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Rubio: Progress In Talks But Much Work Remains; Major Winter Storm Moving East, A Second Powerful System to Hit Monday; Tennessee Democrat Trying To Flip Ruby Red District with Focus On Costs. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired November 30, 2025 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:00]

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN HOST: Welcome, everyone. I'm Omar Jimenez, sitting in for Fredricka Whitfield. We are going to start this hour with some breaking news.

The delegation from Ukraine is in Florida for fresh talks with Trump administration officials. They are trying to move ahead with a U.S.- backed proposal to end the war in Ukraine.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke just moments ago as talks wrapped up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Much work remains, but today was again a very productive and useful session where I think additional progress was made and we continue to be realistic about how difficult this is, but optimistic, particularly given the fact that as we've made progress, I think there is a shared vision here that this is not just about ending the war, which is very important. It is about securing Ukraine's future.

Now, after meetings in Geneva last weekend, substantial changes were made to the original 28-point plan. Russia hasn't agreed to any plan, we should mention and major sticking points remain from both Ukraine and its European allies.

Let's bring in CNN senior White House correspondent, Kristen Holmes, who is with us.

Kristen, what else did we hear from the Secretary of State here?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Omar, it was a really short press conference. He said he had time constraints. He basically reiterated that he was very optimistic. But as you heard there, he sounded a lot more realistic than what we have been hearing from The White House in particular, noting again, that Russia has not signed off to anything and that these agreements or these negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine is just a starting point. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RUBIO: This is comprehensive what we are working on here today. It is

not just about the terms that ends fighting, it is about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long term prosperity.

I thought we started laying the groundwork for that, most certainly in Geneva. I think we continued that work in our communications throughout the week. I think we've built on that again today, but there's more work to be done. This is delicate. It's complicated. There are a lot of moving parts, and obviously there is another party involved here that will have to be a part of the equation and that will continue later this week when Mr. Witkoff travels to Moscow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Of course, that other party he is talking about is Russia and as we have discussed, we have heard from The White House in the past where they have felt optimistic only to have Russia back out or Putin to essentially pull the rug out from underneath them. We all remember that sit down between Putin and Trump, in which Trump sounded incredibly optimistic coming out of it. He brought all the European leaders to The White House, and then nothing for months.

So there are still a lot of questions to be had, and what was interesting about listening to this very brief press conference is that no details were given, no real details substantially about what was being ironed out. Of course, we know that two of the biggest sticking points are still those security guarantees wanting Ukraine, Ukraine and our European allies wanting to make sure that this doesn't happen again, that Russia doesn't invade Ukraine or any of those surrounding territories again, but also territory and ceding territory. Will Ukraine have to actually give up land?

Most individuals, most people who are privy to these conversations do believe that some land is going to have to be ceded to Russia, but just how much land? That is a big question. We've heard a lot of back and forth on this. We know actually the conversation about this got tense at the last White House meeting that President Trump had with Zelenskyy when Trump was trying to tell him that he was going to have to cede land, and Zelenskyy essentially saying that that wasn't going to happen.

So still a lot of questions here, as you heard Rubio say there, Witkoff is going to be meeting with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, later in the week in Moscow.

One thing to remember is that President Trump himself has said he doesn't want to meet with Zelenskyy or with Putin again until there is a done deal.

JIMENEZ: Yes, Kristen, Witkoff as you mentioned and as we heard from Secretary of State, expected to head to Russia for this meeting, but can you just give us a sense for why maybe this effort of a meeting for the Russian President is different than previous efforts. Maybe, it is not, I mean, we still haven't made substantial progress.

But how is this potential meeting or this future meeting being viewed here?

HOLMES: Well, a couple of things. One is that they're going to the President of Russia with an actual plan. So that's different than what we've seen before. I mean, I will remind you again, this meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska, nobody had a plan. It was just that Trump said he wanted to see the end of the war. They sat down. They talked face-to-face, a lot of that was just Trump wanting to try to get a read on the Russian President. And of course, as we know, it didn't go anywhere.

Then there was this whole conversation about Putin meeting again with President Trump, which Trump himself scrapped because he learned from his associates, from his advisors that Putin wasn't ready to move in the same direction that The White House wanted to move in, which was an end to the war in Ukraine or at least The White House didn't believe that.

So what you're seeing now is this idea that there is a plan floating around. We know the Russians have been briefed on the initial plan. They've likely been briefed in between as well, because we know that The White House is in constant contact with Russia, as well as some of the counterparts, some of the actual intermediaries that go-betweens between the U.S. and Russia. So it is likely they have an idea of what is going to be in this plan.

But what you're seeing now is them hammering out the details with Ukraine, and you heard from both sides. There is a tough discussion going on here, which likely means they're telling them, they're telling Ukraine, you're going to have to cede some of this stuff if we want to actually get a deal.

So what makes this different is that he is going to go in with likely a document that is the proposal for this peace plan that the U.S. wants, that the U.S. is going to be hammering home, and that the U.S. has just come out of these huge negotiations with Ukraine on, it doesn't make this difference, as we still don't know how Putin is going to react, particularly to any changes that were made from the original proposal.

[15:05:11]

JIMENEZ: Yes, Kristen Holmes, appreciate the reporting as always.

Let's continue this conversation with Jill Dougherty, a CNN contributor and author of the book "My Russia: What I Saw Inside the Kremlin." Now, Jill, we heard from both sides today, U.S. and Ukrainian sides, that progress is being made, but at least in portions of the plan that had either crept out before, there were proposals potentially to cut off Ukraine's ability to join NATO, which of course, is a big sticking point for Russia, potential ceding of land as well.

I just wonder, are there any obvious places to you that you believe U.S. negotiators would start to ask of Ukraine at this point?

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN RUSSIAN AFFAIRS CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I think the main thing that they have to talk about is territory, because if you look at both sides, Russia is saying essentially the areas that we have tried to get, but have not been able to, we want those and that means essentially a lot of -- Crimea, basically, you know, that was taken in 2014 illegally, but we are talking about Donbas, where there has been a lot of fighting.

So the Russians are saying they were not able to get all of it, but they want those areas and maybe even legally accepted as legally part of Russia by the West and by the United States, and that the Ukrainians would have to pull out of those areas.

So these are -- you know, when you talk about details, this is really very detailed and it is very difficult to think that they can come together. Putin is really taking, I would call it a brick wall strategy. He is saying it is my way or the highway, and he is insisting on the plan, essentially, that he has had since the beginning, but he is really -- if you look at the even the tone and the words he is using now, he is really set on saying, I am not going to make any compromises, it is the Ukrainians who have to.

So I think it is good, you know, to hear Secretary Rubio, who does know these issues talking about the things that obviously the Ukrainians want to hear, you know, sovereignty of Ukraine and security, but when you get to Moscow, that will be Chapter 2, when Putin gets into the weeds and says, you know, this, this has to be defined, et cetera, as he always does.

JIMENEZ: So, you know, I guess at this point, you know, the question is, we've had a lot of stops and goes really at various points of these potential peace talks, and I just wonder how would you contextualize this moment and maybe any added significance it has versus other moments where it seemed as though Ukrainian peacemakers and Russian peacemakers might come to something, but then in the end, nothing ends up coming out of it, strikes continue and the war goes on.

DOUGHERTY: Yes, I think if, you know, if you look at Ukraine right now, look at President Zelenskyy, he is under enormous strain at this point and I think that is somewhat different from before. Obviously, they've been under attack. But you have him militarily, Russians are very slowly, but they are moving inexorably forward.

Then you have the political situation, which is this corruption scandal that has unfolded inside of Ukraine, which actually led to his chief person stepping down, as we know Mr. Yermak and he is under pressure, at least it appears from the American President who gave him a deadline. That deadline is gone. Thanksgiving is over, but he is under pressure from the United States to do a deal as well.

So all of these factors at that time, and, you know, Putin is under some pressure, too. He is -- he knows that his economy is being hit by sanctions and his military, they are moving ahead, but they are having problems, too. That's why they have North Koreans and you know, the Chinese and the Iranians helping them.

So I think the timing, the feeling that this has to get wrapped up, but, you know, when and how is the question, but I think this really is, it feels like a turning point. But, Omar, I know what you're saying. We have felt this way many times, and then it just kind of dissolves and we are back to the original situation.

JIMENEZ: Look, optimism is a very priceless currency these days, Jill Dougherty but of course, reality has to catch up. We will see what happens moving forward. Appreciate the time and insight.

DOUGHERTY: Thank you.

[15:10:02]

JIMENEZ: All right, more breaking news now on what is traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the year. Millions across the United States have been sidelined by a powerful winter storm. You're seeing some of the real effects of it.

This storm that continues its march East. Already today, more than 600 flights have been canceled, 6,500 others delayed, and while that first system is set to move out by later tonight, a second storm is getting ready to deliver a second blow to some areas already hammered over the weekend.

We have got team coverage on this. Our Rafael Romo is at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, but I want to start with meteorologist, Chris Warren, who has been tracking both storms. What is the latest here?

CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Omar, we are seeing more delays at different airports across the U.S., but most of the middle of the country is in between the storms right now, one moving out and the other one still yet to get organized, get its act together, seeing delays now up to 45 minutes in Miami also delays around 30 minutes, longer delays heading into at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, so if you are flying into, say, from Albuquerque or from Atlanta into Chicago, you're seeing delays.

Also getting close to an hour delays in Boston, also seeing delays at Newark as well in New Jersey. So the system that we are watching right now that's exiting, that's moving out, this is the first one. We are talking about two now, so this is the first one that brought all of that snow to the Midwest over the weekend. Now there is not a lot of snow with it at the moment, but the wind that's causing some problems and some of the delays at some of the airports here in the Northeast.

Right in here, we can see some of these snow showers, and if you look closely, Saranac Lake, where it is 31 degrees, every once in a while, you can see some of these snowflakes flying around in front of the trees. Also evidence, it has been cold lately when you see ice on the water. So that's that system, tail end of it with some rain making for some wet roads across parts of the Southeast, I-10, I-20 and then these watches and advisories ahead of the next developing system that we are going to watch take shape during the day tomorrow and really start to crank tomorrow night and into Tuesday.

Here is how it plays out. This is tomorrow evening, and it is pretty much in full swing now, and seeing Chicago back in the snow after a very snowy weekend there, more than eight inches at O'Hare, going to see more snow, more rain. But what is different about this one is this pink. There is the potential for ice and ice component, while for the most part, one to three inches will be common for snow, it is this ice, Omar that were going to have to watch. This can make travel very dangerous and can also lead to power outages.

JIMENEZ: All right, Chris Warren, a lot to keep track of.

I want to bring in Rafael Romo in Atlanta, at the world's busiest airport. What kind of impact have you seen on travel at this point. It doesn't look too crazy behind you right now?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, Omar, not too bad. Last hour we were showing you the baggage drop area for Delta, the main one. Now, I wanted to show you the main checkpoint and as you can see, this is better than we would normally see here at the world's busiest airport than what airport personnel are doing.

You can see them right there is as soon as this area becomes crowded, they start rerouting people to the north checkpoint area. So they're keeping things very tidy, traffic moving very swiftly. And I remember, Omar, covering this airport during the government shutdown, the line would be not only there at the end of the main checkpoint, but it would go all the way back in that direction to the atrium. This is how I would compare it with what we are seeing right now.

Now, we have to remember that this is not representative of the nation as a whole. Let me give you an idea of what is happening in the Midwest, for example, there was an accident at Des Moines International Airport, one airplane slid off the runway and they had to close the airport for the entire morning, as you can imagine, that's causing a domino effect.

I had an opportunity to talk to some people who are telling us that they gave themselves extra time because they remember how bad it was during the government shutdown, and they just wanted to make sure that they made their flight on time. This is what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX NEWBERG, TRAVELING TO RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA: I always tend to be someone that tries to get to the airport on the earlier side, and I think that when you have a government shutdown and when people aren't coming to work, that complicates things further, so a few weeks ago, more so than today.

MEHEK RANA, TRAVELING TO CINCINNATI: I fly a lot back and forth from Cincinnati to Atlanta. So I was a little worried about it, but it never really affected me that much, but I am glad it is over now. I feel like the airport is running faster now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: And Chicago's O'Hare International Airport remains a problem today. Out of a total of 1,900 canceled flights nationwide yesterday, 1,100 of those cancelations happened in Chicago.

Omar, now, back to you.

[15:15:05]

JIMENEZ: All right, Rafael Romo, appreciate the reporting there on the ground for us.

Still ahead for us, the trial for the man accused of killing and dismembering his wife begins tomorrow, but her body still hasn't been found. We will tell you the stunning plea Brian Walshe made that's raising big questions about his defense.

Plus, in the politics world, can Democrats flip a deep red district in Tennessee? CNN spoke to the Democrat hoping for an upset. You'll hear the issue she pivoted back to, though when pressed on big political questions.

And could going barefoot be the reset your body has been begging for? Don Riddell put the trend to the test, and what he found might surprise you. We will talk about it coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:20:21]

JIMENEZ: This week, the center of the political world is a ruby red congressional district in Tennessee, the type of place where Democrats would ordinarily never have a chance. Both President Trump and the GOP Congressman who recently resigned coasted to victory in Tennessee's Seventh District, which encompasses parts of Nashville and wide swaths of rural areas.

But suddenly, with less than 48 hours to go, both parties have poured millions into the race in its final stretch, with Republicans scrambling to avert an electoral disaster.

CNN's Manu Raju joins us now with the details.

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Omar, Tennessee's Seventh Congressional District would not be in play for Democrats pretty much any other cycle and yet, the beginning of this cycle, it did not seem like it was something in which Democrats could potentially pick up.

But here we are, just two days before a special election for a House seat in this district, which encompasses parts of Nashville, some of the surrounding rural areas, and suddenly both sides are scrambling. Republicans trying to avert electoral disaster if the Democratic candidate in that race, Aftyn Behn, pulls off what would be a monumental upset.

Democrats, too, are pouring in tons of money, resources. They're sending in some big name surrogates as well to campaign, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Vice President Al Gore appearing at a tele rally with Behn on Monday, just a day before the election. Now, I had a chance to catch up with Behn this morning, Sunday

morning, asking her about this race, asking her about her views and whether she is in line with the more progressive elements of her party, or whether or not she can actually pull off an upset given her more progressive record in this conservative district, and she indicated she believes ultimately this will come down to the issue of affordability.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: As you know, this is a district that is solidly red, both Trump and GOP Congressman Mark Green won it by about 22 points, but your record is pretty progressive. So is that really in line with the more conservative voters in your district?

AFTYN BEHN (D), TENNESSEE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Well, the reason this race is competitive is because the Washington Republican agenda of delivering an economy that works for everyone has not delivered, and I think it is hilarious that Republicans and their billionaire friends are trying to spend millions to save a seat that they should win without thinking, but if we flip the seat, it will send a national message that the Republican Party needs to get serious about lowering health care costs.

RAJU: Tomorrow, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is holding a tele rally for you. Are you in line with her ideologically?

BEHN: Well, like I said, I think that there is a strain of the Democratic Party that cares about holding corporations accountable and lowering costs for working families, and my politics are one, an alignment of that. I've been, as a state legislator, I've worked to eliminate Tennessee's regressive grocery tax. As an organizer, I work to make health care more affordable in the state of Tennessee.

And so I think those are the Democratic leaders and candidates that I really resonate with, those that are trying to lower costs for working families.

RAJU: Yes, because Trump has been calling, you, "The AOC of Tennessee." So, I mean, aren't you just feeding into that narrative by appearing with her?

BEHN: Like I said, we are really grateful for the support across the political spectrum, and if you, and for your listeners, the tele town hall also features former Vice President Al Gore, who is a Tennessee legend. So I look at it as iconic that you have, you know, Democrats from all political stripes joining in on this moment and saying, you know, we are standing up to what is happening in Washington and we want to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

RAJU: Yes, because some of those you are campaigning with, including AOC, have called for ICE to be abolished. You have been sharply critical of the ICE raids in Nashville, but do you think that ICE should be abolished?

BEHN: Like I've said, I've got 48 hours to flip this congressional district and have been dogged about the message of affordability, and that's not what I am hearing in the district. What I am hearing is people, especially rural voters, are driving four hours to a hospital without care. We've got veterans that are going without you know, care because the V.A. hasn't been fully funded. And so these are the issues that I am hearing about in the district.

What I am hearing about is that grocery cost costs are high, utility bills are high, rent is high and there is no kind of end in sight. And so my message has been one, to lower costs, and I think it is resonating across the district, which is why this race is so close.

RAJU: But you have been critical of the past on these ICE raids. Do you think they should -- all of these ICE raids in Nashville should stop?

[15:25:07]

BEHN: I mean, it has been hard. I am -- in my district, I represent a Hispanic community and I am also a social worker. And so prior to that ICE incident, I was out knocking doors in my district talking to Hispanic constituents who said that we are concerned about the overreach of our federal government.

And so as a lawmaker, I represent 60,000 voters. As a congresswoman, I will represent 400,000 and 700,000 voters. And so I take into consideration the real issues that these voters and my constituents are living with, one of which is they, you know, they don't want their federal government overreaching in their communities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Behn in the interview, really sidestepped some questions about whether she agrees with some of the more progressive members in her party about abolishing ICE. She did not say directly, she would not say if she had thought about voting for Hakeem Jeffries, the current Democratic leader for Speaker, and said that she wouldn't say if she would vote to keep the government open if she had that opportunity back in November during that big government shutdown fight that she would address her constituents questions and concerns first before making that critical decision, but very much leaning into the idea that high grocery prices and frustration with Washington could propel her over the finish line.

For the Republican's part, Matt Van Epps he is leaning very hard on Donald Trump, hoping that the fact that Trump won this district easily and still has significant support among conservative voters there, that could be enough to push him over the finish line. But no question about it, Omar, both sides watching this race very, very closely.

Republicans very nervous if this race -- if this seat flips, it could become problematic for Speaker Mike Johnson's already very, very thin House Majority -- Omar.

JIMENEZ: Something to watch for sure. Manu Raju, appreciate the reporting. Up next, for us, a high profile murder case begins just hours from

now. Brian Walshe is accused of killing and dismembering his wife, but his shocking move during jury selection could change the whole case. We will explain, coming up.

And CNN speaks to a man who escaped Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:31:37]

JIMENEZ: The murder trial against Brian Walshe is set to begin on Monday, nearly three years after his wife's disappearance drew national attention. Now, earlier this month, Walshe pled guilty to illegally disposing of his wife's body and misleading police, but he didn't admit to her murder.

The question remains what will the defense say happen to Ana Walshe?

CNN's Jean Casarez is joining us with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Opening statements are set to begin Monday in the criminal case of Brian Walshe. They have 12 jurors plus four alternates. The case is supposed to last about three weeks. The big question at this point is what is the defense going to say in their opening statements? What are they going to say happened that night?

Now the prosecution has charged Brian Walshe with first degree murder because they are saying that on the night of New Year's Eve into the early morning hours of January 1st, 2023, that he murdered his wife in their home with deliberate premeditation.

Now the question is, why would he do this?

Well, the prosecution does not have to prove motive, but here is what was going on in his life and his marriage. He was married to Ana Walshe, who had just gotten a very big job the year before. She was regional general manager of Tishman Speyer Real Estate firm In Washington, D.C., so she would work there during the week, come back home to Massachusetts, where Brian was with their three very young children.

Brian had some issues going on. He had been convicted of selling fake Andy Warhol paintings. He was awaiting his sentencing. He was probably going to go to prison, so he couldn't go to Washington, D.C. Now, Ana had actually met someone in D.C. She was seeing this guy, and they were potentially going to be serious. He will be a witness at that trial that is set to begin.

But the shocker came shortly before the opening statements, because about a week ago, Brian Walshe pleaded guilty to two of the three counts, intentionally misleading a police investigation and conveyance of a human body, or dismemberment of a human body.

He pleaded guilty, saying that he dismembered his wife, but he did not kill her. So the big question on Monday is what is the defense going to say happened? You dismember your wife, you don't kill her, so was it an intruder? Was it a terrible, terrible accident? Was it self- defense? Was it suicide or none of the above? That's what we are waiting to see.

But the trial of Brian Walshe in Massachusetts is set to begin on Monday.

Jean Casarez, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ: Jean Casarez, thank you.

By the way, Jean, along with CNN's Laura Coates and Joey Jackson, will be covering the entire Brian Walshe trial on CNN's All Access Channel starting tomorrow morning at 8:50 A.M. Eastern Time. Be sure to check it out.

All right, coming up, new intelligence on the suspect accused of shooting two National Guard members near The White House, the unexpected location, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem believes his radicalization took root.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:39:42]

JIMENEZ: A small West Virginia community gathered last night to mourn the loss of a hometown hero. Residents filled the Webster County High School gym to honor National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. The 20- year-old tragically was killed after an ambush attack on the eve of Thanksgiving Day in Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, who was also injured during that targeted shooting, remains in critical condition fighting for his life. Meanwhile, we are learning new details about the Afghan National accused of opening fire on those two National Guard members.

I want to bring in CNN's Camila DeChalus, who joins us now. So can you just walk us through the latest developments here?

CAMILA DECHALUS, CNN REPORTER: Well, Omar, since the news first broke about the shootings involving the two National Guard members, there has been an outpouring of support and prayers for both families that have been, in fact, impacted by this.

Now, what we've learned so far is that the 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, she did not survive her injuries, and we spoke to her ex- boyfriend just a few days ago and he told us that when Sarah first learned that she was going to be deployed to the city of D.C., she was at first very hesitant, but then her feelings soon changed. Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: How did she feel about being deployed to D.C.?

ADAM CARR, FORMER BOYFRIEND OF U.S. ARMY SPECIALIST SARAH BECKSTROM: Hated it. Absolutely hated it. She was crying before she left. She dreaded it. She did not want to go.

I didn't figure it would ever go this way, of course and I kind of encouraged her. I was like, it would be a great opportunity. There is nothing around here. She didn't want to be there. Not a -- not a doubt in her mind. She didn't want to be there.

And then once she was there, she kind of realized it wasn't too bad and she was having fun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DECHALUS: Now, as for the 24-year-old, Andrew Wolfe, he still remains in critical condition. He is also from West Virginia and has been with the West Virginia National Guard since 2019.

Now, Omar, here is what we are learning about the suspected shooter involved in this incident. Authorities say that he worked with the CIA in Afghanistan before coming to the U.S. in 2021, and he came to the country under the Biden era program. Now, he was recently just granted asylum just earlier this year under the Trump administration, and sources told CNN that he was extremely vetted by U.S. Intelligence Agencies.

Now, he is at this moment facing murder charges, and prosecutors are now considering even seeking out the death penalty. Now, just earlier today, the DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, offered more insight about the suspected shooter. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTI NOEM, U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: We believe he was radicalized since he has been here in this country. We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state and we are going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him, who were his family members, talk to them. So far, we've had some participation, but anyone who has information on this needs to know that we will be coming after you and we will bring you to justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DECHALUS: Now, Omar, in the upcoming days following the shooting, President Trump made it very clear that he intends to crack down on immigration policies in light of what happened, and even in one recent announcement, Trump said that he is going to implement a permanent pause on migration from all third world countries, but has not given out more details about which countries he is referring to.

JIMENEZ: All right, Camila DeChalus, appreciate the reporting. Coming up, for us, a wellness trend that started with going barefoot.

Don Riddell tried it, kicking off his shoes to kick start his well- being and we are going to talk about it next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:47:42]

JIMENEZ: If you've been on social media, you may have come across viral videos of people walking around barefoot, but there is an actual term for this, and it is called "grounding" and it starts with going outside, taking off your shoes and socks, letting your feet actually make direct contact with the earth, touching grass, as some may say.

Recently, one of our own here at CNN did just that and here to share his experience with us is CNN World Sport anchor, Don Riddell.

Don, thanks for being here. So can you help us understand what made you want to do this?

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT HOST: Hey, Omar, I've been curious about this for a while. There was a documentary a few years ago called "The Earthing" movie and it really kind of opened my eyes to the benefits of not just being outdoors, which I really enjoy anyway, and which has been proven to be good for you. But I guess taking it one step further and actually taking your socks and shoes off and literally the day or two after I saw this movie, I was outside walking through a local forest and there was a guy coming past me in the opposite direction with his shoes off without a care in the world, and I had never seen anything like it.

And so I've always wondered if it was perhaps more common than I realized. He is the only other guy I've ever seen do it, but I've always thought about it, and this year I decided to write about it. And I thought, if I am going to write about it, I've got to actually do it.

And I must say, I was very impressed with the experience and the results.

JIMENEZ: Yes, so tell me about that. What was the experience actually like when you were in your first walk or, you know, yes, let's call it a first walk without shoes on outdoors.

RIDDELL: Yes, it wasn't as comfortable as I had initially thought. I walked the same trail regularly, and I've never noticed the little stones and pebbles and bits of gravel underneath my sneakers. So that wasn't the most comfortable to navigate, but I was surprised by how quickly I got used to it.

But what I noticed that night was that I slept the best I've slept in years, and that lasted a good week. Now, you know, this is just anecdotal evidence. This is just my own personal experience. Hard to say what really caused that. Maybe I just performed some crazy reflexology on my feet and it was that. Some people would say, well, this is the effect of grounding writ

large and the theory is that there are basically negative charges that come from the Earth, and those are stabilizing electrons, which help cancel out the free radicals within our body and that's what people really believe grounding is all about.

[15:50:12]

But I've also spoken to some other experts who say, well, the science on that is still emerging. There aren't really any conclusive, independent studies into the sort of electrical side of it, but the people I spoke to said, look, just being outside is good for you. We've proven that that is the case and the more you are able to connect with the complex microbiomes that you have found outside, and particularly in kind of forest or wooded areas just the better that is going to be for you, the more it is going to improve your gut and brain mechanisms, reduce inflammation and increase your immune function.

So maybe that's what I did to myself. Who knows? I will have to go out and do it more often, but --

JIMENEZ: I was --

RIDDELL: Go on.

JIMENEZ: I was going to ask that, you know, I know you wrote about it. You documented it this time. You went out, you realized, there were a few more stones out on the trail than you realized before. But do you think this is something that is now a part of your life, something you'll do again?

RIDDELL: Yes, I mean, I love sleeping well.

JIMENEZ: Yes.

RIDDELL: It has been a while, so, I mean, I don't know if I'd get the same results again next time, but I'd definitely do it again. And, you know, the people that I've spoken to that do it, say it is not going to hurt you. I will admit, I was keeping my eyes open for snakes or broken glass or anything that really could have hurt me.

JIMENEZ: Sure.

RIDDELL: But I mean, you don't have to go out on a path for miles through the forest. I mean, you can just -- when you're on the grass at home, just take your shoes off. You know, it doesn't need to be, you know, miles and miles or hours and hours every day, just kind of thinking more about how you can connect with nature in as many different ways as possible is for sure going to be good for you.

JIMENEZ: Yes, there is nothing like feeling that fresh grass on your feet and, you know, to take it to a hike or to a walk is clearly the next level and I am glad you tried it and I can't wait to read about it when your experience is up online a little bit later.

Don Riddell, thanks for stopping by.

All right, up next for us --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM LI, FIRE SURVIVOR (through translator): I felt that this time, I might actually die or I won't make it past today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: An incredible survival story amid heartbreaking loss. He made it through the Hong Kong fire that claimed more than 140 lives. How he made it out and what he saw, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:57:07]

JIMENEZ: Torrential downpours, flooding and landslides across Southeast Asia have killed more than 700 people, with hundreds still missing. A rare tropical storm demolished parts of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia this week, putting millions of people at risk as new video shows the damage in Indonesia, with rescuers transporting body bags and evacuating residents.

Sri Lanka was devastated by a separate storm with heavy rain, which is now heading toward India and officials say that most homes in low lying areas near the capital are underwater and without power. Some of the images there.

And today, dozens are still missing in what has become one of Hong Kong's worst disasters in decades. Rescuers are making their way through what remains of seven towers after a fire spread really quickly in one of the city's apartment complexes killing at least 146 people and displacing thousands.

CNN's Hanako Montgomery visited the scene and spoke to one of the survivors.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Before William Li could see or smell this fire, his wife called him and sent this video. Flames were engulfing their apartment building, she said, and he needed to leave now!

But when he opened his front door, he was met with this suffocating darkness.

LI (through translator): I called my wife again, I said, I can't leave. The door is full of thick smoke. That's when my wife started becoming emotional.

MONTGOMERY (voice over): William is a rare survivor in Hong Kong's worst fire in decades, an inferno that claimed dozens of his neighbors' lives. The videos he filmed while trapped in his apartment for two hours, and the messages he exchanged with his wife, shows just how narrowly he escaped.

(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE speaking in foreign language.)

TRANSLATION: Please call me as soon as you get out. Please call me!

MONTGOMERY (voice over): William lived on the second floor of this apartment complex, and the fire was moving fast. In another attempt to escape, he covered his face with a wet towel. But in the hallway, he heard an elderly couple screaming for help. Their home was already engulfed in flames after the fire shattered their windows.

LI (through translator): When I saw my window in this situation, I felt that this time, I might actually die or I won't make it past today.

I told my friends that I might not be able to leave, and if anything happens to me, take care of my children.

MONTGOMERY (voice over): But then help arrived. Two hours after his wife's first call, firefighters pulled William and his neighbors to safety.

LI (through translator): My daughter ran towards me and hugged me and said, Daddy didn't die. Dad doesn't need to die. My son was sitting to the side and was crying a lot.

MONTGOMERY (voice over): William's survival is a rare miracle in a disaster of staggering loss.

But the fire took everything from him.

LI (through translator): The place that my children grew up in, memories that I created with my wife, memories of making this home, they are all gone.

MONTGOMERY (voice over): The community in Tai Po is left reeling from a tragedy that will haunt them for years to come.

Hanako Montgomery, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ: Hanako Montgomery, thank you for that reporting.

New hour of news starts right now.

[16:00:38]