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No Kings Demonstrations Protesting President Trump's Policies Take Place in Numerous U.S. Cities: Congress Takes Two-Week Break after Failing to Pass Bill Funding Department of Homeland Security; President Trump Issues Order to Pay Airport Transportation Security Administration Workers; Houthi Rebels in Yemen Launch Missiles at Israel, Potentially Opening New Front in Middle East Conflict; At Least 10 U.S. Service Members Injured by Iranian Attack on Saudi Air Base Used by U.S. Forces; Trump Administration May Attempt Negotiations with Iranian Parliamentary Leader Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf to End Iran Conflict. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired March 28, 2026 - 14:00   ET

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

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[14:00:13]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Americans are taking to the streets this hour with thousands of No Kings protests underway or planned across the country today, including this massive one taking place right now in Philadelphia. Organizers say they expect millions of people to attend these rallies protesting President Trump's policies, the higher cost of living, and the war with Iran. In all, more than 3,000 demonstrations are planned coast to coast. And this is the third time No Kings protests have taken place since Trump began his second term as president.

We've got a team of correspondents covering these protests. Veronica Miracle is in Chicago for us. But let's get started with Shimon Prokupecz in the twin cities in Minnesota. Shimon, what are you seeing there in Saint Paul?

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're in Saint Paul at the capital. Thousands of people, the entire grounds of -- some of the farmers and some of the people, who have been marching --

WHITFIELD: All right, sorry about that, folks. Our signal there not so good in Saint Paul with Shimon Prokupecz. But you could see the picture right there. Huge turnout. If we're able to reestablish a connection with him, we'll try it again.

Right now, let's go to Chicago. Veronica Miracle is there. People were assembling last hour. What's it looking like now?

VERONICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the event is almost getting started. There are hundreds of thousands of people that are here, people from all walks of life, all different ages. Many people dressed up in costumes. We have signs that run the gamut. A lot of, you know, anti-Trump rhetoric. Of course, it's a No Kings protest. So that's what you would expect. And a lot of the people that we've spoken to here today say that this is not their first protest, this is not their first No Kings protest. And there are a lot of people who are just very impassioned. They want to see Trump impeached. Take a listen to what one woman had to say.

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MARIA ISABEL TREJO, "NO KINGS" PROTESTOR: I hope he gets the message that we mean business and were going to -- we want to send him a message that he needs to be impeached. We need to call him out on his atrocities and his unfair practices. I mean, it's bad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MIRACLE: So you can see the scope of the crowd behind me, but this goes all the way past us here in this little area, all the way to Grand Fields all throughout. And then this is the stage here where the speakers, a lineup of speakers are about to take the stage. and then this whole crowd will walk together all the way through the city, past Trump Tower, and back right here. They had about 250,000 people show up for the last No Kings event in October. They're hoping to possibly double that. We'll have to see what the numbers are.

And they're also hoping for a very peaceful event. They have hundreds of volunteers to try and de-escalate any situation that might arise. And of course, all the streets will be blocked off. And you know, the way will be made safe for everybody to be able to protest and have their voices heard here in Chicago. We'll be following this all day. Back to you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Veronica Miracle, we'll check back with you. Thanks so much.

All right, the killings of anti-ICE protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti prompted outrage in Minneapolis and across the country. Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse. Renee Good was a 37-year-old mother of three. Both were shot and killed by federal agents as they protested the immigration crackdown in Minnesota earlier this year.

Joining us now to discuss what's driving todays No Kings protests is CNN law enforcement analyst and former Secret Service agent Jonathan Wackrow. Always great to see you, Jonathan. I mean, there was a lot of video from both of these shootings that really stirred a lot of emotions. Are the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, you know, acting as sort of a catalyst of today's protests, particularly in Minneapolis?

JONATHAN WACKROW, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, good afternoon, Fred. It's great to be with you again.

And what we actually know is that, you know, the immigration enforcement issues that have been going on over the last year, especially the tactics that are deployed by ICE, remain a central flashpoint. And the catalytic impact that the killing of Mr. Pretti and Miss Good had is not lost on law enforcement today as the backdrop of these protests, because these specific incidents serve as really a national rallying point that are significantly increasing the turnout to these protests across the nation.

[14:05:06]

But they also serve as this emotional intensity around the protests. And it is this point, this emotional volatility on the ground during the protests that law enforcement knows that there can be this increased likelihood that we really switch to a spontaneous escalation at any moment, moving from peaceful protests to potential unrest. So the killing of these two individuals, the tragic killings, really are serving as a as a key element in what will happen today during these protests.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Well, then help me, help us all understand how that volatility kind of either heightens the sensitivity or, you know, a level of anxiety, particularly in that city, whether you're the demonstrator or whether you are a part of law enforcement with that kind of perspective of what happened earlier this year and how things should be handled today.

WACKROW: Well, you know, the way that they're handled is not too different than you would with any type of, you know, highly emotionally or highly charged protest movement. Law enforcement knows the model here, and the model is about de-escalation. And law enforcement plays a very important role today because their primary responsibility is in two parts. One, it's to protect the constitutional right of these protesters to go out and engage in this free speech activity, free from anybody interrupting them. But it's also to maintain civil order.

And the way that they're going to do that is if you see any type of counterprotests or any type of escalation, making sure that groups are separated, that law enforcement has the right amount of escalation plans in place. So should they need to alter their posture and engage or stop any type of unrest or nefarious individuals acting as a catalyst to try to change the tone and tenor of these protests, that they have the ability to do that. And they can't do it alone. Law enforcement works with their federal, state, and local partners, all in trying to coordinate a peaceful outcome for today's protests.

WHITFIELD: Well, speaking of federal, the FBI has refused to cooperate with state investigators as it pertains to Pretti and Good. You know, just this week, Minnesota filed a federal lawsuit against Homeland Security and the Justice Department over the evidence in those shootings. How unusual is that, in your view?

WACKROW: Well, Fred, it's not just unusual. It's a breakdown in the normal cooperation model between federal and state law enforcement. And when you have this type of breakdown, it's not just a legal issue. What this becomes is a real public trust issue. And again, this is the backdrop of today. When we talk about a convergence of multiple pressure points that are fueling the No Kings rally, this is a prime example. We're living in a crisis of confidence right now around the institutions and authority of the federal government.

And when trusted institutions can't work together on such critical matters, why should the public trust them anymore? And that's the underlying theme that you will see throughout today across the country with these protests.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jonathan Wackrow, we'll leave it there for now. Thank you so much.

WACKROW: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, still ahead, airports across the country dealing with fallout from the DHS funding fight that has no end in sight. We're live from Capitol Hill and the busiest airport in the world with the latest.

And later U.S. troops injured in an attack on an air base in Saudi Arabia as thousands more service members arrive in the Middle East.

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WHITFIELD: All right, happening right now, Congress is on a two-week break after failing to move forward on an agreement to end the partial U.S. government shutdown. In the meantime, thousands of TSA workers have now missed their second full paychecks. Hundreds have quit, and even more are calling out as they struggle to pay their own bills. And the chaos at the country's airports, well, it continues.

CNNs Camila DeChalus is in Washington, D.C., following the latest moves to fund the DHS and to end the shutdown. Camila, what can you tell us?

CAMILA DECHALUS, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Fred, at this point in time, there's still no end in sight to this partial government shutdown. We are now on day 43, and lawmakers really remain at a standstill. Just late last night, the House passed its own version of funding the Department of Homeland Security. It included an eight-week short term spending bill, and it also included money for immigration enforcement and border patrol.

Now, why that's very notable is because just hours before the Senate passed a bipartisan funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security but excluded money for border patrol and immigration enforcement. And really, this was a way for House Republicans to make very clear that they have no interest of passing the Senate version of this bill and to send a really sharp message. Take a listen to what the house speaker, Mike Johnson, had to say.

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REP. MIKE JOHNSON, (R-LA) HOUSE SPEAKER: The Republicans are not going to be any part of any effort to reopen our borders or to stop immigration enforcement.

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This gambit that was done last night is a joke. I'm quite convinced that it can't be that every Senate Republican read the language of this bill. The reason that we can't accept this ridiculousness, OK, is because we're not going to risk not funding the agencies that keep the American people safe.

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DECHALUS: And so you hear there, a lot of house Republicans told me the same thing, that they are not comfortable with passing a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security unless it includes funding for all of the federal agencies, not just some.

Now, I spoke to some Senate Democrats and I asked them, are they even going to take up this House bill? And they said it will be dead on arrival, that they have no interest in supporting this bill. And so at this point in time, the timing of this is very unclear. You have both house lawmakers and senators leaving Washington, D.C., for at least two weeks, and both chambers are really not interested in taking up their side of the bill. And so really, at this point, this partial government shutdown can realistically hang on longer. But we're not really sure exactly when lawmakers are going to get together again and try to move forward with their plans on ending this partial government shutdown.

WHITFIELD: All right, Camila DeChalus, thank you so much in Washington.

All right, let's go to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, where we find our Rafael Romo right there near those TSA checkpoints. How does it look? I don't see too many lines behind you. What does that mean?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: Oh, Fred, this is so much better than we've seen from last weekend, especially during the week. And we've seen almost no lines and very happy passengers here at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Although that's not the case at other airports, like Bush Intercontinental and Houston, where lines extended for more than two hours early Saturday morning. Here at the main checkpoint area, at one point, as many as 11 out of 18 lanes were open, which is among the most active we have seen since the partial government shutdown began in mid-February.

What we've seen at this airport, and it's also happening at others across the nation, is that ICE agents have started verifying travelers' I.D.s, as DHS confirmed on Wednesday. It's unclear, Fred, if ICE's presence has made a difference in the lines. DHS added that the agents have also been guarding entrances and exits, helping with logistics and crowd control after receiving what they called standard TSA training. According to a union steward here in Atlanta, that kind of training takes about four hours to complete.

We spoke with several passengers here at the airport who were relieved to find out that the lines were not bad at all, but were still concerned that Congress hasn't been able to come to an agreement to pay TSA screeners. This is what they had to say.

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ASHLEY BROOKS, TRAVELER: I think it's horrible. You know, so many people are working very hard. I know the TSA agents are working very hard, so definitely hope they get paid what they deserved very soon and quickly.

BILL MUSGRAVE, TRAVELING BACK TO CHATTANOOGA: It looks surprisingly below where I figured it would be. But, you know, it's always nice to be pleasantly surprised every once in a while.

ROMO: What do you make of the whole situation that the government shutdown is still going on, TSA workers are still not getting paid?

MUSGRAVE: I don't want to really get political on camera, but I will tell you in November, I will remember.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: You heard that right, Fred. In November, I will remember, he said. TSA screeners received a message from their employer Friday night saying that, quote, "At the direction of President Trump, TSA is paying all employees what they are owed," adding that employees should expect most of their back pay in their direct deposit starting on Monday, March 30th. A union steward here in Atlanta shared with me the message that TSA employees across the nation have received and that also specifies that all employees must return to work on the next scheduled workday.

Fred, now back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, fascinating. I know folks are really hoping that they see that money in their accounts as early as Monday. Rafael Romo, thank you so much.

All right, still ahead, an Iranian backed group enters the war in the Middle East with strikes on Israel. The latest details live from the region.

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WHITFIELD: Live pictures right now of Austin, Texas, where Austin is one of the many cities across the country holding its No Kings demonstrations. There are more than 3,000, in fact, planned demonstrations nationwide today as protesters rally against President Trump's policies, including his decision to go to war with Iran. Our reporters are at protests across the country. We'll bring you the very latest.

All right, now to the Middle East, where a new series of strikes today is fueling tensions across the region. At least 10 U.S. Troops are reported injured after Iran attacked an air base in Saudi Arabia used by the U.S. military. And in Yemen, Houthi rebels today are claiming responsibility for new attacks launched against Israel, marking their entrance into the months long conflict against Iran that shows no signs so far of letting up.

CNN anchor and chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto is in Tel Aviv for us. Jim, Israel has been taking on attacks from Iran and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, and now add the Houthis to the equation. How significant is this?

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JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Listen, it's significant. This was already a multi-front war from Israel's perspective, certainly, of course, attacking Iran, but also attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon, that war expanding as well, but also from Iran's perspective, because not only is it striking here in Israel, but multiple gulf neighbors as well, from Saudi Arabia to Kuwait to Qatar to Dubai, all getting strikes from Iran.

Now you add the Houthis in Yemen, and it's really fire in two directions that's of concern towards Israel here. But the potential of those rebels attacking shipping in the Red Sea once again, which would certainly impact economic issues, not just in the Strait of Hormuz now, all that oil going through, but what was an alternate route through the Red Sea. Multiple fronts, and now we're adding to those fronts.

CNN chief global affairs correspondent Matthew Chance is on one of those fronts in Doha, Qatar, which has received its own share of attacks. Matthew, I wonder what the level of economic concern there is where you are right now, because already you have the impact of restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. With the Houthis joining the fight, is there concern now that the Red Sea becomes dangerous territory?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I mean, yes, I mean, there's definitely that concern. The Houthis have a pretty big arsenal of ballistic missiles, and which we've seen tonight with the two missiles that were fired at Israel, they're prepared to use them.

But they're also geographically located in a place which gives them the ability to exert control over access to the Red Sea. The Bab al- Mandeb Strait, another strait which is an essential energy and trade route in this region. And if they choose to close that off, it's going to create all sorts of problems with global energy and global trade transfers, problems have already been, you know, kind of compounded by the virtual blocking of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.

But look, I mean, there's a great deal of economic impact that's already been felt in this region. Qatar here has said that it suffered billions of dollars of costs as a result of the cut off of the Strait of Hormuz and the attacks on its energy infrastructure. It has described the economic impact so far as catastrophic.

You extrapolate that across the region to the various kingdoms and monarchies here that are energy rich and dependent on energy exports for their income, and we're looking at massive financial costs and a great deal of concern about how much worse the situation could get if the war in Iran escalates, Jim.

SCIUTTO: And I wonder if there is concern as well that whatever agreement, if there is a true agreement that can be reached between the U.S. and Iran, there must be concern there about how the issue of the strait is dealt with going forward, because I'm certain Gulf allies do not want to see Iran retaining the ability to, well, cut off traffic when it sees fit. I imagine they want guarantees that there will be some more permanent or more lasting solution to that problem.

CHANCE: They definitely want that. I mean, look, you know, with countries that are so dependent on the free flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz, obviously they want those straits reopened as soon as possible. But these Gulf Arab states do not speak with a single voice when it comes to the Islamic Republic. There are countries like Saudi Arabia, like Bahrain, like the United Arab Emirates, who are much more hard line about what needs to be done with Iran. And they're pressing for, you know, the -- to make sure that Iran can never pose the kind of threat that it has posed over the course of the past month since the Iran war began.

But there are other states like Qatar, like Oman, and like Kuwait, who are on the other side of that coin. And they want the war to end as soon as possible, whatever the cost, to try and sort of rebuild as much as they possibly can from here.

SCIUTTO: Matthew Chance in Doha, thanks so much.

Well, back in the U.S., as we've been reporting, many millions of people are protesting President Trump's leadership and policies. We're going to take you live to some of the largest rallies, also speak with one of today's speakers at the No Kings rally event in California.

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WHITFIELD: All right, we're back with our breaking news. Massive crowds are expected to take to the streets today to demonstrate against the Trump administration's policies. This is the third round of No Kings protests since the start of the president's second term. Donie O'Sullivan is in New York City, which is expecting massive crowds there today. Donie, what's it looking like?

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fred. Yes, I mean, from our perspective here at least, it's a massive demonstration.

[14:35:01]

We are just part of one stream here of people who -- of multiple streams of people who are making their way down through midtown Manhattan, down toward Times Square. This group, I mean, we had to walk six, seven blocks to even get to this point, and there's no end in sight on either side of this.

A lot of people we've been speaking to here, obviously this is the third No Kings demonstration. The first was last June. Second one was in October. And now we have today. And make sure you can see with the signs here, it's a combination of signs about Trump's threat to democracy, anti-ICE signs, and also, a lot of signs protesting the war in Iran. We spoke to, been speaking to demonstrators here all day. Take a listen to some of the folks we spoke to.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This democracy is only as strong as the people who defend it. And so what we're seeing here in New York and across the country is that as we have more incursions from this president, from the MAGA movement, attacks on public education, on health care, on immigration, on workers, tenants, consumers, queer people, that every day Americans are realizing that we have to come together to stand up to defend our democracy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People like me, the youth, are against this administration. We are anti-fascist, were anti-authoritarian, anti- tyranny, and we do not believe in ICE, nor Israel, nor the war in Iran

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O'SULLIVAN: So that's just some demonstrators. I'm here with Johanna (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Joanna (ph).

O'SULLIVAN: Joanna (ph). Why are you here today, Joanna (ph)?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm, I'm, so many -- too many. Like the sign said, there's not enough room on the sign to say why.

O'SULLIVAN: Is this your first No Kings?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, this is my third.

O'SULLIVAN: For people who are, who, I mean, obviously there's said to be millions of people showing up around the country at these thousands of demonstrations, but people who are at home who might have issues with this administration. What's your message to people who don't show out?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If we want to if we want a democracy, we have to participate in it and we have to save it. I mean, it's pretty simple. It's pretty simple. Like, we this is a country governed, that is allegedly governed by the people. And so the people have to stand up and take it back.

O'SULLIVAN: What's the biggest concern for you right now for what's happening in the country?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Probably the erosion of checks and balances and the completely unchecked power that has usurped and taken, and that elected leaders are just letting him continue to do. That's for me, that's the biggest thing.

O'SULLIVAN: And can I ask, what's your name? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Emma (ph).

O'SULLIVAN: Emma (ph), why are you here today? And what's the biggest concern for you right now? Why are you on the streets?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So many concerns. But the big concern is, like, we just stopped caring about the general good of everybody. And it became all about being number one and being the wealthiest and having all the power. And that's just not who we are as a country. We're nice people. We don't feel as a people, we don't like Trump. Most people don't. And it's embarrassing.

O'SULLIVAN: Thank you. Thanks for talking to us.

Fred, we'll chat to you a little later. As we say, this demonstration pretty big here, making its way down toward Times Square.

WHITFIELD: Right, as the demonstration is still very young. Lots more people to talk to. Donie O'Sullivan there in Manhattan, appreciate it.

All right, joining me right now to discuss is Steve Schmidt. He is the co-founder of the Citizens Committee known as the Save America Movement, and was an adviser to John McCain and George w Bush. Steve, great to see you. You know, let's begin with your organization. What led you to bring this committee together? And why are you speaking out today in this fashion?

STEVE SCHMIDT, CO-FOUNDER, SAVE AMERICA MOVEMENT: Yes, exactly. Well, we're an opposition committee, Fredricka. It's good to see you. And we're made up of American citizens from all 50 states. We have experts in the areas of public health and science and lands. We have artists, musicians. We have veterans. We have a cornucopia of the American mosaic that is in this moment come together to say, no, not in our name, that today, like millions of Americans, we're standing up and we're saying, No Kings. We want a lawful presidency. We want to see decency restored to the Oval Office, and we want to see values come back to the American presidency.

O'SULLIVAN: You've written that Trump and the White House are operating like a monarchy. What specifically comes to mind for you that, you know, inspires you to use that language?

[14:40:00]

SCHMIDT: Oh, goodness. I mean, Donald Trump has had from the very beginning a deep attachment to strongman mythology. "I alone can fix it." He's somebody who speaks constantly in the language of I and me. When he lost an election, he tried to overthrow the results by staging a coup. His administration has violated literally hundreds of court orders. The senior judge in Minnesota rebuking the Department of Homeland Security over and over again.

He has held forward this theory that the president alone can act. And that's not how the American system is set up. We're a republic. We have checks and balances. And in the end, we, the people, are sovereign. Donald Trump, when he sought to overturn the will of the people,

declared himself a king. A king says, I rule over you by some hereditary right. A president rules for a temporary period of time with limited power at the whim of the sovereign, which is the people, we, the people. And that's what we're protesting here today.

WHITFIELD: You're in the company of likeminded individuals, right? But then what do you say to Trump supporters who look at the gatherings across the country today and say, this only deepens the political divide?

SCHMIDT: Well, I would say to those Trump supporters, they're misguided. There's nothing more American than protest. And we must protest today, because all across America there are warehouses, million square foot warehouses, 500,000 square foot warehouses that are being turned into prisons for people that will receive no due process. And we must stand up for the dignity of those human beings, because our Americanism requires it. Our faith in the United States is grounded in the belief that all of us are created equal, endowed by a higher power than Donald Trump to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And the wrongs that are being conducted in this country in the name of the American people have to be opposed.

We watched two American citizens gunned down and then called domestic terrorists by their government. And so today, in 3,100 communities across this country, the names Renee Good and Alex Pretti are on the -- and the names are on the minds of their fellow citizens who carry forward. We will dissent from these abuses of power.

At this moment America has started a war that has become a quagmire one month in. We dissent to it. It is an unlawful war. There has been no congressional approval to it. There's been no debate about it. There's been no communication to the people about it. And we reject the entire premise.

WHITFIELD: All right, Steve Schmidt, we'll leave it there for now. Thank you so much for being with us.

SCHMIDT: You bet. Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: All right, still ahead, the latest on the war with Iran and the new signs that it is morphing into a wider regional conflict.

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[14:48:02]

SCIUTTO: Welcome back. I'm Jim Sciutto live in Tel Aviv. This is CNN's breaking news coverage of the war with Iran.

And here's what we're following this hour. A U.S. Official told CNN at least 10 U.S. Service members were injured in an Iranian attack on a Saudi air base used by U.S. Forces. The Iran backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen has now entered the war after it launched at least one, perhaps more, missiles towards Israel.

Also today, 11 people injured by falling debris from a missile intercepted over central Israel.

With me now is Holly Dagres. She's a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, curator of "The Iranist" Substack. Good to have you, Holly. Thanks so much for joining.

HOLLY DAGRES, SENIOR FELLOW, AT THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE: Thank you for having me, Jim, on the program.

SCIUTTO: So as we look to Iran now, President Trump wanted to get a friendlier, first of all, perhaps regime change there, but failing that, a friendlier regime there. And he seems to be looking at the parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, as perhaps the Iranian Delcy Rodrguez who he's proven capable of doing business with now in Venezuela. Do you think there is any substance to making that comparison? What do we know about Ghalibaf?

DAGRES: So. Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf is the speaker of parliament. I would argue that he's been waiting for this moment for a long time to lead his country. He's ran in four presidential elections, has failed. He has a background in the IRGC, was former police chief and former Tehran mayor.

And he is an interesting cat because, as you noted, he seems to be what the Trump administration has in mind as a Delcy Rodrguez like character. That being said, this is the Islamic Republic.

[14:50:00]

It is an ideological regime, and it's at war with its two, I would say, two fiercest enemies in its own view, the United States and Israel. And so it's hard for me to see them sitting down and making some sort of deal when they're at war. And for me, when I look at Ghalibaf, I think it's noteworthy to say that "Tasnim," the IRGC affiliated news agency, seemed to write in an editorial the other day suggesting that he can't do it with the IRGC's blessing.

SCIUTTO: Is the unfortunate reality that what remains of the leadership of the Iranian regime, right up to the supreme leader, the current one, son of the late one, but others who have risen into different roles, that it is more and not less hardline than the previous one, more influence, for instance, by the Revolutionary Guards?

DAGRES: Well, it is important to note that the Islamic Republic isn't a monolith, especially the IRGC. That being said, Mojtaba Khamenei, if he is to be alive. We haven't actually heard from him at least, neither in video or audio, he's said to be even more hardline than his father. And some of the characters that have remained that haven't been killed thus far are also more hardline.

So when we talk about people that are willing to sit down with the United States, we have to keep in mind that some of those 15 points that the Trump administration had put down with a deal is the end to Iran's nuclear program, it's ballistic missiles. And these are things the Islamic Republic, especially ballistic missiles, have drawn a firm red line on because they see it as a deterrent. So it's hard to see them give up what they think is a form of deterrence in this moment when they're at war.

SCIUTTO: Yes, yes, and particularly the grip that they maintain on the Strait of Hormuz.

You have written a great deal about how the people of Iran are experiencing this war, and you've been in direct touch with them. And there was a line that stood out to me from one person you spoke to. You said, this woman said, we people are dead, and we don't believe we want to see others die. Tell me how the people are receiving this, because you hear from U.S. And Israeli officials, well, why don't the Iranian people just rise up now and take over their country? Is that a practical thing to demand of them?

DAGRES: Well, I think we forget that the reason that military assets were moved to the region in January was because of an unprecedented massacre of thousands, if not tens of thousands of Iranian in yet an unsuccessful anti-regime uprising. And so many of the Iranians do want this regime gone.

But, you know, as time has been going on with this war, we've seen civilian casualties, at least 1,500, according to a group, human rights activists in Iran. But in that quote, you noted, that was from an interview that was conducted by someone as they were exiting Iran for Turkey. And that massacre has really changed the psyche of a generation of Iranians, that they're at a place, at least some Iranians, that they're in so much pain because of the 47 years of living under the brutality of the Islamic Republic, that they feel numb, and that they want to see members of the clerical establishment killed. But of course, this is 90 million people with 90 million different feelings. And I think sometimes they feel them all at once in these moments.

SCIUTTO: Yes. Well, and we should note many tens of thousands of families who lost loved ones, loved ones in that awful crackdown in January. Holly Dagres, thanks so much for joining.

DAGRES: Thank you for having me.

SCIUTTO: And Fred, back to you in the U.S., where I know you're keeping a close eye on the No Kings protests across the country.

WHITFIELD: Thank you so much, Jim. Indeed, we are. Live coverage of the No Kings protests across the country continue from the flagship location of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

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[14:58:55]

WHITFIELD: All right, a split second glance on a snowy trail leads to a rescue that few will ever forget. How an off duty Michigan state trooper and a ski mountain rescue team came together to fight cold conditions to save a life. It's this month's "Beyond the Call of Duty."

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE) VERONICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On a quiet winter morning in harbor springs, Michigan, a routine cross country ski outing turned into a critical emergency.

STEPHEN BRIGGS, CROSS-COUNTRY SKI PROMOTER, NUMBS NOB SKI RESORT: It was fast, hard, and face plant, mouth open, full of snow.

MIRACLE: Fifty-two-year-old Kevin Livingston collapsed on a secluded trail at a place called Nubs Nob.

BRIGGS: You could see that the fall was not normal. It was certainly not justified by the terrain.

MIRACLE: Off duty Michigan state police Sergeant Dennis Wagner was on his daily ski workout when he spotted Livingston.

SGT. DENNIS WAGNER, MICHIGAN STATE POLICE: That trail over there and the two trails, they kind of parallel each other for about five seconds. So I looked over to my right, and I'd seen a skier that was down, laying face down.

MIRACLE: With nearly two decades of teaching cpr under his belt, Wagner's training kicked in.