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What We Know with Max Foster

Trump Signals Shift In Tone On Gaza, Russia; U.S. And E.U. Agree To New Trade Framework; Trump Gives Putin "10 Or 12 Days" To Reach A Ceasefire Deal; Ghislaine Maxwell Appealing To U.S. Supreme Court To Overturn Conviction; England Victorious After Beating Spain In Penalty Shootout. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired July 28, 2025 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:00:24]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Donald Trump says there's real starvation in Gaza, contradicting comments from Israel's Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

I'm Christina Macfarlane in for Max Foster. This is WHAT WE KNOW.

And we begin this hour with a shift in tone from U.S. President Donald Trump on two major conflicts, Gaza and Russia-Ukraine. Meeting with the

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland today, Mr. Trump proposed the opening of food centers in Gaza. He called the horrific images of

malnourished children real starvation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But we're going to be getting some good, strong food. We can save a lot of people. I mean, some of those

kids are -- that's real starvation stuff, I see it, and you can't fake that. So we're going to be even more involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, that's in sharp contrast to comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said over the weekend there is no

starvation in Gaza.

President Trump also indicated that he's running out of patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin talking peace with Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I'm going to make a new deadline of about 10 -- 10 or 12 days from today. There's no reason in waiting. There's no reason in waiting. It's 50

days. I want to be generous, but we just don't see any progress being made.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Let's get straight out to CNN politics senior reporter Stephen Collinson.

And, Stephen, let's start with Gaza, because there does appear to be some daylight now between Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump. As we

heard there, Trump rebuking almost Netanyahu that there's no starvation in Gaza, as he said. How significant is it at this time when international

pressure on Israel is finally, it seems, beginning to force change to the aid situation in Gaza to hear those comments?

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Yeah. A cynic might argue that the political pressure has shifted so much that Trump has no

alternative but to create this distance from Netanyahu, because Netanyahu is now coming under so much heat internationally, and Trump doesn't want to

be seen as the person that is enabling famine.

As I said, that would be a cynical interpretation. Trump probably has seen the terrible pictures, the emerging from Gaza, and he has the desire and he

has the power to do something about it.

A lot remains unclear, though. Talking about setting up food distribution in Gaza, would that entail Americans going in there? How would that be

secure? Would the Israelis allow it despite their so-called pauses in some of the fighting recently?

So, a lot needs to be said and done, I think, to back these comments up, although it certainly is a shift. But once again, Trump risks looking bad

himself if he was on the other side of this question. And if you look at the past few months, it doesn't seem that he's been that concerned about

the plight of Palestinian civilians because he's been enabling the Israelis to continue on the path that they've been going on.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. And also, a tone shift, it seems, on Russia as well. It was interesting because Donald Trump kind of refused to say whether or not

he felt Vladimir Putin was lying to him, but it's quite clear that he felt the Russian president was saying one thing to his face and then, quote,

continuing to lob missiles at Ukrainian cities.

COLLINSON: Certainly. And this is a much different rhetorical approach than Trump has adopted for much of his second term, when he was trying almost to

flatter Putin to the negotiating table and was offering a solution in Ukraine that was much more favorable to the Russian position following the

invasion than it was to the Ukrainian position. Again, I think Trump is feeling the weight of international pressure, but also this is another

situation where he doesn't look very good. It looks like Putin is flouting his own power and making his frustration palpable.

The question is, what would he do about it? It's possible that Trump could go ahead and impose some sanctions on Russia, although he said himself

today that the links between the U.S. and the Russian economies are so meager that it probably wouldn't put that much leverage on Putin, the

alternative is to go ahead with what he's been talking about, which is secondary sanctions. That is sanctioning other countries that are buying

Russian oil against the international sanctions regime. But that would require Trump to take on China and India.

And the question I have is whether he would really risk the economic conditions and consequences of that if he were to do that.

[15:05:07]

After all, the United States and China are talking right now in Sweden this week about a trade deal. Secondary sanctions could really, really hurt

those efforts, I think. So, again, Trump has shifted his tone. The question is, will he act on either of these questions?

MACFARLANE: Yeah, we will have to wait 10 or 12 days, I guess, to find out.

Stephen Collinson there, appreciate it. Thank you.

COLLINSON: Thanks.

MACFARLANE: Well, as we've mentioned, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies there's any starvation in Gaza despite disturbing images

like these broadcast on TV screens around the world now, for weeks.

Just today, Gaza's health ministry reported 14 more people starved to death over the past day. Israel's military says 20 aid packages have been

airdropped into Gaza in recent hours. Those drops set off a mad scramble on the ground as people are growing increasingly desperate to bring home any

food for their families.

With starvation, an ever present threat, staying home isn't an option for parents with hungry children.

Our Paula Hancocks reports some women in Gaza are now banding together to brave the dangerous search for food, hoping there is safety in numbers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Umna el-Abed (ph) walks into the unknown. Danger is everywhere in this darkness. A woman alone,

surrounded by men, all with the same desperate purpose -- to find food to survive.

El-Abed's husband was killed in an Israeli airstrike. She's now the sole provider for a family of eight, and can only leave them while they sleep to

find food.

The children tell me, don't go, mama, she says. Don't go to the aid centers. We don't want you to die, mama. Who'll take care of us if

something happens to you? The alternative is they starve.

This group of women from one displacement camp make the nighttime search together for protection. But even then, they are targets.

This woman says, yesterday, I waited from 6:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. I got a bag of flour, but then a young man with a knife said, drop the flour or

I'll kill you. And this is the value of Gaza now, my homeland.

Everything around us is a risk to our lives, Amkata (ph) says, whether it's thieves, Israeli soldiers, rockets or drones, everything. Their friend says

she's come every day for a week and receive nothing. She just gave birth to her youngest child three weeks earlier.

The women go back to their families at daybreak, empty handed. More than 1,000 people have been killed by Israeli fire waiting for food since late

May, according to the Palestinian ministry of health. The Israeli military says it has fired warning shots when it feels threatened, but denies

responsibility for the heavy death toll.

These displaced women from Beit Lahiya have a long walk ahead of them. This woman says either I return with food and my children shout with joy or they

will scream in grief because I didn't return. The crack of gunfire nearby sends them diving for cover. Unsure of where is safe, a casualty being

rushed past them to hospital, a reminder that safety is a concept that left Gaza long ago. When she returns to her tent, her children start crying when

they see the bag is empty.

The United Nations says the trickle of aid being allowed in the breakdown of law and order, and the dismantling of the U.N.-led delivery systems, has

created new levels of desperation. Gaza is now a place where the fittest survive and the most vulnerable are left with nothing.

Back from their nightly trips to aid points, Amkata (ph) and Anbilal (ph) share what little food they manage to get. A friendship formed in

displacement camps.

I've seen death many times Anbilal says, but I will keep going until I get my children something to eat.

CNN tracked down the two women weeks later as food got scarcer and their bodies weaker, their journey has become even more perilous.

[15:10:06]

Desperation pushed them to try their luck at the American backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Amkata says the American aid points are death zones. I reached one and spent the night there. A sniper fired above my head. The bullet missed me

by mere centimeters. She hasn't gone back since.

Her three children live on saline she makes at home, and food from charity kitchens. They always go to sleep hungry, she says.

Her friend and tent neighbor, Anbilal, hasn't given up on the long, tiring treks to find food for her five children.

I was just at Zikim, she says. I left at sunset yesterday and returned this morning. There was gunfire and martyrs lying in front of us. I couldn't

bring anything.

Without organized aid deliveries reaching the most vulnerable. It remains an endless and usually futile pursuit.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: A new trade deal has been announced between the U.S. and the European Union. The terms of the deal are still a bit murky, but right now

we know the E.U. agreed to invest $600 billion more in the U.S., along with a purchase of $750 billion worth of energy. The deal also levies tariffs on

E.U. imports 15 percent.

Let's get a live look now at the Dow down by 0.3. U.S. stocks initially rose on Monday in reaction to the trade deal. News, but is now edging lower

as you can see, right?

Joining us to discuss, CNN's Matt Egan.

And, Matt, I think the general consensus is that Europe has decided to take a bit of a hit here. And settling on 15 percent tariff, which could have

been much worse, but it has brought some stability to the markets, at least for now.

MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: Yeah. Christina, I think there is some relief among at least us investors. That disaster has been averted, right? That

they were not staring at a full-blown transatlantic trade war that would have damaged the world economy. When we take a look at where markets are,

as you mentioned, the Dow, the S&P, they were flirting with all-time highs. They backed off a little bit. But the Nasdaq is still on track for the

fourth record high in a row.

And again, I do think investors and business owners are relieved that there's a little bit more clarity than there was. Although that's pretty

relative.

Now, as you mentioned, there's still a lot of details that are murky. In fact, some parts of this agreement are still being hammered out by U.S. and

E.U. officials. But one thing we do know is where the U.S. tariff on E.U. imports stands.

And so, 15 percent is what this deal framework calls for. That is a significant decline, significantly below where the August 1st threat of 30

percent was. But let's make no mistake this is not an agreement that calls for a cut to tariffs. Not at all. This is, in fact, an increase from the

current level of 10 percent and well above the 2024 average of just 1.2 percent. This is a tariff hike.

And look, there's a lot at stake here for both the U.S. and the E.U. The E.U. is the biggest source of imports into the United States. More than

$600 billion last year alone. Everything from pharmaceuticals and cars to aircraft, machinery and alcohol as well.

And look, economists and investors, they tell me that most of this is not going to be paid for by Europeans. It's going to be paid for by Americans

in the form of higher prices.

Now, all of this tariff revenue could end up helping the U.S. whittle down some of those massive deficits, including deficits caused by the spending

and tax package that the president signed into law earlier this month. I talked to Marty Obstfeld over at the Peterson institute and he said, look,

the tariffs, he said it's a tax that falls most heavily on lower income households to pay for tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy. And

look, now we have an agreement here between the U.S. and the E.U.

This is just another example, though, of a country that reaches a deal with the United States and they end up with higher tariffs than they did when

the year started. Right? That was true for obviously the E.U., but also for Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, the U.K. and China as well. All

of them have reached frameworks with the U.S. all of them have higher tariffs than they did before the president took office -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yeah, Matt, as we know, the next priority is of course, going to be trade talks with China. Those have got underway or are about to get

underway today with representatives meeting in Sweden -- U.S. and China representatives. So how could this E.U. deal set expectations, perhaps, for

what's to come with China?

EGAN: Yeah. Well, Christina, as you mentioned, U.S. officials meeting with officials from China in Stockholm.

[15:15:04]

They're trying to hammer out an agreement to extend this 90-day truce that is set to expire on August 12th. Back in May, the U.S. slashed tariffs on

China from 145 percent to 30 percent. So, lower than they were, but still significantly high.

And the president over the weekend, he said he believes that they're very close to a China deal. And there have been some goodwill gestures from both

sides. From the U.S., they've lifted a ban on some of those sales of advanced computer chips made by Nvidia. And China has dropped a key

antitrust investigation into U.S. chemical giant DuPont.

So, analysts do expect that the two sides should be able to reach an agreement to at least extend this right, possibly another 90-day extension.

And then we'll have to wait and see whether or not the U.S. and China can really hammer out their significant differences on trade. But Christina, at

the end of the day, we are talking about the two biggest economies on the planet. So, what happens here is very significant.

MACFARLANE: Certainly. Matt, we appreciate you breaking it down for us. Thank you.

All right. Coming up. Trade deals are just the start of it next. Why this appears to be shaping up as a make-or-break week for the U.S. and global

economy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: A new trade framework has been announced between the U.S. and European union. U.S. President Donald Trump and E.U. Commission President

Ursula von der Leyen announced terms which includes the E.U. buying $750 billion worth of U.S. energy. This will replace the E.U. purchase of

Russian gas and oil as the war against Ukraine continues. But not everyone is happy with the deal. France's prime minister calls it a, quote, dark day

for Europe.

Well, what we don't know is why did the E.U. agree to this trade deal?

[15:20:02]

Joining me now to discuss is Daniel Kral, lead economist at Oxford Economics.

Thank you so much for your time.

So, Daniel. It seems like the E.U. have kind of made a calculation here, pulling back from that $100 billion retaliatory tariffs they were preparing

in favor of the predictability and stability of 15 percent. The question is, is it worth it?

DANIEL KRAL, LEAD ECONOMIST, OXFORD ECONOMICS: Well, look, some people will argue it's a good deal. The E.U. avoided worse. We have the same tariff as

Japan, lower than China and some East Asian economies. On the other hand, some people complain that or are embarrassed that the E.U. essentially

capitulated without asking anything in return on the -- on the trade front.

I think the bigger picture here is very important. The fact that this takes us place in the context of, of sort of E.U. dependence on the U.S., not

just for trade, energy tech, but also security and defense, continued reliance on support for Ukraine, continued alignment on Russia sanctions.

So, as you have seen today, a day after this framework deal was announced, President Trump announced that shortened the deadline for Russia to reach

the ceasefire in Russia in Ukraine.

Is this a coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe one of your reporters will find out whether these two were linked, but essentially it reflects the reality of a

much more transactional U.S. administration with no love lost for the E.U., and the reality of the E.U.'s dependence on us that goes much beyond trade

and energy and tech, but also to security and defense.

MACFARLANE: Is a good question. I think about this all being tied together. Trump's sort of hardening stance on Russia is softening, perhaps on Gaza.

And this all coming at the same time as this E.U. trade deal. When we look at the European stocks today, I mean, stocks have been up. Some are seeing

that as a sign this deal isn't necessarily so bad because there have been significant carve outs for some goods in this deal, Daniel.

KRAL: Well, I think there is some uncertainty premium that's being removed. I think markets perceive this as the floor of a deal, and that something

that can be built on and improved. I think some of the winners in the E.U. include the automakers, which have got the same, which whose tariff went

down from 25 to 15, the same as in Japan, and a much lower than the rest of the world, which is still at 25.

So you'll have pockets of sort of relative winners, even though overall, in absolute terms, of course, new tariffs mean new trade barriers for E.U.

exporters. And so, we'll be harder to export from the E.U. to the U.S.

MACFARLANE: How likely is it that the E.U. agreed to this deal knowing that it could never work in practice, because it would take a long time to

implement, especially elements such as the deal, the $750 billion energy deal.

KRAL: Well, I think the European officials have worked out that President Trump is a fan of big numbers and big announcements. So that's why we have

this commitment to buy a lot more E.U. energy. Sorry, U.S. energy and U.S. defense equipment. Even though the E.U. itself has no power to enforce

that, this is a framework deal between the president of the E.U. Commission and the U.S. president, even though the E.U. commission has no competence

over this, this is a matter for national governments.

So, I think it's also -- this can materialize really in the long grass. You know, we're talking years down the line when new realities will occur and

new deals, new winds will come along. So, it's really just to grab the headlines with big numbers and probably should take these numbers with a

pinch of salt, but also the commitment from both sides and sort of some complete absence of realistic plans to achieve them.

MACFARLANE: And I guess added to that, were already seeing some cracks emerge among European leaders. We know this deal is going to have to be

signed off by all 27 members, all of whom have differing interests and reliance on the export of goods. So, I mean, how likely is there to be a

consensus here?

KRAL: Well, it's always difficult for the E.U. to achieve a consensus. Also, the situation is very different. If you recall the Brexit

negotiations with the U.K., that's when really the E.U. member states stuck together and stuck to a common stance. Now the situation is more complex.

We're dealing with a much bigger sort of counterparty. There's a lot more at stake given our dependance on security and defense, on the U.S.

So, you'll have member states have different interests. But again, the pain threshold and the risk tolerance among even the countries that are that

don't feel so threatened by Russia and, and the need for a U.S. security umbrella, I think the risk tolerance is quite low there to risk an

escalatory dynamic like we've seen with China between U.S. and China. Now that these -- this framework deal has been agreed.

So, overall, I think there'll be some sort of complaints publicly and sort of embarrassments. But I think eventually they'll fall into line because of

the -- what is the alternative really?

MACFARLANE: Yeah. Daniel Kral, it's great to have your thoughts this hour. Thank you very much for joining us.

[15:25:00]

And we've had a boatload of economic news already this week, and we're just getting started.

Tuesday is the second day of U.S. trade talks with China. Wednesday sees GDP numbers in the morning, a crucial fed decision in the afternoon. And

big tech earnings after the bell. Thursday sees more earnings and inflation data, while Friday is Donald Trump's deadline before new tariffs kick in.

Plus, it's jobs Friday for good measure.

Richard Quest is here to help us navigate all of this and tell us what is the most significant thing on that list, Richard?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Go back to the list. Pull it up again, and I'll sort of give you an idea. So, you really got the Fed

decision, okay, on Wednesday. Now they're expected to leave rates alone. They're not expected to lower them, but they're going to be interpreting

the data that they'll know about in advance. On Friday, particularly the inflation data. Sorry. On Thursday and the Friday jobs report.

Now why are those two significant? Because they are the dual mandate. They are both sides, if you will, of the feds dual mandate unemployment and

inflation. So, when you get that sort of rich data that the Fed will already know about, obviously when it has its meeting on Tuesday and

Wednesday, that will be the best example for why the Fed is moving. And we will get the statement from the Fed that will give us an idea of where

they're going next.

MACFARLANE: There's a chance, isn't there, Richard, that after all, the sort of so-called big wins that President Donald Trump is making on the

tariff front, that the sort of collective data that could come out of week this week could actually show that perhaps he's, you know, backtracking on

the economy.

QUEST: Look, the reality is that the data we've had so far on trade and a lot of price data has reflected the rush to get in goods into the United

States before various tariff rules came in. So, we really don't know the full effect of the tariffs.

As we get more agreements, 15 percent with the E.U., 10 percent with the U.K., 20 percent with this country, or 15 percent with that country, who

can keep track? Then we start to see the hard-line numbers. We see the numbers that are going to be baked into the economy for the next three,

six, nine months ahead. And then it really does become a case, Christina, of how much of this tariff. Let's take -- I was listening closely to this

last interview that you did 15 percent tariff.

How much of that is going to be eaten by the manufacturer or agricultural producer, by the exporter, by the importer, before eventually being passed

on to the U.S. consumer, if at all?

MACFARLANE: Yeah, that's a good point. We know that the E.U. is -- the United States biggest trading partner. We'll wait and see what happens with

China.

QUEST: What I would also point out is if the Fed does not move -- I mean, they're not expected to. Remember one thing about central banks never take

the market by surprise. Never take the market by surprise.

So, they've told us pretty much they're not going to move. If they were to move, it would be a shock. Then we can wait for Donald Trump's outburst,

which will be he's a numskull. It should have done it. Lower the blah, blah, blah, on and on it'll go.

But that will be the moment on Wednesday when the fed doesn't move. Donald Trump explodes. Then the market will see the data on Thursday and Friday,

and we'll have a much better idea of where were going for the rest of the year.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. Hold on to your hats, Wednesday, Thursday.

Richard, appreciate you. Thank you very much. And you'll be back at the top of the hour with "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS".

Now, Tesla is showing its commitment to go from being a car company to a company that specializes in A.I. technology. Tesla has announced a deal to

purchase more than $16 billion worth of microchips from Samsung. The chips are designed for advanced A.I. technology and have special features that

make them ideal for self-driving cars.

Still to come, the U.S. president's patience is running thin. Details ahead on why Donald Trump now appears to be shortening the ceasefire deadline for

Russia.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:32:39]

MACFARLANE: U.S. President Donald Trump has a new ultimatum for Russia, saying it has fewer than two weeks to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine.

Mr. Trump had originally given Russian President Vladimir Putin 50 days to come to the table, but now says new sanctions and tariffs are coming if

Russia does not act soon. Former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev calls the move a, quote, step towards war. Ukraine is welcoming Mr. Trump's

decision to tighten the deadline for Russia to cut a peace deal. The president -- with President Vladimir Zelenskyy thanking and praising the

determination of the American leader.

All this as Russia launches more drone and missile attacks against Ukraine overnight, Kyiv says at least four people were killed and 17 injured in the

past 24 hours.

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh joining us now from Eastern Ukraine.

And, Nick, it's interesting to hear these words from the former Russian president calling this a step towards war, because how will Russia really

be viewing this threat of sanctions and secondary sanctions?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Look, I mean, I think ultimately it's highly unlikely to change their current

progress, their current desire to prosecute a summer offensive, which from where we're standing in eastern Ukraine, is leading me to hear some of the

most pessimistic assessments I've heard, frankly, since the start of the war from officials around here.

Look, along three areas of the front line, Kupiansk to the north, Konstantinovka, where we've just recently been in the middle and Pokrovsk

to the south, we are slowly seeing Russia encircling these key towns in Pokrovsk, actually quite quickly and advancing, yes, incrementally, but in

ways now that are much quicker, that potentially change their strategic hold on the eastern front line.

And that is a goal that Putin has had for months now. Hearing the deadline from President Trump today snap down, you know, 30, 40 days or less and

bringing into perspective the possibility that in just a 10 days time, there may be secondary sanctions against Russia. Look, that could

potentially be very damaging to Russia if indeed it influences Chinas decision to buy Russian energy. Pretty big ask, given how dependent they

are upon Moscow's oil and gas, or if it changes India's desire to be a Russian energy customer. They're a U.S. allies, so they're going to face an

exceptionally difficult choice.

[15:35:01]

But if they impose -- if Trump imposes secondary sanctions or tariffs against China or India, it's going to cause huge turmoil in the global

economy to global energy markets, probably raising the price of American oil and gas for American consumers. So it's a huge and severe move by the

Trump administration. One, you might argue that's more severe, frankly, than his predecessor, President Joe Bidens steps.

So, it's something Trump will have to give enormous consideration to. And, you know, I think if you're in Moscow and you've seen his previous

deadlines and previous threats, you might think he's more likely to change that than indeed he is to follow through and cause significant havoc,

Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. Nick, I know you've been on the ground in Ukraine now for a few days, and we saw yet again, more drone attacks overnight last night,

four killed in Kyiv. Have you seen any change in what you're witnessing there, Nick, to Ukraine's ability to counter this onslaught or this drone

attacks that keep coming.

WALSH: Yeah. Christina, I'm afraid I've lost you in my ear here, so I didn't get to hear the remains of your question. And forgive me if I'm

talking over you, but just to give you a snapshot of what we've been seeing and hearing most days and nights here. Look, the air raid sirens have just

gone off here, where I am in eastern Ukraine. They've been on every hour or so all day long.

It's clear that Russia is ramping up its aerial assaults. We've seen comparatively lesser numbers of drones in the sky over previous nights.

There were significant targeting of missiles of key military infrastructure. It seemed last night, many, I think, are wondering whether

there will be a large attack of drones, potentially in the nights ahead, against some of the key cities.

But it's really the front line here, which is changing in ways that I didn't think I'd see, frankly, this summer to the south, Pokrovsk is in a

very perilous way, and I heard some assessments suggest that possibly during the period of time that Trump has said as a deadline, that Pokrovsk

may be in real trouble. Indeed, and Ukraine may struggle to hang on.

Konstantinovka, we saw ourselves on two separate areas the Russians advancing pretty fast and to the north to Kupiansk, now in risk of

encirclement. These are key towns. If Ukraine loses them, the shape of its control in the east changes potentially unalterably. And then there are

huge questions about how it hangs on to other parts in the east, too, given how far the east is from the main cities in the center and the capital,

Kyiv.

So really, a seismic moment in the war happening now, regardless of Trump's faster deadline, even though there'll be many in Kyiv keen to see that

urgency that his new deadline is bringing -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: Nick, not sure if you can hear me, but we appreciate your reporting. A reminder of how bleak things continue to be on the ground

there in Ukraine.

Now, former Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell is making a final pitch for freedom. Her attorneys are going before the U.S. Supreme Court

today to ask the justices to take up her case. They're expected to argue that an agreement the late convicted sex offender had with federal

prosecutors should have shielded Maxwell from any charges.

So, what we want to know is will Ghislaine Maxwell get her conviction overturned?

Joining me now is CNN's chief legal affairs correspondent, Paula Reid.

So, Paula, just tell us how strong legally here is her argument.

PAULA REID, CNN CHIEF LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's fascinating. Over here, we have the White House and Congress embroiled in the Epstein

controversy.

Now, the Supreme Court could join them, too, if they opt to take up this appeal, where Maxwell's lawyers argue that her 2021 conviction, where she

was convicted for helping Epstein abuse teenage girls, is invalid because Jeffrey Epstein had previously, back in 2007, entered into a non-

prosecution agreement with the government. And they argue that should have also shielded his associates like Maxwell, from being charged roughly a

decade later.

Now, the Supreme Court has different reasons for taking up cases, but one that often compels them is if there is disagreement among judges across the

various regions in the U.S. and while Maxwell's claim is not a common one, it is something where there is a split across the circuits so they may want

to take this up when they return from their summer recess in October. But I will note that the Justice Department, the Trump Justice Department, has

said that they would oppose overturning this conviction.

That's notable because, of course, just a few days ago, she met with the number two official at the Justice Department to share more about what she

knows in and around Epstein. We're told that she answered questions about roughly 100 different people, and now it's unclear what the Justice

Department will do with that.

But there are also lingering questions about whether President Trump will pardon her. He seemed earlier today to be open to that idea. So, she has a

couple different avenues for relief here.

[15:40:01]

But given her status, again as a convicted individual, convicted for recruiting, grooming and in some cases sexually abusing young girls, it is

unclear how her relief would help quell this controversy surrounding the administration.

MACFARLANE: All right. Well, we will continue to follow this closely. See where it leads.

Paula Reid, appreciate it. Thank you.

All right. Still to come. Stay hydrated and stay cool. Millions of Americans are facing sweltering heat this week. CNN meteorologist Derek Van

Dam has those details just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: This hour, excessive heat warnings and advisories remain in effect for millions of Americans. From the plains to the east coast, the

heat dome is delivering life threatening temperatures.

Meteorologist Derek Van Dam is tracking these sweltering conditions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Our longstanding heat wave over the eastern two thirds of the United States does have some signs of cooling

down, but it's not going down without a fight. Weve got the heat dome firmly in place, and the weather has been very active around the trajectory

of this heat dome, firing off thunderstorms across the Upper Midwest and the Northern Plains.

But let's talk about the heat, because the over 150 million Americans that have been impacted by this the past several days, we continue with the heat

alerts, the excessive heat warnings. This is a heat map from NOAA that identifies some of the worst hit or worst impacted areas, I should say, and

that shading of purple across the low lying areas of the Carolinas, central Georgia, the panhandle of Florida.

These areas are susceptible to not only the high temperatures, the air temperatures, but also the humidity levels. So, we have an extreme heat

risk for these locations across the southeast. But look at the I-95 corridor throughout the Ohio River Valley. You factor in the humidity.

We're talking triple digit heat today.

That is oppressive, right? And we're talking about a similar forecast for the day tomorrow.

[15:45:03]

When you convert this to Celsius, you can see temperatures skyrocket to upper 30s and lower 40s. But again, that's your apparent temperature as you

step outside. It's what it feels like. And it factors in the air temperature and the humidity levels.

But there is some good news. Theres actually a relief coming in the form of a cold front that's going to sweep across the Midwest and eventually reach

the east coast by the end of the week, and it will drop the air temperature. It will take a lot of humidity out of the air as well. So

we'll drop the heat index or the apparent temperature, making it feel much more comfortable by the end of the workweek for you and I.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Well, high temperatures and strong winds are fueling an outbreak of wildfires across southern Europe.

In Athens, emergency teams have been battling a blaze which broke out on Monday on a hillside just above a university campus.

In Turkey, the country's fourth largest city is now under threat. More than 1,700 people near Bursa have had to leave their homes, and one firefighter

has died.

CNN's Ben Hunte has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN HUNTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By night, wildfires in Turkey look straight from a horror movie. An onslaught of fiery red flames with an

appetite for destruction that's fed by extreme conditions on the ground. The full dangers of the fires are exposed in the daylight. Thousands of

people are evacuating the north and northwest of the country because of the massive fires, as thousands of firefighters try to battle back the flames.

Temperatures are surging in the region, often topping 40 degree Celsius or 104 degrees Fahrenheit, which is drying out the ground. That's making it

even more difficult for firefighters to contain the blazes.

In Greece, volunteers are pitching in to help. Like in this town north of Athens, where the flames have been turbocharged by more than just the heat.

PETROS AVRAMOPOULOS, LOCAL RESIDENT: The wind is terrible. You see what's happening here, the speed. One moment the fire is here, the next it's

across. Everything is very fast.

HUNTE: Fires have also been raging in nearby countries like Kosovo and Albania. Thermal drones have been deployed in some places to identify

hotspots and help helicopter pilots coordinate their missions.

In Bulgaria, it's a team effort on the ground to put out one fire, with firefighters using shovels to smother the burning brush. But it wasn't

enough to save some houses from being consumed by the smoke and flames.

ZVEZDELIN VLAYKOV, EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER: There will be quite a few houses burned down. It's a merciless moment, a tragedy. I haven't seen anything

like this. In all my years of fighting fires, I haven't seen anything like this and it will burn for another month.

HUNTE: A month that could look and feel like hell, as firefighters across southern Europe fight wildfires in their peak season.

Ben Hunte, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Now get the open top bus ready. England's Lionesses are back home and ready to party after a stunning Euro's victory. We'll have more

after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:50:48]

MACFARLANE: It doesn't get much better than that. Victory tastes familiar for fans of the England women's football team, but it's still just as

sweet. England's Lionesses are back on home soil after winning the European championship on penalties against Spain on Sunday. This year's tournament

was the best attended in the competition's history.

Ena Bilobrk has flown directly from Switzerland to join us here in London.

And you have bought me an official Euro's match ball. Did you steal this off the pitch last night?

ENA BILOBRK, FOOTBALL EXPERT: I want to say I have indeed. Not -- I didn't steal it, but I brought it here all the way from Basel, Switzerland. Yes.

No. We were given this match ball by UEFA to film with it and do all sorts of stuff. But I thought it would be nice, a nice thing to do. And just to

show you guys.

MACFARLANE: Thank you so much.

Look, I think what has floored everyone about this championship is the manner in which England have won. This coming from behind four times,

obviously in the final as well. And I read -- the stat I loved is that they've actually only been ahead for one minute of the entire tournament,

but behind for 173.

BILOBRK: I know, incredible. I think it just -- just shows the resilience these girls have. And I think my favorite thing that Sarina Wiegman, the

coach, said, was it felt like a movie. And I think for all the fans and everyone watching, especially England fans, it did feel like a movie.

It had -- it had everything, had blockbusters ups and downs, great moment moments where you nearly, you know, Sarina said she thought she was going

home 4 to 5 times, especially in that quarterfinal, which was incredible, where they came back from being two nil down and then winning in penalties.

And it literally had everything.

And as I said, it showed the resilience these girls have and the character. They also have just to just to come back.

MACFARLANE: Well, you mentioned Sarina Wiegman. She is now one -- I think it's her third consecutive Euro's championship. She's now being talked

about in the pantheon as the all-time great managers.

What is it about her management style that just gets results?

BILOBRK: I think what was quite clear from spending quite a lot of time in the England camp, so I spent four weeks in Switzerland covering the Euros

with different teams, but especially the last week with England and everyone in the camp was saying how Sarina is so personable.

She's Dutch. She's very direct and she will tell you as it is, but she does not lie. And I think that's what a lot of the players really, really like

about her. And they feel really safe and secure with her. They call her the mother as well. So, she has this motherly role, which I think especially

for the younger players, is really important.

And not only her being such a strong personality and a really likable character is just her management style. She sticks to it. She has a winning

ways. She said, you know, I'm going to bring on substitutes quite late, which a lot of people have criticized early on.

MACFARLANE: Yeah.

BILOBRK: And then we had Michelle Agyemang, who's the, you know, the young player. Yeah, the star, the young player of the tournament and who's been

coming on and scoring goals, as well as Chloe Kelly. Obviously the super, super star, I'd say.

MACFARLANE: And it did feel like the game changed once again last night when she came on, didn't it?

BILOBRK: A hundred percent. And she came on a little bit earlier than Sarina did the previous game. So, but it worked. Whatever Sarina is doing

her magic, her sort of winning formula, she shouldn't change it.

MACFARLANE: And look, you said you were there last night on the sidelines. You've been there for the entirety of the tournament. This was, as we were

saying before, the best attended euros in history. What is it about the women's game now that is so special, so different to how perhaps it was

perceived a decade ago?

BILOBRK: It's obviously the attendance, as you said, the more interest it gathers, the more new people will come watch it. But then also when you're

on site, it's just such a different vibe. I would call it, you know, you're in the stands.

So, I was at the Spanish end last night and obviously there were lots of tears, but people were celebrating at half time. Obviously, they were up,

but they were drums, they were celebrating and there was no hostility. England fans were celebrating with Spanish fans, but and also the way

players are being treated, the way players are treating the fans.

I have several examples throughout the tournament where I was bumping into players, just going on a stroll in Zurich, going for a swim in the famous

river, then yesterday, just before the game in the morning, Chloe Kelly was undercover in a supermarket.

[15:55:03]

The night before, we had Vivianne Miedema, Dutch superstar, just having casual dinner in a marketplace and taking selfies with kids. And you would

never have that at a men's tournament.

MACFARLANE: Yeah, absolutely. And of course, the celebrations are going to continue here in London. We have the team on an open bus parade on the mall

tomorrow. You know, I think you and I should just book the day off work and head down there. And I think we should join in the celebrations.

BILOBRK: Yeah.

MACFARLANE: I think it's going to be big, right? And I'll take my football. I'm keeping this now. Thank you so much.

Ena, it's a pleasure. And thank you for flying in direct to tell us all about it.

BILOBRK: Pleasure is all mine.

MACFARLANE: And that is it for us and what we know now. I'm just going to keep hold of this ball.

"QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is up next. Stay with us.

END

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