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The Brief with Jim Sciutto

U.S.-China Trade Talks; Trump Willing To Lower China Tariffs To 80 Percent; President Xi In Moscow; European Leaders Travelling To Kyiv; Judge Orders Release Of Tufts Student; U.N. Ambassador To Israel Outlines American-Israeli Plan For Gaza; Young Israeli Survivors Share Experience In New Film; Rumeysa Ozturk Released From Detention; India And Pakistan Trades Blame; Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First Mass; A.I. Video Of Slain Man Speaks To His Killer In Court. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired May 09, 2025 - 18:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[18:00:00]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all over the world. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington. And you are watching

"The Brief."

Ahead this hour, President Trump says he has given us negotiators a number on how low he's willing to go on tariffs on China ahead of Saturday's trade

talks. A U.S. judge orders the immediate release of a Tufts University student who was detained six weeks ago by immigration officials, apparently

for an op-ed she wrote. And Pope Leo says in his first mass that the church will act as a, quote, "beacon that illuminates the dark nights of this

world."

Quite a message. We are just hours away from the first round of U.S.-China trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland. President Trump says ahead of the talks

that he might be willing to lower the current 145 percent U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports to 80 percent. He said in a social media post, quote, "80

percent tariff on China seems right. Up to Scott B." That a reference to the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, who will be attending those talks.

The White House, however, insists today that China must compromise before the U.S. compromises.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president still remains with his position that he's not going to unilaterally bring down tariffs on

China. We need to see concessions from them as well. And again, that's part of the reason that Secretary Bessent is going to talk to his Chinese

counterparts this weekend to start those discussions in person.

As for the 80 percent number, that was a number the president threw out there, and we'll see what happens this weekend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: A number he threw out there. President Trump had this to say about the upcoming trade talks just in the last hour at the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What parameters have you given Scott Bessent on negotiating with China this weekend?

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We have to make a great deal for America.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you going to be disappointed if he comes back without a deal?

TRUMP: No, not at all, because we already made a great deal. We're not doing business with China right now. You know, we lost $1 trillion last

year with China, $1 trillion. So, if you're not going to do business with them, you're not going to lose $1 trillion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: That continues to be the president's math. Ahead of this weekend's meetings, new numbers show the destabilizing effects of the Trump trade

war. Chinese data shows exports to the U.S. fell 21 percent in April as compared to last April. China's overall exports, however rose more than 8

percent. As Beijing conducted more business with other countries.

U.S. stocks ended the week, not much changed as investors await results, signals, signs from this weekend's trade talks.

Joining me now is Wendy Cutler. She's a former acting deputy trade representative for the U.S. She's also the vice president of the Asia

Society Policy Institute. Wendy, thanks so much for joining.

WENDY CUTLER, VICE PRESIDENT, ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE: Thank you.

SCIUTTO: You've dealt with trade deals. You've represented the U.S. and trade negotiations. You've carried out trade policy. Do you see an actual

trade policy from the Trump administration? Because from day-to-day, the tariffs, the top line tariffs can change. You had a deal with the U.K.

yesterday, but it seems like there aren't much details in it. What's happening here? And does the world understand what's happening from the

U.S.?

CUTLER: I think the world is very confused by our so-called trade policy. They're seeing a lot of tariffs. They're seeing them being put in, and then

maybe they're adjusted, maybe, you know, they're intensified. But I think our trading partners are confused in terms of what is our end game here.

SCIUTTO: You've noted in a recent piece you wrote that the U.S. president is more interested in resuming engagement with China than his Chinese

counterparts. It's similar to what I've heard from diplomats that China feels well positioned to outlast the U.S. in terms of the pain that

inevitably both economies will face here. Tell U.S. why. Why do you believe China believes it could -- well, it could tough it out?

CUTLER: I think China feels like it has a stronger hand here. It has been preparing for this since Trump 1.0.

[18:05:00]

It has reduced its reliance on the U.S. It has established more commercial relations with other countries. And it has developed self-sufficiency in a

number of key products. It also is a much higher threshold for pain. And when it looks at the U.S., it feels that Trump is under much more pressure

than Beijing is under to de-escalate.

SCIUTTO: We saw, as you heard in the introduction, that China has picked up some of the trade it's lost with the U.S. with other trading partners. And

the fact is, it's not just China that talks about that. I've spoken to Canadian leaders who say, well, if we're going to be doing less business

with the U.S. and if the U.S. is an unreliable trade partner, and that's how we see them now, we will do more deals with Europe, maybe even more

business with China.

Is that going to be a common theme going forward, that other countries, as unique and as powerful as the U.S. economy is in the world, that other

countries will just look elsewhere for some of this lost trade?

CUTLER: Exactly, and that's happening already. Countries are looking to diversify from the U.S. They're viewing us as an unreliable partner, and

they're looking to bolster their ties with other countries. Now, that said, China still presents challenges for them as well, and for Southeast Asia,

they just saw a 20 percent increase in exports from China. That's unsustainable for those countries as well.

SCIUTTO: Let me ask you this just before we go. You've been involved in trade for many years. Do you see the economic pain from this trade war as

still to come? I mean, so far, the numbers have been OK. The stock market is saying, well, hey, maybe we'll make it through this. It's basically

where it was, you know, when this whole thing started. Is that false hope?

CUTLER: Yes, I think we're going to see more pain, particularly as these tariffs kick in once the 90-day period is over and we see more tariffs with

other countries, but also the high tariffs on China is really curtailing trade, and we're very dependent on China for many, many products. So,

unfortunately, I think the pain is going to continue and maybe increase in the coming weeks and months.

SCIUTTO: And it does seem that U.S. manufacturers have been trying to message that to the Trump administration. Wendy Cutler, former acting

deputy U.S. trade representative, thanks so much for joining.

CUTLER: Thank you.

SCIUTTO: Well, as China's trade team gathers in Geneva, President Xi Jinping, he is in Moscow, wrapping up a four-day visit there. Xo, among

Vladimir Putin's guests of honor, as Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Observers say it was the largest Victory Day parade in Moscow since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, where he has not yet seen

victory. Other world leaders also there. In his speech, Putin said, all of Russia is behind the war effort in Ukraine.

We have just learned that European leaders are traveling to Kyiv this weekend. The leaders of France, Germany, Poland, and the U.K. all expected

to meet with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. You can see President Macron, Prime Minister Starmer, and Chancellor Mertz on the train

there. That's how they get to Kyiv. They're also expected to announce a plan to step up pressure on Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire.

Tymofiy Mylovanov is Ukraine's former minister of economy, trade and agriculture. He is also president of the Kyiv School of Economics, and he

joins me now. Tymofiy, thanks so much. Nice to see you in Washington having spoken many times to you from Kyiv.

First question. They're still talking about this 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine, weeks ago, agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. President Trump has been pushing

for it. Russia has still not signed on. Do you expect them to?

TYMOFIY MYLOVANOV, PRESIDENT, KYIV SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: I'm skeptical. I think it is possible, but it takes real pressure, leverage. That's not

going to be just sweet talk, you know, or let's be nice to Russia. Russia understands force. And that force could be sanctions, could be pressure,

could be militarily support to Ukraine, could be all kinds of instruments. But it has to be done. It has to be forced.

SCIUTTO: For the first time, just in the last week, we heard President Trump say, well, I might have to impose sanctions on folks who don't sign

onto the ceasefire. The fact is one country has, that's Ukraine. It's Russia. So, he was at least telegraphing that he might impose sanctions.

Not clear what sanctions. So, what kind of economic pressure on Russia do you think would make a difference?

[18:10:00]

MYLOVANOV: The most important one is their revenues from oil. Oil prices could go down if they hit something like $50, that would be painful for

Russia. And Russia really is an economy which relies on those revenues. So, all kinds of sanctions, secondary sanctions, sanctions on countries which

bypass sanctions to trade semi legally shadow fleet, you know, there are so many ways one can do it. Financing, transfers, Wells accumulation. There

are ways.

SCIUTTO: If Russia -- if, let's say, the U.S. applies pressure or doesn't, regardless, if Russia doesn't sign onto the ceasefire and the war continues

as it is now, what does that look like in the coming weeks? Does Russia step up, its attacks further, does Ukraine, or do you expect it to be more

of a slow burn like we've seen?

MYLOVANOV: I think it's going to be a slow burn. I mean, you know, I'm not a military expert. I -- you know, I have to be careful. There are people

lives behind that.

SCIUTTO: Of course.

MYLOVANOV: But it also looks that Ukraine can stand. You know, the advances have slowed down. Russia continues to attack using missiles, the civilian

cities using drones, that attacks happens daily in Kyiv. You know, whenever I'm there, I get, you know, like woken up every night. People die. But

Ukraine stands. It holds. And the morale, in fact, in many ways, somewhat higher than it was in the fall.

SCIUTTO: That's remarkable. The White House says that Trump and Zelenskyy had, quote, "a very good and productive phone call." Of course, only a few

weeks ago, you remember that moment in the Oval Office. Is it your sense that that relationship has been repaired?

MYLOVANOV: Well, so they might have a personal kind of -- you know, maybe some kind of irritation, I would say, especially -- you know, it's a long

standing. It's not just the Oval Office. It's the Pennsylvania visit. It's the campaign. It's the impeachment in Trump one term. You know, there are

all kind. There is a history there. And that history is not as smooth as we all would have liked.

But Ukraine has demonstrated it can build a constructive relationship. It can move past that, especially with this critical mineral deal where

Ukraine has been able to hold its ground. And at the same time, president Trump has been able to get a political victory with that deal.

SCIUTTO: Tymofiy Mylovanov, it's nice to see you in safer quarters than we normally do when you speak from Kyiv, but as I always say, I wish you and

your country safety. Thanks for joining.

MYLOVANOV: Thank you.

SCIUTTO: We're watching this hour to see if a Turkish University student arrested weeks ago is allowed to go free from a U.S. detention center in

Louisiana. A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk. She's been held for six weeks

in a high-profile deportation case.

Ozturk was detained, and you may remember this video in late March near Boston. Why? Well, the only evidence presented so far is the fact that she

was the co-author of a campus newspaper op-ed critical of Tufts' response to the war on Gaza. U.S. revoked her visa after immigration officials said

her actions might undermine U.S. foreign policy. She has not been charged with a crime. The judge Friday said in a strongly worded statement that

Ozturk's continued detention, quote, "cannot stand."

Omar Jimenez joins me now from New York. And the essential facts of this case remain, she wrote an op-ed. That's the only evidence the

administration has presented so far for her detention. And the judge has now rejected that. Do we know what's delaying her immediate release?

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, as you understand right now, as part of the conditions of what the judge ordered that the government does have

to confer with ICE to sort of put forward a proposal for conditions of release, we do expect that to be imminent.

Now, whether that's hours or a day or two, we do not know, but obviously, late in the day in the time zone where this actually happened, but the --

she's being processed right now. That is the word that we've gotten from her attorneys.

The order though to have her released very significant to this point, because as you were talking about the real evidence that we've seen to this

point was that she participated -- or she co-authored an op-ed criticizing Tufts University, where she was a student, their response to the war in

Gaza, and actually, the judge in this case, really pushed the government, OK, what other evidence do you have? For weeks and weeks asking for

evidence, and that never came. Even though the government is alleging, vaguely that she participated in activities in support of Hamas.

And to quote the judge here, "There is no evidence here as to the motivation absent the consideration of the op-ed." But we also got an

indication from the judge that he's very aware of sort of the stakes of this particular case. Even saying at one point that the effect of this

could have a chilling effect on the millions and millions of people who are not citizens in this country in the context of free speech, in the context

of speech.

[18:15:00]

And so, clearly, an eye to the outside and the significance of what this actually means, even though it's really just a bail hearing at its essence.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

JIMENEZ: Also, significant because the -- it is the second non-U.S. citizen activist or student that had been taken into custody by the Trump

administration to be released in as many weeks under that vague allegation by the Trump administration that this is someone who was supporting

interests that go against the U.S. government. Jim.

SCIUTTO: Omar Jimenez, thanks so much for covering this important case.

JIMENEZ: Of course.

SCIUTTO: Coming up --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MONTANA TUCKER, SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVIST: He was 16 and he lost both of his parents. He witnessed Hamas murder both of his parents right in front of

him, and he actually has to hide under his mother's dead body and pretend that he was dead. So, Hamas would think that he was dead so they wouldn't

kill him as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Social media activist Montana Tucker spoke to some of the children who survived the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. My interview with her

is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has detailed a new proposed plan to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza. He says the U.S.-

Israeli aid mechanism would be administered by a private foundation. This, he says, to prevent Hamas from accessing food and supplies. He admits it

would feed less than two-thirds of Gaza's population initially.

The U.N. and other aid groups reject the proposal saying it would facilitate the forced displacement of Palestinians. Aid groups blame

Israel's total blockade for the rising hunger in Gaza.

While the human cost of the war weighs heavily on people in Gaza, the trauma does not stop on either side of the border. A new documentary, "The

Children of October 7" tells the story of some of the youngest Israeli survivors of Hamas' attack.

Social media activist Montana Tucker met with those children. And I spoke to her and began the interview by asking her about her own personal family

connection to Israel.

[18:20:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TUCKER: I am the granddaughter of two Holocaust survivors. My grandma Lilly was 13 years old when she was taken to Auschwitz. The deadliest

concentration camps, and she was 13 years old when she witnessed her mother get beaten up, basically her death by the Nazis and dragged to the gas

chambers for her actual death.

So, when I started hearing the stories about these children, they were far too similar. So, I felt an extreme personal connection and an extreme

responsibility to tell their stories because, unfortunately, Holocaust survivors back then didn't share their stories until they were much, much

older for the Shoah Foundation. But now, I documented these children's testimonies now while it's still going on and while they're still children.

SCIUTTO: Yes. Of course, for these children, telling their stories must involve some trauma, right? And I know you had a psychologist on set

expressly because of that. Did you have difficult moments as they were speaking to you, difficult moments for them and for you?

TUCKER: We absolutely made sure there was a psychologist on set at all times. This was a very, very difficult thing to do. These kids are so

brave, are so strong, and we interviewed them a year after October 7th. So, they've already gone -- they already went through a year's worth of trauma

and dealing with this. So, to have to recount their story testimony again, it was extremely difficult.

And there were many moments that I personally wanted to break down, but then I would stare them and look at them in the eye and they kept me

strong. But it's extremely difficult. What they went through is unimaginable, unimaginable.

SCIUTTO: Yes. And it's often from kids that we get such inspiration because they can be so resilient. You said that some of the children, they knew

you, they recognized you from your TikTok videos and did that help establish connection, break the ice somewhat with the kids?

TUCKER: You know, I think so. I mean, I say this all the time. I'm extremely honored that the kids felt comfortable enough opening up to me

and sharing their personal experience with me and that their family members who are with them were comfortable letting them do it with me.

Like I said, this is extremely personal and extremely difficult. And yes, some of them knew me from TikTok and that's why we even wanted to end each,

you know, interview session was something fun. It was really important for me to be able to film videos with them if they wanted, or, you know, sing

karaoke or do something that would make them smile after dealing with something that was so difficult.

SCIUTTO: You know, the conflict is just -- it's so bloody. It's been so bloody for so long. And when I travel there, I find that so many people

have lost hope for a peaceful resolution or even a path to a peaceful resolution. Did you hear any hope from these children?

TUCKER: Yes, and I think also from Israelis as well. I'm sure there are many that have lost hope, absolutely. But I've been back to Israel six

times since October 7th, and there is hope. We have to have hope, and I know I have hope still after all the work that I've done, we have to have

hope. And these kids -- that's why this documentary, it doesn't talk about the conflict, it doesn't talk about politics, it doesn't talk about -- it

just talks about what happened to these individual children, innocent children had -- who had nothing to do with the conflict or a war, and what

they went through on this horrible, horrible day of October 7th, what they've continued to go through since then.

So, it's a terrible war. War is terrible, especially this one. All deaths are terrible, terrible, terrible. And I hope and pray that this ends soon.

SCIUTTO: Yes, I'm sure. I'm sure you do. As anybody who goes there and sees for themselves. You've said, as you said there, and you've said repeatedly,

you don't want this film to be seen or received as political at all. You want to focus on the children and their suffering and their recovery. I

wonder, would you consider at some point speaking to children in Gaza, speaking to children on the other side of the border as it were for their

experiences?

TUCKER: Absolutely. If you look at my social media way before this documentary, you'll see I've always done videos and filming with all types

of kids, of all races, of all religions. So, absolutely, I would. I just felt this documentary specifically because I'm the granddaughter of

Holocaust survivors and because what happened on October 7th was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. I felt such a need to do this,

and I felt like the media wasn't unfortunately covering it enough of what was going on with Israeli children.

But absolutely, all children are extremely important to me. And if you look through my Instagram and my social media long enough, you will see that.

Absolutely.

SCIUTTO: I don't have to tell you this, but these children, as they told their stories to you, that they lost parents. Some of them saw their

parents die in front of them. They lost siblings losing them in front of them and have -- and carry to this day, certainly horrible psychological

trauma, but also physical injuries. Some of them lost limbs. How do they manage, right?

I mean, I know we always talk about how young people can be resilient and I'm always amazed by that, where I encounter them. As you spoke to them,

did you get any sort of secret for how they move forward?

[18:25:00]

TUCKER: So, actually Rotem Mathias, he was 16. And he lost both of his parents. He witnessed Hamas murder both of his right in front of him. And

he actually has to hide under his mother's dead body and pretend that he was dead so Hamas would think that he was dead, so they wouldn't kill him

as well. Well, after suffering injuries himself.

But I asked that question to him, what keeps him going? And he said that he feels a responsibility to his parents, that he feels that his mother

specifically saved him and he feels a responsibility to his parents to keep going, that it would be a shame if he wouldn't be strong and keep going for

them.

And yes, Yael Idan, she witnessed her sister get murdered by Hamas and then Hamas kidnapped her father Tsachi Idan, there was proof of life in

captivity and unfortunately, he was murdered in captivity and his body was one of the last bodies released. And when we filmed the documentary, there

was still proof of life, and I asked her what would she want her father to know. And she said she wants her father to know that she's strong and she's

being strong and they're all right and they're not stopping until he comes home. And then unfortunately, the fate of what happened.

So, these kids are so strong, we just brought Yael to Los Angeles and New York for a screening. And we're just keeping going. And they want their

message out there. They want everybody to remember what happened to them on October 7th and to hear their testimonies and have empathy.

SCIUTTO: Yes. One could only have wished that that father could have heard that message from his child. Well, Montana Tucker, we do appreciate you

telling these stories and I appreciate you taking the time to speak with us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Important stories to hear. Well, this just in the CNN, a story we were discussing just a few moments ago. The lawyer for Tufts University

student, Rumeysa Ozturk, says she has now been released from detention after, you'll remember, a federal judge ordered her immediate release.

Ozturk had been held for total of six weeks in what became a very high- profile deportation case.

The federal judge in the case ordered her release without any travel restrictions or other monitoring by ICE. Why was she held? Well, the only

evidence presented by authorities was that she was co-author of a campus newspaper op-ed, which was critical of Tufts University's response to the

war on Gaza.

U.S. revoked her visa. Immigration officials said her actions might undermine U.S. foreign policy. She has never been charged with any crime.

She's now free.

We are seeing more destruction in Kashmir as the conflict there continues to escalate. We're going to bring you an update.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:30:00]

SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Jim Sciutto here on more international headlines we're following today.

Trade negotiations between the U.S. and China are set to begin in Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday. Ahead of the talks, President Trump suggested he

might lower the current 145 percent U.S. tariffs on Chinese products to 80 percent. He did say, however, it would be up to Treasury Secretary Scott

Bessent who will be attending this weekend's talks.

The mayor of Newark, New Jersey has been arrested at an ICE detention center while protesting its opening. Federal prosecutors say, Ras Baraka

trespassed and ignored warnings to leave. The Democratic mayor pushed back against the opening of the detention center, citing building permit issues.

Pope Leo celebrated his first mass since his election inside the Sistine Chapel. Only the voting cardinals who were part of the conclave attended.

The Vatican says, the Pope will hold his inaugural public mass in St. Peters square on May 18th.

Indian and Pakistan, both accusing each other of carrying out drone attacks as the conflict around Kashmir continues to spiral. Multiple cities are

experiencing explosions and blackouts. The escalation follows last month's tourist massacre. A senior Pakistani government source denies that Pakistan

has struck India, saying, Islamabad intends to try diplomacy first.

A senior U.S. official says that Pakistani forces shot down an Indian jet this week, an Indian official tells CNN it will detail its losses, quote,

"When appropriate." Matthew Chance has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Burning wreckage lighting up the skies near India's border with Pakistan.

Indian officials deny any of its planes were shot down during recent strikes on Pakistani targets amid rising tensions after last month's terror

attack in disputed Kashmir.

But Indian eyewitnesses now tell CNN they saw one aircraft plunging from the darkness in flames. As villagers in the state of Punjab rush to help,

they say explosions, possibly from live ammunition, killed one person and injured nine more.

Bring water. Splash his face, a voice pleads as locals attend to the wounded. More eyewitness video shows closeups of the mangled debris.

French intelligence has already told CNN that a state-of-the-art Rafale Fighter jet made in France and operated by the Indian Air Force was downed.

Weapons experts now say this is likely to be the wreckage. Possibly destroyed by Pakistan's Chinese made war plaints in a stinging blow to

India.

But the stubborn reluctance here to admit even a single loss, let alone the five Indian aircraft Pakistan insists it blasted out of the skies.

CHANCE: Why is India not, you know, acknowledging that it has had such heavy aircraft losses?

NALIN KOHLI, NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON, BJP: Well, Pakistan is a master of disinformation. And you expect us to acknowledge something that doesn't

exist? I think that would take ludicrousy to an extreme.

CHANCE: So, as far as you are concerned, there's no Indian aircraft been lost during this operation?

KOHLI: Because if that was the case and if something of that extent had happened, we would have said so.

CHANCE (voice-over): But there are images of other downed aircrafts too. Like this twisted metal that fell in Indian administered Kashmir during the

same Indian raid on Pakistan. Local sources who asked not to be named told CNN, a fighter plane crashed into a school building. It is yet another sign

that actual losses in this standoff with Pakistan are greater than Indian officials are prepared to admit.

[18:35:00]

Matthew Chance, CNN, New Delhi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Joining me now is California Congressman Ami Bera, member of the House Intelligence Committee, as well as ranking member of the House

Foreign Affairs subcommittee for East Asia and the Pacific. Congressman, thanks so much for taking the time.

REP. AMI BERA (D-CA): Jim, thanks for having me on.

SCIUTTO: I'm certain you're watching events in India and Pakistan with concern. I wonder what you believe America's role should be in this? And do

you believe that President Trump is exercising sufficient interest and involvement to try to deescalate?

BERA: No, I don't. I mean, as a senior Indian American member of Congress right now and a senior member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, America's

role has always been trying to bring folks together. De-conflict and deescalate this conflict. And, you know, America really does have a role

here.

Again, perhaps with, you know, some of the Arab countries, I'm glad that the Saudi foreign ministers arriving in Pakistan. Let's start

conversations. Sometimes these conversations have to be on the down low and back through back channels. But let's start to deescalate. Listen, America

clearly should play a role here.

SCIUTTO: Do you have any idea, and I'm only asking you to speculate why President Trump isn't more involved. He's certainly shown an interest in

trying to end the war in Ukraine. He wanted to end the war in Gaza. Why less interest in what is a military conflict, though limited one, between

nuclear powers.

BERA: Yes, that I don't -- which is why members of Congress, like myself and others are stepping up, you know, speaking again directly to Indian

officials, directly to Pakistani officials and trying to start some back channels.

I don't think it's helpful for the vice president to also make some statements that he's made that, well, we'd like them to start speaking, but

this is a -- between India and Pakistan. I mean, at the end of the day, India and Pakistan are the ones that have to do the negotiation, but we've

always been and we always should be folks that mediate a dialogue.

SCIUTTO: Let me ask you now about the ongoing trade war. You, of course, are a California congressman. All the talk is of a cliff that we're about

to fall off in terms of port traffic on the West Coast as those ships just stopped coming from China. One, do you see that coming in the coming days?

And two, what do you believe the economic income impact will be?

BERA: I mean, we're already seeing it. Talk to the California wine industry and you're seeing a huge impact on the price of wine. You know, the cost of

glass, the cost of corks, all of that is going up. And ultimately the consumer's going to bear the brunt of this trade war.

So, yes, I'm glad that we have the contours of a trade deal with the United Kingdom. I'm glad that their negotiations ongoing and that Secretary

Bessent will sit down with the Chinese. But you know what, nobody's going to benefit from a trade war here. And who's going to lose, is the American

consumer. So, this isn't the way to go about doing this.

SCIUTTO: Do you see a policy here or just the daily reactions of the president? I mean, clearly the president has goals. He wants -- I mean, he

sees any trade deficit as a business loss. I know economists see it differently. That's the way he sees it. He apparently wants to change that.

But every other day, it seems that he's changing the levels at which he is charging these tariffs and not quite defining what a trade deal is that he

wants with any of these countries.

BERA: Yes, there's not a coherent strategy that I'm seeing right now. Again, we will see where we end up and I hope the president's correct and I

hope the American consumer benefits from this. I understand why he wants to bring down tariff barriers. I understand why he wants to, you know, have an

equal playing field, that's fine. But trade deals, having been in Congress long enough now take a long time.

You know, I was a supporter of the Transpacific partnership, which I think did try to address some of these barriers and level the playing field. You

know, obviously that didn't get across the finish line. I wouldn't attack our closest friends, Canada, Mexico, European Union and others. Again,

let's negotiate. Let's do this in an open conversation into a trade war, that sometimes is how real war start.

SCIUTTO: Before we go, I do want to ask you about a legal issue because Steven Miller, who, as you know is quite a close confidant of President

Trump and advisor to him, raised the possibility and said in fact that the administration is considering suspending the writ of habeas corpus which,

as you know, has only been suspended during times of war, plus President Lincoln, for instance, during the Civil War.

[18:40:00]

You've seen this administration take quite bold, if that's the right word, legal moves. What would the reaction be in this country if the president

were to attempt that?

BERA: I mean, if he tries to attempt that we ought to fight back, we ought to fight back hard, we ought to fight back with the legal community. Thus

far, the judiciary, Supreme Court, others have been standing up and upholding the constitution. And I would hope my Republican colleagues stand

with us. Again, you know, we can address immigration, address the border crisis, but Congress has to be involved in here.

And this is not wartime in America. Certainly, we've got an immigration challenge. Certainly, we have a southern border challenge, but this is not

a time to suspend, you know, due process protections.

SCIUTTO: Congressman Ami Berra, always good to have you on. Thanks so much for joining us.

BERA: Thank you, Jim. Be well.

SCIUTTO: Back in the U.S., President Trump, once again, says he is open to taxing the wealthy. It would be in his words, redistribution. And he says,

rich people like him would, quote, "Love to do it." However, he says, Republicans are unlikely to do so. Take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I actually think it's good politics to do it where richer people give up -- and it's a very small, it's like a point, but they give it up to

benefit people on a lower income.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: The president has floated the idea of the tax increase in a nude tax bill. Republicans are struggling now to move through Congress.

Pope Leo celebrated his first mass as Pope in the Vatican Sistine Chapel on Friday. Only the cardinal electors who were part of the conclave were

there. Pope Leo called on members of the priesthood to show humility and for the Catholic church to continue its, quote, "Missionary outreach."

CNN's Ben Wedeman reports from Rome on the new pope's first full day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After the bells and smoke confirmed what the world had been waiting for, comes the

first order of business. Less than 17 hours after he was chosen, Pope Leo XIV, as he's known, returned to this frescoed sanctuary. Dressed in white

and gold vestments to celebrate his first mass as pope with the same cardinals who chose him.

The first person from the U.S. elected pope, notably, did not speak English on Thursday's address. Friday was different.

POPE LEO XIV: I will sing a new song to the Lord because he has done marvelous. And indeed, not just with me but with all of us, my brother

cardinals. As we celebrate this morning, I invite you to recognize the marvelous that the Lord has done.

WEDEMAN (voice-over): In a nod to his American roots, Leo opened in English before switching to Italian, urging the church to draw its strength from

the holiness of its people, not the grandeur of its buildings.

He also spoke in Spanish, a language he used during his decades of work in Peru, a sign perhaps he will bring a global outlook to the papa scene.

WEDEMAN: Tourists and the faithful have been flocking to the area around the Vatican since the death of Pope Francis. And Thursday when they heard

the pronouncement, habemus papam, Latin for, we have a pope, they exploded with joy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's -- our reputation is, you know, hit and miss with a lot of the world, and maybe this will bring people to like

America more.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's great. I also think that he's going to be very much like Pope Francis and he's going to be very modern, very open to

the people. And I think he's going to do the church a great deal.

WEDEMAN (voice-over): Pope Leo inherits his schedule packed with commitments, many of which were organized for his predecessor, Pope

Francis. This weekend, he leads his first Sunday mass in what's known as a Holy Year for the Catholic Church. Many will be waiting to see how he

begins to shape his legacy. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Still to come, a woman uses A.I. to confront her brother's killer. We're going to show you how artificial intelligence brought back to life

the victim.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:45:00]

SCIUTTO: Earlier this month, an Arizona man appeared to speak to his own killer in court from beyond the grave. Christopher Pelkey was killed in a

road raid incident more than three years ago. His family gave him voice at the sentencing through a victim impact statement generated by artificial

intelligence. Pelky's sister, Stacey, wrote the script. Experts say, it is the first time that A.I. has been used in a courtroom like this. Clare

Duffy has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER PELKEY, KILLED IN ROAD RAGE INCIDENT (AI-GENERATED VIDEO): This here is a true representation of who I was, you know, not how the courtroom

portrayed me. So, I would like to make my own impact statement.

CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH WRITER (voice-over): This is Christopher Pelkey, an A.I. version. He was killed in a road rage shooting incident in Chandler,

Arizona in 2021. In a recent sentencing hearing, his family brought him back to life by using generative A.I. to address his shooter in a victim

impact statement. It's believed to be the first time that A.I. has been used to deliver a victim impact statement in court.

PELKEY: It is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances. In another life we probably could have been friends.

DUFFY (voice-over): Chris' sister and brother-in-law, who both work in technology, created this A.I. version of him with old photos and video

files, and a script that his sister Stacey Wales wrote.

STACEY WALES, SISTER OF CHRISTOPHER PELKEY: The only thing that kept entering my head that I kept hearing was Chris and what he would say.

PELKEY: I believe in forgiveness and in God who forgives. I always have and I still do.

WALES: When I first saw the video, I just knew it would be effective because it captured the embodiment and the spirit of who Chris was and what

he sounded like and looked like was impactful.

DUFFY (voice-over): State prosecutors asked for nine and a half years for manslaughter and sentencing, but the judge eventually gave 10 and a half

years. The shooter was sentenced to 12 and a half years in total for manslaughter and endangerment.

TODD LANG, MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE: I love that A.I. Thank you for that. And as angry as you are and justifiably angry as the family is, I

heard the forgiveness.

JESSICA GATTUSO, PELKEY FAMILY LAWYER: I think everybody was impressed and felt the impact and how powerful it was to hear from Christopher Pelkey,

from his voice, from his likeness.

DUFFY (voice-over): The family said they found healing through this process. But they warned the use of A.I. in the courtroom should be

approached carefully.

WALES: This was not evidence. The jury never saw this. It wasn't even made before a verdict came down of guilty. This is an opinion.

[18:50:00]

The judge was allowed to see a human that's no longer here for who he was.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Wow. Quite a powerful use of technology. You are watching "The Brief." And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: It's become common knowledge by now that Italy's floating city of Venice is sinking. In the past century, it has sunk by about 25

centimeters, that's nearly 10 inches, about a foot, while sea levels rise. Engineers are working on solutions, but in the meantime, tourists continue

to flock to the city before it might be too late.

My colleague Erica Hill, traveled there for "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper." She found that the tourism boom is causing an even more immediate

crisis for the locals.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: It is a magical destination that really feels more like a dream. Venice likely brings to mind images of

gondolas, canals, carnival, maybe even flooded piazzas. But if you think saving Venice is only about water and those floods, rising sea levels,

think again. For many Venetians, saving Venice means saving the soul of this ancient city and their place in it, both of which are increasingly

threatened by rising tourism and a shrinking population.

Do you worry about, as a Venetian, the soul of the city for people who live here, do you worry about that going away?

ELENA ALMANSI, COMPETITIVE ROWER: That is slowly going away because locals are going away. Everything changes because less locals means less services.

Less services means less locals. There's a chain that keeps going at a circle. So, you'd struggle to find a family doctor. You go to the

supermarkets, which is full of supermarkets, but all of them sell only the highest price thing because tourists buy it anyways. The only way to save

the city is keeping the locals in. Otherwise, we're going to be like an empty box.

HILL: As Venice leaned into tourism, many locals feel they've been forced out. And while they're not saying Venice should do away with visitors

altogether, they warn that not addressing the issue threatens their very survival.

I hope you'll join me on Sunday night for this hour, taking a look at those challenges, but also the solutions when it comes to saving this ancient

city. It is a beautiful and surprising hour. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: You can watch that deep dive into the future of Venice on "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper" airing 8:00 p.m. Sunday here in

Washington, 9:00 a.m. in Tokyo.

For today's "Good Brief", good news for the Chicago White Sox. Turns out the new pope roots for the Southsiders and not those Northsiders, the Cubs.

[18:55:00]

Pope Leo was born in Chicago, and the city is home to a heated baseball rivalry. The Cubs tried to claim Leo as a fan first, but one of the pope's

own brothers chimed in and said, nope, not a chance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN PREVOST, BROTHER OF POPE LEO XIV: That's not true.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How long and -- has he been a Sox fan? What -- tell me about that.

PREVOST: I would -- as long as I've known him, all along. We were both altar boys, so that was one of the rewards that we got was to go to a Sox

game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Well, the White Sox were quick to print up a Pope Leo XIV jersey, check out that number there, that they are sending to Rome. They might need

divine intervention. Last season, the Sox set the record as the worst team in baseball's modern era. Right now, they're sitting at the bottom of their

division again. Well, they could use a little divine intervention.

Thanks so much for your company. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington. You've been watching "The Brief." Have a good weekend and please do stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:00:00]

END