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The Brief with Jim Sciutto

CNN International: Trump and Putin Not Planning to Attend Ceasefire Talks; Trump Praises Ahmed al-Sharaa; Trump Lifts Sanctions on Syria; Israel Targets Hamas Leader in Gaza; Donald Trump in Qatar; Cassie Ventura's Second Day in Court; War in Gaza; Gaza Now on the Brink of Famine; Max Switches Back to HBO Max; 2025 PGA Championship. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired May 14, 2025 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington, and you're watching

"The Brief."

Just ahead this hour, Vladimir Putin not expected to attend Ukraine's ceasefire talks in Turkey. The White House says, Donald Trump has no plans

to be there either.

U.S. President is welcome to Qatar with red cyber trucks and mounted camels as he announces a deal for the purchase of hundreds of Boeing planes.

And the world's top golfers arrive in Charlotte, North Carolina for the PGA championship.

We are hours away from the start of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and we're now just learning who is set to be there and who is not.

President Vladimir Putin not listed among the delegation attending the meeting in Turkey on Thursday. The Kremlin says, President Putin's senior

aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Russian side instead.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he would only participate himself if his Russian counterpart attended. Just a few hours

ago, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Turkey. Two White House officials tell CNN, President Trump is not planning to attend the talks

either, even though he has said previously he would have been open to it.

James Stavridis is a senior military and is a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, and he joins me now. Good to have you, sir.

JAMES STAVRIDIS, CNN SENIOR MILITARY ANALYST AND FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER: Great to be with you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: So, I wonder without the principles -- and by the way I should note, you know this better than me to begin peace talks without the bosses

there, as it were, is not unusual. Usually start at a lower level. But do you have expectations for these talks to be substantial?

STAVRIDIS: No, but they are a start. And let's look at what both sides want here, Jim, something you and I have discussed. I think on the Russian

side, what they truly, deeply, madly want is no access to NATO for Ukraine. Secondly, they desperately want to get out from under sanctions. And

thirdly, Putin wants absolute guaranteed, stamped deed property for the 20 percent of Ukraine he's already invaded and conquered. That's the Ukraine -

- that's the Russian side.

On the Ukrainian side, Volodymyr Zelenskyy correctly wants some kind of security guarantee so that Putin doesn't invade again. What he's hoping for

are European, not NATO, but European, French, British, Nordic, potentially Baltic troops on the ground in Ukraine, kind of a trip wire. Number two, he

wants a path to the European Union. He knows NATO is beyond his scope at the moment. And then number three, what Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants is that

he can sail on democratically with the 80 percent of Ukraine that remains. I think those are not compatible positions to get there.

SCIUTTO: The trouble, I suppose, or one warning sign, right, is that just to get to a 30-day ceasefire has proved impossible. Ukraine signed on as

President Trump demanded. President Putin has not, Russia has not, and Trump has said his patience is running thin with Putin. I wonder, do you

see Trump as ready to impose real costs on Russia, real sanctions if Putin continues to defy those demands?

STAVRIDIS: I do. And if you saw that wonderful photo of the members of, if you will, the big four militarily in Europe, U.K., France, Poland, you saw

them kind of all -- and Germany, of course, all around the table listening to a conversation with Donald Trump.

[18:05:00]

I think with the Europeans here and Trump over here, they're ready to put the next level of sanctions on Russia. As you know, Jim, those would

include secondary sanctions. In other words, if you do business with the Kremlin, wherever you are, India, China, wherever, you cannot do business

with the West, that would be a big deal. I think the West is ready to impose that to include Donald Trump.

SCIUTTO: So, that's quite a change from the last time we spoke in the wake of that infamous Oval Office meeting in which Donald Trump berated the

Ukrainian president and it seems, you know, quite comfortable applying pressure to Ukraine, including removing intelligence sharing that he was

not willing to put on Putin. But you see a U.S. president that is changed his view and is ready to, in effect, toughen up, I suppose, for Ukraine.

STAVRIDIS: Yes, it should be no surprise to any of us when Donald Trump changes his view. He changes constantly, that's part of the problem, but

maybe it's part of his approach. At the end of the day, I think the question is what's changed? Number one, a big strategic minerals deal

which, you know, our president had deals between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Number two, it's just frustration with Vladimir Putin who continues to, kind of American term here, play rope a dope just bouncing off the ropes of

the boxing ring. And I think number three, Europe has really come together, Jim, in a way that neither you nor I have seen in our lifetimes. If that

continues, that's big casino in favor of Ukraine. When you put all that together, I think the U.S. is ready to be part of that. Let's hope so, as

opposed to continuing to kind of placate Vladimir Putin.

SCIUTTO: OK. Final question then before we go. What's your best read of how Vladimir Putin reacts to all of this? Does he say, hey, that -- you

know, the table has changed. I got a deal a new hand, or does he dig in and say, I'm not ready to back down.

STAVRIDIS: I'm going to go with door number one. I think Putin is someone who's ultimately a pragmatic. This idea that, you know, he wants Ukraine

back because of this mystic vision of Russia is not. Putin wants Ukraine for the good old-fashioned reason. He wants to conquer it. It's full of 40

million people. A lot of resources.

He, at this point, I think will be ready to settle for 20 percent, that's the best deal he is going to get. That's the front that the west needs to

present as these talks unfold.

SCIUTTO: James Stavridis, I know you'll continue to watch this closely. Appreciate having you on.

STAVRIDIS: You bet Jim.

SCIUTTO: In Qatar tonight, a state banquet rounded off a day of diplomacy and deal making in the Gulf region for President Donald Trump. A convoy of

red, bright red cyber trucks led the president to the Qatari Amir's offices, along with riders on Arabian horses.

Inside, Trump signed a record-breaking aviation deal. According to Boeing, Qatar Airways will buy up to 210 of its wide body jets, that includes

Dreamliners, 777, and the new 777-9 aircraft. Supporting, Boeing says, some 400,000 jobs.

Another jet deal raising concerns this time involves a luxury 47 -- 747 gift from the Qatari government that President Trump plans to use as a

temporary Air Force One before it eventually goes to his presidential library.

Earlier he met with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia. We should note, a former Jihadist, former member of Al-Qaeda, who once had a

$10 million U.S. bounty on his head. Al-Sharaa, if you'll remember, led a swift campaign to end the Assad family's half century rule of Syria. Trump

spoke admiringly about the Syrian leader onboard Air Force One.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How did you find the Syrian president?

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Great. Great. I think very good. Young, attractive guy. Tough guy, you know, strong past. Very strong past.

Fighter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does that worry you at all?

TRUMP: But he's got a real shot at pulling it together. I spoke with President Erdogan, who I'm very friendly with, and he feels got a shot at

doing a good job. It's a torn up country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Joining me now from Doha, Qatar, Jeff Zeleny.

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Jeff Zeleny, that's quite a description. A fighter for -- a former fighter for Al-Qaeda. Of course, the country -- this terrorist group that killed

Americans, so many thousands of Americans. How do Trump's advisors explain that quite dramatic turn?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Jim, it is a very vague description. In one respect, a fighter. He said he had a strong

past, that of course is an understatement. But look, the White House and the U.S. change in foreign policy, which this is, there's no doubt about,

is central to what the president is trying to do by essentially offering something to the Saudi crown prince. He asked the president to lift

sanctions. So, the meeting was scheduled because they were in Riyadh. So, this was all part of a piece.

The White House is not apologizing for it. They believe that this the right way forward. One official I spoke to said it is time to look forward in

Syria. It's not a time to look at his background, at his history, at his past. But there's no doubt this going to cause some consternation among

some. There will be a Senate confirmation hearing actually as early as tomorrow for a State Department official who was not all that in favor of

dropping Syrian sanctions.

But look, the bottom line is this has been also hailed even by some Democrats as the right strategy to allow Syria to try and move on now that

we're about six months on from the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.

SCIUTTO: I mean, just how quickly events moved, right? The ouster of the Assad regime, and in short order, the U.S. embracing the former Al-Qaeda

leader there. Jeff Zeleny, thanks so much.

A little earlier, my colleague Becky Anderson, spoke to the Prime Minister of Qatar about that 747 offer -- gift offer to President Trump. Have a

listen to how he answered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR, CONNECT THE WORLD: Can we take a moment to get to the bottom of this offer by Qatar, of a multimillion-dollar Boeing 747-8

to President Trump. When did your government first start talking to the U.S. about this aircraft and who broached the subject first? Was it the

U.S. or was it Qatar?

SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ABDULRAHMAN AL THANI, QATARI PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, actually it's -- you know, I know that there were a lot of

speculations about this topic. I don't know what is the reason that instigate this. This a very simple government to government dealing when

Ministry of Defense and Department of Defense are still exchanging the possibility of transferring one of our 747-8 to be used as air Force One.

And it's still under the legal review.

So, there is nothing really -- I don't know what was like why it became like so big as a news that this is something that, you know, considered,

you know, very -- in a very strange way. It's -- we have done a lot together with the U.S. For example, the airlift that happened during the

Afghanistan evacuation, 80 percent of that had been taken care of from Qatar.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Becky Anderson joins me now from Doha. And you must have been -- you're in a remarkable position to hear the comments and the events that

have taken place just in the last 24 hours. I mean, the lifting of sanctions, the discussion of that closer relationship with Qatar, but even

the Trump -- President Trump yesterday issuing quite a fulsome critique of U.S. interventions in the region for more than 20 years. Can you give us a

picture as to how President Trump has been received there overall?

ANDERSON: Yes, I think -- you know, it would be fair to say that this is a region who have no issues with Donald Trump. I mean, you know, the

instability that we've seen, the volatility that we've seen in markets and the, you know, the sense that there's -- you know, this unpredictability

from this U.S. president, it doesn't suit anybody, quite frankly. The markets here have been equally as knocked as they have in the United

States.

But this a region that is very transactional. And so, Donald Trump, with his America first transactional approach to both economic security and

foreign policy, frankly, suits this region. And I have to say, from those I've been talking to, both here in Doha, in Riyadh yesterday, those I'm

talking to in the UAE and around this region, feel that this a president who, at least in principle, seems as if he's prepared to be turning the

page on U.S. policy in the Middle East.

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And you know enough about this region, Jim, you know a lot about this region. And that is something that people quite frankly are grateful for.

And they need -- look on Syria, the Prime Minister explained to me as you hear around this region, that what goes on in Syria doesn't stay in Syria.

It is a center of gravity for this region, and a revitalized Syrian economy will be a good thing when it comes to regional stability and security.

And the PM applauding these efforts, Qatar has been very involved, very involved behind the scenes in lobbying Donald Trump to lift these seized

sanctions in the U.S. and others is a slew of sanctions, as you know. Lifting these sanctions to try and get this crippled economy on the move.

Qatar has actually, last month, just got a waiver from the United States to actually pay millions of dollars a month in salaries to civil servants and

others to try and get the place moving effectively.

So, you know, they -- you can see -- they buy this. They are also in an incredibly important position here in Qatar. They have, as you know, this

pillar of strategic mediation in a slew of conflicts around the world and regionally Syria, for example, Gaza, and we've got an Israeli delegation

here at present speaking to Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler, he's the Chief U.S. Hostage Negotiator indirectly with Hamas.

And the Qataris told me today that they were really encouraged by the decision by Hamas to release Edan Alexander, the last living American

hostage the other day. And they felt that would open some doors to further progress in these talks. They are disappointed that effectively the

Israeli's message in sending this Israeli delegation here has been, we want to get the hostages released, but we are not interested in a ceasefire.

And there is clear disappointment from the Qataris who've been 19 months at this alongside the Egyptians and the U.S. A clear disappointment that that

is the position of the Israelis. They clearly don't see them as a as an honest broker or partner in these talks. And so, I think that's

disappointing. I'm sure they hope that they would see more progress.

It was a wide-ranging interview that I did. We talked about Syria and Gaza. We also talked about Iran and the potential for progress there, but it's

important you bring up this plane issue because we did try to get to the bottom of this. I certainly asked him and I said, you know, the issue is

that there are critics in the States, bipartisan, Republicans and Democrats, they say you're buying influence. And he said, why would we do

that? And you heard him say that.

We have a deep relationship with the United States. He said, on a government-to-government basis, you know, they worked on that Afghanistan

file to repatriate Americans and those who were in trouble in Afghanistan.

SCIUTTO: That's true.

ANDERSON: And they said that is a relationship. That is -- you know, that shows that this is relation -- a relationship that works both ways. And

that was really him drawing a line under this, as far as he was concerned.

SCIUTTO: Well, we'll see if there -- if that's a satisfying answer to all involved. Becky Anderson, appreciate you joining.

Well, to that point, there has been an escalation of deadly Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. And I got to warn you that some of what you're about to

see is graphic. The director of Gaza's Health Ministry has released new footage of an Israeli strike on the European Hospital in Khan Younis in

Southern Gaza. That's the strike right there.

Sources say, the target was the de facto leader of Hamas who, Israelis say, were hiding under that hospital. We do not know if Mohammed Sinwar, of

course, the brother of Yahya Sinwar, who was the architect of the October 7th attacks, was indeed among the 28 people Gaza officials say we're killed

there. Israel also struck Northern Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry says, at least 56 people were killed there. A nurse told CNN that many of them were

women and children. The war continues in Gaza.

Joining me now is Doron Spielman. He's a spokesperson for the IDF. He is also the author of a new book. The book is, "When the Stones Speak: The

Remarkable Discovery of the City of David and What Israel's Enemies Don't Want You to Know". Thanks so much for joining.

DORON SPIELMAN, IDF SPOKESPERSON (RES.) AND AUTHOR, "WHEN THE STONES SPEAK": Thank you for having me, Jim.

SCIUTTO: A couple big picture questions for you, and I want to get to the book as well. You heard Becky there describing a view in Qatar, in the

Gulf, of President Trump turning the page on past U.S. policy in the region.

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And as you know, there's been a fair amount of reporting and speculation, and by the way, the fact that President Trump did not stop in Israel on

this trip. Do you feel that Israel -- I don't want to say left out, I mean, there's still quite a strong relationship between the two countries and the

two leaders, but that Donald Trump is at least putting daylight between himself and the Israeli prime Minister that the previous president was not

willing to do.

SPIELMAN: Well, I'll tell you, Jim, what we know is that Qatar is a terror sponsoring country. They have been playing both sides of the field for

many, many years. They're the largest funder of Hamas and Hezbollah and the Taliban. They also housed the Hamas leadership. And even their deputy prime

minister tweeted that we are all Hamas a number of years ago.

And so, Israel is certainly looking at Qatar as having mixed relations. They're very, very close with Iran, and I think, I'm not so sure it's in

the United States' interest to be putting so many eggs in their basket of Qatar.

Israel, obviously, relies in the United States. We look at ourselves as the only true ally of the U.S. And so, I do think that there's a lot of concern

and I think that Americans frankly need to be very concerned.

SCIUTTO: Let me ask you then just about events in Gaza. There was a hostage released earlier this week, so I don't want to say that's --

there's only been bad news. One Israeli American is back home with his family now. But in terms of a ceasefire, and this by the way, something as

you know, that President Trump has pushed for, but the military operations continue there.

Do you see the Israeli Prime Minister as continuing to defy that pressure and to calculate that the military operations are more important than a

ceasefire at this stage?

SPIELMAN: Well, first of all, Jim, I haven't heard the president say anything about Gaza, about the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. He's been

really -- very, very silent on the matter. He said in the past, I'm sending Israel to finish the job. There's a reality here, which is Hamas, they have

two goals, essentially to kill Israelis or destroy Israel and to survive.

Israel knows that these are their goals, and I think the Prime Minister, correctly supported by much of the country, says that we can't have a

ceasefire with Hamas still in existence. Becky Anderson said that we're against the ceasefire. We're not against the ceasefire at all. We're just

against a ceasefire that would leave the equivalent of the Third Reich, the Nazi regime in power, which is essentially Hamas.

And so, I think that Prime Minister Netanyahu is -- understands and he also understands something else that the value system of Hamas essentially is to

destroy Israel, they're against the United States, and the only way, ultimately, that they will send our hostages home is if they are at the

absolute brink of disaster. And therefore, the military campaign goes hand in hand with the release of the hostages. And it's clear to everybody, to

many people in Israel, myself included.

SCIUTTO: Your new book which we referenced in the introduction, "When Stones Speak", describe -- it describes deep Jewish historical root roots

in the land of Israel. I wonder are you, in effect here, making the case for Israel's right to exist to those who don't accept its right to exist?

Is that the game -- the aim here?

SPIELMAN: You know, Jim, yes. And the reason is on October 7th and you were in Israel shortly thereafter, when I saw the destruction that, and the

killing that came in, even my young son said to me, dad, what made these people who are in their 20's, early 20's do this? And part of it is an

ongoing system of indoctrination that says that Jews have no history in Israel.

This has been printed. This what I wrote in the book. By extension, Christianity has no purpose in Israel. And therefore, this a time we need a

roadmap back to the truth. The foundations of America, even, which is the biblical foundations, and the City of David, the excavation that I helped

lead has actual evidence from that area, and Israel's enemies, in fact, did conspire, including Hamas, stopped the excavations.

And so, the book shows, both reveals that effort and also shows how we have firm ground to stand on. Those kids and campuses, all throughout the United

States, they need to read this book to understand that there is a foundation to Israel. We are not colonialists in our land. This our

historic homeland. And that's why the book is here and I think that's why it's important.

SCIUTTO: Doron Spielman, I know the book contains, as you referenced there, your experience of the excavations there, digging into the

historical roots. As I said, the title is. "When the Stones Speak", pleasure having you on. Thanks for joining.

SPIELMAN: Thank you so much, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Coming up back here in the U.S., disturbing evidence revealed in the Sean Diddy Combs trial. The jury sees explicit images and hears

explicit stories of alleged abuse endured by his ex-girlfriend.

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SCIUTTO: Some uncomfortable moments in court. Prosecutors showed sexually explicit images to the jury and the sex trafficking trial of Sean Diddy

Combs. Photos of the so-called, freak offs, were displayed on the second day of testimony by Cassie Ventura, who is Combs' ex-girlfriend.

She testified about the aftermath of a 2016 assault in a Los Angeles hotel, which was captured in just alarming surveillance video. She also said she

spoke to police about the incident, but could not bring herself to name him.

CNN Legal Analyst Michael Moore joins me now. Some shocking moments in court today, and we were prepared for this, right, because that's the

nature of the allegations here. But her testimony, the images, et cetera, how impactful do you think in terms of the prosecutors making their case?

MICHAEL MOORE, CNN LEGAL ANALYST, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY, PARTNER, MOORE HALL IN ATLANTA: Yes. Well, I'm glad to be with you this afternoon. I think it

was probably a strong day for the government. I don't think there's any question if you're sitting on the defense side of the courtroom and you're

having to listen all day and from multiple days about, sort of, what I would call generously an abnormal relationship, and then having to look at

the video tape when he's assaulted her in the hallway, that's not a good day.

And then the fact as well is that she held her own during the examination. She gave a strong direct examination. And I think probably whoever is going

to cross-examine her tomorrow from the defense team is going to have their plate full as they head into talking to a lady who has clearly, sort of,

come to grips with what happened, what the roles were now that she's no longer under allegedly Mr. Combs' control. I think she probably feels

somewhat liberated to talk openly about those things that went on at the time.

SCIUTTO: So, tell me what the likely defense strategy is when you have someone who, I suppose it's fair to say, is a sympathetic witness on the

stand who has just recounted just awful trauma here. How do they approach that?

MOORE: Jim, well, they'll have to be careful. I mean, they're really going to have to handle her with kid gloves because you've got a witness who's

clearly pregnant which engenders some likely just visible sympathy. Sort of, an immediate reaction possibly from the jurors. And then as well, you

know, it's hard to come in and say but you really were an active participant here and you -- when they've got the video of her being beat,

they will try to say this was consensual in parts.

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And whether that's believable after that, I don't know. But they'll also attack her, I think. And I think it's a fair line of questioning. They'll

attack her about the money that was paid. Her efforts to basically deal with the book and to -- or was she trying to monetize the relationship as

opposed to that she was actually being victimized by the relationship? And that will become, I think the theory.

But to argue in some way that this was consensual, they may try to get across that, you know, some particular sex event was consensual, but the

fact that she was being drugged and being coerced and being beaten and being forced to do other things, that's going to be tough as they take her

on on cross.

SCIUTTO: Yes. Michael Moore, thanks so much. Appreciate you joining.

Coming up next, aide groups warn that Gaza is now on the brink of famine. How they're trying to feed Palestinians, and why they just can't keep up

with demand like you see there on your screen.

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SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Jim Sciutto. And here are more international headlines we're watching today.

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria's new leader in Saudi Arabia. It's the first time in 25 years the leaders of the two countries have met.

Ahmed al-Sharaa led a swift campaign to overshow -- overthrow the Assad regime last year. Mr. Trump says, he plans to lift sanctions on Syria now.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary is suggesting that illegal immigration could justify suspending habeas corpus, that is the legal right that allows

people to challenge their detention in court. Kristi Noem made the remarks at Congressional hearing today. Saying she believed the constitutional

requirements to suspend it had been met. Comes after top White House Aide Stephen Miller said the administration was actively looking at halting the

procedure, which has only taken place during times of war in this country.

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Well, the brothers, Erik and Lyle Menendez could end up walking out of prison as free men one day. Los Angeles Judge resentenced the pair to 50

years to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Originally, the two were given life without parole for the 1989 murder of their parents. Both

have admitted to killing their parents, but argued it was all in self- defense after years of abuse by their father.

Israel has now issued evacuation orders for part of Gaza City, forcing thousands of displaced Palestinians to move yet again. This the Israeli

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses the French President, Emmanuel Macron, of supporting Hamas. This follows the French President calling

Israel's aid blockade on Gaza shameful. No aid has been allowed to enter the territory since early March.

For our latest "In Depth" Gaza, on the brink of famine. A U.N. backed report now says, one in five people face starvation, that is roughly half a

million people there. After almost 10 weeks of Israel's aid blockade, organizations on the ground say they're simply running out of food. For the

little that is left, prices are sky high, a sack of flour in Gaza, that could cost you more than $500.

Last week, World Central Kitchen said it could no longer cook meals or even bake bread in Gaza. Instead, WCK says, it is focusing on the most basic

thing needed to keep people alive, and that at this point is just water. Some of the most at risk of starving, Gaza's children.

Israel says the blockade is meant to force Hamas to release more hostages. Aid groups say, it violates international law. All this while the U.N.

says, that just a few miles away, almost 3,000 trucks filled with aid are still waiting to be let in.

Sean Carroll is the president and CEO of the nonprofit Anera. He joins me now. Sean, thanks so much for taking the time.

SEAN CARROLL, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ANERA: Thanks Jim. Thanks for having me.

SCIUTTO: When I read your essay in the "New York Times", you noted that already a third of people in Gaza show in their urine and their samples,

ketones which is an indication of starvation. I wonder, in your view, does that evidence indicate that Gaza is already experiencing a famine?

CARROLL: Yes, I think it does. And those numbers have gone up since I wrote that op-ed. We're now seeing about 40 percent of the lab tests are

coming back positive. And we're also -- we're seeing and hearing anecdotal and live in-person evidence of people collapsing when they come into our

healthcare centers, collapsing when they're in line at soup kitchens run by us and others. So, it is much more visible and it's showing up both in lab

tests and in what we're seeing among the people.

SCIUTTO: Do we know how many people are dying because of hunger? Is it even possible to keep track?

CARROLL: Well, I think the IPC report was out recently which shows elevated risk. There's acute malnutrition and hunger. I think what's

difficult is distinguishing perhaps between people who are at risk of death or dying solely from starvation versus a combination of health risks. And

what you have is a population that does not have all the food they need, all the nutrition they need, and all the healthcare you need. So, you have

people who are succumbing or will succumb to a combination of these factors.

SCIUTTO: Israel, as you know, Israeli leaders at least claim that this in effect Hamas' fault, right? Not only is it trying to pressure Hamas to

release hostages, but that it is Hamas that steals the aid or sells it for its own profit. Is that true?

CARROLL: That has not been our experience. And that is true, I believe, for many if not all, other international NGOs and U.N. agencies that we

work closely with. And we asked them and we monitored this and. And for a long time, it wasn't an issue at all. And then I remember I forget the

exact month, but I think it was perhaps late 2024 when the previous period when malnutrition, hunger was most acute, and two trucks were stolen from a

U.N. agency at gunpoint by Hamas.

And they eventually got that aid -- and it was notice -- it was noteworthy because it hadn't happened before, and they eventually got that aid back.

So, we've seen desperation. We've seen war profiteering and looting. We've seen armed gangs. There have been issues of people taking aid before it

gets to were.

[18:40:00]

But the issue of diversion or selling to or theft from Hamas has not been the experience of my NGO, Anera, and many others that we work with. That

has just not been the issue.

SCIUTTO: When you see those images, as we so often do, we were just playing some of people just begging for, in this case, water. It's not even

bread at this point. I mean, when it was bread or when there as bread, people were begging for bread. In the simplest terms, is it a shortage of

supplies coming in that is the ultimate cause of the suffering there?

CARROLL: Oh, absolutely. I mean, there's no question. And if viewers may remember that after October 7th, at the start of this war and Israel's

response to October 7th they instituted a total siege on Gaza. They cut off water and electricity and food and all aid coming in, and that lasted two

weeks, and we're now 10 weeks into this.

So, absolutely this about supply and demand. And there's nothing worse than sickness and death and the risk of death, but also the dignity that has

been lost. I mean, this not a population that is used to a lack of dignity. This not a population that has to beg for or fight for or elbow their way

to a plate of food.

Soup kitchens are in fact not our preferred way of delivering food because it's the least dignified way. We prefer to be, you know, to be working with

the farmers, cooperatives that we helped through long-term sustainable development projects with solar powered irrigation and reverse osmosis

water filtration systems. Working with farmers cooperatives and having those farmers be able to produce food for people.

So, the loss of dignity, the desperation that is accompanying what is now widespread hunger, malnutrition, and even starvation is devastating.

SCIUTTO: Yes, that's a -- well, that fact is undisputed. People are starving. Sean Carroll, President and CEO of Anera, thanks so much for

joining.

CARROLL: Thank you for having me.

SCIUTTO: And we'll be right back.

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[18:45:00]

SCIUTTO: ?Warner Brothers Discovery, which we should note as the parent company of CNN, says its streaming service will once again be called HBO

Max. The company says the name change from just Max will take place this summer. The last rebrand was just two years ago.

The company poked fun at itself on X with posts like this one, breaking, white smoke was seen coming from the Warner Brothers Water Tower. A new

brand has been chosen. It is, of course, meant to resemble the conclaves choice of a new pope. Over the last two years, the streaming platform has

turned around its profitability by about $3 billion. It now has more than 120 million subscribers worldwide.

Here's how David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Brothers Discovery explained the change, today, we're bringing back HBO, the brand that represents the

highest quality in media, to further accelerate that growth in the years ahead.

Joining me now, Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter. And Brian, I wouldn't be out of bounds to say that there were some, that there were many who said,

why did they take HBO out of the name in the first place and now they're back. So, what -- I mean, why then and why are -- I guess I know why back

now because, well, HBO's a big brand.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST AND AUTHOR, "NETWORK OF LIES": And there was some laughter even at this advertiser presentation today in New

York City as this announcement was made. But HBO Max is leaning into the rebrand, or maybe in this case, debrand this back to the future move.

You know, you showed one of those memes, the social media accounts for the streaming service have been active all day and making sure that they're in

on the jokes, so to speak, you know? Here's a meme showing the old HBO series, "Veep", you know, referring to being rebranded. What do we think? I

love it. Here's another one of those famous internet memes of all the "Superman", the superheroes pointing at each other.

So, basically Max, HBO Max, leaning into the fun of this. And frankly, I think it was a successful consumer and advertiser stunt to bring the HBO

Max name back and to focus on HBO. This has been, as you indicated, Jim, this has been a debate in the television industry for the better part of a

decade about how to expand what HBO is and appeal to more consumers without losing what HBO is, this unique, high quality brand name.

So, I think here's what's happened behind the scenes at our parent company, Warren Brothers Discovery, when you look at the streaming industry, Netflix

started the streaming war, and in some ways Netflix has won. Netflix is the dominant brand. Look at this, the stock is over a thousand dollars. It's so

highly valued, so highly profitable.

And then you have a number of these other streamers like Max and others that are right behind, that are also growing, that are now also profitable,

but need to differentiate themselves. Basically, it's almost as Netflix is the brand name for streaming now instead of Coca-Cola. And so, these other

brands have to stand for something different.

And what we heard from Zaslav and other executives today is that HBO Max is about quality, not just quantity, not just generic content, but the best in

the business. So, that's the reason for the rebrand or in this case, the debranding.

SCIUTTO: Now, there is something -- I mean, to your point, there's something bigger than just the name going on there, right? In terms of a

strategic change as to what and how much will be inside that Max now, HBO Max package, including CNN's piece of it.

CARROLL: Right, and I think that is part of the argument. We certainly heard that to the advertiser presentation earlier today. This the week in

New York every year where all the major networks, all the major streamers present their programming. And everybody's trying to sell sports, in this

case, live news, a lot of new entertainment shows.

The messaging from Warner Brothers Discovery that I find really interesting is that you don't necessarily have to have the most shows. You don't have

to have the greatest number. We're moving away from that era of streaming where it felt like there was just this full, you know, kind of artillery.

Everybody's spending as much as possible on as many shows as possible.

Look at what's happened and look at what's worked in recent months. HBO shows like the "White Lotus", Max shows like "The Pitt", which actually was

not branded HBO at all, but was praised for being really high quality as well as being really popular. We're seeing these entertainment executives

lean into that kind of strategy where, you know, you might not log in and see 10 new shows every week. But as long as there's one or two that are

getting buzzed that make the network worth paying for, the streaming service worth paying for, ultimately that's what wins.

Now, these streaming services that are going to win are the ones that give you something new worth paying for every month, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Yes, and listen, I can't keep track of more than one or two series at the well one time. So, it's definitely better for the way I do

stuff. Brian Stelter, thanks so much.

CARROLL: Thanks.

SCIUTTO: Coming up, excitement building ahead of the PGA championship. Our preview is coming up.

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[18:50:00]

SCIUTTO: The PGA Championship, one of four major tournaments in men's golf is set to begin on Thursday in North Carolina. It will feature top golfers,

of course, such as Masters Champion Rory McIlroy, and world number one Scottie Scheffler.

Patrick Snell joins us live from Charlotte, North Carolina. Tell us what we're looking for this time around.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Hi there, Jim. Yes, welcome to Quail Hollow, a tournament that well, let's just say this a course where Rory

McIlroy, you just mentioned him, he loves to excel here. He's won four times in the past on the regular U.S. PGA tour circuit. But what he would

give for another career major.

But look, so much of the focus, you're quite right, Jim, is typically always on the stacked field, the top level, high level elite professionals.

And this year, we've got 99 out of the top 100 in the world competing here. Everyone knows what they bring to the table, right? Steely focus and a

desire to win. But what about the 20 PGA of America club professionals who are also taking part in what is for really all of them, Jim, it is a dream

week.

A week that many will never get to repeat again. I remember Michael Block from two years ago in New York, he had the ultimate block party. He ended

up finishing type for 15th that year. But this year we're all eyes on Jesse Droemer, the young American player who has been through so much, both on

and off the course, just to get to this point. You won't believe, Jim, what he's had to overcome. Prepare to be inspired. Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSE DROEMER, PGA OF AMERICA GOLF PROFESSIONAL: I've broken about 13 bones. I broke my ankle really bad in -- when I was 13 in football, so I

had a cast that came up to my hip and I stood on my left foot and hit shots for six months. So, really that's what kind of got me into golf.

But I've broken my left wrist. I've broken my right shoulder. I nearly died by a snake I stepped on a water moccasin and had to go to the hospital and

nearly died then. So, I've had a lot of injuries. So, it just makes me feel grateful for the opportunity and, you know, any opportunity I have is just

a blessing.

I was out away from the game for almost a year. I had to work with the massage therapist and chiropractors to get my body in shape after the

skateboarding accident. I broke my tailbone. So, I really wasn't able to play for a while and I had to learn how to swing a different swing. My body

just can't get in those positions. So, I'm having to kind of relearn how to play golf. But it was a battle and, you know, it's all mind over matter.

Every day, just to be able to kind of function, I have to stretch for about an hour in the morning and I have to kind of do some movement stuff in the

gym for about 30, 45 minutes. And I have to stretch for about an hour in the evening. So, it's about three hours a day to be able to swing and play

the golf like I want to play. But it is worth it.

It's just more about dealing with pain, you know, to where now it's just like pain is, kind of, a temporary feeling and if it hurts, you just kind

of can't focus on it. So, I'm just trying to remain grateful and positive and, you know, just learn from everything and kind of use it as fuel, you

know, because I wouldn't be where I am if without injuries, without broken bones and without this. So, it's kind of in the long run, kind of been a

blessing.

It's an extreme honor to be able to test your game against the best players in the world on one of the best golf courses in the world. And, you know,

just kind see where your game stacks up against the best in the world.

The goal is to win a golf tournament. I mean, I've been playing golf now competitively for 21 years. I competed against a lot of these guys in

junior golf. And, you know, I've never played a tournament to try to lose. So, you know, the goal is to try to win.

[18:55:00]

It's been up and down. You know, times where I wanted to quit, things kind of turned around, but that's golf. It's a roller coaster and you know, if

you just keep going, it's hard to beat somebody who doesn't quit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: Wow. It most certainly is. What a powerful, poignant, amazing words there for the 33-year-old from Texas. And they'll be cheering him on, Jim,

from his home state, I can tell you that. He's playing in his second PGA championship. He says, he'll have about 10 family and friends out here on

the course with him every step of the way. Wish him well. Back to you.

SCIUTTO: Yes, wishing him the best, certainly. Patrick Snell, North Carolina, thanks so much.

Now, to a celebration of the camp and the kitsch (ph) and music as the Eurovision Song Contest moves towards the grand final this weekend. From

the first round of semifinals in Basel, Switzerland, this Sweden's KAJ, flanked by lumberjacks performing a song called "Bara Bada Bastu".

Translate that for me.

Also, heading to the final is a group from Ukraine called Ziferblat. The band's song, "Bird of Prey" symbolizes Ukrainian resilience amid Russia's

ongoing invasion and solidarity. Many Ukrainian flags fluttered in the audience as they performed.

We wish all the finalists' good luck. Wonder if there's a budding new ABBA in the group. Thanks so much for your company today. I'm Jim Sciutto in

Washington. You've been watching "The Brief". Please do stay with CNN.

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[19:00:00]

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