Return to Transcripts main page
Quest Means Business
Ukraine Attacks Russia With Hundreds Of Drones; Ukraine's Blocked Grain Could Become Broader Problem; Trump Threatens Oman As Uran-Iran Agreement Expires; "Heroes" And "Nashville" Actress Hayden Panettiere Dies At 36; Vigil Held For Late Former Cambridge Professor Jason Arday; Trial Begins In 1996 Killing Of Rapper Tupac Shakur. Aired 4-5p ET
Aired August 17, 2026 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[16:00:16]
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN HOST: U.S. Stocks kicked off a new trading week in the red, rising oil prices are giving investors some cause for concern yet
again. Those are the markets and these are the main events.
Hundreds of drones swarm around Moscow in one of the largest ever Ukrainian attacks on Russia.
President Trump is upending decades old alliances again, scaling back military drills with South Korea and threatening to bomb Oman.
And, we will have new details about the moments leading up to the death of actress, Hayden Panettiere.
Live from Washington, D.C. It is Monday, August 17th. I am Jim Sciutto, in for Richard Quest, and this is QUEST MEANS BUSINESS.
Good evening to you.
Tonight, Ukraine and Russia trade devastating aerial attacks, including some of Kyiv's largest drone strikes on Russia of the entire war. Ukraine
launched hundreds of drones at the Moscow region over the weekend. Authorities say one person was killed.
Here, you can see a warehouse used by Russia's leading e-commerce retailer in blaze. The acting regional governor of Belgorod, meanwhile, says the
Ukrainian strikes there killed six people. In return, Moscow carried out a wave of strikes on Ukraine, as it has done for years.
Russian forces struck Ukraine's biggest steel plant in the city of Kryvyi Rih, which is President Zelenskyy's hometown. Ukrainian authorities say at
least two people were killed there.
Sebastian Shukla has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEBASTIAN SHUKLA, CNN PRODUCER: Plumes of smoke rising from targets across both Russia and Ukraine is now a near daily occurrence. A fresh barrage on
Sunday, this time in the border region of Belgorod in Russia and Sumy in Ukraine. It left a handful of people dead on both sides and resulted in
casualties.
It is just the latest salvo in what is now the near nightly occurrence of this war, as each side looks to push each other to the brink.
Sunday night's attack follows the previous night that Russia called the largest ever launched by Ukraine, an attack that included some 800 drones.
But Ukraine has made strides in its ability to strike targets deep inside Russia.
Their leap though, has also been in strategy, initially targeting key oil and infrastructure targets and military facilities. More recently, the
targeting has been on Russia's key supply chain links, those largely focused on the warehouses of the Russian equivalent of Amazon, called
Wildberries, which Ukraine says is supplying vital components for the Russian defense industry, and of course, is an attempt to cause disruption
and put pressure on the lives of regular Russian people.
Moscow, on the other hand, is exploiting Ukraine's chronic shortages of Patriot missile systems and interceptors crucial to fending off ballistic
missile attacks across the whole country. President Zelenskyy's mission in recent weeks and months has been pleading with the U.S. and European allies
to deliver more PAC2 PAC3 missiles for the units to Ukraine as fast as they possibly can.
But the issue is largely around supply. The war in Iran has depleted stockpiles across the region, and European allies have already donated and
helped procure huge quantities. They are extremely reticent to donate their own stockpiles for want of being overexposed, and there is no doubt that
the situation is dire for Ukraine, replenishment is vital but uncertain before winter and the potential onslaught of their critical infrastructure
begins once again.
Sebastian Shukla, CNN, Berlin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: Russian forces struck two cargo vessels in Ukraine's Black Sea ports on Monday. This, according to Russian state media, citing the Defense
Ministry. The Ministry claims the ships had been used to supply the Ukrainian military. Of course, both sides have traded attacks on the Black
Sea. Kyiv reportedly sent an offer to Russia last week for both sides to halt attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea. Moscow has dismissed
that idea.
Russia is blocking Ukraine's grain exports through the sea, the impacts of which extend far beyond Ukraine's borders.
Joining me now from Odesa, Ukraine, is Dmytrio Barinov. He is the President of the Association of Ports of Ukraine. Barinov told us earlier today,
Odesa had come under drone attack.
If I could begin, Dmytro, just because this is quite a normal question for me to ask people in Ukraine today, are you safe where you are now? Or are
more attacks underway?
[16:05:07]
DMYTRIO BARINOV, PRESIDENT, ASSOCIATION OF PORTS OF UKRAINE: Yes, thank you for the invitation. We are lucky that a couple of minutes ago, the alert
stopped. It means that no drones, no Shaheds, and no missiles at this moment.
But, it can happen in any minutes, in any second. I am right now in my apartment and join your broadcast.
SCIUTTO: Okay. Well, please keep safe.
This is one of many proposals since Russia's full scale invasion for ceasefires, partial ceasefires, et cetera. Moscow has rejected this latest
one regarding civilian shipping in the Black Sea, calling it a half measure. Do you see Russia as interested at all in even partial ceasefires
at this point?
BARINOV: Look, this situation right now has fundamentally changed if compared with the full scale invasion began in 2022. For more than four-
and-a-half years, the main challenge was to protect the ports itself or vessels in the port.
Now, the threat has shifted to the vessels themselves. So, you can have the port, you can have the cargo, you can have the terminal. But if the ship
cannot get there safely, the system stops. And the port is still open, but the vessel can't come due to high risk of the lives the seafarers. That is
why the export from Ukraine almost stopped, unfortunately.
SCIUTTO: Yes, I mean, the grain exports in particular, often get international attention because so much of the world, particularly the
developing world, depends on Ukrainian grain. I imagine if those ships aren't getting through, then that's going to have an immediate effect on
international grain markets, prices, access to grain.
BARINOV: Absolutely. I want to remind that the Ukrainian ports were blocked in the beginning of 2022. The price jumped up to 25 percent, as I remember
immediately. And when Ukraine returned on the food market, the price became normal.
What it means, the United Nations' World Food Programme depends on the half -- on 50 percent from Ukraine supply. It means that -- it means that for
the country, poor country in, for example, Africa, where the people even don't have what to eat, they will suffer. That is why it is not only a
Ukrainian problem. This is the global problem and society, the globe should do something with it.
SCIUTTO: There was a time in this war when Ukraine had effectively neutralized Russia's Black Sea fleet, and that shipping was beginning to go
through again with some regularity.
Now, this year, you have more than 70 attacks on merchant vessels so far this year. This, according to Ukrainian authorities, is this, in effect, a
new front in the war? I mean, we are seeing missile attacks on Kyiv, of course, attacks on infrastructure across the country. Do you see an
escalation in attacks on shipping as part of a broader escalation in the war?
BARINOV: Yes, I see it. Everybody sees that they changed their tactic. They are hunting for civilian vessels under foreign flag, with the seafarers
citizens foreign countries. And it is pure hunting and could you imagine that right now, dozens of vessels merchant vessel drifting after such
damaged and abandonment and it is not only even military situation or commercial situation, it is a high environmental risk.
They have the risk with the fuel or hazardous cargo. So it is a disaster. It is an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
SCIUTTO: Is there any defense against these new attacks on commercial shipping? I mean, we've seen Ukraine innovate, right, at so many stages of
this war, is there any new potential defense to protect ships from these kinds of Russian attacks?
[16:10:10]
BARINOV: Unfortunately, I don't see it. If, as I said, the port, we more or less can protect, we put the mobile shelter and other safety place and we
have some air defense, but what has happened with the vessels in the international water, it should be done by, I think, by some international
help.
We need to understand that the Black Sea is not the Ukrainian seas, it is international sea. We have Romania, Turkish republic, Bulgaria, Georgia,
Ukraine, and even Russia. So its international field and should be protected by international forces. If we step back to the Persian Gulf or
Hormuz Strait, immediately U.S. aircraft, British submarine came and solved this problem.
But now we have four-and-a-half years, more than four-and-a-half years, one by one with the Russians.
SCIUTTO: Well, Dmytro Barinov, we appreciate you joining and we wish you to the extent it is possible, a safe evening where you are there.
BARINOV: Thank you very much. Thank you.
SCIUTTO: Of course, central to the war recently is Ukraine's critical supply of Patriot missile interceptors. Well, many are now sitting idle.
Ukrainian officials tell CNN that they have essentially run out of those interceptors. President Zelenskyy says he needs five percent, just five
percent of the U.S. stockpile to survive the winter.
Currently, Ukraine has about a fifth of that amount and the war in the Middle East has made the situation more difficult as the U.S. has expended
so much of its supplies and stockpiles there.
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh got an exclusive look at those idle Patriot systems.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Out in the quiet corn, a moment of absolute desperation. Ukraine's
never shown anyone these before, an American-made Patriot air defense launcher. The interceptors they fire, the only thing that can take down
Russian ballistic missiles that rain down on Ukraine, are under a huge global supply shortage. But these here are sitting idle, doing nothing,
when in Ukraine they could be saving lives almost nightly. Why? They're empty, out of ammo.
WALSH (on camera): This tube being empty is a sight really that would spark fear for ordinary Ukrainians, and is the product of dozens of phone calls
to any ally, all sorts of deal-making President Zelenskyy told me to try and find the interceptors to fill this up. An extraordinary step they're
taking by showing us the fact this particular Patriot battery is essentially out of action until interceptors arrive, a sign of desperation.
WALSH (voice over): Chief Engineer Dmytro says it is two and a half months since this one fired, and six weeks since he saw one fire at all.
DMYTRO, CHIEF ENGINEER, UKRAINE'S PATRIOT SYSTEM: You know, actually, this is a really heartbreaking sight, when you have equipment, but you're not
able to intercept any missile. This is very sad. When you know that ballistic missiles are flying over your head and you are not able to do
anything with it, and you know that behind you there are citizens.
WALSH: And how does that make you feel, knowing that you should help, but can't?
DMYTRO: Like, you learn how to walk, but you're not able to walk. Or you know how to breathe, but you're not able to breathe.
WALSH (voice over): He knew the global supply crunch was coming.
DMYTRO: When we saw how many interceptors were launched in the Middle East, we predicted that we will be in trouble.
WALSH (voice over): Ukraine has been reluctant to admit if they have zero interceptors left, President Zelenskyy telling me every morning he begs
allies for more.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: I do some things which I can't even share. It's not -- it doesn't mean that it's out of the law, no, but
it's -- I can't speak about it.
WALSH (voice over): Kyiv is rocked by a massive ballistic attack normally once a week, racing to the subway and shelters where before, they felt
protected, they are not anymore. It is America first in the queue and Ukraine left to anxiety in the rubble.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[16:15:08]
SCIUTTO: Coming up next, President Trump says the U.S. will scale back crucial military drills with South Korea. We will discuss the potential
consequences with a former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: President Trump says the U.S. is reducing military exercises with South Korea. He said the reason is he has such a nice relationship with
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He also says South Korea recently declined to help the U.S. in its war of choice against Iran. President Trump
elaborated on that point later from the Oval Office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We have 39,000 soldiers over there guarding you from Kim Jong-un, your next door neighbor,
and you're not going to help us on a very easy military operation in Iran? That's strange. No, no, we'd rather not get involved, I see. Well, why are
we involved in helping you?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: President Trump threatened another ally, this one in the Middle East. He told Fox News the U.S. would bomb, and he used some colorful
language -- bomb Oman if it interferes with his efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz.
It has now been more than 60 days since the President signed an interim agreement with Iran. That means the negotiating window for a final deal
promised at the time has now expired. Even so, Trump told Fox News, his administration has a direct backchannel now with Iran's Revolutionary
Guards, a claim the Guards immediately denied.
CNN has reached out to The White House for comment. Alayna Treene is at The White House.
It is not the first time we've been here where the President has claimed contacts or progress in talks that Iran has denied. Is The White House or
White House officials standing by the President's claims here that there is not only a backchannel, but that there are some progress or opening here?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: So, yes, in so many words, I put it this way. They argue that behind-the-scenes, officials like the
President's envoy, Steve Witkoff, have been in communications with the Iranians, even as of course, we are hearing complete objections from the
Iranian side, particularly as it relates to the Strait of Hormuz.
I also think it is important to note here, a lot of this is coming as the President and many of his other advisors are showing their frustration.
Excuse me, I am getting a little feedback -- are showing their frustration. It is spilling into public view, Jim.
[16:20:14]
I think that's why you saw the President lash out at Oman, a key ally yesterday about the ongoing talks with the Strait. And so, look, I think
one of the key things that is a huge question, of course, is the MOU, the time that it was laid out in that agreement has expired. It has expired as
of today. There has been no improvement on a lot of the deterioration of a lot of those different key points as we get to today.
And so I think regardless of the communications, a thing that has been very frustrating to the President and what really is one of the biggest parts in
the short term, is what is going on with the Strait of Hormuz and the fact that it is not open, and you've heard that actually in comments made by the
Vice President as well as the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, this idea that in the short term, one of the key goals is getting
oil prices down, getting the free flow of traffic to resume in that key waterway, even as the President continues to say the overall goal is trying
to get rid of Iran's capabilities or any sort of ability for Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon.
They recognize that the biggest, most pressing problem right now is one that wasn't even a problem before this war began. So I'd keep that in mind
as you listen to all of this, but it is still remarkable to see the President threatening an ally like Oman in this way.
I'd remind you as well, this isn't the first time we've heard him say this. Earlier this year, the President had argued in May "... that Oman should
behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up."
I will say behind-the-scenes, advisors downplay those remarks. They argue it is just tough rhetoric, but still incredible to hear from the President,
a threat like that to such a strong ally of the United States.
SCIUTTO: No question. Alayna Treene at The White House. Thank you.
Well, as we began this segment, President Trump says the U.S. is now reducing joint military exercises with South Korean forces.
We are joined now by Philip Goldberg. He was a former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.
Ambassador, thanks so much for taking the time.
PHILIP GOLDBERG, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA: Nice to be with you.
SCIUTTO: So these exercises, they happen for a reason, to prepare South Korean and U.S. Forces for potential attack by North Korea, which has built
up its military quite deliberately to challenge, at least threaten South Korea. Does limiting these exercises benefit North Korea?
GOLDBERG: Well, it certainly damages our ability to carry out the two goals of the exercises. One is readiness, which is the simple concept that we
can, as the slogan goes, fight tonight if necessary and the other is to deter North Korea and to show that there is solidarity in the alliance.
So it certainly damages those two goals of the exercises. And in that way, it probably does benefit North Korea's goals.
SCIUTTO: I mean, the next question is to what end? Because the President tried exactly this during his first term, suspended joint military
exercises and also had three Summits, as you'll remember, with Kim and no nuclear agreement and in fact, North Korea expanded its nuclear arsenal
during that time period, it did not shrink it.
So on what basis, from your position, might a U.S. President make such a concession? I mean, is there a track record here that would indicate he
would get something in return?
GOLDBERG: No, there isn't. There is a question of why and then why now? Why is I think it quite simply comes down to a wish to have another meeting
with Kim Jong-un. There is no indication whatsoever that Kim Jong-un is interested in any kind of negotiation other than to have recognition of his
nuclear program, perhaps in return for sanctions relief.
But with his improved relationship with Russia and improving relationship with China, that has become less and less important to him. And so he up
until now, hasn't really wanted to engage with the United States. There have been two other criteria that he has listed as part of willingness to
get together. One is, are these exercises, and on Sunday, predictably, in the face of the new exercise, Freedom Shield, Kim Jong-un reacted and North
Korea reacted in the way they always do. They send off missiles and object strenuously to these exercises. By reducing the exercise this time around,
perhaps it gives some indication to Kim Jong-un that he could win on that issue.
[16:25:03]
The other is the nuclear issue and there, it is really -- there is no ground for anything other from his point of view, from Kim Jong-un's point
of view than negotiation of arms control, not over denuclearization.
And no American president has been willing to do that. President Trump has not been willing to do that. So, a potential meeting really carries with it
one of two things, either just theater and no result even if it were to happen or something, that's even worse, which is some sort of arms control,
tacit recognition of North Korea's program and a degradation of the nonproliferation treaty -- the nonproliferation effort.
SCIUTTO: How does South Korea react to this? Because there were already questions about the U.S. commitment to its allies and alliances in Europe
and Asia, and at least some discussion of major changes to their own National Security planning, right, because they doubt that U.S. commitment
at this point. I mean, even as you know, some discussion, debate about the possibility of nuclear weapons in South Korea, does a move such as this
increase South Korea's needs from its perspective to be more independent of the U.S. for its own defense?
GOLDBERG: I think it probably accelerates that process, which has already, as you point out, taken place over the last few years especially during the
second Trump administration. But I don't think that the South Koreans are fully against this. President Lee Jae Myung has this very strong position
that he would like to initiate some sort of discussion of his own with Kim Jong-un, which has been totally rejected by North Korea.
North Korea in recent years has named South Korea as an enemy state, has changed its Constitution to renounce the unification as a goal. So he is
really stuck. But he would like for President Trump to lead the way for a better relationship between the two Koreas also, and to go back to
something more traditional. I don't see that happening.
But the other part of it is, as you say, I think, a feeling that perhaps they have to change their own policies to answer what they see as a
withdrawal of United States' support.
SCIUTTO: Ambassador Philip Goldberg, we appreciate you joining.
GOLDBERG: Thank you.
SCIUTTO: Here in the U.S., three decades after Tupac Shakur's death, a suspect is standing trial for the killing. We will have the latest from the
courtroom next on QUEST MEANS BUSINESS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:31:13]
SCIUTTO: Authorities are now working to determine the cause of death for the late actress Hayden Panettiere. The 36-year-old was found unresponsive
at an apartment complex in South Carolina on Sunday, following a 911 call for cardiac arrest.
Panettiere soared to stardom in the 2000s, known for her iconic roles in the T.V. series "Heroes" and "Nashville". She spent much of her childhood
on screen, starring in commercials and blockbuster movies like "Remember the Titans" and "A Bug's Life".
Panettiere, later stepped back from the spotlight to deal with addiction and mental health challenges. She recently released a memoir describing her
struggles growing up as a child star, and later dealing with postpartum depression and addiction.
She spoke just a few months ago about a recovery and her take on the future in an appearance on a podcast.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYDEN PANETTIERE, AMERICAN ACTRESS: I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this, this darkness and this negativity. I have -- I feel like I
have a lot more life to live.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: CNN Entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister joins me now with more.
And this is, it's just such a sad story. She's so young. Of course, familiar threads here of addiction, depression, but also just the accounts
from her memoir are awful too about sexual assault, it seemed, or at least harassment during her career.
I mean, it really -- so many layers to this.
ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: There is so many layers, and it is such a tragic story, Jim.
It really is the quintessential cautionary tale of childhood stardom. And Hayden Panettiere lived a very troubled life, and one that was very
different from what viewers knew.
As you said, she soared to stardom in the early 2000s. She actually started in the industry as an infant. Her mom was taking her to auditions when she
was eight months old. By the time that she was 5 years old, she had already been in 50 commercials.
She got her start on soap operas, and then, of course, got her huge breakout hit on "Heroes". Then, followed by the hit show, "Nashville", and
she was also in the "Scream" franchise. "Remember the Titans" was one of her early roles as a young girl.
And Hayden Panettiere later in her life. She actually spoke about how she was resentful of her mother. She said, this was not my dream. I did not ask
to go to auditions, and that's very tough and something that we hear time and time again with child stars.
It is a very peculiar lifestyle when you are not in school, you are on set, you are with adults all the time, you are earning money. Oftentimes, you
are the breadwinner of the family. And unfortunately, for Hayden Panettiere, this manifested in very troubling ways.
As you said in her memoir, which was out just three months ago, she spoke about her battle with addiction and substance abuse. She spoke about
domestic violence. As you said, gave some very sordid accounts of being a young girl or a teenager when she was faced with sexual harassment. Some
really disgusting scenarios that she spelled out in that book.
But towards the end, it really felt like she was turning a new page, and like, she had really entered a new chapter of her life. As you heard her
say there on Jay Shetty's podcast, she felt like she had so much more to live for.
And I want to read you something here, Jim. In a recent appearance, also when she was on this press tour for her book, she spoke about the impact
that she was hoping that her book would have on others. And here is what she said. She said, "So many people have come up to me within the industry
and outside of the industry, and shared their stories with me, and said because you talked about your mental health, it gave me the courage to be
honest about mine and get myself help, and you saved my life."
[16:35:10]
She continued and went on to say, "I was like, this is worth it. I can hopefully leave the world a better place than I found it." So, at least we
got to hear her in her own words through her book. She came up in a time when young women were exploited and commodified, and were not really able
to tell their own stories on their own terms in this industry.
So, at the very least, at least we have her memoir to hear about the struggles, but also how she overcame them. But such a sad ending to her
life far too soon.
SCIUTTO: No question. Our thoughts out to her, her family and friends. Elizabeth Wagmeister. We appreciate it.
Well, another sad story: a vigil for the former Cambridge University professor Jason Arday has been taking place in London's Trafalgar Square.
Arday was found dead on Friday. He had recently resigned from Cambridge University, following allegations of plagiarism. The 41-year-old sociology
scholar was the youngest Black professor in Cambridge's centuries-long history.
His work on racism and education was highly regarded until that scandal broke.
Arday's family described the intense scrutiny he faced as a campaign of misinformation, which they say Arday suffered sustained abuse during his
time at Cambridge.
Anna Cooban joins us now from London.
Anna, it's quite a tribute to him there at Trafalgar Square. Are there still questions to be answered about what exactly happened here? The
allegations, and then, all this public criticism and the public attacks that followed.
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: Yes, Jim. There is a lot of finger-pointing, blaming, incriminations, questions, soul-searching
going around at the moment from various corners.
Now, the media, of course, is under a lot of scrutiny at the moment for their scrutiny against Arday.
Now, Arday, remember, he wasn't a particularly well-known figure in the U.K. even just three weeks ago, but he became almost a household name so
quickly because of this relentless barrage of attention, with people going back into his past, into his academic past, and also into his personal
past. Claims that he had made about his childhood, which many people disputed.
And so, he became a figure very quickly in the public consciousness that people piled on, on in the media, in particular.
And so, speaking to people here today, there was a lot of anger. A lot of people didn't want to speak to me as a member of the media, and also there
are questions about Cambridge University, about their appointment of Arday, and about the investigation they launched into him just a few days ago,
which really prompted his resignation.
Now, it needs to be said that Arday has had denied any allegations of plagiarism. He admitted to mistakes in his work, but he said that he
resigned because of this relentless campaign against him.
And just to remember him, his family said that in all of this, whatever may or may not be true about statements he's made in the past, he is still a
loving brother, father, son, and he was a gentleman. That is how they describe this man that is no longer with us.
SCIUTTO: Yes, friends described how his mental health had deteriorated significantly recently as well.
Anna Cooban, we appreciate you joining.
Well, it's a murder trial that's been three decades in the making. Testimony has now begun in the trial of Duane Davis, the only person ever
charged in the 1996 murder of the rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis, known as Keefe D., is not accused of firing the shots that killed Tupac, taking
place on the Las Vegas Strip, but prosecutors say he planned the rapper's murder because Tupac was part of a mob that beat Davis's nephew inside the
MGM Grand Casino.
Our Josh Campbell has more. And Josh, as you well know, this murder has raised so many questions, conspiracies through many decades. Now, three
decades later, as you watch this trial here, is the evidence convincing?
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know it's really fascinating the evidence that we have seen so far, Jim, and we got a sense,
obviously, what the strategy will be by both the prosecution and the defense as this moves forward.
This is the only person to ever be charged in the murder of Tupac Shakur, and for that matter, Duane Davis, the only person who is still alive today,
who was among the group that was inside that vehicle whenever the shots rang out.
Now, as far as the prosecution goes, interestingly, there was a meeting between Duane Davis and law enforcement several years ago, where he was
offered under the U.S. judicial system what's called immunity. That is, tell us everything you know about a topic. We are not going to use it
against you. He kind of walked through some of the details from that night.
That was not something that authorities could use against him, but he kept speaking over and over, doing media interviews. He wrote a book
subsequently about the incident.
[16:40:05]
It appears all of that is what's now being penned against him, as the key pieces of evidence here.
As far as the defense side, Jim, this is also fascinating. The defense attorney essentially told the jury not long ago, don't believe my client
what he said then. In fact, he used a very colorful word in court, saying that his essentially his client is full of B.S. Don't believe what he said
before; believe what he says now.
You have to wonder how that's going to land with the jury when all is said and done. What we are hearing right now, where there are a series of
witnesses, former police officers who were there on the scene, not far from where I am here, 30 years ago, who responded. A lot of this is probably
going to come down to what people saw. I mean, again, this was three decades ago. We don't have same type of forensic technology now that we had
then.
You know, a lot of major metropolitan cities around the world. You will have CCTV security footage camera. Wasn't the case here back 30 years ago.
So, you don't actually have video of the actual alleged murder itself. We'll see again how this evidence all lands, but it is going to be a
fascinating trial to say the least.
He has pled not guilty. Again, we'll see what the jury ultimately decides.
SCIUTTO: Josh Campbell, there outside the courthouse. Thanks so much for joining.
Well, Wall Street closed lower amid rising oil prices once again. The Dow finished down 272 points, ending the day off its session lows.
Caterpillar rose nearly three percent. Chevron also near the top. Microsoft, IBM, and Salesforce weighed down. The tech sector, all down
around 2-1/2 percent. Nike at the bottom, down four percent.
And that this QUEST MEANS BUSINESS. I'm Jim Sciutto. Up next, Richard Quest's "WORLD OF WONDER".
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:45:57]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: OK, we are in Chicago.
Chicago, Chicago. A wonderful dance, a wonderful dance. Oh, my goodness! Yes! Look at this.
The start of the famous Route 66. What a year to be doing this. The centenary year.
It is an epic American road trip. Nine days, eight states, four colleagues, one R.V. From Chicago to Santa Monica, California, nearly 4,000 kilometers
of pure history and fun.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this is where it all begins.
QUEST: What could possibly go wrong?
Our choice of transportation for this road trip, the recreational vehicle-a fine forest river sunseeker model.
Cool, cool.
QUEST (voice over): And the team-that's Bondi Beau behind the camera, and that's Holly and Jackie, producers and navigators, guidebooks at the ready.
QUEST: It's terrifying. This is absolutely terrifying.
HOLLY, PRODUCER, QUEST'S WORLD OF WONDER: Richard.
QUEST: Yes, what?
HOLLY: A trip is no fun if worry sits at the wheel, even if this worry is not voiced to others in the car.
QUEST: We haven't even gone a mile.
BONDI BEAU, CAMERAMAN: He already looks a little stressed.
QUEST: It's you a lot.
OK. So now, we have got to start thinking about some road rules.
QUEST (voice over): First, the obvious. Follow historic Route 66 as much as we can.
BONDI BEAU: And sharing the driving.
QUEST: Yes, everyone drives. Cabin cleanliness. Keep the R.V. tidy. And one big detour is allowed, but only to see something extraordinary.
QUEST: And coming up any second now, we are in Wilmington.
Oh look. Here we go.
About an hour from the start, and we hit our first attraction.
QUEST: I mean --
QUEST: (voice over): Made from fiberglass and known as a muffler man, it was a common advertising gimmick back in the 1960s. This one is called
Gemini Man.
Yes! This is what today's Route 66 experience is about.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Having fun?
QUEST: Yes!
QUEST (voice over): Stopping to see the curiosities on the way.
Meeting fellow travelers. So, we are on our 40th wedding anniversary.
QUEST: Muscles off.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are going to get lost. That's all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She turned 66. So, we figure out who is (INAUDIBLE) down well, 66.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can edit that, right?
QUEST: So, at times, 64.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm 29tn.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put them in the middle.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
Route 66, buddy.
QUEST (voice over): We are making good progress, passing through small towns, the very places this route was designed to connect.
Back in 1926, when it was established, Route 66 joined up a patchwork of existing roads, linking small towns to big cities.
John Steinbeck called it the Mother Road, and it came to symbolize the road to opportunity. I love it. Love it.
QUEST (voice over): Oh, Pontiac, Illinois. And here is a Route 66 legend, I must meet.
QUEST: Hello.
QUEST (voice over): Rose Geralds is an 88-year-old firecracker, and this museum is her domain.
ROSE GERALDS, GUIDE, ROUTE 66 MUSEUM: The Route 66 Museum?
[16:50:01]
QUEST: The routes? You say route.
GERALDS: I say -- I say whatever I want to say.
QUEST: You say route, I say route.
GERALDS: No, no, no, no, no. This is my museum.
Our cases start over here in Chicago. It's just Illinois in here.
QUEST: Wow.
GERALDS: You probably say Illinois.
QUEST: No, no, no, it's Illinois.
QUEST (voice over): It is nostalgia galore.
QUEST: That's a hell of a collection.
QUEST (voice over): thousands of pieces of memorabilia.
QUEST: You get people from all over the world.
GERALDS: I've had as many as 19 different countries here in one day.
QUEST: What is it about Route 66 that you like and love about it?
GERALDS: It's the people.
QUEST: It's a road.
GERALDS: I don't care. It's the people on the road. Don't argue with me.
QUEST: There is an old phrase, you know, when you beat me.
GERALDS: Yes.
QUEST: I was beaten when I walked through the door.
GERALDS: Yes, you are right.
QUEST (voice over): It is so easy to become entranced with attractions and interests. Meeting Rose.
QUEST: Oh, hang on, she is getting in.
I didn't do the dishes.
GERALDS: Oh, it's nice.
QUEST (voice over): There is still miles to go.
GERALDS: Enjoy yourself. Have fun. You can work and have fun too. I do. I do it all the time, but don't tell my boss.
QUEST: OK. So, end of day one. We have been 15 hours since we all started. We are going to connect it. Where is the power? Driving through America,
enjoying the sights, the scenes, and as Rose put it, the people.
I need the --
BONDI BEAU: This end.
QUEST: Yes. Give me a second. What's been dawning on me is what a tusk this is.
We have covered a couple 100 miles, and we have got about 2-1/2 thousand to go.
Great fun.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: What's in here?
BONDI BEAU: That is the generator.
QUEST: Whoa!
QUEST (voice over): We are on a road trip through America on Route 66, and now, let us explore Big Bertha, our home on wheels.
BONDI BEAU: Even the color indicates swings.
QUEST: Yes. It sets it all. The sewer outlet connection.
(CROSSTALK)
BONDI BEAU: You know what? It's a fine with (INAUDIBLE)
QUEST: Oh, we have even gotten awning.
HOLLY: No, no.
BONDI BEAU: Oh.
QUEST: What?
HOLLY: No touching the awning.
QUEST: Why not?
HOLLY: Because it costs a whole lot extra.
QUEST: So, are you telling me we have --
HOLLY: We have an awning that we will not use.
QUEST (voice over): OK, no awning. But please, come inside.
BONDI BEAUE: But look at this; it's very modern.
QUEST: It would not be America if there was not a fridge the size of a small apartment.
BONDI BEAU: Amazing.
QUEST: And this, we are going to need to discuss.
BONDI BEAU: Maybe that's a like only if there is an absolute emergency.
QUEST (voice over): So far, our trip has brought us through Illinois to St. Loius, Missouri. And we cannot leave here without a true Route 66
experience.
Extraordinary monument. The Gateway Arch National Park.
Oh, oh! You get the glint. This is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere, at 192 meters high.
QUEST: We are going up the arch, and I really wanted to do this.
[16:55:03]
OK, I'll go in next.
QUEST (voice over): The monument is known as the gateway to the west. It's what that phrase symbolizes here in America that is truly important.
QUEST: Look at this!
QUEST: There has always been an innate drive in this country towards new horizons.
Oh, wow!
Hello, how are you. so, this has given me a brilliant view of the mighty Mississippi River, which we have crossed, and just adds one more piece of
the puzzle: Route 66, the Mississippi, all these ways and means by which America grew, developed, and then moved west.
QUEST (voice over): Because moving west meant hope, escaping the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Route 66 became a migration route.
The road to a better life, to help achieve the American Dream.
QUEST: Moving further down through Missouri.
And the great flatness is giving way to the green and rolling hills of the Ozarks.
BONDI BEAU: Where are we, Richard?
QUEST: We are in Cuba, Missouri, and it's best known for all these murals. Some of them are quite small, and others are really, really large and
impressive.
And I think that might just about have been Cuba, Missouri.
QUEST (voice over): Roadside oddities of all sorts developed along Route 66 in the early decades.
And then, there is this.
QUEST: Oh, this is great! Jonah and the whale.
QUEST (voice over): The blue whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma.
QUEST: Now, in the old days, people did. Oh, I wouldn't do now in that water.
BONDI BEAU: Guys went swimming, and went --
(CROSSTALK)
QUEST: They did. In the old days, people would go swimming in it.
QUEST (voice over): This giant whale was a wedding anniversary present from the zoologist Hugh Davis to his wife. And because of its location on Route
66, it became a stop and see for travelers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Blue Whale is probably the most special place for me, because it has this childlike quality that you see in a lot of the
early roadside attractions.
QUEST: These places are important because they are whimsical, they show creativity and imagination, and it's just the fruits and results of
somebody's idea. Why not?
That's it.
QUEST (voice over): Why not, it's part of the American Dream.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
