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One World with Zain Asher
U.S. Moving Carrier Strike Group To Middle East Amid Iran Tensions; Demonstrations Against The Regime Have Reportedly Decreased; CNN Poll: Trump Focused On The Wrong Priorities; South Korea's Ex-President Sentenced To Five Years In Prison; Whirlwind Week Of Foreign Policy For Trump Administration; Doctor's Advice For a Long And Healthy Life; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired January 16, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[12:00:52]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Not if but when. The son of Iran's last shah says the Islamic Republic will fall and he will be returning to the
country. Second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE WALTZ, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: Everyone in the world needs to know that the regime is weaker than ever before.
They are afraid. They're afraid of their own people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: The protests in Iran appear to have died for now, died down, but the U.S. is still moving additional military assets to the region.
Also ahead, not making the grade. A brand-new CNN poll shows most Americans think Trump's first year is a failure.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One year and one day later, the ex-president is found guilty of obstruction of justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Decision reached. The former president of South Korea found guilty of using his presidential bodyguards to evade arrest.
So, what happens next could make South Korean history.
And later, six simple rules for a long and healthy life. Why one of America's leading doctors says it's important to eat your ice cream as
well.
Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
Nearly three weeks after massive anti-government protests broke out nationwide in Iran, the streets appear to be a bit calmer today. And there
are signs of return to normalcy, though we still don't have internet access or insight into the country.
You can see here, though, some Iranians returning home after crossing into the border in Turkey, but with a near total internet blackout. It's really
hard to get incredible information about what is going on on the streets.
And the question remains, is President Trump still considering a military attack after promising Iranians earlier this week that help is on the way?
The Pentagon announced a carrier strike group is now headed to the Middle East.
And on Thursday, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said all options remain on the table. And he also had this word of warning to Tehran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTZ: Regardless of its excuses, and you will hear many today from the Iranian regime and from its friends, the regime is solely, solely
responsible for the economic misery of the Iranian people and the repression of their freedom, and they will be held accountable.
Iran security officials say 3,000 people have been arrested so far, but activists report that the number is much higher, more like 18,000 people
detained and nearly 2,500 others killed.
Earlier, the exiled son of Iran's last Shah held a news conference and made this prediction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REZA PAHLAVI, SON OF IRAN'S FORMER LEADER: The truth is now undeniable. The so-called Islamic Republic is not the government of Iran. It is a hostile
occupying force that's hijacked our homeland.
The Islamic Republic will fall, not if, but when.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: CNN's Zachary Cohen joins me now live in Washington with more.
So, Zachary, the president is still making clear, as is the White House, that all options remain on the table. We have a carrier strike group now
headed to the region. One was there last June when the U.S. participated alongside Israel and striking Iran's nuclear facilities. That had since
been moved and a lot of assets moved to the Caribbean.
What message is the White House hoping to send with this redeployment now?
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes. Moving this carrier strike group really is a signal to the Iranian regime that they're
serious. They're serious about not ruling out potential military strikes if Donald Trump decides to go that route.
But it's also not an indication necessarily that military action is imminent. And that's something that's an important distinction military
planners often will move a carrier strike group along with additional other assets to a region during a period of heightened tensions, which obviously
we are currently in here in the Middle East.
[12:05:11]
Look, a carrier strike group provides Donald Trump with additional options, both kinetic and also defensive capabilities to protect the U.S. forces
that are already there in the region, in the Middle East, during this period of time.
It's important for people to remember that a carrier strike group is not just an aircraft carrier and the air - and the airplanes that are on
boarded, but it also has additional ships that move with it. They move as a -- as a joint group. That -- that includes guided missile destroyers, anti-
submarine vessels, anti-aircraft warships, various -- various tools that the U.S. military could use if Donald Trump does give the order to follow
through.
And I think that's the big question here still though, right, is will Donald Trump take that step? And what does he need to see happen on the
ground in Iran in order to do otherwise?
And I think we heard from the president earlier this week that he wants the killing on the ground in Iran to stop. He wants the Iranian regime
ultimately to collapse. And there's a question as to whether or not a military strike could accomplish that goal, especially the latter, and
whether a military strike would ultimately shift or change the situation on the ground in a way that pushes the momentum in favor of the opposition.
Obviously, the Iranian regime is publicly saying that they intend to pause several scheduled executions of protesters that they've arrested. There's
not really an indication though -- a clear indication as to whether or not the killing on the ground of protesters that we've seen has stopped though,
and that's something that if it continues, we could see Donald Trump take that next step to kinetic action.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Zach Cohen, thank you so much.
Meanwhile, sources say nearly 5,000 fighters from powerful Iraqi militias have crossed into Iran over the past few weeks to help the regime with its
crackdown.
CNN's Ben Wedeman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're on this spot overlooking the border between Iran and Iraq. In this area, there's a
border crossing. The border crossing we're told is open. It's operating as usual. It's a Friday, the weekend. So there isn't much cross-border
traffic.
As far as what's going on inside of Iran, the reports are that the demonstrations against the regime have decreased in recent days.
However, this morning we had an opportunity to speak to an individual who just day before yesterday managed to flee Iran. He is wanted by the
authorities for participating in those anti-government demonstrations. And he told us that demonstrations are still going on, not perhaps the same
tempo as before.
And fundamentally, the reasons for those demonstrations have not changed. Anger with a crumbling economy, government corruption and mismanagement,
anger at continued decades long, isolation of Iran, and of course anger at an aging regime that doesn't seem willing to change.
And so he said the anticipation is those demonstrations will flare up again, not clear when, because this is a regime that has simply lost its
legitimacy.
Meanwhile, we're hearing that the United States is dispatching additional forces in the direction of Iran, perhaps making good on President Trump's
promise that help is on the way.
At the moment, however, it's not clear if this is simply an attempt to put pressure on Iran or the beginning of initial moves to actually attack the
country.
I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting on the Iran-Iraq border.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Turning now to Uganda, where police say at least seven people have been killed in violence overnight after Thursday's presidential
elections, which looks set to propel Uganda's longtime leader into a fifth decade of rule.
Partial results announced by the Electoral Commission show President Yoweri Museveni leading with over 75 percent of the vote. His main challenger,
Bobi Wine, is trailing far behind. Here's what one resident said about the candidates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDWARD GALIWANGO, KAMPALA RESIDENT: I will tell you, my leader, who is the current president, to me, is a wonderful person. But I would really, really
say, we need someone new. We need someone fresh. He needs to guide the new person into leadership.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: CNN's Larry Madowo is in Nairobi for us. And, Larry, tacit side of endorsement or support for the current president, but there, that young
Ugandan also acknowledging that there needs to be a change in leadership.
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. But President Museveni's campaign slogan has been protecting the gains. And that is the narrative
that his ruling party has been selling, that President Museveni has brought stability and economic growth and peace to Uganda. And he needs to continue
to do that.
[12:10:13]
Well, past the 40 years, he's already been running the country. And these results released by the Electoral Commission in Uganda show President
Museveni on track to win a record seventh term.
At the end of this term, if he does go on to win, he will have been in power for 45 years. The latest results from the Electoral Commission in
Uganda show President Museveni with nearly 75 percent of the votes in this election. They've given him 75 percent of the votes. So far, that's about
6.3 million votes.
And Bobi Wine, his closest challenger, just 21 percent of the votes or 1.7 million votes. That 70 percent of all polling stations counted. So at this
rate, President Museveni will essentially win the presidential election in Uganda overnight.
But Bobi Wine, that poster-turned politician, who's challenging for the second time, is already dismissing these results. He put out a tweet a
short while ago, and again, remember the internet research shut down in Uganda for the last four days now and Bobi Wine says, "Ignore the fake
results being announced by the Electoral Commission chief. He can't tell anybody where those results are coming from. Our agents at the tally center
are asking him for the source of these results and the regime enabler can't say a thing. The people of Uganda will have the final say on this
nonsense."
And Bobi Wine did tell CNN this week that if President Museveni rigs this election at the science points to him doing, the people of Uganda must rise
up and demand their victory. And it seems that moment is going soon come when the results are announced. They have to be announced by Saturday
afternoon. So there's a short while before that official announcement is put in place.
Many young people support Bobi Wine. And they've been calling for a protest vote against the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni and they see him
as having essentially captured Uganda, the military, the police, the state institutions for him and his family.
And the young people feel disenfranchised. And they've seen hope in Bobi Wine and that hope again dimmed for a second time if these election results
go on to be the final results. And there will be many disappointed people in Uganda.
I saw many of them at Bobi Wine rallies. They were energized by him. There's calling the people's president, the ghetto president. And they
thought with him that have a new chance. It seemed that chance will not be this time, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Larry Madowo reporting live for us. Thank you.
And Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says that the country faces complex delicate and challenging times ahead, but that she's grateful
to the American people and the U.S. president for their support.
Machado spoke at a conservative think tank in Washington D.C. just moments ago following her high stakes meeting with President Trump on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA CORINA MACHADO, VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER: As Venezuelans we are absolutely grateful to President Trump, his team, his administration, and
the people of the United States because it took a lot of courage to do what he did. And he did it, yes, on behalf of the American people but also
because he cares for the people of Venezuela. And he told me that yesterday.
And I think that was the most important message. I can bring back to my country. Tell the Venezuelan people that the American people and the
president of the United States truly cares for the life, the well-being, and the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Machado brought a gift to the U.S. president when she visited Thursday and that is her Nobel Peace Prize. Machado says gifting her Nobel
was an emotional moment.
The Nobel committee, for its part, says that the award is not transferable. That meeting came on the same day as Venezuela's acting president Delcy
Rodriguez met CIA director John Ratcliffe in Caracas.
Well, a new CNN polling shows a change in how Americans view President Trump and it's not good. The majority believes Trump is focused on the
wrong priorities and doing too little on the things they care about namely the economy. And overall, his approval rating is just 39 percent.
CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten joins us now. Harry, the president underwater here. It's really interesting. You look at these numbers. And
then you do a split screen when you listen to the president speak as he did in Detroit saying the economy is the best it's ever been. And that his
administration is the best this country has ever been even joking if there's no need for elections after this. Just walk us through the numbers
in this poll.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes. I -- I think the president of the United States has one perception. And the American people have an entirely
different perception which seems to be sort of this thing that has just been going on and on and on basically since the start of Trump's second
term.
Look, it's the big F word when it comes to Donald Trump. That's how the American people see his second term so far in office F-A-I-L, fail, fail.
[12:15:02]
What are we talking about here? Well, let's take a look here. OK. Trump's term has been or was a failure success. You know, you go back to term
number one, right? And you look back when Donald Trump was running for a second term.
The majority of Americans said that his first term was a success, 55 percent, 44 percent said a failure.
But look at this. Look how Americans are viewing Trump term number two. We're talking about 58 percent who view Trump term number two is a failure.
What a shift from 44 percent to 58 percent in terms of failure. And the success way, way down from 55 percent to 42 percent.
Now, this is a very damning statistic. But I think it's really important to put this into some historic context. Other folks who are in term two at
this point one year in. Of course, Trump has had two different presidencies. This was a continuous run for the other presidents that
appear on your screen here. But still, I think it's really indicative of what's going on.
Term has or has been a failure. Have been a failure. Look at this. Trump term two, first year, 58 percent say a failure. That is the highest
percentage on record of any of the presidents in which we've asked this question in the CNN or the Pew Research Center.
Fifty-two percent said Bush's presidency had been a failure. And that was, of course, after Katrina, after the Iraq war had already basically turned
into a quagmire. Barack Obama was 48 percent. Bill Clinton on a completely other planet, 26 percent said his term has been a failure.
The bottom line is Donald Trump is being seen as a failure one year in a term two unlike any other president on record. He's even doing worse this
58 percent than Joe Biden was one year in a term number one but just by a point.
But compared to the other presidents one year in a term two, it is just on a completely other planet. I -- I said at the beginning here, F-A-I-L.
Now, why? Why, Bianna, is it seen as a failure? Well, you know, just take a look at the economy. Net approval rating on the economy one year in a term
two. Look who's at the bottom of your screen at minus 19 points on the net approval rating. It is Donald John Trump. Minus 19 points. Lower than
George W. Bush at minus 15. Lower than Barack Obama minus 14.
A completely other planet from Ronald Reagan at plus 17. And Bill Clinton, look at that, plus 35 points net approval on the economy.
Donald Trump, what is that? Do some quick math with me here is 50 points, more than 50 points below where Bill Clinton was.
The bottom line is this, the American people see right now Trump term number two one year in as a failure. But now, I'm going to turn this around
and say, I think every time I'm -- I'm with you, it's a success.
GOLODRYGA: And I'm wishing you success tomorrow for your Buffalo Bills.
ENTEN: Yes, please.
GOLODRYGA: They take on the Broncos.
ENTEN: Yes.
GOLODRYGA: I hope you do the same for me on Sunday as New England is taking on the Texans.
ENTEN: We will -- hopefully we shall meet in the AFC title game, which of course would be held in Houston.
You guys have one on us this season. But if we meet the second time around, I hope love is better for me the second time around.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Set the date now, Harry Enten. Thank you, my friend.
ENTEN: See you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, let's get some perspective on the numbers with CNN political director David Chalian.
David, not looking good for Trump this one year into his second term. And on the issue that Americans care most, that is the economy, 55 percent say
that his policies have worsened economic conditions in the country.
And even more, 64 percent say he hasn't gone far enough in trying to reduce the price of everyday goods. I bet there is another former president who
could feel his pain on this issue because the numbers seem to reflect that the economy is holding up pretty steady. It's not how Americans are feeling
though, David.
DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. I mean, this is -- this is very similar to what Joe Biden faced what you're referencing there, Bianna,
that, you know, to have the data versus the perception and perception is all that matters.
In terms of politics, of course, you say not looking good. This is pretty dire, I think, for Republicans, not just President Trump and getting bad
grades from the American people at the one year mark of his second term, but it's also the beginning of an even numbered midterm year.
And there are all those Republicans who will be on the ballot. Donald Trump won't be trying to save their majorities up on Capitol Hill this year. And
-- and these -- these numbers will prove very concerning to them.
I -- I do think you raise a point on the economy. And I just want to give our viewers a sense of why we're focusing in on that.
We always say, it's the number one issue. In this poll, it's -- it's not just the number one issue. It's like there is no other issue. By -- by a
two to one margin is when their next issue comes in, when you ask people to rank how important an issue is, this is all about the economy for people.
And the other thing I would note, you mentioned two-thirds of Americans say that he hasn't gone far enough to lower the prices of everyday goods.
Also, Bianna, two-thirds of Americans say he is focused on the wrong priorities. He is not aligned.
[12:20:03]
So think about just this week, right, whether it is Venezuela or Greenland or what's going on with the ICE enforcement in Minneapolis, none of that is
sort of where the American people are right now, which is looking for lower prices for everyday goods on the economy. And -- and that disconnect is a
real political problem for them.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And the president doesn't -- the president, at this point, doesn't seem to be wanting to change course, and instead going out ahead of
the midterms, which, you know, as we know or later this year, and sort of already predicting, hey, if you look at, you know, what traditionally
happens, the sitting party never does well.
So I can't imagine that that's much of an endorsement that Republicans in his party are feeling from this president and also doesn't suggest that
he's going to change some of his forecasts and -- and direction he's headed in.
CHALIAN: Yes. I mean 10 years of covering Donald Trump on the world stage and dominating the American political arena. And I think you'd have very
few data points to suggest that this is somebody who believes in course correction, you know, based on popularity. It just is not part of his
political DNA.
And part of it is why -- I'll tell you why. The one -- I would say, the one single number in this poll that will give the president some solace is that
his party is still unified around him. He's at 87 percent approval among Republicans, and that is what has been his driving force.
But here's the problem for him, politically, and his party. In a midterm year, getting those folks to show out when -- show up when Donald Trump is
not on the ballot, that is a very tricky proposition.
And you are right, he has said publicly that he thinks this could be a real loser of a year for Republicans. He hopes it isn't. He puts out there that
if they lose, he thinks he'll be impeached. That will drive up, he hopes, enthusiasm among the Republican base to show up and keep Republicans in the
majority.
But you are right, I think he's setting expectations here and he seems to be looking at the history books here and saying, this is an uphill climb
for his party. And he's not doing a ton to try to get right with the American people especially on that top issue with the economy.
GOLODRYGA: Yes, that's a good point. Nearly nine in 10 Republicans continue to approve of his policies and his performance. And that's quite different
from what we saw, a stark difference actually from Democrats who were starting to turn sour against President --
CHALIAN: Exactly.
GOLODRYGA: -- Biden at this point.
All right. David Chalian, good to see you. Thanks so much for breaking it down.
CHALIAN: Thanks, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: And coming up for us, a look back at the whirlwind week of U.S. foreign policy. Questions remain over exactly what the next phase of the
Gaza ceasefire plan will entail.
Plus, South Korea's embattled ex-president is sentenced to prison but it's not over yet. What else he's facing after his botched attempt to declare
martial law.
And later, Dolly Parton is just days away from her 80th birthday. Wow. And listen, she's still turning out new music. Unbelievable. A look at her new
song, ahead.
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[12:25:49]
GOLODRYGA: Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison for blocking officials from arresting him after his
failed 2024 bid to impose martial law that sent shockwaves across the country.
His lawyer says that they plan to appeal, but it's only the first verdict of several trials that Yoon faces over the botched martial law decree.
CNN's Mike Valerio explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a hugely consequential verdict out of Seoul, the ex-President, Yoon Suk Yeol, found guilty of essentially
trying to use his bodyguards at the presidential residence to keep investigators and to keep police from arresting him.
This all happened back on January 3rd of last year, 2025. Corruption investigators go into his presidential residence and are trying to bring
him into custody just weeks after this ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in December of 2024.
He did that in short because he was in a political log jam. He declared political activity across South Korea illegal, put the military in charge
of law enforcement and that only lasted for six hours after opposition lawmakers came back to the heart of South Korean democracy and overturned
his martial law order.
So investigators trying to hold him accountable, tried to arrest him one time, January 3rd. It didn't work. There was a standoff between
investigators and his bodyguards. Tried to arrest him a second time back on January 15th. That attempt was successful. So one year and one day later,
the ex-President is found guilty of obstruction of justice.
Where South Korea goes from here? This is the first verdict actually of four trials that Yoon Suk Yeol faces over that botched martial law decree.
He is also on trial facing a charge of insurrection.
And sole prosecutors have asked a judge to be able to hand down a verdict of the death penalty for that insurrection case.
I will say, it's very rare in any part of the South Korean judicial system that anybody is given the death sentence. And analysts do not expect him to
receive that sentence. It would be, again, exceedingly rare, but the stakes in that trial and that verdict are so incredibly high. And we are expecting
that in the middle of February.
Mike Valerio, CNN, Beijing.
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GOLODRYGA: And we'll be right back with more.
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[12:30:32]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
Sixteen days in and this year already has been filled with the whirlwind foreign policy for the Trump administration.
President Trump is sending a carrier strike group to the Persian Gulf after weeks of deadly anti-government demonstrations in Iran. The White House
says that there will be, quote, grave consequences if the killing continues.
And in Venezuela, the U.S. toppled longtime leader Nicolas Maduro and brought him to the United States for prosecution for narco-terrorism.
On Thursday, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal at the White House.
And in Gaza, the administration announced phase two of the Gaza ceasefire plan. Here's what U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had to say about the
next phase.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE WITKOFF, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY: But the board of peace is a really big deal. Really big deal. Jared and I did a FaceTime today with the 14 members
of the Technocratic Committee.
We actually have succeeded that the United States government has in standing up a new government that will forever replace Hamas. It's -- that
happened today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Time now for "The Exchange." Joining me is our global affairs analyst Brett McGurk. Brett, it's good to see you.
And though we heard what Steve -- Steve Witkoff say that there is going to be now a board of peace, replacing Hamas, Hamas is still there and they
have not disarmed. And there is still the body of one hostage that they have still in their possession. So, what do we make of this move now for
phase two?
BRETT MCGURK, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, Bianna, great to be here.
And I think the -- look, a fundamental precondition of any way forward here is Hamas disarming and no longer being in control of Gaza. That has been
the case since right after October 7th. There's just no way forward. Anyone that wants to talk about a political horizon for peace, you have to --
Hamas has to be out of power.
Now, Hamas, their irreducible demand, and I was involved in these negotiations for some time, is that they stay in power, period.
What has changed over the last year, I think mainly because the pressure Hamas came under and the pressure Iran and its proxies came under, is that
there's now a consensus that actually they do have to give up their authority in Gaza. That's a consensus in the region, that's a consensus in
Trump's peace plan, and it's incorporated in a U.N. Security Council resolution.
So, you know, slowly but surely, there's work being done to put the pieces together to actually see that implemented. This will be extremely,
extremely difficult. It's very easy to poke holes in various areas of this formula.
But I think what Steve Witkoff said there is right. This is an important step forward. It has the backing of critical regional powers. And you just
have to keep pushing.
Because at the end of the day, I just go back to this, we all want to see a better life for Gazans, a way forward between Israelis and Palestinians.
And that is not going to happen so long as Hamas is the power in control of Gaza.
So, you know, this has a lot ways to go here, but it was. It's a -- it's a big step forward what happened this week with putting this together.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And it's not the only hot spot, as you know, in the region. Israel's head of Hamas (PH), David Barnea is actually in Florida meeting
with Steve Witkoff as the president is deciding on what, if any actions he will take following those brutal, deadly protests and the crackdown on
those protesters in Iran.
[12:35:16]
For two weeks now, the country remains without any internet access. The death toll is in the thousands. And the president has said that help is on
the way. He said this directly to the Iranian people. And actually encouraged them earlier this week to turn out in protest before he said
that, oh -- he's been told the killings for now have stopped. That there are more reinforcements heading to the region.
But, Brett, a strike for the sake of a strike I'm told is not going to cripple this regime any more than it already is. So, what are the most
effective options that the administration has right now?
MCGURK: Yes, Bianna. Let me again try to unpack this and use some of my first-hand experience and somewhat similar issues.
But what's happened last week in Iran is unprecedented in terms of the scale of the massacre. And I think we still don't understand the full
extent of it because of this, like, iron curtain, this communications blackout that the -- the Iranian regime has put on its own people.
And I -- I was involved in the Women, Life, Freedoms protest in 2022. I was in the White House throughout that. We did an awful lot to try to help
Iranians get around that communications blackout. And yet still, according to U.N. statistics, 500 Iranians were killed, almost 20,000 were detained
over the course of those protests. It looks here that numbers are -- are quite -- are higher.
So I think the president is looking at his various options. And it seems what happened here, it seems that there was a decision to do an airstrike
into Iran. And yet, as this unfolded, the decision was pulled back to get more resources in place into the region.
And I think the reason that is important. Again, I was in the Trump administration, Bianna, in 2017 when he fired President Trump ordered 59
Tomahawk missiles against an airbase in Syria after Bashar al-Assad used sarin gas against his own people.
The objective of that strike was to set a norm and a standard and tell Assad that using chemical weapons against your own people is totally
unacceptable. The -- the objective was not regime change.
And I think, you know, that strike was effective. I think Assad did not. You never saw that type of weapon used again.
Now here, it's kind of a similar objective. I think given the level of the killing, the objective would be setting a norm that this is unacceptable.
And I think the target set might be the besieged militia headquarters, Revolutionary Guard's headquarters, to basically to set a -- a -- a
condition precedent.
Now, what's different about Syria is that Assad and Syria do not have many options to respond against the United States. So it's kind of a one strike
and done.
Whereas in Iran, the Iranians do have capabilities. I don't want to overstate them. They tend to boast about what they can do, but they have
missiles, they have other things they can do, which means if you are going to take military action, you have to then be ready for a second turn or a
third turn.
And that means you have to have more forces in the region. You have to have an aircraft carrier strike group in the region. We don't have that right
now, but those assets are now moving into place.
So I think now the leadership in Tehran may have -- may believe they got a bit of a reprieve here, but not really. They are under tremendous pressure.
The fact that we can even talk about the potential of an airstrike inside Iran just demonstrates the weakness of -- of the system. They have no air
defenses. They've been rendered defenseless. And their proxies around the region, particularly Hezbollah, which used to be a major deterrent to any
type of military action Iran, is basically gone.
So the option is there for the president. That doesn't mean he's going to take it, but I think the option is there. He's putting the pieces together.
And I think this has a second act coming because, in my experience with the Iranian regime, there is no question that they will continue executions.
They will continue repressing their own people. They will continue to fire at and kill protesters in the streets. This is going to happen.
So if the president's drawn a line, and he has, I think it's more likely than not at this stage, we will see some military action in Iran here over
the coming weeks, months. We'll see.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And you've noted that Iran may not be moving towards a democracy if this regime does indeed fall in the Ayatollah is taken out of
power. But you say it could turn to a harder security state nationalism that's led by the IRGC.
[12:40:02]
Now with the split screen of what we just saw two hours ago of the Crown Prince, and that is Reza Pahlavi laying out his plan of what he sees as a
100-day transition towards democracy, calling for territorial integrity, separation of religion and state, individual liberty, equality, and
Iranians' people's right to decide to economic -- democratic reform of government. I mean, that all sounds very appealing.
We are hearing his name more and more from these protesters than we had in previous protests. But how realistic could that be, a shift to a monarch,
and perhaps even a temporary monarchy, that could then, in fact, lead to some sort of democratic control over the country?
MCGURK: Look, I think, Bianna, those are good aspirations. It's good to have out there. It's very difficult for the United States of America or an
American official to put a thumb on the scale for how that transition is going to go. That ultimately is up to the Iranian people.
Look, one thing -- one thing this regime has going for is that it is so oppressive, it is so brutal. It is able to put anyone that might challenge
its authority either in prison, in exile, or to execute them.
And the opposition has been fractured. And the regime apparatus itself and the security service have not fractured. At least we haven't seen signs of
that yet. So, you know, these are the kind of elements you're looking at.
There's multiple forces here at play. There's the Iranian people. And they have broken with the system. The gap between the Iranian system and the
people is just so vast and wide and it's just getting wider.
Second is the Iranian state and the Iranian regime. And that is the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guards. And, you know, that is going to be
undergoing a change because the Supreme Leader is 86 years old. And once he passes from the scene, there's likely to be a secession crisis bringing up
all the issues you just raised.
Who fills that vacuum? You know, ultimately, the people with the guns and with the -- with the monopoly of force tend to fill those vacuums.
But here, I think the Iranian people are going to have a say. And if the United States and our partners can make clear, number one, to try to lift
this communications blackout so the Iranian people can communicate with each other and with the world, and secondly, to hold accountable,
increasingly accountable, and that might require some limited application of military force, this Iranian system that is massacring its own people.
This is going to be a long-term play. But I think 2026 is shaping up to be a very decisive year in Iran.
I wrote a piece for CNN back in December, previewing the coming year on a whole number of issues from Venezuela that you can't create into Taiwan.
And on Iran, I said, you know, something's going to give.
GOLODRYGA: Yes.
MCGURK: Just be given the dynamics. And here we are only two weeks into the year, and you see this unfolding.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. You may be updating that piece weekly at this point.
Brett McGurk, always good to see you. Thanks so much for your analysis.
MCGURK: Thank you, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: We'll be right back with more.
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[12:45:50]
GOLODRYGA: Let's go check on how the U.S. markets are doing right now. The Dow down, oh, just barely. S&P 500, NASDAQ, also pretty flat across the
board. A couple of green arrows there for you. This is your business breakout.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is hailing a new strategic partnership with China after the two countries agreed to a preliminary trade deal
during his visit to Beijing. Canada will lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, while China will cut the import taxes on Canadian canola seeds.
U.S. President Trump is trying to find an answer to surging electricity costs made worse by A.I. data centers. Along with a handful of governors in
the Northeast, he's asking the largest electric grid operator in the country to hold an auction in which tech companies can bid on 15-year
contracts for new electricity generation. However, the operator, PJM, said that it had not had been given no advance notice of this plan.
And music fans take notice. A new album is on the way from BTS. The title is Arirang named after a traditional Korean folk song. It drops on March
20th and will be the band's first album in nearly four years.
And we'll be right back with more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Let's take a time out and discuss living your best life.
As current events swirl around us at an increasingly fast pace in a polarized world, we all get lots of advice on what you should be doing and
whether it's sticking to the latest diet or obsessing over the latest fad.
But one oncologist says that it's all about moderation. And he's got six simple rules that might help, including what to eat, how to exercise, and
getting that good sleep. But he's serving up some other tips that you may not expect from a doctor.
[12:50:09]
Joining us now is former White House health policy advisor under President Obama, Dr. Zeke Emanuel. His book, "Eat Your Ice Cream," reveals what
matters most for health and longevity. Zeke, it is good to see you, my friend.
I have a copy of the book here. Peter, my husband, your good friend. You work together with him in the Obama administration, I think is reading this
as well. Very catchy title. We'll get to that in just a second.
But for me, one of the biggest takeaways, it seems, that you're hoping viewer -- viewers and readers have, is to model their lives less following
advice from the Peter Attias of the world and the wellness gurus like him, and more like Benjamin Franklin. Explain to our viewers why.
DR. EZEKIEL EMANUEL, FORMER OBAMA WHITE HOUSE HEALTH POLICY ADVISER: Well, the single most important thing you can do for health, wellness, longevity,
and happiness is social interaction. And that appears nowhere in all the books from the wellness industrial complex.
Social interaction, talking to your close friends and your family, talking to casual acquaintances, and even talking to your barista, Uber drivers,
people you happen to meet, actually prolongs your life more than the exercise, the diet, and all the rest of it.
And it doesn't do it because it's psychologically better. It doesn't because it actually changes your body. It changes your brain. You have a
release of oxytocin. You have a release of dopamine and the access -- the stress access that results in cortisol release goes down, calming your
heart, calming your blood pressure.
And that is something we have to focus on. We have an increase in loneliness. And we have to focus on more social interaction.
GOLODRYGA: And you also note in exchange that you had with a friend, who asked you as a health expert, what diet you were on and that really bugged
you. Why?
EMANUEL: Because you shouldn't be going from diet to diet to diet. Actually, eating well is not that complicated.
The top four things you should do are one -- decrease the amount of sodas and sugary beverages. There are about 140, 150 calories with zero
nutritional benefit. So, we've been going down to this country more water and that's a good thing, but we have to continue.
We have to reduce our ultra-processed foods and in particular the package cakes, muffins, cookies and pretzels and things like that.
Over the last 30 years, that -- they have gone up to 500 calories per day on average, way too much. And their nutritional content is also quite
limited. That's the negative. Stop those things.
The positive is more fermented foods. They are good for your microbiome, yogurt, cheeses, kimchi, those are really good for you and part of the
cottage cheese craze is also good.
And then 90 percent of Americans don't get enough fiber in their diet, 90 percent. You need more fruits and vegetables.
So my secret for breakfast berries, yogurt, granola and some hemp hearts and you've got everything you need. Protein, dairy, fiber. It's really good
for you.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. You mentioned fermented foods. I guess it's my Eastern European background. I drink kefir every day. So -- and also cottage
cheese. So -- so that is something that -- that's a win for me. I'll give myself a pat on the back.
OK. But then there's ice cream which I don't think you have to sell a lot of people on, but just the fact that they hear an oncologist and a health
expert say that you can have ice cream two minutes after you talk about calorie intake and moderation.
How much ice cream, Zeke, can we actually have?
EMANUEL: Well, look, you just -- there are people I know who eat it every day and they're in good shape.
But I think in general, one to two times a week with one -- with a limited amount one scoop is probably the right range.
It does have a lot of sugar and that's a concern, but it's dairy, and again, it's got protein in it. It's got calcium, got vitamin D. And those
are good things for us. And we know that it's associated with lower rates of diabetes in general.
And so it's the kind of thing that you do it in moderation once or twice a week. You do it to celebrate. You do it with other people. And it's a
pretty good deal.
GOLODRYGA: And you also say to get off your butt and move around. How much exercise is ideal, Zeke?
EMANUEL: Well, the CDC has some good recommendations which is 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity or 150 minutes a week of moderate activity, and
that's good.
[12:55:03]
You know, personally, I do yoga every day, 20 minutes and then three times a week in the winter. When it's cold out, I ride an indoor bicycle for 20
minutes each time. And that's the kind of you -- you can fit into your day and -- and make it a habit because it's not too onerous and it doesn't
displace lots of other activities.
In the summer, I like to go out into nature and go for long rides, hour and a half, two hour rides, because it's just a lovely thing to do and really
reduces the stress, plus it adds to the cardiovascular condition. It is good for muscle strengthening in the lower body.
Those are the kinds of things that really we should be able to do and it's incredibly beneficial for us, mentally as well as physically.
GOLODRYGA: We all want to live as long as we can, and I think that it goes for you as well, assuming that you can still enjoy your life around you and
your friends and eat your ice cream. So, what is that optimal age?
Because as you note in this book, and I've heard from other interviews, you're not a big fan of these longevity gurus.
EMANUEL: You know, Bianna, you can go back to 1909, the St. Louis Post- Dispatch had a headline that said, scientists predict we will be able to use science to live to 150 and 200 years. That aspiration to break through
the barrier and live, you know, if not forever for hundreds of years, long with us, but it's not reality. The body does begin to deteriorate.
And everyone has to pick, what are the things that really make their life not desirable? For me, it's if all the body parts work, the heart, the
lungs, the kidneys are working, but my brain has deteriorated, and I have cognitive impairments. That's not, I don't want to live like that. So
that's the era.
Now, after 75, the rate of cognitive decline goes dramatically up such that by the early 80s, about a third of people have a real cognitive decline and
dementia.
GOLODRYGA: Zeke Emanuel, I just want to try your mom's cheesecake. You sold me on that as well. Next time, next time, make me a pie.
EMANUEL: Come down to Washington and you've got it.
GOLODRYGA: OK. I'll be there. Good to see you. Congratulations on the book.
EMANUEL: Thank you very much, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: And that does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.
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