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The Brief with Jim Sciutto
Trump Announces Gaza Deal; Netanyahu Supports Trump Peace Plan For Gaza; Looming Government Shutdown; Beijing To Begin News Visa Program For Workers; FBI Investigates Church Attack As "Targeted Violence"; Trump To Attend Gathering Of U.S. Generals; Bad Bunny to Headline Super Bowl Halftime Show. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired September 29, 2025 - 18:00 ET
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[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 in Washington, and
you're watching "The Brief."
Just ahead this hour, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu agree to a new peace plan for Gaza. Netanyahu tells Hamas to accept that deal or Israel
will, quote, "finish the job." Vice President J.D. Vance says he believes the U.S. is heading towards a government shutdown after he and others met
with Democrats at the White House. And the Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will headline the next Super Bowl halftime show.
We begin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying he supports U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for ending the war in Gaza. Now, of course,
the question is, will Hamas respond and how? The two leaders spoke hours ago at the White House after meeting in private. A source says that
Egyptian and Qatari officials have now shared the proposal with Hamas. Here was the Israeli prime minister detailing some of what's included in the
plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: If Hamas agrees to your plan, Mr. President, the first step will be a modest withdrawal, followed by the
release of all our hostages within 72 hours. The next step will be the establishment of an international body charged with fully disarming Hamas
and demilitarizing Gaza.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: President Trump says he will chair a transitional body called the Board of Peace once the war is over. Of course, question now is Hamas'
response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: If Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible, they're the only one left. Everyone else has accepted it, but I
have a feeling that we're going to have a positive answer. But if not, as you know, Bibi, you'd have more full backing to do what you would have to
do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Sounds like a blank check. Also, at the White House today, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to Qatar's prime minister by phone, delivering an
apology, apparently. Netanyahu told reporters his country regrets killing a Qatari citizen in its attack on Hamas in Doha.
Joining us now from the White House, Kristen Holmes. Kristen, it's not the first proposal we've heard to come from the White House to end this war.
This one had the sound of finality about it, with Trump saying, well, if Hamas doesn't accept this, then Israel has free reign. Is it safe to say
this is the last attempt?
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I mean, I'll never say anything is the last attempt, but it certainly felt that way standing
here at the White House. I mean, what we've talked about time and time again over the last several months is the White House coming out, having
officials tell us that they believe they are on the precipice of a deal. They are closer than they've ever been before, only for these talks to
completely fall apart.
Now, of course, this does feel as though they are slightly closer than ever before. There are parts of this 20-point plan that there was questions
about whether or not Netanyahu would sign on to. Of course, as we know now, he has signed on to this proposal. So, whether or not Hamas agrees is
really where this is going at this time.
Now, one thing I want to point to you was -- point you to is what we were just mentioning about the leader of Qatar and this phone call between the
prime minister of Israel and the prime minister of Qatar. The reason why that is so interesting is because we know that during the United Nations
General Assembly, President Trump, the White House was circulating what they were calling a 21-point plan.
Now, in that plan, there included a point in which they said Israel would not attack Qatar. That was not in the plan that was circulated today, this
20-point plan. However, as you noted, there was this call, this trilateral call between the leaders, including President Trump, in which both Qatar
and the United States said that Netanyahu had apologized, that he had agreed that he would not strike again inside of Qatar.
And, Jim, I think you'll appreciate this. You have covered the White House extensively. This White House does not put out readouts of calls. They put
out President Trump on True Social saying, I just talked to Vladimir Putin. Here's what we said. They put out a very formal readout from this White
House. So, they were clearly trying to document this, even if it's not in this 21-point plan.
[18:05:00]
SCIUTTO: Notable. Seems like getting on paper a promise made from the Israeli prime minister, that's quite a great point. Kristen Holmes at the
White House, thanks so much.
All right. So, more on the outlines of this deal. Aaron David Miller joins me now, senior fellow for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Also, crucially, former Middle East negotiator himself for the State Department.
All right. So, like all deal proposals, each side in theory has to give something up. You have Israel giving up forced displacement of
Palestinians, an agreement for now not to annex Gaza. But Hamas has to give up any role in government going forward, has to disarm, have its
infrastructure destroyed. Does it have the elements here of something that both sides can get to a yes on?
AARON DAVID MILLER, SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND FORMER MIDDLE EAST NEGOTIATOR, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: It's hard
to see, Jim. Even if Hamas says yes, it'll be a yes but since they have not been a party to this negotiation. Example, 200 plus Palestinian prisoners
serving life sentences and what, 1,700 Palestinians the Israelis picked up since October 7. Hamas is going to have a view on increase the number of
those Palestinian prisoners. They're going to have a yes but on every element of this plan.
And even if they said yes in principle, every element is going to have to be negotiated. And if a yes but is interpreted by the Israelis as a no, or
by the president who has appointed himself to be the chairman of the Peace Board, which actually is a good sign. He's now encumbered with this. He'll
be the chief monitor, the chief presider, the chief sort of gatekeeper and housekeeper to see that both sides are keeping their commitments.
I think that each of these points, Jim, contains a universe of complexities and details that are going to have to be negotiated. This is not self-
implementing.
SCIUTTO: OK. So, is it your view though, that the effective position of the U.S. and Israel here is that it's a take it or leave it deal, right? I
mean, that seemed to be president Trump's word there and saying, hey, if they don't take this, then do what you got to do.
MILLER: It looks that way. And in fact, that will be the way that Benjamin Netanyahu will sell this in an effort to keep Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, his
two right-wing extremist partners, a part of the coalition. We don't know, Jim, the president elusively, elliptically referred to documents that need
to be signed. What documents is he talking about? It could be side letters to the Israelis? It could be a Qatari-Israeli-U.S. letter? Any number of
things are possible.
I just don't see right now, willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, how in fact you get from phase one to phase two to phase three and why
Hamas would simply roll over and accept this. I don't think the plan, as laid out, reconciles the fundamentally mutually irreconcilable goals of the
Netanyahu government and Hamas. Hamas wants to survive.
SCIUTTO: How about on the question --
MILLER: It's a beautiful (ph) military force and the Israelis want it to end it. I don't see how this plan reconciles that contradiction.
SCIUTTO: OK. How about on the crucial question of Palestinian statehood? There's no U.S. endorsement of Palestinian statehood, just a recognition
that it's a Palestinian aspiration, which is sort of like stating the obvious here. Of course, Netanyahu himself has said there will never be a
Palestinian State. Is this enough of a statement to placate Arab parties in here? Because, you know, at least a path to Palestinian statehood has to
this point been a red line.
MILLER: You know, I think before October 7, it might have been after October 7, the situation in Gaza, I think, has put additional pressures on
key Arab states. And, Jim, it ignores completely the sort of elephant in the room, which is the annexationist policies.
Forget whether or not the Israelis declare annexation. Put that aside for a minute. The last two years, since December 2022, there has been an effort
on the part of Smotrich and Ben-Gvir to bind those territories conceptually, administratively, with respect to facts on the ground, to
Israel proper. There's no mention of the West Bank.
And I don't see how you reconcile that with a political horizon, which is the term that the White House text uses, a political horizon for peaceful
coexistence, I think that's the way it's put between Israelis and Palestinians.
[18:10:00]
SCIUTTO: There are elections in Israel coming up. I mean, we know Netanyahu's thinking about those elections and how this deal might impact
those elections. Where does that stand? I mean, is there a viable candidate to displace him? Does this put him potentially at risk in those elections
with his right flank?
MILLER: I mean, could he run on the Trump plan? Could he call elections for the spring of 2026, or will he try to get the government to go to term in
October? But you're quite right. Everything that Benjamin Netanyahu does now, we're in the fall. Knesset re-adjourns October 19th. You already have
several religious parties that are no longer in the government over the conscription issue.
Netanyahu is a minority government right now. If he loses Smotrich and Ben- Gvir, the only choice he has is to rely on Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid for a safety net. I don't think that's where the prime minister wants to go.
So, I think if Netanyahu could run on getting all the hostages out and continuing to pound Hamas with the Israelis coming up with some set of
security protocols that further undermine Hamas' authority and its capacity to do another October 7th, that might be enough. But we're a long way away
from that, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Aaron David Miller, thanks so much.
MILLER: Thank you, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Now, to the looming government shutdown here in the U.S. The top four leaders in Congress, Republicans and Democrats, met with President
Trump at the White House just hours ago. However, they failed to reach a deal or really, it seems, make any progress on a spending bill. Democratic
leaders say both sides still have large differences.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): I think for the first time, the president heard our objections and heard why we needed a bipartisan bill. Their bill has
not one iota of Democratic input. That is never how we've done this before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Vice President J.D. Vance strongly took it to the Democrats.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: The principle at stake here is very simple. We have disagreements about tax policy, but you don't shut that
government down. We have disagreements about health care policy, but you don't shut the government down. You don't use your policy disagreements as
leverage to not pay our troops, to not have essential services of government actually function. You don't say the fact that you disagree
about a particular tax provision is an excuse for shutting down the people's government and all the essential services that come along with it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Republicans have done that before. If they do not reach an agreement, government funding will run out at midnight on Tuesday, just
about, well, 30 hours from now. Joining me now, Democratic Congressman Dave Min from California. Thanks so much for taking the time.
REP. DAVE MIN (D-CA): Thanks so much for having me, Jim.
SCIUTTO: So, should Democrats dig their heels in here and insist on getting, in particular, these health care subsidies before agreeing to
avoid a shutdown?
MIN: Look, I think a lot of attention has been placed on Democrats. I think that attention should rightly be placed on Republicans. I'm here in
Washington, D.C. I don't think very many of my Republican colleagues are here. I'm here because I want the government to stay open. I'm prepared to
try to get to work to make that happen.
But if you look at what's happened in the last nine months, and I've only been in Congress just over nine months, Republicans control the House, they
control the Senate, they control the presidency, and they've been pushing through the most aggressive and radical agenda we've ever seen in my
lifetime on a party line vote over and over and over. And it's not an accident that these shutdowns always happen when Republicans have control.
You have never seen in my lifetime a government shutdown when Democrats have control of the Senate, House, and presidency.
So, I think if we're going to apportion blame here for any shutdown that happens, we have to look to Republicans who have not tried at all this year
to reach across the aisle. I have not been contacted by my Republican colleagues at the White House. And so, they're trying to push everything
through on a partisan line vote. So, if they can't get the votes here, I think the onus lies on them.
SCIUTTO: I get that argument. And ultimately, that would be up to voters to decide who gets the lion's share of the blame. I'm just asking you, do you
believe that Democrats should hold the line here and say, we're not going to give the votes unless we get something, in particular, additional health
care funding?
MIN: I can't speak for the rest of the caucus, but for myself, I'd be happy to consider voting to keep the government open. Again, that's why I'm here.
But that would require a few things. One, it would require the Republican leadership in the White House to actually reach across the aisle and
contact people like me and hear us out.
It's not an accident, again, that I have not been contacted to date. My constituents have not received any input into any of the packages that have
passed this year. And this vote that's coming up, the vote that I took last week or two weeks ago when I voted no, we were not consulted in any way,
shape or form. So, if I want to represent my constituents effectively, I need to have a seat at that table.
[18:15:00]
SCIUTTO: Are you asking just for them to reach out to you and hear you out, or are you asking for your vote for a particular concession?
MIN: I would -- not a particular concession. I need to be heard out. And obviously, I'm one of many Democrats. But if they want to consider our
vote, we'd need to think about the 30,000 people in my district that are going to lose their health care if things don't move right now. We also
need to think about the fact that Elon Musk and Donald Trump earlier this year illegally fired thousands of workers. They cut entire programs.
Institutions like UC Irvine in my district are firing hundreds of people because the science and research funding, including for cancer research,
have been illegally cut.
So, again, we're not consulted on any of that. I think if we are going to pass any kind of funding package, we need to make sure that my constituents
are taken care of on health care. But also, we need real assurances that that money is going to be used for the purposes that we allocated for, that
Donald Trump and his lackeys don't continue to try to say, hey, even though Congress said they're funding X number of dollars in cancer research, we're
going to reallocate that funding to something else.
SCIUTTO: There's something bigger going on here for many Democratic voters, at least, than just the budget line items, right? What's going on here is a
sense that Democrats have not found any way to slow Trump's agenda. And here's a way to do that, a costly way, but a way to do that. Do you think
there's any meaning or significance in that? Is that any worse than that?
MIN: So, keep in mind, I represent a district that is not particularly Democratic. It's very much a swing district that goes about a third, a
third, a third, a third Democrats, a third Republicans and a third independents. And what I've heard across the board is it's not so much that
people are upset about all the policy decisions that are being made. There are some surreal concerns about that. They're concerned about the
lawlessness that seems to be the currency of this realm when it comes to pushing these policy changes into place.
It's one thing if Congress deliberates and says, we want to cut $100 billion from food stamps, it's another when, you know, Elon Musk and Donald
Trump decide through executive orders or fiat that they're going to cut the funding for programs like that or fire the staff illegally. This is the
problem right now that a lot of my constituents have is that so much of this has happened so lawlessly. And I think they want to see some law and
order reimposed on this administration.
But this vote is, I think -- separate from that, you know, I think this vote is about, again, how do we make sure that the constituents like mine
that have not been represented to date in these discussions actually have a voice at the table, that they're getting their health care, they're not
losing their health care en masse, that they're seeing a funding vehicle that represents their interests.
SCIUTTO: As you know, Republican and White House officials have threatened to just really take the buzz saw, again, particularly to federal workers
and fire them outright if government shuts down. Do you fear that, in effect, by not voting to pass this bill, if that's what Democrats decide to
do, keep the government open, that it would give the Trump administration more power and Republicans more power?
MIN: I've seen the comments made by Donald Trump and Russell Vought, I would just note that they already fired illegally, in my view, many
thousands of federal employees. They illegally cut billions of dollars in funding already this year. What they're proposing to do, I believe, is
illegal. They don't have the statutory authority to do that. They will do what they do, and they probably will continue to violate the law in cutting
programs that are not allowed to cut. And Congress probably, under this leadership, will probably not continue to conduct oversight.
But I don't think the shutdown or no shutdown changes that dynamic. They're continuing to illegally withhold funds and illegally fire people.
SCIUTTO: Let me ask you just a non-budget-related question for a moment here. You describe a district which is, as you well know, an endangered
species in this country, a relatively balanced swing district. And what we're seeing now, far out of the norm, is Republicans in red states
redistricting mid-decade with the express intent of reducing the number of Democratic seats. I mean, we're seeing it in Texas. We're seeing it in
Ohio.
What are the effects of that, in your view? What would the long-term effects of that be, just on, you know, the functioning of Congress, but
also the functioning of this democracy?
MIN: Yes, and I think -- and you have to -- like, I was a law professor before going into politics, but a lot of this comes down to, I think, the
wrongly decided decisions by the Supreme Court to allow for partisan gerrymandering. And so, you may know that states like Ohio, Texas, and
Florida already did partisan gerrymandering in 2021. They drew as many Republican seats as they could without being racist.
And so, what they are now doing with the second bite of the apple is drawing racist districts under the expectation that the Supreme Court will
strike the racial discrimination prohibitions of the Voting Rights Act.
[18:20:00]
And so, that's what this is all about. It's all being directed out of the White House, if you're following what's happening right now. This is not
something that's happening organically across red states. It is the White House pushing these maps onto different states to try to steal as many
seats as possible. It is undermining democracy, but it is also a serious sign that they know how unpopular their agenda is, that they know they will
lose the House of Representatives unless they cheat, lie, and steal as much as possible.
So, yes, it's terrible for democracy. It's terrible what they're doing right now in undermining trust in our democracy, in our fair and free
elections, but that, unfortunately, is what this administration has been doing over the last nine months, and really the last two and a half years,
is they've been undermining trust in fair and free elections.
SCIUTTO: Congressman Dave Min, thanks so much for joining.
MIN: Thanks so much for having me, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Still ahead, call it China's brain game. China's lowering barriers on foreign workers as the U.S. is raising them. We're going to have the
latest on Beijing's new K visa, as it's known.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief." This is your Business Breakout. U.S. stocks beginning the new trading week with across-the-board gains.
Artificial intelligence-related stocks among the best performers. Shares of A.I. chip giant, NVIDIA rose more than 2 percent.
Checking some of today's other business headlines. U.S. President Donald Trump is once again threatening a 100 percent tariff on movies made outside
of the United States. The president first announced his intention to place tariffs on foreign films back in May. He has not said exactly how or when
this tariff would be enforced, given the highly international nature of filmmaking today. If Trump follows through on his threat, it would be his
first tariffs on services, which presents some complications rather than goods.
Videogame maker Electronic Arts, or EA, is going private in a deal worth some $55 billion. The company is being sold to a group of investors,
including Saudi Arabia's public investment fund and the president's son-in- law, Jared Kushner's affinity partners. If completed, it will be the largest leveraged buyout in history. Electronic Arts is the company behind
such popular titles as Battlefield and Madden NFL.
The U.S. Labor Department says it will be forced to delay the release of upcoming economic data in the event of a U.S. government shutdown. The
shutdown could begin October 1st if Congress cannot agree on a new spending bill. U.S. jobs report could be one of the first pieces of data affected.
It is set for release this Friday, highly watched data. The Labor Department says data collection for future reports would also be affected.
[18:25:00]
Beijing is now ready to kick off its new K visa program this week. The goal is to attract up-and-coming tech and science talent from other countries.
This in direct contrast moves by the Trump administration in this country to cut research funding and restrict visas to work and study in the U.S.
China's new push comes as dozens of prominent researchers in fields such as A.I. and neuroscience have left the U.S. for full-time positions in China.
Joining me now is Simone McCarthy from Hong Kong. And Simone, I wonder which countries in particular is China aiming for here? Because at least
U.S. scientists, graduates, et cetera., their numbers going to China have dropped off a cliff in recent years. So, where is China aiming?
SIMONE MCCARTHY, CNN SENIOR NEWS DESK REPORTER: Well, Jim, I mean, China is clearly just looking at this as a significant opportunity. Beijing has long
hoped to establish China as a global hub for innovation. That's become even more critical to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as he sees China's ability to
innovate as critical to China's national and economic security.
When it comes to this K visa, this was announced in August ahead of the sweeping changes that the U.S. has made to the H-1B program. But that said,
it's a clear message from Beijing that China's doors are open at a time when the U.S. is closing them for global talent. So, which countries
specifically are going to be looking at this? I mean, we've seen a lot of reporting coming out of India that their -- that's, of course, been a
country that has significantly applied to the H-1B. So, we just need to see how this develops.
I mean, this is only going live this week. We still are waiting for more details on what this visa will entail. One of the things that we do
understand is that those applicants will not necessarily need a job offer when they apply. So, that's a significant difference from the H-1B. So,
China has its door open, that's the bottom line and that's the message that they're now going to see how that actually plays out in the coming weeks
and months.
SCIUTTO: Have we already seen migration trends change in the direction of the U.S.? In other words, are we seeing fewer folks going to the U.S. in
light of the visa restrictions here?
MCCARTHY: Well, Jim, you well know that China has long tried to recruit global overseas talent. And many of those recruitment programs, as well as
different initiatives, have specifically focused on the number of Chinese researchers who have gone overseas to the United States, many of them to
pursue their education and their careers, many becoming pioneers in American science. And China has looked to find ways to attract back those
scientists.
This year alone, we have seen, as you mentioned at the start here, dozens of very high-level, as well as up-and-coming researchers, mathematicians,
scientists who have decided to take up full-time positions in China, leaving positions back in the United States.
Now, of course, some of those moves will have been in the works prior to the return of the Trump administration, prior to a number of these changes.
But what is clear is that China sees a significant opportunity here. And we have been looking at how they're playing that out. The K visa is just one
aspect of that. Certain recruitment and scholarship programs have extended timelines, had additional application periods, and those are targeted at
overseas scientists.
And then, of course, researchers have told us as well that universities, departments are putting out the message, hey, we're building up our
faculty. They're putting out offers to those who are working in the U.S. currently, who may be looking very -- with a lot of uncertainty at what's
going on in the U.S. right now. And all of this very much fits into Chinese leader Xi Jinping's overarching goal, which is really to establish China as
a preeminent economic, but scientific and technological power in the years to come.
SCIUTTO: Simone McCarthy in Hong Kong, thanks so much.
MCCARTHY: Thanks, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Just ahead, just a devastating attack on a Mormon community in Michigan. What we know about the suspected gunman just after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:30:00]
SCIUTTO: This is CNN. Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Jim Sciutto. And here are the international headlines we're watching today.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he supports U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for ending the war in Gaza and establishing postwar
governance. The U.S. president says he will chair a transitional body called the Board of Peace once the war is over, if it's over. It's unclear
whether Hamas will accept the deal. It's looking at it now. Earlier today, Prime Minister Netanyahu called Qatar's prime minister and apologized,
saying his country regrets killing a Qatari citizen during its attack on Hamas in Doha, the Qatari capital.
A looming government shutdown here in the U.S. Congressional leaders met with President Trump at the White House, but they failed to reach an
agreement or really make any progress on a spending bill. Top Democrats say both sides still have big differences If those sides do not reach a deal
before October 1st, a little over 30 hours away, government funding will run out.
A deadly storm ripped through Vietnam, killing at least 13 people, injuring almost 50. Bualoi made landfall as a typhoon early Monday, with waves as
high as 26 feet. Homes and roads were flooded, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. The typhoon later weakened to a depression as it moved
towards Laos.
The FBI says it is investigating Sunday's deadly shooting as a targeted attack on a church there. Law enforcement officials say 40-year-old Marine
veteran Thomas Jacob Sanford rammed his truck into a church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Mormon church in Michigan. He then shot some of the
worshippers gathered before setting the church on fire. He killed four, injured eight. Authorities say Sanford died in a shootout with police
within minutes of the attack. Leigh Waldman has more from Grand Blanc.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHIEF WILLIAMS RENYE, GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT: Evil. This was an evil act of violence.
LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Congregants and residents shaken after at least four were killed in a deadly attack at the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody in my neighborhood, they're so devastated.
BRANDT MALONE, MEMBER, CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS: My wife and my daughter were just up here on Saturday night for a youth activity.
So, it's a really raw thing to see it.
WALDMAN (voice-over): A Sunday service interrupted when a gunman drove a vehicle into the church, began shooting, then set it ablaze, authorities
say.
MALONE: A lifetime of memories is just gone.
WALDMAN (voice-over): In an exchange of gunfire, officers killed the gunman they identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old Iraq war veteran
from a nearby city.
[18:35:00]
Complicating the investigation, on Monday, a 21-year-old drove a sedan through a barricade at the scene and was quickly apprehended by police.
Photos taken by a CNN crew show what appears to be a long gun in the front seat of the car. Authorities have not provided additional details about the
individual or the motive.
RENYE: We are still in the process of investigating that incident, whether or not it's related or not.
WALDMAN (voice-over): The motive in the attack remains unclear. Kris Johns, a candidate for a Michigan city council, told CNN he spoke to the alleged
shooter a week ago while door knocking on the campaign trail.
KRIS JOHNS, BURTON CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE: He did make the statement that Mormons are the antichrist, which is a shocking statement. This is somebody
you're just meeting for the first time. He had very strong opinions, nothing that was related to violence that would indicate violence, just
somebody who had a very, very strong held belief that really, he had maybe a philosophical animus, but not necessarily a desire to do what he did.
WALDMAN (voice-over): Eight people were injured in the attack, and everyone's been accounted for, officials say.
SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI): It doesn't matter what party you're from, this kind of thing just chills you to the bone.
WALDMAN (voice-over): Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin surveyed the scene on Monday. It's near her home.
SLOTKIN: No community can ever believe that they would be on the receiving end of an attack like this.
GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): This place has been shattered by bullets and broken glass, and this might be a familiar pain, but it hurts all the same.
Every time. We cannot keep living our lives like this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: President Donald Trump says he plans to attend Tuesday's highly unusual gathering of hundreds of U.S. generals and admirals stationed
around the world. They are being summoned from their postings to Virginia. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the meeting we are told as a
pep rally of sorts to install what he likes to call a warrior ethos and underscore what the military will look like under President Trump. The
president said, quote, "It's really just a very nice meeting talking about how well we're doing militarily. We have some great people coming in, and
it's just an esprit de corps."
Here with me now, CNN Senior National Security Reporter Zach Cohen. A warrior ethos. What is what are the specifics of that message?
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, that's really unclear, Jim, but something Hegseth has been talking about since he got
this job several months ago, and it's something that he's really been trying to assert in the building in the Pentagon ever since then. And look,
we know that Pete Hegseth has -- came into this job relatively inexperienced compared to his predecessors. He does not have this sort of
military commander experience.
And he's going be talking to an audience of over a thousand generals, you know, up from the five-star down to the two-star level who have commanded
troops in the field. They have seen troops die. They have experienced combat. And Pete Hegseth does not really have that same level of
experience, but he will be trying to effectively lecture them on this new warrior ethos and outline what he believes are the new standards for U.S.
service members.
It goes to fitness. It goes to readiness. And even things like grooming, facial hair, those sorts of things. But those are really the focal points
of what his sort of what his tenure of defense secretary has really been all about.
SCIUTTO: Is there a political or managerial element to this needing to establish some sort of control?
COHEN: Well, you have to think so. I mean, Pete Hegseth's tenure as secretary of defense has been defined by the political right. He came in
and he really has maintained his job because he's willing to do the things that Donald Trump, the president, really wants to do.
Now, what's interesting about this meeting of sorts is our sources say that Pete Hegseth called it and ordered all of these senior U.S. military
officials to Quantico, Virginia, really without Donald Trump knowing. It seemed like Donald Trump really found out about it when he was asked about
it from by reporters and retroactively was like, yes, I would love to be there.
So, there is this political element to it. But Pete Hegseth's survival and his job has sort of been dependent on his willingness to go there.
SCIUTTO: Do we have any estimate as to what this costs? I mean, these folks are stationed all around the world. They got to fly there.
COHEN: Talking to sources, the estimate -- there is no formal estimate sort of floating around right now, as far as I can tell. But in the millions of
dollars, at least just on airfare alone, to get these U.S. officers to Quantico, Virginia, is going to be very expensive. One source I asked
earlier from the Hill said too much, because these meetings can be virtual and they regularly are held virtually.
In this case, Pete Hegseth has made very clear that he wants these officers there in person. And the president, of course, will be there, too. So,
there will be, again, this political sort of tent hanging over the entire event.
SCIUTTO: Zach Cohen, thanks so much. Russia allegedly spent a fortune to attempt to sway a pivotal election in Moldova, and it failed. What this
means for the former Soviet Republic and its hopes to join the European Union. Moldova's ambassador to the U.S. joins me next live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:40:00]
SCIUTTO: A decisive victory for Moldova's pro-Europe party in parliamentary elections. And a major setback for Russia. Moldova's ruling party of action
and solidarity garnered just over 50 percent of the vote. Twice as much as the pro-Russian opposition patriotic bloc. Before the election, Moldova's
president warned that Russia had spent hundreds of millions of euros to try to sway the result in the former Soviet Republic, which we should note
borders Ukraine. After the vote, she posted, quote, "The European path is our way forward."
Joining me now is Moldova's ambassador to the United States, Vladislav Kulminski. Thanks so much for taking the time.
VLADISLAV KULMINSKI, MOLDOVAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: Thank you very much for the invitation.
SCIUTTO: So, I wonder, given how much effort Russia made in this election to try to sway the results, and it failed, it didn't get the outcome we
know it wanted, how did Moldova resist that interference?
KULMINSKI: Look, I think it all started after Russia's full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Today the Republic of Moldova is a very
different country. I should emphasize that we share the second longest border with Ukraine after Russia. It's a 750-mile-long border. And
institutions have become stronger. Cyber security, economically, Moldova is doing much better. So, we are now a very different country from what we
were in 2021. And that, of course, is because of a Russian fully-fledged aggression in the region.
SCIUTTO: Is that an example, are you arguing, in effect, that by pushing so hard, Russia actually pushed Moldova closer to Europe as opposed to further
away?
KULMINSKI: No, you know, our choice has always been very clear, it is a choice of Western civilization, of, you know, Plato and Aristotle, if you
wish. So, we've tried to leave Russian orbit or Russian sphere of influence for a very long time. And this election, in many ways, was our second
Independence Day, if you wish, because the choice has been very clear. The choice was between remaining a gray zone in Russian sphere of influence or
voting decisively to join Western civilization.
And the answer has been very clear. The Moldovan people said that, "quote/unquote, "Russia's benign ministrations are not needed here." It is
the Moldovan people who will decide their destiny and their future.
[18:45:00]
So, there has been a very clear message that, you know, Russia as a domineering power is not wanted anymore in the Republic of Moldova. So, in
a way, Moldova delivered a very clear message through the ballot box, the message that Ukraine is delivering militarily.
SCIUTTO: As you know, Russia is a dominant power. Russia experiments in a lot of different kinds of interference in Europe, not just in elections,
but, of course, in Transnistria, Russia has some 2,000 forces there. Are you concerned that Russia, having been unable to influence this election
the way it wanted to, might try to disrupt in other ways, for instance, more activity from the forces in Transnistria?
KULMINSKI: No. As I told you, Moldova has become much stronger, and it has managed the security situation very well. It has actually become a factor
of stability and peace in the region. So, we continue to insist on peaceful political resolution of the conflict. And, you know, thanks to including a
lot of U.S. support, we are able of managing that situation peacefully. So, we don't expect any escalations in the foreseeable future.
SCIUTTO: Big picture, I wonder where you believe Russia's influence in Europe stands right now, because there's a great deal of concern about
drone incursions and other air incursions. We've seen it over Poland. We've seen it over Estonia. We saw the various disruption to civilian airports
over the course of the last several days. Are you concerned that Russia is attempting to interfere in other ways around Europe?
KULMINSKI: Yes, of course, and it has been going on for a while. But I think this is not done out of strength. I think this might be done out of
weakness, because quite clearly Russian influence is on the retreat. You know, look at what's happening in other parts of the world, in sub-Saharan
Africa. Look at what's happening in Syria, all over the former Soviet Union. So, Russia is clearly losing its influence in its former dominions.
And that is -- and the answer to the question why is quite clear, because you cannot do what you did in Ukraine and then still hope to somehow, you
know, have countries respect you.
So, I think that pretty much for the Republic of Moldova the path is very clear. I think that for us the efforts of the United States government to
bring peace to Ukraine are extremely important and are very welcome. What the -- what Vice President J.D. Vance said yesterday, that it is time, you
know, for Russia to recognize that this is just sheer wanton destruction in the region, that it is not going to make any strategic gains anymore, and
that it is now time to sit down and make a deal. I think that is exactly right, and that is what we hope is going to happen.
But I think for the Republic of Moldova the path is quite clear. You know, the choice couldn't have been made clearer.
SCIUTTO: What would you expect the timeline to be for potential E.U. membership for Moldova at this point?
KULMINSKI: I think it is going to progress quite fast. And, you know, I think Moldova is going to grow economically, and it is going to be quite a
different country from what it is now in four years' time. And I think our partnership with the United States of America will also flourish. It is
going to be based on national interest, which I think is a very solid foundation for going forward from here.
We are now no longer dependent on Russian gas and electricity supplies, and opportunities have opened up for U.S. businesses to go into the Moldovan
energy market and to earn sound returns there, which is going to strengthen Moldova's energy independence. And also, as I told you, we share the second
longest border with Ukraine after Russia, so it is not Belarus, it is not Poland, it is not Hungary, it is us, Moldova.
SCIUTTO: Yes.
KULMINSKI: So, you know, that very long border is also a very good, you know, hub for future reconstruction of Ukraine. And, of course, we are
going to use it to the full. We are going to work with a lot of U.S. businesses to promote that kind of collaboration.
SCIUTTO: I think a lot of folks know about how long that border is that is shared. Ambassador Kulminski, thanks so much for joining.
KULMINSKI: Thank you very much for the invitation.
SCIUTTO: Still ahead, halftime headliner. Why Bad Bunny's time in the spotlight at the next Super Bowl could carry a politically charged message.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:50:00]
SCIUTTO: Good news for fans of Bad Bunny. The Latin music superstar has been picked to headline the Super Bowl halftime show this February. It's
not the first time he's performed at the big event. He was a guest performer at the 2020 halftime show.
Bad Bunny has just concluded his highly successful summer concert residency in Puerto Rico where he grew up. But his comments on the Trump
administration's immigration policy might make him a controversial Super Bowl pick for some. He said he decided against playing the U.S. mainland
this year for fear that ICE agents would target his fans. Bad Bunny will also host this weekend's season premiere of Saturday Night Live.
Entertainment journalist Segun Oduolowu joins me now. Question for you, this confuses me because he didn't do -- I mean, he deliberately was in
Puerto Rico, not on the mainland, because he feared ICE raids for his fans, but he's going to do the Super Bowl halftime show. How did he make that
change?
SEGUN ODUOLOWU, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Well, I doubt that ICE will be raiding the Super Bowl or there might even be players who would need to
watch their back. I think Bad Bunny has made a statement with his residency in Puerto Rico, Jim. And by doing the Super Bowl, I think he'll bring
attention on the biggest stage here in America to what he feels is an unfair targeting of Latinos. Bad Bunny does speak English, but the majority
of his music is in Spanish and it is for Latin audiences.
And yes, if that is your main demographic, doing concerts in the United States with our current political climate doesn't make that much sense. So,
I get where he's coming from, not wanting to do concerts here in the United States, but at the same time, you don't pass up the Super Bowl with a
chance to make a statement.
SCIUTTO: The NFL does not like political messages. Just look at the Take a Knee protests and experience of Colin Kaepernick and, you know, endless
examples here. Do you expect him to lean into politics at all during the performance?
ODUOLOWU: See, Jim, that's a little bit of a misnomer. The NFL doesn't mind politics. Our current president doesn't like his football to have politics.
It's ironic that when Colin Kaepernick was taking a knee, it was under the Trump administration. What Bad Bunny is saying with his statement for the
halftime show is under the Trump administration.
But under Biden, under Obama, under Clinton, the NFL didn't have a problem with speaking up about issues that their players were passionate about. So,
it's not so much the NFL as an entity. And we must remember that the NFL and Jay-Z are together with these halftime shows. So, I think it's more the
current politician in office than it is the NFL at large.
SCIUTTO: Bad Bunny, first male Latino solo headliner of the halftime show. That by itself is significant for the Latino community in this country.
ODUOLOWU: It is. And he's not the first Latino. You know, Shakira has been on the halftime stage. Jennifer Lopez has been on the halftime stage.
SCIUTTO: Male.
ODUOLOWU: We've had foreigners before. You know, The Rolling Stones have done it. Paul McCartney has played.
[18:55:00]
And what you're seeing online, which is rather troublesome, is this MAGA crowd or this really jingoistic, you know, echo chamber saying, does he
even speak English? I thought football was an American sport. But we play football in Mexico City. We open the season in Brazil. We play football in
Europe. There are tons of growing the game worldwide that isn't just strictly American.
And we call the Super Bowl champion the world champs. So, why not have arguably the biggest artist not name Taylor Swift or Beyonce play at the
Super Bowl? It brings more people under the tent. It is a milestone for Bad Bunny, but also for a Latin speaking audience that loves its football just
as much as anyone else.
SCIUTTO: Yes. And to your point, the NFL is quite deliberately trying to become an international sport with all those games overseas.
ODUOLOWU: Yes, indeed.
SCIUTTO: Segun Oduolowu, thanks so much for joining.
ODUOLOWU: Jim, thank you.
SCIUTTO: And thanks so much to all of you for joining me today. I'm Jim Sciuto in Washington. You've been watching "The Brief." Please do stay with
CNN.
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