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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Pentagon Sheds Light On Strike Planning; China Signals Readiness To Approve Rare Earths Deal With U.S.; Trump's Domestic Agenda Faces Headwinds In U.S. Senate. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired June 27, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:09]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, very good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and around the world.

I'm Becky Anderson, live in Abu Dhabi for you.

Straight ahead on EARLY START.

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NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: New details about the U.S. military's operation against three nuclear facilities in Iran.

PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: There's been a lot of discussion about what happened and what didn't happen.

SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): If retooling means I can get answers to what I consider to be fundamental questions, I'm open to it.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We don't want to have grandstanders where one or two people raised their voice, we are -- we don't know.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: The New York's mayor's race is getting more crowded.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE: Unlike the current mayor, I'm not going to be working alongside the Trump administration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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ANDERSON: Members of the U.S. House set to learn more today about the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites in what will be a classified briefing from the Trump administration, senators came away from Thursday's session, with many Republicans saying it would take Iran years to rebuild its program.

Democrats had a different takeaway that the damage to Iran's sites could be reversed within months. The Pentagon says the mission went as planned, and its confident all bombs hit their targets. But there was no update from them on damage assessments. The U.S. top general played video for bunker buster tests, not the actual strikes on Iran. But when asked about the damage, he deferred to U.S. intelligence agencies.

And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blasted the media for reporting on the defense departments initial findings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HEGSETH: Well, I can tell you what the what the chairman told me in the Situation Room and reminded us all, which is alongside what you just said, sir, is that the first -- first reports are almost always wrong. They're almost always incomplete, right? It's -- your job is to step back and assess them.

And that's why we're urging caution about putting it -- premising entire stories on biased leaks to biased publications, trying to make something look bad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, we get more now from CNN's national security correspondent Natasha Bertrand.

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NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: The Pentagon on Thursday morning released new details about the U.S. military's operation against three nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend and disclosed some new information about just how much planning went into the bombing campaign against one facility in particular. That's Fordow nuclear facility.

According to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, this operation was about 15 years in the making, and according to the chairman, the U.S. military is very confident at this point that the bombs successfully hit their targets at Fordow nuclear facility last weekend. And they went, actually, down the ventilation shafts of that nuclear facility, a very key detail that Chairman Caine revealed earlier, because, of course, that indicates that those bombs did not only have a surface-level impact. They also went deep below the structure of Fordow and actually managed to penetrate the very, very deeply buried facilities that Iran has at that particular nuclear site.

And so, the question remains, however, and something that the Pentagon didn't really touch on today, because they said they don't have that level of fidelity yet, is how much damage was actually done to those very key underground facilities that are very much core to Iran's nuclear program.

And that remains unclear because, as Chairman Caine said, there was no one on the ground at that moment to actually, of course, witness what exactly was damaged as a result of that bombing campaign. And so, while this was meticulously carried out, according to the chairman, according to military officials, including the fact that the bombs were going at the right speed and hit their targets really perfectly, according to the military, that full battle damage assessment is still yet to be completed.

And according to the chairman, again, that is going to be up to the intelligence community as they continue to gather information, including from within Iran, sources that may be on the ground there, to really get a sense for how much this actually set back Iran's nuclear program.

Because, of course, the administration has been fighting all week to try to combat a report that was publicized by CNN and others earlier this week, produced by the Defense Intelligence Agency, that said, the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities really only appear to have set back Iran's nuclear program by a couple of months at most.

And that has infuriated the Trump administration. And so, they have been urging the public to wait for more information. Of course, pouring cold water on that particular assessment, saying that they do not believe that it is accurate.

But at the same time, they have not yet presented new intelligence that would suggest that the Iranian nuclear program is, as President Trump has put it, quote, "completely obliterated."

[05:05:07]

And so, the intelligence community is going to continue to gather information about this. But this morning, what we saw from the Pentagon was a lot of political bluster, frankly, from the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, who was attacking the media, particularly over that report from the Defense Intelligence Agency. And a lot of more substantive operational details from General Caine.

But ultimately, not necessarily disputing the reporting from CNN and others about how this assessment and this intelligence is still very early on, and the full battle damage assessment has yet to be completed, about just how this impacted Iran's nuclear program.

Natasha Bertrand, CNN, in Washington.

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ANDERSON: Natasha Bertrand there.

Iran's supreme leader delivered a defiant message in his first public speech since the ceasefire between his country and Israel. In a prerecorded statement, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Tehran will never surrender, rebuking earlier comments from U.S. president Donald Trump, and he also predictably declared victory over Israel and the U.S.

Have a listen.

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AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN (through translator): I would like to congratulate the great nation of Iran. I want to congratulate them for a few reasons. First, I would like to congratulate them for victory over the fake regime of the Zionist regime. With all those claims that the Zionist regime were making, they almost were crushed under the blows of the Islamic government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Let's bring in Amir Handjani. He's a fellow with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, joining us this hour from New York.

I want to get your assessment, firstly, of the rhetoric that we are hearing one out of the supreme leader and indeed from the foreign minister of Iran, both on the sights and on what happens next with regard to the U.S., Israel and the like.

AMIR HANDJANI, FELLOW, QUINCY INSTITUTE FOR RESPONSIBLE STATECRAFT: Well, good morning, Becky. Its nice to be with you. I think this is typical of -- after this conflict. They are sounding defiant. They a huge rally around the flag in Iran right now. The people are out in the streets. They're claiming victory.

And what they want to show the world is that they're going to continue to push for Iran's right to enrich uranium domestically. That has been the sticking point of the negotiation right now, right before the war. And I think that both the supreme leader and the foreign minister are sending signals to the west, to the United States that Iran isn't going to back down.

ANDERSON: Well, CNN has learned of secret diplomatic efforts that are being offered to Iran to get back to the table. Those include as much as $30 billion to build civilian nuclear producing nuclear programs, easing sanctions, freeing up billions of dollars in restricted Iranian funds. What do you make of this?

HANDJANI: Look, I think Iran was at the negotiating table, and they're going to go back to the negotiating table. They don't have a choice, because if they don't go back to the negotiating table and they try and reconstitute their nuclear program, they're going to get hit again. This war is going to continue.

I think the real devil is going to be in the details, if you will. Becky, which is what's the -- what's the level of tolerance for Iran that they can spin whatever deal that they accept as a win. And to get that, they're going to probably need some sort of domestic enrichment.

My guess is that domestic enrichment will have to be all above ground, nothing below ground. And with full inspections, with U.S. inspectors on the ground. A much more intrusive inspection regime. That's probably what Iran's going to be pushing for. And the question is, can the Trump administration and Israel stomach that?

ANDERSON: That's a very good point. And we will -- we will -- we will have to see at this point.

What do you make of this comment from the Israeli prime minister in the past hours? Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER; This victory opens the door to a dramatic expansion of the peace agreements. We are working on this vigorously.

Alongside the release of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas, there is a window of opportunity here that must not be missed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:10:10]

ANDERSON: Right. And he talked about a window of opportunity here for Gaza. The heart of Iran's issue. Of course, with Israel is the Palestinian issue. So, what do you see any momentum after this ceasefire between Israel and Iran that could lead to a breakthrough on Gaza? And how will any opportunity and we've heard the Qataris talking about, you know, at least talks being back on within days. How might that be baked into any calculus that Tehran has about what they do going forward?

HANDJANI: Well, I think the reason you're getting this right now from Israel and from Prime Minister Netanyahu is because the Trump administration has been pushing for this. And I'm sure they're thinking, hey, listen, we've supported you during this war. You got to give us something. We want this war in Gaza to end.

This has been going on for almost two years now. And there's for -- the Trump administration's diplomatic efforts in the region, expansion of the Abraham Accords, getting Saudi and some of the other gulf states and some of the other Arab states to sign up for the Abraham accords. All that is predicated on the war in Gaza ending and having some sort of resolution on what's going to be happening in Gaza.

And you're not going to get that -- you're not going to get any of that until Israel comes to terms with ending this war. I think from the Iranian perspective, the issue after the war is a bit delinked. They're right now very much concerned about their own security, their own economic well-being. Less so about what's going on in Gaza, because they realize that if they're not going to come to terms with the United States on a nuclear deal, that this war with them is going to continue irrespective of what happens in Gaza.

ANDERSON: Yeah, there's a lot going on here, isn't there? Of course, the prospect of further Abraham Accords, not least with Saudi Arabia, has been a course that that Iran has not wanted to see happen to date. On the flip side, of course, the gulf nations, Saudi Arabia reaching out to Iran over the past couple of years, looking to at least induce Iran to stop its malign behavior around this region by introducing the opportunity for some sort of economic opportunity and integration going forward. There is a lot. It is multilayered. It's complex. Amir, it's good to

have you to help us sort through much of this, and we appreciate your time. Thank you, sir.

Well, now, to a potentially major breakthrough on U.S.-China trade. The Commerce Ministry in Beijing is signaling that it will approve the export of rare earth minerals to America. It comes just a few hours after the White House said the two governments had reached a deal.

Let's bring in CNN's Marc Stewart, who is live in Beijing.

Marc, what are you hearing there?

MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, as you well know, these issues of rare earth minerals have been perhaps the most contentious issue in this trade dispute between the United States and China. For China, it's been a big point of leverage. It controls 90 percent of the processing of these minerals, according to the International Energy Agency, they are crucial in everyday products.

They are needed to make basic household electronics. They are used in making batteries. They are making drones, electric vehicles, even fighter jets. It's been this big point of contention. The United States and others have accused China of hoarding these materials.

But now, we are getting confirmation from Beijing that an agreement has been reached. As you mentioned, it was just yesterday that President Trump alluded to an agreement. Now we have some confirmation from Beijing. So it's a very significant signal that this ongoing trade dispute, which has been going on now for several months, can begin to move forward.

We know it's been very damaging, not only from a business standpoint, but also on a principle standpoint. As a result of the restrictions on rare earth minerals, the United States put a lot of restrictions on China when it comes to materials such as chip software, jet engines, even ethane.

We saw the U.S. threaten to make visa restrictions for Chinese students. That's now been lifted. So, this trade agreement appears to move forward far from spontaneous. We know that it was just a few weeks ago that U.S. and Chinese officials met in the United Kingdom to have some talks. We know that Chinese President Xi and President Trump had conversations.

[05:15:02]

So, the pathway was in place. Now it appears that after all of this discussion, the fine print, the details appear to be resolved.

Becky, I should point out today in Asia, we are looking at the markets very mixed. Some gains, some losses depending on where you are on the continent. This is, no question been a point of contention and uncertainty for both Wall Street and Main Street, but perhaps the confirmation that were getting today from Beijing indicates that things are on track and that perhaps a broader trade agreement may be reached sooner rather than later, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah. And at the heart of this, of course, is the fact that superpowers just need that access to these rare earths and the U.S. doesn't have anything like what China has. And so, it really has been key to any trade deal going forward. It's a pretty black and white sort of issue this one, isn't it, Marc? And it's fascinating to see how it is developing.

Thank you. Marc Sstewart in Beijing.

Let's see then how these markets are responding. As Marc said, not really much to suggest that this has moved these markets around. Marc alluding to what had happened in the Asian markets. These futures markets will take a kind of steer from the Asian trading day, not seeing a lot of change. There may be already factored in.

We'll wait to see what happens later when the markets open. The indications, at least for U.S. trade, is that we will see a better open. And, of course, we are seeing near record highs for the S&P after all of this trade tariff sort of flip flops from President Trump. These markets suggest that investors are sort of back in business as far as equities are concerned.

President Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill is, though, facing a major setback in the U.S. senate after key provisions did not meet the senate's strict rules, and investors will be watching this. How Republicans are reacting is up next.

And people across Gaza are going hungry as meager amounts of aid trickle in. Still ahead, aid distribution faces new hurdles in an enclave that is so desperately short of food.

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[05:21:48]

ANDERSON: Well, President Trump's domestic agenda is facing a major setback after the Senate parliamentarian struck down key parts of what is known as his Big, Beautiful Bill. Now, members of congress plan to work through the weekend to retool the bill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: We're plowing forward, and when we actually get on, it still is an open question. But rest assured we will.

REPORTER: Do you think this will make it harder to get this passed by July 4th?

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Well, it doesn't make it easier, but you know me. Hope springs eternal and we're going to work around the clock and try to meet that deadline.

REPORTER: Are you ruling? JOHNSON: That's the way we should do. It.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, they do hope to pass it by July the 4th. You can hear there, but some key Republicans raising serious questions about certain provisions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TILLIS: If retooling means I can get answers to what I consider to be fundamental questions, I'm open to it. But if retooling means I'm still not going to get the answers, I need to understand the impact on the state, I'm opposed to it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, the parliamentarian says some parts of the document don't meet the strict rules that allow a bill to be passed by a simple majority. Those provisions include cuts to Medicaid, state and local tax deductions, phasing out green energy tax credits, increasing the debt ceiling, and money for the Pentagon, border security and deportations.

Well, despite the ruling, President Trump demanding that lawmakers get the deal done.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I shouldn't say this, but we don't want to have grandstanders where one or two people raise their vote. We are -- we don't know, and they do it to grandstand. That's all. Not good people. They know who I am, who I'm talking about. I call them out. But we don't need grandstanders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: All right, well, Thomas Gift joining us now. He's the director for the Center on U.S. politics at the University College of London.

Look, the Senate's top rules official says that a multi-billion dollar portion of this bill isn't allowed under what is known as reconciliation. Can you just explain for our viewers how it breaks the rules? Very basically, if you don't mind, for the benefit of everybody?

THOMAS GIFT, DIRECTOR, CENTRE ON U.S. POLITICS, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON: Sure, sure. A complex formula calculates the amount of federal funding that's allocated through the joint program that's operated alongside the states. So, the Big, Beautiful Bill as a result faces technical hurdles. In order for something to be passed through reconciliation, which just requires a simple majority. It really has to be premised on the budget.

All of these other issues really can't be done with that simple process. It would require 60 votes, which would make sort of a filibuster-proof.

ANDERSON: Right. So that is how it breaks the rules, according to the top official. Well, at the let's take a look at the list of sticking points. And it looks like a long one. Several Republican senators are warning that they won't vote for the bill if it contains tax maneuvers that allow states to impose taxes to pay for Medicaid coverage. They say that that measure would be devastating to rural hospitals, especially in many Republican states.

[05:25:01]

That is an example of how these lofty legislative efforts can actually impact peoples' lives, right?

GIFT: No, you're absolutely right. And that's why there's so much opposition within the Republican Party, not just the Democratic Party. I mean, the battle over Medicare is really the key premise here. The big, beautiful bill includes a directive that states reduce the taxes they impose on Medicaid providers from 6 percent to 3 percent.

But opponents of this bill say that it will negatively impact the funding of rural hospitals, as you noted, which are highly dependent on that funding. And a huge section of the voting populace that's, you know, essentially going to be affected by this bill are Trump voters. I mean, a lot of this is in red states.

ANDERSON: Yeah. And that's fascinating.

So, the question is, are, you know, members of Congress doing enough to protect their constituents? The challenge is that some Republican members of Congress want even deeper cuts. Right. But they represent those same red states where Medicaid cuts could hurt.

Just explain, if you will, the ideological balance between funding the government and advancing the MAGA agenda.

GIFT: Well, the Big, Beautiful Bill is creating or I think more accurately exposing an identity crisis within the Republican Party, which I think is what you're getting at. These fiscal hawks think that the bill spending cuts don't go far enough. For example, we heard Senator Rand Paul say that there would be blowback if Congress doesn't cut the deficit by more. I think Republicans do risk looking hypocritical after exerting so much effort during the Biden administration to push for spending restraint.

But of course, more moderate senators are staring down the real consequences of entitlement rollbacks and analysis by the congressional budget office last month showed that the poorest households would lose roughly $1,600 per year due to reductions in food supplements and Medicaid. So that is certainly not inconsequential. It's a big reason why so many Republicans right now are hesitating -- hesitant to give Trump this legislative victory.

ANDERSON: And that begs the question to your mind, will he get it? I mean, we have already seen the kind of fissures between the Republicans when we, you know, we've been witnessing what's been going on with Iran. You know, the hawks looking for more military action.

The MAGA representatives saying, this is not what this coalition is all about. This is not who we voted for. We are about sort of America first. And to that point, these will be people who will be having to look at their constituencies now and say, how is this bill affecting us?

So bottom line, Thomas, at this point, is Donald Trump going to get this through? He is describing those who are holding it up at the moment as simply grandstanding.

GIFT: Right. I mean, Trump is going to have to be the closer for Republicans. And that means applying pressure to leadership and rank and file members of the Senate. The basic message is going to be vote for this bill or we're going to primary you into oblivion.

And so, we saw the power of MAGA to force Congress members into compliance with Trump's cabinet picks. Without that, Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel and others likely wouldn't be in the position they're in.

Trump certainly isn't in his honeymoon period still, and he doesn't have endless political capital. But there's still no one who rivals Trump's power with the GOP base. So, I think we can expect him to use every last ounce of energy he has to make sure this big, beautiful bill passes. And if he doesn't, I think Donald Trump will look very weak heading into the 2026 midterms.

ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. Thomas Gift for you on the story today.

Well, fire crews battle the flames as Russia takes aim at a region in southern Ukraine. More on the latest deadly strikes there is after this.

Plus, excuse me, a Palestinian town in the west bank tries to come to grips with a deadly attack by Israeli settlers.

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