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What We Know with Max Foster
Senate Committee Advances Blanche's Nomination For Attorney General; Ukraine Accuses Russia Of War Crime Over Drone Attack; Michigan Senate Primary Pits Establishment Versus Progressives; Iran Will Strike U.S. Navy If Blockade Continues. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired August 04, 2026 - 15:00 ET
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[15:00:37]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST: U.S. president's pick to lead the Justice Department clears a major hurdle.
I'm Lynda Kinkade, in for Max Foster. This is WHAT WE KNOW.
U.S. President Trump's former personal attorney has taken a huge step towards becoming America's top law enforcement official. The Senate
Judiciary Committee voted today to advance Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general. The whole Senate could vote on this later next week.
Blanche won over skeptical Republicans by agreeing to scrap a $1.8 billion fund that could have been used to pay President Trump's allies, including
the people who stormed the Capitol on January 6. The question now is how long Blanche can remain on Mr. Trump's good side. Not one of the previous
three people to hold the A.G. job under Trump have left on good terms.
And the president is also turning against the U.S. attorney in Washington, DC. after Jeanine Pirro dropped charges against four people who had been
accused of vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Well, joining us now for more on all of this is Betsy Klein, who joins us from Washington.
Good to see you, Betsy.
So, let's start on Todd Blanche. What exactly changed in the Senate that helped push through Todd Blanche's nomination?
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: It's a great question because it wasn't without controversy. Todd Blanche clearing a key hurdle
in the Senate, advancing his nomination to be the nation's top law enforcement official. But again, not without a couple of hiccups along the
way. And at the root of that were two key members of the president's own party, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who is retiring along with
Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who Trump endorsed his primary opponent and he ended up losing his race to Ken Paxton, who's now Republican nominee for
Senate in Texas.
Now, top White House officials, including Susie Wiles and James Braid, who is the director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, were involved in this
multi-day push to get those two senators to yes. The key crux of this issue was that so-called anti-weaponization fund that would provide taxpayer
money to people who believed that they were unfairly targeted by the Justice Department. Both of those senators wanted written confirmation that
that plan scrapped, which the Trump administration had failed so far to do so.
Ultimately, Blanche revealing in two separate documents. Number one, a memo that formally rescinded the executive order that established that anti-
weaponization fund. And number two, a statement that clarified the terms of an IRS settlement that would protect the president and his family.
Now that got those two senators to a yes, but this episode really broadly underscores the challenges that President Trump is going to have within his
own party getting those lawmakers on board in his lame duck term. And for his part, Blanche still needs to clear the Senate floor. We do expect that
vote ultimately to pass, and then he is expected to go on to pursue some of the more controversial things that his predecessor, Pamela Bondi, was
unable to do. President Trump wants him to be more aggressive in targeting his perceived political enemies, and we do expect, according to sources,
that work to escalate and continue when he is formally approved, Lynda.
KINKADE: And Betsy, I want to ask you about Pirro's standing with the president right now. Is her job in jeopardy?
KLEIN: For now, we believe her job is safe. Of course, with President Trump, that can change on a dime. But the issue here is around this Lincoln
Memorial reflecting pool and the charges that stemmed from what President Trump said was vandalism to that pool that required them to drain it and
now refinish the surface.
Pirro's office concluded in a court filing on Friday that the $14 million innovation to that pool was both, quote, hasty and botched, and that they
could not pursue formal charges against people who had been accused of vandalism. Now, at issue here, the Justice Department concluded that those
issues stemmed from this flawed job, not vandalism, and that made the president very upset, particularly, according to sources, because he did
not get a heads up that this filing was coming ahead of time.
So, the president meeting with Jeanine Pirro yesterday at the White House. Sources say he did not fire her, nor did she offer her resignation, but the
president was extremely angry about this entire episode. So, clearly, she's on a little bit of thin ice here. We'll be watching that very closely.
[15:05:01]
KINKADE: Very closely indeed.
Betsy Klein, for us, always good to have you on the show. Thank you.
Well, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the world must see this. He's calling it evidence that, quote, Russia has gone mad and that its
soldiers take pleasure in killing and abusing civilians. He says a new video shows what he calls Russia's drone safaris, saying that they hunt
down Ukrainian civilians in the city of Kherson. Ukraine calls it a war crime.
CNN's Clare Sebastian is about to show you that video, but we must warn you, the footage is disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At first, it looks like a game. The man, a vegetable seller, tries to duck behind his van, the drone
whining ever closer. But this, Ukraine says, is how Russia likes to spread fear in the frontline city of Kherson.
Unbelievably, the 52-year-old victim survived with injuries, and hours later was able to recount his experience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): My wife started running away, and it started circling over the car. I gestured to it. Look, these are
vegetables, but it started charging at me.
So I started running around the car. Then we were side by side. It hit me, and I just fell. My back is all torn.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): CNN has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment. Moscow regularly claims it doesn't target civilians.
Three and a half years on from these euphoric scenes as Kherson was liberated from Russian occupation, daily life in Ukraine's largest
frontline city is increasingly dangerous. Of the 32 civilians killed here in July, 29 died in drone attacks, authorities say.
This from late July shows a near miss.
Anti-drone nets covering streets, now the new normal here.
And so-called human safaris, Russian drones seeming to hunt down civilians in the open, a tactic first used at scale in mid-2024, are happening now on
a daily basis here, President Zelenskyy said Tuesday.
This, a lucky escape in a war where civilians are paying an ever higher price.
Clare Sebastian, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, back here in the U.S., five states are holding primaries to determine which candidates will be on the ballot this November.
The most closely watched race is Michigan, where two factions of the Democratic Party are presenting starkly different versions. Moderate
establishment Congresswoman Haley Stevens is battling progressive Abdul El- Sayed to be the party's Senate nominee. Support for Israel has been a big issue in the race, with pro-Israeli groups spending tens of millions of
dollars to boost Stevens. and prevent El Sayed from getting the nomination.
With more on this important race, here's Jeff Zeleny.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CROWD: Abdul, Abdul!
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 --
CROWD: Haley, Haley!
ZELENY (voice-over): -- trying to stop Abdul El-Sayed and a rising progressive movement.
EL-SAYED: You got money out of?
CROWD: Politics!
EL-SAYED: Money in your?
CROWD: Pockets!
ZELENY (voice-over): As their Senate primary on Tuesday has become a fight for the direction of the Democratic Party.
REP. HALEY STEVENS (D), MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE: 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.
El-SAYED: Michigan right now is the center of the political universe because our people need and deserve healthcare. Our people need and deserve
a fair pay for a fair day's labor.
ZELENY (voice-over): For the first time, a year of insurgent Democratic wins in deep blue districts will be tested in a statewide marquee
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 answer. So, you know, electability is a thing that's best defined
after the fact. 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 emigrated 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? I'm 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)
KINKADE: And Jeff joins us now.
Jeff, good to have you there for us.
So, this race in Michigan is being watched as a test in the Democratic Party between the establishment and the progressive wings. What could
tonight's result tell us about the future of the Democratic Party?
ZELENY: I mean, Linda, it is. This is, of course, a Michigan race, but so many national implications are layered on top of it. I mean, first and
foremost, it does indeed help determine control of the U.S. Senate.
Democrats effectively cannot win control in November if they would lose Michigan, and they need to flip four other Republican seats. So, Michigan
is central to that. But we've been watching all year long as this progressive insurgency. We've seen examples of them winning in deep blue
areas like New York, Philadelphia, Denver, but it's never been tested in a statewide way. So that is what this election is going to do here today.
Really the establishment, do you want the status quo or are you looking for something more from the outside? It has many of those old vestiges of the
Bernie Sanders Joe Biden race for the Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton campaigns from years gone by. And this progressive movement is still very
much being driven and being propelled by a lot of energy, Lynda.
KINKADE: And, Jeff, from the voters you're speaking to on the ground, what are they telling you? The biggest issues for them, what's going to drive
turnout?
ZELENY: Look, as we've been talking to a lot of voters, it is electability in one respect, but they believe that the energy is on the side of the
progressive movement. Of course, both top candidates have their supporters. But listen to a snapshot of what a voter who's supporting Abdul El-Sayed
told us.
KINKADE: I think electability is huge, and Democrats have fallen on the wrong side of electability. I think Dr. El-Sayed has made a great point
that if Michigan has voted for Donald Trump several times. Clearly, they want something different. They want change.
He is a type of change. What we voted for in the past, these middle of the road candidates don't seem to really be standing up to the snuff here in
Michigan.
ZELENY: So, voters do have a few more hours of casting ballots at precincts like this here in Detroit and all around the state. Again, this
race tonight, if it is called tonight in this be a Senate primary, will offer a lot of telling lessons for the year to come and perhaps even some
instruction for the 2028 presidential campaign to come in terms of what ideas are driving the energy in those races -- Lynda.
KINKADE: All right. Jeff Zeleny, finger on the pulse there in Michigan. Appreciate it. Thanks so much.
Iran is threatening to strike U.S. Navy vessels along the Strait of Hormuz. The military advisor to the country's supreme leader says Tehran will not
stand idly by and allow the U.S. blockade there to continue. U.S. Central Command says that as of Monday, it has redirected 44 commercial vessels
since the blockade began.
Qatari mediators say there are no direct talks going on right now between the United States and Iran. Despite that, the U.S. treasury secretary
believes the two countries may be very close to striking an agreement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: We are in talks with the Iranians, and I think there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open
the strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: As oil suppliers dropped and prices have surged, so have the profits of the world's biggest oil companies. British company BP saw its
underlying profit double, almost double in just one quarter to more than $5.5 billion. Saudi Arabia's Aramco posted a 44 percent increase in second
quarter net profit.
And there's been monster earnings for American oil companies, too, compared to the same time last year. ExxonMobil's profits have doubled, while
Chevron's earnings have quadrupled.
Well, those earnings have elicited criticism from an unlikely source, Donald Trump. The U.S. president yesterday lashing out at big oil
companies, urging them to drop prices at the gas pump and stop capitalizing on the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They're making too much money. I don't like it. And I should be the last one to say because I'm a
big free enterprise guy. Chevron, too much money. ExxonMobil, too much -- too much money.
When you look at one company where they made 12 times what they made the year before, they're going to give some of that back to the public, and
they better cut the retail price, the consumer price.
Too much money. You're surprised I'm saying it? I'll say it loud and clear. I'm not happy about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: So, we want to know, is it fair for oil companies to profit from this oil market turbulence?
Joining me now is Candace Forten. She's the campaign manager at the Environmental Group at 350.org.
Good to have you with us.
CANDICE FORTIN, U.S. CAMPAIGN MANAGER, 350.ORG: Hi. Thank you for having me.
KINKADE: So, President Trump criticizing oil companies, saying they're making too much money and profiting off the Iran war. Is it surprising for
a president who has generally supported expanding U.S. production?
FORTIN: Well, I'd say it's definitely confusing and definitely contradictory. I think it is important to first of all note that in that
speech, he also said that the U.K. and Norway are sitting on a gold pot due to the amount of oil and resources on the North Sea that they could be
exploring. In that same interview, he also did say that any country that has a windmill is a loser.
Historically, Donald Trump has campaigned on the messaging of "drill, baby, drill", you know, bringing back coal. He's withdrawn from the Paris
Agreement. Under his administration, the EPA has repealed their landmark endangerment finding which attributed fossil fuels to the climate crisis.
So I wouldn't take a lot of stock in you know assigning what he said to something that's really concrete or something that's going to bring about
the renewable energy future that we want. I think that this is more just around money specifically and not around real change or solutions towards
the people.
KINKADE: You're certainly right to point that out. And I just want to flag those figures. ExxonMobil reporting $14.5 billion in profit, roughly double
for the same period last year. Chevron reporting $12 billion in profit, nearly four times higher year over year.
Those companies obviously say that this just reflects global markets and supply disruptions. From your perspective, do you believe that they are
making excessive profits here and what evidence do you have to support that?
FORTIN: I mean, yeah, absolutely. They're definitely making excessive profits. I would say collectively, all the fossil fuel companies, at least
this year, have generated about $93 billion of wealth. And of course, that money could be going to a lot of other entities and towards solutions and
energy solutions that we desperately need.
One of the great examples of this around utilities in the United States is how oftentimes these fossil fuel utilities do continue these things called
rate cases. They increase rates, you know, request rate hikes through like the Public Service Commission. And oftentimes, they're doing this and
increasing profits while we still experience grid failure.
For example, where I am in Detroit, We, our local utility company, DTE, which is run by fossil fuels, had a blackout that materialized in 320,000
ratepayers losing access to their power. So, we're not really serving the people when we do that, and so the rates aren't really justified at all.
But the fossil fuel companies continue to benefit from that while we continue to bear the brunt, not only with our utility bills, but increases
in health conditions, whether we're talking about asthma, cancer, mature health conditions because of the use of fossil fuels.
So, they continue to profit, and it's a very small handful of folks while the rest of us have to pay the bill.
KINKADE: Unlike many other countries here in the U.S., fossil fuel companies receive significant government subsidies and support. Talk us
through those specific subsidies and tax policies. And where should that money go instead, do you think?
FORTIN: Yes, it depends on the region and definitely on a state-by-state basis as well as far as the subsidies that they do receive. But those tax
breaks do often happen, and they are the decisions of the government. And what I would say is that what we really need to start pushing towards is
more of a polluter's pay sort of framework.
So, when I say that, there's a great example with the New York Climate Change Fund. It was a super fund that was voted into law in New York, and
it basically requires that fossil fuel companies give $75 billion over 25 years towards new infrastructure that is going to be attributed to climate
mitigation and also protecting communities from impending extreme weather events. And I do think that those sort of tactics can also be used on the
global scale.
For instance, right now in New York as well, there's a U.N. tax convention that is happening right now where they are discussing a new global tax
treaty that can open the room to bring in more polluter's pay sort of principles. And, you know, the idea here is that they'll continue those
negotiations. I believe that they are in round five right now, and those negotiations will continue until August 13th.
But it definitely creates a pathway for us to start to say, yes, they need to pay, but they also need to pay towards renewable energy solutions. And I
think that's the most complex approach that we have.
KINKADE: Candice Fortin, appreciate your time today. Thanks for joining us.
FORTIN: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, still to come, some wildfires in Greece, they're getting under control as more than a dozen fires rage across parts of Washington
state. How people are dealing with it all, we'll have those stories next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Linda Kinkade.
A man was arrested and charged with first degree arson over one of the wildfires blazing in Spokane, Washington. It comes as firefighters continue
battling three fires that started Saturday. A state official says 17 major wildfires have burned over 260,000 acres in Spokane County. Nearly 65,000
people had to leave their homes.
A Washington National Guardsman says the areas hit by the fires look like a warzone.
So I want to bring in Julia Vargas Jones, who's covering the wildfires for us.
Good to see you, Julia.
So just talk to us about what investigators are saying about the fact that one of the biggest fires may have been deliberately lit. What do we know
about the suspect?
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, his name is Aaron Farinacci, 37 years old. We're learning is that he has a previously conviction of
manslaughter in Arizona, Lynda, from 2012 that's relating to a 2010 incident. No previous arson cases, but in this case, investigators say that
their work began on Saturday when the fire was set. A witness says that they saw a man crouching down on the ground near the grass and then soon
after saw smoke coming from that very spot.
And it's interesting, investigators actually contacted Farinacci, spoke to him, interviewed him, and then released him initially, and then only after
returned. and used that material from the body camera video in order to get a second warrant to arrest him just yesterday. He had on him waterproof
matches in a butane lighter at the time when he was arrested.
So, all of these pieces coming together, we'll hear more, of course, as a court gets into session, the court right behind me. He's expected to appear
via a video call, Lynda, so we won't get to see him, but hopefully get a little bit more of an idea of who this and how authorities put this all
together in essentially the biggest question in everyone's mind here is what could have been the motivation for someone to do something like that.
Of course, this is hitting as so many families still outside of their homes, unable to even go to see what is left of their homes. In many cases,
as you mentioned, the National Guard saying it could take weeks for this all to be opened up in however long for it to start to being rebuilt.
KINKADE: Yeah, officials have obviously been pointing out the heat, the drought, the dry conditions, not a great conditions for firefighters to
have to tackle on top of these fires that are burning out of control.
What do we know about the number of people under evacuation orders right now and the amount of damage?
JONES: Yeah, we're still looking at about the nearly 65,000 people. The damage is massive. You said I believe 260 some acres there. There's even
more. So here just in this county. Those three fires have put together 10,000 acres already gone.
It is difficult, Lynda. It started with just terrifyingly strong winds on Saturday. That's what spread that fire so far out and then what we're
hearing from the almost 5,000 firefighters and other officials that are fighting the fire on the ground here in this area is that there's so much
dry material. The heat means that there's so much more fuel to those fires, so it will continue to burn -- to burn. And the contention still very, very
low for these fires.
Now it doesn't mean that they're not following in that they don't have a handle on it, but it is a scary thing to think about. So many fires burning
with no contention. Despite all of these efforts coming from all over, it's not just Washington and in Portland firefighters, there are crews here all
the way from Australia. There's groups from all over the United States, 14 different states contributing here.
And of course, we heard from the governor of Washington saying there's also aid coming from the federal government. All of this ongoing in, of course,
in people's minds looking to this potential hearing and not long from now, less than two hours, hoping to get a few more tips and answers. to what
could have caused at least this one fire to start.
KINKADE: All right. Julia Vargas Jones, thanks for staying across it for us. Appreciate it.
Europe is also facing terrible wildfires this year, blazes of raging across Greece threatening people and animals. Dramatic video shows terrified
horses fleeing the flames. It comes as officials report progress containing some of the fires near Athens. People returning to burned out homes and
farms, and they remain on high alert for any flare-ups.
Journalist Elinda Labropoulou reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELINDA LABROPOULOU, JOURNALIST: The evacuations have been ongoing, and especially through the early morning hours, residents have been talking
about firefighters coming door to door and asking them to leave within just five minutes. This is because the fire was approaching their homes so
quickly. Luckily, the evacuations so far have gone smoothly. And firefighters are now telling us that they are very close to being able to
at least partially contain these fires.
The big mega fire that's burning close to Athens, which has caused all this immense devastation, is now under control. And the partial control, and
it's a fragile situation is the way that they're describing. And this means that, you know, the residents are now going back, looking at their
properties, trying to assess what's happening, joining the many Europeans this summer that have found themselves in similar situations.
[15:30:02]
Greece has also been buying a number of aircrafts. What has happened in this particular case, however, is that the conditions were so extreme that
none of this firecraft has been able to take part in these operations. And this is a more general debate across Europe. Greece is full of pine trees,
vegetation that is very fire-prone, is a hot fire, basically, and how all this needs to be reassessed and changed.
And finally, in a country where tourism is so much such a big part of the economy, really, how much is tourism stressing the resources that could be
going to fire prevention?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Still to come, the scenes that shock the world. After the chaos in Ceuta, we'll see how European lawmakers are trying to get a handle on
the migrant crisis.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Now to the migrant crisis in Europe, a boat caught fire in the English Channel as it attempted to travel from France to the UK. More than
150 people were rescued. You're looking at people disembarking from the French rescue ship Mink. British prime minister is promising to be
relentless in tackling small boat crossings, which have become a political flashpoint here in the U.K.
European Union members standing united. The E.U. says an emergency meeting on the recent rush of migrants into Spanish territory of Ceuta was
constructive and showed full solidarity with Spain. Spain says about 72,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco last week. Madrid adds that 70,000 of
those people have returned, though some migrants have remained in the Spanish enclave sleeping on beaches.
After the E.U. meeting with his counterpart, Spain's interior minister said Brussels is giving Madrid its total support.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERNANDO GRANDE-MARLASKA, SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): All of the interventions by all the member states, as well as by the states
associated with Schengen and by the agencies of the European Union, were made in an absolutely constructive tone. It was a tone in which the
extraordinary work and the effective and immediate response of the Spanish authorities were also recognized.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: CNN is in Ceuta, the tiny territory now at the center of the political firestorm.
CNN Portugal's Helena Lins has more on the migrants who are still there, many of whom are sleeping on the beaches.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HELENA LINS, CNN PORTUGAL JOURNALIST: Thousands of migrants are still here in Ceuta. Many on this beach, the Beach El Trampolin is the nearest to the
temporary shelter for migrants that is completely full.
So, these people end up staying here on the beach. They spend the day and night here. Some have told us they prefer to sleep during the day because
they feel safer and they end up staying awake during the night.
As you can see, most of them are from Sub-Saharan Africa, a lot of people here from Sudan This morning, as we arrived, many were in the sea. They
still are washing themselves, washing their clothes. Many of them are still with the clothes that they swam from Morocco to Ceuta. And they've been
complaining that, for the past few days, there's been no place where they can take a shower, where they can eat, they can have some water, and where
they can sleep.
So, this is the beach where many of them are staying right now, after five days since this mass migration started here in Ceuta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, the Maltese foreign minister spoke last hour with our Isa Soares. Here's what he had to say about the situation there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS FEARNE, MALTESE FOREIGN MINISTER: What we've been hearing from the Americans themselves, from the migrants themselves, is that this was a
campaign that they followed on social media, that there was this mistaken view that the border into sea was open, and that this was amplified on
social media. Whether this is the only reason for this surge in migrants into Ceuta these last few days remains to be seen. And we are interested,
of course, to find out exactly what happened. And we continue to be in contact with our Spanish partners and colleagues to find out really whether
this campaign or social media was self-initiated or whether there was something behind it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: It's the final moments of trade on Wall Street and stocks are enjoying a record-breaking session. The Dow is heading for a second
straight all-time high with the S&P 500 also looking to break records.
This is our Business Breakout.
Top officials from some of the world's biggest A.I. companies met at the White House today. They were due to discuss new ways to regulate A.I.
models before they launched. Executives from Anthropic, Google, Meta and OpenAI were expected to attend. It comes after at least two cases of A.I.
agents going rogue and hacking other systems.
U.S. Senate Democrat Elizabeth Warren is demanding an investigation over President Trump's cryptocurrency. The Trump coin was launched days before
Mr. Trump's second inauguration last year and left thousands of investors out of pocket when its value tanked. Warren and his Senate colleague
Richard Blumenthal allege that the coin may be, quote, "an illegal scam".
A big day ahead for SpaceX. A few minutes from now, it will release its first earnings report as a public company. That will tell us how the
company has fared since its rocky start to trading. And then a few hours later, some less earthly matters to deal with.
Part of a SpaceX rocket launched last year is expected to crash into the moon. of rockets usually burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. This one has
drifted towards the moon. NASA says it poses no danger to us here on Earth and will observe the collision to learn more about any future landings.
Paramount's deal to buy Warner Brothers Discovery is stuck in legal limbo. The Paramount CEO says the future of CNN is the reason why. Writing in
today's "New York Times", David Ellison says the opposition to his plan to take over CNN's parent company is rooted in how they would run this news
network. Ellison has drawn criticism for changes that he made to CBS News since he took over at Paramount, but he insists that he cares deeply about
editorial independence.
Our chief media analyst Brian Stelter has more on what Ellison had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Hey, Lynda.
Yeah, David Ellison says that the legal tug of war over Paramount's deal to by Warner Bros. Discovery is really about this network, about CNN. He says
so in a remarkable new op-ed for "The New York Times". He writes, quote, "I believe this fight is not really about market share."
[15:40:00]
And that's a reference to the pending lawsuits by 12 U.S. states and the Writers Guild of America, alleging that the Paramount-Warner merger will
violate antitrust law.
Now, I've read the text of the lawsuits, and the lawsuits don't really invoke CNN or Paramount's CBS News division. The text of the lawsuits is
about market concentration, with these cases alleging that Paramount and Warner combined would have too much power in Hollywood.
But Paramount executives believe that the lawsuits are politically motivated, with Democratic state attorneys general trying to block David
Ellison from controlling CNN, partly because his father, Larry Ellison, is a close ally and financial backer of President Trump.
In recent months, Trump has invoked this topic repeatedly. He said at one point, it's imperative that CNN be sold, and recently he said, quote,
"We're trying to have CNN go on a normal path." This has led to speculation and some reporting by "The Wall Street Journal" about some sort of behind-
the-scenes deal between the president and the Ellisons.
Now, Ellison does not address that in his new op-ed. He doesn't mention the president at all. But he writes that, quote, "Great news organizations like
CNN and CBS News are here to tell it straight down the middle. That requires newsrooms that reflect the whole world, not one side of it. And it
requires independence." He says, "Our journalists will continue to answer to the facts and to all the people they serve, not to any party or cause."
Ellison also says he's not looking to bend the newsrooms to his own personal views.
Overall, he is reaffirming his previous pledges. But many critics have responded today by saying that Paramount's actions speak louder than
Ellison's reassuring words. Specifically, his action of appointing Bari Weiss to run CBS News last fall. That hiring has led to many months of
controversies, and many TV News veterans have said that she doesn't have the skills necessary for the job.
In the op-ed today, Ellison does not mention Weiss or any of the recent CBS News scandals or shakeups, like the firings of several "60 Minutes"
correspondents and producers. But Ellison does write about trust in media, pointing out that trust in media and other American institutions continues
to erode.
And he writes, quote, "Trust cannot be argued back, but it can be earned back. story by story, day by day. In an age when so much of what fills our
screens is machine generated or engineered to enrage, journalism from real reporters matters more than ever. That is the work I intend to pay for,
patiently, for a long time."
And patience might be necessary because it might be a long time before this merger is completed. Right now, those lawsuits are winding their way
through the courts in Northern California. Paramount has proposed to hold a trial in November, but the states have proposed a trial date in April of
next year. The states say they need more time to gather evidence through the discovery process. We're expecting a judge to weigh in sometime in the
coming days to set a timeline for the trial.
So, it may be many, many months before Paramount can control Warner Bros. Discovery if a court does allow it.
Lynda, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: All right. Our thanks to Brian Stelter.
Still to come, what it is like to take your country to World Cup glory. CNN sits down with Spain's new national hero.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:46:21]
KINKADE: Welcome back, I'm Lynda Kinkade.
U.S. officials say a second detainee has died while in ICE custody at a controversial immigration detention center in New Jersey. Edward Lopez-
Cornejo died after experiencing a medical emergency at Delaney Hall Detention Center, according to ICE officials.
The Salvadorian's death once again puts the spotlight on that facility. It was the target of protests earlier this year of accusations that detainees
were being treated inhumanely.
Maria Santana is following the story and joins us now.
Maria, good to have you with us.
So what are we learning about this death in ICE custody and what are officials saying about the circumstances that led to it?
MARIA SANTANA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, hi. How are you, Lynda?
Another family is left devastated after another immigrant dies while in custody of ICE. A mother, a 12-year-old daughter and other family members
of 39-year-old Salvadorian immigrant Edwin Lopez-Cornejo demanded a truth, justice and accountability after his mother said he died after six weeks in
detention at Delaney Hall because of medical negligence.
She says that he called her the last time she spoke to him was on Friday when he called to say that he wasn't feeling well, that part of his face
and right arm were numb. She said that he said that he was a promised medical evaluation, but that he did not know when those evaluations would
be done. She said he suffered from diabetes, from seizures and from high blood pressure and that he was not being given his medications. She said he
was denied his medications.
A 12-year-old heartbroken girl also remembered her father as a good person, someone who was always happy as a hard worker, someone who was an excellent
father, son, and just a guy who was on his way to work when he was detained by ICE and put in detention at Delaney Hall.
This is what his daughter in tears had to say at a press conference earlier today. Let's listen. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAUGHTER: And I'm going to grow up without a father. He didn't even let him see me one last time before he died. We have so many plans but we never
did that because freaking ICE just -- they're just heartless monsters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANTANA: And now, the Department of Homeland Security denies that these allegations. They said that in a statement that Lopez Cornejo was receiving
his medications and that he was being medically treated. They said that when he experienced his medical emergency, they called a 911 and that the
personnel at the detention facility immediately rendered him aid and took him into the hospital for emergency medical services.
The mother says that she did not find out that he had even gone to the hospital, until the hospital to tell her that her son had died.
But as you said this is a very controversial center at least two people in less than a year have died there a group of detainees started a hunger
strike denouncing horrible conditions contaminated food and saying that they are routinely denied medical care.
But this family, all they want is justice that they say they want ICE out of New Jersey and for this facility to be closed permanently -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Horrific circumstances.
Maria Santana, thanks so much.
We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:52:23]
KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
Spain's World Cup hero says the moment he scored the winning goal in last month's World Cup final was the best of his life. His clinical strike in
extra time against Argentina crowned Spain as the men's World Cup champions for the second time.
He spoke to Kaitlan Collins about that moment and why he was wearing a migrant-inspired hat during celebrations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERRAN TORRES, SPANISH FOOTBALLER: It was a special moment. Honestly, I can't believe it. A dream come true to score this goal and winning the
World Cup and yeah. Today, I just can't believe it.
KAITLAN COLLNS, CNN HOST, "THE SOURCE": Have you been able to -- I mean, wrap your head around the fact that that you scored the game-winning goal
in the World Cup?
TORRES: Honestly, when I -- when I -- when I finished the game -- I just have a -- head to the dressing room because I can't believe -- I do -- I
didn't remember how I scored and I needed to see to see it again.
COLLINS: You know, so few people know what that feeling is like. I mean, what does winning feel like in a moment like that? Is it what you expect or
is it -- is it different? Is it relief?
TORRES: Yeah, it's different. It's different. Feeling is like if you don't score this well, you cannot feel it. Just it's just like gets crazy and
just run to celebrate with my teammates. It was an unbelievable moment.
COLLINS: Did it make it any sweeter that it was Messi and Argentina to defeat them?
TORRES: Yeah, it made me feel different because it was. For me, the best moment in my -- in my life.
COLLINS: Yeah. What has your life been like since you won?
TORRES: Honestly, it since it since because you can feel the difference that in the people because say now, I can feel that the people recognize me
more often and it like -- I feel like -- I feel inside the same person, but it's kind of not.
COLLINS: Yeah, I mean because the whole world knows your name now.
TORRES: Yeah, and it made me feel very proud because every kid when he's young dream about this moment and I feel it in my personal.
COLLINS: Well -- and the next World Cup is set to be held in Spain. I mean, do you think you're going to be hoisting the trophy in your home
country?
TORRES: Hopefully, but this will be to enjoy it because I have one. So, I want another one. But yeah, it will be an amazing atmosphere.
COLLINS: You do want another one?
TORRES: Yeah, I want it.
COLLINS: I think of game this year, President Trump was there. You were later seen wearing a red "make Spain great again" hat.
[15:55:01]
Where did you even get that hat from?
TORRES: Yeah, it was funny moment because it was not about politics because I honestly, I don't know about politics. It was just to be able to
see Spain again on the top winning the World Cup and it was just to have fun with my friends, with my -- with my family and nothing about politics
or nothing about, yeah, this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, finally tonight, it is a girl. Britain's Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank have announced the birth of their daughter. The
baby was born Monday evening at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal.
No name has been announced, but both mother and daughter are said to be doing well. This is the third child for the couple. They also have two
young sons, two big brothers, that little baby girl.
I'm Lynda Kinkade. That is WHAT WE KNOW.
Do stay with CNN. We have much more after a very short break.
END
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