Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Minneapolis Leaders Urge Calm Following Shooting, Protests; Iran's Airspace Reopens As Trump Weighs Next Moves; SpaceX Crew Back On Earth After California Splashdown; Officials Agree To Keep Talking To Find Path Forward Over Greenland. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired January 15, 2026 - 05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[05:00:18]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. And welcome to our viewers, joining us from the U.S. and all around the world. I'm Rahel Solomon. It is Thursday, January 15, 5:00 a.m. here in New York, 4:00 a.m. in Minneapolis, where we begin our coverage this hour.

That's where local leaders are appealing for calm after federal agents clashed with protesters over another officer-involved shooting on Wednesday night. The Department of Homeland Security says that a federal officer shot a man in the leg after that man allegedly resisted arrest and assaulted the officer. The man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Demonstrators gathered near the scene facing off against law enforcement who deployed tear gas, pepper balls and what sounded like flashbangs.

Cities on edge following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal immigration agent one week ago. The mayor of Minneapolis calling for ICE agents to leave the city and for protests to remain peaceful.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR JACOB FREY (D), MINNEAPOLIS: This is not sustainable. This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in, and at the same time, we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order. I've seen conduct from ICE that is disgusting and is intolerable. And for anyone that is taking the bait tonight, stop. We cannot counter Donald Trump's chaos with our own brand of chaos.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: CNN correspondent Whitney Wild was struck by tear gas canisters as she reported from the scene of those protests. Take a look

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: We are right near 23rd and Lyndale, and there is a chaotic scene at the moment because of federal law enforcement basically has two spots that they're trying to control. One is straight up the block from us this way and others to my side, and its to my side where we believe that this shooting happened.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the shooting happened. The incident happened at 6:50 Central Time when law enforcement was trying to target a specific person. And when they went after that person, that person jumped in the car, tried to drive off, crashed. Then, according to the Department of Homeland Security, jumped out of the vehicle.

And then it was around that time that people began to see what happened. And then other people began to attack law enforcement as they were trying to detain that suspect. And in the course of that, the immigration officer was hit, according to the department of homeland security, with either a broom or a shovel. DHS says that that ICE officer shot what they are saying are defensive shots. The suspect was shot and is in the hospital, as is that ICE officer.

Two other people were taken into custody. What we are seeing right now is these confrontations between protesters and law enforcement. One earlier tonight, they were trying to back up protesters with tear gas and flash bangs. Then the situation seemed to calm down for maybe 30 minutes or so. But now what we're seeing is law enforcement coming back toward us.

And what happened minutes ago. The reason that this is so chaotic right now is it looked like someone, maybe through what we thought was a tear gas canister from the other law enforcement locations, we saw sparks in the sky, and then we saw law enforcement rush because it sounded like someone said, that's a firecracker.

I think notably, there is other local law enforcement here. We saw the bureau of criminal investigations with a big crime scene van that is typically used to process critical incidents, which was interesting to see BCA here, because what we know is that last week, they wanted to be part of the Renee Good shooting, and they were boxed out of that. Federal law enforcement took complete control of that investigation. And this was something local law enforcement complained about, that they were not able to get any evidence here.

Now, we know that BCA is on scene, and so we may see a different relationship between federal law enforcement and local law enforcement as this investigation unfolds here. But I thought that was an interesting thing to see, given the past contentious feelings here, that BCA was not able to engage in the Renee Good shooting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: Our thanks to Whitney Wild there.

Turning our attention to Iran. Both domestic and international flights have now resumed after the government reopened its airspace. It was closed to all air traffic for several hours earlier. The U.S. and a number of European countries are warning their citizens to get out of the country amid the deadly government crackdown. Meanwhile, Iran's judiciary is denying claims that a detained

protester was due to be executed. According to state media, Erfan Soltani has not been sentenced to death. The 26-year-old was arrested at his home last week in connection with the protests.

[05:05:04]

Let's bring in CNN's Paula Hancocks reporting live for us from Abu Dhabi.

Paula, Trump has said that he was told the killing has stopped in Iran as the country called off scheduled executions of detained protesters. Obviously, information has been difficult to come out because of the power outages. We've been talking about that all week. What do we know about Trump's claim?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDETN: Well, Rahel, what we heard from the U.S. president is not that he was taking the military intervention option off the table. He said, we will wait. We will watch and see. But that he said he had been told by very important sources on the other side that the killing had stopped.

Now we do not know who has told him that who those sources are. He also said that there will not be executions. As you say, there had been concerns of a 26 year 26-year-old who had been sentenced to death on January 14th. That execution was supposed to take place.

We're now hearing the Iranian side trying to control the narrative. They're already trying to control the narrative by putting in that Internet blackout so that people on the ground are unable to tell the outside world easily what is happening. With deadly consequence, we can see.

But we are hearing from the head of the judiciary saying that that Soltani, in fact, was never sentenced to death, and it was just an imprisonment case. And then were also hearing from the Iranian foreign minister. He's done a number of interviews, and he was countering what we heard. And what we have heard is 2,400 deaths, at least among protesters, according to human rights groups.

He was countering that in a Fox interview. Let's listen

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Exact figure would be announced very soon. Perhaps tonight by our authorities.

BRET BAIER, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: So you're saying its less than a thousand people?

ARAGHCHI: No, no, no. Hundreds of people I certainly you know, deny the numbers and figures they have said it is an exaggeration. It is a misinformation campaign only to find excuses to do another aggression against Iran.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HANCOCKS: Now, these responses from Iranian officials come as the U.S. president had for many days threatened the U.S. would step in. First of all, if peaceful protesters were killed, which we know they were, and then if executions were going to go ahead or if the killing was going to continue.

So, we're seeing that counter from Iran. But we do know that in the White House, the options are still on the table. According to sources familiar with the situation, Trump's national security team is split on exactly what those options should be, whether or not there should be a military option.

We have heard from sources familiar with the with the matter that there is a suggestion. One option could be to target security forces and their institutions in Tehran, something that Iran's regime has said they would act actively and be ready for war if that were the case -- Rahel.

SOLOMON: Paula Hancocks, for us there in Abu Dhabi -- Paula, thank you.

More breaking news this morning off the California coast, where the SpaceX Crew 11 is back on earth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Splashdown of Crew 11 after 167 days in space. Dragon and NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui of JAXA and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov are back on earth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Video there of the splashdown about 90 minutes ago, about 3:40 Eastern Time. It's standard procedure for crew members to get assistance coming out of the capsule after 167 days in space. NASA brought the team back early because one of the crew members is experiencing -- this is them now getting that help out of the castle.

One of the crew members is experiencing a health concern. We don't know exactly which one or what the specific issue might be. NASA is accelerating plans to launch the next SpaceX mission to replace these astronauts on board the International Space Station.

Let's get to CNN's Ed Lavandera, who's been following this all morning long. He is live for us at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Ed, good morning to you.

Give us a sense of what's happening now. The last time I saw you, the astronauts were on the recovery ship. They were on the gurney being whisked away. What's happening right now?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, right now, they're in the process of being moved to a hospital in San Diego. And that's what NASA officials have been saying would happen as this unknown member of this four-person crew is dealing with some sort of medical issue that needs to be examined here on the ground. And that is why NASA officials decided to cut this crew's mission short by about a month.

[05:10:03]

They decided last week to make this maneuver, but if we were looking for any clues as the astronauts exited the capsule here in these overnight hours, it was very hard to detect who might be the astronaut suffering because they all came out smiling, giving a thumbs up and to a round of applause from the crew members on the ship there that plucked the capsule from the pacific ocean just off the coast of San Diego, within the last hour and a half or so. So, they all seem to be in good spirits. The sense we got is that whatever the medical issue is that perhaps it's not terribly serious because all four of the astronauts look to be in good spirits as they exited the capsule.

But as I mentioned, they are in the process of being further evaluated by medical teams on shore after they're moved, and then eventually, they'll be making their way back here to Johnson space center in NASA, where they will have debriefs as well. So, all of that continues.

And if you were awake just after midnight along the California coast, you got a rather impressive show as that capsule streaked across the sky as it returned to earth moments before splashing down off the coast of San Diego.

The streak -- it almost looked like a comet racing across the sky could be seen for many people if you were awake just after midnight there on the West Coast. And so, you know, a rather dramatic moment in the overnight hours here. But that crew on the ground here, safely back on earth.

SOLOMON: Yeah. It was such an incredible image, Ed, because I think normally you see this happen during the day. And so you don't sort of see what would appear to be that sort of comet like streak in the night sky. It was just really incredible to watch.

Ed Lavandera, we appreciate you being with us this morning, breaking it all down for us. Thank you.

All right. And still ahead, how Senate Republicans blocked an effort to curb any future military action by the Trump administration in Venezuela.

Plus, rising tensions over Greenland. President Trump's remarks about the U.S. taking over the Arctic island have thrown Europe's long standing alliance with the U.S. into crisis.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:16:41]

SOLOMON: Welcome back. CNN has exclusively learned from two sources that the Trump

administration is considering private military contractors to protect oil and energy assets in Venezuela. The news comes as the White House official says that the U.S. has completed its first sale of Venezuelan oil. The official says that the deal is valued at $500 million, making good on the president's plan to tap into the country's oil reserves. Energy executives have been skeptical of the strategy, citing legal and commercial hurdles in the way. The same official says that more sales are expected in the near future.

Meantime, Senate Republicans have blocked a bipartisan resolution that would have forced President Trump to get congressional authorization for any future military moves in Venezuela. Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie breaking vote. Two of the five Republicans who initially backed the resolution flipped at the last minute. The vote happened after the U.S. launched strikes on Venezuela and captured Nicolas Maduro. Some Democrats say that they may push similar resolutions on other countries that they think may be on Trump's target list.

Several NATO countries are planning joint exercises with Denmark, which is responsible for Greenland's defense. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump ramps up -- ramps up threats to annex the arctic territory.

Officials from Denmark and Greenland say that there is a fundamental disagreement with the Trump administration over the future of the island. That assessment comes after a, quote, "constructive" meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday. Now, despite the differences, they plan to keep talking, to try to find a way forward.

CNN's Nic Robertson has this take away from the talks on Greenland.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, I think my takeaway at the at the moment is that the ground hasn't changed in between the two sides here between Denmark, Greenland and the United States, that that gulf of difference is articulated by the Danish foreign minister.

We've heard from President Trump saying that they it would be unacceptable not to have control of Greenland. The Danish position that that's not there. That's not their position that Greenland will remain part of Denmark. That's what they want. That's not going to change.

I think in that context, nothing has changed. What Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the Danish foreign minister, who's a very highly respected diplomat, a tough negotiator, somebody who can well sit in a room with J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and have a tough conversation. He is known and respected in diplomatic circles for that.

By his own definition. It was frank and that they've agreed to set up this talking group, a high level talking group, to talk through some of the issues. He had said going into the meeting that he wanted to take down the tone of the rhetoric, that he wanted to be able to look the other side in the eye and have this conversation.

But the reality is the conversation has been had. The gaps remain. Yes. It's a diplomatic track. Yes, there's some opportunities here. But I think for the residents of Nuuk and across the rest of Greenland, they know this issue hasn't gone away. I think there will be they will be looking to see what president Donald Trump has to say next about this on Truth Social or wherever he says it.

That will also be a guiding light for them because they are incredibly concerned that the narrative that's coming from the White House that we haven't heard change at all until this moment, is one that leaves them with a great deal of anxiety and living under a threat.

And I think that part of the equation hasn't changed. I think what has been set here is this opportunity for diplomacy. But it was very clear that -- from the Danish side there, that that they weren't able to move the U.S. on their position at all. And I think that also speaks volumes for where the situation remains.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: And the new CNN poll found that the vast majority of Americans are against the U.S. attempting to take control of Greenland. The survey found that 75 percent oppose and only 25 percent support the possibility. This shows that President Trump's push to expand American territory faces steep resistance. Even Republicans are divided 50/50. Meanwhile, a whopping 94 percent of Democrats and those who lean Democratic oppose a potential takeover.

All right. Still ahead, NASA's SpaceX Crew 11 returns to earth after a medical evacuation from the international space station. What's next for the crew members when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:25:50]

SOLOMON: Welcome back.

All four crew members aboard the SpaceX Crew 11 capsule have safely returned to Earth, splashing down off the California coast. Their 10- hour journey home from the International Space Station came to an end a short time ago. They were taken out of the capsule onto stretchers or gurneys, which is standard procedure. Crew members were seen smiling, waving, giving thumbs up, just really in positive spirits as they came out. They are now expected to undergo routine medical checks.

NASA Crew 11 back to Earth earlier than planned after one crew member fell ill. We haven't been told who it is. We may not be told who it is or even what the medical issue is.

But let's go now live to Houston, Texas, and former astronaut David Wolf. David, great to have you again. Help us understand what happens now in

terms of the medical tests and evaluations that will take place.

DAVID WOLF, FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT: Well, it's a fairly sophisticated set of medical evaluations, well beyond a traditional physical exam. And I'm sure whatever is the issue will be drilled down to in painstaking detail. I believe that they -- they're looking for more detailed diagnostics in order to know if they have a real problem or not.

In other words, I don't think we're dealing with an acute or life threatening moments here. I think its diagnostics on orbit are limited. There's no MRI machine, for example.

SOLOMON: Because they've known about this issue for the last week or so. So, in doing it in this way, what did that allow NASA in terms of controlling the environment as opposed to a more emergency landing

WOLF: Uh-huh. Well, you sure like to do the landing, reentry and landing. Before things spiral to a much worse state. So, sooner is better. Also, there's this -- if we're -- if you're going to fly people in space for decades at a time in order to not to have no problems or a very good risk posture, occasionally you're going to have to make a conservative decision like this or else someday you'll get caught.

It's kind of like occasionally a good appendix has to come out if you're going to take all the bad ones out. So, it's part of being a risk posture. That is sustainable for decades in long term space flight.

SOLOMON: And even for the crew members who don't have this medical issue. I mean, space travel is obviously really hard on your body. You told us in the last hour that when you were in space for five months or so, you lost 15 percent of your bone mineral.

WOLF: Of many of the load bearing bones, I did. And it took two years to come back and research shows that even when it comes back, the structure of what's called the trabeculae, the fine detail of the bone doesn't come back in the natural strongest state. The structure, the bone.

Even if the mass comes back, the mineral mass, you might say, the structure is still not as good. And there's every organ system in the body has its own story, that space effects at different rates and different severities. So, it's a lot like very exaggerated aging, to be honest.

Bone -- losing of bone, balance problems, problems with your cardiovascular system, reflexes, you know, in other words, orthostatic hypotension. In other words, when you stand up against gravity, your heart has to react to keep the blood in your head.

When space, there is no react because you don't need that reflex, so it goes away. That's called extincting. And when you get back, that reflex doesn't exist and you need it when you're in gravity, right? There's no such thing as standing up in gravity. You're always laying down no matter which way your body is.

So, suddenly, you're on Earth where standing up is very important.