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What We Know with Max Foster

New York City Voters Choosing Their Next Mayor; America Voting In First Major Test Of Trump's Second Term; Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney Dies At 84; IDF's Former Top Lawyer Arrested Amid Criminal Investigation; U.N. Agency Says World Has Failed To Meet Climate Goals. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired November 04, 2025 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:27]

MAX FOSTER, CNN HOST: The first major test of Donald Trump's second term is underway, as millions of Americans head to the polls.

This is WHAT WE KNOW.

We begin with the mayoral race heard around the world. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani leading in double digits in most polls. President Trump, who

has long complained about the progressive Democrat, now urging New Yorkers to vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo over Republican hopeful Curtis

Sliwa.

Now, voters in New Jersey and Virginia are choosing their next governors. Early voting in both those races, far exceeding totals from four years ago.

And in California, Governor Gavin Newsom's redistricting plan is on the ballot. This move, a direct response to Republican redistricting efforts in

other states if it passes, Democrats could get five more seats in Congress.

Our team is hearing directly from the voters for you.

Jason Carroll joins us live from New York, and Ione Molinares live from Virginia.

First to you, Jason, because New York, you know, internationally speaking, is the city that everyone's looking at. I think tonight. And one, you know,

I know it's a very controversial contest, but the great part of that is that there's a huge voter turnout. So, democracy in action.

JASON CARROLL, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Massive voter turnout. We saw it during early voting record numbers of folks came out for early

voting. Just at this location alone, Max, we're on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, more than 16,500 early voters. And this poll has been open here

in New York City. The polls have been open since 6:00 a.m. and we've seen, you know, steady stream of people coming in all day long. It's been -- it's

been very, very busy.

And as you can imagine, part of the reason for that is because this race has generated a great deal of interest. And if you really have to point to

part of the reason for that, it's because of the candidate who is currently leading in the polls. Mamdani, who you talked about, his supporters see him

as charismatic. They see him as the one with the fresh ideas.

He is the one who's been talking about affordable housing, affordable transportation, affordable health care. These are things that resonate with

a lot of people, especially in a city like New York City, which is very expensive. And on the flip side of that, you have those who also who are

out here, who support the former governor, Andrew Cuomo, who's running as an independent. He's also been talking about issues of affordability, but

also hitting on issues such as public safety. And also, you know, issues such as just being the one who has the experience.

But you don't have to hear it from me. Listen to some of the voters we spoke to this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLORY MISSAN, MAMDANI VOTER: I love his ideas for education, for housing, for busing, all his -- all his concepts and his feeling for humanity.

DEWAYNE JACKSON, CUOMO VOTER: I decided to vote for Andrew Cuomo because he has a lot of experience. He's been the governor of New York, and he and

I feel like we don't want our city to go in a direction that's not, you know, you know, important for businesses as well as our regular, everyday

New Yorkers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Now, that elderly woman who you heard from there in the sound, who we spoke to, she match, she's 91 years old, a lifelong New Yorker.

When I asked her, you know, were there others in her sort of peer group who also supported Mamdani? She said yes, that there actually were. The reason

why I asked her that is because so many of Mamdani supporters seem to be from the younger demographic.

But getting back to experience, Governor Cuomo also saying again, he's the man with experience. He's the one with experience dealing with President

Trump. The president has said he has put it out there, that if this city elects Mamdani as mayor, he has threatened to withhold federal funds. You

know, Mamdani has responded to that, saying, look, he's prepared to do what the president, if elected and if he tries to withhold federal -- federal

funds, he'll end up taking him to court.

So, a lot of drama circulating around this race. You can see why it's generated a lot of interest. A lot of early voters, a lot of voters coming

in today, polls will be closing at 9:00 -- Max.

FOSTER: I'm wondering, Jason, what people are saying about Trump's reaction to all of this. So being so aggressive against Mamdani feels like

he feels under threat by him. And then this, you know, some people talking about the desperation of going for Cuomo because obviously they have very

little in common.

But, you know, it feels like Trump's just reaching out for the best option for him, even though it's not good.

[15:05:04]

It makes him look a bit desperate.

CARROLL: Well, what Trump has said is on his Truth Social that he's basically calling the two the lesser of the two evils. He's not exactly a

fan of the governor, but it's the president's feeling that giving federal money to someone like Mamdani, who identifies himself as a Democratic

socialist in his eyes, would be like throwing money away.

And in fact, he called him a communist. He is not a communist. Again, Democratic socialist. And so, I think a lot of Mamdani supporters who we've

spoken to, you know, when you ask them, what are your thoughts about, you know, if this man were elected as mayor and having to deal with the

president, how would that sort of relate? How do you feel about that relationship, that sort of tension?

And the feeling among Mamdani supporters -- and I have to be honest, not just Mamdani supporters, but a lot of folks in New York is just that. This

is a president just who continuously puts out a lot of rhetoric, and you have to be able to sift through that in terms of what's rhetoric and what's

real.

FOSTER: Okay, Jason, really appreciate that from New York.

Ione, Virginia's a really interesting race, isn't it? It's going to be historic either way, because there's going to be a woman that comes out for

the first time as a winner, but it's also interesting, isn't it, because the Democrat there is very different from Mamdani.

So, you have a choice here about two different types of Democrats. And that's as interesting in this set of elections, isn't it?

IONE MOLINARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, definitely. Well, Abigail Spanberger is a little bit more centrist as part of what you call the blue

dogs. Those Democrats that are more center left and they are more aligned, basically with the -- probably the most of the electorate in the in the

country.

Now, here in Virginia is historic, definitely, because precisely, it will be the first time in this, state that a government will be a woman, but

also there is another important thing is, is the proximity to the Washington, D.C., the amount of layoffs that happened during the Trump

administration had affected greatly the governor, the employees, federal employees, contractors, most of the economy in the northern part of

Virginia really feeds out of the federal government.

So that has impacted a lot and a lot of supervisors that we talked to in here, and another place where we have been already, they pointed out the

fact that there's more people showing up, possibly because a lot of them are not working these days because of the government shutdown. And now also

the deep cuts and the federal government to reduce the size of the government.

So that is important. And that is part of the movement that we see today. And especially this is a state of almost 9 million people, 10 percent of

those people are Hispanics. Most of them are in the northern part of Virginia and in the southern part of the northern part, which is where we

are right now here in Manassas is one of the cities that has suffered a lot with rates.

And, the movement of the immigration, the crackdown on the part of the federal government. So that has been an important driver to people coming

over here. A lot of people point out not only the economy, but the rates and the fear that is in between. Those this space here around and the

northern part of Virginia. It is interesting because I will say the Virginia can be more a example of what could happen next year due to the

fact that the northern part or the part with the more the biggest cities are more Democratic and the countryside, which is most of Virginia, is

definitely loyal Republican.

So this could be a tale of what could happen. If the elections will happen, the midterm elections would have happen right now. But so far, for what we

know, there's been a steady movement of people, more than normal. And, and a Tuesday where a lot of people think that it's going to be, definite for

their future and the future of the kids, especially when you talk to the Latino community.

FOSTER: Okay. Really appreciate it. It's going to be a fascinating night. They're truly historic. Thank you for joining us.

Now, he was one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history, and an architect of the shock and awe invasion of Iraq, one that turned out

to be based on faulty intelligence.

Dick Cheney died on Monday at the age of 84 due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, according to his family. He

served as vice president during George W. Bush's two terms. Bush calling him a decent, honorable man.

Dick Cheney had long been admired by Republicans and vilified by Democrats.

[15:10:02]

But everything changed after the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Cheney called President Trump a coward and a threat to the country. He ended up

voting for former Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, in last year's election.

Flags at the White House are at half-staff, but Mr. Trump hasn't made a statement about Cheney's death.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty are now with more on Cheney's decades in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Richard Bruce Cheney forged an identity as a no-nonsense loyal gatekeeper for George W. Bush,

through whom access and influence flowed.

GEORGE W. BUSH, THEN-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I picked him because he's strong, he's steady and he gets the job done.

SERFATY (voice-over): Cheney was a seasoned Washington insider long before becoming vice president. He began his public service career in the Nixon

administration and then became chief of staff for President Gerald Ford. In 1978, Cheney was elected to Congress from his home state of Wyoming.

He spent a decade there until the first President Bush asked him to serve as secretary of defense. After President Bush lost re-election, Cheney

became head of the oil services giant Halliburton. It was a job that kept him steeped in foreign policy, and later the job became a lightning rod for

his critics.

When George W. Bush secured the Republican nomination in 2000, he tasked Cheney with vetting candidates for vice president but ultimately offered

him the job.

Cheney's health was a major concern. He'd had three mild heart attacks and a quadruple bypass before he was 50, and suffered another heart attack

shortly after the 2000 election.

DICK CHENEY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT: I've got a doctor that follows me around 24 hours a day that comes with a job as vice president.

SERFATY (voice-over): His health continued to be an issue once he was out of office. In 2012, at the age of 71, Cheney underwent a heart transplant.

In the Bush administration, Cheney was considered a hawk who was instrumental in the decision to invade Iraq.

Cheney believed history would prove they made the right move.

CHENEY: What we did in Iraq and taking down Saddam Hussein was exactly the right thing to do.

SERFATY (voice-over): During the second term of the Bush administration, Cheney would find himself at the center of controversy when his chief of

staff, I. Scooter Libby, was sentenced to prison in connection with the leak of a CIA agent's name. The president commuted Libby's sentence but did

not pardon him, a move sought by some conservatives.

Late in his career, Cheney admitted he differed from many in his party on the issue of gay marriage.

CHENEY: As many of you know, one of my daughters is gay. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish.

SERFATY (voice-over): In his 2011 memoir, Cheney accused Secretary of State Colin Powell of seeking to undermine President Bush by expressing

doubts about the Iraq war. He also said Powell's successor, Condoleezza Rice, misled the president about negotiations with North Korea. Both have

disputed the claims.

Cheney had no interest in running for president after leaving office, but he continued to be an outspoken voice for the Republican Party.

In Washington, I'm Sunlen Serfaty.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Well, in just a few minutes, I'll be speaking to a presidential historian about Dick Cheney's very complicated international legacy.

Now a highly disturbing video that appears to show Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee is at the center of a scandal

rocking Israel. The outrage isn't focused on the alleged abuse, though, but instead that the video was leaked. Israel's top military lawyer resigned

just a few days ago, acknowledging she approved the video's release. Now she's under arrest as the government investigates the leak as a criminal

matter.

Well, Jeremy Diamond has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was just over a year ago that this extraordinary video surfaced of Israeli soldiers allegedly

sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee at Israels notorious Sde Teiman prison. Following that, we saw several Israeli soldiers who were arrested

for their role in the alleged abuse and this video that surfaced showing that moment.

You can see several Israeli soldiers picking one Palestinian detainee from among dozens who were kneeling and blindfolded at that Sde Teiman prison.

Three soldiers then line up, putting their shields up, which blocks what's happening from the view of the cameras. But you can see one Israeli soldier

standing behind the detainee, and that's the moment when this Palestinian detainee was allegedly sodomized by these soldiers.

The video at the time was leaked to Israel's Channel 12 News. And now, it's that military advocate general who was responsible for investigating this

case, who's taken responsibility for having authorized the leak of that video. She resigned as a result of it, and she's now been detained on

suspicion of charges such as breach of public trust and over her role in leaking this video.

[15:15:00]

This is a moment that has rocked Israeli politics and society, but not because of the suspected abuse of this Palestinian detainee, but rather it

is the backlash against Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi for investigating this case in the first place for leaking this video. And now we are seeing the kind

of full right-wing backlash in full effect.

The Israeli prime minister over the weekend said. The leak of this video was perhaps the worst P.R. disaster in Israels history. And what's so

notable about this is that Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, despite having carried out this investigation in particular, where we have several soldiers who

are now set to go on trial for this, she has not carried out a large number of investigations into suspected abuses or alleged war crimes carried out

by Israeli soldiers over the course of the war in Gaza. But it seems that the one moment when she did choose to carry out a very thorough

investigation that actually resulted in soldiers being arrested, is the moment that she felt the full force of the backlash in Israeli society.

And it does raise broader questions about the levels of accountability, or lack thereof, that exist within Israeli society. But within the Israeli

military in particular, over the Israeli military's willingness to investigate itself for suspected abuses or suspected war crimes.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Now, the world has failed to reach its climate goals. That's the assessment today from the U.N. Environment Program. It says the

internationally agreed upon target of limiting global warming to just one and a half degree Celsius won't be reached because nations move too slowly

to reduce greenhouse gases, the report says. Even if dramatic cuts were made at this point, it's too late to avoid hitting the critical 1.5

threshold.

CNN's chief climate correspondent Bill Weir joins us now.

I mean, this is depressing on so many levels, isn't it? But, you know, you know, just that statement that I read out almost could be damaging in

itself, couldn't it? Because it makes you feel like you can't do anything about it.

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: I was talking to some climate scientists about that very point, Max. This is as much a story of human

psychology as it is of laws of physics on planet Earth. It was obvious that the world was in. Humanity was going to miss that 1.5 ambition. As

temperatures get closer to it. Just in recent years, they say it will definitely overshoot this decade that can be brought back down through

carbon capture which is a nascent technology yet to be scaled up right now.

But what is the truth of the thing is, is the ambitions just haven't matched the task. About over 100 countries have not updated their ambitions

nationally, about 60 have are all in seemingly so. China, for the first time is pledging to bend their carbon curve with a modest proposal. They

tend to overdeliver.

But add all of that up, the American absence now being pulled out the second time by the Trump administration from the Paris Accords, means were

more likely headed towards 2.8 degrees. But if all the current ambitions are met, it will be closer to 2.3. That is still not great.

It is the end of coral reefs, probably. It is -- it doubles the amount of people exposed to deadly heat over the 1.5 number, but at the same time,

the scientists are encouraging me to point out how much progress has been made thanks to renewable energy becoming so cheap around the world. Thanks

to the actions of many countries taken in Paris, we are not on a path to 4 to 5 degrees warming, which is was the was the trajectory back then. It's

still not near the targets, but it could be so much worse.

And every hundredth of a degree matters in ways that will be measured in ecosystems and human lives lost. As I mentioned, the world's delegates are

meeting in Brazil. The local leaders are there now, but the rest of the delegates coming up. Some Americans, like Gavin Newsom, trying to make the

case that California, the fourth biggest economy in the world, is running almost without any fossil fuels for much of the day now. And it can be

done.

So, there is a presence down in Brazil, but this is not great news to start off, COP30.

FOSTER: Bill Weir, thank you so much.

Well, one person of presence who will be there, Britain's Prince William. He's arrived in that part of the world for the first time. Williams in

Brazil, his first ever trip to Latin America. He went to an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro to highlight environmental work being done there

ahead of attending the COP conference.

The royal family typically visit Europe or commonwealth nations, where they have traditional links, but this is very much about Prince William's

passion for saving the climate.

Now, coming up, Dick Cheney wasn't just a force in the White House and on Capitol Hill.

[15:20:00]

We'll examine the huge impact he made on the world stage with a presidential historian after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Just in to us, Brussel's airport says its suspended departing and arriving flights due to drone sightings around the airport. This is one of

Europe's busier airports. It's a hub, so it's going to cause a big knock on effect. A statement on the airport's website said it would provide updates

as soon as it has more information. Currently, though, looking at the departures board, nothing going out.

CNN's reached out to the airport and Belgium's air traffic control service as well. On that, it follows a series of drone sightings around airports in

Europe.

More now on the death of Dick Cheney, though. The former U.S. vice president was known as a lightning rod and a chief architect of the war on

terror, and the 2003 war in Iraq. The latter of which many regard as one of the worst foreign policy disasters in U.S. history.

Cheney, to his credit, owned all of his decisions, saying years later he had no regrets and that he was right about Iraq.

So, what we want to know is how will Dick Cheney be remembered outside the U.S.?

Joining me now is Alexis Coe, a presidential historian and fellow at New America.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Obviously, he's got this towering legacy, hasn't he, in American politics. He had a very central position for something like 20 years. But outside

America the war on terror has -- is a very controversial thing. The war in Iraq in particular, and also these ideas of black sites where the CIA

carried out extrajudicial operations, as we understand it.

But what is interesting is that Dick Cheney owned all of that, didn't he?

ALEXIS COE, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: He did. He treated certainty like conviction. And he was never short on it. There have been a lot of reports

today on his various issues with other members of the administration after they left -- Condoleezza Rice, for example.

[15:25:00]

He felt as if they often misled the president. And usually, the through line between his criticisms are that they disagreed with him and his

conviction, whether it had evidence to back it up or not. And as you point out, Cheney is an undeniable force in American history and in world

history. There have been arguably few, more impactful figures in modern history, and certainly no vice president in American history.

He left the world less stable. I don't think that's something that's only felt internationally. I think in America, that's also certainly the case.

Less lawful and certainly cynicism towards American interventionism, at an all-time high. And I don't think that much has been done to dissipate it

since.

FOSTER: How did he defend the Iraq decision? He was so central to that, wasn't he?

He was a particularly powerful vice president. Many people say he was very much lobbying President Bush around that. But how does he defend it when it

was based on, you know, false information and, you know, the world felt rightly duped by what America was saying at the time.

COE: To Dick Cheney, preemption was prudence. And no matter what had happened after he stuck by the idea that it was necessary. And that was one

of the -- that's the origin between his rift with Colin Powell, that he felt like Colin Powell afterwards had sort of, you know, gone public with

too much uncertainty.

So, I think that while he remained steadfast in his politics towards the end with the, you know, one, sort of enervating issue being President

Trump, though not, throughout the presidency. He's really an extension of Cheney, a realization of what happens when you move fast and break things

and you don't ask for permission and you do not apologize later.

Theres a through line there as well. But what we do see was there was a rift over sort of the American ideals and mannerisms, but that only

happened after January 6th and only after Trump had gone after his daughter, Liz Cheney, quite a bit.

FOSTER: Yeah, just explain that one. We see the flag flying at half-staff over the White House. Theres a recognition there, isn't there, from Donald

Trump, about how important Cheney was to his party. But we haven't had a comment from him. I mean, what what's their relationship like? Do you

understand?

COE: I don't think that the Trump's and the Cheneys ever shared a Thanksgiving dinner, and I don't think that they will going forward. He did

not take any of the criticism well.

For Trump, the previous iterations of the Republican Party are irrelevant. It's his party. It's not the party of Reagan. It's not the party of Cheney.

It's not the party of Bush.

And so, you know, you're not going to see the president give a heartfelt speech. He'll of course, I mean, I think will show up at the funeral as

they all do. And it'll be interesting to see what happens between him and the other leaders.

There's now famously quite a lot of tension between the presidents club, as we call it here. It's all the living presidents. They go to all the events,

and they're usually quite friendly.

But you see Trump on his own, and we saw that recently when George W. Bush refused to shake Trump's hand. Cheney had come out against Trump. He did

not endorse him for a second term. And Bush has been quieter about it. But he didn't endorse him either.

And so, I think we'll see a lot of tension going forward. I was not sure, based on precedent, if the flag would be flying at half-staff at all.

FOSTER: Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? Alexis, appreciate your time today on a moment in American presidential history.

Now, you'll soon be able to chat with the CEOs of just about any company, all thanks to A.I. But can these virtual CEOs give you a raise?

We'll look at what they can and can't do after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:32:40]

FOSTER: This hour, Americans are at the polls in the first major election of President Donald Trump's second term. New York, New Jersey, Virginia,

California, all key areas we are tracking for you tonight. The White House says it's looking into an executive order on elections to ensure there

can't be what it calls blatant fraud. We should also note the Justice Department is sending federal monitors to New Jersey and California, both

Democratic states. Critics warn it could be used as an attempt to undermine the results.

Now, drama in Washington casting a shadow over today's U.S. elections. Negotiations may be starting to gain momentum on Capitol Hill, but so far,

it doesn't appear any solution is in sight as we barrel towards the longest government shutdown in history.

Speaker Mike Johnson is still refusing to call the House back into session. Many anxious Americans are either working without a paycheck or going

without critical food aid needed to survive. President Trump now says he'll not restart SNAP benefits even after two federal judges said freezing the

payments is unlawful.

Kristen Holmes live for us from Washington.

I mean, you're -- you're living and breathing this, Kristen. I mean, really, is there any momentum this time?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, we did hear from the press secretary. I just want to make sure that we're clear on

the snap benefits. It sounds as though she was correcting on the record, or at least trying to clarify what President Trump said about those critical

food subsidies that we know 42 million Americans use on a regular basis.

She said that they would be complying with the courts. Now, this is just another thing that has added to an enormous amount of frustration, unease,

confusion around this government shutdown because of the fact that President Trump came out today after those two court rulings and said that

they were going to withhold these SNAP benefits until the end of the shutdown.

Now we have the press secretary saying that's not the case. They're going to fully comply. They're going to be giving a partial benefits, but also

saying that it was going to take a lot of time to actually get that processed.

The other part of this to watch closely is what the White House and President Trump decides to do when it comes to these furloughed federal

workers. This is something that they've been going back and forth on. We know there was a White House memo at one point that said that this law that

President Trump himself had signed into law, saying that any federal workers would get back pay.

[15:35:04]

There was a memo saying that it could be interpreted differently, that essentially these furloughed workers might not get back pay. And today, the

press secretary was asked specifically about it and would not make any commitments to actually paying these people who have been told that they

have to not work at this time, but we're told before that there was this law in place that they would get paid.

So there's a lot of hesitation and a lot of unease here in Washington, D.C., as this just seems to continue barreling on. And even the press

secretary was asked specifically, what does President Trump doing himself on this? And she said, oh, he's continuing to push Republicans, which

really doesn't give you that much hope on any kind of bipartisan effort as they try to get Democrats to cross over to pass this clean C.R., and on the

other side, Democrats are holding strong on this idea that they are not going to do this until they can have a negotiation about these health care

subsidies.

So, again, your guess is as good as mine on when this actually comes to an end.

FOSTER: Okay, Kristen, thanks for watching it for us.

It is the final moments of trade on Wall Street, and the stock market is lower. The slight pullback came as major indices have been flirting with

records for months now. This is our business breakout for you.

Starbucks is selling control of its China operations to investment firm Boyu Capital in a deal worth $4 billion. The joint venture will see Boyu

gain up to 60 percent ownership of Starbucks retail operations across China. Under the agreement, Starbucks will retain a 40 percent stake in the

venture and will continue to own and license the brand to Boyu.

Denny's, the 72-year-old American diner chain, is selling out to a group of investors who are taking it private. The struggling restaurant announced a

deal worth $322 million, excluding its substantial debt load. If shareholders accept the deal, the diners nearly six-decade run on the

public stock market will come to an end.

A.I. is now being used to clone CEOs of some companies, which you believe the technology can be used to create chatbots and virtual versions of

company leadership, with the ability to speak a variety of languages. The goal is to make senior leadership more accessible to employees and the

general public any time of the day.

Joining me now to explain this further is CNN's business tech editor, Lisa Eadicicco.

It does need explaining because they're not actually becoming more accessible.

LISA EADICICCO, CNN BUSINESS TECH EDITOR: Right. So what we're seeing here is a small number of companies that are experimenting with using A.I. to

create virtual versions of their CEO, whether that be a chatbot or a voice bot or an avatar of the CEO. So -- and like you said, across the board, the

goal here really is to make the CEO more accessible. But, of course, it's not really the CEO. It's a model that's been trained on data such as

emails, company documents, essentially whatever the purpose of the chatbot is, is what that's been trained on.

So, I'll give you an example. Klarna is one of the more high-profile companies that's been experimenting with this technology. They have an A.I.

CEO hotline that anyone can call to essentially chat with a digital version of their CEO, and to ask for more information about the company and things

like that.

They're not the only ones experimenting in this space. Zoom has also had a digital avatar of their CEO deliver earnings remarks, and the idea here is

really not to replace the CEO, of course, or to serve as a replacement of the CEO, attending a meeting or giving a speech. But to really kind of have

a more interactive version of what might be something like a memo from the CEO, or maybe even an internal resource inside the company.

For example, if you're onboarding new employees and you want new hires to get more acquainted with the company culture and the CEO, maybe something

like this A.I. avatar would be a little bit more in depth and interactive than just a video memo from the CEO, or a written memo or things like that.

So, I think that's where we're seeing the experimentation. And again, it is a small group of companies, but I have heard from corporate consultants

that there is a little bit more demand and interest in this space.

FOSTER: So strange.

Lisa, thank you very much.

EADICICCO: Of course.

FOSTER: Singapore's government says financial scammers will soon face mandatory caning under a new law. That's after officials say victims were

fleeced out of billions over the past five years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SIM ANN, SINGAPOREAN SR. MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOME AFFAIRS: We will introduce mandatory caning for scammers. Clause 64 of the bill amends

Section 420 of the penal code so that offenders who commit scams defined as cheating mainly by means of remote communication, will be punished with at

least six strokes of the cane. We will also introduce discretionary caning in Section 42 of the penal code for serious cases of cheating.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Singapore already uses caning as punishment for some other crimes such as vandalism, sexual offenses, and robbery.

Still to come, the strongest hurricane ever to hit Jamaica has left entire towns in ruins. We'll take you to Melissa's Ground Zero to talk to

survivors still waiting for help.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:43:09]

FOSTER: Typhoon Kalmaegi is moving towards Vietnam after pummeling the Philippines. Dozens of people have been killed after the powerful storm

unleashed heavy rains and floods across the central region. Tens of thousands were evacuated ahead of the storm, which made landfall early on

Tuesday. The Philippines is recovering from a run of disasters, including earthquakes and severe weather events in recent months. The nation is hit

by an average of 20 tropical storms each year.

Now, the scale of destruction in Jamaica is just staggering after Hurricane Melissa left entire communities in ruins. Aid is arriving, but very slowly.

France is bringing in supplies, including tents, food and water treatment equipment.

The World Food Programme says some 5 million people need help now.

CNN's David Culver reports from western Jamaica.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALANDREA BROWN, DISPLACED BY HURRICANE MELISSA: We are catching some water because that's the only way we can get water. We are damaged here in

Jamaica. Real bad.

DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Across much of western Jamaica, the storm has passed but you feel it everywhere.

Survival mode has kicked in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In here in Belmont, we are very distraught and we really need some help because you have persons who are very homeless and we

don't really have any food supplies.

CULVER: This is where you live here?

BROWN: Yes.

CULVER (voice-over): Now they're coming to terms with what's left and for many here, it's not much.

UNIDENTIFIED KID: My bed.

CULVER: This was your bed?

UNIDENTIFIED KID: Yes. I have another bed. Look how the bed mashed up.

CULVER: It's all mashed up. You're right. You're right.

BROWN: Everyone here, this is one of our neighbor's house also. Her house destroyed also. Everybody who's in this community is very distraught.

[15:45:02]

You don't see nobody and that I keep on wondering. We have suffered here and nobody comes to assist. You know how we -- we even get some things like

these?

It's persons who are going around in vehicle and giving out a little portion of tokens.

CULVER: As one resident pointed out, even if a house is still standing because of concrete, most likely the windows were shattered and water got

in, sand got in, furniture closed, all their belongings destroyed. I mean, it just continues. It's endless.

I mean, you look up there and it just goes all the way up.

CULVER (voice-over): As we're heading out, a man points to a nearby house.

CULVER: He just told us that there's somebody in this house up here still, that his body hasn't been recovered yet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

CULVER: Right there?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

CULVER: Did you know this gentleman?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His mom supposed to be here. His mom live at White House.

CULVER: But no -- nobody has come to collect his -- collect his body?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, not yet. Not everybody know that he died.

CULVER: Just lying lifeless in there. I mean, it's absolutely horrible just by himself.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And nobody's not sure when he's dead. They're not sure when he died.

CULVER: They're not sure when he died.

I mean, seeing that is obviously very, very difficult. And it's worth pointing out, I mean, the neighbors there, it's not neglect on their part.

They simply don't have cell service or any connectivity to be able to report that. And they say that they were trying to tell passersby but

nobody came in to actually inspect.

So for them, we were the only ones who they could tell. And we ultimately, once we had connectivity here, our colleague Omar here made the call to

report that that body was in fact still in the house.

CULVER (voice-over): Night brings relief from the day's heat and humidity.

CULVER: You get around with the flashlight on your phone, huh?

ANDREZ ANDERSON, BLACK RIVER RESIDENT: Yes, yes, man. So this -- this is - -

CULVER (voice-over): But there's no water.

ANDERSON: This is only water we have here, see.

CULVER (voice-over): And no power.

ANDERSON: We have no roof there, you know, partially just this alone. So the rain actually coming now so you feel it inside.

CULVER: I feel the rain, yes.

ANDERSON: You know, so it'll be more damages, you know, as the rain comes by. So we just keep deteriorating until we can get some --

CULVER: Andrez, how do you live in this?

ANDERSON: Right. It is really rough. It is very hard. It is hard to cope. We just have to try to keep the kids mentally stable and try to tough it

out, you know?

So we are just grateful here right now to know that we are alive.

CULVER (voice-over): Mornings bring no rest, just long lines. People here waiting for hours for gas.

CULVER: You've been out here four this morning? Which is seven hours.

CULVER (voice-over): And if water's not running in your home, you go to the source. Nearby along the river bed, dozens gather.

CULVER: They're saying that nobody has come to help at all.

SIMONE GARDON, MONTEGO BAY RESIDENT: I guess, it doesn't really hit as yet because after two weeks, when it's all settled down and we are all like,

wow -- the hunger kick in, (INAUDIBLE).

DR. SHERIFF IMORU, SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER, BLACK RIVER HOSPITAL: You have to understand that even up to this point in time, we don't even know what

our death toll is.

CULVER: Do you think you're going to find more bodies?

IMORU: Yes, I would think so. I hope not but I would think so.

CULVER: The reality?

IMORU: Yes, man. The reality is there. The reality is there.

CULVER (voice-over): At the hospital in Black River --

CULVER: No power?

IMORU: No power, no water.

CULVER: No water? But the emergency room is still operating?

IMORU: Yes.

CULVER (voice-over): Dr. Sheriff Imoru walks us through what's left.

CULVER: I mean, this is your hospital?

IMORU: Yes.

CULVER: And when you look out now, I mean, I know you are focused on patients day to day as well.

IMORU: Yes, yes.

CULVER: But like, have you been able to process this moment?

IMORU: No. The one thing I can tell is that I'm very heartbroken, extremely heartbroken when I see this. I can tell it's very difficult for

me to even to come through the gates in the mornings and leave in the evenings. My house is close, fairly close to here and my house was

destroyed. I mean, the roof is gone.

CULVER (voice-over): And still his staff shows up.

IMORU: Every single person you see (ph).

CULVER (voice-over): Even though like him, many have lost their own homes.

IMORU: There are no words to describe it. I said to you, apocalyptic. That's the only thing I can use.

SHANIEL TOMLIN, STORM SURVIVOR: No, everything is gone. Everything in the house is gone. I need help toward my kids, my house and everything.

CULVER (voice-over): Shaniel Tomlin's baby Jamar, just a year old, fell after the storm.

TOMLIN: Yes, they're going to look up the stitch but they give me a prescription to fill.

[15:50:01]

CULVER: But where do you fill a prescription around here?

TOMLIN: I don't even know.

CULVER: It's tough to find the words to describe the level of devastation, destruction and loss that we're seeing here.

And perhaps it's best to just look at the visuals, which yes, are overwhelming but really tell the story of several communities, not just

towns like this one, Black River where we are but we go mile after mile after mile along the southwest coast of this country and you see

communities that are simply wiped away.

CULVER: You see people also trying to continue on with some sense of normality. And for them, that might be trying to continue on with business.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scaling some red snapper to feed the nation. So got to get them scaled and get them fried and we can make a little money.

CULVER (voice-over): It's the sound of defiance, of life pushing back.

LISA HANNA, FORMER MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, JAMAICA: We are resilient people. Already, there is almost an empathetic solidarity across the island and

across the world to get things here. We're not going to make our people starve. And anyone that comes here and visits us are not going to starve.

CULVER (voice-over): Officials are here trying but it's a lot. And when you're desperate, help can't come soon enough.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are the strongest people in our world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is ground zero. This is terrible.

CULVER (voice-over): Aid from abroad here too, setting up for the long haul. But first, it's Jamaicans helping Jamaicans.

David Culver, CNN, Montego Bay, Jamaica.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Some people calling "People Magazine's" sexiest man alive a wickedly handsome choice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARIANA GRANDE, ACTRESS, "WICKED": Are you a recently arrived student?

JONATHAN BAILEY, ACTOR, "WICKED": I am, yeah.

GRANDE: Oh, I didn't know.

BAILEY: I'm not sure I'll last longer at this school than any of the others.

GRANDE: But I wasn't at any of your other schools.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: That is Jonathan Bailey, star of "Wicked", "Bridgerton", "Jurassic World Rebirth". This honor makes Bailey the first openly gay man to earn

the title. Bailey tells talk show host Jimmy Fallon it's the honor of a lifetime. Fans will have two magazine covers to choose from Bailey shot one

solo cover and one with his dog Benson. Take your choice.

[15:55:01]

Finally, tonight, you may now call him Sir David Beckham, the former England football captain, was knighted by King Charles. You can see the

moment here.

He was recognized for his services to sport and to charity. Beckham was joined in the background there by his parents, his wife, fashion designer

Victoria Beckham.

Speaking after the ceremony, Beckham said the honor is something he never could have dreamt of growing up with -- having come from the east end of

London. You can see the pride.

I'm Max Foster. That's WHAT WE KNOW.

Do stay with CNN. More after the break.

END

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