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The Brief with Jim Sciutto
CNN International: Ukraine Reports Russia's Deadliest Attack of 2026; Mass Protests in France; USS Lincoln Docks in San Diego; Guilfoyle Pushed Donor to Wire $100k to Credit Card Days Before Confirmation as Trump's Ambassador to Greece; Trump Bought SpaceX Bonds Before Signing New Space Policy; Oil Prices Jump After Tanker Attacks in Strait of Hormuz. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired October 08, 2026 - 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 ANCHOR, "THE BRIEF": 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 at this hour some are calling it the deadliest single attack in Ukraine this entire year and a lot of them. A Russian strike sets two
passenger buses on fire, kills more than 30 people. I'll speak with Ukrainian lawmaker. Protesters take to the streets of France once again as
student leaders say the government's response fell short. We'll have the details. And home at last, a hero's welcome for the sailors and Marines
aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as it docks in San Diego after almost a year at sea.
We begin with the deadliest single attack by Russia this year on Ukraine and once again the victims, civilians. A strike caused two public buses to
explode and catch fire. Local authorities say at least 33 people were killed, nearly 20 others injured. This happened in Kramatorsk, a city
located in what's called the so-called fortress belt in the Donetsk region. Authorities there have shut down the public transport system. They're now
urging people to move to safer parts of the country.
Speaking alongside his counterpart in Lisbon, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Russia war in Ukraine has reached a dangerous stalemate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Stalemates only end one of two ways. Number one, you have a negotiated settlement. One in which each side have
to give up something in order to get peace. And we have tried and we will continue to try and do what we can to facilitate a negotiated settlement to
the end of that war. The other way that stalemates end is through escalation. One side or the other or both escalate what they are doing in
order to try to break the other side and break the stalemate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Joining me now from Kyiv, which itself has been under attack multiple times in recent days and weeks, is Lisa Yasko. She's a member of
the Ukrainian Parliament. Lisa, I wonder what your reaction is to hear the Secretary of State there in effect saying that Ukraine's going to have to
give something up to end this war, which is of course Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. It seems that he's applying equal pressure to Ukraine
as to Russia.
LISA YASKO, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER: Well, since a few weeks ago especially, life here became very different. So, if before we had attacks,
ballistic drone attacks and we could rely on air defense, but since the end of August, our life went to the school or to work or to coffee shop or to
pharmacy, you're endangered all the time.
And for us, we see that Russia is very desperate right now. They really want to kill more and more civilians and more infrastructure, more
business. And unfortunately, many of us are already quite tired, but it doesn't mean that we are ready to give up just because we know that Russia
will never stop. They want to take more lives and the territory and it's ideological for them. And this is very tragic that some still believe that
it's important to please Russia. It doesn't work.
SCIUTTO: Yes. Is Ukraine getting any of the help it needs to defend itself against these attacks? Any of the air defense missiles it's been begging
for? Any way to reduce the civilian toll?
YASKO: Well, there is a huge shortage of patriots and we just know every time when there is an attack that there will be victims. Unfortunately,
this is the case and we can speed up with production of the patriots. We can do so many more things, but we need cooperation. But we also need all
other measures to stop Russian war and aggression. I mean, sanctions and we need to make sure that Russia doesn't have money to have this war of
aggression against Ukraine.
SCIUTTO: Do you sense any exhaustion among the Ukrainian people, including people you represent as a member of parliament, exhaustion with the war?
[18:05:00]
That people would say, as much as we don't want to, we have to give up territory to end it?
YASKO: No, we are exhausted, but we are not going to give up the territory. And moreover, this is very naive to think that giving up the
territory will help Russia to stop the war. No, we are not going to give up the stop this war. It will only maybe postpone the new wave of huge attacks
on other territories. And we should not be mistaken and live in this illusion.
SCIUTTO: When you hear, and by the way, this is, as you know, become a consistent policy of the Trump administration to pressure both sides and to
refrain from criticism of Russia, even though it is Russia that started the war with the invasion. When you hear that repetition and also see the
reduction in US military assistance for Ukraine, is the U.S. -- do you still see the U.S. as an ally in this war?
YASKO: Well, I think this is a very hard question and painful one for many of us Ukrainians. And I wish that the President Trump could come to Kyiv
and just to spend a few hours here to experience what the real war is and what happens every day with the school, with the business, with the
kindergarten, and how much of resilience and willingness to leave and to continue building our economy we have here.
This is something incredible, and I think that President Trump would be very, very inspired. But we need to stop Putin. We cannot please him.
SCIUTTO: This latest attack and attacks on the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that, that have killed civilians, it comes
as Ukrainian negotiators are coming to the U.S. again and as there's discussion again of three-way talks between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine.
Do you see any potential in those talks for what Ukraine would view as a just peace?
YASKO: Well, as a politician, I definitely see the potential there. We need to make sure that we use all possible dialects and platforms for
reaching some peace. But as Ukrainian and as a human, I don't believe that Russia is ready to do that. But we need to continue using all possible
platforms.
SCIUTTO: Before we go, you're in Kyiv, it's 1:07 in the morning there, often the time when you see Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv. Just
for our audience, who might not know what that's like, can you explain how you plan your evening knowing that that might interrupt you, interrupt your
sleep, put your life in danger?
YASKO: Well, it's not only about the evening, it's about every day, every 30, 40 minutes, or even where you actually have explosions everywhere. And
as I said, imagine you are going to the school or to the work and then there is an explosion nearby, the piece of phone is falling down, then the
transfer is not working.
For instance, today, I hardly had any electricity and I was very worried that I wouldn't be able to speak to you because we have problems with the
internet. There was no water. And I live in the center of Kyiv. And imagine how is it with kids that they need to be in the shelter all the time in the
school and how this cooling system would look like.
Imagine businesses that are targeted right now, like our shopping malls, supermarkets, any kind of businesses. They lose so much right now. They
lose their property, their products. You know, when you go in the supermarkets right now in Ukraine, you actually don't see many of the
things. There is a huge shortage because Russia is doing very intentionally to destroy the will of Ukrainian business people also.
But it will not happen. We are very strong and even if we are exhausted, still we know the truth is in our side and Russia just cannot win.
SCIUTTO: Well, Lisa Yasko, thank you for joining and we hope you have a safe evening there in the Ukrainian capital.
In Paris, demonstrators filled Place de la Bastille just a few hours ago. You see them there as more mass protests swept multiple cities in France.
Also, in Paris, a meeting between the French education minister and student leaders. The students calling for more teachers, smaller classes, billions
of dollars in education funding. Melissa Bell has the story.
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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Another big protest this Thursday, not just in Paris but around the country, even now being
brought to an end by policemen. The students once again out in full force to make their anger plain, and the police again trying to keep things under
control.
A lot of the anger that we've seen here today, just like on Tuesday, that big demonstration that saw some 260,000 people thrown around the country,
has been aimed not just at the changes that they're demanding and the extra funding that they're asking for their schools, but now also at what they
say has been a disproportionate use of violence by the police.
For its part, the interior minister defending the actions of the police, he says that there are inquiries underway in 20 or so specific cases of
allegations of violence, but that otherwise, that has been a proportionate response to what they've seen.
For now, the students say that they'll keep up the pressure, unsatisfied as they are with what has been announced so far by the prime minister, which
is that there will be measures by the end of the month.
Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: In Spain as well, thousands marched from downtown Madrid to the home of an elderly woman whose eviction sparked protests there over Spain's
housing crisis. The 87-year-old, as we reported last night, died on Wednesday after she was treated for severe anxiety and exhaustion. Her
death has sparked even more outrage over the cost of living.
Vice President J.D. Vance says he would take issue with anyone seeking money in return for access to White House officials. This is President
Trump's own ambassador to Greece is accused of pay to play. The Wall Street Journal reports that Kimberly Guilfoyle asked a donor to pay a $100,000
credit card bill just before her confirmation hearing. In return, she allegedly offered access to senior Trump administration officials. The
report says the donor did not make the payment.
A lawyer for Guilfoyle tells the Journal their client disputes sending the messages. There were messages contained in the story. Today, a reporter
posed the cash-for-access question to Vance. Here's how he responded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have any reaction to a U.S. government official in this case, a U.S. ambassador asking someone to pay off debt in
exchange to access to other government officials?
J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: Well, so, with that hypothetical, Jen, obviously, I don't love that, but I, you know, I don't know exactly who
you're talking about. I don't know the full details.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: It sounds like he didn't read the Wall Street Journal. Separately, just two days before launching a drive to slash red tape for
commercial space transportation, President Trump purchased $5 million or up to $5 million worth of SpaceX bonds. This according to ethics findings made
public today. The White House insists Trump was not personally involved in that trade in Washington today. The president awarded the SpaceX CEO Elon
Musk the National Medal of Science.
Joining me now, former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter. Richard, good to have you back.
RICHARD PAINTER, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ETHICS LAWYER: Well, thank you for having me.
SCIUTTO: So, this is the latest in a series of President Trump taking stakes in companies that his administration and he himself has an impact
on. He says in this case and he said in others that these are investment decisions not made by him, made by his investment advisors. Does that
protect him from any ethics violations?
PAINTER: Well, if that's true, that might protect him from a charge of illegal insider trading. And he's made that defense repeatedly that he
doesn't invest his own money. Other people do, and they don't have any access to United States government information. And if that's true, then he
would not be guilty of insider trading, which is a criminal offense.
But there's another problem. It is the conflict of interest from owning these investments to begin with. And this is just one of many. This
president has substantial investments in the defense industry. While he's rounding the defense budget up to $1 trillion, over maybe $1.5 trillion,
the president has investments in energy. He has investments in artificial intelligence across the board. And these present a serious conflict of
interest with his official duties.
Now, it's true that he doesn't have to legally divest because the president alone is not subject to the conflict-of-interest statute that applies to
everyone else in the executive branch except the president and vice president.
SCIUTTO: That's the issue, right, because the president's held to a different standard than others who serve in government. In your experience,
has there ever been a president with so many conflicts of interest, as you say, in his personal investments?
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PAINTER: We've never seen a president this active in the stock market with this type of investment portfolio. We have never had a president since the
Civil War with a substantial personal financial interest that conflicted with official duties. We did before the Civil War, of course, with slave-
owning presidents, and that was tragic for our country. But the bottom line is, the president has never had a president that President Trump is the
first president to have such conflicts of interest.
SCIUTTO: Let me ask now about a different case. This is the case of the U.S. ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, based on a Wall Street
Journal story, but we should note the Wall Street Journal had messages between Guilfoyle and a Trump donor. This Trump donor, Eric Deters, says he
was asked for $100,000 that he declined to provide it. I want to play his comment on this and then get your reaction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIC DETERS, TRUMP DONOR: I finally told her -- by the way, this is the real reason, I didn't have it at the time. I didn't have $100,000 at the
time. It was the worst time. So, I used the wife excuse, and I didn't pay her. And you know what's funny about this, this friendship that I had with
her, she's calling me babe and honey and all this stuff, I never heard from her again. Never heard from her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: For a U.S. ambassador, though we should note that this request was made prior to her Senate confirmation, to do this or anyone connected
to government to promise or offer access to government officials for cash. Is that a crime?
PAINTER: Yes. Under 18 United States Code Section 201, that's the federal bribery statute, it is specifically provided that any person being a public
official or a person selected to be a public official commits a crime if they directly or indirectly, corruptly demand, seek or receive anything of
value in return for a promise of an official act, for performance of an official act.
And so, if she were saying, I will introduce you to people in the Trump administration, which is an official act in my official capacity in return
for $100,000, if she did that, that would be a violation of the criminal bribery statute. And not only would result in her resignation, but
indictment. This is a very serious matter if this is true.
SCIUTTO: So, let me ask you then, given this case, the president's conflicts of interest, others we have seen, where does enforcement stand in
this country? Enforcement of criminal statutes as relate to selling government favors in effect, but also ethical standards. Are there any
standards? Is there any enforcement?
PAINTER: Well, it's the job of the United States Justice Department to enforce the bribery statutes. And if there is evidence of a bribe, it is
the job of the Justice Department to immediately investigate and if necessary, bring an indictment. And if they don't do that, that's
malfeasance on the part of the Justice Department and should result in impeachment of the attorney general.
The second body in our Congress, the second body in our government that enforces the law, the rule of law, is our Congress. Congress needs to hold
the executive branch accountable. Whether it is the conduct of the ambassador to Greece or the conduct of any other public official, the
Congress needs to hold the executive branch accountable.
And unfortunately, we have a track record of Congresses of the same president, of the president's political party, failing to do that and not
holding the president accountable. There were far fewer scandals in the Biden administration, but there definitely were some, and the Democrats
were silent about those.
In the Trump administration, particularly the second Trump administration, we've had an escalation of scandal in less than two years and both houses
of Congress that appear to be doing absolutely nothing about it.
SCIUTTO: Richard Painter, thanks so much for spelling it all out.
PAINTER: Thank you for having me.
SCIUTTO: Well, still ahead, attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz return, and now they're going to record highs. Even as the Trump
administration assists, it has complete control of the waterway.
Plus, fan interference cost the New York Yankees what looked like a home run in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. Wow. We'll tell you
exactly what happened.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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SCIUTTO: Welcome back. In today's Business Breakout now, a mostly lower day on Wall Street. The tech heavy NASDAQ tumbled one and a quarter percent
after a Financial Times report questioning A.I. growth rates and earnings. The FDA says OpenAI has been telling investors that annualized revenues are
coming in some $20 billion less than previous estimates.
Also, today, crude prices spiked amid a rising number of attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude settling up more than 4 percent,
almost $105 a barrel. Data firm Kepler says 10 commercial vessels were struck in the Strait last week alone. Traffic has plunged to a two-month
low as a result, and the cost of insuring tankers in the region is up. The Trump administration, however, downplaying the threat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUBIO: The Straits of Hormuz are open. There's almost as much oil flowing out now as there was before this conflict began, so they've lost complete
control of the Straits.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Yes. That number's not true anymore. Oil also rising as the U.S. Gulf Coast braces for the first hurricane of the season, which is expected
to make landfall this weekend. Oil companies shutting down Gulf production and evacuating employees from the region.
Joining me now, Bob McNally, founder and president of Rapidan Energy Group, also former White House energy advisor. Bob, thanks so much for joining.
Great to be with you.
BOB MCNALLY, PRESIDENT, RAPIDAN ENERGY GROUP: Thanks for having me, Jim.
SCIUTTO: So, for a brief period, maybe until about a week ago, the administration was claiming victory, saying, as you heard Secretary Rubio
there, that traffic through the Strait was up to close to the levels prior to the war. Now, he didn't mention there that that required a Navy
operation and doing sea-to-sea transfers of fuel, a very costly and very involved process. Now, we're seeing it go down again due to these renewed
attacks. What does that show you? Does that show you that this is a fragile situation still around the Strait?
MCNALLY: No question. We still have an active war zone and still a large disruption of oil and LNG. And while the U.S. military had been successful
at restoring crude flows from the region to pre-war levels for a while there, Iran has played, and its allies have played, a card where they can
hit fixed infrastructure over Labor Day. They knocked out a key pipeline that had avoided Hormuz, the east-west pipeline in Saudi Arabia. Now,
that's back, but it remains vulnerable.
And as you mentioned, the Iranians are stepping up the tempo of their attacks. Now, what's different is you're still seeing tankers willing to
make the voyage. They're getting paid a lot of money.
[18:25:00]
You mentioned the price for buying a tanker and transporting ships is up 20-fold in some cases. So, that risk tolerance is higher. There is military
protection, which is costly. But Iran is showing that it can escalate. So, we're just not out of the woods yet.
SCIUTTO: Oil now above $105 a barrel. And a consistent warning you've heard, particularly from folks in the region, is that there's still a
supply issue, right? That even if you open up the Strait fully tomorrow, which doesn't appear to be the case, it would take a long time to build up
that supply again. What does that mean for the medium and long-term on oil prices?
MCNALLY: Well, for the medium-term, over the winter and into next year, like you said, even if we had peace descend tomorrow, we have a problem to
work ourselves out of. The war has depleted inventories around the world, and especially for refined products that you use and that I use, like
gasoline and diesel.
And there is still the Russia-Ukraine war, which has contributed to the high diesel prices we're seeing, because Russia was the world's second
largest diesel exporter. And diesel prices you and I pay, anyone pays, are set in a global market. So, we've got a hole to work out of, even if we saw
a normalization of flows. And it's going to take months, if not some years in some cases, to do that.
SCIUTTO: Months and years. Bob McNally, thanks so much for joining.
MCNALLY: Thank you.
SCIUTTO: Checking some of today's other business headlines now. The Trump administration says some tech firms will be suspended from helping foreign
workers gain permanent U.S. residency. The administration accusing Microsoft, Adobe and other companies of using the so-called PERM program to
replace American workers with cheaper labor from abroad. Vice President J.D. Vance is singling out Microsoft for what he calls abuses of the
system. Microsoft says it hires very few people from overseas.
Consumer giant PepsiCo is lowering its full year earnings outlook as its turnaround plan stalls. The company says third quarter earnings and
revenues beat expectations thanks to strong international sales, but that it must implement new cost cutting measures to offset sluggish demand here
in North America.
The company that serves you frappuccinos and lattes may soon be selling you burritos as well. Financial Times reports that Starbucks is exploring a
takeover of Chipotle. It would be one of the largest restaurant mergers ever. Shares of Starbucks fell on the news. Chipotle shares, as typically
happens with a company that might be acquired, rallied 6 percent.
And we do just have this news into CNN. That is that the New York Police Department is reporting a person was shot during an encounter with federal
immigration agents, ICE agents in the Bronx. According to a source, agents affiliated with ICE encountered a person they were targeting before firing.
Police say the person was hurt, taken to a local hospital for treatment. The New York Police Department making clear they were not involved.
Just to head on the brief, the USS Lincoln returns to Southern California after a record long deployment. We'll take a look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Jim Sciutto, and here are the international headlines we're watching today.
Ukrainian officials say that Russia's latest attack makes it clear Moscow is targeting civilians as it has for many years now. Authorities say a
Russian strike in eastern Ukraine caused two public buses to explode, killing at least 33 people. Ukrainians describe it as Russia's deadliest
attack this year.
A U.S. judge is briefly extending White House access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico while he continues to consider a longer-term ruling on President
Trump's press ban. The outlet's attorney argued the ban is subjective and that President Trump likely, quote, "woke up on the wrong side of the bed
when he issued it." The Justice Department's lawyer says it is within the president's discretion to remove any media from the White House.
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face new charges for alleged torture. In an indictment filed today, U.S. federal
prosecutors accused the couple of torturing political opponents and U.S. citizens in Venezuelan prisons. Separately, a pretrial request by Flores to
be moved to house arrest on health grounds was denied.
The Pentagon says it will livestream the execution of a man who shot and killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009. Nidal Hasan, a former U.S.
Army psychiatrist, is set to be executed by firing squad on December 3rd. The last time the U.S. Army executed one of its soldiers by firing squad
was during World War II.
And the USS Abraham Lincoln has now returned home, near San Diego, after more than a year, or almost a year, at sea. The aircraft carrier was sent
to the Middle East after the start of the U.S.-Iran war. It set a record for longest time at sea in modern history, the second longest deployment
since the Vietnam War. There are roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines on board the Lincoln, among them 122 new fathers who are meeting their children for
the first time. The crew endured multiple extensions, supply shortages, and mental health issues as well.
Pam Brown joins us now live from Coronado, California. Pam, I know you've been speaking to sailors and Marines on board. What have they told you
about their deployment?
PAMELA BROWN, CNN CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I will tell you this, Jim. When I've asked them what it feels like today, this homecoming,
all of them said there are no words to describe this. So many told me they didn't think this day would come this year because of what a demanding,
grueling deployment this was. It kept getting extended. The ship behind me here, the Abraham Lincoln, was really on the front lines in the Iran war.
It was a surprise to this crew because they left last November thinking it was going to be a normal deployment with several port visits, and it all
changed. And suddenly, they found themselves on the front lines, launching missions and doing the Iranian port blockades as well.
And as you noted, there were some dark moments. You know, they ran out of food supply at one point and other supplies. We know there were five
attempted suicides. Here on the ship alone, three on surrounding warships, and it's just a reflection of the mental toll that this deployment took on
the crew members. But I will say, and I talked to the captain of the ship about this, he says, look, he recognized it was a tough deployment, but he
said everyone who left last November is coming home alive today. He said if there was any sign of a mental health issue, they would be taken off of the
ship.
And the sailors I spoke to really had a lot of pride, Jim, in what they've overcome, those obstacles. They feel a new sense of empowerment and
confidence that they were able to get through this. You have to remember, so many of these sailors, the average age is 23. They're very young. For so
many of them this was their first deployment.
[18:35:00]
And I will tell you, some of them did say that this is also their last deployment. They're not going to continue in the Navy. But several others
told me they do want to continue, that they are proud to serve their country. And now so many of them are reunited with their family. And
reintegration begins today, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Did you hear any frustration with leadership or the decisions that led to this record-breaking deployment?
BROWN: The biggest complaint, and this was a through line, this was a through line from when I was here in July on this ship behind me in the
Arabian Sea to now is just the uncertainty. They wanted more communication. And what I've been told by leadership is that they are taking that lesson,
and they are already applying it.
So, for example, for the other ships, like the Theodore Roosevelt, the George Washington, they're being much more upfront on the very early on in
the deployment that this will be a long deployment, setting those expectations early on. They're also implementing more port visits. They
understand now how important those port visits are because it's a chance for the sailors to get off and unplug and relax a little bit. These crew
members didn't get a port visit for so many days.
And so, there have been some lessons learned that are being implemented now, but it's really the uncertainty, Jim, that was the biggest issue on
board this ship. And now that uncertainty has ended, and everyone's off the ship and reunited with their families. It's a beautiful day here.
SCIUTTO: Pam Brown there, out with the USS Lincoln. Thanks so much. Well, back now to news we shared just a short time ago, and that is the New York
Police Department is reporting that a person was shot during an encounter with ICE agents in New York City. This took place in the Bronx, according
to a source, being the CNN agents affiliated with the ICE removal operations encountered a person. They were targeted before firing. Police
say that person injured, now taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Joining us now is John Miller, who was first to report this story. John, what do we know about these circumstances? To be clear, the NYPD is making
clear they were not involved in the incident. So this was ICE operating independently?
JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, that's right. And in New York City, because of city law, the NYPD is barred
by law from operating with ICE or any other federal agency when it comes to civil immigration matters, meaning if it's not related to any other
criminal matter, ICE is on its own.
In this case, at 4:00, 4:04 to be exact, NYPD 911 got a call from ICE agents saying Homeland Security needs backup, shots fired. When they
arrived on the scene, they found an individual shot. They say he was breathing. He was conscious and alert, and he was removed to a local
hospital. ICE agents remain on the scene. What they're trying to sort now is who was the target of this operation, was the person who was shot and
wounded the target of the operation, or someone else.
Two ICE agents were also injured, one of them apparently in this incident, and another, it appears, in a car accident. We don't have further details
on whether that was because he was responding or they were trying to box in a car, as we've seen in other shootings in other cities. Again, it's still
pretty preliminary in that they're stringing this information together by trying to interview people, go over 911 calls and so on, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Let me ask you this, because beyond the law, you also have elected officials in New York not interested, right, in these kinds of
raids and arrests taking place inside New York, as we've seen in other cities. Is ICE operating under any new pattern or directive to specifically
carry out operations like this in a city like New York? I mean, we saw a surge in Minneapolis, and we saw how that turned out. Have you seen this as
part of a broader operation?
MILLER: Well, this is a national issue, Jim, as you know. I think since 2025, there have been 42 shootings involving ICE operations in the field. I
think this year so far, there's been 24. So, these have kept up a steady pace. We'll remember the controversial ones that made international news,
the shootings of Renee Good in Minneapolis, and then 10 days later, Alex Pretti, both Americans, both not targets of the operation, both caught up
in shootings that were fatal.
But we'll also remember just back on September 20th in Austin, Texas, you had an individual shot where the stories were very murky. It was hard to
tell from the video what the threat was the person posed at the time the officer fired the shots.
[18:40:00]
But on the other hand, when the lawyer for that individual gave the story of how he was trying to stop and pull over, video was produced showing that
he actually engaged in a high-speed chase that went for miles and miles. So, that's an example that kind of casts a shadow on tonight, which is
it'll be a little bit before we have the finer details here, except that one thing we can report is, as far as I know, this is the first ICE-
involved shooting in a field operation in New York City at a time when this is front-burner politics, obviously.
SCIUTTO: No question. Well, we know you'll continue to get more details. John Miller, thanks so much. Well, with just 26 days to go now until the
midterms, President Trump's approval rating is sinking yet again, including in some deeply red states. We're going to take a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: New CNN polling shows just how big a task the Republican Party faces next month. Even in states that reliably sided with President Trump
in recent years. According to latest CNN polling conducted by SSRS, President Trump's approval rating in Ohio, deeply red Ohio, stands at just
36 percent among likely voters. In Iowa, also a reliably red state, it stands at 41 percent. A majority of likely voters in both states say
Trump's policies have increased their costs and their financial situation has gotten worse over the past two years.
Kristen Holmes joins me now. Kristen, not good numbers for the president or the Republican Party. And in a similar vein that we've seen for some time,
his low approval rating, and particularly low approval rating on cost of living. How does the White House respond to that?
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I do want to go into what exactly is driving this before, because the White House isn't
responding to this, Jim. I mean, right now they just continue to say the same thing, which is Donald Trump is doing everything he can to boost the
economy, that this was a Biden inflation situation. This is not anything that was in his control.
But if you look at why these polls are sinking, and I think Iowa and Ohio are a very good snapshot, it's views on the economy. And one of the things
that I want to point out here is Trump policies have increased costs. That is something that was asked among these likely voters. In Ohio, 76 percent
of people thought that Trump policies have increased costs. In Iowa, 74 percent. This is not where they want to be.
[18:45:00]
And the White House continues to say the same thing, that President Trump is doing the best he can to fight the Biden inflation. But what you're
seeing is Americans across the country looking at two things. One is the war in Iran, and they are looking at the war in Iran and the cost of gas,
and they are equating those two things, which seems equatable. The other part of this is that they're looking at the tariffs.
In a place like Ohio and Iowa, you have manufacturing, you have farming, all affected by those tariffs. That is what they're looking at in terms of
the economy. So overall here, you have the argument from the White House, you have the argument from President Trump, but people feel how they feel.
And the thing I can't help but point out was having been on the 2024 campaign trail with Donald Trump, this was something his advisors were
hammering home to me, saying, you know, Biden can say what he wants about the economy, but people feel how they feel. Well, that's exactly what
you're getting right now.
SCIUTTO: No question. So, I just wonder if any of that is breaking into the Oval Office. Is the president concerned at all?
HOLMES: I think President Trump knows what's going on. I think he's seen the low poll numbers. There is a sliver of hope within the entire inner
circle that MAGA has been polled wrong before. They generally traditionally are polled under, meaning that there could be some races that seem like
they're absolutely not going to win that actually could come out on top. So that's kind of the sliver of hope.
But again, we should be very clear, this is a sliver of hope. I mean, you're seeing them pour $100 million into Texas, a reliably red state. That
is not somebody who is relying on the sliver of hope here. They clearly believe that they are in trouble. And I mean, I've had advisors tell me
that they are concerned that there's going to be a bloodbath in November. They aren't sure, they aren't positive, but they're certainly not
optimistic about their chances.
SCIUTTO: Kristen Holmes, thanks for breaking it down. Just to ahead on "The Brief," some airports close and grocery stores run out of food as the
U.S. Gulf Coast braces for Hurricane Isaias, the first of the Atlantic season.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: The U.S. Gulf Coast is preparing for the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The storm currently a category two hurricane, landfall
expected near the Alabama-Florida border by Friday night. Joining us now, Derek Van Dam. Derek, is it going to get bigger as it comes closer to
shore?
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, exactly, that's what we anticipate, and it's already growing in size. This is the sun setting on Hurricane
Isaias, category two. One thing you want to take note out of this is that there is now a defined eye, of course that's helping indicate that there
has been some strengthening here within the past hour or so.
There are currently hurricane hunters in the storm. So, they're sampling the environment around getting and gathering very crucial weather data.
[18:50:00]
In fact, they've been leaving from various portions across the Gulf, taking these measurements, and that's kind of the initial conditions. The data
that gets put into the weather models that meteorologists analyze and provide for weather forecasts like you're seeing now.
So, here it is. Hurricane Isaias category 200 mile per hour winds. There's a lot of deep thunderstorm convection, bubbling around the center. We saw
it on the visible a moment ago. It has a bit of clearing, indicating that there is potentially some strengthening happening right now. In fact, we
anticipate this storm to kind of peak in intensity here within the next 12 hours, teetering on a category three, which would be a major hurricane.
But as it approaches the coastline, we anticipate it to be in a weakening phase, but still a very formidable and dangerous hurricane because of the
various hazards, which I'm going to explain to you now. One side note. This is very interesting.
Roughly 14 percent of the American refining capacity with oil and natural gas wells here dotted across the northern gulf are in the path of this. So
obviously the price of gasoline and petrol so much on people's minds right now. This is probably a worst-case scenario for that situation. We do not
want to see this moving over that part of the gulf.
Regardless, we have our wind shear. This has been a big part of the weather story. The wind shear and budding hurricanes. They don't like to mix
because they shear off the tops of the storm and help disorganize it. But another byproduct of that is an expanding wind field. So, we see the
impacts further from the center of the storm than what we would have if wind shear was not present. That's a big deal.
So, roughly 250-mile-wide diameter tropical storm force winds. This makes landfall very narrow area for those most powerful winds. Regardless, this
is going to bring in a storm surge component. That means pushing up the waters from the Gulf. It's also going to knock down trees and power outages
right there near the border of Alabama and into the western panhandle of Florida.
So, timing things out. We've got these mandatory and voluntary evacuations in place for much of the northern gulf coast, especially the western
panhandle region. Well, they need to get out now because by tomorrow morning, mid-morning, we'll have the outer rain bands already impacting
this area. The thunderstorm threat increases from there. And of course, the wind threat increases.
But on the eastern side of this, this is called the dirty side of a hurricane. And it's that called that for a reason. Because this is where we
get the spin up tornadoes, the individual supercells. And we're highlighting these areas where we have the potential for tornadic
development. And then take note into Saturday as this races inland. This goes all the way into places like Macon, Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, where
I'm located.
In the meantime, though, it's going to push up the water. And depending on where that storm center actually makes landfall. Remember, in the northern
hemisphere, counterclockwise airflow around these hurricanes. So, we could have a reverse surge situation when northerly winds and Mobile Bay.
Meanwhile, the eastern side of the storm to bring this greatest surge threat from Pensacola to Panama City, five to seven feet above what's
normally dry land.
Here's our rainfall forecast. It's not great. We have widespread six inches or more. This could pile up more than 15 inches if we get the right
training storms moving over the same locations. And then we take that severe weather threat northward along with flooding. Jim.
SCIUTTO: Derek Van Dam, thanks so much. Well, the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians are set to face off in game four of the American League
Division Series in just about an hour. The winner of this series will face the Tampa Bay Rays, who eliminated the New York Yankees from the playoffs
last night in straight games.
In that game, a home run or potential home run by Yankees infielder Anthony Volpe overturned, turned into a double, after refs ruled that a fan reached
over the wall and interfered. Wow. Why? Well, because this brought back memories of a famous play involving a 12-year-old fan back in 1996. At the
time his interference helped the Yankees not so this time.
CNN's Don Riddell joins me now. Wow. I don't know if it's like karma, you know, coming around to bite the Yankees here. But boy, what a way. What a
way to end this.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, you're not going to get the rub of the green every time. And yes, I mean, that was an amazing memory from 30 years
ago. It was actually almost 30 years to the day when that young fan helped Derek Jeter to a home run. And the Yankees went on to win the World Series
kind of as a result of that. They built on that different story last night.
Let's show you what happened, because the Yankees, this was a must win game for them. They were already two games down against the Rays. Anthony Volpe
thought he had done it because from where he was standing, he just saw the ball go over the wall. But of course, the replays tell a very different
story.
Now, the replay also shows that Victor Mesa Jr. wouldn't have made the catch either. And that's why the home run, what would have been a two-run
homer was overturned. It became an RBI double. So, 4-2 went to 4-3. That was in the sixth inning. The Yankees were not able to do any more than
that. So, they are out. Usually disappointing season for the Yankees.
[18:55:00]
The Rays, one of the few teams never to win the World Series. Another two of the Padres and the Brewers in San Diego last night. The Padres were
trying to save their season. And just like the incident we've just seen. This was kind of close. Baseball is a game of inches. Manny Machado in the
eighth inning thought he'd hit a two-run homer, but he was just shy of that. So, it's the Brewers that go on to face the Dodgers next.
And as you say, Jim, coming up very shortly, we've got Cleveland trying to save their season in Chicago. They're 2-1 down. So, it's a must win game
for them. Remember, the White Sox are trying to clinch a series at home for the first time since 1906. They haven't done it in 120 years. But if they
can get that win tonight, they'll be through. And they're fun, by the way. Great team to watch.
SCIUTTO: See, I wonder if Manny Machado of the Padres would have hit the home run if he wasn't chewing bubble gum at the time. Did that take some
sort of face-off swing? I don't know.
RIDDELL: Yes, I don't know.
SCIUTTO: He was low in the bubble, but the ball didn't go out.
RIDDELL: And, you know, and the bubble has burst. So, yes.
SCIUTTO: Ah, look at you. Wow. All right. Don Riddell, thanks so much.
RIDDELL: OK.
SCIUTTO: And thanks to all of you. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington. You've been watching "The Brief." Please do stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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