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One World with Zain Asher
Trump Escalates Attacks On Broadcast Critics; Capitol Hill Reacts To ABC Suspension Of Jimmy Kimmel; Surge In Conspiracy Theories Surrounding Kirk's Murder; Estonia Says Its Airspace Was Violated By Three Russian Jets; Aid Agency Gaza City Staff Describe Days And nights Of Horror; CDC Advisers Call For Changes To Children's Vaccine Schedule; Kratom: A Miracle Drug Or A Danger Top Health?; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired September 19, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:33]
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: A band of brothers. Legends of late-night come together to defend one of their own. The second hour of "One World"
starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what every petty autocrat in history wants, not here, not in America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Sounding the alarm. Fallout from Jimmy Kimmel's suspension is wide and the FCC says, there's more to come.
Also, ahead, another airspace violation. Estonia says three Russian jets were in their airspace without permission. Is Vladimir Putin trying to send
a message?
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEREMIAH COLEMAN, VISUALLY-IMPAIRED TRUMPETER PLAYER: The only thing I can do is bring my music, bring my energy, and just keep on going. There's no -
- there is no stopping.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: He can't see the notes, but the music is in his heart. Meet the Tennessee freshman who's beating the odds.
Live from London, I'm Christina Macfarlane. You're watching the second hour of "One World."
It is clear that Donald Trump and his allies are in no mood to back down after pressuring ABC to pull late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel off the air.
On Thursday, Trump told reporters that federal regulators should consider shutting down T.V. broadcasters who say anything negative about the
president. They came after Trump's FCC chairman implied, he would go after other Trump critics saying his threats against ABC, were in his words, not
the last shoe to drop.
The source tells CNN that ABC hopes to bring Kimmel back at some point, but he has to, quote, take down the temperature.
Meanwhile, there's been a chorus of support for Kimmel from fellow late- night comedians.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From Comedy Central, it's the all-new government- approved daily show. With your patriotically obedient host, Jon Stewart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After threats from Trump's FCC chair, ABC yanked Kimmel off the air indefinitely. That is blatant censorship.
STEPHEN COLBERT, AMERICAN COMEDIAN AND WRITER: Jimmy, just let me say, I stand with you and your staff 100 percent.
SETH MEYERS, AMERICAN COMEDIAN AND TELEVISION HOST: It is a privilege and an honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend, in the same way that it's a
privilege and honor to do this show every night.
I wake up every day, I count my blessings that I live in a country that at least purports to value, freedom of speech. And we're going to keep doing
our show the way we've always done it with enthusiasm and integrity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, for some more perspective on all of this, our chief media analyst, Brian Stelter is joining us.
So, Brian, goodness, there is a lot happening right now. We were hearing their Brendan Carr seemingly wanting to take matters further. President
Trump in support of that and now reports that Kimmel might be returning.
Tell us what you're hearing and give us your take on this.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Right, that's right. And Brendan Carr is the key player in this story. A gregarious Republican, a friend to
Elon Musk's X social network. Someone who has long been part of the FCC, but usually in the minority, at least for many years. He has now exerting
the same kind of pressure over Disney and ABC that he has denounced previously.
He has talked about upholding free speech rights and ending censorship, but now he's being accused of being a censor. It's a real change for this
prominent lawyer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENDAN CARR, CHAIRMAN, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION OF THE UNITED STATES: When you look at the conduct that has taken place by Jimmy Kimmel,
it appears to be some of the sickest conduct possible.
STELTER (voice-over): Those words from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr touched off the firestorm around Jimmy Kimmel, ultimately leading to Kimmel's
suspension and earning Carr praise from the president.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think Brendan Carr is outstanding. He's a patriot. He loves our country. And he's a tough guy.
STELTER (voice-over): And condemnation from democratic leaders.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): When the head of the FCC is talking openly about taking away the broadcast license, then that is the government trying
to exercise censorship.
STELTER (voice-over): Carr welcomes the attention because it's a key part of his strategy. A lawyer by training who joined the FCC as a staffer. He
became a commissioner during Trump's first term in office, which means he knows the limits of the FCC's power.
The agency only regulates broadcast stations, not cable or streaming, and it has not revoked a license in decades, but Carr knows what Trump wants.
[12:05:06]
TRUMP: The license is based on honesty.
STELTER (voice-over): And Carr has followed the president's lead, announcing probes of media companies Trump doesn't like, while also making
regular appearances on Fox and Newsmax. And yes, even sharing memes to amuse the MAGA base.
CARR: Broadcasters are different than any other form of communication.
STELTER (voice-over): Breaking with decades of precedent, Carr has turned the independent FCC into a political arm of the president and the GOP.
The lone Democrat on the commission, Anna Gomez, says the agency has been weaponized.
ANNA GOMEZ, COMMISSIONER OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION: Free expression is non-negotiable.
STELTER (voice-over): The chairman has been accused of using his media megaphone to pressure companies, something known as jawbone.
As a website "The Free Press" wrote today, that's when state actors use threats to inappropriately compel private action.
CARR: Look, I can tell you Jimmy Kimmel is no Johnny Carson.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STELTER: You know that clip right there, that's from one of Carr's many T.V. interviews this week. He's been on a victory lap of sorts celebrating
the suspension of Kimmel, making it seem very personal to him. And, of course, it is clearly personal to President Trump as well.
Well, Carr is largely ignoring in those interviews is the business story here, the business bottom line. And that is that the local station owners
that so quickly caved and condemned Kimmel, those local station owners have pending business before the government.
They need Brendan Carr's approval for mergers and acquisitions and transfers of station licenses. So in other words, those station owners,
they are trying to appeal to Brendan Carr, and right now it seems to be working.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Important context as we consider what might come next.
Brian Stelter, we appreciate it, thank you.
And the late-night controversy is a major topic, as you can imagine, on Capitol Hill. Democrats say the actions of the Trump administration are a
clear case of government censorship and an attack on free speech in America.
Republicans, as you might imagine, see it differently. They say Jimmy Kimmel has the right to say what he wants, but pointed out that ABC has the
right to pull him off the air if it disagrees with what he has to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE (R-AL): There's free speech. And if you're going to go out there and speak your piece, fine, but you're accountable to
somebody, it's not the government. You're accountable to your people that employ you.
MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Is the right dabbling in cancel culture?
SEN. JOSH HAWLEY (R-MO): Not this guy on the right. I mean, I just -- I just said he's entitled under the First Amendment to -- to say what he
wants. But on the other hand, I applaud the move of -- of Disney, his corporate parent to say, we think this is terrible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, let's get to CNN's Arlette Saenz on Capitol Hill. And as we saw there, Arlette, I mean, this issue once again kind of polarized
around the political divide here.
I mean, is there any indication yet of what the White House's next move might be, given the threats that have been coming from the FCC and from
Trump himself?
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel really has divided Congress among party lines, as you are hearing
Democrats saying that this is an attack on free speech and government censorship of media, while Republicans say that this was simply a business
decision.
Now, there are several Democrats who are calling for the resignation of FCC chair Brendan Carr after he had made a threat against ABC, which then
they've argued has led to the suspension of Kimmel's show.
But really these Democrats, including House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, who was among those calling for his resignation, these Democrats
don't really have much power to do anything about it at this point.
We've really seen Republicans fall in line saying that they really not answering those questions, relating to the threat that was made by Carr
instead focusing on the business aspect of this.
Senator Josh Hawley was among those saying that it was just simply one man from the FCC making this statement against ABC and not the entirety of the
FCC trying to take action.
But there is a lot of concern among Democrats on Capitol Hill about what this could mean down the road for the future, especially as President Trump
yesterday also floated the possibility of taking away broadcasting licenses for some networks who might be engaging in more negative media coverage of
him.
Now, I will note that yesterday in the House Oversight Committee, there was an effort that started bubbling up among Democrats to try to subpoena Carr
to come testify on Capitol Hill.
Ultimately, that was tabled and democratic leadership and Republican leadership in House Oversight said that they might work to try to bring him
up to the Capitol to testify before the committee going forward, as many Democrats have questions about how this is all played out.
But really so far, it doesn't seem like there is much congressional oversight that Democrats will be able to do in this matter as they are
expressing these concerns about potential attacks on free speech.
And for the most part, Republicans have just fallen in line to say that they believe that this was a business decision.
[12:10:09]
MACFARLANE: All right. Arlette Saenz, I know you'll continue to monitor. Thank you.
Our next guest is the author of "Murder the Truth: Fear the First Amendment and a Secret Campaign to Protect the Powerful."
David Enrich is also Deputy Investigations Editor for "The New York Times," and he joins me now. Thank you so much, David, for your time.
I imagine as the Deputy Investigations Editor for "The New York Times," I'm sure you are often engaged in editorial that is not so favorable to the
Trump administration.
So, I'm wondering how alarming and surprising all of this has been to you, not just the move to remove Kimmel, but the bullying and the threats that
followed from Brendan Carr and President Trump to go after others.
DAVID ENRICH, DEPUTY INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR, THE NEW YORK TIMES: Well, we've seen this trend going back a while now, and basically and going back to
Trump's first term in office, it is dramatically accelerated already in the second term.
But I -- and I've been focusing on this kind of issue for quite some time now. And I have been really surprised to see how rapidly it's accelerated
just in the past few weeks alone. And he -- the Trump for the first time ever a sitting president has filed lawsuits against two media companies.
He has -- his administration has threatened to revoke funding or investigate funding sources for independent media companies, and now we've
got his FCC chairman coercing, it seems like, independent -- ostensibly independent T.V. channels and T.V. networks to remove content that is
unfavorable to the president.
So, this is a huge escalation in what had already been a very intense war on independent media by the president.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And we know that this decision, of course, did not happen in a vacuum. There was a lot going on behind the scene is this business
merger being lined up between next Nexstar and Tegna, two T.V. conglomerates who own ABC stations.
What did it say to you that ABC almost immediately hear acquiesced to the FCC's demands rather than push back on them?
ENRICH: Well, this -- remember that this is the second time in a period of about less than a year that ABC and its parent company, Disney, have
acquiesced in the face of threats from Trump and back.
Shortly after Trump won the election last fall, ABC agreed to pay $15 million to settle what most legal experts regarded as a meritless lawsuit
that had been brought by Trump himself.
And so I am not shocked to see that a big company with very -- like a very diverse array of interests, many of which intersect with the federal
government, is really seriously considering whether they need to stand and fight or cave.
I -- I've got to say, I once again was surprised to see how easily they caved. And I think that is a sign that companies like ABC really recognize
the great power that the federal government wields over them.
MACFARLANE: So, as we consider in this moment, you know, where this goes next, how important is it for media companies to start standing up to this
pressure instead of capitulating to it, especially when you consider that some legal analysts have said that had ABC push back and sued on this, they
would actually, or may have actually had a -- a good case.
ENRICH: Yes. I mean, I think it's really important in general for advocates of independent media and independent media themselves to be consistently
arguing in favor of free speech. And frankly, I don't think the media has always been great about doing that, neither is the Democratic Party.
And there have been plenty of instances in the past several years where there has been pressure on -- on social media companies, for example, to
censor right-wing views. And there's not been the outcry that you would expect from the left or from the mainstream media on that.
So, I think it's really important for everyone who values free speech and everyone in the United States who values the First Amendment to be
consistently pushing to protect those rights. And -- and certainly that has not been happening very much recently.
MACFARLANE: Yes. I've had a lot of people saying, you know, as we -- as we know, if you don't use those rights, you lose them.
David, it's great to hear your thoughts today. Thank you.
ENRICH: Thanks.
MACFARLANE: Now, law enforcement in Arizona are making high-level security preparations ahead of Charlie Kirk's memorial on Sunday. President Trump's
top White House officials and political influences are expected to pay tribute to Kirk, who was shot and killed at an event in Utah Valley
University last week.
The memorial has been given what officials call a high-level severity designation. Though authorities say they have no information to indicate
there's a credible threat. Baseless conspiracy theories about Kirk's killing have been running rampant on social media with more than two
million unique posts on X referencing unverified claims about his death in the last week.
[12:15:02]
Our senior reporter, Marshall Cohen, is joining -- joining us for more on this. I know, Marshall, you've been tracking all of this and some of the
tweets really have been very disturbing.
MARSHALL COHEN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Hey, Christina. It's getting really ugly on social media.
So, in that first week after Charlie Kirk was killed, there were, as you mentioned, more than two million distinct posts on X or Twitter referencing
conspiracy theories. That's according to the data analytics firm, PeakMetrics, and they found that this was actually twice as many
conspiratorial posts as there were last year after the assassination attempt against Donald Trump. Think about that. It was double.
One expert who tracks this information told me that this is the worst he's ever seen. And there's a few reasons for that. First, of course, there was
that extremely graphic close-up footage of Charlie Kirk's death that instantly went viral, creating a visceral reaction for the people that saw
it.
Also, this tragedy comes at a time when 71 percent of Americans think that our society itself is broken according to a Reuters' poll. And this all
creates the opening for crazy conspiracy theories -- excuse me, crazy conspiracy theories to flourish.
So, some left-wing figures promoted the unhinged idea that Trump himself orchestrated Kirk's murder to distract from the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein
scandal. Other liberal activists tried to connect the suspect to far-right white supremacist groups that had previously been clashing with Kirk, even
though there is mounting evidence that the suspect disliked Kirk's conservative views.
And then on the right, Trump allies like Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer have been claiming that the suspect was part of a, quote, terror cell and that
he was just a bit player in a far-reaching national conspiracy that the government is covering up.
They've been peddling those claims, of course, while the authorities are saying that the suspect acted alone. And some other right-wing influencers
are leaning heavily into anti-Semitic tropes to blame Israel. They've claimed that Israeli spies took out Kirk because he was starting to waver
from his longstanding support for the Jewish state.
These ideas are uncorroborated. They're totally debunked and flat-out crazy. But, Christina, one of the disinformation experts that I spoke to
said that these ideas don't really have to make sense because the incentives on the internet are totally backwards.
The influencers, podcasters, and grifters need to churn out these hot takes, just like these, to build their subscriber lists, get more followers
and keep that money flowing.
MACFARLANE: Yes. It is a very low bar, isn't it, to -- to what people will do for clicks.
Marshall, we appreciate you keeping cross it for us. Thank you.
COHEN: You bet.
MACFARLANE: Now, the leaders of the world's two biggest economies have just got off the phone with each other. Up next, a look at what they said,
especially about trade.
Plus, changes to U.S. vaccine policy. What that could mean for families with young children.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was just this unbelievable weight lifted off my shoulders.
DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, really for you, kratom was a godsend?
SEAN ZAMORANO, OWNER, PHILLY KRATOM: Yes, kratom changed my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, if you haven't heard about kratom, you soon will. It's touted to have amazing medicinal value. But what about the risks? We'll
take a look at that, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:20:02]
MACFARLANE: It was a phone call with global implications. The White House says the call between U.S. President Donald Trump and China's leader Xi
Jinping has ended.
President Trump says, in his words, it was a very productive call and that the progress was made towards a deal on the social media app, TikTok. Xi
said he brought up the subject of U.S. tariffs telling Trump to avoid unilateral trade restrictions. Trump says both leaders will speak again by
phone.
Estonia says three Russian MiG fighter jets have violated its airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The Estonian Foreign Minister says Russia has already
violated the country's airspace four times this year. But he calls today's incursion brazen.
It comes after Russian drones violated both Polish and Romanian airspace last week.
Nic Robertson is here with me to discuss. Nic, this has just happened today. And as I say, coming just a week after those drone incursions into
Poland. Tell us what more you know.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, it was also coming within hours of the European Union Commission President announcing
that there would be additional sanctions on Russia in part because of those violations of Romania and Polish airspace by those Russian drones.
So, now you have these superfast 190 up 1,000 mile an hour fast fighter jets, Russian fighter jets, just 20 miles from the -- from the Polish,
rather from the Estonian coastal liner. They were flying over islands in the Gulf of Finland.
So, this is for the Estonians who always worry, in particular, perhaps of the all the Baltic States worry more than others, about Russia's sort of
hybrid warfare tactics, going from drones over Poland and tensions along that eastern flank of -- of NATO now to putting Russian fighter jets, three
of them, for 12 minutes inside of NATO airspace is a significant step.
And I think it's also significant as well if you look at the timing again that this was action by the E.U. today. And the High Commission for Foreign
Affairs at the E.U. is a former Estonian prime minister.
In the Russian sort of playbook, that sort of linkage would jump out, Kaja Kallas today called these actions provocative and said that this was Russia
testing and provoking.
MACFARLANE: I mean, all of this would point once again, would it not to it being a test by Russia? I mean, I know Western officials are still
deliberating over whether the Polish incursion was in fact accidental or not.
But as we consider and we've had Western officials, the Western intelligence officials saying that Russia are escalating here. I mean, it's
very hard to say that, you know, this -- this wasn't deliberate and also that this wasn't another test.
ROBERTSON: Three MiG-31 fighter jets, that's -- it's hard for it to be a mistake that they would spend 12 minutes in Estonian airspace.
But let's not forget ,in that particular airspace as well, somebody, and the suspicion is Russians, have been spoofing the GPS tracking systems or
the civil aviation tracking systems.
So, when people talk about an escalation, it's not just the drones over Poland, but the sort of hybrid tactics of cutting cables. It was only
earlier this year that I was in the Gulf of Finland with NATO ships patrolling the seas there because vessels, those captains who were piloting
those -- those ships we were on believed that it was Russian linked vessels that were cutting the power and internet cables under the water.
It's a -- it's -- it's a progression that is incredibly hard to ignore. As you say, if there is deliberation over these 21 drones, 16 of them, they're
remains found over Poland and many of them, hundreds of miles from the Ukrainian border deep inside Poland, if there is deliberation over whether
that was an accident or not, Moscow, in many ways, might be clearing up the ambiguity by putting these three MiG-31s so clearly for so long in Estonian
airspace.
[12:25:14]
MACFARLANE: We will wait to see what the response will be from NATO allies. For now, Nic, thank you.
Now, we'll tens of thousands of Palestinians are fleeing Gaza City, many are remaining behind because they cannot leave. We'll update the worsening
humanitarian situation after the break.
Also ahead.
ANTONIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS: Sometimes it looks there is no hope. We must build that hope.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: The U.N. Secretary-General pushes leaders to recognize the importance of international cooperation ahead of the General Assembly
meeting next week.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CALEB LATHAM, BAND DIRECTOR: Jeremiah joined the band late and learnt the music faster than some of my other students.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: He lost his vision after an accident playing football, but not his drive. Now he's back on the field. His inspiring story coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: Welcome back to "One World." I'm Christina Macfarlane.
Turning now to the Israel-Hamas war. Residents in Gaza City say shelling and bombing is getting closer, three days into Israel's announcement that
its ground incursion into the city had begun. Palestinians are fleeing south by foot or in cars and carts loaded with their belongings.
[12:30:02]
But despite calls for evacuation, the Israeli military estimates that roughly half of Gaza City's residents, some 450,000 people are still in the
city, somewhat to leave, but are unable to do so.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We have children, we have women, we have girls. And I swear to God from yesterday, we have not had any food and
we have no money to leave. I will flee anywhere as long as I escape death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, Gaza and the issue of Palestinian statehood will be a major topic next week as well leaders gather in New York for the annual
U.N. General Assembly meeting.
The U.N. Secretary-General is already warning that the world is facing a global crisis due to multiple conflicts and countries acting with a sense
of impunity.
Antonio Guterres says leaders need to recognize the importance of international cooperation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUTERRES: We are facing a global crisis. Conflicts are multiplying in the context in which geopolitical divides do not allow to effectively address
them. There is a sense of impunity. Every country believes they can do whatever they want.
So, in this context, we absolutely need leaders to come here and to turn the tide, to come here and to understand that international cooperation is
vital in a moment like this, to come here and do the negotiations and the mediations that are necessary to at least create hope for peace in some of
the situations we are facing.
I'm not optimistic nor pessimistic, I'm determined. I think that this is a moment in which we need determination. Sometimes it looks there is no hope.
We must build that hope and we must be determined, never giving up and fighting until our objectives can be achieved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called to slash funding for the U.N., will address the General Assembly on Tuesday.
It's time now for The Exchange where we want to take a closer look at the deepening humanitarian crisis across Gaza. And joining me now is Jan
Egeland, Secretary-General at the Norwegian Refugee Council. He's also the former U.N. Undersecretary for humanitarian affairs and joining us now from
Oslo. Jan, thank you for your time.
Can I just first talk to you about the situation in Gaza and specifically in Gaza City, because the images we are seeing coming from there are
horrendous. And I understand that some of your team are still in the city. Can you tell us what it is they're facing and what they're seeing?
JAN EGELAND, SECRETARY-GENERAL, NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL: We're getting horrible heartbreaking reports from our colleagues on the ground inside
Gaza City. These are mothers and fathers who also try to be aid workers for the community.
At the moment, they are trying to survive, really. Many of them have fled five, eight, 10, up to 15 times already. Remember, Gaza City is a place
where nine out of 10 housing units, flats, apartments, are all -- are destroyed or so damaged you cannot use them.
It is the Israeli assault, Israelian assault on -- on a refugee camp. People sought refuge in Gaza City. They were told they could go north and
now they are under assault.
MACFARLANE: And we're seeing time and time again these high-rise buildings being levelled with just 15 minutes warning in some cases.
EGELAND: Yes.
MACFARLANE: Can you tell us what are you hearing about the journey south that many have now been forced to make with these evacuation journeys and
what awaits them in the south when they arrive?
EGELAND: Well, those who take the decision to leave the city, and many say they cannot. They are disabled. They have too many children. They -- they
are too elderly or they have no money because the transport is -- is -- is costly.
Those who are able to -- to leave have to use donkeys. They -- they go with their -- their charts with the -- with the little belongings to have. Some
of our staff tell that their relatives have fled with nothing but the clothes on their back.
And they have nowhere -- nowhere to go really.
MACFARLANE: Yes.
EGELAND: Again, these are people who -- who flee for the tenth time. So -- so it couldn't be -- it couldn't be more desperate. And this assault has to
end. The United States, Europe, the Gulf countries must exert much more pressure on Netanyahu government. And the Netanyahu government has to
listen to the families of the Israeli hostages who are begging for an end to this use of military might.
[12:35:09]
MACFARLANE: Well, you'll know, Jan, that world leaders are preparing to meet, of course, for the UNGA next week. And this after the deadline they
set last year for Israel to comply with international law came and went this week with obviously no response from Israel.
What should they be doing this time to spur Israel into action? You know, as these bombs continue to fall and kill civilians, we're seeing daily
images of it out of Gaza City, what should they be focused on here?
EGELAND: Of course, they have to take action, really. And -- and finally, in Europe, they are discussing action. I mean, the (INAUDIBLE) is a strong
friend of Israel. The -- the -- the German head of the E.U. Commission said there will be sanctions.
It will be that -- that -- it will affect trade. It will affect relations between Europe and Israel. The United States, I think, will follow up
because you cannot to cite President Trump. You cannot fake these images of starving children.
There is a famine in the area where the Israelis are having a military assault. When Assad in Syria did the same, there was massive sanctions.
When the Russians did the same, as we just heard in the previous report on -- on the Ukrainians, there was massive sanctions.
Of course, there needs to be sanctions here. You -- you cannot have impunity for this kind of violations of international law.
MACFARLANE: But we did see the U.S. veto again today, against there being a ceasefire in Gaza. And you rightly point out that we are expecting to see
action, Jan. And we're expecting U.S. allies, including the U.K., France, Canada, among some of them to recognize a Palestinian state at the UNGA
this year.
I mean, is that what is needed right now? And -- and -- and will it stop Israel from acting with a sense of impunity? What's your view?
EGELAND: Well, I -- I think you're recognizing the state of Palestine has a -- has symbolic value. But -- but it's not helping the widow with five
children, starving children, who -- who -- who are asking us for shelter, and we have none to give her, because Israel has denied all access for all
our relief items since March.
So, there has to be action on ensuring that all border crossings open, that there is a ceasefire, that there will be law and order in terms of
distribution of the aid to the starving population.
This is not very difficult in a small place. If you have the willingness of the stronger party, which is Israel, Israel has the right to defend itself
against horrific Hamas terror. But this is no target the terror operation. It has long ceased to be that. This is an assault against the starving
population consisting mostly of women and children that are completely innocent of what happened on the 7th of October. And they know nothing on
where the remaining 20 hostages are.
Those men who keep those hostages have earlier agreed in negotiations to release hostages that has been far more effective than the use of this
military might that are killing women and children.
MACFARLANE: Yes. I mean, it really does depend on a political appetite for this to happen.
And this might be a complex question, but in light of what your organization are facing, I'm wondering if you would be in support of some
sort of action towards armed protection for humanitarian workers. And whether that's something that's ever been discussed.
EGELAND: Well, we try to refuse all armed protection because that makes us party to the conflict. We -- we -- we have always refused that Hamas or any
Palestinian group is even close to our aid operations. We cannot go with Israeli military protection.
If there was a U.N. force, we would naturally coordinate with that one, and that could perhaps then provide security.
Israel could do something with a mafia that has taken over inside -- inside Gaza. And that is systematically looting the U.N. trucks. We get nothing in
as non-government organizations. The U.N. has been allowed to bring in trucks.
This mafia organization, I've seen it myself. I'll do whatever they want. The -- the Israeli Defense Forces are never targeting them. What they
targeted was the civilian police in -- in -- in -- in Gaza. They are nowhere to be seen anymore. And therefore, the chaos around the aid
distributions.
[12:40:16]
MACFARLANE: Well, it's an interesting point to consider, as you say, if it were to be backed by the U.N. And we will wait to see what comes out of the
UNGA next week. But we appreciate you coming on and giving us the perspective of your -- your team on the ground there.
Jan, thank you.
EGELAND: Thank you.
MACFARLANE: All right. Still to come, it is a miracle cure or a dangerous risk for your health? CNN takes a closer look at kratom and the people who
use it. That story just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: U.S. Federal Trade Commission and seven states are suing Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation, accusing them of failing
to stamp out price gouging by ticket resellers.
The commission also said the company is misleading customers and making big profits from ticket scalpers. The FTC chairman said, it should not cost an
arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game.
Resale ticket prices went off the rails during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour last year with some going for tens of thousands of dollars on resale sites.
An advisory committee for the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention is calling for controversial changes to children's vaccines.
On Thursday, the panel, chosen by noted vaccine skeptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recommended children under four should get the
measles, mumps and rubella vaccine separately from the vaccine for the virus that causes chickenpox.
Today, they've been debating the hepatitis B vaccine and COVID vaccine for children.
CNN's Meg Tirrell is joining me now from a CDC campus in Atlanta.
So, Meg, just talk us through what changes are being proposed here.
MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, so far, we have seen that one change that you indicated with the measles, mumps, rubella, varicella or
chickenpox combination vaccine.
Experts say of the three things on the table, that is probably the smallest change that we could potentially have seen come out of this meeting where
they essentially strengthen a recommendation that the chickenpox vaccine be given separately from those that combination of the other three for that
first dose under the age of four years old.
Now, there was more consternation and concern over a vote that had been planned for the hepatitis B vaccine and specifically the dose that's given
universally currently in the United States to newborn babies to prevent chronic infection with hepatitis B.
[12:45:12]
There had been a proposal to vote to delay that first dose until at least one month of life to babies whose mothers tested negative for hepatitis B.
But there was a lot of discussion around that. Some members wanted to push the birth dose off farther. Other members didn't think that a vote to
change the recommendation was necessary at all.
Ultimately, they decided to table the vote and they're not going to be voting on that at this meeting. We don't know if and when they might take
that up again. So that's hepatitis B.
Now we are in the COVID-19 portion of this meeting. And they haven't actually posted what vote they are going to take here or what the
recommendations might be at the end of the day. It's scheduled to go until 3:00 P.M. here on the East Coast of the United States.
So really just a few more hours and we still don't exactly know where this could potentially end up for COVID-19 vaccines.
But it is safe to say this is probably the most heated part of the day that we've seen so far with ACIP members of this committee challenging the CDC's
scientists on their data, challenging the safety of the COVID vaccines and questioning the way that the companies and the agency are approaching it.
So, we will bring you any news out of a vote we get within the next few hours here.
MACFARLANE: All right. We'll continue to watch it closely.
Meg Tirrell, appreciate it. Thank you.
Now, to what some call or are calling a miracle drug. Kratom comes from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia and leaves have been used as home
remedy for hundreds of years in the region to treat pain and fatigue.
But others, including U.S. regulators, say it could be dangerous. CNN's Danny Freeman has been looking into it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREEMAN (voice-over): Sean Zamorano does not want to go back to his old life.
ZAMORANO: I found myself in this place where I was feeling very hopeless. And, you know, for me, my first thing that I wanted to do was reach for the
drugs.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Through the 2000s, Sean was in and out of homeless shelters, having run-ins with police, hooked on opioids and other drugs
until he discovered kratom.
ZAMORANO: For me, you know, when I tried kratom and I found that the compulsion went away, it was just this unbelievable weight lifted off my
shoulders.
FREEMAN: So really, for you, kratom was a godsend.
ZAMORANO: Yes, kratom changed my life.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. The leaves are often dried and crushed and consumed in drinks like tea or
taken as tablets. The FDA says these products are usually used to self- treat conditions such as pain, anxiety, opioid withdrawal, and more.
Sean and his wife now sell kratom online in Philadelphia, but he and others are concerned that spin offs of kratom that look like this are ruining the
market and may be harmful.
ZAMORANO: It's more than polluting the kratom industry. It's -- it's really about keeping consumers safe.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Kratom regulation is a mixed bag. Some states have banned it. The FDA has not signed off on any medical uses for it, and even
warns consumers not to use kratom because of the risk of serious adverse events.
And this summer, public health officials began sounding the alarm about exactly what Sean was worried about, a derivative of kratom known as 7-OH.
JIM O'NEILL, FORMER DEPUTY SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESE: We've seen a disturbing rise in reports of overdoses, poisonings
and emergency room visits linked to products containing 7- OH.
FREEMAN (voice-over): The FDA says 7-OH is a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant that can be more potent than morphine.
O'NEILL: These substances are often sold online or in convenience stores with no quality control, no dosage control, and no warnings. This is a
recipe for public health disaster.
FREEMAN (voice-over): In Pennsylvania, poison centers are seeing increased call volume around both kratom and 7-OH consumption, something the rehab
center 70 miles northwest of Philly, has seen firsthand.
DR. ADAM SCIOLI, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, CARON TREATMENT CENTERS: As we get further away from the leaf, we know less and less about what's in it.
FREEMAN: Dr. Adam Scioli is the chief medical officer at Caron's Addiction Treatment and Rehab Center in Pennsylvania. And he says in recent years,
he's seen an increase in patients coming in, addicted to 7-OH.
SCIOLI: It's remarkably similar to what you would expect to see with an opioid use disorder. So classic signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
You're talking about sweats, runny nose, irritability.
FREEMAN (voice-over): And sometimes, packaging makes 7-OH seem just like an opioid.
SCIOLI: Part of the dangers involved with this substance are the marketing strategies that are being used, the accessibility and the lack of
regulation right now.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Kirsten Smith is an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins who studies all forms of kratom.
DR. KIRSTEN SMITH, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: At this point, it's fair to say that anything under this umbrella that we call
kratom has some abuse liability or addiction potential.
FREEMAN (voice-over): But Smith hopes more research can be done with all types of kratom consumers to make sure lawmakers and public health
officials make informed decisions.
[12:50:04]
SMITH: Like with anything, there's potential benefits and there's potential harm and risk. And those are still being figured out in all different forms
of kratom right now.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Danny Freeman, CNN, Philadelphia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: There are still some who are defending the use of 7-OH. An advocacy group called the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust tell CNN,
"The FDA needs to hear from researchers, toxicologists and addiction science experts and from the American people. Cutting off access helps no
one, but it will hurt many."
This is likely not the last we've heard of this issue. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: Welcome back. Now in the U.S., Tis the season for high school football games and half-time shows. And one Tennessee teenager who lost his
vision playing football is beating the odds, and now taking to the field with a different team, the marching band.
Austin Pollack with our affiliate WTVF has his inspiring story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(INSTRUMENT PLAYING)
AUSTIN POLLACK, NEWSCHANNEL 5 REPORTER (voice-over): This Nashville high school marching band has beat and rhythm. But even if it's not exactly up
to the band director's liking.
LATHAM: I need you to play, you understand?
POLLACK (voice-over): Giving up is not an option.
COLEMAN: I didn't think I could do it.
POLLACK (voice-over): Just ask Stratford STEM Magnet High School freshman - -
COLEMAN: Energy.
POLLACK (voice-over): -- Jeremiah Coleman.
COLEMAN: Energy.
LATHAM: This is a freshman that just joined the band two months ago.
You know, Jeremiah joined the band late and learned the music faster than some of my other students.
COLEMAN: You know, when I got to Stratford, I -- I'm not embarrassed to say I was terrified.
POLLACK (voice-over): From terrified --
COLEMAN: This is no joke.
POLLACK (voice-over): -- to triumphant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Honestly, he plays louder than me. He does have more energy than me. And I'm a -- and I'm a little jealous of that, but I see it
as an inspiration as well.
POLLACK (voice-over): But it takes a team to stay in rhythm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Slide over, Jeremiah.
[12:55:01]
COLEMAN: Other way?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Other way.
COLEMAN: There's a million and one people who will help me through the way. So, don't judge just because I can't see.
POLLACK (voice-over): Five years ago, Jeremiah got hurt playing football. Detached retinas led to his vision loss. He had to relearn day-to-day
tasks.
COLEMAN: Being a visually-impaired person and being an energized trumpet, it's -- it's a lie.
The only thing I can do is bring my music, bring my energy and just keep on going. There's no -- there is no stopping.
POLLACK (voice-over): Two months ago, he was frightened. Today --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jeremiah, Jeremiah, you know me. Jeremiah.
POLLACK (voice-over): -- fearless.
COLEMAN: Having someone to march with me, it touches me. That they're taking their time and their effort just to be there for me.
POLLACK (voice-over): Jeremiah doesn't just bring the beat. He also brings --
ALL: Go, Jeremiah. Go, Jeremiah.
POLLACK (voice-over): -- the heartbeat.
I'm Austin Pollack, News Channel 5.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: God bless, Jeremiah. What a great story to end our show on and to uplift us this Friday.
Thank you so much for watching. I'm Christina Macfarlane. And this has been "One World."
"Amanpour" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
