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CNN International: U.S. Economy Added 151,000 Jobs In February; Lower Than Expected; White House To Hold First Ever Crypto Summit; Canadian-U.S. Relationship Strained Over Trump Tariff Threats. Aired 11a- 12p ET
Aired March 07, 2025 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
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ZAIN ASHER, HOST, "ONE WORLD": The first jobs report of President Trump's second term is out, and it is a mixed bag.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, HOST, "ONE WORLD": Yeah. One World starts right now.
The new jobs report is released after days of market turmoil, and as the President flip-flops once again in his trade war. We'll look at the local
impact of Trump's tariffs from Vancouver to Detroit.
ASHER: Plus, a deadly Russian strike targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure has President Trump threatening more sanctions on Russia.
We'll take you live to Kyiv for that.
GOLODRYGA: And International Women's Day is this weekend, and we're speaking with Activist and Prima Ballerina Ingrid Silva about her effort to
empower women through dance.
All right. Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: And I'm Zain Asher. You are watching One World.
All right. We are getting our very first look at the state of the American economy under President Donald Trump, and the numbers, as I mentioned, are
mixed.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah. The Labor Department report just out, shows that employers added 151,000 jobs in February, which was lower than expected, but up from
125,000 the month before. Now, that number having been revised lower. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, ticked up to 4.1 percent. Some analysts warn
that it could be a calm before the storm.
ASHER: Deep economic uncertainty remains over the President's sort of on again/off again tariff threats, and some of the massive federal government
firings have happened really so recently that they're not being reflected in this particular report. So, it could take time to see those numbers pan
out.
Let's take a look at how the markets are responding. You do see red across the board, but if you look at the Dow, I mean, it's down ever so slightly.
It's pretty much flat at this point in time.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah. CNN's Kevin Liptak is at the White House, where we're waiting to hear from President Trump to speak. But first, let's go to Matt
Egan, who joins us live in New York. So, as noted, slightly lower numbers in February than expected. But, given the circumstances and the uncertainty
with these trade wars now and the job cuts from the DOGE initiative of federal workers, Matt, talk to us about what we should look into in the --
these numbers and then the weeks and months to come, because we've seen the market react quite negatively, having its worst week since last September.
MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: Yeah. Bianna, in some ways, it does feel like this could be the calm before the storm. I don't think there is anything really
alarming from this report, but as you mentioned, there is so much pressure right now on the economy that we are on high alert for stress in the jobs
market.
Now, just to quickly run you through these numbers, 151,000 jobs added in February. That was just a touch below expectations, but it does mark a
slight acceleration from January, which was revised lower. The unemployment rate was supposed to stay flat at four percent. It didn't. It did edge
higher up to 4.1 percent. That is still historically low, but it went higher in part because there were fewer people who have jobs, and there is
also fewer people who are looking for jobs.
Digging into some of the sectors and the industries here, I should note that manufacturing return to job growth, that is some good news, but we did
see job loss in terms of retail, leisure and hospitality. We should keep an eye on that, right, because we know that consumer confidence has taken a
hit. Consumer spending has dropped. Some of this could reflect strikes, workers who have been striking, particularly in retail, but still got to
monitor that. And then the federal government losing 10,000 jobs in February, that's the most that we've seen in any single month since 2022,
and that doesn't even fully capture the mass layoffs that are being done by DOGE and Elon Musk, as they try to slash costs.
I do think big picture, this is another solid month for the jobs market. We're now looking at 50 consecutive months of job growth for the United
States. That's the second longest streak in modern history, second only to the recovery from the Great Recession. The question, though, of course, is,
how long is it going to continue? Because you have these mass layoffs for the largest employer in the United States, the federal government. You've
got all of this uncertainty around trade policy. I mean, tariffs are on one day. They're off. They're dialed up. They're delayed. There is more on the
way. It's almost impossible to keep track of it all.
[11:05:00]
So, at some point, all of that uncertainty could start to weigh on the real economy, and we're going to be keeping very close tabs on all of the
numbers coming out to see whether or not this very resilient jobs market can stay strong in the coming months.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Matt Egan, thank you so much.
ASHER: All right. Let's bring in Kevin Liptak. So, Kevin, you have to think about the fact that this President was hired in part because of his
promises to sort of rebuild the American economy, and Matt was just talking about all of the uncertainty we're seeing, of course, from trade policy,
the tariffs, the effect the tariffs will have on rising prices, and now, of course, this idea that obviously DOGE's cuts and Elon Musk's cuts will have
an impact on federal government jobs. And even though those numbers aren't necessarily reflected in this jobs report, they will be reflected in jobs
reports that are coming later on.
Just walk us through, when the cuts do become apparent in the numbers, how will the White House spin that, do you think?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, I mean, I think we got a preview of that today. In this jobs report, there were 10,000 government
jobs less than there were the previous month, and they actually embraced it. They said that this was an indication that their plan was working. They
embraced the increase in manufacturing jobs, but also pointing to the decline in government positions as evidence of the President's plan. And
so, I think that is part of what you'll see going forward.
They're not making any secret that they want to cut government jobs. They think it is more beneficial for the economy to be making jobs in the
private sector. So, it is clear that they think that this is evidence that the strategy is working. But, I think, in reality, Trump allies know that
there are these warning signals flashing in the economy. They know that that is due, in part, due to the uncertainty that Trump is injecting into
the economy, whether it is this whipsaw back and forth on tariffs, or whether it's this major government layoffs that they have been executing
that we haven't necessarily seen in the actual numbers just yet.
And I think that's part of why you've seen the White House over the last day calibrate on both of these issues, whether it's delaying the tariffs
that the President had put in place on Canada and Mexico, or whether it's asking Elon Musk to be more careful, essentially, to use a scalpel instead
of a chainsaw when executing these government layoffs. You see in both of these areas the President encouraging some kind of calibration. And so, I
think that's evidence that the White House is aware that the economy is the number one issue, that the effects of these steps could have a significant
impact. And so, it will be interesting to see what the President exactly says when we hear him in the Oval Office talking about these jobs numbers.
Of course, this is the first full month of the new administration. It does reflect, in full, the President's own actions. Before last month, when they
were talking about the jobs numbers, they used it to blame the previous administration. You can't do that now. Now that the President is in office,
this is certainly a reflection of his own policy. So, it will be interesting to see what exactly he says about this when we hear him
speaking.
ASHER: All right. Kevin Liptak live for us there. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
All right. And for the first time ever, the White House is hosting a crypto summit today. This comes a day after President Trump signed an executive
order to form a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, according to social media posts by David Sacks, the White House czar for AI and cryptocurrency.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah. It's another sign of support the Trump administration is giving to the industry, and a sharp change from the scrutiny it faced under
former President Joe Biden and his administration.
ASHER: CNN Business Senior Writer Allison Morrow joins us live now from New York. So, of course, remember during the campaign trail, Donald Trump
promised to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world. Just talk to us about who is attending, because I believe that Robinhood CEO is going to be
in attendance, also the head of Coinbase as well. What are these leaders hoping to hear from the President?
ALLISON MORROW, CNN BUSINESS, SENIOR WRITER: Right. I mean, this is Christmas morning for the crypto industry. It's hard to overstate just how
much of a 180 these executives are facing from even just a year ago. No administration in the past 15 years that crypto has been in existence has
seen the asset as a legitimate business, and these executives have never really had a seat at the table. So, this is a big moment for the industry,
and everyone is very excited.
There are about two dozen executives from the biggest and most elite of the crypto industry. They also happen to be the ones who gave the most money
during the campaign to Donald Trump. Yeah, of course. And so, I think this summit has two main goals.
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I mean, one attendee told me that they really do want to show their adoration and their appreciation to the President for kind of opening the
floodgates on this industry and really embracing it with a fervor they've never seen from the U.S. government. And then, secondly, of course, they do
want to work on policy initiatives. They want to have a seat at the table to say, here is what we're thinking. What is the White House thinking in
terms of a regulatory framework, and what steps can we take together?
Now, a big part of that, as you mentioned, is going to be this Bitcoin reserve. And there is a lot of controversy around what that's going to look
like and how it's going to be set up. A lot of critics are saying that this is basically a way to backstop the price of Bitcoin and ensure that people
who already hold Bitcoin and bought it early, maintain their value. And it's a volatile asset, and this kind of guarantees some stability for them.
ASHER: All right. Allison Morrow live for us there. I think it's happening at three o'clock this afternoon.
MORROW: Yeah.
ASHER: So, we will be watching closely. Thank you so much, Allison.
GOLODRYGA: Well, as Kevin Liptak mentioned before, ditch the chainsaw and try using a scalpel. Those were the President Trump's new marching orders
to agency heads.
ASHER: Now, his comments came during a closed door Thursday cabinet meeting, and signals what could be a shift in tactics as the administration
downsizes the federal workforce. The task is now largely off Elon Musk's to-do lists and on the list of individual department heads who Trump says
will actually now have a final say. This follows massive backlash against Musk's slash and burn effort to cut federal jobs, which wound up
sacrificing crucial workers. Mr. Trump says to the cabinet members, they know their people best.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I want the cabinet members go first, keep all the people you want, everybody that you need,
and it would be better if they were there for two years instead of two weeks, because in two years, they'll know the people better. But, I want
them to do the best job they can, where we have good people. Elon and the group are going to be watching them, and if they can cut, it's better, and
if they don't cut, then Elon will do the cutting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: So, still leaving the door open for Elon come back in with his chainsaw.
Up next for us on One World, how Donald Trump's tariff threats are impacting businesses, both in the U.S. and Canada. Why some say the
relationship with the United States will never be the same.
ASHER: Plus, the conversation about how border cities in Canada and the U.S. are adjusting to these uncertain times.
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ASHER: Donald Trump's trade war with America's neighbors seems to shift by -- I mean, every single -- it is whiplash, every single day, a new
headline.
GOLODRYGA: Day, minute. On Tuesday, the U.S. enacted punishing tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Then the next day, Trump exempted the auto industry for
one month, and then on Thursday, he signed an executive order putting off many of those tariffs until April. Now, he has had a series of phone calls
with the leaders of Mexico and Canada as well as the heads of the U.S. automakers this week, and each call seems to be changing his plans.
ASHER: Right. There has been so much uncertainty because of all the back and forth we're seeing. Let's see how financial markets have been reacting.
They were in a tailspin earlier this week. Now the Dow is down about 100 points or so, ever so slightly. But, Trump says his tariff policies have
nothing to do with the ups and downs of the markets. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm not even looking at the market, because long term, the United States will be very strong with what's happening here. Now, these are
countries and companies, foreign companies, that have been ripping us off, and no President did anything about it until I came along and I did a lot
about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Canadians are understandably frustrated and angry at the tariff whiplash.
ASHER: Yeah. A lot of people are boycotting products from their neighbor to the south, the United States, and the Premier of British Columbia says that
the once close relationship with the U.S. has been changed forever.
Our John King went to British Columbia where he got an earful from Canadians.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is American steel in Western Canada for custom finishes. One belt is to burn a few
notches and drill a few holes, another to weld some angled braces, soon back on a rail car and back across the border for an office project in
Alaska. It is a partnership that supports 100 jobs here at AI Industries in Surrey, British Columbia. This just one piece of nearly $800 billion a year
in trade between the United States and Canada, now, though, a partnership in peril because of President Trump's insistence on new tariffs.
KARIM WALJI, CANADIAN RESIDENT: He wants to show that U.S. is strong, and because I'm bigger than you are, I can bully you around, and this is how
I'm going to do it.
KING (voice-over): Trump paused the tariffs Thursday, just two days after imposing them, another about-face. Yes, Walji prefers no tariffs, but he
says weeks of threats and contradictions from Trump make it impossible to plan and are already hurting both economies.
WALJI: Even with the threat of tariffs, prices have gone through the roof and have gone higher. So, we're seeing right now, when we're bidding a job
today versus we're bidding at three months ago, our cost has gone up almost 15 percent.
KING (voice-over): British Columbia is a living post card, scenic mountains and gorgeous waters. The importance of trade is everywhere you look,
Canadian lumber waiting at Rivers Edge, rail cars to carry Canadian crude oil, crops and more, the bustling Pacific Rim, Port of Vancouver.
PETER XOTTA, CEO, VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORITY: You'll watch it for eight hours. You'll see, on average, we've got 10 ships arriving and 10
ships leaving. We did about 160 million tons of cargo last year. 75 percent of that is those bulk commodities, but grain, coal, potash, sulfur and
other agricultural products outbound.
KING (voice-over): Peter Xotta is the Port CEO. He says shippers who normally plan six or nine months out are now taking things a few weeks at a
time because Trump is so unpredictable. And he says Trump's threats and his tone leave Canada no choice but to find new markets, new partners.
XOTTA: It's been a wake-up call, right? It's been a wake-up call for Canadians that we need to figure out a way to not be as dependent.
KING (voice-over): This rift goes beyond what Canadians see as Trump's bad math. They are furious at his bad manners, his constant insults, calling
Canada the 51st state and its Prime Minister, Governor.
DARRYL LAMB, CANADIAN RESIDENT: We've been in this together for a long time. We fought wars together. We went to Afghanistan. We did all this
stuff together. Why? What are you doing here?
KING (voice-over): Darryl Lamb is the brand manager at Legacy Liquors. Yes, this too is a front in the new trade war.
LAMB: There is Yellow Rose right there from Texas, right there.
KING (on camera): Yellow Rose. So, is it popular?
LAMB: It is.
KING (on camera): And if this goes into effect, you can't sell this.
LAMB: That'll be off the shelf.
KING (on camera): It's gone.
KING (voice-over): Tito's vodka too, also from Texas.
KING (on camera): Diagram of a trade war.
KING (voice-over): The premier of British Columbia says, if Trump imposes tariffs, he will ban sales of alcohol from states that Trump won, that also
have a Republican governor.
LAMB: We've gone through this before with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We were asked to remove all Russian products from our shelves.
KING (voice-over): Lamb says some customers rushed to stockpile American favorites, but others want all American products off the shelves.
KING (on camera): So mad at Trump for what he is saying about Canada that they're saying, get it out of here.
LAMB: No. 100 percent. Absolutely.
VIKRAM VINAYAK, CANADIAN RESIDENT: I'm just worried about this eternal relationship that we've had for 200 plus years being soured for four.
[11:20:00]
KING (voice-over): Vikram Vinayak is a short haul truck driver carrying berries destined for the United States on this run.
KING (on camera): What are other loads that are pretty typical?
VINAYAK: Nursery trees, auto parts and produce. Sometimes we take frozen fish.
KING (on camera): How much of your work or products that you know are going to end up in the United States?
VINAYAK: More than 80 percent, 90 percent of our loads are going to U.S.
KING (voice-over): As many as five runs a day, 40 to 50 hours a week, but tariffs will cut shipments to the United States and cut Vinayak's hours.
KING (on camera): You have a wife and two daughters?
VINAYAK: Yes.
KING (on camera): And so, what does that mean about planning, thinking maybe we won't make a vacation or maybe we won't buy something? What is it?
VINAYAK: No, no. Just planning is nothing. The main thing is, how to get out of this situation by finding another job.
KING (on camera): Does that make you mad you might have to find another job? Do you like this job?
VINAYAK: Yeah, I love this job.
KING (voice-over): One of many jobs now at risk because of a U.S.-Canada relationship Trump just shifted into reverse.
John King, CNN, Surry, British Columbia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Well, let's take a deeper dive into how this is impacting real people on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. Joining us are Hayley
Woodin, Editor-in-Chief of Business in Vancouver, and Kurt Nagl, a reporter for Crain's Detroit Business. Welcome both of you.
Kurt, if I could start with you, I'd like to play sound for you from yesterday, as the Commerce Secretary was trying to calm nerves, going on a
business channel to talk about the President's long-term goal, not really focusing on the short-term market gyrations as they view it, but a longer
term more prosperous America. Here is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWARD LUTNICK, U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY: The President wants American growth and American prosperity. OK? And the fact that the stock market goes
down a half a percent or a percent, it goes up a half a percent or percent, that is not the driving force of our outcomes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: And Lutnick went on to say that the ultimate goal in the way to avoid tariffs is just to bring all businesses here to the U.S. and
manufacture everything in the U.S. And I was interested in an article in your piece this morning entitled "Moving production back to the U.S.
because of tariffs, easier said than done", and this coming from auto suppliers in particular. Just talk about the impact that not only these
tariffs would have on the industry, but even this uncertainty before we know what the President will ultimately do.
KURT NAGL, REPORTER, CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS: Sure. So, I'll start by saying that the auto sector and Michigan business class breathed a sigh of
relief yesterday when there was an extension, a one-month reprieve, if you will, placed on these tariffs. It was the best possible development out of
the worst-case scenario. Many executives, from automakers to automotive suppliers, had hoped that the tariffs would not be enacted at all, but
Trump, pushing the proverbial button, indicated that he very much is serious about upending trade policy.
For automotive suppliers in particular, bringing jobs back to the U.S., first of all, cannot happen on a dime, right? These are many times years-
long investment decisions. It takes a long time to set up manufacturing plants. And frankly, the cost of doing business in the U.S. is a lot more
expensive than in Mexico, right? That's why the supplier industry gradually gravitated and built for many decades their manufacturing complex in
countries like Mexico and Central America and now even Eastern Europe and North Africa in these low labor costs areas.
ASHER: Hayley, let me bring you in, because Justin Trudeau had a call with Donald Trump on Wednesday. The call was described as colorful. The
relationship between the two men seems to be that much more filled with animosity compared to his relationship with the Mexican President. Canada
doesn't know whether it's coming or going in terms of this trade war. I mean, obviously, two months ago, or rather a month ago, we were told that
there was going to be a trade war, then it was delayed, then there was going to be another trade war, and now that has been delayed. Just walk us
through how Canadians prepare for that kind of uncertainty as well.
HAYLEY WOODIN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER: I think it's incredibly difficult to prepare for that level of uncertainty, and it is
complicated by the fact that our top negotiator and our Prime Minister has said he will resign. The ruling party is in the middle of a leadership
race, and by the end of this week, on Sunday, we'll know who the next leader and Prime Minister is, and then waiting with bated breath for a
federal election that could really be called at any moment.
[11:25:00]
It's a terrible time in terms of leadership and unity in the country to also be having to deal with, frankly, an administration from our longest
standing partner and trade ally that seems to change its mind every hour, every day. This week alone has given us many examples of how we're dealing
with steep and punishing tariffs of 25 percent and then some exemptions for certain industries, and then more exemptions for others.
I think the point was made well by Kurt that business is looking to make longer-term investment decisions. It is near impossible to try and make
decisions, let alone to set up a multibillion-dollar operation in the States, when you're making that decision based on something that might very
well change in a day, and it certainly might change well beyond four years. If we're really talking about relocating manufacturing, thousands of jobs,
investing billions of dollars, you can't necessarily do that within four years, even though that is a substantial timeline.
So, I think business is watching, really trying to read the tea leaves in some respects, and hoping potentially that with a different government, or
at the very least maybe a different leader, the tension that we've seen between Trudeau and Trump eases a little bit. But, who is to say whether
that will actually happen?
GOLODRYGA: And Kurt, given that the President has always touted himself as a businessman, it seems that those executives have his ear more than
certain world leaders. We know that he spoke with the CEOs of the major U.S. automakers this week, yesterday, saying that he effectively was doing
this for them too, but this was it. He wasn't going to come back around and rescue them again. Can you give us any more insight from your reporting as
to what those conversations were like? Kurt? I think we've lost Kurt. Hayley, any -- this is sort of not your purview, given that you're in
Vancouver, but I'm just curious if there is any reporting on your end from your publication as to the impact of those conversations with the major
U.S. automakers, what they had on the President for this pause.
WOODIN: I mean, I think it's really hard to ignore the fact that there was clearly some influence had there. The automotive industry is highly
integrated. It's cross border. Looking at the stock market, looking at how some shares of those auto manufacturers were performing in the lead up to
this, and then, of course, the decision to exempt them temporarily, it seems as though that there were powerful business leaders and individuals
that managed to have some influence on that decision, and it certainly makes sense. I mean, here in Canada, we're much smaller in terms of
manufacturing, but auto manufacturing is a very important sector, and it is integrated.
And so, if President Trump is effectively saying that some of these measures aimed at Canada are really to try and shore up and protect
automotive manufacturing in the U.S., it can't be ignored that really what that means is that automotive manufacturers might very well be paying for
some of those tariffs on Canada, because we supply components that head south and then back up to us before the final product is shipped south of
the border.
It sounds as though the President is really trying to push this narrative again of wanting to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., and so, this
exemption, I think, clearly, is responsive to the fact that tariffs would be quite punishing and harmful to U.S. automotive interests, and whether
some of those discussions and conversations were influential in that. Those talking points were certainly made earlier with weeks, months ago, that
this would be harmful. But, it sounds like at the 11th hour, they certainly were able to provide some talking points, provide some insight, and a
decision was made.
GOLODRYGA: And we should note, even though there is a respite right now, there are many products that are not part of USMCA that will, in fact,
still face tariffs in this months-long pause as well between these countries. We will be paying close attention to all of that.
Kurt Nagl in Detroit for us, Hayley Woodin in Vancouver, thank you.
ASHER: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: We'll check back in with you later.
ASHER: All right. Still to come here on One World, Russian airstrikes pummel parts of Ukraine, as President Zelenskyy calls for a ceasefire.
We'll be live for you in Kyiv.
GOLODRYGA: Plus, a tough day for thousands of travelers at France's busiest train station. But, things could now be looking up. We'll explain later.
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ASHER: All right. Welcome back to One World. I'm Zain Asher.
GOLODRYGA: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. Here are some of the international headlines we are watching today.
ASHER: A Vatican source says Pope Francis is receiving mechanical and oxygen flow therapies, as he continues to recover from double pneumonia at
a Rome hospital. Supporters heard his voice for the first time in three weeks last night. In an audio message, he thanked them for their support.
GOLODRYGA: South Korean President Yoon could be released from detention as early as today. A court canceled his arrest warrant on procedural grounds.
Yoon is still facing trial on insurrection charges, and separately, his impeachment is still pending before the Constitutional Court. It all stems
from his declaration of martial law back in September.
ASHER: Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall on Australia's East Coast on Saturday. Pounding rain and powerful winds already lashing
the area. Cyclone warnings have been issued for about four million residents near Brisbane.
GOLODRYGA: Ukraine says Russia targeted the country's energy infrastructure with a massive drone and missile attack overnight. Residential buildings
were also hit. At least two people have been killed. The aerial assault erupted just hours after Ukraine's President suggested a ceasefire could be
agreed in the air and at sea.
ASHER: Let's go live now to Kyiv, where we find CNN's Nick Paton Walsh. So, Nick, clearly, Russia is exploiting Ukraine's weakness here. Just walk us
through how much of an impact the suspension of intelligence there and sharing from the U.S. is already having on Ukraine's vulnerability.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. We don't know the answer to that question. And look -- well, bear in mind,
it's about three or four days, really, Monday, very early in the morning, to say Tuesday, very early in the morning, that this suspension of military
aid kicked in, unclear precisely, and the full extent of when intelligence sharing stopped.
So, I think the strikes that we saw last night potentially mark Russia trying to see about the vulnerabilities and something key that's been
lacking in full supply for Ukraine for months. And before this crisis with U.S. aid (ph) began, Zelenskyy talked openly about how every morning they
count how many Patriot air defense missiles they have. They're only supplied by the United States, and they're the only theme that can take
down the ballistic missiles. That last night was 67 in number fired by Russia at Ukraine, used significant devices that are able to carry big
payloads and cause massive damage.
[11:35:00]
Over 30 of those were shot down, unclear entirely why. But, I should point out to people hearing these numbers, it's quite regular to wake up and hear
that well over 100 drones have been fired at Ukraine by Russia. We often hear air defenses working around here to shoot them down over central Kyiv.
So, that's not new. But, I think what we may see in the days and weeks ahead, as the potential for this U.S. pause in aid has greater
ramifications to what Ukraine is able to do to defend itself, that we may see Russia continually probe, use more ballistic missiles. The ebb and flow
has been there.
But, President Donald Trump today referred to how Ukraine was getting, quote, "pounded" in his Truth Social posts, saying that he was strongly
considering sanctions against the banking sector, wider sanctions and also potentially tariffs. I should point out, there is really not enough trade
at all between the U.S. and Russia to put tariffs on to have any impact.
So, I think a bid there by Washington, after weeks of essentially laying pressure only on the erstwhile, I should say, ally Ukraine, to suggest that
there might be a bid to put pressure on Moscow too, but still all of the impact of this deeply unsettling for Ukrainians, who will tonight, again,
have to hear the sirens in some parts of the country, and hope that their defenses stop things landing near them.
GOLODRYGA: And remember, Nick, that this was a rare rebuke or threat from President Trump that he had also voiced a few weeks ago, perhaps a month
ago, also threatening sanctions against Russia. We didn't hear any more detail on that in the weeks after, really sort of absolving Russia, as we
have been reporting for the past few weeks, of any blame here, and even stating at one point that Ukraine was at fault for this war.
Talk to us briefly about what we can expect to see Monday in Saudi Arabia, and President Zelenskyy's visit there with Mohammed bin Salman.
WALSH: Yeah. There is no sign at this point that the meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, which essentially was a date we put in the calendar after he
canceled the last trip he was supposed to have to the Gulf prior to the first U.S. Russia summit in Riyadh, he said March the 10th. He is going
ahead with that. It doesn't appear to be linked, or there is no obvious spill over or merging with the meeting the following day with his Chief of
Staff Andriy Yermak and top Trump administration officials. So, he may end up sticking around. We just don't know. It's possible, and you can see the
potential for that there.
The question about this Tuesday meeting is, what exactly is the United States going to ask of Ukraine? We know they want the rare earth minerals
deal signed, or actually, it sort of turned a bit more like they'd be doing, in their rhetoric, Ukraine a favor by allowing Ukraine to sign over
much of its natural resources. That deal will probably get signed. We've had the quasi apology from Zelenskyy to Trump, which seemed to be required
after the Oval Office meeting. Are we going to hear the United States present element of a plan for peace? We maybe got a wisp of that from the
Trump Truth Social post, asking for an immediate ceasefire.
The Europeans are pretty clear that monitoring that immediately across all fronts is a pretty much impossible task. That's why they and Ukraine have
suggested a partial truce, sea, air, and stopping attacks against energy infrastructure, but that seems to have been slightly rejected by the
Russian Foreign Ministry 24 hours ago.
So, this continually changes. But, I think there is a fear, potentially, amongst observers and some in Ukraine that we may be looking at a meeting
where the U.S. is going to ask for yet more concessions from Ukraine. They've handed out the idea they may punish Russia with sanctions if Russia
doesn't get on board with peace. But, really, it's Ukraine that's been feeling the heat and pressure.
And just to share with you one last thing, Trump's envoy to the Ukraine and Russia conflict described how the pause in military aid, I paraphrase here,
was like hitting a donkey in the face with a plank to get their attention. That's how the relationship has changed, really, between the United States
and Ukraine. I think they sort of feel after that Oval Office meeting that Ukraine and its President Zelenskyy is a problem that's needed to be
solved, rather than an ally that needs to be defended.
ASHER: Yeah. That was quite a stunning characterization from Keith Kellogg at a think tank here in the United States, describing the situation there.
He has been always viewed as a bit more sympathetic towards Ukraine, and quickly, sort of an about-face there.
Nick Paton Walsh, thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: Well, as the U.S. President pivots to Moscow over Ukraine and Europe, Donald Trump has upended decades of U.S. and Western policy. In
fact, one top rated Russian news show is talking about a new "Great Troika" on the world stage, composed of Russia, the U.S. and China.
Matthew Chance has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:40:00]
(VIDEO PLAYING)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a sign of the times that even the Kremlin's old propagandists are rapidly
changing their tune. Dmitry Kiselyov is the state mouthpiece who once boasted how Russia could reduce America to nuclear ash. Now he is talking
about a "Great Troika", the U.S., Russia and China forming the new structure of the world, and Ukraine is where that structure is being
forged. Trump administration's hard line on Kyiv, including the suspension of U.S. military aid, has been greeted with glee in the Kremlin, with
Russian officials now berating Europe, while flip-flopping on Washington's historical role.
All of the tragedies of the world originated in Europe, claims the Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, colonization, wars, the Crimean War, Napoleon,
World War I, Hitler. If we look at history in retrospect, he says, Americans played no instigating or even inflammatory role. It's
extraordinary revisionism in extraordinary times.
TRUMP: You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having --
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: I am not playing cards. I want to see this --
TRUMP: -- cards. But, right now, you don't -- you're playing cards.
CHANCE (voice-over): This was the moment that underlined how everything had changed. The humiliation in the Oval Office of the Kremlin's sworn enemy
took even Russians aback, with Kremlin channels struggling to make sense of Washington's seismic shift. Trump speaks about peace, and those around him
talk about Ukraine's success, says this reporter on state television, but it looks like he is giving Russia all the cards to achieve success on the
battlefield, he adds.
TRUMP: So, Vladimir, thank you very much.
CHANCE (voice-over): And it's far more than that. The strange Trump-Putin bond is now threatening Western unity. In exchange, all Putin has done is
offer potentially lucrative business deals, Trump's kryptonite, according to one Russian commentator. Trump is like Superman, and our President,
Putin, has found his weakness, he tells state TV. As soon as Trump hears the words rare earth metals, he is ready to accept any terms, he adds.
Little wonder, the Kremlin's propagandists are now falling over themselves to praise the United States. They may have changed their tune, and America
has too.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: (Inaudible) says train services out of Paris Gare du Nord will start to resume after the disposal of an unexploded bomb from World War II.
Hundreds of thousands of travelers, including some who had been planning to take the Eurostar to South London, had their plans completely disrupted
when services were halted.
GOLODRYGA: I'm so glad that was your read at the pronunciation there. The unexploded bomb was found early Friday on tracks leading to France's
busiest train station. The state-owned railway describes the bomb as, quote, "really huge".
ASHER: Gosh. Not very reassuring.
All right. We will be back with more after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Well, as King of England, King Charles, has many roles, of course, but his latest may surprise you. Disc Jockey.
ASHER: DJ Jazz. The King sharing his royal playlist with Apple Music listeners. It's a mix of his favorite songs and commentary from him,
actually.
Max Foster gives us a peek at the Royal playlist.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(VIDEO PLAYING)
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's billed as a celebration of the power of music.
VOICE OF KING CHARLES III, KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories --
FOSTER (voice-over): King Charles III reaching out to a younger audience and hosting "The King's Music Room", a podcast recorded in his office at
Buckingham Palace, celebrating Charles's favorite tracks --
CHARLES III: -- songs which have brought me joy.
FOSTER (voice-over):-- and doing it on a special occasion.
VOICE OF KING CHARLES III: This seemed such an interesting and innovative way to celebrate this year's Commonwealth Day.
FOSTER (voice-over): The artists featured include Jamaican legend Bob Marley --
(VIDEO PLAYING)
FOSTER (voice-over): -- but also others Charles has met over the years, including Grace Jones and Australia's Kylie Minogue, to whose music Charles
has danced to before.
(VIDEO PLAYING)
FOSTER (voice-over): According to Apple, Charles will also share some anecdotes from the encounters he has had with many of the artists, and it's
not just music classics either, newer acts like Nigeria's Davido and British singer Raye also featured, artists from all corners of the
Commonwealth, interesting choices at a time where some have called the organization's existence into question, still no questioning Charles's love
of music.
CHARLES III: Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me.
FOSTER (voice-over): The King is the patron of several music groups, and personally selected most of the songs played at his son Prince Harry's
wedding to Meghan Markle, a lighter, a more personal side to the monarch, one we don't usually see.
Max Foster, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: I was going to guess Pink Floyd, The Beatles, just all the sort of acts from where he was coming.
GOLODRYGA: So many didn't surprise you.
ASHER: But, Davido, the Nigerian artist --
GOLODRYGA: And Raye --
ASHER: -- Bob Marley --
GOLODRYGA: -- Jamaican Bob Marley. I mean, who doesn't love Bob Marley.
ASHER: I can't even know. I would have probably guessed. He was huge in the UK when I was growing up. But, David0, I would never, ever have guessed
that King Charles would be a fan.
GOLODRYGA: We should listen to music even more.
ASHER: Yes.
GOLODRYGA: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Dr. Marty Makary, President Trump's pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration, was on Capitol Hill Thursday for his
confirmation hearing.
ASHER: If approved, Makary would serve as the under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy is looking to loosen
regulations on raw milk, and conservatives are all for it, but the FDA says that raw milk can pose serious health risks.
CNN's Julia Vargas Jones reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK MCAFEE, CEO, RAW FARM: Oh yeah. She has got milk.
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): No pasteurization, no processing, just milk straight from the cow. Despite safety concerns, raw
milk is having a moment. Mark McAfee is at the forefront of a movement to elevate it from the cultural fringes to the national mainstream.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At Raw Farm dairy, you drink your milk raw.
JONES (voice-over): Raw milk has spiked in popularity in recent years, and spilled into culture wars and even into politics.
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: I only drink raw milk.
JONES (voice-over): Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., turning it into a policy flash point.
KENNEDY JR.: The FDA is the enemy of raw milk.
JONES (on camera): So, you buy into the whole movement of making America healthy again.
MCAFEE: So, to make America healthy, to make the world healthy, we have to address the fact that food is medicine.
JONES (voice-over): McAfee's Raw Farm takes a grass-to-glass approach.
MCAFEE: Are you ready? Just a sip.
JONES (on camera): Oh gosh.
JONES (voice-over): He says his product is not only safe to drink, but also offers a wide-ranging list of health benefits.
MCAFEE: These are anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti- hypertensive, re-mineralization, good for the immune system, mass cell stabilization, all these kinds of things that are destroyed in
pasteurization.
JONES (voice-over): But, all of that disputed by food scientists.
JONES (on camera): So, I'll read you a claim, and you tell me if that's true or false. Raw milk has additional bacteria that is beneficial for the
gut.
JOHN LUCEY, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR DAIRY RESEARCH: False.
JONES (on camera): Raw milk helps build the immune system.
LUCEY: False.
JONES (on camera): Raw milk can help cure allergies and asthma.
LUCEY: False. The idea that pasteurization is reducing the nutrient profile or making this milk somehow inferior is just nonsense.
JONES (voice-over): Fewer than one percent of Americans say they regularly drink raw milk, and the FDA has issued numerous warnings about the risks.
Raw Farm has faced multiple lawsuits and recalls after E. coli bird flu and salmonella outbreaks, the latter the largest connected to unpasteurized
milk in decades.
California is one of 15 states where you can find raw milk at a grocery store. In some parts of the country, you can only buy it directly from
farmers. 16 states prohibit sales for human consumption. Nationwide, the FDA strongly encourages pasteurization for all milk and prohibits sales of
raw milk across state lines. But, change maybe on the horizon.
[11:55:00]
McAfee says he was invited to apply for an advisory role in RFK Jr.'s FDA, and has already drafted a proposal for an ordinance that would establish an
office with budget from Congress, create raw milk standards for farmers, and remove current regulations.
MCAFEE: One thing is, if you expect people to have access to super high quality raw milk, you have to change a bunch of rules.
JONES (on camera): The HHS has not responded to CNN's request for comment, but McAfee said that Kennedy, who he says is a customer of his as well, has
already reached out to his company, telling them to plan on having raw milk meetings as soon as his new FDA Chief is confirmed.
Julia Vargas Jones, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Thanks to Julia for that report. And do stay with us. We'll have more of One World after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
