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One World with Zain Asher

Trump Halts Talks With Iran, Signals a New Approach to War; Oil Prices Hover Above $90 a Barrel as Peace Talks Stall; IDF Admits Firing on Car Carrying 5-year-old Hind Rajab; Florida, Alaska, Wyoming Pick Nominees for Midterm Elections; Trump Pauses 50 Percent Tariffs on Canada for Three Days; Pheelz Creates Space for Next Generation of African Creatives. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired August 19, 2026 - 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: Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga.

ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: And I'm Zain Asher. Coming up on "One World", United Arab Emirates suspends all trade with Iran, saying it was

targeted with ballistic missiles. We'll look at what it means for the region.

GOLODRYGA: Plus, Israeli army orders a criminal investigation into its killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza. We're live in Jerusalem with

the very latest.

ASHER: And November's midterm election matchup is taking place, taking shape rather after voters made their voices heard in yesterday's U.S.

primaries. All right. After weeks of claiming negotiations with Iran were proceeding, well, the U.S. President is signaling a new approach to the war

with Iran, disengage from the conflict.

GOLODRYGA: Donald Trump says there are no talks underway and none scheduled. The U.S. official says the president has told his envoys to halt

all conversations with Tehran. The Trump Administration appears to believe Iran will bend under economic pressure.

This, as Iran's foreign minister acknowledges, that the U.S. blockade of its forts has contributed to shortages and price increases in the country.

ASHER: All right. CNN's Kevin Liptak joins us live now from the White House. So, it appears the U.S. President is really trying to throw anything

against the wall that will stick. We've seen him threaten civilian infrastructure in Iran. We've seen him try to really put massive economic

pressure on the country.

Although Iran has lived for years under sanctions, so a lot of people were skeptical as to whether or not that would work. And now his tactic is to

sort of completely disengage. No diplomacy. We're not going to engage with the Iranians at all. Will it work this time, Kevin?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah, and it's an open question. And you're right to point out that the economic pressure that the

administration now seems to be banking on making a difference in Iran is something that, that country has faced for many, many decades.

And so, when you talk to analysts and talk to experts, they question whether you know another round of sanctions, which administration officials

do say could come as early as this week, whether that will be what really makes the difference here. And I think the problem that the president face

is he's trying to resolve something that wasn't a problem before the war began, which is the Strait of Hormuz and trying to get unrestricted traffic

flowing back through that waterway.

That seems to be now the central objective, even though the president says the main goal is to ensure that Iran doesn't obtain a nuclear weapon. What

the focus really is on trying to get the strait reopened so that energy prices can come back down and oil prices and gas prices can come back down

in the United States.

And that is a problem that wasn't facing the president before the war began, and it is only now that Iran has begun to wield its control over the

waterway. And what you hear frustration mounting inside the White House is this emerging deal between Oman and Iran to try and manage traffic through

the strait, whereby Iran would manage traffic going in, Oman, which has the coast on the other side of the strait, would manage traffic coming out.

And President Trump has been displeased about what he's been hearing about those negotiations, that's part of why he lashed out earlier this week on

Oman threatening to send bombs to that country, despite it being a longtime strategic partner of the United States. So, he does find himself really in

a conundrum that he has been struggling to find a way out of.

Now that he is disengaged from the talks, I guess the hope is that Iran will start feeling the economic pressure and will be more apt to cave to

some of the president's demands when it comes to both the strait and the nuclear issue. But there's no evidence that they are planning to do that

just yet, and so the president now finds himself on a new tack, but without any clear evidence that it will work in the way that the other ones

haven't.

ASHER: Right, Kevin Liptak, live for us there. Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: Well, for the fourth day in a row, oil prices are now rising. Like given the tension of the Strait of Hormuz, they will continue to this

as tanker traffic in the strait remains at a trickle.

ASHER: Yeah, take a look at where Brent crude futures stand right now. Brent crude is at $91 a barrel. The U.S. benchmark WTI is at $86 a barrel

there.

[11:05:00]

GOLODRYGA: Anna Stewart joins us now from London to break down these numbers. And Anna, though we've seen a rise in oil prices and gas prices

since the start of this war, they haven't escalated to the levels that many people had feared and anticipated. A lot of that driven by China and sort

of the decline in demand we have seen from China after they have stockpiled a mass amount of oil for a number of years now.

Just talk about the impact that this could have on oil prices. This new approach from President Trump to squeeze Iran economically, no matter the

consequences.

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are seeing fresh highs for oil for this month, but you're right. We maybe not seen them as high as we

would have expected just a few months ago, given the situation. I think confidence is very low that we'll see any return to secure shipping through

the Strait of Hormuz any time soon.

That has been very much underlined, of course, in the last 24 hours by the U.S. President saying that there are no talks scheduled with Iran at that

stage, and also so much confusion. The U.S. Administration saying that this waterway is open, Iran saying it is closed.

And investors and journalists having to very much rely on shipping data companies to see just how many crossings are being made each day. Very hard

to actually kind of estimate that, particularly as some ships are simply turning their transponders off to keep themselves secure.

But we're looking at I don't know maybe 4 million barrels a day getting out of that region. That's about a fifth of the pre-war levels. And then, in

addition to this, we can look at the Bab al-Mandab Strait because that's the other choke point that's also seeing fewer crossings due to the risk of

attacks from Houthi militants.

And it's not just the oil price in terms of global crude oil we're looking at. We're also looking for all of us, of course, at the price of energy,

the price at the pump, jet fuel prices up 70 percent over the last year. I think U.S. diesel is up currently about 30 percent over the last year.

And that's because in addition to the issue of getting sort of the raw crude out of the region in the Gulf, you also have a major issue now with

refining capacity around the world, and this is what is set to potentially get a lot worse. You have refining capacity in the Middle East constrained

by attacks directly on the refiners themselves, but also, of course, getting that oil out.

You also have Russian refineries under attack from Ukrainian drones. You have, as you said, China, which is very much restricting its fuel exports

to protect its own fuel within the country. But for how long will it be able to support itself? So, if you consider the sort of global picture of

oil and what that means for all of us, and what that means for global inflation, it's not looking that good going forwards this year.

GOLODRYGA: Anna Stewart breaking it down for us in London. Thank you.

ASHER: Right, new data shows Iran has lost significant control over the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. navy is patrolling the waterway, and there are signs

Iran's attempt to exert authority over all traffic are failing.

GOLODRYGA: Data from ship tracking firm Kpler shows that more than 80 percent of ships going through the strait in the last two weeks use the

Omani route, that is a U.N. authorized shipping channel, but Iran strongly opposes any ships using it. Now, a month ago, Kpler found almost no traffic

on the Omani route.

There's also so-called dark traffic, which are ships that turn off their transponders to make it harder for Iran to see them.

ASHER: Yeah, and there's more bad news for Iran. The United Arab Emirates is suspending all trade and financial transactions with Iran until further

notice.

GOLODRYGA: The UAE Foreign Ministry says Iran's conduct is undermining the regional and international peace and security. The embargo will be a major

blow to Iran. The UAE is its second biggest trading partner behind China. Last week, ships owned by the UAE state oil company were targeted by Iran

in the Strait of Hormuz.

ASHER: All right, let's get some perspective on the repercussions of this move. We're joined by Miad Maleki. He's a Former Senior U.S. Treasury

official and now a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Miad, thank you so much for being with us.

I want to start by just talking to our audience about the relationship, the current relationship between Iran and the UAE, because it is a complicated

one. On the one hand, you have, at least until now, at least until the current war, diplomatic channels have remained open.

Obviously, there is some sort of political mistrust, but economically, the two countries have been intertwined. You have a lot of Iranians who have

businesses in Dubai. Dubai is, of course, a gateway for the entire Middle East when it comes to commercial activity. Just walk us through what this

relationship is and where it stands right now.

MIAD MALEKI, FORMER SENIOR U.S. TREASURY OFFICIAL: Thanks for having me, and great question. You know, just to unpack this announcement by the UAE.

Just a few couple points, you know, that the current U.S. naval blockade is closing the access through the Persian Gulf from Persian Gulf to the ocean.

So, it's really sealing off the Gulf of Oman.

[11:10:00]

But Dubai's trade with Iran never used that out of door. It's really just transshipment and also trade between Iran and UAE that happens in the

strait of -- in the Persian Gulf. So, it's really beyond the blockade's reach. Now Abu Dhabi now just closed that inner door, so that's very

significant.

But just to directly answer your question, UAE is not just one trading partner for Iran. Iran's own data names UAE as number one import supplier

five years back-to-back. About 30 percent of everything Iran imports come from UAE. That's about $21 billion last year, $29 billion 2 ways, and that

doesn't account for the smuggle cargo.

So, if you add the smuggle cargo, then you're getting somewhere close to about 35 to $45 billion. That's Iran's window to the world economy. And

just very quick additional point, a lot of the trade that Iran has with the other countries outside the Persian Gulf, outside the Strait of Hormuz,

they actually go through UAE.

So, UAE is also a transshipment hub for Iran's access to its trade and commerce, and also 80 percent of Iran's foreign exchange is procured in

UAE. So, Tehran's free market dollar rate is effectively set in Dubai, and that's what I would call what UAE done is really unplugging Iran's payment

system for its international trade and domestic foreign exchange maker.

And it's that the trade relationship is more economically driven than diplomatically or politically driven. They never had great diplomatic

relationship or political engagements, but their economy is very intertwined.

GOLODRYGA: Miad, it's good to have you back on the program. This UAE announcement came shortly after President Trump spoke with Mohammed bin

Zayed, NBC, the Leader of the UAE. And there had been a lot of news made from a recent or an interview that you gave to us fairly recently, a few

months ago, where after the United States imposed a blockade, you had said that it would take just a matter of weeks for this to severely impact Iran.

That their storage facilities were at their limits at that point. That it would just be some days before we would see Iran really squeezed to a

point, they hadn't been in a long time, and here we are, some five months later. I'm wondering if you can explain to our viewers and some that go

back to that interview that you gave with us.

When you made that prediction about why this time could be different and what we should be looking for in terms of this economic squeeze, this new

policy from President Trump, how does it differ from previous ones over the last six months?

MALEKI: Absolutely. So, here's what, las, going back to where we were before the naval blockade was actually put in place. It really has to do

with what I just mentioned in response to your first question. So, the blockade, the line of the blockade, was put outside the Strait of Hormuz.

If the blockade was placed inside the Persian Gulf and blocking the Kharg Island, for example, where Iran's 90 percent of oil goes out through that

island through that terminal, then you would have a complete shut off, the complete close of Iran's ability to export oil, and that's again 90 percent

of that one island.

So, if the naval blockade was there, we would have seen Iran quickly run out of onshore storage capacity, which is shockingly only 13 days really by

the regime's own numbers of storage capacity. Again, for 47 years, they're saying that they can close the Strait of Hormuz.

Yet they didn't really invest in actually expanding their own storage capacity in case they have to do it. So, what happened is the blockade went

outside the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had access to tankers that it started filling up, so it bought itself some time. Now, where we are today, it's

the oil that goes out of Iran has really dropped down for about 200 to 300,000 barrels a day on average.

That means their extraction level, the oil production, probably just matches their domestic refining capacity. So, it's fair to assume that they

have shut in some of the wells. They have dropped the extraction double to a point that it would be extremely difficult for them to restore or go back

to be able to retain after this coal conflict is over.

Now, what's changing today is, as I mentioned, this decision by UAE is really complementing the U.S. naval blockade by cutting off the trade that

happens within the Persian Gulf, outside the reach of a U.S. naval blockade. And the UAE's decision is also cutting off Iran's access to

foreign currency and reserves that it has access to through the sale from oil to China, it still has oil out -- in outside the Persian Gulf and sells

it to China.

[11:15:00]

Now the U.S. decision is going to cut off regimes' access to foreign currency. It can probably lead to more disputes internally, domestically.

We've seen regime officials coming out and some of them expressing concerns about the state of economy. I think slowly we're seeing some frictions

within the government.

And if you see that friction, you start seeing defection within the business empire that runs this country, the oligarchs, if you will, that

runs Iran's economy, the black market. Then that's where you're going to see extreme level of pressure on this regime at that point.

ASHER: And that, you know, you brought up such an important point that for decades Iran has sort of been showing off that it could, if it wanted to,

close the Strait of Hormuz. But yet, it didn't invest in expanding its storage capacities, if indeed that became an eventuality.

Miad Maleki, thank you so much from the Foundation of Defensive Democracies. We appreciate your perspective.

MALEKI: Thanks for having me.

ASHER: All right, still ahead on "One World".

GOLODRYGA: Israel's military is now admitting that it fired on a car carrying a five-year-old girl and her family two years ago. Bring you that

story when we return.

ASHER: Plus, a major trade dispute with Canada is taking a pause as President Trump gives a little more time to finalize a deal. The latest on

negotiations just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: 2.5 years ago, a little girl was killed in Gaza. And now, for the first time, Israel's military is admitting that it fired on the car

carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and several members of her family. It's opening a criminal investigation now into the killing.

ASHER: Yeah, the car came under attack in northern Gaza in 2024. Rajab survived the initial fire and pleaded on the phone for hours with

Palestinian paramedics for help. A warning that viewers may find this next video disturbing.

GOLODRYGA: Yeah, Palestinian ambulance dispatch to save her also came under attack. Her body was found 12 days later. Recordings of Rajab's call with

paramedics gained international attention. CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us now from Jerusalem with more on this story.

So, Jeremy, just explain why the IDF came out with this finding and decision now.

[11:20:00]

This was part of a broader investigation that they've conducted over the course of the last two years over incidents that involved civilians being

targeted in Gaza. Just walk us through the findings here.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, that's right, Bianna. This is the Israeli military has something called the fact-finding

mechanism inside the Israeli military, which conducts kind of preliminary investigations into allegations of war crimes, for example.

And in this case, the Israeli military today released its first comprehensive report of 150 of these investigations. Now, we only got the

details of 5 of these 150 investigations, including the incident involving the killing of Hind Rajab, six of her family members, and two ambulance

paramedics who had gone to try and rescue her.

And this is the first time that the Israeli military, in more than 2.5 years since this incident took place, has actually admitted that it was its

troops that opened fire on the vehicle that was carrying Hind Rajab in this January 2024 incident, in the first place. And the Israeli military is

indeed launching a criminal investigation into the matter.

It's important to note that previously, the Israeli military initially they said that they had no knowledge of this incident. Then they said that its

forces were quote, not present near the vehicle or within firing range of this vehicle carrying Hind Rajab, despite a mountain of evidence to the

contrary.

And now finally acknowledging that its troops did indeed open fire on this vehicle. In addition to that, the second investigation, second criminal

investigation that the Israeli military is launching relates to the Israeli military opening fire on a convoy of ambulances and first response vehicles

back in March of 2025 that resulted in the killing of 15 paramedics and first responders.

You may recall that incident because initially the Israeli military claimed that these vehicles were moving suspiciously, that they had did not have

their headlights on, did not have emergency lights on video of that incident then directly contradicted that, and now the Israeli military says

that there is quote, reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct to warrant this investigation.

The Israeli military also talked about three other investigations that it conducted and is ultimately deciding not to pursue criminal investigations

of they include the killing of seven World Central Kitchen workers back in 2024 and two previous strikes on Doctors Without Borders facilities in the

Gaza Strip.

We've just heard from World Central Kitchen, in fact, which is condemning the Israeli military for not pursuing a criminal investigation into the

killing of seven of its workers back in 2024. And again, we will continue to, of course, keep an eye and track the progress of this criminal

investigation and whether it results in any kind of serious accountability within the Israeli military.

GOLODRYGA: -- thank you. And still ahead on "One World" --

ASHER: Results are in from Tuesday's primary elections in the U.S. How Trump endorsed candidates fared in the Florida races.

GOLODRYGA: And in the same state, a major Senate primary upset. How the rise of Democratic socialists is playing out in Florida.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:25:00]

ASHER: All right. Welcome back to "One World". I'm Zain Asher.

GOLODRYGA: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. Here's some of the headlines we're watching today. President Trump says there are no talks underway and no

negotiations scheduled to bring about an end to a nearly six-month war with Iran. His administration seems to be relying on increasing economic

pressure to force Tehran back to the table.

Iran's Foreign Minister says because of the U.S. blockade, there are some shortages of goods and prices are higher.

ASHER: President Trump is also hitting pause, hitting the pause button rather on a punishing 50 percent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods.

He has announced a three-day delay, saying the U.S. and Canada have a deal. But Canada's Prime Minister says there is still important work to be done.

GOLODRYGA: Joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea have now been cut in half. President Trump called for this reduction after citing

his close relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. Since Trump's first term, Kim has significantly expanded his country's military

capabilities and is now believed to have dozens of nuclear warheads.

ASHER: And Britain's Queen Camilla says she struggled to keep King Charles' cancer diagnosis a secret. She says it was quite difficult not to mention

it, when she visited a cancer support center in late January 2024. Charles' diagnosis was officially revealed days later. He is still being treated for

an undisclosed form of the disease.

GOLODRYGA: Well, moments ago, President Trump brought the media on a tour of the new helipad on the White House lawn, South Lawn, as it is being

constructed, and he signed the back of an Eagle's Head Keystone, and asked for some large presidential coins to be laid with it.

The president has initiated a number of White House construction projects since he came to office, including this new helipad and the East Wing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Oh, that's good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: As we mentioned, a tariff showdown mean time between the U.S. and Canada is on hold for now. President Trump announced that he is

delaying the 50 percent tariffs for three days shortly before the midnight deadline.

ASHER: Now, the U.S. President says the delay gives negotiators more time to finalize a deal that follows talks between President Trump and Canadian

Prime Minister Mark Carney. All right. I'm being told that the president is taking questions about Canadian tariffs at the White House. Let's listen

in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TRUMP: -- Tariffs into Canada, and those tariffs are going to be totally eviscerated down to zero.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- response to lower tariff --

TRUMP: We're doing certain things. We're giving, got to give something, and we're doing certain things. They were paying a high number. We're reducing

it a little bit. It's good for everybody, but our farmers are going to be thrilled. Our manufacturers are going to be thrilled.

And basically, we have no tariffs going into Canada anymore. Canada was charging us tremendous tariffs. We no longer have any tabs. And what I was

able to do is, we put, as you know, under the new tariff. I guess you'd call it the new tariff schedules that we came out with.

They were going to get a 50 percent tariff on everything starting today, and we've held it back three days. It's all subject to finalization of

documents, so subject to the finalization of documents, we have a deal with Canada, and I think it's a very good deal for both parties. It's great for

our farmers.

Our farmers will no longer be held up because they were being hurt very badly by Canada. Yeah.

[11:30:00]

The strait last night we had a lot of boats come through. We have possession, complete control of the strait. I mean, outside of nuisance

value, and there is nuisance value when they shoot a drone every once in a while. But and not everybody's going to go through. But they come through.

And over the last couple of weeks, we've had a lot of oil coming out. A lot of oil. It's not going to be perfect, but it's a lot of oil coming in. A

lot. In fact, people are amazed. One of the reasons that oil hasn't gone to like the proverbial $300 a barrel. It's at 83, 84, 85, and it'll be a lot

lower when this is over because we have plenty of oil.

But one of the reasons it never wanted the 3 and 350 numbers because we do. We have a lot coming out, and people are finding alternatives, and you know

one of the alternatives, Texas. You know another one, Alaska, Louisiana. They're coming to the United States to get oil.

And people say, oh, you shouldn't say that because it makes it sound well. It is what it is. I mean, they're coming to Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska to

get oil.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President --

TRUMP: About what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- negotiation --

TRUMP: Maybe at some point, but right now, I think the situation is so good. But maybe at some point. Look, it's very simple. They have to get rid

of completely. They have to get rid of no nuclear weapon. Iran cannot have a nuclear. You know why? Because they'd use it, and we're not going to let

them use it.

So, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and they won't. Thank you very much. I'm glad you came out. Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: All right. You've just been listening to the U.S. President speaking to reporters there, he touched on a few key issues. I think the few key

issues. I think the first one that a lot of us have been talking about this morning is the Canada tariffs. Donald Trump said that the tariffs between

the U.S. and Canada have essentially been totally eviscerated.

That is good for everybody. That they are waiting for the finalization of documents. Donald Trump did actually post, saying that the U.S. and Canada

are working towards having a deal. That they're very, very close, intimating that they were close. Mark Carney, on the other hand, prior to

that, did say that there is important work to be done.

He also touched on the importance of Iran not having a nuclear weapon because they would use it in the president's word. Let's bring in Larry

Sabato joining us live now. So, Larry -- Political Analyst Larry Sabato. So, Larry, we were going to talk to you about the Florida primaries, which

we'll still get to.

But just in terms of this announcement by the U.S. President, we didn't catch everything he said, but it sounds like the tariffs between the U.S.

and Canada have been eviscerated at least for now. But we're seeing this constant back and forth over the past few years, where one hand, Donald

Trump might agree to a deal today, then maybe he might threaten tariffs tomorrow.

It makes it very difficult for the U.S. to be a reliable trading partner from that perspective.

LARRY SABATO, CO-AUTHOR OF "CAMPAIGN OF CHAOS": That's for sure. Look, it's -- for the course as far as Donald Trump is concerned, and there's every

foreign leader has to deal with because you never know when he's going to do this, when he will get irritated at another country's leader, or a

country for particular policy.

I think Trump thinks it's effective. I'm not sure the markets agree.

GOLODRYGA: Well, and it's one of the reasons the president was highlighting what looks like a renewed deal about the Keystone pipeline between Canada

and the United States. It was something that was agreed to during Trump's first term, it was nixed under President Biden.

And now it seems to be some conciliatory agreement between both sides as they're trying to find middle ground as it relates to these tariffs. And

the president, he may not say he's concerned about affordability or the price of oil and gas, but it is clearly front and mind for so many voters.

And that played out again yesterday, as we saw in primary races across the country, specifically as it relates to Florida. We saw a surprise win for a

DSA candidate against Democrat Alexander Vindman. He had outspent her significantly, though many say that he did run a flawed campaign.

He's new to the state. I think he's moved there just a few years ago. Obviously, a decorated veteran here who gained a name notoriety for

speaking out and testifying against President Trump during his first impeachment trial. You call her win. Angie Nixon is the DSA candidate who

won last night in the Democratic primary.

You call that a big victory for Republicans as we get to the midterm elections overall for the State of Florida. Explain why.

[11:35:00]

SABATO: Florida has transformed faster than any other state, from blue to purple to red, and they are deeply red. In fact, between Texas and Florida,

Texas is now more competitive than Florida is, and I think that's where a lot of Democratic money will go. But Angie Nixon is very able, excellent

speaker, but her chances are quite low of defeating incumbent Republican Senator Ashley Moody.

And so yes, we moved it last -- safe Republican, and so did some other ratings. It's difficult to see how she could win. She only raised 975,000

for the primary. Vindman spent 16 million and lost in a landslide. I mean, you have to work hard to lose in a landslide, out spending the other

candidate by 61.

ASHER: So how did she do it then? Because we've sort of seen this play out in other races, other primary races, you know, and you having these

progressive candidates do extremely well, despite a more moderate Democratic candidate essentially outspending them, as you mentioned,

Vindman spent 16 million.

Angie Nixon could barely afford a single television ad. I mean, she went through social media by and large. And she just sort of has this sort of

firebrand messaging. I mean, she's sort of much more energetic as a candidate. Just walk us through how she actually did it.

SABATO: Well, she did it in part, in large part because primaries have relatively low turnouts. You look at the number of votes and you say, wow,

that's a big number. No, this is Florida, and if you look back to the last presidential election, this was tiny by comparison.

Well, who shows up? Who shows up in the primary? The super activists, the uber activists, and on the Democratic side now, they are progressive, and

not a majority of them, but a sizable minority, are socialists in one way or another, or they identify with the more progressive candidate, which she

clearly was.

Vindman was running for the general election, which means that you keep things center left to have any chance at all as a Democrat now in Florida.

So that's how she did it. She turned on the left wing of the Democratic Party, and they turned out in large numbers for her in a primary.

That's all you need in a general election. You need a lot more than that.

GOLODRYGA: Yeah, which raises the question of whether Democrats are misjudging actually what voters overall are focused on. It may be

energizing in a primary, but as you said, you think this puts Florida solidly in the Republicans' hands for this particular race in the general

election.

Where you see Democrats having an opportunity outside of Texas, as you noted, was also Wyoming. What did you see last night that led you to that

conclusion?

SABATO: Well, Democrats are going to lose everything in Wyoming. It's one of the three most Republican states. They will easily win the Senate seat

with a new candidate, the incumbent hiring. They will win the U.S. House seat. They will win the governorship.

One interesting thing, though, Trump's endorsed candidate for governor lost, and it was quite a surprise because most people expected her to win,

not just because of Trump's endorsement. So, Trump is not having the same degree of success with his endorsements as he has had.

So that's one aspect that's interesting. Wyoming is overwhelmingly Republican.

GOLODRYGA: All right, Larry Sabato. Thank you so much for the time and perspective. Appreciate it. Well, moments ago, President Trump announced

that he would delay the 50 percent tariffs for three days on Canada shortly before its midnight deadline.

ASHER: Yeah, the U.S. President says the delay gives negotiators more time to finalize a deal. It follows talks between the U.S. President and

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who says negotiations have been very delicate and also intense. The levies would have affected about 20 billion

dollars a year of Canadian exports to the U.S. from dairy products to alcoholic drinks and also furniture as well.

So where do we stand from now? CNN's Elisabeth Buchwald joins us live now from New York. So, we did hear the president speaking moments ago. He

talked about a possible deal subject to the finalization of documents. What do we know about this potential deal?

ELISABETH BUCHWALD, CNN ECONOMICS REPORTER: Right, and that's the key phrase they're subject to, because nothing is really final, and even once

it is quote, unquote, final, we don't quite know when things can be rescinded. But for now, it seems like there are some positive developments.

[11:40:00]

It seems it's again unclear what they are negotiating towards, but it seems like they're trying to do something that's longer lasting, and that's going

to -- they got these three extra days to hopefully get something that's going to be cemented for longer, and that would avert these really

scorching high 50 percent tariffs.

GOLODRYGA: Elisabeth, what role can you speak more in about the Keystone pipeline here? And how that was perhaps an added incentive for President

Trump to come to this conclusion and perhaps lift these tariffs?

BUCHWALD: Well, Trump is reaching Prime Minister Mark Carney at a vulnerable time for the Canadian economy. They have had a lot of struggles

with the tariffs that were in place, some of them walked back a little bit, and he's trying to pull out all the stops Trump now and Keystone XL

pipeline has been on his wish list for some time.

Now it remains to be seen what's really going to happen there, but I think this is symbolic because it shows that perhaps he does have an ear on all

of this.

ASHER: All right, Elisabeth Buchwald, thank you so much. We'll be right back with more after this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ASHER: All right, Nigerian musician Pheelz, the platinum hit maker behind Finesse, is more than just a chart topper. From making beats as a teen to

going global, he's now, all about using his platform to lift others and create space for the next generation of African creatives.

GOLODRYGA: CNN's Larry Madowo has his story in this month's African Voices Change Maker.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you remember a moment when you realized that what you're doing is changing lives?

PHEELZ, NIGERIAN MUSICIAN & PRODUCER: The first moment is the moment where a 16-year-old boy can make music that cut across the continent, and that

was my first hit track with Olamide called "First of All". The second moment was where a kid walked up to me, and he said, bro, I legit was about

to take my life.

Then I heard your song, and it stopped me. And that song was "Stand by You", the song that I spoke about. That opened up my heart so because that

was the day I realized the responsibility that I had for some souls.

MADOWO: You've had an unbelievable career, starting off as just as a kid. In the last decade and a half, most people will never achieve anything

you've accomplished. What's still there for you to do?

[11:45:00]

What's still your dream?

PHEELZ: More plaques, sell out arenas and stadiums. Maybe a few Grammys here and there.

MADOWO: OK.

PHEELZ: But Rii Collective. I really want to be a tree that shields other people. I feel like ultimately that's what I want to become, have a school,

an academy for creatives to flourish, have a record label for artists to flourish and completely be themselves and create what they want to create.

MADOWO: So, you see, Rii Collective as the vehicle for all those things that you want to accomplish in the industry, to give others the same

opportunities you've been given.

PHEELZ: Yeah, I'm also creating like a collective of creatives, Rii Collective. That's what I call it, where I like bring producers together

and bring creatives together in Nigeria, and we just create like no old bars, no rules, no check marks. Just create free. This is a safe space.

That's what Rii Collective is. And you know, I've got a couple producers under that collective that you know that are about to shock the world also.

MADOWO: And what's the vision for this? Is it just to have this kind of cross pollination of ideas to support upcoming producing talent? What do

you hope to achieve with it?

PHEELZ: It's to support upcoming talent, but also to most importantly to create a safe space for them to create, and also to create opportunities,

because it is not there's -- not a lot of creative opportunities back home. I believe it is the duty of whoever makes it out in a way to like look back

home and you know, invest in the talent on the streets of Nigeria like that's one of my dreams.

You get me so that's one of the things that Rii Collective does is just create a safe space for talent to come on and create and be yourself there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ASHER: The world's largest maker of humanoid robots has scored a massive stock market debut.

GOLODRYGA: Shares of Unitree started trading Wednesday. Look at that. After the company's $900 million IPO soared by an incredible 600 percent in

Shanghai. Mike Valerio shows us why Unitree has captured global attention with its dancing and kung fu fighting robots.

[11:50:00]

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this absolutely is a milestone for China's humanoid robotics sector. Unitree, which is China's best-known

humanoid robot maker, making its trading debut in Shanghai on Wednesday, and shares surging nearly sixfold during trading.

Now, why these matters beyond the stock market in Shanghai? Of course, the company has become a symbol of national pride here in China. And

importantly, unlike most of its peers, Unitree is profitable, even if for now a few of its robots are being used in commercial settings.

But this debut is about more than just Unitree. Its blockbuster listing is expected to set the tone for other Chinese humanoid robot makers looking to

come into the market. But there is a major potential headwind here, that is the United States. In July, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission

banned imports of future models of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots, including those from Unitree, citing national security concerns,

and that cuts off a huge market for the company.

Now, we spoke with one chief economist who compared Unitree's restricted access to the U.S. market with what happened to Chinese telecom giant

Huawei? Listen to what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALICIA GARCIA-HERRERO, ASIA-PACIFIC CHIEF ECONOMIST AT NATIXIS: Can they do well without the U.S. market? Yes, but it is harder. So, you know, for me,

they're not fully discounting the risk of Unitree becoming, you know, a little Huawei if you want a company that is facing basically constraints

elsewhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALERIO: And the pressure from D.C. goes beyond that. In June, the Pentagon also added Unitree to a list of Chinese military companies, calling it a

quote, contributor to the Chinese defense industrial base. Unitree says its robots are for civilian use. And in China, the startup has some very

powerful backers, including Tencent, Alibaba, and DeepSeek.

Now, the timing of all this coincides with the opening here in Beijing of the World Robot Conference, and that is where hundreds of mostly Chinese

companies will be launching new products and showing off their latest advancements. Watch this space. Mike Valerio, CNN, Beijing.

ASHER: All right. The Trump Administration's immigration crackdown has raised fears among more than 300,000 Haitians living in the United States

after their temporary protected status was revoked just weeks ago.

GOLODRYGA: CNN's Carolina Peguero talked to one woman who escaped violence in Haiti and now faces an uncertain future.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why me? Why my mother? Why my country? Why my people?

CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Casu (ph)is a Haitian immigrant and is constantly questioning what her future will look like as

she no longer has temporary protected status in the United States, and after the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump Administration to

end the program.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're a beautiful community, beautiful nation, great people, and we come here to work and pay our taxes.

PEGUERO (voice-over): Out of fear, Casu (ph) has chosen to not show her face, but it says it's important for her to raise her voice. She left Haiti

eight years ago, fleeing from the increasing violence and insecurity in her country.

PEGUERO: How is the situation in Haiti, and why you can't see yourself going back?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mom and I have been attacking Haiti. She passed away last December. And then I was attacked too. And this is the reason why

I'm here. She tells me to do not come back in Haiti.

PEGUERO (voice-over): Casu (ph) says she came to the United States after being beaten and attacked by a violent gang, and looking for safety and a

better future, she studied nursing and became involved in local Haitian organizations. But when her temporary protected status ended on July 27th,

she lost her work permit and the opportunity to take her nursing exam, leaving her with very few options for survival.

PEGUERO: Who's helping you with like food or like your rent or you know the things that you need to get done?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My friends.

PEGUERO (voice-over): She has received help from her friends and from who she considers her second family at Sant La, a local Haitian organization in

Miami.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They check on me every day. They call me. How are you feeling? How are you feeling? How is it going? Stay calm, stay positive. We

are with you.

PEGUERO (voice-over): The organization has seen an increase in visits and calls from hundreds of families who are also in need of support and say

they are scared of getting detained by I.C.E. or deported back to Haiti.

GUIBERT ST. FORT, PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT THE SANT LA NEIGHBORHOOD HAITIAN CENTER: We feel like we are working into a ghost town. Many, many, many

things have changed as a result of that TPS termination.

[11:55:00]

We see people coming here request for more support, especially legal a support, and especially with people with young kids, young children, who do

not know what to do.

PEGUERO (voice-over): While local leaders and advocacy groups continue to look for ways to press for change, Casu (ph) remains hopeful that the Trump

Administration and the federal government will give her and the Haitian community a second chance at life in the United States. She says she draws

her strength from her mother.

PEGUERO: She protects you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think so yes. She's with me.

PEGUERO (voice-over): Carolina Peguero, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: And finally, before we go this hour, pop star Shakira has pledged funds to build 10 new schools in parts of Colombia devastated by a

massive earthquake last week.

ASHER: Yeah, the singer visited locations in the quake zone on Tuesday, along with businessman Howard Buffett, the son of investor Warren Buffett.

He's helping her charity foundation with their rebuilding efforts. Colombia's President says economic losses from the disaster could reach

more than $9 billion.

GOLODRYGA: As if we needed even more reasons to love Shakir.

ASHER: I know.

GOLODRYGA: She's amazing. All right. Well, for information about how you can help people in difficulty after that earthquake, go to cnn.com/impact.

Do stay with CNN, we'll have more "One World" after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END