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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Israel Warns Houthis, Iran After Missile Lands Near Airport; Popemobile To Become Health Clinic For Gaza Children; Trump Wants To Reopen Alcatraz To House "Violent Offenders." Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired May 05, 2025 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:30:00]
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I think the second point is that this was filmed at the end of March but that was after two publicly announced phone calls between President Trump and President Putin trying on the Trump administration's side to sort of push this peace effort forward.
So I think the comment from President Putin that they have the strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 -- sort of, the war -- to a conclusion, that is -- fits with the outcome that Russia wants. That runs counter to these Russian efforts to show itself to the Trump administration as the peacemaker here.
So I think, look, another round of P.R. from Russia in a week -- that we're going to see a lot of this culminating, of course, at the end of the week in the biggest set piece of all with Victory Day, Rahel.
RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: OK, Clare Sebastian in London for us. Clare, thank you.
Still ahead why many student loan borrowers could see their tax refunds, wages, and benefits garnished by the government.
Plus, we'll take a look at why there could be controversy surrounding the succession of Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
We'll be right back.
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[05:35:40]
SOLOMON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is issuing new warnings to Yemen's Houthi rebels and to Iran. They come after Sunday's Houthi missile strike near Israel's Ben Gurion airport. The Iran-backed Houthis are also issuing a warning to the rest of the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YAHYA SAREA, HOUTHI SPOKESPERSON (through translator): The Yemini Armed Forces renew their warning to all international airlines against continuing their flights to Ben Gurion Airport as it has become unsafe for air traffic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: No one was injured in the missile strike but it's causing concern because most of the Houthi missile fired at Israel are intercepted. But now there are new questions about Israel's air defenses and the effectiveness of U.S. strikes in Yemen to stop the Houthi attacks. Speaking on Sunday, Netanyahu said that Israel will strike back.
Ben Gurion Airport is operating normally now but a number of airlines have rescheduled or canceled flights there.
So, Israel officials tell CNN that Israel's Security Cabinet has approved plans to expand military operations in Gaza. The Israeli Army released this video on Sunday. Army officials say that it shows Israeli troops in Rafah.
One Israel official tells CNN that the new plan for Israel's war in Gaza involved the conquest and territory and remaining there. They also say that the Israeli military will displace the Palestinian population to southern Gaza while carrying out "powerful" strikes against Hamas. Israel says that it's ordering tens of thousands of reservists to report for duty in the coming days.
Pope Francis' legacy of peace will go on in Gaza. In one of his final wishes before passing the pontiff requested that one of his popemobiles be transformed into a health clinic for children in the enclave. The Vatican News says that it will be refitted as a mobile health station that can examine and treat children in areas without functioning healthcare facilities.
The popemobile was used during Francis' trip to the Holy Lands in 2014.
And as Catholic cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect a new pope, the succession of another world religious leader could have major geopolitical and societal impact.
CNN's Steven Jung recently took a rare trip to Tibet and spoke with monks and officials there about the selection of the next Dalai Lama.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEVEN JUNG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF (voiceover): More than two million visitors, mostly from within China, flocked to the Potala Palace in 2024 paying up to 27 U.S. dollars for a ticket to tour the most famous landmark in the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
JUNG: For centuries this imposing and sprawling structure behind me was winter residence for the Dalai Lamas until 1959. That was the year when the 14th Dalai Lama had to flee Tibet after a failed uprising against Beijing.
JUNG (voiceover): In a book published in early 2025, the almost-90- year-old spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism said his successor is -- his reincarnation must be born "in the free world" -- meaning outside China -- to carry out the traditional mission in the Himalayan region -- a region so tightly controlled by Beijing that the only way for foreign reporters to visit is through government-organized media tours.
CNN was on one such rare trip in March 2025 and asked the monks and officials in Tibet about the remarks by the Dalai Lama -- someone Beijing has labeled an anti-China separatist.
GONGGA ZHAXI, POTALA PALACE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE (through translator): The central government has clear regulations on this matter. The reincarnation of each Dalai Lama must be approved by the central government. The search must take place within China.
JUNG (voiceover): Not surprisingly --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: China! China! China!
JUNG (voiceover): -- Tibetans in exile rejecting this notion with the spokesman for the Tibetan government in exile saying, "His Holiness is the only legitimate soul who can decide upon where His Holiness should be born in his next life. Nobody else, even the Chinese government."
But Beijing has done almost exactly that. In 1995, the government forcibly disappeared a 6-year-old boy when he was recognized by the exiled Dalai Lama as a new Panchen Lama, the second-highest ranking figure in Tibetan Buddhism. China, instead, installed its own choice -- a different Tibetan boy -- to the position; a decision still denounced by critics three decades later.
[05:40:05]
During CNN's most recent trip, a senior monk at Tibet's most sacred temple insisted he wasn't worried about the prospect of competing Dalai Lamas chosen by different authorities.
LA BA, JOKHANG TEMPLE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (through translator): That the reincarnation should be recognized by the central government has been settled for many years.
JUNG (voiceover): Not everyone shares this sentiment with some analysts fearing a scenario of dueling Dalia Lamas could shake the foundation of Tibetan religion and society, potentially unleashing fresh anger or even unrest in the land known as the "Roof of the World."
Steven Jung, CNN, Lhasa, Tibet.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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[05:45:10]
SOLOMON: Welcome back. I'm Rahel Solomon. It's just about 5:45 here, and here are some of the stories we are watching for you this morning. President Trump is making plans for what he calls a "big, beautiful military parade" in Washington, D.C. The celebration on June 14 marks the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and it will also coincide with the president's 79th birthday. Trump told NBC News that the cost would be minimal compared to the value of the parade.
Romanian nationalist George Simion appears on track to win the country's presidential election rerun. Exit polls showed him ahead of the two centrist candidates after Sunday's first round of voting. The election is seen as another test of the rise of Trump-style nationalism in the EU.
UK, this week, is celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. VE Day is May 8 but there are big events happening over the next four days. Today there is a military procession and fly-by in London, and later the king and queen will host World War II veterans for tea.
Donald Trump says that he is directing the Bureau of Prisons to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous former prison that's now a popular tourist attraction. The president says he wants to bring it back into service because of "radicalized judges" who want to ensure due process for migrants.
CNN's Alayna Treene has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, President Donald Trump, on Sunday evening as he was traveling from Florida back to the White House, posted something on social media that he's not yet raised so far since taking office, which is this idea of wanting to reopen and rebuild Alcatraz to house criminals in the country.
I'd remind you that Alcatraz is just off of the San Francisco coast. It used to operate as a U.S. federal penitentiary for 30 years before closing in 1963. It's currently operated as a museum and open to tourists.
But let me get into some of what the president posted. He said, "Rebuild and open Alcatraz. For too long America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders. When we were a more serious nation in times past we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals." He said, "That's the way it is supposed to be."
The post went on to say, "That is why today I am directing the Bureau of Prisons together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt Alcatraz to house America's most ruthless and violent offenders."
Now again, as I pointed out, this is not something that the president has said before that he had wanted to do. But it is in keeping with some of the other things that he's done so far in the last several months, which is really to try and crack down on criminals in the United States but also undocumented immigrants, particularly those who have committed crimes. We've seen that in the deportations of him sending migrants to El
Salvadoran prisons. We've also seen him try to transfer migrants to a naval base at Guantanamo Bay, something that has really raised concerns over living conditions there and the arduous, expensive process of making it a suitable site for deportees.
Now, it's very much unclear how the administration would actually move forward with this. But like some of the other actions he has taken, very likely this would face challenges in the legal system.
All to say something we are continuing to see how exactly they are going to work toward this and whether there are some tangible plans to actually make this happen.
Alayna Treene, CNN, West Palm Beach, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOLOMON: President Trump also says that he may consider using military force to take Greenland. He has repeatedly expressed interest in taking the Danish territory by force or economic coercion. Denmark and Greenland have firming rejected the idea, but Trump insists that the resource-rich island is needed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTEN WELKER, MODERATOR, NBC NEWS "MEET THE PRESS": You are not ruling out military force to take Greenland one day.
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything -- no, not there.
WELKER: Just --
TRUMP: We need it. We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we'll take care of, and we'll cherish them and all of that, but we need that for international security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: TikTok, meantime could get yet another lifeline from the White House. President Trump says that he would extend the pause on banning the platform if no deal is reached by June 19. The Chinese parent company ByteDance has until to divest the U.S. assets of TikTok or face a nationwide ban. Trump has granted a reprieve from the ban twice. Democratic senators have criticized the move, arguing that he doesn't have the authority to extend the deadline ban.
All right, not quite 6:00 a.m. on a Monday morning, but trading in Wall Street -- on Wall Street does begin in just a few hours. So let's take a look and see how U.S. futures are doing at the start of this new week. Futures have lowered -- solidly lower as we get closer and closer to the opening bell. But it is early. The Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq all off between six-tenths of percent to about nine-tenths of a percent for the Nasdaq, the worst among them at this point. [05:50:10]
The Federal Reserve meets this week and will decide what to do with interest rates. Our Anna Stewart looks at the business week ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rahel, Well, on the agenda this week.
Tomorrow, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to meet with U.S. President Trump. He says he is focused on getting the best deal for Canada with the U.S.
But the main business event will be on Wednesday. That is fed day. President Trump has made pretty clear that he would like a rate cut. He may not get one. Last week's strong jobs numbers, falling GDP, and cooling inflation didn't seem to shake those market expectations that they will hold rates steady -- not least as consumer and business sentiment continues to sour.
On Thursday we get another rate decision, this time from the Bank of England, and a cut is expected.
And earnings season continues in earnest with tariffs very much in focus. Ford reports after the bell today. Auto companies, of course, are under pressure from tariffs even though President Trump gave some relief last week.
And on Thursday we get earnings from Maersk. That is the shipping giant. It will give us a sense of the impact of tariffs. I'll be speaking with the CEO. We have a lot to get into on the shifts in global trade.
And finally, Friday we get the April trade data from China, and that should give us an indication of any pullback from those crippling tariffs on good between the U.S. and China.
Back to you, Rahel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOLOMON: Anna Stewart, thank you.
Fear is setting in for many borrowers. Collections for federal student loans in default are resuming today after a pandemic-era pause. And now more than five million Americans are scrambling for a solution. As part of its move to resume debt collection the government could garnish federal and state payments. That's includes tax refunds. The U.S. Department of Education is urging those in default to either start making a monthly payment or enroll in an income-driven repayment plan.
Microsoft is officially hanging up on Skype after today. The internet- based phone and video service will be retired in favor of Microsoft's team platform -- or Teams platform. Skype, for business users, however, will be unaffected by the change and will continue. Microsoft acquired Skype nearly 15 years ago from eBay for $8.5 billion in cash, making it the company's largest-ever acquisition at the time. Scenes of an era.
All right. Still ahead, life-size Lego designs like no other. Yes, there are race cars made of Legos, and they actually work.
We'll be right back.
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[05:57:05]
SOLOMON: Welcome back.
It's the day that fashion enthusiasts have been waiting for all year. The Met Gala returns to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art tonight. "Tailored for You" is this year's theme. That's in connection with the Costume Institute's landmark new exhibition "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style." The exhibit celebrates Black Dandyism, a style that saw a revival during the Harlem renaissance. It is still impacting fashion today.
This year's Met Gala co-chairs are actor Colman Domingo, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, rapper A$AP Rocky, and musician and Louis Vuitton creative director Pharrell Williams. Well, that is a really nice lineup there. OK, I think we'll be talking more about it on tomorrow's show.
All right, now to the Formula 1 racetrack and a strong showing for the McLaren team at this year's Miami Grand Prix with Oscar Piastri earning the victory. It's the Australian's third win a row and his fourth of the season, stretching his championship lead. His teammate Lando Norris took second, while George Russell finished third for Mercedes a whopping 37 seconds behind.
And ahead of the Grand Prix fans were treated to an unusual race -- how about this -- between full-scale cars made of Legos. Each car has nearly 400,000 Lego bricks and can reach speeds of up to 12 miles an hour. It took a team of engineers, designers, and Lego builders more than 22,000 hours to build all 10 cars -- incredible.
And in a winner-go-home matchup the Golden State Warriors outplayed the Rockets in Houston, winning 103-89. Steph Curry stepping up for the Warriors, scoring 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. The Warriors will move on to face the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Tuesday.
In the first game of their Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Indiana Pacers used 19 3-pointers to beat the Cavaliers in Cleveland 121-112.
And finally, a dramatic rescue in Louisville, Kentucky. Look at this video. This is where a semi-truck crashed and was left dangling off an interstate overpass early Sunday. Fire crews spent about 30 minutes getting the driver out of the cab with crews also waiting below just in case the truck fell. Now the driver was not injured, miraculously, but the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
All right, that'll do it for us here on a Monday morning. Thanks for being with us here on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon live in New York. I will see you tomorrow. In the meantime "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.
