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Iran State Media Denies Thran Rejected Deal; Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) is Interviewed about Iran; Accused Georgia School Shooter Due in Court; Lawmaker Hold Forum for ICE Houston Shooting. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired July 24, 2026 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

PETER HOTEZ, PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS AND MOLECULAR VIROLOGY, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: And, you know, even, John, even though we haven't officially lost our measles elimination status because we haven't connected the dots on our big epidemics in Utah and South Carolina and Texas, basically, measles is back. We've lost our elimination status. And that is the first domino to fall because pertussis, whooping cough, is falling right behind. Those numbers are also huge in terms of coming back. And, of course, the worry is that polio could return.

So, we are just not -- we don't have the advocacy in the Department of Health and Human Services. State legislatures are not understanding the importance of vaccinating their kids. We're going in the wrong direction as a country.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A lot to be concerned about here. Dr. Peter Hotez, great to see you this morning. Thank you very much.

A brand-new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, confusion over a ceasefire proposal. "The Times" suggesting that Iran rejected a deal. Tehran says it did not. But the escalating war is pushing oil and gas prices up, as President Trump says he's considering a massive attack.

Now, look at this video. A sea plane crashing while trying to make an emergency landing. Everyone on board, though, surprisingly, makes it out alive. But see what happens to this plane just as they leave.

And a police officer using a stun gun at a gas station, sparking a fire that left a man with serious burns.

Kate, out today. Today it's John Berman and I. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

Breaking this morning, the president ratcheting up rhetoric after 13 nights of bombing. There is new confusion over whether a ceasefire is even on the table. "The Times," as we mentioned, reporting Iran rejected a U.S. offer for a new truce, but Iran's state media says that's not exactly true. Still, nothing is signed. Right now, both sides seem to be backing down. Overnight -- not backing down. Overnight, Iran says it targeted U.S. military bases in multiple countries across the Middle East. U.S. Central Command said it launched new strikes on Iranian military targets. Iran state media says at least four people have been killed in all this, and it doesn't sound like President Trump is in a dealmaking mood at this point. He told "Axios" he's considering a, quote, "massive attack" on Iran, "bigger than ever before," as he put it.

CNN's Betsy Klein is live this morning at the White House with the very latest as to what is going on there and what happens next.

Betsy.

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Sara, it's been 13 consecutive nights of strikes. And all you have to do is look at this recent statement that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gave to "The Wall Street Journal." She is essentially indicating that the strikes are going to continue until Iran, in her words, comes to the table in what President Trump deems a meaningful way. No clear definition there. And it's very clear that a diplomatic off ramp is not clearly within reach.

But U.S. intelligence agencies have recently assessed that these strikes that the U.S. is carrying out against Iran are not -- are unlikely to shift Iran's negotiating position, according to two sources familiar with the matter. This as there is something that all three Iran, U.S. and Iraqi officials are in agreement upon, and that is that this characterization of, in "The New York Times" that Iran has rejected this ceasefire proposal that President Trump sent with the Iraqi prime minister. And the in -- it's not clear what was in that proposal, but "The New York Times" reported that Iranian officials told Iran -- Iranian officials said that they were not interested in a proposal that was a temporary deal and did not resolve the question of what happens to the Strait of Hormuz, that critical oil thoroughfare. Iran's state media pushing back. They say that this report is diversionary and misleading. And I just heard from a U.S. official who also says that this is inaccurate. But in President Trump's view, he believes that Iran is not yet ready to negotiate.

Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We're doing extremely well. They would like to do something, but I say they're not ready yet. They need more of the same.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KLEIN: Now, the president has -- the president has limited options here. He can escalate with boots on the ground to something he has previewed doing for months now. He could also keep this status quo and continue those strikes.

But this is also an increasingly political problem for this president. Gas prices ticking up. Public opinion is increasingly negative. A new Fox poll says that just 34 percent of Americans are supportive of President Trump's handling of this conflict. The midterm elections now just three months away. All of that weighing on the president, Sara.

SIDNER: Yes, and weighing on the Republican Party as well, according to polls.

Betsy Klein, thank you so much for all your reporting there for us all this morning.

[09:05:04]

John.

BERMAN: All right, with us now is Congressman Greg Stanton, a Democrat from Arizona. He's a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Congressman, good to see you this morning.

REP. GREG STANTON (D-AZ): Good morning.

BERMAN: Our friend Barak Ravid at "Axios" is reporting that the president is considering a, quote, "massive attack" on Iran, bigger than ever before. What do you think that would change?

STANTON: Very little. I mean, this is one of the worst performances by a president in wartime in American history. Everything that's happening was, foretold by our intelligence officials. All the president had to do was to listen to his officials. He acts like none of this was foreseeable. It was all foreseeable.

Before this war, boats and ships and oil carrying ships could go through the Strait of Hormuz without any objection. Now, Iran has shown that they can fairly easily control the Strait of Hormuz. Gas prices are going through the roof. Iran is now sending missiles a thousand miles away and killing Americans, American soldiers in bases a thousand miles away. Now, Iranian proxy, the Houthis, are now threatening ships and shooting at ships in the Red Sea as well.

This president was trying to negotiate a deal before war ever started. He should have completed it. Now he keeps claiming victory over and over and over again. And yet we're further and further into a quagmire. This is really bad for this president. But more importantly, this is really bad for the American people.

BERMAN: One of the things the president has suggested is that, you know, the U.S. has been negotiating with certain Iranians, Jared Kushner too, who they suggest have been receptive to U.S. outreach. But the problem is Iranian hardliners, the IRGC, others within the regime that don't want change and are adamant that they want to control the Strait and continue the fight against the United States. How much of a surprise should it be that there are these divisions within Iran?

STANTON: First off, what is Jared Kushner doing negotiating on behalf of the United States of America? Can we get our secretary of state actually on the playing field and doing his job instead of Jared Kushner, a family member of the president, and Steve Witkoff, a business partner with the president, who don't actually have any roles in the American government. Can we actually get the professionals to do their job? Because you just said it exactly right, the president now just finds out that he's been negotiating with the wrong people the whole time. He needs to engage his professionals, engage the intelligence professionals. They knew all of this. They told him all of this. He acts like he's surprised by it. This is what's angering the American people.

The president knew this was going to happen. If he listened to the experts, he would have known all of this reaction from Iran and their proxies and the rising gas prices and the response with the ballistic missiles in the region, all was foreseeable and almost inevitable. And now the president throws up his hands and acts like he doesn't know. That's -- it's really disappointing and fairly shocking that the president would claim this.

BERMAN: So, Congressman, you just won a primary in Arizona. You did have a challenge there. I think it wasn't as easy as oftentimes primaries have been the last several years. What did you learn about Democratic voters in how they feel right now?

STANTON: Well, look, you know, and first off, elections are never easy. And I've been involved in public life at the city level as mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, and now in the United States Congress. You never, ever, ever take an election for granted. You work hard for every vote, no matter who your opponent is.

Look, I'm someone who's been connected to the community for many years. The people of my district know me. They trust me. They see me out in the community. I communicate with them regularly. So, there's a trust level. And I know, in my race, there try to -- some people have tried to put it in a larger frame of, oh, what's happening nationally? But I just think it goes to show, if you take no vote for granted, you're connected to your community, you build trust, you're going to be successful in winning elections.

BERMAN: Do you think there is something happening nationally inside the Democratic Party, where the progressive wing of the party is not satisfied with the current Democratic leadership?

STANTON: Look, we are a big tent party. We have to be a big tent party. The Democratic Party has always been a big tent party for more moderate members to more liberal members, et cetera. I mean this is not -- we went through this during the Vietnam War era as well.

The question is whether we can harness our collective goal of putting -- is actually bringing back checks and balances to our government. Winning this election, getting Democrats in control of the House of Representatives, getting Hakeem Jeffries to be speaker of the House, to lower prices for the American people, try to end this war, this terrible war in Iran, we are actually more together on issues than we are different. I know the media tries to portray it as -- focus in on the differences.

[09:10:03] But the reality is, is that we've always been a big tent party, and that needs to be a strength of the Democratic Party moving forward.

BERMAN: I appreciate your criticism of the media here, but I will note, the media didn't defeat all these incumbents in sort of record numbers that we've seen in Democratic primaries around the country. It is something that is absolutely happening.

And there's a dynamic that Ron Brownstein, who we just had, pointed out here. Pew Research just put out new polls, and the president's way underwater, right, a 34 percent approval rating, 64 percent disapprove. But among those who strongly disapprove of the president, Democrats hold an edge, 76 to five. But Ron points out that number in past elections has been more like 90 or 95, basically 15 to 20 points lower than it should be.

So, there are Democrats, or there are people who strongly disapprove of the president right now who still aren't leaning toward the Democratic Party. Why do you think that is?

STANTON: I'm trying to figure out who still supports this president after his poor decision making after poor decision making. I mean there's a direct line between the increasing prices, the unaffordability of our country, and the actions taken by this president. We talked about the Iran War. Gas prices are going through the roof. That affects every single American.

These tariffs, the Supreme Court said to the president, they are illegal. They have to go through Congress. But he keeps continuing to slap tariffs on our allies around the world, including a new set of tariffs that he's about to put into place. Raising prices on everyday goods for the American people.

And health care, they ripped away the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. There is a direct line between this president's actions. And the point I want to make is, Democrats, no matter where you fall in the political spectrum, we are united to win this election and to lower prices for the American people. That's across the board.

So, the point I want to make is that there's so much more uniting us than separating us as a party.

BERMAN: We will see if that is the case come November.

Congressman Greg Stanton, we appreciate you waking up early. We know -- we know it's early out where you are right now. So, thanks for getting up.

Sara.

SIDNER: All right, thank you so much, John.

Right now, the Georgia teenager accused in a deadly high school shooting is due in court for a major hearing. Sixteen-year-old Colt Gray expected to change his plea from not guilty to guilty. He's accused of killing two teachers and two students at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, nearly two years ago.

CNN's legal analyst and criminal defense attorney Joey Jackson is here to talk us through it.

I mean first there is this issue, which is -- which is unusual, but it does happen. Colt Gray expected to now change his plea to guilty in what is legally termed a non-negotiated plea. What does non-negotiated plea mean?

JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, Sara, good morning. Good to be with you.

So, non-negotiated means that there's no pre-agreement. Generally speaking, when there are plea deals, what happens is, the defense sits down with prosecutors and they hammer out the parameters of what can be an agreement to avoid trial. Both parties are aware of what could happen. When I say could happen, the judge is always the final person who either approves or rejects.

In this instance, there was a total capitulation on the part of the defense in just saying, listen, we're not going to contest it, we're not going to have a trial, we're going to throw ourselves on the mercy of the court, and we're going to let the judge make a determination as to what the appropriate sentence will be.

SIDNER: It is, when you talk about pleas, most people remember that, you know, the prosecution maybe goes to the defense and says, hey, here's this possibility. The defense says, hey, what about this? And they go back and forth. This is very much largely, as you said, just left up to the judge, as this young man decides, all right, I'm just going to say I did it and go further.

He was 14 during the shooting. What does that law -- what does the law say about what the judge can do? Because the judge is under certain parameters as well.

JACKSON: Of course, Sara. And I think it says a lot. And I think the play here as to why even the defense would consider this is because they're fighting for him, that is the 14-year-old at the time, not to be in jail for the rest of his life. The parameters for the judge are the following. I'm either going to sentence you to life with parole or life without parole. Life with parole means that you have to still do 30 years of your life. Doesn't mean, Sara, you get out if the judge decides to do that option, life with parole, right, doesn't mean you get out after 30 years, it means you then go to the parole board, who can then make a determination. If the judge decides life without the parole, then he will spend the rest of his natural life in jail, no questions asked. And so that's the determination here.

And make no mistake about it, Sara, we're going to have sort of a mini trial here. I think prosecutors are going to lay out what their proof would be. You're going to see surveillance of him walking around, right, of the school shooting. You're going to hear 911 tapes of the mayhem and the just lack of control, the things that were going on at that particular time. You're going to hear victims who suffered, who are alive but were injured by him, give the rendition of a story of what it was, and then you're going to hear victim impact statements. And those are always compelling because it goes to show, in every case we talk about, there's a victim at the end of that.

[09:15:05]

How has it impacted the families? How has it impacted their lives? These were young children and teachers, right? Teachers also. Two teachers dead, two students. So, we'll hear the victim impact statements too. They'll be very impactful.

And finally, Sara, the defense will argue that he should not be given life without parole because he can be rehabilitated. I think you'll hear a lot of that. Maybe psychologists will come testify, the grandmother, about his mental illness. And we'll see what a judge ultimately does.

SIDNER: Well, this is about to get underway here. We know court is open. And we've got a reporter, Isabel Rosales, there to tell us all about it. And we'll probably be having you back to see what happens in the end here, Joey Jackson. Thank you. Have a great weekend.

JACKSON: You too.

SIDNER: Appreciate it.

All right, check this out, a sea plane carrying 11 people crashing into the waters near Seattle and bursting into flames. But somehow everybody survived this. Now there's the investigation about how this possibly happened.

And today, members of Congress head to Texas for a field hearing demanding answers to the fatal shooting of an immigrant there that has become quite controversial at the hands of federal agents.

Also, millions of Americans under threat of heavy rain and flooding once again, days after Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall. Those stories and more ahead.

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[09:20:54]

SIDNER: You got to see this. Eleven people miraculously walking away from this. A sea plane that crashed off the coast of Washington. You can see it as it's going down. This was just north of Seattle. And the passengers were amazingly able to get out on their own because, just moments later, the plane burst into flames.

CNN's Brynn Gingras joining us now.

What are you learning about this? I mean, at this point, when you watch this right here, you think, well, maybe it's going to be OK. And then it just, boom, it goes down right near those rocks.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, you said it, you got to see this. I mean this video is just incredible of what happened. It's miraculous that these people were able to get off the plane here.

So, it's still undetermined what caused this emergency landing. But it was a windy day, so that's definitely something that's going to be investigated at this point. But let me give you sort of the details.

So, this sea plane was taking off at about 4:30 yesterday from Lake Union, which is near Seattle, heading to Roche Harbor. It's about 100 miles away. It went down about 45 minutes into the flight. And then, luckily, those people were able to get off with the help of not only the Coast Guard, but you can see those little like tugboat people who rushed to the plane to get people off before it did burst into flames.

And I want you to hear the dispatch, Sara, of all the calls that were coming in after this happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE/BROADCASTIFY: And they have six people on board with multiple injuries. There are at least six other people that have emerged from other boats (ph). We are still waiting on information from them.

Those two boats (INAUDIBLE) have a total of 10 people, four on one, six on the other. And they've heard that (INAUDIBLE) possibly up on the beach near the crash.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GINGRAS: Yes, so 11 people on board. Everyone taken -- well, a number of people, I should say, were taken to the hospital. The 11 people did include the pilot. Again, everyone off, but some head injuries, some lacerations, broken bones, as you can imagine. But everyone's going to be OK, thank God, for so many people involved, including (INAUDIBLE).

SIDNER: That little motor boat. I mean are we just assuming that boat just saw it happen and just went up and helped -- helped people as best they could?

GINGRAS: I believe so.

SIDNER: Wow.

GINGRAS: You can see like the boats in the water. So, I believe --

SIDNER: Yes. They watch it --

GINGRAS: Yes, exactly, they saw it happening. I mean, certainly somebody recorded it happening, and then rushed to the scene.

SIDNER: Yes.

GINGRAS: And probably so -- I mean, save lives right there. That one little tugboat.

SIDNER: Yes. Wow. Amazing.

GINGRAS: Yes.

SIDNER: Thank you so much, Brynn. It's nice to see that something actually ended at least with everybody surviving in a scenario like this.

GINGRAS: I agree.

SIDNER: All right, John.

BERMAN: All right, today lawmakers are holding a field forum in Houston on the deadly shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. The 52-year- old was on his way to work when he was shot and killed by an ICE agent. That was a little more than two weeks ago. This morning (ph), lawmakers with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the House Homeland Security Committee are preparing to hear from his family and the local district attorney.

Let's get right to CNN's Ed Lavandera, who is in Houston this morning for the latest on what we can expect.

Good morning, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

Well, this is clearly an effort by these Democratic lawmakers. There will be no Republicans in attendance here. But to continue ratcheting up pressure on the Department of Homeland Security, the -- ICE as well, to get -- explain more about the circumstances that led to the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado now more than two weeks ago. There had been, in recent days, a number of court filings on behalf of the three other men that were inside that white van that was being pursued by ICE officers here on the streets of Houston. Two of those men in these statements described ICE officers ramming their white van with the vehicle, that the officers shot from the side, that both of them also said that at no point were ICE officers in front or behind the van as Lorenzo Salgado made maneuvers to get away from the situation. They thought they were being pursued. Something more nefarious other than being pursued by ICE officers on the street. They describe kind of what they -- what seemed to be a very chaotic and confusing situation.

We have not heard much more since the initial statements from federal officials as to the circumstances that led to the shooting. But clearly, the forum that is being led by Democratic lawmakers here in Houston this morning, trying to ratchet up pressure to get more answers as to what happened and why this shooting and this pursuit of Lorenzo Salgado and those three men took place more than two weeks ago.

[09:25:13]

And, John, we should also point out that Lorenzo Salgado's brother, who was in the van with him, as well as two other men, they remain in immigration custody. In fact, Lorenzo Salgado's brother is in the middle or about to have an immigration hearing start here this morning. So, we'll be monitoring that as well.

John.

BERMAN: Yes, of course, one of the reasons there's few answers is the federal investigation right now. The state and local officials just don't have the window into any of the information that's being find out and -- found out and it may never.

Ed Lavandera, you are there. Great to hear from you. Keep us posted as this hearing develops.

All right, boosted security tonight for the now rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner. What they're doing differently after the attempted attack back in April.

And a wild crash left the bed of an 18 wheeler just dangling over a wall there. Look at that.

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