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CNN Headlines: CENTCOM: U.S. Forces End Ninth Night Of Strikes On Iran; ICE Officer Connected To Fatal Maine Shooting Had Claimed "Cognitive Deficits" After Serious Head Injury; Spain Win Second World Title With 1-0 Victory Over Argentina. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired July 20, 2026 - 05:30   ET

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

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[05:30:40]

BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: It is half past the hour. Let's hit the refresh button on our top stories.

It was a weekend of escalating strikes between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. completed its ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, according to CENTCOM, while Iranian state media reports that its military launched missiles towards "enemy targets" after Tehran accused the U.S. of striking one of its nuclear power plants.

Also, new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham set to begin his term today. He'll be sworn in after being confirmed as the new leader for the Labour Party on Friday. Burnham is now the seventh prime minister in a decade, and this marks a period of political turmoil for the U.K.

And the FDA is now saying that they got a false positive when testing a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce. But even with that the produce supplier, Taylor Farms, is recalling iceberg, the lettuce, shipped to 27 states, out of an abundance of caution there permitting that recall.

Let's return now back to our stop story as U.S.-Iran strikes ramp up. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that the U.S. is still open to diplomacy. Now meanwhile, the recent deaths of American service members in the Middle East are raising fears that the war with Iran could expand.

CNN's Julia Benbrook has more.

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JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In brief remarks, President Donald Trump said that he believes that Iran has been damaged very, very badly and he reiterated a point that he has made throughout this now nearly five-month conflict that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

This came just shortly after U.S. Central Command had announced that they were carrying out another wave of strikes against Iran, saying this is a statement that "CENTCOM began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran at 7:00 p.m. ET" on Sunday. This is the ninth consecutive night. "The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

This continues days of escalation in the region. Again, the ninth consecutive night of U.S. strikes as well as waves of Iranian drones and missiles fired at a widening number of targets in countries with U.S. bases.

Now this also comes after the news that two U.S. service members were killed in an attack in Jordan. Any service member was categorized as missing in action. They've provided a bit of an update there saying that they did find remains in that area, but they are waiting on the verification process and things there.

Now there was another service member killed in northern Iraq. They say that this happened "...during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone." This brings the total number of U.S. service members killed during this monthslong conflict to 17.

Julia Benbrook, CNN, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SMITH: We are tracking a developing story out of Houston as hundreds of protesters gathered on Sunday demanding justice and accountability in the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo Salgado Araujo. He was killed by an ICE agent nearly two weeks ago and federal officials have said that he was not the target of the operation when he was shot.

And there are new details in a different deadly shooting by an ICE officer; this one in Maine. A quick warning that some may find this report disturbing.

CNN has confirmed that David Brouillette was among the officers at the scene but has not independently confirmed that he was the officer who discharged his weapon. Now a CNN investigation has uncovered court records showing that Brouillette previously reported lingering cognitive issues after a serious head injury and revealing other questions about his background.

CNN's Gloria Pazmino takes a closer look here.

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GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, and we're getting a much fuller picture about who this officer is now that we have confirmed that David Brouillette was among the officers in the scene in Biddeford, Maine where an ICE officer fatally shot Joan Sebastian Duran Guerrero. This is all according to two of his ex-wives who reviewed photos and spoke with CNN.

[05:35:05]

Now we should mention that CNN has not independently confirmed whether Brouillette was the officer who discharged the weapon killing Duran Guerrero and investigators have not publicly identified the officer who shot the victim.

Federal sources have separately confirmed to CNN that Brouillette is an ICE officer. The Department of Homeland Security has declined to comment on the identity of the officer, and they have said that the officer used deadly force because they feared for public safety.

Now we have been trying to gather details to get a fuller picture about who Brouillette is. My colleagues Michael Williams, Curt Devine, and Priscilla Alvarez have been combing through public documents and what has emerged is a troubling picture that raises serious questions about how ICE is doing its training and its officer vetting as they race to meet the demands of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

One of Brouillette's ex-wives and one of his daughters also told CNN that he contacted them days after the shooting and said that he had opened fire. Both said he told them that the thought the shooting was justified.

Now here's some of what we have learned. In 2023, Brouillette told a court in Maine that he had suffered lingering cognitive issues after he suffered a serious head injury when a steel beam fell on his head during a training exercise for a firefighting certificate. He sued the Maine Community College System because of that injury. But it was just two years after he filed that lawsuit that he started working for ICE.

Brouillette's ex-wives also described a history of alleged domestic abuse and intimidation -- all of this in court filings where he denies the allegations. And we have not been able to confirm any criminal convictions or charges. We also reached out to Brouillette, and he did not respond to several requests for comments.

We should mention Duran Guerrero's killing was the second time that an ICE officer shot and killed an immigrant behind the wheel in the span of just a week and it's the fourth killing this year alone by federal immigration authorities.

Gloria Pazmino, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SMITH: Thank you, Gloria.

Protests against the building of data centers were held across the country over the weekend. Critics say that these centers could harm the environment and put a massive strain on resources. Supporters say that they are needed in order to expand technology and help boost local economies.

Now for just the second time in the country's history, Spain is the World Cup champion. La Roja beat Argentina 1-nil to cap a dominant run through the World Cup. Now Spain allowed only one goal in eight matches, setting a tournament record. The match may have also marked the end of an era for Argentina.

Superstar Lionel Messi was brought to tears after what could be the 39-year-old's last World Cup appearance.

CNN's Amanda Davies has more on the biggest moments from soccer, football's biggest game.

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AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: A who's who of film, music, and sporting royalty, a new star-studded halftime show, and that presidential trophy presentation, but none of it will overshadow Spain's moment. The best footballing team at this tournament have won. They fought the fighters and took victory. Took on the defending champions and stole their crown. Spain are the 2026 World Cup winners.

Spanish boss Luis de la Fuente had channeled a bit of Julius Caesar earlier in the tournament, saying you have to suffer to be successful. And boy, did his side do that all the way through to 120 minutes after a gladiatorial effort the Roman emperor would have been proud of and despite the weight of the crowd behind Argentina, the right team won. They were the ones trying to play, controlling possession, creating chances, and trying to score goals, while Argentina did their best to stop them.

Enzo Fernandez, seeing red, turned the tide. And ultimately it was Barcelona's Fernando Torres who scored the 106th minute winner to see Spain replicate history, like their predecessors in 2010, becoming world champions at the same time as being European champions.

It was a comeback too far for Argentina and this time wasn't to be for Messi. Emotional scenes after the final whistle as the 39-year-old's dreams of lifting the World Cup for the second-straight time fell short.

[05:40:00]

He cemented his legacy as the GOAT with her performances over the last few weeks and after 20 years we wait to see whether or not he feels he's got any more to give.

There's no doubt about that with this new generation of Spanish talent -- the likes of Rodri and Lamine Yamal -- setting a new benchmark as the sun sets on a World Cup unlike any other.

Amanda Davies, CNN, New Jersey.

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SMITH: Well, something else that Amanda got to witness firsthand for the first time in tournament history the World Cup final included a Super Bowl-style halftime show. Here is CNN's Don Riddell with more on the star-studded show that is dividing fans online.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DON RIDDELL, CNN ANCHOR: The World Cup final just got its first-ever official halftime show and the reactions were mixed. FIFA went all out with a celebrity-packed spectacle featuring performances from Madonna, BTS, Justin Beiber, and Shakira with Burna Boy. The Muppets showed up to play in the band and even Ted Lasso made an appearance. And the show capped off with a medley from Cold Play and the PS22 children's chorus from Staten Island.

Fans had plenty to say with social media quickly filling up with both praise and criticism of the halftime show. And whether you loved it or hated it, the World Cup has officially entered its Super Bowl era.

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SMITH: All right Rightfully so, that kicks off Buzz Express for us, the stories that have people talking.

First up, Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of "The Odyssey." That brought in an epic $264 million in its worldwide opening weekend.

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Clip from Universal Pictures "The Odyssey."

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SMITH: Not sure how they got that footage of me sprinting. But the movie is based on Homer's ancient Greek poem. It stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and follows his journey home after the Trojan War. The film is Nolan's first since "Oppenheimer" in 2023 and is among his biggest opening weekends.

And the TV Academy is removing multiple categories from this year's Primetime Emmy show. The academy chair says the goal is a more creative and engaging show. But some labor unions, including SAG- AFTRA, are against the change. They say it devalues the contributions of talented employees.

Well, next up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, hundreds of protesters shout "Make America Go Away" as an ambassador's superyacht arrives in Venice. Why the mega boat is there.

Plus, runners from seven countries compete in the North Pole Marathon on drifting sea ice. How about places you won't catch me for $500? Let's see how they did.

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[05:47:20]

SMITH: Russia has launched one of its largest ballistic missile attacks on Ukraine since the war started more than four years ago.

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Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraine. (END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Ukraine's air force said Moscow launched the strike using attack drones and various types of missiles. Authorities say at least 16 people were killed and 77 injured across Ukraine, mainly in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. The largescale attack prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to issue a plea to allies to speed up delivers of previously promised air defense packages.

Let's go around the globe, starting in Italy. Crowds lined a pier in Venice to protest the arrival of the U.S. ambassador to Italy's superyacht, some carrying signs reading "Make America Go Away."

Here's what we know about his visit.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Protesters clashed with police in Venice as police say hundreds gathered to oppose the arrival of the U.S. ambassador to Italy. He was in his private 384-foot mega yacht named "Boardwalk."

The visit was part of Ambassador Tilman Fertitta's "Coastal Diplomacy 250" tour across Italy to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

STELLA FAI, DEMONSTRATOR: Tilman Fertitta actually represents the Trump administration and all of the politics that this administration is putting forward.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Police say around 300 people showed up to protest President Donald Trump's policies as well as the heightened security in place before an annual festival on Saturday in the city.

Residents in Venice have long struggled with the impact of mass tourism leaving fewer resources for locals.

FAI: So we still struggle to live in the city. Um, but then you have these giant billionaires that come with their giant yachts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The U.S. mission in Italy says Ambassador Fertitta is personally funding the trip and the embassy says he will meet with local communities, business leaders, and public officials from Italy's coastal regions. But protesters say there's "No space for billionaires."

President Trump appointed Fertitta, a multibillionaire businessman, in 2024.

CNN has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment on the protests.

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SMITH: A wildfire in southern France has forced several evacuations of the towns on the Mediterranean coast. Authorities say that strong winds and drought fueled the blaze's rapid spread. The fire has scorched around 450 acres of land so far. The World Meteorological Organization warned last month that record temperatures in western Europe have worsened the risk of wildfires.

[05:50:08]

And at least six people are dead after two earthquakes in the mountains of Peru. More than 30 people are hurt. And the quakes hit about 185 miles east of the capital of Lima late on Saturday. Authorities say dozens of homes were either destroyed or damaged, displacing about 300 people. Peru is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone that accounts for about 85 percent of all seismic activity in the world.

Let's take you to the North Pole now. That's where 22 runners from seven countries took part in the annual North Pole Marathon. Runners sprinted across drifting sea ice and faced wind chills down to just 23 degrees Fahrenheit. They even had armed polar bear patrols. In the end, Denmark's Rikke Dam took the ladies title and China's Shengxian Wang took it home for the men's.

And check this out in London. A 28-year-old has set a new world record for the fastest mile. CNN's Coy Wire has more.

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COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR (voiceover): Three minutes and 42.66 seconds. That's how fast 28-year-old Josh Kerr ran a mile, setting a new world record that was held for almost three decades. The British runner broke Moroccan legend Hicham El Guerrouj's time by just .47 seconds on Saturday. El Guerrouj set the record back in 1999 in Rome when Kerr was only one year old.

Kerr is also the 2023 World Champion in the 1500-meter event. His previous best mile time was three minutes and 45.34 seconds in 2024.

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SMITH: He was fast.

Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, we're pretty fast ourselves. A dramatic rescue caught on camera. A police officer with some fast thinking pulls a man from a car just seconds before it goes up in flames. We have that story.

Plus, stuck in a muddy mess. Nearly two dozen visitors stranded in a national park after a mudslide. How they made it out when CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS returns.

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[05:56:33]

SMITH: In today's Money Express, the national average price for gas hits $4.00 once again. The renewed conflict with Iran rattles the energy market.

And Maribel Aber is tracking this for us from the Nasdaq MarketSite. Maribel, what are oil prices looking like, and what's that passthrough?

MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, MONEY MATTERS: OK, Brad. Oil prices surged as fighting between the U.S. and Iran intensified. Brent Crude climbed around $90 a barrel while U.S. crude traded in that mid-$80 range.

AAA says unleaded gas now averages $4.00 a gallon nationally. Diesel is up to $5.11, nearly a quarter from last week.

The FDA says lettuce that initially reported positive for cyclospora was actually a false positive. The parasite can cause severe digestive issues and has been the focus of a widespread outbreak in recent weeks. Despite the finding, Taylor Farms is keeping its iceberg lettuce recall in place as it works with the FDA and CDC on the outbreak investigation. The CDC says more than 1,600 illnesses have been reported in five states and 94 people have been hospitalized with no deaths reported.

The Powerball jackpot has climbed to $544 million for tonight's drawing at 10:59 p.m. Eastern. The cash value is just under $242 million before taxes. Meanwhile, Mega Millions is up to $707 million for Tuesday night's drawing at 11:00 p.m. Eastern. The lump sum option is nearly $308 million for that jackpot.

Brad, you've got to be in it to win it.

SMITH: Look, it's a key part of my financial planning.

Maribel Aber, thank you so much.

Let's take a look at some of the other stories making headlines across the country.

We start in Texas. That's where bodycam video shows a police officer step in to pull man from a car just seconds before it was engulfed in flames. Take a look.

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POLICE OFFICER: Give me your hand now. I've got you. All right, you OK? Anybody in the car?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

POLICE OFFICER: No one else in the car? No one else in the car? Come with me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: An officer who was dealing with an unrelated traffic stop at the time ran to the car as flames spread beneath it. And he says the driver's door handle came off when he tried to open it, so he broke the window and pulled the driver to safety. Thankfully, neither were seriously hurt.

All right, let's take you to New Jersey, the Garden State. Drivers were seen wading chest-deep water. Officials say that multiple cars were stuck, prompting several water rescues. No injuries were reported.

And in New York, the National Weather Service says that up to four inches of rain fell on Saturday. The weather caused flight delays and cancellations at multiple airports.

Nearly two dozen visitors, elsewhere, were stranded after several mudslides blocked a roadway at a national park in Colorado Thursday. Just take a look at this. That's what they were facing. The National Park Service -- they say that the mudslides -- they were triggered by a thunderstorm. No injuries were reported. The 21 visitors were all evacuated by Friday morning. The Park Service says the road and surrounding picnic site and campground will remain closed until damages are fully repaired.

And this is something you don't see every day. Yes, that is a dog swimming in the San Francisco Bay. The pup had been missing for nearly two weeks when firefighters got a call over the weekend reporting that the canine was in the water. They used a drone to locate the tiny pooch. The dog is now safe and back with its owners. Homeward bound.

[06:00:10]

Well, that does it for CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS here. I'm Brad Smith. "CNN THIS MORNING WITH AUDIE CORNISH" starts right now.