Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Xi, Putin, Kim Make Defiant Show of Authoritarian Strength in China; Appeals Court Blocks Trump's Use of Alien Enemies Act for Deportations; 1,000-Plus Current and Former HHS Employees Demand RFK Jr. Resign. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired September 03, 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]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, a military muscle flex in Beijing, the Chinese president giving the world a rare look at China's latest weaponry and Trump's response to seeing Xi Jinping standing shoulder to shoulder with the leaders of Russia and North Korea. You'll want to hear it.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. New this morning, HHS employees demanding Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. resign for, quote, compromising the health of this nation.

And behold the volnado, a word scientists actually are using volnado. A volcanic eruption meets a swirling whirlwind. It's happening right now and we'll tell you where.

Sara is out. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan's over there. No. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan. This is the News Central.

BOLDUAN: All right. So, the breaking news this morning, a show of force and a defiant show of unity among three world leaders at odds with the United States, China holding one of its largest military parades ever with President Xi Jinping, also standing shoulder to shoulder with Russia's Vladimir Putin in North Korea's Kim Jong-un. That will be the enduring image from this big, massive event.

China showcasing its growing military power in Tiananmen Square with the parade unveiling hundreds of new weapons, including China's largest and most advanced nuclear capable missile, next generation tanks, giant underwater drones, and even laser air defense weapons, all alongside more than 10,000 goose-stepping troops following the spectacle. Putin and Kim met for closed door talks that lasted more than two hours. The two leaders even sharing an embrace, as you see there.

President Trump reacting late last night as this parade really got underway, telling Xi sarcastically to give his warm regards to Putin and Kim, as they, quote, conspire against the United States.

CNN's Marc Stewart joining us now from Beijing. The parade absolutely massive, the enduring image though will be those three leaders walking shoulder to shoulder and the message that it's sending to the United States and the world around.

MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Kate. It's now -- or it's now -- I forget the calendar here. It's now Wednesday evening here in Beijing, and we've had time to absorb all of the images that we saw. And what happened today in China, in Tiananmen Square, was bold, it was symbolic, and it was also very unapologetic. If China is indeed trying to position itself as the leader of this new world order, this alternative to the West, then what we saw today may have been the visual validation that it has been craving.

Let's first talk about the weapons. As you mentioned, a massive display of force. We saw, of course, lots of armed vehicles. We saw missiles. One thing that's been getting a lot of attention are these laser systems that can be used from the air or even mounted on a warship, a laser system that would depend on microwaves to disable various targets. That's according to Chinese state media. That's how those systems would work.

We're also seeing strength in some of the language that we're hearing from Chinese Leader Xi Jinping saying that China's rise is unstoppable. A lot of familiar phrases from him today, but, again, showcased with this giant backdrop. Let's listen to more of what Xi Jinping had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

XI JINPING, CHINESE PRESIDENT: Today, humanity once again faces the choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win cooperation over a zero sum game. The Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history and the progress of human civilization. We adhere to the path of peaceful development and work hand in hand with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: His statement's obviously getting attention, but it's also this guest list, among the most notable leaders at this event, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un.

[07:05:00]

We saw Putin and Kim together for an extended meeting today here in Beijing of which Putin invited Kim to Russia and praised him for providing troops that Russia has been depending in the war with Ukraine.

The one meeting that has not happened that I'm very curious to see if it does, is between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un. That may or may not occur. Kate, also a busy night, there's a big banquet taking place, so we'll be keeping watch of that as well in the hours ahead.

BOLDUAN: It's been a busy day and it's our getting into the evening there and so it seems like it's just really beginning.

Thank you so much, Marc Stewart. I really appreciate it. John? BERMAN: All right. Breaking overnight, a federal appeals court blocked President Trump's use of an 18th century law to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members. The court rejected the president's claim that migrants were part of an invasion of the United States.

I want to get right to CNN's Alayna Treene at the White House. This gets to the substance for the first time of how the president tried to use the Alien Enemies Act, Alayna.

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's right. And it's a huge blow, John, and we've seen now many court battles and different legal opinions trying to strike down the president and his administration's use of this 18th century wartime law. But this one really does set it up and is almost certainly likely to head to the Supreme Court.

I want to get into what exactly happened. So, the judges of the fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, this is actually considered, John, one of the most conservative appeals courts in the country. As you said, they rejected the argument that these Venezuelan migrants who are accused of gang membership that were part of an invasion of the United States by a foreign power, which is essentially what this Alien Enemies Act is all about. And they essentially blocked when the administration's most contentious immigration initiatives. The two in opinion states that Trump cannot move forward with using this law for deportations in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Now, I do want to break down what this law has been used for in the past, because it was very controversial when the president first invoked it back in mid-March. We've seen some court battles, like I said, but it gets into, essentially, it was first used to try and justify the internment of Japanese, Italian, and German immigrants during World War II. It gives the president authority to deport non- citizens from hostile countries. It does not require -- this is an important point, it does not require court hearings to remove these individuals from the United States, and it's also meant to be used at a time of war, during invasion or predatory incursion.

Now, here's what the judges said. I want to read to you what the judges who moved in this 2-1 opinion said in their ruling. They said, quote, we conclude that the findings do not support that an invasion or a predatory incursion has occurred. We therefore conclude that petitioners are likely to move forward -- or, excuse me, likely to prove that the AEA was improperly invoked.

Now, one thing I do want to point out, because I said this at the top, this is almost certainly headed for the Supreme Court. And part of the reason I say that is because after, you know, talking to people here at the White House and within the Trump administration, they often like and welcome some of these court battles, particularly because they want it to reach the Supreme Court so they can try to set a new precedent, or try to, you know, set new terms for how they're able to use these types of laws. So, we have to wait and see if that's actually what they end up doing. But I think it's very likely that we see this getting to the highest court in the country. John? BERMAN: Absolutely, from this conservative court, the Fifth Circuit, it'll be interesting to see if the Supreme Court thinks, A, it's an invasion and, B, whether the president gets to unilaterally decide whether it's an invasion.

Alayna Treene at the White House, great job explaining that, thank you very much. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Also breaking overnight, incredible images coming out of Northern California as a rapidly spreading wildfire there completely engulfs a historic mining town. Thousands -- just look at that. Thousands of acres have already burned by a fire that's believed to have been started by a lightning strike. Buildings in that mining town are established in the 1850s are just reduced to ash.

This is a prime location actually for those looking to make a fortune during the California gold rush. It now serves as a historic state landmark. The good news is there have been no reports of injury or death of the fire as of now remains uncontained. We'll continue to follow this one.

So, there are tens of thousands of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case have been released by the House Oversight Committee, and also this happens as we are standing by to hear from some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims on Capitol Hill just hours from now.

And inside the home of a killer, hundreds of newly released photographs give a disturbing look inside Brian Kohberger's own apartment, offering some new insight into the man who murdered four University of Idaho College students.

[07:10:00]

And Amazon is cracking down on freeloaders, sorry, basically everybody. How the company is changing the rules on Prime sharing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: There are new and loud calls this morning for the HHS secretary's resignation, and those calls coming from inside the Department of Health and Human Services itself.

[07:15:00]

More than a thousand current and former HHS workers are making this demand in a new letter released just this morning. They say, his leadership has, quote, put the health of all Americans at risk.

CNN's Meg Tirrell is here with much more on this. Tell us more. You've seen this letter. What more are they saying here?

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So of course this follows a letter that they sent after the shooting at CDCs headquarters in August. And they say they haven't received a direct response from Secretary Kennedy to that letter where they asked him for more protection for HHS employees. And what they said was to stop spreading misinformation that they said put them in danger.

Now, this letter is explicitly calling for him to resign, and they're asking if he declines to do so for the White House and Congress to step in and appoint a new HHS secretary.

So, some of the reasons they cite here that they say are putting the health of all Americans at risk include the firing of the CDC director last week, and the resignations that prompted of multiple CDC leaders afterwards, the appointment of what they call political ideologues to multiple vaccine policy positions, both advising the CDC and within HHS and the rescinding of COVID-19 emergency youth authorizations emergency use authorizations by the FDA without what they say supporting data or showing the methods for supporting that.

And, of course, this call follows calls from multiple members of Congress, from Senator Patty Murray, from Senator Bernie Sanders, from Representative Rosa DeLauro. I mean, these are Democrats and an independent. Of course, this is not a bipartisan call for his resignation, but louder and louder calls coming from Congress and also inside HHS.

BOLDUAN: He is going to be before Congress tomorrow, right?

TIRRELL: Yes.

BOLDUAN: So, this is all coming together at quite a moment.

Also at the same time, you have new reporting about a vaccine expert, a doctor, a pediatrician that we have had on this show all the time, Dr. Paul Offit, he has long been on a very important outside expert advisory panel to the FDA.

TIRRELL: Yes.

BOLDUAN: And he is now no longer. What's the story here?

TIRRELL: Yes. So, this is Dr. Offit. And a lot of folks will remember him from the COVID pandemic. He's been on this FDA advisory panel, VRBPAC, as it's called, since 2017. He served two terms and his term last term expired at the beginning of 2025. He told us he was asked to stay on for an additional four years and he agreed to two years, so he was supposed to be there until 2027.

He's what's known as a special government employee. And a spokesperson for HHS told us, quote, the FDA issued notifications to certain advisory committee members whose special government employee terms have expired and therefore can no longer participate in advisory committee work. And so, essentially, saying his paperwork hasn't gone through.

But this, nonetheless, is a very prominent critic of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These folks have been clashing for years, RFK Jr. and Paul Offit, directly with one another. So, you know, it's not hugely surprising to see him not on this committee anymore, or at least not participating in the committee, but, you know, paperwork.

BOLDUAN: Question mark, exactly.

Meg, thank you, as always, for your great reporting on this.

And an important note, we will be speaking with Dr. Paul Offit. He'll be joining us later in the show to discuss exactly this. John?

BERMAN: All right. New this morning, if you are sharing your Amazon shipping perks with your best friend or family, it's time to get them their own account. Amazon is ending the Prime Invitee Program that let customers share their free shipping benefits with people who do not share the same address. The program will end October 1st and is being replaced with a new program called Amazon Family. Users will be able to share their shipping perks and other benefits with only one other adult as well as children, but they must live in the same house.

All right, Cardi B. not liable in her civil assault lawsuit after testimony that set the social media world on fire. What she had to say outside court.

And base brawl. So, what sparked this bench clearer late last night? What are the likely punishments and how many former Red Sox are involved?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BERMAN: Overnight, the comeback bid for Venus Williams comes to an end, but, oh, what a run it was.

Let's get right to Andy Scholes for the latest. Good morning, sir.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, good morning, John. And what a comeback is right for Venus there in New York. You know, she had taken 16 months off from the sport dealing with, you know, a number of injuries. But her and Leylah Fernandez, they made it all the way to the quarter finals in the women's doubles. But that's where the run came to an end for the 45-year-old Venus and Leylah, losing the top ranks Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in straight sets yesterday. Townsend and Siniakova, they're looking for their third Grand Slam together after winning Wimbledon last year and the Australian Open earlier this year.

But despite the loss, Venus says she's happy with her performance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VENUS WILLIAMS, 7-TIME SINGLES, 14-TIME DOUBLES CHAMPION AT MAJORS: I'm very proud that I was just, I stayed myself. I didn't try to play another game. I didn't try to play it safe. I went for it, and that's who I am. I go for it. And when you go for it, good things happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. Novak Djokovic meanwhile having some fun with that New York crowd throughout his match with American Taylor Fritz last night, the 24-time Grand Slam champion beating Fritz in four sets. Djokovic, he's now 11-0 against Fritz in his career. And the win sets up an awesome semi-final on Friday between Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

All right, in baseball meanwhile, something really bizarre happened in Houston. Yankees had bases loaded against Framber Valdez. Catcher Cesar Salazar tries to tell Valdez to step off the mound, but he doesn't. And the pitch right here is going to get crushed by Trent Grisham for a grand slam.

Well, on the second pitch to the next batter, Valdez drills his catcher with a 93-mile-per hour fastball.

[07:25:05]

Now, Salazar certainly looks like he was expecting an off-speed pitch. He keeps his cool though. This led many to question if Valdez hit Salazar on purpose. After the game, he denied doing so, saying they just got crossed up. The Yankees, they beat the Astros last night, 7- 1.

Elsewhere, things got heated between the Giants and the Rockies. Rafael Devers crushing this home runoff, Kyle Freeland in the first inning. And he took a long, hard look at it leave the park. Well, that angered Freeland who had something to say to Devers as he was going to first. They exchanged words and, well, then it was on, the benches clear.

Now, Freeland and two others ended up getting ejected from this game. No punches were thrown. The Giants ended up winning at 7-4.

And, you know, Berman, you know, usually I'm all for, you know, whatever. You hit a big home run, watch it as much as you want. But, I mean, he was a second batter of the game.

BERMAN: Oh, was it really?

SCHOLES: Run to first. Run to first.

BERMAN: I didn't know that. I didn't know it was the second batter of the game. He really took his time.

SCHOLES: Second batter in the game.

BERMAN: He took his time in admiring that Rockfield. Devers, I've seen him in a lot of those. I wish you were hitting them in Boston, not in San Francisco.

All right, Andy Scholes, thank you very much for that.

All right, we are standing by here from some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims live on Capitol Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just release the names, you know, and be done with it, you know? It's like glamorizing this mysterious pedophile for what?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right. And, finally, the answer to an age old question, what happens when a volcano meets a whirlwind? One word for you, volnado.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:00]