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One World with Zain Asher
Sources: Trump Briefed On Options For Military Ops In Venezuela; Ukraine: At Least Six Killed In Russian Attack On Kyiv; Illinois Community Stands Up To Border Patrol Agents; New Prosecutor In Georgia Election Interference Case Against Trump; GOP Leaders Bracing For Mass Defections On Epstein Files Vote; House Expected To Vote Next Week On Releasing Epstein Files; Hemp Industry Faces Uncertainty In The U.S.; Nigeria Keep World Cup Hopes Alive In Extra Time; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired November 14, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:33]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Venezuela's president speaks exclusively to CNN. "One World" starts right now.
Hear Nicolas Maduro's message for the United States as the U.S. announces operations against, quote, narco-terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll kill you piece of (BLEEP).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Shocking scenes from a town in Illinois with tensions escalating between border patrol and protesters.
Plus, how a provision tucked away in the U.S. government funding bill could end up threatening a multi-billion dollar industry.
Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher. My colleague Bianna is off today. You are watching "One World."
We begin with fears the U.S. is going to ramp up operations against Venezuela. Sources tell CNN that Donald Trump was briefed by Pentagon
officials on a series of military options that could be taken in the Latin American country.
The U.S. president has not made any decision about what to do regarding the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.
The Pentagon has sent an aircraft carrier group to the Caribbean and conducted yet another strike on Monday against an alleged drug boat in the
area that was the 20th time the U.S. has struck these boats, many of which come from Venezuela.
Venezuela says the tensions are not about drugs, but because Trump wants to get rid of Venezuela's president.
Nicolas Maduro says he just wants peace for the region.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): What is your message to the people of the United States, President?
NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (voice-over): To unite for the peace of the continent. No more endless wars, no more unjust wars, no more Libya,
no more Afghanistan.
POZZEBON: Do you have a message for President Trump?
My message is, yes, peace. Yes, peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. Let's bring in CNN's national security reporter Zachary Cohen with more on all this.
I want to talk about this idea that the Pentagon officials had been briefing Trump about possible options to potentially strike Venezuela,
including strikes on land as well.
From the U.S.'s perspective, what does de-escalation look like at this point?
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Zain, that's a great question. I think the lack of an obvious off-ramp here is what is
continuing to fuel tensions between Venezuela and the United States.
And as you heard from Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, he's pleading almost with the U.S. president and telling him very clearly while on the
streets of Caracas that he wants peace.
Now, Donald Trump obviously, in just considering these options, even if he hasn't made a final decision, you know, he does know what options
militarily are available to him if he wants to go the other direction and escalate the situation further.
We're told that the briefing included a range of options up to and including land strikes inside Venezuela itself against targets associated
with the Venezuelan state. That would, of course, be a significant escalation from a military -- of a military campaign that has largely and
solely focused on striking these alleged drug boats in international waters.
Of course, Pete Hegseth announcing Operation Southern Spear sort of in conjunction with us learning of this briefing that Donald Trump received,
not really offering many details as far as what this mission will consist of, saying only that it is intended to defend our homeland from drugs that
are killing our people, that's a quote, and also to eliminate narco- terrorist from the western hemisphere.
And I'm going to point out, too, the Trump administration, while Donald Trump has even expressed reservations about military strikes intended to
remove Nicolas Maduro from power. His administration has gone to great lengths to try to connect Maduro to these drug traffickers, including
groups that his administration says are designated terrorists and can thus be killed summarily without legal review.
ASHER: All right. Zachary Cohen, live for us there. Thank you so much.
All right. Kyiv is reeling from what Ukraine described as a mass attack by Russia. Ukrainian officials say that at least six people are dead and
dozens injured after a wave of drone and missile attacks.
They say that residential apartments and medical facilities were damaged. This Ukrainian mother explains how she and her teenage son escaped a fire
in their building.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
INNA VYSOTSKA, SURVIVOR OF RUSSIAN ATTACK (through translator): We live on the second floor. I lowered my child out through the window. My child is 14
years old. He is a teenager.
I lowered my child first, and then I jumped through the window myself. People on the ground tried to catch us.
[12:05:07]
This is a tragedy for all of us. I'm not speaking just about myself. It is a tragedy for Ukraine and for the entire world, because for some reason, no
one can manage Russia. They strike every district every day. Today it was my home. Tomorrow it could be my neighbor's or relatives.
For some reason, it is impossible to stop the Russian terror. I don't know why.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: As daily strikes pounded the capital, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, Ukraine launched domestically produced Neptune cruise missiles at
Russian targets Thursday, but he did not give specifics on where they hit or the damage caused.
Ukrainian drones also struck a key Russian oil terminal causing infrastructure damage and igniting a fire at the facility.
Let's discuss all of this with Luke Harding, senior international correspondent at "The Guardian." He's also author of "Invasion: The Inside
Story of Russia's Bloody War and Ukraine's Fight For Survival."
I just want to talk about the specific attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. All of this, of course, a cruel plot to essentially plunge
Ukraine into darkness and cold just as winter looms.
Ukraine has retaliated by striking Russia's oil infrastructure in order to sort of damage its oil revenues as well.
Is that the right response that is actually going to get Putin to change course? I assume the answer is no and if not what is?
LUKE HARDING, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, THE GUARDIAN: Well, I mean, I think it's -- it's certainly a response and it seems to be working.
I mean, the Ukrainians have done pretty considerable damage to -- to Russia's oil infrastructure, as you say. Of course, what they really want
are American long range Tomahawk missiles.
And -- and when President Zelenskyy was in Washington in October, he asked President Trump for that directly. And -- and so far, that -- that -- that
hasn't happened.
So in the meantime, we're seeing this aerial war from both sides. But to -- to be clear, I mean, I'm talking to you from Kyiv. And what's happening in
Kyiv is that the Russians are hitting civilian infrastructure.
I mean, I was outside a couple of hours ago, an apartment lot that got smashed last night by a Russian Shahed drone with -- with lots of damage,
debris on the street, mayhem and -- and -- and chaos.
And it seems that there's really a kind of targeted attempt to demoralize Ukrainians in the winter and to make them give up.
ASHER: And -- and just in terms of, I mean, obviously you mentioned the Tomahawk missiles. Russia clearly has the advantage when it comes to aerial
attacks. You talk about trying to demoralize the Ukrainian population, make them give up.
Obviously, the attacks on energy infrastructure as we head into the winter. What is it in terms of the -- what are the weapon systems that are really
going to make the difference here?
Is it the Tomahawk missiles? Or is it the Patriot -- Patriot air defenses that cost about a billion dollars that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is actually
asking the Europeans to pay for?
HARDING: I mean, it's a good question. I -- I asked Volodymyr Zelensky this myself when I sat down with him last weekend in the -- in the presidential
palace.
And by the way, as we were sitting, the -- the power fell and we were plunged into darkness until the -- the backup generator came on.
And what -- what he told me is that we basically we need everything. I mean, he -- he's been asking for weapons, weapons from the Europeans, from
the Americans, from everybody.
But in particular, Kyiv want -- wants two things. It wants better air defense systems so it can shoot down more of these missiles, particularly
ballistic missiles. I mean, Ukraine was hit last night by 18 ballistic missiles. Very, very hard to intercept.
But also, it wants a long range of attack weapons so it can strike Russian airfields, you know, military sites so that these planes which fire the
missiles don't get off the ground.
So I mean, that -- that is the strategy. But at the moment, we are some way away from that. And -- and we're just seeing every other night, practically
hundreds of -- of Russian drones in the sky and -- and people sleeping, hiding, listening to air raid sirens, machine gun fire from -- from
Ukrainian air defenses. And it's -- it's a pretty -- it's a pretty dark seat.
ASHER: And just in terms of how this ends, Luke, I mean, what -- you know, negotiations between, you know, Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky are a long
shot, obviously. But what would actually need to change on the ground at this point to make negotiations viable and realistic?
HARDING: Well, I mean, I think a combination of things. I mean, what -- what the Ukrainians want is they want more pressure from -- from the U.S.
administration on -- on Vladimir Putin. We've seen a lot of rhetorical frustration from President Trump saying, he wished Putin would sort of dial
things down and comes to the negotiating table. But -- but bar a couple of sanctions on the oil industry, not much more. And, of course, direct
American military assistance to Ukraine has stopped.
[12:10:10]
And -- and what -- what Zelenskyy wants from the Europeans is he wants the sky shield. He wants European planes to basically patrol the -- the centrum
west of the country to shoot down some of these missiles before they kill people.
But -- but this is something I tried to tease out with him that the Europeans understand the Russia is the threat, but they seem reluctant to
recognize that Russia is -- is at war with Europe already as well as Ukraine, and to respond accordingly.
So -- so, yes, they want more military technical assistance, but also I think they want the world to understand that this fighting Ukraine does not
just Ukraine's fight that Russia menaces everybody. And if Russia wins in Ukraine, it will keep rolling into other parts of Europe and into other
parts of the world.
ASHER: And all of this comes at a time when Zelenskyy is not just dealing with the war, but he's also dealing with a corruption scandal, a $100
million corruption scandal. And obviously, graft has been a long-running issue for the Ukrainians. It's something that Europeans have talked about a
lot in terms of their support for the country.
But, Luke Harding, we do have to leave it there. Thank you so much. We appreciate it.
All right. Now to Gaza where displaced families woke up to water rushing into their tents after heavy rain overnight. The Gaza civil defense told
journalists that officials have received hundreds of pleas for help, but that resources are non-existent.
Displaced Palestinians said that some tents were collapsing under the weight of the rain with possessions soaked through. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): How are we supposed to manage at night? The mats are all soaked, and the blankets, the mats, the bedding,
and the floor, too. Where are we supposed to sleep? Where can we go? Where can we escape from this situation? Look at us, people. Are you just
watching what's happening to us?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. Still to come, the election interference case against the Donald Trump and several others is back on. We'll tell you about the new
prosecutor handling the Georgia case in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: The Border Patrol official tasked with carrying out Trump's immigration crackdown in cities across the U.S. is headed to a new town. A
source tell us CNN that Gregory Bovino is leaving Chicago and headed to Charlottesville, North Carolina -- or Charlotte, rather, North Carolina,
[12:15:02]
Following weeks of clashes with protesters in the midwest city, authorities in Charlotte say, they're expecting Border Patrol officers to arrive as
early as Saturday and have not received specific details about the operation.
ICE agents will, however, remain in Chicago to carry out immigration enforcement.
All right. Some residents on the Chicago suburb are sending a message to Border Patrol agents trying to round up undocumented immigrants. They say
the agents' tactics are not welcome in their community, and they're turning on cell phone cameras, blowing whistles and confronting agents directly.
CNN's Shimon Prokupecz has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: David Brooks captured this Border Patrol arrest on Halloween. Then came the real horror.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, she is a citizen of the United States of America.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get back or they shoot me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to -- you're going to what? You're going to (BLEEP) me? Hey, hey. (BLEEP) Yes. You're going to (BLEEP) shoot me?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get the (BLEEP) out of here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, tough guy.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Look again from another angle.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll kill you piece of (BLEEP).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, back up.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Border Patrol had just been involved in a crash. Cell phone video shows them taking a woman out of a red car and pinning her
to the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hey.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): As a crowd gathered, Brooks filmed as people were detained, then stared down the barrel of an agent's gun.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get back. Hey.
PROKUPECZ: What was that like?
DAVID BROOKS, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS RESIDENT: Frightening, surprising, and shocking. Nobody was threatening violence. There was a lot of yelling, a
lot of screaming.
It was a charged situation. But I don't -- I don't think it was anything that would warrant trying to control a crowd using a gun.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, don't put your hands on people.
PROKUPECZ: Here's how the Department of Homeland Security says things unfolded. That their Border Patrol agents were in an SUV and that they were
coming up this street. They were trying to make a U-turn here. And that's when the red car stops, slammed into the back of the SUV.
However, witnesses here say that's not how things unfolded.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): They say the SUV driven by those Border Patrol agents purposely slammed on its brakes, causing the crash. DHS says its
vehicle was being aggressively fouled by the red car and called those who rushed to the scene agitated.
PROKUPECZ: Their argument as well, go mind your business.
BROOKS: The crowd was annoying. And you don't beat people up because they're annoying you.
AMANDA BROOKS, EVANSTON RESIDENT: But then we have a legal right to protest.
D. BROOKS: It's -- it's a protest.
PROKUPECZ: Absolutely.
A. BROOKS: We do not have a right to break the law, but we have a legal right to protest.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): From Border Patrol caravans through the streets to spot checks of landscapers. Here, top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino
walks the streets wearing a long gun. It's perceived intimidation. These families say they're fighting.
PROKUPECZ: The Brooks family is one of many families that is using their phone to keep an eye on where ICE could be here. And one of the things they
tell us, their concern is, is the presence of ICE outside schools like this.
DANIEL BISS, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS MAYOR: So on Halloween, I was communicating with the superintendent. They decided, rightly, to have indoor recess, to
not let kids out because it wasn't safe because of armed federal agents attacking people on the streets.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): When they spot immigration officers, like here, outside of Home Depot, they blow whistles to warn others.
SAVANNA ESSIG-FOX, PINK POSTER CLUB: We do three short whistles if we think we see ICE, and that helps to alert your neighbors.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Savannah Essig-Fox and Emily Miller started Pink Poster Club. They hang flyers with information on civil rights and run a
grassroots network of residents keeping tabs on ICE.
Most are moms. We first met some of them in front of their local school.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My son, anytime one of his friends is - is not at school, he comes home and he says, I'm so afraid they took him away.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): When sirens go off, they check their text messages.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They say, there might be a (INAUDIBLE) car.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Amanda Brooks runs to protect kids on the playground.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People all over Chicago and Evanston hear whistle they run to them with their phones ready to film and to witness.
PROKUPECZ: Why is this an issue for you guys right now?
ESSIG-FOX: We have white skin. You know, were born here. Like, we had -- there's a level of privilege we have. We have comfortable lives here in
Evanston. Like, there is a safety that we have, and that -- that privilege we can use to do some good.
EMILY MILLER, CO-FOUNDER, PINK POSTER CLUB: In order for me to be able to enjoy my kids and enjoy my other hobbies that I never do anymore, like
reading or knitting or whatever. I can't just pretend something's not happening and go about my life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is why. How can you live with yourself?
PROKUPECZ: Can we show your arm? Is that OK? Do you mind?
JENNIFER MORIARTY, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS RESIDENT: Yes.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Jennifer Moriarty shows us the bruises on her arm, those she says she got while being detained during that confrontation on
Halloween.
PROKUPECZ: What was the point of you being at the scene?
MORIARTY: It just happened in front of me. Just -- I was walking with my phone out like this, about ready to hit record on the video, and then I was
dropped on my back.
[12:20:07]
PROKUPECZ: Did you ever hit anyone?
MORIARTY: No.
PROKUPECZ: Did you ever threaten to?
MORIARTY: No. No.
What is wrong with you? Why would you do this?
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): She shot this video from inside the car. Her hands cuffed in the front. She was able to still keep her cell phone. She was one
of the three people detained that day. That's her leaning out of the vehicle as agents pinned down another person.
MORIARTY: They put us in the vehicle. They didn't frisk anybody. They didn't arrest us. They didn't Mirandize us. I had access to my phone in the
car.
Help us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help us, please.
MORIARTY: Open the door.
I'm surprised that they hurt the young man like they did quite frankly.
PROKUPECZ: Is it hard to see to sit there and see him?
MORIARTY: It is very hard to see. His left eye, it was super black. And it was getting very large. He was very distressed.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): DHS said that man grabbed the groin of one of the agents while being arrested, though that's not evident in the videos. The
man who was detained with Moriarty didn't want to talk to CNN, but in that video from inside the car, he said he didn't know what he did wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just trying to help. I didn't even do anything.
MORIARTY: Neither did I.
PROKUPECZ: How long did they hold -- hold you guys?
MORIARTY: Five hours. And most of that was driving around.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stupid mother (BLEEP).
MORIARTY: Shut up, dude. You are shameful.
We were kidnapped. Absolutely. Absolutely. There was no arrest. It was as if to make an example, like, no one is safe.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): The local mayor says all three were released without charges.
MORIARTY: I wasn't afraid. There was no fear for me that day. It was anger. But I'm also super enlightened and motivated by the people, the community.
I mean, that was a crowd of probably 70 percent women. And these men were out there pulling their guns and trying to mace people. They're afraid of
communities who are on alert.
PROKUPECZ: And CNN reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol about the agent who pointed the gun twice at protesters. And
all of my emails were ignored.
We also asked them about the allegations from Jennifer that she was kidnapped. And they also chose not to answer any of those questions. Back
to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Shimon Prokupecz, thank you for that report.
All right. It is one of the most famous mugshots in history. Donald Trump indicted in Fulton County, Georgia back in 2023 over efforts to overturn
his 2020 election loss there.
That case against Trump and several others had deemed -- had seemed dead when Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis was disqualified from it.
But just hours ago, the head of the Georgia prosecuting attorney's counsel said that he would actually take over the case. He pledged to be fair and
transparent.
With more on this, I'm joined by former state and federal prosecutor David Weinstein. David, thank you so much for being with us.
Explain how a new prosecutor in this case will essentially signal impartiality, especially given how high-profile and how politically charged
this case is.
DAVID WEINSTEIN, FORMER STATE AND FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Well, Zain, he'll have to do it by his words. He'll have to tell everyone and be front facing
that he's going to go back now through the boxes of files he has, through the terabytes of information that are contained on a hard drive and look at
this with fresh eyes.
And quite frankly, that's what prosecutors do who are reassigned cases. They don't take any bias from the people who handed it to them and they
take a look at it with fresh eyes.
Now, whether or not the case is going to go anywhere, that remains to be seen. But he's indicated that no one else want to the case. He's accepted
it. And now, he will be, as public as he can be, about his fresh look at things.
ASHER: So he has to signal no bias. He has to have a fresh perspective or look at it with fresh eyes. But at the same time, there has to be the --
the assurance of continuity in an investigation like this, especially as it pertains to evidence, institutional knowledge, personnel.
How do you ensure continuity when you have this kind of a transition?
WEINSTEIN: Well, he has the record. There are a number of individuals who have already pled guilty and who have provided cooperation either by a
statement or confirming what their involvement was.
The investigators aren't going to change. The evidence that was collected is not going to change. As far as chain of custody goes, it never goes
through the prosecutor. It goes through the investigators. So they've maintained the chain of custody on the evidence they've collected.
And it's the same investigators. Now, whether or not those investigators are still with their agencies, some may have retired, some may have been
reassigned, there will be a core group of individuals who are familiar with this information. And they will provide that same information to this
prosecutor who will use what has already been assembled and take a look at it with his fresh eyes.
[12:25:01]
ASHER: And just in terms of Pete Skandalakis, essentially assuming responsibility of this case himself, talk to us about that process. Because
initially, the prosecuting attorney's counsel of Georgia had looked at a bunch of prosecutors. Apparently, nobody wanted the case. So he said, well,
you know what? I'll take it over -- I'll take it over myself. Just walk us through that process.
WEINSTEIN: Well, you know, understandably, there are a number of people who don't want it. The way that process works is that in his role, he went out
and spoke to other prosecutors and said, look, here's the case. Can you handle it? Do you have enough room on your plate? Are you going to be able
to do it in an unbiased fashion? Do you have a conflict of interest, either actual or perceived?
And the answer he got back from all of the people who he asked was, thank you for, but no, thank you. They may have given him a reason as to what
their conflict was, where they may simply have declined.
And he's done them a big favor by not mentioning who they are and who he approached, but now he's left to handle this.
ASHER: And does a change in prosecutor automatically signal a change in investigatory priorities, a change in strategy at all here?
WEINSTEIN: Not necessarily, but perhaps maybe a change in strategy. Remember that when this investigation started, there had been no
indictment. There had been no charges that have been filed. There had been no individuals who are inside as part of the conspiracy that had pled
guilty. They had just began to collect the evidence. And so that's what formed the basis for the charges.
Now, he has all of that already. And so he's able to utilize that. He's able to utilize some of the decisions that have been by the courts leading
into this. Not only on the recusal issue, but also on the federal courts that have declined to accept jurisdiction and have sent it back down and
have narrowed the framework of the charges that could be put forward here. So some of his work has been done for him already.
ASHER: All right. Former prosecutor, David Weinstein, live for us. Thank you. Appreciate it.
All right. Still to come, as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal all but paralyzes Washington, President Trump seeks to shift the focus onto his perceived
opponents. We'll explain after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:44]
ASHER: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Zain Asher.
The U.S. Department of Justice is facing new scrutiny for how it handled its July interview with convicted sex trafficker, Ghislaine Maxwell.
And now the DOJ's second highest ranking official is lashing out. President Donald Trump's former criminal defense lawyer Todd Blanche is accusing
Jeffrey Epstein's estate of hiding documents from the government. Something the estate denies.
It comes after a conservative commentator implied that Blanche didn't ask serious questions when he spoke with Maxwell, who has since been
transferred to a minimal security federal prison.
During that interview, Epstein's accomplice told Blanche she had never seen Donald Trump at Epstein's house, but a state emails released by House
Democrats on Wednesday between Epstein and Maxwell, contradict that.
Those same emails also appear to show the current president may have known about Epstein's crimes, more about Epstein's crimes than he actually
acknowledged.
In the meantime, we're now learning Trump is trying to turn the focus of the Epstein investigation to his perceived opponents.
CNN's Arlette Saenz joins us live now from the White House. Arlette, what more can you tell us?
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Zain, President Donald Trump took to social media today to say that he was asking the Justice Department to
investigate Jeffrey Epstein's ties to high -- other high-profiles individuals like Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and Reid Hoffman, an apparent
shift to try to shift the attention away from the president himself.
Earlier this week, the House Oversight Committee, Democrats on that committee, had released a trove of emails belonging to Epstein, which
mentioned President Trump, something that's really fueled a lot of the conversation in Washington in recent days.
But it all comes as the president and House Speaker Mike Johnson are now staring down a new effort to vote to release the Epstein files in full.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has shifted his strategy after months of where both the president and the White House have sought to delay or even prevent
a vote on releasing the full files from happening.
But this week, the supporters of that measure were able to employ an arcane tool known as a discharge petition receiving the necessary 218 signatures
needed in order to force a vote on the House floor.
Johnson has now decided, instead of waiting out the entire legislative process for that to happen, he is moving up that vote and that will happen
next week.
For survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, they are really hoping that this will really ramp up the pressure on Republicans in the House and the Senate
to act. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNIE FARMER, JEFFREY EPSTEIN ACCUSER: I feel like it's important to note that so many things that are unlikely have happened when it comes to this
case. You know, it was very unlikely that we -- that we would get the signatures we needed for this discharge petition. And here we are. We have
them.
All right. It was very unlikely that Andrew would no longer be a prince. And that's happened.
And I think, you know, for years, people said it was unlikely that anyone would care or know about the crimes of Epstein and his co-conspirators. And
people clearly do.
So I just -- I really believe that we -- that there -- that people are going to demand that this move forward. And I think it's very likely it
will happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAENZ: Now, President Trump has tried to blame Democrats for this conversation around Jeffrey Epstein.
But in his social media posts this morning, he also called out weak Republicans saying that those who support the effort to unveil the files,
to vote in favor of that, that they are soft and foolish.
But at this time, Republican leadership in the House is bracing for a wave of Republicans to get on board with that measure. And then if it passes the
House, it would then head over to the Senate where it really will meet an uncertain fate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has previously indicated he doesn't think that there needs to be a vote to release the full Epstein files. There
would need to be 13 Republican senators who join all Democrats in order for that to advance.
And there's -- then there's the question, if it does somehow make its way out of Congress, what would President Trump do when it reaches his desk in
the House?
Supporters of that bill are really trying to ensure that they can get a veto-proof majority, which is two-thirds of the House to vote in favor for
releasing of these files so they could override any veto that might happen.
[12:35:01]
ASHER: All right. Arlette Saenz, live for us there. Thank you so much.
All right. Time now for "The Exchange," and my conversation with Republican Congressman Randy Fine, who joins us live now from Palm Coast in Florida.
Congressman, thank you so much for being with us.
So my first question to you, Congressman, is do you support the full release of the Epstein files? And which way are you likely to vote when the
issue of the bill comes before Congress next week?
REP. RANDY FINE (R-FL): Thanks. Thanks for having me.
Look, I -- want to get to the bottom of why Democrats stonewalled in 2021, in 2022, in 2023, and in 2024, when they were in charge of the presidency
in the House and the Senate, and why they covered up those files, then why this newfound recent interest in these files while Donald Trump's
president.
I reject the notion of any of this being good faith. And I think we need to get to the bottom of who Democrats were trying to protect.
ASHER: OK. But which way are you going to vote when the issue comes before Congress next week?
FINE: Well, I'm going to take -- I haven't -- honestly, we just heard that it's going to happen next week. I didn't sign the discharge petition. I
don't think this is a good faith effort, and -- and we'll see next week.
I'm speaking with folks about it. I'm getting to the bottom of it. But I do not like -- this is clearly a political effort. And I really do think
before I commit to vote for anything in 2025, I'm going to demand those Democrats explain why they didn't care in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Before they expect me to vote in 2025, they need to explain why they didn't care for years.
The Jeffrey Epstein issue is not new. It's been around. He was arrested federally in 2019. Yet, why the recent interest at smacks of bad faith?
ASHER: OK. So you haven't decided is what you're saying, which way you're going to vote next week. Is that what you're saying?
FINE: No. I don't generally decide on this. I haven't read the discharge petition. I'm inclined not to support it. My constituents are not -- are
not interested in this being used to smear Donald Trump.
But I want to hear -- Democrats are going to have to explain why they didn't care in 2021, 2022,
2023, and 2024. They have to explain that. Before, I wasn't in Congress then. They were. So they're going to have to explain why it matters now and
why it didn't matter when they were in charge. I'm not going to be part of some partisan game.
ASHER: Right. So you're inclined, you're saying, to vote against it.
So, what is the level of transparency you believe that the public deserves here, Congressman?
FINE: Well, I think they're getting a lot of it. Look, Democrats apparently were able to release emails that were done as part of the House
investigation. So clearly, a lot of transparency is taking place.
I support Mike Johnson and the investigation that we have been doing to get to the bottom of it. But again, I want to understand, before anyone asks me
to vote in 2025 to do this, they need to explain why they didn't care in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
If they can give me a good reason why all of the sudden, this should dominate coverage of Congress, well then, I'll listen. But I think it is
just naked partisan political games and I won't be a part of it.
ASHER: Do you believe that the public deserves to know the names, name singular or names plural, of anyone who was involved with Jeffrey Epstein,
regardless of that person's political party?
FINE: Yes. I think they do. And I think that's why we have to understand why Democrats covered this up when they were in charge. Why did they cover
it up in 2021? They could have released it then. Why did they cover it up in 2022? Why did they cover it up in 2023? And why did they cover it up in
2024?
We need to understand why Democrats tried to protect Jeffrey Epstein for years. And I think those are questions worth asking.
ASHER: All right. Congressman Randy Fine, thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
All right. Still to come, there's a new twist in the legalization of hemp in the United States, while the multi -- why the multi-billion dollar
industry is about to go up in smoke.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:40:42]
ASHER: All right. Let's check and see how the U.S. markets are doing. The Dow is pretty much flat. S&P, flat, NASDAQ, up ever so slightly, almost one
percent.
This is your "Business Breakout." The BBC has apologized to the U.S. president over an editing blunder in a documentary that aired back in 2024.
But it's rejecting Mr. Trump's demand for compensation. The president's attorneys have called the piece defamatory. The BBC is rejecting that
claim. Meantime, Trump has threatened to sue for a billion dollars.
Walmart CEO, Doug McMillon, will retire next year after serving in that role for over a decade. John Furner who leads Walmart's U.S. operations
will take over. This transition will come during turbulent times to all retailers as tariffs have hit businesses. However, Walmart has been able to
weather conditions better than most.
A new trade deal between Switzerland and the U.S. will see tariffs on goods lowered. The U.S. tariff rate on Swiss imports will drop from 39 percent to
15 percent as part of the deal. Swiss companies are planning direct investments in the U.S. of $200 billion by the end of 2028.
The multi-billion dollar hemp industry in the U.S. is about to take a hit. That's because tucked away in the bill that reopened the government is a
measure that would effectively ban many hemp-derived products.
Like these drinks, for example, the measure prevents the unregulated sale of products like these online or in corner stores. The ban does not affect
non-intoxicating CBD and industrial hemp products.
For more on this, let's bring in our chief data analyst Harry Enten. Harry, I mean, this threatens a $28 billion industry. Companies are scrambling.
How are Americans' attitudes changing towards, you're like, get to it, Zain, just get -- get to it.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: No, no. I was running. No.
ASHER: You're like, come on, come on, come on.
ENTEN: I -- I -- I don't think I would ever have dreamt that I could possibly be discussing hemp and marijuana with you. It is a dream come true
on a Friday for me --
Asher: Why is that, Harry?
ENTEN: -- for me after the longest week in American history as far as I'm concerned. OK?
But let's get to it and then we'll have a little chat on the other end. You mentioned hemp and hemp marijuana, you know, similar but different. But I
will say that the marijuana polling does give you an idea that there has been some sort of backlash.
There's been some clear backlash and some real stunting of momentum in terms of marijuana legalization in this country. And what are we talking
about right here?
Well, I -- I -- I think this sort of puts it together nicely. States that newly legalized marijuana recreational, you know, at the beginning of this
decade, 2020 to 2021, there were eight states, 2022 to 2023, six new states.
In the last two years, zero, zero new states have legalized marijuana in this country. There were 24 that legalized it between 2012 and 2023. You
had this mass of momentum, and then all of a sudden it came to a screeching halt. There were in fact three states that had ballot measures in 2024 on
marijuana legalization, and it failed in all of them, Zain. It failed in all of them.
Now, the question is, what the heck is going on? Why has there been this stunting of momentum? And I think this kind of gives you an indication.
Marijuana has a positive effect on users and society.
[12:45:01]
In 2022, it was 53 percent, in terms of users, 53 percent. Society, 49 percent.
Jump over to this side of the screen in 2024, those numbers dropped, Zain. They dropped to 43 percent. Marijuana has a positive effect among users.
And 41 percent on society at large. These numbers are not exactly surprising to me, given if you ever walk along the streets here in
Manhattan, you will consistently see people lighting it up and smelling, to be perfectly honest, gosh darn awful.
Because that marijuana stenches up the air like nobody's business, so I think that there are a lot of folks who are seeing the effects of marijuana
and going, you know what, maybe this push to legalization has gone a little bit too far.
Now the people who have really felt that way, Zain Asher, are Republicans. Republicans.
What are we talking about here? Republicans, marijuana should be illegal or legal? In 2023, look at this, 55 percent of Republicans said that marijuana
gave it two thumbs up. It should be legal, compared to 45 percent who said illegal.
Coming to this side of the screen, look at this. The illegal number has jumped up to 58 percent. The legal number dropped to 40 percent. That is
the lowest legal percentage among Republicans in a decade.
We had seen marijuana legalization, the polling, rise, rise, rise, up, up and away. And then all of a sudden within the last few years, there's
clearly been this backlash.
And while, you know, hemp is related to, but different from marijuana, I think the two are sort of related in so far as that people here are saying,
you know, we should pump the brakes here for just a second.
Yes, there are far more people who believe it should be legal than used to, but that upward rise, getting high, all of a sudden, coming down a little
bit.
ASHER: Oh, I like what you did there. I like what you did there, Harry.
You know, talking about that stench. Whenever I travel outside of the country and I come back and I'm walking the streets of Manhattan and I
smell weed, I know that I'm home. I'm home.
ENTEN: It's so --
ASHER: And you're from New York, so you know exactly what I'm talking about.
ENTEN: I know. I -- I -- I will say this. If nothing else, I do welcome the stench of marijuana more than I welcome the old stench of urine in the
streets of New York City.
ASHER: Well, that's Manhattan for you.
ENTEN: That -- that is Manhattan.
ASHER: Try the subways.
ENTEN: This is why I prefer to stay in my apartment and be a homebody, Zain.
ASHER: Yes. Yes. Well, Harry, good to see -- it's been a long week, right?
ENTEN: It's -- you know what, this week, it's just too long. I'm going to go home, take one giant nap, and then have a bowl of ice cream and pizza.
That to me is what gets me high and up, up and away.
ASHER: You know, because of your segment, I thought you were going to say something else when you got home, but, you know --
ENTEN: No, no.
ASHER: We'll keep it innocent. We'll keep it innocent on CNN.
ENTEN: I will just say, to be very clearly.
ASHER: You're getting high.
ENTEN: I've never once done an illegal drug. OK? Never done it.
ASHER: Wow. Wow. I'm impressed, Harry.
ENTEN: I -- I just get this all this energy naturally.
ASHER: I know. That's -- I would never have guessed that about you, but OK. I'll take it.
Harry Enten live for us there.
ENTEN: See you.
ASHER: Thank you so much. Well, have a good weekend.
All right. Up next on "One World," high drama, as Nigeria advances to the final of the African playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A live report
for you after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:47]
ASHER: All right. Nigeria keeping their World Cup hopes alive, making it to the African finals by beating Gabon in their World Cup African playoff
semifinal in Rabat on Thursday. But they needed an extra time to do it.
Let's get right to CNN's Patrick Snell. Patrick, as you know, I am Nigerian. I am really hoping the Super Eagles make it, right?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes.
ASHER: They've got a game on Sunday against Congo. And it would be quite something if Cape Verde makes it to the World Cup and Nigeria doesn't.
SNELL: Yes. There's some great storylines, some really strong storylines. So much going on. For example, Cameroon fans will not be happy, but we'll
get to that in a moment.
But, Zain, I don't need to remind you, Super Eagles, missing out on the last World Cup. That was in Qatar in 2022. They're certainly having to take
the long way around to make it to North America next year.
This is how it all played out. Nigeria were taking on Gabon in the first playoff semifinal. This is kind of a mini tournament being hosted in
Morocco and then goalless until 12 minutes from time when Gabon, look at this. They gift Akor Adams, the opening goal of a match, which he takes
very well indeed. He wasn't going to miss that. And he didn't.
Now, Gabon have -- have never played in a World Cup tournament before. They didn't give up, fighting to the very end, and leveling through the
Galatasaray star, Mario Lemina. Just a minute from time.
That was enough to send this one into extra time. And although Victor Osimhen missed a golden opportunity to win it later in injury time. He
makes amends there, scoring twice in the extra period to keep Nigeria's qualification hopes very much alive.
The Super Eagles didn't even train the other day as the players hadn't been fully paid regarding the -- the bonuses. That has all been resolved,
thankfully. And they're now one big step closer from a return to the World Cup.
Meantime, late drama, the second semi between Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And a heartbreak in a Cameroon indomitable lines, a
World Cup regulars over the years.
But in the first minute of stoppage time, right at the end of the match, Chancel Mbemba making -- and this. He finds the back of the day. It means
Cameroon, who'd only missed three editions of the World Cup since making their debut in 1982. They now miss out on the expanded 48-team tournament.
That means, Zain, stars like Bryan Mbeumo who plays for Manchester United. Andre Onana as well, the high-profile goalkeeper, will not be competing in
North America next year.
So DR Congo will now play Nigeria for the chance to represent Africa in marches into confederation playoffs where the last two places for the
expanded tournament will be decided.
And I know, Zain, you'll be following it all every step of the way.
ASHER: Every step. Every step.
And -- and one other piece of sports news we're following is, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. He had a game with Ireland. Portugal had a game with
Ireland. And he had a red card. And what does that mean for his possibility in terms of being able to play in the World Cup?
SNELL: Yes. Significant and -- and not in a good way for him, because remember, it's just three days -- three days ago, he told CNN, Cristiano,
CR7, revealed that -- that next year's World Cup over here in -- in North America is set to be his last. And he'll be 41 early next year.
But now he's in serious danger of being banned, suspended for at least Portugal's opening match of next year's tournament. Sent off, Zain, for the
first time ever in his glittering international career.
Ronaldo was Portugal's captain against the Republic of Ireland last night. For a game as they knew that winning would mean they'd secure their
qualification for next year's tournament with a game to spare, but they found themselves down two nil by the half.
Two goals from Troy Parrot. And that just meant Ronaldo was getting more and more frustrated. A swing of the elbow just after the hour mark,
initially there, seeing him giving a yellow card for just pure frustration on Cristiano's part.
VAR upgrades it, though. Look at this. That yellow, yellow, no more. Look what the referee's going to brandish now. Yellow becomes red. Ronaldo,
given his marching orders, as I say, for the first time ever on the international stage, having some banter there with the Irish fans. The
first time in 226 appearances, he's seen red. It means he'll definitely miss Portugal's match against Armenia on Sunday, where they know a win in
that one will secure them definitely a place at the World Cup.
[12:55:02]
But watch this space, Zain, I think, in terms of, will Ronaldo miss the start of the group stages if they qualify for next year's World Cup?
It's going to be huge scrutiny on him as always, especially given the fact that he said to CNN's Becky Anderson, just a few days ago, that next year's
World Cup will be his last.
You can see the emotions of the occasion there. He's an emotional character on and off the field of play. And this is -- this is not a good look for
him. It's -- it'll be hurting him, I'm quite sure.
So what happens next? Well, all eyes now turn to the FIFA disciplinary committee. They judge these cases, case by case basis. The rules within
FIFA's disciplinary code stating that a red card for assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting, all hitting an opponent
should carry a three-match suspension.
So implications could be great. We'll stay across it all for you, Zain.
ASHER: All right. Patrick Snell live for us. Thank you so much.
All right. That does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Zain Asher. Appreciate you watching. "Amanpour" is up next. Have a good weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
