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What We Know with Max Foster
Ministers Resign Amid Calls For U.K. P.M. Starmer To Step Down; Trump Says He Doesn't Need Xi's Help On Iran; Democrats Vow To Get To The Bottom Of Epstein Plea Deal; Russian Ship Sinks In Mysterious Circumstances; U.S. Transportation Chief's Reality Series Draws Criticism. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired May 12, 2026 - 15:00 ET
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ISA SOARES, CNN HOST: Britain's prime minister clings to power.
I'm Isa Soares, in for Max Foster. This is WHAT WE KNOW.
Good evening, coming to you from Downing Street in London, where Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life.
The British prime minister is facing growing cries to step down, step aside, many coming from within his own party. Last week's local election,
in which labor was trounced, seems to have really been the last straw for many. And since then, four members of Mr. Starmer's cabinet have resigned
in protest over his leadership.
But the prime minister is resisting the calls to quit, and more than 100 labor MPs released a letter today saying they back Mr. Starmer.
Clare Sebastian is with me here. And Clare has been on this story for much of the day.
And early on this morning, of course, when we had this cabinet meeting, there was a lot. We saw the numbers of those MPs really calling for his
resignation grow almost hourly., were in this moment now that its not clear whether the prime minister can survive another day. Give us a layout of the
land right now.
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean, look, it was an extraordinary day because he went into this weekly cabinet meeting this
morning and people were sort of expecting that there could be a mutiny. There were reports going in that the home secretary and potentially other
high level cabinet ministers were going to tell him to set out a timeline to leave. Then we got a statement from the prime minister while he was in
the cabinet meeting, essentially, the words that he had said to those members saying, look, there isn't a challenger at this point and we need to
get on with the business of governing. After that, we got yet more of this sort of choreographed fight back with MPs coming out, some of them, and
coming up to the cameras right here and saying, look, we backed the prime minister. We need stability. Some of them also posting on social media
about the same thing.
So, these two things have been going in tandem today, right? The revolt on the one hand with the numbers of MPs climbing a little bit, I wouldn't say
in the manner of a flood, but we've seen a continuous trickle throughout the day. Then we have these four junior ministers resigning their
government posts in protest and telling the prime minister he needs to step down eventually. But then we also have, as you say, the members of
parliament who've come out and said, look, this isn't the time for a leadership race.
So, is -- are we at the point where the stability argument is winning the day given, for example, the meltdown that were seeing in the bond market?
Or are we going to see the challenges continue to circle the wagons and come through in the next few days, perhaps after the king's speech, which
happens tomorrow.
SOARES: Which happens tomorrow, and its staggering that's happening against this political climate.
You were talking about leadership contenders, potentially. You know, one of those names is Wes Streeting, the health secretary. There are a lot of --
there's a lot of people, a lot of people saying right now that he's one of the contenders, along with others. But from those 80-plus who are calling
on the prime minister to step down, none of them have openly said they're backing Wes Streeting.
But we understand from British media that Prime Minister Starmer will be meeting Wes Streeting. I mean, to be a fly on the wall in the first place.
What do you think that conversation is going to be like? Is it going to be "Prime Minister, you have my support," or, "Prime minister, I'm going to
launch a leadership contest"?
SEBASTIAN: So look, I think at this point, we can't assume anything because Streeting has made it very clear that he would like to be prime
minister, but also that he doesn't want to come through as some kind of spoiler. And I think to now try to oust the prime minister on the morning
of the King's speech, if this meeting goes ahead, would certainly make him look like that. Not the kind of unifying candidate that he would need to be
for this party that now is looking so split down the middle in so many different ways.
So, I think, look, its going to be a difficult conversation, very likely because the prime minister knows about his ambitions. We don't know if he's
got the 81 backers. That's 20 percent of the parliamentary Labour Party that he would need to launch a real challenge, which is really the only
mechanism at this point by which we could see a change in leadership.
But I think all of that will come up because as far as we know, it didn't this morning during cabinet, they moved on very swiftly from this giant
elephant in the room, which is, of course, the prime minister's dwindling support.
SOARES: I want to branch this out slightly because I was speaking to a labor MP in the last hour, and he was saying he was calling for the prime
minister to resign. And he was saying, as he knocked on doors, that many people are saying they're not happy with the prime minister says something
as he was canvasing a public opinion.
[15:05:01]
That was a -- that was what he was hearing.
We've also heard from Jess Phillips, the MP, saying, you know, deeds, not words matter. Alex Davies-Jones, an MP who's resigning. This is bold,
radical, radical action. And then Miatta Fahnbulleh, who was one of the first ones, said the message on the doorstep was clear. You, prime
minister, have lost the trust and confidence of the public.
If he does stay, the prime minister, I mean, it's kind of its a hard job ahead with so many, you know, crises. We're seeing a war in Middle East, of
course, with Iran oil prices surging, it's a lot of pressure on him.
SEBASTIAN: Yeah. And look, he's made it through today. He may make it through the king's speech tomorrow. But as you say, I don't think that gets
rid of any of these key questions that he faces.
And that were made so clear, laid so bare by those local elections last week. Is there something at this point that the prime minister could do to
stem this ever downward sort of trajectory of his approval ratings that we've seen ever since he swept to power in that landslide, one of the
biggest mandates in modern British political history less than two years ago. And there are those who will point out that the writing could have
been on the wall anyway, that this was a landslide in terms of seats. But if you -- if you take out the popular vote, he only got about a third of
it. And reform got 14 percent.
So, the writing perhaps is on the wall. It's been called a loveless landslide. But I think, look, he is going to try and use tomorrow this
king's speech where he sets out his legislative priorities as another big moment to reset, to try and prove that change is coming, that the economy
is possible to fix, and that he is the one to do it. And I think, look, the message from the bond markets is that they certainly don't want anyone
coming in who's going to be further left than the prime minister and borrowing more money.
SOARES: Clare, thank you very much indeed.
Well, all this political instability, of course, comes as the U.K. tries to navigate a complicated role on the world stage, as Clare was just alluding
to their prime minister. Starmer's government is working with France in a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz. The U.K. recently
announced it would deploy one of its most powerful warships to the Persian Gulf.
And then there's, of course, Russia's war on Ukraine. Mr. Starmer has a warm relationship, as you know, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky. In fact, the Ukrainian flag is flying right here outside 10 Downing Street. And he also has been one of the most effective advocates,
Keir Starmer, for Ukraine in talks with Washington.
While one MP I spoke to in the last hour says that despite the chaos, a change in leadership might create, it would be worth it for Labour to have
a new person in charge. Have a listen
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLIVE BETTS, BRITISH LABOUR MP: Well, I think the unpopularity of the government, particularly the prime minister, has grown so great that I
think we're going to have chaos, confusion, whatever happens. And my worry is that we end up with an election coming up, yes, in three years' time,
with Nigel Farage leading the way. And we'll have even greater chaos and confusion then with someone like that, in our country. So, let's wake up
and let's recognize we have to act now for the sake of the long term future of the country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: So what we want to know this hour is how disruptive would it be if Keir Starmer quits?
Joining me now is the Labour member of parliament, Perran Moon. He says he supports Mr. Starmer 100 percent.
Perran, welcome to the show. Just for our viewers, we've heard, of course, an opposing voice in the last hour from a Labour Party member who believes
he's one of those 80-plus who thinks the prime minister should resign.
You think otherwise? Why is that?
PERRAN MOON, BRITISH LABOUR MP: I do, and there's 10 other colleagues who are with me. So, it's something that we've been thinking about for a long
time. But actually I think that the situation that we're in at the moment that it would be absolutely terrible for us to change prime minister.
You mentioned the market just there. The U.K. cannot afford more political chaos. We saw under the conservatives what happened when you had a
roundabout of different prime ministers. This is time for serious, stable government and a serious, stable prime minister. And that prime minister is
Keir Starmer
SOARES: And, Perran, Mr. Moon, we were -- we were hearing -- we were hearing earlier, of course, from several labor MPs who said as they knocked
on doors and said Commons' opinion, one thing they kept hearing time and time again is that Prime Minister Starmer needs to go. As we look ahead, of
course, to tomorrow, what can Prime Minister Starmer, of course, say in parliament that will change people's minds, that will give them the
confidence, of course, to have the support?
MOON: Well, look, were really looking forward to a really exciting legislative program being announced in the House of Commons tomorrow.
[15:10:01]
And it needs to be really focusing on how we grow our economy, a close relationship with the European Union, so that we can get that investment
into the U.K. And to make sure that we have got the finances -- we've finished with fantasy finances under the conservatives, we need to get the
finances in to rebuild our public services, our hospitals, schools and transport systems. And that will be hopefully the focus and the benefit --
SOARES: I'm sorry to interrupt. I'm going to interrupt. Unfortunately. Your line is cracking a bit so we can hear every other word. So we're going
to try and fix it and see if we can talk to you. But I really appreciate you plowing on as we try to fix it as you were talking.
Thank you very much, Labour member of parliament, Perran Moon, calling us right there from London.
Well, let's turn our attention to the United States because President Donald Trump says he doesn't need China's help in the standoff with Iran.
You heard him in the last hours, of course, as he left to China. The U.S. president is now on his way to Beijing for that crucial meeting with
Chinese Leader Xi Jinping.
And topping the agenda, tensions over Taiwan. And, of course, trade. Before his departure, the president downplayed the idea that China could play a
key role in peace talks with Iran, telling our Alayna Treene the U.S. will win it peacefully or otherwise, while aide to the presidents now say he's
now more seriously considering resuming U.S. combat operations than he has in recent weeks. And those sources say the president is frustrated with how
Iran is handling negotiations and has grown impatient as Tehran maintains its grip on that Strait of Hormuz.
There seem to be two camps, really within the administration. Some in the Pentagon are calling for a more aggressive approach, while others are
urging a diplomatic route.
Let's go to our Alayna Treene.
So, Alayna, as we look ahead, of course, to this meeting between the president, President Trump, Xi Jinping, on the question of Iran, what is --
is it clear to you and what you're hearing from those within the administration, what he's wanting to get out from Chinese Premier Xi
Jinping here?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Look, I was really hoping the president would be more direct, Isa, when I was questioning him
about this just moments ago on the South Lawn, he said they were going to have a long talk about it, but that he does not think he needs their help
and that the U.S. will win the war one way or another.
But as for the reporting I have, I'd say this. I think it's very clear, of course, that this meeting could be a key opportunity for diplomacy. There's
no secret, of course, that the Chinese have a close relationship with the Iranians. They do a number of business together. They have different talks.
I would also remind our viewers that just last week, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, someone who has been one of the key people
involved in these talks between Washington and Tehran, he was in China just last week meeting with his Chinese counterpart. So, I think that just
drives the point home about the relationship that they have.
Now, I do think there's some people who think perhaps, depending on how conversations go in Beijing between President Trump and President Xi,
perhaps there could be some sort of push from the Chinese to try and get the Iranians back to the negotiating table in a far more serious manner.
That is still, of course, I think the prime resolution here would be for the Trump administration to see this war between the U.S. and Iran end in a
peaceful way, and with some sort of deal. But again, that's very much unclear. And to be just more succinct to your question and my answer about
what he's expecting, I'm not sure they know yet. I think they are going into this, and they want to see how these talks go.
I, you know, I've covered many of the president's foreign trips, both during his second term, but also during his first term. He likes to feel
out how things are going. He calls it the art of a deal. We're going to have to see what that looks like once he's on the ground.
But again, there's no secret that the Chinese could have major influence here. We just have to wait and see whether or not the president really
wants to lean on that at this point in the war.
SOARES: Yeah. Major influence, Alayna. And I wonder also whether Xi Jinping will ask for something in return. I mean, the question of Taiwan is
one that has been brought up a time and time again. What are you hearing from those within that inside the White House? And what whether that can
carry any weight, whether the U.S. will clear, say, in any way it supports or doesn't support Taiwan?
Do you think -- you think that's even likely at this stage?
TREENE: You know, that is such a tough question. I've asked the same thing to people in the White House.
SOARES: Yeah.
TREENE: Look, this has been an issue, of course, that we've seen him be presented with during the first term as well. When he made that trip to
meet with President Xi in China during his first term about this commitment to Taiwan.
[15:15:02]
From everything I've been told by Trump administration officials, they do not want that to be a bargaining chip. They recognize the importance of the
current language that this White House and many of the president's predecessors have used, this kind of vague language that doesn't go as far
as calling for Taiwan's independence, but keeps the Chinese happy.
That is where they want to stay. Now, who knows what President Trump will do. He is a very unpredictable person.
So, is that on the table? It could be. I think there's no question that they are planning to talk about. You know, arms deals as it relates to
Taiwan. This has been a long, long standing dispute between the U.S. and China.
But I do think it's one that I can also say many experts I know I've been talking with as well, and people on Capitol Hill are worried Trump could go
too far on that.
But it's very much unclear. I know the posture of this White House, though, is that they do not want to do anything to jeopardize that, because, look,
the U.S. recognizes the importance of keeping Taiwan, you know, kind of at a far distance from the Chinese and also trying to prevent any sort of
attack from China on Taiwan as well.
But we have to see really where this leads when the two meet.
SOARES: I know you'll stay across it for us. Good to see you, Alayna. Alayna Treene there for us at the White House.
And coming up, a mystery at the bottom of the sea, a CNN investigation into the last voyage of a Russian cargo ship that may have been carrying nuclear
reactors. This story, after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone.
Some tense exchanges on Capitol Hill today as Trump administration officials defended the huge price tag of the Iran war. Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth was among those appearing before House as well as Senate committees today. He was asked about the Pentagon's estimate that the Iran
war has cost American taxpayers nearly $29 billion so far.
[15:20:07]
The Trump administration is requesting a new defense budget of $1.5 trillion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. PAT MURRAY (D-WA): I actually asked whether an American family should lose their health care or their child care to pay for this budget. That is
literally what the president suggested.
PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The president has proposed a historic $1.5 trillion budget that will defend the nation and confront threats like
Iran, which previous presidents allowed to happen. As Senator Graham pointed out, previous administrations said they wanted to take care of this
problem.
MURRAY: Your opinion, the question --
HEGSETH: And they did not. And he's doing it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee say the lives of so many girls and women could have been different -- would have been
different. So much abuse would have been spared if Jeffrey Epstein and his allies hadn't, quote, "overpowered the us justice system decades ago".
And Democratic lawmakers held a hearing today, listening really to painful stories from Epstein's survivors, and it took place in West Palm Beach,
Florida, where many allegations against the late sex offender first surfaced. A U.S. attorney in Florida gave Epstein a sweetheart non-
prosecution plea deal. If you remember, back in 2008, allowing him to avoid federal trial.
That prosecutor, Alex Acosta, would go on to be in President Donald Trump's first cabinet. Democrat Robert Garcia says if his party wins the midterms,
they will compel testimony to figure out how and essentially why Acosta was so lenient with Epstein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ROBERT GARCIA (D-CA), RANKING MEMBER, U.S. HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: Had authorities here been listened to had prosecutors who made
recommendations to the U.S. attorney had been listened to, had survivors been listened to? But time and time again, whether it was at the law
enforcement level or whether it was at the U.S. attorney's office by Alex Acosta and others, that justice was denied.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on this.
CNN's Annie Grayer is following the story from Capitol Hill.
So, Annie, just give us a sense, for our viewers, a sense really, what lawmakers heard today. What sort of testimony they've been hearing. It must
have been incredibly painful.
ANNIE GRAYER, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Well, they heard from survivors who gave their firsthand accounts about their harrowing experiences with
Jeffrey Epstein and his inner circle. And it's not a coincidence that this hearing took place in palm beach, Florida, just a few miles from President
Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. And the Democrats were trying to send a message there that this is an issue that is not going to go away as much as
President Trump and his administration is trying to put this topic of Jeffrey Epstein behind them.
And this hearing also gave us a window into how Democrats are going to continue their investigation and handle this investigation if they reclaim
the majority in November. And I think a big part of that is going to be to revisit pieces of this investigation that have taken place under the
Republican majority in this Congress.
For example, Alex Acosta, who you mentioned, who made that, quote/unquote, sweetheart deal with Jeffrey Epstein back in 2008, actually was interviewed
by this oversight committee that's currently led by Republicans. But Democrats have a lot of follow up questions that they feel like that
interview did not cover. So, he's somebody that Democrats absolutely will try and revisit.
And one thing that really stuck out to me, just what stuck out to me, just watching this hearing play out is when Democratic Congresswoman Melanie
Stansbury was asking the witnesses, all of whom who have lived through so much pain and have yet to see the kind of accountability that they have
long hoped for. She asked them, you know, what would justice look like to you? And one of the witnesses put it back to the lawmakers to say, look,
that is really up to you to figure out.
We are here to share our stories, but it's up to lawmakers to figure out how to prevent this doesn't happen again from passing more legislation to
having more oversight. And I think it just really sparked an interesting conversation about where does this investigation into Jeffrey Epstein go
from here? How are lawmakers going to try and keep this alive, especially when they have are dealing with the department of justice, who thinks that
this matters pretty much handled.
There's so many women who still do not feel like the claims that they have made the -- you know, the dynamics that they have suffered have been
handled or brought to justice. And the Democrats are seeing this as sort of their mantle that they want to take up if they win back the House in
November -- Isa.
SOARES: Yeah, the fight for accountability goes on.
Annie Grayer, thank you very much indeed.
Well, back on Capitol Hill, FBI Director Kash Patel testified today about his agency's 2027 budget request. But he also faced some personal
questions, including about his alleged drinking habits.
[15:25:02]
Patel is suing "The Atlantic Magazine" for reporting that he has, quote, "alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained
absences. CNN has not corroborated some of the anecdotes and episodes told in that article.
Well, that hearing in the Senate quickly became contentious. Patel even accepted a challenge to take a test to prove he does not have an alcohol
problem.
Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): These are serious allegations that were made against you. There is a lawsuit filed.
KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: The allegations are false. You drinking margaritas with a gangbanger showed on video.
VAN HOLLEN: Actually, it goes to show --
PATEL: You're running a $7,000 bar tab at the lobby bar has been filed by your own office.
VAN HOLLEN: It goes to show --
PATEL: You drink during the day. That's you. This is the ultimate example of hypocrisy. I will not be tarnished by baseless allegations, fraudulent
statements from the media.
VAN HOLLEN: The fact that you mentioned that indicates you don't know what you are talking about.
Now here --
PATEL: The only thing I know is you're the one drinking margaritas with a felon.
VAN HOLLEN: Actually, that's a false statement. And I'm asking you about your statements.
PATEL: I've answered them.
VAN HOLLEN: And I'm asking you about a particular report. And --
PATEL: It's not a report.
VAN HOLLEN: -- testimony. It's -- so, let me ask you this, you willing to take the test that -- it's called the audit test that members of our active
duty military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem?
PATEL: I'll take any test you're willing to take.
VAN HOLLEN: I will take it. Director Patel, I'll take it. You're ready to take it?
PATEL: Let's go.
VAN HOLLEN: Yes or no?
PATEL: Let's go, side by side.
VAN HOLLEN: I'll take it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Patel there on Capitol Hill.
Well, fascinating new reporting coming in to CNN. A Russian cargo ship that sank off the coast of Spain in 2024 was likely carrying nuclear reactors
for submarines. A CNN investigation finds the vessel may have been headed to North Korea.
Our Nick Paton Walsh has this exclusive report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): A mystery in the Mediterranean; the possible torpedoing of a
Russian ship to stop the Kremlin handing submarine nuclear reactors to North Korea begins in a quiet Spanish port.
WALSH: This really is the craziest of stories about a Russian shadow fleet ship that sank off the coast here in the strangest of circumstances, whose
Russian captain confessed to investigators here that it was carrying two nuclear reactors, possibly for a submarine.
WALSH (voice-over): The incident is shrouded in silence but concerns the most serious of issues: weapons proliferation between two nuclear powers
and force being used to stop it.
The Ursa Major ship loaded up near St. Petersburg in early December 2024; on paper, bound for Vladivostok with a cargo of two huge cranes and over
100 empty containers. It made another stop, loading two large manhole covers. It set sail.
A shadow fleet ship used by Russia in Syria, the Portuguese navy followed it from above. You can see the blue covers here until just before it ran
into trouble in Spanish waters.
WALSH: It was way further out to sea when the Ursa Major on the 22nd of December, 2024, suddenly slowed and Spanish rescuers noticed this and they
radioed to ask if anything was wrong. The ship insisted it was fine and could deal with the situation.
WALSH (voice-over): But about 24 hours later, it made a sharp deviation and issued an urgent call for help. The boat was listing, this video shows,
filmed from a nearby tanker but probably not going to sink too fast.
The captain of the ship would later tell investigators he'd seen a 20-by-20 inch hole in the hull, the damaged metal facing inwards. He said it had
been followed by three explosions on the starboard side of the boat, killing two of his crew.
So the Russian military arrive in force and they tell everyone to stay two nautical miles away from their ship, the Ursa Major.
But the Spanish know they need to conduct rescue operations, so they send this ship to pick up 14 Russian survivors who were brought back here. And
that includes the Russian captain, who, it seems, starts to help investigators piece together some of what's happened.
But it's hours later that day that the mood changes over the Ursa Major ship. And the Russian military fire flares over it. And then a series of
explosions follow, which Spanish seismic sensors picked up. And they send the ship to the seabed floor.
WALSH (voice-over): Moscow demanded their crew back but the Russian captain told Spanish investigators something remarkable, that the ship was
carrying components for two nuclear reactors, likely for a submarine, he said, adding he could not be sure if the reactors had fuel in them. There's
no evidence of contamination.
He also told investigators he thought he would be diverted not to Vladivostok but to North Korea's port of Rason.
[15:30:03]
Russia was in North Korea's debt at that time after they sent 10,000 troops to help fight Ukraine two months earlier.
And in December 2025, North Korea would claim to have built this, their first nuclear-powered submarine.
WALSH: Everything may have been on the bottom of the sea but the Russians weren't done yet. And according to a source familiar with the
investigation, about a week after the incident, a Russian research vessel called the Yantar, linked in the past to all sorts of allegations against
Moscow, sat over the wreckage for about five days.
And four more explosions followed, possibly the Russians destroying what was left of the wreckage.
WALSH (voice-over): In the months after, the U.S. may have shown interest in the site, twice sending a rare WC-135R Constant Phoenix, usually
secretly sniffing out traces of nuclear activity in Russia's Arctic or over Iran over the path of the Ursa Major, weaving low at 5,000 feet.
One had flown a similar route 13 months earlier, perhaps suggesting it's routine. The aircraft's U.S. base declined to provide any details. Spanish
lawmakers have urgently sought answers but got few.
JUAN ANTONIO ROJAS MANRIQUE, SPANISH OPPOSITION POLITICIAN (translated): When someone doesn't clearly and fully provide the information that you
request, you at least suspect that they are hiding something of course.
WALSH (voice-over): So why did the ship sink?
The Spanish investigation said the first impact was likely from a projectile called a supercavitating torpedo that fires air in front of
itself to reach very high speed. Others suggested something simpler.
MIKE PLUNKETT, SENIOR NAVAL PLATFORMS ANALYST, JANES: Sounds like a limpet mine. It sounds like a shaped charge explosive that was placed against the
hull by somebody or something.
WALSH (voice-over): The Russian owners immediately called the sinking "a targeted terrorist attack."
They, the Russian, Spanish and British militaries, did not reply to a request for comment and the Pentagon declined to.
There are few Western militaries operating there, capable of noticing, tracking and stopping a cargo like this. All sides, it seems, happy for
this secret to stay on the sea floor.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Cartagena, Spain.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:35:39]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. I'm here at 10 Downing Street, where a fourth junior minister has now resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's
government. This follows last weeks. If you remember, a disastrous election results for the prime minister's Labour Party.
Critics saying Labour has failed to show its vision for the -- for the future. Recent polling shows that Mr. Starmer is the most unpopular British
prime minister on record. Well, we are combing through sinking poll numbers for U.S. President Donald Trump.
And in a brand new CNN poll, only 30 percent say they approve of the presidents handling of the economy. And that is a career low. And Mr.
Trump's approval rating sits at 35 percent. This is consistent with what CNN poll showed back in March.
Let's stay with this and bring in our Stephen Collinson.
And, Stephen -- I mean, the numbers are pretty bleak. I was just looking at this just before I came to you. Seventy-seven percent, including a majority
of Republicans, say that President Trump's policies have increased the cost of living in their community. It doesn't bode well. I mean, this is very
much his economy, and it doesn't bode well for him.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Yeah. And these are quite staggering. That number you mentioned, that 77 percent numbers, really
interesting because it shows that Americans are not just unhappy about the economy, but they're directly connecting President Trump's policies to the
problems they have in their own lives. There's another one.
Seventy-five percent of Americans say that the Iran war has hurt their finances. That's a direct decision that the president made an unpopular
decision. And that is weighing on him.
So, logic would suggest that the president is going to pay a price for this, and his Republican Party will do in the midterm elections. Now, were
in a period of American politics where logic doesn't seem to account for very much, but we've also been through a period where presidents and
congresses regularly get overturned, because none of them seem to be able to solve the problem with the economy and the perception and the reality
for many Americans is that they feel worse off.
And that's something that goes back right through the pandemic, in polling. And I would argue this question of affordability, the feeling that you
can't get ahead, that really goes back, I think, to at least the 2008 financial crisis and the long shadow of that period. So, Trump is like
other American politicians, and he can't solve this affordability question.
What is amazing is that he seems so oblivious to it. You know, he's spending millions of dollars on monuments. The Iran war just hit $29
billion. And today, Trump said he did not make any consideration about Americans financial position. When he makes decisions about the war.
SOARES: So, then you have the question of affordability. The question of the pressures in the economy. This is something that I've been hearing from
politicians here, members of parliament here in the U.K., who are calling from Prime Minister Starmer to step down because of this. This is something
that is not, of course, not only hearing in the U.S., but also in the U.K. So why is one of them untouchable? And the question of President Trump,
while the other one, I'm talking here, Prime Minister Starmer, is on the ropes?
COLLINSON: Yeah, it's an interesting question. I think it's possible that Trump does pay a price in the midterm elections, but he effectively used
affordability to beat the Democrats the last time around because they failed to get prices down. But when you're in office, affordability doesn't
-- becomes a bit of a political curse because it's so difficult to tackle.
I think, you know, in America we have a very uneven economy, a K-shaped recovery, they call it, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
In the U.K., and I think we're seeing it in France and places like Germany as well. And a lot of the western world is that politicians have promised
change and they haven't been able to deliver it. That's certainly the case in the U.K.
I mean, the Labour party has a massive majority, but many people, I think, don't believe it's used it very effectively and that Keir Starmer has not
been a good political leader. He doesn't seem to have the political skill to push through change.
[15:40:02]
I think it's less there that he's oblivious to the situation or is willfully ignoring it like Trump, but he doesn't seem to be having the, you
know, the political skill to get something done about it.
SOARES: Yeah. And the question of the economy is huge here as well. Very anemic GDP at this stage.
Stephen, really appreciate it. Stephen Collinson there for us from Washington.
Now, this is a final moment of trade on Wall Street and markets. If we bring you up the numbers, if I can look at the numbers, I believe are
mixed. I have been told they are mixed.
We are looking live at the numbers come amid a new troubling consumer price index report for April. You're seeing that almost 2/10 of a percent there
for the Dow Jones. And it shows that for the first time in three years, U.S. wages aren't outpacing inflation.
And this is our Business Breakout.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Kevin Warsh to a 14-year term as Federal Reserve governor. The move paves the way for President Trump's pick to be
the next Fed chair. Jerome Powells term ends on Friday, but Warsh could be approved for the leadership position as soon as Wednesday.
Online marketplace eBay has rejected Gamestop's 56 -- 56, pardon me, billion dollars takeover bid. After reviewing the position, eBay's board
says the proposal was, quote, neither credible nor attractive. Some analysts have also questioned the deal, citing concerns about how GameStop
would pay for the deal.
The Trump administration's plan to renovate the Lincoln memorial reflecting pool has nearly doubled in cost, as what Stephen Collinson was talking
about there. The original amount for the Washington landmark was almost $7 million. Federal records now show a no bid contract that totals more than
$13 million.
And still to come this hour, four prime ministers in four years. So why does the U.K. keep changing leaders? We'll discuss, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:45:17]
SOARES: Well, it's deja vu here at Downing Street. Once again, the prime minister is under pressure to quit and once again the successor may not be
chosen at the ballot box. Britain has had four prime ministers in the last four years since Boris Johnson stood down, if you remember, in 2022. Only
two of them came to power after a general election. And if Starmer steps down as prime minister, his successor would need to call an election
either, not that it's clear who would even win one of those.
The Labour Party and the conservative opposition are tanking. The right- wing Reform U.K. Party and the left-wing Green Party are surging, making it unclear who would win a majority. So what we don't know is the important,
more important at this hour is uncertainty the new normal for Britain's political system.
Joining me now is Anand Menon. He's a professor of European politics at King's College London.
And great to have you back on the show. Good to see you. It seems that every time you and I talk, there is a crisis in British politics. Here we
are again. How do you -- how do you see this moment right now for prime minister who's holding on despite, of course, those 80-plus voices saying
that he should step down as soon as possible.
ANAND MENON, PROFESSOR OF EUROPEAN POLITICS, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON: I mean, I think the sad thing is, if you're British is, it's hard to see how
even if Keir Starmer hangs on, how he's going to be able to govern effectively or achieve anything, given the clear view amongst so many in
his party. It's only 80 who said so publicly that he should be stepping down, so it makes it a really difficult situation because there's no
obvious successor.
And yet Prime Minister Starmer seems to me to be fatally weakened.
SOARES: Can we take a step back? And just for our viewers, right around the world, and why are we -- I mean, why are we here?
This is something we remember with, you know, you and I discussed at great lengths on numerous occasions outside ten downing street and by the houses
of parliament that we saw with the Tory, with the Tory government. Right. We knew that the Labour Party said, were coming into this.
We want to be the antidote of chaos. Yet we are seeing this. What is it about the general malaise that we're seeing right now that is, it just
hasn't worked in his favor?
MENON: I mean, there is a general malaise. You're right. It should -- I mean, you should bear in mind that all the prime ministers that have been
forced out have been forced out for different reasons. I mean, with Boris Johnson, it was impropriety. It was parties during COVID with Liz Truss. It
was incompetence. And that famous mini budget.
I think with Keir Starmer, it's just that his MPs are coming to the conclusion he's simply not up to the job. I think two years in, people
expected labor. And remember labor have a massive majority in the House of Commons, which in principle allows them to do effectively anything they
like have govern very timidly. Theres been a series of U-turns.
I think this is simply a view that Keir Starmer really isn't suited to be prime minister. He's not decisive enough. He hasn't got a vision. He's not
bold enough. And I think coming hot on the heels with some real questions over his judgment over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to
the United States, and a really shocking set of local election results for the Labour Party. Labour MPs are thinking it's probably -- or some Labour
MPs are thinking it's better to get rid of him now, give us a successor three years or so until the next election, than to hang around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:51:22]
SOARES: We lost our guest there, Anand Menon. Thanks, of course, to him for taking the time to speak to us.
Turning our attention to the U.S. because while Americans are facing surging gas prices driven by the war with Iran, the U.S. transportation
secretary is taking a road trip. Sean Duffy is releasing a short YouTube reality series where he travels the country with his wife and children.
Duffy says it's paid for by a nonprofit and that no taxpayer dollars were used. But the show is drawing criticism for its timing and its sponsors,
which include some of Americas leading transportation oil as well as gas companies.
Our Tom Foreman has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What a beautiful family.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another reality show, another road trip. But it's a familiar path for this family.
TRUMP: Taking a little trip?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes.
TRUMP: A little trip all over.
FOREMAN (voice-over): Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, of Fox News, met on MVT's "Road Rules All Stars", and
they and their nine children are channeling that past in this five part YouTube series.
SEAN DUFFY, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: We're encouraging everyone to go take a road trip to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Welcome to Montana.
FOREMAN (voice-over): But the rollout of their made for TV trip through at least 17 states is hitting rough roads with serious safety questions about
air travel and several incidents, including a Frontier plane striking and killing a pedestrian over the weekend, a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise
ship, and gasoline prices way up amid the U.S. fight with Iran.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posted, "This is brutally out of touch. Regular families can't afford road trips anymore because
Trump and his war put gas prices through the roof."
DUFFY: Someone has to pay for this operation. I got to go to work.
FOREMAN (voice-over): Duffy says. No taxpayer dollars were involved. Neither he nor his family were paid, and sponsors picked up the production
tab.
But looking at some of those corporate backers, government watchdogs warn that the secretary is enjoying a road trip that appears to have been funded
by the very industries his agency oversees.
RACHEL CAMPOS-DUFFY, FOX NEWS HOST: I wear my boots that John Rich gave me.
DUFFY: They're very sexy.
FOREMAN (voice-over): The Duffys are pushing back, posting that the radical, miserable left just hates the show because it's too wholesome,
it's too patriotic, it's too joyful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think Madz kind of mad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're mad.
DUFFY: We're not going to fight on this trip. Put your seatbelts on.
BURNETT: Still, critics say the power couple is on thin ice. Although the project was reportedly shot mainly on weekends and holidays, it took seven
months.
DUFFY: There's a crisis, and Pete Buttigieg decides to ignore it.
BURNETT: And back when Buttigieg led transportation, both the Duffys attacked him for doing anything other than his government work, even for
taking paternity leave when his twins were born.
CAMPOS-DUFFY: What the hell was he doing? And we were in the middle of a supply.
DUFFY: It's vacation time, right? So, he's not doing his job.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN: So, some who heard the Duffys' complaints back then say what they're hearing now sounds an awful lot like hypocrisy. No matter where you
go on the map.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
SOARES: Barcelona took to the streets to celebrate clinching their 29th La Liga title. Thousands of fans gathered on Monday for a victory parade
through the city, as the club partied on their open top bus. As you can see, Barcelona sealed the championship with a two zero win over their arch
rival Real Madrid, with three matches to spare.
The club -- the club brought along the Spanish Super Cup for good measure, which they also won against Real Madrid earlier this year.
And finally, tonight, if you are hoping for the secret to a long and happy life, look no further than your local art gallery. New research from
University College London found that engaging in the arts may actually slow down the aging process. Whether it's visiting the Louvre, reading, singing
or participating in crafts, photography or even painting at home, the benefits are comparable, believe it or not, to exercise.
The study found those who take the time to gaze at a Monet or even pick up a brush can slow the biological age by a year or more. That's exactly what
we need.
That does it for this hour. I'm Isa Soares. That is WHAT WE KNOW. Do stay right here. We have more after the break.
END
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