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Isa Soares Tonight
Epstein Prosecutor Maurene Comey Fired; Democrats Eager to Vote in Midterms; Bondi and Burgum visit Alcatraz; Trump Takes Credit for Coca-Cola Ingredient Change. Syria Withdraws Troops from South After Days of Deadly Clashes with the Druze Minority Group; Former Israeli Hostage Kidnapped By Hamas Tells His Story; Daughter of James Comey Fired. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired July 17, 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 Tonight, Syria has withdrawn troops from a
flashpoint city after days of deadly clashes with the Druze minority group that triggered military action from Israel. We have the latest.
Nothing is worth more than getting the hostages home. Jeremy Diamond speaks to a former hostage, Or Levy, about his captivity and his message to the
families of those who are still imprisoned by Hamas. And Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor who had worked on cases including that of Jeffrey
Epstein and Sean "Diddy" Combs, has been fired.
We begin tonight, though, in the Middle East, where the Syrian government says it's withdrawn troops from Sweida. The southern city has become a
flashpoint as we've been showing you in the past two days after days of deadly clashes between government loyalists and the Druze, that is an Arab
religious group living in Israel, Syria, Lebanon and the Golan Heights.
Those clashes triggered yesterday's deadly Israeli air strikes in Damascus, you're looking at there, and prompted intervention from the Trump
administration. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa says his country is not afraid of war, his words, but has chosen to put its people above chaos and
destruction. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AHMED AL-SHARAA, PRESIDENT, SYRIA (through translator): We have therefore decided to entrust certain local factions and the Druze spiritual
leadership with the responsibility of maintaining security in Sweida. This decision stems from a deep understanding of the dangers this situation
poses to our country, and the risk of being dragged into a new war that could derail our recovery from past conflict and ongoing economic and
political challenges.
We are committed to holding accountable those who wronged our Druze brothers and sisters. They are under the protection of the state, and that
is through law and justice, that everyone's rights will be safeguarded without exception.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: It is unclear just how long this fragile ceasefire with the Druze will last. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed his country
will continue to act as necessary. Syrian Druze and political analyst Shadi Abou Karam has family in Sweida. In an interview with CNN, he questioned
Israel's justification for escalating aerial bombardments. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHADI ABOU KARAM, SYRIAN DRUZE & POLITICAL ANALYST: I firmly reject any justification for Israeli intervention, and we condemn Tel Aviv using
Sweida as pretext to expand its ongoing aggression against other parts in Syria. What happened, Israeli bombed some tanks and armored vehicles after,
let's say, over 30 hours of all the convoys were going to Sweida.
So, if Israeli forces like were really into protecting Druze, they would bomb this convoys before they arrive to Sweida. But what happened, it's a
rule of engagement was forced by Israeli forces after Bashar al-Assad ran away. That it was unofficial agreement, but it was forced on Ahmed al-
Sharaa state that there was no heavy vehicle, no tanks, nothing. And they are now escalating to disarm all the south region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, joining me now is Haid Haid, a consulting fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House. Haid, welcome to the
show. I wonder just what your sense is, you know, as we try to take stock of this delicate ceasefire, and whether, of course, crucially, whether it
will hold.
What are you hearing from those in the ground and whether this is an opportunity potentially for further opening and a political engagement
here.
HAID HAID, CONSULTING FELLOW, CHATHAM HOUSE: Thank you for having me. As you mentioned, the transitional government in Syria withdrew its forces
from Sweida, which is basically a good sign because it stopped the fighting between Druze factions and the forces affiliated with Damascus.
[14:05:00]
However, the situation there is far from being stable. We have been hearing today about violations being committed against some of the Bedouin
communities, and those are the communities that had the initial fighting with Druze factions, which led to Damascus sending troops in order to
stabilize the situation there. So, the minute the troops withdrew, the sort of violations resumed there.
And then in addition to that, there are reports about basically tribal forces being mobilized from other different parts of Syria, and they are
fighting now the Druze factions in Sweida. So, despite the fact that the fighting between the official sort of factions or official forces and
Sweida factions have stopped, the fighting is still ongoing.
SOARES: And what it does really underscore, Haid, is just how fragile serious transition government really remains. How much of a challenge with,
you know, these sectarian divisions you were just outlining there, how much will this be of a challenge for the new leader, for al-Sharaa, who of
course, is trying to consolidate power? How would you think he's going to navigate this?
HAID: It's the main question right now because as you mentioned, those are tensions and issues that go beyond the recent clashes. There has been a
disagreement between Sweida actors and Damascus over the political transition. There has been historical grievances, whether between different
communities in Syria or between different sects.
And those issues have not been dealt with thoroughly by the transitional authorities. The transitional authorities have been prioritizing sort of
moving fast in order to re-boost the economy, try to reintegrate the main military factions. But we have not seen much work on sort of building trust
between communities, addressing the sectarian narrative that is being currently circulated online, not dealing with the incitement of violence by
different groups and communities in Syria, which has led to other episodes of sectarian violence over the past few months.
And I think what's needed is to, A, ensure that there are clear mechanisms that -- to ensure that the protection of all groups, especially the
minority communities that are under attack, and then, B, come up with a clear mechanisms to address --
SOARES: Yes --
HAID: Those issues.
SOARES: Haid Haid, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Thank you very much indeed for coming on.
HAID: Thank you.
SOARES: Now, top U.N. officials say conditions in Gaza have reached an unspeakable level devastation with children paying the highest price.
UNICEF says on average, 28 children are killed in Gaza every day. That is the equivalent of an entire classroom. Gaza's Health Ministry says new
Israeli attacks have killed at least 94 Palestinians, including dozens of people waiting for aid.
With so many lives in the balance, including, of course, the lives of Israeli hostages, a source now tells CNN, there is some optimism that
Israel could reach a ceasefire with Hamas, suggesting Israel may show flexibility on a key sticking point. Let's get more from our Jeremy
Diamond. And Jeremy, this, of course, we've been here so many times before. This will be music to so many people's ears for so many Palestinians, for
so long, for so many of the hostages.
And I know that you have been speaking to one of those hostages or levy, who we all remember in February when those images of him looking incredibly
thin and emaciated. Just give us a sense of what he said to you, and what he's gone through since really?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Or Levy spoke with me in his first interview with international media about the roller-coaster of
emotions that these last five months have been since he emerged from captivity about watching these start-and-stop negotiations, knowing
firsthand the incredibly poor conditions in which the hostages are held in.
He also spoke to me about his captivity, the mantra that helped get him through those 491 days in captivity, and why the day he was released was
both the best and the hardest day of his life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIAMOND (voice-over): Five months ago, these images of Or Levy shocked the world. His emaciated body, a testament to the 491 days he was held hostage
by Hamas.
[14:10:00]
OR LEVY, HELD HOSTAGE BY HAMAS FOR 491 DAYS: And I must say after three weeks of a lot of food that got into like -- that, we got.
DIAMOND (on camera): Meaning, had you been released three weeks earlier, you would have looked a lot worse.
LEVY: For sure.
DIAMOND: That's hard to imagine.
LEVY: It's hard to understand how difficult it is to live on one Betta(ph) a day for 491 days. It's something that no human should live like that. And
for the people that are still there, I know those days were even worse than what I was -- I have been through, and it's scary.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Just as difficult as the physical toll, was the emotional burden of captivity being ripped away from his then two-year-old
son, Almog(ph).
LEVY: When his birthday came and I was there, it was my worst day of my life.
DIAMOND (on camera): What did you do on that day?
LEVY: So, I seem to -- and crying most of the day, thinking and telling stories about him, about what we went through, promising that I would do
whatever it takes to go back and doing his next birthday together.
DIAMOND (voice-over): That wish came true two weeks ago, a birthday that came five months after Or was reunited with his family and with Almog(ph).
LEVY: I remember seeing him, I hugging him, hearing his voice, crazy.
DIAMOND: But he says that day was also the hardest of his life. It was the day he learned that his wife, Einav(ph) had been killed on October 7th.
LEVY: I met the -- this woman from the army and I asked her about my wife, I told her that I think I know, but I'm not 100 percent certain, and that I
want to know. And then she told me.
DIAMOND: Or and Einav(ph) were huddling inside this bomb shelter when Hamas militants began throwing grenades and opening fire.
LEVY: In the last picture that I remember seeing is the Hamas terrorist shooting in inside the bomb shelter.
DIAMOND: Hersh Goldberg-Polin; an American-Israeli later executed by Hamas in captivity, was also kidnapped from that shelter. They would spend three
defining days together in Gaza's tunnels.
LEVY: He said to me, he was a why, can bear anyhow. And for me, when I was in captivity, I understood that I have a why, and this can help me survive
anyhow.
DIAMOND: When he got back from Gaza, he got the mantra tattooed on his arm.
(on camera): What or who was your why?
LEVY: Almog(ph). Every rough day that you know you're about to crack, I was to touch here right where I did my tattoo and talking to Almog(ph) and
saying to him, yes, you're my why and I will go back for you. And I remember on rough days, I would like to do like this, feeling stronger,
feeling stronger, and not wanting to die.
DIAMOND: The thought of dying crossed your mind.
LEVY: Every day, every day. But for me, I didn't accept that because I knew that people are waiting for me. My kid is waiting for me, and I don't want
him to grow up without mom and dad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
LEVY: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
DIAMOND (voice-over): Or is home. But he must now answer his son's questions alone.
LEVY: Well, just the other day, he asked me, why I didn't take him to this far place I was in.
DIAMOND (on camera): That's how you described it to him. You were in a far- away place?
LEVY: Yes, so he asked. He asked about his mom, about what happened to her, about who caused it?
DIAMOND: What do you tell him about her, and how do you carry on her memory?
LEVY: So, first of all, I explained to him every time, that his mom didn't want to go, that his mom loved him from the bottom of her heart, I'm
showing him pictures of her every day of us three, telling the story behind this photo.
[14:15:00]
This is something that I promised to myself, even when it's hard to get him to know her because it's harder for him.
DIAMOND (voice-over): But Or's ordeal won't be over until all the hostages are home.
LEVY: The fact that people are still there haunts me in the night for sure. I think that nothing is worth more than getting those people home. I know
that we need to push on to get a deal that gets everyone home and finish everything.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DIAMOND: And Isa, Or Levy was taken hostage on October 7th, 2023, alongside several others, including one man named Alon Ohel. He is now 24 years old,
Or was held for most of his 491 days of captivity alongside Alon. He told me that Alon dreams of moving to Tel Aviv, of studying music, and of
spending time with his family.
He has also lost vision in one of his eyes, and Or told me that, you know, he could easily be in Alon's place. He could easily have been left behind
waiting for the next ceasefire deal. And that's why Or is doing this interview. It's also why he is calling for a deal that would get not some,
but all of the hostages back and end the war. Isa.
SOARES: Beautiful and vital reporting. Thank you very much, Jeremy, appreciate it. Well, church leaders in Jerusalem have -- are condemning, I
should say, an Israeli strike on the only Catholic Church in Gaza, calling it a blatant violation of the sanctity of religious sites. They say the
church was sheltering about 600 people at the time, most of them children.
Three people were killed. Israel says the incident is under review. Moments ago, the White House said President Trump had called Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu about the attack. One witness described the attack from a Gaza hospital room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are displaced and currently taking shelter in the Latin church in the old city. This morning, we were surprised by a strike
on the church, a tank shell. Of course, there were elderly here, innocent civilians. My mother was wounded by shrapnel in her head. This attack is
completely unjustified.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, earlier this week, Jerusalem church leaders visited a Christian town in the West Bank that's come under attack by settlers. They
accuse Israeli authorities not responding to emergency calls and demanded to know why the settlers, quote, "abhorrent actions continue to go
unpunished."
They warned that the Christian presence in the holy land is at risk. And you may remember seeing on our show a British surgeon who recently
volunteered in Gaza, we brought you his story. We heard from him at the beginning of the week, in the next hour, we'll hear much more from Dr. Nick
Maynard on the catastrophic situation inside Gaza's hospitals.
He shares a video diary exclusively with CNN. You do not want to miss his report there. And still to come tonight, preparing for an uncertain future.
The U.K. and Germany sign off on a wide-ranging treaty. But the details ahead on what this means for their defense commitments. Plus, five people
have now been charged after U.S.-based professor was shot dead while visiting Greece. We'll have the latest from the investigations from Greece
after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:20:00]
SOARES: Well, for months, the Trump administration has faced repeated setbacks in efforts to broker peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Now, Ukraine could soon get a boost for American-made missiles. A senior U.S. military commander in Europe says America and NATO are working with
Germany to send more Patriot Missile Systems to Ukraine.
And it comes as Mr. Trump's 50-day ultimatum for Vladimir Putin to pursue peace ticks down, as you know, and as Russia tightens its stranglehold on
the Ukrainian battlefield. And in the face of Russia's actions in Ukraine and those looming U.S. tariffs, Britain and Germany are looking to
strengthen their ties.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have now signed a friendship treaty, which covers a wide-range of commitments
from defense and to transportation, of course, Germany is pledging to outlaw the facilitation of irregular migration to Britain as the U.K. looks
to reset relations with the EU.
Our Fred Pleitgen is striking this story -- tracking this all from Berlin for us. So, Fred, just give us a sense of what exactly is in this treaty,
I've seen it described as groundbreaking and historic. How groundbreaking is it?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's pretty groundbreaking as far as Friedrich Merz and Keir Starmer are
concerned. Both of them used those words. But I think the general vibe here in Germany and probably in the U.K. as well is that it does actually cover
a lot of ground, and it is very important between these two countries.
But also, of course, for Europe as a whole as well, with Germany being the largest economy in Europe, but of course, after Brexit also, the U.K.
seemingly trying to get back into business with a lot of European countries, and Germany, of course, being one of the most important.
And if we look at the treaty, it's 27 pages long, and there are really a lot of important areas that is covered. You mentioned migration. There's
also economic cooperation as well, transport and energy, which is really important for an industrialized economy like the Germans have, which is
such a big export machine here for this country.
But defense is really the one that everyone's talking --
SOARES: Yes --
PLEITGEN: About. And of course, it's very important as well as the war in Ukraine continues with that uncertainty that all that brings. But also with
the U.K., France and Germany really leading the charge to try and bolster European security. Keir Starmer actually called Germany one of the U.K.'s
closest allies when he was with Friedrich Merz earlier today. I want you to listen to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEIR STARMER, PRIME MINISTER, UNITED KINGDOM: And I see it very much as evidence of the closeness of our relationship as it stands today. The
strength of our values, the strength of our joint approach, but also very much as a statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever
more closely together, closest of allies.
And whether that's on defense, security, trade, the economy, energy covers so much in this treaty. And so, this is a really historic signing of a
historic agreement. And it's very good to welcome you here in order to do so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Closest of allies. Been a long time since a British Prime Minister said that about the Germans certainly. And there are also other
things that are really important as far as that defense complex is concerned. Both countries pledging to help rebuild Ukraine, but then also
talking about common weapons development between each other.
For instance, long distance -- longer-distance strike weapons, as they put it, capable of reaching up to 2,000 kilometers, drones as well, unmanned
aerial vehicles, as they put it, but also strengthening NATO's eastern flank. Now, of course, a lot of that is also in NATO as well. Both these --
SOARES: Yes --
PLEITGEN: Countries, of course, are NATO members. But one of the things that the two countries have pledged in this treaty, which many say goes
beyond the commitments made in NATO is that both countries are saying that any threat to one of the countries is considered a threat to both of the
countries, and must be considered a threat to both of the countries, and that they would defend each other, including by military means. Isa.
[14:25:00]
SOARES: Treaty with some very practical consequences there. Fred Pleitgen, thank you very much, Fred, good to see you. Now, Greek police are
investigating the killing of University of California, Berkeley professor, he was in Athens to visit his children and to attend a custody hearing.
Five people have now been charged, including the man's ex-wife and her new boyfriend.
Officials say the professor was shot near the home of his ex-wife, her lawyer tells CNN, she was not involved. A police source says her boyfriend
has admitted to murder. Joining me now from Greece with more is Elinda Labropoulou. Elinda, good to see you. Just talk us through what we know
happened here and what authorities are saying.
ELINDA LABROPOULOU, JOURNALIST: So, first of all, the incident was extremely violent and extremely shocking. It took place in plain daylight
at a very busy part of Athens, where a man dressed in black and with a full masked face, walked up to the professor and shot him at close range, and
then he fled the scene.
The man -- the professor was close to his wife's house. He was there to pick up the children. He has visitation rights. But we do understand that
the day before, there was a hearing, a custody hearing between the two. Though, since then, we've had five arrests. They took place last night, and
today, the five have been charged.
And these include the wife, the boyfriend and three others. Now, from leaked documents we have seen here, we understand that the man has
confessed, the boyfriend has confessed that he is actually the one who did murder the professor. The three have until Monday to prepare their plea.
They will be appearing in front of the court on Monday.
And the initial signs that we understand as to the motive appear to be more to do with the children. The professor wanted to take the children abroad.
His ex Greek wife did not want him to do that. And now the children are in the custody of the Greek authorities. They hold both Polish nationality,
both Polish passports like their father and American passports as well.
The family of the professor is extremely concerned as to what happens next to the children. They're only ten years old and were all waiting to find
out what happens at the court on Monday. Isa.
SOARES: I know you'll keep us posted. Elinda Labropoulou there. Thanks very much, Elinda. Now, authorities say at least 61 people have died in a fire
at a shopping center in eastern Iraq. The five story-building had only been opened, in fact, when it was engulfed in flames on Wednesday. Some people
were seen on the building's roof as the fire burned beneath them.
More than 45 people trapped inside were rescued by civil defense teams. Iraq's Interior Minister says an investigation is underway. And still to
come right here tonight, during his first term, President Trump famously fired, if you remember, James Comey from his post as FBI chief. Now, his
Justice Department has sacked Comey's daughter, someone who played a key role in prosecuting Jeffrey Epstein.
We'll bring you that story next. Plus, under fire over the Epstein scandal, the U.S. Attorney General heads to California, the latest on Pam Bondi's
visit to Alcatraz and the White House's plans for the former prison. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. A federal prosecutor who worked on the Jeffrey Epstein case is urging her former colleagues not to let fear impact
their decisions after she was abrupt fired by the U.S. Justice Department.
Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI director, James Comey, was a key part of the team that put Epstein and his associates Ghislaine Maxwell,
behind bars. No reason was given for her dismissal. But in a strongly worded parting shot at the Trump administration. Maurene Comey said fear is
the tool of a tyrant. And she pleaded with her former colleagues to do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason, reasons without fear or
retribution and without favor to the powerful. Strong indeed.
CNN's Senior U.S. Justice Correspondent Evan Perez joins me now. Evan, good to see you. Look, this is a career prosecutor, right? Just talk us through
what you are hearing as to why she's been fired.
EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR U.S. JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: There was no reason given for her firing. And that is actually what we've seen with a lot of
the purges that have been going on both here in Washington at the Justice Department headquarters and also in New York and in other cities.
Now, a lot of the prosecution -- a lot of the prosecutors and on some of the FBI folks who've been let go, we kind of figured out why, because they
were involved in perhaps one of the investigations involving Donald Trump or some of his supporters or some of the January 6th cases. In the case of
Maurene Comey, there is really not much reason that we can think of.
She worked for many years on sex crime prosecutions. Some of the worst, so to speak, inside the Justice Department. That is what she's been working on
over the last decade or so. And so, it did come as a surprise yesterday around 6:00 p.m. or so when she received a letter saying that she was being
let go. And really no reason other than the fact, obviously, that the president of the United States under Article 2 of the Constitution has the
power to hire and fire people inside the government.
I will read you just a part of what the message was that she sent to some of her colleagues. Our Josh Campbell obtained a copy of this that was --
that's been circulating today. She says, fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of fear, let this moment
fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place. A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power. Of commitment to seek justice for
victims. Of dedication to truth above all else.
I guess that's a very strong message and clearly a message that is -- I think the message here is about the president of the United States and some
of the actions that he's taken, some of the retribution that he promised, by the way, during the campaign and we have now seen come to pass in the
last few months.
[14:35:00]
We have reached out to the Justice Department today to see whether they might explain a little bit more about this firing. One of the things that I
think, Isa, is worth noting. Is that the president of the United States, over the last couple of days, has repeatedly said he wants people to stop
talking about the Epstein files. He wants people to stop talking about it.
SOARES: That's not going away though. But people haven't stopped, Evan.
PEREZ: Right. They were -- they haven't stopped and he keeps talking about it. And then just when you think they have figured out how to stop talking
about it, they go and they fire the Epstein prosecutor, giving another day for people to talk about the Epstein files.
SOARES: Yes. And who not only just an Epstein prosecutor, who's also a Comey, right?
PEREZ: Yes.
SOARES: That could be another justification to add to this. I'm just seeing also, Evan, once I have you here, that President Trump said that he
would not recommend, his words, a special prosecutor to investigate the Jeffrey Epstein case. What can you tell us just in the last, what, 30
seconds or so?
PEREZ: Yes. I mean, look, this has been something he has been very muddled about. He has kind of suggested that he might go that direction. He also
suggested that he doesn't really have anything to do with it. And that is what we're hearing inside of the department, is that there is no appetite
to appoint a special counsel.
It is going to -- it would be something that would perhaps take it out of the control of the attorney general, and that's the last thing they want to
do right now.
SOARES: So, many questions. Evan Perez, appreciate it. Good to see you, Evan.
PEREZ: Great to see you. Thanks.
SOARES: Thank you. Now, Mark Zuckerberg and better officials have agreed to a settlement in an $8 billion Facebook privacy case. Meta shareholders
sued the group for damages caused by Facebook repeatedly violating users' privacy. Meta has been fined billions of dollars in recent years for these
violations, including a $5 billion fine by the Federal Trade Commission back in 2019. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
And still to come tonight, Coca-Cola might be changing a key ingredient. We'll tell you what that is. And President Trump claims to be behind the
proposed swap of such ingredient. We'll bring you more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: A crisis of gender-based violence in Kenya is creating a different problem for law enforcement. The female officers who take in reports are
many times also victims. This is making that situation difficult to report and even more difficult, of course, to stop. Here is CNN's revealing look
at the problem in Kenya.
[14:40:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAXIMILLAH MWANGA, TIFFANY'S STEPMOTHER: She was in two pieces, a head and the body. That's the situation I saw my daughter in.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Tiffany was a 30-year-old Kenyan police officer and mother of two who police say was murdered by her husband in
2024. A charge he denies. Her case is only one of many. That year, Kenya had 127 cases of femicide, according to the Silencing Women database, the
highest in almost a decade, leading to nationwide protests.
MWANGA: She was very friendly, very jovial. We really have a big gap.
ROY WANYONYL, TIFFANY'S FATHER: This general service unit uniform where she was recruited to. I'm a police officer. As a father, I was really happy
to find somebody who follows your footstep, especially she was a girl.
Tiffany's funeral was the most difficult day that I have experienced in my life.
MWANGA: I just spent my day under that tree. As they were busy digging the grave, and I was asking myself so many questions. What will my
grandchildren be asking me when they'll be asking me about their mother? Which answers will I be giving those children?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Roy said he reported his daughter's abuse by her husband to the police, but she later intervened and withdrew
the case.
MWANGA: When she came home, I asked her, why did you decide that? And she said, mommy, that's the man I love.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): To facilitate the reporting of gender- based violence, the Gender Desks were introduced by the National Police Force in 2004. Many experts argue that having more female police officers
would help women report their cases.
Rehema works at a Gender Desk in Kalifi by the coast where many incidents of gender-based violence happen today.
REHEMA FONDO, POLICE OFFICER: DESK: To me, we had another case of a girl, age six years old. At Gender Desk, every day we get a story. It's a bit
overwhelming. The community depends on us. So, they think that us, we can handle issues, but all of us, we are just human beings. We need to be
counseled. We need to be emptied. Since we are getting so much here.
CONSOLATA (PH): There is defilement, there is rape, women are battered. Those are the cases we handle at the Gender Desk.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Officer Consolata (ph) whose name has been changed to protect her identity, told CNN she has encountered cases
where female police officers have been harassed by male colleagues.
CONSOLATA (PH): There was this case, a lady police officer who was being sexually harassed by a senior officer. Most officers, they may not come out
openly to report that have been assaulted or have been sexually harassed. There is that fear that maybe it'll affect your workstation, it'll affect
the relationship.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): She also told us about the public's mistrust when officers report their own abuse.
CONSOLATA (PH): If a policewoman reports her husband, I think the community will take his side and they'll say she's using her position.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): The National Police Force told CNN, they have a counseling department available for officers, but they did not
comment on cases of harassment inside the force.
NJERI WA MIGWI, FOUNDER, USIKIMYE: For me, the saddest bit about my work is that even the person you're reporting to could be a victim of gender-
based violence.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Njeri is a feminist activist who tracks and documents cases of gender-based violence.
MIGWI: Too many women have died, continue to die. We want to see the government take actual action.
For all the other women gruesomely killed in femicide, say their name.
CROWD: Say their name.
MIGWI: We had the march in January, we had the march in December, and then in that very protest, they beat us. Tear gas us for calling out for our
rights. What does that say about the state of policing in this country?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): A government representative said in an interview that tear gassing of protestors was regrettable and should not
have happened in the first place. With public trust in the police broken, it is ever more difficult for women to report harassment.
WANYONYL: This thing is hurting innocent people. We have to finish it. It is all over. People are crying everywhere. There's parents, there are
children who continue asking why. What has gone wrong with the society?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: We'll have much more news after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
SOARES: Now, the midterm elections in the U.S. are still 16 months away, but a new CNN poll finds many voters are eager to get back to the ballot
box. Frustration with Donald Trump as Democratic voters both eager to vote and also frustrated at their party's inability to counter the president.
CNN's Washington Bureau Chief David Chalian breaks it down for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: We're still a little over a year away, but we are in this 2026 midterm cycle. And we ask folks we try to get
a level of their motivation. So, among extremely motivated, that's what we're looking at here. People who say they're extremely motivated. 72
percent of Democratic or Democratic leaning independents say they are extremely motivated to vote in the midterm election.
That -- I just want to understand, in -- prior to the presidential election in October '24, you see that was only 62 percent among Democratic leaning
voters. So, higher motivation now than we saw right before the presidential. And look at this, compared to the Republicans, it's a 22-
point advantage. 50 percent of Republican and Republican leaning independents now say they're extremely motivated to vote far lower than
they were before the presidential and far lower than Democrats are. And I think this is important.
That's the opportunity for Democrats. Can they capitalize on it, is the question. And they are suffering record low favorability numbers among the
American people. So, if you look at overall favorability of the parties, neither party is in good standing with the American people. 33 percent of
Americans have a favorable view of the Republican Party. 28 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party. That 28-number
historic low in our polling for Democrats.
Clearly, voters are unhappy in our poll about unified Republican control, the House, the Senate, the presidency. And this is normal. Whichever party
has unified control, the party out of power usually benefits from that in an upcoming midterm election.
What I think we see is that Democrats, their favorability number is being driven down because of a negative view from their own partisans, from their
own Democrats. So, we said, you know, view of your own party favorably. Among Republican and Republican leaners, 76 percent view their own party
favorably. But among Democratic and Democratic leaners, only 58 percent view their own party favorably. So, that Democrats have work to do within
their own House if they're going to improve their standing here.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And our thanks to CNN's David Chalian for breaking down all those new polls for you. Well, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior
Secretary Doug Burgum have been touring Alcatraz Island today off San Francisco.
[14:50:00]
Their visit comes amid a push by the White House to turn the National Park site back into a prison. In its heyday, if you remember, Alcatraz housed
some of America's most notorious criminals, including Al Capone. But upkeep on the island became too expensive and the prison was closed in 1963.
Bondi's trip to California comes as she faces a firestorm over another infamous criminal. As we were talking about earlier, Jeffrey Epstein. There
are demands from her own party to release more on the late convicted sex offender and his elite connections.
A rare meteorite for Mars is sold at auction for $5.3 million. It was sold to an anonymous bidder at Sotheby's in New York on Wednesday. The unusually
large chunk of the red planet weighs in at 24 kilos or 54 pounds. Analysis revealed it was probably blasted into space by a powerful asteroid impact
that turned parts of it into glass. The rock was discovered in a remote region of Niger in 2023. Martian rock with the planet's atmosphere
entrapped in it, sold for $200,000 back in 2021. That is still less than what that buyer got last week.
But anyway, President Donald Trump announcing that Coca-Cola will make a recipe change in the United States all thanks to him. He says the company
will use real cane sugar in their world-famous drink. The company has not confirmed this change, but did tell he appreciates President Trump's
enthusiasm for the brand. He is a huge fan of Diet Coke, as you may know, as I think Anna has learned throughout the day, and she's taken on this
report.
So, what is this about? So, he wants more sugar. Well, real sugar. What kind of sugar is this?
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He wants a different kind of sugar. He wants cane sugar as opposed to high fructose corn syrup, which is more
processed and is much cheaper, which is why in the United States Coca-Cola uses this kind of sugar. Whereas in Mexico, for instance, they use cane
sugar. It's all to do with price point really.
Now, we're unclear whether this is a cola conspiracy, because Coca-Cola had not confirmed the story. They do appreciate, as you say, his enthusiasm.
And the president's known to actually have a button in the Oval Office so that he can summon Diet Coke to him very quickly. This is how big a fan he
is.
The question is, if they were to change the recipe, which would be after decades, who's going to pay the cost? Because sugar does cost more. It's
going to punish corn producers in some of those big red states. It'll be punishing for the producers, the sort of refiners of high fructose corn
syrup. And where are you going to get your sugar from? Because you're going to need more cane sugar than the U.S. actually produces. They already
import about 20 percent top.
SOARES: I can see where this is going.
STEWART: As ever, all things end with tariffs, because the top places they get their sugar from are Mexico and Brazil, which has been threatened with
50 percent.
SOARES: And nothing so far from Coca-Cola, how their shares doing, nothing? How are they taking this? This is -- I don't think this is good
business for them, per se. If we're looking at --
STEWART: I think they've taken the news and their stride. I mean, it's all news is good news perhaps. And they have said that not only do they
appreciate the enthusiasm from the president, but they later went on to X and defended the use of high fructose corn syrup. Lots of people are
questioning whether it's less healthy than other types of sugar, and they've defended it saying it has the same number of calories, it's safe
and it's metabolized in a very similar way.
SOARES: And do you know, who knows a thing or two about Coca-Cola? Is our Max Foster. Do you want to come in, Max?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi.
SOARES: Come in. Let's get into this. It is coming here because --
FOSTER: We all like to --
SOARES: We want to celebrate you, not Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola has a lot PR already. I want to celebrate Anna. This is Anna's last day. She's going off
on maternity leave, or as men like to call it on holiday.
STEWART: I'm going on holiday, everyone. Yes.
SOARES: And we are going to miss her. We miss all these -- I know. You --
FOSTER: I think we'll get a lot more work done because we all share a desk. We all share an office together.
SOARES: That's a lot of chit chat.
STEWART: Who's going to nag Max? Will you take over nagging Max over --
SOARES: Yes. I'm really good at nagging Max.
FOSTER: Don't do that.
SOARES: Yes, I might have to call --
STEWART: I'm always around.
SOARES: When you're awake.
FOSTER: How are you going to live without deconstructing Trump economic policy and tariffs --
SOARES: Tariffs, without tariffs, I wonder.
STEWART: Well, I will. I will just deconstruct them to a very small child.
SOARES: Who will cry.
STEWART: Once upon a time in a land far, far away.
FOSTER: It's very exciting.
SOARES: Very exciting. We're all very happy. Everyone in the studio is very happy for you. Can't wait to meet your little girl. I think I can
share that with the world. You're having a girl. We wish you the very best of luck. We are going to miss you. You're going to be fabulous mother. I
have no doubt.
STEWART: Thanks, guys.
SOARES: And keep us posted. Send photos in.
STEWART: I'm going to miss you all. I'm going to miss this. I love my job.
SOARES: In about two months, you're like, oh, my God.
FOSTER: She'll be messaging us. Deconstructing our shows as well.
SOARES: She'll be like, this tariff business, obviously, this letter.
FOSTER: Yes.
SOARES: Anna, best of luck, darling.
FOSTER: Yes, good luck.
[14:55:00]
SOARES: I think we're running -- do I have time? How long have we got or should we give Max more time? We are running out of time. Sorry, Max,
that's your cue. That does it for me, from Anna and Max, we'll be back in just, what, three minutes or so with "What We Know." That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
