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New CNN Poll Reveals Many Feeling Deep Anxiety Amid Trump's Economy; WHO Says, 11 Cases Now Linked to Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship; President Trump Visits China for High-Stakes Summit. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired May 12, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

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KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: New CNN polling, and the big takeaway, quote, my life is not affordable. No one cares. The surge in people saying high prices and the cost of high price of -- high prices and the cost of living are now the top economic problem they face, and the growing number, including majority of Republicans, now say the president's moves have made the economy worse.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. This morning, new cases of Hantavirus reported as more than a dozen passengers from that virus- stricken cruise ship quarantine here in the United States.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And the worst version ever of up in smoke. Yes, a Cheech and Chong joke there. A car rams into a pot store. The suspects try to set it on fire, and then run off with their own shoes ablaze. Trust me, it actually happened that way. The question is, what happened to the cannabis? We've got the answers.

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

BOLDUAN: And this just in, as we stand by for a new inflation report this morning, there is new CNN polling just out with a fresh look on how Americans feel about the economy. The numbers revealing a deep anxiety about affordability, that word, and growing warning signs for President Trump, 73 percent describing economic conditions right now, today, as poor in the country. That's not a good outlook on what was once considered, of course, President Trump's strongest issue.

His approval rating on the economy has fallen to a new career low. Americans are worried, full stop, worried about paying their bills, especially surprised ones. About a third, about two-thirds say in this new poll that they could not comfortably afford a $1,000 emergency expense.

On this most central issue of just being able to pay for everyday life, cracks are starting to show among the president's base. Here are some of the quotes from what we heard from voters that spoke to our pollsters. A woman in Ohio describes herself as a Republican and told CNN, quote, me and my husband work 12-hour days, five to six days a week, and we have to decide if we're going to buy groceries or pay for gas. And a 20-something Republican in Georgia put it this way, I don't know how anyone from my generation will ever do anything except rent.

Let's go through this. CNN's Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian, he's here with a deeper dive into all of this. Give us your top takeaway, David.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF: Yes. Well, we did this poll to do a deep dive on affordability because we know it is the thing coursing through the American electorate more so than any other issue. This is top of mind for folks, as you noted. And that bleak outlook Americans have, Kate, that's like five years running now, a pessimistic view of the economy.

We're really still dealing with sort of a post-COVID economy. And even while some structural things in the economy are strong, people are not feeling it in terms of what they're paying and in terms of their feeling secure in their personal economy.

You noted that a top-line approval number for Trump's handling of the economy, 30 percent approve. That is a record low across his entire time in public life. As you suggested, this used to be one of his strong suits. He used to outperform his approval rating on the issue of the economy. 30 percent approve. That is a low.

And why this matters, economy and cost of living, 55 percent of respondents in our poll, Kate, say that is the most important issue facing the country. Do you see here? Nothing else comes even close to it. This is where the majority of Americans are in terms of importance of issues in their mind.

BOLDUAN: David, also the numbers on gas prices and on how people are feeling about inflation are fascinating in this moment in time.

CHALIAN: It is really. I mean, they're two of his worst, the president's worst issues in this poll. And, obviously, gas prices have been driving so much of that feeling of economic insecurity since the start of the Iran war especially.

[07:05:02]

But look at this number. This is his approval rating. Trump's approval rating on gas prices, he's fallen below that 50 percent mark with his own party. I don't recall the last time, Kate, maybe you do, where I saw a majority of Republicans disapproving of Donald Trump on an issue they do so on gas prices.

And on inflation, it's not much better. 60 percent of Republicans approve of how Donald Trump is handling inflation. 40 percent of Republicans disapprove of the president's handling of this issue, the issue, by the way, that you recall, was the thing he ran on in 2024.

BOLDUAN: And all of this with very clear implications and lots of warning signs ahead for the midterm elections. David, there's much more to work through with this new polling. We're going to be doing that all throughout the show. Thank you so much. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Thank you, Kate. New this morning, the number of Hantavirus cases is on the rise. The WHO now says there are 11 cases among the passengers and crew members of the M.V. Hondius. Among those who are ill, we've learned a British citizen hospitalized in South Africa is clinically improving, and a French woman who became sick after being evacuated is in intensive care, though she is in stable condition.

The cruise ship, which is now evacuated with only a few crew members and medical professionals remaining on board, is on its way to the Netherlands to be disinfected.

CNN's Jacqueline Howard joins us now from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where two passengers have been transferred. Jacqueline, what is the latest? We know that there is this sort of a six to eight week timeline here for when symptoms can show up. What are you learning this morning?

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: That's right, Sara. That's why passengers who have returned here to the United States are being monitored closely because we do know that this virus has a long incubation period. And right behind me at Emory Hospital, this is where two American passengers have been transferred.

We know that one passenger is showing symptoms, so that passenger is being cared for in Emory's biocontainment unit, and the other passenger is actually that first passenger's close contact.

Now, that passenger is not showing symptoms, but, of course, they are quarantined, and they are being monitored closely.

And we should have a diagram of what Emory's special isolation unit looks like. So, this gives us an idea of the facility where the passengers are right now, and you should see, if you look at number one, that's where doctors first enter the unit. That's where they meet. That's where they look at their data. And then if you see the number three, that's where passengers are being cared for.

And, again, the main goal with these units is to really make sure the passengers are contained and there is no risk of the virus spreading to outside of the unit.

And when you think about how the Hantavirus spreads, the World Health Organization says everybody who was on that cruise ship is being considered a high-risk contact. You do need close contact for the virus to spread, but there has been, in previous research, a case study, Sara, where a man was showing symptoms. He showed up to a dinner party, a birthday party, and he did spread the virus to others.

So, again, you do need that close contact, but if you are in a party or in a confined area, there is that risk of spread.

Here's how CDC official Dr. Fitter describes it when you talk about how the virus spreads and how the CDC is approaching this. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DR. DAVID FITTER, DIRECTOR, CDC'S DIVISION OF GLOBAL MIGRATION HEALTH: Is close contact with bodily secretions or respiration, sharing things intimately, toothbrush, et cetera. And so this is very different than a respiratory virus, and that's what I really would like to get across and I appreciate that.

We want people to understand we know this virus. It's not novel, and we know what we need to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD: So, as we heard there from Dr. David Fitter of the CDC, Sara, this is different from a respiratory virus like COVID. So, the risk to the general public remains low. But, again, health officials are taking this very seriously as they monitor passengers from that cruise ship.

SIDNER: Jacqueline Howard with the very latest on what is happening with the Hantavirus, I appreciate your reporting from Emory there. John?

BERMAN: All right. President Trump set to depart for a high-stakes trip to China. We've got new reporting on what he plans to ask President Xi.

And then new video of a man firing more than 50 rounds at cars on a crowded city bridge, two people in critical condition, we've got new reporting this morning that the suspect shot at police officers a few years ago.

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And then they lit it up right in a marijuana dispensary. Not a joint, but themselves. Suspected arsonists on the lam after a botched attempt to set fire to a pot store.

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BERMAN: President Trump leaves today for Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the war with Iran is overshadowing and perhaps influencing what would have been the major issues at play, trade tensions and China's desires (ph) on Taiwan.

The president says the ceasefire with Iran is on, quote, life support. The Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, and Iran has not conceded to the president's demands for peace.

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Let's get right to CNN's Alayna Treene at the White House. You know, this trip has been on the calendar, actually moved, but for some time, a lot of desires to get things done here, but what is at play now?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Look, I think initially the White House, John, really wanted this to be a visit about trade and the economy, and also, you know, almost a watershed moment for these two leaders of these superpower economies. But so much of it is being now overshadowed by the war in Iran, and also this longstanding dispute over Taiwan.

But I do want to get into a little bit about what the White House wants this to be about. We know, of course, that, really, this bruising tariff fight between the U.S. and China has really dominated much of last year. But President Trump and Chinese Xi Jinping did agree to almost like this fragile truce last fall, and the White House wants to keep that relative calm moving forward.

Now, we are told that their discussions when they meet face-to-face is part of it's supposed to be about, of course, the customary haggling over potential Chinese purchases of American products. That includes commercial jetliners and soybeans, and also a proposal for a joint board of trade that would bring government oversight to a lot of the commerce between these two countries. We also know they're expected, of course, to talk about tariffs and how to adjust them as they remain at a very high level.

But, again, a lot of this is also going to be dominated by what is happening in Iran. I'd remind you that China has seen a lot of high- profile leaders come to the country recently. We saw the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, met with his Chinese counterpart last week. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to the country just days after President Trump departs. So, a lot that is going on here for, you know, global geopolitics as well.

And I think when it comes down to the Iran war, what's going to be very interesting is I spoke with a lot of my sources here at the White House yesterday about the latest of, you know, the president saying that this war, or the ceasefire, rather, is on life support. I mean, it'll be interesting to see whether or not the president is going to ask for Xi Jinping to almost aid in bringing the Iranians to the table. We know that the Chinese have been very close in communicating with the Iranians throughout this entire process. So, that could be another key part of this. We're just going to have to see.

I am told as well that the president, who in recent days, has been contemplating moving back to major combat operations with Iran more than he has so in weeks. He is not expected to make a decision on how to proceed with the Iran war before departing for China. So, a lot at stake here for this meeting. John?

BERMAN: Yes, a lot to watch in the next few days, not only in Beijing, but also perhaps in the Strait of Hormuz.

Alayna Treene at the White House this morning, great to have you there. Thank you so much. Kate?

BOLDUAN: So, it is a twist in the tragic case of a man accused of killing his pregnant wife and then fleeing to Italy. His new request now for asylum.

And the moment a dog saves the day and helps police find an elderly man who had gone missing.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good boy. Good boy, Boomer. Good boy, Boomer.

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BOLDUAN: The Oklahoma City Thunder pulling off a clean sweep last night, knocking the Lakers out of the playoffs.

Let's get over to CNN's Coy Wire, who's got it all for us. What happened?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Good morning, Kate. Eight playoff games, eight playoff wins, and now OKC is one series away from the finals after bringing out the brooms again. For the first time all post- season though, the Thunder actually trailed entering the fourth quarter and then did what champions do. They flipped the switch. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 35 points with the calm of a closer and the swagger of a star. OKC storms back for the 115-110 win, completing another series sweep.

Now, all eyes shift to the future of LeBron James, 41 years old, an icon. He finished with 24 points, 14 boards in this game. But the bigger stat, 23 seasons. Was this his final game in purple and gold or anywhere? He's now an unrestricted free agent and the NBA world is officially on LeBron watch.

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LEBRON JAMES, L.A. LAKERS FORWARD: You guys asked me about it and I've answered questions. Fair enough. Yes, I don't think I've come out with like, oh, retirement is coming. Yes, so, I mean, with my future, I don't know obviously. I mean, this is -- obviously, we're still fresh from, you know, obviously losing, you know, and I don't know. I mean, I don't know what the future holds for me obviously as it stands right now tonight.

Go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them. And then when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.

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WIRE: The Cleveland Cavaliers came out of halftime like they'd been shot out of a cannon, and Donovan Mitchell went full beast mode. They opened the second half on a jaw-dropping 22-0 run against Detroit, longest run to start a half in playoff tracking history. That's when Mitchell caught fire, tying an NBA playoff record 39 second half points. He finished with 43 from four in the first half to superhero. Cleveland wins 112-103, evening the series at two.

Now, hockey players, Kate, are built different. Nathan MacKinnon took a puck to the face in the second period. He'd leave the ice and he would come back for the third because, well, hockey. And once he returned, Colorado rallied over Minnesota.

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Ross Colton and Parker Kelly each scoring their first goals of the postseason. It was Kelly's first of his career. He went undrafted, had to grind his way through junior hockey in the minors before earning a full-time NHL role. He finally gets his moment.

MacKinnon would seal the deal with an empty netter. Mackenzie Blackwood, 19 saves in his first start this post-season. Colorado wins 5-2 and now sits just one win away from the Western Conference Final.

Apparently in hockey, Kate, stitches are just kind of like a halftime adjustment. You just keep going because you're so darn tough.

BOLDUAN: I mean, things to say. Took a puck to the face and then came back on. I mean, what? I can't even imagine. My face hurts thinking about it. Wow.

Coy, thank you so much.

WIRE: You got it.

BOLDUAN: Hello.

SIDNER: Wow.

BOLDUAN: Made us something different.

SIDNER: Looks like we coordinated this morning.

BOLDUAN: The good news. This -- it will come as a surprise to no one, though, we are too tired, we don't even know what we're wearing until we walk on set. I was like, I'm wearing purple. Nope, I'm not wearing purple today.

SIDNER: All right. Thank you, Kate. Ahead, Nike facing a new lawsuit that could possibly set a precedent over who actually gets tariff refunds.

And chilling video showing the moment a shooter with a long gun opens fire near Harvard's campus. New details about how the victims are doing today after this happened.

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