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Isa Soares Tonight
Trump Suggests Iran Could "Take Out" L.A. or San Diego; Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Attacker; South Korea: North Koreans Fighting for Russia Ordered to Kill Themselves to Avoid Capture. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired October 06, 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, France struggles to contain its biggest
student protests in decades as thousands take to the streets in anger over conditions in schools.
Then a former German spy chief is arrested on treason and espionage allegations. We'll have the very latest for you on that front. Plus, U.S.
President Donald Trump approves the U.S. Army's first execution by firing squad since World War II. That, and much more.
We do begin in Europe. We begin in France in first tonight, where thousands of protesters are marching through the streets of Paris and Lille,
Strasbourg, as well as other cities on the biggest day of action against understaffed and dilapidated classrooms. Mounting crowds of students, trade
unions and parents are joining the movement now in its third week.
And what started as a demonstration, if you remember, in support of striking teachers at a Parisian suburban high school, has quickly escalated
into a national crisis. And that crisis turning increasingly violent. This was a scene in Lyon earlier where police fired tear gas at demonstrators.
Teachers are sharing their grievances about the deteriorating school conditions. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERWAN LE CLECH, UNION REPRESENTATIVE & TEACHER (through translator): There is a blatant lack of resources, whether at the level of the buildings that
are poorly renovated or the buildings that are missing as well.
We have an overflow of students for each school and therefore in each class, which makes the conditions more difficult. From the moment when too
many people are put in one room, it follows that it exacerbates any tensions.
There is also a lack of teachers, and the only way out of that is to have resources to build facilities and hire teachers so that we have teaching
conditions that are much more effective.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, that's a view then from one teacher in Strasbourg. Let's go to Melissa Bell, who joins us now live from Paris. So, Melissa, I mean,
clearly what we have seen throughout the day and you've been doing -- you and the team have been doing some terrific reporting. Is anger and
frustration really being felt? Give us a sense of what you are hearing and what the scene is like right now.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This, Isa, is the Place de la Nation. You can see a lot of the crowds have been dispersed.
Over there are still policemen trying to get the last of the students to leave the square and it's covered really with the remnants of what were
some pretty serious scuffles between police and protesters.
And what we saw today were not just the students out in full force, but also the grown-ups backing them. So, we saw as the day began on the other
side of the barricades, these lines that had been formed by the unions, by public sector workers, by teachers, by parents who were there, they say to
protect the kids from what these children, these students have described as a disproportionate police response.
I should say that the Interior Minister spoke out this morning, saying that he believes the police response over the last few weeks has been
proportionate apart from what he described as a few isolated incidents, and for those we'd have to wait inquiries to figure out the responsibility.
I'm thinking, for instance, of those incidents that have seen some of these teenagers seriously injured, the one who lost a hand to a grenade, another
who lost the use of an eye. Those are subject now to inquiry.
The problem for the government now is that this has mushroomed, ballooned so much with these teaching unions and these public sector workers joining
them, that it's very difficult to see how they're going to get it back under control. Have a listen to what were some of the grievances to begin
with.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANAS NADEL, FORMER PRESIDENT, UNION SYNDICALE LYCEENNE: This strategy of the government since the beginning, without giving any answer, any
political answer, any real discussion to the social movement, they are just creating violence.
And the methods used by this power to repress this movement is unknowingly violent, and only -- it's only going by violence. So, the violence is, I
think, created by the power itself.
[14:05:00]
MELISSA MAZOUNI, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: So, we've been on the streets since 5:00 a.m., and so, now, we were creating like a trash and stuff in order to
really block the door. And so, we're doing that. We want change. We want revendication. We want to be helped.
OCTAVE MARTY, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: We -- to them, we are young enough to be kicked, to be gassed, but we are not old enough to be listened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes --
MARTY: So, is that pretty crazy? I mean, we should be listened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BELL: Those were some of the students manning their barricade early this morning at a school in central Paris ahead of this big march that appears
to be coming to an end now. And as you can hear, Isa, there were the original grievances that are longstanding.
The fact that their schools are no longer fit for purpose, the fact that teachers are not replaced, teaching classes are simply too many, 30 kids to
a class or 35 in about 20 percent of cases. They can no longer learn. That was the heart of their concerns.
But as you just heard there, that's now been amplified by real anger about what they say has been a lack of government response and a heavy-handed
answer from security forces. Isa.
SOARES: And let me pick up on the point that you just made there, Melissa, which is, you know, over the last three weeks, we have been following this
closely. And it has -- we heard the grievances we continue to hear on the show, but it has ballooned like you said.
The timing of this is also interesting because we are what? Six months, France is something like six months out from an election. And we mentioned
last week on the show that the budget was unveiled and it didn't show much room for government spending.
So, how do you see the government responding to this? Because as we heard from that young gentleman, that young student said, you know, we're young
enough to be kicked and gassed, but not young enough to be listened to. Speak to where they go next.
BELL: I think the government's response has been remarkably clear. They haven't really dealt with it in a way that might defuse it, on the
contrary. And yet, when you put yourself in their shoes, this is a debt crisis, a looming debt crisis that is clearly at the forefront of their
minds, trying to calm.
We saw it last week. Jittery markets worried about the state of France's finances, and rightly so, this has been a decade-long struggle by France to
try and balance its books for 2027. What the Prime Minister is trying to push through is not quite an austerity budget, but a rigorous budget, he
says.
And certainly, one that includes spending cuts that does not allow much wriggle room for the kind of spending hikes that these students believe
they urgently need to be able to continue to learn. So, you have this creaking welfare state that was having difficult being -- difficulty being
funded now for years.
Sort of cracking at the seams, even as the government urgently needs to fix its spending and avoid that looming debt crisis. There is also, as you
mentioned, seven months away now, this presidential race and what we've really seen as this has intensified is the sort of unofficial start of
that.
The far left, and has seized upon this and been at the barricades that are much criticism from the government. The far right has also been speaking to
this, and this is a race, frankly, Isa, that at this stage, given the state of the center parties in the polls look set to be a fairly vicious fight
between those extremes.
And what we've seen over the course of the last few days are both of those extremes really seize on the government's problems and encourage, in a
sense, what's happening on the streets, point to their inefficiency and the fact that they're no longer able to govern. Isa.
SOARES: Melissa Bell and team on the ground there for us in Paris. Thank you very much, Melissa, appreciate it. We're going to stay with this story.
Let's get more on this. I'm joined by Isabelle Vuillet; a French school teacher and senior Trade Unionist.
She serves as the Co-Secretary General of the Union CGT Educ'Action. Isabelle, welcome to the show. We have been reporting on these student
protests for several weeks now. And I know today, as we heard from Melissa in Paris, that teachers' unions have joined students on the streets.
Just tell our viewers around the world, Isabelle, what do you want to see what you're asking from the government?
ISABELLE VUILLET, CO-SECRETARY GENERAL, CGT EDUC'ACTION: Good evening, and thank you. Actually, we are asking almost the same things as students. That
is to say, we want more financial means for education. There is a lack of teachers.
There is dilapidated buildings and students -- there is for them a huge criticism of a law called Parcoursup. And we were as a trade union opposed
against this law, which is a selection before getting the university.
[14:10:00]
SOARES: Right, it's OK. So, pardon me, excuse me, I was about to sneeze. And look, and I think these are grievances that we have heard repeatedly,
and the protests are getting more intense. Why do you think that is?
Is that to do with the fact that, as we heard from one young student that they're not being listened to, or is it to do with the fact that the way
that the police is responding? Many saying heavy-handed approach here. Just explain why we're seeing this ballooning of protests over the last few
weeks.
VUILLET: I think the -- that's right. Students on the government isn't -- is not lessening the claims of students. And that's a problem. So, that the
reason why they want to go on and go keeping on protesting. I think they are -- they are right.
That is -- there is a kind of -- the government doesn't want to listen. And that's a problem. Young people need to be listened. They want to --
SOARES: Yes --
VUILLET: Know democracy, and protesting is a kind of education for democracy. And the government -- the only answers of the government is
violence by the police. And that's the reason why it was very important for them -- for us and the trade unions, workers, trade unions to be with them
today. And the demonstration was quite peaceful, actually.
SOARES: Yes, we heard from our reporter, peaceful with certain pockets. You know, slightly more heated, but other than that, she said on the whole,
much more peaceful. But look, the timing of this, Isabelle, I think is interesting.
Our correspondent Melissa Bell was talking about this because France has not many months out. I mean, six months out from an election. Do you see
this changing at all in the months looking ahead, given of course, how indebted France is right now, how little space there is, of course, for
budget, on budgetary concerns. Do you see any movement here?
VUILLET: I think the question -- the question of budget is very important. It must be voted before the end of the year. And they told -- already told
us that there was austerity, very many cuts in public services and especially education and young people, same as staff for education.
We are quite worried about that because social services and education, we worked in awful conditions for years and years. So, we can't -- we can't
imagine how to do with less.
SOARES: And it seems already, from what I've heard, at least from the teachers I've been hearing on the show, they're doing less -- more with
less, which obviously is a concern. Isabelle, thank you very much for coming on the show. Isabelle Vuillet there for us in Paris. Thank you,
Isabelle.
Now, global health organizations and the U.S. government are waiting for more information on the mystery illness that killed a woman who worked at a
Russian plague lab. The 28-year-old lab tech died last week, if you remember, in Siberia of pneumonia from an unknown origin.
There are report -- there are reports, dozens, if not hundreds of people who have been quarantined. The World Health Organization says the public
health risk is low. We still don't know if her death was actually caused by the plague, but the Kremlin is being tight-lipped about what happened, and
the Russian government's extreme containment response is fueling speculation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meantime, is pressing
Moscow to share more details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE, UNITED STATES: We're glad to be aware of it. We're watching it very closely hour-by-hour. We have multiple agencies,
not just in the United States, but internationally, that are watching it.
We encourage Russia to be transparent and share more information with the world so that all of us could react accordingly and appropriately. But
we'll have to make those decisions on the basis of the information that we're learning and are being provided. And so far, that's still quite
limited, but hopefully that will change in the next few hours and days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: We'll stay on top of this story, any developments, of course, we'll bring it to your attention. Turn our eyes to Germany, because the man
who was the head of Germany's top foreign spy agency is now accused of trying to leak secrets to a foreign government.
[14:15:00]
August Hanning was arrested today by German authorities. One of his former aides was also taken into custody. Hanning is accused of treason,
disclosure of state secrets and espionage. Prosecutors have not said what nation Hanning allegedly tried to leak information to.
The 80-year-old was Germany's top foreign Intelligence official from 1998 until 2005. And Nic Robertson is tracking this story for us and joining us
now. I mean, Nic, this is quite the spy scandal because this is the man, of course, who ran Germany's equivalent right of the CIA.
So, tell us what you're learning. And I know we don't know who we are spying for, but that's critically -- that's what many people want to know
at this stage.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, and they will want to know, you know, what was the motivation for him for doing this? I
interviewed him a couple of times over the past few decades.
He was at the forefront of, you know, trying to counter aspiring terrorists, aspiring Islamist terrorists in Europe. He was very much joined
with the U.S. and other Intelligence agencies trying to capture Osama bin Laden during, you know, after the 9/11 attacks.
So, this is someone who was working at the pinnacle of Intelligence services, trusted by other Intelligence services. So, of course, this will
come as a shock to a lot of people. What is he specifically being accused of? This treason -- treasonous espionage is what the federal prosecutor's
office in Germany is saying.
And to wit, that he worked with, in collaboration, a joint understanding with somebody called Manfred D., who was his chief of staff, went on to be
a chief of staff for other senior Intelligence officials in Germany.
And that Manfred D., according to the prosecutor's office, was leaking documents up to 2,000 documents to Hanning, and Hanning was dipping into
those documents and providing the allegations go -- some of this information, political information to foreign Intelligence service.
It doesn't get worse than that. And how did this come to light? And that's an interesting story in of itself, because Hanning was working in a sort of
a private consultancy business after he retired from the German Intelligence Service and government work in Germany.
And as a result of that work and consultancy, he was involved in a case of the abduction of children, not him doing the abducting, but it was a
prominent Hamburg business family. And the wife was estranged from her husband, the husband, the ex-husband was in Denmark and the children were
taken, kidnaped from the ex-husband in Denmark.
And during the investigation of this, investigators were going through Hanning's house because he'd fallen under suspicion there. And as a result
of going through his house, it turned up this other far more serious and damaging set of allegations. But yes, the key question, who was he
providing this Intelligence to? What did he give them?
SOARES: Yes --
ROBERTSON: How does that damage German's Intelligence Service today? And why would somebody so imbued -- when I interviewed him, you got this sense
from him in the importance and the sanctity of not sharing state secrets.
SOARES: Yes, and that's exactly it. I mean, you said at the beginning of your sentence there, Nic, he was trusted by other Intelligence agencies.
And I just wonder, you know, many -- I'm sure will be asking, you know, damage if proven, of course, how much damage this could go, this could do
beyond Germany, right?
Allied Intelligence obviously gets shared. I wonder whether other partners at this stage are asking the question what of ours has been exposed? Are
these questions they'll be asking themselves, other agencies at this stage?
ROBERTSON: Yes, absolutely. And the key thing often in these situations like this is, are agents, Intelligence agents in other countries, are they
compromised? Are their lives in danger? And then --
SOARES: Yes --
ROBERTSON: You move beyond that to, you know, what physical assets in the country, what key secrets may have been given away that another -- and it's
interesting that they say political information has been passed on, and of course, the political situation in Germany is one where it's believed, you
know, countries like Russia have an agenda in seeing the far-right move ahead.
So, it's a -- you know, it's a -- when you start saying that he was handing over political Intelligence, it's a very febrile environment. But as you
say, for those other Intelligence services, you know, we think here of the work, you know, Germany had done with Saudi Arabia, for example, or with
the United States, with other European agencies.
[14:20:00]
The key thing is, are lives in danger because of this? Next is what key institutional assets are compromised because --
SOARES: Yes --
ROBERTSON: Of it?
SOARES: Nic, really appreciate it, I know it's a story you'll stay across it for us. Nic Robertson there, thank you, Nic. And still to come tonight
right here on the show, anger mounts over an alleged gang rape at Cornell University.
How some faculty members plan to ramp up the pressure on school administrators. And then U.S. President Donald Trump stirs up outrage,
suggesting on the campaign trail that Iran could take out two major American cities. Those stories after this very short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: There's newly released audio obtained by "ABC News" of a phone call between Jane Doe and a Cornell fraternity member she accused of gang
raping her in 2024. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm so sorry about all like the backlash you're getting from this, by the way. Oh, dude, I'm so sorry. No, I'm very -- like, I feel
so bad for you, dude.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, according to "ABC", Jane Doe on that call said, "I was completely and totally intoxicated and then given multiple sedatives. And
then I was surrounded by upwards of 8 to 10 men. This is classified as a gang rape." Here's how the alleged fraternity member then responded to
that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why? Wait, what's -- can I -- can I ask like what's the purpose for why you decided to call me?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SOARES: All of the accused have denied any wrongdoing. In a new CNN reporting, the school's faculty are pushing for a no confidence vote
against Cornell administrators for their handling of the rape allegations. Our Brynn Gingras has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yes, so, a number of faculty members are saying that they have lost all confidence in Cornell's
administration and their leadership, and saying that they have now formed or drafted a resolution to bring to their entire sort of Senate made up of
faculty members in regards to having a vote of no confidence.
We're told about 40 faculty members so far have signed on. In fact, some of them have said that they've had multiple people, whether it be from alums
to students to other staff members coming to them, voicing their concerns.
[14:25:00]
That full body governing body, which is really advisory body for Cornell University, has about 75 or so voting members. And they're going to take up
this resolution sometime next week. But again, this just shows that where Cornell University is at this point as protests continue to pick up on the
campus.
As far as the university is concerned, we've also just learned that Sally Yates, former U.S. deputy Attorney General serving under former President
Barack Obama, she and the law firm she works for is now hired by Cornell University to be this independent investigator, independent law firm to
look into Cornell's practices.
I mean, the scope of what their investigation is going to be is quite broad. But some bullet points really are the fact of how Cornell follows
its policies and procedures in the wake of, you know, a sexual assault or sexual misconduct report.
Also, you know, how do they respond to this? How does the campus police respond to such reports? How do they oversee a Greek life on their campus?
So, again, just a number of questions that are going to be looked at, something that the President at this point has reassured his -- not only
faculty, but also the campus there that he plans and promises to do.
But certainly, this is going very quickly as there are more calls for some sort of answers, which the president of the university saying that he
agrees. He also wants answers at this point, not only what happened in 2024, but reassuring that they want answers to have reforms for a better
future for Cornell University. Brynn Gingras CNN, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Thank you very much to Brynn Gingras there. And still to come tonight on the show, President Donald Trump tells Americans to watch for a
Midterm surprise, he says as he rallies his Republican base ahead of a crucial election.
He also approves an unusual execution method for a convicted mass shooter. We'll bring you both those stories after a very short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:30:00]
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Welcome back, everyone. U.S. President Donald Trump has never had worse poll numbers with his base than he does
ahead of next month's midterms. Of course, polls, as you know, aren't votes, and elections are all about turnout. That's why Mr. Trump is on a
campaign blitz to rally his supporters. His sinking approval rating apparently hasn't knocked his confidence. Mr.
Trump just posted on social media, my rallies are saving the Republican Party again. He's also promising, quote, "a surprise, a midterm surprise."
Democrats are battling to win back the House and Senate in just a few weeks. Mr. Trump is taking a short trip to Maryland this afternoon, where
he'll speak at a shipyard.
Yesterday, if you remember, he stirred up controversy during a rally in Nebraska, suggesting Iran could, quote, "take out two cities in
California." California's governor responded by calling him deranged and dangerous. Listen to what President Trump said about the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I want to see a tremendous victory. You want to see a tremendous victory, because it verifies all the things we did. And
again, remember, with the war, it's just artificial. It's a little bit high. It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our
country safe. They could take out a city.
Let them take -- let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. That's -- this is a very small price to pay, and it's going to be
over with very soon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Well, let's get more on all these angles. I want to bring in our politics senior reporter, Stephen Collinson. Stephen, good to see you.
Look, we'll talk about the campaign blitz, full throttle at the moment, in just a moment.
But I just want to get your thoughts and your -- and kind of comments on how it's landed, that comment from the president, let them, referring to
Iran, take out Los Angeles and San Diego. How is that landing where you are?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: It opened a big pathway for Democrats to play into this assertion they have that President Trump is
wild, he's not fit for office, he's lost a step at the age of 80. And it basically has obliterated all the other campaign messages the Republicans
might like to get out today. And when you only have four weeks until Election Day, that is significant in itself.
I think you can be charitable enough to see what Trump said and divine what the White House said. He was trying to say was that if he didn't go into
Iran, they could get a nuclear weapon and they could take out a U.S. city. But it doesn't really matter what he meant to say. It's what people think
he will say, and the Democrats are playing that up.
On a slightly deeper level, that's an interesting quote, "because he was talking about he needed something to justify the war. What he seems to be
doing is looking around for retrospective justifications for a war that he said would take a few weeks at most is now in its seven-month. And there
are growing expectations that after the midterm, there might be another round of fighting between Iran and the United States. So, really a present
grappling, I think, to grab hold of the narrative of the war that he started.
SOARES: And putting himself right at the front, of course, as we have seen. And when he made those comments, as I was saying, Stephen, he was in
Nebraska. He was in Nebraska. Today's off to Maryland. The way it continues, of course, this multi-state blitz to rally supporters. I mean,
even in red states.
But I was intrigued because the focus, he has repeatedly called the focus on affordability. I think it was a hoax. But now I did see a new poll, KFF
poll, that shows that affordability is the top issue. Let's have a look. Here we go. Cost of living, 62 percent. Health care concerns, 47. Fraud,
44. Iran, 38. Immigration, 35. Iran and cost of living kind of tie together, given, of course, the high inflation we've seen. Costs, prices
because of the oil surge.
How is he -- I mean, how is he referencing this? How is he framing this in the campaign trail?
COLLINSON: Well, Trump is basically arguing that America is in an economic golden age. Now, if you're someone that already has money, that has stocks
in a record-setting stock market. If you're invested in the industry, that might be a plausible argument. But most Americans don't have anything like
that. They're exceedingly anxious about the high prices for groceries, for housing. Mortgage rates are at 7 percent, which is really high for the
United States.
And the president, at the moment, is on the wrong side of some of the most important issues. He says everything is going great in the economy.
Majorities of Americans say it's not. He says the war was the right thing to do and is going great. Most Americans believe that it's not.
[14:35:00]
He's all in on A.I. and data centers. Most Americans are increasingly suspicious of A.I. and don't want more data centers because they believe
they push up the cost of power.
So, this is a president who came to power in 2016 and again in 2024, really having an ear for the electorate. And he seems to have lost it. And while
he wants to make the election about himself and believes that he's hugely successful, Democrats with a president with an approval rating of 30s are
absolutely delighted to make the issue about Donald Trump because apart from the fact they're leading a lot of this race, polls show that many
Americans don't trust them either.
SOARES: Yes. And I'm glad you mentioned the Democrats. I mean, they're clearly rubbing their hands with glee when President Trump says, imagine
I'm on the ballot. Vote for me kind of kind of sentence we've heard from him before.
But look, we've seen significant gains, I think, from the Democrats. I saw a New York Times and Siena poll, college poll that showed between 19 and 16
percent of Republican likely voters say they favored the Democratic nominee in five key stakes. And this is quite something. Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio
and Texas. I mean, Kansas certainly a surprising battleground. This is -- I know these are polls, right. Take it with a pinch of salt. But what do you
make of this?
COLLINSON: Well, what's most interesting about them is that they're all states that Trump won in 2024, some of them by a great deal. Iowa and Ohio,
for example, double digit victories. Those states have been really hit by things like the agricultural crisis, which has been exacerbated by the cost
of diesel, for example, brought on by the Iran war. So, on top of affordability questions, you've got real hardships playing out in these
states. And Trump, of course, being the one in power, is getting blamed for all that.
If you look at where the money is going in the final weeks, where all the most significant campaigning is, especially in Senate races, it's mostly in
seats where Trump won the state. Iowa, Ohio, Georgia, places like that. And that tells you, I think, of the vulnerabilities on the Republican side.
That said, there are a couple of races, Michigan and Maine. Those are states that could really, you know, decide this race. Michigan is held by
Democrats. They can't afford to lose that one.
SOARES: I know you stay across it for us. What? Two weeks. I think it's two weeks, two weeks to -- four weeks, pardon me.
COLLINSON: Four weeks.
SOARES: I'm getting ahead of myself,
COLLINSON: Four weeks. But people are starting to vote in early voting already.
SOARES: Apologies. I've been counting down every day. Right, exactly. Thanks very much, Stephen. Appreciate it.
COLLINSON: Cheers.
SOARES: Thank you. Stephen Collinson for us there in Washington. Now, the attacker who opened fire on U.S. military base in 2009 is set to be
executed by firing squad. This after a final approval by President Donald Trump. The killing of Nidal Hasan will be the U.S. Army's first firing
squad execution since World War II. Hasan is a former Army psychiatrist and officer who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in Texas and injured 32 others.
The Pentagon calls him a jihadist, and he admitted to gunning down his fellow soldiers. He said he wanted to protect the Taliban from the U.S.
military.
Our Brian Todd is on this story. I mean, it's a fascinating story for us on this side of the pond, Brian. I mean, the first execution, Army execution
using firing squad since the Second World War. Just explain why the decision to bring it back. Do we have a decision? Who made that call?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isa, we are told that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the firing squad for Nidal Hasan and
that President Trump approved it. Now, it will either be Pete Hegseth or the Army secretary, excuse me, who will decide the time and the place of
the execution. That has yet to be determined. We hope to find that out fairly shortly.
This is the first time that the Army will have executed a soldier by firing squad, as Isa mentioned, since World War Two. I'm going to get to that in
just a moment. Let's just take through some of the particular details of the Hasan case in the Fort Hood shooting. Hasan was a U.S. Army major and
psychiatrist who walked into a processing center at Fort Hood, Texas on November 5th, 2009, and opened fire. He killed 32 people -- excuse me. He
killed 13 people and wounded 32 others before being apprehended by military police. He was convicted on 13 counts of premeditated murder, 32 counts of
attempted premeditated murder, and was sentenced to death back in 2013.
So, it's taken a number of years for this case to play out. Hasan had been radicalized and said he was targeting U.S. Army soldiers who he was to be
deployed with to Afghanistan in order to protect the Taliban and its leaders from the U.S. military. He admitted to the killings and said that
he wanted to protect the Taliban in carrying out those killings.
Here is a part of the Pentagon statement on the imposition of the death penalty here. Quote, "Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has recommended and
President Donald J. Trump has approved death by U.S. Army firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan.
[14:40:00]
The secretary of the army will set the time and place of the execution. Judgment day for Hasan has finally come."
As I said, though, it could be Pete Hegseth who sets the time and the place for that. Hegseth responded to that Pentagon announcement with one word in
a post, quote, "justice." Besides Hasan, there are three others on death row with the U.S. Army there at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. All three of
those soldiers were convicted of murder.
Now, historically, as we've mentioned, this is the first execution by firing squad of a U.S. Army soldier since the last months of World War II.
That soldier was a young man named Eddie Slovik, who was convicted of desertion, not even murder. He was convicted of desertion. And General
Dwight D. Eisenhower wanted to make an example of him for other soldiers who might think about deserting while World War II still raged on there in
the waning months of the war. That was in January of 1945 that Slovik was executed.
The last time that any soldier was executed was 65 years ago. That was Private John Bennett, who was found guilty of the rape and the attempted
murder of an 11-year-old Austrian girl. That crime occurred in 1955. John Bennett was executed in April of 1961. And he was hanged. That was the last
time the Army executed anyone. That makes this even more significant, Isa, considering the historical precedence here.
SOARES: Yes.
TODD: Execution by firing squad in the U.S. is still fairly rare. It's making a comeback, though, in the civilian realm. There were three
prisoners executed by firing squad in the state of South Carolina just last year.
SOARES: And I'm guessing we don't have a time and date when who sets that. I'm guessing, was that the Army who sets that? The secretary? The
president? Do we know, Brian?
TODD: We do know that it will probably either be Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, or the secretary of the Army who will set the time and the place
for the execution of Nidal Hasan. We do not have those details yet. They may not have even made that decision yet. They may still be working through
some of those details. So, it will be interesting to see where and when he will, in fact, face the firing squad.
Again, just, you know, between all of this and the fact that the firing squad is making this somewhat odd comeback in the United States, before
those three executions in South Carolina last year, and this was in the civilian realm, we should say, not in the military realm. Those three
executions in South Carolina, before those, there had not been an execution by firing squad since 1977, or actually, there had been, I think, only
three since 1977. So, that just tells you it's very rare. But it seems to be making a comeback now in the United States.
SOARES: Brian, thank you very much for walking us through that. Really appreciate it. Brian Todd for us there in Washington.
Still to come tonight, right here on the show, a terrifying report about the war in Ukraine. Soldiers ordered to kill themselves to avoid capture.
That story next.
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[14:45:00]
SOARES: Yemeni government forces are reporting significant gains as they move to reclaim territory taken by Houthis in recent fighting. Video
released by Saudi-backed troops shows them rolling through territory near Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital choke point for oil tankers and other
vessels. A spokesperson says they reclaimed the waterway and control of a key roadway. A Houthi-run news agency denies the government troops are
advancing.
Russian officials say Ukraine launched a wave of 650 drones toward Moscow region overnight. Into this morning, Russian authorities say one person has
died and six others have been injured. And the attack comes after Ukraine's president said he plans to double down on targeting Russian energy sites.
Now, a disturbing report about North Korean troops who are fighting alongside Russians in Ukraine. According to South Korean intelligence,
Pyongyang has ordered its forces to commit suicide if they're about to be captured. Our Will Ripley has this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): South Korean intelligence says North Korean troops have explicit orders to kill
themselves to avoid capture. They say at least one soldier even shouted General Kim Jong-un before pulling a grenade.
THAE YONG HO, FORMER SENIOR NORTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT: All the people in North Korea are brainwashed.
RIPLEY (voice-over): One of Pyongyang's highest profile defectors says when North Korean soldiers die fighting for Russia, their leader praises
them as heroes. Doors open for the soldiers' grieving families. Brand-new apartments on a special street in Pyongyang. Their children promised places
in elite revolutionary schools, a path to privileged jobs.
YONG HO: The social status of your family would be upgraded to a kind of elite or ruling class. Your house, your parents would be moved from
countryside, a very remote area, to the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang.
RIPLEY (voice-over): But North Korea's former deputy U.K. ambassador, Thae Yong Ho says if a soldier is captured alive, like these two carried out of
Russia's Kursk region last year, the consequences can be reversed.
YONG HO: There would be a very heavy punishment. Their social status would be downgraded.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Of the thousands of North Koreans sent to fight for Russia, only two are known to have been captured alive. In Ukrainian
captivity, with their identities concealed, they told CNN affiliate NBC, I don't know if my mom is alive. I worry she could be in trouble because of
me. If I had a hand grenade, I could have killed myself and not become a POW.
Seoul's National Intelligence Service says they decided to go to South Korea, arriving by their own free will earlier this month. These guys are
not easy to capture alive. South Korea was shocked when Ukraine's president revealed the transfer at the U.N. Seoul wanted to keep it secret, in part
to protect the soldiers and their families. But Ukraine says there was no confidentiality agreement.
YONG HO: I am protected by South Korean border guards 24 hours.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Thae defected with his wife and two sons. I met the brother and sister he left behind in Pyongyang, in what they called a
voluntary interview, they disowned him.
RIPLEY: In South Korea, Thae said that he did this to break the slavery chain.
RIPLEY (voice-over): 100 percent evil propaganda, his sister told me. Thae feared his family was being forced to speak against him. His brother said,
if I don't wash this sin away by myself, my sons and future generations will have to work harder to pay for this.
Now, Thae says Ukraine should target North Korean troops with leaflets and loudspeakers, telling them they don't have to die.
YONG HO: They are very young, in early 20s. They have a very bright future.
RIPLEY (voice-over): But Ukraine says thousands more may soon be headed to battle in the name of their leader.
Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Fascinating piece there from Will Ripley. We're going to take a short break. I'll see you on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:00]
SOARES: Well, in just hours from now, there will be emotional scenes in Buenos Aires as the curtain comes down on Lionel Messi's storied
international career with Argentina. The 39-year-old will depart the national team, a 2022 World Cup winner, and two-time Copa America champion.
Cecilia Dominguez takes us back to where it all began, Messi's hometown of Rosario.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CECILIA DOMINGUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Walking through Rosario is, in many ways, walking through Messi's life. You don't need to visit a museum to
learn about him. In this city, about 300 kilometers from Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi is everywhere.
Today, we're following the footsteps of the World Cup champion through the city where it all began, as he prepares to take the field once again.
According to neighbors, this house now sits empty, but for years, it was Lionel Messi's childhood home. Located in La Bajada neighborhood, it's a
place many fans still visit.
On one side of the house, a massive mural shows Messi celebrating Argentina's 2021 Copa America title. Across the street, another mural
captures what was once a dream, Messi as a World Cup champion.
Just a few blocks away is the school Messi attended as a child. Former teachers remember him as responsible, quiet, and well-liked by his
classmates. One teacher later recalled struggling to get students back into the classroom after recess. She once joked, there's no Maradona out there,
so stop playing so much soccer. Years later, everyone laughs at the story. She didn't know there was a Messi.
If Messi's story has a starting point, this maybe it. At Abanderado Grandoli club, he played his first organized match, when he was just four
years old. The story has become part of local folklore. A player was missing, and Messi's grandmother insisted that her grandson be allowed to
play. The rest is history. If Grandoli club was the beginning, this is where people first started to realize that Messi was different.
[14:55:00]
A news all boys youth academy located at the Malvinas Argentinas complex, Messi began standing out from an early age. These fields witnessed some of
his first steps as a player, and the start of a journey that would eventually take him to the very top of world soccer.
Long before the trophies, the records, and the global fame, there was a city that watched him grow up. And throughout Rosario, that memory is still
very much alive.
Cecilia Dominguez, CNN, Rosario.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Indeed, an end of an era, what a story. And finally, for you tonight, there's a new furry face at the Bronx Zoo in New York, Meek Sarka,
who is a four-month-old snow leopard. And here you see her with her mother. Zoo officials say she's curious and loves to jump around her new habitat.
But as an only cub, she stays close to her mom. It's estimated only 5,000 to 7,000 snow leopards a year. And the rest of the snow leopards are left
in the wild.
That does it for us for this hour. Do stay right here, "What We Know" with Max Foster's up next. I shall see you tomorrow. Have a good evening.
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[15:00:00]
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