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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
California Bans Most Law Enforcement Officers From Wearing Masks; Trump Previews "Amazing" Announcement On Autism Today; U.S. TikTok Deal: Ellison, Michael Dell, Murdochs Will Be Involved. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired September 22, 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]
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Situation with Russia becomes ever more tenuous -- Erica.
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, absolutely. And so we'll be looking for that meeting, of course, in the General Assembly this week as well, kicking off on Tuesday.
Ben, thank you.
California moving to block federal agents from shielding their identities. Can the state though actually enforce this new mandate that officers lose the masks?
And President Trump says his administration will make an "amazing" announcement today on autism and a popular over-the-counter painkiller. What's expected.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:35:10]
HILL: As President Trump pushes immigration agents in the United States to carry out more arrests, California is moving to unmask those agents Governor Gavin Newsom signing a bill this weekend making his state the first to ban most law enforcement officers from covering their faces while conducting official business.
Here is CNN's Julia Vargas Jones.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The legislation signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday will include a banning of neck gaiters, ski masks, and any other face coverings that law enforcement officers have been using in California to conduct immigration raids. The exclusions to that will be undercover agents, any kind of medical masks, and any kind of tactical gear. And also, it does not apply to state police. Agents, the governor said, will have to provide an I.D. and tell local authorities which federal agency they are with. His argument was basically that anyone on American soil, even undocumented immigrants, have the rights to due process and the immigration raids and the way that they've been carried out in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California have eroded the trust from the public on federal law enforcement and that this legislation aims to recover that trust. Take a listen.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM, (D) CALIFORNIA: The impact of these policies all across this city, our state, and nation are terrifying. It's like a dystopian sci-fi movie. Unmarked cars, people in masks. People quite literally disappearing. No due process, no rights -- no rights in a democracy where we have rights. Immigrants have rights. And we have the right to stand up and push back, and that's what we're doing here today. This is a disgrace.
JONES: Now, this law is supposed to go into effect on January first, but the governor said that he's already expecting challenges to this legislation and some of it has already come.
Tricia McLaughin, Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs, criticized the legislation, saying that "While our federal law enforcement officers are being assaulted by rioters and having rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown at them, a sanctuary politician is trying to outlaw officers wearing masks to protect themselves from being doxed and targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers."
Now, Newsom addressed this at the press conference. He said that DHS has failed to provide any kind of data to back up the assertion that there has been a rise in threats to those officers.
But more than that pushback from DHS, what is interesting is that acting U.S. attorney for the central district of California Bill Essayli already said that he is directing his people in California to not take this legislation into account. That state laws do not apply to those federal officers. So the key question going forward will be how will this new legislation be enforced in California.
Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: Nearly 400 packages of cocaine seized in a combined anti-drug trafficking operation between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. U.S. forces destroyed a speedboat carrying the packages, some of which were damaged in the explosion. Officials say the nearly 1,000 kilos of cocaine were intended to be moved through the D.R. to the U.S. Dominican officials are working now to identify those responsible.
We are continuing to monitor the situation, as we told you earlier this hour, out of Rome where this 24-hour general strike is now underway across Italy. Public transport expected to be impacted -- major disruptions to the train system, schools, and other public services as well. The strike itself is being billed as a nationwide expression of solidarity with Gaza. Still ahead here, President Trump teases a list of high-powered tech
executives and broadcast TV moguls who may be filling the shortlist of TikTok investors.
Plus, another year of intense competition as an Alaska national park looks to name this year's fattest bear, and your chance to have a say.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:48:45]
HILL: Welcome back. I'm Erica Hill. Here are some of the stories we're watching today.
Super typhoon Ragasa now growing into the world's most powerful storm to date this year. It is tearing its way across the Philippines with 165-mile-per-hour winds. That's the equivalent of a category 5 hurricane. Officials are warning of flooding and storm surge of up to 10 feet high.
The U.K., Canada, Australia, and Portugal formally recognizing a Palestinian state. The Israel prime minister, meantime, vowing there will never be one. Benjamin Netanyahu also says the international community should expect a response to the move in the coming days.
Protesters gathering on Sunday across Brazil to oppose a potential pardon of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Last week the Lower House voted to fast-track the new bill that would offer amnesty to Bolsonaro and hundreds of his allies. Their convictions were the result of an attempted coup in 2023 after he lost re-election. Recent polls show the country is deeply divided still over the Bolsonaro verdict.
[05:45:00]
More now on one of our top stories, Sunday's public memorial service for Charlie Kirk. More than 63,000 mourners filed into the NFL stadium in Glendale, Arizona to honor the slain activist. His grieving widow and a long list of Republican officials speaking during the five-hour event.
Here is some of what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIKA KIRK, WIDOW OF CHARLIE KIRK: He left this world without regrets. He did 100 percent of what he could every day. But I want you to know something. Charlie died with incomplete work but not with unfinished business.
J.D. VANCE, (R) VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Persecuted for your faith than to deny the kingship of Christ. It is better to die a young man in this world than to sell your soul for an easy life with no purpose, no risk, no love, and no truth.
STEPHEN MILLER, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: You cannot defeat us. You cannot slow us. You cannot stop us. You cannot deter us. We will carry Charlie and Erika in our heart every single day and fight that much harder because of what you did to us. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: President Trump also speaking at that memorial on Sunday but taking a couple of detours -- at one point teasing a major announcement from his administration today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think you're going to find it to be amazing. I think we found an answer to autism. How about that -- autism? Tomorrow we're going to be talking in the Oval Office and the White House about autism. How it happens so we won't let it happen anymore, and how to get at least somewhat better when you have it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: That announcement is expected to link the alleged development of autism with the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and low levels of the vitamin folate.
The Washington Post is reporting health officials will likely warn women against using acetaminophen early in pregnancy unless they have a fever.
What's really important to stress here and which CNN has reported multiple times, despite experts saying there is no link here -- no link, experts say, that has been established between the drug and autism.
Well, President Trump says a group of American investors is being formed to potentially take over TikTok's operations in the United States so that app can avoid a complete ban here.
CNN's chief media analyst Brian Stelter has more details now on just who may be joining the team.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Several of President Trump's billionaire supporters are involved in his plan for a takeover of TikTok's U.S. assets, and that's raising fresh questions about whether the app and its powerful algorithm could be harnessed for partisan political gain.
The ongoing U.S. talks with China over a TikTok deal have involved the creation of an American investor consortium, and it's increasingly clear that this setup will benefit Trump-friendly media moguls and Trump-friendly tech executives.
The latest example came on Sunday when Trump said in an interview on Fox News that the father and son who control Fox News, Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, are in the mix to be a part of the consortium. Here's exactly what Trump said.
TRUMP: You know, they're very well-known people and Larry Ellison is one of them. He's involved. He's a great guy. Michael Dell is involved. I hate to tell you this, but a man named Lachlan in involved. You know who Lachlan is? That's a very unusual name, Lachlan Murdoch --
PETER DOOCY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR AND SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Mr. Murdoch.
TRUMP: -- I believe you call him. And Rupert is probably going to be in the group.
STELTER: So Trump seemingly breaking the news about Fox's owners right there on Fox, although he made it sound like Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch might be involved individually as investors on their own. I'm actually told by a person familiar with the matter that it is Fox Corporation as a media company that is in talks for a small stake in that TikTok U.S. consortium.
Now if this plan does go forward it could be a big boost for Fox Corporation, which has been making many digital media investments in order to offset declining areas of business like broadcast TV.
Meantime, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said over the weekend that this new U.S. TikTok entity will have seven board members -- six of whom will be American, as required by the law the Congress passed last year.
Trump has been repeatedly delaying the enforcement of that law even though some legal scholars say he's on shaky legal ground. In fact, this has been described by some constitutional law experts as an illegal action to keep extending the deadline repeatedly.
TikTok has been caught up in this broader discussion between the U.S. and China and that is the bottom line here. It is China that has the final say about what happens with TikTok and we have not heard anything definitive from Beijing.
[05:50:00]
Analysts have told CNN that Chinese leaders are most likely using the TikTok app and its popularity in the U.S. as leverage to extract concessions that would be far more consequential to Beijing. Those concessions could include the U.S. easing export controls on semiconductors and possibly relaxing the current tariffs on China.
Brian Stelter, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: A U.S. national park in Alaska is looking to crown the "Fattest Bear of the Year." And good news here -- you can help decide who wins. The contenders set to be announced later today, and beginning on Tuesday just log on. You need a little timeline cleanse? Go check out the bears. You'll see and be able to vote on this year's fattest bears. They're in Katmai National Park.
The annual competition seeks to find the bear who "best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears as they prepare for winter hibernation."
Using a March Madness-type bracket and online voting system, the bears will be eliminated until the top teddy is named.
The Kansas City Chief -- boy, they are having a tough start to the 2025 season. Just ahead their fight for redemption. they went up against the New York Giants on Sunday. All the latest from the NFL.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:55:40]
HILL: A beautiful shot of Las Vegas, Nevada there for you this morning. Of course, the sun not quite up yet in Sin City but there's always a lot of light there as we get this view of the Sphere there. Ooh -- look at that. It's like it was performing for us.
Meantime, "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" a bit of a showdown here -- the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants. The game was locked in a defensive stalemate for much of the first half but then the Chiefs found their momentum on offense in the third quarter. QB Patrick Mahomes threading the needle here to find receiver Tyquan Thornton in the end zone. That kind of chemistry something the Chiefs have actually been searching for.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATRICK MAHOMES, QUARTERBACK, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Yeah, we just want to play better, you know. We haven't played at our standard these first few weeks. The defense played their tail off and offense, we cleaned it up there. But we'll have to keep building and keep getting better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: KC managed to close out the game 22-9 marking the first win of the season for the Chiefs. The Giants, meantime, sink to 0-3.
In the WNBA, the Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson has been voted now the league's Most Valuable Player for 2025 marking a record-breaking fourth time to win that award. The 7-time WNBA all-star got 70 percent of the first place votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.
It's not the only award though for Wilson. Last week she was named Co- Defensive Player of the Year for the third time -- an award that she is sharing with the forward for the Minnesota Lynx.
Serving food and drinks in a busy restaurant -- that keeps anyone on their toes. In Paris, on Sunday, though, dozens of servers donned their aprons and carried coffee and croissants not to serve customers but in a bid for glory. Here is CNN bureau chief Saskya Vandoorne inside the city's history
waiters' race.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EWA FONTAINE, WAITRESS, LE MESTURET: This is a real challenge for me.
SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN PARIS BUREAU CHIEF (voiceover): This is Ewa Fontaine and she's not training for a marathon or the Olympics but for one of Paris' most iconic traditions, the 100-year-old waiters' race.
Born in the 1920s, it was created to celebrate the heritage of French cafes and to showcase the skill and dexterity of those who keep them running.
FONTAINE: Don't run. Stay calm, stay focused, and try to, yeah, balance well your tray.
VANDOORNE (voiceover): Fontaine came in fourth place last year. This summer she's been training hard, set on winning a place on the podium.
FONTAINE: I didn't watch my back enough and so I was overtaken by another runner at the last moment.
VANDOORNE (voiceover): It's race day. The waiters are picking up their bibs.
VANDOORNE: And the goal is to cross the finish line as quickly as possible without spilling, running, or carrying the tray in both hands.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go!
VANDOORNE (voiceover): It's off to a great start with trays steady. She hasn't spilled anything. She's got four kilometers of Parisian pavement ahead of her.
How are you feeling?
FONTAINE: I feel well still. Not tired. We are approach the banks of the Seine, which is my favorite part.
VANDOORNE (voiceover): She's almost to the finish line. Ewa is neck- and-neck with another waitress. This could cost her place on the podium.
Now we're into the final stretch and you can feel the tension. The crowd is cheering. The competitors closing in. Ewa Fontaine pushes forward. Every step counts. And across the finish line. What a performance. Ewa Fontaine takes fourth place. Just shy of the podium but a fantastic effort.
FONTAINE: Of course, I will be back next year, too -- yeah, with pleasure.
VANDOORNE (voiceover): Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: Finally for you this morning a giant monkey on a skateboard taking to the skies in the French Alps this weekend because, of course, it was part of a French paragliding festival which attracted some real characters from the big monkey mascot to frogs that you see there, octopuses.
[06:00:05]
In the windy weather dozens of gliders in surprisingly non-aerodynamic costumes taking flight there. The event is named after the Greek myth of a famously unsuccessful attempt at flight. These participants, though we are happy to report all made it safely back down to the ground. That looks like Animal from the Muppets.
Thanks so much for spending part of your day with us here on EARLY START. I'm Erica Hill in New York. Stay tuned. "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.
