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Official U.K. Visit; Puerto Rico's Economy; Emmy Awards Tonight; Official Charges to be Filed Against Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect; Utah Governor Calls on Partisans to Tone Down Political Rhetoric; Official Meeting Between Bibi Netanyahu and Marco Rubio Set for Tomorrow; L.A. School Superintendent Takes on ICE. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired September 14, 2025 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:00]

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: -- they came just after a historic, one of its kind Vatican concert, which was directed by Pharrell Williams and Andrea Bocelli. The concert took place in St. Peter's Square on Saturday night. There were performances from Jennifer Hudson, from John Legend, from Teddy Swims. A gathering that was very much a celebratory one.

There was a drone show, which was spectacular above St. Peter's Basilica. It was the culmination of a gathering in the Vatican for human fraternity, which, focusing on a more humane and peaceful world. There were discussions on a whole range of topics, including artificial intelligence.

Now, Leo's birthday fell on a Sunday. That meant he couldn't have a day off. And in the evening, he was due to celebrate mass at the Roman Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls, a mass to commemorate the witnesses and martyrs of the Christian faith in the 21st century.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin with new details on the man accused of shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Utah County Sheriff's Office says 22-year- old suspect Tyler Robinson is under enhanced supervision, pending a mental health evaluation. Authorities have placed Robinson in a special housing unit so they can, I'm quoting now, "keep a close eye on him," end quote. The Utah County Sheriff's Department says this is standard protocol for cases involving serious charges or potential behavioral concerns.

CNN's Danny Freeman is in St. George, Utah, where the suspect was living.

What are you learning?

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, I'll be honest with you. We actually got a decent amount of new information today as this case continues to unfold. You mentioned the most recent information that we learned within the past hour or two that Tyler Robinson, the main suspect in Charlie Kirk's killing, he now is in that special housing unit. That's in the Utah County Jail. It's about 250 miles northeast of where we are right here in St. George, in the area where he was living, in the area where he grew up, as well.

The purpose because of that, according to the Utah County Sheriff's Office, is, to quote, "keep a close eye on him." But as you mentioned, that's a precautionary measure that is pretty standard in such a high profile case.

The other two things that we're learning more information about is this potential note that may have been left behind by Robinson, and then information about Robinson's roommate at the time. I'll start with the roommate because there were a lot of questions about this yesterday. According to the governor of Utah, who told CNN that Robinson was roommates with a, quote, "romantic partner who was a male transitioning to a female."

But the governor emphasized that this roommate has been incredibly cooperative with authorities and that, furthermore, the roommate had seemingly no knowledge of anything that Robinson may have been planning to do when it comes to this assassination.

The other thing I'll mention, too, is when CNN pressed the governor of Utah if this connection was perhaps directly linked to any motive here, the governor said it's easy to draw conclusions, but he really declined to speculate any further on what may have been the specific motive for this shooting.

I'll also note that one of the other things we learned from this conversation with Governor Cox was about a potential note that may have been left behind by Robinson. This is from the social and gaming platform Discord. They said that a roommate and a friend of Robinson, they were discussing this on a Discord chat, saying that contents of a note the suspect had left elsewhere. Governor Cox basically seemed to suggest that this note did exist, though he did not say further information about the note. Because he's saying that this is all under investigation.

Fred, I'll tell you the next state that we're looking ahead towards is this coming Tuesday. The governor says we may learn a lot more information then when formal charges are announced, and also when Robinson makes his first court appearance -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Danny Freeman, thanks so much.

So as the search for motive into Charlie Kirk's killing continues, Utah's governor told my colleague Dana Bash earlier today that he's calling on all partisans to tone down the rhetoric.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SPENCER COX (R), UTAH: If this was -- if this was MAGA and a radicalized MAGA person, I would be saying that as well. If the friends were saying that, I would be sharing that as well. That's not what they're sharing. And so I do think it is important, again, to understand how someone gets radicalized like this. And in this case, it happened with -- as much as people wish it wasn't or don't want it to be this, these are the facts that are being presented to us.

If there are additional facts that would point otherwise, but family discussions, parents, this is what they're saying. And these -- again, these things happen. And so it's OK to have these discussions.

[16:05:00]

DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: You called social media a cancer on our society. I know you have made talking about social media one of your key issues as governor of Utah. What should or even can government do to cure this cancer, as you call it?

COX: Well, there's some things that we're working on for sure. We have to get phones out of the classroom. We're doing that in Utah. Many states are doing that right now. We have to hold these -- the largest companies in the history of the world with combined trillion-dollar market caps. We have to hold them responsible for the algorithms that are pushing us. Again. They're hijacking our agency. They're hijacking our free will with these dopamine hits.

Same chemical reaction as fentanyl, getting us addicted to these platforms and outrage releases a dopamine hit, for sure. And they are taking no responsibility for this. In fact, they're suing the state of Utah to stop the most comprehensive social media reforms in the -- in the world's history that are happening right here. And we absolutely have to hold them accountable.

BASH: Just real quick. You have said that we're in a dark chapter, and you're not sure if it's the end of a dark chapter or beginning of a darker one. Is your view of America right now shaken?

COX: Yes. I mean, if your view of America is not shaken right now, then there's something wrong with you. This is -- this is a direct assault on America, a direct assault on every single one of us. Of course, it's an assault on Charlie. And we love Erika and her kids and his family. But this -- this is us. And this is our chance. This is our moment. We've had periods like this in the past. I mentioned the late '60s and early '70s.

But if we're waiting for a president or a governor to get us off of -- out of this dark chapter, then then it will never happen. We can't -- I don't understand this, again giving our agency up, waking up every day and saying, what did the president say today? That's going to determine how I react. Or what does the governor say today? That makes no sense to me. Every one of us has to look in the mirror and decide, are we going to try to make it better, or are we going to make it worse?

And I just -- I pray that God will help us find him again and find our souls and find each other again.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: Tonight on "THE WHOLE STORY," political violence has always threatened our democracy. After the latest tragedy, where does America go from here? Watch "THE WHOLE STORY WITH ANDERSON COOPER, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, AMERICAS BLOODY HISTORY," tonight, 9:00 Eastern and Pacific right here on CNN.

All right. Still ahead, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel escalates strikes on Gaza City. Details on what they're expected to discuss.

Plus, immigration raids are disrupting daily life in Los Angeles schools. How a superintendent who was once undocumented himself is fighting back.

And a Bad Bunny boom. The major impact that the superstar's performances are having in Puerto Rico as his blockbuster residency wraps up today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:12:56]

WHITFIELD: All right. For the third day in a row, Israel has targeted high rise buildings in Gaza City with airstrikes. This residential tower was severely damaged but not destroyed in today's attack. The Israeli military warned residents to leave the area before the strike. Another residential building was demolished when it was struck.

The IDF says that building was being used by Hamas to observe troop movements. Gaza hospital officials say more than 70 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza this weekend.

Meantime, CNN is learning Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss his potential plans to annex parts of the West Bank when he meets with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. That's according to Israeli sources. Earlier today, Rubio made a stop at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City with Netanyahu and U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The visit comes just days after Israel targeted Hamas leaders with a deadly strike inside Qatar.

CNN's senior White House reporter Betsy Klein is with us now.

Betsy, what can we expect in what will be a formal meeting between Rubio and Netanyahu?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka. A notable show of force earlier today at that very holy site of the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. Secretary of State Marco Rubio alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting that site. But they get down to business on Monday, a very high stakes meeting between the Israeli prime minister and Trump's secretary of state.

And according to three Israeli sources, Netanyahu is expected to press Rubio for specifics on where the United States and the Trump administration draws the line on Israeli annexation of the West Bank. This is something that Netanyahu is weighing, weighing the size and scope and scale of that potential effort, and looking to the U.S. for their perspective.

[16:15:05]

And Rubio is going to share that U.S. perspective and he is really walking a very challenging political tightrope here. I would note that the United Arab Emirates, which has really emerged as a key U.S. ally in the Trump administration, has warned that such annexation would jeopardize the Abraham Accords. And that, of course, is that signature foreign policy achievement of President Trump's first term back in 2020.

And all of this comes as there has been so much strain and tension in the U.S.-Israel relationship. That was exacerbated earlier this week when Israel launched strikes on Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar. We heard from senior Trump administration officials that there was a lot of anger and frustration following those attacks, that they were not consulted ahead of time and did not have enough time to advise Qatari officials on the matter.

President Trump saying publicly that he is, quote, "not thrilled about that." But Secretary Rubio, asked about it yesterday, says that it will not impact the U.S.-Israel relationship. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: He didn't like the way it went down. But that said, that's not going to shake -- our relationship with Israel is going to remain strong. And sometimes, you know, things happen or come up and those relationships that perhaps you're not 100 percent aligned with or what have you, but it's not going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KLEIN: Rubio and Netanyahu are also expected to discuss Israel's plans to expand its military campaign in Gaza -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Betsy Klein, thanks so much.

All right. Let's get more on this now with U.S. retired Air Force Colonel and CNN military analyst Cedric Leighton.

Colonel, great to see you. So if Netanyahu brings up, you know, the idea of this possible West Bank annexation in his discussions with Rubio, do you think that Netanyahu is asking him about it or telling him that it's so?

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I'm thinking, Fredricka, that he's telling him that it's so. And that's basically the way Netanyahu is running the relationship with the U.S. They're telling the U.S. things that they're going to do, either during the process or after the fact, like they did with the raid on Hamas and Qatar. It's very much a, you know, almost a one sided relationship where the Israelis are moving forward with their goals without really consulting their major ally, which is the United States.

So that could, you know, cause some real problems for the relationship in the future, maybe not with the Trump administration, but certainly with future administrations, you know, in the future years.

WHITFIELD: What do you think the relationship is right now, especially as we hear through Rubio that the president wasn't thrilled with Israel's attack on Qatar? Qatar has been in the middle of negotiations for the release of hostages and the White House says that the president learned of it after the fact. So what does this say about the relationship between the U.S. and Israel now, and potentially what it will become?

LEIGHTON: Yes. Well, I think that the relationship at the moment, Fredricka, is one in which the U.S., even though it's the major supplier of weapons, of, you know, financial aid as well as, you know, all the other aspects of military support, it's basically being a junior partner to Israel in this particular case. And that's a problem because the Israelis are in some ways driving the strategic imperatives for our relationships throughout the Middle East.

The attack on the nuclear reactors and nuclear activities in Iran, that is another example of this, because that was really driven not by U.S. plans to go after these targets, but by the Israeli desire to not only attack but also eliminate Iran's nuclear capability. Whether or not that actually was the case is, of course, subject to debate, because we don't really have the perfect battle damage assessment of what happened.

But what is clearly happening here, Fredricka, is that they are -- the Israelis are moving forward in all of these directions, really without consulting the U.S., or at least doing so in a way that is making the U.S. appear to be the junior partner in all of this.

WHITFIELD: Right. And how might this either be reshaping right now or soon to reshape the relationship between the U.S. and Qatar?

LEIGHTON: Well, that's going to be another interesting aspect to this, because Qatar, as you mentioned, is basically the broker there kind of trying to be a bit of a Switzerland for the Middle East. Even though they do have strong ties to Hamas they are also, you know, enjoying strong ties with the United States.

[16:20:01]

And of course, we have the largest base in the Middle East for the U.S. is in Qatar. It's Al Udeid Air Base. And then there's also an army facility there. So one of these key aspects, one of the key aspects of the relationship with Qatar is that Qatar has been seen as the key bridge between not only the United States, but forces other than the United States forces like Hamas, forces like the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Qatar has played major roles in these areas, and the U.S. does not want to anger Qatar. And they also don't want to lose the footprint that they have in the Middle East if they lost a base like Al Udeid because of issues, you know, with the diplomatic or the political front. That would create real problems for U.S. power projection throughout the Middle East. And no matter how isolationist the Trump administration wants to be, we still need to have the capability to project power throughout the Middle East.

WHITFIELD: All right. Colonel Cedric Leighton, always great hearing from you. Thank you so much.

LEIGHTON: You bet, Fredricka. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Coming up, the second largest public school district in the country taking on ICE. How one superintendent is working to protect students against immigration raids at his schools.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:25:42]

WHITFIELD: All right. To Chicago now where an ICE officer was released from the hospital after a Friday traffic stop quickly turned deadly. The Department of Homeland Security says an undocumented immigrant was fatally shot by the unnamed officer after resisting arrest and dragging the agent with his vehicle. A spokesperson with the agency says he suffered severe back injuries, lacerations to his hand and knee.

The consulate general of Mexico in Chicago identified the driver as a 38-year-old Mexican national who worked as a cook.

And in the face of ongoing ICE raids in Los Angeles, some parents are so fearful that they're no longer taking their children to school. The uneasiness intensified last month after a special needs teen was pulled from a car and handcuffed by ICE agents. Now the superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District is leading efforts to keep ICE away from his campuses.

CNN's Julia Vargas Jones is joining me now from that high school.

Julia, you sat down with the superintendent, and what are you learning?

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, he told me, Fred, that that case of the teen was just outside this high school. He was waiting in the car with his mom while his sister was registering for classes. That was days before school began, and that was just one in two cases of teens being detained outside of schools in this area. And that he said happened to be two Latino kids.

He's saying that this climate of fear is just making the lives of these families of the largest, the second largest school district in the United States, but the most diverse, quite difficult this school year.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONES (voice-over): Los Angeles, a recent target of aggressive immigration enforcement actions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, ho, ho.

JONES: After protests and a week's long legal battle, the Supreme Court allowed so-called roving patrols to continue in the city just as L.A. kids went back to school.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bienvenidos. Bienvenidos.

JONES: Los Angeles Unified superintendent has drawn a line in the sand. Schools, he says, should be off limits to ICE. And he's asking for an expansion of protections.

ALBERTO M. CARVALHO, SUPERINTENDENT, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: Can we not establish zones of exclusion two blocks away from any school across the country where one hour before the start of the school day, one hour after the school day is over, that no action would take place within those two blocks?

JONES: You asked how would a first, second, third, fourth, or sixth grader pose any type of risk to the national security of our nation that would require Homeland Security to deploy its agents to two elementary schools? Have you gotten an answer?

CARVALHO: Not yet, but I will ask the question again. Our children are not a threat. Our children are a promise. They've always been, immigrant or not.

JONES: You've said recently that you would be a hypocrite if you did not defend students that are now going through what you went through as an undocumented teenager. You said that you would put your job on the line if necessary for that. I'm curious as to where that line is right now.

CARVALHO: Why I feel I have both a professional, but also a moral responsibility to stand in defense of those who today are experiencing the same journey I lived through over four decades ago. Agents have come into our community. They've tried to have access to our kids in elementary schools, and we've done what I believe is right.

JONES: Are you concerned that at some point that will mean that you have crossed a line with federal agents, that you would be obstructing federal operations like we've seen other officials in Los Angeles be accused of?

CARVALHO: So we are informed by our own legal entities in terms of everything we do. We do not think that we are crossing the line. We are enforcing the law. Do I have institutional concerns? I do. I'm concerned that somehow our protective policies and practices may invite a challenge that may compromise or threaten the federal funding we get from Washington, D.C. funding like Title One that supports kids in poverty, or IDA, which supports students with disabilities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back up, back up. You're in my way.

[16:30:00] JONES (voice over): As the Trump Administration ramps up raids in other cities, Carvalho has a message for his counterparts.

ALBERTO M. CARVALHO, SUPERINTENDENT, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: Know the law. Know your legal rights. Ensure that your institution is prepared to protect your kids and your workforce. But don't fail to maintain a dialog, because I do believe that it is at the table of conversation respectful way that you actually craft policies of protection for our kids.

JONES: And, Fred, earlier this week, they just (?) did issue a statement, although not mentioning L.A. school specifically. They did say that ICE, quote, "is not raiding campuses or arresting children." And that, instead, the chief (?) justice directive that allows ICE to go into schools would only be used in extremely rare cases and with supervisor approval -- Fred.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Julia Vargas Jones, thanks so much. And we'll be right back.

[16:30:59]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: This week, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will head to the U.K. for an official visit. This was the moment, back in February, when British prime minister, Keir Starmer, extended the invitation at the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, PRIME MINISTER, BRITIAIN: This is a letter from his majesty the king. It's an invitation for a second state visit. This is really special. This has never happened before. This is unprecedented.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The President also made an official visit, back in 2019 during his first term in office. This week, Prince Charles will host the President and First Lady at Windsor Castle, about an hour outside of London.

With us now, Natasha Linstad. She's a professor of government at the University of Essex. Good to see you.

So, this is unique. Because, as we heard from Keir Starmer, he says it's very special. I mean, how unique and special is this and how timely is it as well for the U.S. President and First Lady to be in the U.K. on the King's invitation? Do you see this as potentially pacifying or even comforting European allies who are quite concerned about their relationship with America?

NATASHA LINDSTAEDT, PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX (via Webex): So, this is definitely unprecedented because there's never been a U.S. president that has been able to enjoy a second state dinner. There have been, of course, other presidential visits that have taken place, but Trump now has a second state dinner.

So, that, in itself, is quite unique. And the U.K. is trying to reach out for -- reach out to Trump because they know he enjoyed the 2019 visit so much that it really made him feel special. And they rolled out the Red Carpet and all the pomp and circumstance.

And that's something that he really just loves. And this stems somewhat from his childhood that his mother, who was born in Scotland, really enjoyed watching the royal family.

So, he's very taken by them. And so, for the U.K., they feel that it's vital to their special relationship. For them, they're worried that Trump could levy more tariffs. That the trading relationship could be affected if they don't maintain strong ties between the U.S. and the U.K.

More broadly speaking, you also have President Macron of France, who's also trying to maintain a strong relationship with the U.S., knowing how vital that relationship is to both the economic relationship, but also to international security.

So, there's a lot that's going into it on the European side. And from Trump's standpoint, this is really more of a personal vanity project.

WHITFIELD: And among those international security kind of issues is also Ukraine. So, do you think -- I mean, you just laid it out, you know, some of the potential or maybe even overt, you know, objectives that, you know, that the king or the U.K. may have in trying to extend this beautiful invitation. Have the pomp, the ceremonial moments for the Trumps.

Trump may not see it that way. But do you think -- and just looking at the schedule here, there's also going to be, you know, in addition to the meetings and a royal salute, there's going to be the wreath laying at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth. I mean, how potentially influential, you know, can this visit be to try to influence Trump on trade tariffs or, you know, international security issues that are of a variation of things?

LINDSTAEDT: But it's definitely a packed schedule, and there's so much that is involved in such a short period of time. It's hard to know how much actual policy can be discussed.

But this is really more about maintaining good feelings, good relationship. And extending, sort of, a branch out to Trump to make him feel that they think that he is special. And that is what other world leaders have learned to do. That you have to flatter Trump quite a bit. You have to say the right things.

Though, I do think that Starmer and Macron have laid down what their red lines are when they need to. And have pushed and pressured Trump when they feel it is vital. Such as on issues regarding Ukraine or more general security issues.

But we've seen world leaders feel that they have to put a great effort into making Trump feel as if he is important. WHITFIELD: And First Lady Melania Trump will also be the centerpiece

of a few different things, including with Queen Camilla and even Princess Kate.

[16:40:05]

WHITFIELD: I mean, they have quite the schedule, too. Everything from, you know, unique doll kind of display, to a scout -- you know, scouting event that Princess Kate is part of.

Is their importance here that is meant to appeal to a variety of generations as well?

LINDSTAEDT: So, I mean, that's a good question. I'm not sure what that -- what the implications of this visit is between Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania. Other than it is about a showing united force that they are -- a united front I should say. That there is a warm relationship between both couples. And that Queen Camilla is putting a great effort into this relationship with Melania, also Princess Kate.

So, the -- you know, there's a lot of effort putting it into the whole thing. I mean, almost every detail down to the wording. Everything has been carefully considered.

WHITFIELD: That's right. All right, Professor Natasha Lindstaedt, thank you so much for giving us a preview of what is going to be a very fascinating visit.

Straight ahead, superstar Bad Bunny's blockbuster residency in Puerto Rico is coming to an end now. In a moment, we'll go live to the island to see the massive impact that he has had there.

[16:41:30]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Tonight is the final show of global superstar Bad Bunny's two-month residency in San Juan, catapulting the Puerto Rican economy to the tune of an estimated $200 million. Something the U.S. territory desperately needed, after the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria and the COVID pandemic.

The rapper intentionally skipped the continental U.S. for his upcoming tour, prompting some fans instead to travel to Puerto Rico to catch a show.

CNN Correspondent Isabel Rosales is lucky enough to be there in old San Juan with more. And so, it's the last show, which means it just might be the best one, too, right?

ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has to be, Fred. And I wish you were right next to me.

WHITFIELD: Me too.

ROSALES: I love Puerto Rico. I love San Juan. Look at all these scores (?)

WHITFIELD: I love it there.

ROSALES: -- of people from all over the place, taking pictures with I love San Juan.

Now, normally, Fred, this would be the low season with visitors, tourists avoiding the island during peak hurricane season. But with Bad Bunny in town, that is certainly not the case.

You have over 600,000 fans coming from all over the world here, spending a lot of cash. Spending it on local hotels, local food, even Bad Bunny themed tours.

They want to know who the man was. Who Benito was. They want to go to his hometown. Find out about him. Go to his church. Also, go to the grocery store where, Fred, he was a grocery bagger before he became this international superstar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm here at Puerto Rico.

ROSALES (voice-over): Bad Bunny mania has taken over the Island of Enchantment. The rapper, who has previously been critical of ICE operations, said in an interview with "i.D. Magazine" he didn't include the U.S. In his concert tour, because of fear that ICE would raid the concert venues.

In a normally slow time for tourism on the island, the Puerto Rican superstar's 30-concert residency is sold out.

(on camera): Has Puerto Rico ever seen something of this scale?

JORGE PEREZ, COLISEO DE PUERTO RICO, JOSE MIGUEL AGRELOT: Never in the 20-year history of Coliseo itself or in the entertainment history of Puerto Rico. Nothing of this magnitude. Not even close.

ROSALES: Tourism agency discovered Puerto Rico estimates the island will earn at least $196 million from the residency. Do you think that this stimulus will last beyond his residency at all or is this a temporary?

PEREZ: I think it's one of the most valuable lessons that will come out of the residency.

ROSALES (voice-over): Even the merch around this historic residency has gone viral. The rapper's version of La Bubu, featuring the album's toad mascot and Sapo Concho, sold out. Working from a corner of his grandparents' living room in Ponce, the graphic designer, Sebastian Muniz Morales, is stunned by the hype.

(on camera): Do you ever go, hey, that shirt you're wearing, I designed that.

SEBASTIAN MUNIZ MORALES, GRAPHIC ARTIST: When I feel, like, very confident to do it, I do it. But I get a little shy telling people that I was the one who created it.

ROSALES (voice-over): Bad Bunny's music has long reflected the struggles of life on the island.

MORALES: You see the la residencia (?). But once you go out, you see the different problems we fight for.

Translated: There are many things, and you don't have to spend too much time in the island to figure out there's something wrong here.

ROSALES: A legacy of U.S. colonialism and gentrification confronted head on in his song what happened to Hawaii.

BAD BUNNY, SINGER: (INAUDIBLE.)

ROSALES: The island facing a crushing debt crisis, crumbling infrastructure and frequent power outages spotlighted in his song "The Blackout."

BAD BUNNY: (INAUDIBLE.)

ROSALES: The reality has driven young Puerto Ricans to leave the island in search of a better opportunity, something Muniz Morales once considered.

MORALES: Some people, like, don't see their future here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[16:50:00]

ROSALES (on camera): And these tours are certainly giving justice to the name of Bad Bunny's latest album, "deb tirar ms fotos (?)," meaning I should have taken more pictures.

Now, he takes this world tour over to the Dominican Republic. But again, Fred, notably the U.S. not on the route.

WHITFIELD: Not on the list.

(CROSSTALK)

ROSALES: (INAUDIBLE.)

WHITFIELD: OK, he is making an impact in so many ways. Isabel Rosales, have fun there in Puerto Rico. Thank you.

All right. Tonight is the night out west. L.A. T.V.'s biggest stars coming out to honor the best in the biz (?) with the Emmy Awards. Among the nominees, "Severance" leads with 27 nominations, followed by "The Penguin" with 24.

Comedian Nate Bargatze will be making his debut as the host for the ceremony with a rather unique wager for Hollywood.

Joining us live from the Red Carpet is CNN Entertainment Correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister with more on all this. Looking ravishing and lovely. How's it going there on the Red Carpet?

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fred, it is going. The Red Carpet is just starting. As you see behind me, people are starting to arrive. The stars will arrive probably within about 30 minutes.

Now, I have to tell you, tonight is going to be a celebration of television. Don't expect it to get too political.

And how do I know? Because I interviewed comedian and host, Nate Bargatze. And he told me he doesn't plan to be mean. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WAGMEISTER: Have you watched all the shows?

NATE BARGATZE, COMEDIAN: I've seen a lot of commercials of the shows.

WAGMEISTER: OK.

(voice-over): If you're like Emmy host, Nate Bargatze, and haven't seen all the nominated shows, well, you might still watch the Emmy Awards for this.

(on camera): You are making a $100,000 donation --

BARGATZE: Yes.

WAGMEISTER: -- to The Boys and Girls Club of America.

BARGATZE: Yes.

WAGMEISTER: Which is amazing that you're doing that.

BARGATZE: Yes. We hope we are (?).

WAGMEISTER: But there's a catch.

BARGATZE: There's a catch.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Bargatze says, for every Emmy winner's acceptance speech that exceeds the allotted 45 seconds, --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And perfect choice of music.

WAGMEISTER: -- the donation shrinks by $1,000 per second.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ouch.

BARGATZE: The positive, too. If they go under, we will put money on top of it.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): OK.

BARGATZE: So, I would prefer them not all go that under, because that can get pretty expensive. And the amount of money I give The Boys and Girls Club is totally up to all of Hollywood.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Either way, Bargatze can afford it. He's currently billboard's number one-selling standup comic in America. His tour grossed more than $80 million last year alone.

For his first Hollywood hosting gig, he's getting advice from veterans like Nikki Glaser, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien.

BARGATZE: They're all just kind of like, you just got to be you and trust that you know what you're doing. Fortunately, learned that in other settings. And so, I don't have to, hopefully, not learn it, you know, in front of Harrison Ford.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): Right.

(voice-over): Bargatze says, sure, he'll joke about Hollywood. But in his trademark polite style. Like the cancellation of nominee Stephen Colbert's late-night show.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): Is that off limits or are you going to address it?

BARGATZE: I think we're going -- we'll say something. But it'll be done in a fun, playful way.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): That family-friendly comedic style has helped the Tennessee native gain wide appeal in an era where comedy often divides audiences. Bargatze met his wife while working at Applebee's.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome my daddy, Nate Bargatze.

WAGMEISTER: And his daughter introduces him at many of his shows. His father was a magician and a clown.

(on camera): I have to ask, did you have a fear of clowns growing up? Because a lot of kids do.

BARGATZE: I had a joke about it. Like, because I would say, have you ever been yelled at by a clown? Because I have. And it's pretty confusing to get yelled at by a guy that's got a smile painted on his face.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Bargatze doesn't fear the Emmy stage. In fact, this star can't wait to be star struck.

(on camera): Who are you excited to see?

BARGATZE: Ben Stiller I would -- I'm excited to see.

WAGMEISTER: Well, "Severance" has the most nominations, so you will --

BARGATZE: A killer (?).

WAGMEISTER: -- definitely meet Ben Stiller.

BARGATZE: Ben Stiller, we should cross paths. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WAGMEISTER (live): So, as you heard there, "Severance" the most nominated show tonight. That is expected to be a big winner, along with "The Pit, "The Studio" and "Adolescents." So, it's going to be a fun night, Fred.

WHITFIELD: It is indeed. Can't wait. All right, Elizabeth Wagmeister, thanks so much. On the Red Carpet.

And we'll be right back.

[16:54:19]

(COMMERC IAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Thanks for being with us this weekend. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. And before we go today, family and friends gathered to remember Harper Moyski. The 10 year old was gunned down inside Annunciation Catholic Church and school in Minneapolis last month. Her parents say Harper was a loving big sister who's bright and joyful laughter touched everyone she knew.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After two and a half weeks without Harper, we can tell you, love is real and powerful. It doesn't leave and it can't leave. It transforms. We poured our hearts, the very best parts of ourselves, into Harper and Quinn. And that kind of love doesn't disappear or die. It deepens. It strengthens. It becomes a force capable of carrying us, changing us and maybe even changing some laws, too.

Harpers life was short. But her light, it's everywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Harper's family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support. Also killed in that horrific school shooting, eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel. He was laid to rest last week in Minneapolis.