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One World with Zain Asher
Trump Confirms Thursday Deadline For Ukraine To Agree To Administration's Plan To End War; CNN Finds Evidence Tanzania Police Killed Protesters; Trump To Meet With NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani At White House; Zelenskyy: Ukraine At One Of "Most Difficult Moments" Of Its History; Judge Drops False Imprisonment Charge Against Mother of Missing Child; "The Exorcists" Premieres Sunday At 8PM ET; Preschoolers Use Own Money To Buy Food For Needy Families; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired November 21, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:23]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching "One World."
We're following breaking news from Washington and Kyiv. As U.S. President Donald Trump says, he has given Ukraine until Thursday to agree to a U.S.
proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine.
He made those comments in a radio interview with Fox News this morning, and they come as Ukraine's president is now issuing a dire warning that Kyiv is
facing a choice between losing its dignity or losing support from the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We will not make loud statements. We will work calmly with America and all our
partners. There will be a constructive search for solutions with our main partner. I will present arguments. I will persuade. I will offer
alternatives. But we will definitely not give the enemy any reason to say that Ukraine does not want peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Earlier, President Zelenskyy held an urgent call with the leaders of Britain, Germany, and France to discuss the U.S. framework.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEIR STARMER, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: Well, I've just had a call with President Zelenskyy alongside President Macron and Chancellor Merz. And
that was an opportunity for us to express again our support for Ukraine. And the principle that's very important, which is all matters to do with
Ukraine, must be determined ultimately by Ukraine.
KAJA KALLAS, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Our position hasn't changed. For any peace plan to succeed, it has to be supported by Ukraine,
and it has to be supported by Europe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: The U.S. plan was drawn up in secret by the U.S. and Russia, and without consultation from Kyiv or Europe. A draft seen by CNN shows
proposal includes the Kremlin's maximalist demands, including requiring Kyiv to make major territory concessions, and half the size of its army.
Kylie Atwood joins me now from Washington. Kylie, as you hear there, some diplomatic finessing from European leaders, but it's pretty clear how
surprised they were and how concerned they are about this proposal and the fact that they weren't consulted, and many view this as a capitulation for
Ukraine, if they agree to this deal.
What more are we learning about what led up to it?
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The last few days have been quite an evolution to follow in terms of the Europeans
trying to figure out, first of all, if this 28-point plan that was, you know, initially reported on through reports that leaked based on Russian
sources, if it was even a real plan that existed, and then to find out who was leading it on the U.S. side.
To your point, Bianna, everyone that I spoke to on the European side said that they had not been consulted about the plan as it was put together.
That is a stark contrast to the process that the Trump administration had carried out earlier this year, trying to drive a solution to end the
conflict, where Europeans were in the room with President Zelenskyy, with the U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, trying to hammer out, you know, what
the Ukrainians would like to see in a proposal.
That process was not one that was included in this effort to drive and put together this 28-point plan, which Europeans thought, well, maybe it's just
an initial framework, and U.S. officials said it wasn't a final deal.
But now, we're also hearing from President Trump that it's next week, a week from just yesterday that the United States wants Ukraine to agree to
the plan that has been put on the table. There appears to be maybe some room for maneuverability within that deadline if the Ukrainians are playing
ball.
And the Ukrainians are making all efforts right now to engage with the United States, to not to turn away from them, to make sure that they are
perceived as President Zelenskyy said, as being effective players here and trying to drive a solution.
Zelenskyy just put out a tweet saying that he had an hour-long phone call with Vice President J.D. Vance, discussing many of the details that are in
this 28-point plan, which, as you said, includes very maximalist demands that have been Russian demands and would be really challenging for Ukraine
to accept, you know, giving up portions of their territory that the Ukrainians are -- excuse me, that the Russians are occupying, but not
necessarily occupying in its entirety, cutting down the size of their military, making commitments not to join NATO in the future and trying that
in their constitution.
These are real things that the Ukrainians have long said they would never agree to. So we'll watch and see how this develops, but Zelensky also said
in that tweet where he said that the -- that the Ukrainians would work with the United States 24/7 in the coming days on these efforts. He also said
that we view every realistic proposal positively. So not necessarily saying that they view what has been put on the table right now from the U.S. and
from the Russians as a realistic proposal.
[12:05:26]
GOLODRYGA: No word yet, I don't think from Moscow officially to this, correct?
ATWOOD: No, that's right. The -- the Russians have been saying over the last few days that there weren't actually any real developments on this.
They had pointed back to the conversations that President Trump and President Putin had in August in -- in Alaska, but not saying that there
were substantive developments here. We'll watch and see how that plays out as this proposal is starting to really gain traction as the U.S. pushes it
forward with many of those points, pro-Russian points.
GOLODRYGA: All right. As you said, maximalist demand seemingly from Ukraine, not much from Russia at this point.
Kylie Atwood, thank you so much.
Let's get more analysis. CNN contributor and former CNN Moscow bureau chief, Jill Dougherty joins me now. Jill, it's always good to see you.
So as we heard, a lot of concern now in Ukraine as expressed from President Zelenskyy, saying that the country is facing one of its most difficult
moments in its history, a choice between losing dignity and losing a key partner.
One headline that the U.S. would like to point to is the unprecedented security guarantee that the Ukrainians would be getting from this deal.
But, Jill, I'm looking at what the language actually states, and it says that any future significant, deliberate, and sustained armed attack by
Russia on Ukraine shall be regarded as an attack threatening the peace and security of the transatlantic community, and the U.S. and its allies will
respond accordingly, including through military force.
I don't know how ironclad that sounds in terms of any sort of security guarantees the U.S. would provide. How are you interpreting it?
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, Bianna. I think that is one of the key issues, because President Zelenskyy is saying that essentially, Ukraine
has to trust Russia not to invade again. So what would stop them? What would stop Moscow for invading?
There is some wording, and I think one of the problems here is, we don't know exactly the details. There are leaks, there are discussions, et
cetera, but we don't know precisely how that would work.
And that is key, because President Zelenskyy is saying, we have to trust that Russia won't do it. And I think, interestingly, you asked whether the
Russians have, you know, responded to this. They've been very, I would use the word koi about this, and saying, well, we don't know all of the
details, but I would have to think, of course, they know the details, because their person, Kirill Dmitriev, is obviously connected with the
Kremlin, has been talking about the details with Mr. Witkoff. And I'm sure that the Kremlin knows, as specifically as possible, what is in it.
And I think they are, you know, holding back, because they want to make it look as if this is, you know, the United States and Ukraine, et cetera. But
I think that there are a lot of things that are weighted. There's no question in Russia's -- on -- on the Russian side.
And I would also say, you know, it's not only territory, that is one part of this. But in the details that have leaked, if they are correct, they're
getting into what would the constitution of Ukraine have to include, how would elections happen, what about language laws, et cetera?
This is, I think, why Zelenskyy is saying, this is, you know, dignity. In other words, sovereignty, or potentially losing a key ally, and that is the
United States. So this is really a perilous time for the Vladimir -- for Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
GOLODRYGA: And by extension, European countries, too, particularly Eastern European countries, not only do they seem blindsided, and they were not
included in this 28-point plan, but they're viewing it, as many others are, as a capitulation, if Ukraine does accept this deal, this proposal, and perhaps encroaching on their own
security, as well in the -- the weeks -- in -- in months and years to come, if Vladimir Putin chooses to do so.
What do you make specifically about what had always been seen as European leverage, and that is the frozen Russian assets, the hundreds of billions
of dollars, which now it appears from some of the details here would go under the control of the United States and out of Europe?
DOUGHERTY: Right. And if you read some of those details, it would appear, and again, we don't know this for, you know, for sure, but it would appear
that the United States would benefit from some of this, perhaps, rebuilding, using some of the frozen assets.
[12:10:13]
This is why it's crucial to know precisely what's happening. And I think significant that in the beginning, when this was apparently put together,
28 points, President Zelenskyy was not included in those discussions. And now, after the fact, he is being given some of the details.
Here's another detail that is interesting. The, apparently, the United States and Russia would begin to talk about the new start agreement, so
that's -- that's way beyond the solution for Ukraine right now.
But I think, again, it is on every level for Zelenskyy. It is really a turning point, because if he accepts it, when he talks about dignity, he
risks many, many problems at home of people saying, no, what did we fight for? And if he doesn't, it could mean the pulling of any type of aid from
the United States. That is really high stakes.
GOLODRYGA: Right. And one last important point. Russia would be readmitted to the community of nations with sanctions lifted and amnesty for war
crimes. This is something that -- that most Ukrainians would say at its faces, unacceptable, as would many Europeans.
And I would gather many members of Congress too. Jill Dougherty.
DOUGHERTY: Yes. I think -- I think you're right. Yes.
Jill, always good to see you. Please come back. Thank you so much.
DOUGHERTY: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, now to a developing story out of Nigeria, where students were kidnapped from a Catholic private school today. Police say armed
bandits abducted an unknown number of students from their residences at St. Mary's School in North Central Niger State.
This follows a similar attack earlier this week on a church in a neighboring state. These attacks are adding a new wrinkle between the U.S.
and Nigeria over Christian issues. And the U.S. is now considering sanctions over the concerns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN PRATT, BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: The Trump administration is developing a plan to incentivize and compel the Nigerian
government to better protect Christian communities and improve religious freedom.
This plan will consider U.S. state and treasury engagement on sanctions, as well as possible Department of War engagement on counter-terrorism and
other efforts to protect religious communities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: A CNN exclusive investigation has found evidence that Tanzania and police killed protesters in the aftermath of a disputed election.
Tanzania's general election, at the end of October, was the trigger for a week-long protest that rocked the Eastern African country.
Thousands filled the streets claiming the election was unfair. And in the violence that followed, many did not return home.
Forensic examination of videos and satellite imagery reveals police killed protesters there. And CNN's Larry Madowo has more.
But first, we want to warn you, the report contains some very graphic video.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Election Day, Tanzania, bloody scenes across the country. The streets have become a hunting ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what the police have done to the people.
MADOWO (voice-over): Security forces crack down on protesters, angry at the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan amid claims of an unfair
election.
Three weeks on, the true scale of the bloodshed is still emerging.
In an exclusive investigation, CNN analyzed dozens of videos showing protesters shot and found evidence linking security forces to the killing
of civilians, as well as signs of mass graves that conceal the extent of their brutality.
The main opposition party says at least 2,000 people were killed during the week-long protests.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need our freedom in my country. Why are you here? Why are you killing us?
MADOWO (voice-over): With eyewitnesses now too terrified to speak out, CNN, alongside open source investigator Benjamin Strick, has examined what
happened across the country.
In the city of Arusha, forensic analysis of video reveals how two people died near this intersection.
It's mid-afternoon. A group of protesters gather at this corner as armed police approach.
Note the man in the red T-shirt holding what appears to be a rock, who we'll come back to.
At this point, the police are here on the map. Two minutes later, chaos as people run down the street, the police advanced to the intersection. Then,
shots ring out.
The woman in purple, carrying a stick and a rock, is hit by a bullet in the back. You can see the hole in the fabric of her shirt here. She falls
instantly.
People try to help her, as she lies bleeding, more gunshots.
[12:15:03]
A minute later, across the street, a group of men takes cover, among them the man with the red T-shirt.
From a video filmed on the other side of the road, we can see police in our position at the intersection, around 100 meters away. A protester shouts
profanity in their direction (BLEEP) and then, (BLEEP) the man in red is shot in the head.
Audio forensic analysis of these videos confirms the gunshots that killed both of these protesters came from the direction and distance of the police
position.
The woman in purple died from her injuries in the street. She was three months pregnant and was the breadwinner for her husband and two young
children, according to a source close to her family.
The man's wife shrieks in grief over his lifeless body. These two lives lost are just a fraction of the bloodshed across Tanzania over late October
and early November, as the government tries to stamp out the protests.
In Mwanza, Tanzania's second largest city, grim scenes outside the regional hospital. Bodies piled up.
One doctor, who was too afraid to speak on camera, told CNN the morgue was full from those killed during the crackdown, saying on one day alone, there
were, quote, "four trips with piles of dead bodies taken to the mortuary, until it was full, just for others to be piled outside."
He said when doctors tried to save the wounded, quote, "the police would refuse and take them to the mortuary directly for them to die there."
In Dar es Salaam, another morgue overwhelmed. The government called this video fake, but CNN verified the location as Mwananyamala Hospital. One
woman told CNN she recognized her missing brother among the dozens of bodies spread across the floor.
The scale of the killing may never be fully revealed. Police are accused of dumping bodies in mass graves in an effort to conceal numbers.
At this location north of Dar es Salaam, a video shows a wide area of freshly turned soil. This matches testimony shared with CNN that young men
were ordered to dig the site for mass burials.
While CNN cannot independently verify the existence of mass graves, satellite imagery at the Kondo Cemetery before and after the protests shows
disturbance in the soil which supports the allegation.
The Tanzanian police and government have so far refused to confirm a death toll and dismissed the opposition's numbers as, quote, "hugely
exaggerated." They did not respond to CNN's request for comment for this story.
For this devastated family, a burial of their missing loved ones' belongings is the nearest they will get to closure for now, as the final
fate of so many of Tanzania's young people remains unknown.
MADOWO: President Hassan has launched a commission of inquiry into the unrest across Tanzania, but she drew new outrage by suggesting that the
protesters were paid to go on the streets.
Hundreds of young people have been charged with treason, an offense that carries the death penalty if found guilty.
Larry Madowo, CNN, Johannesburg.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Our thanks to Larry for that important report.
And still to come for us on "One World."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK CITY MAYOR-ELECT: Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, turn the volume up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: New York's fiery mayor-elect heads to the White House. A preview of Donald Trump's meeting today with Zohran Mamdani.
Also ahead, the missing child case that has sparked national interests. A nine-year-old missing and a mother who isn't cooperating with police. We'll
bring you the story, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:20:22]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Exactly three hours from now, the White House will host a meeting between two men who spent months hurling barbs and insults
at each other.
Donald Trump is sitting down with Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic socialist, who won the New York City mayor's race just weeks ago.
Mamdani made the issue of affordability for New Yorkers a main theme of his campaign, and now he wants to talk to the president about it.
Trump has repeatedly branded Mamdani a communist, something the White House press secretary stressed yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a Communist coming to the White House because that's who
the Democrat Party elected as the mayor of the largest city in the country.
I think it's very telling, but I also think it speaks to the fact that President Trump is willing to meet with anyone and talk to anyone.
MAMDANI: Being a New Yorker means that you're prepared for all situations, all kind of comments, all kind of commentary. And at the end of it, the
focus has to be, what's the case that you're making? Why are you there? And for me, it's not about myself, it's not about a relationship with an
individual, it's about a relationship between New York City and the White House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: One person who likely won't be at the meeting is Vice President J.D. Vance, jokingly saying on Thursday, I might have a stomach bug.
Well, for some extra perspective on today's meeting, let's welcome Kelly Mena, she's -- in "One World." She's a multimedia journalist with NY1 News.
Kelly, it's good to see you.
So the president this morning, in a Fox interview, predicted a civil meeting today with the mayor-elect, and this coming just hours before this
meeting, the White -- the House denounced the horrors of socialism ahead of the -- this meeting. This is a Republican members of the House, passed
legislation led or a Republican-led resolution denouncing the horrors of socialism.
So, what -- what risk do either one of these men have in having a, quote- unquote, cordial civil meeting given all of the anger built up going into this, and the vitriol the president has directed at the mayor-elect and
some of the comments the mayor elect has made against the president?
KELLY MENA, POLITICAL REPORTER, NY1 NEWS: Yes. Well, thanks for having me, Bianna. Well, basically, they -- if they have a cordial civil meeting
today, they risk angering their bases. Obviously, they've been hurling these insults back and forth at each other for months now, knowing that
this meeting was probably going to, if -- if at the time, Zohran Mamdani was going to be the mayor, this meeting was going to have to happen, the
mayor-elect is the duly elected mayor of the largest city in New York City.
He is very much left leaning part of the progressive Democratic Party. He's had his own problems within the own -- within the Democratic Party. Not --
more moderate members not embracing him necessarily. So this meeting is very high stakes.
We just found out moments ago that net -- press will be allowed into that meeting. Earlier, they would -- they weren't allowed. And that adds an even
higher risk. How is Trump going to handle this mayor-elect who's -- who he's called a communist for so long. He even endorsed his main rival,
Andrew Cuomo, in the race in the primary election and in the general election.
And, you know, is this going to be a moment for Trump to show his strength? He's the one that's more experienced when it comes to politics. He has a
history of, at times, embarrassing other politicians when they come and visit him. It's as if the mayor elect is going into the lion's den.
[12:25:04]
And how he does today is really going to set the tone for the next couple of years, if not for the upcoming months with -- what the next coming
months as he takes office in January. And there's a lot of concern already here in New York City that the National Guard could set --
GOLODRYGA: Yes.
MENA: -- here in this city of January 1st.
GOLODRYGA: Right. And that's what I wanted to get to next. We know the topic of affordability is one that the mayor-elect campaign on and what
arguably won him the election.
The stakes though for New York are huge because you have funding, this National Guard threat, concerns about infrastructure for the city.
What are the real issues that the mayor is -- elect is hoping to secure coming out of this meeting? And what leverage, if any, does he have going
into it?
MENA: Yes. I don't know if he has that much leverage. I think this is really a meeting for him to get to know the president on a more personal
level, not just hearing from him publicly.
And in New York City, as you mentioned, we have a lot of immigrants here. We've already seen some immigration enforcement happening. And know -- and
having that feeling of maybe there could be National Guard troops here in the coming weeks is even heightening that feeling for many immigrant
communities.
It's also the infrastructure funding is at risk as well. And those projects are so important for public transportation, for the people here in New York
City that move about, that work here, that come from different boroughs, go into Manhattan. Those are very important projects.
And for Mamdani, he said that he's going to talk about affordability, public safety, and the economy. But we'll see if he'll actually be able to
stick to those topics. President Trump is the one that invited him to the White House. It's his territory. So he probably will be controlling the
conversation a bit more.
I think for Mamdani, for him just going in person is a great first start. Whether he'll be actually able to secure any wins at this meeting or any
commitments, it's hard to tell. We know that he did speak to some leaders of the Democratic Party before he went down to the Minority Leader Hakeem
Jeffries, the congressman, to Charles Schumer.
And he also spoke to the governor, Kathy Hochul, which is important. She has a very interesting relationship with President Trump, even though that
they've had their disagreements. She's been one of those that's actually been able to get some headway when it comes to Democrats and being able to
get back funding cuts that had previously been taken from New York City and been able to get commitments from him when it comes to immigration.
She brokered that deal a couple years ago when it came to temporary protected status, extending it to many Venezuelans that had come here in
that big wave of the migrant crisis a couple years ago. So he's going in there with some reality, I think, which is important for him.
GOLODRYGA: So on the one hand, President Trump is trying to paint Mamdani and democratic socialist as the future of the Democratic Party, calling him
a communist.
On the other hand, both men have Queens roots. Donald Trump was born in New York City as well. Both have big social media followings. And both have
complimented each other in terms of their political savviness and their talent in campaigning.
So, which side of Donald Trump do you think we're going to see today, the one that is wanting to prioritize his hometown over politics moving
forward? Or do you think he's going to view this as an opportunity to demonize what he describes as the future of the Democratic Party?
MENA: You know, it's unclear. I think if it was a closed-door meeting, I think it would have been something that wouldn't -- we wouldn't see Trump
be his self coming out, maybe attacking necessarily.
But I think with the cameras there, we might get a different type of president. You know, he's publicly called out Mamdani for being a part of
the democratic socialist. So it will be interesting to see if he lobs those same attacks on him publicly today.
We're going to have to see how Zohran Mamdani does. Listening to that in -- in person for the first time. We'll see if it is actually as civil as the
president said it's going to be. We'll see if Mamdani leaves with any concerns. He says he's going in with no concerns, that he's going to take
it at face value.
But to -- to me, I think this is really an opening bid. And if it goes really well, could set a really great tone. But if it goes very badly,
which it could, as we've seen President Trump meet with other world leaders, there could be some very serious risks within the coming weeks. I
wouldn't even say months, but coming weeks when Zohran Mamdani is actually inaugurated.
GOLODRYGA: And that is when his work begins. I mean, the honeymoon's going to be quite short for the mayor-elect January 1st, you know, mayor of the
largest city in the country. A lot of priorities and a lot of policies at stake here. And a lot of that is -- is -- is up to the White House in terms
of how difficult or easier his job will be.
NY1 journalist Kelly Mena. Thank you so much. Appreciate the time.
[12:30:03]
MENA: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Coming up decades after the hit film, "The Exorcist," we talked to a priest who says the demand for the exorcisms is higher than
it's been in the past 20 years. What's that all about?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
Back now to our breaking news this hour. President Trump issuing a deadline of Thursday next week for Ukraine to agree to a U.S. plan to end the war
with Russia. It comes as Ukraine's president says his country must now choose between keeping its dignity or keeping U.S. support.
Earlier, I spoke to CNN chief international security correspondent Nick Payton Walsh about Zelenskyy's comments.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: This does not sound like a president who's saying to Ukraine we have to go along with
this. The choice between dignity and losing a major ally.
Well, it's fairly clear what he's suggesting Ukrainians to choose there, the choice of 28-point plan or an extremely hard winter. They've had hard
winters in the past.
This is clearly a process, but what we don't know at this stage is precisely what concrete parts of a plan that was widely leaked. Perhaps
initially elements of it by Russia to show they were trying to get a peace process moving. Perhaps then bits of it leaked by Ukraine and Europe in the
hope.
Perhaps misguidedly that the distinctly pro-Russian element of this plan would kind of torpedo it in the early stages. That hasn't happened, and
instead, it's kind of morphed now into this document that has a life of its own, clearly in which the Trump administration is deeply invested.
[12:35:10]
There are things in there which would be militarily and politically frankly suicidal to start a rhetoric on it for Zelenskyy. He can't cede territory
particularly in the domestic political bind he's in with a corruption scandal swirling around his inner circle. That would be a phenomenally hard
ask.
He certainly can't agree to elections in 100 days after the signing of a deal. Even if he's not on the ballot, he'll be creating electoral process
there, rush with demobilization, wartime, messing it up, that will create a government whose legitimacy will be questioned from day one. And he
certainly, I don't think, can agree to some elements of the decisions that get made by Russia in this document about who gets to join NATO in the
future.
So even when you read the text of the early versions that we've been seeing leaked to the media here, it's clear this originated in the Russian
language, Bianna, you know, when you read certain elements of English that look like they may have started in Russian. There's some parts of this
document that clearly harp too closely to that.
What we don't know at this point though is exactly what modifications are being suggested, agreed what precisely this pressure for Thursday is
around. Do they expect that 28 points to be agreed then? Well, that's frankly impossible at this stage.
But it's important to just quickly remember the timing here. Not only is domestic political pressure on Zelenskyy possibly at its worst since the
start of this war with this corruption scandal.
On the frontlines, Pokrovsk gives probably days, maybe weeks away from falling fully to the Russians. That's been fought over for over a year. And
it will be a key victory that Moscow has been hankering for -- for months.
And they're also Russia moving fast in the Zaporizhzhia region fast, I think, than anyone potentially thought. So a frontline emergency is
coinciding with a domestic political crisis of Zelenskyy.
And now with this extraordinary moment where he's had to address the Ukrainian people and say they may have to choose in their own dignity and
keeping their key ally at the United States.
We've seen pressure vacillate and this pendulum of Trump's love of Kyiv versus Moscow vacillate, but there's clearly an acute level here.
If you're Ukraine, do you just remember how you survived the last time it got this bad? Or do you think there's something different now?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Our thanks to Nick Paton Walsh for that.
Well, an unexpected turn in the case of Melodee Buzzard, the nine-year-old girl missing for more than a month now. Melodee was last seen with her
mother, Ashlee, apparently wearing wigs on a cross-country road trip.
The controversy only the mother returned to their California home. It took a school administrator to report the young child missing. Officers searched
the home saying Buzzard could not provide a reasonable explanation and was uncooperative.
Well, this week, a judge dropped false imprisonment charges and ended the missing child's mother pretrial supervision. After an accuser testified
that he felt threatened by Buzzard when he visited her home. That arrest was not in connection with the disappearance of her daughter.
CNN's Jean Casarez is live in New York for us. What a bizarre story, Jean. What more do we know about Melodee?
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, bizarre. With Melodee, I mean, that's the point here, right? Where is Melodee?
She was last seen on October 7th. She and her mother, just as you say, have -- had taken a road trip and they had gone on to Nebraska and then back.
But once her mother returned to California, she didn't have her daughter.
And the last time that Melodee was seen was on October 9th, and it was near the state line of Colorado and Utah. And as her mother and she in part
drove back, they went through the rest of Utah, northwestern Arizona, Nevada, into Rancho Cucamonga, California, and then back near Santa Barbara
where the daughter was not there when she turned in the rental car.
So while the question remains, where is Melodee, her mother landed herself in court. And what that was, was an accuser who had known her from a friend
of a friend, he'd known her since 2014, went to her house multiple times in the last several weeks to try to help find her daughter.
And he then believed that he wasn't allowed to leave the home. He went to authorities and prosecutors filed felony false imprisonment charges with
violence.
Now, he testified yesterday at this preliminary hearing. And there wasn't a camera in the court, but he had written a statement on LinkedIn before he
removed it. We got it. We want to show everybody this statement because this would have been his testimony yesterday.
"During an interaction at her residence, the situation escalated. Ms. Buzzard became visibly distressed after sharing information she appeared to
regret disclosing. A box cutter was produced. And despite multiple requests to be allowed to exit the home, I was not immediately permitted to leave.
The door was secured by several locks, which delayed my ability to exit."
[12:40:09]
And he believed and was in fear. Well, yesterday, the judge determined, and there was an audio recording of that last interaction, when I'm just
reading right there, the judge decided from the audio that he was not in fear at that conversation, that she possessed a box cutter, but he was not
in fear.
So, case dismissed, complaint dismissed. The monitor was taken off of her. She is a free woman, but the question is, where is Melodee?
And law enforcement, Bianna, is not coming out saying anything, and they're still going to care about this little girl. They're going to want to know
what happened. So, I think they're working in silence. We know the FBI is on this now. And the mother would wear wigs, along with putting wigs on the
-- on Melodee right there.
So, if you look at her face, and if you live in Utah or Nevada, or the part of California where she entered near Rancho Cucamonga, do you recognize
that face? And that's an older picture because she hasn't taken a picture of her daughter in about two years. So, that's her daughter about two years
ago.
GOLODRYGA: Such a bizarre and disturbing story.
Jean, I know you'll stay on top of it for us. Thank you so much.
CASAREZ: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, you've probably seen horror films about exorcisms, but it is an actual religious practice designed to expel evil spirits from people
or places.
CNN's David Culver recently found one real-life priest who says he's performing more exorcisms today than any time in the past 20 years.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Can you give me a sense early on, 26 years or so ago, what were you seeing as far as the request
for exorcisms and what have you seen since?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What -- what there has been is a surge in requests.
CULVER: How often every week or month back then versus now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would say when I began maybe there were three to five every one to three months. And now, I'm going to guess it would be three to
five maybe every week.
CULVER: It's -- I assume nonstop for you then.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is. I find that Satan is very astute.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: think this is one of these stories that when I first heard about the idea of modern-day exorcisms, immediately we go to that Hollywood image
and that portrayal. I mean, what we experienced blew all of that away. I mean, this took us into depths of humanity that we really weren't prepared
for quite frankly.
So he is one of several exorcists we spoke with. Some of them are very private like that individual Catholic priest. Others are extremely public.
They like to be out in front of the cameras. They do things online. They -- they share their exorcisms in live streams even.
And all of them are consistently saying that they have seen a surge in exorcisms. Now, we have to be careful because there aren't recorded and
documented databases with the number of exorcisms or as some call them, deliverances, essentially the same thing casting out demons. There's no
database that records this, right? So your -- your -- a lot of this is anecdotal. You're relying on these individuals who are carrying these out.
Nonetheless, they're seeing more and more young people, millennials, Gen Z coming forward asking for regular purges, essentially, of demonic
possession. That's how they proceeded.
So, who are these individuals? A lot of them are folks who are dealing with isolation, addiction, grief, fear, you name it. And they feel like this is
a -- a way for them to find healing.
Now, it's controversial too at times because some of these folks will push away from medication and mental health professionals. While the exorcist
who we interviewed say, they push for that to go alongside the spiritual treatment. So they really want people to stay on their medications and --
and stick with mental health providers. And they try to do this as a joint journey.
But, Kate, these are experiences that I would walk into some of these places. They'd be family churches. They would be a garage, a hotel
conference room where these exorcisms would take place. And it really just shocked me to see the individuals who would step forth and -- and what they
would feel leaving those rooms.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Be sure to tune in for an all-new episode of "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper," "The Exorcists," one whole hour, one
whole story. That premieres Sunday at 8:00 P.M. Eastern time.
Well, ahead for us on "One World," all week, we've been celebrating "Inside Africa's" 25th anniversary. And today, we'll hear from Lupita Nyong'o on
winning an Academy Award and why she has said no to so many offers ever since.
And a little later on "One World," preschoolers with money to burn. How they plan to use their hard-earned cash to help needy families at
Thanksgiving.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:45:04]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How much money did you earn?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Six thousand and one hundred nine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Well, this week, we've been celebrating "Inside Africa's" 25th anniversary with exclusive excerpts from this weekend's special episode.
In our final clip, Lupita Nyong'o, who won an Academy Award for her role in "12 Years a Slave," and is known for movies like "Black Panther," "Us," and
"A Quiet Place" shares a powerful reflection on identity, success, and the stories that matter.
Here she is in conversation with Angelique Kidjo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANGELIQUE KIDJO, SINGER-SONGWRITER AND ACTRESS: One of the questions that I also have is when you win your Oscar, how does that impact your career? And
how that also open doors for you to do many things that you're doing today?
LUPITA NYONG'O, ACTRESS: Well, my winning an Academy Award came at the very start of my career. It was for the very first film that I had done. So it
really did set the paces for everything I've done since.
I find it to be such a spiritual blessing to have started my career doing the movie "12 Years a Slave," because that movie is about honoring the
history of Africans in America.
KIDJO: Yes.
NYONG'O: You know. And so playing that enslaved woman and having such a beautiful -- beautifully written, beautifully executed --
KIDJO: Absolutely.
NYONG'O: -- movie to be a part of, to kind of introduce myself as an actor to the world, was a blessing. I could not have prayed that prayer.
KIDJO: No. No.
NYONG'O: You know, that was just -- that was just a straight blessing.
So winning the Academy Award for me, that was just so auspicious. It meant so much. And -- and then opened the doors wide open to do everything.
But you know what's interesting is that after I won that Academy Award, you know, you think, oh, I'm going to get lead roles here and there. Oh,
Lupita, we'd like to play you to play another movie where you're a slave, but this time you're on a slave ship, you know. Those are the kinds of
offers I was getting in the months after winning my Academy Award.
And it was a very tender time because, you know, the world has -- now, there's an expectation for you and your career. They were think pieces
about, oh, is this the -- the end of -- is this beginning and end of this dark skinned black woman, African woman's career?
[12:50:03]
And I had to deafen myself to all those pontificators because at the end of the day, I'm not a theory. I'm an actual person.
KIDJO: Of course.
NYONG'O: And then I also had to really have faith in my true north, you know. And so I had to be very deliberate about the roles I took on next. So
I ended up having to say a lot of noes not knowing when my next paycheck was coming.
And I did the unconventional thing of playing an orange -- orange alien in "Star Wars," you know. And I had to wait for the opportunities that I felt
were deserving of the -- of -- of -- of my experience.
KIDJO: Yes.
NYONG'O: -- of -- of the -- the accolades I've received. And I continue to have to do that.
I -- I like to be a joyful warrior for changing the paradigms of what it means to be African. And if that means that I work one job less a year to
ensure that I'm not perpetuating the stereotypes that I expected of people from my continent, then let me do that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Back now to our top story. The U.S. is giving Ukraine less than one week to accept its peace plan, which is widely seen as
favoring Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says, the Kremlin has received the proposal. It is the first time he has publicly addressed the plan put
forward by Donald Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said that the U.S. plan for ending the war would mean his country losing its dignity or a key ally.
We'll continue to follow the story and bring you any updates throughout the day.
And finally, this hour, the American holiday of Thanksgiving is less than a week away. Meet the preschoolers ready to shop till they drop to help needy
families have a happy turkey day.
Robbie Owens of CBS Texas brings us their story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we're going to pull over to the side right here.
ROBBIE OWENS, CBS TEXAS REPORTER (voice-over): Zoe, Tanner, Aaron, and Crew are kiddos on a mission.
OWENS: What kind of things did you put in the cart? What did you shop for?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Spinach.
OWENS: Do you like spinach?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I never taste spinach.
OWENS (voice-over): But they're buying it and so much more. Filling a massive shopping list to donate groceries to Mission Metroplex/Mission
Arlington.
OWENS: What was your favorite thing to put in the shopping cart?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Frosting and cake.
OWENS (voice-over): But the sweetest part is how it began as most good things do with hard work.
[12:55:03]
OWENS: How many clothes did you put away?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fifty-four.
OWENS (voice-over): The four and five year olds did extra chores around the house to earn the money.
OWENS: How much money did you earn?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Six thousand and one hundred nine.
OWENS: So even if the math isn't matching.
LYNNE GROFF, OWNER, PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF N.E. GREEN OAKS: Two for $3 is good.
OWENS (voice-over): It all adds up.
GROFF: Primrose School really believes that who children become is just as important as what they know. And so teaching them to be stewards of their
community, to be generous, to give back to their community is a valuable lesson.
OWENS: The school's owner tells me, yes, they realize they could have just donated the cash that bought all this, but instead, they prefer to give
those four and five year olds an opportunity to experience compassion that they can hold.
GROFF: Without this seeing, they don't comprehend. So they have to start with doing the chores, and they have to help count the money. And then when
we come, we -- we make grocery list, they decorate the carts, and then they come, and they know exactly what we need to buy. And then we bring the long
ticket out and take a picture with the ticket so they can see from beginning to end all their hard work.
OWENS: And what does it do to your heart to know what you are planting in these children right now?
GROFF: Oh, it -- it's -- it's just -- I can't even put it into words. It's -- it's such a blessing.
OWENS (voice-over): More than $2,400 in groceries purchased on this trip, some $80,000 worth donated over the decade.
GROFF: It just really is a great way to start the giving season.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy Thanksgiving.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: I love that story. We can now learn a thing or two about compassion from those adorable kids.
All right. Well, that does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
