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WHO Reports Hantavirus cases from Cruise Ship Rise to 11; Russian Ship May Have Been Carrying Nuclear Reactors to North Korea; Iran War, Taiwan, Trade Feud at Stake in Trump-Xi Talks; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's Reality Show Draws Criticism. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired May 12, 2026 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:30:00]
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: ... there's more crew from the MV Hondius. In the meantime, at least 29 Americans who are on the ship are under monitoring across multiple U.S. States. Sixteen of them are in a special facility in Nebraska, including Jake Rosemarin. He spoke to NBC today about his life under quarantine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE ROSMARIN, QUARANTINED U.S. PASSENGER FROM MV HONDIUS: I do not have the virus. I'm well, I have no symptoms, I feel good and I'm in good spirits right now. Yesterday, I kind of was just taking the time to speak to friends and family and let them know that I was OK.
Yes, you can order out. However, it might not be able to be delivered right away, but you can get things delivered, care packages. And that's nice that we have really access to whatever we need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Two other U.S. passengers went to a biocontainment unit at Emory University in Atlanta, and that's where Jacqueline Howard is standing by. Jacqueline, you just got an update on the cruise passengers there.
JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: That's right, Brianna. The Department of Health and Human Services just posted on X just over an hour ago and said that one of the passengers here at Emory University Hospital, who was showing mild symptoms, they have tested negative for the Andes variant of Hantavirus. Now, this is an update where they said this test was done last night. And this is one of the two passengers here in Atlanta.
The other passenger is a close contact of that first passenger and the other passenger has remained asymptomatic. But still, Brianna, as these passengers are being evaluated and monitored, testing is going to play a big part in this and watching for symptoms is going to play a big part in this.
Here's what infectious disease physician Dr. Ameesh Mehta said about receiving these two patients here in Atlanta. He's spoken in news briefing yesterday. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANEESH MEHTA, INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN, EMORY HEALTHCARE: The passengers that HHS asked us to receive here at Emory University in our social and criminal diseases unit, one was symptomatic when assessed when leaving the Canary Islands. The other one was a close contact of that individual who was not symptomatic. The care that these two individuals receive is the same care that we deliver to every patient at Emory University Hospital every single day.
And that is a patient and family centered model of care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWARD: And Brianna, as those two passengers here in Atlanta continue to be monitored, here's a diagram of what the special isolation facility looks like here at Emory. You'll see on this diagram area one is where doctors enter the space. They put on their protective gear.
Area two is an example of what a patient room looks like. And again, these two passengers here at Emory are two of 18 total that are being monitored here in the United States. The 16 others are in Nebraska.
And in the post on X, the Department of Health and Human Services also said that the 16 passengers who arrived in Nebraska, they are actually remaining asymptomatic. So that's another update again from the Department of Health and Human Services.
But Brianna, you know, this virus has a long incubation period. So these passengers are going to continue to be monitored for about 42 days. And we also know that when you're in a situation like this, it's likely that more cases may emerge in the days to come. So that's also something that health officials are watching closely -- Brianna.
KEILAR: Yes, and they may be expecting that. Jacqueline Howard live for us in Atlanta. Thank you.
Still to come. Mystery in the Mediterranean. A vessel tied to Russia's so-called Shadow Fleet has sunk. Was it carrying nuclear reactors for North Korea? What a new CNN investigation has revealed so far.
[14:35:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: New details on the sinking of a Russian cargo ship that was likely carrying components for two nuclear reactors. CNN reporting suggests the ship may have been bound for North Korea. And the site of the sinking remains an area of interest both for the U.S. and Russia. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh has this new reporting. He's with us now. Nick, what are you learning?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, extraordinary story here about a Russian cargo ship that often was used to take Russian hardware out of Syria. But made a particularly fateful its last journey in December 2024. On paper, this was simply carrying cranes, 129 empty containers and two large manhole covers.
Leading many to ask why did it then set sail from St. Petersburg and attempt around the world sea voyage when a boring cargo like that could simply be used, taken across Russia on rail to its eventual destination of Vladivostok. Well, the ship was followed by NATO militaries and then ran into trouble off the coast of Spain, slowing down and then suddenly deviating in its course. Key here is the testimony of the Russian captain who later told Spanish investigators it had a 20 by 20 inch hole in its hull, it seems caused by some kind of explosion, the metal from the damage facing inwards.
It then listed and we understand the Russian military turned up, fired flares over the scene telling everyone to get away from the area, including Spanish rescuers. And four explosions followed that sank the ship. It was only listing at that particular point.
[14:40:00]
The Russian captain told Spanish investigators that he had an extraordinary cargo on board, components for two nuclear reactors likely for a submarine that he thought was going to be diverted to North Korea. That might potentially explain the curious round the world sea voyage. They didn't want to move that cargo by rail and certainly not across the Russian North Korea border. So heavily scrutinized.
What's key, though, is a week later, a Russian research vessel, the Yantar, returned to the scene. Four more explosions followed.
This all occurred just after Russia was given troops by North Korea to assist in its invasion in Ukraine, suggesting maybe a tit for tat here. The Spanish, Russian, British, American militaries offering no explanation as to really what happened here when we asked them. An extraordinary moment and it seems everyone happy for the secret of this to lay at the bottom of the sea.
KEILAR: What is that secret? Wouldn't we like to know? Nick, fascinating. A lot of questions raised here. Thank you so much for that reporting -- Boris.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Just moments ago, President Trump left the White House for Beijing for a face to face meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The president, as he was leaving, said he didn't need China's help to end the war with Iran. But he then expressed confidence that the talks the two superpowers are about to hold will help.
Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going to have a long talk about it. I think he's been relatively good, to be honest with you. You look at the blockade, no problem.
They get a lot of their oil from that area. We've had no problem. And he's been a friend of mine.
He's been somebody that we get along with. And I think you're going to see that good things are going to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Joining us now to discuss is Michael Allen. He served as special assistant to President George W. Bush for national security. He's also the National Security Council's former senior director for counterproliferation. Michael, thanks so much for being with us.
MICHAEL ALLEN, FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH FOR NATIONAL SECURITY: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: What do you see as China's role in potentially mediating some kind of resolution to the war?
ALLEN: Well, my sense is they don't want to get in the middle of it and try and mediate it. I think the best we can hope for is that they try to exercise some of their influence over Iran to encourage them to give up meaningful or make meaningful compromises that might get us to the end of this.
To be sure, China does have economic interest. It does receive much of its oil through the Strait of Hormuz. It has its own resilience, so I don't know that it's in a crisis yet. But I think China will want to be encouraging for Iran, but I wouldn't look for them to stick their neck out on our behalf.
SANCHEZ: Conversely, do you think that Xi Jinping could persuade President Trump to perhaps soften some of these positions when it comes to the enrichment of uranium and the moratorium on that, perhaps the amount of assets that the U.S. has frozen that are Iran's?
ALLEN: I think it's possible. I think the president has signaled previously that if he kind of gets what he needs, maybe on the reopening of the Straits and for Iran to forswear nuclear weapons, he is seemingly open to something creative on the highly enriched uranium. We've heard this hybrid scheme of some remains in Iran and it's going to be down blended and different parts of it might be shipped out of the country.
And definitely sanctions relief would be something in the offing down the road if this really got going. But, yes, if we could do a couple of things, then maybe we'd get there.
SANCHEZ: I've seen critics point to this situation with the United States and the stalemate that we've seen, the ceasefire now going for several weeks without any real substantial indication that the two sides are closer together and that there's an agreement actually in the works that is forthcoming. Make the case that this has all benefited China, that China's ascendant because of this, because we've seen the limitations of U.S. military power in the region in terms of not going as far as opening the Strait of Hormuz, and also the fact that China can just sort of sit back and watch this thing unfold with minor consequences in terms of its energy. ALLEN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Do you agree with that take that this has benefited China?
ALLEN: Well, not completely. I'm sure that someone who's virtually an adversary is silently probably a little bit in schadenfreude that the United States is seemingly in a little bit of trouble and can't quite fix this. But at the same time, I don't know that this is a strategic win for them.
It could be a strategic loss for the United States. It's not yet, but if we don't have a credible plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and I think that might be why the president's beginning to hold out the credible use of military force again. Right now, we're not exercising any instant leverage over the Iranians.
The military is basically off the table. We're not doing the escort mission. And while I support the blockade of the ports, that's going to take weeks, if not months, for it to really bite.
So we need some leverage if we want to get somewhere. I hope the Chinese will help us, but I think at the end of the day, some hard power is what we're going to need.
[14:45:00]
SANCHEZ: I'm also curious about your thoughts regarding conversations over Taiwan. President Trump sort of tongue-in-cheek said that Xi always brings this up. The president himself has delayed signing off on funding that Congress approved arms sales to Taiwan.
How do you think that potentially factors into this?
ALLEN: Well, I think that Taiwan arms sales is something that we do frequently. The country's done it for many, many decades. And, of course, the Chinese object, but at the end of the day, they look the other way.
So I think that's going to happen. There are those that are worried, however, that President Trump is sort of going to change our policy of, you know, basically that Taiwan should not be declaring independence. And we want to make sure, I think, that there is no unilateral change in the status quo.
I think if Trump sticks to those long-standing policy elements, that we'll be fine. If he departs from them, people are going to be worried about what does this mean about the U.S. commitment to Taiwan.
SANCHEZ: Michael Allen, thanks so much for the perspective. Appreciate it.
ALLEN: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Coming up, white critics say that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's new reality show is out of touch with reality for most Americans. Stay with us. [14:50:00]
COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Now to some of the other headlines that we're watching this hour. A Florida judge granted prosecutors' request for access to Tiger Woods' prescription drug records but limited who can see them. During the brief hearing, attorneys for Woods argued to keep his records private.
The golf legend did not appear in court. The judge's ruling is related to the March DUI case against Woods where he was arrested after being involved in a crash. Woods has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence.
And eBay has turned down a $56 billion purchase offer from GameStop, the online auction site not mincing words in its reply to the proposal, calling it quote, neither credible nor attractive. GameStop's offer raised a number of eyebrows since it was trying to buy a company nearly four times its size, leaving analysts wondering how it would finance the deal. Turns out GameStop's CEO is actually selling items on eBay to help raise cash, including a GameStop hat listed for nearly $5,000 and a GameStop mug priced at more than three grand. Still shy of that price tag.
Nonetheless, also a wildfire tearing through parts of the Florida Everglades has now burned more than 11,000 acres west of Miami. Firefighters are reporting progress containing the so-called Max Road fire and could get help from lighter winds and rain that's in the forecast.
That fire is just one of several affecting drought stricken parts of Florida and North Carolina.
And pediatricians say recess isn't just fun. It's crucial for good health and good grades. The American Academy of Pediatrics just released its first new guidance in 13 years about unstructured time at school and how it needs to be protected. This comes after years of shrinking recess time and worsening children's health. The new guidance says kids need breaks during school so their brains can hold and store information.
They also say physical activity can prevent obesity in children. The group recommends a minimum of 20 minutes of recess a day. They say that it should never be withheld for academic or punitive reasons. Kids everywhere taking note -- Boris.
SANCHEZ: Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is no stranger to reality TV. He made his small screen debut on MTV's The Real World. A new show though starring him and his family has critics questioning whether he's actually in touch with the real world as Americans grapple with high inflation and gas prices.
CNN's Tom Foreman has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What a beautiful family.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Another reality show. Another road trip. But it's a familiar path for this family.
TRUMP: Taking a little trip?
RACHEL CAMPOS-DUFFY: Yes.
TRUMP: A little trip all over.
FOREMAN (voice over): Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy of Fox News, met on MTV's "Road Rules: All- Stars." And they, and their nine children, are channeling that past in this five-part YouTube series.
SEAN DUFFY, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: We're encouraging everyone to go take a road trip to celebrate America's 250th birthday.
Welcome to Montana.
[08:59:43]
FOREMAN (voice over): But the rollout of their made for TV trip through at least 17 states is hitting rough roads with serious safety questions about air travel and several incidents, including a Frontier plane striking and killing a pedestrian over the weekend, a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship and gasoline prices way up amid the U.S. fight with Iran. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posted, "... this is brutally out of touch. Regular families can't afford road trips anymore because Trump and his war put gas prices through the roof."
DUFFY: Someone has to pay for this operation. I got to go to work.
FOREMAN (voice over): Duffy says no taxpayer dollars were involved. Neither he nor his family were paid. And sponsors picked up the production tab.
But looking at some of those corporate backers, government watchdogs warn that the secretary is enjoying a road trip that appears to have been funded by the very industries his agency oversees.
RACHEL CAMPOS-DUFFY, FOX NEWS: I wore my boots at John Rich gave me.
DUFFY: They're very sexy.
FOREMAN (voice-over): The Duffys are push posting that the radical miserable left just hates the show because it's too wholesome, it's too patriotic, it's too joyful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think Mudd's kind of mad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know you're mad.
DUFFY: We're not going to fight on this trip. Put your seatbelts on. FOREMAN (voice-over): Still, critics say the power couple is on thin ice. Although the project was reportedly shot mainly on weekends and holidays, it took seven months.
DUFFY: There's a crisis and Pete Buttigieg decides to ignore it.
[14:55:00]
FOREMAN (voice-over): And back when Buttigieg led transportation, both the Duffys attacked him for doing anything other than his government work, even for taking paternity leave when his twins were born.
CAMPOS-DUFFY: What the hell was he doing? And we were in the middle of a supply chain --
DUFFY: But it's vacation time, right? So, he's not doing his job.
CAMPOS-DUFFY: Exactly.
FOREMAN: So some who heard the Duffy's complaints back then say what they're hearing now sounds an awful lot like hypocrisy no matter where you go on the map.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Still to come, President Trump on his way to a major summit in Beijing. But before leaving, he told reporters that the financial stresses of Americans are not top of mind for him as he pushes to make a peace deal with Iran. More of his remarks next on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.
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