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U.S. Munitions Dangerously Low; Polls on Scandals and Re- Elections; A Look at the New Film "Tony." Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired August 05, 2026 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Percent contained.

TOM STOKESBERRY, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Absolutely. Right now we're a little over 1,300 firefighters on this fire, and we're expected to be over 2,000 by the end of the week. We're the number one priority in the nation and everything that we've requested we have coming in. So, we're looking really good on that front.

SIDNER: I wish you all the best of luck. I know the residents are counting on you all to do the best you can. And so far, you're saying at least morale is high and they are out there fighting all night long.

Tom Stokesberry, really do appreciate you taking the time this morning to talk us through that.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we are watching and waiting for more votes to be counted in Michigan in the Democratic Senate primary. You can see, less than one percent actually separates Abdul El-Sayed, seen as the more progressive candidate there in the Democratic race, and Congresswoman Haley Stevens, 48.5 to 47.5. It's actually less than one percent when you add the decimal points.

And when you talk about the numbers, it's really less than 15,000 votes. So, where is there still vote with 96 percent reporting statewide? There's really only one place with substantial votes still to be counted. It's Wayne County, which makes up a little bit less than 18 percent of the population of the state. The most populous county, you can see, Haley Stevens is leading here by 17,000. And there's only -- I say only, it's still a substantial amount, but 88 percent in. Eighty-eight percent counted. There may be 10,000, 20,000 more votes. Many of them might be mail-in votes, which Haley Stevens has been doing well in there. So, we just can't project this race yet because there is still vote from an area where she's been doing pretty well. Is it enough vote to close this 15,000 vote gap? Still, we just don't know. But we're counting. And when the votes come in, we will see this number change. And I promise, we will bring that to you as soon as it happens.

Kate. KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're keeping a very close eye on that.

We also have new CNN reporting laying out fresh concerns about the U.S. weapons stockpile. How this could very well impact the president's next move when it comes to the war with Iran.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:36:40]

BOLDUAN: This morning, two different messages coming out about a potential deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has suggested an announcement could come by today, but overnight Iranian state media basically responded, claiming that talks between Iran and Oman over safe shipping routes have, quote/unquote, no connection to the immediate reopening of the Strait. The president -- here was the president last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iran, as an example, will never have a nuclear weapon. They already can't. But they'll -- it's going to be formal. The Strait is going to be open very soon, or they're going to get hit very hard and then the Strait's going to be open.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: As President Trump continues to threaten escalation, sources are telling CNN that the U.S. military has burned through nearly 80 percent of its interceptors for a key missile defense system. And senior U.S. military commanders are warning that the Pentagon's munitions stockpile is dangerously low. A big concern for gulf allies who rely on these air defense systems.

Let's get to this new reporting. CNN's Zach Cohen has this for us today.

Tell us more about what you have now learned with regard to the stockpile.

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Kate, as you -- as you mentioned, we're told that U.S. military commanders are warning that the U.S. munitions stockpile is at a point where it's dangerously low and raising concerns during recent discussions with the president, as he and his team have considered options for escalating the conflict with Iran. And this is an issue that not only applies to questions about whether or not this war with Iran extends even longer than it's already gone, but is also raising questions about the U.S. military's ability now to deter and potentially fight a future war against a near-peer adversary like, say, China, or provide additional air defense systems and munitions to key allies, and not only the gulf, but also around the world. And one of the most striking new pieces of information that we're

learning here, Kate, is that the U.S. stockpile of interceptors for its THAAD missile defense system has been depleted by 80 percent compared to the number of those interceptors that were in the stockpile pre-war. That is even significantly more than the number we previously thought to be accurate. About 60 percent of those interceptors were burned through just in the first few months of this conflict with Iran.

And these are systems that are high end and also not just used by the U.S. military, but also by key gulf allies who are raising concerns about this war dragging on and their ability to defend themselves against Iranian retaliation. So, other systems have -- are similarly depleted, Patriot missiles, over half of the stockpile of about 2,000 of them, those missiles have been used during the Iram War. And a significant number of standoff offensive missiles also have been burned through.

So, this holistically paints a concerning picture, not just for the U.S. military's potential risks that it's incurring as it's not able to produce enough of these missiles fast enough to make up for the gap that exists with how quickly they're using them but also the U.S.' military's ability to now counter multiple threats around the world at the same time.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Zach, important reporting. Thank you for bringing it to us.

John.

BERMAN: All right, a last second leap saved a man's life on a busy highway.

And Anthony Bourdain went from the kitchen to America's televisions.

[09:40:00]

Now a new film looks at 19-year-old Tony at the start of his legendary career.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right, this morning, in a truly remarkable interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Republican Congressman Max Miller from Ohio says he is staying in the race for re-election despite domestic abuse allegations against him from an ex-wife, which he denies.

[09:45:02]

Now, aside from the legal and moral implications of all this, what does it mean for politics in the race for control of Congress? With us now, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten.

We're talking about just the political side here.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Just the politics (ph). BERMAN: I do want to stipulate there. And there has been a political impact. What are the prediction markets saying about this race in what is usually a safe congressional district?

ENTEN: Max Miller is going to cost his party -- most likely cost his party a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives when we're talking about the politics of this. You can see this quite well in the Kalshi prediction market. Chance to win Ohio-7. Look at this, Poindexter, the Democrat, 37 percent on July 25th. Over the last few weeks, his chances, way up to 70 percent. Max Miller's chances, look at this, falling down through the floor, falling into Lake Erie, going from 64 percent now down to 30 percent. What seemed like a race that was favoring Miller is now favoring the Democrat, Poindexter, as this scandal has hit the press.

BERMAN: I will just not, this was ten days ago.

ENTEN: This was -- yes, this is ten days ago. This is --

BERMAN: All right. All right. This is not that long ago.

ENTEN: No.

BERMAN: That's a huge change in just a few days.

ENTEN: Huge movement.

BERMAN: And, Harry, you and I have been talking about this. Is there a way to measure the impact that scandals have on House races?

ENTEN: Yes, scandals matter. Scandals matter. I know a lot of people think nothing matters, but scandals still do matter in our politics. And there's an easy way to see it.

OK, House members re-elected in 2022 and 2024. All members, we're talking about 85 percent, including those who, in fact, did not run for re-election, when you include those in the denominator, we're talking about 85 percent. How about members who were involved in a scandal? Look at that. Significantly lower. Just 57 percent of them who were involved in a scandal. So, they do about 30 points worse on their chance of being re-elected than all members of Congress do. So, scandals absolutely do matter, like the scandal that we're seeing right now in Ohio-7.

BERMAN: How much interest is there in what's happening with Max Miller?

ENTEN: Yes, more than that, there is a lot of interest in what's going on in his home area. You can see it in the Google searches. Take a look here.

BERMAN: Wow.

ENTEN: Google searches for Max -- for Max Miller. Look at this. In Cleveland, the Akron area, which is his home area. Look at that. John said wow. Up 3,200 percent in just the last two weeks. This is by far the record high for Max Miller in his home area. The people there are listening to what is going on with Max Miller. And, obviously, the stories are not flattering to him whatsoever.

BERMAN: And I said, this is a Trump district, a Republican district. But is it as Republican maybe, or what are the trends in Ohio?

ENTEN: Yes, I think this is so important. This is already shaping up to be a bad Republican year in Ohio. When you have a scandal to tack onto it, no wonder the prediction markets have moved like they have.

Take a look here. Ohio voters on Trump. In 2024 versus Kamala Harris, who won by 11 points. Look at his net popularity rating now. Exactly right. Johnny B. Minus 13 points. That's a nearly 25-point shift in under two years. And keep in mind, Ohio-7 voted like Ohio as a whole. So, what is going on in Ohio, very much will seep down to Ohio-7. You put it all together. It is no wonder why I said at the top of this, Max Miller, already running in a tough environment with this scandal. And if he continues to run, will likely cost his party a House seat.

BERMAN: All right, important analysis on this day, Harry, in a day when there is a lot of news.

ENTEN: A lot of news.

BERMAN: Much more coming up. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:51:22]

BOLDUAN: There is a new film coming out from A24 films that dives into the man that we know well here at CNN. "Tony" is a biopic about beloved chef, author, and travel journalist Anthony Bourdain. But the film is not about Bourdain's celebrity life, if you will. It's about his becoming. The chapter of his life that shaped his then long career. A young man living, working, struggling in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's for you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If anybody asks, I'm not a writer. I work in a kitchen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: I had the opportunity to sit down with the director, Matt Johnson and star, Dominic Sessa, to talk about everything that went into bringing this film now to life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: A good place is always to begin, I think, with, especially a film like this, Matt, is just the name, "Tony."

MATT JOHNSON, DIRECTOR, "TONY": Ah, right. Right.

BOLDUAN: Versus Anthony Bourdain versus Bourdain. Why Tony?

JOHNSON: You know what, the secret of the film lies in that title because it's about how he refers to himself as a young man versus how he comes to be known to all of us, and how he starts to refer to himself as an adult.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sorry, what is your name?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anthony Bourdain.

JOHNSON: There's something about owning your whole name in the public that transforms you. The movie is about growing out of your childhood nickname and becoming who you're supposed to be.

BOLDUAN: When you're doing a biopic of not full life and legacy, Dom, but then you -- what did you think of when it came to just taking kind of three summers jammed into one or one piece, one chapter of this storied life to focus in and interpret?

DOMINIC SESSA, ACTOR, "TONY": I mean, it just made it a lot easier for me in a way, honestly, because I didn't have to, you know, imitate him in any way or kind of try to sound like him or, you know, just, or at least the way people kind of were exposed to him later in his life. I had a few -- you know, a handful of pictures of him from the time that I kind of referenced and then just stories from people that lived in Provincetown as well. And then from that it was just -- really just trusting in the circumstances that the character was in and like, I think those circumstances were pretty familiar for me in a lot of ways.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If anybody asks, I'm not a writer. I work in a kitchen.

BOLDUAN: It's more the universality of --

JOHNSON: This is what Dom says all the time.

SESSA: Well, yes.

BOLDUAN: The -- of getting through this phase of your life. You know, no one can be like Anthony Bourdain. He was so unique and larger than life.

JOHNSON: Oh, yes, absolutely.

BOLDUAN: But there's this universality in that --

SESSA: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Just the -- this moment in life where you're trying to become yourself. SESSA: I agree. The movie really is like, I recognize that and I'm

like, OK, I kind of see and feel the world in a similar way now. And then I put myself in, you know, the shoes of -- or, you know, the circumstances he described in the restaurant. And like, that's kind of what the movie was.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I need a job.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You work in a kitchen before?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

JOHNSON: I don't know that people think of Anthony Bourdain as somebody who they want to cook for them. They think of Anthony Bourdain as somebody who they want to sit down and eat with. And yet, he's a chef. And isn't that interesting, right? It's the culture around eating and food preparation that he kind of was the master of, more than the actual cooking.

[09:55:04]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me teach you this. This is how you open an oyster.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I ate these in France when I was a kid. I said, they taste like the future.

BOLDUAN: It's like the oyster. Like the way Anthony Bourdain talks about the oyster moment of his life in "Kitchen Confidential" and has, you know, talked about many times. It comes through in various ways in the film. I loved that touch.

JOHNSON: It's a lot harder to shuck oysters than we thought.

SESSA: Oysters, yes, yes.

BOLDUAN: So, is -- can -- did you know how before?

JOHNSON: No, but we all learned. I was the first person to learn. And I taught myself in Toronto. I bought an oyster shucking knife. And I remember calling Dom and letting him know, you better get started at this now because this is not --

SESSA: Yes. Yes.

JOHNSON: This is not a joke. Like, this is quite challenging.

BOLDUAN: IT's really not.

JOHNSON: Yes.

SESSA: Yes.

JOHNSON: Well, it's like picking a lock. I think I always thought that you had to force it. And we do that scene in the movie where you see Dom trying to do it from a point of view of force and where -- well, I won't wreck anything, but --

BOLDUAN: Yes.

SESSA: Yes.

JOHNSON: But where he really, really goes for it. And that's -- that's the wrong way --

SESSA: It's a great symbol for what's going on, you know.

JOHNSON: For -- yes, exactly. Yes, exactly.

SESSA: I mean, you know.

JOHNSON: Tony trying to force his life on people and realizing, you kind of got to relax because life is a marathon, not a sprint.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: "Tony" is in theaters this Friday, and there's much more of my conversation. Interview with Matt and Dom. The entire conversation streaming on CNN All Access this Friday as well, which you can get, of course, at cnn.com or the CNN app.

John.

BERMAN: All right, we do have some breaking news. We're covering the Michigan Democratic Senate primary. And there has been some minimal movement as they count votes. As you can see, Abdul El-Sayed has about a one percent lead over Congresswoman Haley Stevens. El-Sayed is considered the more progressive of the candidates. Haley Stevens, the establishment candidate.

But in just the last few minutes, it went from 96 percent reporting to 99 percent reporting, which is close to almost all the vote. The margin, Abdul El-Sayed's margin changed by five votes. It was 14,898. And now it's 14,893. So, yes, Haley Stevens made up five votes, but he still, El-Sayed, has a vote lead of nearly 15,000.

Hang on. One second here. I am told we do have a projection in this race. Just say it in my ear.

CNN can now project that Abdul El-Sayed has won the Michigan Democratic primary for senate. You can see the results right there on your screen. It has been close all night long. Haley Stevens was chipping away at El-Sayed's lead, but now his vote lead of nearly 15,000 votes, we think that is enough so that he is the winner of this primary.

As I said, this has been a very closely watched race. Highly contested. Seen as a clash between two wings of the Democratic Party. The progressive wing, represented by Abdul El-Sayed, and the more establishment wing, represented by Haley Stevens. She had the support of Chuck Schumer, Michigan's governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Yet it was not enough for her to overcome this progressive challenge. A lot closer, a lot closer than perhaps a lot of people thought. But ultimately, El-Sayed is the winner here we do project.

And just to give you a sense of how this went all night long into the morning, into just now, when the votes started coming in just after 8:00, El-Sayed had a big lead, over 60 percent. He is the light blue line. Stevens is the dark blue line. But then it got closer and closer and closer. It was too close to call. But now we do project this will hold and El-Sayed will be the winner, albeit by a very, very small amount.

Again, one other thing to watch here as we look at this race and in terms of what it means for the primaries going forward and the general election, El-Sayed did very well in educated counties. Washtenaw County is when -- where Ann Arbor is. He ran up the score there. But in more working-class counties, like Wayne County, where Detroit and Dearborn are, Haley Stevens won. That is an area where he will have to make up ground if he wants to beat the Republican, Mike Rogers, in the general election in this key swing state.

This is a state Republicans would want to flip, and Democrats absolutely need to hold on to if they have any hope of taking the Senate in November.

Again, CNN now projects that Abdul El-Sayed will be the winner of the Michigan Democratic primary. A much closer race than expected, but a significant result.

That is all for CNN NEWS CENTRAL. Sara Sidner, Kate Bolduan, they say goodbye as well. Now it's time for "THE SITUATION ROOM."

[10:00:08]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking