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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson

Arson Suspect Arrested In Devastating Spokane Wildfire; Michigan To Vote In Primaries For Governor And Senate; Senate Judiciary Committee To Vote On Blanche Nomination Tuesday; Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens Despite New Gaza Deal; Israeli Attacks Kill Dozens in Gaza after Disarmament Deal; Max Miller Urged to Drop Reelection Amid Abuse Allegations; Lindsay Clancy's Postpartum Psychosis Claim Examined in Court; First Deaths Reported in U.S. Cyclosporiasis Outbreak. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired August 04, 2026 - 01:00   ET

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

[01:00:00]

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Elex Michaelson live in Los Angeles. We start with breaking news. The story is an arson arrest. Crews in the Northwest are hoping for a break from Mother Nature. But new red flag warnings mean the danger is far from over. We go live to Spokane in just a moment.

Story is primary day, get ready for a Democratic showdown in Michigan. Voters deciding whether to back the party establishment or progressive candidate in one of the years most closely watched primaries.

And the story is chaos in Gaza, a peace deal on paper, new fighting in the enclave. New questions are mounting about the future of President Trump's so called historic agreement. Jeremy Diamond is there.

But let's start now with that breaking news and this image just into CNN. An arson arrest has been made in Washington State in connection with one of the three major wildfires burning there. The sheriff's department just providing this screenshot of the suspect being led away in handcuffs.

Those fires have been burning out of control since they broke out over the weekend. Nearly 65,000 people have been forced to evacuate. Officials say more than 700 structures have been destroyed, many homes among them. So far, good news here. No injuries, no deaths have been reported.

Last hour I spoke live with the governor of Washington State, Bob Ferguson. He shared details about that arrest as it was just breaking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. BOB FERGUSON, (D) WASHINGTON: it's arson. The individual we understand does have a criminal record. And it just takes a tragic situation. Just makes it more heartbreaking to think that much of this damage could have been caused by an individual doing this on purpose. So it's -- it adds to a really challenging situation. MICHAELSON: So the arrest is 37 year old Aaron Farinacci, a convicted felon. And you understand that folks nearby saw him potentially, you know, tell us about what you've learned.

FERGUSON: Yes, our understanding is, and this is want to be very clear, late breaking development. But the understanding is that individual -- individuals saw him acting suspicious and then there was smoke a few minutes after that. Police obviously did, you know, their work and running the ground whether that probable cause, that type of thing and arrest was made. An announcement was made in Spokane literally just a couple hours ago.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: With us now live from Spokane is Austin Goetz with our affiliate KHQ. Thank you so much for being with us live. First off, what are you learning about that arrest?

AUSTIN GETZ, NONSTOP LOCAL KHQ REPORTER: Really what the governor had just said, Elex. Yes, this was a very late breaking development. About 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time the news came out in a press conference held by Sheriff John Knowles where they announced that they had made an arrest of a man now alleged to have started this old trails fire, one of three fires that are burning in what is now being referred to as the Spokane complex fires.

The Old Trails fire, along with the Autumn Lane fire and the Fairview fires. And now where I'm at right now is the Indian Trail neighborhood in northwest Spokane where that is a lot of the damage from that Old Trails fire has taken place. And I'll step out of the way a little bit. I'll have to apologize.

It's pitch black here because the power is still cut. We've tried to light it up as best as we can, but you can see the ruin then. This is just one and two houses next to each other. But the whole neighborhood really has not been spared outside of a home here or there that somehow miraculously avoided the flames.

But you mentioned it, Elex. We are going to be in the hundreds of homes lost. And you mentioned that 700 structure number. That's also with 400 properties officials saying are yet to be evaluated. Meaning that we could see upwards of 1,000 structures damaged or lost. Who knows how many of those would be homes.

Thankfully, today, a bit of a break in the fire as obviously the arrest being made. But for the first time we are seeing some and not very many evacuations finally being downgraded, meaning that firefighters have made some progress, especially on the Old Trails and the Fairview fires.

Unfortunately, the Autumn Lane fire burning north of here is still growing. That is the one that crews are still working on the most at this time tonight and over the last couple of days. But thankfully the windy conditions we saw that really set this blaze off on Saturday have mostly subsided, allowing firefighters and to get a bit of a handle on it. MICHAELSON: Unfortunately, it's supposed to get windier in the days ahead. Talk to us about just on a human level for you driving around seeing all of this destruction, what it looks like, what it feels like and how eerie it must be late at night when I presume not many people are around.

[01:05:00]

GETZ: It is something like we have never seen in this area, Elex. Now, we here in the Eastern Washington area and the Pacific Northwest are no stranger to wildfires. But typically it happens in more remote areas. Not to say that doesn't wreak devastation and doesn't lead to loss of homes and property, but to see it in such a residential neighborhood like here in Spokane, where we are going to have, you know, 600, 700, who knows how many homes lost due to this.

It is startling, really. Yesterday was the first time folks were able to get back into, say, this neighborhood specifically. And as much as it was devastation, the emotion that came to mind for me when I looked at folks was pure shock. I mean, people looking around and this isn't just one house fire that destroyed a home of your neighbors on the corner.

This is everybody, not just these families, but all of their neighbors, losing these entire neighborhoods. And we still don't know yet, truly, what the full extent of the damage is and will be.

MICHAELSON: Yes, those of us here in Southern California know what it's like to go through this. It is such a devastating experience. And we're sending all of our friends in the Pacific Northwest our best. Austin Getz from our affiliate KHQ, thank you so much for your reporting.

We want to stay on this story now and bring into the conversation Samantha Kaufman. She lives in Spokane. She just lost her family home in these wildfires, the only home that she's ever known. We want to talk about that story and your particular story in a moment.

But first, I want to get your reaction to the breaking news that according to officials, they believe that somebody set this fire intentionally, that it was arson, that there's been an arrest for you as somebody who has seen your home lost, how do you even think about the fact that somebody may have done this on purpose?

SAMANTHA KAUFMAN, LOST HOME IN SPOKANE WILDFIRE: It's truly unfathomable that somebody would do that to our community. And being a Spokane resident, my entire life, I never thought that something like this could happen. And I guess that was naive of me to think, but it's absolutely heartbreaking what's happening in our community right now.

MICHAELSON: You were now looking at an image of that suspect. You also sent us some images of a before and after of your home and your community. Maybe we can bring those up as well, that give us some perspective of your story. You've lived with your family.

You said you evacuated. Your dad went back to the home to check on how things were and that you were the first person he called when he saw that your home had burned down. You Said he was. He was very emotional.

What was that phone call like? What did he say? And. And how are you all doing tonight?

KAUFMAN: It was absolutely heartbreaking. As a daughter, that's never a situation that you want to be in, to have to go through that and try to handle your father's emotions in that way. And he's lived on that property for 30 plus years and has built it from the ground up. To see it be taken from us in a matter of moments is absolutely devastating. And to hear the heartbreak in his voice is something that I truly cannot even put into words.

MICHAELSON: And you said that you almost never, ever hear your dad cry. But he was with this.

KAUFMAN: Yes, I was the first person that he called when he arrived back to our property. And he said, Sam, everything is gone. What do we do now?

MICHAELSON: And what do you say to him? What do you do now?

KAUFMAN: That's a great question. I told him that I was sorry and that we will get through this. I live out in the Nine Mile community, and it is a very, very strong community where neighbors are always helping each other, no matter if there's a devastation or if it's a regular day where somebody breaks down on the side of the road. So it's -- it's going to be a long process ahead, but it's something that I believe we will rebuild and come out stronger.

MICHAELSON: We have viewers watching us not only in the United States, but in 200 countries around the world right now. What is your message to them? What is the way that we can best help you and your community?

KAUFMAN: I think my message for everyone is, even if you don't think it's ever going to happen, it can happen to you, and it happens very quickly. Please talk to your family, your loved ones, know your evacuation routes, keep your vehicles fueled, talk about this scenario and what you would grab in a moment's notice. It comes at you very quickly. And as far as the community, we have a ton of local efforts that are going on right now.

If you are interested in any of those, there is tons of information online on Facebook that you can find under the Nine Mile community.

[01:10:03]

We currently have local businesses that are putting together relief funds and relief packages that are actually having to boat across local lakes to get these two homes and two people as there's a lot of roads that are currently closed.

MICHAELSON: Well, the pictures are remarkable. We know it's a long process ahead. But the good news right now, no injuries, no deaths and that your family has each other and I know you're all leaning on each other tonight. Samantha, thank you so much for sharing your story.

KAUFMAN: Thank you.

MICHAELSON: In the coming day, Michigan residents will head to the polls for two major primaries. There's an open race for governor, but is the Democratic Senate primary that is getting the most attention. Frontrunners Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and House Democrat Haley Stevens are locked in a high stakes race. CNN's Jeff Zeleny is in Michigan tonight talking to both campaigns.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's Michigan's moment and a Democratic battle like no other. Congresswoman Haley Stevens and the full weight of the party establishment trying to stop Abdul El-Sayed and a rising progressive movement.

As their Senate primary on Tuesday has become a fight for the direction of the Democratic Party.

HALEY STEVENS, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE: I love bringing a little bit of that grit and a little bit of that Michigan way and maybe just a little bit of that stick it to them.

ABDUL EL-SAYED, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE: Michigan right now is the center of the political universe because our people need to deserve health care. Our people need to deserve a fair pay for a fair day's labor.

ZELENY (voice-over): For the first time, a year of insurgent Democratic winds in deep blue districts will be tested in a statewide battleground. To win a Senate majority, Democrats must hold Michigan and flip four Republican held seats.

SEN. GARY PETERS (D-MI): Let's be clear, folks, we will not take back the Senate if we lose Michigan.

ZELENY (voice-over): In the final hours of a bruising contest here, November electability is stoking August anxiety.

Reverend Charles Williams II believes Stevens is the strongest choice for a fall campaign where Democrats have no room for error.

REV. DR. CHARLES WILLIAMS II, SENIOR PASTOR, HISTORIC KING SOLOMON BAPTIST CHURCH: She's the only one in the race that's actually been elected. She worked in the executive branch and of course she has been a legislator. There's nobody else in the race at this time that has that cachet.

ZELENY: How much of this is about convincing people that you can win in November?

EL-SAYED: The question of can I win in November is a question that voters alone can't answer. So you know, electability is a thing that's best defined after the fact that so if and when I get elected, then you'll know I'm electable.

ZELENY (voice-over): El-Sayed, a doctor and former public health official whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Egypt, was born and raised in Michigan. He confronts questions of electability head on.

EL-SAYED: It's not about me. You know who they're really talking about? Talking about you. They're saying that you're not open minded enough, you're not big hearted enough to elect somebody named Abdul.

ZELENY (voice-over): Stevens was elected to Congress in a 2018 Democratic wave, winning a Republican held seat in the Detroit suburbs. She's backed by more than $60 million in outside spending on TV ads, including from a pro-Israel group. In a race that's been partially defined by the Democratic Party's split on U.S. support for Israel.

STEVENS: 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.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Jeff Zeleny in Michigan, our political panel is back. Lucas Acosta, the founder and principal of Pebble Beach Press and a former communications aide to President Biden. And Caroline Sunshine served as deputy communications aide for President Trump's 2024 campaign and worked in the first Trump administration. Welcome back, both of you.

As the Democrat on the panel, let's start with you, Lucas. Your thoughts on the Michigan race and how you see things in this final hours.

LUCAS ACOSTA, FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL, PEBBLE BEACH PRESS: You know, when I found out that we were going to be talking about this today, I made some calls to some friends in Michigan figuring out what are we sort of missing? And what I was told time and time again is that what voters are reacting to right now isn't necessarily the politics of the moment or the various campaign platforms that are being put forward, but it's the persona and who they believe is going to be the most effective messenger to articulate our vision of lower costs in November.

And time and time again, you might be surprised, it was Abdul El-Sayed that they were saying was the more effective messenger.

[01:15:05]

What we've seen from Haley Stevens is viral flub after viral flub. And it's very clear that he is the best candidate moving forward.

MICHAELSON: He is certainly a more effective messenger at articulating a progressive vision, a vision that is more to the left than many other members of the United States Senate right now. But the fear so from the establishment, including the governor of Michigan and both senators from Michigan, former senator, I should say, one of them is that he may be not electable. What do you say to that?

ACOSTA: I mean, the fact that almost every elected Democrat in Michigan needs to support Haley Stevens to get her across the finish line sort of says that maybe she's the weaker candidate here. What we've seen in poll after poll is double digit leads for El-Sayed. And Stevens, again, with all of this support from across the state is not really able to cross the finish line.

The second thing that I'll mention is what we saw in New York is DSA and the progressive left has been able to sort of take their movement offline. They've really been able to build an infrastructure. And that used to be the advantage of the Democratic establishment.

And in New York we saw incumbent after incumbent not take that threat seriously. And what we'll see tomorrow is I think, a second example of that growing infrastructure on the left and the power that it can wield.

MICHAELSON: How do you see this?

CAROLINE SUNSHINE. DEPUTY COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, TRUMP 2024 CAMPAIGN: Well, I'm laughing at the persona optics of this race because I'm watching Haley Stevens go, oh, we're going to stick it to him the Michigan way. And then you've got El-Sayed pulling out his Obama impression of like, we just got to be the hope and change. I'm like, what is with both of them playing into completely inauthentic stereotypes?

My mother lives in Michigan. I know a lot of people in Michigan. I don't know a lot of people in Michigan who talk like that. OK, so that's first and foremost.

Second, though --

MICHAELSON: She says if you're making fun of that, you're making fun of Michiganders.

SUNSHINE: I think she's making fun of Michiganders. It's a stereotype. It's like, this isn't an SNL sketch.

MICHAELSON: Having talked to her many, many years ago, this is her voice. That is what she sounds like.

SUNSHINE: Sure. OK. But I do think that El-Sayed will be the nominee and I think it's a problem for Republicans. President Trump.

MICHAELSON: For Republicans.

SUNSHINE: For Republicans. Yes. President Trump. And here's why.

MICHAELSON: Hey, we agree.

SUNSHINE: Well, President Trump won Michigan in 2024. He flipped it for Republicans and Mike Rogers did not win in 2024. He lost by a razor thin margin. Why did President Trump win Michigan in 2024? Partly because he was able to win the Arab American vote in Michigan for the first time for Republican ever. You might remember back at the very end of the race, there was a Democrat mayor in Hammitrack, Michigan, Amir Ghalib. And his was the most coveted endorsement of the cycle. Everybody thought Kamala Harris was going to get it.

He flipped it and he endorsed President Trump. He was supposed to then be nominated by President Trump, was nominated by President Trump to be his ambassador to Kuwait. Ted Cruz sunk that nomination. But my point is, here is the math wise.

Those voters flipped for President Trump in Michigan partly because they liked his message of no new wars. Now that has changed course, I think that voter segment of Arab American Democrats who flipped for Trump are back up for grabs. And I think they'll flip for El-Sayed.

MICHAELSON: Is there danger, though, Lucas, in El-Sayed, who by the way, has been on the set, was one of the most charismatic candidates I've ever met. I mean, just from a persona perspective, I mean, very, very charismatic. But that he could alienate Jewish voters and alienate some of the Democratic establishment that are backing Haley Stevens, that do not feel comfortable with him, that either don't vote or vote for Rogers, but most likely don't vote.

ACOSTA: I think it's going to be proof in the pudding. Right. What we saw with Mayor Mamdani was that he had relentless message discipline. And if Abdul El-Sayed can keep that going and keep it focused on lowering costs rather than some of the more divisive issues that have been discussed in the primary, I think that he will be highly successful. But that's going to be reliant on the candidate sticking to that message.

MICHAELSON: And in terms of what you think this says about the future of the Democratic Party, this infighting that we're seeing.

SUNSHINE: Right now, I think it says that Republicans need to get a better bench. Democratic socialism appears like it is here to stay in our country. And Republicans currently don't have an answer to that. We need to get, I mean, in 2028, because we have to look at not just we need to be.

The Republicans need to be thinking not just about who's going to win this Senate seat, which again, frankly, I think the fact that President Trump won it in 2024, this shouldn't even be a conversation that we're having, but we're having it because Republicans have slacked off on the momentum that President Trump gave them in 2024.

We need to be thinking about 2028 and beyond. In 2028, Gen Z and Millennials will be the largest part of the electorate for the first time ever. They're the most racially diverse voting bloc in history. Republicans have to have younger candidates who can talk about getting more people involved in capitalism and continue President Trump's planks of no new wars, limited migration, better manufacturing and trade practices for Americans.

[01:20:11] That's the winning message. It already won seven swing states in 2024.

MICHAELSON: Yes.

SUNSHINE: That's how you win. We can't deviate from it.

MICHAELSON: As you've pointed out, the no new wars thing didn't exactly go that way.

SUNSHINE: And we're paying a price for it.

MICHAELSON: Yes. Caroline, Lucas, great to have both of you. Thank you so much. Great job on your first time on the show. We appreciate having you here. We'll have both of you back.

And of course, tomorrow we will have full coverage of the Michigan primary all day here on CNN or all this day, depending on when you're watching us. U

.S. stocks surged Monday with the Dow closing up nearly 700 points for a new record high. The S and P 500 and the tech heavy NASDAQ also closed up. Investors saw a boost from big tech stocks and a drop in oil prices.

As for U.S. Futures, Wall Street looks ready to move higher at the open. The Dow, S and P 500 and NASDAQ all in the green, all numbers President Trump will definitely like.

Still ahead, President Trump announced a disarmament agreement between Israel and Hamas, but it is nowhere near a done deal. What both sides are saying as the death toll keeps rising in Gaza. We'll go to Israel and talk with Jeremy Diamond.

Plus, the Senate Judiciary Committee could soon vote on President Trump's pick for attorney general. The latest on Todd Blanche's nomination, while it looks good for him in the days ahead, but maybe not later this week. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:25:52]

MICHAELSON: The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday 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. That move came after two key Republican senators threatened to withhold their votes until there was written assurance that program was dead. Senator Cornyn's office confirmed a deal was reached with the Justice Department to formally terminate the program.

Sources familiar with the matter tell CNN the White House was deeply involved in the negotiations, but on Monday, President Trump denied seeing the details of the deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MICHAELSON: Mr. President, did you sign on Todd Blanche?

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: 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 OK.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: President Trump warns Iran has a last chance to sign a deal with the U.S. to end the war, but says there are no time constraints on negotiations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is at least the fifth time you've turned off airstrikes against Iran since April to negotiate. What is your message to the American people who are wondering what has changed this time? Why should it be any different?

TRUMP: Well, you don't know. I don't know. I think we're going to maybe get something, but I want to give him every last chance before decapitation. Very tough to do what we have planned. Still planned. We'll see what happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: President Trump also went after Iran's leadership, calling them, quote, unbelievably duplicitous. All this comes after Tehran contradicted his claim that negotiations would resume on Monday. Iran's foreign minister says it's focused only on negotiations with Oman about the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran says the two countries are in talks to establish a safe, temporary route for vessels through the critical waterway.

Palestinian health officials say more than two dozen people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza since Thursday, when President Trump announced what he called a historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Hamas has said it will disarm only if the attacks stop and Israeli troops withdraw from territory taken after last October's ceasefire agreement.

But an Israeli official tells CNN, Israel will not pull back and will continue to confront anything it considers a threat. The Israeli encroachment means 2 million Palestinians are crammed into an increasingly tiny fraction of Gaza's territory in the sweltering summer heat. Our Jeremy Diamond has more now on the Gaza strikes and a warning. His report contains some disturbing imaging.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carried in men's arms or bundled in blankets, wounded Palestinians are rushed into ambulances. Amid the mayhem, a boy cries out for his brother before yet another casualty is hauled out on a stretcher. This is Gaza plunged back into chaos just as hope appeared on the

horizon. Israel carried out this deadly series of strikes this weekend, just hours after President Trump announced a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas. That deal called for Israel to first halt all strikes in Gaza before Hamas starts handing over its weapons.

Instead, Israel ramped up its attacks, killing at least 28 people in the wake of Trump's announcement, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it had carried out targeted killings of Hamas commanders and militants, including some involved in the October 7th attack on Israel. For some in Gaza, the strikes were evidence that Israel cannot be trusted.

This is the fate awaiting anyone who gives away the resistance's weapons. We will be torn apart, this man shouts. Israel cannot be trusted. Our weapons are what protect us. It would be a disgrace for us to abandon them.

[01:30:04]

Israeli bombs also left this enormous crater next to one of Gaza's largest hospitals, striking two warehouses where medical supplies were stored.

The Israeli military said Hamas had stashed weapons here but provided no evidence. On the ground, only medical equipment like these dialysis supplies can be found.

"Why? What happened? What's inside it to be struck like that? Look what they did to the people," this woman cries. "I was optimistic yesterday and said, God willing, a new government will come to take control of Gaza, rebuild Gaza. There will be reconstruction and peace, and we will live in safety."

Instead, those who had pitched their tents alongside this hospital in the hope of the safety it might provide, are forced to pick through the wreckage before starting over once again.

The strikes prompted this rare missive from the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, who wrote "The strikes killed civilians and destroyed medical supplies," before noting that "both parties carry obligations under the comprehensive plan."

Jeremy Diamond, CNN -- Tel Aviv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: European ministers will soon hold an emergency meeting to address Spain's migrant crisis and the political backlash that has followed. Remember this? On Thursday, some 60,000 people made the dangerous crossing from Morocco into Spain's North African territory of Ceuta.

Dramatic images, at least 72 people were killed, some drowned as they tried to swim to the tiny enclave, and some people were trampled by rushing crowds.

Spain says most of the migrants returned to Morocco within 48 hours, but an estimated 2,000 people remain and are now receiving humanitarian aid, including food and water.

Aid workers say many of those who remain are asylum seekers fleeing war and poverty in Sudan, Mali and Yemen.

But the chaotic border crossing has sparked a political crisis in Europe, with far-right anti-immigration politicians calling it an invasion, and leaders of some countries, including Italy, threatening to tighten border security.

Pressure is mounting on a Republican congressman from Ohio to drop his reelection campaign over serious allegations of abuse. Now, his former father-in-law, a U.S. Senator, is speaking out.

[01:32:21]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELSON: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson.

Let's take a look at today's top stories.

A man in custody accused of deliberately sending one of three major wildfires burning in Spokane County, Washington. Those fires have been burning out of control since Saturday.

Officials say more than 700 structures have been destroyed, many homes among them. Nearly 65,000 people have been forced to evacuate.

President Trump heading out West, a White House official tells CNN Mr. Trump will attend a Republican National Committee dinner on Tuesday at his Trump National Golf Club, just outside of Los Angeles.

He's expected to deliver remarks on the economy at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

It is officially primary day in Michigan, with voters set to cast their ballots in a key race for the U.S. Senate.

House Democrat Haley Stevens, facing off against Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for the Democratic nomination. The winner will face former House Republican Mike Rogers in November midterms.

Democrats need the win to stand a chance of taking control back of the Senate, at least most likely.

The pressure is growing on Ohio Congressman Max Miller to end his reelection campaign over allegations of abuse brought by his ex-wife. Now his former father-in-law, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, is publicly calling on him to drop out.

CNN's Lauren Fox has more on the allegations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. MAX MILLER (R-OH): Just want to be clear. No court, no agency has ever substantiated any allegation of abuse against me. I'm not getting out of this race, and I'm winning in November.

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ohio Republican Congressman Max Miller facing new calls to drop out amid allegations he abused his ex-wife Emily Moreno, an accusation he denies.

Now, for the first time, Miller's ex-father-in-law, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, is calling on Miller to step aside, writing in a statement that Miller needs, quote, "psychological help" and that he is, quote, "a danger to my daughter. If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives."

President Trump weighed in today from the Oval Office.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's a very sad thing. I know Max. He's a good person. I mean, I always thought he was a very good person. And I'm going to let the families figure that out.

FOX: Miller once served as a senior aide to the Trump campaign and married Emily Moreno at Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster, New Jersey in 2022.

Two years later, Senator Bernie Moreno, leaning on his close ties to Trump, won his bid for the U.S. Senate. Miller filed for divorce in 2024.

In video obtained by CNN earlier this year, Emily Moreno told police in the course of a now-closed investigation into their daughter's broken collarbone that she was often frightened by Miller.

EMILY MORENO, FORMER WIFE OF REP. MILLER: I was just like scared of him a lot, and that's why I left the house and I moved out.

FOX: She also described one incident on New Year's Eve where she alleged Miller held a gun to her head when she was changing their infant daughter.

[01:39:51]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So when -- when does the gun come into play?

MORENO: When I'm changing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what does he do?

MORENO: Holds it on me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Holds it on you? Ok. Can you show me where he held it to you know?

Hey, it's -- it's ok, that's fine, that's fine. Like I said, I that's a hard thing to talk about. FOX: No charges were ever filed. And Miller has repeatedly denied all

allegations of abuse, including to CNN in an interview in June.

MILLER: What we're dealing with, unfortunately, is something that many families go through, Lauren, which is a very nasty divorce. And in the process, allegations get made that are completely fabricated and are not true.

FOX: So you're saying this incident never happened in any form?

MILLER: Not at all.

FOX: Miller won his primary in May with President Trump's endorsement, and is slated to face off against Democratic challenger and ironworker, Brian Poindexter, in November.

Max Miller has repeatedly told us in every way possible that he is staying in this race, but he has until close of business tomorrow to get out of this race if he wants to allow people in his district to have a special primary to pick a replacement candidate.

Then on August 10th, that is the next deadline for party leaders to be able to choose a candidate to run against a Democrat on the ballot.

But again, that is just a couple of days here for Max Miller to make a decision. Otherwise, he will remain on the ballot. He will remain in this race and he will be facing off against Brian Poindexter in November.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Lauren Fox reporting on Capitol Hill. Thank you for that.

You are watching THE STORY IS. For our international viewers, "WORLD SPORT" is next. For our viewers in North America, I'll be right back. Stay with us.

[01:41:35]

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MICHAELSON: A court in Massachusetts heard new testimony today in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, specifically about her mental state in the days after she killed her three children. Clancy has admitted to the killings in January of 2023, but she's pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, saying she was hearing voices pressuring her to act.

She says she had been seeking help for her mental health and suffering from postpartum psychosis.

CNN's Randi Kaye has the latest.

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RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As the second week of Lindsay Clancy murder trial got underway, doctors and nurses who treated her testified about their assessment of both her physical condition and her mental health.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you ask her about her mood that day?

DR. SEJAL SHAH, PSYCHIATRIST WHO TREATED LINDSAY CLANCY: I did ask her her mood.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what did she write?

DR. SHAH: She wrote "horrified".

KAYE: One forensic psychiatrist testified about meeting with Lindsay Clancy before she had surgery. Remember, Clancy had jumped out the second-floor window of her home after she had killed her children, so she was partially paralyzed.

Now, this forensic psychiatrist said that she had answered the questions using pen and paper because she was intubated and had a tube down her throat.

DR. SHAH: 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? 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: The forensic psychiatrist said that Lindsay Clancy asked her questions like, does she have an attorney? Is her body broken and are her legs straight?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her behavior was calm and cooperative.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 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.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At that moment, no. But as I mentioned, I did speak with a nurse beforehand, and Miss Clancy was able to report to me that she reported visual hallucinations overnight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Overnight after surgery.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.

KAYE: A psychiatrist who spoke with Clancy also testified about meeting with her after her surgery, and she said that Clancy told her that she did not have any homicidal or suicidal intent.

Randi Kaye, CNN -- New York.

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The 2027 Met Gala might seem far away, but is already stirring up controversy. Its theme is set to honor the work of British designer John Galliano. But in 2011, he faced backlash over a series of anti- Semitic and racist incidents.

The 65-year-old was later convicted in France of two hate crimes. Galliano has said that he was struggling with addiction at the time. He has since publicly apologized. Fashion journalist Anna Wintour called him a great designer whose career isn't defined by a moment.

For the first time, the cyclospora outbreak is being blamed for two deaths. Details just ahead on what health officials say likely contributed to those fatalities.

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MICHAELSON: For the first time, the cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. has turned deadly. Health officials say that two people in Michigan died from complications related to the infection linked to lettuce. Cases are more common in spring and summer, but as Colin Jeffery reports, this year they are much higher than usual.

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COLIN JEFFERY, CNN NEWSROURCE COORDINATING PRODUCER: The first known deaths in the multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak have been confirmed in Michigan. State Health Department officials say that both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration.

The CDC has identified more than 18,000 cases of domestic cyclosporiasis this season, with more than 6,000 cases confirmed and another 11,000 additional cases undergoing further testing.

ADDIE OLSON, POLK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: When we found out about a case of cyclospora, our communicable disease team will talk to them and ask what they've eaten and where they've eaten for the past two weeks. It's a really detailed process.

JEFFERY: Those who contract the disease say the symptoms can be strong for several days.

GRETCHEN PLEUSS, SUFFERED FROM CYCLOSPORIA: The first onset was, you know, what everybody talks about, which is the explosive watery diarrhea, which is no fun, but it's really the symptoms that arise from that that cause all the stomach pains.

JEFFERY: But people like Gretchen say the explosive diarrhea is not the only problem.

PLEUSS: I had to drink a lot of electrolytes to just try to keep some hydration in my body. I was unable to eat anything for about, I would say about 36 hours. JEFFERY: Health officials say deaths from cyclosporiasis are far from

common as the infection is quote, "generally not a life-threatening illness".

I'm Colin Jeffery reporting.

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[01:54:47]

MICHAELSON: Iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms is the suspected source of the outbreak. It has been recalled, and officials say it's likely that any contaminated products have already been eaten or removed from shelves.

After a thrilling World Cup run, Cape Verde's team captain and veteran goalkeeper, Vozinha is taking his talents to Chile.

Look at how that crowd welcomed him in Santiago. He arrived over the weekend amid speculation that he was joining the country's largest club, Colo-Colo.

The team officially confirmed Vozinha's signing on Monday following his medical inspection. The 40-year-old has locked down a six-month contract with options for a one-year extension.

Local media suggests that he will make his debut on the pitch later this month.

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TOM HOLLAND, ACTOR: I promise you that I will keep you safe.

Please, you just have to trust me. Come on.

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MICHAELSON: Spider-Man proves he is box office gold once again. The web crawling superheroes latest film "Spider-Man Brand New Day", brought in an estimated $355 million in the U.S., according to media research company Rentrak.

Globally, the film brought in about $927 million in one weekend. Between "Spider-Man" and "The Odyssey", this past weekend was the biggest weekend ever at the box office in terms of money made.

Good to see Hollywood doing pretty well.

Thanks for watching THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson.

I'll see you tomorrow for our extensive coverage of the Michigan primary results.

The news continues right here on CNN after a break.

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