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The Brief with Jim Sciutto

CNN International: Trump Joins Law Enforcement Agents at D.C. Police Facility; Israel Approves New West Bank Settlement Plan; Gaza Officials Call for International Pressure on Israel; Walmart Warns Tariffs May Drive Up Prices Further; Russia's Massive Attack on Ukraine; Babymetal Makes Billboard Top 10 Debut. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired August 21, 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]

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Paula Newton in New York.

You are watching "The Brief."

Just head this hour, Donald Trump on patrol. At this hour, the president is touring D.C. after his federal crackdown. Israel approves a new settlement

project in the occupied West Bank. Why the finance minister says it will, quote, ""bury the idea of a Palestinian State." And say hello to Babymetal.

How one Japanese heavy metal group is rocking the charts and breaking boundaries.

Now, we do begin in Washington where President Donald Trump is joining law enforcement agents in the U.S. Capitol. It comes days after he ordered a

federal takeover of the city's police department and deployed National Guard troops in a show of force that he described as a crackdown on crime.

And earlier the president claimed, in his words, total victory, after a New York Appeals Court threw out the roughly half billion-dollar penalty

against him in the civil fraud case brought by the state's attorney general.

We want to go straight to CNN Politics Senior Reporter Stephen Collinson who is in Washington for us. The president is putting on quite a

performance for everyone in D.C. this evening. I mean, can you help us? And I know that you can articulate chapter in verse why this may not be a good

idea, right? In terms of a security arrangement. You know, he touted it earlier today. This is a man who's already endured two assassination

attempts. But the truth is here, right, the president is returning to his reality show roots, and he knows his base loves this.

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Right. This is all about politics. Every day, this week, Paula, we've had a Trump spectacle from the

meeting with European leaders on Ukraine in the White House on Monday to this latest photo op, it's not on the streets of Washington, D.C. as the

president said, it's in a police facility down in Southeast Washington.

But I think what this does is it shows us that Trump is using this to provide content for conservative media, to look like he's tough, and he's

imposing his will on a city that has repeatedly rejected him in elections. Washington, D.C. votes about 90 percent against Donald Trump every time

it's had the chance in a presidential election.

So, this is a message to Trump's supporters. And I think what he's also doing is he's sending a warning to Democratic cities around the country

that this is not the end of it. He does have specific powers in Washington, D.C. because it's not a state, it's a federal district, to take over the

police, to take more of a role in law enforcement, but he's giving the impression and he's saying it out loud that this is a dry run. He wants to

send more police, even troops, reservists into big Democratic cities.

And a subtext of this whole thing is a lot of the people that are being arrested in Washington, D.C. they're not people who've committed petty

crimes or homicides or anything else, they are undocumented migrants. This is all about boosting the numbers of his mass deportation drive. Another

thing, which is very popular with the far-right and his political base.

NEWTON: The other thing that is popular and that has happened in the last few days is the fact that they've tried to clear out the homeless

population. Now, you know, Stephen, you're there in Washington and you just, you know, said, look he doesn't have support politically in

Washington. But D.C. residents have been concerned about violent crime for some time. How are they feeling about the presence of, again, it is the

military, the FBI not stepped-up police patrols on the streets? I mean, how are people feeling about it?

COLLINSON: I think overwhelmingly it's -- and if you look at the recent polling that's been done on this, there is hostility to this. You're right

that there was a big homeless problem in Washington. We've had homeless camps on places in the plaza, for example, across from Washington's Union

Station, the big Amtrak Terminus, and people in Washington don't like that.

[18:05:00]

But there's also concern about what's happened to the homeless people that have been moved away. The vice president, J. D. Vance, was asked about this

today, and he dodged. They -- the White House said, at one point that, people would have the choice between homeless shelters and jails. There's

no sense that the administration is taking any steps to really tackle the root causes of the homelessness problem. It's just something that Trump

sees and as unsightly and should go away.

And then, you have the situation out on the streets in the evenings. It's very jarring in what used to be called the capital of the free world to see

soldiers on street corners, military vehicles going around. Some of this is for publicity purposes, but I was out last week, for instance, on U Street,

which is one of the big nightlife areas of Washington, D.C. And while there were more police and the National Guard reservists, young soldiers weren't

particularly threatening, there were groups of federal agents with their combat vests on walking down the streets, and that did seem a lot more

threatening.

And it seemed to me, and figures back this up, that a lot of people just aren't going out to some of these nightlife areas anymore because they're

worried about what might happen in the atmosphere. So, Trump has really imposed his will on this city, and a lot of the people here do not like it,

but they don't really have much choice.

NEWTON: No. And as you point out, Donald Trump, and in just in the last few moments, has said again that this is only the beginning that he wants to

bring this kind of show of force to other cities. I will note mostly those that are ruled by Democrats. Stephen Collinson, we will leave it there for

now. Thanks so much.

Now, we do go to Israel now, which is pushing ahead plans to take over Gaza City. The IDF says its forces are on the outskirts of the city, which is

home to more than a million people, and it is warning health officials and aid groups in Northern Gaza to prepare for a mass evacuation of the

Palestinian population.

And now, strikes have rocked the Deir al Balah in the center of the Gaza Strip, leading residents running for cover. And that is in Gaza City

itself. Palestinians are on the streets, protesting the war, and the prospect of their forced displacement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meantime indicated he would approve the military takeover plan ahead of a meeting today with the IDF.

He also said he's ordered immediate negotiations to release the remaining hostages and, quote, "end the war" under conditions acceptable to Israel.

Joining me now is Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He's also a former U.S. State Department

Middle East negotiator. You know, your record is pretty clean with me. Everything you've predicted in the Middle East, sadly, unfortunately, has

happened and it has all been negative since the very first days of the terror attack on October 7th.

So, now I ask you, we have discussed Netanyahu's motivations, his political calculus, but what about U.S. policy here? I mean, President Trump hasn't

even offered as much as a speed bump on the way to this full-scale assault. Why not?

AARON DAVID MILLER, SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: Thanks for having me, Paula. And I think the why not basically is

that the president has concluded, in fact, he said as much through his body language and his tweeting that there's no way to release the hostages

unless Hamas is somehow destroyed or obliterated. I don't know what word he used.

And I think clearly, both on the West Bank and with respect to Gaza, he is acquiesced enabled and essentially supported the prime minister's policies.

And I think the prime minister really is only listening to two sets of constituencies. He's listening to his right-wing extremists, right-wing

ministers without whom he cannot govern, even though until October 19th with the Knesset out of session, there's no way that the Israeli government

can fall.

But the other constituency is a constituency of one, and that's Donald Trump. If Trump were to say enough or invading Gaza City makes no sense,

you are going to kill a lot of Palestinians, you can't possibly deal with the humanitarian consequences of relocating 800,000 Palestinians south, and

you're going to essentially endanger the lives of the hostages. We needed an alternative and we needed to start thinking about it now.

But Donald Trump, involved right now, Paula, in a much bigger play for him, which is Ukraine and managing what he set into motion, I don't think is

focused on this. And that's allowing the Israelis, or at least this Israeli government, despite public opinion, basically to dictate the terms.

[18:10:00]

NEWTON: And that is interesting in the fact that he has dismissed this. He thought, OK, well, I'm dealing with Ukraine and Russia over here. I will

let Netanyahu do what he would like to do in this instance. I do note though, that most of the pushback has come from within Israel itself, even

from his own military officers. Why has Netanyahu been able to dismiss all of that? And again, we saw all of those protests in the street. We spoke to

a mother who has three kids in the military earlier today. She doesn't want them out there either, even though she wants an end of this war and she

wants the hostages home.

MILLER: Right. Look, I think the reality of Israeli politics is a cruel and unforgiving. You can put hundreds of thousands of people out in the

streets, as the Israelis did, by the way in 2023 for 42 weeks in a row, protesting Netanyahu's efforts to rearrange the political system in Israel

and emasculate the Supreme Court. But that judicial reform efforts is not dead.

And you can now put hundreds of thousands of people out into the streets. It's the largest demonstration since I think last August, where Hamas

willfully executed six hostages, including an American citizen. But the only numbers that count, frankly, sadly, and I think for the hostages,

their families and for the Palestinians of Gaza is 60 plus one, the number of seats you need in Israeli Knesset to govern. And Mr. Netanya has a

relatively coherent, cohesive coalition.

Recalling the words of Ben Franklin, either we're going to hang together or we're going to hang separately. And this Israeli government formed in,

what, December, 2022, the average length of an Israeli government since independence is only 1.9 years. And you're talking about a government

that's likely to go to term. And the most extraordinary thing is that it's conceivable. If elections are held in the spring of 2026, that Benjamin

Netanyahu could win again.

NEWTON: Yes. And many observers have pointed that out, that it is not a foregone conclusion that he wouldn't even perhaps strengthen his coalition,

depending on how this turns out. Before I let you go, key Israeli allies, the U.K., France, Canada, Australia will apparently shortly recognize the

State of Palestine. You say this does not reflect a serious move that will change anything on the ground. It will only drive the Israelis deeper into

their corner.

So, why apply the pressure in the first place, these allies? I mean, they seem not to be able to work the angle of pressuring Netanyahu or pressuring

Donald Trump, to be frank.

MILLER: And your last point is really -- you broke the code here. None of these allies, none of these partners, and what these use the second largest

trading partner that the Israelis have, they have an association agreement. The E.U. and these individual states could have influenced if they were

essentially prepared to stop their virtue signaling.

And look, I'm one of the last believers, I think, in the fact that the two- state solution represents the least bad outcome for solving the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. But when the Germans are imposing a partial arms embargo on Israel, which is significant, but still buying, what, $4.3

billion from the Israelis in aero missile defense equipment? No.

If the Europeans were serious, they'd begin to impose bilateral costs on Israel, and, which they're clearly not willing to do, they begin to have a

serious discussion with President Trump, but they're all too busy trying to figure out how to make him happy. Nobody wants to make them sad.

NEWTON: Yes. Especially not with a tariff war that apparently, they've just called a truce in and they need to make sure their economies stay in the

good graces of the U.S. economy. Aaron David Miller, we leave it there for now. Thank you.

MARTIN: Thanks.

NEWTON: Now, meantime, 2021 countries, including Britain, France, and Canada, we were just talking about it, they have also condemned Israel's

plan to build new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Now, they're sounding the alarm, calling it a violation of international law. Nic

Robertson is on the ground and tells us what's at stake.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): In days, these Palestinian farmsteads in the occupied West Bank could be gone. The Israeli

government has just signed off on a demolition to make way for 3,500 new Israeli settlement home, expanding the nearby settlement of Maale Adumim.

ROBERTSON: When are they coming to demolish these houses?

ATALLAH MAZARA, HEAD OF VILLAGE COMMITTEE, JABAL AL-BABA: Maybe tomorrow and the night. And I don't understand.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Atallah has lived here 50 years, has no idea what to expect.

MAZARA: My prayer, for the children, for the woman, for the animals. Where you go.

[18:15:00]

ROBERTSON (voice-over): This is Jabal Al-Baba. Everyone here is waiting to be evicted now, 450 people, about 80 families, they tell us. Jabal means

hill or mountain. And for many people here now, this feels like it could be the hill upon which the idea of a Palestinian State dies.

The reasons, they say that best understood on this map, Jabal Al-Baba is in area E1 where there will be more evictions and a new road restricting

Palestinian movements. So, Israel's biggest settlement, Maale Adumim can grow area E1 links the West Bank to East Jerusalem. Palestinians pick for a

future capital and connects the north and south of the West Bank.

On another hill, just a mile from Jabal Al-Baba Israeli Peace Activist Hagit Ofran shows young Israelis what Israel's expansion into area E1

means.

HAGET OFRAN, CO-DIRECTOR, SETTLEMENT WATCH: The government wants to fill in the gap and to make an Israeli corridor into the heart of the West Bank.

And in fact, to cut the Palestinian territory for southern area and northern area.

ROBERTSON: So, what does that mean in reality, when you cut -- when you cut the Palestinian area like that?

OFRAN: It means that you cannot develop a viable economy, not to say, a state.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): 20 years ago, then lawmaker Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to expand the huge Maale Adumim Settlement. Today PM, Netanyahu's

pro-settler government says their area E1 evictions are legal and justified and appear intended to outmaneuver European decisions to recognize a

Palestinian State.

BEZALEL SMOTRICH, ISRAELI FINANCE MINISTER (through translator): We will continue to build a fulfilling Jewish reality. This reality definitively

buries the idea of a Palestinian State simply because there is nothing and no one left to recognize.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): On the fringes of area E1 in the bustling streets of Eseria (ph), Smotrich's words are also having a chilling effect.

ROBERTSON: This is where Palestinians say the new Israeli road is going to be built on this busy highway. Thank you. And cutting across the road right

along here. So, this will be completely -- thank you, completely shut off. And these stores have closed already because of the demolition order.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Municipality Official Mohammed Mata (ph) points to stores already shuttered. Tells me demolition orders on more than 100

premises have already been served. Says the new road will destroy their fragile economy. Back on the hilltop Atallah the Bedouin Leader, tells me

confiscating these lands is like cutting a cake down the middle.

Jabal Al-Baba isn't only the end of the Bedouins dreams here, he says, it's also the end of every Palestinian's dream of having a state in the future.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Jabal Al-Baba, the occupied West Bank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: OK. Just ahead for us, Walmart's woes. The largest U.S. retailer reporting weaker than expected profits and warning of higher prices due to

tariffs. We'll break it all down for you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:20:00]

NEWTON: And welcome back to "The Brief." Checking the action on Wall Street. Red arrows across the board for all the major U.S. averages. The

S&P 500, falling for a fifth straight session. I do remind everyone a lot of these indices were at record high. So, they haven't fallen that much in

the last few days.

Pharmaceutical stocks bucking the trend, though drug companies rising onward that the U.S. will cap E.U. pharmaceutical tariffs at 15 percent.

For now, that's a relief instead of the 250 percent that had been threatened. Now, investors also gearing up for the big economic event of

the week. Fed Chair Jerome Powell's policy address in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on Friday. Investors hope to get new insight into whether we'll see a Fed

interest rate cut next month.

Also, today, a U.S. Justice Department official says his agency is set to investigate mortgage fraud allegations against Fed Governor Lisa Cook.

President Trump is demanding that Cook resign immediately. That move would give him a new opportunity to shape Fed interest rate policy. Cook says she

will not step down.

So, Walmart today warned that U.S. tariffs could take a bigger bite out of the bottom line. The largest U.S. retailer says tariffs are squeezing

profit margins and that it may have to pass along the higher cost to consumers. The company also reporting weaker second quarter profits, shares

of Walmart finished the session down more than 4.5 percent, actually almost 4.5 percent, as you see there.

It's also been a rough week for another major retailer, Target. Shares fell another 1.5 percent today after a 6 percent plunge Wednesday. Target said

sales fell for a third straight quarter. It is also replacing its current CEO with a corporate insider early next year. Investors hadn't been hoping

for an outsider, some new blood, right, to take the helm there. Target also suffering a consumer backlash after canceling corporate diversity and

inclusion programs due to political pressure.

Now, the pastor who has been leading a boycott against Target over the ending of some of their DEI policies is giving his thoughts on the CEO's

departure announcement. Jamal Bryant says the boycott played a major role.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. JAMAL BRYANT, LEADING TARGET BOYCOTT: This was the most significant boycott of black people since the Montgomery bus boycott 70 years ago. They

lost 12 billion in valuation. The CEO's salary was cut by 42 percent. Foot traffic was down by 7.9 percent. So, I would say it would be a herculean

part of what would happen in the downfall.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: If you could talk to the Target's -- new Target CEO today, what would you say?

BRYANT: I would say to them that it pays to give dignity where people are giving dollars. Is that what we're looking for is not a favor but to do

business. And by them losing almost 20 percent of their stock today with the change, it'd be less expensive and a less cost if they would just do

right by humanity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: UBS analyst Michael Lasser joins me now. Good to have you here as we parse some of the results from some of the largest retailers in the

United States, it has to be said. I mean, from what we just heard there, do you think that is a message to these retailers that, as much as you want to

please the White House, you really do have to listen to your consumers?

MICHAEL LASSER, EQUITY RESEARCH ANALYST, UBS: I think it's important for any company to listen to its customer. I think that the customer, at this

point, is searching for value, convenience, and assortment, and those that can best deliver on those key attributes are winning in retail.

[18:25:00]

From time to time, there can be changes in the retail landscape, we're seeing that, but ultimately, these are businesses that need to address

their customers and, you know, Walmart and Target are doing so.

NEWTON: And we were talking about Walmart and Target here, including them, but also places like Home Depot. What do you read into the results that

you've seen so far? I mean, in terms of the tariffs themselves and the health of the American economy, it does seem as if the tariffs, especially

going into the third and fourth quarter, will have more of an impact here.

LASSER: I think we read -- we've seen thus far from the retail sector is that the consumer's stable. They're buying around need, they're buying on

special occasion, and they're spending their dollars very carefully. I agree with your point that there will be increasing costs passed along to

the U.S. consumer in the back half of the year, as well as more of the products that are subject to tariffs in focus in the back half of the year.

Things like toys, holidays, decor, Halloween costumes, a lot of those goods are imported from overseas. So, it remains to be seen how the consumer will

respond to the increasing pressure it might face from these costs.

NEWTON: But it is clear how the retailers are responding, right? I mean, even if they've absorbed some of the costs until now, or were able to

import products under the wire, there's no doubt, right, that they're going to have to raise prices in some areas quite soon if they haven't already?

LASSER: I think that's fair. And these businesses are in the business of maximizing their profits, finding ways to deal with unanticipated costs,

tariffs are one of those. They're using their playbook, which includes changing (INAUDIBLE) production, negotiating with their vendors, changing

the specifications of products. And when all of those other strategies don't work, they are passing along the increased costs in the form of

higher prices at retail.

NEWTON: In terms of what you see from consumers in analyzing this market, what particular lessons did we learn from Target and everything that's

happened to that store in the last few years?

LASSER: I think any retailer. Needs to change with a very competitive and dynamic landscape. You know, stick to your knitting, which in the case of

Target is selling luxury at affordable prices, focusing on newness and innovation, wowing and delighting the consumer.

Once you get away from offering those or at least slow the pace of change, others are going to move ahead and have the potential to take customers

away. And once customers go somewhere else, it's -- it can be difficult or expensive to win them back. So, those are some of the lessons that we've

constantly seen in the retail sector over time.

NEWTON: And something people might be curious about, you know, we've had a lot of immigration raids in the United States. We have new census data out

today that also shows that, you know, the level of immigrants actually living in the United States was down substantially in the first six months

of 2025. Do you believe that wage inflation will be a factor in this economy? And I talk mainly about retail, right? Because wages are usually -

- it is a very competitive environment for people who work in retail in terms of what they're paid per hour.

LASSER: It is a very competitive environment. I think there's a couple important points here. Number one, obviously, the pace of growth in the

labor market slowed in the most recent job print. So, that is creating a little bit more slack in the labor market.

Two, the pace of technology rollout in the retail environment is accelerating rapidly, and they're using technology to replace tasks that

historically have been done manually, which is allowing retailers to offer higher skill better paying jobs to workers in the U.S. I would expect that

to continue indefinitely and for the foreseeable future.

NEWTON: Yes. And in fact, it's those retailers that don't take on the advantages of technology that are far behind at this point in time when you

look at their results. Michael Lasser, we'll leave it there. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.

LASSER: Thank you.

NEWTON: Now, just ahead for us. Russia's biggest attack on Ukraine in weeks and what it may mean for the prospect of peace talks. Ben Wedeman will have

a report from Eastern Ukraine.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:30:00]

NEWTON: And welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Paula Newton. Here are the international headlines we are watching today. Israel's Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu is indicating he will approve plans to launch a full- scale assault on Gaza City. He also says he has ordered the start of negotiations to end the war on Israel's terms. The Israeli military is also

warning medics and international aid organizations to prepare for the mass evacuation and displacement of Gaza City's 1 million residents.

President Trump visited a police center in Washington, D.C. Thursday night and praised law enforcement efforts to crack down on crime in the nation's

capital. The White House says there have been more than 600 arrests in the city since the president's federal takeover of the D.C. Police Department

earlier this month.

Hurricane Erin remains a category 2 storm as it moves up the U.S. East Coast. It's not expected to make landfall, but its large size is still

having a big impact. Virginia and North Carolina are feeling the effects of the storm. And parts of New Jersey and Delaware could see major flooding.

And we go to Ukraine now where Russia has carried out its largest attack in more than a month. Overnight, it launched hundreds of drone strikes and

dozens of missiles hitting as far west as Lviv. Officials say at least nine civilians were killed in the strikes as well as shelling in Eastern

Ukraine. They also say the attacks hit a U.S.-owned manufacturing facility. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the strikes show Russia is not

ready for talks, all as Moscow accuses Kyiv of not being interested in peace.

Ben Wedeman reports now from Ukraine where the prospect of a ceasefire seems very distant.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This complex of bunkers and trenches is not the frontline, it's well back in the rear, but

the purpose of this is that it is a position that is ready in the event the Russians push forward. And in fact, what we're hearing from senior

officials in the Ukrainian military is that indeed they are seeing that the Russians are moving more men and equipment to this part of Eastern Ukraine

in preparation for some sort of attack.

[18:35:00]

And certainly, what we've seen in recent days is an intensification of Russian drone strikes and missile strikes on a variety of parts of Ukraine,

and this is, of course, is one of them. This, despite the fact that it was not just a -- it was just a few days ago that President Trump met with

President Putin in Alaska, and certainly, one would've thought that this would lead to a lessening of the fighting, but in fact, what we're seeing

is that in the days following that Alaska summit, if anything, the Russians are intensifying their fire and as many here fear, preparing for yet

another push on the eastern front.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Our thanks to Ben Erman there. Angela Stent is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of "Putin's World: Russia Against the

West and with the Rest." She has also served as a U.S. National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia. Good to have you with us.

You know, it is hard to believe it has not even been a week, six days, in fact, since the Alaska summit. And objectively, not much has been achieved,

right?

ANGELA STENT, SENIOR FELLOW, BROOKING INSTITUTION: Well, I would say in some ways we're worse off now than we were before the Alaska summit and

then before, you know, the White House summit with the European leaders and President Zelenskyy. Because Putin obviously has no intention of winding

down this war. He has no intention of seriously negotiating. But I guess he felt that he got a reprieve after Alaska because no extra sanctions were

imposed, no other actions have been taken against Russia.

NEWTON: No. And in fact, the Alaska summit, in a way, absolved Putin, right? He -- all he had to do was say the right things, be -- we're looking

at video of him now on the tarmac on that infamous red carpet in Alaska. That's all he had to do, was kind of say the right things and follow

through on nothing.

STENT: And show up and tell President Trump that he wanted peace and he praised President Trump in that very brief press conference, lasting nine

minutes. Yes. And it was a great win for him, because here he was in the U.S. being greeted by the U.S. president after the west tried to isolate

him since the war began in February of 2022. So, he gained quite a lot from that, and he hasn't had to do anything in return.

NEWTON: So, where do you see this headed now? Because the White House continues to insist that, look, they are working on a face-to-face meeting.

And yet, do you believe it will be Europe that we'll have to step up now and say, enough is enough? We will arm Ukraine even more than we have right

now, and as long as the United States doesn't stand in their way, there could be even a further escalation of this war?

STENT: I mean, the Europeans understand that they're going to have the bear the brunt of the burden here, and that's partly why they were in the White

House on Monday with President Zelenskyy. And they are purchasing weapons now from the U.S., as President Trump has asked, and sending them to

Ukraine. But Ukraine needs many, many weapons. It needs air defense system. It needs a whole lot of equipment in order to push back against the

Russians. And everything takes quite a lot of time, in fact, to get there.

So -- and the Europeans -- and this is another reason why they were in Washington, they need assurances of U.S. backup here. I mean, they were

talking about security guarantees after the war is over and they wanted a U.S. backup there. So, they're still looking for some U.S. support here.

And it's unclear whether the Trump administration is directly going to give Ukraine much more support.

And if so, it's still going to be extremely difficult for the Ukrainians to push back against the Russians. And as you've already reported, this seems

like a new and heightened assault both on -- in Eastern Ukraine and in Western Ukraine too.

NEWTON: And given that, do you worry about how much Ukraine can really sustain a defense posture here? Because let's face it, they have not been

able to be on the offense all that often. Given the fact that the population is absolutely exhausted. I mean, they really were hopeful that

the Alaska summit would turn into something else, even if they knew better.

STENT: Yes, they really needed a ceasefire. They need -- they wanted a ceasefire. As you say, the population, even though it by and large, still

supports the war, is exhausted. It's going to be very difficult for the Ukrainians if this war continues. They will continue pushing back. The

Russians are making very slow gains. But every time they have these massive attacks, it has disastrous humanitarian consequences and military

consequences for Ukraine.

So, if this war continues into the next year, as it very well may, it's going to become increasingly difficult for Ukraine. It also needs to

mobilize more soldiers. It does have a mobilization problem and more young men are now trying to avoid the draft. So, it's -- again, this is a major

challenge for Ukraine going forward.

[18:40:00]

MARTIN: Yes, it has been three and a half years, and when you think about how long World War II lasted in Europe, this is a significant amount of

time indeed and we're nowhere near the end yet it seems. Angela Stent for us. We'll leave it there. Thank you.

Still ahead for us, parade prep. Beijing gearing up for a massive display of military might next month. We'll tell you why China is flexing military

muscle.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: China is gearing up for one of the largest displays of military might in its history. Beijing is set to show off its advanced weaponry

during a military parade next month marking the end of World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders are expected to

attend. Marc Stewart has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARC STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A synchronized show of strength in China, soldiers march in formation late into the night,

a dress rehearsal for a massive military parade less than two weeks away for the entire world to see, celebrating 80 years since World War II ended.

STEWART: What kind of message do you think this parade will send to the world from China?

LI HONGMEI, BEIJING TOURIST (through translator): I believe that this military parade will have a big international influence, especially in

showcasing our military might. It's going to be a great event.

STEWART (voice-over): There's excitement here among the locals, a rare chance to get up close to these war machines. And this mysterious site,

warheads wrapped like gifts until the big reveal. Fighter jets soar in the sky as the world's largest military is set to show off its latest

additions, including drones and hypersonic weapons. A point of pride as China faces constant tension with the U.S. and its allies over its claims

to the South China Sea and Taiwan.

STEWART: We're driving here along Tiananmen Square. The seats are now empty. But this is where we will see Chinese officials and world leaders,

including Russia's Vladimir Putin, and the parade will extend here along Chang'an Avenue for miles.

[18:45:00]

STEWART (voice-over): The 70-minute parade is a chance for Chinese President Xi Jinping to show off in front of world leaders as he did during

the Victory Parade 10 years ago. Parades like this eclipse similar events in the United States. The bold display comes as China asserts itself as a

strong superpower.

MR. XIAO, BEIJING RESIDENT (through translator): Now, China is acting more outward looking and more assertive. I think this is in line with China's

current strength.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: China, first row.

STEWART (voice-over): Strength now tested by the U.S. trade war in a shaky domestic economy. The show of muscle aims to bring feelings of stability to

the billion plus people who live here and sending a message to the world China is a force.

Marc Stewart, CNN Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Out of North Korea, which has reportedly built a base near China that could pose a threat to the United States. The secretive facility is

said to be larger than many airports and could be used to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles. Will Ripley has more on that and new

information on who could be next to lead North Korea.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Buried deep in the mountains of North Korea, hidden in a secret location near the

Chinese border, an arsenal of nuclear capable long-range missiles, potentially capable of striking any American city. This new report from the

Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington analyzing these satellite images also obtained by CNN.

The report says construction began two decades ago. Today, the Sinpung-dong base sprawls larger than JFK Airport tucked into a mountain valley. Many of

its entrances and facilities camouflaged under trees. Experts say, during a crisis, launchers could roll out, fire and disappear. An elusive nuclear

threat, extremely difficult to effectively counter even with advanced warning, experts say.

And while Kim Jong Un is busy building an arsenal, the North Korean leader is also building something else, his succession plan. This is the first

time the world saw the young girl believed to be Kim Ju Ae. Her father introducing her beside a weapon meant to strike fear in his enemies.

Within a year, North Korea's top brass were kneeling before her, the kind of deference reserved for the supreme leader himself. Now, at middle school

age, she's no longer the shy child, appearing in tailored suits, styled like a head of state, seated ahead of her own mother, and even her powerful

aunt Kim Yo Jong.

It's a striking reversal. For years, Kim's younger sister was seen as his likely heir. Now, it's his daughter taking her place at the table, and

perhaps someday holding the keys to a growing nuclear arsenal, a hidden power that defines North Korea's future.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: OK. A change pace for us now. An historic first for all Japanese -- an all-Japanese music group, we will introduce you to Babymetal, you'll

want to see this.

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[18:50:00]

NEWTON: Japan's Babymetal is an intriguing combination of J-Pop and heavy metal. But judge for yourself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: The all-female singing group and their band members just cracked the Billboard top 10 the first time an all-Japanese group has done that.

And while many critics hail their success in carving out a unique genre, new music express gave Babymetal's new album only three out of five stars.

The magazine writes efforts to push their sound further sometimes comes at the expense of their signature charm.

Spencer Kaufman is the managing editor of Heavy Consequence, covering hard rock and metal news, I should say hard rock and metal news. All right.

Listen, we just got one review. Give us yours.

SPENCER KAUFMAN, MANAGING EDITOR, HEAVY CONSEQUENCES: Hey, Paula. Well, my -- the review of Babymetal is it's entertaining, it's great fun, and it's

completely unique. You know, they -- like you said, they combine pop and metal in a really unique way. And the thing about them is a lot of people

don't know that they've been around a long time. They've actually been around 15 years. They started out when the singers were about 11, 12 years

old, and now they're in their mid to late 20s, and it's just been building up to this bigger and bigger phenomenon each album.

NEWTON: And they do look so young. I had heard that they had been around for a while and yet, have they always sounded this way. And the fact that

it is called Babymetal, do you think the play on words works here?

KAUFMAN: Yes. I mean, that's how it was conceived. They really wanted it -- there's -- it's also called Kauai Metal, which Kauai is the Japanese word

for cute. So, they wanted to combine J-pop, which was, you know, Japan's version of K-pop, which is very popular right now, and heavy metal. And

what happened was there was a producer, Koba Metal, who found the singer, Su Metal, and really enjoyed her singing and said, I have this great idea

to have her front this band that combines pop and metal. And it turned out to be a real unique thing.

This is their fifth album already. And you know, the fact that they debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard chart is a real testament to their -- you

know, their endurance, their lasting legacy because, you know, a lot of people -- when they first came out, I think people thought it might be a

gimmick. But they really have great songs, catchy songs, and they have a really great backing band of really talented musicians. So, very, very

unique band all around.

NEWTON: Do you think it's more than a sleigh of hand, really, to say that this has anything to do with heavy metal at all? And when I heard the title

and then I went back and looked at the videos, it's pretty poppy.

KAUFMAN: No, there's some really big, heavy riffs in those songs. And this album in particular, they're collaborating with a lot of great artists,

young artists who are strictly metal, Spirit Box, Bloody Wood, Poppy. They have Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, one of the most respected

guitarists in the world. Most of the songs on this new album are collaborations.

And so, if you see them in concert, it is very heavy. And it's not just like teenyboppers going to their concerts, you know, there's, you know, 40,

50-year-old men who've been metal fans for 30 years going to their concerts and really respecting them.

NEWTON: And the performances, I mean, I'm really riveted by the videos actually, I have to say. Does this have legs? I mean, we have seen this

kind of thing about J-pop trying to break out and be as popular as K-pop. But this group itself, given where they debuted here, do you really think

this could turn into a thing like a BTS kind of thing?

KAUFMAN: I wouldn't call it a BTS. It is -- you know, that's -- you know, that has a very broad -- cast a very broad net in terms of musical taste.

Like I said, there are very heavy metal elements to this. So, it's not going to go BTS level. But there's a nice thing happening in heavy metal

right now this year in particular, where you're seeing some of these bands like Ghost from Sweden and Sleep Token from England, who just -- who both

debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and they all have this kind of lore about them. Both bands I just mentioned are mask bands. You

don't see their identity.

[18:55:00]

They have a story about them. Even Babymetal, there's a lore about them. They have this entity called the Fox God who's kind of their driving force.

And you know, they travel to different galaxies. And I think people are -- fans are picking up on these interesting stories around these bands and

it's kind of a gateway if you're not necessarily a heavy metal fan, these kind of bands like Babymetal and Ghost and Sleep Token are really these

kinds of gateways where they almost have a comic book feel to them.

And you know, you're seeing -- right now on Netflix, you're seeing K-pop Demon Hunters are one of the most popular movies right now, and there's

kind of a similarities between them and Babymetal. That movie in particular combines K-pop with like demon sling and stuff like that. So, it's a really

interesting time.

NEWTON: Right. Spencer Kaufman, it's been an education and I needed it. Thanks so much. Really appreciate it.

KAUFMAN: Yes.

NEWTON: And I want to thank you for your company. I'm Paula Newton in New York. You have been watching "The Brief" Stay with CNN.

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