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One World with Zain Asher
Prince Harry And Meghan To Move Back To Britain; Americans Weigh In On Trump, Cryptocurrency And Corruption; Monaco Bomb Target Speaks To CNN; FBI Raids Former Lawmaker Eric Swalwell's Home, Seizes Devices; Trump Vows "Crushing Economic Operation" Against Iran; Filmmakers Use A.I. To Bring Val Kilmer Back To The Big Screen; Retired Couple Turn Daily Dog walks Into Park Adventures; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired August 20, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:31]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. The second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They trashed the whole country numerous times, betrayed -- betrayed their family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they get a bad rap. Like, I think they're a beautiful couple.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Love them or hate them, they are on their way back. Everything we know about the big move that's shocking the world.
ASHER: Also ahead, stunning new allegations. CNN has just learned that the FBI has raided the home of former democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell.
GOLODRYGA: And later, a tail wagging good time. Ride along with a couple who ditched the rat race for the pup bus.
All right. Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, are getting ready for a major homecoming, one that comes with plenty of questions.
ASHER: Yes. A lot of people are talking about this one. The sudden move expected to be just days away leaves many wondering, why now? This after
the couple left royal duties behind six years ago and moved to the United States.
Another question mark that is hanging over is their relocation security. Harry has spent years fighting for taxpayer-funded police protection after
losing yet when he stepped back from royal life.
Britain's Prime Minister had this to say about the family's security issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the government going to establish their security and pay for it?
ANDY BURNHAM, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is a private matter. It's a matter for -- for Harry and for Meghan. And we wish them well in the move
that they're making.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Talking like a true politician. The Sussexes are reportedly preparing to settle in, in a private home just outside of London. Their
children are expected to attend school in England this fall.
For more on this, let's bring in CNN's royal correspondent Max Foster. So, Max, there's little that you, Zain, myself, or anybody watching at home can
relate to the royal family with.
But as parents, we do know that when you enroll your child in a school, it's not something you do just a day or two or a week or two before school
begins. So, it's clear that this has been something that they've been planning for quite a while. When did the palace find out?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: On Sunday, the king was told on Sunday, Prince William was told on Sunday. They're trying to digest it,
what it means for them, what it means for the monarchy.
As you say, so many unanswered questions. And they are keeping very private about this, the Sussexes. They haven't made an official statement. All I've
been told is that they will be enrolled at school and you can read the rest of it into that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER (voice-over): It's a move nobody saw coming; Prince Harry and Meghan returning to the U.K., six years after they stepped back from official
royal duties and fell out with other members of the royal family.
Both the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex have spoken out repeatedly about the unfair treatment they believe they received in the U.K., including
tabloid intrusion and racism in the British establishment.
In April, Meghan told young people during a visit to Australia --
MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: For now, 10 years. Every day for 10 years, I've been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in
the entire world. Man, hold on. I'm still here.
FOSTER (voice-over): Why the couple have decided to return now is unclear. A source close to the couple only remarked how much they enjoyed their
visit to the U.K. last month.
In July, King Charles hosted Harry, Meghan and their children at his private country residence in Gloucestershire. It was the first time in four
years that the King had seen the whole family.
However, Harry has made several solo trips back to the U.K. since moving to California, including after King Charles' cancer diagnosis.
FOSTER: CNN understands that when the family moves over to the United Kingdom, they'll be staying in a private residence, not a royal residence.
And they won't be returning to their full-time royal roles.
Where that residence will be is a mystery at this point, but the British media speculating it could be in the affluent Cotswolds in the countryside
and Oxfordshire. It could be near Althorp House, which is the Spencer family ancestral home where Princess Diana, Harry's mother, is buried. Or
it could possibly be near friends that they've retained here in the United Kingdom.
[12:05:03]
The other big question is about security, how that will be afforded. Prince Harry recently lost the case against the government's decision to downgrade
their taxpayer-funded security.
FOSTER (voice-over): In the BBC interview last year, he said the decision made it impossible for him to return to the U.K. with his family explaining
--
PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point, no matter how
much private security I have around me. There's only so much that I can do and -- and operate and function within the U.K. when it comes to supporting
my charities, visiting my friends, all of these things.
FOSTER (voice-over): However, the couple's children, Prince Archie, seven and Princess Lilibet five, have now been enrolled at British schools. The
new school year begins in September, meaning, their move is likely to take place soon, possibly within a matter of days.
MARKLE: Are you feeling excited for your parents?
FOSTER (voice-over): Once back, the couple are expected to carry on the kind of charity work they've been doing in California and outside the U.K.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Australia.
FOSTER (voice-over): It's not yet clear how long they'll stay, or how closely they'll coordinate with the Royal household to avoid clashes in
public engagements and how they'll be folded into private royal family events.
CNN understands the king was only told on Sunday about their decision to move back.
The Sussexes may have kept their secret until now, but how much privacy they can hold once they're back in the U.K. remains to be seen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: I can tell you that photographers have been deployed, Zain and Bianna, to airports, to schools, trying to identify exactly where they're
going to be and how they're going to treat this new position they're in.
And there will be the scrutiny from the press, which actually was part of the reason that they left the U.K. in the first place, but it isn't going
away any time soon, but they'll be hoping that certainly the tabloids will be much kinder to them this time.
GOLODRYGA: In fact, that is one thing, one guarantee that we can expect is that there will be more public scrutiny with this move.
Max Foster in London for us. It's going to be very busy. I told you that in the last hour. Thank you.
ASHER: All right. Let's bring in the CNN's royal historian Kate Williams, who joins us live now. Kate, thank you so much. I mean, I'm sure you were
blindsided by this news as we all were.
One of the -- one of the interviews that Meghan has given that really stayed with -- with me was the interview that she gave to Oprah Winfrey
back in 2021. And there was one line that she said in that interview that I will never forget. She said -- this is just talking about the level of
negative media attention in the U.K.
She just -- she said, I just did not want to be alive anymore. That was a clear and real and frightening and constant thought. This idea of
essentially suicidal ideation because the British press had hounded her so much.
Based on that, why on earth would she want to move back?
KATE WILLIAMS, CNN ROYAL HISTORIAN: This is such an important point because, you know, I think none of us ever thought Harry and Meghan would
come back, expected Harry to go back and forth. More of a parchment with the king, longer holidays. This is bombshell news, front page news across
the world, not just in the U.K. and the English speaking world, but all over the world.
The king did not expect it at all. William didn't expect it. It's been absolutely conducted through secrecy and privacy. And one of the reasons, I
mean, I think the key reason why we didn't expect it is because, as Harry said, as Meghan said to Oprah, as you line that you so powerfully quoted
there, she was so desperately unhappy in the U.K. due to how she was treated by the British press, the double standards, the racism, you know,
what -- what -- what one person did was fine with them. Meghan did it. She was attacked for it. And she said she was the most attacked person in the
world at one point.
So, Meghan really, I think, thought she had been put through the mill, had an awful time in the United Kingdom. And -- and so I think that's sort of
the big surprise that they're back, that Harry said he couldn't keep his wife and children secure here.
We weren't even sure when Harry came back in July, whether the children and Meghan were going to come with him. That was something of a surprise that
they did.
And so therefore, I think -- I think really, this is a decision that Meghan is making because she's supporting Harry and she's supporting the children.
Because Harry, I think, wants to come back at this point.
He said that he under -- you know, he knows the king is not necessarily very well. I think he wants to be here. He wants his children to have
British education initially.
And certainly those children, they are very close to the British throne. They are key members of the royal family, even though their parents are not
defined as working royals anymore. They're key members of the royal family. And I think Harry feels they should be here at this point.
But I don't think that it is Meghan's dream to come back to the United Kingdom. I think she preferred to be in California, but she's here
supporting her husband, supporting her children. And I think it's definitely her decision that it is best for the family to be here. And, you
know, it's going to be difficult for her.
[12:10:12]
And I think as you -- as Max is just saying there, they're hoping that this time around, the British press, are going to be kinder to them, more
welcoming, and really going to be feeling that perhaps we were wrong to have driven away in the first place.
GOLODRYGA: Well, I mean, I guess one can base a decision that's significant on purely hope.
But, Kate, to Zain's point, this interview that was conducted with Oprah -- with Oprah was five years ago.
We just aired a clip of an interview with Harry from last year where he was adamant that he didn't want to return to England. He didn't want his kids
to be raised there. So, one could say a lot can transpire within five years and question whether perhaps that some of the lucrative film and T.V. deals
that they had inked didn't turn out the way they had hoped.
But how do you interpret Harry himself, a little over a year ago saying that this wasn't something he planned or wanted to do?
WILLIAMS: Harry himself saying it. And, of course, Harry spoke to Anderson Cooper and said, you know, that he's -- you know, it is not a good
relationship within the royal family. It's certainly not a good relationship with his brother.
And Harry is now coming back. And it is a shocking piece, surprising piece of news. I think I would say this is because Harry wants to be with the
king. None of us are getting any younger. The king is aging a couple of years. He's had health problems. I think Harry would like to be here in the
next few years. I think he wants his children to be here.
And certainly when the king has passed, which we hope is many years in the future, there will be a new monarchy. It will be King William. And I think
we can all agree that that's going to be a different -- you know, King -- King Charles is very fond of Harry. He'll be delighted that Harry is coming
here. He'll be very pleased that Harry is coming here.
But William is not going to be so pleased that Harry is coming. And certainly if there's really a relationship that Harry wants to create
within the royal family, officially, informally, it is best to create it now as opposed in the next monarchy.
And I think what we're going to see with Harry, back in the U.K., is that Charles is going to want him at a lot of royal engagements. If Charles'
80th birthday party in a couple of years, which I expect to be the case, Harry is going to be there on the balcony with the children that they are
really going to have an actual royal role.
And I think that's what Harry wants for his children. Because when William comes to the throne, Harry is going to be fourth in line to the throne,
Archie fifth and Lilibet sixth, that is very close to the throne.
They have a significant role. I think Harry wants to protect that role. But, yes, I -- I -- I imagine that the royal -- that the family, that
Meghan and Harry in Montecito are thinking about coming to Britain with a certain amount of dread because they have talked repeatedly about how
difficult it has been here in terms of the tabloids, but also security.
And that's another question that just as Max was saying there, we don't know. They need security. They want it to be paid for. Who is going to be
paying for the security that they will need for the whole family in the U.K.?
Because Harry has said, it's not safe here. He needs full, full-scale security. And this is going to have to be paid for. And possibly it's going
to come from the royal family, from the king, but we just don't know this at the moment.
ASHER: One of the things that I also think is interesting, Kate, is the fact that when Meghan Markle was part of the royal family, there was so
much talk about the fact that the British tabloids had sources within the palaces and that that was how they were getting information, which, of
course, will lead to paranoia and mistrust if you are Meghan Markle. You don't know who in your circle, who in the royal family is potentially
leaking information about you to the British press.
This time around, I find it so interesting that they managed to somehow keep all of this a secret for who knows how long, but we don't necessarily
know where they're going to be living. We don't know which school their kids are going to be going to. We don't know when they're going to land in
the U.K., which really tells you some of the lessons, right, that they learned the last time around, that this is how they're going to handle the
British press this time around, essentially starving them of information and ensuring that there's nobody in their circle who can leak information
to outside sources.
Can she hear us? Kate, can you hear us?
WILLIAMS: Yes. Yes.
ASHER: OK.
WILLIAMS: Sorry.
ASHER: Kate, did -- did you hear my question?
WILLIAMS: Yes.
ASHER: OK. Go ahead.
WILLIAMS: I did. I did. Essentially, Harry and Meghan, you know, this has been dealt with -- with the ultimate security. Harry has said, as you say,
that everything was leaked. They talked about something, it was leaked. Even their decision to move out of the United Kingdom was leaked.
[12:15:03]
And, you know, he talked -- he actually used the phrase horse trading, that, you know, that people in the royal family, in the royal household
would give talk -- stories about him back and forth, and that was how it would work.
And this story is one they kept totally quiet. And I think this is absolutely going to be their strategy. They will say nothing. They keep --
they need to know basis on a very tiny basis. And indeed this is how they conducted their meeting when they came back in July.
We really didn't know until the last minute that they were going to meet with the Queen and King, that Meghan was going to be there, that the
children was going to be there. They dealt with this with the ultimate privacy and security and they tell the smallest amount of people.
And I think this is what Harry and Meghan feel is the way forward. They will tell the British press nothing and they will be totally in control of
the story.
And it was interesting, wasn't it? Because the whole point of Harry and Meghan leaving was they were told there could be no half in, half out idea,
that you couldn't be a part member of the royal family.
But I think what we're going to see is that that is exactly what they are going to be. Not official royals, but as soon as they get to the U.K.,
every charity, every museum, every -- every sort of, you know, charity or bodies going to want Harry and Meghan at their receptions, at their gala.
Harry is going to be doing a lot for the Invictus Games here.
They are going to be unofficial royals doing what would be types of royal engagements, except they're not going to be officially defined as such. And
they're going to be on the front pages. So, essentially, they are going to be part-time royals even though they were told they couldn't be that. And
in a sense, I think the narrative is there to control.
ASHER: CNN royal correspondent. Kate, thank you for breaking that down. I mean you really have studied this. You know yourself, Kate.
So glad to have you on, on this story. And I'm sure based -- I mean you are probably right, the British press is going to have a field day. They are
going to be covered a bunch and so I'm sure we'll be having you on many times.
Kate Williams, thank you so much for that.
WILLIAMS: Thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: Not a polarizing story at all.
ASHER: All right. Hamas' official, Basem Naim, says the group is, quote, still committed to the ceasefire deal in Gaza. He spoke exclusively with
CNN's chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour.
GOLODRYGA: But things have stalled since Israel rejected the latest U.S.- backed peace plan for the enclave. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with Hamas in Egypt on Sunday and met with Israeli Prime Minister
Netanyahu the following day in Israel. Kushner later said some progress could come as early as the next 30 to 90 days.
Here's what Naim told CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BASEM NAIM, MEMBER, HAMAS POLITICAL BUREAU: We're still committed to the deal. We are still looking forward that the mediators and the -- the Board
of Peace, headed by President Trump, to make it happen.
We are still ready to continue this way to change or to give our people a chance on the ground to revive their life and to reach the -- the minimum
of terms, stability, and peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: And you can watch Christiane Amanpour's full exclusive interview in the next hour on "Amanpour."
ASHER: All right. Now, to some eye-opening new polling on U.S. President Donald Trump and essentially corruption.
GOLODRYGA: A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds a majority of Americans believe the family -- the president and his family have profited inappropriately
from cryptocurrency since his return to the White House.
It also shows that a majority of Americans think Trump's private business interests are influencing his policy decisions.
ASHER: CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten is here with the numbers. You have your shoes on this time. I take it, Harry.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: I do. I do. I do.
ASHER: You are looking a little taller this time.
ENTEN: There we go.
ASHER: But, Harry -- Harry, it tells you a lot about where we are, right? Where we are in this moment of American history. The fact that you have
most Americans, essentially saying that the president's business interests, his business interests are effectively more of a priority for him than how
he makes decisions based on what is right for the country.
Just -- just walk us through where we are in this point in time.
ENTEN: Yes. The taller version of me will walk you through them. Look, I -- I just want to impress Bianna's mom. That's honestly why I'm keeping the
shoes on.
But either way, tell me if the text comes through, Bianna, after this segment. Anyway --
GOLODRYGA: Yes.
ENTEN: -- we'll talk about -- thank you. We'll talk about Trump and corruption here. I mean, just look at the trend lines here, disapprove on
Trump and corruption.
Look, he came into the White House promising to sweep up the swamp, right? Clean the swamp in Washington, D.C. Now, the American people believe he is
part of that swamp.
Look at this. In January 2025, just 43 percent of Americans said they disapproved of Trump on corruption. Obviously, you want that number to be
below 50 percent.
But look at it now, up like a rocket. We're talking about 59 percent, nearly three in five Americans say they disapprove of Trump on corruption.
We see the same trend with independents. Independents, of course, the name of the game and politics. You win independents, you win elections.
[12:20:07]
It was 48 percent back in January 2025 when Trump was starting off his second term. And now, we're talking about nearly two in three independents
say they disapprove of the job that President Trump is doing on corruption.
Now, what is going on? Why is this? Well, you hinted at it in your intro. And this to me is just one of those questions that really just illuminates
everything. It's one of those. It shines a light on a problem and a problem for the president of the United States.
Say Trump's business interests influence his decisions as president. Well, a very not nice 69 percent of Americans overall. We're talking about
basically seven in 10, say that in fact Trump's business interests actually influence his decisions as president.
And then we're talking about 48 percent of Republicans, 48 percent of Republicans that hard and pass Republican base, they say that in fact that
they influence the decisions as president.
And I will just note as we wrap it up here, as we're looking towards the midterm election, party trusted more on corruption. Republicans could run
on that a year ago. It was plus eight Republicans. Now, Democrats can run on corruption, plus four.
More Americans trust the Democratic Party on corruption than Republicans. Quite the switcheroo from where we were just a year ago.
And I'm happy that we were able to get two Harrys in, Prince Harry and who's going back there. So, I am now the only Prince Harry in the United
States of America. So, I thank that Prince Harry for making me the lone Prince Harry here in the States.
GOLODRYGA: I thought that was the polling you were going to bring us on how public --
ENTEN: Maybe. Maybe one day.
GOLODRYGA: -- feels about Harry and Meghan going back.
ASHER: Harry is very lovable.
ENTEN: Wait a minute, I -- I got the polling. I got the polling for you. It is D-O-N-T C-A-R-E. We don't care. We don't care. Go back to Britain.
Enough with the melodramas. See you later. Adios amigos.
ASHER: Hilarious.
GOLODRYGA: Amen. Mom would love that, Harry.
ENTEN: Thank you.
ASHER: Hilarious. You can say things that we can't.
ENTEN: Well, that's exactly right. They give me that as the analyst. Anchors are great, but analysts can tell it how it is.
ASHER: Harry Enten, live for us there. Thank you so much.
ENTEN: See you.
ASHER: All right. Still to come here on "One World," a helicopter crash in Kenya has killed Ecuador's intelligence chief and a Telemundo executive
along with five others. What we're learning from the investigation.
Plus, an assassination attempt in Monaco is raising uncomfortable questions in Ukraine. We'll bring you a CNN exclusive investigation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:25:13]
GOLODRYGA: The target of a recent bomb attack in Monaco tells CNN that rogue Ukrainian intelligence agents may have been paid to assassinate him
in the wealthy Mediterranean tax haven.
Vadym Yermolaiev survived the powerful blast in June, which also injured his partner and child. Speaking in his first television interview since
then, he is now calling on the authorities in Kyiv to step up their investigation.
Matthew Chance has this exclusive report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a super glamorous playground for the super-rich. One of the world's tiniest
nations, Monaco promotes itself as a haven of wealth and tranquility on the picturesque shores of the Mediterranean.
But one evening in June, as a Ukrainian-born businessman walked home with his family, that carefully manicured image of security and calm was
shattered.
(EXPLOSION)
Plunging the principality into violence and chaos.
CHANCE: Well, this is the exact place where the explosion took place. You can still see the impact of the shrapnel, the stucco plaster work here
around the door has all fallen off.
And, you know, if I lift up the tarp here, you can see the -- the marble steps and the -- and the brickwork is all -- is all shattered.
We've also made contact with the target of the attack. And despite his grave injuries, he's agreed to speak out.
VADYM YERMOLAIEV, BUSINESSMAN (through translator): When the explosion went off, I saw my partner, Anna, lying on the steps with badly injured legs. My
son was waving his bloodied arms. And I had burns across my whole body and was missing pieces of flesh.
I'm not a confrontational person. I've always tried to avoid any sharp conflicts, so I don't understand the reason why this happened.
CHANCE: There's a suggestion in Ukraine. And there are reports in Ukraine that this assassination attempt was linked to your involvement, alleged
involvement in organized crime. How do you answer that?
YERMOLAIEV (through translator): I personally have never in my life had anything to do with that. The Monaco police also asked me if my family
could be involved, which was almost funny, as everything I own is already registered to my wife and children.
CHANCE (voice-over): But clearly, someone wanted to send a message. This is the face of the bomber, a 39-year-old single mother from Ukraine,
Anastasiia Berezovska. She even recorded herself planting the device, in what investigators say was part of a complex international plot they're
still trying to unravel.
CHANCE: Well, these narrow, twisting streets snaking through tiny Monaco are some of the most heavily surveilled anywhere in the world. There are
more than 1,400 surveillance cameras, basically watching everything anybody does. And a police officer for every 60 residents of the principality.
The bombing appears to have been carefully planned to bypass all of that tight security.
CHANCE (voice-over): And Monaco's police department is now under intense pressure to understand what went wrong.
Multiple theories are being explored, the police chief admitted. Though he refused to elaborate or discuss the glaring connections with Ukraine and
its security services.
Within a Kyiv court, those connections have become impossible to ignore.
Two men, a serving officer with Ukrainian military intelligence and a former security agent, now stand accused of executing Anastasiia Berezovska
and burying the Monaco bomber in a shallow grave after she fled home.
For the Ukrainian authorities, fighting a bitter war with Russia, it's a potentially embarrassing link that risks straining relations with its
European backers.
Ukrainian military intelligence say the suspects are just criminals. But fueling speculation, Vadym Yermolaiev is sanctioned by Ukraine for doing
business with its Russian enemies, though he's ruling out any link to his bombing.
[12:30:07]
YERMOLAIEV (through translator): I can't imagine it had anything to do with the Ukrainian sanctions against me, because that would mean our state is
potentially engaged in extrajudicial executions, and I just can't believe that.
CHANCE: After the bombing, you accuse the Ukrainian security services of being behind it. Is that still your view?
YERMOLAIEV (through translator): That's not just my view. All the facts point to it, but I think this was a contracted hit.
Someone privately hired military intelligence specialists who know how to do this, and they took it on for money.
CHANCE (voice-over): In both Monaco and Kyiv, investigations are now in full swing to uncover the facts, including the possible role of Ukrainian
guns for hire or rogue agents, making one of the world's most glamorous enclaves feel a lot less secure.
(EXPLOSION)
Matthew Chance, CNN, Monaco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Now, to some new developments about a former democratic lawmaker from California, Eric Swalwell.
Federal agents seized electronic devices from Swalwell at the San Francisco airport. On Saturday, sources say a day later, they raided his house in
Washington.
GOLODRYGA: Swalwell resigned from Congress in April after reporting from CNN and the "San Francisco Chronicle" detailed allegations of sexual
misconduct which Swalwell denies. Sources say the raids are part of a federal investigation tied to those claims.
CNN's Allison Gordon joins us now from Washington with more.
And, Ali, hats off to you. It was part of your reporting that first told the world about these allegations and brought forward some of these victims
and survivors. So, thank you for your reporting.
[12:35:08]
Shed some light now on this new report following this FBI raid.
ALLISON GORDON, CNN INVESTIGATIVE UNIT REPORTER: Yes, Bianna. Thank you so much for those kind words. I would also like to say there was a full team
effort here at CNN. My colleague, Pamela Brown and I have consistently been speaking with these women, helping them, you know, come forward.
And in that process, we have been talking two women today after the "Daily Mail" broke the story this morning about this FBI raid. And three of those
women, who we have been in touch with this whole time, confirmed to us that they haven't, in fact, been in touch with the FBI related to these
allegations.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Allison Gordon, thank you so much and appreciate all of your reporting.
ASHER: All right. Just shy of six months into the war and with any diplomatic solution at an impasse, President Donald Trump is threatening to
deliver another major blow to Iran, this one targeting the country's economy, which is already in dire straits.
The president announcing in a social media post that the U.S. will launch what he calls a crushing economic operation, though he gave no details
about how it might work. Trump also warned of consequences for any country that does business with Tehran.
GOLODRYGA: The Iranian foreign minister fired back at Trump's latest threat, calling it a diversion from America's own crisis and warning it
would only bring the U.S. further defeat.
Time now for The Exchange, we're joined by Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies of the Council on Foreign Relations. Steven,
welcome back to the program.
So, the president making it clear that these are going to be some of the most maximum sanctions and pressure put on Iran, and not just Iran, but any
country, any third-party country that continues to do business with Iran.
We know that the UAE, shortly after NBC had a phone call with President Trump yesterday, announced that it would be severing economic ties.
But the big question is there is one major country that conducts the most economic transactions with Iran, and that is China.
Do you think the president is at a place right now and in a position to threaten and actually follow up on secondary sanctions against China if
need be?
STEVEN COOK, SENIOR FELLOW, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA STUDIES OF THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: Yes, you're quite right, Bianna. This is the big
issue.
And count me skeptical that the president is willing to take on China over this issue, or that China is willing to not confront the United States' own
coercive financial power by striking back the United States.
It strike -- it strikes me that this is more of the president's bluster. You remember a number of months ago, he said that he was going to end
Iran's civilization. Now, he is undertaking economic D-Day.
Iran is one of the most sanctioned countries on the face of the earth. It's not quite North Korea or Cuba, but it is close. And the new regime or the
leaders, the new hardline leaders of the existing regime, I should say, have made no indication that they will capitulate under this kind of
economic warfare.
ASHER: When you think about how this war is hurting Iran economically, according to the Fars News Agency, which obviously we have to sort of put
an asterisk by that, they did say that Iran actually gained about $7.5 billion in foreign currency earnings from oil sales in the first four
months of this year. And that is actually one and a half times more compared to the same period last year, which I found interesting.
Now, obviously the war started on February 28th. So, some of this does include a little bit of time before the war, but then a good two months
after the war as well.
A, what do you make of it? And, B, can we -- can we -- what can we sort of glean from it, given that it is coming from the Fars News Agency itself?
COOK: Well, of course, Iranian sources are suspect. But keep in mind that after the signing of the MOU in June, the United States lifted all
sanctions on Iran and allowed the Iranians to sell oil on the market, which they did happily and earned a lot of money as a result.
That being said, there are reports and what we know about what is happening to average Iranians economically is -- is not good. The Iranian currency is
now worth -- you know, one rial is worth two million rials equal a dollar. People are buying food on credit. There is no work for people.
The administration's theory of the case here is that if you force the economic collapse of Iran, you will force a collapse of the regime.
I think there's two things to question here. One, what does economic collapse look like? Inflation is running at 88 percent. As I said before,
the rial has lost a significant amount of value. People can't afford things.
[12:40:03]
It seems that Iran already is in economic collapse, but the regime continues to hang on. And that's because the regime is willing to use heavy
weapons against its own people. And throughout the war, they have continued to arrest and they've continued to kill people who they believe are engaged
in anti-regime activity. This is on top of the thousands of people that they killed in December and January who were out in the streets protesting
against the regime.
So, there is -- there is some thought behind this idea of economic coercion, but it is not a foregone conclusion that it will bring the regime
to its needs.
GOLODRYGA: And that's assuming that you're dealing with pragmatic and rational actors, and we've seen this time and time again where the
president sort of offers incentives that would appeal to him, perhaps, whether that relates to Gaza, whether that relates years back to North
Korea and sort of lucrative real estate development. That's not where the Iranian mullahs and leadership at this point is and where their priorities
lie.
And Jared Kushner in an interview just on Monday said that Iranian officials, quote, we're not showing any interest in doing something that
makes sense for us.
So given that he's already established that there seems to be a lack of understanding between these two parties, what do you think this new sort of
economic D-Day will do?
COOK: Well, it's startling to me that Jared Kushner and others have been unable, to this point, to perceive the hardline nature of the leaders in
Iran right now. People have failed to think like IRGC commanders who are not interested in doing business with the United States.
At a -- a basic level, this regime is hostile to the United States and not amenable to negotiations with the United States.
Now with the hardest of the hardliners in charge, the idea that we can come to some sort of agreement over the Strait of Hormuz that doesn't heavily
favor the Iranians and returns to a status quo of February 27th when the waterway was open, is unrealistic for the United States for officials to --
to believe.
So, I think that people have to start thinking as an IRGC commander would think, and that is that there is going to be no compromise, that there is a
belief that Iran has won this conflict and that Iran holds all of the cards in the -- at the negotiating table.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Steven Cook, thank you so much. Great to have your analysis and perspective. I really appreciate it.
COOK: Thank you.
ASHER: All right. Still to come on "One World," filmmakers are looking to honor Val Kilmer's legacy by putting him back on the big screen. But the
move is sparking major concern about the role of A.I. in Hollywood. Those details, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:41]
ASHER: All right. Let's take -- let's take a look and see how the markets are faring right now. Dow is down three quarters of one percent. The NASDAQ
is down slightly more than half of one percent. And the S&P 500 down by a third of one percent. A red day on the market. This is your business
breakout.
GOLODRYGA: Unexpected changes for the online fast -- fast -- fashion retailer, Shein. The company was supposed to launch its Hong Kong initial
public offering on Monday. But sources say that Target has been delayed to next month. This delay comes amid slower growth and rising costs at Shein.
ASHER: Walmart says it's received a massive refund. The retailer is getting nearly $3 billion from the U.S. government in the aftermath of President
Donald Trump's tariffs controversy in February. The Supreme Court ruled that Trump's most sweeping tariffs were illegal.
GOLODRYGA: A dramatic downfall for the real estate tycoon at the heart of China's property crisis. State media reports Hui Ka Yan is being sentenced
to life in prison.
In 2021, his Evergrande group was saddled with $300 billion in debt. Fast forward to this April when Hui Ka Yan pled guilty to a slew of charges,
including fraud and misuse of funds.
ASHER: All right. Heat of debate is playing out right now in the entertainment industry. Should A.I. be used on the big screen?
GOLODRYGA: At the center of this debate, the upcoming indie film, "As Deep as the Grave." Filmmakers are using artificial intelligence to feature the
late actor, Val Kilmer, who passed away last year at the age of 65.
It is worth noting that Kilmer's family has given permission for his digital replication and is being compensated for the process.
CNN tech reporter Clare Duffy is following this story, joins us live now from New York.
I mean, Clare, of course, a lot of people will feel somewhat uneasy about this, knowing that this is an A.I. image of Val Kilmer, especially after
the actor has passed away. Just walk us through what people are saying.
CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: Yes. Look, I mean, there are very reasonable concerns, I think, both from actors about what A.I.-generated
technology is going to mean for their jobs into the future, and also from consumers about what this is going to mean for the art that we all like to
consume that comes out of Hollywood.
There are, I think, a couple of important things to know about this particular film. The first is that Val Kilmer signed on to this project
before he died. He had agreed to play this part. And then the filming was delayed by COVID. He ended up getting sick and was not able to make it to
set. And so that is why his family decided to participate in the project because it was something that he had already agreed to.
The filmmakers say that they hope that this sort of sets a model for an ethical use of this technology. Take a listen to what they said this
morning on "CNN News Central."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN VOORHEES, FILMMAKER, "AS DEEP AS THE GRAVE": People can judge for themselves. And I think that this is very important for people. Everybody's
seen an A.I. video somewhere on the internet at this point.
We are taking extreme effort to make sure that what you see is something that you would want to see in a movie theater, because we do believe that
this is actually a way for people to experience stories. And when they're done ethically and with the consent of the family, it's the only way it
should be done.
So, this is the era that we're getting into now with A.I. filmmaking. And we want to serve as a good example.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DUFFY: There are also really interesting questions about consent here. I spoke to Val Kilmer's daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, a couple of months ago,
and I asked her if we might see future versions of the A.I. Val Kilmer in other films, here's what she told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MERCEDES KILMER, VAL KILMER'S DAUGHTER: And it -- and it's so specific. And it's a story that he -- he really wanted to tell.
I feel very confident and my brother as well, speaking for both of us. We're -- we were so close to their dad and -- and I feel very confident in
our ability to steward his legacy and stuff, but not to make choices for him necessarily.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DUFFY: So, as you hear there, she doesn't want to make choices for him. She said it's unlikely that they will agree to the use of his A.I. likeness in
other films that he had not agreed to participate in.
But I think it's going to be really interesting to see if people turn out for this film given the concerns that we've seen about A.I.-generated
technology in this industry.
ASHER: All right. Clare Duffy, live for us there. Thank you so much.
[12:50:00]
GOLODRYGA: All right, still to come on "One World."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDA SCHRADER, CO-OWNER, K9 OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: You have jobs that you go to for all kinds of reasons, you know. And this one, we just do because we
love it. That's -- that's it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: That's the best job to have. We'll meet a couple that turned a far-fetched idea into a paws-itively -- this is Camille, right? Great way
to leave with their retirement.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. A couple in the U.S. state of North Dakota has turned retirement into a new tale.
GOLODRYGA: Their business, K9 Outdoor -- good job. K9 Outdoor Adventure started a bus service this summer, picking up local pubs for daily
getaways. Kevin Wallevand reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BARKS)
KEVIN WALLEVAND, WDAY NEWS REPORTER (voice-over): Kim Schrader is no stranger to working behind the wheel.
KIM SCHRADER, CO-OWNER, K9 OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Believe it or not, I drove a semi for 30 years for Fargo Glass and Paint.
WALLEVAND: What's more fun?
K. SCHRADER: Oh, the dog bus is way more fun.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): But every morning this summer, Kim and his wife, Brenda --
B. SCHRADER: This is Remy.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): -- have been driving their pup bus around Fargo and West Fargo.
K. SCHRADER: Our next stop, we'll be picking up Bailey.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): Picking up K9 clients.
B. SCHRADER: Good morning Bailey. Hi, Bailey.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): House after house, the bus stops for a pickup.
K. SCHRADER: Yes. Hi, Bailey. Good morning. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. That's Henry over there.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): And the dogs know exactly what to do. They run onto the bus and it's like a class reunion inside every morning.
B. SCHRADER: Hi, Scout (ph).
K. SCHRADER: Good morning, Scout.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): On the road to the dog park, the pups relax and just hang out the window, taking in the breeze, elbows resting on the
window. Remy here, just like a farmer, checking out the crops.
Today, Henry, Max, the newbie.
B. SCHRADER: You know, their first day, they get a little bit shy.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): Remy, Bailey and Scout, prepared for a park visit.
K. SCHRADER: Oh, we love it. That's our retirement gig. We really love it.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): Kim worked on the road. Brenda had a cleaning business.
B. SCHRADER: Like I said, you have jobs that you go to for all kinds of reasons, you know, and this one we just do because we love it. That's --
that's it.
K. SCHRADER: I wish I would have did this 20 years ago.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): When the Schrader's recently lost their own dog, River, it was devastating, but --
K. SCHRADER: And we were thinking of getting another dog and then we sat down and we thought, well, let's do something for all dogs. So then we put
the bus together.
[12:55:07]
WALLEVAND (voice-over): Now, over 50 pictures of dogs line the bus route.
K. SCHRADER: Dogs are one of the only thing on this earth that give you unconditional love.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): Customers they've had so far this summer, dogs that feel like family.
(BARKS)
And the Schrader's treat each dog like their own.
B. SCHRADER: They're sweethearts.
K. SCHRADER: We love all dogs.
B. SCHRADER: I don't think they have a bad bone in their body.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): Dog owners who watch their pups run out of the house and get on the bus every day, know they're in good hands.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And they have birthday parties and she really looks forward to it every single week.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): As the bus gets close to the dog park, excitement builds.
B. SCHRADER: It says, we're here.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): Then controlled chaos.
B. SCHRADER: Yes, we're going. We're going.
WALLEVAND (voice-over): As the bus empties and the pups turn the park into their own four-legged morning mayhem.
Kevin Wallevand, WDAY News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Great story to end on.
All right. That does it for "One World" today. I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: And I'm Zain Asher. Thank you so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
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