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Sixty-Day Roadmap for Iran Deal; House Races to Watch; Argentina Fans Paint Dallas Blue; Officials: "Encouraging Progress" Made In U.S.-Iran Talks; PM Starmer Weighing Options As He Faces Calls To Step Down; Cuba Tourism Dips Under Tensions With U.S. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired June 22, 2026 - 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 ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead on "CNN Newsroom," negotiators agree on a roadmap to an Iran deal within 60 days after comments from President Trump nearly ended the talks completely. We're watching three races in Pennsylvania that could help determine who controls the U.S. House. We're also watching Keir Starmer today to see if reports are true that the British prime minister is stepping down. And Argentina fans paint Dallas blue ahead of Monday's World Cup match.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church."

CHURCH: Thanks for joining us. We begin in Switzerland where negotiations between the U.S. and Iranian delegations have concluded and the mediators, Pakistan and Qatar, say encouraging progress was made by both sides.

The U.S. and Iran have agreed to establish a high-level committee to provide political oversight on the mediation and agreed to a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days. The two sides have also agreed to create a deconfliction cell involving Lebanon.

But Lebanon and Israel were not involved during the talks. The talks were nearly derailed at one point after the U.S. president threatened the Tehran delegation in a Fox News interview, saying, and I'm quoting here, you close it, referring to the Strait of Hormuz, and you won't have a country. You won't even make it back to your effing country.

CNN's Mike Valerio joins us now live from Beijing with the latest. Good to see you, Mike. And after that traumatic stall in talk Sunday, how much progress was actually made in the end? What questions remain about where all this is going?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think from the four parties that are involved in this, there is a sizable degree of optimism about where this is going because, you're right, in the introduction to this story, you had it right there, that the talks were stalled because of those comments that President Trump made on Fox, saying that essentially the United States could take over the Strait of Hormuz if negotiations didn't go any further or even the United States implementing tolls within the Strait of Hormuz.

So, when we woke up on this side of the world to hear that these points had been agreed upon, the next phase in this roadmap, certainly, we've been able to garner through our reporting that there is a sizable degree of optimism.

So, let's talk about what we know, the latest in this roadmap. So, the line of communication, very interesting, Rosemary, between Iran and the United States. This is to avoid incidents and miscommunications. It's within, though, the 60-day period of this memorandum of understanding. So, we're not talking about a line of communication that exists in perpetuity. This is just for the 60 days as they figure out the rest of the roadmap.

But I thought this was also interesting. Our super reporter, Lex Harvey, working on this story in Hong Kong on CNN.com, notes in her reporting that Iran is saying that to the best of its ability, to its best efforts, Iran will ensure safe passage of commercial vessels without any charge. So, what exactly does best efforts mean and does that give Iran wiggle room, perhaps, to pull out of that strand of the conversation within this negotiation? I think it is interesting.

Gregg Carlstrom from "The Economist" was talking about this over the past two hours. The technical level conversations will continue in Switzerland over the next week. And there is a high-level committee that has been established between Iran and the United States to discuss where is the nuclear program going, what is going to happen with sanctions.

The foreign minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, was saying that sanctions are gone, at least some of them. But we don't have detailed specifics on which sanctions he's talking about. What exactly does that mean? Some assets, he also said, were unfrozen and a major reconstruction plan launched. We need more specifics on that to know exactly where this is headed, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes, indeed we do. And Mike, what are oil prices doing right now and how are markets responding?

[02:05:00]

VALERIO: You know, it has been a pretty dramatic swing. We see oil prices declining. Brent crude, the golden gauge, is around $79 a barrel. It has been holding lower than $80 for most of the trading hours. Here in Asia, WTI is around $75 a barrel.

I will say before we go, I think a lot of the market enthusiasm is starting to cool after we saw the Nikkei in Tokyo leading gains around two percent. It's now hovering around 1.5 percent gains. Ditto for that in Seoul, the KOSPI, about a half percent of gains. Hang Seng in Hong Kong is around 0.89 percent gains and flat in Shanghai. So, I think a lot of the enthusiasm that we saw earlier this morning is starting to piddle out. Dow futures, though, are up. NASDAQ notably up two percent when American hours begin trading. S&P up one percent as well. So, it will be interesting to see what New York does as soon as the trading day gets underway, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Indeed. We'll be watching carefully. Mike Valerio, many thanks for that live report. Appreciate it.

VALERIO: Yes. Thanks, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Of course. So, the war with Iran and the impact it's having on the American economy are just some of the hurdles Republicans face as the November midterm elections draw closer. In the battleground state of Pennsylvania, three House races could help determine control of the chamber.

CNN's John King spoke with voters in each of those districts about the issues driving their decisions at the ballot box.

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JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Welcome to Pennsylvania and a journey through a critical slice of the midterm map. Right here in Eastern Pennsylvania, three districts run 105 miles from just outside Philadelphia up to the New York State border. If this stretch here flips from red to blue on election night, then the Democrats are taking the House without a doubt.

KING (voice-over): Stop one, Bucks County. Suburban, upscale, moderate, a short commuter train hop to Philly.

KING: Luckily, I read my "Gardening for Dummies" book last night.

(LAUGHTER)

Quick and easy. See?

KING (voice-over): Michael Pesce likes his Republican congressman, yet he is almost certain to vote for his Democratic challenger.

MICHAEL PESCE, PENNSYLVANIA VOTER: Big picture, Trump is the problem that I see. The president is not doing what I think a president should be doing, and that's disturbing to me. One more person in the -- in the Congress that is going to stand up to Trump, that's going to get my vote.

KING (voice-over): Pennsylvania one is represented by Brian Fitzpatrick. He's in his fifth term, first elected in 2016. Fitzpatrick won with 56 percent in 2024, and he is one of just three House Republicans from districts won by Vice President Harris. The first is Pennsylvania's most affluent district. The median annual income, $114,000 a year. And the median home value, $440,000. Pesce was a Reagan Republican when we met three years ago. A registered Democrat now because he won't be in Trump's party. A Coast Guard veteran angry at the price of a war he says makes no sense.

PESCE: I fill up my tank once a week. I was filling it up for $35. Now, it's $60 to fill up my tank. So, that's money that we weren't spending before that we were putting to something else. And now, we're like, well maybe, we can't go to do that something else.

UNKNOWN: Girl Scout cookies.

UNKNOWN: We'll take it back.

KING (voice-over): Even here, the affordability crunch is obvious. Demand at this Bucks County food bank was already up. Rising gas prices brought even more cars.

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Telford straddles the Bucks and Montgomery County lines. The night market, a local favorite for food, for crafts. And right now --

UNKNOWN: Say I don't want to mail in, can I take it and drop it off?

UNKNOWN: You can take it anywhere --

(CROSSTALK)

-- supervision of ballots.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

KING (voice-over): For recruiting voters.

PATTY DUSZA, PENNSYLVANIA VOTER: You want me to get you a beer? You got it.

KING (voice-over): Democrat Bob Harvie will get Patty Dusza's vote to send Trump a message.

DUSZA: I don't feel like he's honest. All those kinds of things. Now, I'm saying that in front of my husband, which I don't usually say.

KING (voice-over): Jeremy Dusza is frustrated by gas prices. Frustrated Republicans have done nothing to help with health care costs. But he doesn't blame Fitzpatrick.

JEREMY DUSZA, PENNSYLVANIA VOTER: I think he has been doing a good job.

P. DUSZA: Yes.

J. DUSZA: Our taxes haven't been raised up so high that we can't afford it.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KING (on camera): A glimpse there at our first stop on our journey. That was the first congressional district. This will be the toughest of the three districts we visited for the Democrats to win. From there to the north and the seventh congressional district, Democrats believe, look at the margin last time, they should have a good chance here. And then on to the eighth. Again, a very, very narrow margin. Last time, Democrats believe they have a good shot here.

And guess what? Do the Democrats need to win all three? No. But two of those three at least would tell you the Democrats are off to a good start as they try to retake the House. And we'll know that pretty early on election night because Pennsylvania is in the east.

[02:10:02]

The polls close early. So, can they get two? Can they get three? Are the Democrats having a tougher night than anticipated? We'll know that pretty early on come election night.

CHURCH: Well, one candidate far from Washington that had the president's support is celebrating a victory tonight. Columbia's National Registry says far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has won the preliminary count in Columbia's presidential runoff election. Final results could take days to become official in the incredibly tight race against the government-backed candidate Ivan Cepeda. Official numbers indicate less than one percent of votes separate the two, less than 250,000 ballots.

De la Espriella's showmanship helped grow his support base along with promises for a more confrontational approach to crime and greater economic independence. The self-described conservative nationalist came into the race having never held political office. He was a criminal defense attorney before entering politics.

We're returning now to our top story, negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Switzerland. Mediators describe what they call encouraging progress by both sides. Washington and Tehran have agreed to a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days. The two sides have also agreed to create a de-confliction cell involving Lebanon.

Danny Citrinowicz is a senior fellow with the Institute for National Security Studies. He's also the former head of the Iran branch for Israeli military intelligence's Research and Analysis Division. Appreciate you joining us.

DANNY CITRINOWICZ, SENIOR FELLOW AT INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES, FORMER HEAD OF IRAN BRANCH AT ISRAEL DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE: Thank you for having me.

CHURCH: Of course. So, after talks briefly stalled due to a threat from President Trump to Iran's delegation, mediators in Switzerland now say encouraging progress was made during the first round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. But how much progress do you think was actually achieved and what did you make of Trump's threat and, of course, reaction to it? CITRINOWICZ: Well, definitely it's going to be a bumpy ride. You have mistrust from both sides, from the Iranian side regarding the U.S. administration, definitely President Trump. And I think that all of those declarations are highlighting to the Iranians that they actually cannot trust the U.S. administration.

Having said that, we have to say one important thing. Both sides want to have an agreement. They don't have a better option. President Trump illustrated that just last week, claiming -- admitting that he doesn't have the ability or the will to conquer or moose trades or take out the uranium from Iran. So, this is more or less the only possible option that he has in order to reach an agreement and not returning back to war and, of course, calming the international markets.

So, yes, it's going to be a bumpy ride, yes, there are gaps between the sides, but I think basically both sides want to see an end to this war, and this is why the mediators will probably work hard. But I think for them, it's an encouraging step forward in terms of getting the sides and high-ranking officials from both sides and agreeing to a roadmap to end this conflict.

CHURCH: Yes. The roadmap that negotiators from the U.S. and Iran agreed upon to reach a final deal within the next 60 days relies on Israel not striking Lebanon. How likely is it that Prime Minister Netanyahu will abide by this plan? And how vulnerable does that make the tentative Iran deal when it comes to the issue of Lebanon?

CITRINOWICZ: Definitely, it makes it vulnerable because we have to remember that the prime minister of Israel has no intention or will to see an agreement between Iran and the U.S. This actually will collapse the Israeli strategy regarding Iran. No maximum pressure campaign anymore and not working with the U.S. to topple the regime. So, he doesn't want to see that happening. And definitely, Lebanon is a spoiler.

Now, yes, Israel is there for defending the villages and towns in the northern part of Israel but, definitely, Prime Minister Netanyahu can utilize that, like people in Washington thinks, in order to spoil the agreement.

Now, this is a problematic thing in the agreement because, at the end of the day, it's an agreement between two countries, but one other country that is not included in the agreement actually can spoil it. I'm hoping that at the end of the day, what we'll have, we'll have an agreement in Lebanon.

Israel and the Lebanese government are sitting in Washington today and tomorrow to discuss the withdrawal of Israel. I'm hoping that U.S. will actually pressure Israel to do something concrete in that regard because continuation of Israeli activity in Lebanon, I don't think it has some sort of organized strategy. And even worse than that, it creates a friction between us and the White House, thinking that we try to spoil the agreement.

[02:15:02] So, I truly hope that, at the end of the day, there's going to be a real negotiation between Israel and the Lebanese government. Israel will withdraw from the territories in Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese armed forces to take over and thus strengthening the Lebanese government.

CHURCH: And you have said that one of the most common misconceptions in Washington is that Iran's core concessions can be bought with economic incentives. What did you mean by that exactly?

CITRINOWICZ: Meaning that, yes, Iran needs the money. It entered the war in a very bad shape and it will exit the war in a worse shape because of the damages that it absorbed during the war. But we have to remember one thing about this regime. Yes, you want to survive, but you want to survive with the core pillars of the ideology. So, you can't buy them off.

Yes, they want an agreement. Yes, they want easing of sanctions. Yes, they're willing to make compromises, but very specific ones. They're not going to forego their support of the proxies, definitely not Hezbollah, despite what President Trump tweeted, they're not going to forego the false buildup of the missile, that it's a basic pillar of their security doctrine, and they're not going to forego the right to enrich because, at the end of the day, they're not going to capitalize, definitely when they thought that they have the upper hand during the war.

So, yes, the one economical is this. They're willing to give restrictions in terms of the nuclear program. But you cannot think that they can actually give everything just for millions of dollars. That is not going to happen. And if the U.S. administration thinks that they can buy those compromises, I think he has it all wrong.

CHURCH: Danny Citrinowicz, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

CITRINOWICZ: Thank you very much.

CHURCH: Well, defending World Cup champion Argentina takes on Austria Monday in Dallas. Still to come, how fans are celebrating ahead of the match. This and more in just a moment.

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[02:20:00]

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CHURCH: A tornado outbreak is unfolding across the midwestern United States as severe storms head eastward. These images show one of more than two dozen tornadoes reported across the region on Sunday. At least two people have been confirmed dead as a result of a tornado that touched down in Illinois, about 90 miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. And here's a look at our live radar tracking these severe storms. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a third tornado watch for parts of Indiana and Kentucky overnight. And visitors to the Grand Canyon in Arizona are being warned to prepare for another round of extreme heat after three hikers died there in separate heat-related incidents this month. The National Weather Service says temperatures could reach or exceed 43 degrees Celsius or over 110 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the park Monday and Tuesday. National Park officials are urging people to avoid hiking in the middle of the day when temperatures are expected to peak.

Well, Europe is sweltering under an intense heat wave this week. Temperatures are expected to top 40 degrees Celsius or 104 Fahrenheit in some areas. Officials are growing concerned over the public health implications and the risk of wildfires.

Ben Hunte looks at how people across Europe are trying to beat the heat.

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BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sunrise at Stonehenge.

(APPLAUSE)

Thousands gathered to celebrate the summer solstice, the astronomical beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. But the power of the sun is supercharged over Europe right now because of a heat dome trapping hot air on the ground that's causing stifling conditions. France's weather agency is warning of an exceptionally intense heat wave with Paris expected to top 40 degrees Celsius or 104 degrees Fahrenheit this week.

Only about 20 percent of European households have air conditioning. Too hot to stay home for some people in Paris who took a swim to escape the sweltering heat.

LEO AMIOT, PARIS RESIDENT (through translator): It is hardly livable in the housing in Paris. There are not necessarily many buildings or construction made for this kind of heat.

WILLIAM RAMPAL, PARIS VISITOR (through translator): Everyone is going to take refuge in the shops, the supermarkets where there is air conditioning, where it is cool. But we cannot accommodate all of Paris in these buildings, unfortunately.

HUNTE (voice-over): The French government temporarily banned alcohol in public spaces in red heat alert areas. Dozens of intercity trains in Paris have been cancelled. And thousands of railway staff have been mobilized to repair tracks and electric cables that could warp in the heat.

Spain is warning of an increased risk of wildfires and is urging people to take precautions in the sun. World Cup fans enjoyed the scorching heat at a viewing event near Madrid, but civil protection workers were armed with hoses for a quick cool down. Shoppers at a popular flea market also tried to escape the sun. ANA GARCES, MADRID RESIDENT (through translator): The heat really is exhausting all the time, isn't it? And you end up looking for spots where you can relax a little bit more in the shade.

HUNTE (voice-over): Temperatures in Southern England are expected to climb to 38 degrees Celsius or 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the next few days. And while temperatures will shift across Europe, the intense heat wave is expected to persist until later in the week.

Ben Hunte, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Teams are beginning to finalize their standings in the group stages of this year's World Cup. In Group H, Spain was able to soundly defeat Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium, four-nil. Saudi Arabia can still make it out of the group stages if it has a strong showing in its next match. Japan dominated Tunisia, four-nil, making it one step closer to breaking out of the group stages. The match at Monterey Stadium marked the highest-scoring World Cup game for the Samurai Blue.

[02:25:04]

Meanwhile, at Los Angeles Stadium, Iran battled it out with Belgium, producing a draw. So far, Iran has yet to win a match this tournament. World Cup underdog Cape Verde stunned the world again by staving off a defeat from two-time world champion Uruguay in Florida. The match ended in a draw to all. The final match of the day saw Egypt come out on top against New Zealand. That score was 3-1.

Thousands of people are descending upon cities all across North America as the World Cup continues. Fans in Dallas turned out to show their support for Argentina as the team prepares to go up against Austria on Monday.

CNN's Carolina Peguero spoke to Argentina fans at the festival in Dallas ahead of Monday's match.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One thing is for sure, Argentinian fans know how to cheer on their world champs. And you can take a look here. There are thousands of fans that have come to start this electric Banderazo here in downtown Dallas, where fans make it a tradition to gather a day before each game to support their team by waving those huge Argentina flags. They're all decked out in their baby blue and white Argentina soccer jerseys, playing drums, drinking mate and much more.

Now, kids and adults have come here to Klyde Warren Park from all over to enjoy the fun and unite in the name of Lionel Messi and the whole Argentina team.

UNKNOWN: I love it. I love it.

PEGUERO: Tell me, what do you want to tell Messi and the team and why is so important for all the Argentinians to come here today?

UNKNOWN: Messi is the person that unites all the country. So, we support him no matter what. We love him.

UNKNOWN: And we try to make people feel a little bit what we feel about our country. I don't know. Just enjoy the moment. Hopefully, we'll get another cup.

PEGUERO: The match between Argentina and Austria will be played Monday at Dallas Stadium. Messi already made three goals last game. And many are anticipating a repeat while here, well, the celebration continues.

Carolina Piguero, CNN, Dallas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And coming up, the British prime minister is facing serious challenges to his leadership and from within his own party. The latest on the Labour Party crisis, that's just ahead.

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[02:30:56]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone.

Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan appear optimistic following talks between the U.S. and Iran in Switzerland. According to Iran, both sides discussed the groundwork for negotiations to reach a permanent truce. Qatar and Pakistan say a roadmap has been agreed upon to reach a final deal within 60 days.

CNN's Julia Benbrook has more from the White House.

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JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDNT: Talks took place at a high level this weekend in Switzerland, with the United States delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner.

Now, a reminder that the memorandum of understanding the agreement that has been signed is really just a starting point. It then kicks off a 60 day time period to work through the details on Iran's nuclear program, including the fate of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. As Vance stood with some of the mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, he did express optimism. He said that great progress had already been made, but also looked to set expectations, as he said that all of the disagreements would likely not be fixed immediately.

Take a listen.

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What today really represents is the beginning of a technical negotiation. That's not going to solve every disagreement, but its going to allow us to sit together as teams for the first time, really in history, to figure out what matters most to the respective parties, to settle those issues, to solve those issues and get to a better tomorrow.

BENBROOK: According to sources familiar with the talks, in addition to the focus on Iran's nuclear program, other key areas of interest are the conflict in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz. When it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, Trump, in a phone interview with Fox News Sunday morning, shortly after Vance delivered those remarks, Trump said that the United States may take over the strait and even charge tolls itself. He also appeared to threaten the Iranian delegation, saying this. This is according to Fox reporting. He said, "You close it," referring to the Strait of Hormuz there, "and you won't have a country," adding, "you won't even make it back to your effing country."

Iran's chief negotiator responded to Trump's threats, calling them desperate. And he did say that Iran's military would be ready to take action if needed.

Julia Benbrook, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Israeli strikes have claimed more lives in Gaza this weekend in spite of the ongoing ceasefire. Mourners said their final goodbyes to three Palestinians, including an al Jazeera journalist killed in an IDF attack. Al Jazeera says his death was a heinous crime and a deliberate killing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TALAL AL-AROUQI, JOURNALIST, AL JAZEERA MUBASHER (through translator): The Israeli occupation deliberately assassinates journalists, largely indirectly, during its war of extermination, in a clear attempt to suppress images, prevent the dissemination of the message and to conceal the massacres and atrocities committed against the Palestinian people here in the Gaza Strip.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Al Jazeera says 12 of its journalists have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October 2023. Gaza's health ministry says Israeli fire has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since last October ceasefire.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure from his party to resign as the Labour Party's popularity continues to plummet.

As recently as Friday, 10 Downing Street said that Mr. Starmer would not, quote, walk away from the job. However, on Sunday, British Business Secretary Peter Kyle told the BBC that the prime minister is considering his options.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER KYLE, BRITISH BUSINESS SECRETARY: Also making time this weekend to try and reflect on the political challenges that he faces, our country faces, our party faces. He's also taking the time to think through what the political realities are today compared to last week, the week before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Much of the pressure comes from his Labour Party rival, Andy Burnham. He is widely expected to challenge Starmer after his sworn in as an MP later today.

Tim Bale is a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London. He joins us now from Eastbourne in England.

Appreciate you talking with us.

TIM BALE, PROFESSOR OF POLITICS, QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON: Good morning.

CHURCH: Good morning to you, too.

So how likely is it that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer can cling to power and withstand increasing pressure from his own Labour Party and cabinet to step down as this excitement builds over the possibility, the very popular Andy Burnham may challenge him in an effort to take over as U.K. prime minister?

BALE: I think the probability of Keir Starmer staying as prime minister is zero right now. It's very difficult to imagine him being able to stave off the pressure he is currently facing, not only from the labor backbenches, but also, I think, from his cabinet colleagues and normally in British politics, once you lose your cabinet, you lose the premiership. So it's really a case now of when rather than if.

CHURCH: So, what do you expect to happen in the coming hours if Starmer's top Labour rival, Burnham, challenges his leadership, how will this likely play out, and do you expect it to be in the coming hours?

BALE: I think that Keir Starmer is likely to make a statement today as to his intentions. I think the question is whether he resigns immediately or whether, as some people are asking him to do. He decides instead to set out a timetable whereby he is replaced as prime minister.

Now, that could involve a contest. He could be challenged by Andy Burnham or perhaps another candidate, or it could involve what some people are calling a coronation. In other words, Labour MPs become so convinced that Andy Burnham would win any contest that actually a contest is pointless and some kind of transition from Keir Starmer to Andy Burnham is the best way forward.

CHURCH: Right. Of course, the popularity of Starmer's government has plummeted, as we mentioned since his win two years ago. And it's been touch and go for Starmer ever since, hasn't it? But if Burnham ends up replacing him, how likely is it that Burnham can turn things around? I mean, there are a lot of challenges there, aren't there

BALE: There are. Burnham's in-tray is not going to look that different, actually, from Keir Starmer's in-tray. There's a very unstable geopolitical situation. The British economy is not firing on all cylinders and therefore tax revenues are pretty low, forcing the government to borrow for anything that it wants to do. There is obviously a lot of division within the country as far as some so- called culture war issues are concerned, particularly immigration. So he will have to deal with that one as well.

And Burnham has been actually pretty canny, pretty vague really about the difference he can make in terms of policy. I guess what most Labour MPs are thinking is that anyone is better than Starmer, and somebody who is able to win a by election against Reform is someone who might do the trick for them. It's certainly the case that Burnham is a much better communicator and has rather more charisma than Keir Starmer.

But whether that is actually enough to turn things around for a Labour Party that is stranded below 20 percent in the opinion polls is another matter.

CHURCH: So what more do we need to know about the former mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and how likely is it that perhaps other challengers will step forward? You mentioned that possibility. I mean, would someone dare to go up against him? He's so popular.

BALE: I think as far as the other challengers are concerned, its going to look pretty pointless. Sometimes people enter a contest simply to lay down a marker for next time. Sometimes people just have this kind of self-belief, which things they make them think they might be able to turn things around. But honestly, I think given that most labor MPs will now be thinking about, you know, can they get a job in Burnham's administration? It's unlikely that other people will get much backing.

I think as far as Andy Burnham is concerned, it is important to realize that he's been in politics a long time, and he's been in national politics. So this guy has been a cabinet minister before. He does know how government works.

In terms of his time in Manchester, he was able to bring different interests together and to sell the policies that he was putting forward. And that, of course, I think as far as many Labour MPs are concerned, is the crucial skill that Keir Starmer actually lacked.

There are some people, however, who are saying that when Andy Burnham was a cabinet minister, he was perhaps not as decisive as he should be.

[02:40:06]

He was perhaps too inclined to spend rather than to adjust priorities. But as far as Labour MPs are concerned right now, it's worth rolling the dice.

CHURCH: And it has been extraordinary watching Burnham move into position so that he can actually do this, because this has been building this excitement about what Burnham could bring to the table. So there must have been a lot of choreography behind the scenes making this happen.

BALE: That's right. I mean, Andy Burnham, I think has made it pretty clear really for the last year or so that he wants to take over. It's unusual in British politics to see someone coming from the outside, uh, job as a mayor into the premiership so directly.

But there is some precedent for that. If we think about Boris Johnson, he was mayor of London, then got back into parliament and eventually became prime minister. That isn't, I think, a precedent that many people in this country would want Andy Burnham to follow, however.

So I think Burnham has played a very, very canny game. But of course, being mayor of a big city, even a city like Manchester is nothing like being prime minister. The amount of problems one faces day in, day out, the communicative challenge is much, much bigger.

And of course, you have a role on the international stage. And that is something that Andy Burnham does not have much experience with.

CHURCH: And we'll be watching very carefully, as you will be, of course, to see what happens in the coming hours.

Tim Bale, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

Well, Tuesday marks 10 years since the historic Brexit referendum was passed and still a decade later, the move remains highly controversial. Protesters marched to Westminster Saturday to demand that the U.K. rejoin the European Union. They carried E.U. flags and said they've never seen the Brexit benefits they were promised. But organizers had hoped to see far more than the 1,500 people who showed up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANE JARVIS, PROTESTER: Brexit has been an absolute disaster for the country in many respects, not just economically but loss of freedom of movement, families being split up, job opportunities lost, a lost generation of young people, which is very important.

I think its a lack of hope, lets put it that way, why there's a lower turnout. When we had the peoples vote marches before in 2019, we got a massive turnout. But I think people then hoped that something would happen. Now, they haven't got that hope.

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CHURCH: Britain's independent fiscal watchdog estimates the U.K.'s economy will be 4 percent smaller by 2031 than if the country had stayed in the E.U. Cuba has been a popular destination for tourists until recently. We

will look at what's most likely behind the scarcity of visitors. That's after a short break.

Stay with us.

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[02:46:22]

CHURCH: Tensions with the U.S. are taking an increasingly heavy toll on Cuba's bottom line. Fewer tourists have visited Cuba so far this year compared to the previous year, with the Trump administration hinting at possible military action and new sanctions. The situation could worsen.

CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports.

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PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): You can look for tourists in Cuba, but good luck finding any of these days. The colonial streets and plazas in Old Havana, one of the islands main attractions for foreign visitors, are strikingly empty.

OPPMANN: Cuba's tourism sector is enduring the worst moment in years, if not decades. We've come to an area that should be absolutely full of tourists to see how bad it's gotten.

OPPMANN (voice-over): Rolando is trying to promote the restaurant where he works, but there's hardly anyone to make his pitch to.

OPPMANN: You don't see any tourists.

ROLANDO, TOURISM WORKER: Maybe in this moment, 10 percent, 10 percent tourists in this square. That is the best square is Plaza Vieja, and the other square in Havana, maybe 10 percent. It's nothing.

OPPMANN (voice-over): The oil blockade placed by the Trump administration on Cuba earlier this year has contributed to rolling blackouts and a scarcity of jet fuel for airlines carrying tourists from Europe or Canada, which have canceled flights. Threats of increased U.S. economic sanctions on international hotel chains is forcing many companies to abandon the island and remove the brands of hotels they used to manage for the Cuban government.

According to official statistics, only 360,000 tourists visited the island in the first five months of 2026. A more than 58 percent drop from the previous year. The Trump administration says it is pressuring the islands communist rulers to open the tightly controlled economy and political system.

But people like Elio (ph) and Andres, who have been playing traditional Cuban music on the street corner for nearly 30 years, are among those feeling the squeeze. When we meet them, the guitar duo had earned less than a dollar in

tips that day. They told me the economy has never been this bad, even during the pandemic.

"There are no tourists," Elio says. "Maybe they are at home. One comes by only every half hour or hour."

Even the famed Hemingway Trail, the bars where the American writer drank his way across Havana has gone cold.

OPPMANN: This is one of the most famous bars in Havana. You can see Hemingway's signature there on the wall. This is one of the many places he drank. He said he came here for his mojito. I've never been able to come here without there being just a crush of tourists. We're the first customers of the day. It's a tourist trap without tourists.

OPPMANN (voice-over): For the first time, Cuban officials say they may allow Cuban exiles or Cubans still living on the island to manage hotels. But full ownership, so far, at least, is still not permitted.

The collapse of the tourism economy is a disaster for government that spent years pouring scant resources into building hotels.

OPPMANN: This is not only Cuba's largest hotel, its the tallest building on this island. This is one of the most expensive things this government here has ever built. Architects who worked on this project told me it cost more than $200 million to build this hotel, which is now empty and closed.

OPPMANN (voice-over): Still, construction continues on even more hotels that are unlikely to see paying customers any time soon.

[02:50:05]

Cubans who work in tourism are trying anything to make ends meet, Alexander tells us he lowered prices to take a carriage ride with his horse, Napoleon, so that Cubans could afford a city tour. He still barely makes enough money to pay for his government license to work as a guide. More reforms urgently need to take place, he says.

ALEXANDER, TOURISM WORKER: If we don't change our system, if we don't change our economic model, we'll never survive, like a human being, because every day, daily, there are problems and problems and problems, and if we don't solve, if we don't change those things, you will never have a real future.

OPPMANN (voice-over): Cuba's tourism industry has already collapsed under increased U.S. pressure. Now the fear is the rest of the islands teetering economy could soon follow.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Kids and video game fans of all ages will have a new game to play this week. Star Fox 64, is launching Thursday exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.

CNN's Rick Damigella has more on Hollywood's latest entertainment releases.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOX MCCLOUD: Atmospheric entry complete. Extend the wings.

SLIPPY TOAD: Slippy here. So far, so good.

PEPPY HARE: This is Peppy. All systems go.

FALCO LOMBARDI: Falco here. G diffuser seems fine.

RICK DAMIGELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fox McCloud and his team are back this week in a brand new video game. Nintendo is releasing Star Fox exclusively for its Switch 2 game console. The adventure launches Thursday, June 25th.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: About a year ago, Lucy was in a terrible car accident. She lost her short term memory.

DAMIGELLA (voice-over): "51st Dates" is releasing in 4k this week. The Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler comedy classic arrives on the high def format Tuesday, June 23rd.

And anime fans can look forward to "Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War" "The Calamity" arriving in theaters this week. Fathom Entertainment is screening the first three episodes of the series from June 25th through the 29th.

In Hollywood, I'm Rick Damigella.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, Sunday marked the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Thousands of people celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge. The prehistoric monument in southern England is famous for its precise alignment with the sun's movements.

People stayed up through the night to witness the sunrise, then cheered as the sun rose over the ancient stone circle. Organizers estimated around 20,000 people attended the annual event this year. Beautiful.

I want to thank you so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church.

CNN NEWSROOM with Polo Sandoval is next, after a short break. Stay with us.

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