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Kirk Shooting Suspect Set to be Charged, Make First Court Appearance; Israel Launches Ground Offensive to Occupy Gaza City; FICO Credit Scores Decline for Second Year in a Row; Hollywood Icon Robert Redford Dead at 89. Aired 8:00-8:30a ET

Aired September 16, 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]

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: ... touching the Hillary Clinton 2016 e-mail investigation because there were no rules. And when you make it up as you go along, you cause problems.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: We have 25 seconds. The likelihood that there will be a special counsel appointed at any point during the Trump administration to investigate the Trump administration.

HONIG: Trump 2.0, 0.0 percent unless they appoint a special counsel to go after a political opponent. And I argue in the book, that is a break in history. That is fundamentally different than anything we've seen before and something that, let's be realistic, Trump's going to do what he's going to do. But the next president, whoever that is, Republican or Democrat, needs to fix that.

BERMAN: Eli Honig, great to see you. The book is wonderful. "When You Come at the King," order it right now.

A brand new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts now.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Today, the man accused in the killing of Charlie Kirk is headed to court for the first time. New reporting about his Discord chats provided to the Washington Post pointing to an alleged confession.

And breaking overnight, blasts across Gaza City. Israel launching a full-scale ground offensive against Hamas in the enclave. What is happening there, the first images now just coming out.

And it is not your average catch. Police say a man dressed in full scuba gear swam up to a restaurant at Disney World and robbed it.

I'm Kate Bolduan with John Berman. Sara is out today. Wonder what she's been doing. Has she been at Disney World? This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

BERMAN: All right, happening today, some major developments in the investigation into the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The 22-year-old suspect expected to be formally charged and make his first court appearance in the case. And there are reports he may have already confessed to the crime, at least to his friends. The Washington Post was the first to report that he allegedly wrote in a group chat on the online platform Discord, quote, Hey, guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU -- Utah Valley University -- yesterday. I'm sorry for all of this.

Also today, just about very shortly, the FBI director is expected to face some tough questions about his handling of the investigation. Kash Patel is appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee for the first time since he was confirmed. Even before the charging documents were filed, Patel had been out there talking evidence and specifics in the case.

Let's get right to seeing as Danny Freeman, who is in Provo, Utah, where this hearing will take place today. Good morning, Danny.

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning, John. You know, it's just fascinating because we have learned so much over the past 24 hours about this case, about 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the main suspect here in the killing of Charlie Kirk. And yet Utah officials are promising that we will learn even more information later today during a press conference and then ultimately during that first court appearance.

But I want to run down some of the things that we have learned, especially touching right off on that apparent confession that was reported by The Washington Post that was really a stunning report that was dropped yesterday afternoon. The Washington Post reporting that hours before Robinson would ultimately be arrested and taken into custody, he was in one of these group chats in the Social and Gaming App Discord. And I'll just repeat that quote, John, because it's just so striking.

He apparently told some of the people in this group chat, quote, Hey, guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I am sorry for all of this.

Now, John, this also comes on the heels of a stunning New York Times report about a separate group chat on Discord that actually took place during the manhunt. So hours before that, again, in the aftermath of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, where Robinson was apparently joking that there was a doppelganger trying to get him, quote, in trouble. And that was on the heels of law enforcement officials releasing photos of the suspect at that time.

And then other folks noticing, hey, this kind of looks like Tyler Robinson, the main suspect here.

John, I'll also note that this comes after we learned yesterday morning, actually during this hour, that the FBI believes that they have DNA evidence connecting Robinson directly to the crime scene. That's based on a screwdriver that was found on the roof of the university campus and also DNA evidence found on a towel that wrapped up the suspected murder weapon that was discovered in the woods.

So a lot of moving parts, a lot of new developments. But I want you to also hear how the FBI director just last night characterized yet another text message that the FBI believes they've discovered from Robinson.

(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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[08:05:00]

FREEMAN: And again, John, just an amazing amount of information that the director of the FBI himself has been putting out there in interview after interview.

John, I just want to give you a run of day, what we're expecting to see today. 2 p.m. Eastern, that's what we're expecting to hear from prosecutors as those formal charges begin to get filed here in court. And then at 5 p.m. Eastern, that's when we're expecting to see Robinson make that first court appearance -- John.

BERMAN: All right, you are there on the ground. Danny Freeman in Provo, Utah. Thank you very much -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Also breaking overnight, Israel says its military has launched a ground incursion into Gaza City, a long-anticipated escalation that is sparking international condemnation. So far, at least 38 people have been killed are the reports. There's new video just coming in from Gaza overnight, and what it shows is disturbing.

Children arriving at hospitals in northern Gaza. UNICEF is now saying that some 450,000 children are inside the city, and their words, traumatized and exhausted. And with at least 20 Israeli hostages still believed to be alive in Gaza, there's a huge question of what this means for them.

Their families are protesting the incursion, many of them warning that their loved ones will not survive this. All of it comes as an independent UN inquiry has concluded for the first time that it says Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Israeli president has dismissed -- is dismissing this report.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond is in Jerusalem with much more on this. Jeremy, what is the very latest that you're picking up and you're hearing is happening in Gaza City now?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, for weeks now, we have heard the Israeli military, the Israeli government, talking about this plan to invade Gaza City, to conquer it, and ultimately to occupy it. And now the Israeli military and its government says that it has launched the main phase of that operation to invade Gaza City, with the Israeli prime minister saying that Israel has launched a powerful operation overnight to take that city. This operation would involve the movement of some 20,000 Israeli troops pushing towards the city center of Gaza City.

But so far, it's important to note that we have yet to be able to independently verify that this invasion has indeed begun, with no evidence on the ground yet of any tanks or troops moving into the central part of Gaza City. And it is important to note that there are still hundreds of thousands of people inside that city. We've seen so far the movement of some 350,000 people who have been forced to flee Gaza City over the course of the last couple of weeks, according to the Israeli military, but up to a million people altogether were believed to be in Gaza City as of last month.

Overnight, we certainly did see yet another night of intense Israeli bombardments, and indeed the aftermath is gruesome, as we've seen numerous people being pulled out from the rubble, children being brought bloodied and covered in soot to Al Shifa Hospital, which is in Gaza City. Some of those were injured, some of those unfortunately lifeless, with their relatives then beginning the process of mourning them.

There are also questions, of course, about what this ground operation will mean for the Israeli hostages being held in Gaza City. We know that just a few weeks ago, we saw one Israeli hostage in a Hamas video being driven around Gaza City. He indicated that there were eight other Israeli hostages also being held there.

I asked an Israeli military official today whether the Israeli military believes there are still hostages being held in Gaza City. He would not comment publicly on the matter. But there's no question that the families of those hostages are incredibly concerned at this moment, with some of them rushing to the prime minister's residence last night as news began breaking of this potential ground offensive to raise their voices against the prime minister and against this latest offensive, which they fear will put the lives of their loved ones in danger -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Jeremy Diamond, thank you for the very latest. Much more to come as this is developing as we speak. Jeremy's getting new information by the hour -- John.

BERMAN: All right, an 82-year-old woman accused of shooting her husband at a care facility, the charges she is now facing.

Americans' credit scores falling at their fastest rate since the Great Recession. Could this be an economic canary in a coal mine?

And keep those lips to yourselves. The kissing bug disease. Now an epidemic here in the United States.

[08:10:11]

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BERMAN: All right, new this morning, new data showing the credit scores are falling at the fastest pace in the U.S. since the Great Recession as Americans struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living. Let's go over to CNN's Matt Egan for this. This doesn't sound good.

MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Yes, no, John, it's not. It's more evidence that some Americans, they're hurting because of the high cost of living and because of the return of student loans. So FICO had found that credit scores on average, they increased every single year between 2013 and last year when they dipped.

And today FICO says there's an even bigger drop this year, as you mentioned, the biggest since 2009 during the Great Recession. Credit scores, they're still pretty high, moving in the wrong direction, in part because more and more Americans are falling behind on their bills. FICO says that delinquency rates are at or near the highest level since 2009 on car loans, credit cards, and also on personal loans as well.

And Gen Z, they're under even more pressure. FICO says that credit scores for Gen Z down by the most of any age group since 2020. And part of that problem, of course, is student debt, right?

[08:15:00]

Starting in February, they started to report delinquencies on student loans for the first time since COVID. And FICO has found that a record high 29 percent of people who have student debt have been reported as delinquent. Only 62 percent have actually made a recent payment. And look at this, another 9 percent, they could be reported delinquent soon because they have student debt, but they have not made any recent payments.

And it's not just student debt, right? You think about young people also contending with the worst job market for recent college graduates in years.

I talked to a 22-year-old from Orlando who told me it took him 14 months and hundreds of job applications before he landed a job that wasn't a scam. But he said he's not making nearly enough money to get by, let alone to chip away at his $35,000 in student debt. So he said his credit scores have taken a drastic hit.

And he's not alone. FICO found that almost two-thirds, 64 percent of Gen Z student borrowers, they rely on more debt just to get by. That's people who have student debt, they've got to rely on credit cards and buy now, pay later, and also personal loans just to pay their bills.

So John, I do think this is just more evidence of the K-shaped economy, right? Where a lot of people who have money in the market, they own their home, they're doing OK. Others are not. And it just shows this disconnect where you got Wall Street, there's all this euphoria. Main Street, though, a lot of people they're struggling.

BERMAN: Just to be clear, when you don't have a good credit score, your credit score drops, everything just spirals.

EGAN: Yes.

BERMAN: It makes it so much harder.

EGAN: It makes it even more expensive to borrow.

BERMAN: All right, Matt Egan, thank you very much for that.

EGAN: Thanks, John.

BERMAN: All right. So how is socialism doing in the polls? You might be surprised by the response.

And Any Minute accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione expected to arrive in court. What we could learn from today's hearing.

[08:20:00]

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BERMAN: And we do have breaking news this morning. We just learned that legendary actor and director Robert Redford has died. He was 89 years old.

Just remembering some of his truly iconic roles, Roy Hobbs in The Naturalist, Sundance Kid. He won an Academy Award for directing Ordinary People, a heart-wrenching movie. A River Runs Through It.

And of course, major contributions on the environment and really the world's probably greatest proponent of independent film.

Let's get to Jason Carroll with the latest on this. Good morning, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, just heartbreaking news. The Hollywood community now in mourning. I want to start out by reading this statement coming to us.

This statement provided to CNN saying -- Robert Redford passed away on September 16th, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah, the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly. The family at this time request privacy.

I mean, I think you said it best. Robert Redford, a man who was not only an actor, not only a director, a producer, but also an activist. I mean, when you think of classic film, you think of a man like Robert Redford.

You mentioned some of his films there, films such as Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. I also think of movies such as The Sting in 1973, The Way We Were, that heart-wrenching movie that he starred with Barbara Streisand back in 1973. Of course, when you think of classic films, you also think of films such as All the President's Men, where he portrayed Bob Woodward, that film about the Watergate scandal.

And you mentioned also Ordinary People, a film that I think still even now resonates with so many people. Actually, that was his directorial debut. He won the Oscar. In fact, that film nominated for four Oscars. And it wasn't just Robert Redford, the actor. It wasn't just Robert

Redford, the director, but also Robert Redford was someone who cared about film, deeply cared about film. He cared about independent film. This was a man who started the Sundance Institute back in 1981 because of his support for independent filmmakers.

I mean, you think about the Sundance Film Festival, which he launched back in the day. I mean, this is a man who really did all that he could to support not just major films, but independent films as well. This was a man who had a career that spanned for decades. And when you think of new generations, I mean, young folks out there might think of him in starring in movies such as The Winter Soldier back in 2014.

But this is a man who has a great long legacy in Hollywood, a man who will be missed by so many -- John.

BERMAN: Did he ever make a mark? Jason Carroll, our thanks to you. Let's take a look back at his life and career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

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SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hollywood legend and leading man, Robert Redford, had many roles in front of the camera as well as behind it. He was a true filmmaker and will always be remembered for many iconic films.

ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR, ALL THE PRESIDENTS MENT: She denies even knowing about the conversation.

SIDNER (voice over): All the President's Men.

REDFORD, ACTOR, THE WAY WE WERE: I don't know when I'll be back.

SIDNER (voice over): And the Way We Were.

1969's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was his first blockbuster film, starring alongside Paul Newman. They also co-starred in The Sting, for which he was nominated for best actor in 1974.

Redford was cast as the romantic leading man in films like The Great Gatsby and Out of Africa, a label that followed him throughout his life, even as he became older.

REDFORD: I didn't see myself the way others saw me. I was kind of feeling trapped because I couldn't go outside the box of leading man or good looking leading man. It was very flattering, but it was feeling restrictive.

So it took many years to break loose of that.

SIDNER (voice over): Redford won a best director Oscar in 1981 for Ordinary People. He directed A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show and many other films. A native Californian, he was born in Santa Monica in 1936. As Los Angeles grew, so did Redford's love for protecting the environment.

REDFORD: I grew up respecting nature because what happened to Los Angeles? It was a city as a child during the end of the Second World War that I loved. It was a beautiful city and the air was clean.

And then what happened after the war was suddenly there were skyscrapers and there was pollution. It felt like the city that I loved as a child was taken away from me. So I moved away from that in sadness.

SIDNER (voice over): Redford moved to New York City to pursue an acting career on Broadway in the late 1950s. His big breakout role there was in Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park, a role he would later reprise on the big screen with co-star Jane Fonda. But after several years on Broadway, Redford left the glitz and glamour behind and in 1961 moved to Utah, where he bought two acres of land for just $500 and built a cabin for his family.

REDFORD: I discovered how important nature was in my life and I wanted to be where nature was extreme and where I thought it could be maybe everlasting.

SIDNER (voice over): An avid environmentalist, he bought more land over the years in Park City, Utah and turned it into the Sundance Institute in 1981, a nonprofit dedicated to independent filmmakers. And four years later, started the Sundance Film Festival to showcase their work.

REDFORD: Once the press came, then fashion came. And when fashion came, the paparazzi came. So these are kind of like tiers that formed outside of what we were doing.

That's fine. That's their business, but it's not who we are.

SIDNER (voice over): And his love for the environment continued.

REDFORD: As years went on, I became more and more convinced that nature played a great role in our lives but wasn't being treated fairly. And so I got committed to preserving that.

SIDNER (voice over): But he didn't stop acting and directing and was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2002 for his contributions to filmmaking.

REDFORD: I want to make the most of what I've been given. And you keep pushing yourself forward, you try new things, and that's invigorating. I guess I found out that rather than retiring, that just feels better.

Just keep moving as long as you can keep moving.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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