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Trump's Mega Tax Bill Reaches Final House Vote; Sean Diddy Combs Found Guilty in Two Out of Five Federal Charges; Tourists and Locals Struggling for the Scorching Heat Wave in Europe. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired July 03, 2025 - 03:00   ET

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

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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world, I'm Rosemary Church in Atlanta.

Just ahead on "CNN Newsroom," President Trump's mega tax bill. House Republicans scramble for votes in rare late-night session.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARC AGNIFILO, SEAN COMBS' ATTORNEY: Today's a great victory. It's a great victory for Sean Combs. It's a great victory for the jury system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Rapper Sean Diddy combs acquitted of the most serious charges, but found guilty on two counts Will he face any prison time? We'll take a look at that.

Plus a scorching heat wave grips parts of Europe. How are locals and tourists coping?

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: It is 3:00 a.m. in Washington where Republican leaders say they now have enough votes to advance President Trump's sweeping Domestic policy bill and final passage could come within the next few hours. The bill has been hung up on a procedural vote for hours since late Wednesday with five Republicans voting against it, eight others had not even cast their votes.

So let's get right to CNN's Brian Todd in Washington with the very latest good to see you again Brian So it appears some progress may have been made. What is the latest on this?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Rosemary. It looks like they're going to get to this procedural vote and that the procedural vote will go through and pass. Well that will enable us to get to a final house passage later this morning here in Washington.

Just moments ago speaker Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, the Republican walked by our position and said I think we're about to get those votes right now. He then walked back into the chamber. So it does look like they are going to get the votes they need to pass this procedural motion and get to the final House passage.

They had had five Republican holdouts before Speaker Johnson said that voting no against this procedural vote. So at least two of them must have come around to vote yes, they could afford three defectors. It looks like at least two of them have come around to vote yes to getting this procedural vote passed here in the House.

And so it looks like it's going to go to the final house passage. Speaker Johnson did talk to us when he said they had the votes a short time ago and talked about when they then might get to the final passage later this morning. Take a listen.

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REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA), SPEAKER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: We have an hour scheduled for debate and depends on how long the Democrat leaders magic minute goes, but I suspect it won't drag on long. We'll be voting I think by early morning and right when everybody's waking up to have their coffees, I'll have a watch support step. A big happy surprise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: So as he indicated and we're getting the signals here that that final House passage could come within the next few hours on Thursday morning. There had been a lot of pressure to get this to President Trump's desk by Friday the 4th of July so that he could sign it on that day.

And the President in the last few hours had gotten a little frustrated he had spent almost all day Wednesday courting these Republican holdouts these hardline conservative Republicans courting them having them over to the White House airing their concerns being very cordial with them listening to them trying to, you know, offer them some measures that they could take with them to maybe, you know, get back here and vote for his bill.

But in the last few hours, the President voiced frustration in a post on Truth Social. Here's this quote: "Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy versus Biggest Tax Increase in History and a Failed Economy. What are the Republicans waiting for? What are they trying to prove? MAGA is not happy and it's costing you votes."

The President himself running out of patience there and there was a lot of pressure on the House Speaker Mike Johnson to get this to house passage by the 4th of July and it looks, Rosemary, like he's going to get there.

CHURCH: Yes, it's extraordinary. Brian Todd, joining us live from Washington with that report. I appreciate it. Natasha Lindstaedt is a professor of government at the University of

Essex. She joins me now from Colchester, England. Natasha, good to have you back with us.

So it looks like Mike Johnson speaker has been able to get the votes He needs to get President Trump's big beautiful bill as he calls it to debate on the floor and then to final passage. How surprised are you that they've been able to achieve this? What do you think has brought them to this juncture?

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NATASHA LINDSTAEDT, PROF. OF GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX: So I am surprised I did think the bill would eventually pass but I thought that there would just be more hurdles and delays to get it passed by the July 4th deadline because the Senate version of the bill is more expensive, it adds a trillion. And you also have Republican House members that are upset about the fact that there are just much deeper cuts to Medicaid so I wasn't sure how were they going to convince these holdouts that this version of the bill, this Senate version of the bill was worth passing.

And I'm not sure what they said to them because if the House does end up making any changes to the bill then it would have to go back to the Senate. And of course that would cause more delays and that would aggravate President Trump. And so I'm sure he was applying some kind of pressure campaign to these Republican House members. But I'm not sure exactly what he said or how he was able to do this.

I mean my guess is that they know that if they don't support this that he will punish them, he will criticize them on social media and he will support their opponents in the upcoming primaries. But this is really just a short-term fix here for these Republicans because they're going to face much bigger problems when they have to go against other candidates in the 2026 midterms.

In fact, there was a representative, a Democratic House member that said that the Republican Party really is a cult now. They're willing to throw their constituents under the bus to please Donald Trump. And while it may be a short-term fix and it might not really pay off in the long term.

CHURCH: Yes, I mean you do have to wonder what speaker Mike Johnson and indeed the President likely promised these holdouts, I mean there were five holdouts and they could only afford to lose three. So we don't know how many have been convinced to vote Yes here.

And the big problem for many of these holdouts was what was happening to Medicaid, the cuts that had been made, and then some of the hardliners Republican hardliners were not happy about the fact that this would add trillions of dollars to the U.S. deficit. So no changes could have been made to those problematic areas. So again, it brings us to the point of what was promised here to convince these five holdouts?

LINDSTAEDT: I mean, it's a great question and it's something that I haven't figured out. But what could they promise them because if you add greater support for Medicaid that of course is going to add more money, more money to the debt. So they don't really square with one another, you can't increase support for Medicaid while at the same time lowering the debt and the deficit.

So I think it's more the pressure campaign that Trump applied, maybe it was also a charm offensive at the same time. But I think some of these Republican representatives know that that they'll face a really tough battle in the primaries if they don't get in line and we've seen that a time and time again even though it seems to be complete disarray in the House particularly amongst Republicans that have different constituents and different needs of their constituents, different challenges that they face. But at the very end Mike Johnson is able to wrangle the votes together.

CHURCH: Right. So let's look at this timeline because now of course, we're hearing from speaker Mike Johnson that he thinks he's got these votes.

So then once they move through this procedural stage, they then have to debate for about an hour let's say, and then at that stage they then have to put it to the vote and then it has to get to the desk of President Donald Trump who has imposed this deadline for July 4th. When you look at that timeline, how possible is it that we're going to see this happen by the July 4th holiday?

LINDSTAEDT: So I thought it would be impossible because the Republicans in the house didn't like the Senate version of the bill. The other issues you have the Democrats that can delay, they can engage in longer debate and try to point out all the problems with this bill, and you may even have the holdouts of the Republicans in the house.

Those that don't support the bill, they may engage in a lengthy debate. We saw this in the case of the Senate with Thom Tillis the senator from North Carolina. I mean he eviscerated this bill and said it was just going to decimate the access to Medicaid amongst his constituents and of course possibly among some 12 million Americans.

So there are ways that this bill could be delayed through debate. And if you have a few of the holdouts that say I'm not going to support this bill unless some specific changes are made, then as I mentioned it will have to go back to the Senate if there are changes and then it would have to go back again to Donald Trump if the Senate actually accepts it.

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So this timeline is really tight, I didn't think it would be possible at all. But it's moving much quicker than I had expected.

CHURCH: All right. We'll keep watching it, of course. Natasha Lindstaedt, many thanks for your political analysis, I appreciate it.

LINDSTAEDT: Thanks for having me. CHURCH: Entertainment mogul Sean Diddy Combs has been denied bail

after a jury returned a split verdict in his federal criminal trial Wednesday. Combs was cleared of the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, but he was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Prosecutors accused Combs of leading a criminal enterprise and using employees to commit criminal acts including forcing Combs's former girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another woman into drug-fueled sex acts. Ventura's attorney says they wanted convictions across the board, but are pleased Combs faces time in prison.

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AGNIFILO: We're pleased that he's finally been held responsible for two federal crimes, something that he's never faced in his life. He still faces substantial jail time. Of course, we would have liked to have seen a conviction on the sex crimes in RICO but we understand beyond a reasonable doubt is a high standard and we're just pleased that he still faces substantial jail time.

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CHURCH: Combs could face up to 20 years in prison though will likely serve a shorter sentence. CNN's Kara Scannell has more details on Wednesday's events from New York.

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KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sean Diddy Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges. He was facing the jury finding him not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Still his lead attorney Marc Agnifilo after court called it a great victory.

AGNIFILO: Today's a great victory. It's a great victory for Sean Combs. It's a great victory for the jury system.

You saw that the Southern District of New York prosecutors came at him with all that they had. They're not stopping but one thing stands between all of us and a prison, and that is a jury of 12 citizens. And we had a wonderful jury, they listened to every word, and they got the situation right or certainly right enough.

SCANNELL: Inside of court as the jury for person said that they had found Combs not guilty of the first two charges racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking involving Cassie Ventura Combs had given a slight fist pump and members of the family in the spectator section. His supporters let out a yes and a who clearly release of tension that they had felt as they were awaiting this verdict.

Sean Combs himself had dropped to his knees before he spoke to his family members putting his hands again in the sign of a prayer and then he turned to them and he said to them I love you, and as he was escorted out of the courtroom that once his lawyers were left there they addressed the family members. They were hugging each other, slapping each other on the back and as Combs had left, the family members were applauding and then they turned and they started chanting dream team, dream team to his lawyers.

Now they came back later in the day and the judge denied releasing Combs on bail saying that there was a history of violence and that Combs had blatantly disregarded the law. Combs seemed surprised by that, his eyes had widened, his mouth had dropped open and at one point he wanted to talk to the judge waving his hands in the air although that his lawyers seem to have convinced him not to do that.

The judge sent a tentative sentencing date for October though, there is a hearing next week because Combs' legal team wants to expedite this sentencing hearing so that he can get sentenced and then eventually be released to his family as Combs again was leaving the courtroom, he said I'll see you when I get out Love you all be strong.

Kara Scannell, CNN, New York.

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CHURCH: We are keeping an eye on Washington where Republicans now believe they have enough votes to advance Donald Trump's major domestic policy bill. We will of course have an update just ahead.

Plus, there is a glimmer of hope for a ceasefire in Gaza. But at least one major hurdle still needs to be cleared before it becomes a reality. We'll take a look at that.

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CHURCH: Welcome back everyone.

Updating our breaking news out of Washington now where House Speaker Mike Johnson says Republicans believe they have swayed five GOP holdouts on President Trump's domestic policy bill and it appears they have the votes needed to move out of the procedural phase and advance the bill. Now if they're able to clear this hurdle a vote on the final passage of the bill could follow in the coming hours. We'll watch that very closely.

Well, top Hamas leaders are expected to meet today to decide whether to accept the new U.S. ceasefire plan for Gaza that is according to a source who said that if Hamas agrees it would quickly move on to further talks with Israel. Its government is already on board with the proposal which reportedly offers Hamas stronger assurances about reaching a deal to end the war.

In Gaza City, Palestinians held a funeral on Wednesday for the director of the Indonesian Hospital who was killed in an Israeli strike along with several family members. Israel says it was targeting a Hamas terrorist. The IDF also ordered evacuations from three of the city's neighborhoods saying it's trying to track down militants who fired missiles towards Israel.

Our Paula Hancocks is watching developments from Abu Dhabi and joins us now live. Good to see you Paula. So what more are you learning about this latest ceasefire proposal that's been accepted by Israel and which Hamas is set to consider in the coming hours?

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PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, as we understand it from two sources, this is a process that is moving forward, obviously a lot of moving parts at this point. But Qatar has delivered this updated proposal to Hamas, we are waiting on a decision from them. They will be meeting, we understand, on Thursday and if they do agree, then we could be seeing this process move to proximity talks which is effectively where Israel and Hamas are in the same building.

They're not talking directly, but it means that messages can be passed from one to the other very quickly. So the process could in theory come to a head far quicker.

Now what we understand from a source familiar with these negotiations telling CNN that the difference in this proposal is that there are stronger U.S. assurances that there will be a push to a permanent end of war. This was an attempt to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas has consistently said that they want this guarantee that the war will be permanently ended as opposed to the temporary ceasefires that we have seen in the past that have then come to an end with no agreement.

So it appears as though the U.S. has given some kind of assurances that that that will happen, one source saying that even if there is no deal at the end of this 60-day temporary ceasefire they have mechanisms in place to make sure that it's not an automatic return to war and that they can try and secure some kind of a deal now.

We also know that a close adviser of the Israeli Prime Minister Ron Dermer was in Washington and he met with Trump administration officials on Tuesday and agreed to this updated proposal. And this is what led the U.S. President to say that Israel had agreed to the conditions to try and finalize this deal.

So what happens in the next few days is the Israeli Prime Minister will hold a full cabinet meeting on Saturday to discuss these proposals. Then on Sunday, he'll travel to Washington and meet for a third meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. So in theory we could see things moving fairly quickly from here, Rosemary.

CHURCH: And we'll watch that very closely. Paula Hancocks, bring us that live report from Abu Dhabi, many thanks.

And for more analysis, we are joined by Max Rodenbeck in Brussels, a Project Director for Israel and Palestine at the International Crisis Group. I appreciate you being with us.

MAX RODENBECK, PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR ISRAEL AND PALESTINE, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: Thanks Rosemary, Good morning.

CHURCH: So how hopeful are you that the proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza will soon become a reality with top Hamas leaders now expected to meet in the hours ahead to consider this latest proposal?

RODENBECK: Well, there's no question that we desperately need a ceasefire but I, you know, judging from the past and the context of this particular proposal, I'm not hugely optimistic. I think there's room for optimism for many reasons, but it's just that we've reached similar points in the past and not moved forward.

And there's really a basic gap that's been there since these efforts to reconvene and make a new ceasefire after the last ceasefire expired in March, which is that Hamas on its side is determined to have an end to the war, any deal has to has to really insist on the war must end eventually after the exchange of hostages and so on.

But the Israeli side has not want to guarantee that and so that is really the big gap and it's -- there's been an attempt to bridge it now. It seems we don't know the full details, but it really depends on how well that gap is bridged. What are the guarantees that this war can actually come to an end?

And it's not clear yet and as we've heard we'll get, you know, Hamas' opinion on this but, you know in the past we have come close to such an agreement and there's been a lot of built-up pressure a lot of, you know, sort of political pressure, a lot of media pressure, a lot of momentum and then it's all gone flat again. So, I wouldn't be too tremendously hopeful.

CHURCH: Right. Let's look at that because Israel has agreed to this latest ceasefire proposal. So what's in this deal do you think of course? We don't know a lot of the detail, but what is in this deal that makes it appear to be different to those that have come before it and been rejected by Israel and by Hamas for various different reasons?

RODENBECK: Well, there's some difference in the details about hostage exchange. The last deal that was on the table demanded 10 hostages freed by Hamas up front, and this one seems to have reduced that demand slightly. It's now eight hostages in the first part of a 60- day, sort of, freeze in fighting, and then two more hostages at the end of that period, so that's obviously a shift towards Hamas' position, so Israel has been slightly flexible on that one.

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But as I said before the big thing is that after the 60-day ceasefire they're supposed to be or there should be according to Hamas would like to have guarantees an end to the war after the ceasefire once sort of the bona fides of you know, settling things down have been proven then move directly onto negotiations for this version. The last one that was on the table back in May, what President Trump's

hostage negotiator, Mr. Witkoff had suggested was that President Trump himself would personally guarantee that these talks would move on to a permanent end to the war, but that just you know, it was just--

CHURCH: Max Rodenbeck. I'm so sorry Max Rodenbeck, I'm so sorry. I have to interrupt you and go to breaking news. Thank you very much for talking with us.

Let's go to our Brian Todd in Washington. Brian, what are you learning?

TODD: Right, Rosemary, we just learned that the final vote on the procedural motion has just taken place and that that has passed. So right now we can tell you that the final vote on House passage of the Trump agenda bill will probably take place within the next couple of hours, within the next few hours.

Speaker Mike Johnson just walked by me and I was video recording him as he asking about a timeline for the final passage. He said maybe 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m. Eastern time for the final passage -- final vote on passage of this Trump agenda bill. He indicated of course that they have to do debate first and that could take an hour or two hours.

And he gave a timeline of final voting on this bill 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m. is the window that he gave me, but again, we can tell you that the final passage of the procedural motion, excuse me, has just taken place and it has passed.

CHURCH: It's quite extraordinary, isn't it? I mean we've watched this it was stalled. There were five who had were voting, they were the holdouts voting against this and then suddenly we're talking about, I don't know, are we talking about all five have come across and voted or just two of these or three of them? TODD: Well, that's one of the key questions Rosemary. We don't have

the answer to that at least two of them had to have come over to their side to vote yes, there were as you indicated five holdouts, but they could afford three defections.

So it's possible that three people have still held out and voted no on this from the Republican side. We're going to find out who voted which way very shortly, but at least two of them had to have come around.

CHURCH: All right, Brian Todd reporting there from Washington telling us that it looks like the final vote has passed and that at this stage once there's a debate for about an hour or two then the actual final vote on this.

So before it actually goes to the desk of President Trump will happen at 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. And of course, we'll keep a close eye on that. We'll be right back.

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CHURCH: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom." I'm Rosemary Church. I want to check today's top stories for you.

President Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill has cleared a House procedural hurdle, and Speaker Mike Johnson says a vote on final passage will come within the next few hours. The measure had been stalled for hours after five holdouts voted against moving it to the House floor for debate.

A judge has denied bail to entertainment mogul Sean Diddy Combs after the rapper was convicted on two criminal counts Wednesday. The jury found him guilty of the lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, but cleared him of the more serious charges of racketeering, conspiracy and sex trafficking.

Top leaders of Hamas are expected to meet today to consider the latest U.S. ceasefire plan for Gaza. That is according to a source who says Hamas will quickly start talks with Israel if the proposal is accepted. Israel has already agreed to the plan.

Well the Pentagon confirms that the U.S. is reviewing military aid to Ukraine in what could have significant consequences for Ukraine's ability to defend itself from Russian attacks. The Trump administration has paused some weapons shipments to Ukraine, including air defense missiles. The Defense Department says it's part of a review of military spending and U.S. support to other countries.

A top Ukrainian presidential official says it would be, quote, "inhumane for the U.S. to stop supplying missiles to Kyiv." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his government is seeking answers from the United States.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Technical level discussions between Ukraine and the U.S. are ongoing to clarify all details related to the delivery of defense aid, especially air defense components.

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CHURCH: Russia welcomed the Trump administration's decision to pause some weapons shipments to Ukraine. The Kremlin says the move will help bring the war to an end sooner. Meanwhile, Russian artillery strikes on a hospital in Kherson wounded nine people, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Ukrainian forces are already outgunned and outnumbered, and they could soon face even more pressure on the front lines. A Ukrainian intelligence assessment finds North Korea plans to send tens of thousands of more troops to fight for Russia.

CNN's Nick Paton-Walsh has this exclusive report.

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NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They brought near suicidal, ruthless tactics, the rumblings of a war going global. 11,000 North Korean troops helped Russia expel Kyiv soldiers from its border of Kursk. But that, it seems, is just the start.

CNN has learned up to 30,000 more may be headed to the front lines, according to Ukrainian intelligence, for use in a summer offensive. With Moscow hungry for manpower and Pyongyang keen to school its troops in brutal trench and drone warfare.

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They were first seen here in October, but recently the routes used then could be active again. A troop-carrying Raputa ship was seen here on May the 18th, the same type of vessel at the same Russian port used in transports last year, experts said. Ukraine also assesses Russia will refit transport planes, like the ones seen on the tarmac here again in June at North Korea's Sunan airport, to move so many North Koreans.

Likely air or rail will take them across Siberia to the front line. Ten kilometers east of Kursk, this camp has enlarged in recent months, further evidence of North Korean build-up.

CNN has geolocated to hear this six-minute video report from a part- Korean Russian correspondent. The report surfaced 48 hours after the Kremlin's first admission of the North Korean deployment.

UNKNOWN (translated): Such a good bunker. Warm.

PATON WALSH (voice-over): They're not only training, but appear to have new long-term bunker accommodation and equipment. The tastes of home, red Korean pepper and homemade propaganda. It says, revenge for our fallen comrades.

This Russian instructor says his new trainees are aged 23 to 27.

UNKNOWN (translated): The guys arrived in good physical condition. Their fighters are as good as ours. The enemy runs away first, and the enemy does run because it's afraid of a gun fight.

PATON WALSH (voice-over): And there's a translation sheet to get over the language barrier, which meant the first units operated separately from the Russians.

State media has shown videos of both countries now training together. Here, in the same training ground, a Russian shows how to use a shotgun to take down a drone, others practicing clearing buildings together.

More signs are open. Putin's top presidential adviser, Sergey Shoigu, visiting Kim Jong-un here for the second time in a fortnight, announcing 1000 mine clearers and 5000 military construction workers to rebuild Kursk region. Perhaps a sign Moscow is indeed short of the manpower it has sent mercilessly into the fight, but also that it is not short on allies who share their ruthless commitment.

Nick Paton-Walsh, CNN, London.

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CHURCH: Denmark is now conscripting women for its military service, as Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine heightens security concerns in Europe. Previously, women could voluntarily join the country's armed forces, but now they will be added to Denmark's draft lottery. Anna Stewart explains.

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ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marching through the fields and forests with faces painted and weapons in hand. These Danish soldiers will soon train beside new recruits. Women have been able to take up arms in the Danish Royal Guards since the 1970s.

Now the military is looking to expand and will add women to the law, requiring 18-year-olds to register for a yearly conscription if there aren't enough volunteers.

COL. KENNETH STROM, LEADER, THE DANISH MILITARY'S CONSCRIPTION PROGRAM: To train 24 percent of the conscripts are females while they are joining on a voluntary basis.

STEWART (voice-over): The law is set to change that percentage since it went into effect July 1st.

The move comes as the Russia-Ukraine war rages on and Europe's security concerns are heightened. Amid the crisis, Denmark recently announced its efforts to bolster their military and introduced a five- year plan to increase defense spending by $5.9 billion.

STROM: It's based on the current security situation in order to get more combat power and have those skills that are needed for either the army, navy, air force or even the special operations forces.

STEWART (voice-over): The military plans to further develop those skills by increasing service from four months to 11 starting next February. According to Reuters, the military expects the changes to increase the annual number of young people completing their service to 6500 soldiers by 2033.

ALBERTE, VOLUNTEER SOLDIER, THE DANISH ROYAL LIFE GUARDS: I think it's very good for the Danish military because war is active in the world right now and we need to force our military in Denmark, so I think it's good.

STEWART (voice-over): Some women are looking forward to the potential increase of young female service members, but there are still some accommodations to be made.

[03:40:00]

UNKNOWN: Right now it's made for men, so perhaps the rucksacks are a bit too large and the uniforms are large as well, but I do know that they are working on it at the moment and I think it's going to be something that they're going to achieve.

STEWART (voice-over): And in 2026, there may be more fitted blue and green uniforms to suit the nation's goal of training more men and women to serve their nation.

Anna Stewart, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: The man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in their home in 2022 has formally admitted to their murders. 30-year- old Brian Kohberger pleaded guilty Wednesday in a deal with prosecutors which will spare him the death penalty.

CNN's Jean Casarez reports from outside the courthouse in Boise, Idaho, where the victim's families remain torn over that plea deal.

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JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Brian Kohberger, now an admitted murderer.

JUDGE STEVEN HIPPLER, DISTRICT JUDGE, BOISE, IDAHO: Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?

BRIAN KOHBERGER, MURDERED FOUR STUDENTS IN 2022: Yes.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Pleading guilty to all counts of the 2022 murders of four Idaho college students, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

HIPPLER: Did you, on November 13, 2022, enter the residence at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, with the intent to commit the felony crime of murder?

KOHBERGER: Yes.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Kohberger agreed to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of appeal.

HIPPLER: Do you understand that by entering the guilty plea in this case, you would be giving up your right to appeal?

KOHBERGER: Yes.

CASAREZ (voice-over): But he will not face the death penalty, part of the agreement made in a packed courtroom.

UNKNOWN: You don't think four life sentences is justice?

UNKNOWN: No, of course not. It's daycare. Prison is daycare. CASAREZ (voice-over): Families of the young victims were in court for

the hearing.

STEVE GONCALVES, FATHER OF KAYLEE GONCALVES: We're all destroyed. We're all let down.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Earlier, Goncalves' father expressed his outrage to the deal with CNN.

GONCALVES: You don't deal with terrorists, then you don't deal with people who kill your kids in their sleep. So, we'll never see this as justice.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Not all the victim's families are in agreement.

LEANDER JAMES, REPRESENTS MOTHER AND STEPFATHER OF MADISON MOGEN: We support the plea agreement 100 percent. While we know there are some who do not support it, we ask that they respect our belief that this is the best outcome possible for the victims.

CASAREZ (voice-over): The prosecution outlined detailed evidence it was planning to present at trial.

BILL THOMPSON, MOSCOW, IDAHO PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: Each victim suffered multiple wounds.

CASAREZ (voice-over): The four college students returned home around 2:00 a.m. on November 13, 2022, after enjoying a night out. Between 4:00 and 4:25 a.m., a man all in black entered the apartment and stabbed the young students while they slept.

THOMPSON: As the defendant was either coming down the stairs or leaving, he encountered Xana, and he ended up killing her, also with a large knife.

CASAREZ (voice-over): During the investigation of the gruesome scene, a leather knife sheath was found next to Morgan's body.

THOMPSON: A DNA sample was taken from him, and it matched the DNA found on the knife sheath next to Maddie's body.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Without a trial ahead, some families of the victims are unsure they will ever learn Kohberger's motive. The father of Xana Kernodle, writing in a statement, "I had hoped the agreement would include conditions that required the defendant to explain his actions and provide answers to the many questions that still remain."

CASAREZ: The families have questions. One of them is, why did he commit these murders? The families will be able to give victim impact statements on July 23rd during the formal sentencing of Brian Kohberger, right here at the Ada County Courthouse.

Jean Casarez, CNN, Boise, Idaho.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: Many parts of Europe are still sweltering under an extreme heat wave. Still to come, we will go live to Madrid to see how people there are trying to stay safe in dangerously hot weather. Back in just a moment.

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[03:45:00]

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CHURCH: More on our breaking news from Washington.

The U.S. House has cleared a procedural hurdle to advance Donald Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill. Lawmakers are now debating it on the House floor, and a final vote to pass the legislation is expected in the next few hours. The measure had been stalled for hours after five Republican holdouts voted against advancing the bill.

But House Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier they were able to sway those no votes, ensuring the bill could move forward. We'll keep a close eye on that.

Well, the heat is unrelenting in Europe. An extreme heat wave is moving towards the central part of the continent, sending temperatures soaring in Germany.

Spain has been dealing with dangerously high temperatures for almost a week now. On Wednesday, the temperature in Madrid neared 40 degrees Celsius, that is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Al Goodman is enduring the blistering heat in Madrid. He joins us now. So Al, how are people there and, of course, across the continent dealing with these extreme temperatures?

AL GOODMAN, JOURNALIST: Hi, Rosemary. Well, the temperatures in Madrid today are a little bit less than that, 35 degrees Celsius and 95 degrees Fahrenheit is expected high here. But there's more humidity, especially on the coast, on the beaches.

It's hotter in southern Spain as well. But people are figuring out some coping techniques. Here's what some of them had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREA CASTANO, COLOMBIAN TOURIST (through translator): The heat is unbearable, but I'm having a good time. I have my hand fan and I keep myself cool and I drink water. You always need to drink water, it's very important.

SARA ANTON, MADRID RESIDENT (through translator): Lots of hydration, avoiding to go out during the central hours of the day and looking for shades in the city.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOODMAN: But in northeastern Spain, about an hour inland from Barcelona in a rural area, it was a different story.

Firefighters there have been able to put a perimeter finally around this huge wildfire that's been burning since Tuesday. And on Tuesday evening, it claimed the lives of a 32-year-old pig farmer who went out to try to save one of his workers, a man in his 40s.

They got into a vehicle to try to escape not the flames, but this massive amount of smoke that was coming their way. Their vehicle hit a snag. They got out, ran on foot, authorities say they did not make it.

That part of Spain has declared an official day of warning. There are at least four dead in Spain from the extreme heat.

In France, at least two dead, 300 to hospital. These kinds of figures and numbers we're seeing across especially southern Spain -- southern Europe. Rosemary.

All right. Al Goodman in Madrid, many thanks for bringing us up to date, and please stay cool and look after yourself. I appreciate it.

[03:50:05]

As Al was saying, the hot and dry weather is creating the perfect conditions for wildfires in several European nations. Greek firefighters battled a blaze on the popular vacation island of Crete. Residents and tourists were evacuated from at least four sites on the island.

Fires also raged on the Greek mainland. Greek authorities say Crete and four other regions remain at a very high fire risk Thursday. In recent days, wildfires have also been seen in Spain, France and in Turkey.

Still to come, Tibetan Buddhists are welcoming the announcement from the Dalai Lama that he intends to reincarnate. But it could set up a spiritual standoff of sorts with China's communist government. We'll explain on the other side of the break.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone.

The second day of a religious conference is underway in northern India to mark the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday this weekend. Tibetan Buddhists welcomed his announcement on Wednesday that he intends to reincarnate.

The announcement ensures the centuries-old tradition will continue and it could lead to a showdown with China's atheist Communist Party. More now from CNN's Simone McCarthy.

[03:55:09]

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SIMONE MCCARTHY, CNN INTERNATIONAL SR. NEWS DESK REPORTER, CHINA (voice-over): The Dalai Lama has announced that he intends to reincarnate after his death. Tibetan Buddhism's spiritual leader made the declaration in a pre-recorded video message to religious elders gathered in Dharamsala, India.

It was part of a three-day Buddhist conference this week, ahead of his 90th birthday. He said his successor would be chosen solely by his office. This sets the stage for a high-stakes battle with China's communist rulers, who have insisted that they alone hold the authority to approve the next Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama has spent his life in exile after a failed 1959 Tibetan uprising against Beijing's rule. Since the 1970s, the Dalai Lama has maintained that he no longer seeks full independence for Tibet, but meaningful autonomy that would allow Tibetans to preserve their distinct culture, religion, and identity. His commitment to the non- violent middle-way approach has earned him international support and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: A zoo in southwestern Germany is making sure its animals stay cool during the country's hottest days. Polar bears at Karlsruhe Zoo enjoyed an outdoor pool with blocks of frozen food, keeping the water cool and giving the bears a chilly treat.

The zoo also provided cold showers for giant tortoises and emus. On Wednesday, temperatures in Germany reached 37 degrees Celsius, that is 98 degrees Fahrenheit. It was the country's hottest day of the year so far.

Very cute. Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me, I'm Rosemary Church in Atlanta. Up next, "Early Start" with my colleague M.J. Lee.

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