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Netanyahu Accepts Trump's Gaza Plan, Hamas Yet To Respond; Prosecutors Ask Judge To Sentence Music Mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs To 11+ Years; Investigators Seeking Motive Of Michigan Church Attacker. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired September 30, 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]
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I mean, do you see the Trump administration keeping everyone's feet to the fire to work through the complexities and details of this initiative?
GREGG CARLSTROM, MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT, THE ECONOMIST: I mean, you never know what the Trump administration is going to do.
I will say I've been surprised and pleasantly surprised by the pressure that he has brought to bear on the Israelis in recent days. I mean, strongarming Netanyahu yesterday into apologizing to the Qatari prime minister -- I am sure that's something that the Israeli leader was not happy about doing. So there is clearly some American pressure at the moment.
But there is so much in this agreement that needs to be worked out, needs to be negotiated. If you look at the provision about international peacekeeping force, for example -- the body that is supposed to come in and secure Gaza and disarm Hamas. When I have spoken with people involved in the talks over the past couple of days, they've told me no one has actually committed to joining this force.
So Trump will need to negotiate with Arab countries or Muslim-majority countries, convince them to send troops, and then work out the mandate of this force. What are they supposed to do? What will their relationship be like with the Israeli army? Are they actually going to disarm Hamas even if that means perhaps Arab troops getting into a firefight with Palestinian militants in Gaza? All of that is going to --
ANDERSON: Yeah.
CARLSTROM: -- take time. It's going to take weeks if not months of really sustained engagement, and we haven't seen the Trump administration show that kind of focus on many issues.
ANDERSON: It is important to note I think -- and this is -- I just want to quote to our viewers part of my colleague Stephen Collinson's analysis in the sort of immediate aftermath of the announcement last night. He writes, "Trump's new plan does appear to be the administration's most substantive, thoughtful, and broadly supported effort to end the Gaza war." And God knows, you know -- you know, we all sit through the agonizing process of just observing what is going on in Gaza day in and day out, so any efforts to end this war obviously are commendable. But I note the point that Stephen is making there about the broad support for this, including from, as you rightly point out, other sort of Arab Muslim nations as well as those in Europe and beyond.
I also want to get your thoughts on Tony Blair and Jared Kushner's involvement on this proposal, both of whom were acknowledged by Donald Trump in yesterday's announcement.
You and I have covered this region for a long time, and I just wonder how much all this to you harkens back to a yearslong Trump administration vision for the Middle East.
CARLSTROM: Well, and Tony Blair's role, you could argue it goes back even further than that. He had a leading role in what was called the "Quartet" for Middle East peace 10 or 15 years ago, which was a group of international countries that were trying to revitalize talks about a two-state solution, largely unsuccessful. The Quartet didn't accomplish much in its time. So nothing new under the sun here -- Tony Blair coming back and playing a role once again.
But I think the question will be people like him -- you know, is he going to have a sort of day-to-day role in the governance of Gaza or is this meant to be sort of a high-level oversight position? He knows a lot of people around the region, and he coordinates meetings and things, but he's not actually steeped in the details.
I think what's going to really matter when it comes to this Board of Peace, as Trump is calling it, is the other names appointed to it -- the people from the region -- from Gulf countries and from other Arab countries.
And then what is the Palestinian role in this board going to be? Will the Palestinian Authority have a representative? Will it have a stake in post-war Gaza, or will it be, as Prime Minister Netanyahu made clear in his press conference remarks yesterday, will there be no role for the P.A. and it will be sort of frozen out of Gaza?
ANDERSON: Hmm, yeah. Well, many of those questions I'm sure will be raised in what is a scheduled press conference with Majed Al-Ansari, who is the adviser to the prime minister there in Qatar and a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry. That is at 1:00 p.m. local, 6:00 a.m. Eastern time today. We'll keep our eyes on that and for any further detail on Qatar's efforts to mediate this.
For the time being, Gregg, good to have you out of Doha with your analysis and insight today. Thank you.
Well, the Saudi government is teaming up with Jared Kushner to buy electronic art. See the record-setting price that they are paying for video games like The Sims and Madden NFL.
[05:35:00] Plus, the latest Trump tariffs are on their way. Many household products could be impacted, and that is not all. That, coming up with Brian after this.
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BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Investors are bracing for a week of political uncertainty ahead of the potential U.S. government shutdown that's now less than 24 hours away.
Here is where the U.S. futures stand ahead of the opening bell. The Dow, Nasdaq, and the S&P 500 are all pointed to a slightly lower open start today on Wall Street.
[05:40:05]
All right, let's check some of today's other business headlines.
YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump. The president sued after he was suspended by social media platforms in 2021 in the wake of the January 6 insurrection. Meta and X settled claims earlier this year.
According to a court document, YouTube will pay $22 million to the nonprofit trust for the National Mall to support the construction of the White House state ballroom. It will also pay more than $2 million to settle with other plaintiffs.
President Trump's son-in-law is teaming up with Saudi Arabia for a massive deal to buy the video game maker Electronic Arts. Jared Kushner's investment firm and the Saudi public investment fund have reached a $55 billion deal to take E.A. private. The company is famous for popular video games, including Madden NFL, The Sims, and Battlefield. Shareholders will get $210 per share making it the largest buyout on record.
McDonald's bringing back a nostalgic fan favorite first introduced back in 1987, Monopoly. This time it's getting a bit of a digital makeover. Even though there will be a little bit of peeling off the properties there won't be the pasting to a game board. Instead, the customers will use the McDonald's app to scan food items for discounts and to win big prizes. You might remember some of them, like a million bucks or a new Jeep if they collect all pieces of a property. The promotion starts at U.S. restaurants on Monday.
Donald Trump has announced that he intends to impose a 100 percent tariff on foreign-made movies again. The president made that very same threat back in May and like before he hasn't specified how the policy could be applied to what is primarily a service and one often produced with a mixture of international input. A social media post says the U.S. movie making business has been "stolen" and he has decided to solve the problem.
And President Trump has also ordered a new 10 percent tariff on imported lumber and timber that will start October 14. For things like kitchen cabinets and vanities it will be 25 percent. That could mean higher homebuilding and furnishing costs, which have already surged in recent months. And Trump says the rates could go even higher to 30 and 50 percent on certain furniture and cabinets starting January 1.
Just ahead, an update on Tropical Storm Imelda and Hurricane Humberto. We'll show you how the storms are affecting each other and what to expect in the coming days.
And one of Hollywood's most high-profile couples is no longer living together. The latest on the Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban separation. That's after the break.
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[05:47:25]
ABEL: Welcome back. I'm Brian Abel. Here are some stories we are watching today.
There is less than 24 hours until the U.S. reaches a deadline forcing a government shutdown. Lawmakers have been trying to reach a deal to keep the government funded but both Republicans and Democrats have agendas neither is willing to budge on right now. This would be the third shutdown under President Trump with the most recent one lasting a record 35 days during his last term.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump says he believes a ceasefire in Gaza is closer than ever after unveiling a new proposal to end the war. That came after the U.S. president met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has agreed to this 20-point plan. The proposal still requires a sign-off from Hamas.
And the National Guard could soon be deployed in Louisiana. The state's Republican governor there has asked the federal government for permission to activate up to 1,000 troops through the end of next year. He said the move is meant to address high crime rates and public safety concerns across the state.
Prosecutors have asked a New York judge to send Sean "Diddy" Combs to prison for more than 11 years ahead of his sentencing on Friday. They have called Combs unrepented and says one of his accusers fears retribution. The music mogul was convicted of prostitution-related charges back in July, but he was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, which could have led to a life sentence. Combs' attorneys say he deserves no more than 14 months behind bars and should be released soon.
And there is a second court hearing for the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Robinson attended the hearing virtually without video. He did not enter a plea to the charges against him. This was the first court appearance for his defense team who scheduled a waiver hearing for October 30. Prosecutors say they have a voluminous amount of evidence and plan to seek the death penalty.
Robinson faces state charges of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. Federal charges are also possible. A community in Michigan is grieving and looking for answers after
Sunday's deadly attack on a church in Grand Blanc. Investigators -- they're trying to figure out why a 40-year-old ex-Marine drove his vehicle into a chapel filled with worshippers then opened fire with an assault rifle before setting the building on fire.
[05:50:00]
CNN's Leigh Waldman brings us the latest.
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CHIEF WILLIAN RENYE, GRAND BLANC, MICHIGAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: Evil. This was an evil act of violence.
LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Congregants and residents in shock after at least four were killed in a deadly attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody in my neighborhood -- they're so devastated.
BRANDT MALONE, CHURCH MEMBER: My wife and my daughter were just up here on Saturday night for a -- for a youth activity, so it's a really raw thing to see it.
WALDMAN (voiceover): A peaceful Sunday service cut short by violence when a gunman drove a vehicle into the church, began shooting, then set the building ablaze, authorities say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lifetime of memories is just gone.
WALDMAN (voiceover): And in exchange of gunfire, officers killed the gunman they identified as a 40-year-old Iraq War veteran from a nearby city.
Complicating the investigation, on Monday, a 21-year-old drove a sedan through a barricade at the scene and was quickly apprehended by police. Photos taken by a CNN crew shows what appears to be a long gun in the front seat of the car. Authorities have not provided additional details about the individual or the motive.
RENYE: We are still in the process of investigating that incident -- whether or not it's related or not.
WALDMAN (voiceover): The motive in the attack remains unclear.
Kris Johns, a candidate for a Michigan City Council, told CNN he spoke to the alleged shooter a week ago while door-knocking on the campaign trail.
KRIS JOHNS, BURTON, MICHIGAN CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE: He did make the statement that Mormons are the anti-Christ, which is a shocking statement. This is somebody you're just meeting for the first time. He had very strong opinions. Nothing that was related to violence or that would indicate violence. Just somebody who had a very, very strong held belief that really, he had maybe a philosophical animus but not necessarily a desire to do what he did.
WALDMAN (voiceover): Eight people were injured in the attack and everyone else has now been accounted for, officials say.
SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI): It doesn't matter what party you're from; this kind of thing just chills you to the bone.
WALDMAN (voiceover): Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin surveyed the scene on Monday. It's near her home.
SLOTKIN: No community can ever believe that they would be on the receiving end of a -- of an attack like this.
GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER, (D) MICHIGAN: This place has been shattered by bullets and broken glass. And this might be a familiar pain, but it hurts all the same every time. We cannot keep living our lives like this.
WALDMAN: We spoke with the sheriff of the community here about those evacuations -- taking people out of that church once the gunman was neutralized. And he said that when they were brought to a reunification center it was the children who were the most stoic -- who knew exactly what to do. He told us they've been trained for this in their elementary schools and in their middle schools. And just a heartbreaking reality of the lives that these kids and members of these communities now have to live.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Leigh Waldman reporting there.
Two powerful storms, Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda, are stirring up some trouble in the Atlantic.
Imelda is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later today. It's moving right now parallel to the southeastern U.S. coast but is forecast to shift to the east. While it probably will not make landfall, Imelda will likely bring heavy rain, dangerous surf, and possible flash flooding to the Carolinas.
Hurricane Humberto briefly got to category 5 strength. It is now a category 4, and its massive circulation is actually steering Imelda away from the U.S. Bermuda, however, is facing a rare one-two punch from both of these storms.
Formula One fans mourning the loss of a much-loved mascot today, Roscoe. The bulldog's famous owner is sharing his sadness and paying a heartfelt tribute.
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[05:58:10]
ABEL: Howdy, folks. You are looking at live pictures of Big Tex in Dallas. The massive statue is an iconic symbol of the State Fair of Texas. Big Tex made his fair debut in 1952. You might remember him burning down back in 2012 before his resurrection. The fair -- it runs through October 19.
Well, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton is saying goodbye to his beloved dog Roscoe. The 12-year-old bulldog died on Monday after several days on life support. You see Roscoe there. In a social media post, Hamilton called Roscoe his best friend. The dog was a fixture on the F1 paddock and had nearly 1.5 million followers on Instagram. Hamilton says Roscoe never stopped fighting during his battle with pneumonia and their time together was one of the most beautiful parts of his life.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have separation after nearly 20 years of marriage. CNN has confirmed the Oscar-winning actress and Grammy- winning musician are no longer living together. The couple married back in 2006. They do have two daughters. They have been based in Nashville, Tennessee with Kidman, calling it home as recently as last week on Instagram. CNN has reached out to representatives for both stars for comment.
And finally, a little something extra for the Swifties. Not only is Taylor Swift throwing a release party in theaters this weekend, but she will be a big presence on late-night TV next week. Her 12th release, "The Life of a Showgirl" coming out this Friday. She'll sit down with Jimmy Fallon on "THE TONIGHT SHOW" on Monday, and then Swift will be the only guest for the entire episode of "LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS" on Wednesday.
[06:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SETH MEYERS, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS": Oh, hey. What's up?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: You see it right there on the mug. The extended interview is being called a "Tay-kover" --ba dum bump.
Thank you for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Brian Abel in Washington, D.C. Erica Hill is up next for "CNN THIS MORNING." That starts right now.
