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Millions Join "No Kings" Rallies Across U.S.; Hamas Rejects Group's "Ceasefire Violation"; Israel Identifies Eleventh Deceased Hostage; U.S. Government Shutdown Enters 19th Day; Gaza Ceasefire Under Pressure; Reaction to Trump in Ukraine and Russia; Bolivian Presidential Runoff; A Love Letter to NYC. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired October 19, 2025 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to all of you watching in the United States, Canada, and around the world. I'm Salma Abdelaziz and this is CNN Newsroom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: Hell, no ICE.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hell, no MAGA.

CROWD: Hell, no MAGA.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: Calls to defend democracy echo on American streets as millions join No Kings rallies across the country to protest President Donald Trump's policies. And Israel identifies the body of another hostage returned from Gaza as Washington has a new warning for Hamas. Plus, a visual love letter to New York City will take you inside an exhibition that's transformed Grand Central Station into a canvas of photos and everyday stories.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is CNN Newsroom with Salma Abdelaziz.

ABDELAZIZ: We start with a peaceful and enormous display of dissent in the United States. Americans in every single state are denouncing what they describe as Donald Trump's authoritarian agenda. Protesters gathered in big cities and small towns for a new round of No Kings rallies. Organizers say nearly 7 million people joined in, condemning what they call the Trump administration's imperial tendencies, violent immigration raids, hateful rhetoric against minorities, cuts to Medicaid, and many other policies.

Republicans blasted the protests before they even started, claiming they'd be anti-American. And the Trump team even suggested they would include terrorists. But not only were they largely peaceful, they were also joyful. Protesters wore inflatable animal costumes, danced, waved American flags, and said it was important to celebrate their love for the United States and fight for democracy. Now, police in cities from San Diego, California, to Austin, Texas thanked the protesters for carrying out peaceful and respectful demonstrations. And the protesters actually have international support, with crowds gathering in Toronto and Mexico City. Attendees across the U.S. were not afraid to exercise free speech. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In America, we don't do kings. We don't do thrones.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our nation's democracy is at stake.

JOHN CUSACK, ACTOR: The authoritarians divide and conquer, and they create another, and then they pick on it -- and then pick on the person, and harass them, jail them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just, it's all unconstitutional, unprecedented. It's not what I want for my country.

SEN. RAPHAEL WARNOCK (D-GA): In this moment in which we are seeing a president and an administration arrogating to himself power that doesn't belong to him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have somebody who, just like he said to Georgia, go find me 11,700 votes, he's trying to tell these states, go find me 10 extra congressional seats, or 15 seats, or 20 seats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This country was founded on a constitutional basis, and that constitution is being trampled by the present administration.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Declaration of Independence was about no kings, about our personal liberties, about free press, about due process, about separation of church and state.

BILL NYE, "THE SCIENCE GUY," SCIENCE EDUCATOR AND ENGINEER: No thrones. No crowns. No kings.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: We're hearing from protesters across the country, as you can hear there, and CNN's Julia Vargas-Jones is in Los Angeles for us, but first I want to go to Shimon Prokupecz. He has this report from New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: For nearly four hours, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Manhattan, marching from Times Square all the way down here to Union Square Park at 14th Street. And we saw people in costumes, trying to keep a movement going like we saw in Portland. So, costumes becoming a theme at this year's protest. Also, really, we -- this was a day in so many ways that was led by women. So, many women turning out here at this protest. I spoke to one woman who's 76 years old, and she talked about the importance of coming out here, of being here, and what she called in trying to save democracy. I spoke to another woman who was wearing a frog costume and asked her why she was wearing that, and she said because of Portland, and she wanted to show that the protesters here are not violent and we're here to send a message of unity.

And one of the things you did see out here today was that unity, people smiling, just happy to be together as they walked through the streets of Manhattan trying to have their voices heard.

Shimon Prokupecz, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This demonstration in downtown Los Angeles feels very much like a celebration if everybody else's celebration was pissed off. But it is very much about Donald Trump. We're seeing so many people doing the same thing. We're seeing exactly this, figures of Donald Trump in various outfits holding a Bible or perhaps being arrested and chained.

But a lot of folks here are saying also that immigration is their number one concern. Of course, Los Angeles, a city that is almost 50 percent Latino or Hispanic, it is a city that has seen also so many immigration enforcement actions over the past few months, and people are very much angry about that.

I spoke to some folks who say that they feel like their community is being targeted by this. I spoke to a Mexican man that explained why he was here today. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For myself, I feel like they are attacking my rights, Mexican. And that's why I'm here, because of people.

JONES: Your people?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My people, yes. So, we are passing through bad times now. So -- and we're just working here. We don't do anything wrong. Not all, some people. But most people, we are working only. That's why I sit here. And they can see we are not doing what they are doing to my people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: And that's just one of the folks that we spoke to. Many other people said that immigration is their main concern. But there are also some other issues being represented here. We're seeing some Palestinian flags. We're seeing folks with signs saying vote yes on Prop 50, the proposition in California that would add, likely add, five Democratic seats in Congress to counter the move in Texas.

It is wide-ranging, of course, but the one combined message, a very clear, streamlined message of no kings. It is very much targeted at Donald Trump. But organizers here say that they hope that everybody that is coming to these demonstrations across the country is staying peaceful. And so, far, that is exactly what they have been very successful at doing. Although we have seen some folks with gas masks and helmets. They're saying they really hope that they don't have to use this in any altercations with police.

Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Now, to talk No Kings Rallies with me, we have Mark Shanahan. He is an associate professor of politics at the University of Surrey. And he joins me now from Oxford. Good morning. Thank you so much for joining us, first of all.

MARK SHANAHAN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF SURREY: Good morning. Good to be here.

ABDELAZIZ: Thank you. Now, I just want to start by the accusation, if you will, from these protesters. They say that Trump is acting like an authoritarian. So, as an academic, is he actually acting in an unconstitutional manner? Or is he just pushing the bounds of executive power? And what do we have to actually curtail him? Isn't that Congress's job or the court's job to set up these guardrails? What can street protests do here?

SHANAHAN: Street protests can raise the issue to a height and raise it around the world. The very fact that you're talking to me in the U.K. this morning. And we're looking on -- in horror and in fascination at what Trump is doing. Your whole system was set up for no tyrants. It was set up with the separation of power so that you couldn't have another George III.

Now, whatever Donald Trump was elected to, it was not to be emperor or king. And what we are seeing is a massive overreach of executive power. So, the attempt to rule by executive order, to sideline and marginalize Congress, to pack the courts with conservative judges that don't interpret the Constitution and look at whether his actions are constitutional, but back him up.

The courts will be very, very important going forward in challenging Trump. And he is not getting his own way with many of his actions. And they are being ruled unlawful by the courts. Congress, we know it's completely paralyzed at the moment. There is a shutdown. It's not strong enough in his favor just to drive through his agenda. But here is somebody who, backed by an alliance of Christian, conservative, libertarian voices, is pushing towards autocracy. The one thing is, America is about we, the people. It's about the rule of law protecting the states.

[04:10:00] We're in a situation now where Trump is misusing law to go after his enemies. And we're seeing, very peacefully, millions of people across all 50 states, not just in the big cities, but in Boise and in Topeka and in Kansas City, coming out in their thousands and thousands to say that this is not right. The big change, of course, will be if elections run smoothly next year and potentially the Republicans lose the House of Representatives, then that will curtail some of Trump's power in that there will be legislative fightback.

ABDELAZIZ: Very interesting. So, you're saying he's pushing authoritarianism, he is misusing power, and that the system, the checks and balances, are currently weak right now. But what he does have, as you pointed out, is a very strong support base around him. I want to play you some sound from some Republican figures who were tearing down these rallies before they even started. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): Hate America Rally.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hate America Rally.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hate America Rally.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hate America Rally.

SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: The farthest left, the hardest core, the most unhinged in the Democratic Party.

SEN. ROGER MARSHALL (R-KS): This will be a Soros paid for protest where his professional protesters show up.

JOHNSON: It's all the pro-Hamas wing and the -- you know, the Antifa people, they're all coming out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: So, when you hear that, is that weakness on the part of these Republican figures that they feel the need to attack these protests right off the gate or is this strength? Is this a show of we're going to crack down? We have President Trump behind us? And for President Trump, of course, his popularity is extremely important to him. Does it rattle him in any way to see these demonstrations?

SHANAHAN: I don't think it will rattle him yet. This is only the second of these protests. It will rattle him more if they ramp up and they happen with greater regularity. There is more cohesion. As your previous report said, there are a lot of different causes out on the streets. They need to find a cohesive focus.

For the Republicans, they had their set attack lines. And always, it's never debate. It's don't even try and defend. It is double down and attack your opponents. That's a very, very Trumpist way of operating. He will never, ever say that he is wrong in any way, shape or form. It's going to be hard to bring your legislature back together at the moment because opinions are so entrenched. As long as Republicans stay spouting the Trumpist line, there will be an incredibly divided country.

The tool that you have is the ballot box. Our concern in the rest of the world is whether there will be free and fair elections next year. And I never thought I would be saying that about the United States.

ABDELAZIZ: Extraordinary, extraordinary words to hear from you. And an extraordinary level of fear, but also as we saw in those rallies, optimism and community on the streets of America as these protests took to the streets yesterday. Thank you so much, Mark, for your help.

Hamas is now denying U.S. claims that the militant group is planning an attack against Palestinians in Gaza. The U.S. State Department had said it received credible reports that Hamas may violate the ceasefire deal that it reached with Israel. Now, the U.S. statement goes on to say, quote, "Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire."

Meanwhile, the body of one of two Israeli hostages released from Gaza on Saturday has been identified as Ronen Engel. That is according to the kibbutz where he was killed on October 7th, more than two years ago. Engle's remains were handed over with a second hostage who has not yet been identified.

A new video is showing bulldozers searching for the bodies of Israeli hostages in Khan Younis. Hamas says it has returned all of the deceased hostages it has access to and says it needs more specialist equipment to locate more.

Joining me now for all of this is Larry Madowo in Nairobi, Kenya. I want to start with this statement from the U.S. State Department which speaks of an imminent threat of a ceasefire violation and it talks about the U.S. stepping in to protect Palestinians against a threat from Hamas. Now, I know many Palestinians will scoff at the possibility that the U.S. would protect them. So, what is actually going on here? What is in this statement and how has Hamas responded so far?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Salma, the U.S. State Department didn't say more except that it has credible reports of an imminent threat against Palestinians and it also gave a warning that if Hamas would continue with this attack, measures would be taken to protect the Palestinian people. It didn't say when or how it would carry out this attack.

[04:15:00]

And Hamas responded almost immediately to say -- rejecting those claims saying that this is repeating Israeli propaganda and to give cover for Israel to continue violating the ceasefire agreement. They say since this -- about over a week ago, since the ceasefire agreement was signed, more than 27 people have been killed. They say they've counted dozens of times that the Israelis have violated that ceasefire agreement even though they claim to be committed to it and it's Hamas that's violating it by not returning the 16 remaining bodies of the hostages that are still believed to be in Gaza. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking on Israeli television, talked about this phase one and what happens for the second phase.

ABDELAZIZ: So, tit-for-tat accusations, a very tenuous truce, but also, we are seeing on the ground that Hamas has been reasserting control and that has received a response from the United States, from Israel and from others. What does Hamas, during this ceasefire, what does it look like for Hamas to be back on the streets? What does that mean for Gaza?

MADOWO: Hamas appears to be reasserting itself and taking advantage of this security vacuum that's been created while these talks are going on and in some cases in very brutal ways. In one video that's widely shared on social media and that was verified by CNN, Hamas gunmen executed eight blindfolded men on the streets of Gaza. That's a chilling message that Hamas is sending here.

But you see what they're trying to do here, which is in the places where the Israelis have withdrawn and where they're taking back control, they're trying to make sure that people know that they're in charge and they will go to every length to maintain order, at least in the way they see it. And unless the International Community speaks out strongly against this, it will keep going on. So, that is one of the ways that in just this past week, people in Gaza have gotten the message, the world has been paying attention. Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: Thank you so much for breaking that down with us, Larry, in Nairobi. Thank you so much. Now, still to come, the U.S. has released two survivors detained after a military strike on a vessel in the Caribbean. But questions remain over the military's use of lethal force.

Plus, the government is, the government shutdown is now at day 19 with no end in sight. We look at where both sides stand after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:20:00]

ABDELAZIZ: Two survivors of a U.S. strike on a vessel in the Caribbean were returned to their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia Saturday. Now, Colombia's interior minister said the person repatriated there arrived with brain trauma and breathing on a ventilator, adding that he will be prosecuted for drug trafficking.

Now, Ecuador said only that the individual in custody was being medically evaluated. The U.S. says it is targeting drug trafficking. In a social media post, President Trump called the survivors quote, "narco terrorists," while claiming their vessel was carrying fentanyl. But so far, the U.S. has provided no actual evidence that this vessel or any of the watercraft involved in the six known military strikes were engaged in drug trafficking. And questions are mounting over whether the tactics the military is using are working.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADM. JAMES STAVRIDIS (RET.), CNN SENIOR MILITARY ANALYST: Instead of blowing it up, why don't we capture it? We have that capability. We know how to do that. Take the crew off and interrogate them and prosecute them and follow the evidence all the way back to Nicolas Maduro.

So, I'll conclude here, I'm surprised the administration is releasing the two people they took off of that. Better would be to hold them, interrogate them and get their further evidence to go after Maduro, not simply release them back to their countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: Now, the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago has issued a security alert for Americans there. Officials say all American government facilities should be avoided throughout the weekend, citing an unspecified threats. The warning comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Trinidad. And Reuters has reported that two men from Trinidad are believed to have been on one of the boats struck by the U.S. military in the Caribbean.

Now, today marks day 19 of the government shutdown. The budget battle grinds on and the two parties seem unable to do anything but blame each other for the mess. CNN's Camilla DeChalus looks at whether there's reason to hope they can get the government working again in the days ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAMILA DECHALUS, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: This government shutdown is on track of becoming the second longest government shutdown to happen in U.S. history. Now, just this past week the Senate really couldn't pass any spending bills that it needed to reopen the government, but we are seeing some small signs that both Republicans and Democrats might be really ready to sit at the table and talk to find a compromise. Now, just the other day the Republican majority leader, John Thune, tweeted that he's open to sitting down with Democrats.

And on the other hand, the House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries really summed up where he stood on the issue. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): We are in day 18 of the Trump Republican shutdown. Republicans have shown zero interest in reopening the government and zero interest in actually extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which is going to result in tens of millions of people experiencing dramatically increased health care premiums, co- pays and deductibles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DECHALUS: Now, lawmakers are set to return to Washington next week where they'll take up another round of voting on the Senate side, but we're not hearing if more votes are going to take place on the House side or not since they have been out of session for more than 20 days. And it's really next week that we're going to see if this willingness to talk will really lead to any movement or action. Camila DeChalus, CNN, Washington, D.C.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Now, the office of Vice President J.D. Vance is rejecting claims that celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps posed a public threat. The event at Camp Pendleton involved fighter jets, helicopters and Navy vessels, as well as live fire from a howitzer. But it drew pushback from Governor Gavin Newsom over the live artillery demonstration. The governor closed a section of Interstate Highway in Southern California for safety reasons. The vice president said the live fire was not dangerous and delivered a message to Marines from the president.

[04:25:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: And of course, Marines, I bring greetings today from our commander in chief, Donald J. Trump. And he wanted me to tell each and every single one of you that he's proud of you, that he loves you. And that despite the Schumer shutdown, he is going to do everything he can to make sure you get paid exactly as you deserve.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: Hamas is pushing back after being accused of planning an attack against Palestinians in Gaza. When we return, where that fragile ceasefire stands entering its second week now. And also, ahead, U.S. President Donald Trump calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine. But why does it ring hollow to people on both sides of the conflict?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ABDELAZIZ: Welcome back to all of you watching in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Salma Abdelaziz and this is CNN Newsroom.

Protest organizers say some 7 million people turned out for No Kings rallies across the United States. On Saturday, Americans held peaceful protests in all 50 states in cities both large and small. They rallied against is the Trump administration's authoritarian agenda, including its crackdowns on immigration and free speech.

In Atlanta, a key city for the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s, protesters followed the historic example of nonviolence. Rafael Romo has this report for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There was a rally at the Atlanta Civic Center earlier where we heard several speakers, including Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock.

[04:30:00] Now, the people attending the rally and participating in the march are marching down Courtland Street here in downtown Atlanta. They're sending the message that the United States hasn't had a king since it was founded in 1776 and they want to keep it that way. But we've also heard people talk about how angry they are that many federal employees have lost their jobs, including the CDC being an institution from the federal government that is based here in Atlanta.

Here with me is Kimberly, one of the organizers who has been monitoring and has been helping in organizing all of the people that are working to make sure that this event is held in a peaceful way. Kimberly, how are things going so far? What can you tell me?

KIMBERLY DIEMERT, ORGANIZER, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR GEORGIA'S 50501 CHAPTER: Everything has been fantastic. It's not only met our expectations and hopes, it has actually exceeded it. Just look around you. When you look at everybody behind me, this is America. It is a framework of everybody coming together collectively, in unison, with one voice and one mission. It's to save our country, save democracy, and let's move forward in the most beneficial way so that everybody, every nation, every nationality, and every socioeconomic group of people are respected and given every right that they deserve and guaranteed by the Constitution.

ROMO: Initially, there was some question as to whether the city of Atlanta was going to allow this march to proceed, but they finally said yes. And they earlier published a statement saying that yes, this was a permitted march, that they are defending the people's right to express themselves, and they are providing police protection to make sure that the street is clear and that people can proceed with safety all the way to the Georgia State Capitol, where this march is going to end.

Rafael Romo, CNN Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Now, Israeli officials have identified the remains of the 11th deceased hostage released from Gaza since the ceasefire took effect. Ronan Engel was killed on October 7th, more than two years ago, in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Engel's remains were handed over Saturday with a second hostage who has not yet been identified. Hamas' delay in returning all of the deceased hostages is a source of growing frustration among Israelis.

Meanwhile, Hamas is now denying U.S. claims that a militant group is planning an attack against Palestinians in Gaza. The U.S. State Department said it received, quote, "credible reports" that Hamas may violate the ceasefire deal it reached with Israel, but Hamas says these accusations are false, quote, "provide cover for Israel to continue its crimes and organized aggression against our people," end quote.

Now, I want to bring in Alon Pinkas. He is the former Israeli counsel general in New York. He joins me now live from Tel Aviv. Good morning, first of all, Alon. Thank you so much for being on with us. ALON PINKAS, FORMER ISRAELI CONSUL GENERAL IN NEW YORK: Good morning, Salma. Always good to be with you on your show.

ABDELAZIZ: I want to start with what the U.S. State Department today is calling, quote, "credible threats" indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas. It seems like a very unusual thing to issue such a public warning before anything has actually even happened. It seems like the U.S. is speaking of itself as almost the protector of the Palestinian people in this statement, which is, I'm sure, something that some will scoff at. What are the inter-diplomatic workings at play here? Why make this so public?

PINKAS: Well, because there is frustration on the U.S. side that the plan, the Trump plan, the 20-point plan, call it what you want, is not really working. I mean, phase one, which was absolutely critical, the hostage release and the ceasefire, worked smoothly for about a week. Those of us who were skeptical, including myself, thought that, you know, as long as Hamas does not disarm, which they have not, and as long as Israel does not fully withdraw from Gaza, which it has not, the likelihood of the ceasefire crumbling because of some local incidents or local skirmishes that can always, as a result of miscalculation, escalate further, the likelihood of that is very high.

Now, the U.S. knows that without these, without the ceasefire being maintained and without a full Israeli withdrawal, the next phases, which are already almost intractable, Salma, and are already extraordinarily ambiguous, perhaps purposely so, but nonetheless, they are ambiguous, they don't have a good chance of being implemented. And by next phases, for the benefit of our viewers, we are referring to the so-called International Stabilization Force, which means, which is a euphemism for an Arab interim force invited by the Palestinian Authority to extend governance in Gaza, in place of Hamas, which will be deposed politically, but first needs to disarm. That doesn't seem likely to happen right now, and there is frustration in the U.S.

[04:35:00]

Now, there is another interworking, diplomatic interworking that you referred to, or that you implied, and that is that when the statement comes from the U.S., it is also directed not at Hamas, that they don't care less what the U.S. says, it's directed at the so-called mediators, the other mediators, primarily Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, to say, OK, we are looking at this, we are seeing things we don't like, get your act together and apply the necessary pressure on Hamas, otherwise all hell may break loose and this ceasefire, I'm sorry, will dissolve.

ABDELAZIZ: That's a very interesting breakdown. So, you're describing frustration on the part of the Americans, that they're trying to push this quite publicly with the mediators, but it seems like we're also seeing frustration on the part of Israel, because the Rafah border is now closed until further notice, although we'd been hearing all week that it was potentially going to open. This is a huge blow, of course, for the humanitarian crisis, for those trying to get help on the ground. So, what's going on here? Why are we hearing now that it's indefinitely going to be closed? PINKAS: So, for the sake of our conversation, Salma, let me be a heretic here and provide you with a counterintuitive idea. Israel is not frustrated at all. Mr. Netanyahu did not want this agreement. He was bullied and cornered into it, rightly so, by the way, but that's a political opinion, by President Trump. Had it not been for President Trump pushing him to end the war, the war would not have ended. The hostages would not be back and a ceasefire would not be in place, as it is, although it is, you know, eroding.

Mr. Netanyahu would like nothing more than to point a figure at Hamas and say, see, I told you so, that we can't cut any deals with them. And he is not ruling out a resumption of the war in some form, in some intensity, some scope in the next few weeks, assuming that this situation that you and I are talking about is not going to improve, but rather further deteriorate. So, I'm not sure there's actual frustration.

As for the humanitarian aid, Israel didn't do its part in terms of the humanitarian aid for the better part of the last two years. So, I doubt that this hiatus or this impediment is causing anyone any kind of frustration in Israel, in the Israeli government, that is.

ABDELAZIZ: So, in your mind, potentially, Prime Minister Netanyahu, yet again, finding a way to drag his feet on the peace deal, on moving negotiations forward. We're seeing, of course, frustration from the U.S., as you said. We're also hearing that it is time for President Trump to get involved again, to push this forward. Do you see that happening, or is he done now that the living hostages are home and the victory parade has ended?

PINKAS: I keep on saying on CNN, forget other places, on CNN, I keep on saying from day one, but the key factor is Trump's ongoing engagement, that he remained committed, that he put his -- you know, put it -- where his mouth is -- put his word where his mouth is.

And my point here is that based on his pattern of behavior, based on his character, based on precedent, Ukraine, to be exact, his level of attention, his attention span, which is a better term, and his level of engagement are almost certain to go down. You know, he got all the praise, he was showered with compliments, he sat on his laurels, he came to Israel, delivered a speech, went to Shalom Asher for that surface of a summit. And guess what? Nothing happens.

So, based on what we know on how he behaves, his pattern of behavior, his modus operandi, he's now more likely to say, excuse the expression, Salma, the hell with both sides, plague on both your houses. I gave it my best shot, which would be true to an extent. And if they don't want this to happen, if they don't want to make this happen, so be it. I'm out. I have other things on my plate right now. And so, that is the key factor. It was the key factor on day one, and it remains the key factor.

Now, if the war resumes, you know, full-blown, full-fledged war, again, as we have seen in the last two years, minus, of course, the hostages issue, then Trump can always look back and rely on what he said before, well, I told Hamas, if they don't play along, hell is going to break loose, and here we have it. That's not helping anyone. So, that -- his involvement, his engagement remains the most critical factor here.

[04:40:00]

ABDELAZIZ: Thank you so much, Alon Pinkas, for that health check, that status update on the Gaza ceasefire now entering its second week.

Now, the U.S. president's latest call to stop the fighting in Ukraine appears to be falling on deaf ears in Moscow. Ukraine says Russia pummeled it with more than 260 guided aerial bombs on Friday, a new record, while a Russian blogger claims there is fighting now in the center of Kopansk, a city that's been under Russian siege for more than a year. CNN cannot confirm that, but Ukraine said this week that dozens of Russian troops infiltrated the city. As you are about to see, ordinary Russians and Ukrainians don't have much faith that peace is coming.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): U.S. President Donald Trump, once again, taking on the role of mediator in chief, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, and in the coming weeks, set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Hungary to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I think we have a good chance. I think President Zelenskyy wants it done, and I think President Putin wants it done. Now, all they have to do is get along a little bit.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): But even if the U.S. president believes there is momentum for a potential peace deal in Ukraine, especially after the ceasefire in Gaza, some people back in Kyiv are skeptical that more talk, even at such high levels, will make a difference after more than three and a half years of war.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): They say one thing and do another, but we, the people of Ukraine, are suffering under the shelling. There is no electricity or water. This is our situation. This is the war.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): Trump has called for both Ukraine and Russia to stop the fighting at their current battle lines. But many Ukrainians say they don't trust Russia to keep its word.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Even if we stop at the current borders, Russia will mass its forces during the ceasefire and then attack again with greater numbers.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): There were mixed feelings in Moscow, too, about what could be achieved at another meeting between Trump and Putin after there were no breakthroughs at a previous summit in August in Alaska.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I think it's already quite obvious that this is some kind of mundane news. In my opinion, it's just another meeting, another phone call. So, I don't know. I'm not expecting anything.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): Still, the prospect of peace is something both people in Moscow and Kyiv say they hope for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): God willing, everything will end peacefully. And perhaps even the special military operation will come to its logical conclusion.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): A peace that U.S. President Donald Trump would very much like to broker, but one that people on both sides of the war are growing wary of waiting for.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ (on camera): Still ahead, Bolivians will elect a new president in the coming hours. The stakes are high for the struggling country. That story and more when we come back.

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[04:45:00]

ABDELAZIZ: In a short while, Pope Leo is set to elevate seven people to the sainthood in a ceremony in St. Peter's Square. They include three women and four men, among them missionaries, martyrs, lay people, and religious figures. Geographically, they were from as far afield as Papua New Guinea, Venezuela, and Turkey. And one was once part of a satanic cult who then converted in a very dramatic fashion and began spreading the word of the church throughout Italy.

Voters in Bolivia will be going to the polls in the coming hours for a presidential election runoff. Now, no party secured an outright victory in the first round of voting, which was in August. It comes as underlying economic difficulties are creating huge uncertainty in the country. CNN's Fernando del Rincon reports from La Paz.

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FERNANDO DEL RINCON, CNN EN ESPANOL ANCHOR: Behind me, the presidential palace here in La Paz, Bolivia. We are just hours away from the presidential election.

And one will think that the main topic of the conversation will be around that, the election. It's been 20 years of the leftist party mass movimiento al socialismo, and now they have no chance. They are not in the ballots. But that's not the main topic right now. Believe it or not, the main topic is a nationwide shortage of fuel. Yes, there's people all over the country, 11, 12, 14 hours just to be able to get some gas.

Now, when you talk about diesel, that's another story and it gets more complicated because people have to wait days, one, two or three days to get this important and needed fuel. The situation has been impacting the economy in so many different ways. Economic wise, Bolivia is not in a good position, it actually has two digits, inflation and they're not growing at all. JOSE JORGE ACOSTA, LA PAZ RESIDENT: It's really hard for us to like fight a lot of hours, a lot of insecurity, like waiting for this line, a lot of like not sleeping sometimes just for like a little gas. It's really desperate and we don't know what to do because our government doesn't know what to do.

DEL RINCON: So, the lack of fuel is one of the main topics, but it's not the only one. The lack of dollars is another main topic. People are just waiting to find a way to solve it. Now, we have to think about the future and the two candidates that are in the position of fixing this or not, Jorge Tuto Quiroga and Rodrigo Paz. These two candidates are open to start making deals with the U.S. That's what they say.

But we've got to think about this. There are already deals in terms of lithium with China and Russia. Is the U.S. going to be open to start working with Bolivia in a market that is already compromised? These two candidates are going to be able to make things different and to solve a problem like this one, bringing the currencies back, the economy up and fix the lack of fuel? We have to wait and see.

Fernando del Rincon, La Paz, Bolivia, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Up ahead, a moment of quiet in the city that never sleeps will take you inside the art installation turning Grand Central into a love letter to New Yorkers.

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[04:50:00]

ABDELAZIZ: Amid the hustle and bustle of Grand Central Station, an exhibit titled Dear New York is inviting people to pause. The exhibit comes from the creator of the viral social media account Humans of New York, and it turns the stories of everyday New Yorkers into an immersive experience. CNN's Polo Sandoval has more for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's one of the busiest places in New York City, but an art exhibit in Grand Central Terminal is causing some commuters to slow their pace.

BRANDON STANTON, "DEAR NEW YORK" AND "HUMANS OF NEW YORK" CREATOR: Dear New York is an artistic takeover of Grand Central Station.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): Ads usually run on huge projection screens in the fast track transit hub, but for just two weeks, those have been replaced by portraits and stories of everyday New Yorkers. It's an immersive experience called Dear New York.

It was created by Brandon Stanton, the bestselling author and photographer who created the Humans of New York series, chronicling the lives of the city's residents. And the new exhibit, according to Stanton, is a love letter to the people that have inspired his work.

STANTON: It started with the book, "Dear New York," which was my attempt to use everything that I've learned about storytelling and photography over the past 15 years to really kind of capture this city. And then after it was finished, I started to look around at how can I bring this into the physical world?

SANDOVAL (voice-over): Stanton's images fill 150 digital screens in the terminal, with live piano performances from Juilliard School students and alumni, all designed to encourage everyone to pause and reflect on the people who they pass every day, but they may not really see.

[04:55:00]

STANTON: The whole thing about New York is that the entire world is here. Every type of person, every ethnicity, every belief, every viewpoint, and everyone's packed together in this tiny place. And I actually think there's something kind of spiritual about that, because across the world, there are wars being fought over smaller differences that can be found on a seven-rush hour train.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): Sunday is the last day to see the exhibit before it closes. Stanton says after photographing tens of thousands of people, he finds hope in those chance encounters with strangers sharing their stories and show how different and similar we really are.

STANTON: 750,000 New Yorkers pass through here every day. So, there's already this beautiful crush and mix of like the entire world coming together. So, what better place to stage the celebration of humanity than here?

SANDOVAL: Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Thousands of people brought the undead to life in Mexico City this weekend. The annual zombie walk took over downtown streets with ghouls of all ages showing off ghastly makeup and elaborate costumes. And it is all for a good cause. Organizers say participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for a local food bank. The spooky event originated in Sacramento, California back in 2001, but it has since spread to major cities worldwide, from New York to Singapore, a frightfully fun way to get a head start on the Halloween festivities.

Now, that wraps this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm Salma Abdelaziz. I'll be back with more news in just a moment.

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