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High-Rise In Gaza Hit By Israeli Air Strike; 475 Detained In Massive Immigration Raid At Georgia Hyundai Plant; Florida Will Move To End All Vaccine Mandates In The State; Job Growth Stalls As United States Economy Adds Just 22K Jobs In August; Chicago Teachers Give Students Flyers Listing Their Rights. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired September 06, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:00:46]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to your weekend. It is Saturday, September 6th. I'm Victor Blackwell.

Here is what's new this morning. The Israeli military dropped leaflets calling on Palestinians to move out of Gaza City, where plans to expand its operations, plus, we have new details on what President Trump says are deep negotiations to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The president of South Korea is now responding to that massive immigration raid at the Hyundai plant in Georgia. Hundreds of those arrested were Korean nationals. The president says that he's willing to travel to the U.S. if necessary to sort this out.

Also, tensions are rising between the U.S. and Venezuela. President Trump says the U.S. will shoot down any Venezuelan plane that comes too close to U.S. warships.

Democrats and Republicans took RFK Jr. to task in a fiery hearing on Capitol Hill. A former CDC official who resigned in protest of RFK's policy changes is here to react,

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And we have showers and thunderstorms across more than half a dozen southeastern states, but this is all part of the same cold front that is expected to bring severe storms to the northeast and mid-Atlantic later today. We'll take a look at that coming up.

BLACKWELL: New this morning. In the conflict between Israel and Hamas, President Trump said that some of the hostages may have recently died in Gaza. He did not reveal the source of that information, but flares could be seen over Gaza from southern Israel earlier this morning, just as Israel intensifies its planned takeover of Gaza City.

Friday, the IDF struck a 14-story building in Gaza, brought it down. Look at this video. Israel claims Hamas was using that building, an allegation that Hamas denies. CNN's Paula Hancocks joins me now from Abu Dhabi. Paula, before we get to all of that, we just heard of new strikes on a building in Gaza City. What do you know?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Victor, we know that this was called the Al-Sousi Tower in Gaza City, a 15-storey building. We have image -- images of the building being struck and being destroyed in a very densely populated area.

Now, we understand that the Israeli military gave evacuation orders to those residents and people within the building itself, and then, about an hour later is when that building came down. We do not know if everybody managed to get out. We don't know if there have been casualties. It certainly dramatic images of some of these high-rise buildings now being targeted by the Israeli military in Gaza City.

Now, the IDF says that they targeted this specific building because there was Hamas infrastructure within it, saying that they had intelligence gathering operations within this building as well.

And it comes after there have been leaflets dropped on Gaza City telling people to move south, telling people to move out of Gaza City, to go to areas Mawasi, which it calls a humanitarian zone, which we know has been targeted by the Israeli military in the past.

Khan Yunis, just to the east of that area, in the south of the Gaza Strip, again, which has been targeted a number of times. So, there is a great deal of fear and confusion among civilians in Gaza City as they make the decision whether they should move once again, to an area that they know is still unsafe.

Now, also, we did hear, as you mentioned, from the U.S. President Donald Trump, and he has been casting doubt on how many of the hostages still being held by Hamas and other groups in Gaza are still alive.

Let's listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But you have many dead people that are coming out as part of the deal. It's 20 people, but I think of the 20, there could be some that have recently died, is what I'm hearing. I hope that's wrong, but you have over 30 bodies in this negotiation. Can you believe? I mean, we negotiate for people that are living here. We know that at least 30 people are dead, and we're negotiating to get them out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[07:05:00]

HANCOCKS: Now, this will cause great concern among those hostage families who are still waiting for the return of their loved ones. The U.S. president also pointing out that he believes there shouldn't be an incremental deal, which is the deal that his U.S. Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff has on the table at this point.

He believes it should be all or nothing, something the Israeli prime minister agrees with at this point, which is why those cease fire hostage talks have completely stalled. Back to you.

BLACKWELL: Paula Hancocks, thank you.

Now, to the latest on the massive immigration raid at the Hyundai mega plant in Southeast Georgia. The president of South Korea has responded now to the raid that detained 475 people, most of them Korean nationals.

The South Korean president told Korean officials in the U.S. to take all out necessary measures to support Korean nationals. And the South Korean foreign minister added that he will personally travel to Washington, D.C. to resolve the matter, if necessary.

The Department of Homeland Security conducted its largest immigration raid, Thursday at the Hyundai mega plant. Hyundai says it does not believe that any of those detained were its direct employees.

We're covering this with the latest from Gustavo Valdes in Ellabell, Georgia, and CNN's Mike Valerio in Seoul. Gustavo. Let's start with you and what you've learned about the raid.

GUSTAVO VALDES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, Victor. Good morning. Last night, Hyundai issued another statement saying that they are reviewing their hiring practices, not only the direct hires, but also of those contractors who do work for this South Korean company.

They also have appointed the head of US manufacturer -- manufacturing to supervise the work here in Georgia. The growing Asian community in coastal Georgia told us yesterday that they have noticed a change in the food traffic in the stores in the communities that around here as a result of what happened on Thursday. When authorities said that this was not a random activity, they say they knew what they were looking for.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN SCHRANK, SPECIAL AGENT, HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATION: This was not immigration operation where agents went into the premises, rounded up folks and put them on busses. This has been a multi-month criminal investigation where we have developed evidence, conducted interviews, gathered documents, and presented that evidence to the Court in order to obtain a judicial search warrant.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALDES: Now, activists we have spoken with, say that they knew that there were issues with migrant workers in the complex here in Georgia, but they also not happy with the way U.S. immigration and other agencies came about this enforcement.

And Victor, I think, it's also worth noting that this is not the first time a Korean battery maker in the state of Georgia gets some problems because of foreign labor. A few years ago, another plant also was cited because they were bringing workers from Korea under visas that wouldn't allow them to work, but they were performing some work, and this is apparently what has happened here, or at least it's that these workers came here legally, but not with the right be visas to be able to work in the United States.

BLACKWELL: Important context for us there. Gustavo, thank you.

Let's go now to seen as Mike Valerio in Seoul.

Mike, strong statements from South Korea's president short time ago. What's the reaction like there?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think, Victor, the people are astonished. That's the best way to put it.

You know, whenever we hear in this corner of the world about ICE raids and things that are happening back home in the United States, people in Seoul and throughout the Korean Peninsula see it as you know, something that's happening in America doesn't affect them.

But when we got word that this was happening, Victor, you know, my people throughout the neighborhood here and our bureau and around our newsroom, thought, OK, maybe one, two, couple of dozen South Koreans who might be part of the -- to have more than 300 South Korean nationals arrested in what has turned out to be the biggest operation of its kind in the second term of the Trump administration, it has left people here floored. It is on the news, every single channel, every single hour throughout South Korea.

So, you are right, quite a strong statement with the president of South Korea. And you think the equivalent of Marco Rubio, the foreign minister of South Korea, getting involved in this, showing that this is not just confined to, you know, that area of Georgia or the walls of this factory, but is extending beyond the boundaries of the United States to a key American ally.

[07:10:07]

And when you think about just over 10 days ago, Victor, remember the shots from the Oval Office in the White House, where you see the president of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, heralding the new investment that could be happening between South Korea and the United States. Him saying over and over, we're going to make American ship building great again. We're going to do this and that in terms of new investment to rejuvenate American manufacturing.

This plant that's in the background of Gustavo's live shot, and we are all looking at, that is certainly part of this narrative. So, you have business leaders in South Korea wondering what is going to happen next.

So, as we wrap up here, what people in Seoul and this part of the world are acutely looking for as we get started with the weekend in the United States is, what, if any, charges are these 300 plus South Korean nationals going to be facing? According to the special agent in charge from Homeland Security, who was briefing reporters that you saw in that clip a couple seconds ago, he said, no charges as of yet have been filed. So, that could bring some clarity as to, you know, what exact infractions are they looking at here, and when, frankly, will most, or all of these South Korean citizens be released?

I think that when we answer those two questions, that will dictate the response from this powerhouse American ally, capital in East Asia.

But it has floored people, Victor, to be hearing this news halfway around the world.

BLACKWELL: Yes, you point out some really important socio -- some economic and geopolitical consequences of this raid.

Mike Valerio for us in Seoul. Thanks so much.

Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, he says that he will not back down despite threats from President Trump. The Trump administration has labeled Maduro a Narco-terrorist, linked him to cartels and doubled the bounty for his arrest to $50 million.

In Washington, there are questions over the legal basis for Tuesday's strike on an alleged drug boat leaving Venezuela, and whether more action could follow. The White House says all options are on the table.

CNN contributor Stefano Pozzebon, he joins me now live from Venezuela. So, what's the mood in the streets after this back and forth, and of course, the attack on that boat?

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN JOURNALIST: I think, Victor, it's fair to say that the mood here is still very quiet. Venezuelans are quite used to this level of confrontation, especially with the United States, since at least the early 2000. And so, and many at the same time don't even want to entertain the hopes of a change in government after seeing so many chances of toppling Maduro gone wasted in the last few years.

What I'm really surprised at is Maduros himself, who, yes, on one side, is not backing down, just like he said. But at the same time, especially yesterday, I thought he tried to bring in a more constructive note, appealing directly to Donald Trump and telling him directly that he thinks he is receiving bad intelligence and that Venezuela has nothing to do with Narco-trafficking, and telling him not to go stronger with a stronger and direct intervention.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICOLAS MADURO, PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA (through translator): The government of the United States should abandon its plan of violent regime change in Venezuela and in all of Latin America and the Caribbean, and respect sovereignty, the right to peace, to independence. What they are saying about Venezuela is not true. It's not true. It is a dead end they are getting themselves into. Venezuela has always been willing to talk, but just as we are willing to talk, we demand respect for our country, for our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POZZEBON: Venezuela is always willing to talk, Maduro is a former workers union leader who is used to lengthen negotiations, and has been in that place for the last 12 years, being the president of Venezuela for the last 12 years, Victor.

So, he is -- he is a politician who is able to keep the can down the road and stay in place despite the pressure. At the same time, the pressure we are seeing right now against the Venezuelan government with at least seven warships and one nuclear powered submarine stationed in the Caribbean water to allegedly stem the flows of drug trafficking, but also to put pressure, political pressure on the Maduro's government. Well, it's something that we have not seen before.

I think, we've been on this story for several years now, and we've always talked about fiery rhetoric, about inflammatory discourses. Well, right now, we are beyond the point of the rhetoric. We are beyond the point of the discourse. The United States are taking decisive actions against the -- against the Nicolas Maduro's government.

[07:15:00]

They have killed 11 Venezuelans, allegedly drug traffickers, who were taking drugs into the Caribbean. And well, we'll see, Victor, what comes after next, because the escalation is not going to back down anytime soon.

BLACKWELL: Yes, some action behind those words.

Stefano Pozzebon In Venezuela, thank you.

This weekend, more than 60 million people are in the path of severe storms. CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar is with us now. What are you watching?

CHINCHAR: Yes, we are watching. Again, we talk about severe storms a lot in the spring, but what a lot of people don't realize is there is a second season, and that usually comes in the fall, because you get that clash of the cold and the warm air together. We have a very potent cold front. It's going to be making its weight across the country for much of the day today, and you can see it right through here, and it's impacting a lot of folks.

Right now, most of the strong thunderstorms are located across the southeastern tier of the U.S. Again, you can see lots of lightning and thunder out there right now here on the radar.

But this afternoon, it's going to transition. It's really going to be focused over much of the northeast and even into the mid-Atlantic, especially where the green and yellow shaded areas are here. The main concerns will be damaging wind and hail, but we can't rule out the potential for an isolated tornado.

The bulk of this activity is really going to ramp up this afternoon, once you get the heating of the day and continue well into the evening, especially right here along the coastline. So, you're talking cities like Boston and New York, really, that key timeline will be after dinner and through the evening hours.

But that cold front is not just bringing storms. It's also going to usher in some pretty cool temperatures. You can see right here. This is where the front is, right where you see that in between line of the orange and the blue color, and all of that cold air is going to seep in. And for a lot of these places, it's going to sit tight for several days at a time.

Let's take a look at this. Boston, going from a high of 84 today into the mid-60s. Tomorrow, several other areas looking at a similar 15 to 20-degree drop in just 24 hours.

BLACKWELL: Boot season.

CHINCHAR: Yes, it is.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

CHINCHAR: Yes, it is.

BLACKWELL: Allison, thank you.

All right. Still ahead. It's one of the most commonly used medicines in the world, but a new HHS report may tie Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism. We'll ask a former CDC official about the science behind a controversial claim.

Plus, teachers in Chicago are educating the public ahead of increased immigration raids and a possible deployment of National Guard troops.

And the NFL kicked off its international season in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the San Diego Chargers, we have the highlights in sports.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:22:11]

BLACKWELL: President Trump and his aides are praising Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on his combative testimony this week. Republican and Democrats, both sparred with Kennedy over ongoing chaos in the department and messaging on vaccines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TINA SMITH (D-MN): Let me ask you, when were you lying, sir? When you told this committee that you were not anti Vax or when you told Americans that there is no safe and effective vaccine?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Both things are true.

SMITH: Oh, so, more denial, more back and forth.

SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): Do you agree with me that the president -- that the president deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed?

KENNEDY: Yes, absolutely, Senator --

(CROSSTALK)

CASSIDY: So, let me ask you, so, let me ask you.

But just told Senator Bennet that the covid vaccine killed more people than covid.

KENNEDY: Wait, I did not say that.

CASSIDY: That was a statement --

I would say, effectively, we're denying people vaccine. I --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator Cantwell.

KENNEDY: I hate it wrong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Now, that testimony left a lot of health officials stunned, including Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. He resigned last week from his job as the director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Dr Daskalakis joins me now. Thank you for joining me this morning. Let me play for you the reaction and the vote of confidence from President Trump after that testimony.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Well, I didn't get to watch the hearings today, but he is a very good person. He is -- and he means very well, and he's got some little different ideas. I guarantee a lot of the people at this table, like RFK Jr. and I do, but he is -- he's got a different take, and we want to listen to all of those takes. But I heard he did very well today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Now, the president says he's got a little different take, but he means, well. What would you tell the president about the Secretary's leadership?

DR. DEMETRE DASKALAKIS, FORMER OFFICIAL, CENTERS OF DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: I mean, I think that his record stands for itself. And I -- you know, the you know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. So, I think that maybe he has the intent to do something good, but it sure seems as if the strategy that he is using is one that's going to compromise the health of Americans.

BLACKWELL: Let me ask you also about what the Wall Street Journal reporting is that HHS will soon release this report that connects the use of Tylenol during pregnancy to autism. What's your reaction to that pending report?

DASKALAKIS: First, I'll start as a public health professional. I really wish HHS would stop doing public health via sound bite or through leaks. I think if they have something to share, they should share it. So, the very first reaction is, you know, they're going to make an assertion, but what data are they going to show to back it up?

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, they have been very clear in a recent statement that, you know, Tylenol is safe to take during pregnancy.

[07:25:06]

There is meta analyzes that demonstrate there may be an association but no causal link. So, it's like I have matches in my pocket and I have lung cancer. The matches cause the cancer? No, it was the smoking that caused the cancer.

So, I don't know what the report is going to say, because everything is being done through leaks and through sound bites, I think once the report comes out, it needs to be reviewed by peers. It needs to be gold standard science. It needs to be something that's reproducible. So, he's going to say gold standard, but show me the money. Where is the gold standard science. If it's not really backed by good evidence that is transparent and available. So, we'll see what happens.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: I just -- I wonder, what should families -- what should pregnant women do, considering what we've heard from the Secretary in the past, these debunk theories about vaccinations causing autism, and some of the claims of, you know, diabetes in China that are just are not credible. How should they accept this report?

DASKALAKIS: Well, so, first, I want to say that leak -- like this leak or sound bite public health is designed to distract from the fact that Secretary Kennedy is trying to dismantle vaccines and take them away from people. So, I'll start by that.

Bottom line is that anyone who's pregnant, they really need to be engaged in prenatal care. Talk to your OB-GYN. Like I said, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has already put out a statement saying that Tylenol is something that could be used during pregnancy and that it's safe when it's used in a responsible way. So, talk to your doctor.

Secretary Kennedy said not to trust him for medical advice. Don't trust him for medical advice. When the data comes out or when the statement comes out about this, when whatever this report is, the next question is, look at the references, look at the data, talk to your OB-GYN.

You know, I've seen the things that are coming out of HHS, where an assertion is made and then the data is not there, or, even better, the data is mischaracterized. So, you know, this is the time for gold standard science. People need to review the data.

BLACKWELL: On immunizations, Florida, the surgeon general, I'm sure you know, announced that Florida is going to end its vaccine mandate, including for children who want to attend public schools. The president came out with his strongest endorsement yet of some vaccinations.

Let's watch that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Look, you have vaccines that work. They just pure and simple work. They are not controversial at all. And I think those vaccines should be used, otherwise some people are going to catch it, and they endanger other people. And when you don't have controversy at all, I think people should take it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: So, what do you make of what you heard there? And it's interesting, the president said, when you don't have controversy at all, people should take it. The endorsement and the growing skepticism of vaccines among some.

DASKALAKIS: Yes. I think that, that the way to address controversy is to talk to your doctor, right? So, that's number one. So, I mean, controversy is about this sound bite -- sound bite public health that keeps happening. And so, I think, you know, that your doctor, your clinician, your pharmacist, they are going to be able to guide you about which vaccines are right for you and your family.

So, I mean, I hear that, and I'm really inspired that the pregnant -- that the president is really protecting his legacy as being a really huge champion for vaccines.

Operation Warp Speed was, frankly, a public health miracle, and so, I hear that, and it just doesn't jive with what his secretary is saying. And so, and really, what's happening in Florida. With that said, nothing is happening in Florida. An announcement was made by the -- by their surgeon general. Now, more regulatory and legislative work has to happen before anything occurs.

And so, you know, I can't speak to Florida's thought process, but I can speak to the outcome that if less -- if less vaccines are available, or more children don't get vaccinated, the more likely we're going to have outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases.

States make decisions based on their context, I can't Monday morning quarterback that, but I definitely can tell you the outcome is going to be more disease, death, and disability.

BLACKWELL: Dr Daskalakis, let me ask you something. Your response is something that Senator Rand Paul said about your fitness for the role from which you resign.

(CROSSTALK)

DASKALAKIS: Sure.

BLACKWELL: I'm sure you heard it, but I don't know if you've been asked about it. He said, while criticizing your support for vaccinating infants against hepatitis B. "One of the guys that is the biggest proponent of doing all this is the guy who describes the risky behavior that he and his lifestyle involve. A guy that is so far, out of the mainstream, I think most people in America would discount his opinion because of the things he said in the past. He does not represent the mainstream of anything in America. He should have never had a position in government."

[07:30:02]

He went on, but I'll stop there. What do you say to Senator Paul?

DASKALAKIS: Yes, I mean, I don't care what the senator says about my personal life. My record of public service, ending outbreaks and protecting the public health stands for itself. You know, he doesn't know me, he doesn't know my husband, and he doesn't know my family, so, I'm not sure why he feels willing to comment on my personal life.

But what he does know, what he does have adequate evidence to conclude, is that Secretary Kennedy is hazardous to the health of American children and other vulnerable people. So, I mean, I think that really, he should take that up, rather than being a bigoted bully toward me or others.

I mean, I think he's a doctor, right? Doctors are not supposed to do that.

BLACKWELL: Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, thank you so much.

DASKALAKIS: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: And next hour, in "FIRST OF ALL", I'll be speaking with the president's former surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams.

All right. Still to come, the August jobs report fell far short of expectations. What the report could mean for people looking for a job?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:35:34]

BLACKWELL: The latest jobs report is fueling concerns about the economy. Yesterday, the BLS reported that 22,000 jobs were added last month, far short of the more than 70,000 jobs some economists expected. The unemployment rate also ticked up higher to 4.3 percent, according to BLS.

CNN business correspondent Vanessa Yurkevich breaks down all the numbers,

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Victor.

No hire, no fire. That's really the business mantra these days. Businesses are paralyzed as they are waiting to see just where this economy is going, and now you're seeing that in the data.

In August, the jobs market stalled. Just 22,000 jobs added. The unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent. That's the highest level in four years. And for months now, there have been warning signs that the jobs market is weakening, and now, these numbers are starting to show it.

There were jobs added in five sectors, like health care, social services, leisure, and hospitality, but there were declines in places like the federal government, where the DOGE cuts are showing up even more significantly, and then declines in wholesale trade, construction, and manufacturing.

Now, the White House says this lackluster report will actually turn out to be better than it looks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEVIN HASSETT, DIRECTOR, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL: It's a little bit of a disappointing job number, but I pretty much expect it's going to revise up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YURKEVICH: Speaking of revisions, President Donald Trump fired the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which puts out this report after several months of job numbers turned out to be worse.

This month's report paints a clearer picture of prior months. July's jobs numbers were actually revised up by 6,000. But in June, the economy lost 13,000 jobs, breaking a historic five-year period of jobs growth.

And if you are out there looking for a job right now, there are fewer to choose from, and Victor, it is also taking folks a lot longer to land to that job. Victor?

BLACKWELL: All right. Vanessa, thank you.

Still to come, Chicago schools are bracing for the possibility and more federal agents could be coming to the city. How educators are reminding families of their rights?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:42:14] BLACKWELL: Chicago government officials are criticizing the Trump administration's plans for a potential surge of federal troops. But they are not the only ones. The community, including Chicago's teachers' union, they are also preparing.

The organization started handing out "Defend Your Rights" flyers this weekend to remind parents and students of their legal rights. Flyer in English and in Spanish, tells families they have the right to remain silent. They don't have to consent to be searched, and they don't have to share their birthplace or citizenship status.

Stacey Davis Gates is president of the Chicago Teachers Union, and she joins me now to discuss. Good morning to you.

Preparing for what is coming. Is it clear what you are preparing for?

STACEY DAVIS GATES, PRESIDENT, CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION: Good morning. No, it isn't clear what we are preparing for. It is clear that we are under the threat of National Guard occupation and increased surveillance from any number of the federal Alphabet Boys. And what we need to do here in Chicago is make sure that young people we serve and the families that they come from, the communities that they are anchored in, have the support and the knowledge of how to navigate such and destabilize, and chaotic situation.

BLACKWELL: So, you're giving these families the information on how to protect themselves. Day one of this administration, the Department of Homeland Security revoked the ICE protection for sensitive locations, places of worship, schools as well.

If there is a deployment to a school. Now, we haven't seen this, but we also haven't seen a deployment the way that it's potentially coming to Chicago.

If there's a deployment to a school or a checkpoint near a school, which is more common, is there protocol for teachers for these schools on what to do if they have students in those classrooms?

DAVIS GATES: Absolutely. Back in 2019, and again in 2025, we Trump- proofed our contract. We created sanctuary and constitutional protections within our contract to create an implementation and a training for every member of the school community to understand how they engage with this type of encroachment on our civil liberties.

And so, what we've seen since then is an increased awareness by all stakeholders in the school community. Our ability to be able to provide instruction in our school communities is predicated on our young people being inside of our school communities. This type of intimidation depresses the attendance rate. It makes families think twice.

[07:45:01]

And here in Chicago, we serve both black and Latina and immigrant and working-class students. And we know that our black students travel up to an hour to school because of school closings in the city. That means that these children need to know their constitutional rights, and their families need to be in a position to reinforce them.

Teachers teach values, they teach the Constitution.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: Yes.

DAVIS GATES: They teach social studies. And so, what we're doing is putting those teachings in action.

BLACKWELL: Your statement this week called immigration and crime false pretext to intimidate or occupy black and brown neighborhoods. So, if this likely deployment is not about immigration and it's not about crime, what do you believe it is about?

DAVIS GATES: Well, we've seen a pattern of this. President being very forceful in his occupation of cities that are run by black mayors. In cities that, quite frankly, are a perfect contrast to his leadership. Mayor Johnson in the city is reopening school libraries. He is reopening mental health care clinics.

He's given black women who take care of children raises. This is a reconstruction in Chicago. We would like federal intervention in the form of fully funded public schools. We would like federal intervention in the form of making sure that our unhoused population are in homes.

So, the type of intervention that's happening now runs counter to the types of interventions that are working in Chicago. Our young people have jobs in Chicago. We are working in community.

BLACKWELL: Stacey Davis Gates, thank you so much.

Still to come. Sabalenka, Aryna Sabalenka looks for her second straight U.S. Open title today.

Andy Scholes has a preview in sports. And next week, CNN is shining a light on innovators who have found a creative way to solve problems in their communities. We call them our "CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Join us for "CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE".

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: When was the first time you went to Africa?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As CNN journalists spotlight eight trailblazers creating a better tomorrow.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My champion gives hope.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Love it, man. Thank you so much. I think I'm crazy enough to think that change can happen. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Create a community where young people could be their best self. Do you feel that energy?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Experience the very best of humanity, as these champions challenge today's uncertainties, making breakthroughs across communities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are literally changing the way that drug development research is done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Q what motivates them?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I believe in doing work that's greater than me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone should have access to equitable maternal health care. It's like a workout.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And making the school busses safer, reliable, and efficient.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. I'm Bill.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And how their actions are making a positive impact.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am fighting every day for people with mental health disorders.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: CNN journalists introduce you to their champions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It means a lot to all of us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE" next Saturday at 10:00 on CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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[07:52:37]

BLACKWELL: A wild win for the L.A. Chargers over the Chiefs in Brazil. CNN's Andy Scholes joins us now. Tell us about it.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, good morning, Victor. So, this is the second straight season. We had some Friday night football in Brazil in week one, and this time around, it was Justin Herbert out dueling Patrick Mahomes.

There was a wild sequence at the end of the first half. The Chiefs had no time out. They don't get out of bounds going forward, so, the clock didn't stop. But they run the fire drill to perfection. Harrison Butker sprints on the field and then nails a 59-yard field goal. It was just incredible. Chiefs were down 13 to six at the half, it ended up trailing the entire time thanks to an awesome game from Herbert. He threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns. Chargers we will went 27-21 for their first win over the Chiefs since 2021.

All right. meanwhile, here in New York, we are set for the awesome finals on at the U.S. Open for both the men and the women. It's going to be one versus two. For the men, is Carlos Alcaraz, is going to face Yannik Sinner. Alcaraz easily beating Novak Djokovic yesterday in straight sets, the five-time Grand Slam champion, he has not lost a set at this U.S. Open. Alcaraz is the first man to get to the final doing that since Federer back in 2015 center.

Sinner, meanwhile, he had a tougher time against Canada's Felix Auger- Aliassime. The reigning U.S. Open champ dropped the second set, but he would prevail, winning the match in four.

Sinner has now made the finals in all four grand slams this year. He's already won two of them. This is going to be the rubber match between him and Alcaraz. Alcaraz came back and beat him at the French Open, but then, Sinner got revenge and won Wimbledon. President Trump does plan on being in attendance for the men's final tomorrow.

The women, meanwhile, going to take center stage today. World number one, Aryna Sabalenka, looking to become the first back-to-back champ here at the U.S. Open since Serena won three in a row in 2014. Standing in her way is Amanda Anisimoba, the 24-year-old American having a career year. Would love to cap it off with their first ever Grand Slam title. That finals at Fort Eastern this afternoon.

And finally, last night in Miami, the Phillies Harrison Bader hit a home run to left in the fourth inning. The ball, it lands in the middle of these fans. And this Phillies fan and ready, he grabs it, brings it over his son, gives him a hug.

Well, another Phillies fan not happy.

[07:55:00]

He comes over, has some words with the dad, and seems to demand the ball. The dad, wanting no part of a confrontation, took the ball from his son, and gave it to her. That quickly went viral. The Marlins came and they gave the kid who got the ball taken away a gift bag. And then, the Phillies invited him to meet Bader after the game. And look at that. Bader gave him a signed bat.

So, Victor, happy ending in the end, and certainly it's going to be a game that, that kid will never forget the rest of his life.

BLACKWELL: My team has been talking about that exchange all morning. Good for the kid, though, that he got something special. Andy, thanks so much.

SCHOLES: Got it.

BLACKWELL: All right, "FIRST OF ALL" is coming up at the top of the hour. This morning, black women have a warning for the country. A growing number of Americans are unemployed, and a disproportionate number of them are black women. We'll break down what's behind that and what should be done to fix it.

Plus, hear an urgent warning from the surgeon general during President Trump's first term. Dr. Jerome Adams joins us as the Trump administration's health leaders send different messages on vaccines, one different than the president himself.

And later, hear from a woman teaching teens the business of braids.

Those stories and conversations you probably won't see anywhere else coming up right here after a quick break on "FIRST OF ALL".

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