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Isa Soares Tonight
Unrest Spreads In France And Spain As Anger Over Education Funding And Housing Boils Over; New York's Governor Says The Accuser In The Cornell Gang Rape Case Was Failed By Authorities; Flydubai Pilot Who Fought Off A Savage Attack From His Own Co-Pilot Speaks Out; Attorney For Jane Doe Says She Is Under Siege; Pike's Attorneys Call On Governor To Commute Death Sentence; Lula Da Silva, Flavio Bolsonaro Lead Polls For Sunday's Vote; Heat Waves, Drought Take A Toll On Europe's Potato Harvest. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired October 02, 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, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, unrest spreads in France and Spain as
anger over education funding and housing boils over. Thousands taking to the streets in protest. We'll have the very latest from Paris and Madrid
for you this hour.
Then New York's governor says the accuser in the Cornell gang rape case was failed by authorities. What she's doing to change that and what happens
next? And in his own words, the Flydubai pilot who fought off a savage attack from his own co-pilot speaking out. What we're learning from the
investigations and much more this hour.
We do begin this hour, though, with outrage, despair, and in some cases, violence in the heart of Europe. Protesters in several countries tonight
losing patience with the state of the public sector. In France first of all, demonstrations over the lack of funding in the school system turned
violent, with police and students clashing in the streets.
The unrest prompting more than 400 schools across the country to close on Friday. Meantime, in Spain, protesters have been outside the parliament
building in central Madrid as they say, the housing and affordability crisis is making life there unworkable.
All of this as Europe's dependance on imported oil and gas is laid bare amid wars in the Middle East, rising costs hitting transportation and food,
putting household budgets under even more strain. And now, G7 leaders are bowing to U.S. pressure to release a 100 million barrels of diesel from
their respective reserves.
But first, this hour, let's take a closer look at France where those fiery student protests have hundreds of young people facing off against police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(TEAR-GAS FIRED)
(MAYHEM)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, outside Paris, protesters threw firecrackers at riot police before then running away. The government says more than 2,000 people have
been arrested, most of them teenagers. In some parts of France, tear gas filled the streets, officials fear the protests could carry out -- carry
on, in fact, through the weekend.
Many demonstrators are angry over a lack of resources, namely teacher shortages as well as aging infrastructure. Nationwide union-led protests of
support are now scheduled for Tuesday. Joining me now is Alexandre Boza; he's a high school teacher in Paris.
Professor, I hope you can hear me --
ALEXANDRE BOZA, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IN PARIS: Yes --
SOARES: I understand that your school is being closed for the day now. And I believe it's out of --
BOZA: Yes, it has --
SOARES: Solidarity, right? With other schools. Can you speak to the challenges that you have seen that the schools have been facing?
BOZA: Yes, the first one is that this violence is really linked to the fact that the answer of the government didn't fit with what -- with what the
pupils asked for. They are lacking means, as you said, they are -- and eventually, they are lacking as well a way of getting out of this crisis.
SOARES: Right, and we have heard, professor, from some of the -- of the -- of the protesters and really their grievances are genuine. Like you were
saying, a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, run-down buildings. You've been a high school teacher. I think my team said for something like
24 years. Can you -- can you speak to how -- what you have seen, how bad it is?
BOZA: Yes, for now, what I've seen as I was on the -- in the -- in the high school when it happened. The first -- they just blocked the -- they just
blocked the building. But then when the -- well, they were just waiting for an answer.
The first one -- the first thing that happened is that, courses were canceled and we closed the -- we closed the building. And then, as they
were waiting there for -- I don't know, what maybe a -- well, they were waiting for something to happen.
[14:05:00]
And it happened when the police came an hour -- an hour later after the closure of the building.
SOARES: Right, you're talking about the closure of the building --
BOZA: And then we had -- we had the --
SOARES: But I wonder, professor -- but I wonder, professor, whether you can speak to some of the concerns the students have been talking about. Let me
give you a sense. One student said "the ceiling leaks and the hallways are moldy. Some tables have holes and some walls are crumbling.
It's 42 degrees Celsius in the Summer and minus 24 in the Winter. It's horrible, unbearable. We can't work." Can you speak to that? Can you tell
us what other teachers have been telling you about the conditions in these schools?
BOZA: Yes, unfortunately they are right. We -- when the movement began, the protest began in the suburbs of great cities. And what happened is that,
really, they are lacking of means to succeed. And in France, it's very important to begin with the good diploma.
We have the culture of the diploma and they can see that they don't have -- they don't have some kind of equality. They feel discriminated in their --
in the high schools. So, it was the beginning. And this Summer, it was hot and hard for them to pass the -- to pass the exams.
And well, there will be maybe changes, but on the schedule of the exams. But the problem is that, they feel as well that these exams, they don't
have the -- let's say the chances they deserve.
SOARES: And you, of course, with your group of friends, colleagues, other teachers, how can they teach, professor, with such, you know, with
overcrowded classrooms, run-down buildings. Can you tell us about the conversations that you have had with teachers who many of whom have taken
to the streets to protest as well?
BOZA: Yes, we do protest as well as teachers. We do protest, but the problem is that for several years now, we don't gain anything. We -- for
example, you -- we were speaking about the buildings and it doesn't change in many situations.
Even if -- well, we could say that some buildings have -- are redesigned, are worked on, but in fact, when it falls down, when they wait too long, we
have to do with it. And the pupils can feel it. They are not -- they are not silly. They are not stupid on this point.
They can see that there, we are lacking -- we are lacking of chairs, of tables, of equipment. And as well that sometimes where -- when professors
are -- can't be replaced, for example, in the -- in the last year --
SOARES: Yes --
BOZA: Before the exam, some of --
SOARES: Yes --
BOZA: Them don't have philosophy teachers. And it's important for the exam. So, it's really lacking for them.
SOARES: Wow, it doesn't sound -- well, as a -- as a parent, I would be certainly concerned. And I suppose the question then becomes professor,
what changes, if any, do you expect from this government? The budget, I think, was announced yesterday. You have elections coming up soon. What
changes, if any, do you expect on this front? Do you expect these protests to move the needle at all?
BOZA: To be honest, I don't expect many of these government about the money. Well, of course, as you said, we have a budget issue. So, I don't
think we will have something on this, but the other problem that could be solved quite well, maybe more easily for now is the problem of the
selection in the -- at university.
We have a -- it's been three years since we have a new selection system called Parcoursup. And this system is the opposite of what we are doing in
high school and at school in January. At school, what is important is equality. And the system of -- the system to enter university is a harsh
selection.
And many of the -- even between the good pupils -- good pupils can't reach university or the university they want to reach. And they have no reason
for this because the system is quite -- let's say -- I don't find the correct word in English, but it's like a black box.
[14:10:00]
You don't -- you don't really know why you haven't been selected, even if you're a good pupil. And I think this is --
SOARES: So, it's pretty unfair --
BOZA: Felt as really unfair.
SOARES: Yes --
BOZA: Yes, and this point could be changed --
SOARES: Yes --
BOZA: Because we don't have -- we don't have a room enough in your -- at university as well. There are too many -- not too many students, but not
enough seats for them. And well, for now, it began in the --
SOARES: Yes --
BOZA: In high school because --
SOARES: Yes --
BOZA: They know -- they know the problem that they will face --
SOARES: Yes --
BOZA: But we see that it's --
SOARES: Yes --
BOZA: Becoming -- it's coming --
SOARES: Yes --
BOZA: Up as well at university now.
SOARES: We shall see what the government says or does, of course, as we see these protests continue. Thank you very much, professor, really appreciate
you coming on the show. Professor Alexandre Boza for us there in Paris.
We're going to part Paris for just a second and turn our attention to Madrid, in particular to Spain, in Madrid, where parliament rejected today
the government's attempt to address the housing crisis. A huge blow to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his minority government.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD PROTESTING IN SPAIN)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, chants there of your profits are misery were heard in Madrid after lawmakers voted down the decrees. The government had proposed a ban
on evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030 and a two-year rent freeze extension, among other measures.
The tenant's union has blamed -- has planned for more mass rallies happening, expected tomorrow, Saturday. The demonstrations began after an
87-year-old woman was evicted from her long-time home. Her case has tapped into outrage over the cost of housing in Spain.
Rents have doubled over the last decade, forcing many young people to continue to live with their parents. CNN's Pau Mosquera joins us now from
Puerta del Sol, where the protesters encampment is and has been for several days.
And Pau, look, it's still quite lively where you are right now. What, 11 minutes past 8:00 in Madrid. But this is a significant defeat, right? For
Pedro Sanchez. Before we talk about what this means politically for him, where does this leave the actual movement first of all, this push to change
the law on the housing crisis front?
PAU MOSQUERA, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, so far, Isa, I can tell you that the dominant mood amongst the protesters that have been
camping here at Puerta Sol for seven days is frustration and disappointment.
Somehow, they were expecting that this could happen to the decrees to be lapsed at the government, because most of the parties that are represented
in the parliament are already rebuilt. Yesterday night, what would be the sense of their vote?
Nevertheless, they say they expected the pressure that they have put on the authorities over this last week. They expected it to be effective, but they
will continue to keep the pressure on the streets. And they also decided that they will continue the encampment for more several days.
So, the date for clearing out this central space of Madrid is still indefinite. Now, this also brought Spanish politics to another face of
uncertainty. There are many, Isa, that are now speculating, making political math on what can happen next.
What is obvious is that from the opposition, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, who is the leader from the popular party has already asked Pedro Sanchez, Prime
Minister, to resign. But this has happened over the last three years of this legislature.
The only thing that changes now is that once again, it's been demonstrated how difficult it is for the government, for the cabinet to get into
agreement in the parliament, because how fragmented it is because of the many different parties that are represented inside.
And many national media outlets are saying that Sanchez maybe is considering on bringing elections forward. I've tried to get in touch with
Sanchez inner circle to get a confirmation on this, but it seems like so far, they are not showing any confirmation at all.
So, so far, there are more deaths than answers. The only ones that do have for clear, for real, what is going to be next are the demonstrations where
-- who are ready as you said at the very beginning, they will be demonstrating once again tomorrow, Saturday, Isa.
SOARES: And as you're talking, Pau, we are seeing and we're showing viewers the other side of Puerta del Sol, which really just shows just the scale of
these tents and these protests. Fourteen minutes past 8:00, and these -- and these tents have been out there for quite some days.
[14:15:00]
You and I have spoken pretty much this every day this week. But look, this all started, you know, following the televised eviction of the 87-year-old
Maricarmen Abascal from her home. It's evolved. Clearly pressure now on the Prime Minister.
But can we go back to Maricarmen? I mean, where is she now? Is she back at home? And what are protesters telling you about what they want to see next?
MOSQUERA: So far, Maricarmen remains at the hospital where she was taken last Wednesday after being evicted, removed from the home where she had
lived for seven decades. The latest that we learned is about her case is that on Monday, both her lawyer and also the owners of the apartment where
she was living got into talks and it seems like they finally got an agreement.
Maricarmen will be able to get back to her apartment, paying a rent very similar to what she was paying before being removed, which is around $500-
$600. But so far, there's not a specific date on when we can expect her to get back, because first, she has to undergo the different tests that the
doctors want to do on her.
So, most surely, we can expect Maricarmen getting back to her home, maybe, just maybe, next week. And what are the demonstrators expecting? Well, they
want to keep the pressure on the streets to keep pushing the authorities.
They know that the pressure that they have put on over the last few days have been very effective, because in just less than one --
SOARES: Yes --
MOSQUERA: Week, they have made the government to go ahead with those two decrees, even though they have been lost in the parliament. They believe
that if they keep pushing, they can get all the members of the parliament to work again in new measures to tackle the country's housing crisis. Isa.
SOARES: Well, let's see, let's see if they continue to be heard. Pau Mosquera in a very lively Puerta del Sol there for us in Madrid, in Spain.
Good to see you, Pau, thank you very much indeed. Well, at the same time of all these pressures, of course, both in Paris and in France are happening,
we're seeing rising energy costs straining household budgets.
And it likely won't get better any time soon, with cold temperatures just around the corner. The G7, which includes, as you know, the U.K., France,
Germany, Italy, plus the EU, has bowed to pressure from the U.S. President.
Leaders have agreed to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from the strategic reserves. The U.S. had threatened a ban on U.S. diesel
exports if European nations do not comply. President Donald Trump is trying to lower gas prices ahead of November's Midterm election.
And the ripple effects of all of this being felt strongly right here in the U.K. with diesel hitting 2 pounds a liter for the first time, that's about
$2.65 a liter, or $10 per U.S. gallon. Our Anna Cooban has more on the diesel market.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS & ECONOMICS REPORTER (on camera): This has come after a number of days of really escalating pressure on Europe. The U.S.
has essentially said a number of times now that you're not pulling your weight in terms of responding to this very tight diesel market that we've
been seeing globally.
Now, it's tight for a number of reasons. We've got a war in the Middle East, which means that less overall has been getting out of the Strait of
Hormuz. We know that Ukraine, Ukrainian drones have been attacking Russian refineries -- refining infrastructure, which means that Russia's instituted
a ban on diesel exports, which is also extended to the end of October.
So, all these factors are really coalescing to mean that it's a very tight market. And the U.S. is bearing the brunt of this, or it's seeing really
high diesel prices. We saw last month for the first time ever, the average price of a gallon of diesel, surpassing $6 a gallon.
And let's be aware that Donald Trump is staring down the barrel of the Midterm elections in just under a month. And so, he really wants to get
these prices down. And so, he's touted this ban to basically keep supplies high at home to reduce prices.
But of course, Europe is dependent on many imports of diesel, and so, that would then boost prices up in Europe, because the overall global supply
would shrink. And so, Europe, in responding to these threats over the past few days, has basically brought forward any decision that they may have
otherwise made to release diesel from their stocks and perhaps brought that forward.
But in any case, they have now liaised with the G7 and the International Energy Agency to put out this $100 million barrel release from their
stocks, and have said that a big part of that will be diesel, which they will be releasing over the next 20 days.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Our thanks to Anna Cooban there. Well, speaking from a hospital bed, the hero pilot who fought off a savage attack from his co-pilot mid-
flight, says he had to act because he couldn't let everybody else die.
Smit Machchhar gave his first public remarks since the attempted hijacking Wednesday on a Flydubai flight heading to Tel Aviv.
[14:20:00]
He had a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, explaining how he managed to open the cockpit door during the attack. Have a listen to
this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SMIT MACHCHHAR, PILOT (through translator): I was fighting for my life, but there was a moment where I realized if I don't do anything -- because I had
fallen down, I was so severely wounded that I had fallen down. At that time, I was thinking, what if I don't get up?
And sir, I've been flying planes for the last 17 years, and I've been a captain for the last 11 years, and even if I shut my eyes, I know what is
happening in the plane. And when I was on the ground, I realized that the aircraft was falling down.
And I knew in that moment, one last push Smit, just do it. The door is right there. And even at that time, he was beating me up. And then I just
opened it, sir, and then everybody came and everybody else also played an equal role in this.
I was telling, sir, that I was doing this for my life, but at the same time, I knew that I cannot let everybody else die. That's it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And Smit, the pilot, of course, was referring there, as you heard, to several passengers and crew who rushed into the cockpit, restraining the
attacker and stabilizing the plane which had plunged thousands of meters.
The co-pilot has now been transferred to the UAE, where he faces a terrorism investigation. Meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu says the suspect is an Omani national. He suggests Iran may have been involved in the attacks, saying investigators should find out very
soon.
Let's get more on this. Our Nic Robertson joins me now from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. So, Nic, just talk us through, first of all, just the very
latest on the investigation and where we are on the questioning of the co- pilot.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, we know that the Emirati Attorney General has launched this investigation into figuring out
if it's terrorism. We also know that a very senior adviser to the president in the UAE has said that this was, you know, an attempt, and a terrorist
attack.
So, and the other thing that the Emiratis are looking at is how much planning was there over time, and were other people involved? What were --
was he given directions? So, this obviously -- there's two reasons that they're going to want to know that.
They're going to want to know, is there another existing threat in the UAE? Is he part -- you know, because that's where Flydubai was based. And is he
part of something bigger? And could there be more attacks? And then, of course, the questions become, you know, how was he able to be in that
position to fly the plane?
And we know as well, and we've heard this from the Israeli Prime Minister, that they are going to be part of the investigation. In fact, interrogation
is how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it. So, both countries bringing to bear all their intelligence agencies which will undoubtedly
look at his social media postings, where he was, where he'd been having, you know, who, for example, he had been having dinner with, who his friends
were.
That whole network around him is going to come under very close scrutiny. But the prime minister here is saying, and he said this a little earlier
today, that this was a sort of 9/11 scale-type event. He said that this attacker wanted to crash the plane into the ground with everyone on it.
Now, it's not clear if the Prime Minister is indicating, you know, everyone knows 9/11, the hijackers, their targeted key buildings to fly into. Is the
Prime Minister indicating that there's some level of knowledge that, that was a plan, that he would try to crash it into a building and kill everyone
on board inside Israel, that's not clear.
But the sort of bottom line here from the Israeli Prime Minister is, if there was anyone supporting him in this or pushing him to do this, then
there will be a price to pay. And I think that's where we're at, at the moment.
The investigation obviously centered where he is in the UAE, details about what they know, even his name, that's under a very close hold, but we
certainly know the techniques that the --
SOARES: Yes --
ROBERTSON: Authorities will use to try to figure out what motive -- what motivated him and where others around him.
SOARES: I know you'll stay across this for us, Nic, appreciate it. Nic Robertson for us there in Ben Gurion Airport there in Israel. We are going
to take a short break, but we will see you on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:25:00]
SOARES: Well, amid the anger and deafening calls for accountability, New York's governor says the accuser in the Cornell University alleged gang
rape case was failed by those that should have protected her, including the school, the police and the county prosecutor.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the appointment of State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the case. She'll now launch
a fresh investigation into alleged assault, which Jane Doe reported to law enforcement officials nearly two years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LETITIA JAMES, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: I know that you want answers. I do, too. A comprehensive investigation of this nature takes time, but my
office is committed to seeing it through. This is now an active criminal investigation led by the office of the Attorney General.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, in documents obtained by CNN, Jane Doe told police back in 2024, she was OK with the initial encounter, did not consent to sexual
contact later in the night. But here's what her attorney told us today. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS GIUFFRA, JANE DOE ATTORNEY: I don't think it was ever consensual. She showed up at the Chi Phi house, heavily intoxicated. There were --
there was testimony not just from the people involved in the assault, but there was a lot of testimony from people who were around that time, saw her
that day.
And by all accounts, she was completely intoxicated. She couldn't consent to anything. So, I don't think she ever consented and was incapable of
consenting because of the level of intoxication and the fact that she was plied with drugs, she couldn't consent to anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And that's the attorney for Jane Doe. Well, "The New York Times" reports that the all men -- that all the men, pardon me, accused, have
denied any wrongdoing. Let's get more on this. Our Brynn Gingras has been covering the story and joins us now from New York.
So, Brynn, I mean, we now are looking at an active criminal investigation, as we heard there led by Letitia James. Just tell us further what she said
because she didn't hold back, and where the investigation goes next.
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, they were both very direct and quite honestly, Isa, they are very displeased about how this
investigation or lack of investigation --
SOARES: Yes --
GINGRAS: How this all played out over the last two years really has gone, basically saying that it's been a failure not only on the District Attorney
of Tompkins County in New York, but also the university. So, basically, Hochul kind of made it seem like she had no choice but to do this.
And quite frankly, a lot of people have been asking for this just to get to the bottom of what the heck happened here. And so, basically, what's going
to happen next is Letitia James has full authority of that county. And quite, I don't think I've ever seen this happen where they just sort of
push aside the District Attorney and say, you no longer have jurisdiction over this case. We're taking over.
But what Letitia James now can do is do full interviews, can collect evidence, can go to a grand jury, and can prosecute on criminal charges if
her office sees fit. So, that's what we expect to happen next. And as you heard her say, it is going to take quite a bit, probably, you know, several
months at least.
[14:30:06]
So, what we are also hearing from at this point is the district attorney. You know, there was a question that was given to the governor there, you
know, how does he feel about this? And his statement to us was basically, look, I'm in favor of it and he still sort of blames Cornell. I was only
given so much information, and I did what I could with the information I was given. So, even with that statement, I think people are frustrated
because it's like, well, you could have done more, and you know what, Cornell should have done more as well.
SOARES: Yes. And I was speaking to a legal reporter yesterday on the show and what we had seen prior to today was just a blame game, wasn't it? Just
no one take being accountable for any part of the investigation. But I do want to ask you about Jane Doe and I -- because we did hear from her
attorney. And he -- and he said -- let me just read it out so our viewers get a sense of what he said. She's under siege on social media where people
are trying to identify her. Some false court postings attempting to identify her.
I mean, that -- just the thought of that, do we have any more sense of how she's doing?
Yes. Her -- sorry -- her attorney telling us that like you said she is under siege. It's a bit overwhelming. She is no longer at Cornell
University. She's probably trying to live her life at -- to some level at this point. So, she's pretty emotional according to her attorney. But at
the same side of the -- on the other side of the coin, sorry, is the fact that she is also getting just tons of support. There are people who are
aware of who she is and are reaching out and supporting her for finally coming forward and really starting all of this up against to get some
clarity.
We heard from university students last night at an assembly that they're frustrated that how many cases just was -- you know, were swept under the
rug. So, I think there's sort of both sides for her, but I'm sure it's pretty overwhelming. And certainly she's going to have to be going through
more as this investigation continues.
Indeed, Brynn Gingras, I appreciate it. Thank you very much indeed. Brynn Gingras for us there in New York.
And still to come tonight on the show, an update on the U.S. death row inmate who survived two doses you remember of what should have been a
lethal injection. What her attorney is saying should happen, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:30]
SOARES: Welcome back everyone. After the failed execution of Tennessee inmate and convicted murderer Christa Pike, her attorneys are asking the
governor to commute her death sentence. Pike survived two doses of what would should have been lethal injections on Wednesday. After authorities
tried to kill her, they then scrambled to save her life. She was moved to a hospital. One of her lawyers describes the botch execution as the worst
punishment endured by any American ever on death row.
A doctor I spoke to on Thursday said the first injection may have not gone into her veins, but her forearm, and the drug would have caused a
significant burn, which he likened to having bleach injected into the body. While Pike is on death row for the 1995 torture and murder of her 19-year-
old classmate, she was set to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years. Now, her legal case is at a standstill.
Ryan Young has been following the story for us and joins me now from Atlanta. I mean, Ryan, there are still so many questions, right, about what
went wrong. What more are you hearing?
RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think that's a great way to start this. And let's be honest here as reporters, we make
phone calls all day long to try to figure out what the next steps are. To her legal team, they stress to us that she's in critical condition.
We've been trying to drill down and figure out exactly what state she's in right now. Is she responding to any sort of outside stimulus? What is this
long-term prognosis for her health? That's something that we're still working to get the answers to. I mean, her lawyers did an hour-long news
conference yesterday, but it still seems like they hadn't had a chance to actually go see her.
And then from the government side of this, yes, the governor put out a statement that basically says they're going to suspend executions and
they're going to move forward with also doing a review, but no one has stepped in front of a camera, not only from the prison system, but from the
governor's office so we can ask the questions that everyone sorts of wants to know answers to.
And when you talk about the doctor that you spoke with yesterday saying that it felt like maybe bleach in the arm, as we look at the timeline that
we've established now, at 7:26, the blinds to the chamber open. At some point at 7:34 she says her arm felt like it was about to burst.
So that might have been when they missed that vein the first time. She even tried to direct them apparently to where in her shoulder where doctors
normally find a vein. And let's not forget she told them early on that because she has small veins and she suffers from a condition that this was
going to be hard for them to do.
Let's take a listen to one of the lawyers that was talking about what was going on in the last hours or so.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY SPIVEY, ATTORNEY FOR CHRISTA PIKE: Christa's legal team told the state of Tennessee and the courts that her medical conditions would cause
her to suffer an agonizing death. The state and the court dismiss Christa's concerns. The governor's call for an independent review does not go far
enough. After having endured solitary confinement for more than 20 years and a full attempt to kill her by lethal injection, Christa has endured
punishment greater than any other person in the history of the American death penalty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG: Yes. To say people are angry about this case, they're upset about it, they're trying to figure out what the next steps are, would be an
understatement. And I mean, talking about from across the world, you can see people are really zeroing in on this state right now to try to figure
out what's going on. And guess what? This is not the first time they've had an issue with an execution. So many problems there. It'll be interesting to
see how they move forward.
SOARES: And look, I heard the attorney -- part of what the attorney said yesterday in my show and he said it was cruel, torturous, and like you
said, predictable because they had been warned about the size of her veins. The question now is I'm not sure how much clarity you have on this because,
you know, like you said, as journalists, we pick up the phone, we make calls, but we not necessarily get the answers. Do we know how Chris Pike is
doing here? Yes. I mean -- I mean, what her condition is like?
YOUNG: Yes. And that -- and that is the for me is the crux of the question now. And that's what I've been calling her lawyers about. And they've been
great in terms of giving us updates. But at the same time, all they've been willing to say right now, she's in critical condition.
So, we're not sure she was ever resuscitated to a point where she can even respond to human touch or the voices around her. Let's not forget those
witnesses heard her sort of snoring and sort of gargling. And we're not sure if that's when she was put into a sedative state and was sleeping or
was that the drug taking effect.
And then of course those doctors inside weren't trying to save her. It's not until the EMS arrived. And then what life- saving measures were used as
she was taken to the hospital. I mean there's so many questions about that part of it and what they're trying to do to keep her alive.
Now, we're really trying to hope that in the next hour or so we'll get another update, but this is leaving a lot of unanswered questions right
now.
[14:40:08]
SOARES: Indeed. Indeed. Ryan, I really appreciate it. Thank you very much, Ryan Young, for us in Atlanta.
And still to come tonight on the show, familiar names face off in Brazil's presidential election. We'll look ahead to Sunday's vote as President Lula
da Silva takes on a new generation of Bolsonaro. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, the first round of Brazil's presidential election is set for Sunday. And based on polls, this contest is headed to a runoff later this
month. Out of 13 candidates, incumbent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva may narrowly come out with the most votes, but it will be a close
race with his right-wing challenger, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. If polls hold, both will fall short of the 50 percent needed to win outright in the
first round. This contest is more than political. It is also deeply personal.
Flavio Bolsonaro is the son of ex-president, former president Jair Bolsonaro. His father is serving a prison sentence under house arrest. He
was convicted, if you remember, of plotting a coup against Lula. Flavio's brother, Eduardo, was convicted of trying to court American interference.
He's close with the Trump family and lives in the U.S. He risks arrest if he goes back to Brazil. So, you get a picture of what may -- of what these
two candidates may be like.
I want to bring in someone who knows this better than any of us and that's Ana Lankes, Brazil Bureau Chief for The Economist. She joins me now from
Parana in Brazil. Ana, welcome to the show.
Look, we mentioned the polls there and I was looking at several polls. I mean, and both these men are just a few percentage points separating them,
right? Lula from Bolsonaro. Just speak to the key issues that is -- that are redriving this race, first of all, before we speak to -- about the
candidates.
ANA LANKES, BRAZIL BUREAU CHIEF, THE ECONOMIST: Well, thanks very much for having me. First of all, I would say this is actually not an issues-
determined election. It's an unpopularity context -- contest. Both candidates are deeply hated in the country and so the person who will win
will just be slightly less loathed than the other.
Some of the issues that have come up again and again in my reporting for the economist is concerns about the state of the economy. There's a sense
that there's an affordability crisis right now in Brazil. Fears about crime and corruption as well. And on the left, there's also a lot of fear about
U.S. interference in this election.
[14:45:11]
SOARES: Right. Let's break this down. Let's start first with corruption then, in that case, Ana, because alongside the campaign, there has been
from what I've seen a huge -- a sweeping, I should say, corruption investigation into bankrupt I think it's bankrupt. Yes, Brazilian Banco
Master. And it really reached the Supreme Court, right? Kind of the reach of this.
Can you speak to this and the implications this has had and the tentacles going all the way also to Flavio?
LANKES: Absolutely. So, corruption is a huge problem in Brazil. It feels like every 10 years, a gigantic corruption investigation engulfs the entire
political class from left to right. But this time it's a particularly ugly corruption scandal because it also has engulfed half of the Supreme Court.
So, at the center of the scandal is a playboy banker called Daniel Vorcaro who orchestrated the biggest bank fraud in Brazil's history. Basically,
this banker didn't really run a bank. He ran an influence-pedaling operation. He would throw these lavish parties, and he would fly in sex
workers from Russia, Venezuela, Ukraine in -- on private jets and he would invite Supreme Court judges and the country's top politicians and basically
buy their loyalty or try to exert influence on them through these parties.
So, it turns out that half the Supreme Court had links to this man and so does Flavio Bolsonaro. Flavio claimed never to have met this banker. But
then in May, an audio tape was leaked in which Flavio was heard asking the banker for $25 million to finance a film about his father who was in jail.
That -- some of the money that was transferred appears to have ended up in a bank account linked to Flavio's brother.
However, I just want to point out that generally the feeling that everything is rotten, that the whole elite is disgusting, breeds cynicism
that also affects the incumbent. So even though Lula is not directly implicated, he is suffering from this as well.
SOARES: Right. And if it's not -- like you said, Ana, if it's not about the issues, I mean corruption clearly is one of the big reasons, election
meddling. But you know, if it's not about the issues, then surely these allegations against Flavio is that -- I mean, you would have seen that
hampering the polls. But that doesn't seem to be the case or is it? Speak to the conversations you've had with Brazilians.
LANKES: Honestly, I find it shocking that Flavio -- that his approval ratings haven't taken a bigger hit because the links, the alleged links
between him and this banker are so clear. And yet at the same time, I think the fact that his approval ratings remain fairly high speaks to the great
dissatisfaction of around half of the population with the current government.
Whether that's because the workers party has been in power for much of the last 25 years, whether that's because Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva himself and
his party have had corruption scandals in the past, or whether it's just because Brazilians are tiring of a leader who is almost 80 years old, the
corruption scandal hasn't hurt Flavio as much as I would have expected.
SOARES: Let me ask you this, Anna, because President Lula spoke to our Christiane Amanpour. I think it was on Monday. Last week, pardon me. And
she asked him about the reach as well as the influence of Trump's MAGA in Latin America and in particular in Brazil. I want to play what he said.
Have a listen to this, Ana.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, PRESIDENT, BRAZIL (through translator): It's very important for the U.S. not to meddle in the Brazilian elections.
That's extremely important because we have a diplomatic relation with the U.S. for 203 years. It's a sound and solid relationship. And Brazil is not
an anti-American country. The people is not anti-American. We have a sophisticated relationship with the U.S. And I've said already it's very
important for you not to meddle in the domestic elections in Brazil as I do not meddle in the U.S. elections.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: So, he said important for the U.S. not to meddle. I mean, are there concerns, Ana, over election meddling from the United States? I mean, we've
got about 90 seconds or so left here on the show.
LANKES: There are great concerns. Trump, since he came back to the White House, has turned Latin America into his personal playground. He's abducted
Venezuela's president. He's propped up like-minded right-wing presidents. And in Brazil, he has put tariffs and sanctions, for example, on the
Supreme Court judges who prosecuted his ally, Jair Bolsonaro. So, there are great concerns that Donald Trump will try to sway the election in Flavio
Bolsonaro's favor.
SOARES: Ana Lankes there from Parana in Brazil. Thank you very much, Ana. I really appreciate it. I have a feeling you and I will be speaking more
often. Thank you.
[14:50:03]
We are going to take a short break. Still to come right here on the show. A problem you might not expect as a result of this year's heatwave in Europe
that has many people feeling salty. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, Europe may have a potato problem after this summer's dry conditions as well as heat waves. Anna Stewart visited a chip shop here in
London to find out what that means for the future of French fries.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's lunchtime at the Fryer's Delight and the fryers are delightfully busy.
STEWART: Oh, it's really heavy. A lot of potatoes. All right, that was my job done. Whoa. Well, that's kind of simple. That's the kind of cooking I
could do.
STEWART (voice-over): The business isn't so simple. Joe has been running this chippy for years and not for the first time, he's feeling under
pressure with costs rising.
JOAO MAGALHAES, MANAGER, FRYERS DELIGHT: It's the price of the fish, price of the oil.
STEWART: Price of the oil. Price of the fish.
MAGALHAES: Yes. And the potatoes as well.
STEWART: And the potatoes.
STEWART (voice-over): Potatoes will likely get even more expensive.
CRAIG ELLIOTT, MARKET ANALYST, EXPANA: Last year we had a market that was characterized by pretty heavy oversupply.
STEWART: So, too many potatoes last year.
ELLIOTT: Too many potatoes last year which weighed heavily on prices. Heading into this year, growers reduced their acreage and then we had a
series of heat waves which has possibly resulted in a pretty massive crop loss.
STEWART: So, this is an average potato that I got from downstairs.
ELLIOTT: Yes.
STEWART: It -- are we less likely to see that as being the sort of normal- sized?
ELLIOTT: Market sentiment is that we're going to have smaller product this year.
STEWART: Because this makes a beautiful big chip.
ELLIOTT: It sure does. Yes.
STEWART (voice-over): 3.5 million metric tons of potatoes could be lost this year across Europe and the U.K. according to the Energy and Climate
Intelligence Unit. Joe gets through six sacks of potatoes on a busy day around KGs and they all need to be washed, peeled.
STEWART: Look at that.
STEWART (voice-over): And chopped.
STEWART: How are you going to feel if the potatoes are getting smaller? How will you feel if your chips are short? You might end up with little tiny
chips.
MAGALHAES: Most of the fish and chips use fish and chips. There's small chips anyway. I like this ones because it's more, you know, it's -- when
you when you eat them, you can feel the potato. It's crisp outside, inside soft. Yes? But if you have no alternative, what you can do?
STEWART: To serve up some chips.
STEWART (voice-over): For now, this hardworking chippy is absorbing increased costs, but the spud squeeze is to come as this year's harvest
comes to an end.
STEWART: The chips aren't just down, they could be getting pricier and on the short side.
STEWART (voice-over): Anna Stewart, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Thanks to Anna for that. Finally, tonight, meet Commando, the pint- sized pup who's joined Mexico's National Guard. Small but mighty. He might stand out amongst the pack and he does. But that's exactly why he's
Mexico's new top dog. With mini goggles and a tie and a helmet, Commando is used as a conversation starter in outreach activities. Officer says he's
helping to really build trust between the force as well as local communities.
That does it for us for tonight. Do stay right here with CNN. "WHAT WE KNOW" with Max Fosters is up next. I'll see you next week. Have a wonderful
weekend. Bye-bye.
END
