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Isa Soares Tonight
Divide Deepens in MAGA Base Over Epstein Investigation; Russia Unleashes Another Massive Bombardment on Ukraine; Trump Defends 50-Day Ultimatum for Peace Deal; Kilmar Abrego Garcia Facing Possibility of a Second Deportation; "The Legend of Zelda" Casts Actors in Live-Action Film. Series of Israeli Strikes Hits Syria's Capital; Russia Launches Massive Overnight Attack on Ukraine; Trump Lashes Out at Weaklings Who Believe Epstein was Murdered Amid Building GOP Pressure to Release Documents. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired July 16, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, a tense situation escalating in the
Middle East. Israel launched a series of strikes on Syria's capital.
We have the very latest. In a massive overnight attack, Russia launches 400 drones into Ukraine, and President Donald Trump is lashing out at what he
calls his past supporters, taking aim at those asking questions about the Jeffrey Epstein files.
We begin this hour, though, with breaking news out of Syria as a series of powerful Israeli strikes rocked the capital, Damascus. Syria says at least
three people were killed, the U.S. views the situation as worrisome. And here is the moment Syria's Ministry of Defense was hit on live TV, forcing
the anchor to take cover. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(EXPLOSION)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Israel says it strikes on Syria to protect the Druze, an ethno religious group who live in Israel, Syria, Lebanon and the Golan
Heights. Syria's government claims a new ceasefire agreement has been reached with Druze militias, but a key figure among the Druze denied this,
urging supporters to fight on.
Violence broke out over the weekend between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes in the city of Sweida, and government forces entered the region.
Complicating matters first, as you look at the map, the Druze aren't a monolithic group. Some oppose the new Syrian government, while others
don't.
In Israel, many join the security forces. Earlier, CNN spoke to Danny Makki, an Associate Fellow at the Middle East Institute. He's been covering
the escalating violence on the ground in Sweida.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY MAKKI, ASSOCIATE FELLOW, MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE: What we actually saw was a number of different military groups assaulting the city. We saw and
we witnessed the Syrian government forces and internal security taking the city of Sweida and then retreating, and then Druze forces retook the city
later.
And we've seen wide scale clashes, escalations since Israeli attacks and airstrikes on Syrian government positions. And it's just been chaos for the
last 2 to 3 days. Now, this all started off because of a gun fight between Syrian Bedouin tribesmen and Druze militias. Now, you have the main Druze
militia, which is backed by Hikmat al-Sheikh -- Hikmat al-Hijri, who is the main Druze official who does not want to have a peace agreement with
Damascus, and he's been calling for Israeli help.
Now, what we've seen since then is basically the wider Druze community welcoming the Syrian military forces into Sweida, with the exception of
Hikmat al-Hijri.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on this, Jeremy Diamond is standing by for us. So, Jeremy, just talk us through, first of all, some of these powerful
airstrikes, some clips, of course, we've been showing our viewers here that have been carried out in Damascus and in Sweida, and what Israel says its
intentions are here. Just clarify that for us.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, we have seen incredibly powerful blasts as a result of Israeli bombs being dropped in
the Syrian capital of Damascus, including near the presidential palace as well as targeting the Defense Ministry directly.
Some of the images from those show not only the powerful plumes of smoke, but also people who were wounded in the aftermath. At least, three people
were killed in these strikes, dozens more were injured. And that's not including the additional strikes that Israel carried out in and around the
southern Syrian city of Sweida, where there is this stronghold of this Druze minority population.
Now, the Israeli government has said that it is acting for two reasons. Yes, on the one hand, they say that they are acting to protect this Druze
minority, to prevent a massacre of the Druze in the southern city of Syria. But beyond that, they have also made clear that this is also purely out of
national self-interest for the state of Israel.
You'll recall that the Prime Minister back in February said that in addition to the Syrian buffer zone beyond the Golan Heights, which Israel
captured after the fall of the Assad regime in December, Netanyahu also said that no Syrian troops would be allowed to operate in the southern
Syrian provinces, including in Sweida.
[14:05:00]
And so, once those Syrian troops went into Sweida and began approaching Sweida in recent days amid those clashes between the Druze and these
Bedouin tribes, the Israeli military began to strike those Syrian assets. And so, that is also what is driving this Israeli military action here.
From the perspective of the Israeli Druze here in Israel, as well as the Syrian Druze community in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights, they
desperately want to go help their brethren in southern Syria. That's why we saw these scenes of hundreds of Druze crossing that security fence, going
into that Syrian buffer zone, which is held by the Israeli military trying to make it to Sweida.
SOARES: Look, clearly, as we've been outlining here to our viewers this breaking news, a very volatile situation, Jeremy. But what are we hearing
from the Syrian government on this? How are they responding to this?
DIAMOND: Yes, the Syrian government has responded by saying that this is a blatant attack carried out by Israel, that it is a dangerous escalation
which Israel is fully responsible for. And they also say that this is part of a pattern, a systematic policy, they say, of Israel using this action to
quote, "ignite tension", create chaos and undermine security and safety in Syria.
And indeed, we may not yet know the full toll of these Israeli strikes in Syria in terms of their effect on Syria's stability, but also, of course,
one thing to keep in mind in the background of all of this have been those nascent talks brokered by the United States between Israel and Syria,
aiming at a potential security agreement, maybe further down the road at some kind of a normalization agreement.
We've heard President Trump talk about that directly. And so, these Israeli strikes do certainly carry the risk of undermining those talks, and also,
of course, raising questions about Israel's intentions as they are -- were set to engage in some of those negotiations on the sidelines of a
conference in Azerbaijan.
SOARES: Yes, and we heard from Secretary Rubio saying that the U.S. is very concerned, and he went on to say that the U.S. also wants the fighting
to stop. And he said there will be updates later, so, we'll see what the U.S. has to say further on this. Jeremy Diamond for us in Jerusalem this
hour with the very latest. Thank you, Jeremy.
And for the first time, a U.S. and Israeli-backed group distributing aid in Gaza is acknowledging deaths at one of its sites. It says at least 20
people were killed in a crowd crush today. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says armed agitators affiliated with Hamas instigated the chaos.
But the Palestinian Health Ministry says tear gas was fired at the crowd, triggering the stampede. It says 21 people were killed, including 15 who
died from suffocation. The foundation denies firing tear gas, but acknowledges that pepper spray was deployed. Witnesses say guards had
closed the gates, trapping people amid the crush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This young man who was murdered was next to me. He was begging the American, telling him, please just fire
one shot to scare people away. I'm dying. And he was not responding, saying, stay here, and pointing with his hands, he told him, stay.
He didn't agree at all. This aid, I swear to God is a trap. This is not aid. They fire at us, throw bombs at us and spray us with pepper spray to
burn our eyes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Meantime, critics are accusing the world of silence as the suffering in Gaza grows more unbearable by the day. U.N. Security Council
members have another chance to get on the record when they meet on Gaza in the next hour. With no ceasefire in sight, Israel is squeezing Palestinians
into smaller and smaller areas amid relentless airstrikes.
It's now ordering more people to head for Al-Mawasi, an area the U.N. says is already overcrowded and lacks the basis for survival. Israel's Defense
Minister says Gaza's entire population will eventually be held in a camp in Rafah in preparation for their, quote, "emigration to other countries".
Using bombs and bulldozers, the IDF has also destroyed many buildings in Gaza, making large areas complete, as you can see, uninhabitable. A
Palestinian diplomat told CNN yesterday that's by design. He says you can no longer call this a war because, in his words, it's an erasure of
Palestinian life.
I'm joined now by Israeli human rights attorney Michael Sfard. He's an expert in international law, and he's the author of "The Wall and the Gate:
Israel, Palestine, and the Legal Battle for Human Rights". Michael, welcome to the show. There is plenty for us to discuss, not just in Gaza, but also
in the West Bank.
[14:10:00]
Let me first focus on Gaza. We have heard, and our viewers would have heard this too. Israel's Defense Minister just in recent weeks, basically laying
out plans to move all Palestinians in Gaza into the camp in the ruins of Rafah. Israel Katz calls it, in his words, a humanitarian city. But you
have called it something else. You called it an operational plan for a crime against humanity. Your words. Explain what you mean by that, and what
this plan reveals do you think.
MICHAEL SFARD, ISRAELI HUMAN RIGHTS ATTORNEY & AUTHOR: Well, I think the plan that was laid down by the Israeli Minister of Defense is a spine-
chilling plan to transfer coercively hundreds of thousands of civilians, pack them in a -- in a -- in a closed internment camp from which no one can
leave unless they voluntarily decide to leave the Strip altogether to, I don't know, which country that will receive them.
This is a plan that under international law combines population transfer, which is the coercive eviction of people from their homeland, from their
homes, from where they live, to a different location as a -- as a preparation for even a worse crime, that is crime of deportation.
The international community, the aftermath of the second World War has promised, has made a pledge that these kind of mass atrocities will no
longer be allowed, will be -- will be stopped by the international community. And we're seeing now this plan that is being talked about
openly, bluntly --
SOARES: Yes --
SFARD: And we're seeing very little pressure that is made to stop it.
SOARES: Look, and the Israeli government, in your point that you've just said will say and in fact, we have heard them say this, that, you know,
this is voluntary, as you said. In fact, we heard Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Capitol Hill when he was visiting the United States, you know,
and he said it's about freedom of choice.
And he said, I'm just going to quote him here. "If people want to stay, they can stay. But if they want to leave, they should be able to leave." I
mean, we don't even -- I personally don't even know where, you know, if what will happen if they don't move. But from a legal point of view here,
Michael, how do you respond then to that argument?
SFARD: Look, they are destroying Gaza and they are destroying the language. International law, as any domestic law is very clear. When you
bombard people, when you starve them, when you destroy the education and health infrastructure where they live, they don't leave voluntarily. There
is no voluntary or consensual departure today from Gaza.
If anyone leaves, it's because they flee from Gaza. And the obligation on the government of Israel and the obligation on the international community
is to rehabilitate Gaza, and to allow people to return to where they came from. This is their land. This is where they were born. This is their
homeland. And not to push them out of Gaza in order for what? To allow more settlements and more Jewish supremacy on the lands of the Gaza Strip.
SOARES: I wonder then, whether you are surprised at all, Michael, by just how brazen this Israeli administration is about, you know, and very open,
like you said, about their plans. We have heard language such as annihilation, where imposing a complete siege on Gaza, we are fighting
human animals and when we act accordingly.
What does this tell us? Is it evidence of intent? Because obviously, as we've been saying, under international law, Israel has an obligation, legal
obligation here.
SFARD: I'm not only surprised, I'm heartbroken. My heart was broken twice in the last two years. Once on October 7th, and the second time when I
realized what my country is doing in response. I cannot fathom how Jewish political leaders, with all the Jewish history of persecution, of
annihilation, of deportation, ethnic cleansing, and of course, genocide.
How can Jewish political leaders talk about mobilizing and concentrating? I quote, civilian population in a closed internment camp. I just don't
understand it. It's -- we've been through a terrible moral downhill drop for the last two years. It didn't begin in the last two years, but the
complete dehumanization of Palestinians treating them as human waste that has to be thrown somewhere in the world and not close to us. This is
something that will take years, probably decades, to heal.
[14:15:00]
SOARES: Are you surprised at the silence from some in the international community?
SFARD: I'm angry about the silence. I'm angry about the silence because the international community is not an external spectator. The obligation on
the international community, the commitment we as a race took upon ourselves to make sure that such atrocities will not happen.
And the international community has a lot of leverage over Israel. The biggest allies of the state of Israel are western countries in Europe, the
U.K., and of course, the U.S. If they don't put pressure on this, they can -- they can stop it. They have an effective way to stop this. So yes, I'm
very angry that they're not doing that at the moment at least.
SOARES: Let's turn while I have you here, Michael, to the West Bank, where we have seen Israeli settlers intensify their attacks and harassment of
Palestinians, our own correspondents have been, you know, bringing that report within the past 24 hours. The U.N. in its latest report, calls it a
silent war that is surging.
And says that the mass displacement of the West Bank Palestinians is at its highest level they said since 1967. Can you speak to what we are seeing on
the ground where laws are clearly being violated here?
SFARD: Look, I've been representing Palestinian individuals and communities from the West Bank for the last three decades. I know the West
Bank quite well, and I know how difficult it is to be a Palestinian, definitely one that lives near a settlement. But I have never seen anything
even remotely close to the situation we're seeing now.
We're witnessing a project of cleansing the open areas, south Mount Hebron, the Jordan Valley and the Jerusalem Periphery, all the areas where
population is scarce and pushing them through violence, through land confiscation, land robbery into the closed build-up areas in the West Bank
in order to allow future expansion and even current expansion of settlement and Jewish presence.
We're seeing that in ways that we've never seen before, with both the army and the Israeli police corroborating and cooperating with the -- with the
settlers. I had in the past many phone calls that I could call in cases of emergency when my clients were attacked, when my clients had denied entry
to their lands.
I don't have any numbers that are effective anymore. People don't hear about the West Bank. All eyes are on Gaza understandably. And while the war
in Gaza is raging under the din of the war, the West Bank is going through ethnic cleansing as well.
SOARES: Michael Sfard, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Thank you very much indeed, Michael, and --
SFARD: Thank you --
SOARES: Important to get your viewpoint, I will state, of course, as we have been reporting here, that Israel has denied as we have repeatedly, all
allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity as well as genocide. Well, the family of an American killed by settlers in the West Bank is
calling for a U.S. investigation into his death.
But the Trump administration is making clear it's relying on Israel to gather the facts. Sayf Musallet was born and raised in Florida to
Palestinian parents. He was in the West Bank to visit family when attacked. Witnesses say he was beaten to death with sticks or clubs. President Donald
Trump and his Secretary of State spoke about Musallet just a short time ago, suggesting they could get new information from Israel tomorrow. Have a
listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE, UNITED STATES: First of all, have you seen yesterday, Ambassador Huckabee has asked the Israelis to conduct an
investigation. We want to get all the information about who was involved. We protect all American citizens anywhere in the world, especially if
they're unjustly murdered or killed.
So, we're gathering more information. But I hope you saw yesterday, Ambassador Huckabee in Israel asked the Israelis authorities to produce an
investigation and concrete information about who was responsible for his murder.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more now from CNN's State Department reporter, Jennifer Hansler. So, Jen, just -- what is the administration then saying further
about this investigation? Because we heard yesterday, I think it was yesterday from U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who was calling for an
aggressive investigation.
Well, we have had calls for investigations before they have gone nowhere. So, how much pressure are you hearing that the U.S. will apply on this
occasion?
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's the key question here, Isa, whether or not they will pressure the Israeli
government to actually act on the findings that they are expecting from them in the coming days. Now, of course, you heard from Secretary Rubio
there saying that they wanted concrete information from authorities on the death.
We also heard from President Trump indicating that there could be a meeting tomorrow in which this information is shared. But as you said, of course,
we have seen these calls in the past.
[14:20:00]
We've seen these investigations go nowhere, and there have been numerous instances of Americans killed in the West Bank with virtual impunity. Now,
we have seen in the past, not just in the Trump administration, but also in the Biden administration, the U.S. resisting calls to lead its own
investigation into the murders of its citizens.
The State Department has said that when a U.S. citizen dies abroad, it is up to the local authorities to determine the cause of death. However, we
have seen in the past that there have been instances where after months and months of pressure, the U.S. did open an investigation. For example, in the
case of Shireen Abu Akleh; the American journalist who was killed in the West Bank.
But I should also note, Isa, when it comes to the Trump administration, we have seen them take a much more permissive approach when it comes to
settler violence in the West Bank. At the beginning of Trump's term, they rescinded a number of sanctions that were put in place by the Biden
administration on settlers for alleged violence there.
We have also seen them take a more permissive stance on settler -- the expansion of settlements, excuse me, in the West Bank. So, there are a lot
of questions here about how much pressure they are actually going to put on the Israeli government and what answers they are actually going to be
calling to see when it comes to the investigation of this Palestinian- American young man's murder.
Now, of course, we did hear from Ambassador Huckabee, though he did call this a terrorist action. So, those are some strong words. But the question
is whether those words will actually be backed up by action here, Isa --
SOARES: Indeed. I know you'll stay across it for us. Jen Hansler there, thanks very much, Jen, good to see you. And still to come tonight,
President Trump has celebrated the passing of a sweeping domestic policy bill, but a new CNN poll suggests a majority of Americans believe it is
anything but beautiful. We'll bring you that story.
Plus, the fallout continues for President Trump and Republicans over the Epstein files. We'll tell you what the President is now telling his
supporters. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back. U.S. President Donald Trump says it's highly unlikely he'll fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, but will not
completely rule out the idea. Mr. Trump was responding to multiple reports that he recently told congressional Republicans on the matter, and planned
to sack the Fed chair.
The President also suggested without evidence, that Powell may have committed fraud related to cost overruns for renovations at the Federal
Reserve. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think he does a terrible job. He's costing us a lot of money, and we fight through it.
[14:25:00]
It's almost -- the country has become so successful that it doesn't have a big impact, but it does hurt people wanting to get a mortgage. People want
to buy a house. He's a terrible -- he's a terrible Fed Chair. I was surprised he was appointed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, U.S. President Donald Trump calls it his Big Beautiful Bill. But that's not how many Americans are actually describing it. In a brand
new CNN poll, roughly 6 in 10 people say they oppose the sweeping domestic policy legislation that Mr. Trump signed into law, if you remember, earlier
this month.
And here's the latest view on his handling of the presidency. Behind these numbers, many say the President has made too many cuts in federal
government programs, while more than half believe his bill will hurt the U.S. economy. There was some positive reaction to the bill, 54 percent of
those surveyed said they liked the changes it makes to tax laws.
Let's go behind the numbers with CNN's Washington Bureau chief, David Chalian. David, good to see you. So, break this down for us. I mean, it was
sold as the grand bill, the great, beautiful bill. How Americans -- what is the mood among Americans with this mega bill here?
DAVID CHALIAN, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, as you just noted there, it is clearly more unpopular than popular. And the President and his
administration have a sales job, an uphill sales job ahead of them. In fact, Vice President J.D. Vance was in battleground Pennsylvania today here
to begin that effort in earnest.
But you saw there, 61 percent of Americans in our brand new poll oppose of the bill, 39 percent support it. And when you look at that, Isa, by party,
as you might expect, Democrats are overwhelmingly opposed. But independents are pretty largely opposed as well, only 32 percent, you see there in the
middle of independents support the bill.
And then look up there on the Republican line. One in five Republicans in this poll actually oppose Donald Trump's signature legislative
accomplishment here, 19 percent oppose. So, we have some work to do, even with his own partisans. It is important to note, when we test individual
aspects of the bill, it shows you what is more popular and what is less popular.
Take a look at this chart here and you'll see that the tax provisions, as you noted, the changes to the tax law, that is by a 29-point margin, a
reason Americans think to support the bill more than oppose it. The other popular piece is increase in defense spending and increase in border
security, immigration enforcement.
Look at the bottom of the list by a 45-point margin, overwhelmingly negative. More reason to oppose than support how much it adds to the
deficit, the removal of clean energy incentives, and of course, some changes to safety net programs like Medicaid, a federal and state
government program here to take care and provide health insurance for the poor and the elderly.
SOARES: And I'm sure on the deficit, I'm sure he'll find a way to blame Jay Powell, as we've been hearing for the last --
CHALIAN: Exactly right --
SOARES: Few weeks.
CHALIAN: Yes --
SOARES: But what does this spell out in terms of his approval ratings? Has it taken a dip here at all? Are you seeing some sort of correlation, David?
CHALIAN: Yes, it really hasn't. And this is so true of Donald Trump over his ten years on the public stage. His approval rating moves within a very
narrow band, no matter what external effects are happening. So, right now we have 42 percent approval, 58 percent disapproval in this brand new poll.
Now, obviously that's 16 points underwater. He is not popular. Again, independents a real warning sign, I think he's about 32 percent approval
with them. But this is where he has been in the 40 percent to 45 percent range basically since the immediate aftermath of his inauguration, and that
quick honeymoon period.
This is sort of been where he is at with approval ratings, which is not where any President wants to be six months into their term. And yet, it's a
very familiar place for Donald Trump.
SOARES: Yes, and I'm sure he's a Teflon Trump as he battles through all this. David, great to see you, thanks very much --
CHALIAN: Thank you --
SOARES: Indeed --
CHALIAN: Appreciate it.
SOARES: Well, let's stay with President Trump, he says the Department of Justice can release what he's calling credible documents in the Jeffrey
Epstein investigation. But just hours later, his tone was much different when he lashed out at his supporters on social media, as you can see there,
accusing them, as you can see, of being weaklings for caring about the case.
And it comes as Trump's MAGA base continues to demand transparency in the investigation with new calls from Republican lawmakers to release documents
surrounding the convicted sex offender. For years, Trump has been suggesting he would do just that. But now, he says he doesn't understand
why people care.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I don't understand it. Why they would be so interested. He's dead for a long time. He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don't
understand what the interest or what the fascination is. I really don't. It's pretty boring stuff. It's sorted, but it's boring. And I don't
understand why it keeps going. But credible information, let them give it. Anything that's credible, I would say let them have it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Let's get more from the White House. CNN's Betsy Klein. And, Betsy, they are trying -- the White house's trying
to get over this chapter, right, the Epstein chapter, but they can't run away from it, especially when we see a growing number of Republicans kind
of breaking away from the president, including of course, Speaker Johnson.
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's right. We are essentially witnessing a major battle and loyalty test play out between
President Trump and the MAGA movement that he personally created. His post earlier today really marks a major intensification of that feud.
But conspiracy theories about Jeffrey Epstein have been pushed at the highest levels of the Trump administration. The president himself, along
with his FBI director, Kash Patel, and his deputy, Dan Bongino, as well as Attorney General Pamela Bondi, who promised more information on that so-
called client list.
But just last week, a memo released by the Department of Justice, as well as the FBI concluded that Epstein indeed died by suicide and that there was
no so-called client list. The president has really spent the last few days seeking to downplay. He says this sorted, but not interesting. At the same
time that he is fielding growing outrage and calls for transparency from some in his own administration, as well as some of the most ardent and
outspoken and loyal MAGA influencers and followers that he has.
Today, the president lashing out, he said in a post to social media, quote, "My past supporters have brought into this," his words, quote, 'bullshit'
hook, line, and sinker. Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrat's work." He goes on to say, I don't want their support anymore.
Asked about this today, the president continued to defend Bondi, who he says is doing the best job she can, but he also expressed some openness to
releasing additional documents on the matter. He said, whatever is credible, she can release. If a document is credible, she can release it.
The president says he would rather talk about all the success he says he's had. He said, we have bigger problems than Epstein. And says that all of
this a hoax that has been started and perpetuated by Democrats that his most loyal supporters are essentially falling trap to.
SOARES: Yes. And we know very well that this was very much something they went in and hook, line and sinker, of course prior to the elections. But
where are we on this -- on the committee chairs probably investigating the Epstein murder? Because I saw the Senate majority leader, Thune, was
speaking about this. Is this going anywhere?
KLEIN: I think that's something we're going to have to watch very closely in the coming days. There are certainly calls to do that. It's something we
will be watching play out. The White House, I think, would love an excuse to kind of push this aside and switch the conversation. So, if that is the
way they can do that or if he needs to appoint a special counsel, I think he will take one of those routes.
SOARES: Thank you very much, Betsy. Thank you. And still to come tonight, Russia unleashes is another massive bombardment on Ukraine. President
Zelenskyy's hometown, just one of several places targeted overnight. Details ahead on the message Russia may be sending to the White House.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:00]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. While President Trump continues to defend his 50-day ultimatum for Russia to make peace, Ukrainians are facing more
sleepless nights. Ukrainian officials say the Kremlin unleashed 400 drones overnight, targeting four key regions and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's
hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
The latest assault has left at least three people dead with several more wounded. Our Nick Paton Walsh has all the details for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: 400 drones attacked Ukraine last night said their officials, not a record by
any stretch of the imagination, but four cities hit particularly hard. The second largest Kharkiv hit with 16 drones in just 14 minutes. The officials
there said two people killed in the regions around it. And Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih hit with what officials there
said was the largest attack since the start of the war.
The Capital Kyiv, though, Zelenskyy himself remarked, spared a substantial attack in recent days, and he indeed suggested possibly joking that it was
the presence of Trump's Ukraine envoy, General Keith Kellogg, there that potentially meant this capital had a few nights off. He has said to have
departed of late, after certainly a different tone in his conversation since the White House appears to have soured on the Kremlin.
But Zelenskyy joking that perhaps they should have kept Kellogg around, given him a Ukrainian passport, suggesting that the lack of Russian attacks
during his stay there shows that the United States is causing Russia to be afraid that, they are essentially concerned about hitting senior U.S.
officials.
But still overhanging that visit, the speed in which Trump administration now thinks it can get vital Patriot interceptor missiles to the Ukrainians.
Trump suggesting potentially that could be a matter of days. They might already be headed to Ukrainian hands. Germany, perhaps a little more
conservative, estimate saying that a decision to supply the batteries that fire the interceptors would be days away and it might take manufacturers
potentially months to get them into Ukrainian hands.
But a new urgency there, not quite as heavily reflected in the 50-day deadline for secondary sanctions that Trump proposed potentially against
China or India, the main purchases of Russian energy. Will they use that period to pressure Russia into diplomacy? Well, Moscow already brushing off
the mere idea of that. Sergey Lavrov, their foreign minister, saying that they've had a 24-hour deadline, a hundred-day deadline. They're increasing
the used these deadlines, essentially whizzing past them.
And a debate too, still now in the public about exactly what kind of weapons the Americans may end up permitting the Europeans to buy off them
for Ukrainian use reports suggesting that perhaps Trump had discussed longer-range missiles potentially being supplied to the Ukrainians, he
dismissed that, and even encouraged Ukraine not to hit Moscow.
[14:40:00]
But certainly, a change in his thinking, a change in the tone of the relationship with Kyiv. Zelenskyy commenting how any way to change Russia's
behavior was strong weapons and strong sanctions. Well, they might get some weapons, but strong sanctions are still 50 days off, and 50 days in which
potentially Russia can make significant changes if it launches a full-scale offensive along the frontlines in these summer months.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Our thanks to Nick Paton Walsh there. Well, let's get more now. I want to bring in former Russian deputy energy minister, Vladimir Milov.
Minister welcome to the show. We are seeing, as we just heard there from our Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, a continued escalation by Moscow as it
barrels hundreds of drones, 400 drones, as Nick was saying, towards Ukraine. What does this signal? What is the message that Kremlin is sending
to the U.S. who just a few days ago threatened it with tariffs and secondary sanctions here?
VLADIMIR MILOV, FORMER RUSSIAN DEPUTY ENERGY MINISTER: Hello. Thanks for having me again on your show. And I think Putin is trying to get the
maximum out of this particular moment because it's still summer. He can still continue the offensive. He wants to capitalize on some trends in the
Ukrainian society when actually more and more people get disappointed with President Zelenskyy and the protracted war, which brings a lot of suffering
to the Ukrainian people.
Russia also can't produce a lot of drones right now. They've reached a certain capacity. So, they can really sense swarms of drones into continue
to terrorize Ukrainian people. And Putin is hoping to break their spirit and break their resistance.
This will soon be over. Probably it's a matter of months because Putin is running short of manpower, short of military production, short of money.
That's another big issue coming to sanctions here. So, I think he's -- he wants to make the best use out of the remaining weeks and months until he
can continue this summer offensive. Whatever happens on the United States front, he disregards that. He's focusing on attacking Ukraine to the
fiercest extent possible.
SOARES: So, you foresee, Minister, over the next. 49, 48 days or so, continued attacks by Russia to -- how would then the United States -- how
do you think the United States would translate that? How would they see this? Because, you know, this clearly not what President Trump, I think,
had in mind when he put that 50 days grace period. So, what is the strategy from the Russian side then from a messaging and diplomacy side here?
MILOV: I think Russia is primarily concerned not about what Trump is going to do but how they can be used in the best possible way for Putin the
available reserves, available time window for the continued summer offensive. I think Putin is pretty narrowly focused on just that. Just
making the maximum possible best use of still available resources.
Trump -- I think it's quite clear after, you know, half a year of Trump's presidency that he can be tricked. Yes, Trump is beginning to understand
that something is wrong with Putin, but reaction is -- I think you can see it is very slow as opposed to actual developments on the ground, which
require much faster reaction on part of the United States to provide Ukraine with necessary aid, necessary weapons, particularly what you
Ukraine -- in the -- you know, in the face of this current drone attacks, what Ukraine needs, of course, they need Patriot batteries, but Patriot
batteries are good against missiles, not against hundreds of drones.
Ukraine needs long-range strike capability to attack this drone producing facilities inside Russia. That's what they need most to counter that. But
you see that, generally, the reaction on the U.S. side is very, very slow. Putin sees that and he continues with all his offensive and strike actions.
SOARES: So, what then happens after 50 days? I mean, we know that the -- potentially there'll be secondary sanctions. Can you speak to that,
Minister? What will -- what kind of impact, if any, will this have on the Russian economy? A country that, as we know, is already heavily sanctioned
here.
MILOV: Russian officials seem to be totally unmoved by this very idea of a secondary sanctions.
SOARES: Why?
MILOV: They -- nobody nor Lindsey Graham, nor anybody else, was able to explain to me how this going to work, because these secondary sanctions are
supposed to punish the importers of Russian oil. Now, 80 percent of Russian oil at this moment are being imported by two countries, China and India. In
Europe, by some countries, which are, you know, heavy allies of President Trump, like Victor Orban's Hungary.
[14:45:00]
How the U.S. is supposed to punish them? Like introduce 100 percent or 500 percent tariffs amount to like a full-scale trade embargo? And we see that
Trump and his administration are really cherishing some negotiations with the Chinese, with the Indians on possible trade agreements. So, somebody's
going to tell me that they're going to scrap all that, just for the sake of punishing China and India for buying Russian oil? This not going to happen.
So, Russians know it. And I just don't see anyone in Moscow taking this threat of secondary sanctions seriously. What Trump needs to do is to
return to coordination with Europeans on a very detailed methodic implementation of the whole package of sanctions introduced in the past
years. And you know, coming back to imposing new ones on Russia's Shadow Fleet, tankers, whatever. This what Trump needs to do.
Secondary sanctions, really, there are strong doubts that this going to work at all. And clearly, I see that Moscow is not so much afraid.
SOARES: Minister, appreciate your viewpoint and your insight. Thank you very much, sir.
MILOV: Thank you.
SOARES: And still to come, Kilmar Abrego Garcia faith is in the U.S., hangs in the balance. He's facing the possibility of a second deportation
before his trial in human smuggling charges. What we know from today's hearing, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, in Tennessee today, a hearing could determine whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia will remain in jail as he awaits his trial on human smuggling
charges. He's at risk of being deported again. The Trump administration says Abrego Garcia would be immediately detained by immigration authorities
if released from criminal custody. Rafael Romo has a story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A senior immigration and customs enforcement official testified Thursday that the agency has not yet decided
where Kilmar Abrego Garcia would be deported if he's released from criminal custody, and that's one of the issues that may be decided today. Federal
Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes, who's in charge of the federal case here in Nashville, will decide whether Abrego Garcia should remain in jail or
not while awaiting trial for human smuggling charges.
The Salvadorian national was indicted on two criminal counts here in the middle district of Tennessee for allegedly conspiring to smuggle and
transporting illegal aliens for financial gain. Abrego Garcia pleaded not guilty to transporting other undocumented people from Texas to Maryland in
an SUV in 2022 and taking part in a smuggling conspiracy.
[14:50:00]
Last week, his attorney said his client's case should be tried in front of an immigration judge instead of a federal court, especially given that he
may be deported if he's released today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON SANDOVAL-MOSHENBERG, KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA'S ATTORNEY: It's unclear whether he would be allowed to remain in any such country or whether that
country would simply re-deport him onto El Salvador, his country of citizenship.
All those are issues that need to be decided by an immigration judge, not this court. But we can't even get in front of an immigration judge if
they're going to whisk him onto a plane, you know, as soon as they hit -- as soon as he hits ICE custody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMO: Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in mid- March due to an administrative error, according to an immigration and customs enforcement official. In April, Attorney General Pam Bondi said the
United States was not bringing him back, only to have him return two months later to be indicted. This what she had to say in early June about the case
against the Salvadorian migrant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAM BONDI, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Our government presented El Salvador with an arrest warrant, and they agreed to return him to our country.
Abrego Garcia has played a significant role in an alien smuggling ring. They found this was his full-time job, not a contractor. He was a smuggler
of humans and children and women.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMO: The allegations against Abrego Garcia date back to 2016 and involve a half a dozen alleged unnamed co-conspirators who worked to move
undocumented aliens between Texas and Maryland and other states more than 100 times.
Rafael Romo, CNN, Nashville.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And still to come tonight, a popular video game has announced its cast. Plus, we'll tell you when to expect "The Legend of Zelda" to hit the
big screen. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are putting any divorce rumors to rest. He joined the former first lady for her podcast
and they had a laugh about the gossip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys like each other?
MICHELLE OBAMA; FORMER U.S. FIRST LADY: Oh yes. Really? Huh?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's so nice.
M. OBAMA: The rumor mill. It's my husband, you all.
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: She took me back.
M. OBAMA: Now, don't start. I can't.
B. OBAMA: It was touch and go for a while.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's so nice to have you both in the same room together.
B. OBAMA: I know.
M. OBAMA: I know. Because when we aren't, folks think we're divorced.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[14:55:00]
SOARES: Well, speculation about their marriage has swirled, of course, in recent months and picked up steam after Michelle Obama was absent from some
public appearances, including President Trump's inauguration.
Well, nearly three decades after Princess Diana's memorable visit, Prince Harry was welcome to Angola, where he met with the president to discuss
demining efforts and share his vision of a mine-free country. And it comes 28 years after Princess Diana was in Angola walking, as you can see there,
along the clear path of an active minefield advocating for clearance of the explosives. According to the charity, HALO Trust, around 88,000 Angolans
were casualties of landmines.
Nintendo has announced the cast for a live action film version of "The Legend of Zelda." Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth have been chosen
as the leads. The film will be based on the hit video game series first lead in 1986, and it follows the hero Link who must overcome obstacles to
rescue the Princess Zelda. The movie will be released in theaters on May 7, 2027. That is a key.
That does it for this hour. I will be back though in the next few minutes with "What We Know." Do stay right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
