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The Brief with Jim Sciutto
Suspect In Charlie Kirk Shooting Held Without Bail; NATO Steps Up Defense Of Eastern Flank; NATO Announces "Eastern Sentry" Operation; Tyler Robinson Expected To Make His First Court Appearance Tuesday; S. Korean Workers Back Home After ICE Detention; Jimmy Lai's Son Pleads For International Action. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired September 12, 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]
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND CNN ANCHOR, QUEST MEANS BUSINESS: A very warm welcome to you wherever in the world you are. I'm
Richard Quest. Jim Sciutto, as you've just seen has been broadcasting elsewhere. Anyway, you are about to be briefed.
Now, ahead in our briefing, the suspect of the killer -- the killing of Charlie Kirk is in custody after his father urged him to surrender. NATO
steps up the defense of Europe's eastern flank. It's all because Russia and those drone incursions into Poland. And the son of Hong Kong media tycoon
Jimmy Lai calls for international action to secure his father's release.
We must begin in Utah where authorities say they've caught the killer, in their words, of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspect is 22-year-
old Tyler Robinson. He's being held without bail. The charges include aggravated murder. When announcing the arrest, Utah's Republican governor
spoke about a nation polarized and traumatized by political violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. SPENCER COX (R-UT): We can return violence with violence. We can return hate with hate. And that's the problem with political violence is it
metastasizes because we can always point the finger at the other side. And at some point, we have to find an off-ramp or it's going to get much, much
worse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: So, today on Fox News, President Trump was asked what it would take to fix the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AINSLEY EARHARDT, CO-HOST, FOX AND FRIENDS: We have radicals on the right as well. We have radicals on the left. People are watching all of these
videos and cheering. Some people are cheering that Charlie was killed. How do we fix this country? How do we come back together?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Well, I'll tell you something that's going to get me in trouble, but I couldn't care less. The radicals on the right
oftentimes are radical because they don't want to see crime. The radicals on the left are the problem and they're vicious and they're horrible and
they're politically savvy. Although they want men and women sports, they want transgender for everyone. They want open borders. The worst thing that
happened to this country, because I've already solved inflation, costs are down. Look at energy costs. You're going to have $2 gasoline pretty soon.
I've solved just about every problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: And the suspect is being held in the county jail in the -- in Spanish Fork. And that's where Ed Lavandera is. So, we're getting -- you
know, as the hours pass by we're getting more information since you and I last spoke about the sequence of events. And it's apparently this pastor
who is affiliated with the sheriff's department that finally talked Robinson into surrender -- or at least pass the name on to the authorities.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. Things moved very quickly late last night as authorities quickly discovered after a
phone call from a family friend of the suspect into authorities. And that led them to 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Right now, two sources tell us that he is not speaking with investigators. And now, that this manhunt is over, the search for understanding the motive
really intensifies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COX: We got him.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): The information that led investigators to Tyler Robinson came just after authorities released new videos and enhanced
photos of the suspect fleeing the shooting scene. The 22-year-old was arrested at 10:00 p.m. Thursday night. Robinson is now in custody in the
Utah County Jail, held on several charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice. He could face the
death penalty.
The manhunt lasted 33 hours. Investigators say video images of the suspect showed him running along the rooftop of a Utah Valley University campus
building, dropping to the ground and walking away. This was seconds after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed with a single
supersonic bullet 12:23 p.m. Wednesday, local time.
The focused manhunt began after authorities analyzed surveillance footage from the scene. A rifle was found in a wooded area near the university with
evidence that may point to the suspect's motive.
[18:05:00]
COX: Inscriptions on the three unfired casings read, hey, fascist, exclamation point, catch, exclamation point.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): The governor said surveillance video matched the suspect identified on the roof to footage showing him arriving on campus in
a Dodge Challenger.
COX: He is observed on video in a plain maroon T-shirt, light colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo and light-colored shoes.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): Authorities say the suspect arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m. This video appears to match the suspect's description. At 9:48
a.m. Thursday, the FBI released the first photos from surveillance video of a person of interest, showing a man in sunglasses and a dark blue cap
wearing a T-shirt with an American flag. Then at 10:48 a.m. that day, a reward, $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest
of the individuals responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Later that night at 7:52 p.m., authorities released the video of the suspect running across a rooftop, climbing over the roof ledge and jumping
to the ground before running away. Robinson matching the descriptions in the video was later located at his home in Washington County, Utah. At
10:00 p.m. Thursday, 260 miles from the scene and taken into custody.
According to Utah's governor, Robinson's father confronted him after seeing the video and the images and told his son to turn himself in. Robinson was
then transported overnight and booked into jail just before 2:00 a.m. Friday morning, 12 miles from the scene of Kirk's shooting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA (on camera): And, Richard, local prosecutors tell us that the formal charges against Tyler Robinson will be filed next Tuesday, and that
is when he will make his first initial court appearance. He will not be taken from the jail to the actual courthouse. He will appear virtually,
Richard.
QUEST: And I'm sure -- I mean, on other issues, more charges, possibly federal charges, maybe a lot more questioning. But he's not talking at the
moment. Is that right?
LAVANDERA: Right. He's not talking. And we're still waiting to hear if federal charges are going to be filed. We have been told that that is a
possible that was a possibility today. We still have not seen those federal charges filed just yet.
QUEST: And I'm grateful. Ed Lavandera, thank you. For more now, joining me is the former New York police detective Andy Bershad. Well, what do we make
of this? Because an interesting series of events. Classic policing in releasing the photographs did exactly what it was intended to do. A father,
a family member recognized, and everything followed on from there. So, what do you make of it?
ANDY BERSHAD, FORMER NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT DETECTIVE: Well, it was obviously an instant investigation. And kudos to the multiple departments
for getting themselves together, obviously, from people contributing. There are cameras everywhere with video footage that we saw that was even put out
against the media.
Obviously, it was a high noticeable event and a horrific point that needed to be addressed. And right down to the perpetrator -- alleged perpetrator's
father, it seemed that justice was to be pushed in.
QUEST: So, where does this -- from the authorities' point of view, there's a lot of evidence in a sense. They've got the rifle. They've got the
messages online. They've got the alleged confession to the pastor, which might, of course, be questionable. Bearing in mind, he's a pastor. So,
you've got all these bits, haven't you?
BERSHAD: Certainly, multiple pieces, as with any case, with a lower-level crime or a high visibility killing that took place, everything starts on
the boots on the ground guys. The evidence has to be collected. Everything has to be put forward. Obviously, everyone is entitled to their day in
court. So, everything has to be meticulously calculated, gathered, handled properly to ensure that justice is served to the degree that it needs to be
done and rightfully so.
QUEST: Do you think it is appropriate that you have the governor, we got him, you've got the president saying, it looks like, you know, we've got
him. We want the death penalty. I mean, doesn't it -- is a little more circumspect to say someone's been arrested and now let the legal process
take its course? I understand the willingness and wish for everybody to go rah, rah, we got him. But these are people who are head of policy and they
should know better.
BERSHAD: Well, I think it was a tremendous blow to -- however you look at it, there was a human being killed in front of their family and in front of
thousands of civilians. I guess the excitement sometimes of containing -- certainly, we look at our public leaders, any of them as being professional
and kind of holding through. But with such a horrific situation, as a human being myself, obviously, like all of us, sometimes our emotions might get
the best of us and we want to show that justice has been, you know, begin, the wheel of justice is beginning to go through.
[18:10:00]
But, yes, of course, we want to make sure. God forbid, we had the wrong person. There was one male that was apprehended in the crowd prior where we
thought that we had an apprehension that turned out to be not the case.
QUEST: Andy, I'm grateful. Thank you, sir, for joining me. Thank you.
BERSHAD: Thank you so much for having me. You have a good night.
QUEST: The other story following tonight, NATO is beefing up its defenses across its eastern flank after this week's incursion by Russian drones.
It's called Operation Eastern Sentry. It's involving cooperation from Denmark, France, the U.K., Germany and others.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK RUTTE, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: NATO is launching Eastern Sentry to bolster our posture even further along our eastern flank. This military
activity will commence in the coming days and will involve a range of assets from allies, including Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Germany and
others. In addition to more traditional military capabilities, this effort will also feature elements designed to address the particular challenges
associated with the use of drones.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Now, it follows Russian drones going into Polish airspace. The prime minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, called the incursion an attack rather than
a mistake. That was suggested by President Trump.
Amid news of NATO's plans, Russia is launching military drills with its ally Belarus. It has put Poland and other eastern NATO states on guards.
The Russian-Belarus drills are taking place on land and in the Baltic and Barents Sea.
Military analyst, Army -- retired U.S. Army Major General Spider Marks is with me. Well, loOK. President Trump says, oh, well, could have been a
mistake. Might have been a mistake. Donald Tusk, elegant in diplomacy, he says, not so, Mr. President. What say you, sir?
MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST AND U.S. ARMY (RET.): Well, you don't debate the facts. And when you look at what
occurred and you strip apart the details as you get into it, you can see that it was not a mistake on the part of the Russians, primarily because
the narrative from the Russians was the Ukrainians took control of the drones and then directed those drones further to the west to get them out
of Ukrainian airspace, which means they're going straight to Poland.
Well, there was no electronic warfare signature that we've been able to discern. And that would be easily detectable. That indicated that the
Ukrainians did that. So, that narrative on the part of the Russians is nonsense. That needs to be called out. That's one of the facts, not
opinions or, you know, subjective assessment, but a fact of what took place.
And so, you look at this and you go, yes, the Russians had a very clear opportunity, and they took it, to test whether President Trump is serious
about how far he's going to do, how far he's going to go. Russia routinely tiptoes along the edges, the borders, not only of what NATO's design is,
but also in terms of what they're doing in concert to try to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty.
QUEST: We're looking at the map at the moment. So, we see Russia, we can see Ukraine. I think you can see the map as well. You can see Belarus,
Lithuania, and Latvia. So, this idea of testing the flank, testing the eastern flank of where, of course, Belarus meets Poland and Ukraine, how
does this Eastern Sentry, what needs to strengthen it? What message needs to strengthen it?
MARKS: Well, the message is being sent right now is that NATO is bringing forward some additional capabilities. In other words, there's no dissension
within the NATO body of nations that something went awry. NATO is stepping up and saying, no, this is wrong. So, they're bringing both ground and some
air capabilities over Poland.
Again, this needs to be done. And it's an essential step. It's not the full response that you probably like to see, which it's defensive in nature,
which is great.
QUEST: OK.
MARKS: That doesn't weaken Russia's -- it doesn't give Russia an incentive to stop doing what it's doing.
QUEST: But, Spider, I listened to what you said at the beginning. It's designed to show NATO's response. And as you said, President Trump's
response. The fact that President Trump, A, postulates a mistake and B, the U.S. is not, as we see it, or at least as far as we know, part of Eastern
Sentry, does that give Putin, ah, Trump's not necessarily going all the way with this, I've spotted a weakness?
MARKS: Well, good question. I would say that, first of all, the United States is a matter of routine, has a U.S. presence in Poland. So, simply by
geography and command and control, they are a part of Eastern Sentry. The nations that were described, which are Germany, France, Denmark. I think
the other one was the U.K. -- France, U.K, those are additive forces on the ground and potentially in the air in Poland.
[18:15:00]
The United States has been there as a matter of routine. And also, the United States is in support of Eastern Sentry.
QUEST: Yes, but you know what I'm saying, if they'd written the United States, it would have been the equivalent of the red flag being waved,
we're here.
MARKS: Well, the United -- well, let's be frank, Richard, the United States is there and is very much a part of it. I think there's enough about what
took place that throws the narrative coming out of Moscow under a very sharp light that says, loOK. this is nonsense, guys, quit talking like
this. We -- every time your lips are moving, you're not telling us the truth.
QUEST: Sir, I'm grateful. Thank you. I know we'll talk much more about it. Thank you very much.
Now, coming up, it's "The Brief." The son of the Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon, Jimmy Lai, urging global action to free his father.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: An urgent pleaded to save his father, from Sebastien Lai, he's the son of Jimmy Lai, calling for international action to secure his father's
release before it's too late. Jimmy Lai is the founder of the Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. He was arrested in August 2020 under
the new -- then new, national security law that was being imposed by Beijing.
He's accused of colluding with foreign forces. It carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty. Jimmy Sciutto sat down with
Sebastien Lai.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: This has been difficult for your father and for you, certainly, for his whole family. He's been in solitary confinement now
for four years with some health conditions. How is his health right now?
SEBASTIEN LAI, JIMMY LAI'S SON: Unfortunately, he's gotten a lot worse. So, he's -- he turned 78 at the end of this year, by which point he would be --
he would have been in solitary confinement for five years. He's got diabetes.
And if you imagine this, he's in a little -- you know, essentially a concrete box. He doesn't get natural light. And Hong Kong goes up to 30, 40
degrees in the summer, as you know.
SCIUTTO: Up 100 degrees, fare height.
LAI: Yes. And so, even just in a room without air conditioning, it's horrible. But you can imagine the concrete traps the heat. And so, he
essentially bakes in there. So, you know, he couldn't attend trial one of the days because he had to be hooked up to a heart monitor because he had
heart palpitations. So, we're really, really worried about him.
[18:20:00]
SCIUTTO: You have said, you've gone as far as to say is that your father's time is running out. Do you believe this detention is putting his life at
risk?
LAI: Oh yes, of course. Yes, yes, yes. No, this is no condition for, you know, anybody to be in. You know, solitary confinement is a form of
torture. 15 days of solitary confinement is prolonged solitary confinement. My father has been in there for 1,700 days. You know, and this is someone
who's, again, almost 80. He's 78 this year, and has been in that condition for five years. So, time is definitely running out for him.
SCIUTTO: And he's a Catholic. And at times he has been denied the ability to practice his faith in prison.
LAI: Yes, yes, yes. Because he's in solitary confinement, he can't attend mass. Originally, he was denied the Eucharist as well. Since from my
understanding, because of the pressure he has since been allowed to have the Eucharist. But yes, it's been absolutely horrible. As you know, his
faith is what keeps him strong.
SCIUTTO: He's imprisoned under China's national security law as imposed in Hong Kong. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison, as you
know. Is the International Community, in your view, doing enough to pressure China for his release?
LAI: LoOK. we've been very grateful for the support that we've been getting, including from multiple states, you know, the U.S., the U.K.,
Australia, European Union, both Houses of -- both the House and Senate in Canada.
But I think, loOK. it's been five years, right? This is a man who stood up for freedom, stay to defend his employees. He does not, under any
circumstances, deserve to die in prison. And, you know, I think now's the time. Now's the time to push and see him released.
SCIUTTO: As you know, the Trump administration, President Trump himself has taken notice of this case. He has said publicly he will, quote, "do
everything" to save Jimmy Lai. He's even said that he likes you. He respects you and how you have made the case for your father's release. Has
President Trump -- has that pressure, do you feel, is that making a difference?
LAI: Of course, it is. I mean, this is -- you know, obviously President Trump has thousands of to do in a day. The fact that he keeps my father in
his heart and in his mind is something that we're so incredibly grateful for. And loOK. this is about saving my father's life, right? It's not just
about, you know, freeing him from prison. It's about saving his life.
So, I can't express how grateful I am to the president and the administration for the support. And it gives us so much hope.
SCIUTTO: He's going to be meeting with the U.K. leader coming up as well, given that your father is a U.K. citizen. How important it is, in your
view, to get the support not just to the U.S., but the U.K. and perhaps even together, some sort of joint statement?
LAI: Yes, it's incredibly important, because the U.K. have also called for my father's release. The U.S. led the way on that. So, it took a year or so
after the U.S. called for my father's release, where the U.K. called for it. And loOK. this is a president and administration that has so much
experience in seeing people release abroad.
And so, they have the -- the U.S. government has experience, has the drive, has the knowledge. And I think, you know, as a-- our government, the United
Kingdom government, has a lot to learn from that. So, I think jointly is how they'll get my father free.
SCIUTTO: I had the privilege, as I said to you earlier, of meeting your father. This is back in the '90s when he rose to prominence there, owning
the Apple Daily, made a splash. Since then, freedom in Hong Kong has like a flame been slowly burning out. And I wonder what that means to you. Your
father, of course, that's his home, right? Your family, you grew up there, you went to school there. Watching freedom of the Hong Kong people fade
away over time.
LAI: It's incredibly distressing and heartbreaking, obviously. Because loOK. there's a -- you know, the consequences are very real. My father's in
prison. There's a thousand political prisoners. If you look up Apple Daily raids, there was, you know, 500 police officers that ran into my father's
newsroom and, you know, arrested his colleague, took materials. So, this is a -- this has wide ranging consequences.
I think it is a case where, you know, the International Community has to determine whether Hong Kong without a rule of law is still Hong Kong that
you want to be there for. Because, you know, in the end, Hong Kong, besides its legal system, its strong legal system used -- well, it's one strong
legal system was what made it unique and special.
[18:25:00]
And if they choose to weaponize that and attack its citizens, attack peaceful pro-democracy supporters, you know, is that still Hong Kong, or is
it just some, you know, island off the coast of authoritarian island off the coast of China?
SCIUTTO: Yes. His trial, we're already more than 19 months, I believe, into his trial, making it the longest running national security case. Do you
feel that this is the moment, to some degree -- I don't want to say the last moment, but is it getting close to the last chance to earn your
father's freedom?
LAI: I would say so. You know, obviously his trial is finishing, but also it was sort of the -- his age. You know, frankly speaking, you know, as I
said, before he turned 78 at the end of this year. And I just -- I don't know how much longer he has, you know, of life left under those conditions.
You know, he's a man who knows he did the right thing. He stood for what he believes in. And, you know, 60 -- more than 60 years after landing into the
shores of Hong Kong, escaping Chinese communist -- Chinese communism, he decided to stay and defend his principles and his people.
So, you know, I don't think his story should end in his death in jail, but I'm incredibly proud of what he's, what he's done.
SCIUTTO: Well, listen, we wish him the best, and we wish you and your family the best, because I know this has been enormously stressful for you.
LAI: Thank you. Thank you so much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: Jim Sciutto. Now, when reached for comment following this interview, the Hong Kong government in a statement denounced Sebastien
Lai's comments, saying its correction facilities have regular independent visitors for inspectors, improved ventilation, and cooling systems. This is
the quote. "They are committed to ensuring that the custodial environment is secure, safe, humane, appropriate, and healthy. The government has said
regarding solitary confinement that Lai has requested his own removal from the general prison population." He receives daily medical check-ups without
objection from him or his legal counsel.
The government also said there are no so-called political prison in Hong Kong, and every person charged is entitled to a fair hearing. They add, the
rule of law in Hong Kong is strong and robust and withstands the test of time. There is no truth in saying that there is any decline in the rule of
law in Hong Kong or that Hong Kong is becoming an authoritarian island.
In a moment, the father of the -- of Charlie Kirk shooting suspect has urged his son to turn himself in after he confessed. In a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:30:00]
QUEST: Welcome back. It's "The Brief." I'm in for Jim Sciutto. I'm Richard Quest. These are the headlines we're following for you today.
More details are emerging about the suspect accused of killing Charlie Kirk and the events that led the suspect to being arrested. 22-year-old Tyler
Robinson is being held in a Utah jail on multiple charges and they include aggravated murder. The Utah County Attorney's Office expects Robinson to
make his first court appearance on Tuesday.
U.S. officials say a driver stopped by immigration officials was shot to death whilst resisting arrest. Department of Homeland Security says the man
was killed and was an undocumented immigrant with a history of reckless driving. They say he drove his car at law enforcement officers at a stop
near Chicago, hitting one of the officers and dragging another a significant distance.
Nepal has sworn in its first female prime minister after days of widespread deadly protests. She's the former Chief Justice, Sushila Khaki, 73 years
old and has had support of Nepal's young protesters. Calm has now returned to Kathmandu after demonstrations over government corruption. The
protesters set the parliament and supreme court on fire. At least 51 people have died. 1,700 people have been injured.
The widow of Charlie Kirk is set to make her first public remarks since her husband's assassination. The remarks will happen on Charlie Kirk's Turning
Point USA website. The police arrested a suspect in Kirk's murder on Thursday night. 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, as I mentioned, is being held
without bail on initial charges that include aggravated murder.
The Utah native is accused of killing Kirk, the conservative activist, during an event on Wednesday at Utah Valley University. Family members have
told authorities Robinson had recently criticized Kirk. We're also learning from a source that the suspect told his father he'd rather end his life
than turn himself in. 22-year-old Robinson is expected to make his first court appearance next week.
Joining me now, the Arizona congressman, Greg Stanton, with me. Congressman, I'm grateful. Thank you. We can both preface this discussion
with the remarks so that they are taken and meant that nothing that we are going to say now can ever in the political discourse can justify what's
taken place. I'm sure the appalling and the horror and the nature of this, I'm sure you want to associate yourself with that, sir.
REP. GREG STANTON (D-AZ): Of course, I do. And I was really inspired earlier today watching the remarks of Utah Governor Cox, who was really
eloquent in making that exact point. We can never, ever let political differences result in violence. America is better than that. We are better
than that. And we can never ever allow violence to enter into the political spectrum.
QUEST: The connection -- the phraseology that everybody uses, the way people talk, the heated environment, the -- it all begs the question, how
do you ratchet it down? How do you get back to -- I mean, loOK. not necessarily civility, but at least a lack of hatred?
STANTON: Well, of course, you know, I'm in the political sphere. We fight over public policy. We want to make sure we win in the United States
Congress when we can, win in the court of public opinion. But we also need to make it clear that politics is not religion. Just because somebody on
the other side of the aisle disagrees with me on an issue, they probably feel equally as passionately as I do. That's what democracy is all about.
We fight these battles at the ballot box, not through violence. And we can never let this happen.
[18:35:00]
QUEST: So, we then end up with a situation where we have -- and I'll just go for it, so the president, who simply cannot stop assailing what he's
calling the radical left. It's all the radical -- even to this morning on Fox, all -- it's all the radical left's fault, as if everybody on the
opposition side is the radical left.
STANTON: Well, I think it was irresponsible for the president to make the comments he did after this horrific tragedy, the assassination of Charlie
Kirk, who was an Arizona resident. The vice president did bring his body back to his family, to Arizona, just the other day. The president, I think,
was irresponsible in doing so.
We to this -- even though this arrest has been made, we still don't know what the motive may have been. What we do know is that there was a level of
radicalization that occurred in this young man. And we don't know why or how, but we need to study this. What goes on online and the dark recesses
of some of the internet can radicalize these people into doing violence. That's a problem in our country and something we really need to look at.
QUEST: I want to switch directions completely, if I may, Congressman, because one of the issues now -- I mean, let's just celebrate the life of
Charlie Kirk, because the one thing he did was energize the youth, the youth and the conservative right and the Republican right. There seems to
be -- if I'm looking at Democrats now, how do you energize, in a good way I'm talking about, the way Charlie Kirk did, how do you energize youth on
the left or if you like, the liberal wing, so that it isn't the radical, but it is a version -- or a Democrat version of what Kirk did on the right?
STANTON: OK. Well, we don't demonize the other side. That's one thing we can't do. We've got to have a positive vision for these young people's
future. They need to have confidence. We need to convince them that our party, our representatives have better ideas for a brighter future,
including better opportunities to own their own home and purchase a home, better opportunities to achieve a higher education, reducing the cost of
higher education, access to Pell Grants and things like that, that may allow young people who aren't from wealthy families to have a fair and
equal, a real opportunity to achieve a higher education.
They need to see that if they work hard and play by the rules, they can really have an outstanding life and it is worth it. So, we have a lot of
work to do on convincing young people that our vision of the future can be achieved and they have a place in that future. And messaging is very
important. Approach is very important. Charlie Kirk had some innovative ways that he communicated with young people and we need to work. We can't
leave any voter behind, including young people in these upcoming elections.
QUEST: Do you think that the perception is that to -- you know, that for -- amongst youth is that the liberals are just a bunch of far-left or radical,
whatever you want to call it, but, you know, we see pictures of protests on universities over Gaza, for example, and we see pictures of that and that
the idea that you're failing to get over a middle ground message that is appealing to that generation?
STANTON: Well, I think we're -- the Democratic Party is a very broad party that goes from the far-left to moderates. It's the same thing with the
Republican Party with these -- we only have two political parties in this country. And so, of course, by their very nature, they are broad based.
But the real action occurs in the middle. The ability to get things done in Congress cannot be done with just one party. Inevitably, you have to have
the ability to reach across the aisle and get independents and moderate Republicans to support you. And we need to we need to convince people that
those public policies, the ones can actually get achieved are only -- can only be done in truly a bipartisan way. And that's not weakness. Compromise
is not weakness. The ability to get things done and move across the finish line, if you will, that's the art of politics at its best.
QUEST: Congressman, I'm grateful. You know, I had a wry smile when you said we only have two political parties. And then, I suddenly thought of Elon
Musk and arguably his party. But I think we can leave -- I think you and I can safely leave that discussion for another day. Congressman, I'm very
grateful to your time tonight. Thank you, sir.
Now --
STANTON: Thank you so much.
QUEST: And days before his assassination, Charlie Kirk was on tour of Asia. He was visiting South Korea and Japan. Our correspondent, Hanako
Montgomery, is in Tokyo and brings us up to date.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Three days before he was assassinated, Charlie Kirk was half a world away on his very first tour of
Asia, making stops in South Korea and Japan where he gave CNN one of his last interviews.
[18:40:00]
CHARLIE KIRK, POLITICAL ACTIVIST: I've always wanted to come to Japan, and I told my team, I said, hey, any way we could go to Japan? You know, just
add it on to our Korean trip. And so, we did. And was thrilled to be able to do this event.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): He told CNN he was invited to Tokyo by Sanseito, a far-right Japanese populist party that's inspired by Trump's MAGA brand.
KIRK: The attacker racialized us, just for the record.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): And Kirk's firebrand conservatism.
KIRK: I'm really kind of thrilled to see that there is this growing political movement here in Japan that is fighting the same things that we
believe in.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): But Kirk also came with a warning for Japan.
KIRK: I learned, especially the last couple of months, that, you know, with mass immigration and many other issues, that this country is going through
some of the similar type of dynamics that I see in France and in Germany and the U.K. and, of course, in our country.
Even my greatest critics would agree that if you put 30 million Pakistanis in Japan, Japan's not Japan anymore. That's not xenophobia. It's common
sense.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): Foreigners make up about 3 percent of Japan's population, but that number is about 60 percent higher than a decade ago,
while the country's population has declined. A reality Kirk was quick to highlight.
KIRK: Two issues, family formation and mass immigration, both of those have not been heading in the right direction.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): Conservative politicians here have seized on stories of foreigners misbehaving as a rallying cry in their political
campaigns. Sanseito leader, Sohei Kamiya, said that Kirk's message resonated deeply. Kamiya said he was, quote, "stunned and heartbroken" at
the news of Kirk's killing.
For Japan's far-right, Kirk's visit was validation. For America's MAGA movement, it was proof its message is spreading, finding common ground in
one of Donald Trump's closest allies.
Hanako Montgomery, CNN, Tokyo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: As you and I continue, the South Korean workers snapped up in that U.S. immigration raid, they're now home. We were at the airport. South
Korea's president and what the president says this could mean for future investments in the United States. It's "The Brief."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: More than 300 South Korean workers are finally home after that massive immigration raid in the United States.
[18:45:00]
Now, they were in the U.S. to work on a battery plant co-owned by Hyundai and LG. You remember, you know the story. Immigration authorities raided
the factory. Now, South Korea's president is warning businesses may think twice before investing in the United States.
When the workers arrived home at Incheon, CNN's Mike Valerio was back at the airport. This is his dispatch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was quite emotional for so many who were gathered here at Incheon International Airport, seeing not one,
not two, but more than 300, 316 former ICE detainees being flown in from Georgia back home here in South Korea. We should tell you, when you're
looking at this video, so much of it has been blurred out of privacy concerns. Privacy regulations, laws, quite strict here in South Korea, and
none of these people have been charged with crimes.
So, the question now moves to, how could this be prevented in the future, for any South Korean company, that has investments, big projects in the
United States right now, or is planning to do so, what will change to avoid any kind of visa confusion, mix-up, or this visa situation that has
befallen more than 300 people, impacting them in myriad ways?
You know, South Korea's president actually spoke to that. Let's listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEE JAE MYUNG, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT (through translator): From the perspective of companies, they will be concerned about disadvantageous
treatment or facing difficulties when they're building factories in the United States. That could probably have a significant impact on direct
investment in the U.S. in the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VALERIO: So, we should show you, before the 316 former detainees came through the arrival doors, this banner was put up, almost twice as tall as
I am, with the words, in English, we're friends, aren't we? With a figure dressed in black, the letters I-C-E, ICE across the chest, chains around
one shoulder, an assault-style weapon, and a smiling mask of U.S. President Donald Trump. Certainly, indicative of a strain of outcry when we're
talking about the emotional reactions that have befallen this country over the past week.
So, in terms of what changes, South Korea's president has talked about perhaps things in motion to increase the visa quotas between the United
States and South Korea, perhaps create a new class or category of visas for businesses that are investing in the United States. Again, all with the
goal of making sure what we saw a few days ago does not happen again.
Mike Valerio, CNN, Incheon, South Korea.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: Now, you and I have some way to go yet, a few more minutes. So, after the break, the clowner for clowner. The Swedish fintech firm went
public on the stock exchange. The chief executive and his plans.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:50:00]
QUEST: Before I love you and leave you, I'm going to show you the markets where it was all a little bit mixed one way or another. Now, the NASDAQ
must be able to record, I believe, because, of course, it's -- well, a little gain there.
The Dow and the S&P 500, weak economic data. Consumer sentiment fell almost 5 percent this month compared to August. Vaccine makers and Pfizer and
Moderna sharply lower after the Washington -- WAPO reported that Donald Trump's health officials plan to link COVID shots to the deaths of about
two dozen children.
And in the day, a finance blow to France. Ratings agency Fitch cut the country's credit ratings, citing its worsening fiscal situation and its
ongoing political instability. You'll remember that they lost a prime minister, another one during the course of the week.
2025 is the year of the IPO comeback on Wall Street. 150 or so companies have gone public this year, more than 50 percent up compared to last. The
Swedish fintech firm Klarna is one of the high profile -- highest profiles, arguably, that's debuted. It's a buy now, pay later firm that competes in a
crowded market. Its shares rallied on the first day and ended a week just slightly above their IPO of $40, which suggests they were perfectly priced.
I spoke to Klarna's chief executive about his plans for the firm.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEBASTIAN SIEMIATKOWSKI, CEO, KLARNA: What we're famous for is buy now, pay later, which is a little bit of both a blessing and a curse because that's
what most people associate with us. But the truth is in Europe, we're like PayPal, we're a wallet. People use us. 20 percent of our transactions are
people are paying the full amount. So, customers are using us to buy everything.
And we think of ourselves as a third-party network like American Express or PayPal that competes with Visa and MasterCard. We have over half a million
merchants live. We're growing that base very, very fast. And consumers use us for all types of purchases, whether it's on DoorDash or Uber or Macy's
or Sephora.
And the big difference is, historically, you use the credit card, credit cards were trying to make you rack up debt $4,000 or $5,000, 30 percent, 40
percent interest rate. We're doing 0 percent short-term installments, fixed time. And we encourage people to use debit and occasionally use us for a
single purchase of $100. So, people just borrow on average 100 bucks from us compared to credit cards of $4,000.
QUEST: Can -- you obviously are very successful at that middle way, if one wants to call it. Very Swedish in a way, isn't it? The middle way. But I do
wonder, so you're making your money on the transaction costs and from the retailer. And that's, in a sense, the retailer is bearing the cost of the 0
percent on the short-term payments.
SIEMIATKOWSKI: That's true. But you have to remember, we're from Europe. We're interchanges regulated. Credit card fees in Europe are 0.4 percent,
40 basis points. Debit is 20, 0.2. In the U.S., credit cards cost merchants 200 basis points, 2 percent. And debit cards cost 100 basis points. And in
addition to that, credit card companies make another 2.5 percent by borrowing people and making them revolve and revolve on the credit cards. A
$100 transaction in the U.S., banks make 5.5 percent on. I mean, that's insane.
So, for us, coming from a European perspective, we're like, whoa, there's a lot of margin here. There's a lot of opportunity. We can offer these
services for merchants at very attractive rates. And we can offer consumers 0 percent interest. And we know we make that business work.
Our losses are lower than credit cards, 30 percent by industry standards. So, to us, we're just looking at this to say, hey, this is a market that
hasn't been disrupted. Banks have been making too much money. There's tremendous opportunity here to bring, you know, more value for less money.
QUEST: Firstly, sir, when you come into this or when you expand, do you move towards the U.S. credit cards and debit cards, their rates, or do you
stick to your European frugality and hope that more people come to you because of that?
SIEMIATKOWSKI: Look, I was -- one of my biggest privilege was I went to Bentonville, Arkansas. And I had the opportunity, as we were launching our
partnership with Walmart, and I found myself standing at Sam Walton's grave. And it was just such an emotional experience for me who coming, you
know, from a small city in Sweden and now get the chance to work with the greatest retailer in the world. And I feel there's so much commonality in
the culture in the Midwest with Sweden.
And one of the things that I really appreciate about Walmart that I think made them such a successful company was when they got their profit up, when
they started making more money, they piled that back into lower prices and higher quality. You are willing to do that over decades, you're going to
move and make a big difference.
[18:55:00]
And I don't know, Richard, last time you heard about a bank who were like, oh, we did quarterly profit of the records. And now, we're lowering our
interest rates and bringing lower prices to our customer. It just hasn't been happening in this industry. And if we're willing and committed to do
that long-term, we build a trust with our audience that's just fantastic and a preference that's going to make them prefer our products over the
alternatives. And that's pretty -- that's what we've seen, 26 million Americans see that value.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: CEO of Klarna. For the Emmys, they take place this Sunday in Los Angeles. The awards celebrate excellence in television. The shows on
streaming platforms are dominating. The best drama, it's a battle between shows like "Severance," "White Lotus," "Last of Us" and "The Pitt". Picks
for the best comedy include "The Studio," "The Bear," "Hacks" and "Abbott Elementary." The Emmys are celebrating their 77th year.
I'm very grateful to your company tonight. Thank you very much. I'm Richard Quest in for Jim Sciutto. Have a great weekend. You have been briefed and
that's worthy of a -- stay with CNN, because the news never stops.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:00:00]
END
