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Connect the World
Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan's First Female Prime Minister; Sarkozy Denies Any Wrongdoing and Intends to Appeal; Demolition Begins for new $200M White House Ballroom; Strong Corporate Earnings Push Major Indices Higher; Springer's Late HR Launches Blue Jays into World Series. Aired 9- 9:45a ET
Aired October 21, 2025 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, is in Israel. Will the American presence there help the fragile
ceasefire deal hold its 04:00 p.m. in Jerusalem and in Gaza, it is 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson, you're watching "Connect the
World" and wherever you are watching, you are more than welcome.
Also coming up, an historic moment for Japan, electing its first female prime minister, her first task boosting a stagnant economy. From the
Presidential Palace to jail, Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy begins his prison term. And its demolition day President Trump's ballroom dream
closer to reality today at the White House.
Well, the stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now, and it looks like a pretty flat start, though, tech stocks could find some support
after Apple's strong performance on Monday, and amid some talk that the U.S. government shutdown could be nearing an end. Watch for a slew of third
quarter earnings this week, including from Netflix and from Tesla.
So far, we've seen a strong start to the earnings season. And in Asia the NIKE closing at a record high today, investors seem motivated by a new
political era with the potential for increased fiscal stimulus and a government aimed too big -- to spend big and tax cut taxes. Well, Japan has
a new Prime Minister and a shattered glass ceiling.
Sanae Takaichi it was elected by parliament earlier today, making her the country's First Female Leader. It is a historic moment for a society
dominated by, let's say, older men. But as a staunch conservative, Takaichi is not exactly on track to end up Japan's traditional ideal. CNN's Hanako
Montgomery is covering this for us. She is live today in Tokyo. What can we expect, then, from this new Prime Minister, Hanako?
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky. It's good to see you. So, from Sanae Takaichi, we can expect a reversion to Japan's old era of
conservative politics, much like we saw under the Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is actually the mentor of the current Japanese
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
And as you mentioned, Becky, this is a hugely historic moment for Japan. We have to acknowledge that Japan is a deeply patriarchal society, one that
consistently ranks the lowest among G7 nation -- G7 nations when it comes to gender equality, especially in the political sphere.
Now, Takaichi herself has actually talked about how difficult it is to be a woman in such a male dominated field like politics. So, while some of the
country hail her new election, hail her new position as one that's hugely symbolic and a huge step forward for the country.
Critics of hers argue that she actually hasn't done much to really improve the lives of women because she is a conservative politician at the end of
the day. In fact, here's what one woman said earlier today in Tokyo about Takaichi's politics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAOKO MATSUSHIMA, JAPANESE CITIZEN: I don't really support Ms. Takaichi herself. I have a strong image of her as a woman who was raised among
conservative men. Even though she is a woman, I feel structurally, nothing will change.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MONTGOMERY: And Becky, as you heard there again. She is a conservative politician. She has supported revising Japan's pacifist constitution. She
has supported boosting Japan's defense spending, and does not support same sex marriage. And when it comes to China, she is staunchly conservative.
She is very hawkish as well.
She has previously criticized Japan's neighbor as having a growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, one that does threaten the peace and
security of the entire region. Now she also shares pretty good relations with Taiwan, a self-governing island that China lays claim to which, of
course, has ruffled a lot of feathers in Beijing.
So, experts tell me that potentially, under Takaichi's leadership, we could see a frostier tension between Japan and China. But they do also say that
when she is in power, she might actually soften her stance a little bit, have a softer tone.
[09:05:00]
And really be more pragmatic when it comes to her leadership. But Becky, just one last thing to note here is that Takaichi's first foreign policy
test will come pretty soon with a visit from the U.S. President expected in later October, Becky.
ANDERSON: That's right. So, thank you Hanako Montgomery in Tokyo. As Japan looks towards a new era U.S. Vice President, J.D. Vance is in Israel today
trying to reinforce what is fragile ceasefire in Gaza, between Israel and Hamas. He arrived in Tel Aviv a few hours ago.
And he's meeting there with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's Son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a day after they sat down with
Israel's Prime Minister. Well, these visits follow a weekend of deadly attacks where Israel and Hamas accused each other of ceasefire violations.
President Trump says the ceasefire does remain intact for now, and if Hamas breaks it, he says the group will face eradication.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We've had countries calling me when they saw the some of the killing with Hamas
saying we'd love to go in and take care of the situation ourselves. In addition, you have Israel would go in in two minutes. We're going to give
it a little chance, and hopefully there will be a little less violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Paula Hancocks is here with me. And Paula just how significant is the timing of this trip J.D. Vance and his wife, Steve Witkoff, of course,
Jared Kushner in Israel as well, given what we've seen over the weekend?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's hugely significant. I mean, these are the sort of visits from a U.S. Vice President that you expect at a
significant time, at a time when something is going to be announced, a deal is almost completed. That's not the case here.
What we're seeing potentially, is an attempt to keep the deal on track. There's a real feeling in the region that J.D. Vance is there to make sure
that the Israeli Prime Minister is engaged, that Hamas is engaged. And that what we saw over the weekend with that violence was it was short lived, but
there is a hope that that is all it was.
It was a short-lived break out of violence, with deaths happening on both sides, but there is a hope that they can now get back to discussing phase B
of this deal. Now, of course, Phase A of the ceasefire agreement has not been completed, as we know that there are still 15 remains of Israeli
hostages to be handed over.
We've heard from Hamas that they are unable to find these hostages unless they have specific equipment and significant efforts made. And we're also
hearing accusations from Qatar, for example, that Israel is breaking the terms of the agreement. So, what we are seeing is the fragility of this
agreement at this point. And it appears U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to inject some senior players into this to try and keep it on track.
ANDERSON: And while I've got you briefly, one other very important element to the first phase of this deal was the surge in humanitarian aid into
Gaza. What's the story on the ground?
HANCOCKS: What we're hearing from humanitarian aid groups is that it is not a flood of humanitarian aid at this point. That is what is needed. It is
still a trickle. Now we have asked COGAT, which is the Israeli Department that's in charge of bringing this aid into Gaza, exactly how much has gone
in since the ceasefire. They haven't given us figures.
We do have figures from the media office in Gaza, and they say less than a sixth of what was supposed to go in has gone in so far. It's supposed to be
600 trucks a day of humanitarian aid, which would be about 6600 trucks to date. They say less than 1000 have gone in. We're trying to get clarity on
those numbers.
But everybody agrees that it is simply not enough to deal with the crisis there, and it is not what was agreed during this Phase A of the ceasefire
agreement.
ANDERSON: We'll be back next hour for more. As we continue to monitor what is going on the ground, both in Israel today and, of course, in Gaza. Thank
you. All right, an explosive new book hitting the shelves today is set to heap fresh scrutiny on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Britain's
Prince Andrew.
"Nobody's Girl" is a posthumous memoir from Virginia Giuffre. She is the woman who alleged she was trafficked by Epstein while under age and forced
to have sex with high profile men, including Prince Andrew. For his part, Andrew has always denied Giuffre's allegations. She died by suicide earlier
this year. But Giuffre's Co-Author says another powerful man came up in their conversations. Have a listen.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did she mention President Trump at all in your discussion?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, she absolutely did. She was a huge Trump fan because he campaigned on releasing the Epstein files.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well CNN's Salma Abdelaziz is live outside Buckingham Palace for us with the details from this brand-new book. And what does it tell us
about her alleged relationship with Prince Andrew, one that he has, of course, strongly denied.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think a lot of what you see in her memoir here, "Nobody's Girl" Becky is not necessarily that the broad
strokes are new to us. These accusations against Prince Andrew have been around for many years now. It is the harrowing details. It is the blow-by-
blow account that sends shivers down your spine.
She describes the first time that she was meeting Prince Andrew, being told, allegedly, in her words by Maxwell, that today, like a Cinderella,
she would meet her prince charming, and that they went out shopping that day, and that she very specifically picked an outfit that was the sparkly
jeans with a pink top, because she was a teenager and she wanted to wear what teenagers do.
And she looked at the outfit and thought, that's something that Britney Spears might wear. And to now know that outfit and remember that infamous
image from 2001 that was published across British tabloids, allegedly again of her and Prince Andrew, you get an understanding of just how young she
says she was at the time.
She even recalls that Prince Andrew was asked to get guess her age during this first meeting, during this initial meeting, and that he accurately
described it as 17-years-old. And I want to read you an excerpt from the book here as to what happened in that conversation next according to her.
My daughters are just a little younger than you, he told me, explaining his accuracy. As usual, Maxwell was quick with a joke. I guess we'll have to
trade her in soon. And it's those tiny details that I think will shock and horrify readers of this nearly 400-page book.
Now Prince Andrew femininely denies any of the accusations against him. He says he's never even met Virginia Giuffre, but he did settle a civil
lawsuit, reportedly for millions of dollars, with her in 2022. And only a week ago, he relinquished his royal titles, including the Duke of York. He
has for some time now, stepped away from public duty, stepped away from Royal Life.
And all of that, of course, is an attempt to protect Buckingham Palace just behind me here, from this controversy, from these terrible details in this
book. But it is sure to only draw more scrutiny and more questions, and already more investigations one of the accusations she makes against Prince
Andrew is that he allegedly harassed her as she came to file that civil suit against him in New York, sent trolls upon her.
That's the way she describes it. And now there are reports in British media that Prince Andrew asked a police officer, a member of his close protection
team, a bodyguard, essentially, to dig up dirt on Virginia, and that is an accusation that now the Met Police says it is actively looking into a --
saga again, this book published six months after she died of suicide, after Virginia Giuffre died of suicide.
But the saga very much continues, and the accusations and the fallout continue, and so does the attention on Buckingham Palace, Becky.
ANDERSON: Salma, you're outside Buckingham Palace for us, and for that we thank you very much indeed. Well, Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy
spending his first day locked up as he begins serving a five-year prison term. Now, the 70-year-old waved goodbye to supporters while being driven
from his home to a prison in Southern Paris.
Last month, a court found Sarkozy guilty of conspiracy for a scheme to get funds from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors. He still denies any
wrongdoing. CNN's Melissa Bell joining me from Paris. And I guess this begs the question just how will the prison accommodate the Former President of
France, Melissa?
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not quite a first question since back in the end of the Second World War, the
Collaborationist Leader of France had been imprisoned, but it has been a long time since the French penitentiary system hasn't had to concern itself
with how it was going to accommodate a former president.
What we understand is that in that prison of La Sante, he will be very much kept apart from the other prisoners in a small cell, I mean, essentially in
solitary confinement, even that's not technically what it's called. He's going to have no contact with other prisoners. He's going to be kept in
this very small cell, sort of less than 11 square meters.
He's going to have a television. He's going to have a small fridge. He's going to be allowed out for exercise a little bit every day, but it is
going to be a very solitary existence for the former president. You saw him there. There's very dramatic pictures from Paris this morning, leaving his
home surrounded by his Supermodel Wife, Carla Bruni, of course, and his many children as well.
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A lot of supporters turning out in front of his 16th Audismal Parliament (ph) Nicola to show their support. Remember Becky that this has been a very
controversial case. Nicola Sarkozy has been the subject of several trials. This is the first time, though, that one has ended up with an actual prison
sentence.
And it's all the more dramatic this image that you're looking at from Paris this morning, that there's this sort of sense perception amongst the public
that for all the trials, not just against Nicolas Sarkozy, involving Nicholas Sarkozy, but against other politicians in France, there has been a
sense of relative impunity.
For instance, Nicholas Sarkozy, you'll remember, Becky, had worn an electronic bracelet. He'd been spared actual jail time, allowed to serve it
out at his home. This was relative to a case in which he'd been accused of having bribed a judge back in 2011.
This time, the judge in charge of this particular case, which was looking, as you say, into the financing of his political campaign when he became
President in 2007 the accusations were that he had sought help and money from the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, and this had dogged him for many years.
The judge decided not only that he was guilty, but also that the facts were of sufficient severity to warrant him going to jail whether or not there
was an appeal. An appeal has been lodged, as has now, an appeal against this particularly harsh provision that sees him go to prison today, even
while we await the result of the appeal.
So, dramatic pictures from Paris are big moments, of course, in the life of Nicolas Sarkozy himself, but I think pictures that matter a great deal
beyond his own personal career here in France Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah, there in France and around the world, absolutely. Melissa, thank you. Melissa Bell is in Paris for you. You are watching "Connect the
World" with me Becky Anderson. Still to come, we discuss whether there is any end in sight to the U.S. federal government shutdown as significant
pain is inflicted on millions of Americans who rely on the government? We will take a look at that up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University Graduate at the Center of a high-profile deportation fight with the U.S. government is in court this
hour. Now, you may recall that the Palestinian Activist was arrested back in March. He is one of the first high-profile activists swept up in the
Trump Administration's crackdown for what they claim is anti-Semitic behavior on college campuses.
Khalil's attorneys are expected to ask the court to uphold his bail and previous rulings that found government attempts to deport him for protected
speech likely unconstitutional. We are following developments in a showdown over presidential power. U.S. Appeals Court has handed the Trump
Administration a legal victory after ruling it can deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, despite strong objections from leaders in the
state.
[09:20:00]
Now this comes after a judge last week ruled to extend a temporary restraining order barring the deployment of those troops while the appeal
played out. Well, President Trump has cited protests outside Portland's Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facility, the ICE Facility there to
justify the call up of these troops. Two Trump, appointed judges sided with the administration, while a third dissented, saying the decision, quote,
erodes core constitutional principles.
Well, the U.S. government shut down entering day 21 officially tying the record for the second longest shutdown in American history. On Monday, the
Senate failed for the 11th time to advance a Republican led stopgap funding bill to reopen the government, and there are no signs, not yet, at least,
that Republicans or Democrats will budge on their demands to make a deal.
Well, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson blames Democrats for pulling off, quote, the most selfish and dangerous political stunt in the history
of the U.S. Congress. Well, here's how top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries views the stalemate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): The House Republicans are divorced from reality and have continued to function as nothing more than wholly owned
subsidiaries of Donald Trump and his extreme administration. From the very beginning of this Congress, Republicans have done nothing to make life
better for the American people. That's why the American people know overwhelmingly, the country is heading in the wrong direction, and why
Donald Trump's approval ratings are at rock bottom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Annie Grayer is following this story for us from Capitol Hill. I'm interested in what Hakeem Jeffries ended with there
talking about Donald Trump's approval ratings in the wake of all of this, as getting damaged. Are they? I mean, how do Americans feel about this?
ANNIE GRAYER, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Well, that is the looming question here is, when is there going to be a pressure point that is going to cause
lawmakers to budge? Because right now, both parties are in completely entrenched in their positions.
And I think one thing that maybe could move the needle is whether or not President Donald Trump gets more directly involved. Right now, he's very
much deferred to Republican Leaders on Capitol Hill to handle the shutdown position, but there are no negotiations going on, and Democrats say they
want Trump to come back into the mix to negotiate and that that could maybe kick things back off again.
So, Senate Republicans are going to have lunch with President Trump today. We'll see if this comes up, if there are any direct pleas for the president
to get more involved. And I think there's another dynamic we need to watch for this week.
Republicans in the Senate are going to put a bill on the floor that's going to pay some federal workers during the shutdown the federal workers who are
actually still working. And this is a bit of a shift in strategy from Republicans who had refused to put anything other than the floor than the
bill to fund the government.
They wanted to put as much pressure on Democrats as possible to fund the government, but with that not working, Republicans seem to be altering
their strategy a bit. But Democrats have a lot of issues with this bill. They wanted to include workers who were furloughed and not being paid.
They also don't want to just give Trump and his administration the keys to fire more federal workers or reprioritize federal funding to align with the
president's priorities more so. This bill we are having -- there are questions about we're not sure it's going to pass, but between the Trump
meeting with the Senate Republicans today and this bill on the floor later this week there are two pockets or openings for potential movement here.
But I really can't emphasize enough how dug in both sides are? How this is different than any other shutdown? There is no negotiation going on, and
we're the second longest shut down in history with no end in sight.
ANDERSON: And so, it goes on. Annie, good to have you. Thank you. Annie Grayer is on the Hill for you. Well, President Trump is now overseeing a
massive construction project at the White House. A new $200 million 90,000 square foot ballroom, crews are tearing down part of the executive mansions
East Wing, where First Ladies have kept offices in the past.
The president says the ballroom will be completely separate from the White House itself, while keeping the theme and architectural heritage of the
mansion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're building a ballroom. They've wanted a ballroom for 150 years, and I'm giving that honor to this wonderful place. I think we should do it.
This was the ballroom, and this room holds 88 people, and the new one will hold 999 people, which is a difference. I say 999 because I didn't want to
crack 1000.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, White House Communications Director pushed back against critics of the project, saying, I quote here, construction has always been
part of the evolution of the White House.
[09:25:00]
I want to get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar at this point. And the man who shot and wounded Slovakia's Prime
Minister last year has been sentenced to 21 years in prison on terrorism charges. 72-year-old Juraj Cintula shot Robert Fico five times at close
range in May of 2024. He said he was motivated by the prime minister's policies.
Well, Former U.S. President Joe Biden has completed a course of radiation therapy for prostate cancer. According to a spokesperson, his daughter
posted videos and photos of Biden leaving treatment. The Former U.S. President, will turn 83 next month.
Well, in Paris, the manhunt intensifies for the brazen bandits who stole priceless jewels from the famed museum of the Louver which was open at the
time on Sunday. This is exclusive video of the heist, showing the thieves in action. They snatched nine pieces of a rare collection. One item was
recovered in the street.
Prosecutors say it took the robbers seven minutes to break in, grab the loot and leave. Well, the missing jewels include an emerald necklace and
earrings that Napoleon gave to his second wife, and it also includes jewelry believed owned by Marianne Toinette. Experts say the treasures may
never be found.
Right, you're with "Connect the World". I'm Becky Anderson, it's good to have you on board. Coming up strong earnings from Apple, driving U.S.
indices higher yesterday. Can the rally continue? More on that is after this. This is what the futures markets are indicating, a flat to slightly
lower start to the trading day. Let's see the bell in a few minutes.
ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World" from our Middle East Programming Headquarters. These
are your headlines. Japan's newly elected prime minister has been formally appointed to her post by the Japanese Emperor. She is making history as the
country's first female leader. But the conservative hardliner faces headwinds from critics and political divisions in Parliament.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is in Israel looking to shore up what is the fragile ceasefire there between Israel and Hamas. Vance has been holding a
working lunch with U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's Son-in-law, Jared Kushner. They met some of the freed Israeli hostages
earlier today.
[09:30:00]
Let's get you the ring the bell on Wall Street, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Majority Owner of Tennessee's Grand Old Opry, marking the Grand
Old Opry Centennial Anniversary today. There they go. They are ringing the bell, and that is the start of the trading day.
This, of course, follows the DOW gaining more than 500 points yesterday, after Apple hit its first record high of the year. Its earnings report
showed robust sales of the new iPhone 17 in the U.S. and in China. This is how the stock price is faring today. Should we bring that up?
Meantime, Coca Cola's quarterly earnings and revenue topping expectations. We're expecting Netflix in the coming hours, more big tech stock earnings
through the end of this month. And worth noting, this is all happening, of course, amid one of the longest government shutdowns in U.S. history.
So not getting any data on the U.S. economy, these comments on CNBC from the Director of the National Economic Council likely driving some of the
gains we saw yesterday and may see today. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN HASSETT, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL: I think the Schumer shutdown is likely to end sometime this week. But I can tell you
that if it doesn't, if it doesn't, if the story that we've been basically hearing from moderates that, look, we just can't do it in front of the "No
Kings Rally". If that ends up not being true, that I think that the White House is going to have to look very closely, along with Russ Vought, at
stronger measures that we could take to bring them to the table.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the idea that there may be an end to this government shutdown by the end of this week, I'm sure, music to the years of many. But
that is not set in stone. Of course, we have got the Chief Market Strategist B. Riley Financial joining us from Boston. Art, good to have
you.
Look, we've heard what Kevin Hassett had to say. There's still a lot of uncertainty surrounding this shutdown. And we have no government data to
speak of to help provide some sort of clarity on what's going on, on the U.S. economy. Third quarter earnings, by the way, are looking pretty robust
it has to say. So where do you see U.S. assets at this point and going forward?
ART HOGAN, CHIEF MARKET STRATEGIST, B. RILEY FINANCIAL: Yeah, Becky, I think you set that up perfectly. I think the fact that we have ongoing
tension and trade with China, a government shutdown and earnings seem to be driving the story. And I think that's important in the here and now.
I think we have enough private data coming through that the Fed will likely have enough evidence in hand to cut rates again in October. I think that's
been one of the tailwinds for this market. But clearly, coming into this quarter, expectations for the S&P 500 on a year-over-year basis were for
earnings growth of about 6 percent.
And I'm willing to bet that that's going to be closer to low double digits, very much like the first and second quarter. And I certainly think the
earnings growth is going to come from sectors other than just technology and communication services. So, a broadening out strong backdrop of
earnings for the market right now the key driver.
ANDERSON: Yeah, and that's really important. Because -- yeah, the NASDAQ, of course, full of these tech stocks, and we're seeing NASDAQ down slightly
today. And, I mean, you know, one assumes at some point there will be some profit taking out of those tech stocks, whether or not you believe there's
a tech bubble, and all the rest of the conversations that we're having as of late?
I guess the next sort of, you know, opportunity for either some clarity on -- you know where the U.S. economy is headed under Donald Trump with his
tariff policy? And whether we may be in for, you know, a bumpy ride will be what happens with China, correct?
HOGAN: Yeah, it certainly will. And the other piece of the puzzle too, which we'll likely learn about in November, is whether the administration's
use of the Emergency Powers Act to levy these tariffs. Tariffs are constitutional in the first place, so that may be the next big bump in the
road.
If the Supreme Court actually kicks that down and says that the administration can't use these powers that have to go to Plan B, and the
Treasury will have to pay back some billions of dollars and start all over again. The administration does have other things that they can use at their
disposal, but the sprinkler -- it kind of sits with the Supreme Court right now, and that could certainly tip over the Apple card for a little bit
here.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Where do you see gold headed going forward? I've been reading some analysts, those who are looking at -- you know, 4900 possibly
5000 at this point. I mean, there is -- you know despite the fact that investors seem comfortable in continuing to buy these U.S. markets, there
is definitely -- you know a significant hedge going on in the purchase of gold at this point. Do you expect that to continue?
[09:35:00]
HOGAN: I do. What's happening with gold is amazing. So not only did it just break out of a 10-year base where virtually did nothing, it actually just
broke out of a 45-year base on an inflation adjusted basis. So clearly this is an all-time high for gold, and really driven by central banks wanting to
have that on their balance sheet.
So, from the beginning of the Russia, Ukraine -- Russia invading Ukraine, central banks have opted to move into more gold, and they continue to be a
purchaser even at these levels. So that's one of the key drivers. We also have the ease of use. The GLD ETF is very easy to use, so you and I don't
have to go out and buy gold bars and find someplace safe to store it.
And the third thing is, when you think about the aging demographic of the United States, baby boomer, that demographic, really big fan of gold, and
certainly continue to show inflows into this, GLD ETF.
ANDERSON: Yeah. And we've seen the gold price slightly off, and I'm showing that today, down, actually about 3 percent today. But again, you know an
enormously good opportunity to take some profits if you are an investor in gold or gold ETF at this point. I just want to finally; do you believe that
investors are getting desensitized to the dysfunction that many see in this U.S. government?
HOGAN: I would say they're not. I think that that's probably one of the biggest concerns, right? So, the fact that, you know, we started a trade
war beginning this administration, and it's still ongoing, and we don't have trade deals with four of our five top trade partners, China, Canada,
Mexico, still out there and the unknown, and we've seen what happens when you have this much uncertainty over trade and tariff.
If we can finally put that behind us, which doesn't look like it's going to be coming anytime soon, investors will get a lot more comfortable. So, we
need a government open. We need to settle this trade war and know the rules of the road there, and start focusing on things like the economic growth
and earnings.
ANDERSON: Well, -- there with Art Hogan, it's good to have you, sir. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. Well, how do you celebrate after a 32
year wait? Well, like this, apparently. The party is on in Canada as "The Blue Jays" head to the World Series, more on this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Was a new TV Series about the Kennedy Family Starring Actor Michael Fassbender, the Oscar Nominee will play Joseph Kennedy Senior, the
patriarch of the American political dynasty.
[09:40:00]
And the Netflix series called "Kennedy is based on Frederick Book -- Frederick's Book JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917 to 1956.
The story begins in 1930 long before its most famous son became President, as Joe Kennedy, his wife Rose and their nine children experienced wealth
and fame, triumph and tragedy.
And 8 short stories by to "Kill a Mockingbird" Author Harper Lee are being published today. They were discovered in the writer's New York Apartment
after she died. For many years, Mockingbird was thought to be her only major work, but remember, shortly before her death, "Go Set a Watchman" was
published, seen as an earlier version of the famous novel.
Now critics are welcoming the chance to discover how this distinct voice developed in her formative years. The collection of stories will be
published under the title "The Land of Sweet Forever".
Well, Blue Jays fans are flying high after a comeback for the ages, Toronto rallied late to beat Seattle in game 7, sending them back to the World
Series for the first time in more than 30 years. Coy Wire joins me, and that was a wild game seven.
COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORT: Amazing. Becky, great to see you. Look they were -- they started this series down 0-2 and they're thinking, oh, this is the
Mariners here. The Mariners had never made it to the World Series. But look at the joy, the elation. Vlad Jr., there incredible for him.
He watched his dad 20 years ago play for the Montreal Expos. Now he's with Toronto, and so the great Canadian pastime baseball heads back to the World
Series in Canada. It's going to be amazing. They'll face the Dodgers. But how about this scene? Becky. I mean, is this, can we kind of do this after
our shows?
ANDERSON: Yeah.
WIRE: I mean, is this a Vegas nightclub, or is this a locker room?
ANDERSON: Yes, please.
WIRE: What a moment? What joy?
ANDERSON: Champagne-soaked players there.
WIRE: Yes.
ANDERSON: I mean, rightly so, right?
WIRE: I know incredible stuff. We're going to have all the highlights how that incredible game seven turned out. We'll show a little bit of the
heartbreak as well for the Mariners on the other side. We'll talk some hoops too. The NBA season kicks off tonight. There's a lot going on in the
sports world, Becky. So, I'll break it all down for us.
ANDERSON: So much going on. Always look forward to that that comes after this short break. We are back in 15 minutes time after "World Sport" with
the second hour of "Connect the World". Stay with Coy and myself.
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