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New York Attorney General Sues Trump And His Children; Justice Department Slams Comey Over Clinton Email Probe; Hillary Clinton Tweets "But My E-mails"; White House: Trump's Salute Was "Common Courtesy"; Heavy Monsoons Threaten 200,000 Refugees In Bangladesh; Banksy Artwork Stolen; Thirty Seconds to Mars' Jared Leto Discusses New Song Focused on Mental Health Issues; 2018 FIFA World Cup Continues; Windy Conditions at the U.S. Open. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired June 15, 2018 - 00:00   ET

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


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[00:00:10]

CYRIL VANIER, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Suing the Trumps, President Trump unloads as the New York attorney general sues him and his three oldest kids and tries to dismantle the Trump Foundation.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims forced from their homes in Myanmar, now being battered by deadly monsoons. We'll be live in Bangladesh about that.

Plus, music that makes a difference. Jared Leto will join us later on. His new song offering help and hope to those suffering from mental illness.

Live from the CNN Center here in Atlanta, I'm Cyril Vanier. It's great to have you with us.

So, two very big political stories for us today. The U.S. Justice Department has concluded now its internal investigation of then FBI Director James Comey's handling of the Clinton e-mail probe. I'll tell what you they found in just a moment.

But first, there is also this, an explosive lawsuit by the state of New York alleging that U.S. President Donald Trump used the Trump Foundation, that's his charity, to illegally help his presidential campaign and his businesses.

Never one to back away from a fight, the president tweeted that he won't settle this, quote, "ridiculous case" that's been hanging around for more than two years.

CNN's Athena Jones breaks it down.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there. This latest lawsuit stems from an investigation that began in June of 2016 so during the presidential campaign. New York's Attorney General Barbara Underwood has released a long list of documents as evidence in this case including a memo from Trump personally authorizing an improper payment from his foundation.

What we're seeing over and or again is that courts and in this case New York's chief legal officer are stressing that no one, including the president, is above the law.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONES (voice-over): Tonight, New York's attorney general is suing the president, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, and three of his adult children, Don Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, alleging they broke state and federal laws, part of a pattern of persistent illegal conduct over more than a decade.

The petition filed Thursday says the Trumps and the foundation engaged in extensive unlawful political coordination with the Trump presidential campaign. Repeated and willful self-dealing transactions to benefit the president's personal and business interests and violated basic legal obligations for nonprofits with a board of directors that have not met in more than 15 years with Trump alone making all decisions.

Attorney General Barbara Underwood in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour promising to hold the foundation and the Trumps accountable.

BARBARA UNDERWOOD, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: There's no reason why a foundation owned and operated by a sitting president should be exempt from the laws that we routinely apply to other foundations.

JONES: The petition alleges the foundation raised more than $2.8 million, quote, "to influence the 2016 presidential election at the direction and under the control of senior leadership of the Trump presidential campaign. That money was raised at a January 2016 fundraiser Trump held in Iowa, instead of joining his other GOP contenders on the Fox News debate stage.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We raised over $5 million in one day.

JONES: The lawsuit alleges Trump signed a false filing after the event saying it was held to raise money for veteran's organization. When quote, "in reality the fundraiser was a Trump campaign event in which the foundation participated."

The campaign then broke federal and state law by dictating the timing, amounts, and the recipients of the foundation's grants including at least five $100,000 grants made to groups in Iowa in the days immediately before the Iowa caucuses.

Underwood released supporting evidence including e-mails from then campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, directing the funds. The petition also alleges the president views the foundation to promote its hotels and other businesses to buy personal items like this $10,000 painting of himself displayed at his Trump National Doral Golf Resort. And to settle his legal obligations including a $100,000 payment to settle legal claims against his Mar-a-Lago club. The petition alleges this document is Trump personally authorizing that payment.

President Trump is slamming the suit, blasting the previous attorney general and vowing, "I won't settle this case." His son, Don Jr., questioning the timing of the case.

DONALD TRUMP JR., PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SON: Timing couldn't be more coincidental.

JONES: Underwood's response?

UNDERWOOD: This is a straightforward case of violation of the laws governing charitable foundations and nonprofit corporations in New York. We brought this case when we were confident that we had the evidence and the legal arguments to back it up.

JONES: For its part, the foundation says the lawsuit is politics at its very worst. The foundation has donated over $19 million to worthy charitable cause. More than it even received. The president himself, or through his companies has contributed more than $8 million.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JONES: Now this is a civil case. We're not talking about prison time of any sort here.

[00:05:00]

However, the attorney general did send referral letters to the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Election Commission identifying possible violations of federal law for further investigation and legal action. So, the president could end up facing even more legal jeopardy here. Back to you.

VANIER: Joining me now from Los Angeles political analyst, Bill Schneider, and Attorney E. Randel Schoenberg. Thank very much to both of you, Gentlemen, for being with us. Bill, let's start with you. Donald Trump, the president, the Trump Foundation plus the White House all say this is politically motivated. Do you think it is?

BILL SCHNEIDER, POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, a lot of this is involved in politics, of course. The foundation conducted activities right in the heart of the 2016 campaign. So that's bound to raise questions about what the foundation was doing.

The veterans benefits in of all places Iowa, the very night that Trump was supposed to be part of a Republican debate or on Fox News, that was very suspicious activity. And it appears from the investigation that a lot of this money was used for very, very cautiously motivated political activities to help the Trump campaign. So, I think there is justification for arguing that.

VANIER: The lawsuit says, in fact, that Donald Trump and his campaign have to return those nearly $3 million raised at that point because they were raised, says the lawsuit, under the guise of charity but it was actually politics. Randel, the attorney general addressed the criticism that this might be politically motivated. This is what she said --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNDERWOOD: I'm unaware of a case in which the foundation involved was run by a sitting president. But there's no reason why a foundation owned and operated by a sitting president should be exempt from the laws that we routinely apply to other foundations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VANIER: So, in other words, she says she is just applying the letter of the law. What say you?

E. RANDEL SCHOENBERG, ATTORNEY: Well, I think it's certainly unusual to have the attorney general go after a private foundation like Trump's Foundation. On the other hand, Trump's Foundation really did appear quite often in the news and as you just said, it was used for political purposes.

So, it really brought attention to itself. I think there was even an allegation during the campaign that he had -- he said accidentally sent a campaign contribution to a Florida politician from his charitable contribution -- foundation.

And only when it was pointed out by the press did rectify that mistake. But apparently from what I heard 4om the lawsuit, there were repeated violations of that type and the idea was that this foundation was really being used as his private checkbook in a way to do both political and nonpolitical contributions, and also person aggrandizement.

VANIER: When you bring -- as an attorney general, when you bring a case against a sitting president, how does that affect the way you work? I mean, I don't think anybody would believe that you bring a lawsuit against the president the same way you bring a lawsuit against any other private citizen.

SCHOENBERG: Well, I think unfortunately lawsuits go slowly, right? This is a civil lawsuit. It's not criminal lawsuit. So, I don't think the attorney general in New York is anticipating extraordinary problems. The attorney general brings lawsuits like this all the time.

They bring consumer protection lawsuits and although foundation lawsuits are unusual, civil lawsuits brought by attorneys general are routine and well within their scope of their activities. So, I don't think this is going to be extraordinarily difficult.

Obviously, they'll go into some sort of discovery mode initially and that can take a year, two years sometimes. There was a similar lawsuit previously against Trump for his Trump University. It was ultimately settled after the election. VANIER: By the way, you said something very interesting. Not a criminal lawsuit, a civil lawsuit. So, nobody risks going to jail for any of this. Bill, I want to point out and read the president's tweets.

"The sleazy New York Democrats and their now disgraced and run out of town attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, are doing everything they can to sue me on a foundation that took in $18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than they took in, upwards of $19 million. I won't settle this case.

Schneiderman who ran the Clinton campaign in New York never had the guts to bring this ridiculous case which lingered in their office for almost two years. Now he resigned his office in disgrace and his disciples brought it when we wouldn't settle."

[00:10:06]

Look, I'm wondering what about this argument that essentially the Trumps and the Trump Foundation did a good deed by giving a lot of money to charity and they shouldn't be pushed for that.

SCHNEIDER: Well, they certainly did give some money to charity. But a lot of it appears to have been tied, the motivation, the timing is very suspect. Remember this case started about two years ago. It was started by a Democratic attorney general who has always been a critic of Donald Trump.

And the current attorney general who succeed him is also a Democrat, but it's a longstanding case. There appears to be a lot of irregularities and unusual patterns like the makeup of the board of directors, which was Trump children.

The fact that it didn't meet for a long time. The fact that a lot of the people in the Trump campaign or some of the people running the Trump campaign requested donations be made at politically opportune moments. The difference it makes with the president in office is very simple. Everything, and I mean everything about this case instantly becomes political.

VANIER: All right. I have more questions for you on this topic, especially what the political fallout will be, but we'll keep those the next hour.

Because I want to bring in the other political story we're following, the Justice Department has now published its report on James Comey's handling of the Clinton e-mail probe during the last presidential campaign.

Now remember, at the time James Comey made headlines, he was at the center of the political storm, not once but twice. First, when he announced during the campaign that he would not bring criminal charges against Clinton. Essentially, he seemed to be clearing her.

Then when he announced just days before the actual election that he was reopening the investigation. The inspector general says he found no evidence that Comey was biased or politically motivated. But in just about every regard, the 500-page document takes Comey to task for poor judgment and improper procedure.

For example, it also says Comey was insubordinate for keeping his boss, the U.S. attorney general at that time, Loretta Lynch, out of the loop before making that announcement.

Perhaps most ironic the revelation that James Comey also sometimes used a private e-mail account for official FBI business. Now the reaction by Hillary Clinton on her Twitter account, three words, "But my e-mails."

All right. Back to our panel, political analyst, Bill Schneider and Attorney E. Randel Schoenberg. You have an interest in this because you filed a lawsuit when all this was happening to get the courts to unseal the search warrant that gave FBI agents access to the Clinton e-mails. So, you were involved in this at the time. Randel, the internal investigation says there was no political bias in Comey's decisions. How does that sit with you?

SCHOENBERG: I think that's how I see it also. There were a lot mistakes made all the way through this. I look at the Clinton e-mail investigation like a hot potato. And each time it landed in someone's lap, they wanted to throw it into another person's lap.

And ultimately, the potato would rise up into Comey's lap. If he worked in a large organization any type of large organization, you know, the person that sometimes he's a decision maker but he's not always the most informed about what's been going on.

And I think that is actually what happened in this case. This was a hot potato that landed in Comey's lap. He threw it back out and made split decision that's were ally against DOJ policy.

And ultimately, the real loser in this was Hillary Clinton. I think if you look at 500-page report as I did today, really, almost every stage the mistakes that were made went to the benefit of Donald Trump and against Hillary Clinton.

That includes the decision in July and the announcement. Both saying they concluded already in early May that there was not going to be a criminal prosecution, but at the same time criticizing Hillary Clinton really unfairly for her practices and very much against DOJ policy.

And then again in October, at the end of October, just days before the election coming out and not only seeking a search warrant against a candidate for office just ten days before the election but also then publicizing that search warrant by sending a letter to Congress about it. Both of those actions are just unprecedented.

VANIER: We can say -- we saw reactions from various members of the Clinton campaign including that tweet from Hillary Clinton herself. They are fuming. They are distraught and fuming. Bill, Candidate Trump famously campaigned on chance of lock her up, lock up Hillary Clinton. This internal report by the Department of Justice seems to validate the fact there was nothing to lock Hillary Clinton up for. SCHNEIDER: Well, that's true. It doesn't really charge her with anything.

[00:15:04]

And says that the FBI didn't find any -- there was no political reason for the FBI to come up with the conclusions it did, although, highly critical of James Comey's conduct.

Hillary Clinton, I think, was deeply hurt by this but not for the reason that most people suspect. It was not the fact that just a couple weeks before the election the FBI announced James Comey announced that the FBI found these new e-mails and needed to investigate them.

That was damaging, of course. But what was even more damaging was just before the election, about ten days later, the FBI said they found no basis for making any charges or initiating any new investigation for u of e-mails.

Well, that enraged Trump supporters because they said this is the Washington establishment moving to protect one of its own, Hillary Clinton. And that I think was an important reason motivating Trump voters to get out and vote. They were really angry about that.

VANIER: You know what? The Trump camp still claims that there was political bias. They're pointing to something else that's also brought up in the report and that they see as environments of bias. Messages between FBI agents, we now know they're names. Infamous, Peter Strzok and Lisa Pages, also lovers at that time.

Messages saying that Trump will not become president because they'll stop it. They are saying, conservatives and pro-Trump Republicans are saying this is evidence of bias. What do you think?

SCHNEIDER: It is evidence of some kind of bias among these FBI agents. They're not in their jobs anymore. The woman involved resigned from the FBI. The inspector general didn't find any evidence that bias decided the decisions of the FBI. That it wasn't the biased outcome.

There were no direct connections between the bias that was revealed between these two agents and the official statements and releases of the FBI. So, you have to be very careful about the interpretation of those findings.

VANIER: OK. Gentlemen, Bill Schneider and E. Randel Schoenberg, thank you very much. We'll speak to you again next hour. We have for questions for you on both of the topics. Thank you.

North Korea appears to be reveling in the success of the Singapore summit. State media released footage of the historic meeting including a clip of U.S. President Donald Trump saluting a North Korean general. There it is.

The White House says it was just common courtesy. Kim Jong-un is also getting an invitation from another world leader after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the senior North Korean official in Moscow. Anna Coren has more now from Seoul, South Korea.

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ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just days after the historic Singapore summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, the U.S. president has come under more criticism after North Korean state media released previously unseen footage of Trump saluting a North Korean general.

The footage shown on KCTV shows an awkward encounter between the U.S. president and the North Korea defense chief, General No Kwang-chol, with the two men saluting each other. The White House has defended the president saying he was simply returning a common courtesy.

However, critics say it is highly inappropriate for the commander in chief of the U.S. Armed Forces to salute the military of a U.S. adversary known as a murderous regime with an appalling human rights record.

Meanwhile, the North Korean leader is suddenly in high demand on the international stage. He's been invited by Russia's President Vladimir Putin to attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Moscow in September after he sent his number two official to Moscow carrying a personal letter from Kim.

The North Korean leader is also expected to meet with Syria's Bashar al-Assad in the near future. Back here in South Korea, despite Trump's unilateral decision to cancel the joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea that he referred to as provocative war games, a new Gallup poll shows two-thirds of the people he surveyed believe the Singapore summit went well.

And more than half believe that Pyongyang will abide by the agreement that reaffirms North Korea's commitment to complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. Anna Coren, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VANIER: It's monsoon season in Southeast Bangladesh and it's endangering the lives of thousands of Rohingya refugee families there. We'll tell you how the U.N. is hoping to help when we come back.

Plus, later this hour, we're joined by Jared Leto, the lead singer of the band "30 Seconds to Mars." We'll chat about their new songs that's intended to bring hope to those suffering from life and death issues. Stay with us.

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VANIER: The first major monsoon of the season is threatening thousands of Rohingya refugee families in Bangladesh. UNICEF estimates that some 200,000 people living in crowded camps are at risk of deadly flooding and landslides. More than half of those are children.

The U.N. Refugee Agency says at least one little boy died in landslide already. The Rohingya, a minority Muslim group, who fled from Myanmar are already among the region's most vulnerable people.

As monsoon rains grow heavier, the dangers facing the refugees are growing as well. Let's talk about this with Bernadette Castel- Hollingsworth. She is in (inaudible) in Bangladesh, not too far from the border with Myanmar. She is the officer in charge for the U.N. Refugee Agency's emergency response there. What is your priority right now?

BERNADETTE CASTEL-HOLLINGSWORTH, UNHCR: Thank you, Cyril. The priority is to save lives. In just five days, the last five days more than half of them, early two feet of water has poured on to the refugee camps. Heavy rains, strong winds. It's the beginning of the monsoon season, as you said. There has been already one reported fatality that we estimate that 200,000 refugees continue to be at risk of mudslides and flooding.

VANIER: But is there anywhere for them to go? Because they're already in a refugee camp.

CASTEL-HOLLINGSWORTH: So far, 18,000 people have already been affected. Some have now been also relocated to communities. But the most urgent right now is to find additional space for emergency relocation.

VANIER: Is the government of Bangladesh helping with this or are you on your own?

CASTEL-HOLLINGSWORTH: The government of Bangladesh has been providing tremendous support to our partners and refugees. They've been the first responders. We're working with them to find additional space so that refugees are most at risk can be relocated to safer grounds.

VANIER: When you say additional space, does that mean opening new refugee camps? I ask because we know the Bangladesh, the government made it clear when the Rohingya started coming across the border that Bangladesh didn't want them to stay there.

[00:25:09]

CASTEL-HOLLINGSWORTH: Bangladesh has kept its borders open to refugees. Refugees are as a matter of fact are continuing to arrive every day to Bangladesh. And in terms of additional space, what we are looking at are a lot of options as I said. We are looking at available space in the existing camps. We're also in close coordination with the local authorities and all our partners looking at additional space outside of the camps. We are also working alongside the local communities to see if should there be a need. Refugees could be relocated in communal facilities outside of the camps.

VANIER: Are those refugees still hoping to return to Myanmar one day? CASTEL-HOLLINGSWORTH: Rohingya Refugees think they are constantly told that they would like to return as soon as they can get guarantees that their rights will be restored. That they will have access to citizenship and importantly that their safety and security will be guaranteed.

VANIER: All right. Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth of UNHCH. We hope for the best for what is still 180,000 people according to what you told me who are in dire need of help. Thank you very much.

CASTEL-HOLLINGSWORTH: Thank you.

VANIER: Coming up, it's game on at the 2018 World Cup. How host Russia fared in the opener against Saudi Arabia.

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VANIER: And welcome back. I'm Cyril Vanier. Let's update you on the top stories this hour. A U.S. Justice Department investigation says then FBI Director James Comey violated protocol in his handling of the Clinton e-mail problem. It also said he was insubordinate by not consulting with his boss, then U.S. attorney general, Loretta Lynch. However, 500-page report found no evidence that Comey's actions were politically motivated.

New York's attorney general is suing the president and his three oldest children, alleging they repeatedly and illegally used the Trump found charity foundation for more than a decade including the 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Trump tweeted the lawsuit is politically motivated and ridiculous.

AT&T officially closed the deal to acquire Time Warner Thursday. The Justice Department had fought the mega merger that says it will no longer oppose it for now. The government could still appeal the judge's ruling.

[00:30:00]

VANIER: AT&T officially closed the deal to acquire Time Warner Thursday. The Justice Department had fought the mega merger that says it will no longer oppose it for now. The government could still appeal a judges ruling allowing the transaction. Time Warner is CNN's parent company.

Well, the World Cup kicked off on Thursday and host nation Russia crushed Saudi Arabia, 5 - 0. This was the opening in Moscow. At Russia is still a tournament long shot, but the country is getting swept up in World Cup fever. This here was the Kremlin's U.N. Ambassador on Thursday. He's wearing the red jersey and kicking around a futball with other diplomats at the United Nations. CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more from the Russian capital.

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FREDRICK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Game one of the 2018 FIFA World Cup is in the books, and things could not have gone better for the host nation for team Russia. 5 to 0 against Saudi Arabia was really pretty much a demolition that went on there on the filed.

Now, Russian fans that we were speaking to before the game said they weren't sure how their team was going to perform. The team was heavily criticized. Some felt that some of the players were lackluster, but once this game got underway here at the official fan zones (ph) you could feel that for many of the Russians this is when the World Cup really started. This is when they really began to feel that World Cup fever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One hour ago, I didn't feel anything. When I was going by metro, I didn't feel anything. But now I start feeling.

PLEITGEN: Are you surprised how good the Russian team is because they've been playing exceptionally well?

UNIDENTFIED MALE: I am surprised. To be honest, I didn't expect that they would score. Yes.

PLEITGEN: What's the atmosphere here like?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic. I've never been to such places, and it's very great. It's great.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Glad in mind (ph) that we are winning for now.

PLEITGEN: Did you expect that the Russian team would be this good?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, not really. We was like hoping. They just like hoping that they'll the wow part (ph). Yes, we are very happy. Ooh rah (ph).

PLEITGEN: And while the Russian fans were obviously in the majority here at the FIFA fan zone, there were fans from almost all nations that are participating here in the World Cup. We saw a lot of Peruvians. We saw a lot of Iranians. We saw a lot of Argentineans. Basically people from every single country that has sent a team here to this tournament, and many of them told us that they really enjoyed the atmosphere both before and during the game.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Beautiful. It's very special. It's a great moment. It's the best moment of my life. I think this is going to be the best.

PLEITGEN: There is no doubt that team Russia will be celebrating tonight, but, of course, this tournament is just starting and there still is very, very much futball left at the World Cup 2018. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VENIER: CNN is your prime destination for all things World Cup. We'll have a lot more on this. That's in World Sport. It's in about 15 minutes, so stay tuned for that. But for now, police in Canada looking for the man that they say stole this piece of art right of the wall of an exhibition in Toronto. The print is by the mysterious street artist Bansky. It's call Trolley Hunters.

Surveillance cameras caught the criminal in the act on Sunday. You can see him stroll into the exhibit, take a quick look around, and then walk right out with the stolen art in hand. Banksy - here it is. Bansky's a world famous artist. People have tried for years to figure out his real identify. So far, however, no luck.

Here at CNN, we've been mourning the loss of our much loved colleague, Anthony Bourdain, who took his own life a week ago. In honor of his legacy, we've invited Jared Leto, the lead singer of Thirty Seconds to Mars, to chat about his band's new single, which is intended to bring hope to anyone suffering from life and death issues. Our interview when we return.

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[00:36:32]

VENIER: One week ago, we woke up to the news and our viewers woke up to the news that our much loved colleague, Anthony Bourdain, had taken his own life. Just days before that, designer Kate Spade killed herself. Now, those tragedies are the ones we hear about, but there are others, of course. In fact, many thousands of others, perhaps involving somebody you know - a sister, mother, friend, neighbor, colleague.

A new report from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control finds that suicide rates in the United States have gone up a staggering 25 percent since 1999, less that 20 years. Nearly 45,000 Americans age 10 or older died as a result of suicide in 2016 alone. In 25 states, suicide rates have increase more than 30 percent. More than half of those who took their own lives did not have a known mental health condition.

There's a new single addressing these life and death issues and it's called "Rescue Me". The song is about pain, faith, empowerment, and the battle that many are fighting against fear, depression, and anxiety.

(MUSIC)

Joining me now is the man behind that music, Jared Leto, lead singer of Thirty Seconds to Mars, also an academy award winner. He's on the phone from Chicago where his band is on tour. Jared, thank you so much for joining us. What compelled you to write this.

JARED LETO, BAND MEMBER OF THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS: Well, my own personal battles in life, my brother's battles in his life. You know, pain isn't exclusive. Anxiety and depression aren't exclusive, so many of us battle with these things. Often times, it's a very private, personal battle and there's just certain stigma around it.

But, you know, I kind of poured some of those thoughts and experiences into a song that I wrote. I started writing actually 10 years ago and I didn't finish it until a few months ago in the studio. And now it's out and we've made this video for the song and we just released it about 48 hours ago.

VENIER: It's very clear from the video - we're seeing it now - that this is not just about you. We see all these individuals that we understand are going through similar things.

LETO: Absolutely. I mean, we - we're very proud of the video. It's a very difficult video to make when there are no tricks or there or no kind of big epic production in the video. It's about people, it's about emotions, and it was incredible to watch people step in front of the camera and share their experience, their pain, their hope, their challenges. It's raw, it's emotional, it's beautiful, and we're really honored to have people participate in the way that they did. And it's gotten such an incredible reaction. I think in the first two days, it's gotten over four million views and people are really responding to it deeply.

VENIER: And you heard earlier, I read the statistics of suicide in the United States and how they've increased dramatically over just the last 20 years. Does that surprise you or not? Or do you feel there's something in the evolution - the recent evolution of this country that can explain that?

LETO: I don't know the answer to that, but it's horrific. It's a tragedy. It shouldn't be that way. You know, we live in a time where we're more connected that ever, and there should be more community, more of a sense of connectedness.

[00:40:00]

Because of the ability to be social, the ability to reach out to people. But it's also a time when there's quite a bit of instability, and uncertainty, and conflict. And it's a very difficult time for many people around the world. And you know I stood on stage last night and asked how many people have dealt with pain, or anxiety, and depression?

And I'd probably say 90 percent of the room, there were probably 10, 15,000 people there. 90 percent of the room raised their hand. And I think it has so many of us deal with these issues. Sometimes we don't know where it turned.

And I'm glad that people are having a conversation online about the song and the video, and sharing their experience. Both how they overcome challenges and maybe about the challenges that their in the midst of.

(BEGIN MUSIC VIDEO CLIP)

(END MUSIC VIDEO CLIP)

VANIER: You said yesterday on stage you asked the crowd how many among them had grappled with these issues. And you see an overwhelming majority raise their hands. What do you want to say to them? Or people who obviously weren't in the crowd that also would have raised their hands if you asked them the question. LETO: We'll I'd say to people that you're not alone. And then I would probably offer to listen. I think that so many people need to be heard. I think that a lot of people don't know where to turn to. That's why I wrote this song. Because it was on my mind, it's a part of my life.

But ultimately this song is a celebration. It's about the possibility of overcoming the anxiety, depression, and pain. It's about the potential that there is a life. It's about the freedom from the bondage of self, and about walking towards the more positive and a future that we all dream about.

You know we have the potential to offer each other kindness, support, community, friendship. And the world would be a beautiful place if we focused a little more on that and a little less on some of the other things out there.

VANIER: OK Jared. Thank you so much for joining us on the show. We wish you continued success for your album, for your tour. Thanks again.

LETO: My absolute pleasure. Thanks for having me.

VANIER: If you need help. If anybody you know needs help a family member, a friend, a colleague. Anyone, please reach out to the international association for suicide prevention. They can give you assistance. They can guide you. Go to iasp.info, click on help.

And that's it for now. Thanks for watching "CNN News Room" I'm Cyril Vanier. Stay tuned we've got, as promised world sports up now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PATRICK SNELL, SPORTS ANCHOR: Hi there. Welcome to CNN's World Sports today. Thanks for joining us. The 2018 FIFA World Cup is underway and the most sensational manner for the host nation Russia.

Thursday's opening ceremony. The British pop star Robbie Williams had belted out his favorite hit "Let Me Entertain You". Well the Russians certainly took him at his word, recording the biggest opening day victory by a country staging a World Cup since 1934.

Their group A opponent I'd have to say Saudi Arabia, weren't the sternest of opponents though. But considering Russia hadn't won in their previous seven matches before this one. And their the lowest ranked team in the tournament. Their opening goal from Euri (ph) Luzhniki (ph) was greeted raucously by 80,000 ecstatic fans in Moscow.

The (inaudible) proving a real occasion to savor but Denis Cheryshev who plays his club football for Spain's Villarreal. As he becomes the first ever stuff (ph) to score in a World Cup opener. The goal is continuing to flow in front of watching dignitaries, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pica President Johnny Frantino (ph), and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

A Cheryshev experienced the heartbreak of missing out on Euro 2016 in France, due to injury. But he's firing on all cylinders now, exquisite second goal for him. His countries fourth, and the icing on the cake for host coming from their youngest player, 22 year old Alexander Golovin, that is a blind free kick.

(inaudible) negativity swirling around the Russians ahead of the tournament. This five will win the perfect response.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's just like a holiday, listen. Who would have believed it? Who would have thought it would end this way? And what will last you today is a gift for the whole country.

UNIDENIFIED MALE (through translator): It feels great. The team won 5-0. What question can one have? Although it is Saudi Arabia which is not the strongest team, but still they won 5-0.

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SNELL: Now considering the Russian National Team was even recently criticized by Vladimir Putin himself, recent performances going into the tournament. This five nil win is a real statement of intent.

But here's why the host can't be too distracted by the results, impressive though it was. Saudi Arabia offered little to no threat though out. And is the shortest team in the tournament by some six centimeters. They were constantly exposed at set pieces, and it really showed.

The Russians still have to play Egypt, and that the two time World Champions from Uruguay in their group. And goal difference could yet be crucial to their chances of advancing. Remember only the top two countries from each group progress.

And here's more food for thought, when it comes to depth of squad quality. Russia even having to turn to 38 year old Sergei Ignashevich to make the starting line up, a player called out of retirement for the occasion.

On Friday it's all eyes on the eagerly anticipated Spain-Portugal showdown in Group B. The match given added spice by the managerial upheaval we've seen in the recent days in the Spanish ranks, in a nutshell the new man at the helm, for now at least Fernando Hierro, who was brought in to replace Julen Lopetegui after he was dismissed from his post earlier in the week.

More on his latest developments in just a moment, first up though words that really do speak volumes now from Spain's Captain Sergio Ramos.

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SERGIO RAMOS, SPAINS FIFA CAPTAIN (though translator): I would like to end this press conference with a smile. Because it seems like we are in a funeral. But no we are about to start a world cup. That's wonderful.

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SNELL: Now Ramos is calling for players and fans a like to get behind Hierro for the sake of the country. But bear in mind Lopetegui will also be Ramos's Club Boss at Royal once the new week (phs) starts. Meantime with that in mind a world away. Back in the Spanish capital Madrid, Royals new manager was being unveiled as the successor to (inaudible).

Lopetegui could have been forgiven if his mind was elsewhere. But his immediate future is now with Los Bano's (ph). And just to reset for you. Been a really hectic last few days for Spanish National Team, the 51 year old was dismissed by the countries focal (ph) federation two days before the 2010 World Champs begin their Champaign in Russia, shown the door due to apparently secret negotiations with Royal.

Madrid's President Florentino Perez was outraged saying there was an absurd reaction to misunderstanding and pride, aimed at hurting the prestige around Madrid and damaging the image of our club in one the greatest periods of our history. Lopetegui also saying he'd done nothing wrong. And the emotional toll if the last few days very plain to see.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): Yesterday was, after the death of my mother, the saddest day of my life. But today is the happiest day of my life.

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VANIER: Emotions running high there. Royal, new era at the club. Meantime a huge boost to tell you about Egyptian star Mo Salah, who looks like he's won his race to be fit in time to play in his countries tournament open against two time world champs Uruguay on Friday.

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The little (inaudible) machine suffered a shoulder injury in his teams champions league final default Real Madrid, last month. Egypt manager, Hector Cuper saying Salah is almost 100 percent certain to play, Egypt are competing in their first world cup since Italian '90. So Friday day two, at the FIFA world with Egypt and Salah in action as we just mentioned and why should we now be expecting from Spain's La Roja after a week of managerial turmoil.

By the way our on the spot team is going to be debating just that on Friday, they'd love to hear your thoughts on what has been going on. You can weigh in with your opinion's using the hash tag CNN world cup. Testing conditions being challenges everywhere you look at the 2018 U.S. golf open there's a reason, or several they call the season second major the toughest test in the sport. We'll cross the Micalena Mikhail's in just moments.

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VANIER: We're back with the first day of action, season second major in the 2018 golf count of the U.S. as Shinnecock Hills were, let's just say Thursday's been a rather rough and wild day for some of the sports biggest names. Tough, tough conditions and it's effecting scoring in a big way as you can see here, 2016 champion Dustin Johnson also very much in the mix.

Four way tie in fact a top the leader board there, a whole plethora of 69's. Been shooting live for us this is Micalena Mikhail's, thanks for joining us Spencer, what's been the key to Dustin Johnson's building up his momentum from last weekend victory Memphis.

VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: Well I think he's just carried it in he has a lot of confidence in his game as he comes in to this U.S. Open and Pat it's interesting because no player had won on the PGA Tour the week before and then won a U.S. Open in back to back weeks but Dustin Johnson, so much momentum from Memphis.

Reclaiming world number one and he had some really great moments in round one while the others were struggling with these gusty winds, including the hole out on eight, but he really couldn't build on that and he finished one over, over his finally nine holes, to finish at one under par. It was a tough, tough day morning and afternoon certainly.

In that morning wave another guy who has a share of the lead is Ian Poulter who's back in Shinnecock for the first time since 2004 when he played his first U.S. Open he missed the cut here. It was what he called a stressful day, did Poulter, but he did a lot of things well and he also was able to come in in fashion a one under 69. Poulter was very pleased with his performance.

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IAN POULTER: My games good, I feel confident, I feel happy, I feel happy off the golf course and it makes that a lot easier on the golf course. So, I'm in a really good place, I don't want to get carried away this is day one of four extremely tough days and three bad holes on this golf course can take you home pretty quick.

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VANIER: Ian Poulter there, Vince let's talk Tiger, he's among the players really being struggling out there. Tiger Wood's last major victory a decade ago, what is most challenging for the feel though out there on this really treacherous course and conditions?

CELLINI: Well it really is, we have these vicious cross winds and players are struggling with their distances, their yardage and of course trying to attack angles here at Shinnecock. And Tiger was not spared the horror that's for sure, Pat we had so much anticipation about him coming back to the U.S. Open which he holds close to his heart as a three time winner here but it started poorly with a triple bogey on one and then a bogey on two. Tiger ends up with two double bogey and triple on his card, a round of

78 which included 30 puts and four of those puts on hole number 13. So, few were spared only four are under par at this point and it continues on Friday as we should have cooler temperatures, not as much wind but Pat I'm thinking that those green could quicken up even more and it's going to be quite the grind here at the revenge of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills golf club, in the Hamptons.

VANIER: If ever they needed to make it just that little bit tougher, Vince thanks so much for joining us. Good seeing you there, we really appreciate it. All right thanks for joining us here on CNN World Sports for the entire team here in Atlanta thanks for watching you stay with CNN.