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CNN Investigates U.S. Claim "No One Has Died" From Aid Cuts; Rock Legend And Reality TV Show Dad Ozzy Osbourne Dies At 76; Venus Williams Makes Winning Return To Tennis At Age 45. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired July 23, 2025 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:32:25]
MJ LEE, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to Afghanistan where USAID cuts are having life or death consequences. The Trump administration dismantled USAID earlier this year canceling $1.7 billion in contracts for the Taliban-run country of which $500 million had yet to be disbursed. Other Western countries like Germany, France, and the U.K. have also reduced aid.
The Trump administration has recently said no one in Afghanistan has died due to aid cuts.
CNN's Isobel Yeung traveled there to investigate, and a warning some of the images you're about to see are disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISOBEL YEUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): We're in the Taliban's Afghanistan, a nation now dealing with huge foreign aid cuts.
YEUNG: The clinic we're actually heading towards was until just a few months ago funded by the U.S. government. Now the Trump administration has pulled the funding. A lot of people in this area are left with not even basic health care facilities.
YEUNG (voiceover): The U.N. estimates an Afghan woman dies every two hours from pregnancy or childbirth. This clinic has now closed.
YEUNG: So this is where women are giving birth.
SAMIRA SAYED RAHMAN, SAVE THE CHILDREN AFGHANISTAN: Yes. You know, this is the only clinic in this area and now it's gone.
YEUNG: Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, right? What happens to these women now that the delivery room is gone?
RAHMAN: It means that these communities don't have access. It means that women are going to be giving birth at home, meaning more and more children are going to die during childbirth. YEUNG: We were just talking to community leaders who were telling us that seven people have died since this clinic closed, and just a couple of days ago a woman died in childbirth because there was nowhere for her to give birth.
YEUNG (voiceover): When we followed up, the woman's neighbors and family told us that if the clinic had been open and she'd had the support of midwife, she would have survived.
Across Afghanistan over 400 clinics have closed because of USAID cuts. Millions of people were relying on these clinics for health care. Now their only option is to travel hours, sometimes days, to public hospitals like this where there's an influx of new patients.
The U.S. was funding doctors, nurses and essential drugs here but now that's also gone.
YEUNG: Hello. How are you?
DR. ANIDULLAH SAMIM, NANGAHAR REGIONAL HOSPITAL: This has the capacity for just one baby, and we have under ours three babies here.
YEUNG: Yeah, it's crowded.
SAMIM: Yeah, crowded, yeah.
[05:35:00]
YEUNG: Is this normal?
SAMIM: Normal? Not normal. When they -- when they cut the aid here our mortality rate about three or four -- three or four percent.
YEUNG: So three to four percent more --
SAMIM: A rise to --
YEUNG: -- babies are dying since the U.S. cut the aid?
SAMIM: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
YEUNG: Wow.
YEUNG (voiceover): Malnutrition has soared here. Nine-point-five million people are severely feed insecure. Several NGOs previously funded by the U.S. are now turning away many people in desperate need of food.
Mohammed Omar (PH) has severe malnutrition and meningitis. The family are poor and were only recently able to bring him the long distance to this hospital.
SAMIM: When did he become like this?
NAZOGUL, GRANDSON DYING OF MALNUTRITION: Early in the morning.
SAMIM: You said it was diarrhea at first and then it got worse.
NAZOGUL: Yes, it started with diarrhea.
SAMIM: Since when has he not been able to eat?
NAZOGUL: It has been a long time since he could eat on his own.
YEUNG: Hi. I'm so sorry for what you're going through. Can I ask what your name is?
NAZOGUL: My name is Nazogul. He's my grandson.
YEUNG: How old is he?
NAZOGUL: He just turned one.
YEUNG: What is his situation? What has the doctor said?
NAZOGUL: Doctors say that a microbe has infected his brain. He's unconscious now. You can see that the child's condition is very bad.
YEUNG (voiceover): In the middle of speaking we looked over and realized the child had stopped breathing.
YEUNG: Is he breathing? Is he breathing?
SAMIM: (Speaking foreign language).
NAZOGUL: (Speaking foreign language).
SAMIM: (Speaking foreign language).
NAZOGUL: (Crying).
YEUNG: He died?
SAMIM: Yeah.
YEUNG: Oh my God.
YEUNG (voiceover): Mohammed's mother returns to the room and the devastating news.
MOHAMMED'S MOTHER: (Crying and screaming).
YEUNG: This is just one family of so many thousands of families that have been through this and it's utterly heart wrenchingly devasting.
YEUNG (voiceover): It's impossible to definitively blame one single factor for Mohammed's death. He was suffering from a range of serious illnesses.
But aid cuts have dealt a devastating blow here. Canceling aid to Afghanistan has long been a goal for Congressman Tim Burchett --
REP. TIM BURCHETT (R-TN): ...$5 billion in cash. YEUNG (voiceover): -- claiming $5 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars have gone directly to the ruling Taliban, a designated terrorist group. But the U.S. government's own watchdog says it's more like $11 million. The vast majority of money goes to those it's intended for.
YEUNG: Are you intentionally misleading the American public when it comes to inflating these figures so that you can get what you want?
BURCHETT: No, ma'am, I'm not. As a matter of fact, $11 million is still a whole lot of money to the average American. If it's one penny going to the Taliban, they'll hate us for free.
YEUNG: What would you say to -- I mean, there are millions of Afghans who are going to be affected by this.
BURCHETT: I would say you're going to have to make it on your own.
YEUNG: Hundreds of clinics across the country have now closed down. I literally watched a baby die from malnutrition.
What would you say to these families who are living through desperate circumstances devastated by the results of your actions?
BURCHETT: I think it's horrific but it's not due to my actions, ma'am. We don't have any more money. We're borrowing that money. And again, these --
YEUNG: But it is due to your actions. I mean, you have been advocating for this for the last couple of years.
BURCHETT: These are people that -- these are people that have -- no, ma'am. No ma'am. It's not our responsibility. What -- we have Americans in the same position. We have Americans that are having trouble with childbirth. We have Americans going hungry and you want us to borrow money and send it overseas.
YEUNG (voiceover): With the U.S. turning away, the fate of Afghans is now left in the hands of their own government, the Taliban, who say they're capable of running the country without foreign aid. They denied our request for an interview.
But it's the country's most vulnerable, women and children, who stand to lose the most now facing an isolated future without the support of those who once came to their aid.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEE: And the U.S. State Department did not respond to CNN's request for comment.
Isobel Yeung joins us live from London now. Isobel, that was just such important and eye-opening reporting. And I just want to know from you what more we should know about what you saw with your own eyes when you were on the ground there.
[05:40:07] YEUNG: Well, good morning, MJ.
Yeah. I mean, obviously, completely devastating to watch firstly this woman go through what can only be described as every parent's worst nightmare to realize that her child had died. But she's not the only one there. In fact, the doctor that was showing us around that particular hospital pointed out at least four other children who he said were likely to die in the coming months because of lack of resources now, because of lack of medical attention. Because the parents just cannot afford the treatment that they desperately need for their children.
And, in fact, we spoke to so many families across the country who told us the same thing. So many stories of loss and desperation, telling us that they did not know how they could afford to feed their children. Telling us that they did not know how they were going to treat their children if they got sick.
And NGOs have told us that this is millions of families across Afghanistan who are likely to be impacted by these aid cuts. And it's not just health care. You've got to remember that emergency food supplies have been impacted. That women's work programs have been impacted. That psychological support for women who are suffering from sexual or violent abuse have been impacted.
That education programs have been impacted. And, in fact, for education, you know, you've to remember that in the Taliban's Afghanistan the international community says that they are ruling with what is described as gender apartheid. So girls over the age of 12 cannot attend schools. And, in fact, some girls that we spoke to told us the last loophole was that the U.S. was funding these online education programs -- these secret schools and these abroad scholarships. And now that is all obviously in jeopardy.
And so what you're seeing right now is a religious school that we attended in Madrasas, which is one of the only options for them to attend these schools right now. And what they are focusing on is a very strict interpretation of Islamic rules and Islamic principles.
LEE: And Isobel, can I just quickly ask you -- I was so struck watching that image of the clinic that you walked into in the beginning of the piece. There's that old USAID sign on the wall.
Are the locals there sort of making that connection and sort of saying to you we are seeing all of this because of the funding cuts? Like, are they making that connection themselves?
YEUNG: Well, certainly, families that we spoke to across the country have told us that they directly blame the closure of clinics -- for the fact that they're not able to get the treatment.
In fact, we spoke to a woman who told us that she miscarried her two twin babies because the clinic nearby had just recently closed. And because of the strict Taliban rules, meaning that women can't travel without a male guardian now, that she wasn't able to get to a clinic, which is now much, much further away. So in some cases, yes, they are making that connection.
LEE: Isobel Yeung, thank you so much.
And we'll be right back.
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[05:47:20]
LEE: Welcome back. I'm MJ Lee. Here are some of the stories we're watching today.
Donald Trump has announced a new U.S. trade agreement with Japan just days before steep tariffs are set to kick in. The U.S. president says Japan will not pay reciprocal tariffs of 15 percent and invest $550 billion into the U.S. creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
The U.S. House lawmakers are set to go on break today. Members will being their August recess after House Speaker Mike Johnson shut down the chamber a day early. The move was aimed at squashing momentum for a vote led by a fellow Republican to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
And a sentencing hearing will begin today for the man who killed four University of Idaho students. Brian Kohberger pleaded guilty to the 2022 murders in a deal to avoid the death penalty. He is expected to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Kohberger will have an opportunity to speak but it is uncertain if he will.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OZZY OSBOURNE, ENGLISH SINGER-SONGWRITER, LEAD SINGER, BLACK SABBATH: Singing "Crazy Train."
Singing "Paranoid."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: The music world is paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman who died on Tuesday at age 76 just weeks after his final show.
Former bandmate Tony Iommi called Osbourne's death heartbreaking, writing, "There won't ever be another like him."
CNN's Stephanie Elam has more now on the heavy metal icon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): He was called the "Prince of Darkness" and for a half-century British musician Ozzy Osbourne rocked heavy metal fans worldwide until his death at age 76 just weeks after taking what was called his final bow.
OSBOURNE: I've been laid up for, like, six years, and so you've got no idea how I'm feeling.
ELAM (voiceover): The Black Sabbath frontman reunited with his bandmates for a show called "Back to the Beginning" in this hometown of Birmingham, England.
OSBOURNE: Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
ELAM (voiceover): Performing with bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward, and guitarist Tony Iommi for the first time in two decades alongside other music legends Metallica and Guns N' Roses.
His family issuing a statement saying during his final moments he was with his family and surrounded by love.
Osbourne's charisma and wildness on and off the stage --
[05:50:00]
OSBOURNE: If I'd had known it was a real bat I would never have bitten into it.
ELAM (voiceover): -- transcended music and made him a cultural phenomenon.
GEORGE W. BUSH, (D) FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ozzy Osbourne.
ELAM (voiceover): Born John "Ozzy" Osbourne, he left school at 15 and said he found his calling after listening to The Beatles on the radio.
OSBOURNE: I can remember the first time I heard "She Loves You." That changed my life because I thought that's what I want to do.
ELAM (voiceover): Osbourne became lead vocalist of the band that would become Black Sabbath in 1968 and pioneered a daring genre-defining new sound. The heavy guitar and riff-based albums "Black Sabbath" and "Paranoid" captivated audiences in 1970.
As Black Sabbath's fame exploded so did Osbourne's hellraising behavior. He was fired from Black Sabbath for drug and alcohol abuse in 1979. Those same issues broke up Osbourne's first marriage and followed him for decades.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Have you been tempted to go back to the drug usage?
OSBOURNE: All the time. I mean, when you're a drug addict you don't stop being a drug addict because you stop taking 'em.
ELAM (voiceover): But Sharon Arden, the daughter of Black Sabbath's manager, helped get him back on his feet and encouraged him to go solo.
OSBOURNE: Singing "Crazy Train."
ELAM (voiceover): Osbourne's debut single "Crazy Train" got the singer back on the rails.
Ozzy and Sharon married in 1982, and Sharon managed his career for the rest of his life.
Their love was on full display to an entirely new audience in the 2002 MTV reality series "THE OSBOURNES." Ozzy's dry and at times unintelligible humor and relatable parenting challenges endeared him to millions. And the fly-on-the-wall look at the Osbournes' expletive- laden daily life --
OSBOURNE: (Bleep).
ELAM (voiceover): -- shot the family to fame.
After years of speculation about his health, Osborne revealed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis in an interview with "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" in 2020. But Osborne was committed to making more music and three years later, he won two Grammys for his album, "Patient Number Nine," bringing his Grammy total to five, three as a solo artist and two with Black Sabbath.
In all, Osbourne made over 20 albums and is among the elite group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. From Prince of Darkness to reality TV show dad, Ozzy Osborne was a man, a myth and a legend.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEE: And live now to Birmingham, England where Ozzy Osbourne played his final show and CNN's Salma Abdelaziz. Salma, how are the locals there taking in the news?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, this wasn't just where he played his last show; this was his hometown. And it's very difficult to walk around and not see and feel the impact, which you can see right behind me here. This is the Black Sabbath bench, which was put right in the middle of the city center to honor the band before the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, and now it has become a place for people to lay flowers down, to come together, and to speak.
And one of those people -- one of those fans that I really want to introduce you to is Glenda. You had already planned a trip here for your birthday --
GLENDA BARRETT, OZZY OSBOURNE FAN: Yes.
ABDELAZIZ: -- and then last night you get the news --
BARRETT: Yes.
ABDELAZIZ: -- that he's passed.
How did you feel in that moment?
BARRETT: At first, I wasn't sure I believed it because of all the fake news. But then we went on and looked and realized yes, this is true. I was gutted -- absolutely gutted.
ABDELAZIZ: And you've seen him in concert many times.
BARRETT: Yes.
ABDELAZIZ: What did he mean to you? Who is Ozzy Osbourne and why were you such a fan?
BARRETT: Um, I loved his music. Most of it was heartfelt and dark and deep, which is something I like. Um, and just his whole persona. A local man who came from nothing and not ashamed to admit that. And he was just so amazing.
His concerts would be full of energy. He'd bring the house down. There was nothing like seeing him live. And he got a human touch.
ABDELAZIZ: Thank you so much for sharing that human touch, which isn't what everyone knows about him.
So you really have a city here that is trying to honor the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne. These are his stomping grounds. The first concert he ever played was just a short walk away from here. And the last concert he played -- which was again dubbed "A Farewell" -- was also here. So for this city it is a moment of closure and a moment of goodbye.
LEE: Salma Abdelaziz, thank you so much for that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OSBOURNE: Singing "Mama, I'm Coming Home."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:59:20]
LEE: At the age of 45, Venus Williams is a winner again. Williams defeated Peyton Stearns in straight sets at the tournament in Washington, D.C. It makes her the first woman age 45 or over to win a WTA match in more than 20 years.
Afterwards, Williams could not hide her delight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VENUS WILLIAMS, 7-TIME SINGLES MAJOR CHAMPION: It's just about putting it altogether, right? You can still play a good match and lose the match. So I wanted to play a good match and win the match. I had to come back for the insurance because I'm -- they informed me earlier this year I'm on COBRA. So I was like I've got to get my benefits, so I started training.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[06:00:05] LEE: Willams won seven singles majors during a glittering career. She also won 14 doubles majors alongside her sister, Serena.
Thank you so much for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm MJ Lee in Washington, D.C. And "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.
