election interference 2020. u.s. president gets angry about russian plans to medal in this year's election. we'll tell you about the special precautions one wants everyone to make. and tears and outrage over a deadly shooting carried out by a far right extremists. hello and welcome to our viewers in the united states and around the world. this is "cnn newsroom."

and we start in the u.s. where once again they're sounding the alarm about russian meddling in the u.s. election. they warned last week that russia is already taking steps to insure donald trump wins a second term. and after learning about that, the president became irate but not at russia. and a trump loyalist who has no experience in intelligence. >> reporter: we've now learn there had was an intelligence briefing last week with law maker business hind closed doors and in a classified setting with wr an official warned law makers

russia is expected to intervene and they're looking to favor president trump to get re-elected. we're told by sources they grew angry during the briefing and when he heard about it, the president did as well. namely pointing to adam schiff, who was in the room and of course the president has feud would ever since they were looeding the impeachment inquiry against the president. and the president blew up on his acting director of national intelligence, joseph mcguire. someone who likely had been seen as someone expected to be nominated to the top job. but now we saw yesterday is the day since then the president instead has picked a loyalist, currently the u.s. ambassador to germany n steed take that position. we're told this report on

russian interference and the president picking him to take this job is purely coincidental. and there are goated questions going forward. if the president went to this great of a length to put a loyalist in the job because he was upset about hot the intelligence was showing. kaitlan collins, cnn, the white house. well, let's go to straight at the bureau chief. joining me now live from moscow. and this, a bombshell revelation. once again implicating russia. what has been the reaction from moscow? >> russian president vladimir putin has kunlsistently said that russia has not, will not and did not interfere in the domestic politics of other states but has contended

patriotic hackers targeted us in 2016. and president trump appears to have taken putin at his words. appearing along him in 2018, here is what trump had to say. >> i have great confidence in my intelligence people. but i will tell you president putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. >> and interestingly enough, it's the u.s. intelligence community and russia who have pointed out that russia has tried to forward a conspiracy theory that it was ukraine, in fact, interfering on behamp of the opponents. so, certainly most experts and the mueller report that's included -- the blauder aim of

russian interference in 2017 is to score and capitalize on the division oz of the electorate. this is definitely going to be one to watch. you know? >> and it's true that whatever russia says about the trukt of these allegations, the fact is russia wins here either way. despite the ongoing u.s. investigation efforts. >> well, you're right. again, i think this broader effort has often been pointed at the way of undermining confidence. and generally creatin what is called information noise. skbrurms doubt about the veracity of your information and of u.s. officials.

trump has repeatedly said many of these allegations are part of this broader and broader deep state. but again, we're looking at situation cert cert chbly we haven't had it yet. >> and we'll keep an eye out for that. thanks so much for joining us, nathan. and let's turn to senior political analyst and senioriedter at "the atlantic." thanks very much for your time, ron. what we're seeing here is a return to the nightmare scenario once again with u.s. elections. talk about that briefing and the aftermath of it.

tell us why the president would get angry? if he didn't do it himself and secondly, his briefings are required by law. >> this is a very consistent pattern of behavior. from the beginning he's viewed russian meddling as a view of his personal credibility and viability. he's seen any discussion as effectively casting doubt on the validity of his election. and has been unable to separate this purse naul from the nalden level. . >> and how difficult does it make it for the elekderates are

o -- >> the republicans will argue there's a process that goes on by itself and year hardening our systems. but there's no question, not only, as you pointed out, taking putin's word over his own intelligence agency. but firing people who are raising the alarm and to me the continuation of the short term. susan collins, the republican senator from maine, now famously said she believed donald trump learned a lesson from impeachment. it seems the lesson he learned is the republicans won't call him to acounted on anything. this is interent said about kraums that poengs toort a feeling, unshackle said and

unrestrained. and because of his behavior in any matter. >> i point to a watern after this. and the president decided to replace the national inpelzns with lowellest. do you thing it's important to put in plant the leaves? >> well, it's astonishingly inappropriate. it continues the pattern we've seen, that the only way to survive is to see your independence andp allow trump to basically project you as an extension of his will. and that's what's happening in agency after agency. and moving from john bolton to the current national security

advise rr. and just justice barr, who's been more willing to bend theed a minstration of justice towards the personal whims and grievances of the president. even he is solving questions about whether he's flexible or loyal to what the president is demanding. president trump has seen the government from the beginning as an extension of his will. over the many months of his presidency, he's gradually -- more. >> and it makes it more important. the will is threat to national intelligence. the president just said thursday he's considering nominating a

congressman teds collins. of course, it's -- in a range of people being considered for this job, is he, himself, qualified for that? >> well, first of all, he's running for senate in georgia, challenging a appointed republican senator seen as more moterate. >> not sure if he would give that up and you don't know if there's 60 your months or 12 or 11. so, i'm not sure he would want it but i think it would be seen as more qualifies. at ranell. >> the former director of national intelligence, james clapper, spoke with our wolf

blitzered and the high turnover. take a quick listen to what he said. >> another dimension i worry about is fr the intell kmoons j at large. investor grunel will be the first acting deui since i level. and the turbulence, turnlomoil s creates in running a global enterprise, to me is -- >> i want to know what kind of impact high turnover can have on the intelligence community and even the security of the united

states? first of all, there's the parallel to the career prosecutors. had to resign over the p president's intervention in the roger stone matter. regulators described similar process. if t goes back to the idea this is an expngds is annardical of your wind. and all of these departments and agencies are used to operating with a certain level of independent. and the ability to make independent judgments about following the law as they see it, are operating under president who completely rejects that concept. and you are getting the friction and tension of those traditional mishes of the agency being pulld and pushed against his desire to

be an extension of his personal will. so, it'sects tremely disruptive, but no more so than what's happening in interior department or many others. >> that's what has been happening across the board. thank you for your time. @ron live from los angeles. another one of president trump's associates will soon be heading to prison. he sent down a thurtd-year sense tool alley and obstruction of justice and tampering with witnesses. president trump says he's not going to pardon stone just yet but says he hopes to see stone exonerated. religious groups in south korea now the suspected course of dozens of cases of the coronavirus. more on that ahead and outrage

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welcome back. more than 500 confirmed cases in three provinces, including hubei. the vast majority are in hubei province. 76,000 confirmed cases and number in south korea has tripled. most linked to a single religious group. >> reporter: this is about a three-hour drive south of the capitol, seoul. it's become ground zero to battle the coronavirus. this is one of the major reasons why it's now in focus. the building of religious

movement and this is where we've seen a significant cluster over recent days. korean health officials have been calling it a super spreading event. there was one that came to services at this week. helkt officials say there are about 1,001 members of the nation and we need make sure they're trying to contain the outbreak and what they say is there are at least 57 other friday mornings theyvent been able to get in touch with. i have to say i haven't seen a single person not wearing a mask, even though taking the protective measure. he said he would like to see residents to stay inside their homes. there's a military aspect to this as well. a heavy military presence for

south korea and u.s. military. we know five have been confirmed, lead thag virus. and there have to be restrictions on going off base. also of any overnight stays or visitors. one who had a virus met up with his girl and attended a religious movement. they say they're prohibiting all but essential travel. they are restricting movents off base as well. specifically everyone right here, the sep center is taking this very seriously. the german government is

being asked to do more after a man opened fire, killing nine people. several hundred gather said and remembered victims and held a moment of violence. live from the scene where the rampage just took part. i think coming to terms not only with what happened but the growing zen phobia. what are people tealing you about how they're feeling in the aftermath of this? >> you mentioned a moment ago that anger, the fact more as the not been done to prevent that tragedy and for the kind of hate speech that has been getting more and more prevalent in germany. we saw people very angry at the government not having done more. and today i think is much more

about that, considering what the authorities might have done and what more they could do to prevent this sort of thing. and questions about the right right and it has facilitated or normalized the kind of hate speech we see in the manifesto of the gunman who took on the rampage. and yet linking to that very man fegso the gwynn gunman said he wanted widely disseminating across the world. i think the party is coming under a great deal of pressure. >> it then morphed and more

about protecting german culture. and i think in particular, from the muslim onslaught. that's the one raiseing all kinds of concerns. much more of a demonstration, really. an indication. >> reporter: muhammad first heard rounds of gun fire and then heard a man entering the bar. >> translator: he shot straight to the head at everyone he saw. i hid behind the wall and as i was moving to hierktsd he shot me in the arm. we became a pile. >> this is the man now identified as 34-year-old tobias

who wounded six. and it's shocked by the attack. >> it was a massacre a killing spree and people laying on the ground. >> translator: one of the young guys was taken to the hospital. >> the police tracked a suspected gunman's vehicle shortly afterwards. heerks along with his mother were found dead. they're poling it an act of they're and spread deeply racist preo preorts and conspiracy theories. >> he wroeked out of hatred towards other people of anger, and appearance.

>> reporter: i believe the german authorities will make every sessary effort to throw all light on the attack. >> reporter: and germany's far-right extroem foeptsz were suspect said of having been plotting laurj-ski plotting large attack on mosques. >> and it is to blame for far too many crimes. it's not just the german political crash but ord near jordan and turns into a demonstration about racism and the officer of attacks. this is the thursday far right

in less than a year. this is with their candles and words is not the germany we know, it's not the germany we love. >> that was melissa bell reporting from hanoi. and african frigss. i'll be back. t the colonial pen. if you're age 50 to 85 and looking to buy life insurance on a fixed budget, remember the three p's. what are the three p's? the three p's of life insurance on a fixed budget are price, price, and price. a price you can afford, a price that can't increase, and a price that fits your budget. i'm 65 and take medications. what's my price? you can get coverage for $9.95 a month. i just turned 80. what's my price? $9.95 a month for you, too. if you're age 50 to 85,

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prison population in three provinces. more than 500 cases have been confirmed among inmates and staff. most in china's hubei. u.s. intelligence officials are warnling law makers, they're already interfering with elekds. and that's similar to what intelligence officials say in 2016. and now his long-time political ally, roger stone, may soon be heading to pris on. up frumg of justice and tamping can with witnesses. and the truth still matters. in a costa report from the white house.

>> reporter: president trump drew his support behind roger stone but stopped short of offering a pardon to the dirty trickster. >> i'm not going to do anything in term thocs of the great powe bestowed on the president of the united states. i want the process to play out. i think that's the best thing to do. because i'd love to see roger exonerated because i personally think he waserated unfairly. and now akutded her of being an antitrump activist, in respuns to defending the prosecutors in the stone case. >> so, i hope the judge will find she's tainted and if she isn't, that will be fine too.

anybody here know about a bad jury? mr. trump unleashed a flattout false hood of highs own when he said trump was not involved in the campaign. >> roger was never involved in the trump campaign for president. i think before i admounst it, but he was not involved when i ran for president. and again, he knows a lot of people having to do with politics. >> stone is part of a growing group sentenced or awaiting prison sentences. he he's floating the idea to keep them private. ophorine with rebard to fight and signal if they stay on the

team and don't reveal further information, that thal rr be taken care of. >> at one point saying at the former campaign advisor's sentencing, that he was prosecuted for covering for the president. and trump tweeting a video of a fake system saying end nis lean jeengs. >> trump allies are reminding the president he has the power to pardon stone when neppau fraem is all the legal authorities to review the case or nds lee and a fellow juror in the case said the president and attorney general are doing damage to the justice system. >> they cast doubt on the

bedrock on the equalled a minstration of justice that is so important to our country. i think he damages the democracy talking this way. >> the president was trying to relate to his oddgence, at one point insisting he didn't do anything wrong but got impeached. as for a stone pardon, they expect the president to settle the skoefr if stone's convicted isn't ult mtdly overturned. the u.s. democratic presidential contenders are back on the campaign trail and some are sharpening their attacks. elizabeth warren took michael bloomberg to task over nondisclosure agreements. >> so, i used to teach contract law and i thought i would make this easy.

i wrote up a release and covenant not to sue and all that mayor bloomberg has to do is download it. i'll text it. sign it, and then the women, or men, will be free to speak and tell their own stories. >> and joe biden also made an appearance thursday. he took aim at president trump about the importance of reaching across the aisle and why his republican colleagues might be reluctant to do so. well, first of all, mitch is not my closest friend. but i tell you what i guarantee you there are a number of republicans, especially with this president out of the way,

who are ready to work on things like a rational immigration policy and ready to work on thick things like health care. i promise you that's there but right now they're deathly afraid because this president is so vindictive. >> all the democrats decide who should face president donald trump in the general election. questions remain. we report on the steps officials are taking ahead of saturday's caucuses. >> reporter: tonight it looks like nevada's first ever early voting in a caucus is paying off with huge numbers. but will it make getting results more complicate? they say more than 75,000 participated in the first ever

aurly caucusing. roughly 84 thundershower rr participated on college day. and while the party celebrated the high turnout of whether she'll ready for saturday. our goal is to have a successful caucus. and lessons learned from iowa. so, thats we could be successful here in nevada. >> reporter: volunteer, seth morrison, raised a red flag early in the training process. now he's more optimistic but worried about lingering issues. >> we still don't know any details of how they were tabulated and hew this teal worked. the democrats are scrambling

to train, having added 55 additional training sessions and they can try out, which morrison says is friendly. >> it's very well designed, intuitive. >> but he says he sees potential problem. this shows what they saw. they did not allow our cameras to hold the demo. combined with the choices of the people there on sunday to determine the winners and losers through two rounts. it's teasious a likely lengthy process. still, the chair of the democratic national committee says he believes it will be

saturday some saturday. >> dianne gallagher, cnn, las vegas. frrjs n now, iran heads to the polls to pick a new parliament. we'll get the latest from tehran next. hi guys. this is the chevy silverado

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polls are open in iran where voters are choosing a new parliament. tension between iran and the united states seems to be -- moderates seem set for major losses, not just because he's under fire but because many of their candidates have been prevented from running.

and fred, we know voter apathy has been a real concern and they were unable to be put forward. what are we doing to increase voter turnout and you've been at this seen this morning. >> it's probably too early to tell whether it's working and how high the turnout is going to be. the leaders have tried a lot to come out and vote. and the supreme leader urged those to come out and cast their ballot because he says it this was important for the country and their civic duty to vote. let's listen. >> translator: it is a religious beauty and responsibility, which i have shared that with my compatriots on previous

ophysicians. the >> the elections are the guarantee of our national interests. and all of thouz, who love the nation national interest. and there was also a big campaign to get out the vote. there were posters all over tehran. and of course they only had a week to prepare before it took place. it does seem the more conservative voices that have the upper hand. and a lot of it feeds into the international tensions, including the high pressure campaign and the sanctions that have been devastating for the country's economy. it's also correct a lot of candidates were not allowed to

run and why exactly that happened? what the process was. they say there were other factors at play. what a way to see if that's something that could have an effect. authorities are saying they're aiming for about 50% of voter turnout said. >> i wanted to ask about that. we obviously have those two confirmed reports of two people dying this week. hoy are authorities responding? >> skirtenly doesn't make things easier for the employees. and in the early voting hours in iron. and you so -- there were health

officials where the two death said came from telling people to not to go to public places, which is hard when you're trying to hold a parliamentary election. they're trying to get people to vote and know it's not just the two who have died, there's confirmed cases like i can wear this. >> and some places in tehran and other areas of iran is united for a fingerprint i.d. to be identified. that's optional in some of these areas. to make sure there's contact that could cause any sort of transmission if coronavirus is in that area. so, certainly something i would

say is a factor, that the athroats are aware of. and we're going to have to see if it effects turnout as well. >> live where the elections are ongoing today. . for a winter storm knocked out thousand. what's going on here? sgli >> it's unusual to have snow in the south. but that's what far north georgia saw, five in virginia. 2 pite 5 in rally is a record for the day. >> 437 days, to be precise. >> this is the last measurable install just about every for the

most part and parts of southern virginia, also in and around the raleigh area and eventually all of this will begin to move out by the afternoon. there is a winder weather ass havery and form porning in parts ofistictic. but by afternoon all of that will move out and most of it will melt by then. snow is melting over the great lakes. windchills will drop down to four. 11 for boston. by saturday, even new york will see another cold weekend. and we're going to see the temperatures and that's only half a half an inch of snow. but they're saying we wish you

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welcome back. in the race for the white house, candidates are pulling out all the stops to get voters to check out their campaign website. >> reporter: amid the babble of debate, they ring out loud and clear. >> join us at bernie sanders.com. >> i ask you to join me at amy klobuchar.com. >> reporter: from incredibly cringy to better have a tip jar. the candidates keep plugging. >> you can go to pete for america.com. >> reporter: going to town. >> you can see it on our website, at amy klobuchar.com. >> reporter: as discrete as a friday night infomercial.

>> it's not a plan, it's powerpoint. >> i don't know if there are any powerpoints on it but you can go to the internet. and unlike the billionaire, the others have to beg. at least their plugs aren't as blatant at this one outside the roger stone sentencing. d.c. black tours billed as unique. the popes orwherever fords gather. and joe meaden once confused texting with his web address. . you agree with me, go to to joe if you agree with me, go to

nuclerr code sequence. cue the "spaceballs." >> that's the kind of thing some idiot would have on his luggage. >> reporter: remember this? >> 303, 30. >> i changed the combination on my luggage. >> cnn, new york. >> made me want to find out. you can go to our websiour. that wraps up this hour of "cnn newsroom." ♪

let's get down to business. the business of atlanta on monday... ... cincinnati on tuesday. ...philly on wednesday. ...and thursday back to cincinnati . modernized comfort inns and suites have been refreshed because when your business keeps going, our business is you. get the lowest price guaranteed on all choice hotels when you book direct at choicehotels.com.

[ fast-paced drumming ]

the russians are back and the president is irate but not because of a threat. he's just unwilling to accept the facts. the nevada caucuses a day away. the candidates making a final pitch and a dash for cash. a catastrophic tanker fire in indianapolis. the driver is lucky to be alive. just wait until you hear what saved him. welcome to our viewers in the united states and around the world. >> i'm christine romans. it is friday, february 21st. it is 4:00 a.m. in new york. america's russia nightmare 2.0, a briefing with lawmakers last week the intel community said it believes russia is already taking steps to interfere in the 2020 election with the goal of helping president trump win.