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Isa Soares Tonight
Israelis Head To The Polls In The First Elections Since October 7th Attack; Nobel Peace Prize Winner Maria Corina Machado Returns To Venezuela; President Donald Trump Heads To Texas As Republicans Try To Win Voters With Just One Week Until The Midterm Elections; Venezuela's Machado Returns From Exile To Cheering Crowds; Record Voter Turnout In Israel; Gadi Eisenkot Emerges As Netanyahu's Main Challenger; Melania Trump: Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire has Expanded. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired October 27, 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, Israelis head to the polls in the first
elections since the October the 7th attack. With so much at stake, both regionally and globally, who will be Israel's next Prime Minister?
As Maria Corina Machado returns to Venezuela, questions now over just who facilitated her return and what we can expect. Now she's back on home soil.
We'll be speaking with Venezuelan opposition leader David Smolansky to find out what is next.
Plus, with just one week until the Midterm elections, President Donald Trump heads to Texas as Republicans try to win back voters suffering at the
pump. And we do begin this hour in Israel, just two hours from now, polls are due to close in one of the most consequential elections in Israeli
history.
It is the first national vote after the October the 7th Hamas attacks and the wars that followed in Gaza, Iran as well as Lebanon. A major, of
course, major events that changed the Middle East for generations. And with so much at stake, we are seeing the highest voter turnout since numbers
were first recorded back in 1973.
The outcome will not only shape Israelis future, but also millions of Palestinians living under military occupation. Above all, this election is
a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the most right-wing government Israel has ever had.
Voters are deciding whether to continue a nationalist, conservative and religious direction or change course. Mr. Netanyahu has positioned himself
as the best candidate to guard Israel's security. While his main opponent accuses him of playing to fears.
Former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot is promising to bring healing and unity to Israel after October the 7th. He says it could be the most
critical day since the country's founding. Neither side is expected, this is important, to win a majority.
So smaller parties could be kingmakers, crucial, of course, for building coalitions. Turnout is expected to be high in Israel's Palestinian
communities as several Arab majority parties are on the ballot. Although the election is not expected to bring real change to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict, no major candidate supports Palestinian statehood.
For many Israeli voters, top of the mound -- top of their mind is accountability for the October the 7th security failures. Families brought
pictures of loved ones, lost loved ones to the polls today as you can see there, asking the country to vote in their honor.
Some call for a state investigation into the security lapses, saying there is no leadership without responsibility. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUBY CHEN, FATHER OF SLAIN U.S.-ISRAEL HOSTAGE: Vote for those that call for change, that call for an investigation committee that wish to see a
better future. When you go and vote, think of our son as well as the many thousand others that were killed over the last three years, and vote what
they would want to see.
Wanting to see change, responsibility. Responsibility and the facts coming out that this will never happen again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Father of Ruby Chen there. Let's get more. We're joined now by Jerusalem correspondent Jeremy Diamond. I believe, Jeremy, you're at Prime
Minister Netanyahu's headquarters. Just, you know, give us a sense of really the mood there and the choices that people are making.
We were talking about how this turnout has been the highest in years. What does that potentially tell us, Jeremy?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, indeed, this turnout is shaping up to be potentially historic. As of now, it is the highest ever
recorded since Israel began recording hourly turnout rates in 1973. And so, we are on track, essentially for the highest turnout election in at least
50 years.
And that is certainly a reflection of what we've been talking about in the days leading up to this election, which is the sense among Israelis that
this is one of the most consequential elections in Israel's history. The first time that voters have been able to go to the polls since the October
7th massacre and the wars that have followed ever since.
[14:05:00]
The first opportunity for Israelis to perhaps deliver a measure of accountability to the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for
the security failures that led up to that day, or instead, perhaps, to validate the ways in which he has responded to the October 7th massacre by
opening up a multi-front war across this region.
All of that is indeed on the ballot today, in addition, of course, to a number of domestic political issues, such as conscription for ultra-
Orthodox Jews here in Israel, whether or not they will receive exemptions from military service, and of course, more broadly, Israel's standing
across the world.
The first time in many years that we have seen Israel so isolated on the world stage. Certainly, for now, what we are seeing as of 6:00 p.m., the
turnout is being recorded at 67 percent. That is 10 points higher than the last election --
SOARES: Yes --
DIAMOND: Four years ago. And in particular, we're seeing high turnout in Arab majority areas in Israel. And so, that will be interesting to see what
the role of the Arab political parties will be in helping to form the next government, if at all.
So far, Gadi Eisenkot; the chief rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he has been falling short of a majority in the polls. His
coalition has been falling short of a majority in the polls to form the next government. He has indicated he could potentially form a minority
government.
The real question will be, if there is such a huge showing for those Arab political parties, will they eventually play some role in forming the next
government of Israel? But we will learn a lot more in two hours' time --
SOARES: Yes --
DIAMOND: When those first exit polls drop and we get a better sense of who will form the next government of Israel.
SOARES: It will be interesting to get a sense, of course, whether the Arab-Israeli vote, how much that will be almost playing as kingmakers. But
let's focus because we're looking ahead to that, less than two hours to go. Let's focus though, Jeremy, on the two leading candidates.
Netanyahu, of course, needs no introduction to anyone right around the world. He's been in power for 18 years. Eisenkot is a relative newcomer,
right? To politics. Give us a sense of where they differ in style and substance. I mean, they're both -- they're both hawks, right? But how do
they differ?
DIAMOND: They differ mainly in terms of their character, in terms of what they offer to an Israeli voting public. You know, Netanyahu, a lifelong
politician still on trial over corruption charges, Gadi Eisenkot, a relative newcomer to Israeli politics who only entered the political scene
in 2022 after a decades long military career that capped off with him being Israel's military Chief of Staff.
They offer very different visions of this country. Netanyahu has really, you know, sidled up to the far-right in this country, sidled up with the
ultra-Orthodox parties and helped them to kind of maintain the status quo of exemption from military service.
Gadi Eisenkot is talking about military service for all, and he is very much distancing himself from those far-right party, saying, for example,
that he would crack down on Israeli settler violence in the West Bank. But on the broader security front, do not expect any major changes if Gadi
Eisenkot becomes the next Prime Minister of Israel.
He is equally hawkish on Iran. He is equally hawkish, if not more so on Lebanon, criticizing the Prime Minister, in fact, at times for bowing to
President Trump's demands of a ceasefire in Lebanon. And so, there are a number of fronts, at least, of which the Palestinian issue, where these two
men do not offer very different visions for the future.
Certainly, domestically, a lot would change and perhaps a lot more as well, in terms of how Gadi Eisenkot would, you know, tamp down the far-right
extremes here in Israel that have contributed so much to Israel's poor image in the world right now.
SOARES: Such important context, Jeremy, thank you very much indeed, live for us in Jerusalem. Of course, we're keeping an eye on the time, of
course, in less than two hours, we'll have those first exit polls. But let's stay with this conversation. I want to get the perspective now from
Alon Liel; a former Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who joins us now.
Alon, great to have you on the show. As you heard there from my colleague, Jeremy Diamond, look, this is a consequential election, widely seen as
we've been saying, as a referendum on Prime Minister Netanyahu's leadership, not just referendum on his leadership, but maybe even on his
legacy.
Just give me a sense, you're on the ground. Give me a sense of the sentiment and the choices that voters are weighing up.
ALON LIEL, ISRAELI INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SCHOLAR: It is really a referendum on Netanyahu and his personal conduct of affairs. But it's also
a referendum on the 7th of October. I think the sentiment runs so high because of the effects of the 7th of October and the war that preceded it
in the last three years.
[14:10:00]
So, I think we have this high level of participation and a very emotional level of participation because of what Israel underwent since the 7th of
October and the implications internationally and internally.
SOARES: Yes, and look, I wonder then if you could expand a bit more on that, Alon, because I wonder if a reversal at the ballox(ph) -- at the
ballot box, if we see that today, is that necessarily a change in direction? Because as my correspondent was saying, Gadi Eisenkot is a --
you know, he may be a relative unknown in the world of politics, but he's a former military chief.
He would have been part of many of the decisions alongside Netanyahu. He, too, is a hawk. Does he face any pressure on that front? I mean, where does
he -- where does he stand on the key issues?
LIEL: First, on the personal level, if there is such a thing as opposites in politics, Gadi Eisenkot is the opposite of Netanyahu. The way he looks,
the way he speaks, the way he behaves, the way he has conducted his career, his family, everything.
So, we have a mirror picture of Netanyahu. And I would say if Netanyahu is very charismatic, in a way, if in political terms, Eisenkot is an underdog,
anti-charismatic, is not a very good speaker, not very eloquent. And I think the fact that we are choosing Eisenkot, and he will probably have the
biggest party is that the figure of Netanyahu is worn out, and the Israeli public wants something else.
Content-wise, ideologically, they are not very different on security matters, especially Palestinian matters, Iranian matters. But the fact that
it's a really different person will enable a different type of a contact between Israel and the international community.
This is a guy that is listening, and this is a guy that is open to dialogue. And I think there will be a change in the Middle East and
international arena to a lot because of the different personalities.
SOARES: Let me stay with kind of the foreign policy and the international perspective now, Alon, that you've brought it up. I mean, you would have
seen that President Trump, what, nine days ago or so, endorsed Netanyahu.
Meantime, sources are telling CNN, the U.S. forces in the Middle East are prepared to launch major, potentially major military operations against
Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from President Trump. Speculation that you would have seen Alon, that this could come post the
U.S. Midterms. Where would Eisenkot stand on this? He gets a phone call from President Trump. How does he respond?
LIEL: First, every Israeli leader, including Eisenkot, understands that we are dependent on the United States, especially on security, especially on
the Iranian issue, and even said it several times even during this campaign. So, I don't think from the Eisenkot end we'll see a problem.
And as we remember, the American presidency, I don't foresee a lot of problems even from the United States. I think it looks at the moment that
Netanyahu is going to lose at least the position of the big party and so on. But the question is, if it will affect the Midterm in the United
States, because the endorsement of Trump was massive twice.
And Trump is admired here. And if it didn't help at all, or even caused damage to Netanyahu, especially after what happened in Brazil and Slovenia,
it might have some impact on the American elections because it will say something on Trump's international standing and maybe even on his standing
at the moment in Israel.
SOARES: Yes, indeed. And it's certainly a trend that we have seen in the last week. We have got less than two hours, of course, until polls close.
Alon, I really appreciate you joining us. Thank you very much indeed.
[14:15:00]
And as you heard my guest there talking about Brazil, we saw that election, of course, over the weekend, CNN Brazil reporting that Senator Flavio
Bolsonaro has failed to surrender his passports to police, and his party is accepting, pardon me, defeat, even though the right-wing presidential
candidate had previously said he would challenge that result.
U.S. President Trump, a big supporter of Flavio's father, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, claimed without evidence that President Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva's victory on Sunday, if you remember, was rigged.
Let me get more on this. Priscilla -- CNN Brazil's Priscilla Yazbek joins us now from New York with more. So, Priscilla, just bring us up-to-date
where we are. But there was just so much speculation about this. Do we know whether Flavio has left the country and if so, where is he going?
PRISCILLA YAZBEK, CNN BRAZIL REPORTER: Hi, Isa, so according to "Reuters", they talked to authorities in the U.S., he has left Brazil already and he's
heading to the U.S., more specifically, maybe to Florida. So, we have some members of our team going through Fort Lauderdale because we have some
information from sources that he could probably -- going there.
This comes despite a Supreme Court order banning Flavio Bolsonaro to flee the country, because they made a part of an investigation into suspected
money laundering and illegal transfers of money abroad involving Bolsonaro and a Brazilian lawyer.
We let Thomas -- we have also some information from Brazilian sources that had told CNN that the Trump administration supported his departure from
Brazil and signaled that he and his family could be granted asylum. They say that he's traveling with his wife and two daughters and is expected to
arrive in Florida later Tuesday.
According to those allies, he left because he feared arrest after this order from the Supreme Court Alexandre de Moraes. On Monday, Bolsonaro
denied any planning to flee Brazil. He said that the travel restrictions were based on comments by his brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who had suggested
he should leave the country if he lost the election.
What happened on Sunday after he lost the election to the incumbent President, Lula. Brazilian federal police have talked to Argentine
authorities also, and they are checking border records after a report by Argentine news outlet "Infobae", that Bolsonaro had crossed into Argentina
after leaving Brazil to take a private flight to the United States.
Argentina's government, however, has talked to CNN Brazil and says that it has no record of his entry and his allies have also denied that he had left
Brazil. So, this information are coming right now. We have like a breaking news, so we don't have any confirmation from Argentinian authorities.
We have some confirmation from Brazilian authorities that he has left the country, but we don't know for sure, if he's in fact, coming to the U.S.,
according to official information from Brazilian governments. The information we have is from sources that talk to "Reuters" and from
Brazilian sources, that have talked to some of our team members, but everything is developing right now.
And some Brazilians' outlets say that this could lead like to this -- that he could have left the country with his family, with his wife and two
daughters -- sorry. And his brother is already in the U.S., it's been like --
SOARES: Yes --
YAZBEK: A year now.
SOARES: Yes, Eduardo, I think -- I think he lives in Texas, but timing --
YAZBEK: Yes --
SOARES: Is interesting, of course --
YAZBEK: In Florida --
SOARES: We saw the election win by Lula in -- on Sunday, coming very quickly. He is a senator, but I think his term ends in February. That's
when he -- I'm assuming he loses immunity. I know you'll stay across this for us, thank you very much --
YAZBEK: In December --
SOARES: Priscilla, appreciate it, thank you. Thank you very much --
YAZBEK: Yes --
SOARES: In December, thank you for clarifying. Thank you very much. And still to come tonight on the show, President Donald Trump is having to
campaign in a state that should have been a safe bet for Republicans. The forces that have put Texas in play in the Midterms, that is next.
Plus, record voter turnout today in Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fights to remain in power. We'll take you to Tel Aviv.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:20:00]
SOARES: Well, if you've been watching us, you know it's exactly one week until the U.S. Midterms. And President Donald Trump is due to land in Texas
any moment now for a pair of rallies. Texas has become an unexpected battleground in this election, with Democrats appearing to have a real shot
at the Senate seat and perhaps the governorship.
And to put that into perspective for you, Democrats have not won a statewide race in Texas in more than three decades. Now, the Latino vote in
Texas will be key. These charts show the percentage of early voters who are Latino in Texas and has jumped from 19 percent four years ago to almost 1
in 4 voters this time around.
Obviously, we do not know who these voters are supporting, but polls have shown Latinos flocking to Democrats. Let's get more on this. Our Ed
Lavandera is in Corpus Christi, Texas, where the President is headed right now. Ed, great to see you.
Look, as our viewers would have known, a lot of money has been spent in Texas, and President Trump too has spent a lot of time there, which tells
us what exactly.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, Texans are not used to getting this kind of attention from campaigns and
political candidates. As you mentioned, more than 30 years where Republicans have dominated the state.
So, this is an uncharted era for many voters who are sitting here on the receiving end of campaign ads and text messages. But this is now the third
visit that the President will have made here to the state of Texas in the last month.
And that is because Republicans, by all accounts, and this is coming mostly from Republicans who are incredibly worried about what is happening in this
state. The Republican candidate, the Attorney General who is running for U.S. Senate, Ken Paxton, he is a candidate who has a checkered political
past here in this state, full of controversy and scandal.
I mean, he's going up against Democratic challenger James Talarico, who is really urging and trying to get independent voters to cross the aisle,
Republican voters to cross the aisle. But the question is going to be is, because of the unpopularity of Donald Trump across the country and in parts
of Texas as well, and the combination of that with Ken Paxton and the controversy surrounding him, is that going to suppress Republican voters?
So far, we are seeing that there is much greater Democratic enthusiasm and voter turnout in those big urban areas where you see the concentration of
Democratic voters, and you also have, the Republican turnout in the rural areas much lower.
[14:25:00]
And actually, it's interesting Ken Paxton is actually walking up to the stage right here at this rally. He has not been up on stage with the
President and some of the other rallies that I've seen here in the state. He's been in attendance, but I haven't seen him up on the stage.
So, this seems a little bit different. We're going to pay close attention to that, but there are, you know, really serious questions and concerns for
Republicans as we head here, a week away from election day and getting closer to that. There are still several days of early voting left, as well
as the election day vote.
But by all accounts, these races incredibly close, not just at the Senate level, but in the governor's race as well. And what that could mean for
down ballot races, you have congressional districts in state legislatures and that sort of thing, that could be affected by the turnout.
So, this is why you're seeing the President once again coming back here to turn out the Republican base and get them coming back home to vote for
Republicans.
SOARES: Ed, thank you very much, well done, you, for keeping on track. And we aim to finalize your questions with all this noise behind you.
Appreciate it. Ed Lavandera there for us. Now, the U.S. Justice Department is making a third attempt to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey, who
has long been a critic of President Donald Trump.
The new charges involve a ten-year-old claim that Comey ordered his staff to leak classified information to a reporter. Comey's lawyer said these
allegations have been investigated in the past, with nothing coming of it. A U.S. Appeals Court has rejected the Trump administration's unprecedented
effort to set aside 20,000 ballots in California that it says may have been cast by non-citizens.
The court said it is up to the state to administer the election, not the federal government. Donald Trump and his allies have long claimed there is
widespread voting by non-citizens, but have never really provided proof of that.
Now, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says any impediments to Maria Corina Machado's return to Venezuela had quote, "nothing to do with us."
The remarks come as a Nobel Peace Prize committee welcomes Machado's homecoming, saying it hoped her presence would strengthen the democratic
opposition and its peaceful campaign for democracy.
Machado was greeted, as we showed you by -- just yesterday, by thousands, tens of thousands of supporters on Sunday after ten months in exile
following federal failed attempts -- several, I should say, attempts to return to Venezuela that have strained her ties with the Trump
administration.
Let's get more on this. I'm joined now by Venezuelan opposition politician David Smolansky. He's currently Deputy Director of Maria Corina Machado's
Foreign Affairs Office, a well-known face here on the show. David, good to see you once again, really appreciate you being with us.
Look, it was wonderful really to see Maria Corina Machado return home after so many months, right? Ten months in exile. A moment long-awaited by so
many -- who just need to see the scenes across the country. But can I ask, first of all, for viewers just to bring us up to speed, what role did the
U.S. government take here?
Did they facilitate her return? Because I saw reports, David, that she was accompanied by an American private security team. What can you tell us on
that front first of all?
DAVID SMOLANSKY, VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN: Thank you so much for having me. It's always great to be here with you. Well, we are very
grateful with the Trump administration, with Secretary Rubio, because, with the absolute resolve military operation that happened in January 3rd in my
country, where, Maduro was captured and his wife Cilia Flores, has opened doors for Maria Corina Machado to go back to Venezuela.
The images, it spoke by themselves. It was very emotional. What we saw in Venezuela on Sunday, a lot of joy. People gathering in the streets
spontaneously minutes after they -- after everyone knew that Maria Corina was in Venezuela.
And she's back in her country. She has the right to go back. She's the leader of the democratic movement. And she will work with a -- with the --
with the Venezuelans to have a presidential free and fair -- presidential free and fair elections as soon as possible.
SOARES: Yes, and so, let me just clarify. Did the U.S. government facilitate her return? Because as we've reported on numerous occasions,
Maria Corina Machado had tried previously to go to getting into her own country, she couldn't do what -- what did the U.S. government do here? Did
they facilitate these? We're looking at scenes of her arrival, of course, in Carabobo, in Venezuela.
SMOLANSKY: The biggest contribution that the administration made was the January 3rd military operation. Without that, it would have been impossible
for Maria Corina and among other leaders, but especially her to go back. And Secretary Rubio said it many times.
She has the right to go back to Venezuela because it's her country. And she is, as I said, the democratic leader of our movement, and not by
imposition, because she was elected and has become also a global icon of democracy and freedom, so we are very, very glad that she has made it.
[14:30:20]
And also, now, what we are saying, and this is very important, if I may, a few more seconds, her security, her safety within Venezuela, it's very,
very important, because obviously we're still having a regime that is responsible for crimes against humanity.
SOARES: Yes. And look, and Secretary Marco Rubio did speak about this, and he posted on X as well, but he also said, he also said, David, I'm going to
read the second part of what he said, he said, we expect all political actors to support these talks, which represent the best chance Venezuela's
had in 30 years to peacefully achieve not just a free and fair election, but an enduring democracy.
I mean, is that a message to Maria Corina Machado, don't get in the way of our transition plan, or maybe get behind our transition plan? How do you
read it?
SMOLANSKY: Well, I think that Maria Corina is the best ally that the U.S. can have for a democratic and peaceful transition in Venezuela. People
really trust in her leadership. She has delivered, and she has delivered for at least three years since this movement started when she was elected
in a primary.
She has said that she won't oppose any talks that help the release of political prisoners, that help on having a date for a free and fair
presidential elections, that helped to have more Venezuelans who have fled to go back and be part of the rebuilding and be reunited with their
families.
So, you know, we want to have the U.S. as our main ally in the future, in the economy, on energy, on security, and to have a long-term partnership
with the U.S. and with the democratic world. We need a nation that has democracy, freedom and rule of law.
SOARES: Yes. So, I mean, these scenes of jubilation, as we've been seeing on Sunday, quite incredibly moving. So, what is the plan now, David? She's
back on home soil. What is the plan for Maria Corina Machado? Is she going to meet with Delcy? What role does she play here on any of these
negotiations?
SMOLANSKY: Well, she's been very active since she arrived to Venezuela. She had already a meeting with a political prisoner that is under house
arrest, Perkins Rocha, who is part of our movement. She went back to the headquarters of her political party that she founded, Vente Venezuela.
On Thursday, she's going to make her first press conference, so it will be a very important day. And she wants to meet with civil society
organizations, human rights defenders, victims of the earthquakes that have to remind that Venezuela suffered two brutal earthquakes four months ago.
She will meet also with political prisoners who were released, with family, with political prisoners that are still illegally detained.
And also, if I may add, she will keep a very busy agenda with international community. So, even though she's in Venezuela, she will keep speaking with
the head of state, minister foreign affairs, among others.
SOARES: Yes. And look, we've not forgotten at all the earthquake. I was on the ground with CNN covering this, I remember vividly. And the impact is
still being felt by so many Venezuelans that I'm in contact with.
But we're running out of time, David, very briefly. This press conference on Thursday, are we going to hear anything from her, from Maria about
elections? Because she had wanted elections sometime next year, I think she said next July. President Trump had said in September that Venezuela isn't
there yet. Are we likely to see her call for that?
SMOLANSKY: I will not, you know, reveal what she's planning to say. On Thursday, we're still having 48 hours and we are preparing that press
conference with a lot of responsibility. But we have said it.
One of our priorities is to set a date for a free and fair presidential election. That's what Venezuelans want, deserve, and that's the path, the
right path to guarantee a fully democratic transition. So, stay tuned for that press conference this Thursday.
SOARES: I will. I will indeed, as you would expect me to. David, great to see you. David Smolansky there for us from Washington. Gracias.
SMOLANSKY: Thank you so much for having me.
AMANPOUR: And still to come tonight right here on the show -- you're very welcome -- voters turn out in record numbers as our top story in Israel.
We'll take you live to Tel Aviv for more on this critical election. That's after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:00]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Only 90 minutes remain for voters to have their say in Israel's critical elections. Organizers say today's voter
turnout has reached the highest level in more than 50 years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast his ballot in Jerusalem today, and this is
the first national vote since the Hamas-led attack on October the 7, 2023, and the wars that followed in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Likud Party leader, Netanyahu, is trying to extend his term as Israel's longest-serving prime minister. Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as Netanyahu's
main challenger. He is a former Israeli military chief of staff whose son was killed in Gaza in 2023. Eisenkot's new party, Yashar, is considered a
centrist opposition party, and polls suggest neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition is likely to win a majority alone. So, coalition building is
going to be critical in the days ahead.
Nic Robertson joins me now live from Eisenkot's party headquarters in Tel Aviv. And, Nic, as we keep hearing, look, this is a pivotal election. We
are seeing record turnout. Give us a sense of who benefits from this record turnout and potentially what it signals here.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. Look, the high turnout signals very clearly there's high voter engagement. When you get
high voter engagement, it's because they want something.
A lot of the electorate want to keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in office. But it does seem that a lot more people want Gadi Eisenkot, the
main challenger, Eisenkot, the main challenger here and the bloc behind him, to remove Netanyahu. And that's what the figures are beginning to show
may be more possible.
[14:40:00]
We don't get exit polls for another about hour and a half. So, we don't really know. So, we're only gauging this on the number of people that have
voted already. And the turnout this afternoon, 4:00 this afternoon, the polls have been open for nine hours. Almost two-thirds of the electorate
have turned out. That's breaking all records since records began here. People are talking about 1973. That's the highest turnout at that point in
the day since 1973. 1973 was just when the records began to be kept.
So, this is monumentally high. And that's expected to favor Gadi Eisenkot. We've been talking to some of the first-time voters here. Think about it,
if you will. First time voters here will have been those who went through and experienced some of them firsthand in the fight following Hamas's
brutal attack October the 7th. Three years since then, many of the young people voting for the first time today will have been drawn into that
conflict during their military service.
We talked to some of those young voters today. There's an estimated 640,000 of them on the electoral roll. So, their vote and what they've experienced
will be quite influential, if you will. And it's also quite informative of what the younger voter is thinking and wants for the country. This is what
we heard from just a couple of them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I voted for Naftali Bennett.
ROBERTSON: So, this is the Gadi Eisenkot bloc?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes, this is it. I think we need a change here, especially after October 7th. And we need someone new to make changes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like most interesting for me right now is the draftees for the army, so that the already ultra-orthodox would enroll. So, that an
Arab --
ROBERTSON: They serve in the army. You want them to serve in the army?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, of course. And I want an Arab to take maybe not in the army, though, but maybe in some civil matters.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't want change. We want force against all our victims and enemies. I want peace, but here, in our state. We don't want
anyone else to get in. I love my state. I want it to stay as is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: So, that's how they're framing it, and that's, broadly speaking, how I think a lot of the rest of the electorate is seeing it. I
think significant that Gadi Eisenkot went to the borders of Gaza today, to some of the kibbutz that were the worst affected in that attack October
7th. And his message was very clear, the challenge for Netanyahu, for all those who don't think that the prime minister has taken responsibility,
many of the security chiefs, military chiefs have either stepped down or been removed. Many of those have offered apologies for security failings.
Eisenkot's point is that Netanyahu hasn't accepted and taken any responsibility. And that's why Eisenkot started his day on the borders of
Gaza. He said if anyone in the government had a shred of responsibility, they too would have been there outside of Gaza. That didn't happen early
today.
SOARES: Yes, an election widely seen as a referendum of Netanyahu on Netanyahu's legacy, as well as his leadership. Nic, really appreciate it.
We're about 90 minutes or so from exit polls. Thank you very much indeed.
And still to come tonight, right here on the show, we are hopping on the road with one of my colleagues as he travels through swing states before
the midterms, that's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
SOARES: Well, there's just a week now until the U.S. midterm elections, and our CNN correspondent, Omar Jimenez, is road tripping across American
battleground states, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, speaking with voters as well as candidates, joining campaign events, getting to know America's
most divided communities. And he's live streaming it all for seven hours every day on CNN All Access to bring you to the places the election results
may well be decided.
Omar joins the show today from Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, joins me now. And what a mammoth road trip you have on your hands, Omar.
Great to see you. Give us a sense. I mean, this is really brilliant because it gives us a sense of the sentiment and the mood on the ground. What is
the sentiment right now where you are with a week to go?
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look, we're a week out to the election. So, obviously, even more so than normal, people here in Pennsylvania are
paying attention. There are obviously a number of districts here where the results are really going to come down to potentially a few thousand votes,
which could then in turn determine control of Congress.
And so, we started in eastern Pennsylvania around Philadelphia, a place called Allentown as well, made our way west here to the state capitol in
Harrisburg. We were walking through the capitol earlier. But a big part of understanding not just what voters feel, but also the process they will be
going through a week out from the election is speaking to folks like the Pennsylvania Secretary of State here, Al Schmidt. They help, one, oversee,
but also do and advise people who are running elections all across the state. And we were having this conversation. Welcome to the stream, TV
folks.
But, Secretary, I just want to talk a little bit about what we were talking about earlier, which is how critical do you believe this week is leading
into the midterms in terms of people understanding how to vote correctly?
AL SCHMIDT, PENNSYLVANIA SECRETARY OF STATE: It's extremely important, especially because normal people have normal lives with plenty going on,
right? And not everybody has the luxury of focusing on elections all the time. But this is really the week where people start to tune in and really
start to pay attention.
And it's important for them to know the deadlines or what's required to show up to vote in person or what was required to vote by mail or all the
rest. And that's why the job that we have and the job that you have is so important to keep voters informed.
JIMENEZ: And, Isa, one of the things that has been especially more prevalent in American politics, and especially with the rise of social
media, has been in this time leading up to the election, there are sometimes floods of misinformation.
But more critically, once ballots are cast in a place like Pennsylvania, there is a gap between when polls close and when they actually know the
results of the elections here. And a lot of times, that is where some of that misinformation tends to spread more so than usual. How do you all
combat that or try to stop that?
SCHMIDT: Yes. i think what we've seen is that's a really unique window of vulnerability where people try to undermine confidence in election results
in the time between when polls close at 8:00 p.m. and when it's clear who won and who lost and by how much. In reality, you only know that depending
on how close a race is, right?
Well before we had mail ballot voting, if a race was decided by a few hundred or a few thousand votes or 10,000 votes, that process, that kind of
scrutiny went on for many, many days, if not weeks. So, you might know the results on election night. It might take several days, depending on how
close a race is.
[14:50:00]
In Pennsylvania, we have mail-in ballot voting for all voters, if they choose to vote that way. That means there are more votes to count by mail.
And Pennsylvania is at a unique disadvantage because we can't begin processing those mail ballots until 7:00 a.m., unlike plenty of other
states that begin that process days, if not weeks earlier.
JIMENEZ: And one thing I just want to say right before we go, so you've got a few seconds here.
SCHMIDT: Of course.
JIMENEZ: Isa, one thing that's really unique about Pennsylvania in terms of election administration, but also working through these issues, is the
governor here is a Democrat, Josh Shapiro, and Secretary of State Al Schmidt, a Republican, and some people internationally might think they
can't work together, but here's an example of where you all have worked together pretty well for a while now. So, Secretary, I really appreciate
you taking the time.
SCHMIDT: Yes, of course. Nothing to thank.
JIMENEZ: Yes, yes. And, Isa, this is one of the things we are seeing as part of the road trip. Some culture, some voters, but also just trying to
understand the processes that it takes to run elections smoothly and safely in the U.S. when so much attention is going to be on these midterms with so
much at stake, Isa.
SOARES: So, grateful, so grateful for that road trip. Our thanks to the governor as well, to Mr. Schmidt as well. Thank you very much. We'll have
more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: The First Lady of the United States says a localized ceasefire she helped broker between Russia and Ukraine has expanded to cover a broader
area. Melania Trump posted a message on social media that the ceasefire's geographic area now expands behind Oleshky. That is a Russian-occupied city
in southern Ukraine
Mrs. Trump says the expanded region was confirmed by a Russian general. She says the ceasefire is to help protect civilians and greater peace in
Ukraine. Get critical aid delivered. Our Sebastian Shukla has more.
SEBASTIAN SHUKLA, CNN FIELD PRODUCER: Isa, at 3:00 a.m. this morning Ukraine time, the ceasefire brokered by the First Lady, Melania Trump, went
into force and since then appears to have largely been holding, which is something of a rarity for any form of ceasefire between these two sides,
that ultimately is designed to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to one of the most brutalized parts of the line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I respect Melania Trump very much, but she has absolutely no influence on dictator Putin. What should be done
with those people who cannot move on their own? The severely ill people, the elderly people, what will happen to them? The Russian Federation never
mentions the evacuation of people at all.
[14:55:00]
What I think regarding a truce is that I am very skeptical about all of this. Having lived here for four and a half years among the Russian
military, you realize that almost everything they say is all a lie.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUKLA: On the other side of the river in Kherson, a city that has also been under daily embargo from Russian forces, the guns have also fallen
silent and there is a real feeling of pressure, albeit potentially short- lived, being lifted.
One resident telling CNN, we're celebrating, people went into the streets to check on their houses, at least it is some calm. The highly localized
ceasefire though, Isa, is due to end at 10:59 p.m. local time, but many residents already know the norm of the last four years are most likely
coming back. Isa.
SOARES: Our thanks to Sebastian and Shukla there for us in Berlin. That does it for us for this hour. Do stay right here. Max Foster will have more
just after a very short break. You are watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
