Return to Transcripts main page
Isa Soares Tonight
Argentina's Milei Faces Protests on Day of National Strike; Maduro and Wife Plead Not Guilty to Torture Charges; Talarico Reaches Out to Republican and Independent Voters; Dozens Killed at Pakistani School. A Source Tells CNN that Kyiv has Run Out of Key Patriot Missiles; U.S. Looks into the Use of its Largest Non-Nuclear-Weapon Against Iran; Massive Student-Led and Opposition Protest for the Resignation of Albania's President Edi Rama. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired October 15, 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, a worrying development for Ukraine this
hour. A source tells CNN that Kyiv has run out of key Patriot missiles, leaving Ukraine's skies vulnerable to Moscow's attacks. We'll have the very
latest for you.
Plus, more exclusive reporting this hour as our sources reveal, the U.S. is looking into the use of its largest non-nuclear weapon against Iran. What
we know about the so-called Mother of All Bombs. And then we take you to a part of Florida that President Trump won in a landslide.
Discontent is growing there just weeks out from make-or-break Midterm election. We do begin this hour with what could be a very dangerous and
potentially game-changing development for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
CNN has learned exclusively that Ukraine has run out of interceptor missiles for its U.S.-made Patriot air defense system, and that would leave
it more vulnerable to Russian attacks. Just as the relationship, of course, between Kyiv and Washington sinks to a new low.
A defiant and frustrated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Zelenskyy taking an unprecedented stand against his country's most
important ally, saying he feels betrayed by U.S. President Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russia.
Ukraine's leader is in Brussels today to meet with European officials, as you can see there. He also says he's done, his words, with President
Trump's energy ceasefire and attacks on Russian oil refineries, he says will resume.
Intelligence-sharing is at the heart of the growing rift between Ukraine and the U.S., President Zelenskyy insists Ukrainian forces are still
dealing with some restrictions on Star Shield. That is a system that we've been talking about here this week that's vital for military operations.
He says Russia launched a flurry of more than 850 attack drones just last night. Well, our CNN chief international security correspondent, Nick Paton
Walsh, has more on the tensions between President Zelenskyy and President Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yes, look, this is certainly a perilous time for the already
fractious and sort of see-saw relationship that he has with President Trump.
Clearly, the last ten days has set Ukraine on a path where it believes the United States is no longer going to act in its ally, and indeed, that
Zelenskyy should call that out. He's also been today referring in an interview with a British publication called the "Financial Times" about
President Trump's well-known fondness for essentially dictators who stay in power for decades.
Clearly, Zelenskyy, now in a position where he may see some kind of fiery reaction from the U.S. President. But how did we get there, and where does
this leave Ukraine? Look, it's important to point out that we're looking now at a Ukraine that as, according to a source familiar with the
situation, has told our Victoria Butenko in Kyiv, has run out of Patriot interceptor missiles.
Ultimately, the U.S. is the biggest supplier manufacturer of those. They've had a similar crisis back in August when I was last there, and then some
European states rushed to assist and fill a slight gap. That's run out. That's crisis number one.
The next big ballistic missile attack against Ukraine will not be intercepted it seems at this point. Secondly, it appears that after the
tensions of the last week or so, the United States has begun to restrict some technology and possibly Intelligence, according to Ukrainian
officials.
The key one here is the fact that Ukrainian officials say they haven't received the early warnings about Russian ballistic missile launches that
they've relied upon for years now. They're the reason why sirens sound, and they're the reason why people get minutes to get to the shelter.
They say they have not been receiving those for some time now, although President Trump has publicly stated, there's been no stoppage in
Intelligence-sharing. Over the past few days too, we've had this issue about the speed, the flying speeds at which Starlink dishes useful for
long-range attack drones, medium range, and also some defensive drones, the speeds of which some of those Starlinks can function.
That appears to have been a bit of a blip that seems to being rectified, although Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX is behind those Starlinks, has
interestingly distanced himself from the decision process around that, saying it's the U.S. government, the White House, that make it.
[14:05:00]
But clarifying, he doesn't really want Starlink dishes used in offensive operations. So, a bit of a mess there in terms of operation on the
frontline being interrupted. But all of this comes after the diesel deal and the energy ceasefire which President Trump announced.
He said that hundreds of thousands of Russian barrels of diesel would suddenly be on the market, a bid to get prices down at the pump, although
many analysts say that will be a tough one. And he also declared an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine said that was the first they'd heard about it, and Russia bombed Ukrainian energy infrastructure a matter of hours later. We're in a very
messy place here. But strip all this aside, ultimately, it's Ukrainians now facing another sleepless night without interceptors or ballistic
Intelligence warnings, ultimately from the United States, they say.
So, a very dangerous moment here for ordinary Ukrainians, and in a vital relationship between Zelenskyy and Trump.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Our Nick Paton Walsh reporting there. Well, Romania's President says it's obvious Russia is trying to destabilize NATO's eastern flank and
weaken support for Ukraine, he says they're doing it by launching attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea.
And those include a drone strike on two cargo ships just earlier this week. Several sailors aboard those vessels are still missing. Bulgaria's Prime
Minister believes Russia was likely behind the attacks, but admits evidence tying Moscow to the strikes is lacking.
So, let's put all these pieces together for you. I want to welcome in the former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who is currently a Co-Chair for
European Council on Foreign Relations. A well-known face here on the show.
Carl, great to have you back on the show. Let me just pick up where our Nick Paton Walsh just left off. And there's just this dangerous moment that
we are seeing right now for Ukraine. I think those are the words he used.
We've got -- you probably heard a source telling CNN that Ukraine has run out of Patriot missiles, leaving it pretty much vulnerable to Russian
missile attacks that we have seen basically rain down just the last few days. Where does this leave Ukraine right now, you think, Carl?
CARL BILDT, CO-CHAIR, EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: Well, clearly, the more vulnerable position they were bound to run out with the
Patriots if there were no further deliveries. And all of these U.S. stocks are evidently going to whatever is going on in the Middle East or what is
planned there, and that is the reason for that particular situation.
And then we have the entire energy situation, the diesel deal, which is also, by the way, the entire diesel situation is another consequence of the
Middle East war. And at the same time as Mr. Putin is sort of brutally exploiting the soft spot for himself, for Putin, that President Trump
evidently has. And that has led to a difficult situation with Russia accelerating attacks.
SOARES: Yes, it's certainly difficult that President Zelenskyy pleading once again, I think it was yesterday for more stocks of missiles, saying
the American President has all the effective and necessary tools to bring peace closer through strength, justice and pressure on the aggressor.
We ask for additional packages of Patriot missiles, interceptors for Ukraine. And he asked this, Carl, and then at the same time has an
interview I'm sure you saw with Piers Morgan. He's asked if he feels betrayed over diesel deal between Trump and Putin, and he says yes. How do
you think that's going to land at the White House?
BILDT: Well, not very good, I fear. But I think it sort of reflects the feeling that is there in Ukraine, and the feeling that is there is not only
--
SOARES: Yes --
BILDT: Ukraine across Europe. I mean, no one understands really what President Trump is up -- the diesel deal, which I don't think is going to
have any effect on diesel prices in the U.S. prior to the election. But it was clearly playing to Mr. Putin.
And it was a trap led -- laid by Putin, essentially, and Trump walked right into it. And that is seen by very many in Europe as, yes, betrayal is a
very hard word. But I think it reflects sentiments that are there.
SOARES: Do you think he -- you think he was betrayed? Just your opinion here, Carl.
BILDT: Betrayed and betrayed. I mean, he was not betrayed in the sense that I don't think Trump had promised anything because Trump doesn't
promise anything to anyone, more or less. And he's not -- certainly not been sort of promising very much of support to Ukraine.
But the fact that he -- time after time, plays to the tune of Mr. Putin is, of course, something that Ukraine feels very strongly about, I can
understand that. Something that most Europeans feel very strongly about as well. That's unavoidable. Whatever word you care to use for it.
SOARES: Yes, indeed. And this is something that I've been hearing too. Look, I want to do pull all the strands together because what a week --
over a week or so it's been. And I think we've got a graphic out, you can't see it --
BILDT: Yes --
SOARES: But I'm just going to talk you through it, basically. In the last few days, we have seen this diesel deal with President Putin.
[14:10:00]
The Starlink access restricted for which Musk said was a U.S. government call, and energy ceasefire that wasn't his energy ceasefire. Took both
sides by surprise. Allegations of a break in Intelligence sharing, and then calls by the U.S. President for Zelenskyy to step aside.
I mean, from a European perspective, are you seeing a shift? I mean, is President Trump turning the screws on President Zelenskyy, and why now?
BILDT: I think it's clearly Mr. Putin who is turning the screws on Zelenskyy and on Ukraine, with accelerating all the bombardments and all
the things that he's doing in order to make sort of Ukraine and Kyiv and the major cities unlivable by the Winter.
And he gets Trump more or less to accept this, by not helping Ukraine. And by the diesel deal, which clearly is sort of plays to the sentiments that
are there on the sort of -- on that particular side. So, yes, whether that means that Trump puts the screws on Ukraine, yes, it really does.
Although, there are sort of ambiguous signs back-and-forth. Policy seems to be somewhat in a mess, I have to confess with sort of different messages on
Starlink and different messages on energy ceasefire, that wasn't the energy ceasefire, evidently, despite President Trump proclaiming one. Messy, not
very -- not very credible.
SOARES: And you know, some may argue, Carl, that it has to do perhaps with Midterms, we're about 20 days or so until the U.S. --
BILDT: Oh --
SOARES: Midterms. Maybe that has something to do with it. But I do wonder if the U.S. withdraw support for Ukraine, be it militarily, technologically
or financially, and this is a conversation you have had, you and I have had before. I mean, does Europe have the capacity --
BILDT: Yes --
SOARES: To fill that gap?
BILDT: Well, effectively, they have already withdrawn most of the support. I mean, they were very supportive both militarily and in financial terms,
and in terms of Intelligence and all probably, 90 percent of all of that has been withdrawn already.
There are some important elements remaining of Intelligence support, primarily, how much of that is there and how much of that will remain
there, tomorrow or the week thereafter? We don't really know, because signals are all rather mixed.
But essentially, the entire burden of supporting Ukraine now against Russia and against intensified Russian aggression has to be said. That rests with
the Europeans and Canadians and Japanese and other parts of the world who prefer to stick to the course. But President Trump has left --
SOARES: Yes --
BILDT: And essentially listening more to Mr. Putin than to either the Europeans or to President Zelenskyy.
SOARES: Carl, always great to get your analysis, really appreciate you coming on the show. Thank you very much. Carl Bildt live for us there from
Stockholm in Sweden. Thank you.
BILDT: Thank you --
SOARES: Well, CNN has exclusively learned that if the U.S. resumes attacks on Iran, it could use its most powerful non-nuclear weapon. The Pentagon
has drawn up plans to use the so-called Mother of All Bombs on Iran's energy infrastructure and suspected nuclear sites.
The plans could be executed if President Trump gives the order to do so. Meanwhile, Iran appears to be stepping up attacks on ships around the
Strait of Hormuz. Two cargo ships sunk this week, one was struck on Tuesday and the other was hit in late September.
Iranian drones are suspected in both these incidents. Our Nic Robertson is following both these angles for us. And Nic, I was looking at some U.S.
officials, multiple U.S. officials commenting on CNN, basically saying that, you know, there are serious doubts over how effective this bomb could
be.
But from a diplomatic perspective, Nic, why float this idea now? Where are we on the pressure, diplomatic pressure and the lack of movement on the
diplomatic front with Iran? What are you hearing?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, there are two major stakeholders in the pressure over the Iran-U.S. deal, and that's Iran
and the United States. And Iran clearly has been ramping up the pressure on President Trump by trying to attack more vessels that it considers are
violating its banning of container ships or tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz.
This is coming in the run-up to the Midterm elections. You know, the diplomats that I'm speaking to from the region say that this is because
Iran wants to put President Trump in a very difficult position coming up to the Midterms.
The President coming up to the Midterms wants to demonstrate that he's the big power when it comes to sort of dictating terms with Iran, although Iran
very clearly resists.
[14:15:00]
And one way for President Trump to do that is to threaten to use the biggest weapon he has available, whether or not that can be effective,
whether or not he actually intends to do it, whether or not this is all just rhetoric and positioning, it certainly gives the impression --
SOARES: Right --
ROBERTSON: He has the position of strength here. But the diplomats that I'm talking to are saying, don't expect anything to be resolved quickly
before the Midterms, after the Midterms, the Iranians are going to stick at their position for perhaps the rest of President Trump's presidency to get
the best terms of any kind of deal they can with the U.S. President.
So, what we're witnessing, the spike in violence here, and also, you know, widely believed that the Iranians are pushing the Houthis to up their
attacks in Saudi, on the Red Sea, in Yemen, on oil, putting pressure on oil and container ships again in the Red Sea, all of that is an Iranian
machination as well as a Houthi one to up pressure on President Trump.
That's the sort of broader perspective. Can President Trump use that weapon if he so desires? He could? Would it really have an impact down the road,
on a diplomatic outcome? I think the Iranians are playing a much longer game.
SOARES: Nic, as always, thank you very much indeed. Well, the war with Iran with no end in sight will be no doubt a factor as Nic potentially was
saying there in the upcoming U.S. Midterms. He was discussing that just now. But for Americans, for most Americans, the biggest issue by far is, as
you know, the economy.
A new poll could spell more trouble for President Trump as he repeatedly tells voters to pretend, if you remember that he's on the ballot. Well, a
"Fox News" poll shows just 22 percent of voters approve of how he's handling inflation.
And that is a key pocketbook issue. And just 36 percent of those polled approved of his presidency overall. Vice President, meantime, J.D. Vance is
trying to help boost those numbers. He's been campaigning in the key state of Michigan today, where Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers is locked
in a high-profile battle with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
El-Sayed is also on the trail in Michigan, getting some help from New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They're on a bus tour in a
traditionally red part of the state. O-C made a direct appeal to Republicans today, asking them to keep quote, "an open mind and an open ear
as they listen to El-Sayed's message."
If we go further south in Texas, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is also looking for middle ground as he tries to win over independents and
moderate Republicans in a tight race with Ken Paxton. At a CNN Jubilee town hall, Talarico said he will stand on principle and break with his party on
policy if necessary. He took some tough questions from audience members, including on national debt. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES TALARICO, TEXAS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR SENATE: It's not just an economic and political emergency, it is a moral emergency because we are
stealing from future generations. It is intergenerational theft --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hundred percent --
TALARICO: And so, I actually -- I talk about the national debt in almost every speech at every campaign event, because I do believe that it's an
emergency. Here's what I'll say. We are often told that the only way to tackle the deficit or the debt is by doing it on the backs of working
people.
And that's not true. We can -- we can close the deficit and we can do it by closing billionaire tax loopholes. We can close the deficit and tackle the
debt by ending this disastrous war in Iran that is costing us a billion dollars a day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: James Talarico there. Well, long before President Donald Trump won Florida in a landslide in 2024, Cuban-Americans living there were loyal
Republican voters. But now, just weeks before critical Midterm elections, rising costs and immigration policies are fueling discontent among key
constituents. Our Carolina Peguero talked to people in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA LIUIS, CUBAN-AMERICAN REPUBLICAN VOTER (through translator): Trump promises a lot like everyone else, but when it comes down to it, nobody
does anything. They say what people want to hear.
SANTIAGO CASAMAYOR, CUBAN-AMERICAN UNDECIDED VOTER: Everyone is complaining about the same thing. Rent. Housing is very expensive and so
are interest rates.
CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN MIAMI CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are Cuban- American voters from Little Havana in Miami, where in Florida's 27th District, President Donald Trump won by nearly 15 points in 2024.
But today, the high cost of living, inflation and Trump's recent policies are causing discontent among some voters. But will this dissatisfaction
matter in the Midterm elections?
MAGALY CIERRA, CUBAN-AMERICAN REPUBLICAN VOTER (through translator): Honestly, I like Trump, but he has done some things I don't like, and he
still hasn't gotten things done with Cuba.
[14:20:00]
REP. MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR (R-FL): I would like to send a message --
PEGUERO: Here, Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar is seeking re-election against Democrat Elliot Rodriguez. Among young voters like
these students at Miami-Dade College, the economy is also a major concern.
PAISLEY HERRERA, YOUNG VOTER: Right now, the economy, it's very bad. I mean, the gas prices, they've gone up to like almost $7 here, and grocery
stores like a lot of food isn't affordable.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I work two part-time jobs and I still can't afford to live by myself.
DANIELA CREATZO, YOUNG VOTER: You still continue to raise our rent and for what? Because nothing changes. The maintenance is the same. Our utilities
are the same. So, I really don't understand what the point is.
PEGUERO: Nearly, three out of every four residents in District 27 are Hispanic, according to an "NBC News" and "Telemundo" poll, 69 percent of
registered Latino voters in the United States disapprove of the President's performance.
Salazar, who has supported the President, has also distanced herself from some of his immigration policies. She challenged him directly by posting
this video.
SALAZAR: Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far.
PEGUERO: For criticizing Trump has also drawn criticism from some voters in her own district.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Maria Elvira Salazar is someone I thought was different, but her true colors came out. I don't like that
she is fighting Trump over the deal he's making with Cuba.
PEGUERO: Requested an interview with Salazar, but so far it has not been possible to arrange one. Meanwhile, Democrat Eliot Rodriguez, a former news
anchor, is trying to unseat Salazar. We spoke with him in front of Miami's iconic Freedom Tower, where thousands of Cuban refugees were received in
the 1960s.
ELIOT RODRIGUEZ, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR U.S. HOUSE: Our constitution is in danger. Our right to due process is in danger, and even the truth is in
danger. And that's what I dedicated my career to, is telling the truth, being honest and just delivering facts so that people can make up their
minds based on reality, not what's happening now. It's so distressing.
PEGUERO: And that is one of the questions here in District 27. Will what these voters think about Trump today also influence how they vote for
Congress? Carolina Peguero, CNN, Little Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Well, our thanks to Carolina for that report. Well, CNN has learned some new details about the search by federal agents at the house of
the home of U.S. House Democrat Ilhan Omar.
The Trump administration had pushed for a very broad search warrant, but the judge in the case limited the way investigators could look at Omar's
documents because of protections given to members of Congress.
Omar entered the United States as a Somali refugee more than 30 years ago. The Trump administration is reportedly trying to find evidence of
immigration fraud. President Trump has called off the planned livestream, meanwhile, of the Fort Hood shooter's execution, reversing an announcement
from the Pentagon, if you remember last week.
Former U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding dozens at a Texas military base in 2009, President Trump posted on
Truth Social earlier, saying Hasan will die as scheduled by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed.
And still to come right here on the show, student-led protests escalate in Albania. We'll hear from some of those demonstrating. And a National Day of
Strikes is underway in Argentina against President Javier Milei. We'll be live for you in Buenos Aires after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:25:00]
SOARES: Well, Pope Leo is carrying out daily activities today after getting surgery for lung cancer. On Tuesday, the Vatican says opposed --
the Pope also went through post-operative checks with positive results.
Doctors say an x-ray of his chest shows good recovery of the operated lung, officials said. The medical team is optimistic as they await results, of
course, from more tests. Well, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama is again rejecting calls to resign as student-led protests enter a third day.
Protesters accused Mr. Rama of corruption and not addressing the cost of education. They also accuse him of not listening to their concerns during
Summer demonstrations about a potential Kushner-linked luxury development.
There have been escalations, of course, in the demonstrations. We've showed you that protesters tried to storm the headquarters of the country's
Socialist Party. They've also clashed with police and damaged public and private property. Here's what some of them had to say. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want Edi Rama to leave, please. We want him to understand us. We're so tired of him. Everyone is so tired of him. We're
just done with him. Just -- we're asking him just to leave. This is all we want.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The youth doesn't have any future here in Albania. Actually, myself, if something doesn't change, I will live, I will live,
and I will -- probably, I will not come back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: We'll stay across these protests for you in Albania, as we always have. Well, turning now to Argentina where a 24-hour national strike is
underway and they are demonstrating against President Javier Milei and his government.
State workers, students and teachers are marching to Congress for higher wages and more funding. They also want a repeal Milei's deregulation, which
favors land sales to foreigners. Our Cecilia Dominguez joins us now from Buenos Aires.
And I can see, Cecilia, that people are turning out, even though it is raining. Paint us a picture of what you are seeing and what people are
telling you there.
CECILIA DOMINGUEZ, CNN REPORTER: Hello, Isa, yes, it has just started raining, so you're going to see a lot of umbrellas here. We are working
outside the National Congress of Argentina, and this is the main square where thousands have gathered to demand more funding to -- for public
universities.
And I have to say, there are a lot of students, university professors, non- teaching staff, but also union members and social organizations that are marching together. There are a lot of flags, banners, signs, and some signs
call on Milei to comply with the law.
And they -- when they talk about the law, they refer to the university funding law that passed in 2025. Milei -- President Milei vetoed the law
over concerns about how to pay for it, but Congress overturned the veto. The government then suspending its implementation and the courts later
ruled that decision unconstitutional and ordered the government to enforce the law.
What does the government say about this? Well, Presidential spokesperson said this week that the government cares about education, but increasing
funding is very difficult given what he called the bankrupt state left behind by former Presidents that are related to the political party
Kircherism(ph).
And I have to say this is because of the late former President Nestor Kirchner, the name of the -- of the political party. And this, Isa,
happens. This protest happens while the Congress, the National Congress of Argentina is debating the budget for next year for 2027.
[14:30:00]
It's still raining, heavy rain now, but demonstrator protesters are still here asking for more funding for public universities. Isa.
SOARES: And, Cecilia, it's interesting, as you were talking, your cameraman was panning, I saw a placard that said, in Spanish, a hectare for
every Argentinian. Can you speak to the question of land rights that have become such a political issue? Tell me what people are saying here.
DOMINGUEZ: Well, people are saying lands are ours. That's what they say. In fact, education is the main thing they are talking about right now on
the streets of Buenos Aires. But they are also talking about that. We've also covered that topic in other protests.
But today, the education is the main thing here. That's why we are seeing a lot of signs asking Milei to comply with the law. And with that, they refer
to the financing university law, Isa.
SOARES: Cecilia, thank you very much. Get yourself under an umbrella. Really appreciate life there from Buenos Aires in Argentina. Thank you,
Cecilia.
Well, let's turn to the United States, where Venezuela's ousted president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife are pleading not guilty to a new U.S.
indictment charging them with torture conspiracy. The case relates to alleged torture of Americans, as well as others who were held in custody of
the Venezuelan government. The couple has been in the U.S. since January, and when they were captured in an American military raid, they have also
pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges.
Still to come tonight right here on the show, there's so much at stake and just weeks left for candidates to make the case to the American people.
I'll sit down with CNN Senior Political Analyst Ron Brownstein to talk all things midterms.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:00]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Returning now to the U.S. midterm elections. Now, less than three weeks away. Democrats are hoping to retake
control of Congress with one of the most closely watched races featuring a rising star in the party. Senate candidate James Talarico is trying to turn
Texas blue. He's running against Republican Ken Paxton, who's benefiting from a massive influx of PAC money.
A lot of it comes from the world's richest man, Elon Musk, who's given a total of $276 million to the GOP since the summer. At a town hall co-hosted
by CNN, Talarico said it's time to get big money out of political campaigns. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES TALARICO, U.S. DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE: I don't take corporate PAC money. I never have. I never will. I don't work for them. I work for
the people of Texas. I'm running to ban super PACs and corporate PACs.
So, billionaires aren't spending unlimited secret money on our political campaigns. And I don't care if they're Democratic super PACs or Republican
super PACs. I think we've got to ban them all because there's way too much influence from big money in our politics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, earlier I sat down with CNN senior political analyst and blue bone opinion columnist Ron Brownstein right here in London. I started
by asking him what he makes of Talarico's performance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST AND BLOOMBERG OPINION COLUMNIST: Texas is a perfect encapsulation of the final weeks of this
election because both in the House and the Senate in the U.S. the election is being fought out overwhelmingly, almost entirely in places that voted
for Trump in 2024.
I mean, there are only eight House Republicans in district that voted for Harris. Susan Collins is the only Republican senator left in a state that
voted for Harris. So, what that means is that Democrats have to win in places where there are probably more Republicans than Democrats. And places
where they have not won very often lately. I mean, they haven't elected a senator from Texas since 1988.
And I think that really informed Talarico's approach last night. I mean, he was very clearly trying to talk to voters beyond his coalition. Because,
you know, you can run up the score among Democrats, get very high turnout, win independence decisively, and still fall short in Texas unless you can
peel off a small slice of ordinary Republican leaning voters either to vote for you or to skip the Senate race and not vote at all.
SOARES: Yes. And even when we looked prior to the town hall, we looked at the polling, it's very, very tight even within the margin of error of both
polls we looked at. And clearly like you said, Ron, the focus is on those skeptical Republicans or those independents. Where did he go to get that?
What areas did he focus on that potentially could bring them in?
BROWNSTEIN: He clearly tried to moderate on cultural issues.
SOARES: Yes.
BROWNSTEIN: And, you know, oil and gas issues, very important in the state. Even his discussion of his personal religion.
SOARES: Yes.
BROWNSTEIN: You know, now I think anybody who is offended enough by him saying God is non-binary to say I'm going to vote for the, you know,
attorney general who's been impeached by his own party and has openly been accused of multiple adulteries, that voter is not reachable for Talarico.
But what he's trying to reach are almost half of the Republican primary elected that voted for John Cornyn, not Ken Paxton. And, you know, a big
part of the story, why is 26 different than 2018? A big part of the story is that it is not only the depth of Trump's decline, it's the breadth.
SOARES: Yes.
BROWNSTEIN: And we are seeing erosion among core Republican constituencies, non-college whites, rural voters, non-MAGA, what they call
non-MAGA Republicans. Republicans are talking more with the party than with Trump. We are seeing erosion with those groups in a way that was not true
in 2018. And that's really what is allowing Democrats to broaden the map.
SOARES: We're looking at the polls and we are seeing, OK, Trump's polling numbers are low 33 percent. I think Fox poll was at 36 percent, something
like that today. We know economy is one of the most important. Yet we're hearing something so different on this multi-state campaign blitz from the
president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Vote for more money in your pockets, bigger paychecks for your families, lower taxes, less crime, a booming Arizona
economy like you have right now, but more so, and no amnesty for illegal aliens. All you have to do is vote Republican and you're going to have all
of that and more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[14:40:00]
SOARES: It seems what he's saying on the campaign trail does not match what people are feeling. So, why is this strategy -- why are they thinking
this strategy will work?
BROWNSTEIN: First of all, many presidents fall into this trap. Like, you know, it's sort of like I describe it as the Richard Pryor trap. Who are
you going to believe, me or your lying eyes? You know, presidents -- he is not the first president to try to convince Americans that the economy is
better than they think. It's a really hard thing to do.
I mean, you know, they talk about low-information voters. I often say voters are expert in their own lives, if nothing else, and they know how
much money they have in their pocket at the end of the week. And when they don't have enough, it's not only difficult to convince them otherwise, it's
kind of offensive to them because it gives the sense that you are out of touch.
Now, Trump's tour is very defensive, but it's not delusional in that if you go back to where we started, almost all the competitive races are in
Republican-leaning places, which means there is a pool of Republican voters there that he, in theory, can help bring out, many of which are now saying
they do not intend to vote because they're disappointed in the results.
The counterpoint, though, is that he is now -- his approval is now negative, even in the staunchly red Ohio, Iowa. Trump has a net negative
approval rating in Texas, which means that, yes, Trump may bring out one more Republican voter through this rally, but if you're standing next to
him, you may drive away one more or maybe one and a half more independent voters. So, it's a real tough choice for Republicans.
On balance, most of them are saying, I'm better off sticking with him and trying to get the turnout. But the history is that when the president is
underwater in your state, in your district, it's not easy to win anymore in modern politics.
SOARES: I mean, normally when things are going right, you change the strategy. And, you know, as we see this campaign blitz, we haven't seen a
shift. It's always about you've -- great economy, you know, I've led it, low prices, I'm going to stop the war. And that doesn't seem to resonate
with most voters.
BROWNSTEIN: No, because, I mean, you're basically telling them not to believe -- it's the Richard Pryor thing, who are you going to believe --
SOARES: Not to believe.
BROWNSTEIN: Not -- who are you going to -- and -- but it is revealing that, you know, if you look at what -- presidents always, always suffer
from proximity when the economy is bad. If the economy is bad, people take it out on the president. That is not what's happening now. To a degree that
is unusual, voters attribute their economic distress to specific actions Trump has taken, particularly the war driving up gas prices and the tariffs
and the cuts in federal assistance for medical care. And not only is that connection tighter than usual.
But the Republicans in Congress have left their fingerprints on all of these policies. Every debate in the U.S. now -- we're in debate season. The
first half of October is when you have most of the House and Senate debates. Every debate, the Democratic candidate turns to the Republicans
and says, you voted X times for the tariffs, you voted X times for the war, this is why prices are high. And that is the risk. That is what is enabling
Democrats to have a shot, a realistic shot, no guarantee, because even in places that have been -- you know, there are House districts that Trump won
by 10, 12 points, 15 points, that now look close.
In the end, are Democrats going to win all of them? Probably not. But it is a measure -- you know, what I like to say is that gas and groceries have
done what January 6th could not. Shatter the Trump coalition.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And that is quite a quote. Our thanks to Ron Brownstein there for that fascinating insight into the upcoming U.S. midterms. Still to come
tonight, right here on the show, we have tragic news coming out of Pakistan. What we are learning about the collapse of a school roof. That is
next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
SOARES: At least 32 children and a teacher were killed with dozens more injured after a school roof collapsed on Thursday morning in northern
Pakistan. The victims range in age from 6 to 14 years old. Emergency crews say everyone trapped beneath the rubble has been pulled out and an
investigation is now underway. A police official in Peshawar tells CNN the school's owner has been arrested. Our Ivan Watson has more for you from
Lahore.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A nation in mourning after a deadly disaster in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. The
roof of a school collapsed, killing dozens of school children as well as at least one teacher. A rescue worker tells CNN it was likely caused by heavy
rain overnight which caused the collapse of the two-story building early Thursday morning.
Now, we've seen hospital records suggesting the ages of the casualties are between six and 14 years old and there were around 50 additional children
injured and treated in hospital after this disaster. Now, tragically, collapses like this are all too common in Pakistan where building and
construction codes are poorly enforced.
In August, a fire broke out in a maternity ward in the capital, Islamabad, killing at least 14 newborns. A subsequent inquiry concluded that there
were no sprinkler systems in the nursery. There wasn't even a fire alarm. And here in Lahore in July, there was another collapse of a tutoring center
that killed at least 14 school children.
Now, the president of Pakistan has called this a gut-wrenching tragedy. Police in Peshawar tell CNN they've arrested the owner of the school and
they've launched an investigation into this tragic disaster.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Lahore, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Major floods swept through Istanbul on Wednesday after heavy rains across Turkey. This video shows the floodwaters were so powerful a woman
fell while trying to cross the street and bystanders rushed in to keep her, of course, from being swept away.
In other parts of the city, floodwaters were so high that parked cars became submerged and only the top of the vehicles could be seen. The floods
were caused when a major creek in Istanbul overflowed after heavy rain, causing roads to collapse in two districts in the city. There have been no
reports of injuries -- of serious injuries, according to the Associated Press. We'll stay across this for you.
And in the United States, severe weather sparked a huge tornado in West Texas on Wednesday. These are images from Fort Stockton in Pecos County.
You can see the scale, really, of the twister as it looms right there over homes, fields, as well as businesses.
And still to come tonight on the show, how scientists are using A.I. to revive the dodo bird. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:00]
SOARES: A long-delayed bridge linking China to North Korea is officially opened. According to Chinese state media, the two countries held the joint
opening. China completed side of the bridge in 2014. But North Korea had left its side unfinished for years amid souring relations over Pyongyang's
nuclear testing and U.N. sanctions. While New York City Council is expected to vote this month to ban poor strong carriages, concerns about rider
safety as well as animal welfare are driving the initiative. Our Brynn Gingras has a story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GRACIE THRASHER, FORT WORTH, TEXAS: I just like the idea of a carriage. It's like a princess. It's like princess treatment all around the big city.
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an iconic New York City moment, a horse-drawn carriage ride around Central Park.
AHMET BILICI, CARRIAGE HORSE DRIVER: Are we ready, ladies?
GINGRAS (voice-over): But now it's on track to be part of the Big Apple's past, with New York City set to ban the attraction for good.
BILICI: This is a very popular attraction. It's one of the best things in New York City.
GINGRAS (voice-over): Ahmet Bilici has been holding the reins for more than two decades. He, along with other drivers, are furious about the ban
that would force their horses into retirement and take away the only jobs they know.
BILICI: I don't have a house. I don't have a car. I have only a horse carriage and horses over here. This is my life over here.
GINGRAS (voice-over): The clash over carriages isn't new. They've drawn the ire of animal rights activists for years, and the ban has been
considered by the city at least a half a dozen times before.
The most recent attempt comes after an 18-year-old tourist died after being thrown from her runaway horse-drawn carriage last summer. It's believed to
be the first known death associated with a carriage ride since the tours began.
GINGRAS: Was that the catalyst for actually making this seem like it's going to move forward this time?
CHRISTOPHER MARTE, NEW YORK CITY COUNCILMAN: I think it put a spotlight on what has been happening. There's been a lot of close calls, there's been
horse collapsing, there's been carriages that have been tipped over and drivers being taken out on a stretcher. But that was just a realizing
moment of saying, enough is enough.
JULI MENIN, NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER: To have 42 million people a year visit this great park and our wonderful city, but in a very crowded
area, these horse carriages were operating, and it just is not sustainable anymore.
GINGRAS (voice-over): The proposal, supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, set to be voted on next week, promises to help the concerned drivers find new
work.
MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NEW YORK CITY: I think that we have a civic responsibility to ensure that we are not leaving anybody out to dry.
GINGRAS: You don't trust.
CHRISTINA HANSEN, CARRIAGE HORSE DRIVER: Well, the city doesn't follow their own mandates all the time. This is how I've chosen to spend my life
is with these magnificent horses. I love horses, I love history, you know, but then to say like, oh, plug and play. We'll find you, we'll refer you to
jobs somewhere. It'll be fine. You know, it's like, no, it's not fine.
[14:55:00]
GINGRAS (voice-over): If passed, the ban will take effect in June 2028.
THRASHER: I think I'd be really sad if it was something I wanted to do. And then we came and it was gone, you know, so I'm glad that I'm getting to
do it.
GINGRAS (voice-over): So, for now, tourists are still capturing that classic New York City moment.
Brynn Gingras, CNN, Central Park.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Maybe go for a walk in Central Park. How about that? Well, an animal that has been extinct for three centuries can live again thanks to
artificial intelligence. A U.S. biotech company says it has mapped about 95 percent of the genome of the dodo bird. It's using A.I. to examine how
changes to certain genes could allow it to recreate a dodo. Dodos have been extinct since the 1600s. The company behind the technology is also working
to bring woolly mammoths and dire wolves back from extinction. How cool is that?
That does it for us. A very busy hour right here. Do stay right here, though. More news continues. Max Foster's up next with "What We Know." I
shall see you tomorrow. Have a wonderful evening. Bye-bye.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
