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Key Dems Pull Support from Platner after New Accusations; Trump Floats Idea of Nominating Ted Cruz for Future Supreme Court Seat; Soon: Trump to Land in Turkey for NATO Summit. Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired July 07, 2026 - 06:00   ET

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

BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: -- position for a full hour and one minute and five seconds, beating the kids' world record by 10 minutes.

[06:00:08]

A local news reporter challenged him to a little friendly competition, with the reporter tapping out at two minutes and five seconds. Jack stopped at ten minutes, saying he was only a little tired. Took him just six months of training.

Well done, Jack.

That does it for CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. I'm Brad Smith. CNN THIS MORNING with Audie Cornish starts right now.

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: OK. Today in the group chat, Democrats abandoning Graham Platner as rape allegations may force him to quit his Senate race. Should they have seen this coming?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): I don't know why you want to keep pushing these kinds of people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Soon, President Trump set to land in Turkey, where he will test how far he can push NATO allies. Are they ready to push back?

And clean up on aisle everywhere? Intense flooding in New Jersey causes a roof to collapse at a supermarket.

And even with their best player reinstated, the U.S. men's national team did not do enough to make it to the quarterfinals.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They didn't play. They didn't show up. No heart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRAHAM PLATNER (D), MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE: We are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: But is it curtains for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner? He is taking a step back to reflect. The Democrats are jumping ship.

Good morning, everybody. I'm Audie Cornish. We're going to start with the pressure mounting on Graham Platner after new accusations emerged Monday. A woman he dated coming forward saying that he raped her while he was heavily intoxicated.

This allegation stems from an event about five years ago, and they are accusations Platner denies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PLATNER: I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious, and false allegations against me. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Democratic support all but collapsing. Several key leaders have called for him to drop out. Others rescinding their endorsement.

Is it too little, too late to salvage the Democrats' chances in Maine?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HASAN PIKER, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: That is curtains. In hindsight, yes, I mean, he had he had a lot of red flags, red flags that I also pointed to. This is beyond red flags, though. This is irredeemable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: So, today in the group chat, we've got Aaron Blake, CNN senior political reporter; Doug Heye, Republican strategist and former RNC communications director; and Karen Finney, CNN political commentator and former senior adviser for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.

You guys, welcome back.

DOUG HEYE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Thank you.

CORNISH: Thanks for being here after Independence Day.

For those of you who were smart enough to not pay attention to the news over the weekend, I want to play for you sound from the victim, the person making allegations, so that you can understand the context of what we are saying.

Our own Jake Tapper sat down with her, and here's a portion of that conversation. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Just to underline the point, you're not coming forward because you have any political motivation?

JENNY RACICOT, ACCUSED GRAHAM PLATNER OF RAPE: No, not at all. That was actually one of the huge reasons that I didn't come forward and -- and still struggled. Like, that was a huge moral conflict to -- to feel like --

TAPPER: Because you'd like a Democrat to be in the Senate.

RACICOT: Yes, yes. I like the things that he speaks about. They're important. They're important to people. I'm one of those people.

TAPPER: But at the end of the day, you feel he's not being honest?

RACICOT: He's not being honest. No.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: OK, Aaron, I want to start with you, because I think a lot of Democrats have been waiting to push "send" on their draft posts saying, "Please drop out."

AARON BLAKE, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It happened pretty quickly last night. I think we -- we saw the kind of culmination of all these controversies coming to a head. And they decided that this was the moment that they wanted to cut bait. And I think they've been kind of getting there for a while. But -- but this became the moment.

I think it's difficult to see how he continues in this race. Certainly, when you see a candidate come forward and say, I'm going to reflect on my candidacy, it's very rare for that person to then come back and say, I'm just going to try to stick it out for a little while.

CORNISH: But you know what? That was a weird statement, right? It's like he comes out with a video that doesn't say, I'm dropping out. It doesn't say I'm staying in. It might as well have said, I'm waiting to see if y'all are going to back me on this. And in the meantime, I'll wait quietly.

KAREN FINNEY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: But that's exactly what it means, right? It means I'm buying myself time to get with my advisors and figure out, can I get out gracefully, especially given how quickly.

Because let's be honest, since the last set of allegations came forward, there were a lot of concerns in the Democratic Party. He said, once again, like he told our own Manu Raju the first time, nothing else. No more to see here. Obviously, he came to Washington and reassured people.

CORNISH: Yes. And to be clear, she did come forward. And she noted that, you know, people sort of glossed over the allegations I raised, because one of the other accusers had Republican connections.

[06:05:10]

HEYE: Yes. Lyndsey Fifield was named. Sheldon Whitehouse owes her an apology.

And frankly, this wasn't predictable. It was predicted, and it was predicted by folks like myself who know Graham Platner. He used to be a bartender at the Tune Inn, a few blocks from here, and you'd walk in. This is 2010 through 2015.

CORNISH: It's a deep cut, Doug.

HEYE: You'd walk in and you'd say, Oh, that guy's working again. And you'd say, Do we want to go somewhere else or not?

Because he would corner you, or he would corner somebody else with a lot of weird stuff. And so, when the accusations started coming, myself and other people said, there will be more.

CORNISH: Wait, around women, or I want to understand what you are claiming here.

HEYE: All of it. All of it.

CORNISH: OK.

HEYE: And so, when Lyndsey Fifield spoke out and was attacked by Democrats, you can't believe her because she's a Republican, which I thought the message was we believe women. Turns out that's not always the case.

Now, this is deemed as credible.

Frankly, this was predicted. It was predictable. He was a terrible candidate. He always was. And this is an own goal by Democrats.

CORNISH: This is one more person who's being called on to apologize. OK? And this comes from John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. On Monday, he told FOX News this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FETTERMAN: I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator more than anyone he helped him elect. And now apologize to the victims, especially the woman that she claimed that he raped her.

So, I don't know why you want to keep pushing these kinds of people. Maybe he should consider, set a few out, and stop pushing these kind of communists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Does Bernie Sanders need to be involved in this?

FINNEY: I mean, he certainly should apologize and acknowledge that he was wrong.

But I want to make sure we don't miss something here because, yes, he has been a flawed candidate, all of those things. But the people of Maine did vote for him.

And part of -- whether you're Republican or Democrat, part of what created the challenge was, is the national party really going to tell voters of Maine, no. That guy, he can't be your person.

Now, it is a -- it is a position where people can say, we're going to pull our support. And the Maine Democratic Party has pulled their support, and they're going to have to decide. There's a process by which they can decide how they would replace him on the ticket.

And so, I mean, that's the challenge. Many of us said -- I was one of the people who said, no, I wouldn't have voted for him, but they --

CORNISH: Can I play for you something? Another thing Democrats argue, though, which I think is pretty specific, pretty consistent, which is, well, look in -- in Trump, we've got a real problem with women. So, maybe we shouldn't care about this so much. Here's Debbie Dingell of Michigan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): I will always be concerned about domestic violence allegations, sexual assault allegations.

But I'm also -- we've got a man in the White House that's a predator; has been convicted of sexual assault; and people's lives are being impacted by this every single day.

So, it's a very complicated situation. And it is ultimately up to the people of Maine, who I suspect he is going to talk to and listen to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: It feels like you're hearing someone say it's -- it's mainly complicated for us, but not with Republicans. Meaning when it comes to Trump, you know, something needs to be done. Someone needs to step in. It's not, Well, the voters decided.

But for Democrats, it's, Well, voters have to do it now. I mean, it's not as bad as having a predator in the White House. That kind of language.

BLAKE: Yes. I think that's emblematic of why Democrats held out for as long as they did with Graham Platner. They're kind of wondering why -- why the rules of gravity apply to their candidates, but not to the guy in the White House.

But we have seen when Republicans have put up flawed candidates for -- for Senate, voters have rebuked those candidates. You know, Herschel Walker didn't do very well in Georgia. There's been a series of Senate candidates, especially, who haven't done well in -- in recent years. So, I think there is an argument for, you know, why does Trump skate

on this stuff? Why does he get past being held civilly liable for sexual abuse?

But this doesn't necessarily transfer to other candidates. And that's both Democrats and Republicans.

FINNEY: I think that was part of the question when this first came, these allegations first came out, or questions came out. Wait a second. Does this mean have the standards changed because of Trump?

And look, Graham Platner came out initially, and he had his rationale about being now a changed man. Again, the voters of Maine seemed to accept that.

CORNISH: Yes.

FINNEY: But then I think when we got to a place where we're talking about violence, people, you know, that's it.

CORNISH: I think one problem for Democrats is they have struggled in the post-MeToo era to understand where their own line is and to understand.

FINNEY: The country has struggled.

CORNISH: But Democrats made it a defining issue for a time. And now that it is not, they don't know where their line is. You're saying violence. And I think that's a great one, but I don't think it's clear as you go into these races.

[06:10:02]

We're going to talk about who might step into the breach in Maine.

And in the meantime, we're going to talk about Trump's red card reversal. It didn't help USA in the end, but did it ruin all of the World Cup goodwill for the U.S.?

Plus, there are cuts coming to Microsoft. Why it says the video game wing is being hit the hardest.

And from senator to Supreme Court justice, any chance Ted Cruz is about to get a promotion?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: In fact, somebody said, would you ever appoint him to the United States Supreme Court, because he's a brilliant lawyer, Ted? I said, well, he's the only one I can think of that's going to get 100 votes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:15:17]

CORNISH: It is now 15 minutes past the hour. Here are five things that are making the news this morning.

Erika Kirk faces her late husband's alleged killer for the first time in court. A preliminary hearing is being held this week to decide whether or not the case goes to trial.

Also making an appearance in the courtroom on Monday, the late activist's parents, along with close friend Donald Trump Jr. and his wife.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

And the public funeral for Iran's slain supreme leader is now in its fourth day. Today's ceremonies took place in the sacred Iranian city of Qom, and video shows hundreds of thousands of mourners in front of the Jamkaran mosque. It's a significant religious site.

Tomorrow, Khamenei's body will be transported to Iraq before he is buried in his hometown on Thursday.

And Microsoft eliminating -- get this -- 4,800 jobs, roughly 2 percent of its global workforce. The majority of those cuts will come from its Xbox gaming division.

The layoffs follow a slowdown in video game spending after the COVID pandemic.

And what's the next big mission after Artemis II? Retirement/\. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen has announced he is stepping down from his full-time role as an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency in September.

Hansen says he'll continue to serve as a reservist member of the Royal Canadian Air Force and is leaving the door open for future opportunities.

And President Trump floats the idea, again, of nominating Texas Senator Ted Cruz to the U.S. Supreme Court.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: In fact, somebody said, would you ever appoint him to the United States Supreme Court, because he's a brilliant lawyer, Ted.

I said, Well, he's the only one I can think of that's going to get 100 votes. All Republicans will vote for him. All Democrats will vote for him, because they want to get him the hell out of the Senate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Reminder: there is currently no vacancy on the Supreme Court, with all nine seats filled.

Group chat is back. Even Ted Cruz chuckled at the idea of having unanimous consent in the Senate. Maybe he knows he's beloved by his coworkers. I'm not sure. What's the intel from this side?

HEYE: There's no intel. There's no intelligence here. There's been this theory that Democrats would rush to vote for him to kick him out of the Senate. The reality is they would then have to go back to their voters and explain that. That's not going to happen.

CORNISH: Yes. He also says that to be fair -- and you were joking that maybe Trump just said this because he was in the room. I want to play one bit.

This is Ted Cruz's podcast. It's called "The Ruthless Podcast," and this was him in January talking about this idea.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): Look, I -- I am flattered to be -- be discussed in those circles, but I will tell you, it is not going to happen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

CRUZ: My answer is not just no; it's hell no.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: I mean, you can't get better than a hell no.

BLAKE: I think what's interesting here is that President Trump is talking about Supreme Court vacancies when there is not a Supreme Court vacancy. Of course, we had the recent thing with Justice Alito, if you would --

CORNISH: "The thing," you mean rumors of his retirement?

BLAKE: The rumors of his retirement. And to be clear, this has been -- you know, people have been talking about this for a long time. It makes a lot of sense.

If you look at when Supreme Court justices retire, it tends to be when it's politically convenient for the side that nominated them in the first place.

And we also saw President Trump, back in April, bring up this issue and talk about the political utility of having a retirement this year while Republicans still have a majority in the Senate.

CORNISH: Yes.

BLAKE: So, I would expect that we're going to keep hearing about this as we get closer.

CORNISH: OK. Don't measure the drapes just yet. I want to talk about this.

After the break on CNN THIS MORNING, President Trump testing our allies, per the usual, as he heads to a NATO conference. How far can he push them before they push back? Plus, the flood waters rise in New Jersey. The damage left behind from

this monster summer storm.

And I want to say good morning to Atlanta, because you are home of today's Argentina versus Egypt match. It's happening today at noon. Whoever wins advances to the quarterfinals.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:23:28]

CORNISH: So, in the next half hour, President Trump will land in Turkey's capital for the NATO summit.

Now, this meeting comes at a complicated moment for the alliance, after Trump has clashed with its members for failing to back his war in Iran and over their defense spending.

Trump continues his criticism of some NATO allies spending as recently as last week. In a Truth Social post, Trump said it is, quote, "ridiculous for the USA to continue along this one-sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal. They were not there for us!!!"

Joining me now, CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson.

And Nic, I know that Trump said that he's basically here, because it's being hosted by Turkey. He has a relationship with the Turkish president, Erdogan. What's the mood going in today?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, I think there's always one of concern and trepidation from the European allies.

And that does seem to be well reflected in the reporting that Kevin Liptak, our Kevin Liptak and Kristen Holmes are getting from -- from their sources: that President Trump arrives into this summit even angrier than normal at his NATO allies, not just for failing to provide overflight rights, basing access for U.S. aircraft in Operation Epic Fury, the war against Iran; but also for falling short, many of them -- countries like Spain -- not making the commitment individually or finding the pathway to make that 5 percent GDP spending on defense and security by 2035.

[06:25:02]

This is a key issue for President Trump, coming in here, wanting to make sure that allies are upping their spending.

The NATO secretary-general has been trying to sort of portray a message of how much that's increasing: 20 percent in core defense funding over the past year, European allies and Canadians, he said. That's an increase of close to a quarter trillion dollars in defense core spending. Big numbers, big statement from the NATO secretary- general.

But when President Trump gets in here and is surrounded by these different leaders, he's going to be frustrated, for instance, with Spain in particular, that didn't give the U.S. Air Force the rights, overflight basing rights that he wanted, the president wanted to be able to use in the war with Iran.

And it's not clear how the president will handle that.

We know that there is a defense review going on at the Pentagon for how big or small the U.S. defense commitment -- number of troops, equipment, personnel -- should be based in Europe to support NATO. We don't know how the president may structure his anger.

Will it be focused against those individual countries like Spain, or will it be focused more generally? And the preferential treatment that allies that are spending a lot on defense at the moment, like Poland, like Germany, like the Nordic countries, like the Baltic countries, how much will he sort of reward them, if you like?

President Erdogan, who -- who President Trump will be meeting at the presidential palace behind me shortly, perhaps is going to get something that he wants.

He desperately wants F-35 fighter jets from the United States. He scotched his ability to get that during President Trump's last administration, when he bought Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air defense missile systems. Maybe that will change.

And the bilateral meeting there will be getting underway in an hour or so.

CORNISH: Is that complicated, though, by this reporting that Netanyahu has asked that Trump refrain from helping Turkey modernize its air force, because they're concerned about antisemitic rhetoric from Turkey?

ROBERTSON: Yes. Turkey carries a very big diplomatic and military weight in the region. And F-35 stealth fighter jets would certainly add to what it's capable of achieving in terms of sort of military parity, if you will, with Israel.

They both have significant air forces, significantly well-trained fighter pilots. And Israel doesn't believe it's in its interests, in Israel's interests, to have Turkey get these advanced stealth fighter jets.

At the moment they've been limited with the sort of 15s to 16s, those F-15s, F-16s, those level of fighter jets, not stealth, not capable of what the F-35 can do.

President Trump will undoubtedly need to -- need to balance this. We know he's been leaning into pressuring Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel over the ceasefire in Gaza, over the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Undoubtedly, the Israeli prime minister will be feeling the heat if the president -- if President Trump makes that decision today about the F-35s for Turkey. CORNISH: OK. A lot of questions coming out of this meeting today. Nic

Robertson, thank you so much. We're going to be following you throughout the day.

And straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, we're going to talk about whether it was fair play or interference. Is anything off limits with a president who doesn't seem to care about the appearance of impropriety?

Plus, Cuba in the dark again. Their president is blaming D.C., calling it social explosion through asphyxiation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)