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Netanyahu Says, Israel Acted Alone in Striking Iran Gas Field; TSA Lines More Than Two Hours at Atlanta Airport This Morning; GOP Hardliners Waver on Supporting Bondi Subpoena After Testy Briefing. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired March 20, 2026 - 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: The cost of war rising, no clear end in sight, oil and gas prices soaring for Americans, while some Republican lawmakers signal they may not sign off on a $200 billion funding request for the Iran War. All of it coming amid a sharp divide and strategy between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Wait times in Atlanta already to get through security this morning, reaching two hours long, the transportation secretary warning that things are about to even get worse. We will explain why.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: We've got new video this morning of a chain reaction crash at a traffic stop. A driver slams to a patrol car that then hits a state trooper.

I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan and Sara Sidner. This is CNN News Central.

SIDNER: Breaking this morning, gas and oil prices surging with no apparent end in sight, and Iran is stepping up fresh attacks on energy sites in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and Israel intercepting drones and missiles this morning. This as the average price for gas in the U.S. is now $3.91 a gallon. That's nearly a full dollar higher than a month ago before all this started.

But some help may be on the way in the Strait of Hormuz, that critical waterway and oil route where Iran has attacked several commercial ships. A number of U.S. allies, after initially declining, now were saying they're ready to help secure the straight, though they were light on details.

The rapidly spiraling crisis has led the International Energy Agency to issue some recommendations to save on energy. You see some of them in just a bit, including there, working from home, avoiding air travel, reducing speed on highways, public transportation, and carpooling. All of this comes as some Republicans are balking at the $200 billion request from the Pentagon to fund the war with Iran. President Trump calling that a, quote, small price to pay. And there are growing questions about the partnership between the United States and Israel after Israel struck Iran's South Pars Gas Field. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now says Israel acted alone and will hold off further attacks on the field at Trump's request.

CNN's Oren Lieberman is in Jerusalem. Give us some sense, if there is indeed a diverging strategy here by the United States and Israel.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Sara, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's press conference last night here in Jerusalem was all about making sure that he's putting out the exact same messaging as President Donald Trump. Of course, he got a question about Israel's strike on the South Pars Natural Gas Facility of Iran. Iran, in retaliation for that strike, has lashed out at energy and oil infrastructure around the region. That's part of what's driving the gas prices you're seeing there in the U.S.

Trump had said that the U.S. wasn't aware of the strike, even though both U.S. and Israeli officials have told us that there was coordination and the U.S. was very much aware of the strike, and we knew that, of course, because of the coordination between the two countries. Netanyahu in that press conference said Israel acted alone. Of course, there wasn't really a question about that. The question was always of whether there was awareness.

So, Netanyahu is just trying to make sure that in terms of the messaging that's being put out there, he is following Trump's lead. So, you see him reinforcing the idea that that was Israel's strike, not really addressing the question of notification and awareness of the strike beforehand.

For Netanyahu, who has made very clear he has plans to continue this war, it is important to be following Trump, and that's what the press conference was all about. Even if there was some disagreement on this particular strike, and Trump has asked Israel not to continue striking energy and oil infrastructure, it is in Netanyahu's interest, and by the looks of it, it's in Trump's interest right now, or his desire, at least, to continue this war. And for that, Netanyahu needs to be on the same page as Trump publicly, and that's what that messaging was all about.

SIDNER: Oren, have you heard anything about what these .U.S allies who initially were very unlikely to get involved and sort of stood back are now saying, hey, we are going to do something to help in the Strait of Hormuz? What are you learning?

LIEBERMANN: It is the something there that's the question. What are they willing to do? Right now, it's a very nice statement, but it doesn't really go beyond that. This is countries like the U.K., France, Germany, Japan, Canada.

[07:05:02]

And in a fairly lengthy statement here, they say, we express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.

There is still no concrete plan to open the Strait of Hormuz. So, frankly, it's very easy for these countries to say they're willing to take part in these discussions. But in terms of a commitment of warships or troops to reopen the strait, we are very far away from that.

SIDNER: All right. Oren Liebermann, thank you so much for your reporting there from Jerusalem for us. Kate?

BOLDUAN: All right. There's also a new warning on another front. It's about to get worse. That is what Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is saying about the long lines that you've seen all week at airports nationwide. He also said that the security line delays so far are, quote, child's play compared to what might be coming.

Wait time at Atlanta's airport right now this morning have reached more than two hours to get through security, and all of this as a reminder is because of the partial government shutdown that has truly still really no end in sight.

Let's get over to CNN's Ryan Young, who has now started living at Atlanta's airport. Ryan, that is not what anyone wants to see on a Friday morning behind you.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No. We knew this was going to be slam, Kate. Mondays, Fridays and Saturday mornings are always busy here at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. And you look back here, you can see that 120-minute wait post-it there, but that's not from this part of the line. That's from the upfront part of it.

We've already talked to the folks who are right there. They're probably going to miss their flight already, and we've been talking to folks in this line who are preparing themselves and got here early. I want to stop real quick, and I know I talked to you guys a little earlier.

Are you nervous about making your flight, yes or no?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

YOUNG: What has this been like?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hot and just annoying.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Annoying.

YOUNG: I heard the word stressful. What does this feel like standing in this line knowing that you may miss your flight?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just, I mean, nerves -- like I'm just nervous and scared, you know? We kind of want to get to where we're going and it's like we're just waiting. We've been stationary for the last 10 minutes, like no movement.

YOUNG: Thank you guys for sharing.

Kate, I wanted to stop real quick because this was the end of the line yesterday and we knew it was really long. We're going to take that walk now and go this way and show you the line stops here at the end of the atrium. And then we just keep going. Let's not forget yesterday, 38 percent of the workforce here called out. We're not sure what that will mean today.

So, you see this line that stretches on for that main checkpoint. This is not where the timer even starts for that 120 minutes. The timer for that starts way back on the other side there. So, if you're standing in this part of the line, which snakes around this direction, this is more than two hours at this point.

Now, they're trying to surge in as many workers as they can to help out. But as you see, when we get back to the other part of the airport, they have stacked people all the way around, and this is where it connects to the pre-check line.

So, you understand the pain point here for so many folks who will miss their flights and depending on what airlines they are dealing with, some folks will be able to get rebooked, others will have to kind of figure out if they're going to fly a different day. This is just the beginning of that rush hour. Now, that it's slammed like this, it extend -- could extend a lot longer.

BOLDUAN: Ryan, let's just do this in impromptu. Ask that -- can you ask that man in -- wearing all black with that black suitcase right to your right, what time his flight is scheduled for?

YOUNG: Yes, 100 percent. All right, hold up. I might as well ask you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

YOUNG: They want to know, what time is your flight scheduled for?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 10:20.

YOUNG: Okay. And how long have you been here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we got here about 30 minutes ago. And, you know, we've got -- you know, who knows?

YOUNG: Yes. When you see this line the way it is how frustrated are you with Congress? How about that? Because, obviously, the folks aren't being paid so --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I feel bad for the workers.

YOUNG: There you go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do feel bad.

YOUNG: I can hear your boys -- where are you guys going? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to Jamaica.

YOUNG: Oh, I wish I was going to Jamaica.

BOLDUAN: I mean, at least there's that.

YOUNG: Look, I hope you guys make it to Jamaica. Thank you.

Yes, because at least there's that, there's a little bit of a smile here.

I heard you say on the last part, what did you say they should be done?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They should be paid. They need to be paid, yes.

YOUNG: Thank you. I appreciate it you guys. I hope you guys have a safe flight. Never know what you'll see at the airport. Kate?

BOLDUAN: You never do. That is one good looking family, by the way. I mean, I hope -- I'm just saying like straight out of central casting, I hope I look that good going to the airport someday at 7:00 A.M. If you've ever been in LaGuardia with me, especially with my kids, exactly, Ryan, you'd be like, that's Kate Bolduan? Okay. Exactly.

Ryan, you're the best. Let's see what happens today. Oh, maybe, what do we do here? What do we do here?

BERMAN: We go to Jamaica. That's what we do. We go to Jamaica.

BOLDUAN: We go to Jamaica. There we go.

BERMAN: All right. Are conservatives wavering on their support to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondy in the Epstein investigation? Why some say they're now open to switching their position.

[07:10:01]

A trooper hit at a traffic stop in a terrifying chain reaction crash.

And an A.I. version of the late actor, Val Kilmer, set to appear in a new film, the photo that's causing all kinds of controversy in Hollywood this morning.

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BERMAN: All right. New developments in the House Oversight Committee's investigation surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein issue. Some conservatives who supported issuing a subpoena for Attorney General Pam Bondy are now saying they're open to switching their position.

[07:15:06]

Sources tell CNN Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert told Bondi she was, quote, embarrassed that she had voted to subpoena her. This change comes after this briefing from Attorney General Pam Bondi. She went into a briefing to talk to the members of this committee that issued a subpoena, but this was not showing up to answer the subpoena. Democrats walked out of this saying they wanted to wait to actually talk to Bondi until she was under oath.

With us now, CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig, who predicted this would all turn out to be a mess here.

But, again, to review, Bondi went to brief members of the Oversight Committee. What had happened before is this committee had issued a subpoena for her to be deposed. What's the difference?

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Right. So, that's a crucial distinction that I'm glad you drew. When the subpoena was issued a few days ago, that called for formal testimony under oath, on-camera, with a court reporter, a transcriber to happen on April 14th. Instead, or maybe instead, what happened yesterday is Bondi slid in for an informal briefing with no reporter, no camera, not under oath, which can make a technical difference maybe. And what Republicans appear to be saying now is, well, see, she was there for you for this briefing, hence, she does not need to testify on April 14th.

Democrats strenuously disagreed. They say what she came in for yesterday, that was not the real deal. That was not under oath. That was not with a reporter. That was not for the American public to see. And we want her on April 14th. And as we discussed yesterday, this is going to get messier.

BERMAN: But why would you want to have a transcribed interview versus just an informal briefing if you're a Democrat?

HONIG: First of all, so the American public can see it, can hear it. Second of all, so that there's no dispute about what was said. We've seen these members of Congress come out of these briefings and they have totally different accounts of what was said and who did what. Well, let's get it on tape. Let's get a transcript. And that's the position of the Democrats on the committee and some Republicans.

BERMAN: What's the legal jeopardy for the attorney general here?

HONIG: Right. So, this is what I'm really watching for. That subpoena, as we sit here now, is still valid, still calls for Pam Bondi's testimony on April 14th. However, and, by the way, the alarm bells here was when the subpoena was first issued, DOJ's immediate response was that the subpoena was, quote, totally unnecessary. If Pam Bondi decides, no, I already gave them what they need, I'm not showing up April 14th, then Congress' only option is to hold her in contempt. That would require a majority of the committee, then a majority of the whole House.

But then what happens with the contempt committee? Where does it go? Up the block, nine blocks to DOJ where Pam Bondi will make the decision, do I charge myself with contempt? I'm going to predict that's a no. BERMAN: Yes. And then even if she does go and testify, if there's this perjury trap there, what if she -- and I'm not saying she would, but what if she did lie in her testimony?

HONIG: Yes, same thing. Any decision to bring any criminal charge ultimately will have to run through an attorney general.

Let me give you a quick historical, fun fact here. We went through the first 230 plus years of our existence as a nation without ever holding an attorney general in contempt. But in 2012, Eric Holder was held in contempt. Merrick Garland was held in contempt. Bill Barr was held in contempt. So, we've had three A.G.s in the last 14 years held in contempt. And, shockingly, none of them chose to indict themselves.

BERMAN: Important history there. Elie Honig, great to see you, thanks you very much. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Thank you, gentlemen.

Ahead, we are a day past official spring, but it feels like the middle of summer in some parts of the country, and it's expanding. Record- high temperatures could be seen today or tomorrow.

And they call it March Madness for a reason. The upsets we're already seeing and the close call for the number one seed.

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[07:20:00]

SIDNER: Brackets were almost busted big time yesterday. It was touch- and-go for Duke's top ranked Blue Devils but they managed to survive, holding off number 16 seed.

CNN's Andy Scholes joining us now. Woo, for a lot of people that would've hurt, especially for Duke.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. I mean, Sara, Duke almost ruined a lot of people's day yesterday. You know, one of the worst things, it's just being completely out of your bracket before day one is even over.

But you just got to hand it to 16 seed Siena. They gave it everything they had, and by everything, I mean everything. They were the first team since 1979 to only play their starters all game long. And the Saints had a 43-32 lead at halftime. They're the first 16 seed ever to hold a double digit lead at the half. But they eventually ran out of gas, Duke closing the game on a 15-4 run. The Blue Devils avoid being the third one seat ever to lose to a 16, winning 71-65 to advance.

Five seed Wisconsin, though, not as lucky. They felt to High Point University, the private school of North Carolina pulling off the upset thanks in part of Chase Johnston. He came off the bench pulling from the logo. And get this, Chase only shoots threes. He had not made a two-point field goal all season long until the Panthers down one in the closing seconds, he gets that outlet, makes a finger roll. High Point would then get a block to seal the win in the closing seconds.

And their coach Flynn Clayman all pumped up after this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FLYNN CLAYMAN, HIGH POINT HEAD COACH: It looks pretty obvious to me that high majors need to play mid-majors during the season, because they said, we ain't played nobody. We played somebody now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How'd you do it?

CLAYMAN: It feels unreal because I know how good of a team we had, but nobody would play us, just like they would've played Miami Ohio, but they got to play us in this tournament.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[07:25:00]

SCHOLES: Oh boy. All right, yesterday on the show, I told everyone, take those 11 seeds, and it wasn't looking good for VCU against North Carolina, but then they pulled off one of the best comebacks in tournament history. The Rams rallying from 19 down the game would end up going to overtime, and Terrence Hill Jr., huge three here. VCU completed the second largest comeback we've seen in the past ten years. They beat North Carolina 82-78.

Meanwhile, in the NBA Luka Doncic had himself a night in Miami. The Lakers star went for 60. He got the last point on a free throw at the end of the game, and the fans in Miami, they were chanting MVP. Lakers would win 134-126. Lukas's averaging 41 points a game during L.A.'s eight-game win streak.

But you got plenty more basketball on the way today. The game's going to get going at 12:15 Eastern. You can watch them across our sister networks, TNT, TBS and TruTV.

All right, Sara, we'll see if another 11 seed can pull off an upset. Miami Ohio is going to take on Tennessee at 4:25 Eastern. But all those people that had Duke winning in their bracket are in the final four. Breathe a sigh of relief. You're still in it.

SIDNER: Shoo. Still in. But you know what? Props go to Siena. Wow, they played their heart out. They're kind of the headline. They did so, so well, but, you know, Duke pulled it out in the end, as they often do.

SCHOLES: Yes.

SIDNER: Thank you so much, Andy Scholes. Kate?

BOLDUAN: My problem is always, after I set the bracket, I always forget what I did. Like I have to have it in hand at all times. Like I know who I have winning.

SIDNER: Did I get this right?

BOLDUAN: (INAUDIBLE) the final four, but like everything else, I can't remember. I'll go back to it. We'll see.

SIDNER: Fine.

BOLDUAN: Maybe I had a good day. I'm not sure.

SIDNER: Let's go look.

BOLDUAN: Let's find out.

Coming up for us, the president says the war in Iran could be over soon, but why then are they looking to ask Congress for $200 billion in new funding for it. A breakdown of the price tag of this war so far three weeks in.

And the new season of The Bachelorette was supposed to premiere this Sunday, but then ABC pulled the season entirely. The controversy swirling around all of this, we have that next.

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[07:30:00]