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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN Headlines: Sen. Darline Graham (R) Advances To Runoff Against Rep. Ralph Norman; U.S. Marine Veteran Robert Gilman Freed After Years In Russian Detention; Total Solar Eclipse Expected Today In Europe. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired August 12, 2026 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:30:00]
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: It is half past the hour. Let's hit the refresh button on our top stories here.
President Trump is speaking out about the secret plane -- that switch took place in Turkey last month prompted by an Iranian assassination threat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It was really as per the military, and I just have to do what they say. Uh, they go for safety and I have to do what they say.
REPORTER: Why was it too dangerous for you to fly on Air Force One but not too dangerous for the press?
TRUMP: Well, I don't know. I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Trump secretly exited Air Force One through a catering truck that you see highlighted in this video. He then flew on a smaller military plane. The press was unaware that they were traveling on what essentially was a decoy plane.
President Trump flew to Ohio earlier yesterday to watch the end of the Patriot Games, the Trump-backed event featuring high schoolers from every U.S. state, territory and some tribal nations competing in various athletic challenges for $125,000 in scholarship money. But some politicians and observers say it wasn't a fair contest, alleging competitors were chosen for their alignment with Trump's politics rather than merit.
And CNN projects Milwaukee County executive David Crowley, a moderate Democrat, will win Wisconsin's primary for governor. In picking Crowley, Democrats in Wisconsin chose the last moderate standing against Hong, a democratic socialist.
Now in the Minnesota race for U.S. senator, it was the progressives that pulled ahead. The state's current lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, will be the Democratic nominee. Now she easily defeated centrist Congresswoman Angie Craig.
Meanwhile, the Trump-backed businessman and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell failed to get the Republican nod in Minnesota's governor's primary. The My Pillow founder lost to state House Speaker Lisa Demuth. She will face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November. Klobuchar ran virtually unopposed for her party's nomination.
And in South Carolina, the Republican nomination now moves to a runoff in two weeks. Neither Darline Graham nor her opponent Ralph Norman got a majority of the vote.
Graham, the sister to late Sen. Lindsey Graham spoke last night to supporters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DARLINE GRAHAM, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA Thank you, everyone. First, I want to say that this is a very emotional night because I'm usually standing here celebrating with Lindsey. So I know he's looking down right now smiling though, so that gives me peace, but it's difficult.
I want to thank President Trump. His steadfast support and his complete and total endorsement mean so much to me. He knows that I will stand with him and fight for his agenda just like Lindsey did.
I also want to thank my opponents, especially Russell Fry and Mark Sanford. They ran a good race.
Most importantly, I want to thank the Republican voters of South Carolina for having confidence in me. I look forward to the next two weeks meeting with you, listening to your concerns, and telling you more about me and my conservative values.
I decided to answer the call to serve because South Carolina and President Trump need a leader who is tough, principled, and will fight to advance our conservative values in Washington. I've been accused of not being a politician. Guilty as charged.
I will spend the next two weeks of this runoff meeting with voters, and unlike some politicians, listening to their concerns. Yes, listening to their concerns. This seat belongs to the people of South Carolina, and I will work hard to earn your vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: A former U.S. Marine is back on American soil after more than four years in Russian detention. Robert Gilman was released yesterday after warnings about his deteriorating health and allegations of torture.
CNN's Jennifer Hansler has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: U.S. Marine veteran Robert Gilman was released from Russian detention on Tuesday after more than 4 1/2 years after mounting concerns around his health. Gilman was released on humanitarian grounds, according to both U.S. officials and a Russian official. The U.S. official said nothing was exchanged or given to secure Gilman's release.
Now, President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the matter and Putin had agreed to free him. Trump also said that he spoke with Gilman on his way back to the United States and that Gilman had "one request," a really great cheeseburger when he landed back in the U.S.
Now his ability to speak with the president was a promising initial sign given the massive concerns around his health. However, a picture posted by both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio showed Gilman as incredibly gaunt. And a source told CNN that he was non-ambulatory, meaning that he wasn't able to necessarily stand up or walk on his own.
[05:35:11]
After arriving back in the U.S., Gilman is expected to be treated at a military hospital in Texas where his family will also meet him.
There have been mounting concerns around Gilman's health in recent weeks. An advocate for the family told CNN that he was subjected to psychological and physical torture while he was detained in Russia and that more than six weeks ago, he had slipped into a dissociated stupor. His family was concerned that they might not ever see him alive.
Gilman's sister, Lexie Hudson, said in a statement on Tuesday that she was incredibly grateful that her brother was on his way back to the United States. Her statement said in part, "There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action." She also thanked Sen. Ed Markey for his work on this case.
Jennifer Hansler, CNN, the State Department.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Thank you, Jennifer.
A judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to pay more than $250,000 to a jazz musician it previously sued. Chuck Redd pulled out of the center's annual Christmas Eve concert after its board voted to rename the building for President Trump. The Kennedy Center sued Redd for breach of contract, but a judge dismissed the case in June, finding Redd never signed a contract to perform. Now that same judge has ordered the center to pay $252,000 in Redd's legal fees and costs.
Federal contractors have started clearing land in Big Bend National Park in Texas. It's part of a border security project that's drawn intense pushback. Video shows excavators and bulldozers tearing down bushes and trees. Critics say that it's a disruption to private and federally protected lands. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the project will include about
200 miles of patrol roads and detection technology. It awarded a company $1.7 billion to build the border security measures in the park.
Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial heard new details about her mental health treatment and prescription medications. A psychiatrist nurse practitioner who treated Clancy testified that she repeatedly asked to change her medications, citing side effects and concerns about dependence.
Sera Congi from our affiliate WCVB has more for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At any point did she ever indicate to you thoughts of wanting to harm her children?
REBECCA JOLLOTTA, PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER: No.
SERA CONGI, REPORTER, WCVB (voiceover): Another medical provider who treated Lindsay Clancy takes the stand in her murder trial. Clancy is accused of killing her three children in their Duxbury home in January of 2023.
The defense argues she suffered postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated.
JOLLOTTA: Intrusive suicidal thoughts.
CONGI (voiceover): Rebecca Jollotta is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at a specialized program for pregnant and postpartum women. Clancy was treated there for over a month shortly before the killings.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was she able to advocate for herself and express that she had some knowledge about some of these medications?
JOLLOTTA: Yes.
CONGI (voiceover): Jollotta testified about changing prescriptions multiple times to manage Clancy's insomnia and depression. Jollotta also considered Clancy may be bipolar, raising the issue during an appointment with Lindsay and her husband.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did Patrick and Lindsay seem receptive to your diagnosis?
JOLLOTTA: I recall Patrick saying, "My wife in not bipolar." Lindsay looked at me and she did not -- she did not say anything.
CONGI (voiceover): On cross-examination, the defense pressed Jollotta on whether she did enough to treat Clancy, zeroing in on Patrick Clancy's concern about several medications.
KEVIN REDDINGTON, LINDSAY CLANCY'S ATTORNEY: Do you recall that he said that you're turning her into a zombie?
JOLLOTTA: I do not recall that he said that.
REDDINGTON: Would you say to the jury that he was concerned or he was pissed off about the medication and what it was doing to his wife?
JOLLOTTA: I would say he was concerned.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: OK. So can you see the funnel cloud there on your screen? This is Jackson County, Ohio. It is just one of the states hit by a line of deadly storms. At one point more than a million homes and businesses lost power. And watch this. A car flipped because of the powerful winds on a highway in Columbus, Ohio. Hurricane-force winds more than 90 miles per -- 90 miles per hour were felt in that area.
And flooding was also an issue with these storms. Just take a look at this. One area in Ohio saw the highest level for a flash flood warning sent out yesterday because a month's worth of rain was falling in nearly three hours there.
Storms also swept through the Chicago area and here is some of the video from the upper floors of buildings showing the clouds and rain rolling in. Everybody stay safe out there.
[05:40:05]
Next up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS there's this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Baby being rescued in earthquake rubble in Colombia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: An amazing site -- a baby pulled from the rubble after Colombia's deadly earthquake. That's coming up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
(COMMERCIAL)
SMITH: Crews are racing to find survivors amid the rubble following the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia Monday. More than 200 people are now confirmed dead.
CNN's Reed Benyon has the latest on the response.
[05:45:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REED BENYON, CNN REPORTER (voiceover): Colombia's president, on Tuesday, touring areas devastated by the massive earthquake that rocked the country Monday. The government declaring a national disaster as the nation's Army deploys forces to the most gravely devastated areas. Some areas hard to reach, including near the quake's epicenter, have yet to receive help, according to one indigenous leader.
A United Nations official says distribution of food is critical in the coming days. World leaders are offering assistance and so are aid groups.
FRANCINE DE LA ROSA, BOARD MEMBER, GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT MISSION: We've already deployed a team. They're already on the ground. The devastation is vast and it covers a large geographical area.
BENYON (voiceover): Volunteers in the U.S. also doing what they can to help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just trying to help our, you know, whoever might need it.
BENYON (voiceover): Those relief efforts coming amid ongoing rescue efforts. Emergency responders racing to find people still buried under the rubble. Volunteers aiding in the daunting task of locating survivors.
Video shows the moment that an infant was pulled from the wreckage of an apartment building. One of the rescuers said he and several other civilians helped save the child after he heard someone under the rubble calling for help.
The assistants and volunteers coming as first need all the help they can get amid the massive rescue effort. Crews also utilizing specialized search and rescue dogs that Colombian police say are playing a key role.
I'm Reed Benyon reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Today Europe will experience a total solar eclipse. That's something that hasn't happened in nearly 30 years. It will completely block out the sun across parts of Spain, Portugal, Greenland and Iceland.
CNN meteorologist Chris Warren explains why there may be another surprise for viewers later in the day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS WARREN, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Imagine watching the sun disappear twice in the same evening. On August 12, a total solar eclipse will cross Iceland and Spain, but for some viewers the biggest show may come in the final minutes of the day.
In parts of Spain totality arrives while the sun is just above the horizon, setting the stage for a rare eclipse at sunset. That means the sky could grow dark in the middle of golden hour, combining two of nature's most spectacular sights into a single event. For photographers it's a rare chance to capture the eclipse to sun
against the warm colors of sunset. Off Spain's Mediterranean Coast, the Balearic Islands may provide the best chance for some great shots with clear, unobstructed views to the west and over water. Because when the sun is that close to the horizon a single building, hill or cloud could be difference between seeing totality and missing it completely.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Yeah, that's gorgeous. Let's be real.
Be sure to tune for CNN's special coverage of the "TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE," 1:00 p.m. Eastern. That is 10:00 a.m. on the West Coast. Coverage will also be available on the CNN app.
First up in Buzz Express, comedian Tiffany Haddish is avoiding more jail time in her 2022 DUI arrest in Metro Atlanta. She pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor alcohol-related driving charge yesterday in a virtual hearing. The agreement dismisses all of the other traffic charges against her and she was credited for time served. However, Haddish's driver's license in Georgia is suspended and she has one year of probation and must finish a DUI course. Officials arrested Haddish after she was found sleeping behind the wheel at a traffic light.
And cinemas are so back. The summer is on track to be the biggest at the box office since 2019. Variety reports that domestic ticket sales officially crossed the $4 billion mark on Monday. Massive hits like "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" fueling the box office surge.
The only other time that we hit $4 billion since the pandemic was during 2023's Barbenheimer craze. That record currently sits at $4.09 billion. But with weeks to go until Labor Day, this summer is expected to easily take the top spot.
And Taylor Swift will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Yeah, color me surprised because I thought she was already there. This makes her the youngest inductee ever. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Swift's self-titled debut album. She has since released a total of 12 albums of original studio songs and four of rerecorded work. No word yet on when the ceremony will be held but officials say it will be sometime this fall.
And Martha Stewart is rocking a new do. She took to Instagram to debut the new rose-gold hair, transforming her signature blonde bob. Stewart just turned 85 years young at the beginning of this month.
[05:50:00]
All right. Tonight the Powerball jackpot is estimated to reach $1 billion, everyone. That is after no one picked all of the numbers Monday night. So tonight's drawing will be the largest U.S. lottery jackpot of the year. Last Christmas Eve a player in Arkansas took home $1.8 billion. May your spirits and luck be merry and bright. Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS this is not a problem that you want. Why a neighborhood in L.A. is dealing with a horrible stench. That's coming up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:55:00]
SMITH: On today's Money Express, Spotify plans to start labeling accounts that appear to be AI-generated. Starting in mid-September, Spotify will begin adding labels that say "AI Persona." So this badge is going to be displayed on the artist's profile, in the search tab, and next to names on playlists. Those profiles will not be included in Spotify's algorithmic recommendations.
In a statement, Spotify said, "True artist-fan connection can only be built on a foundation of trust and authenticity."
All right. We are just hours away from the latest Consumer Price Index inflation report.
Maribel Aber joins us now from the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York. We could see some movements I the markets. What are analysts expecting to see?
MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, MONEY MATTERS: OK, Brad. July's Consumer Price Index is due out before the bell. Many economists expect prices to rise one-tenth of a percent for the month. Now that would put annual inflation at 3.4 percent.
Meanwhile, core inflation -- you know, it excludes food and energy -- that's expected to rise two-tenths of a percent in July. The annual core rate is expected at 2 1/2 percent. And investors will be watching closely for signs that price pressures are easing.
It may soon be harder for new YouTube creators to make money from their content. Starting February 1, creators will need 8,000 watch hours a year to qualify for ad and subscription revenue. Now that's double the current threshold. The bar for short form video views will also double from 10 million to 20 million over 90 days. Creators already in YouTube's partner program won't be affected. YouTube says the changes reflect its rapid growth with more than 200 billion short views every day.
McDonald's is adding a Red Bull-infused energy drink to its menu permanently. The Red Bull Dragon Berry Energizer goes nationwide on August 17. Its flavor is described as bold and fruit-forward, featuring blue raspberry syrup and freeze-dried bits of dragon fruit. For a lower sugar option customers can substitute Red Bull Zero as a base. McDonald's head of marketing says when it comes to energy drinks, the company is just getting started.
Brad, in a way, this feels like us. We're just getting started.
SMITH: We are, indeed. We're revving up everybody else to start their day, too. Maribel Aber, thank you so much.
Let's get a check-in on some of the other stories making news across the country.
We begin in California. That's where a warehouse fire that destroyed more than 88 million pounds of food left an unbearable rotting stench in a Los Angeles neighborhood.
CNN's Giana Asterito reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GIANA ASTERITO, CNN DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCER (voiceover): It is an odor that is so intense it coats the mouth and is near tangible, infiltrating homes. And residents say the odor is making them sick.
The insufferable smell was caused by a raging warehouse inferno in June that burned for days straight in L.A. Boyle Heights. Now, seven weeks after the fire was extinguished, residents are inundated with the putrid smell of rotting food. The warehouse contained 88 million pounds of frozen food -- enough waste to fill roughly 440,000 curbside trash bins, attracting swarms of flies and giant rats.
Locals report physical symptoms like nausea, headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has declared a state of emergency and has directed the facility that operates the warehouse to clear the waste by August 13, a deadline cleanup crews are racing to meet.
The company, Lineage Logistics, tells CNN it has distributed almost 600 air purifiers and over 650 air conditioning units to the immediate neighborhood, and offered assistance for temporary relocation, utility bills, and pest control supplies. Mayor Bass was critical of Lineage, saying they had "fallen short."
Part of the facility is wrapped in plastic sheets and large fans spray odor-controlled mist to try and combat the smell. Still, residents say daily life has been extremely difficult, affecting their health, activities, and driving customers away from local businesses.
The company says as of Monday it has removed approximately 90 percent of the food waste from the warehouse and has said the cleanup is complex and requires patience.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: And in New York, a truck was just too tall when it tried to go under an overpass. CNN's Jeremy Roth has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY ROTH, CNN PRODUCER (voiceover): Intense video from a highway in New York captured the moment a tractor-trailer slammed into an overpass, overturning the large vehicle. The video, caught on dashcam, shows the semitruck strike the overpass, sheering the top of its trailer and forcing the vehicle into a roll.
According to the New York State Police, the truck then struck a car parked on the shoulder. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in the incident and all lanes that were blocked by the crash have since reopened. But troopers say the truck driver was ticketed for an "overheight vehicle."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: In South Carolina, a meteor was captured on an officer's dashcam streaking across the sky. Now, make sure to look up to the stars tonight and tomorrow as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak. NASA says that you could see up to 100 of these fireballs per hour.
[06:00:00]
And in Missouri, officers heard strange sounds during an arrest and then suspect allegedly told them there were real goats in the trunk. Inside they found Denver and Aspen. They're now safe with a family that plans to adopt them. Those families also goat status.
That does it for CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. I'm Brad Smith. "CNN THIS MORNING WITH AUDIE CORNISH" starts right now.
