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One World with Zain Asher
House Committee Subpoenas Clintons, Others In Epstein Case; Texas Governor Orders Arrest Of Lawmakers Who Fled State; Why The Texas Political Standoff Affects Every American; The Daily Struggle Of A Palestinian Girl And Her Family In Gaza; U.S. May Impose Secondary Sanctions On India And China; Second Summer Heat Wave Scorches Spain; Ugandan Runs From Cape Town To London Over 518 Days. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired August 05, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:29]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching the second hour of
"One World."
There are new developments in the story that has consumed Washington for weeks. The House Oversight Committee has issued new subpoenas for
information in the Epstein case. And some big names are on the list. Among them, Bill and Hillary Clinton, six former U.S. attorneys general, and two
former FBI directors.
The committee has also subpoenaed all the Department of Justice's records on Epstein. A reminder, Jeffrey Epstein is the disgraced financier and
convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019.
Sources tell CNN that the Trump administration is considering releasing audio files and transcripts from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's
recent interview with Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein's operation. She was recently moved from a Florida prison to a lower security
facility in Texas.
For more on these developings -- developments and breaking news, let's bring in CNN senior White House reporter Kevin Liptak. Kevin, quite a turn
of events here. What more do we know about these subpoenas? Has the president said anything about them?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: He hasn't yet, but this certainly does now set up a standoff between Congress and the Trump
administration, which so far has been relatively resistant about releasing any more records related to Jeffrey Epstein.
What this does is compel them to release some of those documents by August 19th and also compel those individuals that we saw on the graphic to sit
for depositions, including the former president Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, but also that slate of former attorneys general from the
Biden administration, from the first Trump administration in Bill Barr, and going all the way back to the Bush administration, but also the Obama
administration.
So, a number of people that Congress now says that they want to hear from. And this does potentially cause some tensions with the Justice Department
and with Trump administration officials.
You know, Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the House, had really tried to avoid this very action when he withdrew House -- the House early
and put them into recess a day early a couple weeks ago.
But the Oversight Committee did get this vote out before the House was recessed. It was actually led by Democrats on the Oversight Committee, but
a number of Republicans joined them in voting to compel these records and these depositions to vote for these subpoenas.
Now, they have also subpoenaed Ghislaine Maxwell to sit for a -- a deposition. That is in somewhat of limbo at the moment. Her attorney has
requested immunity for her, which is a condition that the committee has said that it isn't ready to meet.
And so that is still sort of up in the air. But obviously, this now does set up a test of the Justice Department of how willing they will be to
comply with this obligation to release more information.
It does appear as if the White House and the Justice Department are under consideration of trying to put out more information when it comes to Todd
Blanche's lengthy two-day interview with Maxwell.
At the end of last month, he was down in Tallahassee speaking with her. What he said was about a number of individuals who were potentially related
to this Epstein matter. There was a recording made of that interview. There were transcripts made.
And our understanding is that now the administration is going through those documents, potentially redacting some of them, and is under discussions
about whether to release some of that publicly.
Of course, President Trump has been under pressure to be more transparent about all of this. A number of his own supporters are really calling out
for more information about this case. The president obviously trying to do what he can to tamp down on that fear, but everything that he's tried so
far has not necessarily been successful in making this all just go away.
The other question that remains open is whether he would consider some sort of clemency action for Maxwell in exchange for what she has provided the
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. He has not ruled out a pardon or commutation, but the White House has said that that is not under current
consideration, although not ruling it out entirely.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And you had the Speaker of the House once again when asked about that, whether or not she should be part in once again reminded
viewers in an interview over the weekend and over the past few days that she has been convicted of heinous acts, and so suggesting he would not be
in favor of that.
[12:05:08]
Also a reminder that prior to his role as Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche was the president's own personal attorney.
Kevin Liptak, thank you so much.
Now, to help break down what all these developments mean, I'm joined by former state and federal prosecutor David Weinstein.
First, your reaction to this news of the House committee subpoenaing so many of these prominent names.
DAVID WEINSTEIN, FORMER STATE AND FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Well, Vienna, there's a lot of balls in the air, whether or not anybody can catch all of them,
and then ultimately, whether we as the public get to see what the results are of all of these subpoenas and depositions, that's quite a ways down the
road.
It's certainly within the power of this subcommittee to issue subpoenas, to require people to sit for depositions and for them to collect and gather
evidence and furtherance of what their ongoing investigation is.
What remains to be seen is if and when any of these documents will be released either by the subcommittee or by the Department of Justice. And as
far as redactions go, the people who remain to be protected are the victims who were subject to the allegations and to the crime of conviction that has
currently existed here. So, very little would seem to be redacted other than victims' names.
The question is, when does the public see what the subcommittee sees? And how long is that going to take? And will the Department of Justice rush out
documents even before them?
GOLODRYGA: So, in terms of the legal authority that the subcommittee has in issuing subpoenas, you -- you suggest it's rather broad even for private
citizens as well that have no convictions against them and no charges against them?
WEINSTEIN: Correct. Under the rules of both the -- the House and the Senate, subcommittees are authorized and entitled to issue subpoenas either
for documents or to require people to come in and speak to them or to give depositions. And that subpoena power is rather broad.
The bigger question, not for private citizens, but for people who have been employed by either the Department of Justice or the White House or were
executives themselves is whether or not we're going to hear about anyone exerting the executive privilege over what testimony they may or may not be
giving. So, that's another obstacle, potentially, that it could be down the road. We've seen that happen before.
At this point, David, what's the likelihood in your view that these files will see the light of day and the public will have access to them even if
some of these names, hopefully, all of the victims' names are redacted?
WEINSTEIN: I think that the clamor and demands from both sides of the aisle, whether it's democratic or Republican, is going to force these
documents to come forward or they will remain in the news every day. And that's not something I don't think that the current White House wants to
see.
And so the sooner that some of the documents are released, the sooner this will perhaps go into the background.
GOLODRYGA: We'll be following it, new developments by the day.
David Weinstein, thank you so much for your insights.
WEINSTEIN: You're welcome.
GOLODRYGA: Meantime -- meantime, all eyes are on the state Capitol in Texas, where lawmakers are set to convene in a couple of hours, but not
everyone is expected to attend.
Today's session comes just a day after Republican Governor Greg Abbott ordered arrest warrants for democratic lawmakers who fled the state on
Sunday. The Democrats say they left in order to block a vote on congressional redistricting that could allow Republicans to take as many as
five U.S. House seats away from Democrats.
Republican lawmakers in Texas have been under intense pressure from President Trump to revamp district lines in an attempt to flip democratic
seats in their favor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They did it to us. You know, those blue states that you're talking about.
You know, somebody gave a good example. In Massachusetts, I got, I think, 41 percent of the voters. It's a very, you know, blue state. And yet, it's
got 100 percent of Congress. It's all gerrymander. And we have an opportunity in Texas to pick up five seats. We have a really good governor
and we have good people in Texas. And I want Texas. I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know. And we are entitled to five
more seats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: President Trump's comments come as politicians in a number of Democrat-led states, including Illinois, vowed to support the Texas
Democrats as they face off against Governor Abbott.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. JB PRITZKER (D-IL): Texas House Democrats are leading the way in choosing courage and country over politics and party. That's what it means
to fight for what's right. And I love this country, too. And I love it so much that I'm going to fight for it, too, right alongside my heroes, the
Texas House Democrats.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: CNN's Steve Contorno is following the story for us from Chicago. Some harsh, tough words of support there from Governor Pritzker. He says
that he will fight alongside those Democrats in Texas. Exactly how is he planning to do so, Steve?
[12:10:08]
STEVE CONTORNO, CNN REPORTER: Well, that's an important question, Bianna, because Illinois already has a map that heavily favors Democrats. There are
14 democratic seats, two, three Republican seats. It's actually one of the most gerrymandered congressional maps in the country, according to
nonpartisan analysts at Princeton who give Illinois an F in its ratings on how gerrymandered the state is.
So, it's a bit of irony that this is one of the states that Texas Democrats have -- have fled to is a state that goes -- speaks to exactly why Donald
Trump was urging Texas to react.
Now, clearly, this could off -- set off a -- a series of events that gets other states involved. California is not nearly as gerrymandered. Neither
is New York, and there's potentially opportunities for Democrats in those states to push forward more aggressive maps that will lead us to sort of a
gerrymander arm race.
But as far as what Illinois can do, look, the governor has said, he is -- he is there to support the people of Texas who have fled, and he is there
to provide logistics and -- and emotional support.
But as far as redrawing the map in Illinois, they certainly can't do enough to offset what Texas is doing, especially if we start seeing other
Republican states like Florida, like Missouri, where there has been already conversations about doing what -- following Texas' lead.
If they start getting involved, Illinois is pretty limited in how much impact it can have.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Steve Contorno, thank you so much.
Well, political tensions have been high across the nation, including at a packed town hall in Nebraska on Monday with Republican Representative Mike
Flood.
Things became testy when voters voiced frustration over files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are you covering up the Epstein files?
Rep. Mike flood (R-NE): At the next performance session of the Congress, you'll find my name as a sponsor and a resolution from the House Rules
Committee to release the Epstein files to protect the victims and not re- victimize them again.
I am for the release of those records.
(BOOS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: But voters didn't stop there. The Nebraska representative faced a barrage of criticism over a range of issues, including his support for
President Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to ask, why does it seem like when you make your voting decisions, they're based on capital rather than the working class?
Billionaires and corporations got their tax issues enshrined in the law forever, but the working class gets a no tax on gifts or overtime that only
applies to some of us. And now, we wind up in a situation where we are.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And this is not about partisan. This is about issues because we're about to lose our democracy.
(CHEERS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Widespread political frustrations, the Texas redistricting standoff, may be creating new opportunities for Democrats ahead of next
year's midterm elections.
CNN's politics senior reporter Stephen Collinson writes, "Democrats might finally have learned something about Donald Trump. If they hope to beat
him, they must get down in the gutter alongside him."
And Stephen joins me now. So, Stephen, are they? Are they going down in the gutter alongside President Trump as you say they've learned to do?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Well, some of the top democratic leaders responding to the issue in Texas that you were just
talking about, the attempt by Republicans to get five more seats before the midterm elections, they're pledging to fight fire with fire.
People like Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, are saying they are now going to drop, at least for
now, their support for independent districting bodies, which are supposed to draw fair electoral maps. And they're going to use their power in the
same way that the Trump Republicans are using their power in Texas to create more seats.
So, we weren't ruthless enough in all sorts of ways in taking up on -- taking on Trump. And now we're going to do exactly the same thing. So, I
think we'll see how this plays out.
But certainly, I think Democrats are realizing that given the immense power of the president and the -- what I think is a real feeling in the
democratic grassroots, that Democrats haven't been strong enough in resisting him, that they have no option now, at least to show their voters
that they're fighting back.
GOLODRYGA: We look at Texas specifically at a redistricting hearing -- at a number of redistricting hearings. The reports indicated there was
overwhelming support against actually redistricting right now, and there was opposition to this idea. President Trump, even this morning, said that
he was entitled to five more seats.
[12:15:13]
Talk about the potential backfire that this could have, short-term, yes, he will obviously most likely get those seats, no doubt, and Texas will become
even more so of a Republican state. Down the road, though, what are some of the potential pitfalls that come out of this?
COLLINSON: Yes. Just that language, using the word entitled as though votes are a commodity that he can just shovel around, that does remind us
somewhat of the way he tried to phone up senior officials in Georgia after the 2020 election and said, I just need another 800 votes or whatever the
number was. And I think that reflects the disdain for the democratic process with this president.
In Texas, specifically, what the Republicans are trying to do is to compress a number of districts, turn some democratic districts into
Republican ones.
The problem here is that this was tried before about a decade ago. And in some cases, it backfired, because what they did was they created a backlash
against their redistricting and created a bigger turnout against them than they'd expected, even in some of the seats that they'd redrawn, and they
thought were going to be more sympathetic towards Republicans.
A lot of this, I think, will rely on the votes of Hispanic voters in some of the big Texas cities. That bloc moved towards President Trump in the
last presidential election, but the impact of some of his economic policies, his tariff policies, his deportation program, some of that is
raising concerns among Republicans that Hispanics might go the other way.
If that's the case, even some of these newly redrawn, sympathetic Republican districts could end up being a lot closer than everybody thinks.
And just on a national perspective, Democrats need three seats in the House, a net gain of three seats to pick up the House and give themselves
the ability to constrain Trump's presidency.
If Texas can add five more, they need eight seats. And in a -- in a really divided country, that is a much bigger task. So you can see how important
this is, even though it seems quite a granular issue, and local to Texas.
GOLODRYGA: A really interesting report in "The New York Times" today about the impact that Trump's policies thus far, and even this debate over
redistricting in Texas is having on Hispanic voters, specifically Hispanic voters, in Texas, Trump won 12 of the 14 counties along the border with
Mexico, compared to just five of them in 2016, making huge inroads with the Hispanic vote there.
But nationally, they're saying now about a third of Latinos who voted for President Trump back in November said that they are not set on voting for
Republicans, which is interesting, the distinction with Republicans versus President Trump himself in the midterm elections.
What are the most glaring weaknesses and concerns that Republicans are facing right now going into the midterm? Still a while off. Nonetheless, as
we heard from that representative in Nebraska, they're hearing an earful from their constituents.
COLLINSON: That's right. And the -- the case of the Hispanic voters is very interesting, as you say, especially in Texas, but more nationally.
And, you know, we've thought we saw a pattern in Trump's first term in elections in the States in years when he was not on the ballot. The
Republican turnout was much lower than it was when he was running for president.
So, there is a distinction between, as you suggested, hardcore Trump voters and Republican voters who show up all of the time in elections.
And I think a lot of Trump's gains among not just Hispanic voters, but also among some black male voters are much more fragile than the votes of his
base. So, those voters may well be up for grabs.
I think both parties have tended over the years to take the Hispanic vote for granted. Democrats always thought that they -- if they had a more
permissive policy, they would get the votes of the Hispanic community. That was true for some time, but it's been eroding because Hispanic voters don't
just vote on immigration. They -- they're also worried about rising grocery prices and the cost of housing.
Part of that community is quite Catholic, so it's more, you know, prone to vote for conservative Republican candidates on social issues.
So it's -- it's very fungible. And -- and I think Texas is such a fascinating state because although it is a fully red state when you look at
congressional delegations and presidential elections, you've got these big cities like Houston, Fort Worth, and Dallas where the Hispanic community is
not just very important, but you've got a lot of young Hispanic leaders that are leading that community in both parties.
[12:20:11]
And I think it's something that both parties really need to, you know, look to. And -- and they've got to find policies that attract Hispanic voters
not just on issues, the traditional issues like immigration.
I think both parties have a tendency really to kind of lose track of what the base and the grassroots are thinking and they're -- they're
retroactive. And I think you may well be seeing that in some of the -- these cases. And Republicans may get a surprise in some of those redrawn
excess seats.
GOLODRYGA: Yes, no doubt. Listen, as a -- as a Houston native, I know the complexity is there all too well. Fascinating to examine.
Stephen Collinson, thank you so much.
COLLINSON: Thanks.
GOLODRYGA: And coming up for us, as U.S. relations with Russia get colder, are they warming up between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy? We'll take a look after the break.
Also, Israeli media report that the country is poised to expand its war in Gaza amid pressure and protests to end the conflict.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOLLY PARTON, AMERICAN SINGER-SONGWRITER AND MUSICIAN: I must have done something right, praise the Lord. And thanks to the fans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: One of my favorite people in the world. Dolly Parton makes history once again. We'll tell you how later on this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Well, a ceasefire talks with Hamas reach an impasse after 22 months of war. Israeli media reports that Benjamin Netanyahu will push for,
quote, a full conquest of Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister is set to meet with senior members of the security cabinet today to talk strategy as the Israeli military operation continues.
The Prime Minister says Israel still has to complete three tasks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): But it is still necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza to release all
the hostages, to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. We are not giving up on any of these tasks. We will do it together through
the great sacrifice of our male and female fighters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: In Gaza, more scenes of desperation as hundreds of Palestinians risk their lives as they scramble for aid.
Earlier, a UNICEF spokesperson talked about the harrowing conditions there and how children are especially affected.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSALIA BOLLEN, UNICEF SPOKESPERSON IN GAZA: It's the children that you see outside. They look dirty. They're often barefoot. They look emaciated.
They're -- they're all hungry.
[12:25:02]
The entire child population under five inside the Gaza Strip, and that's more than 320,000 children are at acute risk of becoming acutely
malnourished.
So, everybody is hungry. More than one in three persons go for days without eating. And -- and what we need is really a ceasefire for the civilian
population and for the hostages. And the -- the entry of humanitarian assistance at scale.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: CNN, meantime, has been following the story of one girl named Jana, along with her family. Abeer Salman updates us on their daily
struggle for food.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABEER SALMAN, CNN REPORTER: In the summer heat, the walk to the soup kitchen gets longer and more tiring, especially with the lack of food.
Parents here say they are keeping their children indoors, no play or any movement that could sap the little energy they have. Everyone is exhausted.
The choices for children like Jana are to wait at the back or get squashed at the front.
JANA AL-SKEIFI, GAZA RESIDENT (through translator): If we have lentil, we can at least move. We have five children in the family, and I'm the sixth.
SALMAN: She says they haven't eaten since yesterday. Most people here are clamoring for their only meal of the day. The soup kitchen might not be
open tomorrow or the day after. It's already serving much less food than months before.
And there is no guarantee everyone here would get a serving of soup and carry it back. The blisters and scars tell of how many times boiling soup
has burnt these hands, stocking disappointment and frustration among the weakest in the crowd.
Returning home with a bowl of lentil soup is an achievement, no matter how small.
AL-SKEIFI (through translator): I went so the young children would eat and me too. It was difficult. People got burnt. People were throwing rocks and
attacking the place.
SALMAN: We first met Jana in May when she stepped up to take care of her ailing parents and siblings after an Israeli soldier shot her brother dead.
Back then, Israel had just ended a total blockade of Gaza that lasted two and a half months.
Under international pressure, Israel has allowed a trickle of aids that remains out of reach for families like Jana's who cannot fight over aid
trucks or afford to buy diluted food.
They've grown weaker over the past two months like those around them in Gaza City, where the U.N. says the famine threshold for acute malnutrition
has been reached.
And like thousands of children across Gaza, these kids too have visited clinics due to malnutrition several times. Jana's mother fears for her
daughter's life.
UM AHED, JANA'S MOTHER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): She has lost a lot of weight. She gets dizzy if she walks a little bit.
SALMAN: Jana feels the weight of this responsibility to keep her family alive.
AL-SKEIFI (through translator): It's been difficult. We wake up hungry and go to sleep hungry. My mom sends me to get water. If I try to carry two
buckets, I fail. If I stay in, no one will bring them water. It has to be me.
SALMAN: Abeer Salman, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:20]
GOLODRYGA: Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone with President Trump. Zelenskyy posted a social media that the two spoke about sanctions
against Russia and defense cooperation. He adds, they also discussed a draft agreement on drones.
The U.S. special envoy, meantime, Steve Witkoff, is arriving in Moscow later this week. The trip may include a meeting with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, but that has not been confirmed yet. The visit is just days before President Trump's deadline for Russia to show progress on a peace
deal or face more sanctions.
President is also threatening secondary sanctions on countries like India and China, who buy Russian energy.
Earlier, President Trump spoke about the impact he hopes U.S. sanctions will have on Moscow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: If energy goes down low enough, Putin's going to stop killing people. That'll be nice. Even though there his his own people that are
dying, him and Ukraine. But Putin will stop killing people if you get energy down another $10 a barrel. He's going to have no choice because his
economy stinks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Time now for "The Exchange" and what we should be watching for in the coming days. We're joined by Alina Polyakova. She is the President
and CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis. Alina, first, your reaction to the president there, speaking to CNBC this morning, saying that the lower oil prices go, perhaps putting more pressure
on those countries that purchase Russian oil, that -- that will possibly have an impact on President Putin and his decision as to whether or not he
is ready for a ceasefire deal. What do you make of that?
ALINA POLYAKOVA, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE CENTER FOR EUROPEAN POLICY ANALYSIS: Well, the president is certainly right that
Russia is very much dependent on oil, but also gas exports that really fuels its war machine and now it's more economy.
But there's a really important unintended consequence here of threatening some of Russia's largest buyers, which are now India and China, of Russian
oil with secondary sanctions, meaning, that we will stop doing deals with these large countries and likely risk our own trade relationships, both
with India and China if we did so, is that would actually raise global oil prices if suddenly we have such major disruption India stop buying Russian
oil, China is not buying Russian oil.
I don't think these things are very likely, but the very clear consequence would not be lower oil prices, which would hurt the Russian economy. It
would likely be higher oil prices, which would likely benefit the Russian economy.
GOLODRYGA: Yes, because so much of the Russian economy has for so long depended on its sale of -- of oil and natural gas. We know that Russia's
economy, for the last few years, especially has been on a wartime footing now.
And we have this visit from Steve Witkoff, I would imagine that he wouldn't be going if there wasn't a meeting scheduled with President Putin, but I
could be proven wrong.
[12:35:05]
The last time they met, it was a very welcoming and warm reception that he received, and he spoke glowingly, Witkoff did at Putin after the fact, even
bringing home a portrait that he says President Putin had made after that assassination attempt for President Trump.
Now that Trump's rhetoric has changed towards Vladimir Putin, what if anything do you expect to come out of this meeting other than perhaps
another symbolic gesture?
POLYAKOVA: Well, Putin is very famous for constantly keeping people guessing, being, you know, be just delayed to meetings, canceling meetings
at the last minute. This is part of his -- part of his power play that he uses, you know, quite effectively and quite frequently.
So, there's no guarantee that Witkoff will get that meeting. He may or may not. I think the change this time versus the last time that Witkoff was in
Moscow is likely going to be much less of a red carpet being rolled out for him with certainly so that last time the Russians did charm offensive. And
I think Witkoff reciprocated with a similar charm offensive, as you just said, Bianna.
And I think the -- the situation he'll face now is probably going to be more of a -- of a serious conversation when Mr. Putin or with one of his
aides about Russia's strategic intentions in Ukraine.
And to be clear, those strategic intentions have not changed since President Trump took office. They are still to fully control Ukraine,
whether that's by force or through complete political capitulation of President Zelenskyy.
GOLODRYGA: And meantime, Ukraine is experiencing more territorial losses. It has been a rough few months for them on the battlefield on the front
there. Can't sugarcoat the -- the difficulty that they have been facing. They constantly are being innovative, the Ukrainians in their drone
production. We mentioned that phone call between President Zelenskyy and President Trump.
President Zelenskyy clearly now an expert in knowing how to appeal to the areas of interest for President Trump. And that is deal making and
suggesting that the two can cooperate on drone production, but drones alone won't get Ukraine to victory.
What more do the Ukrainians need? And on the flip side, what actually would worry Vladimir Putin enough to bring him back to the negotiating table just
from a military standpoint?
POLYAKOVA: Now, that -- that's right, Bianna. Unfortunately, the last three months, Ukraine has seen some of the biggest losses of territory that has
seen, you know, over the last three and a half years Russia controls now. About 20 percent of Ukrainian territory occupies that.
The last month, just in July alone, they -- they gained about 500 square kilometers, which is not insignificant.
So, the Russian offensive is working. They're throwing everything they have in the war against Ukraine. And they're banking on the idea that Ukrainian
defenses are going to break because Ukraine will lose support from its allies, particularly the United States.
So you're right, Ukraine cannot fight this war just with drones, although they have proven to be incredibly innovative.
There's a reason why President Trump was likely interested in this potential drone deal is because this is the way that Ukraine can make the
United States a more competitive, more innovative, more defense, and fighting ready force with their IP, with their innovation, frankly, that we
don't -- we simply don't have in our military capabilities.
But all of this is just not enough. You know, the sanctions that President Trump has threatened that potentially the deadline expires at the end of
this week. You know, the Russians are banking that they can basically weather that storm.
What we really need is a full military pressure campaign combined with economic and political pressure campaign on -- on Russia to really change
Putin's calculus.
Militarily, what that means is Ukraine needs a lot more air defense capabilities. From the United States, the Patriot systems, the so-called
ATACMS, these are long-range missile systems, but also from countries like Germany that has very sophisticated long-range systems called the Taruses,
that Ukrainians have been lobbying for -- for a long time.
So until the alliance, meaning Europe and the United States, don't fully see this as a war against NATO, as a war against us, which is how Mr.
Putin, of course, sees it, I'm afraid we're not really going to see the kind of military support the Ukraine needs to -- to turn this around.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Really sobering assessment. I think you're spot on, though.
Alina Polyakova, as always, thank you so much for joining us.
Well, people looking to travel to the United States for tourism or business may face an expensive new challenge. The State Department has announced a
12-month pilot program requiring some visa applicants to pay up to $15,000 bond to enter.
Officials say it's designed to protect the U.S. from financial liability if visitors don't comply with the terms of their visa. The program would
require some travelers to post bonds between $5,000 and $15,000 for either business or tourist visas. It would primarily focus on countries with,
quote, high visa overstay rate or insufficient document security.
[12:40:13]
State Department officials say it would not apply to countries enrolled in the visa waiver program but could come into effect within 15 days of its
formal publication. We'll stay on top of this story.
Meantime, still to come for us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAU MOSQUERA, CNN SPAIN CORRESPONDENT: I hope that you are doing well because here in Spain, actually, we're really filling the heat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Wow. Up next, how people in Spain are coping with a scorching heat wave.
Plus, don't go chasing waterfalls, especially in airports. Look at this. The story behind the unwelcome surprise just ahead.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The -- the kindness of people is really out there even in the place where you feel like you wouldn't find it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Running for a purpose. The Ugandan man sets out on a 13,000 kilometer journey to answer a question. His experience in his own words.
That's coming up later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Well, nearly 2,000 emergency workers are on the scene in Central California battling a massive blaze. The Gifford Fire has for thousands to
evacuate. Scorching more than 29,000 hectares across two counties.
Meanwhile, more than 700 wildfires are raging across Canada, tanking air quality not only there, but along the Great Lakes and here in the northeast
regions of the United States as well.
Well, turning now to an unrelenting heat wave gripping Spain. Some parts of the country could see temperatures exceed 42 degrees Celsius or 108 degrees
Fahrenheit today.
CNN's Pau Mosquera has more from Madrid.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOSQUERA: I hope that you are doing well because here in Spain, actually, we're really feeling the heat. This Sunday marked the beginning of the
second heat wave of the summer in the Iberian Peninsula.
And the thermometers, well, they are being merciless in many parts of the country as in the center and the south. And that's why many people decide
to call themselves off in places like this one. These public pools that you can find all around Madrid.
This is one of the 25 public pools that you can find in the city. Maybe because today it's Tuesday and there's still people working and others that
have decided to go somewhere else. This pool doesn't look packed like it does during the weekends.
[12:45:04]
But that's the way that many decide to confront this hot spell that it's being affecting Spain and it will last at least until Sunday.
And it looks a lot of fun for many of those who are here in the water, diving, enjoying with their families and actually that makes me feel a
little bit envious.
So, that's why I also decided to bring my swim trunk and maybe after this live connection, I will join them in the water.
It's important to say that the second heat wave of the summer affecting here in Spain and parts of Portugal will make the thermometers soar up to
the 42 degrees Celsius, which is around 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Maybe some parts of the country like in the south, they are more used to these temperatures, but it's not this usual to have periods of many days
altogether where the mercury is reaching the same temperatures every day.
How would you describe this weather? How about it is for you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, of course, you don't do the activities in the -- you do -- you do the activities in the morning and in the afternoon, yes,
just lie in the pool and that's fine actually.
MOSQUERA: Have you ever experienced a temperature like this one?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Last year, we also went to Madrid and it was like 45 degrees, so even hotter than now.
MOSQUERA: In terms of families, well, you see they are just having the best of this month of August. And as I said, this second heat wave of the summer
is going to last until Sunday.
But from the Spanish National Weather Agency they say that maybe it can last a little bit longer because it seems like we have a dry and warm mass
-- air mass from the African continent that it may stay for a little bit more days.
So, that's why we're going to be wiping a lot of attention to the thermometers around the country and how the temperatures soar.
And also important to say that it's not just the daytime that is caught here in Madrid. Also, the nights because we go to sleep with temperatures
around 25 degrees Celsius.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Which I experience that summer heat a couple of summers ago, it is brutal. Hope Pau can go into that swimming pool as soon as possible.
Meantime, turning now to a sloppy surprise caught on camera. Travelers witnessed a disgusting moment in Atlanta's airport on Monday when brown
water came gushing from the ceiling causing parts of it to collapse.
Now, airport officials say the mess has been cleaned up and the cause of the leak is under investigation. That is quite disgusting.
All right. Still to come for us, U.S. country superstar, Dolly Parton, is named a Guinness World Records icon. Of course she is.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:26]
GOLODRYGA: Runner Deo Kato set out on a 13,000-kilometer journey from Cape Town to London to answer the question, what does human migration look like?
Along the way, he discovered running has the power to break down barriers including racial injustice. For Deo, running was the easy part. Here he is
on his extraordinary journey in his own words.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's our opportunity to welcome back Deo.
DEO KATO, ULTRARUNNER, COACH, SPEAKER AND ACTIVIST: I ran from Cape Town and all the way back here to London. When somebody says go back to where
you come from, they actually mean that go back to Africa as a black person. But everybody actually comes from Africa. This is where humans originate
from.
Let me tell this journey. We are all from the same place. How did you migrate from there?
When we kept on to London run, it took 518 days. It's a total distance of over 13,000 kilometers. And I managed to cross through 21 countries
altogether.
Running almost a marathon every day is very taxing on the body. A lot of times, I woke up and I felt like I can't do this. I'm questioning myself,
why did I put myself through this?
A lot of dark times. When you are in that moment and you're sitting in the trenches and you start to think of like, am I even going to be able to
complete this? So when I look --
I ran for 315 days before I was forced to stop. By the time, I was in South Sudan, because I got arrested and put in prison for three weeks. I was told
that I didn't have the actual paperwork, but it was much deeper than that, to be honest.
It's very difficult being in prison, sleeping on the floor, food of one meal for the day to eat. I couldn't contact anyone and nobody knew where I
was. I was able to handle all the other things, but not being able to let my loved ones know that I was in prison. That was really difficult.
The other inmates, they started to support me as well. That's what led to my release. The kindness of people is really out there, even in the place
where you feel like you wouldn't find it.
Once I finished Africa and I got into Europe, I started to experience different challenges.
I've been stopped by the police.
I'm being racially profiled and seen as an illegal immigrant.
To ask me for my documents.
Every time I see a police car go past, I knew they were going to stop and come and question me.
This is where we are tonight.
Running is the easy part. The logistical and the emotional challenges. The two of those challenges made me closer to actually feel like I could end up
throwing in the towel.
Day 488 today. Day 505. Day 512.
I was extremely fatigued and extremely tired. The feeling that the finish line was way beyond what I expected. I had this idea of, you know,
immigration, what it looks like.
I realized that what people would have had to go through, the challenges for greater.
As you go, just have a chat with somebody you've never been -- you've never seen before.
In the U.K., where we don't get to see people of color out there running, it's much harder for us to go out into two of those rural areas and enjoy
these spaces.
It's quite daunting for someone that looks like me to go out there by themselves.
The representation part is extremely important to say, if you can see it, you can be it.
I am the greatest runner in the world, but running is just a vehicle for what I'm doing. As an activist, breaking down barriers, racial injustices
and racism, running has the power to change the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: What an inspiration. Gave me chills to watch. Thank you, Deo, for doing that and for talking to us about your journey.
And finally, well, to know her is to love her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[12:55:02]
GOLODRYGA: A very special honor for music legend, Dolly Parton. The U.S. country superstar has been named a Guinness Book of World Records, Icon.
The honor is only assigned to a select few record holders who have influenced culture on a global scale.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PARTON: Well, to say I'm humbled by that would be an understatement. I take a lot of pride in it and I'm -- I'm very humbled by it. I'm very proud to
say that I've been round long enough to have done enough things to -- to maybe deserve these things.
Like I never can believe it when I get all this to make one. Say I have this many. I just keep thinking, well, I must have done something right.
Praise the Lord. And thanks to the fans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: No. Thank you, Dolly. A gift to the world, truly.
Parton currently holds 11 Guinness Records, including Most Studio Albums Released by a Female Country Singer and Most Grammy Nominations for a
Female Country Artist.
Can we end the show every day talking about Dolly Parton? I think that would be amazing. Let's aim for that.
That's it for this hour "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back with "Amanpour."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:00:00]
END
