on his mind, and nine times out of ten there's no facts or truth to back it up. So when he's in his rallies he's in his own element and
whatever he says there to me is just activist talk.
But I'm a member of the United States Congress and I was sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and against any enemies,
foreign and domestic. And President Donald Trump has not adhered to his duties, and he has violated to the point where Congress has to go through
impeachment.
ANDERSON: Well, with respect, sir, Robert Wray, a former independent counsel says this is the first impeachment of a president that does not
allege a crime has been committed. He claims Democrats have, and I quote him here, jettisoned treason, bribery, extortion and foreign campaign
contributions as a predicate under law for impeachment. Instead he says we are left with abusive conduct and an interbranch dispute over witnesses and
documents. That is quite a damning indictment of where the Democrats are at, is it not?
CARDENAS: Well, if you get any two lawyers in a room, you've got 20 opinions. And the bottom line is this, we feel confident and comfortable
that we're adhering to our duties to be the balance of power that we are, the United States Congress and impeachment starts in the House of
Representatives. We've had hours and hours of open hearings before the public. We've had testimony that's been incredibly consistent that has
been given damning information that this President actually abused his power and, in the process, he has unequivocally, unequivocally obstructed
Congress.
ANDERSON: Clearly this is not something the president agrees with. Let me put this to you. It's a question I've been asking those lawmakers that
we've had on this show. For the benefit of our viewers watching this around the world, if this gets through the House, this goes to a Senate
trial and it is very, very unlikely that the president will be removed from office. Many people questioning, why do this at all?
CARDENAS: What the House of Representatives' responsibility is to determine whether these articles of impeachment have merit, and they do.
And we're going to see that in the Judiciary Committee and there's going to be a vote. It will move to the floor of the House of Representatives where
all of the 435 Republicans and Democrats will have an opportunity to debate and vote on these articles of impeachment. And then we'll see what that
result is.
ANDERSON: I just want to get our viewers a little more from President Trump because it's great to have you here, and I want to get your response
to some more of what he said last night in mocking the Democrats. This is President Donald Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: They announced impeachment, and then an hour later, she announced that she's going to do USMCA. You know why? It's a huge deal. And it
plays down the impeachment because they're embarrassed by the impeachment, and our poll numbers have gone through the roof because of her stupid
impeachment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I have to say, the latest Quinnipiac polling shows for the first time, sir, that more people than not, 51 percent, don't believe the
president should be impeached and removed from office. If that poll is anything to go by, all this process seems to be doing is benefiting the
president. That must be a concern for you and your colleagues as you move into the 2020 election campaign. Do you have any problems with the way
this impeachment process is being conducted?
CARDENAS: Well, our concern as members of Congress, responsible members of Congress, is to make sure that we defend this country and the people of
this country. And this President has violated his oath of office. So that's what we're concerned with. Whether or not the polls say 51 percent
or 45 percent or what have you, then we would be getting into a political discussion. And this is not about politics. This is about the United
States of America, the safety and protection of the people of this great country.
And one of the things I'd like to point out, this President has been telling a lie that Congress has not been doing its job. The House of
Representatives have passed 275 bills over to the United States Senate. We've been protecting people when it comes to their healthcare, when it
comes to veterans, when it comes to seniors. So we have been doing our job. It's just unfortunately President fails to recognize that.
[10:30:00]
ANDERSON: Just before half past 11:00 in the -- half past 10:00 in the morning in Washington. Sir, thank you for joining us. And heaps more on
impeachment at CNN.com.
CARDENAS: You're welcome.
ANDERSON: An interactive walk-through of the charges against the American President and all it entails. That's at our website 24/7. Of course,
that's CNN.com.
And more analysis coming up for you right here on the show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, FORMER WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: This humiliation, this full-blown humiliation. That's one guy that doesn't like
to be humiliated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: How Anthony "The Mooch" Scaramucci thinks impeachment will affect his former boss' run for a second term. That interview coming up
next hour for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. Emergency officials say eight people are still missing after what was the deadly volcano disaster in New Zealand. Six
people sadly have been confirmed dead. Authorities say it is still too dangerous to return to the island to recover bodies but it's an absolute
priority. New aerial video shows huge plumes of white smoke still rising from the volcano. 25 people are in critical condition in hospital. New
Zealand has ordered additional skin from the United States to be used to treat them.
Well CNN's Will Ripley spoke with a man who had just taken a boat tour of the island with his daughter. Here is his report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Monday was a picture-perfect day to visit white island. Crystal blue skies, sunlight bouncing off the
lunar-like landscape. Raw, rugged natural beauty lures thousands to this New Zealand treasure each year.
GEOFF HOPKINS, TOURIST AND TRAINED FIRST RESPONDER: Beautiful yellows and whites and crystals. But knowing just below the surface is so violent, so
hot, so explosive.
RIPLEY: The trip was Geoff Hopkins 50th birthday gift from his daughter, Leilani.
HOPKINS: We weren't in any hurry to get off the island. I'm thinking where I'm going to sit on the boat so we can get some awesome shots of the
island as we leave.
RIPLEY: He took this photo at 2:07 p.m.
(on camera): Those dots are people who were in the crater.
HOPKINS: There people on the crater, like on the edge of the crater lake and then four minutes later --
RIPLEY (voice-over): At 2:11, blue skies turned dark.
HOPKINS: For a split second, it was a gasp of awe.
One or two seconds later is that menacing ash cloud started to roll over the cliff and engulf the island. Wow.
[10:35:00]
This is serious. This is bad. And you know, at that stage they knew you'd think there were people still on the island.
RIPLEY: Their tour boat turned around. Everything on the island covered in ash.
HOPKINS: And that smashed helicopter just completely gray. And we can see there's people in the water, as people swimming off the island.
RIPLEY: They pulled 23 survivors onto the boat. It was hard to tell the students from the senior citizens.
HOPKINS: Everybody was horrific burns. Skin falling off, lots of screaming, you know, panic screaming. Get me out of here. I'm burning.
I'm burning.
RIPLEY: Hopkins is a trained first responder. He spent much of the 90- minute trip back to shore caring for a young couple from Virginia, Lauren and Matthew Urey on what was supposed to be their dream honeymoon.
HOPKINS: I remember I asked her name and she struggled to say it, but he said it for me. He said she's my wife. And she would ask, how is my
husband? And he would ask, how is my wife?
RIPLEY: He fought to keep them awake. Fought to keep them alive.
HOPKINS: She said this is the worst day of my life. And I had to say, yes, it is, but you've got so much more in your life to live. When she
says I don't think I'm going to make it, you rebuke that. You are going to make it. You are going to make it, you are strong. You're a fighter.
You're going to get through this. You've got a future.
JANICE UREY, MOTHER OF BURN VICTIM MATT UREY: 10 minutes through this life or death for them.
RIPLEY: I spoke with Matt Urey's mom, Janice. She was about to board her flight for the 29-hour journey from Pennsylvania to New Zealand.
UREY: This is absolutely soul crushing. It's my worst nightmare, but on the other hand, I'm trying to focus on the positive. They were lucky
enough they had already come down the volcano, so they were very close to the water.
RIPLEY: The couple managed to seek shelter behind a rock. They still suffered severe burns over much of their bodies.
HOPKINS: I'm still coming to terms with it.
RIPLEY: Hopkins tries not to think about what could have happened.
HOPKINS: If we hadn't have got off the island, there would have been double the victims, and nobody to help. It's a day I'll never forget.
Never forget.
RIPLEY: He'll also never forget the people who died and the ones still fighting to stay alive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That is Will Ripley's report there.
Coming up in the next hour of CONNECT THE WORLD, the U.S. ramps up its maximum pressure campaign against Iran once again with fresh sanctions on
its largest shipping companies. We'll talk about that, why and what happens next with U.S. special representative to Iran, Brian Hook. That's
in about 30 minutes from now.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCARAMUCCI: Zero chance. Minus zero.
ANDERSON: You know him.
SCARAMUCCI: Yes, let's bet that. Let's bet that just you and me.
ANDERSON: You know him well.
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Betting man Anthony Scaramucci wages me, that despite what his former boss says, there is no way the president will testify at his own
impeachment trial. Why "The Mooch" is convinced Mr. Trump won't run in 2020. My full interview with the former White House communications
director coming up in the next hour.
And before all of that, the latest in our global energy challenge series.
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JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR (voice-over): It works like a giant sponge. Built by Climeworks, the world's first
commercial carbon capture machine. A porous vacuum siphoning carbon dioxide from this Swiss valley's ambient air.
LOUISE CHARLES, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, CLIMEWORKS: Inside the collector we have a material which is highly selective so it captures just CO2 on its
surface. Once it's fully saturated then we close each of the collectors, it's heated and the CO2 thereby can be collected and delivered.
JAN WURZBACHER, FOUNDER AND CEO CLIMEWORKS: Our dream earth, removing substantial amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere capturing 1 percent of
global emissions. That's a vision even more needs to be done, but there will not be one single solution and not one single company. That is clear.
DEFTERIOS: The question remains what exactly do you do with the CO2 once it's been captured. In Iceland, Climeworks is working on a long-term
solution in the form of an industrial process called carb fix.
WURZBACHER: They inject CO2 in the underground with Arctic rock formations where CO2 is turned into stone within two years.
[10:40:04]
So it reacts with this underground rock and is then mineralized and safely stored with no risk of leakage.
DEFTERIOS: The transition to this permanent storage will not be immediate, though. So in the meantime, Climeworks has found a use for their captured
CO2 in an existing market -- soda. Coca-Cola Switzerland is using the gas to carbonate their sparkling Alpine mineral water.
PATRICK WITTWEILER, HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, COCA-COLA SWITZERLAND: There is actually no difference to a common standard CO2, so the bubbles they are
delivered from the Climeworks installation in a liquid form. The CO2 goes then into the mixer unit and there the co2 is dissolved in the product in
the mineral water. And it's a technology which fights against the climate change and, therefore, yes, we strongly believe it makes sense.
DEFTERIOS: The carbonation from the soft drinks will, of course, re-enter the atmosphere once the bottle is opened. But buy-ins from big industry
are a crucial steppingstone if companies like Climeworks are to succeed in their aim of making carbon capture a profitable business. John Defterios,
CNN.
ANNOUNCER: The global energy challenge in association with BP.
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ANDERSON: A moment of magic from the Egyptian king. Mohamed Salah and Liverpool found themselves in a bit of a tight spot leaving at least a draw
against Salzburg to advance in the Champions League. Tough match but Liverpool got one, then Salah did this. Rounds the goalkeeper and delivers
an off-balance chip from what seems to be an impossible angle. The final goal in a 2-0 victory securing the red spot in the last 16 of his run for
former Liverpool forward, Peter Crouch, describing that in a word as ridiculous.
"WORLD SPORT" Amanda Davies is in the house. Call it what you will, Amanda, ridiculous, off the scale. Mo Salah and Liverpool quite frankly
showing why they are champions.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, absolutely, Becky, we were saying that is one of those goals that children practice for hours in the park.
Can they manage to get the ball in from that angle? It was a game, though, this one. The clock that said he was really tense about, he was worried
about it, but the quest for silverware goes on for Liverpool. There was no reason to be. They are still in every hunt for the silverware there is
this season. They've put their place in the Champions League knockout stage. We'll have the latest on that and the rest of a busy day of
football coming up in a couple of minutes -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Brilliant. All right, that sounds great. Folks, we'll be back after this.
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(WORLD SPORT)
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