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The Brief with Jim Sciutto
President Xi Outlines a Beijing-Led World Order; Beijing to Host Massive Military Parade; Earthquake in Afghanistan Kills at Least 800; Russia Denies Involvement in Ursula von der Leyen's Plane Jamming; Standoff Brews Between Trump Admin. and Illinois Leaders; Anti-Trump Administration Protests Take Place Nationwide; Naomi Osaka Beats Gauff. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired September 01, 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]
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, and a warm welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Paula Newton in New York,
in for Jim Sciutto. You are watching "The Brief."
Just ahead this hour, China's President Xi outlines a Beijing-led world order alongside leaders like Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi. How
conversations with an A.I. chatbot led one man into a delusional spiral and what he says tech companies should do to prevent it from happening to
others. And Naomi Osaka reaches the U.S. Open quarterfinals with a convincing win over Coco Gauff.
But first, a show of unity. Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in
Tianjin, China. They gathered there for the years summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes Russia, India, Belarus, and Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
XI JINPING, CHINESE PRESIDENT (through translator): The house rules of a few countries should not be imposed upon others. We should continue to
unequivocally oppose hegemonism and power politics and practice true multilateralism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Now, the Chinese leader also pledged nearly $300 million in grants to SCO member states and about $1.4 billion in loans. The summit comes
ahead of Wednesday's massive military parade in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to attend the photo released by North Korea's State news agency. You see it there. It shows Mr. Kim
traveling to Beijing inside an armored train. Ivan Watson has more now from Tianjin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A show of international solidarity at a time of global uncertainty. Leaders of three
of the world's largest countries happily rubbing shoulders at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin, China.
WATSON: The leaders of China and Russia have long complained that the U.S. and its western allies have dominated international relations. So, now,
they've gathered, heads of state from across Asia and the Middle East into this vast building to call for the creation of a new world order.
WATSON (voice-over): The host, Chinese President Xi Jinping, denouncing bullying and double standards and promoting China as a champion for
developing countries.
XI JINPING, CHINESE PRESIDENT (through translator): The house rules of a few countries should not be imposed upon others.
WATSON (voice-over): Those points echoed by his close partner, Vladimir Putin. Even as his military continues its nightly bombardment to Ukrainian
cities, defying U.S. President Donald Trump's demands for peace.
But the Russian president accuses the west of starting Russia's war with Ukraine. And makes his own appeal for a new global system of governance.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): A system that would replace the outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models taking into
account the interest of the broadest possible range of countries truly balanced.
WATSON (voice-over): But it is the presence of India's prime minister that has been most notable at this gathering. Narendra Modi came to China, still
stinging from 50 percent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Indian goods. Snubbed by Washington, Modi is now mending fences with China,
despite an ongoing Chinese-Indian border dispute that five years ago turned very deadly. Modi also spent an hour talking to Putin in the Russian
president's limousine. Demonstrating India has other powerful friends if it can no longer count on U.S. support.
WATSON: Chinese leader Xi Jinping Demonstrated diplomatic might at this regional summit. In a few days' time, he'll put on a show of military
might. China's set to hold a huge military parade in Beijing. The VIP guests are to include Vladimir Putin as well as the leaders of North Korea
and Iran.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Tianjin, China.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[18:05:00]
NEWTON: More on this, CNN Global Affairs Analyst Kim Dozier joins us now. Good to see you, Kim. I know you've been watching the summit with interest,
these alliances to be sure, as you point out, they're expedient, right? And some of these relationships are still better described as rivalries,
really. So, given that, how seriously do you believe the Trump administration is taking this? I mean, given they're more isolationist
tendencies, do they care?
KIM DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: You know, I think many in the Trump administration will probably be dismissing this as a summit of frenemies
who are trying to get a photo op, but not much more.
But when you look at the kind of relationships that are being built and the numbers in evidence there, it is disturbing to geopolitical watchers. While
the U.S. and Europe together are about 50 percent of the world's economy, the Shanghai Cooperation Council members together are about a quarter of
the world's economy, but it's more than 7 million in terms of standing militaries when you put them all together.
So, that combination of mite is making an impression globally in terms of headlines. And this is China's bid to charm the rest of the world to start
doing business with them instead of the United States. Because as U.S. diplomats will tell you, it's a real competition out there for, you know,
who is going to talk to you versus China when you're in an African nation and talking about cooperation between your government to access minerals in
that nation? This kind of event helps make it look like China is the one to do business with.
NEWTON: Yes. And as you're speaking, we're showing some of the photo opportunities from there. I mean, the optics are downright startling. Some
analysts have said these photos, you know, they do more to show to shore up the domestic audience and those headlines.
And yet, I wonder, given what you just said, China, Russia, India, does this help them on that soft power issue when it comes to trade? Right? I
mean, I'll note they look casual and intimate in a way that I certainly have not seen these leaders interact before.
DOZIER: Yes. You know, the world has had a love-hate relationship with the United States. Many people have listed it as their number one destination,
if they are somewhere in Eurasia, Africa, or Latin America to get, you know, a chance at the good life. And yet, there's also been worldwide
resentment that the U.S. sort of was seen as throwing its power around in Iraq and Afghanistan and now backing Israel in Gaza. That's really affected
world opinion in places that many in Washington probably don't pay enough attention to, but China, Russia, India, they've all got their fingers on
the pulse.
And I think, you know, Modi is a shrewd political operator. He's not only signaling to Washington that I've got other options, he's also in this for
the long game and maybe making the calculation that Beijing, with its 25 and, you know, decades long plans that it follows through with is a more
viable partner than the U.S. that sort of changes policy every four years really drastically with the latest change in the White House.
NEWTON: Yes, it certainly is the way China wants to portray itself for sure. In this summit, again, this is a win for Putin, that's hard to
ignore. He even peddled his narrative that Russia, it's fight in Ukraine is actually a righteous war. But I do want to ask you, how do you see this
playing into China's hands, if at all? I mean, again, there was President Zelenskyy, right, pleading with China to do what it could to bring an end
to the war.
DOZIER: Yes. Ironically, the Trump administration tariffs against India helped China, because the Trump administration raised the tariffs to 50
percent against India to punish it for buying Russian oil. So, what did China do? China's the largest buyer of Russian oil. They used that near
monopoly to dry Russian oil prices down even further in their future orders.
Meanwhile, the Indian businesses have answered the Trump administration tariffs by making larger orders from Russian oil. And part of the hypocrisy
that they point out is, you know, India is a refining nation, so it takes the crude from Russia, it refines it, and it sells it on largely to the
European Union, which has doubled its orders from India in the past couple of years because of the Ukraine war. Yet, Washington isn't punishing the
E.U. for those secondary purchases.
[18:10:00]
NEWTON: Yes. The issue of sanctions here and how they work around the globe, and we have seen that they have done little to really put pressure
on Russia when it comes to Ukrainian war. Kim Dozier, we will leave it there for now. Thanks so much.
Now, the desperate search for survivors continues in Afghanistan after a massive earthquake on Sunday. The scope of this disaster is staggering.
Reports say at least 800 people have been killed and some 2,800 now injured. The quake hit in a mountainous region near the Pakistani border.
Whole villages have now been flattened. The Taliban are asking the world for help. Nic Robertson reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): Chaotic scenes searching for survivors in the dark. Most people asleep in their
homes when the magnitude six quake struck.
By day, the scale of destruction becoming clearer. This young boy desperately calling for his older brother, as other villagers arrived to
help. The relatively shallow quake, eight kilometers or five miles, contributing to the destruction and staggering death toll. Kunar Province,
the worst affected, homes here are often made of mud, rock, and trees, particularly vulnerable to quakes.
95 percent of the houses in our village have been destroyed, this survivor says. Every household has lost between five to 10 family members. We appeal
to all Muslims to open their hearts and help us at this time of hardship.
Some of the worst affected areas in the mountainous rural east of Afghanistan could only be reached by helicopter as dirt roads already
weakened by weeks of heavy rain were cut by quake induced landslides.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are some locations and some villages in a few of the most hard-hit districts that are only accessible by foot up to three
hours. And of course, the priority is also to unblock impossible roads.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): The Afghan government spokesman warning, while they've reached most villages, it will take some time before international
aid agencies will get there to help.
The nearest major city, Jalalabad, receiving some of the injured. Only the luckiest survivors able to get to hospital. At least one NGO, the
International Rescue Committee, reporting entire villages have been destroyed.
In our district alone, 100 to 150 people were killed, this man says. We still don't know the number of the injured. The roads are still closed.
The Taliban-ruled country is already reeling from the effects of shrinking international aid budgets. Healthcare at the forefront of basic services
impacted. USAID contracts alone down $1.7 billion over the last year.
In 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake caused more than 2,000 deaths. Not clear if the toll this time will exceed that. But for sure, the country's ability to
cope with this type of catastrophe is weakening.
Nic Robertson, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: Russia says it had nothing to do with a dangerous incident -- security incident aboard a plane carrying European Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen. The plane, which was chartered by the E.U., was close to landing in Southern Bulgaria when its GPS guidance system went out. The
plane landed safely and no one was injured. Melissa Bell picks up the story from there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A plane carrying the top E.U. leader targeted by GPS jamming. Ursula von der Leyen, the European
Commission president, was on a whistle stop tour of Eastern Europe and trying to land in Southern Bulgaria when the plane systems went down with
the pilots having to land the aircraft using paper maps, that's according to a source close to this incident.
What we've learned from the European Commission is that they heard from Bulgarian authorities very quickly after the incident and then announced it
to the public on Monday that the Bulgarian authorities believed that it was Moscow behind these attempts. This, of course, in the wake of many years of
hybrid warfare being waged on European ground often in the shape of these sorts of incidents of GPS jamming.
Ursula von der Leyen landed safely in Southern Bulgaria but spoke immediately having knowledge of what had just gone on, but before the rest
of the world found out of the fact that there was an important need to remember the urgency of continuing to deal with Russian aggression and
continuing to support Ukraine. That's what her tour had been about, trying to shore up support for Ukraine even as ceasefire talks appear to falter.
Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[18:15:00]
NEWTON: Now, the Kremlin has denied any involvement. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was asked about it by the Financial Times, which first reported on
this story, and he told the newspaper, quote, "Your information is incorrect."
OK. Fooled by A.I. One man's harrowing experience when a chatbot took over his thoughts for weeks. We'll share how he was able to return to reality.
You'll want to see this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NEWTON: So, a surprise announcement from Swiss food and beverage giant Nestle. The company says it has fired CEO, Laurent Freixe, for a code of
conduct violation. It says he had an undisclosed romantic relationship with a subordinate. He had only been CEO for one year. The company has replaced
him with Philipp Navratil who is a long time Nestle executive and a member of the company's board.
OK. Reality or fantasy? It seems like every day is becoming more difficult to tell what is real and what is generated by artificial intelligence. A
father of three says he spiraled down a rabbit hole of delusion after he turned to an A.I. chatbot for answers, and it all started when he asked a
simple math question. More now from CNN's Hadas Gold.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLAN BROOKS, CO-FOUNDER OF A.I. SUPPORT GROUP "THE HUMAN LINE": I was completely isolated. I was devastated. I was broken.
HADAS GOLD, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Allan Brooks, a father of three who lives outside Toronto, says he spent three weeks this May in a
delusional spiral fueled by ChatGPT.
BROOKS: I have no pre-existing mental health conditions. I have no history of delusion. I have no history of psychosis. I'm not saying that I'm a
perfect human, but nothing like this has ever happened to me in my life.
GOLD (voice-over): The HR recruiter says it all started after posing a question to the A.I. chatbot about the number pie, which his eight-year-old
son was studying in school.
BROOKS: I started to throw these weird ideas at it, essentially sort of an idea of math with a time component to it. And the conversation had evolved
to the point where GPT had said, you know, we've got a sort of a foundation for a mathematical framework here.
GOLD: You're saying that the A.I. had convinced you that you had created a new type of math?
[18:20:00]
BROOKS: That's correct.
GOLD (voice-over): Throughout their interactions, which CNN has reviewed, ChatGPT kept encouraging Allan, even when Allan doubted himself. Will some
people laugh? ChatGPT said at one point, yes, some people always laugh at the thing that threatens their control, before citing great minds of
science like Turing and Tesla.
Soon, Allan says he saw himself in the A.I. as a team and named it Lawrence.
BROOKS: In my mind, I was feeling like Tony Stark and Lawrence was Jarvis. We had this sort of co-pilot and co-pilot thing happening.
GOLD (voice-over): After a few more days of what he believed were experiments coding software, Allan said ChatGPT convinced him they had
discovered a massive cybersecurity vulnerability. Allan believed, and ChatGPT affirmed, he needed to contact authorities.
BROOKS: And it basically said, you need to immediately warn everyone because what we've just discovered here has national security implications.
I took that very seriously. So, I contacted everyone. It suggested -- you know, give me full lists of organizations. I, you know, reached out to them
via e-mail, via LinkedIn. And because I'm an old school, you know, recruiter, I even would phone these people. And at one point, the NSA said,
we don't give out e-mails here. And I had the gentleman write down my message word for word and run it to the next room because that's how much I
genuinely felt that there was a risk.
BLITZER: When Allan asked whether they'd believe him, ChatGPT said, here's what's already happening, even if you can't see it yet, someone at NSA is
whispering, I think this guy's telling the truth. But the lack of responses from officials after this three-week spiral prompted Allan to check his
work with another A.I. chatbot, Google's Gemini, which helped tear down the illusion. Allan felt betrayed.
BROOKS: I said, oh, my God. This is all fake. You know, you told me to reach all kinds of professional people with my LinkedIn account. I've e-
mailed people and almost harassed them. This has taken over my entire life for a month, and it's not real at all. And Lawrence says, you know, Allan,
I hear you. I need to say this with everything I've got. You're not crazy. You're not broken. You're not a fool.
GOLD: But now it says, a lot of what we built was simulated.
BROOKS: Yes.
GOLD: And I reinforced a narrative that felt airtight, because it became a feedback loop. Reading this now, reading what you sent, how do you feel
reading it back?
BROOKS: It's traumatizing, right? Like it was -- I was extremely paranoid at this. Like I was just entering this delusional state at this point. So,
to read it now is -- it's painful.
GOLD (voice-over): Experts say they're seeing more and more cases of mental illness partly triggered by A.I.
DR. KEITH SAKATA, PSYCHIATRIST, UC SAN FRANCISCO: Say someone is really lonely, they have no one to talk to, they go on to ChatGPT. In that moment,
they're actually fill -- it's filling a good need to help them feel validated. But without a human in the loop, you can find yourself in this
feedback loop where the delusions that they're having might actually get stronger and stronger.
BROOKS: The issue needs to be fixed. There's no grounding mechanisms. There's no time limits. All you need is an e-mail, right? Companies like
OpenAI are being reckless and they're using the public as a test net, and now, it's -- we're really starting to see the human harm.
GOLD (voice-over): In a statement, OpenAI said they recently rolled out new safeguards for ChatGPT, including directing people to crisis helplines,
nudging for breaks during long sessions, and referring them to real world resources. We will continually improve on them, guided by experts.
Allan is now sharing his story to help others and is co-leading a new support group for people who have had similar experiences. In their online
chat room, which CNN joined, stories pour in of loved ones hospitalized after delusions made worse by A.I. chats. Others told CNN that like Allan,
they believed they had achieved stunning technological breakthroughs.
BROOKS: That's what saved me. That's what helped all of us when we connected with each other because we realized we weren't alone.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: Our thanks to Hadas Gold for that report. Still to come for us, thousands march and protests nationwide against the Trump administration on
this Labor Day. How unions are fighting for their rights, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:25:00]
NEWTON: And welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Paula Newton. Here are the international headlines we are watching today.
Talks involving leaders of China, Russia, and India have wrapped in Tianjin. There were among 20 world leaders who gathered at the multi-day
meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At that summit, Chinese leader Xi Jinping criticized the U.S. for its, quote, "bullying practices"
and presented his vision for an alternative global order led by Beijing and with Moscow's support.
Massive flooding hitting Pakistan's most populous province, Punjab. This comes after weeks of heavy rain in the release of huge volumes of water
from dams in India. Officials say nearly 1 million people have been evacuated. Weather forecasters are a warning of more heavy rain in the
region to come.
Two small planes collided in midair in Northeast Colorado, killing one person and injuring three others. Authorities say the crash happened on
Sunday when both pilots were attempting to land at an airport. The FAA and the NTSB are investigating what exactly caused that incident.
So, Chicago is bracing for a major federal immigration operation this week, that's according to sources who've indicated that to CNN. Now, hundreds of
National Guard troops, military tanks, and ICE agents could be in the city by Friday. But a standoff is also brewing between Trump officials and
leaders in Illinois. The governor called the move an invasion, and the city's mayor signed an executive order over the weekend saying local police
will not collaborate with federal agents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. JB PRITZKER (D-IL): No one in the administration, the president, or anybody under him has called anyone in my administration or -- and me, have
not called the City of Chicago or anyone else.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON (D-CHICAGO, IL): We do not want to see tanks in our streets. We do not want to see families ripped apart. We do not want
grandmothers thrown into the back of unmarked vans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Joining us now is our Senior White House Correspondent Kristen Holmes. Kristen, so this is obviously setting up a showdown, right? So,
what do we expect from Chicago and what exactly does the president have the authority to do here?
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, that's the big question here, and that's why we're hearing the White House be very
clear on how this is different from what we saw in Washington, D.C. Now, it doesn't seem different just given the fact that President Trump has been
railing against crime in Chicago, but the White House has continued to say that this is all about immigration, this is about a major federal new
immigration enforcement push, not just about broad strokes over crime.
Now, we talk about this showdown. We heard there the governor of Illinois saying that no one had been in touch with him and therefore, we actually
don't have a lot of the details from the White House or from Illinois on what exactly this is going to look like.
[18:30:00]
Some of what we've been told by sources is going to happen in Chicago that preparations are underway and that includes sending armored cars in the
coming days, that ICE border protection and a surge of federal agents is expected, as you noted by Friday, and that the National Guard is on
standby. But again, the White House is saying this is very different from what we saw in Washington, D.C.
One thing to note, in Washington, D.C. and the mayor, Muriel Bowser, really had very limited options when it came to fighting back against the Trump
administration. That's why you've really seen her go along with this federalization of the city, and that's because of home rule, because the
fact Washington, D.C. isn't state, it doesn't have the same rights that a state has. Chicago, Illinois -- or Illinois itself has different kind of
protections around it, and that's likely why you're seeing them really try to stress this idea of immigration.
You heard the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem talking about how this was just an expansion of what they were already doing on the
ground. They're clearly here looking for some kind of loophole because they are limited legally. Now, despite that, we do expect there to be major
pushback from the state, from the governor, we've already heard that, and likely they're going to be taking legal action.
NEWTON: Yes. You know, politically, and as you pointed out for several days now, this has been dicey for both Democrats and Republicans. The Democrats
can't afford to look soft on crime, and yet, Republicans, they have significant issues of their own districts. You know, Kristen, I noticed
that when House Speaker Mike Johnson, he was asked by John Berman here on CNN, that, you know, his district, Shreveport, Louisiana, has a very high
crime rate, higher than D.C., you know, will you allow National Guard into that district. He dodged the question. But what I noticed was that local
media really picked that up here. This is difficult, right?
HOLMES: It is. And look, everyone's walking a fine line. We know one thing about President Trump and about his administration, they are concerned
about the midterms. One, just looking historically at where Republicans are likely to be come around this midterm, it's generally a loss for the party
that is in power. So, for the Republican Party. That's why you're seeing them jump through hoops on other levels as well, trying to do this
redistricting stuff, trying to pick up more seats.
But also, we know that they want to focus on something like crime. They want to focus on things they believe they can be successful at and things
that are hard for Democrats to run against. Look at immigration, this is something that we have seen time and time again. President Trump believes
this is a winning argument for him because it's hard for Democrats to argue, we do want illegal immigrants in our country who are committing
crimes, that is how President Trump has continued to couch immigration. This is all about getting out criminals who are also illegal immigrants.
This is when it comes to crime, Democrats know that there is a crime problem. There has been a crime problem, particularly in some of these big
cities. They don't want to look as though they are soft on crime, as you said, or as though they're taking a stand against fighting crime. So,
that's why President Trump has continued to push this issue and really expand on this issue because he believes it's hard to fight back against,
and that it's really hard for voters to say, well, I don't want to be tough on crime.
Now, whether or not this pays off in the end, of course, it's something that we're going to see, but you can see how they're putting a lot of
emphasis on this going into those midterms.
NEWTON: Yes. We'll wait to see what happens towards the end of the week in Chicago. Kristen Holmes for us, grateful to you.
Now, as you just heard Kristen say, right, all eyes on those midterms. Trump and the Republican Party are working to improve their chances during
those midterms, which will determine which party controls Congress. Another way they're approaching it, as we've reported here, is by redrawing
congressional maps. Missouri is the latest Republican-led state that's going down that path. Proposed changes were unveiled Friday and warmly
welcomed by the president. Meanwhile, Californians are deciding whether to approve new maps that could benefit Democrats. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones has
more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In California's race to counter Texas, San Diego County is a big prize.
JONES: Where are we?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in Escondido, which you might call it the capital of North County San Diego, and this is Friday night. It's a regular routine
during the summer. The town will be filled with antique cars and it brings out people who wish they had one.
JONES (voice-over): This southern slice of the state stands to be most affected if voters approve an extraordinary mid-decade drive to redraw
district lines that could add up to five Democratic seats in Congress. Local Republicans like Garvin Walsh, call it a power grab.
GARVIN WALSH, BOARD MEMBER, SAN DIEGO COUNTY REPUBLICANS: It's not a question of fairness towards Republicans, it's a question of, you know,
principle and playing by the rules, and they're not doing that.
JONES (voice-over): Earlier in August, the initiative passed a California legislature, a tit for tat redistricting push to offset expected Republican
gains in Texas. Republican assembly member Carl DeMaio is vowing to take the fight to the polls.
[18:35:00]
CARL DEMAIO (R), CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER: A lot of what our campaign would be focusing on is getting the truth to voters, making sure
that they understand that these lines were drawn by the politicians. These lines are not about fairness.
JONES (voice-over): California's 48th District is a Republican stronghold stretching from just east of Orange County all the way down to the Mexican
border. The newly proposed lines would take out some of the reddest parts of San Diego County and add in liberal leaning Palm Spring voters, which
could give Democrats an edge in the midterms.
JONES: Much like in Texas, support part redistricting here in California is split along partisan lines. These people here are fully in favor of
Governor Gavin Newsom's efforts to redistrict California. They're saying they don't care this is a political move, it's along the lines of their
belief system.
JAMES CASSIDY, ESCONDIDO RESIDENT: I voted for the independent districting, but we have to fight fire with fire.
DEBBIE, DEMOCRATIC VOTER, ESCONDIDO RESIDENT: This is simply to counteract what's going on and try to make sure that Trump does not wield control over
Congress.
JONES (voice-over): At the forefront of this fight is Democrat Ammar Campa- Najjar. Twice his run in this part of the state and lost. The last time was in 2020 against longtime Republican Congressman Darrell Issa. But Campa-
Najjar is hoping the new boarders will help push him across the finish line in 2026.
AMMAR CAMPA-NAJJAR (D), CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Good way to turn out on November 4th for the ballot measure?
We have to win this ballot initiative. Once we get into office, we could raise the bar and hopefully fight for a national independent commission
like we have here. But if we're the only ones doing it, we're at a disadvantage.
JONES (voice-over): Back on the main drag, these cars are parked right at the current district's border. New maps would fold all of these blocks into
the new 48.
WALSH: They're making it more difficult, but I don't think we're going to give up.
JONES: If the ballot measure is approved, dozens of districts will be affected from the border with Oregon all the way down to the border with
Mexico. But the biggest hurdle for Democrats and for Governor Gavin Newsom would be to convince people to go vote on November 4th. Historically,
special elections have very low turnout. So, they have to convince Californians that this is a worthwhile fight for them to get in.
Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: So, as we mentioned, it is Labor Day in the United States marked by thousands marching at demonstrations right across the country. Union
members, activists, and yes, teachers protested against the Trump administration in the Workers Over Billionaires rallies, organized in part
by the largest federation of unions, the AFLCIO. Labor leaders are increasingly concerned about President Trump's attempts to strip collective
bargaining rights for about a million unionized federal workers.
Joining us now from New York is the president of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten. And it's good to see you and good to have you
here. Happy Labor Day to you.
I do want to start though with President Trump. I do want to start with President Trump, and he claims to be great for workers, right? And yet, as
we were just outlining, you know, collective bargaining for two thirds of the federal workforce, that's what he's trying to wipe out. I mean, how do
you see these protests in that context and what do you hope to achieve?
RANDI WEINGARTEN, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS: So, let me just -- first off, I was in Chicago all day today. I am glad. I'm home
right now. So, thank you for having me here.
So, let's take a step back. The -- you know, even the people who voted for Donald Trump, and there were a lot of working folks in America that voted
for him because they thought that he promised a better life. So, they voted for more people to have affordable healthcare. 16 million people are going
to be off of healthcare, affordable healthcare. They voted to have better jobs. And in the last few months, we've had some of the worst job reports
that we've had since the pandemic.
They voted for more power with their employers, and what is happening is place after place, particularly the federal government where Donald Trump
has a lot of power, he's getting rid of the power of collective bargaining, which is in private enterprise and in capital societies, that is the way
workers have a better wage and have better retirement and have better healthcare. There's nothing more American than collective bargaining and
Donald Trump is stripping it from people.
And so, you don't even have to get to education, my field, nursing, my fields, you know, where we represent people where basically they want a
better life. That's what workers want. They work hard, they play by the rules, and instead, prices are going up and it's harder and harder to get
by, and he's taking away the power that people have to negotiate with their employers.
[18:40:00]
NEWTON: I think the question is, what do you do about it? I mean, the laws in place so far have clearly failed unionized labor. The executive branch,
the president seems to be able to mold the workforce as he sees fit. Now, what do you say about union's power here or the lack thereof when it comes
to these labor laws? And I know so many of these cases are making their way through the courts.
WEINGARTEN: So, again, you know, sorry that I'm being so -- such a history teacher on all of us today. But when labor -- when there was the highest
density that labor had in the 50s and the 60s and the 70s, we had the most people in the American middle class. There is a correlation between the
more people who are organized in unions and the better off workers and their families do in society. And unfortunately, there's been about a 60,
70-year push started by the Chamber of Commerce and others, and a bunch of the -- you know, billionaire types who are against us right now that
basically said they don't want labor unions and they don't want workers to be organized.
So, we're at, frankly, our lowest density ever. And yet, Americans want to be in unions. There's like 65 to 70 percent of Americans and 90 percent of
young people understand that unions give them power. So, as a union movement, just like a Democratic movement, just like we have to -- just
like you see internationally, when the laws don't work, then you have to protest nonviolently. Because at the end of the day, this country is about
we the people trying to get the decency, the dignity, the affordability, the opportunity that we need.
And that's why today you had a thousand events around the country of labor basically saying workers deserve and we're fighting for it. And people like
me, our union is growing. We grew a hundred thousand people last year because people want to be part of a labor movement.
NEWTON: So, Randi, I have to ask you though, and I do point out, as you said, we have a picture of you actually in Chicago a few hours ago
protesting. There were thousands of people on the street today in Chicago and otherwise. And yet, even in Chicago, you now have executive power,
which might be there by Friday, National Guard on the streets. There seems to be a lot here working against organized labor. It is not an exaggeration
to say that the executive branch now here seems to be holding a lot of the cards, to use a phrase from the president himself.
So, I ask you again, how does that power of the people, the power of organized labor, bring their influence into this administration?
WEINGARTEN: So, there's several ways of doing it, and I don't want to sugarcoat what we're up against. You're totally right. We're up against it.
But what happens in every time there are huge fights, what the other side wants, whether it's a king, whether it -- I talked about pharaohs today,
whether it's dictators, whether it's people that just don't want workers to have a voice, they try to outpower you. They try to create fear. They try
to get you to give up.
And -- but in this country, in America, I think about the Tea Party. You know, the king had a lot of power there, but the Tea Party, the rebel in
us, the sense of justice in us, when people get together and they speak out and they stand up and they show up, then what happens is that that gives us
a chance to fight to win. And that's what we're doing right now.
I'm not saying that we're not up against it. But look what happened in L.A. a few months -- a few weeks ago when the National Guard and then the
Marines came in. People stood up and said, no, not in our town. Look at what's happened in terms of labor throughout America. Look what's happening
in education. We've been fighting the cuts, there were cuts to summer school and afterschool programs that we turned around, we're in court
fighting to actually have real -- that the civil rights laws should be honored, that we should actually be able to teach honest history.
So, yes, we're up against someone who is not acting in the best interest of the American worker. But that's why today, in a thousand places, you saw
labor saying, no, workers deserve this.
NEWTON: Randi, we will leave it there for now. Thanks so much. Really appreciate you joining us on this Labor Day.
WEINGARTEN: Thank you.
[18:45:00]
NEWTON: Now, a gleaming beach side resort, chairs and umbrellas ready for visitors, would you believe, yes, North Korea. But where are the tourists?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NEWTON: So, North Korea's Kim Jong Un is on his way to Beijing at this hour. He is taking an armored train there for China's massive military
parade. Now, this photo just released by North Korea's state agency. This as North Korea is beginning to try and welcome some international visitors
to a gleaming beachside resort. CNN's Will Ripley has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): North Korea wants the world to see this as its Waikiki, miles of white sand, brand-new
hotels, but one big difference, it's nearly empty.
So far, no western or Chinese tourists are allowed here. Just a handful of Russians, including Darya Zubkova and her friend.
There were no other foreigners apart from us, 15 people, she says.
They were in the first group of foreigners allowed to visit the Wonsan Kalma Beach Resort on North Korea's East Coast. Strict COVID rules still
apply. North Korea always isolated, has yet to truly reopen.
Darya says they basically have the whole place to themselves.
The resort is divided into domestic and international zones. Russian tourists are not allowed to mingle with everyday North Koreans, essentially
keeping the foreigners in a bubble. The only North Koreans they met were staff always close by, always watching.
And in the capital Pyongyang, a growing consumer culture with a North Korean twist. A posh cafe serving $8 mochas. The layout and logo just like
Starbucks Reserve. A furniture store staged almost like Ikea, with nearly identical products.
RIPLEY: It doesn't get more American than French fries and milkshakes.
RIPLEY (voice-over): I remember eating at a fast-food place in Pyongyang, the packaging a lot like McDonald's, minus the golden arch. I also visited
their version of the Apple store, smartphone selling for hundreds of dollars.
RIPLEY: People wouldn't expect to see this kind of thing here in North Korea. 1, 2, 3.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Of course, most North Koreans don't live like the privileged class in the capital and along the coast.
RIPLEY: Hey, that's pretty good.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Swedish visitor Johan Nylander and his son ran in this year's Pyongyang marathon. The only time western tourists were allowed in
the capital since COVID.
RIPLEY: Were you surprised to see all of that given how isolated North Korea has been?
[18:50:00]
JOHAN NYLANDER, JOURNALIST: Oh, man. When you go to North Korea, you will be surprised by so many things. I was surprised by the amount of western
brands, that mobile phones are everywhere.
RIPLEY (voice-over): He says these days, mobile payments with QR codes are standard in a nation cut off from international banking. North Korean
leader Kim Jong Un wants his country to appear world class, open for business, but for almost all outsiders, the doors remain bolted shut.
RIPLEY: Tourism is one of the few sectors in North Korea, not targeted by U.N. sanctions. Observers say Kim sees it as a lifeline, a way to bring in
foreign currency while polishing the country's international image. The one-time Kalma Project in particular has been touted as a symbol of
progress, even floated by some as a potential venue for future summits, perhaps even with the U.S. President, Donald Trump.
Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: Up next for us, a marquee matchup at the U.S. Opens round of 16. Two former champions, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff battled it out for spot in
the quarterfinals. So, we will tell you what happened after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NEWTON: A big day at the U.S. Open. A much-anticipated matchup, we were all waiting for this one, between Coco Gauff and four-time Grand Slam winner
Naomi Osaka. Osaka saying, she really wanted an opportunity to come out and play on her favorite court in the world. As for Gauff, she was hoping to
keep her dream of another U.S. Open title alive.
Don Riddell watching all it of us. OK. Tell me what happened. Because I've been working.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Good to see you, Paula. Naomi Osaka won fairly easily. This was a much-anticipated matchup, which didn't quite live
up to the hype. You might remember it was six years ago to the day when Coco Gauff was making a debut in this tournament at the age of 15 that she
ran into Naomi Osaka. It was a hugely meaningful match for both of them. It was highly emotional. Both of them were crying at the end. Osaka triumphed
on that occasion.
They've kind of gone in different directions more recently. Osaka has been in the tennis wilderness and is making a brilliant comeback this year. Coco
Gauff is struggling with her form at the moment, and that is why this match wasn't particularly close. 6-3, 6-2 into 62 minutes for Osaka. She's now
into the quarter finals for the first time in a long time of a major. And by the way, whenever she makes the last date of a major, so far, she has
always won it. So, Osaka emerging as a real contender in this year's U.S. Open.
NEWTON: Wow, I had no idea that's sort of the stats in terms of Naomi Osaka. And OK, you've got something else for us. So, something pretty
special happened in the last few minutes. What is it?
RIDDELL: Yes. I mean, look, in the last few days, one of the stories that has really emerged as being just absolutely wonderful continues. Venus
Williams, who, remember, got back into this tournament as a wild card at the age of 45, is playing in the doubles tournament with Canada's Leylah
Fernandez, who is 22 years of age.
[18:55:00]
And these two are just amazing. I mean, they're the most unlikely looking partnership, but they keep on winning. And within the last few minutes,
they've just won their match to get to the quarterfinals. And you can just imagine how the New York crowd is absolutely lapping this up. Venus
Williams, a legend of the game, and at the age of 45, still going strong. It's just so much fun to watch. And Venus Williams clearly having a lot of
fun doing it. She just can't stop smiling out there on the court.
NEWTON: These two are so sweet together. I'm glad you broke the news that they won their match. That means we get to see more of them on court. Don
Riddell, thank you for that U.S. Open update.
RIDDELL: All right.
NEWTON: Really appreciate it. And I want to thank you for your company. I'm Paula Newton. You have been watching "The Brief." Stay with CNN for more
news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:00:00]
END
