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U.S. Central Command Confirms Service Member Killed In Iraq; Gulf Nations Report New Wave Of Iranian Attacks As Conflict Spirals; Senator Bernie Sanders' Primary Pics Spark Democratic Civil War; Voters In Wisconsin Head To Polls August 11th To Pick Gubernatorial Candidates. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired July 19, 2026 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:00]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in New York.

And we begin with breaking news. Moments ago, the U.S. military confirming the death of the 17th U.S. service member in the U.S.-Iran conflict. In a statement, U.S. Central Command says the service member was killed in action on Saturday in northern Iraq. The death, which Central Command says occurred after the detonation of a downed Iranian drone, comes less than a day after the U.S. announced two other troops died in Jordan following an Iranian strike.

And we're covering this from all angles. CNN correspondent Julia Benbrook is in New Jersey, where President Trump has been spending all weekend. And CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is in Jerusalem.

All right, Julia, you first. What more are we learning about the death of this service member?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, just a day after U.S. Central Command announced that two American service members had been killed during an attack in Jordan, CENTCOM is now saying that another American service member has been killed in action, this time in northern Iraq.

I want to pull up that statement for you now. They did provide a few more details, saying, "A U.S. service member in northern Iraq was killed in action July 18th during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. A second service member was wounded and continues to receive medical treatment for a minor injury."

This brings the total number of U.S. service members killed during this now nearly five-month long conflict to 17. And again, this came just a day after those two American service members were killed during the attack in Jordan and another service member was categorized as missing in action.

They provided a bit more of an update there as well, saying that remains had been found in that area, but the examination process, the verification process is still ongoing. CENTCOM is still withholding some information at this time as they work to make sure that next of kin is notified. But this comes as there are growing concerns that this could turn into a much wider conflict.

There have been eight consecutive nights of U.S. strikes, as well as waves of Iranian drones and missiles fired at a widening number of targets in countries with U.S. bases. President Donald Trump, he has been spending his weekend here in New Jersey. He is currently at MetLife Stadium watching the World Cup Final, a time where eyes around the world are not only on Trump but on the United States.

And while all of this is escalating, we have yet to hear from him publicly on any of these deaths. Following the deaths of the two service members in Jordan, he did speak with NewsNation saying that this is very sad. It is in service to our country. But then he reiterated what he's been saying throughout the conflict that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. So a lot of questions about what's next here.

WHITFIELD: All right. Julia Benbrook in New Jersey, thank you so much.

All right. Now let's go to Nic in Jerusalem.

The U.S. launched an eighth straight day of attacks after announcing two troops being killed in Jordan, and now U.S. CENTCOM saying that one U.S. troop was killed in northern Iraq while trying to detonate an Iranian drone. What more can you tell us from that region?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, look, Israel was put on -- put its air defenses on alert. Indeed, they were sort of activated and helped defend Jordan, the IDF says earlier on today, what happened in Jordan, in the port city of Aqaba, in the south of the country. The U.S. embassy in Jordan had put out a warning to American citizens, don't go to the international airport in Aqaba. Don't go to the seaport in Aqaba that's on the Red Sea. Very popular tourist destination at this time of year.

Jordanian officials had said at the time they didn't -- they weren't aware of any kind of warning. But within a couple of hours, several Iranian missiles were fired towards Aqaba, three of them shot down, according to the Jordanians. Another one fell in open areas. But the IDF said that they activated their defense systems down in Eilat, which is right next to Aqaba, just inside of Israel. They sit right next to each other at the top of the Red Sea.

And the IDF said that they were actually involved in defending the skies over Jordan, involved in bringing down that threat. So you get a sense of just how easily this war can expand. Iran has not attacked Israel so far. Israel has not attacked Iran so far. But if that side of the hostilities were to escalate, that would be a very significant escalation.

[16:05:01]

But where things stand at the moment, we've seen the Iranians targeting around the U.S. embassy in the north of Iraq, in the Kurdish region. They're targeting anti-Iranian groups in the Kurdish region, inside northern Iraq. So that's a very hot and active area. But it's Jordan, where there's two U.S. service members were reported killed by CENTCOM yesterday. It is Jordan that's really got a lot of the focus of Iran's firepower typically at U.S. related air bases inside Jordan.

But that's what makes the shooting of missiles by Iran at Aqaba, in the south of Jordan today. That's what makes it so odd because as far as we're aware, there are no U.S. military assets there. It's very much a sort of a tourist region at this time of the year. Iran as well hitting Kuwait again today. Air defense systems in Bahrain also put on high alert. So you really get the sense that Iran is looking for the weak points where it can sort of target countries that are supporting the United States at the moment.

WHITFIELD: All right, Nic Robertson, we'll leave it there from Jerusalem. Thank you.

All right. Let's talk more about what may be a critical moment in this conflict now. We're joined by Aaron David Miller. He is a former State Department Middle East negotiator and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Thanks, again, Aaron, for being with us. I mean, we're now talking about three U.S. -- confirmation of three U.S. service members killed. How do you see this conflict further escalating at this point?

AARON DAVID MILLER, FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT MIDDLE EAST NEGOTIATOR: I mean, look, Fred, I think I know people are looking for answers for an easy way out. There is no easy way out. This was a war of choice. The administration overestimated its own capacity and underestimated the capacity of a very brutal, repressive, authoritarian regime that believes it's winning.

And the options, I think, are clear. Escalation in the hopes that somehow more military power will change Iran's views. Negotiation, right now, I see no chance, given this -- lack of confidence and trust between Tehran and Washington, that you could find an acceptable answer that would be acceptable both the administration and the -- and to Iran on the issue of the day, which is the straits.

And then third, more of the same, which is the naval blockade, kinetic exchanges. But there you see the risks. You see the possibilities that the Israelis could be drawn in. You see the tragic and I think, inevitable result of U.S. casualties. The Iranians are escalating horizontally. They don't have to match the U.S. military drone for drone or the Israelis for that matter. They -- and Nic is right. They pick points of vulnerability.

They've weaponized geography, they've gone after the Gulf states, and now Jordan, the Muwaffaq Salti Base, which I think the administration is probably transferred personnel from the Gulf, given the vulnerabilities there. But the Iranians have found a soft target there as well. So no exit right now, Fred. And that is, that to me is the truly terrifying aspect of this.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Especially coming from you because you have always underscored, you know, some optimism that diplomacy, you know, and peace has to be the goal here, but it sounds like you are kind of changing your tune on this. I mean, how do you see Gulf states calculating their involvement now at this juncture?

MILLER: I mean, I think that's another vulnerability for the administration. The Gulf, the whole Dubai model, the notion that Gulf could become an entrepot, financial, data centers, high tech, sports events, culture. All of that is now up in the air because that depends on stability and security. And I'm sure the Gulf states, even though they're dependent on the United States for their defense, are angry in the extreme at the administration.

And I suspect the messages from Riyadh and the Emirates are going to be try to figure out a way to get out of this because our future is at stake. And I guess this raises another core point. The Iranians are in this -- this is an existential conflict for them, Fred. This Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, it's no longer divine power. Now it's hard power. These guys who control the money, the guns, the oil, for them, this is foundational.

For Donald Trump, it really is, despite the enormous stakes for the U.S., it's still discretionary. And that means that their capacity to take risks and chances much higher than ours.

[16:10:05]

WHITFIELD: Does this have the makings of a, you know, quote-unquote, "forever war"?

MILLER: Not a forever war. I mean, this is not Iraq and Afghanistan, the two longest wars in American history where the standard for victory was never could we win conventionally but what -- when would we leave and what would we leave behind? And it's not Vietnam. But I will say, I remember what LBJ, Lyndon Baines Johnson, said in '68 in reference to Vietnam. And again, this is not Vietnam. But the dilemma may well be the same.

Johnson said, I feel like a hitchhiker in a Texas hailstorm. I can't run, I can't hide, and I can't make it stop. That right now is, in fact, Donald Trump's dilemma. And Iran has undermined the credibility of one administration, Jimmy Carter. And this may well be one of the defining legacies of the Trump administration. And since the Iranians believe time is on their side, this may be another example of how the Iranians end up undermining the foreign policy, at least in this particular part of the world, of this president.

WHITFIELD: All right. Yes, very powerful words. All right.

Aaron David Miller, thank you so much.

MILLER: Thank you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Still to come, influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, known for their promotion of male dominance and lavish wealth, have been arrested in the United States after being charged with rape and sex trafficking in the U.K.. A look at the new accusations against them.

Plus, Bernie Sanders' blowback. How the senator's primary endorsements have sparked a Democratic midterm war.

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[16:16:28]

WHITFIELD: All right. With the critical November midterms just about three months away, Democratic Party leaders and progressives are engaged in an internal fight over which candidates to send to the general election. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is at the heart of the battle.

CNN's Manu Raju has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Bernie Sanders is sparking blowback within the Democratic Party. He has been engaged in House primary and Senate primaries all across the country, trying to prop up the more progressive candidates and trying to elect candidates really in his mold at a time when the Democratic base is restive. They want someone who will shake up the party leadership and line up in a lot of ways with Bernie Sanders' ideology, railing against corporate interests, pushing for issues like Medicare for all, and perhaps the biggest dividing line of them all, Israel.

A big push against the Israeli government, railing against the likes of AIPAC. And that is playing out in some key races, including in Michigan, where there's a critical Senate primary in August between Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive candidate backed by Bernie Sanders, Haley Stevens, the more moderate candidate congresswoman from the Detroit metro area backed by the party leadership.

Now Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with Bernie Sanders, stumped with Abdul El-Sayed over the weekend trying to push him over the finish line in that race that Democrats absolutely must hold that seat if they have any chance of winning back power in the Senate in November.

Now, he is facing criticism from the likes of one congresswoman from Michigan, Hillary Scholten, who told me that Bernie has endorsed some flawed candidates recently. "I think it's really important to look at the judgment that has been exercised. The Graham Platner situation should be a huge warning sign to a lot of voters about what that stamp of approval might mean."

That Graham Platner situation, of course, what happened in Maine, the candidate, progressive candidate backed by Bernie Sanders, who had won the nomination, imploded after a series of major scandals. And now the party is trying to scramble to try to figure out if they can find a candidate who can beat Susan Collins in Maine.

Now, I asked Bernie Sanders about the pushback he is getting from his own party, and he was unapologetic. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

But are you making it harder, in some ways, to keep -- to win the majority, say, what happened in Maine -- like what happened in Maine?

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): Well, I think, in fact, the candidates we are supporting are candidates who are representing working people. And I think it's time -- long time overdue for the Democratic Party to stop worrying about their wealthy campaign funders and start worrying about the needs of working people.

RAJU: Was it a mistake in Maine? Was it a mistake in Maine?

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): I don't think people have really made the forceful case outside of his identity, to be honest with you. And I don't accept that. I don't accept.

RAJU: His being a Muslim or?

OCASIO-CORTEZ: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Now, that last comment from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez talking about Abdul El-Sayed saying that she has not heard any real rationale against his candidacy. She views him as the most electable in November. That electability argument is something that has come to a head in a number of key races. There was a confrontational phone call, we have learned, between Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, and Bernie Sanders from earlier this year, in which Sanders, along with Gregory Meeks, a fellow Democrat from New York who was on that call, were telling Sanders not to meddle in some key primaries in the House, including one involving a North Carolina congresswoman who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, someone they did not want to see defeated in a primary.

[16:20:06]

But according to Gregory Meeks, he told us, quote, "He seemed not to care," referring about Bernie Sanders, who is continuing to push his candidates, who democratic leaders fear is costing them millions of dollars in very expensive primaries. It may lead to candidates who may not win over swing voters in November.

Manu Raju, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Manu.

All right. Wisconsin is one of those states where Democrats are divided on what kind of candidate to nominate. In just over three weeks from today, primary voters in Wisconsin will head to the polls to pick a candidate to replace outgoing Democratic governor Tony Evers. Well, this past week, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Sarah Rodriguez, a front runner for governor, unexpectedly dropped out of the race over issues with her campaign financial reports.

And after she departed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley jumped back into the race and quickly grabbed the endorsement from the governor. He will now face off against Democratic socialist Francesca Hong and another progressive.

Joining us right now to talk more about the race to be Wisconsin's next governor is Charles Franklin, and he is the director of the Marquette Law School Poll.

Professor, great to see you.

CHARLES FRANKLIN, DIRECTOR, MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL: Good to be here.

WHITFIELD: All right. So help us understand where the governor's race stands in Wisconsin, because it seems like, you know, a real doozy here ahead of the August primary.

FRANKLIN: It has been a wild week here. Francesca Hong, the Democratic socialist, has been leading in most of the polls all year, but with a very large percentage undecided. So while she's legitimately called a front runner, she doesn't have a large enough margin to set aside the possibility that those undecided voters come in. The more party establishment folks have been worried that a Democratic socialist can't win in a deep purple state like Wisconsin, as opposed to their successes in deep purple New York or the Denver congressional district recently.

And so the party has been scrambling to find an alternative. And this week, with Rodriguez unexpectedly falling out of the race and Crowley reentering, the party is trying to find an alternative to Hong while Hong continues to be leading in the polls.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And then how popular is the outgoing governor, Tony Evers, and how much influence might he have on who replaces him potentially?

FRANKLIN: He's been the most popular political figure in the state for the last eight years, while he's been governor. His job approval rating is a little over 50 percent, not super high, but high in the modern era, when governors struggle. But he's had some real differences with the party, especially the Democratic state senators who voted against a bill of his recently, which caused some unhappiness within the party.

So he has some influence and voters like him. But I think what we'll really see now is whether his new endorsement of Crowley can propel Crowley into a competitive position. Crowley in March was only getting 3 percent of the vote back then. Will this endorsement really change that, though?

WHITFIELD: So for the undecided voters, are they being swayed by the candidates or the issues?

FRANKLIN: I think the issue number one that we see and have seen for more than a year now is inflation and the cost of living. And that's where Hong's appeal to working class voters really has some resonance right now. In terms of the candidates themselves, many of these candidates, including Hong herself, are still not all that well-known in the state. It's been a surprisingly low key election, even with just under a month to go until the primary.

WHITFIELD: I mean, you mentioned it, purple Wisconsin is a swing state. But, you know, does it appear, you know, Republicans are united behind a specific candidate? Have polls given you any insight on which party might have the upper hand here?

FRANKLIN: Yes. Republicans have been completely united throughout the year. Tom Tiffany, the congressman from the Seventh Congressional District, faces token opposition, but will certainly be the nominee. He's well-liked within the Republican Party, but he's also the most conservative member of the Republican congressional delegation from Wisconsin. So he's well to the right and a close ally of Donald Trump.

Democrats think that makes him vulnerable. But Republicans think that if they're running against Francesca Hong, the socialist, or even one of the other more progressive Democratic candidates, they like their chances in the fall. It will be a real tough race no matter what.

[16:25:11]

WHITFIELD: All right. A great one to watch. All right. Professor Charles Franklin, thanks so much for being with us.

FRANKLIN: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Still to come, now in custody, Andrew and Tristan Tate face new charges of sexual abuse and trafficking. A closer look at their fight against extradition to stand trial in Europe.

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WHITFIELD: Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate are now in U.S. custody and awaiting to learn their fate. This weekend, the brothers were arrested in Miami, and they're now facing extradition to the United Kingdom on rape and sex trafficking charges, the latest accusations against the men.

[16:30:13]

CNN's Rafael Romo is following this story. Rafael, what more do you know?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka. Well, the arrest of both Tate brothers stemmed from a case focusing on alleged sexual abuse of women in the east of England region, just north of London between 2010 and 2017.

U.S. marshals arrested both brothers in Miami on Saturday on an extradition request from the United Kingdom. Andrew Tate, seen here on the left, is a 39-year-old U.S.-born professional fighter turned media personality known for his rants about male dominance, female submission and wealth. A controversial personality that has earned him billions of views online.

He was initially arrested in Bucharest in December 2022, together with his younger brother, Tristan Tate. And Romanian prosecutors have accused them of trafficking and exploiting women.

The brothers have repeatedly rejected the allegations made against them in that case. And they were allowed to leave Romania, after authorities in the eastern European country lifted travel restrictions on them arriving in Florida in February 2025.

Authorities says the brothers, who have dual American and British citizenship, face dozens of new charges added onto previous charges brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, after evidence was submitted by Bedfordshire police.

According to the U.K. crown prosecution service and Bedfordshire police, Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist, faces 42 charges, including rape, human trafficking, indecent images of a child and assault.

According to the same officials, his brother, Tristan Tate, faces 17 charges, including sexual assault, rape and trafficking.

In a statement, Malcolm McAfee, head of the special crime division at the Crown Prosecution Service in the U.K., said the following, and here I quote. "We have decided to prosecute Andrew and Tristan Tate for further offenses, including rape, arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation, and offenses relating to indecent images of a child. These charging decisions followed receipt of a further file of evidence from Bedfordshire police and bring the total number of alleged victims in this case to seven."

An attorney for the brothers said they are innocent and criticized the U.K.'s move to seek extradition. And there is a long-standing agreement between the U.K. and Romanian governments that the U.K. would not seek extradition, while the Romanian proceedings are pending.

Attorney Joseph McBride said those proceedings are ongoing right now. That agreement exists because no nation gets to trample the judicial sovereignty of another for political convenience.

In addition to these new charges and the case pending in Romania, Andrew taste -- Tate is also facing a civil suit in the U.K., which is being brought by four women who accused a social media influencer of rape.

A spokesperson for Tate previously told CNN that their client categorically denies what he called unproven and untested allegations.

Fred, now back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Rafael Romo, thanks for bringing all that to us. Appreciate it. All right. Now, turning to the funeral for Nolan Wells. His relatives are preparing to lay the 18 year old to rest, as they press for answers about his mysterious death. The funeral service will be held tomorrow at Center Pointe Church in Wells' hometown, Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Nolan's mother, Christine Wonsley, shared a heartbreaking message to supporters on social media.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE WONSLEY: This loss, this grief, this pain, it's different. It's insurmountable. And then, it's like you get these flood of emotions all at different times.

And grief is so multi-layered. You know, one second, I might be OK and I can talk about things, and I can listen to his stories. And then, the next minute, I am falling apart and I feel like I can't breathe. And I feel like there is an elephant just sitting on my chest.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: (INAUDIBLE) is pending while there are still questions surrounding Nolan's death. Authorities suspect he drowned but the Jackson County Sheriff says the investigation remains open.

We'll be right back in a moment.

[16:34:36]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. It is the World Cup final right now. And the first ever FIFA official halftime show actually just wrapped up. It featured some pretty big names, including Justin Bieber, Madonna, the Muppets, BTS, and Latin star, Shakira.

The scoreless first half saw Argentina trying to draw out Spain. We also saw the first yellow card of the match, also against Argentina. So, the game is still scoreless right now, which is why everybody is, you know, on the edge of their seats with 30 minutes to go in the match.

So, we've got team coverage of the global watch parties from Pau Mosquera in Madrid, Stefan Pozzebon in Buenos Aires and Gloria Pazmino in New York.

[16:40:07]

WHITFIELD: Let's get started with Pau in Madrid, because it sounds like you've got the most boisterous crowd. They're excited. What's up?

PAU MOSQUERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very excited. They are confident, Fredricka. But also, you can see the suffering on their faces. Have a look here at this fan zone located at Plaza de Colon, downtown Madrid. There are around 6,000 people and all of them with the eyes riveted on the giant screen.

You can feel the anxiety and the nervousness in all of them, because they have been waiting for a long -- for more than 60 minutes. This first goal. Because when this first goal comes, it's going to be the opportunity to ease a little bit. The tension that has been accumulating here at this fan zone.

It has taken 16 years to Spain to get to the final, and that's why they are all so excited about everything that is happening. But also, they are with the fingers crossed that they can get the first goal. The sooner the better, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, 30 minutes and counting. Let's see what happens. Pau, thanks so much.

All right, let's go to Buenos Aires now. And Stefano Pozzebon is there. OK -- uh oh ,what's happening?

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Just a big save, Fredricka, from -- a big save from the Argentinian goalie, Emiliano Martinez. So, Fredricka, which put a lot of people on the edge.

We're not sitting here. Nobody is sitting, Fredricka, in Buenos Aires. They're all standing and watching nervously at whatever screen they have in front of your face.

Luckily, here in the fan zone, we have a massive one, which probably is, like, 30 feet by 25 up in front of my face. And we're going to let this lovely family come through in front of our live shot.

But, generally (?), nobody can afford half a second away from that giant screen, because, yes, like Pau was saying, it's been a nervous second half after the half-time show. A lot of people just watching and understanding whether Argentina will be able to resist the intense pressure that the Spaniards are putting on our 11.

One thing I want to say before you let me go, Fredricka. This is also, by the way, a big home derby (?) for the Spanish-speaking world. Argentina is home to the largest community of Spaniards outside of Spain. And Spain is the home of the largest Argentinian community outside of Argentina.

There are millions of people who hold passports and nationalities from both sides. And people still travel a lot between Buenos Aires and -- Buenos Aires and Madrid.

Of course, we are here all supporting Argentina. I'm not going to lie. But whoever will win, whoever will prevail at the end of -- whoever will prevail at the end of the day, will be -- the rival camp (?), the World Cup will still stay in Spanish-speaking hands. So, that's one thing to rejoice.

In the meantime, a lot of nervousness, a lot of anxiety here. I can't afford to live my life. Sorry if I'm not looking too much into the camera. I'm just watching the game which is very entertaining.

WHITFIELD: I can tell. You and everybody else. They don't -- they don't want to take their eyes off the screen. I get it.

POZZEBON: And, hopefully, in an hour -- hopefully, in an hour, we'll be back to you. There you go. All right.

WHITFIELD: Uh oh.

POZZEBON: Almost. Almost. Almost. Fredricka, this is a match we can't afford -- we can't afford to let -- to let it slip.

WHITFIELD: All right. It's almost as much fun watching you guys than watch the screen, because I don't get to watch the game where I am right now. But we'll check back with you.

All right. Meantime, I am in New York City and it's not too far away where this match is happening. But you know what? Gloria Pazmino is in the thick of it all there in Times Square. Please tell me, since the last time we spoke, somebody turned on a big screen out there so everyone doesn't have to be glued to a tele -- you know, their phones.

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, whoever runs all these screens in Times Square is going to be in a lot of trouble, because none of these gigantic screens are showing the game at this moment. And I cannot believe I'm sitting right here in the middle of Times Square, where hundreds of people have gathered and it all has come down to this.

I want to just show you behind me. All of these people are watching on a computer screen, and they are glued, every moment of the game. And this has become, essentially, an impromptu party.

Everyone is cheering for Argentina. They're watching the game. And even though they can't see it on these giant screens, you are seeing everyone come together.

And I think that's really what this World Cup has been about. I love what Stefano said about Buenos Aires. The Spaniards that live there. The Argentines that live in Spain. Here, in New York City, you have people from all over the world, and they have gathered right here in Times Square to take it all in.

A huge save from Argentina just now. You can see the crowd is getting excited.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh.

PAZMINO: But this is what it's about.

[16:45:00]

PAZMINO: Everyone coming together to celebrate. To watch. To take in the culture. To take in the culture of this beautiful game. It's the game that brings everybody together, even if it means watching the most important game of this World Cup on a 15-inch screen, surrounded by a giant screen.

WHITFIELD: I guess, hey, -- PAZMINO: Everyone is enjoying themselves.

WHITFIELD: And that puppy better be fully charged because, oh, my gosh, we're going to see a much different reaction out there if it loses some juice. Is that your laptop, by the way? Are they borrowing yours?

PAZMINO: I'm going to -- I -- the battery issue has been addressed. It's been raised. It has been taken care of. We are -- we -- they are prepared.

WHITFIELD: OK, because this would be a very different kind of live shot. All right.

PAZMINO: Yes. Yes, we don't want that to happen.

WHITFIELD: Gloria Pazmino -- no, we don't -- we don't want that. We don't want any mess out there. All right. Have fun.

All right, Gloria, Stefano and Pau, thanks to all of you. Oh, what's happening there now?

OK. Straight ahead. Is time running out on springing forward or falling back in the U.S.? What it means for your body clock. The latest round in the ongoing fight on Capitol Hill over daylight saving versus standard time.

[16:46:17]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. The move to make Daylight Saving Time permanent took an important step forward last week. The U.S. House voted to enact it year round but the bill faces an uncertain future in the U.S. Senate.

One of the sticking points is whether states could opt out of a permanent change. And if it succeeds, it means Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year, either one or forward or one hour back.

And joining us right now is Dr. Karin Johnson. She is a neurologist and sleep medicine specialist. She's also co-chair of the coalition for permanent standard time.

All right, great to see you. So, what's your concern about making Daylight Saving Time permanent?

DR. KARIN JOHNSON, SPECIALIST, SLEEP MEDICINE: Yes. So, like most people, we want to end the time changes. They're harmful. They're unpopular.

But it really comes down to the choice of which way to end it. And we think that ending it with permanent Daylight Saving Time, which is what the sunshine protection act is going for, would be more harmful to our health, to our mood, and worsen safety and productivity. So, we really want to end it with permanent standard time instead.

WHITFIELD: OK. So, if the U.S. moves to permanent Daylight Saving Time, it would make sunrise quite late in some areas during winter, almost 8:45 local time in Atlanta and nearly 9:00 a.m. in Seattle. So, what kind of impact is that going to make on people's lives and their bodies?

JOHNSON: Yes. So, morning sun is really important for setting our body clocks or our circadian rhythms. And this is what helps us wake up in the morning, fall asleep on time, and really affects all aspects of our health, how our brain works.

And so, we see things like increased risk for heart disease, obesity, increased car crashes, worsened depression and suicides. So, we really don't want to do that. And those harms are actually the worst for our teenagers and kids. And so, you know, we particularly want to make sure were not doing something that's going to hurt our kids.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And then, supporters of Daylight Saving Time argue that people want more sunlight, you know, in the evening. Would that give, you know, people a chance to do more, be more active after work in school?

JOHNSON: So, yes. So, I mean, overall, there's no more light in the day if were on Daylight Savings Time. And, currently, we do Daylight Savings Time in the summer, when the days are already long and we can already enjoy those warm, hot, hot days.

But, unfortunately, Daylight Saving Time doesn't make winter into summer. Instead, it just makes it a really dark and dreary winter, which, again, is particularly when Daylight Savings Time is bad for our health. And that's why it's never worked before.

The U.S. has tried permanent Daylight Savings Time twice before. The last in 1974. It was supposed to go for two years, and it was repealed within a year because of how unpopular that dark winter was.

WHITFIELD: You testified in front of a Senate committee last year on this same issue. What was the reception that you received?

JOHNSON: So, you know, I think some members of Congress are hearing the message. Unfortunately, a lot aren't. We heard in the testimony before the recent bill that senators were still saying that the only harms to Daylight Savings Time is the transitions itself.

And we know that's not true. The medical and scientific communities have widespread come out endorsing permanent standard time as the only both feasible and safe way to end time change.

WHITFIELD: All right. Dr. Karin Johnson, thanks so much. We'll see what happens.

JOHNSON: Thank you.

Whitfield: All right. And thank you for joining me today. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. CNN NEWSROOM continues with Omar Jimenez. But before we go, just take a look at all the folks, the Revelers in Espana in Madrid. They're excited, even though I think last I checked, right, wasn't it zero-zero still? OK, still no scores. But that's OK. The enthusiasm is there.

How about in Buenos Aires? Let's take a look. OK. Was somebody yawning just there? All right. No, really, they all are very excited, too.

WHITFIELD: OK, there they go, cheering.

All right, we'll be right back. And, of course, keeping a close eye on what's happening in New York, too, because, after all, that is where the World Cup final is taking place in New York New Jersey Stadium.

[16:55:22]

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[17:00:02]

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM, everyone. I'm Omar Jimenez in New York.

Across the globe, the world is focused on the stadium just outside New York City.