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CNN Headlines: Trump Claims New Intel Reveals Vulnerabilities In U.S. Elections, No Proof Of Changed Votes; Flash Flood Warning For Pars of Kerr County, Texas, 2 Killed In Storm Thursday; Iran: At Least 6 Killed In Overnight U.S. Strikes On Bridges In Southern Iran. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired July 17, 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]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Tonight, I'm announcing the immediate declassification and release of critical intelligence, revealing shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: President Trump claims declassified documents show election vulnerabilities, but no evidence to back it up. More on his primetime speech.
Plus, devastating floods ravaged southern Texas as officials issue mandatory evacuation orders for communities along the Guadalupe River. We're tracking the threats this morning.
And take a look at this, a water main break floods the streets around West Hollywood, and it caused a sinkhole. We've got more on that later this hour.
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.
In a high-profile address to the nation, President Trump made his case, insisting that there's a need for election reforms ahead of November's midterm elections. In his speech, Trump claimed that newly declassified intel shows foreign interference to U.S. elections. He pointed to weaknesses in voting machines and mail-in ballots, but he did not provide any evidence to show that actual votes had been manipulated or that the results had been compromised.
He also accused China of stealing voter data, something that the country denies.
Here's CNN's Jenn Sullivan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) TRUMP: Good evening.
JENN SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Donald Trump delivering a primetime address Thursday, claiming there are, quote, "shocking vulnerabilities" in our election infrastructure.
TRUMP: Tonight, we're publishing a series of previously classified U.S. intelligence community assessments and other reports proving that our government has long known these machines are extremely exposed to attack.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): Still, Trump has not provided evidence that machines have been exploited by a foreign adversary. He also accused China of meddling in the 2020 election, but Trump did not elaborate on how it may have impacted the results of the election.
TRUMP: China engaged in other election-related activities to undermine my first administration in our 2020 campaign.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): Trump has repeatedly claimed the election was rigged and that he won in 2020 instead of former President Joe Biden. Those claims have repeatedly been proven false.
The U.S. intelligence community released a report in 2021 that said China did not interfere, specifically saying China, quote, considered but did not deploy influence efforts intended to change the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. In the states who were accused of election fraud say every precaution is taken to ensure results are honest and authentic.
STEPHEN RICHER, FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA RECORDER: This is why we have paper ballots. It's why we do pre-election tests and then we do post-election hand count audits to make sure that the machines read the ovals correctly.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): Thursday's speech comes just months ahead of the critical midterm elections where Republicans could lose the majority in either the Senate, the House or both. Many Democrats say these latest claims just spread more lies.
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): We have seen so many examples of this president's craziness when it comes to the 2020 election.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): Trump's remarks come on the heels of his so- called SAVE America Act, failing to pass in the Senate. The legislation would enact strict new ID and proof of citizenship requirement for voting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: CNN's senior political analyst and Bloomberg opinion columnist Ron Brownstein spoke to our Elex Michaelson about what he thinks President Trump's goal was with his speech.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: I thought he sent some pretty clear signals in this speech. One, that he wants to go after mail balloting again. As you know, they've tried to, through the post office, restrict who can get a mail ballot. Courts have stopped them so far, but he was suggesting again tonight, I think there's more coming on that front.
And secondly, the whole tale about China and Venezuela manipulating election machines to produce the desired outcome in Venezuela, I don't think that was just like kind of a, you know, a bedtime story. That was about laying the groundwork for questioning the use of those machines in the U.S.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Now, Brownstein says that Trump's speech suggests that we can expect more legal challenges from his administration to try and assert more federal control over elections.
A new flash flood warning is in effect for a portion of Kerr County, Texas, as the final push of storms A new flash flood warning is in effect for a portion of Kerr County, Texas, as the final push of storms moves through the devastated area. At least two people have been killed after three days of torrential rain.
[05:05:03]
One victim's wife told a local newspaper that the rushing water swept him away. Officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for communities along the Guadalupe River due to flood threats.
This bodycam video shows a family in Uvalde being pulled to safety. This was one of more than 230 rescues by boat and helicopter. Many people were urged to get to the highest point of their homes. This is the same area hit a year ago by deadly flooding, but this time there were more emergency alerts thanks to more than 100 new flood warning towers that were installed.
Millions of people from the Great Lakes to New England are being encouraged to stay inside again today. This is thanks to thick smoke from Canadian wildfires. This was Chicago Thursday. You can barely see the skyline under the haze. The smoke has polluted the air well beyond the hazardous level in several major cities.
And there could be some relief this weekend as forecasters are saying that thunderstorms could help clear the air across the Northeast and Ohio Valley tomorrow.
Internationally, we are tracking some new developments in the war with Iran, as Iranian state media says that at least eight people were killed in overnight strikes and 20 others were wounded. This happened during strikes on bridges and infrastructure on Thursday. Some of that damage you're looking at now.
The U.S. has targeted bridges connecting southern cities in Iran as it tries to gain control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has expanded its range of attacks on American allies in the region as Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan have come under fire in recent days, with last night marking Iran's largest retaliation since the fragile ceasefire agreement fell apart.
Developing this morning, shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and served at some Taco Bell restaurants has so far been linked to hundreds of cases in that outbreak caused by a parasite that is from sources familiar with the investigation. Now this was in four Midwestern states and it's at least the second time since 2013 that Taylor Farms is lettuce has been tied to cyclospora cases. Taco Bell says it will completely replace its supply of lettuce with another supplier's product within 24 hours.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had a tense meeting with several survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It was the first time that he had met with them or their loved ones, and apparently, neither side was satisfied with how things played out. One woman says the talks were a, quote, "waste of time," adding it amounted to a lot of lip service from the A.G. nominee. Survivors are frustrated, saying they felt Blanche was repeatedly telling them they need to report the crimes all over again to the FBI and provide corroboration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANI BENSKY, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: I mean, it wasn't substantive. It was not productive. It was a lot of, "I didn't say that. I didn't say that. You should go back to the FBI," and things that we've heard before, and it very much felt like we were just ticking the box off of the meeting.
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SMITH: Republican Senator Thom Tillis essentially demanded the meeting take place, saying that would be the way to get his vote for Blanche's confirmation. Now afterwards, Tillis praised Blanche for his, quote, "willingness to directly engage and listen to survivors".
Well, friends and family gathered to honor the Texas man who was shot and killed by ICE last week as he was driving to work in Houston. Now this comes as Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's family pushed back against the claims that FBI -- by the FBI that a crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine was found inside his work van. The family's attorney saying those bags were not an illicit substance at all, but, quote, "granulated salt," which is paired with lemon and water as a homemade electrolyte mix used by outdoor workers in extreme Texas heat. Continue to track any of the investigations as we receive more information there.
We've got lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. A grandmother was trapped in a car where it was about 100 degrees inside. How she finally got out.
And why is the person in charge of President Trump's teleprompter now under investigation? We've got those answers coming your way.
Plus -- that Blue Angel jet's low flyby at a beach was under investigation. So, what happened?
That's coming your way on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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SMITH: President Trump's teleprompter operator is now under federal investigation or under just investigation for potential insider trading.
CNN's Marshall Cohen explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARSHALL COHEN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Sources tell me that President Trump's longtime teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, seen here in this AP photo, is under investigation by federal regulators for potential insider trading. Perez was allegedly trading on what Trump would say at some of his speeches. The prediction site, Kalshi, uncovered the suspicious activity and referred the matter to the CFTC, which regulates prediction markets.
The White House says Perez is cooperating with the probe.
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I'm aware of the report. The president is, too.
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I spoke with him about it. He believes it's deeply unfortunate and, frankly, a disgrace. This individual will no longer be here. He'll be on paid administrative leave. I'm sorry, without pay. The administrative leave is unpaid.
COHEN: So how could this even happen in the first place? Prediction sites like Polymarket and Kalshi have something called mentioned markets where you can bet on what politicians and celebrities are going to say at their public events. These markets are very popular. We've already seen hundreds of millions of dollars on mentioned markets this year alone.
These markets are especially popular for Trump because you never know what he's going to say unless of course. You're the teleprompter guy. This is precisely why critics say these markets need more regulation because they are so vulnerable to corruption and abuse just like this. This is the first publicly known instance of potential insider trading coming from the Trump White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: A man is in custody and an investigation is underway after a frightening incident at the "NBC Today Show" studio. Authorities say that a man was able to slip past tight security and allegedly lunge at anchor Craig Melvin and then allegedly hurl a racial slur. This all happened yesterday morning. According to New York police, he entered through a secured area near
the studio and asked for Al Roker. When he didn't find the longtime co-host, he allegedly turned his attention to Craig Melvin. No injuries were reported.
But Craig Melvin later sent this message to fans thanking everyone for reaching out and checking on him. He said that he's doing fine and will be back on the air this morning.
An update now on that low Blue Angels flyover in Florida earlier this week. The acting secretary of the Navy says that there will be no reprimands and no firings over it. It was all captured on video by a local drone company. The video says that the planes were so low, they caused what he called a mini tornado. Wednesday was the start of the Pensacola Beach Blue Angels Air Show Week.
Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, how A.I. is making it easier to get prescriptions refilled. It's a first-of-its-kind program in one state. We've got the details for you on how it works straight ahead.
And we are continuing to follow developments of lettuce sold at Taco Bell linked to an outbreak of a parasitic diarrhea that has sickened thousands. We've got those details you need to know before you take your next fight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:22:00]
SMITH: Is A.I. ready to take over your prescription refills? Well, Utah is trying to figure that out.
CNN's Leigh Waldman takes us inside a first-of-its-kind program.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAM OSKOWITZ, CO-FOUNDER, DOCTRONIC: You can't have high access to healthcare without bringing down the cost. And so that is really the focus of what we're trying to do. I'm out of it.
LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Doctronic's co- founders created the A.I. program to connect people to healthcare. The prescription refill program was developed out of a necessity.
Adam Oskowitz saw himself as a doctor.
OSKOWITZ: We focused on an area that we felt was something that was a big friction point for both patients and physicians. but was also lower risk.
WALDMAN (voice-over): The program cannot create new prescriptions. It can only refill existing ones. On its website, Doctronic details the 190 medications currently available.
Utah became the first state to authorize an A.I. system to participate in the medical decision-making process. MATT PAVELLE, CO-FOUNDER, DOCTRONIC: We take the data and we run it through our A.I. and then use human doctors to verify that it's all safe and accurate.
WALDMAN (voice-over): An assessment by the state of Utah of the first five months of the pilot program shows and the cases where A.I. recommended medication renewal, reviewing physicians overwhelmingly agreed.
Dr. Eric Bressman with the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine sees the value in A.I.'s involvement, but wants to ensure it follows the same rigorous standards human doctors are held to.
DR. ERIC BRESSMAN, PERELMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: What I would like to see is a framework that has been sort of outlined in advance, that outlines these benchmarks and competencies ahead of time, and that I want that to look a little bit more like what we think about when we're licensing humans to practice.
WALDMAN (voice-over): Bressman also pointed out that certain medications like blood thinners and cardiac drugs should be monitored closely and should not always be renewed.
In New York, I'm Leigh Waldman.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Thank you, Leigh.
Merck says the FDA has given the green light to its cholesterol pill. Lipfendra is set to be the first pill version of a class of cholesterol drugs that usually come in the form of a shot. The FDA says clinical trials show that it cuts so-called bad cholesterol by more than 50 percent compared to placebos.
Straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, the president delivers a speech accusing China of meddling in U.S. elections. This morning, China's denying the president's claims. We've got the latest straight ahead.
And parts of Texas still under a flood watch as a final push of storms move through the region. Coming up, we've got more on the flooding that officials say has claimed at least two lives.
Stay with us on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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[05:29:22]
SMITH: It is half past the hour. Let's hit the refresh button on our top stories.
President Trump used his primetime address to push for election reforms ahead of November's midterms. He says that declassified information that he claims shows foreign meddling into U.S. elections and vulnerabilities in voting machines and mail-in ballots. But the president did not offer any proof to show that votes or election outcomes had been changed.
Also, a new flash flood warning is in effect for a portion of Kerr County, Texas. As the final push of storms moves through the devastated area, scenes and images like this playing out in too far.
