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Iranians Pour Into The Streets; Protests Against Immigration Enforcement; Early Departure; NASA is bringing its Space Station crew back home to Earth early. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired January 11, 2026 - 03:30   ET

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

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[03:00:00]

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, wherever you are in the world, you are now in the CNN Newsroom with me, Ben Hunte, Atlanta, and it is so good to have you with me.

Coming up on the show, Iranians pour into the streets to protest the regime. We will get at the heart of what's motivating them amid a brutal crackdown.

Demonstrators across the United States are calling for a change to immigration enforcement policies after a deadly ICE shooting.

And NASA is bringing its Space Station crew back home to Earth early. What's behind that extraordinary move?

Welcome. Iranians tell CNN that an ongoing internet blackout and violent crackdown by security forces aren't stopping their demands for regime change. In fact, they say those measures are pushing them even more and more people to the streets.

Video posted on social media shows protesters gathered in Tehran with fireworks exploding overhead. It's one of many protests that have sprung up across the country in the past two weeks.

What began as demonstrations against inflation and soaring costs of living have morphed into broader unrest against the government. And the country's leaders have responded in force, arresting thousands of people and promising to treat them without mercy. A U.S.-based human rights group says dozens of protesters have been killed.

CNN's Julia Benbrook brings us all of the details.

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: According to a U.S. human rights group, at least 78 people have been killed and 2,300 arrested during two weeks now of anti-government protests in Iran. Those demonstrations have spread across Iran's provinces as nationwide unrest continues over worsening economic conditions.

And President Donald Trump, he's here in Florida right now for the weekend, he commented on this, taking to social media, to write, quote, Iran is looking at freedom perhaps like never before, adding the USA stands ready to help.

And Trump was asked about this yesterday as well, if the United States would get involved in some way now that protesters had been killed. He did not rule out U.S. involvement. Take a listen to part of his response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that's a very dangerous place right now. And, again, I tell the Iranian leaders, you better not start shooting because we'll start shooting too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: Now, Trump did emphasize that did not mean boots on the ground, but he added this. It does mean, quote, hitting them very, very hard where it hurts.

Not a lot of clarity though here or specifics on what involvement would look like. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also posted a message, but it didn't give any more details. He said that the United States supports the brave people of Iran.

Now, Iran's supreme leader, the ayatollah, has blamed the United States for playing a role in inciting the protest and has urged Trump to remain focused on his own country.

HUNTE: Iran's hard line parliamentary speaker is warning that Tehran will treat U.S. military and commercial bases as targets for retaliation, that's if the U.S. intervenes militarily. His comments come as some protesters are rallying around the son of a former Iranian leader.

CNN's Jomana Karadsheh tells us about Reza Pahlavi and why his name has become a rallying cry for some protesters.

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JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: During chance on the streets of Tehran calling for the return of Iran's monarchy. We haven't heard this in past waves of protests.

Some of the demonstrators appear to be heeding the calls of this man. Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the last shah of Iran.

REZA PAHLAVI, SON OF THE LAST SHAH OF IRAN: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

KARADSHEH: So, who is Reza Pahlavi and what role is he playing in these protests that have spread like a wildfire across every province of Iran? The 65-year-old came to the United States when he was 17 and remained exiled there after his father, the former shah, was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

[03:05:01] For years, the exiled crown prince has sought to present himself as a man who can lead Iran's opposition and rid the country of the repressive theocratic rule.

And with this new wave of protests sparked by the state of the economy that quickly morphed into anti-regime demonstrations, Pahlavi appears to be seizing the moment. In a Washington Post op-ed this week, he said he doesn't see protesters chanting his name as a claim to power. Instead, he sees himself as a unifying transitional leader who could help guide the country from tyranny to democracy.

But Pahlavi is a divisive figure. While he does have the support of many Iranian monarchists who are nostalgic for the days of the shah, it's unclear just how much support he really has inside the country.

You'll hear many Iranians who want nothing more than an end to this regime saying a monarchy is not what they have been fighting for. They say Pahlavi hasn't set foot in Iran in decades. He's too disconnected from the people who have been on the front lines of the battle for freedom and democracy.

His close ties to Israel quite public during his visit in 2023 where he was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials has also been a source of controversy and concern for many Iranians.

The big question right now is, do Iranians who are risking their lives by going out on the streets, genuinely support the restoration of the monarchy, or are they just fed up with their repressive regime? And with the regime crushing and imprisoning opposition figures inside the country, Pahlavi may be their only viable option right now.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Sanam Vakil is the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House. She's also an adjunct lecturer of the Middle East Studies Department at Johns Hopkins. She's joining me now from London. Thank you so much for being with me. How are you doing?

SANAM VAKIL, DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA PROGRAM, CHATHAM HOUSE: Good, thanks. How are you?

HUNTE: I'm good. I'm good at 3:06 A.M. over here in Atlanta. But let's get into this. Can you help us to understand what's actually driving these huge protests right now? Is this mainly about the economy and rising inflation, or has it become something broader, more political?

VAKIL: So, the spark of these protests were initially economic. Iranians have been facing massive pressure from a collapsing currency and inflation, but, frankly, these protests go far beyond economic dynamics. They immediately became political because Iranians have been protesting for many years now, challenging the Islamic Republic for poor governance, for repression, lack of freedom, justice, dignity. And these protests, rather than shrink in the face of a government crackdown, the internet has been turned off, Iran is effectively in darkness, protesters are coming out every night more and more, trying to push back and seize what is really a moment for them to take down this system that has been in power for almost five decades.

HUNTE: We are seeing reports of protests in more than 100 cities and towns, and that's despite what appears to be a very violent crackdown now. How serious a challenge does this post regime at this stage?

VAKIL: I would say that this is by far the most serious internal round of protests and demonstrations that the Islamic Republic has experienced since 1979, and they have experienced many ways of difficult protests. This is existential for them for a number of reasons. The protests have spread across the country. We don't have accurate estimates of the size of the protesters, but every night they kept getting bigger. The government has locked down the country as an indication that they need to use full force. And the reports of violence injuries, arrests and deaths are mounting.

So, we do know this is a fork in the road moment. The supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has labeled the protestors as rioters, as terrorists. And there's no indication of compromise but rather this is about the Islamic Republic reinforcing control, but it will never be able to go back to being a legitimate state. It cannot rule solely through violence and repression. And this is why this moment is so important, and this is why perhaps the U.S. administration under Donald Trump is considering coming in to support protesters

HUNTE: With a near total internet blackout in place, how confident can we be in what we're seeing and hearing from inside Iran right now?

[03:10:02]

And how do analysts go about verifying what's really happening on the ground?

VAKIL: Well, I won't lie to you. It's certainly very hard. Social media certainly can be disorienting. There's a lot of disinformation and misinformation out there, but there are journalists that are taking their time, particularly those at the BBC, to verify videos that are coming out.

The Islamic Republic has been jamming Starlink, but now and again, in the late afternoons or early evenings, people are uploading videos. So, we are seeing a range of protests across the country. We are seeing damage, we are seeing terrible images as well coming from hospitals and morgues. This is a really dangerous scene for ordinary Iranians that are really risking their lives in order to try to facilitate a better outcome for the people of Iran.

HUNTE: Okay. Well thank you so much for that information. We appreciate it. Sanam Vakil, we'll leave it there. Thanks so much.

The U.S. has launched a large retaliatory attack on 35 Islamic state targets in Syria. A U.S. official tells CNN more than two dozen aircraft fired 90 precision munitions. The raid was ordered after an ISIS shooter killed two U.S. service members and an interpreter last month in Hamouriyah (ph), Syria. The two service members were both from Iowa's National Guard, which is why the mission is named Operation Hawkeye.

The operation's goal is to deliver a significant blow to ISIS remnants in the region. Hundreds of U.S. troops are being deployed in Syria as the U.S. fights ISIS in the region.

Meanwhile, after days of intense fighting, Kurdish-led forces withdrew from Syria's second largest city ending violent clashes with Syria's army. The Kurdish commander says his forces left Aleppo after an agreement was worked out with Syria's army, fighting in the region, displaced thousands of residents.

CNN's Polo Sandoval explains how we got here.

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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Aleppo once again at the center of a power struggle in Syria after heavy clashes erupted this week between Syria's central government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces or SDF. More than 140,000 people have fled their homes, according to Syrian authorities.

SMER ISSA, ALEPPO RESIDENT: The shelling intensified, and I have young children. We left because our children could no longer endure the hits and the shelling. As you can see, our situation is heartbreaking.

SANDOVAL: The Syrian government says that its forces were responding to attacks coming from Kurdish held neighborhoods. But Kurdish groups say that the government is trying to displace the city's remaining Kurdish residents.

The fighting coming after little progress has been made to implement a deal brokered last year to integrate the SDF into the Syrian army. Syria's president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, has vowed to unify the country but there is deep distrust among Syria's minority communities towards the Islamist administration.

The SDF controls much of Northeastern Syria after it helped to defeat the ISIS caliphate in 2019 with the support of a U.S.-led global coalition. And the U.S. is trying to mediate the crisis, balancing its long-term ties with the SDF and its new relations with the Syrian government. Al-Sharaa, former leader of an Al-Qaeda-backed army, met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House last year, even played a game of basketball with U.S. officials,

TRUMP: The Kurds and the Syrian government, we get along with both, as you know very well. They have been natural enemies over the years, but we get along both and we want to see serious succeed. And so far, I think they are succeeding, but this is just breaking out and we want to see that stopped.

SANDOVAL: Turkey also upping the stakes, saying it considers the SDF to be a terror group and could intervene militarily if the SDF does not merge into the Syrian army.

The situation in Aleppo highlighting how much is still unresolved in Syria and how precarious its future could be.

Polo Sandoval, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Thousands of people march through the snow in Minneapolis on Saturday to protest ICE. Demonstrations have been held every day since 37-year-old mother Rene Good was killed on Wednesday by an immigration officer. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says the vast majority of protesters there are peaceful. Demonstrations are spreading across the U.S. with more than 1,000 planned for this weekend. People have been chanting Rene Good's name and calling on ICE to get out of local communities.

CNN's Omar Jimenez was on the ground in Minneapolis following the demonstrations all across the city.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: We're at the site of where Renee Good was shot and killed. And, really, this has become a place to reflect, a place for protests at times, a place for chance, or really a place to remember Renee Good, even days removed from this particular shooting.

[03:15:03]

But as you can see, there are chance that breakout at times protesting against federal immigration enforcement being here in the City of Minneapolis. And as cars come through, there are oftentimes they're beeping in support of these protesters.

But it really has been a day of protest here in Minneapolis. Earlier, we were tracking a protest that was by the thousands, starting out of one of the major parks here in the Minneapolis area, as they marched through the city. That was one of those pre-planned, but on a day like this, where I know you probably can't feel it through the T.V., but it is definitely the coldest day has been since this particular shooting. That did not sway -- it did not seem to sway, I should say, anybody that came out because it truly was a large turnout.

And then over at this federal building that is miles from where I'm standing right now, a little bit closer to the airport, that has been the scene of a little bit more tense confrontational protests. And the reason for that is we typically see federal law enforcement there forming a line at the perimeter of that complex, and then protesters face off with them there, yelling things at them, sometimes throwing snowballs at them, and as their vehicles pull out of the complex or into the complex, they'll throw snowballs or yell or taunt at them.

And so that will then prompt law enforcement to push out into the crowd at times. You showed some of the footage a little bit earlier. That might be a flash bang, that might be firing pepper balls, in some cases, spraying things as well. And so those protests have been a little bit more confrontational. Last night we saw hundreds of protesters in downtown Minneapolis targeting hotels where they believed federal immigration agents were staying. So, that's truly making as much noise as possible, like banging on drums, blowing whistles, but also shining lights in the windows of the hotels as well.

When you come back here to where we are at this particular site, it has been a steady stream of people visiting this ever-growing memorial site here. And it's almost become a mini community within itself as people bring food, they bring tea, they make coffee for people who come to visit. We've seen people of all ages come and stop by, and I can tell you that being here for days now, there does not seem to be any indication that the momentum that is bringing people here is stopping.

HUNTE: Still ahead, Ukraine faces its fourth winter since Russia launched its invasion. Why this one could be the darkest and coldest one yet.

And a week after the U.S. captured the Venezuelan president, his supporters there are taking to the streets to demand his returns.

Stay with us.

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HUNTE: Demonstrations in Tel Aviv on Saturday saw Israelis calling for an independent investigation into the 2023 events of October 7th. Protesters also demanded a change in government. Many said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has refused to be held accountable for its role in the attack led by Hamas that triggered the war in Gaza.

The remains of the last Israeli hostage have still not been returned from Gaza. A peace plan brokered by the U.S. government is dependent on his retrieval.

One woman is dead and three others are injured after an overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the southern Russian City of Voronezh, according to the region's governor. The governor went on to say, quote, I am sure that retribution will be inevitable.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's president says his top negotiator is again in contact with U.S. officials, part of a daily dialogue on a framework to end Russia's war in Ukraine. In his Saturday evening address, Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the ongoing conflict.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Only Russia is the source of this war. The reason for prolonging the war and deserves all the blows and pressure in response for everything it does against life and people, against diplomacy, against partners.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: In Ukraine's capital, residents were forced to brave below freezing temperatures without heat, power or water. As the fourth anniversary of Russia's war approaches, Ukrainians prepare for what could be their coldest and darkest winter yet.

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HUNTE (on camera): 85-year-old Serhii is bundled up in a hat and coat inside his Kyiv apartment. It's more than ten degrees below zero Celsius outside, but it's freezing inside too after Russian strikes recently cut off power, water, and heat to many parts of the city.

SERHII PRZHISTOVSKY, KYIV RESIDENT: Before the strike, it was good, normal warmth. We had everything. Until they turn the heat back on, I'll have to sleep in my clothes,

HUNTE: Serhii's apartment is stocked with piles of blankets and buckets of snow to melt for water. With the city's infrastructure under repeated attack, residents have learned a trick or two on how to survive.

PRZHISTOVSKY: Well, thank God they fixed the electricity in our building entrance. They connected it properly. Now I can even heat up a little water.

HUNTE: 71-year-old Kyiv resident Halyna says she too is prepared for times like these and says she'll have a hot meal with or without her power returning.

HALYNA TURCHYN, KYIV RESIDENT: These little gas canisters, we use them to heat things up. Today, we'll cook something to eat because we haven't cooked anything for two days already.

HUNTE: But nearly four years of war is taking a toll on Kyiv's electricity grid. On Saturday, the country's national energy grid operator temporarily shut off emergency power so engineers could repair the damage done by the strikes. Officials say planned hourly outages are gradually returning.

But Kyiv's mayor is urging people to use electricity sparingly to avoid overloading the system. Temperatures are expected to drop and there will inevitably be another round of Russian airstrikes, cold facts in a city that's become acclimated to winter at war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE (on camera): Venezuelans protested in the capital, Caracas, on Saturday against the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro and the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, saying they hope Maduro will return to the country. The ousted leader and his wife are currently being held in Brooklyn's notorious Metropolitan Detention Center, where they've pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges.

[03:25:00] Meanwhile, American oil executives say they are reluctant to invest in Venezuela for now. CEOs met at the White House on Friday expressing skepticism over Trump's plan to ensure the country's long-term stability. There were no major commitments from the companies to invest billions of dollars in Venezuela, but Trump appeared confident talking to reporters after that meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We just had a great meeting with the oil executives. We sort of formed a deal. They're going to be going in with hundreds of billions of dollars and drilling oil, and it's good for Venezuela and it's great for the United States. A lot of money is going to be made. Oil prices will come down, although they are getting down pretty good now without it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Greenlanders are saying they're worried about Trump's escalating threats to their country, including his recent warning that the U.S. would take Greenland the, quote, easy way or the hard way.

CNN's Nic Robertson has more from the Arctic territory.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: It is hard to imagine this remote, tranquil, Arctic wilderness is at the heart of a geopolitical crisis that is pitting the United States against its NATO allies and threatens the upend decades of global security. People here in Greenland are worried about what President Trump is saying. The latest things that he is saying is he can either have Greenland the easy way or the hard way.

And what it is that people of Greenland treasure most, it is the tranquility. It is the closeness to nature. It is their culture here, their rights to go hunting, to go fishing. And they're worried that if the United States takes control of Greenland, all of that changes, plunging this, the world's 12th largest country, a population of only 57,000 people, into uncertainty.

And I was speaking to someone here just a little earlier and he said to me, look, what can we do if President Trump wants to take this country by force? We don't have a choice. So, people are really concerned at this moment.

Nic Robertson, CNN on Nuukville ([h), Greenland.

HUNTE: When we return, the fourth straight day of protest in Minneapolis, as outrage spreads over a deadly shooting at the hands of an ICE agent.

Plus, New York's new mayor is speaking out against pro-Hamas protests. Just ahead, why Zohran Mamdani says the acts have no place in the city.

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HUNTE: Welcome back. I'm Ben Hunte. Let's take a look at today's top stories.

A U.S.-based human rights group says at least 78 protesters have been killed in Iran in the past two weeks. Despite this, anti-government demonstrations continue across the country. Protesters say security forces are firing tear gas and live bullets into crowds of people. U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to attack Iran's government if it attacks protesters.

The U.S. carried out a large retaliatory strike on Islamic State Forces in Syria on Saturday. A U.S. official tells CNN more than two dozen aircraft fired, 90 precision munitions at 35 targets. The attack was ordered after an ISIS gunman killed two American service members and an interpreter last month.

The U.S. saw widespread demonstrations across the country on Saturday. Protesters are demanding justice for Rene Good, who was killed this week by an immigration officer in Minneapolis. Major cities, like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, all drew large crowds.

Snow and cold temperatures did not stop thousands of protesters from marching in Minneapolis.

Law enforcement is expecting demonstrations to continue throughout the weekend. People who have been holding up anti-ICE signs and chanting Rene Good's name. Many protesters are fearful that a similar incident could happen again and are pushing lawmakers to pass legislation to reform ICE.

Earlier, I spoke with CNN Senior Political Analyst Ron Brownstein about the nationwide protest that we've been seeing. I asked him if he believes their size and intensity have met expectations, or whether the public reaction has been smaller than anticipated. Here's some of what he said.

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RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: I do think that there is a clear delineation developing and has developed in public opinion about Trump's immigration agenda. There was a lot of frustration by the end of the Biden administration over their policies toward the border, and Trump, from the outset, has had majority support for the steps he has taken to regain control of the border. The numbers have slightly deteriorated but he still has majority support for his approach to the border.

The public, however, is differentiating the border from interior enforcement and the deportation agenda and, you know, the confrontational highly militarized images that you really can't avoid. And even before this tragic shooting a few days ago in Minneapolis. You had multiple polls where the majority of the public now saying that the approach to deportation, again, distinct from the border, has gone too far. Trump's approval on handling immigration is down to 35 percent in Gallup polling. It isn't quite that low in some others, but it is at majority disapproval.

So, I suspect that whatever level of people we see in the street, the direction they are heading. On the way they are trying to deal with this problem in the interior of the country, this kind of mass militarized presence in big cities, is on a trajectory to have declining public support.

HUNTE: I just want to dig into that a bit more because as you say, even before the shooting polls were already showing a split on immigration enforcement. While Trump still does get strong support on border security, more voters say he's gone too far on deportations. How significant do you think this split is for the White House though?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, I mean, that really is the question. I mean, we are -- you know, the amazing thing and the kind of the ominous thing to think about is if you kind of look at how much strain and tension, economic, social, political, 16 shootings, I believe, by ICE in enforcement operations in this first year, and we are only at the very beginning of what they have in mind. I mean, they're -- you know, the reconciliation bill last summer gave $75 billion increase to ICE.

[03:35:05]

That money is only beginning to flow. They're planning to hire 10,000 more agents.

So, what we have seen in Minneapolis is going to become much more common and potentially much more prolonged. And, you know, it does kind of create a dynamic in which things are going to be happen -- that are going -- are inevitably going to happen, that are are going to be increasingly difficult for, I think, other Republicans to stand behind.

I think there is a limit on how many middle-aged white, frankly, observers you can shoot in this country without having a truly explosive public reaction.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is criticizing pro-Hamas protestors who gathered outside a synagogue yelling anti-Semitic chants on Thursday. Mamdani, who has described himself as pro- Palestinian, released a statement in part saying, quote, as I made clear, the rhetoric and displays that we saw and heard in Kew Gardens Hills last night are wrong and have no place in our city.

CNN's Gloria Pazmino has the latest.

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's been some controversy around this protest that was staged on Thursday in the Queens section of New York City, home to a predominantly Jewish community. The protest was staged outside of a synagogue and also next to a yeshiva a school in this neighborhood.

And the synagogue was hosting an event where they provide information and resources to people who are interested in moving back to Israel or purchasing land in Israel. And that is where the controversy sort of begins, because those types of events have drawn critics and protests in the past, and that's what was happening on Thursday night.

Now, there were some protesters as well as some counter-protesters, but it was what the protesters were chanting and saying at this demonstration that caused controversy and got a lot of reaction because they were specifically chanting support for Hamas.

That, of course, got the attention of a lot of people. It made its way on social media. The videos went viral. And there were several New York lawmakers, including the governor and the state attorney general, who issued statements condemning the language and the actions of those protesters.

And throughout that time, there were several hours that went by where we did not hear from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and that is what has created some backlash for this new mayor, because of his delay in responding to this event.

Now, the mayor did eventually issue a statement several hours after the fact. And that's what created a lot of frustration among some people, including some of his supporters. I've spoken to sources of mine who told me that they were frustrated seeing that there was such a delay in his response given that what was being said at this protest to them was a very clear crossing off the line, right, expressing support for Hamas, something that you never want to endorse and you certainly don't want to see a mayor not responding immediately to.

So, the mayor did eventually issue a response and here's what he had to say about it on Saturday when he was asked about it again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D-NEW YORK CITY, NY): So I actually was asked a question around that same time where I made very clear something that is consistent with my own politics and my own policies, which is not only was that wrong, but also that it has no place in our city. There's no place for support for a terrorist organization in New York City, and I want to say that very clearly to New Yorkers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: Now, of course the context of all of this and why it has created some controversy is because the Israel-Palestine issue continues to be a significant flashpoint here in New York City. It was a major topic during the mayoral election, and Zohran Mamdani is a critic of the Israeli government and their actions in Palestine and in the Gaza Strip, and that is something he has been very outspoken about. It has also led to some in the Jewish community being sort of skeptical about him and not wanting to support him.

Now, the mayor has made it clear that his administration will make sure that Jewish people are protected, that people also have the right to protest. And you can see in his most recent statement that he was more forceful and clear in condemning Hamas, referring to them as a terrorist organization. So, I think it was an early first test for the mayor in how he responds to these kinds of events, and we saw that there was some frustration from some of his allies about the length of time that it took for him to respond.

Gloria Pazmino, CNN, New York.

[03:40:00]

HUNTE: Four crew members on the International Space Station are coming back early. Just ahead, we will talk to a former NASA astronaut about the unprecedented decision based on a medical issue.

See you in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HUNTE: Welcome back. NASA has given further details about the unusual medical evacuation of the crew of the International Space Station. The space agency says one crew member has a medical issue, but no other details have been made public just yet. The crew includes two Americans as well as a Japanese astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut. They are scheduled to return to Earth in this coming week aboard a SpaceX capsule.

Leroy Chiao is a former NASA astronaut and he joins us from Houston, Texas. Thanks so much for being with me, Leroy. How are you doing?

LEROY CHIAO, FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT AND ISS COMMANDER: My pleasure. Good to be with you.

HUNTE: Good to see you.

Let's talk space. NASA says this is the first time that a crew has returned early for medical reason in the entire 25-year history of this International Space Station. Were you surprised to hear the news and what does it tell us about how high the bar is for making this kind of call?

CHIAO: Yes, I was a bit surprised because as you pointed out, this is the first time in the history of the ISS program that we are ending a mission early for medical reasons. You know, astronauts, of course, are in excellent health and we have quite a good medical kid on board and train people to help us, of course, doctors on the ground. And so this is not something that we didn't expect ever, but it's the first time it's happened, so it's a little bit of a surprise.

HUNTE: One thing that's getting me is that NASA keeps stressing, this is not an emergency situation, but it definitely sounds like an emergency situation, right? Can you break down for us what kinds of medical issues could possibly push the mission managers into deciding to bring back the crew home early?

[03:45:04]

CHIAO: Sure. I mean, NASA has stated that this is not an immediate emergency. It's a concern. There was some kind of a medical event on board, but the patient is stabilized and not in immediate danger. But just out of an abundance of caution, it sounds like the medical folks would like to bring the crew down so that this individual may be worked up additionally just to be on the safe side.

So, it's hard to say what it could be. You know, we generally have a good kid on board and capabilities to treat a lot of different things. But, you know, one thing we talk about, which is not the case here because it's not an immediate emergency, you know, we think about when we're going to Mars, for example, what about the crew? What if they have -- somebody has an appendicitis, you know? What are we going to do? And so there's been talk about, well, when, if and when we do send a crew to Mars, maybe we proactively have everyone that's going to go have their appendix taken out, you know, proactively.

So, clearly not the case here, but it's hard to say what it might be, but, clearly, it's something that was dealt with. But the doctors here would just like to make sure and have this person worked up more formally on the ground. So, hard to speculate what it might be, but it sounds like it's not an immediate concern.

HUNTE: And NASA is being extremely careful to not identify the astronaut or the medical issue. Is that typical in a situation like this? And how do agencies balance transparency with protecting crew welfare?

CHIAO: Well, sure. I mean, this is an issue of legality, really. You know, we have the HIPAA laws and things like that, and so NASA is very careful to be adherent to those laws. And in those cases, of course, they're not going to identify the individual or any -- the medical issue at hand. You know, perhaps after everything is taken care of, I'm sure NASA will have more to say on it. But just to respect the patient's rights and the HIPAA laws, you know, this is about all they can say.

HUNTE: I did also like seeing that the Japanese space agency was like, it is not our astronaut, but no one else said anything yet.

With the crew leaving early, how is that going to impact the mission and the science experiments?

CHIAO: That will impact some of the science, you know, operations on board. Three -- certainly the station is capable of being run by three crew members. They can certainly do all the maintenance and repair issues that are going on and might come up. But, yes, there will be an impact to science operations, no question with these other crew members leaving a bit early. But it'll only be for a few months. The next crew was scheduled to launch soon, and so the impact will be there, but won't be too bad.

HUNTE: How do you think this could impact NASA's Artemis mission, which is still scheduled for next month and should see four astronauts sent to the moon and back, so that's even further without landing?

CHIAO: This should have no impact on the Artemis 2 flight scheduled right now hopefully for early February. NASA has not nailed down an exact launch date, but these operations on board ISS are completely separate from the Artemis 2 mission, the upcoming Artemis 2 mission. So, I think that will go ahead and proceed as planned hopefully in early February.

HUNTE: Okay. Well, we'll leave it there for now. I'll probably speak to it again when we know more about what's happening next.

Former NASA Astronaut Leroy Chiao, thanks so much.

CHIAO: Okay.

HUNTE: Some sad news to bring you, Bob Weir Wir has died. Ahead, we will tell you about the accomplishments of the Grateful Dead co- founder, guitarist and songwriter, and how his daughter is remembering him.

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HUNTE: Welcome back. Bob Weir, an original member of the legendary rock group, the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78. Weir helped found the band 60 years ago in San Francisco and toured endlessly with them and others in the years that followed. Fans affectionately nicknamed Deadheads followed Weir and the band's every stop.

The rhythm guitarist and singer treated them to songs he wrote or co- wrote, like Sugar Magnolia and Trucking. His daughter, Chloe, said Weir had beaten cancer but succumbed to lung issues. She wrote that her dad's work was, quote, warm sunlight that filled the room.

The NFL playoffs wild card round kicked off on Saturday. The Green Bay Packers started strong against Chicago, but the Bears clawed back in the fourth quarter to erase an 18-point deficit and win 31-27. Chicago's comeback was led by rookie Quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for 361 yards and 2 touchdowns in his post-season debut.

And the L.A. Rams edged to Carolina Panthers 34-31. Quarterback and MVP Candidate Matthew Stafford tossed three touchdowns for the win. It was a close game with the Panthers seizing a fourth quarter lead and forcing Stafford to engineer a late scoring drive in the final minute. But the favorite Rams held on to advance into next week's divisional round.

In England's F.A. Cup football competition, there's been a remarkable upset. CNN World Sport's Patrick Snell has all of the details.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Well, they call it the magic of the cup, and now we know why England's F.A. Cup is the oldest cup competition of them all. It dates all the way back to 1871, that's 155 years ago, a tournament steeped in history and a chance for the traditionally the tiny clubs to take on the big glam boys to get biblical, think David versus Goliath.

Non-league Macclesfield are in the sixth tier of the English football pyramid. They're managed by John Rooney, Wayne's brother. They're a club based in the northwest of the country. They were expelled from the National League as well five years ago with debts totaling more than half a million pounds before being saved by a local businessman.

On Saturday, they faced the cup holders, Crystal Palace, and what a storyline we would witness in this third round encounter, a tiny Moss Rose, which holds just under 5,000 fans, though fans in total shock as the captain for Macclesfield, Paul Dawson, putting his team ahead against all the odds against Palace, who were 117 places above Macclesfield.

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It's a good header and a shock of gargantuan proportions was on the cards as the Silk Man looked to become the first non-league team to eliminate the defending champions in 117 years.

Then just past the hour mark, it's Maccelsfield scoring again, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts improvising brilliantly, finds the back of the net, and the ground just erupts. Palace got one back but it matters not. Macclesfield recording the biggest shock in F.A. Cup history, and don't let fans know it, the ultimate Cinderella story, yet another reason why we all love England's F.A. Cup.

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PAUL DAWSON, MACCLESFIELD CAPTAIN: It's immense achievement, to be honest. I'm proud of the boys, proud of everyone, proud of the fans. You can see what it means to all the fans behind us. It's a really communicate club and, yes, no, I'm really proud.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: By a day of jubilation, no question, for all concerned at a proud club that is Macclesfield. But a poignant occasion too, it was just before Christmas that one of the team's young players passed away following a car accident.

And these then the scenes inside the dressing room of the home team afterwards, as Ethan's parents joining players and staff after the historic match. I just can't imagine what they're even going through at this point, a special moment to share and a really poignant one to witness as well.

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DAWSON: Yes, that was for him. That was for him, the big team performance. We dug him really well, and that was for Ethan.

ISAAC BUCKLEY-RICKETTS, MACCLESFIELD FORWARD: I was thinking about it literally whilst the game of final whistle, and I'm thinking Ethan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: Yes, a truly emotional, historic weekend for Macclesfield. They'll find out their fourth round opponents in Monday's draw.

And with that, it's right back to you.

HUNTE: That's all I've got for you. Thanks for joining me and the team. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta. There is so much more CNN Newsroom after this quick break.

See you in a moment.

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