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Israel And Hamas Signals They Are Open To Trump's Peace Plan; No Plans For Lawmakers To Meet This Weekend Amid Closure; White House Freezes Funding For Democratic Cities, States Amid Shutdown; Sanae Takaichi Set To Be Japan's First Female PM; Sean "Diddy" Combs Sentenced To Over 4 Years In Prison; 4th U.S. Strike On Suspected Drug Boats In Caribbean. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired October 04, 2025 - 04:00   ET

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

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[04:00:33]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

There's a potential major breakthrough to end the war in Gaza and release all remaining hostages. We have the live report from the region on what could be a significant step towards peace.

Neither side is budging on the U.S. government shutdown. In the meantime, the Trump administration is going after Democratic cities and projects.

Plus, a key U.S. ally is likely to have its first female prime minister. We'll tell you who she is and the issues she'll face leading her nation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: After nearly two years of war, Israel and Hamas may be closer than ever to ending their fighting. Israel's government and military say they are preparing for the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan. They say the Israeli Defense Forces will now halt efforts to occupy Gaza City and shift to defensive operations only.

On Friday, Hamas agreed to enter negotiations for the release of all hostages as called for in the 20-point peace plan. After hearing the news, President Trump appeared to be optimistic. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Everybody was unified in wanting this war to end and seeing peace in the Middle East and we're very close to achieving that. Thank you all and everybody will be treated fairly. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: For the latest, I'm joined now by CNN's Eleni Giokos from Dubai. So, Eleni, potentially a huge step forward here. Take us through the latest developments.

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, it is unprecedented because it could signal a breakthrough in ending the war and potential a long lasting end to what we've seen in hostilities. I want to take you through what Hamas responded because this is really important. We know they had a deadline and of course they met the deadline.

They're showing their willingness to move forward on President Trump's 20-point plan, but stopping short of unconditionally agreeing to all the points. And quite interesting in their response, they saying that they want to get into negotiations immediately to work out the details. They're also saying they willing to hand over power to a technocratic government, but of course stopping short and what potentially is major sticking points and that's a total disarmament of Hamas. But they are talking about the inherent right of Palestinian people. So that of course means we could see some revisions.

And remember, this was initially a 21-point plan, it's now a 20-point plan, which means there have already been some kind of revisions that we've seen over the past week.

I want to take you through what the Israeli Prime Minister's office said and this is also important because they're saying that in light of Hamas's response, Israel is preparing to immediately implement the first phase of Trump's plan for the immediate release of hostages. We will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel that are consistent with President Trump's vision.

I mean, one of the most important points here is of course the release of hostages. We also know that President Trump put a deadline, a 72- hour window that once both sides agree that would come into effect. We don't know if that clock has already started. But the point is that we're moving closer to that.

President Trump also on social media said that Israel has to immediately stop bombing Gaza, which is of course going to ensure the safe release of the hostages. And perhaps the first salient point, the first important moment we will be able to see this plan implemented.

Importantly here we've also seen response from regional players, Qatar and Egypt saying they're welcoming the announcement by Hamas its agreement to President Trump's plan and also expressing support for the call for an immediate ceasefire, which is going to be one of the most important priorities here.

I also want to take you through what President Trump had to say. He's calling it a big day. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: This is a big day. We'll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down and concrete. Very importantly, I look forward to having the hostages come home to their parents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:05:00]

GIOKOS: You know, Kim, we've spoken to so many analysts throughout the week and they say it's all going to be in terms of implementation and also interpretation of some of these 20 points. So many details to be worked through. But everyone is looking at this as a move in the right direction. Possible end to this two year war.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, still some distance to go, but things looking good. Eleni Giokos reporting live in Dubai. Thank you so much.

The U.S. government shutdown is poised to enter a second week after separate measures to end the funding stalemate failed again in the Senate on Friday. There are no plans for the Senate to be in session over the weekend. And the White House warns thousands of government layoffs could soon begin.

Sources say concerns are growing in Donald Trump's orbit that fallout from the shutdown may be greater than originally believed. The president initially thought Democrats would fold immediately, giving Republicans a quick political victory. But Democrats are still largely unified in their demands for extended health care subsidies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN THUNE (R) SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: We can't make commitments or promises on the COVID subsidies because that's not something that we can guarantee that there are the votes there to do. But what I've said is I'm open to having conversations with our Democrat colleagues about how to address that issue. And I think that the -- but that can't happen while the government is shut down.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D) SENATE MINORITY LEADER: We saw the Republicans run the same play and they got the same result. The question is, will they change course? The votes aren't there. They thought they could bludgeon us and threaten us and scare us. It ain't working because my caucus and Democrats are adamant that we must protect the health care of the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Meanwhile, the largest federal employee union, the union, is filing suit against the Department of Education. The union says the DOE violated the First Amendment rights of some furloughed employees when it changed their out office messages to blame Democrats for the shutdown.

Now, amidst the shutdown, President Trump is freezing billions of dollars in federal funds for Democratic cities and states. CNN's Tom Forman takes a look at projects on the chopping block and the ongoing pressure campaign from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the Windy city of Chicago, $2.1 billion in federal fund has been blown away by the White House, according to the Illinois governor, hurting our economy and the hard working people. In New York, 18 billion federal dollars have been frozen for transportation projects.

Amid all that, President Trump posted this video portraying his budget boss Russell Vought as the Grim Reaper who, like Trump, wants to pressure Democratic lawmakers from blue strongholds to end the budget stalemate that triggered the government shutdown.

RUSS VOUGHT, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET: We're not going to be held hostage to these kinds of insane, ridiculous demands by the Democrats.

FOREMAN (voice-over): One of the administration's tools for removing all that money is the idea that some of it might be spent to promote race and sex based contracting DEI programs that the White House has forbidden. But the administration has also canceled racing what it calls nearly $8 billion in green new scam funding, hammering 16 states, all of which Trump lost in the last presidential race.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're going to count on energy imports.

FOREMAN (voice-over): The secretary of energy suggests red states may be involved as well. And he's just saving money.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These cancellation decisions absolutely not tied to the government shutdown.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Yet hundreds of millions in disaster preparedness grants are being withheld, too. The White House is demanding states recount their populations in the wake of aggressive deportations so the distributions can be adjusted. That move came just hours after a federal court put a temporary block on efforts to divert FEMA funds largely away from Democratic led states.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says the president just wants the government running again.

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R) U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER: And is he trying to apply pressure to make that happen? He probably is, yes, and I applaud that.

FOREMAN (voice-over): But Democrats say Republican strong arm tactics will not work.

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D) HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: They need to come to the table. We can go back to the White House or they can come up here and we can have a conversation to end this shutdown. They're hurting the American people.

FOREMAN: Democrats are even pointing out a type of irony here, saying that while Republicans seem to be putting a big squeeze on blue America, the health insurance measures Democrats are trying to get approved here will help a lot of red states. Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: And for more on this, I want to bring in Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor of Government at the University of Essex. Thanks so much for being here with us. Good to see you again.

So let's just start with what we saw there. The Trump administration specifically targeting Democratic cities and states.

[04:10:00]

I mean, how unusual is that tactic?

NATASHA LINDSTAEDT, PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX: Well, it's highly unusual in any democracy because the way a democratic government is supposed to function is that it's supposed to provide public goods that all American citizens can benefit from. It's not supposed to be selective. That's something you see in patrimonial states, authoritarian regimes, where you need to be loyal to receive benefits. And it's a complete abuse of power. A really alarming trend that we're seeing happening under the Trump administration, where loyalty is more important than anything else.

And of course, that's going to lead to greater levels of corruption. And actually, we see this as a precursor to state failure in states when they start acting this way, only delivering goods to those that are loyal. So I see this as incredibly problematic.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. All right. So as a shutdown is set to enter a second week, how surprised are you that Republicans in Congress have gotten home for the weekend that there won't be any votes on this until Monday at the soonest, and they won't be sort of trying to solve this right now?

LINDSTAEDT: So I think this is partly due to the fact that Trump seems to be relishing in this shutdown. He thinks that this is an opportunity to permanently get rid of hundreds of thousands of federal workers and to use the shutdown to close down Democratic things. Those are his words, that it's an opportunity to get rid of Democratic projects.

So there's been a bit of mixed messaging coming from Republicans. You have some that are talking about how horrible the shutdown is, like Speaker -- House Speaker Mike Johnson, and that it's going to affect FEMA. And the press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, was talking about how it's affecting military families. But Trump is posting memes, as the report showed, and he seems to love the fact that he's able to make fun of the Democrats and blame them for the shutdown.

BRUNHUBER: The thing is, public polling shows most Americans blame Trump and the Republicans for the shutdown, but they aren't backing down here. So who has more leverage to kind of wait this out? LINDSTAEDT: I mean, it's a really good question. Thus far, I don't

think that the messaging coming from the Democrats has been particularly good. You are right that the polls that we're seeing. The most recent poll was a Washington Post poll taken just a few days ago, showed that some 45, 46 percent of Americans blame Republicans for the shutdown, compared to only 30 percent for Democrats.

And worrisome for the Republicans it is something like 50 percent of independents are blaming Republicans for the shutdown compared to 22 percent for Democrats. So that all doesn't bode well for the 2026 midterms. Of course, that's what we're eyeing at the moment to see how this shutdown is going to play out in affecting the elections.

But Trump is convinced that he can blame the Democrats for this and that they -- some of the false narratives that they've been talking about is that the Democrats want to spend 1 trillion on health care for illegal immigrants. Of course, that is false, but it's very difficult to win the war on these shutdowns because shutdowns are so unpopular with Americans. They are incredibly expensive.

The last shutdown, which was the longest in history, of course cost the American economy around 11 billion. And you're going to see permanent layoffs this time.

BRUNHUBER: Yes.

LINDSTAEDT: So it's very, very tricky tightrope for the Democrats. They had to do it because their base was upset six months ago when they didn't go ahead with this. But shutdowns generally aren't that popular.

BRUNHUBER: You mentioned health care. So I want to ask you about that specifically because we saw some public opinion polling showing that three quarters of Americans think enhanced Obamacare subsidies should be extended. But the question is, do people actually realize that's the main issue at the heart of the shutdown?

You talked about Democratic messaging here. Have they been effective in messaging on that versus, as you say, all the claims from the GOP, that it's all about, you know, health care for illegal immigrants?

LINDSTAEDT: I mean, thus far, I would say the Democrats haven't been effective enough. I mean, they do have an advantage, though, in of the way the public perceives who's better at handling a health care issue. Like a YouGov poll from earlier this year showed that only 25 percent of Americans think that Republicans are good at handling health care. So Democrats have a huge advantage on that. That is one of their big marquee issues.

They've been trying to get the message out that for some, I mean, it'll be at least 10 million Americans that are going to lose their insurance, their coverage, and it could be up to 24 million Americans that are going to see their fees go up by some 75 percent. So they're trying to get that message out.

[04:15:00] But they have to deal with a lot of noise, a lot of counter messaging coming from Republicans saying that this is all going towards illegal immigrants. And that's really difficult for the Democrats to do.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, huge stakes here, as you say. We'll see whether the two sides can come together next week perhaps to solve this. Natasha Lindstaedt, thank you so much.

LINDSTAEDT: Thanks for having me.

BRUNHUBER: Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has elected a new leader and she could now become the country's first female prime minister. CNN's Hanako Montgomery joins us live from Tokyo. Hanako, what more can you tell us about this new party leader?

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kim, as you said, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, the ruling party, has just made history by appointing a woman for the very first time as the party president. Now Sanae Takaichi currently serves as the economic security minister. And if she's going to be elected later this month by the parliament, she would also go on to be the country's first ever female prime minister.

Now, in her victory speech earlier on Saturday, she recognized a lot of the work that lies ahead of her. Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANAE TAKAICHI, NEWLY ELECTED LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER (through translator): You will work like draft horses. I myself will throw away the very phrase work, life, balance. I will work and work and work and work and keep on working.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MONTGOMERY: Now, Kim, of course, that is a pretty tough tone, but it is true that Takaichi does have a lot of work ahead of her if she is elected the prime minister first, of course, there is the record high inflation that we are seeing in Japan. Households are being crushed right now with really high consumer prices.

And one of the solutions that Takaichi has proposed is cutting consumption tax for food to zero percent. She's also suggested continuing some of the economic and fiscal policies of her predecessor, the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who she looked to as a mentor.

Now, when it comes to foreign policy, Kim, Takaichi has said that the U.S.-Japan alliance is extremely important, but she has emphasized the importance of a Japan first policy. In fact, she's also suggested potentially revisiting the trade deal that we saw struck between Washington and Tokyo earlier this year.

She, for example, has said that perhaps Japan should not be investing millions and millions of dollars into the United States. And she said that she could revisit this deal. Now also, Takaichi is a pretty hawkish person when it comes to

defense. She has previously suggested revising the Japanese constitution to allow the Japanese Self Defense Forces to be a fully- fledged military. She's also floated the idea of Japan obtaining counter strike capabilities to deter the threats from China and also from North Korea.

Now, Kim, also I do want to point out here that experts have told me that Takaichi's win is pretty significant, not just because she would potentially be the first female prime minister, but also because it signals a political shift in Japan, a political shift to the right.

Now, we've seen this in the most recent general elections. We've seen far right populist parties emerge quite victoriously and obtain a lot more seats than was expected. Now, the LDP, which has been mired in political scandals, have been struggling to gain more votes from the general public. And many of the experts who I've spoken to have told me that Takaichi could signal that the party is trying to win back those more conservative voters.

So Kim, really a lot of issues that lie ahead for Takaichi, should she become the country's next prime minister?

BRUNHUBER: Yes, potentially historic, as you say. Hanako Montgomery, live in Tokyo. Thank you so much.

American hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs spoke out in court for the first time in his criminal trial. We'll look at what Combs said to the judge before learning his fate.

Also, Illinois governor says the U.S. is facing a constitutional crisis coming up. Why? He says the situation in his state is evidence of that crisis and what he believes we should all do. Please stay with us.

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[04:22:52]

BRUNHUBER: Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs say they plan to appeal his prison sentence. The music mogul was sentenced on Friday to four years and two months in order to pay the maximum $500,000 fine. Combs was convicted in July on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution. CNN's Kara Scannell was in court when Diddy learn his fate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The family of disgraced music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs leaving court after Judge Arun Subramanian handed down hard time telling Combs his sentence needed to be substantial as the musician irreparably harmed two women.

Combs spoke in his own defense for the first time, apologizing to his victims directly and taking full responsibility for his prostitution related convictions. There are no excuses. I can't change the past, but I can change the future. I beg your honor for mercy, Combs pleaded.

This came after hours of testimonials in court trying to convince the judge Combs is a changed man, a marked shift in strategy from the defense who had repeatedly argued his innocence.

SEAN "DIDDY" COMBS, MUSIC MOGUL: You will change the world.

SCANNELL (voice-over): Combs sobbed as his team shot a documentary style video highlighting his charity work, interspersed with family moments huddled together supporting each other at the podium. Several of his children teared up advocating for their father, insisting he's been rehabilitated.

His son Justin called Combs his superhero. His daughter told the court, he's working on becoming a better man and a more present father. Others became emotional, focusing on Combs contributions to the black community while underscoring his own traumas and battles with drug addiction.

The judge ultimately recognized these contributions and struggles, calling them iconic and impressive, but said a history of good works can't wash away the record in his case. Prosecutor Christy Slavik was not moved by the day's speeches, arguing Combs respect for the law is just lip service, calling Combs a master puppeteer of his own image.

[04:25:00]

After his summer trial, where the jury heard about freak offs and hotel nights, Combs was cleared of the more serious charges against him, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Key evidence in the trial ending Combs sentencing was this surveillance video from 2016, first revealed by CNN, which shows Combs in a hotel hallway violently dragging and kicking then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura across the floor. None of the victims spoke at the sentencing, but Ventura submitted a letter to the court warning that Combs has, quote, no interest in changing or becoming better. I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up about his abuse at trial, she wrote.

It's not clear yet where Combs will serve a sentence, but he is expected to appeal the decision.

SCANNELL: Combs attorney Brian Steele told me after the sentencing he thought it was unAmerican and wrong for the judge to consider conduct of which Combs was acquitted. Now, the judge did say he had a message for the victims in this case, Combs' former girlfriend Cassie Ventura and the woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane. He said to them, we hear you, and he said that he was proud of them.

The judge also said he had a message for Combs saying that he might be in a dark place now, but he told Combs there is light at the end of the tunnel. Combs has been sentenced to 50 months in prison. He's already been in jail for 12 of those, so he has about three more years left to serve. Kara Scannell, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BRUNHUBER: Another U.S. military strike on a boat off the coast of Venezuela. Look at why the Trump administration's antidrug trafficking campaign is sparking new concern. That's coming up next. Please do stay with us.

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[04:30:00]

BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

The U.S. Supreme Court says President Trump can strip the temporary deportation protections that the Biden administration gave to 300,000 Venezuelans. This comes after ICE agents raided an apartment building in Chicago Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security says 37 undocumented immigrants were arrested. Many were from Venezuela.

Also in the Chicago area, the head of Homeland Security watched as at least five people were arrested during protests outside an ICE facility. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stood on the rooftop surrounded by armed agents and a camera crew. The protesters faced charges, including aggravated battery to a police officer resisting an obstruction.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker reacted to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in his state on Friday. He said in part, the constitutional crisis is not on its way. It is here, and we all better start acting like it.

A Salvadoran journalist who is living in the United States has now been deported. Mario Guevara was arrested while covering anti-ICE protest in Atlanta. But he says his reporting on immigration abuses is what really cost him his freedom. Here is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIO GUEVARA, DEPORTED JOURNALIST (through translator): It was pretty hard to see my people getting off like painted criminals. They came in their work clothes with paint on them. Well, I was dressed like this, too, but many came in their painting clothes because they were workers immigration was detaining. And that's exactly what caused me my deportation, the fact that I was reporting on the injustices, the unfair arrest immigration was making.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: CNN's Gustavo Valdes has more on the journalist and his deportation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUSTAVO VALDES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A Salvadoran journalist known for covering immigration raids was deported from the United States Friday after spending months in federal custody. Mario Guevara has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.

In June, he was arrested while live streaming a No Kings protest in Atlanta. Footage showed authorities detaining him while he was wearing a press vest. All charges against him, including improperly entering a pedestrian roadway, were dropped, but ICE ordered that he remained in custody. During that time, he was the only known journalist detained by the U.S. government.

The American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement, journalists should not have to fear government retaliation. Mario's treatment should terrify any person in this country that cares about a free press.

The court that denied his appeal to stay said freedom of the press was part of the narrative of Guevara's case, but his lawyers failed to prove their case based on immigration law. His son Oscar, who is a U.S. citizen, says he will continue fighting for him.

OSCAR GUEVERA, SONE OF DEPORTED JOURNALIST: He wanted the government to know that not all immigrants are criminals, that our family would be separated, it hurts. It hurts. It's good to know that in a few years that he can come back through me. So at least there's that hope.

VALDES (voice-over): Eight years ago, Oscar was diagnosed with a brain tumor. His father shared his son's journey with his followers, and now he wants to be the one helping his dad. He started the paperwork to give his parents legal status, and his lawyers say the process will continue.

Guevara fled to the U.S. from El Salvador in 2004 after receiving death threats from his reporting there. In 2012, an immigration judge denied his request for asylum, but immigration authorities decided to close his case, meaning he was allowed to stay in the U.S. with a work permit while but without a defined legal status.

After his arrest in June, immigration authorities reopened his case, leading to his deportation.

VALDES: Mario Guevara called me from the detention center on the day his last appeal was denied. He told me he was ready to go, but he told me that he lives with one regret, because over the past couple of years, he said he spent a lot of time building his new business, trying to keep the community informed. But that took time away from his family. He now hopes to regain some of that time from another country. Gustavo Valdes, CNN, Doraville, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: The U.S. military says it struck a suspected drug boat off the coast of Venezuela Friday, killing four people on board. This is the fourth known U.S. strike in the Caribbean against alleged cartel trafficking since the beginning of September. CNN's Natasha Bertrand has more on the growing controversy over what some are calling a extrajudicial killings.

[04:35:00] (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Friday that the U.S. military had conducted yet another lethal strike on a boat in the Caribbean that the administration deemed a, quote, drug boat that was affiliated, according to the Trump administration, with drug cartels that the administration has deemed to be narcoterrorist organizations.

In a statement on X, Secretary Hegseth wrote that at President Trump's direction, he directed the lethal kinetic strike on a narco- trafficking vessel that he said was affiliated with designated terrorist organizations in the Southern Command area of responsibility.

Hegseth said that four individuals on board that boat were killed. And he said that no U.S. Forces were harmed in the operation. And he added notably that while the U.S. strike was carried out international waters, it was conducted just off the coast of Venezuela.

Now, that is bound to increase tensions with the Venezuelans who have already said that they are going to be prepared to put their country into a state of emergency should the U.S. move any closer to its borders and take any kind of military action against Venezuela directly.

But Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that the intelligence that the U.S. was able to collect about this boat in particular indicated without a reasonable doubt, according to him, that the vessel was, quote, trafficking narcotics and the people on board were narco- terrorists who were carrying a substantial number of drugs, an amount of drugs to the United States.

Now, these strikes on boats in the Caribbean, there have been at least four now that have been publicly alerted. And they have raised serious questions amongst the legal community as well as amongst senators and representatives on Capitol Hill about what the legal justification actually is for these strikes because Congress, of course, has not declared a war on these cartels.

But the administration actually told Congress in a memo outlining its legal rationale for these strikes, which it provided to the Hill on Thursday, that the President has determined that because he has designated these cartels as drug -- as terrorist organizations, then the U.S. has the authority to carry out these strikes because they are at war in an armed conflict with these organizations. And those people on board those boats who are deemed to be smuggling drugs, they are in turn enemy combatants, according to the administration.

Now, that has still raised a lot of questions among legal experts. And Senator Jack Reid, who is the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that it does not pass the smell test, that essentially he does not believe that is a legally justified explanation for why the administration is able to go after these cartels because the President has not determined and has not shown proof that these individuals actually pose an immediate and direct threat to the United States or to the U.S. Armed forces.

However, Secretary Hegseth said that these strikes are going to continue. In his post on X, he said, quote, the strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over. Natasha Bertrand, CNN in Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: All right. Still ahead with growing hope for a peace deal, we'll speak to a relative of a released Israeli hostage. That's coming up. Please do stick with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:41:28]

BRUNHUBER: There are new developments today that could mean an end is coming to the war in Gaza. Hamas has agreed to enter negotiations for the release of all hostages. Meanwhile, Israel's government and military say they're preparing for the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan. They say the Israeli Defense Forces will halt efforts to occupy Gaza City, shift to defensive operations only.

I want to bring in Efrat Machikawa, who's the niece of former hostage Gadi Moses. He was released after 482 days in captivity. Thank you so much for taking the time to join us here.

So just to start, how are you feeling right now with reports of a new deal being so close?

EFRAT MACHIKAWA, NIECE OF RELEASED HOSTAGE GADI MOSES: We're hardly sleeping. It was a very, very long night. Talking with everybody on WhatsApp. We're very hopeful, but yet cautious. We're really, really hoping that all stakeholders will stay focused, determined and patient to make this deal happen. We're very grateful to President Trump and mainly also to all the moderate Arab countries that are backing heard this morning that Councilor (ph) Matz from Germany joined as well and many other leaders.

And all we have is to hope that people will understand this is the time to end this horrific war, to bring every single hostage back home and to give a chance to our region. We don't want to go on with this terrible war. We don't want any revenge. We want rehabilitation. We want to have our people back, those for coming back to their families and those who will have to be buried respectfully. But we're all wishing this is the time. It's urgent and it's time to make it happen.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. Past time, certainly. You talk about having hope but also being cautious. I mean, you've been through this before with deals that have come close but then fell apart. I mean, does anything make you think this time might be different?

MACHIKAWA: You know, being in this crisis for 729 days, you learn to hold your hopes, but at the same time, we're hopeful and we're people who strive for life, so nothing can wreck that, you know. The fear is the sabotage. There were so many times that different partners within this crisis made things not happen. And we really do hope that the solidarity that the world show for this humanitarian crisis at this time will be so powerful and will actually make it happen.

I cannot not be hopeful. I'm optimistic, but I want things to happen. You know, when Gadi -- when they announced Gadi is coming back, I was full of joy. But we all said, we will know this is happening when we see him walking on his feet and then later hugging him.

[04:45:05]

And this is what I wish. I wish to see that things are tangible, that we know they're here. We know the war is over. We know that we can start rehabilitating.

BRUNHUBER: Is that your advice to families? I mean, you talked when your uncle was coming home. I mean, you talked about the overwhelming anticipation and excitement. So as this clock is sort of ticking down now, what is something that you'd like the other families to know that might help them now as they're kind of hoping and waiting?

MACHIKAWA: We talk about it all the time. We want them to know that we are here to support them. We want them to know that the world wants their beloved ones to be back and to end this war. And I would say hold on to hope. We have to talk about it. We have to communicate with the world. We have to do that for them because all they need to do is to concentrate in gathering all the power they still have in order to be ready to receive their beloved ones once they're back.

And I really do hope it's going to happen very soon. You know, we're entering the two years week and it's not easy. We have so many ceremonies to go to at the cemeteries. Memories again rise up. It was hell. Hell was over us on October 7, 2023. And I just hope it's going to end. I hope the families will hold. I know they will because they have their beloved ones to hug and to --

BRUNHUBER: Literally, as you're saying that, I just want to let you know we're showing pictures of you hugging your uncle as he was returned. So we can certainly feel the -- we can certainly feel the emotion and hope that the families of the remaining hostages will be able to experience that as well. Yes, go ahead.

MACHIKAWA: Yes, yes, sorry. Allow me to tell you know, treasure this moment. We all have to treasure those moments when life comes back and when life is lighting up over this darkness that we're in now. And I do hope that the spirit and the courage of my uncle Gadi Moses will spread all over. He's talking about rehabilitation. He's talking about working the fields again, about seeding, about education, about healing.

And this is what I do wish that the spirit of my Uncle Gadi will cover our region and will bring all us, all of us hope for growth and rehabilitation. We need to hold to that hope. And we need President Trump and all the stakeholders and all the negotiators do everything they can to make this happen now. Now, it's urgent to do it now.

BRUNHUBER: That's a beautiful message to end on. Efrat Machikawa, thank you so much for being here with us. Really appreciate.

MACHIKAWA: Thank you so much for keeping this very, very urgent issue on your news. Let's hope that we will talk in a few days after this ends and all the hostages are home. Thank you.

BRUNHUBER: Well, three more people have been arrested in connection with the deadly attack on a synagogue in northern England. Six people are now in custody in connection with the violence in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the most horrible holy holiday in Judaism.

The attack left two members of the congregation dead. Police now say one of those victims was likely shot by officers who rushed to the scene. Despite that, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the police response. Here he is.

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KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I've been to the scene to pay my respects and to get a sense of what were confronted with. I've also seen the body worn cameras and the footage out of that. And I am absolutely clear in my mind as to the professionalism of the response, the speed of the response, and also that an absolutely awful incident would have been even worse if it hadn't been for your response.

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BRUNHUBER: Investigators said the main suspect may have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology. He was killed by officers at the scene.

Munich's airport is getting set to reopen this morning after possible drone sightings forced a second day of flight cancellations.

[04:50:03]

Dozens of flights were delayed or suspended on both Thursday and Friday nights, affecting thousands of passengers. Similar drone related incidents have hit several other European countries, including Norway and Denmark. They're on high alert after recent Russian drone incursions in Poland and Romania.

All right. Plenty more here on CNN Newsroom, including a close up look at the jaguar sanctuary in the Mexico. Big Cat classroom, working to make sure the animals are ready to survive in the wild. Stay with us.

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BRUNHUBER: A recent report found that Mexico's jaguar population has increased significantly in recent years, but they're still in danger of extinction. In southern Mexico, a program aims to help rescue jaguars learn to survive on their own with the goal of eventually releasing them into the wild. CNN's Valeria Leon took a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Crossing the grasslands of the Oaxacan community of Yagul, a jaguar climbs over a log to reach its foot.

IVAN VELAZQUEZ, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON JAGUAR CONSERVATION (through translator): For me, the jaguar represents power and control in nature. It's important because it regulates populations.

[04:55:00]

LEON (voice-over): It looks like a wild hunting scene, but this is actually a jaguar rehabilitation center monitored by biologists and animal behavior experts.

CRISTIAN ENRIQUEZ, DIRECTOR, ETHOLOGY AND JAGUAR WILDLIFE SIMULATORS (through translator): There are four fixed cameras and one rotating camera that gives a 360 degree view. With these cameras, we can track the jaguars and observe how they hunt.

LEON (voice-over): The program is run by the Jaguars in the Jungle Foundation. This refuge gives jaguars a safe place to learn how to hunt and survive on their own.

VICTOR ROSAS, DIRECTOR GENERAL, INSTITUTE OF JAGUARS IN THE JUNGLE (through translator): We discovered there wasn't a protocol in Mexico and were the first institution to create one.

LEON (voice-over): According to the second National Jaguar Census, the jaguar population increased from 800 to 4,800 in eight years. A species that not only regulates ecosystems, but also carries cultural and biological value.

DR. SEBASTIAN ARDON, VETERINARIAN, INSTITUTE OF JAGUARS IN THE JUNGLE (through translator): The jaguar is the third largest big cat in the world, only behind the tiger and the lion.

LEON (voice-over): This sanctuary marks the first step in bringing jaguars back to the regions where they are scarce. One has already returned to the wild and two more are set to flow this year, opening a new path for the species survival. Valeria Leon, CNN, Mexico City.

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BRUNHUBER: This next story sounds like a cross between Game of Thrones and Jurassic Park. Three wolves genetically engineered from ancient DNA are celebrating their first birthday. Romulus and Remus are two of three grey wolf pups who were genetically modified to have white fur. The genetics company Colossal Biosciences says it modified the wolves DNA using direwolf DNA. Now the direwolf went extinct more than 10,000 years ago.

All right, that wraps this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back with more news in just a moment.

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