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The Brief with Jim Sciutto

CNN International: Zelenskyy: Russia Violates Surprise Energy Ceasefire; Trump Defends Diesel Deal with Russia Amid Backlash; Saudi Capital's Airport Closed After Deadly Strikes; At Least 139 Dead After Boat Capsizes Off Coast of Djibouti; Final Stretch in Political Fight to Control U.S. Congress; Actress Selma Blair In Custody Over Plane Incident. Aired 6- 7p ET

Aired October 12, 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 New York, and

you're watching "The Brief."

Just ahead this hour, Ukraine's president says he backs a ceasefire on energy targets announced by President Donald Trump, but Zelenskyy says

Russia has already broken it multiple times. Saudi Arabia says it has destroyed an incoming missile fired toward Riyadh. This as the city's main

airport is closed after a series of deadly Houthi attacks. And the actress Selma Blair is now in custody after allegedly injuring flight attendants on

a passenger jet. That story and plenty more, coming up.

We begin with Ukraine's president accusing Russia of striking a power plant in Kharkiv just after President Donald Trump announced what he claimed was

an energy ceasefire on Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is still willing to abide by the ceasefire if Russia does.

European officials tell me the Trump administration has now threatened Kyiv and its European allies that the U.S. could suspend intelligence sharing

and purchases of U.S. weapons for Ukraine by Europe if Kyiv strikes more Russian energy facilities.

A U.S. official says White House negotiators told Kyiv that Ukraine should not take any actions that hurt American consumers. President Trump is

defending his diesel deal with Russia's Vladimir Putin, saying, quote, ""I made the right choice for the American people. Always America first!"

The average price of diesel is almost $6.30 per gallon here in the US. That's slightly down from last month's peak. However, it, as you can see

there, almost double where it was a year ago. This according to AAA.

Joining me now is Democratic Congressman Johnny Olszewski. He's a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman, thanks so much for taking

the time.

REP. JOHNNY OLSZEWSKI (D-MD): Thank you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: So, I'm trying to figure out what happened here, because the president unilaterally announced a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on

energy targets, and very quickly it was clear Russia was not abiding by this, although Ukrainians, Ukraine's leader said it would be willing to if

Russia would abide. Now, president just a few moments ago said somewhat expressed frustration that, that no one's abiding by it. I mean, was there

ever really a deal?

OLSZEWSKI: You know, for a guy who touts himself as the best deal maker out there, President Trump sure is finding a hard time making any sort of

deal stick, whether it's ending the war in Iran or wrapping up the war between Russia and Ukraine. And it's clear to me there is no deal although

I would love to see a cessation of hostilities, especially around energy infrastructure for the impact on civilians.

But again, I think this is a president who is failing at the most basic diplomatic responsibilities, and Americans are paying the price literally,

quite literally in the process.

SCIUTTO: As you know, CNN reported, and prior to that the FT reported, that the administration has threatened to suspend intelligence sharing with

Ukraine, which is key, as you know, to Ukraine because they could use that intelligence to know in advance when Russian missiles are coming in, but

also weapons purchases for Ukraine by Europe if it keeps striking Russian energy facilities.

Given your position on the Ukraine caucus, can you explain to our viewers exactly what those suspensions would mean for Ukraine's defense?

OLSZEWSKI: Those suspensions would be critical and would cripple the ability for Ukrainians to defend themselves. And I have to say, as a member

of the Foreign Affairs Committee this is an administration that seems to consistently choose Russia over Ukraine, whether it's the threats here

about suspending that support or this unilateral deal that the president has announced, I think as a Hail Mary, a Hail Mary, excuse me in response

to how poorly things are going for him and for Republicans in this majority headed towards the midterm.

I have to say, you know, I don't think the deal will do anything other than help Russia even further. And to then threaten to take away additional

supports even as the president is giving Russia billions of dollars to continue this war in Ukraine through the diesel deal, he announced, in

violation of federal law, by the way is really I think a slap in the face to Americans.

[18:05:00]

SCIUTTO: Why isn't Congress defending its own legislation passed weeks ago? Obviously, it's a majority Republican Congress. I mean, one would

imagine if you pass such measures with large margins, you would want to enforce those measures.

OLSZEWSKI: It's a great question, and one someone should ask President Trump. I mean, this is the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill, where we were

trying to get tougher on Russia because of Putin's brutal tactics and our support for Ukraine in this conflict. Russian was the aggressor, still is

the aggressor in this war, and President Trump signed the very legislation that he seems to now be flouting.

And I have to ask the question, I mean, are we going to start sanctioning ourselves for violating a law where we're telling other countries they

can't buy and support Russian oil? And it just, it really makes you scratch your head and wonder what the president is doing here, other than an act of

absolute desperation in terms of what's happening around the campaign cycle.

SCIUTTO: So, the facts are, the U.S. is applying more pressure on Ukraine now while relieving pressure on Russia, even though of course it is Russia

that began this war, and Russia that is expanding its attacks on Ukraine and on Europe. But the president doesn't say any of that. He continues to

frame the war as something that just happened without assigning blame to Russia. Does this put the U.S., in effect, on Putin's side in this war?

OLSZEWSKI: Well, I think you just outlined, Jim, perfectly what the storyline is here. And the fact that the President of the United States

can't accept simple facts and truth is consistent with how this president has, has, quote/unquote, ""led" this country.

I do think that supporting Russia and putting billions of dollars into their economy and their war machine against Ukraine effectively does, and

threatening to pull away intelligence and other support from their military, effectively does put America on the side of Russia. I mean, the

president just was praising. He said, I guess I have to thank President Putin. No, you don't. You have to hold him accountable. He is a brutal

dictator. And it really breaks my heart to see this commander-in-chief siding with Vladimir Putin in this war of aggression that they are

continuing to exercise against Ukraine.

SCIUTTO: There have been a handful of Republicans willing to break with the president publicly on this diesel deal. Rep Don Bacon, Republican from

Nebraska, he called Trump weak on Putin. You've heard from Brian Fitzpatrick publicly breaking with Trump on this deal. Several -- seven

senators are now pushing for possible legislation. The thing is, we've heard that before. Do you see any substantial effort with a s- with a

sufficient number of Republicans to pass a specific measure to block this particular diesel deal, or is it just going to be tweets and comments about

concerns they're having?

OLSZEWSKI: Well, first of all, the House can't do anything until after the election because Mike Johnson sent us home for a 50-day recess. I will say

I welcome any Republican support to stop this awful, terrible deal that will do nothing to lower costs for Americans. The, the amount that's coming

to the global market, not the American market, is less than Americans use in diesel in one single day.

So, it won't have any sort of meaningful relief. And then again, we're doing it by jumping along the side of Vladimir Putin and, and Russia. And

so, I think that what you're seeing, Jim, across the country is some Republicans standing up and taking different positions. You're seeing

advertising from Republicans who are running now opposing the war that they've supported in Iran throughout, now opposing the tariffs that they've

supported throughout that have cost Americans lives and money.

And so, it's my hope that when we get back, we do something, but I'm going to not hold my breath based on past actions and the ways in which so many

Republicans seem to bow at the altar of Donald Trump.

SCIUTTO: Congressman Olszewski, we appreciate you joining the program.

OLSZEWSKI: Thank you.

SCIUTTO: Well, there are reports now of new missiles fired at Saudi Arabia tonight as the Houthis vow revenge for attacks on Yemen. The Saudis report

intercepting at least three missiles today, one aimed at the capital Riyadh. Riyadh has been under fire now for three straight days. A strike at

the city's main international airport on Saturday killed 13 people and wounded hundreds of others. Another strike there on Sunday killed one more.

Attacks last week killed six.

We have video from Saturday we are about to show you of that attack. It is graphic. These are passengers waiting for their flights, and you see the

fireball entering the terminal there.

[18:10:00]

The Houthis say they have attacked other airports and military bases in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh airport is now closed. President Donald Trump says

he is considering joining Saudi strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis. CNN's Nic Robertson says Saturday's attack might have even been far worse.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The proximity those people have to this explosion, if it had happened closer to them, if it had

happened sort of directly above them, the casualty toll could have been far, far higher. And it appears as if Riyadh has escaped or dodged

ballistic missiles this evening. The military command, the joint task force military commander saying that they intercepted ballistic missiles this

Monday evening as they were headed towards Riyadh.

The warning system went off, the missile warning system went off about 9:00 p.m. Riyadh time. The interceptions presumably coming pretty quickly

because an all clear was given on that same warning system for people to take shelter about 10 minutes later. But this does put the kingdom in a

very difficult position.

Just this week, it is hosting a global summit on energy. It is hosting a huge investment conference for Saudi Arabia in a couple of weeks' time. It

is absolutely in the, in the sort of international business spotlight, and the strikes on the airport, and the airport now closed until the end of the

week, that sends a hugely negative message to potential investors, and that's a key thing for the Saudis. And I think that's why we heard from the

energy minister today talking about whether it's the Houthi strikes or the Iranian strikes, that the Saudis are not going to be bowed by all these

attacks coming their way. This is how he framed it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no way that somebody will break our back. We are like a phoenix. We come out of the ashes all the time and every time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So, this really underscores their message of stability, but then there's that message of strength they want to portray, and in -- and

built into that is how to stop the Houthis perpetrating these attacks, how to send a strong enough military signal. And as we know, the Saudis already

backing, with airstrikes, the internationally recognized government in Yemen as they, as they try to oust the Houthis from the country. That could

potentially be a very long conflict indeed. But Saudi Arabia is now in a position of taking strikes from the Houthis, and the Houthis say that is

because they're involved with the backing the internationally recognized government in Yemen.

So, the -- all the tensions around this, none of it's going away. So, the question becomes: How does Saudi show strength? How does it stop the

Houthis from doing this? It is building an international coalition of military support. It does have these airstrikes. And as we know, President

Trump at the moment is mulling whether or not he will provide more support above the intelligence level support that's being given at the moment by US

personnel in Saudi, and also the sort of air-to-air refueling capacity that the U.K. also is providing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Our thanks to Nic Robertson there. President Trump said today there's another leader he may want to meet with. That is the North Korean

leader, Kim Jong Un, next month when he's in Asia. The president says the meeting could happen while he's in the Philippines for the Association of

Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN summit. Trump had also floated a potential meeting with Kim on the sidelines of his visit to China earlier

this year, but it did not, of course, happen then.

Still ahead, too little too late? President Trump hopes his diesel deal with Russia will help ease energy costs before the midterms. It could,

however, have very little effect on prices. The amounts involved are just too small. We'll discuss after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:15:00]

SCIUTTO: The U.N.'s migration agency warns that the number of dead could rise after an awful boat disaster off the coast of Djibouti. At least 139

people, including children, were killed when a boat carrying more than 300 migrants capsized crossing from Djibouti to Yemen. The International

Organization for Migration, the IOM, says at least 84 people remain missing. The boat capsized on Thursday night or early into Friday morning.

Many migrants take the perilous journey between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to seek work in wealthy Gulf nations. Larry Madowo has

the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is one of the deadliest shipwrecks involving migrants from the Horn of Africa trying to make it to Yemen,

eventually to well-paying jobs, they hope, in the Arabian Peninsula. According to the U.N. Migration Agency, they set out on a boat Thursday

evening, but shortly after they left, that boat capsized, killing at least 139, including more than a dozen children.

And that number is just the number of bodies that have been buried by authorities. Some who are buried by the migrants themselves are not part of

that count, so that death toll will likely increase. There are at least 80 who are unaccounted for, who are missing, who could have been lost at sea

or could be part of that death toll that is expected to increase.

Some of the survivors, all 80 survivors who were Ethiopian nationals, were received at the U.N. Migration Agency center in Djibouti. They were

receiving medical support after consuming seawater, but also psychological support after going through this traumatic event. Listen to one official

explaining this devastating accident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The death toll could rise as search operations are still underway. The IOM is working alongside local

authorities, particularly the Obok (ph) Prefecture, which is coordinating operations on the ground. The first survivors located have been taken care

of and assisted by the IOM.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: Every year, tens of thousands of migrants attempt this popular but perilous journey across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait from Djibouti to Yemen and

eventually hoping to get into parts of the Gulf for jobs. In 2025, more than half a million people attempted this journey, and nine hundred people

were either killed or remain missing, according to the U.N.'s migration agency.

And since September 10, they've seen at least twenty thousand migrants attempt to make this journey. The attraction is simple. At its narrowest

point, it's just twenty kilometers or so, so it seems like a quick journey, but it's not so simple. On Sunday, the African Union Commission chair

mourned the 139lives that were lost in this shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti. He said there was a need for strengthened regional and

international cooperation to address the root causes of irregular migration, combat migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons, and to

promote safe, orderly, and regular migration because some of these people pay money to people smugglers to get them across, even though they get on

these boats that often are not worthy of being in the sea.

This tragedy is even more heartbreaking considering the recent escalation in fighting between Saudi-backed government forces and the Iranian-backed

Houthis, which has led to at least 2,000 Yemenis crossing into Djibouti, the opposite direction, and being received by the U.N. Migration Agency.

But these desperate migrants from the Horn of Africa are willing to risk it to go to a war zone hoping for a better life on the other side.

Larry Madowo, CNN, Nairobi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[18:20:00]

SCIUTTO: Well, in today's Business Breakout, a mostly lower day on Wall Street, tech pulled back, but the Dow pushed higher as investors away key

corporate earnings and new U.S. inflation data later this week. Oil prices rose again after this weekend's deadly missile attacks on Saudi Arabia with

Brent Crude nearing a one-month high. The attacks offset news that Saudi Arabia hopes to expand pipeline capacity by more than a million barrels a

day in the coming weeks as it becomes less dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for exports. Still dangerous there.

Also, today, diesel prices pulled back somewhat after President Trump's diesel export agreement with Russia announced on Friday. AAA says the

average price of diesel in the U.S. is now $6.26 a gallon down 6 cents from a week ago. President Trump says Russia has agreed to supply the U.S. and

global markets with some two and a quarter million barrels of diesel immediately. We should note, however, that is less than the 2.9 million

barrels consumed in the U.S. every day.

Russia is committed to more diesel deliveries in the future. However, energy analysts say the amount remains too small to ease prices long-term.

Analysts also question whether Russia can even deliver the diesel given the global sanctions on its tankers as well as ongoing damage and strikes by

Ukraine.

Joining me now is Kevin Book, managing director of Clearview Energy Partners. Good to have you.

KEVIN BOOK, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CLEARVIEW ENERGY PARTNERS: Good to see you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: So first, your analysis of this deal, this claim deal, are the volumes involved here enough to have a significant impact on overall diesel

prices and global diesel markets?

BOOK: Well, Jim, first let me put this in perspective using a unit that we're more familiar with here in the U.S., which is the number of barrels

per day. The global diesel market itself is between 28 and 29 million barrels per day. On the open sea, across national borders, about 8 million

barrels per day were in trade in 2025 before the wars this year impaired so much of that export volume.

What we're talking about here in October would work out to something like 100,000 barrels per day, ramping up through December to about 240,000

barrels per day. So, at the margin, that's not nothing. More is more when you're short. We're talking in terms of dollars per barrel price impact,

though. We're talking about between $2 and maybe $3.5 per barrel. Translate that by dividing by 42 into cents per gallon, and we're somewhere between

five and 20 cents per gallon ramping up over the end of fourth quarter.

SCIUTTO: Wow. I mean, that's a drop in the bucket.

BOOK: Well, it's not nothing if you're putting 250 gallons in your tank every fill up, but it's not the same thing as reversing the increase we've

seen of roughly 70 percent a year to date.

SCIUTTO: OK. So, let's talk about oil now, because more oil is going through the Strait of Hormuz, though not quite to prewar levels. And

really, we should acknowledge with a costly and complicated U.S. military operation. Is it the victory that the administration and its supporters

claim? I mean, is that how oil markets view it? Do they say, oh, yes, the Strait's fine, that's taken care of?

BOOK: I think the oil market is telling you at $106, $107 a barrel that that's not the case. And that's the futures price. That's the

electronically traded price that moves it essentially the speed of light. The other prices in the market are even higher than that, $120, $130 a

barrel in some markers around the world.

There's two reasons that we're seeing those import those exports increase, Jim. One reason is that the U.S. military is, as you say, a great expense

and with considerable difficulty, although great professionalism and courage, moving cargoes through the Strait. But the second reason is that

because refineries in the Persian Gulf have been damaged and are still shut down, oil that would otherwise be refined, that would contribute to the

diesel supply that we were just talking about, is going out in crude form and unrefined form.

So, the numbers that are closing in on what the volumes were of crude oil before the war don't actually tell the whole story because what's missing

are those refined products.

SCIUTTO: Oil analysts have been warning me for some time and others that beyond the day-to-day levels going through the Strait, that there's a

supply problem here. And they keep saying there's a supply shock coming down, down the road here. Is that still the case? And if so, when?

BOOK: Well, if you could know exactly when you would have -- you'd have a different job, probably, and so would I. I'd be a trader and not an

analyst. But the answer is that the inventories in the world have been severely depleted by the impairments in the Strait.

[18:25:00]

And so, the International Energy Agency has deployed very, very significant volumes of strategic government stockpiles. 300 and some million barrels of

total volume have gone out. But that's against the backdrop of missing some 300 to 400 million more in conventional stockpiles that have been depleted.

And it takes a certain amount of inventory just to run the oil system, in storage, in pipelines.

So, when you see the numbers, you don't have to go to zero to get into trouble. When you start losing half a billion or more barrels from global

supply, from global inventories, rather, you start to get to a point where there's a discontinuous moment coming somewhere. And nobody knows exactly

where it is, but it is a cause for concern.

SCIUTTO: Kevin Book, we'll keep watching. Thanks so much for joining.

BOOK: Thanks for having me on.

SCIUTTO: Checking some of today's other business headlines now. Delta Airlines says it will not begin nonstop flights from the U.S. to Saudi

Arabia until next March. Now, the flights have been expected to start later this month. Delta announced the delay after those deadly attacks on

Riyadh's international airport over the weekend. The U.S. State Department is warning U.S. citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas as

well.

The E.U.'s top tax official says the bloc is examining a sweeping windfall profit tax on oil and gas firms. The official tells Reuters that a working

group has been formed to consider that move. This comes as governments across Europe scramble to help citizens with soaring energy costs. Germany,

Spain, Italy, and other nations have urged the E.U. to explore that tax.

Officials in France are investigating a major cyber-attack against hundreds of supermarkets across the country. Authorities say the attackers were able

to hack into the software that regulates temperatures in supermarket refrigerators and freezers. Temperatures rose dramatically, triggering

fires and also forcing workers to throw out spoiled food.

It's just about three weeks now until U.S. midterm elections. We're going to speak with the governor about some of the key issues in his re-election

campaign and what that tells us about the broader outlook. That's all coming up just ahead.

(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.

Saudi Arabia says it has intercepted and destroyed a missile over the capital city of Riyadh. The kingdom's main airport remains closed following

a series of deadly attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Iran-backed group is threatening more strikes on airports in retaliation for Saudi strikes.

British Prime Minister Annie Burnham says Iran is likely behind a suspected plot targeting an airbase which U.S. forces flew from in England. The U.S.

has now removed all its long-range bombers from RAF Fairford. Burnham told Parliament that he was almost certain the alleged incident was directed by

the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. British police have arrested several men as part of their ongoing investigation.

The actress Selma Blair is in custody in New York after allegedly injuring a pair of flight attendants in the air. She was detained by police

responding to a physically abusive passenger on a Sunday flight from Los Angeles. Blair's representative says the actress experienced a medical

emergency that led to the alleged conduct.

Well, we are, of course, at the final stretch before the U.S. midterms, just 22 days left until Election Day. The Republican Party appears to be

scrambling to try to minimize losses in Congress. They're aiming to counter a sagging poll outlook, focusing on voter turnout, while some candidates

are distancing themselves from President Trump. One House Republican running for reelection said, quote, "Trump is dragging the party down."

However, lots and lots of money is still pouring in to the races from GOP supporters, including that man right there. Elon Musk is now the largest

known contributor to Republicans this campaign season. He has put in at least $276 million into the midterms, most of that money going to

Republican candidates for the Senate.

Joining me now, Ned Lamont, Democratic governor of Connecticut running for reelection. And joining us now, Governor, we appreciate you taking the

time.

GOV. NED LAMONT (D-CT): Hey, Jim. Nice to see you.

SCIUTTO: So, first, let's talk driving issues. So, the 2024 election was already an affordability election that, of course, went against Democrats.

This again looks like an affordability election. That's what voters are telling pollsters is their number one issue. Republicans are clearly

nervous. Democrats are feeling hopeful. Is it going to be an affordability election again? And are you confident Democrats will come out on top?

LAMONT: I am pretty confident. Obviously, the Republican candidates are trying to blame Democratic governors. But if you look at the world right

now, who's responsible for the high price of gasoline? It's that war in Iran and Donald Trump's war. Diesel prices, driving up the price of food,

driving up the price of fixing our roads and bridges.

So, I think people understand that we've got some real headwinds. A lot of them were shooting ourselves in the foot with that war in Iran. But our job

is not just to complain. It's to show what we're going to do going forward. We've got to bring down the high cost of health care, bring down the price

of electricity. And that's what we're doing in Connecticut.

SCIUTTO: As you know, pollsters haven't always been right, going into the last several election cycles and have a particular problem finding and

properly measuring Republican voters, often in rural areas. Are you convinced that what you're seeing in the polling numbers, internal and

external, will hold up this time around?

LAMONT: Traditional polling has a hard time figuring out turnout. And that can be very variable, especially in a primary. Right now, I'd like to think

there's a real sense of urgency, a real sense that the Republicans in the White House are really making life a lot less affordable for people. I

think they know who to hold accountable. So, I think the polls are pretty accurate.

SCIUTTO: OK. Let's talk about A.I. That is an issue central for you and increasingly, I think, central for Congress and just in the awareness of

the American population as they hear these warnings about A.I. potential catastrophes. You said A.I. should be regulated by the federal government.

This particular administration has no interest in doing so. Connecticut has invoked a law to control how A.I. is used. Do you believe that states

working together can, in effect, force this, force this issue nationally?

LAMONT: Well, certainly, I think the federal government should be taking the lead on this rather than have 50 states doing their own thing when it

comes to A.I. and before that, social media.

[18:35:00]

But the absence of any action coming out of the White House, yes, little state of Connecticut is stepping forward. But I work pretty closely with

Kathy Hochul in New York and Maura Healey in Massachusetts. You know, when it comes to A.I., I don't like these big data centers. We've said no to

them here, mainly because they suck so much electricity. They drive up the price of electricity.

But at the same time, Jim, for example, we said, look, these are chatbots that whisper sweet nothings into your teenager's ear. I mean, we're said no

to these things. We're trying to give parents more control in terms of what their kids have access to, especially when it comes very addictive social

media feeds. We have parental controls there now, started October 1.

SCIUTTO: So, how about guardrails to prevent what folks are talking about now a lot? Rogue A.I. agents doing bad stuff, right. I mean, there's so

many examples now of the of the models just going outside, outside the guardrails of what their designers set up. And there are genuine worries

they can cause damage. What guardrails would you recommend to avoid those potential scenarios?

LAMONT: The tech pros are no help when all they do is talk about how these rogue elements of A.I. could not only take your job, but really cause

catastrophic damage. What I could do is a small state is do everything we can in terms of cybersecurity to protect our watercourse, to protect our

DRS, our revenue services and other vulnerable places.

We already had hacks in our hospitals. State of Connecticut is not very good at putting up broad guardrails to keep A.I. out of our state. A.I.

doesn't know those borders. What we can do is protect our local businesses and very vulnerable targets.

SCIUTTO: So, given your criticism just there of the tech bros, are you in the camp that they have deliberately exaggerated the risks of real A.I.

driven crises?

LAMONT: No, I think I'm glad they are pointing up the risks. I think that's probably helpful, but they're not very helpful in terms of what we

should do about it. Not very helpful in convincing the federal government that they should be taking the lead on this. And by the way, the federal

government can work within our 50 states, but they should be working internationally as well when it comes to the potentially catastrophic

effects of A.I.

You know, that said, here in the state of Connecticut, we're also teaching our state employees and we're teaching our students how to use A.I. So, we

are masters of A.I. and it is not masters of us.

SCIUTTO: It's smart. Maybe you can teach me how to how to better understand it and use it, too. I mean, it's something that we all have to

do. Governor Lamont, we wish you the best of luck in those efforts.

LAMONT: Thank you very much, Jim. Appreciate the time.

SCIUTTO: Another story we're following, U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she will not be silenced after federal officers execute a search warrant at

her home on X. The Minnesota representative wrote, quote, "Make no mistake, this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law

enforcement. For 10 years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of

political intimidation." President Trump responded a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I understand they're looking at it very carefully. I've always found it to be totally crooked personally, but that

has nothing to do with me. I think she's a terrible person, just a complainer. She comes from a country that is a non-country and then she

comes over here and she complains about our Constitution. I think she's a terrible person, but that's really up to the DOJ.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: She is, of course, a U.S. citizen and elected member of Congress. The search comes just weeks before the midterms. That's unusual. Typically,

the Justice Department does not exercise such searches so close to the midterms. Katelyn Polantz has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: A clear step in an immigration criminal investigation. Here's what we know exactly so far. Not

a lot of details on what is being investigated here related to Representative Ilhan Omar. But the Justice Department has said in a

statement today that in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant, so approved

by a federal judge, and that it was secured by the Department of Justice. So, that would be prosecutors going to that judge for approval for this

search today.

The Justice Department also says that this enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.

[18:40:00]

The White House Border Czar Tom Homan this morning deflected questions about what this search was, saying that he would leave additional

commentary to the attorney general or to the secretary of the Homeland Security Department. But in the past, Tom Homan has commented about

Representative Omar, saying that there is some level of immigration enforcement that is being investigated with her.

Now, she is a Somali immigrant to the United States, having fled that country as a child. She's a U.S. citizen, and she's been a member of

Congress since 2018, so for some time now, she has been a target of President Donald Trump. For some time, he's said that she is a disgrace,

and he has heavily criticized her and other members of what's known as the squad.

Also, of much note right now is that we are in the period of the midterm elections. Representative Omar is running for re-election in Minnesota as a

sitting member of Congress. Typically, the Justice Department pumps the brakes on any sort of overt investigative activity or criminal charges in

the 60-day period before an election.

At this point in time, a source tells me that top Justice Department leadership did deliberate over whether this search could take place right

now, and that it was signed off on by the top leadership of the Justice Department. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Still ahead, a ceasefire without ceasing fire. One year after Israel and Hamas announced a truce in Gaza, the violence is continuing on a

near daily basis. We have more on the monumental challenges people there are now facing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: One year after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Gaza still faces near daily strikes. Thousands remain missing, and the remains of the

dead are scattered through the streets. Jomana Karadsheh has more on the agonizing challenges residents of Gaza are now facing. I do want to warn

you some of the images in her story are disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): His mother was wearing a skirt. A skirt. Yes, she was wearing it. She was wearing it.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Through the stench of decomposing remains, Antalib (ph) is identifying the dead, by the clothes

they wore that day, three years ago.

[18:45:00]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Your mother. Your mother. I'm telling you, it is your mother. The prayer clothes, it's your aunt.

KARADSHEH (voice-over): This is what it's come to in Gaza. Those who survived trying to identify those who did not. Three years in, the smallest

detail carries the most weight, a scrap of clothing enough to bring a family its answers and the deceased their dignity.

The search is painstaking, today sped up by Gaza City's only excavator, finally here to remove the rubble from the 2023 Israeli bombing that killed

dozens of Antalib's family.

Israel's banned the entry of heavy machinery into Gaza until it says Hamas is disarmed. But that means leaving the whole devastated strip with only

two excavators, according to local officials.

It's been a year since the cease-fire agreement, and so many are still searching for what's left of their loved ones.

The Palestinian civil defense says more than 8,000 are missing, believed to be buried beneath the sea of rubble Gaza has become, but even trying to

locate their remains seems impossible.

Over 60 percent of Gaza is under Israeli control and off limits for Palestinians.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I try to find him. But I don't know where.

KARADSHEH (voice-over): For three long years, Suha (ph) has been searching among the dead, looking for her boy. She says her son, Jihad (ph), was shot

and killed in front of her in November 2023 during the Israeli military's forced evacuation of Gaza City. She had to leave his body behind at the

hospital and flee. She's been searching for him ever since.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Why am I still alive? Why am I alive? My home is gone. My son is gone. What should I live for?

KARADSHEH (voice-over): Our cameraman met Suha last year as she and other families gathered to dig out the makeshift graveyard at Shifa Hospital.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I was calling out for him in the cemeteries. I am here my son. I bought you your daughters. Dear God give me

a sign that he is here. I want to see him, even if for a minute to hold him.

KARADSHEH (voice-over): She spotted this blanket. She's certain it's the one he was carrying that day.

A year on, we found her still looking for her son.

SUHA AL-SHARIF, SEARCHING FOR MISSING SON (through translator): I need to find him to know is place, his body, his grave. So, as a mother, I can be

at peace. I want to be at peace. I want to find my son to be at peace.

KARADSHEH (voice-over): But in this place, it seems there's no peace. Not for the living, not even for the dead.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Powerful story. At least one teenager was killed after an explosion hit a bus near the Israeli border with Lebanon. The IDF says an

unexploded Hezbollah munition that had fallen in the area was responsible. More than a dozen Israelis were injured, including students and staff,

several of them in critical condition, according to emergency services. It is unclear when the projectile was fired, but of course, unexploded

ordnance is a major danger in war zones.

Still ahead, the actress Selma Blair detained by police after an alleged incident on board a flight. What sources tell us happened, which left two

flight attendants injured when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:50:00]

SCIUTTO: Sad news now. RJ Mitte, the actor best known for his role as Walt Jr. in the Emmy Award-winning show "Breaking Bad," has died at the age of

34. Like his character in the show, Mitte lived with cerebral palsy and was an advocate for disability representation in Hollywood. Officials in Texas

did not announce the cause of death. They do say an investigation is ongoing.

Well, the actress Selma Blair is in custody after an alleged incident which injured two flight attendants. Police in New York responded to reports of a

physically abusive passenger on a Delta jet that had arrived from Los Angeles. The suspect later identified as Selma Blair. Blair has multiple

sclerosis. A law enforcement source says the actress kicked a police officer in the head on the way to the hospital, later assaulted a nurse as

well. A representative for Blair says she suffered a medical emergency which led to the alleged conduct.

Joining me now is Leigh Waldman in Los Angeles. Is there any history here that might have given warning of something like this?

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jim, we know that there was an incident involving the actress Selma Blair on an airplane years ago that

she said was related to alcohol and medication being mixed and she deeply regretted that incident. But in the years that have followed, things have

been fairly quiet for Ms. Blair. We're hearing from one of our colleagues at a courthouse in New York that they're expecting Blair to appear any

moment now for an arraignment related to this incident that happened aboard that Delta Airlines flight on Sunday.

So, let's bring everyone up to speed with what we know at this point. Police were called to respond to the gate after being alerted that there

was a physically abusive passenger on board. We have dispatch audio from air traffic control that paints a picture and also you can hear them asking

for medical assistance. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One flight attendant and one passenger that sustained some minor injuries, a bloody nose as well as some light marks as well. So,

I don't think we need an ambulance or anything like that, but we're going to get some medical personnel at the gate to look at their injuries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALDMAN: So, you hear that dispatch call for medical help in that audio there. We're hearing from law enforcement sources that one flight attendant

was bitten. Another was left with lacerations and that Ms. Blair had to be restrained with plastic restraints after she was removed from that flight

and placed in an ambulance to be taken to the hospital. We're hearing from that same law enforcement source that she repeatedly kicked a police

officer in the head. And once she arrived at that hospital, allegedly assaulted a nurse at that hospital. We've reached out to her

representatives.

Here's a statement we got earlier today. Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct. Upon landing, she received

immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition. So, we're waiting to hear more about what happens at this arraignment that should be

happening any moment now about any possible charges she could be facing, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Leigh Waldman, thanks so much. Sad story. Well, Pope Leo is preparing now to undergo surgery after the discovery of a growth, a nodule

in his lung. The 71-year-old will have that nodule removed. It was detected at an early stage, he says. Experts say the nodule could be either benign

or malignant, meaning it is important to get it out and evaluated quickly. The pope will be admitted to hospital in Rome in the coming hours.

Christopher Lamb has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of anxiety here in the Vatican as Pope Leo prepares to undergo surgery to remove a growth on his

lung. The pope is expected to be admitted into hospital in Rome late Tuesday morning and the surgery to happen sometime after that. The pope

making the announcement that he needs this operation to the crowd in St. Peter's Square.

[18:55:00]

The news coming as a surprise to many, particularly in the Vatican, where Pope Leo is seen as someone generally in good health. He stays active. He

swims. He plays tennis. So, this news, something of a shock for people.

Now, Leo is preparing for a major trip to Latin America in early November. It's a trip he's very excited about because it means he's going to be in

Rome. He goes back to Peru, a country he served as a missionary and a bishop in for many years. But there is a question mark about his future

engagements, given this surgery that is due to take place on Tuesday.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Thanks so much for joining today. I'm Jim Sciutto in New York. You've been watching "The Brief." Please do stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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