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CNN Headlines: Trump Administration Sends Mixed Signals Over Future Of $1.8B Fund; Six States Headed To The Polls Today For Midterm Elections; Regional Source: U.S.-Iran Talks Continue Amid Rising Tensions; FDA Approves Pill To Prevent COVID-19 After Exposure. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired June 02, 2026 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:27]

BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: The Trump administration is now seemingly backing off its plan for that billion-dollar fund that could have compensated some January 6th rioters. We've got reaction from both sides coming in.

Plus, gas prices hit a one-month low. Where the national average stands, coming your way.

And, my goodness, take a look at this explosion at a fireworks factory, what we're learning this morning.

And the first pill that could keep you from getting sick from COVID after exposure. It got the green light. We'll tell you how it works.

Good morning everyone, I'm Brad Smith. This is CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. Glad that you're with us this morning.

Let's get this started.

Mixed signals from the Trump administration over the future of the president's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. It was meant to compensate people who claim that they have been wrongly targeted by past administrations, which would include the January 6th rioters. The fund was also created in part to settle President Trump's massive lawsuit against the IRS. On Monday, the Justice Department said it disagrees strongly with a federal court's decision to temporarily pause the fund, but added that it will abide by the decision.

The move has triggered a flurry of reactions on Capitol Hill as Democrats try to analyze the administration's shift in strategy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): So I think this is just Trump saying, OK, I'm not going to include it in this bill, but I'm not giving up on this idea.

REP. TOM SOUZZI (D-NY): So right now, it's paused. That's good. The people don't like it. The elected officials don't like it. The courts don't like it. But they may try and keep it going.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: The fund is also causing friction among prominent Republicans. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley says, quote, "The only thing that's going to solve this problem is to get immigration funded and law enforced, is for the president to do away with the weaponization fund."

This was former Vice President Mike Pence's reaction to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE PENCE, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: It's deeply offensive to me that you could have a fund that could even possibly compensate people who assaulted police officers or vandalized the Capitol on January 6th. And I think that's broadly held by most Republicans and most Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: A judge has set a hearing for June 12th to hear arguments on whether to extend the pause on the fund.

Well, it is a big day for this midterm election cycle with voters at the polls in six states -- California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.

Let's take you out to California first. Regardless of the party affiliation, the two who received the most votes tonight will advance in the gubernatorial primary to replace Governor Gavin Newsom. California also has several House races under a new congressional map that aims to help Democrats flip as many as five Republican seats.

And then there's a tight L.A. mayor's race between incumbent Karen Bass and reality star Spencer Pratt, plus city councilwoman Nithya Rahman.

Now, Iowa, they have a critical race taking place there. It's to replace the retiring senator, Joni Ernst, this year. Democrats are looking to flip a seat that they haven't held since 2008.

Republican Senator John Cornyn, meanwhile, is defending his criticism of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after losing his high-stakes primary last week. Paxton is now the GOP nominee for the Senate seat that Cornyn has held for four terms and was staunchly backed by President Trump.

Now, Cornyn has stayed largely quiet since that loss, but during the race, he called Paxton untrustworthy and a crook. He told CNN's Manu Raju he stands by those comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You've had a lot of criticisms for him, calling him a crook, among other things. You stand by those criticisms?

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): Yes.

RAJU: You do?

CORNYN: Yeah.

RAJU: Yeah. Do you think he's fit to serve here?

CORNYN: Well, I've said no, he's not. But again, he won the race fair and square. It's really -- you know, if you run for elections, you have to learn to trust the voters and their judgment. But I don't think the story is over. I think it's just beginning. We'll see what happens in November.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Cornyn also says that he hasn't spoken with Paxton and has no plans to meet with him.

All right, let's take you internationally now to Iran. President Trump is pushing to keep delicate peace talks on track, even as tensions spike in the region. The president tells ABC News that he believes a deal could come sometime in the next week at extending a ceasefire and reopening a key global shipping route.

Now, Iranian state media is reporting this morning that Iran's final draft, he believes a deal could come sometime in the next week at extending a ceasefire and reopening a key global shipping route.

Now Iranian state media is reporting this morning that Iran's final draft for an interim ceasefire is still under review and has not been sent back to negotiators.

Just hours ago fighting between Israel and Iran backed Hezbollah. In Lebanon, it appeared to set, it appeared to derail those negotiations.

CNN has learned a phone call between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grew quite heated as the president pushed Netanyahu to scale back plans for military operations in Lebanon. A conversation first reported by "Axios" yesterday.

Now sources say that Trump used foul language at times and warned that a wider offensive could isolate Israel.

The White House has not commented on that tone of that call. Trump wrote on Truth Social after the call that it was productive, saying that Israel and Hezbollah would stop attacking each other.

In his own statement, Netanyahu said the Israeli military would keep striking Lebanon as planned.

For now, the president says that talks with Iran are still moving forward, but the situation is fluid, and it could change quickly depending upon what happens on the ground. Well, if you've been putting it off, now might be a good time to fill

up your gas tank. Gas prices are at a one-month low, reaching a national average of $4.29 overnight. Uncertainty over the war's direction is being tempered by talks between the U.S. and Iran. But oil futures shot up briefly yesterday amid the back and forth over Israel's attacks in Lebanon.

Well, new this morning, six people are dead following a shooting spree in Iowa as police believe that they were all members of the same family. Officers were called to a home in Muscatine yesterday. It's about 150 miles east of Des Moines. Four people were found fatally shot there. Two more victims were later found dead at other locations.

Police say that the suspect, a 52-year-old relative, took his own life when confronted by authorities. The victims' names have not been released.

Well, Monday, it was relatively calm outside Delaney Hall as protests continue in that New Jersey ICE Detention Center facility and area, and that area is now under curfew. Clashes there between demonstrators and officers in recent days led to some arrests, including a Brooklyn man who is now facing federal charges accused of threatening to kill an ICE officer and his family.

In a court appearance Monday, Nicholas Scelfo was released on $100,000 bond and an order to not return to the controversial Newark facility where detainees have alleged inhumane conditions for months, allegations that DHS denies.

Florida is launching a first-of-its-kind legal assault against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman. The bombshell lawsuit claiming that ChatGPT operates with zero age verification, fueling addiction, encouraging suicide, and even helping mass shooters. Florida's attorney general accuses the tech giant of choosing the A.I. race over the safety of children.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES UTHMEIER, FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the A.I. race over the safety and security of our kids. They have chosen profit over public safety.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: The lawsuit also accuses OpenAI of collecting data from minors without parental oversight. OpenAI has said in a statement that it believes minors need significant protection and that it has put in place industry-leading protections and policies.

The GOAT is officially back on grass. Twenty-three-time Grand Slam singles champ Serena Williams hitting the court almost four years after her last match.

CNN's Coy Wire has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Just when we thought the story was finished, one of the greatest athletes of all time is picking up her racket again. "The Queen returns", that's the message from Queen's Club in London after confirming Serena Williams will make her comeback in the doubles draw ahead of Wimbledon.

This is massive. We're not just talking about a 23-time Grand Slam singles champ or a player who spent more than 300 weeks ranked number one. This is a global icon who helped transform women's sports. Serena turns 45 in a few months, hasn't played pro match in years. She lost in singles in the third round of the U.S. Open in 2022, and yet a return instantly sends a jolt of electricity through the tennis world.

Who will be her doubles partner that hasn't been announced yet? How far can she go? Does this mean she's preparing to play at Wimbledon as well? That's anyone's guess.

Remember, she appeared on an international testing pool list dated from October of 2025. That sparked initial rumors about a potential comeback, but she shot those down by tweeting in December, "OMG y'all, I'm not coming back".

[05:10:07]

Now, one thing is certain when Serena Williams walks back onto the court, the sporting world will be watching. She's a legend that has the power to bring everything to a standstill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SMITH: All right, whenever her first match is, I have plans that day.

Lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. A truck driving through the ocean on a beach, but police say what happened just before this had deadly consequences.

And Vanilla Ice is sharing why he still wants to perform at the Freedom 250 concert after all those other artists dropped out.

And speaking of artists, Taylor Swift announces a new collab with "Toy Story". That's coming up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:15:15]

SMITH: Well, in today's Weather Express, it's back. We are talking about El Nino. There's now an 80 percent chance of an El Nino this summer, according to a U.N. group that watches the weather.

So what does that mean for you? Client scientists, they're saying that it typically indicates more extreme weather overall, triggered by higher temperatures and rainfall around the world, but usually means a milder Atlantic hurricane season.

And speaking of extreme weather, check this out. That's not snow on the 1st of June. That is hail. A bulldozer was put to work to handle this mess near Denver. A powerful storm dropped the icy precip yesterday. More storms are in the forecast for the Northern Plains today.

As for the eastern US, does the relentless parade of storms and steamy weather continue today? I sure hope not.

CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam has your forecast and hopefully some good news depending upon where you're at.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: A break in the weather pattern is finally starting to materialize if you've been locked and loaded in this very wet, muggy pattern over the eastern seaboard, especially across the southeast. This cold front as it drags southward will bring the precipitation along with it, but also lower the humidity levels and bring in cooler temperatures as well, places like Atlanta to Charlotte. This is going to be a big improvement from what we've experienced over the past couple of weeks.

Now we do have some scattered thunderstorms that will develop over the central parts of the US. This is the central and northern plains. This area could see some stronger storms. later in the day on Tuesday. Can't rule out an isolated tornado, but mainly a wind and hail threat. Look at the storms pushing south and east.

This is with the passage of that cold front. Again, drier and slightly cooler air will settle in behind it. And you can see with the forecast rainfall, kind of that deficit of rain, or I should say the lack of rain over the eastern half of the country, with the exception of the Florida Peninsula. Now throughout the plains, this is the area that could pick up a quick half an inch to an inch of rainfall with some of the slow moving thunderstorms that develop.

But all in all, look at our temperatures, very pleasant -- 76 for today near D.C., as well as New York City, 80 for Atlanta. And then you'll start to feel the change in the humidity level as our cold front drapes further and further south.

We continue to build the heat though over the nation's midsection and even into the Midwest will remain warm through the rest of the week and into the weekend as well.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SMITH: Thank you, Derek.

Vanilla Ice says that he'll still take the stage at a Trump-backed concert series celebrating America's 250th birthday. A slew of other artists, though, have dropped out. Vanilla Ice is saying he was honored to be a part of it.

He spoke to CNN's Brianna Keller about the decision. (BEWGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Tell us why you're still planning on performing, even though we've heard that from the president when so many other performers are deciding not to.

VANILLA ICE, RAPPER: I don't know. I can only speak for myself. And I'm proud to be an American. I was born here and raised here. And this is my country.

And I don't like anybody telling me I really can't be proud of it. And this is a huge honor to play the birthday. It's once in a lifetime, you know, 250. So I'm honored, and I respect everybody else.

I know there's a lot of tension everywhere. This whole world is like a snow globe, but it shouldn't be that. And music is here to bring people together, man.

And, you know, it shouldn't be that this music is dragged into politics. It's not fair, you know? I don't even vote. I'm not a politician. I don't have anything that I don't even have the first thing to say about how to run a country or do anything like that.

I think it's a huge honor, and I'm wanting to celebrate the country I was born and raised in, man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, new subpoenas are going out related to Jeffrey Epstein. The latest twist in that case.

And you have COVID shots, but what about a pill to keep you from getting sick from the virus? That is coming up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:23:37]

SMITH: The cruise ship linked to the hantavirus outbreak will return to the seas next week. Dutch health officials, they approved this after the ship underwent days of cleaning and disinfecting. Officials also confirmed that the boat is rodent-free. In the U.S., five passengers have been released from the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska. They're finishing the last half of their required six-week quarantine at home. Thirteen others remain in the unit, although some will leave in the coming weeks, according to the CDC.

Well, former First Lady Jill Biden is giving a rare update on her husband's health. She revealed that former President Joe Biden is doing okay after being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer last year. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Former First Lady Jill Biden spoke about Joe Biden's cancer on NBC's Today Show. In 2025, his office announced that former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.

JILL BIDEN, FORMER FIRST LADY: He's, you know, he's doing okay. I mean, Craig, you've been through this with your brother. You know how tough it is. And I think if he had just been, you know, diagnosed with prostate cancer, that's one thing because that can be cured, but the fact that it metastasized to his bones, that makes it a whole different story. And so I think Joe will live with cancer until the rest of his life.

[05:25:00]

REPORTER: Early stage prostate cancer has a nearly 100 percent five- year survival rate according to the American Cancer Society, but when prostate cancer is metastatic diagnosis, the five year survival rate dropped sharply to around 37 percent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: The FDA has approved the first ever pill to help prevent COVID after being exposed. It's called Xocova and it's a five day regimen approved for people 12 and older. The drug works by blocking viral replication before symptoms develop. During trials, the medication reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID by 67 percent compared to a placebo.

Straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, why a billion-dollar fund that could have compensated January 6th rioters may be in jeopardy.

And you'll soon have a chance to own part of one of the major players in A.I. What's behind Anthropic's plan to go public? That's coming your way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)