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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Trump Suggests Networks' Licenses Could Be Pulled If They Air Mostly Negative Coverage Of Him; New Details On Lead Up To Disney's Decision To Suspend Kimmel; Trump Expected To Discuss TikTok Sale With Chinese Leader; Hamas Warns Israeli Offensive Ends Hope For Hostage Return. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired September 19, 2025 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:26]
BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world. Thank you for being with us. I'm Brian Abel. Rahel Solomon is off.
It is Friday, September 19th, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington, D.C.
And straight ahead on EARLY START.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: President Trump continued to attack Jimmy Kimmel. He actually took this a step further.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I mean, they're getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away.
KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Some former and current talk show hosts are showing their support for Jimmy Kimmel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's daring comedians to self-censor themselves before they say something. And that's not where you get the good comedy, everybody.
MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: On the first day of this two- day meeting of outside advisers to the CDC, they voted to change the recommendation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we're discussing about right now to is the increase in vaccine hesitancy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: President Donald Trump is adding fuel to the debate over free speech that has ignited across the U.S. He is now suggesting that any broadcast network that airs negative coverage of him could lose their license. His comments come after Disney's decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel's late night talk show over his remarks about reactions to Charlie Kirk's murder. CNN's Kristen Holmes reports from the White House.
(BERGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Now, President Trump on his way back from the United Kingdom to the United States, continued to attack Jimmy Kimmel, saying that he was talentless, adding that he didn't have any ratings.
But he actually took this a step further, saying at one point that he believed that broadcast networks could get their broadcasting licenses revoked if they aired mostly negative content about him.
Here's what he said.
TRUMP: Well, I read someplace that the networks were 97 percent against me. I got 97 percent negative. And yet, I won -- and easily won -- all seven swing states. Popular vote, won everything.
And if they're 97 percent against, they give you only bad publicity, or press. I mean, they're getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away.
HOLMES: The president also said that he would endorse moves by the Federal Communications Commission to pull those licenses, noting that he believed that these networks should have to reapply every so often.
He also added at one point that maybe, perhaps, not airing conservative views could be part of a rationale for revoking those licenses, ultimately saying that he would leave it up to his FCC chair, Brandon Carr, who, of course, as we know and have reported, is at the center of everything that has been going on with Jimmy Kimmel.
Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: The head of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, is praising President Trump for creating a massive shift in the media ecosystem. He's also warning that Kimmel's suspension is not the last shoe to drop.
Carr even floated the idea of targeting another ABC show, "The View", which is heavy with opinions from its host. He says if any programing is disputed, it warrants an FCC complaint.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDAN CARR, CHAIRMAN, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION: Our goal and our obligation here is to make sure that broadcasters are serving the public interest. And if there's local TV stations that don't think that running that programing does it, then they have every right under the law in their contracts to preempt it. And we'll see how this plays out.
But I do think that, again, we are in the midst of a massive shift in dynamics in the media ecosystem for lots of reasons. Again, including the permission structure that President Trump's election has provided. And I would simply say we're not done yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Jimmy Kimmel has not yet commented on his suspension from ABC, but fellow late night talk show hosts are defending free speech and showing their support for Kimmel. Here's how the late show host Stephen Colbert responded in his Thursday night monologue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, LATE NIGHT TV HOST: It is so bizarre to see an American president weighing in so vehemently on tv shows. It reminds me of when Reagan said this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Gorbachev, cancel the Golden Girls.
COLBERT: This whole thing, this whole thing is the latest and boldest action in a long campaign against media critics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: And Jon Stewart, who normally hosts "The Daily Show" only on Mondays, made a special Thursday night appearance to speak out about free speech and Kimmel. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON STEWART, HOST, THE DAILY SHOW: Now, some naysayers may argue that this administration's speech concerns are merely a cynical ploy a thin gruel of a ruse, a smokescreen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power and intimidation, principalists and coldly antithetical to any experiment in a constitutional republic, governance. Some people would say that.
Not me though. I think it's great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Trump has celebrated Kimmel's suspension on social media and has even suggested that NBC should get rid of its late night comedy host Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.
Here's part of Fallon's take on free speech in his tonight show monologue from Thursday's show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY FALLON, LATE NIGHT TV HOST: Yeah, a lot of people are worried that we won't keep saying what we want to say or that we'll be censored. But I'm going to cover the president's trip to the U.K. just like I normally would.
Well, guys, President Trump just wrapped up his three-day trip to the U.K. and he looked incredibly handsome. As always, his tie was -- exactly the right length.
And his face looked -- like a color that exists in nature.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: A source familiar with the situation told CNN, Disney is hopeful there is a path to bringing Kimmel's show back to ABC, but they said the temperature of the comic's monologues needs to be taken down.
More now from CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: As Hollywood is rallying around Jimmy Kimmel and protests are happening both at the theater where Jimmy Kimmel live tapes and also at Disney's offices, I am getting new details from sources who tell me what went down into this decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel's show off the air indefinitely.
I am hearing that this has been on Disney's radar throughout the week ever since Jimmy made comments about Charlie Kirk's murder on his show both Monday and Tuesday. But I hear from sources that the situation really escalated on Wednesday, when FCC Chair Brendan Carr made comments on a podcast threatening Disney if they did not take action over Kimmel's commentary.
I hear that the decision ultimately came down to Bob Iger and Dana Walden, who has a very close relationship with Jimmy Kimmel and was the one to personally make the call to him. I hear that that call was cordial and that it existed around how we could possibly move forward. I hear that ABC is hopeful that Jimmy Kimmel show could continue, but what I'm also hearing from sources throughout Hollywood is that the situation seems untenable.
And with President Trump speaking out against Jimmy Kimmel all day, saying that he got fired for bad ratings, it seems difficult that Kimmel could return to his show.
Now, I also spoke to a veteran news producer who does not work on Jimmy Kimmel show, has never worked at ABC. But here is what they told me, some really interesting context. They said there is no more terrifying circumstance for a broadcast entity than the threat of an FCC. Fine or worse, that the agency could move to revoke the stations broadcast licenses.
And that is exactly what I am hearing ABC was concerned about. This was a very serious threat from FCC chair Brendan Carr and station groups were refusing to air Kimmel's show.
Now, late night hosts and comedians have been supporting Jimmy Kimmel, including Stephen Colbert, who, of course, his show was also just canceled over at CBS. On his show. He said, quote, "Jimmy, I stand with you in your staff 100 percent. He went on to say, with an autocrat, you cannot give an inch. Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Okay, let's turn now to Donald Trump, who is set to speak to Chinese President Xi in the coming hours. High on the agenda, TikTok.
On Thursday, the U.S. president called the social media giants a, quote, tremendous value. The U.S. and China agreed on a framework for the sale of TikTok earlier this week, with U.S. investors expected to own roughly 80 percent of the platform.
CNN's Kristie Lu Stout is covering this live from Hong Kong.
Kristie, good to have you with us.
Is this call between the two leaders expected to finally put to rest, this TikTok saga?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brian, that is the expectation here. U.S. President Donald Trump said that he would be speaking with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, Friday, Eastern Time. And when that call takes place, it will be the first direct engagement between these two leaders since June.
[05:l0:02]
On the agenda, you have trade, you have tariffs, you have a potential face to face meeting between Xi and Donald Trump. And of course, the fate and future of TikTok.
These two leaders are expected to strike a formal deal on TikTok. This after a framework deal was worked out earlier in the week. A framework deal that Chinese state run media praised.
I want to show you this commentary that came out on Wednesday. It was published by "The People's Daily". This is the communist party mouthpiece. And in it, it said this about the framework deal that China reached the relevant consensus with the U.S. on the TikTok issue, because it's based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
Now, the commentary also said, and this is important, it also said that China will review, not approve, but review the export of TikTok's technologies and IP licenses.
Look, TikTok is one of China's most successful high-tech exports. It's owned by the Beijing based ByteDance, some 170 million Americans use TikTok, 1.5 billion people around the world use it, and its secret sauce, the core to its success is its A.I. powered algorithm, which keeps everyone so glued to their screens when they're using the app.
That's also one of the reasons why U.S. lawmakers have threatened a ban on TikTok, because they have been concerned that China could use TikTok to monitor American people's activities, to collect data and to engage in influence operations. Now, look, when this expected phone call is going to take place and Xi
and Trump start talking about TikTok to hammer out a deal, we still don't know whether China wants to give up the algorithm, and that's why analysts are saying Xi could potentially exploit this moment. Xi could use Donald Trump's desire to get a deal on TikTok to score points on trade.
I want to share with you this analysis from international crisis group analyst William Young. This is interesting.
He said this, quote, she will seek to capitalize on Trump's desire to secure a major deal with China and push the U.S. president to make more concessions as trade negotiations continue, unquote. Now, you got to remember, Brian, U.S. and China, right now, they are in a trade truce that could flare up into a trade war again at any time. The current deadline for this truce is November the 10th.
Back to you.
ABEL: And, Kristie, the devil is certainly in the details. So, so smart to highlight that review phrasing in there.
I do want to ask you this.
STOUT: Yeah.
ABEL: Would a final TikTok deal lead to a in-person meeting between Trump and Xi?
STOUT: You know, that is going to be up for discussion. And this is what the latest thinking is. Analysts we've been talking to are saying this -- on that phone call, if and when it happens, Xi Jinping will be offering a visit to China. China wants to visit face to face meeting to take place on Beijing's home turf, for the optics and also for control.
Now, the two leaders will also have an opportunity to meet on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, due to take place in October in South Korea.
But, Brian, look, anything can happen. We still need to find out if this call is going to take place, if there's going to be an agreement, a formal deal struck between these two leaders on TikTok and whether or not the trade truce, which is so fragile, is going to hold. Because remember, you have that laundry list of those points of contention between the U.S. and China on everything from fentanyl, rare earths, China's appetite for Russian oil, and of course, the fate and future of TikTok.
A lot hanging in the balance. Back to you, Brian.
ABEL: So many story lines between these two countries. I know you'll continue to follow it all.
Kristie Lu Stout for us in Hong Kong -- Kristie, thank you.
STOUT: Thank you.
ABEL: To Washington state now, where officials have found human remains they believe are Travis Decker, the man accused of killing his three young daughters. Decker has been the target of a months-long manhunt after the children were reported missing on May 30th. Their bodies were found three days later near a campground.
Decker is believed to have suffocated his daughters and then fled on foot. The remains were found in a remote wooded area nearby. Authorities will perform DNA testing to confirm their identity.
Still ahead, Hamas issued its most dire warning yet about the fate of the Israeli hostages as Israel's new ground offensive intensifies.
Plus, President Trump says it doesn't feel like it's time for a ceasefire in Ukraine, just as Russian forces move closer to capturing some key territory.
And U.S. health officials may be changing when and how vaccines are given to young kids. We'll have a report on some new recommendations.
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[05:19:05]
ABEL: Hamas warns a new ground offensive in Gaza City means that Israel will not get back any of its hostages, dead or alive. Hamas says the Israeli prime minister has effectively issued a death sentence for the hostages. CNN has reached out to Benjamin Netanyahu's office for comment.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has vetoed yet another draft resolution by the U.N. Security Council on a Gaza ceasefire. This was the sixth U.S. veto over the war. The resolution would have also demanded the release of all hostages, and it would have called for Israel to end all restrictions on aid to Gaza.
The U.S. delegation explained its veto, saying the draft resolution, quote, fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel's right to defend itself. And it wrongly legitimizes the false narratives benefiting Hamas, which have sadly found currency in this council.
[05:20:00]
For more on all of this, we are joined by CNN's Paula Hancocks, live from Abu Dhabi -- Paula.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brian, I want to start off with comments that we have been hearing from the Israeli cabinet, specifically the Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich. He is part of the far-right element of Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, and he has been saying that he believes what is happening in Gaza right now could be seen as a real estate bonanza.
Now he was talking at the Urban Renewal Summit in Tel Aviv, and he pointed out that he had been speaking to people within the United States as well, talking about how they would effectively divvy up Gaza after there was a ceasefire. Now, this will obviously strike fear into the hearts of those who believe there should be a two-state solution, which is much of the world, including Europe and every country in this region.
Let's listen first to what Smotrich said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEZALEL SMOTRICH, ISRAELI FINANCE MINISTER: There's a business plan set by the most professional people there is and is on President Trump's table. And how this thing turns into a real estate bonanza. I'm not kidding. It pays off. Paid a lot of money for this war. So, we need to divide how we make a percentage on the land marketing later in Gaza. And now, no kidding. Weve done the demolition phase, which is always the first phase of urban renewal. Now we need to build. It's much cheaper.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: Now we have heard the U.S. president in the past describe Gaza as a big real estate site. Now, we did ask the White House about these comments from these comments from Smotrich, a White House official said that Trump has long promoted solutions that would help the people of Gaza rebuild.
Now, the far right element of the Israeli prime minister's cabinet and coalition have long said that they want Palestinians to be moved out of Gaza and they want to resettle the land, a prospect which critics say accounts and amounts to ethnic cleansing.
Now, meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council was meeting. It tried to pass a resolution that would create a permanent and immediate ceasefire in Gaza and also release all the hostages. It was the sixth time, though, that we saw the United States with that veto power, using the veto power. So, 14 members of the Security Council voted in favor of this immediate ceasefire, said that they were calling on Israel to immediately lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid getting into Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation catastrophic.
But from the U.S. side, they said the reason that they vetoed this, as I say for the sixth time, they have vetoed this kind of resolution is because it does not sufficiently condemn Hamas or recognize Israel's right to self-defense -- Brian.
ABEL: All right. Paula Hancocks for us in Abu Dhabi -- Paula, thank you.
A slow but relentless offensive is paying off for Russian forces in northeastern Ukraine. Now they are encroaching on a key city that's been in their crosshairs for months. We'll have a live report.
And later, how Texas Democrats are fighting redistricting and trying to save their voting power in the midterms.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:28:00]
ABEL: Ukraine is warning that Russian troops are closing in on the key city of Kupiansk. Officials say the situation has become critical with Russian forces less than a kilometer from the outskirts. The city sits on a key crossroad, and its capture would allow for further Russian advances in northeastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, U.S. president Donald Trump is sending mixed signals about the future of his efforts to reach peace. He spoke about Ukraine with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a visit to the U.K. on Thursday. On his way back home, Mr. Trump said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: It's been a month since your meeting with President Putin. Is it time for a ceasefire to come?
TRUMP: Doesn't feel like it. But at the right time, if I have to do it, it will be harsh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: For more now, let's head over to London, where we are joined by Salma Abdelaziz. And there's also some are still discussions about whether Russia deliberately flew drones into NATO territory. What can you tell us?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So, if you'll remember, about a week ago, there were Russian drones that violated Polish airspace. And then just about a day or two later, they also violated Romanian airspace. It caused NATO fighter jets to have to scramble to shoot down these drones over Poland.
And since that time, U.S. officials, Western intelligence officials have been looking at what happened, what took place, what was behind that drone incident. And they are split essentially 50/50, Brian. On whether this was an intentional act by Russia intended to probe NATO and to test western air defense systems, or if it was an unintentional act, essentially a mistake that the drones veered into polish airspace.
And while they cannot make a clear assessment at this time as to whether, again, it was accidental or intentional, there is a couple of things to take away from it. First of all, that it is still a threat. All of these Western intelligence officials believe that Russia is becoming more aggressive and more bold in its actions.
You'll remember that the foreign minister of Poland had even called for a no-fly zone to be enforced by NATO over Ukraine, something.
