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First Gold Medal Events Today at Summer Olympics; Trump Meets with Netanyahu; Rain in Canada Raises Firefighters' Hopes but California Fire out of Control; French Security Forces on High Alert as Games Begin; Israel Defense Forces Issues Evacuation Orders for Khan Yunis; Inside Help in Cartel Arrests; Trump Zeroes in on Harris, Often with Lies; "World's Fastest Man" Noah Lyles on Olympic Ambitions. Aired 4-5a ET
Aired July 27, 2024 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT AND ANCHOR (voice-over): Welcome to all our viewers joining us around the world. I'm Max Foster.
Ahead on CNN NEWSROOM, the Summer Games are officially underway. France pulled out all the stops for an Olympic size spectacle.
But will it live up to the hype?
Kamala Harris' rise to the top of the Democratic field is already bringing some unwelcome attention and attacks from her Republican counterparts.
And hundreds of thousands of acres are ablaze in California. We will get the latest on the efforts to contain that disaster.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from London, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Max Foster.
FOSTER: The 2024 Summer Olympic Games are underway in Paris with the first gold medals being awarded today in mixed team shooting and women synchronized diving. The Games opened with an elaborate show.
It was breathtaking in size and it was uniquely French. It was the first opening ceremony ever outside a stadium. It was centered around famous landmarks and the River Seine, where the teams rode in a flotilla of boats.
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FOSTER (voice-over): Famous entertainers performed, including Canada's Celine Dion, with a love song by France's late beloved superstar Edith Piaf. (END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: CNN's "WORLD SPORT"'s Amanda Davies joins us now, live from Paris.
I watched a lot of it. I thought it was pretty amazing. I know there were complaints on the ground because of the rain. But on TV it looked amazing and we've really got Celine ringing in our ears today.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, the organizers were not done a favor by the weather, were they. It is still pouring with rain here this morning, a very wet and gray start to the official start of competition here at the Olympic Games.
But the organizers had promised something unique from that opening ceremony and unique it certainly was. The scale of it, the number of boats. We had the dancers, we had the history, we had the fashion. The athletes did get very, very wet. There was a lot of ponchos on display.
We're judging by what they've been posting on social media. They were all really excited to be part of it. We had the great sporting legends. We had Zinedine Zidane carrying the Olympic torch. We had Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams.
Of course this is a city that has been so integral to their tennis career, some of their greatest moments. And then we did have that much rumored moment with Celine Dion, the iconic singer, who had said, in the midst of her health concerns with this stiff person syndrome that she been dealing with.
She said she was dreaming of just being able to see the Eiffel Tower again. Not only did she see the Eiffel Tower, she performed on it in the most emotional, spectacular fashion, wearing Dior. There were -- there was not a dry eye, I think it's fair to say, from those watching on that.
And that lighting of the cauldron, the hot air balloon rising into the air, which will without doubt become one of those iconic opening ceremony moments.
But that is really the moment that the baton, the torch gets passed now to the athletes, from the iconic moments of the opening ceremony, is now over to the athletes to have their moments and take it from here.
FOSTER: Yes, I'm excited about seeing the pool and the races there. But you've got some gold medals today as well.
DAVIES: Yes.
Excuse me.
Yes, you have. It's not good to be losing my voice on day one, is it?
(LAUGHTER) DAVIES: But yes, there's a lot of high hopes for France around the rugby sevens. Antoine Dupont, arguably the greatest rugby player of all time, made that huge decision to miss out on representing his country of the six nations earlier this year, because he said he's been dreaming of this moment, taking part for the sevens team here in Paris.
He's been holding up his end of the bargain so far. He has helped the French side. He didn't even qualify for Tokyo three years ago into the semifinals. They'll take on South Africa at Stade de France later today, hoping to book their place in the final. The other semifinal will be very hard for, though, Fiji against Australia.
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Fiji, the two time defending sevens champions; Australia, arguably the team in form. But we always talk about the importance of the host nation of an Olympic Games, getting off to a great start.
This is the one that people are really putting their hopes on.
And if the atmosphere at the rugby, 69,000-70,000 fans who've been attending the first round of matches ahead of yesterday's opening ceremony are anything to go by, they will certainly be doing all they can to roll their team on.
But yes. You mentioned the pool. It is being billed as the race of champions that we will see later on, arguably three- or four-way head to head between three world champions, three of women's swimming's biggest stars.
In the 400 meter freestyle, seven time Olympic gold medal winner Katie Ledecky, going head to head with Ariarne Titmus, who beat her to the gold in Tokyo; going head to head with Summer McIntosh, the girl she has been trading world records with in this event.
Summer was the youngest member of Canada's Olympic team three years ago. But this is the moment she really wants to step up and get the gold medals for herself.
FOSTER: Amanda, enjoy. Thank you for joining us from Paris.
Some of France's high-speed train services have been restored now, hours after what officials say were a coordinated sabotage attack to disrupt several rail lines before the opening ceremony.
Two trains carrying Olympic athletes were affected. The Paris prosecutor's office is investigating but, so far, no one's claimed responsibility for the attacks. CNN's Melissa Bell has more.
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MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The organizers of Paris 2024 believed they were ready for anything but it was early this morning, just hours from the opening ceremony that French authorities said "coordinated sabotage" and arson caused chaos. PATRICE VERGRIETE, FRENCH MINISTER DELEGATE FOR TRANSPORT (through translator): Today, all the information we have clearly shows that it was deliberate, the simultaneous nature. Everything happened at the same time.
Everything now points to the fact that these were arson attacks, particularly the timing, which is more than suspicious.
BELL (voice-over): Security in Paris is tight with authorities keen to make sure that things go smoothly. But this was one attack carried out simultaneously across the country that was impossible to imagine. Intelligence services say this tactic has been used before by far-left groups.
ANNE HIDALGO, PARIS MAYOR (through translator): Playing against the games is playing against France. It's playing against your camp, it's playing against your country.
BELL: These are exactly the kinds of images that the organizers of Paris 2024 had hoped to avoid, with French authorities warning that it is 250,000 travelers likely to be impacted this Friday; 800,000 over the course of the weekend.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I was supposed to go to the Olympics. This morning they told us they would be 3:20 late and in the end the train was canceled. So we had to take a bus to Paris.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I wanted to get to Paris for the Olympics. So I have no idea what I m going to do because they told us there won't be any trains until this afternoon. And they don't know when it will start again.
BELL (voice-over): It wasn't just speculators affected, with one official telling reporters that only two of the four trains carrying athletes were able to run. As repairs get underway, the national railway company's regional director said it could take a day or more before lines start functioning again.
The latest drama likely to dampen the spirits of the French, many of them heading off from family holidays, even as Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo believed that enthusiasm for the Games had finally gripped the country.
HIDALGO (through translator): I felt that the enthusiasm arrived a little before during the passage of the flame in Paris on July 14th and 15th. The Olympic flame was paraded in Paris and there were people everywhere -- children, elderly people, all social classes. Everyone was really happy. And I said to myself that it's the magic of the games working.
BELL (voice-over): With the Olympics now firmly underway, organizers will be hoping that this will be a short-lived memory -- Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE) FOSTER: Back to Paris now, where Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland, is cheering on his country's Olympic athletes. He joins us now.
Thank you so much for joining us. You would have seen obviously the opening ceremony.
What did you make of it?
And that huge ambition of doing it on the river?
ALEXANDER STUBB, FINNISH PRESIDENT: Well, It was epic, historic in many ways. It was a pity that it was raining but you know, we all looked really good in the ponchos.
For me, probably the biggest moment was Celine Dion. She was absolutely phenomenal and her performance was very emotional.
FOSTER: Yes, and the way the balloon went up as well around the same time.
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It's pretty spectacular, isn't it?
In terms of the games, you're cheering on your team.
What do you make of what was coming up over the next couple of weeks?
There has been concerns about security. But I was in the area where you are.
It's pretty tight, isn't it?
STUBB: Yes, I mean, I think I just hope that the games start so we can focus on the relevant stuff. I think there's a lot of noise about security and other things which are of course, very important. But let's focus on what we have here.
We have the top athletes of the world and all the different domains. We have over 200 countries around. It's simply a phenomenal experience to do. I myself I'm going to go watch the women's time trial cycling today. We have a good finish rider, there.
I'm also going to be watching some judo, some badminton, mountain biking, swimming and other things. It's just an exciting prospect to be here.
FOSTER: And presumably bumping into other heads of state along the way.
STUBB: I'm sorry, could you repeat that?
I'm having a slight problem with my ear, which is not catching the microphone.
(LAUGHTER)
STUBB: Go ahead.
FOSTER: You'll be bumping into two other heads of state along the way as well.
What sort of conversations do you have at events like this?
STUBB: Yes, that's probably one of the best things. We have about 140 heads of state and government here. So you spend a lot of time. As a matter of fact, yesterday, I think we were at the Elysee first for three hours and then four hours at the opening ceremony.
So you see everyone from all around the world. Sometimes we Europeans hang out mostly in European events or transatlantic events. And here, you get all the continents coming together. So a lot of good, small chitchat. We exchanged phone numbers and invited each other to each others' countries to visit. So there's a good spirit as well.
And I sort of sense that most heads of state and government are actually quite relaxed here, because we don't do that much shop. We just basically focus on the sports and talk to each other. So it's a lot of fun.
FOSTER: Obviously, one had to say, who isn't there?
It's President Putin but some of his athletes are.
What do you make of that?
STUBB: Well, if it was me personally, I wouldn't have any Russian athletes here at all, nor Belarus. And as a matter of fact, because the war of aggression is such an atrocious violation of international law.
But of course, it's not us politicians that make that decision. It's the Olympic committee. But if I look at a silver lining, it is probably that Russian -- the Russian population will understand that they have been isolated. This is not a voluntary boycott.
Most of the Russian athletes are out of here, which I think is a good thing. And of course, Putin tried to organize some kind of friendly games and no one showed up. So if this starts a conversation in Russian apartment blocks and kitchens about the fact that is what we're doing in Ukraine, right or wrong, then I think it's a good thing.
FOSTER: OK.
President Alexander Stubb, enjoy watching your team today in Paris. Thank you so much for joining us.
STUBB: Thank you.
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FOSTER: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is looking to prove herself to the public in the early days of her presidential campaign.
Harris and her top campaign advisers are laying out their vision for the next 100 days before the election whilst also discussing plans for the Democratic National Convention in August. CNN's MJ Lee has more now on how the vice president has hit the ground running.
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KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm ready. Let's go.
We're going to have some fun with this two, aren't we?
We are not playing around.
(CHANTING)
HARRIS: Bring it on.
MJ LEE, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A whirlwind five days for Kamala Harris, who is swiftly marching toward the Democratic nomination for president.
Since President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 race, Harris, working at breakneck speed to raise a stunning amount of cash lock in major Democratic endorsements like this one on Friday.
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT (via telephone): We call to say, Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you.
HARRIS: Thank you, both. It means so much.
LEE: And hitting the road to court voters who will determine the outcome of the 2024 election.
HARRIS: You helped elect Joe Biden, president of the United States and me as the first woman vice president of the United States.
(CHEERING)
HARRIS: Our nation needs your leadership once again.
LEE: Harris also turning to weighty matters of foreign policy this week in her first days as a presidential candidate. The vice president meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House as U.S. officials are pushing to try to finalize a ceasefire agreement.
Afterwards, Harris issuing the White House's most forceful comments yet about the Israel-Hamas war.
HARRIS: I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, the images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety. I will not be silent.
LEE: Those comments clearly unsettling Israeli officials with one telling local media outlets.
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Hopefully, the remarks Harris made in her press conference won't be interpreted by Hamas as daylight between the U.S. and Israel, thereby making a deal harder to secure as Netanyahu met with former President Donald Trump in Florida on Friday.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT & 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She's actually worse than him.
LEE: The prime minister himself also questioning Harris'' remarks about the war.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: To the extent that Hamas understands that there's no daylight between Israel and the United States, that expedites the deal. And I would hope those comments don't change that.
LEE: The vice president's office quickly rejecting that suggestion, with an aide to Harris telling CNN in a statement, Friday, I don't know what they're talking about.
President Biden and Vice President Harris delivered the same message in their private meetings to Prime Minister Netanyahu. It is time to get the ceasefire and hostage deal done.
Meanwhile, the prospects of the next general election debate now up in the air. Harris saying she's eager to face off against Trump in September.
HARRIS: I'm ready to debate Donald Trump.
LEE (voice-over): But the Trump campaign, refusing to commit until they say the Democratic nominee is confirmed.
Harris' top surrogates mocking that move.
LEE: Now, on Friday, the vice president called into a meeting of her national finance committee, expressing gratefulness to her top donors for their support in the past few days.
A top donor that I spoke with who was on that call said that this was really about the vice president and top campaign officials laying out their vision for the 100-plus days that are now left until Election Day.
They said when it comes to the vice president's calendar, of course, a top priority is going to be the vice president traveling to key battleground states. They also made clear though that there is a quick reshuffling going on as they figure out what is best for the vice president and her calendar that is upcoming now that she is in this role that is only a couple of days old -- MJ Lee, CNN, at the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE) FOSTER: Donald Trump then meeting with the Israeli prime minister on Friday, it came on the heels of Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with Harris on Thursday, as MJ was saying. And it was the first time the two men had met since Trump left the White House.
Later in the day, the Republican presidential nominee spoke to a crowd of conservative Christian activists and claimed that the vice president doesn't like Israel. He also urged Christians to vote whilst making a startling promise about what he would, quote, "fix" if he is elected.
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TRUMP: You won t have to anymore. Four more years.
You know what?
It ll be fixed, it ll be fine, you won t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. I love you, Christians. You got to get out and vote. In four years, you don t have to vote again. We ll have it fixed so good you re not going to have to vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Well, the Trump campaign says it's not committing to any further debates until the Democratic Party formally chooses its nominee. But Harris says she is ready to go, as MJ was saying.
Now wildfires continue to burn furiously in California. And throughout the Western United States, a California Fire-backed battalion chief joins us when we come back.
Plus U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris takes a barrage of political fire from Donald Trump. But it often falls short when it comes to accuracy.
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FOSTER (voice-over): A wildfire in Canada's Jasper National Park in the Rocky Mountains continues to burn out of control. But rain and cooler conditions are giving hope to firefighters that they'll be able to get a handle on it.
Look at those scenes, the fire's destroyed about a third of the 1,100 buildings in the town of Jasper, a major tourist destination. But critical infrastructure has so far been spared.
A total of about 25,000 residents and visitors were forced to evacuate the area. Officials say rebuilding could take years.
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FOSTER: A wildfire in California, exploding in size, burning nearly 240,000 acres or some 375 square miles north of Sacramento. More than 1,600 firefighters are working to contain that fire. It's scorched the vast area and is still growing.
The Western United States has been suffering from extreme temperatures, high winds and that has made the fire threat worse.
Let's bring in CAL FIRE battalion chief Josh Silveira in Santa Cruz.
Thank you so much for joining us.
I mean, how does this compare with recent fires you've been tackling?
JOSH SILVEIRA, BATTALION CHIEF, CAL FIRE: Good morning. We've been lucky the last couple of years in California.
We've had below average fire years over the last couple of years. Though we have gotten substantial rain, which has added to the grass crop up and down the state and those grasses that grow seasonally are what we refer to as light flashing fuels.
And that's what's attributing to the widespread wildfire that we're seeing up and down the state.
FOSTER: You haven't got it contained at this point.
When do you hope to be in more control of it?
SILVEIRA: We're hoping that, as we see the weather change in our favor, where we get a cooler, more moist conditions, we can start to turn the corner and gain some ground on this fire and start working on containment.
FOSTER: How many people are affected by this?
The images we're looking at, at the moment, thankfully, look at what as though there away from homes.
SILVEIRA: It's currently burning in two separate counties. It's burning in Butte County and in Tehama (ph) County. The fire has grown substantially since yesterday. We're currently sitting just over 307,000 acres.
On top of the Park fire, we are currently engaged in 12 other major incidents up and down the state and it's proving to be a very busy fire year for us.
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SILVEIRA: It's affecting countless people.
FOSTER: How are the crews coping with it? You've got enough?
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SILVEIRA: The crews are doing good. CAL FIRE statewide is up to our peak staffing level for fire season.
Even with our peak staffing level, we have to reach out to our cooperators, both locally and nationally. We have assistance from other states.
Currently municipal departments and other states here in California assisting with these wildfires as well as our partners from local government agencies in California and the federal government with the U.S. Forest Service and our partners from the Bureau of Land Management as well.
FOSTER: If you don't get the weather you need, it's a worrying situation, isn't it?
Because it is traveling so quickly.
SILVEIRA: It is. It's a very rapidly moving fire. It's being fanned by seasonably high winds, very steep, rugged terrain which make access very difficult. Getting crews in to engage right on the fire's edges is being -- proving more difficult than anticipated, especially when you have such a fast moving fire.
Trying to get down into some of these very mountainous areas and fight fire effectively makes it very difficult when it's moving this rapidly.
FOSTER: Is it moving toward residential areas?
Is that one of your worries?
SILVEIRA: It's currently working in a very remote area. There are going to be scattered residents that are affected by the Park fire. But it is currently working in the wilderness area.
As it spreads it has the potential to get back into the populated areas again.
FOSTER: Those people have had to be evacuated, haven't they?
What's the plan for them and where do they go?
SILVEIRA: We currently have evacuation shelters in the area. Some of the areas are providing shelter for your large animals or livestock. We do have just evacuation shelters for families, individuals, to get out and have somewhere to go and have some sense of normalcy.
You know, it's being provided, the creature comforts that we're used to.
It's obviously not your own home but if you can take one worry out of those peoples that are evacuated, if you could take a worry out of their mind, knowing that they have a bed to sleep in and their basic logistics are being met, it makes it a little easier to leave your house at that point, allow firefighters to do the best they can.
FOSTER: OK, Josh Silveira, I really appreciate you spending your time with us and good luck with the continuing effort there.
SILVEIRA: Thank you.
FOSTER: Wildfires have also scorched more than 3,000 square kilometers and counting.
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FOSTER (voice-over): In Bolivia, this drone video shows a huge plume of smoke coming from grasslands consumed by flames. At least 25 fires have been burning near the city of Santa Cruz, where a state of emergency has been declared but no fatalities have been reported so far.
Officials say no communities are directly at risk.
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FOSTER: The devastation from Typhoon Gaemi is far from over.
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FOSTER (voice-over): These are scenes from northeastern China, where they saw heavy flooding from the most powerful storm to hit the country this year.
The remnants of Gaemi threaten to bring heavy rain to other parts of China too. In Taiwan, where the storm injured more than 700 people and killed seven, rescue attempts are underway after a fire -- a freighter sank off the island's coast on Thursday.
Four crew members were rescued. One was found dead and four remain missing. Crew members on eight other freighters are stranded and are still awaiting rescue.
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FOSTER: Still ahead, French security forces are on high alert. The Paris Olympics are underway and authorities are taking extra steps to protect Israeli athletes amid the tense political climate over the war in Gaza.
Plus how a major Mexican cartel boss was lured to the U.S. and handed over to federal agents.
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FOSTER: Welcome back. I'm Max Foster. More now, on one of our top stories.
High profile French athletes lit the cauldron on Friday night to signal the official start of the Paris Summer Olympic Games. Before the torch reached its final destination, thousands of athletes floated down the River Seine on boats amid spectacular entertainment.
Athletic competition is now in full swing with medals expected to be handed out in swimming and other sports.
Meanwhile, some of France's high-speed train services have been restored hours after what officials say were coordinated sabotage attacks to disrupt several rail lines before that opening ceremony. The Paris prosecutor's office is investigating. So far, no one's claimed responsibility.
French authorities say they've gone to great lengths to ensure a safe Olympic Games that are meant to be above politics. This includes ramping up security, particularly for the Israeli athletes, and also learning from the past. CNN's Fred Pleitgen reports.
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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): As Israeli athletes arrived in France, making their way to the Olympic Village under heavy French police protection, protests against Israel's participation the 2024 games had already erupted in Paris.
France has government acknowledging the threat level for Israeli athletes is extremely high.
I proposed to the president of the republic that the Israeli delegation be fully protected by the French police 24 hours a day, the interior minister said.
Security forces are on high alert. French and international police patrolling the area around the Olympics, trying to prevent mistakes made in the past.
We took this decision because the Israeli athletes and we've known this since the Munich Games, of course but more recently again, are particularly targeted by attacks.
Munich, West Germany at the Summer Games, 1972, Palestinians from a militant group named Black September stormed the dormitory housing the Israeli team. They immediately shoot and kill two athletes and take nine more team members hostage. The games continue as the hostage crisis drags on.
[04:35:00]
The gunman often seen on the balcony of the Olympic dormitory. German police finally, attempt and completely botch a rescue mission, leaving all of the Israeli hostages, a German cop and five of the terrorists dead.
Esther Roth-Shahamorov was on Israel's 1972 track and field team.
ESTHER ROTH-SHAHAMOROV, FORMER ISRAELI TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE (through translator): I was sitting in the plane transporting the coffins of my coach and comrades I had trained with. They returned with you in coffins. That was the thing I couldn't understand. And I kept thinking, what's going on here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): At this moment, eight or nine athletes of the Israeli team are being held prisoner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): These guerillas are a group called Black September.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): Israel's intelligence service, Mossad, soon launched a campaign of assassinations targeting those connected to the Munich massacre, depicted in the 2005 Steven Spielberg film, "Munich," which also depicts the botched German rescue attempt.
And while 1972 isn't 2024, the trauma remains and so do the lessons learned.
Israel sports minister recently met with the country's domestic security service, Shin Bet.
Since October 7 of last year, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing more than 1,100 people and taking roughly 250 others hostage, Israel has launched a punishing military campaign in Gaza, killing many Hamas fighters but also scores of civilians.
Israeli athletes say they're well aware of the anger they face.
INBAR LANIR, ISRAELI OLYMPIC JUDOKA: It's something that we're used to. And I'm feeling really safe. My part is to connect with everyone by sports.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): French authorities say they will do their part to try and make sure violence doesn't disrupt the games that are supposed to be above politics -- Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.
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FOSTER: Well, the Israeli military has issued an evacuation order too people in southern Khan Yunis in Gaza. The IDF warned it would, quote, "forcefully" operate in the area and told residents to head to al Mawasi.
However, the designated humanitarian area in al-Mawasi has come under repeated Israeli attacks, including a strike on July the 14th, which reportedly killed 90 people and injured 300. Israel says the orders to evacuate come after what it calls
significant terrorist activity and rocket fire coming from the area. High level talks for a ceasefire in Gaza and hostage release deal are expected to resume in Rome in the coming days.
A diplomat familiar with the plans tells CNN that U.S. CIA director Bill Burns and Israeli intelligence officials are set to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Those talks could happen as soon as this weekend, though the situation is fluid and nothing is nailed down.
Families of hostages expressed optimism that a deal is within reach after meeting with the Israeli prime minister and U.S. president this week.
Now one of Mexico's most notorious drug lords is now in U.S. custody, thanks to the help of El Chapo's son. CNN's Polo Sandoval has the latest details.
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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as we learn more about this takedown, it seems that betrayal is really one of the prevailing themes in this investigation. Oftentimes the heads of these drug cartels have to decide between fleeing from authorities and potentially getting hunted down by them.
Or do they choose to cooperate with them?
And thus far, based on information coming in, it seems that this may have been the latter. According to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, telling our colleague, Evan Perez, it is believed that one of the sons of Joaquin Guzman, who we know as El Chapo, likely provided U.S. authorities with critical information.
That allowed them to nab this narco, Ismael Zambada (ph), known as El Mayo. Remember Mayo and Chapo Guzman were two of the partners who created the Sinaloa cartel decades ago.
The DOJ yet to confirm the following plot but we have heard from multiple sources briefed on the investigation who say that it's likely that Mayo was led to believe that he would be flying to go see a property, potentially to purchase it, and not head to an airstrip near El Paso, where federal agents were waiting to actually detain him.
So essentially, it is believed at this point, though the DOJ has not confirmed it, that he was hand-delivered by the son of his former partner, by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, who is the 38-year-old man who was also aboard that plane, also behind bars in federal custody and also stands accused of taking part of this massive criminal enterprise.
[04:40:00]
Responsible for quite literally tons of narcotics that have ended up in the United States, specifically fentanyl. As for El Mayo, he was in court at the end of this week and entered a plea of not guilty. Now in terms of what could be to come, the Sinaloa cartel certainly
not going anywhere even though one of its leaders is now in federal custody.
What we do know is that over the years that group has actually splintered into other factions. So the arrest of El Mayo certainly leaves behind a massive power void, a vacuum, so to speak. And it's very possible that we could see some infight, some infighting within the Sinaloa cartel.
So yes, this arrest of now a second founding member of the Sinaloa cartel could be the end of one era. But this may likely lead to the bloody start of another -- Polo Sandoval CNN, New York.
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FOSTER: Donald Trump unleashes a new salvo of political attacks on U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. But when they're scrutinized, many of them don't quite add up. That story is just ahead.
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FOSTER: Donald Trump is ramping up his attacks on U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as new polls show she is closing in on him in the presidential race.
But as Tom Foreman reports, one thing is often left missing from Trump's attacks and that is the truth.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I say bring it on. Bring it on.
(CHEERING)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I mean, cheers from fans and jeers from foes, Vice President Kamala Harris is being pelted by Republican claims about her life and career, many unfounded. At his first rally since Harris became the presumptive nominee, former President Donald Trump tore into what he said are her views on Social Security.
TRUMP: She's talking about re -- let's take the retirement age.
FOREMAN: On when abortion should be legal.
TRUMP: Even after birth, the execution of a baby.
[04:45:00]
FOREMAN: And on his own legal cases, which he long blamed on President Joe Biden. TRUMP: There was all headed up by her.
FOREMAN: All three of those cases about his opponent are patently false but never mind.
SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: By the way, on this show, our vetting has only begun.
FOREMAN: While some right-wing media stars are erupting over the new Democratic challenger, others are accusing Harris with no evidence of building her career primarily on race and gender. Some on the right in the past rebooted Trump's birther claims against former President Barack Obama by falsely saying Harris, who is born in California to immigrant parents, is not a U.S. citizen, now they say switching Biden to Harris on ballot this fall is illegal.
Listen to Trump's running mate.
VANCE: This was fundamentally illegitimate.
FOREMAN: And Republican speaker of the House, Mike Johnson.
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: It would be wrong. And I think unlawful in accordance to some of these states rules for a handful of people to go in a back backroom and switch it out because they're -- they don't like candidate any longer.
FOREMAN: But that's false too. CNN contacted every state and aside from two which did not reply, they all said there are no obstacles to putting Harris on the ballot.
And on it goes.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): Kamala can't have my gun. She can't have my gasoline engine and she sure as hell can't have my steaks and cheeseburgers.
FOREMAN (voice-over): Suggestion that Harris wants to outright ban guns, gasoline cars and red meat, that she couldn't pass the bar exam and is totally against Jewish people. All of those are false.
FOREMAN: Harris has talked about some gun control, about alternative fuels, about everyone eating better. So there are real issues that Republicans can engage her on. But right now it looks like what they're doing is just throwing everything at her to see what sticks, whether it is true or not -- Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Well, as you just heard, Kamala Harris is erasing Donald Trump's lead in the presidential race. A FOX News poll shows a statistical dead heat in the three battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
And Harris leads Trump by six percentage points in Minnesota. A new poll from "The Wall Street Journal" indicates there's no clear leader nationwide. Among registered voters, Trump is polling at 49 percent with the vice president at 47 percent, an improvement from Biden's numbers.
In the last poll from early July, Mr. Biden trailed Trump by six percentage points. The margin of error is just over 3 percent.
Kamala Harris is being noticed in China as she vies to replace Joe Biden in the White House. CNN's Will Ripley found out what people there are saying about her.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Who is Kamala Harris?
A common question on Chinese social media.
In a nation ruled almost entirely by men, many are shocked to learn the vice president of the United States is a woman. Some calling Harris are female Obama.
But online polls show most Chinese don't think she has a chance against former President Donald Trump.
WESLEY JIANG, BEIJING RESIDENT: I don't know too much about her. Yes, I think a lot of people don't know a lot about her in China. Everyone knows about Trump.
RIPLEY: The drama surrounding Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden trending on Chinas Internet for weeks untouched by Beijing's usually heavy-handed government censors. A flood of comments criticizing the U.S. political system as a circus, saying whoever becomes the next president, he or she is going to target China.
Officially, Beijing has no comment on Biden dropping out of the race and endorsing Harris, calling it a U.S. domestic affair. Harris met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2022, signaling how a future president Harris would handle one of America's biggest adversaries.
HARRIS: We do not invite conflict but we absolutely are prepared to and engaged in what is necessary to compete.
RIPLEY: People in China are posting pics of the presumptive Democratic nominee alongside cartoon character Lisa Simpson from that episode when she became president.
LISA SIMPSON: As you know, we've been had to quite a budget crunch from President Trump.
RIPLEY: Some are calling the Simpsons episode from 24 years ago, a presidential prophecy. And for all the doubters in China about a woman beating a man, Allen in Beijing says, all bets are off.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Kamala Harris has a better chance at winning this election.
RIPLEY: The most talked about thing, the way Harris laughs.
(LAUGHTER)
RIPLEY: Chinese social media users nicknamed Harris "Sister Haha." Some call her dramatic laughter crazy and cringe. Others say it's endearing and even a sign of good fortune -- Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Still ahead, an interview with the world's fastest man. American sprinter Noah Lyles sits down with CNN to talk about his remarkable road to the Paris Olympics.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:50:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
FOSTER: With the Paris Olympics underway, American sprinter Noah Lyles feels like he's right where he's supposed to be ahead of the games.
The fastest man on the planet sat down for an interview with CNN's Coy Wire.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
NOAH LYLES, AMERICAN SPRINTER (voice-over): I'm all about making moments. Big moments. I want to do things that nobody has done. And that mentality goes to the idea of, if I shoot for the stars, if I fall, I land on the clouds.
COY WIRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Three words to describe Noah Lyles.
LYLES (voice-over): Creative, inspirational, icon.
WIRE (voice-over): Some people were destined for greatness. Noah Lyles grew up a sprinting prodigy, turning pro as a teenager with aspirations of chasing Olympic gold.
LYLES (voice-over): I remember when I saw my first Olympics and I was like, oh, that's cool because so many family members and close friends were already Olympians. In my head, I thought becoming an Olympian was like getting a driver's license. It just happens when you're ready to get it.
Not everybody has a driver's license but most people have it. If you want to go get it, you just go get it. That's how, you know, when I was younger, I viewed it.
[04:55:00]
But when I tried to make it in 2021, I was like, oh, this is hard. This is difficult. You know, this is not as easy as it was made to seem.
WIRE: What does it mean to you to be the fastest man on the planet?
LYLES: Personally, I always knew it was me. It's more for everybody else.
(LAUGHTER)
LYLES: it's more like proof was like, you know, I've been telling you all this and now I have the title. It's like, see, I told you, one of those situations.
WIRE: You're witty, you're outspoken.
How do you feel you brought the fire back to the sport?
(MUSIC PLAYING)
LYLES (voice-over): I'm just be me. If you want to have more of an outside presence besides just running, just be you. Show people you. I know that everybody can't do that because everybody has different personalities. But that's what people gravitate toward.
They gravitate to the stories, they gravitate to the personalities and people just want to, you know, say, oh, I see a little bit of me in that person.
WIRE (voice-over): Watch this.
What is fear?
LYLES (voice-over): I think it's better to say, what is bravery?
A lot of people say bravery and fear are two sides of the same coin. But when you have bravery, it's not the absence of fear but the ability to have fear and still go into the unknown, knowing that it's there.
WIRE (voice-over): How big do you dream?
LYLES (voice-over): The impossible.
Truly, I think of something and it's like, OK, has somebody done this?
OK. If somebody hasn't done this, why haven't they do it?
Why can't I be the first to do it?
And how can we make this happen?
So it's always just pushing that envelope along of, OK, let's see how far we can go. (END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: OK. Thanks joining me here on CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Max Foster in London. I'll be back with more news after a quick break.
