Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy Heads to London to Meet with European Leaders; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Defends Administration's Strategy for Going After Alleged Drug Boats; TikTok Users Help Save Christmas. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired December 08, 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, all around the world, I'm Brian Abel. Thank you very much for being with us, it is Monday, December 8th, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington D.C. and straight ahead on EARLY START.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ukraine's President is heading to London to meet with European leaders after days of difficult peace talks with Trump administration officials.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn't yet read the proposal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is defending the administration's strategy, going after alleged drug boats.

SEN. TAMMY DUCKWORTH (D-IL): You had two survivors clinging to half a boat, and then you went in and you killed them. That's a war crime.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Four hundred kids were about to lose their Christmas gifts until a teacher with about 100 TikTok followers tried something desperate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Kyle, and I have 54 days to save Christmas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Ukraine's President is heading to London to meet with British, French and German leaders after days of difficult peace talks with officials from the Trump administration. Ukrainian negotiators spent the weekend in Miami hashing out details of the U.S.-backed plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is committed to diplomacy, no matter how tricky it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT, UKRAINE (through translator): Yesterday, we spoke with Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner. I thanked them for their readiness to work together 24/7. The American representatives know the basic Ukrainian positions. The conversation was constructive, although not easy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is expressing frustration over the lack of breakthrough, and he accuses President Zelenskyy of not having read the deal without explaining what he means.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: So, we've been speaking to President Putin and we've been speaking to Ukrainian leaders including Zelenskyy, President Zelenskyy. And I have to say that I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn't yet read the proposal. That was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: CNN's Clare Sebastian is joining me now from London with these developments. And Clare, it seems negotiations may be getting closer to another impasse after President Trump's comments there.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, look, I think this is now a process that while it's had a lot of fanfare around it over the past two and a half weeks, Brian, since the 28-point peace plan was revealed, has so far amounted to nothing. We're going to see today, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine in London along with some of the key European allies.

He is likely to report back to them on the latest round of talks between the U.S. and Ukraine. He, of course, held a call over the weekend with the U.S. and Ukrainian negotiating teams. But what we heard coming out of those talks, as you noted, was that key differences still remain, and it still remains a fact that Russia has given no ground nor has it had any pushback from the U.S. on that fact.

So, I think concretely for Europe now, this is a critical juncture they will be discussing, I think security guarantees as they have so often in this now well-worn cycle of Ukraine diplomatic machinations, they are likely also to touch on funding for Ukraine. This is a big issue for Europe. There is still an impasse over whether to use, you know, Russia's frozen assets, much of which are parked in Europe, as the backing for reparations loan and the safeguards around that.

But I think this is also going to be something of a sort of diplomatic contortion exercise, how to keep up the appearance of international -- of Trans-Atlantic unity when number one, of course, Europe has been sidelined from these talks so far. Number two, of course, the backdrop for this is the new U.S. national security strategy that was orders of magnitude more critical of Europe than of Russia, which it didn't once describe as a threat. So, that is a challenge for European leaders and also to show support

and solidarity for Ukraine when it's facing not only pressure increasing from Russia, but also, it seems now from the U.S. Brian?

ABEL: And we will see what happens with the newest meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders. Clare Sebastian for us in London. Clare, thank you. President Trump may need to return to another conflict he claims to have settled. CNN's Ivan Watson has more on the escalation between two neighbors in southeast Asia.

[05:05:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): This latest round of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia marks the potential unraveling of a peace plan presided over by U.S. President Donald Trump less than two months ago. Both Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other of strikes along their disputed border Monday morning, and of spreading fake news about the conflict.

A Thai military official says that their air strikes were retaliation for a Cambodian attack earlier on Monday that killed a Thai soldier, and Thailand says it only targeted military infrastructure. Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense has denied those allegations, calling them false information in a statement on X.

The Royal Thai Air Force says around 70 percent of Thai civilians have been evacuated from border towns. One civilian is reported to have died during the evacuation due to a preexisting medical condition. Winding back the clock a little. Thailand and Cambodia fought a five- day border conflict in July that killed dozens of people and displaced about 200,000.

It was the deadliest violence in recent years, stemming from a border dispute that goes back generations. The two countries agreed to an initial ceasefire in July, after both the Thai and Cambodian leaders held calls with U.S. President Trump. An extended ceasefire declaration was signed in late October on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit.

It was witnessed by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. President Trump saw this as a major diplomatic victory, but on the ground, tensions began to rise again within just a couple of weeks. And now, with the ceasefire on the verge of collapse, it's unclear whether the U.S. President will again personally involve himself in this conflict. Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: Top bipartisan lawmakers here in the U.S. say they support the release of video from a controversial double-tap strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean that killed two survivors in September. The Trump administration says that strike is part of a campaign to end drug-trafficking. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the decision to carry out the double-tap strike while speaking at an event on Saturday. But some lawmakers are raising concerns amid mounting criticism of Hegseth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARK KELLY (D-AZ): He doesn't look out for anybody. It's not leadership to throw your people under the bus. I mean, he turned around and ran away from this as fast as he could.

DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: If you were to take the confirmation vote again today, would you vote to make Pete Hegseth Defense Secretary?

SEN. JOHN CURTIS (R-UT): That's a question I can't answer without as much thoughtful research as I did the first time I did that vote.

DUCKWORTH: I've been shot down behind enemy lines. Under the laws of war, if a pilot bails out, he gets shot down, he bails out. He's in a rubber dinghy in the middle of the ocean, under all the international laws of warfare, you are supposed to help render aid to that individual. Everything that they did here was illegal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Meanwhile, new research is casting doubt on the Trump administration's claim that only the worst of the worst are being caught up in its immigration crackdown. The data deportation project at the University of California at Berkeley says nearly 75,000 people were detained from January to October, despite having no criminal record.

The release of this new data comes as Minnesota and New Orleans were both the targets of immigration raids this weekend. In Minnesota, the raids focused primarily on the Somali immigrant population, a community that President Trump has referred to as, quote, "garbage". In New Orleans, the "Associated Press" reports that the government has been closely monitoring online criticism of the administration, as well as tracking anti-ICE protests.

And on Sunday, Trump's top border official, Tom Homan, tried to defend the crackdowns against critics who say they're racist.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM HOMAN, U.S. BORDER CZAR: What President Trump is doing is fixing the last four years of the open border, where millions of people were released into this country, many we don't know who they are. So, we're going to do the same thing in the Twin Cities we've done across the nation.

We're going to focus on those illegal aliens, public safety threats in these cities. And you know, if they weren't a sanctuary city, I mean, many of these people would be apprehended in a safety and security to the county jail. But because they're sanctuary city, we've got to send more resources there to flood the zone, because it takes a whole team to find somebody in the community where it would take one agent to arrest one bad guy in a county jail.

So, this is exactly what President Trump promised the American people are going to do, and that's what we're doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:10:00]

ABEL: Marjorie Taylor Greene is opening up about her split with Donald Trump and her decision to resign from congress. The outspoken House Republican once a fierce supporter of the President, told "CBS'" "60 Minutes" that Trump was extremely angry with her for backing the release of the Epstein files. And she was pretty candid about what she says some of her Republican colleagues really think of the President behind closed doors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MAJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): I watched many of my colleagues go from making fun of him, making fun of how he talks, making fun of me constantly for supporting him to when he won the primary in 2024. They all started -- excuse my language, Leslie, kissing his ass and decided to put on a MAGA hat for the first time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: And Greene also said once she retires from Congress, she is done running for office. It is shaping up to be a wet week for the northwestern U.S., as a series of storm systems take aim at the Pacific coast. Strong atmospheric river is expected to hit parts of Washington and Oregon Monday, and likely linger throughout the week.

The system will bring up to ten inches of rain to the cascade and Olympic mountains today, lower elevations including Seattle are looking at 3-5 inches. That's a month's worth of rain in just a couple of days. And with the ground already saturated from a weekend of stormy weather, the risk of flooding is on the rise.

Celebrations are underway across Syria to mark the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad's ouster. More on that just ahead. Plus, Israel says the Gaza ceasefire plan could soon be entering its next phase. We'll have the details on that and hear what Hamas is saying about its remaining weapons.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:15:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SYRIAN CROWD CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Celebrations underway across Syria today as the country marks the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime. Millions of Syrians fled during the 13-year civil war that ultimately led to the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's brutal rule. But the U.N. refugee agency reports that over the past year, more than a million Syrian refugees and nearly 2 million internally displaced people have returned home.

Syria's President says Israel is fighting ghosts with persistent raids and strikes being conducted by the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF crossed into southern Syria a year ago as the Assad regime fell. An Israeli officials say those forces will be staying indefinitely in the places they've occupied. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke with CNN's Christiane Amanpour at the Doha Forum in Qatar on Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AHMED AL-SHARAA, PRESIDENT, SYRIA (through translator): That since we arrived in Damascus, we sent positive messages regarding regional peace and stability, and we've said very frankly, that Syria will be a country of stability, and we are not concerned in being a country that exports conflict, including to Israel.

However, in return, Israel has met us with extreme violence and Syria has suffered massive violations of our airspace. And we've been victim of over 1,000 airstrikes and over 400 incursions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Our international viewers can see Christiane's full interview with the Syrian President today at 6:00 p.m. in London, 9:00 p.m. in Doha. Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister says his country is very close to advancing to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan. Benjamin Netanyahu is emphasizing that Israel's priority in the next phase of the ceasefire is, to quote, "disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza".

And meanwhile, a senior Hamas official told "The Associated Press" that the group is, quote, "very open-minded about what to do with its remaining weaponry." However, it's unclear if this would meet Israel's demand for disarmament under the ceasefire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BASSEM NAIM, SENIOR HAMAS OFFICIAL: Hamas is open to discuss such ideas within the context of a long-term ceasefire or truce. Within the context of a track -- political track which have to lead to a Palestinian state. But if not, OK, we are ready to discuss the idea of storing or freezing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: CNN's Nada Bashir joins us live from London. And Nada, Israel officials are also discussing territorial lines in Gaza. Tell us about that.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. There has been some questions around what this next phase of the ceasefire agreement backed by the United Nations would look like. What this means in terms of the terms that are set to be met by both Hamas and the Israeli government, as you mentioned, questions around territorial lines.

Israeli officials, some saying that the new security boundaries are to be considered new borders. There have been questions around what the next steps will look like in terms of Hamas' role in Gaza as well. As you mentioned, Brian, Israel continues to reiterate its call for Hamas to be completely disarmed, for Hamas to play no part in any sort of political governance in the future, in the Gaza Strip following the completion of the ceasefire.

[05:20:00]

And again, there have been real questions around whether or not we actually reach this next phase of the ceasefire agreement, given the frequent fractures that we have seen over the last few weeks, including continued targeting of civilian areas in the Gaza Strip. But as we heard from the Israeli Prime Minister, he has indicated that he believes phase one is almost over. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER, ISRAEL: We discussed, of course, the -- how to bring an end to the Hamas rule in Gaza, because that's an essential part of ensuring a different future for Gaza and a different future for us facing Gaza. We finished the first part, as you know, phase one, we're almost there. We have one more hostage, deceased, Honey Greeley; a hero of Israel to return here. And then we very shortly expect to move into the second phase, which is more difficult.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASHIR: Now, of course, we have heard from Hamas officials now alluding to what that next phase could look like, suggesting that they are open-minded with regards to the guarantees that are set to be met as part of ceasefire agreement. They have indicated they are willing to freeze or store their weapons as part of that move towards fulfilling the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

But as you mentioned, Brian, it is unclear whether this will fulfill the demands of the Israeli government to meet those ceasefire agreements, whether that will be deemed acceptable. The Israeli Prime Minister has continued to reiterate that any sort of future governance in Gaza cannot occur with Hamas in any sort of position of power.

And of course, there are also questions around what the future will look like in terms of guarantees for a pathway towards a Palestinian state. Now, Hamas officials, regional officials continue to say that any guarantees of peace require steps towards a viable Palestinian state. But the Israeli Prime Minister has again said that this is not acceptable to the Israeli state, that there is no plans to accept any sort of independent Palestinian state at this stage.

So, clearly, some daylight still between the two parties. Brian?

ABEL: Yes, so much to work out still. Nada Bashir for us live in London. Nada, thank you. Well, in a few hours, the man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare last year is due back in court. We'll have the latest on those legal proceedings still ahead. Plus, police in Charlotte, North Carolina, releasing details of the suspect in a new stabbing attack on a train just months after a young woman was killed on the same rail system. We'll have a report next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:25:00]

ABEL: The man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel last December is due back in court today. A critical pretrial evidence hearing for Luigi Mangione began last week in New York. His attorneys are trying to suppress evidence in the state's murder trial against him. CNN's Leigh Waldman has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN REPORTER (on camera): We've had a few big moments in the courthouse already, most notably audio from that 9-1-1 call that was made that alerted police that the defendant, Luigi Mangione, was at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania. We've also seen body camera video showing the moments that he was arrested.

Now, we're starting to see some more of those photos of the evidence that's being presented in the court. What appears to be a USB drive attached to a necklace, what appears to be a medical mask that the 9- 1-1 audio, the caller there stated that they saw Luigi Mangione wearing inside of the McDonald's.

But also a handwritten note, it looks like a to-do list from December 8th and 9th, and you'll remember that Mr. Mangione was arrested last year on December 9th, and part of that note was a future to-do list, like, packing a survival kit in an Intel check-in. During his arrest, law enforcement searched through his backpack and identified some key pieces of evidence, including a gun that they say tie him to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

What the defense here is arguing is that the law enforcement searched that backpack without a warrant, and that they also questioned Mangione without reading him his Miranda Warning. Now, prosecutors obviously don't agree with this. They say that the law was followed, which is why we're seeing this hearing take place before a trial has even started.

What we're going to see on Monday is two of those officers who actually searched that backpack, they're going to be taking the stand, talking about what they saw. More body camera video is going to be shown. It's going to be a sharp focus on the backpack itself. Now, police are arguing that they followed Pennsylvania law in searching Mr. Mangione and also his belongings.

Now, they have to convince a judge that they did follow the law, otherwise, the judge could order that all of that evidence be thrown out, including the gun, another USB, and what is being described as Mangione's manifesto. In New York, Leigh Waldman, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: The city of San Diego is considering paying a $30 million settlement to the family of a black teenager fatally shot by police last January. It would be one of the largest payments of its kind in U.S. history, exceeding the $27 million George Floyd settlement paid by Minneapolis.

The family of Konoa Wilson says the 16-year-old was running for his life from a shooting in a train station. A rookie police officer shot him without warning, fatally hitting him in the back. The accused officer has been put on administrative duty while the case is reviewed. The city of Charlotte, North Carolina dealing with another stabbing on its light rail system, and it comes after a Ukrainian refugee was killed in an attack on a train in August.

The suspect in the latest incident.