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Urgent Search Effort in Texas for 170-Plus Missing After Floods; Texas Officials Questioned About Warnings, Preparedness Ahead of Floods; Trump Says, We Get a Lot of Bullsh*t Thrown At Us By Putin. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired July 09, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking this morning, a stunning revelation, the number of missing in the Texas skyrocketing to more than 170 people. The death toll is also climbing. And this morning, new details are emerging about Camp Mystic. It turns out camp counselors weren't given emergency evacuation training.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Also breaking this morning, deadly flashfloods hit New Mexico. Look at some of these pictures we're seeing from there, powerful enough to sweep an entire house away. Nearly 100 people have been rescued.

And Attorney General Pam Bondi needs to be fired. Those words coming from one of the president's fiercest supporters. This morning, new developments as the Jeffrey Epstein case is splitting the right.

Kate is out today. I'm John Berman with Sara Sidner, and this is CNN News Central.

SIDNER: We've got breaking news for you this morning. The scope of the tragedy in Texas now exponentially worse than first thought. Officials there announcing the number of people missing from the catastrophic flooding has now soared to more than 170 people. That's more than seven times higher than the number estimated just 24 hours ago. The number of dead has risen as well to 111.

This morning, we're also getting some new details about Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian summer camp at the epicenter of the tragedy records -- records are obtained by us show that two days before the flooding, a state inspector certified the camp had an emergency plan in place, but a source tells CNN the counselors did not have access to walkie-talkies in the event of a disaster, and that they were given no emergency evacuation training.

Despite all of that, some of those counselors are being hailed as heroes for jumping into action, helping campers escape those rising waters. At least 27 campers and counselors are among the dead.

Governor Greg Abbott toured the destruction on Tuesday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): Know this, we will not stop until every missing person is accounted for. Know this also, there very likely could be more added to that list.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: It is a monumental task. Texas officials are facing mounting questions now about the official response, including why evacuations weren't ordered ahead of the flooding. CNN has also learned that Texas officials twice rejected funding applications from Kerr County, the hardest hit, for a flood warning system, once in 2016, and again in 2017. The county subsequently never got sirens that may have helped.

CNN's Isabel Rosales is in Center Point, Texas, one of those hard hit communities. Officials are deflecting a lot of these questions about the actions that they did or did not take before and during these floods. What are you learning this morning?

ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. If I could start, Sara, good morning. I was with volunteers yesterday when we got when we heard from Texas Governor Greg Abbott about that dramatic increase from 18 to over 170 people that are known to be missing. It was an enormous shock to the volunteers around me, but they also told me that it was a focus for them because now they have that number. They know how many people they need to find to provide answers to their loved ones.

And, Sara, just heartbreaking scenes of what they found along the way as they're searching the Guadalupe River, pictures, precious family mementos, memories, baby pictures, wedding pictures, children's dance recitals, all incredibly heartbreaking for these volunteers as they continue to press forward.

Meanwhile, over in Kerr County, officials there -- there are questions surrounding whether they gave people enough of a warning ahead of this flooding emergency. Earlier yesterday, officials there in Kerr County wouldn't commit to a -- what they knew when they knew that this would be posing a deadly threat, and they avoided repeated questioning by myself and my colleague, Shimon Prokupecz, about that gap, information gap, those three hours that they had before the river started to flood.

[07:05:08]

Listen.

Okay. I believe we don't have that. But let me give you a little bit of context to that, Sara. Basically, the first emergency flood alert came out at 1:14 in the morning. The river started to flood at 5:00 A.M. in the morning. So, there's about three to four hours there where we were trying to figure out who was the point of contact for emergency there, who was calling the shots, who had that information, what sort of discussions were going on? Did they ponder evacuating anyone? We asked those questions there of the Kerr County. sheriff and he repeatedly refused to answer that, but also acknowledged that he wasn't notified until 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning. 5:00 again is when the river started to flood. So, that was a huge takeaway in that press conference.

And it's important to know that these are not just questions from the press. These are questions that we're hearing from community members here, locals who live here, who want to know from their officials what exactly happened and what they knew. Sara?

SIDNER: Yes, I mean, you're asking the questions that the public wants to know, especially because they know this is a very dangerous flood zone where flooding has been very bad in the past. I do want to get from you -- you've been talking to a lot of people there, those who are coming to help, those who are coming to help do the search and rescue who are feeding those with the search and rescue teams. I do wonder how are they, as you're talking to them and what are they telling you once they heard this enormous explosion of the number of missing, which could go even higher.

ROSALES: It's emotionally draining. It is physically draining. This is grueling work. They are under this hot Texan sun that's just blaring on their backs. They're coming back red. I mean, they're surrounded by all sorts of bugs, are bitten up, but it's incredible the focus that they have to really giving answers to these loved ones.

Of course that number was extremely shocking to them, but it's something for them to focus on a goal as they continue up the Guadalupe River from where I'm sitting all the way to where Camp Mystic is located, 25 miles away.

Now, I've seen people on ATVs. I've seen people bringing out dogs. I've seen people on horseback. I spoke to two of them, two volunteers yesterday who told me, unfortunately, they did find remains a couple of days ago, but they didn't call it, unfortunately. They said, this is not something that they hope to find, but it's so important, again, to reconnect these victims of this flooding disaster to their family members.

So, they found a woman underneath of a tree, covered her up with a sheet and called authorities. Listen to this sound bite from one of those people. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is something that you'll never unsee. It's going to forever be in our brain.

MEGHAN ANSALDO, KERR COUNTY MOUNTED SEARCH VOLUNTEER: by being higher up. We can see kind of down more into the brush piles, as well as get a couple more places that may be too steep on foot, as well as not wearing ourselves out as badly. So, our horses are kind of also taking one for the team here and really helping us out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROSALES: Yes. And that's the advantage of bringing in horses, getting to areas where ATVs, vehicles cannot get into. And it's not just horses. It's also mules. You might remember Mission Mules. That's a Christian nonprofit who was out and about during Hurricane Helene that devastated Asheville, North Carolina. They're back out here today hoping to join in on the search as well. Sara?

SIDNER: Yes, it's not just the hot Texas sun, the humidity all of the debris, but those big Texas bugs. I know one of them just got you just there. They are also battling that as well. It is really, really hard work.

Thank you so much to you, Isabel, and your crew who've been working so hard in bringing us such good information all throughout this tragedy. John?

BERMAN: All right. Breaking this morning, ongoing flash flooding kills three people, including two children. This isn't even in Texas. A house just gets swept away.

We have new CNN reporting this morning. Sources say Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not inform the White House before ordering a pause in weapon shipments or signing off on a pause in weapon shipments to Ukraine, setting off a scramble to figure out why in this very awkward moment in a cabinet meeting, not here, but this was yesterday with the president and Hegseth actually sitting next to each other.

An outrage over Attorney General Pam Bondi's memo on the Jeffrey Epstein case, and this outrage is coming from fierce supporters of the president, some even calling for her to be fired.

[07:10:06]

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SIDNER: Breaking overnight, Russia launches its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Ukrainian officials say the massive aerial assault involved more than 700 drones, but it was largely repelled.

Moscow's escalation follows a remarkable 48 hours in the White House where President Trump yesterday vented his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, something you don't see that often.

[07:15:08]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Trump calling BS in that cabinet meeting, but he also said Ukraine would have the weapons it needs to defend itself. It's a notable turn for the president. Just last week, his administration paused the delivery of some missiles to Ukraine. Our Kaitlan Collins asked him about that yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Last week, the Pentagon paused some shipments of weapons to Ukraine. Did you approve of that pause?

TRUMP: We wanted to put defensive weapons because Putin is not -- he's not treating human beings right. He's killing too many people. So, we're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine and I've approved that.

COLLINS: So, who ordered the pause last week?

TRUMP: I don't know. Why don't you tell me?

COLLINS: I think that's a question for the Pentagon.

TRUMP: Go ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: That was awkward, because Pete Hegseth, his secretary of defense, was sitting right there with him. And new CNN reporting on what happened behind the scenes gives you some insight. Multiple sources telling CNN Hegseth did not give the White House a heads-up before he authorized that pause on weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, and that the administration began scrambling after they found out.

CNN's Zach Cohen has the new reporting for us from Washington. You helped break this story. What are you learning and what the awkward moments as you're sitting there watching this play out knowing the president apparently didn't have a clue that the pause happened at Hegseth's command?

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Sara. It's pretty remarkable. Obviously, the Pentagon and White House not in lockstep over this decision to pause arm shipments to Ukraine. And it's an episode that really does underscore the haphazard policymaking process we've seen from the Trump administration, and specifically at the Department of Defense under Secretary Pete Hegseth. We're told that Hegseth did sign off on this pause, but failed to mention that to the White House, which like a lot of other top officials in the Trump administration learned about it after the fact. And as we saw yesterday the president not only reversed that decision but still really distancing himself from the move, the temporary pause of those shipments, which really does not align with sort of the rhetoric that we're hearing from him in recent days, this frustration with Vladimir Putin and this pledge to Volodymyr Zelenskyy to continue to provide support to the Ukrainians.

Now, look, this is something that did originate from a conversation that we're told happened last month at the NATO summit where Trump ordered Hegseth to conduct a review of the U.S. weapon stockpile. Obviously, multiple ongoing conflicts around the world, Trump wanted to make sure that there were enough U.S. weapons to provide support across the board. But Hegseth, at the recommendation of some of his top officials at the Department of Defense, ultimately conducted that review and also paused armed shipments to Ukraine as a result. That's not something that the president directed Hegseth to do, and it's something that caused frustration at all corners of the Trump administration.

Now, we asked the White House and the Department of Defense for comment. A spokesperson for the Pentagon said, quote, Secretary Hegseth provided a framework for the president to evaluate military aid shipments and assess existing stockpiles. This effort was coordinated across the government.

Obviously, that doesn't address though this decision to pause the armed shipments to Ukraine and, again, one that Trump is pub very publicly reversed and is still facing questions about today.

SIDNER: Yes. The big question is who did decide this, and was this a plan across the Defense Department, the Pentagon? We just don't know at this point, but your reporting is really telling.

Zach Cohen, thank you so much to you and Natasha for that.

Ahead, more than 170 people still missing in Texas, according to officials, in those flashfloods. Police say they have not found a single survivor since Friday. What we know about the recovery efforts this morning.

And major changes at airport security checkpoints all across the country. Why you're probably going to like this change, and it's a big one, one that annoys a lot of passengers. We'll tell you what it is, coming up.

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[07:20:00]

BERMAN: Is there hope for an American man at Wimbledon, maybe more than one? Taylor Fritz already on his way to the semis.

CNN's Coy Wire has all the details for us this morning. Good morning to you, sir.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Good to see you sir. 25 years since an American man has won at Wimbledon, and Taylor Fritz is on his way to the semi-finals for his very first time.

The fifth ranked Fritz conquering Karen Khachanov in four sets. In the first two, 90 percent success rate on his serves, John, practically unreturnable. He persevered a mid match foot issue and found fantastic for him again to seal the deal. He has two-time defending Wimbledon Champ Carlos Alcaraz next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAYLOR FRITZ, INTO WIMBLEDON SEMIS FOR FIRST TIME: It's an amazing feeling, obviously, having played the quarterfinals here twice and lost in five twice. I don't think I could have taken another one, so I'm really happy. I'm really happy to -- I'm going to get to play the semis here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: American Anisimova joins Fritz and Ben Shelton as one of the last three remaining Americans in the tourney. Anisimova dispatch Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets to book her first Wimbe semifinal appearance. She has a winning record against her next opponent, John, world number one, Aynra Sabalenka. Amanda brought her soon to be four-year-old nephew Jackson on court after the win. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANDA ANISIMOVA, SWEEPS INTO FIRST SEMIFINAL WIMBLEDON: It was such a battle today. I was up there in the second set and, yes, she started to play some unreal tennis and I just kept fighting.

[07:25:00]

And, yes, the tiebreak was super stressful, but, yes, I'm just so happy that I got it done and super excited to be in the semi-final for the first time, super special.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Huge shakeup in F1. A Red Bull spokesperson tells CNN sports had effective today, Christian Horner has been released from his duties, no reason given. In 20 years, his Team Principal, he turned Red Bull into a powerhouse, winning six Constructor's championships and eight Driver's titles between Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Laurent Mekies has been appointed as CEO of Red Bull Racing.

Now something you have to see, John. You heard of walks in the park, you've seen walk-off home runs. How about an inside the park walk-off homer? Giants down 3-1 to the Phillies bottom of the ninth, but Patrick Bailey smacked the ball off the wall and he hoofs it, John, around for a three-run homer. The gold glove catcher grabbing the Giants a galloping game winner at Oracle Park 4-3. It's the first inside the park, walk-off home run from a catcher since 1926.

There was actually a lead off inside the park, home run yesterday as well, John, first time that has ever happened on the same day in MLB.

BERMAN: And the Red Sox had one last week, like three in one week. I've never seen a, in my life, especially for my catcher, Coy, it's just crazy, as Rob Bradford, one of my famous baseball writers, says, you know, baseball isn't boring. Baseball is not boring. Look at all of that.

All right, Coy Wire, thank you very much.

WIRE: You got it. Thanks, John.

BERMAN: All right. Breaking this morning, we are watching deadly flash floods in New Mexico, a video of a house just being swept away.

And President Trump appears to lose patience with Vladimir Putin. And as that's happening, CNN's exclusive audio revealing the president once threatened to bomb Moscow and Beijing.

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[07:30:00]