Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Massive ICE Raid at Hyundai Plant; Maduro Accuses U.S. of Plotting Regime Change; Israel Strikes High-Rise amid Gaza City Assault; Some Israeli Reservists Refusing to Fight in Gaza City; Report Links Autism to Tylenol Use during Pregnancy; Impact of Ending Vaccine Requirements on Public Health; LGBTQ+ Catholics Recognized in Jubilee Pilgrimage. Aired 5-6a ET

Aired September 06, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00]

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And a government report looks at possible links between autism and a common pain medication. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks it down.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: South Korea is now raising concerns with the U.S. about a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai mega plant here in Georgia. One worker tells CNN law enforcement flooded the site on Thursday like it was a war zone.

Officials say federal agents arrested hundreds of people, most of them Korean nationals. It comes after South Korean businesses, including Hyundai, pledged to invest billions of dollars in the U.S. just last week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Are you concerned at all about your immigration agenda potentially clashing with these economic goals?

TRUMP: Well, we want to get along with other countries and we want to have a great stable workforce. And we had, as I understand it, a lot of illegal aliens, some not the best of people. But we had a lot of illegal aliens working there.

So you know, look, they're doing their job. That's what they have to do. These are people that came through with Biden. They came through illegally. They came into our country. So we have to do our job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Hyundai issued a statement saying none of those detained were a direct employee of the company. It added, quote, "Hyundai is committed to full compliance with all

laws and regulations in every market where we operate. We expect the same commitment from all our partners, suppliers, contractors and subcontractors."

CNN's Michael Yoshida has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL YOSHIDA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Cell phone video capturing a sweeping immigration raid at a massive Georgia manufacturing facility.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need all work to end on the site right now.

YOSHIDA: Four hundred seventy-five people were apprehended as several law enforcement agencies descended on the Hyundai plant near Savannah on Thursday, according to a Homeland Security investigations official.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Almost for a second, like, are we in the U.S.?

Like, I've never seen them come out like that, guns drawn.

YOSHIDA (voice-over): A similar site hundreds of miles away in upstate New York. Federal agents raiding a family-owned plant that makes nutrition bars. Dozens of workers questioned, with nearly all taken into custody, according to the nonprofit Rural and Migrant Agency, whose staff witnessed the raid.

LENNY SCHMIDT, VP, NUTRITION BAR CONFECTIONERS: The people that work for us are -- every single one of them are wonderful people. And to have them taken away is not only unfortunate, it's just inhumane, almost the way you see it, you know, as it's being conducted.

YOSHIDA (voice-over): Also Thursday, the Justice Department suing Boston's mayor Michelle Wu and the city's police department over the city's so-called sanctuary policy, which limits cooperation with federal immigration efforts.

Wu calling the lawsuit a, quote, "unconstitutional attack."

Earlier this year, the DOJ sued New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago over similar policies. A federal judge dismissed the suit against Chicago this summer.

The White House continues to clash with Democrat-led cities and states. Chicago leaders are preparing for an expected immigration enforcement operation, which could include the deployment of the National Guard -- in Washington, Michael Yoshida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: President Trump may be considering Portland, Oregon, as the next location he'll deploy National Guard troops. He claimed without evidence on Friday that, quote, "paid terrorists are wreaking havoc" on the city, which he said his administration would wipe out. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I watched Portland, Oregon, last night, burning to the ground, just burning, with people -- and these are agitators. These are professional agitators. These are not people that are protesting. These are professional paid agitators. And they're paid by the Left, not by the Right. And we're going to stop them. We're going to stop it all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Now this comes as Washington, D.C., officials sued the Trump administration for sending thousands of National Guard troops into the city without consent from local leaders. They're accusing the president of violating the Constitution and federal law.

As tensions escalate with the U.S., Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is calling for open dialogue with his country, while also accusing the Trump administration of plotting regime change.

[05:05:00]

Here's part of his message for Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICOLAS MADURO, PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA (through translator): The government of the United States should abandon its plan of violent regime change in Venezuela and in all of Latin America and the Caribbean and respect sovereignty, the right to peace, to independence.

What they are saying about Venezuela is not true. It's not true. It is a dead end they are getting themselves into. Venezuela has always been willing to talk but, just as we are willing to talk, we demand respect for our country, for our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Maduro's comments come as the U.S. continues to bolster its military presence in the region by sending 10 F-35 jets to Puerto Rico. Multiple sources say the Trump administration is weighing potential military strikes against drug cartels operating within Venezuela's borders.

Now all this just days after the U.S. military said it struck a drug boat with alleged ties to the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, killing 11 people on board. CNN's Kristen Holmes has the latest from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We're told that everything is on the table when it comes to Venezuela. And that includes potentially targeting sites or cartels inside the country of Venezuela.

That is one of a multitude of options that President Trump is weighing right now as they continue this maximum pressure campaign.

Now one of the goals of this, obviously, is to weaken Maduro. When we talked to several sources, there is a belief that this will not only put pressure on Maduro to potentially leave his post but also on the people around him who might be benefiting from this illegal behavior, that they would then put the pressure on Maduro themselves.

Now President Trump was specifically asked about whether or not he supported a regime change and he quickly changed the subject. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I can only say that billions of dollars of drugs are pouring into our country from Venezuela. It comes through Canada and it comes through Mexico.

But a lot of it is coming through Venezuela. Venezuela has been a very bad actor and we understand that. And when you look at that boat, you look at that, you see the bags of whatever it is -- those bags were -- you know what those bags represent?

Hundreds of thousands of dead people in the United States, that's what they represent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So they have clearly linked Maduro to their larger anti- narcotics mission that they have here going on right now.

One thing to note, they also put ships and heavy military power in the Caribbean. I was told by a number of White House officials that this was meant to be a signal or a sign to Maduro, all part of this maximum pressure campaign.

One thing that has been pointed out to me by a number of people is that we are ramping up this pressure. Clearly, we're talking about military action. Again, President Trump weighing hitting cartels within Venezuela, within the country.

But Venezuela is not the top drug distributor, when you look at the countries where the drugs are actually coming from. So just an interesting part of all of this, as were seeing them really ramp up the military pressure here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: "The New York Times" is reporting on a failed U.S. mission to North Korea in 2019 that left unarmed civilians dead. "The Times" says the goal was to have a Navy SEALs team plant electronic listening devices targeting leader Kim Jong-un.

But a fishing boat approached mid-operation and the SEALs opened fire, killing two or three civilians on board. "The Times" reports that military reviews determined the killings were justified. The mission took place during high-level nuclear talks between the U.S. and North Korea.

And according to "The Times," required president Trump's direct approval although he said Friday he knew nothing about it. The report adds that the administration didn't notify key members of Congress. A former intelligence official told CNN she anticipates a response from Pyongyang.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETH SANNER, FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: I suspect that we are going to have some kind of reaction, obviously, from Kim Jong-un. In 2014, he reacted to the release of a comedy, a comedy that was about a potential assassination of him -- that's what the movie was about -- with a huge hack on Sony Pictures.

That was a comedy. This is real life and the real-life infiltration of North Korean sovereign territory. That is not going to be a comedy for Kim Jong-un.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: President Trump signed an executive order Friday, rebranding the Pentagon as the Department of War. The order authorizes senior leadership at the Defense Department to use alternate titles, such as Secretary of War.

Trump says the new name better reflects the current state of the world. But according to a fact sheet released by the White House, a permanent name change would require congressional approval. Officials were seen changing signs across the Pentagon on Friday, including outside Pete Hegseth's office, to include his new title.

The Department of War was originally established under President George Washington. It was changed to the Department of Defense in 1947.

[05:10:00]

President Trump offers an update about the hostages still being held in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel's military is intensifying its assault as it moves to take over the enclave's most densely populated city. We'll have details in a live report next.

Plus, Lebanon's government backs an unprecedented plan to disarm Hezbollah, the influential militia backed by Iran. Details on the U.S. role in these efforts coming up next. Stay with us.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING) BRUNHUBER: U.S. president Donald Trump says some of the 20 hostages who are presumed to be alive in Gaza may have recently died. He made the comment as he spoke to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday but he didn't share his source for his claim.

Meanwhile, Israel's military is ramping up its assault as it moves to take over Gaza City.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER (voice-over): We see that dramatic video showing Israel's military targeting a high rise building in Gaza City on Friday.

The Israel Defense Forces claim Hamas was using the building to direct attacks against Israeli troops. Hamas denies the allegation.

[05:15:00]

The Palestinian health ministry says 30 people were killed by Israeli strikes across the enclave on Friday, including 20 in Gaza City.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: I want to go live now to CNN's Paula Hancocks in Abu Dhabi.

So Paula, to start off with, please walk us through president Trump's comments.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So Kim, we know from Israeli official figures that there are some 47 hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas, by other groups as well, since October 7th.

And according to those official figures, at least 20 of them are believed to be alive. But what we have heard now from the U.S. president, Donald Trump, is casting doubt on just how many of those hostages may still be living. Let's listen to exactly what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: You have many dead people that are coming out as part of the deal. It's 20 people but I think, of the 20, there could be some that have recently died, is what I'm hearing. I hope that's wrong. But you have over 30 bodies in this negotiation.

Can you believe?

I mean, we negotiated for people that are living. Here we know that at least 30 people are dead. And we're negotiating to get them out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(CROSSTALK)

HANCOCKS: -- what I'm hearing, he didn't specify exactly where that was from, which source that would have been from. He also mentioned in that -- that in the same day that he believed there shouldn't be a deal where hostages are released bit by bit.

He agrees that there should be a comprehensive deal, all the hostages being released. And this is what we are now hearing from the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a change in strategy from Netanyahu himself, who has always wanted incremental deals in the past.

And it is what we have seen that has really stalled the process in trying to secure that ceasefire hostage deal at this point. Now we are also seeing operations by the Israeli military increase in and around Gaza City.

The Israeli military says they believe that they have control of some 40 percent of Gaza City at this point. The plan from the prime minister and his cabinet is for them to take over Gaza City, they say, so that they can defeat Hamas.

What we have seen, though, this Saturday morning, is leaflets being dropped in Gaza City, in central Gaza as well, telling Palestinians to move south, saying that they should go to al-Mawasi. This is just on the coast, what they call a humanitarian zone.

It is an area we know there is little humanitarian assistance and also an area that has been targeted by the military in the past. They also say that they are going to be increasing humanitarian assistance in Khan Yunis in the south of Gaza.

This is also an area where we have seen significant Israeli strikes recently, most notably last month, the strikes hitting the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, killing 22, including five journalists.

So the areas that Palestinians are being told to move to are not safe areas from what we have seen and what we know on the ground. This is a plan to take over Gaza City that many countries around the world have condemned, have called on Israel to reconsider. The U.N. has called on Israel to stop this plan.

We also know that there is reticence at the very top of the Israeli military as well to carry out this plan, Israeli sources telling us that the IDF chief of staff believes it will put hostages at risk, believes it will put soldiers at risk and also worsen the humanitarian situation. Kim.

BRUNHUBER: All right, appreciate that update. Paula Hancocks, thanks so much.

Israel says tens of thousands of reservists are being mobilized to help with the assault on Gaza City. But earlier this week, one group of reservists said they won't report for duty to fight in Gaza. They're part of a movement called Soldiers for Hostages. The group says it wants to get the hostages back.

Members are also raising concerns about the humanitarian impact in Gaza, saying the war's objectives have become unclear.

For more on this, I want to bring in Anat Piled. She's a reporter with "The Wall Street Journal" and joins us now live from Tel Aviv.

Thanks so much for being here with us. You've been reporting on this, on Israeli reservists, who are essentially saying no to their country's call to duty here. You found commanders literally posting on WhatsApp groups, begging for volunteers.

I mean, how desperate has the recruitment situation become?

Has this ever happened before?

ANAT PILED, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL": So this is Israel's longest war. And what we're seeing is that, as we're heading to the two-year mark, that just soldiers are getting very, very tired. There's different reasons people don't want to show up.

That could be, you know, growing opposition to the war. But also, you know, family issues, like why we're asking men not to go back or, you know, problems with work, being fired. So I mean, it's getting harder and harder as people have served hundreds of days.

[05:20:00]

When normally, you know, a reserve duty happens about once a year for a few weeks for most, you know, combat soldiers until age 40 or 45. So this is very unusual.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. And you know, most it's worth saying most of these people aren't sort of, you know, draft dodgers and so on. I mean, they're battle-tested soldiers who've already, as you said, served hundreds of days in combat. I mean, you interviewed many of these soldiers.

What was the most striking thing that they told you about why they're walking away?

PILED: There are a few things. I think what we're seeing that's maybe a bit surprising is we are seeing a rise that's a bit hard to get the numbers on but we are seeing a rise in suicides.

So I spoke to, you know, one -- to the wife of one commander, who talked about, you know, her husband having to go identify the body of a fellow reservist. That is, you know, a discussion that's being had. And is, you know, people are talking about in Israel. I think the family situation is very difficult.

So people keep going back. You know, it's seen as a patriotic thing to do in Israel. But it really is tearing them apart. You know, stories where wives are just telling their husbands, I can't do this anymore.

We're seeing, you know, stories of divorces; you know, people being fired from their jobs.

And then, of course, you have, you know, the sentiment in Israel, where you have a large majority of the population, including right- wingers -- so supporters of Netanyahu's coalition -- and other parties are actually showing that they want a ceasefire deal that would bring home the remaining hostages.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. And as I mentioned, some are mentioning the cost in human lives in Gaza. And we can't forget the suffering there. Part of the problem for many of them, I guess, is that many of them are questioning the point of the war. They don't want to die for what they're saying is no reason.

And we heard, even Israel's armed forces chief was against this large callup. He publicly questioned the wisdom of this new offensive, which I imagine added to that tension, right?

PILED: Yes. So we know that there was a very fiery cabinet meeting, a security cabinet meeting. So that's the body that makes decisions about the war.

And basically the chief of staff, we know from sources, was basically saying, you know, this operation is going to put, you know, first of all, we have a very tired army, the reservists are very exhausted. It's going to put hostages at risk.

Just yesterday we saw Hamas release a video of two Israeli hostages alive and they were driving around Gaza City, according to the video. So that -- we have -- we know from experience that Hamas has orders to execute hostages when it feels in danger or Israeli forces come close.

So I mean, the question that some soldiers and officers raised to me is, you know, we are patriotic. We want to fight for our country.

But is this war going to defeat Hamas?

Is it going to bring home the hostages?

And this is a very contested, you know, expansion of the war at this stage.

BRUNHUBER: I mentioned earlier that protest, Soldiers for Hostages, who say they won't report for duty.

So what if they refuse?

I mean, do they do they go to jail?

What happens?

PILED: So in Israel, the system is a little different than the U.S. It relies on a lot of goodwill from the population. So the way that Israel works is most Israeli Jews serve in the military for their draft, their mandatory draft, for two to three years.

And then you have reserve duty, which happens until, you know, around age 40, 45, depending what you do. And it's usually something you do around once a year.

But there are ways to get out of it. You can get exemptions for different reasons. And the issue is it's very problematic, from the point of Israeli public opinion, to jail people who have served for hundreds -- 400 days, 500 days, you know, leaving everything behind.

Going to fight again and again in a way that we haven't really seen ever happen before or in a long time. And so that that would cause a lot of outrage. There have been very few cases where that happened.

So what we're seeing is kind of what they call, in Hebrew, like a gray opposition or, like, kind of refusing to show up for duty but not, you know, making excuses or just saying, I can't do it right now.

And that is getting harder for commanders, who are turning to unusual methods, as you mentioned. I mean, there are -- you can see posts on chat groups, on social media, people just asking for forces to come.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. And on that, I mean, you're saying they're having to come up with these innovative methods to get people in. They have to reorganize units to fill the gaps.

I mean, how is this expected to actually affect Israel's fighting capability?

PILED: So I think, I mean, to be fair, I think that they will be able to get by in this operation. That is the estimate that I'm hearing from people. They're going to manage.

However, this is you know, a bigger problem going forward in the next few years because Israel is fighting not only in Gaza in a war that, you know, at the moment doesn't seem to have an end in sight; it's also fighting in the West Bank. It has a lot of troops also on the border with and also inside Syria and Lebanon.

[05:25:00]

And so -- and, you know, continuing tensions with Iran. So it's fighting on all these different fronts and it's going to keep needing soldiers. So even if they can get by on this operation, it raises a question. And, you know, just growing frustration from the society because people -- just it's the same group of people coming each time.

BRUNHUBER: Really great to get your reporting on this, Anat Piled. And thank you so much for being here with us.

PILED: Thanks for having me.

BRUNHUBER: The Lebanese government is backing a plan by the country's army to disarm Hezbollah. Now details are scarce but the plan is an unprecedented effort. Hezbollah is Lebanon's most formidable militia. Iran's most powerful regional proxy in one of the biggest non-state threats to Israel.

The Lebanese government is under intense American and regional pressure to disarm Hezbollah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL MORCOS, LEBANESE INFORMATION MINISTER (through translator): The council of ministers welcomed the plan set by the army command and its successive stages to ensure the implementation of the decision to extend the state's authority and its forces and to confine the weapons to the hands of the legitimate authorities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Hezbollah has rejected calls for it to disarm. A U.S.- mediated ceasefire last year was meant to stop Israel's attacks on Lebanon but Israel still occupies five areas in southern Lebanon and launches strikes in the region nearly every day. Observers warn that trying to disarm Hezbollah by force could create a new conflict in Lebanon.

All right, we're getting reaction from South Korea to that massive immigration raid here in Georgia. When we come back, we'll go live to Seoul for the latest on what the government there has to say. Please stay with us.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

BRUNHUBER (voice-over): Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Kim Brunhuber.

[05:30:00]

Let's check some of today's top stories.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday, changing the name of the Defense Department to the Department of War. The order authorizes senior leadership at the Pentagon to use alternative titles like the Secretary of War. But the last time the name was permanently changed, it required an act of Congress.

"The New York Times" is reporting on a failed U.S. mission to North Korea in 2019 that left unarmed civilians dead. A Navy SEALs team aimed to plant an electronic listening device targeting leader Kim Jong-un but they opened fire on a nearby fishing boat, killing several civilians on board.

"The Times" reports that military reviews determined the killings were justified.

Federal agents carried out the largest raid yet as part of the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration. Officials say 475 people were arrested Thursday at a Hyundai mega plant in Georgia, all suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.

Most of them are Korean nationals. And the South Korean government is now urging the U.S. not to violate their rights.

And for more on that, I want to bring in, live from Seoul, CNN's Mike Valerio.

So, Mike, take us through the reaction to this there in South Korea.

MIKE VALERIO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sure. Kim.

Well, the question this evening here in Seoul is, really, what, if any, kind of action will the government here, halfway around the world, take to resolve this issue?

And we just got the readout of what the foreign minister of South Korea has said to address this issue. This is the headline here.

He's saying that the president of South Korea is saying that all necessary measures need to be taken to protect the workers and resolve this issue, who were at this Hyundai LG electric vehicle and electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia.

And the other headline, Kim, is that the foreign minister of South Korea, the equivalent of the secretary of state in the United States, is saying that, if this is not resolved, that he could come to America, to Washington, D.C., to intervene if necessary.

And we're going to give you the direct quote so we don't lose anything here.

He says, quote, "As we discuss this issue further today, we are also considering dispatching a high-level official to the U.S. to address the situation. If necessary, I, the foreign minister, am prepared to travel to Washington, D.C., personally to engage directly with U.S. officials to resolve this matter."

So I think that it was certainly very surprising news here in South Korea to learn that more than three-quarters of those arrested, more than 300 from the biggest raid of this kind in the Trump administration, were from here in South Korea.

Frankly, it has seemed like a very distant problem whenever we hear about these ICE raids over in this corner of the world. So it's really struck a chord with people who see this every hour on every news channel in South Korea, that this is something happening in the United States, that has certainly come home.

What I think is interesting and what we're tracking here, Kim, is that, according to the special agent in charge from Homeland Security, who was briefing reporters at the scene not too, too long ago, apparently no charges have been filed against those who have been detained; at least not yet.

So that is making the situation much murkier for Seoul, how exactly to respond to this.

And we've heard this from Hyundai's statement, which you read at the top of the show, when they said that, of course, they're trying to comply with all laws. Nobody detained directly worked for the car company.

And we're wondering if it is going to become the case that perhaps this was an issue with third-party contractors, people who are not directly employed by this gigantic South Korean company, who might not have been following procedures to the T. That is certainly a possibility.

So we're also trying to see, when will anybody be released?

So based on those two things, what if any, charges and when will the people detained be released?

I think that will dictate so much of how Seoul responds in the next few days, certainly over this weekend. Kim.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, we'll be watching to see how this plays out. CNN's Mike Valerio in Seoul. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

Well, it is one of the most commonly used medicines in the world but a new federal report may link its use in pregnancy to autism. After the break, we'll explore why the science is far from settled.

Plus, Florida may soon become the first U.S. state to end vaccination requirements. We'll look at how that could impact the health of America's children. Those stories and more coming up. Please stay with us.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:35:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

BRUNHUBER: A new federal report is expected to reignite debate in the U.S. over the causes of autism. The disorder is characterized by difficulties in communicating and interacting, with a range of severity called a spectrum.

According to "The Wall Street Journal," the report will point to acetaminophen use and folate deficiency during pregnancy as potential causes of autism. Rates of the condition in the U.S. are rising, with about one in 31 children now diagnosed by age 8.

But as CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, reports, any link with Tylenol should be taken with a dose of skepticism.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, this entire conversation and possibility of acetaminophen or Tylenol being associated with autism is not a new conversation. People have been looking into this for over 10 years. We've been reporting on this for quite some time.

Back 10 years ago, the evidence was really mixed in terms of determining whether there was an association between Tylenol use and a child being subsequently diagnosed with autism. These are really hard studies to do. First of all, imagine that a child is diagnosed with autism.

They go back and ask the mom, did you take Tylenol when you were pregnant?

How much Tylenol did you take?

When did you take it?

It's very hard to remember. That's part of the reason these studies are hard to do.

There's also the issue of the fact that Tylenol is really commonly used. Some studies suggest 45 percent to 60 percent of women used Tylenol when they were pregnant. That is -- makes it very ubiquitous.

And there's this thing called the paradox of ubiquity, meaning when you have something that's that commonly used, it's then hard to go back and pinpoint that that's the singular cause of something.

So these studies are hard to do. Having said that, there was a study in 2019 coming out of Johns Hopkins, where they decided to look at umbilical cord blood. They figured, hey, that's a better way of actually figuring out how much acetaminophen was actually being used, how much acetaminophen exposure was there.

And they actually did find that the higher acetaminophen exposure was associated with a higher rate of autism. And I think that got a lot of people's attention.

In August of this year, August of 2025, there was a metaanalysis of 46 different studies.

[05:40:03]

And in 27 of those studies, they did find that there was an association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and subsequent diagnosis of autism. But again, to be really clear, these are associations.

And when you have something that's that commonly used, it's going to be associated with lots of different things. Somebody was taking Tylenol, well, maybe they had a fever.

Could the fever be the culprit?

You sort of get the idea. So it's very hard to go back and pinpoint that Tylenol itself might be actually leading to this. So that's where we are with this discussion. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, again, they have known about these potential associations for some time. They released a statement on this.

They said, "Acetaminophen has long been established as a safe pain reliever for pregnant women during pregnancy. There is no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and fetal developmental issues. "Neurodevelopmental disorders, in particular, are multifactorial and

very difficult to associate with a singular cause."

Best guidance is that -- is that, if you have a fever as a pregnant woman, it is better to treat that fever than not treat that fever. And using Tylenol for the shortest, the smallest dose for the shortest time seems to be the best advice.

Keep in mind again, I know I've said this twice, but association versus cause and effect. One of the researchers of the study said, look, that's like saying in the summertime people eat more ice cream. And in the summertime there is more violent crime.

Both those things happen. They are associated but obviously there's no cause and effect relationship here. We'll see what this new report out of HHS shows, I'm sure, in the days and weeks to come. And if there's more information in there, we'll certainly bring it to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Now CNN reached out to the concerned parties for comment. Tylenol's manufacturer, Kenvue, said, in part, quote, "Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the people who use our products.

"We've continuously evaluated the science and continue to believe there is no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism."

And a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told us, quote, "We are using gold standard science to get to the bottom of America's unprecedented rise in autism rates. Until we release the final report, any claims about its contents are nothing more than speculation."

So as secretary Kennedy pursues a massive overhaul of the nation's health department, there's also a radical change underway at the state level.

Florida could become the first state to end the longstanding practice of requiring certain vaccines for students. Florida's surgeon general announced on Wednesday that he plans to end all vaccine mandates, including for school age children. On Friday, president Trump appeared to distance himself from Florida's plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think we have to be very careful. Look, you have some vaccines that are so amazing. The polio vaccine, I happen to think, is amazing. A lot of people think that COVID is amazing. You know, there are many people that believe strongly in that. But you have some vaccines that are so incredible.

And I think you have to be very careful when you say that some people don't have to be vaccinated. It's a very, you know, it's a very tough position. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: All 50 states have had school immunization requirements since the 1980s and all states do allow medical exemptions. Florida's vaccine exemption rate last school year was about 5 percent, which is higher than the national average.

All right. For some analysis on this, I want to go to Jacksonville, Florida, and Dr. Rana Alissa, a pediatrician and president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Great to get your expertise on this topic. Thank you so much for being here with us. So Florida isn't banning vaccines.

DR. RANA ALISSA, PEDIATRICIAN; AND PRESIDENT, FLORIDA CHAPTER, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS: (INAUDIBLE).

BRUNHUBER: Yes. Pleasure. So as I say, Florida isn't banning vaccines, just vaccine requirements.

So why does this matter?

ALISSA: It matters a lot because, you know, when you -- when you don't -- when you stop mandating the vaccines, that means you're going to allow kids who are unvaccinated to be in the same place, in the same area, with kids who are -- who are vaccinated and who are at risk for getting the diseases and sickness.

You know -- and you will increase because you're creating that. You will increase the rate of unvaccinated kids. Confusion is the problem.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. Florida's kindergarten vaccination rate is already below the national average. Your organization has talked about this having a ripple effect beyond the classroom. So talk to me about how this could impact everyday places like, you know, theme parks, grocery stores, so on.

[05:45:00]

ALISSA: So basically, you know, like it's simple. Example, you're going to go tell this little girl, who just received a kidney transplant, you're going to tell her, you -- Sweetie, you can't go to Disney because you know, you have you have to (INAUDIBLE).

There are so many -- might be so many kids who are unvaccinated, who are unvaccinated and they're going to give you the disease. And this is going to make you sick.

Or you're going to tell this kid, who has leukemia and just received his very first dose of chemotherapy, that you can't go to Universal Studio or to arcades or convenience stores or movie theater.

You know, there are so many places that you're going to have this crowd of kids who are unvaccinated and they're going to make you sick or maybe even lose your life. You know, so it is -- it's just -- it's a wrong decision. BRUNHUBER: Yes.

Do you get the sense other, you know, Republican-led states are watching Florida right now?

Could this become a domino effect across the country?

ALISSA: I hope not. I certainly hope not. But that's a big possibility. It's a -- it's a -- it seems like that -- like a national move and it found a place in our state to be, unfortunately, the first state.

You know, you like -- you like your state to be the first state of doing something good. But this is not one of them.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. And especially, I mean, there are so many concerns, especially if there should be another pandemic. But even, you know, without that, I mean, just talk to me about the parents who are watching tonight, who may be confused or worried.

I mean, what is your advice?

Who should they be listening to when it comes to their kids' health?

It's very simple. Vaccines are made for two reasons. They are for to prevent illnesses, to prevent very contagious viruses. These viruses are deadly. So this the number one.

And number two is to protect the children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. So for that, you find these vaccines who have been working for decades and decades ago and centuries ago. The median life used to be 27 years.

Vaccines are one of the most important triumph in medicine that made this. We live much, much longer. And it saves lives for sure.

So I would like to tell parents, vaccines save lives. Please listen to the experts in this. And I believe there are no more no better experts than physicians and pediatricians when it comes to your children.

You know, we always talk about the children but we should not forget the adults who are -- who have autoimmune disease or immunodeficiency. You know, people don't understand something very, very simple as bad eczema.

You can be on medication, which is the only medication that you can use for your eczema. That is immunosuppressant. It will weaken your immunity. So even if you are vaccinated and now you're exposed to somebody who's unvaccinated, you might really, seriously, have a deadly disease just for a simple case of bad eczema.

BRUNHUBER: Well, listen, this is all a really important message to underline. Really appreciate getting your expertise, Dr. Rana Alissa, thank you so much.

ALISSA: Thank you so much for having me. BRUNHUBER: Texas has enacted a stronger camp safety law following the

deaths of at least 26 campers and counselors during catastrophic flooding at Camp Mystic in July.

On Wednesday, lawmakers introduced a safety bill to require youth camps and campgrounds to maintain real-time weather alert systems, train staff on evacuation routes and develop emergency preparedness plans.

On Friday, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 1, also known as Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act. He was joined by families of the victims at the signing ceremony. Camp Mystic issued a statement in support of the law.

"Pilgrims of Hope" is the theme for this years Catholic Church jubilee year and it marks a first for LGBTQ worshipers making that pilgrimage. We'll have a report when we come back. Stay with us.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:50:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

BRUNHUBER: In this jubilee year for the Roman Catholic Church, a pilgrimage by LGBTQ Catholics is being recognized for the first time. CNN's Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb reports from Rome.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a landmark moment for LGBTQ Catholics, with their first officially recognized Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome beginning tonight behind me with a vigil at this church in central Rome.

There were hundreds of people packed out to hear songs and testimony and a reflections about the ministry to LGBTQ Catholics. Now this pilgrimage, whilst not officially sponsored by the Vatican, is the first time that it's been listed on a calendar of events taking place during the Catholic Church's jubilee year.

Now this pilgrimage would not have happened were it not for the 12- year pontificate of Pope Francis, who really opened the doors to welcome LGBTQ Catholics.

And all eyes have been on whether Pope Leo will continue with the legacy that Pope Francis left him and the early signs are that he has.

For example, he met with Fr. James Martin, a leading advocate for LGBTQ Catholics, earlier this week and Father James explained what happened in that meeting and the impression that he was left by Pope Leo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) FR. JAMES MARTIN, OUTREACH FOUNDER: The message I heard from Pope Leo is that he is going to continue the legacy of Pope Francis in his ministry with LGBTQ people, which is a ministry of openness and welcome.

[05:55:06]

So I think if you love Pope Francis and trusted him, you can love and trust Pope Leo.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAMB: Now on Saturday, the pilgrims will process up to St. Peter's Basilica and go through the Holy Door, a very symbolic and powerful moment. Going through the door during a jubilee represents forgiveness and mercy and reconciliation with God, so it'll be very powerful when the pilgrims go through that door on Saturday.

Now, of course, many people hoping that this pilgrimage is a sign that the welcome to LGBTQ Catholics is here to stay and that the legacy of Pope Francis continues under Pope Leo -- Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: In Bolivia's capital, a so-called "miracle tree" is drawing crowds to La Paz's largest cemetery. The ancient pine was struck by lightning a decade ago and survived to become a focus of local devotion.

Visitors leave offerings of flowers, candy and handwritten wishes, believing that the lightning strike gave the tree sacred powers. It's a practice rooted in the country's indigenous majority culture, where pre-Hispanic traditions are woven into Catholic worship.

All right, here's proof that you're never too old to make your dreams come true. A 102-year-old man has become the oldest person to scale Mt. Fuji, breaking a record he set himself.

Kokichi Akuzawa was a youthful 96 years old the first time he summitted Japan's tallest peak. Well, six years later, he overcame heart issues, shingles and stitches from a fall to make history a second time.

Akuzawa says he almost quit halfway to the top but kept going with the support of his loved ones, including his 70-year-old daughter. She climbed up with him.

Good for him. I'm half his age and probably wouldn't make it.

That wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Kim Brunhuber. For our audience in North America. "CNN THIS MORNING" is next. For the rest of the world, it's "AFRICAN VOICES: CHANGEMAKERS."