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No Report Of Overnight Strikes In Iran From State Media Sources; Trump Lashes Out At Critics At White House Correspondents' Dinner; Eight Found Dead In Michigan Home After Fire, Some With Gunshots; FDA Committee Greenlights Some Peptides For Wider Use; Troy Jackson Poised To Win Democratic Nod In Maine Senate Race; Flood Threat Across Parts Of The South. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired July 25, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN THIS MORNING. Here's what's new today. President Trump says that he's all ears if Iran wants to make a deal as he weighs expanded attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They'd love to make a deal. I don't think they're ready to. I don't think it's time yet. But I'm willing to listen.

BLACKWELL: But for the first time in nearly two weeks, the U.S. apparently did not bomb Iran overnight. What that tells us about where things stand now.

The rescheduled and scaled-down White House Correspondents' Dinner happened last night in Washington. But what started as a lighthearted speech from President Trump took a turn. We've got the big takeaways from the event.

An FDA panel gave the nod to six controversial products. They're called peptides. And there's some disagreement about how and who should use them. We've got a doctor here to help us sort through it.

Plus, main Democrats look to turn the page in their fight to take back the Senate.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: How do you think voters have processed all this?

SARAH BIGNEY MCCABE, ORGANIZING DIRECTOR, MAINE AFL-CIO: I'd say whiplash. It's been a roller coaster.

BLACKWELL: Usual and unexpectedly brief process to replace Graham Platner after his campaign imploded. That's coming up this morning.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL (on camera): Who doesn't love a Saturday? Saturday, July 25. Glad you're starting it with me. I'm Victor Blackwell.

We're starting with the U.S. war with Iran. Overnight, Iranian state media did not report any explosions or strikes. But for 13 consecutive days, U.S. Central Command has posted video on social media of U.S. military strikes on Iran. CENTCOM did not say if the U.S. took any military action yesterday, but CNN has reached out for comment.

Last night at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Trump provided an update on the war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: And by the way, they are talking to us right now. They'd love to make a deal. I don't think they're ready to. I don't think it's time yet. But I'm willing to listen.

But they cannot have a nuclear weapon. We don't want to see Washington, D.C., or any of our cities or Israel or, frankly, the Middle East destroyed with a nuclear weapon, because I know the power of nuclear weapons. I see it -- I get to see it. We're not going to let that happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: CNN's Leila Gharagozlou joins us now with more. Leila, apparently, a break in the strikes on Iran. We'll see where talks go, if anywhere. What's the latest?

LEILA GHARAGOZLOU, CNN PRODUCER: Yes. So as you said, Victor, there has been a break in these strikes that we've seen for the last nearly two weeks. However, things don't look so optimistic when you look at the bigger picture. We're seeing a new front open up with the Houthis in Saudi Arabia.

We have heard President Trump say that he is willing to escalate the current conflict between the U.S. and Iran, hitting potentially civilian targets, maybe Pickaxe Mountain. So, things are not looking like they're actually ramping down. We've also seen both sides in many ways, reject the idea of diplomatic negotiations at this time.

To President Trump's comments about Iran coming back to the table, the Iranians themselves haven't said anything. They have in the past said that they'd be open to diplomatic negotiations. But they also said this week that their doctrine, when it comes to these U.S. strikes, is an eye for an eye. So, they are also absolutely willing to escalate this conflict.

So, things are very fragile, very precarious. And analysts and experts that I've spoken to expect that in the next week, we could kind of see a escalation and potential expansion when it comes to this war. Now, next week, we're expecting Bibi Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, to be in D.C. That could also have an impact on how President Trump moves forward with the Iran conflict.

In the meantime, we've just had this one day of respite, so we're going to have to see how things shake out. Victor. BLACKWELL: Certainly be looking ahead to Tuesday and that conversation between those two leaders. Leila Gharagozlou, thanks so much.

The Pentagon has not updated its website to show the correct number of deaths for U.S. troops killed in Operation Epic Fury. As of yesterday, the Defense Casualty Analysis System said only 14 members of the U.S. military were killed in the war against Iran. The correct number of troop deaths is 18, after four soldiers died last weekend. Dozens of injuries are also no longer on the website.

[07:05:10]

Both correct figures actually appeared earlier in the week. The Defense Department says this change is because of a "Data disruption." Well, CNN's Erin Burnett spoke with the widow of Staff Sergeant Michael Swinton about her husband, and she shared some memories.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMIAH GONZALEZ-SWINTON, WIFE OF SGT. MICHAEL SWINTON: He was so goofy. Anybody that met him, they would say he could roll a joke right off of his tongue, like he didn't even have to think about it. His comebacks -- oh my goodness. He would have everybody laughing.

And then at home, he was so sweet. Like to our daughter, he was like a big teddy bear to her. They did everything together. He was the favorite.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Sergeant Swinton was killed at the Erbil Air Base in Iraq. He was 30 years old.

New this morning. President Trump lashed out at his critics and mixed in a few jokes at the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Everyone's looking really good tonight. And I know it was not easy finding shoes to go along with your bulletproof vest, which many people didn't want to wear because they'd rather die than look 20 pounds heavier. You know that, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: This dinner was a do-over after a man opened fire and cut the original event short in April. The mood darkened, though, last night when the president started attacking members of the press and late-night hosts by name during an hour-long speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: This year, the association decided not to have a comedian, so they considered using Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon -- these guys -- they're terrible. They're terrible. Stephen Colbert.

These are people without talent. They get a lot -- they have talent. You know who has talent? Their agent getting them the money they get.

They have no talent. But they are not comedians. They're not funny people. They're angry people. They're sick people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: The president also joked about running for a third term, and even took a few shots at members of his cabinet. This was a scaled down dinner with many of the members of the president's cabinet not in attendance. The first lady was not there. It was also the first time President Trump ever attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner as president.

With us now, CNN's Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter. Stelter, good morning to you. My question here is, is anybody surprised? Is anybody who was there surprised by what he said?

Any surprised that the reaction that it received in the room? I mean, if you were to ask AI, how is the White House Correspondents' Dinner going to go? This is probably what you'd get back.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Well, a couple of things about that. You know, Trump did flop. And he knew he was flopping in real time. And he tried to joke his way out of how badly it was going. And even that failed, too.

So, he was widely ridiculed for that afterward. And no, that's not surprising. You know, he is not known for his comedy routines.

But I would say if you don't watch a Trump speech very often, this was surprising because it was so underwhelming. There was so much weaving and rambling going on. And you know, he doesn't hold many rallies anymore, so we don't get to see these hour-long kind of rambles anymore.

So, I think if you would come into this kind of not paying attention for a while, it was newly surprising just how much he digressed. Talking at length about his White House ballroom. Talking about his history as a hotel operator. You know, some of those sort of bob-and- weaves were somewhat surprising.

Here was my big takeaway, though, Victor. The president -- he wants to be lots of things, but he never wants to be boring. And this speech was boring. Attendees, as they were leaving the ballroom, they were struck by how dull -- how tiresome it was, how it was a snooze fest. And that is probably embarrassing for the president.

Yes, he was criticizing late-night comics who he detests, but it's kind of hard to be one of those late-night comics getting up there, making jokes and making sure they land. So, that was interesting to see him in an unusual position that he's not usually in. The more resentful and recycled his speech got, the more the audience seemed to tune it out. And yes, some of his remarks were vicious, as Karoline Leavitt said they would be. But mostly they were just tiresome and outdated. BLACKWELL: Yes. Brian, one more here. Aside from the content, I'll tell you what was surprising is that how many members of the president's cabinet, even those like high-profile marquee names, were not present. The first lady was not in attendance last night.

STELTER: Yes.

BLACKWELL: Did that have anything to do with the size of the room, much smaller than the Washington Hilton or what?

STELTER: That's part of it. Yes, it was a smaller venue. But I also think there were real concerns back in April about having so many members of the presidential line of succession, all in the room at the same time.

So, there's a reason why Vice President JD Vance was not there. And yes, it's partly that his family just welcomed a new child into the family. But I think there were also reasons for it to be a smaller- scale event.

[07:10:09]

But I came away actually feeling pretty good, Victor, about the state of the American free press. Let me tell you why. Here we had members of the media mocking the leader's dismal performance on live tv and all across the internet after Trump flopped. In many other countries, that's a criminal offense. But in the U.S., that's just considered another day that ends in Y.

This night really was a reaffirmation of the First Amendment and the power of the First Amendment. So, Trump was up there complaining. That's his right. But the press is out there every day reporting on his government, and that's our right.

So, the system in some ways is working despite his government-wide pressure campaign, despite his attempts to have his government investigate media companies. You know what I mean? This system actually is working. And in some ways, this event showed that is still true.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Before you go, this development yesterday in Paramount's bid to buy --

STELTER: Yes.

BLACKWELL: -- CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. This delay now, what's going on?

STELTER: This is a very important development and actually came on the same night that President Trump was talking about the Ellisons, David Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, who owned Paramount. The Ellisons are trying to take control of CNN and the rest of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Trump talked about the Ellisons on stage as his allies. And you can tell Trump believes that he has a really important, valuable relationship with them. But the Ellisons have been blocked by this state attorneys general lawsuit, as well as a lawsuit by the Writers Guild of America.

A judge in Northern California is taking those cases seriously. And so, Paramount has decided to delay the deal, has worked out an agreement where it will not take control of Warner Bros. Discovery until this legal process plays out. Paramount wants a trial to take place as soon as possible, maybe in November.

The states are probably going to take their time getting ready for trial. Maybe ask for a date sometime in 2027. So, we will see what timeline a judge actually sets. Either way, though, this deal has been delayed now for many months. It will probably be delayed until some time in 2027. So, that's a major setback for Paramount because Warner -- it gets more expensive for Paramount to buy starting in October.

So, for anyone wondering if Paramount was going to be owning CNN this week or next week or next month, that's off the table for now. This is now going to be an uncertain, unpredictable deal timeline for many months. But that means nothing changes in the immediate future.

BLACKWELL: We'll all be watching it closely. Brian Stelter, thanks so much.

Headlines for you this morning. Eight people, including six children, are dead after a house fire on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Investigators say they found the victims inside the home after putting out the fire. Some of them had gunshot wounds. The children ranged in age from five to 15 years old. Authorities say they are investigating the case of a possible murder-suicide, and believe the fire may have been intentionally set.

The district attorney's office has confirmed that a substance collected from the van, driven by Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was not drugs. Lorenzo was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a traffic stop in Houston earlier this month. An FBI search warrant affidavit said investigators believe they found illegal drugs in the vehicle -- turned out to be salt. He was one of two people fatally shot this month by ICE officers during attempted vehicle stops.

SpaceX's Starship Mega rocket completed a successful test flight before controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX is under pressure to prepare Starship for the next moon landing. This was the first successful launch since the company went public. The launch attempt was aborted last week, when several engines failed to ignite at liftoff. And that triggered a sell-off in SpaceX shares, which remain below the IPO price.

Up next. What is a quiet night in Iran mean for the future of the war? We're joined by member of the House Armed Services Committee for her take. Plus, an emotional day in court as victims and their families confront a teen school shooter. Their words and new evidence in the Colt Gray case. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:18:55]

BLACKWELL: Well, so far this morning, Iranian media has not reported any strikes inside the country as the U.S. conflict with Iran continues. Now, CENTCOM also did not report any military action yesterday. That's after the U.S. pounded Iran with strikes for nearly two weeks straight. President Trump did say he thinks Iran is getting more serious in talks and try to end the war.

Let's discuss with Maryland Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. Congresswoman, thank you for being with me. These, you know, first night of breaks after 13 consecutive nights of attacks, the president is reportedly considering an escalation in strikes. What do you make of these strikes? And do you think they are persuasive? The president seems to think so.

REP. SARAH ELFRETH (D-MD): Well, the president claims to be the best deal maker that I think ever was in the White House or in the world. And we're seeing that that's just not true. We're 150 days into this conflict.

We've lost 19 service members. Another 400 have been injured. Secretary Hegseth just told -- just told the Congress that he estimates this combat -- this war has cost $37 billion in taxpayer money, and there's still no end in sight.

[07:20:09]

The president seems to be war mongering via tweet, instead of having a thoughtful strategy here. I don't think he had a goal to begin with when he got us into this war. And he certainly doesn't have any way to get us out of it right now.

It's -- you know, I'm watching it just like you are every single day. There is a new escalation, a new twist to this war. And frankly, the American people are fed up.

BLACKWELL: Well, the president says that the Iranians are getting more serious about talks. Let me play specifically what the president said from the Oval.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you made a decision about the major strikes that you're referring to?

TRUMP: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Should we expect to see major strikes?

TRUMP: Look. We're talking to them right now. I think they're getting more and more serious as the days go by for maybe the obvious reason. But we are talking to them right now.

Look, there are two ways. I consider that the smarter way. But the other's probably the easier way. Doing what we're doing.

And we can take that to a much higher level if we want to. You know, we're prepared to do that. As you know, we're locked and loaded.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Locked and loaded. And they're getting more serious. What do you believe is the viability of talks at this point? I mean, there was the ceasefire, the memorandum of understanding that was violated or kind of fell apart within days. What about now?

ELFRETH: Honestly, I don't think the president knows how to get out of this. And he's just talking out of both sides of his mouth. To your point, he claimed we had a ceasefire. He was the one who violated it.

There is no strategy. There is no plan. I didn't feel like there was a strategy to begin with when we got into this war. We don't know where we are in the process of the war there.

Congress -- in my committee, the Armed Services Committee, has not been given an exit strategy. Again, we just see, like you do every single day in the news, more Service Members in hard way -- in harm's way, more taxpayer money being spent with no end in sight and just a continued escalation of this conflict for the entire region.

And it's not just the U.S. versus Iran at this point. You're seeing Iran bombing other folks in the region. And the escalation of this should be scary to every single American watching it at home, just like we are.

Now, the Congress has passed -- you probably saw -- two war powers resolutions. We had four Republicans join us, recognizing that we need to reassert our constitutional authority when it comes to declaring war, providing a check on the president. He seems to not care or think that they are at all relevant to his actions here. But the American people are pretty loud and clear that this needs to end. And I'm not sure who he is listening to, certainly not the people, Congress, or even his advisors.

BLACKWELL: The president, after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Russia and China are enabling Iran, said that he doesn't believe that Xi and Putin are arming Iran. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I will tell you that President Xi said he will not partake. And President Putin said the same thing. I think, you know, I trust them. I don't think they'd want to have me disappointed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: He doesn't think they want to have him disappointed. What do you think about the degree to which -- and there may be a little daylight between what we heard from Hegseth and what the president said intentionally. But how China and Russia are involved with Iran in this war?

ELFRETH: It's my understanding that China has helped the Iranians, at least with targeting of U.S. assets, which, you know, maybe is not arming Iran, but it's certainly enabling and helping to put U.S. Service Members in harm's way. So, the president might believe that he is a friend in China here. I don't believe that's true.

And again, he has not come to the Congress to justify any of this war. He's not come to -- you know, he has not come to the American people to justify this war. I don't know what he believes, but he's not listening to, I think, the smarter people on this issue. And it's only putting Americans in harm's way.

BLACKWELL: I got a wrap for the control room, but I want to ask you one more about what we've been reporting this morning about the uncorrected number of deaths from the Department of Defense this morning. It's at 14, despite the four Service Members killed last weekend, that the number should be at 18. Some injuries have been removed as well.

The Department of Defense says it's a data disruption. What do you say about this change in the number of deaths attributed to this war?

ELFRETH: I think it's an odd time to have a data disruption. I think since the president has really escalated things and we've lost more Service Members and we've lost more -- you know, more Service Members have been injured. He owes the American people transparency and accountability.

[07:25:11]

And the fact that the Department of Defense can't keep its website up to date -- you know, it's obfuscation at the very least. But it is more of a trend of this president obfuscating what is happening in this region and, frankly, covering it up because he knows that it is a deeply, deeply unpopular war with the American people.

BLACKWELL: Democratic Congresswoman of Maryland Sarah Elfreth from House Armed Services. Thanks so much for being on the show.

Coming up. Peptides are surging in popularity, and the FDA just made them easier to purchase. But what are the risks? The benefits? We're going to the experts.

And good morning to our viewers in the Crescent City. She is pretty this morning. New Orleans, welcome to your weekend.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:26]

BLACKWELL: For the first time, survivors and victims' families addressed the teenager who admitted to opening fire at Georgia's Apalachee High School in 2024. Four people were killed. Here is one mother who lost her son.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BREANNA SCHERMERHORN, MOTHER OF VICTIM MASON SCHERMERHORN: He knew that bringing a weapon into a school was wrong. He knew that pulling that trigger was wrong. He knew that every choice he made that day would forever alter countless lives.

The failures of the adults around him may explain parts of his story, but they do not excuse the decisions that he made. Those decisions were his and his alone, and because of those decisions, my Macy Mace is gone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Yesterday, Colt Gray, who is now 16 years old, pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and dozens of other charges.

Meanwhile, prosecutors revealed new evidence, introducing notebooks, they say, outlined his plans, including his movements around the school. The court also heard the teen's police confession for the first time. He apologized and described how he briefly reconsidered carrying out those shootings.

Next week, prosecutors and defense attorneys will present more evidence as the judge weighs a sentence of life with or without parole.

Little-known FDA advisory committee just greenlit an easier way to get a health treatment. You may have heard of peptides from wellness influencers or doctors that touted as a way to improve your overall health.

Some, like insulin, have been FDA-approved prescription drug for decades, but others are not FDA-approved.

Now, some things changed yesterday when the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee decided to greenlight six of them for pharmacy compounding.

Joining me now is Dr. Christina Del Toro-Badessa. She uses peptides as part of her practice. Thank you for coming in.

DR. CHRISTINA DEL TORO BADESSA, WELLNESS PHYSICIAN AND DIRECTOR, ARTISAN BEAUTE MED SPA: Thank you so much for having me.

BLACKWELL: So, let's start here because we talk about peptides, and I think there is probably some people at home saying, OK, what are peptides? So, what's the answer to that?

BADESSA: Yes. So, peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. And peptides, when you hear about them now, in the way of what the FDA is talking about, are either oral capsules, injectables, and they work as hormone signalers, kind of, in the body, to tell the body to do certain things.

Whether it's build more muscle or repair collagen, reduce inflammation, heal the gut. There are so many different uses for peptides. It's actually a very exciting field.

BLACKWELL: It -- there has been this surge of popularity recently with influence as well. Why do you think now we are hearing so much more about peptides? BADESSA: Well, it's a really unique time in that GLP-1s obviously have taken the world by storm.

BLACKWELL: Sure.

BADESSA: And GLP-1s are peptides. Just like you mentioned, insulin is a peptide. That is something that people are using for different things. It's not --

Originally, it's a diabetes medication, but weight management has been a huge thing, and now, people see autoimmune disease being quieted by GLP-1s.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

BADESSA: So, I think, consumers are getting a little bit more information, and they are also more curious, and they are saying, well, what else is out there? What other sort of peptide or treatment modalities could be offered?

BLACKWELL: So, there have been questions about why now there is this recommendation because it's not going through FDA approval, it's not going through the phase one, two, and three clinical trials, but it's being recommended by this committee for compounding pharmacies.

There are concerns about long-term effects and studies about efficacy and safety. So, what do you tell your patients?

BADESSA: Sure. So, with patients, I actually start with the very basics. I don't say, hi, nice to meet you. Here is a peptide.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

BADESSA: Right. We say, talk to me about your diet, your sleep, your exercise. What are you doing on a cellular level? Comprehensive lab work. It's really -- peptides or maybe a sprinkle on top, but they are not the first thing I'm reaching for.

And then, when we talk about risks, potential risks with peptides, patients who have active cancer, there are certain types of peptides that work by increasing blood flow to areas. So, if you are an active cancer patient, we don't want more blood flow. We don't want signals to grow things. So, you really need a knowledgeable practitioner who is going to be measured and still keep the main things the main things, and fundamental in their approach?

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: What -- what's changed in the last three years? In 2023, the FDA did not -- they prohibited these compounding pharmacies from allowing or these -- the BPC 157 or KPA -- KPV, I should say.

[07:35:13]

What's changed other than the personnel on this committee? Is it market driven instead of science driven? BADESSA: There is definitely a demand in the community, but the science fundamentally is there for a lot of the peptides. That it excites me. That, you know, as a doc and as a consumer, I think, that there is a lot of potential good that can come from this, but I'm not just blanket statement all peptides all the time for all people. Right?

BLACKWELL: Yes.

BADESSA: It should be really measured. And there is definitely the demand of the market and I'm glad that hopefully there will be safer, cleaner, more pure options for patients from compounding pharmacies.

BLACKWELL: Do you have concerns about the long-term effects, about potential for toxicities, about drug interaction that there is not -- many experts say the science to support to know what happens years on down the road?

BADESSA: Sure, I think -- you know, I prescribe them so widely in my practice. Personally, I take them. My family members will take them. Certain ones for limited amounts of time, and when you know what success looks like.

It's not like I just take this because I think it'll make me feel better.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

BADESSA: What am I treating? Is it joint inflammation? Is it gut health for a limited amount of time, and then we are done. Right?

And then, the goal is that these molecules and signalers help the body heal itself, and you don't need them long term. It's not like something you're going to go on for a very long amount of time. Safety concerns, I mean, we should be concerned reasonably, and that's why patients should seek educated practitioners.

BLACKWELL: All right. Dr. Del Toro Badessa, thank you so much.

BADESSA: Thank you, Victor.

BLACKWELL: A roller coaster in one of the country's most high-profile Senate races. A new Democratic frontrunner is emerging in Maine after Graham Platner's exit. How Maine Dems are making the switch? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:41:33]

BLACKWELL: Maine Democrats will officially nominate former state senator President Troy Jackson to take on Republican Susan Collins. This is after an unusual effort to replace Graham Platner, who dropped out of the race amid scandal. Both parties see Maine as a key battleground in the fight for control of the Senate. Let's go now to CNN's chief national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny. Happy Saturday to you. Democrats in that state really trying to move on.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Victor, good morning from Maine. They are trying to move on, trying to turn the page from what really has been a summer of drama for the Democratic Party here.

This is one of the most consequential Senate races in the country. And the reason why is Republican Senator Susan Collins is the only Republican in the Senate who is representing effectively a blue state, a state that Kamala Harris won in 2024. So that gave Democrats some optimism going into this, but of course, this has been a roller coaster of a race. Today, they are hoping to start over.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZELENY: So, just looking around at some of these signs here, I'm struck by just obviously this is sign of how quickly things have changed.

I mean, he was running for governor. There is a Graham Platner sign. I mean --

(CROSSTALK)

SARAH BIGNEY MCCABE, ORGANIZING DIRECTOR, MAINE AFL-CIO: (INAUDIBLE).

ZELENY: I mean, things have changed dramatically here. How do you think voters have processed all this?

MCCABE: I'd say whiplash. It's been a roller coaster.

ZELENY (voice over): That roller coaster could determine control of the U.S. Senate, as one of the most consequential races of the year is set to start over, 100 days before the Midterm Elections.

This weekend, Maine Democrats are selecting a new candidate to try what others have been unable to do for three decades: defeat Republican Senator Susan Collins.

TROY JACKSON (D), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE, MAINE: My name is Troy Jackson. I'm a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, a card-carrying union member --

AMERICAN CROWD: Yes!

JACKSON: And the former president of the Maine Senate.

ZELENY (voice over): One of the most picturesque summertime states in the country has endured one of the messiest Senate races in memory, with Troy Jackson set to replace Graham Platner, whose campaign imploded after months of controversy.

JACKSON: We are not from the left. We are not from the right. We are from the bottom, and we are rising.

ZELENY (voice over): Jackson is a logger from the North Woods of Maine, who found his way into politics nearly a quarter century ago.

He came up short in the June primary for governor, but he quickly coalesced support as Democrats scramble to find a new Senate candidate.

MCCABE: We are not just voting for Troy. We love Troy. We respect Troy. But this is a vote for all of us. This is a vote for the issues that we care about, for health care, for child care.

ZELENY (voice over): His long record now faces fresh scrutiny, including a conservative to progressive evolution on same-sex marriage and abortion rights.

Crystale Lapham, a volunteer organizer for Platner, says she trusts Jackson and is all in for his campaign.

ZELENY: Do you like Troy Jackson?

CRYSTALE LAPHAM, DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZER: I think in many ways, Troy is kind of the original in the state of Maine. The original kind of political outsider fighting for a different type of government that works differently for Mainers. I think that's --

(CROSSTALK)

ZELENY: But he is been an elected official for a couple decades.

LAPHAM: Yes, at the state level, which is very different than at the federal level.

ZELENY (voice over): There are still signs here of the Senate race that might have been, amid questions about whether Democrats are united as they work to win over independent voters and turn the focus back to Collins.

[07:45:06]

DAN KLEBAN, FORMER SENATORIAL CANDIDATE, MAINE: There is such an appetite to send her back home and put someone new down there. That I think that's going to go a long way towards galvanizing folks.

ZELENY (voice over): Dan Kleban is the co-founder of Maine Beer Company. He ran for Senate last year, dropped out, and jumped back in after Platner's collapse. He said meddling from Democrats outside Maine hurt their goal.

Everybody up here on the Democratic side, wishes that this primary didn't play out the way that it did, and I hope we learned our lesson, so we don't do it again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZELENY (on camera): So, this state party convention here is going to get underway in the next hour or so, Victor. There are 601 delegates who are gathering here, and a week ago, it was seen that this would be very competitive. There were many candidates poised to jump in.

Well, Troy Jackson has consolidated all of that support. So, we are expecting him to be nominated here. But then, the tough work begins tomorrow is the 100-day mark until the Midterm Elections. The question looming over all of this: can Democrats make this race about Susan Collins and her record, where it's going to be all about their candidate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

ZELENY: Victor.

BLACKWELL: They have got a sprint to election day. Jeff Zeleny, thanks so much.

LeBron James taking his talents to Philadelphia. Ahead in "SPORTS", the NBA legend picks a new team as he enters his record-extending 24th season. We'll tell you who is not going with him. Next.

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[07:50:42]

BLACKWELL: It's going to be a wet Saturday across parts of the South.

CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar is with me now. What are you watching?

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we are watching more rain in many spots that have already seen it. Take a look at the last 24 hours. Each of these dots indicates some type of flooding report that came in, and many of these same areas where you see those dots are going to get more rain yet again today.

So, here is where it is right now. Some of the heaviest right there across the Carolinas. We've also got some in western Tennessee, and then this cluster right through here, kind of sliding through the St. Louis suburbs. That actually has quite a bit of lightning with it as it continues to move off to the east.

The main concern for today is going to be flooding. A lot of these areas, the ground is already saturated, so, it's not going to take all that much to trigger additional flooding. The yellow areas are where we have the highest concern, but really anywhere in this green shaded area, because it has a saturated ground, is at risk of having some of that flooding.

Here is a look as we go into the afternoon. By lunchtime, the heaviest rain expected to be across the Carolinas and into Virginia. But you will start to notice late into the afternoon, the sun comes out, starts to help fire things up. So, you are going to see more of that convective activity taking place from Kentucky all the way down through about central Alabama through the evening hours. It will continue to dive to the south and east. So, even by the time we start early Sunday morning, areas like Chattanooga, Asheville, Greenville, Spartanburg, Nashville, stretching all the way down to Birmingham and Montgomery, also looking at some pretty heavy showers as we begin the latter half of the weekend.

BLACKWELL: All right, Allison, thank you.

LeBron is heading into his 24th NBA season. Got a whole new team. He is off to Philly.

CNN's Carolyn Manno joins me now with "SPORTS".

24 seasons. There is some adults who have never watched a basketball game without LeBron playing.

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: No, it's true, and this surprised some people because after eight seasons in L.A., he was really considering retirement. But he has decided to write this one final chapter professionally in Philly, and it's a move that he is calling his final decision.

He agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Sixers. It's a significant pay cut from the nearly 53 million that he made last year. But he says this is not about money. This is about the chance to compete for a fifth ring. And the Sixers haven't won a championship since 1983. They have retooled around a core of stars, which also includes the recent addition of All-Star Jalen Brown.

So, at 41 years old, this marking a remarkable record-extending 24th season for LeBron, who says that Philly is definitely the final stop as he tries to add that last championship.

In the WNBA history made in last night's three-point contest in Chicago, Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd, became the first rookie to win the event. She got out of the first round with 24 points. She was trailing Portland fire guard Bridget Carleton's 29, but then, she caught fire in the championship round, making 20 of her 27 shots to take home the trophy and about 60 grand in prize money.

And the W All Stars are getting set for tonight's game. Many of the players still talking and posting about the surprise that they got yesterday. Former president, Barack Obama dropping by the team's practice, which was held at the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago's South Side.

He chatted with the players. He also had some advice for Caitlin Clark.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You are -- you are great.

CAITLIN CLARK, GUARD, INDIANA FEVER: Fantastic.

OBAMA: You are fantastic.

CLARK: Thank you. Thank you.

OBAMA: Don't let all this nonsense get you down.

CLARK: Fantastic. Yes, appreciate it.

OBAMA: Yes.

CLARK: You know, it's crazy.

OBAMA: You know, I always say one of the things that was luckiest for me was I didn't get famous until I was like 45.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

OBAMA: So, I was an old -- man.

CLARK: Yes.

OBAMA: I mean, you are my daughter's age, and I -- to have that much, you know, version nonsense. So don't lose that joy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANNO: Clark called the encounter a meeting that she will remember for the rest of her life. Friday, also a day that Michael Kim will likely remember for the rest of his -- the golfer carding an unreal 12 under 59 during the second round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, played a flawless bogey-free round, a stretch of five consecutive birdies on this front line and birdies on his final four, which included a 24 foot uphill putt on the par-5 18th that he drained to cement his place in the record books and take a three-shot lead heading into the weekend.

That is only the 15th time, Victor, in PGA Tour history that a golfer has recorded a sub 60 round. Very impressive, and we are all looking forward to the W All Star Game tonight. Back to you.

BLACKWELL: Certainly. Carolyn Manno, thanks so much.

Hey, "FIRST OF ALL", is coming up at the top of the hour.

[07:55:01]

I'll speak to the president of the city council in Madison, Wisconsin, after a fatal officer-involved shooting led to protests in the city, which is -- had a troubled history with police use of force. There are accusations of excessive force. You will see the video.

Officers, though, did not have body-worn cameras. Question: Will now finally be the time to require them?

Plus, protests on a Native American reservation in Wyoming, after a church pastor criticizes how some indigenous people pray. The leader of the tribe says the church has to go. The question is: Is this force of the church out constitutional? He will join me live to react how the church is responding.

And we remember Emmett Till lynched at age 14 in Mississippi. He would have turned 85 today. You will hear from a curator of an exhibit honoring his memory and the movement his death started.

Those stories and conversations you won't see anywhere else, they are coming up after a short break on "FIRST OF ALL".

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