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President Biden Diagnosed with Cancer; President Trump Set to Speak with President Putin Via Phone as Russia Launched Drone Attack on Kyiv; Hamas Proposes Hostage Release for a 60-Day Ceasefire; At Least One Dead As Heavy Rains, Flooding Hit Argentina; Pope Leo Calls For Unity In the Church At Inaugural Mass; Trump's Agenda Advances After Republican Negotiations; 2 Dead, 19 Injured After Mexican Ship Hit Brooklyn Bridge. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired May 19, 2025 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States, around the world and streaming us on CNN Max. I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead, former U.S. President Joe Biden is diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. We will take a look at what doctors are saying about his condition and his prognosis.

Russia launches a massive drone attack against Ukraine. It comes just hours before U.S. President Trump is expected to speak with Russian President Putin about a ceasefire.

And the major turnaround in Romania. What the new president is promising.

Thanks for joining us. Well, first this hour, messages of support are coming from across the political spectrum for former U.S. President Joe Biden. This follows news that he has been diagnosed with what's being called an aggressive form of prostate cancer. In a statement, his personal office said the cancer has spread to his bones and Mr. Biden, now 82, is reviewing treatment options.

The news is being met with well wishes from those who served alongside the former president and even from those who have opposed him. That includes President Donald Trump, who said on social media, quote, Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.

Former President Barack Obama also said his support, saying Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe. And I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery. CNN's Arlette Saenz has more now from Washington.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The 82-year-old Biden was at his home in Wilmington, Delaware when this news was made public. And his family is now working to determine what treatment options will look like going forward. The statement from his office said, quote, Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of nine, grade group five, with metastasis to the bone.

While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management. Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with physicians going forward. We're still trying to learn where exactly President Biden might be treated after receiving this diagnosis. But this all comes as questions about Biden's physical and mental capacity while he was in office have returned to the public spotlight.

Our colleague Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson are about to roll out a new book which details some signs of decline in the former president while he was serving as commander-in-chief. But setting that aside, for the Biden family, this is just the latest in a long history of them dealing with some tragedy and some personal setbacks. Biden himself lost his daughter and wife in a car accident when he had just been elected to the U.S. Senate. And then in 2015, his son, Beau Biden, passed away from brain cancer.

In fact, Biden's diagnosis comes about two weeks before they were about to mark the 10th anniversary of Beau Biden's passing. And Biden, as president, also did a lot of work on what he called the cancer moonshot, trying to boost funding for cancer research as he had really zeroed in on that as a key issue in his presidency. But right now, for the Biden family, this is something, a very difficult moment that they are going through.

And for many aides as well, I have heard from many who are simply devastated by this news of this cancer diagnosis for the former president. But now we will be waiting to hear what the next steps will look like as his family is evaluating the treatment options at this time. Arlette Saenz, CNN, Washington.

[02:05:02]

CHURCH: Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt is a urologist with Orlando Health. He joins me now. Thank you so much, doctor, for talking with us.

JAMIN BRAHMBHATT, ORLANDO HEALTH UROLOGIST: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: So how serious is this diagnosis for former President Joe Biden?

BRAHMBHATT: You know, we diagnose over 300,000 men a year with prostate cancer in the United States. Only about 5 percent of those are what he has, where it's metastatic prostate cancer. So when you look at like the highest, highest risk prostate cancer that we can diagnose, that is what former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with recently.

CHURCH: So what treatments are available to the former president for this type of prostate cancer diagnosis?

BRAHMBHATT: The good news, the glimmer of hope that I can see in their statement is that he had hormone sensitive prostate cancer. So when it comes to all the treatment options that are there for him, it does open up a few more opportunities. Now, if the cancer did not go into the bones, then we could do something curative where we can take the prostate out, do radiation and cure him of the cancer. When it has already spread, it's more limited to a medical standpoint. And these medical treatments could include hormone therapies, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, systemic radiation.

A whole lot of things that are done more with a team approach where we have urologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists coming together to see what can be done not to cure the cancer, but either control it or slow it down.

CHURCH: And how significant is it that this has spread to his bones? What does that signal to you?

BRAHMBHATT: From a medical standpoint, you know, everyone always asks us, like, how long do I have to live? The data point that I have to share with you is that when patients have this form of cancer, the five year life expectancy is about 37 percent. So out of 100 men, only about 37 make it to five years.

When prostate cancer is diagnosed early and in early stages where it's more localized, the five year life expectancy is almost 100 percent. So you can see the difference of the delta when it comes to life expectancy. That's just one way to describe the breadth of this cancer.

CHURCH: And how big a factor is Joe Biden's age in all of this? And do you think this has been caught early or the fact that it has spread to his bones? Does that indicate it has been caught later?

BRAHMBHATT: Yes, so everyone always ask about could this have been caught earlier. We are assuming that he was getting his routine checks done, the routine lab work done. I, in my own office, have seen where someone will be all normal, whether they're in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and all of a sudden, we see differences and changes and we diagnose them with aggressive cancer. So I don't think anything was missed, but when it comes to like the right now, I'm not really sure how to answer that question.

When did he have this? When did he not have it? What I do know, statistically speaking, a lot of men in their 80s have prostate cancer that's just inside of them. It doesn't really affect them. I personally think age is going to become a big factor in how much they want to do, how aggressive they want to be with the treatments. The treatments have their own risks, their own side effects. So either you get affected by the cancer or you get affected by the treatments. And in that age group, we have to be very sensitive to that.

CHURCH: And when you look at the former president and his gait and the way he has dealt with some of his challenges, his cognitive and physical damages at this juncture in his life, how might this impact him, do you think?

BRAHMBHATT: I think it's going to impact him significantly. Now, I see a whole lot of men in their 80s in my office and they all look very similar to Joe Biden. If anything, they look a lot weaker and frailer. I think he's kept very good health as best he can at his age. But it will affect -- I think the biggest thing affect maybe in its mobility. Because it's in the bones, he can have pain in the bones. He can be limited in how much he can move, how aggressive he can walk. So I think that's going to be the biggest thing to watch out for as we move forward.

CHURCH: Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, thank you so much for joining us. I appreciate it.

BRAHMBHATT: Thank you.

CHURCH: Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill have been posting their well wishes after Biden's diagnosis was announced. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it sad news, saying his family will be joining the countless others who are praying for the former president. Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also offering prayers and saying, quote, Cancer is truly awful. My dad passed away in 2021 with cancer.

And Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on social media, quote, Joe Biden has worked for years to advance the cause of beating cancer. And now we have his back in this fight.

[02:10:01]

International reaction also pouring in. The director general of the World Health Organization sent his best wishes to Mr. Biden and former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his sympathy. Sunak added, quote, Too many men are struck by this disease. We must continue to raise awareness of the danger it poses.

Still to come, President Donald Trump will speak with Russia's Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine war in the coming hours. What we could expect from that discussion. That's just ahead.

Plus, days after intensifying airstrikes in Gaza, Israeli forces are beginning an extensive ground operation in several parts of the enclave. Details of those operations coming up next.

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CHURCH: U.S. President Donald Trump is set to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone in the coming hours. The German chancellor says the aim is to have President Trump speak with him, along with the leaders of Britain, France and Poland. Before that call, the White House is very optimistic about the outcome of the president's call with Putin.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) STEVE WITKOFF, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY: I believe that the president is going to have a successful call with Vladimir Putin. They know each other. The president is determined to get something done here and hopefully if he can't do it, then nobody can. So I leave it to the two leaders to have that call.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Ukraine's president sat down with the U.S. Vice President and Secretary of State in Italy on Sunday. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling it a, quote, good meeting. He says he reiterated his country's willingness to engage in genuine diplomacy with Russia and called again for an unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible.

Donald Trump's call with Putin will take place a day after Russia launched its largest yet drone attack on Ukraine in the war. CNN chief international security correspondent Nick Payton Walsh has more.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: That record 273 attack drones fired by Russia, really a reminder of the intensity of the barrage that many Ukrainians face every night. A 128 of these, Ukrainian Air Force says, were essentially decoys designed to try and distract air defenses, confuse radars. Eighty-eight they say, in fact, were shot down. But that hasn't stopped two being reported dead in that 24-hour period. Over 24 injured.

In fact, a 28-year-old woman on the outskirts of Kyiv among the victims, as long as a six-year-old injured as well. That two coupled now with a warning from Ukraine's defense intelligence of a potential for a missile attack using maybe an ICBM type missile. We saw that last November, a significant psychological impact, even though the warheads used were, in fact, significantly downgraded.

And all of this raising the stakes ahead of the important phone call Monday, 10:00 a.m., between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The timetable for this laid out by the White House in a Truth Social post by President Trump himself. He says, he'll then talk to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and then to NATO leaders.

He talks about how we'd like to see a ceasefire happen, but also, too, he said he talked to Putin about the bloodbath here in Ukraine and ending it, but also trade as well, holding out the possibility that this phone call may involve parts of the U.S.-Russia alliance being potentially back into some kind of detente, but also urgent measures to stop the war in Ukraine.

The issue at this point, though, is that Moscow seemed pretty much impenetrable to pressure from Europe, Ukraine and indeed the United States in terms of agreeing to the unconditional ceasefire that Europe and the U.S. for some time have indeed demanded. The meeting in Istanbul, the first at a very low level between Russian officials and Ukraine, whose defense minister attended as well, a sign perhaps amongst many observers that this is a bid by Russia to prolong the process. Perhaps this phone call between Trump and Putin will set a date for them to meet or will it throw down more conditions for that? We don't know. But it was a brief moment then, it seemed, the White House trying to seize again on the scheduling of this particular peace process, but to laying down massive stakes for that single phone call. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine.

CHURCH: Mixed messages coming from Hamas' upper ranks on Sunday. A senior Hamas leader told CNN the militant group had agreed to release up to nine Israeli hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 300 Palestinian prisoners. But just hours later, another senior leader denied that proposal.

Meanwhile, Israel says it will allow, quote, a basic amount of food to enter Gaza as a U.N.-backed report warns the enclave remains at critical risk of famine amid Israel's 11-week aid blockade. Israel is pushing ahead with its new offensive called Gideon's Chariots. In the enclave, Palestinian health officials say more than 100 people were killed overnight on Sunday amid an extensive ground and air operation across Gaza.

Just ahead, more on our breaking news, Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis, what we're learning and what those who know him best are saying about the former president, his optimism and faith.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, more now on our top story this hour, former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with what his office calls an aggressive form of prostate cancer. While a serious concern, this type of cancer can be treated and managed, and the Bidens are currently reviewing those options. They're no strangers to the disease, having lost their son Beau to brain cancer in 2015.

Mr. Biden has been a vocal advocate for cancer research for years. Prior to launching his bid for the presidency, he urged Americans to make fighting the disease a national priority.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The fight against cancer, the fight to eliminate racial disparities in cancer and outcomes is a fight we have to be unwilling to postpone. I am convinced as we make significant progress in cancer. The only truly nonpartisan issue facing this country. That the rest of the nation is going to say, damn it. We can do anything. This is the United States of America. This is fully, thoroughly, totally, completely within our wheelhouse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Joe Biden there in 2019 with a message of optimism on the fight against cancer, his own diagnosis is now sparking bipartisan support and positive words about the former president. CNN senior political commentator Ana Navarro spoke earlier about the kind of person Mr. Biden is and what he's likely facing right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANA NAVARRO, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It comes with fear. It comes with uncertainty, wanting to figure out what the plan is, what the next steps are, what the possibilities are for treatment. What's, you know, I mean, there's so many questions that come with that one diagnosis. I will tell you, one of the things that I know Joe Biden has going for him is his very strong faith, his incredible optimism. And also this family, this strength of family that have gone through so much together.

[02:25:04]

He's got a loving wife of decades and decades and decades. They have gone through so many ups and downs. He's got children and grandchildren, a sister, just such a wide array of people who love him and will be with him at a time like this.

And I think it's part of the reason both cancers, the accident with his first wife that cost the life of his first wife and his baby daughter. It's part of the reason why Joe Biden is a compassionate, decent man that we know. And it's part of the reason why he doesn't lose his optimism, because he knows that from sometimes the depths of sorrow and the biggest challenges you will emerge.

And so, look, the Joe Biden we saw, I saw a couple of weeks ago on The View, is the Joe Biden I've known for almost three decades is a man who I know will fight, is a man who will have people who love him on his in his corner, is a man who will have the best medical advice. And these are things that he does not take for granted because he knows, he knows not every American has the best medical advice and the best medical treatments available.

And he knows not every American has the family structure that he has. And I think that's why he tried so hard to bring health care to Americans and why time and time again, we show -- we saw him show his heart to America. We saw him hug people who had diagnoses like this. We saw him hug family members who had lost somebody because of everything he had gone through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali looked back at the many personal challenges Joe Biden has faced over the years and says this diagnosis is evidence of the cruelty of fate. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM NAFTALI, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: There's a subtext of the cruelty of fate in Joe Biden's long political career. On just in the aftermath of a surprising long shot victory to the Senate as the youngest man to join the Senate, Joe Biden loses his daughter and his wife in a terrible car crash. Months after, a humiliating withdrawal from the 1988 presidential campaign. Joe Biden suffers two brain aneurysms and one burst. He might well have died. He might well have had permanent brain damage. Fortunately, neither occurred, of course.

And now, as we revisit his conviction last year that only he could beat Donald Trump, as we revisit that decision and think about it in the context of the chaos that we've watched in the last hundred plus days for him to have this diagnosis again is the cruelty of fate. Joe Biden, first of all, deserves a long -- as long a post presidency as possible. But he also deserves an opportunity to explain himself.

I'm sure he wants to write a book. So one hopes that he recovers, that he can recover from this. It is, as I said, a reminder of the cruelty of a of a -- in some ways charmed life, but also one touched by tragedy and cruelty. The timing of this diagnosis is just terrible for the family, but it is also a reminder of one of the challenges for anyone of a certain age and particularly someone who still lives in the cleat lights of public recognition.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Many in Romania are celebrating as presidential election results show the country turning toward the E.U. and away from ultra- nationalism. But the future isn't so clear for other European countries that voted Sunday. Details just ahead.

And seven inmates are still on the run days after a jail break in Louisiana. The latest on how they escaped and where authorities think they might be now.

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[02:32:20]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: You are looking at devastating video from Argentina. At least one person is dead and two more remain missing after heavy rains and flooding inundated Argentina's Buenos Aires province this weekend. The severe weather conditions prompted nearly 3,000 people across dozens of municipalities to evacuate. Some cities reported rainfall up to 250 millimeters, or ten inches, on Friday.

Claps, cheers and chants of "Viva Il Papa!" That was the scene at Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City on Sunday. A massive crowd had gathered with world leaders and royals, among them.

CNN's Christopher Lamb has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was an historic Sunday here in St. Peter's for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope.

Pope Leo began the day by getting on the popemobile for the first time, greeting the crowds, waving at them, giving them the thumbs up. It was the first time that we'd seen the pope on that iconic papal vehicle. Of course, afterwards, he then began the service. It was a solemn event, but also one that was punctuated by applause. There was a celebratory atmosphere.

Now, Pope Leo received the symbols of office of the papacy. During the service, he received the fisherman's ring, which of course comes after the fact that the first pope, St. Peter, who Catholics hold as the first pope, was a fisherman. He also received the pallium, which is a symbol of office and service that Pope Leo will carry out.

Now, in the homily that Pope Leo gave, he emphasized the importance of being a servant. He said he didn't feel that he warranted the election that he received in the conclave, and this is what he had to say.

POPE LEO, CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): I was chosen without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy.

Walking with you on the path of God's love, for he wants us all to be united in one family.

Pope Leo in his homily, also emphasizing the importance of unity in the church. Of course, there are a number of divisions within the Catholic Church that he seems keen to seek to heal. He also called for a church that is missionary, that isn't looking in on itself. Of course, Pope Leo was a missionary in Peru for a number of years.

The pope also received different groups or different representatives from parts of the church, including a married couple, young people, some cardinals in what was the rite of obedience. This reflecting the desire that Pope Leo has for a church that isn't just the hierarchy leading, but also it is the hierarchy with the people together. That's going to be, I think, an important part of his ministry.

This service was very solemn, very beautiful. There was chanting, there was singing. At the end. He led the "Regina Caeli" prayer. And in that prayer, he talked about the suffering of people in Gaza, in Ukraine and Myanmar. You had a round of applause when he mentioned Gaza, and then afterwards he went back into St. Peter's Basilica to greet the delegations who were here for this inauguration mass on Sunday.

Amongst those who he met, the vice president of the United States, J.D. Vance, his wife, the Second Lady Usha Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, countries from all corners of the globe have sent delegations for this inauguration. Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada amongst them.

And the pope before the mass, met with the president of Peru. Of course, Pope Leo, serving in Peru for many years before he came to Rome.

This was really an extraordinary day in St. Peter's, as Pope Leo now formally begins his ministry as pope.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: And this just coming in to CNN, we are told that Vice President J.D. Vance arrived at the Vatican for a meeting with Pope Leo XIV. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also in attendance, and we will have more in a live report coming up in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM.

Well, in a surprising turnaround, Romania's pro-EU candidate, Nicusor Dan, has won the country's presidential election.

With almost all the votes counted down one at least 53 percent, clearly defeating his hard right ultranationalist rival George Simion. Simion is a Donald Trump fan who swept the first round of voting earlier this month, but then faltered in a televised debate. President-elect Dan is a strong supporter of Romania's NATO membership, who has pledged to continue providing aid to Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICUSOR DAN, ROMANIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT (through translator): Elections are about community. And today's elections, a community of Romanians who want a profound change in Romania won, a community that wants the proper functioning of the government institutions, a community that wants a reduction of corruption, a community who wants a prosperous economic environment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Sunday's election drew more than 10 million Romanians to the polls, and was widely seen as a litmus test for the rise of Trump style nationalism in Europe.

In Portugal, the ruling center-right alliance won an early parliamentary election Sunday, but they again fell short of the majority needed to end a long period of political turmoil. With all domestic ballots counted, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's AD Party won 89 seats in the 230-seat parliament. The far-right Schlager Party outperformed most polls to take 58 seats. The prime minister has said he will not make any deals with Chega. That means he will have to piece together a coalition in order to lead.

Poland seems headed toward a presidential run off after liberals failed to deliver the sizable win predicted over the nationalist party. Exit polls show Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski of the centrist Civic Coalition ahead of Karol Nawrocki by just over a percentage point. If that result is confirmed, the two men would go head-to-head in a runoff on June 1st. It will determine whether Poland stays on the pro-EU track established by Prime Minister Donald Tsk, or if it moves closer to Trump style nationalism.

Well, U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tax cut bill has made it out of the House Budget Committee. Lawmakers worked through the weekend to tweak the bill, but some say there's still more work to be done.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. JODEY ARRINGTON (R-TX): The ayes have it. The motions agreed to the one Big, Beautiful Bill Act, as ordered reported favorably to the House of Representatives with a favorable recommendation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The bill moves next to the House Rules Committee, where it's expected to hit more opposition despite calls from the president to, quote, stop talking and get it done.

[02:40:06]

Some Republicans had previously blocked the bill from advancing on Friday. They demanded adjustments on certain provisions in the bill regarding Medicaid and tax credits. Officials in Louisiana are asking for the publics help to recapture seven inmates still on the run after escaping from jail in New Orleans. Ten inmates broke out on Friday and only three have been found so far, authorities believe jail employees may have helped the men escape, and that friends and family have been helping them while on the run.

Officials said defective locks allowed the inmates to leave their cells. Then they breached a wall behind a toilet, leaving behind a message mocking their escape as, quote, too easy.

Well, meanwhile, in Costa Rica, an unusual suspect caught the eye of an alert prison guard earlier this month. It was a black and white cat with gray patches sneaking around the prison grounds. When officers caught it, they say they found two packages of drugs attached to its body. They confiscated more than 235 grams, or half a pound of marijuana, plus almost 68 grams of crack paste.

The cat, nicknamed Narco Kitten on social media, was taken to the country's national animal health service for evaluation.

I want to thank you so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. For our international viewers, "WORLD SPORT" is coming up next. And for those of you in North America, I'll be back with more CNN NEWSROOM in just a moment. Do stay with us.

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[02:45:30]

CHURCH: Welcome back to our viewers here in North America, I'm Rosemary Church.

As Mexico mourns the victims of a navy training ship that crashed into New York's Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, Mexican officials have now identified the two people who were killed in that collision after they fell from one of the ships masts.

This video shows family members of cadet America Yamilet Snchez. They were informed of her passing by the governor of Veracruz, Mexico, who said she deeply laments their loss. The city council of San Mateo Del Mar in Oaxaca, Mexico, identified the second victim as sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos.

Authorities in New York are now working to move the damaged ship so it can be repaired, while they try to figure out what caused it to crash. Early evidence suggests there was a mechanical issue with the ship's rudder. The captain told investigators they lost power, and he was unable to steer.

CNN's Gloria Pazmino has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We have seen the video of this ship as it was leaving pier 17, heading out of the harbor here in New York City, headed towards Iceland. This is a Mexican navy ship that had been on a goodwill tour all around the world in the last several months, and it had spent a few days here in New York City as part of its mission.

That mission ending in tragedy. Two people lost their lives. And now we are hoping to learn more about exactly what happened, what led to the apparent power failure that a captain told officials about. He said that the power failure resulted in an issue with the rudder of the ship, making it impossible for him to steer that ship.

And that is the reason why we see the ship sailing towards one of the pillars of the bridge, striking the underbelly of the Brooklyn Bridge, and we see that mass breaking apart. The ship's mast has been severely damaged. You can see that there is ripped sails all around, some of the metal, and the wood is mangled together. But we have also been watching as the crew has been in and out of the ship throughout the day.

As this investigation continues, members from the National Transportation Safety Board are also on the scene. They are expected to brief the media on Monday as the investigation continues to develop. The main questions here, what led to the power failure and if that was the sole reason behind this incident? As I said, two people tragically lost their lives. Many of those crew members are expected to return home to Mexico.

Gloria Pazmino, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Police in California have now identified the suspect in the bombing outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California. Authorities say 25-year-old Guy Bartkus is the suspected bomber, and they believe he died in that blast.

Our Stephanie Elam has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Officials believe that the only life that was lost in the Palm Springs bombing was that of the man that they believe was the perpetrator, 25-year-old Guy Bartkus from Twentynine Palms, which is a community about an hour away from here in Palm Springs. Officials say they were able to save all of the sensitive materials and the embryos that were there inside the clinic. And we also learned that four people who were injured have all been treated and released.

Officials also saying that they do believe that this town is safe and that he was the lone threat here. But they continue to do investigation into more of this man's background. But they are asking for the public's help as well. They know where he was at 6:00 in the morning on Saturday. They want to know if anyone in the community saw this car that he was driving, even giving out his license plate to find out what he was doing leading up to this event. That happened at about 11:00 in the morning on Saturday.

But they say that they are aware of a possible manifesto and rantings that could have been made online. They believe that this perpetrator was also trying to livestream, but that seemed to have failed.

Also unclear whether or not the perpetrator was inside the vehicle or outside when the bomb detonated, but they did say they will have to use forensic to completely identify that this 25-year-old man is who they think he is.

[02:50:06]

But still, they have given us this name, and they do believe that that is the right person. Out here, they continue to work on going through the debris field here. They said it was very expansive, so much so, they say it doesn't really compare to anything else. Take a listen to the FBI acting director from Los Angeles talk about that.

AKIL DAVIS, FBI ASSISTANT DIRCTOR IN CHARGE, LOS ANGELES: Due to the speed and professionalism of the Palm Springs Fire Department station one, the Palm Springs Police Department, as well as the FBI, bomb technicians were able to save all of the embryos at this facility. Good guys, one. Bad guys, zero.

They understood the sensitivity and the precious nature of what was inside, and they took extreme care to ensure that there was no loss of any sensitive material.

ELAM: I talked to a resident who lives just around the corner, and he walks down the street three times a week for his own cancer treatment, and he says that the people where he lives, his home, everyone is still very much shaken because something like this just doesn't happen here in Palm Springs.

Stephanie Eelam, CNN, Palm Springs, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: An agreement has been reached to end a three-day transit strike in New Jersey. Governor Phil murphy praised the outcome, calling it a good result for commuters and taxpayers. Four hundred and fifty union engineers manned picket lines Friday in a dispute over their pay. Trains are expected to be back on a normal schedule as soon as Tuesday, but the tentative agreement still needs to be ratified by the rank and file.

The world's number one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, has won his first PGA championship. He finished the tournament at 11 under par Sunday, a commanding five stroke victory over the second-place finishers. It's Scheffler's third career major title after winning the Masters in 2022 and 2024.

CNN's Patrick Snell was in Charlotte, North Carolina, for Sunday's final round and caught up with Scheffler.

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PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Scottie, many congratulations. A remarkable achievement. I will say, though, at times on the front nine, you looked a bit like a boxer on the ropes. How did you manage to regroup, get yourself back together, whilst fighting all that emotion as well en route to your third major title?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, WINNER OF 2025 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: Yeah, I think that's a good description. Yeah, I felt like I was on the ropes a little bit. This golf course will keep you on your toes and I really -- it was weird because by the time like seven, eight, nine, I felt like I hit really good tee shots.

And I looked up and it was just like 30 yards left to where I was looking, which was a bit unusual, but making the turn, I kind of squared my shoulders up and I hit a really good tee ball on ten, really good tee ball on 11, and after that I really did a good job of executing. Hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and you know, played a really good nine holes when I -- when I really needed to.

SNELL: It's been a meteoric journey for you over the last three years, talking big picture now, your first PGA Tour title, the wonderful moment as well. You become a father. And now your third career major. How do you reflect on that journey and how would you describe what has actually been like for you? Give us a sense on that.

SCHEFFLER: Yeah, it's a great question. I mean, it's really hard to put into words. You know, Mere and I were talking this morning. We still -- still feel like we're in high school. It felt like we were in high school yesterday. Like we just -- we just started dating, and all of a sudden, you know, life out here is pretty cool right now. This is a lot of fun.

But at the end of the day, life at home for us is, is pretty much the same. You know, we have a good little life, and we have great friends at home. And you know, I'm looking forward to going home and celebrating with.

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CHURCH: The violent storm system that already killed dozens across Missouri and Kentucky, left a trail of destruction in Colorado on Sunday. The severe weather produced at least two tornadoes, including this one in Aurora, Colorado, where the National Weather Service reported hail the size of a ping pong ball. A record 31 million tons of toxic algae are starting to arrive on beaches in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. The bloom of sargassum stretches across more than 5,500 miles of the Atlantic, and the smell is putrid.

CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar has details.

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ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. So, this bloom of algae or sargassum as it's technically called is not a new phenomenon, but what makes this year so interesting is the excessive volume of sargassum that we are seeing.

Take a look at the imagery behind me where you see the reds and yellows, green color here over the water. This is where all of the sargassum is located. And again, you can see it's very widespread across the western Atlantic, the Caribbean and even into the Gulf.

Now, we're talking very large amounts of this. We're talking record breaking numbers. And not just by a little bit. In fact, the numbers here are 40 percent more than the previous record set back in 2022.

Now, when we shift into the gulf again, it may not look as impressive here. And it's mostly out over the open water, but where the cause for concern is, is perhaps down here where you can see where it butts right up against the Yucatan peninsula.

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The concern there is that it's showing up on the beaches.

Look at this one from Mexico again, just lining the shoreline here. What would normally be beautiful white sand beaches is now colored and covered by this deep red and brown color of the sargassum. And not only does it just not look very pretty, it smells.

And this is a deterrent to a lot of the tourists who would flock to these beaches. No one really wants to go there when you're dealing with that putrid smell.

And it's not just Mexico. Take a look at this. This from Key Biscayne, Florida. Same scenario where piles of it are just sitting on some of these beaches. And it's not just the shores. This right here in Miami, Florida, you can see its just covering the areas around this marina, filling up some of these boat slots. And around this area again, also leading to a deterrent for a lot of the tourism that is based in so many of these places.

So, this red area indicates where the bulk of that sargassum is located. One thing to note too, it's really becoming an impact for this and why we're seeing such a large volume is the warm sea surface temperatures, because that really kind of feeds into the growth for a lot of that algae and seaweed. But the other concern is nitrogen.

So, in both South America and North America, specifically around the Mississippi River and the Amazon River, you have a lot of excess nitrogen entering the bodies of water around it. Most of it coming from agricultural runoff. And that is also fueling a lot of the excessive sargassum growth around a lot of these areas.

Now, one thing they are trying to do to inhibit a lot of the spread, Mexico, for example, is trying to use a lot of these nets to keep more of it, maybe farther away from the shore and a little bit more at bay, so that it really doesn't impact a lot of the big tourist spots where many people would normally flock to.

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CHURCH: I want to thank you so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. I will be back with more CNN NEWSROOM after a short break.

Do stay with us.