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One World with Zain Asher
U.S. Halts Immigration Applications For 19 Countries "Of Concern"; Trump: U.S. Strikes Inside Venezuela To Begin "Very Soon"; Maduro Increasingly Isolated Amid U.S. Threats; CNN Goes Inside Abandoned Hezbollah Tunnels; Source: New ICE Operation Targets Somali Migrants In Minnesota; Sources: Watchdog Finds Hegseth Risked Endangering Troops by Sharing Sensitive War Plans On Signal; New Drug Trial To Help Pets Lose Weight; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired December 03, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:00]
JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Argues a financial incentive, she has this life insurance policy. So like anything else, it cuts both ways but
certainly the prosecution making the argument, that because of that affair, he killed her. Because of the financial motivation, he killed her as well.
We'll see if it resonates with the jury as the trial unfolds.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Joey Jackson, thanks so much. Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And to our viewers, thanks so much for joining us this morning "Inside Politics" with our friend and colleague, Dana Bash,
starts right now.
BROWN: Have a great day, everyone.
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher. Bianna is off today. You are watching "One World."
We begin with an absolute whirlwind, 24 hours for immigration policy here in the U.S. The government announced it is halting immigration applications
for people from 19 countries, in their words, countries of concern. It's also placing a hold on all asylum applications, regardless of the person's
nationality pending a comprehensive review.
Meantime, federal authorities have launched an immigration enforcement surge in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Department of Homeland Security says
that it's aiming for 5,000 arrests or beyond as part of Operation Catahoula Crunch.
And President Donald Trump is now promising an immigration crackdown in the twin cities of Minnesota, harshly criticizing the Somali community, calling
them garbage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks.
We could go one way or the other. And whether we go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: The mayor of Minneapolis spoke out after the president's comments defending the Somali immigrant population in his city. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACOB FREY, MAYOR OF MINNEAPOLIS: For decades, the Somali community has added greatly to our city. The economic fabric, their hard work, their
leadership. It has made Minneapolis a better place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: CNN's Gustavo Valdes is in Atlanta with more on this. You've got the Trump administration essentially launching immigration enforcement
operations in both Minneapolis and also New Orleans, Louisiana.
Just walk us through what the reaction has been from community leaders in those cities.
GUSTAVO VALDES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's start with Minnesota. The operation there was announced kind of like last minute. The primary focus
seemed to be New Orleans first after the Border Patrol agents and ICE were in Charlotte.
But in the meantime, there was a report from "The New York Times" that mentioned that the Department of Justice had found a billion dollars' worth
of fraud from charities who took money during the COVID years, relief money, and they never actually distributed. They pocketed that money.
So based on that "New York Times" article, the government sent this surge of agents to the Twin Cities to go after what they say are people with
removal orders. We are starting to see some of that activity in some areas of the city, Minneapolis, St. Paul. So, we're going to go and see what
happened.
And that is why the mayor was defending the Somali community, fearing that these would have an effect beyond those who were charged with the crime of
defrauding the government, the federal government of, like I said, billions of dollars.
Now, in New Orleans, this was an operative that was announced a couple of weeks ago after ICE and Border Patrol agents had activity in Charlotte
where they arrested over 200 migrants. In New Orleans, they are aiming for 5,000.
Now, the issue there is that according to community leaders, people I've been talking to since last week, they tell me the migrant community,
primarily Hispanic and Vietnamese, are already taking precautions. Many of them are not going to work. Businesses are closed. They have organized to
try to prevent agents from arresting people, even though the government says that they are focusing on the worst criminals in the community.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRICIA MCLAUGHLIN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS, DHS: First and foremost, really focusing on those worst of the worst criminals, those
criminals who have previously been locked up by local authorities. But then, because New Orleans functions as a sanctuary city, those individuals
were not released to ICE. They were instead released back onto New Orleans streets.
So we're talking about child pedophiles who are on our list of targets, burglars, gang members, rapists. Those individuals we are highly targeting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VALDES: And we've seen from local leaders, in many communities, to say they are OK when ICE agents focus on those criminals. Their problem is when they
go to migrants who might be -- might have been here in the country for many years contributing to the communities.
[12:05:06]
And particularly in the New Orleans region, most of the migrant community, the migrant community grew after Hurricane Katrina over 20 years ago. I was
there a few months ago visiting with them. They are the ones who helped rebuild the city that is today.
So many of them just stayed, decided to stay because the city was welcoming. They were able to open businesses. They -- they found success in
the region. And now they are afraid of being detained.
These also come at a pretty bad time for the city because we are close to the holidays. It's a high season for New Orleans, especially also being
that they host a number of college football playoff games which are important to the local economy.
New Year's and Christmas are big dates in New Orleans. So businesses are afraid that they might not have enough workers for those events.
ASHER: All right. Gustavo Valdes, live for us. Thank you so much.
All right. Ukraine says it has now been invited to continue peace talks in the U.S., quote, in the near future. This comes just one day after the U.S.
and Russian negotiators spoke in Moscow for about five hours.
The U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in- law, Jared Kushner, sat directly across from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin says, there is still no breakthrough. Though Mr. Putin accepted that some things were positive from Tuesday's talks. Significance ticking
points remain though. Russia demands Ukraine's surrender territory and abandon its goal of joining NATO, both of which are considered to be red
lines for Kyiv.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YURI USHAKOV, KREMLIN AIDE (through translator): A compromise option was not found, but some of the American proposals look more or less acceptable,
though they need to be discussed.
Some of the formulations that were offered to us do not suit us, meaning the work will continue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: In Brussels, the European Commission President is proposing two options to help provide Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in new
funding. One would involve using frozen Russian state assets in the form of a loan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION: We all know that we can never match the sacrifice of the Ukrainian people. But what we
can match is their stamina, their resolve, their staying power. And we can equip them with a means to defend themselves and to lead peace negotiations
from a position of strength.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. And to another story we are following. The U.S. may be getting closer to a military confrontation with Venezuela, as tensions
begin between Washington rile in Caracas continue to escalate.
On Tuesday, President Trump threatened direct strikes inside the South American nation, saying that they could come, quote, very soon.
And during that same cabinet meeting, the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also struck a defiant tone as well. He told reporters that the military has
only begun sinking what he calls narco-terrorists to the bottom of the ocean.
Since September, the U.S. military has killed more than 80 alleged drug traffickers without providing any proof of their identities.
Meantime, the Secretary of State is also defending the strikes and casting doubt on the legitimacy of the Venezuelan regime.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The president has authorized the counter-drug mission in the region. The fact that Maduro is upset about it
tells you the drugs are coming out of Venezuela.
If you look at these votes today, the Maduro regime is not a legitimate government. What it is, is it takes trans-shipment organization. It allows
cocaine and other drugs that are produced in Colombia to be trafficked through Venezuelan territory and with the cooperation of elements of the
regime are allowed to sail out on airplanes and lead Venezuelan airplanes and ships headed towards the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: And it's important to note that experts have said that the drug routes in that area of the Caribbean are typically not actually destined
for the United States. The cocaine from those countries, particularly Venezuela, is likely used and sent to Europe instead of the U.S.
CNN's Natasha Bertrand joins us live now. So just in terms of what Trump said here, the possibility of conducting strikes on land in Venezuela. He
didn't specify when or how or where exactly in Venezuela that would happen.
But also raising the possibility that there could be other countries targeted besides Venezuela, raising the possibility that perhaps Colombia
could end up tangled up in this as well.
Natasha, walk us through it.
NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And President Trump has made these threats many times before, even when it comes to
striking Colombia in response to Colombian President Gustavo Petro's comments about the U.S. strikes on these drug boats being illegal.
President Trump has previously threatened to take action against drug- producing facilities inside Colombia itself. And, of course, he has also threatened many times to hit Venezuela on land.
[12:10:09]
It remains totally unclear at this point what the administration actually wants to do. There was a big meeting on Monday with some of the most senior
national security officials in the Trump administration, including the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to
discuss the next steps when it comes to Venezuela.
But it seems like President Trump still has not made up his mind. He did speak to President Maduro on the phone. He acknowledged this past weekend.
But when Maduro was given options, we're told, about, you know, leaving the country to, you know, get safe passage out of the country, or when he
presented those options, I should say, to the Trump administration, Trump denied them and said that the U.S. would not abide that.
So it appears that the administration has been trying to put a lot of military pressure on Maduro to get him to step down voluntarily. But as we
have seen from Maduro's comments over the last several days and weeks, he does not seem prepared to do so.
And so they're essentially calling President Trump's bluff now. And the question is, is Trump going to move forward with the strikes in an attempt
to get Maduro to step down? Because we are told that this is primarily about regime change. Or is he going to try to seek some kind of off-ramp
that does not involve military action? That is the key question right now, Zain.
ASHER: All right. Natasha Bertrand live for us there. Thank you so much.
Venezuela's president is finding himself increasingly isolated as the U.S. continues to threaten action on land. He's threatened at multiple times, as
Natasha Bertrand was just saying there.
Venezuelan opposition leader told CNN that Nicolas Maduro may already have been offered an exit from the country internationally. Support for
President Maduro is dwindling. He's lost two key allies after elections in Honduras and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
And the latter saw the removal of a staunch Maduro supporter after 25 years in power. Votes are still being counted in Honduras. But whoever becomes
president has promised to cut ties with the Maduro government.
Despite the challenges, President Maduro says his loyalty to Venezuela will not waver.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Do you have absolute, absolute certainty that just as I swore before the body of our
commander Chavez, before saying farewell to him, absolute loyalty at the cost of my own life and peace of mind.
I swear to you, absolute loyalty. Even beyond the time in which we were able to live this beautiful and heroic history, be sure that I will never
fail you. Never, never, never.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: But there are now growing concerns and questions about whether or not it's the end of the once popular movement of Chavez founded by former
president Hugo Chavez and continued under Maduro.
Let's get more on President Maduro's challenges and what this might mean for Venezuela's future. Rebecca Hanson is professor at the Center for Latin
American Studies at the University of Florida. She joins us live now. Rebecca, thank you so much for being with us.
Just talk us through, first and foremost, how strong -- because Maduro obviously has been very defiant. I mean, he disappeared from public view
for a few days and there was a lot of speculation around that.
But he has been speaking out almost daily. He's extremely defiant. How strong is the Maduro power base still within Venezuela?
REBECCA HANSON, PROFESSOR AT THE CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: Yes. I mean, I think it's important to note here
that while these attacks and threats from the U.S. are relatively new, really starting in September of this year, the Maduro government has really
been preparing for a moment like this for years, right?
So, he's been successfully consolidating his power in order to be able to ride out moments of crisis just like this. I mean, potential challengers
and threats within the government has really been weeded out.
Rank and file military officers are very disgruntled right now, but high ranking military officers really depend on the Maduro government to
maintain control over very lucrative legal and illicit markets.
For example, the military controls the important distribution of food, which is a really lucrative enterprise in Venezuela.
The government has been spending years beefing up their political repression and surveillance and this isn't just about the police, the
military, but kind of, you know, people on the ground, really a lot of distrust that is being fomented among citizens themselves.
So, you know, I think that Maduro feels like he's probably in a pretty good position to ride this crisis out, especially if Trump remains reticent to
put boots on the ground, which seems really likely.
ASHER: And also worth noting, I mean, you talk about the fact that they've been preparing for this, Maduro has been preparing for this. I mean, this
is not the first time that Donald Trump has tried to unseat or attempt to unseat the Venezuelan president. He tried it back in 2019.
[12:15:02]
But if you look at the situation today, though, you've got 15,000 troops in the region. You've got dozens of warships. You've got the fact that he's
now threatening to attack Venezuela by land.
From Maduro's perspective, is -- is this just about posturing? Or is there an actual real attempt, in his mind, that the U.S. might actually go
through with this? Because there's a lot of questions on the U.S. side about that.
What is -- what is the word just in terms of the thought process of Maduro and his allies?
HANSON: Yes. You know, I think that Maduro like a lot of other people know that Trump is -- is a very impetuous person, right? So it's not necessary
the case that you -- where we know what Trump is going to do tomorrow.
And I think that Maduro and his government are planning for that and are aware of that. You know, I think that's the reason why there have been some
back-channeling between the Maduro government and the Trump government to really kind of negotiate a way for Maduro to leave office.
But I don't think that Maduro and his allies or other high-ranking officials in the government really see that as the likely case. Again, I
think this is because it's very well-known that Trump doesn't really want to put boots on the ground in the country. And that a lot of what's been
happening over the past few months really seems like a negotiation tactic, right?
So, I mean I think Maduro is heading his bets. But again, I think he feels pretty good about his situation still right now.
ASHER: Yes. There's sort of rationale that Maduro has been putting forth is that one of the reasons why the U.S. is doing this is because it wants
access to Venezuelan oil. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world.
And he's saying, essentially, Maduro is saying that this is the motivating factor behind the U.S. aggression. He's actually even called on OPEC to
assist. Just walk us through how that argument plays out domestically and to also some of -- some of Maduro's allies in the region.
HANSON: Yes. You know, I think, first of all, we have to note that Maduro is incredibly unpopular, right? I think, you know, services are showing
that he has a popularity rate of around 20 percent.
But still, you know, this message of anti-imperialism is really Maduro's key message. It's one that works with his base. I think it's one that works
even for Venezuela's dose to support Maduro, but still believe that the United States should not intervene in the country.
So, I think it's -- it makes sense for him to kind of continue to use this -- this course. You know, I think he's also kind of using this position on
the world stage, you know, to send a message that his predecessor oftentimes sent which is that Venezuela is a proud and thriving country
that will not be deterred or swayed by imperialist powers, right? So, I think this works both internally, again, for his base.
For some people who might not necessarily be opposition or Chavista and also works with Venezuela's allies, right? Russia, China. So, you know, it
makes sense that this is kind of the discourse he's been utilizing recently.
ASHER: Yes. But I think you make a good point about his unpopularity. I mean his political survival and his determination to stay in power at all
costs has really come at the expense of Venezuelan democracy.
Rebecca Hanson live for us there. Thank you so much.
All right. Still to come, a royal welcome from King Charles. Germany's president is on a three-day state visit to the U.K.
Also ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Lebanon is under intense pressure from the United States to disarm.
If it does not do that, the threat is that Israel will start the war all over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: A historic development. We'll take you inside the tunnels of Hezbollah as Israel and Lebanon takes small steps towards an agreement.
And later. If you've got an overweight pet, I've got two pieces of good news for you. One, researchers are hard at work on an animal version of
Ozempic. And two, you are certainly not alone. All of these pets you see here are loved ones from our very own team. My team of producers has
actually put this together for you. We'll talk more about that after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:20:44]
ASHER: There you see Britain's King Charles welcoming German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. This trip, the first state visit by a German
president in 27 years.
Just two years ago, the British Monarch traveled to Germany for what marked his first official overseas trip since becoming King, ahead of a state
banquet at Windsor Castle.
Steinmeier is also meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer too. All of this recognizing closer ties between the two countries.
The Israeli government is touting a meeting with Lebanese officials today as a historic development. The countries have no diplomatic relations, but
the talks come amid a push, a U.S. push rather, to preserve very fragile ceasefire.
And Israel has been bombing what it says is Hezbollah infrastructure on a regular basis and warns it may ramp up operations if the militant group
doesn't take steps to some by the end of the year.
CNN's Ben Wedeman got a look inside an old Hezbollah infrastructure now under the control of the Lebanese army.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WEDEMAN (voice-over): These are the mountains from which Hezbollah, until a year ago, fired missiles into Israel. But now under the control of the
Lebanese army, who took reporters on a rare tour of parts of the south, normally off limits to the press.
WEDEMAN: We are entering a Hezbollah tunnel, well up a rugged ravine. It took a very long time to get here. This is a tunnel that the Lebanese army
is telling us was not used for the storage of weapons, but rather was for personnel. Now it goes deep, deep into this mountain.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): The Lebanese army says, it is found 74 such tunnels. As part of the year old ceasefire agreement that halted the war with
Israel, the Lebanese army told reporters it has seized large amounts of weapons and ammunition and more than doubled its troop strength south of
the Litani River, all part of an effort to reassert government authority in areas where Hezbollah operated.
WEDEMAN: This looks like it was the kitchen. There is still food here. Tins unopened. This clearly was a serious operation. This was some sort of field
hospital or clinic. These are hospital's type beds.
We also saw other medical equipment in here. And there's a very unpleasant smell as well.
We have ventilation pipes, a water pipe.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): This tunnel appears to have been one of several in this area which Israel heavily bombed.
WEDEMAN: And, of course, this is really how Hezbollah has fought Israel for decades. I've been to other parts of Southern Lebanon where during the
1990s, when they were fighting Israeli troops inside Lebanon, they dug similar tunnels, had similar facilities.
[12:25:59]
But things have changed. Military technology has reached the point where it's very difficult to do anything without being seen by a side with
superior technical abilities and that's certainly what we know Israel has had.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Israel continues to target on an almost daily basis what it claims are Hezbollah members and infrastructure saying Hezbollah is
rearming and regrouping. Hezbollah is holding its fire for now.
WEDEMAN: What matters is that Lebanon is under intense pressure from the United States to disarm Hezbollah before the end of this year. If it does
not do that, the threat is that Israel will start the war all over again.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Ben Wedeman CNN, South Lebanon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. Still to come here on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Ahead, Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar defends herself and the Somali community against President Donald Trump's latest attacks. We'll
have that story and more after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Zain Asher.
Source tells CNN that an ICE operation targeting Somali migrants is now underway in Minnesota. This comes just a day after President Donald Trump
ramped up his attacks, once again, against the Somali community.
[12:30:02]
The president said, he did not want Somali immigrants in the U.S. and urged them to go back to their home country.
He also renewed his criticism of Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, who emigrated from Somalia. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage. These are people that work. These aren't people that say, let's go. Come on,
let's make this place great. These are people that do nothing but complain.
But when they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but (BLEEP), we don't want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from
and fix it.
Thank you very much, everybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Ilhan Omar wasted no time slamming the president for those hurtful remarks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ILHAN OMAR (D-MN): The president's obsession with me and the Somali community is really unhealthy. It's creepy. And I hope that he gets the
help that he needs.
It is not surprising that he is going after black immigrants in -- in this country. And it's certainly not surprising that he is choosing a black
immigrant community that is also Muslim.
But what I would like to say is that most of us are citizens. On our passport, it says we are nationals of this country. We love that Minnesota
has welcomed us. Many of us have not been settled in Minnesota. We chose it as a home because the Minnesota people and the state is beautiful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: The Somali community, one of the largest in the U.S. is one of the few the president has directly focused on for years as Representative Omar
mentioned there.
Time now for a closer look at Trump's immigration crackdown. I want to bring in Khalid Omar. He's a community organizer with ISAIAH and Faith in
Minnesota. He helps lead and organize Muslims across Minnesota seeking racial, political, and economic justice as well. Khalid, thank you so much.
So, the president referred to Somali immigrants as garbage. He said that they contribute nothing. He said they do nothing but complain. He's accused
them of ripping off Minnesota. He said that they come from hell. He's also, in the past, said that Somalia stinks. He's told them to go back to where
they come from. He said, again, all they do is complain.
Just give us your initial reaction to those comments by the U.S. president.
KHALID OMAR, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, ISAIAH AND FAITH IN MINNESOTA: Yes. Hi, Zain. And thank you to you and CNN for this interview.
What our president did was un-American and -- and really dangerous for him to attack a community, the Somali community here in Minnesota, Somali-
American community here in Minnesota.
He, you know, he is -- he also directed and emboldened ICE agents and federal officers to terrorize our community. Our community is very fearful.
But to his remarks, Somali community here, you know, the Somali-American community here in Minnesota are a community that has served its neighbors.
These are community members who are teachers, who are educators, who are doing all of the fabric that is -- you know, that is citizen is -- is -- is
doing in this -- in this country. And to see what our president, it is hurtful and very dangerous.
ASHER: Yes. And one of the things that Representative Ilhan Omar said in her response was that, you know, most of the members of the Somali
community in Minneapolis and around Minnesota are actually U.S. citizens.
So, when you have the U.S. president, I mean, he has a very fervent base, you know, let's be honest. So when you have the U.S. president making these
kinds of comments, what does that mean for your sense of belonging and your sense of safety as well?
OMAR: Yes. This is, you know, his rhetoric is very dangerous. And this is not new to us. In 2016, Trump came to Minnesota and attacked the Somali
community. Right after that, in 2017, a local mosque here in Minnesota, Dar Al-Farooq in Bloomington, was attacked and bombed. So words do matter.
And what our president has done, it is un-American. It is very dangerous and many of our community members are extremely fearful.
With that, you know, I believe this is also a distraction to the real core issues. Americans are struggling with basic necessities, healthcare,
education, you know, and -- and -- and being able to provide for their families.
Instead of addressing that, Trump is, you know, he gave the largest tax cut to billionaires in the wealthy few and then now he wants to, you know,
evoke hate and -- and -- and dangerous rhetoric to a community that is doing everything that it can to serve, you know, their -- their neighbors.
And this is un-American. This is not Minnesota. And -- and to see our president say those words are very hurtful.
[12:35:10]
ASHER: When you think about the president also, or the Trump administration also revoking, you know, the temporary protected status, TPS, I mean,
obviously that affects. We've talked about it on the show is affecting Haitian migrants, several immigrant communities across the country, but
also Somali migrants as well.
And when you think about the situation right now in Somalia, I mean, obviously there's armed conflict. We know that Al-Shabaab is still
operating in the country. There's also the risk of famine in certain parts of the country, malnutrition, especially in drought-operated -- drought
sort of affected areas.
And then also this idea that, you know, humanitarian assistance is underfunded in the country. It's a very difficult place for people to have
to go back to after living in the U.S.
So explain to us, you know, if the TPS to be revoked, what would that mean to members of the Somali community who have that immigration status, who
are vulnerable to being sent back home?
OMAR: Yes. As -- as you said earlier, this is a -- a small number. Majority of Somali Americans are citizens that live here and that have been living
in this community for generations. So this is a small number of people that we're talking about, less than a thousand people.
And, you know, this is something that, you know, our country has always been a country that welcomes refugees, that welcomes immigrants that are,
you know, struggling from, you know, various economic issues, various difficulty.
So for our country to reject those people, it is not part of our values as Americans. So, you know -- but this is what our president does. You know,
he, you know, does not lead by, with values. He does not lead with American values. He's leading by evoking hate and attacking a minute, a small
community who is trying to provide and -- and be part of this fabric of this community.
But the reality is, is that, you know, Somali Americans are citizens. They are -- they've been living here. You know, we live in Minnesota, you know,
Minnesota is a very, you know, an amazing state. And Somali-Americans contributed economically. They are providing. We worship. We pray here. And
we are serving our community.
So this is just a -- a -- a distraction. And -- but -- but it -- but a really a dangerous rhetoric to hear from the president of the United
States.
ASHER: I mean, as you -- as you point out, most of the Somali immigrants, within the community, are U.S. citizens. However, the Trump administration
is launching ICE operations right now in Minneapolis, in and around Minnesota.
You know, it appears that they will try to target Somalian immigrants, particularly those who may be undocumented. I mean, obviously, again, most
of them are U.S. citizens. But still, how do you even begin to prepare for that?
OMAR: So right now, what we're seeing, Zain, it already started. They are going after -- you know, they're going to where masses of Somali
community's presence are there.
And they're just -- like it's crazy. They're IDing citizens. There's one person who is a citizen who is -- who lived in this country for 25 years.
And he was ID'ed. And he was ID'ed by ICE agents asking, you know, for his I.D. and his passport. And he completely told them that he is a citizen.
And then sooner or later, they let him go.
So this is -- this is a very fearful, it's not only to our undocumented communities, it is also to Somalis that are, you know, there are just
working who are citizens, who are just going to their malls and who are going to their mosques and their homes who are being terrorized by Trump's
administration.
So, what we're telling communities is to know the right and to, you know, to be in community and -- and -- and reaching out to our faith communities
to stand up to this bigotry and to this hate and this division that our president is trying to do.
ASHER: Yes. So the fear is that it stokes harassment and -- and more -- much more discrimination even against those who are U.S. citizens.
Khalid Omar, thank you. Thank you so much for coming on the show and sharing your perspective. We appreciate it.
We'll be right back with more after this short break.
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[12:40:58]
ASHER: All right. Breaking news just into CNN. Force -- sources tell CNN that a classified inspector general's report found Defense Secretary Pete
Hegseth risked endangering troops by sharing sensitive war plans on Signal.
Last March, Hegseth shared highly sensitive attack plans targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen on the messaging app.
Our senior national security reporter Zachary Cohen joins us live now from Washington. Zachary, what more are we learning?
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Zain, these are the first details that we're learning about this still classified inspector
general report that really examined Pete Hegseth's use of Signal after those messages that he sent were disclosed earlier this year, those
sensitive war plans.
The inspector general, like many U.S. officials that we spoke into over the last several months, concluded that Hegseth did risk compromising sensitive
military information that could have potentially endangered American troops as well as -- as well as jeopardized mission objectives by sending details
about an ongoing U.S. military operation targeting those Houthi rebels in Yemen.
So this is something that a conclusion that is baked into a broader report from the inspector general. They sent that report to Capitol Hill just last
night. And lawmakers are still reviewing it.
Interestingly too, our colleague Jake Tapper and I are told that the inspector general was able to find no evidence that Hegseth consciously
declassified the information that he sent to this group chat before doing so. And that's really been a big question throughout this entire
controversy.
Hegseth maintains that he has the authority to essentially declassify information even in his own mind, really. But the inspector general raising
even more questions about whether or not he followed the proper procedure for doing so.
At the same time the I.G., as far as our understanding goes, Hegseth refuses to sit for an interview with the inspector general, instead only
submitting answers to their questions in writing, which gives you a little window into just how resistant he has been in these investigative efforts.
And one that has really been of interest not just to the Pentagon but to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. And this is obviously not happening in a vacuum,
right, Zain?
This comes as Hegseth is already facing mounting questions about those U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean and something that he's been somewhat
like to have accused him of potentially committing war crimes in doing so.
So this -- this Signal report is only going to increase the pressure that Pete Hegseth was already facing.
And this is one too that we know from sources that he's been bracing for the release of for a while and something that I'm sure he will face
questions about going forward.
ASHER: All right. Zach Cohen, thank you so much. Appreciate it.
All right. A former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking to the U.S. is now in a safe place after being pardoned by Donald Trump. That's
according to his wife who spoke to CNN after the release of Juan Orlando Hernandez from prison just last week.
Hernandez was sentenced last year to a 45-year sentence for trafficking. Hernandez's wife told CNN that she sees no contradiction in President
Trump's pardon despite the U.S. leading a military offensive against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:45:12]
ANA GARCIA DE HERNANDEZ, WIFE OF FORMER PRESIDENT JUAN ORLANDO HERNANDEZ: I don't think there is any contradiction in the decision of President Trump.
On the contrary, I think that what he's doing is that he's making -- he's doing justice. They didn't have any proof at all. They didn't have anything
against my husband. Just the work of narco traffickers who wanted to get revenge against my husband and wanted to go out of jail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Trump announced that he would pardon Hernandez last week. Ana Garcia de Hernandez added that it is unsafe for his husband to return to Honduras
right now. So his next steps are unclear.
All right. Coming up after the break. Chunky cats and chubby dogs could we come the next target of the next blockbuster weight loss drug. We look at
whether a new clinical trial could turn fat cats into (INAUDIBLE) Ozempics. That's next.
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ASHER: All right. There is an obesity crisis in the United States, of course. But being overweight can, of course, cause diabetes, arthritis and
heart disease.
And not just in people, also in our pets as well. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention says that 59 percent of dogs and 61 percent of cats in
the U.S. are either overweight or obese. These are some of the pictures of the fat dogs and cats of my team here on "One World."
Clearly, we love our pets so much. "The New York Times" reports that a California bio-pharmaceutical company plans to announce trials of GLP-1
drugs on cats. That's a category of drugs like Ozempic which have slimmed millions of people and now they may help our pets too.
The study is called the MEOW-1 and will use implants to deliver a constant dose of weight loss drugs for about six months.
So more on whether or not this new drug could actually turn our fat cats into (INAUDIBLE) Ozempic, let's bring in Ernie Ward, a veterinarian and
founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Ernie, thank you so much.
I mean, there was so much talk about this story on my team this morning on our morning call. Everyone has a pet. Everyone's had an obese cat or dog
apparently. So we're all really excited for this story.
[12:50:01]
One of the questions I have is that it's worth noting that it's not an injection, right? This is really important because I think that my biggest
concern when I heard about this was like, oh, gosh no. Are we going to have to inject our pets once a week like a lot of -- lot of, you know, humans
do?
But it's not bad. Just talk to us about how it works.
DR. ERNIE WARD, FOUNDER, THE ASSOCIATION FOR PET OBESITY PREVENTION: Yes. Well, this is a unique delivery system. And one (INAUDIBLE) really, you
know, has kind of pioneered in this space. And I think for the short version is it's like a little microchip. It's a tiny implant that goes
underneath the cat's skin. And it slowly secretes that drug over about a six-month period.
Now, I will comment that this is just one of many GLP-1s that are coming to market. Many are being explored in different, you know, varieties and
different contexts. Some will be injectable. Some might even be in the form of a pill or liquid in the future.
But I think one of the first things we have to do is say, is this going to be convenient and affordable for pet owners? And that's the question that
folks like me are asking.
ASHER: Just in terms of it being safe, I mean, obviously, Ozempic is, of course, largely safe. But there obviously are some side effects.
What does that look like when it comes to our pets, Ernie?
WARD: Right. And again, there's only been a few small pilot studies done. But the similar side effects to human profile, and that's going to be maybe
some upset stomach, some nausea, some cramping even, and some decrease in appetite.
Now, the good news is that, so far, all of the small studies have been conducted, we show very minimal side effects. But again, we need a larger
clinical trials to actually, you know, validate that finding.
But I think overall, I think I'm very, very optimistic about their use in dogs and cats in particular. And, you know, again, for the last 100 years,
we have only had two prescriptions we could give to pet parents. That was feed less and exercise more. And we know from countless studies and from
our own experience, that simply doesn't work for all forms of obesity.
ASHER: And then when it comes to the cost, I am curious as to how much pet owners are going to have to pay for this. You know, it's not necessarily
super cheap Ozempic, if you're paying even with -- even with insurance, in some cases, it can be quite pricey when you're paying once a week.
What's it going to cost pet owners?
WARD: Right. Well, the -- the actual drug that you referenced in the lead- in about the study that's being -- be conducted now is actually one of the first generations of GLPs, a drug called Exenatide.
And so these are off-patent. They're generically available. So that will help reduce the cost. This particular study, though, the cost barrier, may
come in the form of this special implant.
But again, we're still looking at, I think, a very affordable option. And remember, this isn't just for aesthetics. We're not trying to slim down
dogs and cats that you look good at the beach. We're actually trying to prevent suffering and progression of very serious consequences, including a
shortened life expectancy, cancer, a kidney failure, hypertension. I mean, diabetes. We have a whole laundry list of things we're trying to prevent.
And for me, I think where we will use this in the veterinary space is for those very severe cases where we have, you know, an urgency to use this
type of -- of drug. And I think it's going to actually manifest in so many other positive ways.
I mean, we're seeing so many additional claims on the human side, whether it's liver, kidney, even some behavioral impact. So I'm super optimistic.
I'm excited to see some of these trials and -- and really eager to see what the outcomes are.
ASHER: Yes. I mean, I think that it's so important to point that out, that there are real-world consequences to obesity in -- yes, in humans, of
course, but also in our pets, including shortened lifespan.
But talk to us about how on earth this idea came about, this idea of focusing a drug trial on obesity prevention in our beloved cats and dogs.
WARD: Right. And again, this is to treat obesity. And again, we use the term clinical obesity, which means there's now illness. There's suffering.
Quality of life is deteriorated. And again, there's a threat for a shortened life expectancy, as you mentioned.
And so where did this come from? I mean, folks like me, I mean, we founded the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention over 20 years ago.
So, you know, we've seen this problem. We just haven't had good solutions. So this is kind of that first ray of hope for millions and millions of pet
owners around the world. And so I'm super excited to see what happens.
I, again, am optimistic because this pathway seems to have so many positive benefits that I can just -- I can foresee a time in the near future when,
yes, we have that dog or cat who is suffering with the -- the clinical obesity.
We're now actually going to have a solution that can actually impact their life and, of course, give years back of -- of love and joy.
ASHER: And, Ernie, are you a beloved parent or dad of a fat cat? Do you have a super cuddly pet? I wish you had pictures. Wish we had pictures of
yours.
WARD: I know. I have a dog and a cat. And I will tell you that we are very mindful of their body conditions. And that is something that we are proud
of as you would imagine. You know, I certainly want my children to -- to -- to be taken care of.
But the reality is, you know, this is a struggle for most pet parents around the world. How much do I feed? When should I feed? What about treats
and all these types of things?
I mean, food is love and, unfortunately, obesity is multi-factorial. There are so many causes that sometimes just putting them on a diet isn't enough
to help treat that form of obesity.
[12:55:07]
ASHER: Good point. All right. Ernie Ward, love this story. Thank you. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
All right. Finally this hour, the curious case of the masked bandit who went on a drunken overnight rampage through a Virginia liquor store.
He wasn't hard to catch because he was actually passed out on the bathroom floor. Also because he was technically a raccoon.
A store employee found the naughty nocturnal nuisance next morning along with a lot of broken bottles. The raccoon was taken to animal control where
he sobered up and was later released back into the wild.
All right. That does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Zain Asher. Thank you so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next. You're watching CNN.
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