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Isa Soares Tonight
Venezuelan Military on Alert Amid U.S. Naval Deployment; Maduro Denies Any Involvement in Drug Trafficking; Thousands Take Part in Spain's Tomato Throwing Festival. Minneapolis Community Devastated By a Deadly Shooting As Officials Continue to Search for Answers; At least 18 People Killed, Including 4 Children in Ukraine as Hope for Peace Remains at an Impasse; Venezuela Mobilizes Militia As a Showdown Between U.S. and Venezuela Looms. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired August 28, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, stories of heroism and complete and
utter heartbreak. The Minneapolis community devastated by a deadly shooting as officials continue to search for answers. And the second biggest air
assault on Ukraine since the war began.
At least, 18 people killed, including 4 children, as hope for a -- peace remains at an impasse. Plus, as a showdown between the U.S. and Venezuela
looms -- and Venezuela mobilizes militia. We'll have an exclusive interview with leading Venezuelan opposition politician Henrique Capriles.
Tonight, meanwhile, a city in mourning. Wednesday's shooting in Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, took the lives of
two children and wounded 17 more. In their darkest hour, neighbors, teachers and students stepped up to save lives. Local healthcare officials
say one child is in critical condition among the patients still being treated.
Earlier, the Hennepin County EMS chief provided new details on the quote, "unrecognized heroes". Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN SCHEERER, HENNEPIN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES: I think there's a lot of maybe unrecognized heroes in this event, along with the children
that were protecting other children, which is really amazing to hear about. The -- I might be saying too much, but we had one kid that covered up
another kid and took a shotgun blast to his back and things like that, and they were helping each other out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: We heard from that little boy yesterday on the show, if you remember. Well, investigators believe the shooter who graduated from
Annunciation in 2017 likely intended to keep attacking people from inside the church, police say the shooter killed himself before that happened.
Moment ago, the White House spoke on loss -- on the loss facing this community.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We are all eternally grateful to the heroic law enforcement officers and first responders whose
courage and swift response aided all of those impacted by this horrible tragedy. President Trump and the first lady encourage the entire nation to
join all of us in praying for the victims and their families as they face unimaginable grief and loss. The White House and the FBI will continue to
provide further updates as they become available.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, our law enforcement correspondent Whitney Wild is live in Minneapolis. Whitney, we are learning -- starting to learn new details on
the intense planning behind the killer's attack. Just bring us up to date with what you're hearing, the very latest you're hearing from authorities
and the picture that is emerging, Whitney.
WHITNEY WILD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, law enforcement sources are telling CNN's John Miller that this man had gone to the church prior. So, as you
mentioned, he graduated from this school in 2017, and he in the weeks leading up to the shooting, had gone back to the church. And someone
basically said, you know, what are you doing here?
And he told this person that he was trying to reconnect with his faith, that he was a parishioner, and he was trying to just take a look around and
reconnect with his Catholic faith. Now, law enforcement believes that, that was basically a reconnaissance tour of the church. Some of the evidence to
support that theory includes a diagram of the church that appear in videos that are connected to the shooter.
So, there's quite a bit of handwritten notes. Many of them are illogical musings. They are hate filled. They are -- they are anti-Semitic. In many
cases, they are anti-black. They are anti-religious. And in some of those writings, there's actually a handwritten diagram of the church. And then in
the video that you can see, the man who is presumably the shooter holding a knife, saying, ha, nice.
I mean, it's just completely chilling twisted evidence. It's a lot of evidence that law enforcement have to go in, is going to have to work their
way through. They've executed four search warrants. Three of them are at residences connected to the shooter. What we know is that, at this point,
it doesn't sound like any other firearms have been recovered from those residences.
What we do know is that the firearms that were used in this case were purchased legally. They were purchased recently. That is very common in
cases like this. But I think the focus here should be on the victims. We now know that there is an 18th victim, so the total here is 15 children who
were shot.
[14:05:00]
We do know that two died, one child was eight, one child was ten years old, fifteen children were injured in this horrible tragedy. Three other people
were shot. They are parishioners of the church. Some of them are in their 80s. We are learning more about the conditions of the children. Some of
them are still fighting for their lives.
There is a child who was shot in the back. He is in critical condition. He is being described as being touch-and-go at this point. Here's more from
Hennepin County medical experts here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHEERER: I think there's a lot of maybe unrecognized heroes in this event along with the children that were protecting other children, which is
really amazing to hear about. The -- I might be saying too much, but we had one kid that covered up another kid and took a shotgun blast to his back
and things like that.
JON GAYKEN, TRAUMA SURGEON, HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER: One of the victims came in, and in the Emergency Department, this was a nurse manager
from another unit, didn't have anything to do with what we would normally respond to. And one of the children were very scared and alone because
everybody was running about and doing their jobs.
And she went into the CT scanner with the patient, putting herself basically in harm's way of radiation, which normally would evacuate the
room, she put a little lid on and stayed there and held her hand and held her hair while she went through the scanner so she didn't have to go
through it alone. Those are the types of things we witnessed yesterday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WILD: Making this all the more gut-wrenching for the people who actually have to react appropriately in this moment. Some of these nurses have
children who go to school here, so they are thinking about their own children while trying to save the lives of other children. I mean, it's
just the worst combination of tragedy that you can imagine here in Minneapolis.
And it has rocked this community. But this is a church that was founded in 1875, generations of families have gone to this school. So, this is a
tightly-knit community that spans generations, and what we've seen and what should give everyone hope here, as we have seen dozens of people streaming
in today, writing notes on the crosses to memorialize the two children who died.
They are -- you know, have tears in their eyes. They have Annunciation shirts. They are still standing by their community, and they are here to
remember the lives lost. And, you know, this is a community that will need each other now more than ever. And the message here is one of unity. Back
to you.
SOARES: Yes, it's so important at this time, the sense of community is vital. Whitney Wild, appreciate it, thank you very much, Whitney. Well,
hopes among world leaders for a path to peace in Ukraine appear to be dimming in the wake of another truly devastating Russian bombardment. Just
a short time ago, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Zelenskyy, Ukraine President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy will obviously not happen.
And the White House says U.S. President Donald Trump is not happy, but not surprised by the attack. That says rescue crews searched for survivors
trapped underneath the rubble following the second largest aerial attack since Moscow's full-scale invasion three-and-a-half years ago. Ukrainian
officials say at least 19 people were killed, among them four children, the youngest just two years old.
Our surveillance video captured the moment a Russian strike hit an apartment building, that's what I was trying to show. We were trying to see
if we can get you that. Many weary Ukrainians are at their breaking point, one man desperately searching for his missing wife.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I came out, everything was covered in dust and smoke. I looked up, the roof was gone, and the floors from the fourth to
the first were completely destroyed. As of now, my wife hasn't been found. Her phone doesn't respond. She's not listed anywhere. I don't know, we're
still searching.
I really want a ceasefire already and for this war to end, families are grieving, people missing, people killed, loved ones, relatives. It would be
better to die yourself than to see your loved ones gone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy called the Russian attacks a horrific as well as deliberate killing of civilians. He says Moscow chooses
killing instead of ending the war. Despite Russia's intensifying attacks, the Kremlin says it's still interested in peace talks. Here's more now from
CNN's Salma Abdelaziz.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): If you're wondering how President Putin is responding to peace efforts, well, Kyiv suffered its
second largest aerial attack by Russia since the start of the conflict, that's according to Ukrainian authorities who say that nearly 600 drones
and more than 30 missiles were fired by Russia overnight at the capital.
It was a terrifying night for families, some who had to endure a nine-hour air raid siren, more than 15 people have been killed so far, and among
those victims are children.
[14:10:00]
The youngest is just two years old. The strikes hit residential buildings, homes, a kindergarten and even a building belonging to the European Union
mission, and another building belonging to the British Council. Both those parties have summoned top Russian diplomats to discuss these strikes. And
this, of course, is happening as President Trump continues to push for peace efforts for a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine.
So far, his attempts at starting a bilateral meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy have fallen flat with Russia simply dragging
its feet on the issue. It also takes place as EU, European Union diplomats are meeting in Europe this week to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
Yet, another step in that peace process, which Russia has just simply batted away. On Friday, President Zelenskyy says some of his top officials
will be meeting in New York with some of President Trump's top officials to continue that peace process. But in the meanwhile, we are seeing a tried
and true Russian strategy as those diplomatic efforts stall the offensive on the ground led by the Kremlin has intensified, and those drones and
missiles continue to rain down on civilians across Ukraine. Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Let's get more on this story. Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and chair of its Foreign Affairs Committee, he joins
me now from Denmark. Oleksandr, great to have you back on the show. Look, as my correspondent and colleague was just putting out there, this is truly
a major and pretty senseless attack yet again on Kyiv.
I know you are in Copenhagen. You are well connected. Just give us a sense of what you are hearing from friends, colleagues, family on the ground.
OLEKSANDR MEREZHKO, CHAIR, FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT: Well, in Copenhagen, in Denmark, I'm a participant, I take part in the
conference about European common foreign policy and common security issues. And of course, we talked a lot about what had happened in Kyiv because it
happens each day. It's a very clear sign that Putin doesn't want peace.
He doesn't want ceasefire. And the question I'm asking myself, what else Putin should do to prove to President Trump that it's absolutely hopeless
to believe that Putin can agree to any peace in Ukraine. We're dealing with a ruthless war criminal. It's genocidal war against Ukraine, and Putin
should be dealt with and treated as a war criminal, not as a leader of a country.
SOARES: And German Chancellor Friedrich Merz actually just reacting to the strikes, a similar tone to what you're saying. He said that Russia, quote,
"showed its true face again last night, which makes me -- guess your point, makes me ask the question that we -- you and I have repeated numerous times
is, you know, how many times does Russia have to show its face for there to be any significant pressure?
We've also heard just in the last hour or so, Oleksandr, from the -- from Germany's Merz, who said there will be no meeting between Zelenskyy and
Putin. Do you think this is it? Do you think that this is where we are in terms of any sort of conversation, any face-to-face talks here between
both?
MEREZHKO: Well, I predicted it long ago. I had no doubts before that there will be no meeting between President Zelenskyy and Kremlin's dictator. I
had no doubt about this because Putin, he is afraid to meet Zelenskyy in person. And the thing is that he hasn't abandoned his ultimate goal to
destroy Ukraine, to subjugate Ukraine.
And he continues to prove it constantly. We have such shellings, and we have civilian casualties each day, and it's very direct response to
President Trump's proposal with regard to ceasefire and peace.
SOARES: And we heard from the White House, the Trump administration's Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, just in the last 45 minutes, said --
reacting to these strikes, saying that Trump is not happy about the Ukraine's attack. I wonder then if he's not happy, what we are likely to
see from the President. Do you think that he is being naive about Putin or do you think that this negotiating tactic has yielded anything at all, that
perhaps we haven't seen, you know, publicly?
MEREZHKO: Well, it's hard to say whether President Trump understands whom he is dealing with. I hope that he is not that naive. He's experienced
politician. And he understands that Putin is pure evil. And it's like Hitler, you know, you cannot reach any deal with Hitler. You cannot reach a
deal with the devil, and it's absolutely hopeless.
But of course, when I hear from time-to-time these words, I am not happy. You know, it makes me wonder what it means because we're dealing with
horrible crimes. War crimes. We're dealing with genocide committed by Russia against Ukrainian nation.
[14:15:00]
And it's not about being happy or unhappy. We need strong actions because when you can help, you can prevent death and you don't do anything. I think
it's a very -- it's a kind of very wrong sign which can be sent to Putin. It only emboldens Putin --
SOARES: Yes --
MEREZHKO: To continue murdering Ukrainians, which we need actions, strong concrete actions from President Trump.
SOARES: It's a similar point, of course, that we heard from President Zelenskyy today, saying that the world must respond firmly. I understand
that a delegation from Ukraine, Oleksandr, will meet in New York on Friday. What are you likely -- are we likely to see come out of these meetings?
What are you hoping to see here?
MEREZHKO: I understand that there will be talks first of all about prospects of ceasefire, because we need to stop these murders committed by
Russia against Ukrainians. And there might be discussion of, possible security guarantees for Ukraine if ceasefire, of course, will be reached.
But you know, we see very clearly that ceasefire might be very distant prospect.
SOARES: Can I ask you just -- I'm just writing down what you were just saying. You're talking about security guarantees, and, you know, we keep
going back to this because I wonder how much Donbas, which you and I have talked about previously, which we have talked at great length here on the
show.
You know, this is a very mineral rich territory, I think Donetsk, Luhansk are part of it. It seems this area is very much or seems to be part of the
negotiations. Is this still the case and what is your view on whether this proposal would ever be accepted by President Zelenskyy as part of a peace
deal? Have we moved at all from that, or are we still -- or do you think this is still very much part of the conversation here?
MEREZHKO: The truth is that Putin has failed to take by force by military hand --
SOARES: Yes --
MEREZHKO: This -- it remained -- this part of Donbas. It's heavily fortified and Putin cannot do it. So, he's trying to use negotiations to
get what he cannot get by force. And of course, for Ukraine, it's unacceptable because we are talking about people who are living in towns
and cities and villages, and we cannot sacrifice them and to leave them for tortures, rapes, murders.
They are -- they're people. We cannot betray them. That's why Ukrainian society, Ukrainian people, parliament and President himself will never
accept this provocation, this suggestion by the Kremlin dictator.
SOARES: Oleksandr, always great to get your perspective, appreciate it for coming on the show. I know you're very busy, thank you very much indeed.
Now, an extraordinary photo-op is planned next week in Beijing to mark the end of World War II. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is expected to be side-
by-side with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong un.
The show of autocratic unity will come during China's military parade that will be held on Wednesday, marking Japan's formal surrender in 1945. China
says more than two dozen world leaders are attending the event. Notably absent high level dignitaries from major western countries. And the parade
comes as Russia and China are holding more joint military drills.
Russia's military says diesel electric submarines began patrolling east of the Korean peninsula and China earlier this month. China has not confirmed
the Russian reports, but its state-run global times mentioned them on Wednesday. The tabloid cited an expert saying these were the country's
first joint submarine patrols.
Well, as Israel intensifies its assault on Gaza city ahead of a planned takeover, we'll have much more on that. Plus, our exclusive reporting on an
Israeli attack on a Gaza hospital earlier this week. Plus, coming up on my book club, we speak to the beloved author of the "Midnight Library", Matt
Haig, about his new novel. You won't want to miss this conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT HAIG, AUTHOR: I think one of the reasons we're drawn to stories as a sort of species is that they offer us faith in change. And like when you're
depressed or when you're in a terrible situation, the prime feeling is, you're not going to get out of this. This is horrendous. And so stories
become a kind of therapy in themselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:20:00]
SOARES: Israel is ramping up its attacks on the outskirts of Gaza city ahead of a planned takeover. An IDF spokesman calls the evacuation of the
largest city in the besieged enclave inevitable. Residents there say artillery fire today targets several neighborhoods in the north. Many
Palestinians are fleeing, but some are remaining in a city ruined beyond true recognition.
Israel says it will open new aid distribution centers, but none will be in Gaza city. And that is forcing people to leave if they want to receive
food, about 1 million Palestinians call Gaza city home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): What should we do? Do we stay here to die? To be broken? My two brothers died. My mother was martyred. My
cousins were killed before my eyes. What should we do? We keep moving from one place to another until God above looks upon us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Meantime, at the White House -- at the White House, sources say Jared Kushner and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair were among
those at a White House or -- meeting on Wednesday for talks about a plan for post-war Gaza. No details, though, as of yet have been released. Now,
to a CNN exclusive on the Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital, if you remember, that killed at least 22 people.
New video obtained by CNN reveals not two, but three strikes on the facility, leading to a lot of more questions for the Israeli military. As
our Paula Hancocks now reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A live "Reuters" feed of the Gazan city of Khan Younis. At 10:08 a.m., the shot
freezes and the sound drops. Israel has targeted the fourth floor of the Nasser Hospital, where the camera stood. "Reuters" cameraman Hussam al-
Masri is killed.
Emergency and health workers rushed to the scene, along with journalists from a ground floor media tent. It is all broadcast live by "Al-Hayat TV"
from the street below. The damaged camera and live streaming unit are held up and shown to the crowd. Visible on the staircase is Mariam Abu Daqqa,
working for "AP".
"Al Jazeera" cameraman Mohammed Salameh and freelance journalist Muath Abu Taha, in the final moments of their lives. "Reuters" cameraman Haitham
Omar(ph) seen here in a red T-shirt, films the scene on his phone. A rescue worker says they carried two body bags down as they gathered remains of a
third body --
(EXPLOSION)
HANCOCKS: There was a second explosion. It was 10:17 a.m., nine minutes after the first strike. Footage filmed seconds later is too horrific to
show. Lifeless bodies piled on top of each other.
(EXPLOSION)
HANCOCKS: New video obtained by CNN reveals that this second explosion was in fact two near-simultaneous strikes, the second and third strikes less
than a second apart appear to have caused most of the deaths. One weapons expert says, quote, "it suggests some more carefully-coordinated attack
rather than a single vehicle firing at a target of opportunity."
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MOHAMMAD SAQER, DIRECTOR OF NURSING, NASSER MEDICAL COMPLEX: What is the point of waiting the humanitarian and medical staff to arrive to a specific
area and target them once they arrive?
HANCOCKS: Israeli statements have evolved over the past 48 hours. Israel's Prime Minister called the deaths a, quote, "tragic mishap". The IDF now
says it was targeting a camera, quote, "positioned by Hamas in the area of the Nasser Hospital that was being used to observe the activity of IDF
troops."
No evidence was offered. The IDF claims six terrorists were killed, disputed by Hamas and health officials in Gaza. The IDF has not addressed
the double strike, adding gaps will be examined, including the decision- making process and approved munition. Satellite images show Israeli combat vehicles, including tanks stationed nearby the hospital.
(EXPLOSION)
HANCOCKS: An Israeli security official tells CNN, the military fired on the hospital with tank shells. The staircase was often used as a live
camera position by "Reuters", "AP" and other global media outlets, with international media kept out by Israel, local journalists grouped together
here searching for cell signal to feed their material to the world.
The last functioning hospital in southern Gaza already struck multiple times. The United Nations says targeting hospitals, journalists and rescue
workers is forbidden under international law, calling for accountability and transparency, adding neither have been readily apparent in previous
incidents where Israel has investigated itself. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And our thanks to Paula and her team for that exclusive report. Now, Iran is having United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program
reimposed. France, Germany and the United Kingdom have started the process. A move the U.S. welcomed on Thursday. It was triggered by the E-3 countries
known in nuclear negotiations after U.N. watchdog inspectors returned to Iran despite Tehran's ban on cooperation.
They accuse the International Atomic Nuclear Agency of providing Israel a pretext to attack its nuclear facilities. The snapback process takes 30
days, giving Iran a window to try and stop sanction reimposition. The E-3 has until October to trigger them back in place. And still to come tonight,
tensions grow between Venezuela and the United States.
We'll hear from Henrique Capriles, a leading Venezuelan opposition politician. I asked whether he believes President Nicolas Maduro is a narco
lord. Our exclusive conversation just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:30:00]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro is striking a defiant tone, telling the world and in particular the United
States, that his country does not accept supremacism amid a military standoff. His comments come as the U.S. sends warships attack, aircraft,
and marines to waters near the South American nation. The U.S. says the naval deployment is in an effort to counter drug trafficking.
The Trump administration considers President Madura one of the world's largest narco traffickers. Just take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAM BONDI, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Maduro's reign of terror continues. He is one of the largest narco traffickers in the world and a threat to our
national security. Therefore, we've doubled his reward to $50 million. Under President Trump's leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he
will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, President Maduro denies any involvement in drug trafficking. He's urging citizens meanwhile to sign up for malicious to counter a
potential U.S. attack and says his military is deploying more naval units. Here's was -- what Venezuela's vice president said earlier. Have a listen
to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DELCY RODRIGUEZ, VENEZUELAN VICE PRESIDENT (through translator): There is an attempt to put Venezuela in a state of psychological distress and
anxiety, and that has an economic purpose, as you know, which is to generate uncertainty in the economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, I spoke with Henrique Capriles, a leading Venezuelan opposition politician. I started by asking him how he sees tensions between
the U.S. and the Venezuelan government playing out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENRIQUE CAPRILES, VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN AND FORMER VENEZUELAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (through translator): I do not agree with war, I
believe there is no such things as a good war. I think there is a lot of conflict in the world, and the last thing we need is an armed conflict in
Venezuela. After last year's presidential elections, when the popular sovereignty was not respected, indeed, the political crisis deepened. But I
still believe that the way to find a solution is not to resort to force, but to insist on negotiation processes. And I believe that what should come
in this tense situation between the United States and the Maduro government is a negotiation process. Face-to-face, Maduro, Trump.
I have seen that President Trump is making efforts to try to bring peace, where there has been -- where there is war. Specifically, I am referring to
the war between Ukraine and Russia. Therefore, I believe this is not the time to keep escalating, but quite the opposite. I think it is time to open
the doors to a face-to-face negotiation process between Trump and Maduro, thinking of the Venezuelan people and peace for Venezuelans.
SOARES: I wonder then what you make o of the motivations here. Maria Corina Machado, the opposition leader, called it the right approach from
the United States. You are clearly not going as far, you are calling for more face-to-face diplomatic, you know, approach here. But what is the
reasoning then from the United States? Because administration says it's to fight drug trafficking. Do you believe that? Because, you know,
Washington's also doubled the reward for the capture of Maduro for two -- from $25 million to $50 million. So, what are the motivations here behind
military mobilization?
[14:35:00]
CAPRILES (through translator): Well, the truth is that it's confusing, because there are also messages that seems like a large contradiction. A
few months ago, there was an envoy who met directly with Maduro at the presidential palace, the envoy Richard Grenell, and he came here and, what
seemed to prevail in that meeting was a spirit of cordiality and dialogue.
I am anti-war, and I cannot agree with the idea that a military intervention would mean stability or the democratic recovery of Venezuela.
I don't the United States, from what I see today, is thinking about opening a war front somewhere in the world. I mean, just as President Trump goes
and talks with Putin, goes and talk with Kim Jong Un, goes and talks with Xi Jinping. These are countries where there is no democracy, and in
Venezuela, there is no democracy.
SOARES: But, Henrique, let me just to interrupt you there. Henrique, let me just interrupt you there. I mean, I hear what you're saying, but do you
think that this is about regime change or do you believe the United States when it says is going after narco trafficking -- I mean, it's accused
Maduro of, you know, turning Venezuelan into a narco state. Is Maduro a narco lord?
CAPRILES (through translator): Listen, I think the accusations that have been made and the whole issues of the Cartel de los Soles is a very serious
accusation, and I think the United States needs to show the evidence. We, Venezuelans, don't know who is part of the Cartel de los Soles. I don't
have any information on that, I can't provide it, and I think the United States needs to present it. Such a serious accusation requires putting the
evidence on the table. Who are the members of the Cartel de los Soles? Who operates it, where does the Cartel de los Soles operate? But not just in
rhetoric, show the evidence.
What I can assure you is that there is no democracy in Venezuela, there is no democracy, and the Maduro government is not a democratic government, is
it a de facto government. Now, it's been more than a year since the 2024 president election. In Venezuela, we are at a stalemate. The United States
controls the sanctions, not just personal sanctions, but also sanctions on sectors of the Venezuelan economy.
I understand that Maduro wants to negotiate, and I have seen that the president of the United States has shown himself to be a negotiator. And I
think that if he goes and meets with Putin seeking an end to the war, it would worth exploring the same here, because I believe the vast majority of
Venezuelans wants a peaceful solution to the crisis in our country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And our thanks to Henrique Capriles for that interview. Of course, we'll stay across the story. Any developments, we will bring them to you.
We're going to leave Venezuela and go next door, turn our attention to Colombia, because a teenager who fatally wounded Colombian Presidential
Hopeful Miguel Uribe has been sentenced to seven years in youth detention center.
Uribe, if you remember, was shot at a June rally in Bogota and died from his injuries earlier this month. Investigators say the 15-year-old boy was
given a gun to carry out the attack. And prosecutors claim the minor was part of a hitman network. Several other people also under arrest in
connection with the shooting.
And still to come tonight, in the latest edition of our Book Club, I sit down with acclaimed author Matt Haig, to discuss his magical as well as
inspiring new novel, "The Life Impossible." That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:40:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Joining us on the Book Club this week is Matt Haig with "The Life Impossible." Matt, welcome to the Book Club. This is a fantastic book.
Fantastical storyline. Very much life affirming. I said to my team who were reading, three of us were reading it, really good for the soul. Just
explain where the idea came from first of all.
MATT HAIG, AUTHOR, "THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE": Well, I had written a novel before this called "The Midnight Library," and then I'd taken a little
while off during COVID and, you know, having an existential crisis like --
SOARES: We all did.
HAIG: A lot of people did. And I said to myself, I wasn't going to write until I had a reason to. I wasn't just going to write for the sake of it.
And I actually visited Ibiza for the first time in 20 years during that period, and I visited it in winter when it was totally different to how I
remembered it because I used to work there in my early 20s, you know, and did the full Ibiza cliches.
SOARES: Like we all did, right.
HAIG: In the '90s. Yes. But I had the full-on hedonistic Ibiza. But then going back in springtime under -- as it was when we landed overcast skies,
not many tourists around. Seeing a totally different natural side of it. And it was important for me because I'd been having -- I mean, I've written
quite extensively about my mental health issues when I was younger, and Ibiza was very much part of that, like this escaping and then drugs and
alcohol and everything else. And then, I was suicidal there.
And so, going back for me was almost like a part of my therapy. And I'd been having therapy for the first time in my life during that period. And
so, seeing the distance I had gone from who I was made me think about how do I channel that feeling, quite an overpowering cathartic feeling of
recovery into a book that wasn't literally autobiographical, but just captures that sort of feeling?
SOARES: Personal.
HAIG: And one of the things I always bang on about in fiction and nonfiction is how, you know, the possibility of change.
SOARES: Yes.
HAIG: And I think one of the reasons we're drawn to stories as a sort of species is that they offer us faith in change. And like when you're
depressed or when you're in a terrible situation, the prime feeling is you're not going to get out of this. This is horrendous.
And so, stories become a kind of therapy in themselves because even if the change isn't good, there's always a -- for a story to be a story there has
to be a change.
SOARES: And you see that with your protagonist, your main character, because, you know, you pretty much challenging ageism in many ways. Because
she's 72, I think, right?
HAIG: Yes.
SOARES: She's early70s.
HAIG: Yes.
SOARES: She's a retired school teacher. And you challenge this idea that it's -- you know, you're not -- you're never too old to change your life,
you're never too old to have fun. That goes very much at the heart of this and that we see her life really transformed in this.
The other thing I found was interesting, and we see her right from the beginning as she starts, of course, writing the letter to her former
student, is this idea that maybe it's how integrate kind of the overarching theme is, small acts of kindness that we'll see throughout the book.
[14:45:00]
And I wonder if you can -- you could read a passage? It's from page 226.
HAIG: Right.
SOARES: Let me give that to you. You've got a book there.
HAIG: Yes, I have 226.
SOARES: And it's from, we think to how we connect.
HAIG: We think we are lonely because we are often blind to the connections. But to be alive is to be alive, to be life. We are life. The
same ever evolving life. We need each other. We are here for each other. The point of life is life. All life. We need to look after each other. And
when it feels like we are truly, deeply alone, that is the moment when we most need to do something in order to remember how we connect.
SOARES: Yes, small acts of kindness, things that we don't acknowledge or we don't see as often because we're just so busy in our lives, but it does
seem a lot of the emotions that you tap into there's a simplicity to it. But how much of what - I wonder how much of what you've gone through, and
you've been very open about this, like you were saying, how much has that influenced your work? Obviously, not just the fiction, but also the
nonfiction.
HAIG: I think fiction's a very good place to explore ideas, because you don't really have the pressure of a non-fiction writer in terms of having
to have all the answers. But you are exploring questions and you are exploring your imagination. And the best thing about writing, I think, is
when you're actually surprised yourself, like when you don't have everything exactly planned out and you take a left turn to where you think
you were going. You sort of go somewhere else and branch off.
And then -- so, it's a process of finding out about yourself, I think, when you are exploring your imagination. It's sort of like being a journalist of
the imagination, like you're going into your imagination and reporting that.
SOARES: I'd read at one point, and correct me if I'm wrong here, Matt, that you have several word documents --
HAIG: Yes.
SOARES: -- going at the same time, five or six, because you have --
HAIG: It's quite chaotic.
SOARES: Is it? Is it -- is that true?
HAIG: Yes. I mean, I don't know if right now is true, but a lot of the time I'll be in the middle of a book and it's quite dangerous as well,
because I've recently been writing a sort of slight companion to "The Midnight Library." And -- but there were two or three Word documents open,
but were very similar. And so, you start correcting in one document and you realize, oh, no, you've just changed the -- so, it's not the best way to
work.
But I -- yes, I often have different word documents and different projects. And then seeing which one will go on to be the one. So, it's kind of like a
little short list. And once you get over, say, 20,000 words in one, then you think you going to be --
SOARES: Then you think it's going to work?
HAIG: Yes.
SOARES: Companion to "Midnight Library," you tease this with that?
HAIG: Yes.
SOARES: Tell us about that.
HAIG: It's not a straightforward sequel, I'd say it's more like a conceptual companion. I was writing a book, which wasn't anything to do
with "The Midnight Library," but as I was writing it was evolving and getting closer to "The Midnight Library" and that it was about the
afterlife. And I won't tell you the story, but the starting point for it was the sort of new scientific evidence about what happens to our brains at
the moment of death and whether we sort of relive our lives. Because after our heart stops, our brain activity continues for a minute or so.
And the sort of brainwaves are equivalent to dreaming and memories. So, you know, that idea of our life flashing before our eyes might have, you know,
scientific basis. They don't a hundred percent know yet. So, that was the starting point. And then how that might be. And then it evolved into a time
travel book and it was like the point after "The Midnight Library," because "The Midnight Library" was between life and death, this library of
different lives, and this is the moment after what happens there.
SOARES: Matt, really great to have you on the show. Thank you so much.
HAIG: Thank you.
SOARES: I'm going to pass you the pen. If you do us the honor.
HAIG: Oh, yes.
SOARES: There you go.
HAIG: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And our thanks to Matt. Great conversation there and even better book to read. Get that if you can for the rest of your holiday break. And
there's plenty more to come on our Book Club. Next time I sit down with Rachel Clark, the author of the award-winning "The Story of the Heart." The
breathtaking -- heart wrenching, I should say, story about how one child saved the life of another.
[14:50:00]
I couldn't stop crying the first paragraphs. Have listened to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL CLARK, AUTHOR, "THE STORY OF A HEART": There's almost something beyond medicine about this idea that you can take a living human organ and
literally lay it in the chest of another child and almost resurrect them. And everybody, the surgeons, the nurses, had this sense of enormity. So,
they were staying late. They were doing everything in their power to make this heart arrive healthily where it needed to be. And also, almost holding
the hands of these individuals facing such a devastating time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: The first three chapters of that book, my goodness, I wept. You don't want to miss our conversations coming up on our next Book Club. And
you can catch all our conversations with authors on our website, that's cnn.com/world/isasbookclub, or just look for Isa's Book Club CNN and your
fine and much easier.
Now, former U.S. President Barack Obama has released his annual summer reading list. Among some of his picks "Mark Twain" by Ron Chernow, which he
calls a comprehensive biography on one of the most important writers in American history. Also, on the list", the Book of Records" by Madeleine
Thien. "King of Ashes" by S.A. Cosby, though Obama calls the author one of his favorite crime fiction writers. There's also "Abundance" by Ezra Klein
and Derek Thompson, the former president calling a must read for progressives.
I can tell you that, quite honestly, I haven't read any of them, but I should have a look and put them in my bedside table wish list.
And still to come tonight, a unique mollusk is looking for love in New Zealand. We'll bring you the story of Ned the snail and the human
matchmakers trying to find him a date. That story is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, Spain hosted one of its messiest festivals on Wednesday, and it was a smash. More than 20,000 people through 120 tons of overripe
tomatoes at each other in the eastern town of Bunol as part of the annual festival, fight festival, as you know, La Tomatina. It lasted for just an
hour and ended with town's longest street being covered in tomato pulp. This year was the 80th anniversary of the event, which was inspired by a
food fight between children by back in 1945.
[14:55:00]
And newborn panda cubs are making their public debut. The cubs were officially presented on Wednesday at China's Chengdu research base. That's
a giant panda breeding center. The cubs have not yet been named. I'm sure you won't take too long. According to the China conservation as well as
research center, dozens of pander cubs have been born in China's breeding program in the past two years, and the total number of wild giant pandas in
China has now grown to about 1,900.
And this little switch from my director before we ask (INAUDIBLE), there we go. This is from my director who had this great idea to toss with us. An
observologist, yes, it's a title, in New Zealand is giving a rare snail a chance at love. Giselle Clarkson found the mollusk known as Ned. That's
Ned. You're looking at him there. While digging in her garden in a north -- in a town north of capital Wellington. The odd snail has a shell that
spirals left while most others go right.
It's a one in 40,000 genetic condition among garden snails, and it means Ned's peproductive organs don't line up with most partners. That's why
finding him a love match is a nationwide effort. Clarkson's book, "The Observologist," says observology is a study of looking and observologist
make scientific expeditions, albeit very small ones, everyday story is, he needs love. Let's help him find it.
That's it for tonight. "What We Know" with Max Foster is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
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