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The Brief with Jim Sciutto

Trump Shares Racist Video Of The Obamas; White House: Staffer Posted Racist Video On Trump's Account; Iran Says Nuclear Talks With U.S. Will Continue; Dow Closes Above 50,000; Nancy Guthrie Disappearance; Suicide Bomber Kills At Least 31 At Islamabad Mosque; Japan FM Aims To Secure Majority For Party; Trump Ignores Calls To Apologize For Racist Video. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired February 06, 2026 - 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, "THE BRIEF": Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington, and

you're watching "The Brief."

Just ahead this hour, Donald Trump takes down a racist video of Barack and Michelle Obama but doesn't apologize for it amid bipartisan backlash.

Iran's foreign minister says talks with the U.S. were a good start as Washington rolls out more oil sanctions. And I'm going to speak to the

photographer who took this picture of Chinese migrants arriving in the U.S. from Mexico. It was a finalist for the World Press Photo of the Year.

We begin with the White House in damage control mode after President Trump's account reposted a racist video of former President Barack Obama

and his wife Michelle. It was one of several late-night Truth Social posts from the president. Several of them repeated false claims that he won the

2020 U.S. presidential election. He did not. Nearly 12 hours later, the Obama video was taken down. After 12 hours, and only after bipartisan

anger.

We're not going to give the video any air time, but we have decided to show you just a freeze frame for context. I'm going to warn you, it's deeply

offensive. Near the end of the video, the faces of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama superimposed, as you see there,

over the bodies of apes. As the images appear, for about a second, the start of the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" plays in the background.

A senior White House official now says, quote, "A White House staffer erroneously made the post." It has been taken down. But before the White

House took it down, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended it, saying, this is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump

as the king of the jungle and Democrats as characters from 'The Lion King.' Please stop the fake outrage and report on something that actually matters

to the American public," end quote.

Well, there was, in fact, outrage, and it was from both parties, including a rare condemnation quite publicly from top Republicans. A close Trump ally

in the Senate, Tim Scott, called it the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House. Republican Senator Roger Wicker says the image is, quote,

"totally unacceptable and the president should apologize." Republican Congressman Mike Lawler described the post as incredibly offensive. He also

said Trump needs to issue an apology. That hasn't happened.

Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries posted this condemnation on his Instagram feed just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): This disgusting video posted by the so-called president was done intentionally. Donald Trump and his vile, racist and

malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Kevin Liptak is at the White House. Kevin, as you know, first Carolyn Leavitt just said this was all Democratic media fake outrage. Now,

they're saying a White House staffer. Which White House staffer? And does that make sense given the number of posts that appeared on the president's

feed in the sort of odd hours of the evening?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: They have not identified the staffer, nor have they said whether that individual has been disciplined in

any way for putting this on the president's social media feed. You know, the explanation, even if it is correct, I think raises a whole host of

other questions, particularly why a staffer has access to the president's social media account and is posting at almost midnight.

And so, that may be a question for another day, but certainly a lot of consternation here at the White House. You know, you posted -- or you

showed that post from Tim Scott, who's the only black Republican in the Senate. I'm told that Scott and Trump spoke before that post ultimately

came down, and I think to be sure Scott conveyed the same sentiments that he put out in public, that this was the most racist thing that he had ever

seen coming out of this White House.

[18:05:00]

And I do think, you know, it has been something to see, you know, the number of Republicans who have been coming out to criticize this. You know,

so often the reflex among Republicans in Washington when the president does this kind of thing is to sort of beg off, to make excuses, to say that they

hadn't seen what the president did. This was a very different reaction, which I think, one, speaks to just the virulent racism that was contained

in that video, but two, speaks to the predicament that they find themselves in in a very important election year.

You know, you have started to see a number of cracks in the Republican coalition, whether it's on immigration or in the economy, you know,

pressing the president to really stay focused on what the issues are that most Americans care about. And I think it was evident that this tweet was

an example where they needed to break with the president and needed to apply pressure to demonstrate that they did not support this kind of

message.

And, you know, this really did go back to some of, you know, the most racist tropes that you've seen in the U.S. You know, this idea that

African-Americans comparing them to apes is something that you saw by slave traders, by segregationists, people trying to make the case that somehow

African-Americans were subhuman. And so, to see it on the president of the United States' social media feed, I think was just a bridge too far for

many members of the president's own party.

SCIUTTO: Quite understandably so. Kevin Liptak at the White House, thanks so much for joining me now. Democratic congresswoman and chair of the

Congressional Black Caucus, Yvette Clarke. Congresswoman, thanks so much for taking the time.

REP. YVETTE CLARKE (D-NY): Good to be with you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: First, I just want to ask for your reaction when you first saw this. I can only imagine.

CLARKE: Well, you know, you're always alarmed, but you're never surprised. You know, Donald Trump has made it very clear to the American people that

he's a bigoted racist. You know, this is not the first time that he's done something that, you know, points to his bigotry.

I mean, I'm a New Yorker, so was very aware of what he did with the Central Park jogger case. And now, the exonerated five young men, teenagers

basically, and calling for the death penalty. They were exonerated. You know, it's been a part of sort of his M.O. to denigrate, to dehumanize

black people. And so, I'm not shocked or surprised at all that it would manifest itself in this way on his social media platform.

SCIUTTO: Of course. And as you brought up the birther lies, as you brought up on your social media feed. Do you buy --

CLARKE: Absolutely.

SCIUTTO: Do you buy this White House explanation, oh, it was just a staffer who did this?

CLARKE: Well, we know that they always run for cover whenever they're called out for their inhumanity and the horrible things that they have done

in the public square. You know, we're talking about, you know, someone who has made it clear through his policies, the way he's executed it. We're

celebrating 100 years of Black History Month, yet he's in the midst having his agencies remove all references to black people who have contributed to

civil society. It's 250 years of the existence of America, and he's developed this gripe with the engagement that black Americans have made the

strides. When I say engagement in every sphere of our civil society.

And so, you know, it's just -- it's egregious. We cannot have a president of the United States that expresses such disdain and hatred and bigotry

towards a significant part of our civil society. And that's what Donald Trump has done. That's what he continues to do. He uses the DEI as a dog

whistle for purging black people from the federal enterprise and holding it as a stick over the heads of our private sector. It's just been one thing

after another.

And the sad thing about it is not only has it been violent of our human rights, but it also harkens back to some of the worst periods of time in

the United States of America.

SCIUTTO: Yes, you have to go back to your history books, right, to find images like that. And yet here we see them again.

[18:10:00]

You know, we talk about breaking points, and as you know, a fair number of African Americans, of black voters, voted for President Trump in the most

recent election. Not a majority, but more than some expected here. Do you see this as egregious, as particularly bad to the point where you would see

lasting outrage and revulsion at Trump?

CLARKE: Absolutely. I mean, think about it. There are children in school today who, in current events, receives a video from the White House, social

media account, and they're being depicted. They're seeing a president and his first lady depicted as an animal, subhuman.

You know, what does that do for the young people who are in that class who are black? What does it do for their companions who come from, you know,

various backgrounds? It's such an egregious attack on all of our humanity that I just don't see folks getting over it.

This is, you know, we're going to move forward in a civil manner, but it's not going to be forgotten. We know this is just, again, one of many ways in

which Donald Trump has attacked black communities across this nation. You know, whether it's his immigration policy, his lack of focus on the

affordability crisis that's taking place, the health care that the American people need, it impacts across the board, and in particular, black

communities that have seen the U.S. government be there as a bulwark and a support to all of their endeavors and being able to advance society that

had held them back for centuries.

SCIUTTO: As you know, the president has not apologized, and the White House press secretary in her only statement, Karoline Leavitt's statement, just

called this all fake outrage. The president is not known for making apologies. If he were to apologize, what would you need to hear from him?

CLARKE: Well, you know, first of all, it would be difficult to take an apology from him seriously. You know, this is a man who does not speak the

truth. You know, this is a man who continues to do the most horrific things to people here in the United States and the communities in which they live.

And so, you know, I think we're beyond that at this stage. This is -- as Maya Angelou says, during Black History Month, when someone shows you who

they are, believe them. And Donald Trump has certainly shown this nation who he is.

And let me say something about the press room as well, because the gaslighting that comes from the White House podium, it's nauseating. You

know, you're trying to justify the unjustifiable. And, you know, at the end of the day, there's always a lie baked into it as well. And the American

people need a truthful administration so that they can trust that this administration is there in their best interest.

They have not demonstrated that in over a year. And this just adds to the level of distrust, the concern, the anxiety that exists in society right

now, because this president, as my leader, Hakeem Jeffries said, is totally unhinged and divorced from reality.

You know, this is not an issue of right versus left. That's what they'd like to make you believe. This is a moral issue. This is about right versus

wrong. Right versus wrong, Jim. And they are totally wrong to go down this road in the 21st century, in 2026, you know, to know that there are

children who are being exposed to this type of toxic poison.

What kind of environment do they have in the White House where a staffer could feel comfortable enough, if in fact there was a staffer, to post

something like this on the president's social media platform? There has to be a climate that is permissive that enabled someone to do something like

that.

[18:15:00]

SCIUTTO: Yes, just lacking the most minimal amount of respect as well. Congresswoman Clarke, fellow New Yorker --

CLARKE: It speaks more about them -- listen, let me say, it speaks more about them than it does about the people that they are trying to

dehumanize.

SCIUTTO: I think you're right. It's -- that's exactly what I tell my kids. Congresswoman, we do appreciate you joining.

CLARKE: Thank you for having me.

SCIUTTO: Well, Overseas now, indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. have wrapped up in Oman, with a source telling us that both sides have

agreed to follow up with more talks. It is unclear exactly when that next round might take place, but Iran's foreign minister was cautiously

optimistic after the meeting. He described it as, quote, "a good beginning."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We were able to exchange our viewpoints, to express our concerns and our interests for a possible deal

between the two sides on our nuclear question.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Joining me now, Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, longtime analyst of Iran. Karim, thanks

so much for joining.

KARIM SADJADPOUR, SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: Thank you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: So, a good start, says the Iranian foreign minister. A good start to what, exactly? Do you see these talks as putting the U.S. and Iran on a

pathway to a conceivable, credible agreement?

SADJADPOUR: No, Jim, I'm skeptical of that. I think the priority of the Iranian regime in the near-term has been to avert a military attack from

the United States, and they want to change the conversation away from their brutality towards their own people. And in part, these talks, to

participate in these talks with the United States was an effort to demoralize the Iranian public to say that President Trump said he had your

back, but in fact, they don't care. The United States doesn't care about the Iranian public. They're prepared to do a deal with the regime.

SCIUTTO: Tell me, I don't want to ask you to speak for the people of Iran, but I know you maintain contacts there. They're reeling after, from what I

hear, after just these awful, awful series of massacres, really, particularly of young people. As the Iranian public watches this now, and

as the president considers further military action, are they rooting for U.S. attacks on this regime?

SADJADPOUR: As you said, Jim, this is a nation of 90-some million people, obviously very diverse views. That said, we know from polling that perhaps

four out of five Iranians, if not more, oppose this regime. The regime's base of support is probably not more than 15 percent of society.

And for those who protested the regime, who were brutally beaten down, some of the casualty figures are not clear yet, but Time Magazine reported up to

30,000 people were potentially killed. I don't think there are many among the protesters who don't want -- I'm sorry, let me not use a double

negative. I think the vast majority of those who did protest the regime would like to see help from the United States.

Now, these folks are not military experts. They don't know what that means. But I think the president, on eight occasions, warned Iran that if they

killed protesters, that the United States would have their back. And that did impact people's risk calculations when they took to the streets,

thinking that the presidents of the United States would have their back. And so, far, he hasn't. And I think people would welcome support from the

United States.

SCIUTTO: Yes, you think of the red line in Syria and all the criticism that followed that for President Obama. Is it clear to you, has the Trump

administration articulated anywhere what his ultimate goal of military action would be? Because there seems to be quite a mixed pot of targets,

having the Iranian people's back, the protesters' back, setting back the nuclear program, its missile program, again, punishing the regime for the

crackdown, or even up to and regime change. Do you know? Do you think the president knows what the ultimate goal is?

SADJADPOUR: I don't think it's yet clear in the president's head what the endgame is. The president did allude last week that he evoked Venezuela in

his Iran policy. And the Venezuela strategy was essentially economic pressure and economic blockade as a prelude to essentially a political

decapitation.

[18:20:00]

Now, the United States, I don't think, has any illusions that it can go and physically capture Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and bring him

to justice in New York City. But I do think that if there is a scenario whereby, they can change Iran's top leadership, whether it's using a

military attack or other means, that is a strategy I think that they would welcome.

Now, I do think, Jim, I listened to your last discussion, the last segment with the congresswoman from New York, and I do think there is a linkage

here, and that not only has, I think, U.S. democracy been degraded internally, but it's been deprioritized in our dealings with the outside

world. And whereas several years ago, there was a strong tradition, you know, we helped defeat the Soviet Union during the Cold War by evoking

American values and supporting democracy.

Those kinds of institutions in the United States have been gutted. You know, the institutions that I used to speak to about supporting Democrats

in Iran and supporting freedom in Iran, those institutions in Washington are totally demoralized now. And I do think that has undermined some of our

national security ambitions.

SCIUTTO: No question. Soft power, right? I mean, you think of the, you know, successive administrations during the civil rights movement were

conscious of needing to make a civil rights deal and legislation because of how the Soviet Union was attempting to take advantage of that. Karim

Sadjadpour, always good to have you on. Thanks so much.

SADJADPOUR: Thank you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Coming up on "The Brief," Wall Street hitting a major milestone as the Dow now crosses 50,000 points for the first time ever. What's behind

that big rebound after what had been a tough series of sessions? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: In today's Business Breakout, the Dow crossed 50,000 points for the first time. The Index soared 2.5 percent as Wall Street rebounded from

this week's bad sell-off. The tech-heavy NASDAQ rose more than 2 percent. S&P, as you see, also up nearly 2 percent. Amazon, however, an exception.

The stock lost more than 5 percent after announcing plans to spend $200 billion on A.I. It dropped yesterday as well. Bitcoin climbed back above

$70,000. The cryptocurrency had fallen to almost $60,000 yesterday.

[18:25:00]

Today's market rebound comes as investors step in to buy the dip following the major tech meltdown in particular this week. Anthropic launched a new

A.I. tool, which sent many software stocks plunging into the deep end.

Joe Brusuelas is principal and chief economist for RSM. Good to have you, Joe. Thanks for joining.

JOE BRUSUELAS, PRINCIPAL AND CHIEF ECONOMIST, RSM: Thanks, Jim. Thanks for having me on. Good evening.

SCIUTTO: So, is this a little bit of a dead cat bounce here, or do you think the worst of the sell-off is behind us?

BRUSUELAS: Well, it's a little bit of a dead cat bounce, I think, if you take a look at what's happening. Look, investors are conditioned to buy on

the dip, and they had a huge opportunity following what happened this week. But I want to bring something to your attention that many investors looked

at very closely.

The $650 billion on the table, put on the table by the big ten tech companies to construct A.I. data centers and infrastructure following the

$360 billion last year, that's $1.1 trillion, that's going to materially alter the growth path in the United States this year.

So, yes, there's a dead cat bounce. Yes, A.I. is a transformative and disruptive technology that is and is going to hit the software industry,

but it's also going to create huge opportunities, and we saw all of that this week.

SCIUTTO: I suppose the question, right, that people smarter than myself raise is are they over-investing? I suppose the parallel folks use is all

those fiber optic lines that were laid down, you know, at the early stages of the internet boom, which way overshot the market at the time.

I mean, listen, that, I suppose, is the unknowable question. Are they throwing more money into this than the market can sustain, and can they

make money off, right, in the near-term?

BRUSUELAS: Look, if you soar like an eagle, you're not going to leave the trail of a parrot. There are going to be some big misses.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

BRUSUELAS: But overall, I do think this is going to create conditions for a really big increase in productivity. Now, when you put $1.1 trillion on the

table in a 24-month period, you're going to get an economy that's going to take off, right, because we're not going to hire a lot of people this year.

That means productivity is going to increase.

On the margin, that may allow the central bank, the U.S. Federal Reserve, to cut rates lower than they otherwise would. So, as we begin to think

about expansionary fiscal policy on the table, maybe up to $150 billion showing up in households' pocketbooks, and then you see this, yes, this

economy is a $31 trillion resilient beast. It's just going to continue to grow despite all of the policy unpredictability coming out of the political

sector.

SCIUTTO: But the question is, is that broad-based growth, right? Do more people share in that growth, or is it concentrated in a handful of

companies, right, and a portion of the population, right? Is that, you know, love not spread around? I mean, that's the concern, right?

BRUSUELAS: That's the real concern is that we have a K-shaped economy. By my math, the upper two quintile of income earners, the 40 percent of

households are responsible for well over 60 percent of spending. And that's why if you are saying manufacturing and you're listening to our

conversation, you might think, what are those two guys talking about? Well, they'd be right. In manufacturing last year, we lost 72,000 jobs, right?

And so, it's going to depend in our highly segmented economy what area you have exposure to, and that's going to define your reality and really tell

you what you need to do to actually get ahead in this economy.

SCIUTTO: No question. Well, good advice. Joe Brusuelas, thanks so much for walking us through it.

BRUSUELAS: Thank you.

SCIUTTO: Straight ahead, a new note has surfaced in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. We're going to tell you what the authorities are saying now

that the search has entered a sixth sad day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:30:00]

SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Jim Sciutto, and here are the international headlines we're watching today.

There is bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill after U.S. President Donald Trump's social media account shared a racist video of Barack and Michelle

Obama. The video depicts, if you can believe it, the former first couple as apes. The White House initially downplayed the response, then somehow

blamed the post, which came around midnight on a White House staffer, around midnight in the midst of a slew of posts. It's since been removed

from the president's social media page.

British police say they have searched two properties linked to Peter Mandelson over his ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson has been accused of passing along market-sensitive government information to Epstein. The former U.K. ambassador to the U.S. has not been

arrested.

The two cauldrons for the Winter Olympic Games are now lit. The Italian City of Milan is hosting this time around. Actress Matilda De Angelis

kicked off the opening ceremony with a tribute to Italian music. Mariah Carey participated by singing the Italian classic "Volare," with Andrea

Bocelli also performing.

Authorities say they are aware of what they're calling a new message about Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84-year-old mother of TODAY Show anchor Savannah

Guthrie. Officials say they are now looking into whether that new message is authentic. One man has already been in charge of sending the Guthrie

family a fake ransom threat. Investigators believe Guthrie was abducted from her home, seen there in Arizona last weekend in the early morning

hours of Sunday.

Ed Lavandera has been covering the story standing by. So, Ed, a new message that came to a local television station's tip email, as I understand it, I

suppose my first question is, is that the way they've received the previous messages, or is this a new pathway here?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the station that received it is one of the stations that -- one of the two stations

locally that received it. And yes, that's how they've communicated in the past. The station is reporting that it actually came from a different IP

address, that they received it just before noon, but that it had other information that could go toward confirming the identity that it is the

same sender. So, clearly, all of this is now developing in the last few hours and will continue to develop.

[18:35:00]

Investigators still have not said whether they believe these letters are authentic and legitimate, and they are still trying to figure that out.

But, clearly, the Guthrie family has been taking them seriously. FBI investigators have been taking it very seriously. And this message comes

almost 24 hours after Camron Guthrie, Nancy's son and Savannah's brother, put out the latest message right at that 5:00 p.m. deadline that was

referenced in the first messages that went out to establish communication.

So, we are waiting to see what exactly it's going to mean, whether or not this helps investigators determine the authenticity of these letters, and

they will continue to do that.

Jim, I should also point out that this latest news that's breaking here this afternoon in Tucson also comes as investigators have come back to the

neighborhood where Nancy Guthrie was abducted, and they have cordoned off much of the street in front of her home. Investigators here say they are

back for investigative purposes searching the house and also searching some surrounding areas. I have heard from some neighbors who have also said that

FBI agents have been in the area this afternoon walking through properties as well. They continue to do that work.

But this is once again reminiscent of what we saw just a few nights ago, where investigators are coming back. We have seen federal agents on the

property of Nancy Guthrie going through the garage and in other parts of the property as well. So, once again, another active scene here this

afternoon. Jim.

SCIUTTO: Ed, I know that authorities are only sharing what they can, quite understandably at this point. Given the timeline, we're now six days out,

Nancy Guthrie does not have her medication. Have they given any sense that they're learning more about who might have done this?

LAVANDERA: They have not. They have maintained and keep saying that they have no idea where she is, that they have no suspects, no persons of

interest. We have not gotten any indication that they are going after anyone in particular to do this. In fact, they continue asking for the

public to help. I think investigators do believe that at this point, this far out, that is going to be a tip somewhere around the community or

someone around the area sees something or hears of something that will lead them to Nancy Guthrie.

And what is interesting, I spent some time talking to the sheriff yesterday, who continues to sound upbeat in the sense that he still

believes that Nancy Guthrie is alive and that she is somewhere out there to be found. So, that is the tone that they continue to put out there. But

clearly, there is going to be so much of this situation that can't be shared publicly for the time being, given the sensitive nature of what

investigators presumably are dealing with at the moment.

SCIUTTO: No question. Extremely sensitive. I feel for the family. Ed Lavandera, thanks so much. In Pakistan, authorities say a suicide bomber

killed at least 31 people during Friday prayers at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad. At least 169 people were wounded. It is the deadliest attack in

the country in three years. Police say early investigations blame Pakistan's Taliban, but the group said it had no connection to the attack.

Insurgent attacks in Pakistan are made possible in part by U.S. weapons left behind as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. Ivan Watson went

to the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, got an exclusive look at some of those weapons. A warning, some of the images in this story are

disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: These are M-16 rifles, property of U.S. government.

WATSON (voice-over): Along the border with Afghanistan, the newest generation of jihadi militants carry out insurgent attacks using weapons

that were made in the USA.

WATSON: And it's manufactured by FN.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

WATSON: USA, out of Columbia, South Carolina.

WATSON (voice-over): The Pakistani military gives me an exclusive look bringing me to the border town of Wana and the aftermath of a recent

suicide truck bomb.

WATSON: The size of this explosion, you can tell, was massive. It ripped out the fortifications. The walls here at the front, at the gate of this

school and killed in this location at least three Pakistani army soldiers.

WATSON (voice-over): Moments after the blast, four insurgents stormed the school.

WATSON: These steps are still splattered with the blood of a school cook and a waiter who were both killed.

WATSON (voice-over): This could have been a bloodbath because there were more than 500 students aged 12 to 18 on campus. But over the next 24 hours,

Pakistani soldiers successfully evacuated all of them before killing all of the insurgents.

[18:40:00]

Colonel Muhammad Tahir (ph) of the Pakistani special forces says the attackers were all citizens of Afghanistan.

WATSON: Look closely here. What does it say, colonel?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it says property of U.S. government.

WATSON: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: M-16

WATSON: I'm taking photos of the serial numbers of these M-16s. And what well try to do is go back and kind of cross-reference them, check with the

U.S. government to find out what they're doing here.

WATSON (voice-over): The U.S. military confirmed to CNN that three out of the four rifles were supplied to Afghan security forces in and around

Kabul, years before the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The Pentagon declined to comment further on this matter.

WATSON: I've counted more than 100 M-16s, all with the marking property of U.S. government and the Pakistani military says that these were all

captured from the hands of killed Taliban fighters.

What happens to the weapons that were supplied to the Afghan government?

JOHN SOPKO, SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION (2012- 2025): Well, the Taliban get it all, or a majority of it.

WATSON (voice-over): John Sopko spent 12 years as special inspector general for the U.S.'s $148 billion Afghanistan reconstruction program. It provided

billions in weapons to the Afghan security forces.

SOPKO: Three hundred thousand some small arms weapons ended up with

the Taliban and it could go down the list. I mean, grenade launchers, communication stuff.

WATSON (voice-over): In a video statement, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban denied accusations that the Afghan government was arming his

fighters.

Pakistani military statistics show a surge in casualties since 2021, the year the Taliban took over Afghanistan. This war is getting worse, violence

fueled in part by a huge armory of U.S. weapons, a legacy of America's 20- year-long war in Afghanistan.

Ivan Watson, CNN, along the Pakistani border with Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Thanks to Ivan for that important story. Coming up next, Japan's first female prime minister is galvanizing young voters and finding

popularity online. But will it be enough for Sunday's legislative elections? We'll take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:45:00]

SCIUTTO: To Japan now, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is aiming to consolidate her party's power in Sunday's legislative elections, which she

called. Takaichi called that snap ballot just three months into her leadership. She's already got the endorsement of President Donald Trump,

who has invited her to the White House next month, even before the outcome of Sunday's vote. As Hanako Montgomery reports, Takaichi is riding high on

a wave of popularity online.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Japan has caught the Takaichi fever. On social media videos of the country's first female prime

minister get millions of views. Recent polling shows strong approval ratings. And unlike her recent predecessors, she's managed to tap into

young voters, some who obsess over her handbag, shoes, even her stationery.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I use the same pen, Sana-chan.

YUHO ISHI, TAKAICHI SUPPORTER: You see her working hard all the time. Her smile is so cute.

MONTGOMERY (voice-over): But while her charisma and star power are obvious, her policies as prime minister are less clear. In a short time in office,

her vague economic agenda has rattled markets and relations with the country's biggest economic partner, China, have soured since she made

comments that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response.

She's done well in diplomacy, courting leaders from Italy, South Korea, the U.K. and even the U.S. President Donald Trump.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Prime minister in the history --

MONTGOMERY (voice-over): Now, she's turning that momentum into a high stakes gamble, calling for a parliamentary election at a time when her long

ruling conservative party is deeply unpopular.

MONTGOMERY: There are thousands of people here at this campaign rally to watch the Japanese prime minister speak. Sanae Takaichi has called for an

election just three months into her job. And she says that if her party loses, she would step down as premier. But judging by the sheer number of

people out here to support her, this is a political gamble that she thinks is going to pay off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): She's a drummer. I'm a rock and roll musician. Ms. Takaichi is the same age as me, and when she became

prime minister, seeing her work so hard made me feel like life was worth living

MONTGOMERY: We're in Nara prefecture right now, which is where the Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is from, and where she started her political

career. And we've traveled back to her hometown to meet some of her old friends, and to understand why she's so popular among the Japanese public.

MONTGOMERY (voice-over): Osamu Kikuchi (ph) has known Takaichi for more than 30 years, in part thanks to the sports car.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): She's a passionate person. That's why her car is red hot too.

MONTGOMERY (voice-over): He fixed up her beloved Toyota Supra, a car that helps her image as a cool girl. Takaichi is clearly a local legend in Nara,

and it's not hard to find traces of her here.

MONTGOMERY: You've got some cookies here with Takahashi's face on them, and the British former prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, Iron Lady,

Takahashi's role model. And here you have Takaichi with the U.S. president, Donald Trump.

MONTGOMERY (voice-over): In the same neighborhood is Takaichi's district office. Here we meet her secretary of 16 years.

MONTGOMERY: Why do you think she is so popular among the general public?

MAMORU KINOSHITA, NARA SECRETARY FOR PM SANAE TAKAICHI (through translator): First, her consistent approach to policy, never wavering,

steadfastly upholding what she says from start to finish. It's fundamentally sound. What particularly resonates with younger people is

that she writes policies in her own words, making them easy to understand.

MONTGOMERY: Do you think her comments on a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan were an accident, or do you think that was on purpose

KINOSHITA (through translator): I do not consider it a gaffe. Naturally, it was simply a scenario. If Taiwan had warships and if those ships were

attacked, it would fall within a hypothetical assumption. Her response was fully consistent with previous answers.

MONTGOMERY (voice-over): Voters will soon decide whether her star power alone can revive her party, or if her meteoric rise will end as quickly as

it began, leaving Japan at its most politically uncertain in years.

Hanako Montgomery, CNN, Nara.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Well, President Donald Trump just spoke to reporters moments ago. Let's have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Hello. As you probably saw today, the stock market, the Dow, just hit 50,000 three years ahead of schedule. They said it probably couldn't be

done in the four-year period. We did it in one year. So, we're three years ahead of schedule, broken all-time record, 50,000, which they say couldn't

happen.

[18:50:00]

On the crime front, it was just announced that murders are down and crime is down. It's got the lowest point in 125 years, a year 1,900, and that's a

big, big number. And the country is doing very well. Do you have any questions?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you apologize --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, what's the status of the SAVE Act? Have you talked to Leader Thune about using the standing filibuster?

TRUMP: The SAVE Act. I'd love to use the filibuster. The SAVE Act is very important. Voter ID. I mean, if you look at it, no mail-in voting. And you

have to have proof of citizenship. Everybody wants it. It polls. Even with Democrats, it's polling at 82. With the Republican, it polls at --

Republican, it's at 99 percent. So, we're going to be trying very hard to get these things.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Press Mr. President, good to see you, sir. Rent prices continue to drop under your watch, as president. What is the secret

sauce to those prices coming down? Is it the deregulation, the mass deportations? What's the secret, sir?

TRUMP: We've had massive price reductions. In fact, you don't hear the Democrats with their arguments about affordability, because they caused the

problem. And I haven't heard that word now in two weeks. Prices are way down. Energy is way down. If you look at gasoline, $1.99 a gallon. And

sometimes, as you saw last week in Iowa, it was $1.85 a gallon when we went to Iowa.

So, we have the prices coming way down. I think we have the best economy maybe we've ever had. But again, I mean, to me, the big news, 50,000, the

Dow hit. And most people felt, if I could do that in my fourth year, we did it in my first year. So --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, would you apologize for --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: The president there asked at least twice that I could hear if he was going to apologize for the racist post to his account last night

targeting former President Barack Obama and the former First Lady, Michelle Obama. And the president refused to answer those questions there. Stay with

us. We'll be right back.

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SCIUTTO: We're getting our first look at some of the jewels that were damaged during the Louvre Museum heist last October. This, you'll see here,

is the battered crown of Empress Eugenie. It was dropped on the pavement during the thieves' chaotic getaway, leaving it crumpled, missing a golden

eagle, and short 10 diamonds. Now, jewelry giants like Cartier and Boucheron are in a bidding war to restore it. Eight of the other stolen

treasures remain missing.

$27.2 million, that's the sum this five-inch sketch sold for on Thursday at Christie's Auction House in New York.

[18:55:00]

Surprised? Well, it's not just a doodle of a foot. In fact, it's believed to be the work of the Italian Renaissance master Michelangelo. Researchers

suggest the illustration dates back to around 1511, more than 500 years ago. It was drawn in preparation for one of the artist's Sistine Chapel

murals. Only 50 of the sketches related to the artist's work on the frescoes in the chapel are believed to still exist. The price tag for this

one, 20 times the original estimate, certainly reflects the rare and desirable identity.

Thanks so much for your company today. I'm Jim Sciuto in Washington. You've been watching "The Brief." Please do stay with CNN.

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