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CNN NEWSROOM

Mexican President Cancels White House Trip; British Prime Minister Set To Meet Trump; Iceland Murder Shocks Nation; Trump Considers 20 percent Mexico To Pay For Border Wall; Trump: We're Fighting "Sneaky, Dirty Rats"; Trump: I Believe Torture Absolutely Works; NAACP Chief: We'll Push Back Against Voter Suppression; Manchester United Reach EFL Cup Final; Barce Cruise in Copa del Rey; Tiger's back on PGA Tour; Trump Pushes Protectionism, "America First"; Trump Withdraws from Trans-Pacific Partnership Deal; Journalists Under Fire. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired January 27, 2017 - 01:00   ET

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


[01:00:11] JOHN VAUSE, CNN NEWSROOM ANCHOR: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles. Ahead this hour, and on day four, he caused a diplomatic rift; Donald Trump insults the President of Mexico with a tweet who then cancels his visit to the White House in a spat over who will pay for the wall on Mexico's border.

Balancing act, the British Prime Minister set to meet the new President. Trying to court a man despised by so many in her own country and across Europe. And murder in the world's most peaceful nation. Iceland, shocked after a young woman was found dead on a beach. Hello everybody, great to have you with us. I'm John Vause. This is NEWSROOM L.A.

Less than a week in office, and U.S. President Donald Trump has sent relations with Mexico plunging in the dispute over who will pay for a wall on their border. President Enrique Pena Nieto, was scheduled to visit the White House next week, but cancelled the meeting after a tweet from Mr. Trump, warning him to stay home unless Mexico was willing to pay for construction of the border wall. Mexican officials were left furious and the dispute now threatens to spark a trade war between the two countries.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The President of Mexico and myself, have agreed to cancel our planned meeting scheduled for next week. Unless, Mexico is going to treat the United States fairly with respect, such a meeting would be fruitless, and I want to go a different route. We have no choice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Leyla Santiago joins us now from Mexico City with new details about how this all, actually went down within the Mexican delegation, which was visiting the White House on Thursday. Leyla?

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, it's sort of fascinating to hear the details coming from the Foreign Minister himself. He describes it as he was in a meeting with top White House officials, when he heard about that tweet from Donald Trump. And by the way, he was discussing the logistics for Mexican President Pena Nieto's visit to D.C., when he got a word of that tweet.

He asked for a break, they went and called the Mexican President himself who then directed them to tell the White House that because of the tweets that this meeting was not a go. And so, he went back into the White House, informed them, and those are words that were just coming out as the Foreign Minister wrapped up his meetings with top White House officials.

VAUSE: Well, Leyla, is there any discussion now within the Mexican government of possible retaliation against the United States? What options do they have?

SANTIAGO: You know the Economic Minister, before he went on that trip to D.C. with that delegations said, if the U.S. tries to make them pay for that wall, they will respond immediately. So, when you talk about possible payment for the wall, or when you talk about a possible 20 percent tax for anything coming from Mexico into the U.S. You may likely see a similar response from Mexico, and one of the things that I was actually just talking to a Mexican Senator who brought up the idea that listen, you put a 20 percent tax on goods coming from Mexico to the U.S. And it is the American consumer who will be paying for that and possibly the wall.

He also pointed out that the U.S. - that a lot of U.S. jobs depend on free trade with Mexico. We're talking about six million jobs that depend on that, and those numbers, by the way, not coming from Mexico those comes straight the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. So, he says, look, if trade slows down in any way it may not be just the consumer that pays for it, it can also be U.S. jobs at stake. John.

VAUSE: And in terms of Domestic policy, it seems the President of Mexico had little room to maneuver. How do most Mexicans now view the relationship with the United States?

SANTIAGO: You know, over the last few weeks as I've been talking to Mexicans about the U.S., about the wall, about the relationship, the words that I heard over and over; humiliation and racism. But now, with the Mexican President making this move, I think it's changing a little bit. I spoke to a family who basically - their face lit up and it seemed like they felt that dignity was restored with this move.

VAUSE: OK, Leyla. Thank you, Leyla Santiago in Mexico City. I appreciate it. Well, for more, I'm showing that here in Los Angeles by Political Analyst, Hernan Molina. Hernan, thanks for coming in.

HERNAN MOLINA, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Thank you.

[01:04:56] VAUSE: This relationship between the United States and Mexico, it goes from bad to worse. And I said it's the direction its heading right now, what do Americans have to lose from all of this? Not just in the economic terms but, I guess, in other areas as well like National Security? MOLINA: Well, absolutely. Not only the fear of terrorism that we are

living every day, because we have to be protected. That's a very long border that we need the cooperation on the other side, so that they don't come into our country; not just undocumented immigrants, but people who want to do harm. The other thing is that, United States and Mexico partner against narcotraffic. So, we - the huge production of drug in south of the border and coming to United States, certainly we need of the Marina, of the Mexico government, and all law enforcement institutions in Mexico. Certainly, I think this is going to create a problem.

VAUSE: And we saw, you know, El Chapo being extradited to the United States with the full cooperation of the Mexican government.

MOLINA: Exactly.

VAUSE: The former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, he said this, "We don't want the ugly American which Trump represents: that imperial gringo that used to invade our country, that used to send the Marines." Is that kind of the view that most Mexicans now have of the Trump administration, or does it extend beyond the Trump administration to average Americans?

MOLINA: Well, I have to say that I lived in Mexico City for two years. So, I know very well how they feel. They do not like the ugly American, but it's not just Mexican people. In general, Latin American people do not like the ugly American, the American that goes - takes whatever they need and run away, and then on top of it, look down on Latin Americans. So certainly, what Trump is doing is not helping to cultivate friendships in Mexico and the rest of Latin America, who is also concerned about what the - a new foreign policy towards Latin America. The biggest neighbor of the United States is being pushed as a policy.

VAUSE: Should the President of Mexico, despite all the animosity, and obviously, all the political implications, should he have kept this meeting? Because at least it would have been a line of communication which is left open.

MOLINA: You know, I don't think it's a matter of should, but could. He has right now popularity wise only 19 percent support, not only because his administration has been tarnished by corruption cases but also because the economy is not doing very well. The peso has - thanks to a little bit about what is happening with Trump - has also tanked.

Going to - has gone to 21, almost 22 pesos per dollar which is causing inflation. Add to that, that when Trump went to Mexico City, and Pena Nieto didn't talk much about the wall, that created a lot of anger against Mexican - the Mexican President from Mexican people who said, you're a wimp.

VAUSE: Yes.

MOLINA: You haven't said anything. You need to defend the national interests. And Mexican, are people who feel very proud about their own heritage, about their own country, and rightly so.

VAUSE: We keep hearing a lot about being offended today, and a lack of respect. The Republican leadership is meeting right now. They reacted to this rift between the United States and Mexico. This is Mitch McConnell the house - leader of the Republicans in the Senate, and Paul Ryan. Listen to what they have to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think the President should tone it down to salvage its relationship with Mexico?

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: I don't have any advice to give to the President about that issue.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you concerned about the relationship with Mexico?

REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I think we'll be fine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Yes, McConnell the leader of the Republicans in the Senate, obviously, didn't want any part of it. And Paul Ryan, leader in the house just seemed to flip it off. It's all going to be fine. I mean, is it going to be fine?

MOLINA: I don't know. I don't think so. I think this is not only going to create a trade war with Mexico, it's potentially sending an alarm to a lot of countries around the world. But Mexico is also a very important for the reasons we just explained, but also because we, is one of our biggest neighbors is part of an immense amount of economic trade that benefits United States. So why doing this? Only for political gain? For political gain to just to please his base? I don't think it's a great idea.

VAUSE: OK. Hernan, thanks for being with us. Appreciate it.

MOLINA: Thank you very much.

VAUSE: Thank you. Want to stay with this topic a little longer. Joining me now; Wendy Greuel, former Los Angeles City Council Woman; and from San Francisco, Hamid Dillon is an RNC National Committee Woman for California and the former Vice Chair of the California Republican Party. Thank you both for being with us. This is how the White House Spokesman, Sean Spicer, explained how the wall with Mexico could be paid for. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[01:09:33] SEAN SPICER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think when you look at the plan that's taking shape now using comprehensive tax reform as a means to tax imports from countries that we have a trade deficit from, like Mexico. We have a - if you tax that 50 percent -- $50 billion at 20 percent of imports which is by the way a practice that 160 other countries do right now. Our country's policy is to tax exports and let imports flow freely and which is ridiculous. But by doing it that way we can do $10 billion a year and easily pay for the wall.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: OK. The administration now says that 20 percent tax on Mexican imports is just one option. But Wendy, wouldn't that tax fall on American consumers? Wouldn't they actually be the ones who end up paying for the wall, not Mexico, as Donald Trump promised?

WENDY GREUEL, FORMER LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL WOMAN: Absolutely. As you heard on many of the clips you showed, not only would the consumer be impacted by this but also businesses who operate in the United States are going to be impacted as well. This has the beginnings of a trade war. And I'm concerned that it's not only going to be with Mexico, but with other countries in this world. So, I think we have a lot to be worried about. And the fact is, that they've been talking about this wall for a long time about how they're going to pay it, and it was going to be Mexico or other options. They say now, Oops! We really didn't mean the 20 percent, that was just one option. Says, there're still kind of an amateur hour.

VAUSE: And having saying with that, the Republican said that Lindsey Graham, he tweeted this out, "Simply put, any proposed policy proposal which drives up costs of Corona, tequila or margaritas is a big time bad idea. Mucho Sad." But, you know, the reality is that 20 percent tax could apply to a lot more items than just those ones that Lindsey Graham mentioned. And that will hit lower and middle come - middle income owners the most, won't it?

HAMID DILLON, RNC NATIONAL COMMITTEE WOMAN FOR CALIFORNIA AND THE FORMER VICE CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY: Well, I mean, that's true but let's stick to the fact that it's one of many options - other options that have been thrown out there in the past, during the campaign have been taxing the remittances that Mexican nationals send back to Mexico. I mean, there're other ways that this can be done. And it is true that the tariff concept is actually pretty unpopular with a lot of Republican lawmakers. So, I think the actually payment mechanism is something that has to be worked out with Congress.

VAUSE: OK. And yes, as you say, a lot of Republicans are opposed to any kind of cross-border tax. President Trump also talked about ISIS just a few hours ago, on very blunt terms it was on Fox News. This is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We have evil that lurks around the corner without the uniforms. Ours is harder. Because the people that we're going against, they don't wear uniforms. They are sneaky, dirty rats, and they blow people up in a shopping center, and they blow people up in a church. These are bad people.

(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: This comes as the President says he wants to bring back

torture. He actually used the word "torture". Hamid, again, is this another issue which the President could face opposition from Republicans?

DILLON: Well, first of all, I agree with 100 percent about President said, about ISIS. With regard to torture, you're leaving out the fact that he said in that interview that he's going to follow the law and he's going to follow the directives of his Defense Secretary, General Mattis, who says, you know, the law is we're not going the torture people. And so, that is what it is. I mean, he's entitled to his opinion and certainly there are some people in the Intelligence Community, who say that there have been incidences where torture has worked. Obviously, that's a controversial issue, and the law is clear on that. So, I don't see any issue.

VAUSE: Wendy, is there some concern that the President seems to continue to bring up the issue of torture?

GREUEL: I think when you're a President of the United States, and you say torture is OK in my book. Whether your Generals believe that or not, when you have John McCain saying, "I know first-hand, torture does not work, and secondly, that we in the United States of America our values and morals are better than that." That's a message that is concerning if the President is saying I think torture is OK, but I'm going to let the others, you know, make that decision. I think the message has to be that not only is it is a law, but I don't believe it's an ethical and moral way to proceed.

VAUSE: OK. The other issue too, the President says he will sign an executive order in the coming days for an investigation into voter fraud. But, we're hearing from the NAACP that it will fight that move. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CORNELL WILLIAM BROOKS, NAACP PRESIDENT AND CEO: We will push back. We have in the course of this campaign in the context of - in terms of ten months had no less than ten court victories against voter suppression. So, let's be clear about this, in terms of the facts, the President has claimed millions of fraudulent ballots cast. Here's what we know, the only place you will find millions of fraudulent ballots are right beside that fake birth certificate for Barack Obama inside the imagination of President Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Based on the Rights group say, that this is a pretext to voter suppression but, Wendy, to you, why not allow this investigation to go forward and have it be done for once and for all.

[01:14:40] GREUEL: Well, I think that, you know, the fact is there's no facts - no alternative facts even. Let's say, that there was, individuals who were dead, who were voting, or double - you know, voting in different states; whatever the case maybe. When you have real facts to say, this has occurred? Then, it's appropriate for an investigation. And I think as the days come on, you know, look, maybe that investigation will prove to everyone that in fact there wasn't any kind of, you know, cheating going so to speak in that. But I can completely understand where these Civil Rights groups are going that this is sometimes used as a tactic to stop people from having access and that's an important process that we have to look forward.

VAUSE: And so, Hamid, the question to you is why investigate something which just really doesn't exist in any significant way?

DILLON: Well, you're prejudging the outcome of the investigation. The fact of the matter is actually contrary to what Wendy just said. There was a person prosecuted in Virginia. Just to name one example in the last election, for voting 17 times including the votes of dead people. So it actually does exist. It is being prosecuted and there are numerous other instances that have been reported by people who look at it critically. So, conflating the idea of voter suppression, which obviously is illegal and undesirable with investigating voter fraud, is a convenient fund-raising tactic for some Liberal Civil Rights groups. But it actually doesn't go to the heart of the issue. And I personally see no harm in, as you said, doing an investigation that puts the matter to rest, so that we can all be ensured that the sanctity of the vote is respected. It's the most important right for a citizen, and I think it should be taken very seriously.

VAUSE: OK. One person in Virginia, 4,999,999 million to go. Hamid, thank you for being with us. Wendy also, I appreciate your time. Thank you both.

GREUEL: Thank you, John.

VAUSE: We'll take a short break here. When we come back, Britain's Prime Minister trying to strike a delicate balance on trade. What she'll be asking for during her upcoming meeting with president Trump.

Also, the world watches anxiously as Mr. Trump makes good on top of his very controversial campaign promises.

(COMMEERCIAL BREAK)

RHIANNON JONES, CNN INTERNATIONAL WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: I'm Rhiannon Jones with your CNN World Sport Headlines. Manchester United are through to the League Cup Final after beating Hull City, 3-2 on aggregate. Hull were looking to overturn a 2-nil deficit going into the game and it started well for the hosts with Tom Huddlestone putting the fight ahead from the penalty scores. But Paul Pogba levelled the match mid-way through the second half to over secure United's ticket to the final despite late goal from Hull. United will face Southampton in the final on February the 26th.

To Spain where Copa del Rey holders. Barcelona are through to the semifinals after beating real Sociedad, 5-2 on Thursday. Barce had a one nil advantage coming into the second late. 23-year-old Denis Suarez put the Catalans ahead early and then would cap off a four-goal second half for a brace on the afternoon. Barcelona through 6-2 on aggregate. After 17 months, Tiger Woods return to the PGA Tour. The 14-time

Major Champ, again he stretched a four-tournaments in a 5-week span on Thursday, at the Farmer Insurance Open, playing in a group with world number one Jason day and reigning PGA Tour player of the year, Dustin Johnson. Tiger with an up and down first round but pitched back to back birdies followed by a string of bogeys. Clearly, it will take time for him to find his group. That's a look at your sports headlines. I'm Rhiannon Jones from London.

[01:20:37] VAUSE: The new Trump Administration is proving to be more chaotic and unpredictable than many had unexpected, causing concern and anxiety in capitals around the world. Long standing certainties on U.S. Foreign Policy seem to no longer apply. Nic Robertson, takes a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

TRUMP: America first.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A new world order, Presidential Decrees cascading from President Trump's pen. A border wall with Mexico, kicking off the world's first leadership twitter spat. Mexico's President, announcing on a video, they won't pay. Trump firing back on twitter that it would be better to cancel the upcoming meeting. President Pena Nieto tweets back, "I will not attend the meeting scheduled for next Tuesday with the POTUS." Another decree, cutting the Trans-Pacific partnership adrift. The other 11 member nations and the rest of the world, now figuring out what it means for them.

SIGMAR GABRIEL, GERMAN VICE CHANCELLOR (through translator): We must not underestimate what he has in store. He will lead a Protectionist, Nationalistic Program. NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, could be next. And tighter immigration controls for some Muslims.

ROBERTSON: Then Israel, total defrost of that White House relationship. Already, Israel announcing plans to expand settlements. America's regional allies scrambling to respond. President Trump making good on some of candidate Trump's promises.

SPICER: I think areas in the south china sea that are part of international waters and international territories, I think the U.S. is going to make sure that we protect our interests there. So --

ROBERTSON: His spokesman tough on China drawing swift Chinese condemnation.

HUA CHUNYING, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY, SPOKESWOMAN: The United States is not a party to the South China Sea issue. We urge the United States to honor its commitments.

ROBERTSON: Amidst all this controversy, the first world leader to visit president Trump.

THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Time and again, it is the relationship between us that has defined the modern world.

ROBERTSON: British Prime Minister Theresa May, trading on historic U.S. - U.K. bonds to boost business between the two nations. But pushed off message by Trump's latest comments, torture may be OK. Defending herself before she left the UK.

MAY: But we have a very clear position on torture. We do not sanction torture, we do not get involved with that and that will continue to be our position.

ROBERTSON: The British leader also facing European push back on her visit, concerns Trump is using Britain to divide Europe. Reality is Trump's presidency is in its infancy. The question British and others around the world are trying to figure out is will America's new President go it alone or will it involve into something global diplomats can more readily fall in line with? Nic Robertson, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Well for more on Theresa May's meeting with Donald Trump in the coming hours, Max Foster joins us now live from London. So Max, this things we - the meeting ahead with British Prime Minister, she has to court Donald Trump. He only usually responds to flattery but he is a leader loathed by so many in Britain and Europe. She may not want to get too close.

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORREPSONDENT: And she has got huge differences with him. I mean, yesterday, all the talk was about torture and his comments on torture, and how she actually sees the redline on torture. And actually, that underpins that special relationship, this intelligent sharing. So if there is this movement towards waterboarding for example, then Britain won't be able to intelligence share with the United States. So, there are so many big issues at stake here and Nic was just talking there about the European issue. I mean, the Germans, the French, they are going to be looking in on this very closely. Because Donald Trump is a self-applaud protectionist. There is this view in Brussels that -- he doesn't want to break up the European Union.

Is Theresa May helping that, facilitating that by signing a bilateral trade deal with the United States? I mean, there are so many pitfalls for her in this meeting but she is going into it as someone who's strong, and an independent leader. She even said yesterday that, you know, opposites attract on the character issue. She is such a different character with Donald Trump. There's a lot of pressure on her going into this meeting. It is the first meeting with a Foreign Leader. And She's got to find some way of negotiating that knowing, that he needs to define himself in this meeting as well.

[01:25:03] VAUSE: Yes. You mentioned that address she gave to the Republican Party gathering in Philadelphia. She went through of Asians during her speech. And part of it, she was urging the United States not to turn away from International Cooperation. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAY: To deal with the threats of the modern world, we need to rebuild confidence in the institution institutions upon which we all rely. In part that means, multi-national institutions. Because we know that so many of the threats we face today; global terrorism, climate change, organized crime, unprecedented mass movements of people, do not respect national borders. So, we must turn towards those multinational institutions like the U.N. and NATO that encourage international cooperation and partnership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: That's an indication of what she hopes to achieve with Donald Trump. It could be a tall order especially when it comes to something like NATO.

FOSTER: There's a huge concern here in Europe about NATO and that it won't be funded properly. Take Scandinavia, take Eastern Europe. Scandinavia is a, you know, a region very close to the United Kingdom and they are absolutely concerned that Russia's encroaching on their air space, on their land even. And NATO is the big protector there even to non-NATO members of the Scandinavia. So she has to support NATO. She has to support the European Union. She going to go to negotiations with the European Union. She wants a trade deal ultimately with the European Union and we're seeing Donald Trump talk against these groupings, really, of any sort of country. You know, whether it's NATO, whether it's trade deals. So, she's got to somehow negotiate that. She's going to have to -- there's been a lot of work, I know there's been a lot of work behind the scenes on setting the agenda for today's meeting. They're going to have to just focus on the things that they do have in common and the relationship that the United Kingdom historically has with the United States.

The concern though behind the scenes, obviously, is that he does shoot from the hip and he says things which aren't expected and Theresa May really doesn't work like that. She's very calculated, she plans everything that she says and if something sort of, out of the blue that turns up in that press conference, she's going to struggle with it but she's going to be pretty tough on it as well. Big test for her. can she be tough with Donald Trump?

VAUSE: And this meeting isn't all one sided, though. If Donald Trump can't strike a friendly relationship with Britain, it doesn't bode well for relationships with other countries unless you're Russia. Some have said that this meeting for Donald Trump is kind of like diplomacy with training wheels.

FOSTER: Well, this is the big test today, isn't it? It's not really about Theresa May even. It's about Donald Trump's first outing and sharing the limelight, sharing the cameras with another foreign leader. So, it's going to be very interesting to see how he handles that particularly from the European perspective where other leaders, you know, away from Theresa May, have actually been standing back and sort of taking their time to assess how they're going to deal with Donald Trump. So, it's going to be a test of that. And the way she handles it, will be, you know, a test of her in the

United Kingdom, in Europe and also on the world stage. It's going to be fascinating to see. But it's she can be pretty tough, Theresa May. And she's going to have to sort of prove that today, if anything comes up which compromises her principles.

VAUSE: So, a reputation which she proudly embraces of being a difficult woman, I think, which she may need in the coming hours. Max, thank you. Max Foster live in London.

We'll take a short break here on NEWSROOM L.A. when we come back, journalists covering the U.S. inauguration have been charged with rioting while doing their jobs. What it means for reporters trying to cover this new Trump Administration.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:32:02] VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause with the headlines this hour.

(HEADLINES)

VAUSE: The worst country in the world right now to be a reporter is Turkey. Since a failed coup attempt last year, the government has arrested more than 100 reporters. At least 100 news outlets have been closed. One reporter tweeted this photo waiting to be arrested, typical day in Turkey.

That crackdown pushed China from the number-one position. It is not hardly surprising, but it's not like the countries have enshrined the freedom of press like it is in the United States.

During the presidential inauguration, last Friday in Washington, there was an outbreak of violence. A number of buildings were damaged and a limo was set on fire. It's the type of news which would normally be routine to cover. But at least six reporters who were there are now sitting in jail, charged with felony rioting, and they're facing 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine if convicted.

For more on this, Courtney Radsch, from the Committee to Protect Journalists, joins us from Washington.

So, Courtney, what concern do you have for the reporters who are in jail for doing their jobs?

COURTNEY RADSCH, COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS: We are concerned that reporters are being rounded up and charged with felony crime for doing their jobs. This is not something we are used to seeing in the United States. Sadly, during times of protest, it is too common.

VAUSE: President Trump has gone out of his way to vilify the media. Is that adding to a bigger toxic environment right now for reporters in the United States?

RADSCH: It is definitely having a chilling effect. It is not good for press freedom, obviously. It is creating an environment in which being a journalist has become a much more challenging profession and I think it's creating a chilling effect on them. Also, when you couple that with the online trolling they experience, you see that journalists who are on the front lines are having to put themselves at risk to cover what is going on.

[01:35:05] VAUSE: The White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon the former CEO of "Breitbart," told "The New York Times" this, "The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut for a while."

They do not understand why Donald Trump is the president of the United States. There is an element of friction between the administration and the reporters who cover it but has there ever been this level of hostility?

RADSCH: I'm not aware of this level of hostility towards the press in terms of the public statements and rhetoric. No administration is perfect and we have seen in other administrations you know, crackdowns on leakers and crackdowns on the press and journalists being jailed. But this level of vitriol, we have seen it in Egypt and elsewhere around the world when the leaders create this negative environment for the press it detracts from press freedom and has a chilling effect. It can lead to self-censorship and none of it is good for democracy.

VAUSE: Do you see this as deliberate by the Trump administration?

RADSCH: It's difficult to say. I say it does appear par for the course. We saw this heated rhetoric during the campaign. There were journalists attacked during the campaign both at rallies as well as online. This is continuing and seems to be par for the course.

VAUSE: The public have a low opinion of journalists right now, especially the United States. Many are cheer leading this aggressive stand being taken by the Trump administration.

RADSCH: It's sad to see that. I don't think people realize that each and every byline and story in their daily e-mail blasts or on TV every day has a person behind it just try dog their job, who are on the front lines taking great risks sometimes to bring them the news. Last year, we saw 49 journalists killed. Last year, there were a record number of journalists jailed around the world. And we also see journalists trying to bring the news here in the U.S. have faced vicious attacks online. They've been docked, where their personal information has been put out, and we heard reports from some journalists who have had to buy guns for self-protection, journalist who have had to go off social media because they didn't want to deal with the attacks. And that has a psychological and emotional toll and impacts on our ability to get information and the free flow of information in our society.

VAUSE: It is a difficult time to be a reporter, I guess, in so many parts of the world.

Courtney, thanks for being with us.

RADSCH: My pleasure.

VAUSE: There are a few countries in the world safer than Iceland, which is why the apparent murder of a young woman found dead on the beach has sparked a wave of shock and grief.

Lynda Kinkade has more on the killing that has captivated a nation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LYNDA KINKAE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Murder in Iceland people in one of the world's safest countries are in shock after a young woman is found brutally killed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's on everybody's minds.

KINKADE: The 20-year-old went missing two weeks ago, after she spent a night out with friends. She was last seen on police surveillance video walking in downtown Reykjavik.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At a certain point, she disappears from the cameras.

KINKADE: It was the last time anyone would see her alive. It led to the largest missing persons search in Iceland's history with hundreds of volunteers joining the hunt.

Police appealed to the public for help releasing photos of a red Kia spotted nearby at the time of her disappearance. Within days, investigators found the missing woman's shoes, left on a dock in a suburb just outside the capital.

Then, a week after she disappeared, her body was discovered on a remote beach to the south. Police traced the red Kia to the same dock where they found the shoes. Investigators say the victim's blood was found inside the car and it was rented by two sailors from a Greenland fishing trawler. The ship was docked nearby at the time of the murder but it has left port headed out to Greenland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The police sent out a helicopter with a kind of a SWAT team with special forces to the trawler. The Special Forces boarded the trawler and took over control and arrested the men.

KINKADE: The two suspects are in custody but police are saying little else about the case.

[01:40:08] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why this happened and how exactly this happened remains a mystery.

KINKADE: Murders are almost unheard of in Iceland. Some years there are none.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It has gripped the nation. This is a small country with only 330,000 people and violent crimes like this are extremely rare.

KINKADE: Thousands are expected to attend a memorial service for the woman this weekend.

Lynda Kinkade, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Still to come here, a real-life twist to a classic bond character. How portrayals of the spy master "Q" got one very big detail wrong.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: The political process of taking the United Kingdom out of the E.U. is picking up steam, which means the debate grows louder and more contentious.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With Prime Minister Theresa May off to the White House in a crucial visit for an increasingly important ally, the official task of Britain's force from the E.U. falls on parliament. Legislation introduced Thursday that will trigger Article 50 will now be debated. The majority of the lawmakers say they will back the bill and the will of the people, but a rebellion could be brewing.

UNIDENTFIFIED BRITISH M.P.: My idea is that Brexit will make my constituents poorer and politics meaner in Britain.

SOARES: He says there are as many as 30 labor M.P.s doing the same.

(SHOUTING)

SOARES: Fiery rhetoric and potential for revolt will dominate parliament for the next few weeks.

UNIDENTIFIED BRITISH M.P.: That is the real agenda of the Tory Party.

THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: As usual, with Labour, the right hand's not talking to the far left.

SOARES: With M.P.s calling for amendments to the bill. But the conservatives believe they will have the majority and still meet their march deadline.

OWEN PATERSON, CONVERSATIVE M.P.: We want to crack on with this. The one thing in this whole process that can be damaged the uncertainty.

[01:45:13] SOARES: The M.P.s will examine a white paper which sets out the position of the government for leaving the European Union. No word yet though as to when they'll receive it.

(on camera): The official visit to Washington will be a balancing act for Prime Minister Theresa May, who must strike the right tone state side without alienating her E.U. partners at home.

Isa Soares, CNN, London. (END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: The U.K. economy has grown since the Brexit vote last June. The fourth quarter GDP grew .6 percent compared to the previous quarter. And retail spending fell slightly in December, typically, a strong month for sales.

"Q" has been a constant in the James Bond series for decades. And for that time, the character with the best gadgets and flashy cars has been a nerdy bookish man. But the head of British intelligence says the real life "Q" is quite the opposite.

Brian Todd has details.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I'm the new quarter master.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You must be joking.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Why, because I'm not wearing a lab coat?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the young I.T. genius, the spy master who steers James Bond through equipment challenges.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Fully bullet proof, a few tricks up his sleeve.

TODD: Or the gadget guru in the older films, constantly admonishing 007.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Bring that car back --

TODD: The character "Q," for quarter master, has been a bond legend for more than 50 years. Who can forget the underwater car or exploding pen?

But the image of "Q" as a bookish, Oxford educated gentleman is shattered. The real head of Britain's overseas intelligence agency, MI6, reveals, "I'm pleased to report that the real life "Q" is a woman. Her actual identity is a secret.

JOHNNA AMANDEZ (ph), FORMER CIA: Glass ceilings are being broken. We saw that at the CIA when I was there.

TODD: Johnna Amendez (ph) worked in the CIA's version of Britain's and specialized in disguises. She gave me a convincing looking bruise to show her expertise. Her husband plays a CIA agent. She is thrilled that "Q" is a woman.

TODD (on camera): What sensibilities does she bring that a male "Q" would not bring to spy craft?

AMENDEZ (ph): An empathy and ability to communicate with people. A softness and a natural ability to work with people. A lot of the male leaders in these organizations seem to lack. TODD (voice-over): As far as we know, a women hasn't reached the top

of MI6, other than Dame Judy Dench's role in the Bond films.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Are you going to complain the whole way?

DAME JUDY DENCH, ACTRESS: Oh, go on then, eject me. See if I care.

TODD: The ejector seat, bond's go-to gadget inside the Aston Martin.

(MUSIC)

(SHOUTING)

VINCE HOTTEN (ph), CURATOR, INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSIUM: This is the Aston Martin DB5, the car from the movie.

TODD: Vince Hotten (ph) is the curator at the International Spy Museum. He showed us gadgets "Q"'s team might have used.

HOTTEN (ph) This wrist watch. The idea behind this is you can have a secret way to take photographs. Making a coin hollowed out to put a microchip or small document.

TODD: But as for the spy gadgets in the movies.

HOTTEN (ph): If you need an ejector seat or in a shootout or car chase in a foreign country things have gone really, really badly. Your operation is blown.

TODD (on camera): Rather than machine guns and ejector seats, Vince Hotten (ph) says what "Q" and her team really spend a lot of time doing is creating things like fake I.D.s, fake documents, even fake receipts to show that an agent may have shopped at a Staples in a given city, creating the tools that the agents need to operate and stay alive.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[01:49:22] VAUSE: Still to come here, friendly greetings or passive aggressive insults? We'll take a whiz at bad lip reading on what Trump and Obama were saying to each other on Inauguration Day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: Just what did President Trump and President Obama say to each other at the inauguration? We haven't got a clue but the creator of the video series Bad Lip Reading made up some ideas.

Here's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In these days of alternative facts, why not a little alternative dialogue. ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR: I pretend to like you but I hate you.

UNIDENTIFIED COMEDIAN: You're a creep.

BALDWIN: I think you're old like dirt.

MOOS: No point in straining your ears to hear what they're really saying when the latest Bad Lip Reading inauguration video is loud and clear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Surprise. I have some pretzels for you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to be me, don't you?

MOOS: You probably thought Donald Trump was nodding hello. But no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help, I'm going to barf.

MOOS: The producer who gives events the BLR treatment wants to remain anonymous.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can be a funny Wiener, can't you?

MOOS: He has been putting nonsensical words in people's mouths for six years. He told "Rolling Stone" his mom was deaf and he would sit around at night watching TV with the sound off trying to pick up the skill of lip reading.

(on camera): Read my lips. There can be some obscure references in a bad lip reading video.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Haduken. Haduken to your face.

MOOS: Haduken is a fight move familiar to video gamers.

And speaking of moves.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now raise your shrunken hand and repeat after me.

MOOS: The bad lip reading guy isn't the only one re-imagining the inauguration.

Melania smiled and dropped the smile.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That God will bless.

[01:55:08] MOOS: When he turned his back, it inspired the #freemelania and suggestions that the Tiffany's box contained more than a gift.

For the first dance, Bad Lip Reading dispensed with the music.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what I want later? A hamburger and Milk Duds and not fish.

MOOS: In real life, President Donald Trump was mouthing "My Way," but it could have been his way to say --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I win.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just remember who brought you here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, my prince.

MOOS: -- New York.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause. Stay with us. I'll be back with a lot more news after a short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:10] VAUSE: This is CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles.

Ahead this hour ---

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