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Isa Soares Tonight
At Least Five Dead, 2k Structures Destroyed In L.A. Fires; Trump Blames California Governor For Fire Disaster; Biden Delivers Eulogy For Carter At State Funeral; Maria Corina Machado Makes First Appearance At Caracas Protest; Deadly Fires Continues In Los Angeles; Maria Corina Machado Detained; Biden Admin. Announces $500M Military Aid To Ukraine; Musk Interview Alice Weidel On X; U.S. Supreme Court TikTok Arguments. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired January 09, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Hello, and a very warm welcome, I am Paula Newton, and we have a busy evening of news for you. "It's
Armageddon". That's how one woman describes the ongoing devastation caused by wildfires raging in southern California this hour. Already, the most
destructive in Los Angeles County's history.
At least, five people have been killed, though, a fire official admits that the death toll may rise. Nearly 180,000 residents -- think of that, are now
under evacuation orders or warnings. The Palisades Fire has absolutely exploded, and it is still burning out of control right now despite the
determined efforts of fire crews.
Now, the air around Los Angeles is now a dangerous, toxic chemical mix that includes things like plastics and metals. Our doctor, Sanjay Gupta says --
and I'm quoting him now, just about anything you might imagine is going to be inside that smoke. Now, entire neighborhoods including businesses and
homes filled with a lifetime of memories all incinerated, burned to the ground.
In some cases, neighbors banded together to try and save homes and keep those fires crucially from spreading. Now, local officials are facing the
monumental task of trying to gain control of these fast-moving fires and get people the help they so desperately need.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR KAREN BASS, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Air operations are continuing rapidly in the Palisades, in Sylmar and across our region. We continue to
see our heroes, from our L.A. firefighters and from personnel, families, neighbors, from across the county and the state, we thank you.
However, we continue to confront a big one level firestorm, historic winds and extensive drought have created a perfect storm that has driven people
from their homes and have taken people's homes and that has taken people's lives.
KRISTIN CROWLEY, FIRE CHIEF, LOS ANGELES CITY: Damage assessments are ongoing at the Palisades Fire. However, preliminary reports estimate the
damage or destroyed structures to be in the thousands. It is safe to say that the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in
the history of Los Angeles.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Just stunning there. We want to bring in CNN meteorologist Chad Myers for the latest on the forecast. I mean, Chad, look, I know we've seen
from our correspondents on the ground that the winds thankfully has subsided for now, but I am --
CHAD MYERS, METEOROLOGIST: Some --
NEWTON: Incredibly worried about what we've heard from the National Weather Center.
MYERS: Absolutely. It's going to pick back up again. I mean, California people are no stranger to Santa Ana winds. They have a name. So, this
happens all the time. What really the combination of the drought, they haven't had one inch of rain in any one day since March, so no soaking
rains. This is the wet season.
It hasn't rained yet. And then we had the wind event that pushed winds at 160 kilometers per hour, 100 miles per hour on the mountain tops. So, high
pressure to the north, up near Nevada, almost just north of Las Vegas, you've heard of that. And then down here, just to the south of Baja, we are
seeing where the high and the low were just too close together.
And when you get that kind of change between high pressure and low pressure, you're going to get wind anywhere in the world. But here that
wind came through the Canyons and funneled down through the areas here, and then blew the sparks and the embers from the fire. Without sparks, we don't
have a story here.
But because there were sparks, because there was an ignition, that's why all of this burned. You know, we can get 80-mile per hour winds and nothing
happens. But if you get 80 miles per hour and something sparks, then all of a sudden, you're losing 30 -- I think 30 now, square miles of property. And
normally, it's in the urban wild-land interface where there's one or two houses in the way.
This was an urban fire, well, they both were. The Eaton Fire in Altadena, not that far from Pasadena, you may recognize the name Rose Bowl. And then
back out here in the Pacific Palisades, just to the west here, that would be Malibu. I'm certain you've heard of that. So, this was an urban fire.
This was an urban, not just the interface between trees and homes.
[14:05:00]
This was fire burning from house-to-house-to-house. And yes, the winds are dying off, but they're not great. They're not zero. There are still 14.
There's still 20. There's still spots there that are 30. So, this is a bad wind event by itself, just comparatively, we think back to what it was like
70 and 80 miles per hour. This seems good. It's not great when they try to do those air drops, that the wind blows that water away from where they're
trying to drop it.
They can't get close enough to actually drop it right on the fire, but at least, it's not where we were, where they could not even get the
helicopters in the sky. Here's Friday night. This is going to be the best chance of getting a handle on these fires. It will be tomorrow night here
in America, and the winds are going to come down, the humidity is still going to be dry, but with that wind coming down, that will be the place.
That will be the time that we'll actually get a handle on it. Now, you talked about the air quality. Yes, there was something called an inversion
today, which means that the air wasn't just mixing all together, every smoke just stayed near the ground. It couldn't rise up above this inverted
temperature where you want temperatures to be colder up above, they weren't.
So, the air was just stuck right at the ground, and that's why we had such horrible air quality today. Now, here's what the smoke is going to look
like over the next couple of days. Yes, there still will be smoke near the fires, but not widespread like we have, at least, at this point in time,
Paula, where it's unhealthy for everyone.
Normally, we have these categories unhealthy for individuals, unhealthy for those with asthma, unhealthy for this or that. This is just unhealthy for
everybody to be outside. And hopefully they still have some masks around from the old COVID days because that will help, or just stay inside where
at least the air is filtered.
NEWTON: Yes, apparently, some of the worst air quality in the world right now. Chad Myers --
MYERS: Yes --
NEWTON: We'll continue to check in with you. Appreciate that. Now, while historic wildfires carve a path of death and destruction as we're seeing
through southern California in scenes as we are describing as apocalyptic, that's not hyperbole. The incoming U.S. President is reigniting his long-
time feud with the state's governor.
Donald Trump is blaming Gavin Newsom and U.S. President Joe Biden for the disaster. Here's what he said on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a true tragedy, and it's a mistake of the governor, and you could say the administration.
They don't have any water. They didn't have water in the fire hydrants. The governor has not done a good job. With that being said, I got along well
with him when he was governor. We worked together very well and we would work together. I guess it looks like we're going to be the one having to
rebuild it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Now the governor's office is firing back, calling Trump's claim pure fiction and accusing the President-elect of playing politics. And
here's how the governor himself responded while speaking to CNN on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GAVIN NEWSON (D-CA): And one can't even respond to it. I mean, it's -- you know, people are literally fleeing. People have lost their lives. Kids
lost their schools, families completely torn asunder, Churches burned down. And this guy wanted to politicize it. I have a lot of thoughts, and I know
what I want to say. I won't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Now, it's worth noting that as President and more recently on the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly threatened to cut off disaster funding for
California if the Democratic governor didn't back his policies. Our Julia Vargas Jones is on the ground in Los Angeles County, and she joins us now
for this update.
I mean, Julia, look, there are a lot of questions which the Los Angeles officials basically acknowledged this morning. But at this point in time,
no one wants a blame game. What is happening on the ground, and how are officials saying that they can respond to this because they are at least --
at least, 24 to 36 hours here of still a critical time.
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, look, Paula, I'll start with the -- with the hydrant situation. There have been difficulties getting
water to some communities. We heard that anecdotally. We also heard from officials that, look, it's just too much demand. We're trying. It's just
that it's not there. But firefighters have been doing what they can to direct the water to the places that need the most.
It's not just a blame game, and it's not that there is no water or that there's necessarily bad management. It just it is a lot. It's
unprecedented. This kind of fire is unprecedented in the history of California. So, it's understandable. And we are watching very closely here
on the ground the work of these firefighters, many of them working double shifts, 48 hours.
It's grueling. And you have a sense by looking at where we are, the gravity of this destruction, every part of Altadena, we see things like this entire
block just completely decimated by fire. There's still a gas line that's on over here on these houses. We've seen that's in every house. It's honestly
stunning, Paula.
[14:10:00]
And how are you possibly going to come up with all these resources? Yes, people have also been working together. They've been helping each other.
We're seeing people doing what they can. But at this point, they're trying to come back to their homes and see if their homes made it. You know, it's
been a little bit. They want to come here and see what is it that they got.
And a lot of them are coming back to something like this, and they will need help rebuild after this disaster.
NEWTON: Yes, absolutely. Julia, I'm curious to know what difference you've seen besides the fact that the wind has calmed down between yesterday and
today. And what is critical here is, we do seem to have seen that the evacuation orders have actually expanded. So, what are they really worried
about this hour?
JONES: Well, so, 180,000 people under evacuation orders right now, about 215,000 people without -- households, I'll say without power. About half of
that, Paula, is intentional. They're still worried about sparks that could come from an electrical fire. Right now, we've seen a lull right throughout
the morning and some of yesterday in the winds.
The winds are very important for us to pay attention because they're supposed to pick back up. And it was the wind, you can't see quite behind
me. This wall of smoke behind me, that's the Angeles National Forest. Those are the mountains that the fire ravaged down and that got into these
neighborhoods, OK.
That is something that, you know, 160 kilometers an hour winds will do. And if they pick back up, this could expand again. Right now the fire is
contained. They've been able to use helicopters to fight it also. But if the winds pick up again, that won't be able -- that won't be possible
anymore. So, those are concerns that officials have at this time is, it's contained -- it's not contained. It's 0 percent contained. But it stopped
growing. But could that pick back up if conditions worsen?
NEWTON: Yes, clearly a threat. Now, Julia, our thanks to your crew who gave us a wide shot there. Just absolutely devastating what we saw. But we also
did see that some fixed wing aircraft is now in the air, hopefully they'll be able to stay there for a few hours and start to get these fires
contained. Julia Vargas Jones for us in Altadena, California. Thanks so much.
Now, Chad Hanson is a forest and fire ecologist with the John Muir Project, and the author of "Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our
Forests and Our Climate". And he joins me now from Kennedy Meadows in California. It is so good to have you with us. Let's start with those
lessons learned because they're critical to analyze right now, whether you're in California or somewhere else prone to wildfires.
OK, so we know the winds are going to be strong. We knew there were drought conditions, but what are we missing about why these wildfires are just so
catastrophic?
CHAD HANSON, AUTHOR, FOREST & FIRE ECOLOGIST: Yes, and that's the key question. And when we say catastrophic, you know, we're really talking
about, in my opinion, the impacts to communities, lives lost, homes lost. You know, that's what's just so dramatic and so heartbreaking here in these
fires, especially the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire.
You know, entire neighborhoods have been just completely destroyed. So, what we're missing in the conversation right now and what -- and this is
the good news, because we can do something about this, is that if we focus on community protection, on creating fire-safe communities, it will save
thousands of homes and many lives.
It is highly effective. It's not a 100 percent because nothing is, but it can get pretty close if you do it right. And it's basically three things,
home hardening, making homes more fireproof, defensible space pruning, basically removing dry grasses for the most part immediately adjacent to
the homes, and then evacuation planning and assistance.
And all these things need funding. They need technical support to help communities do it right. And if we do that, we will -- we will be in a much
better position when these events happen. Because when you have 60-80-mile an hour winds and really dry conditions, you can't stop these fires until
the weather changes.
NEWTON: What's been confusing is what's gone on in California in the last two years, and obviously it can happen in other places as well. So, they
did have a lot of moisture in 2023. And yet, we hear that this year, now that they are back in drought and have been for a few months, that, that
moisture from 2023 actually made -- perhaps made things worse. So, can you explain that to us?
HANSON: Yes, it's interesting and it's a little bit counterintuitive, but a lot of things in wildfire science are until you know, you dig into them a
little bit. When you had a big Winter or in the case of southern California, two big Winters in a row, actually, you get more growth of
grasses in particular. It's really the grasses that drive flames mostly.
[14:15:00]
They're very combustible. It's kind of flashy fuel, if you want to think about it that way. And then if you have a drought year that follows that
growth of grasses, then you have more dry grass to potentially carry flames. And so, you know, that can be a factor. Obviously, something needs
to carry the flames, but none of that really makes a -- makes a huge difference if you don't have the dry conditions like the really bone-dry
air.
We have relative humidity in the single digits, and these extreme Santa Ana wind events coming from the desert, dry winds pushing down those canyons
toward the Pacific Ocean and driving those flames. That's -- those are the key factors that really made this disaster, this community disaster what it
was.
NEWTON: I think there are a lot of people, though, watching right now, and you said, you know, make these communities fire-safe. How does that happen?
I mean, should have the county been going around home-to-home right now and saying, clear that brush, do this, do that as well as the evacuation plans?
HANSON: Well, I mean, some counties do that. But you know, you've got the carrot approach and the stick approach, but I prefer the carrot approach. I
think most people want the assistance if they can get it, if it's offered to them. Some people have the financial resources to do the home-hardening
and the defensible space. Other people don't.
They want the help, but they don't have the resources. Some people have the physical ability to climb up on the roof and get those dry leaves and twigs
off the roof, so they don't cause an ignition. If an ember lands on a roof, other people don't. There are elderly and they need the assistance.
And so, you know, I think communities need the help. People need the help. And the problem is that our historic wild-land fire policies at the state
and federal level are focused on the wild-lands out there --
NEWTON: Right, not the urban --
HANSON: Thinking that we're going to manage vegetation --
NEWTON: Yes, not these urban fires --
HANSON: Right --
NEWTON: Yes --
HANSON: And we're thinking that's right. We're not thinking about -- we're thinking we'll stop the fire from reaching the towns. The problem is it
hasn't worked out that way. The fires are moving very rapidly through these areas where we've -- you know, removed the trees through logging
operations.
You know, that we call thinning and removing shrubs. The fires moved through those areas very fast because they're driven by dry conditions and
wind. And then they reach the towns and the towns burn down, and the bad news is that that's -- that these are tragedies that we've seen again and
again. The good news is we can do something about it. It's preventable.
NEWTON: Right --
HANSON: We just have to shift our focus from the wild-lands to the communities and we can make a huge difference.
NEWTON: Yes, definitely. The fire brakes need to be put in place. We'll leave it there for now. Chad Hanson, thank you so much, really appreciate
it. OK, still to come for us tonight, chants of freedom in Caracas. Opposition protesters out on the streets on the eve of President Nicolas
Maduro's inauguration for a third term in power. Plus, the U.S. promises additional aid to Ukraine as time runs out on the Biden administration.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:20:00]
NEWTON: Venezuelan opposition activists are out on the streets this hour in a last ditch protest against President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD CHANTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Mr. Maduro is due to be inaugurated for a third term tomorrow. But protesters say last year's presidential election was stolen from opposition
candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who is now in exile. Now, a dramatic showdown could soon develop as Gonzalez is vowing to return to Caracas in the middle
of those protests before the inauguration.
Now under threat of arrest, he will try and claim the presidency. He could have nine former Latin American leaders by his side, and that includes
Mexico's Felipe Calderon and Vicente Fox. Now, in just the last few minutes, we saw another opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado emerged
from hiding to join the protesters in Caracas.
You see her there, she's been demanding the end of Mr. Maduro's rule. President Maduro's supporters are also out on the streets today. State TV
broadcasting this rival rally in Miranda, near Caracas. We want to bring in journalist Stefano Pozzebon, he's following all the latest developments
from Bogota.
You have been in the thick of those protests countless times, Stefano. I know you have very good contacts on the ground. Bring us right up to date
in terms of what's going on and how hopeful the opposition may be that their plan will actually work.
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: Yes, Paula. Well, the first thing to notice is that Maria Corina is out on the streets of Caracas despite threats of
arrest and actually an arrest mandate against her from Maduro's police and government forces. We haven't been able to bring you the sound from her and
her speech, she just wrapped up.
But basically, what she said is to her supporters to -- not to despair, to not give up hope, and that if Maduro indeed proceeds, will inaugurate a
third presidential mandate tomorrow, it will be the end of this regime as she called it. It's not clear what the opposition can actually do to
prevent that inauguration to take place.
We're told many times that despite the lack of support from Maduro -- well, he has the support of the Armed Forces and the police, and that so far has
been enough to cement his grip on power. And we understand that on Friday, he will proceed to inaugurate a third presidential mandate.
What's happening in the meantime is that last-minute attempt from the opposition candidate and Edmundo Gonzalez, who ran the election last year
just because Maria Corina Machado was barred from competing in the election. He ran for the election. He claims he won with 67 percent of the
vote. And he says -- he told us that he wants to return to Caracas between today and tomorrow, Friday, to prevent that inauguration, to actually
inaugurate his own presidential mandate as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
Now, we know that this crisis, we're told in many times has multiple repercussions, not just in South America or in Latin America, but all
across the world. There are more than 8 million people who have left Venezuela under Maduro's rule. And of course, the humanitarian crisis has
become a focal point of international geopolitics in the region.
It's not a coincidence that at least nine former Latin American leaders are pledging to accompany, to go with Gonzalez to Caracas to help him in his
quest to inaugurate a new mandate. In the next few hours and perhaps days, will be extremely tense down in Caracas and in the rest of Venezuela,
Paula, and we'll always bring you the very latest.
NEWTON: We'll leave it there for now, Stefano. But I know you are keeping track of those protests ongoing at this hour. Thanks so much, appreciate
it. Now, a former adviser calls him a renaissance man. As a nation and the world paused to bid farewell to the 39th President of the United States.
Hundreds of mourners packed into a Washington National Cathedral as Jimmy Carter was honored at a state funeral.
The service caps a week of mourning for Carter, who is being remembered right across the globe for his efforts to eradicate disease and promote
peace, democracy and human rights. All five living U.S. Presidents gathered at the cathedral. President Joe Biden delivered the eulogy to his long-time
friend just days before his own presidency ends.
[14:25:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today, many think he was from a bygone era, but in reality, he saw well into the future. A white southern
Baptist who led civil rights. A decorated Navy veteran who brokered peace. A brilliant nuclear engineer who led on nuclear nonproliferation. A hard-
working farmer who championed conservation and clean energy. And a President who redefined the relationship with a Vice President.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Mr. Carter will be laid to rest in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, where he was born some 100 years ago. CNN's Eva McKend joins us now live
from Plains, Georgia. And you have been there for quite a while now, Eva, it was a moving ceremony, certainly, but what stood out to you, given
President Carter is now back where he says he belongs, right? In that hometown that sustained him so many times.
EVA MCKEND, CNN U.S. NATIONAL POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: It did, Paula, and in many ways, he really never left Plains, because he carried it with him at
every stage of his life. In just a few hours, we are going to see the late President, his family arrive here at Maranatha Baptist Church. This Church
in Plains is where he taught Sunday school for many years before he fell ill.
His niece has since taken over those Sunday school lessons. But to give you a sense of how his imprint will continue to be felt in the decades to come,
this Church now has its first female pastor, and President Carter notably broke with the Southern Baptist over this issue. While prior to the female
pastor serving, was the first black pastor. Now, Tony Lowden will offer today's eulogy.
So, this is going to be the next several hours filled with pomp and circumstance. We're going to see 21 F-18 planes fly over the Church later
on when he is buried at the family house next to his beloved wife, Rosalynn Carter. We are going to see a 21-gun salute. And then, of course, the
motorcade is going to pass through main -- the main street of Plains one more time so that people from this community will have the opportunity to
line the streets and say their final goodbyes.
NEWTON: Yes, I'm sure it will be quite emotional for many in that community. Eva McKend as we continue to track President Carter's
homecoming, thanks so much, appreciate it. Now, we do want to go back to Venezuela. As we mentioned, Venezuelan opposition activists are out on the
streets this hour in a last ditch protest against President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power.
We want to get some perspective now from Michael McKinley; he's a former U.S. Ambassador to Peru, Colombia, Afghanistan and Brazil. And I do know
you were born in Caracas, Venezuela. I want you to really parse for us this opposition strategy. Do you believe it can work this time where nothing
seems to have worked for years?
P. MICHAEL MCKINLEY, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO PERU, COLOMBIA, AFGHANISTAN & BRAZIL: Well, it is a pivotal moment, and thank you, Paula, for the
opportunity to speak about it. The next 48 hours are critical. There's certainly a game plan being laid out in the streets of Caracas, but also in
the region with former Presidents as Stefano pointed out, of Latin America backing President-elect Gonzalez in his objective of returning to Venezuela
and inside Venezuela.
The streets are filling with supporters of the opposition and the standard bearer for the opposition, Maria Corina Machado, has made her appearance on
the streets for the first time since the 28th of August. It's a very significant moment and we'll have to see how things evolve on the ground.
NEWTON: You know --
MCKINLEY: The Panamanian Foreign Minister is suggesting there's going to be a big surprise tomorrow. But up to this point, it's not clear what that
will be.
NEWTON: Right, possibly with former politicians or current heads, you know, on a plane with the opposition leader or some say, the person who should be
the President-elect. I want to ask you, though, how much does this depend on what the Trump administration will do going forward with Secretary of
State Marco Rubio, who, as you know, has been following this for years. You suggest that they really should come down hard on things like secondary
sanctions.
MCKINLEY: I do, but what we should look at is there are still ten days of the Biden administration. I know the issue and developments in Caracas are
being followed very closely by the White House. President Biden met with President-elect Gonzalez, I believe, on Tuesday.
[14:30:04]
And I wouldn't rule out further steps by the current administration. And the most important point to note as we look forward, not back, is the unity
of opinion inside the United States, in Washington, on what should happen in Venezuela. There's full support for President-Elect Gonzalez, for Maria
Corina Machado on the ground, and for a democratic transition in Venezuela and full opposition, I should add, to the continuation of President
Maduro's increasingly dictatorial regime.
SOARES: It's certainly the oppression has been absolutely stunning and also, for so many who have stayed in the country to really fight for the
democracy that they miss, quite frankly. Ambassador McKinley, thank you so much. We'll continue to check in with you.
Still to come for us tonight, in a world facing more and more extreme weather, will insurance companies continue to put the bill when it comes to
rebuilding? We look at a new report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: I want to go back to our top story now. Vast devastation from wildfires around Los Angeles, with entire neighborhoods turned to ash. At
least five people so far have died. A short time ago, we did get word from local officials that thousands of structures, thousands, have been
destroyed or damaged. But they say they are finally making at least a little bit of progress in battling some of the blazes.
[14:35:00]
Now, evacuation orders have been lifted in Hollywood. That is such good news. And the winds have died down enough right now to allow for aerial
water drops to begin again. CNN's Kyung Lah joins us now live in one of the hardest hit communities in and around L.A., that's Altadena.
I mean, Kyung, the scene behind you, honestly, I'm absolutely speechless. And I'm sure you can articulate what the community is going through,
because these are not celebrity homes behind you, are they?
KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: No, I live in the adjacent community, a five-minute drive from here. And I can tell you living here, this is a
community of teachers and of middle class families.
And I want to introduce you to what is a classic Altadena home. This looks like, you know, a three bedroom home two baths. And you can see what's
left. When you talk about structures, those numbers that we keep talking about, each one of those structures is a life. It's a home. It's a family.
You can see over there, something that everybody should be able to recognize, that's a shower. So, it's heartbreaking to look at each one of
these. And this is one home. I'm going to have my photographer, Leonel, just push over. Each one of these, there's in second home. And then moving
over there, another home, all gone.
So, here in Altadena, it's entire blocks that look like this. And then I'm just going to have you take a look down the street over here and of that.
As far as the eye can see, this is what we have seen in community after community -- I should say block after block in Altadena.
I've spoken with a VA nurse who bought 25 years ago. And she doesn't know what she's going to do. She's caring for her 80-year-old mother who was
living with her. So, how does she have the money to do that and still work? So, there are a lot of questions that people are discovering if they can
even get here.
We are beyond a line where firefighters were asking people to not cross because this is very much an active fire. I'm going to have you look one
other place with me. You can see the smoke from that one house. That is a new fire. Embers are still flying in the air. They are landing. And so, new
fires are still continuing in this area.
This is a zero percent contained fire. 10,600 acres. It is burning out of control. It has destroyed this area. So, it's already swept through this
area, but it is pushing in other regions. So, that's what firefighters are trying to do. They're trying to draw a line of containment around it, get
the fire to burn itself out so they can make it safer for people.
So that when, you know, no other communities have to deal with what they're seeing here, Paula, and this is just one snapshot, one corner that we can
see. This is being repeated across communities here in Los Angeles.
SOARES: Yes, Kyung, you know, right behind you right now, we do see flames. It is hard to fathom. What has to happen in the next few hours in terms of
the wind? Because when you look at the National Weather Service and what they're telling us about the forecast, they will pick up again. What has to
happen so that more communities are not at risk in the next day or so?
LAH: Well, you know, if I could set my fingers and make a rain that would sure help. I do not remember the last time we had rain here in Southern
California. It has been a long time. So, what happens is because of the previous year where we had so much rain, you have incredible brush and then
you match that with drought, now you have tinder.
And then, you know, more than 24 hours ago, the amount of wind we had here, it was Unbelievable. My house was shaking. I thought the windows would
smash in on themselves. Last night, we were able to sleep as a family because the wind simply was not as bad. It is a dramatically different
story.
But I don't know if you can see some of these embers still coming through. There's still wind, but this is nothing compared to what we experienced 24
hours previously.
SOARES: Kyung Lah, so appreciate your perspective. You're just an accomplished investigative reporter for us, but you're a mom and you also
are living this day in and day out right now. So, thanks so much. Appreciate it.
LAH: A tired mom.
SOARES: I hear you. Thanks, Kyung. Appreciate it. And we will be right back with more news in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:40:00]
SOARES: And back now to our breaking news in Venezuela. We are just getting word, in fact, Maria Corina Machado has posted it on her site. That an
incident has happened and that that opposition leader was leaving the protest in Caracas and was detained. This is according to her and her
staff. They have posted it on her social media feed.
Journalist Stefano Pozzebon is joining us now with more details. I mean, look, we know she was interviewed here on this program yesterday. We know
that she understood the risk by going to that rally.
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: Yes, indeed, Paula. And this is a dramatic escalation of the situation down in Venezuela. Her team just confirmed to
us also privately a few minutes ago that at least eight police officers were involved in her detention.
She was on a motorcycle trying to leave the opposition rally as we were covering it live earlier this hour, and she was intercepted, her team says,
in a very violent way and that her own safety was put at risk. There were several arrest mandates in -- on Maria Corina's head. We knew that she was
facing immediate arrest threats, detention threats. And that the government of Nicolas Maduro has put several opposition leaders behind bars in the
past.
Now, I think, Paula, what really what we're really looking at is the international reaction. Mario Carino Machado is a person who used to have a
direct line, at least until she was detained, a direct line to the upcoming secretary of state, Mark Rubio. The two are close acquaintances from a long
time. She was very close to the incoming Trump administration.
This is a dramatic escalation and completely changes the scenario of what we're going to see in Venezuela between now, maybe tomorrow with the
upcoming inauguration of Nicholas Maduro as a president for the third time, despite the international outcry and widespread criticism and on the
legitimacy of his victory.
But the detention of Maria Corina Machado, who really galvanized and carried the opposition movement on her shoulders in the last 12 months, is
a complete -- it's a move to completely change the scenario in the game and we'll bring you the latest as soon as we hear them.
We don't have images yet of her detention, but I probably -- I'm sure that we will get it very, very soon because it happened as she was leaving an
opposition rally, attended by thousands of people in the heart of the Venezuelan capital.
SOARES: Yes. Stefano, you and I have been in the middle of so many of those protests and yet, it's different now because it does seem as if Maduro and
his forces are operating now with impunity. The arrest warrant is out and they took action the minute that they saw her publicly, which, as you
rightfully point out, it's over to you, International Community, to see how they may stand up to this.
[14:45:00]
Stefano Pozzebon, continue to follow this story for us. Really appreciate it.
Now, the Biden administration has declared its final military aid package for Ukraine just before President-Elect Trump takes office. U.S. Defense
Secretary Lloyd Austin announced an extra $500 million in military spending for Kyiv. It includes additional missiles, air to ground munitions, and
more equipment to sustain Ukraine's F-16s.
Earlier, Austin emphasized support from the U.S. and its partners for Ukrainian President Zelenskyy during a meeting at Rammstein Airbase in
Germany. Now, he also said Russia has suffered more than 700,000 casualties, 700,000 in the war and implored Ukrainian soldiers to just keep
fighting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LLOYD AUSTIN, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: To my brave Ukrainian teammates and to my friends who have already given and sacrificed far too much, let me
urge you to stay in the fight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: CNN's Oren Liebermann is at the Pentagon. Really, incredible comment from Defense Secretary Austin, especially given the fact that so
many have actually blamed the Biden administration for the fact that they're kind of one hand tied behind their back in Ukraine. And what also
struck me is the fact that they put the figure out there, which they have probably known and estimated for months now, 700,000 Russian casualties.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: It is a shocking number and very notable that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said it so publicly in the
final meeting under the Biden administration of the Ukraine defense contact group, essentially putting it out there, how much Russia has suffered.
Russia has tried very hard to either deny those numbers or simply not to have them known publicly, but Austin trying to essentially foot stomp it
and saying, look, Russia has suffered tremendous losses in what has largely become a war of attrition.
Russia has made slight gains in Eastern Ukraine and the Kursk region over the past several weeks and months, but they have not been able to, and
we've seen this for years now, effectively defeat Ukraine as we approach the three-year mark of the war.
The question hangs over all of this, and Austin is fully aware of this, what happens next? What does the incoming Trump administration decide to
do? It's for that reason that Austin and the Biden administration have tried to leave Ukraine in the strongest possible position and tried to rush
aid over the course of the last several weeks and months, really. And that's what we saw once again here from Austin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AUSTIN: We must not let up. And that's why I'm announcing today, another presidential drawdown authority package valued at $500 million. It includes
additional missiles for Ukrainian air defense, more ammunition, more air to ground munitions, and other equipment to support Ukraine's F-16s.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMANN: Now, what's notable here is that the Biden administration wasn't able to use all of its drawdown authority, that is the ability to
send stocks, weapons inventory directly from U.S. inventories straight to Ukraine. In fact, there's several billion dollars left in that, that will
be left to the incoming Trump administration to either use it and continue to aid Ukraine or not to use it.
Trump had campaigned and said he could end the war in a day. His special envoy to Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has said just yesterday in
fact, he told Fox news, he thinks -- he'd like to wrap it up in a hundred days. So, a bit longer than a day there, acknowledging the challenges ahead
here. But it will be interesting to see and certainly, the outgoing administration would like to know what the Trump administration's plan is
and whether they will use that several billion dollars they have in authority to continue to aid Ukraine or whether it's hands off at this
point and let Europe and the rest of NATO do what they want. Paula.
SOARES: Yes, and spare a thought for all those Ukrainian soldiers in the trenches right now trying to figure this whole thing out. Oren Liebermann,
really appreciate the update. Thanks so much.
Still to come for us tonight, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments over the controversial move to ban TikTok. Those details ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:00]
SOARES: So, as we've come to realize in the last few months, the world's richest man has considerable influence in American politics. Now, Elon Musk
is turning his attention to Europe. The tech billionaire interviewed the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, Alice Weidel. That
was on the X platform today, his X platform. Critics say it's a move that amounts to election interference with voters headed to the polls next
month.
Other political parties have refused to do -- to work with AfD over, among other things, its anti-immigrant rhetoric. German authorities have
designated it as suspected extremist organization. Our Fred Pleitgen is in Berlin with more now. Fred, good to see you and good to have you on this
story. And can you help us explain exactly, you know, what happened during this interview and how this is being interpreted by German voters?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, it was about an hour and 20 minutes long, and you could clearly see
that Alice Weidel and Elon Musk both were pretty much on the same page as far as most policies are concerned.
Now, one of the things that you mentioned is absolutely correct. Elon Musk has essentially been doing advertising For the AfD over the past couple of
weeks, the past couple of months, urging Germans to vote for the AfD, also ripping into German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and that's also pretty much the
way that this talk got started as well with Alice Weidel really coming out swinging, essentially accusing the former German chancellor, Angela Merkel,
and the current German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, of being both incompetent and ideological when it comes to energy policy and when it comes to
immigration energy policy ripping into the fact that Germany went out of nuclear energy, shut down its nuclear power plants.
They also spoke a little bit about German bureaucracy and how she believes that it hurts business. Elon Musk of course has a very large Tesla factory
here just outside of Berlin as well. But when it came to immigration, obviously the two very much on the same page. Elon Musk then comparing the
situation here in Germany to the situation in the United States, where, of course, the border is a big issue as well. And once again, calling for
Germans very openly to vote for the AfD. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALICE WEIDEL, CO-CHAIR, AFD: It's really unbelievable, like how Donald Trump was treated by German media and German politicians during his
election campaign was unbelievable. And I mentioned that before in a Bloomberg interview, it created -- for me, it created physical pain to see
that how he was disparaged, like -- and his entire family.
ELON MUSK, CEO, TESLA: If you are unhappy with the situation, you must vote for change. And that is why I'm really strongly recommending that people
vote for AfD. That's my strong recommendation. And I think this is simply the sensible move. And I think Alice Weidel is a very reasonable person and
hopefully people can tell just from this conversation. Nothing outrageous is being proposed, just common sense. So, in fact I, as I've said publicly,
I think only AfD can save Germany.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[14:55:00]
PLEITGEN: So, that was Elon Musk there at the end claiming that nothing outrageous, as he put it, was being proposed by the AfD. But of course, one
of the things that many German politicians believe is outrageous is the fact that Elon Musk has been speaking very positively about the AfD, and as
you just heard there, calling on people to vote for the AfD.
In fact, there are politicians from the governing coalition here in Germany who have called all of this meddling in the internal affairs of Germany,
especially, of course, Paula, as we are moving very close to a German election, which is going to happen at the end of February.
You also, before that, heard Alice Weidel speak about her loyalty and her admiration, if you will, for Donald Trump as well. That was something that
was also a topic, but it was really discussed as part of the whole topic of Ukraine, of the Russia-Ukraine war, where Elon Musk said that he believes
that Donald Trump is going to be able to end that war very quickly. Obviously, that's something that's very much on the mind of Germans as
well.
SOARES: Yes. Let's see what is to define very quickly. Fred Pleitgen for us, really appreciate it. And we do want to get you back to our breaking
news. Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been detained after a protest that was against the inauguration of President Nicolas
Maduro.
Now, her team says, and I'm quoting now, that she was "violently intercepted" while leaving the rally. And we do believe. She is detained
right now. We'll have much more on that in the next hour.
I want to thank you for watching. I'll be back a little later on in about an hour. But stay with us right now. Newsroom with Jim Sciutto is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
