Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

FBI is Investigating Cyberattacks on Water Systems; Trump's Approval Rating; Deadly Bacteria Infections Surge Along Gulf Coast; Sports Highlights from the WNBA and More. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired August 10, 2026 - 09:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:30:12]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. A powerful earthquake has just hit Colombia. The 7.4 magnitude quake happened in the western part of the country. People in several cities across the country, of course, felt those tremors. So far, officials are not reporting injuries or major damage. But we should mention, that is larger than the earthquake that hit its next-door neighbor, Venezuela, when we saw all of that destruction there. We will keep an eye on this throughout the morning.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, in the meantime, this morning, new warnings about the security of the U.S. water supply. Sources tell CNN a coordinated cyberattack has targeted water systems a several states, from Minnesota to Georgia. Officials stress, your tap water remains safe, and there is no contamination. But the hack exposes vulnerabilities. Glaring vulnerabilities. Especially for small towns left on the front lines of this high-tech threat. This is the mayor of Cape May, New Jersey, one of the cities affected by the hacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ZACK MULLOCK (D), CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY: What we're experiencing is modern warfare. This is -- this is, you know, the attack right here on our home front. And I think that's what's scary to me as a mayor. We need federal and state agencies to be able to help us. And small municipalities such as ourselves can't do this alone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: With us now is Chris Krebs, former head of the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency.

Chris, it's always great to see you.

Listen, the governments laid out two types of attacks here, both the sophisticated one and a simple one. Explain the difference here and why that matters. CHRIS KREBS, FORMER DIRECTOR, CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

SECURITY AGENCY: Yes, so back in April of this year, a number of federal agencies, including CISA, the agency I ran, as well as the FBI and the intelligence community, released an alert that said, going back to March of this year, so several months ago, they had seen Iranian, so that is Iran, this is what the intelligence community is attributing, that Iran had been logging into, hacking into water system equipment and changing files, in maybe one case uploading some malware.

However, more recently, they've also put out an alert that said an unknown actor to date, though there is some high speculation that it is Iran, has been just using default passwords to get into other systems and effectively turn them off. And I think that's what you're seeing with Cape May, as well as about 30 systems in Minnesota, Michigan, 12 states overall, seven of them have been announced. Some of these are sophisticated, others not so much. Pretty run of the mill stuff.

BERMAN: So, talk to me about why it matters that they're trying this and why you say what really matters most here is sort of the public response from the U.S.

KREBS: Yes. Well, as the mayor from Cape May pointed out, it is the -- you know, the internet is now the front line of almost every conflict, every war. We've seen Chinese cyber actors hacking into water systems, power systems, other things over the last several years. Of course, the Russians have been inside the power grid and elsewhere. But we really have to be thinking about this global internet as a pathway to our local communities. So, when we think about a war that might be taking place over the Strait of Hormuz, those guys, even if they're (AUDIO GAP) they have the ability to reach out and touch us here. So, it's just a reminder that the internet has brought us closer together in many respects, as well as is conflict.

BERMAN: As for the response, though, you say it's got to be strong and public and clear.

KREBS: Yes. Yes, look, here's the thing, right? If we are not responding forcefully, if we're not calling out the bad guys that are doing this, we send a broader signal to, for instance, the Chinese. The Chinese military, through the Volt Typhoon campaign, which is -- which was announced by -- during the Biden administration, they were seen getting into all sorts of water systems, power systems all over the place. And if we don't respond visibly, forcibly to these actors, Iranian or otherwise, then we're sending a message to China and says, you know what, maybe it's not that big of a deal.

So, yes, we need a federal response. We need a state response. We cannot let a global conflict be the responsibility of a -- of a local community. It's just an asymmetric threat that we're not prepared to handle, and we need to get into the game and take this seriously.

BERMAN: So, Chris, you played maybe an unwelcome starring role in the book "Regime Change" by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. They have this remarkable story about you and Donald Trump really targeting you. The quote is, "Trump hadn't even been able to remember Chris Krebs name. Days earlier, the president had been meeting with a few staff when he began to muse about past grievances, saying, I remember there was this lawyer who was in the administration who said the election was fair and there's no fraud.

[09:35:05]

Who was he? Oh, I think you're talking about the DHS guy, Miller replied. I forget his name. Epshteyn pulled out his phone and did a quick search. Chris Krebs, he said. Yes, Chris Krebs, Trump said. Whatever happened to him? He was a bad one. Take a look at him."

It's pretty -- it's pretty -- it's got to be pretty heady stuff to read that the president was targeting you, albeit he couldn't remember your name.

KREBS: Maggie and Swan, you know, there's one time a year I feel like that they release something new from 2020 that gets my mentions on social media and gets my TV hits.

Look, I was actually impressed that he remembered I was a lawyer. That's a very little-known fact about me. In fact, I've never practiced as a lawyer. So, you know, hey, not everything's awful in this.

BERMAN: So, take the win when you have it, albeit if it means being investigated or targeted at the highest levels.

Chris Krebs, we appreciate you being with us. Thank you very much. And we always remember your name.

All right, the president's numbers on jobs. The staggering shift in the polling.

And tonight's Powerball jackpot is worth nearly $1 billion. $1 billion you will likely not win.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:54]

BERMAN: The U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs last month, but the White House chief economist said the economy is booming. What do American voters think about that? With us now, chief data analyst Harry Enten.

How do voters feel about the president's work on jobs?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: You know, these are the types of numbers that will make a lot of Republican members of Congress lose their jobs come November. You can see it right here.

I mean just look at this trend line. Trump's net approval rating on jobs. He is now 22 points underwater, swimming with the fishes. A very unlucky 22 points. That is way down from where he was at the beginning of term number two, where he was at plus nine points. And the whole other thing is, this was such a big strength for President Trump in term number one. He was ten points above water at this point in term number one. So, we're talking about a 32-point decline in terms of Trump's net approval rating on jobs. It is not just inflation that is hurting Trump when it comes to the economy and the Americans' voters' minds. It is jobs as well.

BERMAN: This is just a huge swing.

ENTEN: This is an absolutely ginormous swing.

BERMAN: A huge swing on a foundational issue that he ran on.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: How do people feel in general about the jobs market right now?

ENTEN: Great question, Johnny B. And I think that this really gives the game away.

I mean just look at this, on jobs and employment, we're on the wrong track, the right track. Back at the beginning of Trump's second term, the plurality said on the right track. That ain't the case no more, I'll tell you this much. Look at that. That right track number has fallen significantly, down 11 points now to 29 percent. And that wrong track number, which was behind that right track, is now running ahead of it. Look at that number, up nearly 20 points now. The majority of Americans say that the country is on the wrong track when it comes to jobs and employment. No wonder President Trump's numbers are so poor at this point.

BERMAN: And again, this is -- gets to how people feel.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: And you can't tell people how they feel.

ENTEN: No.

BERMAN: This is a matter of feelings and sentiments.

ENTEN: This is feelings. This is feelings and sentiment. And, you know what, that's the name of the game in politics.

BERMAN: And how do people feel about getting a job in general right now?

ENTEN: Yes, I think what is driving this? What is driving this right track, this wrong track number to rocket on up? Well, I'll tell you what's causing it to rocket on up. Look at this. OK, good or bad time to find a quality job. You go back just before the beginning of Trump's second term in office. The plurality, 48 percent, said a good time. Now that you had 45 percent saying a bad time, just running slightly behind that. But look at this, that bad number, again, up like a rocket. We're talking about 63 percent at the beginning of Q2 in 2026. And that good number way down into the basement, now just 33 percent. It's a 30-point advantage and a bad advantage when it comes to finding a quality job. BERMAN: And again, you're dealing with sentiment here.

ENTEN: Sentiment.

BERMAN: How people feel, which is harder to get them to change.

ENTEN: Correct.

BERMAN: What are the prediction markets then saying about whether or not there will be, you know, more big layoffs in some sectors, like the tech sector?

ENTEN: Yes. I mean, just take a look at this. This is what it is. Chance 2026 tech layoffs exceed 2025, 92 percent chance according to the Kalshi prediction market. These are the types of numbers that political nightmares are made of. And it is very difficult to change voter sentiment when it seems to be so locked in this on the negative side. You put that together with voter sentiment on inflation, that is a recipe for disaster for Republicans running in the midterm elections.

BERMAN: And they're running out of time.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: Harry Enten, thank you very much for that.

ENTEN: Thank you, my friend.

BERMAN: We have a lot of news this morning. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:48:44]

SIDNER: New this morning, health officials along the Gulf Coast are warning about a rise in cases of that deadly flesh-eating bacteria that's been found in coastal waters. Louisiana has confirmed nine infections so far this year, and all nine people were hospitalized. Five of the nine died. Florida has reported 14 cases and two deaths.

Let's bring in health reporter Jacqueline Howard, who is with us watching all of this.

This is -- OK, I'm totally freaked out by the flesh-eating bacteria. We hear about these cases a lot, but usually in sort of, you know, water that's like a lake or -- this is happening on the coast. And are these numbers unusual when you start looking at nine cases and five deaths in Louisiana, 14 cases and two deaths in Florida?

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: They are unusual, Sara, because just to put that in perspective, when you look over the past ten years in Louisiana, in that same time period, previously, on average, only about one death would be reported and maybe around seven cases. But now we're seeing nine cases and five deaths. That's what makes this concerning. And health officials are really raising alarm about this increase.

And the bacteria that we're talking about is called vibrio vulnificus.

[09:50:01]

And it does -- it is present in brackish and saltwater. So, it is there. But when water warms, you tend to see more of a prevalence. And that could be one possible reason why we might be seeing more of this increase in cases.

And like you said, Sara, all of those people in Louisiana, all nine were hospitalized. And they were all exposed and infected with this bacteria in the same way they had open wounds that were then exposed to water containing this bacteria. The bacteria got into that open wound, and that's how the infection happened.

And we do tend to see that being the route of infections, along with, it's less common, but some people may eat seafood, let's say oysters or something, that could expose them to this bacteria as well.

But like you said, Sara, these numbers are unusual. And that's why health officials are really raising alarm about this.

SIDNER: It's kind of terrifying. I mean you want to go to the beach and have fun, and then you hear about these flesh-eating disease cases. Give me some sense of how people can try to reduce their risk, besides the fact that they could just stay away from the beach, which we don't want to do during the summer.

HOWARD: Right. Exactly. So, what you should really be mindful of, if you have an open wound, then you should cover that wound with a waterproof bandage and avoid, like I said, brackish or saltwater in general. So, even if it's a small cut that you might have, don't ignore that cut. Still be mindful of any possible exposures, Sara.

SIDNER: We can't have nice things. We can't eat lettuce. We can't eat seafood. We can't go to the beach. Jacqueline Howard, I'm not complaining, but I am. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

John, speaking of not being able to have nice things.

BERMAN: No, not in Botswana if you're on a tour boat being chased by a deadly hippo right here.

SIDNER: Oh, my God.

BERMAN: Look at this right now. Oh, there we go. There's the hippo.

SIDNER: It's body (ph).

BERMAN: Just like chasing a tour boat at high speeds there. Hippos, they can move really fast in the water. Sometimes they run along the bottom. I don't know if this guy is running or swimming. Either way, they're fast and they're deadly. Estimates are hippos kill hundreds of people every year. One of the deadliest animals on earth. In this case, the tour boat was able to get away. So, in Dallas, a raccoon rescued after walking around for days in a

neighborhood with its head stuck in a mayonnaise jar. Neighbors appropriately nicknamed it mayonnesia (ph). It will spend a few days at a wildlife care center getting fluids and meds before being released. In defense of the raccoon, I like mayonnaise also, right?

SIDNER: Ewe.

BERMAN: Tonight's Powerball jackpot is $905 million. That's after 42 straight drawings with no winner. Your odds of winning tonight, one in 292,000,000, which is pretty close to zero. But, hey, it's your money. Have at it.

I think this is Sara reading it.

SIDNER: Is this -- fine. I'll take it over. No biggie.

A record book night in the WNBA. This is so cool. One of the league's biggest stars put together a performance for the ages.

CNN's Coy Wire joins us now.

Coy, this is so cool. If you know how to shoot threes, I'd like to see you beat this lady.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: No, I'm more granny-style and have no chance of doing what Kayla McBride has done. Listen, they were facing the Wings last night. The Lynx looking to become the first team to clinch a playoff spot. They did that. And Kayla McBride made history, drilling a WNBA single game record, ten three-pointers. She learned to hoop on the blacktops of Erie, Pennsylvania. Twelve years old. Often the only girl out there. Proving she belonged. Well, last night, oh, she reminded everyone why she's one of the best shooters on the planet. Forty-three points. Minnesota wins 103-90. They've now won 12 of their last 13. Previous record of nine made threes in a game was held by six different players.

Braves ace Chris Sale found a way to get ejected before their game against the Yankees even started, Sara. He was called for a controversial balk on Saturday by umpire Dan Merzel. Well, Sale was barking at him as he was walking by yesterday and Merzel said, see you later, man, you're not going to talk to me like that. This game went to extras. Yankees' Trent Grisham launched one into another zip code to tie it in the eighth. And then Michael Harris II delivered the knockout blow in extra innings. Braves win two to one, snapping a four-game skid against the Yankees. Sale got tossed. Atlanta bounced back.

Somebody please check Milwaukee's Luis Lara's cleats for rocket boosters. Watch him go. Extra innings potential go ahead run for Minnesota. But Lara tracks it down. That keeps it -- keeps it tied at three, right? Then in the bottom of the 10th, Jake Bauers, already with a homer, says, I got you. Game winning knock. Brewers tie it. Take it four to three. Lara saved the game with his glove, while Bauers ended it with his bat.

Little League Softball World Series.

[09:55:02]

And one day after throwing 109 pitches with 11 strikeouts in a shutout, Clayton, North Carolina, star Anna-Lynn Clark comes right back with 93 pitches, six strikeouts as Clayton beats Owensboro, Kentucky, two nothing. Back-to-back shutouts. More than 200 pitches in two days for Anna-Lynn. It's North Carolina's fourth Little League Softball World Series title.

Finally, what do soccer players and magicians have in common, Sara? Both can pull off disappearing acts, leaving crowds speechless. Coritiba Captain Jacy scores, takes off celebrating. All of a sudden, he's gone. He disappears straight into an open player's tunnel. Thankfully, he popped back up. He kept playing for a bit before leaving with a minor ankle injury. The cruelest trick of all, the goal was disallowed for offside. The man disappeared and so did his goal.

Sara.

SIDNER: OK, how did he not get more hurt? Seriously.

BERMAN: Yes, no, he -- in other news, that's what happened to Kate. That's why Kate's not here. She ran off the set on Friday, jumped into a hole.

SIDNER: Jumped into a hole.

BERMAN: We haven't seen her since.

Coy Wire, thank you very much for that.

SIDNER: He's joking. She's going to be fine.

John Berman. Well, we don't know. The point is, everything's OK.

This has been CNN NEWS CENTRAL. We're going to go jump into a hole. "SIT ROOM" is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)