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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
President Trump Tells Reporters He Still Believes There's a Good Chance of a Deal to End Russia-Ukraine War; U.S. Midwest and Northeast Braces for Severe Winter Storm; A Suspected Shooter Remains At Large After Killing 4 People and Injuring 11 Others at a Birthday Party in California. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired December 01, 2025 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:00]
BRIAN ABEL, ANCHOR, EARLY START: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world, I'm Brian Abel, thank you so much for being with us. It is Monday, December 1st, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington D.C., and straight ahead on EARLY START.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President Trump told reporters that he still believes there is a good chance that a deal can be made to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think Russia would like to see it end, and I think Ukraine, I know Ukraine would like to see that.
CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Another Winter storm developing, and this could have some big impacts for parts of the Midwest and northeast.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are treating the roads and we will have crews out until the roads are dry.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A suspected shooter remains at large after killing four people and injuring 11 others at a birthday party in California Saturday night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This was not a random attack, and they are stressing that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Paris meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. Zelenskyy is shoring up support from allies to help ensure the U.S.-backed peace deal to end Russia's war contains favorable terms for Ukraine. Meanwhile, the U.S. President is sending his special envoy to Moscow.
The Kremlin confirms that Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive Steve Witkoff sometime this week. Donald Trump says negotiations over the peace plan are going well, and that he thinks an agreement is possible soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Ukraine's got some difficult little problems, they have some difficult problems, but I think Russia would like to see it end, and I think Ukraine -- I know Ukraine would like to see that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just said that Ukraine has a little bit of problems.
TRUMP: Well, we have a corruption --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are those problems?
TRUMP: Situation going on which is not helpful. There's a good chance we can make a deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: But his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is sending a more cautious message after he attended top level talks with Ukrainian diplomats in Florida. Rubio warning that negotiations are still delicate and complicated.
[05:05:00]
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is joining me now from Kyiv. And, Nick, what sense are you getting, if any, about how Ukrainians are feeling at this stage in the conflict and negotiations?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: I think there's certainly trepidation now as to exactly what it is that Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will be flying to Moscow. His plane seems to be getting towards Europe now. What exactly he has to present the outcome of these talks in Florida to Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin have been very unshakable, frankly, in terms of their demands to take back or to take, occupy the parts of Ukraine that they incorrectly claim are theirs. And indeed, Putin just last week said if he doesn't get those given to him, his military will take them by force. That's essentially the starting block that we've always seen from Moscow for the potential for a peace here.
Does Witkoff bring with him some idea of a territorial swap? Some of the suggestions have been that, that was part of some of the discussions in Florida. Is there some artful way in which Putin can get close to taking control without a fight of some of the territory he wants, and that could be packaged in such a way that it's tolerable here for the Ukrainians.
They're certainly going to want to see substantial security guarantees from the United States and Europe if they were to swallow a deal like that. A deal indeed that was utterly unthinkable as a concept just a matter of weeks ago. And I think that's a reflection of how Ukraine's position has weakened, not just on the battlefield where they are seeing Russia moving forward slowly, not in the strategic breakthrough that perhaps you might have felt military of Russia's size years ago would be capable of.
But in a way that is meaningful and slowly taking the ground that they were previous months negotiating about, at the same time, President Zelenskyy meets Emmanuel Macron in Paris without a chief of staff by his side, Andrii Yermak resigning after corruption investigators searched his home on Friday, a benchmark moment here in Ukraine's politics, where a corruption scandal that for the first time has left Zelenskyy looking vulnerable, claimed its first scalp.
Zelenskyy has yet to appoint a replacement. I think there are other larger tasks at hand, but again, I think in the days ahead, we will see Emmanuel Macron's role as sort of the Trump whisperer, perhaps, trying to ameliorate any deal that's been cooked up in Florida, or at least sell it to Zelenskyy, potentially coming to the fore.
A lot could move very fast, potentially in the days ahead towards a solution, or it could once again flounder on the basic premise that many of Russia's critics maintain that Russia doesn't actually want a peace, it wants to continue to take the territory that its forces are moving forwards in now. It wants the illusion of negotiation, but we'll have to see whether or not Witkoff is able to present something to Putin that feels like a win.
And whether indeed that plays to possible vulnerabilities in Russia after a war of this length and great cost, whether perhaps the Kremlin are looking for at least a pause, if not some kind of cessation, unlikely, given their activity here in Ukraine.
ABEL: And that is something, Nick Paton Walsh, that we need to not lose sight of is the very real impacts for the people on the ground in Ukraine. Nick Paton Walsh for us in Kyiv. Appreciate you, thank you. President Trump confirms he recently had a phone call with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, but he did not provide any details of what was discussed.
It comes amid growing concerns and finger-pointing over the U.S. strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean. CNN's Betsy Klein has more from the White House on the simmering tensions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER (on camera): President Trump confirmed on Sunday evening that he spoke by phone earlier this month with Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. The President declining to provide any additional details. But this comes after he posted on social media that Venezuela airspace should be considered closed. The President was asked why? Listen.
TRUMP: Because we consider Venezuela to be not a very friendly country. They sent millions of people really in, probably a number in excess of that. And a lot of those people shouldn't be in our country -- from jails, from gangs, from drug dealers, from all of the people that came into our country shouldn't have been in our country, causing a lot of problems --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does your warning --
TRUMP: And drugs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does your warning mean that an airstrike is imminent, or should we not read it that way?
TRUMP: Don't read anything into it.
KLEIN: This all comes as the U.S. has amassed a major show of force in the region and conducted roughly 20 known airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. There are more than a dozen warships operating in the area along with about 15,000 U.S. troops. The President has been briefed on a range of potential military options.
That includes airstrikes on key military or government facilities or drug trafficking routes, as well as the possibility of a more direct attempt to oust the country's President, Nicolas Maduro.
[05:10:00]
The President was also asked Sunday evening about reports that after a strike on September 2nd on one of those drug trafficking boats, the boat had to be struck a second time because there were survivors. That has prompted concerns on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill that this could be a war crime. The President telling reporters that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he did not order the second strike.
President Trump says that he personally wouldn't have wanted that. Betsy Klein, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Despite President Trump's denial of a double tap order, both Republicans and Democrats in Congress voicing their concerns over that strike.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE TURNER (R-OH): This is is completely outside of anything that has been discussed with Congress. Obviously, if that occurred, that would be very serious. And I agree that, that would be an illegal act.
SEN. MARK KELLY (D-AZ): If what has been reported is accurate, I've got serious concerns about anybody in that, you know, chain of command stepping over a line that they should never step over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Now, this comes as Venezuela now accuses the U.S. of murder, publicly acknowledging for the first time that some of its citizens have been killed in these boat strikes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem meanwhile, is defending President Trump's threat to pause migration from what he calls third world countries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTI NOEM, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, UNITED STATES: These third world countries don't have stable governments. They can't sustain them. They can't tell us who they are. And that's really the consequence of what we're seeing unfold with the violence on our streets is because these countries that people have been traveling to our shores from, for so many years under the Biden administration --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes --
NOEM: Their governments didn't tell us who they were. We don't have a proper vetting process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: And Secretary Noem also revealing new details about the suspect accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House. The suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal; an Afghan national who was vetted to work with the CIA in Afghanistan, and again, to enter the U.S.
According to Noem, investigators believe he was radicalized after arriving in the U.S. in 2021. The investigation is still ongoing. A new weather system fueled by even colder Arctic air is moving across the country as we speak.
It's set to drive down temperatures in places already feeling the effects of Winter storms like Illinois, Chicago O'Hare International Airport ranked first for both flight cancellations and delays on Sunday, according to FlightAware. Hundreds of flights were disrupted on Sunday at that airport alone. CNN meteorologist Chris Warren has more on the Winter weather this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARREN: Another Winter storm developing, and this could have some big impacts for parts of the Midwest and northeast that saw some pretty big impacts from the weekend system. This is what we're looking at ultimately and eventually, more snow is on the way for Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and into the northeast.
What's different with this one is there could be an ICE component, freezing rain, a possibility with this, while there's going to be heavy rain and storms throughout parts of the southeast, much of the west is looking pretty nice, but it's to the west where we look for that developing system coming out of the Rockies, we're going to see snow developing by morning, likely already going before dawn here in Nebraska and Kansas.
And we'll see how this goes as the heavy rain gets going to the south, there's going to be a wintry mix somewhere in-between. And then to the north of there, this is where more snow -- it's been moving pretty fast by overnight Monday into Tuesday, snow will be moving out of Ohio and making for one heck of a mess in the northeast on Tuesday. Again, the rain to the south, snow to the north, and that fine line
there, some of the big cities possibly getting snow or could stay straight rain throughout this, where there is some of the higher snowfall totals, can't rule out up to about a foot. Generally, in some of the higher elevations here in New York and in Pennsylvania, but some of the big cities, again may just end up being on the rainy side.
Now, freezing rain is also a possibility. So, that's when the rain freezes on contact to either power lines, tree branches, and this -- in these areas here, that could potentially lead to power outages and very dangerous travel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: And those conditions made for a difficult trip home for some travelers after an extended Thanksgiving weekend, our Rafael Romo has the details from Atlanta's International Airport.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It was busy here at the world's busiest airport over the weekend, but the lines didn't seem longer than what you would expect, given that the period around Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year across the United States.
[05:15:00]
This year's Thanksgiving travel period was forecast by the Federal Aviation Administration to be the busiest in 15 years. But what we have seen here at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is not representative of the nation as a whole. The storms that have been pummeling the Midwest and northeast caused widespread cancellations and delays at several airports over the weekend, especially Chicago O'Hare.
Out of more than 1,900 total cancellations in U.S. airports on Saturday, nearly 1,300 happened at O'Hare, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware, and that situation had a domino effect that affected other airports on Sunday as well. I spoke with a family who traveled to Atlanta to spend Thanksgiving with relatives, and were hoping to fly back home to Chicago on Sunday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, the concern is that the flight would be canceled. If it's delayed, we've got some family here who is on standby to come back and pick us up. So, we'll see how it goes.
ROMO: Smart, you already made your plans.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes! I'm a wise girl.
ROMO: And after a monster Winter storm pummeled much of the Midwest Saturday, that same system made it straight east, heading out to sea, but right behind it, there's another storm gaining strength and preparing to pound some of the same areas already hit by rain and snow over the weekend. Iowa's Des Moines International Airport closed for more than 12 hours
after a Delta connection flight operated by Endeavor Air, arriving from Detroit, slid off the runway Saturday night amid icy conditions on the ground.
Delta Airlines said in a statement that the flight carrying two pilots, two flight attendants and 54 passengers left the paved surface while transitioning from the runway to the taxiway, confirming there were no injuries and all passengers were offered compensation. The airport reopened Sunday just before noon. Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Still ahead, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes his case for a presidential pardon despite not being convicted of any crime. We'll go live to Jerusalem with the latest.
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[05:20:00]
ABEL: The Israeli Prime Minister is formally asking for a pardon, even though he hasn't been convicted of any crime. Benjamin Netanyahu's request to the Israeli President comes amid his long- running corruption trial. In a letter published on Sunday, Netanyahu said the pardon was, quote, in the public interest. Let's bring in CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Oren Liebermann. And Oren, what reaction is that letter receiving so far?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Brian, the timing of all of this cannot be ignored as we get to the reactions in just a second here. It was only two weeks ago that President Donald Trump himself wrote a letter to Israel's President, Isaac Herzog, requesting that he fully pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption charges.
And it's at least the third time that Trump has weighed in, trying to get a pardon for one of his most vocal international supporters. Netanyahu has been on trial on charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust in three separate cases. The cases itself have been ongoing for years now. Beginning in mid 2020, and Netanyahu began testifying last December.
That has been ongoing, though he has requested delays and cancellations in the days on which he is supposed to testify. He has maintained his innocence, and until just a few days ago had said he would beat the charges in court. Then came the formal request for a pardon.
In a one page letter to Israel's President Isaac Herzog, the sole authority to grant a pardon in Israel, he writes, "out of a sense of public responsibility as Prime Minister to try to bring about reconciliation among the people, I have no doubt that ending the trial will help reduce the intensity of the flames surrounding it."
That part of Netanyahu's letter formally requesting a pardon. However, in the letter, he makes no mention of the charges he's facing. There is no acknowledgment of guilt, and there is no expression of remorse in the short letter. In addition, he tries to make it seem as if the trial itself and the corruption charges are the source of the divisiveness.
Instead of the Prime Minister himself who has been accused by his critics of being one of the most divisive politicians, especially when it comes to Israel's Arab population and Israel's leftist population. In terms of the reactions we have seen, Netanyahu's allies have said they are clearly in favor of the pardon and have pushed Israel's President to grant it as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the opposition has generally pointed out that without an expression of remorse, without an admission of guilt or even mentioning the charges which he faces, they have urged Israel's President to reject the pardon request. There is no timeline to consider this request, and there is no date by which Herzog has to make a decision. But this process is expected to play out over several weeks. Brian.
ABEL: All right, Oren Liebermann for us in Jerusalem, Oren, thank you. Pope Leo XIV is calling for peace and unity in Lebanon during his three-day visit to the crisis-hit country. It's part of his historic first trip abroad as pontiff. His visit comes as Lebanon navigates a struggling economy, political instability and a fraying ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Today, he is visiting holy sites, meeting with religious leaders, and will join a gathering of young people in Beirut's Martyrs' Square. For more, let's bring in CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman live from Beirut with how the pope is being received there. Ben
[05:25:00]
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brian, the pope is being received with a lot of enthusiasm. Keep in mind that, of course, the people here, there's a significant Christian minority, and the Christians of Lebanon like to remind the world that there are Christians in this part of the world that go back to -- they are -- they've been here almost as long as Christianity itself.
So, we -- what we've been seeing is enthusiasm, not just from the Christians of Lebanon, but also from the Muslims as well. Yesterday, when he drove from the airport to the presidential palace, he went through Beirut's southern suburbs, which is predominantly Shiite, and along the route we saw Cub Scouts, Shiite Cub Scouts by the side of the road waving flags, posters of the pope as well.
So, certainly for the Lebanese, this is a real relief from what has been years of bad news in terms of the war with Israel, the economic collapse, the revolution that didn't work out back in 2019, the 2020 Beirut port blast. So, this is really a three days, at least, of good news before Lebanon returns to reality. But at the moment, the pope is at Harissa, where he is at the shrine of our Lady of Lebanon. This is a shrine that attracts not only Christians, but also Muslims
as well. Keeping in mind, of course, that Muslims consider Jesus to be one of the greatest prophets. Now, later in the day, he's going to come back to Beirut, to Martyrs' Square, where there's going to be a youth ecumenical gathering, multi-faith gathering, where there will be leaders of the Muslim and Christian communities of Lebanon.
Readings of the Bible, as well as the Quran. After that, the pope is going to have a private meeting with Muslim and Christian leaders, and he's also going to be going to the headquarters of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke, up in the mountains. So, this is his only real full day in Lebanon. But it is a full day indeed. Brian?
ABEL: Yes, it is, his first trip overseas. Ben Wedeman for us in Beirut. Ben, thank you. Well, dozens are still missing in Hong Kong after the city's worst fire disaster in decades. Authorities are combing through the wreckage of ruined apartments, desperate for answers. We'll go live to Hong Kong when we come back.
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