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CNN Headlines: Sheriff: Man Arrested On Arson Charge In 1 Of 3 Spokane Fires; Millions of Acres Burning Across Pacific Northwest; Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens Make Final Pitches In Michigan Senate Primary; Trump Doesn't Fire Pirro After Saying She "Choked" Over Reflecting Pool Case; Blanche Formally Rescinds "Anti-Weaponization" Fund Amid Senate Confirmation Push. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired August 04, 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]
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GOV. BOB FERGUSON (D), WASHINGTON: It takes a tragic situation. Just makes it more heartbreaking to think that that much of this damage could have been caused by an individual doing this on purpose.
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BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: A major development in those devastating wildfires in Washington state, an arrest overnight.
And the tension is building between U.S. attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, and President Trump. Where she stands after he claimed that she choked over that reflecting pool case.
And --
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our oil pressure is dropping down into the red. And we do have fumes in the cockpit from the oil.
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SMITH: When a major interstate is the only place you can go. More on what drivers saw when this plane came in for a landing.
Plus --
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SHERIFF'S DEPUTY: He's going to shoot me. And then he pointed a rifle at me.
SHERIFF'S DEPUTY: Hands up!
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SMITH: A six-hour standoff between a suspect and deputies. What else that body cam video shows?
SMITH: 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.
Hundreds of homes destroyed, thousands of lives changed forever, and now police say they have an arson suspect. Late Monday, we learned that a man has been arrested in connection with the Old Trails Fire. That is one of three major fires ravaging Spokane, Washington, this morning.
An arrest that the Washington governor says adds to the absolute anguish that victims are enduring. Still, no containment at this hour. With weather conditions forecast to worsen starting tomorrow.
CNN's Julia Vargas Jones is there sharing this heartbreaking story.
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JIM ZIMMER, HOMEOWNER: So then we reached out to my neighbor and all he could say was I -- you know, I'm sorry to tell you, but our homes are gone and -- and so, yeah, that's when hope, you know, disappeared.
KERRY ZIMMER, HOMEOWNER: We thought there could be a house, there could be a house. I just had to hope. I just had to hope.
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is one of the neighborhoods that was the hardest hit by the fires in Spokane County. It's house after house, completely destroyed by the fire. It's heart wrenching to see these little pieces of humanity peeking out from the ashes, from these charred homes.
There's barely anybody here right now. And that is in part because it's unclear whether or not people can access their homes at this point. Some checkpoints are allowing people through, some are not. It's just really hard to fathom and multiply the grief of one family times thousands that had to flee their homes.
More than 700 structures damaged or destroyed. I can only imagine what will happen here in just how beautiful these homes once were.
K. ZIMMER: When you close your eyes and think about the house, you think about the garden. You think about all the family and friends that have been here, and the great times. But luckily, Jim took photos of every single room before we left so we can see that and really remember everything.
J. ZIMMER: Yeah.
K. ZIMMER: I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Julia Vargas Jones there and really doing a great job of taking us through the devastation that these families are dealing with right now.
And that is just one of so many stories that are hard to watch and hear. The Pacific Northwest is seeing an area bigger than Delaware burn so far this fire season. It's the worst in decades. We're going to have more on that later on in the show.
It is election day in five states, but there's a big focus on Michigan and a key race for U.S. Senate. Will voters pick the more progressive choice, or the candidate backed by the establishment?
After a long and messy campaign, Democrats will decide between Congresswoman Haley Stevens or Abdul El-Sayed. Both making last minute pitches in hopes of securing that nomination.
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REP. HALEY STEVENS (D), MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE: There is a reason why Republicans are already spending thousands and thousands of dollars meddling in this primary, trying to maybe get their preferred candidate. Look, when it comes to Michigan, I run through anyone and anything to stand up for us.
(CHEERS)
ABDUL EL-SAYED (D), MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE: This movement of ours has proven that it can come through $80 million of spending in lies, because we're willing to hold with us the truth. We're willing to do that thing that democracy is built on, which is having the conversations eye to eye with your neighbor about who we are and who we want to be, what we want for our America.
The work is not over. We don't know what the votes will say. Hello. I feel pretty good about it.
(CHEERS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: The winner will face former House Republican Mike Rogers in the November midterms. He secured an endorsement from President Trump last night.
Democrats need this win to stand a chance at taking back control of the Senate.
Well, U.S. attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro still has her job this morning. But multiple sources say President Trump did not fire her, nor did she offer her resignation during a White House meeting Monday afternoon. Sources had said that Trump was considering removing Pirro following her decision to drop the charges against several people that the president claimed vandalized the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
In a court filing, Pirro's office concluded that the issues with the pool stemmed from a flawed renovation. A source tells CNN the decision blindsided President Trump.
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It looked beautiful, and then they cut it and they vandalized. And we weren't necessarily thrilled with the contractor. The judge was extremely unfriendly to Jeanine. And frankly, I think she choked because the judge was really vicious. Instead of going after the people that did it, the judge went after her, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro. She -- she folded like an umbrella.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Wow.
Following those remarks, a source confirmed President Trump met with Pirro as well as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at the White House. Pirro's office blamed the Interior Department for not being forthcoming with information about the bungled renovation. However, Burgum has stood by Trump's allegations of vandalism.
The first deaths tied to the multistate cyclospora outbreak are being reported in Michigan. Doctors say the two people also had significant underlying health conditions. Now those are all the details that the state health department says it plans to release. Deaths from this illness are rare, and officials say it's not typically life threatening.
The CDC has confirmed more than 6,700 U.S. cases this season. That is far more than the usual.
Well, happening today, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to meet for a potential vote on Todd Blanche, President Trump's pick for attorney general. Blanche's confirmation is likely to advance after he formally rescinded Trump's so-called anti-weaponization fund on Sunday. Sources say the White House was involved in that decision.
The move came after two key Republican senators threatened to withhold their votes until there was written assurance the program was dead. Senator John Cornyn's office confirmed a deal was reached with the Justice Department to formally terminate the fund. Sources familiar with the matter tell CNN that the White House was deeply involved in the negotiations. But yesterday, Trump denied seeing any details of the deal.
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REPORTER: Mr. President, did you sign off on Todd Blanche rescinding?
TRUMP: I didn't look at it. All I know is that Todd Blanche is great. He's going to do a great job. Everybody knows it. And I understand there's been a sign off, but I don't know what they agreed.
I think Todd Blanche agreed to reconfirm things that he's already said. And what he said was okay.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SMITH: All right. Now, to this -- you still have a chance to become a millionaire. Monday's Powerball drawing, it came without a grand prize winner, bringing the total jackpot to $786 million. The estimated cash value sits at more than $341 million. You can catch the next drawing tomorrow night, Wednesday.
We've got lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. Remember early social media giant MySpace? Well, it may be making a comeback. We've got details on that in the hour.
And a scary scene for Florida drivers. A plane forced to make an emergency landing on a highway. We've got the full details there.
And medical professionals testify about the mental state of a Massachusetts mom who is on trial for the killings of her three children. The latest in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, coming up.
Stay with us
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[05:14:03]
SMITH: Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial heard testimony from doctors and nurses about her physical and mental condition in the days after killing her three children. One psychiatrist said that she was calm and cooperative.
Here's CNN's Randi Kaye with more.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you ask her about her mood that day?
DR. JHILAM BISWAS, PSYCHIATRIST: I did ask her, her mood.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what did she write?
BISWAS: She wrote horrified.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As the second week of Lindsay Clancy's murder trial got underway, doctors and nurses testified about their assessment of both her physical condition and her mental health.
BISWAS: She wrote down, do I have an attorney? And I said with my team that at this time, we're just getting to know you and getting to know the case. And we're not sure exactly, you know, what -- what is happening.
And we asked her, do you have questions for us?
[05:15:00]
And she asked, is my body broken? Are my legs straight? And she -- she then asked about, can she have visitors? And you know where her family is. KAYE: That is a forensic psychiatrist who testified about meeting
with Lindsay Clancy before she had surgery. Remember, she had jumped out of the second floor window of her home after killing her children. She had to answer questions with pen and paper because this psychiatrist says Lindsay Clancy was intubated.
A psychiatrist who spoke with Clancy after her surgery said that during her evaluation, Clancy told her she did not have any suicidal or homicidal intent. She listed Clancy's insight and judgment as fair and correct, but did say that Clancy had reported hallucinations the night before.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her behavior was calm and cooperative.
DR. SEJAL SHAH, PSYCHIATRIST: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And, you didn't see anything about her behavior that would indicate to you that she was responding to some type of voices or hallucination that you couldn't see.
SHAH: At that moment, no. But as I mentioned, I did speak with the nurse beforehand, and Ms. Clancy was able to report to me that she reported visual hallucinations overnight.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Overnight after surgery?
SHAH: That's right.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: All right. Thank you, Randi.
Former special counsel Jack Smith is willing to testify publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee next month. That is according to a letter from his attorneys. Smith has been under oath on Capitol Hill before and defended his investigation into President Trump as fully within the law and DOJ policy.
Congressman Jim Jordan recently asked the Justice Department to consider prosecuting smith, alleging that he misled a House committee in his testimony last year. But smith and his lawyers say he did nothing wrong and no charges were filed.
All right. Here's some inspiration for you this morning. A man made a record breaking 99-mile swim across the Baltic Sea from Sweden to Poland, raising money for cancer treatment. He was in the water for more than 54 hours. This was his fifth attempt, and so far, he's raised more than $220,000. Excellent work there and stamina.
Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, why several countries are calling for the head of FIFA to step aside. The drama that is brewing globally on the pitch and off the pitch.
And the man accused of killing a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband appears in court and makes an unusual request. We've got the details ahead. Stay with us. You're watching CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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[05:22:04]
SMITH: The man who accused -- is accused of killing Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, he made his first appearance in state court after getting a life sentence on federal charges. Now, during the hearing, he made an unusual request that Senator Amy Klobuchar testify in his case, according to "The Star Tribune". Now, Boelter says that he wants her to testify about the five trips he allegedly made to D.C. to meet with the elected officials before the shooting last year.
In a statement, the senator said she's never met Boelter. The judge told him that his request was something he should take up with his attorney.
Well, a Senate committee will hold a vote this week on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. That is according to Senator Rand Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Now, last week, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times during a heated hearing on pandemic response.
Before leaving office, President Biden issued preemptive pardons for Fauci and others targeted by then incoming-President Trump.
Well, pressure is mounting on FIFA's president to step aside. Three more national soccer federations -- football federations now say that they won't support his reelection, while the European football governing body is threatening legal action over his failed World Cup investment plan.
CNN's Coy Wire is breaking this one down for us.
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COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: The aftershocks from the World Cup just keep getting bigger. Despite FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, scrapping their plans to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors, the backlash from the global football community is not going away. Just days after UEFA voted unanimously to boycott FIFA competitions over the initial proposal, European football's governing body has now threatened FIFA with legal action and said any potential evidence should not be destroyed.
Lawyers have informed FIFA that UEFA is, quote, "actively considering legal action, arbitration and or regulatory complaints arising out of and in connection with the FIFA forward enterprise plan proposed by FIFA and all related matters."
The letter, named 18 FIFA execs who it said should retain data, documents and electronic messages as potential evidence.
David Bernstein, former English football association chairman, says the pressure needs to stay on for an eventual removal. Listen.
DAVID BERNSTEIN, FORMER CHAIRMAN, ENGLISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: Oh, it's extremely serious. I don't think he can survive. I mean, I think that UEFA have taken a very strong line and they threatened to, of course, withdraw from the World Cup next time if the proposal was not withdrawn.
Well, it has been withdrawn, so that's good. But I think they should maintain that position, pending Infantino's leaving FIFA because the deal and Infantino are now joined together at the hip. And I think they've got to absolutely push maximum at this time now to get him out and move on. Otherwise, football's going to be bitterly divided over the next period.
[05:25:08]
WIRE: CNN also understands that the English Football Association is set to write to Infantino to withdraw its support for his reelection. This, after Wales became the first nation to do so. FIFA presidential elections are set for March.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: All right. Coy Wire, thank you.
Straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS house is destroyed. Lives ruined. And now a person is arrested in connection with devastating fires in Washington state. We've got the full details.
Plus, former Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight on the witness list in the upcoming trial. And the man accused in the murder of Tupac Shakur. We've got the latest developments there for you.
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