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Isa Soares Tonight

U.S. Immigration Authorities Raid Hyundai Plant In Georgia; Pentagon Slams Venezuela For A Highly Provocative Move After Two Fighter Jets Fly Near A U.S. Warship; U.K. Deputy Prime Minister Resigns Over Tax Scandal; A Decade Later, Germany Assesses Merkel's Migration Decision; Tesla Board Offers Pay Deal To Make Elon Musk A Trillionaire; Carlo Acutis To Be Canonized By Pope Leo On Sunday. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired September 05, 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, President Trump's immigration crackdown

is in full force as hundreds of people are detained in a massive ICE raid on a Hyundai factory in Georgia. We're there live for you.

Then, mounting tensions in the Caribbean. The Pentagon slams Venezuela for a highly provocative move after two fighter jets fly near a U.S. warship.

We're on the ground for you in Caracas for the very latest. Plus, political chaos here in the U.K. as deputy Prime Minister resigns following a tax

scandal. We'll have that and much more ahead.

But first, tonight, as the city of Chicago braces for a likely surge of federal troops, it appears U.S. President Donald Trump is ratcheting up his

immigration crackdown. Agents say they took 475 people into custody at a massive Hyundai site in Georgia. The majority of whom are Korean.

Homeland security investigations says it's the largest raid in the agency's history, and video shows -- you can see they're masked and armed agents

giving orders to workers as they raided their facility. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need construction to cease immediately. We need all work to end on the site right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well, one Homeland Security official says the raid was months in the making.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN SCHRANK, SPECIAL AGENT, U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY: We are sending a clear and unequivocal message that those who exploit our workforce

undermine our economy and violate federal laws will be held accountable. I'd like to add that this was not an immigration operation where agents

went into the premises, rounded up folks and put them on buses. This has been a multi-month criminal investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well, meantime, in New York, dozens of people were apprehended in a separate ICE raid at a food manufacturing plant. CNN's Maria Santana has

more details from New York. But first, I want to go to Gustavo Valdes, who is in Georgia. So, Gustavo, let's talk about what really unfolded, how it

unfolded, because this was as we just highlighted there, a pretty large scale sweep. What do we know?

GUSTAVO VALDES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we know that it is a future place of a battery-manufacturing plant that is supposed to generate hundreds, if

not thousands of jobs for the region. This is one of the bets the government of the state of Georgia has placed in the future of electric

vehicles or electric in general.

And what we're told by witnesses -- I just talked to some person who was around yesterday who said that the first clue they had that something was

about to happen was the sound of a helicopter hovering over the plant, and then they saw the vehicles where the agents came out of masks and in full

gear, and proceeded to enter the plant.

She said -- this witness I talked to, that people -- some of them just run. They jump fences, Homeland Security, it says that some of them indeed tried

to flee the area, but they were later apprehended, apparently one of these persons was hiding in -- to -- a sewer pond, that is off site.

In total, more than 450 people were detained, according to authorities. Most of them are Koreans, and they are being investigated. They put a stop

to the production right now. They're trying -- like you mentioned before, this is not something that just happened. It's something that has been in

the works for months.

And it's a different tactic than what we've seen in recent immigration activities. Also, I think it is important to note that they say that not

all the workers that were captured, detained here were necessarily immigrants or people who crossed illegally into the United States. They say

there are some of those who were captured, but many of them came into the country either with a work -- with a visa, some type of a visa, and they

either overstayed or the visa they had didn't allow them to work in the United States.

[14:05:00]

This is -- so, this is a little bit different than what we've seen in other places. And also to note that a few years ago, another battery plant, as it

was being built also here in Georgia, also a Korean brand, got in trouble for a similar situation in which Korean workers were caught working in the

plant when they didn't have the authorization to do so in the United States.

SOARES: And Gustavo, just in the last few moments, we have heard that South Korea has conveyed what they called concerns to the U.S. about the ICE

raid. They went on to say -- the spokesperson went on to say, the economic activities of our companies invest in the United States and the interests

of our citizens must not be unduly violated during the course of U.S. law enforcement. What is Hyundai? What is the company -- behind you, the plant

behind you. What are they saying?

VALDES: They say that they are cooperating with the authorities. They say they're doing everything to make sure that they comply with U.S.

immigration and labor laws, and they are cooperating with the investigation. So, we're going to -- we're waiting to see if we get more

details as to what is going to -- what is going to be the result of this investigation.

But again, the unique situation in which these are not people like we've heard in the past, and perhaps the case we're about to hear in New York,

people who have been established in the U.S. for many years, and --

SOARES: Yes --

VALDES: They're just doing some works, some jobs that Americans don't want to or can't do, as is always often argued in this case. There have been

complaints and sometimes from unions who say they apply for the jobs in these new constructions, highly technological fields, and they don't get

the contracts because foreign workers are the ones doing the jobs.

SOARES: Gustavo in Georgia, do stay with us for just a moment. You had mentioned New York, I want to go to Maria. Maria, we saw in New York,

Upstate New York, I believe another significant ICE raid. Talk us through what happened there. What more are you learning?

MARIA SANTANA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, witnesses say that what started as a normal shift, a normal day at a nutrition bar factory in

Upstate New York, Isa, erupted into chaos as federal agents, you know, they stormed the plant and questioned nearly every worker inside. Now, I just

got off the phone with a worker from the plant who was inside at the time of the raid.

He prefers that we not share his identity, but said that ICE agents surrounded the building, that it was about 9:00 a.m. yesterday morning, and

that when people realized that there were ICE agents outside the door of the plant, that they began to panic, that the women started crying.

There were about 70 employees there. He said the ICE agents, you know, he didn't see them come through the front door. He realized they were there,

once they were already inside, he said, it was many of them, not sure the exact number, but some inside, some outside and started yelling.

He said they started yelling at the men, telling them to go into the kitchen. They were a little nicer, he said with the women, but they did not

ask to speak with the owner, with the manager. They just came straight for the workers. They didn't identify themselves. They didn't have an order of

-- judicial order with them.

So, he was really confused about what was going on. He said they were asking people questions about what country they were from, to show them

their identification. He said he is a legal resident, he's a Guatemalan, but is a legal resident of the United States, so that when he showed them

his residency card that they let him go.

But that many of his colleagues were there for about three hours, being questioned by these agents. And then Rural and Migrant Ministry; this is an

organization that works with farm workers Upstate. They were present. They recorded video of many of these workers being put into vans, that said

border patrol.

They are still trying to contact some of these workers. The governor said that this action is just outrageous, and that many children now have to

come home. Their parents weren't home when they got there. So --

SOARES: Yes --

SANTANA: This plant lost pretty much, says its owner. Its entire workforce in this, and that it was really something out of the movies, the way the

agents came into the plant. Isa.

SOARES: And terrifying, of course, for these families. Maria Santana and Gustavo Valdes, thank you very much. Thank you to you both. Well, today,

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order restoring the Department of War name for the U.S. Department of Defense, fully changing

the name will require an act of Congress.

But officials will be able to start using Department of War titles. The Department of War was first established by President George Washington.

[14:10:00]

It was split into Department of the Army and the Department of Air Force back in 1947. Along with the Navy, they fell under the newly designated

Defense Department in 1949. Well, it has been a week of rapid escalation between the U.S. and Venezuela, and we've been bringing to you every day

here on the show amid the Trump administration's -- of course, war on drug cartels.

Today, the U.S. announced it's sending ten fighter jets to Puerto Rico as it looks to bolster its presence in the region. On Thursday, two Venezuelan

military aircraft flew near a U.S. Navy vessel in international waters, in a move the Pentagon is calling highly provocative. And that same day, U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, quote, "there is a possibility -- if you remember, of stationing U.S. military personnel in Ecuador.

And these latest movements and developments come after U.S. strike on a Venezuelan speedboat that the Trump administration claims was carrying

drugs that killed 11 people, and that happened on Tuesday. Meanwhile, sources say the Pentagon abruptly canceled classified briefings on the

deadly strike that was scheduled for today.

And the attack is fueling suspicions in Caracas that Washington is attempting to topple the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The

U.S. accuses President Maduro of involvement in trafficking drugs, a charge he vehemently denies. I want to bring in Stefano Pozzebon in Venezuela's

capital in Caracas.

Stefano, give us a sense, then, of what Maduro is saying regarding these two military aircrafts that flew very close to a U.S. vessel. Give me --

what are they telling you? The U.S. -- you heard what the U.S. is saying, highly provocative.

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, indeed, Isa. I think that in these crises, there are two dimensions. On one side is the confrontation between

the United States and the Maduro government. I think we have passed the point of the inflammatory rhetoric of the discourse. We have seen that the

U.S. is willing to take decisive action and, frankly, killed 11 Venezuelans on the allegations that they were carrying drugs in a speedboat cruising

across the Caribbean sea.

And that, of course, has been protested by the Maduro government. They have also protested the recent deployment of U.S. Navy at large. They did not

address the incident with the two F-16 fighter jets, which of course, are American made. So, in a way, trying to add even insult to injury. When we

asked them, they pointed out, however, that several countries in the Caribbean community of the CELAC protested the deployment of the Navy.

So, that is the big geopolitical aspect in this story. And on the other side, you have everyday Venezuelans who are trying in one way or another,

to go on with their day. It is a country that is still grappling with a dramatic economic conditions, of course, and where most of the people,

however they do, would like to see a change in government, at least, here in Caracas.

They are also very aware that the U.S. has put pressure on Maduro in the past, and are not believing that this time is any different. We were able

to speak with a fisherman, for example, his name is Eduardo, and he's one of the people that actually need to take on his boat and go into the

Caribbean sea to try fish up -- to bring food to the table for his family, frankly. This is what he told us just yesterday, Isa.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POZZEBON (voice-over): Work has not stopped for these artisanal fishermen, says Eduard Ulloa. You can be a bit nervous, of course, but we still have

to go out fishing, otherwise, what are we going to eat? Authorities have not issued warnings to keep these boats at bay. And with Venezuela's

economy still in dire straits, nobody can afford an idle day.

Small scale fishermen like Ulloa normally stay within 20 nautical miles from the coast. They hardly risk encounters with the U.S. flotilla, but

still spend hours at sea without any comms. "You stand up on the boat and look around, all you see is the sky and the sea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

POZZEBON: And Isa, make no mistake that this is a country that Maduro still rules under an iron fist. Just in the last 12 months, more than 100, I

think it's 106 political opponents have been -- have been detained. And that's what we're hearing from human rights groups. So, you can understand

why, even though many people here are hoping for a change in government, they're definitely not the ones cheering up a foreign intervention, at

least at this time.

But do stay tuned in Venezuela, because I think this is a story that will give us more and more to talk about in the future. Isa?

SOARES: Absolutely. So many detained, millions of others have left the country. A very good story for us to cover, important story for us to be

on, of course. Thank you very much indeed, Stefano. Well, no signs of progress. Today marks President Trump's two-week deadline for Russia and

Ukraine to either engage in direct peace talks or face consequences.

[14:15:00]

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims he's ready to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, that top level meeting

seems unlikely to happen since they would have to meet in Moscow. And the Kremlin says that, quote, "huge amount of work is still needed". While the

path to peace hits another roadblock, Mr. Trump says he will speak with his Russian counterpart sometime in the near future.

Meanwhile, European leaders vow to send troops to secure post-war Ukraine, and that move, sparking this warning from Mr. Putin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT, RUSSIA (through translator): Regarding possible military contingents in Ukraine. This is one of the root causes trying to

involve Ukraine in NATO. So, if any troops appear there, especially during the ongoing hostilities, we assume they will be legitimate targets for

defeat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Let's get more. Kristen Holmes is tracking the peace efforts live from Washington. And Kristen, I mean, I don't know about you, but I've lost

all track of any sort of deadlines that have been put in place in any sort of diplomatic engagement with President Putin. The deadline today, you

know, comes -- ends today. All face consequences. Have we heard from the White House what happens next?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: No, and President Trump, in addition to saying that he was going to talk to Putin soon, that there had

been this open dialogue, he indicated there was some sort of phase two and phase three. When asked why he hadn't done more to push back against

Russia, he specifically talked about those secondary tariffs on India, and then said there was more to come.

But there's been no indication of what more there is to come. And as you noted, President Trump telling European allies that they needed to be

stronger on both Russia and China economically to get this done, telling European leaders, do not buy your oil from Russia, you're giving them too

much money, and then again, ramp up the economic pressure on China.

We know President Trump has considered these secondary sanctions for months now. He's gone back and forth. There was another deadline before they set

up the meeting in Alaska, in which President Trump said he was going to put forward those sanctions. And then that deadline came and went because they

had this meeting coming.

One thing to note, President Trump is incredibly frustrated by where this is. And some extent, you know, it's embarrassing of how these talks have

completely stalled out. Now, I was told by one White House official that President Trump does not want to sit down with Zelenskyy and Putin, just

the three of them.

First, he wants the two leaders to meet, but it seems less and less likely every single day that that's going to happen. And the other part of this

to, again, keep in mind is, while all of this is happening, we see Putin arriving in China to get close to Xi, to get close to Kim Jong un, there

for that military parade.

He's not giving any indication that he's working towards peace or working towards resolving the issue in Ukraine. In fact, he's living his life

completely separate of all of that. But again, President Trump noting yesterday he believed he talked to Putin soon, and that the dialogue has

been open, but still, so many questions on what happens next, and when is enough for President Trump to actually lay down the law when it comes to

potential secondary sanctions?

SOARES: Yes, that is the question that I've been hearing from some -- so many European voices on this side of the pond. Kristen Holmes, thank you

very much indeed. And still to come tonight, Gaza city being destroyed before the eyes of the world. Israel's Defense Minister wants you to see

this video he posted about the strike with a two-word message.

We'll bring that to you. And in the U.K., a political crisis for Keir Starmer's government. We have more of a dramatic day at 10 Downing Street.

Those two stories after this very short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:20:00]

SOARES: We started -- Israel's Defense Minister posted that message, those very words online today, along with footage of a high rise building in Gaza

city bombed into dust.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(EXPLOSION)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: The IDF says the building was being used by Hamas. The building's management denies that, saying it was housing displaced civilians. Israel

says it gave an evacuation order before the strike. It suggests more attacks on high rises are to come. The IDF is also targeting tents

sheltering families, leaving children among the dead.

Our Nada Bashir has more, and we do want to warn you, her report has disturbing images.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, as the Israeli government warns of a deepening military offensive in Gaza city, Israeli attacks on

the city have intensified overnight Thursday into Friday, a barrage of Israeli strikes targeted both residential buildings and tent camps.

According to hospital officials on the ground, killing more than a dozen people including several children. Social media video from the scene showed

doctors and aid workers treating bloodied and burned children following the devastating attack, with residents recounting the horrifying incident to

our own team on the ground.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was asleep and woke up injured. I found my brother covered in blood, lying on the ground. I went outside hoping someone could

help me rescue him, and I was shocked to see my uncle, my cousins, my uncle's wife, my other uncle and his children all injured.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These were innocent children, innocent women displaced from Jabalya. They told them to evacuate Jabalya. So, they came here, and

then they bombed them. They were told this area would be safe, but there is no safe place in Gaza.

BASHIR: According to one Israeli official, some 70,000 Palestinian civilians have so far evacuated Gaza city. But that is just a fraction of

the 1 million people currently believed to be residing in a war-torn city. Meanwhile, humanitarian airdrops in the area have been brought to a halt

and distribution points have been placed outside of the city, meaning civilians will have to leave Gaza city in order to obtain what little food

aid is being made available.

The military operation has drawn fierce criticism internationally with U.N. officials warning that it could result in horrific humanitarian

consequences. And within Israel, there continue to be large scale protests pushing for a hostage deal and even opposition from some of Israel's most

senior military officials.

With fears growing over the safety of Israeli hostages still held captive in Gaza, at least two of whom appear to be held in Gaza city, according to

a propaganda video released by Hamas on Friday, in which captives Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel appear to be driven around Gaza city.

Despite concerns, Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to continue until his military gains total control over Gaza city, with military officials

claiming that the military already holds some 40 percent of the city. Nada Bashir, CNN, in London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Well, families of Israeli hostages say they're appalled by the IDF's cooperation in what they call an unnecessary war. They say the Gaza

city assault puts their loved ones in immediate and direct danger, because the IDF lacks precise Intelligence -- their words on their location. Let's

get more now on that hostage video just released by Hamas. We're joined now by Jeremy Diamond in Tel Aviv. And Jeremy, today marks the 700th day of the

war.

[14:25:00]

And as Israel advances further into Gaza city, as Nada Bashir was just outlining there, Hamas has released this -- these videos of these hostages.

Just talk us through the video.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is a remarkable video because what you see in it is not one, but two Israeli hostages above

ground in Gaza city. That very same city where as you just saw from Nada's report, the Israeli military is rapidly advancing. The primary hostage who

you see in this video is a man by the name of Guy Gilboa-Dalal.

He was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival 700 days ago. And in this video, you see him talking about this impending offensive in Gaza city. And

he talks basically about being terrified that he may be killed as a result of that military advance. Now, important to note that this is a hostage

video, and by virtue of that, Guy is indeed speaking under duress.

And we have spoken with former hostages who have described the ways in which Hamas tells them to say certain things in these videos. But there is

often a kernel of truth to them as well. And in this video, he talks about the fact that Hamas captors have said that they will not be moving him,

they will be keeping him in Gaza city, even as the Israeli military escalates its bombardment campaign.

But critically, prepares and is beginning already to send ground forces into Gaza city. I want to show you a snippet of that video from -- released

by Hamas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GUY GILBOA-DALAL, ISRAELI HOSTAGE CAPTURED BY HAMAS: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAMOND: And indeed, he also says that eight other hostages are also being held by Hamas in Gaza city. We have no way of independently verifying that

information, of course, but nonetheless, it speaks to the fears that we have heard from so many of the hostage families in these protests over the

course of the last couple of weeks, that they fear that this military offensive could put their loved ones lives at risk.

And in fact, that has been -- is a sentiment that's also shared by Israel's high military command, which has told this Israeli government that if they

move forward with this offensive, not only may it not lead in their estimation, to the defeat of Hamas, but that it could also put additional

soldiers lives at risk, and also the lives of these Israeli hostages. Isa.

SOARES: Yes, and as you've been showing us this week, we have seen the widespread calls from so many Israelis for a ceasefire, for the war to end.

I wonder then whether this video puts further pressure on Netanyahu to agree to a sort ceasefire, especially in light of what we are expected to

see next week at the U.N. General Assembly where numerous countries are due to recognize Palestine. Just put this -- just put the moment right now into

context for our viewers. Jeremy.

DIAMOND: Yes, Isa, you're right to put it in that context, because right now, as we have seen so many times before, this is a particular moment

where the Israeli government is under pressure both internally and externally. But this time, of course, it is a critical moment, and it is

also a groundswell moment in terms of Israel's growing international isolation with these -- this raft of countries set to recognize the state

of Palestine with growing condemnation of this new Israeli military offensive and also with the internal pressure here in Israel of the

families of these hostages.

And hundreds of thousands of Israelis that we've seen take to the streets in recent weeks, who had the very same concerns that are now being

expressed by one of these hostages in this video. And that makes it so much harder to deny that reality and those very real fears of the risk that this

military offensive will put these hostages in.

Because you have to keep in mind, it's not just the risk of them being killed by bombardment from the Israeli military, but it is also the risk

that should Israeli soldiers close in on positions where these hostages are being held, Hamas has threatened in the past and has actually made good on

those threats, as it related to the execution of six Israeli hostages last year, that it will kill hostages if they sense that Israeli forces are

closing in to rescue them. And so, that is a very real fear for so many of these families at this moment.

SOARES: Jeremy Diamond for us in Tel Aviv this hour. Thank you, Jeremy. And still to come tonight, the dream home that became a political nightmare.

Britain's deputy Prime Minister steps down over a tax scandal. We'll look at what it means for the U.K. government. Plus, a look at migration in

Germany. Ten years after then Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to open her country hundreds of thousands of migrants.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Welcome back everyone. Here in the U.K., the government is in turmoil after the resignation of Britain's Deputy Prime Minister. Angela

Rayner has stepped down in a scandal after failing to pay the correct amount of property tax for a second home by the beach. An ethics watchdog

found she failed to meet the highest possible standards. It throws the ruling Labour government into disarray with Prime Minister Keir Starmer

quickly getting to work to reshuffle his cabinet.

Labour also faces growing challenges from the right-wing reform U.K. whose leader Nigel Farage capitalized on the crisis today as he took to the stage

at a sold-out party conference.

Nic Robertson is with me now. And what a frenzy day it has been today for Labour and a devastating day as well for the Labour government.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, a trusted colleague, a good friend. The prime minister spoke about her in glowing

terms and indeed she was. I mean, she bought, if you will, the left elements or some of the sort of more center-left elements of the party that

he couldn't reach so well. She was very efficient as housing minister.

But the very fact that the government is searching for places to find more taxation, and one of the places they may do it is around housing, and this

was her transgression and the ethics watchdog said that she hadn't heeded all the advice she had been given, really left no opportunity. But I mean,

look, the Prime Minister, he's had the leader of reform Nigel Farage sort of dancing on this situation at his own party conference, making his big

speech early just to time it with the -- with the announcement just sort of riding that way. The leader of the opposition saying you didn't fire her.

She resigned .I mean, this is sort of a moment of respect if you will for the Prime Minister. She had really in this situation no --

[14:35:45]

SOARES: But at this point -- at this point, we still don't know when the Prime Minister knew and -- right? How much do you know and when he knew,

right? We don't know that.

ROBERTSON: You know, it really be sort of began coming to a head in the middle of the week when she -- when she referred herself to the -- to the

ministerial code of ethics watchdog and that came back pretty quickly. The Prime Minister had been very supportive of it talking about you know the

bill -- the million and a half homes building that that she had commissioned and pushed through, that she was a very effective as a

politician do doing this job. And it was an important plank of what the Labour Party was trying to achieve, build more houses, make housing cheaper

for people.

But this -- I think when you think of Angela Rayner, think of her this way and the way the prime minister phrased it. He said, she epitomized the

mobility, the social mobility. She left school at 16 pregnant. She was a grandmother at 37. But when she became an M.P. 10 years ago, she said

people told me when I left school that I would amount to nothing. There was nothing that I could do. I wish they could see me now. Of course they

could, and that was her point.

I met her out on the campaign trail. Wow. What a -- what an amazing campaigner. What a -- what a powerful and articulate politician she was.

That was why she was so important to Keir Starmer. That's why, you know, all those things, efficiency, leftwing of the party, the embodiment of sort

of some of what Labour or the voters that Labour hopes it appears --

SOARES: Yes, she was so ordinary. She appealed to so many. She was so relatable in the way she spoke and the way she dealt with so many. I wonder

then how much this is ministerial codes have been broken. I think it's fair to say that several from the Tories have been in the same situation and

they haven't stepped down.

ROBERTSON: And that's the problem for the Labour Party because people thought the Labour Party under Keir Starmer would be something new and here

they discover it's not and she's not the first to have to step aside and barely a year into government or just every year into government. It's not

a good look.

Look, he's done the reshuffle. He's -- the fort bought the foreign secretary in to be the deputy prime minister, taken the home secretary to

be the new foreign secretary, the justice secretary to be the home -- it's a big reshuffle.

SOARES: Yes.

ROBERTSON: Something most pundits were sort of thinking he would do later in the month but it's put him on the back foot.

SOARES: And I don't want to finish this without mentioning Nigel Farage because he's benefiting from all of this, isn't he?

ROBERTSON: The Reform Party and Nigel Farage in particular is doing incredibly well in the polls right now. If there are elections tomorrow,

the sort of election watchers think that their party is doing so well, it would essentially win the elections. It's sort of 30 percent. It's the

biggest party at the moment. Farage is a well-known populist who speaks to a lot of the concerns of today.

It's not to say they would win in a couple of years' time. I mean, the next election isn't due until 2029. So, there's many years away. However,

Starmer and his Labour Party are looking by this and the whole past year shakier than before. And Farage is the one who is -- he bound to the stage

and said get ready to his party, and this was a feather in his cap.

SOARES: And indeed, tax immigration plays right into his hand. Nic, thank you very much indeed.

Well, this week marks 10 years since then-Chancellor Angela Merkel opened Germany's doors to hundreds of thousands of migrants congregating in

central Europe, seeking refuge from wars in their homelands. Now, Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing anti-immigration headwinds driven by

the surge in popularity of Germany's far right.

Our Sebastian Shukla spoke with a Syrian refugee who made the journey in 2015, becoming a poster boy for Germany's welcome culture.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEBASTIAN SHUKLA, CNN FIELD PRODUCER (voice-over): Europe a decade ago, more than a million migrants fleeing war-torn homelands, trek through the

fields in the heart of the continent. Most if not all seeking a better, more peaceful life.

ANAS MODAMANI, SYRIAN REFUGEE LIVING IN GERMANY (through translator): When I think about the trip today, I wouldn't do it again because it was so

dangerous. All I remember is how many people died.

[14:40:05]

SHUKLA (voice-over): A huge majority were Syrians seeking the safety of Germany. Anas Modamani was one of those. Age 17, he left Damascus alone.

MODAMANI (through translator): When I came to Germany, it was the best moment of my life. People were waiting for me at Munich Central Station,

all refugees, and they clapped for us and then gave us water.

SHUKLA (voice-over): Anas and the millions of others owed his acceptance to Angela Merkel, the then-German chancellor, days before she'd thrown open

Germany's doors and promised a warm welcome.

ANGELA MERKEL, FORMER CHANCELLOR, GERMANY: We have accomplished so much. We can do this. We can do this. And wherever something stands in our way, it

must be overcome. It must be worked on.

SHUKLA (voice-over): Days later, Anas took a photo that catapulted him to fame.

MODAMANI (through translator): I thought she was an actress or a movie star. I wanted to take a picture with her. I did, but I didn't know that

the picture was going viral.

SHUKLA (voice-over): In 2015, in 2016, first-time asylum applications to Germany exploded. Of the 1.1 million requests, over half of them were from

Syrians, Iraqis, and Afghans. And over the decade, Germany has remained the promised land. Across the European Union, more than eight million applied

for the first time, with Germany being the preferred destination for around a third.

Since that time, far-right parties have emerged across the continent, pushing anti-immigration policy. The alternative for Germany, the AFD, have

ridden that wave. From obscurity in 2013 to the second most popular party in February's election, their campaign focused on a spate of terror attacks

carried out by migrants.

SHUKLA: Many see that rise as being behind the current Chancellor Friedrich Merz's tougher migration policy. It's to show that he's tackling the issue.

Talks of strengthening Germany's borders and even deportations. But many experts have told me that the move is largely symbolic and actually doesn't

really change anything.

SHUKLA (voice-over): Anas now calls Berlin home, but he does see Germany and perhaps his decisions changing.

MODAMANI (through translator): I want to feel like I belong. I don't want Germany to change. Germany supports people who need help. And when that

call is gone, I have to think again about whether I can stay here.

SHUKLA (voice-over): Sebastian Shukla, CNN Berlin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: And still to come tonight, the board of Tesla makes a big offer to Elon Musk. We'll take a closer look at its potential trillion, yes, with a

T dollar payday. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:23]

SOARES: Well, the board of Tesla has a new proposal, it seems, for CEO Elon Musk, and it could make him the world's first trillionaire. The board says

the proposal is an incentive to get Musk to focus on Tesla moving forward. In addition to Tesla, Musk has many other businesses as well as political

interests. In recent months, as you know, Tesla has taken a hit in sales as well as value while also facing increasing competition from Chinese E.V.

makers and robo taxi services like Waymo.

Joining us now from New York is CNN's Hadas Gold. And Hadas, I mean, this sounds pretty good on paper, right? But just explain the catch here.

HADAS GOLD, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so first of all, these -- the payment will be in shares of Tesla stock. So, around 423.7 million shares.

And the reason that people are putting a trillion value on that is because if Elon Musk and Tesla meet the conditions in order to get those full

shares, and part of that condition is the value of the company, those shares could be worth around $900 billion. Add that to his current net

worth and that's why you're vaulting him into trillionaire status.

But the conditions that he and Tesla have to meet are quite lofty goals. First of all, Tesla's valuation has to reach $ 8.5 trillion. That is an

eight-fold increase to Tesla's current value of about $1.1 trillion. This is supposed to take place over the next 10 years. Elon Musk also and Tesla

are supposed to deliver 20 million of their Tesla cars, one million of those autonomous robo taxis, and one million of those autonomous Optimus

robots. Robo taxis and Optimus robots, they're still in sort of the testing phase as we speak right now.

Also part of this package is Elon is supposed to stay with Tesla for at least seven and a half years. To get part of those shares, 10 years for all

of those shares. These are huge ambitions. In 2024, Tesla delivered less than two million vehicles.

What's really interesting though for me, Isa, about this is the fact that there are no restrictions in this pay package around Elon Musk's outside

activities. That's one thing about his involvement for -- with his other companies, but also about politics. There's nothing in there saying that he

can't continue to be involved in politics. Some Tesla investors had been asking for some sort of restrictions to be placed on his political

involvement because of the backlash, the consumer backlash we saw over the last year or so because of his incendiary political remarks and his

association with President Donald Trump and his administration.

But it seems as though they're saying, "Go ahead, do whatever you want." And Elon Musk has vowed to create a new political party. We haven't seen

really real moves towards that to happen just yet, but we still see him making a lot of incendiary remarks online.

Tesla's board chair though, Robyn Denholm, she defended this pay package, saying that they really needed to find a way to incentivize and keep Elon

Musk at Tesla. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBYN DENHOLM, BOARD CHAIR, TESLA: We've constructed this plan so that shareholders get outsized returns. For us, it is all about shareholder

value creation, and the plan -- that plan reflects that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLD: Another thing she said in the interview that one of the things that attracts Elon Musk is ambitious goals. And that's why they put out these

big ambitious goals to try and keep Elon Musk around. What's really interesting also in the proxy statement that they sent is that during the

negotiations, Musk had raised the possibility that he may pursue other interests that may afford him greater influence if he did not receive the

assurances that we see in the package. And one of those other assurances we see in that package is by the end of this, Elon Musk may actually control

at least a quarter of Tesla shares. That's an unprecedented level of control for a chief executive.

But Elon Musk has previously said in other interviews that one of the things that he fears is that he wants to make sure he can have control over

his company and that activist investors can't kick him out for any sort of reasons, political reasons or whatnot. But Tesla shareholders, they will

get to have their chance to vote on this package on November 6. Isa?

SOARES: Hadas, thank you very much indeed.

And still to come tonight, tens of thousands of people are expected to attend a special canonization in Rome this weekend. We'll look at the team

credited with two miracles set to become the first Catholic Millennial Saint.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:51:56]

SOARES: Well, Portugal is officially mourning following Wednesday's funicular crash. Meanwhile, we are learning more about the victims. 16

people were killed, including five Portuguese citizens, two South Koreans, and one Swiss national. At least 23 injured people ranging in age from 3 to

65 were treated at local hospitals. The wreckage was removed from the scene early on Friday. Authorities are still investigating the disaster, but

firefighters report a cable detached along the line, causing the streetcar to lose control.

Well, Catholics young and old are heading to Rome for a special ceremony this weekend. Pope Leo is set to canonize a 15-year-old boy who's credited

with two miracles since passing away from leukemia -- leukemia, pardon me, in 2006. He'll become the church's first millennial saint during the new

Pope's first canonization ceremony.

Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb has this story for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): God's influencer, an Italian teenager who was a computer whiz kid and loved video games.

Carlo Acutis will become the first millennial saint.

LAMB: Now, when people think of saints, they often imagine men with beards and robes and something from the past. But Carlo Acutis, as you can see, is

someone who was laid out the jeans and trainers. So, he's a very relatable saint. And at a time when the Catholic Church is seeking to connect with a

younger generation, this figure of Carlo Acutis has a lot of resonance today.

LAMB (voice-over): He died age 15 of leukemia in 2006 and has developed a global following.

OLIVIA SANTARELLI, PILGRIM: He's just like us. Like, he is just like a regular teenage guy. And he had the same interest. He likes sports. He

liked the internet, of course. And so, yes, he just -- he really just represents young people.

GARY FRIESEN, PILGRIM: I feel like I have a closer connection to him because I was born on the year that he died and I have the same hobbies as

him. And on Instagram, I try to spread the gospel as best as I can.

LAMB (voice-over): Carlo's path to sainthood has been swift but his mother Antonia said he wasn't raised in a religious household. His faith partly

nurtured by his Polish nanny.

ANTONIA SALZANO, MOTHER OF CARLO ACUTIS: I was converted by my son. He was my savior.

LAMB (voice-over): He grew up in a wealthy family that used his privileged position to help others, donating pocket money to the homeless while

setting up a website to document reports of miracles. Candidates for sainthood usually need two miracles attributed to their intercession.

Carlos included a reported healing of a Brazilian boy with a birth defect and a young woman from Costa Rica injured in a bicycle accident in

Florence.

Interest in Acutis is global. His tomb here in Assisi received almost a million visitors last year. And an official shrine has been set up in

Pennsylvania. Carlo's mother describes him as a normal child who enjoyed playing on his PlayStation and made videos of his family pets. He also

stood up for pupils being bullied at school.

Antonia believes his message can resonate with young people today.

[14:55:02]

SALZANO: It's a message of hope because Carlos say yes, you have to use for the good. This is the way -- the motive why Pope Francis called Carlo

influencer of God.

POPE FRANCIS, FORMER LEADER, CATHOLIC CHURCH: Carlo Acutis.

LAMB (voice-over): Acutis' canonization comes as the church is still reeling from the damage done by the scandals of clerical sexual abuse of

children, but also when research shows a rise in interest in Catholicism among Gen Z. Many of whom are expected in Rome to witness this video gaming

teenager being declared a saint.

Christopher Lamb, CNN Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Well, from teens to centenarians. A new Guinness World Record has been set by an elderly man who already held the same title. 102-year-old

Kokichi Akuzawa is once again the oldest person to summit Mount Fuji, beating a record he first set when he was a more youthful 96 years old.

Mount Fuji is Japan's most famous and tallest mountains.

Akuzawa almost gave up halfway to the top and managed to keep going with the support of his loved ones. He says he's now hanging up his hiking boots

for good. Well, we'll see about that.

That does it for us for today. Thanks very much for your company. Have a wonderful weekend. I'll leave you in the company of Max Foster with "WHAT

WE KNOW."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END