Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with Rahel Solomon
At Least 111 Dead, 170+ Missing After Texas Floods; Trump, Netanyahu Meet Again To Discuss Possible Ceasefire; U.S. Airport Security To Stop Making Passenger Remove Shoes. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired July 09, 2025 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:32:35]
MJ LEE, CNN ANCHOR: A quick recap of our top story this hour -- the aftermath of deadly flooding in Texas over the weekend. State officials report more than 170 people are still missing as the death toll climbs to at least 111.
Emergency alerts have come under scrutiny following the devastating floods. House Republican Pete Sessions tells CNN that the state's flash flood warning system in hard-hit Kerr County is not comprehensive enough, saying if phones were -- if phones were off, residents just wouldn't have heard the warning signals. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the emergency alert system will be reviewed later this month.
Rescue crews are still searching for people lost and missing in the wake of the deadly flooding. The Kerr County police say no one has been found alive since Friday.
CNN spoke earlier with the department spokesman and asked how challenging the search has been and how long it will continue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. JONATHAN LAMB, KERRVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT: We do have a lot of people who came here in campers and RVs and camped along the river. And, you know, if nobody reports them missing, if nobody is looking for them, we may not know that they're missing. And that really has been the big challenge for this thing.
Recovery and rescue operations are ongoing, and they'll continue but getting a handle on exactly how many people we're looking for has been tough. I think that the reality of the situation is the more time that passes it becomes harder and harder to become optimistic but we're not stopping.
And whether someone decides -- and it won't be me that makes that decision -- that this has changed from a rescue operation to a recovery operation nothing is going to change for us. We're going to continue to search and look to try and reunite families because that's where our focus is -- on reuniting families with their missing loved ones and bringing them closure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: CNN's Leigh Waldman joins me live from Texas with the latest on the recovery efforts. Leigh, the search continues for any survivors. What's next for this devastated community?
LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: MJ, it's good to be with you.
Like he said, the search efforts continue here. For days on end now volunteers are working alongside law enforcement to search for each and every person that has been reported missing after this disastrous and devastating flood that hit this area.
[05:35:05]
We know that some rescue teams from Mexico came into the area to assist. We know that Arkansas sent members of their National Guard to this area to help in the rescue and recovery efforts. There is additional Blackhawk helicopters flying. For days now we've seen the Coast Guard helicopters flying.
Yesterday at a press conference with Governor Abbott and other state officials they talked about unmanned drones with heat sensors in them flying over this area to assist in the ongoing ground efforts that are continuing day by day. We've seen crews out here with chain saws searching through the debris looking for anyone that they can possibly find.
Now amidst all of the rescue and recovery operations that are continuing here, we pressed state officials yesterday at that press conference asking the Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd about when the state started to coordinate with Kerr County about the flooding that was happening. He said conversations began on Wednesday and that's when the state started moving assets in place so that they would be ready for flooding that was predicted to happen -- days before we saw this devastating flooding move through this area.
And I asked why not issue evacuations ahead of what we knew was going to be disastrous flooding. He said he's not getting into the whys and is simply just answering the question of when they started those communications, MJ.
LEE: Leigh Waldman, thank you so much.
The pressure is on to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. We'll have the details from the latest meetings.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:41:15]
LEE: The White House is zeroing in on a possible ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli prime minister met again with his American counterpart to discuss, in President Trump's own words, almost exclusively Gaza. Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy who is due to join the Doha
negotiations in the coming days, says they are hopeful that there will be a 60-day ceasefire agreement by the end of this week.
CNN's Paula Hancocks is following this live from Abu Dhabi. Paula, we've been talking to you for the past few days about the possibility of a ceasefire deal. Are you sensing any new movement?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, MJ, we're certainly hearing optimistic words coming specifically from the American side. You mentioned there the Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff saying that he believes there could be a deal by the end of the week. That a number of issues were outstanding. That they have sorted out a number of them but there is one or two that are still to be decided between the two sides.
We're hearing a slightly more cautious approach from Qatar, the main negotiators there, saying that it's too soon to be too optimistic.
But it does appear at this point, according to an Israeli official, that they have had agreement on some key issues. Humanitarian aid, for example, getting into Gaza. They have a key agreement as well on the hostage-for-prisoners ratio and swap.
But one of the hurdles that is still to be cleared is the -- where exactly the Israeli military will withdraw to during this 60-day temporary ceasefire. Now this is the issue that time and time again has scuppered these talks.
We understand from an Israeli source telling CNN that the current proposal says on day one the Israeli military will withdraw from much of northern Gaza or parts of northern Gaza. A week later though, withdraw from parts of southern Gaza. But we know that Israel does not want to leave the Philadelphi Corridor. This is the border between Gaza and Egypt which the Israeli government has said is the route of smuggling weapons for Hamas, so they want to make sure that they maintain control of that.
Now we know that Steve Witkoff is expected to come to the region later this week. He has been given assurances to Hamas that there will be a permanent end to the war even if after the 60 days of talking they haven't come to a full agreement -- MJ.
LEE: Paula Hancocks in Abu Dhabi. Thank you very much.
A sudden change to airport security requirements that many travelers will welcome. After years of needing to take off our shoes, airport security is stepping into a new procedure.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:48:00]
LEE: Welcome back. I'm MJ Lee. Here are some of the stories we are watching today.
Search and rescue operations continue in central Texas. More than 170 people are still missing after flash floods devastated the region over the weekend. And there's fear the actual number of those unaccounted for may be even greater than official estimates. At least 111 people have been confirmed killed in the disaster.
Donald Trump is again venting his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his continued failure to end the war in Ukraine. At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday the U.S. president said the Russian leader offers very nice words that turn out to be meaningless. Meanwhile, Ukraine says Russia launched a record number of drone and missiles overnight.
And all eyes on the White House as the Israeli prime minister and U.S. president met for the second straight day to discuss a possible ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Prior to the meeting a source tells CNN a Qatari delegation and senior Trump officials also talked about a ceasefire.
Sentencing for Sean "Diddy" Combs is set for October 3. A judge approved the proposed date on Tuesday after the disgraced rap mogul's attorneys reached an agreement with federal prosecutors.
[05:50:00]
Last week Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He faces up to 20 years in prison though legal analysts predict he will get much less.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration will no longer make passengers take their shoes off to go through airport security. The change to the security requirements was first reported Tuesday by Substack blog Gate Access and later confirmed by the Trump administration. The new policy upends almost two decades of shoes off security screenings.
CNN's Pete Muntean has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION AND TRANSPORTATION CORRESPONDENT: Every TSA rule is now being evaluated says Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem after making the official announcement of the nationwide end of the rule that requires that you remove your shoes at airport security checkpoints effective immediately. Noem says that security technology has evolved to the point that this is no longer necessary.
We asked Noem if this undercuts the value of TSA pre-check -- something you pay for the privilege to not have to remove your shoes at certain checkpoints -- listen.
KRISTI NOEM, U.S. SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: I believe pre-check will still be something that many travelers will want to utilize because when they have TSA pre-check they won't have to take off their belt or their coat, or remove things out of their bag that -- such as laptops or compliant liquids. So TSA pre-check still adds a value to those travelers.
And what we're implementing here today for every single traveler is just that they get the chance to keep their shoes on, which I think they'll be thrilled about.
MUNTEAN: We know that ending this rule was being evaluated under the Biden administration, though the Trump administration trying to claim this as a win.
The shoe removal rule went into place in 2006 inspired by the December 2001 attempted shoe bomber attack. We asked Noem if this was just for show -- security theater all along -- something she did not directly answer.
Pete Muntean, CNN, Oklahoma City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEE: She's stylish, she's confident, and she's expanding inclusivity. Meet the newest Barbie breaking stereotypes when we return.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:56:37]
LEE: And now to some breaking news in the racing world. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been sacked after 20 years with the team. During his time in charge Red Bull has had tremendous success, winning eight drivers and six constructors' championships. That's according to the official Formula 1 social media account.
CNN has reached out to Red Bull for comment and will continue to follow this story and bring you the updates as we get them.
Americans Taylor Fritz and Amanda Anisimova put on quite the show at Wimbledon on Tuesday. The world number five men's player won his quarter-final match in four sets to advance to this first Wimbledon semi-finals where he'll go up against five-time grand slam champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on Friday.
Here is Fritz on his career breakthrough.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAYLOR FRITZ, WORLD NO. 5 MEN'S PLAYER: It's an amazing feeling, obviously, having played the quarter-finals here twice and lost in five twice. I don't think -- I don't think I could have taken another one so I'm really happy. I'm really happy I'm going to get to play the semis here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: And on the women's side, Amanda Anisimova powered through on Tuesday to secure her first Wimbledon semi-finals match. Anisimova will face world number one and three-time grand slam champion Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday.
Here she is on her hard-fought victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMANDA ANISIMOVA, WORLD NO. 12 WOMEN'S PLAYER: It was such a battle today. I was up there in the second set and, yeah, she started to play some unreal tennis, and I just kept fighting. And, yeah, the tiebreak was super stressful but, yeah, I'm just so happy that I got it done and super excited to be in the semi-final for the first time. It's super special.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: Hundreds of thousands of children have type 1 diabetes and now there's a Barbie who has it too. The doll comes with a polka-dot crop top and mini skirt, and an insulin pump.
CNN's Jacqueline Howard has more on the doll that is inclusive in its design.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER (voiceover): Barbie's newest doll is the brand's first with type 1 diabetes. You see, it comes with all the items anyone living with the autoimmune disease would need on a daily basis.
EMILY MAZREKU, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR, BREAKTHROUGH T1D: The continuous glucose monitor monitors blood sugar levels throughout the day. And all of that is sent to her phone, which is right here attached to her purse with all of her type 1 diabetes supplies on the go.
HOWARD (voiceover): Emily Mazreku is the director of marketing and communications at Breakthrough T1D, formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and she lives with type 1 diabetes.
She worked with Mattel to design the doll to represent the roughly 304,000 kids and teens in the U.S. living with type 1 diabetes.
MAZREKU: Type 1 diabetes can sometimes feel invisible. To share what that means to wear those devices confidently and proudly, just like Barbie does -- it's an incredible step forward in awareness for type 1 diabetes.
HOWARD (voiceover): Emily's 3-year-old daughter Ellie, who does not have type 1 diabetes, was so excited to see the doll.
MAZREKU: That moment was so unforgettable for me. So for her to see that in a doll that she can play with, interact with, and understand but also relate that to her mom who is wearing her type 1 diabetes devices loud and proud is an extremely special moment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEE: Thank you for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm MJ Lee in Washington, D.C. "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.
