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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Authorities Canvas Guthrie's Neighborhood & Local Businesses; Russian State Media: Third Roud Of Talks With Ukraine Over; Iran: Both Sides Agree On "Guiding Principles" For More Talks; Trump: Cuba Should "Make A Deal" With Washington. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired February 18, 2026 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:23]

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 Wednesday, February 18th, 5:00 a.m. here in New York.

And straight ahead on EARLY START.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The hope that DNA tests could provide a new lead for investigators in the search for Nancy Guthrie has fallen apart.

CECE MOORE, GENETIC GENEALOGY EXPERT: Despite the fact there's over 50 million people who have taken direct to consumer DNA tests, we actually don't have access to all those profiles.

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Cuba is becoming an increasingly paralyzed country as the Trump administration's policy of blocking oil shipments from abroad cripples an already ailing economy.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Cuba is right now a failed nation. They don't even have jet fuel for airplanes to take off.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Meet the people training A.I. to replace your doctor, lawyer, banker and even your sommelier.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't want to see it as A.I. taking over our jobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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SOLOMON: Let's begin this morning in Arizona with the investigation into 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. Law enforcement is returning to Guthrie's neighborhood and to several local businesses as they search for more clues.

Meanwhile, DNA test results from a glove found around two miles from her home does not have any matches in the FBI's national database. The Pima County sheriff also confirms that it does not match any DNA found in Guthrie's home. But he also says that the evidence can't be ruled out until it is fully analyzed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF CHRIS NANOS, PIMA COUNTY, AZ: We believe that we may have some DNA there that may be our suspect, but we won't know that until that DNA is separated, sorted out maybe admitted to CODIS, maybe through genealogy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: A source now tells CNN that the DNA from the recovered glove will now be subject to genetic genealogy analysis. Authorities are hoping that this approach might help find a match with publicly available family trees. The FBI claims that the glove looks like those worn by the person seen on doorbell footage approaching Guthrie's front door, just hours before Nancy was reported missing on February 1st.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Pima County, Arizona, with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The hope that DNA tests could provide a new lead for investigators in the search for 84- year-old Nancy Guthrie has fallen apart here. Investigators say that the DNA tests from the gloves that were found within several miles of Nancy Guthrie's home do not match the DNA that was found here at the home that the sheriff said belongs to an unknown person. And that DNA also doesn't match anybody who is in the CODIS criminal database system as well. So that has kind of come to a dead end.

But however, the investigators do say that the DNA that was recovered here at the home is now in the process of being put through genealogy -- genealogical databases so it could prove and create a possible lead for investigators here in the days ahead but we just don't know where that stands at this moment. Here on day 17 of the search for Nancy Guthrie, we have seen investigators once again return to the neighborhood. We saw investigators at her home. One of them was wearing plastic gloves and carrying a bag, and was at the property for about an hour or so.

We also saw another group of investigators at a nearby home working on a camera and floodlight on the corner of a property. We don't know exactly what they were doing, except to say that investigators only categorized the work as a follow up detective work here in the neighborhood, so that continues as well. And we do know that investigators have also been going around to various gun shops in the Tucson area, and many of them that we spoke with we spoke to about a half dozen or so today most of them said that they were not able to comment on what investigators were asking about, but one of the gun shop owners did tell us that investigators came to that shop about a week ago showing them pictures of various people that they were interested in talking to. And we do know that investigators have been spending a great deal of

time trying to track down the clothing, the backpack, the mask, the holster that the suspect was wearing in that in the videos from the front porch door camera. And they're trying to figure out where those were sold and who bought them because they believe that video and those items in that are going to be the strongest leads to figuring out who abducted Nancy Guthrie back on February 1st.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Tucson, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[05:05:02]

SOLOMON: And, CNN spoke with genetic genealogy expert Cece Moore, and she says that results from this method of DNA analysis could take anywhere from 20 minutes to seven and a half years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CECE MOORE, GENETIC GENEALOGY EXPERT: We're basically reverse engineering someone's identity through their family tree based on their DNA alone. So when that DNA profile is created and uploaded to the genetic genealogy databases, which were allowed to use, its compared against everyone who has agreed to let their DNA be compared against law enforcement samples like this one, because we're limited to the two smallest genetic genealogy databases, we only are able to compare against less than two million profiles. So that's why we don't typically find someone really closely related.

Despite the fact there's over 50 million people who have taken direct to consumer DNA tests, the three largest databases, Ancestry, 23 and Me, and MyHeritage have barred law enforcements use. So we actually don't have access to all those profiles. We only have access to profiles that are in GEDmatch, Family Tree DNA or DNA salt, sorry, DNA Justice.

If I was the Guthrie family I would be begging Ancestry DNA, and 23 and Me, and MyHeritage to allow this profile to be compared against their databases. I don't believe they will allow it unless they are served with a warrant and then I think there's going to be a knockdown, drag out fight between the deep pockets, these consumer DNA testing companies have and law enforcement and the courts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: And just in this morning, word from Russian state media that the latest round of peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. are over. Russia says that today's negotiations lasted just about two hours.

It's unclear if any progress was made in Geneva, but earlier, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff posted this: President Trump's success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress. Both parties agreed to update their respective leaders and continue working towards a deal. And during an interview with "Axios", the Ukrainian president said

that a leader level meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin is the best way to make headway. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also saying that it wasn't fair of the U.S. president to publicly pressure Ukraine but not make Russia or not pressure Russia to make any concessions.

Let's get to CNN senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen, who is live for us this hour in Geneva.

Fred, good morning to you.

As I just said, negotiations have wrapped up, but we're also hearing Zelenskyy lay out in that "Axios" interview what appear to be some nonstarters when it comes to the Donbas region. What's he saying?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, you're absolutely right, Rahel. And first of all, the negotiations actually did wrap up a couple of minutes ago. In fact, I would say about three or four minutes ago, we saw the Russian delegation leave the hotel here in Geneva. The Ukrainian delegation now also saying that the talks have wrapped up and they're set to start a press conference fairly soon.

The Russians describing these negotiations as difficult but businesslike. It certainly seems as though they have been this round a little bit more difficult than some of the rounds of negotiations that we've have seen in the past couple of weeks.

And as far as the Donbas and specifically the Donetsk region of Ukraine is concerned, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in that interview with "Axios" saying that he believes it would be unfair to make the Ukrainians withdraw from that area. There is, of course, a little bit of the Donetsk region of Ukraine that is still held by the Ukrainians. Some key towns in that area, like for instance, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk that are very important for Ukraine's defense.

And Ukrainian president is saying that the Ukrainian population would never forgive the Ukrainian leadership, would never forgive the United States if the Ukrainians were made to cede that territory as part of any peace agreement. So, it certainly seems as though that would be a nonstarter as far as the territorial part of a possible peace agreement is concerned.

And of course, Rahel, one of the things that we've been talking about over the past months as these negotiations have been going on, is that the question of territories was always going to be and certainly is the most difficult. As these negotiations go forward, there is, of course, the question of security guarantees for Ukraine, prosperity prospects for the Ukrainians but the territorial question seems to be very difficult and certainly does not seem to have been solved at the negotiations that happened in Geneva, Rahel.

SOLOMON: Fred Pleitgen for us there in Geneva -- Fred, thank you.

Meantime, Iranian state media is reporting that Tehran and Moscow will conduct joint naval drills on Thursday, just days after Tehran had nuclear negotiations with the U.S. According to Iran's foreign minister, they have agreed with the U.S. on guiding principles for future talks. He says that this round of indirect negotiations with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner, in Geneva were more serious than the first set of talks in Oman.

But in the run up to the talks, the U.S. has been building up military assets in the Middle East.

[05:10:01]

Let's get to CNN's Paula Hancocks, who continues to track all of this live for us from Abu Dhabi.

Paula, as I said, Iran says they have guiding principles. An American official a little bit more circumspect, said that there are still a lot of details to discuss. So how far did these talks get and where do they go from here?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rahel, certainly, what we've been hearing from both sides is that there was some progress. But of course, it's not clear exactly how much progress or how long these talks could take to get to the sort of place that, for example the U.S. president, Donald Trump, would be comfortable with them. That is obviously a question how long he will be willing to allow the diplomatic route to continue.

We have heard from Trump administration officials that this is his preferred option. The diplomatic option. But what we have been hearing from Trump, for example, last week saying this could take a month. We have heard from the Iranian side suggesting that they are going to come back in two weeks with more detailed proposals that's coming from state media.

So, at this point, the timeline is uncertain but we have been hearing from the U.S. Vice President, J.D. Vance. He did an interview with Fox News, and he raised the prospect that there were some basic issues and redlines that the United States have, that the -- that the Iranians have not even acknowledged at this point. Let's listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States has certain red lines. Our primary interest here is we don't Iran to get a nuclear weapon. We don't want nuclear proliferation.

If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, there are a lot of other regimes, some friendly, some not so friendly, who would get nuclear weapons after them. That would be a disaster for the American people because then you have these crazy regimes all over the world with the most dangerous weapons in the world. And that's one of the things the president has said he's going to prevent. The president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: So that's one of those red lines. The fact that the United States does not want any uranium enrichment to happen within Iran. This is what we've heard from President Trump, where is the Iranian officials speaking publicly have said that it is their right to be able to carry out that enrichment. And for them, that is a red line.

And of course, you also have the fact that the Trump administration wants to talk about ballistic missile program they want to talk about Iran's support for proxies in the region as well. So, there does appear to be plenty of light between these two sides but Iran did say that that some progress had been made -- Rahel.

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

Rescue crews are scrambling to find nine backcountry skiers still missing after getting caught in an avalanche in northern California. They're searching in the Castle Park area just outside of Lake Tahoe. Another six skiers who were part of the group were rescued last night after someone called 911 to report the avalanche. Nevada County sheriff's office says that the extreme conditions are interfering with their efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. RUSSELL GREENE, NEVADA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: It's going to be slow going we have brought in snowcats. We have snowmobilers on standby. We have individuals on skis. So, we have several different ways that people are attempting to get in there. It's just going to be a slow tedious process because they also have to be very careful accessing the area due to the fact that the avalanche danger is still very high.

They're doing their best they can. They have taken refuge in area they have made up a makeshift shelter with a tarp and are doing everything they can to survive and wait for rescue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: California is being hit by a powerful winter storm carrying thunderstorms, high winds and heavy snow, and mountain areas. Several ski resorts around Lake Tahoe were fully or partially closed due to the extreme weather.

Still ahead for us, Democrats sent the White House an offer on Tuesday to end the partial government shutdown. How President Trump responded coming up next.

Plus, renewed fears of censorship rattle late night TV. Stephen Colbert says that CBS pulled an interview with a Democratic Senate candidate over fear from the Trump administration. That story coming up next.

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[05:18:51]

SOLOMON: Welcome back.

White House officials says that President Trump has rejected the Democrats latest offer to end a partial government shutdown. The official said that the two sides remain, quote, pretty far apart from a potential agreement Democrats sent a counteroffer to the White House Monday night with their demands for reforms within the Department of Homeland Security. The partial shutdown has been going on for days now, with no immediate end in sight.

Police in Washington have arrested an 18-year-old who was seen carrying a loaded shotgun toward the U.S. Capitol. They say the man was from Georgia and was running toward the building when police intercepted him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF MICHAEL SULLIVAN, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: This individual had a tactical vest on? He was also had tactical gloves. And when we looked in the vehicle, he had a Kevlar helmet and a gas mask in the vehicle. He was also the -- like I mentioned earlier, the shotgun was loaded. He had additional rounds on his person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: The man has been charged with carrying a rifle without a license, having an unregistered firearm and ammunition, as well as unlawful activities. Investigators have not determined a motive for the would-be attack. Lawmakers are currently on recess and were not in the building at the time.

"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert is pushing back against broadcaster CBS after he says the network kept his interview with Texas Democrat James Talarico from airing on TV. Colbert says that lawyers from CBS scrapped it under pressure from FCC regulators and the Trump administration.

CBS spokesperson says, quote, "'The Late Show' was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Representative James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal time rule and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. 'The Late Show' decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on air promotion on the broadcast, rather than potentially providing the equal time options."

Now, Colbert addressed that statement during his show on Tuesday night. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN COLBERT, "THE LATE SHOW" HOST: I am well aware that we can book other guests. I didn't need to be presented with that option. I've had Jasmine Crockett on my show twice. I could prove that to you. I can prove that to you. But the network won't let me show you her picture without including her opponents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Colbert went on to say that CBS unilaterally told him that he had to abide by the equal time rule, something he says he's never been asked to do for an interview before.

The rule requires stations to give equal airtime to all legally qualified candidates for public office, though for decades, late night and daytime talk shows were thought to be exempt.

Still ahead for us, the U.S. and Cuba may be talking, but Washingtons oil blockade is leading to an economic crisis for the island nation. CNN is in Havana coming up next.

Plus, Peru's interim president has been removed from office. It is the eighth time the country has changed its leader in just a decade. Details on the scandal that brought him down coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:26:23]

SOLOMON: The U.S. military has struck three more alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean. U.S. Command reports that all 11 people on board were killed. That brings the total death toll from the U.S. campaign against international drug trafficking to 135.

Democrats and legal experts say that the strikes amount to murdering civilians since the U.S. has not declared and Congress has not authorized a war on drug cartels.

President Trump says the U.S. and Cuba are talking as the island nation deals with the impact of a crippling oil blockade.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Cuba is right now a failed nation. They don't even have jet fuel to get for airplanes to take off. They're clogging up their runway. And we're talking to Cuba right now, and Marco Rubio talking to Cuba right now. And they should absolutely make a deal because it's a humanitarian. It's really a humanitarian threat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Cuba's oil supply has fallen off after Washington cut off shipments from its ally, Venezuela, and threatened to penalize other countries sending oil. Trash is piling up across Havana because there isn't enough fuel for garbage trucks to keep their routes, and drivers are struggling to keep their engines on.

CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports from Havana.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Owning a classic car in Cuba used to be a gold mine. Until recently, Mandy Pruna (ph) earned more from one hour driving tourists in his vintage 1957 Chevrolet than most Cubans do in a month. But he's no longer able to make a living.

Just before taking me out for a spin, Mandy canceled his permit to work as a chauffeur.

"Everything is uncertain at the moment," he says. "There's no fuel. We don't know if there will be any and how we will pay for it. There's no tourism."

Cuba is becoming an increasingly paralyzed country as the Trump administration's policy of blocking oil shipments from abroad cripples an already ailing economy, where just weeks ago, cars lined up for hours at the pump. Now there's no one because there's no longer any gas. Each day, public transportation is harder to find, many switch to bicycles.

When I first came to Cuba, the Soviet Union had just fallen into more bikes on the road than there were cars. As this crisis goes on, it feels more and more like we're returning to those times.

The White House is strong arming Cuba's communist-run government to open politically and economically in exchange for the fuel shipments to resume. Cubans are seeing food prices soar as the crisis drags on.

"We are paying two, three times as much to restock and keep people happy," a vendor tells me. "There's no food". And there's no immediate solution in sight.

OPPMANN: This is the kind of place that I buy vegetables for my family, and most of the products are coming from outside of Havana. Transporting them from the countryside is going to get more difficult, if not impossible.

Cuban officials have responded by saying people need to start growing their own food.

OPPMANN (voice-over): Cuba may just be weeks or perhaps days away from running out of fuel. A humanitarian disaster could be on the horizon.

Already, many fishing boats sit idle.

"One can't work. The country is stuck. There's no industry. Nothing is happening," this fisherman tells me. "And we'll see how this ends."

Until then, the best many Cubans can hope for is to stay afloat as their country goes under.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE) SOLOMON: CNN's interim -- Peru's interim president has been removed from office following a political scandal, just four months after he was sworn in. Congress voted to censure Jose Hari following accusations that he held off the record meetings with Chinese.