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The Brief with Jim Sciutto
CNN International: Trump Ends Key Climate Change Regulations; High- Profile Tech Staffers Quit; Search for Nancy Guthrie; U.S. Energy Secretary Tours Venezuelan Oil Facilities; ICE Surge in Minneapolis Winds Down; Ukrainian Athlete Appeals Olympic Disqualification. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired February 12, 2026 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[18:00:00]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Lynda Kinkade, live in Atlanta, Jim Sciutto
is off, you are watching "The Brief."
Just ahead this hour, climate groups vow to fight back after the Trump administration eliminates major environmental protections. We'll speak to a
climate group planning to sue. Neighbors of missing Nancy Guthrie urged to comb through video footage for a whole month. It's now 12 days since the
84-year-old disappeared. And he's won the Medal of Our Hearts. Ukrainians react to the athlete who was disqualified for wearing a helmet honoring
fallen comrades. Now, he says he's going to appeal. We'll have that story and plenty more coming up.
We begin with a major change to U.S. climate policy. The Trump administration repealing the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to
regulate climate pollution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We are officially terminating the so-called endangerment finding, a disastrous Obama-era policy that severely damaged
the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The endangerment finding has long been the central basis for government action to limit greenhouse gases. Legal challenges are being
prepared as we speak. California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement saying, if this reckless decision survives legal challenges, it will lead
to more deadly wildfires, more extreme heat deaths, and more climate-driven floods and droughts, and greater threats to communities worldwide. Former
President Obama is saying we will be less safe, less healthy, and less able to fight climate change.
Well, Stephen Collinson joins us now. So, good to have you with us, Stephen. So, the Trump administration has scrapped these rules essentially,
that classified carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases as a threat to public health essentially. So, what does this decision mean in practical
terms, and what was the reasoning from the administration?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I think that of all the things that the Trump administration has done over the last year, this may
be one of them that has the longest lasting effects into the future, even potentially when Donald Trump is no longer president. The endangerment
finding is so important because it was used by the Obama and Biden administrations as the centerpiece of their efforts to regulate six
greenhouse gases. That action was repeatedly endorsed by the courts all the way up to the Supreme Court.
So, what the administration here is doing is highly controversial, but it really rips away the foundation of all the climate change policy and
mitigation attempts of the two previous democratic administrations. So, it's a huge step. And it's something that President Trump, who thinks
climate change is a hoax, who is against anything that's done to either hurt the fossil fuel industry, or in his view, the American consumers, has
been promising for a long time.
So, it's a very significant step that's become -- that's been coming, I think, eventually across two Trump terms.
KINKADE: And we've already heard that there are likely to be legal challenges to this. But at this point in time, what do we know about any
indications that this rollback is influenced by lobby groups or other special interests?
COLLINSON: Well, we know that Trump is very close to a lot of these oil firms. He's trying to get them involved, for example, in Venezuela, in
pumping out Venezuela's oil, which the U.S. says it is going to sell on Venezuela's behalf. Obviously, oil firms are huge funders in American
politics of political campaigns. And I think the fact that there's going to be legal challenges is something that the administration is prepared for.
[18:05:00]
There is a school of thought that the administration wants this to go up to the courts, because what they're actually seeking is the courts to repeal
the endangerment finding effectively, because that would make it impossible for a future Democratic administration to use it. And it would make it much
harder for a future Democratic Congress to change the law to try and once again fight climate change.
But the global impact of this for the global fight against greenhouse gases is huge. If you think, you know, the historically greatest polluter has now
completely given up and is actively hostile to fighting climate change. So, it's going to be a big issue in the midterm elections, I think, and in the
next presidential campaign, because at that point, it wouldn't be surprising if a lot of these legal challenges are still taking place.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. Stephen Collinson, great to have you with us. Thank you for joining us. I want to welcome Meredith Hankins, Federal Climate
Legal Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. It is a non-profit environmental advocacy group. Good to have you with us.
MEREDITH HANKINS, FEDERAL CLIMATE LEGAL DIRECTOR, NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL: Thank you so much for having me.
KINKADE: So, Meredith, the Trump administration is dismantling these key U.S. climate regulations. Given the administration's track record, it's
perhaps not surprising, but we are hearing from experts who say it could be disastrous. What's your reaction?
HANKINS: Yes. I mean, this is really the single biggest attack in history on the U.S. federal government's ability to tackle the climate crisis. It's
climate denialism at its finest.
KINKADE: I mean, we've heard for quite a long time now that Trump believes that climate change is a hoax. I want to play some sound from Donald Trump
just last month.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: It's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion. Climate change, no matter what happens, you're involved in that.
No more global warming, no more global cooling. All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were
wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: So, that was Donald Trump in September. Again, just last month in Davos, he said, the cold weather means that there is no thing as global
warming. You're going to challenge this change in policy. Take us through the process. What are your steps?
HANKINS: Yes, absolutely. We believe this action is plainly unlawful, and we will be suing just as soon as we can. So, this case will first go to a
federal appellate court known as the D.C. Circuit, and then it could potentially be appealed all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. But I'm
looking forward to this fight. It's one that we're going to win, because their arguments are completely contrary to United States law and what the
United States Supreme Court has told EPA their responsibility is.
KINKADE: We've heard some of the arguments so far, Meredith. We've heard President Trump say that these environmental rules have no basis in fact,
no basis in law, and he framed it as a burden on the economy. What's your response?
HANKINS: Yes. He keeps touting this $1 trillion number, but it's very easy to fudge the math if you only look at one side of the ledger. What he's
hiding and what the Trump administration is ignoring is a very clear, well- documented financial impacts of climate change, both on public health, in terms of increased natural disasters.
And so, what these rules, the most recent round of clean car standards that are now being eliminated, would actually have had $2 trillion in net
societal benefits in the United States. So, that is contrary to his statements about how expensive these rules are. They actually would have
saved us quite a lot of money.
KINKADE: Yes. I mean, talk to us about that, because so many of these natural disasters we've seen in recent years, we've noted time and time and
again that these natural disasters, the heat waves, the floods, the hurricanes, are getting worse because of climate change, and therefore the
cost of dealing with these disasters is increasing. Why do you think that the administration doesn't factor that in when they're talking about the
economic costs?
HANKINS: I think they acknowledge that it makes them look bad. They are choosing to not monetize the very clear facts and impacts that are on the
ground in front of us. We just have to look out the window to see the impacts of unnatural disaster. The prior round of rules would have resulted
in $13 billion per year in savings in terms of avoided health care costs. That's not fake news. Those are economically, scientifically supported data
that the Trump administration is just choosing to ignore.
[18:10:00]
KINKADE: Well, we'll see how this legal challenge goes. No doubt we'll speak to you again soon. Meredith Hankins, thanks so much for your time.
Thanks so much for your time.
HANKINS: Thanks so much.
KINKADE: Well, still to come, an A.I. alert. Top tech researchers are quitting their jobs, issuing dire warnings about artificial intelligence.
Why they're sounding the alarm, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back, I'm Lynda Kinkade. In today's Business Breakout, another rough day on Wall Street. U.S. stocks fell across the board with
tech dropping more than 2 percent. Cisco is a big tech loser. The networking giant tumbling 12 percent after issuing disappointing guidance.
Also, today, investors continue to sell shares of firms that could be hit hard by A.I. Software and financial services companies sold off early this
week. Trucking and office real estate firms tumbled today.
Well, the tech slump comes amid dire new warnings over A.I.'s effect on society. Two researchers from A.I.'s firms, Anthropic and OpenAI, resigned
this week. As they left, they criticized the industry for moving too far, too fast. The ex-Anthropic researcher warned, quote, "The world is in
peril."
And a blog post from A.I. executive, Matt Shumer, titled, "Something Big Is Happening," chalked up millions of online views. He says A.I. is closer to
transforming the global workforce than most of us realize. Earlier, he spoke to my colleague, Richard Quest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT SHUMER, FOUNDER, CEO HYPERWRITE: Very, very recently, a new string of A.I. models came out. One in particular that I was a little, say, spooked
or amazed by, that frankly can do pretty much everything I can do when it comes to engineering. And in a lot of ways, it's quite a bit better and
more thoughtful than I am.
And the idea is that if that's the case, and that's where we are today when it comes to engineering, it's very likely that those capabilities are going
to be available for almost every other role that could be done on a computer in, say, a year or two years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, our Hadas Gold has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HADAS GOLD, CNN A.I. CORRESPONDENT: So, Silicon Valley is known for a lot of turnover, especially in the A.I. industry. But lately, it's been sort of
like a game of musical chairs. And there's been a stream of departures recently. And along with those departures from some of the major A.I.
companies are some warnings from these staffers who worked at some of the biggest labs, like OpenAI and Anthropic.
[18:15:00]
And just this week, at least two of them have posted essays along with why they're leaving that are pointing to sort of warning signs that they say
the rest of society needs to be aware of in terms of A.I.'s quick development and what it could be capable of and some of the negative
aspects of A.I.'s capabilities.
So, one of those people is Zoe Hitzig. She is a researcher for OpenAI for the past two years. She resigned, she said, on the same day that OpenAI
rolled out ads within ChatGPT. OpenAI has announced that part of their strategy for revenue is going to be putting advertisements in people who
use ChatGPT for free.
Now, they did say that these ads will not be, you know, reading your conversations necessarily and putting an ad right in there, but it's gotten
a lot of blowback. And Zoe Hitzig, this researcher, she wrote that she has deep reservations about this advertising strategy and about ChatGPT's
potential for manipulating users, especially because they have so much history in all of these conversations. And a lot of people talk with these
chatbots in a very intimate way.
She wrote in part, the erosion of OpenAI's own principles to maximize engagement may already be underway in that she fears a technology that
manipulates the people who use it at no cost and one that exclusively benefits the few that can afford to use it.
Another top safety researcher, this time at Anthropic Mrinank Sharma posted his own resignation letter this week warning that the world is in peril.
And he said throughout his time at Anthropic, he says, I've repeatedly seen how hard it is to truly let our values govern our actions. And he said he's
leaving to potentially go write some poetry and completely get out of the tech space.
Now, doomsday predictions about A.I. have been around for a very long time. I mean, we've even seen the heads of some of these companies, including
Anthropic and OpenAI, talk about sort of their fears of how A.I. can go wrong.
There was another essay that went viral this week from HyperWrite CEO, Matt Shumer, who wrote about how the latest A.I. models have already made a lot
of jobs obsolete. And we need to be prepared for what's coming with A.I., thinking of it as though we are in February of 2020 and the COVID virus is
about to completely change our lives. He says, that's how we need to see A.I. as changing our lives very soon. He's writing from a tech executive
perspective, writing, we're telling you what already occurred in our own jobs, he wrote, and he's warning you that you're next.
So, a lot of fears coming up this week about A.I.'s potential and what can happen and whether we're all prepared for that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Thanks to Hadas Gold there. Well, checking some of today's other business headlines. A report from the New York Fed says Americans are
paying the overwhelming majority of Trump's global tariffs. The report says U.S. consumers and businesses have been footing some 90 percent of that
bill. That contradicts Trump's claims that foreign governments are paying for the tariffs.
Well, the head of the Justice Department's antitrust division is out of a job. Abigail Slater is leaving after spending just one year at her post.
Two sources telling CNN that Slater was fired after clashing with the White House on antitrust issues. She reportedly pushed the administration to act
more aggressively against tech firms.
Russia confirms it's blocking instant messaging app, WhatsApp, in its country. It follows reports that Moscow is restricting access to another
popular messaging app, Telegram. Russia's directing its citizens to use the state-backed Max app instead. Meta has yet to confirm whether WhatsApp is
fully blocked in Russia.
The FBI is increasing its reward to up to $100,000 for information in the Nancy Guthrie case. Investigators searching for her are asking anyone near
her home for security footage in the weeks before she disappeared. They've singled out dates including January the 11th and January the 31st as being
key. And they say they especially want footage of cars in the area on those dates.
It's now been 12 days since the 84-year-old mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie went missing. Authorities are treating her case as an
abduction. They say they've collected multiple gloves near her home as possible evidence in the case. It's not known whether they were worn by the
person seen in this doorbell footage the morning she disappeared.
Ed Lavandera is joining us live from Tuckson right now. Ed, good to have you with us. So, it seems like investigators are gathering more evidence
some 12 days after the disappearance. In terms of what we know so far about those two dates, they're asking neighbors for footage from their cameras in
and around their home. What are investigators telling you about what they think took place on those dates?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're trying to find some sort of suspicious vehicle or a suspicious person that might
lead them to the person who abducted Nancy Guthrie. And what is interesting about the alerts that have gone out today and these calls for more video,
one of the alerts is requesting, massive amount of video, from January 1st to February 2nd. That's within -- anyone within a two-mile radius of where
Nancy Guthrie lives.
[18:20:00]
The other alert that we learned about today is focused more on one specific part of the neighborhood and on these two specific dates, January 11th in
the late evening, nine to 12:00 p.m. and also, on January 31st, that was just about 16 hours before Guthrie was taken against her will.
And that is in one little -- in one specific area of this neighborhood where we saw investigators walking through that area yesterday. And this is
an area in a road that could have been. One of the ways to get in and out of this neighborhood. So, that is why those calls are going out.
But, Lynda, we should point out that just a short while ago, FBI authorities here in Arizona have put out new information that we want to
share. First of all, they've increased the reward in this case up to $100,000. And they're also offering more specific details of that suspect.
We saw in the dramatic footage, the haunting footage that we saw of the suspect approaching Nancy Guthrie's front door. And this is what the FBI is
now saying. They're describing the subject as a male, approximately five foot nine inches to five foot 10 inches tall with an average build.
And they've been able, they believe, to track down the specific brand of the backpack that he was wearing, which is a black 25-liter Ozark Trail
Hiker backpack. So, that they're hoping that this description will get them more clear information, more clearer tips about who this person might be.
The FBI also says they have been flooded with 13,000 tips in the last 48 hours since those video images were released. And you can imagine. A great
deal of those tips are probably not very good or helpful in any way. But -- so, they're trying to narrow this down and get people to call in with more
specific information. They're hoping this more specific information will get them better quality tips. But this is just unfolding here now in the
last few minutes, Lynda.
KINKADE: And have we heard any more from Savannah Guthrie or her siblings since the increase in this reward was announced and that additional
evidence was found, including the extra gloves?
LAVANDERA: Yes, they -- we haven't -- Savannah Guthrie put out one message on Instagram earlier today where she shared some, a home video with a, you
know, really heartfelt message for her mother that she will not -- you know, she's not forgotten that they will keep, you know, fighting to bring
her home. You know, incredibly powerful and painful to watch in many ways. It's just a heartbreaking video that just kind of speaks to the power, the
love Savannah has for her mother.
And clearly, you know, she is desperate. She -- several days ago she described these days as an hour of desperation, and that was several days
ago. So, you can only imagine the anguish that she's feeling at this moment.
KINKADE: Yes. I can't imagine they've had much sleep for the last 12 days. It's pretty horrible. Ed Lavandera, appreciate you. Thank you.
We are going to stay on this story. I want to welcome Chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst, John Miller, who joins us now live. Thanks for
being with us, John. So, Nancy Guthrie has been missing now for almost two weeks, and only now are authorities asking neighbors to go through video
footage, you know, from their surveillance cameras from the weeks leading up to her disappearance. What does a delay like that mean for a case like
this?
JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: What it means is they're widening the aperture of what they're looking for. They
asked neighbors to go through their cameras immediately after the disappearance. And detectives, deputies from the sheriff and FBI agents
went house to house and, you know, reviewed some of those things, but they're trying to expand that now because now they know certain things that
they didn't know before.
Some of the tips that they have received have referred to suspicious vehicles on a specific date. They've asked people to zero in on that date
in particular and look for vehicles. They want to look at the date of the kidnapping and see does the same vehicle maybe by the side of the road or
parked in some strange area, turn up on both dates? The date of when they believe there might have been surveillance perhaps, and the date when this
plan was actually executed to abduct Nancy Guthrie.
But they're also asking people to look at that entire month-long period, because what they'd like to do is see if. Anything highly suspicious is
noticed that the public can point them to from their own ring, doorbell, cameras, or other video equipment. And B, there may be a point where they
can actually extract all of that video, file it away, and then as they develop leads down the road, whether that's next week or next month or
however long this terrible ordeal goes to be able to go and compare videos, look for vehicles and people and so on.
[18:25:00]
KINKADE: John, we were, as you were talking, we were just looking at that footage of the white tent being put up at Nancy Guthrie's house outside the
house and then taken down. What's the significance of that being put up at this stage?
MILLER: So, what they were doing was using very sensitive equipment we believe to take measurements in there. Why is that important? Because when
you look inside under the archway the very same place where you see the figure who's wearing the ski mask, you know, approaching the house, there
are things that they can measure there that have particular measurements that they can use as baselines, and then they can compare those things
using computer assisted programs with the image of that masked individual with the gun and estimate very closely what his height, weight, and other
dimensions are.
It's how they came out today after running those preliminary tests with the idea that these 5'10 or 5'11 average build and so on. But they're trying to
narrow down as much as they can an accurate description of if not who that person is at least what he looks like and what his dimensions are.
KINKADE: And of course, ransom notes and communication have been reported. At least one person we know has been charged with impersonating the
kidnapper. How do law enforcement agencies assess credibility of such messages and information? And does that potentially get harder now that the
reward has increased?
MILLER: Well, it may and what you've had here is. You know, a set of at least two communications coming from someone demanding a ransom for the
return of Nancy Guthrie. And how do you assess that? You challenge them for, give us POP, proof of possession. Can you show that you actually have
her? Can you give us POL, proof of life? Can you show that you have her and that she's OK? And there are different ways to do that, including, you
know, setting up an encrypted communications line and putting her on the phone or on video or asking her questions that only the family would know
the answers to intimate details.
We are told that the kidnappers, or at least those who claim to be the kidnappers who sent those notes, were not able to deliver that in any of
their communications. So, after that, you had somebody demanding ransom, who turned out not to be the same people as a note. That person was
arrested, as you said. And after that, you have a new person who's communicating with another media outlet saying for this much money in
Bitcoin, I'll tell you who the kidnapper is. Same dynamic. You got to tell us how you know and give us some information because nobody's going to send
a Bitcoin worth $66,000 to somebody who says, I'll tell you after.
KINKADE: Yes.
MILLER: Especially when you don't know who they are and you may never hear from them again. So, yes, the scammers are out there. But somewhere out
there is someone who really knows.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. Hopefully Nancy Guthrie's family get those answers and she returns home soon. John Miller, appreciate your time. Thank you.
MILLER: Thanks.
KINKADE: Well, still ahead, ICE winds down its operation in Minneapolis. As yet another government shutdown down looms, we're going to bring you the
latest on both, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:30:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Lynda Kinkade. Good to have you with us. Here are the international headlines we're watching today.
U.S. President Donald Trump is revoking the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. It's considered a
deadly blow to longstanding U.S. policy to fight climate pollution. That policy was issued in 2009 and determined that six greenhouse gases were
dangerous to human health. The repeal is expected to face legal challenges.
The FBI is doubling the reward for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie to $50,000 to $100,000. That comes as the agency is now
calling the man seen in surveillance footage from her home a suspect in her disappearance. The search for the 84-year-old Guthrie is now in its 12th
day.
A U.S. federal judge is blocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's bid to punish a Democratic senator who caught on American troops to refuse illegal
orders. The judge ruled that Hegseth unlawfully retaliated against Senator Mark Kelly by threatening to demote him. Kelly is a retired Navy captain.
The Justice Department will likely appeal that ruling.
The U.S. energy secretary is in Venezuela getting a look at the country's oil facilities. Chris Wright is one of the highest-ranking U.S. officials
to visit Venezuela in nearly three decades. He met with the country's acting president. And during the tour, President Delcy Rodriguez said
Venezuela welcomes those coming to her country with open arms. Today, Wright told CNN that the business climate in Venezuela is going through a
dramatic change.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS WRIGHT, U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY: The U.S. government is not going to offer physical security or economic security. American businesses and
international businesses, they do business all around the world in all different political and risk environments. Venezuela's no different in
that. It's just it was one of the absolute riskiest, worst business environments there was two months ago. Today, it's meaningfully better. You
know, is it Norway? Of course not. That's going to take time, but it's moving that direction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Stefano Pozzebon attended some of Wright's meetings.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: We're at an oil-producing facility in eastern Venezuela called Petro Independencia, and on Thursday, the
secretary of energy, Chris Wright, is visiting this oil facility together with the acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez.
It's a stunning reversal. Consider that it's been only 40 days since U.S. Delta forces picked up Rodriguez's predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, in the
middle of the night to take him to New York City, and now the secretary of energy is visiting together, side by side, hand in hand almost. They are
travelling on the same van with the acting president.
And the company that is running this facility, Chevron, has been telling us that they believe the potential here could be of up to 300,000 barrels a
day. Currently, they're producing only 40,000 barrels of crude oil a day, but both the secretary and the acting president are telling us that they
hope to overcome the obstacles that are in the way to that goal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POZZEBON: Chevron is telling us that they are producing around 40,000 barrels a day here, but the potential could be up to 300,000 barrels a day.
What do you think is the biggest obstacle that we need to overcome in order to reach that goal?
WRIGHT: Oh, it's just to get the political and economic arrangements as smooth as possible between our countries, but there is no question that
Chevron can ramp this facility, Chevron and PDVSA can ramp this facility, this area to 300,000 barrels a day, no question about it.
[18:35:00]
DELCY RODRIGUEZ, VENEZUELAN ACTING PRESIDENT (through translator): We are working on a very fast-paced agenda to consolidate by national cooperation.
It is what is important for both the United States and Venezuela that our countries, our peoples, benefit from these partnerships. Chevron has been
in Venezuela for over 100 years, and we are doing extraordinary work as the partners that we are, improving production, improving facilities,
infrastructure, maintenance.
This is the way forward. This is the path of cooperation, and it is the agenda for a long-term productive partnership. It's what I mean when I say
that no obstacle or impediment should hinder this productive path that we are on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POZZEBON: The reversal compared to just a couple of months ago and the full rhetorical warfare between Venezuela and the government of Nicolas
Maduro and the United States, and the idea that now the two of them are walking side by side is perhaps a symbol of how quick the transformation in
this country has been so far.
For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Anzoategui, Venezuela.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Mexican Navy ships have arrived in Cuba bringing much-needed aid. The U.S. is squeezing Cuba's oil supply, threatening tariffs on countries
that provide fuel to the island. The fuel shortage is forcing authorities to ration health, transport and other services. Mexico's president is
promising another aid shipment soon. Patrick Oppmann has more from Havana.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Mexican Navy ships have just entered the port of Havana carrying humanitarian aid, hundreds of tons of it. But
it's what they're not carrying that's perhaps more important, which is oil, the flow of oil from traditional allies of Cuba's, Venezuela, Mexico, that
over the years have spent billions of dollars of oil. That has all been cut off under a pressure campaign from the Trump administration.
So, we are seeing the impacts of that every day, less cars on the road, government-run hospitals cutting services, blackouts lasting longer and
longer. Both Canada and the United Kingdom have issued travel advisories among other countries, warning their citizens not to come to Cuba unless
it's absolutely necessary because they will face harsher conditions here on this island.
The U.S. is calling on the Cuban government to open up politically and economically, saying there needs to be a change in the communist-run
government if the flow of oil will start up again. But there's no sign that the Cuban government at this point is buckling under that pressure.
Patrick Ottman, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, still to come, ICE out. Border Czar Tom Homan says immigration officers in Minnesota are being withdrawn after weeks of
protests. We're going to speak to the Minnesota state senator.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:40:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back. A partial U.S. government shutdown is looming after the Senate voted down a bill that would have extended homeland security
funding. Unless there is a last-minute deal, that funding, which includes ICE operations, will run out. And the Department of Homeland Security will
shut down Friday night at midnight. Border Czar Tom Homan now says the ICE surge in Minnesota is coming to a close. The state has become ground zero
in the divide over the administration's immigration crackdown.
A U.S. Senate hearing on immigration today very quickly exploded into multiple clashes between Minnesota state officials and Republicans on
Capitol Hill. One of the most fiery exchanges involved Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Senator Ron Johnson, after Johnson accused
Ellison of contributing to the deaths of Good and Pretti.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): Yes, sit there and smirk. It's sick. It is despicable.
KEITH ELLISON, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Are you asking me for comment, Senator? Because everything you said was untrue. It was a nice theatrical
performance, but it was all lies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator Hassan.
JOHNSON: You disgust me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The acting director of ICE says it's opened more than three dozen investigations into excessive use of force over the past year. Todd Lyons
said 19 investigations are pending. Eighteen have been closed and one has been referred for further action. ICE has been under intense scrutiny after
federal agents killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. We're joining me now is Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed. Thanks so much for your
time.
STATE SEN. ZAYNAB MOHAMED (D-MN): Thank you for having me. It's great to be here with you.
KINKADE: So, you've been very vocal in opposing the federal enforcement surge, leading the ICE out of Minnesota actions. What's your reaction to
the fact that some of these immigration officers are now being withdrawn?
MOHAMED: I'm relieved and people in the city and in this state are feeling a lot of relief today. We've had thousands of agents on the ground, more
ICE agents than we've had cops in our communities. And so, we have a lot of relief. We're feeling good about it.
But we also have to understand that the impacts that they left behind will stay with us for a long time. We've got small businesses that shut down.
We've had so many people who are going to be homeless because of the fact that they can't pay for rent because they can't go to work. And so, the
impacts of the decisions that they have made are going to be here with us. And we are still asking for a thorough and an honest investigation into the
killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
KINKADE: The border czar, Tom Homan, and the administration have described this operation in Minnesota as a success. How would you describe it?
MOHAMED: I would describe it as an absolutely terrible thing to do to our community, but certainly to the people of Minneapolis who've been through a
lot of tragedies. What they have done has not kept us safe. It killed two United States citizens with no investigation. They have not been going
after actual undocumented or the worst of the worst, as they say.
They have just been going after U.S. citizens, terrorizing immigrant communities. And it's left our community feeling really shaken up. And it's
taking a huge impact on our economy here, which is something that the federal government apparently cares about, but certainly not in Minnesota.
I would characterize this search as one that has been absolutely horrible to the people in our city.
KINKADE: I mean, we're just looking at some of the actions of ICE on citizens and immigrants in the city. Can you just explain for us, in terms
of accountability, what you believe is necessary, given that two U.S. citizens were killed by ICE agents? What steps are necessary for both
accountability and also to prevent future tragedies like this?
MOHAMED: Yes. I mean, I think this, you know, to go back to your earlier question, the way I would describe this search has been violent, right? And
so, I would say the first steps, what people in the city and the state are asking for is for there to be a co-investigation from the state as well as
the federal government into the killings of the U.S. citizen people, to the U.S. citizen individuals who have been killed, Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
[18:45:00]
We are also asking for relief, and we're going to try to do that at the state level, and the city will try to do that for our small businesses,
some kind of relief for the people who haven't been working.
But most importantly, the one thing that the federal government can do right now is give this state and the families who have had their loved ones
die a true justice, and a true justice looks like an honest investigation into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. And the only way we can
trust the investigation is if the state's BCA is involved.
KINKADE: Look, we wish you all the very best going forward to you and your community. Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed, thanks for your time.
MOHAMED: Thank you for having me.
KINKADE: A Ukrainian athlete has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics over his helmet. We're going to explain that story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. A Ukrainian skeleton slider is appealing the International Olympic Committee's decision to disqualify him from the
Winter Games. The 27-year-old Olympian wanted to race with a helmet featuring images of Ukrainian athletes who were killed in Russia's war. The
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the decision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The decision of the International Olympic Committee against Vladyslav
Heraskevych, our athlete who simply remembers and honors Ukrainian athletes whose lives were taken by Russian strikes. It's definitely not about peace,
justice or the principles of the Olympic movement. Sports should not be without memory and respect. Ukrainians are already preparing for
competitions in special conditions, in conditions of war. And it is not political to talk about what is really happening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Patrick Snell joins us now live for that and other Olympic news. Good to have you with us. So, you can see that a president there of Ukraine
condemning this disqualification of this Ukrainian for wearing a helmet. Just what are the IOC rules and what's the likely outcome of this appeal?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, I mean, it's those political statements that have certainly attracted attention. But this is something
that Vladyslav Heraskevych feels very strongly about. There's no question about this, Lynda. The IOC president, Kirsten Coventry, met with
Heraskevych on Thursday to try and break the impasse, to try and sort this out. But the Ukrainian standing his ground, refusing to back down, a day of
really high emotion in Italy. Let's listen now to Heraskevych speaking to reporters on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADYSLAV HERASKEVYCH, UKRAINIAN SKELETON RACER: I never wanted this scandal and I believe I'm not the person who create it. So, I believe that
we didn't violate any rules with this helmet. So, in the first place, we shouldn't have any conversations regarding is it allowed or not. And I
believe that also this scandal was and still is very damaging for our Olympic family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[18:50:00]
SNELL: Yes, he is appealing and we'll stay across the very latest, you can be sure of that. Plenty more to come on that story.
Now, in the women's snowboarding on Thursday, a really special moment for South Korean teen Gaon Choi, who's made her own very special piece of
history at the expense of USA superstar Chloe Kim, an incredible achievement for the 17-year-old, who's going to remember this one for a
long time to come. Choi well and truly upstaging Kim. This was in the women's halfpipe final as the U.S. athlete falling short, having to settle
for a silver medal in the end.
But Kim, remember she suffered a dislocated shoulder last month, was watched by her boyfriend, NFL star Myles Garrett and U.S. rapper Snoop
Dogg. Kim had been hoping to become the first snowboarder ever to win three Olympic goals in consecutive games. Nevertheless, she admitted afterwards
how special this medal was given the challenges she's had to overcome ahead of the games.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHLOE KIM, TWO TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: A month ago, I wasn't even sure if I would be here. And so, God, I could get emotional thinking about it,
but I really worked so hard to get here. And so, this medal means so much to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: Yes. She has much to be proud of, no question. An incredible story to bring you is Italian skiing legend Federica Brignone, earning the first
Olympic gold medal of her storied career by winning the women's Super-G on Thursday. And this after the 35-year-old returned to the sport from a
broken leg, Federica really does define courage and resilience. She now becomes the oldest gold medalist, man or woman, in the history of her
sport. And to do it in front of her home fans as well is even more remarkable, less than a year after a really devastating injury that could
have sent her into retirement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEDERICA BRIGNONE, FOUR-TIME OLYMPIC MEDALIST: For 10 months, everybody, even that I didn't know, was asking, are you racing in Milano Cortina? I
don't know. I know I'm not able to walk and I don't know if I'm going to ski ever again. I don't know. In November, I didn't know if I was able to
put the skis again. It was never easy.
So, I was just -- I thought I was lucky to be here. I was -- I wanted to try my best and for sure today, I was really just focused on my skiing and
I had no pressure. I knew that to be there in that podium, I needed to be special.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: Wow. Much to reflect on there. Federica's feet, by the way, particularly more impressive because 17 skiers crashing out or didn't
finish the Super-G, that more than a third of the field or one of them, Team USA's Breezy Johnson, who took home gold in the downhill. So, no more
medal chances for her.
But at the bottom of the Super-G, she still got some silverware. Why? Because her boyfriend, Connor, proposed. He got down on a knee in the snow
and Breezy said, well, she said, yes, an unforgettable games going home with a gold medal and a fiance as well. Congrats to the happy couple,
Lynda.
KINKADE: It doesn't get better than that. A gold medal and a fiance.
SNELL: It's wonderful. Lovely. Lovely moment.
KINKADE: We wish them all the best.
SNELL: We really do.
KINKADE: Patrick, thanks so much. Well, from Italy to China, it is winter sports fever in Beijing. Since the last Winter Olympics there four years
ago, the country's been working hard to shape winter sports into an economic success story. CNN's Mike Valeria reports from Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Winter sports in China absolutely booming, whether you're an Olympian or a beginner like me. Why? Well, it's
the success of the 2022 Winter Olympics here in Beijing, and also a deliberate effort by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to get millions more people
out on the slopes.
VALERIO (voice-over): In a remarkable shift, shredding on China's halfpipes went from niche to nationwide in just a few years. Even in the
subtropical megacity of Shenzhen, China now boasts the world's largest indoor ski resort. In Beijing, coaches are seeing more first timers on the
chairlifts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Yes, there have been more, gradually increasing. Because skiing is now quite supported as a sport.
VALERIO (voice-over): Supported by Xi himself, who said, quote, "Ice and snow are as valuable as gold and silver."
VALERIO: So, Beijing isn't pushing winter sports just for fun. It's turning this into an economic, driver trying to boost domestic spending in
an otherwise slowing economy. All right. Let's go.
VALERIO (voice-over): According to a government report in 2016, consumers spent about 55 billion U.S. dollars on winter tourism in sports across
China. The number has now more than doubled in about a decade to $140 billion.
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: It is crystal clear that when you give an Olympics to a certain country, especially a country that has not
been known for winter sports, that over the next several decades, its interest is going to explode.
VALERIO (voice-over): Universities are now adding trips to the slopes for newcomers to get into the swing of winter sports, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): During the ski season, they usually organize trips every week -- two nights, two days of skiing every
weekend.
VALERIO (voice-over): There's also the fashion.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Both of us are bright snow leopards. Our combination is called tomato scrambled eggs.
[18:55:00]
VALERIO (voice-over): Even cute butt pads for those who know they're going to fall. But beneath all the enthusiasm, some of the facilities built for
the 2022 Olympics have already seemed to fall into disuse, even amid China's winter sports fever. An Olympic legacy and economic policy now an
increasingly popular habit carved across China.
VALERIO: Mike Valerio, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Not a bad assignment. Well, today's Good Brief, raucous pre- Lenten celebrations are kicking off around the world. In Germany, festivities started with the women's carnival. It's a day when ladies take
over the town centers and show men how to party. The next few days will include street parades, floats, and more colorful costumes. It's all part
of the lead up to next week's Ash Wednesday, which is the start of the Christian fasting season of Lent.
Well, thanks so much for your company. I'm Lynda Kinkade in Atlanta. You've been watching "The Brief." Stay with CNN. Much more news coming up, and
I'll see you same time tomorrow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:00:00]
END
