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President Trump's Poll Numbers; State Department Spokesman Tommy Pigott is Interviewed about Nepal; Pickleball is America's Fastest Growing Sport. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired August 28, 2026 - 09:30   ET

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

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[09:33:30]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: We are just a few days before September now, and President Trump's approval rating is low. Really low. But, hey, November is still two months away. Is there time for the president to turn things around?

With us now, chief data analyst Harry Enten.

Before we answer that question --

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes.

BERMAN: When we say the president's approval rating is low, how low?

ENTEN: How low does he go? Well, this is a president who is stuck on empty. And it is just -- I mean, just look at this, it's just consistently low. It's stuck on empty, stuck on neutral, whatever type of gasoline analogy you want to use.

Trump's net approval rating stays at term two low. You know, on May 28th, you go back a few months ago, minus 20 points, minus 19 points two months ago, minus 20 points a month ago, and now minus 21 points. The president's approval rating, simply put, is low. Net approval rating is low. It is staying low. And there is no sign that he's getting out of the basement. He is stuck below the ground (INAUDIBLE).

BERMAN: I mean, the one thing that jumps out at me here, four straight months of basically the same number.

ENTEN: Correct.

BERMAN: When you see something that steady, that needs to be a concern there.

ENTEN: Has to be.

BERMAN: But the other way of looking at it is, hey, as I said, it's only the end of August, beginning of September. Surely there is time to turn it --

ENTEN: Surely. BERMAN: Surely there's time to turn things around.

ENTEN: Surely. Surely you can't be serious. He is stuck in the mud and there's no reason for me to believe that he will be able to get himself out of the mud. Because I just want you to look, historically speaking, OK. The average shifts in the president's net approval from this point before the midterms, August 28th, to the midterms. You know, back in the day, from '46 to 2002, you saw 11-point shifts on average. Shifts were crazy.

[09:35:00]

You could be low, go high. There was Camp David in '78 with Jimmy Carter. But if you look over the last 20 years, look at this, the average shift has only been two points. It's only been two points. What we've seen in our polarized era is the president's approval rating basically seems to be stuck from this point to the midterms. And that is exactly what we see on slide number one here, where you see the president's net approval rating is basically stuck at minus 20 points on average.

BERMAN: So other presidents who've been underwater, if not this much underwater, what has happened to them in the midterms?

ENTEN: Yes. OK. So, why don't we go historically speaking, right? Minus 15 points or worse net approval rating at the midterm like Trump currently has. He's more around minus 20 points, right. Lost the House in the Senate, yes. The two examples. Harry S. Truman back in '46. His Democratic Party got absolutely crushed in those midterm elections. And, of course, George W. Bush is the key historical analogy that I keep putting -- pushing forward because it's the one that really rhymes right now. And you see George W. Bush's Republican Party back in 2006, they lost the House in the United States Senate.

The bottom line is, President Trump is stuck. The historical analogies that match him right now are the ones that are no bueno for him or his Republican Party.

BERMAN: And what are the prediction markets saying right now about that balance of power?

ENTEN: Yes, you look at the Kalshi prediction markets right now. OK, 2026 House Senate chances. Actually, the highest one on here is a Dems sweep at 46 percent. A Democratic House and Republican Senate is next at 39 percent. The idea of a GOP sweep, hey, it could happen, but it's just at 16 percent. And then a Republican House and a D Senate at one percent. But right now, the plurality leader is actually a Democratic sweep according to the Kashi prediction markets.

BERMAN: Harry Enten, thank you very much.

ENTEN: Thank you. You're never stuck on empty.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [09:41:19]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we are learning the number of missing is going higher according to our reporter on the ground in Kathmandu, in Nepal, in that disaster zone. Rescue operations, however, have resumed in Nepal and China this morning after crews paused overnight fearing a lake formed by the landslide was about to burst and send another huge wave of water downstream. The death toll has now climbed past 500, with more than 1,300 people still missing, including dozens of Americans.

Joining me now is Tommy Pigott. He is a spokesman for the U.S. State Department.

Thank you for being with us this morning.

There is so much tragedy, so many families wondering where their loved ones are. At this hour, how many Americans are still missing in this disaster?

TOMMY PIGOTT, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: As of 6 a.m. this morning, there are currently approximately 90 Americans that are unaccounted for. We are aware of five Americans that have been safely evacuated. That number is up from yesterday. And at this time, we are aware of no U.S. citizen deaths.

In response to this devastating floods, we have activated 500,000 in initial humanitarian assistance, including food and lifesaving assistance. I can now say the first trucks of that assistance are already on their way. So, our highest priority is the safety and security of the American people. We're continuing to coordinate with the governments on the ground to look for those Americans who are unaccounted for and to help those Americans in need of assistance.

SIDNER: I want to take people back to this extraordinarily terrible video of one of the places that was hit the hardest, which was that border crossing where tourists coming and going from the Tibet, Nepal, border was -- basically, that's what it looked like before. And then this is what happens when the flood comes and just engulfs the whole area. Is that where you believe that the majority of Americans went missing in this apocalyptic flooding, or is it widespread?

PIGOTT: Well, part of what we're trying to determine is where these Americans might be. And that's why we're coordinating with local officials. Our embassies in Beijing and Kathmandu are working 24/7 to locate these Americans and help Americans in need of help. And we're coordinating, like I said, directly with governments in order to locate these Americans and see if the governments know where these are -- where these Americans are as well.

We're also working with trekking companies, trekking companies that have lists of clients, for example, in the area. This is a high tourism area. So, we're in communication with trekking companies to see if they know the whereabouts of these Americans as well. And when Americans reach out to us, we're proactively reaching out to those families, we're proactively reaching out to governments to look for these Americans, to locate them, and to help those Americans that are in need of assistance.

SIDNER: We were talking to the Isha Foundation, who had said that their 22 Americans were at that particular point when this happened, and they have not heard from them. So, it is great to hear that you are talking to these trekking companies and organizations because that is what a lot of people come to Nepal, and especially in that border to Tibet, to do.

I'm curious if you are hearing from survivors, hearing what their needs are at this point in time. Have you been contacted by many survivors?

PIGOTT: Well, that's part of our coordination with the local authorities on the ground. That's that initial 500 000 with those trucks already on the way, including that lifesaving humanitarian assistance, which will include things like food, sanitation, water, things so desperately in need.

This is a hard area to reach at the best of times, made even more so given this catastrophe. But we're committed to getting that humanitarian assistance in. We also have a disaster assistance response advisor that is already on the ground in terms of making sure that it's coordinating and advising how best to get this humanitarian assistance to people that need it.

So, we're continuing to coordinate with authorities on the ground.

[09:45:01]

And as the president said, we stand ready to help with whatever they may need.

SIDNER: This is going to need an incredible and a long time to try and get back to just being able to travel and traverse these dangerous areas. I do know that there is at least one family expressing some frustration on getting very little information about the whereabouts of their loved one. What advice can you give families who are trying to get any information about where their loved ones might be, where, for example, they went missing and when?

PIGOTT: First, if you go to travel.state.gov, you will see emergency contact information based off of where you are in the world. If you're abroad, in need of assistance, please call plus one, 202-501-4444. Travel.state.gov will also have information in terms of contacting the embassies in Beijing and Kathmandu, which are working 24/7 on this.

We are dedicated 24/7 to getting as much information as we possibly can to proactively reaching out to families who are in so desperate need of information, and then helping Americans as we have assistance.

Of course, this catastrophe is beyond words. We are seeing those glimmers of hope in terms of the five Americans that have been safely evacuated. We are here to help every single American that we can. That is our dedication. That is our highest priority. That is our commitment. So, if you're looking for information, please go to travel.state.gov in order to find information on how to contact the embassies, the emergency contact lines. And again, to state that number if you're abroad plus one, 202-501-4444.

SIDNER: Tommy Pigott giving us a new number of those who have been evacuated who are American, five people that number has risen to now.

Thank you so much for coming on this morning at such a tragic time there in Tibet and Nepal. Appreciate it.

All right, also this morning, we're on verdict watch in the Lindsay Clancy trial. The jury deliberating as we speak. They will decide whether she is guilty in the murder of her three children.

And the Washington Commanders began selling gear with the franchise's retired name and logo. And now there's some backlash stirring.

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[09:51:35]

BERMAN: In Miami Beach, police officers saved a woman who was pinned under a Jeep after it crashed into her e-scooter. They were able to lift the thing up just enough, I think we see it, maybe. Well, they were. Take my word for it. They were able to lift the Jeep up just enough for her to get out. The woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities cited the driver of the Jeep for the crash.

The Washington Commanders are selling new gear with their old name, the Redskins, and their logo on it. The team insists it has no plans to change the name back, but says this is a legal move to protect trademark rights and stop bootleggers. But a Native American advocacy group is condemning the decision, calling it a broader pattern of disrespect.

All right, CNN can officially project that this is the TSA's top dog of 2026. Bolt is a three-year-old short haired German pointer who works out of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and apparently always looks surprised, right? Bolt is very surprised by all of this. The TSA conducted a nationwide contest on social media. It started with 85 dogs. Bolt's handler says he's never short on energy, is always 1,000 percent excited to go to work. Just like Sara Sidner.

Sara.

SIDNER: That was my surprise face early in the morning. I love him so much right now. Look at that toy. He's number one, just like you, John Berman.

All right, they're back. Speaking of number ones, they're back. Venus and Serena Williams are together again on the court. The sisters just received a wildcard entry into the U.S. Open doubles tournament, adding to a legendary career that already includes, eh, you know, 14 grand slam doubles titles. And while those tennis icons returned to the hardcourts, another racket sport is taking the country by storm. You know this, pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America with millions of new players picking up paddles, including, uh-oh, Harry Enten. Take a look.

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HANNAH BLATT, BROOKLYN PICKLEBALL TEAM: Like, the ball is bouncing. Like, yes, just short in the kitchen. So, that's a dink.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST (voice over): Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America. And I had to find out why.

Turns out, even a novice like me can pick up the game pretty quickly. Of course, I had to learn how to serve.

ENTEN: All right, we're getting this serve in.

BLATT: There's more like topspin you can try and put on the ball.

ENTEN: Yes. Yes.

BLATT: And maybe that's kind of what kept it down a bit more.

ENTEN: I think that's -- yes, yes.

BLATT: And then if you start backing up towards the back --

ENTEN: Yes.

BLATT: Try and keep dropping that ball into the kitchen. Nice. Exactly. Good. Keep it up. Oh, that's perfect.

ENTEN (voice over): I don't know if the pro tour is on my horizon, but I feel like I may have picked up a new hobby.

ENTEN: My competitive nature, even though I know I can't win.

ENTEN (voice over): Over 24 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, up nearly 500 percent since 2020. Regular season attendance for Major League Pickleball was up 60 percent year over year as the season closes out with the 2026 MLB finals here in New York City.

ENTEN: You can really come out first time and have a base level of ability that you really can't in golf, baseball, tennis.

[09:55:03]

CHRISTIAN ALSHON, BROOKLYN PICKLEBALL TEAM: I'd say one of the best things about pickleball is just how easy it is at the introductory level. It's super easy for anybody to come and never having played it and, you know, have a rally with somebody, play with somebody who knows what they're doing and kind of just go back and forth, whereas, in other sports, I mean, golf and tennis, for example, you just -- you can't go out there for the first time and have fun and actually do well. And I think that's what's so enticing about pickleball.

BLATT: OK. ENTEN: I could play with anyone of any age, basically. Like I could

play with my mother if she would want to spend time with me. My mother does want to spend time with me, OK, but she could -- but we could come out and rally in a way that you really couldn't for most other sports if me and my parents can come play a game at the same time.

ALSHON: Sure.

BLATT: My parents are both -- they're decent. And so I actually -- I was able to get reps in and practice with them at a pro level and have them feed me balls, where in a lot of sports I feel like you can't do that if people potentially aren't at that level, but they could hit certain balls back to me that I could still benefit from it.

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SIDNER: The pickleball king right here, ladies and gentlemen. Congratulations.

BERMAN: That's all for us. Harry is going to hit the courts. "THE SITUATION ROOM," and they're covering highlight (ph). That's up next.

SIDNER: With a wiffle ball bat.

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