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530-Plus Dead, 1,300-Plus Missing in Catastrophic Nepal-China Floods; Marine One Again Struggles to Communicate With Air Traffic Control; Soon, Jury Resumes Deliberations in Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired August 28, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news, we are just hearing from two American survivors of those cataclysmic floods in Nepal and China. And as we speak, there are rescue efforts that were resuming there after that overflowing lake triggered fresh panic of new flooding and forced people to flee to higher ground.

Time is of the essence, though. As each day passes, the number of death keeps rising.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, a new communications glitch with the president's helicopter, Marine One. Are the president's construction projects actually putting the president himself at risk?

And we are standing by for jury deliberations to resume in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the mother accused of killing her three young children. A verdict could come at any time.

Kate is out today. I'm John Berman with Sara Sidner. This is CNN News Central.

SIDNER: Breaking news this morning, new video showing the enormous scope of the damage in Nepal, where rescue operations are resuming this morning. Fears of a lake China says was formed by the initial flood began overflowing, threatening another deluge.

Now, this is one of those dramatic rescues, Nepal's army pulling mud- caked survivors out of a tunnel at a hydro-power plant, carrying and sliding them to safety.

The disaster has so far killed more than 500 people in Nepal. More than 1,300 are still missing, including dozens of Americans.

Now, here's a look at that barrier lake that had everyone on edge, and for a while, stopped rescue missions. It formed when the initial landslide dammed the river with tree and debris.

Now, we also have some stunning new video of the moment that triggered all of this, a huge piece of glacier breaking off a mountain along the Nepal-China border and plunging into the valley below. And here, floodwater so powerful, they're pushing this massive boulder downstream. You see it there.

CNN's Hanako Montgomery is live this morning on the ground in Nepal. What are you seeing and what are you hearing from people as you have spent the last two days there just seeing the enormity of this disaster?

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Sara. Right now, we're by the Trishuli River, which saw that initial devastating flooding on Wednesday. You can actually see the river behind me and the damage that it's left in its path. You can see the mud has completely hardened over what used to be green rice fields.

And just next to me, there are a couple dozen locals who were told to evacuate to higher ground after hearing those warnings of a potential second flood surge.

Now, fortunately, there doesn't seem to be very extensive damage from that flood surge, but, again, you can imagine just how traumatic that first experience is for people, and it's been very difficult, they tell, me to go back to their homes, to go back and find any safety.

Now, Sara, as you mentioned more than 500 confirmed killed from this deadly disaster and over 1,000 people still missing, some of them also Americans. In fact we heard from --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SNEHA SUDHIR, HUSBAND MISSING AFTER NEPAL FLOODS: It's more than stressing out. It's devastating, right? So, because first thing I'm not sure what my family is going through right there and they -- I'm not -- I have lost contact or we have lost contact for last 48 hours. I haven't heard anything. I haven't heard anything from the authorities. It's emotionally taking us a toll on.

I don't know. I don't know. So, it's 48 hours. What are they -- where are they, right? So, of course, you will see that the family is supporting me, but everybody is taking turns in shedding their tears, wiping it off, and getting back to work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MONTGOMERY: And, Sara, this heartbreak is something that we're hearing over and over again.

[07:05:00]

We were actually at some Army barracks earlier today, and we saw hundreds of people outside those gates trying to find any information about their loved ones. They were scanning these pages where their loved one's names, their contact information were listed, trying to see if the people that the army found were also their family members too.

Now, we also saw several helicopters trying to land and trying to bring survivors to safety. They were also trying to take aid back up the Himalayan Mountains. But, again, extremely devastating times right now here in Nepal as authorities are still trying to ascertain how many people have died due to this tragic natural disaster, and how many people might need more rescuing, Sara, especially as that 72-hour window, that critical window, is coming to an end very soon. Sara?

SIDNER: Yes. And when you see in the light of day with the waters receding just how much damage there is, you couldn't even see some of those buildings when it first happened, and now also seeing the absolute devastation and sorrow people are feeling as their loved ones were washed away.

Hanako Montgomery, thank you for your reporting there, getting on the ground very early in this disaster. John?

BERMAN: All right. Breaking overnight, air traffic controllers experiencing difficulties communicating with Marine One, the president's helicopter, as it tried to depart from the White House. And of even greater concern here, this is the second time this has happened this month. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marine One, Washington Tower, can you hear me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Washington Tower, Marine One's with you. Washington Tower, Marine One, how do you hear?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Do me a favor, I can't hear Marine One. If you hear Marine One, can you let me know?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Well, the controllers and Marine One had to rely on other helicopters to relay messages.

Now, the first incident was a few weeks ago. That was attributed, at least in part, to the president's construction projects.

Let's get right to CNN Aviation Correspondent Pete Muntean for the latest on what happened here. Pete, what are you learning this morning?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, this new air traffic control audio really lays out the communications problems between the tower at Reagan National Airport and the president's helicopters have not been fixed, because the very same scenario on August 4th triggered Marine One getting too close to a departing commercial flight. It led to an investigation by the NTSB. Good radio communication is key.

Ever since last year's tragic midair collision of an army helicopter and landing commercial flight at DCA killed 67 people, Marine One usually radios the control tower at Reagan National Airport to stop departing flights just before lifting off from the White House.

And here's more of that new air traffic control audio, in which the pilots of Marine One spent about four minutes trying to reach the tower to no avail, and the air traffic controller in the tower ultimately must rely on other helicopters flying nearby to relay this message. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do me a favor. I can't hear Marine One. If you hear Marine One, can you let me know?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Affirm, we have positive comms with Marine One.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marine One, are you trying to reach me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Affirm, National Tower. Marine One proceeding as briefed with momentary delay.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marine One, roger. There is a helicopter traffic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: Now, the FAA says in a new statement, w- was clearly referring to that relay maneuver, saying, the usual three minutes to lift up notification was, quote, communicated by other alternate means.

The FAA also insists it responded to the previous incident on August 4th by relocating radio antennas, but this is maybe the most interesting part, John. The National Transportation Safety Board said after that first incident, Marine One was lifting off from a different location at the White House due to the construction that was taking place there.

Usually, the helicopter lands on the South Lawn. It was leaving from The Ellipse. That may have hampered radio reception, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Following this new incident, the White House released a statement saying it will work with all the relevant agencies here to make sure that the president is safe, and the White House insists he was never in danger during that first incident on August 4th. John?

BERMAN: Look, this is crowded and sensitive airspace. It's important to get this all right. Pete Muntean, thank you for keeping us up to date on it. I appreciate it. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Thank you, John.

Ahead, the jury has the case, day two of deliberations in the Lindsey Clancy trial. Will they convict her in the killing or determine she's not guilty by reason of insanity? That verdict could come at any time as soon as court starts. We will get there and talk more about it ahead.

And a stunning CNN investigation, CNN uncovering years of reported brain injuries linked to a famous rollercoaster, a history of riders being rushed into emergency brain surgery after taking the ride. Details on that ahead.

And a furious mom under arrest this morning after smashing a window and climbing into a school bus. What prompted all this, and how did this all go down in the end?

Those stories and more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:10:00]

SIDNER: Very soon this morning, the jury will resume deliberating in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy. The jury, nine women, three men, will be deciding the fate of the mother accused of killing her three children.

It's a case that has gotten lots of people talking about maternal mental health care. Jurors deliberated yesterday for about three and a half hours. Today, they return at 9:00 Eastern to weigh whether Clancy should be held criminally responsible for her actions and face life in prison. She, though, has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. Her lawyers say she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.

And during closing arguments yesterday, one of the lawyers described her as a darn good mother and argued she received lousy medical care for mental illness, while prosecutors had a very different story, saying killing her children was a choice that she made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER SPRAGUE, ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Those kids were keeping her from ending her misery, and so she had to remove the protective factor. And I'm not saying she was happy about it. I'm saying that it was what she had to do to end her misery, but it was a choice.

[07:15:07]

KEVIN REDDINGTON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: This woman lived for her kids until she had the pleasure running into Dr. Tufts of her two months experience.

One thing this kid did was try to do what she was supposed to do. She took the drugs as she was told to take them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Joining me now is Abby Patkin, staff writer for Boston.com. She's been covering the case since January of 2023. Thank you so much for being here.

You have been in the court, you have seen this jury. Abby, the jury deliberated for about three and a half hours yesterday, it's expected back this morning. What have you observed about this jury, and how they've been responding during the trial?

ABBY PATKIN, STAFF WRITER, BOSTON.COM: Yes. From what I've seen, they've been incredibly attentive, engaged with the evidence really just locked in and trying to make sense of a really voluminous case record.

SIDNER: The jurors don't just have one option when it comes to what they can convict her of. They also of course have the option of acquitting her. What are the options that this jury is weighing right now, along with all this evidence that has poured in during this case?

PATKIN: Yes. So, as indicted, she's facing three counts of first- degree murder. But each carries a lesser included offense of second- degree murder or manslaughter. So, if the jurors feel that she is criminally responsible but they don't feel the prosecutors have met their burden of proof to prove first-degree murder and the prosecutors are arguing both deliberate premeditation and extreme atrocity and cruelty then the jurors could find her guilty of a lesser included offense.

SIDNER: Look, this case has garnered a lot of attention, and a lot of attention about maternal mental health. As you heard, all of the medications that she was being given by different healthcare providers, can you give us a sense of what it's been like in the courtroom and outside because there is so much public interest in this, and because you see these three sweet children, people are drawn to what happened here?

PATKIN: Yes. And I remember even on the first day of trial, there were several advocates for postpartum mental health gathered outside the courthouse. And that crowd has only grown as the trial has continued. I mean, as you can imagine, this case has just drawn an immense amount of attention because it really is sort of hard to reconcile. You know, this loving mother sort of a picture perfect all- American family, and then she goes and does the unthinkable.

And so as you can imagine, it's a very emotional case. We've seen that in court with, you know, Lindsay herself breaking down at some of the more emotional testimony some in the courtroom breaking down. And you know, it's just -- I have a feeling that the conversation will continue long after this trial does.

SIDNER: Yes. That is a good way to put it. It has shone a light on an issue that is important to so many.

Abby Patkin, thank you so much for your coverage and for joining us this morning, I appreciate you.

All right, just ahead, breaking overnight, a federal judge pausing President Trump's plan to restrict mail-in voting. What that means less than 90 days out from the midterms.

And terrifying video capturing the moment a plane blows its tires on landing, and then, you see it there, catches fire. What happened in this case, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BERMAN: All right. New this morning, scientists are getting a step closer to understanding exactly how autism develops in the brain, and maybe then what might work to treat it. They built this new molecular map that could help inform more targeted therapies.

CNN's Jacqueline Howard has the story.

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Scientists have built the largest ever map detailing how genetic mutations that we know are tied to autism can essentially rewire the brain leading to autism developing.

So, here's how the scientists built this. They examined genetic mutations. They saw how these mutations can influence how proteins interact with each other in the brain. And keep in mind, proteins are essentially the building blocks of the brain. And the scientists found more than 1,800 protein interactions tied to autism. 87 percent of those interactions had never been seen before.

And this study was so fascinating. It involved using A.I. It involved using data from tiny lab-grown brains known as organoids. And the idea here is that now that we have a map of these protein interactions, maybe this map can help inform the development of medications in the future to target those interactions that we know are specifically tied to autism.

So, essentially, this map can help inform the development of autism treatments in the future. Now, of course, it may take years to develop potential treatments, and this study is in reference specifically to people with profound autism. So, we're talking about severe types of autism, where people may need 24-hour care.

But this map, it gives scientists some hope. The researchers behind the map say they're already investigating possible treatments based on this work. And advocacy groups say this work is being released at a time when the second Trump administration has turned a spotlight on autism, and advocates say they hope the federal government remains focused on this type of current science.

Alison Singer, who's the president of the nonprofit Autism Science Foundation, she told me in an email, quote, redirecting limited federal research investments away from the strongest biological evidence will slow scientific progress precisely when these types of unprecedented opportunities for therapeutic development are emerging, end quote.

[07:25:13]

So, basically, her message here is that if we redirect investment away from this type of research, we could miss out on these types of opportunities to develop groundbreaking treatments in the future.

Back to you. BERMAN: All right. Thanks to Jacqueline for that.

So, breaking news just now, we are hearing from the first American survivors of the disastrous flooding in Nepal. They tell our reporters that it seemed like a tsunami was hitting.

And then overnight, pre-season ridicule, you'll never guess who was talking about President Trump's move to rename Lake Ontario.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: Happening now, a federal judge has again temporarily blocked the U.S. Postal Service from carrying out its Trump-directed plan aimed at limiting mail voting.

[07:30:04]

It required states to submit lists of their mail-in voters to the Postal Service in order to.