Return to Transcripts main page

CNN This Morning

Deadly Russian Attack Hits Kyiv & Surrounding Regions Overnight; Senate Judiciary CMTE. Schedules Meeting Tuesday On Possible Vote For Blanche Atty. Gen. Nomination; Trump Downplays Possible Iranian Connection To Minnesota Cyberattack; Trump Complicates Blanche Nomination With Defense Of Fund; Heat Dome Triggers Alerts For 50M In Southwest; OpenAI Incident Raises New Questions About A.I. Safety. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired August 01, 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. We're getting a closer look at the scale of a Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraine. President Zelensky says the attack overwhelmed Ukraine's defenses.

We're learning more about two ransom notes sent to Nancy Guthrie's family in the days after her disappearance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARVEY LEVIN, FOUNDER, TMZ: You really see the remorse and the shock almost in that second note that was sent four days later.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: What's in those notes and why investigators are releasing them now? Also, after weeks of blaming vandals for damage at the reflecting pool, the Trump administration is making a huge concession. It was not vandals at all. We'll tell you who they're blaming.

Plus, AI gone rogue. More on the hacks that AI models carried out on their own, and why humans? All the rest of us. We didn't find out until days later.

A potentially record-breaking heat wave is gripping parts of the country. That heat is adding fuel to wildfires burning in the West. We've got that forecast for you.

Time for a fresh start. A brand new month. A brand new weekend. Welcome to the show, August 1. Welcome to CNN THIS MORNING. I'm Victor Blackwell. Thank you for being with me.

We're starting this morning with the breaking news out of Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Russia launched a massive attack on Kyiv overnight that killed at least nine people and injured dozens of others. Officials say Russia launched 35 missiles, including 27 high-speed ballistic missiles, along with 185 drones. Listen to this part.

Ukraine intercepted one of those ballistic missiles. And that exposes the severe shortage in their air defenses. After the strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an urgent plea to Western allies for U.S. Patriot missile interceptors. CNN's Victoria Rubadiri joins us now. Victoria, what have you learned about the attacks?

VITORIA RUBADIRI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So far, what we know is seven districts were badly affected, with fires breaking out across the city. All dozens more people have been injured, as you mentioned, and medical teams are still working at the scenes. President Zelenskyy says 18 residential buildings were damaged, including a school and the Lithuanian embassy.

Now, our team in Kyiv says that the explosion started while the air raid sirens were still going off, so people were left with very little time to actually get to shelters. In terms of the attack itself, Ukraine says Russia fired 35 missiles overnight, 27 of them ballistic. And here's a number that actually matters. Out of more than two dozen ballistic missiles, as you mentioned, just one was shot down.

Now, this is a very different picture from earlier in the war, when Ukraine had better air defense systems, and they stopped a large majority of what was fired at its cities. Well, President Zelenskyy says Ukraine is simply running short of air defense interceptors in particular, its U.S.-made patriot systems. So, in his -- in his message on X this morning, he's essentially asking Ukraine's allies to send more and to send them now rather than hold them in stockpiles for what he says are scenarios that may never happen.

And his message really is quite blunt. He says the shortage itself is what is encouraging Russia to keep attacking. And bear in mind. This comes just two days after another major attack that killed four children from the same family in the southern city of Kryvyi Rih, and it follows July that is now the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion four and a half years ago.

[07:05:07]

BLACKWELL: Wow. Victoria Rubadiri, thank you so much for the report. Now, to the latest in the U.S. war on Iran. Two U.S. officials say new strikes on Iran could happen as soon as this weekend. President Trump called his cabinet for a meeting at Camp David in Maryland yesterday. He ratcheted up the pressure on Iran by threatening the strikes as he weighs his next move.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, we'll be hitting them. We'll be hitting them very hard. And, you know, at some point, they're going to say, we just can't take it anymore.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: In the meantime, Iran targeted an air base in Kuwait yesterday. That's according to Iranian state media. But Kuwait said it intercepted Iranian drones that targeted the country's military facilities and civilian vehicles.

Today marks six months since Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in Tucson. Now, in an Instagram post, her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, reflected on how difficult these past six months have been for her and for her family. She also asked again for anyone who knows something to come forward with information.

Investigators have now released two ransom notes urging the public to look closely at the distinctive writing style for clues. CNN's Josh Campbell has more on the contents of those two ransom notes.

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: We now know the contents of two letters addressed to the family of Nancy Guthrie by her purported kidnappers, according to law enforcement. This week, the Pima County sheriff's office in Arizona is releasing the details of two kidnapping letters that were received by different media outlets shortly after the disappearance of Nancy, who, of course, is the mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie.

Now, this comes on the six-month anniversary of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. Authorities want people to look at the syntax, the actual wording. All of us have unique writing styles. They want anyone with information on who might have written this to pick up the phone and call law enforcement.

Now, in the first letter that was received by the media on February 2, the letter says that we have your mother. She is safe but scared. The demand for $4 million in ransom be paid via Bitcoin.

The letter goes on to say if payment is not received, the ransom will be increased to six million U.S. dollars, which will need to be paid by 5:00 p.m. On Monday, the 9th. Once payment is received to the Bitcoin address below, she will be released within 24 hours of deposit to a safe drop off location back in Tucson. If payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday, the ninth at 5:00 p.m., she will be killed. Your mother is aware of this, and her life is in your hands.

Now, just a few days later, on February 6, media also receives another letter. This one much different in tone. They say we did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition.

We never intended to hurt her. That was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome.

We want your family to know this and hope you can all find peace. They say that we are truly say that we are truly sorry, which of course, will likely come as little consolation to the Guthrie family, which has just been grief stricken since this incident first happened.

Now again, authorities are asking anyone with information to call law enforcement to call 1-800-FBI. Authorities say in addition to continuing to analyze this letter, they are also processing DNA from the scene, trying to gather any leads in hopes of actually identifying the perpetrator or perpetrators here.

Of course, authorities also released that dramatic video where you actually see a person in a mask at Nancy Guthrie's front door, believed to be the time when she was abducted. Authorities are asking anyone who know -- might know the identity of that person to also call law enforcement. Josh Campbell, CNN, Los Angeles.

BLACKWELL: Other headlines for you this morning. A pilot is safe after ejecting from an F-35 fighter jet that crashed at a marine base in Southern California yesterday. Officials say the aircraft went down near the runway and burst into flames. The pilot was taken to a hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.

The search continues in Pakistan for a group of missing climbers after an avalanche on board -- a broad peak, killing four people. Officials have confirmed American climber Mallory Geis died in that avalanche. Among those still missing is a 43-year-old, world renowned mountaineer. Rescue crews have been searching for the remaining climbers, but efforts have been stalled by bad weather and a threat of more avalanches.

Former Representative George Santos was fined regarding allegations he took part in insider trading. Federal regulators say Santos tricked bettors on the prediction market, Kalshi, by saying that he would appear at the State of the Union in February and then bet against himself, showing up, making roughly $18,000. Now, Santos will pay a civil penalty and surrender the profits he collected. He was also expelled from Congress in 2023 after being charged with fraud.

[07:10:15]

Still ahead. Prosecutors are now dropping charges against the former Olympian accused of damaging the reflecting pool. We'll tell you what's behind this abrupt change. And Spain is facing a crisis as thousands of migrants rush into the country. How President Trump is using the crisis to try to benefit Republicans in the midterm elections.

Also, newly released body camera footage shows the moments after a deadly shooting at that Seattle food festival. Still ahead, the demand for answers on how police have handled the investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:15:27]

BLACKWELL: The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a meeting Tuesday on a potential vote on Todd Blanche as Attorney General nomination. The president complicated negotiations Friday by defending that controversial fund at the center of an ongoing standoff with two key Republican senators.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: It's dead. But, you know, I wish it weren't, to be honest with you. Todd Blanche is a very, very good man. And he shouldn't be in the middle of this.

He should get approved because you will never get anybody like him. And the man that lost -- the man that I didn't endorse -- has become very angry. And that's OK.

I mean, I understand that. I probably would do the same thing. Want to know the truth? I think I do the same thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: GOP Senators John Cornyn of Texas, Thom Tillis of North Carolina have been insisting they will not vote to confirm Blanche without the written assurance that the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund will not be resurrected.

The Justice Department now says the one -- $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool was hasty and botched. And the criminal case against a former Olympic athlete accused of vandalism will be dropped. The admission is a major reversal for the White House. President Trump has insisted for weeks that vandals were responsible for the damage to that landmark. CNN's Katelyn Polantz has details.

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME & JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: The former Olympic canoeist who was indicted for vandalizing the reflecting pool this summer. That case -- it's being dropped. And the Trump administration is walking back everything that they had said or tried to say about how vandals were the ones that caused this pool liner donald Trump wanted for the Fourth of July to be peeling up and an embarrassment across Washington.

In this situation. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. -- she's saying that after her office indicted David Hearn, the former slalom canoeist and someone who was critical of Donald Trump and also was fighting the case against him -- she says that after he was indicted, the U.S. Attorney's office and the Justice Department got documentation from inside the Department of Interior, the National Park Service that they knew back when the reflecting pool work was being finished. Days before Hearn even visited the National Mall to see the pool. That they knew that there were peeling issues with a liner that had been sprayed on to make the bottom of the pool very, very blue.

People like Hearn had gone to that site because there was algae that was filling the pool at a time when Donald Trump wanted to renovate it. And a lot of other monuments in Washington, D.C. This case is now falling apart, though. And the example the Justice Department had tried to make of Hearn is no longer.

Here's a quote from the filing. "A recent visual inspection done by Pirro herself showed damage throughout the reflecting pool. Now that it has been drained of water, even in the middle of the pool, where a vandal would not likely attempt to peel the lining. Given all of this newly discovered information, it's difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the reflecting pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt."

Attorneys for Hearn -- they are asking for an apology from the Justice Department. We haven't seen anything like that in court filings. But we are seeing the dismissal of other charges at least -- against at least one other person who was charged with a misdemeanor version of this vandalism related to the reflecting pool and the debacle that happened in Washington this summer. Back to you.

BLACKWELL: Still ahead. Boil water alerts now issued after a cyberattack on water systems across the country. How that cybersecurity threat has turned into a political fight.

Plus, President Trump's renovation projects continue around D.C., including covering these statues in gold. But a growing number of Americans say the White House is not focused on what matters to them. More stories after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:23:56]

BLACKWELL: An alarming cyber breach is turning into a political fight. Now, federal and state officials are trying to figure out who's behind a coordinated cyberattack on water systems in several states. Iran is said to be a possible suspect, but President Trump is leaning into blaming leaders in one state, specifically one of the impacted states. Minnesota.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: You know who's behind it? Minnesota, because they're grossly incompetent. I think the governor is behind it. I don't think there was an Iranian cyberattack.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Here's CNN's Cybersecurity Reporter Sean Lingus, on what we actually know about the cyberattack.

SEAN LYNGAAS, CNN CYBERSECURITY REPORTER: Hackers have targeted water systems in several U.S. states in a coordinated cyberattack that has caused some utilities to issue boil water notices and to switch to manual mode, taking their systems offline. It's one of the most serious cyberattacks on water systems in the U.S. in years, and federal officials have for the last week been scrambling to try to help secure the water facilities and to ensure that the safety of the drinking water isn't affected. No incidents of contamination have been reported yet.

[07:25:06] U.S. and state officials are treating Iran as one of the suspects behind the hack, but have not made a formal determination of who is responsible. The first public sign of the cyberattacks came from Minnesota authorities, who said that hackers on Sunday night and Monday morning targeted about 30 water systems in that state. At a cabinet meeting on Friday, though, President Donald Trump blamed Minnesota authorities themselves for the hack and cast doubt on whether Iran was involved.

The water sector has for years struggled with funding and training to defend itself from cyber threats. One expert told CNN that the scale and coordination of the recent cyberattacks in Minnesota was unprecedented. Sean Lyngaas, CNN, Washington.

BLACKWELL: President Trump is continuing his efforts to remake Washington to cater to his tastes. Let's talk about that and more with Joey Garrison. He's a White House Correspondent for USA Today. Joey, good to see you in person.

JOEY GARRISON, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, USA TODAY: Yes, thanks for having me, Victor.

BLACKWELL: So, you know, I'm usually in Atlanta --

GARRISON: Yes.

BLACKWELL: Obviously now in D.C. When I was heading to the hotel on Thursday, I never noticed these horses. Let's put up the video coming from the airport, headed to the hotel now covered in gold. These arts of war, arts of peace that are a project of the president.

The president this week announced the $22.5 billion renovation of Dulles Airport as well. And the new CNN poll found 73 percent of Americans say that President Trump has not paid enough attention to the country's most important problems. The president obviously has his priorities.

GARRISON: Yes.

BLACKWELL: The people around, though, are they concerned though, are they concerned about things like this?

GARRISON: Well, it amazes me that they continue to have the White House -- some of these announcements this close to the midterm, where it looks like he's ultra focused on D.C. projects. I mean, you mentioned the Dulles $22.5 billion renovation. He actually really took ownership of actually doing the schematics himself.

They had models being brought in from Dulles Airport to his -- to the Oval Office, where he was really got his hands deep into that project.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

GARRISON: And obviously, all the things on the National Mall he's done. You mentioned the bronze statues. It -- really, Democrats have an easy time saying this is a guy who's not focused on the needs of American people. And, you know, you add to that where so many of -- so much focus has been on the Iran war in recent months.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

GARRISON: Again, it's able -- I think that's why in that CNN poll, 73 percent of Americans say he's not focused on the needs of the country right now.

BLACKWELL: One of the things that we all know he was focused on was the painting or relining or fixing the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial.

GARRISON: Yes.

BLACKWELL: DOJ now, the -- specifically, the U.S. Attorney's Office here in Washington, led by Jeanine Pirro, dropped the felony vandalism charge against David Hearn. They claimed that he damaged the lining initially.

Here's the admission in the filing. Let's put it up. The damage was the result of a botched installation and not vandalism, as initially represented by the Department of Interior. Indeed, U.S. Attorney's Office D.C. could only rely on the information provided by the DOI that the damage was entirely caused by vandals.

They go on to write. A recent visual inspection showed damage throughout the reflecting pool. Even in the middle of the pool, where a vandal would not likely attempt to peel the lining. That obviously won't go over well with the president.

GARRISON: Right. I mean, this is a pretty stunning walk-back from all the things we've heard over the last few weeks. Trump himself, you know, saying, hey, it was vandals. He's talked about this many times.

But the fact that what we're seeing now in this latest filing as they drop the charges is just remarkable that they went ahead with the charges anyways without lacking the evidence to say there was vandalism. I mean, the -- really, that statement you read aloud there really kind of throwing the Interior Department under the bus here and saying -- and really saying what we all knew watching this in real time --

BLACKWELL: Yes.

GARRISON: -- that, you know, these were widespread across the entire reflecting pool damage there. That was certainly not just because of vandals.

BLACKWELL: And that the case was filed --

GARRISON: Right.

BLACKWELL: -- before they had the necessary information from DOI to support the charges. Let me ask you about Todd Blanche.

GARRISON: Yes. BLACKWELL: Because initially, the committee vote was canceled because, you know, Tillis and Cornyn want this commitment to kill the anti- weaponization fund forever. And they didn't have the votes. Now, there's a vote potentially on Tuesday. What's changed, if anything?

[07:30:00]

GARRISON: Well, President Trump is moving forward, saying, hey, I want Blanche confirmed. But in his comments and in his Truth Social posts, in pushing Blanche is just underscoring the concerns that Thom Tillis and John Cornyn have, and that's that he still thinks the anti- weaponization fund is something that needs to happen.

So, you have Tillis who's looking for Blanche to formalize in writing that they -- that, that is a dead issue, and he is been saying, hey, take my word for it. But now you have the president saying, yes, I actually think, well, we should still have that.

So, I think it really complicates the ability for the White House to get Blanche confirmed.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, the president said at Camp David yesterday that he watched the video of the thousands of migrants going into Ceuta in Spain, and said, that's what should be a talking point.

GARRISON: Yes.

BLACKWELL: Any bones -- any meat on that bone?

GARRISON: Yes. I mean, I think -- so, the president right now and Republicans are struggling to talk about the economy as prices remain high. And so, what's a good pivot for them? Well, you go to the migration issue, and those images there, I mean, those are powerful images, and they kind of -- you can make a fear campaign, you know, that this is going to be -- going to happen to the United States if Democrats are back in charge.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: Yes.

GARRISON: And that's what you heard Trump say in the Cabinet meeting yesterday. And I think you are going to see that as part of the Republican Midterm playbook.

BLACKWELL: We saw in 2018 with the caravans over the summer.

(CROSSTALK)

GARRISON: Yes, exactly. Exactly.

BLACKWELL: Play it again. Joey Garrison. Joey Garrison, thanks so much.

GARRISON: Thanks, Victor. Yes. BLACKWELL: All right. Scorching heat. This heat dome is setting temperatures soaring across the Southwest this weekend, triggering heat alerts for more than 50 million people across several states.

CNN meteorologist Chris Warren has the latest on the extreme temperatures and this growing wildfire threat in the Pacific Northwest, what are you seeing?

CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, right now we are seeing that heat extensive here from the Southwest to parts of the Northern Plains here into Montana. The purple colors, these are extreme heat warnings. And this includes a lot of areas on the West Coast where there is just not much air conditioning. It's typically, you just don't need it. But the heat is on. Here is that dome, that heat dome, that heat absolutely locked in place.

Now, you think about this. This is some of the hotter locations in the U.S. during the hottest time of the year. Temperatures in some spots getting close to 120 degrees, and the records that are possible from Montana to Arizona.

Again, hottest time of the year. Some of the hottest spots getting to record territory is a big deal. This is some extreme heat. Heat is going to hang around, especially in the Southwest, the next few days, and then, gradually get a little bit cooler, while we are hoping for some relief here in the Pacific Northwest, where five of the largest wildfires in the country are currently burning, and this is all of the smoke. You know there are fires in the area. When you go to the Pacific Northwest, flying over this, you also see a lot of brown in that haze.

And Victor, the fire weather threat does stay extreme today.

BLACKWELL: All right. Chris Warren for us there. Thank you so much.

What is going on with artificial intelligence? Have you heard these latest headlines? There is a new security threat, new scrutiny on tech after an A.I. cybersecurity test unintentionally turned into an A.I. cyber-attack. Next, we will ask an expert about the concerns and why he thinks there is a different A.I. threat that we should be more aware of.

And if you're heading out, remember you can stream our show from anywhere in the U.S. right from the CNN app. This is beautiful Mississippi River this morning, courtesy of WDSU.

You can also just go to CNN.com/watch. Good morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:38:12]

BLACKWELL: A.I. systems are under new scrutiny after reports that an A.I. agent being tested by OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, broke out of a controlled testing environment. Researchers say the system then hacked into another A.I. company's network, stole passwords, accessed internal systems, and found ways to keep operating inside the network.

Now, this incident is raising some obvious new questions about whether A.I. models can be safely tested and contained.

Meanwhile, today is the White House's deadline for federal agencies to lay out a new process for reviewing A.I. models before they are released to the public.

Joining me now is Jeremy Philip Galen, co-founder of the A.I. cybersecurity company Charlemagne Labs.

Jeremy, thank you for being with me.

So, first, it was OpenAI, but then it was also Anthropic that said that they had something similar happen, where their model broke out into the open internet and hacked into other platforms. Is this a coincidence or is there something happening like we're crossing some A.I. Rubicon? What's going on?

JEREMY PHILIP GALEN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CHARLEMAGNE LABS: Well, thanks for having me, Victor.

I would say it's not a coincidence, but evidence of the capability and the advancement in A.I. technology that we are witnessing. And these advancements need to be studied very carefully. And absolutely measured in a standardized way, so that the public knows what capabilities A.I. attains.

BLACKWELL: It's fair to accept that -- expect that we might see more of this.

GALEN: Yes. I mean, these A.I. systems, the agents are given instructions to do something like to pass a test.

[07:40:01]

And when they are given such prompt, just the same way that, you know, you and I might prompt ChatGPT or Claude, they are extremely intelligent and able to investigate and research how to achieve the task that they are given.

What's really important for everybody to realize is that this doesn't mean they are operating on their own, it doesn't mean that they are conscious. It just means that they're getting extremely capable, and it's incumbent on the Frontier Labs to tell us the public and the government exactly how capable they are.

BLACKWELL: All right, something far more, let's say, targeted that you wrote about in an opinion piece for the Washington Post. Anyone who works in the office, they -- we all know about phishing scams, right? But you say you co-wrote this piece about spear phishing. It's entitled "A Personalized Scam Is Coming for You". Tell us about this, this A.I. spear phishing now. GALEN: That's right, Victor. So, my startup researches the capability of Frontier A.I. to perform the kinds of nefarious tasks that you are talking about. So, we are all familiar with, say, the Nigerian prince e-mail that we have gotten for decades now, which is -- which is phishing. That's when, you know, someone sends out an e-mail in an attempt to get you hooked and to do something that would benefit the attacker financially, like transfer money.

The reality is that A.I. is making our lives significantly easier in so many ways. We have A.I. note takers and we have writing assistants, but A.I. is also giving bad actors, the threat actors, the ability to attack us in more convincing and more compelling ways.

So, spear phishing is when, rather than send sort of this general e- mail, you can imagine researching, doing reconnaissance on an individual and targeting them with an extremely compelling, very sophisticated attack. Maybe it takes place over days or weeks, and it could give an attacker unprecedented access to a government organization, a corporate network, or even just an individual's personal financial life.

So, my startup is building a solution to defend us all against this kind of attack.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

GALEN: And it's called Agent Charley. And our belief is that we need commensurate defense against these type these types of advanced and you know highly sophisticated attacks.

BLACKWELL: And so, this can seem a little conceptual for people. The example that is in the piece that I think really drives it home, and if you could explain it, the WhatsApp message from your boss and what that would look like and how easy it would be to fall for that.

(CROSSTALK)

GALEN: Absolutely.

BLACKWELL: Explain that.

GALEN: Yes. Let me -- let me share the sort of attack flow, if I -- if I may. So, Victor, imagine you start a new job and you tell your friends about it and you post about it on LinkedIn. Well, that information is available publicly and could be easily acquired by somebody who is interested in in specifically attacking you. So, you have updated your LinkedIn and said that you're happy to have started this new job.

And on your first day of work, imagine getting a text message or a WhatsApp message from your boss saying that they need your help with something, they know you just started. And they are asking you to go to a CVS or a Target or Best Buy and pick up some gift cards to help them in in in a moment of need.

This is going to strike you as a little bit unusual as a new employee, but you do it because it's so convincing as a scam. Right? The message seems like it's coming from your boss, but it really isn't. And that kind of scam, though, small businesses are succumbing to these attacks, is representative of what could be extremely damaging with A.I. falling easily into the wrong hands. So, A.I. doesn't need to hack the Pentagon or Fort Knox in order to cause a lot of harm.

BLACKWELL: It just has to read my LinkedIn and get to the company or through me. Jeremy Phillip Galen, thank you so much. And we, of course, will be following the developments there at your company.

Still ahead, FIFA has backed away now, from this controversial private investment plan. What does it mean for future World Cups? Details coming up in sports.

[07:48:58]

Top stories for you now: Nearly six months after Nancy Guthrie went missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, investigators are releasing a ransom note and a follow-up letter. The first note said, Nancy would be released after a $4 million Bitcoin payment was made. The second claims Nancy died shortly after being taken and that she was buried in nature.

Her daughter, Savannah Guthrie just posted that, "We will never stop looking for answers.

Jurors in Lindsay Clancy's trial visited the Massachusetts home where prosecutors allege she murdered her three young children in 2023. They also visited a restaurant and a drugstore where Clancy's ex-husband was the night the children were killed.

Clancy has pleaded not guilty. Her attorneys argue that she was suffering from severe postpartum mental illness at the time.

FIFA finally scraps their plan to sell equity in the World Cup to private investors. CNN Sports anchor Andy Scholes is here with more. There was a big boycott. I guess they got what they wanted.

(CROSSTALK)

[07:50:00]

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Oh, yes. Yes. Well, lots of people were not happy about this, Victor, all week long.

And you knew once UEFA, which is the soccer governing body in Europe said that they would be boycotting all World Cups until plan went away. That it was done, though.

And FIFA officially announcing last night they were abandoning their plan to create the FIFA Forward Enterprise, which was going to be a new $20 billion company that would control the commercial aspects of the World Cup, but it would be owned 20 percent by private investors.

In a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, "Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place."

Well, now many are questioning the leadership of Infantino and if he should be the one to lead FIFA into the future. He is up for re- election in March.

All right, in WNBA, meanwhile, there's another fantastic performance from Caitlin Clark in the Fever last night. Clark poured in 27 points to go with 10 rebounds and 10 assists for her fourth career triple double. She also became the fastest player in WNBA history to get to 1,500 career points and 650 assists, doing it in just 78 games.

Sue Bird had the record, doing it in 116 games. So, 38 games faster for Clark.

Fever would win 112 to 98 over the Fire (PH). It was their fifth straight game scoring more than 100, which is a WNBA record.

All right. Baseball, meanwhile, the Tigers' top prospect Max Clark making his debut last night against the A's, and what a debut it was for the 21-year-old. Top of the fourth gets his first hit on that bloop single. His family was all pumped up. He had a big old smile on his face at first base. But he wasn't done. Clark will get two more doubles in the game. He finished three for four. So, he was picked third overall straight out of high school in the 2023 draft.

Tigers' fans certainly hoping his arrival will help them go on a run. They beat the A's 13 to one.

Meanwhile, back in Detroit, the second round of the Rocket Classic taking place. Matt Kuchar here on the fifth. His drive is going to roll all the way towards the cup and in for the ace. It's his seventh career ace. He has got the most on tours since 2005. Then, he did something really cool. He called for a young fan to come with him as he walked to the green to get his ball, he let him get it from the hole, and then, he signed it for him.

That right there is what it's all about, right, Victor? Because now that young guy is never going to forget that moment for the rest of his life.

BLACKWELL: Absolutely not. I wouldn't.

Andy Scholes, thanks so much.

SCHOLES: All right.

BLACKWELL: The all-new CNN original series, "DECADES IN SPORTS", takes a look at the cultural and political milestones that have shaped the world of sports in America. This week, Omar Jimenez dives into a new chapter of sports history: the summer of 2026 in New York City. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In New York City, the summer started with history.

The New York Knicks bringing home an NBA championship for the first time in 53 years.

SPIKE LEE, FILMMAKER: It's a love fest here. Everybody is wearing a Knicks T-shirt, a hat. And what is connection?

JIMENEZ: Yes, yes.

LEE: And it's a beautiful thing.

And I know, people who don't live here think that's some B.S., but this is straight up.

JIMENEZ (voice over): You can even feel it on the New York City subway.

AMERICAN CROWD: Let's go, Knicks! Let's go, Knicks!

JIMENEZ (voice over): It's one of actor and superfan John Turturro's favorite places to be after a Knicks win.

JOHN TURTURRO, LIFELONG SUPERFAN, NEW YORK KNICKS: It's like a small town. All of a sudden, you are like, I'm in the city that no one ever looks at each other. And everyone is talking to each other.

JIMENEZ Yes.

TURTURRO: And that's the power of the beauty of sports. It's egalitarian, you know, and everybody can share that.

JIMENEZ (voice over): And this was just how the summer started.

JIMENEZ: Enter the World Cup, lighting up stadiums across the country and living rooms, offices during work hours, and sports bars across the city. There are more than a hundred free watch parties in every one of the five boroughs put on by the city. But of course, there can only be one winner.

With Spanish fans storming the streets in victory, it caps off one of the most beautiful eras in New York sports history. But it represents a feeling that transcends anything that could happen on a court or on the pitch.

Turturro puts it like this:

TURTURRO: It's like when the Yankees won the World Series in 2001, even though they lost, they brought, you know, after 9/11, they brought the city back to life.

JIMENEZ: Yes.

TURTURRO: Because you could focus on something for a couple hours.

JIMENEZ: Yes.

TURTURRO: And that's irreplaceable. It's one of the joys of being alive.

JIMENEZ (voice over): A joy captured in a matter of weeks in New York City, but remembered by those who experienced it for a lifetime. Myself among them.

Omar Jimenez, CNN, New York.

This is New York --

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: The all. CNN original series, "DECADES IN SPORTS", premieres tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.

[07:55:05]

"FIRST OF ALL" is coming up at the top of the hour. We are staying on top of the push for answers in the death of Nolan Wells, the top public safety official in Mississippi will join me live.

We are going to ask about updates he can share on the investigation, that recording of a phone call that came from the boat that Nolan Wells was on, and also, about the family's concerns about a fair investigation. We'll get his reaction to all that.

Plus, black voters are coveted by both candidates in next week's Democratic Senate primary in Michigan. They could decide what happens Tuesday. Will they go with history and lean moderate, or will they vote for the progressive?

I'll speak with two black political leaders in that state who are on different sides of this race.

And later, this is really interesting the debate. It's the one over a new student dress code at Tuskegee University, which includes a ban on bonnets and do rags in class.

The Internet has some thoughts, so does the HBCU's president, he will join us live to weigh in.

Those stories and conversations you will not see anywhere else are coming up after a short break on FIRST OF ALL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END