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United States And Ukrainian Officials To Meet Again In Coming Hours; Doha Forum Puts Focus On Ukraine As World Leaders Gather; Millions Of People Under Winter Weather Advisories; Nearly Two Dozen Witnesses Called In First Week Of Trial; Vaccine Advocates Say Delaying Hepatitis B Shot For Newborns Will Cause More Infections; Redfin Calls 2026 The Year Of The "Great Housing Reset"; 48-Team Draw Announced For 2026 FIFA World Cup; 88-Year-Old Grocery Cashier Overwhelmed By $1.7M Gift. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired December 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)

[07:00:37]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: All right, you made it to Saturday, and I'm glad you're starting it with me. December 6th.

Welcome to CNN THIS MORNING. I'm Victor Blackwell. Here is what's making headlines this morning.

A shift in decades old U.S. vaccine policy now, a newly revamped CDC advisory panel just voted to end the recommendation to vaccinate newborns against hepatitis b at birth.

It's alarming top medical groups this morning who warned the change could put infants at risk.

Also, a slow but steady housing recovery could be coming in 2026, economists say that we are on the verge of kicking off a great housing reset.

I'll be joined by a real estate expert to look at what could drive the big change.

Also, strangers raised more than a million dollars to help an 88-year- old veteran retire after a viral video showed him working at a grocery store.

Have you seen this? Get your Kleenex people. People around the world stepped up, and the outpouring brought him to tears. Maybe you too. Now, he is finally able to put the job behind him and enjoy the retirement he never thought he had.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And we've got not one, not two, but three, active storms right now that are going to be making their way across the U.S. We'll take a look at the timeline coming up.

BLACKWELL: CNN has exclusively learned that a suspected drug smuggling boat attacked by the U.S. forces, until every person on board was killed, was not actually headed for the United States. A warning now, the video we are about to show is disturbing.

The admiral in charge of the operation told lawmakers the boat was on its way to transfer drugs to another larger ship that was bound for Surinam on September 2nd.

The deadly U.S. strike is facing new scrutiny because the military hit the vessel several times, ensuring that no one survived.

CNN spoke with military analyst, retired Air Force Colonel Cedric Layton about the new reporting on those strikes. Here is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: The intelligence picture that they should be working off of is one in which they would have actual knowledge of the drugs going from point A to point B. And if point B is United States, then, that's one thing. But in this particular case, we are talking about a completely different country. Here. We're talking about the country of Suriname, about the size of Georgia.

Most of the drugs that go from Suriname or through Suriname end up in Europe or Africa. Very few of them end up in the United States. So, it makes no sense, from an intelligence perspective or from a military perspective, to be conducting this operation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Now, although it is considered a war crime to kill shipwrecked survivors, U.S. defense officials insist the sailors remained legitimate targets.

Match ups are now set for the FIFA World Cup next year. 48 teams will compete across North America, and Friday's drawing ceremony was a bit different than usual. A lot more fanfare, special performances, the people of the village were there.

President Donald Trump got a newly created award.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIANNI INFANTINO, PRESIDENT, FIFA: Mr. President, this is your prize. This is your peace prize. There is also a beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am going to wear it right now.

INFANTINO: OK. Let me hold. It's fantastic. Excellent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Now, the person you hear there is the FIFA president giving the President of the United States the FIFA Peace Prize.

FIFA credited President Trump for brokering peace in multiple parts of the world, but the activist group, Human Rights Watch criticized the award for a lack of transparency and for being presented amid a U.S. immigration crackdown.

Coming up later, CNN's Andy Scholes will break down the draws and what they mean for team USA.

Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in months. Five people have been killed -- at least five. The Ukrainian Air Forces, they say that they detected 704 air attack weapons overnight across the country. Ukraine's air defense shot down 615 of those weapons. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the main targets of the strikes were energy facilities.

And now, negotiations between top Ukrainian and U.S. officials, they are expected to continue today. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, he cited progress, as they head into their third day of talks.

And CNN's Paula Hancocks, joins me now from Abu Dhabi.

[07:05:02]

Talks expected to start in a few hours in Miami. What do you know?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Victor, we heard from the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs saying that Russia is blatantly disregarding these peace efforts. The fact that these talks are ongoing at this point in Miami, and yet we are still seeing these deadly attacks overnight across Ukraine.

Now, we know that there will be talks for a third day today, this Saturday. It will be with the U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, with Trump's son in law Jared Kushner, meeting with a Ukrainian delegation, their national security secretary and chief of staff.

Now, we've heard from the state department that these discussions so far have been constructive. We did get a statement as well from the moderate -- the mediators that the U.S. side, which gave us a little more insight into what's being discussed. Now, in this statement, it said that both parties, the U.S. and Ukraine, agreed that real progress depends on Russia's readiness to show serious commitment.

So, potentially, an acknowledgement there from the U.S. side that Russia, up until this point, has shown no compromise whatsoever, and is sticking to its maximalist demands.

There was another part of this statement that was interesting as well, saying, "They have agreed on a framework of security arrangements and discussed necessary deterrence capabilities.

So, those talks will continue today for a third day. We heard from both sides that this is the sixth meeting over the past two weeks, really underlying the pace of the mediation at this point, this shuttle diplomacy we are seeing from the U.S. talking just recently to the Russian side and now talking to the Ukrainian side. We are still, though, hearing criticism from Europe, saying that they are not involved. We heard from the French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron speaking at a University in China. He said that the U.S. needs Europe to be part of these negotiations. Saying that unity between Americans and Europeans on the Ukrainian issue is indispensable, pointing out this is a war that is being fought on the European continent. The fact that Europe is the one that can give the security guarantees, pushing President Trump to involve Europe more. Victor?

BLACKWELL: Paula Hancocks for us there with the reporting. Thanks so much for the analysis.

Now, let's bring in CNN Global Affairs analyst Kim Dozier, good to have you in.

I want to start with that assertion that Paula mentioned. Both sides say that real progress depends on Russia showing serious commitment to long term peace. That includes deescalation. And the reporting overnight is that there were 700 aerial attack weapons.

What concrete steps will you be looking for to determine whether this is just another round of talks, and Russia is, as the president framed it, tapping along?

KIMBERLY DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: I'll be looking for word that Moscow would accept some form of security guarantees for Ukraine. Because at this point, the signals we have coming out of Moscow and from Vladimir Putin himself, are that they are taking part in this, but they are just paying lip service to peace talks.

He specifically said in an interview with India today this week, on the way to his visit with Modi in India that he is going to be taking all of the Donbas.

Right now, Russia only has 85 percent of that. And that sounds like he is put out a red line that's not part of the talks. And so far, Zelenskyy has said, no, you are not going to seize territory as part of the peace negotiations. So, now, we have seen these public comments from the two leaders that, you know, no matter what's happening behind closed doors, it doesn't look good in public.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Zelenskyy, and of course, the chief Ukrainian negotiator, their top concerns are security and sovereignty, as they continue these talks in Miami.

What are the guarantees that would fit into that very slim space of the Venn diagram that the U.S. would agree to, that Russia would accept, and Ukraine would accept, because there are also these constitutional controls that won't allow Zelenskyy to accept much of what Putin wants.

DOZIER: Yes, look, Ukraine wants to be able to continue to apply to NATO.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

DOZIER: That's years down the road before they would get into it. And they want some form of guarantee that the West will not allow Russia to invade again the moment this is signed, or maybe a year after it's signed.

And at this point, unless Ukraine has, perhaps, European troops on the ground, peacekeeping forces, and some sort of greater promise that Russia will be censured, it doesn't want to give away territory, because in the past, all that's happened is Ukraine has agreed to peace deals, and then, Russia has paused for a bit, rearmed, and then, attacked again.

[07:10:08]

BLACKWELL: The president, his patience has expired with both Russia and Ukraine.

(CROSSTALK)

DOZIER: Yes.

BLACKWELL: And mostly with Russia, because he says that he believes is being tapped along. They have to agree to something. What's that worth? Is that worth any leverage here?

DOZIER: What the problem is that he doesn't seem to be putting the same pressure on Moscow that he was before. They have stopped asking for an immediate cease fire. And in the Trump National Security Strategy that got released on Friday, they don't call Russia an adversary anymore. Even Trump 1.0 called Russia an adversary.

Instead, most of the blame seems to be on Europe and not pressuring Russia in any manner, shape or form. Not even criticizing Russia for a war of aggression against Ukraine. It's treated as if this is -- this has already been decided, Russia is the victor, just, let them have what they want, and then, we can all go back to normal life.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Let me ask you about the Doha forum that's happening right now. What should we expect out of that? There was some news where the, I believe was a Qatari foreign minister, said a few hours ago on the Hamas and Israeli war that what's happening now between those two parties cannot be called a ceasefire until Israel withdraws from Gaza.

(CROSSTALK)

DOZIER: Yes.

BLACKWELL: What's your reaction to that and what should we expect out of the forum?

DOZIER: What we are seeing is this is Qatar, one of the major negotiators in the deal.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: Yes. DOZIER: Saying, you know, we are watching this become a frozen conflict with no progress. And unless you put the attention back on the Israelis, unless the White House pressures Israel, you are not going to see an Israeli withdrawal, and a hand over to some sort of future Palestinian-led organization.

All of those talks seem to have just gone by the wayside, and so basically, this is a call for the White House, get the Israelis back on the game.

BLACKWELL: Kimberly Dozier, thank you.

DOZIER: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: All right. Headlines this morning: the attorney general says that National Guard airman Andrew Wolfe, can now open his eyes, called him a miracle.

Wolfe was shot last week in an ambush-style attack in Washington, D.C. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was also shot during the attack, she died from her injuries.

The Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether President Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship is constitutional. The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to people born in the U.S., even if their parents were not, and that's been considered settled laws since the 19th century.

The lower courts have all blocked Trump's executive order and has never gone into effect. The Supreme Court will likely hand down a decision by the end of June.

A federal judge in Florida ordered the unsealing of the grand jury transcripts, all of them and other records in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Now, the judge agreed to modify a protective order after the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act that was signed into law last month.

The justice department has made similar requests to two New York judges. The investigations, they are center on Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, is former girlfriend, convicted co-conspirator. Those requests are still pending.

A sweeping winter storm has put millions of people on alert, moving from the plains into the Midwest, Great Lakes, and now, threatening the Northeast. CNN's Allison Chinchar is tracking what's coming. Hey, Allison.

CHINCHAR: Yes, that's right. So, let's take a look. OK, you can kind of see where a lot of the snow is really starting to fill in here, across the Northern Rockies and into the northern plains.

This is what's going to move into the Midwest in the next few hours, and then, continue on over the next 24 to 36 hours. And it may not look like all that much right now, but it's going to really get its act together as we go later on into the day. So, that's why you can see a lot more of these winter weather alerts that are in effect a little bit farther out to the east in anticipation of what is expected.

So, here is a look. Once we go later into the day, again, you really start to see that system really kind of get its act together, especially, by this evening. So, Iowa, portions of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, really going to start to see a lot of that snow really fill in late this afternoon. Overnight, tonight and into early Sunday, now, you are talking Chicago, Milwaukee, Green Bay. These are going to be the areas that really see the heavier snow.

And then as we progress farther east, then, it becomes Cleveland, Detroit. Then, you are going to start to see a lot more of that snow move off to the east.

But then we have another system that's going to be arriving on the heels of that, with it will impact Sunday into Monday, and even Tuesday of next week. And we also have rain along the south too. It's not as cold in some of these areas, so you are just getting all of the rain right here along the Gulf Coast, but it's multiple rounds of rain that you can see. So, it's not just Saturday, but also Sunday, just kind of bringing a lot of the gloomy conditions, Victor, over the weekend.

BLACKWELL: All right. Allison, thank you.

[07:15:00]

Shocking evidence and video in the trial of a man accused of murdering and dismembering his wife. We take a look back on the first week of testimony.

And doctors are voicing their concerns over a massive shift in U.S. immunization policy. Details on the change and why it's causing so many to worry.

And a huge weekend for college football fans. How today's conference championships could shake up the playoff standings.

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[07:20:10]

BLACKWELL: Nearly two dozen witnesses took the stand in the murder trial of Brian Walshe this week. Now, Walshe is accused of killing his wife, Ana Walshe, in January 2023.

He already admitted to disposing of his wife's body, but he says when it comes to her death, he is innocent.

CNN's Jean Casares has more.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a big first week in the Brian Walshe trial. The prosecution has to be able to prove to this jury, beyond a reasonable doubt there was premeditation. That's the only way you can get a first-degree murder conviction. So, the prosecution put on the stand this week, William Fastow. That's the man that Ana Walshe was having an affair with once she got her big job in Washington, D.C. with Tishman Speyer.

He testified that he sold the town home to Ana Walshe in D.C. that she lived in. They became friends, they became confidants, and they became intimate, very, very quickly.

But the defense on cross examination tried to show that Ana Walshe told no one about the affair, that Brian Walshe knew nothing about what was going on at all, and the witness had to admit that she didn't want Brian to know, and they never associated with her friends. And this would take the motive for premeditated murder to be nonexistent. Brian didn't know about it. It couldn't have been a motive to kill Ana.

The prosecution also showed video of Brian Walsh following, dismembering her body, taking trash bags, and putting them into trash dumpsters. He has already pleaded guilty to this, but the jury saw that video. But it was on Friday, on the cross examination, when the defense focused in on that this was a couple that was happy. This was a couple that really enjoyed each other and loved each other.

Listen to some of those texts between the two close-in-time to when Ana died.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONNOR KEEFE, STATE TROOPER, MASSACHUSETTS: There is a text comes from the phone assigned to Brian Walshe says, love you. Correct?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, correct.

KEEFE: And then, immediately thereafter, there is a text, page 16, immediately following that text coming from the phone assigned to Ana Walshe, and she says love, or the phone says, love you too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Correct.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: We do expect, at least, two more weeks of evidence. The prosecution will continue its case in chief on Monday. And then, at some point, the defense will present its case, and the big question, will Brian Walshe take the stand to describe how his wife died of sudden, unexplained death?

Jean Casarez, CNN, New York.

BLACKWELL: Jean, thank you. We'll be watching.

A major shift, potentially in childhood vaccinations. CDC advisers vote to change the longstanding recommendations for the hepatitis B shot for newborns. But critics say it could put babies at risk.

And an 88-year-old grocery store cashier, now has the chance to retire. Thanks to one viral post and donations from around the world. you will want to see this story we have it for you, coming up.

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[07:27:57]

BLACKWELL: We are learning more about the vote by CDC vaccine advisers to end universal hepatitis B shots for newborns. The vaccine has been recommended for all infants in the U.S. since 1991. And experts warn that this potential change will lead to increased illness. CNN's Meg Tirrell has more.

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this recommendation potentially upends about three decades of U.S. health policy when it comes to hepatitis B vaccination of newborns. Since 1991, the country has recommended that all babies get a dose of this vaccine in the first days of life to protect them against a highly contagious virus that can cause chronic infection, liver damage, liver cancer and even be fatal.

And so, what this recommendation does is essentially split babies into two groups by the hepatitis B status of their moms. So, for moms who test positive or whose status is unknown for hepatitis B virus, the recommendation actually doesn't change. Still, those babies they say should receive the vaccine while they are in the hospital.

It's for moms who test negative for the hepatitis B virus, where things are changing. And there, this changes the recommendation from a blanket recommendation for all babies to one that they call individual based decision making. So, parents essentially decide along with their health care providers, if they want a birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine for their newborn.

They also suggest, as part of this recommendation, the committee suggests that if they don't get a birth dose, that they delay getting the vaccine until at least two months of age.

Now, experts say this is not a science-based recommendation and will put babies in danger of getting infected with this virus.

You are also hearing criticism from people like Senator Bill Cassidy, who is a Republican doctor who chairs the Senate Health Committee. He posted on social media, "As a liver doctor, who is treated people with hepatitis B for decades, this change to the vaccine schedule is a mistake. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective. The birth dose is a recommendation, not a mandate.

So, essentially saying already it was a choice of what parents should do, it was a recommendation that all babies get this. Now, that, that blanket recommendation has changed, experts fear a lot of uncertainty will be introduced, and that means confusion and barriers, and maybe more babies being left vulnerable unnecessarily.

[07:30:10]

BLACKWELL: All right. Meg, thank you. With me now to talk about this is Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, and former voting member of ACIP the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Doctor, good to see you again. I just want to highlight right here at the top of our conversation that this recommendation is not based on any new information. It's not based on any new science. What's your assessment of what was decided by ACIP?

DR. WILLIAM SCHAFFNER, INFECTIOUS DISEASES PROFESSOR, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY: Well, good morning, Victor.

Yes, I think that the committee decided in advance what it wanted to do, and then, stack the evidence that the presentations yesterday in order to get there.

You know, every professional organization that commented, the American Medical Association, the Infectious Disease Society of America and others, the American Academy of Pediatrics, commented afterwards, they are all in favor of continuing this birth dose.

I personally think it's very important that we continue to promote the birth dose to prevent infection in young children and as they get older. Adults too. This vaccine provides protection, essentially, for life.

BLACKWELL: Yes. And let me read a bit of the statement from the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr Susan Kressly. She said, after the vote, "This irresponsible and purposely misleading guidance will lead to more hepatitis B infections in infants and children."

We are talking about hepatitis B. We are talking about the vaccine. But what happens to a baby, to a child, who is infected with hepatitis B? What's that look like?

SCHAFFNER Well, first of all, the baby may not be acutely ill. This is kind of a submarine type of infection. So, the baby is infected, it has a -- if it's exposed, it has about a 90 percent chance of being infected, the virus goes to the liver, and then smolders over a long period of time. And years later, you can get cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

So, this is a very subtle infection that we can cut off at the past and prevent the next generation from becoming infected, if we can get that vaccine in within the first 12 to 24, hours after birth.

BLACKWELL: So, this is a recommendation that must be accepted, but assuming that it will be considering that these are hand-picked members of ACIP from the secretary himself, does this then complicate parent's decisions on whether their children will be vaccinated against the hepatitis B?

SCHAFFNER: You bet. It will lead to further confusion among both providers as well as those patients. There will be more discussions. And I come down to this. If parents are confused, please, talk to your provider. That person who will take care of your child, year in, and year out. Have trust in that person, pediatrician, or family doctor.

BLACKWELL: Now, it will cause some confusion, as we heard from many professional and medical associations. But for those parents who are not confused, does this complicate coverage of insurance? Does it complicate the ability or access to get these for those families?

SCHAFFNER: Fortunately, not. We have heard that the insurance companies, whether the governmental insurance or private insurance will continue to cover the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine.

BLACKWELL: Dr. William Schaffner, thank you so much.

SCHAFFNER: My pleasure.

BLACKWELL: Could next year be the year of the great housing reset? That's what some analysts think, and what so many are hoping for.

Up next, the good news if you've been holding out to buy a home. The bad news, if you are planning on renting.

Now streaming, candid conversations between Hollywood's hottest actors on craft and process and the work driving this award season.

[07:34:15]

New episodes of Variety's "Actors On Actors" now, streaming exclusively on the CNN app.

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BLACKWELL: If you've been holding out on buying a house, 2026 might be your year. Real estate web site, Redfin published its 2026 predictions, and they are calling 2026 the year of the great housing reset. The mind behind these predictions, Redfin's head of economic research, Chen Zhao, joins me now. Chen, so good to have you.

All right. So, you write the great housing reset, it will take shape in 2026. "It won't be a quick price correction, and it won't be a recession." So, then, what will it be?

CHEN ZHAO, HEAD OF ECONOMICS RESEARCH, REDFIN: Hi, good morning. Thanks so much for having me today.

So, like you said, you know, affordability really has been the key issue in the housing market. For the past few years, we've seen both mortgage rates and home prices increasing dramatically after the pandemic, and we know that this is the top issue on the minds of a lot of voters.

So, in 2026, we do think that affordability will start to improve. It's going to be a slow process. It's not going to be overnight, but we think that we're finally going to be moving in the right direction again.

[07:40:07] So, mortgage rates, we think will be in the low sixes next year, averaging about 6.3 percent for the year. That's probably not as low as a lot of people would like to see, but it's an improvement from the mid to high six percent averages that we've seen for the past three years.

And we -- on the home prices, we think home prices will stay pretty flat next year, increasing just about one percent annually. And in a world where incomes and inflation is going up three percent, four percent for wages on a year over year basis, that means that we are starting to make a small dent in affordability. So, it's going to be a slow process for sure.

BLACKWELL: You know, there are millions of people who are doing that kind of Double Dutch, two step, where they want to jump in between the ropes, and they are waiting for those mortgage interest rates to come down, prices to continue to drop.

I have a friend who says that we are going to be moving into the Golden Girls generation, where there is one person who can afford a house, and then, you got all the friends who didn't marry, and don't have homes, moving in together.

Talk to me about how this is impacting life choices of group living in families.

ZHAO: Yes. So, housing has just gotten so unaffordable. And we do think that what we are seeing, and we will -- what we will continue to see, because the improvement in affordability really will be a slow process, is that people are doubling up on roommates. A lot of younger folks are living with their parents, and they will probably continue to live with their parents.

And for young families, the difficulty is that oftentimes they are not in the house that they want to be in when they want to start having kids. So, they are delaying having these -there is delaying having kids and making these choices right now.

And hopefully, as we start to see affordability improve, people will find some relief and they are able to come back to the housing market.

BLACKWELL: How about the rental market?

ZHAO: So, you know, rents have actually been really flat nationally for the past few years. And so, rents have been -- that means that they are actually declining once you adjust for inflation, and that's made renting very cheap relative to buying a home.

And the reason for that is because there is been a lot of construction, particularly in the Sun Belt, but that construction pipeline is starting to dry up now. And because housing affordability is really still an issue, there is also going to be increased demand in the rental market from people who would otherwise be buying a home.

That means that we expect that next year, by the end of the year, rents are going to start ticking up again, not a lot, maybe increasing about two to three percent year over year. But that means that rents will start keeping pace with inflation, and that will feel different than what we have seen for the past few years.

BLACKWELL: Chen, there was something interesting published recently that I wanted to ask you about Redfin reporting that the number of delistings in September was -- it grew 40 percent year over year, specifically in the Atlanta market. What explains that? What informs it?

ZHAO: So, what we saw earlier this year, in the spring was a housing market that shifted from being a seller's market to a buyer's market in most of the country, not everywhere, but in most markets.

So, what that meant was that a lot of sellers who were coming to market, they were finding that they were not meeting with a lot of demand, they were not getting the kinds of offers that they wanted to see, and their homes were actually just sitting on the market.

So, what -- instead of bringing prices down, because most sellers don't have to sell their home, they are not delinquent on their mortgages, they are not being foreclosed upon, they are choosing to just take their homes off the market, instead. They would rather continue living in it, or maybe renting it out, rather than going down to the price where buyers want them to be.

BLACKWELL: All right. 2026, the great housing reset. Chen Zhao, thank you so much for being with me.

ZHAO: It's a pleasure being here. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: All right. The countdown to 2026 World Cup, it's on. Andy Scholes takes a look at where Team USA landed in the draw.

Also, meet five ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things to improve the lives of others. And on this special night, one of them will be named the Hero of the Year.

[07:44:31]

Join Anderson Cooper and Laura Coates for "CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE", tonight at 8:00 Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: World Cup draw was held in D.C. yesterday, and we now know who the U.S. will be playing in the group stage. Andy Scholes is here with more.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, Victor, quite the event yesterday for the draw for the biggest World Cup ever.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

SCHOLES: You know, this tournament coming here this summer will be the first time World Cup is 48 teams, instead of the traditional 32. So, we had 12 groups of four to draw yesterday. President Trump was on hand, along with Tom Brady, Shaq, Aaron Judge and Wayne Gretzky, they were all on the stage, helping pull the teams.

Now, the U.S. got a very good draw. They got Australia, which was the lowest ranked team in pot two, and then, Paraguay from pot three.

The U.S. beat both of those teams recently in friendlies. Now, the third opponent is going to come from a playoff winner in Europe.

But I talked to a lot of fans at a watch party in Atlanta yesterday to see how they are feeling after the group was announced.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love the U.S. group. I think, it's going to take four points to come out of that group. So, they got a really good chance, you know, finishing that top two spot.

[07:50:03]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not the best. It's not the worst. We are going to have some good challenges. I think we are going to make it out. And I think we are going to have a good path to get to the final.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am feeling really good about the group.

SCHOLES: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a different group for -- I mean, different teams play differently, and so, it's going to be a good challenge.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, let's have a nice, clean, tidy group play, get at least the four points. Let's get into the knockout round, and once you get in there, anything can happen. I believe semifinals right here in Atlanta.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are still going to the final, baby. We are going up there. At least quarters, for sure, and we are going to surprise everybody, make it to the top. Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Lots of optimism from the U.S. fans. They are going to kick off the tournament at SoFi Stadium in L.A., June 12th, against Paraguay.

The whole schedule for the World Cup set to be released today at 12:00 Eastern.

All right. Championship weekend kicking off last night for college football. North Texas and Tulane battling for the American Championship. The Green Wave in a pick-six here from Chris Rogers in the third quarter. After this score, they are up 31 to seven. At that point, they go on to win big, 34 to 21. That victory locks up a college football playoff spot for Tulane as the highest ranked -- highest ranked conference champions. The five highest, they are guaranteed a playoff spot. Their coach, Jon Sumrall, he's already accepted the Florida head coaching job, but is going to stay on to coach the team in the playoffs.

All right, we have some huge games coming up today. BYU has to win the big 12 title game over Texas Tech to get the playoffs. Georgia and Alabama, they are playing the SEC title game, both of those teams likely in no matter what. We got one versus two in the big 10 title game. Ohio State and Indiana, they are both undefeated.

Tonight. Duke plays Virginia in the ACC title game. Now, if the unranked Blue Devils beat Virginia, the ACC likely going to get left out of the playoffs altogether. And guys, that's the scenario I am hoping for. I want a little chaos. So, Duke winning tonight is going to put the committee in a really tough spot. Final rankings come out tomorrow. So, that's what we want.

BLACKWELL: I'm surprised the Village People didn't make the cut of your highlights of the FIFA announcement.

SCHOLES: Well, you know, you want to do it here? You want to do a little YMCA, right now? Hey, cue it. Cue it.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: No, I live it up to the professionals. I'll leave it to the professionals.

All right. Andy, thank you very much.

Listen, two minutes here of some really good feelings.

An 88-year-old Army veteran. He was working as a cashier in Michigan. He became a millionaire this week. Thanks to the viral post on TikTok, kindness of complete strangers from around the world. Brett Kast from CNN affiliate, WXYZ reports. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAM WIEDENHOFER, SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER: You can just focus on me. There is a lot of support for you here, man.

BRETT KAST, REPORTER, WXYZ (voice over): It's been a week and a half since 88-year-old Ed Bambas and social media influencer Sam Wiedenhofer first met in the checkout line at Meijer.

WIEDENHOFER: Just seeing if I can have help scanning this.

KAST (voice over): It was that simple question that got Ed's attention, and it was Ed's story that got the attention of the entire world.

ED BAMBAS, 88-YEAR-OLD VETERAN: My wife died seven years ago. Since then, I've been trying to reestablish myself.

WIEDENHOFER: And you are working here, how many days a week? BAMBAS: I work five days a week, eight hours a day.

WIEDENHOFER: And you do that because you have too, or?

BAMBAS: Yes, I don't have enough income.

KAST (voice over): In less than a week, that video was viewed more than 10 million times on TikTok, and a GoFundMe was created for Ed to help him retire. In a matter of days, donations poured in. And now, it was finally time for that final total to be revealed.

WIEDENHOFER: With everyone's support in the room, I want to reveal that this is one of the largest individual fundraisers in GoFundMe history. And yes, if you want, you will be able to retire because we've raised you $1.77 million.

BAMBAS: No. No.

KAST (voice over): In a room full of supporters, Ed was all smiles and tears, especially knowing his biggest supporter was only there in spirit.

BAMBAS: I wish my wife were here, but it's something that dreams are made out of trustily (PH). Yes. From my beginnings to here.

WEIDENHOFER: I actually had someone nominate you from this store and said you're very hard working.

BAMBAS: Well, I try to be.

KAST (voice over): As for that person who nominated him, that was Lexi Wallace, a 26-year-old shopper at Meijer, who, like everyone else, is still in shock at what has all happened.

LEXI WALLACE, 26-YEAR-OLD SHOPPER AT MEIJER: He deserves it. He earned it. It's all him, for sure.

WEIDENHOFER: We all know you, Ed. For me, it reminded me of my grandpa. Ed reminded me of a love my grandpa had shown me. You know, in his life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Thanks to Brett Kast for that report. I say go back and watch that original video. But $1.7 million from strangers around the world, he deserves now this break.

SCHOLES: Yes. I mean, I was getting teary. I watched them, so happy for Ed.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

SCHOLES: And 88 years old, still doing -- still out there working, that's so impressive.

(CROSSTALK) BLACKWELL: Still at the grocery store.

Just glad now that he gets to take that break and hopefully leave that grocery store and rest.

[07:55:04]

CHINCHAR: And how quick that number jumped. I remember looking at that number and now thinking, I was astonished, it was like it had just crossed over a million.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: Yes.

CHINCHAR: And then, it just kept going. It was $1.3, and then one -- it just kept going and going, I think as more people saw the story.

BLACKWELL: So good for Ed Bambas.

All right, "FIRST OF ALL" is coming up at the top of the hour.

President Trump says that he wants all people from Somalia out of the country. Well, how does a Republican, Somali American in Minnesota who supported the president in 2024 reckon with that? I'll speak to one Salman Fiqy, he is ahead.

Plus, immigration enforcement is surging in New Orleans, but U.S. citizens are getting caught up, and a video shows one woman being chased into her home by federal agents, and her stepfather comes out to confront them. Both will join us to talk about what happened.

Also, the University of Alabama is shutting down two campus magazines because the school says they are DEI.

I'll speak with both a current and former student editor of the student-run outlets. Students are concerned that this is violating their First Amendment rights.

We have those stories and conversations you will not see anywhere else coming up after a short break on "FIRST OF ALL".

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