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Cecilia Agular-Curry is Interviewed about the Redistricting Fight; Trump Ratchets up Pressure on Zelenskyy; Court Hears Challenges to Florida Detention Site. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired August 18, 2025 - 09:30   ET

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

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[09:31:23]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we are getting some new video just in. This is from Chicago. And those are Democrats from Texas boarding a plane.

Now, I guess we don't know exactly where the plane is headed at this point, but we do know that there are reports that Texas Democrats are planning to return to Texas today, ending their walkout, which are protesting Republican redistricting plans. So, Texas Democrats getting on a plane in Chicago. If they go back to Texas, it will likely pave the way for Republicans to pass the new congressional map.

Also today, in California, Democratic lawmakers are set to introduce new congressional maps. Maps they hope will offset what Republicans are doing in Texas.

And with us now is the majority leader of the California State Assembly, Cecilia Agular-Curry.

Thank you so much for being with us, Leader.

Talk to me about how this is going to work because the clock is ticking.

CECILIA AGULAR-CURRY (D), MAJORITY LEADER, CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY: Oh, good morning and thank you for having me.

You're right, the clock is ticking. We have a lot of work to do this week. We were going back into session today. We're having a continuous conversations. And then tomorrow we will be moving into committee hearings, both in the assembly and the senate. And the following day, we'll -- if those get passed through committee, which is adding additional public input, will go to the appropriations committee, and then we will eventually go to the floor of both the senate and the assembly.

So, we have a chock-fill (ph) a couple of days. We're trying to make some really good decisions. And, obviously, we -- we want to address everything in our power to deal with Donald Trump and how he's trying to rig the elections. BERMAN: And this is to what? Let's be explicit about what the goal is

here. How many seats do you think you can have the Democrats pick up with these redrawn maps?

AGULAR-CURRY: Well, with the redrawn maps we're hoping for five. And I wouldn't be surprised if we couldn't get more. You know, the -- the budget that was shown to us from the federal government is something that's got many voters very upset. And people are looking to what Californians and Democrats, as well as some Republicans can do to secure a better life for themselves throughout the nation.

So, we are going to be doing three different things. We are going to be doing a constitutional amendment that will be brought forward by one of our members, and it will -- just authorizes temporary -- temporary replacement of our congressional maps that are being -- that have been drawed -- drawn by the commission. And then I will be doing a bill that we'll be bringing those maps forward so that the public can look at those maps. And then finally we will do a bill that will just say we're going to do a special election. So, we have a lot to do.

BERMAN: Yes.

AGULAR-CURRY: And I think that we're on board to do that. We've -- we're (ph) meeting to do so.

BERMAN: Again, and it is so complicated because of the law in California with the special commission and you do have to put this to a full vote before the entire state very soon. So, so in terms of people who support the commission, former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger strongly supports the -- the commission and strongly opposes what you're trying to do. We have a picture up on the screen right now. You can see, you know, it's a picture of him. It says, "I'm getting ready for the gerrymandering battle." He also says, "f the politicians and terminate gerrymandering." That's what's on his t- shirt for those, you know, who can't get a close look at that.

[09:35:04]

What's your message to the former governor here who is opposed to what you're doing?

AGULAR-CURRY: With all due respect, Governor Schwarzenegger, at the time, did a really memorable bill. And I think it's worked for years. But right now we are in an era, we are in a time that it does not work. And so, we are moving on. And I think he did a great job at the time. If everybody followed those rules and didn't try to rig the system, we would have a different attitude right now. So, with all due respect, I think the governor did a great job when -- and when we're doing the commission and it worked. However, right now it doesn't work in the environment that we're in.

BERMAN: And again, as you correctly noted, this is the last step. You have to put this up for a vote before the entire state. He's going to be working against it. A lot of other people with a lot of money are going to be working against what you are trying to do here. How confident are you that you'll prevail at the ballot box?

AGULAR-CURRY: Oh, I'm very confident. You know, this -- this cost of this -- doing this redistricting is an investment in democracy. And that's what people are looking for. They're looking for change. And, as we know, California has been a leader for years. We'll continue to be a leader. Is this risky? Of course it's risky. But you know what? We are willing to take this risk and to go forward. Our constituents are asking for it. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to even my little small community, and people are saying, please, Democrats, do something. We have got to hold on to the people. We're not taking care of the people.

And I have to agree with that. And we're going to work really hard on helping the people because they've lost just basic things that -- our health care has been gutted, we're killing programs that were -- for working people and the (INAUDIBLE) on the line right now. And I think that this proposal that we have by the leadership of Governor Newsom is going in the right direction. And I'm confident we will get there.

BERMAN: Majority Leader Cecilia Agular Curry, thank you so much for being with us today. You've got a long week ahead of you. Appreciate your time.

President Trump pressuring Ukrainian Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of their White House meeting, says that Ukrainians could end the war almost immediately. Zelenskyy could do it if he wants to.

This after the president reversed himself, no longer calling for a ceasefire before more substantial negotiations.

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[09:42:27]

BERMAN: We are standing by for huge meetings at the White House. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy there following new pressure that he is getting from President Trump, who posted that Zelenskyy, quote, "can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants." Remember, Ukraine is the country that's been invaded here. Remember, also Russia launched deadly strikes on Ukraine overnight.

With us now, White House and national security correspondent for "The New York Times," and CNN political and national security analyst David Sanger.

David, you've got a terrific piece overnight. Another key aspect of this is that Ukrainian leaders are coming to the White House as a form of backup, you wrote, for Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But you also note that there has already been a wedge driven between sort of the United States and Europe by Vladimir Putin. What do you mean?

DAVID SANGER, CNN POLITICAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, that collection of European leaders who you've got up on the screen, they are there in part to make sure that this meeting doesn't go the way the February one did, when you'll remember the president and President Zelenskyy got into a shouting match on the air with the president yelling, you don't have the cards and so forth. Well, partly by having the Europeans there, he's trying to show that he does have the cards.

But the more interesting thing that's going on here, John, I think, is this. Putin's goal for decades has been to divide NATO, right? To separate out the policies of the Europeans and NATO from the biggest member of NATO, the United States. And he got a huge gift when we were all up in Anchorage at the end of the week. And what that was, was that the president had agreed with the European leaders that there had to be a ceasefire first so that you're not negotiating a peace agreement while under fire and while the Ukraine -- while the Russians are gaining ground in Ukraine. The president backed away from that mysteriously in the middle of the meeting with Putin, and then calls up to the Europeans and said, I just did this, so we're all on board with it, right? And their answer was, basically, well, thanks for getting the negotiations going, but no we're not really on board with this.

So, what they've got to go do and having everybody there is all get on the same page about what the negotiating strategy is with Putin, because he will exploit every division.

[09:45:01]

BERMAN: He already has exploited these divisions.

SANGER: Yes.

BERMAN: And we're getting word from Moscow, our Fred Pleitgen there, you know, almost unbridled glee inside the Kremlin right now at the path things have taken.

The one thing that's being floated that at this point is little amorphous is the idea of security guarantees for Ukraine. I guess my question to you is by whom, and how would that practically take effect? What are some of the options on the table?

SANGER: Great question because we don't really know what this looks like. The idea of a security guarantee is pretty straightforward. The Russians have violated every written commitment they've had before not to invade Ukraine. And by my count, they've had three, OK.

But the idea here is, put some kind of force in Ukraine, certainly made up of European nations. They're also members of NATO, but it wouldn't be a NATO badged force. And the question is, would the United States join that?

Now, President Trump said for the first time over the weekend that he was open to that. And he told the Europeans that. But he didn't say whether he was open to putting U.S. forces in or just providing U.S. intelligence, which would be enormously helpful. You know, the U.S. has got satellite capabilities that none of the Europeans do, targeting information, other intel. It's not clear what form it would take. And it's also not clear how big a force this is. Is this a peacekeeping force? Is it just a -- what they call a tripwire force so that the Russians would know they'd have to kill Europeans on their way to getting into Ukraine? Not clear what it is. BERMAN: Also not clear exactly what requirements they would have to

respond. Is it Article Five like guarantees even though Ukraine will not be part of NATO? Some kind of collective security. We just don't know. But we are watching. I know you are watching.

David Sanger, great to see you. Great piece overnight as well. Thank you.

Breaking news out of Utah. Two officers shot and killed, a third injured. We're getting new details just in.

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[09:51:36]

BOLDUAN: This morning, officials in Utah are investigating a shooting that left two police officers dead. It happened Sunday about 70 miles north of Salt Lake City. Police officers this -- police say the officers were responding to a domestic disturbance call.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As you can imagine, like I said, it rocks an entire community, especially the police department. As I mentioned at the beginning of this, Chief Cordova (ph) asked me to be here so he could be with -- with his department and his family and take care of their needs as much as one can in a situation like this.

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BOLDUAN: Sheriff's deputy and a police dog were also injured but are said to be in fair condition right now. After the shots were fired, bystanders actually convinced the gunman to put down his weapon. He was then taken into custody and now faces aggravated murder charges.

And a devastating update to bring you on a missing California mother and her eight month old daughter. A dive team found her car submerged in a canal with the bodies of a woman and child inside. The family says that -- that it is Whisper Owen and her daughter Sandra, but authorities have not yet confirmed their identities. The two were last seen on July 15th. And because of miscommunication, their family did not realize that they were missing for three days. Authorities are investigating now how that vehicle ended up in the water.

Also this morning, attorneys will be in federal court having to do with Alligator Alcatraz. They're fighting for detainees at the controversial immigration detention site in the Florida Everglades. The ACLU says that the -- that detainees there have been unable to communicate with legal counsel or file motions with the immigration court that could result in their release.

CNN's Rafael Romo is following this one for us and he's joining us now.

What are you learning about this, Rafael?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kate, good morning.

Well, let's remind our viewers that Alligator Alcatraz is currently facing two lawsuits. One was filed by environmental groups who are opposed to such a facility being built in the middle of an ecosystem, like the Florida Everglades. The other one was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and immigrants' rights advocates.

A federal court in Miami will hold a hearing in the next hour about the second case filed by the ACLU, which makes several allegations, including that detainees are denied access to legal counsel at the makeshift Florida detention site and that their pressure to self- deport without legal representation. At an earlier hearing, the federal judge hearing the case raised concerns about confusion over who runs the facility. The ACLU's lead counsel in this case says beyond the harsh conditions detainees face at Alligator Alcatraz, there are fundamental rights that are being violated.

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EUNICE CHO, SENIOR COUNSEL, ACLU'S NATIONAL PRISON PROJECT: And they are being held, of course, without, you know, honoring many of the very basic constitutional rights, to be able to speak to counsel, to be able to petition for release from custody. And, you know, Alligator Alcatraz cannot end up being a black hole where people disappear.

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ROMO: And, Kate, in response to the allegations, a top Department of Homeland Security official said that "any allegation that illegal aliens at Alligator Alcatraz do not have access to attorneys is false. The facility," she said, "maintains a physical space for attorneys to meet with their clients. Additionally, Florida established an email address for attorneys to submit requests to speak to the specific illegal aliens."

The ACLU lawsuit names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her entire department as defendants, as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his executive director of emergency management, Kevin Guthrie.

[09:55:12]

The state of Florida has pushed back, saying conditions at the tent facility are in good working order and that claims to the contrary are false.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, that's clearly not over, that legal battle, on multiple fronts now.

Rafael, thank you very much for that.

BERMAN: Thank you all so much for being with us today. Big news day.

BOLDUAN: Quite a day. Yes. And it's just getting started. BERMAN: Stay with CNN all day long as Ukrainian Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy heads to the White House. The leaders from across Europe, they will be there as well. All the twists and turns.

BOLDUAN: All of them.

Thanks so much for joining us. CNN -- this is CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "THE SITUATION ROOM" is up next.

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