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Oil Prices Fall; EPA Being Forced to Downplay Safety Risks?; Trump Set to Attend NBA Finals; Israel and Iran Trade Fire. Aired 1- 1:30p ET

Aired June 08, 2026 - 13:00   ET

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

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BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Attacks on hold. Iran and Israel halting strikes, but Tehran is warning they will resume if Israel continues operations against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, all as President Trump continues to insist a peace deal is close.

Plus: pulling out all the stops. Security teams, deploying the entire protective package to keep President Trump safe at tonight's NBA Finals game, the first at Madison Square Garden in nearly 30 years, leading to changes that are frustrating some Knicks fans.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: And under pressure. EPA scientists say they're being pushed to alter safety reviews and downplay the potential risks from common household products.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

SANCHEZ: We start this hour with breaking news on the war with Iran. We have been following what appears to be a de-escalation in strikes today after Israel and Iran traded their worst attacks in over a month.

Just a short time ago, President Trump demanding the shooting from both sides immediately stop. Earlier, CNN learned the president spoke directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu twice in fewer than 24 hours.

But while Netanyahu is now saying that Israel will stop strikes in Iran, sources say its military operation against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon will not end. The question now remains, what will Iran do next?

CNN's Kristen Holmes is live for us at the White House.

So, Kristen, what is President Trump saying about where things stand?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, right now, it seems as though the White House and President Trump are all breathing a sigh of relief. They feel like they have finally gotten this thing back on track, that both sides are at least somewhat backing down.

And just to give a little bit of a timeline here as to what we have seen over the past 24 hours, or less than 24 hours, all of this starting with Iran launching this barrage of missiles at Israel. We heard President Trump telling reporters before he even spoke to Netanyahu that he would encourage him not to retaliate.

Then he does have this call where he says this to the prime minister. And, instead, Israel attacks Iran. Iran then fires back. Then, of course, we have what we saw today unfold, this -- Trump telling Iran and Israel to -- quote, unquote -- "stop shooting."

This official telling us there had been a second call, the second of such calls between President Trump and Netanyahu in the last 24 hours, and then where we landed today, with, as you mentioned, Iran saying that it was suspending the operation, although we are hearing that there might still be strikes in Lebanon.

Iran has said that, if these strikes continue in the southern area of Lebanon, that they would remain or open to this idea that they could resume their strikes on Israel. This, of course, has been a major sticking point in the ongoing cease-fire and the ongoing negotiations.

I mean, there are a lot of questions here as to just how much power President Trump has. He has continued to say that these deals are being negotiated behind the scenes, that they're incredibly close. We're hearing White House officials, U.S. officials talking with this kind of sense of optimism.

But then you're seeing things like this, moments like this, which threaten to derail the cease-fire entirely and, of course, those ongoing negotiations. And part of the power that President Trump has tried to flex or the muscle he's tried to flex when he's dealing with Iran is this idea that he can control Israel from striking Iran.

So, of course, it doesn't bode well to have President Trump out there saying that he's telling Netanyahu not to retaliate, and then having Netanyahu retaliate, although it does seem that, for now, that has stopped.

The big question is, are we any closer to some kind of deal between the U.S. and Iran than we were days ago? And, right now, that's just not clear.

SANCHEZ: Yes, for about a month now, we have heard the president say that a deal was all but done and may be days away.

Kristen Holmes at the White House, thank you so much -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Security officials and the Secret Service are ramping up for a show of force in New York City. Game three of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs is now just hours away, and the safety measures around this event are very different from the games before it.

[13:05:11]

The president's decision to attend means that there are changes both inside and outside of the arena.

CNN's Shimon Prokupecz is there outside of Madison Square Garden in New York.

Shimon, how's it looking right now, and what are officials talking about when they say the different things we should expect here?

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, SENIOR CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, for one, Brianna, there is definitely still a lot of excitement here.

I have been watching people come out of the train station here. And when they see these fences here -- Tom, stay here on the fences -- they're just struck by it. They're just shocked to see this kind of security around Madison Square Garden.

In D.C., certainly, we have been used to seeing these big black unscalable fences that the Secret Service uses on, let's say, the State of the Union, certainly around the Capitol. But to see this here in the middle of Manhattan is certainly striking.

Now, a lot is going to be happening here. Right now, the roads are open, cars are allowed to travel, but this entire area, the entire area is going to be shut down at 4:00. And we're seeing Secret Service really everywhere here.

I want to show you here Secret Service officers positioned here outside the entrance to Madison Square Garden. We're seeing these officers here. They're going to be positioned at all of the entrances. And it's that TSA-style security that fans that are supposed to come here two hours in advance -- the game's at 8:30. They're telling people to get here around 6:30.

And if you don't have a ticket and you have no reason to be here in this area, they're not going to allow you in. The NYPD is setting up an exterior perimeter of security, where they're going to put a barrier and they're not going to let people in.

And at every game, every game here in New York City and even on the road games, fans would gather here outside Madison Square Garden. They're not going to be allowed to do that tonight. There's no watch party. But, more significantly, they won't even allow people into this area to gather.

So it's going to be interesting to see what happens if the Knicks win, because we know they're going to win. And, go, Knicks.

(LAUGHTER)

PROKUPECZ: But it's a big difference here. But -- you know I had to do that, Bri.

KEILAR: I know you did.

PROKUPECZ: But I think, for fans, they're not going to be deterred. I was in the arena yesterday. I was at practice. The players are excited. They want to get this game going. And they're unfazed by all of this, and certainly many of the fans are. It's going to be an inconvenience.

But I think people are going to want to leave work early. If you have a ticket, you have an excuse to leave work early. You got to get here early, so that you get inside two hours early, they're saying. And it's going to take a while for people to get in. But, hopefully, they will get everyone in by 8:30.

KEILAR: Yes, these are very committed people. So I have faith that that is going to happen.

And speaking of commitment is, watching that close, close, close, close game, I thought, Shimon, he committed to the bit. He's got the nails done.

(LAUGHTER)

KEILAR: I didn't, and maybe that's the difference, that the point made here.

PROKUPECZ: Yes. Yes.

KEILAR: I thought maybe that -- maybe that's what it is. It's that I didn't show up, and Shimon did.

But talking about the big game there...

PROKUPECZ: You didn't.

KEILAR: ... Mayor Mamdani is also going to be in the Garden. So what can you tell us about his ticket for game three and also about the reported million-dollar winning bid for two celebrity row seats?

PROKUPECZ: I mean, look, everyone's been trying to somehow get in on these tickets. They're so expensive, thousands of dollars, being resold on the resale sites. And it's impossible.

There was a short window yesterday for people to buy tickets. And, at one point, I looked. There were like, I don't know, 500,000 people in the queue in Ticketmaster. No one could get in.

Now, as for the mayor, he's coming here. He said he bought his own ticket, hasn't revealed how much he's paid for it or where exactly he's going to be sitting. He's been to the previous game here, and he sat up top, closer to the top, not so much -- maybe perhaps in the middle.

So we will see later where he winds up. I mean, there's been a lot of questions about whether or not he was going to be with the president, if he was going to speak with the president. That's not expected to happen. So we will see. We will see where he is in the arena and what happens

and, as we get closer to game time, what kind of interaction the president has with the players inside and what and what happens.

But, look, I mean, for New York City, this is such a big night. Walking through the streets here, living here, growing up here, the feeling is, there's just so much excitement. People really feel together. They have something to root for, something to be excited about.

And I think, despite all the security and despite the concerns, none of that should be lost. This is really a great moment for the city, a moment that we have all been waiting for, for a really long time.

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KEILAR: Yes.

PROKUPECZ: And I'm in. I'm all the way in. So, let's go.

(CLAPPING)

KEILAR: You're all the way in. It's so exciting.

All right, Shimon...

PROKUPECZ: I am. I love you guys.

KEILAR: We love you too.

(BOOING)

PROKUPECZ: Thank you.

KEILAR: I think Boris is booing, but, like, I have love, all right?

PROKUPECZ: I know. Of course he is.

KEILAR: Boris, he's tough. Like, he's...

PROKUPECZ: He's going to be suffering. It's OK.

(LAUGHTER)

KEILAR: All right, Shimon, time will tell.

PROKUPECZ: He's going to suffer some more.

Sorry, Boris.

KEILAR: He's going to suffer some more.

(LAUGHTER)

PROKUPECZ: All right, I know we have to go. We have to go.

KEILAR: He's laughing.

PROKUPECZ: But I love you guys, and you guys have been great.

KEILAR: We love you, Shimon. Thank you so much.

So, still to come, we have some exclusive CNN reporting. Scientists at the EPA say they're being pressured to downplay the potential risks of household products.

Plus: fired and now firing back. Legendary journalist Scott Pelley slamming CBS News leadership for what he calls incompetence and appearing to tip the scales in President Trump's favor, as he reveals alleged directives to staff.

And then, later: Prosecutors say the man accused of igniting the Palisades Fire was pissed off at the world. That's their quote. His trial begins today.

We have that and much more coming up on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

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SANCHEZ: CNN has some new exclusive reporting about growing turmoil at the EPA.

Multiple current and former career scientists say they're being pressured to downplay the potential risks of chemicals found in common products. They describe being pushed to alter safety reviews for chemicals in consumer goods like cosmetics and household cleaners.

KEILAR: Yes, this is significant here.

One employee telling CNN -- quote -- "Basically, the moment you calculate risk, there's some sort of meeting. And they push you to figure out how we can make the risk disappear."

These scientists also say they're being told to stop considering the impact a chemical may have on specific racial groups, effectively ignoring how certain people may be more susceptible to harm based on underlying health conditions, genetic and other factors.

CNN's Rene Marsh is here with her exclusive report on this.

All right, Rene, explain this, how these employees say this review process is being altered.

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, let's start from the beginning with these chemicals and these products that we use, I mean, everything from nail polish.

There's a chemical that makes the nail polish flexible in some nail polishes. It's present in our household products to make it smell good. The scent that we associate with being clean, there's a chemical involved there. And what many people don't realize, and I honestly didn't until I did

this story, is that the EPA hasn't fully done a health risk assessment on all of these chemicals in some of these consumer products that are on store shelves right now.

And these career employees at EPA are saying that they are being pushed by supervisors to essentially downplay the potential risk of some of these chemicals, making them look safer than they believe that they are. And, really, what it comes down to, according to these sources, is, if there is no risk, there is no reason to regulate.

And we know that the Trump administration and the EPA has been very open about wanting to roll back a lot of regulations. So that's the context in which the concern is happening. But we reached out to EPA, and they're pushing back on this. They say that they are implementing the president's executive order and restoring gold standard science across its risk evaluations.

And they went on to say, in practice, that means using realistic exposure scenarios, rather than defaulting to compounded worst-case assumptions.

SANCHEZ: Your sources are indicating that it's former chemical industry insiders that are driving this shift in the agency to make their -- to make the chemicals seem safer, in their words.

Formaldehyde is one example.

MARSH: Yes, so there is an office within the EPA in which they are tasked with doing these assessments. They also -- when they find risks, they regulate them.

And what you will find is that the Trump administration has installed many former chemical industry lobbyists who are running many of these key offices. For example, you mentioned formaldehyde, Boris. Nancy Beck, she's now the principal deputy assistant administrator.

She was previously with the American Chemistry Council. That's a lobbying group. And according to this source, it is Beck who was the driving force for essentially revising a health risk assessment that was already completed. The source says that it was completed in 2024 for formaldehyde.

But when Beck arrived at the agency, the source says that she specifically reopened it and proposed doubling what's considered safe exposure for formaldehyde. Again, that's a known carcinogen. And the source just describes that this former lobbyist for the chemical industry is really in the weeds on the science, on the research at the ground level with these scientists.

And that is unprecedented. They say, in prior administrations, essentially, the scientists and the science they were using was trusted. They never felt like they had to defend their science. But this is the culture and the environment that they're explaining and describing to CNN. And they fear that it will mean that Americans will be exposed to

potentially more of a chemical than is safe. And it will be in products that surround us every day. And we assume that, when we go in the store, we buy these products, someone's looked at them, assessed them properly and independently, and that we're safe to use them. And these scientists are saying they're not quite sure.

KEILAR: Yes.

And we know that, historically, there are many examples of regulations not keeping up with the risk. And we've seen what can happen there. So these are the folks who are really -- they're on the front lines of that, but it sounds like, from your reporting, they're very afraid to push back.

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They are, because they have looked at, for example, a dissent letter that about 100 EPA employees signed on to essentially speaking out against some Trump policies at the EPA, and the Trump administration or EPA leadership moved to suspend them.

Also, the union there, that -- the agency is not recognizing the union. So they feel as if they have very few protections. So, as one put it, if you don't follow the instructions, it's insubordination. And insubordination, you know what happens next. So I think they all feel the pressure to do what -- they're reading the room of what -- how it's supposed to go.

SANCHEZ: Yes, really eye-opening reporting.

Rene Marsh, thank you so much.

MARSH: Sure.

SANCHEZ: Coming up: President Trump walking out of an interview after he's pressed about some of his election fraud claims.

Don't walk out on us. We will be right back.

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KEILAR: We're following the fallout after Israel and Iran traded fire for the first time since the start of their cease-fire on April 8. Both Iran and Israel now say that their military strikes on each other are suspended. And, with that news, oil prices which are spiking, are easing this afternoon.

Still, the Strait of Hormuz remains paralyzed with minimal traffic getting through.

CNN's Matt Egan is with us now.

And, Matt, oil prices remain high, but they have not skyrocketed to those very high levels that forecasters feared, at least not yet. Why is that?

MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Well, Brianna, you're right.

It has been such a surprise to see how eerily calm the market has been about this epic supply shock, right? You've got the Strait of Hormuz basically paralyzed for more than 100 days now. And yet you have oil prices well below $100 a barrel, well below those dangerous predictions that some forecasters had anticipated.

And the stock market -- I mean, yes, the stock market fell on Friday, but it still remains near all-time highs. Now, there's a few theories here. But one of them is that perhaps the Strait of Hormuz may not be as shut down as it might have first appeared.

Visible traffic through the waterway, what could be measured through satellites and transponders, that remains just a small fraction of what it was before the war. But some analysts do think that a surprisingly large amount of crude has been able to escape this double blockade on the Strait of Hormuz on tankers that have effectively gone dark by turning off their transponders.

J.P. Morgan estimates that about 2.1 million barrels per day has been able to escape the Strait of Hormuz. They're calling these clandestine flows. And there's different estimates out there. Some think it's a little bit lower. Some think it's a little bit higher.

But the point is, is that some of this oil has effectively been able to escape the Gulf and that that has helped to minimize the shock on the energy system. Now, this isn't the only factor, of course. There's other factors out there as well, including the fact that China has slashed its oil imports.

That has been really significant. And there's also been some other detours that have been activated here. Specifically, the East-West Pipeline, that has been used to get some oil out of Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea and out to the rest of the world. But the bottom line here is, thankfully, oil prices have not skyrocketed as high as some had feared.

But, Brianna, it remains an open question how long that's going to be the case, especially as, again, the Strait of Hormuz has not fully reopened by any stretch.

KEILAR: Yes.

Matt Egan, thank you so much for that report.

Next, see and hear what happens when a truckload of fireworks goes up in flames.

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