Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Israel Launches Ground Offensive to Occupy Gaza City; Kirk Shooting Suspect Set to Be Charged, Make First Court Appearance; Three Killed in U.S. Strike on Venezuelan Boat Allegedly Hauling Drugs. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired September 16, 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]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, Israeli forces launch a ground defensive into Gaza City. A United Nations commission says Israel is committing genocide.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Today, the man accused of the horrific murder of Charlie Kirk will be in court for the first time formally charged. Overnight, the FBI director took the T.V. again to reveal what he says is more of the evidence that they've gathered against that man, what those online messages suggest.

And two boys now facing charges for causing nearly $50,000 in damage at a Florida elementary school. Look at that. Who turned them in? Their moms.

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

BERMAN: And breaking overnight, blasts across Gaza's skyline as Israel launched a full scale ground defensive into Gaza City. Hospital officials in Gaza say at least 38 people have been killed there. The Israeli military says it is targeting Hamas, saying they believe 2,000 to 3,000 militants are in Gaza City.

Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza protested this incursion, believing the operation puts their loved ones at risk. 48 hostages remain in Gaza. At least 20 of them are believed to be alive.

New video from Gaza overnight shows bodies of children arriving at hospitals in Northern Gaza. And overnight, a U.N. Commission of Inquiry issued a report saying that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians there. The Israeli Foreign Ministry called the report distorted and false.

Let's get right to CNN's Jeremy Diamond in Jerusalem for what is now a new major phase of the Israeli operation in Gaza. Good morning, Jeremy.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. For weeks now, the Israeli military has been laying the groundwork for this invasion of Gaza City. They have carried out ground offensives in key areas north and south of Gaza City, including in neighborhoods that are within the Gaza City boundaries, but really still largely on the outskirts. And we've, of course, also watched as they've intensified the bombardment and shelling of Gaza City, including demolishing numerous high-rise buildings in the city. And now, overnight, the Israeli military saying that it has launched its -- the main phase of this ground offensive into Gaza City.

However, I do want to caveat what the Israeli military is saying because, so far, we have yet to actually see evidence of Israeli troops or vehicles moving towards the heart of the city, which is what an Israeli military official told me is now happening.

We do know that there are Israeli troops positioned again on the outskirts of the city. The Israeli military says that tanks are beginning to move towards the heart of the city, but I just want to make clear that we have yet to be able to independently verify that ourselves nor have our stringers who are working for us on the ground.

What has happened in Gaza City, however, was a night of very intense bombardment, but one quite similar to the scale that we've seen over the course of the last few nights, with 38 people killed last night alone. We've seen numerous images of dead children, injured children as well. So, clearly, civilians are among the dead and the injured from these strikes.

And in addition to that, what we're also seeing is the continued movement of the population, people who are being forced to flee Gaza City, heading south towards the central camps of Gaza, including the al-Mawasi area, which the Israeli military has claimed as a designated humanitarian zone.

So far, the Israeli military estimates that about 350,000 people have fled Gaza City, but many more still remain in Gaza City, which was estimated to have a population of about 1 million as of one month ago.

I also asked the Israeli military about the presence of Israeli hostages in Gaza City. We saw, of course, just a couple of weeks ago a video showing one Israeli hostage being driven around Gaza City above ground. And he said in that video that there were eight other Israeli hostages being held there.

The Israeli military so far declining to comment on what it knows about the locations or the number of hostages who may still be in Gaza City, but today, we've seen continued protests from the families of the hostages who are opposed to this latest Israeli military operation in Gaza City, fearing that it will endanger their loved one's lives.

[07:05:09]

John?

BERMAN: All right. Obviously a fluid situation on the ground there, so much that we are unable to currently confirm.

But, Jeremy, I know you're working hard on this, thank you very much for your reporting on this. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Today is also a very big day and a big step in the investigation into the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The 22-year-old man accused of murdering Kirk is expected to be formally charged and appear in court for the first time, just as Washington Post is reporting that he apparently confessed in a group chat on the online platform, Discord, allegedly writing, and here is the, quote, hey guys, I have some bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I'm sorry for all of this.

And also new, the FBI director says that agents have seized multiple electronic devices from the suspect and that Director Kash Patel set to face some very big questions today when he testifies for the first time since taking the job before the Senate Judiciary Committee and as he also faces criticism over his handling of the Kirk shooting investigation.

CNN's Danny Freeman is in Utah for us this morning ahead of this first appearance. What is expected today there, Danny?

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, the amazing thing about this case at the moment is, as you noted, we've learned so much over the past 24 hours about that potential or apparent confession about new DNA evidence, about a potential note that may have been left behind by Robinson, and yet we are still expecting to hear even more information ahead of that court appearance later on this afternoon here on the ground in Provo, Utah.

So, let me just tick through some of the things that we've been learning over the past 24 hours, just because a lot of it bears repeating and emphasis. The first was that Washington Post reporting that came yesterday afternoon that you alluded to earlier. These messages allegedly written by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson just hours before he was arrested and ultimately turned himself in were in a group chat on that social and gaming app, Discord, and they said to a group of people, quote, as you noted, hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I am sorry for all of this.

Now, Kate, those discord messages also come on the heels of stunning New York Times reporting as well about a separate conversation on the social and gaming app, Discord, that actually took place during the manhunts, allegedly. That's where Robinson himself actually joked that a, quote, doppelganger was trying to get him in trouble. And that came just as the FBI, law enforcement officials released photos of the suspect. So, there was a lot of reaction happening in real time over the course of the hours after the shooting of Charlie Kirk.

The other two big pieces of information that we learned yesterday, Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, pointing to DNA evidence directly linking Robinson to the scene, allegedly, DNA coming from a screwdriver, and also a towel that had the suspected murder weapon wrapped inside of it, and then the existence of a potential note that Robinson may have written prior to the shooting. Though Kash Patel said that that note had been destroyed, though they believe it had evidence that Robinson had been targeting Kirk earlier.

Now, I want you to listen to what the FBI director said just last night about the state of the investigation right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: What was found in terms of information, a text message exchange where he, the suspect, specifically stated that he had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and he was going to do that, and when he was asked why, he said some hatred cannot be negotiated with. We've seized multiple electronic devices from the home of the suspect in his romantic partner. We've got computers, we've got laptops, we got gaming systems, we've got cell phones. All of that is being triaged by the FBI.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: So, Kate, the big times today to really circle on your calendar, 2:00 P.M. this afternoon Eastern Time, that's when we're going to have a news conference from prosecutors, and then at 5:00 P.M. Eastern time, that's when we're expecting to see Robinson in court for the first time. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Much more to come today. And even before that, that FBI director, Kash Patel, going to be in Washington before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sure to see, to be getting some questions about all of this.

Thank you, Danny, so much for being there for us.

Here's a quote for you, big bags of cocaine and fentanyl all over the place. That is the President Trump is saying and speaking out after a second deadly strike on a boat suspected to be carrying drugs from Venezuela.

And for the first time in months, Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing the former -- the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, well, Luigi Mangione is going to be back in court today. What's expected there?

And there's some wild video coming in. First responders, as you can see this, just look at the -- you're going to see this home engulfed in flames, running into rescue an elderly man inside.

[07:10:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This morning, President Trump says three men were killed in a U.S. military strike on a speedboat allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela. The Pentagon released video of the strike saying it happened in international waters. This is the second deadly U.S. strike on alleged Venezuelan cartels this month.

Let's get right to CNN, Zach Cohen for the very latest on all this. Good morning, Zach.

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, John. For the second time in two weeks, the U.S. military conducting a strike against an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean, further stoking tensions with Venezuela, and, again, insisting without really providing any details or about the intelligence that backs up, insisting that these individuals were members of a Venezuelan drug cartel.

[07:15:16]

And, look, this is something that's at the core of what the Trump administration is arguing as to why it has the legal authority to conduct these military operations in international waters. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posting last night after the strikes that, quote, narco-terrorists are enemies of the United States, going on to say, we will track them, kill them, and dismantle their networks throughout our hemisphere at the times and places of our choosing. Trump himself posting on Truth Social, echoing that sentiment, writing, be warned, if you are transmitting drugs that can kill Americans, we are hunting you.

But at the same time, John, we have to remember that the administration has yet to provide really any evidence linking the individuals in this strike, or the first one definitively to these Venezuelan drug cartels that the Trump administration has designated as terrorist groups.

And Trump was asked by a reporter yesterday if he plans to provide proof that these individuals in the second strike were members of a drug cartel. Take a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We have proof. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was -- like it spattered all over the ocean, big bags of cocaine and Fenton all, all over the place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: So, it's unclear what evidence Donald Trump is referring to there. But we have to say the video of the White House released yesterday does not clearly show cocaine and fentanyl spattered across the ocean, as Donald Trump said in that clip.

So, we'll have to see if the administration does ultimately provide more details and more evidence about this and the first strike, but, again, tensions continuing to escalate as the Trump administration carries out this operation and campaign against drug cartels in the Caribbean.

BERMAN: And it raises interesting legal questions, but it does not seem as if Congress will get involved.

Zach Cohen, thank you very much for that report.

This morning, the Federal Reserve kicks off its two-day policy meeting on interest rates. Officials are widely expected to deliver the first interest rate cut in nine months. This is the first meeting since White House Economic Adviser Stephen Miran was confirmed to serve on the Fed's Board of Governors. It's the first meeting because he was actually confirmed overnight. As soon as he's sworn in, he'll be able to vote on interest rate decisions.

Now, he has said he will take unpaid leave from his job at the White House instead of resigning. This will be the first time in the Fed's history that a member of the board is also really an employee at the White House.

All right, a full-on man/scuba hunt. The search is on for the person who robbed a Disney restaurant in scuba gear and then swam away.

An elementary school library trashed. Look at that, a whopping $50,000 worth of damage. The mothers who caught the culprits.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: And it was another big night this time for the Bucs rallying to beat the Texans in the final second last night.

CNN's Coy Wire has it all. And I feel like this is the exact same story we talked about days ago with just two other teams. It's like one wild finish after another.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Groundhog Day, Kate, only four other teams since the 1970 merger have gone 2-0 despite trailing in both games in the final two minutes, they're fighters led by their quarterback, Baker Mayfield.

Now, Houston, they're hosting Tampa Bay, and Nick Chubb chugged one in to put the Texans up 19-14, which is two minutes ago, looked like a wrap, but the Bucs said, let him bake. Baker Mayfield, dynamic display of passing, quick and crafty checkouts even running it on his own. 11 plays, 80 yards, as Rachaad White hammers in the game winning score with six seconds left.

Mayfield leading the league in touchdown passes since joining the Bucs in 2023, most fourth quarter comebacks as well. Bucs win 20-19. Here's the star receiver Evans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE EVANS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS WIDE RECEIVER: Everybody's show resilience, everybody may plays, Baker used his legs, which was huge for us. It's a tire and drive, but, you know, we, we did a good job. And nothing surprises me when it comes to Baker. He is the ultimate playmaker.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right. We had a prime time punch out between AFC West Coast, the Chargers and Pete Carroll's Raiders. Coach turned 74 yesterday, but the Raider -- the Chargers played party pooper. Their young stud Q.B., Justin Herbert, heating up connecting on a series of surgical strikes, 242 yards passing, two touchdowns, including that 60-yard bomb to Quentin Johnson. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady was in the coaches box during the game. They needed him on the field.

Chargers roll 20-9.

Switching gears now to the sweet smell of late season baseball, Dodgers and Phillies, N.L. heavyweights, dueling for a playoff seating and dueling home runs. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper going deep for the Phils, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy went yard for the Dodgers, and L.A. trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth. Andy Pages just tied it with a home run to force extra innings.

Phillies, they scored one in the top of the tenth, but after the Dodgers loaded the bases, the Philly's 40-year-old David Robertson induced a game ending ground out off the bat of Muncy in a pivotal performance. The fighting Phillies clenching with a 6-5 win.

Just two more weeks to go in the regular season, Kate, this was a postseason preview. A whole lot of locker room celebrations in our future. Now, that thing there with the little funnel, that's for beer, Kate. I know you probably have never seen one of those before. You would never do this. But they're just absolutely having a great time in the locker room, as you can see.

BOLDUAN: I would not know what you speak of, Coy, would not. College Kate is like laughing at us right now.

[07:25:01]

WIRE: Oh yes.

BOLDUAN: The only good thing is that you and I did not know each other in college, because you would have, and so many things to tell.

WIRE: This is true and also good that social media didn't really exist either because we'd be in trouble.

BOLDUAN: Amen, brother. Glad to have a job. Glad to have a job.

WIRE: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Thank you, Coy.

All right, we are following breaking news all throughout the morning on multiple fronts, including this, Israeli sources tell CNN Israel has launched its long planned ground invasion into Gaza. Why this is such a pivotal moment in this war?

And we're also expecting major developments today in the investigation into the death of Charlie Kirk. Today, the man accused of murdering him makes a first court appearance and we're waiting also for the formal charging documents that could offer new detail into the case that they are building. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:00]