Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Manhunt Intensifies for Suspect in Deadly Montana Bar Shooting; Speaker Johnson Meets With Israeli Cabinet Members, Visits West Bank; Officials Say Red Cross Would Need Ceasefire to Deliver Aid to Hostages; Gen Z Flocks to Rome for Pope and Youth Jubilee; Elon Musk Awarded $29 Billion Pay Package From Tesla. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired August 04, 2025 - 13:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:31:25]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Right now, officials in Western Montana are combing through parts of a national forest in their search for an Army veteran accused of shooting and killing four people. State officials say 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown stole a vehicle loaded with camping gear after Friday's attack at the Owl Bar where he was a regular. Investigators are now offering a $7,500 reward for information that leads to his arrest. CNN Correspondent Julia Vargas Jones has been following this story for us. And Julia, Brown's family spoke to CNN about some of his mental health struggles.

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They did, Boris. His niece, Clare Boyle, told CNN that her uncle was very sick and that he just wasn't the same after his service in the Army. She said it got even worse after the passing of his parents and that the family had been trying to get him help, but that just wasn't enough. Now, Brown is a U.S. veteran and he was part of an armored vehicle crew from 2001 to 2005. And then he spent most of his last year in the Army, deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005, and later he joined the Montana National Guard 2006 to 2009, and he left the service as a sergeant.

Now, his niece also expressed, Boris, remorse and heartbreak for the victim's families. Those victims have now been identified as 59-year- old Daniel Edwin Baillie, 70-year-old David Allen Leach, 74-year-old Tony Wayne Palm, and 64-year-old Nancy Lauretta Kelley. Kelly was an accomplished nurse who worked with cancer patients and she had just started bartending at the Owl Bar in her retirement, Boris.

SANCHEZ: And at Sunday's press conference, the Attorney General of Montana said that officials are concerned that Brown may return to the town where the attack happened, Julia, why?

VARGAS JONES: Well, they called him an unstable individual and that anything could be expected. Now, they have expanded the search area. They've locked down not just parts of Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest that's in Western Montana, but also areas around Stumptown Road, north of Barker Lake. This is a heavily wooded area that really presents its own kinds of challenges in that search perimeter. A resident familiar with the area told CNN, there's just a thousand different places to hide, but authorities say every cabin, every hunting site that is known up there will be searched by those local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI, who are working on land and on air to find Brown.

He was last seen in West SantaCon. In that photo that we're seeing, that security footage of him fleeing the Owl Bar just after that shooting. He's barefoot and wearing just these dark shorts. But authority believes that that changed quite quickly. The vehicle he stole had clothes and shoes in, and he is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Julia Vargas Jones, thank you so much for the reporting. Up next, House Speaker Mike Johnson is in Israel this hour as ceasefire talks stall and starvation deaths in Gaza spike. We have a live report from the region when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:39:03]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": House Speaker Mike Johnson is in Israel with a delegation of House Republicans. Johnson stopped at the Western Wall in Jerusalem and visited an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. The group also met with Israel's foreign and defense ministers, the visit happening as Israel asked the International Red Cross to deliver food and aid to hostages after the release of disturbing propaganda videos showing two emaciated Israeli captives.

But the Red Cross tells CNN it would need a ceasefire in Gaza to deliver that aid to the Israeli hostages. This is coming amid a backdrop of widespread starvation across the enclave, especially among Palestinian children who are especially susceptible. CNN's Matthew Chance is with us now from Tel Aviv. Matthew, bring us up to speed on where things stand.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Well, in terms of that, those hostage videos that have been released of two of the surviving hostages from Gaza, that's really sort of shocked and horrified the entire country because the individual in the videos, which have been cleared for broadcast by the respective families, by the way, we've not done it without their permission.

[13:40:17]

They look absolutely appalling. They're emaciated, skinny. They look like they're in really bad health. The environment one of them is in is in a very dark, sort of cramped tunnel, obviously, deep underground in Gaza. And the other one is sort of raving with agony on the floor of his makeshift jail. And remember, these people have been in -- have been held since October 7th, 2023. They've been in these appalling situations, and so there's immense pressure now on the Israeli government to do something.

The families of the hostages, seeing these videos, strongly believe that time is running out very quickly for them to get back alive. It's putting massive pressure on Netanyahu to act. Now, whether that means strike a deal with Hamas, which is what many of the hostage families want him, to do to get the hostages out as soon as possible, or double down on the military operation in Gaza, which is what many in Benjamin Netanyahu's right wing, the right wing of his coalition, want to see happen.

Well, that's a decision that has not been made yet by the prime minister and by his cabinet. But we understand that discussions are already underway to decide which way to go. And so yes, a very febrile atmosphere in Israel right now with those horrifying videos that have emerged out of Gaza. Brianna?

KEILAR: Yeah, they certainly are. Matthew Chance, thank you. Boris?

SANCHEZ: Pope Leo XIV celebrated with thousands of young followers during what's being called the Catholic Woodstock. CNN's Christopher Lamb followed the huge gathering in Rome that drew teens and young adults from around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A rockstar's welcome for Pope Leo, greeting an endless sea of crowds from every corner of the globe at a mega youth gathering in Rome. The first American pontiff facing a big test whether he can inspire the church's future generation.

LAMB: Pope Leo has arrived on the main stage at Tor Vergata. People are giving him a rapturous welcome, cheering.

LAMB (voice-over): Leo both embracing the young people's enthusiasm, but also ensuring moments of quiet contemplation, talking directly to them.

POPE LEO XIV, SOVEREIGN OF VATICAN CITY STATE: Dear young people, Jesus is the friend who always accompanies us in the formation of our conscience, seek justice in order to build a more humane world.

(CROWD CHEERING)

LAMB (voice-over): For the young pilgrims, it's been a week-long jamboree of music and fellowship in a festival atmosphere. And the excitement was contagious even for the Cardinals. The Vatican says people from 146 countries flocked to the eternal city from as far as South Korea, where the next big youth meeting will take place.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wanted to meet a lot of people from around the world who believes in the same religion as me and do prayers together. The religion brings people together.

LAMB (voice-over): And some came from New Mexico, one of the frontline states of U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. They want the Pope to stand with immigrants.

DAMIAN HERNANDEZ, U.S. PILGRIM: I think that's very important for him to welcome many new people from many new countries, many new places, where they can come and experience it all.

LAMB: Particularly given what's happening?

HERNANDEZ: Oh yes, particularly from what's happening in the United States with the deportations and all of that.

LAMB (voice-over): But connecting with young people today means the church must reach beyond the pews, with some research showing are Gen Z interested in Catholicism. Theology student, Nicolo Camporiondo says his mission is to help make faith more visible online.

NICOLO CAMPORIONDO, CATHOLIC INFLUENCER (through translator): It is important to me because young people of my age need to not feel alone. And so the videos I make on social media encourage young people to not be ashamed of practicing their faith.

LAMB (voice-over): Many camping out under the stars at the site, so they could catch another glimpse of the Pope in the morning.

POPE LEO XIV: Good morning, Valencia (ph).

LAMB (voice-over): With more than a million turning out for Sunday mass with Leo, this was the largest event of his nearly three-month papacy.

POPE LEO XIV: God bless you all.

LAMB (voice-over): And his authenticity and quiet charisma helped him connect with the crowd. As they prepared to go home, Leo urged them to remember those suffering, stressing that the young pilgrims are a sign a different world is possible.

POPE LEO XIV: We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of Ukraine.

LAMB (voice-over): Leo chosen as pontiff at a turbulent time in history and while still adjusting to the limelight, seems to enjoy being Pope.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[13:45:00]

SANCHEZ: All right, thanks to Christopher for that report. Next, an update on the Sean "Diddy" Combs case. A woman previously known as Victim-3, is now urging a judge to release the music mogul. Hear why right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Now to some of the other headlines that we're watching this hour, the world's richest man just got richer. The Tesla board giving Elon Musk a new CEO pay package worth about $29 billion.

[13:50:00]

And it comes several months after a Delaware Court rejected the CEO's 2018 performance award for a second time, following a shareholder lawsuit. Musk is currently appealing that order. In a letter to shareholders today, Tesla said that Musk has not received meaningful compensation for eight years, and that its legal efforts continue to reinstate the 2018 package. Shares of Tesla have fallen 25 percent this year.

In the meantime, the Social Security Administration says it's working to make sure that beneficiaries are aware of the upcoming switch to mandatory direct deposits or debit cards for people who do not have bank accounts. The Treasury Department announced back in May that all federal payments, including Social Security benefits and tax refunds, will be made electronically starting September 30th in compliance with President Trump's executive order.

The changeover partly aimed at saving money, however exceptions will be made including for people in rural areas and those who are over the age of 90.

SANCHEZ: And the Trump Administration declaring victory after Kraft Heinz, Skittles and General Mills made splashy announcements about removing artificial colors from their lineup of products. But nutritionists and health researchers are pushing back against the hype, dubbing them cosmetic changes with no health impact. Advocates do credit HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for raising the issue of unhealthy foods, but say that focusing on synthetic dyes misses the larger problem of ultra-processed foods loaded with salt, sugar, and fat.

We have a new twist to tell you about in the case of Sean "Diddy" Combs. The court is hearing from an ex-girlfriend who was set to testify against the hip hop mogul, but mysteriously dropped out of the case just before the start of the trial. The woman, once known as Victim-3, is now suddenly re-emerging, asking the judge to release Combs on bail.

KEILAR: This is the latest attempt to secure Combs' release before his sentencing, after being found guilty last month on two of the lesser charges against him. We have CNN Entertainment Correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister following this latest development. Fill us in on this. This is pretty significant and surprising.

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: It absolutely is. Look, this trial is over, but this saga is far from over. Never a dull moment when it comes to the Sean Combs case. And as you said, this woman who was a former girlfriend of Sean Combs, she was supposed to be one of the government's main three victims to testify against him in the trial. And now, a month after the verdict is in, she is writing a letter for the defense in Sean Combs' favor.

So her name is Gina, as you said, this is the first time that she has publicly identified herself as Victim-3. About a week before the trial began, prosecutors had told the court that they had lost touch with her, that it was hard to get in touch with her and her attorney even though they had issued a subpoena on her. She was not called to testify. But now, we are hearing from her in a letter to the judge, she is asking for Sean Combs to be released on bail ahead of his October 3rd sentencing.

Let me read you a part of what Gina wrote. She says, "Our relationship, like many, was not always perfect. We experienced ups and downs and mistakes were made, but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future." She goes on to say, "To my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years and he has been committed to being a father. I am writing because I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or the community."

Now, I do want to note that this is shocking because back in 2019, Gina did an interview on YouTube where she came forward publicly with allegations of being physically assaulted by Sean Combs. She said that he punched her, that he stomped on her. And now she says, I do not believe that he's a danger to me or the community. Now, I do want to note this is not the same way that other alleged victims and witnesses in this case are feeling.

You may remember that Cassie Ventura, who was the government star witness in this trial, right after the verdict came in, she herself sent a letter to the judge saying that she does not believe that he should be released on bail. I want to read you a part of the letter that came from Cassie Ventura's attorney Douglas Wigdor. He said, "Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in the case, including herself, as well as to the community."

And I want to note she was not the only witness who testified in this trial who wrote a letter to the judge saying, I would fear for my safety if he were released ahead of sentencing. So, the judge has a lot to mull over here. Of course, the defense is pushing hard for him to be released on bail. In fact, aside from asking for him to be released on bail, the defense has even filed a motion last week, asking for the judge to fully acquit him or give him a new trial.

[13:55:00]

The judge has not come out with a ruling on that, so much more to come in the days ahead.

KEILAR: All right, we'll be watching. Elizabeth Wagmeister, thank you. And next, we're following a Texas-sized mess in the Lone Star state. Governor Greg Abbott telling Democratic lawmakers they have two hours to return to the capital or else. Why they fled and whether the governor can actually force them to return, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)