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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Meeting U.S. Lawmakers Today; U.N. Chief Warns against "Ethnic Cleansing" in Gaza; Arab Nations, Palestinians Push Back Against Gaza Takeover Idea; Sweden Mourns Worst Mass Shooting In Country's History; Nearly 3,000 Killed After Rebels Seize Key City in DR Congo; Panama Criticizes State Department's "Intolerable" Falsehood; Meet the Legal Migrants Who Keep America's Farms Running; The Impact of Climate Change on Health and Wellness; CIA Sends Unclassified Email to White House Listing Names of New Hires. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired February 06, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Welcome to our second hour of the show. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi, where the time is 7:00 in the
evening.
Happening this hour, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with U.S. lawmakers amid president Trump's controversial Gaza departure plan.
The United Nations chief warning the world to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing as the U.S. threatens a Gaza takeover.
And horror in the Democratic Republic of Congo as thousands of bodies are retrieved from Goma's streets after days of fighting.
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ANDERSON: Well, the Israeli prime minister is on Capitol Hill today, this hour set to meet with the Senate majority leader in what will be a day of
meetings with Senate and House leadership.
Benjamin Netanyahu's appearance in Congress comes on the heels of those startling comments by U.S. president Donald Trump, suggesting a U.S.
takeover of Gaza.
The president posting about it again today on social media, saying that Israel would turn over Gaza to the U.S. at the conclusion of fighting with
Hamas and that no U.S. troops would be involved.
Well, prime minister Netanyahu called the plan "remarkable" and "worth pursuing" when president Trump announced it during their White House
meeting on Tuesday. He will very likely be asked about it by lawmakers later today. Lauren Fox connecting us from the U.S. Capitol this hour.
And just tell us more about these meetings. I mean, a very, very visible and controversial press conference between the two men, held in front of
the world's press on Tuesday.
What else does Benjamin Netanyahu expect to achieve in Washington, is it clear?
LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, he's going to be coming and meeting with top Republicans in both the House and the
Senate. That first meeting, like you noted, is going to be with the Republican leader, John Thune.
And this is really an opportunity for Thune, who's the newly minted leader -- McConnell had had this post previously -- to build that relationship
with Benjamin Netanyahu.
It also comes, as you noted, as Republican senators on Capitol Hill have had a number of questions about particularly what Donald Trump meant when
he said that the U.S. could own Gaza.
You know, yesterday, Steve Witkoff, who's the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, came to the Republican lunch on the Senate side and was pressed
repeatedly by several Republican lawmakers behind closed doors about precisely what Donald Trump had meant.
What it meant for U.S. troop involvement abroad, what it could mean for U.S. taxpayer and investments in Gaza and any other sort of questions
around what this meant for Palestinians and whether they would be displaced.
I'm told from one Republican in the room that there was kind of a lot of consternation around the plan, despite the fact that, publicly, Republican
leadership has really been trying to downplay Donald Trump's comments, arguing that this is just one idea.
The Speaker of the House sort of signaling that he was open to it. Later today, we expect that Netanyahu will meet with speaker Mike Johnson. That
will be yet another opportunity for those two men to have a conversation about the future in Israel and the future of the relationship between the
U.S. and Israel.
I mean, this also comes on the heels of a time when Joe Biden and Netanyahu's relationship was a bit more rocky. And so I think that this is
really sort of about Republicans, in this trifecta of government control, really cementing that relationship with Netanyahu as he comes to Capitol
Hill today.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. It's good to have you, Lauren. Thank you.
Well, the United Nations secretary general is stressing that a two state solution is the only way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East. His
comments come in the wake of Donald Trump's Gaza takeover proposal.
In a speech to a U.N. committee on Wednesday, Antonio Guterres emphasized the rights of Palestinians to, quote, "simply live as human beings in their
own land." And he had this stern warning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL: In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse.
[10:05:04]
It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, we're joined now by Sigrid Kaag. She is the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process. She is also the U.N.
senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza.
A day -- and Sigrid, thank you for joining us out of Jerusalem this evening.
A day after Mr. Trump suggested moving all Palestinians out of Gaza in order to create what he described as the Riviera of the Middle East, your
boss brought up the concept of ethnic cleansing, carefully not accusing any of the key players here of that crime.
What do you make of Donald Trump's plan for Gaza's future, Sigrid?
SIGRID KAAG, U.N. SENIOR HUMANITARIAN AND RECONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR FOR GAZA: Well, let me take a step back. International law is very clear. The
countries of the region and, above all, the Palestinians themselves, have very clearly spoken.
They want to stay in Gaza. They want to rebuild their lives and they need international support. And ultimately, the future of the Gaza Strip needs
to be tied to the two state solution; safety, security for Israel and a viable, independent Palestinian state. That's what we need to focus on and
not get sidetracked.
I think, however, the recognition that the reconstruction task is huge and that people deserve all the support, investment and technological
assistance needed, I think that's a firm commitment also underlying that statement.
But international law is very clear and I think that is the bedrock, as the secretary-general has said, of our engagement and has been for decades.
ANDERSON: Yes. And, you know, there are those who say, look, Trump is right when he says this place has been razed. It's demolished.
Why would people want to stay?
What he doesn't say is that it is the Israelis who have razed the place over the last 18 months. He suggests Gazans will be, quote, "resettled in
far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes," and believes they will leave voluntarily.
And this is a point that I do want to just discuss with you, because you've been on the ground so much in Gaza over the past months. Israel's defense
minister says he is making plans for Palestinians to leave.
And he suggests countries critical of Israel's war with Hamas are, quote, "obligated to take Palestinians."
Now you've been on the ground in and out for months.
Is it your sense that Palestinians in Gaza are desperate to leave?
KAAG: I can't speak for them but I think it's important that we very quickly create a viable alternative and that is within Gaza, that we
rebuild and rebuild the houses that we are looking to restore, the hospitals, that children will be learning again. These are the pockets of
hope and the elements of a future.
Now when it comes to other positions or ideas floating out there, I think it's very important now not to be distracted and keep our eye firmly on the
goal. We may have a last but historic opportunity to create that two state solution. That's what's at stake here, alongside a start in Gaza, with the
people of Gaza, to recover and reconstruct.
Incidentally, as you know, the Palestinians are formidable housing builders. Many of the places in and around Israel, West Bank, including
East Jerusalem, have been built, built by Palestinian craftsmen. They can do that in Gaza. They have the will, the capacity and above all, the
national aspiration.
ANDERSON: So just how big a job is this reconstruction?
I've heard, you know, various reports of what might happen during a period, including, for example, gated accommodation for Palestinians. So sort of
areas that will be gated off whilst other areas are sort of rebuilt.
And then Palestinians sort of, you know, "allowed out," in inverted commas. You know, I know there are a lot of different discussions going on about
what a day after might look like once those guns go silent, for sure.
But I just, you know, I think, I think it's important to get from you just how, you know, how difficult this reconstruction period might be.
How challenging and how important is it that the region's leaders -- and I'm talking about this, this region of the Middle East and Gulf along with
others, including the U.S. and Europeans, are going to get involved and help out, offer support in that day after period.
KAAG: Yes. Well, as you know, there are many ideas or variations on a theme.
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I would call them around governance options for Gaza in the so-called day after. That goes together hand in hand with security arrangements. I mean,
the die has not been cast on that. The discussions are ongoing.
What's very clear that, if we want Palestinian led, Palestinian owned change and leadership, we need to see a reformed and rejuvenated
Palestinian Authority be able and supported to take the helm in the Gaza Strip.
If we have clarity on the governance and the direction of travel alongside credible and firm security arrangements, which give the security and safety
guarantees to Israel, as well as rebuilding the societal fabric in Gaza, then I think we'll have a good chance to persuade and incentivize the
investors we need.
They need to come from the public sector, the member states' donors, as well as the private sector. But it's a long -- it's a tall order and it is
a significant amount. And Gaza will not be rebuilt in one day. It will take a lot of time. Hence no time to waste, I would say.
ANDERSON: Well, and to that point, an Arab official told me this week that Mr. Trump's Gaza "plan" -- and let's call it a plan in inverted commas
here, because it may just be a trial balloon, as we know.
But an Arab official told me that that plan is worrying but will have no bearing on these hostage and ceasefire negotiations that are now supposed
to be ongoing for phase two.
Is that your assessment?
How important is that permanent ceasefire at this point?
And how realistic do you think that is, given all of this noise around Donald Trump's "plan" that we've been hearing in the past 24-48 hours?
KAAG: Well, as we know, the negotiations for the ceasefire in phase one, which is currently being implemented, they were difficult. It took an awful
long time. They are fragile but the ceasefire is holding. The hostages are being released. The aid is flowing in, significantly above the levels that
we had anticipated or hoped for.
It's encouraging that the delegations are meeting and that there is a start that will be made around phase two. But you're absolutely right. The more
noise there in the air, the more there is potential distraction. That is always a risk when you are engaging in sensitive negotiations.
Hence, it's important that there may be an air of somewhat political serenity to allow the negotiators to keep their eye on the ball and
actually have a proper start with phase two.
It is too important for the hostages, their families, as well as the civilians in Gaza and, ultimately, only a permanent ceasefire will give it
-- give us that springboard to really talk about the political end game, which must be the two state solution.
ANDERSON: Sigrid, this is how Donald Trump described the United Nations as he signed an order withholding aid from UNRWA and reviewing funding to
UNESCO. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: So I've always felt that the U.N. has tremendous potential. It's not living up to that potential right now. It
really isn't. Hasn't for a long time.
A lot of these conflicts that we're working on should be settled or at least we should have some help in settling them. We never seem to get help.
That should be the primary purpose of the U.N.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He thinks the U.N.'s primary purpose should be solving conflicts. Now you wear two very significant U.N. hats in this region.
What's your response to his words?
KAAG: Well, it's not an either/or. I would agree that the United Nations, being a product and in a way owned by the constituencies of member states,
and speaking on behalf of the people, needs to, of course, be part of conflict prevention, conflict resolution.
But member states are a critical factor in this, through their political support, through their financing and through their enduring engagements, to
arrive at solutions that are in line with international law and international human rights law.
We're living in days of flux, tremendous changes, disruptions. At the end of the day, there's only one United Nations. Reform is always on the table.
Yes.
Can we do better?
Absolutely. Any government, any country can also do better. But we're in this together. That would be my firm position.
ANDERSON: And I have to ask you, given your experience in the region now for so long and particularly over this past 18 months.
[10:15:00]
Is Israel interested in finding a solution that works within the context framework of international law, Sigrid?
KAAG: It's a bit of a leading question. I think it's important for all the parties that are negotiating to keep that on the radar screen. Ultimately,
negotiations need to happen. So far, what we've heard doesn't lead one directly to conclude that there is a great level of interest.
But ultimately, I would like to ask anyone, if they see an alternative to the safety and security of Israel in this very volatile region and the
rightful aspirations of the Palestinians to an independent, viable state, how else we can get there?
There's a reason we have these international frameworks. And there's a reason we need to try to achieve them, regardless of the difficulties.
Politics is always the art of compromise. And here we have to start.
ANDERSON: Sigrid, it is always good to have you. I know how busy you are, so thank you very much indeed for your time and your insight tonight. Thank
you.
Well, earlier today in Washington, president Donald Trump reflected on the assassination attempt against him back in July and how it has strengthened
his faith in God.
His remarks came during the national prayer breakfast, a decades-long tradition in the United States. The president is also keeping busy signing
a flurry of executive orders aimed at reshaping the U.S. government and reframing America's position on the world stage.
Well, since returning to where you see him there in the Oval Office for his second term, he has signed 80 -- eight, zero -- executive orders, including
one on Wednesday that, for example, bans transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. CNN's Alayna Treene joins us now from the
White House.
And, Alayna, what are you hearing from the Trump White House about these new executive orders and, perhaps more importantly, what are his critics
saying about it in Washington?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, you mentioned how he sent more than 80 executive orders. That's also not including the executive
actions that the president has been taking.
And we know as well, just moments after he was sworn into office on January 20th, he signed dozens of both those orders and actions, all to say he is
moving at a very swift pace to really push the boundaries of his executive power and put into law what he had promised along his time on the campaign
trail.
You mentioned what he signed yesterday, that order trying to keep transgender females out of women's sports, something he talked about
repeatedly during his time on the trail. And a lot of the other orders that he has signed as well are very similar, the long held promises that really,
one, energized his base but also he said he would do.
Now one key thing, though, to keep in mind is whether or not the president has the authority on some of these orders.
I know that, through my time covering the president's campaign and those who worked on the policy side of this, even before he was in the White
House, they had been preparing and kind of reading up on the legality of some of the orders.
They knew that much of what he did was likely to face some pushback by the courts. And we are actually seeing that play out now. For example, we saw
one judge tried to halt his attempt to end birthright citizenship in this country.
We saw another judge tried to pause when they tried to put a freeze on all funding and grants. Of course, they ended up rescinding that memo. But all
to say again, we are seeing the courts really spring into action to challenge the president here.
That is, of course, one of the key tenets of American government, to have these checks and balances. The other check on the executive branch is, of
course, Congress, the legislative branch.
We know that many people in Congress, particularly Democrats, have been raising the alarms of some of what the president has tried to do with these
different orders. One of them, of course, is whether or not he can really impact and try to halt some of the federal funding that Congress has
already allocated.
Other things, of course, do require Congress. We know, for example, I've reported that the president is preparing and his team is drafting an
executive order to really begin the process, the process to abolish the education department.
That is something that ultimately would require Congress' help in order to do, all to say we are seeing the president more, really, than any other
president in modern history, push the limits of what he can do from the Oval Office and within the executive branch.
I would argue he's doing it at a much faster pace and more than we even saw him do himself back during his first term. Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. It's fascinating. Alayna, good to have you.
That is the view in Washington.
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Next up, violence and desperate uncertainty in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where deadly violence has exploded in recent days. I want to connect
you to the bigger picture there in just a moment.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Well, you're looking at a somber moment in Sweden as mourners left flowers at a candlelight vigil on Wednesday for the
victims of the country's worst mass shooting ever.
Officials say at least 10 people were killed and six others were injured on Tuesday when a lone gunman opened fire at an adult education center. Police
discovered the attacker's body at the scene. CNN's Melissa Bell has more on what the police are now learning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A nation in mourning left reeling after an afternoon of horror on Tuesday.
ULF KRISTERSSON, SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We are all set that we've today seen brutal, deadly violence against completely
innocent people. This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history.
BELL (voice-over): At least 10 people killed with more injured in a massacre at an adult school in the city of Orebro, central Sweden.
Witnesses spoke of bangs and screams from inside the building as the rampage unfolded.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): A guy next to me was shot in the shoulder. He was bleeding a lot. When I looked behind me, I saw three
people on the floor bleeding. Everyone was shocked. The police were not on site and neither was the ambulance, so we had to help.
BELL (voice-over): Authorities now believe the perpetrator found dead at the scene shot himself. Police have ruled out terror or gang violence as
possible motives.
ROBERTO ELD FOREST, OREBRO POLICE DISTRICT CHIEF (through translator): There's much to suggest that it's a solitary act and that's the picture we
have right now.
BELL (voice-over): Sweden has grappled with gang related violent crime in recent years but scenes like those at Orebro are rare. Such violence in a
school has stunned the country.
In the words of the prime minister, a darkness fell over Sweden on Tuesday night and as dawn broke, a tide of questions and grief to come -- Melissa
Bell, CNN, Orebro.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, truly horrifying scenes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where thousands of dead bodies have been collected from the streets
of the city of Goma. This follows days of intense fighting between rebels and the Congolese army.
The U.N. says nearly 3,000 people have been killed. The M23 group has waged a rebellion against the Congolese government there since 2022. Well, Salma
Abdelaziz following the story from today out of London.
And Salma, what is the very latest that we are now hearing from Goma?
[10:25:02]
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, it's been several days, of course, now since those M23 rebels claimed control of Goma. And really
horrifying reports are coming out after days of battles on the ground.
I want to begin by describing something that is extremely a trigger warning here, extremely disturbing; the rape and murder of 165 female inmates. Now
I don't know if we have this video to show you.
This video emerged last week, showing this mass prison break again in Goma. The United Nations now saying that, before that prison break took place,
some of those inmates were involved in the mass rape of 165 female inmates.
They then set the prison alight. You can see the smoke billowing in the background in that fire. Most of those female inmates died. Only about a
dozen survived, a dozen who had also been raped, according to the United Nations.
And on the ground in central Goma, aid workers are collecting the bodies of the dead. The United Nations now says some 3,000 people have died in the
battles over the last several days. They've been collecting those bodies off the street, hundreds of them.
In fact, the Red Cross had to carry out a mass burial. We do have images to show you of that. And I want you to hear directly from the Red Cross why
this had to take place.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MYRIAM FAVIER, CRC OFFICE MANAGER FOR NORTH KIVU (through translator): The main challenges are indeed the limited capacity of morgues. So it's been a
race against time to find burial sites. And it remains a race against time, because identifying the bodies is becoming increasingly difficult. Each
passing day makes our task even harder.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Now if you look at those images again of those mass burials taking place, you can see the people in the full protective gear, the Red
Cross saying they had to bury more than 120 decomposing bodies.
And that the task of identifying the dead is, of course, becoming more difficult by the day. The U.N. and aid groups are, of course, calling for
calm and warning that sexual violence could put more women and girls at risk. Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. Salma. Thank you very much indeed for your reporting on that.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Let's get you up to speed, folks, on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now.
And Afghan refugees in Pakistan are now living in fear following the U.S. president's order to suspend the government program that provides a pathway
to resettlement in the United States.
Shortly after the order was signed, Pakistan drew up plans for Afghans to be deported if they were not resettled by the end of March. Pakistan, home
to more than 3 million Afghan refugees.
Israel says it will no longer participate in the United Nations Human Rights Council. That's a day after the Trump administration did the same.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar accusing the U.N. body of, quote, "propagating anti-Semitism."
The UNHCR has repeatedly condemned Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
And Rahim Al-Hussaini has been named the new Aga Khan following the death of his father on Tuesday. The Aga Khan considered the spiritual leader of
the Ismaili Muslims and is believed to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad by his followers.
Well, you're watching CNN. Still to come here on CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky, Anderson, more controversy over the Panama Canal. This time, it's
about how much the United States will have to pay to use the waterway. More on that is after this.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson for you, 7:30 in the UAE. This is our Middle East
programming hub. Your headlines are as follows.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting this hour with the U.S. Senate majority leader during a day of meetings with Senate and House
leadership on the Hill in Washington.
The prime minister's appearance on Capitol Hill coming two days after his White House meeting with president Donald Trump, when the president
announced the controversial plan for a U.S. takeover of Gaza.
Well, the United Nations secretary general is warning against, quote, "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza. His comments come in the wake of president
Donald Trump's Gaza takeover proposal.
In a speech to a U.N. committee on Wednesday, Antonio Guterres also emphasized a two state solution is the only way to achieve lasting peace in
the Middle East, he says.
And thousands of people have been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where deadly violence is escalating between rebels and the army in
the city of Goma. The U.N. says nearly 3,000 people have been killed in recent days.
And reports that women were raped and murdered at a prison break in the same city while the unrest was breaking out.
ANDERSON: Well, Panama is pushing back against the U.S. after Washington claimed it would be granted free passage for U.S. government vessels
through the Panama Canal.
The latest controversy comes just days after secretary of state Marco Rubio's visit there, when he met with the president of Panama to discuss
concerns over access to the critical waterway.
President Trump has repeatedly threatened to take control of the canal since taking office. Rubio wraps up his tour of Central America today. He's
been meeting with senior officials in the region to push Mr. Trump's America First vision and counter Chinese influence in the region.
Amongst other things, we are now learning that secretary Rubio plans to skip the upcoming group of 20 foreign ministers' meeting in South Africa.
That comes just days after president Trump threatened to cut off funding after claiming without evidence that the South African government is
confiscating land.
Well, CNN's chief national security correspondent, Alex Marquardt, is in Washington.
And, Alex, I want to I want to take on both of these, both Panama and G20. Let's start with the drama surrounding president Trump's threats to take
over the Panama Canal.
They did appear to somewhat ease following Rubio's visit this week. Walk us through these latest claims about free passage.
What's actually going on and what has been agreed between the U.S. and Panama at this point, is it clear?
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: It's not.
The contention had appeared to ease after Rubio's trip to Panama and then they were ratcheted right back up again. And the only thing that is clear
is that there is very much a misunderstanding or a miscommunication between the Panamanian and American governments.
We heard an angry President Mulino of Panama today saying that they absolutely reject the bilateral U.S.-Panamanian ties on what he called "the
basis of lies and falsehoods."
So some very strong language from the president. Here's a little bit more of what he said today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSE RAUL MULINO, PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I am very surprised by the statement from the State Department yesterday, because
they are making an important and institutional statement from the entity that governs the foreign policy of the United States under the president of
the United States, based on a falsehood.
[10:35:03]
And that is intolerable, simply and plainly intolerable. And today, Panama expresses through you and to the world my absolute rejection of continuing
to explore the path of managing the bilateral relationship on the basis of lies and falsehoods.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: Panamanian president there couldn't be more clear in his full throated rejection of this claim by the State Department. Let's show our
audience what this was.
This was posted by the State Departments ex -- web ex account just yesterday, in which it says that, "U.S. government vessels can now transit
the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the U.S. government millions of dollars a year."
So this really boldface claim that the U.S. can actually send its ships through the Panama Canal without paying anything. And Panama is saying that
that is absolutely false.
Now, of course, this started, as you noted, when president Trump said that he wanted to take back the Panama Canal. It did seem that Panama was
acquiescing a little bit. They said that they would not sign on to the understanding that they would join China's Belt and Road initiative.
And, of course, that is the very big concern here, that Panama was moving too closely to China.
But Becky, I think more broadly, this really does feel like what we've seen Donald Trump and Rubio do elsewhere in terms of pressure campaigns, whether
it's Colombia or Canada or Mexico.
Essentially, in those cases, saying that tariffs would be imposed here, making this claim that the U.S. wouldn't have to pay essentially, so that
those countries would back down. So that's -- it feels like it's very much part of that strategy. But it remains to be seen how this is settled.
Clearly the two are not on the same page.
ANDERSON: Yes. No, it's fascinating, isn't it. And more on this with you because that's not going to be the last story that you and I need to
discuss. These stories are coming thick and fast, aren't they, in the first three weeks of this Trump administration. It's good to have you, mate.
Thank you.
Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration has many farmers in the United States navigating new struggles to find reliable workers for their
businesses. And some say the visa program meant to help migrant laborers into the U.S. legally could be a lot more efficient. CNN's David Culver
with this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Calling out to us from the back of the bus, Juan Manuel Cisneros shows us what he describes as his American dream
come true.
I said, do you always carry that document with you?
And he goes, yes, because if anything happens, he can pull it out and say, I'm here legally in this country.
Everyone on this bus can say the same. They're farm workers here on H- 2a visas, which allow foreign workers to fill temporary or seasonal
agricultural jobs.
They come here for about eight months. All the folks on this bus are on their lunch break are from Mexico. He says they're able to work the field.
And as he sees it, it's a good solution to be able to make money and yet at the same time be here legally.
But with that visa comes grueling work.
RICK ROTH, PRESIDENT, ROTH FARMS: Nobody local wants to work in agriculture harvesting crops. Nobody. These are hardworking, able-bodied
men and that's what they're doing.
They're doing manual labor.
CULVER: And they're doing it in a place that might surprise you. That's east.
ROTH: Yes.
CULVER: If I go far enough, I'll hit Mar-a-Lago.
ROTH: Yes, you will.
CULVER: You need only travel about 40 miles from here, as Roth Farms sits just on the western edge of Palm Beach County, Florida. Certainly doesn't
feel like the beaches of Palm Beach.
ROTH: But it has the weather.
CULVER: Which can be brutally hot and humid for those working these fields. Yet, despite his need for a reliable and cost-efficient workforce,
Roth says he supports President Trump's stance on immigration.
Is it going to get more difficult to get workers, you think under President Trump and the crackdown on immigration?
ROTH: No, I think it actually will get easier. We just want people to be vetted and we want good workers that have come out to come out here.
CULVER: So the H-2A visa program may seem like a perfect solution to keep predominantly-migrant workers employed on farms like this one here in
Florida. But critics point out that it doesn't cover every person or every situation.
Say, for example, those migrants who are fleeing violent and dangerous situations and don't have a home to go back to once the seasons over. Or
those who simply want to live and work with their families year- round in the U.S.
Then you've got small farmers who say that the program is just way too costly and way too complicated.
For now though, Roth sees H-2A visas as the best way to keep U.S. farms running. He hires a third-party company to handle the logistics.
[10:40:00]
They recruit the workers from abroad and then place them at several different farms, including Roth's.
ROTH: You hire them in Mexico. And you transport them over here. You pay all the transportation costs.
CULVER: You're paying for that.
ROTH: I pay all the transportation costs. We put them up in housing. We pay all the housing costs.
The only thing we're allowed to charge them for is the cost of the food when we feed them.
CULVER: So what is it like for these workers?
So here it is, about 5:00 in the evening. And these workers have just finished their shift at Roth Farms. They're arriving back at their housing
complex.
Juan Manuel and the others invite us to meet them after their work day is over.
Yes. What do you do this time of the day?
Yes. When you get here from work.
Dinner's at 6:00?
We can go with him. He's inviting us up.
Well, muchas camas aqui, no?
They've been working 10 hours today. They work six, sometimes seven days a week. They have just a few things that they need. A few changes of clothes,
some snacks and not much privacy.
Juan Manuel shows us his setup.
He says what he makes is about $16 an hour. So here what you make in an hour, as he puts it, is an entire day's work in Mexico.
This is his third year on the visa work program.
He said the money that he makes here, he's able to support his family in Mexico as well and help his mom and dad and brother and sister.
And he said, that's what you need to do to survive.
You can see all the workers now are gathering from all the different buildings, most of them all work at different sites but they come together
to eat and then sleep.
And then they will be back at it on the fields in about 10, 11 hours from now.
What's interesting is many of the farmers that we've spoken with are in support of President Trump and along with it, his immigration policies.
But as these deportations continue, they warn that this sense of urgency when it comes to the H-2A visa program working to expand it, working to
make it more cost effective, particularly for smaller farmers who say it's just way too expensive. And they say its overall just too complicated to
use. So to make it less cumbersome.
They say if the president doesn't act on that, that food prices in this country will soar to levels that we have not seen before.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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ANDERSON: Right.
Apocalyptic wildfires, once in a lifetime storms, biblical flooding all look to become the norm for the Earth as temperatures rise. I don't mean to
be sort of dooms ridden about this. Nations around the world are working fervently to find solutions to stem the tide of climate change and crisis.
[10:45:00]
And while much of the focus has been on reducing emissions and new, greener energy solutions, there is an aspect to climate crisis that is often
overlooked and that is health.
The impact of climate change on global health is expected to be devastating, as we see more extreme weather collide with a lack of critical
resources in some of the poorest places in the world.
Well, as the nexus of health and climate comes to the forefront, the UAE hopes to chart a new path with its global health initiative, which is
called Reaching the Last Mile. Reaching the Last Mile works to advance health care equity to combat preventable diseases and support the growth of
strong health systems.
Well, the group recently co-published a paper that highlights a bright spot amid conflict, extreme weather and economic troubles. International finance
for climate health increased to more than $7 billion in 2022. That is an increase from just $1 billion in 2008.
And the group says there's still a long way to go but outlines actionable changes that can be made to lead our world to a healthier future.
And with me now here in Abu Dhabi, is Tala Al Ramahi. She was the chief strategy officer of Reaching the Last Mile.
And for many people -- it's great to have you with me. Thank you.
For many people, the connection between climate and health is not always obvious.
So just let's be quite clear about this, as quickly, as briefly as you can, what exactly are the health sector investments that are climate relevant?
TALA AL RAMAHI, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, REACHING THE LAST MILE: It's a good question, Becky, because when we talk about climate and health
investments, a lot of people don't understand what that truly means.
To make it much simpler for the audience, when we talk about the impacts of climate change on health, we are seeing that much more tangibly in the way
that human health is being impacted by climate change.
Heat stress has taken the lives of over half a million people annually over the last couple of years. Heat is also impacting the quality of our
agriculture. It's pushing communities deeper into poverty and is, unfortunately, affecting the lives and livelihoods of people around the
world.
And so when we talk about financing at the nexus of climate and health, we want to make sure that climate financing is available for health issues
that are being impacted by climate change essentially.
ANDERSON: In the white paper that you've produced or co-produced, there is a call to action, one of these points being -- and let me just bring this
up on the screen here -- fiscal policy reform and efforts to reform the global financial architecture.
What does that look like in practical terms?
AL RAMAHI: Becky, you mentioned earlier the amount of climate health finance has increased significantly over the last couple of years, from
less than $1 billion in 2018 to over $7 billion in 2022. That's great. But that money is not enough.
There are estimates by the U.N. environment agency that is saying that low and middle income countries will require over $11 billion annually to
address the impacts of health that are being impacted by climate change.
And so what we need to do is make sure that money is getting to the countries that need it most.
What we've also found through the report is less than 50 percent of that climate and health finance is actually trickling down to low income
countries. And this is a travesty. What we're calling for is for that money to be much more accessible, much more quickly, for countries that are
facing the devastating effects of climate change now.
ANDERSON: Let's just bring up some of that report, because you've just alluded to it, less than 35 percent of finance from bilateral donors is
channeled directly to countries. And as you point out, less than 50 percent of overall funding has flowed to low income countries.
I mean, it's -- one question is how do you bridge the gap?
Obviously, I have to ask you as well, how do you bridge the gap in an atmosphere and climate, backed by Donald Trump pulling out of the climate
agreement, Paris climate agreement, pulling out of the WHO?
How much more of a struggle will it be to bridge these financing gaps today, in 2025, than it was last year in 2024?
AL RAMAHI: As a global health philanthropy that is investing in these issues I think what we realize is we need to continue investing in these
issues. We will continue to work with partners and donors that believe that health is a human right for people everywhere.
And we also realize that, by investing in healthier, more resilient communities, we're making the world much safer for everyone that's
involved.
[10:50:00]
We think about the COVID 19 pandemic. It feels like it's -- it feels like a blip in history. But if we've learned anything from the COVID 19 pandemic
is that we cannot tackle these global health challenges alone.
And diseases don't know borders, they don't respect borders. And if we are to address these challenges, we need to work collaboratively. We need to
bring all donors on the table and we will continue to show up for the people that need it most.
ANDERSON: And the UAE, of course, has been a leader in financing for climate solutions and, as you say, will be at the table, providing an
opportunity for others to get on board when it comes to health and climate as well.
It's always good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. Thank you.
And do stay with CNN. We will be back with more after this.
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ANDERSON: Top U.S. Democrats contend that the White House is putting national security at risk after the Trump administration demanded the names
of newer CIA employees that was sent in an unclassified email with a list using first name and last initial of every CIA hire over the last two
years.
Now the fear is of foreign hackers and a safety threat for Americans at home and abroad. CNN's Zach Cohen has more on all of this.
How realistic or how significant is this fear?
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky. Look, the CIA was facing pressure from the White House to comply with Donald Trump's
executive order to downsize the federal workforce.
But it's the way that this information was transmitted to the White House that has really got Democrats and national security officials concerned and
raising the alarm bells about a potential that these individuals, their identities, could be exposed by a foreign hacker.
Which we've seen, in recent years, target these unclassified email systems and specifically successfully gain access to the White House's unclassified
email system in the past.
You might remember the OPM hack conducted by Chinese linked hackers several years ago. So that just speaks to the possibility that, yes, this is the
kind of information that foreign adversaries are going after as it relates to the U.S.
And they've demonstrated that they do have the capabilities to infiltrate these unclassified systems. But look, this is really something that
Democrats are calling an unforced national security risk and an unnecessary national security risk and one that could have a real impact on these
individuals as well.
You know, it could create a scenario where the CIA may not even deploy some of these individuals who have been training to go undercover and go out to
hotspots around the world, just because the risk of their identities being exploited is so high.
ANDERSON: So look, we're looking at the downsizing of both the CIA and the FBI at this point.
Just how big are these changes and how much of a risk to national security?
To those who criticize this action, I mean, how big a risk do they genuinely believe there might be?
COHEN: Yes, the risk is enormous. If you talk to people at these various agencies -- and it is a very broad initiative that Donald Trump and Elon
Musk, obviously, who is helping spearhead this initiative, it's really a broad effort.
And, you know, the whole -- the entire CIA workforce, for example, was given the offer to a so-called buyout.
[10:55:00]
Basically where they could leave their jobs early. You know, this list of names is presumably a list that White House officials are going to pick
from in an effort to force other CIA officials out.
Over at the FBI, Kash Patel, Donald Trump's pick to be the director, the new director of that agency, has pledged to basically weed out all the so-
called deep state.
So when you talk to career officials at these agencies, these people that do spend every day focused on national security issues, focused on
gathering intelligence, covert operations, ensuring that, you know, finding spies, identifying foreign adversaries that are trying to hack into various
networks, U.S. government networks.
There's a real concern here that it could really degrade their ability to successfully do that and protect U.S. national security interests, both
here at home and abroad.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Mr. Cohen. Thank you very much indeed.
And that is it for CONNECT THE WORLD with me. Becky Anderson, stay with CNN. "NEWSROOM" is up next.
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