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What We Know with Max Foster

Trump: "If We Have To, We'll Attack On Land"; Hegseth: "Moved Onto Next Meeting" Before Sep. 2 Second Strike; U.S. Envoys Witkoff & Kushner Meet With Putin In Moscow; Heavy Rains Kills 1,200-Plus People In Southeast Asia & Sri Lanka; Justice Department Expected To Seek New Indictment Against Comey; Pope Leo: U.S. Should "Find Another Way" To Handle Conflict. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired December 02, 2025 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:25]

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Land strikes coming soon from Donald Trump.

This is WHAT WE KNOW.

U.S. President Trump is doubling down once again, suggesting that land strikes are imminent in Venezuela in order to target people bringing

illegal drugs into the U.S.

During a cabinet meeting at the White House today, Mr. Trump defended U.S. attacks on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean, something that's brought

bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill and escalated tensions with Venezuela.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These people have killed over 200,000 people, actually killed over 200,000 people last year. And those

numbers are down. Those numbers are down, way down. And they're down because were doing these strikes and were going to start doing those

strikes on land, too. You know, the land is much easier. It's much easier.

And we know the routes they take. We know everything about them. We know where they live. We know where the bad ones live. And we're going to start

that very soon, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Chief U.S. national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny is with us from Washington.

I mean, it would be a big step in this crisis, wouldn't it?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: It would be extraordinary, Max. I mean, the question of whether there is even a support

among Republicans is very much an open one, but there certainly has not been broad based support in the White House, has done very little to try

and build support for any type of land strike on Venezuela. But that cabinet meeting, as you mentioned, which stretched on for more than two

hours or so, was very significant in the sense that the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, was sitting directly next to President Trump.

It would take some time, talk specifically about that very controversial strike back in September, the congressional leaders on both the Republican

and Democratic side are asking many questions about whether it was an illegal strike. Well, the defense secretary explained, the fog of war like

this

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: I did not personally see survivors, but I stand because the thing was on fire that was exploded and fire,

smoke. You can't see anything. You got digital. This is called the fog of war.

This is what you and the press don't understand. You sit in your air- conditioned offices or up on Capitol Hill, and you nitpick and you plant fake stories in "The Washington Post" about "kill everybody" phrases on

anonymous sources not based in anything, not based in any truth at all. And then you want to throw out really irresponsible terms about American

heroes, about the judgment that they made.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: So the first part of that, very interesting, talking about the fog of war, the matter at hand here, the question is who ordered the deadly

strike? And essentially the second strike back on September, that amazingly, the video showed that two people survived this major strike. And

then someone gave an order for the U.S. military to go back and do a second strike.

Well, the Pentagon, the defense secretary, has effectively blamed the commanders for that. He said they stand by the commander, they stand by the

admiral. But it was effectively his decision.

But that is a very controversial decision here. And again, Republicans as well as Democrats on Capitol Hill are going to be investigating exactly

what happened there, because it would be a war crime, most likely, if there was a second strike there. But the defense secretary trying to distance

himself from that for the first time, saying it was the order of a commander.

Well, that is very much an open question there. And, of course, he went on to a familiar rant against the media.

But, Max, the bottom line here is the whole of Venezuela crisis that the president has largely made on his own. He's still a threatening a -- some

type of a land strike. There are more and more questions on Capitol Hill, again from Republicans as well. What this administration is actually doing

there -- Max.

FOSTER: Jeff, thank you.

As Jeff was saying, President Trump says neither he nor the Defense Secretary Hegseth knew about a second strike on a suspected drug vessel in

the Caribbean. This as the White House continues to face scrutiny over that deadly follow up strike on an alleged drug boat in September.

Now, during today's cabinet meeting, the president added that Hegseth was satisfied with the strike but didn't know about a second attack having to

do with two people.

Sources tell CNN an initial attack left a number of survivors clinging to the wreckage until they were apparently killed in that second strike. Some

lawmakers called that a war crime. A Pentagon spokesman says an admiral made the decision to strike, adding that Hegseth, in his words, 100 percent

agrees with it.

[15:05:05]

During today's cabinet meeting at the White House, Secretary Hegseth said that whilst he saw the first strike happen live, he wasn't present for the

follow up attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HEGSETH: I watched that first strike live. As you can imagine, at the Department of War, we got a lot of things to do, so I didn't stick around

for the hour and two hours, whatever, where all the sensitive site exploitation digitally occurs. So, I moved on to my next meeting.

A couple of hours later, I learned that that commander had made the which he had the complete authority to do. And by the way, Admiral Bradley made

the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat. He sunk the boat, sunk the boat, and eliminated the threat.

And he was the right call. We have his back and the American people are safer because narco terrorists know you cant bring drugs through the water.

And eventually on land if necessary, to the American people. We will eliminate that threat and we're proud to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Let's bring in national security correspondent Natasha Bertrand.

I mean, it was a very long meeting, wasn't it? I watched most of it, but you come away from it getting a sense that both the president and the

defense secretary are trying to distance themselves from the actual decision while supporting it.

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: It's a very different story than the one Pete Hegseth was telling just one day after

that strike on fox news, when he said that he was there for the entire operation, he said that he watched the whole thing live.

Well, now he's saying that he actually did not watch the entire thing, that he was there just for the beginning of it. He did not see any survivors,

and he ultimately left to go to another meeting. So, clearly, there is an attempt here to distance the secretary -- to distance President Trump from

the decision that was made by Admiral Bradley, who at the time was the JSOC commander, Joint Special Operations Commander, who was in charge of that

particular mission.

Now, the question is going to be, what does Admiral Bradley end up saying about the sequence of events here? And we are told that he is actually

going to be meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill as soon as Thursday to discuss what exactly went on here. But I think that it is notable, of

course, that Secretary Hegseth is saying that he has Admiral Bradley's back. Not necessarily that he is questioning anything that he did. So even

though he is trying to distance himself from this, obviously he still tacitly approved of it. He said that he was briefed about it several hours

later.

And of course, that's significant because there are real questions here about whether it violated the law of armed conflict. Now, legal experts

will say that regardless of this particular second strike, this double tap, this entire military campaign around Latin America is not legal. It amounts

to extrajudicial killings because the U.S. isn't actually at war with drug cartels in the traditional sense. They have not received an authorization

for the use of military force from Congress, for example.

And so, viewed within that lens, then the entire campaign is not legal. But the Trump administration is saying, look, we are operating here as if we

are at war. And Admiral Bradley made the decision to strike survivors because he believed that they posed an ongoing threat to the United States

and potentially could have somehow radioed for help, could have, you know, gotten the drugs to the United States somehow. There's going to be a lot of

explanations given for why they treated this particular strike differently than they have treated others where there were survivors, because, of

course, just a few weeks later, the U.S. struck another boat. There were survivors, and they decided to repatriate them after rescuing them.

So why was this strike different? That's something that Admiral Bradley is going to have to account for to lawmakers this week, and something that,

you know, Secretary Hegseth will likely have to answer for as well.

FOSTER: Yeah, we'll be very interested to hear his story. Natasha, thank you.

Meanwhile, the Afghan man accused of shooting two U.S. national guard members last week has pleaded not guilty. The suspect seen here made his

first court appearance today virtually from his hospital bed. He faces murder and assault charges after allegedly shooting two West Virginia

national guard members just blocks away from the White House last Wednesday. One of the victims, Sarah Beckstrom, died from her injuries a

day later. The other service member, Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition.

We are watching a fascinating contrast in statements and images from Vladimir Putin today. On the one hand, he's right now engaged in talks at

the Kremlin with two of Donald Trump's top envoys. They're hoping to find a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine.

Despite that, just prior to going into that meeting, Mr. Putin blasted European leaders who he accused of prolonging the war. He said that if

Europe wants a fight with Russia, it's a fight that they would lose.

Let's get the latest from Washington as CNN's U.S. national -- U.S. security correspondent Kylie Atwood.

[15:05:00]

We haven't got anything out of that meeting yet, but it's as if Putin was teeing it up, suggesting that he couldn't agree to this new deal because

they've given too much to the Europeans. The Europeans are saying the opposite.

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I mean, he was definitely not giving an indication that he was heading into this meeting

in the headspace of wanting to clinch a deal, wanting to agree to what was going to be put on the table for him, which was the result of the last

meeting that U.S. officials had with Ukrainian officials here in the U.S. over the weekend. But obviously, President Putin has consistently tried to

drive a wedge between the U.S. and the Ukrainians and the Europeans. And he is seemingly still doing that with these comments.

But at the same time, it does not appear that the Russians themselves are based on the commentary going into these meetings in a place where they are

really ready to maneuver their hard lines. We heard from the Kremlin earlier today saying that the root causes of this conflict need to be

addressed in any peace plan, effectively, that, you know, NATO could not expand any further if there's going to be a plan that's agreed to, that

would be obviously a hard line of rejection for European countries.

We'll watch and see what comes out of this. But when you do talk to European and NATO officials, they say there's no indication at this point

that Russia is in a space where it wants to come to an agreement. You know, based on intelligence collections and their actions, of course, on the

battlefield.

So we'll have to see if there is any different indication that Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy who has met with Russians

consistently over the last eight to 10 months here, and Jared Kushner, who is the president's son-in-law, who is now newly injected into these

conversations, what they come across with being, you know, the bottom line, the negotiating position of President Putin right here and whether they can

close the gap with the Ukrainians. And, of course, the input from the Europeans here.

We heard from President Zelenskyy today that he is expecting to meet with U.S. officials following this meeting that they are having with President

Putin. So, we'll watch and see what comes out of that. But this is obviously at a very intense moment, given they have gotten further than

they have in the past. There's been, you know, the trading back and forth of these point plans between the two sides. And so, now, we'll have to

watch and see what that Russian reaction looks like. And if they feel like there is movement here to move forward.

FOSTER: U.S. security correspondent Kylie Atwood, appreciate that. Thank you so much.

Now in Asia, devastating storms have left more than 1,200 people dead, whilst hundreds are still missing and tens of thousands have been forced

out of their homes. Cyclone Senyar brought untold destruction to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand with a week of heavy rain, leaving entire communities

cut off and hampering rescue efforts.

In Indonesia, landslides and flooding killed more than 600 people. Southern Thailand has reported nearly 200 deaths, and in a separate storm in Sri

Lanka, the death toll from floods and landslides has reached at least 410.

Mike Valerio has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Across flood ravaged Sri Lanka, the military called in to airlift fuel for families cut off from the

rest of the country by Cyclone Ditwah. Social media video from Sri Lanka's air force showing a child rescued, pulled up to safety as neighboring India

and Pakistan also send an aircraft to help.

In Indonesia's West Sumatra, signs of Cyclone Senyar human toll are everywhere. Orange body bags carried by rescue and recovery teams. This man

lost both his mother and mother-in-law, saying they were sick and could not walk.

MUHAMMAD RAIS, PALEMBAYAN RESIDENT (through translator): This building used to be my house. This was a mosque and that was my parents' house. Our rice

mill, my younger brother's house and my in-laws.

VALERIO (voice-over): This is a before view of Songkhla province in Thailand from October. And this is a view from Sunday. A snapshot of West

Sumatra from the summer and one from over the weekend.

Sri Lanka's president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, emphasizing the scale of the catastrophe.

ANURA KUMARA DISSANAYAKE, SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT (through translator): As a country, we are facing the largest and most challenging natural disaster in

our history. We also recognize that what we are undertaking is the most difficult rescue operation in our nation's history.

VALERIO (voice-over): In Sri Lanka, more than 24,000 police, army and air force personnel are still trying to reach families stranded by floods,

authorities said.

SUNETHRA PRIYADARSHINI, GARMENT FACTORY WORKER (through translator): In the night, things were normal. By the next morning, everything was under water,

including our house. Seven of us, including children, took refuge on the top floor. There are another 15 adults still there. Their houses are

completely underwater.

[15:15:02]

VALERIO (voice-over): Back in Indonesia, mud in some areas seen coming up to the top of doorframes. This woman says her child was the one who rescued

her, and the flood was as high as the attic. She's got no food from the government yet, only from relatives. All as hundreds remain missing across

the worst hit areas of Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Mike Valerio, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: The U.S. Justice Department could present a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey to a grand jury as soon as this week. The

previous case against Comey was dismissed last week after a judge found an interim attorney didn't have the authority to prosecute him. FBI Director

Kash Patel has said multiple responses could come right after Thanksgiving, but CNN has learned that a lawsuit by Comey's former lawyer could disrupt

the Justice Department's plans.

That's reporting from CNN's Katelyn Polantz. And she joins us now from Washington.

What's going to happen next, Katelyn?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Max, I wish I could tell you there's a lot bubbling under the surface right now that were

watching closely. We're learning from sources, and were seeing in court documents, but we don't exactly know what's next for the situation of Jim

Comey and the indictment that Donald Trump has so badly wanted against him, because they have been political foes since Comey was the FBI director

during Trump's first term.

From our sources, we were learning yesterday that the Justice Department, they want to re-indict Comey. The case was dismissed because Lindsey

Halligan, the prosecutor in northern Virginia, had taken it through a grand jury herself. And a judge said she didn't have the authority to do that.

She wasn't the U.S. attorney at that time. So, she couldn't have gotten that indictment. It's void.

Now, we do believe that the justice department is preparing for another try with the grand jury, likely not with Halligan herself alone in the grand

jury room. But another try as quickly as this week to get a case off the ground, maybe even the same case or a similar case against Jim Comey.

There's other things at work here, too, though, Max. The Justice Department has said that they wanted to appeal that ruling about Halligan, that we

haven't seen an appeal yet. They've got 30 days until about Christmas day to file something there and then separately on the Comey and others side of

things.

His former lawyer, Dan Richmond, a witness in this case, theoretically, that the Justice Department wants to bring against Comey. Richmond had

documents seized from him, communications seized from him many years ago, and he's now going to court trying to get a court to step in and tell the

Justice Department they can't use any of that evidence from his searches years ago in any new case, including one that they may want to try to bring

against Jim Comey.

So, a lot at play, we haven't had anything that would cut out the Justice Department's ability to bring a case against Comey, or at least try with a

grand jury again. But this Richmond lawsuit, it is something that could put on the table some difficulties for the Justice Department and really put

them on the spot on how they've handled evidence around this high profile criminal investigation of Jim Comey, a pursuit that has lasted many, many

years resulted in the short lived criminal case that was just dismissed against him last week -- Max.

FOSTER: Katelyn, appreciate it. Thank you so much.

U.S. singer Sabrina Carpenter has strongly criticized the White House for posting a video using one of her songs. The video showed a montage of

immigration agents arresting people. It featured Carpenter's 2024 song "Juno". The pop star replied on social media to the White House post,

saying this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.

Her reply has been reposted more than 66,000 times.

The White House has responded, referencing Sabrina Carpenter's album title. A spokesperson said here's a short message for Sabrina Carpenter. We won't

apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters

must be stupid, or is it slow?"

Still to come tonight, the U.S. has pardoned the former president of Honduras. We'll tell you what the current ruling party says about that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:22:25]

FOSTER: Volodymyr Zelenskyy says there's a better chance now than ever to end Russia's war with Ukraine. The Ukrainian president said justice must

prevail as he met with the Irish prime minister in Dublin. Mr. Zelenskyy told the Irish parliament that Ukraine needed help to make peace a reality.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: We need real peace, help us achieve it and never lose your faith in Ukraine. Thank you, thank you,

Ireland. Glory to Ukraine. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Well, back in Ukraine, the toll of Russian strikes continues to hit ordinary people.

Nick Paton Walsh has more on how drones and blackouts have become a brutal fact of life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Across Ukraine, these rolling phased, deliberate blackouts just striking here, a

result of them experiencing constant Russian bombardment on their energy infrastructure and just trying to conserve energy. But the impact here is

just daily life grinds to a halt.

And in this particular block here, there was the impact of a strike just recently in which a young boy, a 10-year-old Mykola, was dramatically

rescued.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a person here! Water, give me water! Move away, move away!

yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire extinguisher.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pour it on his head!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Child!

WALSH: His father, though, killed by the drone strike. And even here, locals are still arguing about whether this was a purposeful strike itself,

or indeed, a drone that was intercepted. But the damage kind of remarkable.

And so, across Ukraine, these nightly barrages, definitely playing on the psyche of ordinary Ukrainians when it comes to these diplomatic

negotiations happening in rooms hundreds of miles away, often between people who may never have been to war-torn Ukraine, nowhere more urgently

wanting that peace than places like this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Nick Paton Walsh reporting for us there.

Still to come, a $6 billion donation. Why one of the richest couples in the world have made a huge pledge to the Trump administration.

[15:25:04]

That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: While the United States ramps up the pressure on the Maduro regime in Venezuela, Pope Leo is urging U.S. officials to avoid a military

conflict with Caracas, calling on them to find another way to handle the escalating tensions between the two countries.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE LEO XIV, CATHOLIC CHURCH: It seems there is the possibility that there be some activity even in operation to invade Venezuelan territory. I truly

believe that it is better to look for ways of dialogue, maybe pressure, including economic pressure, but looking another way to change if that is

what they want to do in the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Stefano Pozzebon joining us from Caracas.

I mean, that's going to be welcome news, I guess, to Maduro. He's also got this pressure that Trump's under with this double strike.

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, indeed, Max. I think it's been a very good couple of days, frankly, for Nicolas Maduro. I say that with for

lack of better words, to be honest.

Maduro, yesterday was on center stage here in Caracas late on Monday evening, saying resorting back frankly to the same usual anti-U.S. rhetoric

we have heard in the past. And then today, he even got some better -- better pieces of news that I want to bring it to you.

But, first, let's hear directly from Maduro, what did he say yesterday.

NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): They have not taken us out with their psychological terrorism.

[15:30:00]

Not even one centimeter off the correct path. So, we will always continue walking. You understand me, right? Never. No matter the circumstances that

we have to go through, can they ever take us off the path of building the homeland that our people deserve.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POZZEBON: As I was saying there, a very good couple of days, we've seen Maduro's resorting back to the type of rhetoric that were very used to hear

from him, saying that he's unshakable. He's not bending down to the pressure that is coming from Washington. And at the same time, one news

that were tracking here directly from Caracas is that the Venezuelan government is telling us that they received an authorization request to

authorize two flights directly from the United States to deport migrants back here in Venezuela. You might recall that a couple of weeks ago, we

were able to film one of those operations.

And it's important to put into context that despite these rhetoric coming down from Washington and the potential for U.S. strikes on Venezuelan soil,

well, there is these flights for deporting migrants back to their home country have never stopped. And it looks like that not even Trump's own

order to consider the airspace over Venezuela to be considered closed will stop these flights.

Of course, the Maduro government, all too happy to point out the contradictions, Max, between the order on Saturday from Donald Trump saying

that all airmen and narcotraffickers alike should stay away from the skies over Venezuela, and then on the following Monday, an authorization request

to for flights to come here directly. These are flights operated by ICE, by the way. So, these are directly run by a U.S. government agencies.

That authorization request was of course, promptly granted by Maduro's government. We will have two more flights this week. One today -- one

tomorrow sorry, Wednesday, and one by the end of the week on Friday, which once again gives us the impression that despite what Donald Trump has been

saying and by the way, just today, less than a couple of hours ago, he did say that the U.S. will start conducting strikes on Venezuelan land very,

very soon, and I'm quoting him.

Well, despite these announcements, we still have U.S. government planes coming down to Caracas, which suggests that perhaps that soon is not before

the end of this week. So Maduro, resorting back to his usual corner, standing up to the pressure from the White House and frankly, not moving an

inch, even though we are now aware that that call between the two leaders did take place sometime last month. And of course, that Donald Trump would

rather see Maduro leave office sooner rather than later -- Max.

FOSTER: Stefano, appreciate it. Thank you.

Now, it's the final moments of trade on Wall Street. Stocks have rebounded slightly today. The Dow Jones edging higher with investors becoming more

confident. The U.S. fed will cut rates this month.

This is our business breakout.

Costco is suing the U.S. government to make sure it gets a refund if Donald Trump's tariffs get overturned by the Supreme Court. The U.S. supermarket

filed a complaint on Friday. It's one of several companies who could be in line to be refunded if the Supreme Court rules against Mr. Trump's tariff

regime.

The Bank of England governor is warning that investors could be overvaluing artificial intelligence. Speaking to CNN's Richard Quest, Andrew Bailey

said that stock markets in the United States might be getting carried away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW BAILEY, BANK OF ENGLAND GOVERNOR: I mean, we are seeing stretched valuations in some equity markets, particularly A.I. related companies,

particularly in the U.S. markets. Now, I would say, look, I think it's important to put this into perspective. I think and hope that A.I. is going

to be the next sort of, in a sense, source of what I call sort of dial moving productivity growth for all of us because we need it. And that's

what really drives living standards. But, of course, it is -- it is quite possible that market -- markets have to value this future stream of

returns, and they could overvalue it clearly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: You can see more of that interview next hour on "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS".

Now, Michael Dell, the billionaire founder of Dell Computers, is donating more than $6 billion with his wife to fund a new investment account for

American kids. The Dell Foundation will donate $250 to at least 25 million children as part of a new Trump account program launched by the White

House.

The so-called Trump accounts for U.S. children will be launched next year. The government will fund a $1,000 investment for all U.S. children born

between the start of 2025 and the end of 2028. The money will be invested in low cost, diversified U.S. stock index funds or similar accounts, and

family members can contribute up to a further $5,000 a year and no withdrawals can be made until the child is 18.

The Dell's donation will fund a smaller investment for children under the age of 10 not already eligible for that -- for that scheme.

[15:35:02]

Well, a few minutes ago, Mr. Trump said he hoped these accounts would help create a new generation of success stories like Michael Dell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Trump accounts will be the first. I guess you could say real trust funds for every American child,

allowing family members, employers, corporations, generous donors to contribute money that will be invested and grow over the course of a

child's life, to be used for their benefit after they turn 18.

So, in other words, these are children that are going to an investment is going to be made, that investment is going to continue to grow. We hope,

right? We hope. And but it will -- and they'll be -- they'll feel like -- they'll feel like Michael Dell someday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: What we don't know is will Trump accounts turn into a good investment for American children?

Joining me now is Sarah Pierce, managing editor of hermoney.com.

Thank you so much for joining us. We've got a similar scheme in the U.K., haven't we? And it's generally been seen as a success because the markets

have been going up.

But, you know, once you've got that initial $1,000, you need the money to top it up as well to make it really worthwhile to pay for college or

something. I guess.

SARAH PIERCE, MANAGING EDITOR, HERMONEY.COM: Certainly, yes. These accounts, as you mentioned, tax advantaged investment accounts, these were

established via the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law earlier this year. And any child under the age of 18 will be able to open

one of these accounts. The key is only children who were born from 2025 to 2028 will be able to take advantage of the $1,000 in seed funding.

There was the bit of good news today with the Dell family and their foundation and their major donation, which will help even more children 10

and under, I believe, be able to reap the benefits of a $250 investment. But the key is to be able to continue to invest in this account to make it

worthwhile for -- in the long term, for these children.

FOSTER: How does it work in terms of tax?

PIERCE: So, with these accounts, the earnings will grow tax deferred. And when they -- depending on whether the initial investment -- I know the

parents are able to make contributions after tax. And then there's also a variety of different mechanisms where these, these funds can be funded,

whether that's through the business, local government. So different tax treatment depending on how the accounts are funded when the funds are

eventually withdrawn after a child turns 18.

So, when the child turns 18, they'll be able to use these funds, whether that's to start a business, to buy a house for educational purposes, or

they can leave those funds invested. So again, they can grow tax deferred for the long term and fund their retirement.

FOSTER: I mean, it's a really positive thing, isn't it? Actually, if it's affordable for the government to do because, you know, $1,000 could turn

into, you know, tens of thousands potentially, couldn't it?

But it does. You know, there is a, you know, a cost to this, which is we just don't know which way the markets are going to go over that period of

time. And we've had a really good run, haven't we, over the last couple of decades.

PIERCE: Sure, definitely. I think one of the other big factors that this hinges on as well is, as you probably heard in the press conference that

took place a little bit ago, is will there be other large corporations or philanthropists following suit, following in the steps of the Dell family

to help further fund these accounts? That obviously would be a big benefit. And then obviously as well, if families are in a position to continue to

contribute to these accounts.

FOSTER: Okay. Sarah Pierce, really appreciate you bringing in the detail on that. Thank you for joining us.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:42:06]

FOSTER: Gaza has faded from the headlines a bit after the ceasefire, but the death toll is still rising as Israel continues sporadic attacks. The

IDF says one recent strike killed two suspects who were conducting suspicious activities and posed an immediate threat.

But as Jeremy Diamond reports, those subjects were young boys, brothers sent to collect firewood. We warn you, some images you'll find disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tamar Abu Asi (ph) cries out to God as he clings to two body bags. They carry the remains

of his sons, Juma (ph) and Fadi (ph), who were just 10 and eight years old. They were killed in an Israeli drone strike this weekend.

The wheelchair-bound father says they had gone out to gather firewood.

"Not long after, I saw people suddenly running and after a short while they told me the little children had been targeted," he said, "that the Israelis

had struck right where they were."

The boys were rushed to the hospital, where Tamar learned that the children who had been killed were his sons.

"I looked at my son, Juju, and there was almost nothing left of him. His head was gone, only the skin was there. May God have mercy on his soul."

Juma and Fadi are among more than 350 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli military since the start of the ceasefire, according to the

Palestinian Health Ministry, which says more than 70,000 people have now been killed since the war began in 2023.

The Israeli military said it killed two, quote, suspects after they crossed the yellow line, which marks the beginning of Israeli controlled territory

in Gaza, claiming they posed a threat to Israeli forces. While Israel has deployed some yellow concrete blocks to mark that line, it remains

invisible in many parts of Gaza. We visited an Israeli military position near that yellow line last month.

DIAMOND: We asked where exactly that yellow line is, and I was just told that its slightly beyond some of those few remaining buildings that are

still standing there, but it's almost impossible for us to distinguish exactly where that yellow line is. And we know that it's also the case for

the Palestinians on the ground.

DIAMOND (voice-over): A dangerously confusing reality that turned deadly for two boys now mourned by their families, and a mother who wishes she

could turn back time.

"I told them to go collect firewood for their father so he could sell it and go to the doctor. And then, in the blink of an eye," she says, "they

were gone."

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:47:18]

FOSTER: Pope Leo has wrapped up his first overseas trip as leader of the world's Roman Catholics, with a message of hope for Beirut.

Today, he visited the site of one of Lebanon's worst ever disasters, offering prayers for victims of a massive explosion at Beirut's port five -

- the port five years ago. Now, Pope Leo said he shares the pain of so many families affected by the blast, as well as their thirst for truth and

justice.

Our Ben Wedeman is in Beirut with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Beirut's port, Pope Leo tries to comfort the relatives of those killed five

years ago in the massive blast there on the 4th of August, 2020, that killed more than 240 people.

The push for accountability for the blast has gone nowhere. Pope Leo's trip to Lebanon has been crammed with events and meetings. Everywhere he went,

the reception was emotional. His visit culminated with a mass, attended by tens of thousands on Beirut's waterfront.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He gave us hope. And what we need the most now in Lebanon is hope.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Always. We always hope, always. That's why we still are standing up.

WEDEMAN (voice-over): Ten-year old Alex Ferali (ph) gave Leo a glowing review.

ALEX FERALI (PH), 10-YEAR-OLD DEVOTEE: I think he's a very nice pope.

WEDEMAN (voice-over): This was the pope's first ever trip to Lebanon, which brought him face-to-face with a people who have endured so much in recent

years. Welcome words to a war-weary people and a Christian community that often feels forgotten by the rest of the world, and a country wracked by

dread of what may come to pass.

"The Lebanese today are waiting for what happens after the pope leaves," says Jean-Paul Samaha (ph).

"We're afraid of another war of clashes. We live in an unstable country."

Tensions continue to mount after almost daily Israeli strikes on what Israel claims are Hezbollah members and infrastructure. The one-year-old

ceasefire is fraying.

WEDEMAN: For three days, this country, Muslims as well as Christians, were mesmerized by this visit. It was an opportunity to put their troubles

aside, however briefly, and perhaps hope for a better tomorrow.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Beirut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Dozens of Venezuelans, including children, have been stranded at the airport in Madrid for days now after flights connecting Spain with

Venezuela were suspended.

[15:50:04]

CNN's Pau Mosquera visited the airport and filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAU MOSQUERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These blankets and suitcases have been their only companion for days. We are talking about the dozens, dozens of

Venezuelan passengers that have been stranded here at Madrid's airport terminal one. They have not been able to embark on their airplanes back to

Caracas because of the different recommendations, both from the European Union and Spanish aviation security agencies that have recommended the

airlines not to cover this distance because the increased military activity on the Caribbean. And that's why many of them, they told us, have been

sleeping on the floor of this terminal during this.

Now, this Tuesday, a little group of them went to the Venezuelan embassy in the Spanish capital to try to negotiate with the authorities a solution.

And that's what they got.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They gave us the option, well, to organize a list with all the Venezuelans who are stranded here in Madrid

and nearby areas. There are about 80 of us, and maybe more, because people keep joining. Basically, we are not going to be able to enter Venezuela

because, well, there are some sensitive issues there.

MOSQUERA: After receiving the good news, many have celebrated the opportunity to get that back to their homes, even if it's with an

alternative route. And it is important because many of them, they told us, have been waiting here for days.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I've been here at the airport for a week. I've been waiting since the 24th. I'm with a three year three-year-

old baby and another one who is seven. We've slept here on the floor. The airport gave us a space.

The Red Cross has come. They've offered us hotels, but not all of us can go to the hotel. We have to take turns because of the luggage. There's a lot

of luggage and we're moving it every day. They give us a room for one night.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): My flight was scheduled for last week. Wednesday. We have been here during all these days. I, for example,

have some very good Spanish friends who have helped me, but out of 10 people, I am just one. The others have had to deal with all the problems of

cleaning sick children and the discomfort here.

MOSQUERA: Even the Venezuelan embassy in Spain has committed to take them back home. They still don't know when they will be able to embark on these

airplanes in bounded for Colombia or any other country bordering Venezuela. But they expect, or at least they hope, that this can happen this Wednesday

or then on Thursday.

Pau Mosquera, CNN, Madrid.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Luigi Mangione back in court today for a pretrial hearing. He's accused of gunning down Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in

Manhattan last year. His lawyers are trying to get some key evidence thrown out, arguing it was obtained illegally. The first day of the hearing

revealed new details about the days before police detained Mangione, including the 911 call that led directly to his arrest.

CNN's Kara Scannell has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the first time yesterday, we heard that 911 call, and it's not a formally entered into evidence and available

to the public, or else we would play it for you. But on that call, we did hear the manager at the McDonald's speak to 911 dispatcher in a very calm

voice, saying, "I have a customer here that some other customers were suspicious of and he looks like the CEO shooter from New York." She

described what he was wearing, saying that he had a medical mask on.

And so, the only thing she could really see of his was his eyebrows. So that was the first time that evidence came in. We also saw for the first

time, the full video of the shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, as well as the surveillance video inside that McDonald's.

When the police first arrived on scene, approached Mangione, who was sitting at a corner table in the back.

And there's no audio, but we could see that that crowd of officers grew from two to more than eight before he was arrested and taken into custody.

We also heard testimony from two corrections officers who were on what's called constant watch, watching Mangione when he was held at the state

prison in Pennsylvania.

And they discussed, they said they had some discussions with Mangione, and they told the judge what Mangione said to them. One of the officers said

Mangione was talking to him about his travels in Southeast Asia. He said they also discussed the difference between private health care and a

nationalized health care system.

A different officer was on the stand and he said that Mangione volunteered to him that he had in his backpack a 3D printed gun, a magazine of

ammunition, as well as other items. And so that is evidence that Mangione lawyers want to keep out of this case. They don't want a jury to hear that.

So, we will hear from additional witnesses today. They're not previewing who they're calling, but we have yet to hear from the police officer who

initially spoke to Mangione, which is a question there. Did he read him his Miranda rights? And also, the officer who searched the backpack in the

McDonald's?

[15:55:01]

Those two officers have not yet been called. We're hearing that the prosecutors could call as many as two dozen witnesses. We heard from five

yesterday. So, we're expecting a number of witnesses on the stand today as all of these details will continue to come out, and we'll learn a little

bit more about what those early moments were when Mangione was first approached and then taken into custody.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Kara Scannell there.

Finally, tonight, the magic of Christmas isn't limited to humans, at least not in London. The London Zoo is making sure to include its penguin

residents in the holiday fun. Zookeepers hosted their flippered friends Penguin beach. They received fish treats from a special advent calendar.

It's part of the zoo's magic of Christmas event, which runs through January the 4th.

These are Humboldt penguins. If you're wondering, they are classified as vulnerable and native to Chile and Peru.

I'm Max Foster. That's WHAT WE KNOW.

Stay with CNN. More after the break.

END

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