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Deadly Ceasefire In Gaza Shatter Ceasefire With Hamas; Donald Trump And Vladimir Putin To Speak By Phone In Coming Hours; White House Ignores Court Order Blocking Deportation Flights; Trump Warns Dire Consequences for Iran if Houthis Retaliate; SpaceX Crew-9 Begins Return Flight to Earth From ISS; NASA Astronauts to Experience Health Re-adjustment Period; Trump to Release JFK Assassination Files; Britain's King and Queen to Meet With Pope Francis in April; Pink Blossoms Delight Tourists and Locals in Catalonia. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired March 18, 2025 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:24]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: And we begin with breaking news out of Gaza, where a fragile cease fire has been shattered and more than 200 Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza in the past hours.

The attack was ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz and an Israeli official described it as preemptive strikes targeting Hamas, but declined to provide details about what they claim was the militant group's "readiness to execute terror attacks".

Hamas leader responded by saying the new air strikes are a, "Death sentence for the remaining Israeli hostages held in the Enclave."

A doctor volunteering in Gaza says the aftermath of the Israeli strikes has been absolutely horrific. Between a lack of supplies and qualified people to help the victims, Dr. Razan Al-Nahhas fears there's not much medical workers can do at this point.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. RAZAN AL-NAHHAS, VOLUNTEERING WITH HUMANITY AUXILIUM IN GAZA: It's been absolutely horrific, nothing close to anything I've experienced before. We were asleep at around 2:05, I believe, multiple explosions within just a span of a few minutes, back to back, building shook. Immediately, I just thought some new cases coming in, and since then, we have been receiving patients nonstop.

The first two hours, I would say were the most intense. I think at this point, I mean, it's really hard to tell the numbers right now, because there are just patients everywhere on the floor and the stretchers in the hallways outside with, you know, at least over 50 martyrs. It's, you know, you're really just doing damage control, just trying

to do what you can, because you have limited resources. We didn't even have access to a CT scanner for the first couple of hours, until the technicians came in to run the machine. There's no radiologist to read the scans. There's minimal surgeons, or there's -- we're really not doing much at this point, and the scenes are just horrific. Babies, children all over the floor, bleeding from their -- from their heads, bleeding from their abdomen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And that was Dr. Al-Nahhas speaking to CNN earlier from Gaza.

Well, this Israeli military operation taking place with the full knowledge and apparently the consent of the Trump administration. Here's White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza tonight, and as President Trump has made it clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel, but also the United States of America, will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose.

And all of the terrorists in the Middle East, again, the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iranian backed terror proxies and Iran themselves, should take President Trump very seriously when he says he is not afraid to stand for law abiding people. He is not afraid to stand up for the United States of America and our friend and our ally, Israel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN's Paula Hancocks is following the story for us from Abu Dhabi. She joins us now.

So, Paula, what is the latest on these deadly Israeli strikes in Gaza, and what will this ultimately mean for the fragile ceasefire and, of course, the return of hostages?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, we are seeing the death toll rise fairly quickly in Gaza. We're seeing some horribly familiar images coming to us as well of civilians being caught up in these renewed air strikes.

Now, the IDF saying that they are targeting Hamas. They're targeting middle level commanders, infrastructure of Hamas, but we are seeing a number of children among the dead and also among those injured.

Now, we've heard from an Israeli official that these are preemptive strikes without really clarifying what that means, saying that they're trying to target Hamas readiness to be able to carry out an attack, trying to target the efforts by Hamas to rearm. The Israeli official also saying that these strikes will continue as long as necessary, and will expand beyond air strikes. [02:05:19]

Now we know that the Israeli military is stationed in certain areas along the border, along buffer zones in Gaza itself. This could potentially mean that we will see the military moving back into population cities, into population centers.

Now, what this means for for the ceasefire, it means that the ceasefire is over. It was a temporary ceasefire that negotiations were intended to be ongoing, to push that deal from phase one to phase two.

Now, those negotiations had been taking place over recent weeks, but we heard from the Israeli side that they said Hamas was not willing to agree to what they and the White House, the Trump administration wanted to push forward, which was namely, not the previous deal that had been agreed upon and that President Trump had taken credit for, but to push this temporary cease fire another month, to extend it, to have a handful of hostages being released in return for a number of Palestinian prisoners.

Now, Hamas had said it wanted to stick to the original deal, but this simply has collapsed at this point. So, the cease fire is effectively over, and Israel has returned to these air strikes, which they say will expand beyond air strikes, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Our thanks to Paula Hancocks there with that live report. Appreciate it.

Well, let's get more now from Shaina Low. She is a communications advisor for the Norwegian Refugee Council, and she joins me now from Aman in Jordan. Thank you so much for talking with us.

SHAINA LOW, COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR, NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL: Thank you.

CHURCH: So, you have been in communication with your team in Gaza. They're all safe and accounted for. But what are they telling you about what happened in the early hours of the morning when these Israeli strikes shook them from their beds?

LOW: Well, it was very similar to what the doctor who you had on just a few moments ago. My colleague wrote to me. He said that shortly after 2:00 in the morning, they were woken up by intensive bombing. The building was shaking, and they immediately started getting reports of strikes all across Gaza.

They said that phone lines were jammed as people tried to check in with one another, make sure that their families were OK. And as of -- as of around 5:30 this morning, Gaza time, when I was in touch with him, he said that there was continued shelling and bombing and heavy attacks had continued since 2:00 a.m.

People, including our staff, are, of course, in shock. They are very stressed out. They are very worried about what is to come. This is, of course, recalls the early days after October 7th, when we saw that that casualty numbers were incredibly high. CHURCH: Yes. I mean, this is a terrifying situation for your teams and everyone living across Gaza, as you say, it's extensive from north to south.

So, what is happening at this hour? Do you know? What are your team members telling you?

LOW: I think they're just still trying to figure out what -- who is safe. Continuing, we've suspended all movements making sure that people are sheltering in place where they are. About half of our staff had returned back to Northern Gaza to see their families, check on their homes, and so -- and so people are spread throughout Gaza.

And of course, we're incredibly concerned about the fact that, as we've seen these renewed hostilities, as we've seen this bombardment, that very little aid is present inside of Gaza due to a 16, now 17 day see -- complete siege where no aid or commercial goods have entered. We know that fuel is in short supply, and so it's possible that in the coming days we will lose telecommunications, that hospitals will collapse, there will be no clean drinking water available, and food distributions will come to a halt.

CHURCH: Yes, I mean so many problems ahead here. And of course, we know that more than 200 people have been killed so far by these Israeli strikes, and hundreds have been wounded too and left homeless.

So, what will this mean for your teams? What will they be doing in the hours ahead to help those impacted by these deadly strikes?

LOW: Well, of course, we'll do everything that we can, but it's very difficult when our teams themselves are affected, are impacted, are unable to move, are unable to get where we're unable to guarantee their safety and their ability to go out and conduct distributions.

[02:10:03]

Already, our warehouses were running quite low due to the fact that no aid has entered. And so, we will do whatever we can to continue to support the people of Gaza and to continue to support our colleagues in Gaza with their efforts. But it's really I think, very early to tell in terms of with -- if there are renewed hostilities over the next few days, what in fact we may be able to do.

CHURCH: And in situations like this, do you keep your teams in place, or is it easier to get them out at this juncture and regroup and then send them back in to help people. What -- how do you work out what to do from here?

LOW: Well, most of our team are actually local national staff. Palestinians from Gaza who have been impacted over the last 17 months, and we will continue to work as best as we can. It's unclear yet how much movement, freedom of movement there will be inside of Gaza. We've already heard reports, seeing reports that the private military contractors who were in Gaza, controlling the Netzarim Corridor and monitoring that checkpoint have withdrawn.

So, it's unclear where our staff will be able to go, and how we'll be able to mobilize them, given the conditions on the ground right now.

CHURCH: Shaina Low, thank you so much for talking with us, and we hope that your team stay safe there in Gaza. Appreciate it.

LOW: Thank you.

CHURCH: Well, the White House says a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has never been closer. Ahead of a high stakes phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in the hours ahead.

The U.S. president says negotiators already have topics they want to discuss, including land, power plants and, "Dividing up certain assets."

The Kremlin says the call will focus on issues related to the Ukraine conflict, as well as restoring dialog between the U.S. and Russia.

Last week, President Trump said Ukraine had accepted a proposed 30-day cease fire, putting the ball in Russia's court. Vladimir Putin has suggested he agrees with the plan in principle, but made further demands and said more discussions are needed.

On Monday, while touring the Kennedy Center in Washington, Donald Trump repeated disputed claims from Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian troops are now surrounded in Russia's Kursk Region, the U.S. president also discussed his hopes for Tuesday's talks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going to have a very important call. You know, we've had calls, but we're getting down to a very critical stage, and we want to get the whole Russia Ukraine thing done. And I think Ukraine wants it. I know they want it. Everybody wants it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN's Fred Pleitgen is following developments from Moscow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Excitement on Russian state T.V., the leading talk show previewing President Trump's latest diplomatic advances towards Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The pace of negotiations between Moscow and Washington has accelerated, the anchor says. Tomorrow, there will be a phone conversation between Putin and Trump, the U.S. president announced a new call to the Kremlin.

As the unrelenting battles continue on the ground, the White House claims it's making progress towards a possible cease fire. With the Ukrainians already on board, President Trump now trying to convince Putin to sign off as well, even as the Russian leader says, many issues still need to be sorted out. TRUMP: We'll be talking about land. We'll be talking about power plants. That's a -- you know, that's a big question. But I think we have a lot of it already discussed, very much by both sides. Ukraine and Russia, we're already talking about that, dividing up certain assets.

PLEITGEN (voice over): Dividing up assets between Ukraine and Russia, while Moscow's forces are seemingly on the brink of ousting Ukrainian troops from their shrinking foothold in Russia's Kursk Region, soldiers collecting war trophies after hard fought battles.

The Russians say they're also pressing on various other front lines, and they don't want to give any of that territory back to Kyiv.

Moscow also giving a big net to the idea of putting European NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine as peacekeepers. The Kremlin lashing out at the notion.

We are talking about the fact that viable regulation is only possible by taking into account and solving the root causes of the problems associated with Ukraine, and they are going to create additional root causes.

[02:15:13]

But on Moscow streets, optimism that an end to the war may be in sight, brokered by the U.S. president.

PLEITGEN: Do you think that progress is possible in this phone call?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think progress will be definitely.

PLEITGEN: Definitely?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

PLEITGEN: Why do you think so?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're very optimistic.

PLEITGEN: Yes. Why?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I love my life, I love my country, and I think, oh, this will be good for our country.

PLEITGEN (voice over): But the Kremlin has cautioned diplomacy is still in its early stages, and many hurdles will have to be overcome to silence the guns on the battlefield.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: The White House gets a scolding from a federal judge after the Justice Department defied a court order and deported hundreds of alleged gang members. The details just ahead. Plus, a source tells CNN what federal agents found on the phone of an Ivy League assistant professor and doctor prior to her deportation. All that and more just ahead.

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[02:20:52]

CHURCH: Our breaking news this hour, the cease fire in Gaza appears to be over after Israeli air strikes killed more than 200 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry. A Hamas leader responded by calling the strikes a, "death sentence for Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strike, and an Israeli official describes the attack as a, "preemptive targeting of Hamas leaders without providing details." We will continue to follow this story, of course, and bring you the very latest as it comes into us.

A U.S. federal judge is demanding answers from the Trump administration after the Justice Department deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members under a wartime power. The judge characterized the Justice Department's reasoning, as we don't care, we'll do what we want.

Our Jeff Zeleny has the latest from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: The White House insisting it is not defying a court order all over a deportation over the weekend. Some 200 or so migrants sent back on a plane to at El Salvador prison at the cost of $6 million to the United States.

A judge ordered that plane to be turned around midair, the administration proceeded with it. Now this is all front and center in the middle of a legal battle.

The White House says the law is on their side.

LEAVITT: In fact, this administration acted within the confines of the law, again within the president's constitutional authority, and under the authority granted to him under the Alien Enemies Act, we are quite confident in that, and we are wholly confident that we are going to win this case in court.

ZELENY: The White House says the president has the authority under foreign affairs and national security concerns, the broad authority to take care of American citizens.

There is no question, though, history here clearly shows that only three times in U.S. history, the war of 1812 and both the First and Second World Wars are the only time that this law from 1798 has been imposed.

The president says he believes immigration and border security is an act of war. There is no doubt, though this legal fight is escalating.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: New developments in the case of deported Brown University assistant professor and Doctor Rasha Alawieh. A source, says federal agents at Boston Airport found photos of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on her phone when she returned from Lebanon last week. And Alawieh acknowledged she attended his mass funeral.

On Monday, protesters gathered in support of Alawieh, a Lebanese national and U.S. visa holder. A federal judge has delayed her deportation hearing until later this month, after her lawyers withdrew from the case.

Mexico has arrested an alleged leader of the MS-13 gang who is on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. Authorities say he was detained in the city of Veracruz and deported to the U.S., where he faces charges that include Narco terrorism and racketeering.

The FBI accuses him of involvement in gang activities in the U.S., Mexico and his native El Salvador. The Trump administration has designated MS-13, which originated in Los Angeles, as a terrorist organization.

More on our breaking news story ahead, a series of deadly Israeli air strikes hit Gaza, killing dozens of people and shattering a fragile cease fire, a live report from the region is next.

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[02:29:51]

CHURCH: It is morning in Gaza right now, after the Enclave was pounded by deadly Israeli air strikes overnight. The Palestinian health ministry says more than 200 people are dead and hundreds more injured. It effectively ends a fragile cease fire agreement between Israel and the militant group Hamas. But ordinary Palestinians continue to pay the price. A doctor volunteering in Gaza says, since the strikes began, bodies are piling up.

DR. RAZAN AL-NAHHAS, HUMANITY AUXILIUM, GAZA CITY (via telephone): I was just standing on a balcony in one of the hospital buildings that has the operating room and the ICU. And from the balcony -- there's no morgue here. From the balcony, you can see all the bodies of the people who have been killed lined up. And I tried to count and there's at least 50 of them. They're just wrapped in blankets and just waiting, I guess, the families are just waiting to figure out the next steps, and they keep bringing more bodies.

CHURCH: We want to go to Abu Dhabi now and CNN's Paula Hancocks. So Paula, we talked at the top of the hour, of course, but what's the latest since then on these deadly Israeli strikes across Gaza, and what does it mean for the ceasefire and of course, the return of hostages? PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, we're seeing more responses and reaction coming through from different areas. The Forum for the Hostages and the Missing Families have reacted. They've given a statement, where they say that their greatest fear has come true, saying that the government has chosen to give up on the hostages. They are shocked, angry, and terrified.

Now, there are some 58 hostages still held in Gaza. We heard from Hamas as well, earlier, after the, the airstrikes started once again saying, that the government was putting the captives in Gaza at risk of an unknown fate. So, this is the sort of reaction we can expect to have from many parts of the Israel over the coming hours. The far right elements of the Israeli coalition, of the Israeli political arena seem far more supportive that this war has gone ahead.

This is what they were pushing for, saying that they wanted the complete elimination and destruction of Hamas, a concept which even some Israeli military officials have pointed out is nigh on impossible. And what we are seeing on the ground in Gaza are the -- those horrifying images in hospitals. You heard from the doctor there saying how intense the bombardment has been, how quickly the death toll is rising. And bear in mind, with inside Gaza as well, for the past well over two weeks, there has been nothing going in.

The Israelis had put a blockade on the Gaza Strip, trying to pressure Hamas into extending this temporary ceasefire and releasing more hostages. They had stopped all food, all water, all fuel, medical supplies, any kind of aid from going into the Gaza Strip. So for civilians there, the situation, even when the ceasefire was declared and hundreds of trucks were going into the Gaza Strip, is desperate. But the fact that they have had nothing for well over two weeks now, of course, makes the situation even more difficult.

Those hospitals that are still able to function have not had the medical supplies replenished. So it is a situation that we're seeing from the Israeli military side that is going to be increasing military strength. An Israeli official telling CNN that it will go on as long as is necessary, also pointing out that it is a preemptive strike, without really explaining what that means. But, the Israeli official did go on to say that they're trying to prevent Hamas re-arming. They're trying to prevent any potential attack from Hamas and that this could go beyond just airstrikes, in fact, is expected to go beyond just airstrikes, suggesting that we could go back to what we saw over the past year and a half, that the Israeli military is in population centers.

At this point, the Israeli military under this deal, which now appears to have collapsed, was along the border, was along the buffer zones, not in the population centers itself. But all that, of course, up in the air now that Israel has decided to continue and go back to these airstrikes in Gaza. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Thanks to Paula Hancocks, bringing us the very latest on this breaking news story. Well, meantime, U.S. President Donald Trump is doubling down on threats to Iran after he ordered airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. In response, the Iran-backed Houthis claim to have launched 18 missiles and drones at a U.S. air carrier in the Red Sea.

[02:35:00]

President Trump posted on social media, "Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon from this point forward as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of Iran. And Iran will be held responsible and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire."

Well, the SpaceX Crew-9 Mission is on its way back to Earth. Coming up, the latest on the astronauts it is carrying and what they've achieved while on the International Space Station. That and more just ahead. Stay with us.

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[02:40:12]

CHURCH: Our breaking news this hour, a fragile ceasefire shattered by explosions. Israeli strikes on Gaza have reportedly killed more than 200 people and wounded hundreds more, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli official describes the strikes as a "preemptive targeting of Hamas leaders," without providing details. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Hamas had repeatedly refused to hand over hostages. We will, of course, continue to follow this story and bring you updates throughout the hour.

The SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon Capsule has successfully departed from the International Space Station. Its four-person crew is now on route back to Earth's surface. Aboard are NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who spent nearly nine months on the ISS. A spacecraft mishap back in June, turned their week-long mission into an indefinite orbit around Earth until today. NASA moved up this return flight timeline to take advantage of favorable weather conditions throughout Tuesday. The Dragon capsule is expected to splash down off Florida's coast Tuesday evening.

Well earlier, as the Dragon capsule undocked, CNN spoke with Garrett Reisman. He is a former NASA Astronaut who spent 95 days aboard the International Space Station. He is also the Former Director of Space Operations for SpaceX. Reisman helped shed light on what Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were up to during their nine-month extension period.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT REISMAN, FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT: They took the place of two astronauts that were supposed to come up on that, along with the two that they're going home with. So that Dragon has four seats. When it came up, two of those seats were empty, to allow Butch and Suni to go home on this vehicle today. So, they took the place and they did basically the same thing those other two astronauts that were -- that were bumped off the mission were supposed to do. They did a lot of science experiments. They did some space walks. They just did a lot of things that keep the Space Station moving. They were -- they filled in for the crew and we're all trained to do pretty much anything it takes to keep the Space Station running and to do its science and payloads. And they just filled in admirably. So I think they'll be pretty happy with their contributions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: After such a prolonged residency in space, the astronauts are likely to experience some awkward transitions as their bodies re- adjust to Earth's gravity. NASA flight surgeon and Dr. Joseph Dervay explained what those adjustments might look like over the coming weeks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH DERVAY, NASA FLIGHT SURGEON: They worked real hard with their two to two-and-a-half hours of exercise per day while they're on orbit. They love doing that because from a cardiovascular and a muscle perspective, it really helps keep them in tip-top shape. We've actually had crew members come home from long duration flight who have been stronger and more aerobically enhanced them before they left, because they're real busy before they go into space and now they have this dedicated time every day.

So as noted, when they come home those last couple of days, we prepare the crew for what to expect. We typically increase their fluid and salt load those last few days to get back a little bit more of what we call the plasma volume, which initially in early part of space flight, they redistribute some fluids as things come up toward the central part of their body.

And then, as they get ready to come home, as noted, coming through the atmosphere and when they come down, things are exceptionally heavy. We get them onto the recovery, the SpaceX recovery vessel. In this case, it's a splash down. We bring them on typically about 30 minutes after they enter the water and we get them on the recovery ship. The hatch is opened and one of our SpaceX physicians, in addition to our NASA physicians, will see the crew, hit the OK that we're all set to go. And we'd bring them out, and then we will escort them into a medical suite that's on the recovery vessel, and we'll have an opportunity for them to take off their spacesuits and do our initial medical evaluations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Astronaut Butch Wilmore told CNN even lifting a pencil can be difficult after returning from an extended stay in space. Donald Trump says he is fulfilling a longtime campaign promise with the release of unredacted files on the JFK assassination in the hours ahead. More on that, coming up.

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[02:49:30]

CHURCH: A deadly night in Gaza as Israeli strikes killed more than 200 people and ended a tenuous ceasefire. An Israeli official tells CNN the strikes will continue "As long as necessary." says the attacks put the remaining Israeli hostages "At risk of an unknown fate." The strikes came just hours before massive protests were expected In Tel Aviv against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to fire the Internal Security Service Chief.

[02:50:00]

The Trump Administration's recent decision to make cuts to pro- democracy, government-funded media is raising concerns around the world. Last week, the U.S. Agency for Global Media terminated grants to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. One source tells CNN the move could have a major impact on exiled Russian journalist living in Europe who could lose their work visas without their jobs. The administration is also looking to dismantle Voice of America, the largest and oldest U.S. international broadcaster, which Donald Trump has long criticized.

Our Senior White House Correspondent Kayla Tausche looks at the impact the VOA has had worldwide.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: When the Voice first went on the air 45 years ago, the announcer said the news may be good or bad, we shall tell you the truth.

KAYLA TAUSCHE, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chartered by the U.S. to combat misinformation during World War II, Voice of America first broadcast from New York into Nazi Germany in 1942.

[Foreign Language]

TAUSCHE (voice-over): Long seen as a way to promote America's interest and ideals overseas.

REAGAN: Providing reliable uncensored information is an important part of our country's diplomacy.

TAUSCHE (voice-over): VOA and its affiliates transmit history-making moments to citizens whose governments are limiting their information.

[Foreign Language]

TAUSCHE (voice-over): In 1986, voice of America broke the news of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to millions behind the Iron Curtain despite Soviet efforts to block the news.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Despite the heavy jamming, we are definitely heard.

TAUSCHE (voice-over): Even today, the U.S. Agency for Global Media says 10 million Ukrainians listen regularly. 10 million in Russia, two-thirds of all Afghans, at least 427 million listeners around the world, and nearly nine out of 10 weekly listeners say they believe the information is trustworthy. Three out of four say it informs their decisions.

JODIE GINSBERG, CEO, COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS: This isn't just a risk to those individuals who will now lose information about their countries, individuals in Russia or Belarus or Cuba. It's a risk to the U.S. national security because it creates an environment in which mis- and disinformation, lies and propaganda from autocrats around the world can flourish, and that puts America and American security at risk. So in the long run, America and Americans lose.

TAUSCHE (voice-over): Trump believes that coverage is propaganda, dialing up his distrust in an agency he has attacked for years.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: If you heard what's coming out of the Voice of America, it's disgusting. What things they say are disgusting toward our country.

TAUSCHE (voice-over): In his first term, Trump's former Chief of the U.S. Agency for Global Media purged Division Heads, and in 2020, accused the VOA of airing pro-Biden content to sway Muslim voters. The group's senior adviser now is Trump loyalist Kari Lake.

KARI LAKE, SENIOR ADVISER, U.S. AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA: We are fighting an information war and there's no better weapon than the truth. And I believe VOA can be that weapon.

TAUSCHE (voice-over): Now citing the group's perceived partisanship, Trump has ordered it to be reduced to "The minimum presence and function required by law." But VOA's broad mandate may complicate what that means.

HADAS GOLD, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: When you look at the original charter of Voice of America which was written decades ago, it talks about the need to communicate with the rest of the world. Many of these stations have been (ph) broadcasting just music. Voice of America hasn't published anything online in several days. So even if you're going on the broad outlines of this original charter, they are not upholding that in the last few days by not publishing or broadcasting anything.

TAUSCHE (voice-over): Kayla Tausche, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: President Trump says he is releasing about 80,000 unredacted files Tuesday on the assassination of Former President John F. Kennedy. The announcement came Monday as Trump was touring the Kennedy Center and fulfills a long-time campaign promise.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TRUMP: So that's a big announcement. They've been waiting for that for decades. And I said during the campaign, I'll do it and I'm a man of my word. So tomorrow, you have the JFK files. What time will they be released?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tomorrow afternoon, sir.

TRUMP: Tomorrow afternoon?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. TRUMP: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you seen -- have you seen what's in the files? Have you read them?

TRUMP: I've heard about them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was there any --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anything interesting?

TRUMP: It's going to be very interesting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Shortly after taking office, President Trump ordered the release of files related to the assassinations of Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. 99 percent of the records on JFK's 1963 assassination have already been made public, but the FBI said last month, it discovered around 2,400 new records following Trump's executive order.

[02:55:00]

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla plan to visit Italy and the Vatican in April, and they've said they will meet with Pope Francis during their trip. The announcement of the royal visit might indicate that the Vatican believes the Pope will be out of hospital by then. Charles and Camilla are scheduled to join the Pontiff at the Holy See as part of the four-day visit. They will help celebrate the jubilee year, a holy year that takes place every quarter of a century, and focuses on forgiveness and reconciliation.

It's already looking a lot like spring in Spain where a pink bloom is drawing crowds of locals and tourists alike. Peach and pear trees in Catalonia have blossomed into this sea of pink, thousands head for the fields every spring to enjoy the blossoms, a stunning but fleeting site. Beautiful. I want to thank you so much for joining us this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. I'll be back with more "CNN Newsroom" after short break. Stay with us.

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