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Primary Results Still Being Counted in Critical Races Across U.S.; CBS News Fires Scott Pelley After Clash With Management; Vegas Edges Carolina 5-4 in Stanley Cup Final Game 1. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired June 03, 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]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The breaking news this morning, still counting in some of the key primary races across the country, but we do know that the president has suffered a setback.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Shockwaves through CBS again. Longtime anchor and 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley fired. The dispute with the new leadership at the network playing out very publicly now with new statements and accusations this morning from both Pelley and the network.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: And an officer wades through thigh-deep floodwater and hail to rescue a stranded driver. The incredible moment he carries her to safety.

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

BERMAN: All right. The breaking news this morning, it is counting time in some key primary races with some trends coming into focus. In California, it is too early to project the leaders in the governor primary there. Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra leading the pack of 61 candidates. Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer is currently in third place.

Now, the key here is the top two will advance, but there's a lot of votes left to count. In California, they will count mail ballots postmarked as late as Election Day, so, really, we may not know for a while.

And in the Los Angeles mayor's race, CNN projects incumbent Karen Bass, she will advance to the November runoff, but it's not clear who she will face. There's a battle for second. Will it be reality T.V. star Spencer Pratt, who is a Republican, or City Councilmember Nithya Raman? This is what the candidates had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR KAREN BASS (D-LOS ANGELES, CA): And we're going to build on that foundation because we know what a city we have and what a city we can be. And let me just say that tomorrow begins the second half of this journey. SPENCER PRATT, LOS ANGELES MAYORAL CANDIDATE: I'm the Angeleno who said enough is enough, and I had to step up. I didn't know I'd be here tonight, but it's obviously God's plan, and I'm going to go all the way, and I'm going to show everybody that I'm their mayor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Now over to Iowa. Josh Turek, a state lawmaker and Paralympic gold medalist, won the Democratic nomination for Senate over Zach Wahls. Turek will advance to take on Republican Ashley Hinson in the November general election.

The big news, honestly, out of Iowa, though, in the race for governor, where the Trump-backed Republican conceded, didn't win.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny live out there in Des Moines, the pride, honestly, of both Iowa and Nebraska. Jeff Zeleny there to cover Iowa like no one else can. Good morning to you, sir.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John, good morning. Iowa Democrats are about to test the proposition of if they can still win statewide in a state that Donald Trump carried three times. And there are signs of optimism across the Democratic Party. That was clear in that Senate primary. We're about to hear a lot more about the Senate race here in Iowa between Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson and Democratic State Representative Josh Turek. He was the winner of a very fiercely fought primary campaign here over State Senator Zach Wahls.

But in both of their speeches last night, they laid out their path forward, including Josh Turek opening his arms to independents and Republicans

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH TUREK (D), IOWA SENATE CANDIDATE: We have enough millionaires in D.C. looking out for billionaires. We need real people in Washington who have felt the consequences of a broken system, because when you have gone through real struggle, you will have a different level of empathy and a different level of fight. And this is what we need in D.C., fighters for the people, and that is what I will be in the United States Senate.

REP. ASHLEY HINSON (R-IA): While he's been masquerading as a good ol' Iowa moderate, he is nothing of the sort. In fact, he supports and will fight for the same radical and destructive policy agenda that pushed America to her breaking point and left you all to foot the bill. Do you want that as your next United States senator? No, we don't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: So, the November midterm elections are exactly five months from today. The question here in Iowa and in many states across the country as Democrats are trying to win in Trump-backed states, are economic concerns and anxieties going to outweigh cultural issues? [07:05:08]

Of course, that is how these races often have played. But here in Iowa during the first midterm election of the Trump administration the first time around back in 2018, Iowa Democrats won three House seats that helped them win that Congressional majority.

So, there is reason for optimism here. Of course, an uphill road, there is no doubt. But the Iowa Senate race is now clearly on the map, even as the president suffered a bit of a setback here yesterday.

BERMAN: All right. Jeff Zeleny for us in Des Moines, always great to see you there, Jeff. Thank you so much. Kate?

BOLDUAN: So, on this very thing, joining us right now is CNN Political Analyst and New York Times White House Correspondent Zolan Kanno-Youngs. It's great to see you. Thank you for being up so early, because I know it was a late night for you as well.

President Trump with the New York Post in an interview that just is releasing this morning, he was asked if he thinks the Iran war will impact Republicans' chances on the midterms, and it gets directly to where John and Jeff just left off. Listen to how the president put it in this new interview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I mean, everybody I endorse wins. I mean, everybody. You saw that, right, last week? Every single person I endorse wins.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: And just this week he was boasting his 38-0 kind of run of wins, and then Iowa. I mean, Zolan, what do you see in this governor's race?

ZOLAN KANNO-YOUNGS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: So, up until last night, we had a sort of split screen emerging of the president's power. When it came to the primaries, he was looking dominant, right? You saw him endorsing challengers to those he deemed to be political opponents, whether we're talking about Indiana state lawmakers, whether we're talking about Louisiana with Senator Bill Cassidy, or even the Texas primary with Senator John Cornyn also losing, you had the president winning.

But in the primaries, we're talking about some of the more passionate voters, the base that Trump still has a hold over. At the same time, you were seeing pushback from Republican elected officials in Washington, and what that signaled was that those Republican elected officials pushing back against things like, you know, the IRS situation, the quote/unquote anti-weaponization fund, they're thinking about the general election in November. They're thinking about the economic anxieties of voters as well. Now, you come to this point where you actually have the president register a loss in that first category, where he had been looking dominant in Iowa. His pick lost yesterday in Iowa, signaling that these economic concerns are going to continue to be a point of anxiety for Republicans.

Talking to some Republican officials around Iowa, my colleagues have reported on this, that they feel that the endorsement there might have come late. But, still, we do have this split screen emerging, and in the half where we did see the president dominant, he registers a loss here when it comes to Iowa.

BOLDUAN: It is interesting. Now, take me to California now. They're still counting, so a lot of unknowns at this hour and for likely weeks to come. What's your big take on this so far and what you think the message could be coming out of this one?

KANNO-YOUNGS: Well, it seems voters are frustrated, right? Voters are frustrated with the overall economy, with the situation as well in California. And, you know, the whole primary setup of this is interesting. You're seeing that particularly on the Democratic side that voters were being strategic. They weren't rushing to vote. And you're likely going to have more mail-in ballots that are counted now in the days, weeks to come.

And what that brings up is potentially the dynamic of a red mirage. Yes, you have the Republican there that you just saw, Steve Hilton, holding a slim lead here, you know, in this race. However, as those mail-in ballots are counted, many from Democratic voters, are you going to see that be eclipsed? That's something to watch there on the red mirage.

And then in the mayoral race it's been fascinating, right? You had an incumbent facing significant pushback, not only a challenge from, yes, this is a nonpartisan race, but not only a challenge from someone thought to be a Republican, but also a challenge on the progressive side.

Also, just fascinating in this race, we're seeing the rise of A.I. ads as well in our political system. Obviously, when it came to the Republican candidate in the mayoral race or the candidate thought to be Republican in the mayoral race, those artificial intelligence ads definitely made a splash.

BOLDUAN: Yes. He's definitely talked about his Republican tendencies, so we can definitely put it into the R category.

It's great to see you, Zolan. Thank you so much. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Thank you so much, Kate.

Coming up, a stunning shakeup at 60 Minutes' longtime correspondent, Scott Pelley fired one day after clashing with CBS leaders, but he's not staying quiet, accusing his ex-bosses of wreaking havoc at the network.

[07:10:13]

And reporting this morning for you about a turf war at the nation's top intelligence agencies. How infighting at the CIA could have a major impact on national security.

Also, former New York Congressman George Santos, who went to prison on fraud charges after being kicked out of Congress, is now under investigation yet again. How a bet on himself might have gotten him into trouble this time.

Those stories and more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:15:00]

SIDNER: All right. CBS News veteran, longtime 60 Minutes Correspondent Scott Pelley speaking out after he was fired over clashing with new management at the network.

In a statement issued late last night, Pelley said, 60 Minutes has, quote, lost its DNA when its entire senior leadership and several correspondents were recently outed. He also claimed CBS News' new management instructed him to, quote, inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story, which he says he refused to do.

Pelley was fired just a day after he accused the network's new leadership during a heated staff meeting of, quote, murdering 60 Minutes.

CNN's Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter is joining us now this morning. I mean, this is almost like a Clash of the Titans here. He is well-respected for his work, and he clearly shows no respect to those who are running 60 Minutes now. What did you learn?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: And that's why this is really a crisis inside CBS News that's going to have ripple effects for quite a while. 60 Minutes usually takes a summer break, then it comes back in September. But right now the show is missing most of its correspondents, either because they quit or they were fired, and now this network is going to be in rebuilding mode in a big way, having to figure out how to keep the program on the air.

And that's going to fall to Nick Bilton, the new executive producer who was appointed last week, creating, you know, just kind of astonishment in the T.V. industry because of his lack of T.V. news experience. Bilton's a former tech reporter, a filmmaker. He was brought in by Editor-in-Chief Barry Weiss to shake up the show, and that's exactly what's happened.

At a staff meeting on Monday that we talked about here yesterday, Pelley lit into Bilton, saying he was unqualified, and saying Weiss is trying to kill 60 Minutes. Last night, Bilton sent Pelley a letter saying he was being dismissed.

Here's part of the letter from Bilton. It says, you hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt. Bilton said that CBS tried to broker a kind of peace deal yesterday, but that didn't work. Bilton going on saying to Pelley, quote, you have no interest in contributing to the future success of the show or approaching my new tenure with a mind open to collaboration and progress.

So, Pelley terminated, and, notably, the letter says he's been terminated with cause, which means his contract gets ripped up. This is probably going to cause a legal battle where Pelley might lawyer up and start to send legal threats to CBS.

But overnight, Pelley did send me a statement and he said that he stands by his comments about management, that he believes management is incompetent and inexperienced. And then he said this about leaving CBS. Quote, I depart after 37 years at CBS with one emotion, a heart brimming with gratitude for the men and women who encouraged and enriched my work, very often at the risk of their own lives. He said, I pray for a day when those people and their ideals are honored again, a day when sanity, competence, and courage return.

So, Pelley clearly not going quietly. He believes this is about more than him. It's about the future of the most popular, most esteemed news magazine in America.

SIDNER: Yes. And they're doing worse. They were doing quite well. Their ratings are up. We will have to see how this all plays out, but, certainly, seeing Scott Pelley go is a huge, huge blow.

Thank you so much, Brian Stelter. I do appreciate all your reporting on this. John?

BERMAN: All right. The manhole mystery in New York, a group of people spotted crawling in right there to the sewer system. I'm not sure if that was a wise decision.

And the NBA Finals tip off tonight in San Antonio. And for Knicks fans, it might be cheaper for you to fly there and get a ticket than try to get one here when the series comes back to New York.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: So, if you tuned in to game one of the Stanley Cup finals a bit late, apparently, you missed a lot. The Golden Knights and Hurricanes putting points on the board lightning fast.

CNN's Coy Wire, also known as Lightning Fast Coy Wire, is here with more. Tell me, what happened?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: I'll take it, Kate, top of the morning sunshine.

If game one of the Stanley Cup final was the appetizer, sports fans may want to clear their calendars for the main course. Carolina's Nikolai Ehlers needed just 25 seconds to light the lamp, third fastest goal ever to start a Stanley Cup final. Well, 30 seconds into the second, Jack Eichel tied it at two. This was the first Stanley Cup final game ever with goals scored in the opening 30 seconds of both the first and second periods.

The teams kept trading punches like heavyweight fighters, tied at four with 3:45-ish left in the third, and Vegas goalie Carter Hart pulled the hockey equivalent of finding the last fry at the bottom of the bag, snagging a potential game-winner, Kate, from the home squad there. About 20 seconds later, it was Tomas Hertl delivering the knockout blow for the Golden Knights.

Vegas wins 5-4, first road team ever to erase a multi-goal deficit winning game one of a Stanley Cup final.

For the first time in a decade, both the men's and women's champs at the French Open will be first-time winners in Paris. Emotional moment yesterday when Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk defeated compatriot Elina Svitolina to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal.

[07:25:03]

She'll face Mirra Andreeva. Her thoughts immediately turned home afterwards.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTA KOSTYUK, WILL FACE MIRRA ANDREEVA IN FRENCH OPEN SEMIFINAL: We had very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv, so many people dead. And I want to give this match to Ukrainian people and to their resilience. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right. Tonight basketball history gets a sequel more than a quarter century in the making. The NBA Finals open in San Antonio with a rematch of the 1999 championship series between the Spurs and Knicks. San Antonio seeking its first title since 2014, and the Knicks, their first championship they chase since 1973. Nosebleed seats at MSG nearly $4,000. That's roughly five times the get in price in San Antonio tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, NEW YORK KNICKS CENTER: To be able to have this moment in Knicks history where we're back here, where, you know, New York's been hungry to be back in this finals, it means a lot.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, SAN ANTONIO SPURS FORWARD: Coming back down from this is a challenge, and it's not done yet. We still need to really come back down to earth and realize that we haven't done the hardest yet. The job isn't done at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right. Finally, Kate, Angels outfielder Jo Adell tracks a deep fly ball, gets a glove on it, then a forehead on it. The ball ricochets off of both over the fence for a Rockies home run.

That's a tough break, Kate. Usually fielders use their heads to make good decisions. Adell accidentally uses his to make the highlight reel for the other team, and helping them to an 8-2 win.

BOLDUAN: Ow. Ow, Coy. Ow. But, well, I don't know. I don't know how to make a transition ow in baseball to where is that -- where are -- oh. He's not smaller than you, Sara. He's not smaller than you.

SIDNER: You don't -- this -- what do you mean? I don't see anything. Coy, can you see this? I don't see anything.

WIRE: Yes, baby, always rocking the old school Oakley.

BOLDUAN: If anybody deserves T.V. time, but should also not be allowed to speak because he would get himself fired, it would be Brad.

SIDNER: Yes. So, Brad is afraid to show his face on T.V. He's going to tomorrow morning. He's going to be up late tonight. Make sure he's okay tomorrow early morning.

SIDNER: He will be okay.

BOLDUAN: Lulu, where's your tank top?

SIDNER: None of us --

BOLDUAN: Is Lulu wearing a tank top? I mean, you of anyone should be rocking the arms. Lulu, where's your tank top?

SIDNER: Wow.

BOLDUAN: Yes?

SIDNER: Yes. It's under.

WIRE: Yes. If they win -- if the Knicks win tonight, he needs to wear that tank top with no shirt underneath tomorrow.

SIDNER: Come on, show us.

BOLDUAN: Wait. Coy, this is important. Lulu says the tank top, the gun show is not happening unless the Knicks win. So, come on, Brunson.

SIDNER: Open it up.

WIRE: All right.

BOLDUAN: Come on.

WIRE: Let's go Knicks. Let's go Knicks.

BOLDUAN: America needs a gun show.

All right. Let's go. It's so weird to feel that way.

SIDNER: Brad is like so uncomfortable. He's like, I don't want to do this. I didn't sign up for this. I'm like, that's too bad.

BOLDUAN: I saw you. I heard you literally pulling him out.

SIDNER: I pulled him out here. I'm sorry to Brad and his whole family for embarrassing him.

All right, spy versus spy. The infighting between the top U.S. spy agencies that's flaring up and leading to a breakdown in collaboration. What that means for the safety of America.

And a car flooding with water and hail threatening the life of the driver. How an officer made the save.

Those stories and more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:00]