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U.S. Orders Two Carrier Strike Group To Stay In Middle East; Hamas Delegation Leaves Cairo After Ceasefire-Hostage Talks; Interview With Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) About Ceasefire Talks And 2024 U.S. Elections; Abortion Is On The Ballot In Several States This November; Desperate Search For Missing Hiker In Grand Canyon; Taylor Swift's Latest Tour Estimated To Boost UK Economy by $1.2B. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired August 25, 2024 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:11]

PAULA REID, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Paula Reid in Washington, sitting in for Jessica Dean tonight along with Jim Sciutto in Tel Aviv -- Jim.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Paula, thanks so much.

Tonight two U.S. aircraft carriers have been ordered to remain in the Middle East. This after Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire with rockets, missiles, and air strikes early this morning.

Yes, Israel fired more than rockets, guys.

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia, says its first phase of retaliation is now complete after it launched about 300 rockets towards Israel. Israel, however, says it struck first preemptively to destroy rocket launchers and firing positions in Lebanon, heading off what they described as a major attack planned by Hezbollah.

All this took place as negotiations continued in Cairo for an elusive hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. We have CNN's Jennifer Hansler and Nada Bashir tracking these latest developments.

Nada, first to you, I wonder what negotiators there in Cairo have been telling you about the status of the talks. It's remarkable they continued today despite the fire that we saw across the Israel-Lebanon border last night.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right. And there had been hope that we might see some progress, there certainly was some optimism around the fact that we are seeing Hamas delegation here in Cairo. That delegation has now left in the initial outcome of these talks. The initial statement that we have received from Hamas is frankly no different than what we've been hearing from Hamas over the last few weeks.

They continue to reiterate that they want to see a deal which reflect the deal presented by President Joe Biden in late May. A deal which they said they agreed to in early July, and sticking points that we know where the key focus of these discussions appeared to remain, those gaps appear to not have been narrowed according to the initial assessment of Hamas' response. They have said that they continue to reject any suggestion of a longer-term presence of Israeli troops within the Gaza Strip.

We know of course that Israel had presented a revised proposal which would see a reduced number of Israeli forces stationed along the Philadelphi Corridor separating Egypt from Southern Gaza, that has been once again rejected by Hamas officials. They've also called for further guarantees to ensure that there is a potential transition to a lasting permanent ceasefire. And we know that Israeli officials have previously said that they would welcome a temporary pause in that first phase, a six-week pause in fighting, but so far we have not heard any explicit endorsement of a transition to a permanent ceasefire in the second phase from Israeli officials.

That is something that Hamas has been clear they want to see. That is something that mediators have insisted they also want to see. But, again, these talks are expected to continue. We are hearing from officials that there will be talks of a technical level from members of both sides as well as mediators taking place over the coming days. It remains to be seen whether we see a full-on peace summit or negotiation talks being held again.

But clearly there has been no progress or limited progress in trying to narrow those gaps between Israel and Hamas despite the bridging proposals put forward by the Biden administration. Of course, pressure is continuing to mount not only because of the deteriorating situation in Gaza, not only for the family members of hostages still held captive in Gaza, but also, as you mentioned, as we continue to see tensions mount in the region.

SCIUTTO: Jennifer, despite those differences, U.S. officials describe today's talks as constructive. And I wonder, based on your conversations with U.S. officials and those involved, is there more progress behind the scenes than the participants are letting on in public?

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jim, the U.S. is certainly trying to inject optimism still into this process. They are saying that these talks were held in good spirits, in good faith by all parties, which is notable because in the past we have seen the U.S. call out Hamas for being a detractor in these process. They have called on Hamas to accept the bridging proposal rather, and in this case, they are saying that all sides were participating in good spirits towards getting a final agreement.

So that is notable. At the same time, as Nada said, there seems to be little indication that there was actually progress made. We are hearing that there will be working level talks in the coming days to build on the conversations that were had over the past four days. There were a number of different groups that met over the past four days in Cairo. We saw the U.S. and Egypt meet with Israel on Thursday I'm told. On Friday, the U.S. met, or sorry, Egypt met with its own counterparts.

[19:05:05]

And then there's been different formulations here about putting this forward. At the same time, we have heard U.S. officials continuing to urge that this needs to be done in the coming days. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was there just a week ago trying to get this across the finish line. He warned that there could be intervening events perhaps like we saw overnight that could fully derail these talks and make it impossible to continue -- Jim.

SCIUTTO: Nada Bashir, Jennifer Hansler, thanks so much.

Joining me now to discuss further, former secretary of defense under President Bill Clinton, William Cohen.

Secretary, thank you for joining tonight.

WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE UNDER PRESIDENT CLINTON: Good to see you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: You've been involved in your share of difficult negotiations. I wonder as you watch this one play out, on the bad side, there is still major issues, major sticking points to get over. On the good side, the region arguably dodged a bullet last night in what could have been a much larger escalation in this war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Tonight, it's quiet. And I wonder if you see that as providing an opening for these talks to make some progress.

COHEN: Any time when not firing rockets and missiles at each other, it's a good sign. I think both the Israelis and Hezbollah decided they were going to try and attack military sites and not civilians. And that's a good thing. Had any of the missiles gone into civilian areas and killing innocent people that could have set this off in a much more explosive way. So that's the positive side. That Hezbollah has said this is it for now. The for now is something to be, the qualitative difference here, the quantitative difference actually.

And so what is to come for the -- before the next now, and I think what's happening is that the Hamas and the Israelis are shutting down I think seriously this time to find way forward. Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire. You cannot have a permanent ceasefire unless Hamas has a permanent recognition of the state of Israel's right to exist. And so for Hamas to insist permanent ceasefire, you say, well, yes, how about recognizing I have a right to be secure and safe as a sovereign Jewish country?

SCIUTTO: Right.

COHEN: So that's, it seems to me, a sticking point that Hamas is going to have to give up. A pause would be necessary. A temporary ceasefire, get the hostages out, stop the killing, and have a plan for a Palestinian Authority state going forward that lives in peace with Israel. That's the game plan and that's what I hope can be achieved.

SCIUTTO: You know, if you and I were talking a couple of weeks ago, there was almost certainty in certain circles in Washington, even in this region, that there was going to be an expansion of this war, that Iran was going to strike to carry out its revenge for the killing of a Haniyeh in Tehran, that Hezbollah was going to strike in grand form to carry out revenge for the killing of a Hezbollah leader by Israel in Lebanon.

It didn't happen. Iran seems to be keeping its powder dry. Hezbollah carried out what can only be described as something of a fizzled attack last night. But it seems to be quiet for now. And I wonder what you credit that to. And is part of it this enormous U.S. military presence in the region right now?

COHEN: I would say that had a great deal to do with it. I recall being on the program and suggesting to Iran do not do this. We have enormous firepower now in the region. It's there as a deterrent. If that deterrent fails, then it will be defensive in nature to shoot down whatever missiles can be fired at Israel or us. And then to punish the Iranian should they decide to go forward. So I think that's had a deterrent effect. I hope it continues as such.

The one thing we don't want to see is an expansion of the war because what is said to be regional is really global and consequence, anytime you have a major conflict in that region, price of oil will spike. People will go without oil, without food supplies, et cetera. It would have an economic consequence that would be global in its impact. So it's to be avoided if it can, but that's why we are there in such numbers.

SCIUTTO: As you know, there is criticism from inside Israel, even from inside Benjamin Netanyahu's own government of his approach to these talks in Gaza and questions about his motivations and priorities, one of which being his interest in maintaining his political coalition rather than prioritizing getting the hostages out and quickly.

[19:10:12]

Do you think that's fair criticism?

COHEN: Well, his own defense minister has expressed discontent with the Prime Minister Netanyahu's policy, saying, where does this end? How do we -- what does the end game here? How does this all play out? And so, we don't know. I can't question the motives of Prime Minister Netanyahu, but it seems to me it's a legitimate question to raise in the sense that if this continues as it is, more people will die, innocent civilians will die by the tens and possibly the thousands. And we need to prevent that from taking place.

So I think when Prime Minister Netanyahu own defense minister questions his policy, I think we have to take stock about and say we want the Biden-Harris proposal. I think President Biden has spoken out on this. Vice President Harris has spoken out on this. And I think we need to have this take place if there's going to be any hope for peace in the region.

SCIUTTO: Yes. Before we go, just about the U.S. role here, because if the U.S. military presence in the region, the expanded U.S. military presence, for instance, the extension of these carrier strike groups, if that is influencing Hezbollah and Iran to moderate their military action, what pressure is being applied to Netanyahu then to move forward on a ceasefire agreement by the U.S.? Is enough pressure being applied?

COHEN: Well, Israel, as we have said before, is an ally of the United States. We are committed to its security, and as I have said before, we are committed to even shed our blood if necessary in that region in order to protect Israel's security. But we should be very hesitant to commit our men and women to a battle plan in that region if the Israelis are unwilling to make the kind of negotiated compromise that we believe would be necessary in order to secure their security and prevent us from having to go to war with Iran and its proxies throughout Syria, in Iraq, in Lebanon, and certainly in Gaza.

So we have a lot at stake. We have skin in the game, so to speak, and we're prepared to put that skin at risk. Provided that the Israelis are willing to take actions which are reasonable, responsible, and fair.

SCIUTTO: Of course, the other pressure point, hostage families here waiting, hoping that their loved ones will come home as the number of living hostages held in Gaza seems to only to be diminishing.

William Cohen, thanks so much for joining us this Sunday evening. We appreciate you taking the time.

COHEN: Thank you, Jim. Appreciate being here.

SCIUTTO: Paula Reid, back to you in Washington.

REID: Jim, thank you.

And much more news ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM. We'll be joined by Democratic congresswoman and former chair of the DNC, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, talking about the recent Democratic National Convention, and the impact of Israel and Hezbollah trading attacks overnight. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:18:06]

REID: Moments ago, President Biden arriving back on the East Coast at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware after vacationing in California. The White House says the president has been monitoring the latest events in the Middle East after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged rocket fire across the Lebanese border earlier this morning. This coming amid the talks in Cairo to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz joins me now.

Congresswoman, thank you so much for being with us. The U.S. helped Israel track the incoming rockets, but said it did not participate in the strike inside Lebanon. What do you think the U.S. approach should be to try to keep this from spreading into a wider regional conflict?

REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D-FL): Thanks for having me and what I am really proud and thankful for is that the U.S.-Israel relationship has the strength to be able to make sure when it comes to an imminent threat like this one, there is awareness and the ability of us to provide intelligence assistance without kinetic assistance to Israel is real. And our policy is always that Israel needs to be able to defend itself by itself.

Vice President Harris said specifically in her acceptance speech on Thursday night, that she will always stand by Israel's right to defend itself and also ensure that she can. And so knowing as Israel did that was an imminent threat looming on the part of Hezbollah, any nation would be well within its rights to keep its people safe and Israel launched a preemptive strike to ensure that they could do that.

REID: And today Israel's military ordered more evacuations in an area in Central Gaza where thousands are currently sheltering. Many of them previously fled Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. What is your response to this move by Israel?

[19:20:03]

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, Israel is currently facing threats on seven fronts, from Hezbollah in the north to the Houthis to Hamas continuing to be sworn to its destruction. I'm appreciative and it's always been incredible that Israel takes the steps that it does to warn potential civilians who might be in harm's way if they are going to engage in a military action and I mean, look, this could all end if Hamas just simply accepted the deal for a ceasefire and returning the hostages that is on the table now.

It shouldn't be leaving Cairo where the negotiations have been taking place. The ball is in their court. Israel has accepted it. The Arab world has been helping to negotiate it along with the United States. Hamas needs to take the deal and return the hostages. The civilians in Gaza are victims of Hamas.

REID: We know that President Biden spoke with Netanyahu this week. How much influence does the U.S. have over what steps he is taking?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, as I said, it's very clear that there is a strong and vibrant continued working U.S.-Israel relationship. Both President Biden and Vice President Harris are in regular communication with Prime Minister Netanyahu. We are -- I mean, like -- I mean, the evidence of that is that the only party that has not accepted the terms of the ceasefire deal now that is on the table is Hamas.

And it's really baffling to understand why they would not do that. In their charter they're sworn to Israel's destruction, sworn to the killing of Jews, no nation should be able -- should have to accept a terrorist threat living on their doorstep, nor have 109 hostages that have been there for 324 days.

This is absolutely essential that Hamas take this deal so that they can get assistance and humanitarian relief, and the aftermath of this terrible war and to move forward. Peace can be restored. And that's what President Biden and Vice President Harris have been pushing so hard for. And yes, there is regular communication and quite a bit of influence on Prime Minister Netanyahu, as we have a very strong working relationship and rely on and respect one another.

REID: I want to pivot to the Democratic National Convention, which of course just wrapped up. Your colleague, Democratic Congresswoman Summer Lee said today that the DNC missed an opportunity by not featuring a Palestinian-American or a member of the Uncommitted Movement to speak.

As the former head of the DNC, what would you have done?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: I would have done exactly what the head of the DNC, Jaime Harrison, and the Harris campaign did, which is make sure that there was a breath and diversity of speakers that not only included voices on behalf of Israel and her safety and security, and bringing the hostages home but also the very strong message that came from the Polins who talked about the importance of making sure that not only the hostages are home but that no one benefits from the suffering. There is no winner in a suffering competition.

You had Keith Ellison who mentioned then talked about the importance of eliminating suffering and this was, I mean, the suggestion that was made of an uncommitted delegate speaking was one that there was no commitment to ensure that they would have a unifying similar message. And so ensuring that we had the breadth of those issues addressed the safety and security and moving forward for Palestinians in Gaza, as well as ensuring that a ceasefire is brought to bear with hostages returned and Hamas taking the deal. That was the message that came strongly and clearly from the stage. And that was the right one.

REID: I want to ask you about new comments from former president Trump's running mate last night. J.D. Vance argued that Trump would veto a federal abortion ban. Do think that this messaging will work with voters?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Neither J.D. Vance nor former president Trump can be trusted and nothing that comes out of their mouth and can be trusted. It's very clear through Project 2025 that a national abortion ban is what is intended on the part of the Republican Party and the extreme MAGA Republicans if they succeed in winning this election. You have more than 125 Republican members of Congress who have co- sponsored a national abortion ban, and I mean, if that were the case, the words would come out of former president Trump's mouth, and even then you couldn't trust anything he said.

[19:25:04]

I remember after Sandy Hook he had a group of members of Congress around the table in the White House and committed to make sure that you could move forward with really important gun violence reform. He looked those members in the eye and said he would do that. And then in the next days he went right to the NRA playbook and said he would never do anything to limit the ability of people to be no longer be victims of gun violence. So you can't trust a word he or J.D. Vance. J.D. Vance a couple of

years ago said that Donald Trump was the worst excuse for an elected official in the United States. And here he is today, his running mate. You can't trust anything they say. We need to make sure that we move forward with Vice President Harris as president of the United States so we can ensure that we codify abortion rights. That politicians in the government can't be involved in women's health care decisions.

And that's what we'll do and what she committed to from the stage and what the overwhelming majority of Democrats, members of Congress, and the overwhelming majority of Americans believe. Government and politicians should stay out of women's reproductive healthcare decisions.

REID: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, thank you.

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you so much.

REID: And still ahead, quote, "Think Trump on steroids." The Trump campaign signaling an aggressive new phase of the campaign. We'll talk with a Democratic pollster about which issues are really impacting the 2024 race.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:31:00]

REID: New tonight, CNN is learning that the Trump campaign is planning to aggressively ramp up his schedule in the 72 days remaining until the election. One adviser telling CNN, "Think Trump on steroids."

Both candidates are hitting the ground in key swing states this week and as we've been discussing tonight, abortion is likely to be a key issue for many voters. Take a listen to how JD Vance says Trump would respond to a federal abortion ban.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JD VANCE (R) VICE PRESIDENT NOMINEE: California wants to have a different abortion policy from Ohio, then Ohio has to respect California and California has to respect Ohio.

Donald Trump's view is that we want the individual states and their individual cultures and their unique political sensibilities to make these decisions.

KRISTEN WELKER, NBC NEWS WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: If such a piece of legislation landed on Donald Trump's desk, would he veto it?

VANCE: I need to be very clear. He would not support it. I mean, he said that it's just like --

WELKER: But would you veto it?

VANCE: Yes. I mean, if you're not supporting it as a president of United States, you fundamentally have to veto it.

WELKER: So he would veto a federal abortion ban.

VANCE: I think he would.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

REID: Joining us now to discuss the latest on the state of the race is Democratic pollster, Celinda Lake.

After watching that clip of JD Vance, do you think that Republicans are strong enough on their messaging here as clearly abortion rights have such a high approval rating across the US.

CELINDA LAKE, DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER: Well, I think they're trying to escape the trap that they set for themselves in a deep hole there and they won't work.

People don't want to leave it up to the states. By two to one, they want a national guarantee, not a national ban. They don't want to leave it up to the states because what happens if your job moves you to the state?

What happens if a woman has a serious medical condition and has to travel to another state? Who's going to pay for that? Who's going to arrange if that woman's life is in danger? Their attitude is completely antiquated. People want a national guarantee of this right, which is what we had under Roe v. Wade.

REID: Well, abortion is of course on the ballot in many states including Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, South Dakota Missouri, Florida, Maryland, and New York. From a polling perspective, how can the fact that this issue is on the ballot in those states potentially impact the outcome of the election?

LAKE: Oh, it could have a massive impact. First of all, it could increase the turnout of younger women and younger voters and pro- choice voters. We now have the pro-choice voters since Dobbs are more energized than the anti-choice voters. Before that, it was always the other way around.

Pro-choice voters are voting, they're registering, they are voting in this issue. They did it in Kansas, they did it in Ohio. They do it even when the people tried to trick them. They do it when it's in their constitution already and they want to guarantee it nationally, not just state by state.

REID: Do you expect that Vice President Harris will go on offense more on this subject?

LAKE: She's already been on offense and in fact, she was the lead when it was the Biden-Harris ticket. I don't know that anyone could be any stronger and clearer.

And she is a woman. She gets this issue. She has a stepdaughter, she has nieces, and she understands what's at stake here and her rights would be outlawed just like everybody else's if that they get what they want.

REID: As we talked about earlier, Trump's campaign is going to increase his schedule, hoping to hold several events in each swing state every week leading up to November.

Is that potentially going to be enough for former President Trump to combat really this boost that the vice president has seen?

LAKE: Well, I think that he's trying to regenerate the momentum he had. I think he was really floundering when he had to run against Vice President Harris. She's generated unbelievable enthusiasm. Walz also share an unbelievable enthusiasm. The convention generated unbelievable enthusiasm and I think they're trying to get their mojo back.

REID: When you talk to voters, what issues appear to be most vulnerable for Harris? So what do they want to hear her talk more about?

[19:35:10]

LAKE: What they want to hear the most about is the economy because they don't know what the Democratic economic plan is. They know increasingly that she was an AG. They know that she was in the room where things were happening as VP. They think she's qualified, they think she's tough and capable.

But they want to know specifically what her economic plans are and I think she's launched her first ad today with a substantial buy behind it, saying that one of the first things she is going to do is lower middle-class taxes. And of course, Trump's plans have been rated by every economist out there to increase the taxes on the middle class.

REID: So you're saying that voters want to hear more specifics on the economy from Vice President Harris?

LAKE: That's right and she's already laid out some that were very, very popular and people want to hear more about them on the campaign trail. Her banning price gouging in grocery stores, the expansion of affordable housing, the ending of junk fees.

She's outlined a number of proposals and I think she needs to keep repeating those so that more and more swing voters who are low information voters hear what her plans are for their families and how she will make the economic well-being of their families her priority.

REID: Of course, her price gouging policy proposal got a lot of pushback but she could clarify this and share those much sought after details. If she took more questions from reporters here at CNN or anywhere else.

Cilinda Lake, thank you so much.

LAKE: Thank you. And I want to say the voters like the price gouging proposal, the elites may not, but the voters do.

REID: Still ahead, dramatic ground Grand Canyon rescues as more than 100 people need to be evacuated after monsoons hit the region.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:41:36]

REID: Tonight, an urgent search is underway for an Arizona hiker swept away by flash flooding in the Grand Canyon. Thunderstorms forcing rivers over the banks. Arizona's governor calling in the National Guard to help rescue more than a hundred people.

CNN's Camila Bernal is live with the latest. Camila, what are you learning?

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Paula, so authorities saying there's an active and ongoing search for Chenoa Nickerson. She's 33-years-old from Arizona and her family is saying that they are still hopeful that they will find her alive. They say they love her and care for her and want everything to be focused on this search.

So, they're holding on to hope as the days go on. They believe that she was swept away by the waters on Thursday. Authorities saying that she may be near the Colorado River confluence and what they're saying is that on Thursday, these monsoons triggered those flash floods and eventually she likely was swept away.

She was essentially, not the only one that was stranded after Thursday's storm. In total, 104 people had to be rescued and that included her husband. So, authorities are saying that her husband was rescued and is safe and so are the other people that were rescued that day, but they continue the search for Nickerson.

Now, authorities also saying that this was something unexpected in this area, but it is the season for these monsoons. So, they're telling people that they need to be careful.

The other thing here is that they will continue this search for as long as they will, or they'll let us know essentially when they will continue this. And they are saying that among the people they rescued were some of the hikers and also some of the tribal members.

As you mentioned, Paula, it was Governor Katie Hobbs, who activated the National Guard. They had to use Blackhawk helicopters to get these people out of there and I want you to listen to what one of the hikers had to say after she was rescued?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LATRICIA MIMBS, EVACUATED GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK: We've made it out with probably 40 or 50 others stuck together and helped each other cross the water. The fact that she's still missing breaks my heart. We've cried about it a lot today and we've prayed about it a lot.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BERNAL: And that hiker also saying that she's gone to the area many

times with us, she has learned her lesson and will not go back during the monsoon season. They had to shut down the area for locals and for hikers. There was a tribal village that also had to be shut down just about eight miles under essentially the canyon rim.

So again, this is an ongoing search, but the family is holding onto hope -- Paula.

REID: Camila Bernal, thank you.

BERNAL: Thank you.

REID: Officials in Washington State say a possible cyberattack is behind outages at the Port of Seattle in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

SeaTac first reported the outage Saturday alerting passengers to disruptions with their internet systems.

TSA officials tell CNN, there is no impact to their operations at security checkpoints. CNN has reached down to port officials for details on the scope of this potential cyberattack.

And still ahead, Taylor Swift's European leg of the Eras Tour is over, but the financial windfall is still being felt. We'll look at the massive impact of her historic tour.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

[19:45:10]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

REID: This week, Taylor Swift saying, so long, London wrapping up the European leg of her Eras Tour with a final show at Wembley Stadium. Her show boosting the British economy by an estimated $1.2 billion.

CNN's Anna Stewart has more.

[19:50:08]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Lights camera, fans smile.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just magical, the vibe is just so alive, ah.

STEWART (voice over): With August slipping away, Taylor Swift's European Tour is coming to a close, leaving behind windfall profits.

Swift has dazzled fans in Dublin, shaking it off in Warsaw, and styled it out in Stockholm. All to the tune of millions of dollars in sales and a boost to retail, travel and hospitality businesses.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's got to be tired. Because if I am,, she's got to be tired, too.

STEWART (on camera): How much Taylor Swift have you played in the last few days?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, hours. Countless, it is my whole life.

STEWART (voice over): In the UK, the average fan is sending $1,100.00 all in. According to analysis from Barclays Bank, they estimated $1.27 billion boost for the British economy.

Gelsenkirchen, Germany hosted almost as many Swifties as the city's population giving the hotel sector a swift lift. Fans say it's all worth the hype.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I spent a lot of money, it's so good.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Many times we spent it last year, great.

STEWART (on camera): Have you forgotten all about it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love that --

STEWART (Voice Over): Eras is the highest grossing tour of all time according to Pollstar, eclipsing $1 billion in sales before the 2024 concerts in South America, Asia, and Europe even began.

And it's had not shortage of viral moment. In Europe, from celebrity appearances, to fans without tickets clamoring to get a view -- and the guy on the Chiefs.

London had to bolster security after three Vienna shows were cancelled due to a terror threat. But even then, Swifties in the Austrian city rallied with fans singing her music in the streets.

After more than 40 sold-out shows across Europe, Miss Americana is heading back to North America. Swift gets a two-month break until she hits Florida, Louisiana, and later Canada.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The adrenaline probably keeps her going. I'm sure when she finishes the tour she'll sleep for about two years.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, she must be knackered like they say in the UK.

STEWART (voice over): But for now, it's so long, London.

STEWART (on camera): All bang!

STEWART (voice over): Anna Stewart, CNN, London.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

REID: Anna Stewart, thank you. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:57:26]

REID: Every year, tourists get far too close to wild animals like grizzly bears and bison in America's National Parks.

CNN's Ed Lavandera spent four days in Yellowstone and learned the hard way, just how close is too close. And, Ed, has more in his new episode of "The Whole Story" with Anderson Cooper.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Paula, in this hour, we're going to delve in to a fascinating topic and that is that as National Parks in America have drawn millions and millions of American tourists, as well as international tourists. We also find ourselves seeing a lot of essentially tourists behaving badly if you will.

So, we're going to kind of get into this reason about what happens to tourists when they find themselves in the wild up close with some of the most fascinating animals in the world and what happens there.

And then we're also going to get into the idea of, the therapy, and the beauty, and the majestic nature of these wild places and why people are drawn to it and what can happen when things go terribly wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHAYNE BURKE, ATTACKED BY BEAR IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK: She started biting my left leg a bunch and then she bit my right leg. She picked me up. I'm almost certain that she bit deep enough that she actually scratched my femur.

LAVANDERA (on camera): She made it to the bone?

BURKE: Yes, I let out a pretty big screen and at that point, she has me in the air, my legs in the air, and she just drops me like a cat and then just steps on my back and then just goes to bite me.

LAVANDERA (voice over): Shayne says the Grizzly had him pinned and move to bite him on the back of his neck.

BURKE: That's how they kill their prey is usually biting behind the head and severing the spine. My hands are still like this. She trump both of those at the same time and she also bit into the bear canister.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Which was still in your hand?

BURKE: Which was still in my hand, by the power of the universe and --

LAVANDERA (on camera): Bear bites through it right here.

BURKE: Yes.

LAVANDERA (on camera): And that's when you hear that pop.

BURKE: Yes.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Which must have been terrifying?

BURKE: My initial thought was she just bit through your skull and you're definitely going to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: We spent four amazing days in Yellowstone National Park earlier this year, and we've met a fascinating cast of characters.

In this hour, we'll introduce you to them. In fact, one of them was a man who used to be the former historian of Yellowstone National Park. He literally wrote a book called "Death in Yellowstone," a reminder that their all sorts of ways to get yourself in danger and very real danger in these wild places -- Paula.

REID: I am definitely going to watch that.

Ed Lavandera, thank you.

An all-new episode of "The Whole Story" with Anderson Cooper airing next only on CNN.

And before we go, a very cute reason why there is caution tape closing off this popular California beach. Hundreds of mostly male sea lions suddenly showing up.

A marine biologist tells CNN, they don't know why yet, but the sea lions may hang out there for about a month.

Monterey Bay is home to a Marine National Sanctuary and the sea lions are protected by federal law.

Well, thank you for joining me this evening. I'm Paula Reid in Washington, in for Jessica Dean, see you again next weekend.

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