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The Brief with Jim Sciutto
CNN International: Trump: Ukraine Can Win Back Territory From Russia; Trump Slams European Nations For Buying Russian Energy; NATO Should Shoot Russian Jets Violating Airspace Says Trump; Hong Kong Issues Highest Typhoon Warning; Civilians Stranded In Gaza City As Israeli Tanks Push In; Trump Calls Climate Change A "Con Job" In U.N. Speech; Jimmy Kimmel Returns. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired September 23, 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]
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Hello and welcome to our viewers, joining us from all around the world. I'm Jim Sciutto here at the United
Nations in New York, and you're watching "The Brief."
Just ahead this hour, in a significant shift, Donald Trump says that Ukraine can win back all of its territory from Russia. Hong Kong issues its
highest typhoon warning as the most powerful storm this year edges closer. And "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" returns to the U.S. airwaves, though some stations
are refusing to air it.
First, though, a significant shift, perhaps even a reversal. President Trump is now urging Ukraine to keep fighting Russia, saying that Ukraine
can win the war. After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly here in New York, President
Trump wrote on social media, quote, "After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine-Russia military and economic situation, and after
seeing the economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and win all of
Ukraine back in its original form."
That's a big change. However, a short time afterwards, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the war in Ukraine cannot end militarily.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We have had meetings in Turkiye, meetings in Saudi Arabia, meetings in Alaska, countless phone calls, doing
everything possible to bring this conflict to a resolution, a war that cannot end militarily. It will end at a negotiating table. That's where
this war will end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: President Trump once again set a condition for imposing new penalties on Russia, criticizing European nations, and saying they must
stop buying Russian oil first.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: They're buying oil and gas from Russia while they're fighting Russia. It's embarrassing to them, and it was very
embarrassing to them when I found out about it, I can tell you that. They have to immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia. Otherwise,
we're all wasting a lot of time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: We should note that many European nations have already reduced their oil purchases from Russia, as well as natural gas. Some, however, do
buy a fair amount of Russian oil. Hungary and Slovakia currently make up the bulk of those European purchases of Russian oil.
Jennifer Hansler joins me now, covers the State Department for us. I mean, one could be forgiven for having some whiplash today. I mean, in his main
speech, it seemed like it was status quo. President Trump was saying, yes, at some point, I may impose further sanctions on Russia, but Europe has to
act first. And he comes out of the meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and he says, hey, actually, it looks like they could win the war. What happened?
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: Yes. I mean, it seems like the Ukrainians really gave them this amazing sales pitch on their ability
to finish this out militarily. We heard from President Zelenskyy not long after he met with the president. He said that they had briefed him on their
military intelligence. They had told him about the toll this is taking on Russia. And he said that the president was on the same page about the
situation on the battlefield.
He also said, Jim, that they had told him, you know, Putin is not going to wait for this war to continue to make aggressions towards Europe, which
we've seen in the past several weeks. We've seen these incursions by drones, incursions by fighter jets into Estonia. And he said the president
also understood that Putin is not going to stand by while this war plays out to continue his aggressions elsewhere.
SCIUTTO: Yes, remarkable for the U.S. president to say -- particularly this president, to say, hey, you know, these Russian jets might get shot down,
right, if they keep crossing into territory. Now, is it notable that a short time after that post, the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in a
prepared speech, seems to repeat what was the status quo position prior, which is you're going to have to negotiate?
HANSLER: It definitely injects some ambiguity into what the U.S. position on Ukraine actually is here. You know, Zelenskyy was calling this a huge
shift, but Rubio comes out some 40 minutes later in the Security Council meeting on Ukraine, and he says this cannot end militarily, this has to end
at the negotiating table.
He spoke about the toll that this is going to take on both nations if this continues, and he urged all of the parties, including Russia, to end this
as soon as possible. So, back to the traditional talking points we've heard, back to Rubio saying the U.S. would do whatever it could, whatever
it takes to try to bring this to an end, but they may, you know, say that that's no longer a possibility, but he was saying there's still time for
diplomacy here.
[18:05:00]
SCIUTTO: Is it possible, and perhaps this is unknowable, that Rubio's remarks were prepared prior to the president making this apparent shift?
HANSLER: It's certainly possible, but it would be notable if they didn't update them after the president's, you know, very significant social media
post there. So --
SCIUTTO: Crazier things have happened.
HANSLER: Indeed, indeed.
SCIUTTO: Jennifer Hansler, thanks so much. Well, President Trump today also said, when asked if he believes, as I noted, NATO should shoot down Russian
jets if they enter NATO airspace. This, as NATO member states have been condemning Moscow for a recent wave of violations. Listen to what the Dutch
foreign minister said during Monday's U.N. Security Council meeting, requested, we should note, by Estonia, where Russian jets overflew just a
short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID VAN WEEL, DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER: We are, unfortunately, seeing a wider pattern of Russian provocations against its neighbors while Russia
continues its full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. This incident demonstrates that if Russia's aggression remains unchecked, it is bound to
repeat itself. We call on this council and all member states to make clear that this reckless behavior is not only unacceptable, but also presents
clear risks to peace and security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: I spoke earlier today at length with the Dutch foreign minister, David van Weel, not only those air incursions into Europe, but also
questions such as statehood for Palestine. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: So, quite a strongly worded speech from the U.S. president today, I think, to say the least, including quite strong words for European
allies, going so far as to say that European countries will go to hell if they don't follow America's example, including on immigration. What was
your reaction to hearing those words?
WEEL: Well, I was in Munich when the vice president, J.D. Vance, held his speech, and he touched upon these issues. I think we see it slightly
different. We believe that we do have immigration and we do have issues. Europe is also my country. I'm also the minister for asylum and migration.
So, we agree that the influx of people is too high, that our societies have difficulties to cope. But we wouldn't speak so far as us going to hell or
other worse things breaking out.
SCIUTTO: On climate change, President Trump didn't just challenge climate policies. He declared the science false, in effect. He called it the
greatest con to be perpetrated on the world. I wonder your reaction to that, because climate change is, of course, of particular interest to the
Netherlands with the history of fighting back the rising tides.
WEEL: Well, you're right, two-thirds of our nation is actually underwater. That's why we have the dikes. We have the waterworks, in order to keep us
safe. We take climate change very seriously. I think the IPCC is an acknowledged panel of climate scientists. And we follow that science. So,
we don't see eye to eye on that conclusion.
SCIUTTO: Can the world effectively respond to climate change, though, without the world's largest economy taking part? And in fact, it seems that
Trump is going further than not just taking part. I mean, he's questioning whether climate change exists.
WEEL: Well, I've heard that. I think that, as we see in the U.S., also emissions have gone down in recent years. So, with the use of more gas,
less oil, I think that the U.S. is actually, in effect, contributing to combating climate change. I hope that continues, despite the rhetoric that
we heard today.
SCIUTTO: During the UNGA, we have quite a sense of alarm in Europe, given the repeated air incursions by Russia, first drones over Poland, as you
know, the jets over Estonia, and now the disruption of civilian flight with drones. I spoke earlier to the Latvian foreign minister, who said that, in
her view, there's no doubt that this is purposeful and by Russia. Do you share that view?
WEEL: Well, we know that Russia can be a reckless nation, but in this case, I have to agree with her view. This seems to be very intent, and it seems
to be very brazen in the space of two weeks to have the incursions with drones in Poland, and now, just recently, the incursion into Estonian
airspace.
On what happened in Denmark, we'll have to wait for the full investigation as to who was behind it and in what respect, but in any case, we're seeing
a pattern here of really unwanted Russian behavior in our own airspace and territory.
SCIUTTO: So, what do you believe is the right response? Because you have had European officials raise the possibility, at least, of shooting down
Russian aircraft, and President Trump just endorsed that possibility. Is that the point that we're at now?
[18:10:00]
WEEL: Well, that's a risk that they run in any case if they infringe on our airspace, because we have air defense in place. We have aircraft that are
ready to take off to fight off incursions. There are air defense systems. So, in any case, they're taking a huge risk of being shot down if they
enter into our airspace. But I think the most important message to Russia is, don't do it. Stay out. We will defend every inch of our territory.
SCIUTTO: If Dutch aircraft were scrambled to respond to such a threat, would Dutch leaders support them engaging those aircraft if the
circumstances called for it?
WEEL: So, I can't expand on the rules of engagement that we have for these aircraft. You can imagine that this is all minute work, seconds work. So, a
lot of power is delegated to the pilots in those aircraft. As I said, nobody wants to shoot down aircraft, but they run the risk of this
happening if they keep infringing in our airspace and test our air defense systems.
SCIUTTO: Once again, President Trump, in discussing additional economic penalties on Russia, including tariffs for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine,
put the onus on Europe to say, first, Europe has to stop buying Russian oil. As you know, the two biggest purchasers among NATO are, well, three, I
should say, Turkey, Hungary and Slovakia. Trump has quite close relationships, as it happens with the leaders of those countries. Is that a
fair condition, in your view, for President Trump to set on the U.S. taking additional action?
WEEL: Well, we hope that the U.S. will keep the pressure on Russia in any case. I mean, U.S. pressure is indispensable in bringing Russia to the
negotiating table. But he does have a point. I mean, he is fair to say that we can't keep funding the war against Ukraine and, in the end, against us
by buying Russian fossil fuels. So, we need to wane ourselves off that. I think we have done a lot in Europe over the past years. More needs to be
done. And we will have to deliver on that point.
SCIUTTO: The trouble is, though, that President Trump has raised this prospect for months, right? And he's even set his own deadlines that he's
blown through. Do you believe his credibility, particularly with Russia, is fading as a result of those delays?
WEEL: Well, I think President Trump, also in his speech, showed that he's getting impatient with Russia and that he is willing to increase the
pressure, if they do this, including by crippling sanctions on their economy. So, that gives me hope that we will put increased pressure on
Russia to come to the negotiating table. We will have to do our share on the European side. And then we hope that the U.S. will follow suit.
SCIUTTO: Finally, final topic, just on the number of states that have recognized Palestinian statehood over the course of the last several days
here in New York, but even previously, including quite close U.S. allies. The Netherlands has taken the additional step of refusing trade with
products that come from Israeli settlements, for instance.
The criticism you hear from President Trump, I just heard Mike Waltz speaking, is that this is a reward to Hamas. What's your response to that?
WEEL: So, the Netherlands didn't decide to recognize Palestine at this point in time. We have always said that will be at a later stage as part of
a political process. But we also have to look at the reality on the ground. We see that they're expanding on settlements, including the E1 project,
which is very debatable in the West Bank, which is a real threat to the two-state solution. We see that Israel is not providing enough humanitarian
aid to the people in Gaza.
And so, we also need to send a clear signal to Israel that they need to change course. They need to come to the negotiating table as well and make
sure that we have a ceasefire soon. I think there we agree with President Trump.
SCIUTTO: Some members of Netanyahu's government have said publicly that they want all the land for Israel, West Bank and Gaza. And some have gone
so far as to say they want the Palestinians gone. Do you believe that's the actual policy of Israel? Is that the actual intent, whether stated or not?
WEEL: I think it might be the intent of some individuals in their cabinet. It should never be the intent of the Israeli people, let alone the Israeli
government, because this will never lead to lasting peace in the Middle East. Israel has a chance to have good relationship with their neighbors.
Everyone wants Hamas to be out of Gaza and never have a role in the governance there again. But a two-state solution is the only way to live in
peace in that piece of the Middle East.
SCIUTTO: Well, we can hope. Foreign Minister Van Weel, thanks so much for taking the time. Appreciate it.
WEEL: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: The most powerful storm recorded on Earth this year is now bearing down on Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Hong Kong has issued its
highest-level typhoon warning as Typhoon Ragasa approaches. It is expected to pass south of Hong Kong before then making landfall in Mainland China's
Guangdong province. Ragasa has already triggered severe flooding in Taiwan. At least two people have died, many more missing, after a barrier lake
burst.
The storm struck northern Philippines on Monday with winds some 165 miles an hour, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. Estimates say tens of
millions of people in total will be impacted by Ragasa.
[18:15:00]
Hanako Montgomery has been covering this for us and is now live in Hong Kong. Well, I can see there the effects already being felt.
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jim, Typhoon Ragasa is currently hitting Hong Kong and we're right in the heart of it. It's
currently at its peak and the sun is beginning to rise in Hong Kong and you can actually tell just how stormy the weather is if you take a look over
here and just take a look at the sea. I mean, this is Hong Kong Harbor right now. And usually, of course, it would be full of people but it is
just completely empty right now and you can see why.
We're seeing massive storm surges and sea swells that are just pounding the walkway here. We've been doused in it multiple times after just being here
for a couple of hours. And you can tell, Jim, that the wind is getting really, really powerful. It's traveling at about 100 miles per hour.
SCIUTTO: Well, of course, one product storm conditions is sometimes you lose your satellite signal there. Our thanks to Hanako and her team for
facing up into that danger. We'll continue to follow the path of the storm.
Another story we've been following closely in Gaza City. Doctors say they have nothing to treat those wounded as Israeli tanks push further in.
Coming up, I'm going to speak to Embassy International secretary general about the crisis and if there's anything that the world could do now to
alleviate it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: The sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly here in New York gave leaders of Arab and Muslim nations the chance to talk one-on-one with
President Donald Trump. He just met with the leaders of countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Jordan
and Egypt. They implored him to help end Israel's war in Gaza and provide aid to civilians there.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly called the meeting, quote, very fruitful. Yet, Israeli tanks have pushed into multiple
neighborhoods in Gaza City amid expanding shelling and gunfire. CNN's Paula Hancocks has more now on civilians stuck there, unwilling or simply unable
to get out.
[18:20:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Abu Wissam fixes his shelter as best he can. Sheets and a blanket next to a bombed-out car on
the streets of Gaza City. He has lost his son and his home. If I had the money to evacuate and rent a place to stay, he says I would leave. But now
there are gangs in the south charging people to sleep in the streets.
Abu Wissam is among the majority still in Gaza City despite Israeli evacuation orders. Israel is carrying out an assault on the city, calling
it a Hamas stronghold. Transportation alone to carry belongings and families south can cost around 1200 U.S. dollars, according to civilians on
the ground.
Breaking down he says, I will stand up and raise my hands in front of the tank. Even my kids, I'll make them stand in front of it. I'm only afraid of
God. Whoever should die will die here or in the south. Our fate will come wherever we are. It's a desperation felt by the holt family.
Nearby, patients lie in a makeshift hospital as a British-Australian volunteer doctor does whatever she can with no supplies.
DR. SAYA AZIZ, BRITISH-AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEER DOCTOR: This is not a hospital. This is a barn. Animals get treated better.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): Everywhere she walks. Families ask her to do something for their loved one, anything. A post-operative man lies with an
open wound. His family begs for dressing or something to clean the wound with. Dr. Aziz does not have it.
AZIZ: Maybe he can get a report for a transfer. But down south, I've been down south, they have nothing. There's nothing.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): Israel's military has ordered up to 1 million civilians in Gaza City to head south to Al Mawasi, an area Israel calls a
humanitarian zone, even as the military has carried out deadly strikes there. Some of these patients would not survive the journey south.
Dr. Aziz takes a crying baby from her older brother to give him a break. She gives the only treatment she has left, care and sympathy.
AZIZ: Look at the dressing. Look, there's nothing to clean them with. They come into theater. I can't clean them. They're covered in dust and mud.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): Outside Gaza City's Al-Quds Hospital, civilians sit among all the belongings they have salvaged from their lives. Fatmeh Shtewi
has been here a week. She's waiting for help she knows will not come. We ran away from the gunfire and the airstrikes, she says.
We don't have any money to leave or eat or even to buy a tent. Our home is gone. These are not civilians who are refusing to evacuate Gaza City. These
are civilians who are scared, desperate and out of options. Those who do not have the money or the health to leave, have little choice but to sit
and wait for the Israeli tanks to arrive.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: Joining me now is Agnes Callamard, the secretary general for Amnesty International. Thanks so much for taking the time.
AGNES CALLAMARD, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY GENERAL: Thank you for having me.
SCIUTTO: As you well know, Amnesty, formerly concluded in Israel, is committing a genocide in Gaza. Your report released in December of last
year. Can you explain to our audience how your findings show that Israel meets that legal definition of genocide?
CALLAMARD: Well, absolutely. It's about 10 months of work. It's looking at the patterns of bombings and destructions. We found that four genocidal
acts identified in the genocide convention were being committed and perpetrated by the Israeli authorities. We found that the intention to
commit genocide was demonstrated by the patterns of attacks, by the statements being made by the officials, that this intention to commit
genocide was taking place alongside other objectives, including military objectives. But there is no doubt that there was a clear intention to
commit genocide.
I should add that last week, the Commission of Inquiry of the United Nations reached similar conclusions. They've added one more genocidal act,
which was the destructions of the reproduction, the reproductive capacities of women in Gaza. But they too concluded that there was an intention to
commit a genocide. We are hundreds of organizations that have had the same conclusion.
[18:25:00]
SCIUTTO: Let me ask you this, because President Trump, again today, places the blame for suffering in Gaza entirely on Hamas, as does Israel. And they
say that the war could end tomorrow if Hamas were to lay down its arms and return the hostages. What's your response to that?
CALLAMARD: Well, first of all, let's be clear that what was -- what happened on October 7th is horrendous, was horrendous, and constitute
crimes against humanity, as the International Criminal Court have said. Let's reiterate that the holding of hostages for the last two years is also
a war crime and possibly a crime against humanity. All hostages must be released.
But let it be very clear, the family of the hostages themselves have repeatedly said that the only obstacle to the release of the hostages was
Prime Minister Netanyahu. They said it again last week and the week before when Israel bombed Qatar. There has been repeated negotiations for the
release of hostages, and at the last minute, it is always the Israeli government that has backed out of what was being negotiated.
There is no doubt that Hamas must release all hostages. They must do that. Humanity must win. But this will not happen as long as the Israeli
government keeps playing games on the back of its own Israeli citizen. ' SCIUTTO: As you know, here at the U.N., a number of more countries have recognized a Palestinian State now that number totals more than 145 around
the world. Do you consider those declarations meaningful or largely symbolic?
CALLAMARD: Well, they are symbolic and they are important. What happened yesterday was important. It was a demonstration that there is an
International Community, that it can come together. And contrary to what President Trump may say, there is still a desire and the political will to
find collective solution to a global problem.
Now, for that to become something else than symbolic, more needs to happen. What needs to happen, more pressure must be placed on Israel. Otherwise,
nothing, nothing will change. The genocide will continue. The extermination of Palestinians will continue. We at Amnesty International, as well as
others, in fact, are calling for greater economic isolation and sanction of Israel.
There are companies right now that are benefiting from the genocide. There are companies right now that are investing into the West Bank and East
Jerusalem, even though there is a clear advisory opinion stating that this occupation is unlawful. Those companies must stop, and the governments of
the countries where those companies are headquartered must take action against these companies.
There needs to be a ban on all weapons, on all weapons transfers to Israel, as well as surveillance technology, artificial intelligence that is being
used right now in Gaza or in the West Bank. There needs to be a stop to trade and investment that are violating international law. That needs
resolute action on the part of the member states. So, the recognition is one thing. It's good words, but it cannot just be symbolic. Actions must
follow.
SCIUTTO: Agnes Callamard of Amnesty International, thanks so much for joining us.
CALLAMARD: Thank you for having me.
SCIUTTO: And still to come on "The Brief" this evening, lots of folks likely to tune in to "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" tonight as he returns to his
late-night television show, but not everyone in this country will be able to watch it. We're going to tell you why. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:30:00]
SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Jim Sciutto at the United Nations, and here are the international headlines we're watching this hour.
President Trump is now urging Ukraine to keep fighting Russia, saying it can win the war. This comes after he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly here in New York. However, a short time after, top U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio says the war in
Ukraine cannot end militarily. President Trump also said he believes NATO members should shoot down Russian aircraft if they continue to enter their
airspace.
The man accused of attempting to kill Donald Trump as he played golf last year has now been found guilty on all charges in Florida. Ryan Routh was
facing five charges, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate. After the jurors delivered the verdict, he appeared to try to
stab himself in the neck with a pen before he was restrained.
Hong Kong is feeling the full effects of the powerful typhoon Ragasa, a storm hammering the city and the Chinese mainland after lashing Taiwan and
the Philippines before. At least two people have died, many more are missing, after a barrier lake burst in eastern Taiwan as a result of the
storm.
Donald Trump's broad criticism of the United Nations today included an attack on U.N.-backed climate change agreements and a full-throated defense
of fossil fuels. The president once again attacked renewable energy, particularly wind power, saying that dire global warming predictions are
coming from, quote, "stupid people."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: It's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion. Climate change, no matter what happens, you're involved in that.
No more global warming, no more global cooling. All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were
wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[18:35:00]
SCIUTTO: He denied climate science. Contrast this, was comments from the president of Indonesia. Prabowo Subianto, saying in his speech that global
warming is a growing threat, in particular to his country, given its low lying, which demands immediate action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRABOWO SUBIANTO, INDONESIAN PRESIDENT: The sea level on the north coast of our capital city is increasing by five centimeters every year. Can you
imagine in 10 years? Can you imagine in 20 years? For this, we are forced to build a giant sea wall, 480 kilometers in length. It will take us maybe
20 years, but we have no choice. We have to start now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: That's the science. Those are the facts. Well, back here in the U.S., talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is returning to some American televisions
tonight, and he is expected to address the fallout after ABC pulled him off the air temporarily, it turns out, last week. Kimmel's comments on the
death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk targeted a MAGA backlash and quite public threats from a Trump appointee, Brendan Carr, the chair of the
Federal Communications Commission. However, the controversy has also ignited a national debate on free speech, protests against both ABC and its
parent company, Disney.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": Here's why Disney folded. After Kimmel was suspended, Google searches for cancel
Disney Plus and cancel Hulu spiked. So, Disney put Kimmel back on because you, the American people, were upset, OK?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Joining us now, CNN's chief media analyst, Brian Stelzer. And, Brian, is that the reality here, that it was economic pressure here,
including some quite public pressure from a lot of Disney's talent, that caused Disney to put Kimmel back on the air?
BRIAN STELZER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Well, the pressure was coming in many directions. It was coming from multiple sides. Even some Republicans
like Ted Cruz. But I do think, ultimately, this was about American consumers. It was about television viewers, Disney Plus subscribers,
Disneyland visitors. Disney is a global giant, having to think about many different stakeholders.
And, yes, one of those very important stakeholder groups is within the Trump administration. It's the FCC. It's Brendan Carr. It's President
Trump. It's what Trump might want the U.S. government to do now to punish Disney. And that is very much an ongoing concern. I don't think this free
speech tug-of-war is going away, Jim, just because Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air tonight.
But when you look at all the other stakeholders, including the press freedom groups and the Hollywood showrunners and the producers and stars
and all of the viewers who wanted Kimmel back, yes, the pressure was very intense and from many directions. And I'm seeing a lot of columnists today,
you know, some liberal columnists, for example, saying, hey, this is an example of how to stand up to an attempted authoritarian move in the U.S.
Lots of pressure from many directions defending Democratic rights to free speech.
So, this -- you know, this episode, it's not over yet. I don't want to reach any sweeping conclusions yet. But at least so far it does speak to
Disney having to pay attention to those different constituencies and having to listen very closely.
Notably, Jim, we've heard from one of the most famous podcasters in America tonight, Joe Rogan, who is a Trump-aligned podcaster, someone who endorsed
Trump for a reelection. Joe Rogan has come out tonight very loudly against what happened last week with Kimmel, saying, quote, "I definitely don't
think the government should be involved ever in dictating what a comedian can or cannot say in a monologue."
Notable that Rogan is speaking out, like some other right-leaning comedians, basically trying to say to his listeners, watch out. This could
be used against us in the future. We don't want the Trump administration to be doing this against any comedians that they don't like, because someday
it'll be a Democratic presidency trying to punish conservatives.
So, notable comments from Rogan. He's the kind of influential MAGA voice who could have some sway over Trump fans.
SCIUTTO: Yes, maybe free speech is one of those rare bipartisan issues in this country. Let me ask you this, though, because some stations, quite
deliberately, will not be airing Jimmy Kimmel tonight. Does that piece of this dispute get resolved at some point?
STELZER: At some point, but we don't know how. Those are two big station group owners, Nextar and Sinclair, both with business before the Trump
administration, both with some conservative leanings, Sinclair more than Nextar. These companies do seem to be putting their finger in the air,
trying to figure out what to do about Kimmel's show, knowing that the Trump administration despises Kimmel, and knowing the Trump administration could
use its governmental regulatory powers against these media companies.
[18:40:00]
Disney's under pressure as well from the government, but it has more power, it has more levers to pull on, it has more consumers behind it. Nexstar and
Sinclair are especially vulnerable because they have lots of local TV station licenses and that is what has changed, Jim, between this year and
all the past years that I've covered the media.
In the past, station licensing was independent, it was a boring backwater of the US government, it was not used for a political purpose or a
political agenda, now all that's changed and as we've covered in so many other fields, so many other sectors, the Trump administration trying to use
its governmental pressure to punish its perceived enemies, Sinclair, Nexstar, they don't want to get on the enemies list. That's what this is
all about. So, I don't know if there will be a path forward for those stations.
SCIUTTO: Listen, and the only pressure that seems to be working right is consumer pressure in some of these instances.
STELZER: Consumer pressure. Right.
SCIUTTO: Brian Stelter, thanks so much.
STELZER: Thanks.
SCIUTTO: Still ahead, members of the Belarusian diaspora are holding rallies here at the U.N. this week to promote their vision of a freer
country. I'm going to speak to opposition leaders Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief", coming to you live from the United Nations, U.S. stocks fell from record highs on Tuesday. This after the Fed
Chair Jay Powell threw some cold water on hopes for aggressive interest rate cuts going forward. Powell said future rate cuts are not a preset
course and he suggested that stocks have risen too far too fast, saying their prices are, quote, "fairly highly valued." These were Powell's first
public comments since the Fed cut interest rates last week for the first time this year.
Shares of Boeing finished 2 percent higher. It announced an $8 billion order from Uzbekistan Airways, its largest purchase ever. U.S. officials
say Beijing is also in talks with Boeing for a sizable order of passenger jets as well.
A traffic jam, a cell phone and two presidents on the phone. Sounds like the start of a joke. In reality, though, the U.N. General Assembly meeting
has created some major traffic here in New York City, one of them blocking the French president's own motorcade. So, what did he do? Well, he called
the president of the United States, of course. CNN's Saskya Vandoorne takes a closer look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN PARIS BUREAU CHIEF: Traffic during the U.N. General Assembly can be brutal, even for presidents.
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: If you don't see it, let me cross.
VANDOORNE: Emmanuel Macron suddenly found himself in a very awkward, very New York situation, stranded on the sidewalk.
[18:45:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry, Mr. president, I'm really sorry. Just that everything's been frozen right now.
VANDOORNE: Why? Because president Donald Trump's motorcade had the street on lockdown.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a motorcade coming right now. That's why.
VANDOORNE: So, Macron picked up the phone and called the man apparently responsible for the gridlock.
MACRON: Guess what? I'm waiting in the street because everything is frozen for you.
VANDOORNE: Eventually, the barricades opened, but only for pedestrians. So, the French president had to keep the call going while walking to the
embassy.
And if that wasn't unusual enough, a bystander grabbed the chance for a quick kiss with the French president.
MACRON: President Donald Trump's on the train. No, no. It's OK, guys.
VANDOORNE: Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: That's a good telephone number to have on speed dial. Please do stay with "The Brief" here at the United Nations, and we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: In his U.N. address today, President Trump once again claimed to have settled the conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of
Congo. Washington hosted the foreign ministers of both those nations back in June to sign a peace deal aimed to end decades of conflict following the
1994 Rwandan genocide, which killed an estimated 6 million people.
That peace deal came in the wake of a power shift at the start of 2025 when a rebel group known as M23, allegedly backed by Rwanda, took control of two
major cities in eastern DRC. Despite signing that deal, many armed groups are still fighting, as CNN's Larry Madowo explains in this exclusive report
from rebel-held Goma. First, we should warn you, the following story contains some disturbing images.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a militia flaunts its new army on graduation day. These men are said
to be former Congolese army soldiers who laid down their arms during fierce battles for the DRC's largest eastern cities of Goma and Bukavu.
The man watching over them is Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the Congo River Alliance, which includes the M23 rebel group allegedly backed by
Rwanda. The White House brokered a peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda in June but these rebels are still fighting.
Rather than peace, this former election chief says he plans to take his soldiers to the capital, Kinshasa, to overthrow DRC President Felix
Tshisekedi.
CORNEILLE NANGAA, AFC-M23 POLITICAL LEADER: Alliance our aim is to go to Kinshasa. We are going to go with our Congolese people. We are Congolese.
We don't benefit anything from Rwanda, and we don't need it.
[18:50:00]
MADOWO (voice-over): CNN traveled to Goma and eastern DRC to interview the M23 leader amid fresh accusations of severe human rights abuses and war
crimes leveled against all sides, but especially at M23.
VOLKER TURK, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (through translator): My team confirmed that the M23 committed widespread torture and other
mistreatment, including sexual violence, against detainees.
NANGAA: These are the liars. Fake reports, there's no truth in that.
MADOWO: You don't agree with Human Rights Watch and the U.N. and all --
NANGAA: I don't agree. I reject all those reports because they are propaganda from Kinshasa, and they have been paid for that.
MADOWO (voice-over): The eastern DRC, which shares a border with Rwanda, has been mired in conflict for more than 30 years since the Rwandan
genocide. It is one of the most complex and protracted crises in the world, stemming from colonial-era border disputes, ethnic tensions, and fought
over its large deposits of minerals that are crucial to 21st century technology.
M23 has grabbed territory where the world's largest reserves of coltan are located, critical to the production of electronics from cell phones to
electric vehicles. The Rwandan government denies backing M23, though U.N. experts and much of the International Community believe Rwanda supports the
rebels.
M23 first seized Goma in 2012, and this January took it again, this time the rebels say they will not withdraw so easily.
MADOWO: Would you accept a peace deal that requires you to withdraw from these areas you currently control?
NANGAA: When we are here, we address the root causes of the crisis, then we drop everything, and everything is done.
MADOWO: President Trump said that they're getting minerals as part of this deal.
NANGAA: Tshisekedi doesn't have any mining, a mining site.
MADOWO: So, President Tshisekedi has no minerals to give to the U.S.?
NANGAA: He doesn't have it, he's a crook.
MADOWO: Are you suggesting that President Tshisekedi is manipulating President Trump with minerals?
NANGAA: This is what he is trying to do.
MADOWO: Will it succeed?
NANGAA: I don't know.
MADOWO (voice-over): Goma International Airport has been closed since M23 took over. They accuse Congolese troops of leaving behind mines and booby
traps.
MADOWO: One of M23's biggest trophies is this Russian-manufactured fighter jet, which they say they took over as the Congolese army fled the city.
That fighter jet is used to fly these rocket heads, and you see some of them have been used, some are still active, all abandoned, as the city was
getting liberated, according to the M23.
MADOWO (voice-over): Caught in the crossfires of power struggles and violence are vulnerable women and children. Twenty-five-year-old
Muhawenimana Rachel, along with her four young children, are some of the thousands that have been sent over recent months from the DRC to Rwanda.
MUHAWENIMANA RACHEL, DISPLACED PERSON (through translator): I'm happy to be back home, even though I'm coming back to a place I don't even know,
because I was born in Congo.
MADOWO: The M23 tell us they are family members of Rwandan rebels who operate in the eastern DRC and who try to overthrow the government of
Rwanda. They're being repatriated. But human rights groups say some of this repatriation is not voluntary. They have to leave.
MADOWO: On the streets of Goma, life has largely returned to normal since January's fighting. At this busy market, people declined to speak on camera
for fear of being targeted. 28 million people, nearly a quarter of the population in DRC, required urgent food assistance as of mid-2025,
according to the World Food Programme.
It's told CNN the escalation of violence following the M23 takeover of Goma and Bukavu has, quote, "severely disrupted humanitarian operations."
Children have returned to class for the start of a new school year. But life remains difficult, with teachers earning just $100 a month. The sound
of gunfire may have calmed in Goma, but lasting peace still seems a long way off. M23 are, so far, not even party to the White House agreement.
NANGAA: The root causes of the conflict is not discussed in Washington.
MADOWO: Will you recognize any peace deal signed at the White House?
NANGAA: I don't recognize the Tshisekedi regime. So, whatever he signs, I'm not concerned. He's illegitimate. He cannot represent DRC. So, whatever
they sign over there, and so far, as we are not part of it, we don't care. I don't recognize it.
[18:55:00]
MADOWO: M23 consider themselves revolutionaries, not rebels. And it seems even the U.S.-negotiated peace agreements won't stop them.
Larry Madowo, CNN, Goma.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: The Democratic Republic of Congo categorically rejects "baseless accusations," that's a quote, that Congolese troops left behind mines and
booby traps at Goma International Airport, a government spokesman said in a statement to CNN. They also said the peace agreement signed in Washington
under the accompaniment of President Donald Trump does not contain a sell- off of Congolese minerals for peace.
Thanks so much for joining us today. I'm Jim Sciutto here at the United Nations. You've been watching "The Brief." Please do stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:00:00]
END
