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One World with Zain Asher
Trump Threatens Sharp Escalation in Trade War With Canada; U.S. Stocks Fall Again as Trump Threatens to Escalate Trade War; Ukraine Hails Constructive Start to U.S. Talks. Aired 12-12:59p ET
Aired March 11, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[12:01:31]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST: Turning up the heat. Donald Trump threatens new tariffs on Canada once again.
ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST: The second hour of One World starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAN #1: This is not the American people. Canadians know it. And if we go into a recession itself made by one person, it's called President Trump's
Recession.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Trade war loading. Donald Trump has just double tariffs for America's neighbor to the north.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOMAN #1: Young doesn't mean being powerless.
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GOLODRYGA: Students in Kosovo leading the fight against modern day slavery. Together we celebrate My Freedom Day.
And later.
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MICHELLE OBAMA, FORMER U.S. FIRST LADY: I want young women to just practice asking for what you want.
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GOLODRYGA: Michelle Obama's new adventure, a sneak peek of what's to come is just ahead.
ASHER: All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher.
GOLODRYGA: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. You are watching One World. And we begin with breaking news. U.S. President Donald Trump threatening a sharp
escalation in the growing trade war with Canada.
ASHER: Yeah. In a social media post, Mr. Trump says he will be doubling the tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel. He also threatened to effectively
shut down Canada's auto industry. The move in retaliation for Ontario's export surcharge on U.S. electricity.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah. After yesterday's falls on Wall Street, here is how stocks are reacting right now. You see the Dow taking a turn for the worst, down
over 400 points. All of this, of course, fueled by uncertainty over President Trump's tariffs and fears of a recession.
CNN Senior White House Reporter Kevin Liptak joins us now live from Washington. It's hard to make sense of administration stands as it relates
to tariffs over the weekend. You have the commerce secretary suggesting that or stating that this isn't going to go into effect until April 2nd.
Then all of a sudden you have this threat from President Trump to impose double the amount of retaliatory tariffs against Canada now, as soon as
tomorrow. Walk us through the thought process here.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah, it's actually hard to detect much of a thought process beyond what comes to the President's own
mind. And according to people I was talking to this morning, this latest threat did come as a surprise to a lot of people inside the administration.
There hadn't necessarily been the paperwork drawn up on this threat that he put into place of doubling the tariffs on steel and aluminum before he put
it out online.
And I think it just illustrates kind of the haphazard approach that this administration and this President has taken to tariffs throughout. Of
course, President Trump has threatened tariffs, implemented tariffs, delayed tariffs, put exemptions on tariffs, all within the course of a week
last week. And it has caused all of this uncertainty in the stock market. And that I think this tweet or truth that the President put out this
morning, I think is an extension of all of that.
And I think it does raise the question of what exactly the President is trying to accomplish here. Is he trying to use these tariffs as a cudgel to
bring leaders to the table for negotiations, as he did with the former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the President of Mexico, trying to get
them to make concessions on migrants and drugs crossing the border? Or is he trying to rewrite the trade alliances with these countries, trying to
restore American manufacturing?
[12:05:05]
All of these questions that I think surround what the President is doing here.
I think it is notable what the President said later on in that message, essentially calling the border between the U.S. and Canada an artificial
line of separation, repeating his desire to make Canada the 51st state. You know, Canadian officials are starting to take these threats more and more
seriously as the President continues issuing them, as he continues ramping up this rhetoric about territorial expansion to the north.
And so, you know, I think it was notable yesterday we did not hear from the President at all when the markets were tanking. We didn't hear from him at
these three events that were closed, pressed in the White House. Typically the White House has opened those up. But I think it was clear that the
President's own remarks were causing so much uncertainty in the markets.
Today, we're not supposed to hear from the President publicly until after the markets closed. But this message, I think, is just an indication that
the President will make his views known and that his words are still causing all of this anxiety in the economy. And you are starting to hear
from Republicans and from economists who are questioning the strategy, who want to see some more clarity from the President, who worry that all of
this uncertainty could cause businesses to pull back, stop hiring, stop investing.
And certainly you've already seen some growth forecasts projected downward over the last week or so. But the President himself making clear here and
over the weekend that he thinks no more clarity is necessary. He, in his own mind thinks he knows what he's doing. But certainly the economy has its
own views and the stock markets have their own view going forward.
GOLODRYGA: And a reminder that the NEC Director has stated this is not an economic war or a trade war. This is a drug war. Going back to the issues
and concerns about fentanyl crossing the border, even though we know --
ASHER: (Inaudible) --
GOLODRYGA: -- (inaudible) about like, 1% of the fentanyl that comes to this country. Kevin Liptak, thank you so much.
ASHER: All right. Let's get the reaction from Canada to President Trump's latest tariff threat. Let's bring in our Paula Newton from Ottawa. So,
Paula, I mean, Canada is in a state of political transition. It was just on Sunday, like, literally two days ago that Mark Carney was elected. I mean,
I don't even believe he's actually technically, correct me if I'm wrong, been sworn in yet, but he's getting his major first test.
He initially thought he'd have until April 2nd to negotiate with the Trump administration, but these tariffs, according to President Trump, are coming
into effect as soon as tomorrow. He has said in trade, as in hockey, Canada is going to win. Walk us through what his strategy is going to be here,
Paula.
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, at this point, he hasn't even been given a chance to really develop that strategy. Zain, you are 100% correct.
Mark Carney is in fact the Prime Minister designate, Justin Trudeau still remains the Prime Minister. They are behind closed doors at this hour here
in Ottawa trying to hash out a transition which we believe will happen either Thursday or Friday.
In the meantime, as Kevin just pointed out, you have Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, who is the one who speaks for certainly one province, Ontario.
But there isn't anyone speaking with that national voice. And that is a problem because it has allowed President Trump and Doug Ford to escalate
these things between the two of them.
I want to point out when we talk about motives, right? The President in a follow up tweet, pardon me, post on Truth Social, said they, he's referring
to Canada here, will pay a financial price that is so big that it will be read about in history books for years to come. We are starting to see
certainly a seriousness and a drive with President Trump that he does want to weaken Canada politically.
This is what the Trudeau government has been warning about for weeks and he is continuing down this road. The problem with it, of course, as both of
you know, this will also hurt the United States. Will it hurt the United States as much as Canada? Absolutely not.
But again, a warning for American allies here. What he is doing, Donald Trump is making sure that there is, I would say, a separation now between
Canada and the United States, not just when it comes to things economic, but on the table as well, things that are political and political and then
defense related as well. And in the midst of all that, yes, you have Mark Carney, who certainly talked a big game on Sunday, but does need to bring
some kind of calm and resolution to this so that there is a negotiation.
I am told, behind the scenes, certainly the commerce secretary's officials and the finance officials here are still talking. But when you have Doug
Ford as the Ontario Premier going on multiple outlets, including CNN just moments ago and speaking about this, and then you have the President
posting on Truth Social in response, it does not help the negotiations that are going on behind the scenes.
ASHER: You can say that again. Paul Newton live for us there. Thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: Well, Ukraine is calling crucial talks between Washington and Kyiv constructive as it fights for its future.
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And a top American official says today's meeting in Saudi Arabia is, quote, getting there as they try to find an off ramp for Russia's war against
Ukraine.
ASHER: Delegation sent by Kyiv, which does not include President Zelenskyy is meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. National
Security Adviser Mike Waltz is what Rubio had to say before the meeting began.
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MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: Right now we're really in listening mode. We may have suggestions that they ask, but we really want to sort of
ascertain where they stand on this and what they're willing to do in order to achieve peace. It may be incompatible with what the Russians are willing
to do, that's what we need to find out.
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GOLODRYGA: Meantime, Russia says it was hit by a massive Ukrainian drone attack overnight just hours before critical talks got underway in Saudi
Arabia. Moscow's Defense Ministry says it downed 343 drones, of which 91 had targeted the Moscow region.
ASHER: If the figures confirm, the aerial attacks would represent one of the largest on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Local officials say
that three people were killed and at least six were wounded in the Moscow area.
Jennifer Hansler joins us live now from the U.S. State Department. So of course this attack is certainly a reminder to the world of Ukraine's power
of its might even without the Americans assisting in terms of intelligence sharing. Just walk us through what the strategy is because you can't ignore
the timing these attacks taking place just as American and Ukrainian officials see sit down to negotiate some kind of off ramp to this war in
terms of a peace deal. Take us through it.
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: That's absolutely right, Zain and Bianna. Both sides are trying to shore up how much they have to
bring to the negotiating table ahead of any sort of peace talks and particularly as the U.S. is looking to Ukraine to make concessions to get
to the table. Now, I should note that these talks have been going on for almost seven hours now. They start around 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
And they've had just one small break which could be a sign that they are having good and constructive conversations. And of course, this is
particularly important in light of how far the relationship between Kyiv and Washington has fallen over the course of the past few weeks. Of course,
that amalgamated in that really disastrous Oval Office meeting we saw play out just a few weeks ago, that meeting was cut short and this is the first
time we have seen these fulsome talks taking place between Washington and Kyiv since then.
Now, those talks and that Oval Office meeting led to the U.S. cutting off their military aid and a lot of their intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Now,
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated yesterday that if today's talks go well, they could reexamine that pause and perhaps turn that intel sharing
and that military aid back on.
Another thing that we expected to hear today were discussions on that minerals deal that had also been close to being finalized. Rubio said
yesterday that there were still details to be worked out. Now, you heard from the Secretary of State there saying that the U.S. was planning to be
in listening mode here. They wanted to hear what potential concessions Ukraine could offer as they are coming to the peace deal.
He indicated that these wouldn't be detailed talks. He said they were not going to be sitting in a room drawing lines on a map. But they did want to
see where Ukraine's position was and then they intend to see where Russia's position is, to see how far a gap there really is there.
Now, guys, of course, as you noted, the war is continuing here from both sides. Both the strikes on Moscow overnight as well as the ongoing strikes
on infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Over the past several weeks, the Ukrainians have floated this idea of a partial truce in the skies and in
the sea. This may come up in conversation as well in Jeddah and the U.S. could bring this back to Washington for further discussions.
Now, we are waiting to hear any sort of outcome and when these meetings wrap up, but the fact that they have been going on so long could be a
promising time here. The other thing we will be watching for is whether Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy, does go to Moscow later this week,
as he is expected to, and whether he sits down once again with Vladimir Putin, who is of course, the key decision maker here in the Russian side of
these negotiations. Zain? Bianna?
ASHER: Jennifer Hansler, thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: We've covered a lot so far. Let's bring in Sean Savett to help us sort through all of it. He was the spokesperson and director of press
for the National Security Council during the Biden administration. Sean, thank you so much for joining the program. So we have to say it didn't come
necessarily from President Biden at the time, but there were military officials and experts who acknowledged that at the end of the day, for this
war to come to an end, Ukraine would likely have to make some concessions, including giving up some of the territory that Russia currently held.
What was different is you didn't hear that from the President. And it always came from a position of emboldening Ukraine with more
reinforcements, more weaponry, and ultimately a defense assurance after this war ends.
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We're not hearing that from the United States now, from this administration. So what incentive does Russia have, if any, to bring this
war to a permanent end at this point?
SEAN SAVETT, FMR. BIDEN NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SPOKEPERSON: Well, thank you for having me on. It's great to be with you all. And I think you're
exactly right and raise a very good question. What incentive does Russia have? Because if you look at the past week, I think Vladimir Putin feels
emboldened. He's a shark and he smells blood in the water.
Because throughout the past couple of weeks, we've seen significant fissures between the United States and Ukraine, between the disastrous Oval
Office meeting and the frequent attacks from Donald Trump on Vladimir Zelenskyy. We've seen the Trump administration pause Intel sharing, which
is really significant. We've seen them pause weapons deliveries. We've seen them pause energy aid and assistance to help Ukraine rebuild its critical
energy grid and infrastructure.
And Putin's going to be emboldened by this because the approach that we took in the Biden administration was that this war is ultimately going to
end in negotiations. Everyone knows that. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that repeatedly. But the difference is, is that we want to put Ukraine, or we
wanted to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position so they can negotiate from strength, not from weakness.
Because there's a significant difference between peace and a just and sustainable peace, which is the goal here, and appeasement of Vladimir
Putin. And that's what I think we're all worried that Donald Trump and his administration are, you know, considering forcing Ukraine into.
ASHER: Yeah. They're having to make concession after concessions, not to mention the fact that they're literally having to plead for security
guarantees, which should be a given, especially given Vladimir Putin's record. Just in terms of what we can actually expect to come out of this
meeting, best case scenario, the fact that the key decision makers are absent, Zelenskyy, Putin, Trump, they're not there. So what can we
realistically hope for? What's the best outcome possible in terms of these negotiations?
SAVETT: Well, I certainly hope that coming out of today's negotiations, we'll see a resumption on Intel sharing. That is just so significant
because as you all know and have reported out, the United States typically shares a lot of defensive information with Ukraine to help them prepare for
impending attacks like we've seen from Russia throughout the past week, as well as offensive, you know, information to help them target Russian
battlefield movements and troops if they see that Russia's massing for an attack on Ukraine, for instance.
So best case scenario, at least what I'm hoping for is that we can see positive statements, we can see a resumption of Intel sharing and weapons
deliveries. But that may be too much to hope for because for some confounding reason, the Trump seems to be determined to squeeze Ukraine for
concessions instead of squeezing Vladimir Putin. Because as you all have reported on and covered, Putin has given no indication that he's interested
in negotiations right now.
And this past week he said again publicly that he was going to make no concessions and that he would not give an inch. And at the same time, we've
seen Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the other side propose a full cease fire plan with a variety of provisions. So this administration's approach to squeeze
Ukraine instead of squeezing Russia and to put Russia in a stronger position instead of putting Ukraine in a stronger position is really is
confounding.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah. But even the resumption of weapons and Intel sharing would just take us back to where the situation was a week and a half ago or two
weeks ago. So nothing different ultimately would change in terms of long- term prospects for peace.
Sean, I'm just wondering now, reflectively, as you look back at the Biden administration, objectively, there was criticism that this war was dragged
on for as long as it had been without the United States putting more pressure on President Zelenskyy when he was receiving all of the weaponry
and the support, both publicly and behind closed doors, to sit down at the negotiating table. And Ukraine also was frustrated at the pace of delivery
of weaponry at times from the United States.
I mean, what are some of the lessons learned from you and your colleagues about what perhaps could have avoided this exact scenario and would have
given the chances of a peace deal more significant during your administration?
SAVETT: Sure. Well, to take those each separately on the first point about peace and negotiations, you have to have two to tango. And the assessment
from the U.S. intelligence community, from policymakers across government throughout 2023 and 2024 is that Vladimir Putin is not interested in
negotiating. He had not relinquished his maximalist goals of trying to conquer and subjugate Ukraine.
And so we encourage Ukraine to put forward their versions of the just peace plan, which they did, and to, you know, rhetorically be clear that they
support peace, which they do. Of course, no one wants peace more than Ukraine, which is being bombarded every single day.
[12:20:00]
But ultimately, we did not view that it was in the United States interest to force Ukraine to make concessions to a dictator and an autocrat who is
not interested in making any concessions of his own. That, you know, there's just all sorts of bad lessons and bad outcomes that would occur
from this, which is why I think so many of us are worried about what's happening right now.
But on the second point, you know, President Biden announced in September of 2024, when Volodymyr Zelenskyy was at the White House, a surge in
weapons deliveries. We gave everything we possibly could. We drew down U.S. stocks significantly to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position and
to give them the, you know, ample supplies of air defense, munitions, of artillery, shells, of missiles.
You know, we supported their drone industry because we wanted to put Ukraine, we wanted to ensure that Ukraine could fight on the battlefield
were an outcome like this to take place where Donald Trump would cut off all aid. So I think Ukraine in the short-term is okay on weapons, munitions
and provisions there. The bigger concern in the near-term is the intel sharing pause. But over the long-term, if the United States does not
provide more aid, of course, that becomes a much bigger problem.
ASHER: Sean Savett, live for us. Thank you so much for coming on the show, okay? Appreciate it.
SAVETT: Thank you for having me.
ASHER: All right. Still to come, a judge in New York has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's latest attempt to deport a prominent
Palestinian student activist. We'll have that story from New York.
GOLODRYGA: Also had the latest in the search for a U.S. College student who has now been missing in the Dominican Republic for five days.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: All right. 60 colleges and universities across the U.S. have received letters telling them that they are being invested for alleged
anti-Semitic behavior.
ASHER: The Department of Education's Civil Rights Office said it sent the letters to warn colleges of the possible consequences if they don't take
adequate steps to protect Jewish students. It comes as the Trump administration is piling the pressure onto universities to crack down on
pro-Palestinian demonstrators, which demonstrations rather, which have erupted periodically since the war in Gaza began.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEOPLE: Let him go. Let him go. Let him go. Let him go.
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GOLODRYGA: Hundreds of people gathered in New York on Monday to demand the immediate release of Palestinian activists and Columbia University graduate
Mahmoud Khalil.
[12:25:00]
Video shot by CNN shows one person being led awake by police with protesters shouting shame on you at the officers.
ASHER: It comes as a federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to deport Khalil. Khalil helped lead Columbia
University student protests over the war in Gaza. He was arrested by immigration agents on Saturday despite being a green card holder. In a post
online, Trump warned Khalil's arrest was the, quote, first of many to come.
Let's bring in Gloria Pazmino, who's joining us live now from New York. So, so many layers to this. Obviously, the fact that he was arrested by ICE
agents when he's a green card holder, when he's a legal permanent resident, that aspect of it certainly beggars belief. But also the fact that -- just
walk us through sort of the specific charges against him because there's been so many different accusations flying around.
Obviously, he was in charge of sort of pro-Palestinian student demonstrations, but that is not a crime, as you well-know. And the fact
that Donald Trump is saying that this first of many to come, it really raises alarm bells about freedom of speech on university campuses across
the country. Gloria, take us through that.
GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely right. You know, Zain, Bianna, what we have been discussing here over the past several days, as I
talked to the lawyers and the advocates, that's the central point that everyone comes back to. Other than the details of Khalil, is he the first
of many more of these types of arrests. And we saw what the President posted on social media yesterday saying that, yes, they plugged plan to
arrest more people.
Now, the judge in New York here, a federal judge, yesterday ordered that Khalil's deportation proceedings be stopped until the parties are able to
appear in court. That is scheduled for tomorrow. So it's a tiny victory for Khalil's attorneys, who have been asking this entire time for information
about what their client is accused of. We still don't know what, if any, sort of formal charges are being pressed against him.
Now, we do have some clues about how the Trump administration and the federal government are going to try and justify the detention of Khalil
because we have some brand new reporting today that Secretary Marco Rubio personally approved his detention. And the way that they're going about
this is by leaning on the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. And that's essentially a part of U.S. law that gives the Secretary of State
broad authority to determine that if a person could have a serious adverse foreign policy consequence for the United States, they could be deemed
deportable.
Now, some of the federal officials have made statements, including Marco Rubio, who posted on social media over the weekend that Khalil is accused
of taking action in sort of Hamas supporting activity. We know that Khalil helped to lead protests at Columbia University last year. He allegedly
distributed pro-Hamas fliers. And this appears to be some of the evidence that, at least at this stage, they're pointing to for the reason behind his
arrest.
Now, how they're going to bring this up in court and how they're going to prove it is a whole other question. But to your initial point, whether you
disagree with the fliers or you disagree with the way that protests were done, that is a right that all Americans here, even green card holders, are
protected by. So this is going to be a real test of how the administration is going to handle this. And hopefully tomorrow's hearing will shed some
more light about what Khalil is being accused of.
ASHER: Gloria Pazmino, we'll be watching closely. Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Coming up for us, the global celebration of freedom continues. We'll go back to Sao Paulo to check in on the students there. But first,
these children in the Seychelles give us their views on freedom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOMAN #2: (Inaudible).
WOMAN #3: (Inaudible).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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[12:33:02]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Welcome back to One World. I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: And I'm Zain Asher. CNN is partnering with schools to break the cycle of human trafficking and exploitation with a global celebration of
freedom. Yes, it is the ninth annual. We've been doing this for nine years. Ninth annual, My Freedom Day.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, you were hosting a lot -
ASHER: Yes, yes.
GOLODRYGA: -- of these programs as well. Students in Sweden sent us their thoughts on this year's theme, which is freedom to learn.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEOPLE: Education is a loss. School is important. It doesn't matter who you are. Education is key. We support you. Hashtag My Freedom Day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: CNN's Julia Vargas Jones joins us now from Sao Paulo, Brazil. And Julia, you blew us away in the last hour with some really inspiring
young girls from fifth grade to ninth grade speaking out about how much they appreciate education and also reading some beautiful and touching
poetry. What do you have for us now?
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are moments away from a little concert. But first, let me tell you, earlier we had a bake sale
organized by the kids here, mostly ninth graders. They were raising money for an NGO that is fighting slavery and modern day slavery in Brazil.
You know, it is still a really big issue here, ladies. Look, 1.9 million kids estimated by the Brazilian government to not have been in school to be
working in 2023 rescued almost 2,000 people last year from situations that the Brazilian government calls analogous to slavery. So we caught up with
these girls. Take a listen to what they say was the most surprising part of their research to prepare for today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: When you were putting this together, what were you surprised to learn?
WOMAN #4: I was surprised to learn that there's so much happening in Brazil that we're not aware of. It's like I wouldn't know that -- when I think of
modern slavery, I mostly think of clothes being made like on sheen and sheen and stuff.
[12:35:10]
But I didn't know that it was so present in our daily lives, like sugar cane industry, acai industry. And it's sad to see that most of them are
children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: And I'll tell you, it was actually surprising. We weren't aware that the kids were actually going to watch a story that we worked on last year
about acai, where we followed one of these laborers as he went up into those acai trees. I wanted to talk to you guys and show you guys Lara (ph),
who is one of the idealizers, the student leaders. This is an issue that is not just global for you. It is local. It's happening here. Why did you
decide to be in a role of leadership and to inspire your classmates to do something about it?
WOMAN #5: I mean, I think that it's just such an important issue. And, you know, like, I think it's very important. Me, I recognize the privilege we
have, and I think coming from that position of having a voice and having, you know, not the privilege, but the rights to learn, which unfortunately,
so many others don't have, it's just so important to, you know, recognize our part and to, you know, play a role wherever we can and just, you know,
try and do as much as we can in any way possible.
And I think not only is it about doing little differences, but it's getting other people involved, because through these different activities, you can
help, you know, more people find out about what's happening and get involved. And it was really nice to see, like, genuinely people getting
involved, not because of the treats from the bake sale or because of just listening to the music, because they generally understood the cause,
especially a cause that, you know, it's so hidden, you can't really see it very much.
JONES: You talked about, you know, your colleague, your classmate talked about, you know, you think that it's happening so far away from you here.
And you actually shared our story from last year with your classmates. Thank you. What was the feedback? What did you guys think about when you
learned about how much of an issue that was here in Brazil?
Woman #5: I mean, honestly, I think it's really shocking to see, you know, because you have a kind of a notion at the back of your head that, you
know, probably not all these brands are ethical, but to see that it's, like, just next door and it's prevailing, you know, in your country, it's
kind of really disheartening to see how big of an issue it really is like just next door to you.
JONES: And one of the things that they highlighted here, Zain and Bianna, is that making ethical choices is really important.
GOLODRYGA: Jones, thank you so much. We also -- it's just hearing these kids and the words of wisdom from such young children, school age children,
and the fact that they're aware of this --
ASHER: (Inaudible).
GOLODRYGA: -- initiative as well is great. Our thanks to Julia.
ASHER: All right. Let's bring in Kay Buck, the CEO of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, AKA CAST. Her Los Angeles based nonprofit
organization is working hard to put an end to modern day slavery and human trafficking. Kay, thank you so much for being with us.
We just heard some of the students there at that school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, essentially saying that they literally had no idea that modern day
slavery is so prevalent in our world today. I mean, obviously they're in Brazil, but here in the United States it is extremely common but in the
shadows. And part of our goal here at CNN with having this sort of My Freedom Day show every single year is to really raise awareness that people
are educated.
When people think about modern day slavery in our society today, they think about sex trafficking, they think about human trafficking. It is domestic
servitude, it is forced labor, it is child labor, it is early marriage. Just walk us through how your organization supports victims who are on the
road to recovery, just in terms of survivors.
KAY BUCK, CEO, CAST: Well past mission is to end human trafficking through education, advocacy, and empowering survivors. What survivors need is
access to care and lots of different types of care, including education, so that they can get back on their feet again and, you know, be there for
their families and be there for their community. So CAST is really about ending human trafficking by educating the community and working with
survivors on key things that we can do to prevent human trafficking to begin with.
GOLODRYGA: Human trafficking as we know is apolitical. And so much of the initiative and the impetus to abolish it and to combat it comes from
government and those in charge in Washington. What is your relationship like with the Trump administration in its early weeks in combating human
trafficking?
BUCK: Well, I think the key to ending human trafficking really is about partnerships. And so all nonprofit organizations rely on funding from
government.
[12:40:07]
And that is actually how we carry out all of the important services to end human trafficking in our communities. It makes communities safer. It helps
survivors get back on their feet and to be able to live their lives again.
So the threat of funding being paused or cut is very real for the nonprofit sector right now. And an example is, you know, my own organization relies
very heavily on a food and shelter program and it funds our emergency housing program, a CAST has for years and that is actually funded through
FEMA. So the pause on FEMA is impacting us tremendously and it has real life consequences for survivors because programs that are funded through
that throughout the country are just not available right now.
ASHER: So then what is your strategy in terms of making up for the shortfall?
BUCK: Yes. Well, we're making a call to, of course, all of our supporters and partners, all of our stakeholders, to make sure that the government
ends this pause on funding and does not, you know, threaten funding cuts to the nonprofit sector. You know, government is not equipped to provide these
direct services to such a vulnerable population like survivors of trafficking and their families.
And so this funding is absolutely paramount for nonprofits to have. Every single day, CAST runs a 24 hour hotline and an emergency response program.
So even one day of cuts or pauses impacts directly victims who are traumatized and in danger. We owe it to survivors to promise them safety.
ASHER: All right. Kate Buck with CAST. Thank you so much for all the work that you do and thank you for coming on to talk to us about it. Happy My
Freedom Day.
BUCK: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: And we will have full coverage throughout My Freedom Day. Send us your thoughts on freedom to learn using the #myfreedomday on social
media. And check out cnn.com/myfreedomday for more. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: Police in the U.K. say they have arrested a man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in Monday's collision of a cargo ship and an
oil tanker in the North Sea.
[12:45:09]
The 59-year-old unnamed suspect remains in custody as they continue their investigation.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, we now know the ship was not carrying sodium cyanide as feared. That's according to the ship's owner. He expressed sorrow to loved
ones of a missing member of the crew now presumed to have died. The British maritime minister says the burning cargo ship is likely to sink.
ASHER: Authorities in the Dominican Republic are expanding their search for a missing college student. University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha
Konanki went missing last Thursday on spring break in Punta Cana. A source closing the investigation says a young man who is believed to be with her
on that day is being kept in a hotel room under police watch. A source says he's not considered to be a suspect at this particular time.
GOLODRYGA: The exclusive video from Noticias SIN is the latest. It's the last known image of her pulled from surveillance video at her hotel. WUSA
Reporter Matthew Torres has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW TORRES, WUSA REPORTER: As the desperate search for Sudiksha Konanki wraps up with the use of canines, drones, helicopters and boats back in her
hometown of Chantilly.
SHEKAR PENDEM, FAMILY FRIEND: But it's already four days and everybody's so worried.
TORRES: Family friend Shekar Pendem says he and other neighbors can only wait and hope.
PENDEM: (Inaudible).
TORRES: He is known to 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh junior since she was three years old. Konanki traveled to the Dominican Republic for
spring break with five other students. One of her friends is also from Loudoun County. National police say she was last seen on surveillance
cameras around 4:15 Thursday morning with friends in the beach area of her hotel.
SHERIFF MIKE CHAPMAN, LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA SHERIFF'S OFFICE: But she went to the beach with a friend and a couple other folks, okay? And that
did not travel from the University of Pittsburgh with them, okay? Those people are being interviewed. So they're doing everything in their power to
get to the bottom of this.
TORRES: Police say one of the people interviewed is a young man who was on the beach at the same time as Konanki. Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman
was contacted to report her disappearance. He's now coordinating with federal partners, including the FBI.
CHAPMAN: We are going on the presumption that she's still alive. We want to make sure that we're exhausting every possible lead that we can.
TORRES: U.S. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam of Loudoun County is also pushing to mobilize all possible resources.
SUHAS SUBRAMANYAM, U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRAT: Worst nightmare. I've got two daughters and I just think about a scenario like this happening to them,
it's you know, really heartbreaking.
TORRES: Konanki's parents have been in the Dominican Republic to find their daughter. If you ask this family friend, they want the search area to grow
into town.
PENDEM: We're just expecting if they can, you know, do beyond that, you know, like any other possible angles and that will be really helpful.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Jessica Hasbun is on the scene in Punta Cana. Jessica, what more do we know about this investigation?
JESSICA HASBUN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this investigation is definitely ongoing. This Tuesday marks five days since the 20-year-old university
student Sudiksha Konanki was last seen in Punta Cana. That screenshot is believed to be the last known image captured by hotel security of the
missing University of Pittsburgh student with a group of friends at around 4:15, 4:16 to be more precise, in the morning before she disappeared last
Thursday while on spring break here at the Riu Republica Hotel as you can see behind me.
In this image, Konanki is seen with three other women and two young men headed to the beach at the hotel, according to a source close to the
investigation. This Monday, the FBI has joined this investigation. According to a press release by authorities, a special commission has been
formed with Dominican authorities to further investigate the case.
In addition, authorities have announced that they will be re interviewing people connected to the disappearance of the young woman, including
particularly that young man who is believed to be the last person to have seen Konanki, who has already been questioned by investigators and is being
kept in a hotel room under police watch. As the investigation continues, it's important to note that he has not officially detained, a source close
to the investigation told CNN. And at this time he is not considered to be a suspect.
So as of right now, authorities here in the Dominican, on the ground by air, have continued this search for this young woman. The Dominican
President Luis Abinader said in a press conference this Monday that it is believed that the young woman could have been caught up in a wave and
that's why there is such an operation on the ground and at the beach.
[12:50:07]
Abinader went on to say that the authorities are doing everything they can to find Konanki.
That search, like I said, by land, by air and sea, includes drones, helicopters, Special Forces from, with special equipment, marine equipment,
and canine units. This investigation continues and today we've been here all morning. I have not seen the helicopters today. I have not seen the
planes. We're awaiting confirmation if these planes and these helicopters are going to be circling around the beach at the hotel. But like I said,
this is an ongoing investigation. This is a fluid situation with information coming in minute by minute.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Jessica Hasbun, thank you.
ASHER: All right. Still to come here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We are living through some really complicated and confusing times and people are feeling more alone than ever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: No question is off limits. Michelle Obama and her big brother are getting candid in their new podcast. We'll have details after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Take a look at this. A woman in Central Florida survived an EF2 tornado while stuck in her car. The wind and the rain picked up
really quickly. Imagine being caught in that. All of a sudden, tree limbs and other debris started flying around her, slamming into her car.
GOLODRYGA: And to have the wherewithal to record it at the same time.
ASHER: I love this generation.
GOLODRYGA: The National Weather Service confirmed the EF2 tornado with winds up to 115 miles, or 185 kilometers per hour. This was the strongest
tornado to hit that area in more than 25 years.
ASHER: All right. We're going to love and leave you with a bit more of an uplifting story. You're going to be able to hear much more from Michelle
Obama. The former U.S. first lady and her brother Craig Robinson are launching a podcast together. The show is called IMO, In My Opinion, will
include questions from listeners and special guests from the world of entertainment, sports, health, and business.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I want young women to just practice asking for what you want. It's okay to hear no, it's okay to hear I don't love you like that.
WOMAN #6: There's nothing to be bored of. I mean, if you just -- I mean, if you're a mother and you're watching your children, every moment that you
look at them, it's like, unbelievable what's happening.
[12:55:05]
MAN #2: And look, we're not saying we have all the answers either. Far from it.
OBAMA: But we do have plenty of opinions, don't we?
MAN #3: You sharing your weakness makes you strong. Like you being able to tell them, I went through this, I found help, and I've come out the other
side.
WOMAN #7: Like, it's one thing to say I want to achieve this for me, and then there's another thing to say I want to achieve something because I'm
expecting all of this to come with it.
MAN #4: One of the most difficult things to do is realizing relationships have their limits. There are relationships that simply are not going to
function.
WOMAN #8: Ahmed Boss (ph), are you okay being the --
OBAMA: Can you level up? Can you level up?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Craig Robinson is the Executive Director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and has a background in coaching and
investment banking. The first two episodes drop Wednesday.
ASHER: I was actually quite intrigued by that little montage there.
GOLODRYGA: Well, they had a podcast together before he was on an episode of hers. And it really did well.
ASHER: Good chemistry.
GOLODRYGA: Such good chemistry.
ASHER: All right. That does it for today's edition of One World. I'm Zain Asher.
GOLODRYGA: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching and don't go anywhere. I'll be right back with (inaudible).
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
