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80-Plus Dead In Texas Floods, Dozens More Missing; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu In U.S. Amid Renewed Hostage Ceasefire Talks; UAE Calls For Comprehensive Mideast Peace Plan; Donald Trump Threatens BRICS-Aligned Countries With New Tariffs. Indirect Talks Between Hamas And Israel To Resume Today; Flood Watches Extended In Central Texas As Death Toll Mounts. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired July 07, 2025 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:12]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to what is the second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD for my Middle East programming headquarters here
in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson. Time just after 6:00 p.m.
Deadly flooding in Texas leaves dozens dead as rescuers search for those still missing amid continued flood warnings.
Israel's prime minister expected to meet President Trump at the White House later today, as talks of a ceasefire with Hamas continue.
And Trump threatens 10 percent tariffs on BRICS countries, calling the alliance's policies anti-American.
Well, this hour, parts of Central Texas are under an extended flood watch. The risk extends to all of the areas that were inundated over the weekend.
We now know at least 82 people have died. Dozens remain missing.
President Trump is vowing continued federal support, he says he will probably visit the state on Friday.
And devastating news coming from an all-girls summer camp, confirming today, at least 27 campers and counsellors have died in those floods.
CNN's Isabel Rosales has been out with rescue teams not far from where that camp is located. I spoke with her last hour about the difficulties that
rescuers are facing as they continue to search for the missing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning from central point, Texas. This is just southeast of Hunt, the town of Hunt, where Camp Mystic is
located, about 25 miles downriver from the Guadalupe River. This is one of the hard hit areas, too.
And you can see this line of cars that are coming in and people walking here on the road. This is all pretty much all base of volunteers, anyone
who is ready and capable to come out here and help.
Take a look right over here and help scour the area here by the river for any sign of survivors. Becky, (AUDIO GAP) told me that they're crystal
clear. They're clear eyed on this, on the realism of the situation that as so much time has passed by, the chances are dwindling of finding survivors,
and they're more realistic that they're probably finding victims.
In this area alone, let me whip the camera to the right over here, I've been told by volunteers that in the first search, they found a body. In the
second search, they found a body. Third search, another victim.
So, today they're out here again, and this time they're bringing in heavy machinery to help remove this debris that has been so difficult for
volunteers to look for any victims. You've seen teams of five men pushing up these heavy tree limbs and looking at holes that the mud has created,
seeing if the heavy currents from these flood waters have dragged anybody in any spot.
It is -- as one volunteer told me, it is the discovery you hope you won't make, but at the same time, they do want to make that discovery, because
they want to give these families of these loved ones closure. They want to give them answers as to where their family member went.
Listen to one of the volunteers what else they had to say.
SHARRA LOVELADY, INGRAM, TEXAS RESIDENT: It's unbelievable, because you want to get to the bottom. You know, like your goal in the pile, and
there's one over there, it's so tight, I couldn't even get peel a branch off, and it's like a knot.
So, when people wonder, why does it take so long to find people, because you'd have to get a saw little at a time. It was -- I couldn't budge
anything. Even men were up there and they could not budge it. It's just tight and 10 feet wide, 20 feet tall, you can't get in there.
ROSALES: And Becky, sorry, my apologies, it was hard hearing you there. I was also struck by a conversation with somebody here in the area, a
contractor who was tasked with moving a large tree from under a bridge. And he said, listen, I don't understand why in the town of comfort in Kendall
County, nearby county, they had an early detection system with loud sirens that warned everyone these flood waters were coming, but over in Hunt and
Kerr County, hard hit Kerr County, they didn't have that.
CNN dug into the data, and they found out that in 20 -- we found out that in 2016, commissioners were discussing paying for an enhanced alert system,
an early warning system with those sirens. But those plans never came to fruition. Now, we have reached out to Kerr County, the commissioners there
to inquire as to why that never came to be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[10:05:03]
ANDERSON: Well, the world -- and more on that, of course, as we get it. Well, the world is watching as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to meet
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House later today. It comes as indirect talks in Qatar resume between Hamas and Israeli
negotiators for another Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, according to an Israeli source. I spoke with our Jeremy Diamond about these major
developments last hour. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, let's quickly recap what's happened over the last few days. I mean, we've seen Hamas now
deliver what they characterize as a positive response to that latest ceasefire proposal, which Israel had accepted following the United States
submitting that proposal.
Although they did include several amendments and changes to the language that they would like to see. The Israeli prime minister called those
changes unacceptable, but nonetheless, he agreed to send a delegation of Israeli negotiators to Doha in order to begin those proximity talks, which
is usually the last stage of negotiations, in order to iron out all of the details and get over any last minute obstacles.
Those negotiations began yesterday. They are indeed continuing today as well, and now the question is whether or not they can overcome the
remaining gaps that do exist.
And a lot of that may depend on how the Israeli prime minister's meetings with President Trump go, because there's no question, President Trump wants
this ceasefire deal to happen, and he also believes that it will ultimately lead to an end of the war in Gaza. Listen to the president yesterday.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think we're close to a deal on Gaza. We could have it this week. I think there's a good chance we have
a deal with Hamas during the week, during the coming week, pertaining to quite a few of the hostages.
You know, we've gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few of them will be coming out. We think we'll
have that done this week.
DIAMOND: And of course, Becky, we know that, you know, a number of changes had been made to this latest ceasefire proposal in order to try and bridge
the gap with Hamas, including those stronger assurances from the United States that they would keep Israel at the negotiating table, in order to
really in earnest, try and end this war in Gaza over the course of this 60 day truce, or even perhaps beyond it, if that is necessary.
We also heard on social media from Bishara?Bahbah, who is a Palestinian American businessman, a supporter of President Trump who has been
dispatched in Doha for some time now, trying to bridge the gap here communicating directly with Hamas. He said that, in his view, the
amendments that Hamas has requested will not prevent reaching a ceasefire agreement.
But again, there are a number of issues that still need to be discussed, and while there certainly is still a lot of momentum behind this and
certainly a lot of willpower from the United States in order to get this across the finish line, it remains to be seen whether the two sides can
indeed get there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Jeremy Diamond speaking to me earlier.
Going into this highly anticipated meeting, Gulf leaders are urging President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to think big by seizing the
momentum from the Israel-Iran ceasefire and new Gaza talks to negotiate a wider regional peace agreement.
Well, my next guest, Lana Nusseibeh, Special Envoy for the UAE Foreign Minister, recently penned a piece for the Financial Times, at times,
arguing that, "Trump must lead the way to a comprehensive Middle East peace deal."
But does he have a partner for peace in Israel's current leader? Well, I spoke to Ambassador Nusseibeh and started by asking what the UAE message is
to Benjamin Netanyahu before today's meeting, and whether he is that partner for peace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LANA NUSSEIBEH, SPECIAL ENVOY OF THE UAE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: I think the message to all people in the region today is that we all want to
extend our hand in peace to the countries of this region. Our populations are tired of conflict and war. We have seen too much devastation across the
region.
As my op-ed outlined, there is no military solution in the end to defeating extremist ideology. We do need to defeat it, but there isn't a military
victory that will get you that, there's no iron wall strategy that gets you that security you're looking for.
So, we need to provide a better alternative, a better option, a better idea. That's what the UAE message is. What is that better idea?
The Abraham Accords building out on the first legacy of the first President Trump administration, is something that we think we could build out on, an
expanded Abraham Accords in the region, and integrated Israel in the region, and integrated Iran in the region, and states that are focused on
economic development, prosperity, jobs for their youth and a non-extremist ideology as the basis of their state building.
So, there is a comprehensive plan that we need to be thinking about. Just managing the conflict is what we've been doing for decades. It hasn't
worked, Becky, and that's why we're talking about let's go for the longer term picture.
[10:10:10]
We think President Trump and his administration can do it. They've demonstrated the ability to bring everyone around the table. Let's expand
the agenda of what that peacemaking table looks like today.
ANDERSON: And you've said when you are winning against your adversaries, you have to think about winning the long game, and that long game for
Netanyahu is normalization, and it is integration around the Arab region and beyond.
The Saudis have made it very clear, no normalization without a Palestinian state. Netanyahu may feel like a hero at present and that he has leverage
post Iran, but without accepting the need for a Palestinian state, is he really a partner for peace?
NUSSEIBEH: What I would say to you, Becky, is we need to look at history and understand what people want to be remembered for in this region. What
are the legacies in history? How do you look to the future of your country and your society, and discuss what you have delivered?
I think this is a once in a generational opportunity for the middle east to be reshaped again by partners in the region, not by outside powers, as it
was in the First World War.
This is the moment where the region has new nation states, old nation states, new economies powered by A.I., A.I. hyperscaples -- scalers powered
by zero carbon electricity. Third of container traffic going through the Suez, a third of oil going through the Straits of Hormuz.
We are a region that can contribute today to the reshaping of our borders and our futures. Why should we set a pathway that puts all our populations
and societies into a state of conflict for another 50 years?
ANDERSON: If he doesn't support or voice support for a viable pathway for a Palestinian state, can Trump's Arab allies do business with him? I'm
talking about Netanyahu here. There is an opportunity at this point.
NUSSEIBEH: During the course of this very difficult conflict in Gaza, the UAE was the number one aid donor in the Gaza Strip. We provide most of the
aid in the Gaza Strip. We are able to do that by talking to everyone at all times. We are very pragmatic about being that bridge builder, and we will
maintain that position.
At the same time, we are pushing all our partners, including the Israelis, to understand that without a viable political horizon for the Palestinian
people, a reformed Palestinian Authority, an empowered prime minister and a U.S. lead on the ground or offshore, we're never going to see a viable
Israel or a viable Palestinian state.
ANDERSON: Can you provide more clarity on who the UAE believes should minister Gaza in the wake of a ceasefire?
NUSSEIBEH: So, for the security and governance structures, there could be some kind of international presence. There could be some kind of oversight
board. This would have to be the invitation, of course, of the Palestinian Authority to legitimize it, possibly with U.N. mandate as well.
There are many ideas on the table for how to do this. What is missing today, and what we're asking leaders from this region, but also in the
United States and in Europe, to come together around, is the political will to get there. I think if we have that, anything is possible for this region
and the opportunities for this region far outweigh the challenges.
ANDERSON: I just want to push a little bit on this. Do plans for reconstruction that the UAE would support inevitably require the relocation
of some of Gaza's population? If so, how to where and for how long? This is -- this is critical, isn't it?
NUSSEIBEH: Our public position and our private position is that we reject the force dislocation of any Palestinians from the territory.
Now, to rebuild Gaza, there are many plans on the table. There is a lot of speculation around how you do that.
It's jumping the gun in our view. Let's work on the ceasefire. The first plan is for 60 days to be expanded. Let's get the hostages back. Let's
start rebuilding Gazan society. Today, they are going through psychosocial trauma from what they have witnessed over the last 20 months. There are
children who will need help for the rest of their lives to become contributing members of their communities. I don't think Hamas has
popularity in the Gaza Strip after what has happened in Gaza.
And so, we have a moment where the extreme wings of society can be faced down by the more moderate agenda, the UAE moderate agenda is integration.
It's stabilization, it's peace. Let's focus on our economies. Let's focus on good governance, the rule of law, accountability and building out states
that are working in partnership with each other in this region.
ANDERSON: And that includes Iranians?
NUSSEIBEH: Of course it includes Iranians. They're a neighbor. They have cultural and historic ties to this region, as we all do. But I think it
includes an Iran that has made a peace agreement also with the international community vis-a-vis its nuclear program.
And I think it includes Iran, an Iran where we look across the region and we don't see this support for proxy actors around Arab capitals in the
region that has been very destabilizing over the last decade.
[10:15:02]
I think we have a change element in the region today where everyone's security needs can be met with a different kind of deterrence, a different
kind of negotiation, a different kind of incentive.
We know what those incentives are. We've seen what the deterrence can look like. The time has come to put that all together in a comprehensive package
for peace for this region. It's our post World War Two moment, in my view, because if we carry on just managing the conflict, we will see continued
cycles of violence in our region for generations to come, and I know you and I both don't want our children to live through that era.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Special Adviser to the UAE Foreign Minister Lana Nusseibeh.
Still to come, as his 90-day tariff pause get set to expire, U.S. President Donald Trump takes to social media with a new threat of more levies who he
is targeting next, it's just ahead.
And later this hour, I'll ask Gershon Baskin, a former hostage negotiator, about the likelihood of reaching another Gaza hostage deal and ceasefire
agreement this week.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Just into us, Russian officials say the transport minister, just ousted by President Vladimir Putin, has died by suicide. The Russian
Investigative Committee says that Roman Starovoyt died of an apparent self- inflicted gunshot wound in a car. He had previously served as governor of Russia's Kursk Region. His dismissal came amid a multi-day disruption to
air travel in Russia, with hundreds of flights canceled. We're following that story, and we'll get you more details, of course, as we get them.
Well, there is growing economic uncertainty across the globe with President Donald Trump's 90-day temporary freeze on sweeping tariffs set to expire
this Wednesday. Trump says his administration will begin sending out letters today to all U.S. trading partners who don't already have a deal in
place. Excuse me.
It comes as the president takes to social media with another tariff threat, warning the U.S. will impose an additional 10 percent levy on any country
aligned with what he calls the anti-American policies of the so called BRICS nations.
Well, CNN's Anna Stewart following the latest for us from London. Good to have you with us. How close is the Trump administration getting to signing
other trading partners on to these deals? And is it clear at this point?
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not particularly clear. And we are -- well, it's the day after tomorrow. We're sort of 48 hours out from this big
deadline.
At this stage, all we have is a trade deal with the U.K., a trade truce, I'd say, with China and a trade deal in principle with Vietnam. There are
plenty more to come of course.
Interestingly, U.S. Treasury secretary was speaking just a couple of hours ago on CNBC. He seems confident that there's still time for some deals to
happen. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:20:04]
SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: We are going to have several announcements in the next 48 hours. And Joe, I think what President Trump
is concerned about is the quality of the deals, not the quantity.
As you could imagine, as he started herding the cats and trying to get everyone across the finish line. When he said that there's a chance that
countries could boomerang back to their April 2nd reciprocal tariff levels, we've had a lot of people change their tune in terms of negotiations. So,
my mailbox was full last night with a lot of new offers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: Mailbox is full. One to watch, of course, is the European Union. They had trade talks in D.C. last week, and talks were ongoing over the
weekend. A spokesperson from the E.U. have said they've made substantial progress towards an agreement in principle, at least, it's unlikely we'd
see a sort of signed trade deal by this deadline.
They also say that Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, had a good exchange with President Trump on the phone yesterday.
Meanwhile, of course, it now appears that while President Trump said letters were going out last week, they're actually going to start going out
today at 12:00 p.m. Eastern, so those countries that have big trade surpluses with the U.S. We'll want to keep an eye on their in-trays.
New tariff rates, though, Becky, wouldn't take effect on this deadline. We're told that's more likely to be August the 1st. So, in some ways,
perhaps August 1st is actually the next real deadline. I wonder.
ANDERSON: Right, OK. Yet another threat, though, from Mr. Trump, this time, he's calling for more tariffs on nations aligning themselves with what he
describes as anti-American policies of this BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, the main sort of body members,
plus some newer countries, including Iran and the UAE, by the way. Any specifics at this point on what those levies might look like?
STEWART: Yes, so this one came out of left field, it felt. Of course, there was a BRICS Summit, and they did release a joint statement that essentially
condemned, you know, the military attacks on Iran. It also condemned tariffs. It also condemned high defense spending. So, a lot of things that
President Trump, of course, cares about.
So, perhaps no surprise that he did take to Truth Social. This is the post he put up, any country aligning themselves with the anti-American policies
of BRICS will be charged an additional 10 percent tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
This is actually not the first time President Trump has taken aim at the BRICS. In January, there was a very long, rambling social post essentially
threatening them with 100 percent tariffs for the suggestion that they might not rely on the U.S. dollar, that they could even create their own
BRICS currency. This was when he called them hostile countries.
However, it didn't actually come to anything. So, this is one of those posts you don't know how seriously to take but an additional 10 percent on
all BRICS countries, if we include all of the new countries that have joined, would almost be sort of half of the world's GDP, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Good to have you as ever, breaking it down for us somewhat this time, doing your best anyway. It's never easy, and when we
are talking Trump and tariffs and trade, thank you.
Let's get you up to speed, folks, on some of the other stories that we are following for you and are on our radar right now, ridiculous is how U.S.
President Donald Trump is describing Elon Musk's move to start a new political party. Musk announced the formation of what he calls the America
Party, after harshly criticizing the president's massive tax and spending cuts bill signed into law on Friday.
President Trump says, "Starting a third party just adds to confusion." That's what he said amongst other things, to be honest, it was a long post.
In south central Indonesia, a volcano has erupted, spewing towering columns of hot ash as high as 18 kilometers into the sky. The eruption of Mount
Lewotobi Laki Laki is one of the largest in the country since 2010. So far, no casualties have been reported.
Forecast is a warning of life threatening floods in North Carolina and Virginia from what was Tropical Storm Chantal. It's now a tropical
depression dumping heavy rain on those states. Officials report numerous water rescues from flooded homes. The storm -- the first named storm of the
Atlantic hurricane season to hit the U.S. mainland.
Well, still to come on CNN, could Israel and Hamas reach a ceasefire agreement soon? We are closely monitoring the Israeli prime minister's
meeting with President Trump today in Washington. More on that is after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:27:22]
ANDERSON: Welcome back, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson, here are your headlines this hour.
And volunteers searching for flash flood victims in Texas say debris from the storms is slowing their work. New bouts of wind and rain are adding to
hazardous conditions. At least 82 people confirmed dead in the flooding, including more than two dozen campers and counsellors at a girl's camp.
But the 90-day pause on his reciprocal tariffs set to expire on Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump says his administration will begin sending out
letters today to all U.S. trading partners, "Without a deal in place." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier he expects several
announcements on deals to come over the next 48 hours.
President Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today. This comes as indirect negotiations between Israel and
Hamas resume in Doha. Donald Trump has expressed optimism a ceasefire hostage still could be reached as early as this week.
Meantime, more than a hundred people have been killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The latest
onslaught coming as Netanyahu heads to the White House for that meeting. My colleague Paula Hancocks has more details on the ceasefire proposal that is
currently on the table right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A quick look at what the proposal looks like as far as we know from a source familiar with the
situation. There will be 10 living hostages and 18 deceased hostages released in return for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners.
The Israeli military will pull their troops back to pre-agreed locations in northern Gaza. There will be negotiations starting for that permanent end
to the war. This will just be a temporary 60-day ceasefire at this point, and there will be an influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and most
crucially, it will be through the United Nations run institutions which have up until recently been somewhat sidelined as the U.S. Israeli backed
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was in process. The GHF role going forward is uncertain.
Now, this ceasefire cannot come quickly enough for those on the ground in Gaza, dozens more were killed on Sunday. Hospital officials saying over the
weekend that many children lost their lives. The Israeli military saying that they are continuing to target terrorist organizations in Gaza.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[10:30:01]
ANDERSON: Gershon Baskin is a veteran hostage negotiator, a regular on this show. Important to get his view. He's the co-director of the Alliance for
Two States, and he joins us now live from Jerusalem. Thank you for joining us.
(CROSSTALK)
GERSHON BASKIN, FORMER HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR: Thank you, Becky.
ANDERSON: Donald Trump has expressed optimism, saying that he believes a deal could be reached this week. Is that realistic?
BASKIN: I think it's very realistic if Donald Trump follows through with what he's been writing on social media and what he's been telling
journalists, that this war needs to end now. The hostages need to come home. He seems quite direct about it, and this will hopefully be his
message when he meets Prime Minister Netanyahu, because Netanyahu cannot say no to Donald Trump.
ANDERSON: Right, OK. Well, let's talk about that. You write that the important meetings happening today are what's happening in the Oval Office,
not necessarily with these proximity talks. You're very specific about that. You argue that Donald Trump can pushed for a swift end to the
conflict rather than the --
(CROSSTALK)
BASKIN: You have a proximity cause --
ANDERSON: Yes. Go. Let -- go on.
BASKIN: The proximity talks in Doha are all waiting for the meeting of Trump and Netanyahu, because that's where the determination will be made on
when this war is going to end. Well, a lot of messages have been sent to President Trump, both by me and by families of hostages, that this deal
that's on the table should be much faster.
There is no reason for a 60 day cease fire to determine if the war should end. The war should end immediately. The hostages should be brought home,
Palestinian prisoners released, and some form of new governance should be set forth in Gaza immediately. There is no reason to wait.
ANDERSON: OK. Well, the UAE echoing a sort of broader golf position, which is that Donald Trump needs to show leadership here. It is to Donald Trump
to show leadership on this. Gaza, the through line is a sense here. Gaza, the through line to a broader Mideast peace at this point.
So, the question is, what does Donald Trump need to do today with Benjamin Netanyahu to ensure that he gets this deal done and that this provides
momentum on the back of the Iran-Israel ceasefire, a ceasefire in Gaza that might provide this momentum for a broader Mideast peace?
BASKIN: Right. It's very clear. Mediators have told me that the reason why the 60-day deal is on the table is because they've been told that the
Netanyahu government would fall and Israel would go to new elections. This does not need to be the concern of President Trump. Trump helped Netanyahu
to win the war in Iran, to give Netanyahu a spike in the polls in Israel. And now, Trump needs to tell Bibi Netanyahu, his good friend, that it's
time to end the war. And once he says that he needs to say that it should be done now, not over this 60-day period.
I've spoken to Israeli military people who told me that in two weeks they could withdraw from Gaza to the agreed upon border that would be set. The
hostages can all be returned. Hamas is saying they can return them all in one phase, two phases, maximum. We're talking about 50 hostages, with only
about 20 of them are alive. They need to agree on the list of Palestinian prisoners that will be released and will they'll be released to.
And the other thing of urgency, and here, we need the help of the Arab countries is with the Palestinian Authority to determine who's going to
govern Gaza for a temporary period of time. The Arab states have already said that they're willing to send peacekeepers or troops to Gaza on a
temporary basis to help to establish law and order.
Hamas knows that they're finished. They can no longer govern Gaza. This is all coming together right now, when it's in the hands of President Trump to
make it real.
ANDERSON: Benjamin Netanyahu will be absolutely clear that his coalition, who oppose any peace without the full destruction of Hamas and the
occupation of Gaza are likely to upend his government, should he bend to the will, as it were, of Donald Trump. So, where's his head at this point?
Is it clear?
BASKIN: Well, I'm not sure that it's clear, but he should know -- he has to know that the overwhelming majority of Israelis want this war to end. His
own military people, including his chief of staff, are telling him that there is nothing more to be gained in Gaza militarily, Hamas will not be
destroyed by Gaza militarily. Hamas will not surrender to Israel, but Hamas will surrender to the will of the Palestinian people and the Arab
countries.
And here, Netanyahu has to know that staying in Gaza is only going to kill more Israeli soldiers and more Israeli hostages. And what he has to know,
but he doesn't really care about is that very many more Palestinians will also be killed.
[10:35:09]
ANDERSON: OK
Where or how likely do you believe it is? I know I'm pushing you on something which, you know, frankly, neither you nor I are in the room, so,
we don't know. But is it -- is it at all clear what kind of pressure Donald Trump is putting Benjamin Netanyahu under at present? Somebody told me in
this region, a high-level individual, well sourced, said that Benjamin Netanyahu feels like a hero at the moment, he's got massive leverage, after
what happened in Iran, with Lebanon, with the fall of Hezbollah, and the rest. We've been talking about this now for weeks.
Donald Trump also needs to put him in a sort of vice like grip at this point and remind him of that surely.
BASKIN: Well, I'm -- Netanyahu knows this. Netanyahu is fearing elections, because even though he has a spike in the polls, his increase in support in
Israel is within the framework of his coalition. And according to the polls, if there were to be elections held today, he would not be able to
form a government. So, he's quite worried. This war has been for him for many, many months, the war for the peace of his coalition.
But one member of his coalition that he gives into all the time, Smotrich, doesn't cross the threshold in the Israeli electoral system and Ben-Gvir,
while strong, it should not be the reason why this war continues. The opposition leaders have told Netanyahu that if he brings it to a vote in
the parliament in the Knesset, any deal that ends the war will get the majority vote.
It's likely that we might be heading for elections, but Netanyahu believes that he has the support of the people of Israel, and he is a master
politician. We all know that. So, maybe he is less fearful today than he was before the war in Iran.
ANDERSON: Meeting, as we understand it is later today in the Oval Office at the White House. CNN will report on the key takeouts from that meeting as
and when we get them. It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There is a lot more ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Back to Texas now, where catastrophic flash floods have taken at least 82 lives. Scattered showers, storms still expected throughout the
day. A flood watch has now been extended into the evening in Central Texas, governing an area of nearly 5 million people.
Now, as the state grapples with this disaster, questions are being raised about whether it could be averted. Some are directing blame at the National
Weather Service, while others are critical of the Trump administration for budget cuts at forecasting agencies.
[10:39:58]
CNN's senior national security Juliette Kayyem, says there are lessons to be learned and that more could have been done.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I do not buy into the argument that there is nothing that could have been done. This is 100-
year storm. There is -- we've got decades and decades of disaster management to protect children like this. So, everyone needs to stop
pretending that either the other party did it or this was not preventable. This tragedy. We have lessons to be learned.
Here's what we know, just from the timeline, National Weather Service begins to get really get more frantic over the course of the morning. It is
a holiday weekend. It is in the middle of the night. Your worst-case scenario for this situation. We do know that there were people who are in
charge of what we call coordination, and the reason why we call it that is that you have a warning and then you have action, and you need people to
connect those two. Right? Do you evacuate? Do you hide in place? Whatever it is.
We also know that the county does not have a siren system on its rivers. Which other counties in Texas do?
Cell service was probably not good. So, we have a lot of factors that we need to learn from. I think it's wrong for Texas to blame the National
Weather Service. And I think it's premature for the president to say it wasn't the National Weather Service. I will say one thing, though, and
these cuts to the National Weather Service, to NOAA, to FEMA -- the potential elimination of FEMA. We will miss them when they're gone.
I think we need to say that now. I don't know if there's a direct line between the National Weather Service and cuts and what happened, but this
is what governments for. It's to -- it's to help people and prepare them for the damage and the devastation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Juliette Kayyem, let's get the latest then, from the CNN Weather Center. Meteorologist Derek Van Dam, tracking the rain in Central Texas
today. Can you tell us about the conditions that search teams are facing on the ground right now, because they are out there and they are still looking
for the missing at this point?
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, and they are going to be facing the prospect of additional heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding. So,
this is new to CNN, Becky. The weather prediction center from NOAA, has just upgraded at a special issuing. This area across the Texas hill country
that was ravaged by the floods just this past weekend.
So, we now have a level three of four, where you see that darker shading of red for the potential of flash flooding, because of the excessive rain that
is building across the region. I want to show you what is called a water vapor imagery.
So, this shows you just what's happened and transpired over the course of the weekend. This was the remnants of a tropical storm that made landfall
well south of this region late last week. And then, it got drawn into this area and basically stalled over the same locations for several days at a
time. So, there was a ripe atmosphere for the potential of developing these showers and storms over the same locations.
On top of that, we have this weather whiplash scenario that we talk about with the strings to climate change, and that is the ground here was so
unbelievably dry. We had some of the worst drought in America at this moment in time, across the hill country of Texas.
So, you add additional heavy rainfall on top of a very hard packed surface, and you've got a recipe for disaster. We saw that unfold this weekend. So,
unfortunately, there is additional rain to come. We have a flood watch in place for hundreds of thousands of people across the Texas Hill Country.
We focus in on this area, though, this is a region just north of the river that had some of the worst flooding, the Guadalupe River. This is north and
you'll see that, that flash flood warning is because of these training of storms right over the same locations for several hours. They have had two
three inches per hour of rain falling from the sky, on top of an already saturated environment from this past weekend storms.
So, if we get additional rain in this kind of concoction of troubling ingredients here, the potential here exists for more flash flooding. So,
we're going to monitor this. The concerning thing here is, Becky, there is just nothing to kick this tropical induced moisture over the state of Texas
out of the area.
So, we are going to be contending with heavy rainfall at least for another 24 hours.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Derek.
President Trump can -- has vowed continued federal support for Texas, following the devastating floods. But he stopped short of commenting on the
future of FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
CNN's Kevin Liptak has more reaction from the White House for you.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: President Trump says he will probably visit the affected areas of Texas on Friday.
[10:45:04]
He actually said he wanted to visit this weekend, but decided against it, because he thought the security apparatus could affect the search and
rescue efforts there. The president is calling what is happening horrible, and says the federal government will continue to assist state and local
authorities as they deal with this tragedy.
The president signed a major disaster declaration for Texas on Sunday, and what that did is unlock federal resources for the community there. It
allows FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to begin its work on the ground. The U.S. Coast Guard has also deployed resources there,
including two helicopters, three fixed-wing aircraft, which have thermal cameras, able to detect movement on the ground that might not be visible to
the naked eye. FEMA has also set up seven shelters, which, as of 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, we are housing 137 people.
President Trump in his letter to get to Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas -- wrote a handwritten addendum in sharpie, saying that "Our wonderful
secretary, Kristi Noem, is available at all times. Kristi Noem, obviously, the secretary of Homeland Security.
Now, there are some questions being raised about staffing levels at the National Weather Service, some critical positions were left vacant after
their occupants decided to take early retirement initiatives offered by the Trump administration as they have worked to reduce the size of the federal
government.
One of the positions is a warning coordination meteorologist at the Austin, San Antonio Office of the National Weather Service.
Now, it is not a definitive answer of whether these positions, if they were filled, could have changed anything on the ground there, but it is
certainly something that will be scrutinized going forward. President Trump also addressed some of these questions on Sunday. Listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think that the federal government needs to hire back any of the meteorologists
who are fired (INAUDIBLE) months?
TRUMP: I wouldn't know that. I really wouldn't. I would think not. This was the thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it, nobody saw it. Very
talented people are there, and they didn't see it. It's I guess they said once in 100 years. They have never seen anything like this. So, I wouldn't
-- I mean, people are trying to blame the school. They are trying to blame the camp. They are trying to blame -- it's just a horrible thing. But no, I
wouldn't say that. No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIPTAK: Now, President Trump was also asked if he still plans to phase out FEMA. Remember, his goal is to eliminate that agency and put more
responsibility on states for preparing and recovering for disasters. Those changes were set to go into effect after this year's Atlantic hurricane
season.
The president declined to answer that question. He said that FEMA is busy working and that it was a question for another time.
Kevin Liptak, CNN, the White House.
ANDERSON: Stay with us. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: As Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet the U.S. president today, the Israeli prime minister may be thinking about some of the other high-
profile visits to the White House by world leaders recently, and wondering how his appearance with Donald Trump will go.
Well, Melissa Bell looks at how Oval Office meetings have changed with Donald Trump as president, and what some diplomats say it takes to get a
warm welcome.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP (voice over): You're gambling with World War III.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): -- speaking about. What is your speaking about?
TRUMP: And what you're doing is very disrespectful --
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): From the brow beating of Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy --
TRUMP: Death, death, horrible death.
BELL (voice over): To the more elaborately choreographed ambush of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
TRUMP: These are burial sites right here.
BELL (voice over): Compete with dim lights and video alleging genocide of white farmers in South Africa, the Oval Office has at times, been turned
into a boxing ring by President Trump.
RUFUS GIFFORD, FORMER CHIEF OF PROTOCOL OF THE UNITED STATES: The foreign leaders have to treat those meetings very, very differently than they have
had to treat any engagement with previous American presidents. And they should not have an expectation that it's going to go smoothly.
BELL (voice over): Some, though, have fared better than others. The British prime minister who arrived armed with a letter from the king.
KEIR STARMER, PRIME MINISTER, UNITED KINGDOM: He sent his best wishes.
MARK CARNEY, PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE OF CANADA: Having -- Canada --
BELL (voice over): And the Canadian prime minister, who also emerged relatively unscathed. So, what are the keys to making it work?
GERARD ARAUD, FORMER FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: You should really compliment the president. There is a sort of North Korean side in
the White House. You know, really you are the -- will he -- you are a genius or something. It was great. You are generous. Thank you for the
United States, and it's such a success.
BELL (voice over): Even during President Trump's first term, there was something more physically aggressive than the world was used to. From his
pushing aside of other leaders, to the handshakes mastered first by French president, Emmanuel Macron.
By Trump's second term, it was also Macron who was prepared to argue back.
EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE: To get their money back. No, in fact, to be -- to be frank, we paid.
BELL (voice over): The German Chancellor also held his own.
TRUMP: First of all, I want to thank you for that. That's beautiful.
FRIEDRICH MERZ, CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY: My pleasure.
TRUMP: Thank you very much.
MERZ: Thank you, again.
BELL (voice over): So, what advice for leaders visiting the White House?
JOE HOCKEY, FORMER AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: You just got to find a pathway to help him to make your goals, and for you to be able to
make your goals as well.
ARAUD: Even if you don't like what he says, you know, keeps -- keep silent. Because at the -- at the end of the day, if you respond to him, he will
always double down like a good teenager.
BELL (voice over): President Zelenskyy might have been the first not to bite his tongue, but there could be others with at least this consolation.
TRUMP: This is going to be great television, I will say that.
BELL (voice over): Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
TRUMP: We'll see what we can do about, but --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, President Trump facing a big domestic challenge now. He has to convince Americans that his newly passed mega bill will do more good
than harm.
Senator Jeff Zeleny, looks at how it might affect voters in the state of Iowa, which could put the president's popularity to the test in the
upcoming mid elect-- midterm elections.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): The nays are two --
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The sound of the gavel, the motion is adopted,
and the stroke of the pen marked the unofficial opening of the 2026 midterm election campaign. And the race to define President Trump's landmark
legislation.
TRUMP: Look forward, fellas. Look forward and just say what it is, because it's the most popular bill ever signed in the history of our country,
whether you're military or anybody else.
ZELENY (voice over): That bold assertion will be litigated over the next year, as Republicans fight to maintain control of Congress and Democrats
seize on broad public skepticism over the law, and try to lead their party back to power.
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): After Project 2025, comes Project 2026.
ZELENY The history books are filled with big presidential priorities, leading to big Fallout at the ballot box, from Clinton's economic plan in
1993 to Bush's social security reform effort in 2005. To Obama's health care debate in 2009, and Trump's failed attempt to repeal it in 2017.
The president and his party often paying the price, a point not lost on Trump, as he sought to defend the laws sweeping tax cuts and immigration
spending.
TRUMP: Not one Democrat voted for us, and I think we use it in the campaign that's coming up the midterms, because we got to beat them.
ZELENY (voice over): The president started his victory lap in Iowa, a state that's delivered him big wins in all three of his campaigns. It will now be
one of many places to measure political fallout from the law, as Democrats eye two competitive House races and target Republican senator Joni Ernst,
whose comment about Medicaid cuts in the bill --
SEN. JONI ERNST (R-IA): We all are going to die.
ZELENY (voice over): -- still reverberates.
At a democratic rally, these signs spell out the party's argument for how the law benefits the wealthy at the expense of working-class Americans.
Iowans are fed up, they are angry, and they are ready to fight.
[10:55:00]
ZELENY (voice over): Jennifer Konfrst, the Iowa House democratic leader, is running for one of those congressional seats, now, in Republican hands.
ZELENY: What worries you the most about this bill?
JENNIFER KONFRST, DTATE HOUSE DEMOCRAT, IOWA: It's health care access. That's what I'm hearing everywhere I go. I'll say, what keeps you up at
night? It's always I'm scared I'm going to lose my hospital.
ZELENY: Does the road to a congressional majority for Democrats run right here, through this district?
KNFRST: Without question. If you want to get to the majority in Congress, you have to come through the third congressional district in Iowa. This is
one of the lowest hanging fruits when it comes to flipping a seat.
ZELENY (voice over): It's an open question just how competitive races like this will ultimately become in all corners of the country, as Trump takes
the leading role in selling the GOP agenda.
TRUMP: Know, for a fact, they are saying, the last two weeks, there has never been anything like it as far as winning, winning, winning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZELENY (on camera): The president says he is winning, winning, winning. But Democrats see political opportunity in this big legislation as well. There
is no question, over the next 16 months, the details of this, from Medicaid cuts to tax cuts, will be fought out by both sides. Control of Congress
hangs in the balance.
Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Washington.
ANDERSON: Well, that is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next. And the teamwork here, it is very good evening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
