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One World with Zain Asher
Rubio Talks With Russian FM On Sidelines Of ASEAN Meeting; U.S. Weapons Flow To Ukraine Has Resumed; Trump Threats Brazil With 50 Percent tariffs Over Bolsonaro Trial; Judge Blocks Trump's Order Seeking To End Birthright Citizenship; CDC: U.S. Measles Cases Hit Record High Of 1,238 Cases This Year; Bizarre Colorado Poisoning Case Ready For Jury Selection; Family Of Nine Breaks Through Attic To Escape Rising Water. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired July 10, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:29]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Message received. The U.S. Secretary of State is bringing Donald Trump's message of frustration and disappointment to the
Russians.
The second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE PENCE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Vladimir Putin doesn't want peace. Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Former Vice President Mike Pence telling CNN how he feels about Donald Trump's performance in Ukraine.
Also ahead, experts thought it was a thing of the past. Now, cases of measles in the U.S. are at a 25-year high. Just how and why is the disease
making a comeback?
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have nine lives. We have -- everybody's safe. Everybody's healthy. Not barely a scratch on anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Nothing short of a miracle. How a Texas family of nine banded together to beat the odds.
Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
Well, as Ukraine's wartime president fights a battle for more weapons, his country endured a second straight night of ferocious Russian attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(EXPLOSION AND SCREAMS)
GOLODRYGA: Hundreds of drones and more than a dozen missiles were fired at Ukraine. Observers in Kyiv described what may be a terrifying new tactic by
-- by Moscow. They say drones attacked from different altitudes. Some even changing direction, at first bypassing the city, only to suddenly turn back
around.
Now, those latest attacks are looming over two major gatherings, one virtual and the other in Rome. World leaders are trying to help Ukraine
fight back against Russian aggression and secure funding for the war-torn country's future recovery.
Meanwhile, America and Russia's top diplomats have been talking on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked to comment now that shipments of U.S. weapons are heading back to Ukraine. They had been halted last week
by the Pentagon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: That decision, unfortunately, was mischaracterized. It was a pause pending review on a handful of specific
type munitions.
It's typical when you do these reviews that there's a short-term pause because, in -- in fact, the review comes back that you have a shortage, you
can't pull it back once it's been sent. But generally speaking, aid to Ukraine continues along the schedule that Congress appropriated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Well, U.S. Republican Senator Thom Tillis has been talking to my CNN colleague Jake Tapper offering his take on Defense Secretary Hegseth's
performance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): I think it's clear he's out of his depth as a manager of a large complex organization.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: What was your reaction to the Signalgate situation?
TILLIS: Well, that's just one. I mean, this whole idea of having a pause in Ukraine defensive arms --
TAPPER: Right.
TILLIS: -- that's just amateurish.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Our Kylie Atwood is traveling with the Secretary of State, and she filed this report from Kuala Lumpur a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: That's right. After meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, Secretary Rubio said that he expressed
frustration on behalf of President Trump that the two sides Russian-Ukraine haven't been able to make progress towards ending the Ukraine war.
But he also went on to say that they shared ideas, and he described the ideas that Russia put on the table as a new approach, as new ideas that the
United States hasn't heard. He said that doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to bring peace. But he did say that he would be calling President
Trump as soon as tonight to relay what the Russians shared with him during that meeting. He was asked about the possibility of new U.S. sanctions on
Russia. He made no commitments on that front.
And when it comes to the pause in U.S. shipments of weapons to Ukraine that went to effect last week is no longer in effect, he effectively downplayed
that. He said it was a very limited review of U.S. stockpiles that led to what he described as a pause pending review and said that those shipments
are now continuing on.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Well, earlier today, CNN spoke with former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. He blasted what he called the isolationist voices in the
Republican Party. And he said it's time for the U.S. to renew its military support for Ukraine. Pence also had this warning for his former boss.
[12:05:06]
PENCE: My hope is that the president's starting to recognize Vladimir Putin doesn't want peace. Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine. And again and again,
President Zelenskyy, who I came to know during my time as vice president, has -- has made it clear he's prepared for a ceasefire. He's prepared to
negotiate a lasting peace in the region.
And while we saw again just last night, you know, a barrage of merciless attacks on civilian populations. And -- and -- and I welcome the
president's decision to reverse a -- a -- a decision somewhere out of the Pentagon that -- that suspended aid to Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Let's go live now to the Pentagon with CNN's Natasha Bertrand. And, Natasha, we've heard the president over the last two days confirm that
he is the one who decides what is sent and what is not sent in terms of military aid.
There's still a lot of questions to be asked and some of them already answered by your reporting and talking to sources who said that this was a
unilateral decision finally or made by the defense secretary who has received some pretty harsh criticism, even from those within his own party,
Thom Tillis, as you heard there with Jake Tapper saying that he is out of his depth and this type of action amateurish.
What more are you learning about the fallout?
NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. There's been so much confusion as a result of this pause on military aid to Ukraine. And
that's because there was simply a lack of communication between the Defense Department and pretty much every other agency inside the U.S. government,
including the White House and the State Department and Congress. All three would normally be notified and well in advance about this kind of pause.
Now, the administration has sought to downplay the idea that anyone was kept out of the loop or that this was anything more than a temporary pause
during a routine review of U.S. stockpiles, especially because of the shortages following the engagements by U.S. troops in the Middle East
during the conflict between Iran and Israel.
However, this is not the first time that this has happened. And I think that that's really important to emphasize here.
Back in February, Secretary Hegseth did something very similar. He unilaterally paused a shipment of weapons to Ukraine and it caught senior
national security officials very much off guard.
And ever since then, this has been a pattern with the secretary dating also, of course, to back to the time when he invited Elon Musk here to the
Pentagon for a briefing without telling President Trump for classified briefing.
And so the idea that there is kind of a haphazard decision making process going on inside the federal government, particularly under Hegseth and the
Defense Department is getting increasingly difficult for the White House and the State Department to ignore.
And I should note that Marco Rubio, he spoke a little bit about this today, the Secretary of State, who's also the national security advisor. And he
said that the pause was essentially meant to serve as a -- a -- a break while the U.S. was able to review their stockpiles. And he downplayed the
idea that he was kept out of the loop.
But we should note that multiple sources told us that he was not actually made aware of the fact that the shipment had been canceled.
Now, he said that, you know, everything seems to be back on track now, the shipment is moving forward. But still, it is -- it is difficult, of course,
for the Ukrainians in particular to rely on U.S. stockpiles and weaponry, if they -- if these things keep happening.
And I think the big question now is whether there is going to be some kind of stability moving forward when it comes to the administration's decision
to send, especially the defensive equipment, including those Patriot missile interceptors that are so key, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Of course, Ukraine needs them now more than ever.
Natasha Bertrand, thank you so much.
CNN senior military analyst Admiral James Stavridis is a former Supreme Allied commander of NATO and a partner of The Carlyle Group, an
international investment firm. And he joins me now live from New York. Always good to see you.
It's interesting, Admiral, that you call this confusion, perhaps a positive and an opportunity for Ukraine. How so?
ADM. JAMES STAVRIDIS (RET.), CNN SENIOR MILITARY ANALYST: I think it crystallizes the need to support Ukraine. And so what happened? There was a
pause at some point in the shipment of weapons. And suddenly you were hearing from voices across the political spectrum to include on the right,
Lindsey Graham, Senator Graham, Senator Tom Cotton, on the left, basically all of the Democrats.
You really saw a lot of people come to President Trump and say, we really can't pause this. And then it got reversed.
So, I think it again, crystallizes the support for Ukraine. I certainly hope it does. These are desperate hours for Kyiv.
[12:10:00]
GOLODRYGA: It was notable to hear from the former vice president this morning suggest a number of times that the isolationist part of the party
and perhaps even of this administration is losing favor or losing voice with the president right now. Perhaps as he pointed out because of the
success in the operation in Iran between the United States and Israel, but also among those who were viewed as at times isolationists are his
successor, Vice President Pence as well.
What do you make of that analysis by the former vice president?
STAVRIDIS: Yes. I think these are tumultuous times and you're going to see a variety of views across the spectrum. I'll give you a positive which is
the NATO summit which just occurred.
As you know, Bianna, the president flew over, the NATO allies all pitched in and said, hey, we're going to up our defense spending to five percent.
It was a very good moment for the alliance and therefore a good moment for Ukraine.
On the other hand, as former Vice President Pence correctly points out, there's still a lot of division between those in the Republican Party who
want to kind of pull back from the world and those who believe that for our security, for our economic well-being, we need to lean into the world.
My own sense is President Trump, as always, is listening to a variety of views. I take heart from the fact that he is beginning to talk about
Vladimir Putin as the thug in the war criminal that he is. And that I think will continue to unlock the gates of significant aid to Ukraine.
GOLODRYGA: And that is the exact sentiment that European leaders came out of the NATO summit having had conversations with President Trump too,
saying that their takeaway was that the president was finally on the same page or getting closer to the same page as they were. The president has
offered so many lifelines to President Trump -- to President Putin only to have him really thumb his nose at it and continue these attacks, increasing
these attacks on Ukraine.
The battlefield is becoming more and more of a stalemate at this point. The president is right, as you know, to send more defensive weapons. But what -
- what more can he be doing?
I know the sanctions package is on the table. That is something that many Republicans and Democrats support. But even militarily, what could and
should he be doing?
STAVRIDIS: I just want to begin by drawing a line under the sanctions. Economically is where you can really hit Putin. So, I think that is job
one, to put those secondary sanctions in play. That will continue to degrade that Russian economy.
Secondly, and again, this is an economic tool. There are $300 billion in Russian assets that are frozen in -- in Western banks. That's a piggy bank
that could be cracked open and those funds used to provide weapons systems to the Ukrainians or for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
And then third and finally, Bianna, your excellent point, what are the weapons systems that could be most helpful? Number one on my list,
patriots. Number two, more harpoon missiles. These are anti-ship cruise missiles that can reach out and touch the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
And I think HIMARS, which is a surface-to-surface military system that could reach behind enemy lines and crack the Russian supply lines.
And then finally, turning our eyes to the skies where much of this battle is being fought. The Ukrainians need more F-16s. You're showing one right
there.
And by the way, you know, who is a former F-16 master fighter pilot? The current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Razin Caine, a good
friend. Let's hope he leans into this.
Those are some of the systems, Bianna, that could be most helpful to the Ukrainians in this dire moment.
GOLODRYGA: And we know Ukraine has spent a lot of time in resources investing in their own production of defensive weaponry, most notable the -
- the drones that they have successfully been using in this war, very nimble, but also very effective tool for them.
Admiral James Stavridis, always good to see you. Thank you so much.
STAVRIDIS: Thanks, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Well, President Trump is threatening Brazil now with a crippling tariff of 50 percent, if it does not stop what he calls a witch hunt on
Jair Bolsonaro. He is the right wing former president who has bragged about being close to Trump.
Bolsonaro is facing trial for allegedly trying to stage a coup against Brazil's current president, Luna -- Lula da Silva. Lula is promising to
reciprocate if President Trump follows through with his tariff threat saying in a social media post, "Brazil is a sovereign nation with
independent institutions. It will not accept any form of tutelage."
[12:15:14]
Trump also announced a 50 percent tariff on imported copper and is threatening more countries with higher tariffs due in August.
CNN's Alayna Treene joins us now from the White House. So, I guess we're used to more of these letters now this past week. Some of them harsh to and
very direct and personal to these countries.
But the -- the threat of tariffs as a way to force a country's own judicial system, that -- that may be a new one, though he has intervened in other
countries including Israel and -- and coming to the defense of Prime Minister Netanyahu.
What is the White House now saying some 12 hours after this email was first -- after this letter was first sent?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: They're digging in, Bianna, to this. And look, you're exactly right, this letter to Brazil is very
different than the flurry of letters we've seen President Donald Trump send other countries related to the tariffs that he is planning to put on them,
to impose on them by August 1st.
First of all, 50 percent is the highest percentage we've seen the president threaten on another country in light of these recent letters. But also, of
course, it's what you pointed out as well, which is that really he is hinging this on something about a political ally saying that if you do not
do what I say with regard to, you know, ending the prosecution of his ally, the former Brazilian president Bolsonaro, then we will move ahead with
these tariffs.
And really, we are, in -- in a matter of, you know, hours, we saw a -- a -- a new trade war really open up between these two countries. I do want to
walk you through again how some of this unfolded because I think it's important.
The president took to social media and sent this letter. He was very public about it saying that he is going to impose this 50 percent tariff on all
Brazilian imports. That's another point in retaliation for what he has called this witch hunt against Bolsonaro.
And then we saw Lula kind of push back immediately. He said that Brazil would reciprocate if -- if the United States move forward with these
tariffs, with tariffs of their own. And he added as it relates to the Bolsonaro case that it is, quote, the sole responsibility of the Brazilian
judiciary.
And what I think is important here to note is the political and also financial potential ramifications of this trade war actually escalating to
the point that both these leaders are threatening.
You know, United States is Brazil's second largest trading partner after China. And the president again appears to be demanding that Bolsonaro is no
longer prosecuted as a way to lift these tariffs, which seems like a, from what we've heard from Lula and the Brazilian government, a steep price that
they're not necessarily willing to pay.
Now, one thing important to note as well is that the president, President Trump, has so far incorrectly argued that United States has a trade deficit
with Brazil for years. Actually, the United States has generally maintained a trade surplus with Brazil.
I'm going to read you some of the numbers. The two countries had about 92 billion in trade together last year alone with United States enjoying a 7.4
billion surplus in that relationship. We know some of the top products that the United States gets from Brazil include aircraft, oil, machinery, and
iron.
And so look, again, this could -- this has the potential to go, you know, become far more awry than other situations we've seen just because of the
very important trade relationship with Brazil.
But again, the political nature of -- of this battle that we are seeing really being the underpinning according to President Donald Trump of what
he is looking for Brazil to do.
So unclear where this goes from here. Of course, there's still time before August 1st to see if they can come to some sort of agreement. But I know
that this is something personally that President Donald Trump really wants to see happen as it relates to, you know, not just his ally, I would
honestly argue one of his friends.
He -- he's spoken about Bolsonaro very favorably has leaned on him a lot, particularly when he was on the campaign trail. And so it's interesting,
you know, to see where this goes from here and whether or not the Trump administration is actually going to move ahead with those 50 percent
tariffs on August 1st.
GOLODRYGA: Well, it's also worth noting that Bolsonaro was boasting to "The Wall Street Journal" back in November after Trump's victory that he was
banking on Trump to use economic --
TREENE: Right.
GOLODRYGA: -- sanctions against da Silva's government to even bring him back to power, which I don't think he's allowed to run for again until
2030. Very fascinating developments there.
Alayna Treene, thank you.
Well, meantime, a federal judge has issued a new nationwide block on President Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.
U.S. District Judge Joseph LaPlante agreed to issue a preliminary injunction indefinitely stopping the ban from being enforced.
Now, this dispute a Supreme Court ruling last month that curbed the ability of judges to issue nationwide injunctions.
[12:20:05]
Here to explain is CNN's Katelyn Polantz.
And the Supreme Court also in that ruling said that these types of claims could be brought through a class action lawsuit which is apparently exactly
what happened here and led to this ruling. So, what next?
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Bianna, that's exactly right. There are going to be more appeals, of course. There always
are and this ruling doesn't go into effect immediately.
But what happened today is that the judge in New Hampshire took the direction from the Supreme Court and made a decision that, yes, he agreed
that it's not a close call at all to block the Trump administration's executive policy of ending birthright citizenship.
The practical effect of that is that nationally babies born after February 20th of this year and also babies that have -- are yet to be born, they
will be getting birthright citizenship even if they're born to immigrants who are illegally or temporarily in the United States at this time.
This is a decision where the judge responded to the Supreme Court by narrowing exactly who this would apply to. That's the class that we're
talking about in legal terms. This is something that the Supreme Court is very likely going to be looking at again.
It has to go through another appeals court before it gets there. And like I said, it is paused right now but it is another major ruling and it does
restore the ability of babies that are being born right now in this country anywhere in any state to have citizenship as the court fight plays out over
the Trump policy related to birthright citizenship.
Bianna?
GOLODRYGA: All right. You'll stay on top of this for us. Katelyn Polantz, thank you so much.
Well, an awkward moment occurred during President Trump's meeting with five African leaders yesterday at the White House. At one point, he asked each
of them to state their name and the country they're from. Then he praised the leader of Liberia for speaking good English. English we should note is
the official language of Liberia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH BOAKAI, LIBERIAN PRESIDENT: We want to work with the United States in peace and security within the region because we are committed to that.
And we just want to thank you so much for this opportunity.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, thank you, and such good English. That's beautiful. Where did you -- where did you learn to
speak so beautifully? Where -- where -- were you educated? Where?
In Liberia.
BOAKAI: Yes, sir.
TRUMP: Well, that's very interesting. It's beautiful English too. I have people at this table can't speak nearly as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Oh, boy. Well, a spokesman for the Liberian president said that he was not offended by Trump's comment. And noted that many people do not
understand the linguistic diversity of the African continent.
But one Liberian diplomat told CNN that Trump's question was inappropriate and condescending.
All right. Still to come for us, rescue crews in Texas are still digging through the piles of debris searching for spores of people still missing
from the catastrophic flooding.
Also ahead, cyanide and affair and a jailhouse murder plot. We'll check in on the case against a Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife with
her morning protein shake.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:25:51]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHANTING "MEXICO")
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: This is the famous Mexican rescue group known as Los Topos Azteca. They've joined the growing search and rescue effort taking place in
Texas in the wake of last week's massive flood. Officials report at least 120 people have now died in that tragedy. And more than 160 people remain
missing. Rescue crews say searching for victims along the Guadalupe River could take days, if not weeks.
And there's a lot of blame going around on who or what is responsible for the tragedy in Texas. Some scientists are pointing to climate change for
the triggering -- for triggering the massive flood waters.
I'm going to bring CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten now. And Americans also have their views on climate change. It's a sensitive -- politically
sensitive issue, of course. But what you found is quite surprising, actually, where are people on this issue, Harry?
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes. I think, Bianna, you might have thought that over the past few decades, folks would become more concerned
with climate change. But I'm here to tell you that climate activists have failed to make their case.
The bottom line is the American folks don't necessarily care what the likes of Greta Thunberg actually think about this issue. What are we talking
about here?
Well, greatly worried about climate change. And I've got going back 36 years for you up here. And look at this, right now 40 percent of Americans
are greatly worried about climate change. That's actually down from 2020 when it was 46 percent. But it's the same percentage as 2,000, 40 percent.
And get this. It's pretty gosh darn similar to what we saw in 1989 when it was 35 percent.
So, despite all of the bad weather recently, despite all of the floods, tornadoes, hurricanes over the last few years and last few decades, the
bottom line is the same percentage of Americans now say they're greatly worried about climate change in 2025, as said so back in 2000, and it's
less than a majority.
Now the question is, why is it? Why is it that the percentage of Americans who are greatly worried about climate change really hasn't changed over the
last 36 years?
Well, this might give you an indication why, right? You see those natural disasters on your television screens or on your computer screens, or on
your phone. But when it comes to the question, you'll be a natural disaster victim.
Get this, 38 percent of Americans said they were often or sometimes worried about that back two decades ago, back in 2006. Look at the percentage now.
It's actually down. It's actually down to 32 percent.
And what we also see in the data is less than 50 percent of Democrats, Republicans, and independents say in fact that they are often or sometimes
worried about being the victim of a natural disaster.
What we're talking about is actually much closer to north of 60 percent who are in fact not worried or never worried or very infrequently worried.
Now, here's the other thing that I think is so important here, right? We're talking about the here and now in terms of being worried about a natural
disaster victim. But what about going forward in the future, right?
We often hear all of this talk, you know, oh, Miami might be underwater, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 years. But do in fact people worry about their own
home area being affected by climate change.
All right. Climate change effect on my home area will be harder to stay here, which, of course, is the argument that's often made about the
southeast coast. Get this, only 17 percent, 17 percent of all adults are in fact believed that it will be harder to stay in their area because of
climate change.
And look at this across the political spectrum. It's just six percent of Republicans. It's just 16 percent of independents. And even Democrats, it's
only 27 percent of Democrats.
So, what we see here is in the abstract, I think that there's some people who are certainly worried about climate change, but when it comes to their
own well-being and actually hitting folks directly, folks simply put across the political spectrum, Bianna, are simply put not that concern.
And I think that speaks to why we really haven't seen all that much movement on climate change, at least here in the United States with our
government.
GOLODRYGA: Oh, or why the president and so many Republicans felt that they could still move forward with his latest spending bill, which cut a lot, if
not most, of President Biden's green energy, renewable investments and initiatives and subsidies. This is really fascinating.
[12:30:08]
I mean, that 27 percent even for Democrats, quite stunning. So glad you're digging into these really important subject matters. Keep digging, Harry.
Keep digging.
ENTEN: I'm going to -- the -- the data sings to me the same way that Uncle Neil sung to the American people back in the '60s and '70s.
GOLODRYGA: It's a beautiful thing, Harry Enten. Good to see you, my friend.
ENTEN: Nice to see you.
GOLODRYGA: Bye.
ENTEN: Bye.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Still to come for us, measles cases soaring in the U.S. as vaccine rates are falling. We'll get a vaccine scientist and
pediatricians' perspective to see if this could be a wake-up call. That is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
For the past several months, we have been updating you regularly on the rise in measles cases in the United States. The outbreak started in Texas
and that steadily spread. Measles cases in U.S. surge to a record high in 25 years as vaccine rates continue to decline, that is according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The nation's top health official, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is a noted vaccine skeptic. The CDC confirmed at least 1,288 cases so far this year. That's
the highest number since the year 2000 when the agency said it had eliminated the disease.
All right. Time now for "The Exchange." Joining me is Dr. Peter Hotez, he's a vaccine scientist, pediatrician, and professor and Dean of Tropical
Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine. It's always good to see you, Peter.
[12:35:09]
This is something that you sadly had predicted. What happened, this spike in measles cases, as noted, this disease was virtually eradicated in the
United States not so long ago.
What is the fact that we're now seeing it at its highest rate in two decades plus? What does that say about the state of public health in this
country?
DR. PETER HOTEZ, PROFESSOR AND DEAN OF TROPICAL MEDICINE, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: Well, Bianna, when you break it down, what you see is if you look
at the almost 1,300 cases, 750 of them are coming out of West Texas in the panhandle where this epidemic began. And then another 50 plus in adjoining
states spilling across the border in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and -- and Kansas.
So, overwhelmingly, this is due to a massive measles epidemic. And it's such as numbers of cases, Bianna. There have been over 100 hospitalizations
of measles of kids in West Texas and up in the panhandle and tragically two pediatric deaths in -- in two school-age kids who are otherwise perfectly
normal and healthy other than the fact that their parents made the unfortunate decision not -- not to vaccinate them.
So, this is -- this is continuing to accelerate. And the kinds of things that we're looking out for is whether this continues. This long, prolonged
measles epidemic that we're talking about, the four state measles epidemic began in January. So, we're in our seventh month of this.
And the reason that number is that data is significant is the Centers for Disease Control, and for their own international criteria, established that
measles would no longer be considered eliminated from a country if you have sustained transmission for 12 months.
So, we're kind of creeping towards that. And that means potentially the U.S. could lose its measles elimination status.
GOLODRYGA: Well, the vaccine -- vaccination rate among kindergartners is at 92.7 percent. That is below the 95 percent threshold needed for herd
immunity. How does this gap between 92.7 percent and 95 percent? How does that impact the numbers -- the -- the increased numbers of measles cases
that we're seeing?
HOTEZ: Well, you know, people talk about national immunization rates and state immunization rates. And that -- that's what the Centers for Disease
Control tracks. But I push back on that a little bit in the sense that it - - it -- it's a blunt instrument. It doesn't really tell you -- and it's not very predictive of measles. Because to predict measles, you really got to
be more granular than that and look at the -- the individual counties. And that's where the horror unfolds.
When you go into individual counties in West Texas, such as in Gaines County, where I wrote a paper in 2016 predicting a large measles epidemic
would erupt and would start in Gaines County, and right on cue, that's what it did almost 10 years later. That's where you see the real problem.
And, unfortunately, in kind of the rural and we call them rural conservative areas of West Texas up in the Panhandle, going up into
Oklahoma and Kansas, that's where the problem is.
And -- and, by the way, there's an equal problem from the North coming down because in Southern Alberta, you have a similar type of phenomenon.
And so that's the place where I --I look, first and foremost, of losing our illumination status. And that's where we've got to really concentrate our
vaccine advocacy efforts more and -- and work harder to fight the disinformation.
GOLODRYGA: And how does the rhetoric of public officials like HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his history of vaccine skepticism? How does that
play into your concern here?
HOTEZ: Well, it sure doesn't help. I mean, every few days now, it seems I've got a --a debunk a new zinger from Mr. Kennedy. You know, he says the
-- he downplays the severity of measles. He says, the hospitalizations here in Texas were due to quarantine and isolation and denying the fact that the
kids were actually sick.
You know, when he talks about the MMR vaccine, he draws this false comparison between the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. It's one of the
safest, most effective vaccines we have.
And says, well, you can get the MMR vaccine or you can get this useless cocktail of supplements such as budesonide and vitamin A and
clarithromycin. That comes out -- out of the very corrupt health and wellness influencer industry.
Or he says the vaccine is a leaky vaccine, whatever that means. He -- he falsely gives numbers about the decline in immunity from the MMR vaccine.
So every few days, it -- it's something else I've got to debunk. And -- and it takes its toll after a while because even though the states are in
charge of vaccine policy, the states -- many states are ultimately taking their cues from what Mr. Kennedy is saying, sitting in the Humphrey
building in Washington, D.C.
GOLODRYGA: So, how do you reach out to parents who no doubt love their children, do not want to see them contract these horrible viruses, but
listen to others around them, fall -- fall for disinformation, concerned about things they read on the internet?
[12:40:06]
How do you get parents in line with research and what the data shows? And why it is so important to vaccinate their kids?
HOTEZ: Yes. It's -- yes. I think you've asked the most important question, Bianna, because, you know, unfortunately, many of them are kind of walled
off from -- from mainstream science. You know, we've got this kind of dichotomy in -- in health communications.
Particularly, as I say, in some of the rural conservative areas, they're -- they -- they're not receiving really timely and critical health
information.
Now, the local public health officials are -- are terrific. We have outstanding state and local public health departments in -- in the state of
Texas. That's not the problem.
The problem is there's so much disinformation on the internet, on -- on social media, on the extremist podcasters who politicize vaccines for their
own personal or -- or political gain. That -- that's where we have to make greater inroads.
And I think a lot of it is working with local healthcare providers, giving them the tools that they need. Because one of the problems that I've
noticed is, you know, parents come in downloading a lot of garbage from the internet. And the pediatrician has made to feel like they're not keeping up
with the literature.
Well -- well, they are keeping up with the literature. They're not just keep -- they're just not keeping up with the fake stuff. So, I've proposed
putting out a website that debunks the 50 most common false claims made by anti-vaccine activists and creating better infographics to explain the --
the deadly consequences of -- of not vaccinating their kids --
GOLODRYGA: Well, and I think --
HOTEZ: -- as we've now seen unfortunately.
GOLODRYGA: You're -- you're absolutely right. Infographics, especially showing the visuals of what can happen to unvaccinated people, especially
if they can track this virus, which as we noted, was eradicated only to have come back. Podcasters have their place, but not necessarily in
medicine.
Peter Hotez, always good to see you. Thank you so much.
And we'll be right back --
HOTEZ: Thank you, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: -- with more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Well, South Korea's former president is back in custody, this time, over an independent investigation into his declaration of martial law
last year.
The council leading the probe says a court approved a warrant for Yoon Suk Yeol's re-arrest early this morning because of concerns over the
destruction of evidence.
Yoon is now facing charges, including abuse of power and obstruction of official duties. You may recall Yoon's December declaration plunged the
country into a constitutional crisis. He reversed course within six hours after lawmakers forced their way into parliament and voted to block it.
Well, jury selection begins today in an unusual murder case in Colorado. Prosecutors say Angela Craig was murdered by her husband, James, in 2023.
He is accused of putting cyanide and arsenic in her protein shakes.
[12:45:03]
James Craig faces six charges and prosecutors have unveiled evidence, including a secret email account that he used to order various poisons and
internet searches for how to make poison.
Now, there's also evidence that he was having an affair. The case has been delayed multiple times because James Craig has had to get new lawyers.
Our Jean Casarez is following the many twists and turns in this court case. And, Jean, just to an observer to see even that amount of evidence, the --
the fact that he -- he had these searches on the internet, that -- that seems to be pretty conclusive. I mean, what else are we learning?
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it does because as I'm going to go through this, you're going to say, well, this is cut and dry, but he's got
a defense. I'm going to tell you about that in a second.
But first of all, it started on August 27th of 2023. And James Craig and his wife, successful dentist from the outside, great dental practice,
loving wife, Angela. They were raising six children. They had their friends, their social circles, just leading their life.
Well, on August 27th of that year, he starts to do internet searches at the dental office on a computer he's not supposed to be on, not the one in his
office, but here's what he's looking up. How many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human? Is arsenic detectable in autopsy? The top five
undetectable poisons that show no signs of foul play. And how to make poison?
And on that very day, he actually orders arsenic metal. And it arrives to his home a few days later.
Well, on March 6th, and he always made his wife her protein shakes, by the way. She loved to go exercise. And he as that loving husband would make her
protein shakes before she'd go exercise.
Well, on March 6th, he makes her a protein shake and later on in the day, she texts him because she's not feeling well, dizzy, can't focus, eyes feel
heavy. I think we have the -- the text exchange right there. And she's telling him, you know, he's asking her, you know, did you -- what's going
on? She says, I don't know, I just feel drugged.
Now this is -- this is strange here, right? It says, "Given our history, I know that must be triggering just for the record that she feels drugged. I
didn't drug you. I'm super worried though, you really look pale before I left like -- like your lips even."
Well, he told a friend that several years before that, he had drugged his wife, not to kill her, but he wanted to commit suicide in the bathroom and
he thought if he drugged her, she wouldn't be able to help him stop his own suicide.
And that's where that comes from right there. But after that, he bought potassium cyanide, that was delivered to the dental office. She was in and
out of the hospital. They couldn't figure it out.
And when she went home, she'd have protein shakes. And ultimately about a week and a half later, she was put on life support. She died.
But because of that poison, that potassium cyanide that went to the dental office, a homicide investigation was immediately begun. And he has a lot of
different charges, including first-degree murder, which would be a life term.
GOLODRYGA: Unbelievable.
CASAREZ: And as for the defense, I didn't tell you the defense.
GOLODRYGA: Yes.
CASAREZ: Right. I told you that. He's going to say suicide, we believe, that she was having depressive issues. She had suicidal ideations. She had
tried to commit suicide before. Family is countering that saying, we know nothing of that.
But we believe at this point that is going to be his defense because he has not entered a plea except to say, I'm not guilty.
GOLODRYGA: Such a disturbing story. We know -- usually, we package these stories, but Jean, you are so talented and brilliant in laying everything
out just live, unscripted. So thank you. It is --
CASAREZ: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: -- really gut wrenching to hear some of these details.
CASAREZ: It's tragic.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Thank you so much, Jean. Appreciate it.
CASAREZ: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:37]
GOLODRYGA: A terrifying close call for more than two dozen workers in Los Angeles who became trapped inside of a collapsed tunnel. The crew was
working on a municipal waste water project that was under construction when part of the tunnel suddenly fell in. Thirty-one workers had to be rescued.
One local official praised the workers for how they handled the crisis. Chief engineer with Los Angeles County says the collapse was possibly
caused by a technical failure called squeezing ground as the crews were operating a tunnel boring machine. Thank goodness they're OK.
Well, now to an incredible story of survival from the Texas Hill Country. A family of nine escaped last weekend's rising flood waters in their home by
breaking through the attic.
CNN's Pamela Brown has their story which they call nothing short of a miracle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PENNY DEUPREE, 83-YEAR OLD HOMEOWNER: It's hell. It's whatever. But we're alive. God was with us every second, provided what we needed.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An incredible story of survival for this Hunt, Texas, matriarch and her
family.
DEUPREE: Right, there's the escape hatch.
BROWN: Right there?
DEUPREE: Yes.
BROWN: The escape hatch.
DEUPREE: Yes.
BROWN: So you all squeezed through that...
(CROSSTALK)
DEUPREE: Well, I was the hardest one to squeeze. That was the problem.
(LAUGHTER)
DEUPREE: I couldn't diet fast enough to get out there, but anyways.
BROWN: But you got out.
BROWN (voice-over): Eighty-three-year-old Penny Deupree was the first to wake up, and sense something was wrong in the early morning hours of July
4th.
DEUPREE: I got up to go to the bathroom.
BROWN: Mm-hmm.
DEUPREE: And when I went to the bathroom, I flushed it, and it goes (MAKE SOUNDS). And I went, again, you know, we're having plumbing problems. So I
laid down for a few minutes, and I went.
You know, it's rained a lot. I think maybe I better check the front of the house. And that's when I -- it was just flooding already.
BROWN: Her daughter, Kerri Wilt, who lives two miles down the road, explains how all nine people staying at the house managed to escape.
KERRI WILT, HOMEOWNER'S DAUGHTER: So they gathered everybody up into the sleeping loft. This is where the grandkids slept, right? And they all got
up to there. And you can see as you pan around that where the water level was.
Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. Each one of them had a buoy, and we're just hitting it and trying to get out.
BROWN: Who was holding the babies?
WILT: Their parents. So they had a whole system and -- and in getting them to safety.
BROWN: Oh, my God. Wow, this is insane. I can't believe they survived.
WILT: It's a miracle. It's -- it's not insane. It's a miracle.
BROWN: So just imagine they're up here, seven adults, two babies, two dogs, and the water is rising so quickly, they're trapped. And the only way to
get out was somehow to burst through. And so they just grabbed something, and the three men were trying to create this.
And all they had in the pitch black was a baby monitor light.
BROWN (voice-over): Most of their possessions are gone, but they're left with the most important thing.
WILT: We have nine lives. We have everybody's safe, everybody's healthy, not barely a scratch on anybody.
BROWN: And a connection to their family history, while a little battered and bruised, is another story to tell.
WILT: My great-great-grandmother is Frances Hodgson Burnett. She's the author of "The Secret Garden," "Little Lord Fauntleroy," "A Little
Princess," and 50 other books.
[12:55:08]
BROWN: Of course.
WILT: And my mother was the keeper of, you know, kind of her stuff. So we - - she remained actually hanging here throughout. She got waterlogged, of course, but she's OK.
A lot of laughter was had in this house, right?
DEUPREE: You are exactly right.
BROWN (voice-over): And plenty of laughter still to come.
WILT: That's my dad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we found him.
BROWN: Oh.
WILT: He's in there. We found his ashes.
BROWN: Oh, my gosh.
Should we move the Dr. Peppers off of him just to give him some dignity here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He would somehow find that amusing, I think.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes.
BROWN (voice-over): Even if it's sitting around in a circle by the rubble, because they're still on this side of earth and together.
BROWN: You must have thought at one point, though, you -- you were going to die or...
DEUPREE: No, I didn't.
BROWN: You didn't?
DEUPREE: No, because that's not an option.
BROWN: Yes. Yes.
DEUPREE: Right? Is it?
BROWN (voice-over): Pamela Brown, CNN, Hunt, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Death was not an option. Wow. Incredible story.
Well, that does it for this hour of "One World." Thanks so much for watching. I'm Bianna Golodryga. "Amanpour" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:00:00]
END
