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One World with Zain Asher
Trump: U.S. Intel On Iran Strikes "Very Inconclusive"; Donald Trump Gets Rousing Reception At NATO; Crowd Of Demonstrators Gather In Tehran; Zohran Mamdani Leads Democratic Primary, Cuomo Concedes; Senate Republicans Hope To Begin Voting In Coming Days; Growing Number Of Americans Moving To Costa Rica; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired June 25, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:27]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Inconclusive and incomplete. Donald Trump rails against an early report that suggests strikes against Iran weren't as
destructive as he'd hoped. The second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: They landed precisely where they were supposed to with the flawless mission.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Flawless. I believe it was total obliteration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: You heard the president, total obliteration. CNN's exclusive reporting suggests it may be more complicated than that.
Also ahead, he's 33, a self-described democratic socialist, and up until recently he was relatively unknown. Meet the man sending shockwaves through
New York City's race for mayor.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have come all the way from the U.S. because we need a respite. We wanted something different. We wanted a safe haven.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Wow. Don't we all? Meet a group of Americans who went on vacation and, well, they never left.
Hi, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching "One World."
Well, Donald Trump concedes that an initial U.S. intelligence assessment found the damage to an Iranian nuclear site could be, quote, limited or it
could be very severe.
But he said additional intel has been collected since then. And he insists that U.S. strikes obliterated those sites.
The president is now heading back to Washington after attending a NATO summit in The Hague where the Iran-Israel conflict and a fragile ceasefire
now underway dominated discussions.
While there, Trump took questions from reporters and had this to say about those strikes in Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: They presented a report that wasn't finished. We're talking about something that took place three days ago.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I understand (INAUDIBLE) assessment.
TRUMP: The report was done.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, what is your --
TRUMP: Wait a minute.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
TRUMP: They didn't see it. All they can do is take a guess. Now, if you take a look at the pictures, if you take a look how it's all blackened, you
know the fire in brimstone is all underground because it's granite and it's all underground. You don't show it.
But even there with all of that being said, the whole area for 75 yards around the whole where it hit is black with fire.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Iran, meanwhile, is also weighing in claiming that it's nuclear installations are badly damaged in the U.S. and Israeli attacks.
CNN national security reporter, Zach Cohen, that cone is in Washington. But let's begin with White House reporter Alayna Treene.
Alayna, we know the president is in route back to the United States after that NATO summit meeting in The Hague. And he is doubling down on not only
criticism of this DIA report being leaked, but also the contents of it.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: No, that's exactly right. And -- and look, there's been so much we've seen now, defensiveness from this
administration on the extent of really the damage that was caused by those strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
And I'll let Zach speak to the amazing reporting that him and our colleagues here at CNN have done since he was part of it.
But really, we've now seen the president himself, but also calling on his Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, as well as Secretary of State and National
Security Adviser, Marco Rubio, who flanked him while he was speaking during that press conference as they were concluding the NATO summit in The Hague,
you know, really making all of them kind of come out with this message that they were destroyed. And that Iran's nuclear program was set back several
years. The president himself arguing, again, repeatedly insisting that it was obliterated.
And you mentioned this, but he said specifically when he was asked a question about, you know, do you trust U.S. intelligence? Because as CNN
has reported and others now, the DIA, which is underneath the defense department, their initial assessment was that essentially, it didn't
completely destroy all of the nuclear materials at some of these sites specifically Fordow.
The president acknowledged the assessment and said that it could be limited or could be very severe. He said the documents said it could be very severe
damage. We also know he was citing different reports and statements from the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and from Israel. He also
said he was looking at Iranian intelligence.
One thing I found very notable as well is he said that the United States has, quote, collected additional intelligence and has spoken with people
who have, quote, seen the site. That to me, that's very unclear because as of now, we do not know anyone who has been on the ground to go in and
actually, you know, do a damage assessment physically on the ground at some of these sites. So, interesting to kind of follow up and see what he meant
there.
[12:05:05]
But, Bianna, what I do want to point out is something else he said during that press conference, which is also very notable in another key part of
this, is that he said that he's going to be meeting the United States, will be meeting with the Iranians next week to work out some sort of potential
nuclear deal.
Now, of course, we know that those negotiations had been ongoing leading up to the conflict breaking out between Israel and in Iran. And the president
said that essentially if they do come to some sort of agreement at this stage, he would be looking for the same commitments that the Trump
administration was looking for prior to the U.S. striking these nuclear facilities.
However, he also said he did not believe that a -- a deal, a potential nuclear deal with Iran was necessary. He continues to argue that he
believes that they've had it with building a nuclear weapon.
Again, all of these different things are not necessarily lining up with what we know in the reporting that we've been getting and also reporting
what we are -- you know, what we're hearing directly from the intelligence community on some of this.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Alayna Treene, standby. I want to bring in Zach Cohen, whose part of the reporting yesterday from the DIA assessment, one
of 18 intel agencies in a preliminary assessment.
And you correct me if I'm wrong, but this was written in low confidence. But nonetheless, one of the first early reports on at least one U.S. intel
agency suggesting that the damage to Iran's nuclear facilities may set the program back not by years, but by months.
Zach, our own Barak Ravid has reported that Israeli intelligence services believe the U.S. Israeli strikes cause, quote, significant damage to the
nuclear facilities. With some officials there perplexed by this leaked U.S. intelligence report suggesting otherwise and also suggesting how quickly
the DIA was able to come to this early conclusion. What more are you learning?
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Well, it's interesting because if you look at the timeline, the DIA assessment was produced
roughly 24 hours after these U.S. strikes and Donald Trump came out on the night of those strikes and declared that Iran's nuclear facilities and
capabilities have been completely obliterated.
So clearly, the president getting ahead of his own U.S. intelligence agencies even one producing an initial early assessment of the damage those
strikes inflicted and has continued to insist that his initial view and belief that these facilities were completely obliterated.
That has appeared nowhere in the DIA assessment as far as we understand it from our sources. In fact, it actually adds significantly more uncertainty
around the level of damage inflicted and it ranges from anywhere as the president himself acknowledged today that it could be from very severe to
very limited damage on some of these sites.
And again, this assessment does also outline the potential that the strikes only set Iran's nuclear program back by a matter of months. And that
again, that timeline and the potential of how much this nuclear program for Iran was set back that has varied across Israeli assessments, that's varied
across what Donald Trump has said publicly.
Earlier today, he insisted that they had set it back by more than a decade, which again, that is significantly longer than what has appeared in any
official formal kind of assessment.
So at the end of the day, look, this assessment does lay out various scenarios and does acknowledge what it has been a consensus amongst one of
the rare consensus amongst all the assessments in the few days since these strikes happened. And is that they did inflict serious damage, that these
sites were hit.
But figuring out the facts and understanding the reality of how much that damage actually hampered Iran's nuclear ambitions, that is a completely
different question.
And it's one that the U.S. intelligence community is trying to understand and trying to understand in a wholesome way, but that Donald Trump has
jumped to a conclusion before they're able to do that.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. I don't think anyone except for the president has used the word obliterated. Even officials in Israel who have perhaps higher
confidence in the success of these strikes, I don't -- I haven't seen the word obliterated yet.
So, that is a standalone description for President Trump, but, of course, more information will be coming in the days and hours and weeks ahead.
Zach Cohen and Alayna Treene, thank you so much.
Well, Donald Trump is getting a rousing reception at NATO and being showered with praise from its secretary general. Mark Rutte praised the
U.S. president's handling of the Middle East crisis and even referred to him as daddy at one point. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: They've got a big fight like two kids at a school yard, you know, they fight like hell. You can't stop them. Let them fight for about two,
three minutes. Then it's easy to stop them.
MARK RUTTE, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Then daddy has to sometimes use strong language.
TRUMP: You have to use strong language. Everyone -- so you have to use a certain word.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: That's a new one. This as NATO secretary general says Ukraine is on an irreversible path to membership in the Alliance, but his pledge is
being met with resistance from some hardline members of the group.
Earlier, Donald Trump met with Ukrainian president on the sidelines of the NATO summit at The Hague, a session that was closed to the public.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the meeting, quote, long and substantive. Here's the U.S. president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:10:11]
TRUMP: I wanted to know how he's doing. He was very nice, actually. We had little rough times, but sometimes he was -- couldn't have been nicer. I
think he'd like to see an end to this, I do.
I think -- what I took from the meeting, couldn't have been nicer, actually. But I -- I took from the meeting that he'd like to see it end. I
think it's a great time to end it. I'm going to speak to Vladimir Putin, see if we can get it ended.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Let's bring in Jane Harman. She's a former nine-term congresswoman from California, and former ranking member of the House
Intelligence Committee. Most recently, she served as chair of the Commission on National Defense Strategy. She's also the author of "Insanity
Defense: Why Our Failure To Confront Hard National Security Problems Makes Us Less Safe."
Jane, it's always good to see you. So, let's talk about this rather ambitious goal set out by NATO over the next 10 years or so, and that is to
increase defense spending to five percent of their GDP from two percent, which is the target level now.
And the majority of the countries, not all, though, have met that two percent threshold, though it's worth noting from the Secretary General on
down to the Vice President of the European Commission giving President Trump credit for pushing NATO countries to boost their defense spending.
What do you make of this, and does he deserve that credit?
JANE HARMAN, FORMER UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE: Well, he has pushed hard. He's not the only president who has pushed for increased expenditures, but
I think he's pushed quite effectively.
Let's understand, the U.S. share of -- of spending is only 3.4 percent, but in terms of real numbers, we give a huge amount of money to NATO and spend
more than other countries.
But let me make a couple other points just listening to your broadcast. One is that he did meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which is an important thing.
Ukraine gave up its nukes in 1994 in exchange for Russia promising to observe its sovereignty.
That's a message to Iran. Iran giving up its nukes could make it vulnerable the way Ukraine has been. And I'm sure that message is not lost on the
leadership in -- in Iran.
The other point I would make is that, as you were talking about the intelligence and confidence in the intelligence, many in Congress,
certainly including me, have a long experience with this. And it ain't over till it's over.
I don't think we know conclusively what happened. We know that the entrances to the tunnels are obliterated. But how far down did these bunker
buster bombs penetrate?
And I had always thought, and I'm -- I'm not absolutely current with this, but I had always thought that there was an issue about whether they could
go deep enough to reach everything in -- in Iran. And I think we're going to find out they probably didn't. And we're going to find out that a lot of
the material and the machinery is dispersed.
Iran got ahead of this. They're very smart and got ahead of this. And they can also possibly get material they need from rogue actors like North
Korea.
So, I think there's still some time to worry and how to make a deal here when objectives are so different is going to be very tricky. And, you know,
a four-letter word, which was used yesterday, the F-bomb, is not diplomacy. Diplomacy is very, very hard to do. And I'm glad that at least there's
recognition that diplomacy is a better answer.
GOLODRYGA: Has the U.S. though -- and I guess with Israel as well not re- established deterrence here, in just at least making clear that it's not just harsh rhetoric, but actually strong kinetic reactions and responses to
Iran not being compliant.
If they struck once, they can strike again. Meaning that when the president says Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, like all of his predecessors
have said, by going one step further and actually forcefully preventing that from happening, does Iran now not have to think twice that the U.S.
president, at least through the remainder of his term, could very well do it again?
HARMAN: Yes, they have to think twice. I think the pressure on Trump not to do it again is going to be intense.
Remember, his base didn't like this. And, again, it was kind of a one-and- done idea on his part. And if it's not one-and-done, I think that will create a -- a -- a pretty steep hill for him politically.
I also think that Iran may still have the capacity that -- that we think it doesn't have. And it may have stronger motivation to move faster to break
out. Because, again, I just was talking about Ukraine. Ukraine gave up its -- its nukes and look where it is now.
So, I -- and North Korea has developed a nuclear weapon and look where it is now. So I think, lesson learned by a pretty smart group of people in
Iran, maybe we can't take the risk here. Even --
[12:15:10]
GOLODRYGA: Yes.
HARMAN: -- if it takes us longer, we can't take the risk.
GOLODRYGA: It's important to remember the facts and the details of Ukraine agreeing to give up its nuclear weapons as well. The United States and both
the United Kingdom promised to come to its defense if they were attacked --
HARMAN: You bet.
GOLODRYGA: -- having given up their nuclear weapons and look where we are right now.
All right. Jane Harman, always good to see you. Thanks so much.
HARMAN: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, crowds of demonstrators took to the streets of Iran, some celebrating the attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar and another
gathering in Revolutions Square. Iranians were seeing carrying posters of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and waving flags, many becoming visibly
emotional.
Our own friend Fred Pleitgen is on the ground in Tehran and he spoke to Iranians at a demonstration supporting the country's armed forces and filed
this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, Iran's leadership is hailing the ceasefire between Israel, Iran and the United
States as a victory for Iran. They say that they forced the U.S. and Israel into the ceasefire. They essentially say that President Trump came begging
for a ceasefire because of Iran's strong response, not just to the U.S. bombing Iran nuclear installations, but of course, also, by firing missiles
towards Israeli territory.
And the Iranians that are saying that for them, they consider this to be a show of strength by their military.
And the event that you're seeing right now is actually Iran's leadership saying thank you to the military and thank you to the armed forces.
We've been speaking to folks here on the ground and many of them are hailing and praising the ceasefire. But others say that they're also
critical of the ceasefire and feel that Iran's military should have fought on.
Now, we're obeying the commands of the supreme leader, she says, whatever he says we will follow. If he orders jihad, we will follow. If he orders us
to hold back, we will hold back.
The ceasefire has not been something good or profitable for us, he says, because we should have finished the story. We should have totally wiped out
Israel.
We will crush their might, he says, will throw a punch into the mouths of the United States and the Zionists.
Our opinion is always peace, she says. Now, it depends on them how they behave.
One thing Iran's leadership has been very clear about is they say that Iran's nuclear program was not destroyed by those airstrikes conducted by
the Trump administration. They say the knowledge of nuclear energy remains here in Iran and that its nuclear program will certainly come back to life
and even exist right now.
The other thing that the Iranians are saying as well, despite that the ceasefire is taking place, they do not trust the United States and
certainly don't trust Israel. And they say at any point in time, their finger is on the trigger.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Well, Israelis are welcoming a return to normal life after 12 days of intense conflict. Schools are reopening and parents are happy the
children are finally heading back to class after days confined to safe rooms and bomb shelters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In one word, thank you God. It's -- it's good to -- to bring the kids back to school. Good for us the parents and also good for
the kids because they don't admit it, but they do miss the school.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We knew we had a great defense system and that -- that we're doing an important work for -- for the security of the world and
today is a great day. The kids are going back to school. And we hope that this is a new era of peace and prosperity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Well, as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding at this moment, attention is turning back to Gaza and the
hostages there.
And coming up for us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHANTING "MAMDANI")
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: A stunning upset in New York politics. We'll tell you how a young upstart defeated a political legend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:20:48]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE: Eight months after launching this campaign, with the vision of a city that every New Yorker
could afford, we have won.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: With those words, Zohran Mamdani claimed victory in the Democratic primary for New York City Mayor. Though the final tally is not
yet done, Mamdani's main rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, has conceded the race.
Mamdani is just 33 years old and a self-described democratic socialist who defied the establishment. He was born in Uganda to Indian parents. His
mother is the award-winning film director at Mira Nair.
Although democratic candidates tend to dominate in New York City, Mamdani faces a tough race this fall with the current mayor, Eric Adams, now
running as an independent.
With more on how Mamdani won the primary, here's CNN's Harry Enten.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Bianna, the democratic establishment, they are running and they are running scared after Andrew Cuomo, the former
governor, got defeated last night by Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who ran an upstart campaign.
In fact, looking through recent Democratic primaries, the only two that hold a can of this one are back in 1989 when David Dinkins won the mayoral
primary for Democrats, in New York City, defeating three-term mayor, Ed Koch.
Dinkins, like Mamdani, expanded the electorate with big turnout.
How about more recently? Seven years ago, New York's 14th congressional district, AOC. Remember her? She defeated the House Democratic Caucus
chair, Joe Crowley. Again, a left-of-center challenge expanding the electorate. A big shocker.
Talking about the national implications like AOC was able to expand her picture, expand her portfolio nationally. I think that this win should have
Democrats running scared because it is so much a part of the democratic picture of how Democrats are fed up with their leadership.
Democrats who say their party leaders should be replaced, get this number, 62 percent nationally. My goodness gracious. We're dealing with
congressional approval of Democratic leaders in Congress among Democrats at record-low levels. And Mamdani was able to take advantage of the fact that
Democrats are fed up with their party leadership. They are fed up with the party establishment who gets behind candidates like Andrew Cuomo.
But it's not just about being upset with the party establishment. It is also the fact that Democrats are far more liberal than they used to be.
They would actually support a democratic socialist for mayor in a place like New York.
Take a look nationally. Democrats will identify as liberal. In 1994, it was just 25 percent then 33 percent 10 years later, than 43 percent 10 years
after that.
And then in this past year, 55 percent of Democrats say that they are liberal. That is the environment in which Zohran Mamdani was able to win a
democratic nomination for New York City Mayor.
And if Democrats believe that this stops in New York City, I got news for him. It may very well not.
Back to you, my friend.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Oh. Sorry, we couldn't have Harry on for more. But thank you so much, Harry Enten.
Coming up for us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): There apparently are reasons to believe that that was a blatant misrepresentation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Congressional briefings on the U.S. strikes in Iran get pushed back. Democrats ask, is it because Trump overstated the strike success?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:25:10]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
The White House has pushed back congressional briefings on last weekend's military strikes in Iran to later this week. Senate democratic leader Chuck
Schumer has suggested that the Trump administration is postponing them because the impact of the strikes is less than originally stated.
Now, it follows CNN reporting that the strikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities did not destroy core components of the country's nuclear program
and likely only set it back by months.
This is according to an early U.S. intelligence assessment, just one out of 18, now the findings are at odds with President Donald Trump's repeated
claims that the strikes completely and totally obliterated Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities.
Democrats are calling the briefing delay unacceptable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PETE AGUILAR (D-CA): It is completely unacceptable that Congress has not been briefed on this in a timely fashion. We need evidence. We need
details. And we need to know them now.
JEFFRIES: Is it in fact the case that Iran's nuclear program has been completely and totally obliterated? There apparently are reasons to believe
that that was a blatant misrepresentation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Meantime, Republican Senator Rand Paul warns the U.S. strikes on Iran could backfire and spur the country to ramp up its nuclear program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY): I hope they're done. I hope they are chastened by this and they want to be part of the community of nations and friendly with
everybody and they don't want a nuclear program anymore.
But there's also the opposite possibility that they make a -- a sprint towards finishing off a highly enriched uranium and --and completing a
nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Congress is racing to get Donald Trump's budget passed before the July 4th break. Republican leaders in the Senate are planning a
critical vote to begin debate as early as tomorrow, though the party remains divided as it tries to balance the size of Medicaid cuts with
concerns about the size of the deficit. Republican leaders are putting pressure on their members to get the bill to Trump by the fourth.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:30:18]
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): July 4th is always a district work period as is tradition. So everybody can go home and celebrate the Fourth of July with
their constituents and their families.
But there's -- there's nothing more important that we should be involved in and can be involved in than getting One, Big Beautiful Bill to the
president's desk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Well, with the latest, let's go to CNN's Manu Raju on Capitol Hill.
And, Manu, as we've noted, there's debate and friction within the party itself over the deficit versus continued cuts that many are pushing for
specifically as it comes to Medicaid. What are you hearing from some members? Can they get this done by the fourth?
MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's going to be a tough sell to get this done by the fourth, but it is still possible because of
the pressure campaign that is now being waged by Donald Trump and Republican leaders for these members to ultimately fall in line.
But there are major sticking points between the House and the Senate, between moderate members and conservative members in this sweeping bill
that would impose deep spending cuts across the federal government namely to programs like Medicaid which is, of course, the healthcare program for
the lower income families and for the disabled, as well as massive multi- trillion dollar overhaul of the United States tax code.
There are a whole host of details that the party is squabbling over, but ultimately, it's going to be up to them to either vote for a bill that many
don't like or endure Donald Trump's wrath. And there are Republican leaders are betting that these Republicans will ultimately cave.
Now, the question of Medicaid is dividing the party badly because of concerns from a number of members that it could ultimately hurt rural
hospitals and rural America will not be able to provide the Medicaid services to their constituents and they are pushing back against the deep
cuts proposed in the Senate's plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME): I'm very concerned about the cuts in Medicaid and the impact on my state but other states as well. I've also been
concerned about the health of rural hospitals, nursing homes, health centers and have been working on a provider (INAUDIBLE) fund, but that
doesn't upset the -- the problem with the Medicaid.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Okay.
RAJU: This could have a big negative impact on North Carolina. The Medicaid --
SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): Well, I think -- I think the current estimates are about 38 billion over 10 years. That's a -- that's a -- that's a big
impact.
SEN. JOSH HAWLEY (R-MO): Senate leadership now needs to fix this. I mean, they're the ones who've invented this new rural hospital defund scheme, but
the House says they can't pass. It's going to close rural hospitals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAJU: Meantime, the math is really the issue here for the House leaders and the Senate leaders. They can only afford to lose three Republican votes in
each chamber. And you heard three Republican senators were concerned there. There are already a couple others who are threatening to vote against this
plan because they say it does not cut spending enough.
So, that has a challenge there for Donald Trump and Republican leaders ultimately to get this bill across the finish line as Donald Trump wants to
sign this into law by July 4th next week which means by as early as the end of this week, Thursday or Friday.
There will be critical votes for the Senate to begin consideration to take up this bill to try to get it out of the chamber and have the House pass it
by early next week. All a big lift as Republicans are still at sharp odds even as Donald Trump is waging a relentless pressure campaign for these
members to fall in line. Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Manu Raju on Capitol Hill for us, thank you so much.
Time now for "The exchange." Joining me is Republican Congressman Cory Mills who's a member of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the
House Armed Services Committee.
Congressman, I want to ask you about Iran and the damage assessment that we've seen thus far. Some of the controversy brewing from at least one
report in a minute, but I do want to pick up from where Manu left off.
Because we know House Speaker Johnson had set this July 4th deadline several months ago, and here we are just days away. Major sticking points
remain. How confident are you that this can get to the President's desk for him to sign by July 4th?
REP. CORY MILLS (R-FL): Well, look, the President's bill actually would allow us to be able to have one of the largest tax cuts for both middle
class and working class people. It would allow us to ensure that the Tax Cut and Jobs Act doesn't sunset, which would take our corporations and
small businesses from what is currently at 21 percent tax bracket to a 43.4 percent tax bracket.
For many of us who are business owners in the private sector, that's crippling when you think about doubling your tax liabilities. Not to
mention the fact that it stops taxpayer funding for Medicare and -- or medical treatments when it comes to illegals who are across the border.
It helps to fund border security. It helps to continue to ensure that we can stop the fentanyl, human child and sex trafficking that has continued
to plague America.
So, when you look at the overarching goal of what this does, it allows us to get to a runway that builds the economy because we can't cut our way to
prosperity. Any Republican or Democrat who continues to tell you that enough cuts will get our GDP to national debt ratio in line, are lying to
the American people.
Every job owner knows that you have to grow your business by getting more revenue and more income into the business. And that's exactly what we have
to do as a country.
[12:35:08]
So, when you talk about energy dominance, which is a big part of what presidents talked about, when you talk about not getting to never-ending
wars, which is a big part of what the president's talking about, when you talk about making sure that we're going to American business, American
innovation and American workers, what the president's been talking about is exactly how we grow our way out of our current deficit.
And we can't do that if we continue to hinder ourselves with a lie of thinking we can cut our way into that capability.
GOLODRYGA: OK. So, aside from cuts to Medicaid from, we heard from Susan Collins there and Thom Tillis, the Senate parliamentarian has ruled out
several provisions of the bill currently, including cuts to regulatory agencies and food assistance.
Do you support the revised version of this bill right now? And if not, what changes would you advocate for?
MILLS: Well, I can tell you right now that if you know anything about Congress or the Senate, you don't start making statements on a bill which
has not gone through parliamentary provisions and hasn't been voted on because you get a little bit ahead of your skis and end up embarrassing
yourself and you talk about a bill that hasn't even passed the Senate yet.
So, I'm going to wait until I see the final product to see what comes back to the House. We can then look at how that actually matches what we're
trying to do in President Trump's agenda. And then I can basically take my opinion with a more educated assessment at that point.
GOLODRYGA: So, if the bill is delayed, though, past this July 4th set deadline, what are the consequences?
MILLS: Well, again, I think the Senate needs to do their job to make sure this gets across and gets back to the House. We've done our job by pushing
it across to them. And it's continually been where we're sitting there on a hurry up and wait scenario.
The American people don't have time to hurry up and wait. We've been dealing with Biden inflation for over four plus years now, higher gas
prices, looking at the idea of hitting the American workers, tens of millions of people who illegally come across our border.
Those are our real priorities right now, not sitting here trying to have a back and forth of what is a perfect looking bill.
We have to understand, you cannot let good be the enemy of perfect. So, we -- we have to start looking at the fact that this needs to come out of the
Senate as soon as possible. They need to do their job, get it to the House, and let's start delivering for the American people.
GOLODRYGA: So aside from divisions within the party itself in terms of this bill and what to cut and -- and what to keep, there's also, as you know,
divisions on foreign policy and the president's decision ultimately to use those B-2 bombs, the bunker busting B-2 bomber to deliver the bunker
busting bombs there over three of Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend.
And -- and the fallout is growing from at least one of these reports, the DIA report. And we should note it's one that was made with low confidence.
And we have 17 other intelligence agencies that have yet to make their assessments.
But have you had a chance to go over this DIA report? And does anything concern you in terms of what you've seen?
MILLS: Well, look, there's a lot of people both on the right and the left are trying to claim this is unconstitutional. Let me just start first start
with that. Article two, section two of the limited executive war power authorities of the president's very straight and very clear, not to mention
the fact that Congress, before I came in, did something which I think is should be repealed, but they did vote on giving the president these types
of authorities and powers when they started creating these things called the Authorized Use of Military Force.
That was created in 1957, 1991, '01 and '02, which essentially advocates article one, section eight authorities of Congress over to the executive
branch.
So, I'm sick of people in Congress trying to talk about how this is unconstitutional when it was Congress themselves who advocated their roles
and responsibility to the executive branch.
When it comes to the strike itself, we should, as the president has said, be really honoring the heroes and heroines who have actually taken part in
a 36-hour mission that led to complete accuracy, has crippled a $2 trillion investment by a malign Iranian regime, the largest state sponsor of
terrorism, where the IAEA has even raised red flags to start sounding the alarm at their enrichment capabilities when we were able to hit Qom, we
were able to hit Natanz, we were able to Isfahan and get Americans back safely and now create a ceasefire that's now getting a negotiation.
This is exactly the peace through strength mechanism President Trump has talked about. And I'm actually in very much in support of it.
GOLODRYGA: Well, and no one should question the valor and heroism of our --
MILLS: Amen.
GOLODRYGA: -- service members and men and women. So let's just agree on that.
MILLS: As an army combat veteran -- as an army combat veteran, that you're exactly right and we should never question our heroes. It's the suits, not
the boots who make these decisions. They're the ones that are out there delivering and protecting us from a national security perspective. We
always should honor our armed services, our veterans and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
GOLODRYGA: No doubt. I think we're -- we're in full agreement here.
In terms of what we're seeing as again preliminary reports, this was just one. We're also seeing Israeli intelligence and also the Israel Atomic
Energy Commission saying that the critical infrastructure at Fordow was destroyed.
[12:40:06]
And according to Israeli defense officials, their assessment is that there was long-term damage to Iran's nuclear program, setting it back --
MILLS: That's right.
GOLODRYGA: -- a number of years. What do you make of that discrepancy? Do you anticipate that additional U.S. intelligence will in fact confirm some
of this reporting from Israel? Or do you think we're only going to see more of a divide?
MILLS: Well, I think that once you start looking at what our (INAUDIBLE) partners are allowed to do, our satellite imagery as well as for trying to
get some type of a ground force assessment, you'll have a better understanding.
But I will tell you that even when Israel came in and actually destroyed the transportation routes that would get them into Qom, where they had a --
their enriched uranium or whether it looks at the impacts that was made on the Natanz centrifuges, things like that, I think that everyone can
arguably say that there was enough damage to set Iran back.
If it didn't set them back, they wouldn't be sitting at the negotiation table and signing a ceasefire.
GOLODRYGA: Do you think, in hindsight, the president should have used the word obliterated? Because that -- that is what's getting a lot of attention
here now. You were someone who's served in the military, even going through some of the most supportive in terms of successful intelligence from Israel
here now, even the IAEA saying that there was significant damage done.
The word obliterated isn't in any of this intelligence, in any of these reports. What do you make of that alone?
MILLS: Well, I love how everyone's trying to pick at whether it was significant damage, obliterated, destroyed or damaged.
GOLODRYGA: No, I'm not trying to pick. I'm just -- I mean, the thing I'm just wondering.
MILLS: Look, I -- look, at the end of the day, if President Trump walked on water, the headline for CNN that he can't swim. So, you know, at the end of
the day, we have to understand that people are going to continue to try and hit him time and time again.
And if he uses the word obliterated, destroyed, significant damage, just because it doesn't match certain intelligent analysts with the words that
they use or the knackers they use doesn't impact the fact that they actually signed a ceasefire and are willing to come to the negotiation
table.
And if it wasn't damaged, assessed, if it wasn't obliterated, if it wasn't destroyed, if it wasn't significant damage, as anyone can say, see a
report, then they wouldn't be willing to actually come to the table for negotiation, would they?
GOLODRYGA: Do you support the president, if need be, as he has continued to say, that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon, period? Do you support the
need --
MILLS: Absolutely. I support that.
GOLODRYGA: -- for more -- for -- for more military --
MILLS: Iran should never have --
GOLODRYGA: No.
MILLS: Look, it might not take military intervention any further.
GOLODRYGA: No, that's -- but that's my -- that was my question. Not -- not whether you support the idea and the arguments that Iran should never have
a nuclear weapon, but the use of military force, if need be, or more bombs being dropped on these facilities in the future, if it appears that it may
be warranted.
MILLS: Well, whatever it takes to make sure that we are engaging in boots on the ground, trillions of dollars in spending, thousands of lives being
lost in this idea of this neo-con neo-conservative mindset that we can change democracy and nation building.
What we're trying to do is to stop an existential threat to our allies and to America. We had open borders under the previous administration. We don't
know what kind of sleeper cells are here or what kind of dirty bombs could have gotten through.
But you also have acknowledged the fact Iran wouldn't be where it's at if the previous administration had not unfrozen $10 billion in fungible assets
and allowed them to continue to export oil sanctions to China and others, which is actually funded these Shia-backed proxy militias.
So, when you really look at it, the delisting of the Houthis, which disrupted 12 percent of global trade and all the others, this is President
Trump having to clean up the Democrats' job once again the same way he did when he came in in 2016.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Republican Congressman Cory Mills, we got through a lot. I appreciate the time. Thank you so much.
MILLS: Thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:16]
GOLODRYGA: In today's "Africa Insider," a Nigerian nonprofit is making the world of technology and robotics more inclusive for an often marginalized
community that typically does not have access to science and tech education.
By equipping deaf students with these skills, the Deaf Technology Foundation is aiming to combat stereotypes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WUNI BITRUS, CO-FOUNDER, DEAF TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION: The tech industry is in Nigeria is boomed.
The tech education before we came in, the entire Africa, there was nothing like that for the deaf community.
Acquiring tech skills, the wider skills they tried to learn on their own. But there wasn't any significant participation of deaf individuals in tech.
MARANATHA HA'A, DEAF STEAM EDUCATOR AND VOLUNTEER: We teach them chemistry, biology, and help them use the concepts that we teach that they understand
in this subject to be able to apply it into the skills that they are learning in robotics.
We don't really have signs and science (ph) that could be used to teach them.
While having the class, they were able to come up with hydrogen. The symbol for hydrogen is H. Since chemistry goes this way, we use H like this for
hydrogen. The -- the symbol for helium is He, so we use He for helium, lithium, beryllium, Be for beryllium, boron, and till we got to the first
20 elements.
BITRUS: Some of our students, they were forbidden from entering the computer labs because the institution thinks that they won't do well.
We are to take it upon ourselves to change this narrative and to confront these stereotypes.
In 2019, we went for the MiCX National Robotics Competition in Abuja. Leading to the events, the organizers lent us their robots to practice all
night and compete with highly resourced schools.
And they did well. They did some of (INAUDIBLE) schools in the first try.
KANENG ROSE KWANDI, LECTURER, DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF JOS: We're in a world where
technology is the leading role in education, employment, and everything.
I believe this is the foundation. Deaf children, youths and adults need in today's world.
BITRUS: Mercy Grimah joined us in 2017. She was 15 years. This is the Deaf Technology Foundation website that Mercy has designed.
MERCY GRIMAH, INSTRUCTOR, DEAF TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION (through translator): When I was a student in JS2, I didn't know anything about computers because
our teachers never allowed us to use a computer.
Robotics. Robotics. In particular, Arduino and web development. Those are what I enjoy doing.
They don't allow deaf people to study any other course apart from special education. This is the closest to me realizing my dreams.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:21]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Before we go tonight, a growing number of Americans are moving to Costa Rica. One family tells us the story of how they fell in
love with the country, and why living in the country's blue zone has transformed their lives forever.
Ivana Scatola reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEMA WARD, AMERICAN WHO LEFT U.S. FOR COSTA RICA: The community found us. We didn't go looking for the community. When we first got there, we were
just trying to like do yoga, meditate, and plan a garden.
But now, Costa Rica, I feel like, is home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have come all the way from the U.S. because we need a respite. We wanted something different. We wanted a safe haven.
IVANA SCATOLA, CNN DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCER (voice-over): It may look like these women are on a resort vacation here in Costa Rica, but this is, in
fact, their home. And more Americans are coming.
The U.S. State Department estimates that the number of private American citizens living in Costa Rica has increased six-fold in the last 20 years.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's beautiful. The people, the culture, the delicious food. Everything has so much more flavor, and things are less expensive.
WARD: Gracias. Ciao.
SCATOLA (voice-over): Kema Ward and her family relocated here from Houston, Texas eight years ago. Her younger son, Nico, was born here in 2020.
WARD: People flock here, and I think it's just a vibe. It's really high vibes here.
SCATOLA (voice-over): Kema and her husband, Nic, fell in love with Costa Rica and were married here in 2016.
But a dark cloud hung over there would be picture-perfect day.
WARD: In the middle of planning our wedding, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. We came to Costa Rica, and while I was here, I felt so good.
Despite being in the middle of treatment, on our honeymoon, I had gained enough strength to go hiking up a mountain and not be completely depleted
afterward.
And it was just something that stuck with us because when I got back to the States, that getting better didn't last.
SCATOLA (voice-over): Kema beat cancer in 2017, but then another blow led to a life-changing decision.
WARD: Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, and we lost our home. It was devastating. My husband was like, well, let's leave Houston. And I'm like,
OK, well, what state you want to go to? And he's like, no, let's leave the country.
SCATOLA (voice-over): So in 2017, they moved to Costa Rica with their then- nine-year-old daughter, Aaralyn. While cheaper than the U.S., the monthly cost of living in Costa Rica is one of the most expensive in Central
America, according to data from the World Bank. However, they felt the calmer way of life was worth it.
[12:55:03]
WARD: We were gardening and making kombucha, making bread, and exploring the jungle to see what was growing.
SCATOLA (voice-over): And Kema loves how environmentally conscious the country is.
WARD: I think number one was the natural beauty. So many places have allowed capitalism in lots of construction ruin their beaches and their
mountains. And Costa Rica hasn't done that. There is no private beach. All the beaches are for the people.
But also the friendliness, like the love of the people, was a big part of it. One thing I appreciate about Costa Rica is that they celebrate their
Afro-Costa Rican population.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're looking back with gratitude.
WARD: Specifically the black expat community is very tight in the valley.
There is something about a hug from a black woman that is healing and nurturing. So thank you guys.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: All right. I'm so put in Costa Rica. High on the list of countries I need to go visit.
All right. Well, that does it for this hour of "One world." I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
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