Return to Transcripts main page

One World with Zain Asher

Europe Warns of "Dangerous Downward Spiral" after Threats; EU Considers "Trade Bazooka" in Response to Trump's Tariffs; Troops on Standby for Possible Deployment to Minnesota; Prince Harry's Court Battle Against Daily Mail Publisher; The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Olympic Torch Relay Makes its way Through Italy. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired January 19, 2026 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:00:00]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: President Trump threatens America's allies over Greenland. Now Europe debates how to fight back. "One

World" starts right now. The EU is considering whether to get out its trade bazooka after Trump's threat to punish them with more tariffs over

Greenland.

Plus, at least 39 people are dead and dozens injured after a high-speed train crash in Spain. We'll have the latest. And on this Martin Luther

King, Jr. Day in the U.S., we honor the life of the civil rights leader. I'll discuss with my guest the new challenges facing Dr King's legacy under

the Trump Administration.

Hi from London. I'm Christina Macfarlane. Thank you so much for joining us. This is "One World". And we begin with the Transatlantic Alliance in

crisis. Growing concerns over the fate of NATO and what may be the final straw for America's closest allies.

The European Union says it's seeking to engage with Washington and not escalate tensions, but warns of a dangerous downward spiral if U.S.

President Donald Trump stands by his threat of new tariffs. Over the weekend, Trump said he'd slap new sanctions on a handful of European

countries that publicly oppose his proposed takeover of Greenland, sparking fury across the continent.

Germany's Finance Minister quickly made clear that Germany and France would not be blackmailed. French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly asked the

EU to activate its-so-called trade bazooka, the bloc's most powerful anti- coercion measure, and the British Prime Minister had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Alliances endure because they're built on respect and partnership, not pressure. That is why I said the use

of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well meanwhile, we're learning about an extraordinary message Donald Trump sent to Norway's Prime Minister, saying that having been

denied the Nobel Peace Prize, he no longer feels an obligation to think only of peace.

In his latest op-ed CNN's Stephen Collinson asks who can save NATO from Trump as he escalates his bid to grab Greenland? Greenland, and we should

note, is protected by NATO's Article Five. It's good to see you, Stephen.

Just before we get to the consequences of Donald Trump's actions, I just wanted to have a quick word from you on that extraordinary revelation from

Trump to the Norwegian Prime Minister, and what it says about his state of mind as he continues this grab for Greenland.

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Yeah, it's even for Trump this is quite a head scratcher. You know, this came a few days after he

accepted a Nobel Peace Prize that wasn't his from Mrs. Machado, the Venezuelan Opposition Leader who helped win a democratic election.

I think it shows really how personalized American foreign policy has been come around, the character, the impulses and the volatile nature of

America's President, who in his second term, is feeling much freer to do exactly as he wants, and there are many fewer influences around him to stop

him doing exactly what he wants.

So, I think that is a problem for the Europeans. The other point, I think that is relevant this morning after Keir Starmer's comments, is he was

arguing that alliances don't work on pressure. The problem that we're seeing here is that Donald Trump doesn't really believe in alliances.

He believes and this, again, is becoming ever clearer in his second term, that the strength of the United States allows it to conduct its own foreign

policy and pursue its interests without any reference to any other nation or block or any treaty.

So, this is really a new dimension of the way that Europeans are going to try to have to deal with Trump in the first time and during this term, so

far, it was OK, let's not escalate. Let's see if we can work through this and talk him down. The question is now, I think, is whether that approach

can work.

MACFARLANE: Yes, and we may be seeing a hardening of rhetoric from European Leaders. And some of the comments we've seen coming in this morning, as you

say, all of this playing out is NATO now teeters really on what appears to be the edge of their worst ever crisis.

[11:05:00]

Whether it happens, though you know, whether we go nuclear on this is dependent, as you say, on Europe's response, or whether there's going to be

any Republicans in Congress who are at this moment prepared to stand up to the president. What chances do you think there are of that?

COLLINSON: I think it's difficult to tell. Respect for NATO runs very deep in the U.S. Congress, especially the Senate, and, by the way, in the

Pentagon, among the uniform leadership. So, I don't think it's a given that everyone is just going to fold over like they normally do in the face of

Trump.

We've seen a number of Republican Senators come out and say, yes, well, you know, we do agree that there is a strategic issue with Greenland, but the

president has no power either to invade a NATO country or to just take it or buy it on his own.

So, we could see congressional restraints here. On the question of if Trump wants to buy Greenland, I find it very difficult to believe that many

Republican Senators in a mid-term election year are going to sign off on hundreds of billions of dollars for Greenlanders when many Americans are

having a lot of trouble in the domestic economy with high prices, et cetera.

But I think Trump is still feared among many Republicans, especially those Republicans who have to run again in the mid-term elections in November and

who are facing primary challenges. There are multiple examples of Trump putting up challenges to Republicans who have gone against his wishes.

So, he's still very powerful in the Republican Party, despite some signs of fraying of his support on Capitol Hill. I think NATO is a real test case,

because this is something that is absolutely fundamental to American power for many years, American prestige.

And there is a lot of political power inside the Pentagon and elsewhere that could be brought to bear on Trump. Then I think if you have the

question of Europe actually going ahead with those big tariffs that could impact the markets and the U.S. economy.

So, you could see a lot of pressure on that issue as well from Republicans who are running in the election. So, I think it's all about building up

power from multiple sources. I'm sure that the Europeans are dialoguing with their friends on Capitol Hill in both parties and trying to work out

how they can change the president's mind here.

MACFARLANE: Yeah, diplomacy, no doubt in overdrive right now. Stephen, great to have you as always. Thank you. I want to turn to Jay -- Jacob

Kirkegaard now. He's a Senior Fellow at the Economic Think Tank Bruegel & The Peterson Institute, and he is joining us now live from Brussels. Thank

you for your time.

So as Stephen was saying there, I mean, definitely there will be outreach happening from the EU now, even behind the scenes, to Capitol Hill. But the

reality is the EU, actually, we're going to just leave this Jacob for now and go to the Danish Foreign Minister who is speaking. Let's listen in.

LARS LOKKE RASMUSSEN, DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER: -- matter of basic principles. And we are living in 2026 where you can trade with people, but

you can't trade people. And listening to a UK Prime Minister who stands up that principle is very, very important. And then, of course, I realize you

can't leave anything out until the president himself had decided to leave anything out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just on the issue about the UK, then, are you clear that the UK will stand behind Denmark, whatever the consequences for

Britain? And do you believe that that's the position of the European Union as well?

RASMUSSEN: Yes, I believe that you know, and the reason why I believe that is due to the strong statement from your Prime Minister, I think it would

be repeated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Parliament right now. And especially, and that's perhaps even more important, in order to

convince me also in close session and the meeting we just had had.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Minister, you said over the weekend that you were surprised by the president's statement given the meeting that you had with

Vice President Vance and Mr. Rubio. What have they led you to believe? And why were you so surprised?

RASMUSSEN: It's not that they have led me to believe anything. It's just that we made an agreement. The meeting we had last week left me with the

clear impression that the president honestly and full heartedly want to acquire Greenland.

But we also made it twist and clear that this is a red line. Having said that we agreed to disagree and the concerns that raised at the meeting and

also the topic that our security in the Arctic is concerned.

[11:10:00]

We want to accommodate, and therefore we agree that we should move this dialog from, you know, social media and Truth Social and other arenas into

a meeting room where we could discuss. Could there be a solution where we building on what we already have agreed in past, the 1951 agreement, et

cetera?

The NATO alliance could do more to give U.S. the assurance that, even though we can handle the current situation in Greenland, which we can, and

there are no Chinese investments in Greenland, will we also be able to do that in a 10, 15, 20 years perspective, that was what we agreed.

I also made it very clear that we are open for this kind of discussion. We are pragmatic, cold blooded Scandinavian people with a warm heart. But it

is not easy when we wake up every morning to lose threats. Please convey that message to the president.

And therefore, for a second, I thought, now we have managed not to solve the problem, but to find a pathway forward. It was disrupted by the

statement from the president, and that's the reality of life, and that's why it's so important that all our allies in the NATO alliance, European

Union, stand up for these principles, to show the American President you have a desire.

You have a vision. You have a request, but you will never be able to achieve that by putting pressure on us. That signal is of crucial

importance in order to, I would say, to push the Americans back into the meeting room, as we agreed last week.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Final question, please. Sorry, just one question. It's a really anxious time for the Danes from the Greenlanders, and indeed, for

all Europeans. Do you feel vulnerable, and do you also feel betrayed by the U.S., given that you have been such a close ally of the U.S. and such a

good NATO member?

RASMUSSEN: I used the words surprised. And I think I will, I will -- I will stay on that. I mean, I have no intention to explain things. I've had this

discussion with the president and my former capacity as prime minister, and as a matter of fact that we had casualties in Afghanistan, it's also

similar to the U.S. casualties, and that's specifically location.

He said, you made a good argument. I want to repeat that one. And of course, I realize that the vice president said you could have done many

things you know proper in the past. Will that define the future? I think it gives you credit.

I mean, you can always count on Denmark, as we always can count on UK, and that's why I have been very, very pleased to visit U.S.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you so much.

MACFARLANE: Danish Foreign Minister speaking here in London following a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he was surprised

by Donald Trump's moves to deploy tariffs, not going as far as saying he was betrayed, but saying he was surprised by that move.

And calling once again, on NATO allies to stand up and show solidarity for them against the American President. I just want to bring in Jacob

Kirkegaard, who has been patiently standing by. Jacob, thank you for bearing with us on that.

I just want to get back to the whole -- the situation currently unfolding in Davos at the World Economic Forum, where many EU Leaders are convening

in this moment, facing really a stark decision here at this moment, which is to escalate or capitulate.

We have been talking that there are signs some EU Leaders are favoring the latter to escalate in their calls to use this bazooka option, this anti-

coercion mechanism. How close do you see we are right now to an all-out trade war?

JACOB KIRKEGAARD, SENIOR FELLOW, BRUEGEL & THE PETERSON INSTITUTE: Well, I think we're -- I think, unfortunately, we are very close. I don't think

there's any doubt that if these 10 percent tariffs on exports from the targeted countries go into effect on February 1st, I think the EU will

retaliate.

I think what they will do is that they European Parliament has already blocked the implementation of the trade deal negotiated last summer. But as

part of that negotiation back then, the EU prepared a retaliation package worth 93 billion euros.

I think that will be implemented very rapidly after February 1, and then we will see what Donald Trump does. If he escalates again, like what he did

when we recalled what happened between China and the United States in April 2025, that is the time I think the EU will bring forth its anti-coercion

instrument.

[11:15:00]

And then we are essentially in an open-ended trade war between two currently closely intertwined economies, and this will be economically very

damaging to both sides. But I don't think the EU will feel that they have any real choice other than to fight such a trade war.

Because they will be increasingly convinced that unless you fight a trade war, you may encourage Trump to think that there is no stomach to fight a

real one, and that there therefore may come at some time in the future, a military operation from the United States targeting Greenland.

MACFARLANE: And let's talk about what may happen. You said it, of course, tariffs, fatality tariffs would hurt both sides. But as my colleague

Stephen Collinson was just saying there, at a time when Donald Trump's approval rating in the United States is under water, over the economy, over

the cost of living, what could the use of this bazooka mechanism spell for American people?

KIRKEGAARD: Well, I mean, fundamentally, the strategy of the EU to engage in this revised strategy of confrontation over trade issues with Donald

Trump, is to try to emulate what China did back in April last year, which was to retaliate forcefully. Cause essentially a temporary market meltdown,

and ultimately caused Donald Trump to reverse course.

The question, of course, is whether the EU will be able to do so. They don't have pressure mechanisms like critical minerals. The EU is vulnerable

to U.S. escalation on LNG exports and many other issues related to Ukraine, so we will see.

But there is no doubt that the intent is to create an economic pain so intense for Donald Trump his Republican Party, as was mentioned in a

midterm election year, that it will compel the president to reverse course.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. We heard Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaking yesterday defending Trump's use of tariffs and claiming that the U.S. goal

in all of this is to avoid a future national emergency. I mean, I know you have previously worked with the Danish Ministry of Defense. Does anyone

believe this is a matter of national security? How real is that threat from Russia and China?

KIRKEGAARD: No, I don't think anybody really believes that anymore. I mean, when you look at the justification for the recent terror threat, I mean the

fact that he responded to countries that actually sent troops to Greenland to prepare for a scaled-up NATO presence there.

Makes it clear that the concerns he expresses about, you know, Chinese and Russian presence in Greenland are not really true. And it is also the case

as the Danish government and the Greenland government has said repeatedly, that if Donald Trump wants to rebuild U.S. presence in Greenland to levels

that we saw during the Cold War, which was, you know, 10 to 15,000 troops, a dozen bases, large radar installations, et cetera.

It will be perfectly able to do so. All he would need to do was to coordinate with the Danes, and there will be no legal or political problem.

But what appears to be the case really is that he's thinking like a real estate man who wants more than anything else to own rather than rent.

And that, of course, is not acceptable to either Denmark Greenland or, for that matter, the EU or any other member of the NATO alliance.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. Well, we will, I'm sure have plenty more conversation on this in the days to come. Jacob, we appreciate your thoughts for now. Thank

you. We are turning now to Spain, where a high-speed train en route to Madrid derailed on Sunday, crashing into another high-speed train traveling

in the opposite direction.

At least 39 people were killed and dozens more injured. Officials say carriages from each train overturned, with cars from the second train

plunging down an embankment. Rescue teams worked for hours to free passengers trapped in the wreckage, and forensic medical units were

deployed to identify victims. Officials say an investigation is now under way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PEDRO SANCHEZ, SPANISH PRIME MINISTER: We will now investigate the truth what happened and provide a response as to the cause of this accident. And

we will do that as transparently and clearly as possible, so as to make sure that public opinion is properly informed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, CNN Correspondent Pau Mosquera has more now on the crash and the investigation.

PAU MOSQUERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right now, there are still a lot, or dozens of Asians of the war decibel and different emergency services that

they are working on the ground zero, trying to move the carriages that derail it from the tracks.

[11:20:00]

And searching if there are any victims, like under all of the debris. They have installed it over the morning big cranes to try to move the pieces off

the trains and keep investigating, searching for more bodies in the area, and that's why the authorities have repeated after the morning that the

death toll could rise over the next hours.

But something that is also important, or at least what the people are asking themselves from home, is, what is the cause of the accident? Well,

the authorities so far have asked not to speculate about the possible origin of this terrible and horrible train cries, so far. They are leaving

the authorities to investigate, and that's why they want them to keep doing their work, until they clarify what exactly has happened here in this site

of the crash.

But there's actually something curious Eleni, because the authorities, all of them, or most of them, have agreed over the morning that this was quite

an unusual accident, or at least that this was something that it was very difficult to foresee. Have a listen to what the Spanish Transport Minister

said earlier this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OSCAR PUENTE, SPANISH TRANSPORT MINISTER: The accident is extremely strange. It happened on a straight stretch of track. All the railway

experts who have been here today at the center, and those we have been able to consult are extremely surprised by the accident, because, as I say, it

is strange, very strange. It's very difficult to explain at this point.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOSQUERA: There is also families from some victims out there, still searching in different places for any kind of information that can lead

them to their relatives. For example, here we are close to a social center located in Adamuz four kilometers away from where this train crash took

place.

Here we have seen over the morning how many families have come to ask the authorities, if they know anything about the people that they are still

missing. And just to put an example earlier, we talked to Abdul Rahman, who is looking for his sister-in-law. We're talking of Amir, 45-years-old, who

was traveling back from Malaga to Madrid, where he -- where she normally gets to work.

MACFARLANE: Very sad. Our thanks to Correspondent Pau Mosquera for that report. Now the tense situation in Minnesota shows no sign of ending.

Coming up, we'll look at what President Trump might do next as anti-I.C.E. protest there continue. Plus, Prince Harry gets his day in court as he

takes on the British tabloid the latest from the high-profile privacy trial just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:25:00]

MACFARLANE: At this hour, about 1500 active-duty U.S. soldiers asked on standby to possibly be deployed to Minnesota. It comes after President

Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, something he has yet to do. In addition, Democratic Governor Tim Walz has mobilized Minnesota's

National Guard to support local law enforcement and keep citizens safe.

This follows weeks of protests after the massive deployment of I.C.E. officers to Minnesota and the killing of a mother of three Renee Good by

one of those officers. We have new video showing the dangers of those confrontations.

A family trying to get home from their son's basketball game in Minneapolis found themselves caught in a protest. They did not know was happening. They

say they were tear gassed in their car, leaving the mother to administer CPR to her infant child. The Homeland Security Secretary blamed the

protesters, the Mayor and the Governor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIRSTI NOEM, U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The family was caught up in that situation because of violent protesters that were impeding law

enforcement operations. And that family would have never been in that situation if those protesters had been acting peacefully.

And law enforcement was able to do their job without being threatened, because the Mayor and the Governor have allowed this kind of violence to be

perpetuated across Minneapolis. Is why there's other innocent people that are impacted throughout the city, but throughout their state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Kevin Liptak is at the White House with the latest. And Kevin, it really feels like Minnesota is teetering on a knife edge right now.

Where do things stand with those 1500 soldiers on standby and the likelihood here of deployment?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, the White House has been quick to point out that the president has not made a decision to send

active-duty troops into Minnesota, even though he has threatened it. He's discussed it with advisors here at the White House, including Kristi Noem,

the Homeland Security Secretary.

You know those 1500 troops they're based in Alaska. They're two infantry divisions with the 11th Airborne Division, and they're used to cold weather

conditions, which they certainly would experience if they did end up going to Minneapolis.

The president has threatened to use the Insurrection Act; that's the law from 1807 that allows the president to deploy active-duty troops on

American soil. The president seemed to back off some of those threats on Friday, though he said he didn't think it would be necessary at this point,

but by no means ruling it out, and it would be an extraordinary move.

You know, this law has been rarely used. It was last used in the early 1990s during the Rodney King protests in Los Angeles. You have to go back

much further to find an example of a president using the law over the objections of local officials, which would certainly be the case here in

Minnesota.

You've heard from the Governor, you've heard from the Mayor of Minneapolis saying that this would only inflame tensions. Listen to a little bit of

what Mayor Jacob Frey said this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACOB FREY, MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR: The best way to get safety is not to have an influx of even more agents, and in this case, military in Minneapolis.

Right now, we have about 600 police officers, and they've got 3000 or so I.C.E. agents and border control that they are now talking about deploying

1500 military. This is, well, it's ridiculous, but we will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPTAK: Now, a Federal Judge on Friday blocked the administration from using tear gas and other chemical agents on peaceful protesters. And what

Kristi Nome said over the weekend was that that ruling would, quote, not change anything for how we're operating on the ground, suggesting that they

haven't used those agents and people who have been protesting peacefully, although I think when you talk to protesters on the ground, they would

dispute that.

Now, when it comes to the Insurrection Act, President Trump has been threatening to use this for some time now, dating back to his first term in

office. He threatened to use it during protests following the killing of George Floyd, also in Minneapolis. He was essentially talked out of it at

the time by his Defense Secretary, by his Attorney General.

Now the president has installed much more compliant officials in those posts during his second term, and there's no evidence really, that they are

making any attempts to talk him out of anything. And so, this does remain an open possibility, even if the president isn't choosing to enact it right

at this moment.

MACFARLANE: Yeah, we will continue, of course, to keep across it. Kevin, for now thank. You. All right still to come on "One World", tensions are

high as leaders in business and politics gather in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. We'll tell you what to expect just ahead.

[11:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Welcome back to "One World". I'm Christina Macfarlane in London. Here are some of the headlines we're watching today. European

Leaders say they prefer engagement with the U.S. to escalation, but they are weighing retaliatory measures following Donald Trump's tariff threat.

Over the weekend, the U.S. President threatened to impose sanctions on a handful of European countries that oppose his desire to take over

Greenland. Earlier, the British Prime Minister said alliances endure because they're built on partnership, not pressure.

At least 39 people have died and dozens are injured in Spain after a high- speed train derailed and crashed into a second train on Sunday. It marks the country's worst rail accident since 2013. Officials say rescue teams,

including firefighters and a military unit, worked for hours in the dark, trying to free passengers who were trapped in the twisted wreckage.

China's government is reporting the country met its economic growth target of about 5 percent for 2025 despite a trade war with the U.S. At the same

time, the country reports its birth rate hit a new record low as its population shrank for the fourth year in a row.

Prince Harry's privacy trial is underway in London's High Court. The British Royal and six others, including Elton John and Actress Elizabeth

Hurley, are suing the publisher of "The Daily Mail". They allege associated newspapers limited used unlawful means to gather information about them.

The newspaper group has denied any wrong doing. Our Salma Abdelaziz reports from the courthouse with the latest.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A major legal showdown has begun here in London, in the courts. Just behind me, on one side of the battle line is

Prince Harry and six of this country's most famous celebrities. And they are suing the publishers of one of Britain's most popular newspapers, "The

Daily Mail".

[11:35:00]

We saw Prince Harry arrive at the court today. His appearances in this country are rare, of course. We also saw the Actress Elizabeth Hurley

arriving with her son. Inside the courtroom was packed with lawyers, with celebrities, with press and the lawyer for Prince Harry and this group of

celebrity plaintiffs, which includes Elton John and his husband, the Actor Sadie Frost, among others, are arguing that associated newspapers limited

engaged in criminal activity to illegally obtain information about them.

They are accusing the publisher of hiring private investigators to follow them, of tapping their phones, of planting listening devices, of hacking

their phone calls, of even impersonating individuals to obtain medical records and private bank details.

Now the publisher ANL has denied these accusations outright. It calls the claims lurid and preposterous, but for Prince Harry, this is about

principle. He has had a long-standing beef with the tabloids. This is actually his third case against British tabloids just in recent years, and

it's going to culminate in him giving evidence on Thursday, right behind me here. Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.

MACFARLANE: Well, tensions are high today as the annual World Economic Forum begins in Davos, Switzerland. Security also tight as leading names

from the world of business and politics, including U.S. President Donald Trump, are set to discuss major global issues.

One of the major issues on that list, Greenland. For more than 3000 delegates for more than 130 countries are expected, including a large

delegation from the largest delegation from the U.S. ever. Here, with more details on it all is our Anna Cooban.

And Anna I don't think the stakes have ever been so high for a World Economic Forum. I think some are pitching this as a last chance saloon to

save the old-world order. I mean, given everything that was meant to happen this week how much oxygen is this potential Trump tariff war going to take

up?

ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS & ECONOMICS REPORTER: I think it's going to be the conversation. And you know, it's funny, you've said that people you

know that there's focus on the forum this week. For the past few years, people have been decrying the end of it, saying it's no longer relevant.

I just don't think that's the case this year. We've got Trump potentially meeting Zelenskyy on the sidelines to hash out a peace deal for the war in

Ukraine. And also, Greenland, everything that Trump is trying to do with annexing that territory.

This forum was going to be really talking about economics, business, but particularly AI around this AI bubble. But that now seems like a distant

conversation when we're talking about the future of the NATO alliance.

And of course, the EU has a lot to say itself. It is unprepared to allow Trump to cross that red line of annexing this territory, and so they are

readying potentially measures, big economic measures, to retaliate if he does that.

MACFARLANE: And how much uncertainty is this already causing in world markets? Are we seeing markets sort of bracing for a potential trade war?

COOBAN: They're bracing most certainly. In the U.S. today, it's a holiday, so we haven't had markets open although Futures are down, European markets

are down, and gold, which is a really interesting or good barometer of how much volatility there is in the world, geopolitically, economically, that

is up hit another record high today that's a safe haven asset. Investors are clearly feeling very nervous Christina and are pouring into it.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. Well, interesting to note that this year's conference theme is the spirit of dialog. We will wait to see how much dialog there is

when Donald Trump arrives on Wednesday. Anna, thank you so much. And coming up amid a fraught political climate, Americans are honoring a civil rights

icon. We look back at Dr Martin Luther King Jr's legacy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:40:00]

MACFARLANE: Today, communities across America are looking back on Dr Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. Here you can see live images of the Civil Rights

Icon Memorial in Washington. For many admirers, Dr King's message of speaking out against injustices resonates just as strongly today as it did

in the 1960s.

In this time of tense political debates, it's worth looking at the new challenges facing King's legacy under the Trump Administration. And take a

look at this. This includes the dismantling of the Department of Education, in part by gutting its Office for Civil Rights with mass layoffs.

Trump has railed against DEI initiatives, an important pathway to economic mobility. The administration has also dismantled the Minority Business

Development Agency. This is the only agency focused on growing minority owned businesses. And in 2025 it faced significant reductions in

operations.

At the start of the year, Americans in five U.S. states were dealt new restrictions on SNAP benefits. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program has already been under pressure from steep budget cuts. Funds have also been slashed from Medicaid and CHIP according to the Children's

Hospital Association, some children's hospitals could lose billions in revenue once Trump's wide-ranging tax and spending law is fully enacted.

Well, let's discuss this with my next guest, Howard Robinson, who is an Assistant Professor of History at Alabama State University. Howard it's so

great to have you with us. Thank you for your time.

Given the dismantling of core programs, I was just talking about there, and the crisis and protests we are seeing on the streets of Minneapolis right

now, where those protesters are facing masks and militarized federal offices. We can't help but reflect today on what Martin Luther King Jr.,

would have made of all of this, and that is what I first wanted to get your thoughts on.

HOWARD ROBINSON, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, ALBAMA STATE UNIVERSITY: I think King, particularly during the latter segments or period of his life,

was a bit disillusioned, because, although there had been significant milestones under his activism, he was not satisfied with the pace and the

opposition.

The pace of the movement and change and opposition to the movement. And so, I think that people today sort of may think that we are a post racial

society. And that the efforts of King have and others in the Civil Rights Movement have changed the United States in irrevocable ways.

And while on one hand, there have been significant changes in the United States, there's a -- there's a threat of white supremacy, there's a threat

of racism, a threat of injustice that permeates the American experience, and as we're learning, has to be dealt with in generation after generation.

So, there's a new generation now that's having to find ways, some of which they are drawing from King's legacy. And some of which they're having to

adjust to the 21st Century. So, I think King would see this as a natural progression that system of white supremacy.

[11:45:00]

So entrenched in the American experience that it's going to take maybe a century to really address in fundamental ways.

One last thing, I think King said in his speech in Montgomery that the moral arc of the universe is long, but bend towards justice. And we often

think that that moral arc is one that's consistent and moves evenly through time. And what we're seeing is that it comes with significant interruptions

and challenges.

MACFARLANE: And it's such a crucial point you're making, that the undercurrents that were at play during his era are still at play now. What

do you say to people who think we may have passed the point of return of Dr. King's dream being a reality during this second Trump term, when we are

so obviously facing these restrictions, these roll backs, these curtailments on our liberty?

ROBINSON: You know, one of the things King talked about was this --

MACFARLANE: Howard, I'm so sorry, but unfortunately, we are having a problem with your audio, which is a real shame, because I was looking

forward to this conversation. We'll see if we can get you back, but we'll leave it here for now.

That was Howard Robinson speaking to us. Apologies, Howard. Can you speak to me again Howard, see if we can hear you? Oh, no, he's gone. He's gone.

That's a shame. We'll be right back after this quick break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Welcome back. Rome has become the latest European Capital to reduce its speed limit. The move aims to tackle pollution and lower the

number of accidents in a city where streets are packed with cars and tourists. CNN's Barbie Latza Nadeau has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The streets of Rome can feel like an obstacle course, a chaotic mix of cars, scooters and

pedestrians buzzing through the city's ancient narrow street. But Rome is trying to curb the whirlwind pace of some of its drivers, cutting the speed

limit in the historic center almost in half, from 50 to 30 kilometers per hour.

[11:50:00]

The slowdown is an effort to reduce accidents and pollution, and its dividing opinions in the eternal city.

SANTI CAUTELA, ROME RESIDENT: In my opinion, it is wrong. 30 kilometers per hour is too little. 50 was fine.

BARBARA BARATTOLO, ROME RESIDENT: Some people drive extremely fast. I ride a scooter and often risk being hit. For pedestrians and bicycles safety

too, it's better to go slowly.

NADEAU (voice-over): And just as Rome wasn't built in a day, the city's Transport Chief says drivers have about a month to gear down with the new

rules gradually being enforced over the next 30 days. Other cities like London, Brussels and Paris have imposed similar speed limits.

Officials in the Northern Italian City of Bologna say a similar measure reduced road accidents by 13 percent and fatalities by 50 percent in the

year after it was enacted. And besides the expectation of saving lives, local authorities say the lower speed limit is also expected to reduce

noise levels in the city center by around two decibels.

A lot to gain by slowing down, though, some people say the need for speed could be a hard habit to break. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Now in October, a group of Buddhist Monks started a pilgrimage. They left their temple in Texas and began a 2300 mile walk for peace to

Washington, DC. Right now, they're in North Carolina with more than three weeks to go. CNN's Anderson Cooper tells us how their humble goal has

attracted national attention?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST (voice-over): When 20 monks left their Buddhist Temple in Fort Worth, Texas, 81 days ago, there was little fanfare. They

planned to walk to Washington, some 2300 miles away. At first few passers- by knew who they were. This thin line of silent monks accompanied by their dog, Aloka picked up as a stray on an earlier walk in India.

But with each step and each day that passed, word began to spread. It was, they said, a pilgrimage, not about politics, but about peace. In their

words to raise awareness of loving kindness and compassion across America and the world.

In Houston, Texas, they prayed for police, giving them Buddhist blessing cords, a symbol, the monk said of a shared prayer for the officers, safety,

well-being and endurance as they serve the community. Their temple began posting their procession online, often with music accompanying their march.

That's when the crowds began to grow.

Some who met the monks along their route were brought to tears. Others offered food and water and encourage Aloka, who now has his own Facebook

page with more than 600,000 followers. But the journey has not been easy. Some of the monks walk barefoot.

Just weeks in their escort vehicle was hit by a truck, and one of the monks, Bante Downfall Masani's leg was broken and had to be amputated. He

implored the others to continue, and now they say he walks with them in spirit. This man, Osbaldo Duran, donated a new escort vehicle so the monks

could continue on.

OSBALDO DURAN, DONATED VEHICLE TO MONKS: When I saw that I like no, they need some help. We've got to help them. They're walking for us.

COOPER (voice-over): Now, cities offer them police escorts to ensure their safety, and more and more people want to walk with them. As they cross the

Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, site of an infamous standoff during the struggle for civil rights, they pause to pray, and hundreds joined

alongside them.

The monks begin their days at dawn, and sometimes don't rest until night. This was 70 days into their journey in Arnoldsville, Georgia. They've

crossed six states so far, and with each step and each stop, more are moved and their message has spread.

This was the scene in Columbia, South Carolina this week, one of their biggest crowds so far. We may not hear many people speak of compassion and

kindness in politics or culture today, but for many, these monks are a sign of hope. Their steps may be silent, but it seems they're being heard loud

and clear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seeing people from all walks of life and faiths come together has been deeply moving. There's something profoundly powerful in

the simplicity of their act. Monks walking for peace instead of worrying about the future. Maybe the real question is, what are your plans? Because

peace only happens when each of us decides to play our part.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: A perfect way to end the show and our thanks to Anderson Cooper for that report. And finally, this hour, the Olympic Torch is making its

way across Northern Italy on its way to Verona this weekend. Torch bearers took the flame to historic sites, including a stop at the International

Museum of the Red Cross. The relay began in Rome over a month ago.

[11:55:00]

About 10,000 people have carried the torch by the time it arrives in Milan early next month to kick off the 2026, Winter Olympic Games. Yeah, it's

here already, just around the corner. Can't wait. And stay tuned there's more "One World" after the break with my colleague, Bianna Golodryga.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END