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One World with Zain Asher

Israel Expands Operations To Target Hezbollah In Lebanon; Oil Price Surge hitting Drivers And Farmers In Spain; Senator Looks To Hold First Public Oversight Hearing On Iran; Trump To Fox: Tankers Should Show "Guts" In Strait Of Hormuz; Attacker Dead After Driving Car Into Detroit-Area Synagogue; Surging Oil Costs Impact Retail Gasoline Prices; Hollywood Prepares For The Oscars; Aired 12-1p ET

Aired March 13, 2026 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:00:36]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. You are watching the second hour of "One World."

U.S. President Trump says that he will know when the war with Iran is over when he feels it in his bones. Here are the latest developments.

Two weeks into the war, the Pentagon says U.S. and Israeli strikes have hit more than 15,000 enemy targets. This, as Hezbollah and Israel trade fire

and civilians in Lebanon, are paying a heavy price.

The International Organization for Migration says mass evacuation orders could push the number of displaced people to more than one million.

Inside Iran, thousands marched in support of Palestinians as explosions rang out. At least one person was killed in Tehran. Many held up portraits

of the new supreme leader and his dead father.

The U.S. president was asked in an interview about his message to Iran's new supreme leader.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, they've been doing a lot of talking, so he's going to have to put up. We'll have to see, because

we are decimating them. We've knocked out most of their missiles. We've knocked out many of their drones. We've knocked out a lot of the

manufacturing areas where they manufacture the missiles and now the drones. We're hitting them harder than anybody's been hit since World War II.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us now live from Tel Aviv. Jeremy, in the last hour when you and I spoke, you had to rush inside following the

air raid there, incoming missiles. Just talk to us about the situation now. I'm assuming all is OK and you were once again outside.

But the -- the concern now, not only about the war expanding with Iran, but also to your north there with Hezbollah and Lebanon.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's absolutely right, Bianna. We have indeed gotten the all clear. There were several reports of

falling shrapnel or debris in central Israel, just south of us in the area of the city of Holon. There was a report of a -- of fall there that caused

the fire, but no injuries have been reported as of yet.

It appears that the fire has now been put out. We don't know whether it was falling shrapnel or perhaps these cluster munitions that we have

increasingly been seeing Iran using outfitting the heads of its ballistic missiles with these tiny bomblets that disperse over wide areas as far as

seven or eight miles sometimes, a very indiscriminate weapon that Iran has increasingly been using.

But as you mentioned, Bianna, we are watching this northern front increasingly heating up as Hezbollah fires one barrage of rockets after

another targeting northern and central Israel. We saw impacts yesterday in as far as 60 miles away from the Lebanese border as a result of those

Hezbollah rockets.

And the Israeli military is really pummeling Lebanon right now. We have seen multiple Israeli airstrikes, not only in southern Lebanon, but also in

the Lebanese capital of Beirut, where the Israeli military is going after a number of financial targets related to Hezbollah, trying to impact

Hezbollah's ability to carry out its operations, to pay its militant salaries.

We've also seen strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in the eastern part of Lebanon, but also reports of civilian casualties there as well. And

certainly the biggest impact on Lebanese civilians has been related to these evacuation orders that the Israeli military is issuing for up to 14

percent now of Lebanon's territory, displacing more than 800,000 people.

And it could get even worse as the Israeli military prepares for the possible ground operation in southern Lebanon. We know they've already been

conducting special operations raids. There are Israeli troops operating in a thin strip of southern Lebanon, but the Israeli government, including the

defense minister, Israel Katz, is now threatening that that operation could expand even further.

And we understand that there are preparations. Israeli troops being mobilized along that northern border with Lebanon as we speak. Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: All right. Jeremy Diamond, thank you.

Well, officials in Lebanon say nearly 700 people have been killed in recent days. One expert estimates and mass evacuation orders could push the number

of displays to more than one million within the next few days.

Isobel Yeung has a brand-new report on what life is like inside Lebanon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISOBEL YEUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You can see quite a lot of damage here. The car, this big building up here. We're in Southern Lebanon, actually

just outside of the area that the Israeli Defense Forces announced that individuals should evacuate from yesterday.

[12:05:09]

But you can see this building here was struck pretty hard. We're told that it was a yogurt factory by the neighbors here. You can see these kind of

vats that they say were used to make yogurt.

And what we know is that nine people were killed in this strike, including five children. I mean, what the Israeli Defense Forces are saying is that

they are targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, and we don't know in this case if that was the situation.

But what we can see is that -- I mean, the destruction from here is pretty large. And we're told that the children were playing just on the outskirts

of the property here in this factory and home with their grandparents and that they were killed.

The burial that are happening today. It's really heartbreaking to see family members behind me who are just walking around trying to look for

remnants of their family's belongings.

The children's bodies were told in pieces and are going to take a while to identify the DNA so that they can actually do a burial.

You can see up here, there's school books. The children's rucksack. We're told by the IDF that they are targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. And

obviously, we don't know in this scenario if that's the case, but we do know that this area that was struck was pretty huge just in this one little

village and enough to kill nine people in one strike.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: All right. Thanks to Isobel for that report.

Well, U.S. gasoline prices are surging again as Brent Crude sits over $100 per barrel. The AAA says the national average is $3.63 per gallon. That is

a 22-month high and is expected to keep rising. That's up 65 cents in just the last two weeks. And efforts to calm the market are falling flat thus

far.

The increase is due in part to the war in Iran and the near total closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The effects of oil price surges are also being

felt in Europe.

Spanish drivers are complaining about paying dozens of euros more to fill up their tanks. And farmers say food costs increases are affecting their

cost of production.

CNN's Pau Mosquera reports from Madrid.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAU MOSQUERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Over the past few days, the simple gesture has become a little bit more expensive in Spain.

JOSE TOMAS, RESIDENT IN MADRID (through translator): It's outrageous. It seems incredible to me.

DIEGO, RESIDENT IN MADRID (through translator): You can really notice the rise in prices. And since we spend all day on the road, we feel in our

expenses.

PEDRO, RESIDENT IN MADRID (through translator): With the war and everything that's happening in the world, it's normal.

MOSQUERA: Gas prices have risen by more than 13 percent, while diesel is at 25 percent since the war in Iran began. According to that, from the Spanish

Ministry for Ecological Transition.

DIEGO (through translator): I filled it up on Monday at 1.32 per liter, I think. And today, it's already 1.70. I don't understand this increase that

we all have to pay.

MOSQUERA: How much more is it costing you to fill the tank today?

MIGUEL, RESIDENT IN MADRID (through translator): About 25 to 30 more. In the end, you have to accept this cost. The car is used for everyday life.

It should be more regulated, so it wouldn't go up so much.

TOMAS (through translator): It's going to cause serious problems in food supply, tourism, and travel.

MOSQUERA: The impact is also being felt in the agricultural sector. Some farmers say their production costs are rising.

And actually, some industry groups estimate that higher fuel and fertilizer prices are adding nearly $47 million a week in extra costs for the sector.

MARCOS, FARMER (through translator): With diesel at the price it is, compared to what we earn for our products, it's more profitable to leave

the tractor parked and go have a beer than to go out and work.

MIGUEL ANGEL CASTILLO, FARMER (through translator): The corn planting season is starting now. We use about 600 kilograms of urea per hectare. And

urea is made with gas, which is rising a lot, so we're considering not planting.

ARMANDO LAGUNA, FARMER (through translator): I've been working in the countryside for 10 years. When I started, diesel was 54 cents per liter and

now it's 1.70. Many times now, I've had to rely on my wife's salary to cover production costs on the farm.

MOSQUERA: As higher fuel prices put pressure on drivers in key industries, the Spanish government is preparing an action plan to address the impact of

the conflict in the Middle East and the Spanish economy. The details may be unveiled in the coming days.

[12:10:06]

GOLODRYGA: Well, the first public oversight hearing on the war in Iran may soon happen. Lauren Fox is in Washington and has the latest details.

Lauren, what are we hearing?

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Chairman Roger Wicker, who is in charge of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he told reporters

yesterday that he expects he could hold public hearings.

Now, he has not scheduled a date for those hearings. He also has not made it clear who exactly would testify.

But this comes as Senate Democrats have been clamoring to get U.S. officials before committees in a public setting, so they say the American

people can understand the rationale, the objectives, and the length of this conflict in Iran.

This is something that just a few days ago, the leader of the Senate, John Thune, a Republican, made clear he didn't think was necessary. He argued

that in the course of the normal appropriations process, typically these top officials, including Pete Hegseth and others, are scheduled to come

before these subcommittees. And that is an opportunity that lawmakers could press them.

Of course, those are much lower profile hearings than one in which the Senate Armed Services Committee would convene to actually question

officials on the record about what's taking place.

We should note that behind closed doors and in classified settings, lawmakers have had an opportunity to talk to top U.S. officials, including

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others. But it's just a different opportunity when people can question these officials in a public setting.

And it's a different opportunity for voters back home to understand exactly what is happening in Iran.

GOLODRYGA: All right. Lauren Fox, reporting live from Washington for us. Thank you.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is downplaying the impact of Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a historic disruption

to oil markets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: And as the world is seeing, they are exercising sheer desperation in the straits of Hormuz. Something we're

dealing with. We have been dealing with it. And don't need to worry about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Well, shipping industry executives tell CNN that they have requested military escorts from the Pentagon, but sources say all of them

have been rebuffed because they are deemed too dangerous to execute.

In an interview with Fox, President Trump said, again, oil tankers should buck up and continue to navigate through the strait, saying, quote, there's

nothing to be afraid of.

Well, let's take a closer look at what's happening with Iran now two weeks into this war with Abbas Milani. He is the Director of Iranian studies at

Stanford University and a research fellow at Hoover Institution. Abbas, it is always wonderful to see you and to get your expertise on this program.

As we noted, it has been two weeks since this war began. And you've long argued that the Islamic Republic's power is fundamentally brittle.

Under this unprecedented military pressure is, in your view, the regime fracturing or is it consolidating?

ABBAS MILANI, DIRECTOR OF IRANIAN STUDIES, STANFORD UNIVERSITY: I think the regime is fracturing. I think the regime is desperate. I think the regime

is at its weakest point. But I also think, as I've always thought, that even at its weakest link, this regime is capable of wreaking havoc, not

just on the people of Iran, but on the region.

This is a desperate regime dedicated to staying in power. And it's willing to take, not just Iran, but the region, the entire international economy

with itself. So it's weak, it's desperate, but it is still dangerous.

GOLODRYGA: And do reporting, to your point, indicates that the IRGC essentially strong-armed the assembly of experts, even threatening their

family members into elevating Mojtaba Khamenei to the role of supreme leader.

And in your book, which I will continue to tout, it is one of my go-to sources, "The Shah," you thoroughly document the fall of Iran's last

hereditary dynasty.

Since this military coerced this father-son succession so blatantly violates everything that this 1979 revolution stood for, that Mojtaba's

father publicly and vocally stood for, is he anything more at this point than an IRGC figurehead? And that's even questioning whether he's actually

physically capable of running the country.

MILANI: You know, sometimes what the Islamic Republic and the IRGC do works better than any Hollywood scene, they wanted to bring people to pay their

homage to their new leader, and they use the cardboard image of him.

[12:15:04]

So Khamenei Jr. is virtually and actually cardboard. Nobody has seen him. Nobody has ever heard him talk, except three minutes, less than three

minutes. Nobody has ever read a line of him. This bombastic announcement that they issued on his behalf, we don't know whether it was written in

Kayhan paper. It has that syntax. It doesn't have a syntax of any normal human being. It has a syntax of someone who's bombastic, used to bombast

and used to use in threat.

And not only they used the threat against members who selected him. The IRGC, literally yesterday, issued one of the toughest statements against

the people of Iran. It said, we told you not to come into the streets and you came and you saw what we did to you.

And what they did, according to their own statistics, is kill 3,177 people. Everyone says it's much more.

But in the announcement yesterday, they said, if you come out again, we'll do even worse. So it is a regime that is threatened globally, weakened

globally, isolated domestically, keeps threatening its own people, but a legit leader uses bombast and threatens the entire world in a language that

only befits a terrorist, to threaten the entire region to say we're going to attack all of our allies. If you don't help us end this war, it's not a

regime that the international community can trust.

So they're dangerous, they're weakened, but they are also desperate. And they have shown -- they have shown, for 44 years, that they will do

anything to keep in -- stay in power. They have said we have a scorched- earth policy. So they will scorch the earth before their demise.

So that's why it was very important for the U.S. and for Israel to think about these things. That's why people like me who have been a critic of

this regime have always said, an attack must be based on an understanding.

I was against the idea of an attack. I thought -- I thought -- I still think the business of Iranian democracy is the business of the Iranian

people.

Now this regime is bloodied, it's weakened, and it is that more thirsty than ever to bring heavier costs to the people of Iran and to the region.

GOLODRYGA: And they all --

MILANI: They need a strategy. They needed a strategy. General Mattis, I had a -- with fortune of being on several panels with him. He used to say -- he

was the defense minister in the first Trump presidency. He said, I always say without a strategy, without the end game clear, we shouldn't send

troops in there.

So I'm not very sure what the strategy was. But now, you have this global crisis. It's not, I think enough for Mr. Hegseth to say, don't worry about

it. The markets are worried about it. The international community is worried about it.

We need to understand what the strategy and what the end game is.

GOLODRYGA: And it does appear that the Iranian regime, however fractured it may be, thinks very much like Vladimir Putin, that the time is on their

side. And here in the United States, there does seem to be a stopwatch that continues to take loudly pressuring President Trump for an end to this war,

for some sort of communication publicly about what the end game will look like with the American public.

The Iranian regime clearly has miscalculated by attacking back, not only U.S. and Israeli assets there, but their -- their Arab neighbors as well

too, I think, forever damaging their relationships.

But there was something very interesting that Karim said -- Sadjadpour said on our air this morning. And that is that Iran now sees as their closest

ally in sort of an evil twist, the pressure from the American public now on President Trump.

What are you hearing from Iranians there in the country? What do they want America and Israel to do once now that the bombing has begun, that this war

has begun? Do they want them to pull out?

MILANI: Well, I think it depends who you ask. If you ask the Iranian regime, yes, they want the U.S. to pull out. If you ask some of the regime

proxies, some of the allies of the regimes, and some Iranian patriots who are really truly worried about the destruction of the country, they too say

there is no end game in sight.

These guys are going to take the country to the scorched earth. We have to stop. And some who say we should -- now that you have blooded this regime,

you should go all the way and get rid of them because if you don't, they're going to come after us.

[12:20:07]

And what percentage of the people are in each of these camps? We have no way of knowing. We have -- it's very difficult to get polls. It's very

difficult to talk to people in Iran. The regime has shut down the internet. The regime has shut down the ability of the people to talk to their loved

one.

And the very same regime is selling special internet access at an exorbitant price. It costs enormously to talk for two minutes to a loved

one to find out that they're alive.

Under these circumstances, clearly the regime is counting on the opinions of people who are against any war, people who are against anything the

United States does, people who are against anything Israel does, people who are Iranian patriots and want an end.

And the international market, they openly said, that's what our strategy is. From day one, they went to DEFCON 4. They were desperate. So they said,

we'll destroy the economy. We'll make it impossible for President Trump and Netanyahu to continue this war. That was their strategy.

GOLODRYGA: Abbas Milani, we would love to have you back on the program in the days and weeks to come one of the preeminent experts on this region, on

this country. Thank you so much.

MILANI: Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: And still to come on "One World," John Kerry has experience negotiating with Iran, and he has this warning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Would you say it's one of the worst crises in decades?

JOHN KERRY, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I would.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: The former secretary of state speak with CNN about dealing with Iran's regime.

Also ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI): Anti-Semitism is coming from the left or the right, whether it's coming from some group that you like or don't like, you

have a responsibility to call it out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Ahead, officials are blaming anti-Semitism for triggering a fiery attack on a synagogue near Detroit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: The FBI calls an attack on a Michigan synagogue, a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community. Officials say, the attacker was

killed after ramming his vehicle into Temple Israel Thursday.

The government says, the attacker is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon. Michigan's Michigan Senator, Elissa Slotkin, says she's sick about

the attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[12:25:07]

SLOTKIN: Whether anti-Semitism is coming from the left or the right, whether it's coming from some group that you like or don't like, you have a

responsibility to call it out. Because when you don't, it gives permission for people to climb that escalation, that ladder of escalation that goes

from saying hateful things online to saying them in person to graffiti to ultimately violence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: About 140 students, children and staff members at the temple's preschool were safely evacuated from the scene.

Temple Israel Rabbi Jen Lader says the experience has been frightening.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RABBI JEN LADER, TEMPLE ISRAEL: I was speaking with our -- our moms, our dads who were here reunifying with their children as they escaped the

building across the street yesterday.

And really two things kept -- kept coming up to the surface, and one was, I can't believe it happened here. I never thought it could happen here. And

the other was, I was just waiting for it to happen here. I knew -- I knew at some point, it would be us.

When something happens to a Jewish community anywhere, it happens to -- to all of us everywhere. And -- and our people are -- are proud. They are --

they are amazed. They feel incredibly lucky.

And -- and just we -- we can't wait to gather together tonight as we celebrate Shabbat and to -- to recognize -- to recognize this moment as --

as an incredibly lucky, gratitude-driven moment for -- for each and every one of us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: And I want to bring in Amy Spitalnick. She is the CEO for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Amy, I wish I could say it's good to see

you. Don't take it personally, but it is just so tragic that once again we have to have these types of conversations.

The toll that these types of attacks, at the spike in anti-Semitism here in the United States, and around the world, has had on the Jewish community.

And I would imagine and hope non-Jewish allies and neighbors who are equally concerned, is not just psychological, but also we got today figures

about the financial toll, because thank goodness this could have been a lot worse. We could have seen a number of lives lost, including small children,

had there not been beefed-up security.

The measures that Jewish institutions have taken over the last few decades is shocking in terms of trying to secure their members and congregants. The

Jewish Federation estimates $775 million is the annual cost to secure Jewish institutions.

Is this the new normal that we should be expected to live with, Amy?

AMY SPITALNICK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, JEWISH COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Unfortunately, it is the normal that many in the Jewish community have been

living with for at least the last decade.

You know, I was fortunate to grow up at a time where I went to Shabbat services every Saturday, and there was no security, and we felt safe. But I

can't imagine walking into a synagogue now without extensive security, because that is the normal.

And I think the Jewish community is tired. We -- we -- we recognize that this is what's required right now for our safety, whether it's the private

security, funded by the synagogue and -- and private donors, whether it's government security programs that -- that help keep us safe.

But it shouldn't be accepted as OK. The more and more we allow it to be OK that we require this insane level of security to keep the Jewish community

safe, the more and more anti-Semitic hate and violence becomes normalized.

We should keep doing it. We should keep also building resiliency to hate and extremism in the first place through a whole of government, a whole of

society approach to mitigating extremism.

But at the end of the day, we need to recognize that none of this is normal and the work that we need to be doing to keep us safe requires, not just

Jews, but all of us to act.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And you're fortunate if you grew up at a synagogue without security. I'm 47 years old. And I remember as a child going to services and

always having security outside of my temple and also having to have my teachers respond to bomb threats at our synagogue as well.

We know that anti-Semitism morphs. It comes in many shapes and forms from the extreme left to the extreme right.

I do want to ask you about we -- what we heard from the rabbi there, Jen Lader. We heard earlier her interview with CNN. This is what else she said

when she took issue with someone, anyone using the suspect's alleged loss of family in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon last week as an excuse for

yesterday's attack. And here's what she said.

Anyone talking about terms of the suspects, families, loss of life, which is a tragedy in and of itself, any connection to an attack on an American

synagogue in the suburbs of Metro Detroit is intensely anti-Semitic and inappropriate, that's anti-Semitism at its peak.

[12:30:14]

Can you talk about the importance of highlighting that point right now?

SPITALNICK: Absolutely. Of course, what's happening on the outside of the world is a tragedy. Any loss of life there is horrific.

But when Jews in the United States or anyone -- anywhere else are being targeted for the actions of the Israeli government, that's anti-Semitism,

period, full stop.

And we should not allow anyone to suggest that it's justified because of understandable anger or fear related to the war with Iran, what's happening

in Gaza or anything else.

Jews here are not fair game because someone disagrees with the policies and actions of the Israeli government. And when that is muddied, when Jews are

conflated with the government, with the state of Israel, with the actions of the Israeli government, that leads to the real-world violence that we've

seen, the attack yesterday in Michigan, the number of deadly attacks we've seen over the last year, including Bondi Beach in Australia, the Capital

Jewish Museum in Boulder attacks in -- in the spring of last year here in the United States, the firebombing of Governor Josh Shapiro's home in

Pennsylvania, and more.

And so we need to be very clear that Jews being targeted because of the actions of the Israeli government is anti-Semitism.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And that's a -- a sick standard not applied to any other group that I can think of as well either.

You posted on X yesterday, your Jewish friends and neighbors are tired. Sometimes we just want you to understand why our community and our

synagogues being repeatedly attacked is frightening, without explaining it away because of the Middle East or comparing it to other forms of hate. I

think that's a very important point to make.

What else would you like to say to our viewers here right now who hopefully are understanding the pain that -- and the fear that so many in the Jewish

community are feeling?

SPITALNICK: Well, of course, you know, of course, we know that something motivated the -- the perpetrator here, right? And we know that hate is

interconnected. And it's important to have that understanding.

But when we see such a spike in anti-Semitic incidents like this, as we have over the last decade, in particular, and especially over the last two

and a half years since October 7th, and in each and every circumstance the Jewish community is being told that, well, this happened because of what's

happening in Israel, what Israel is doing, or we need to understand this in the broader context, sometimes we just want people to understand the very

real fear and pain that our community is in.

Yesterday, we were inches away from 140 preschoolers potentially being targeted by someone with automatic weapons, bombs, and other -- other

weaponry. That is a horrifying thing to fathom. I have a preschooler myself.

And so sometimes we just want people to understand the legitimate fear and pain that our community is in. We need to have the hard conversations about

what motivates this hate. We need to understand that ultimately our community's safety is deeply intertwined.

But when it's only the Jewish community that sees the acts of violence against us being justified because of something happening on the other side

of the world, that's not OK. And we really need to realize to be speaking out.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. I think that's so well said. And once again, we can thank security at all of these synagogues and Jewish institutions and most

notably yesterday in Michigan from preventing what would have been a mass casualty horrific crime there.

Amy Spitalnick, thank you so much. Appreciate your time.

SPITALNICK: Thanks, Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:35:02]

GOLODRYGA: All right. Well, as we have been reporting Americans are dealing with rising gas prices because of the war in Iran, there you see WTI crude

oil up about one percent today, 96, almost $97 a barrel.

Let's bring in Vanessa Yurkevich who's at a gas station in New Jersey. What does that mean for the prices at the pump? And what are you hearing from

drivers there?

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And I actually just checked Brent crude which is now back up over a hundred

dollars a barrel and that is trickling down to drivers across the United States.

The national average right now is 3.63. That is up three cents in just the last 24 hours, about 30 cents in the last week. Sixty cents or more in the

last month or so.

Here in Ridgefield, New Jersey, this is actually a rest stop with a gas station. It's basically a transitory area where people are doing a lot of

commuting coming down through Connecticut, New York, through New Jersey going into Pennsylvania.

So, we're meeting a lot of people who are actually just filling up their work vehicles. We've spoken to a mix of people who have a mix of opinions

about higher gas prices because of this war with Iran.

Some believe that the pain of the pump is worth it for this cause, but others really say that these rising prices, 10, 20, 30, 60 cents is really

affecting their bottom lines, both for work but also for their personal finances. Here's what some of them told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALAN FLETCHER, MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENT: It'll be over soon. I -- I just feel like it's short-lived. You know, the conflict's going to go on for a little

bit, but it's -- we've been there before.

PEDRO JACONE, NEW JERSEY RESIDENT: I -- I use -- I need my truck for work, but I can't afford it, like, it's too much.

CHRISTIAN VANSEOTEN, NEW JERSEY RESIDENT: Well as a day-to-day working- class man, it definitely has an impact on my family life not being able to afford as much. I mean, me, I'm 25 years old and I can hardly afford to own

a house.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YURKEVICH: So according to GasBuddy, they are estimating that gas prices could rise another 10 cents or so in the next week.

Projecting down the line a couple weeks from now, we could cross that $4 a gallon threshold. That's a number we haven't seen in several years since

2022 when the war with Ukraine and Russia broke out.

Here in New Jersey, a little bit cheaper off that national average a gallon of regular gas is 3.59, but this is also coming at a time, Bianna, where

here in the United States we change from the winter fuel blend to the summer fuel blend which is already historically more expensive.

So you have that mixing with these higher oil prices is just pushing gas prices a little bit above what people have been used to in the last couple

years.

And also worth noting, Bianna, that this really affects more than just gas prices because think of all of the things that come into the United States

or travel through the United States by truck, by air, by train, by plane, those fuel costs are rising.

[12:40:05]

So the commodities that are being transported across those different transportation venues are being impacted. We're talking about perishable

items. People concerned hearing, actually right here, people concerned about food prices going up because of the cost of gasoline that these

trucks use to move these items across the United States.

So people here feeling like they're a little bit uncomfortable with these prices, but a lot of people, Bianna, just the reality of the situation,

they have to drive. And so they're sort of taking this with a little bit of grain of salt saying, I have to pay it. I don't like it. But ultimately, I

need gas in order to function.

BIANNA: And as that one man said, hopefully this will all be temporary and end soon.

Vanessa Yurkevich, thank you.

Well, Hollywood's biggest night is almost here. Just two days away, the Academy Awards takes place this Sunday. And CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister

joins us from Hollywood.

Elizabeth, first of all, welcome back to work. I know it must be bittersweet. You have your own star at home. Your beautiful baby boy,

Harry. So thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us today. What an event to be covering when you're returning from maternity leave.

Congratulations.

So aside from your duty at home, you've also had a duty of looking out for your favorites this award season. What are they?

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. Harry and I have been watching a lot of movies, Bianna. And it is so good

to be back. So good to see you.

So the talk of Sunday night, it's really going to be a showdown between "Sinners" and "One Battle After Another." Those are the two films that are

really going to be going head-to-head in many of the major categories, and, of course, best picture.

Now "Sinners," not just leading the nominations, Bianna, with 16, yes, 16 nominations. But that is an Oscars record. No single film has ever had that

many nominations ever in Oscars' history.

And I have to tell you, I think that "Sinners" is my favorite Oscar movie this year. It just has an original idea, something that we don't see so

often in Hollywood these days.

And in case people haven't seen it, I don't want to give it away, but it really is a crazy film. You just don't know what you're going to get when

you watch it.

But also many people did see it because, Bianna, unlike many Oscar films in recent years that are more independent and art house and a lot of viewers

haven't seen, "Sinners" was one of the biggest box office hits this year as well.

So that's nice because you have viewers who will be tuning into the Oscars who actually have seen a lot of these movies. So that is really one of the

main storylines that everybody is talking about going into Sunday night.

But I have to tell you, it is a wide open race in nearly every category. And that is also rare because usually we can predict the winners, and this

time, I have no idea who's going to win.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And speaking of "Sinners," Michael B. Jordan getting a lot of buzz about winning Best Actor. We shall see because another very

talented Hollywood actor up for that coveted prize is Timothee Chalamet for Best Actor for "Marty Supreme." Surprise, surprise, I've actually seen that

movie.

But recently, he -- he's upset many people with some controversial remarks that he's made saying no one cares about ballet and opera. Can -- can you

explain where this came from?

WAGMEISTER: Yes. So Timothee made these comments during a CNN town hall, actually. we aired a town hall with Variety where Timothee sat down with

Matthew McConaughey. And during that conversation, he made some remarks saying exactly what you just said that basically nobody cares about opera

and ballet, that they are dying art forms. And it has really struck a chord in all of the wrong ways.

He has upset his fellow artists who, of course, are saying that ballet and opera are crucial art forms. They are some of the oldest art forms. And, of

course, he is one of the most famous actors in Hollywood.

He was actually the front runner, I have to tell you, when this Oscars campaign started. But here's the catch, Bianna. This whole moment went

viral right as voting closed. So Timothee may have skirted by. This really may not impact his chances because the voting window had closed, but it has

put people up in arms. And now people are saying, is Michael B. Jordan going to win or someone else?

GOLODRYGA: Well, the winner in my book is Elizabeth Wagmeister. You've been missed, my friend. And it's great to see you back on our air.

Congratulations on baby Harry. And --

WAGMEISTER: I'm so happy to see you. Thank you, Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: And CNN and Variety are live on the red carpet for Hollywood's biggest night. Get up close with all of the stars and all of the fashion.

CNN and Variety red carpet live Sunday at 4:00 P.M. on CNN app.

We'll be right back after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:45:30]

GOLODRYGA: Former U.S. secretary of state, John Kerry, says the war with Iran is one of the worst crises in decades. Kerry led negotiations with

Iran during the Obama administration.

At a CEO summit in London Thursday, he said no one should underestimate Iran's abilities. And in an interview with CNN's Max Foster, Kerry warns

that this war could get out of control.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: I think it's very dangerous. I hope that diplomacy will re-enter in a very forceful way in the next days. I think it's incredibly important for

the world that folks find an off-ramp here and begin a very legitimate and important dialogue about the road ahead.

But this is underscoring to everybody in the world the importance of energy independence of not being held hostage to other people's choices.

And as it did in 1973, when we had the oil crisis, I think this will remind people and perhaps speed up some of the transition and energy.

FOSTER: Would you say it's one of the worst crisis in decades?

KERRY: I would. I -- I think it is because it has the potential of getting even more out of control. I mean, I think if people have a feeling that

there's no off-ramp and it's going to have a profound impact.

You've already seen what's happened to oil production, gas production. You've seen what's happened to prices. That will flow down into everybody's

economy if it goes on too long.

And I think it's really important to avoid the -- the potential of somebody completely misreading or further misreading how one choice will affect

others.

FOSTER: I want to ask about the environmental damage you might be concerned about, because overnight, we saw thick black smoke over parts of the Middle

East. They are targeting installations. Are you concerned about that?

KERRY: Well, needless to say, in any war, the environment is probably the last thing that anybody thinks about.

And clearly, there are huge costs that -- that occur as a result of environmental catastrophes that are man-made because they were hit by a

missile or hit by an artillery shell. And that's -- that's all part and parcel of what needs to be addressed in the context of getting an off-ramp,

figuring out when you have achieved the goals that you've set out to achieve.

FOSTER: You've led on negotiations under Obama with the Iranians. Do you think this administration has misjudged the asymmetric way that the

Iranians are looking at this? I mean, it's an economic war.

[12:50:06]

KERRY: I have said many times and answer to questions about what happens if this happens, that no one should underestimate Iran's capacity to conduct

asymmetrical warfare. They've proven it previously. They are practiced at it.

And I don't know to what degree, if at all, those considerations were taken into account here in the decision-making.

FOSTER: Can I ask about energy security? This has exposed our reliance on Middle Eastern oil. Do you think this is a wake-up call for the world as

well?

KERRY: Absolutely, clearly. That is one of the outcomes of what is taking place right now. No nation is going to want to leave itself exposed to the

vagaries of other people's choices about war or environment or, you know, whatever else the considerations may be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: All right. Just ahead for us, the City of Oakland, California is throwing a victory party for Olympic figure skating champion, Alysa Liu,

and as thousand celebrate the hometown star.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALYSA LIU, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: I want to thank you all so much for showing up and showing out. This is crazy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: An Olympic champion getting a hero's welcome at home. Thousands turned out in Oakland to celebrate figure skating gold medalist, Alysa Liu,

honoring the hometown star with a rally, performances and even a keynote city -- a key to the city.

Anser Hassan from KGO has more on the celebration.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIU: What's up, Oakland? Hello.

ANSER HASSAN, KGO REPORTER (voice-over): With her signature hair and just being her unapologetic self, figure skating Olympic gold medalist, Alysa

Liu, returned home to thousands of cheering fans and a key to the city.

LIU: I want to thank you all so much for showing up and showing out. This is crazy.

MAYMUNAH RASHEED, OAKLAND RESIDENT: We love seeing Oakland people shine. And we love to represent our people. So, yes, I wanted -- I took off work

today to come, represent, and celebrate one of our winners.

REP. LATEEFAH SIMON (D-CA): We have a young sister who has shown us what it means to live life with excellence and beauty on her own terms. Yes.

HASSAN (voice-over): East Bay Congresswoman Lateefah Simon called Liu an American hero.

Born in Oakland, she trained in Oakland and she's an alumni of the Oakland School for the Arts. Hundreds of students from the school were in the

crowd.

[12:55:08]

STEVEN WARD, OAKLAND SCHOOL OF THE ARTS: This gives them inspiration that they can achieve whatever they put their mind to.

LIU: Especially from a figure skater, you know, like we don't really blow up like that.

HASSAN (voice-over): Before the rally, Liu spoke at a press conference where she talked about her newfound popularity, not just about being an

Olympic champion, but also being an Asian-American athlete and role model.

LIU: I mean, representation matters so much. So I'm always so grateful and just honored that I could be that for some people.

HASSAN (voice-over): Lion dances to honor her Asian heritage and performances from other Oakland celebrities like Kehlani, all to honor who

some call, a woman who represents Oakland's future.

ANDRE WARD, OLYMPIC BOXING GOLD MEDALIST: I wish I had the voice that you had as a young athlete coming up to be able to step back sometimes when I

was burnt out or was working too hard and I just didn't have it.

But for you to do that and then come back and win the world, and then come back and win an Olympic -- two Olympic, that's crazy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: Well, deserved praise for Alysa. Amazing.

Well, that does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END