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Maine Democrats' First Debate Shows Difficulty in Replacing Graham Platner; U.S. Attorney Give New Details About Deadly ICE Shooting in Houston; Southside Blooms Grows After CNN Hero of the Year Honor; Spain and Argentina to Face Off in Final World Cut on Sunday. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired July 17, 2026 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

MICHAEL SHEPHERD, POLITICS EDITOR, BANGOR DAILY NEWS: Troy Jackson has put out a slate of 500 delegates that he wants to elect, so all the campaigns are going to do that to some degree. They're really trying to stack the audiences tomorrow to stack the audience at the convention. So I think delegates still need to know how they think about Susan Collins and what their approach is to beating her.

This has been really tough. She's a white whale for Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats. And these guys have a limited opportunity to spin up a campaign, so they need to harness enthusiasm.

They need to get really caught up on the issues. And, you know, we saw a little bit last night that some of them aren't there yet.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Yes, they're differentiating themselves or trying to from each other. But they're going to be up against Susan Collins. And the task here is showing voters who want an alternative if maybe they aren't going to be one.

We'll see how they do with that, how they do here in the coming days and at that debate. And we'll see you there, too, Michael. Thank you so much.

SHEPHERD: Thanks a lot.

KEILAR: Coming up, the family of the man fatally shot by an ICE agent in Houston is countering the FBI's assertion that the substance found inside his van could be drugs. What they say it is next.

[15:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN HOST: Some breaking news into CNN. President Trump is endorsing Republican Senator Darlene Graham to run for her brother's Senate seat in November. Graham was sworn in on Wednesday after her appointment by South Carolina's governor, but it wasn't clear if she would serve the rest of the term and then step down.

The president's endorsement, though, could clear the field for Graham in the midterms, as several Republicans were thinking of throwing their hats in the ring. We'll stay on top of this story and let you know what happens.

But we want to get you to some other news as well, including federal officials are revealing new details about the moments leading up to a deadly ICE shooting in Houston. In a new statement, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas says agents were searching for two Guatemalan men known to be driving a white van when they attempted to stop a white van being driven by 52-year-old construction worker Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Now, here's what the U.S. attorney says happened next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

U.S. ATTORNEY AARON REITZ, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS: Two of the four officers got out of their vehicles and instructed the non-compliant aliens to put the van in park. Preliminary information indicated the driver shifted the van into reverse, then forward again, while an officer was partially inside the van or immediately next to it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: Now, ICE's initial account said that Salgado Araujo quote, "... weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer."

As you heard, the U.S. attorney's new statement does not mention this claim. Doubts are also being raised about investigators' claims that a crystal-like substance found in the van could be drugs. Salgado Araujo's family believes the substance is actually granulated salt that was used to make a homemade electrolyte drink.

The FBI declined to comment when asked about the family's remarks. So a lot to dig into here. I want to bring in CNN law enforcement analyst and former Secret Service agent Jonathan Wackrow, who's with us now.

You know, on that last point, the FBI executed a search warrant Wednesday. Would they know whether this crystal-like substance is drugs or salt by now? And it seems we don't have Jonathan's audio just now, but we're going to try and work to get that going as well.

As we've been talking about, the details on this story really have been unfolding over the course of this week. We talked about sort of the statement from the U.S. attorney and the initial statement from ICE as well. I believe we have Jonathan Wackrow back now.

Hopefully we can hear you. But as I was mentioning, the FBI executed a search warrant. I hear the laugh, so we're in good shape.

The FBI executed that search warrant on Wednesday. So would they know whether that crystal-like substance is drugs or salt by now?

JONATHAN WACKROW, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: Well, they should have that returned by now. But Omar, let me take just a step back to scene set here. When you have a federal drug allegation surfacing publicly in the middle of an active use-of-force investigation with two different investigative bodies appearing to reach different conclusions about the same evidence, it really raises questions, rightly, about the sequencing here.

However, it's important to understand that the use-of-force review, because there was an agent-involved shooting in the drug investigation, are not one and the same. They do not inform each other. Search warrants of a vehicle are usually filed immediately following an incident, especially if that vehicle is maintained and secured as part of a crime scene.

If the officer who fired his weapon had no way of knowing what was in the van at the time that they made the decision to fire, then whatever is actually found later in that van, whether it's drugs or, as the family says, granulated salt, cannot retroactively justify the shooting or undermine that agent's decision. So, really, we are talking about here two separate and distinct issues.

JIMENEZ: And, you know, you bring up a good point in the sense that the FBI search warrant was unsealed, in this case, in the middle of this investigation. And I wonder, just from your perspective, does that strike you as unusual? Why would this warrant be unsealed at this point of this investigation?

[15:40:00]

WACKROW: Yes, it's a little bit odd, but there are, obviously, there's things that we don't know, and we heard from the U.S. Attorney's Office, a little bit of a shifting narrative on the way that they're characterizing this incident. And, again, that's sort of the through line here. The core issue is this conflation now of two separate investigative questions.

But these are two separate investigations. Again, you can't link them together. So, overall, what is happening is this is causing confusion, and it's something that is confusing for the public, and now it seems like it's confusing for some of the prosecutors that are working on the case.

JIMENEZ: You know, ICE agents, in terms of policy and the law, operate differently generally than the local police, for example, especially when interfacing with the public. And I bring that up because I'm interested in your analysis on whether, you know, the information agents had at the time rose to the level of reasonable suspicion to pull Salgado Araujo over. And under what circumstances would that be warranted?

WACKROW: Well, I think that you, in your question, you actually raise a broader issue, is we don't know, right? We haven't had any statements. We know what their operation plan notionally was saying, what they were looking for, but exactly why they made the determination, what was that probable cause statement or moment that made them take this action towards this white van, all of that remains unknown.

And this is where body-worn cameras would have played an extreme value in this situation in understanding or making that determination. Right now, we don't know, and we're not getting a lot of information as to what type of action precipitated the vehicle stop and the subsequent shooting. There's a lot of questions that just remain outstanding on that action.

And now, after the fact, you have this federal warrant for the search of the vehicle because of potential drugs. Again, there's a lot of things that don't add up here, Omar.

JIMENEZ: It's part of why many have pushed for these ICE agents to be wearing body cameras, and we know that that was approved, but it didn't make it to Maine just yet, as we understand from the federal government.

Jonathan Wackrow got to leave it there. Appreciate you being here. Thanks for the time.

WACKROW: Hey, thanks, Omar.

JIMENEZ: All right, we'll be right back.

[15:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JIMENEZ: This year marks the 20th anniversary of CNN Heroes, and we have an update on last year's Hero of the Year, who has seen new opportunities blooming for his nonprofit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Keelan Blackwell.

QUILEN BLACKWELL, FOUNDER, SOUTHSIDE BLOOMS: I was stunned. Absolutely stunned. It's just given us like that massive stamp of credibility.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Being named CNN Hero of the Year brought new opportunities to Quilen Blackwell and his nonprofit flower shop, Southside Blooms.

HILLARY COHEN, FOUNDER, EVERY DAY ACTION: It's so good to see you.

COOPER (voice-over): It also led to a collaboration with a fellow CNN Hero, Hillary Cohen. Her nonprofit, Every Day Action, rescues leftover food from film sets and delivers it to those in need.

BLACKWELL: Hillary and I just hit it off like instantly. To have that moment to meet people who really are passionate about compassion is absolutely phenomenal.

COOPER (voice-over): In April, Quilen and his wife Hannah brought a team to Los Angeles to help with Hillary's annual fundraising gala.

COHEN: It's so cool that he came with his entire team, and it's like my friends here.

COOPER (voice-over): They turned her workspace into a temporary flower shop, a step that also helped with Quilen's big plans for the future.

BLACKWELL: We are kind of looking at this as like a dry run of what it would look like to have an L.A., Southside Blooms location.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I never imagined I would be able to go to L.A., Los Angeles. That's crazy. I feel like I'm dreaming.

HANNAH BLACKWELL: You can have that kind of thrill around.

BLACKWELL: Galas are your lifeblood, you know, for any nonprofit. It means the world that Hillary and her team is putting so much faith in us, and hopefully she's not disappointed.

COOPER (voice-over): The flowers and the gala were both a huge success. At the end of the night, Hillary invited Quilen onstage to announce a new initiative they developed together.

BLACKWELL: We had a conversation that turned into our collaboration, which is Flowers for Good.

COOPER (voice-over): The program gives nonprofits 20 percent of purchases made by their supporters. Quilen hopes that Hillary's group is just the first of many to benefit.

BLACKWELL: It's a way to really help share the bounty of flowers. Shops Southside Blooms, sign up for Flowers for Good and help support your favorite charity in the process.

COHEN: I think that two nonprofits coming together to help each other on this really big level, that's so beautiful.

COOPER (voice-over): For Quilen, it's another example of the power of flowers.

BLACKWELL: It just really makes me feel good to see Southside Blooms blossom.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ: Just incredible. To learn more about Quilen's big plans for the future, go to cnn.com/heroes -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Now an update on the story of that Blue Angels jet flying over a crowded beach in Florida. After this video came to light, it looked like there might be repercussions for those involved after Blue Angels leadership said they were reviewing the matter. But no, there will not be.

In a new social media post, the acting secretary of the Navy wrote, "Flight debrief complete, no reprimands, no firings, no problem. That's the sound of freedom." In this case, freedom sounds a lot like the cries of children with sand in their eyes.

But nonetheless, here's how this reversal happened. After a Blue Angels spokesperson issued a public statement saying that the "... aircraft flew lower than standard profiles, resulting in a disturbance on the beach that affected civilian chairs and umbrellas, and that team leadership was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and conducting a thorough safety review to ensure all operations adhere to strict Navy and FAA safety standards." But then Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X, the flyovers will continue until morale improves, an indication that there may not actually be any consequences.

It's a pattern that we've seen involving questionable incidents, involving military aircraft near civilians. In March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Army pilots who were suspended after they were seen in this video posted online by Kid Rock flying Apache helicopters over the longtime Trump supporters home near Nashville were no longer suspended for doing so, and that the incident would not be investigated. That was after the Army said that they took allegations of unauthorized or unsafe flight operations very seriously.

Also, several South Carolina National Guard helicopter pilots were suspended earlier this month after flying low over a South Carolina beach, only to have their suspensions lifted after Hegseth posted online.

And ahead, the stage is set, and this weekend, FIFA will crown the World Cup champion. So what should we expect from the star-studded final between Argentina and Spain? We'll have that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Six weeks worth of amazing games and fantastic finishes and it all comes down to this. Argentina and Spain set to face off in the World Cup final this Sunday in New Jersey and the two team supporters will be hoping for some big performances from superstar Lionel Messi of Argentina and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal of Spain.

So let's bring in senior writer at The Athletic, Philippe Cerdenas. Philippe, Argentina's going for back-to-back World Cups. Spain's only allowed one goal the entire tournament which is pretty amazing. What are the keys to victory for these two teams?

FELIPE CARDENAS, SENIOR WRITER, THE ATHLETIC: Yes, playing to each other's strengths. As you mentioned, you know, Spain has been really solid defensively but they're a team that likes to keep the ball so they really do control matches. And then there's a mystique that's building around this Argentina team with Lionel Messi leading the way. And getting him out of really difficult situations across the knockout games, heartbreaking losses for their opponents and just really enthralling and thrilling wins for the defending champions.

I think anyone that thought that Argentina would not be in the final, that was me included months ago, now they're here. They've quieted a lot of detractors and a lot of critics and they are going to play for back-to-back World Cup titles on Sunday.

KEILAR: I thought it was interesting that there was a New York Times article that came out this week, and it said, "The 39-year-old has spent 63 percent of the World Cup walking, and another 25 percent just standing still." I wonder what you thought of that. Is that just a sort of work smarter, not harder situation?

CARDENAS: A little bit. I mean, if you can walk and stand and still score eight goals at a World Cup, I think you're doing something right, and this is something that's not new with Messi. I think 63 percent of the time in the knockouts is probably due to the way that he's approaching the sport at the age of 39, but still, it's very strategic.

It's calculated. It's a way for him to slow the game down. I think it lulls defenders to sleep.

It's very difficult for a defender to say, well, maybe I should stick with him, but I'm going to follow the ball as well, and while you're thinking and you're confused, Messi is really mapping out the game for him. And so this has been, I think, vintage Messi. A lot of the performances for him in Argentina have been one where he's come to the rescue after maybe 60 or 70 minutes of not doing much, and then he finds these moments.

He's still a game winner, and I think what his manager said the other day, Lionel Scaloni, saying, after all this, how can anyone not think that he's the greatest player of all time?

KEILAR: There have been a lot of firsts in this World Cup. This is the first time that 48 teams competed. It's the first time three countries co-hosted, and now we have the first halftime show.

What grade would you give this World Cup?

CARDENAS: I mean, high marks. I mean if we're sticking to traditional A through F, I mean, it's a high A. I mean, there's always things that we can point at and poke holes through off the field, and there's been a lot of tension politically around the World Cup, but the product has been spectacular.

The goals have been there. The big tournament stars have shown up, all of them, nearly all of them, and now you have a World Cup final that I think is really intriguing and attractive, not just to diehard soccer fans, but the neutrals as well, with these two star-studded teams coming at each other for glory, and Lionel Messi, you mentioned Lamina Yamal, the 19-year-old, one plays for Barcelona, one used to play for Barcelona, so I think one more bit of history that we'll see on Sunday. This is the first time in tournament history that the reigning European champion will face the reigning South American champion, and so that is just one more data point that makes this 2026 World Cup one that I think a lot of people are going to remember for a long time.

KEILAR: All right, what do you think's going to happen tomorrow? Be honest, Felipe.

CARDENAS: You know what? I have bet against Argentina several times this knockout, and I will never do it again, OK? Like, they keep proving me wrong. I think when I think they're done, they come back, and so they played their best game against England when they were really up against it, when there was so much tension around that game, and they know Spain. These Spanish players know Lionel Messi very well. I think we could see history again repeat itself and see Argentina lift another World Cup.

I wouldn't doubt it.

KEILAR: All right, listen, you know that when you make a bet and it just comes back on you time and again, you know, you remember that. Felipe, it is great to have you, and always wonderful to talk about football and soccer with you. We appreciate you being here with us again.

CARDENAS: All the best. It's always my pleasure.

KEILAR: "THE ARENA" with Kasie Hunt starts right now.

END