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Isa Soares Tonight
Abbas Accuses Israel of "Malicious Colonial Scheme"; U.N.: Total Dismantling of Democracy in Nicaragua; Netanyahu Slams Critics of Gaza War at U.N. CNN and Other Media Outlets that were Banned are Allowed Back in the White House After an Emergency Hearing; U.S. President Donald Trump Hosts China's Xi Jinping; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Speaks at the United Nations as Protesters Gather Outside the U.N. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired September 24, 2026 - 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, CNN and other media outlets that were
banned are allowed back in the White House after an emergency hearing. But the fight is far from over. We'll break down what comes next for you -- for
us here at CNN.
Then a landmark state visit. U.S. President Donald Trump hosts China's Xi Jinping as concerns over the risk of A.I. reach fever pitch. And Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the United Nations as protesters gather outside, calling for Palestinian rights.
We do begin, as you can see there with breaking news. CNN journalists have been allowed back into the White House. A few hours ago, reporters from
CNN, "MS Now" and "Politico" were denied access to the White House campus, despite a judge's order to reinstate their press badges.
The White House, the fight, the court ruling, as you know, as you've been following here on CNN for hours, and so the three news outlets filed an
emergency hearing just 30 minutes before the Department of Justice deadline to respond, the reporters regained White House access.
During the initial ruling, the judge, a Trump appointee, said the reporters' credentials had been revoked without due process. Our Evan Perez
is live for us in Washington. So, Evan, I mean, we've seen -- we've been showing this for our viewers in the last few hours.
Our colleagues have been allowed back into the White House. But just explain to our viewers, is this over now? Just talk us through it.
EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: No, it's not over. This is a temporary restraining order that the judge issued overnight. The judge, Tim
Kelly. And this only covers us for about 14 days and allows the two sides to continue litigating it, to continue fighting over this in federal court.
And keep in mind, Isa, the President has already said in a few -- in the last few days that he wants to appeal. He anticipated clearly that this was
not going to go his way with this judge. And so, he said in one of his social media posts that he wanted to appeal the ruling, even though he
hadn't actually seen what the judge was going to say.
But as probably as the President expected, the judge did rule overnight that the due process rights of the reporters and the news organizations,
CNN, "MS Now" and "Politico" had been violated and ordered that the access be restored.
But as you pointed out, that didn't happen immediately. The White House did issue -- did file a declaration in federal court just a few minutes before
the deadline, and they laid out a timeline saying that they were notified at 7:00 a.m., shortly after 7:00 a.m., that the access needed to be
restored.
And they laid out a timeline that said that by 9:55, the press badges of Betsy Klein; our CNN correspondent there at the White House and others had
been restored. However, as you and I know, Betsy showed up at the front gate there at 11:00 a.m., fully an hour after the White House claims that
the access had been restored, and she was again denied.
So, that's the reason why the news organizations went to the judge trying to get an emergency hearing to try to get the White House to comply. And,
of course, now the judge has canceled that because, as you can see from those pictures, Betsy and others, all the other reporters have now been
allowed in.
Now, one -- a couple of things that need to happen now. First of all, later today, the Chinese Premier is at the White House as there's a public event.
And one of the questions is whether CNN, which is the TV pool for that event, is going to be allowed to do its job.
So, that's one of the things that we expect to come to ahead later this evening. And then of course, over the next few weeks, the judge has already
laid out a schedule, anticipating that there's going to be further litigation over the White House's claim that this is a national security
issue, that it has the right to essentially discriminate between viewpoints.
[14:05:00]
Because again, this was what the President said. He said he banned these three news organizations because he did not like their reporting. Again,
the irony of the situation being that the Chinese press, the Communist Party apparatus there is fully allowed inside the White House today, while
the media from CNN and other news organizations have not been present for some of these meetings with the Chinese Premier.
SOARES: Yes, irony indeed. Evan, appreciate you laying it all out for us. Evan Perez there for us in Washington. Good to see you --
PEREZ: Thanks --
SOARES: My friend. Well, as Evan was saying, that ban on CNN and other media at the White House severely limited the world from seeing really a
high stakes summit today that Evan was talking about. The Chinese President is at the White House for his first state visit in over a decade.
But as you heard there, the TV pool that usually provides coverage of events like this is not operating today because CNN has been excluded from
it, even without robust TV coverage. Xi Jinping and Donald Trump have plenty to talk about.
The question is, will they reach any agreement? China and the U.S. are global leaders, as you well know, in A.I. development. And during his
visit, Mr. Xi said both countries have an obligation to manage its development. While Mr. Trump has rejected the idea of a global slowdown.
And then, aside from technology, trade, Taiwan and Tehran will also likely be a key part of the conversation. Alayna Treene joins me now from
Washington. I mean, there's so many -- there's really, Alayna, good to see you first of all.
There's really like a myriad of issues here that both leaders will want to discuss, talk us through what each side wants out of it, and the way in
which it's happening, as Evan was saying, without much access to some media organizations, including CNN.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, I'll start with these different issues, and I'll give you a broad scope of what I think will be
discussed, or at least from the conversations I've been having with Trump administration officials, Isa, what they expect to discuss.
One is, of course, trade. We actually did hear the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, say that they agreed to extend the Busan Agreement. That is
something -- it's a trade agreement that was essentially struck in October of 2025.
Pulling back on some of the tariffs that each had exchanged. Essentially, the U.S. would pull back and reduce certain tariffs, while China would
agree to buy more U.S. products, things like soybeans. So, that has been extended into January.
But other issues we know that are incredibly important, Taiwan, I mean, we know U.S. sales, arm sales to Taiwan is a major issue. The Chinese don't
want that. And we did hear the President, who I'd remind you and our viewers, Isa, actually visited Beijing himself back in May when he was
coming back from that trip to the U.S.
He was asked about this idea of arms sales to Taiwan. The President said he saw it as a bargaining chip. So, I think that will definitely be something
likely that the Chinese want to discuss and perhaps try to convince the U.S. to hold off on, very much a controversial issue.
Another thing are critical minerals. That is something that the U.S. has consistently wanted to try to get more from China. So, that is likely to be
part of this and brought up into some of the trade talks. You know, the war with Iran is going to be a big subject.
The President himself, President Trump, I should say himself, yesterday said that he expects to talk about Iran with Xi. But the other thing, of
course, is, we also have the reporting that she has been providing some imagery, satellite imagery and other things to Iran throughout the war.
So, interesting to see what could happen there. And then, one of the biggest issues as well, hanging over this entire summit is about Artificial
Intelligence. We actually heard President Trump reference it this morning. He now has dubbed it Superintelligence, a new term that he argues makes
Artificial Intelligence sound less threatening.
But what the President -- what President Trump said there is that essentially, Artificial Intelligence could be something that they'd use
together to promote prosperity in the future. What I found interesting is that Trump, for his part, has argued that he doesn't want guardrails on
Artificial Intelligence, even as a lot of these tech --
SOARES: Yes --
TREENE: Leaders in recent weeks have been saying, we're worried about the safety. But Xi, this morning, when addressing the press at the White House,
said they knew -- they do need to have some sort of safeties and human safeties in place to prevent that.
So, that's going to be a huge topic as well. I can tell you a lot of tech leaders will be at that state dinner tonight with both Xi and Trump. So, a
lot that we'll be watching for.
SOARES: I know you'll stay across it for us, Alayna, appreciate it. Alayna Treene in Washington, D.C. there. Well, just hours after the Palestinian
Authority President urged the world to stop Israel from, quote, "erasing Palestinians from their homeland", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu is taking his turn at the podium at the U.N. General Assembly.
Let me show you the live pictures if we have them to show it to you, there we go. Mr. Netanyahu's address to the General Assembly is just getting
started. Dozens of diplomats walked out before he even said a word.
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Mr. Netanyahu called them moral cowards. He's under intense international pressure over Israel's military operations in Gaza, as well as the West
Bank. But he's also fighting -- and this is important for his political life back home with elections fast approaching, in fact, in the next month
or so.
Well, New York didn't exactly roll out the welcome mat. Protesters are out on the streets, some holding signs, reading "end the genocide". Mr.
Netanyahu's visit is expected to last just hours, with him returning home later today.
So, a brief visit. He apparently has no plans to meet with President Donald Trump, he's not even in New York. Well, earlier today, as we were saying,
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said his people face one of the most dangerous times in their history.
He did address the U.N. via a video link because the Trump administration denied him a visa. Mr. Abbas said Israel is attempting to ethnically
cleanse Palestinian land. He says not only is a two-state solution under threat, but also the very Palestinian existence. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT (through translator): Today, we say to the world, saving the solution begins with preserving the
land on which the Palestinian state is to be established, and protecting the people who live on it.
The Palestinian people will remain on its land. The Palestinian people will not accept displacement, will not accept displacement, and will not
disappear, neither military occupation nor settlement expansion, annexation nor settler terrorism can be a solution or create lasting security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Jeremy Diamond joins me now from Jerusalem, Brynn Gingras is among the protesters in New York. Let me go to you first, Jeremy. I know
you're listening in to Prime Minister Netanyahu. As we were saying, we've seen a significant walkout from multiple delegations as he took to the
podium.
I am seeing a couple of lines from him as well, talking about Iran's nuclear facilities, how hard-hit that was. He said if -- he said if he
hadn't done it, we'd all be dead. He also said it was very hard to do, but for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I had to make as a Prime
Minister.
So, as we continue to listen and monitor what he's saying, put this into context for us because he faces pressure not just on the international
stage, but also at home.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's exactly right, Isa, and I think that there are two frames through which to view the
Israeli Prime Minister's speech at the U.N. General Assembly right now, one of them is through the lens of the criticism that Israel is facing on the
international stage, accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, an arrest warrant for the Prime Minister himself, issued by the
International Criminal Court.
And you saw that, you know, on display as dozens of foreign diplomats walked out as the Prime Minister took to the podium at that U.N. General
Assembly. And the Prime Minister responded by slamming their moral cowardice and their hypocrisy of those who walked out.
And so, the Prime Minister is going to do a lot to kind of bat away some of the criticism that he and that Israel have faced over the conduct of the
various wars Israel has been involved in over the course of the last three years.
But by and large, the primary lens through which to view this speech is going to be a domestic political one here in Israel. The Israeli Prime
Minister is now a month away from a very likely decisive election. One that currently in the polls, the Prime Minister and his governing coalition
appear to be falling well short of the 61-seat majority needed to form the next government in Israel's Parliament.
And the Prime Minister is using this opportunity at the U.N. General Assembly to not only kind of try and paint this picture of strategic
victory that many Israelis have come to doubt, but also to reassume his position as Israel's foremost statesman, its foremost defender on the world
stage, and someone who has argued successfully in the past to the Israeli public that he is the person best positioned to carry Israel's public
diplomacy message to the world and in particular in the United States.
SOARES: Stay with us, Jeremy. Let me go to Brynn Gingras, who is among the protesters in New York. So, Brynn, just give us a sense of the mood, as I
was saying to Jeremy, we saw many delegations walking out as Prime Minister Netanyahu is addressing, of course, the General Assembly. What is the mood?
What is the tone where you are?
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Isa, well, actually, the last of the NYPD vehicles that carried away a number of people that were put under
custody -- into custody from those protests, actually just left this area.
[14:15:00]
So, now there is no more protesters. But it was quite the scene, really, just a short time ago, where there were several hundred people who were in
the street, just where I am, just a few blocks from the General Assembly building, and where Netanyahu is speaking.
And they were hoping that their voices were going to be heard by Netanyahu when he took that podium, obviously chanting several things among them to
not fund this war to free Palestine, and a number of messages.
And part of that crowd also included some famous actresses Susan Sarandon, Cynthia Nixon. We saw some poets, professional photographers, artists, it
was a diverse crowd brought together by a group that is Jewish Voices for Peace.
And again, they were just hoping that their message is loud and clear, that they stand with the people of Palestine, and they are against Netanyahu and
what he has to say on that podium today. So, again, I would say a couple dozen or at least several dozens were taken into custody at one point
today.
They did not mind that they were expecting to be arrested when they formed this protest. But quite a loud scene out here, although peaceful. But it's
now over while he is at the podium.
SOARES: Brynn Gingras, we appreciate, our thanks to Jeremy Diamond, who I know is continuing --
GINGRAS: Yes --
SOARES: To monitor, of course, the address by the Prime Minister. Thank you very much to you both, appreciate it. I want to get the perspective now
not only of what we are hearing from, of course, Netanyahu, but what we've heard so far from other voices, including the Palestinian President, Abbas.
I want to get the perspective now from Mustafa Barghouti; the President of the Palestinian National Initiative. He's also a member of the Palestinian
Parliament and joins us now live from Ramallah. Mr. Barghouti, great to have you back on the show.
I mean, we're getting -- we are monitoring, we're listening to what the Prime Minister of Israel is saying. We've seen a significant walkout from
multiple delegations as he took to the podium. And we are seeing him addressing, for the time being, Iran.
Clearly, like Jeremy was saying, focusing on the domestic issues with elections around the corner. But I want to ask you, first of all, of what
you made today from Palestinian President Abbas, because he did sound frustrated, I think it's fair to say, when he addressed the General
Assembly.
Because it is the second-year in a row he hasn't been allowed in to the United States, and had to address the General Assembly remotely. It's also
important for our viewers to point out that more than 80 percent of U.N. member states recognize Palestine.
Yet, we are seeing -- if we have live images to show those live images, the Prime Minister of Israel, Netanyahu, who is subject to an arrest warrant
issued by the ICC, addressing the General Assembly. What is your reaction to that?
MUSTAFA BARGHOUTI, PRESIDENT, PALESTINIAN NATIONAL INITIATIVE: Well, it is quite ironic that the person who is accused of war crimes and genocide like
Netanyahu, and as you said, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, is allowed to come to New York and speak in front of the U.N. while
the representative of the oppressed people, the occupied people, the people who are struggling for their freedom is not allowed in.
Although, the number of countries that recognize occupied Palestine recognize it as a state is much larger than the number of countries that
recognize Israel. So, it is really ironic and the man responsible for that is President Trump, who is not allowing Palestinians even to have the right
to express themselves in front of the world's nation.
In my opinion, Israel has never been so isolated as it is today because of its policies, because of the genocidal war in Gaza, because of what's
happening today here in the West Bank, where we are subjected to Israeli settler's terror.
Thirty communities are attacked regularly every day, burning houses, burning cars, Israel stealing our land around the clock. And we are
oppressed not only by a system of occupation and apartheid, but also by a settler colonial system that is depriving us from anything, and
confiscating our land and strangulating our economy.
I think what you see today inside the U.N., when most delegations left the room, when Netanyahu came out to speak, and all he had to say is that is to
describe these people as cowards, instead of saying that they are supporters of freedom of Palestinians.
And the most impressive thing for me is that the demonstration outside the U.N. now is done mainly by Jewish people, Jewish people for Peace. So, that
is sending a message --
SOARES: Yes --
BARGHOUTI: To Netanyahu, that he doesn't represent every Jewish person on the contrary.
SOARES: Yes, and look, we have heard, and I think it's fair to say, significant number of world leaders use this General Assembly to really
raise concerns about the West, the occupied West Bank settlement expansion, the future of a two-state solution.
[14:20:00]
I want you to listen to this. Have a listen to this, Mr. Barghouti.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: Meanwhile, violence, displacement and settlement expansion by Israel in the occupied West Bank
are bulldozing the path to peace and raising the specter of ethnic cleansing. We cannot allow the two-state solution to disappear before our
eyes.
ABDULLAH II, KING OF JORDAN: Something extraordinarily dangerous is unfolding in the West Bank. Some may think we have seen this before.
Settlements, violence, displacement, more of the same, but it is not, nor is it simply an escalation. This is a fundamental shift.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: An escalation, but a fundamental shift. And there are so many others as well. I know from President Macron also addressing what relates
to Gaza. But what do you want these leaders to do once they leave the podium? I mean, what concrete steps would you like to see, particularly
when it comes to settlement expansion to the West Bank?
BARGHOUTI: The world leaders have shown their determination to support the right of the Palestinians to have a state of their own, to have self-
determination like every other nation in this world. They support what they call two-state solution.
But Israel is slaughtering the two-state solution every day. So, they cannot just make statements. I mean, what Mr. Guterres said is absolutely
correct. What Palestinians are subjected to is another act of ethnic cleansing.
Let's remember that in 1948, when Israel was created, Israel conducted the -- one of the biggest ethnic cleansing actions in the world, forcing 70
percent of the Palestinians to become refugees. Now, they want to do the same to the rest of us in the West Bank.
Although, the number of Palestinians on the land of historic Palestine now is larger than the number of Jewish Israelis. So, the world has to do more.
And in my opinion, openly and I have to say, the condemnations, the statements, even the conferences will not be enough.
Even the sanctions on settlements is not enough. What we need to see is our sanctions boycott divestments against the Israeli government, because this
Israeli establishment, this whole establishment is the one that is funding settlements, the one that is confiscating our land, the one that is
strangulating our economy, the one that is trying to enforce ethnic cleansing on the Palestinians in the West Bank and in Gaza.
So, it has to be punished, without real sanctions on this Israeli government and establishment, things will not change. But we are here. We
are steadfast.
SOARES: OK --
BARGHOUTI: We will never leave whatever it --
SOARES: Yes --
BARGHOUTI: Takes. We are -- we are determined to stay in our land --
SOARES: Dr. Barghouti -- yes, I hear you, I appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. It's always great to see you, Dr. Barghouti. Thank you very
much live for us there in Ramallah in West Bank --
BARGHOUTI: Thank you --
SOARES: We are going to continue to monitor, of course, you're very welcome. What Prime Minister Netanyahu is saying at the U.N., he continues,
I can see to address the U.N. General Assembly. We are monitoring and monitoring in, we'll bring you more sound for him as, of course, as the
show continues.
In the meantime, right here on the show, an investigation is underway into a new A.I. hack. We'll tell you which service was affected next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:25:00]
SOARES: Well, an investigation is underway in Australia into an A.I. data breach. According to officials, an OpenAI agent illegally accessed the
country's national healthcare database. The hack was first discovered in August, but Australians were only told in September.
And this comes as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman calls for more A.I. safety protocols. Our Hanako Montgomery has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): In what's believed to be the first known A.I. hack of a government network. An OpenAI
agent hacked into an Australian healthcare system, causing extreme concern.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER, AUSTRALIA: Today, I spoke with the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, to express Australia's extreme concern about this
incident. This situation is obviously unacceptable.
MONTGOMERY: In June, the agent was supposed to be researching healthcare spending, but while doing so, it bypassed security blocks and accessed
information it wasn't authorized to see. OpenAI says it didn't discover the breach until August while it was reviewing its model's activity.
But Australia didn't find out until even later on September 10th, when the company sent a notice through a generic inbox, Albanese says. Resulting in
a five-day delay before the appropriate government minister was notified.
The Prime Minister called that unacceptable, and says Australia is now investigating what else the AI may have accessed. He said three other
government services may have been affected. There's no evidence so far that patient records were breached, according to OpenAI.
But the incident is fueling a bigger debate over A.I. safety and guardrails as we've seen at the United Nations General Assembly this week.
SAM ALTMAN, CEO, OPENAI: It doesn't matter whether people put the risk of catastrophe at 10 percent or 1 percent, or 12 percent or 0.1 percent. None
of these levels are remotely acceptable, and we should not train models that we cannot make an extremely strong case that we'll be able to keep
under human control.
MONTGOMERY: But this isn't even the first time OpenAI's agents have hacked other systems. Earlier this year, they breached the A.I. company Hugging
Face, further showing that tech companies are having a hard time getting their inventions to follow the rules. Hanako Montgomery, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Our thanks to Hanako for that report. Well, a brand-new CNN poll finds deep concerns among Americans about the rapid advances in Artificial
Intelligence. Three out of every four Americans in the survey expressed fear or concern about A.I.
There was little difference in how young and older Americans see the technology. But as you can see, there is a party divide. Democrats are far
more concerned about A.I. than Republicans appear to be. Still to come tonight right here on the show.
When we come back, more on the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's U.N. address. The Taoiseach of Ireland, a steadfast defender of Palestinian
rights, joins me now live. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:30:00]
SOARES: Welcome back everyone. Prime Minister Netanyahu is addressing the United Nations General Assembly right now, and it took the podium, what, in
about last 30 minutes or so, less than that.
As we -- as he took the podium, I should say, dozens of U.N. delegations walked out. The International Criminal Court has called for Mr. Netanyahu's
arrest over actions in Gaza. And New York City mayor, Eric Adams, has called him a war criminal. Mr. Netanyahu's address comes after the
Palestinian Authority president warned the Palestinians are facing one of the most dangerous times in their history.
Mahmoud Abbas' statement to the U.N. was pre-recorded after the U.S. denied him a visa. He accused Israel of ethnic cleansing and what he called a
malicious colonial scheme. He urged the U.N. to preserve the viability of a two-state solution.
Let me bring in one of the guests that we know here on the show very well. This island has become a steadfast supporter of Palestinian rights. The
Irish Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, is due to speak at the U.N. later today, and he joins me live from New York. Taoiseach, welcome back to the show.
Good to see you.
Look, we are listening, we are monitoring what the Israeli prime minister is saying. We did see, as he took to the podium, a significant number of
delegations basically walking out. He called those delegations moral cowards. As we continue to monitor this, he also on the question of settler
violence, he said the reports of settler violence is a distortion.
Just give me your take so far from what you've heard, because the tone this year at the UNGA has been very pointed in what regards not just Gaza, but
also the West Bank.
MICHEAL MARTIN, IRISH TAOISEACH: Yes, indeed. Look, first of all our sense is that there's a growing critical mass of countries who are globally now
very, very -- with Israel in terms of its -- first of all, it is appalling destructive war on Gaza. What is essentially an ethnic cleansing program in
the West Bank. Essentially, the fear now is that Israel wants to undermine completely and fatally any prospect of a two-state solution.
We all -- two-state solution, Israel living in peace and in security, coexisting with its neighbors, and a Palestine State where Palestinians can
have full self-determination. We condemn unreservedly the actions of Hamas on October 17th and -- Hezbollah and many others and the Iranian influence.
But what's happened in Gaza with 20,000 children being killed, 75,000 people overall, and the continuing prevention of any sufficiency of aid
going into Gaza.
[14:35:00]
And now, we are witnessing the further settlements. And I think Prime Minister Netanyahu is not fooling anybody when he says that it's been just
-- that the story around the West Bank is being distorted. It is not. We are witnessing the undermining of Palestinians' rights to their homeland
and their homes.
SOARES: And we're trying to fix your audio. We can hear you. It's breaking up at times. But on that point, I think it's important, you know, according
to the U.N., just this year alone, 3,200 Palestinians have been displaced right across the West Bank by settler-attacked and demolitions, a story
that CNN, our teams in Jerusalem have been reporting day in, day out.
I suppose the question, Taoiseach, then becomes, you know, we've heard from Brazil, from the U.N. Secretary-General Guterres. We heard from King
Abdullah yesterday. He was saying this is not an escalation, but a fundamental shift. I wonder what can be done, because President Macron
described the failure of the International Community to act as a -- I think he said, a shameful spectacle. Just have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): But what is our credibility worth if we remain inactive on Gaza? Some claim that peace has
been achieved, but this has not opened up humanitarian deliveries. The spectacle, the spectacle, it is shameful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: The spectacle, he says, is shameful. Does Ireland believe enough is being done? And if not, what then should be happening? What pressures,
realistic pressures, need to be applied on Netanyahu's administration?
MARTIN: Fundamentally, I would agree wholeheartedly with Emmanuel Macron. Indeed, I attended a meeting this week by Mark Carney, the foreign minister
of Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with a lot of other prime ministers there as well on this question, in terms of the
anniversary of the New York Declaration of Support for a Palestinian State.
And yes, I think the world has been too slow. Even within the European Union, there's a divided opinion and has been. But a growing number of
countries now are really, really angry and annoyed with the undermining of basic human rights, of allowing the essentials of food, of shelter, of
education to get into Gaza, for particularly the children and the young people there.
And President Trump's peace plan gave us all hope that we could see substantial change and development. But Prime Minister Netanyahu is not
supporting President Trump's peace plan. And the basic issue of getting humanitarian aid in, the degree that it should. And I think that's -- I
think the core issue now is, Israel needs to change its direction, its strategy, and stop trying to continue to attack and undermine Palestinians
more generally.
The Palestinian Authority, its revenues have been frozen. It's been deprived of any capacities by Israel to govern effectively in the West
Bank. We see the erosion of Palestinian rights there, particularly our right to their own homes. And we see an escalation in terms of the
terrorism of the settler -- the settlers on the West Bank.
And I think the international isolation that we are witnessing this week of Israel is because of those policies and because of the aggression, the
military aggression against ordinary Palestinians.
SOARES: Taoiseach, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Thank you very much indeed, Micheal Martin there for us in New York.
Well, when we come back -- we're taking a short break. Are we taking a short break? We are. We are going to continue though in the meantime to
monitor what Prime Minister Netanyahu is saying, because he did say in the last few minutes that Israel didn't commit genocide. Israel prevented
genocides. We'll stay on top of that. We're going to take a short break. See you after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:40:00]
SOARES: Welcome back. A total dismantling of democracy. That's how the U.N.'s human rights chief is describing the situation in Nicaragua. The
report says Nicaragua's use of arbitrary detention and unfair trials is part of an effort to silence government opponents. And it comes following a
wave of protests in 2018 against the rule of President Daniel Ortega, a former Marxist guerrilla.
A U.N. report says a crackdown on protesters left more than 300 dead and triggered a mass exodus of Nicaraguans. Mr. Ortega announced in July, if
you remember, the country would no longer hold elections. When I spoke with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk earlier, I asked him
about who is being targeted more specifically and why in his view.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VOLKER TURK, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: So, we have seen a rapid deterioration of the human rights situation in Nicaragua over the
last couple of years. In fact, we have just issued a report ourselves that documents how suffocating the environment is for civil society, for human
rights defenders. Many of them had to leave. A lot of them went to Costa Rica, but also elsewhere in Central America.
Those who get arbitrarily detained end up often in situations where indeed we lose contact with them, family members lose contact with them. And then
there is a real repression that is going on. I mean, there's hardly anything to shut down. There's no independent journalism anymore. There are
no human rights defenders that can properly work. There are no civil society organizations that are able to do what they are supposed to be
doing. So, we are really faced with a very repressive environment.
And I think the problem lies in the fact that it doesn't get enough attention. Hardly anyone talks about Nicaragua. So, I'm glad you're
actually focusing on it, because the situation is really bad.
SOARES: Yes. And I've reported about some of those people that have been arrested previously. I've tried to get into Nicaragua, unable to. But what
I did find fascinating about the report, which I hadn't seen previously, and I wonder whether you could actually speak to this or shed some light of
this.
This is the documented repression that is extending well beyond Nicaragua's borders. What does that kind of transnational repression look like?
TURK: For instance, if you are arrested, get detained, and then there are -- and we have had some cases of those who, when there were negotiations to
get them out, they have to leave their country. So, they are essentially exiled. This reminds us of the worst times during the Soviet Union period,
where people basically had to leave their country, were stripped of their nationality, and were no longer considered to be citizens.
Then what we often see is that human rights defenders who flee, who manage to flee because they would otherwise be persecuted, there are agents who
pursue them in neighboring countries, for example, and try to abduct them. And we call this phenomenon transnational repression. So, it's not only
happening within the country, but it's also happening in countries outside.
[14:45:00]
And that is horrible for people to even fathom that they are not safe even if they leave their country. So, that's a particularly vicious form of
persecution. And unfortunately, we see this not just in relation to Nicaragua, also in relation to some other states. And it's a phenomenon
that I have to say we need to put more spotlight on, because it does make people feel very unsafe.
SOARES: Yes, it is absolutely terrifying. Like you said, it's beyond, of course, the borders of Nicaragua, which is already under such a state of
repression. And you have, Volker Turk, from what I've seen, described the situation in Nicaragua under the Ortega Murillo government as utterly
indefensible, as we continue to see what you said was a near total capture of state institution. Your report also says that there's almost no space
for independent civic or political participation.
At what point, I wonder, does the International Community have to conclude that conventional diplomatic pressure just isn't working? What other routes
are there to put an end to this repressive regime, which clearly isn't listening at all to the United Nations?
TURK: And I have to say one thing is also very clear. There's hardly any country that doesn't talk to us. But unfortunately, Nicaragua is one of
them. So, I haven't had any engagement with officials from Nicaragua, which is very unusual. And that probably tells you a lot about how isolated this
government has become, trying to suppress and establish a system of repression within their own confines.
There is an issue of accountability, because if you treat your own population in this manner, it does raise questions about if there are such
systematic human rights violations. Yes, there is an issue of accountability. And I hope that there will be more emphasis paid to what,
for example, we are discussing in the Human Rights Council, because Nicaragua is on the agenda of the Human Rights Council, which is this
intergovernmental body that deals with human rights situations around the world. There is a fact-finding mission that also looks at these violations,
that collects evidence. And I mean, I hope that through universal jurisdiction cases, accountability will be served.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Volker Turk there. I want to take you back to the U.N., because the Israeli prime minister has been telling you, Benjamin Netanyahu has
just wrapped up his remarks to the General Assembly in a defiant address. He slammed critics of the Gaza offensive amid, of course, settler actions
in the West Bank. He also defended Israel's attacks on Iran. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Devastating Iran's nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the
easiest decisions I've ever had to make as prime minister, because if we hadn't done it, we'd all be dead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, I want to take a short break. We'll see you on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:00]
SOARES: Well, from stories that inspire to those that challenges. On this show, we've used our book club to open space for new ideas as well as
perspectives. For many of us, reading is a form of healing, and that cannot be true for these female inmates at New York's infamous Rikers Island.
Confined to the prison's walls, they've turned to books as a sort of escapism as well as hope.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NORA FRIED, ROSEBUDS READING COLLECTIVE, CEO AND FOUNDER: How is everyone? Hi, hi, hi, hi, hi. My name is Nora, and we are the Rosebuds Reading
Collective. We have a lot of familiar faces today. Did we like the book?
CROWD: Yes.
FRIED: Yes. No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a little different than the other part.
FRIED: It was really different than the other parts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I read, it is a form of escapism, and I get to escape my own reality, because my own reality is just not cutting it.
FRIED: Do you guys ever feel like that? I feel like I'm always chasing things sometimes that are maybe not the best for me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They say if the drugs don't kill you, then the lifestyle will, right?
FRIED: It started in February of 2025. I was going through a hard time at the time. I was personally reading a lot, and I was spending a lot of time
with myself, and the idea of just basically starting a book club in a jail popped into my head.
JULIA FOX, ROSEBUDS READING COLLECTIVE, CO-FOUNDER: And then I got involved because she read my book at the book club. And at the time, my
brother was actually here in the men's section. So, I also kind of saw it as a sign from God.
FRIED: Do you believe people get a chance to start over?
CROWD: Yes.
FRIED: OK. Yes. Yes.
We don't just read the book and write, we also bring community and really speak with the women who are currently in custody.
I mean, I've been sober for -- I'm now coming up on three years, but I just -- oh, thank you. I know. You guys always clap for me when I say, thank
you.
We see so many women come in here, and you can tell they're just holding so much regret and shame and pain, and I want them to see that there's another
side of life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My life was horrible. When I write, it's like a boulder has been lifted off my shoulders.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel free. I don't feel like I'm in jail. I don't. And it feels good to express your feelings. You usually don't have nobody
to talk to.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This club has given me an opportunity to express myself. I never even thought about writing my feelings down on paper.
FOX: When we are doing something like this, it's about who needs it the most and who could it help the most. It's really something as basic as
reading, you know, and it can really change lives.
FRIED: OK. I'm passing the baton to Julia.
FOX: OK. I was just listening, and I really loved what you guys were saying about, you know, boundaries and letting go of people. I think we
should write about a person in your life that you had to let go of, even though you really didn't want to.
When I was a little girl, I would stay up all night writing, and I would write these stories. And again, it was escapism. And then, you know, in
adulthood, writing my book, "Down the Drain," I feel like that really changed the course of my life. It was so cathartic.
So, this is written by Daisha. "My Dad First." He didn't show me love. He ignored me. And even when I did reach out, he would keep me hanging from a
rope and would only pull or call on me when needed. But as soon as I needed him, he was nowhere to be found. So, sad. Thank you for sharing that.
That's a really hard one. OK. Who else wants to -- Ms. Angela's going to share --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really liked her. She really liked me. And all we did was kiss. One week I came to school, and she didn't show up the whole
week. And I looked on my MySpace and seen that she was killed in Kings Park by a gang member, a rival of hers. I took a turn for the worse.
[14:55:00]
Staying out late, doing real reckless things that I'm ashamed of now. And I never had a relationship with a woman ever since. Yes, I was really young.
FOX: I just hope that they keep this practice up in their daily lives, you know, even once they're released. I think incorporating reading and writing
into your everyday life does wonders for people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have given me a place where I can express who I am without feeling judged. You know, I hold a lot of pain inside, and I
don't have nobody I can talk to. I don't have nobody, an outlet. I don't have an ear. So, it means a lot to me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you getting to leave soon?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I leave Monday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I'm not going to miss the walls and the locks and the keys. I'm not going to miss that. This moment right here, I'm going
to miss, the book club. I'm not going to be on the outside and have no book club to go to.
FRIED: We're going to keep the book club going on the outside for you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
FRIED: We're going to keep sending you the books.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to miss the ladies, too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're welcome.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Angela.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Keep reading, ladies. So, good to see. That does it for this hour. Thanks very much for your stay right here. "What We Know" with Max Foster
is up next. I shall see you tomorrow. Have a wonderful day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
