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One World with Zain Asher
Worry in Ukraine as Trump Floats Land Swaps ahead of Summit; Trump Puts DC Police Under Federal Control, Warns Other Cities; Hamas Delegation Heading to Egypt to Discuss Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations; U.S., China Agree to Extend Tariff Truce by 90 Days; Palestinian Footballer Sulieman Al-Obeid Killed in Gaza; "KPop Demon Hunters" is about K-Pop Girl Band "HUNTR/X". Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired August 12, 2025 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's war summit just days away. "One World" starts right now. Panic is growing in
Eastern Ukraine as Trump entertains the idea of giving parts of it to Russia. We'll go live to Kyiv with the latest. Plus, showdown delayed
Trump's tariff truce with China has been extended.
And look what you made her do. Taylor Swift with a surprise announcement that has got all the Swifties feeling all too well. Live from Atlanta. I'm
Lynda Kinkade. Welcome to "One World". Talking peace, but preparing for war. Just days before a high-profile meeting between Donald Trump and
Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian President, is warning the world that Moscow cannot be trusted.
It comes as the U.S. President is downplaying expectations for Friday's summit in Alaska that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has still not been invited to. On
Monday, Trump described the talks as a quote, feel out meeting, as he claimed he would know within two minutes if a deal can be done, but he said
it won't be up to him.
The president also doubled down on earlier comments that any agreement would involve swapping territories. And that's making Kyiv and European
leaders increasingly nervous. 26 EU leaders have issued a statement saying that Ukrainians must have the freedom to decide their own future.
And they want a ceasefire in place before negotiations. Zelenskyy says peace is not what is on Putin's mind.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: He is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. Putin is determined only to present a
meeting with America as his personal victory and then continue acting exactly as before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is covering all the developments from Ukraine and joins us now live from Kyiv. Great to have you there for us,
Nick. So, Donald Trump says he'll know within minutes whether a deal with Russia is possible. But the problem is, Ukraine is not at the table.
The Ukrainian President says they're not willing to cede any territory. You've been speaking to people on the ground there. What are they saying
about this?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I mean, even though we don't really know the exact details of what the
Kremlin suggested to Trump Special Envoy Steve Witkoff last week, the suggestion some of the permutations of it, the idea of ceding parts of the
Donetsk region exchange purely for a ceasefire.
Well, it sent shock waves across Ukraine, across European allies, who are still responding almost daily, with statements saying that is simply an
unacceptable premise. Just today, the 26 European countries, excluding Putin ally of the Orban government of Hungary, put out a statement, again
saying a ceasefire must be the starting point before any talks can meaningfully occur.
And again, saying Ukraine must decide its own future, echoing comments at the weekend from major European allies. Ukraine, clear that they will not
see territory that they believe Russia, according to their latest intelligence, is not preparing for peace, but in fact, building up
resources, planning for further military operations.
They're in the middle of a summer offensive right now that appears north of Dobropillia in some of the areas this deal potentially might impact, if
indeed that is an accurate representation of it. Russia is seemingly making a significant advance. Ukraine says its incremental, only small units
moving through their lines, but accepting a slight break of their lines has occurred.
But it is really in the Donetsk region where that potential Witkoff deal, even if it gets further down the line to being even discussed in Alaska,
has caused many people to wake up feeling. It was, frankly surreal. Obviously, it could potentially dictate their immediate future. And most
people we spoke to simply rejected the entire premise.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH (voice-over): When President Trump talks about what parts of Ukraine to quote, swap with Russia, this is ground zero. Real towns where bomb
shelters loom over beaches.
MYKHAILO, SLOVIANSK RESIDENT: I feel like I just float away from this reality.
WALSH (voice-over): Here in Donetsk region, diplomacy has turned dark and surreal and threatens local journalist Mykhailo's medicinal swim.
WALSH: What do you think about the idea of Trump and Putin meeting so far away in Alaska and deciding the fate of a place like this?
[11:05:00]
MYKHAILO: We, all people I know will have to leave, but frankly speaking, I don't think it's going to happen. What Trump did wrong. He just pulled him
out of the bog. The Putin was just drowning the bog, and he took him out and say, Vladimir, I want to talk to you. I like you. Didn't care that
every day Ukrainians died.
WALSH (voice-over): Beaches, births and deaths, they all persist in ravaged Slovyansk. They've dug defenses around it to stop a Russian military
advance, but never imagined high level diplomacy might just give their town and future away. Taisiya gave birth to Azule (ph) yesterday, the calm of
her maternity ward bed now riddled with complications she never saw coming.
TAISIYA, NEW MOTHER: That would be very bad. I saw the news. But we have no influence over it. It's not going to be our decision. People will just give
away their homes.
WALSH (voice-over): Staying here has been for many an act of defiance and bravery, but for Sviatoslav and Natalia, it did not spare them pain. This
is their daughter, Sofia, with her husband, Nikita and the grandson, Lev. They moved to Kyiv for safety. But 11 days ago, a horrific dawn Russian air
strike killed them and 28 others in Kyiv. Their three bodies found together in the rubble.
NATALIA HAPONOVA, SOFIA'S MOTHER: They left from the war and it was quiet there. And you see, how it is in Sloviansk. But the war caught them there.
SVIATOSLAV HAPONOVA, SOFIA'S FATHER: To come to terms with that as a person is impossible. Impossible to come to terms with the loss of children.
WALSH (voice-over): They had been due to visit days later, bringing news that Sofia was three months pregnant.
WALSH: Do you remember the last time you spoke?
HAPONOVA: Yes, it was 08:30 p.m. she was walking with Lev she really wanted to come to Sloviansk to tell everyone the good news. But they didn't come.
They arrived in a different way. All together.
WALSH (voice-over): They came together to be buried on the town's outskirts, where the war permits no calm for grief. Ukrainian jet roars
overhead. At the nearest train station, Kramatorsk, as many are coming as of going. Said he was allowed two days off from his tank unit to see
Tatyana (ph), his wife. Sirens greet the Kyiv train.
SERHIY, SOLDIER: Four years of war how do you think it is? It would have been better if she had not come. Calm down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want my husband to come home. I don't care about those territories. I just want to him to stay alive and come home.
WALSH: Soldiers worried if they'll see their loved ones again, families torn apart by this war. Imagine scenes like this to the thousands in the
event of what seems to so many people here to be the surreal idea that a deal on Friday on the other side of the Earth, almost as far away as you
could possibly imagine in Alaska, between an American President and a Russian President without a Ukrainian.
There could potentially give this bustling town over to the Russians after them fighting for it for so many years and failing to take it. So many
lives lost here and those traumas borne out on this platform every time a train comes in.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH (on camera): So, President Trump has tried to lower expectations ahead of a meeting, which ultimately was designed to have the highest
expectations, to try and get the Kremlin to agree to a peace deal to avoid secondary sanctions. Now Trump is saying it's more about feeling out where
Putin is, and even laying out the possibility that within two minutes.
He might realize Putin doesn't want to make a deal and then simply inform the Europeans or the Ukrainians. The thing we really sort of felt palpably
in that visit to the east again, is that the difference in understanding of this war from the perception in the White House, potentially that talks
casually about swaps.
[11:10:00]
And what that actually really means for Ukrainians now for Russians to swap territory, they just withdraw their military from places they've occupied
for Ukrainians to swap territory, they have to uproot entire towns, tens of thousands of people, suddenly having to give up their homes.
That's practically impossible within any realistic time frame, even if people wanted to do it and they don't. And so, I think that's what's got
people so deeply worried here in Ukraine that there is clearly very limited time for President Zelenskyy to get an invitation to Alaska.
It looks pretty unlikely, judging by Trump's last comments, he will instead have a virtual meeting with key European leaders and Trump tomorrow to try
and lay out their position clearly for the White House head, but then what really happens between Putin and Trump in that meeting in Alaska?
What will really be early Saturday morning here is up for anyone's grabs, really, and that's what, given the unpredictability of the Trump
Administration's handling of this conflict, got so many concerns here, Lynda.
KINKADE: Yeah, no doubt, Nick. The ramifications of those talks in Alaska between Putin and Trump will have huge consequences for those on the ground
there in Ukraine. Good to have you on the on the case for us. Nick Paton Walsh in Kyiv, thank you. When National Guard troops are expected to report
for duty in Washington, D.C. today.
And it comes 24 hours after President Trump ordered a takeover of the city's police department, citing a public safety emergency. President Trump
has mobilized 800 members of the National Guard in DC. This move to take over DC police is only temporary. Without action by Congress, he must
relinquish control in 30 days.
Trump has tapped into his -- tapped his Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to run this operation. The DC Mayor and police chief are meeting with the Attorney
General now to talk about it. Trump says out of control crime forced him to make the move, but the facts don't back that up.
Data shows that violent crime has been on the decline in Washington D.C., since 2023. Well, CNN's Senior White House Reporter Kevin Liptak joins us
now from Washington, D.C. Great to have you with us, Kevin. And of course, that data does show that crime in DC as of earlier this year at a 30-year
low. Just talk to us about the federal troops in DC today and the reaction that you're seeing there.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah, and I will say, you know, the numbers do show that crime is coming down. You know, murders down
12 percent year over year. But that's not to say that crime is not a problem in DC, and certainly, many of the people who live in this city will
tell you that violent crime in particular does affect their lives on a daily basis.
And you know, they're just this year, there have been 99 murders, which is about one every other day. There have been 1586 violent crimes, so 7
violent crimes a day. So, no one is saying that violent crime is not an issue in the city. It certainly very much is.
And even the Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged that yesterday during this press conference, as she was kind of absorbing this news that President
Trump would move to federalize the Washington Police Department. So, all of that said, I think the president painting this kind of dystopian hellscape
picture of Washington, calling it or saying that bloodthirsty criminals were running around.
That there are mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs, that also doesn't necessarily comport with the reality in Washington. And so, you do see the
mayor and other local officials' kind of walking a fine line here. You know, a lot of national Democrats were very quick to decry this move by the
president, saying that it was sort of usurping the authority that it was inching towards authoritarianism.
What you heard from Mayor Bowser, who herself is a Democrat, was much more pragmatic, saying that this is a reality that the city will have to absorb,
and that potentially, in a best-case scenario, having more law enforcement officials on the ground in Washington could potentially be a benefit to the
city.
Now, what President Trump seems to be doing here is trying to use Washington as something of a test case, something of a guinea pig, to
demonstrate that, in his view, these more aggressive policing tactics can do something to cut down on crime. And you heard him talk about potentially
extending this effort to other cities that are run by Democrats. Listen to what the president said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We have other cities also that are bad, very bad. You look at Chicago, how bad it is, you
look at Los Angeles, how bad it is. We have other cities that are very bad. New York has a problem. And then you have, of course, Baltimore and
Oakland. We don't even mention that anymore. They're so far gone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIPTAK: Now it will be very difficult for the president to do what he's doing in Washington, in these other cities, DC is a unique case. It does
not in a state, and the president has quite sweeping powers to take steps here that he wouldn't be able to do in those other cities.
[11:15:00]
But I think what you see the president doing is really kind of seizing on a sensibility among some residents of these cities that crime is out of
control, despite what the numbers say, there is a sentiment among many that crime is a problem, and the president really trying to seize on that and to
use it as a moment.
One, to exert his authority and expand his authority, but two, to try and make the case that these more aggressive policing tactics could do
something to cut down on the problem.
KINKADE: All right. Kevin Liptak, for us in Washington, D.C., thanks so much. We want to turn to Texas, where Republicans have once again failed to
get a quorum. That's the minimum number of lawmakers needed to begin their session for a vote, and it's because Democrats are refusing to show up,
trying to stop Republicans from carrying out a rare mid-decade redrawing of congressional maps. Their leader says he and his colleagues are prepared to
stay away as long as they need to.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. GENE WU (D-TX): Our members are holding strong, and we're committed more so now than ever to see this through and to make sure that we do what
we need to do for the people of Texas and the people United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Ed Lavandera is at the state capital in Austin, Texas. Good to have you there for us. Ed, so again, they failed to reach this quorum, and
we have heard earlier from the Texas Governor saying that these lawmakers could face a fine if they don't return. Just how long are these Democratic
lawmakers prepared to stay out of the state?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's some news developing as we speak here this morning, and that could change the
dynamic here. So let me kind of lay out what is now happening. But just moments ago, the Speaker of the Texas House announced that they will try to
reconvene one more time on Friday.
And if a quorum is not reached, they will essentially end this special session at this moment, so it will be several days early. We've heard from
several Democrats who have been saying that they were willing to stay out for at least until next Tuesday. Many have said they'd be willing to stay
out longer, but there are you know that the special session was supposed to end next Tuesday.
They're going to end it early. But we also note that Republicans and the governor who has the power to continue calling these special sessions and
take up specific bills that he sets the agenda for, that the governor will immediately call another special session, which can last up to 30 days.
When exactly that session is going to start is not clear yet. We're going to try to, like, pinpoint that down with the governor's office here this
afternoon. But this could change the dynamic in what happens and -- what happens next and the there's also an interesting kind of change in tone.
Listen to this back and forth that you have with a Democratic lawmaker and what the governor told CNN's Jake Tapper yesterday, and listen to just --
how far apart they are, but how this could continue to play out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. RICHARD PENA RAYMOND (D-TX): So, what's going to bring Democrats back here? I don't know. I know what could bring them back here? The governor
says, let's just put this bill in the trash can, and let's do the right thing.
GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): If California tries to gerrymander five more districts. Listen, Texas has the ability to eliminate 10 Democrats in our
state. We can play that game more than they can because they have fewer Republican districts in their states.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAVANDERA: Lynda, it's kind of significant. We really haven't heard the governor say that they're going to continue, maybe even redistricting more
than the five seats that President Donald Trump had pushed for to get here, which really sets off the question about, you know, this just triggers a
gerrymandering arms race across the country, where and when will this all end with?
KINKADE: Yeah, exactly. Ed Lavandera is staying across that breaking news for us from Austin, Texas. Great to have you on the story. Thank you. Well,
still to come, the U.N. urges a probe into the killings of journalists in Gaza as malnutrition deaths increase in the Palestinian enclave.
We'll have a live report from Jerusalem when we come back. Plus, computer chips are playing a big part in U.S.-China trade negotiations. We'll tell
you why, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade. A Hamas delegation is headed to Egypt to discuss the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. According to three Hamas
sources, and international outrage is growing, as well as calls for accountability after an Israeli strike killed six Palestinian journalists
in Gaza City late Sunday night. The U.N. is among those calling for an independent, impartial investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: These latest killings highlight the extreme risks that journalists continue to
face when covering this ongoing conflict. The secretary general calls for an independent and impartial investigation into these latest killings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Israel says it targeted Al Jazeera Correspondent Anas Al- Sharif after accusing him of leading a Hamas cell. Both Al-Sharif and Al Jazeera have denied those claims categorically. And it comes as the World
Food Program warns of acute malnutrition is increasing in Gaza.
Palestinian officials report five more people have died in the enclave over the past day, bringing the total of number of malnutrition related deaths
since the war began to 222. Well CNN's Jerusalem Bureau Chief, Oren Liebermann, joins us now. Good to have you with us, Oren.
So, Israel conducted more strikes overnight in Gaza City, and of course, the latest ceasefire talks, which failed back in July. You know, there's
word that they could be restarted. Just talk to us about where they're at right now in these negotiations.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Lynda, we learned earlier today from three Hamas sources that a Hamas delegation, will be
headed to Cairo for talks at the invitation of Egyptian intelligence, in an effort to talk about the possibility, essentially, of ceasefire
negotiations and see if there's any room to maneuver there.
And that's the key question. This isn't back to where it was on July 24th, but of course, this comes at a critical time. First, we had U.S. Envoy,
Steve Witkoff, meeting Qatar in Spain over the weekend. That also part of a broader effort, if not one that has brought all the sides together, or at
least brought about the possibility of talks between Israel and Hamas.
Nevertheless, this is an effort to restart negotiations, to try to get back to a ceasefire, especially after Israel announced its plan to occupy Gaza
City, and potentially after that, the camps in central Gaza, it was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called these the last remaining strongholds of
Hamas.
So, there's clearly an international effort to head off what has been warned as what would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza if this
military operation goes forward? Now, it's worth noting that the last round of ceasefire talks that included Israel and Hamas in Doha fell apart on
July 24th when first the U.S. and then Israel, effectively, surprisingly, pulled out.
Those talks had a tremendous amount of optimism, at least when they began, in the hopes of getting to a ceasefire that would at least pause and
hopefully end the Gaza war.
[11:25:00]
But after those fell apart, I will say, Lynda, that this doesn't have that sense of optimism, at least not yet. Still, it is some incremental movement
to try to get back to the place where ceasefire negotiations can continue.
KINKADE: Oren, I want to ask you about the journalists that were killed. Six journalists killed, most leave from Al Jazeera. We've heard from Israel
claiming that they had ties to Hamas. Has Israel provided any evidence with regards to those ties to Hamas? And what can you tell us about the
investigation into their deaths?
LIEBERMANN: So, Israel has presented a series of images of documents that they say shows that Anas Al-Sharif was a member of Hamas they say he was a
leader of a Hamas rocket cell that was operating to launch rocket attacks against Israel and Israeli soldiers.
In terms of the images of the documents they put forward, they say this show Anas Al-Sharif's name in salary payments, in terrorist training
courses, as well as in phone directories, they say he's been a member since 2013. CNN is unable to independently verify the documents.
The Israeli military's Arabic spokesperson also posted an undated photo that they say shows Al-Sharif with slain Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar. Again,
that photo undated, so unclear exactly when it's from. In terms of the U.N. calls for an investigation, an impartial investigation.
Israel clearly believes that the killing of the journalist was justified, so it's unlikely that Israel will take part in such an investigation. They
have been unapologetic about the killing of Anas Al-Sharif. They haven't really made mention of the other journalists who were killed alongside Al-
Sharif in that strike that occurred a couple of nights ago.
But in terms of the consequences of such an investigation, it would really take something from the U.N. Security Council to have essentially the power
to have a punishment against Israel and something at that level will almost certainly be vetoed by the United States.
The committee to protect journalists has accused Israel of murdering journalists and points out that 190 journalists have been killed since the
Gaza war began, which is more than the previous three years combined.
KINKADE: Yeah, it's just a horrific, horrific number. Oren Liebermann, thanks for being on the story for us from Jerusalem. Much appreciated.
Well, still to come, we don't have to tell you prices are high, but they are getting higher. We're going to look at the latest inflation numbers
after the break.
And Taylor Swift fans get excited. The errors tour may be over, but she just announced something new on her boyfriend's podcast. We'll be talking
about that and what you can expect, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back to "One World". I'm Lynda Kinkade in Atlanta. Good to have you with us. These are the headlines we're watching today. Volodymyr
Zelenskyy says Russia is preparing for new military offenses in Ukraine ahead of those talks on Friday between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
The U.S. President is downplaying expectations for that meeting. On Monday, Trump said he will know within two minutes if an agreement can be reached.
If not, he said he may say good luck and leave. An explosion at a U.S. Steel Plant in Pennsylvania killed two people and injured 10 others on
Monday.
The blast at Clairton, near the City of Pittsburgh, shook houses in nearby communities. U.S. still says it's investigating to work out how it
happened. Donald Trump has taken control of Washington, D.C. police to combat what he says is runaway crime in the nation's capital.
He's also activating the National Guard troops in DC. It's worth noting that statistics show crime is actually falling in DC, and has been for
years. The U.S. and China have agreed to pause tariff hikes on each other for another 90 days. Had the agreement not been reached, tariffs on Chinese
goods were going to jump from 30 percent to 54 percent.
While China's tariffs on American goods would have gone from 10 percent to 34 percent. U.S. officials say they still may place higher tariffs on China
for buying Russian oil. Well, we want to welcome Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He joins us
now from DC. Good to have you with us.
SCOTT KENNEDY, SENIOR ADVISER AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: Sure. Hi, Lynda.
KINKADE: Sir, Donald Trump says negotiations with China are going very well, but there is still no deal. And yet another extension, another 90
days on this tariff truce. What does that tell you?
KENNEDY: It tells you that you know when you get to choose between using sticks and carrots. He tried sticks with China, very high tariffs, and what
he got back was significant pain when China cut off rare earths. And so, it's been honey since and so we've had three rounds of negotiations between
the two sides to get China to release rare earth exports.
And now the U.S. has that, and now the president wants to get a larger deal and hopefully meet Xi Jinping in person to ink it.
KINKADE: Speaking of honey, Trump has really started to soften his words about China. I just want to play some sound from Donald Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We've been dealing very nicely with China. As you probably have heard, they have tremendous tariffs that they're paying to the United
States of America, and we'll see what happens. They've been dealing quite nicely. The relationship is very good with President Xi and myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: I mean, these are two of the world's biggest, the biggest economies really, in the world. Where do you think these tariffs will land?
Given that had this truce not been extended today, we would have seen this jump on tariffs on Chinese imports from 30 to 54 percent.
KENNEDY: Sure. Well, right now, if you add everything together, the reciprocal tariffs, those on fentanyl, the tariffs that the first Trump
Administration and Biden Administration opposed were probably somewhere around 50 percent of tariffs on China. I think through negotiations, if
they can make progress over the next two to three months, what will -- I think the Chinese would like to be somewhere in the 50 to 20 percent range
where other U.S. trading partners have landed.
That's going to require a great deal of compromise. I think the Chinese also want to get export controls from the U.S. capped. They've been
successful the last few months with that. And of course, the U.S. wants to expand American exports and lower that trade deficit, which they've made
some progress on, but they have a lot further to go.
[11:35:00]
KINKADE: And we're also seeing a new, quite unusual layer to negotiations with private companies getting involved. I'm speaking about Nvidia and the
Microchip Technologies, who have now agreed to pay the U.S. 15 percent of their revenue from the sales of semiconductors to China. Just talk to how
unusual that is and how it factors into these broader negotiations.
KENNEDY: We are in a totally different era of government business relations in the United States, and the role of the government in our economy used to
be arm's length, now tied at the hip. Folks who are worried about providing technology to China that could be used for military purposes aren't going
to like this, even with payments to the U.S. government.
That doesn't make sense, and folks that think this isn't a risk are going to wonder why the U.S. government just doesn't get out of the way. So, this
is really different. You have the TikTok deal. You've got this port in Panama that's owned by this Hong Kong company, Hutchinson.
I think you're going to see a lot more of the U.S. and Chinese leaders talk about individual companies in the context of deal. And for these companies,
they're going to be put between a rock and a hard place. They don't want to upset President Trump, and they don't want to upset the Chinese either, but
they want to continue to do business.
So, you're going to see a lot of anxiety from the American business community in the next few months, probably.
KINKADE: All right. Scott Kennedy, good to get your analysis. Thanks so much for your time. Well, U.S. stocks are up this morning. You can see all
in the green, the DOW, the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ up ever so slightly, just close to 1 percent across the board, and that's partly due to July's
Consumer Price Index.
It shows inflation held steady last month at an annual rate of 2.7 percent. That's despite tariff pressure imposed by the president. I want to bring in
Vanessa Yurkevich to help break it down for us. Vanessa, good to see you. So, this inflation really did hold steady in July, which surprised many who
expected it to be higher due to the tariffs. Just break down the numbers for us.
VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, economists were expecting a slight acceleration, but what they got was an
inflation rate that really was unchanged from the prior month and unchanged on an annual basis. So, 2.7 percent annual inflation, 0.2 percent inflation
month over month.
And what we are seeing in key categories like energy, food and shelter, which make up a large portion of this report, is that energy prices
actually fell in the month of July, down 1.1 percent driven lower by lower gas prices. Food was unchanged. You even had prices at the grocery store
falling by 0.1 percent and then shelter there up just a bit, 0.2 percent that is what Americans pay for rent.
But when you dig into core inflation, which is stripping away some of those volatile categories, like energy, like food, we actually saw inflation heat
up. We saw a monthly increase of 0.3 percent and then an annual increase in poor inflation of 3.1 percent which is the highest that we've seen in five
months.
But what we can see in some of these core numbers is prices of everyday items that Americans are buying, discretionary items, categories like toys
or furniture, apparel. These are items that have seen increases in the last few months. You can see on your screen there toys up 0.2 percent furniture
up almost 1 percent.
A drop in the price of appliances down almost a four-percentage point, as maybe some Americans front loaded on those big-ticket items before these
tariffs took effect. And then I have ground beef on there that even though prices at the grocery store did fall month over month.
Ground beef was up 2.4 percent in the month of July, up almost 11.5 percent year over year. Also, in addition to ground beef, seeing some of the
steepest price increases coffee, that's because of weather, but also now we have that 50 percent tariff on Brazil, a major exporter of coffee to the
United States.
All of this put together really shows that businesses have been able to absorb a lot of these tariffs, and I just spoke to the CEO of a major U.S.
retailer, who said that he's not surprised that prices actually have been rising slowly. They expect a feathering of prices. So maybe some increases
one month, maybe some decreases another month, really, Lynda, that is in response to what we've seen with the up and down tariffs.
But of course, this is backwards looking data. Let's see what we find in the next couple of months, and whether or not those tariffs really ingrain
into the economy and put some more pressure on prices, Lynda.
KINKADE: Yeah, we certainly don't want to see the price of coffee rise any higher.
YURKEVICH: Yeah.
KINKADE: We shift workers need that caffeine.
[11:40:00]
YURKEVICH: We sure do.
KINKADE: Vanessa Yurkevich, good to have you with us. Thank you.
YURKEVICH: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, just into CNN, a South Korean court has approved an arrest warrant for the wife of Former President Yoon Suk Yeol. He was removed from
office in April after declaring martial law earlier this year. Yoon has so far refused to cooperate with investigators in a corruption probe.
A Special Counsel is looking into Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee and whether or not they had inappropriate influence on the 2022 ruling party's
election nomination process. Well, still to come, a footballer known as the Palestinian Pele has unfortunately been killed in Gaza.
How Suleiman al-Obeid is being remembered, why one soccer superstar says UEFA should be saying more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Sports fans in Gaza and around the world are mourning the loss of Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid. The
Palestinian Football Association says he was killed in an Israeli attack while waiting for aid in Southern Gaza last week. The European Football
League paid tribute to Obeid, but some say the league has not gone far enough in calling out Israel a UEFA member for its actions. Here's CNN's
Christina Macfarlane.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Holding tight to a pair of blue athletic shorts, the widow of Palestinian football player Suleiman al-
Obaid says this is one of the few things left of her husband.
DOAA AL-OBEID, WIFE OF SULEIMAN AL-OBEID: He meant everything to me, everything. This whole Suleiman sent the martyr, the scent of the dear one,
the scent of the hero who went to get food for his children and was marshaled.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): Known as the Palestinian Pele the 41-year-old striker, was killed while he waited for aid in an Israeli attack in
Southern Gaza, according to the Palestinian Football Association. But it's a shattering loss for Al-Obeid's wife and five children, who already lost
their home in a bombardment earlier this year and are now living in a tent in Gaza City.
But for all the hardships of war, Al-Obeid's wife says her husband could still find joy in the game of football.
[11:45:00]
AL-OBEID: He used to go training every day and never stopped, not a single day, even during the crisis of war in the midst of rockets, shelling and
genocide, he would go and play. He used to gather his friends and loved ones and go and play with them.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): The football world has been expressing its shock and sadness over Al-Obeid's death, who played for a Gaza club and a
Palestinian national team and scored over 100 goals during his career. UEFA, Europe's governing football agency, posted a tribute to him on social
media, but that triggered a stinging rebuke from Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah.
An advocate for humanitarian aid, to Gaza, who called out UEFA for not mentioning how, where and why Al-Obeid died. CNN approached the IDF about
Al-Obeid. They referred us to their response to Salah saying on X after an initial review, we found no record of any incidents involving Suleiman Al-
Obeid.
CNN has also reached out to UEFA for comment. Roughly 325 members of the football community have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the
Palestinian Football Association says. Most of the enclave sporting facilities have been destroyed by Israel's bombardment.
Al-Obeid's family said he hoped to keep scoring goals until he was 50. That dream, like so many others in Gaza, now sadly destroyed. Christina
Macfarlane, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, the Palestinian Football Association has shared a statement in Arabic that said was sent from UEFA's President Aleksander Ceferin,
expressing his condolences for Al-Obeid's death. It said Al-Obeid showed that joy, talent and pride can blossom despite suffering.
His talent and dedication of the game gave the children of Gaza and beyond hope for a brighter future. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Taylor Swift fans are as ecstatic after the pop superstar announced that she's releasing her 12th album and at 12:12 a.m.,
today, the 12th of August, TS 12 finally got a name. It's called the life of a showgirl. Taylor revealed the album during a tease on her boyfriend
Travis and his brother Jason Kelce, "New Heights" podcast. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAYLOR SWIFT, AMERICAN SINGER AND SONGWRITER: So, I wanted to show you something.
TRAVIS KELCE, TAYLOR SWIFT BOYFRIEND: OK, what do we got?
SWIFT: We got --
[11:50:00]
KELCE: Briefcase.
SWIFT: Yeah. Yep.
KELCE: Mint green with TS on it.
SWIFT: Yep.
KELCE: What's in it?
SWIFT: This is my brand-new album, "The Life of a Showgirl".
KELCE: TS 12?
SWIFT: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Ah, Jason Lipshutz, the excitement is there no doubt, you, of course, are the Executive Director of Music with Billboard. Great to have
you with us.
JASON LIPSHUTZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC, BILLBOARD: Thanks for having me.
KINKADE: So, we have entered a new era. This is the new album. Of course, Taylor Swift dropped plenty of hints. We had this cryptic countdown in the
lead up to this announcement. What do we know so far?
LIPSHUTZ: So, we don't know that much so far. Obviously, we know that it is called "The Life of a Showgirl". We know that it's coming soon. Obviously,
her website says that the album ships in October. It might arrive before then, maybe we get a single ahead of time.
Maybe we don't. But I think that the main thing is that, you know, she's been relatively quiet over the past eight months or so, since the eras tour
ended last December. A lot of people, including myself, figured that she would just take the year off. You know, she's been working nonstop.
That is not the case. We will have a new album in 2025 and, you know, I think that there's just a ton of excitement around a new Taylor Swift
album, as there always is. She's gotten bigger and bigger and bigger over the past half decade, and she's continuing this prolific streak now.
KINKADE: And while she often references boyfriends or ex-lovers in songs, it's pretty rare to go public discussing a new album with a boyfriend. What
does that tell you, not only about this album, but kind of about the status of their relationship?
LIPSHUTZ: Yeah, it's funny. On the one hand, I think that in terms of the rollout, the fact that she is doing this as part of Travis Kelce's podcast
with his brother Jason, demonstrates that, you know, she understands what fans want. Fans want to be in on the action of, you know, her personal life
and her relationships and, you know, so I think there's going to be a ton of interest in this podcast discussion coming out on Wednesday.
At the same time, yeah, I think in terms of a thematic slant for this album, I don't think that this will be a heartbreak album as tortured
poet's department from last year was, I think that this will be a lot rosier and more upbeat. And, you know, I think that fans are ready for some
more pop bangers from Taylor. I think that hopefully, I'm hoping that's what we can expect this time around.
KINKADE: It seems that way, and the producers that worked with her in 1989 on that album are working with her on this one. So, we'll see what comes
from that. But I did want to ask you about some other music news, because other than Taylor Swift, the other thing that plays in my house, nonstop by
my three girls, is "KPop Demon Hunters".
And for those unfamiliar at home, I just want to play some sound. Now this is an animated Netflix film that has already broken plenty of records, but
now the girl group on this show has topped the Billboard 100. The first female group to do so since Destiny's Child, right?
LIPSHUTZ: Yeah. It's pretty wild to think that there has never been a K Pop girl group that has reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 before the
fictional group of hunt tricks from "K Pop Demon Hunters" does so this week with their smash single golden. You know this movie, since it came out in
June, has just been a phenomenon, right?
And it's been a streaming phenomenon, where people are watching the movie, they are spreading it through word of mouth, and then they are streaming
the songs over and over again. And we saw this pretty early on, after the movie came out two months ago, and now the songs are just, I mean, Golden's
number one of the Hot 100 but there are multiple songs in the top 10, in the top 20 of the Hot 100.
It's a pretty cool pop culture moment in a world where the monoculture doesn't exist so much. So, people have really united around this movie and
its music.
KINKADE: Yeah, exactly, first girl group to top the Billboard 100 in 24 years. What does it say about the power and the global reach of this unique
blend we're seeing between animation, k pop and storytelling?
LIPSHUTZ: Yeah, it's funny, because you think about the title "K Pop Demon Hunters". I remember reading that for the first time. I was like, what is
this? Is like a fantasy movie. And instead, it's a -- this really fun kind of braiding of the k pop world and then the fantasy world with some really
excellent singles, right?
Golden in the movie, if you haven't seen it, is supposed to act as the fictional group's hit single, and then it translated over into real life
and became a real life hit single.
[11:55:00]
So, it's a fun, family friendly, multi genre experience, and it's really, it's been a fun introduction to k pop for you know, parents who kind of
missed the way over the past 5, 10, years. The music is really striking and is really connected through the storytelling like you said.
KINKADE: The girls are doing well on the charts today, and we no doubt we'll chat again when Taylor Swift releases her 12th album. She's a
creative genius. I can't believe she's been working on an album -- since that eras too, as you say, I thought she might have had some downtime, but
not to be.
We'll leave it there for now. Jason Lipshutz, thanks so much for joining us. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Stay with CNN. My colleague, Bianna Golodryga has
more of "One World" in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:00]
END
