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Russia Launches Deadliest Strikes on Kyiv Since Last Summer; Trump Threatens to Re-impose Reciprocal Tariffs Within Weeks; Harvard Asks Judge to Expedite Lawsuit Challenging Funding Freeze. Aired 7- 7:30a ET

Aired April 24, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, Russia launches its deadliest attack on Ukraine's capital since last summer as President Trump accuses, not Russia, but Ukraine's president of harming peace negotiations.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A new U-turn on tariffs this morning after the Wall Street Journal called it a harsh reality that China called the president's bluff and seems to have won this round.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And Harvard ready to fight, not negotiate. The school's president is speaking out, saying he doesn't know if this is a fight they can win but says they don't have a choice.

I'm Kate Bolduan with Sara Sidner and John Berman. This is CNN News Central.

The breaking news overnight, Russia launching its deadliest strikes on Kyiv since last summer.

That wave of attacks killed at least eight people, wounded at least 60 others. The brash hit 13 different locations throughout Ukraine's capital, including civilian infrastructure and residential buildings. And right now, rescuers are working through rubble to try and find people in search for more believed to be caught underneath that rubble.

The timing of these attacks is important. Russia launched the strikes just hours after President Trump lashed out at Ukraine's President Zelenskyy. Trump accusing Zelenskyy of slowing and harming talks to negotiate the end to this war. There is a lot going on around this.

Let's get straight over to Nic Robertson for more on this. I mean, this attack is one of the deadliest in months, Nic, the timing, as I said is a huge part of this story.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: You know, just look at it this way. President Trump is putting diplomatic pressure on Zelenskyy to agree to a ceasefire deal on terms, by the way, Zelenskyy is not happy with and at the same time, Putin is ratcheting up the military attacks. And it's really important to say this isn't just like military or military pressure. These attacks are not raining down on the frontlines. They're raining down on civilians in the big cities, in Kyiv and other cities around the country. 70 missiles, I think you caught one of them on one of those clips there. You see this orange light descending there on Kyiv in the nighttime sky. That looks like a ballistic missile. 11 of these, 70 missiles fired were ballistic missiles. They are the hardest to stop, 145 drones.

And if you look at the number of intercepts, Ukraine was able to pull off in the night, statistically, they look like they're a little bit down over what they've been able to achieve in the past. And in part, this happens at a time when there's real concern over the dwindling stockpiles of Patriot air defense missiles that Ukraine has. And, of course, those come from the United States. So, you know, twin pincers here on Ukraine, political and military pressure, and emotionally, Putin trying to really get to Ukrainians by attacking the cities, the civilians, not the troops on the frontlines.

BOLDUAN: Nic, thank you so much. Nic Robertson following it, there's much more to come on this today, for sure. John?

BERMAN: All right, this morning, whiplash on Wall Street, and we're talking brand new whiplash. This is Thursday whiplash not the same as Wednesdays or the day before. This time, it's on the reciprocal tariffs. They were on then they were off. Now, they may be on again after the president paused tariffs on most countries for 90 days earlier this month. He now says he could re-impose them as soon as two or three weeks. That pause applied to everyone, nearly everyone except China. The U.S. has slapped a 145 percent tariff on China, which responded by hiking its own tariffs on U.S. imports to 125 percent.

This week, the president struck a softer tone signaling he could lower those tariffs on China and telling reporters the two sides are talking every day. But the Chinese contradicted him this morning, saying there are no ongoing discussions. The Wall Street Journal editorial board says this morning China called Mr. Trump's bluff and seems to have won this round.

[07:05:03]

All right, let's take a live look at U.S. Stock Futures. You can see flat or down, just a hair this morning. This comes after two days of back to back gains.

Now, a dozen states, mostly led by Democrats, have said they've had enough of all this turmoil, the whiplash and the lash and the whiplash. They filed a lawsuit to block the president's policies, calling them unlawful.

Let's get right to CNN's Kevin Liptak at the White House. Are we going to get the flip flop or the flip today or neither?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, you know, it's always a risk in overinterpreting exactly what Trump is saying on the tariffs on any given day, but certainly the markets and the consumers are watching it very closely. And so, as he says that he could potentially put in new tariffs in a matter of weeks with countries he can't, you know, make deals with, that's just more uncertainty for people who are already very concerned about rising prices, about the potential for empty shelves in big box stores this summer. No matter how you look at it here, the clock is ticking.

You know you have the actual clock. We're now about 11 weeks away from that original deadline that the president set to negotiate new trade deals. You also have the political clock as consumers begin to feel the real world effects of these tariffs, and that is something that the president has been warned about by both his economic team but also outside advisors who say that, in a lot of ways, this trade war, particularly with China, is just not sustainable.

Now, the White House says that they have been approached by a hundred countries to try and negotiate trade deals. They say they have 18 proposals down on paper, although they haven't said specifically who those are with. Listen to more of what the president said about his negotiating strategy yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I think what's going to happen is we're going to have great deals. And, by the way, if we don't have a deal with a company or a country, we're going to set the tariff. We just set the tariff. It's something that we think that will happen, I'd say, over the next couple of weeks, wouldn't you say? I think so. Over the next two, three weeks, we'll be setting the number.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPTAK: Now where this pressure hasn't seemed to be working is with China. It hasn't seemed to be able to bring President Xi Jinping to the table. And advisers I've talked to have said essentially that Beijing is perhaps more dug in than they expected at the outset of all of this. The strategy seems to be waiting Trump out, waiting for him to see some of the pain that these tariffs are causing. It does seem to be having some effect after the president said he would be willing to substantially cut that 145 percent tariff rate on China.

When you talk to officials, they say that's not likely to happen until the two sides are really talking in earnest. You heard President Trump say yesterday that the officials were talking every day. Afterwards, I spoke to an official who said that wasn't necessarily related to trade. And, in fact, two senior Chinese officials are here in Washington this week to attend the IMF World Bank meetings, but they don't have any meetings scheduled with the White House, which just gives you a sense of some of the stalemate that currently exists between Washington and Beijing. President Trump, President Xi, each not wanting to essentially be the first person to pick up the phone.

Now, on top of all of this, you have the challenges to these tariffs, and we just got the latest from about a dozen Democrat-led states. They say that Trump doesn't have the power to enact these tariffs. They say that that power rests with Congress. John?

BERMAN: A lot going on this morning, and I imagine there'll be a lot of new polls coming out with a hundred days in office looming.

Kevin Liptak, thanks so much for being with us. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Thank you, John.

Ahead, the president of Harvard doubling down, why he says Harvard will not compromise with the Trump administration as the administration attacks Harvard.

With hurricane season right around the quarter, there are major concerns as FEMA is set to lose nearly 20 percent of its workforce due to DOGE cuts.

And it could become the largest fire in the state that it's ever seen in over 20 years. We're tracking the fast-spreading New Jersey wildfire.

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SIDNER: Breaking overnight, Harvard University is asking a federal judge to fast track its lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's funding freeze. More than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts remain on hold after the country's oldest university refused to accept the President's demands to make changes. The White House says those changes are meant to fight anti-Semitism. Harvard says, funding research and fighting anti-Semitism are unrelated. And the Trump administration is really trying to dictate what it teaches its students and what professors it hires in violation of the First Amendment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALAN GARBER, HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT: We are defending what I believe is one of the most important linchpins of the American economy and way of life, our universities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this a fight you can win.

GARBER: I don't know the answer to this question, but the stakes are so high that we have no choice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: That was Harvard's president talking to NBC.

Joining me now, CNN Senior White House Producer Betsy Klein. Tell us a bit more about the new legal filing that Harvard put through the court.

[07:15:03]

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: Yes, Sara. So, we are seeing the Trump administration take aggressive aim at Harvard University and other elite higher education institutions, and we are starting to learn a little bit more about the task force that is behind these efforts.

Now, to get a sense of the scope of the work of the task force to combat anti-Semitism, it is under the Justice Department. Earlier this month, this is the task force that sent Harvard that list of demands of policy changes that Harvard ultimately rejected. And then just days later, this task force started that $2.2 billion funding freeze on Harvard University.

So, who is in it? It is led by Leo Terrell. He is a former Fox News personality. He is also a civil rights attorney. It includes officials from the Department of Justice, Treasury, Education, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, as well as the General Services Administration.

But the policy here, Sara, is really being driven by Stephen Miller, the president's deputy chief of staff, really underscores the power and influence that Miller has amassed as and he is implementing this agenda that has just been years in the making on behalf of President Trump and extends really far beyond the issue of anti-Semitism.

Now, there is an initial target list for this task force in addition to Harvard, Columbia University, Northwestern University, Cornell University, and the University of Michigan. But a White House official tells me, quote, there is no university that's off limits, but there are some that are the most egregious low-hanging fruit that make it easier for us to start directing action.

Now, this is ostensibly about cracking down on anti-Semitism. But Harvard President Alan Garber really acknowledges that that is something where Harvard has work to do. But the Trump administration also acknowledges that this is serving a broader political purpose. That White House official also tells me, quote, this is the president's priority. This is not a showboating exercise, but they added, it has reawakened the Republican Party and this administration to say, hey, let's look at how the taxpayers are funding these universities and say, wait, we want to end anti-Semitism, but shouldn't we also stop funding these universities that hate us that aren't doing the work of the American people?

Now, Harvard has indicated it is not interested in negotiating. The White House says that President Trump would like to make a deal and it wants them to come to the table and correct course here.

SIDNER: We also noted the president is looking at accreditation of universities as well, looking to strike out at bat.

Betsy Klein, thank you so much for that great reporting this morning. John?

BERMAN: Emotional testimony in the murder retrial of Karen Read, the woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend. The mother of the victim speaking publicly for the first time about her son's death.

And then it is one of the biggest football days of the year and no one's even playing the NFL draft. We have up to the second news on the big board and possible trades. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: Sports time, friends. Tonight kicks off the NFL draft, one of the biggest days and nights and celebrations in the NFL. This year, they're live from Lambeau Field, actually, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Tennessee Titans get the first pick. So, let's see what happens on that. That big event kind of caps off a week in sports, especially in the NBA and over at the NBA. Golden State has a big question mark hanging over its head right now after a rough injury.

CNN's Andy Scholes has much more on all of this. Where do you want to begin, Andy?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR : Yes. Let's start with the NBA, Kate, because the Warriors, they lost game two to the Rockets last night, but they hope they haven't lost Jimmy Butler now for some, or maybe even all of this series. Butler falling hard going for a rebound last night, happened in the first quarter. Amen Thompson, he stumbles while following his shot. He just completely takes out butler's legs in the process. Butler, he would stay in the game for a couple minutes after this, but he would then leave and go straight to the locker room. He did not return with a pelvic contusion. Butler is scheduled to have an MRI today.

Now, Houston's Jalen Green rebounded from a tough game one. He scored 38 points as the Rockets even that series at a Game of Peace (ph) with the 109-94 win.

Jayson Tatum meanwhile missing his first ever playoff game for the Celtics due to the wrist injury he suffered in game one. Jaylen Brown stepping up in his absence, he scored 36 points, grabbed 10 rebounds at 5 assists. In third quarter, Kristaps Porzingis takes a nasty shot to the face, had a gash on his head. He was able to go back to the locker room, get five stitches and get back to the court in time to shoot his flagrant free throws. He came back with big band aid, big smile on his face. The crowd gave a big ovation. Celtics did go to beat the Magic 109 to 100 to take a 2-0 lead in that series.

In the Stanley Cup playoffs, awesome moment, Gabe Landeskog playing his first game for the Avalanche in nearly three years after multiple knee surgeries, and his kids holding up that adorable sign saying, so proud of you daddy.

Now, Denver held a 1-0 lead in the third period, but the Stars veteran Jamie Benn scoring on this power play to tie it, we go to overtime. And in O.T., Tyler Sagan, the winner for Dallas, they get a 2-1 lead in this series despite leading for less than 70 seconds in the entire series.

All right, and, finally, NFL draft it kicks off tonight with round one from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Tennessee Titans own the first pick, expected to take Miami Quarterback Cam Ward first overall.

[07:25:00] Most then have a Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter going to the Browns at pick number two. Now three with the Giants is when things get interesting. Do they take Dionne Sanders' son, Shedeur? Do they take Penn State Defense Ben Abdul Carter, or do they trade the pick? We'll see if we get some drama tonight, Kate.

But everyone, every fan base is in it tonight, Kate, because it's the first time since 1967 that there have been no trades of first round pick. Everyone still has their first round pick. So, we'll see if some the trading gets going tonight.

BOLDUAN: I'm clearly fascinated in the trades. But what I'm more fascinated about, two things. One, who's going to give Roger Goodell like a massive bear hug, because the hugs and what Goodell has to suffer through is one of my favorite parts. Watching Roge deal with what he's got to deal with.

Number two, that band aid on the Celtics player forehead, I know you'd come back, I know you'd come back for a live shot after you got hit in the head.

SCHOLES: So, I loved it because he never missed any time on the court. He was able to go get five stitches and get back with a giant band aid. Didn't clean up the blood very well, they were commenting that like, they maybe need to give him a better towel, but Kristaps Porszingis, a Celtics legend now.

BOLDUAN: You just need to make that bandage even bigger, then you can cover up the blood. Just keep it going.

SCHOLES: I wouldn't be smiling so big had I gotten five stitches, I promise you that.

BOLDUAN: I think that's probably what they call, you know, some some localized numbing shots around his forehead is what he's smiling about right now.

SIDNER: That's why he's smiling.

BOLDUAN: All right. Thanks, Andy.

SIDNER: I think, Andy and Kate, that he should be on the Warriors team because he looked like one.

BOLDUAN: I mean, he looked like there was something going on. I don't know.

SIDNER: John's screaming, no, that's my team.

BOLDUAN: I can't, let's ignore him. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Thank you, Kate.

All right, ahead, Russia up launching a major attack on Kyiv overnight while Trump accuses Zelenskyy of harming peace talks. And brand new developments in the case of the wrongfully deported Maryland resident, Abrego Garcia, the DOJ pushing for more time before answering a judge's demand to stop stalling and give the details to suite. Those stories and more ahead.

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