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Protest Erupt After Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Ships; Funding Impasse Enters Day Two With No Deal In Sight; Conservationist Jane Goodall Dies At 91; Zelenskyy Says Russia Intentionally Risking Radiological Incident, Russian Strikes Caused Three-hour Blackout at Chernobyl Nuclear Plant; Europe Works on Strategy for Russian Drone Incursions; Pope Leo Calls for Global Action Against Climate Change; Bronx High-rise Apartment Building Partially Collapses; 2025 Pink October Campaign Kicks Off in Brazil. Aired 2-2:45a ET

Aired October 02, 2025 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:48]

LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Lynda Kinkade.

Just ahead, undeterred, global activists on a mission to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza vow to press on despite Israel intercepting votes and arresting those on board.

A call for global action, Pope Leo makes it clear climate change is real.

And tributes for Jane Goodall, the pioneering conservationist who inspired the world with her tireless advocacy, deep empathy for animals and unwavering optimism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANE GOODALL, PRIMATOLOGIST AND ANTHROPOLOGIST: And the main message is that each one of us makes some impact on the planet every single day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: More than two dozen boats in an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, still sailing towards the enclave at this hour, with organizers vowing to push on even after Israel intercepted some of its vessels. We're keeping an eye on a live stream coming from some of those boats right now. Organizers said they were undeterred by the action from the Israeli military.

The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed some of the boats were stopped and passengers transferred to an Israeli port. It also says the Israeli Navy had contacted the flotilla earlier and asked for it to change course. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was among a number of passengers

detained. She's seen sitting on the floor surrounded by military personnel in a video positive to social media. The Israeli Foreign Ministry says she's safe and healthy.

The interception has sparked global outcry and protests in several countries, including Argentina. One man who had been part of that flotilla spoke about its goals.

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JUAN CARLOS GIORDANO, FORMER FLOTILLA CREW MEMBER (through translator): We sailed for almost a month carrying humanitarian aid. Netanyahu called us terrorists. This is a nonviolent flotilla. We have no weapons. We carry medicine, food and serum to save lives.

So, this global outcry in support of the Palestinian people and against the Israeli genocide has already achieved an extraordinary victory with the flotilla.

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KINKADE: CNN's Barbie Latza Nadeau is following the developments and joins us now live from Rome. So, Barbie, this flotilla was set to deliver -- is set to deliver desperately needed aid to the people of Gaza. What are you learning about the number of boats intercepted by Israel and the activists who are on board those boats?

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN REPORTER: You know, Lynda, I mean, there have been flotillas before. There was one in June that was intercepted, and there was a deadly attempt back in 2010 trying to get aid into the Gaza Strip.

What's different about this one, particularly is the sheer size and scale of it. There are around 500 activists on these vessels, around 42 I think, at last count, and they're very well organized.

You know, we're looking at that tracker. You can see the ones that are being intercepted. And we've seen CCTV footage from the vessels before the Israeli military disables those cameras, and the activists seem to be very, very calm. They know what they're doing. They're sit down. They've got their life jackets on. They've got many cases, documents in their hands. They're ready to be arrested calmly, taken and detained, because their message, Lynda, really is getting across whether they make it all the way to Gaza with that desperately needed aid, or whether they capture the world's attention this way.

KINKADE: And Barbie, just talk to us about the reaction we're seeing. How have key governments, international bodies, and even everyday people responded to Israel's actions against the aid flotilla?

NADEAU: Well, we saw some protests erupt last night here in Rome, in Naples across Europe when the interceptions first started taking place. Now there are activists that were expecting, obviously, here on the ground, and they're ready to protest. They're ready to let their voices be heard, because this is just such an important atrocity going on, and the world is really paying attention to it.

[02:05:01]

Now, you've also seen, certainly here in Italy, government officials calling for the flotilla to stop, saying that they would deliver the aid themselves or through the Catholic Church. They wanted them to leave it in Crete and Cyprus, but instead, the members of the -- of the flotilla, you know, were very persistent, and they're getting a lot of support on the ground. There's been a national strike called here in Italy for tomorrow, for example. And we're going to be seeing this all across the world, I think, as more and more of these votes are intercepted, Lynda.

KINKADE: So, Barbie, just take us through the state goal of the flotilla organizers, because, as you pointed out, they knew being intercepted was a possibility. How are they responding to Israel's claims that it's a provocation or a breach of blockade law?

NADEAU: You know, they very well knew that there was very little chance that they would get all the way to the Gaza strip with this aid.

And so, you know, the goal here is to call attention to what's going on inside the Gaza Strip. It is to call attention to the atrocities and to the deaths of the innocent people and children and destruction.

And you know, and I think it's working because you know, Ben Wedeman, Correspondent of CNN, talked to Greta Thunberg upon the flotilla earlier in the week, and her stated goal was very clear, it is really not just about getting that aid into them, but to make the world pay attention to what's going on.

And I think you know, as we see the day, certainly today, as more and more these boats are intercepted and the CCTV camera footage being shown across the world, it is going to bring attention to the cause.

So, it is attention. It's getting the aid and they were carrying aid certainly not to feed all the people of Gaza and the aid, who knows what's going to happen to that medicine and the diapers and the hygienic materials that they were carrying, you know, if that's ever going to be delivered. But the message certainly will be heard, Lynda.

KINKADE: Yes, exactly. And we are going to speak to a doctor on board that flotilla later this hour. Barbie Latza Nadeau, thanks so much.

The U.S. and Israel are waiting for Hamas to respond to Donald Trump's 20 point peace plan for Gaza, a source telling CNN the group is carefully reviewing the proposal and consulting with officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

Gazan Health authorities say at least 51 Palestinians were killed in a recent 24-hour period. The Red Cross says it's suspending its operations in Gaza City as Israel threatens to cut off the northern part of the enclave. The organization says its team stayed as long as they could to help those most vulnerable. The American government will remain shut down throughout the coming

days. Lawmakers point fingers and refuse to compromise over funding. The next Senate vote isn't going to happen until Friday, but there's no indication a breakthrough will happen before then, Republicans and Democrats are holding their ground as they wait to see who the public will blame for the dysfunction. The White House is heaping on the pressure by threatening the federal workforce with more layoffs.

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KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We believe that layoffs are imminent. They are, unfortunately, a consequence of this government shutdown.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): Democrats want to avert this crisis, but Republicans tried to bully us, and it's clear they can't. They don't have the votes.

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KINKADE: Well, CNN's Jeff Zeleny has more details on the shutdown.

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JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: President Trump was not seen or heard during the first day of this latest government shutdown. A fairly extraordinary development here on Wednesday at the White House, the president often is taking a lead, playing a leading role in most any policy big or small.

But in this shutdown, he sent his Vice President J.D. Vance, out to the press Briefing Room on Wednesday to make the case that, yes, federal government workers could be laid off during this shutdown.

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are going to have to lay some people off if the shutdown continues. We don't like that. We don't necessarily want to do it, but we're going to do what we have to to keep the American people's essential services continuing to run.

ZELENY: And the word is layoffs, not furloughs. Of course, that is what happens during most shutdowns. Federal workers are furloughed. They are not allowed to come to work. They are paid later on. This is something different entirely.

The Office of Management and Budget is working up a plan to lay off federal workers. Some are calling it DOGE 2.0 if you will. Of course, that remaking of federal government in the workforce that Elon Musk tried to do earlier this year, but then effectively walked away from it.

So, the White House clearly is making moves during this shutdown, but interestingly, the president is not playing a leading role in this.

Now, some White House officials are saying that they believe the president is still holding out hope that a handful of Democrats will come forward, essentially not comfortable with the pain of this shutdown and vote with Republicans to refund the government for a short period of time. That is very much an open question. Of course, three Democrats already have and independents who vote with Democrats.

[02:10:03]

But look, other Democrats say the fight is for a reason. They're pointing to the Medicaid cuts. They are pointing to the health care premium increases that will happen.

So, for all of this President Trump, clearly, of course, presided over a 35-day shutdown during his first term in office, is very much an open question. How. Long this will go. But for day one, at least, President Trump taking a rare backseat, at least here at the White House.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, the White House.

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KINKADE: Joining me now is Dr. James Smith, who was part of the aid flotilla for more than two weeks and has also worked at the al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza. Dr. Smith, thanks so much for your time.

Dr. Smith, thanks so much for your time.

DR. JAMES SMITH, BRITISH DOCTOR WORKED AT THE AL-AQSA HOSPITAL IN GAZA: Thanks for having me, Lynda.

KINKADE: So, you're a doctor trained in the U.K. You've spent much of the past decade working in the international medical humanitarian sector. Just describe for us what motivated you to join the flotilla, knowing the risks involved.

SMITH: I think we have to be very clear, particularly in relation to what's happening in Gaza, that humanitarianism is no solution. In fact, the humanitarianization, if we can call it that, of the genocide in Gaza, has served to obscure from the political actions and the political solutions that are required, such that we can see and realize a free Palestine.

What I realized when I worked in Gaza for about 2.5 months was that humanitarianism is impossible under such violence, under the conditions of genocidal violence and occupation, and what we've seen over the course of the last two years are states that have refused to uphold their obligations.

And therefore, of course, it's incumbent upon all of us. It's a collective responsibility for citizens of the world, if I can call us that, to act, and that's of course, why I felt it was important to join the flotilla as a form of direct action against Israel's illegal siege and blockade of Gaza.

KINKADE: So, you were part of the flotilla for two weeks. When did you leave? And what are you hearing about those still part of it, especially those whose vessels were intercepted and were detained? SMITH: What we're hearing thus far, over the course of the last several hours, many of the 40 plus boats in the flotilla have been illegally boarded and the participants effectively kidnapped in international waters by heavily armed Israeli soldiers.

There are live streams from most of the boats because the flotilla had anticipated that these illegal interceptions might occur. So, of course, anyone can watch the remaining boats that are on the water.

We believe that at least 10 boats are still on the move towards Gaza as we speak, the first boats last night were intercepted, or all of them have been intercepted in international waters from about 70 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

KINKADE: So, what medical supplies or aid is on board that Flotilla? What are you hoping to deliver? And can you give us your response to Israel's claim that you should go through approved channels to deliver this aid?

SMITH: Look, the amount of material humanitarian aid that's on these boats is extremely small when we consider the overwhelming needs of 2.1 million people who are being subjected to genocide and progressive ethnic cleansing by the Israeli state and its military.

The boats were carrying food, water, medicine, baby formula, as have many previous flotillas, all of which have been intercepted of late, again by the Israeli military.

The Israeli state's suggestion that the flotilla should have diverted its aid such that it could be delivered by Israel assumes that Israel is a competent entity, able of able to deliver aid to the Palestinian people ethically and effectively.

Let's be absolutely clear here, Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people, no credible individual should be suggesting that the very states, the very entity committing genocide, should be the one then providing medicine, medical care, food and water to the genocided population.

It is incumbent upon all states to ensure effective and independent humanitarian access to Gaza. And that is, of course, one of the conditions of the ICJ ruling back as early as January of 2024.

KINKADE: So, talk to us, Dr. Smith, about the ambitions of this flotilla, because, as you point out, you know, the amount of aid on these boats is not anywhere near adequate for the population of Gaza. So, what is the mission?

[02:15:10]

SMITH: This is really my most important message, Lynda. I mean, governments have failed to act with requisite urgency. We are now talking about more than two years of an escalating genocide. At best, we have seen rhetoric of condemnation, while many states have still chosen to do nothing. Many states, of course, getting behind Trump's 20 plus point plan, which completely obscures the voice and perspective of the Palestinian people themselves.

One thing we have to be very clear about here is that the flotilla is simply one element of the wider Palestine Solidarity Movement, one element of the wider struggle for the Liberation of Palestine, inclusive, of course, of the Palestinian right of return.

The flotilla, of course, is carrying humanitarian aid. But it's not simply humanitarian In fact, in many ways, the flotilla exists beyond the very limited political imagination of humanitarianism. It's a form of direct action, of course, and it's a form of anti-colonial resistance. This is resistance to settler colonial violence imposed by the Israeli state against the Palestinian people.

And it recognizes -- really the flotilla recognizes that nation states and borders enact violence, and therefore that we have internationalist obligations to one another, the ways in which we are connected to each other globally. We have to be very clear that no genocide in history has ever been stopped by waving around the rule book, states must act, and citizens of the world must act.

And what we've seen with protests that have sprung up spontaneously, overnight in Mexico City, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Rome, Madrid, London. That's a symbol, really, of that collective discontent.

KINKADE: Dr. James Smith, we appreciate all the work you are doing, and we appreciate your time. Thanks so much.

Pope Leo is urging world leaders to heed the cry of the earth. What the pontiff had to say in his first major speech on the environment since his election.

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KINKADE: Conservationist Jane Goodall is being remembered for her revolutionary work studying chimpanzees. She died Wednesday at the age of 91 from natural causes according to her Institute.

Current and former world leaders and top names from the business world are posting their condolences. Goodall has been fascinated with Africa and its animals long before she traveled to Tanzania in 1960 to study primates.

Her field study helped to broaden the world's understanding of animal behavior and emotions. Goodall's work also broke barriers for women and changed the way scientists study animals.

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GOODALL: Who is Jane Goodall today? Well, she's two people. She's sitting here talking to you, just me, Jane. And then there's that icon out there, which is probably being created by geographic discovery. Even CNN and I try and live up to that one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did people say, excuse me, who are you? GOODALL: The scientist did. And fortunately, I'd loved animals all my life. I had an amazing supportive mother, and I had a great teacher when I was a child, who taught me absolutely these professors at Cambridge may be very knowledgeable and learned and erudite, but this teacher taught me that when it comes to animal, personality, mind and emotion, they're wrong. And that was my dog.

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KINKADE: The United Nations wrote on social media today, the U.N. family mourns the loss of Dr. Jane Goodall, the scientist, conservationist and U.N. Messenger of Peace, worked tirelessly for our planet and all its inhabitants, leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity and nature.

And the World Wildlife Fund says, "She embodied two fundamental human impulses to connect in the deepest way with those species with whom we share this planet, and to ensure that our children inherit that same sense of joy, wonder and awe in the natural world. She has inspired millions around the world to acquire the same kind of courage and determination to save what we love most."

CNN's Tom Foreman has more on Jane Goodall's legacy.

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TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jane Goodall's love of animals began at an early age.

JANE GOODALL, CONSERVATIONIST: I was watching earthworms before I could talk.

FOREMAN: As a child growing up in World War II London, she escaped into books about Dr. Doolittle and Tarzan.

GOODALL: My dream when I was 11 years old, I will grow up, go to Africa, live with animals and write books about them. And of course, everybody laughed at me. We didn't have any money. And finally I was the wrong sex. Girls didn't do that sort of thing.

FOREMAN: But that didn't matter to legendary paleontologist Louis Leakey. After hiring Goodall as his assistant, he sent her to what is now Tanzania in 1960 to study chimpanzees in the wild. With no formal scientific education, Goodall conducted her research unlike anyone else, giving the chimps names, observing humanlike behavior, even gaining acceptance into chimps society.

[02:25:17]

Her unconventional methods led to several landmark discoveries, among them that chimps use tools and ate meat just like us. Her findings for scientists to redefine humankind and reconsider what really separated us from our closest cousins.

GOODALL: Just objects. Not just things, that they have personalities, minds and feelings. FOREMAN: Goodall would earn a PhD from Cambridge University and be named a dame of the British empire, and through her institute, she became a ireless advocate for animal rights and the environment. One of Goodall's proudest accomplishments, creating a youth program called Roots and Shoots.

GOODALL: Bring up generations of children around the world to be better stewards of the planet and to be more loving of each other.

FOREMAN: Even in her later years, Goodall spent 300 days a year on the road preaching her message. But no matter where she went, nature was never far from her mind.

GOODALL: Wherever I am, I can close my eyes and imagine myself in the forest, living with the most fascinating beings out in the forests I dreamed of, doing some writing, which I love, a little bit of teaching, which I enjoy. I mean, what better life could anybody have?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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KINKADE: Welcome back. Ukraine is accusing Russia of intentionally risking a radiological incident after a power blackout in a second Ukrainian nuclear plant. Officials say the Chernobyl plant lost power for three hours Wednesday after Russian strikes on a nearby substation. President Zelenskyy says the blackout affected a structure that contains radioactive debris from the 1986 nuclear disaster.

The Zaporizhzhia plant has been without external power for more than a week following Russian shelling. That facility is in shutdown mode, but still needs electricity to cool its reactors to prevent a possible meltdown.

Well, European leaders are trying to come up with a strategy to deal with Russian drone incursions. At a meeting in Copenhagen on Wednesday, they discussed a proposal known as the Drone Wall, which is a network designed to detect and intercept incoming drones. There's little information about what it would look like or how long it would take to build, but the Danish prime minister says some response is needed.

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METTE FREDERIKSEN, DANISH PRIME MINISTER: I hope that everybody recognizes now that there is a hybrid wall and one day it's Poland, the other day it's Denmark, and next week, it will be probably somewhere else that we see sabotage or we see drones flying or we see, yeah, you can -- there are many different kind of episodes. So, I see this from a European perspective. There is only one country that are willing to threat us and it is Russia and therefore we need a very strong answer back.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: The meeting came after Russian drone incursions into Poland and Romania, as well as drone sightings in Denmark, which led to the closure of major airports last week. Russia denies any role in the incidents in Denmark.

I'm going to take a quick break. I'll be right back with much more news.

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[02:37:54]

KINKADE: Welcome back. Pope Leo has delivered his first major speech on the environment since his election as pontiff. Leo has indicated he wants to continue with the efforts of his predecessor to tackle the climate crisis.

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POPE LEO XIV, SOVEREIGN OF VATICAN CITY STATE: Pope Francis emphasized that the most effective solutions will not come from individual efforts alone. But above all, from major political decisions on the national and international levels.

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KINKADE: Climate activist and former California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, joined Pope Leo at the Climate Conference, praising the Vatican's efforts to fight climate change.

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ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, FORMER CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR: I'm next to an action hero.

(APPLAUSE)

(LAUGH)

SCHWARZENEGGER: Now, you're laughing because he doesn't look maybe like one, like you see in the movies with the muscles and with the guns and all that stuff. No, but the reason why I call him an action hero is because as soon as he became the Pope, he ordered the Vatican to put solar panels on top of the buildings.

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KINKADE: Well, in New York, investigators are searching for what caused a building in the Bronx neighborhood to collapse on Wednesday. Residents say they heard an explosion, smelled gas, and felt what seemed like an earthquake as pieces of the apartment building collapsed onto the street. Thankfully, no injuries or deaths were reported according to New York's mayor, but the incident has sparked concerns that a similar accident could happen elsewhere. It's also reignited conversations over safety conditions in buildings under New York's Housing Authority. Well, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And to mark the occasion, the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro was lit up in pink for the start of this year's campaign. Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women in Brazil and organizers hope this campaign will amplify their push to reduce wait times and get better access to health services.

[02:40:00]

Well, thanks so much for joining us for this edition of "CNN Newsroom." I'm Lynda Kinkade. "World Sport" is coming up next, and then I'll be back in about 15 minutes with much more news. Stay with us.

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