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One World with Zain Asher
Trump to Attend Swearing-in of New Federal Reserve Chair; Republicans Revolt Over Trump's $1.8b "Anti-weaponization" Fund; Trump Announces the U.S. Will Send an Additional 5k Troops to Poland; Rubio Attends Meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers, Discusses Iran; Police Could Include Sexual Allegations in Andrew Investigation; Cuban Pro-government Rally Outside U.S. Embassy in Havana. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired May 22, 2026 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching "One World". And
at this hour, the Ebola threat level has been raised to very high in the DRC. That's the word from the Head of the World Health Organization, which
says that the Ebola outbreak in Africa has now claimed at least 177 lives.
Another 750 cases are suspected, mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, W.H.O. DIRECTOR-GENERAL: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading rapidly. Previously
W.H.O. assessed the risk as high at the national and regional levels and low at global levels. We are now revising our risk assessment to very high
at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at global level.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: The only positive note that the situation in Uganda appears to be stabilizing, with no new cases or deaths being reported there. Larry
Madowo is in Nairobi with the very latest. What is the take away from what we just heard from the Head of the W.H.O., Larry?
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think the revision, Bianna, from high to very high, the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo should be of
concern, especially based on what the W.H.O. has been saying over the past week or so, that they believe that this outbreak could have been spreading
in the country for a few months before it was detected and confirmed.
And at least as we see these numbers continue to go up, it seems to completely justify that, and to basically prove that it's a possibility,
and we're seeing cases begin to pop up in other parts, maybe further 100 kilometers away from where the epicenter exists, that's of concern.
The W.H.O. boss, Dr. Tedros, there also saying that they believe the epidemic in the DRC is much larger, and United is starting to also see this
regional reaction. This afternoon Rwanda announcing that it will not allow any foreign nationals who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo
over the past 30 days.
Uganda yesterday said that they were banning all public transport between the two countries, cutting flights, higher surveillance, border checks, and
all of that, because the regional situation is also now being described as quite high, the risk assessment, and that's why people in the region, in
Rwanda, in South Sudan, in Uganda, in Kenya, in Tanzania, et cetera, being quite careful to make sure that they're not importing cases from the DRC.
There's a lot of border traffic within this region here, and that is the big concern, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Larry Madowo, thank you so much. You've been on top of this story for us from the beginning. Appreciate it. Well, international health
care workers say the Trump Administration's closure of USAID has diminished the response to the Ebola outbreak.
One official at a nonprofit telling CNN that the breakup of the agency, along with other cutbacks, weakened surveillance and delayed detection of
the virus. The U.S. State Department denies the cuts have had any impact. In fact, one official says Ebola management funding carried over after the
dismantling of USAID.
Let's discuss this with Dr. Mesfin Teklu Tessema. He is the Senior Technical Director at the International Rescue Committee. He heads up the
IRC's efforts in health programming and policy. So, Dr. Tessema, you have warned that the 500 suspected Ebola cases that we've now seen in the DRC
are likely just the tip of the iceberg.
Give us your assessment of what the reality, in your view, looks like then.
DR. MESFIN TEKLU TESSEMA, SENIOR TECHNICAL DIRECTOR-HEALTH AT THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: The situation in Democratic Republic of
Congo is much alarming and severe than what is reported, because the number of cases that 750 suspected cases are the one that we have been able to
identify.
[11:05:00]
But we know that you know before these cases are detected, there has been, you know, community-based notice transmission. So, we fear that you know
the distribution actually is much larger than what has been reported. It has already reached, you know, major urban centers, including Goma and
major urban center in Ituri, you have reported, you know, reach Kampala, and of course, neighboring South Sudan, which is bordering, you know, land
border with DRC.
We don't have any information, however, the public health infrastructure there is very weak, so we are really, you know, concerned, and I think
closely watching what is unfolding or happening, you know, in that side of the country as well.
GOLODRYGA: Something else that caught my eye is that you've noted that your clinics are essentially flying blind without adequate PPE. What exactly do
aid workers need right now?
TESSEMA: So, you know, controlling this outbreak, as you know, currently there is no vaccine or therapeutic available for this strain of Ebola
virus. As a result, we have to be dependent on non-pharmaceutical intervention, which is basically, we really need, you know to control
infection spread among healthcare workers in the healthcare settings.
That means that providing, you know, personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, that includes glove, you know, goggle, and other
protective equipment they need to do their job safely. The other thing, what is needed is really just to engage communities to make sure that the
community understand the risk.
And also, they will be able to collaborate in identifying the case, isolating, as well as, you know, tracing those who come in contact with
those, you know, suspected cases. So that is so critical. You may have seen a report that, you know, some community members attacked, you know, Ebola
treatment center, out of rumors that has been spreading through social media and rumors.
So, this is the kind of thing that we need to address head on by providing the right and correct information to the people. So that they understand
the risk and they will be able also to participate in controlling the spread of the virus. So that's what we are currently focusing, ensuring you
know we are engaging communities using, you know, trusted local leaders to communicate the right message to the population, as well as protecting
healthcare workers with personal protective equipment.
GOLODRYGA: At the same time, the IRC has been sounding the alarm about severe global aid cuts. We mentioned at the introduction there the USAID
cuts, though U.S. official says that has no impact on Ebola funding, and I know that you would like to broaden the scope beyond just USAID to
international aid, that that is drying up as well, and from the UK specifically.
And just tell our viewers who are watching from around the world when they hear from the W.H.O. Director that tragically this is a very high-level
situation and alarming for the continent of Africa itself. He sees that the spread of this globally at this point remains low.
Why they should be directing their elected officials to be spending and allocating more funds for organizations like yours, given that,
TESSEMA: The director general, the W.H.O. Director General, what he mentioned is the risk of spread regionally and globally. And Ebola is a
very deadly disease, but it is, doesn't spread like the way you probably know COVID, which has been spreading through respiratory, you know, means.
So, it's only people who come in contact with a sick patient that contract the virus. As the result, you know, the spread is within household, within
communities, and of course, anyone who is traveling with a symptom of Ebola can likely transmit to other people. So, really, I mean, you know, the
situation is that it can be contained at the source where the outbreak is happening now, which is in the IRC.
So that's where the focus should be, and of course, you know, international travel, you know, anyone who have symptoms of, you know, Ebola-like
symptoms should not travel. And this is the kind of, you know, control that countries and authorities need to put in place, you know, both the affected
countries as well as, you know, neighboring in other countries.
However, any bowler response must be guided by science, and it's also the response should be proportional to the risk of threats, because I think you
know closing borders by itself could discourage people from actually reporting, and then it may drive people to use informal channels of
transport and making the control effort much, much difficult.
[11:10:00]
So, at this stage, what is needed is really solidarity with the countries that are affected by this outbreak, and also respond with speed. Speed in a
sense that we need personal protect equipment for the health workers right now, and with urgency every hour, every day counts, and it is basically
with loss of life, actually, you know, the more with the delay, and that's where I think we need funding.
We need funding to provide, you know, to buy personal protective equipment. We need funding to be able to buy medicines and other essential service
that is needed for this response. So that is where I think IRC and our partners, we are asking donors really to make resources available so that
we be able to support these communities to control this outbreak.
GOLODRYGA: We know that this specific strain has no approved vaccine, the mortality rate is up at 50 percent here the W.H.O. is considering deploying
experimental treatment, but given the situation in the health infrastructure on the ground there today that you are witnessing that you
are saying is lacking even basic PPE, would an experimental vaccine even be applicable at this point?
TESSEMA: So, we need vaccine that is ultimate solution for control of infectious disease. And unless we test whatever vaccine candidates
available today, we may not be able to respond to other outbreaks, you know, Ebola outbreak, this is a 17 that DRS is experiencing, so we can't
just only respond this one, and just, you know, fold our hand and doing nothing.
I think we need to test. However, it will take time for any candidate vaccine to be tested and be used for the control of the current outbreak.
That is where I think IRC and us, we are emphasizing that what is immediately needed now is really to control the spread by protecting
healthcare settings, so that they can continue to deliver care, and also engaging communities, so that they will be able to understand and
participate in the control effort.
You know, while at the same time testing vaccine and therapeutic, you know, whenever that is ready. I think that is a nice thing to have, however, we
cannot afford to wait until a vaccine is available. By the time vaccine is available, it may be too late even to control this outbreak. So, we
emphasize on the tool that's available currently.
GOLODRYGA: Well, our thoughts are with your team on the ground there. We appreciate all of the work that they are doing, risking their lives and
trying to contain this and save others as well. Dr. Tessema, thank you so much for the time.
TESSEMA: Thank you very much for having me.
GOLODRYGA: Well, at this hour, President Trump is expected to participate in the swearing-in of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair. Warsh, a Former
Morgan Stanley banker and one-time Fed Governor, takes the reins amid mounting economic uncertainty.
He succeeds Jerome Powell, whose eight-year tenure was marked by several economic crises and a heated clash with the White House to defend the U.S.
Central Bank's independence. This comes as President Trump faces a rare revolt from within his own party over his so-called anti-weaponization
fund.
The nearly $1.8 billion fund would use taxpayer money to compensate people who claim they've been treated unfairly by the Justice Department. That
potentially includes January 6th defendants. Blowback from Republicans ultimately led to the Senate leaving town for recess Thursday without
voting on a bill to fund I.C.E. and Border Patrol.
Betsy Klein is at the White House with more on this. And it's rare that we've seen such a public and larger scale rebuke against the president and
some of his policies as we've seen now, Betsy, talk about the timing and what you're hearing from Republicans in Congress?
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah, Bianna, I mean, we have seen President Trump exert this remarkable level of influence over the
Republicans in Congress, but now Senate Republicans are straight up in an open revolt. And this comes after the Justice Department earlier this week
unveiled this $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, now one of the president's major legislative priorities is hanging in the balance.
So, earlier this week, this fund was announced. It is going to compensate allies of President Trump, who they say were unfairly investigated by the
Department of Justice during the Biden Administration. Senate lawmakers were not given a heads up that this was coming, and they are lashing out.
We've heard from Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. He has described this as utterly stupid, morally wrong. Senator Susan Collins says she doesn't
support it as it currently is described. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana describing it as a slush fund.
[11:15:00]
So, the White House yesterday deploying Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to Capitol Hill to try to smooth things over, but by all accounts,
this was a very difficult, intense meeting. He really got an earful there, and now it's unclear whether the broader immigration agenda by the White
House is going to have the 60 votes needed to pass.
This bill includes tens of billions of dollars for immigration and customs enforcement, along with border patrol, and it's really not clear whether
they are going to be able to get that over the finish line at this stage. So much frustration that the weaponization fund has been tied to that
broader legislative priority.
But we have heard from two sources familiar with the matter that there are no plans imminently to change, make any major changes to this fund.
President Trump, echoing that in a post to social media earlier this morning, he says, quote, I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just
announced anti-weaponization fund to go forward.
I could have settled my case, including the illegal release of my tax returns and the equally illegal break-in of Mar-a-Lago for an absolute
fortune. Instead, I am helping others who were so badly abused by an evil, corrupt, and weaponized Biden Administration receive at long last justice.
Now all of this comes as the president has taken aim at incumbent Republican Senators that he deems to be disloyal, and we saw that as Bill
Cassidy lost his primary in Louisiana over the weekend. And earlier this week the president announcing he would not be endorsing Senator John
Cornyn, who was a member of Senate leadership and is beloved amongst his Republican colleagues there.
There is also some risk for the president's ballroom project, which obviously we know has been a major priority for Donald Trump. There was
supposed to be hundreds of millions of dollars of security funding, included in that bill. As of now, it has been stripped out of the
legislation, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Right, all this coming as the president's approval rating is at an all-time low for both of his terms now. Betsy Klein, thank you.
Meanwhile, at the NATO meeting, Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, said that ongoing conversations over a potential deal to end the war in Iran has seen
a little bit of movement, but that sticking points remain.
And afterwards, he warned that there needs to be a plan B if Iran won't open the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Rubio accused Tehran of trying to
create a tolling system in that crucial waterway. Iranian media, meanwhile, reports that Iranian and Pakistani officials have been holding talks in
Tehran.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio is in Sweden for a NATO Foreign Ministers meeting following a series of abrupt moves by the Pentagon that has deeply
rattled the alliance. On Thursday, President Trump announced that the U.S. will send an additional 5000 troops to Poland, saying the decision was
based on his relationship with the country's new nationalist leader.
But days earlier, the Defense Department reduced the number of American troops in Europe. And earlier this month, Trump declared that he was
pulling 5000 troops from Germany. CNN's Melissa Bell joins me now live from Paris. So, a lot to unpack there, but specifically with this troop
deployment to Poland, it does seem to suggest that wires were crossed here.
The fact that the president is reportedly having to tell his secretary of defense that no, those troops are not going to be withdrawn from Poland.
They will, in fact, be going. It is quite unusual. And I would imagine a bit unsettling for Europeans after he withdrew those troops from Germany
just weeks ago.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, and there were many questions about what appeared to be a sort of U-turn on this
question. And we now understand, and we heard it today in Sweden from the Polish Foreign Minister himself, Bianna, that the troop levels, American
troop levels in Poland will remain roughly the same as they had been.
And I -- what we understand is that President Trump has said that the reason he had decided to go ahead with that redeployment of those several
1000 men and women was that he had a very personal and strong relationship with the right-wing Polish President. So, it appeared to be in a sense
Polish lobbying had functioned, and his relationship, the president's relationship with the American President, appears to have made the
difference.
We've also been hearing much more about that from Marco Rubio today, that the American Secretary of State, of course, was there with his
counterparts, explaining that these troop drawdowns were not putative. He said these were a sort of reshuffling of the deck and planned withdrawal
from Europe that had been a long time in the works.
He also, Bianna, addressed the question of Iran, as you mentioned, speaking to his hope for a deal, but explaining that should there be no deal with
Iran, he expected NATO to step up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Let's say Iran decides to open the straits and say, OK, we're not going to shoot at people anymore, someone's
still going to have to go in and reduce these mines.
[11:20:00]
And some of these countries have a lot of mine sweepers, so they could play a key role, and I think that's the utility of the UK-French mechanism that
they've set up. But I'm saying Plan B needs to be, what if Iran says no, we refuse to open the straits, then someone's going to have to go in and do
something about it.
That doesn't mean we couldn't do it, we could, the United States could do it, but there are countries that have expressed an interest in potentially
being a part of something like that. If, in fact we get to that point. We don't need their help, but they're willing to do it, and I think we should
take them up on it, if they are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BELL: Marco Rubio, they're speaking about Plan A, so there is some deal that is found, and then that French-British mechanism that involves some 40
countries comes in to help secure the strait once hostilities have ended, but should Iran not agree to a deal, and should hostilities resume, as he's
suggesting, and there had been this talk here amongst European NATO allies of the possibility of perhaps having some kind of NATO force that would
help to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
That would take the agreement of 32 NATO members unanimously, which is very unlikely, not least because the French have said absolutely not. So, I
think there is more pressure coming from Washington for NATO to act against Iran, and again a great deal of reticence, certainly from anyone here in
Europe to do so, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: And also, the Secretary of State was asked about the war in Ukraine and the U.S. involvement as an intermediary, and he seemed rather
pessimistic about that route, saying that the U.S. had attempted to find negotiating paths for a ceasefire and into the war, and he said they proved
to be fruitless.
And it's coming at the same time that President Putin of Russia is accusing Ukraine, or Ukrainian drone attack in the occupied region of Ukraine by
Russia of a strike on a college dormitory. What more do we know about this?
BELL: That's right. We heard from the Russian President today, this criticism of what had happened in Luhansk province. This is a university
campus. There were 6 killed, 39 injured we understand, and what the Russian President was suggesting was that this had been no accident.
There were no military facilities there. This had been a targeted attack over three different waves of drone strikes on a civilian structure, really
reflecting the kind of things that you would hear from the Ukrainian side, you will remember about the nature of Russian strikes against civilian
targets.
Similarly, Russia has now opened a criminal investigation into it and intends to raise it at the U.N. Security Council. So that is the latest
from the Russian President with regard to that attack in Luhansk. But you're quite right, Marco Rubio also spoke to those negotiations, now
pretty well stalled.
There had been pressure from Europeans that the United States sort of really get its hands back into these negotiations, and help get them back
on track. He suggested the American Secretary of State that if anyone else was interested now in sort of picking up these negotiations, and they were
more than welcome to do so.
Essentially confirming for the time being that Washington apparently has its attention focused very much elsewhere, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, secretary of state now on his way to India. Melissa Bell. Thank you. Well, police in the UK have provided an update into their
investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. We'll tell you exactly what they said and why they're now appealing for information. That's next.
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[11:25:00]
GOLODRYGA: The British police force investigating Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor could include allegations of sexual misconduct as part of its inquiries. Thames Valley police renewed their appeal for anyone with
information to come forward. Police also say they are assessing reports of a woman who was allegedly taken to Windsor in 2010.
Our Royal Correspondent, Max Foster, joins us from London. What more do we know about these new lines, Max?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: So, this is three months after Andrew was arrested. We knew it was about misconduct broadly, focused on file
sharing, potentially with Jeffrey Epstein, but we had a briefing from the police, which reminded everyone really that this was a broad misconduct.
And they pointed out that they have reached out to a woman who alleged -- she was taken to her address in Windsor for sexual purposes in 2010. That
is part of the investigation, not new to the investigation, but it is new to us. So, they wanted to make clear that they are looking at sexual
misconduct as well, and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
They say it's a very complex investigation. They clearly found lots of data to go through, lots of information to go through, but they're trying to
remind the public that they can come forward with any allegations that are there. They've reached out to the woman's lawyers.
She isn't currently a witness, he hasn't been charged with anything, he denies any wrongdoing, but clearly this investigation is broader than we
initially thought, Bianna, not linked to Virginia Giuffre, who made much more serious allegations separately to this.
She died by suicide in 2025. So, obviously, we know it's not her that they're investigating.
GOLODRYGA: All right, Max Foster reporting live for us from London. Thank you. Still ahead, thousands rally in Cuba, protesting the U.S. government's
escalating threats against the island. We'll take you there live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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GOLODRYGA: Welcome back to "One World". I'm Bianna Golodryga in New York. Here are some headlines we're watching today. The W.H.O. says the outbreak
in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly. The head of the agency reports at least 177 deaths linked to the disease, and hundreds more
suspected.
The situation in Uganda, where one death has been reported, is stable. Iranian media reports that the country's foreign minister has been meeting
with Pakistan's Interior Minister today to discuss proposals aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. America's top diplomat, meanwhile,
says the White House is still waiting for Tehran to respond to the Trump Administration's latest peace proposal.
Marco Rubio made those comments in Sweden while attending a NATO Foreign Ministers meeting. Comes after President Trump announced that he's sending
5000 U.S. troops to Poland, deepening confusion over America's military deployments to Europe.
And in Havana, Cuba, thousands of demonstrators have filled the streets near the U.S. embassy, protesting Washington's escalating campaign against
the government. It follows the U.S. indictment of Former President Raul Castro and the U.S. oil blockade that threatens to collapse the Cuban
economy.
All right, let's switch back to Capitol here in -- Capitol Hill, here in Washington, where President Trump is facing pushback from his own party
over his so-called anti-weaponization fund. The fund would compensate people who claim they've been treated unfairly by the Justice Department,
potentially even January 6th rioters.
Republican objections led to the Senate leaving Washington abruptly Thursday without voting on a bill to fund I.C.E. and Border Patrol. Want to
bring in Doug Heye, he is a Republican Strategist and Former Communications Director for the Republican National Committee. Doug, always good to see
you.
DOUG HEYE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: -- you --
GOLODRYGA: So, even Mitch, even Mitch McConnell, the Former Senate Majority Leader, didn't mince words here, calling this fund quote utterly stupid and
morally wrong. In a midterm election year, how toxic is it for rank-and- file Republicans to be pinned with a policy that opponents have already branded as a quote, cop beater relief fund.
HEYE: It's very toxic, as is the funding for a ballroom. What we see is so many of President Trump's priorities are really about him and not about
what voters are facing every day. That's a very real problem, and if we go back to the 2012 election, where Mitt Romney was in trouble was on the poll
question of do voter -- does this person identify with people like me, and so when, and he was negative on that number, unfortunately for Republicans.
And when we see Trump make these moves that are Trump-centric, and nothing about lowering prices, ending the war in Iran. All the issues that voters
are saying are important to them. It obviously sounds very hollow to them, and it's a real risk for Republicans moving forward.
It's part of why they're scared. They see the same poll numbers we do.
GOLODRYGA: And this comes after the president refused to endorse party stalwarts in Louisiana with Bill Cassidy and in Texas with John Cornyn. And
Texas in particular, instead endorsing scandal-plagued Ken Paxton, which has the Republican Party alarmed, to say the least, angry.
And now having to reallocate extra resources and funding that they didn't anticipate to have to put in red states like Texas. How much is that
impacting the public frustration that we're now seeing from the Republican party itself?
HEYE: It certainly fuels some of it.
[11:35:00]
Look, I'm from North Carolina, there's a targeted Senate race there between the Former Governor Roy Cooper, the Democrat, and the Former RNC Chair
Michael Whatley, it's a key Senate race. Republicans have to hold that seat, but a lot of money that would have been spent in North Carolina now
may move to Texas, so that's a problem, as well as in Maine and Ohio targeted Senate races.
But I think what shouldn't be surprising is that Trump made these moves. We've had this conversation not only over the past week, but over the past
10 years about the Republican base being beholden to Trump. And Bianna, I would tell you it's the opposite situation.
Donald Trump is beholden to the base, so he made these moves in Louisiana, in Texas, because he is beholden to his base. We do not see examples of
Donald Trump ever crossing his base, ever trying to take his base somewhere to do something. And perfect example of that, Trump 1.0, Donald Trump could
have come in as the art of the deal maker and cut the deal on guns and on immigration that no Republican president would otherwise have been allowed
to do, but he never even tried to do that.
Why he will never cross his base, and for Republicans not to understand this after 10 years is, you know, a bit of insanity. Is doing the same
thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
GOLODRYGA: Is his base at this point, Doug, shrinking?
HEYE: I think it's shrinking a little bit. Part of that is obviously what we're seeing in Iran. We also know that in midterms there are a lot of
voters who will show up to vote for Donald Trump, but not necessarily for that Senate candidate, or that House candidate, or State House, State
Senate Governor, and so forth.
And look, when I say that the Republican Senators and members of Congress see the same polling that we do, the reality is they see a lot more of it.
They know where his numbers are. They know it's a very dangerous place for them. When I was at the Republican National Committee, Bianna, in 2010 our
magic number for Obama was 46.
We felt if he was at or below 46, we'd take back the house. Obviously, Donald Trump is well below that. The structure between now and 2010 is
obviously different between, you know, at play seats, and so forth. But if I'm a Republican, every sign that I see, including Donald Trump holding
press conferences and gaggles in front of construction of a ballroom that nobody in America wants, I'm scared.
GOLODRYGA: But he's doubling down. I mean, he's holding these press conferences there because he does want the public to see that, that is
what's happening, that he's getting what he wanted. And this is coming as his own strategists are speaking to the point that you just raised now that
his top priority is maintaining power over the party, even after he leaves office for primacy, even into the 2030s.
So, are they seeing something that's perhaps expendable, even within the current Republican Congress, that others aren't? Are they just wrong at
this point?
HEYE: Well, I don't think Donald Trump particularly cares about Congress. He doesn't feel that he needs Congress, except to do exactly what he wants.
Now, I think that's a foolish strategy, for one reason, and one reason only, forget legislation. If a Democratic House and or Senate comes into
being, that means a whole lot of investigations.
The ranking members of those committees that are now Democrats will become committee chairs. They will have subpoena power, subpoena over the
president, over his aides, over every cabinet official, over his children, his family, the family businesses. If I'm this White House, I do not want
that, but it's a mystery for why they're operating the way they do.
GOLODRYGA: Well, he's already cut a deal that protects his family from any further IRS scrutiny, right? And that includes himself and his family. But
why isn't he more concerned? I mean from what you're hearing from sources there, close to the administration? Why isn't he more alarmed about what
you just laid out could happen if Democrats may -- if they end up getting the majority come the midterms?
HEYE: That ultimately, Bianna, is the ultimate mystery here again. Legislation doesn't matter to Donald Trump, but investigations should, and
yes, Trump and his family are exempt from now any IRS investigation, but they're not exempt from any committee, say the Government Oversight
Committee, bringing Trump family members in to do investigations exactly on those issues that the IRS may not.
It is a potential gold mine, and we haven't even used two other words that come up quite a bit on this when it comes to investigations, Epstein files.
GOLODRYGA: Well, we are about to take the president's swearing in of his new Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh. This is another victory that he views that he's
made for himself. He's been at the cross hairs in expressing his anger with the current Fed Chair, Jay Powell. This is somebody he hand-picked.
So, I'm imagining he will view this as yet another success. Doug Heye, thank you so much. There you see the White House, there were the president,
in just a moment's time, will be attending the swearing in of Kevin Warsh. We'll bring that to you live when it happens. Doug Heye, thank you so much.
[11:40:00]
HEYE: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well thousands of Cubans rallied outside the U.S. embassy in Havana today, protesting the U.S. indictment of the 94-year-old Former
President Raul Castro on Wednesday. The demonstrations come as the U.S. steps up pressure on the island in Miami.
I.C.E. arrested Adys Lastres Morera, a legal permanent U.S. resident. On X, Secretary of State Rubio accused her of aiding Cuba's communist regime.
U.S. officials say her sister is the Head of GAESA, a Cuban military- controlled conglomerate. We're joined now by CNN's Patrick Oppmann in Havana.
So, Patrick, you have been reporting live for us for weeks now about the dire humanitarian situation on the island right now, the frustration among
citizens, so those who turned out to protest today, what exactly are they protesting?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're, you know, the government has brought them in to show their displeasure. This is what the government
does every time the U.S. amps up pressure on them. There's actually, in front of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, here a permanent area, Tribuna,
tribunal, that was built by the government here to stage these protests.
So you know they have their mics and their audio and everything set up for the protests, which have been happening since, you know, the time of Fidel
Castro and Elian Gonzalez, but I think all eyes were, you know, looking for Raul Castro today, of course, did not make an appearance that would have
quite been something to show his defiance.
There were Castro family members there. We spoke to them, they said they are combative, they are waiting for the U.S. to invade, they said easy for
them, of course, to make those statements. Many of the Cubans we talked to are very concerned about the idea there could be some military action here,
because it would be so destabilizing and people are already on their last legs.
You know, the power cuts, we lost power briefly on our building earlier today. We're on a generator for the next half an hour, then that's going to
be cut off as well. So, it's infecting literally almost everyone on this island, and certainly it's no laughing matter. Most Cubans are not daring
the U.S. to invade.
They're very concerned about it. They are concerned that these two countries don't seem to be any closer to a deal, and you hear, as we did
this morning, tough talk about the U.S., outrage from the part of the Cuban government, but it does not seem like they realize that they are running
out of time here.
That certainly, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, they say that they're going to continue this very aggressive strategy to force some kind of change here on
the island, and they do not seem to be ruling out military force. So, certainly, while the government put on this protest today, it does not seem
clear that we're not seeing any signs that they are anywhere closer to a deal that would avoid any kind of military action.
GOLODRYGA: All right, Patrick Oppmann, live for us from Havana, Cuba. Thank you. And we'll be right back with more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
GOLODRYGA: A record 274 mountain climbers made it to the top of Mount Everest on a single day this week. That number represents a personal goal
achieved for many climbers. But for officials responsible for their safety, it highlights longstanding concerns about overcrowding on the world's
highest mountain. CNN's Ben Hunte has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN HUNTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The number of climbers scaling Mount Everest has reached a new high. On Wednesday, a record 274 people
reached the summit of the world's tallest peak in a single day from its south side in Nepal. This video shot the day before of one group who made
that record summit push.
Hiking officials say climbers took advantage of the clear weather conditions. The previous record was set almost exactly seven years ago,
when 223 people summited from Everest south side in a day, and even more trekked to the top from the mountains north face in Tibet.
Nepal has issued 494 permits to climb Everest this year, each costing $15,000 and implemented tighter controls to try to reduce overcrowding on
the mountain. Nepal's Expedition Operators Association says the climbers were spread across different camps and areas, but that more may need to be
done to manage such high-volume days.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In one day, better to not move more than 250 people in a day. This is our experience, and we are going to control on this in future
expedition.
HUNTE (voice-over): 18-year-old Bianca Adler was one of the climbers to summit on Wednesday. Her tour company says she's the youngest Australian to
climb to the top of Everest. She was accompanied by her parents for some of the trek and said it was part of the plan to avoid the crowds.
BIANCA ADLER, EVEREST CLIMBER: Well, I left, so I knew that there was going to be a lot of people, so I left a lot earlier than most of them, so that I
could get ahead and not be stuck in the big queues, same as the day before we left earlier.
HUNTE (voice-over): The climbing season got off to a late start this spring because of ice blocking the path, a shorter window for climbers to reach
the summit. Hundreds of climbers achieved their dream this week. Yet again raising questions about how much is too much to be on top of the world. Ben
Hunte, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Thanks to Ben for that report. We want to take you now live to the White House, where Kevin Warsh is being sworn in as the new Fed Chair,
replacing Jerome Powell, whose term has expired. President Trump is attending and speaking right now. As you see, let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: -- The Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Kevin Warsh. Kevin. And I expect he will go
down as one of the truly great Chairmen of the Federal Reserves that we've ever had. I really believe that, I think he's got abilities that very few
people have, covers a lot of territory, and he's respected by everybody, and that's so important in that position.
Congratulations to Kevin and to his wonderful wife, Jane. Jane, thank you very much -- Thank you. Very beautiful family. You have a beautiful family.
Congratulations, it's a big deal. We're honored to be joined by some incredible people. Our Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who is doing an
unbelievable job.
Mike, thank you very much. He's working very hard on the Save America Act, but I will not say that. He'll get it done too. He gets everything done.
Thanks, Mike. Supreme Court Justices, and they are great. Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh -- Secretary of the Treasury, he's like central casting
Scott Bessent.
If we do a movie on someday, we're going to need a Secretary of the Treasury. We're starring him, I think. We'll put him in there, right?
[11:50:00]
He's done a good job. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Brooke, thank you. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Thank you, Howard.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. Thank you, sir. Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Thank you, John.
OMB Director Russell Vought. Russell, thank you, Russell. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Director of the National Economic Council the other
Kevin, I was, you know, they kept talking about Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, and he's a good man. You're going to be working with Kevin Hassett.
The Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Bill Pulte. And thanks, as well, we have so many political leaders, and I just see a few, and you
have Tommy Tuberville, soon to be a governor, right now a very successful senator. Dave McCormick, who's a phenomenal guy, wherever you may be.
Andy Barr just had a big win. He won by 40 points. Congratulations, that was a big win, Andy, I'm proud of you. Did the endorsement help? Dan
Meuser, my friend, who's a fantastic congressman. Dan, thank you very much. Elise Stefanak, Elise. And a highly respected guy, another friend of mine,
French Hill.
Thank you, thank you all. Also with us, Former Vice President Dan Quayle. Haven't seen Dan Quayle in a long time. Where's Dan Quayle? Wow, you look
good. You look good That's nice to see you, Dan. Very nice. Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, Kevin.
Good guy. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, highly respected, highly respected by everybody -- Former Governor Glenn Youngkin done a
great job, great Governor of Virginia, and they try and take it apart as fast as they can, but you did a really fantastic job.
Thank you very much, Glenn. And many others tremendously distinguished the biggest leaders of business and the biggest leaders of politics, other than
the ones we mentioned, this is quite an assemblage of talent. I see the Southern District over here. Will you stand up, please?
Southern District, Jay, stand up. And I don't know if our acting attorney general is here, he's pretty busy. He's kept very busy, so if he is, or if
he isn't, I'll just tell you, he's doing a very good job working together, right? He's doing a great job, actually. So, no one in America is better
prepared to lead the Federal Reserve than Kevin Warsh.
Kevin received a degree in public policy from Stanford University, and then earned a JD from Harvard Law School. He studied under the renowned
economist Milton Friedman, and was mentored by the legendary secretary of the treasury and Secretary of State George Shultz.
All legendary names, really. Kevin has worked at the highest levels of the financial world as an executive in the private sector. He did very well,
and he served at the highest reaches of government as a senior economic advisor in the White House. He knows the White House very well.
He's walking through the White House. He's pointing things to me that I didn't even know. At the age of 35 he became the youngest ever Federal
Reserve Governor. For the past 15 years, Kevin has been a fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution. And his credentials really are second to
none when you hear them, and there's plenty more.
I know that Kevin has the deepest respect and reverence for the institution he will lead, starting today. We're so lucky to have him. The Federal
Reserve is a pillar of the world financial system, and the most important central bank anywhere in the world, with a history stretching back more
than 100 years. It is truly the institution that's most looked to and most respected, and it's now taken on a new, and even higher respect, in my
opinion.
[11:55:00]
And honestly, I really mean this. This is not said in any other way. I want Kevin to be totally independent. I want him to be independent and just do a
great job. Don't look at me, don't look at anybody, just do your own thing and do a great job. OK? Unfortunately, in the eyes of many, the Fed lost
its way in recent years.
It became distracted by concerns far removed from its core mission and mandate, drifting into matters such as climate policy and DEI initiatives,
with the Fed straying from its mandate, well, the last administration blew out the deficit. Americans suffered the worst inflation that we had in
history. It was the worst inflation we've ever had.
As you know, there's some people say you're wrong about that. It was only in 48 years, but I think 48 years almost sounds worse. The worst inflation
we've ever had, so it made it very difficult. Kevin has spoken often about the need to restore the Fed's integrity by returning to a proper focus on
its two functional and really fundamental responsibilities, maintaining price stability and low inflation, and achieving full employment.
And we talk about it, we've talked about it often, and right now we have the most people working in the United States than we've ever had. We have
never had as many people working right now in the United States, and it's something that I like to say, and it's been pretty much that way ever since
I've been president.
When I go back to the first term, I had those numbers too, and I kept them, and we've done things that are really amazing, but we can bring it to a new
and higher level with Kevin. I think we can bring it to a level that nobody ever thought possible by following through on this vision.
Kevin will restore confidence in the Fed, which is so important, and among Americans all across the political spectrum, and people from all over the
world, and they're going to be looking to Kevin, probably, and possibly more than any other person that's had your esteemed position before.
I think that's true, Kevin. You got a lot of people watching. I fully expect that with the greatest Fed Chairs before him, Kevin will safeguard
the Fed's integrity. They'll make their own decisions and hopefully make them well, but they'll be listening to Kevin all the way.
I really believe that even if they're from a somewhat different persuasion, they're going to be listening to him out of respect, because everybody
respects him. Thankfully, unlike some of his predecessors, Kevin understands that when the economy is booming, it is -- that's a good thing.
We don't have to go crazy, just let it boom. We want it to boom. We want it to be like nobody has ever had before, because we do have some debt, we'd
like to take care of, and the way you do that is through growth. We're going to grow our way out of it so fast. And Kevin, somebody, and I feel
strongly also, we don't want to see it stifled.
We want to stop inflation, but we don't want to stop greatness, and so that's really a very good thing, a very positive thing, and that's what
he's looking to do. He's looking to do positive economic growth. It's so important, and as we discussed, economic growth doesn't mean inflation, it
can be just the opposite, actually.
But economic growth does not mean inflation. You don't have to stop the world because you're doing well. Kevin is also said that he'll bring much
needed reform and modernization, transforming obsolete data collection methods, rolling back reliance on inaccurate models, and curtailing the
Fed's practice of issuing so-called forward guidance.
They want to do things on that. I guess it's a little complex subject, but it's something that Kevin knows about better than probably anybody here. He
has the temperament and leadership abilities to foster collaboration among the entire board, and I know he will welcome robust debate in his mission
to keep prices stable and employment high.
Kevin will have the full support of my administration. Every one of these people felt, including Kevin, by the way, felt so strongly about this
choice, and we have no doubt. We have absolutely no doubt, so important too, so big, so important. I just turned on the television.
I want to see how the stock market is doing today. Stock market is up 600 points, that means they like you. If they didn't like you, it's actually up
to 50,702. So that's as of about 12 minutes ago now. Who knows? But I think it can only go up. I think with you it's only going to go up.
That was a number that nobody thought was reachable during my entire four years. If you look at some of the great pundits, they said, well, 50,000
would be impossible during the four years, but sometime after we hit it in the first year, but now we're really hitting it.
END
