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The Brief with Jim Sciutto

CNN International: Renewed Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon; U.S.-Iran Talks Postponed Over Lebanon Conflict; Andy Burnham Wins U.K. By- Election; Boston Bars Race to Keep Up with World Cup Demand; A.I.-Generated Movie About Iran; Obama Center Opens to The Public. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired June 19, 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]

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

in for Jim Sciutto. You are watching "The Brief."

Just ahead this hour, a renewed ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as the U.S. and Iran work toward a broader peace agreement. Greater Manchester

Mayor Andy Burnham wins a British by-election, setting up a potential leadership challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. And the Scots are back

in Boston to rock those kilts and kill those kegs. I'll speak to an executive at a local pub chain about how they're trying to keep up with the

unquenchable demand for beer.

But we do begin in the Middle East, where Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to renew a ceasefire. Now, the announcement comes after new fighting today.

Lebanon says a wave of Israeli strikes killed at least 47 people. Israel says it was responding to a Hezbollah attack in Lebanon that killed four

soldiers. Far-right Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says he wants all of Lebanon to burn. But Israel's ambassador to the U.S. says the country

remains committed to the ceasefire if Hezbollah follows. The Shia militants say they'll also abide by the truce as long as Israel does. Now, many

Lebanese, as you can imagine, are skeptical that the fighting will ever end.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The agreement is good, and we all want an agreement. But the Israelis don't abide by it. How many times have

they made agreements? More than once. They don't commit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There is no agreement. For us, there is no agreement. This is invalid. Nobody takes anything seriously,

neither from Netanyahu or Trump. What's happening in the south is absolutely terrible. Honestly, what ceasefire?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: The latest fighting complicates talks between Washington and Iran. Today's negotiations in Switzerland were, in fact, called off.

Mara Rudman is the executive director of the Ital Center Network. She is a former deputy Middle East envoy and deputy national security advisor to

Presidents Clinton and Obama. And she joins us now. Thanks so much for being with us as we try and parse the latest developments.

You know, you argue that this framework looks more like a U.S. concession than any kind of a strategic win. In your estimation, what is the biggest

concession here that the president gave up?

MARA RUDMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VITAL CENTER NETWORK AND FORMER U.S. DEPUTY MIDDLE EAST ENVOY AND FORMER U.S. DEPARTMENT NATIONAL SECURITY

ADVISER: Paula, good to be with you. It is tough to point out just one concession. I will say that I would say a combination of lifting sanctions

on Iran before they have committed to going forward in any serious way on making any serious commitments on the nuclear front, really restating,

resetting what it means to have the Strait of Hormuz, have ships going through there. He's basically ceded a huge amount of control to Iran on

that front going forward. And he's essentially negotiated for Israel without Israel at the table.

NEWTON: And yet, some would say, and he would say himself, the president, that that is actually a strength of his. He is saying, again, just in the

last 24 hours, that Israel will do whatever he'll tell them to do. How much do you think that claim can actually hold true in the days and weeks to

come?

RUDMAN: Yes. Well, I would view with skepticism any president of the United States saying that they have the ability, saying publicly to a

worldwide audience that they control the actions of another country and that any other country or any other country's leader would do whatever the

president of the United States tells them. When, in fact, with any country, Israel included, there are discussions back and forth. You're dealing with

sovereign states.

And so, making that kind of public statement very much undermines the ability of the leader of the sovereign state, in many cases, to do what you

would like them to do and what might be in their interest, and particularly one, as here, that has an election coming up, a major election for -- that

will test the future of Israel, and that would be in September or October.

[18:05:00]

So, Prime Minister Netanyahu himself is very much in advice at this point in terms of own domestic politics, how he deals on the international stage,

and how he guarantees his country's security. And President Trump's public proclamations don't mean that what he says will actually happen. I think

we've seen that on a number of fronts already.

NEWTON: And yet, President Trump has already said that, look, the next 60 days, and we're down to 59 now, that that phase of the negotiations will be

what he says will be much easier. From your experience, and when we want to talk about the hard lessons of history, right? I mean, the deal that was

negotiated when you were with President Obama, you're talking, what, minimum 18 months. Actually, it was probably closer to two years.

Ernest Moniz, who you know was the energy secretary at the time, is a nuclear physicist and helped negotiate this. So, where are we now,

especially when it comes to the goal that the president set out for himself to make sure that Iran could never have a nuclear weapon?

RUDMAN: Yes. We're very much at the starting gate for that process. And my concern is not just the constrained period of time. And I think under the

words of the framework agreement that 60 days could be extended as negotiations are going forward. But it's the lack of experienced people

like Ernest Moniz at the table. Our career, foreign service, our career civil service, so much of our expertise has been decimated at this point.

And those who remain are very in a very difficult position in terms of being able to actually use their expertise to the advantage of the United

States. If it involves giving news or information that the president or the immediate circle around him may not want to hear.

And so, I think, frankly, the lack of that kind of expertise at the table is part of how we ended up with the framework agreement we have now and why

we will be considerably back on our heels in the kinds of negotiations that need to go forward to get where the United States and the world needs to be

in terms of Iran's nuclear capacity.

NEWTON: Mara, I have to ask you, look, we have heard a great deal of skepticism from all corners, and that includes Republican politicians in

the United States. But do you hold out hope here that there can be significant progress in the months to come?

RUDMAN: Yes. First of all, I think it's important, yes, to hold out hope for sure and to try to work towards getting something done. I think that,

again, we would be fortunate if the United States at this point ended up in a place where the Obama team did on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,

the 2015 agreement. I think it's possible -- I don't think it's possible in 60 days. And I think they need to take a very different approach in terms

of who they have at the table.

And speaking more honestly with their counterparts and around the world on what is actually happening and how they might proceed. And I think if they

take that kind of route, yes, we'll be in a better place.

NEWTON: And perhaps cooler heads will prevail in the coming days and weeks, and that's exactly where the world will end up. There's certainly a

lot riding on it. Mara Rudman for us. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.

RUDMAN: Thank you.

NEWTON: Now, the prime minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, is accusing President Trump of coddling the West's enemies. It comes after Mr. Trump

told Italian TV that the prime minister had begged him for a photo of this week's G7 summit. Italy's foreign minister canceled a planned trip to the

U.S. over Mr. Trump's comments. Prime Minister Meloni, you will hear her now, accused him of lying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIORGIA MELONI, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Donald Trump's statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished. I don't

know why the president of the United States behaves like this toward his allies. It's not the first time moreover. I can only say it is

disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and of the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with

far greater indulgence. There is one thing he should remember. Neither I nor Italy ever beg.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Jennifer Hansler has been following this story for us. She joins us from Washington. When she talks about enemies, we understand that she is

talking about Vladimir Putin and Russia. Quite an extraordinary social media post. But, Jennifer, this actually escalated when you have literally

Italy's foreign minister saying, uh-uh, no way, not traveling to the United States.

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Paula, this is an extraordinary spat. And it is having those very real diplomatic

consequences. The Italian foreign minister was due to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a business summit in Miami, Florida, on Monday.

That entire summit has now been canceled as a result of this issue.

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Now, of course, the two, Rubio and Tajani, were going to have a lot to talk about, be it Iran, where Italy had committed to that multilateral mission

to potentially go into the Strait of Hormuz and help with mine clearing and securing that strait once the war came to an end, Ukraine. There's a number

of issues that they were due to talk about that that is now not on the table.

And to your point, Paula, I mean, that is an absolutely extraordinary rebuke of the U.S. president from Giorgia Meloni, where she is speaking

directly to the camera. This is something she posted in the early hours here in East Coast time this morning. She said it was something she needed

to immediately address the fact that she said the U.S. president had made up this claim about their interaction at the G7.

It's also remarkable to see the evolution of the relationship between these two leaders. Meloni and Trump at one point were incredibly close. They were

both seen as the leaders of the right-wing movements in their respective countries. Meloni, as you will recall, was one of the few European leaders

who came to the United States for Trump's second inauguration. He would speak warmly about her, in contrast to a number of comments he would make

for other European and G7 leaders. And that is all now disintegrating.

But we have seen this taking place over the course of the last couple years, as Trump has diminished the U.S. support for Ukraine, as he has

threatened to take control of Greenland. So, there is a widening gap between Trump and Europe. And it now seems that European leaders are

willing to call him out publicly for what they see as these transgressions. Paula.

NEWTON: And that is certainly what is new here. They seem to have a fairly good G7 meeting around the table. But no doubt even the other G7 leaders

will be looking on this and saying that it is not all that it seems around that table when they are negotiating. Jennifer Hansler for us, thanks so

much. Appreciate it.

Now, in what many are calling Britain's most consequential by-election, Labour's Andy Burnham, remember that name, has won the Makerfield

Parliament seat by more than 9,000 votes. And the win opens the way for the mayor of Greater Manchester to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for

the country's premiership. The prime minister says if there's a contest, he will not step down without a fight. CNN's Clare Sebastian has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Standing between a fox and a trash can, a surreal picture to end a five-week whirlwind campaign

for Labour's Andy Burnham. The man who may now challenge British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his job, making it clear he plans to shake things

up.

ANDY BURNHAM, BRITISH LABOUR MP: Everyone knows that politics isn't working. Everyone can feel that the country isn't where it should be.

Tonight could, just could, be the turning point.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): The scale of that victory may now strengthen his case for change. Burnham secured 55 percent of the vote, a comfortable lead

over Robert Kenyon of Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform U.K. party, who came in second place with 35 percent.

It was a campaign fought on the doorsteps of a collection of former coal mining towns in north-west England.

BURNHAM: We're doing everything possible. We're not taking anything for granted.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Burnham, a former cabinet minister who has been the popular mayor of Greater Manchester for the best part of a decade,

talked as little as possible on the campaign trail about his larger leadership ambition, focusing instead on local issues.

NIGEL FARAGE, BRITISH REFORM PARTY LEADER: What really happened here is it was vote Burnham, get Starmer out.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Reform leader Farage admitting Friday he's disappointed in the result, his party beaten at its own game. Meanwhile,

uncertainty ahead for Starmer and for Labour, as Burnham plots his next move.

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: If there is a contest, just to be clear with you, then, yes, I will run. I will stand. And I've said

repeatedly, I'm not going to walk away from that.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Another battle may lie ahead for Burnham, but first, a victory lap.

BURNHAM: The word make a field in the future must be known as a byword for the change that came to British politics.

SEBASTIAN: Andy Burnham speaking to supporters at a local football club isn't directly addressing the big question when and how he could challenge

Keir Starmer's leadership. Instead, focusing on what the campaign now believes won it for them, that core message of hope and the promise of

change.

Clare Sebastian, CNN in Ashton in Makefield, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Still ahead for us, Great Scots. The Tartan army is out in force again in Boston as the Scottish football team take on Morocco in the World

Cup. Boston bars and restaurants have never seen anything like it before. We are live in Boston. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:15:00]

NEWTON: And welcome back. In today's Business Brief, U.S. markets were closed Friday for the Juneteenth holiday, but European and Asian stocks

were up and running. Europe closed mostly lower, with the French CACCADENT pacing the declines down more than half a percent. Asia closed mixed, with

the Japanese Nikkei hitting another record high. The Japanese yen on Friday came close to hitting, in the meantime, 40-year lows.

Oil rose Friday after new talks between the U.S. and Iran were postponed, but Brent closed the week down about 8 percent. All this as a commodity

tracking firm says the world lost more than 1.1 billion barrels of oil supply during the Middle East conflict.

Now, call it, and we will call it, we're going to call it a World Cup windfall. Bank of America says the football tournament, now in its second

week, just the second week, could contribute more than $40 billion to global GDP. I've been among the crowds, and, yes, it's looking good. Among

the industries poised to score big in the next few weeks, food and drink establishments right across the globe as people gather to watch the games.

Now, one city in the U.S. is already raking in the cash. That is Boston, Massachusetts. The Scottish football team, soccer team, aka the Tartan

Army, is playing its Group C matches in nearby Foxboro, Massachusetts. And they're hard partying fans. You've seen them, you've heard them. They're

drinking the city dry with beer close to running out in some establishments. Scotland's match today with Morocco in the nearby Gillette

Stadium is now underway after Team USA's big win against Australia. We can only hope there's enough beer to make it through the evening.

Noelle Somers joins us now. She is the chief operating officer of Somers Pubs in Boston. Thank you so much for being with us. I mean, look, this is

not your first rodeo, Celtics game, Super Bowl. I could go on and on. But have you seen anything like this? I mean, what was it like inside the bar

in the last few days?

NOELLE SOMERS, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SOMERS PUBS: This -- we have never seen anything like this ever. And we've been here for over 30 years. And I

can say that this has been surreal, unbelievable, just such an amazing experience, one that I can't even describe.

[18:20:00]

All the videos don't really give the essence of what it's like to be in the bars right now. The fans are unbelievable. So, they're amazing.

NEWTON: Yes, I interrupt you, go ahead, because this is what we want to know. We have seen the videos, but you can try and take us into it. The

enthusiasm literally spilleth over.

SOMERS: Yes. So, we all know the Scottish Chants now, after hearing it for all week. They come in, it's a sing-song every day, a lot of camaraderie.

We know people, they're coming in, they're hugging us, we're hugging them. We know names now, faces. It's basically a big summer camp happening for

these two weeks.

It's been unbelievable. I can't even describe the happiness, the energy, the life that they've brought to Boston. It's not just about the drinking,

I know that that's a big focus, but the positivity and the life that they've brought back to our city is just unbelievable.

NEWTON: Listen, I love Boston, I have relatives there. You guys have a good vibe going all the time. Now, remember, this is supposed to be about

an Irish thing in Boston, I'll remind you, and yet the Scots, the Tartan Army is taking over.

You know, how are you doing in terms of stocking the beer, and what kind of beer are they drinking? Are they drinking other stuff, too?

SOMERS: They're drinking mainly lagers and ales, but once we're out of that, they're going down the line. Today, Corona was a big one. We triple-

ordered coming into when they came, but that wasn't enough. Now, every day we've had deliveries. It's just been crazy. Ice deliveries, everything, has

been just coming down the street. You're seeing trucks, trucks, trucks, trucks of alcohol coming down.

NEWTON: I'm not sure if you're sorry to see them go, because most of these fans will be headed to Miami, right, for their last game in the group

series. I mean, what kind of lasting bonds do you think you've forged here with the Tartan Army?

SOMERS: I'm definitely emotional about this experience. It's been something that I can't describe, and it's been amazing, and it'll

definitely be sad. When I bring up the summer camp, it's like when you're at the end, and you go home, and you have that little hole in your heart

that you've left all your friends, and that's what it's going to feel like when they leave.

NEWTON: Noelle, you're making us feel bad. Now, we know from your mayor that there's going to be a twinning with Glasgow. We hope that maybe there

is some kind of festival atmosphere happening.

One of the Scottish fans brought to the city, though, in terms of -- they're boisterous. We've seen them. They're loud, and they're proud. But,

you know, what do you think they've actually brought to the city that's been missing? Because, as I said, I love Boston, and it is definitely a

festive city.

SOMERS: Well, I think that they've definitely -- that we've gotten to show how nice Bostonians are, too, that we're welcoming with open arms as well.

And so, it's just been a great collaboration, a great community event. It's been unbelievable to see all the locals embracing the Scottish as well. And

so, that's been really heartwarming to see. And they're just super kind, nice, cleaning up after themselves.

I'll be cleaning up in the bar. They're coming around helping me. It's just a great community. I feel like it's just a very -- it's brought just this

great sense of community to Boston.

NEWTON: Well, we know that right now we do report that Morocco is ahead by one goal. This is going to be a long match. They're all tense. Can you

promise us, Noelle, that they've got what they need on hand in order to get them through the match, yes?

SOMERS: We do. We have everything to celebrate and commiserate. So, --

NEWTON: And we will leave it there, Noelle. Thanks so much. Really appreciate it.

SOMERS: Thank you.

NEWTON: Now, we're going to check in on some of today's other business headlines. President Donald Trump says he no longer views A.I. giant

Anthropic as a national security threat. The U.S. president tells Axios he believed the company was a security risk when it refused to let its models

be used in autonomous weapons systems and mass surveillance. He says he changed his mind last week after the company moved to block access to its

most powerful model as the administration blocked foreign nationals from accessing them.

Reports say SpaceX is planning to raise at least $20 billion now in the bond market, and the news comes just a week after the firm's record-

breaking IPO. The bond offering, like the stock sale, would help fund the company's A.I. expansion. Proceeds would also help finance -- refinance, I

should say, a multibillion-dollar bridge loan the company took out earlier this year.

The Russian central bank cut its key interest rate again on Friday, as this economy continues to feel the effects of the war in Ukraine.

[18:25:00]

It's the ninth straight meeting that the central bank cut rates, and officials say further reductions are possible. Russian President Vladimir

Putin admitted Friday that Ukraine's ongoing drone strikes are hurting his country.

OK. Coming up on "The Brief," a new movie about Iran, completely generated by artificial intelligence. The director of "Dreams of Violets" joins us,

that'll be next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

Sources say Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to renew their ceasefire. A diplomat says Iran wants guarantees that fighting will end before it begins

technical talks with the United States. Those negotiations were set to begin today in Switzerland, but were postponed.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a growing threat to his leadership of the Labour Party. A top rival, Andy Burnham, will return to

Parliament after winning a by-election on Thursday. The prime minister says if there is a leadership contest, he will not step down without a fight.

And Donald Trump unveiled a new U.S. presidential airplane today. It's a modified version of a luxury jet donated last year by the Qatari

government. The plane is intended to bridge the gap between aging Air Force One's Force 747s, pardon me, and new jets that are still in production that

will be completed for roughly two more years.

And we do go back to our top story. Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to renew their ceasefire. And with so much of the world focused right now on

Iran, a new movie called "Dreams of Violets" is getting a lot of attention. It's about civilian resistance to the Iranian regime, and it was generated

entirely by artificial intelligence. Here's a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Please don't go out again. On your dad's life, don't go. I beg you, don't go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[18:30:00]

NEWTON: "Dreams of Violets" was directed by the British-Iranian filmmaker Ash Koosha. He says it cost only $2,000 to make, mostly for A.I.

subscription fees. Ash Koosha joins me now, and I'm sure it was a lot of blood, sweat and tears and hours as well. And I thank you for joining us.

We will get to the -- you know, the tech characteristics of this film, but I do want to go to the subject matter first. I mean, your film, of course,

is based on the massacre of Iranian civilians and the broader history of the resistance that continues today within Iran.

I mean, watching these negotiations unfold, how much do you worry that the stories of those ordinary Iranians that I know you really desperately

wanted to portray, do you believe those feelings and those struggles have all been pushed aside, not just by the Iranian government, but by the U.S.

government, as well?

ASH KOOSHA, DIRECTOR, "DREAMS OF VIOLETS": Thanks for having me. So, I -- my perspective as a civilian, right, I speak as a civilian, which is why I

made this movie, is the 47 years of ups and downs and the same things happening year after year. And I think that is the struggle that is kind of

compressed into the story of the film and why I felt it's important.

And yet again, obviously, we're in a situation where if you ask me tomorrow morning and yesterday, I would have like 10 different thoughts about what's

happening. And I'm not sure if most people know what's happening where you have these roller coasters of political pressure and political confusion at

some point. And I think the people, myself included, I've lived in Iran for a long time and I've been prosecuted. I've had a taste of what's happening

over there.

So, I think it's very -- for me, it's just a confusing state. But that's why it makes it necessary to tell these stories, to keep bringing these

stories to life.

NEWTON: And in fact, you have brought them to life here in a way using A.I. And I have to point out again to viewers, all those images we're

seeing, those are not real people. Those are conjured by you and artificial intelligence.

You know, as you've just pointed out, you couldn't make this film inside of Iran. You couldn't physically go there. And I'd venture a guess that, you

know, those in Iran would like to persecute you again just for making this film with A.I.

So, how much of a substitute do you believe this is for that kind of a work? And you know as well as I do, I'm sure you've studied it more than I

have, in terms of how powerful a documentary can be or even a work of nonfiction.

KOOSHA: Yes. Look, this is a new technology. And I think for the last 10 years, it's been growing. But now we're talking about it because it's so

powerful. And when I had to tell the story in January, I looked at the events and it really upset me as a person, right? So, now I looked at the

tool and I'm thinking, there's no way I'm going to compile all of these images and videos coming out of Iran. And I wouldn't be able to just make a

film about it.

But then I looked at the technology and having experience in the field in A.I. for the last 10 years, I thought that I would give it a shot at the

beginning. And obviously, human authorship and human creative force is behind this. There's no way you're going to press a button and A.I. is

going to give you a docudrama about Iran, right?

So, this is lived experience versus technical experience versus just giving it a shot, right? And I think we're at that moment in the world where we're

going to give it a shot with stories that we're not allowed to tell. And we're not going to get green light to tell these stories. And there are

many stories, even if it's fiction, there are many stories that I think using these new technologies, we're going to find ways to tell them.

NEWTON: And from an evolutionary way in terms of filmmaking, and I want to stress again that you say that you, you know, that you base this on

journalistic reports, right, on photographs, eyewitness accounts and everything you were hearing from friends and family about what was going on

in Iran as well. So, where do you see this going now? And I'm interested, are you working on another A.I. project right now?

KOOSHA: Yes, I'm in the middle of a new film, completed fiction. I think the next step for me is to prove that there are other form factors that can

be also impossible stories to tell that I as a person, since I was a kid, I wanted to tell. And I, again, have to experiment and try it again.

But this time, I think what was interesting for me is to involve more people and answer the questions that a lot of people have. It's like, where

do humans come in, right? Do we license voices? Do we license faces?

[18:35:00]

Do we allow for people to come into the process of what I did? Because I did the job of seven, eight people. Now, it's time to bring more people and

see if they can do what I'm doing. And again, this is a new paintbrush, right? This is a new tool that we don't know the end of it. It's the

beginning of something. And I think we should make more of these films or media in general, or even software to understand where we can involve

humans.

And I think this division that has been created in the last couple of years out of fear, I think that's very destructive to where we're going to be in

the next 10 years. And I think leading by example and involving people, it's the most important point here.

NEWTON: OK. And we will wait to see, Ash, what goes on next. And again, just a reminder that people like you are continually persecuted by the

Iranian government just for telling your stories. Ash Koosha, we will leave it there. Appreciate your time.

KOOSHA: Thank you.

NEWTON: Now, straight ahead for us, the Obama Presidential Center opens to the public in Chicago. We'll talk to one South Side resident who attended

the grand opening and what this center and the Obamas mean to him.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: The Barack Obama Presidential Center opened to the public Friday on the south side of Chicago. The long-awaited center is part of a

tradition of American presidential libraries, although this is a little bit different. It'll hold an archive of Obama's time as the U.S.'s 44th

president and first black one.

All living former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden attended Thursday's ceremony, but current President Donald Trump was not

invited. Obama addressed the crowd. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Democracy can be frustrating. It can be slow. It can be inefficient. And yet more than anything, I hope this

center will serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious our democracy truly is, and remind us what we can achieve when we embrace our

shared responsibilities as citizens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: My next guest is a South Side resident and a former national leadership trainer with the Obama Foundation.

[18:40:00]

My next guest is a South Side resident and a former National Leadership Trainer with the Obama Foundation. He and his mother were also featured in

the Center's opening ceremony. Berto Aguayo joins us now. So, good to have you on the program on what I'm sure must have been a festive couple of days

for you and so many on the South Side of Chicago.

I do want to say that when you first met the President in 2018, he said you encouraged you to keep building community. And Obama himself said that he

was very proud of the work that you have done. I mean, what do you view as the central mission of this center and how it adheres to Obama's values

right from the very beginning?

BERTO AGUAYO, FORMER NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINER, THE OBAMA FOUNDATION AND SOUTH SIDE RESIDENT: Yes. No, first, thank you for having me. And yes, I

think, for me, I think back to when President Obama first got elected, I was a teenager washing dishes at a grocery store in back of the yards in a

neighborhood that's about two miles away from the center.

And I remember the inspiration and seeing the footage from Grant Park on that election night in our grocery store standing still. And I remember

that moment because it meant so much to a kid like me and so many others from communities like the South Side to see ourselves reflected in the

election of President Barack Obama.

And now, nearly two decades later, I see the central mission of the Presidential Center as continuing to ignite that kind of inspiration for

young people, not just in Chicago and the South Side, but across the country and across the globe. Kind of a sense of, I really think in some

ways, the Presidential Center, some have described it as a hope-making machine, right? You go in and you come off feeling hopeful and really

believing that, hey, we together collectively can change the trajectory of our country. We together can improve our communities. We collectively can

be the change we seek. And I think that's part of the central mission of the foundation.

And I really think that even before the center opened up, with the many programs that the Obama Foundation had already had, it's been doing that.

NEWTON: Yes. Certainly, President Obama and people like you have imagined this as being not a presidential library at all. So, if it's to fulfill

that promise, that inspiration, as you say, what might it look like in 20 years or 30 years? What do you hope that it brings to this community?

AGUAYO: I think in 20 to 30 years, one of the beautiful things about not only President Obama's presidential library, but really his campaign is his

ability to build community and to get people together, to recognize the humanity in each other and to really exemplify that pluralism, right? The

belief that we can all coexist and we can all seek to understand one another and build with one another.

And I think in 20 to 30 years, I do see the legacy of the Presidential Center of helping give young leaders the tools to be able to continue to

build community, where leaders can go get amplified, where they can go get supported, and where young people in the South Side of Chicago can meet

other like-minded civic agents of change, not only from across the city, but maybe from across an ocean, across the globe. And that's what I really

see in 20 to 30 years for leaders for the next generation of leaders to have been supported through the center.

NEWTON: All right. So, you know, you know, this community, well, it is where Michelle Obama grew up. It's where Barack Obama had his first job as

a community organizer. And yet there has been some criticism, right? I mean, we don't have to talk about the architecture, because that's a matter

of subjective taste. But even from some people in the community, they feel that perhaps, you know, it might become unaffordable, it'll be too

gentrified.

I mean, how do you see it really serving the people that the Obamas wanted to serve, first and foremost, those that live in the South Side?

AGUAYO: Yes. Well, I will tell you a story. About a month ago, I was able to take a few young people from Increase the Peace, the organization that I

founded, to tour the center as a before the grand opening. And I remember running into people that I knew from either the neighborhood, my

neighborhood in back of the yards, or the surrounding neighborhood where the Presidential Center is located, actually working at the center.

And I thought that was so indicative of what the center has intentionally tried to do. It has intentionally tried to invest in the community, not

only through the center, but also just through the job opportunities that the center has created.

[18:45:00]

And so, I think I really appreciate the fact that the Presidential Center is in the South Side, because that's investment that will help our

communities, that's investment that, as reflected through the story that I just shared, creates job opportunities for local residents.

And so, I think that's something that creates all sorts of opportunities, not just civic opportunities, but also opportunities for upward mobility.

And I think I'm really grateful for that inclusive investment and that intentionality behind ensuring that not only the world can benefit from the

center, but also South Side residents, South Side businesses that are being contacted to do some of this work. So, I was really proud to see that.

NEWTON: Berto, we will see that vision. We'll see how it comes to fruition in the years to come. I want to thank you for being on the program. Thank

you.

AGUAYO: Thank you for having me. OK. Coming up for us now, "Toy Story" celebrates more than 30 years as the franchise launches its latest

installment. We'll have more on "Toy Story 5" after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: All right. Group games well underway at the FIFA World Cup right now in Boston Stadium. As we were telling you earlier, Morocco now still

leading Scotland 1-0. Later, Brazil takes on Haiti and Turkey play Paraguay. Earlier, Team USA beat the Socceroos 2-0 from Australia in a

match littered with yellow cards. The win clinches a spot in the knockout round for the co-host.

Andy Scholes is in Seattle. You were getting tossed around by the USA fans. We expect nothing less from those fans. Andy, big day there in Seattle. I

mean, the vibe was incredible.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: The atmosphere was just amazing, Paula. And these fans are just so excited about how well this team is

playing. I think a lot of people are kind of in a little bit of disbelief at how well things have gone so far in this World Cup because this was

another dominant performance by Team USA today against Australia. They won 2-nil. They possessed the ball more than 60 percent of the time.

And, you know, the big question coming into this match was going to be how would Team USA's offense look without Christian Pulisic on the pitch? He

was not able to come back from that left calf injury in time for this match. Now, with the team already into the knockout stages, he might get an

extra week of rest as well. But the offense didn't really miss a beat. Folarin Balogun was incredible once again. He didn't score in this match,

but he was the one who created the first opportunity that led to an own goal.

And Team USA, actually the first squad ever to have their first goal in their first two matches at a World Cup both be own goals. So, that's a fun

stat for you right there. But the U.S. just kept the pressure on the entire game, the entire game.

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Alex Freeman, an incredible header there to put the U.S. up 2-0. And it was actually reviewed for quite a while. It was offsides originally. They made

it a goal. Team USA, the whole stadium just erupted in celebration. Australia did get some chances in the second half, but that U.S. defense

was able to hold strong and put the team in the lead. A clean sheet in this one. And now, the team riding high as they head into the knockout stages.

Here's what they had to say after the game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FOLARIN BALOGUN, U.S. SOCCER FORWARD: I'm confident, you know, two games in the World Cup. You know, the fans are helping us to be confident as

well, not just me, but the whole team. And yes, you know, I'm delighted. I'm looking forward to each game, you know, just playing in front of the

fans.

ALEX FREEMAN, U.S. SOCCER DEFENDER: We should be very proud of how we played and to be able to get our first clean sheet, you know, in a while,

especially our first one in the World Cup. I think it just means so much to us. And I think we're passionate about, you know, keeping clean sheets in

that situation. So, I think for us, we'll be happy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now, this is the first time the U.S. has ever won their first two group stage matches ever since the tournament went to having three group

stage matches, Paula. And I tell you what, there's something about Seattle. They're now 7 and 0 playing in that stadium right behind me. And it

probably has to do with how amazing this atmosphere was. It really just helped fuel the team to a victory. We'll see what they can do the rest of

the way. I tell you what, I talked to a lot of these fans. They think they could go all the way.

NEWTON: Well, they should definitely go back to Seattle then. The left coast showing them how it's done with the vibe. Andy Scholes for us. So,

you do that as well, my friend. You're very good at this. And we will continue to watch your reporting to the World Cup. Appreciate it.

Now, "Toy Story 5," 5 premieres today. It's toys versus tech as Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the gang go toe to toe with screens. They want their kid

Bonnie to make friends. But what if her new buddies only want to play on the tablets? Randy Newman returns as composer while music superstar Taylor

Swift wrote the song, "I Knew It, I Knew You." The "Toy Story" series debuted way back in 1995.

Joining me now is entertainment journalist Segun Oduolowu. And I am really keen to get your thoughts on this. You saw this movie. Now, I want to

remind everyone, 1995, right? And now, there are literally parents who saw the original in 95 and remember it like it was yesterday, taking their own

children to this movie. You saw it. Why do you think this sequel is connecting with so many generations?

SEGUN ODUOLOWU, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Well, Paula, you said it. 1995. We're talking about a franchise that's over 30 years old, and it still

packs a punch. This iteration of "Toy Story" is poignant without being preachy. I know I threw a lot of peas at people, so bear with me. But the

gang is all back.

Tim Allen voicing Buzz Lightyear, Tom Hanks as Woody, and Joan Cusack as -- you know, the title -- well, I won't say the title character, but her

character, Jessie, is the lead in this. And it's really a story about finding out where you belong. They don't take the toys versus tech and make

it overly preachy, where if you're a parent, like I am, of a six-year-old, you feel bad that the fact that she's got an iPad and that you sometimes

have to let her get on it.

But this really talks about their young kid, Bonnie, finding her way. And she still wants to play with toys versus the other kids in her, you know,

around her neighborhood and in her class. They've moved on to devices. And it's the toys trying to show that playing, human connection, doing stuff

with your imagination still matters.

And I think that message is what resonates not only with viewers, but it's the way "Toy Story" has been able to resonate over these decades, that

human connection still matters, even though, again, getting really meta, this was the first movie ever created or ever animated completely by

computers. So, kudos to "Toy Story" for doing that, too.

NEWTON: Gosh, has it ever come full circle? So, Segun, look, you are the demographic then here. You are the parent. You have a six-year-old. Is it a

nostalgia thing? Like, what do you think you'll be seeing in it versus your six-year-old?

ODUOLOWU: So, my six-year-old's going to love the animation. The animation is gorgeous. Again, this is Pixar. They don't really make mistakes when it

comes to how beautiful it's going to look on screen. But for a parent who remembers "Toy Story 1" and Randy Newman, "You Got a Friend in Me." Like,

the Taylor Swift song is not really woven in through the movie like you might want it to if you're a big Tay-Tay fan. But this is 94 percent fresh

on Rotten Tomatoes, not only with the critics, but also with the moviegoers.

[18:55:00]

And for anyone who saw the first one and remembers it like I do, just hearing those characters, realizing that they're going to figure out their

adventures, they're going to work through it, and at the end, everyone is going to be friends. In the world we live in right now, where we don't see

that enough, I want my daughter to be in a theater next to her dad watching a movie like this, where it's OK to be you and it's going to work out in

the end.

NEWTON: Segun, you make me want to see it with my daughter, who's 24, for goodness sake. My son is 22 --

ODUOLOWU: You need to take her. You need to take her.

NEWTON: My son likely won't come with me. That is the problem there. Listen, we only have 30 seconds left. You did mention the Taylor Swift of

it all. Do you think the Swiftie fans will be disappointed? She herself, we have to say, is a crazy addict for all the "Toy Story" movies.

ODUOLOWU: I do not think the Taylor Swift fans will be disappointed. Look, Taylor is on her EGOT path. She's got an Emmy. She's got a Grammy. This

song might get her the Oscar. So, stay tuned, Tay-Tay fans. Swiftie's out there. She might cross the finish line with this one.

NEWTON: Segun, you just effortlessly put us on that EGOT path already with Taylor Swift. Well done. Well done, my friend. Good to see you. I hope you

and your family enjoy the movie. And everyone here, have a great weekend.

I'm Paula Newton. I want to thank you for watching. There's more news coming up here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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