Return to Transcripts main page
One World with Zain Asher
U.S.- Ukraine Talks Expected to Continue in Miami Today; Sudan Facing New Wave of Atrocities in Years-Long Conflict; President Trump Arrives for FIFA World Cup Draw; Netflix Announces Deal to Buy Warner Bros. & HBO for $72B; CDC Advisers Vote to Abandon Hep B Vaccines for Newborns; Field of 48 Teams to Compete in U.S., Canada, Mexico. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired December 05, 2025 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: World Cup fever is about to hit fever pitch today, A+ for our riders. "One World" starts right now. The
stage is set for one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world today, that is FIFA's World Cup draw happening right here in the United
States.
Plus, Sudan's brutal civil war has sparked one of the worst humanitarian crises this century. I'll speak with UNICEF's Executive Director about
their efforts on the ground. And CDC Vaccine Advisers just voted to drop the Universal Recommendation for Hepatitis B vaccine at birth. We'll tell
you what that means.
Hello, everyone. Live from New York. I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching "One World". And the moment we're all waiting for
is starting in just a few moments time. It's beginning to get real, folks in one hour. The FIFA World Cup draw set to take place at the Kennedy
Center in Washington, DC.
1800 guests are expected, including world leaders, sports stars and celebrities in a very snowy U.S. capital. Today's draw should finalize the
tournament bracket and host venue for each game. Now, among the 48 teams involved, 42 have already secured their place.
The remaining spots will be determined in next spring's playoff matches. The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and
Mexico. While at the Kennedy Center, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican
President Claudia Sheinbaum.
In addition to the much-anticipated team draw, President Trump is expected to receive the first FIFA Peace Prize during the ceremony. So, let's kick
off things this hour with Amanda Davies from London. Amanda, as we said, one hour and counting now until the official draw begins.
Notable that it's happening at the Kennedy Center here in Washington, DC in the United States. I know there had been some expectation that, that may be
in Las Vegas. Instead, FIFA President chose to do it here so the president could attend himself and receive this peace prize. What more do we know
about that?
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yeah, I don't think it's any coincidence. Let's put it like that, that this World Cup draw, the draw for the biggest
and most expensive World Cup in history, is taking place in Washington, DC, in the backyard, really, of the White House just a stone's throw from the
White House.
It was back in 1993 ahead of the last World Cup that the U.S. hosted, that the draw took place in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace. It really set a new bar
in terms of the show that was put on, one that really hasn't been matched since, and this one is expected to do the same, but for very different
reasons.
It was back in 2018, that this tournament was awarded to the united bid. Somewhat ironically, now, when you look back to the trio of Mexico, Canada
and the United States, but so much has changed, not just in football in terms but in the political landscape as well, hasn't it?
Really from that second, I was going to say first inauguration speech, but first inauguration speech, second time around from President Trump, where
he talks about renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. We've had the talk of the annexation of Canada as the 51st state.
We've had the trade tariffs that have been imposed between these three countries as well. And this very, very visible relationship that has been
growing since 2018 between the FIFA President Gianni Infantino and, of course, the U.S. President Donald Trump. And we know that you need to have
a relationship with the leader of the host country of a World Cup in order to put on a successful sporting occasion.
We know that with the Olympics as well. But this really is an unprecedented relationship. We were at the Kremlin in 2018 ahead of the Russia World Cup
and Vladimir Putin appeared on stage, but the closeness of the relationship is nothing like what we've seen over the last few years between Infantino
and Trump.
[11:05:00]
And just days after President Donald Trump missed out on that Nobel Peace Prize which he'd made no secret of wanting to get his hands on world
football's governing body FIFA, announced for the first time that they were going to hand out the FIFA Peace Prize.
They haven't told us who is going to win it, but it was a very carefully worded statement that did have football in there, but also had the person
who has made the biggest impact on peace around the world in recent times. And I don't think the betting odds are too wide of the mark, Bianna.
In terms of who is going to get their hands on that trophy at the Kennedy Center. We understand that the trophy will be awarded before the official
start of the World Cup draw.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, what a coincidence perhaps, that this is FIFA's first peace prize here. Also, we know a few things about where and the dates and
which groups the host countries will be playing in. Tell us more about what we can expect and when we can watch Team USA, Team Mexico and Team Canada.
DAVIES: Yeah, I've been honored to host two FIFA Women's World Cup draws, ahead of the France World Cup and the last one in Australia and New
Zealand. I can tell you these things are not left to chance. They are planned within an inch of their lives. It's all about drawing out these the
balls, and inside the balls you have the strips of paper.
This one, of course, we're going to see more than ever before, 48 teams coming out of these balls. This was England. I was lucky enough to be given
as a little memento from Auckland. But, is always the host countries who come out first. So, if people are making their own spreadsheets, which you
have to do, particularly with 48 teams.
You can already write Mexico, the Canada and the USA. Mexico gets spot A1, Canada gets spot B1 and the USA gets spot D1, and there are lots of
different permutations, but there are rules and regulations. So, for example, you can only have one team per Football Confederation, aside from
Europe, because there are so many teams from Europe that will be in the draw.
So, it means, for example, the U.S. can't be in the same draw as Panama. They won't be in the same group, for example, as the Netherlands, who
knocked them out of the last edition of the tournament in Qatar, or indeed, the same group with Argentina, the defending champions, because they will
be another one in those groups, A to L.
But we've got these new teams in the mix this year who've never made it in the competition before, the likes of Curacao and Cape Verde, Uzbekistan and
Jordan. So, it's really going to be fascinating and really exciting for them to see their names come out of the hat for the first time.
This is where the real journey to July the 19th and that final in New Jersey gets underway.
GOLODRYGA: So, two other things that I learned in preparation for this segment, pot is the word of the day and the word of this draw specifically.
And so, the teams, as you noted, are going to be in those four different pots.
I also found out that the U.S. has decided that it's time to reveal their official mascot. It is a dog inspired by the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. The
dog has yet to be named, and they are running a competition now to name the dog. So, if you want to submit a potential name Amanda, you and I should
probably think of some creative names.
DAVIES: Yeah, give me -- I'll tell you what my brain is so full of fact, stats and footballing trivia I hadn't got as far as dog names. But give me
a few moments, and we'll get there.
GOLODRYGA: All right. All right. You've got a lot going on the next few hours. Very exciting indeed. Amanda Davies, thank you so much. We'll have
much more of CNN's World Cup draw special coverage later in the hour from the Kennedy Center. Vladimir Putin is on the second day of his state visit
to India, meant to shore up the long running partnership between Moscow and New Delhi.
And send what appears to be a message of defiance to the United States. Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the red carpet for the Russian
President when he arrived there you see him there New Delhi. The two leaders later signed a number of bilateral agreements, while also pledging
deepening economic trade and energy ties.
Putin also announced that Russia is ready to provide an uninterrupted supply of fuel to India, even as Washington pressures New Delhi to cut back
on Russian oil imports. It's Putin's first visit to India since his full- scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.
Well, the Kremlin, meanwhile, says that it continues to be open to negotiations on Ukraine, even as it signals once again that it will not
back down from its maximalist war demands. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier warned that the fighting will continue unless Kyiv accepts Moscow's terms,
according to Russian state media.
[11:10:00]
It follows talks between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner in Moscow this week. Meantime, talks
between the U.S. and Ukraine are expected to continue in Miami today. A Ukrainian official said the talks so far have been, quote, constructive.
CNN's Melissa Bell joins me now live from Paris. And Melissa all of this coming as we have new reporting about the White House quietly releasing
President Trump's new national security strategy late last night. It's a 33-page document that elevates his America first doctrine and sets out the
administration's realignment of U.S. foreign policy, from shifting military resources in the western hemisphere to taking an unprecedentedly
confrontational posture towards Europe.
How is this being received in Europe, where you are now?
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, curiously, given the documents, contents, which really are surprising in how directly
they attack European allies talking about the danger that European civilization, if the current trajectory continues, could disappear entirely
and calling for resistance on the European continent, really quite stark words that have met with a relatively muted response here in Europe.
I think there's a reluctance really, to provoke the anger of Washington. But what is interesting here is, first of all that the contents of this
document very much reflect what JD Vance had come and told Europeans face to face. He will remember at the Munich Security Conference back at the
start of the second President Trump term, telling them, warning them rather that the far-right parties were being silenced that the real danger facing
Europe was the --
There were things like migration and the fact that there was not listening closely enough to the popular support of those far-right governments. So,
this policy paper that very much follows that in a much more official way. And by the way, the other interesting thing here, Bianna, is that the last
time Washington published such a policy paper was back under the Biden Administration, and you couldn't have a different approach to Europe at the
time.
The explicit goal of the document had been to deepen our alliance with Europe. So that's how far things have come.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, no doubt, kind of diplomatic whiplash over the last few months, to say the least. And as you noted, Europeans are a bit anxious to
say anything publicly right now in fears of jeopardizing an already strained relationship with the U.S. in terms of supporting Ukraine.
Melissa Bell in Paris for us, thank you so much. And still to come for us, alarming developments in the war in Sudan, including reports that Sudanese
paramilitary forces are systematically holding people for ransom. Also be joined by Executive Director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, to talk about
the dire state of children in South Sudan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:15:00]
GOLODRYGA: There are a new wave of atrocities happening in Sudan Civil War. Witnesses and aid workers say the Sudanese paramilitary force that attacked
and overran a city in Darfur in October is systematically holding survivors for ransom, killing or beating those whose families cannot pay.
It's just the latest escalation of violence in a brutal civil war that has killed more than 150,000 people and forced millions to flee to border
countries in all directions. But many of those fleeing is desperate for aid, struggling to find food, water and shelter. CNN's Larry Madowo has
more on Sudan's crisis and what people there are facing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some have called it the world forgotten conflict. For nearly three years, Sudan's brutal civil war has
raged, leaving at least 150,000 dead, forcing millions more to flee their homes in an attempt to escape the worst of the violence, and sparking one
of the worst humanitarian crises this century.
Now, the United Nations and other groups are calling out an alarming escalation of the conflict by rebel group rapid support forces. The U.N.
Humanitarian Aid Chief visited the Western Sudan area where civilians have reported widespread abuse occurred.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: El Fasher, based on the testimonies I heard from many survivors, is basically a crime scene right now. Horror Show, absolute
horror show.
TOM FLETCHER, UNITED NATIONS AID CHIEF: There have been mass atrocities, mass executions, mass torture, sexual violence on a horrific scale. And of
course, the people escaping and then attacked on the roads as well.
MADOWO (voice-over): Rebels from the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, seized control of El Fasher in late October after 18 months of fighting with the
Sudanese military. Witnesses who managed to escape the violence described a bloodbath and accused RSF fighters of mass killings in the city.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 50 or 60 people in a single street, or 10 or 20 people, they kill them, bang, bang, bang, then they would go to the next street and
again, bang, bang, bang, that's a masker I saw in front of me.
MADOWO (voice-over): Amnesty International has called for a war crimes investigation into an April attack on the Zamzam Refugee Camp outside the
city, part of the RSF push to take El Fasher. And the RSF says it acknowledges what it calls for violations in El Fasher.
Tens of thousands of people are unaccounted for, according to the U.N. after nearly 100,000 people fled the city. Many of those who managed to
escape are women and children and the treacherous journey out often means more violence.
ANNA MUTAVATI, U.N. WOMEN REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA: There is mounting evidence that rape is being deliberately and
systematically used as a weapon of war. Women's bodies, ladies and gentlemen, have just become a crime scene in Sudan. There are no safe
spaces that are left.
MADOWO (voice-over): Even within the relative safety of a displacement camp, there's often too little to go around.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are very tired. There's no food or water. We came here some kind people help us little by little. We thank them, and may God
reward them for this. But we need more. We need more to be able to live.
MADOWO (voice-over): Last month at the request of Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would work for peace in Sudan.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We're going to start working in Sudan.
MADOWO (voice-over): But so far, despite some efforts at reaching a ceasefire deal, there is little evidence the war will end soon, with the
RSF now pushing into the buffer zone between its strongholds in the west and eastern areas held by the Sudanese military and without more aid,
there's also little sign that life will improve for the millions impacted by the fighting. Larry Madowo, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: As you saw in Larry's piece, more than a million refugees have fled from Sudan into South Sudan, which is already struggling amid conflict
and climate shocks. Joining me now is UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, who is in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, to raise awareness of
the dire situation for the country's children.
Thank you so much, Catherine, for joining us. You are spotlighting a crisis that is getting far less attention than the crisis that hasn't gotten
enough attention over the past 2.5 years, and that is the horrific civil war in Sudan. But when you talk about what you've seen from your visit
there, now I know that there was flood submerged communities in Bentiu and the Juba's Children's Hospital.
[11:20:00]
What are you seeing that the world is not in terms of how this is impacting the children of South Sudan?
CATHERINE RUSSELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNICEF: Well, thanks, Bianna. And I think your description is exactly right, which is as forgotten as Sudan
is, which it certainly is. South Sudan is even more forgotten, if that's possible. Really, what I'm seeing here is almost a perfect storm of
problems.
One, they have sort of residual conflict. You know, the country is so young. It was only established about 14 years ago, and so a lot of
challenges still conflicts among the different groups who are here, and that has been escalating lately, and we're worried about that.
As you said, there are refugees who are coming back, some South Sudanese who were in Sudan, who were coming back, and some Sudanese who are just
fleeing the violence in Sudan. And as you also mentioned, we have these incredible climate shocks here today.
And you mentioned, I was in Bentiu today, which is kind of pretty far away from where I am right now. It's a very remote part of the country, and I
was amazed to see these just huge bodies of water. And two years ago, a year and a half ago, those were places where people were living.
And so, the enormous flooding that has come into this country and really changed the nature of the communities where people are working is
incredibly challenging. And then to add to that, of course, you know the government here is -- there's low domestic financing of the work that needs
to get done, which is something that we're worried about.
And as you also mentioned, that there's a dip in international funding, and that's all of that is coming together here in a very troubling way. Because
I think if this country could easily tip one way or another, and we're hopeful, but very worried about what's going to happen here?
GOLODRYGA: And of course, the most vulnerable victims are always the children there. More than 2.1 million South Sudanese children under the age
of five are at risk of malnutrition. 1.3 million people now fleeing Sudan's war have crossed the border into an already strained community.
How is the spillage from Sudan's war impacting the full-blown humanitarian crisis that potentially is just weeks, if not months away in South Sudan.
RUSSELL: Well, exactly. And I think the challenge here is this is already such a poor country that has incredible challenges on its own, and to have
other people coming in here is just exacerbating that, but just, I'll give you an example. Yesterday, I was in Juba, I went to a pediatric hospital.
It's the only pediatric hospital in the entire country, and you know, it was teaming with children. And the sad thing about it was almost every
child I saw had something that was a preventable disease, right, whether it was malaria, diarrhea, things like that.
And so, it's just really heartbreaking to see that, because there are children who, if they lived in the United States or other places, would be
just fine. But here, the resources are so limited, and it's just an incredibly challenging situation. So, imagine adding more to that, right,
that exacerbates the conflicts and it also is a much bigger strain on the resources.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, and we're seeing satellite evidence of the massacre that has been reported in El Fasher to the north of you right now, in Sudan, as
your U.N. colleague described it, a massive crime scene. Tens of thousands, perhaps over 100,000 are unaccounted for.
And UNICEF is warning of a siege now across the region, there in Kordofan, as it relates to what is reported to be, I think, 130,000 if not more
children that are trapped in El Fasher right now, what -- and the RSF had said weeks ago that they would allow aid to come in. That has yet to
happen. What is your biggest concern about those children?
RUSSELL: Yeah, well, I'm actually headed to Sudan tomorrow, interestingly, so I have a better sense of it. But, you know, I would say two things. One
is that the thing that's different about Sudan from South Sudan is Sudan is so big, so the size of the challenges is enormous.
The number of children who are displaced, the number of children who are facing incredible violence is just enormous, and that is incredibly
concerning. Second thing is, the nature of the violence is absolutely horrific. And I was in Chad a couple of months ago, and heard from people
who were coming across the border into Chad, and the stories I heard about the nature of the sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls was
really horrific.
And I think we're seeing that in El Fasher and that region. And I think, you know, as a general matter, you know, when you see sexual violence like
that used as a weapon of war, it's absolutely unacceptable, horrific. And I think the challenges that, that will -- present to those women and girls in
the future are really dramatic. I worry a lot about it.
[11:25:00]
You know, as I said, we're seeing some of that in South Sudan, but the scale of it in Sudan is absolutely horrific.
GOLODRYGA: And speaking of South Sudan, I'd like to get you to react to what's happened in Washington here with the U.S. government now revoking
temporary protected status for some 5000 South Sudanese who have lived here in the United States, given how fragile the situation is in South Sudan
right now.
If you are seeing the forced return of potentially thousands of people back to South Sudan as they're now already taking in so many that are fleeing
the Civil War to the north, what are your biggest concerns?
RUSSELL: Well, you know, the interesting thing is, since I've been here, I've heard a lot about how the United States was so essential to the
establishment of South Sudan, right? Was absolutely integral to the country being started, and I think has had a very close relationship with it over
the years.
When I was at a hospital today, I saw really important products that were being provided by the U.S. government to address the malnutrition issues.
So, I'd like to focus on the positive sides of that relationship. And I think the United States has played a critical role here, an important role,
and I hope that that will continue in the future.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, that's why I think it was reassuring for so many, perhaps late, but better than never to hear the president, as he was welcoming
Mohammed bin Salman, say that this is going to be an area that they're going to be spending more time focusing on.
Catherine Russell, thank you so much for your time. Really appreciate it. Thank you for the work that you're doing --
RUSSELL: -- Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
GOLODRYGA: Right. Welcome back to "One World". I'm Bianna Golodryga in New York. Here are some headlines we're watching today. A star-studded FIFA
World Cup draw gets under way at the Kennedy Center in Washington just moments from now. 48 teams are competing.
42 have already secured their place in the tournament. They'll be drawn into 12 groups of four teams each. The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by
the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The U.S. military has carried out yet another strike on an alleged drug boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing four people.
At least 87 people have now been killed in a series of U.S. strikes on suspected drug vessels. Thursday's attack comes amid congressional scrutiny
of a September strike in which two survivors were killed when U.S. forces carried out follow up strikes. Israel's military says it struck Hezbollah
targets in Southern Lebanon on Thursday.
Ahead of the attack, the IDF ordered the evacuation of two buildings it says were being used by the militants to store weapons. A day earlier,
civilian envoys from both countries reportedly held their first direct talks in decades. And now big news in the media world, Netflix announced a
$72 billion deal to buy Warner Brothers Discovery, which is also the parent company of CNN.
As part of the deal, Netflix will also acquire assets like HBO Max streaming. The deal will now face serious review. And let's take you now to
President Trump, who has just arrived at the Kennedy Center for the FIFA World Cup draw slated to begin, as we noted at the top of the hour, let's
go there live.
If reporters there as he is making his way live for the draw. He is accompanied by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who had wanted to make sure
that President Trump could actually participate and be here firsthand. Let's listen in to the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: -- fan of Gianni, as you know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you hoping to receive that?
TRUMP: Excuse me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you hoping to receive the peace prize?
TRUMP: Well, I don't like to say hope, but it would be a great honor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What can fans expect of like the World Cup in the U.S.?
TRUMP: I think it's going to be fantastic. We've set every record you can set.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are you telling people who are worried?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- about him.
TRUMP: I think he has done a fantastic job.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you going to be meeting with the President of Mexico today and the Prime Minister of Canada as well? Will you be
discussing immigration and trade with them?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: All right. There you see the president taking a few questions and standing alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who he has
cultivated quite a close relationship with, said that he is doing an incredible job as FIFA President. President was also asked about the first
of its kind, FIFA Peace Prize, which will be awarded as well, asking if he is expected to receive that Peace Prize.
He said it would be great, but it is notable, especially given that the president has really expressed interest in receiving a Nobel Peace Prize.
Let's go back in for some more Q and A with reporters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: -- taking Kennedy Senate. It was in very bad shape. Now it's getting to be really good, and then six months is going to be incredible. The
improvements we've made.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First time for the U.S. post since the 90s --
TRUMP: I'm ready for it, and they're ready for it. And Gianni has done a fantastic job with FIFA. And we're looking to have, you know, we said we
have already set records for picket scenes. I don't think there's ever been anything like it in any sport -- Major records have been said --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- today is not football, American football, it's soccer --
TRUMP: That's right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- big day.
TRUMP: It's just a big day, and it's a great sport, and it really is coming to America and never, nobody ever thought a thing like this could happen.
And I'm very happy to say that we've already set the all-time record on ticket sales long before the first ball was kicked.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 100 percent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've had some concerns about crime in American cities, some of the cities that will be hosting. Have they remedied that for you?
Are you still considering maybe asking FIFA to move some of those cities?
TRUMP: No, I don't want to do that, but I will tell you, if they do have a problem, by the time we get there, we'll take care of that problem. We can
solve that problem. I've proven that in DC and everywhere else we went, so we'll take care of that very easily.
[11:35:00]
So, if they have a problem, hopefully they'll let us know that and we will solve any problem. OK, thank you. Congratulations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: All right there the president on his way in for that draw, which will begin just 25 minutes from now. Also in attendance, the Prime Minister
of Canada and the President of Mexico, three co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup.
All right, we'll be monitoring this for you, and, of course, bringing you special coverage as that draw begins in just 25 moments time. But in the
meantime, let's get back to the Netflix news announcing a $72 billion deal to buy Warner Brothers Discovery, our parent company, as we noted.
CNN's Media Analyst Brian Stelter joins me now. Brian, big news, big day. Just 48 hours ago, it seemed like this was all about Paramount purchasing
all of Warner Brothers Discovery, wow, have things changed overnight. Talk more about the significance of this deal has been and for Netflix to make
its largest acquisition ever.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Yeah -- president will be asked about -- Yeah, I was hoping the president will be asked about this because
one of the reasons Paramount was viewed as the front runner is because of Paramount's mutually beneficial relationship with the Trump Administration.
This deal involving the Warner Brothers movie studio, the HBO streaming service, it is going to be viewed very skeptically by regulators in the
U.S. inside the Trump Administration, and by regulators in Europe and elsewhere. This is going to be a very heavy lift for Netflix.
Paramount was arguing privately and sometimes even publicly that it had an advantage because of its relationship with the Trump Administration, and
basically behind the scenes, Paramount was saying we're the only bidder that's going to pass muster with Trump. Netflix is not going to get
approved.
So now here we are. We don't know what's going to happen because Warner Brothers Discovery has chosen Netflix's bid. My reporting overnight was
that Netflix made the highest bid for the Warner Brothers and HBO assets. And what this means is that the Warner Brothers Discovery breakup that was
announced earlier this year is going to happen.
This is a breakup of the company into two publicly traded halves. CNN, other channels, are going to go off into a company called Discovery Global
that's going to be unrelated to the Netflix deal. And then Warner Brothers and HBO, they're going to go off into Warner Brothers, and that's the part
of the company, the part of the house that Netflix is going to try to buy.
Netflix clearly believes it needs to get even bigger. It's already the streaming king, but it is thinking three or four or five years down the
road. It views companies like Google's YouTube and Amazon as big rivals. So, it sees a once in a generation chance here to bulk up and own a big
movie studio.
And the question now, Bianna, is whether the Trump Administration and whether regulators in Brussels are going to let it happen.
GOLODRYGA: -- faces a gauntlet of anti-trust scrutiny, as you noted, not just here in the United States, and you're right to want to hear the
president weigh in. I'm sure at some point he will, but also international. I mean, you've got Netflix that has some 300 million subscribers around the
world.
Brian Stelter, breaking it all down for us, thanks so much. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
GOLODRYGA: All right, turning now to a critical vote on vaccinations in the United States, members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
voted to abandon the Universal Recommendation for Hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns and infants.
What that means? Well, parents who test negative for the virus will be able to decide when and if their children receive it. The committee is also
recommending that it not be given to an infant younger than two months old. Now keep in mind, the panel was hand-picked by Health Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr., a long-time anti vaccine activist who fired 17 members of the advisory committee this summer, replacing them with his own picks.
Joining us now from Philadelphia, the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Paul Offit. He's
also a member of the FDA Vaccine Advisory Committee. Dr. Offit, it's good to see you. So now it is official. We have ACIP recommending to end its
long-standing advice that all babies get Hepatitis B shots at birth.
This was widely expected. The vote was eight to three. Of the three who voted against this was a widely respected member of this panel and most
experienced Dr. Cody Meissner who said after the vote, quote, we are doing harm. Do you agree? And what harm specifically is being done?
DR. PAUL OFFIT, VACCINE EDUCATION CENTER DIRECTOR OF PHILADELPHIA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: I agree completely. I mean, back in 1991 when we had a
universal birth dose recommendation for children in the United States. At that time, there were 30,000 children less than 10 years of age who had
Hepatitis B.
Half of them got it from their mothers, passing through a birth canal of a mother that had Hepatitis B. So obviously, you want to maintain that birth
dose for anybody where the mother is infected with Hepatitis B. But the other half, the other 15,000 didn't get it from their mother.
They got it from relatively casual contact with someone who had Chronic Hepatitis B, of whom there are millions of people in this country, casual
contact, meaning, you know, shared wash cloths, towels, things like tooth brushes or nail clippers. That's how 15,000 children got that virus every
year in this country.
Once we had the birth dose as a universal recommendation, we had a dramatic decline. But this committee doesn't understand that they don't understand
the epidemiology this virus. You had people getting up there saying, you know, if your mother is not positive for Hepatitis B, you're not going to
get the disease.
What are they talking about? This isn't aids. This virus is 50 to 100 times more contagious than AIDS. It lives on surfaces. You just have to have
somebody who has a Chronic Hepatitis B infection who you're around, and that could happen with a nanny or with in daycare or with family and
friends.
You don't know. That's why you have a universal recommendation. This was a bad day for children in the United States.
GOLODRYGA: What we do know is that more than 90 percent of infants who contract Hepatitis B go on to develop chronic life-long infection. One in
five pregnant women in the U.S. is never screened. Given these realities, what is the scientific basis, if any, for their conclusion today?
OFFIT: None, absolutely none. I mean, there's -- when they say things like, we don't recommend this vaccine before two months of age, the vaccine is as
safe and as effective at birth, as it is at two months of age. So that didn't make any sense. Also, about 25 percent of children one to five years
of age, if they get infected, and there were many that were infected, go on to develop cirrhosis, chronic liver disease or liver cancer.
So that shortens their life. That's what they have just done with this recommendation. I can only hope that the medical and scientific community
completely ignores this recommendation, and that groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics stand up for children and say this is a nonsensical
recommendation.
GOLODRYGA: Well, the American Academy of Pediatrics, we should note, declined to participate in this nearly every living Former FDA Commissioner
says the administration's new vaccine standards threaten to undermine scientific integrity and slow lifesaving vaccines.
We saw non experts presenting key data today. You have called this highly reputable in the past panel a clown show, now. What does it do to the
integrity of this organization and those that have spent so many years like yourself working to save lives and follow the science and the data.
[11:45:00]
OFFIT: Well, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is the Secretary of Health and Human Services. As you noted, he fired 17 members of the ACIP, Advisory Committee
for Immunization Practices and replace them with anti-vaccine activists for the most part. Many anti vaccine activists, and he shredded the CDC in
terms of their surveillance capacity and other capacity.
So, I think you can no longer trust the ACIP. You can no longer trust the CDC. You have people who are Former CDC Directors, like Rochelle Walensky
or Tom Frieden saying they don't trust the CDC anymore. So, we've lost basically our most important public health agency because we chose to
confirm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is Secretary of Health and Human Services.
And until somebody has the guts to stand up, who's in power to ask for him to step down, we're going to continue to suffer this.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, and these Former FDA Commissioners, we should note, served in both Republican and Democratic administration. So, this was a bipartisan
appeal for what ended up happening today, regardless of those who protested it, like yourself. Dr. Paul Offit that this puts more of the onus on
parents and their doctors, for sure.
Thank you so much for the time. Appreciate it.
OFFIT: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: And still to come for us, it's the most wonderful time of the year for many world football fans, as we've been covering the draw for the
FIFA World Cup just moments away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: We are just minutes away from the beginning of the 2026 Men's World Cup draw. We just saw President Trump and FIFA President Gianni
Infantino walking the red carpet. The United States, Mexico and Canada are co-hosting the event scheduled for next summer.
For the first time, an expanded total of 48 teams will be drawn into 12 groups of four. Don Riddell is outside the snowy Kennedy Center. Andy
Scholes is standing by at a viewing party at the Fado. Is it Fado Irish Pub in Atlanta? Don, let's Fado, I'm being told. Don, let's begin with you.
A snowy day there in Washington, very cold temperatures. That hasn't stopped tons of people from coming to watch this moment unfold. Tell us
what you're seeing behind you and what you've heard from those that are lucky enough to be there.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Hey, there. Yeah, well, look, I mean, not everybody is going to be here at the draw, to be honest, it's very, very
difficult to get in the Presidents U.S., sorry the U.S. President Donald Trump's involvement means that the security is intense.
[11:50:00]
So, it was a job just trying to get into through the perimeter and into the Kennedy Center here today, as you can see, it is a winter wonderland. It is
cold, it is snowing, but we are expecting things to warm up very soon, because this draw is almost upon us. This is one of the biggest days in
global soccer, one of the biggest days in world sport.
This is the day that the World Cup starts to feel real. The teams who have qualified have been spending a long time playing their games and making
sure that they're in the hat for the draw today. But this is when it feels real. I'm just being handed by my producer here, the little chart that I
will be following along with.
This is how I'll be tracking who's been drawn into what groups. We always talk about groups of death. Nobody wants to get a tough draw with a lot of
very, very highly ranked opponents, which might mean that your tournament ends in the group stage. So, everybody is hoping for a good draw, but once
the draw is done today, once the schedule has been published tomorrow with the venues and the timings of all the games, that is when everybody can
start making their plans.
But this event today here will be absolutely massive. It's a who's who of figures from the world of Global Football delegations from all over the
world are here, as you would expect. Former players are here for the draw, and some are involved in the draw. You have legends of other sports like
Tom Brady and Shaquille O'Neal and Aaron Judge.
They're here as well. And of course, this is the world, or this is the event where sport and politics collide for so many different reasons.
Donald Trump alongside the Mexican President and the Canadian Prime Minister for the first time since the threat and the conversation about
trade tariffs began earlier this year.
A lot of countries here hoping that they're going to be able to attend the tournament. Haiti and Iran, for example, those countries are currently on
the U.S. travel ban list. So, it's going to be almost impossible for their fans to attend these games. So, so many factors are in the conversation,
but the most important thing is the draw and who gets who for the tournament next summer.
GOLODRYGA: Don't forget the first ever FIFA Peace Prize. I don't think many people are --
RIDDELL: I could not figure -- sorry.
GOLODRYGA: -- in anticipation of who will be the recipient of that award. Let's go to Andy Scholes now in a much warmer and no offense to Don, but I
think much more exciting venue, because it may be a who's who in Washington, but it's really where the fans are, where the most fun is
typically had.
What will they be looking out for? I mean, there's so much unknown, but what we do know is the date and of the games that the host countries will
be playing, and that is the United States, Canada and Mexico.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Yeah, Bianna, the fans here in Atlanta could not be more excited, you know, Atlanta, very international
city. I've talked to fans. They live here now, from Brazil, from Argentina. They could not be more excited that they now live here, and the World Cup
is coming to them.
Now, here in Atlanta, you can see there's lots of people here ready to watch this group draw, and they've got a big stage, big screen up here
ready, where you can watch it. Atlanta is going to have eight World Cup games, including a semifinal. So only the City of Arlington, Texas is going
to host more games than the City of Atlanta.
Now, Brad Guzan, who was a goalie for Team USA, played 15 years on the team. He's here today, you know, he suited up for the red, white and blue,
and I caught up with him, and I asked him just what does he think about this tournament being here in the country, and how excited is he to be a
part of hosting the World Cup?
Hi, Brad, as someone who has put on the red, white and blue, and represented the U.S. in a World Cup, you know, how excited are you to have
the tournament here in the country this time around?
BRAD GUZAN, FORMER AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER: Yeah, it's huge. It's huge, not only for our country, but for the City of Atlanta. And
listen, as someone that's been there and have had that experience of being a part of a World Cup team. I'm more excited as a fan of the game and a fan
of the sport.
And so, to have it here, especially after today with the draw, and then knowing what the groups are going to look like and then who's going to be
coming to play here in Atlanta, I think that's when the real excitement starts to become that much more real.
SCHOLES: Yeah, and of course, you know all the fans here would love for a deep run in this tournament for Team USA. In your mind, what would be a
successful World Cup for the team?
GUZAN: Yeah. I mean, listen, of course, the quarter final, right is where we're probably shooting. But why not being on home soil? Why not shoot for
the stars and go as far as we can?
[11:55:00]
I think when you look at the entire support, the country has shown towards our team, the feeling that the players are going to have, knowing that
support is there. I think, like I said, shoot for the stars, and I really feel like it could be an exciting 2026.
SCHOLES: Do you feel like with the games on home soil, is that extra pressure? Is that something the team is going to have to not think about,
or can they use that?
GUZAN: I think it's definitely not extra pressure. I think it's something they can use. They have to use it knowing that the entire country is behind
them, and they're here, right? It's in their backyard. I remember being down in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil and 14, and seeing the video,
seeing the support coming from all of our fans and supporters back in the U.S.
And so now to have that right here in our backyard, happening live. It's going to be an amazing feeling.
SCHOLES: Group draw today. What are you most looking forward to?
GUZAN: Obviously, we all want to know what -- who ends up in the U.S. is group, right? That's first and foremost. But then the exciting part the
group of death, the teams. This is going to be the largest World Cup ever, the largest sporting event ever in the history of sport, and so to see the
exciting groups.
The teams are going to be coming to Atlanta, I think, like I said, this is when the feeling becomes that much more real, and you start to be able to
put your finger on the pulse.
SCHOLES: Yeah, and Bianna, I talked to a number of U.S. fans out here, they all said, of course, they don't want the group of death, but they would
like a big-time challenge in one of those early games to get them ready for, hopefully, what's going to be a deep run here in the World Cup.
GOLODRYGA: And I have to say, my mom on the same wave length there with Brad saying, texting me, I hope the U.S. gets a good draw. Don't we all?
Don Riddell, Andy Scholes, thanks so much. Have fun today, guys. And just stay with CNN. Our -- World Cup draw special coverage is up next with Isa
Soares.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
