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Minneapolis Morning After 2 Children Killed in School Shooting; Students and Parents Describe Terror of Minneapolis Shooting; White House Ousts New CDC Director After She Refuses to Resign; Trump Looks to Make His Mark on the Federal Reserve. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired August 28, 2025 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00]

DONNA ADELSON: ... for a very near future, I'm going to need to speak with you ...

CHARLES ADELSON: Did someone write a letter to you or something?

DONNA ADELSON: I've got some -- I've got some paperwork. It came hand- delivered to me.

CHARLES ADELSON: You're being sued?

DONNA ADELSON: No. That's what I thought it was, but I'm going to need to talk to you.

CHARLES ADELSON: Does it involve me or other people?

DONNA ADELSON: Well, probably both of us.

CHARLES ADELSON: What's that?

DONNA ADELSON: Probably the two of us. So, you probably don't have a general idea what I'm talking about.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So that's what the prosecution is going to hone in on right there. It involves the two of us. They tickled the wire. They got some information right there. And she goes on to say, because he keeps questioning her, she goes on to say, you know, that television 5,000 and the alibi for Wendy was that she was getting her television fixed. Her mother had made the appointment right when her ex-husband was being murdered.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Wow. I mean, the details that continue to come out of this are just, they are fascinating. And, I mean, there's a lot of them and much more to come.

CASAREZ: They're building their case.

HILL: Yes, they really are.

CASAREZ: And the defense says she has nothing involved in this at all. And she's going to take the stand, the defense has said.

HILL: And that is going to be quite the day. Jean, appreciate it, as always. Thank you.

A new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, breaking news. Learning new details this morning about the school shooting in Minnesota. Police investigating bizarre online videos apparently posted by the suspect who shot through the windows toward children sitting in the pews.

And the White House says the new CDC director, brand new, fired because she would not get on board with the president's agenda. But overnight, her lawyer said she's refusing to leave. There are reports this is about a fight over vaccine policy between the director and Robert Kennedy Jr. So, what happens now?

Rescuers racing to reach victims after Russia carried out a huge attack on Ukraine's capital. We've got new video of the strikes.

Sara and Kate are out today. I'm John Berman with Erica Hill. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

HILL: The breaking news this morning. A community in shock and in mourning following the deadly shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. Gathering overnight for a vigil to remember the two children, just 8 and 10 years old, who were killed. 17 other people were injured, 14 children among them and 3 adults.

The kids were there attending the school's first mass of the school year when the shooter approached from outside and began firing through the windows after barricading at least two of the doors from the outside to prevent anyone inside from escaping.

One mother whose children survived the shooting, telling CNN the school had prepared for a tragedy like this. One that as many can attest to happens all too often in this country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLA MALDONADO, PARENT OF STUDENTS AT ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL: I am just incredibly grateful that the school did and had been preparing and also just incredibly sad and angry that this has to be a thing in any school. That we had to like prepare our kids to protect themselves.

This is not the first time. I'm not the first parent to express these concerns. I'm not the first mom to say how many more kids have to get killed. And so it's a little bit like this is feeling like a broken record and it's not OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: The killer died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police are examining what they describe as the shooter's hate-filled manifesto, which was posted on YouTube. They've also executed four search warrants, including three at homes linked to the shooter.

CNN's Whitney Wild is on scene in Minneapolis. So, Whitney, what more do we know about where the investigation stands this morning?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: Erica, there are many more questions to answer. It is very difficult in this moment for law enforcement to define a specific motive because what we are seeing in a hearing from law enforcement is that these videos that the shooter had posted that were timed to around the time the shooting happened show quite a rambling, illogical stream of consciousness in some moments. There are moments where the shooter is expressing anti- Semitic, anti-Black, anti-religious sentiments.

Erica, the details here are simply chilling. Some of those videos show a diagram of the church showing that this had been planned well in advance. Law enforcement says that the weapons that were used were purchased legally and they were purchased recently.

Meanwhile, Erica, let me tell you a little bit about the community. I'm right outside this school. This is a community that has generations of families who learned together, who prayed together at this school.

The church was founded in 1875. The school was founded shortly after that.

[08:05:00]

The school website says that there are children here who are descendants from the founding families here, that is how tightly knit and generationally connected this community is.

Throughout Minneapolis last night, there were vigils. Here is some comments from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as he tries to grapple with the gravity and the horror of this terrible tragedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR JACOB FREY, (D) MINNEAPOLIS: We are a city united in grief. Let us take the next step to be a city united in action. And don't let anybody tell you that it's not about guns, because it is.

(APPLAUSE)

FREY: When you have more guns than people in America, you've got a problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILD: There are multiple people at that vigil, Erica, who were expressing their deep desire for action after this tragedy. Meanwhile, Erica, this was the start of the school year, it is not clear now when classes will resume.

This community now trying to figure out how to move forward, when it's appropriate to move forward, what that even looks like after such a horrible moment shattered the beginning of the school year -- Erica.

HILL: Absolutely. Whitney, really appreciate the reporting. Thank you -- John.

BERMAN: With us now is Vincent Francoual. His 11-year-old daughter, Chloe, was inside when the gunfire began. Vincent, thank you so much for being with us right now.

How's Chloe doing?

VINCENT FRANCOUAL, DAUGHTER AT MASS WHEN SHOOTER OPENED FIRE: So far, she slept. She's still sleeping right now. Yesterday in the afternoon, we gathered with a lot of family, and she was able to play in a pool with a friend who was there. So that was good. When we got home, she got again very anxious. But, you know, it's going to be a new journey, something that we're going to have to work, and we take this one day at a time.

She just told us last night she really don't want to go back to school or to the church. So we are really into a new territory, but we're not alone. So that's good.

BERMAN: She doesn't want to go back to school or the church. Vincent, how are you doing this morning?

FRANCOUAL: Well, I'm a mess. You know, I didn't really sleep well. It has been very emotional. You know, I'm originally from France, and I just don't get it. I just don't, you know. So right now, I'm, you know, I'm like everyone. We just take it one minute at a time if we have to, there's, you know, there's so much uncertainty. Life is about uncertainty, but this one is deeper than the other, I believe. And I'm just trying to breathe. My eyes are burning because I'm crying too much.

BERMAN: I think that's completely understandable. I think we're all right there with you. Chloe was friends with one of the young children who was lost, also friends with several people injured. Just tell me about those friendships.

FRANCOUAL: So just to be clear, it's a small school, and all the kids were there in the church, and everybody knew each other. One of the little boys passed away. We were on vacation on spring break with 20 other families, and they were part of it.

The other girl, they knew each other. She knew it was the fourth grade, I believe. It's, you know, it's dreadful. It's just dreadful because until we got back home, we had no idea. We knew the shooter was dead, but we were just hoping that there were no kids. And you know, all this -- every Wednesday, they go to church, and there's a parishioner, so we were like, what's going to happen?

Then we found out about the kids, and between each other, the kids text each other and found out quickly who he was. And it's nothing we can explain here to her. We're just here to tell her -- you know we're here to support her. She makes us promise that we won't hide anything from her. You know, I mean, those kids -- I mean, we had a session with the counselor, and she told the counselor that she thought she was going to die on that day.

[08:10:00]

So you know, we're really at the bottom right now, and there's not really any rule or books for it, so we're just going to do the best we can.

BERMAN: There's no rule or books, but what there is is love, and I can tell by the way you talk about your daughter that you just adore her, and I know from hearing about how you, you know, walk her to and from school every day, how much she must adore you as well. So what you have is the ability to lean on each other, I think, the next few days, and also this community, which by all descriptions is a remarkable, tight-knit community. Talk to me about that and how you are pulling together.

FRANCOUAL: So that's the thing is we are not alone. We are really, everybody is checking on everybody. Yesterday, about four hours about the ordeal, we, the family gathered at someone's house.

We were part of the place with all the kids. You know, this community it's like a village in a city, almost. We joined the school about three years ago, and we made so many new friends.

It's just amazing, and the idea that we're not alone, the idea that we can call anyone, you know, so we live three blocks from the school, and yesterday walking the dog, people stopping the car, walking toward me, hug me, so this is the most important thing because, I mean, to be fair, I don't think we can count on our government or any kind of elected official right now because it's always the same prayer and thought when, you know, so I'm not going to count on them. I'm just going to count on my neighbor. I'm going to count on my family. I'm going to count on my friend.

And, you know, people need to know that every morning, you're going to bring your kids to school. You're not sure if you're going to have your kids back, and that's an American story, and that's, you know, my family, my friend in France, they're all scratching their head. All Europe is seeing us as very, you know, this idea like make America great when all those kids get shot.

People are scratching their head about America. What happened about America? This is not what it used to be.

BERMAN: It's an American story. Vincent, listen, we are thinking of you. We are thinking of Chloe. Please, you know, hug each other. You're going to need each other in the next few days. You'll get through this.

We appreciate you being with us this morning. Thank you.

FRANCOUAL: Thank you so much for listening to me and thank you for helping the whole conversation community with your coverage. Thank you.

BERMAN: Anything we can do, please let us know, Vincent. Thank you very much -- Erica.

HILL: Breaking overnight, just who is leading the CDC at this hour? The White House booting the brand-new director. Several top officials resigning in solidarity. So where do things stand?

Plus, rescuers searching at this hour for survivors in Ukraine following a series of fierce strikes by Russia on the capital of Kyiv.

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BERMAN: All right, breaking overnight, the CDC left leaderless. The White House just ousted Director Dr. Susan Monarez, weeks after she was sworn in. She just got Senate confirmation. Several top CDC officials resigned immediately after she left.

Let's right to CNN health reporter Jacqueline Howard for everything that's going on here, still apparently going on this morning -- Jacqueline.

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: That's right, John. This chaos at the CDC right now. And just to put this in perspective, this is happening just months after we saw sweeping job cuts at the agency back in the spring. It's happening just over two week after Dr. Monarez was sworn int as CDC director on July 31.

But here's what developed overnight. The White House says this in a statement, quote, Susan Monarez is not aligned with the presidents agenda of Making America Healthy Again. Since Susan Monarez resigned -- refused to resign despite informing HHS leadership of her intent to do so, the White House has terminated Monarez from her position with the CDC.

In response to this. John, Monarez's attorneys say this, quote, Our client was notified tonight by White House staff in the personnel office that she was fired as a presidential appointee. Senate confirmed officer. Only the president himself can fire her. For this reason, we reject notification Dr. Monarez has received as legally deficient and she remains as CDC director. We have notified the White House council of our position.

And, john, as you mentioned, following this development, other officials at CDC have stepped down in solidarity. And what we know about Dr. Monarez and her relationship with HHS secretary RFK Jr., they have had differing thoughts around policies around vaccines. Dr. Monarez says that she has been following the science when it comes to public health policy.

And when you think about the importance of the role of CDC director, we just have to look back a few years to the COVID 19 pandemic, where as a nation, we leaned on CDC to guide us during that public health emergency. [08:20:00]

Right now, without leadership in place, this can have significant public health implications. And that's why there's a lot of concern around what is happening right now when it comes to here's going to steer the ship at the CDC -- John.

Health emergency right now without leadership in place. This can have significant public health implications and that's why there's a lot of concern around what is happening right now when it comes to here's going to steer the ship at the CDC -- John.

BERMAN: Yes, and it raises questions or makes one wonder whether the debate over vaccine policy is going to get white hot in the coming days and weeks. Jacqueline Howard, thank you --

HOWARD: Absolutely.

BERMAN: -- very much for that.

Manifesto and an obsession with school shootings this morning. New details about the shooter who killed two children and injured 17 in Minnesota.

And applications rejected, offers rescinded the move toward artificial intelligence. The toll it's taking on recent graduates.

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HILL: President Trump continuing his efforts to reshape the Federal Reserve. If he does succeed in removing Fed Governor Lisa Cook, he could claim a majority of the seven members of the Fed's powerful board of governors, which would give him unprecedented control over the central bank and how they decide monetary policy.

Joining me now is Madison Mills, senior markets reporter for Axio.

So it's important to note, right, the Fed is supposed to be independent, as I feel like we keep saying, feel like a bit of a broken record. But the president has been very clear his words exactly saying we will have a majority very shortly and that will be great. Is there a sense that this is a Fed if, in fact, the president is able to remove Lisa Cook, appoint someone in her place?

Is there a sense that this Fed can remain independent given what we've seen from the president?

MADISON MILLS, SENIOR MARKETS REPORTER, AXIOS: There are divided views on that question on Wall Street, but you're right to point out that that is the most important question. Because if the Fed does not maintain its independence, there's a world where it doesn't matter what they do with interest rates because we can see the bond market rebel and then that would push up interest rates going forward if we see bond investors kind of selling off in spades. And that really controls that 10-year yield that's going to be really important for things like mortgage rates and credit cards.

So that's why we talk so much about the importance of the central bank. And what's fascinating about this focus on Lisa Cook is that she was one of the more dovish members of the Federal Reserve as well. And as we know from Fed chair Jay Powell, the Fed was already on track to cut interest rates as early as this September. So it's unclear why this focus needed to happen from the administration now.

HILL: Yes, and that's obviously the potential domestic fallout. There is also a very important global fallout because markets, governments around the world are watching to see how this plays out, because that will tell a separate story about the United States itself.

MILLS: Absolutely. And that's also important for bond investors across the globe, right? We've started to see and central banks around the world are some of the biggest buyers of our government debt. 25 percent of our government debt is held by countries around the world. So if they start to get spooked by the U.S. and pull that money out, that could have huge implications for obviously global markets, but also, as I mentioned, those mortgage rates, things that really impact consumers.

HILL: Right, and when we talk about mortgage rates, there's been such a focus on home buying, right? So not just that it may be a little bit more expensive to get a mortgage in this moment, but also whether you can find one.

I was fascinated by one of your recent pieces looking at how younger Americans aren't really focusing on investing in a home per se. They're investing in the market. What's changed here and why?

MILLS: Yes, this is the next generation of wealth building. Young people feeling like homes are getting too expensive. And where can they build wealth?

They're looking at the stock market. And this is according to new research from the JPMorgan Chase Institute. When I spoke with the researchers, they said, look, this is encouraging to see younger, lower income people investing in the stock market earlier, but it's unclear if they have the best investor hygiene.

We're seeing them buying stocks when the market hits record highs or when crypto hits record highs. But they're not practicing what is traditionally good financial advice, which is to dollar cost average, put a set amount of money into the market every month. Instead, they're kind of buying into hype cycles.

And that could be concerning if this is how they're planning to build wealth for their futures.

HILL: Yes, and they're also not saving as much, which I thought was interesting, too. Madison, great to have you with us. Thank you.

MILLS: Thank you.

HILL: Still ahead here, a community grieving the investigation, of course, already well underway this morning into the tragedy in Minneapolis. Just ahead, you hear directly from a father whose son was killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting. And he'll talk about how he is still helping to push for reforms to keep kids safe from gun violence.

Plus, Delta forced to pay tens of millions of dollars for a dangerous fuel dump that doused thousands of homes and schools in Los Angeles.

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