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One World with Zain Asher
Stalemate In Washington On Day 22 Of Shutdown; Hundreds Of Federal Workers Line Up For Food; 1.4M Federal Workers Furloughed Or Working Without Pay; Lawmakers Standoff Drags On As Shutdown Enters Day 22; Handgun Goes Off During Immigration Operation, Two Injured; Advocates Welcome First Lady's Work With Ukrainian Children; Hundreds Join Call For Ban On A.I. Superintelligence; Michael Jordan Joins "NBA On NBC" As Contributor. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired October 22, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[12:00:30]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. It is the second longest government shutdown in American history and there is no end in sight.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: The second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have never seen anything like going on like this. Even without regular food pantry. It's never been this many people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: More than one million federal staffers are going without pay. But lawmakers on Capitol Hill sure aren't missing a paycheck. How the
impasse in Congress is hitting regular Americans.
ASHER: Also ahead, never before seen. You shouldn't get mosquitoes in a place like Iceland, but you do now. And it shows just how fast climate
change or climate rather is -- the climate rather is changing. We'll talk about why and what can be done about it.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Michael Jordan, he doesn't really do interviews. We have not heard much from him over the last 20 so years since
he retired.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Oh, yes. You heard him right. The one and only Michael Jordan is making a comeback. Maybe right here on "One World." Stay tuned.
ASHER: All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher.
GOLODRYGA: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. You're watching the second hour of "One World."
What was no end in sight, the U.S. government remains at a standstill. It is day 22 of the second longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is demanding that President Trump meet with congressional Democrats before he leaves for a trip to Asia on
Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SE. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): President should meet with us. It's not me, him or anything political. It's that the people are in crisis every day.
They're getting these bill, the -- these notifications of how much they're going to pay. And they're just -- people are just struck of the difficulty
they will be in.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Reaching out to you about meeting on the government shutdown. Will you meet with him before you
leave for Asia on Friday?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I will -- actually, I'd love to meet with them. I just want them to open up the country first.
You know, the country is so hot right now and they've never voted against, you know, continuation. They've never voted again. They've never done that.
They're doing this because they have Trump derangement syndrome.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. Now in the Senate, Democrat Jeff Merkley of Oregon is about 18 hours into a marathon speech protesting the U.S. president.
Meanwhile, caught in the middle are people like this, federal workers standing in long lines for food. Some of them say they don't exactly know
where their next meal is coming from. More than a million federal employees are working without pay or are furloughed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, with my rent due next week, I can take anything I can get at this point. I haven't gotten a paycheck this month.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You always thought that getting a government job or, you know, a federal job that that's security. And it's -- it's not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: OK. For more on this, let's bring in CNN's Manu Raju and Renee Marsh in Washington.
Manu, let me begin with you because we know that Senator Chuck Schumer is trying to meet with the U.S. president at this point to discuss this. But
Donald Trump doesn't want to meet with Democrats, at least until the government shutdown is over.
This is already the second longest government shutdown in U.S. history. People on both sides of the aisle, both Republicans and Democrats at this
point are saying that the U.S. president has to intervene to stop the stalemate.
MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And look, this is expected to be the longest one ever. This is the longest full government
shutdown. The other one that has been longer was a partial government shutdown. That was 35 days from 2018 into 2019. This is expected to go even
longer than that.
And it's because of that precise reason. There is -- there's no negotiations that are happening right now. Unlike past shutdowns, there'd
be fierce negotiations. Members would work through the weekend, try to figure out a way out of a crisis that they caused.
But this time, both sides disagree on how whether they should even be talking. The Democrats say there must be a negotiation and an agreement to
extend subsidies that have -- that are expiring at years end under the Affordable Care Act. They help people pay for health insurance.
They say they -- they need to be done with immediately. Otherwise, people will see their healthcare premiums increase. Republicans say reopen the
government first. Let's not talk about any of this stuff.
The only thing that really matters right now is reopening the government, allowing federal workers, hundreds of thousands of them furloughed to come
back to work. And so as a result, there are absolutely no negotiations happening.
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And in talking to Democrats and Republicans today, the position remains the same. Democrats say, let's talk now. We're not going to back off. And
Republicans say, no way.
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SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): Leaders, including the President, need to sit down and work out an agreement that we can and should ensue his post.
RAJU: They say open the government first. Why not?
DURBIN: Well, I could tell them that they ought to stay tuned to the people they represent who are receiving notices on the next few days, their
hospitalizations, those premiums are going to rise dramatically.
RAJU: Are your constituents telling you to change strategies at all?
DURBIN: No.
SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): Schumer has to just say, open it up, and then we can begin to work on it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAJU: So at the moment, there's no sign that anything will change. The House actually has been out of session since September 19th as a strategic
move by the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, to keep the members away from the chamber, keep it recessed and pressure Senate Democrats to accept
the Republican bill to reopen the government until November 21st.
But that Republican bill has failed 11 times. It is expected to fail a 12 times today. Once Senator Jeff Merkley stops his speech with right -- which
is right now, he has held the floor all night long. This is the seventh longest speech in American history on the Senate floor. He's expected to
soon be the sixth longest ever. And he can't sit down. He can't take -- go to a bathroom break. He needs to keep going.
But ultimately, it's not going to change the ultimate outcome here, which is both sides still at loggerheads dug in and this shutdown expected to
drag on even much longer.
GOLODRYGA: And as each side is waiting for the other to blink first, this is having real-life impact on furloughed workers.
Rene Marsh, you've been covering this story. And the fact that you've got food pantries in Washington, D.C. that have formed lines around the block
and to get the food, it's my understanding that a -- a work permit, an I.D., is required.
And there are more government workers showing their I.D.s than this food bank in food pantry had even anticipated. That gives us a sense of how this
is impacting everyday Americans who have no say in any of this.
RENE MARSH, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. And -- and it really illustrates just what the impact is of Congress's inability to resolve
this.
I mean, we just saw just outside of Washington, D.C. in Maryland just last night. As you said, federal workers who are not being paid because of this
shutdown. They stood in lines that you see right there that wrapped around blocks.
They stood in lines for hours to get free food at this Capitol area food bank. As again, this shutdown stretches into week three.
Now that line, again, was wrapping around several blocks. The food bank that worked in collaboration with a local ministry, they did require I.D.
to show that these were federal workers in order to receive food. And the event served some 370 household. That -- that was more than double what
they expected.
Lawmakers have not yet reached any agreement to pay federal workers. We do know that Republican Senator Ron Johnson, had he had introduced a bill that
would only pay those who are working without pay, but the Democrats are pushing for all federal workers to be paid.
But these are the kind of scenes that we will continue to see. I would imagine that the lines will be even longer this Friday. Some federal
workers would have been getting a paycheck. And this will be the first missed paycheck.
We know the last paycheck they received about 80 percent of their pay. This one will be a totally missed paycheck. And we heard from a lot of folks
standing in line there that the bills are still coming in. The rent is still due.
And so these sort of food banks and this sort of community help is enabling them to hold on until Congress is able to resolve this.
ASHER: Rene Marsh, live for us there. Thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Let's bring in Mark Cochran. He represents National Park Service Employees in the Northeast U.S. as the president of the
American Federation of Government Employees Council 270. He's also works at Gettysburg National Military Park as a tractor driver and arborist. Mark,
thank you so much for joining us.
So if you can just give us a sense of how this three-week government shutdown with no end in sight, entering week four very quickly, the
president is going to be traveling overseas. So the thoughts of this ending before he leaves are slim to none, the chances.
I mean, talk about what this has meant in terms of everyday life for your employees on the ground in Gettysburg.
MARK COCHRAN, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES COUNCIL 270: Well, I mean, it's -- it's been hard. It -- it was challenging
enough with our last paycheck being short. But we were -- I mean, the -- the folks in my local, we were -- we're OK up to -- up to this point.
[12:10:10]
But if it goes any further, next week is going to be really challenging because we've already missed a paycheck. Bills are coming in. So I've
spoken to some of my members and they're going to have to start calling banks and, you know -- you know, their loan companies for their cars to
reschedule some payments.
And I mean we're fortunate in Gettysburg. We live in a fairly low cost- living area, but I've spoken to some members up -- especially up in New England, New York, and they're -- they're really feeling it.
I mean, the cost living up there is much higher as you're aware and they don't have the flexibility that, you know, we have down here in a more
rural area.
ASHER: Mark, for people who are deemed essential employees and who are still showing up to work day after day but not getting paid, and obviously
you're dealing with everything that you just laid out. I mean, everything they have to think about when it comes to rent, groceries, child care
costs.
But on top of that, I'm wondering about morale. How is morale for essential employees holding up given that they're working without pay?
COCHRAN: Well, I mean the park service is a little bit of an exceptional agency. I mean, we've been understaffed and underfunded for decades. So
people having to -- to work three or four jobs is standard order of operations.
But the -- and so it kind of builds a camaraderie, you know. It's a -- we're -- we're really tight-knit family. You really can't work in a park
service for more than a couple years before either knowing a lot of the focus in your region or at least you know somebody who knows them.
But, you know, we're feeling is the fact that you know, they just keep doing they're voting on the same bill over and over again and each side is
blaming each other. And, you know, as a federal employee, if I was in that position and I kept breaking the same thing again and again, I -- I
wouldn't -- I wouldn't have my job or I would be, you know, shifted to some other position. I wouldn't certainly have the responsibility that they
have.
And it's -- it's just -- it's just -- it's ridiculous. I spent -- you know, the Republicans are -- they've been hanging on the drum for the past week
how. You know, they love the federal employees and they're trying to get them paid and that's just the furthest thing from the truth.
They spent their entire administration, you know, gutting the -- the federal workforce and now suddenly they care for us. I mean, the folks at
work and the federal agencies aren't buying that at all.
GOLODRYGA: Mark, we know that October is a huge month for school trips and visits at Gettysburg. I mean just anecdotally even my daughter had a trip
planned to Philadelphia that had to be postponed because of the government shutdown. That's a small price to pay.
But if you magnify that across the country, we're focused so much on education, in civics, and history. And the fact that you're having perhaps
millions of school children have this impact very important field trips like in learning opportunities like this. Just talk about some of your
concerns about that specific aspect.
COCHRAN: Yes. Because October is -- especially in the northeast. It's -- it's one of the busiest seasons for us, for school groups. You know, the
weather is cooler. You know, the kids are back in school. They've just gotten used to the new routine. So then, you know, they go and they take a
-- a trip to a local historical destination. And Gettysburg is a park that has a lot of school bus visitors.
And like, yes, like you said, they're feeling the impact because the rangers, the interpretive rangers, they're not there at the park to provide
tours for the school groups.
And while Gettysburg does have a core of licensed battlefield guides, they're professional guides that can provide an amazing tour, you know,
they charge for their services unlike the, you know, federal park rangers.
So if you're coming from a smaller school district, you know, that you have to fundraise and, you know, sell brownies or pizzas or whatever just to get
that trip paid for, you're not going to have the money to suddenly at your destination. Oh, surprise.
Here's a -- you know, if you want a guided tour, you have to pay this guide to, you know, for services. So it's definitely impacting visitation in that
regards.
GOLODRYGA: Mark, I appreciate how throughout this conversation you haven't used the word I. You've been talking about your colleagues and those that
work with you and for you. We know that you are also having to sacrifice throughout this shutdown as well. You have a daughter in college. There
really is no end in sight here.
[12:15:07]
So I know that your own family's personal finances and situation are of a concern to you as well. So just know that -- that, you know, we are aware
of that and thinking of you as you are thinking of your colleagues and fellow employees there.
Thank you so much. Hopefully we'll see a resolution very soon.
ASHER: Thank you, Mark.
COCHRAN: I appreciate it.
ASHER: Good luck.
COCHRAN: And thank you for letting me tell my story.
ASHER: Of course. Of course.
All right. As the shutdown rolls on Trump and Republicans continue to shoulder more blame the Democrats, that's according to public polls. You
know who. Perfect.
GOLODRYGA: How do you always get to introduce him every single day?
ASHER: Do I? Do I really? Do I always introduce you, Harry?
GOLODRYGA: The only thing -- the only thing I make note of. The only thing I'm ever jealous of is who brings our friend Harry in.
ASHER: Harry in.
GOLODRYGA: Harry in.
ASHER: I know. We can both -- we can share the love with Harry.
GOLODRYGA: I just stole it from you.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: There's -- there's no I here. There's only we as, you know, as Bianna was saying. And we are going to learn
something during this segment and have a good time doing so.
So OK. So we got this shutdown going on right now. Nothing's happening. Day 22, no end in sight.
Well, the idea that Congress can't do anything, not really much of a surprise to me, guys. Why is that? Because let's just take a look at this
Congress so far.
Bill signed into law since 1953 at this point in the presidency. You know which Congress has the fewest? It's this one. Only 36. Only 36. The median
in Congress is at this point through a presidency, 87. So we're talking less than half. Even Biden had already signed into law, 51 laws at this
particular point, 51 bills signed into law. So he's running right now. The -- the track is running way below Biden, even so by 15 laws.
But again, this is a Congress, over the last few years, these Congresses simply haven't done anything. So the fact that we have the fewest this
year, not much of a surprise, because just take a look historically speaking, right? Bills and resolutions signed into law. This is full
Congresses since 1973.
Look at this, the median 478. The fewest was in fact the last Congress where it was just 274. Now, I went even further back into the history
books. I jumped into my DeLorean in my time machine. You know I love a good "Back to the Future" reference.
And it turns out that that 274 is the fewest of any Congress since the Civil War. And, of course, the Civil War ended 100 and what, 60 years ago,
my goodness gracious. So it's not just talking about this century, it's not just talking the last century. You have to go all the way back to the 19th
century to find Congresses that are as inept as the ones that we are currently dealing with.
Now at the beginning of this, right, we were talking about the blame game a little bit. And you know what the bottom line is, I just blame everyone at
this point. This is just my feeling towards life.
But when it comes to the American public, who is to blame for the shutdown? What we see is 50 percent say Republicans. We get this 43 percent who say
Democrats. So more Americans say Republicans are to blame than Democrats, as Zain was hinting at.
But here's the last little nugget I will end on, which is essentially this. Shutdowns are unpopular. But what's even more interesting is the one thing
that they actually passed, which we've spoken about before, is the One Big Beautiful Bill. And that remains historically unpopular, way underwater.
So it doesn't matter whether Congress is doing something or doing nothing. The American people dislike it. But the bottom line is we are family. And I
like and love both of you. And isn't that what's most important?
GOLODRYGA: Yes, it is, Harry. Family, camaraderie, big hug.
ASHER: While you were talking, Binna, I was -- we're actually debating. Who do you remind us of? Who do people tell you that you remind? Like which
sort of 1950s, 1960s comedian do you will tell you that you remind them of?
ENTEN: I mean, there could be any number. I mean, maybe Jackie Mason, Rodney Dangerfield. An old man trying to send soup back at a deli.
I mean, you can make any reference and it could kind of work. But what were you going to say?
GOLODRYGA: I -- I suggested --
ASHER: You're going to be very careful with this.
GOLODRYGA: I suggested Jerry Lewis. Is that bad?
ENTEN: Oh. No. Jerry -- Jerry -- Jerry Lewis is not bad. You know, although I will say, I think he is going to be more -- he is more popular in France
than I was. At least he could perhaps speak a lick of French. And we learned yesterday I can't speak French at all.
ASHER: I helped you, though. I helped you.
ENTEN: You did help me. That's what family does. They help bring up --
ASHER: That's what family does.
ENTEN: They help bring up their friends.
ASHER: The Chemin de Sevres. That's what you're talking about.
ENTEN: Yes.
GOLODRYGA: They've got bigger problems in France right now than how you -- your French language skills are -- are growing, Harry.
ENTEN: Yes. I -- I think that's right. I think they got a lot of problems there. Perhaps they can beef up the security just a little bit. Because as
I think we spoke about over (INAUDIBLE), it's -- it's hard to get deodorant to the CVS than it is to apparently steal quite (INAUDIBLE).
GOLODRYGA: That last came (INAUDIBLE).
ASHER: Especially.
GOLODRYGA: I sent that group chat last night.
All right. This was way off the rails here, but it was fun. I hope --
[12:20:01]
ENTEN: Whatever.
GOLODRYGA: -- everyone at home enjoyed it. Whatever.
ENTEN: We had fun. We learned that we had fun.
ASHER: You entertain us, Harry. That's why we like you.
GOLODRYGA: Chemistry is important.
All right, Harry. Thank you.
ENTEN: Bye.
GOLODRYGA: Bye.
All right. Separate incidents on Tuesday in America's two biggest cities show how tense things are getting when it comes to Donald Trump's crackdown
on undocumented migrants.
ASHER: Yes. In New York, protests broke out when immigration agents showed up in force in Lower Manhattan. They carried out a raid in an area where
many migrants are from Africa sell things like watches and purses on some of the street corners near Canal Street. Dozens of federal agents descended
on the area arresting an unknown number of people.
(CHANTING)
GOLODRYGA: And according to "The New York Times," by the evening, more than 100 protesters had gathered outside ICE offices in Lower Manhattan. New
York police had to push them out of the way to allow traffic to get through.
ASHER: Yes. Meantime, in Los Angeles, the federal marshal and an undocumented migrant were both injured after an immigration agent's weapon
was accidentally discharged.
The migrant involved in the incident is a popular TikTok streamer who was accused of ramming a law enforcement vehicle during an immigration arrest.
CNN's Veronica Miracle is tracing developments for us. Veronica, what's the latest here?
VERONICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Bianna and Zain, federal prosecutors have now identified the suspect as Carlito Ricardo Parias, a
44-year-old Mexican national who lives in South Los Angeles.
As you mentioned, a famous TikToker, well-known in the local community for the live streaming ICE arrests and documenting these and -- and spreading
them out into the community.
So investigators say that before the arrest happened, they were actually surveilling and monitoring him around his home and all of his activities.
They were conducting an immigration enforcement operation targeting Parias.
He apparently left his home, according to investigators, got in his car to leave. And that's when agents boxed him in. And he started to ram agents'
cars in order to try and escape. So agents then smashed his window.
And during that time, a gun discharged. Investigators say a bullet ended up striking Parias in the elbow, a bullet also ricocheted, and then hit a
deputy U.S. marshal on the hand. Both of them were taken to the hospital and recovering from their injuries.
But Parias' lawyer says that he is a citizen journalist who's actually been honored by the Los Angeles, a Los Angeles City Council member for the work
that he does for the immigrant community in the Los Angeles area.
Well, now, he is facing assault on a federal officer. And he is due in court today, later this afternoon, here in Los Angeles. Back to you guys.
ASHER: All right. Veronica Miracle live for us. Thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: And coming up on "One World," Melania Trump stands up for Ukrainian children. But why one of her comments has come under scrutiny?
We'll take a closer look.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS: Global warming is pushing our planet to the brink. Every one of the last 10 years has been
the hottest in history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Despite what scientists say, our European leaders moving back when it comes to climate change. We'll speak to a thought leader on this issue.
GOLODRYGA: The host of public figures from royalty to scientists are coming together to raise the alarm over the perils of AI superintelligence. We'll
have details, ahead.
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ASHER: All right. Child safety advocates are welcoming U.S. First Lady Melania Trump's efforts to help Ukrainian children. An unknown number of
children were taken from Ukraine to Russia during the war. One Yale researcher puts that number at $35,000.
GOLODRYGA: There was also a warning after the First Lady described Ukrainian children residing in Russia rather than acknowledge how they got
there.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bill Taylor, tell CNN that softening the language could work in Vladimir Putin's favor.
We're joined by Kylie Atwood in Washington. And, Kylie, listen, it -- it was a -- a -- a very emotional and strong and effective message from
Melania Trump months ago when she spoke out specifically on this issue. It caught President Putin's attention. That's for sure. He responded.
And in the end, I believe it was around eight Ukrainian children that they announced would be repatriated back to Ukraine.
But eight out of, you know, every child counts, obviously, but eight out of as many as 30,000 is just a drop in the bucket. And -- and it does seem
that there is concern about how intensely the White House, and seriously the White House, is taking this specific issue.
Tell us more about your reporting.
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. There's some concern when it comes to the tone coming from First Lady Melania Trump
on this, specifically advocates, as you said. Of course, welcomed the fact that there were eight Ukrainian children who were in Russia and now have
returned to their families because of the First Lady's efforts, because she said that she established an open channel with President Putin and was able
to get them back.
However, as you note, estimates are 20 to 35,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russia as a result of this war. And Melania Trump said
that Ukrainian children are residing in Russia. They have been displaced by the fighting.
And when you talk to advocates, they say that kind of language doesn't actually give a full visibility into what has happened here.
The fact that these are not just Ukrainian children residing in Russia, but these are many of them Ukrainian children who have been proactively
abducted by Russia from Ukraine, from their homes, from the places they were living where Russia is now fighting for Ukrainian territory.
So there are concerns about language. One advocate telling me that language matters here, that advocates are being very careful with the White House on
this topic because they don't want to alienate the First Lady. They want her to remain engaged on this, but they also don't want her language, as
you are saying, to play into President Putin's efforts to undermine this as a problem of the ongoing war.
So this is a space we'll continue to watch what the messaging looks like going forward from the White House on this. I do think it's important to
note that last week when President Zelenskyy was meeting with President Trump at the White House, there was a reporter who asked about this, and
Trump said that this was something that Melania wanted to get involved in on her own.
But President Zelenskyy didn't even weigh in on the topic. He shrugged and kind of looked at the reporter, but it demonstrates the sensitivities, I
think, around this.
The fact that he didn't take that moment to laud the First Lady's efforts, or, of course, to be critical in any way, shape, or form of what she's
trying to do here.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. He seems to have learned how to read the room a bit better in that -- in that scenario.
Kylie Atwood, thank you so much.
ASHER: All right. Still to come here on "One World," the discovery of the first mosquitoes in Iceland could be another alarming indicator of global
warming. We'll take a closer look at what that all means after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:41]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: And I'm Zain Asher.
We are seeing new and alarming impacts that scientists say could be related to climate change. Until now, Iceland's extreme cold had protected it from
mosquitoes.
But this month, scientists announced the discovery of three mosquitoes in Iceland, marking that country's first ever confirmed sighting of the
insects in the wild.
While scientists' cautions against directly linking the discovery to climate change, it suggest it could be a factor.
GOLODRYGA: And scientists believe warming temperatures contributed to a landslide in Alaska's Tracy Arm Fjord in August, creating a massive tsunami
and powerful currents, miles away actually pulling a cruise ship backwards.
ASHER: Despite all the worrying indicators, European leaders now want to insert a clause in the E.U.'s new climate policy, one that would allow them
to water down their commitments in the future. That's according to a document drafted ahead of tomorrow's big E.U. climate summit.
GOLODRYGA: In the meantime, the U.N. Secretary General is urging governments to do more, not less. Antonio Guterres says one thing that's
needed is better disaster warning systems because of fear that efforts to cap global warming are failing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUTERRES: Global warming is pushing our planet to the brink. Every one of the last 10 years has been the hottest in history. Ocean bear its -- is --
ocean heat is breaking records while decimating ecosystems.
[12:35:11]
And no country is safe from fires, floods, storms, and heat waves.
If there is a paradigm shift and people assume seriously that we need to deal with the problem, it is possible to anticipate as much as possible to
get to net zero.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. Time now for "The Exchange." Joining me live now is Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, the giant French company specializing
in water and waste management and energy services. Estelle, thank you so much for being with us.
This idea of waste as a resource, just in terms of effective solutions for climate change, waste as a resource is really central to Veolia's,
basically, business model.
How far away are we from achieving long-term solutions as it pertains to getting us to a circular economy in our society? And what are some of the
barriers there?
ESTELLE BRACHLIANOFF, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, VEOLIA: And thanks for your kind words and introduction.
That's right. You know, Veolia is a leader world of environmental services, which is wastewater and energy. And all that combined to tackle what we've
just seen on the screen before, which is, you know, droughts followed by flooding where the leader in water technologies as well as, you know,
making waste a resource and depollution and decontamination.
So -- so that's exactly what we do as a business. We have great ambition in the U.S. to double the size of our U.S. business to 10 billion by the end
of the decade.
And coming back to your question about circular economy, you know, we can use our waste to mine -- as a mine to find things such as rare metals, for
instance, you know, in our used car batteries. That's just one example to give you an idea of the scale of what can be achieved.
GOLODRYGA: So Veolia is the world's largest environmental services company. I believe the revenue of about $50 billion. How do you balance the pressure
to grow profitably with your mission with what you call ecological transformation, especially when, as we also noted in the introduction here
in the U.S., the world's largest economy, you're seeing some policies and administration goals that seem to deviate from that of your own business
models.
BRACHLIANOFF: Now, very interesting question. And again, you know, we have an ambition to double the size of our business in the U.S. by the end of
the decade, which would make us the largest country in Veolia as a footprint.
How is that so given what you just said? Because we are on powerful trend. The demand of the population is very clear in terms of, for instance,
treating pollutants such as PFAS and forever chemicals.
Another big trend in the U.S. is what strategic industries such as data centers or micro-e (ph), they all desperately need water. And we are here
to provide the solution, the technologies to recycle water, to treat pollutants. That's exactly what we do.
So the underlying demand, be it from industry or the population, is absolutely enormous, whatever the political agenda. It's really a
bipartisan, you know, series of solution that we're talking about here and developing.
ASHER: Yes. You bring up such an important point about PFAS and also forever chemicals, just this idea of not just tackling water scarcity, but
also clean water. I know that forever chemicals, in my municipality, is -- is a big issue and a big concern for me and my children.
When it comes to technologies, though, just walk us through which technologies are going to be game changers in terms of environmental
services, whether it's A.I., digital services. Just -- just give us your take on that.
BRACHLIANOFF: So I guess it's all of the above. And Veolia is the first depositors of patent in water technologies. So, you know, and I would
suggest your communities come back to ask us, you know, what type of solution we may have to solve the problem you face.
You know, some of them, the highest technologies are very, you know, new in terms of filtration to remove pollution such as PFAS. And we've published
recently a -- a -- a very scientific paper of which we can destroy them 99.999 percent. So that's a big -- a big breakthrough, technology-wise, in
treating pollutant.
Another one is using A.I. for very important subject such as, you know, be more efficient in the way we -- we operate networks as in water networks.
We can reduce leakage, you know, by, you know, using A.I. applied to this type of distribution network. That's another one. We can improve the energy
efficiency of all the plant we operate. So A.I. applied to industrial needs is something really we are at the forefront at Veolia.
[12:40:01]
ASHER: All right. Estelle Brachlianoff, thank you. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
BRACHLIANOFF: Thank you very much.
GOLODRYGA: All right. All right. Coming up for us, a brand-new rival to Google's Chrome is unveiled. And this A.I. powered browser offers something
different than your traditional web search.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Let's quickly see how the U.S. markets are doing right now. OK. Down across the board. The Dow is down just half a percent. S&P,
similar. NASDAQ down more than one percent. This is your "Business Breakout."
GOLODRYGA: Well, gold's record rally came to a crashing halt Tuesday when prices tumbled more than five percent. It is the largest sell-off of the
precious metal in over a decade.
Losses are continuing today. This over optimism about easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China and a rebound in the U.S. dollar, prompting
investors to lock in their profits.
ASHER: Yes. Walmart, America's largest private sector employer, is pausing job offers to applicants who need H-1B visas to work in the United States.
The policy change comes after President Donald Trump announced a $100,000 fee on the visas designed for highly skilled positions that companies
struggled to fill.
GOLODRYGA: ChatGPT maker, OpenAI, has unveiled a new web browser powered by artificial intelligence. ChatGPT Atlas is a direct competitor to Google's
Chrome, the most popular browser in the world. It's available on Apple's Mac OS operating system, Windows iOS, and Android versions are coming soon.
ASHER: A slew of mega celebrities, including the British Royals, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, to English singer Kate Bush, political
strategist Steve Bannon, as well as computer scientists, economists, artists and others are joining to call for a ban on computer
superintelligence. They say it could pose a threat to humanity itself someday.
GOLODRYGA: Their statement adds to a growing chorus of calls for an A.I. slowdown. This as Google, Meta, OpenAI, and others are pouring billions of
dollars into new A.I. models and the data centers that power them.
ASHER: CNN's business and economics reporter Anna Cooban joins us live now from London.
I mean, I think the big fear is we could get to a point and where -- I mean, A.I. is obviously advancing so quickly.
But the big fear here is that we could get to a point where A.I. is essentially much, much smarter than humans themselves and that does pose a
massive threat. Walk us through, Anna.
[12:45:04]
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: Well, exactly. And to -- the count is about three -- 1,300 people have signed this letter, which is
calling for a moratorium on the development of so-called superintelligence.
Now, what that really means is that A.I. systems will in the future. This system hasn't been developed yet, but would be more -- significantly more
intelligence than the average human or most humans at any given number of cognitive tasks.
Now, what they are calling for is two conditions need to be met before this ban can be lifted. The first is that there is a scientific consensus that
developing these systems are, you know, can be safe, can be controllable, but also that there is public support and they cite appalling data from the
future of life institute, which is a non-profit, which shows that only five percent of American adults are happy with the current state of unfettered,
unregulated A.I. development, at least in -- in the United States.
But you are right, there's a real smorgasbord of names on there. You've got Meghan Markle, you also got Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple. You've
got Susan Rice, the former national security adviser to Barack Obama. And you've got Will.i.am, the rapper and the singer. So, clearly, fears are on
A.I. really do create some unlikely bedfellows.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. I think, you know, full disclosure and just objectively what's more alarming is when you hear from the actual experts in this field
that are saying, hey, slow down, then some of the celebrities that you have named on that list. But it's clear that there are a lot of industries that
they're worried about impacting too.
What other risks does this letter highlight?
COOBAN: Well, this letter, in a short of total annihilation, it highlights more risks, one being the totals of economic obsolescence of humans. So
basically us all losing our jobs.
It also highlights risks to our freedoms, our civil liberties. And it's important to note that the people developing these systems themselves,
high-profile people like Elon Musk, the head of xAI, and also Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, the -- the darling of the A.I.
world. They have both highlighted huge extraordinary risks.
And Musk himself said earlier this year that he reckons as an up to 20 percent chance of, quote, unquote, A.I. going rogue or going bad.
Sam Altman himself, in a blog post 10 years ago, was saying that superintelligence, this super version of A.I., is something which threatens
the existence of humanity.
ASHER: All right. Anna Cooban, live for us there. Thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: Well, a group of activist investors say it's trying to revive Six Flags, the struggling amusement park operator. It includes Travis
Kelce, of all people, the Kansas City Chiefs football star, and fiance of Taylor Swift. Kelce said he grew up going to Six Flags as did I. And he
couldn't pass a chance to make it special for the next generation.
ASHER: The North Carolina based company says visitor numbers have tumbled, blaming recent bad weather. And the fact that American consumers are
actually spending less, it shares surged after news that Kelce's group had bought a nine percent stake.
I can't do roller-coaster rides. I -- I can't. I mean, after I turned, I think 18.
GOLODRYGA: No, no. For sure, I don't go now. But as a kid --
ASHER: Be honest, Bianna. You just went last week, right?
GOLODRYGA: Exactly. Sitting in the front row. Hands up in the air.
ASHER: (INAUDIBLE) that's my body.
GOLODRYGA: No, no way.
All right. Coming up, well, he's Space Jam -- I love this story. I love this guy. He's space jamming back to basketball after two decades off the
court. The GOAT, no debate about it. Michael Jordan's return to the game, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:05]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Basketball is back. The NBA season tipped off Tuesday night.
ASHER: The defending chants from Oklahoma City were given a championship rings featuring more than 800 custom cut gemstones.
After collecting their bling, the Thunder played a thrilling game against the Houston Rockets, eventually needing two overtimes to pull off the
victory.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. My son still says that the Rockets are going to win this season with Kevin Durant joining the team.
Anyway, let's switch back to the reason we're talking about this. He's lacing up his Air Jordans once again. But this time, it is to stand on the
sidelines.
ASHER: The GOATs of hoops, the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan, made his debut in a new role as a contributor for NBC's coverage of the NBA.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Our Don Riddell joins us with more on what may have been the negotiation behind this --
ASHER: I want to know what he's being paid. That's what I wonder.
GOLODRYGA: -- to get Michael Jordan to come back all these years later.
First of all, indisputable goat. I'm sorry. We love LeBron. I know Kobe. All of these greats, but no one, no one is better than Michael Jordan.
What drew him back to the television?
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Well, maybe some of this bit of money, I think.
GOLODRYGA: If he needs it.
ASHER: That's the thing. It's like how much do we need?
GOLODRYGA: He's like a billionaire now. Exactly.
RIDDELL: All right. Let me explain what he's doing then. So it's a part of the NBA returning to the NBC network for the first time in over two
decades.
Jordan is making appearances as a special contributor. On the coverage last night, he sat down with Mike Tirico. And Tirico asked Jordan, when was the
last time he played basketball. Jordan said, he never plays.
However, he did pick up a ball while staying at someone's house at the Ryder Cup recently last month. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL JORDAN, RETIRED PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER: He says, I want you to shoot one free throw. I said, really? Now I already paid for the -- I
already paid for the house. He's got like he got to see me.
So when I stepped up to shoot the free throw, it's the most nervous I've been in years.
MIKE TIRICO, AMERICAN SPORTS COMMENTATOR: Stop it.
JORDAN: In years.
TIRICO: Stop it. Come on.
JORDAN: And reason being is those kids heard the stories from their parents about what I did 30 years ago.
TIRICO: Right.
JORDAN: So the expectation is 30 years prior and I haven't touched the basketball.
TIRICO: I hope you switched it.
JORDAN: Absolutely. I got the most gratifying that -- that -- that made my whole week.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIDDELL: Oh, great story.
Now to the action on the court. And if the season opener is a sign of anything to come, then the Western Conference is going to be as tough as
ever this season.
Before tip-off, the Thunder, as you guys have been saying, raising their first ever championship banner, getting their bling. The Rockets,
meanwhile, rolling out the tallest starting lineup for an opener ever, average height is six foot 10.
Kevin Durant playing shooting guard. Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderhad just 11 points through three quarters, but then he turned it on at this bucket,
tied the game with two seconds left. Meaning we went into overtime.
Fast forward to double overtime. KD to Alperen Sengun, putting the Rockets up by one with 11 seconds left. Sengun at 39 points. But then SGA showed
off his skills, finally getting KD to foul him. He made both three throws.
SGA with 24 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and the overtime periods. Thunder winning a thriller, opening up the season with a 125 to
124 win.
Elsewhere, the Lakers hosting the Warriors in the other match-up of the opening night. LeBron missing this one with sciatica. First time in his
career that he's missed a season opener.
Without him, Luka led the way. Doncic pouring in 43 points. But Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry had just too much in the end. Curry putting the game
away with that deep three as the Warriors edged it by 119 to 109.
What a fabulous evening's entertainment that was both on and off the court.
[12:55:03]
GOLODRYGA: Basketball is back.
ASHER: While you were speaking, Don, Bianna is actually showing me a photograph that she has with Michael Jordan -- Michael Jordan. I wish the
audience could actually see it, fro 10 years ago.
GOLODRYGA: I interviewed him 11 -- 11 years ago. Yes.
RIDDELL: Come on. Show us. Show us.
GOLODRYGA: I don't know if you can zoom in. We played golf together. I -- I attempted to play golf. He's a great golfer. I attempted. It was for a
charity of his that I interviewed him for.
RIDDELL: Yes.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. I don't know if you can --
RIDDELL: He is -- he is a great golfer. He's on the right (INAUDIBLE).
GOLODRYGA: I'm very proud of this photo.
All right. Don --
ASHER: We'll let you go. Don looked like, please let me go. Please let me go.
GOLODRYGA: All right. That does it for one world. I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: I'm Zain Asher. Thank you so much for watching. This lovely lady will be back after the break with "Amanpour."
GOLODRYGA: More M.J. pictures here. OK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:00:00]
END
END
