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Connect the World
Storms Slam California with Rain and High Winds; Pope Leo's Christmas Message Denounces Suffering in Gaza; Two Killed in Car-ramming & Stabbing Attack in Northern Israel; Jackman and Hudson Star in "Song Sung Blue". Aired 9-9:30a ET
Aired December 26, 2025 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: All right, you're looking at the streets of Lagos, Nigeria. As Nigerians react to a U.S. air strike on
ISIS militants in the country's north. It is 03:00 p.m. there. It is 09:00 a.m. in New York City. Hello, everyone. I'm Bianna Golodryga, and you are
watching "Connect the World".
Also coming up for us, the aftermath of a storm lashing California and bringing life threatening flooding is coming into clear focus. And Pope Leo
marks the first Christmas since his election by denouncing the suffering of people in Gaza who are sheltering in tents from the rain, wind and cold.
We are also following reaction to the deadly U.S. strikes that President Donald Trump said he ordered on Islamic State terrorists in Nigeria. The
attack happened Christmas night, local time in Sokoto State, which borders Niger to the north. The Nigerian government says that it approved the
strikes which killed multiple people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YUSUF TUGGAR, NIGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: It was a collaborative effort between Nigeria and the U.S. and President Tinubu gave the go ahead before
it took place. And we don't see it violating our sovereignty or territorial integrity, which is very important.
And it is not about religion. It's about the protection of lives and property of Nigerians and our neighbors as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: President Trump also reacting to the strikes with this Truth Social post saying, quote, I have previously warned these terrorists that
if they do not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there will be hell to pay and tonight, there was. CNN's Nada Bashir is following the story and a
very fine line that the Nigerian government is following here.
On the one hand, you heard from the foreign minister saying that this was done in cooperation with Nigeria and the United States, but also following
up by saying that this was not about religion. That's not how President Trump is describing it.
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, it certainly isn't. And in fact, we've heard from the U.S. President and the broader Trump Administration over the
last few weeks calling on tougher action to be taken to protect Nigeria's Christian community against extremist attacks.
It's important to underscore, of course, that Nigeria has a long and deep- rooted history with security troubles when it is -- particularly Islamist extremist groups, and we have seen in the past these deadly attacks carried
out by such groups targeting not only Nigeria's Christian community, but also its Muslim community, two of the largest religious groups in the
country.
But of course, that is not the tone or the messaging that we have been hearing from the U.S. President, who has long said that the U.S. may well
take tougher action, direct action, in order to protect Nigeria's Christian community. And that is certainly the messaging that he is giving out now in
that tweet on the message on Truth Social saying that they had carried out.
In his words, powerful and deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists. The African command, the U.S. African command, saying that they had
targeted multiple Islamic State. Militants without giving any further detail on the actual impact of this targeted strike.
And we've also been hearing from the U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hetseth says, saying that there would be more to come, in his words, again, without
expanding on those possible details, but clearly, we are seeing that direct action that President Trump had warned about weeks in advance.
And clearly this is being taken in coordination with the Nigerian government. As you heard there, the Nigerian President is said to have been
given the go ahead for this direct action from the U.S. military.
[09:05:00]
But again, in terms of what happens next, what the next steps are, and what this really means in terms of more to come that remains to be seen,
certainly a lot of questions for the Trump Administration as to the future of the foreign policy agenda when it comes to Nigeria.
GOLODRYGA: No doubt. Nada Bashir, thank you so much. Well, President Trump has focused for the last several months on Christians in Nigeria, as Nada,
just mentioned. He even called on his Secretary of Defense to prepare for military action back in November to help protect Christians from ISIS
terrorists. Here's more on that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you envisage U.S. boots on the ground?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Could be. I mean a lot of things -- facing -- they are killing record numbers of Christians in
Nigeria. They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We're not going to allow that to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: We heard reaction to Thursday's strikes earlier in the show from the Nigerian Foreign Minister. Now I want to show you more of CNN's
interview with the foreign minister during his conversation with my colleague Rahel Solomon, he said his government is trying to protect all
Nigerians, not just Christians. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUGGAR: We're not going to dwell or pore over forensically of what has been said or what hasn't been said. For us, it's a matter of what I can only
describe as perhaps the choice between de ontology and consequentialism. So, for us, in this particular matter, we're focusing more on
consequentialism.
So, the end. The end is to fight against terrorism, to stop the terrorists from killing innocent Nigerians, be the Muslim, Christian, atheist,
whatever religion. And to also understand that this is a regional conflict. It is happening in West Africa. It's happening in the Sahel region.
It's happening in the Lake Chad Basin region. So, this is important, but for us, whoever is prepared to work with us to fight terrorism, we're
ready, willing and able.
RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: And I want to talk about that in just a moment, but just to sort of circle back, it's not about disputing what has been
said or hasn't been said, but I do think it's about understanding the scope of the problem on the ground, and understanding who and who has not been a
victim of this.
And so, to help our viewers understand, you said, it's not just Christians. Explain some of the factors sort of at issue here.
TUGGAR: So, the factors at issue, like I said, it's a reasonable conflict. It goes back to the effect of the Leahy laws that stopped that precluded
the sale of kinetic and non-kinetic military equipment to countries like Nigeria. It goes back to the breaking down of government and governance in
Libya, the killing of Gaddafi, the proliferation of weaponry and fighters from Libya.
The attempt at a Sahel strategy by our neighbors to the north to stop the flow of migrants in a region in the Sahel region, which is arid or semi-
arid and life depends on movement. And those created tensions, because some of the countries found themselves having to deal with outside initiatives
that were collaborating with Azawad Tuareg groups, and those Tuareg groups were irredentists.
They were separatists trying to create their own country. And the military are trained to keep countries together. So that put them at log ahead with
military in countries like Niger, like Mali, like Burkina Faso, which ultimately led to the takeover of government by the military in those
countries.
And ultimately led to the pulling out of a country like Niger from the Multinational Joint Task Force that had been combating terrorism
effectively in the region, and which meant that what we the progress that we have made, came to a standstill. So, you can see that these are
exogenous factors it and they're all tied to the wider region.
It's not a Nigerian problem. It's not a Christian, Muslim problem. It is a regional problem. But we're putting all of that aside.
[09:10:00]
We accept that we need the support of other countries and any country that is willing to work with Nigeria based on our moral precepts and ethical
considerations and respect for our territorial integrity and sovereignty. We're prepared to do so, and we demonstrated this yesterday.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: All right, turning now to Syria, where at least six people have been killed and dozens more injured in a bombing at a mosque in the City of
Homs, according to government officials. State news reports, explosive devices had been planted inside the mosque to target worshippers attending
Friday prayers.
There have been no immediate claims of responsibility for that attack. Israeli police say two people were killed in a car ramming and stabbing
attack in Northern Israel. they say a Palestinian from the West Bank ran over a pedestrian and then stabbed a woman.
There is also disturbing new video of an Israeli reservist soldier showing the moment he rammed a Palestinian man who was praying. The incident took
place Thursday, a warning the video is disturbing. Footage obtained by CNN shows a Palestinian Muslim man praying on the side of the road in Ramallah.
Then an Israeli man drives a quad bike into the man, running him over. The Palestinian man eventually gets up. The Israeli military says the same
reservist soldier had been spotted firing his weapon while dressed in civilian clothes in the area just hours before this incident.
The Israeli Defense Forces says the incidents are under review. And based on the findings, the matter will be transferred to the relevant
authorities. The IDF terminated the soldier's reserve service and confiscated his weapons. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says
that he plans to meet Donald Trump in Florida this Sunday for peace talks to end the war with Russia.
He told reporters that the plan put together with the Americans is, quote, 90 percent ready. Zelenskyy, this week, floated the idea of a de facto de
military zone in Eastern Ukraine. Russia, for its part, says that it is analyzing the proposal. Meanwhile, Russia says that it's making slow but
steady progress in its talks with the U.S.
And California is reeling from life threatening storms that have lashed the state this holiday week. Emergency crews warn that some areas could see
more flooding today, as heavy rain continues to saturate the ground with relief expected, thankfully by the weekend.
The relentless downpours have unleashed flooding and mud and debris flows on to the hard-hit Wrightwood community that's northeast of Los Angeles.
Some residents there had to be rescued from inundated cars. Flooding and rain put about 15 million people at risk on Christmas Day in several
counties in Southern California, including Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
Let's get the latest on this from CNN's Meteorologist Allison Chinchar. And Allison, we've been focused on Southern California and the rains there, but
the last I spoke with you, there was also concern about Northern California as well. The entire state seems to be inundated with devastating weather
this past week.
Relief is coming this weekend, but what more can you tell us about the current condition?
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, so we've still got one more system to go through over the next 24 hours, but we are finally going to
start to get some relief for these areas in California. We also have another system. This is the one that's going to take shape over the Midwest
and the northeastern part of the country, but let's begin out west.
You can see right now on the radar the heaviest rainfall is actually focused over portions of Northern California, but as we go through the rest
of the day, that is going to shift southward. So, the concern, really, for much of the flooding is really going to be highlighted over these green and
yellow shaded areas that you can see here.
The good news is we are going to get some drier air in the forecast here within the next 24 hours. Here's a look again. Once we fast forward into
Saturday, you can see much drier conditions, and they need this. It will stay dry through the rest of the weekend before the next round of rain
arrives mid to late next week.
So, giving them at least a few days to dry back out, it's going to keep their temperatures on the cool side, because most of the country is
actually the opposite. All of these dots represent a record high that could possibly be broken over the next several days. Some of these areas could
even break multiple records in a row, talking Friday, Saturday and even into Sunday.
The only other spot that also remains on the cool side is the Northeast, and that means, as this next system begins to slide through, it's going to
bring a lot of winter precipitation. So, the purple color you see here indicates the snow. Excuse me, the pink color is going to be your sleet and
your freezing rain.
Now this is really going to move through the Midwest. Is the -- for most of the day on Friday, then by Friday evening, that's when we start to see the
focus become over areas of the Northeast, this includes New York, Boston, Philadelphia, looking at some pretty dicey travel conditions.
This will continue through the overnight hours. The good news is, by the time we get to the latter half of the day Saturday, this system finally
exits out of the area.
[09:15:00]
GOLODRYGA: Allison, all I can say is thank you so much for all of your hard work this week, I feel terrible for your voice and you. I hope you can
catch a break in some warm mint tea, perhaps a throat lozenge. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I know that it is a struggle, but there is a lot of
weather to talk about in much of the country affected by it.
Take care of yourself. Thank you so much. All right, and still to come for us, Pope Leo's first Christmas as leader of the Catholic Church. We'll take
a look at his message for the world ahead.
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GOLODRYGA: Well, the first American born pope has delivered his first Christmas Mass and his first Christmas blessing from the famous balcony of
St. Peter's Basilica. CNN's Christopher Lamb brings us Pope Leo's Christmas message.
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, despite the cold and the rain, thousands gathered in St. Peter's for the first Christmas celebrated
by Pope Leo since his election. Leo was out in the popemobile on Christmas Day and on Christmas Eve before the midnight mask came out to the square to
greet the thousands gathered under umbrellas to follow the mass from outside.
He said he admired them for their courage in coming out to be part of the celebrations. Now, Leo, in his messages, has emphasized that Christmas is
about peace. He specifically called for peace and for concern and solidarity with people in Gaza. And he made that call during the homily
that he gave on Christmas Day morning from St. Peter's Basilica.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO, HEAD OF CATHOLIC CHURCH: How then can we not think of the tents in Gaza exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold, of those so many others,
refugees and displaced persons on every continent, or of the makeshift shelters of thousands of homeless people in our own cities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAMB: Leo came onto the balcony of St. Peter's, where he greeted people in different languages, wishing them a happy Christmas. He spoke in Arabic, in
Chinese and in Polish, showing his linguistic skills. Leo in his Christmas message calling for the guns to fall silent in Ukraine.
Before Christmas, he said he hoped that there could be a ceasefire in Ukraine, just for Christmas Day for 24 hours. He also talked about
different conflicts taking place around the world, trying to bring the Christmas message to the here and now in what he was saying.
[09:20:00]
Leo, seeming in festive spirit, seeming happy to be marking the first Christmas since his election. Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Still to come for us, the legendary songs of Neil Diamond are making the big screen brought to life by two of Hollywood's
biggest stars. The reveal, when we come back.
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GOLODRYGA: Well, Hollywood royalty, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as lightning and thunder in a new movie that features the songs of American
music legend Neil Diamond. As CNN's Lynda Kinkade reports the love story about a tribute band has already garnered awards and nominations for its
stars.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, bringing music and messy, honest love to life in the film "Song
Sung Blue", inspired by a true story about a Neil Diamond tribute band.
HUGH JACKMAN, MIKE/LIGHTING IN "SONG SUNG BLUE": I'm not a song writer. I'm not a sex symbol. I just want to entertain people.
KATE HUDSON, CLAIRE/THUNDER IN "SONG SUNG BLUE": I don't want to be a hairdresser. I want to sing. I want to dance. I want to garden. I want to
cat.
KINKADE: What resonated with you and what hit home when you first read the script?
JACKMAN: It's real family showing up with some regrets, with some left turns, with some difficulties, and yet they're still showing up for each
other.
KINKADE: Well, what was the biggest challenge in putting this film together?
JACKMAN: Well, getting a mate. Everyone turned this film down, except one, universal focus. We should call ourselves lightning and thunder.
KINKADE: And I heard you two felt like a married couple making this movie.
JACKMAN: Yeah.
HUDSON: Yeah.
KINKADE: How did you build that chemistry?
JACKMAN: I was thankfully easy.
HUDSON: But this love story is central, like, if it doesn't work, the movie doesn't work. So, it was our job to make sure that we were, you know, that
we had that connection and thank God, thank God, thank God it was you.
KINKADE: Congratulations.
HUDSON: Thank you.
KINKADE: On your nomination for the Golden Globe.
HUDSON: Thank you very much.
KINKADE: Why do you think this was a bit of a breakout for you in terms of showcasing all of your talents.
HUDSON: Well, I don't think these rules come around very often. There are musicals and there's, you know, dramatic stories and things like that. But
this kind of walks this line of entertainment and drama and art.
KINKADE: You do such a fabulous job at the Milwaukee accent.
HUDSON: I would slip into it sometimes, even when we're doing press.
Just try it.
JACKMAN: I told you. I'm lactose intolerant.
HUDSON: I know, but it's just -- gas.
We had a great dialect coach. He kept us in line.
KINKADE: How's Kate's Australian accent?
JACKMAN: It's --
HUDSON: It's awful. It's my -- it's my -- It's the hardest one for me.
JACKMAN: Not many people do it well, right?
KINKADE: Right.
HUDSON: No, no.
JACKMAN: No, no.
KINKADE: And I loved when I saw you two just pop up at a bar, beer in hand and start singing.
JACKMAN: It was so great. We went down to old mates, which is --
HUDSON: Also, what a great bar.
JACKMAN: Yeah.
HUDSON: But it's literally like you step into Australia when you're -- I mean, everyone's Australian.
KINKADE: Where do we turn up to for the next performance at a bar?
HUDSON: Well --
JACKMAN: When we touring the world.
KINKADE: Over the holidays and looking forward to 2026, wishes and hopes.
HUDSON: I'm going back to Neil Diamond's house.
[09:25:00]
I've decided I'm spending the holidays with the Diamonds --
JACKMAN: Goal is to get invited -- to Kate Hudson's for Christmas. That's the effect.
KINKADE: That would be goal. Have family. I just feel like you just want to hug them all.
JACKMAN: That' true.
HUDSON: Oh well, it depends on if we're playing games. If we're playing games, you won't want to hug us. We get really competitive. My mom leaves
the room.
JACKMAN: There's a line in our movie, dream huge. And I wish that for every single one of you for 2026.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: What a great and fun interview. Kudos to our Lynda Kinkade. That was so fun to watch. All right. Well, Netflix gave "Bridgerton" fans the
ultimate Christmas present. A new trailer for season four.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We begin another season. I should like great gossip.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The social season might look a little --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, he must begin the proper way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dearest gentle reader.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: This season follows the second Bridgerton son Benedict as he searches for love in a Cinderella retelling. He sets out to uncover the
identity of the mysterious lady in a -- in silver that he meets at a masquerade ball. The first installment drops January 29th followed by part
two on February 26.
And we're one step closer to the end of the hit show "Stranger Things".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- Everything we have ever assumed about the upside down has been dead wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Three new episodes are now streaming on Netflix. This is the second installment of the fifth and final season. The finale drops on New
Year's Eve. Last week, the show's creator spoke to CNN about what fans can expect from the last episodes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT DUFFER, CREATOR, OF "STRANGER THINGS": I don't know how exactly people are going to feel. I imagine they're going to kind of sort of feel how we
felt, which is a mix of emotions and, you know, confusing emotions. So, I mean, there's an inevitability to it, like it is not a part of me going, I
wish this continued on to Season 6.
It feels like this is the right time, you know, to end it, but the same time, it's been really hard and really sad to say goodbye to this story and
these characters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Great movies, great shows to stream in the weeks and months to come. All right, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. I'll be
back in about 90 minutes time with more news. Coming up next for us, "Next Stop", Taiwan.
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END
