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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

League of Women Voters Against Mid-Cycle Redistricting; IDF To Call Up 60,000 Reservists Ahead Of Gaza City Takeover; London Residents, Activists Criticize Chinese Embassy Plans. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired August 20, 2025 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:30:00]

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN ANCHOR: You know, the California plan is fascinating because it really -- it's far from a sure thing. I covered a number of referendums out there when I used to live out there. Voters still need to sign off on this if it were to show up on a ballot.

From your perspective are you hoping that voters vote that effort down just in the spirit of you not agreeing with gerrymandering in a mid- cycle like this?

CELINA STEWART, CEO, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF U.S.: Yeah. We'll see what voters do, right? I think that when it's before voters, voters have an opportunity to speak out. The problem is that this is going to be special elections that are happening across country, like it will be in California, and it has historically very low turnout.

Now I think that we have to be honest about the fact that makes the League of Women Voters' job harder. That means that we often take on the burden of letting the public know hey, this is happening. Public input is so critical. So we have to double down on doing our work during a time that we normally would not have to do this.

And so I think that the cost to organizations like the League who are pushing for people to be involved in this process is going to be heavy. There's going to be a lot of work. There's going to be a tremendous effort. And so we'll see what voters say should this move to a place where it's before voters.

But I think there's an opportunity now to push back on what's happening in this country because we know that when mid-cycle redistricting happens that minorities and women -- they lose. And so we want to make sure that we are taking every opportunity at every step of this process to make it very clear where the League stands.

FREEMAN: Well, and to that point, I mean, again, having covered referendums in California it is expensive for just about everyone, and I think we're going to see a lot of money be flowing into that state --

STEWART: Yeah. FREEMAN: -- once this gets started.

One other thing, Celina. Do you think -- I mean, listen, there's going to be redistricting again no matter what. When we get to 2030 -- and that census, which is the scheduled one --

STEWART: Yeah.

FREEMAN: -- do you think that there will ultimately be a correction to -- or I guess a reaction to what we're seeing in these middle years, or do you worry that it might be too late by then?

STEWART: I think there very much could be a reaction. I think the reason why the president directed DOJ to do what Texas is doing right now is because his policies are very unpopular. And so I think that he's doing everything he can to go around people in order to get his agenda done, and that's just not good policy. That's not good for America. It's not good for voters. It's not good for the country. And so I think that this could have a backlash for the current administration because the policies are so unpopular.

And so when I think about what is driving people, there are a lot of people who are hurting right now. And whether it's the Save Act or whether it's people who's lost -- who have lost their jobs, Americans are hurting. And the last thing we need is an arm race for a political power by politicians who are all about themselves and just making voters and the American people the casualties of a political war.

FREEMAN: I wonder if we're going to see in the coming years Republicans in states like California running on independent redistricting or again, Democrats in Texas doing the same thing. A lot more to come on this.

Celina Stewart, thank you so much for joining us this morning and sharing your views.

STEWART: Thank you.

FREEMAN: Coming up in just a moment, Israel is planning to occupy Gaza City and it's prompting many Palestinians to flee in fear of what may come. We'll have a live report from the region coming up next.

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[05:38:20]

FREEMAN: We're following a tragic story out of western Afghanistan where a government official says at least 76 people have been killed in a fiery bus crash. Seventeen children are said to be among the dead. Now, most of the people on the bus were Afghans being deported from neighboring Iran. Tehran started expelling migrant workers after Iran's brief war with Israel back in June amid allegations some were spying for Israel.

And more than 24 hours after Hamas said it accepts a ceasefire proposal there's still no word publicly from Israel. But Israel's hostage coordinator texted families of hostages still held in Gaza that negotiation efforts are "taking place around the clock." Now, the Israeli official acknowledged the families' concerns but says the talks require full confidentiality.

The ceasefire proposal put forward by Qatar and Egypt calls for the fighting to stop for 60 days, along with the release of about half the hostages living and deceased.

The Trump administration appears to be taking some credit for Hamas agreeing to the proposal. The White House claiming President Trump's statements on social media calling for Hamas to be "confronted and destroyed" pushed the group to say yes to the deal.

And new this morning we're learning the Israeli military is set to call up tens of thousands of more reservists ahead of its planned military takeover and occupation of Gaza City.

Let's go live now to CNN's Paula Hancocks covering all of this from Abu Dhabi. Paula, what can you tell us about this latest news?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Danny, we just received a statement from the Israeli military saying that they will be calling up some 60,000 reservists. We understand from a military official that the early stages of that are already underway. They will be sending out the first round of letters in the coming days. This is to boost the numbers of available troops ahead of Israel's planned takeover of Gaza City.

[05:40:18]

Now we also understand from a military official that this is considered a new phase of combat, and it would mean that there would be some 120,000 reservists in all that would be available on top of the active-duty soldiers.

Now it comes as we have heard from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he believes this is the best way to end the war, claiming that Gaza City is one of the last strongholds of Hamas. It has come under huge international condemnation though -- this plan. Many countries saying that it simply should not go ahead.

Humanitarian aid groups, including the United Nations, saying that it will lead to yet another calamity in Gaza. That moving hundreds of thousands of people out of Gaza City to an ever-shrinking area in the south and in the west would cause more problems when it comes to trying to find food and water and, of course, shelter as they're on the move again.

Now we have been hearing from some in Gaza City that they're already packing up their tents and their makeshift shelters because they are concerned about this potential invasion -- or imminent, I should say, invasion by Israel.

They haven't given an exact timing on when they will carry this out. We know the Israeli prime minister will be having a security cabinet meeting tomorrow -- that's on Thursday -- to finalize and approve this deal.

FREEMAN: Well, and again, we have new of, again, Israel -- the military calling up 60,000 reservists. It seems like it may be coming very, very soon.

Paula Hancocks in Abu Dhabi. Thank you so much for that reporting. Appreciate it.

And President Donald Trump is raising eyebrows with a controversial comment he made on a radio show Tuesday night when talking about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's a war hero. Because we worked together, he's a war hero. I guess I am too. Nobody cares but I am too. I mean, I sent those planes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: Of course, important to note President Trump never served in the U.S. military and reportedly received multiple deferments.

And in his first presidential campaign, President Trump famously criticized then-Sen. John McCain as not a war hero despite McCain being held a prisoner in Vietnam for more than five years. Trump had said he likes "people who aren't captured."

All right. Coming up in just a moment China wants to build the biggest embassy in Europe right in the heart of London. Still ahead why residents, dissidents, and even the U.S. government worry that it represents a major threat. Stay with us.

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[05:47:20]

FREEMAN: Welcome back. I'm Danny Freeman. Let's take a look at some of the top stories we're watching today.

First, the White House says planning for a Russia-Ukraine summit is underway with Vladimir Putin agreeing to talk to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though the Kremlin has yet to make any firm commitments. Russia's foreign minister says meetings between top officials must be prepared with the utmost care.

And Hurricane Erin is bringing life-threatening rip currents to the U.S. East Coast. It's just shy of category 3 strength and has prompted a state of emergency in North Carolina. The state's Outer Banks region could see destructive waves and storm surge in the coming hours.

And Texas legislators are expected to start voting today on a redistricting plan backed by President Trump that is expected to ultimately pass. It would likely allow Republicans to pick up five congressional seats in these upcoming midterm elections.

In California, meanwhile, Democrats are responding with a bill to change their map to try and nullify the Texas gains.

And to this now. A U.S. judge has dismissed part of a lawsuit over the so-called Alligator Alcatraz detention facility. The ACLU and other civil rights groups claim detainees in the Florida facility have been denied legal access, but the judge rejected that argument after the Trump administration designed a site for immigration hearings to take place. But the ACLU says the White House only made that decision and that change because of their lawsuit. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EUNICE CHO, SENIOR COUNSEL, ACLU NATIONAL PRISON PROJECT: The problem with what the government is saying -- we're working on it and it's going to get fixed soon --is that we're going to do it later is not OK for constitutional rights. People are being held at Alligator Alcatraz in horrifying conditions. Their rights are being violated on a daily basis, and it is not acceptable for the government to say we're going to fix this later.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: The judge also moved the rest of the case to a different jurisdiction. The ACLU says it will continue to fight for detainees' rights.

The British government, meanwhile, is set to decide in the coming weeks whether to allow China to build the biggest embassy in Europe right in the heart of London -- a symbol of China's growing stature on the global stage. But residents and activists say the new embassy represents a threat to them.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Hong Kong activist Carmen Lau looks nervously at the building behind us.

CARMEN LAU, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY ASSOCIATE, HONG KONG DEMOCRACY COUNCIL: My heartbeat right now is actually quite fast.

ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): We are standing at gates of what could become China's new embassy in the heart of London. Critics have dubbed it a super embassy. If the proposal goes ahead, China will invest millions in what would become the largest embassy in Europe on the sprawling 5.4-acre Royal Mint Court.

[05:50:05]

Beijing bought the historic parcel of land in 2018 for around $312 million.

Lau fears the site will be used to spy on, harass, and potentially detain and torture opponents of the Chinese government, including herself -- fears the embassy has dismissed. Lau fled Hong Kong for London about four years ago -- she says after

she faced persecution for speaking out against the Beijing government. Hong Kong police later issued an arrest warrant for Lau, accusing her of incitement to secession and collusion with foreign elements -- charges she denies.

Now she says her sense of safety has been shattered yet again. This is why in February her neighbors received this sheet of paper -- a wanted poster promising a reward for information or --

LAU: Or take her to the Chinese Embassy.

ABDELAZIZ: Take her to the Chinese embassy.

LAU: Yes.

ABDELAZIZ: And what's the reward?

LAU: It is one million Hong Kong dollar.

ABDELAZIZ: And when you think about that embassy being right there and getting posters like this --

LAU: Yeah. It's not hard for everyone to imagine if I got taken into this site what would happen to me. They could do whatever they want.

ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): This 2022 video speaks to her concerns. It shows a pro-democracy protester being dragged into a Chinese consulate in the English city of Manchester and beaten up.

Lau's fears of a block site grew after a blueprint of the mega embassy showed several rooms, including the basement area, marked redacted for security reasons.

The current Chinese embassy says it needs more space and called opposition to its plan despicable slandering by anti-China elements and unfair.

ABDELAZIZ: Chinese officials also noted that the U.K. is seeking to rebuild its own embassy in Beijing. The United States says it is deeply concerned that China will exploit the critical infrastructure of one of its closest allies. That's according to a senior administration official.

ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): British officials have asked Beijing to provide more information on the redacted areas and clarify how it will address the concerns of local residents --

ABDELAZIZ: This whole big building.

MARK NYGATE, ROYAL MINT COURT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION: All the way along here. All the way along to the end.

ABDELAZIZ: All the way over there.

NYGATE: Yes. ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): -- like Mark Nygate.

ABDELAZIZ: And your flat is just right there.

NYGATE: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And the site -- I'm closer to Beijing now.

ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): His flat is just a few feet away from what could become a housing block for dozens of Chinese embassy staffers and their families.

ABDELAZIZ: Do you feel like you'll have -- you'll have your privacy?

NYGATE: No, not at all. Not at all. Yeah, you -- we were told we better put our blinds down if people want their privacy.

ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): China says it aims to foster friendship and cooperation between Britian and China. The U.K. is expected to make a decision on the proposed embassy in the coming weeks.

Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FREEMAN: A fascinating story right there.

All right. Still to come, there is life after global public shaming. Just ask Monica Lewinsky and Amanda Knox. We'll tell you how they are now reshaping the narrative of their lives.

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[05:57:35]

FREEMAN: Amanda Knox and Monica Lewinsky have both endured a great deal of public scrutiny and mockery. Well, now they're teaming up to reclaim the narrative with a new project to tell Knox's story her way.

CNN's Lisa Respers France has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA RESPERS FRANCE, CNN REPORTER: Amanda Knox and Monica Lewinsky aren't just working together; it turns out that the two women are friends. Now that may be surprising to some, but it makes sense when you think about their shared experiences are two women who in their 20s were involved in international scandals which found them both mocked and maligned.

Now Hulu has given Knox the opportunity to share her side of the story and it's happening, in part, because of Lewinsky. The pair are co- executive producers on Hulu's limited series "THE TWISTED TALE OF AMANDA KNOX," which dramatizes the 2007 case of Knox who was then a 20-year-old exchange student living in Italy when she was accused of the murder of her 21-year-old roommate Meredith Kercher. Knox spent almost four years in prison before her conviction was overturned, and she was vindicated. She has said that Lewinsky, who became famous after being involved in

a sex scandal in the 1990s with then-President Bill Clinton, helped her reclaim her voice. Now a brand new generation will get to hear what she has to say via the new series.

Lisa Respers France, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FREEMAN: All right, a little update to a story we told you about yesterday. Right now, one of Sweden's most historic buildings is on the final leg of its two-day move to a new home. The 113-year-old Kiruna Church was lifted from its foundation early Tuesday for a 5- kilometer journey down a winding road. It's often voted the most beautiful wooden structure in Sweden and one of its largest.

Now, the move is part of a 30-year project to relocate the church and about 3,000 homes in Sweden's northernmost city where the ground is sinking due to the expansion of the world's largest underground iron ore mine.

Keep at it. I can't wait for it to find its final home.

And finally today, a retired autoworker in Michigan has experienced a reunion he never expected with a wallet he lost more than 10 years ago. Get this -- Richard Guilford was repairing a car on a Ford factory line when his wallet fell out of his shirt pocket. He said he and his co-workers searched dozens of cars hoping to find it with no luck.

The wallet was a Christmas gift from his sons that contained $15.00 in cash, his work I.D., driver's license, lottery tickets, and gift cards worth $275.

[06:00:05]

Guilford says he never expected to see it again but just a few days ago he received a Facebook message from Chad Volk in Minnesota asking Guilford if he'd lost his wallet. Volk had found it in the engine bay of the car he was repairing safe and sound. Volk mailed it back to Guilford who says the act of kindness "restores your faith in humanity."

Love that story. It's so wild. A great way to end the note.

Thanks for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Danny Freeman in Atlanta. "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.