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CNN Reporters Test their Chemical Exposure and Get Dire Results; Sources: Gaza Deal is "Very Close" and Could be Reached in 48 Hours; Trump Calls for Jailing Chicago Mayor, Illinois Governor; TX National Guard Amass Near Chicago as Court Showdowns Await; Fmr. FBI Director Comey Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Charges; Arrest Made in Los Angeles' Deadly Palisades Fire; Dolly Parton Jokes "I Ain't Done Working" in Video After Fans Alarmed by Her Sister's Call for Prayers. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired October 08, 2025 - 15:00   ET

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

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: What do we pick up?

BJORN BEELER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL POLLUTANTS ELIMINATION NETWORK: Yes. I mean, you had a lot of chemical exposure, unfortunately.

WEIR: Really?

BEELER: Everything that we looked for, we found.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR (voice over): All of our samples included flame retardants and UV stabilizers, an alphabet soup of BPA, BPF, BPS and around two dozen chemical on each of our bands.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEELER: And then, the most important what I would say that everyone should know was called phthalates.

WEIR: Phthalates.

BEELER: Phthalates.

WEIR: It's spelled with a P-H ...

BEELER: It is the worst way to spell it. It's like an alphabetical mess. But phthalates are super important because when we first looked at them, they're everywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: Phthalates are what makes plastic movable and flexible. They're more regulated in Europe than Asia and Jessie's levels are a bit higher than Laura's. But it is so common globally, it's long been known as the "everywhere chemical." They're also endocrine disruptors which hack human hormones and cause problems from cradle to grave, from fertility and child behavior to depression, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEELER: The studies have shown about a hundred percent of Americans have phthalates in their body and it's so ubiquitous it's everywhere. If you look around your -- your room in your house, your clothes are made of plastics, your furniture's are made of plastics. Everything's getting turned into plastics.

But by 2060, like about 35 years from now, we're going to have four times more plastic on the planet than we have today.

WEIR: Wow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR (voice over): Bill Weir, CNN New York.

(End VT)

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: On the cusp of a deal: A deal when it comes to a ceasefire in Gaza said to be, quote, "very close," perhaps even coming in the next day or so. And we could get some more details from the President this hour.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Plus, a Shutdown Slowdown? Sickouts may be impacting air travel across the United States as more air traffic control staff call out sick. After one week, lawmakers are making no progress on reopening the government.

And whatever happened to Amelia Earhart? A new order from the White House looks to shed light on the disappearance of the iconic trailblazing pilot.

We're following these major developing stories and many more, all coming your way right here on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

HILL: We do begin this hour with the breaking news out of the Middle East. Sources telling CNN a Gaza ceasefire agreement is, quote, "very close." President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in- law Jared Kushner are taking part in the negotiations, which are underway, of course, in Egypt. And Israel's chief negotiator Ron Dermer has also now joined those indirect talks with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups, as efforts are intensifying here to finalize a deal based on President Trump's 20-point peace plan.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond is in Tel Aviv with a closer look. So, this is actually moving very quickly, Jeremy. What more do we know in terms of where things stand?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's exactly right. And notably, the optimism that we had heard beginning this past weekend has continued and frankly seems to be intensifying -- with sources now telling me and my colleague Tal Shalev that it appears that a deal could come together within the next 24 to 48 hours. This is according to two Israeli sources and one additional source familiar with the negotiations, all of whom are saying that things are going in the right direction in order for this deal to be closed and to be signed by the two parties by the end of this week.

One Israeli official even said that the Israeli government has started to work on a preliminary draft of the ceasefire resolution that would have to go before the Israeli cabinet in order to -- for this deal to be approved and move forward. That's because in order to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for those 48 hostages, that will require a cabinet vote by the Israeli government.

Of course, all of the usual caveats still very much apply. A deal is not final until everything has been agreed to. But again, the momentum is in -- going in the right direction. We've seen all the right signals of progress, not only from our sources, but also from what we're seeing on the ground.

Today, we saw the Qatari Prime Minister, we saw Jared Kushner, we saw Steve Witkoff, Ron Dermer -- all of them arriving in Sharm El-Sheikh in order to move these negotiations forward. And we had been told that their presence was another indication of the progress that has been made, and the fact that we are now in the final stretch of these negotiations.

And so tonight, for the first time in a very long time in the region, there is a lot of hope - both in Israel and in Gaza.

HILL: There's also, Jeremy, we're learning that Israel believes Hamas may not be able to return all of the hostages. Specifically, I'm talking about some of the hostages who are no longer living. They may not be able to return -- their remains. What more do we know about that, and that they're concerned that that could delay what we're seeing here?

DIAMOND: That's right. Well, this is according to three Israeli sources telling us that the Israeli government now assesses that Hamas may not be able to find and return all of the bodies of the deceased hostages who are still being held in Gaza.

[15:05:10]

And it's important to remember that of the 48 hostages still being held, 28 of them are assessed to be dead by the Israeli government.

The Israeli government is aware of the fact that Hamas may not be able to return those bodies. It's unclear how that's going to factor into the negotiations, whether that's something Israel will use as leverage to get other concessions from Hamas, the fact that they won't be able to return all of the bodies.

Important to note as well that among those 28 deceased hostages still being held in Gaza, there are the bodies of two American citizens: Itay Chen and Omer Neutra -- both of them were serving as Israeli soldiers when they were abducted into Gaza on October 7th.

HILL: Jeremy, really appreciate the update. Thank you. Boris. SANCHEZ: President Trump ratcheting up the tension with state and local leaders in Illinois over federal troop deployments to Chicago, now calling for the jailing of the state's governor and the city's mayor.

Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson are suing the Trump administration over the planned activations, which they call unlawful and invasions. And a crucial hearing -- a crucial hearing on the matter, I should say, is set for tomorrow.

Meantime, hundreds of Texas National Guardsmen are standing by some 50 miles outside of the Windy City. Let's get right to CNN's Priscilla Alvarez for more.

Priscilla, so what happens next?

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you mentioned there, Boris, the hearing is where we expect to at least start to get more fleshed-out arguments from both Illinois and Chicago, as well as the government, in terms of what is to happen next with this deployment.

Now, as you mentioned there, this lawsuit alleges that it is both, quote, "unlawful and dangerous." This -- the actions that -- the Trump administration is taking. And it also comes on the heels of other similar lawsuits that have been filed in California, as well as in Oregon, regarding deployments in those cities.

If you recall, most recently, a federal judge blocked the deployment of those troops in Portland. So, today, when the Illinois Governor Pritzker was asked about this by reporters, he said, quote, "We have to rely on our courts," and he cited what happened in Portland.

Now, we don't know what the federal judge is ultimately going to rule on this lawsuit, but the hearing tomorrow should advance this as these arguments are made before the judge.

Now, the expectation here in terms of what these guards would do in Chicago is that they would serve as facility protection. This is according to Gregory Bovino. I spoke with him yesterday in Chicago. He is the Homeland Security official who is charged with the federal immigration enforcement actions, both in Chicago, but then also previously Los Angeles.

And he told me that he expects that these troops would help serve as a perimeter around their federal facilities so that their agents can continue immigration arrests in Chicago.

Now, we also had a -- a discussion about racial profiling. He's been accused of that in these immigration arrests, both in Chicago as well as Los Angeles and he stood by the conduct of his agents, saying that a myriad of factors is what goes into any arrest and that he -- that they base that on reasonable suspicion. So, he pushed back on critics that say that these arrests are happening on the basis of race.

But he also said that he would not be abiding by a new executive order by the Chicago mayor, who said that there were going to be signs put up in the city that essentially block immigration enforcement on city property.

Well, Bovino was not having it. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREGORY BOVINO, CBP CHIEF PATROL AGENT, EL CENTRO SECTOR: We go anywhere where that threat is. And if they're going to create a sanctuary -- and I just said that, a -- another sanctuary behind signs, then we'll go behind the signs and ensure that it's not a sanctuary. What a pipe dream that Mayor Johnson has -- has filled the heads of his -- of some of his constituents with -- what a pipe dream that is. We're going anywhere we need to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALVAREZ: So, that gives you a sense of some of the tensions on the ground there in Chicago between local officials and federal agents as they continue the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

More answers again about what is to happen with these troops moving forward in that critical hearing tomorrow.

SANCHEZ: We will be watching it closely.

Priscilla Alvarez, thank you so much.

Still to come, former FBI Director James Comey arraigned in federal court. Hear how his defense team plans to fight the charges.

Plus, an arrest is made in the deadly Palisades fire. What we know about the suspect, and the disturbing images that investigators say he was searching for and generating online.

[15:10:00]

And later, the FBI ordered to immediately search for records related to the nearly 90-year-old mystery surrounding Amelia Earhart's disappearance. Why? We'll discuss in just moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:14:35]

HILL: We are getting a glimpse into James Comey's defense strategy, and if successful, it could mean the former FBI director's case never even makes it to trial.

Comey was in a Virginia courtroom earlier today, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of providing false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The trial is set to begin on January 5th.

But Comey's attorneys say they plan to file at least five motions to get that case dismissed, including one that alleges vindictive and selective prosecution.

[15:15:02] Joining us now, CNN Legal Commentator, former Trump White House lawyer Jim Schultz.

Jim, it's good to have you with us this afternoon.

So, as I noted, one of those motions that Comey's attorney is planning to file alleges vindictive and selective prosecution. Kaitlan Collins asked the President on Monday whether his previous public urging of A.G. Pam Bondi to prosecute Comey could interfere with the case. In response, the President said, "He's allowed to do that if I wanted to."

If you were still a White House lawyer, what would you advise the President here?

JIM SCHULTZ, CNN LEGAL COMMENTATOR: So, I've said time and time again, the President's comments relative to this case are not helpful to any prosecutor prosecuting the case. It makes the case very, very difficult -- incredibly more difficult, right? So, first -- but -- but -- but with a caveat, right? Selective prosecution is incredibly hard to advance, you know, on behalf of a defendant. You have to have a discriminatory purpose, a discriminatory effect, meaning that the effect is that other folks who haven't lied -- high-profile people who have been -- who've lied -- who have been alleged to have lied before Congress, haven't been prosecuted for this.

We've seen it Nixon administration during Watergate, it happened again during the -- during the Iran-Contra affair and a -- a number -- Iran- Contra scandal and a number of other scandals that have -- that -- that we've seen throughout many other presidencies.

I think it's a very high burden for the -- for the defense to advance that claim, especially on the vindictive prosecution side -- that pertains usually to recharging or bringing additional charges after -- after a plea deal isn't taken.

So, I -- I really think it's going to be a difficult hurdle for them to mount. But I also think that it does make it more difficult for the prosecution, because out of the gates, they're dealing with a motion to dismiss that they probably wouldn't otherwise be dealing with, although there are pretty good facts here for the -- for the defense on this. Relative to selective prosecution, really hard to meet that burden.

HILL: The judge also today was very clear he does not want the discovery process to be slow-walked here today. He said he's not going to let things linger. How do you think that's going to play out?

SCHULTZ: So, look, the judge wants the case. I mean, he put a January 5th trial date. That's incredibly quick for a trial date. If you're dealing with classified information. And in advancing classified information in defense of the case or in prosecuting the case, you're going to have to -- have hearings under the Classified Information Procedures Act, which does take into account whether the classified information -- there's a balancing test between the need for it and then the classified nature of the documents. We'll see how that plays out and how that plays out in discovery. But I do think the judge is going to be incredibly aggressive, try to keep it to the timelines. He wants everyone to exchange discovery right away and move forward with the case.

HILL: Yes, absolutely. I also want to ask you about this. So, the President today said that Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, in the President's words, "should be in jail" for failing to protect ICE officers.

Do you believe they should have any concerns legally at this point?

SCHULTZ: Well, I don't believe so. I don't believe there's any -- I believe there's been an investigation, I believe the grand jury has been advanced, and I believe prosecutors are looking at that. I think this is really just the President's rhetoric and frustration over them failing to protect their city.

HILL: Jim Schultz, good to have you. Thank you.

Still ahead here, a call for prayers from Dolly Parton's sister, sparking major concern about the singer. The country music icon now clearing the air. We'll tell you what Dolly had to say.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:23:13]

SANCHEZ: A suspect is now in custody, charged in connection with the horrific fire that killed a dozen people and burned down thousands of homes and businesses in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles earlier this year. Officials are accusing the suspect of maliciously starting a fire just days earlier that then led to the Palisades fire. CNN's Veronica Miracle joins us live from Los Angeles.

Veronica, what are officials saying about this suspect?

VERONICA MIRACLE: Well, Boris, it was a lengthy investigation, and now investigators say they believe 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for starting this horrific blaze -- this deadly fire.

They say that he was arrested in Florida, where he lives now, but he once actually lived in the Pacific Palisades, about one block away from the trailhead near where this fire began. They say he was also an Uber driver at the time when this fire began, that he had dropped two passengers off in that area the morning -- early morning hours of January 1st.

And they say that this fire started originally on January 1st, a few days before the Pacific Palisades fire -- the Palisades fire. That original fire was called the Lachman Fire, and it was quickly put out by firefighters. But what firefighters didn't know at the time was that it was smoldering underground, burning roots of trees and dirt.

And about a week later, on January 7th, when the winds were kicking up, those embers exploded and created the Pacific Palisades fire. And now investigators believe that Rinderknecht caused this.

Now, they say that this investigation took so long because they had to conduct hundreds of interviews over months, including some witnesses who were overseas. They reviewed 13,000 pieces of evidence. Take a listen to what the ATF had to say.

[15:25:02]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNY COOPER, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE OF ATF L.A. FIELD DIVISION: Part of the -- the lengthy time that it took to go over the thousands of acres that were burnt, as we literally had agents with our partners on their hands and knees crawling through fire debris.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MIRACLE: And authorities say that Rinderknecht was the only person in that area when the fire began. They also have a surveillance image in the criminal complaint of his car near the trailhead as that initial fire was exploding.

Now, he faces a felony charge -- a federal felony charge -- of destruction of property by means of fire that results in a minimum sentence, if convicted, of five years in prison, up to twenty years in federal prison. And he's going to be in court in Orlando today, near where he was arrested yesterday. Back to you, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Veronica Miracle in L.A., thank you so much. Erica.

HILL: All right, everybody, the good news here -- she is okay. Dolly Parton just posting this video. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOLLY PARTON, COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER: And I'm not ready to die yet. I don't think God is through with me, and I ain't done working. So, I love you for caring -- and keep praying for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: If that isn't the best news of the day, I don't know what is.

A lot of people -- myself included -- a little alarmed after Dolly Parton's sister asked for prayers for the singer's health this week. She says, though, she didn't mean to scare anyone -- just that Dolly has been, in fact, a little under the weather, and it was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister.

Last week, of course, Dolly Parton said she was postponing some December concerts in Las Vegas due to health challenges, so that added to the concern. But as we saw there, she said she's okay.

Happening soon, President Trump holds a roundtable to discuss what he sees as one of the country's biggest threats, Antifa. Just ahead, we'll take a closer look at what that group actually stands for. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)