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CNN Headlines: All Three Mamdani-Backed Democrats Win House Primaries; President Trump To Urge Senate To Pass Controversial Elections Bill; Savannah Guthrie Reacts To Reports Of Mother Nancy Guthrie's Death; Rubio: Israel-Lebanon Issue Separate From Iran Negotiations. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired June 24, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:26]
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: A clean sweep for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. All three candidates that he endorsed won in primaries, ousting two Democratic incumbents.
And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFFICER: Where'd you guys plan on meeting up?
TYCEN PROPER, SUSPECT: West Virginia.
OFFICER: West Virginia?
PROPER: All the mountains and stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Newly released body cam video shows the police encounter with the Ohio man charged in the White House UFC terror plot. Hear what his mom said about turning him in.
And the fast-growing cottonwood fire in Utah turns the sky orange over a state park. The latest on the containment efforts this morning.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFFICER: Charlie Romeo, Victor Echo, Lima, Lima Alpha, Charlie Officer Romeo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Oh, that deer doesn't sound too happy, but an officer helped it after being stuck inside a school fence, that story later on this morning.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Brad Smith. This is CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. Glad that you're with us today.
Let's get this started. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani went three for three following yesterday's congressional primaries in New York. All three candidates he endorsed won their House Democratic primaries, including Brad Lander, who upset incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman.
Lander was on air speaking to CNN's Kaitlan Collins when the results rolled in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN HOST, 'THE SOURCE": Not many candidates are on CNN when they hear this music.
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COLLINS: But we do have breaking news, and we can now project that Brad Lander will defeat the incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman in the Democratic primary for New York's 10th congressional district.
And sir, obviously, since we have you here live on air as we are making this call, what is your first reaction to this?
BRAD LANDER (D), NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Well, thank you, first of all. Obviously, I'm thrilled, I did not expect to be on air when the race was called.
Look, I love Election Day. I like that voters get to go out and cast their ballots and say, here's what we want to represent us.
These are the fights that matter to us, and all I can say is I promise to go out every single day and fight for my constituents and the values that they have because we need a country that stands up for working people. It doesn't make it so hard to live here. I'll be fighting for a city everyone can afford and where everyone is welcome, and I'm really honored to be on your show tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Another Democratic socialist, Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, won the Democratic primary in the 7th District. The union organizer campaigned on affordable housing, abolishing ICE and Medicare for all. She defeated Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso.
And Darializa Avila Chevalier won the Democratic primary in the 13th District. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stood behind his support for Democratic Socialist Avila Chevalier, and these victories are now an indication of how much political power and influence Mamdani has gained since becoming mayor earlier this year.
In New York's 12th House district, CNN projects state assembly member Micah Lasher will advance to the general election. Eight candidates were vying for the chance to replace Representative Jerry Nadler after 17 terms. Lasher defeated Jack Schlossberg, a political commentator, and the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy. He also beat George Conway, a former conservative lawyer and a prominent critic of President Trump.
Speaking of President Trump, President Trump is set to host a key meeting with Senate Republicans today. He plans to push for a controversial elections overhaul bill. For months now, he's been urging Congress to pass the Save America Act, despite repeated insistence from GOP senators that there are simply not enough votes. The president dismissed those warnings during a visit to swing-state Pennsylvania.
NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie is responding to reports of the death of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. Her comments coming after new details were released about a ransom note sent days after Nancy Guthrie was taken from her Arizona home on February 1st.
Police believe the note came from whoever abducted her.
CNN's Brian Abel has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, TODAY SHOW CO-HOST: Somebody knows something.
BRIAN ABEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Savannah Guthrie Tuesday morning, publicly reacting on "The Today Show" to the news that a ransom note investigators believe is from the kidnappers of her mother, Savannah, said that she had died.
GUTHRIE: This is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live every day, and we are in agony.
ABEL (voice-over): The note sent to media outlets said Nancy Guthrie died shortly after the February 1st kidnapping from her Tucson, Arizona home, and that the abductors didn't mean to kill her.
A week after the kidnapping, Savannah seemingly responding to that note on Instagram.
GUTHRIE: We received your message and we understand.
ABEL (voice-over): If true, some experts suggest the timing of her death would match the evidence of the case.
ANDREW MCCABE, FORMER FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR: We know that her cardiac monitor stopped reading any sort of a signal on that evening.
ABEL (voice-over): Details of the note were not reported at the request of law enforcement authorities in an effort to protect the investigation.
JULIETTE KAYYEM, FORMER ASST. SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: The criminals were trying to in real time create a defense that they didn't mean for her -- it doesn't matter, but that they didn't mean for her to die.
ABEL (voice-over): The Pima County Sheriff's Department, the lead agency on the investigation, told CNN only that it remains active and ongoing.
GUTHRIE: We cannot be at peace. So how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy and I will. I promise I will. This is a moment to tell you that we need your help. We're begging for your help.
ABEL (voice-over): In Washington, Brian Abel reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Thank you, Brian.
President Trump is brushing off rare pushback from the Senate to limit his war powers in Iran. Trump called the Senate vote, quote, poorly timed and meaningless. It happened after the Senate voted last night to remove U.S. military forces from the conflict in Iran. The House approved the measure earlier this month, and the resolution does not carry the force of law. It is largely symbolic and sends a message that Congress does not support Trump's war with Iran.
In the meantime, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in the United Arab Emirates for the next phase of talks on the conflict in Iran, and a key sticking point is emerging here. Rubio says that the tension between Israel and Lebanon is a separate matter and should not be related to the U.S.'s negotiations with Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: Separate because Lebanon is a sovereign country. Now there's an Iranian issue with regards to Lebanon, and that is their support and sponsorship of Hezbollah. And so, that'll -- that factor will be discussed as part of our conversations with the Iranians. But as far as the future of Lebanon, the future of Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese people through their sovereign elected government.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: There are also conflicting accounts over what was and was not agreed to in the memo of understanding between the U.S. and Iran. President Trump says Iran agreed to allow new inspections of its nuclear facilities. Iran denies that.
Well, Tesla is pushing back on claims that its self-driving technology caused the deadly crash in Texas. The company's vice president of artificial intelligence says the driver manually overrode the vehicle's full self-driving system, pressed the accelerator to 100 percent, and reached 73 miles per hour before crashing into a Katy home, killing a 76-year-old woman. The driver had told deputies that the car was in autopilot mode. Federal investigators and local authorities are now looking into what caused the crash.
There's some newly released body cam video showing police talking with an Ohio man who's charged in an alleged plot to attack the recent UFC event at the White House. Nineteen-year-old Tycen Proper is one of five men facing charges in the alleged plot, and the investigators say he is the ringleader. His mom tipped off police saying Proper quit his job and used his graduation money on stocking up on guns and ammunition and was talking to people online. Proper denies wanting to harm himself or anyone else, but he admits to talking to people online and that there was a plan to meet in West Virginia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFFICER: Where'd you guys plan on meeting up?
TYCEN PROPER, SUSPECT: West Virginia.
OFFICER: West Virginia?
PROPER: All the mountains and stuff.
MOTHER: Yeah, I told him it scares the crap out of me.
I just betrayed his trust. But I'm so glad that he lives under our roof, and I saw everything happening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Proper is set to be in federal court next week in Columbus.
Well, in a social media post, President Trump says some of the water from the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial will be drained around the Fourth of July. It comes after video surfaced of a woman being questioned by authorities at the site.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Video posted by TMZ DC shows a woman being questioned by federal officers after reaching her hand into the reflecting pool in Washington, D.C. A man wearing a National Park Service shirt approaches her as he appears to be recording video of her on his cell phone. The man then waves over other authorities.
Officers from National Park Service, the National Guard, U.S. Park Police, and the U.S. Marshals can be seen in the video around the woman. At one point, there are at least nine officers around her.
A Department of Interior spokesperson told CNN yesterday that five people had been arrested for vandalism at the reflecting pool, while an additional five people were issued federal citations. Fourteen police reports have been filed for vandalism, the spokesperson said.
CNN has reached out to Park Police for additional information on the situation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: We'll continue to track any developments in that story. We've got lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, including the latest on Alec Murdaugh, the former court clerk linked to the overturning of his conviction wants a judge to throw out something else connected to this case. We've got those details. Plus, a sinkhole swallowed up a car, but there was a person trapped
inside. We have more on the effort to get her out.
And --
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: No more need for that alarm clock this morning. How do you get to be the world's loudest person? That is coming up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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[05:15:32]
SMITH: New this morning, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told congressional investigators that he suspected he was in the presence of Jeffrey Epstein's victims. Gates testified before the House Oversight Committee in a closed-door hearing earlier this month. According to newly released transcripts, Gates said he never interacted with the victims or witnessed any sexual misconduct, but he admitted he may have been in their presence.
The Justice Department has charged 455 people for their alleged participation in healthcare fraud and abuse schemes. The amount involved exceeds $6.5 billion worth of false claims that resulted in significant harm to patients, including death. Ninety doctors and other health care professionals are among the defendants. The effort is part of the Trump administration's ongoing crackdown on Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says this is just the beginning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD BLANCHE, ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL: We're taking back the money, the luxury cars, the jewelry, and these alleged fraudsters will face justice. The coordinated actions of the past two weeks have resulted in over $182 million in cash and other assets seized, making clear our healthcare fraud enforcement efforts generate a significant return on investment for our taxpayers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: The takedown also includes charges against 295 defendants and more than $518 million in false claims submitted to Medicaid. That is the largest number of people charged and dollar amount lost to fraud in the Justice Department's history.
On today's Weather Express, a new, fast-growing wildfire has prompted evacuations for parts of Beaver County, Utah. The Cottonwood fire was discovered Monday afternoon, almost directly east of the town of Beaver. It quickly grew to 2,000 acres in just a matter of hours.
In addition to evacuations, water restrictions were ordered to help firefighters and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Wild weather hitting from coast to coast, from torrential rain and floods in the east to wildfires in the West. Fires are also burning on the other side of the Atlantic as relentless, deadly heat tightens its grip on Europe.
For more, here's CNN's Reid Binion.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking.
REID BINION, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Residents in parts of Virginia picking up the pieces after storms packing high winds ripped through certain areas, ripping off roofs, knocking down trees, and leaving many without electricity. Severe weather and heavy rain also causing flooding this week. A torrential downpour in Massachusetts led to street flooding, leaving cars stranded and police escorting at least one driver to dry land.
On the other side of the country, water is not the problem. It's part of the solution as crews battle wildfires in the west, including the Cottonwood Fire raging in Utah. That blaze creating an otherworldly orange haze in the skies over Goblin Valley State Park.
And it's not just the U.S. Overseas, authorities in several countries in Europe are fighting wildfires as well this week, including Greece, where firefighters battled flames outside Athens, and France, where a heat wave helped fuel a fast-moving wildfire. That oppressive heat hitting several other countries as well, including Switzerland, Germany, and the U.K., where hundreds of schools closed or moved to half days as temperatures soared.
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: I do feel a lot more hot. And it's harder to go to the park and have a nice time outside.
BINION (voice-over): I'm Reid Binion reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: I appreciate the perspective from that little guy as well.
Still to come, once in on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, new NCAA rules could reshape the future of college student athletes. Details on new eligibility rules straight ahead.
And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFFICER: Charlie Romeo, Victor Echo, Lima, Lima --
(END VIDEO CLIP) SMITH: The hard task of rescuing a little deer that was stuck at a school. That is coming up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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[05:24:11]
SMITH: A federal judge has blocked a ban that would prevent recipients of food stamps from buying candy and sugary drinks. The move is a major blow to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The initiative was part of his Make America Healthy Again movement, and the judge ruled that the USDA did not have the authority to approve pilot programs of the bans in at least five states.
CNN has reached out to the HHS for comment.
The NCAA on Tuesday approved a sweeping overhaul of student athlete eligibility rules. Division One athletes will now be allowed five years of competition during their college careers. That is up from four. Red shirts and waivers will largely be eliminated and this age based eligibility model takes effect for athletes who still have eligibility remaining after the 2025-'26 school year.
[05:25:02]
The change is aimed at limiting the number of athletes who compete in college sports for more than five years and into their mid-20s.
In today's Health Express, singer Muni Long says that she's recovering, quote, "fabulous" after receiving a double lung transplant six months ago. The singer says that she knew something was wrong for a while. But things took a turn when she caught pneumonia while on tour with Brandi and Monica. She got so sick that she had to pull out of the tour and ended up in the hospital.
And that is where doctors told her that she only had one week to live if she didn't get a double lung transplant. Long says she was hesitant about the surgery, but ultimately did it for her son.
Good to hear that she's doing better.
Ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, the Palisades fire in L.A. We are looking at the case against the man accused of starting it all as the jury begins deliberations today.
And Tiger Woods made his first public appearance since his recent DUI arrest, where he was seen coming up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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