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Connect the World
Jeffrey Epstein Files Reveal Sex Abuser's Web Of Global Connections; Israel Cabinet Backs Expanded West Bank Powers; Russia Accuses Kyiv Of Plot To Kill Top General In Moscow; Search For Nancy Guthrie Intensifies As Ransom Deadline Looms; 78-Year-Old Jimmy Lai Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison; Police Arrest Four Reformist Politicians. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired February 09, 2026 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[10:00:03]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome back to the second hour of our show. I'm Christina MacFarlane in London, where the time is
just after 3:00 p.m.
Jeffrey Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell is expected to give a closed- door deposition to the House Oversight Committee as the fallout from the Epstein files continues.
Israel's security cabinet approves new measures giving the Israeli state more legal powers in the West Bank.
And a month after Tehran suppresses deadly protests, Iranian authorities arrest leading reformist politicians.
This hour, Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker who helped Jeffrey Epstein commit years of abuse, will be facing questions from U.S.
lawmakers. Maxwell is appearing virtually from prison in a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee, but she's widely expected to
plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer any questions.
Lawmakers may get some new insight, however, with access to unredacted versions of some of the Justice Department's files, starting today. The
latest release of files on Epstein continues to reverberate around the globe.
A spokesperson for Britain's Prince and Princess of Wales says they are deeply concerned by the revelations, which have had significant political
fallout in the U.K.
Our Stephen Collinson has been looking at the big picture of what we've learned and the implications so far.
So, Stephen, let's start with the political fallout here in the U.K., because there is something of an irony, really, that it is Prime Minister
Keir Starmer's job that is on the line over the Epstein scandal, and not Donald Trump, whose name appears thousands of times in those files. Why do
you think we are seeing political consequences in London and elsewhere in Europe, but not in Washington so far?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I think some of it comes down to the differing political cultures to start with the instruments of
investigation and accountability are still functioning in the United Kingdom. In the United States, for example, the Justice Department is now a
political arm of Donald Trump's operation. The Republican Congress, although lawmakers did vote to compel the Justice Department to release
these Epstein files last year, there is no sign yet that they're willing to hold the administration's feet to the fire.
I think also, you know, money and politics are deeply intertwined in the United States, presidential campaigns are financed by billionaires and
business people and middle men in New York.
So, I think, perhaps, the shock that is being registered in the U.K. about how some people allegedly sent information to Jeffrey Epstein that was
market moving is less of a shock in the United States, I think there's a greater deal of cynicism towards that nexus of politics and money. So, I
think that could also have something to do with it.
And of course, in the U.K., you have a prime minister who was already very weakened, there was already massive speculation about how long he could
hang on as the Prime Minister. So, this Mandelson scandal was just the catalyst for even more questions about whether he's doomed politically.
MACFARLANE: It does have a sense of there being a bit of a pile on in that. Today, of course, we also heard from the Prince and Princess of Wales
speaking out, expressing deep concern by the scandal.
I mean, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, so far has done nothing really to cooperate with U.S. authorities speak to the FBI. Is there anything more
that U.S. authorities, or even U.K. authorities could be doing to hold him to account, as well as Mandelson?
COLLINSON: Well, in terms of forcing him to testify before the congressional committee, for example, that seems very unlikely, considering
he's a foreign citizen. He'd have to do so voluntarily.
Of course, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer said a couple of weeks ago that that would be a good step, but there doesn't seem to be any chance of that
happening.
So, that particular legal opening, I think is not really open as far as what the United States could get to do. And I don't believe that there is
any appetite in the administration to do anything that makes this Jeffrey Epstein saga, which has been damaging to Donald Trump, go on anymore than
it should.
So, I think it's a fanciful idea that the Department of Justice under Donald Trump would seek to get answers, and even to try to get some
testimony from a British former Prince, because that would be guaranteed to make this story go on longer and longer.
[10:05:04]
MACFARLANE: Yes, and amidst that sort of backdrop, of course, today we will be hearing from Ghislaine Maxwell, although it's unlikely really if we are
going to hear anything of substance from her, she is expected to plead the Fifth Amendment.
Congress however, will be viewing some of the redacted files for the first time. And I just wonder how important you think that is, and if it is
likely to yield anything when, as you say, the DOJ are doing their very best to shut this whole case down.
COLLINSON: Yes, that's going to be interesting to see that. So, these two lawmakers, Ro Khanna, who's a Democrat, Thomas Massie from Kentucky, who's
a Republican, they were the guys that were instrumental in getting the law passed that forced the Justice Department to release the files. I think a
fair reading of that law would show that the department has not fully complied, especially on the issue of redactions and of millions of files
which it says it's not going to release.
So, I think it depends what Massie and Khanna get to see. If they come out of there and say, well, look, we saw the redactions, and most of them are
fair enough because they're protecting victims or ongoing legal investigations. That's one thing.
If they walk out and say that there is evidence that they didn't get to see what they wanted to see, that I think will proliferate this whole idea of a
cover up.
In terms of Ghislaine Maxwell, you're right, she's going to plead the Fifth Amendment. That's a constitutional right not to incriminate herself. She
did talk at length, however, last year to the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former lawyer, that information is all out there on the
transcript, you can even listen to it, so anyone who wants to hear what she has to say could go there.
I think the thing we have to bear in mind is that the only goal that Ghislaine Maxwell will have is trying to alleviate the conditions of her
time in prison and presumably, hoping that Trump, at some point, offers her a pardon, and that would be the motivating factor, I think, beyond what she
would be doing.
So, I think you're right. It's for many reasons we shouldn't expect too much to come out of this hearing today.
MACFARLANE: All right, Stephen, good to have your analysis as always. Thank you.
Now, Israel's security cabinet has approved new measures expanding powers in the occupied West Bank. The changes make it easier for Israeli settlers
to buy land in the Palestinian territory. The measures also expand Israeli enforcement powers in those areas and give Israel greater oversight over
some religious sites.
Palestinian leaders, including Mahmoud Abbas, have warned the moves amount to a de facto annexation.
Nic Robertson is in Jerusalem joining us. And Nic, I just want to bring some context to our viewers at this point and show them a map here which
shows how the West Bank was divided into areas A, B and C. Now this was determined as part of the 1993 Oslo Accord signed by the Palestinian
Liberation Organization in Israel. Walk us through, Nic, what these new measures will mean for the territory that we're seeing on our screens here.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Area C, that's under Israeli control, civil, military, and that's an area that's been really
targeted by settlers for a long time. But what sort of anti-settler groups, what Palestinians are seeing is that Israel is now making plans and designs
on areas A and B. A is fully Palestinian control. B is Palestinian civil control -- Israeli military control.
And this area be mostly farmlands, areas A, mostly the big towns and cities. And what the Palestinian Authority and Israeli human rights groups
are saying here that these moves are going to make it much easier for settler groups to take control in these sort of farmland areas. And if you
will, herd over time, the Palestinian population to much smaller areas like the big cities, that's the concern.
But there are sort of broader concerns in here. Look at what President Trump said just last year, under pressure from his Gulf Arab and Arab
partners, saying that there's absolutely no way he will countenance Israel annexing the West Bank and in his Gaza peace plan, a reform Palestinian
authority, there was a pathway to the possibility of Palestinian statehood.
But what the Palestinian Authority and these Israeli anti settler NGO groups would say is that these efforts by the Israeli government, and in
particular pushed by Bezalel Smotrich, the hard right finance minister, who is also a settler leader, is going to reduce the possibility of that
Palestinian state.
[10:10:09]
And I think take the example of Hebron that Smotrich has talked about specifically. And there, there's a tiny settler enclave in the middle of
this very contentious area of Hebron itself. And what Smotrich has said will happen here is that settlers will no longer have to go through
Palestinian authorities to purchase land in Hebron.
This may sound small, but all of this is part of something, a process that's been going on for some time, a process that Smotrich, since has been
in government wants to accelerate the settlement process.
So, it may sound technically small, but it is very significant and part of something much broader. In essence, accelerates the process of settlements
and undermines the authority of the Palestinian Authority.
MACFARLANE: Small, incremental, perhaps, but important. So, how is this de facto annexation, as Mahmoud Abbas described it, playing on -- playing out
on the ground. Nic, what are you seeing?
ROBERTSON: Well, if you look at the way that settlers have been able to take property over and land over the past few years, for example, you know,
tiny hilltop caravans permits to herd sheep areas that they're told they don't have a right to build properties on, but then they build properties
there. Then the government accepts a de facto annexation. Has been a real acceleration of that over the past couple of years.
Then these small hilltops get joined by bigger -- by bigger communities. Roads get built in, sewage gets connected, electricity gets connected, and
they become part of the established terrain where settlements have expanded into the West Bank and control areas and the assertion is that Smotrich
would like to see these be much bigger and take up and control much more territory and area. That's the way it's been in the past, and his plans now
would potentially accelerate that.
MACFARLANE: Yes, well, we will wait to see what international reaction to all of that might be outside of the U.S. Nic, appreciate it for now. Thank
you.
Now, Russian investigators say Ukraine was behind an attempted assassination in Moscow on Friday. They say 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.
Meanwhile, Kyiv says Russian attacks have knocked out power to tens of thousands of Ukrainians. It's the latest in a pattern of strikes of energy
infrastructure as people across the country struggle to cope with extreme cold -- the cold winter. Clare Sebastian is here.
So, Clare, what were we learning about the latest on the assassination attempt and what actually happened here?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, we're hearing a bit more from the FSB. They've been talking pretty openly about this. I think it's
clear that they're trying to show that they are very effective post fact, despite the obvious embarrassment of having failed to prevent this, they're
telling state media that there are two suspects now under arrest. One is believed to be the direct -- allegedly, the direct perpetrator. He is a man
said to be in his 60s who was arrested in Dubai and then brought back to Moscow.
Over the weekend, President Putin even thanked the president of the UAE for his help in that. Both now, according to the FSB, to state media have
confessed, and the FSB has been fleshing out the details of alleged Ukrainian involvement, which is the line of course, that Russia is pushing
pretty hard.
Apparently, he was recruited by Ukrainian security services in Chernobyl in western Ukraine in August last year, and then apparently carried out the
attack on their orders, and was promised $30,000 to do so. So, that is the line that Russia is taking.
Ukraine has not officially commented on this, and that is noteworthy, because we've had, obviously previous incidents of high-level military
officials being assassinated. This one, obviously, he's still alive, in Moscow, and there have been indirect claims of responsibility from Ukraine,
not in all incidences, but certainly in some of them. So, that's noteworthy, but I think either way, look clearly another embarrassing
episode for the Russian security services.
MACFARLANE: Yes, and then obviously ton of situation on the ground in Ukraine, tens of thousands of homes without warmth, without light. I mean,
what do we know of how bad the situation is there?
SEBASTIAN: So, what we had was obviously the moment that, "Energy truce ended," last week, we've had two major attacks in fairly quick succession
on the energy grid, and Ukraine is still trying to deal with the fallout of that. We've got a situation where in Kyiv, I think, about 1400 apartment
blocks as of this morning certainly were without heating. There's major emergency power outages.
Over the weekend, we heard that people in Kyiv were subjected to only having about 1-1/2 to two hours a day of electricity.
Clearly, the attacks are happening with a frequency that is greater than their ability to repair. So the situation is getting sort of incrementally
worse each time. The Ukrainian side is certainly placing some hope that the U.S. will be able to, in their words, deescalate again. More talks are
expected in Miami towards the end of the week, they said that they have agreed to a U.S. proposal for another energy troops, the Ukrainian side,
Russia apparently has yet to respond.
[10:15:22]
MACFARLANE: All right, we'll look ahead to that. Clare, thank you for now.
And still to come, it's a case that is captivating the world. The search is intensifying for the mother of U.S. television host, as the ransom deadline
looms.
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MACFARLANE: Welcome back. In Arizona, the desperate search for the mother of NBC Anchor Savannah Guthrie has now entered its second week as it comes
as a critical deadline looms. CNN affiliate KGUN says it received one of the purported ransom note sent to media organizations reporting that the
possible abductors are demanding $6 million in Bitcoin by 5:00 p.m. today, local time for her safe return. Savannah Guthrie and her family say they're
willing to pay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can
celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Authorities haven't been able to authenticate the ransom notes or name a suspect yet. CNN's Ivan Rodriguez is following this story for us,
and Ivan, as that 5:00 pm deadline looms, you're there outside Nancy Guthrie's house. What are you hearing about the investigation at this
point?
IVAN RODRIGUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christina, you can only imagine how much stress the Guthrie family is feeling with that 5:00 p.m. deadline
approaching closer and closer by the hour.
Now, in that latest video that we saw from Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, our law enforcement experts believe that their messaging is very
clear. They're not looking to agitate anyone who could potentially have Nancy Guthrie, and they're trying to find a resolution as quickly as
possible.
Here outside of Nancy Guthrie's home, we've seen a sheriff's deputy parked out front since the early hours of this morning, and that is at the request
of the Guthrie family to continue to guard the home. Every once in a while, we'll see, like we just did a few seconds ago, Sheriff deputy exit his
vehicle, walk around the property, and again, just from our understanding, make sure that nobody is on that property.
Now, we do know that yesterday, there were investigators here at Nancy Guthrie's property, and nearby, there's a septic tank that they were
looking at. Video showed them with a long pole inside of that tank, using a flashlight as well to take a look inside. It's not clear exactly what they
were looking for, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department, but they did say that they're continuing to go back to many of these previously
investigated locations, including Annie Guthrie's house, which they were also at Saturday night. They were there for several hours. They left with a
bag that was placed in the back seat of one of those Sheriff deputy vehicles.
[10:20:23]
So, the investigation is ongoing. Here behind me, to my left, another part of the driveway. We've seen people drop off flowers, also some other
religious symbols, with a sign here that says, Dear Guthrie family, your neighbors stand with you.
Again, as you mentioned, Christina, there's still no suspects in this case, and there's also no sign if we're going to have any other press conferences
later this afternoon. A question on my mind, though is if we'll see another video released by the Guthrie family.
Taking a look at the timeline when we look at last Thursday, that was one of the first reported deadlines on that ransom note, and at that same time
is when we saw Savannah Guthrie's brother release a video. So, still a lot of questions this morning, as again, we get closer to that 5:00 p.m.
deadline today.
MACFARLANE: Yes, and we will continue to follow it closely as we reach that deadline. Ivan, thank you so much.
OK, let's get you up to speed on some of the other top stories on our radar right now. Elon Musk says SpaceX has shifted its priorities away from Mars
and instead towards building a goal of building a self-growing city on the moon. Musk says the goal could be achieved in less than a decade.
The party of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pulled off a stunning victory over the weekend in the country's snap election. It gives the
ruling coalition the ability to override votes in the upper house of parliament. The election was framed as a referendum on the Prime Minister
herself.
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in a landmark national security case. The sentence is the culmination of a
years long legal saga for the 78-year-old billionaire. Kristie Lu Stout is outside the Hong Kong courthouse where the sentence was handed down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm standing outside the court where the former Hong Kong
media mogul and longtime 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, , "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. China has
repeatedly warned against any interference. And Hong Kong has insisted that Jimmy Lai has received a fair trial. 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)
MACFARLANE: All right, coming up, protests in Iran have died down, but the government is still intensifying its efforts to silence any form of
dissent.
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[10:26:15]
MACFARLANE: Welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Christina MacFarlane in London. Here are your headlines this hour, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is
in focus on Capitol Hill. The House Oversight Committee is questioning Epstein's imprisoned accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell in a remote deposition.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has opened unredacted versions of some of the Epstein files to members of Congress.
Israel is taking broad steps to tighten its grip on the occupied West Bank. The Security Cabinet approved measures that expand Israeli enforcement
powers in areas previously designated as falling under Palestinian security control. It also approved steps to expand Israeli West Bank settlements,
which are considered illegal under international law.
In Arizona, the search for the missing mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie is intensifying ahead of a purported ransom deadline. Ransom notes
reportedly threatened Nancy Guthrie's life unless $6 million in Bitcoin is paid by 5:00 p.m. local today, our families say they are ready to pay.
Iran is intensifying its crackdown on dissent weeks after security forces brutally suppressed nationwide protests. At least four prominent
politicians were arrested over the weekend, all of them members of the reformist front, a group that has been critical of the government.
Also on Saturday, a revolutionary court sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi to seven more years in prison. She has been arrested in --
she was arrested in December at a ceremony honoring a fellow human rights activist.
Our next guest is Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, who joins us live from Washington, D.C. Thank you so much for
being with us.
ALEX VATANKA, SENIOR FELLOW, MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE: Good to be with you.
MACFARLANE: So, Alex, having silenced dissent on the streets from the protesters with this move to latest move to arrest these reformists, is
this a sign that the regime are now shifting their focus inward to root out dissent? How do you read this look?
VATANKA: Well, look, I mean, I tend to start off by looking at the policy preferences of the most important political figure in the Islamic Republic,
and that's the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who's been there since 1989 and he's actually dealt with successive rounds of protest pretty
much from the moment he got the top job from 91 onwards. And each time his position has been you don't compromise, you crush any kind of dissent, and
that's exactly where the regime is at right now.
And they're not just doing it in the realm of foreign policy, where Iran is basically playing hardball with the -- with the Americans in these ongoing
rounds of talks in Oman. So, being on the offense and not compromising is true in the foreign policy arena, and is increasingly also evident in the
domestic scene, as you just pointed out, arresting reformers politicians showing no signs of wanting to listen to the Iranian people, particularly
the youth.
But that's not a surprise. That's been Ali Khamenei style of operation from the moment he got the top job.
MACFARLANE: Yes, and I'm keen to understand from you what you think is motivating him and them, because this arrest was like to have stemmed from
a reformer statement in January, which called on Iran's supreme leader to resign.
I mean, it could be a sign that the regime is becoming more oppressive, or it could be a sign they're becoming more desperate, given the internal
divisions on display, which of the two would you say?
[10:29:53]
VATANKA: I think it's a case of both of those being true, desperate and more oppressive than ever before. I was looking to some numbers earlier,
Christina, in protest that happened in early part of January. About 1.5 million Iranians, based on some figures that come here -- coming out of
Iran, by Iranian regime insiders. 1.5 million in a country of 90 million people. That's pretty significant in terms of mobilizing people in the
street level.
Vast majority of people are young, 15 to 25. And those were the demographic that were killed in the tens of thousands, by most accounts.
So, that's the problem Khamenei has. The 86-year-old Khamenei does not understand how to communicate with the young generation. It's the
generation that's in the streets. It's a generation that knows the cost of coming out to the streets. They get -- they get killed each time they come
out.
But they coming out more frequently than ever before, and Khamenei is more desperate and more oppressive, and he shows no sign of really wanting to
listen to these -- the youngsters in Iran, the younger demographic, other than calling them foreign agents, which, again, is something is always
done. He is always called them American agents, Israeli agents.
And regime insiders will tell you those people inside of Iran, they will tell you that's ridiculous. You can't claim that 1.5 million who in the
streets are all agents of foreign powers. And that's Khamenei's bottom line. And I don't know if he is going to change course. But if he doesn't,
you can expect more protest in Iran at any moment.
MACFARLANE: Yes. What do these arrests mean, do you think for the presidency of Mahmoud (PH) Pezeshkian and his effectiveness from this point
on?
VATANKA: Look, I mean, let me be very mild about it. Masoud Pezeshkian, who came to power in his extremely orchestrated elections. I mean, Khamenei
wanted Pezeshkian to become president. It's not that pesky on came from nowhere and is challenging Khamenei.
Khamenei put Pezeshkian in the presidency, because in the Islamic Republic, the presidency essentially -- when it comes to key issues, it's symbolic.
The key power lies with the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guards. Khamenei bring -- brings Pezeshkian in, wants to sort of show a face of
moderation to the Iranian people and to the rest of the world. But when it really, you know, comes to the moment of decision, Pezeshkian, is
sidelined, or Pezeshkian, in his case, decides not to say anything.
I mean, he's been an absolute disappointment to the Iranian people, who really never had high hopes for him, because they knew Khamenei put him
there.
But, I mean, he hasn't even come out and condemn the killings of tens of thousands of young Iranians, which has no precedent in Iranian history.
And here he is a supposed man of moderation, but he has nothing to offer the Iranian people. So, I mean, the regime is the stock, and it's not just
Khamenei that's stuck, it's Pezeshkian, is the rest of the regime combined, that it really that has no path forward other than being desperate, as we
discussed earlier, and resorting to oppression, which, as I said, it might save them for a day, for a week, for a month, but this is not, not a long
term solution to the massive problems that Islamic Republic is facing.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Alex, it's all-important context at this moment, and we will wait and see if the U.S. do anything with this information, with this
latest arrest. Appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
VATANKA: Thanks, Christina.
MACFARLANE: Now, with this surprise guest and a message of unity, Bad Bunny took to the stage last night at Super Bowl's halftime show, bringing the
rhythms of Puerto Rico to the world's biggest sporting event.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:35:28]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: It's the performance everyone is talking about Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show. Benito paid homage to the Latino culture in the
United States, from cane sugar fields to this iconic casita and American pop stars dancing salsa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Yes, that is Lady Gaga. He made a guest appearance, the Puerto Rican singer. However, did not have everyone on their feet.
U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to criticize the performance, calling the show "One of the worst ever, and that nobody
understands a word this guy is saying."
But worth noting that in the United States, almost 44.9 million people speak Spanish in their homes, and those who don't were on a mission to
learn it before the show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now try this. Queso, fuego, fuego, queso.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) I can't still learn, my lip cannot do it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe in you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are better than this, Melissa (PH).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fuego, fuego, queso, fuego.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Maria Hinojosa, anchor and executive producer for Latino USA, joins us now live from Amman, Jordan. Thank you so much for being with us.
I cannot stop smiling and laughing still at that commercial. It is so brilliant at having a dig at the whole Spanish speaking, you know,
necessity of this halftime show, because, as we know, music transcends language. And that's, of course, what makes it universal. That was my
opinion of it. What is your opinion? What was your take on his performance?
MARIA HINOJOSA, ANCHOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, LATINO USA: Well, so I was actually asleep when it happened, because, I mean, I'm on Jordan. But the
first thing I did when I woke up at 6:00 in the morning, here was I turned on to see who was his guest, who was the -- and, of course, Ricky Martin is
a huge name, a nod to one of the first pop star Puerto Ricans, who kind of opened the doors for Bad Bunny. Also, a nod to the queer community.
But I wasn't actually smiling when I was watching this. I was crying, because there are so many layers, Christina, and it's like, if you know
some of the clues, you know what he was dropping.
For example, for the Puerto Rican people to be clear, Puerto Rico is the last standing us colony. And so, when the United States colonized Puerto
Rico, they made the Puerto Rican flag illegal. You could not carry a Puerto Rican flag. And the Puerto Rican flag that Bad Bunny was waving is actually
the original Puerto Rican flag, which has a lighter blue color than the flag of Puerto Rico now.
MACFARLANE: Wow.
HINOJOSA: It's a nod to kind of the independence of Puerto Rico. There was very intergenerational.
MACFARLANE: Wow.
HINOJOSA: So, for the older folks who are like, I don't like Bad Bunny, I don't, you know, I don't get his music. You saw the older gentleman playing
dominoes. You saw older couples dancing. You saw little kids, another nod to Latino culture. There is a moment when Bad Bunny wakes up, a little kid
who's spread out again along three chairs. That's what happens in all Latino parties. So, there was like little cultural nods.
MACFARLANE: Yes.
HINOJOSA: But then, what you just showed, Bad Bunny climbing up an electrical pole, is a nod to the fact that in Puerto Rico, again, a U.S.
colony, there are still blackouts because the electrical grid is still failing. So, as opposed to being an overtly, you know, anti-ICE moment, it
was really a moment to celebrate, as you said, Latino cultures.
It starts with the person walking out before you even see Bad Bunny, and he says, (INAUDIBLE) Latino, which is, isn't it great to be Latino? Which is
also a bit of a paradox in the United States right now, to be honest.
MACFARLANE: Yes, absolutely. And I just hearing you speak makes me realize how much cultural symbolism and storytelling that was woven into this that,
you know, we weren't even aware of.
[10:40:08]
You will have heard as well, Bad Bunny give a shout out to all the countries in the Americas. Let's just take a quick listen to that again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BAD BUNNY, PUERTO RICAN RAPPER, SINGER, SONGWRITER: God bless, America! I say, La Trinidad, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador,
Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, Republica Dominicana,
Jamaica, (INAUDIBLE), Antigua, United States, Canada, (INAUDIBLE), Puerto Rico.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Important that he started in the south and he ended in the north with the Americas there, sending a message of unity.
In this political climate in which we're in in the United States, how important a message was that?
HINOJOSA: it's a totally different way of understanding who Americans are. Bad Bunny was saying, you know, Viva Las Americas. But Latin Americans
understand that Las Americas is from North America, Canada, all the way down to South America. Beautifully, he included Haiti and Guyana, which are
not Spanish speaking, but are part of Latin America. That was a very important nod to black culture in Latin America.
Also, many nods to Afro, La Trinidad.
There is a -- often, there is a question of, you know, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba. So, important in terms of the black culture, the
afro culture, Bunny was celebrating that.
And you are right. People will be dissecting all of the particular moves. He starts in the sugar cane fields. Who works in the sugar cane fields
right now? Many of them are undocumented people on the island, like, for example, in Puerto Rico, or in the Dominican Republic, because, actually,
in Puerto Rico, the sugar canes were destroyed after the United States came in.
And so, there was also like New York. New York is a very important part this moment when he is, you know, falling off of the roof of La Marqueta.
La Marqueta is, you know, where we shop, in the bodegas in New York City. A big shout out to New York, which at this moment, of course, has a
Democratic socialist, Muslim immigrant mayor named Zohran Mamdani.
So, there were a lot of clues and a lot of intergenerational celebration.
MACFARLANE: Yes, and it was undoubtedly a big moment for the Hispanic community globally.
We really appreciate you coming on. It's so important that we understand the intricacies in this phenomenal performance. Thank you for breaking it
down for us.
HINOJOSA: My pleasure. Thank you.
MACFARLANE: Now, still ahead, all eyes are on Italy. After the break, CNN's Amanda Davies will join us with an update on the day's Olympic competition
and the latest on U.S. skier, Lindsey Vonn.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: More than 70 million people from Maryland to Massachusetts -- a swathe, including Philadelphia and New York City, are under extreme cold
weather alerts right now.
Relief from the winter chills is on its way for parts of the Eastern U.S., but the relief won't last long. Warm temperatures in the West will spread
across the country this week.
[10:45:02]
But by Friday, temperatures on the most of the East Coast are expected to tumble again.
CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam is tracking the weather for us. So, Derek, what's driving the sharp temperature split with the extreme cold in the
northeast and unusually warm temperatures in the west and Midwest?
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's all about the way that the jet stream is oriented across the country. That the jet stream is the upper-
level winds that kind of drive weather patterns across the United States and across the world for that matter. And the fact that we've got this kind
of what's known as a trough over the east and a ridge over the West. We are getting these polar opposite temperatures. But things are about to change,
and I'll explain that in just a moment.
But we've got this deep freeze, and in fact, some locations haven't seen the mercury in the thermometer climb above the freezing mark. Take Albany,
New York, two consecutive weeks without temperatures above zero degrees Celsius, 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
So, this is what it feels like as you step outside, or at least the current temperature. And we are talking single digits. This is the coldest air of
the season, and it's been locked in place for several weeks, as I just explained yesterday, town known as Watertown, New York, actually reached a
low temperature of negative 36 degrees Fahrenheit. That's negative 37 degrees Celsius. That is their second coldest February temperature, tied
for that -- for that particular location.
So, really interesting to show you how cold it is and how far reaching it is. So, you've got millions of Americans that were under those cold alerts
this morning. Now, the sun shines out, but it's very, very deceiving. I mean, it's a matter of big differences as you are stepping down the roads
in New York City, for instance, in the shade of a building, versus the full sunshine, which is mid-February sunshine. So, there is some altitude to
that. So, you are getting more of a direct sunlight.
So, yes, best advice there is to find the sunlight whenever you can.
But this is not a -- error. Negative 12 degrees. I mean, that's what it feels like on your exposed skin. So, yes, we can make light of how cold it
actually is. But this is dangerous, because frostbite can set in in 10 minutes or less in some of those temperatures, especially when they are
well below freezing in the teens there.
So, this is the forecast wind chill. I talked about, the potential of at least some relief, at least, it's temporary, and it's coming. And we've got
to look towards the west for that change in the air mass that's going to help push along the warmer air mass. You can see it into Kansas City,
Little Rock. These are the forecast high temperatures.
And all of that is going to move eastward as this change in the jet stream that I alluded to earlier helps flip or reverse the weather patterns. So,
you can see the high temperatures that are coming. We are talking about 10 to 20 degrees above where they should be this time of year.
All these little dots we have put across the central U.S., this location, in particular, the Central Plains, they could set record high temperatures
today. But look at where that warmth is going. It's going east. And that means tomorrow being Tuesday, we'll get the relief along the I-95 corridor,
New York, D.C., Baltimore, into Boston.
There is some cool weather that will settle in again for Thursday and Friday, but the long-standing weather pattern here shows this pattern flip.
The change in the seasons for both sides of the country, and that means the extended forecast is representative of that. In fact, Climate Prediction
Center has above average temperatures, as we round out the second half of February over the eastern two-thirds of the country.
So, relief is coming. We can finally start to warm things up. Christina.
MACFARLANE: All right. Fingers crossed. Derek, appreciate it. Thanks.
Oh, wow. One member of the U.S. Olympic men's ski team is grabbing the headlines and the attention of President Donald Trump, and it's not for his
performance on the slopes.
Trump called skier Hunter Hess a loser in a social media post, after Hess said he had mixed emotions about representing the U.S. The Olympian said,
"Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S."
Meanwhile, we are learning more about us. ski star Lindsey Vonn's injury, she had a terrifying crash in the downhill final on Sunday and had to be
airlifted to hospital. Vonn is reportedly stable and has undergone surgery. CNN's Amanda Davies has the latest for us from Milan.
Amanda, are we hearing anything more on her condition? That's been very quiet.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORT ANCHOR: It has. And Chrissy, I know, you know the skiing world very, very well. But over 24 hours now from that accident,
every time I see those pictures, you can't help but kind of wince. Because you know from seeing the pictures and seeing the reaction of Vonn's fellow
athletes, just how bad a crash it was. And I can tell you, we have been hearing through the news agency Reuters that Vonn, 41-year-old Vonn, has
undergone two operations on the fractured left leg that she suffered in that crash in the downhill race in Cortina yesterday.
We -- it was revealed late on Sunday night that she had fractured that left leg, the same leg where she had completely ruptured her ACL.
[10:50:00]
But this news of the two operations, it has been coming out in the last couple of hours or so.
We saw her helicoptered straight off the mountain. We understand she was taken straight to the hospital in Treviso, here in Italy, where these two
operations have taken place, really, to stabilize the situation, the source is saying, to prevent any further complications.
But we must say we haven't heard any of that news directly from team Vonn, or indeed from U.S. Ski and Snowboard. We understand they are getting ready
to release something in the coming hours, but that hasn't come as yet.
The only person we have heard directly from is from Vonn's coach, two-time Olympic champion, Aksel Lund Svindal. We saw the shock on his face at the
venue in Cortina yesterday, in the immediate aftermath. But he has taken to social media this afternoon, really to pay his tribute to Lindsey, starting
with, "you are incredibly brave", and then going on to say that whilst she was being treated on the mountainside, of course, midway through this race,
she said, "Tell Breezy congrats and good job."
And Svindal went on to say, "Your teammate was in the lead. That is the message that you wanted the U.S. Ski Team coaches to remember before you
got airlifted to hospital." Real character shows up in the hard moments. That is how he signed it off. And I think it's fair to say, yes, Breezy
Johnson went on to win that gold, a historic gold for team USA, of course, only the second U.S. woman to get her hands on this gold after Lindsey Vonn
did it in 2010.
She went through all sorts of mixed emotions on the mountainside and afterwards, but absolutely deserves the plaudits. But if there is one thing
that Lindsey Vonn has shown throughout her career and particularly over the last 18 months or so in this comeback, it is character. Isn't it?
MACFARLANE: It absolutely -- I mean, and that is totally characteristic of Lindsey Vonn, to be thinking of her teammate at a time like that. And that
sentiment from Aksel Lund Svindal, as I think, echoed by many.
Amanda, just to quickly talk about what else is happening in the U.S. world. I mean, there is the figure skating team have taken gold as well.
What was the reaction to that?
DAVIES: Yes, it was a really spectacular night at the ice rink last night. This has been a U.S. figure skating team billed as, you know, perhaps, the
best ever when it comes to talent. They have got three world champions in their ranks. But they headed in to the final round. The men's event of the
team program last night, level on points with Japan, which meant it came down to the final skates.
And Ilia Malinin, known as the Quad God. We were laughing earlier. If you haven't heard the phrase, Quad God before, you will absolutely know it
after these two weeks. He is a two-time world champion, a four-time U.S. national champion, very much changing the game of skating. He came out and
put in the most sensational performance.
Novak Djokovic was there, loving it as he basically saw Malinin secure the second straight gold for team USA, and they are hoping there is more to
come, starting with the ice dance later tonight.
MACFARLANE: Yes, I do love watching champions. Watch champions is so much fun. Amanda, appreciate the update. So much more to come today. I know.
Thanks for now.
Some Olympians are having trouble on the sidelines of the games. The Associated Press is reporting that the Israeli bobsled team has fallen
victim to a robbery, with thieves making off with passports and thousands of dollars-worth of belongings.
The first bob setting events start this Thursday. It's one of the fastest disciplines in winter sports, with rapid descents punishing G-force. And as
I found out, in 2017, you have to keep your head down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: We are here at the oldest bobsleigh run in the world that has hosted two Winter Olympic Games. And now, I am about to run the icy
gauntlet. But luckily, I have an expert in charge in the form of Christian Meili.
Christian, thanks very much for offering to take me down today. I'm pretty nervous. I'm not going to lie. So, tell me, what do we need to know about
the bobsleigh and how it all works.
CHRISTIAN MEILI, FORMER SWISS BOBSLEDDER: Well, this is a four men bobsleigh.
MACFARLANE: OK.
MEILI: And we work this is myself as pilot, and Adriano as the brakeman. He is braking at the very end.
MACFARLANE: Gradually?
MEILI: You are going to sit on pole position.
MACFARLANE: Pole Position. OK.
MEILI: Pole position is number two, just behind me.
MACFARLANE: How should I be in the -- in the sled? How should hold this one?
(CROSSTALK)
[10:55:01]
MEILI: Just hold your stomach tight, but don't be stiff. Relax.
MACFARLANE: Just tell me how scary is it really?
MEILI: It has to be the scary. It's a-- it's a pretty fast sport, but we make it as safe as possible. I love to see the smile when they get out the
finish. Get out of the --
(CROSSTALK)
MACFARLANE: Well, I hope you'll be seeing my smile, because I got to tell you right now, I'm getting a little bit sick.
(CROSSTALK)
MEILI: I hope essentially. I'm looking forward for that smile.
MACFARLANE: OK, let's go.
MEILI: No problem. Let's go.
MACFARLANE (voice over): Running 1.7 kilometers, Christian will steer his way through 14 curves, including the notorious horseshoe turn.
Where G-forces are more than four times your body weight. For the beginner, it's an intense, runaway roller coaster.
MACFARLANE: Oh, my goodness.
MEILI: Cool. Fantastic.
MACFARLANE: That was so cool.
There was so much G-force on the back of my head. That was -- it was being forceful with the whole time. Honestly, one of the best things I have ever
done. Thank you so much. Christian, that was brilliant.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Yes, but I never did it again because it was just way too scary, actually. Not something I communicated there on camera.
That is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. We've got "ONE WORLD" coming up after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
