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One World with Zain Asher
Sources: Iran Rebuilding Military, Producing Drones; President Trump Proposes Major Diplomatic Shift; Mixed Reactions After U.S. Indictment Against Raul Castro; U.S. Doctor With Ebola Receiving Treatment In Germany; New Details About Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Trade Envoy Role; Trump Administration Proposes Admitting More White South African Refugees; SpaceX To Go Public, Musk Could Become Trillionaire; Actor Noah Wyle Leads "healthcare Is Human" Rally On Capitol Hill; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired May 21, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:37]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. A disagreement among friends. Sources tells CNN that when it comes to Iran, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu
are not seeing eye-to-eye.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: The second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: You can get a good deal, done. That would be great. I'm not here to tell you that it's going to happen for
sure, but I'm here to tell you that we're going to do everything we can to see if we can get one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Negotiate or fight. Iran says they're prepared either way.
ASHER: Also ahead, Ebola restrictions, passengers on their way to the United States from an affected region will undergo a health screening.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NOAH WYLE, AMERICAN ACTOR: Cancer isn't partisan. Health -- heart disease isn't partisan, so healthcare policy shouldn't be partisan either.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Talking the talk and walking the walk. Actor Noah Wyle takes his passion for healthcare from the small screen to Capitol Hill.
ASHER: And later, the video you have to see to believe. The moment an officer saves the baby tossed from the window of a burning home. More on
that, ahead.
ASHER: 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."
As Tehran says, it is ready to either negotiate or fight, the U.S. president is weighing his options amid fresh signs of friction over the
path forward.
ASHER: Yes. U.S. official confirms a tense phone call between Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who's pushing for renewed
military action. Donald Trump decided to hold off on new strikes on Iran to leave room for negotiations.
U.S. Secretary of State, heading to a NATO meeting said there has been some progress in that front as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUBIO: If we can't get a good deal, the president's been clear, he has other options. I'm not going to elaborate on what those are but everybody
knows what those are.
But his preference is always a deal. His preference is always an agreement. His preference is always diplomacy. So let's see if we can get there.
There are some good signs, but we understand this. I don't want to be overly optimistic as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: This comes as new U.S. intelligence finds that Tehran has restarted some of its drone production during the six weeks ceasefire that
began in April.
ASHER: White House correspondent Alayna Treene joins us live now.
So Alayna, I mean, it's fair to say that Iran poses a very different threat to Israel compared to the threat that it poses to United States.
Just in terms of where both leaders agree and disagree, just in terms of their short and long-term goals, where is there some degree of misalignment
here, Alayna?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think the biggest part of misalignment is, of course, on how to proceed right now at this point with
the Iran war.
Netanyahu has consistently been trying to pressure the United States to move forward with a far more aggressive strategy and specifically continue
combat operations rather than, you know, halt the war and attacks in order to settle this diplomatically.
Now, of course, we've been reporting for weeks now and really throughout this entire ceasefire that President Trump, someone who wanted this war to
end, I should note, weeks ago, really pushing for a diplomatic deal here.
He wants there to be a deal at the end of this. And from the conversations I've had and this remains true today, does not want to see major combat
operations resume.
He would prefer there to be no more strikes and to settle this all diplomatically. And I apologize for some of the commotion behind me.
But look, this all kind of rear its head during a call we were told on Tuesday when it became very tense, and partly that was because on Sunday,
the two leaders had also spoken.
And in that initial call, Trump had actually told Netanyahu that he was finally ready to move forward with more strikes. He was getting fed up with
waiting to see whether or not the Iranians would come to the table in a more serious way and decided that the way to force them to the table would
be to continue these strikes. And, of course, we know the military had plans that were ready to go.
But then the next day, he halted those, after talking with different allies in the Gulf, places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
And then he spoke with Netanyahu again on Tuesday and that's when essentially Netanyahu told him he believed that he was making a mistake by
not continuing with his plan to attack. And also arguing, and this is something I've heard, that has been a consistent kind of problem for
Netanyahu and Israel overall is this idea that Iran is never going to agree to some of the most red line demands that the U.S. has.
[12:05:20]
And so I think what this show is really, as you both pointed out, is this idea that they have kind of diverging views and objectives at this point
and specifically on the best pathway that they believe will get them the solutions that they need to end this war.
ASHER: All right. Alayna Treene, live for us. Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Flanked by the Marine Corps band, I think, fittingly, walking behind Alayna. Thank you.
ASHER: Yes, indeed. I love that. Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Let's bring in Israeli journalist, Amit Segal. He is the chief political commentator of channel 12 and the author of the
newsletter, "It's Noon in Israel" and he's joining us now live from Jerusalem. Amit, it's good to have you back on the program.
So let's pick up there with the reporting now, multiple news outlets citing what is described as a tense conversation between President Trump and Prime
Minister Netanyahu, "Axios," saying, one source claimed the prime minister's quote, hair was on fire.
We know Trump, at least publicly, is continuing to push for a diplomatic path, perhaps expanding the ceasefire even further and declaring yesterday
publicly that Prime Minister Netanyahu will do whatever he wants him to do.
This is an election season for the prime minister. Just give us what you're hearing from sources.
How deep of a divide is there now between these two leaders? How is Prime Minister Netanyahu reacting to this public posture, at least from President
Trump?
SEGAL: So, I think there are two contradicting point of views here. One is that the attack is imminent, that the IDF and the U.S. Air Force are
crossing the T's and dotting the I's of yet another round of fighting this time more dramatic than the last two.
Every single passenger who went through Ben Gurion Airport, the (INAUDIBLE) airports in Israel could have seen dozens of tankers of American tankers
preparing for attack.
And the other point of view is exactly the opposite, that Netanyahu and Trump burned the midnight oil having a tense conversation. And this
midnight oil burned Netanyahu's hair.
And I think, to be honest, that it is all of the above. It's quite clear that President Trump doesn't believe or -- or doesn't want another round of
fighting.
It's rather clear that Prime Minister Netanyahu is quite skeptical about the prospects of negotiations to actually reach something which is more
than symbolic.
And yet, I think that at the end of the day, the chances for an agreement between the U.S. and the fundamentalist regime of Iran are quite low. I
don't think that the maximum, that they are willing to give, meets the minimum that President Trump is willing to take.
ASHER: Amit, if there is a long-term peace deal between the U.S. and Iran without regime change, without an uprising from the Iranian people, without
the full destruction of Iran's nuclear capabilities, knowing that Iran can and likely will rebuild their missile capabilities in just a few months, as
we've seen reporting, would this war have been a waste for Israel?
SEGAL: I think so. Yes. I don't -- do not see it happening, but yes. I think there are two goals that if -- if even one is achieved, this war has
already been in a success.
One is the enriched uranium, the sword on the Israeli neck, and in my opinion the Middle Eastern and the World Neck, but it's something else, the
world's throat, and the regime itself.
Now, if an agreement is achieved, not only we push the pause button, we push the rewind button because all these functions are to be eased, the
frozen Iranian money is to be handed directly to the IRGC, and the protesters, while still in the waiting, will understand that a help is not
on its way.
And that's why I think Israel would prefer to see the -- the number-one scenario is not to see any agreement and to keep it exactly as it is going
now, see generally the whole Strait of Hormuz, and the various -- the various sanctions.
However, since no one is quite sure that the political atmosphere in the United States would allow it to happen, so the ball is in the United
States' court.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And we'll have to see what ends up with the Strait of Hormuz, because from the Iranians' perspective, the ball is in their court
in terms of who has control over it right now, and that is something President Trump and the rest of the world says cannot be the case going
forward.
[12:10:05]
It is true. I was just in Israel last week. I saw dozens of those U.S. tankers. There was speculation as to whether the war was imminent to -- to
resume. And we're still in wait-and-see mode.
I do want to turn to a new controversy involving far-right Israeli minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. A video of him taunting detained activist who
were part of a flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza is sparking a global outcry. Israel's prime minister, foreign minister, issuing a rare public
rebuke against their own cabinet member.
You wrote about this in your newsletter today calling Ben-Gvir a reputational arsonist, writing that Ben-Gvir's photo op achieved absolutely
nothing, yet the diplomatic bill is staggering.
So that just leads to the question because this isn't the first infraction that we've seen from Ben-Gvir. At this point, given the reputational damage
to the country at a very, very sensitive time for Prime Minister Netanyahu as it relates to this war and his relationship with the United States, why
doesn't he just fire him?
SEGAL: Let's call a spade to spade. Ben-Gvir is in the business of provocations. He got, not only the gift of the gap (ph), but the gift of
the TikTok, and this is the only thing that matters to him.
He doesn't really care about Israeli policy. And all he cares about is the upcoming election and having more likes on his Facebook and Twitter
accounts.
However, since because of the highly divided Israeli political atmosphere for Netanyahu to fire Ben-Gvir is like for President Trump to give up the
votes, the electoral votes of Florida and Arizona altogether. Ben-Gvir gives him the majority.
Now, we are -- Israelis heading to the polls. And if following post-October 7th, the right and the left in Israel would agree that unity is more
important than getting an outright majority at the expense of your political opponent, I think it's -- it's going to pave the way for a better
government.
Because I think Ben-Gvir carries a heavy damage for Israel's reputation. And I think it's a huge problem now. While it's quite clear, I guess, that
I'm not going to be a member of his fan club, we still have to remember that those activists were partly former ISIS activists, that they wanted to
-- to break the international law and the local law, that it's not the first time they want to help Hamas, that they are funded by NGOs (PH)
affiliated with Hamas.
And having all that said, I'm not sure, anywhere from the Netherlands or Belgium or the United States fully understand this, because when you see --
when you see a minister surrounded by police officers, humiliating detainees, you might feel that they are miserable. And I think it was a
prize to terrorism and anti-Israeli sentiment.
GOLODRYGA: Well, whatever those activists, whatever their intentions were, whatever groups they may or may not have been affiliated with, wasn't just
any minister, it was the national security minister. And those were his police officers that were surrounding him, which is one reason why we've
seen so much condemnation around the world.
Amit Segal, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.
SEGAL: Thank you so much.
ASHER: All right. In an unprecedented diplomatic move, President Trump tells reporters that he would speak to Taiwan's leader to work on what he
calls the Taiwan problem.
GOLODRYGA: The U.S. and Taiwanese presidents have not had direct contact since 1979. CNN's Will Ripley unpacks the president's comments.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: U.S. President Donald Trump may have just cracked open one of the most sensitive diplomatic
taboos in U.S.-China relations.
Ask if he plans to call Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te, before deciding on a $14 billion weapons package, Trump said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I'll speak to him. I speak to everybody. We have that situation very well in hand. We had a
great meeting with President Xi. It was really -- it was amazing, actually. It was amazing. Many of you were there.
We'll work on that, the Taiwan problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: That phrase, Taiwan problem immediately raised eyebrows in Taipei, because Trump first praised Xi Jinping, then described Democratic Taiwan in
terms that sounded strikingly similar to Beijing's own rhetoric.
Still, if a Trump-like call actually happens, it would be hugely symbolic for Taiwan, and potentially deeply unsettling at the same time.
Trump often talks off the cuff. The White House is not confirming any plans for a call, but this would not be the first time Trump shattered diplomatic
norms around Taiwan.
Back in 2016, Trump stunned Beijing by accepting a congratulatory phone call from then-Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen, the highest-level direct
contact between U.S. and Taiwanese leaders in decades.
China reacted furiously, and the stakes now are even higher. China's military pressure around Taiwan has intensified dramatically since then,
with near-daily military activity around the island.
[12:15:08]
Taiwan president Lai Ching-te sounded careful Wednesday when asked what he would say if he really does have a chance to speak with President Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAI CHING-TE, TAIWANESE PRESIDENT (through translator): Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential for global security and prosperity.
My administration maintains the status quo without being provocative or submissive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: Lai also stressed, Taiwan is increasing defense spending. It wants military cooperation with the U.S. to continue.
So now, officials across Asia are trying to decode what Trump actually meant. Was he signaling support for Taiwan, echoing Beijing's view that
Taiwan is a complication to be managed? Or suggesting Taiwan could become part of a much bigger negotiation with Xi Jinping.
Right now, nobody seems completely sure.
Will Ripley, CNN, Bangkok.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Our thanks to Will Ripley for that report.
Meantime, Cuba is condemning what it calls a despicable accusation made by the U.S. against Raul Castro.
America's top diplomat Marco Rubio spoke to reporters about Wednesday's indictment and recent tensions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUBIO: Cuba has consistently posed the threat to the national security of the United States. And the other thing that poses a threat to the national
security of the United States is to have a failed state 90 miles from our shores run by friends of our adversaries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: This latest escalation in U.S.-Cuba relations focuses on Castro's alleged role in the shooting down of two planes back in 1996, killing four
people.
CNN's Carolina Peguero joins us live now from Miami.
It's interesting because one of the things that Marco Rubio touched upon or rather didn't touch upon is he was actually asked whether or not Raul
Castro would be extracted and extradited to the United States. He wouldn't give a definitive answer.
But it is important to note that when you think about what happened in 1996, the downing of these two planes, this is -- this was a defining
moment for a lot of Cuban-Americans. Many of whom live in Miami. I mean, a lot of them watch that with so much despair.
Just walk us through the reaction just in terms of people you've been speaking to, to this indictment against Raul Castro.
CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good afternoon, Zain and Bianna. Of course, here in Miami, just 24 hours from that historic indictment by
the Department of Justice and acting attorney federal attorney Todd Blanche.
We have received reactions from all over. Some people are celebrating. Some are very emotional. And others are a little skeptical or per se have still
some questions on what would be the next steps of the United States, especially if they would be able to bring a 94-year-old ex-president from
Cuba here to the United States and go to a federal court to basically just be able to see him in person would be already a big move for a lot of
Cubans in exile here in Miami.
We're talking about just in Miami-Dade County. There are around 1.1 million people that fled from communism and that fled from the government of Raul
Castro and Fidel Castro.
We've spoken to a lot of the family members as well of those fallen volunteers from the brothers of the rescue humanitarian group that used to
fly in these planes across the Florida Strait looking for Cubans that were in makeshift rafts along international waters and Cuba's coast to bring
them here to the United States.
Now, I spoke specifically to Miriam de la Pena. She is Mario de la Pena's mother. He was one of the pilots that was struck down by the Cuban
government, the first plane, and the youngest pilot to be able -- to be able to help this organization.
Let's listen to what she has to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIRIAM DE LA PENA, MOTHER OF KILLED PILOY MARIO DE LA PENA: I feel that it's been a good day for justice to prevail. And I hope to see Raul Castro
in -- in U.S. courts.
PEGUERO: Would you like to see him and the others implicated just like how Nicolas Maduro was brought here to the United States from Venezuela?
DE LA PENA: How they bring him to the United States is up to the U.S. If they have to bring him on a stretcher to make him comfortable, that's fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PEGUERO: Now, we also have been getting reactions from all over the world, political leaders. We have to also talk about that Trump meant just days
ago with Xi Jinping in China, and we have reaction from the foreign minister.
"The U.S. needs to stop threatening Cuba with force. China firmly supports Cuba and safeguarding national sovereignty and national dignity and
opposing external interference."
[12:20:01]
Along a relationship with China and Cuba, we'll see what other world leaders have to say on this indictment.
Zain.
ASHER: All right. Carolina Peguero, thank you so much. Appreciate it.
GOLODRYGA: Now to the latest efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak. As of Wednesday, the WHO has linked the outbreak to more than 100 deaths and 600
suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the eastern DRC, CNN is told angry residents through projectiles causing a blaze at a hospital treating some Ebola patients.
ASHER: Meantime, U.S. Department of Homeland Security says that some U.S. bound flights with passengers from an Ebola affected region of Africa must
allow land at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
Fred Pleitgen has more on an American physician who tested positive for the virus several days ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A heavily protected convoy of special ambulances carrying American Peter
Stafford to Germany's top infectious disease hospital in the middle of the night. The medical doctor working in Eastern Congo confirmed to have
contracted a strand of the highly contagious and deadly Ebola virus.
The Serge missionary charity that sent Dr. Stafford and his family to Congo for medical work, telling CNN they're concerned but hopeful he'll pull
through.
MATT ALLISON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SERGE: He's in a state of mind and of health that he's able to communicate with us. He continues to have a fever,
dizziness, lightness of -- of head, and some nausea, which is fairly typical symptoms for Ebola.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): The infectious disease ward at Berlin's Charite Hospital is known as one of the best in the world. Peter Stafford's wife
Rebekah, and their four children also isolated here, even though they remain asymptomatic.
Another U.S. doctor, Patrick LaRochelle, who had contact with Peter Stafford while in Congo, flown to the Czech Republic for isolation and
observation.
PLEITGEN: The sign that you see behind me says, restricted area danger of infection. This is as close as we can get to the actual isolation ward,
where the hospital says the American patient is getting the best care possible.
ALLISON: He's getting like a monoclonal antibody treatment. He's in the center of excellence for Ebola care with doctors who have treated Ebola
before.
You know, a day ago he needed assistance to even walk into the containment unit for his air evac, and so we -- we see some progress, and we're really
encouraged.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): But encouragement is hard to come by in the areas affected by the Ebola outbreak in Eastern Congo, Uganda, and possibly South
Sudan. A vicious strand of the virus, for which no vaccine exists that causes severe pain, internal and external bleeding, and bruises often
ending in death.
The World Health Organization now classifying this outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. Dozens already killed by the
virus, and the number of infections rapidly rising, the W.H.O. says.
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: We expect those numbers to keep increasing, given the amount of time the
virus was circulating before the outbreak was detected.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): Ebola's mortality rates are extremely high, but German health officials say their doctors are well equipped to give the
U.S. citizen their treating the best chance of survival and recovery.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. Still to come, new revelations about Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor. Well, the newly released documents tell us about the former prince, next.
GOLODRYGA: Plus, the Trump White House wants to boost the number of white South African refugees entering the U.S. Why it's calling this an emergency
refugee situation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:25:24]
GOLODRYGA: The U.K. government has found no evidence that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was vetted prior to his appointment as British trade
envoy in 2001. Andrew left the role in 2011, due to his links with Jeffrey Epstein.
ASHER: And new documents released today also show the late Queen Elizabeth pushed for Andrew's appointment to the role. Max Foster has details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, various letters between government officials and palace officials as well. As you say, no prior
vetting. Some argue that would be normal because members of the royal family would have done trade work before. So not necessarily unexpected,
particularly for that period, but perhaps more surprising is that no one else was considered for the role.
And questions were raised in the various letters here about whether he had any experience in this. He had just left the navy, but not necessarily an
experience in trade. So that's one question.
I think one part that everyone is picking up on is an official suggesting that the late Queen, Andrew's mother, was very keen that Andrew take on a
prominent role. And the Queen's wish was for him to serve as trade envoy.
So that push may have been something that encouraged the government to allow him to do this job, which of course, as you say, he left in 2011 over
the Epstein links.
And he's currently under investigation because of what he may have linked in relation to those Epstein links as well. He denies any wrongdoing, of
course, we've reported before.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Max Foster, reporting there.
GOLODRYGA: All right. He had one of the most successful careers of any tennis player in history, 22 Grand Slams, 209 weeks as world number one, of
course we're talking about Rafael Nadal, who retired two years ago as one of the sport's greats.
However, many fans have no idea how close it all came to never happening.
ASHER: Now, in a Netflix documentary reveals a career beset by injuries, setbacks, and mental health struggles.
In his first major interview ahead of the show's premiere on May 29th, Nadal speaks to our Christiane Amanpour about his battle to stay on top of
his game when he felt anything but.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN ANCHOR: Tell me about the level of anxiety and stress, having to go out, for instance, at one point with a bottle of water
the whole time, you know, and -- and how you work through that.
RAFAEL NADAL, 22-TIME TENNIS GRAND SLAM CHAMPION: Probably because I went through a lot of injuries, a lot of pressure, and, right for a moment, that
in some way you are not able to handle all the -- all of this. And even if, in my mind, I was able to handle all of this, a right point that your mind
fails, you know, and that's what -- that's what happened.
So when, OK, I always thought that I need to fix things for myself in terms of mental -- mental strength, you know. But a right moment that when I was
-- my feeling was, OK, I cannot go out on the street without the bottle of water on my hand.
So, yes, that's a big, that's a big, big. So I need to find help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: A champion in every realm, really there, and perseverance and obviously talent on the court.
You can watch Christiane's full interview with Rafael Nadal next hour here on CNN.
We'll be right back with more after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:58]
ASHER: I want to take you back for a moment to exactly one year ago when this unforgettable moment happened in the Oval Office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Excuse me, turn the lights down. Turn the lights down and just put this on. It's right behind you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: U.S. President Donald Trump played this video for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa alleging that genocide was happening to white
farmers in South Africa, obviously Mr. Ramaphosa's country. That claim, of course, strongly denied by South African authorities.
And as President Trump played host to the South African leader, Mr. Ramaphosa suggested they talk about it calmly.
GOLODRYGA: Well, now, CNN has learned that the Trump administration wants to more than double the number of white South African refugees allowed into
the United States. That is according to a document sent to Congress and obtained by CNN.
Last year, the administration restricted the number of all refugees allowed into the U.S. annually to 7,500.
ASHER: Yes. It's now 17,500. Time now for "The Exchange."
Our next guest is the president of FWD.us, an organization that promotes policies to keep the U.S. competitive and a global economy starting with
immigration reform. Let's bringing in Todd Schulte. Todd, thank you so much for being with us.
So, one of the things that the -- this administration is saying that it's the escalating hostility to Afrikaners in South Africa is part of this
issue. It's citing grave humanitarian concerns, as well as the racism and discrimination that white South Africans face within South Africa.
And that bringing more white South Africans here to the United States is part of the U.S.'s national interest.
Obviously, this comes at a time when the U.S. is severely limiting refugees from other countries. Just give us your take on what's happening here.
TODD SCHULTE, PRESIDENT, FWD.US: So, you know, just to start with the situation in South Africa, there is not a genocide of white people there.
Like we should be very clear about that.
[12:35:01]
The administration and others can echo this far right rhetoric, but it's simply not true. And this has been looked at over and over and over again.
So, let's just start with kind of the clean -- clean fact there for people who may be less familiar with the situation there.
Secondly, like this is part of an overall attack. And this stands out. This administration has worked to make nearly every single legal immigration
avenue to the United States. Incredibly hard or shut them off. And this is the one exception.
So to put this into context, so far in this fiscal year, there have been about 6,600 people who've come through the refugee resettlement system,
99.5 percent of those people are white Afrikaners. Three people, only three from the rest of the world. So, there's about three million white
Afrikaners there. And we've welcomed about one out of 800 people there. I'm sure many of them are great people. I'm not attacking them personally.
But for the other 7.8 billion people in the world who live outside the United States, we're talking about three people total. This administration
could not be more clear. This is about moving back to sorts of racial quota laws and racial preferences that have been one of the worst hallmarks
historically of the United States than that we've moved away from.
GOLODRYGA: So, Todd, by law, the administration must consult Congress on this emergency determination.
Given how polarized our political system is right now, we've got midterm elections coming up as well. What specific leverage do lawmakers have to
successfully try to reverse or at least challenge this move?
SCHULTE: I think it's a great question to ask. So like right now today, Congress is actually debating this large reconciliation bill to provide
another $71 billion on top of the $200 billion that ICE and CBP got last year.
Now, Democrats are opposed to this, but what I would love to see is for some House Republicans or Senate Republicans who both think that the, you
know, Congress should not be focused on providing hundreds of billions of dollars for ICE and CBP at a time when the American public (INAUDIBLE) will
be focused on the cost of living.
They shouldn't be doing that by paying for it with healthcare cuts. But, you know, are there some Republicans maybe watching who will stand up and
say, I -- my family came here as refugees. I believe in the refugee system. It has been a bipartisan system for many years.
Maybe we can have a refugee system that is not 99 percent plus just for white Afrikaners. And that is a moment of leverage because that is a huge
priority for this administration.
ASHER: Just in terms of what the consequences are. When you have -- I mean, white South Afrikaners aside, when you have the U.S. -- so U.S.
administration working tirelessly to limit refugees from countries that are in dire humanitarian straits, be it war-torn countries, be it famine.
What are the global ramifications of that? Just in terms of geopolitical consequences, instability, economic consequences of that. What is the
ripple effect?
SCHULTE: Well, to start with the center of that ripple, we should be clear. People will die. Vulnerable people who have been told that America is a
beacon of hope for them will -- will die. And the people around them will - - will see these people die. Countries will be destabilized.
And America is sending a signal to the world that we are not just closing ourselves off temporarily, but having in a really scary authoritarian
direction.
That is a terrible geopolitical tool that we are using. I believe deeply in the humanitarian process here, but also we should be really clear, the
Americans who live here today have greatly benefited. American competitiveness. American foreign policy is all greatly benefited from
having a refugee system and a mandatory system that welcomes people here.
And instead, if you look at a country like Haiti, torn by instability next to the United States, we have a state department saying, no one should go
there at the level four warning, at the same time, this administration is trying to take away legal status from hundreds of thousands of Haitians and
send them back to danger and deporta -- for deportation.
So, this is sending a clear signal about who the United States is at its core. And it's not one that I think so many Americans like me and others
and your viewers support.
ASHER: Todd Schulte, thank you so much. Appreciate it. President of FWD.us. We appreciate it.
We'll be right back with more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:40:03]
ASHER: All right. Let's get a quick check on how markets here in the U.S. are doing. Let's take a look here. OK. Pretty much right across the board.
Doing not very well, basically. Dow is down about a quarter of one percent. S&P 500, down half of a percent. And the NASDAQ, up quite similar. This is
your business breakout.
GOLODRYGA: Samsung's workers have suspended a planned strike after a last- minute deal on pay. The tentative agreement has these fears of disruption at the world's largest chip maker. Forty percent of the workforce
threatened to strike, citing the company's record profits from the soaring demand for A.I. memory chips.
ASHER: Yes. The White House has postponed plans to issue an executive order establishing a voluntary review process for new A.I. models before they're
released to the public. Sources tell CNN that A.I. companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, have been working with the White House on the
executive order, which has already been postponed several times.
GOLODRYGA: Elon Musk could soon become the world's first trillionaire. This could potentially happen now that SpaceX has filed plans to go public. The
blockbuster IPO could bring in massive amounts of money for what's now dominant private sector space company.
CNN's David Goldman joins us for more on SpaceX going public. David, first of all, when do we expect this to happen?
DAVID GOLDMAN, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR REPORTER: Well, sometime probably in the late spring, early summer. We don't know yet that SpaceX hasn't said yet.
But I think what's remarkable is just how, for the first time, one of the world's most famous companies, everyone knows SpaceX, is revealing what it
does for its business and how it makes money and what is the leadership structure of this company.
We didn't know any of that for as much as we've known about this company. It's the one that launches all the rockets that the United States and the
rest of the world uses. We didn't know anything about the books.
And so what it's revealed is that it's a company that's bringing in quite a bit of revenue, $18.7 billion last year, over $4 billion this year. It's
doing quite well, but it's losing a ton of money. It lost almost $5 billion last year. And it's already this year, the first three months lost $4
billion.
And you might wonder, well, why is that? And why would anyone want to invest in this business? Well, the reason is -- is A.I. SpaceX now sees
itself as an A.I. company. And one of the things that it wants to do is launch A.I. datacenters into space.
Why would it want to do that? Well, because what are the problems with A.I.? It's really expensive because you have to cool it. And it's really
expensive because you need to power it.
Well, space solves both of those problems because you got the sun at your back. So you can point your -- your -- solar panels right at the sun and
free cooling. Space is cold. So they already own all of that Starlink infrastructure. They can beam down signal to Earth. So that's what they
want to do.
[12:45:08]
But it is so expensive to do it, and they need to borrow money to do it. And that's why they're looking for investors.
ASHER: Yes. It's interesting because SpaceX is expected to be the largest IPO ever as you pointed out. Elon Musk expected to become the world's first
trillionaire.
But it is not a profitable company. The company is losing money as you point out. And so investors here, David, are really betting on future
growth. That is what this is all about.
GOLDMAN: Well, they're betting on Elon Musk, right? And so I think a lot of people have bet against Elon Musk and bet on the losing side of that
argument.
Now, he says some truly wacky things. We all know that Elon Musk is, you know, hyperbolic at times and maybe most of the time.
But, you know, he has also done things that a lot of folks have said were impossible. He made an electric vehicle actually come to market when a lot
of other bigger car companies were unable to do it.
And he sends rocket boosters careening back down to Earth, lands them like a straight-up pencil on a floating platform and then can reuse them. That
has been accomplished.
And so I think a lot of investors, no matter what the sort of wild things are that he says, believe that there's real potential here because he has
done so much to, you know, accomplish so many different feats already.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. The chopstick maneuver I could watch over and over again.
GOLDMAN: It's incredible.
GOLODRYGA: It's -- it's -- it is incredible. It's so precise.
All right. David Goldman, we'll have to get used to saying trillionaire now on the show. We cover business headlines.
GOLDMAN: Incredible. I'll take -- I'll take just a little bit of that. Just a snitch.
GOLODRYGA: Wouldn't we all like a little bit of that?
GOLDMAN: Exactly.
GOLODRYGA: Thank you, David.
GOLDMAN: See you later.
GOLODRYGA: I can bring that up during next contract negotiations.
ASHER: A billion dollars --
GOLODRYGA: Wow.
ASHER: -- a thousand times.
GOLODRYGA: Unbelievable. Good math.
All right. Coming up, actor (CROSSTALK) Noah Wyle swaps Hollywood for Congress. There he is with our very own Dana Bash, as he joins healthcare
workers on Capitol Hill. We'll tell you why he's there, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: OK. So, before we start this next story, we want to tell you that it does end well.
ASHER: That -- that's important to note.
GOLODRYGA: Police -- we wouldn't bring you any other story to close the show. Police body cam footage from Michigan captured a house on fire and a
mother and baby trapped upstairs.
[12:50:07]
With no time to spare, an officer tells the woman to do the unthinkable and dropped her baby out of the window.
ASHER: Gosh.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hold, please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come here. OK. Hang on. OK. Yes (INAUDIBLE). Yes. I got it.
Hey, ma'am, ma'am, come out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Oh --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got it.
ASHER: -- my goodness. OK. I could keep going.
The baby's safe. Rescuers managed to put up a ladder and rescue the mom. The officer later saying that she had zero hesitation on saving the child
fast. Of course.
GOLODRYGA: Unbelievable. Thank goodness for that first responder there.
All right. Well, actor Noah Wyle, known for his roles in medical dramas such as "E.R." and "The Pitt," went to Capitol Hill alongside more than 400
healthcare workers.
ASHER: Yes. He led FIGS' "Healthcare is Human" rally, pushing for bipartisan legislation to support healthcare workers in the United States.
CNN's Dana Bash caught up with Wyle to find out what he hopes to achieve.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to Washington.
WYLE: Nice place you have.
BASH: Nice to see you.
WYLE: Nice to see you too.
Honor to meet you. A pleasure to meet you, Senator.
Hey, how are you, Chris?
It's wonderful to be here. This is my second trip to D.C. with FIGS and their ambassadors to try to lobby for some meaningful legislation that will
help healthcare professionals.
BASH: We're used to seeing you in Scrubs walking into a trauma unit.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Robby, you can't do this.
BASH: Now, you're in a suit walking the halls of Congress.
WYLE: Yes. This is a little bit out of my comfort zone, but I am always amazed when I come to this city and get to see how sausage gets made.
You know, I'm basically a Trojan horse that's trying to get some very unbelievable people inside the halls of Congress so they can speak their
truths to people that will listen because I'm in the room.
The Lorna Breen Act, which got passed last year by Congress, is now just needs to be funded. So we're here trying to ask for that funding, at least
$45 million, so that all the programs that go under the Lorna Breen Act, all those mental health resources can get out there and be continuing to do
the effective work that they're doing.
I brought Dr. Elisabeth Potter with me, who is an extremely talented plastic surgeon.
DR. ELISABETH POTTER, BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON: It's 2025 and insurance just keeps getting worse.
WYLE: Dr. Potter was in the middle of a surgery, got called out by an insurance company.
POTTER: And the gentleman said he needed some information about her, wanted to know her diagnosis and whether -- whether her inpatient stay should be
justified. And I was like, do you understand that she's asleep right now? And she has breast cancer?
And what proceeded to happen was that the healthcare, the company, the insurance company, SICTA (PH), a group of lawyers on me and told me to be
quiet.
WYLE: The most important things I've ever done in my life have been in this hospital. Nothing will ever matter more than what I've done in this
hospital, but it is killing me.
BASH: When you are in the writer's room and you're coming up with these story lines about, I mean, the main one, I would say, is Dr. Robby, you,
and the mental health challenges that you are having as his character, how much that will affect and maybe help real world doctors.
WYLE: It is baked into the intentionality of our show, is to do this as accurately as possible so that we give context to people and families of
people who are in these jobs to understand what they do for a living.
Watching a show like "The Pitt" is a little bit of like exposure therapy.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): It's the nurses are why I'm here. So --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
WYLE: Why I'm here too.
WARREN: There -- there you go.
BASH: What's the most important thing that you want these lawmakers to know?
WYLE: Cancer isn't partisan. Health -- heart disease isn't partisan, so healthcare policy shouldn't be partisan either.
So few of these policies actually go into helping the lives of the people that are actually doing the work. There's a lot of stuff that's patient-
centric. There's very little that's actually practitioner centric.
So that's what we're trying to do is just put a little bit more awareness on the trials and tribulations of the people who put our broken pieces back
together every day.
I'm pretending like I know where I'm going.
I brought my mom with me because my mother --
SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): She's the expert.
M. WYLE: Been nurse for almost (INAUDIBLE) years.
WYLE: In the trenches.
This is a multi-generational effort and getting to have my professional career and my mother's professional career dovetail together in an active
advocacy that then is witnessed by my daughter who just said to me as we were walking down the hall, dad, I think I might want to be a doctor when I
grow up.
WYLE: I really admire that he's used the success as a platform for medical professionals. It's really, really heartwarming. And it's been so nice to
you.
[12:55:08]
WYLE: Sometimes you need something that has a visceral impact.
BASH: And I'm used to seeing you in scrubs.
WYLE: I feel oddly comes around here.
BASH: You do?
WYLE: I could have been on "The West Wing." I think I could have. I think I could have handled the walk and talk with Rob Lowe.
BASH: You do? I mean, I am no Rob Lowe, but you know. You definitely -- you do a lot of walking.
WYLE: Nobody's perfect. Nobody's perfect.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Trying to make a difference from Hollywood to Washington.
All right. That does it for "One World" today. I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: I'm Zain Asher. Thank you so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
