Return to Transcripts main page
Erin Burnett Outfront
Putin Backtracks On Trump Deal As He Ramps Up Attacks; Trump Admin Unfazed By Court Loses, Sets Sights On Supreme Court; China Celebrates Trump Cuts To U.S. Effort It Calls A "Lie Factory"; ICE Defends Arrest of Undocumented Mom Of 4 Who Works At Target. Aired 7- 8p ET
Aired March 19, 2025 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[19:00:35]
ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:
Breaking news. Putin ramping up attacks on Ukraine, defying Trump, as a Putin insider gives OUTFRONT exclusive insight into Putin's game.
Also breaking, new reporting into OUTFRONT on Trump's legal strategy as he takes on federal judges. As Elon Musk tonight repeatedly donating to Republicans who are calling for judge's impeachment.
And an undocumented immigrant who was named one of "TIME's" most influential people has been detained, arrested on break in the middle of a shift at Target. Her son speaks out right here tonight.
Let's go OUTFRONT.
And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.
OUTFRONT tonight, the breaking news, Putin blatantly defying Trump, now ramping up his attacks across Ukraine as we speak. We've got lots of new video coming in tonight from various places in Ukraine.
This is a strike on a medical center there, a clinic, a children's clinic nearby also damaged. And Putin also hitting Ukraine's energy and railway infrastructure. Here, you're looking at the power system that keeps the trains moving in Ukraine.
Now, these -- these particular strikes, there are about as big of an insult as Putin can deal out because they come just hours after Trump boasted to the world that during his two hour call with Putin, quote, we agreed to an immediate cease fire on all energy and infrastructure with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a complete ceasefire.
Well, of course, we showed you right there that those words meant absolutely, utterly nothing. Minutes after they were said and Putin's former speechwriter, we spoke to him today. He tells OUTFRONT and spent a lot of time with Putin over the years writing his speeches, he said, remember this -- remember that Putin approaches this truly as a KGB officer, the whole negotiation. His name is Abbas Gallyamov, and he told us exclusively that Putin is
trying to tempt Trump. Tempt was the word he used to offer him cooperation on Iran, China, Venezuela, anything and everything in exchange for Ukraine, which, of course, Putin has directly said does not actually exist as a separate state.
And on Russian state media, Putin's mouthpieces are showing how seriously they are taking Trump right now by referring to him by his first name.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): At least it brought Donald some pleasure. Now he can talk about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Donald.
Putin told Trump exactly what he wanted to hear. He responded favorably to Trump's terms, gave him time to tell the world about it. And of course, within hours, as we showed, you launched that major offensive doing everything he wanted to do, including doing the one thing that Trump had said Putin promised not to do in those energy infrastructure strikes.
Meantime, Trump and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy did speak earlier today. And according to the White House readout of this, they spoke about Ukraine's air defenses, prisoners of war and children abducted by Russia. That is a war crime, one that the White House is actually allowing Putin to cover up right now.
Here's why. Because of Trump's sweeping cuts and DOGE, researchers have lost access to a database that includes evidence of Putin abducting more than 30,000 children away from their families, funding for that work to continue is also terminated. No word if, on this issue Trump will change his mind.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: I'm curious if, as part of this new thinking with Ukraine, that aid might be unfrozen.
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I have no updates about that or that specific program at this time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: That would not be the first time that Trump has come to the aid of Putin over Ukraine, obviously. But just to -- to remind a few of the crucial things in the past days, Trump has paused the Pentagon's offensive cyber operations against Russia, a major move, floated the possibility of a hockey match between Russia and Ukraine, something crucial for Putin's propaganda. He's teased enormous economic deals with Moscow, even though prior to the war itself, Russia was less than 1 percent of revenue for U.S. businesses. Jeff Zeleny is OUTFRONT live outside the White House to begin our
coverage.
And, Jeff, what more are you learning tonight about how Trump plans to deal with Putin's blatant violation of this deal, this two hour call. Everybody walked away feeling so great. And then we see an increase in attacks and attacks on the very things Putin promised not to do, according to Trump.
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Erin, there's no doubt the activities and actions on the ground overnight tonight in Ukraine are certainly shining a brighter light on the statement that the president said earlier today after having that phone call with Zelenskyy, he said, we're getting things back on track.
[19:05:04]
The question is on track to what?
There's no doubt that there has been a limited ceasefire agreement. It's unclear. Both sides have been violating it somewhat. It certainly looks like Russia doing it much more than Ukraine.
But the president also floating something new today that we have not heard at all, saying that the Americans could play some role in securing or controlling the Ukrainian power system and nuclear plants. We have not heard that. We talked to officials about that afterward, including the energy secretary trying to get some information on that.
They did not have any more information on that. So that is something to keep an eye on. But going forward here, we do know that U.S. officials and others will be in the region in Saudi Arabia throughout the weekend and next week, talking about more details of this, to try to get the cease fire moving. But it is a limited one at the very best. Never mind the broad ceasefire agreement that the U.S. and Ukraine already reached, that Trump clearly is flouting.
So the bottom line here is that leverage is certainly not on the Ukrainians side. It's not as much on the U.S. side. And Putin is clearly in more of control here.
As for that hockey match, that was one of the things that was not in the U.S. readout of that.
BURNETT: Right.
ZELENY: The White House press secretary was asked about that today. She said, look, we are more concerned about trying to get to peacekeeping efforts, not hockey matches, but that just speaks to how this meeting has been used and how Putin has been elevated -- Erin.
BURNETT: Jeff Zeleny at the White House, thank you.
An OUTFRONT now, Democratic Congressman Jason Crow of Colorado. He's a member of the Intelligence and Armed Services Committee. So, Congressman, all of this is -- is right in your area. In the hours
after Trump and Putin spoke, they had this long phone call. They spoke Russian attacks actually have ramped up. They've ramped up. You've had, you know, energy and infrastructure hit.
Where are we right now? Did anything happen?
REP. JASON CROW (D-CO): Well, nothing actually has happened yet. There's been a lot of talk. But listen, I want to provide some important context here.
The good news is we actually know a lot about Vladimir Putin and who he is. We've been observing him and studying him and watching him as a nation for about 30 years now. And there's a couple of conclusions we can draw.
We know for a fact that he doesn't honor agreements, that he's not a man of his word. We know for a fact that he only respects strength and power, and we know for a fact that he believes his legacy, his reason for being is to rebuild the Russian empire, and that Ukraine is an essential element of doing that.
So you put all those things together, and what we know is he will only do what he's forced to do. But what power and power alone forces him to do. So the idea that some type of agreement on paper is going to work with Vladimir Putin is a farce. This will only be a deal that works if its enforceable, if it's backed up by the facts, and we have security guarantees.
BURNETT: Okay. A lot of that, though, isn't on the table from the person making the deal on this side, Trump.
CROW: Yeah.
BURNETT: Do you think -- I mean, obviously you can't see into his head, but from your understanding where you sit, is any of this getting through to him?
CROW: Well, not that I can tell. And what I'm concerned about is that Donald Trump seems more interested in getting credit for a deal than actually getting a good deal. He wants to be able to just say that he got a deal.
And you look at the outlines of this supposed agreement with Vladimir Putin, or at least the discussion that they had. And this is not a great deal for America or for Ukraine, right? It gives a ceasefire for the maritime areas of the Black Sea, right, which is actually where Ukraine is winning.
BURNETT: Right.
CROW: Ukraine is actually winning in the Black Sea a lot, right?
So it stops Ukraine's success there. It allows Russia to continue the land component of the invasion. There is supposedly a mutual energy ceasefire and civilian infrastructure ceasefire. But Russia refuses to acknowledge its ever targeted civilian infrastructure. So they'll continue to do what they always do. This actually is not the parameters of a good deal.
BURNETT: So it comes as "Reuters" is reporting that there has been multiple national security agencies in the U.S. So this is your area of oversight for Congress that they've actually stopped a coordinated effort that they had to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation, cyber attacks in the U.S., and that there's been a stop by the Department of Defense and Pete Hegseth and offensive operations against Russia.
So from where you sit, armed services and intelligence, what more can you tell us about this? I mean, the headlines are pretty stunning.
CROW: Yeah. Well, I can't go into nonpublic information, but you did a pretty good job of -- of previewing the things that are keeping me awake at night, right?
BURNETT: Yeah.
CROW: It is a dangerous world. Russia is an adversary. They are consistently trying to attack and undermine America and America's interests and the lives and safety of Americans everywhere. And the fact that this administration, Donald Trump and the people around him, many of them, not all of them, but many have this affinity for Vladimir Putin and Russia to the degree where they are now pulling back from really important protections and defenses that are critical for our financial industry, for our energy industry, for Americans, physical safety is deeply troubling.
BURNETT: So your Democratic colleague Glenn Ivey, congressman, just a bit ago at a town hall, said, I'm afraid it may be time for the Senate Democrats to get a new leader, referring to this incredible frustration among many in your party with how he voted on the bill last week. Do you think he should step down over this?
CROW: Well, that's for the Senate to decide. But I do disagree with the approach. On Friday, I thought we should have held a firm line right at this point, we know who Donald Trump is and we know what this administration is attempting to do. And I think we needed to hold the line. We need to be firm, and we need to use the leverage and the power that we had in Washington through the budgeting process. And I believe we gave up a lot of that opportunity and power on Friday.
Now, that doesn't mean that we don't have opportunities, that we don't have power and we can't mobilize folks. But I do think it was a missed opportunity.
BURNETT: All right. So missed opportunity. I understand you're not weighing in as you're not a senator, but just a follow to that. You're not in the camp of don't do anything at all with quote unquote the other side as you see it. I mean, you and Lauren Boebert have co- sponsored a bill.
CROW: That's right. The first time I've ever done that.
BURNETT: This isn't "The Onion". This is not "The Onion". You actually did this right because you think you can work with her.
CROW: It is the first time I've actually done that with Ms. Boebert. And we, you know, agree on almost nothing. But I've also made a promise to my constituents and to Coloradans that when there's an issue that I will -- that I have to defend Colorado, when I have to defend our veterans and our service members, that I will I will not hesitate to do that.
And this is an issue. This is the creation of a Space National Guard, an entire new branch of the military that's essential for saving our National Guard, saving Colorado's guard in particular, and ensuring the viability of their service. It's a bill that I've worked on for five years, and I'm pushing very hard.
What I'm trying to do is show that there can be opportunities where people to work together, that despite all the fierce debate and opposition, that that people still can come together every once in a while sometimes and do the right thing. Because if we just take the tact that were never going to work with each other, period, then everybody goes home and everybody loses.
BURNETT: Yeah, everybody loses.
All right. Well, thank you very much, Congressman, I appreciate it. It's great to see you in person.
CROW: Thank you. Good to see you too.
BURNETT: Congressman Crow of Colorado.
And next, we have breaking news, new reporting just into the show on Trump's legal strategy, a series of major blows in court. So, a development on that tonight. New reporting from our Paula Reid.
Plus, China cheering on Trump as he guts the federal government, even calling President Trump a, quote, good comrade. Wow. What a compliment. It's a story you'll see first here OUTFRONT.
And feeling the heat. Democrats are now getting an earful from angry constituents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONSTITUENT: We want you to show fight and you are not fighting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: The chairman of the DNC, Ken Martin, will be OUTFRONT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:17:35]
BURNETT: Breaking news, the push to the Supreme Court. We have new reporting right now about Trump's strategy. He is escalating his battle on federal judges. The goal is to get the fights to the highest court in the land. He wants it at the Supreme Court.
And today, he sent his press secretary out to slam the judge who tried to stop his deportation flights.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: It's very, very clear that this is an activist judge who is trying to usurp the president's authority under the Alien Enemies Act. And this judge, Judge Boasberg, is a Democrat activist. He was appointed by Barack Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Elon Musk reposted Leavitt's comments, writing, quote, 1,000 percent might be worth reminding him. That's also the judge who released the Clinton emails. But hey.
Meanwhile, Trump writing, if a president doesn't have the right to throw murderers and other criminals out of our country because a radical left lunatic judge wants to assume the role of president, then our country is in very big trouble and destined to fail, exclamation point.
Paula Reid is OUTFRONT with new reporting.
So, Paula, I mean all of this in a sense, there is a strategy at the core of what Trump and his legal team are trying to do. What is it?
PAULA REID, CNN CHIEF LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Look, Erin, they are completely unbothered by this recent string of court losses because they've been telling me since December, before Trump even took the oath of office, they expected his executive actions. His policies would almost be immediately challenged in court, challenged in districts that were likely more friendly to the challengers.
Same thing Republicans do when they challenge policies they fully expected they would likely lose across the board at the district court level, maybe even lose at the appellate level. But their goal continues to be to get these questions about Trump's use of executive power before that conservative supermajority at the Supreme Court, that majority that Trump, of course, helped put in place because they are confident that once these questions get before the justices, that they will affirm Trump's use of executive power.
Of course, one of those justices, the chief justice, weighed in yesterday with a rebuke of Trump's call for impeachment. But again, the lawyers, they don't think that that impacts the merits of their case at all. That's about Trump on social media.
Now, another interesting nugget about the unity at the Justice Department, we've seen something very unusual in the filings over the past few days to Judge Boasberg, they are signed by the attorney general, the deputy attorney general, all of the leadership at the Justice Department. I'm told that this is a show of force and a show of support for that line prosecutor who is in court making some of these unusual arguments and risking possible contempt or sanctions. I'm told this is to show support for that prosecutor.
Now, Erin, as you know, coordination is not something we always see in the Trump administration. But here it is clear that they believe in the merits of their arguments. And for once, they are playing as a team.
BURNETT: All right, Paula, thank you very much.
Everyone's here OUTFRONT with me.
So, Norm, you're involved with more than two dozen lawsuits against the Trump administration. And a lot of them involve federal workers, DOGE all of that.
Okay, Paula reporting they're all on the same page. Their goal here is to get it to the Supreme Court and that they think they'll prevail. That's your greatest fear.
NORM EISEN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: No, it is not, Erin. They're whistling to the gallows. You just had one of that conservative majority, John Roberts, throw a brushback pitch at Donald Trump. By a 5 to 4 majority, this same Supreme Court said he has to be criminally sentenced. And he was for those 34 felonies here in New York City.
And finally, they've already had two tests at the Supreme Court. Two cases have gone up. Guess what? Donald Trump's record is 0-2.
They're losing. It hurts. That's why you see Donald Trump lashing out.
Just today, they backed down. They said, oh, we're not going to have any more flights. Losing is never good and it's stimulating political and popular resistance to Donald Trump's autocratic overtures.
BURNETT: Do you share that optimism?
ANDREW YANG, FORMER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think Chief Justice Roberts statement was really compelling and important for some of the reasons that Norm's citing.
BURNETT: He said, really chastised Trump for talking about impeaching a judge, said follow through the appellate process.
YANG: Yeah. So, so Justice Roberts is an institutionalist. He wants the Supreme Court to have its own constitutional authority. While Trump is something of an anti-institutionalist, but also Justice Roberts is a conservative and conservatives don't like traditionally judicial rulings to be ignored. Therefore, safeguarding the rule of law.
Now this is the confrontation that a lot of people do fear because there's this very, very strong sense that Donald Trump believes the Supreme Court is going to side with him. And if they don't, then you might see like a real clash that most of us are very eager to avoid.
BUERNETT: Well, and that's the fear. I mean, Shermichael, to that point, you know, Trump obviously has
attacked judges, his administration attacks judges, and continues to do so. Elon Musk, "The New York Times" says, has given the maximum donation to seven Republicans who've endorsed judicial impeachments or called for action in response to rulings against Trump administration. So you got him putting money behind it.
Stephen miller today was asked about Trump's call to impeach judges that Roberts had chastised him for. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Is President Trump still calling for the impeachment of Judge Boasberg in this case, despite what Chief Justice Roberts said yesterday?
STEPHEN MILLER, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: Of course, the president stands by his comments. Absolutely, as do we all, as does the entire administration. You cannot have a democracy where a single individual district court judges can assume the full total powers of the commander in chief.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Okay. So look, rhetoric is rhetoric. Until, as Andrew points out, it could become reality. But does this concern you?
SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't -- I'm not certain that there is an interest among House Republicans to move forward with any type of impeachment. I saw Jim Jordan on earlier today talking with Kasie Hunt. I think they're more worried about growing the majority on the House side. We have a very slim one currently. I think they're focused on the economy, cost of living, the things that were starting to hear more from members in their districts sort of complaining about, I don't know if this is -- is an issue they'd want to die on.
With that said, looking at it through a political lens, however, when you look at a lot of the recent data, Erin, that just came out, the president actually has broad support, even among independents, on his handling overall as it pertains to immigration. And so if I were advising the president, I would say, Mr. President, I know the process sucks. We don't like the ruling from the judge.
I actually do believe that SCOTUS will rule in his favor. And Roberto Gonzales was just on recently, the former AG under the Bush administration. And he talked about it and he said, look, I believe the president has broad constitutional powers as it pertains to removing individuals out of the country who are here illegally.
So I want to see where this goes once it gets to this Supreme Court.
BURNETT: Andrew, you referred to a clash and you weren't using that word rhetorically. I mean, you're literally worried about that.
YANG: Yeah, a lot of us are. A lot of independents, by the way. When you poll them, want judicial rulings to -- to hold up. The fear, Erin, is that this winds up. Yeah, really.
But the fear is that this winds up in some version of Andrew Jackson's famous quote from the 19th century, which is the chief justice has made his ruling. Now let's see him enforce it. If you get to that point, then you have a constitutional crisis on full display.
BURNETT: And that, I mean, that is the real fear.
And, Norm, you know, Trump, he's attacked judges. What's interesting in all of this is that he's brought you into it. And because you've been obviously out there tirelessly fighting on this issue, he attacked you recently at the Department of Justice.
[19:25:08]
Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a guy named Norm Eisen. I don't even know what he looks like. His name is Norm Eisen of CREW. He's been after me for nine years. I don't know who he is. I don't know what he looks like, but everything I read is Norm Eisen of CREW, and CREW is a charitable organization, and that's a political thing, a sole life is to get Donald Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: It's safe to say you were involved in the impeachment proceedings. He saw you there. He's seen you. He -- he obviously knows who you are, as he said your name and your institution multiple times.
So how -- how does that even fit into this? Do you think his attacks on judges help you?
EISEN: They do. We just won a big case yesterday in federal district court in Maryland, where Donald Trump's and Elon Musk's own admissions. The issue in that case is Elon Musk, is he a principal officer? Is he -- does he have significant responsibility?
Donald Trump's admissions that Elon Musk is in charge of DOGE and Elon Musk's admissions helped us win that case. That speech that you saw at the Justice Department, he's lashing out, Erin, because he's losing in these cases, including in front of Republican appointed judges.
He's going to have a hard time at the Supreme Court. There's reporting today that innocent people were included on that deportation. Conservatives stand for the principle our country stands for, that people should have due process before their rights are taken away, that we should have limited government.
Donald Trump doesn't like losing. He's going to lose again on the court orders issue. He can't defy court orders. Whatever the underlying substance may be, he's gone too far on this. And that's just another example of sour grapes. BURNETT: And again, I see how you're saying I also see your fear. I
mean, Shermichael, from what you understand and Trump, I mean, there are going to be some I don't know who they'll be. Maybe someone like Stephen Miller, who knows who when something big is lost are going to say defy it. I don't know who those people will be, but they exist in Trump's world.
SINGLETON: Maybe they do. I mean, look, I thought the president, when Laura Ingraham really, really pushed him on this, I think a day or two ago. Will you respect the ruling from a judge? The president said yes.
BURNETT: She did push him.
SINGLETON: And then he said, look, there are some judges that are kind of crazy radical that you don't like. But yes, you can't defy the order.
I thought that was important. And I think the president's going to respect that. Now to Norm's point, maybe you do lose some of these court cases. I'm not an attorney. The lawyers will figure that out. I'm a political guy.
I think the president can absolutely win the political messaging on this. And I think you frame it quite simply. I am trying to deliver on the mandate to the American people of moving out illegal immigrants, millions of whom came in under the previous administration.
You voted for me in part to do that. That was one of the issues he did exceptionally well on compared to the vice president.
BURNETT: Yep.
SINGLETON: You gave me that mandate. Democrats are trying to stop me. Is this what you want? I think the vast majority of people who are not attorneys would say, yes, we support the president, as the current data suggests they do.
BURNETT: Yeah, on the deportations especially. And I know your point about, hey, a few people on the plane shouldn't have been there, which is an incredibly stunning thing to say.
But the criminals, obviously, that is something the public has a view on.
SINGLETON: Yeah.
BURNETT: All right. Thank you all very much.
And next, breaking news, the Trump administration considering major cuts to the Pentagon as the defense secretary embraces DOGE. New details coming into OUTFRONT right now and ICE detaining an immigrant who was on "TIME's" 100 most influential list. Her family claims she was followed by unmarked cars for days before she was arrested outside of target, where she worked. Her son is my guest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [19:33:27]
BURNETT: Tonight, the Pentagon considering major cuts to the top of the U.S. military as part of the Trump administrations bid to shrink the federal government. This is according to a document obtained by CNN and a U.S. defense official. These cuts that the Trump administration claims add up to $330 million could have major implications for national security.
And tonight, there is one country cheering on Trump's cuts across the government, China.
And Will Ripley is OUTFRONT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chinese warships and fighter jets miles off the Taiwanese coast. Rare images from Taiwan's military. Beijing calls it joint readiness patrols. Taiwan calls it a growing threat from outside and within.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was born in China, and now I'm standing in China's Taiwan province.
RIPLEY: Beijing's strategy is not just military. It's also about shaping narratives. This pro-Beijing social media influencer known as Yaya (ph), lived in Taiwan for years. She was granted residency through marriage. Now she faces deportation back to China.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Peaceful unification is much more difficult than unification by force.
RIPLEY: Taipei calls the influencer a national security risk, a type of risk some fear will only grow with the abrupt cuts to Voice of America and Radio Free Asia. U.S. funded news organizations have long countered Chinas official narrative.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: VOA was never about journalism. It was a Cold War propaganda weapon built by the CIA.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: From Xinjiang to Xizang, VOA has spread some of the most absurd lies about China.
[19:35:04]
RIPLEY: Chinese nationalists are also celebrating on the mainland's tightly controlled internet. Government censors even allowing praise of President Trump, calling him a good comrade. Trump finally did a good thing.
It's a rare good thing that is cheered in both China and the U.S.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Chinese government has often targeted Uyghurs as a security concern.
RIPLEY: For decades, they exposed stories Beijing wanted buried, from crackdowns on dissidents to Uyghur internment camps, vital sources of uncensored news during the Tiananmen Square massacre. Its futur, now uncertain.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A 30-day halt to strikes on energy facilities by Russia and Ukraine.
RIPLEY: While America pulls back, China is expanding. Beijing is pouring billions into its state run outlets like CGTN and China Daily.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But let's be real, no one cares about VOA.
RIPLEY: Aggressively growing its media influence worldwide. VOA and RFA reached millions, including those in China, who bypassed censorship to access outside news. Now that counterbalance is in jeopardy.
With America's voice fading, China's megaphone is only growing louder, and its military is only growing stronger.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY (on camera): But, of course, inside China, when there is information that they don't like, they can cut off the signal, which is what's happening right now. They've gone to bars and tone in the middle of our report. I'm not really sure which part, probably when we mentioned Tiananmen Square is when they censored us, which is not surprising, Erin.
But, you know, the contrast really is striking. One superpower, the U.S. backed superpower, is broadcaster going dark. But China's state controlled outlets arguably are reaching more people than ever, especially with the help of A.I. This English language social media content and their state media content is growing louder and more sophisticated.
And if this is a shifting information war, many believe that Beijing is really more than happy to fill the void being left by the U.S. -- Erin.
BURNETT: Yeah, U.S. choosing to silence itself.
Thank you very much, Will Ripley. And in the U.S., Trump's cuts are becoming a major source of outrage and anger at heated town halls here at home for Republicans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONSTITUENT: I'm a veteran and you don't give a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) about me.
You don't get to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) do this to us! You don't get to take away our rights!
CONSTITUENT: How is cutting 82,000 VA employees helping veterans?
FLOOD: OK, next question. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: OUTFRONT now, DNC Chairman Ken Martin.
And, Ken, I appreciate your time. So, you know, you hear Will Ripley reporting about how China is cheering on these cuts. These cuts have been dominating Republican town halls. And obviously maybe Voice of America not top of the list there, although it is crucial.
But these cuts across America, you and other Democrats see this. You've been calling out Republicans who aren't holding town halls. You've been announcing more town halls across the country with Democrats.
So do you see this as a major opening?
KEN MARTIN, DNC CHAIR: Well, absolutely. First off, thanks for having me, Erin. And look, the Republicans are cowards. You know, our Constitution says we the people, we live in a representative democracy.
And the Republicans are denying their constituents the right to be heard. And those few Republicans holding town halls, you can hear the frustration from veterans, from farmers, from union members to nurses to seniors, people writ large throughout this country are frustrated with what they're seeing, that many of them who supported Donald Trump, many of them who believed in his promise that he was going to actually do one thing to improve their lives.
Instead, he's just brought chaos and dysfunction. These Republicans need to show a little bit more courage here, face their voters, listen to the concerns of the American people. These are not Democrats. These are not just Republicans. These are Americans who deserve to be heard at this moment.
BURNETT: So Democratic Congressman Glenn Ivey has come out, as you're well aware, of course, Ken. And he is one of two House Democrats publicly calling for senator Schumer to step down or be replaced as minority leader because they're upset that, right, that he didn't fight back, that he didn't hold the line, as Congressman Crow told me earlier in the hour on the GOP-backed Trump plan over the weekend with the government spending.
Ivey said, and I quote, Ken, I think he had a great long standing career. I'm afraid it may be time for Senate Democrats to choose a new leader.
Do you agree with him?
MARTIN: Well, look, I'm not a member of the senate. I don't have a vote. It's not up to me.
What I do think for Democrats at this time and at this moment, is we need to have a spine. We need to lift our heads. We need to show the American people that we're going to fight for them, that were going to stand up and do everything we can within our power to resist the excesses and extremes of this Trump administration, which is destroying communities and ripping people's lives apart.
BURNETT: So did you -- do you see it at Chuck Schumer didn't have a spine, or that he did the right thing because it was inevitable that this thing would pass and he's picking his battles?
[19:40:03]
Or do you see him as someone who did not have that spine?
MARTIN: Well, look, again, it's not up to me to decide whether or not what Chuck Schumer did was right or wrong. What I will say is, at this moment, as we move forward, I can tell you that Democrats are united. Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, myself and other Democrats throughout this country are united in the fight to save Social Security, to save Medicaid and Medicare, to stand up and make it more affordable for peoples lives, to make sure that American people know were on their side.
BURNETT: So there was a voter today asking the Democratic senator, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan a question. She did a roundtable, and they asked how she would step up more aggressively. They gave examples of people they thought were doing a good job at that for Democrats. AOC, Bernie Sanders, Jasmine Crockett were, you know, some of the specifics.
Here's what Senator Slotkin said in response, in part.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI): I can't just chain myself to the White House and become an activist full time because you and others here are going to call me for things that you need. All of those things require me to be more than just an AOC. I can't do what she does because we live in a purple state, and I'm a pragmatist. I got to save things for my people.
Everyone you mentioned has a lot of words, but what have they actually done to change the situation with Donald Trump and the cuts and the attacks on our judiciary and the attacks on our Constitution?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: What do you think about the way she said it? I mean, you know, everyone you mentioned has a lot of words, but she Senator Slotkin wants to get things done. She is going to be a pragmatist. Is that a good way to handle it?
MARTIN: Again, I think every Democrat is trying to take on this fight in a way that they see fit. What's important right now is that Democrats do something. Make sure you get in the fight, make sure you show the American people that we're on their side, not the side of these unelected billionaires who are trying to dismantle government and make it harder for people to afford their lives, turning our back on our allies around the world, making our world less safe, making this country less safe. The reality is, is we are in this fight together. We are a big tent
party. We have a conservative Democrats, centrist Democrats, we have progressives. We even have folks further to the left than that.
The reality is, is everyone, regardless of what part of this party they represent, needs to be engaged in this fight. And that's what I'm seeing across the board. Democrats are standing up, they're fighting back, and they're making sure that people, regardless of party, are heard in this process, that the American people who are frustrated deserve to have their voices heard right now.
And these cowards, these Republicans who have shown no courage at all, are not meeting with their constituents. And that's what matters right now.
BURNETT: All right, Ken, thank you very much. I appreciate your time.
And next, a leading immigration advocate who hid in a church during Trump's first administration. But on the time 100 list, now is in U.S. custody. ICE custody, her family saying she was followed by unmarked cars before her arrest. And her son is next.
Plus, our Clarissa Ward is on the ground as Ukrainian POW's return home after years in Russian captivity.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:47:22]
BURNETT: Tonight, an undocumented mom of four detained by ICE in Colorado.
Jeanette Vizguerra is a well-known immigration rights activist. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by "TIME" magazine.
That was in 2017, when Vizguerra took sanctuary in a Denver church. She was there for three years. You may remember this to avoid deportation in Trump's first term. ICE releasing a photo of her arrest on Monday outside the Denver Target store. That's where she works or worked as a cashier until her arrest.
Vizguerra family says she noticed unmarked vehicles following her a few days before.
And OUTFRONT now, her son, Roberto Baez Vizguerra.
And Roberto, I really appreciate your time, and I'm sorry to have to speak to you in these circumstances. I know that you just got off work yourself. You just spoke. You had a chance to speak to your mom after her arrest by ICE. What did she tell you about the moment she was arrested?
ROBERT BAEZ VIZGUERRA, SON OF UNDOCUMENTED ACTIVIST DETAINED BY ICE: So she told me that she was at work and she was going out to her break. And out of nowhere a bunch of men ambushed her, and they started, you know, putting cuffs on her, and they were laughing in her face.
They were in unmarked vehicles. They were wearing regular civilian clothes. You know, she wasn't scared, but, you know. It's -- it was very sudden.
BURNETT: And you're saying they were laughing in her face. You mentioned that they the vehicles were unmarked, and she did. I understand Roberto noticed that in those days prior that she felt she had been followed.
VIZGUERRA: Yes. She had thought that she had been seeing unmarked vehicles follow her, you know, previous days to and actually my father, he had said that he had seen a car that had been following her, too.
BURNETT: So what is she saying to you about her time in detention? And I'm just thinking in the context of you saying that, she said. They laughed in her face when they arrested her.
VIZGUERRA: So while she's at the detention center, she's actually been calling us quite a lot, and she's been telling us how any they've actually, like, pulled her aside to talk to, like, an agent. Or, you know, she had interacted with any of the officers in there. They -- they're -- they treat her with dignity, with respect.
But she has also, you know, told them that hopefully she's not the only one that's receiving that treatment.
BURNETT: Well, I think anybody watching is very glad to hear that, that she is being treated with dignity and respect now in detention.
I mean, you've lived with this your whole life or better. We have photos in 2017. You know, when she won that time magazine award and she took sanctuary inside that church, you were only ten then, and you were born here in the United States.
[19:50:10]
So you are able to speak out. Obviously, you're a citizen. So where has there been any response from the Trump administration to your family at this point? I mean, do you know at all what they intend to do with her?
VIZGUERRA: So right now the lawyer is in negotiations to see if there's some way to get her out. Of course, the way that they got her was illegal, and they broke, you know, they violated a lot of rules. We haven't gotten any, like, answer from the Trump administration specifically, but there was this one higher up in, you know I forgot his name, but he had been tweeting out that, he's laughing, that she's in there and he's happy that they got her.
BURNETT: So, Roberto, the former field office director for ICE in Denver, did post something just when you mentioned that made me think of this about your mom. He said the Biden administration kept me from deporting Jeanette Vizguerra four years ago. She's a criminal, hates Trump and is an open borders, abolish ICE advocate. Her children can go to Mexico to live with their mom.
There's a lot in there. But how do you respond to that?
VIZGUERRA: Well, it seems like the man is just very ignorant. He doesn't see how, you know, were dealing with this situation, you know, firsthand.
I had to, you know, just find out from a call that she had been taken, and I won't be able to see her again until, you know, I get to visit her. It's -- I just hope that one day he can be happy and not miserable and not trying to ruin other peoples lives.
BURNETT: Roberto, I appreciate your time. I know everyone watching. Appreciate your time. And again, I know you had to come straight off work to do this interview, so thank you so much.
VIZGUERRA: Of course.
BURNETT: And next, our Clarissa Ward. She is on the ground in Ukraine and you see what's behind her. She was there, a witness to the massive prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:56:28]
BURNETT: And finally tonight, reunited. Russia and Ukraine have completed one of the largest prisoner swaps since the war began, 175 Ukrainian prisoners of war are now back home.
And Clarissa Ward was there on the ground for the moment of freedom.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're waiting now here with family members of the 175 Ukrainian prisoners of war who have just crossed over the border back into Ukraine, some of them, after three years in captivity in Russia. The images that we've been seeing of that moment, as they sprint through the border crossing, grabbing a Ukrainian flag and now on their way back to be reunited with loved ones, who's the cake for?
I'm waiting for my husband, who has been in captivity for almost three years, and yesterday was his birthday, Alyona (ph) tells us. It's splashes of fireworks and emotions. My heart is beating out of my chest.
You take a look now the bus doors just opening and people rushing forward, desperately hoping to get a glimpse of their loved ones. People calling out the names of loved ones as they try to find their family members amid the 175 Ukrainian prisoners of war who are getting off of these busses. Some of them seem to have some injuries. Others look like they're in good shape, though clearly dazed.
You can see Alyona has found her husband Andriy (ph). She gave him a huge, huge hug and presented him with that birthday cake that she's waited three years.
It's just incredible to see how much emotion there is in this crowd. Everywhere you walk, people are hugging, they're crying, they're laughing, and just the sense of relief. Some of these men held for three years.
This man is talking to, I think, his wife, for the first time. You can see just how emotional the incredible toll of what these men have been through.
Can I ask you guys, how does it feel to be back home in Ukraine?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amazing.
WARD: Amazing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, beautiful. Magnificent. Great. Super.
WARD: How long have you been dreaming about this moment?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three years.
WARD: Can I ask you look thin. How were the conditions in the prison where you were held?
Look, if I tell the truth, it'll affect the guys who are still there. Yevhen (ph) tells us. But I would say in the 21st century, people should be treated better than us. We don't know exactly how many Ukrainian prisoners of war there are in Russia. The estimates are around 8,000 or even more.
I asked President Zelenskyy a question at a virtual press conference yesterday.
I said, what could President Putin say or do that would give you more optimism about this peace process? And he said to return all the prisoners of war.
Clarissa Ward, CNN, Chernihiv, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BURNETT: Just incredible to see and imagine.
Thanks for joining us.
"AC360" with Anderson begins right now.
