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Trump: 50 Percent Tariffs On Canadian Vehicles, Parts & Steel Start Jan. 1; 90K People Urged To Evacuate Reno As Wildfire Grows; Prosecutors Call Rebuttal Witnesses In Clancy Murder Trial. Aired 11- 11:30a ET

Aired August 24, 2026 - 11:00   ET

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

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[11:01:47]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Pamela Brown is on assignment. You're in The Situation Room.

And we begin this hour with the U.S. and Canada sliding deeper and deeper into a trade war. Canada says it will match President Trump's 50 percent tariffs, dollar for dollar. Last-ditch negotiations fell apart over the weekend, and Americans are now facing higher prices.

Some examples, milk, honey, smartphones, liquor, and even wigs and fake beards. And just a short time ago, President Trump raised the stakes, posting this, "On January 1st, 2027, tariffs on all cars, trucks, both large and small, automotive parts and steel, will be increased to 50 percent. Build in the United States and there are zero tariffs."

Canadian leaders say this tariff fight is damaging the very long relationship between the neighboring countries and their people. CNN's Kevin Liptak is over at the White House for us. What more are you learning right now, Kevin? This is very worrisome.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right. And you can see how this is escalating now very quickly, as both sides promise retaliation after the U.S. imposed those 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods. Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, promising to match that dollar for dollar. Now President Trump threatening to impose those 50 percent tariffs on autos, but also steel and automotive parts on January 1st.

Now I think the question now is whether we're in the escalate -- to de-escalate phase of all of this. President Trump, at least for his part, does not sound as if he's in a de-escalatory mood. He said that Canada had been ripping off the United States for years, that they were among the worst nations in the world to deal with, and that the United States does need -- doesn't need Canada, they need us, which is quite a striking way to talk about not only a neighbor of the United States, but also one of its closest trading partners.

Now both sides of this are offering differing points of view about how all of this fell apart. This morning the U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer said that Canada had imposed last-minute demands. And Carney, in fact, said that it was the U.S. who imposed last-minute demands and said that it called into question the reliability of any deal.

Now the 50 percent tariffs that went into place over the weekend, they really only account for a small fraction of trade with Canada, about 5 percent, in fact. But it is a consumer-facing list. It includes things like Christmas ornaments, hockey sticks, fishing rods, dog leashes and muzzles. So that could take a major toll on exposed sellers. And it's not really clear at this point how all of this ends. At this point there are no scheduled negotiations to try and reach a full-scale trade deal with Canada. Wolf?

BLITZER: The administration, the Trump administration, Kevin, has carried out amidst all of this a very deadly strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific. Tell us about that.

[11:04:55]

LIPTAK: Right. And the U.S. military says that this strike killed two men. What Southern Command has alleged is that the boat was on a known narco-trafficking route. It's the first strike that we've seen like this by the military since June the 21st. Remember, there was this campaign late last year and early this year sort of leading up to the capture of the Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Caracas of these strikes on alleged drug boats that had paused for several months now over the summer, but it does seem to be resuming again.

Legal experts have questioned the legality of these strikes. They claim that they could amount to extrajudicial killings because there was no imminent threat to the United States. But what the administration has argued is that this is all an effort to keep Americans safe from narcotics and from drugs. And it does seem as if this campaign of boat strikes is now resuming again. Wolf?

BLITZER: Kevin Liptak at the White House for us. Thank you very much.

Also happening now evacuations and a state of emergency in Nevada because of the very fast-moving Hawk Fire, as it's called. Authorities are urging 90,000 people near Reno to leave their homes. The fire has already left at least six people injured, including three first responders and 10,000 customers have lost power according to the tracking site poweroutage.us.

Dry, gusty weather is complicating efforts to get the fire under control. And officials say it's zero percent contained right now, zero percent. CNN senior correspondent Josh Campbell is in Reno, Nevada for us. Josh, the governor has declared a state of emergency in one county. What more are you learning?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And Governor Joe Lombardo calling this a fast moving situation, urging residents here to stay vigilant and to stay informed. As you mentioned, he has declared a state of emergency for Washoe County, which includes parts of Reno where we are, as well as Lake Tahoe, as fire crews from the local state federal level continue to attack this fire that has now chewed through over 15,000 acres. It's very fast moving.

Authorities have brought in air assets to include from neighboring California. They're assisting with dozens of flights again to try to bring some type of containment still right now zero percent containment. This is all part of this continuation of a very destructive fire season that we've seen this year across parts of the Southwest.

Yesterday, there were these really dramatic images where you saw fire moving rapidly downhill toward these residential areas. That causing authorities to issue those evacuation orders that are currently in place, impacting tens of thousands of people. One of the local fire officials spoke with our colleague Sara Sidner earlier this morning, talking about this fast moving situation. Have a listen.

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CHIEF RICHARD EDWARDS, TRUCKEE MEADOWS, NV FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT: Fire conditions change rapidly, especially in this area with the evening winds that we get predominantly any time after mid-afternoon into the early evening. And so we really encourage those that are under a get set evacuation, that 45,000 number to have their stuff ready, have their go bags ready, have their medications, their pets, their important documents, some clothes, toiletries, whatever they need packed up and ready to go in a moment's notice. And then we also encourage those folks, if they have a place to go, if they have another place to stay to go ahead and leave the area.

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CAMPBELL: And Wolf, obviously, this is a very human story. In addition to all the heroic activity that is going on the ground where I am here, this is one of the many shelters that have been set up. You can see the Red Cross trucks that have been brought in that we see in so many different disasters. Now, I was just inside this building and I want to be sensitive here. Obviously, we didn't take any cameras in there for obvious reasons.

But just to describe the human factor, you walk into that building, the lights are still off. This is a large convention center floor. There are about 200 people that are in there right now. There are cots that have been set up. People are just trying to rest. They grabbed what they could. There was one man who just walked by and told us that he didn't have much time at all to get out of his house as the flames were quickly approaching. And the order came out.

There's a section in this area behind me where you have Red Cross medical people are there treating people who might have preexisting ailments. It's just heartbreaking. Wolf, just, you know, in a word, it's heartbreaking to see those cots. I walked by. There were people that were with their children that were on some of the cots. There were some very distraught pets that were there as well. There were shivering dogs that were sitting on the cots with the people that were then forced to flee.

So, again, just heartbreaking. And we obviously hope the best for the people here. Looking at the forecast, officials say that it could still get worse here with these dry conditions and the winds will obviously continue to monitor that. Wolf?

[11:10:04]

BLITZER: All right. Stay safe over there, Josh Campbell in Reno, Nevada, for us. Thank you very much.

And still ahead, could Lindsay Clancy control her behavior? Right now, prosecutors are trying to prove she knew right from wrong when she killed her three little children.

Plus this, one teacher's plea to be reunited with her husband after months, months in ICE detention. Lots going on. You're in The Situation Room.

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[11:15:12]

BLITZER: Happening now, court is back in session in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial in Plymouth, Massachusetts. She's pleaded not guilty to murdering her three little children back in 2023. The defense argues severe postpartum psychosis left her unable to control her actions. Today prosecutors are calling rebuttal witnesses to push back on that claim. They're targeting testimony from a forensic psychiatrist who claimed Clancy was indeed experiencing a psychotic break.

CNN's Jean Casarez is outside the court for us today. Jean, the case is in its final stretch right now. What do we expect from the prosecutors today?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are in the prosecution's rebuttal case. And their actual first witness is still on the stand. And there should be several more experts. But we are actually in the battle of the experts right now.

Inside that courtroom this morning it was absolutely contentious because it was on cross-examination, Dr. Avram Mack. And the defense, he's a psychiatrist. Defense trying to show he does not understand postpartum depression. Not able to diagnose it. Not, shouldn't even be here as an expert. Back and forth.

Now if you're on the side of the prosecution, you're saying the defense was trying to play a game. Trying to play a gotcha game as they were asking the questions. But it is the defense theory that in this case, what was -- what it was, was postpartum depression that morphed itself into bipolar that morphed itself into the psychosis on January 24th of 2023.

And that then morphed into the command hallucinations, the direction to kill her children. This witness, this expert witness said on direct, no this was a major depressive disorder. It was a major depressive event. Went to a disorder. But the facts rule here. And the facts show that on January 24th she made deliberate actions. She knew what she was doing. Taking Cora to the doctor. Building a snowman with her children. Having her husband go out and get takeout.

And he also said that when she killed her children, he was told by her that she took Dawson down to the basement first. The way he describes it was very methodical. Listen to some of that direct testimony.

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DR. AVRAM MACK, PSYCHIATRIST: My understanding is that the sentiment go to God is a way of bestowing or thinking about the children as innocence, as ones who hadn't done wrong. While what she was doing was the opposite was wrong or could be construed as wrong. And so go to God not only was a hope for the children, but also a description of the situation.

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CASAREZ: And said that because she knew her husband would not condone those acts. He also said that when that phone call came in the midst that she Lindsay Clancy told him it was 18 to 20 minutes as she was killing her children. She didn't answer the phone, but she did as we know from the testimony, call her husband back during that time period. She also knew exactly what she was saying, knew right from wrong. And this is someone who did understand and appreciate the criminality of her acts on that day.

BLITZER: All right. Jean Casarez with the latest, thank you very, very much.

Criminal defense attorney Elyse Hershon is joining us right now. Elyse, in Massachusetts, the legal burden is unique. The prosecution has to prove Lindsay Clancy was sane rather than the defense proved she was insane. Do you think prosecutors did enough to prove her sanity beyond a reasonable doubt?

ELYSE HERSHON, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: No way. That's my direct answer. So if you think about this, so the prosecution called a witness in their rebuttal to say that she was not in psychosis. But as Jean Casarez outlined, he had no experience ever treating anybody with postpartum psychosis. So how is he going to diagnose it? And he's using a book that's 10, 20, 30 years outdated, the DSM, and doesn't even have a separate diagnosis form for postpartum diagnosis.

And think about it. They need this doctor to say that she was not in psychosis because that's the linchpin to their entire case. They need to prove she was not in psychosis. The prosecution needs to prove she was sane, she was criminally responsible, she could form the intent for first-degree murder.

However, a very credible expert that the defense put up that they have no burden to, he consulted on Jeffrey Dahmer, Andrea Yates. The case from about 20 years ago, a mother who heard voices, killed her children horrifically, was convicted and that was overturned for an insanity defense.

[11:20:10] So we have somebody very credible saying this absolutely fits psychosis. And he spent a lot of time with her. The defense doesn't need that opinion, but they offered it. So thinking about who is more credible, the question alone means the prosecution did not prove this beyond a reasonable doubt.

BLITZER: And as you know, closing arguments are expected as soon as tomorrow morning. The jury is about to get this case clearly. In a trial this emotionally charged, Elyse, how do you expect deliberations to go? And what are the potential outcomes here?

HERSHON: So there are a lot of potential outcomes. I think the discussions with the jury are going to be emotional at times. They saw a lot of evidence that we as the public did not, including autopsy photos of those children, including the 911 call, that audio that we didn't hear in the press. Only people in the courtroom heard. Apparently the husband was extremely emotional, letting out guttural sounds.

So a lot of that emotion is going to stick with them. But they are going to be instructed by the judge to disregard that as best as possible, feel it, put it aside, and decide this case based on the evidence alone. Now, we know that Massachusetts first-degree murder also includes a second-degree murder choice on the verdict slip. There's going to be a not guilty across the board, not guilty altogether.

The defense, however, is going for one step above that, which is not guilty for lack of criminal responsibility, which we call it now. The Commonwealth has to prove that she was criminally responsible or else she will be found not guilty for criminal responsibility. Now, there is a fifth option that might be on the jury slip. We haven't heard from the judge yet. There should be a charge conference, I think, at the end of today.

Will manslaughter also be an option there? Will the criminal responsibility piece not be a complete defense? Will the jury want to hold her responsible in some way and called it involuntary manslaughter? Will the jury be able to have that as a choice? The judge is going to decide that today. That could result in a state prison sentence or probation.

BLITZER: We'll see what happens. Elyse Hershon, thank you very, very much for your expertise.

And to our viewers, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, including depression or suicidal thoughts, help is always available. Call the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988 or go online to 988lifeline.org. We'll be right back.

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[11:27:01]

BLITZER: Happening now, an American teacher is pleading for the release of her Venezuelan husband, who has been held by ICE for months. He was detained at a routine immigration hearing. Let's go live right now to CNN's Carolina Peguero, who's been reporting on all of this. Tell us more about this couple's story, Carolina.

CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Wolf. Yes, like many families and couples that are currently in the same situation, where their loved ones are detained, it's the same for Heather Alambarrio, a teacher in Harris County in Texas, that has been fighting for months for her husband to be freed from the detention center, where he currently is at, that was transferred from Texas to Mississippi.

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HEATHER ALAMBARRIO, HUSBAND DETAINED: Neither one of us know when we're going to see each other again, and I don't know when I'll get the call to bring him home with me.

PEGUERO (voice-over): Heather Alambarrio, a teacher and U.S. citizen, is moving mountains, hoping to be reunited with the love of her life, her husband, Jose Rafael Alambarrio-Cardenas. He has been held in an ICE detention center for more than six months.

ALAMBARRIO: My husband is kept in a place like that, such a beautiful, kind person, and there's thousands of Rafaels, hundreds of thousands across our country who are in a similar situation, and the weight of that falls on me as I turn to walk away from that place.

PEGUERO (voice-over): Heather and Rafael met during salsa lessons, and months later, they married in 2025 and filed a spousal petition with immigration authorities. They attended their routine ICE appointments in Dallas, Texas, until the last one turned into their worst nightmare, where he was detained.

ALAMBARRIO: And I waited, and I waited, and after about 45 minutes, the door opened, and our attorney walked out, and she looked at me, and she just shook her head.

PEGUERO (voice-over): CNN confirmed through court documents in Rafael's attorney that he doesn't have a criminal record. He entered the United States from Venezuela in 2023, and upon arrival applied for a political asylum. He passed his credible fear interview, but that case is still under review by the federal government. The Department of Homeland Security says Alambarrio Cardenas is expected to remain in ICE custody while his immigration proceedings are resolved.

ALAMBARRIO: We had submitted all of, you know, our documents and even had our interview, so we felt like, you know, if anyone was OK, Rafael would be OK.

PEGUERO (voice-over): After spending several months in the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas, Rafael was transferred to the Adams County Correctional Center in the state of Mississippi. We spoke to him through a video call.

PEGUERO: (Speaking in Foreign Language). JOSE RAFAEL ALAMBARRIO-CARDENAS, VENEZUELAN NATIONAL DETAINED BY ICE (through translator): To be honest, I feel like I'm back in my country because the way things are being handled are the same way like back home.

[11:30:03]

PEGUERO (voice-over): Despite the distance and missing their first wedding anniversary, Rafael shares the love he has --