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One World with Zain Asher
Moscow won't Commit to Putin-Zelenskyy Meeting, but has not Ruled Out Further Talks; Hamas Says it has Agreed to a new Ceasefire Proposal; Abbott: What Dems have done is "Disgraceful" & "Potentially Illegal"; Trump Wants to End Mail-in Voting ahead of Next Year's Midterm; Trump: DC Previously "Most Unsafe Place Anywhere"; Popular Weight Loss Drug Available for $499. Aired 11-12a ET
Aired August 19, 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)
ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Putin and Zelenskyy meeting face to face. One of them is on board, can the other be convinced. "One World" starts
right now. New comments from President Trump on his efforts to end Russia's war on Ukraine. What he's saying about U.S. involvement in any security
guarantees for Ukraine if a peace deal is reached.
Plus, Donald Trump is vowing to get rid of mail-in ballots ahead of the midterm elections, as he continues to falsely claim that form of voting is
corrupt. And Monica Lewinsky and Amanda Knox partnering up for a new who leads Hulu series, we'll talk about that shortly.
Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher, this is "One World". One day after Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top European leaders met at the White
House for a critical summit aimed at ending Russia's war on Ukraine. The Kremlin is refusing to commit to a high-level meeting between President
Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, even though President Trump says he has sort of set that meeting up.
Earlier, a group of Kyiv's allies were briefed on Monday's talks when NATO- style security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed. The Ukrainian President says leaders are already working towards finalizing those
guarantees within 10 days, but the details are still vague.
And U.S. President, who, less than 24 hours ago, did not rule out putting American troops on the ground as part of a potential peace deal, had this
to say a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES HURT, FOX NEWS "FOX & FRIENDS" CO-HOST: Mr. President, what kind of assurances do you feel like you have that going forward. And you know, past
this Trump Administration, it won't be American boots on the ground defending that border.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Well, you have my assurance, and I'm president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Trump also appeared, once again, to blame Ukraine for Russia's invasion, saying, quote, you don't take on a nation that is 10 times your
size. It always comes as Russia launched the largest attack on its democratic neighbor in weeks. We have a whole team standing by to dissect
all of this.
You've got CNN's Alayna Treene, is at the White House for us. But first, let's go to Ben Wedeman joining us live now from Kyiv. So, Ben, despite
sort of a lot of optimistic words from Donald Trump and high hopes from European partners, there weren't any sort of concrete steps yesterday, just
in terms of movement towards a peace deal.
And obviously no concrete commitments as it pertains to security guarantees. Just walk us through how Ukrainians themselves reacted to these
meetings.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, initially, they reacted positively to the fact that when President Zelenskyy went to the
White House, he wasn't mugged like he was back in February by President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
But beyond that, at the end of the day, it's hard to sort of get a grip on what actually was accomplished, of course, the Europeans reiterated their
support for Ukraine, their support for President Trump's efforts to somehow move this process forward. President Zelenskyy reiterated his readiness to
meet with President Putin without preconditions.
There was further talk, and there's continuing talks on the question of security guarantees in the event of an eventual peace agreement. But you
know, the next step in all of this, of course, as President Trump has so confidently predicted, is a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy.
And as much as he's brimming with confidence, you don't feel that, that confidence is shared, certainly by people here who for the one, for the
first thing, they don't trust Trump, or rather Putin, and they don't actually trust Trump as well, to a certain extent. They also don't think
that he is being that he's actually going to end up at a negotiating table.
Already, we've heard Russian officials coming out when asked about the possibility of this bilateral meeting at some point down the line. We heard
Yuri Ushakov, the Foreign Affairs Adviser to President Putin, yesterday, saying this. The idea was discussed that it would be appropriate to study
the opportunity of raising the level of representation of the Russian and Ukrainian sides.
[11:05:00]
That's a masterpiece of ambiguity. And certainly, we know in the past that when President Zelenskyy said, I'm ready to meet with the Russian leader,
the Russians didn't agree. And so perhaps, you know, if this is the next vital step in reaching some sort of peace agreement between the two
countries, people here are very skeptical that, that is going to happen.
And overnight, what we saw, yet again, a, say, intense Russian bombardment, around 270 drones, 10 ballistic missiles, on Ukraine. At least eight people
killed. That was the biggest overnight bombardment since the 31st of July. And also, a message from the Russians that, despite all the atmospherics in
Washington, the discussions and the optimistic predictions of somehow this is all going to come to an end.
The Russians continue to fight, attack Ukraine, occupy 20 percent of its territory and are generally showing no sign of offering anything in terms
of peace, Zain.
ASHER: Exactly. And it really shows you just how serious Vladimir Putin is when it comes to peace, just given the fact that, despite all the
negotiations that are taking place right now, the possibility that he could end up meeting Zelenskyy. As you point out, Ben, Russia continues to
bombard Ukraine amid all of that.
Alayna, let me bring you in, because Ben, made an interesting point. He sorts of said that Ukrainians, obviously, of course, they do not trust
Vladimir Putin, but to a certain extent, they don't necessarily trust Trump that much either, and we know that Trump told Zelenskyy that the U.S. would
help guarantee its security in the event that there is some kind of a deal with Russia. What does that look like? And can Ukrainians really take
Donald Trump's word for it?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah. I mean, look, I think, and we heard this actually, from a lot of European leaders yesterday, in
addition to Zelenskyy, we heard, for example, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as the NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, argue that
there were major breakthroughs, particularly on behalf of the United States, in hearing from President Donald Trump, say that he is willing to
commit to firm security guarantees for Ukraine.
And the reason that's such a big deal, of course, is because up until really the last couple of weeks, the president been throwing cold water on
that idea and arguing it was really up to the United States European allies, to be the first line of defense in that and while he still is
saying that, that it is more so on the onus of Europe to ensure that Ukraine is well defended.
To protect them from, you know, having Russia in the future, if a peace deal is reached, come and try to take back that territory the United
States, and Trump himself is now saying, we will help you with that. Now, one thing that was clear is we did see yesterday, a lot of reporters' kind
of asking the president, while he was in the Oval Office sitting beside Zelenskyy, if part of that, you know, commitment to having these security
guarantees means putting American boots on the ground.
Yesterday, the president left the door open to that. However, today, he made clear that that is not something that he is going to do. He basically
ruled it out for his entire presidency, saying, I give you my assurance that, that will not happen. And so, when I talked to a White House official
about this, they not only confirmed that the president has ruled.
That there are other ways that the United States can still try and help defend alongside these European allies. And so those are some of the
conversations that are still ongoing, some of the specifics that are still being worked out. And I know that was one of the central, if not the
central theme, of what was happening yesterday.
As for this question of trust, though, look, it's hard, because we have seen the relationship between Trump and Ukraine really change greatly over
the last several months. I think a lot of Ukrainians are likely, you know, still very skeptical after the Oval Office blow up the last time Zelenskyy
was here back in February, and how things went on, kind of, you know, how everything continued on after that.
But also, this idea of, you know, saying that Putin and him have a warm relationship. We heard him repeat that this morning, saying he wanted to
take a call in the Oval Office with Putin, so that European allies wouldn't hear it, because he wanted, you know, he thought it would be disrespectful
to Putin if the European leaders were on the phone with him.
All of that, I think, continuing to add maybe to some of that skepticism and concern from the Ukrainians. And so, look, I think as we look forward,
a key thing, of course, is going to D.C. to see how much the United States and Trump specifically, can actually move to help these leaders come
together and specifically urge and pressure Putin to agree to that bilateral meeting.
ASHER: Right, Alayna Treene, Ben Wedeman, thank you both so much. And actually, we're just getting word that NATO military leaders are going to
be meeting on Wednesday. We just got this announcement NATO military leaders meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation on Ukraine.
[11:10:00]
Obviously, European leaders have been pushing for NATO-style security guarantees, even if Ukraine does not end up obviously, becoming a member of
NATO itself. I want to bring in Luke Harding, who is a Senior International Correspondent for "The Guardian" and the Author of "Invasion, The Inside
Story of Russia's Bloody War and Ukraine's Fight for Survival".
He joins us live now from London. Luke, the fact that Donald Trump is continuing to dismiss this idea of any kind of ceasefire. Any kind of
ceasefire necessary, needing to take place in the midst of the move rather towards any kind of peace deal. The fact that our staff Ben Wedeman, on the
ground in Kyiv continues to point out that despite everything that is happening right now.
This move, or this push towards peace, this effort towards peace, at the end of the day, Russia continues to bombard Ukraine. What do you make of
that? What do you make of the fact that Donald Trump is still not necessarily pushing for any kind of ceasefire in the interim?
LUKE HARDING, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE GUARDIAN": Well, I mean, I think this change of policy, American policy, by Donald Trump,
has somehow got lost in the noise. We've seen intense diplomacy, the summit with Putin in Alaska, all the European leaders yesterday, around the table
with Vladimir Zelenskyy and Trump in the White House.
But actually, the significant changes that on Friday morning, on his plane to Alaska, Trump was saying, we need a ceasefire. If we don't get a
ceasefire, we very unhappy. And then, after a few hours talking one on one with Putin, he's changed position and has now basically embraced Russian
sequencing, that there has to be a kind of comprehensive peace deal.
And first before a ceasefire, and I have to say, Zain, I am pretty pessimistic. I think, as Ben was saying, I think the fundamentals have not
changed really in the last day or so, Russia is continuing its war. It's bombing Ukrainian cities. I've spent many months in Ukraine. You can't
sleep.
Everyone is exhausted. The war has got bigger since January, when Trump came back. And Putin's demands have not changed. They are maximalist. They
are the subjugation of Ukraine, what you might call the de Ukrainization of Ukraine. So, it becomes essentially a part of Russia.
And I'm also skeptical there's going to be any meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin face to face anytime soon. I mean, there's a report, I think,
quite a mischievous report in the last hour or so from AFP, saying the Russians have invited Zelenskyy to Moscow. The idea of Zelenskyy going to
Moscow, I think is darkly hilarious and impossible, of course.
ASHER: Of course. But, it's interesting, because Zelenskyy has himself multiple times, sort of indicated that he would be open to a meeting with
Putin, only so far as to try to prove to the world that Vladimir Putin is not serious at all about any kind of peace deal, or any kind of serious
negotiations face to face with Zelenskyy.
I mean, even though you know it is highly unlikely, it is virtually impossible that we are going to see that. The fact is, Donald Trump says
that, you know, he is still optimistic. Under what kind of scenario, under what kind of conditions could we ever see any kind of meeting between
Zelenskyy and Putin anytime soon?
HARDING Well, I mean, I think the Russian answer to that question is brutally clear. I mean, there could be a meeting if Ukraine effectively
capitulates, surrenders. And the way the Russians would like to play it is that the two leaders go in. There's no handshake, there's no kind of formal
negotiations.
And Zelenskyy signs a piece of paper, essentially giving large chunks of Ukraine away to Russia in perpetuity. And of course, the other Russian
demands are that Zelenskyy steps down and that Ukraine's army is reduced to almost nothing. Now these demands are clearly unacceptable.
They haven't been moderated at all. And so, you know that there's process, that there's color, there's light, that there's Trump freewheeling and in
the Oval. I mean, we can all follow that, but I think the reality is that the war continues, that the Russians are going forward, not dramatically,
but village by village in the east of Ukraine, time is on their side.
And in Donald Trump, they don't see someone who is going to pressure them to negotiate, either through sanctions or more military aid to Ukraine or
other measures. It seems to me, at least that Trump's main sympathies are with Russia, despite the bonhomie yesterday in the Oval Office. And I
cannot see him taking action against Putin anytime soon.
ASHER: Right, Luke Harding, live for us there. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Right, the pressure is on for mediators for new talks in the
Middle East, as Hamas says it has agreed to a new Gaza ceasefire proposal.
[11:15:00]
It's similar to the plan that was previously on the table when negotiations fell through last month. A senior Hamas official says it calls for the
release of 10 living and 18 dead hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, with a regional source adding that Hamas also wants
written American guarantees for a ceasefire after 90 days.
In the meantime, an Israeli official tells CNN, the government has received the response, but it hasn't changed its position. It wants all hostages
released, the disarming of Hamas and security control over Gaza. Let's go to Nic Robertson, who joins us live now from Jerusalem.
So obviously, Nic, there are still sort of sticking points, but just in terms of Hamas, at least at this point, agreeing to the terms of this new
proposal. Just walk us through what the proposal is suggesting at this point? What do we know about the terms that Hamas has agreed to and what
Israel's position is at this point as well?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, we know that Hamas was put under a lot of pressure by the mediators who really wanted to
get something going on the talks again. It is, according to one source, 98 percent of the Steve Witkoff deal that was on the table towards the end of
July.
And there was a real expectation in July that Prime Minister Netanyahu would move forward with it. It's a 60-day deal. The prisoners to be
released, the hostage -- Palestinian prisoners, Israeli hostages, to be released, as you laid out there, 10 living, 18 dead, and Palestinian
prisoners to be released as part of that.
But we don't have other specifics about the deal, and that's part of the issue. We do understand from sources that there are question marks still
over whether the Rafah border crossing linking Egypt into Gaza would be open for the flow of aid. Who would be responsible for distributing that
aid.
So, these are all open questions, and clearly, when Hamas says that they want written guarantees from the United States about what happens after 60
days, it's really a back reference to the deal that was earlier in the year that was going to be phase one, phase two.
Phase two was going to be moving to a permanent cessation, and that didn't happen, and Israel blamed Hamas for that not happening, but Israel didn't
negotiate according to the terms of phase one, get into talks about phase two. So those are the concerns on the Palestinian side.
But it does seem very clear at the moment that the Israeli Prime Minister is not rushing in to answering this latest proposal, is not clear when he's
going to get round to putting forward that position, but what the government officials are saying those priorities, as you say, destroying
Hamas a pending military operation in Gaza city.
That's causing huge concern among the humanitarian community, big push back from the Israeli public over the weekend, hundreds of thousands out on the
streets because they think a military operation in Gaza would endanger the lives of hostages. They want a deal done now, but the prime minister just
isn't rushing towards it.
He's playing for time. And it appears, you know, this is the observation that some people are making, and for that reason, they feel that it's
probably not wise to get too much hope up at this moment that this can go the course. It doesn't mean that it won't, but I think expectations feel
low at the moment.
ASHER: Right, Nic Robertson, live for us there. Thank you so much. And run away, Texas Democrats make a triumphant return to the State House of
Representatives, and one of them is not leaving. In fact, she set up camp inside the chamber. We will explain why. Plus, a House committee could get
a look at the Jeffrey Epstein files this week, what the chairman of that committee is saying, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ASHER: A Democratic Texas Lawmaker spent the night on the State House floor, and she's still there. State Representative Nicole Collier is one of
dozens of Democrats who returned to Austin on Monday. They had originally fled the state to block a vote on redrawing congressional maps to favor the
Republican Party.
If there aren't enough members to vote, the bill can't go forward. Now here's why State Representative Collier is still in the building.
Republicans are demanding that those Democrats who absconded now have law enforcement escorts when they leave the Capitol grounds, until the House
reconvenes on Wednesday. Most Democrats complied. Collier said she wouldn't.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NICOLE COLLIER (D-TX): We've had enough. We've had enough because I'm taking all of our rights away, and so I've taken a stand.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hell yes.
COLLIER: I'm pushing back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.
COLLIER: And that's what we got to do. When I heard the order, I was like, hell no. Why should we bow down to what they want? I'm taking a stand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Meantime, in California, Democrats want to ask voters to approve a similar redistricting proposal, this time favoring their own party. They
have until Friday to get it on the November ballot. Arlette Saenz with us live now from Austin with the story. So, Arlette, we obviously have House
Democrats there.
Texas Democrats actually spending the night on the Capitol floor. Their big goal at this point is to try to find various ways to fight against this
redistricting map going into effect. What are their options here?
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, really, these Texas House Democrats have few, really no options to stop this redistricting bill from moving
forward. They already use that one legislative option available to them, having that quorum break in the first special session, which delayed the
House from considering these new congressional maps that could net Republicans up to 5 U.S. House seats.
But now what you are hearing from these lawmakers is that they're focusing their attention on making the legal arguments that can be used in the
upcoming lawsuits they are expected to file against these maps once they are passed. They -- it's expected that there will be several lawsuits
heading into September and October, as they are hoping that the courts ultimately will strike down these maps from going into effect.
But Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said that he believes that they are on strong legal footing. Here is what he had to say in an interview with Fox
News last night, where he also took a swipe at the State of California.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): What the Democrats have done is disgraceful and potentially illegal. I tell you this much, if California dares to try to
squeeze out more Republicans, there are going to be lawsuits that will overturn that. What I can tell you, in the State of Texas, the five
Republican states that we are adding, they are going to withstand legal challenges.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAENZ: Now the House here in Texas is expected to start considering and potentially voting on this redistricting bill as soon as tomorrow, but also
as you mentioned there is that one sign of protest playing out on the Texas House floor.
[11:25:00]
State Representative Nicole Collier has spent nearly 22 hours in the House chamber as she has refused to comply with the order that she would need to
agree to a 24/7 police escort if she were to leave the Capitol grounds. That is one of the methods that House Republicans are taking to try to
ensure that they don't have another quorum break so they can get onto this bill tomorrow.
ASHER: Arlette, and just in terms of California, we know the California Senate and assemblies are essentially going back in session today. I mean,
their goal is really to try to get this bill on the ballots by November, because they need voters actually to approve redistricting there. Just walk
us through that.
SAENZ: That's right. The California legislator is working through a very tight timeline today. They are expected to start considering and debating
this new congressional map that could pick up five democratic seats for them in the committees. Right now, those bills are on track to pass in the
California legislature as soon as Thursday before going to Governor Newsom's desk.
They need to get that completed by Friday. And then there's that next step of putting this on the ballot for voters to actually consider in November's
election, that's a big difference between what's happening here in Texas and what's happening in California.
But already, there have been a number of Republicans who have signaled their intentions to wage a multimillion-dollar campaign, potentially in the
fall months, to stop that from going being approved by voters. Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, perhaps one of the most famous
Republicans, who is out there saying that he wants to put a stop to these maps.
So, there's still a lot of open questions about whether California can actually get that passed by voters in November. And then, of course, there
will probably be lawsuits and legal challenges there in that state as well.
ASHER: Arlette Saenz live for us there. Thank you so much. All right, despite evidence to the contrary, Donald Trump is again slamming mail-in
ballots. Coming up, we'll separate fact from fiction.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ASHER: Welcome back to "One World". I'm Zain Asher in New York. Here are some headlines that we are watching for today. One day after appearing to
consider the idea, U.S. President Donald Trump says he will not send American troops to Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal.
And the Kremlin is refusing to commit to a bilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But the Russian Foreign Minister
says Trump is welcome to come visit Moscow. Air Canada strikes are ending after the airline and the union representing 10,000 flight attendants reach
a tentative agreement Monday night.
The walkout over wages canceled thousands of flights and stranded more than 130,000 travelers. Union members still need to vote to ratify the deal. And
hurricane Erin is not expected to make landfall. However, the storm does have parts of North Carolina's barrier islands, like the Outer Banks, under
evacuations.
Life threatening rip currents, tiring waves and storm surges are expected up and down the U.S. East Coast. The Jeffrey Epstein files could soon be in
the hands of the House Oversight Committee. Congressman James Comer says Justice Department will begin handing over Epstein related records on
Friday, in a response to a subpoena.
On Monday, the Oversight Committee interviewed Former Attorney General William Barr as part of its investigation into the Epstein case. Katelyn
Polantz joins us live now from Washington with the details of this idea that the Justice Department is potentially handing over several Epstein
files to Congress.
Obviously, it's a huge one. A lot of people have been very curious. A lot of sorts of conspiracy theorists have been very curious about what is in
these files. Just walk us through what we can expect come Friday and what sort of files could actually end up being released, Katelyn?
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Zain, the question is, will there be anything that's handed over to Congress that the
Justice Department hasn't previously disclosed? We do have a sliver of the full Epstein files out there in the public domain through litigation,
through the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, where she was convicted for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein in 2021.
So that's what we're going to be looking for. Today was the deadline for the Justice Department, but the House Republican Chairman of the House
Oversight Committee, James Comer, he did say that it's going to be fine for the Justice Department to turn things over beginning on Friday.
They're making redactions, and he is looking forward to what they're going to be producing then. His committee did subpoena a very large number of
files, essentially the entirety of the Epstein files, as well as information about Jeffrey Epstein's death in jail in 2019. There also are
questions that the House is asking people about Epstein and about whenever he hung himself in a prison.
Yesterday, Attorney General Bill Barr was the first person to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee. Barr spoke to the committee behind closed
doors, but Comer did come out and publicly say Barr testified that Epstein died by suicide, that there was no foul play.
And that there was nothing incriminating said about the sitting President Donald Trump, someone we know who was in touch with Epstein previously.
Here's a little bit more about what Comer had to say in the middle of that deposition yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JAMES COMER (R-KY): He had never communicated with President Trump on a potential Epstein list or anything else he was. And he had never seen
anything that would implicate President Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POLANTZ: Now Bill Barr, the Former Attorney General in 2019 when Epstein was indicted and when Epstein died, he's the first of six former attorneys
general to be subpoenaed by this House Committee. They've also asked for testimony from two Former FBI Chiefs and the Clintons, whether any of these
people have information that would push further what is publicly known about Jeff Epstein and the sex trafficking of minors, that's the big
question.
And Democrats are very critical of what the House Oversight Committee is doing here, saying that they're just not digging very deep, Zain.
ASHER: Right, Katelyn Polantz, live for us there. Thank you so much. President Trump wants to end mail-in ballots. The president announced
Monday he will sign an executive order that bans mail-in ballots nationwide ahead of the 2026 midterm election, and this despite no evidence of
widespread mail-in ballot fraud. Trump has long blamed mail-in ballots for his 2020 election loss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Mail-in ballots are corrupt.
[11:35:00]
Mail-in ballots you can never have a real democracy with mail-in ballots, and we as a Republican Party, are going to do everything possible that we
get rid of mail-in ballots. We're going to start with an executive order that's being written right now by the best lawyers in the country to end
mail-in ballots because they're corrupt.
And you know that we're the only country in the world, I believe I may be wrong, but just about the only country in the world that uses it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: In fact, actually dozens of countries use mail-in ballots, including Canada, India and the UK. And furthermore, the U.S. Constitution gives
states the rights to decide the times, places and manner of holding elections. Congress can alter election rules. The president cannot.
Let's look at the implications of Trump's executive order with Corey Brettschneider. He's a Political Science Professor at Brown University, and
Co-Hosts "The Oath and The Office" podcast. Corey, thank you so much for being with us. So, what kind of legal obstacles would a potential executive
order by Trump lead to just in terms of altering mail-in ballot procedures?
COREY BRETTSCHNEIDER, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT BROWN UNIVERSITY: Well, as you said, it's obviously unconstitutional. The Constitution
sometimes is vague. Sometimes it's very clear, and it's very clear that when it comes to the regulation of elections, it's up to the states, and
there is a role for the federal government.
It can override the states and regulate. But it's not the president. It's the role of Congress to do so. So, the idea that you could have an
executive order that simply wipes away something that this president doesn't like, is just not the case. And I have no doubt that this executive
order would not survive the scrutiny of courts.
Although the courts have disappointed us when it comes to defending the Constitution in some cases here, it's so clear I can't imagine them do
anything. We have a system of judicial review where the Constitution is above any executive order, and if the president acts illegally,
unconstitutionally, the courts can stop it.
But I'll just say one more thing, Congress can act, and this Congress, unfortunately has been so willing to enable this president in his
authoritarian ambitions. And so that's my worry here.
ASHER: Just for our international audience to really understand. I mean, if you think about the sorts of people who rely on mail-in ballots in this
country. I mean, I'm based in New York, so it is really the elderly people who have disabilities. I mean, there's all sorts of people who really rely
on mail-in ballots in order to cast their votes.
Just talk to us about the implications here when it comes to equality in this country, equal access to voting.
BRETTSCHNEIDER: Well, I mean, to the contrary of what the president said, what a democracy is about is ensuring that everybody not only has a formal
right to vote, but they actually can do so. And so, what mail-in ballots is it allows people who either because they have a job or because they're
disabled, as you said, have trouble getting to a physical poll, and it allows them to express their preference as citizens when it comes to
politics.
Now let's just get to the bottom line. This president thinks that his opponents are benefited. The Democratic Party is benefited by having this
kind of access. And of course, many of the people that whose rights he's tried to shut down would fight back using this mechanism.
So that's why he wants to do it. It's purely partisan. If it has anything to do with democracy, it only has to do with the twisted idea of democracy
as he understands it, which is that he's elected president and so he can do anything he wants. We've been talking on the oath in the office podcast
with local attorney generals like Attorney General Torrez from New Mexico.
I have no doubt that they will fight back in a coalition successfully against any attempt to implement this executive order. But again, if
Congress goes along with it, and I can't say this enough, it might enable him in his authoritarian ambitions, and that's why I've gone so far as to
say that he is attempting a self-coup, not an insurrection from the outside or violence, but from the inside, using the executive branch, the
presidency, to destroy the powers of the states of Congress and of the courts.
ASHER: It's interesting, because obviously you talk about how politics is a major factor in all of this, Trump has actually supported absentee and
early voting in the past, when he has thought it was politically advantageous to him. Explain to us, how his stance has actually evolved and
changed over time.
BRETTSCHNEIDER: Well, this president, unfortunately, you know you can't say it enough, and I know that your reporting shows this too, that his ambition
is not consistent with the idea of democracy, of the rule of law, of a fair vote. So, when he says something, it is instrumental to his own power.
And what he's realizing now is that mail-in ballots, specifically in the midterm elections, which he's trying to undermine, any threat to his own
power, come from losing the House of Representatives, something that very well could happen if he doesn't intervene.
[11:40:00]
And so, he's focused on this and other mechanisms in order to destroy a fair election. So, it really is never about fairness. It's never about
democracy. It is only about his own power and the power of his party. If that House switches to the Democratic Party, all of a sudden, there'll be
serious oversight.
They would block any ability, for instance, to aggrandize his own power by taking over, getting rid of mail-in ballots. And, you know, even things
like impeachment get on the table. So, he's very worried about that, and that's why he's willing, as he always is, to disregard the Constitution, to
act in a way that is simply authoritarian and disregards the rule of law, even when it comes to the literal words in the Constitution, as your
opening remarks suggested.
ASHER: Right. Corey Brettschneider, live for us there. Thank you for joining us. Appreciate it. Right, still to come here on "One World", more
National Guard troops are heading to the U.S. capital at Trump Administration's request, while the D.C. Mayor is pushing back. That story
just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: Six U.S. States led by Republican Governors have now authorized sending hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington D.C. to assist with
President Trump's takeover of law enforcement in the capital. Trump justified his moves repeatedly claiming increasing crime in the city.
But D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser argues the numbers simply do not add up, and violent crime was actually already on the declines. CNN's Brian Todd takes
a closer look at the controversy between the mayor and the president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MURIEL BOWSER, MAYOR OF WASHINGTON, D.C.: This is not about D.C. crime.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser growing more frustrated over the escalation of federal agents and National
Guard troops on the streets of the nation's capital.
BOWSER: You know it doesn't make sense. The numbers on the ground and the district don't support 1000 people from other states coming to Washington
D.C.
TODD (voice-over): Republican Governors from West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio and Mississippi have announced they are sending additional National
Guard troops to Washington in response to President Trump's call to increase law enforcement on the streets.
TRUMP: We went from the most unsafe place anywhere to a place that now people, friends are calling me up, Democrats are calling me up, and they're
saying, sir, I want to thank you, and you did that in four days.
TODD (voice-over): But Mayor Bowser does not seem to share that sentiment.
[11:45:00]
BOWSER: Why the military would be deployed in an American city to police Americans, that's the question.
TODD (voice-over): Around the capital today, D.C. National Guard troops could be spotted near national monuments and major transportation hubs.
TODD: Have they told you anything about your mission, like what you're supposed to be doing around -- at least?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just helping out with local law enforcement.
TODD: Are you carrying any firearms?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
TODD (voice-over): A White House official had previously told CNN that National Guard troops in Washington may now be armed, but a Defense
Department official tells us that so far, guardsmen on the street in D.C. are not armed and have not been requested to carry firearms.
The official says they'll be prepared to arm if they get the order. Not everybody agrees that National Guardsmen should be sent in from other
states. One Republican Governor, Phil Scott of Vermont turned down a second request from President Trump to deploy its National Guard troops to D.C. to
help Trump in his mission.
The governor's office saying in part, while public safety is a legitimate concern in cities across the country, in the absence of an immediate
disaster, and unless local and regional first responders are unable to handle such an emergency. The governor is opposed to utilizing the National
Guard for this purpose.
Some popular right wing media figures are saying that even the current escalation of law enforcement in Washington, while controversial, still
isn't enough.
CHARLIE KIRK, HOST OF "THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOW": We need full military occupation of these cities until the crime desists, period. We need a
desisting of crime in our cities. We're not going to put up with it. I want to be able to walk magnificent mile in Chicago.
TODD (voice-over): Data from the restaurant reservation company OpenTable shows a 25 to 30 percent drop in D.C. reservations since the surge. But one
week since Trump's announcement of federalizing the D.C. police, he's already claiming victory.
TRUMP: All I want is security for our people, but people that haven't gone out to dinner in Washington, D.C. in two years, are going out to dinner.
TODD: A Defense Department official tells CNN, West Virginia is sending about 350 of its National Guard troops to Washington. That official says
some of those troops from West Virginia have already arrived. Now we didn't see them on the streets of D.C. on Monday, but that official says that
those troops from West Virginia will be integrating with the other forces soon.
That same official says that troops from Mississippi, South Carolina and Ohio will be here in the coming days. And we just heard from Louisiana
Governor Jeff Landry that he is sending about 135 of his state's National Guard troops to Washington, Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
ASHER: All right, two outspoken women are joining forces. Amanda Knox and Monica Lewinsky are both executive producers on a new mini series on Hulu,
"The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox". Their stories are very different, but they have bonded over the shared experience of being publicly shamed,
things that happened when they were younger.
Lewinsky for her relationship with President Bill Clinton in the 90s and Knox spent nearly four years in an Italian prison after she was accused of
murdering her roommate back in 2007. Her conviction was later overturned. Take a look
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Around the world. Studying abroad in Italy. I had no idea that my dream. Hello, anybody home was about to become a nightmare.
Meredith. Oh, my God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: For more. Let's go to CNN's Lisa Respers France, joining us, live now, from Atlanta. You know, these are not necessarily two women that I
would have ever expected to pair up. I mean that their connect, their stories are similar, but I would never have made the dots or connected the
dots, rather, until, obviously, the announcement of this miniseries. Just walk us through what we know about why these two women chose to work
together.
LISA RESPERS FRANCE, CNN REPORTER: Yeah, what we know is that both of them, as you pointed out, have been shamed, maligned in the past for something
that happened with them in their 20s. They both were made but of the joke of you know, for years and years.
And now they both have emerged stronger and more resilient, and I think we're going to see that, especially leading up to the show premiering
tomorrow, starring Grace Van Patten, by the way, and she feels like she becomes Amanda Knox when you watch this. And I think it's important to note
that we're revisiting right now how female celebrities or people you know, women who become famous, how they were treated in the past?
You know, a lot of it now feels sexist and just wrong on a lot of levels. And so, to see these two women come together and have this project, I
think, is pretty powerful, Zain.
ASHER: Absolutely. And Erin Burnett here at CNN actually spoke to Monica Lewinsky. Just walk us through what they shared during their conversation.
FRANCE: Yeah, Monica Lewinsky, she talked about what drew her and Amanda Knox together, because in addition to working together. They've now been
friends for several years, so let's hear a little bit about what she said was the reason why they kind of came together and connected.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONICA LEWINSKY, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "THE TWISTED TALE OF AMANDA KNOX": I could see that there was a pain in her, and it's a very unique pain that I
recognized. So, I think there was an instant connection, an instant understanding of two young women who had become public people who hadn't
wanted to and had lost a lot of their identity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANCE: So, think about the fact that here you are, you're in your 20s, and all of a sudden, you're famous for something that, as she points out, you
do not want to be famous for. That is a very unique experience to these two women. So, to me, it makes perfect sense that they would come together.
And now ultimately work together, because who else understands what it's like to be judged for something that happened to you when you're in your
20s. When you're in your 20s, they both were very young when they went through this. So, to me, it makes a lot of sense, and I think people are
very excited to see what they come up with this limited series, because people love true crime.
And these two women are still extremely recognizable for what they went through decades ago, Zain.
ASHER: Yeah, absolutely, you talk about being made the butt of the joke. I mean, I remember listening to songs where people would be making fun of
Monica Lewinsky.
FRANCE: Yes.
ASHER: And obviously she disappeared, actually from the public eye for a really, really long time, and it's only now recently that she's actually
beginning to sort of reclaim and re own her identity. So that's really powerful. And I hadn't known that they had been actually friends for many
years before teaming up together professionally. All right, Lisa Respers France, live for us there. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
FRANCE: Thank you.
ASHER: Some church members in Sweden will soon have to relocate, but not to worry, their church is moving to. These 600 tons, 113-year-old church in
Sweden's northern most city is on a two-day journey to a new home. Our local mine operator organized the move using a specially built trailer.
The city is home to the world's largest underground iron ore mine, and as that mine expands, buildings like this church will need to move to keep
them intact. In all, about 3000 homes could be relocated as part of this project. All right, Ozempic is now available for around half price in the
U.S. for self-pay patients.
Novo Nordisk says patients can get a month supply of Ozempic for $499 if they pay on their own and not through insurance.
[11:55:00]
As part of a push by the maker of the popular diabetes and weight loss drug to sell directly to consumers. President Trump has also been pushing
companies to lower the price of drugs by cutting out insurers. And finally, this hour, for the very first time, the Palestinian people will be
represented at the Miss Universe Pageant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADEEN AYOUB, PALESTINIAN COMPETING IN MISS UNIVERSE 2025: I'll be sharing stories that rarely make the news, stories of strength, creativity and
hope.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Nadeen Ayoub is competing in the pageant as Miss Palestine. She will join other competitors representing 130 countries and territories. And in
Instagram post, Ayoub said she wants to be quote, the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced. The Miss Pageant, or the Miss Universe rather, 2025
pageant will take place in November.
Stay with CNN. I'll have much more "One World" after the break with my colleague, Bianna Golodryga.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:00]
END
