Blockbuster story. Theyre stepping up the digital incurrences into the russian power grids as they grib it demonstration theyre using new authorities more aggressively. They spoke to source who described american cyberspecialists have impacted computer code into the russian powder grid and other targets. This follows years of public warnings from the department of Homeland Security and the fbi that russia it solar has inserting maldoes that ware into u. S. Power plants, oil and gas pop lynn lines, Water Supplies and the like. New york times reports that back to 2012 u. S. Has probing the russian system, but now theyre going so far as to insert mallware into the russian grid. They dont know how deep american officials have bored into the network. That would determine whether or not this would be setting the stage for a possibly crippling attack if the United States and but nevertheless the fact were learning the u. S. Is taking that step is obviously startling, to be sure. The one point you mentioned, which giving people pause to which the president was aware of the actual specifics. Numbs number of times believes they dont believe the president knew about the specifics of the malware. Its officials he might countermand their he authorities, and one thing that was lingers with these officials is whether or not the president might actually discuss it with the foreign official. There have been instances in the past where hes met and discussed highly classified programs, which gave the Intelligence Community pause. Finally obviously tensions between the two countries have been high since the u. S. Pushily called out are you readia for the interference in the election. I think the latest reporting shows as the diplomatic chill continues out in the open, cyberteams from both sides are buggily preparing for the worst case. That being said, what type of response or escalation should the u. S. Expect as a result . Its yesterday to be seen. Part of it may actually be an ever by cybercommand to send a signal to the russians, so anytime you see it making its way out into the ether, it gives people cause, but this is something they want the russians to know. Weve been call out letting you know what were doing, now we want you to know what were doing as well. Its an escalation back and forth, putting both sides on notice that although you may have made your way into our system and were also into your network. If tensions rose to the level there was some type of offensive or hot war, for example, this would be tool they would use, and obviously we hope it never comes to that. Josh campbell, thank you for that insight. We hear a lot about iowa and new hampshire, but 2020 democrats know that South Carolina is just as important, maybe more so, in terms of really going the distance in the white house race. The nations First Southern primary offers the first real test of the appeal. A block that could be keep to winning the nomination mplgts medical paul 2020 contenders are in South Carolina right now. They are marching in protests, meeting with voters and hosting town has, all with the goal of making inroads. Cnn political reporter rebecca buck joins us. What has been the central message . The focus today was about expanding Economic Opportunity for black voters for minorities in particular. We had a forum with four candidates here in charleston today. Elizabeth warren, pete buttigieg, beto orourke, cory booker, all of them brought their proposals to close the on gaps, and fuel their businesses, essential hoping to boost their standing among these voters in this key primary state, by explaining how they would boost their economic prospects. All of them warmly received, but very different challenges among these four candidates. Cory booker has made South Carolina central to his president ial strategy, someone as he likes toe point out as a mayor of a majority black city. Mayor pete buttigieg, even as hes risen in the polls has struggled among africanamerican voters, and so we asked him today what he is doing to try to make inroads with africanamerican voters in communities of color. Heres what he had to say. You know, i think when you are newer, in terms of national profile, especially when youre not yourself from a community of color, you do need to work more to demonstrate what you care about and show that you can listen and capture the concerns and aspirations of different parts of our coalition, especially the black vote that has felt often used and taken for granted over recent years. What i have learned in these conversation has been first of all the series of issues that are top of mind for black activists and voters. It includes the ability to build wealth and deal with these persistent gaps in income, but also in wealth itself, in assets that have compounded over the years, a sense of urgency around dealing with the criminal justice system, and a sense of a need for awareness that racist systems and policies have penetrated every aspect of our nations life from health care to education to access to credit for entrepreneurship, but also that we can be intentional about policy toss reverse that. Senator dorsey bookcory book attend services tomorrow at the time church marking an versery this week and next weekend. 22 of them expected to be here for congressman clyburns fish fry. Ana . Thank you, rebecca. Sometimes subtle, sometimes direct, many candidates are taking swipes at the man to beat in the polls, joe biden. S. E. Cupp follows us right here, and alexandra rojas. Alexandra. Were hearing a lot from the other 2020 contenders on the attack after joe biden, throwing out things like hes from the past, really trying to paint him as something who is, you know, going backwards, not forwards, for the democratic party. Are democrats too quick to build a strategy of going after one of their own . No, i dont think so, i think joe biden stands in complete opposition to the agenda the joust majority of American People are excited about. Thats a progressive andenda that talks about big st. Louis that match the scale, scope and urge have i thats a green new deal, making sure you reject wall street pharmaceutical corporate money of all the kinds. For the past 40 years, joe biden has been known for the architect of the hes been on the wrong side of womens reproductive rights, especially in the way of what were seeing in alabama and georgia right now. Its not surprising that we have our entire Grassroots Movement trying to define what we stand for as a democratic party. It is certainly not for the wealthy and powerful, but for everyday workingclass American Families that make up this country. I think peoples instincts to go after joe biden is because hes standing in opposition to that very agenda. Though he would arguments, s. E. He has said he wont go after fellow democrats. I wonder how he can do that when confronted directly. This is the exist inchally crisis, the joe biden, the beto orourke, the pete buttigiegs, who want this to be a message of optimism, hope, lets rally together. And then theres the rest of the field. The rest of the field is representing an angry constituency, spongeding to that anger, that sense of urgency. I think you could argue, have a politics of punishment. Elizabeth warren is a perfect example. A lot every her candidacy is punishing on people. Joe biden, for not being progressive enough. I think there are some progressive voters for whom that resonates, but i think the majority of the country is not in that far extreme. So if if the primary were the elect you they she will have a tough time, but theres a general election, where you have to get everyone back on the same pa page. Some of the trump voters wlorp not happy with him changed their tune, and voted for a democrat, which put them in those positions. Alexandra, i also want to remind folks, before you respond to that, of the warning that former president obama gave to him party just a couple months ago about going after each other and eating their own. Then we start sometimes creating whats called a circular firing squad where you start shooting at your allies because of one of them is straying from purity on the issu issues, and when that happens, typically the overall effort and movement weakens. Alexandra, are the 2020 democrats completely ignores the former president s caution . Well, look, i think we can all agree that barack obama is incredible, an amazing human being, but the reality is 60 of americans right now cant afford an 800 emergency room bill, that for the past 40 years weve seen real wages stagnant. My generation isnt just angry for no reasons. The millions who didnt only disaffect from donald trump, but sat at home in 2016, thats young people, people of color and union households. They did not turn out the way we needed them to. The reality is that its not just republican leadership, but also democratic leadership that got us into this moment where we have to fight for our very democracy and stop the trump add manages, because they were able to not only take over the presidency, but we have seen up and down the ballot thousands of seats lost. I think that we have to question our leadership and the status quo the way weve been doing things in politics in a long time, and be bold enough, and present solutions that are actually going to address the scale, the scope and the urgency of the crisis we are facing. Its not that were just angry for for reason, its not about pun schick, but its about standing up to the powerful that have been halting progress for far too long. I think American People are showing thats what theyre hungry for. You see messaging like Elizabeth Warren northern being praised on the democratic side, but also the republican side. I think we have to take a look at where is Public Opinion showing around the solutions that they care about. Thats tackling the existential by providing universal he health care okay. Let me talk about the polls, you mentioned Elizabeth Warren starting to surge. Theres a new one out of the nevada this week showing warren in second place, actually ahead of bernie sanders. We hear from warren who was asked about these numbers today. Lets what much. Its way too early to talk about polls, what are we, eight months away from the first caucuses and primary elections . S. E. , let me ask you, the new reporting today from the New York Times, theres actually concern from this is from politico. Theyre concerned about warren now and theyre restrategizing how they go after her after so many weeks after going after biden, who is the bigger threat . It depends if youre talking short terms or long term. You know, short term Elizabeth Warren is a threat. Would they rather face her in a general . 1,000 . So i think there will be a twopronged strategy if theyre smart in the trump campaign, to sort of weaken and damage joe biden through the primary, but hope that Elizabeth Warren maybe gets through, ekes it out. Shes a much weaker general election candy than joe biden jutsdsr just according to where the public is in aend election. Thank you both. Nice. Tomiss s. E. Cupp unfiltered love here at the top of the next hour. Some white house staffers say theyre frustrated on the president s comments. Why some are blaming Sarah Sanders next, youre live in cnn newsroom. At air wick, we know that in nature, scent comes in waves. Gently and beautifully. Air wick essential mist is an expression of nature. Transforming natural essential oils into a fragrant mist. Simply adjust your setting for the perfect balance. And it gently fills the room. Pausing, when its just right. Take in notes of nature. And experience the fragrant mist with air wick essential mist. Car vending machines and buying a car 100 online. Vented now weve created a brand new way for you to sell your car. Whether its a year old or a few years old, we want to buy your car. So go to carvana and enter your license plate, answer a few questions, and our technowizardry calculates your cars value and gives you a real offer in seconds. 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President trump formally relaunches a new reelection bid on tuesday. Boo you first he dealing with his comments on whether he would take dirt from a foreign country. Reporter his evolving around has done little to tamp down the outrage sparked by his comments to abc news that he would accept dirt on a political opponent from a foreign source. In the span of just a few days, hes gone from saying in that case he wouldnt even contact the fbi, he said he didnt think he had ever contacted thes fbi in his life and that his own fbi director was wrong that any candidates put in that situation should go straight to the justice department, to a few days later say yes, he would go to the phish or the attorney general the cleanup attempt came yesterday it looks like we dont have the sound, but basically what the president did is compare that situation to the diplomatic conversations hes had with foreign leaders. Thats not context in which his original comments came. Sources tell cnn some within the white house questioning why the president decided to give that interview in the first place, woo why he was put in a position to face those questions. Following that interview we had the surprising news of Sarah Sanders, who is stepping down as White House Press secretary. Any connection there . Reporter ana, a source did tell cnn that she selected her departure date well in advance of this abc news interview but some have questioned that the president was permitted to do that. Its presumed that sarah sander would have some role in the decision to have that interview. The cleanup on fox friends has done little to lessen the initial interview, and theres some ink site ow this is playing out, giving 2020 hopefuls an issue to attack the president on where he is vulnerable. Sarah, thank you. The u. S. Is leaving no doubt about who it think it is attacked a pair of tankers in the gulf of oman. Will the situation in the gulf get worse before it gets better . 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The crew on board that vessel, though, says they dont believe the schiavo was hit by a mine, adding to the confusion. I want to bring in a mill tar and diplomatic analyst, retired rear admiral john kirby. Why would iran want to he well, i think essential its to show a strong signal that they can in fact affect the flow of oil, and to send a shot across the trump administrations bow about the increasing economic and political pressure. I think its very much meant to send a message that they can disrupt that oil flow, they can affect the american economy, and frankly the whole world. Egg pentagon says that proves it was iran. Is it a smoking gun . Yes. I have sailed those waters myself, ana. Were only see a small bit of that video. Im sure that the air crawford that was filming that got a lot of other footage as well of that boat leaving its port and returning. Im confident they know this is in fact a Iranian Revolutionary guard vessel. They pride themselves on fast boats and their ability to do these clandestine type of activities. I from the beginning thought there was no question, and this video is proo of of that. I would also add, ana, that the navy im sure has other mosaic pieces of the intel that demonstrate irans culpability here. Theres only one country that has the stake in doing this. Theres on