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What We Know with Max Foster

NATO: New Mission To Bolster Alliance's Eastern Flank; Suspect In Charlie Kirk Murder Being Held Without Bail; Trump: Memphis Will Be The Next Stop In Crime Crackdown; Israeli Strikes On Gaza City Intensify Ahead Of IDF Siege; South Korean Workers Detained By ICE Arrive Home. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired September 12, 2025 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:23]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN HOST: A suspect is in custody for the killing of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

I'm Christina Macfarlane, in for Max Foster. This is WHAT WE KNOW. We'll have more on the suspect's arrest in just a moment.

But first, we want to start this hour with some major news from NATO. The alliance is beefing up the defense of Europe's eastern flank after Russian

drone incursion into Polish airspace this week.

Here's NATO chief Mark Rutte, making the announcement earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK RUTTE, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: NATO is launching Eastern Sentry to bolster our posture even further along our eastern flank. This military

activity will commence in the coming days and will involve a range of assets from allies including Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Germany and

others. In addition to more traditional military capabilities, this effort will also feature elements designed to address the particular challenges

associated with the use of drones.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: And we're also keeping an eye on the U.N. Security Council set to hold an emergency meeting on that Russian drone incursion.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has declared that Wednesday's airspace violation was no mistake, but U.S. President Donald Trump suggests it could

have been an accident.

Well, let's bring in our senior international correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh, to discuss this.

So, Nick, just begin by explaining to us what this Eastern Sentry is designed to do and how significant a move this is.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: I think predominantly this is a message that NATO is willing to put more

capabilities in the defense of its eastern borders after this, frankly unprecedented incursion on Wednesday morning. Very early Wednesday morning,

a message of unity, certainly, because announced by Mark Rutte, the NATO secretary general, and the head of SACR essentially the American-led part

of European Defense said that they were putting forward two F-16s and anti- air warfare frigate from Denmark, three Rafales from France and four Eurofighters from Germany, along with some U.K. assistance as well.

So concrete measures that they say will be in the air in the days ahead, potentially in the event of how most people I've spoken to feel, there

might be a risk of another Russian bid to use their drone to see how far they could get, possibly in another part, of NATO's eastern border, closer

to Russia. Rutte stressing today, this isn't the first time we've seen an incursion listing the number of countries where drones and other Russian

aircraft have crossed in the past, but no doubt this is probably the most significant we've seen for and certainly since the beginning of the

invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the first time that we've seen a defensive measures taken by NATO to shoot these drones down.

Now, a reminder that we've already got NATO air assets defending this part of the eastern border. It was Dutch F-35 that shot these drones down,

possibly small handful shot down. Were now hearing from a senior Polish official that over 21 drones may have been involved in this, some

potentially crossing the border multiple occasions. All they think launched originally from Russian territory.

Questions, too, as to how many indeed were carrying explosives and how many have in fact been found to have been decoy drones so far. But Christina,

the key thing here, I think, is the sense amongst NATO members of the need possibly for a more coherent or vocal American-backed response from this.

The most recent comment we've heard from President Trump said that it could have been a mistake. But regardless, I'm not happy about having anything to

do with that whole situation. But hopefully, it's going to come to an end.

Multiple parts to that particular riposte there. How he think it may be an accident, how he's not happy about it occurring, but also not happy about

generally the extent of U.S. involvement it seems in this. And again, that hope that potentially a peace process might yield some fruit here.

He also went on Fox News this morning to say that Putin is running out of time fast, and potentially previewed banking sector sanctions against

Russia. He's been talking since Sunday about how he's ready to implement them, but we haven't actually seen that yet.

So, a startling week of increased Russian aggression. NATO here, putting forward this new scheme of eastern century, quite what a massive game

changer that will be in terms of resources for defense, unclear.

[15:05:06]

Whether it changes the Kremlin's thinking, though unclear, too. They've launched an unprecedented drone incursion. Is it going to happen again

soon? We'll see in the weeks ahead, Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. Noteworthy though, however, isn't it how quickly NATO have moved since that incursion on Wednesday to put this in place?

Nick, we appreciate your reporting on this. Thank you.

Well, right now, the man suspected of gunning down conservative activist Charlie Kirk is being held without bail. Tyler Robinson, a technical

college student from southern Utah, was arrested after his father called a family friend who then contacted authorities. Sources tell CNN he is no

longer speaking with investigators. The 22-year-old is a registered voter but is not affiliated with a political party on voter records and did not

vote in the last two presidential elections.

The state's governor says Robinson had recently mentioned that Kirk was going to appear in Utah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPENCER COX, UTAH GOVERNOR: Investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson who stated that Robinson had become more political in recent

years. The family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner prior to September 10th, and in the conversation with

another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU. They talked about why they didn't like him and the viewpoints that he had.

The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Let's get straight out to CNN chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller, who's been across this all day.

And, John, that press conference now, what, three or four hours ago, there was a lot of information that law enforcement had to share.

Talk to us about the key pieces of information we learned and how law enforcement will be using that information right now, given that we've

heard they'll likely be executing search warrants.

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: So, Christina, what they shared with us this morning at the press conference

was that this Tyler Robinson had been confronted by his father after the newest pictures came out yesterday afternoon, placed -- put out by

authorities and looked at the pictures and said to his son, is this you? And that, according to investigators, his son admitted to his father. Yes,

that is me.

And the father urged him to turn himself in. And we are told by sources that his response was, I would rather kill myself than turn myself in. But

the father, according to people briefed on the investigation, convinced his son to talk to their local youth pastor.

They called the minister. They had a conversation. The youth pastor is also essentially the chaplain for the sheriff's department, where the fugitive

task force is and spoke to the United States Marshal there and said, you know, he had this information. The FBI made contact. And by 10:00 last

night, Tyler Robinson was in custody.

MACFARLANE: We also learned, John, that the suspect or we heard in that press conference, the suspect had become more political over the past few

years. And the governor spoke about those inscriptions found on some of the casings. One of them reading, "Hey, fascist! Catch!"

How important will all of that be in determining a motive as authorities file these documents in preparation for bringing charges I believe early

next week?

MILLER: Well, there'll be very important. The idea that the weapon, the rifle has been recovered, the bullets inside it as well as the shell

casings from the bullet that killed Mr. Kirk with messages inscribed on them, is the closest thing we have to any statement that has gone to

motive. When you pair that up with what you reported earlier. You know, the angry conversations about Charlie Kirk at the dinner table, the discussion

that he was coming to the area.

You start to see a circumstantial case. And as you also indicated, with the search warrants going on today, they will see what is in his computers, on

his phone, in those hard drives. What has he been searching and researching? Has he been looking at the attempted assassination of

President Trump, where he may have gotten the idea to do a long distance shot from a rooftop? Did he look at the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder, where

he may have gotten the idea to inscribe messages, in the bullets and on the shell casings?

They'll be looking for all of that while they await for scientific testing. Having taken his prints extensive prints, not just fingerprints, but palm

prints, DNA, to compare with DNA they may have recovered at the scene or on the weapon.

So, they are very much at the end of the manhunt, but still very much at the beginning of the investigation.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. So many levels to this and to your point -- I mean, this does feel like were at the start of a very long road here.

John, appreciate your thoughts for now. Thank you.

MILLER: Thank you.

MACFARLANE: Joining us from Utah now is CNN's Ed Lavandera, who is on the scene where Tyler Robinson is being held.

Ed, in that jail behind you, paint the scene for us and tell us what more you're learning.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was just hours after the press conference yesterday evening where authorities here in Utah

released more video images of the suspect running across a rooftop on the university campus and fleeing the scene, as well as other closer pictures

of the suspect captured on surveillance cameras. And it was after that that that conversation that our colleague John Miller is reporting that the

father had with the suspect, happened around 10:00.

So just a couple of hours later, and then we're told here that, quickly after that, the suspect, Tyler Robinson, was arrested, taken into custody,

and he was brought to this jail in Utah County, which is, quite almost, like, it's a 3-1/2-hour drive from where he was arrested.

Robinson lives in a in the southwest corner of the state, a great distance away here. So, it was just before 2:00 a.m. that the suspect was booked

into the county jail. He is being held without bond, so he cannot get out. And we've heard from local prosecutors here that he will make his initial

court appearance next Tuesday afternoon, where he will then be formally charged, with the crimes related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk

earlier this week in Utah.

So, the investigative front to still continues, but now also on the on the legal front, as those criminal charges in state court will be filed. And

we've also learned, Christina, that there are federal criminal charges that could be filed against this suspect as well.

MACFARLANE: And, Ed, we know he has been apparently speaking to investigators. Do you know if that is still going on or is that is that

come to an end?

LAVANDERA: Well, we've had two sources have told us that he was initially talking to investigators but has since stopped talking. So lawyered up was

I think the phrase that one of those sources had had used to describe the suspect no longer cooperating and, you know, and there's some real, you

know, context missing so far as to what exactly the motivation might have been here.

We heard John Miller reporting about the details and the conversations that one family member has told investigators that the suspect had a dislike for

Charlie Kirk. But what exactly that dislike was about isn't exactly clear at this point. Just that there was some dislike of him.

So, we're still trying to dig into those details as well, because that context, I think, is really crucial to understanding how all of this

unfolded and why it unfolded the way it did.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. So much context for us to understand in the days to come. We will, of course, learn more in three days when prosecutors bring those

charges.

Ed, for now, we appreciate it. Thank you.

And I want to now bring in attorney and legal affairs commentator Areva Martin.

Areva, I'm sure you've just been listening to all that Ed and John were saying just before, and I wanted to put to you that given all the new

detail that we have learned from today's press conference, which so far points to a motive and possibly a confession from the shooter, who confided

in his family about the shooting, how strong a case do you think investigators have here? And I know it's very early days, but just wanted

to get your take.

AREVA MARTIN, ATTORNEY & LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Well, based on what we know to date, it's a pretty strong case because not only do we have the

potential admission or confession that was given to family members, but also what we're learning from investigators is that there's physical

evidence that links the shooter to the murder, as well, as we know the video footage, which is very, very important to the capture of the shooter

as well as going to play significantly in the case that will be presented by the prosecutors as they move forward in the first court hearing next

week.

So based on everything that's been reported to date, it appears to be that they have the right person in custody and that they're going to be able to

make a pretty strong case on the three felony counts that we expect. And that's the aggravated murder, the felony gun charge, and the obstruction of

justice charge.

MACFARLANE: And motive is very important here, not least because in Utah, there is, of course, a death penalty, presumably prosecutors are going to

try and make that case. What standard would the case need to meet in order for that verdict to be reached?

[15:15:05]

MARTIN: In Utah, as you said, there is a laundry list of circumstances that give rise to when the death penalty can be utilized in certain felonies and

with respect to aggravated murder, what that speaks to, is, in this case, someone you know, using a gun, shooting a gun. In the case of this shooter

in a way that not only led to the death of an individual, but which endangered the lives of others. So, when you look at what happened, this

very brazen attack on Charlie Kirk happened on a university campus at an event where over 3,000 people were in attendance.

So shooting, firing that that rifle, that shotgun from that 200, you know, feet distance clearly created a danger to those others. And it's remarkable

that other individuals were not injured and not murdered in the way that Charlie Kirk was. So that circumstance alone will give prosecutors the

foundation and the base that they need to assert -- or to attempt to assert that this is a case where the death penalty would be appropriate.

MACFARLANE: What struck me, and I think a lot of people is hearing the governor say in that press conference that he believed no one else would be

charged. I mean, given what we learned today, that the shooter was in communication with his roommate. Do you expect there to be more questioning

on what he knew and, and when, and that maybe we don't have the full picture here yet?

MARTIN: Yeah. I think one thing we learned by the FBI director that tweeted out or made the public statement on social media early on, that a person of

interest was in custody and then had to walk that back, is that it is so irresponsible to make predictions or to try to speculate about what an

ongoing investigation might reach or might conclude. And in this case, yes, we know that this investigation, although it has resulted in someone being

arrested, that there's so much more we don't know about this case.

You mentioned the motive early on. We know that there are, you know, writings on some of the bullet shells. We know that there's comments that

have been made on social media sites. But to date, there hasn't really been, I think, a clear picture of what the motive is.

Contrary to those individuals who were quick to say that this was some kind of, you know, leftist person or some kind of political motivation by those

on the left -- we don't have that information at this date. In fact, what we do have is contrary to that, we know that his family were registered

Republicans and that he had no party affiliation as it relates to being a Republican or a Democrat.

So, I think it's really irresponsible for those who are suggesting that this is somehow, you know, motivation of someone who was angry at you know,

Donald Trump or his administration. I just don't think we know enough to make that conclusion.

MACFARLANE: Yeah, a good note of caution I think when there's a lot of speculation still rife.

Areva, we really appreciate your analysis. Thank you.

MARTIN: Thanks.

MACFARLANE: All right, coming up, President Trump's crime crackdown prepares to enter a new chapter. Which major city he plans to target next?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:21:22]

MACFARLANE: Welcome back.

Earlier, Donald Trump announced the next stop in his controversial crime crackdown on major U.S. cities. The Trump administration now plans to

target Memphis, Tennessee. It's a blue city in a state governed by a Republican. This comes on the heels of Washington, D.C., seeing a surge in

federal law enforcement and troops on the streets.

On Fox News earlier, he called Memphis deeply troubled.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going to Memphis. Memphis is --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's the next city.

TRUMP: -- deeply troubled. And the mayor is happy. He's a Democrat mayor. The mayor is happy. And the governor of Tennessee, the governor is happy.

Deeply troubled. We're going to fix that, just like we did Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: CNN's Kristen Holmes is live joining us from Washington.

And, Kristen, we've heard President Trump threatening to send the National Guard to Chicago and Baltimore before. Why has his attention now turned to

Memphis?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Chicago and Baltimore have something in common that Memphis does not. They are both in

blue states with blue governors who have said they don't want Donald Trump in their state.

Memphis is in Tennessee. And as you noted, the governor is happy, has already put out a statement saying that he's looking forward to welcoming

the National Guard and president Trump and the administration to fighting crime in Memphis.

Now, one thing should be noted, Memphis does have an incredibly high crime rate. We've looked at independent data. Weve looked at CNN data. It shows

it as a leading city with -- when it comes to crime.

But of course, we know that President Trump had set his sights on various other cities, including Chicago. But it became clear, at least to people

around the president and to his advisers, that it was going to be increasingly difficult legally to go into these states when these governors

were saying they didn't want them there.

The thing we have to keep in mind here is the fact that the reason Washington, D.C., was able to work the way that President Trump wanted it

to work is because Washington, D.C., has almost no rights in this case. It is not a state. It has no state's rights.

And by, for all intents and purposes, can be taken over by the federal government, usually does work in tandem with the federal government. That

is not the case in these other states. So, they were looking at some serious legal hurdles that they didn't want to take on, at least for now.

That doesn't mean it's not going to happen in places like Chicago and Baltimore, where these governors were actively telling Donald Trump not to

come, that he didn't want them there.

So now, instead, he has decided to go to a state where he is being invited in. We are seeing various lawmakers celebrating the fact that they are

going to go to Memphis, and this is the way for him to continue on this mission that he's had of bringing the military, bringing the National

Guard, and to clean up crime, something that he believes will really help him politically.

MACFARLANE: Yeah, worth mentioning, isn't it, that he's already facing lawsuits from Washington and Los Angeles, but maybe not in the case here.

Kristen, appreciate it. Thank you.

Still to come, the governor of Utah makes a plea for respecting others opinions after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. You'll hear

his comments in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:27:44]

MACFARLANE: We are returning to developing news out of Europe now. NATO is strengthening the defense of Europe's eastern flank after a Russian drone

incursion into Polish airspace. Poland says there were 19 intrusions of the country's airspace on Wednesday, and that the attack was not a mistake.

NATO says the Eastern Sentry operation will start in the coming days.

Joining me now is former NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark, to give us his assessment.

Thank you, General, for joining us.

Just begin, if you would, by telling us the significance of this move by NATO and how large you expect this force to grow, to be.

GEN. WESLEY CLARK (RET.), FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER: Well, I think the first significance is that it was a political decision to form a

force and name it Eastern Sentry. So, this requires the political support of nations, and that's the essential first step in this. Before any forces

are committed or anything else, it's national commitment. So that's number one.

Number two is a number of nations have agreed to put two, four, six aircraft involved in this thing. It will be coordinated and linked with

ground-based air defense and airborne early warning. So, I think it will have substantial military capacity.

But the most important thing is it is a statement of resolve facing Russia that NATO is prepared to stand up. Now, it's not sufficient. It's an

important step forward. What would be more sufficient is for NATO and especially for the United States, to increase its military support of

Ukraine. But this eastern sentry is a very, very good step forward, especially at the political level. And I'm delighted to see the American

supreme allied commander introducing it with the NATO secretary general.

MACFARLANE: Yeah, it is a deeply symbolic step, as you say.

In terms of the assets being sent that you mentioned there, Denmark, France, Germany, I believe sending or contributing F-16 jets, Rafale

fighters, Typhoons to this Eastern Sentry, is all of that enhanced support at this stage something that would really make a difference in bolstering

the eastern flank, in the event of another drone incursion or perhaps something worse?

[15:30:07]

CLARK: I think it will make a substantial contribution. These aircraft will be detailed under NATO command and control. And so, this will be a NATO

operation under the coordination of NATO. So, it's not just Poland standing by itself and asking for help. This is NATO saying were here, and Russia,

you're not coming in.

So that's an important step forward.

MACFARLANE: And just briefly, in terms of -- I mean, the mission has been announced today, how soon can something like this be put into effect and

put in place.?

CLARK: A few days, maybe at most. Many of the aircraft are already deployed there. The Dutch F-35s, for example. They're there right now. We have

American aircraft in the region.

So, it's very easy to shift the aircraft over. Youve got to follow it with logistics support. Youve got to get the channels for communication and get

everybody on the same frequencies and security and so forth. That's -- that's very, very doable in very short order.

So, I think it'll be stood up and operational in a few days, if not already operational.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. A statement of intent for sure. We will wait to see which other countries may join the move.

General, we appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.

And we continue to follow now, the news out of Utah, where a suspect has been arrested in the murder of conservative political activist Charlie

Kirk. Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Robinson has been taken into custody. Family members say he had become more political in recent years. He

apparently spoke about Charlie Kirk visiting Utah and had lashed out at his beliefs.

Authorities say bullet casings that were found didn't bear engravings about transgender people despite initial reports. Sources tell CNN that analysts

initially interpreted a series of arrows they saw as having a connection to the transgender community.

The governor of Utah spoke out about political division in the U.S. and the need for change. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COX: It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals. This cuts to the very foundation

of who we are, of who we have been and who we could be in better times.

I absolutely believe that this is a watershed in American history, yes. The question is, what kind of watershed? And that that chapter remains to be

written. Is this the end of a dark chapter in our history, or the beginning of a darker chapter in our history?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, joining us now is Daniel Brunner. He's a retired FBI special agent and the president of the Brunner Sierra Group.

And just listening, you know, to the words there that, you know, this is a watershed moment in our history. You really understand the intense focus

that there is going to be on this investigation.

And I just want to talk to you about some of the important details we heard in that press conference earlier today. And I think one of the interesting

details that emerged is the fact about the relationship between the shooter and his roommate. We know that he was -- the roommate was in touch with

Tyler Robinson, and there had these messages on Discord that revealed details about where Robinson had stashed his gun.

It appears this roommate seems to have had some idea of what had happened. So, what do you make of the governor's comments in the press conference

that Robertson acted alone? And do you expect that there will be a closer examination of that?

DANIEL BRUNNER, RETIRED FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Those are all great questions, and that's exactly what the investigators are going to look at. And they're

going to dig deeper into looking at the entire profile and looking at to the pathway of violence. How did the shooter get here? And along that

pathway where it started and along the pathway, what red flags went up?

And if somebody failed to contact law enforcement when they knew that a that an attack was about to happen, I think that charges should be

considered against that person.

Now, if that person also knew that the attack occurred and they knew something and that that would help law enforcement to capture this

individual, then again, also has to be were you aiding and abetting that individual? So, these are all questions that are going to be part of this

investigation. This is really where the investigation starts.

Up until now, all they've had was video and some hand prints, but they weren't able to really identify the individual. Now is where the

investigation begins, the interviews, the search warrants, everything will be conducted to collect the evidence in anticipation of there being a court

case, a trial, so that the proper charges, whether it be at the state level or at the federal level, can be leveled upon this individual.

And so, he can serve his time for what, the crime that he's allegedly committed.

MACFARLANE: Yeah. And we have, what, three days, I think until those initial charges are brought. What does it say to you that despite the

obvious efforts that we have been shown of the shooter to avoid detection, the shooter then communicated with those around him about what he did and

ultimately appears here to have confessed to a family member?

BRUNNER: Well, it shows that he wanted people to know what he did, and that's a lot of times in this, in this type of attack. I worked at domestic

terrorism, the lone wolf attack is a very, very difficult. Former Director Christopher Wray stated that a lone wolf attack is one of the most

difficult attacks to defend upon, because nobody else other than the attacker has knowledge of it.

And that's what they said. In his mind, this individual's mind, only he could afford the thought, the belief of, you know, fighting the -- what he

believed to be a fascist, organization, to believe that Charlie Kirk he disagreed with.

Charlie Kirk's death is absolutely horrible. It should never have happened. And his death is a tragedy. But -- and he should never fire, you know, to

shoot, to kill somebody because you disagree with their words. So that's where the investigation has to find as to where he deviated from the norm,

where he, you know, went off the normal path to this deviated behavior, and then finding out where along the way this could have been prevented.

All the investigation will do is, is to be collecting the evidence against him, and also how to prevent this in the future.

MACFARLANE: And you mentioned just at the top there, you know, piecing together this pathway to violence. Where do you see the holes that remain

at this moment and what law enforcement will be looking for as they look to gather this evidence?

BRUNNER: There's obviously a lot of evidence that needs to be collected. Theres a lot of evidence to support the investigation to whether he

confessed or not is irrelevant. They're going to collect every piece of evidence that is out there that can be used against him in the court of

law, whether even if it be exculpatory, which shows that he didn't do it. They need to find all this evidence to -- so that they can have it together

to put it together, have it prepared for trial.

In addition, there's going to be a parallel group at the behavioral analysis unit and looking at his pathway to violence. What set him off?

That way we can in the future, the FBI can anticipate the lone wolf attack, can see the warning signs and talk about it with school officials, with

government officials, and work with our local communities to find individuals that are going off the pathway, you know, the normal path, and

doing this deviant behavior.

This is a radical person who this is not the normal. This is an individual who was disturbed and decided to conduct an attack which was completely

outside the normal, ways of line. And we need to find out what caused that, how he was able to obtain the weapon, how he was able to obtain the

training to learn how to do a shot, as difficult as this was, and to prevent this to happen again in the future.

MACFARLANE: Yeah, so much context to delve into here. Ultimately, with that goal of ensuring this never happens again.

Daniel Brunner, appreciate your analysis. Thank you.

Now, a warm homecoming in South Korea. Hundreds of workers who were detained in the U.S. are home. And wait until you see what greeted them at

the airport.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:41:59]

MACFARLANE: Welcome back.

The U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly endorsed a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict over U.S. objections. It approved a

declaration that calls for a Palestinian state free of Hamas rule. The declaration also urges collective action to end the war in Gaza.

Qatar's prime minister told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that his country will continue diplomatic efforts for a Gaza ceasefire, despite an

Israeli strike targeting Hamas negotiators in Doha this week. Hamas says the negotiating team survived, but five Hamas members and a Qatari security

official were killed. The Palestinian Authority calls the U.N. declaration an important step towards ending Israel's occupation. But the U.S. and

Israel are rejecting it as a stunt that undermines peace.

While talking about peace, Israel is escalating its war amid a worsening famine. Gaza's civil defense says attacks on residential towers and other

buildings in Gaza city have left more than 50,000 people homeless this week alone. Satellite images show the vast majority of destruction has been

caused by Israel's military going block by block, with bulldozers.

Our Jeremy Diamond has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Gaza from above. In early August, CNN joined the Jordanian military on a cargo

flight, delivering aid to starving Palestinians. The scale of the destruction hard to grasp.

And yet, Gaza City has been one of the areas least scarred by Israel's two- year war. The Zeitoun neighborhood, for example, was largely still intact, as also seen in this satellite imagery at the time. One month later, the

area has been leveled, four schools, dozens of businesses and hundreds of homes destroyed.

This is the damage wrought by the opening moves of Israel's invasion of Gaza City, which the government announced days after CNN flew over the

strip. The initial assault has also pummeled Jabalya on the northern outskirts of the city, where more than 750 buildings have been destroyed.

All told, in the months since approving their plan to invade Gaza City, Israel has damaged or destroyed more than 1,800 buildings, according to a

CNN analysis of satellite imagery. Tent camps said Gaza City's perimeter emptied out, forcing displaced Palestinians to be displaced once again into

ever more crowded tent cities, as the threat of an Israeli invasion looms.

Many more began to flee on Tuesday after the Israeli military ordered all Palestinians to leave Gaza city ahead of a major expanded offensive.

Israel's assault continues as intended, striking multiple high rise buildings that the military says are used by Hamas as terrorist

infrastructure without providing evidence.

[15:45:05]

But on the ground, thousands of Palestinians sheltering around them are suffering.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We were having a bite to eat underneath the building until suddenly we saw people fleeing from inside.

No one warned us or told us to take our belongings. We only carried our children and sat on the adjacent street. A little while later, they struck

the building. We came back to find that everything was gone. There's nothing left.

DIAMOND: These large scale demolitions of entire neighborhoods in Gaza rendering already fragile lives unlivable and offering a glimpse into the

ruin that may lie ahead.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Now, after a week of fear and confusion, more than 300 South Koreans who had been detained by U.S. immigration officials arrived back

home earlier today. They were rounded up at their Hyundai LG vehicle battery plant in the U.S. state of Georgia. U.S. officials say many of them

entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed their visas, but some of their lawyers insist they were legally working at the site.

CNN's Mike Valerio was at the airport when the South Koreans arrived back in their country, and he filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was quite emotional for so many who were gathered here at Incheon International Airport, seeing not one,

not two, but more than 300, 316 former ice detainees being flown in from Georgia back home here in South Korea. We should tell you when you're

looking at this video, so much of it has been blurred out of privacy concerns, privacy regulations, laws quite strict here in South Korea. And

none of these people have been charged with crimes.

So, the question now moves to how could this be prevented in the future for any South Korean company that has investments, big projects in the United

States right now, or is planning to do so? What will change to avoid any kind of visa confusion, mix up or this visa situation that has befallen

more than 300 people, impacting them in myriad ways?

You know, South Korea's president actually spoke to that. Let's listen to what he said.

LEE JAE MYUNG, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT (through translator): From the perspective of companies, they will be concerned about disadvantageous

treatment or facing difficulties when they're building factories in the United States. That could probably have a significant impact on direct

investment in the U.S. in the future.

VALERIO: So we should show you before the 316 former detainees came through the arrival doors, this banner was put up almost twice as tall as I am with

the words in English, "We're friends, aren't we?" with a figure dressed in black. The letters I-C-E, ICE across the chest, chains around one shoulder

and assault style weapon and a smiling mask of U.S. President Donald Trump, certainly indicative of a strain of outcry when we're talking about the

emotional reactions that have been befallen this country over the past week.

So, in terms of what changes, South Korea's president has talked about, perhaps things in motion to increase the visa quotas between the United

States and South Korea, perhaps create a new class or category of visas for businesses that are investing in the United States? Again, all with the

goal of making sure what we saw a few days ago does not happen again.

Mike Valerio, CNN, Incheon, South Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Prince Harry, the duke of Sussex, made a surprise trip to Ukraine. News of his visit was first reported by `The Guardian", which said

it accompanied Harry on the train ride to Kyiv. According to "The Guardian", the duke of Sussex was there to do, quote, everything possible

to help Ukrainian soldiers injured in Kyiv's war against Russia. He was also there to detail new initiatives with his Invictus Games Foundation to

support the rehabilitation of wounded Ukrainians.

All right. Still to come, CNN speaks to young conservatives in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing. We'll hear how they feel in this moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:51:58]

MACFARLANE: We're turning to our top story today. We're still waiting to hear when Charlie Kirk's funeral will take place.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance seen here accompanying Kirk's casket on Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, Arizona, where Kirk lived with his family.

It's expected that Kirk will be laid to rest sometime next week. President Trump says that whatever, whenever the funeral is held, he will be there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Are you going to go to Charlie Kirk's funeral, sir?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will be.

REPORTER: You will?

REPORTER: Do you know when that will be?

TRUMP: I believe it's in Arizona, and they've asked me to go and I think I have an obligation to do.

REPORTER: Do you know when that will be?

TRUMP: I'm hearing the next -- I hear next weekend. Whenever it is, I'll be going.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, in this era dominated by social media, extreme views can feel like they dominate the conversation, sparking fears of increasingly

radicalized and divisive politics.

Well, some young conservatives say Kirk's killing may be an inflection point.

CNN's Elle Reeve reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN MCCROSSEN, YOUNG CONSERVATIVE: I didn't want to see that video. It just kind of popped up on my timeline on X. I mean, it was horrific. It was

the worst thing you can imagine. And seeing that was really devastating.

ELLE REEVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Young conservatives are in shock at the apparent assassination of Charlie Kirk.

RYAN LEONARD, YOUNG CONSERVATIVE: I take no -- take no pleasure in thinking this way, but things might be about to get a lot worse.

REEVE: They were drawn in by the way Kirk mixed it up with ideological opponents on college campuses.

CHARLIE KIRK, CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST: Your life began not at birth, but at conception, about nine months before --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's your opinion.

KIRK: If I wear blackface and I don't become black, why does a man who wear a dress become a woman?

MADISON CAMPBELL, YOUNG CONSERVATIVE: It was because of his quick wit, his debate style was much different than anyone really in the conservative

movement had.

REEVE: The 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA inspired young conservatives to forcefully defend their beliefs even when outnumbered.

CHRISTOPHER BRAY, YOUNG CONSERVATIVE: I think seeing someone that was willing to stand up to huge crowds at liberal schools was really powerful.

Going to a liberal arts college in New York City in Manhattan, of all places, it can be very difficult to, like, navigate what you can and can't

talk about.

LEONARD: It was just this place where I felt like I could be free and some of some of my closest friends in my life I met at these events.

REEVE: It's hard to escape, especially in alternative media, the members of the MAGA movement, who are now talking about war --

ALEX JONES, INFOWARS HOST: We're in a war.

REEVE: Good versus evil, and an American tipping point.

TRUMP: This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing.

STEVE BANNON, PODCAST HOST: Charlie Kirk's a casualty of war. We're at war in this country.

CAMPBELL: Look, there is political violence on both sides and political violence on both sides is equally reprehensible.

MCCROSSEN: I think people are going to become a lot more radical. I think that goes without saying. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, you

could determine. But people are -- people are upset.

[15:55:01]

REEVE: These young conservatives saw Kirk as a moderate and are unsettled that someone with his views would be killed.

LUCIAN WINTRICH, NEW YORK YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLUB: For somebody who I personally consider kind of a normie conservative to be murdered, to be

assassinated, for those views -- yeah. We're all struggling to process it.

CAMPBELL: The next person who starts to take his place is going to be much more far right, because in order to do that, you have to almost be willing

to die for your opinions.

I think that is, in a way, beautiful. It's very, you know, it's -- it's a martyrdom, right? Which is beautiful to die for your beliefs.

REEVE: Elle Reeve, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: And that is it for us here on WHAT WE KNOW. I'm Christina Macfarlane.

Stay tuned. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is up next.

END

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