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Isa Soares Tonight
U.S. Government On Brink Of First Shutdown In Almost 7 Years; Trump Addresses Military Leaders And Advocates For U.S. Cities To Be Used As Training Grounds; Trump Unveils Gaza Peace Plan With A 3-Day Ultimatum For Hamas To Respond; Trump's Roadmap For Peace In Gaza; Netanyahu Accepts Trump's Gaza Plan; One Killed After 6.9 Earthquake Hits Philippines; Extreme Rains In Spain; Drug Cartels Using Young Americans. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired September 30, 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, could the U.S. government be heading
towards a shutdown just hours away from the deadline? It seems likely. We are live at Capitol Hill with the latest.
Then U.S. President Donald Trump suggests American cities should be used as military training grounds during an extraordinary meeting of the country's
top military officers. Plus, all eyes on Hamas, as the U.S. President says they have 3 to 4 days to respond to the Gaza peace proposal. That, and much
more ahead.
We begin though this hour with the U.S. government hurtling towards a possible shutdown. Congress has to pass a spending bill that can get
President Donald Trump's support before midnight, with just hours until the deadline, neither side is budging so far. A wide-range of services will be
disrupted if midnight comes and goes without a spending bill.
Republicans want a short term agreement to keep the government open. Democrats want protections for healthcare subsidies included. Republicans
need at least seven Democrats in the Senate to pass a spending package. President Trump, meanwhile, says a shutdown is probably likely, while both
major parties are pointing a finger of blame, you guessed it, at each other.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): It's unfortunate if Republicans decide that they want to shut the government down because of their unwillingness to
deal with the healthcare crisis that they themselves have created.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): It's up to the Republicans whether they want to shut down or not.
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): If the Democrats make the decision to shut the government down, the consequences are on them. And I think it's absolutely
tragic.
SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): This is purely and simply hostage-taking on the path -- on behalf of the Democrats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on this. Let's go straight to Capitol Hill where Arlette Saenz is tracking the shutdown threat. And Arlette, less than what?
Ten hours or so until a possible government shutdown. Where are we on budget negotiations or, you know, are we past that at this point?
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, lawmakers really are expressing a lot of skepticism that they can reach any type of agreement before that
midnight deadline. Right now, the Democratic and Republican caucuses are each having their separate lunches in the Senate, likely talking over the
strategy for the hours to come, as well as potentially the days to come if this shutdown does, in fact, happen.
Now, so far, there are no signs that either side is willing to budge from their positions. Republicans are planning to hold a vote at some point
today. They haven't specified when, on that stopgap funding bill for the next seven weeks that was already passed by Republicans in the House.
They will need at least seven Democrats to get on board. And so far, there are no indications they will be able to meet that number, as a lot of
Democrats have said that they are ready to vote against that funding bill and shut down the government if they don't get concessions on healthcare.
Democrats still want there to be an extension of the Obamacare subsidies that are expiring at the end of the year. Also, want to see a reversal on
those cuts to Medicaid that were part of President Trump's domestic policy law he signed over the Summer, and they want commitments from Trump that he
will adhere to congressionally-approved spending and not try to claw any of that back.
Now, Republicans have said that negotiations can only happen if the government stays open. They don't want to get into a back-and-forth on this
before the midnight deadline. And so, as of now, many of the senators we've spoken to, they believe a shutdown will happen at midnight, which will have
widespread consequences for the federal government and the federal workforce.
SOARES: Yes, let's speak about those consequences, because we have heard the President, Arlette, talking about threatening, I should say, mass
firings. Let's play it. Let's have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The last person that wants to shut down is us. Now, with that being said, we can do things during the
shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them, and irreversible by them, like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they
like, cutting programs that they like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: So, talk us through this, Arlette, I mean, what is the impact on the possible workforce we're talking about here?
[14:05:00]
SAENZ: Yes, those are pretty stark warnings from President Trump. There are two issues at hand. Typically in government shutdowns, federal workers are
simply furloughed or asked to work without pay. Those furloughed employees are expected to come back. But what Trump is warning here is that, there
could be mass layoffs of federal workers that could go into the tens of thousands.
We just don't know how many they might try to target just yet. But Republicans and Democrats really believe that Trump could go through with
this threat. Here is a Democratic senator and a Republican that we spoke to in just the last hour.
SOARES: Arlette, thank you very much -- oh --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): Work with us on reducing the harm to healthcare in this country as a result of the policies of the Trump administration.
There's going to be a shutdown tonight, I am afraid. I think it will have a real impact on our communities, on our states, on our families.
SEN. BERNIE MORENO (R-OH): Schumer shuts it down, there is no easy path for it to reopen, so this could go on for months. So, we will have no choice.
The administration will have no choice, but to massively reduce the size of the federal workforce.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAENZ: So many are thinking that President Trump will go through with his threat, as they don't see an immediate way to resolve this standoff over
the shutdown.
SOARES: Yes, it does seem we're hurtling towards a shutdown. Arlette, as always, thank you very much indeed. Well, America's most recent shutdown
happened in President Trump's first-term, lasting an unprecedented 35 days. That's the longest on record, by the way. Nearly seven years later, and
history could soon repeat itself.
Let's discuss with my next guest, Larry Sabato; Director at the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. Larry, great to have you back on
the show. I'm not sure whether you were able to hear, Arlette there, but clearly, both sides seem to be digging in. Are we heading, in your view, to
a government shutdown, or do you believe that either side are prepared to give in at this point?
LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Isa, it would take a pocket full of miracles to stop what's likely to happen in
midnight. There's some small chance they reach agreement, but in the Trump administration, we're out of miracles. I think Trump is not bluffing. I
think he is going to use this opportunity to do what Republicans actually prefer.
They are the anti-government party, except when it comes to defense and the like. They're perfectly happy to eliminate quite a number of domestic
policy programs. They'll go after anything that Democrats normally favor, and they'll probably try to do it in a way that will not be repairable.
Once this shutdown ends, it will end at some point, one assumes, it could be a long time. So, now we're headed for another disaster and another
advertisement to the world that the American system no longer works.
SOARES: Yes, and look, President Trump, you heard there in that little clip we played, threatening to go with mass firings. We're not talking about
furloughs here, as Arlette was mentioning. We could talk -- she was saying tens of thousands of employees could lose their jobs. Is this even legal?
SABATO: Well, the -- since the Supreme Court would have the ultimate say, and since it's a heavily Republican, Trump-oriented Supreme Court, I guess
the answer is tentatively yes. But look, the only thing that could break this and keep it relatively short is if you had mass protests from, say,
the TSA workers and the air traffic controllers -- oh, and by the way, the military, none of them are paid during a government shutdown.
Yet, they are mandated to attend work as scheduled. Well, you know, that tends to wear on people, especially if they can't pay their weekly or
monthly bills. If there's enough pressure from them, maybe the two sides would reach some agreement. But I don't think anybody is even vaguely
optimistic.
SOARES: Yes, and once you start a shutdown, I mean, how do you come out of that? That's the other concern, right, Larry? And the last one lasted 35
days, and it cost what? Three billion dollars in loss in economic growth. That is incredibly expensive and very damaging for the U.S. economy.
SABATO: It certainly is. And you know, we're not in the strongest possible position, whatever the propagandists say, that it's not a bad economy,
we're not yet in a recession or not in a recession. But, you know, we're also not as strong as we once were. And so, when you push this kind of
economic uncertainty and stress and cost onto the American economy on top of everything else that's happening, don't be surprised if there are
serious economic consequences.
SOARES: How much this -- is this, Larry, about their positions, how much does this become a PR politics at work here from both sides?
[14:10:00]
SABATO: Well, that's a big piece of it. But there are just fundamental ideological differences --
SOARES: Yes --
SABATO: Between Democrats and Republicans today. This was not really true in most of American history, post-civil war, but it is today. And they have
a tough time reaching agreement on, you know, what hour to adjourn, much less substantive matters. So, it's another reason why we're not optimistic,
and why the future to many of us at least looks kind of bleak.
SOARES: Doesn't this then paint a more concerning picture going forward? If we're going to have -- if these divergences are going to be wider between
both sides, both parties, then the system, the framework itself is flawed in some way here, Larry.
SABATO: Oh, absolutely. Frankly, the U.S. constitution in many respects is out of date. Many scholars have argued for decades that it needs to be
revised. We need a constitutional convention. But we couldn't even begin to hold one because of the differences. The great American genius, Isa,
throughout our history has been the ability to compromise, to come together in what appears to be irreconcilable ways, and yet reconcile them. We've
lost that. And under this administration, I don't even detect the interest in rekindling it.
SOARES: And so, when you hear both sides, as we played at the top of the show, Larry, both sides just blaming each other, how do Americans take
this? Who do they blame? Do they blame the party in -- governing right now?
SABATO: Strong Democrats will blame the Republicans. Strong Republicans will blame the Democrats. Those who are independent and less tied to the
parties will blame both sides. But believe me, everybody will be blaming somebody.
SOARES: Yes, and you think it's definitely going to go down to -- it's going to be a shutdown, Larry, is this how you're seeing it, this time
feels different.
SABATO: No, I don't see -- I don't see a glimmer of hope. But, you know, maybe that's because I'm old and half blind.
(LAUGHTER)
SOARES: Two of us then. Larry, thank you very much indeed, good to see you as always.
SABATO: Thank you --
SOARES: Now, in a long speech to America's top military officers, President Trump suggested once again that U.S. troops should be used against U.S.
citizens on U.S. soil. Admirals and generals stationed across the globe were brought together today at a Marine Corps base in Virginia. The meeting
comes as troop deployments have been discussed in cities, you know, like Portland, Oregon and Chicago.
The President said American forces should be able to quote, "whatever the hell they want if bricks are thrown at military vehicles." And he said the
military should be using U.S. cities to train. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: And it's really a very important mission. And I told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military --
National Guard. But military, because we're going into Chicago very soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: While President Trump stole the show at Marine Corps base in Quantico, but the meeting was originally called by Defense Secretary Pete
Hegseth, the former "Fox News" host, a mid-level army officer got overtly political, saying his newly christened Department of War would not be the
department of woke.
He blasted the Pentagon's past COVID policies, the inclusion of transgender troops and diversity policies. He also took shots at former officers under
the Biden administration and criticized the military for allowing what he calls fat generals and overweight troops. And if the top brass disagrees,
you ask where he was. His advice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETE HEGSETH, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES: I look out at this group and I see great Americans, leaders who have given decades to our
great republic at great sacrifice to yourselves and to your families. But if the words I'm speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should
do the honorable thing and resign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Zach Cohen joins me now. So, Zach, just talk us through, and we've gone through a couple of those bullets, really. How Hegseth's new
vision for the U.S. military is being received because his lecture certainly raised quite a few eyebrows on this side of the pond.
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Isa, it was queer that the over 800 senior U.S. military officers who were summoned to
Quantico, Virginia, heard a very partisan speech from not only Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but also President Donald Trump. Now, we also have
heard some similar ideas from Hegseth in the past.
He says he's sort of -- he's sort of Donald Trump's culture warrior, so-to- speak. That has been his primary focus as Defense Secretary. But he did provide some specific new agenda items and new policies that he wants to
see these senior officers implement. And as you mentioned, gave them an ultimatum, said, get on board or effectively get out and resign.
[14:15:00]
Some of those include things like refining combat standards to sort of a uniform status for both men and women, back to the male standard of combat.
You know, the combat standards that did exist before. He's also talking about adding a combat field test for all U.S. service members, regardless
of their rank.
And also saying that combat jobs must pass a physical fitness test and also go through -- required to meet height and weight standards, at least twice
a year. So, this has had -- this has been a big part of Hegseth's, what he calls the warrior ethos. He wants generals who are primarily and almost
singularly focused on fighting wars, but he also wants the U.S. military to effectively look the part, to be out of central casting, so-to-speak, as
President Donald Trump likes to say.
I mean, that is something that we heard from him in criticizing some generals and admirals, saying that he doesn't want any fat generals and
admirals walking around the halls of the Pentagon, saying that they set the standard for the rest of U.S. military. But at the end of the day, this is
a message that we've heard from both the President and Pete Hegseth.
And I think really, one of the striking things that we heard from the President was that comment he made about using American cities as, quote,
"training grounds for the U.S. military". That's something that I know, talking to current and former U.S. military service members puts them --
really gives them a lot of unease.
They're using the military domestically as something that senior military officers really do not, or have been very wary of in the past. And we know
from pool reports, while there were some chuckles periodically through Trump's comments amid various things he said, when he said the remark about
using the military domestically, the room of military officers was completely silent.
So, that's a little window into potentially how they feel about doing so. But at the end of the day, we also know that Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth
do not see the same line between partisan politics and the U.S. military, that their predecessors have. And Pete Hegseth, once again, showing that he
is willing to push that boundary if it means maintaining his position with the President.
SOARES: And you mentioned this briefly, but I do want to expand on this just for our viewers, because Hegseth also said that his revamp will be
more rigorous or focused on rigorous fitness standards determined, he said, by -- it seems, by gender, saying that combat troops will have to meet the
highest male standards. I want to play just a little clip of how one female pilot reacted to that. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMY MCGRATH, FORMER MARINE FIGHTER PILOT: When I flew my combat missions, there was not a set male standard and a female standard for flying an
aircraft onto the back of an aircraft carrier. You can either do it or you can't.
And so, I feel like it's the notion of standing up there and saying to the generals and admirals, who all, by the way, know that there are -- there
were never separate combat standards for males and females. You know, combat jobs have had one standard for a long time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And it raises questions of whether Secretary Hegseth is suggesting that the women serving right now in U.S. military, and, of course, do not
meet that standard. That raises that question. But also, what is the message that has been sent to women overall?
COHEN: Well, Defense Secretary Hegseth, before he was confirmed as Defense Secretary, said on a podcast that he believes women should not serve in
combat roles writ-large. He painted a very clear picture of his thinking then, and while his comments today were maybe a little bit more nuanced,
you're absolutely right that his remarks certainly could be construed as an effort to push women out of the military.
And look, there's a large portion, almost 25 percent of the U.S. military is made up of women in various capacities, and at the same time, not all of
those roles require the same physical fitness standards as some other ones. As you mentioned, it does -- you know, the difference between a man and a
woman, the standard there of landing an aircraft on an aircraft carrier is certainly you can either do it or you can't.
Meanwhile, in special ops, those standards are different across the board too. So, we are seeing maybe an evolution a little bit or some nuance from
Pete Hegseth, but at the same time, we also know he started at a place of believing that women should not serve in combat roles, period.
SOARES: Zach Cohen, thank you very much indeed, appreciate it. And still to come tonight, the fate of the new U.S. peace plan for Gaza now rests in the
hands of Hamas. But President Trump says he's not going to wait very long for the group's response to that proposal. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREA)
[14:20:00]
SOARES: U.S. President Donald Trump says he's giving Hamas 3 to 4 days to respond to the new U.S. plan for peace in Gaza. Many world leaders,
including the Foreign Ministers from eight Muslim nations and the Palestinian Authority, are welcoming the plan, which was unveiled by Mr.
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this time yesterday on Monday.
Officials from the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt say they are committed to working with the U.S. on what
they're calling the comprehensive deal. The President is giving what appears to be an ultimatum meantime, to Hamas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How long do you plan to give Hamas to respond to the ceasefire proposal you've laid out?
TRUMP: Well, we're going to do about 3 or 4 days, we'll see how it is. All of the Arab countries are signed up. The Muslim countries, they all signed
up, Israel is all signed up, we're just waiting for Hamas. And Hamas is either going to be doing it or not. And if it's not, it's going to be a
very sad end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, the proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all of the remaining hostages within 72 hours, if and when Israel formally
votes to accept the agreement. It also includes the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops in Gaza and the formation of a transitional government led
by President Trump. We'll have more now from Israel and our Jeremy Diamond in Jerusalem.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, there's no question that a lot of pressure is being brought to bear on Hamas to accept
President Trump's new proposal to end the war in Gaza. But this is going to be a lot more complicated than just a yes or no from the Palestinian
militant group.
President Trump says that he's giving Hamas 3 to 4 days to respond to his new 20-point proposal, which the Israeli Prime Minister said he is
supportive of. Hamas officials are meeting with top level officials from Qatar, from Egypt and from Turkey in an effort to get Hamas o board. But
what all of my sources are telling me, the expectation is, is that Hamas is going to have some changes that it is demanding to this proposal.
And that is because when you look at this 20-point plan, there are a number of provisions that either cross Hamas' red lines or that mark a kind of
downgrade from Hamas' perspective from previous proposals. First among them, of course, is this question of disarmament. This proposal would
require Hamas to be fully disarmed, Gaza to be demilitarized.
Hamas has rejected that notion in the past. There's also questions about the withdraw lines of Israeli troops, and also the number of Palestinian
prisoners that would be released in exchange for those 48 Israeli hostages.
[14:25:00]
Keeping in mind, of course, that Hamas would be required to release all 48 hostages within three days of this proposal actually being agreed to. And
of course, for Hamas, that is their leverage. Now, we will see what Hamas' response is. They have said that they just received the proposal, and that
they are going to be deliberating over it and then submitting a response.
Now, if Hamas rejects this proposal, President Trump has made clear that he's basically going to give the Israelis carte blanche to continue
pummeling Gaza with this lofty and so far, unachievable goal of fully destroying Hamas. But what's interesting is that even if Hamas rejects this
plan, it does lay out a pathway for that alternative, a pathway for Israel to actually begin gradually handing over territory to an international
security force.
And this is the first time that we have ever seen the Israelis acknowledge, let alone agree to any kind of plan for post-war governance of Gaza and the
handover of territory in the Gaza Strip to an international authority. The United States so far has sound quite an optimistic tone. We've heard from
Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy, who says that he believes that this is the moment to actually close all of this out.
Of course, beyond Hamas' approval of this deal, there are still questions here in Israel as well about the politics around all of this. The Israeli
Prime Minister already facing fierce criticism from some of his right-wing allies who have said that they oppose this proposal. But so far, those
right-wing allies, like the Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, haven't gone quite as far as saying that they would leave the government over this. But
that will certainly be something to keep an eye on. Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Well, let's stay with this proposal. Public opinion researcher Dahlia Scheindlin joins me now. She is also author of the "Crooked Timber
of Democracy in Israel". Dahlia, great to have you on the show. Our Jeremy there, Diamond, outlining the basic elements really, the main elements of
this proposal. Of course, we all remember it happened roughly this time yesterday.
We saw Prime Minister Netanyahu agreeing alongside, of course, the U.S. President to this proposal. But there are big questions at this moment
still, Dahlia, whether this can be achieved. Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right member of Prime Minister Netanyahu's party, called it today resounding
diplomatic failure. How is this being received domestically, politically in Israel?
DAHLIA SCHEINDLIN, AUTHOR & PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCHER: Well, I think there are all of the headwinds in Israel that are supporting the deal for the
most part. I mean, other than these really extremist right-wing coalition members who have been threatening throughout the two years that they would
try to undermine any deal, I should say, first of all, that almost all of the opposition figures who have expressed themselves so far have pretty
much expressed full-throated support for it, even if there are some small reservations, like the head of the opposition, Yair Lapid, outlined a few,
but ultimately said we should embrace this and we should support it.
(CLEARS THROAT)
SCHEINDLIN: Excuse me. And that's been the tone of the other opposition leaders as well. It's also very important to note that one of Mr.
Netanyahu's key allies from within the coalition, at least, technically, an ally, that is Aryeh Deri of the Shas Party, which is really a very critical
member of his government who is technically out of the government, but they are voting with the coalition still.
He has expressed, again, complete support for the implementation of this agreement. And so, there are key parties inside the government and from the
opposition who want it to happen. And that's backed by what is frankly overwhelming public opinion, which, you know, is consistent with what we've
seen so far by -- you know, most surveys we've had between 60 percent and 75 percent who have supported hostage release deal that would end the war.
But the first poll that I've seen is from "i24 News" that was published earlier today, showing 88 percent support for this deal. And that comes on
the heels of a -- of a -- of a survey by the Israel Democracy Institute, that was conducted before this deal. But it was ahead of the two-year
anniversary of the war, and it found that 66 percent, almost two-thirds of Israelis want -- think that this is the time to end the war, that's a 13-
point rise from a year ago on the first year anniversary, and a very firm majority.
So, I think, you know, really those who are opposing it are the outliers, and yet those outliers could, as Jeremy pointed out, bring down the
government.
SOARES: Yes, and those, you know, outliers they want, as we have heard repeatedly --
(CLEARS THROAT)
SOARES: Excuse me, Dahlia, they want to crush Hamas. They want to eject Palestinians from Gaza. They want to annex the West Bank. Do you think then
they would vote for this, or do you think that this would, maybe slightly more problematic that Netanyahu risks the downfall of his government? Or do
you think he's prepared to fight, really for Trump's vision here?
SCHEINDLIN: Well, for one thing, we don't exactly know how they will decide. They can talk big --
SOARES: Yes --
SCHEINDLIN: They can talk performatively sometimes about how horrible this deal is. And some of that really is performance. Because ultimately, the
only thing that matters is whether, you know, Smotrich; the Finance Minister, and his party, Religious Zionism or Itamar Ben-Gvir, you know,
with his Jewish Power Party, will they bolt the coalition or not? That's the only thing that matters.
[14:30:15]
And even that, I would say, is of limited importance, because, of course, Israel's scheduled to go into elections anyway by the end of 2026, probably
early November. And so, what we're really talking about now is, you know, if these precipitates collapse of the government, and within the next few
weeks, elections are called because of this issue, you know, we're talking about a difference of half a year, roughly, because elections can only be
held three months after they are actually called anyway.
And so, from Netanyahu's perspective, it's not really about whether the government cuts its life term, you know, half a year short or not, it's
whether he thinks this deal is -- you know, I hate to sound cynical, but certainly he's going to be taking into account the calculation of whether
implementing this deal will help him electorally. I'm not saying that's his only consideration.
And -- or, for example, he might be considering what Smotrich has actually said, which, you know, Smotrich, in his opposition to the plan, wrote on
his Twitter feed, let's maybe hope that the rejectionism of our opponents will save U.S. from this plan. And Netanyahu, in his statement with Trump
yesterday, if you noticed, said, you know, Hamas must accept this plan, and it can't be an acceptance that is actually an attempt to undermine it.
Now, that leaves a lot of room for him to say, well, they said they accepted it, but they're actually undermining it, and therefore, we're not
beholden to this. I don't want to predict that that's what's going to happen, but we have plenty of precedent for that kind of thing happening.
So, there are many unanswered questions here.
SOARES: Yes, our colleague Stephen Collinson writing in his analysis piece saying, a cynic may argue that this may be exactly the choice that
Netanyahu is banking on Hamas not making after securing Trump's green light to finish the job in Gaza if the radical Islamic terror group does not sign
up.
I mean, given the threat that we've heard today from President Trump that he has three, four days to respond, how do you think that Hamas will
respond? Because it has imposed very tough conditions on them. Some, they had said previously, were red lines.
SCHEINDLIN: Yes. I mean, again, I wouldn't predict how Hamas is going to answer this because I'm not inside their decision-making process, but I
think that it is very significant that we see, you know, the mediators who are Hamas allies, Qatar and Turkey, you know, involved in this and from
what we understand, you know, trying their best to convince Hamas to take this.
But I think that questions about convincing or pressuring aren't very meaningful either unless there is leverage behind this. And I think that
all of the, you know, speculation that those mediators are really trying to push Hamas to respond favorably to this will really only matter if they're
using some sort of leverage that weakens Hamas positions further.
And I should say that that goes for both sides. Trump can put this plan out there, but we don't really know if he wants it to happen unless he's using
-- willing to use leverage against Israel. If Israel, after having agreed to it, if Hamas agrees to it, if Israel finds a way to undermine it, the
U.S. will have to put leverage on Israel as well. So, I think, you know, really that's what it comes down to. These two sides have not wanted to end
this war on their own.
SOARES: Dahlia, as always, thank you very much indeed. Really appreciate it. And still to come tonight, extreme downpours, red alert warnings and
parts of Ibiza still underwater in Spain. It's also revived horrific memories of last year's floods.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:00]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Rescue efforts are underway in the Philippines, where at least one person was killed in a powerful earthquake.
The 6.9 quake struck near the central city of Bergu in Cebu province. A tsunami warning that was briefly issued has now been cancelled. The quake
hit the Miss Asia-Pacific International Parade (ph) taking place. You can see the contestants there running off the stage. The U.S. Geological Survey
estimates half a million people felt the quake. Some of the central Philippines provinces affected were still recovering from a storm that hit
on Friday. We will, of course, stay across that story for you.
And parts of Spain cleaning up after Storm Gabrielle wreaked havoc in the region. Torrential rains triggered massive flooding in the Valencia region.
And this was the scene in Cullera on the east coast on Monday after overnight downpours. The entire area remains under a red alert. Further
east of that, sections of Ibiza still underwater from flash floods. Officials say that 200 millimeters, pardon me, of rain had fallen just
north of the island, about eight hours. Many Spaniards are still nervous after, of course, devastating floods, if you remember last year, that
killed more than 220 people.
Let's get more from our correspondent in Madrid, Pau Mosquera. And Pau, red alert. I mean, that is incredibly concerning, the images we're looking at.
What exactly does that mean in real terms?
PAU MOSQUERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That means an extreme weather risk because this torrential risk can pose an extreme danger for the health and for the
lives of the people living in the areas where those have been activated. We're talking in this case, Isa, of the Balearic Islands, particularly of
the islands of Ibiza and Formentera, where over the morning, the Spanish Weather Agency has decided to activate those alerts because of these very
intense rains.
So, you can get an idea of how intense it was that the authorities say that over 12 hours, 236 liters of water per square meter have fell in the City
of Ibiza, and this equals the rain that normally rains in all the island during a year is half of the rainfall, but it happened just in 12 hours.
This is why many in eastern Spain, not just in the Balearic Islands, but also in Ibiza, have fixed their eyes in the sky, monitoring how the rains
were pouring in their territories, because besides the Balearic Islands, there were also orange alerts in some parts of Valencia, where a year ago,
the devastating floods claimed the life of 229 people in the region.
[14:40:00]
Now, with this situation, Isa, many are asking themselves wondering when will this episode of rains get to an end? Well, from the Spanish Weather
Agency, they estimate that from tomorrow and on, we can expect the weather to stabilize. But they still predict that some local rains will still
happen both in Valencia and Ibiza and Formentera. And until the moment that we get to the end of the rains, the images, the videos that we're getting
from the neighbors are certainly terrifying, Isa.
SOARES: Yes, if you're in those areas, please be careful. Pau, great to see you. Thank you very much indeed. And still to come tonight, a month-long
CNN investigation into cartels recruiting young Americans to help push everything from drugs to weapons and people. Up next, addressing the issue
with police and a cartel boss.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: U.S. President Donald Trump says his administration is considering attacking drug cartels coming by land in Venezuela. The move could mark a
major escalation U.S. military attacks inside Venezuela. The U.S. has already attacked what it says were Venezuelan drug boats but in
international waters, if you remember. Here's what the president leaving the White House said earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We had a lot of drugs coming into the water. We call it water drugs, just a simple term. We don't have any boats on the
water. There are no boats. There are no fishing boats. There are no anything. So, we hit a number of boats. You probably saw that. And since we
did that, we have absolutely no drugs coming into our country via water because it was lethal. And now, we'll look at cartels. We're going to look
very seriously at cartels coming by land.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, other concerns about cartels in the United States have to do with young Americans being recruited to smuggle drugs, weapons and even
people into the United States. A CNN investigation has found cartels are using social media and are offering large amounts of cash to new recruits.
But authorities are hot on their trail.
CNN's David Culver spoke with law enforcement and even a cartel boss about these dangerous operations. Here's his exclusive report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll do another drive by westbound.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Copy. I'm moving in. And then we'll do kind of, like, a felony stop.
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right now, we're with several Cochise County deputies in several different units as they're moving in on their
targets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys just hunker down where you're at.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We're staying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hands up. Move.
CULVER: Some of them you'll notice, are undercover. You won't see their faces. You won't hear their names.
[14:45:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And is there anyone else in the car with you?
CULVER: And they're fanned out here, just north of the U.S. southern border to dismantle a smuggling network one arrest at a time. An investigation,
mind you, that's been going on for 18 months.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not just your everyday criminal. It's definitely taking the bigger fish off the streets.
CULVER: The suspect just handed over his phone, revealing what investigators say are key details about a migrant smuggling operation
that's happening right now.
To coordinate a pickup. That's all playing out in real time. And there's several more that you're trying to arrest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 18 in total.
CULVER: 18 in total.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Right now, still in the car.
CULVER: Are these Americans we're talking about?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the exception of one, all are U.S. citizens.
CULVER: Wow. They're tied to a faction of the cartel. They are a tight knit crew all working together for the betterment of a larger organization.
CULVER (voice-over): Cochise County spans 83 miles of border. south of this line, an underground network tied to the fractured but powerful Sinaloa
cartel. Plaza bosses control each corridor, deciding who and what gets through with lookouts posted on nearby hills constantly watching for U.S.
patrols.
To keep undetected, migrants and their cartel-backed guides, often dressed in camouflage, moving through the rocky desert terrain. They follow a pin
drop, often to a road a few miles from the border. Drivers race in for the pickup and cash payout. Many are young Americans recruited online
For six months, we tracked hundreds of cartel recruitment posts on social media, some aimed at luring teens. Coded language, emojis and cash offers
offering thousands per pickup.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not saying they're cheap in the parking lot here.
CULVER (voice-over): Deputies are going after the drivers. In the past six months, the Justice Department reports 431 people charged with smuggling in
Arizona alone. Many recruited online. Attorneys say most of their clients are between 18 and 25.
After the pickup, drivers head to stash houses on the U.S. side, run by cartel syndicates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're looking for a bright orange trailer. So, they're up to something.
CULVER (voice-over): Inside, deputies say they hold people drugs and weapons. Guns sourced in the U.S. head south into Mexico. Migrants and
narcotics move north to Tucson, Phoenix and beyond. Every step closely coordinated.
To understand the impact this cartel crackdown is having, we spend weeks trying to get a senior cartel leader to speak with us. He finally agrees,
meeting U.S. in a Phoenix parking lot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're with Sinaloa.
CULVER: The Sinaloa cartel.
CULVER (voice-over): From killing to coordinating smuggling operations, he says he's done it all.
CULVER: Do you help in bringing people, drugs, weapons?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. People and drugs.
CULVER: Are you a citizen here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, sir.
CULVER: No. And so, you're able to still come in and out?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CULVER (voice-over): Among those helping with transportation, U.S. citizens.
CULVER: You all are using social media to get to young people, young teens, and recruiting them to be part of it. Some of them -- many of them are
American citizens too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like.
CULVER: That's life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: it's like that, you know.
CULVER: So even though they may get caught and spend many years in prison, that's their fault as you see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CULVER: When you see, for example, the impact of violence and everything that is caused from the cartel movements from essentially your employer, do
you feel like you're part of this problem?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. You know, because I got a kid, I got, you know, family. And when they want to kill you, you want, you defend.
CULVER: So, you see it as defending yourself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That's what I say. Yes. I don't -- I don't like it. You have something wrong to me. I do something bad to you.
CULVER (voice-over): A not-so-subtle threat. And yet he seems to regret some of his own life choices.
CULVER: What is your motivation for wanting to talk?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why I come to here.
CULVER: Exactly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Want people listen. And I tell them it's not a life. It's not a good, you know, it's not good. It's not.
CULVER: Have you had to kill people?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes. You've had them.
CULVER: And does that not weigh on you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I'm not bad. I'm not bad person.
CULVER: You don't think you're a bad person?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not a bad person. But I do what I have to do, you know?
CULVER: Why do you say you do what you have to do? Couldn't you stop doing this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, no.
CULVER: You can't.
Once you get in, you can't get out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
[14:50:00]
CULVER: Do you think what President Trump has been doing has been making your job tougher?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes.
CULVER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CULVER: But it's becoming more difficult, you think?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CULVER (voice-over): For now, the cartels are still at it.
CULVER: Where we're at right now, it's a very remote area.
CULVER (voice-over): And so too are the Cochise County deputies jumping in to help border patrol.
CULVER: Camera lost visual shortly after he watched them cross the border.
CULVER (voice-over): They're tracking four people who crossed illegally, either by scaling or cutting open a section of the border wall, or by
walking through open floodgates like these.
CULVER: This is all being coordinated, and they're being guided by the cartel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's about a mile that way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It sounded like somebody had eyes because they called them running.
CULVER (voice-over): After a nearly two-hour pursuit, agents catch up with the migrants and their suspected cartel-backed guide.
CULVER: I think what stands out to U.S. is going back to late last year, when we were last here, you would have never seen this many border patrol
focused on four individuals. Most of that was because they simply didn't have the bandwidth.
CULVER (voice-over): With fewer migrants crossing, agents say they can finally focus on enforcement. As for local deputies, they press ahead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got some pending charges, right, dude?
CULVER (voice-over): Not so much targeting the migrants, but rather those who they're paying to cross illegally.
CULVER: They're going to be charged with criminal syndicate.
CULVER (voice-over): A criminal enterprise that they warn is growing increasingly desperate.
David Culver, CNN, Cochise County, Arizona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And still to come tonight, it's survival of the fattest for Alaska's brown bears as they bulk up for hibernation. But which chopster
will win Fat Bear Week 2025, you ask? We'll show you the options next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back. We're taking you to Alaska where it's crunch time. Literally, Fat Bear Week has narrowed down to two mega eaters vying for the
coveted crown. And the question the world is asking, I know you're asking, who is the fattest bear in Alaska?
[14:55:00]
Well, I want to show you some of the finalists. These are two of the finalists. After losing for the last two years, Bear 32 Chunk is hoping 30
times the charm. I think that's Bear 32. Correct me if I'm wrong. But big, beefy Bear 856, really needs a new name, could be standing in his way. I
have voted. I actually voted for 856 because you need to see really the progress he's made in this competition.
Despite, of course, all the fun and the public interest, it's not just about the size we're told. It's about survival as these giants prepare for
a long and cold winter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAOMI BOAK, MEDIA RANGER, KATMAI CONSERVANCY: For six months of the year, when they're on the Brooks River or other places in Katmai National Park,
they are eating as much as they can. And they even have hormonal changes where their hormone that makes them hungry, ghrelin, ramps up before
hibernation. So, they never feel full. And the hormone that makes them full ramps down. And that slowly changes as they go into hibernation. And
scientists are so interested in studying these adaptations that the bears have to someday help us. I mean, bears don't even get diabetes with all
that fat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: We learned that there. Wow, pretty impressive. If you have time, do vote. I am still standing by with Bear 856.
That does it for U.S. for tonight. Do stay right here. What we know, Max Foster is up next. Max, do you have a favorite?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: I like the one that stuck his tongue out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
