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CNN Headlines: Meta Reaches $18 Billion Settlement Over Alleged Harm To Children; Hundreds Killed, 1,300+ Missing After Floods Devastate Nepal Border; Closing Arguments Set to Begin Today In Lindsay Clancy Triple Murder Trial. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired August 27, 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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[05:30:43]
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: It is half past the hour. Let's hit the refresh button on our top stories.
An ICE agent facing felony charges related to a shooting in Minneapolis. He could be released from custody as soon as today. Agent Christian Castro was arrested in Texas on May 29 on a nationwide warrant.
Yesterday a judge declined to intervene in a lawsuit to keep the agent behind bars until he is extradited. Texas is opposing extradition right now over Minnesota's decision to label Castro as a fugitive. The shooting happened in January during immigration enforcement operations in the Minneapolis area.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is weighing whether to file federal charges against Castro.
Meta has agreed to a massive $18 billion settlement over claims that its platforms endanger children. Twenty-nine state attorneys general accuse the social media giant of deliberately designing platforms to be harmful and addictive. And as part of the deal the company says it will make changes to its apps, including Facebook and Instagram. Meta did not admit to any wrongdoing.
And hundreds confirmed dead and thousands more reported missing in the Nepal-China border after yesterday's devastating floods swept through the region. We have to warn you that the videos you are about to see are disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language).
Disturbing video from the Nepal-China border showing a massive wall of mud, water and debris engulfing buildings, sweeping away vehicles and bridges, and overtaking people as they desperately try to escape the catastrophic flash floods.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Heart-wrenching appeals are pouring around the world as people desperately search for news of missing loved ones, including dozens from the U.S. And there is a risk for more devastating flooding as rescuers struggle to access the mountainous region.
CNN's Mike Valerio reports with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's a risk of a secondary disaster in the sense that -- so there's all of this landslide debris that has collected down this valley, so there's a risk now that all the water that begins to collect through this new sort of natural dam -- that could begin to overflow this natural dam that has been created by this landslide debris and potentially create a secondary disaster. That is what Chinese state media is warning at this hour.
We should also add that the stories of survival are incredible. We have a new sound bite from somebody who was rescued by helicopter. We're not sure if his wife made it from the huge cascading debris of boulders and landslide detritus that made it past his home. But just listen to what he described. He speaks in Nepali. You'll listen to the translation, and we'll talk about it one the other side.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (through translator): I was at the terrace, and the flood hit the top floor as well. It only subsided after an hour or so. My wife was already buried in the mudslide while we stayed on the terrace for safety. After four to five hours I was rescued by a helicopter.
VALERIO: We do have new information that a search and rescue team from outside the region has been able to make it to Gyirong Port. That is the land port that is the site of where that CCTV camera captured that wall of water that turns the frame into black.
Government officials tell us here at CNN they have not been able to make contact with the officials who are in charge of that locality on the Chinese side of the border. They have not been able to talk to the people who are in charge of that locality since yesterday. And the closest rescue teams who went in first, who are from the area -- they have not been able to be contacted by outside rescuers as well. So it goes to show you, certainly, how harrowing the conditions are.
And then furthermore, the next three days -- rain is in the forecast. So I would say the biggest development over the past hour is this new warning, Polo, that we're hearing on state media that there's perhaps this risk of a secondary disaster of this new lake that's forming because of all the debris, potentially breaching with more rain over the next three days.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[05:35:00]
SMITH: It's already devastating and a bad situation seeming to turn ever worse.
Thank you, Mike.
Happening today, closing arguments are set to begin in the Lindsay Clancy triple murder trial. The 36-year-old former nurse has pleaded not guilty to murdering her three young children.
CNN's Jean Casarez is in Plymouth, Massachusetts with the latest developments.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All eyes are on Thursday, closing argument day. Now the jury is going to get a number of charges. They are going to get first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, and then also not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility -- or in other words, not guilty by reason of insanity.
Now on Wednesday, it was the final prosecution rebuttal witness. He is with the FBI. He is in the behavioral analysis division.
He testified for the prosecution, saying that on that date, January 24 of 2023, that Lindsay Clancy, although she says there was a command -- there was a male voice telling her to kill her children -- that voice did not tell her when to kill them, how to kill them, where to kill them.
And by her actions of taking each child individually down into the basement -- one to Patrick's office, the other two on the sofa -- and individually using murder weapons -- the exercise bands -- to use as ligatures, that was very, very intentional conduct on her part. The defense, on cross-examination, completely disavowed that in all respects.
But I want you to listen to that witness for the prosecution saying that she was in control on that final day.
DR. GREGORY SAATHOFF, FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST: She was able to drive to the pediatrician's office and then back. Um, and the day was really one of significant control. Um, the activities that she engaged in that day. Spending time with her children with Play-Doh. Taking them outside to build a snowman. Sending photographs of the children to her mother and to her husband on Instagram. Um, fixing lunch and also fixing dinner for the children. So the activities of that day were controlled.
CASAREZ: We did learn in open court that closing arguments may not be as long as we would think they would be. Kevin Reddington said the defense may go for about 30 minutes with their closing. The prosecution said about an hour. And following that, on Thursday, we do believe the jury will begin deliberating.
I'm Jean Casarez in Plymouth, Massachusetts for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: All right. Thank you, Jean.
A judge scheduled two new hearings for the man convicted of killing four Idaho college students. It's part of Bryan Kohberger's fight to take back his guilty plea. Last year, he had agreed to a plea deal to avoid the death penalty and, for the first time, publicly admitted to the killings that happened in 2022. Now, according to court records, Kohberger claims that he took the deal based on threats, false promises, and wrong information. Both new hearings are set for June of next year.
A police officer in Kentucky is accused of using flock cameras to track his ex-girlfriend more than 2,000 times. Investigators say an AI-powered auditing tool flagged this, and the officer was arrested and suspended without pay.
But there have been growing privacy concerns over this camera system. It takes photos of cars, license plates, and other things, and feeds them into a database. Police departments can then contact the company to search that database to help solve crimes, but there have been several allegations of misuse.
A federal appeals court says that Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver can be tried for alleged assault at a New Jersey ICE center despite constitutional protections for lawmakers. In May of last year McIver allegedly pushed and impeded law enforcement at Newark's Delaney Hall detention facility when officers tried to arrest the city's mayor. McIver can be seen here in the red jacket. And the facility has been the center of several violent clashes between authorities and protesters. McIver released a statement yesterday saying that "The court got it wrong and this is not over."
Well, the Trump administration has apparently found a new way to reduce immigration to the U.S. The State Department is pausing visa appointments around the world for what it calls in-depth training at U.S. embassies and consulates. The department says the move is aimed at screening out applicants who may rely on welfare or other public benefits. A spokesperson says keeping visa holders from becoming dependent on public services reserved for eligible Americans will help create a more prosperous country.
[05:40:03]
For the first time in about 75 years there will be no Pro Bowl, with one NFL executive explaining that players don't want competitive play after the playoffs. But the NFL still plans on naming 88 players as Pro Bowlers after the season, which kicks off September 9 with Seattle hosting the New England Patriots in a season opener Super Bowl rematch.
Las Vegas is honoring late NASCAR legend Kyle Busch, renaming a popular short-track event after the racing legend. The annual fall race at the Bullring, held during Las Vegas Motor Speedway weekend, will now be named the "Kyle Busch Classic." The inaugural contest is scheduled for October 2. Busch died in May due to complications from pneumonia. Popstar Miley Cyrus is paying tribute to her godmother, the late queen
of country music, Dolly Parton. Parton died on Tuesday at the age of 80. Cyrus reflected on their special bond writing on Instagram that "the loss is beyond what feels right to share." She continues, "What I know is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong." And that her "heart breaks for the world and Parton's family and friends." Cyrus adds "I will always love her, and I want to make her proud."
Meanwhile, a Tennessee state senator is proposing legislation to make September 25 "9 to 5 Day" in memory of Parton with a nod to one of her biggest hits. And just across the state line in Georgia, where she married her longtime husband Carl Dean in 1966, the governor has ordered all flags on state buildings to be lowered to half-staff for the next week.
Dollywood opened its gates to the public the day after its namesake passed away. And CNN's Jason Carroll spoke with fans who came to pay their respects to the country music icon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you're here at Dollywood and loving Dolly, then you're good people.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know the old adage "the show must go on"? Well, those who knew Dolly Parton say this is exactly what she would have wanted here in Dollywood on this day -- the show going on. It is open. It is packed with a lot of folks coming out here for different reasons. Some had already had vacations and had planned to be here anyway. Some coming today because they wanted to pay tribute to Dolly Parton.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have a group of, like, 10 of us that flew in today.
CARROLL: So this was planned before.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Last night.
CARROLL: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some of us bought tickets this morning.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.
CARROLL: Oh. So you planned this all at the last minute --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
CARROLL: -- just because of her passing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a family. We met because of Dolly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, four different states.
CARROLL: How did you meet because of Dolly?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dollywood and --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dollywood.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yep, Dollywood.
CARROLL: Wait. None of you knew each other --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Um-um.
CARROLL: -- before. You met how many years ago?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At least 20.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At least 20 years ago.
CARROLL: Twenty years ago you met at Dollywood --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
CARROLL: -- and you all became friends.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we traveled the country and the world to see her.
CARROLL: What do you think it says about Dolly Parton -- the fact that she was able to bring all of you guys together and all these years later you're still here, still coming to Dollywood?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's a unifier.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's simple.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's why we're here so we all can come together and mourn. Because true fans, like us, who have been there from the first album, we have this connection that's like no other. You know, we know the pain that we're feeling right now. She's not Dolly Parton, an icon, to us; she was family.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Next on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, the music artist Jelly Roll on the defense. What he is saying about his controversial comments while filling in as host for Jimmy Kimmel. We've got that.
Plus, a court hearing today for controversial right-wing social media influencers, the Tate brothers. The two facing nearly 60 charges, including rape and human trafficking in the U.K.
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[05:48:12] SMITH: Today the social media influencers known as the Tate brothers are expected in court as they fight extradition to the U.K. A judge will hear arguments on whether Andrew and Tristan Tate should be released from a Florida jail while that legal process plays out. They face rape and sex trafficking charges in the U.K. And the brothers have not entered formal pleas but have denied the allegations in the past.
Let's go around the globe.
The best-selling artist famous for washing the world in polka dots has died at the age of 97. Japan's Yayoi Kusama was famous for her pumpkin sculptures, polka dot paintings, and infinity mirror installations that drew millions of visitors around the globe. She was one of the world's most celebrated artists with her work fetching nearly $200 million at auction in 2023 alone.
And in England, cameras were rolling as a man made several attempts to throw drugs and a phone over a prison wall. Here's CNN's Bryan Wood with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRYAN WOOD, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER (voiceover): This man tried and tried to throw a package of about $16,000 worth of drugs over a prison wall. The video is from July of last year but police in northern England released this week the CCTV footage from outside the prison. Officials say 30-year-old Joshua Smith eventually succeeded in getting the package over the wall, which included a cellphone, but it was found by authorities almost immediately and never reached its intended destination. Smith pleaded guilty to related charges and was sentenced this week to more than three years in prison.
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[05:50:00]
SMITH: British media reports Prince Harry and Meghan, and their two children returned to the U.K. yesterday. A spokesperson for the couple says that they will also be joined by their dogs while their chickens will be cared for in California. The couple left England six years ago after stepping back from royal duties. The family returned briefly over the summer for a visit with King Charles and Queen Camilla. They're not returning as private citizens with no plans to resume official duties.
It's time for Buzz Express, the stories that have people talking.
And first up, Jelly Roll. He's defending those jokes that he told about President Trump earlier this week as he fills in for Jimmy Kimmel. He said some fans have threatened to boycott his music because he didn't treat the president with reverence and dignity. But he added he goes by the name Jelly Roll and "I don't even treat myself with reverence and dignity." His jokes have included those about the president's weight and his pitch to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America. Rupert Grint is heading to Broadway. The actor will reprise his role
as Ron Weasley in "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." But this time he's playing an adult version of the character. Grint's limited 17- week run begins February 2, 2027. But Deadline reports he won't share the stage with his former Harry Potter co-star Tom Felton. Felton's run as Draco Malfoy is set to end about a month earlier.
All right. Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, new products coming. Apple teasing a foldable phone. We've got details coming up.
Plus, there's this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
Man igniting flamethrower at deputies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey. (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Bringing an eviction notice to a flamethrower fight. A wild scene that deputies encountered. We've got that story on the other side of the break.
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[05:56:11]
SMITH: In today's Money Express there are some major changes coming to Meta platforms after the company agreed to a massive settlement yesterday.
Maribel Aber joins us from the Nasdaq MarketSite with that and the rest of your top Money Express headlines. Hey, Maribel.
MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, MONEY MATTERS: Hey, Brad.
So a landmark social media addiction trial involving Meta has ended in a settlement. The tech company has agreed to pay $18 billion and make changes to its platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. California and 28 other states accused Meta of designing addictive platforms that harm young people's mental health. Four of those states were seeking up to $1.4 trillion in damages. Meta denies that its platforms hurt children, and it did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement.
Ring is introducing a new encryption feature designed to give customers more control over home security footage. The technology -- it's called TAKE. It essentially puts videos in a digital vault that only the customer can unlock. Ring says third parties, including law enforcement, won't be able to access stored footage without consent. Ring can temporarily access footage with permission, then the digital key is discarded. The new TAKE setting will begin rolling out on Ring cameras starting in September. Apple is expected to unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone next month.
The company will hold an event September 9 where it's expected to introduce several new products. The iPhone generates roughly half of Apple's revenue, and a foldable model could attract customers willing to pay a premium. Now, Apple hasn't revealed a price, but Samsung's Galaxy Z-Fold 8 starts at nearly $2,000. Prices could rise even higher as an industrywide shortage of memory and shortage of chips -- storage chips put pressure on electrics -- electronic makers -- Brad.
SMITH: Maribel, this just sounds to me like I'm going to need to get a new protective case and a more complicated screen protector as well.
Thanks so much.
ABER: Yeah, yeah.
SMITH: Good to see you.
Let's take a look at some of the other stories making headlines across the country.
Check out this intense bodycam video out of Oklahoma.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
Man igniting flamethrower at deputies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey. (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Call the authorities.
(Bleep)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE). No, no, no -- he's fine, he's fine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quit. You have the right to (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The light is down. His light is down. It's on the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got it. Hey, what's that right there?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Authorities say deputies were serving and eviction notice earlier this month when investigators say the man sprayed an aerosol at them and lit it on fire. Deputies detained the man after a bomb squad arrived to disable what they say appeared to be improvised explosive device inside the apartment.
OK. And a flight had to divert to Detroit because the pilot got sick. New air traffic control audio captures the moment when he radioed mid- flight that he needed to land.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DELTA PILOT: This is the captain. I'm the one that's ill. I'm going to taxi the jet to the gate and then I need to go to the hospital.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Roger. Delta 437 , you can plan to exit at Yankee two. They'll give you the quickest route to the gate.
DELTA PILOT: Yankee two, copy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: The Delta flight was heading from Los Angeles to Boston. So once they landed Delta got a new crew onboard and they continued on their trip.
And in Chicago, an American Airlines plane blew two tires as it was getting ready to take off. Passengers left the plane using stairs and were taken back to the terminal by bus. No one was hurt and the FAA is investigating.
[06:00:00]
And in Georgia, a climber is safe after becoming stranded on a mountain cliff. Crews used an aircraft system to find him, then lowered a rope system to bring him to safety. The climber was not hurt, thank goodness.
All right. That does it for CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. I'm Brad Smith. "CNN THIS MORNING WITH AUDIE CORNISH" starts right now.
