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CNN Transcripts for March 18, 2026

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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
• Trump Wants no more Energy Strikes, but Supported Attack on Iranian Gas Field; Israel Says it Eliminated a Third Top Iranian Official, Interview with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA). Israel Says It Killed Iran's Intelligence Minister; Explosion in Saudi Arabia's Capital After Iranian Missile Attack; Trump Attends Dignified Transfer of Six Service Members Killed in Plane Crash; Mullin Faces Accusations of Anger Issues and Stolen Valor; GOP. Sen. Paul Clashes With DHS Nominee, Mullin; Senate Committee Set to Vote on Mullin Nomination Tomorrow. Aired 8-9p ET


Amanpour
• Interview with Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett; Interview with Former Iranian Ambassador to Germany and Princeton University Visiting Research Collaborator Seyed Hossein Mousavian; Interview with "Chokepoints" Author and Council for Foreign Relations Center for Geoeconomic Studies DirectorEdward Fishman. Aired 1-2p ET


CNN's The Arena with Kasie Hunt
• DNI Tulsi Gabbard Declines To Say If Iran Was "Imminent Threat"; Mullin Presents Himself As Different DHS Head In Tense Hearing. Aired 4-5p ET


The Lead with Jake Tapper
• Sen. Joni Ernst, (R-IA), Senators Question Trump's Pick To Lead DHS About His Temperament, TSA, DHS Funding, War In Iran; Israel Says It "Eliminated" A Third Top Iranian Official; Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official Resigns Over Iran War; Sen. Alex Padilla (D- CA), Is Interviewed About Senate Democrats Fiercely Reject GOP-Led Voter I.D. Bill; House Dems Push For Vote On DHS Funding Without ICE Or CBP; New Guidelines Suggest Cholesterol Treatment For Younger Adults. Aired 5-6p ET
• Gabbard Says, Iranian Regime Appears to be Intact; Senate Judiciary Committee Set to Vote on Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) Nomination Tomorrow; Democrats Speak After DOJ Meeting on Epstein Probe. Pritzker Pick Wins Illinois Democratic Senate Primary; LA Times: Dems Face Possible Upset In California Governor's Race. Aired 6-7p ET


CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip
• Reuters Reports, U.S. Weighs Sending Thousands of Troops in War's Next Phase; Trump Official Who Quit in Protest Says, Iran Posed No Imminent Threat; Gabbard Defers to Trump on Whether Iran Posed Imminent Threat. Gabbard Refuses To Answer Whether Iran Posed A Threat Or Not; Trump Criticizes Israel Over An Attack Against A Gas Site In Iran; Vance Calls The Rise In Gas Prices A Temporary Blip. Aired 10- 11p ET


CNN News Central
• Israel Says, Iran's Intelligence Chief Killed in Strike on Tehran; Trump Lashes Out At European Allies for Rejecting Calls for Help; TSA Staffing Shortages Contribute to Delays at Airports. Aired 7-7:30a ET
• Trump Slams NATO Over Iran War, Says U.S. Doesn't Need Help; Bondi, Blanche To Meet With House Oversight Committee; GOP Candidate Wants Women Who Sell Nude Images To Pay "Sin Tax." Aired 7:30-8a ET
• Interview with Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA): Trump: U.S. Allies Should Take Over Strait Once Iran Regime is Finished Off; Airport Security Lines Grow as TSA Goes Unpaid Amid DHS Shutdown; $915 Million Incentive Program has Helped 72,000 Self-Deport. Aired 8-8:30a ET
• U.S. Drops Bunker Buster Bombs Near Strait; Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) is Interviewed about Iran; MAGA View of Trump; New Guidance on Statin Therapy; Voice of American to Restart; Jacqueline Maguire is Interviewed about Her Op-Ed; Fed Not Expected to Cut Rates. Aired 8:30-9a ET
• Iran's Intelligence Chief Killed; Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) is Interviewed about Iran; Adam Stahl is Interviewed about TSA Shortages; Senate Hearing for Mullin. Aired 9-9:30a ET
• Ernest J. Moniz is Interviewed about the Strait of Hormuz; Turnout in Primary Elections; Brian Kelly is Interviewed about Airline Costs; Markwayne Mullin Senate Hearing. Aired 9:30-10a ET
• Federal Reserve to Announce Decision on Interest Rates; Markwayne Mullin Testifies Before Congress; Senate Holds Worldwide Threats Hearing. Aired 1-1:30p ET
• U.S. Drops 5,000-Pound Bunker Buster Bombs Near Strait of Hormuz; Trump Attends Dignified Transfer of U.S. Service Members; Gabbard Grilled About FBI Search of Georgia Elections Office; U.S. College Student Missing in Barcelona While on Spring Break; King Charles' White House Visit May Be in Limbo; NASA Astronauts Venture Outside International Space Station; New V.A., DOJ Agreement Could Put Homeless Veterans at Risk. Aired 1:30-2p ET
• New V.A., DOJ Agreement Could Put Homeless Veterans at Risk; Federal Reserve Board Keeps Rate Steady at 3.6 Percent; Iran Says U.S.-Israeli Strikes Damaged Oil & Natural Gas Facilities; Top Intel Officials Testify in Senate on Worldwide Threats; Mullin Has Tense Confirmation Hearing Amid DHS Shutdown Fight; Mullin Says ICE Will Need Judicial Warrants to Search Private Property, With Limited Exceptions. Aired 2-2:30p ET
• Fed Chair Powell Speaks on Interest Rate Decision; Missiles Intercepted Over Saudi Arabia Near Site of Meeting Between Arab, Islamic Foreign Ministers; Gabbard: Only the President Can Determine an Imminent Threat; Bondi, Blanche to Meet with House Oversight Committee; Iconic Labor Leader Chavez Accused of Decades of Sexual Abuse. Aired 2:30-3p ET
• U.S. Official Denies Involvement in Iran Gas Field Attacks; Top Intel Officials Testify in Senate on Worldwide Threats; Mullin: Calling Alex Pretti "Deranged Individual" was a Mistake; Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady & Projects One Rate Cut This Year; Powell Says He Won't Leave Fed Until DOJ Probe Over 3-3:30p ET
• Interview with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO): Senators Question Top Intel Officials on Worldwide Threats; Trump's New DHS Pick Sen. Mullin has Tense Confirmation Hearing; Musk's xAI Faces Lawsuit Over Allegation that Grok Created AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material. Aired 3:30-4p ET


CNN Newsroom
• Two Killed By Iranian Missile In Central Israel; Iranians Caught Between U.S.-Israel Strikes And Government Forces; Hormuz Closure Could Spark Global Inflation Double Whammy; Cuba Works To Restore Power After Nationwide Outage; Trump Says Won't Be Long Before Strait of Hormuz is Secure; Global Fuel Prices Spike Amid Strait of Hormuz Disruptions; Trump Rebukes Allies in Europe and Asia Over Iran War; E.U. Airlines Extend Suspension of Flights to Middle East; Zelenskyy Meets With European Allies, Says Ukrainian Drone Experts Can Assist in Middle East; U.K. And Ukraine Agree to New Military- industrial Partnership; Rare Daytime Fireball Spotted Over Eastern U.S. Aired 2-3a ET
• Iran Strikes Retaliated Following the Killing of Its Security Adviser Ali Larijani; Trump Unveils Three Arab Countries to Assist the United States in Securing the Strait of Hormuz; Judge Orders Reinstatement of VOA Employees and Journalists One Year After it was Shuttered by U.S. President Trump. Aired 3-3:45a ET


CNN This Morning
• Deadly Attack on Israel After Killing of Top Iranian Leaders; Joe Kent Resignation Puts Intelligence Behind War at Question; Long Lines, Short Tempers at Airport Security Checkpoints. Aired 6-6:30a ET
• Holly Dagres is Interviewed about Iran; MAGA Divided over Resignation; Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) is Interviewed about Iran. Aired 6:30-7a ET


Connect the World
• UAE Base Used by Australia Hit by Iranian Drones; Over 900 Killed in Lebanon since Conflict Began; Intel Officials Testify in U.S. Senate on Global Threats. Aired 10-11a ET
• U.S. Military Drops 5,000-pound Bombs Near Strait of Hormuz; Oil Prices Hold Steady Despite News of Iraqi Export Deal; Hormuz Closure Could Spark Global Inflation Double Whammy; Three Thai Crew Members Missing After Ship Struck in Strait; Iranians Caught Between U.S.-Israeli Strikes & Government Forces. Aired 9-10a ET


Erin Burnett Outfront
• Trump Admin Official Who Quit: Iran Was Not On Verge Of Having A Nuke; Iran Out For Revenge; Democratic Winner OutFront. Aired 7-8p ET


Early Start with Rahel Solomon
• Trump Blasts NATO Over Iran, Says U.S. Doesn't Need Help; Trump: Won't Be Long Before Strait Of Hormuz Is Secure; Cuba Works To Restore Power After Nationwide Outage. Aired 4-4:30a ET
• Iranians Caught Between U.S.-Israel Strikes And Govt. Forces; Iran Vows Revenge For Security Chief Ali Larijani's Killing; Hormuz Closure Could Spark Global Inflation Double Whammy. Aired 4:30-5a ET
• Officials: 2 Killed By Iranian Missile In Central Israel; Israeli Strikes Brings Down High-Rise In Beirut Neighborhood; Iran Vowes Revenge For Security Chief Ali Larijani's Killing; U.S. Senators Open Debate On Trump's Voter ID Bill; Trump: Won't Be Long Before Strait Of Hormuz Is Secure. Aired 5-5:30a ET
• Global Prices Spike Amid Strait of Hormuz Disruptions; Dubai Airports CEO Discusses Travel Disruptions; Cuba Struggles To Restore Power After Nationwide Outage. Aired 5:30-6a ET


Inside Politics
• Dem Sens. Press Intel Officials About Strait Of Hormuz Planning; Lawmakers Question Top Trump Intel Officials About Iran War; Gabbard: Trump Is Only One Who Can Define "Imminent Threat"; Gabbard: Trump Told Me To "Go And Observe" Fulton Co. Search. Aired 12-12:30p ET
• Democratic Senators Press Intel Officials About Strait of Hormuz Planning; Markwayne Mullin Testifies to Become Next DHS Secretary; GOP Chair Questions Mullin's Temperament for DHS Chief; Sen. Rand Paul Says He's a No Vote on Mullin for DHS Secretary. Aired 12:30-1p ET


Isa Soares Tonight
• Fed Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged; Federal Reserve Keeps Key Rate Steady at About 3.6 Percent; Saudi Arabia Hosts Arab, Islamic Foreign Ministers; U.K. Lawmakers Question Whether King Should Visit U.S. Fed Chair to Announce Latest Rate Decision; Israel Kills Iranian Top Security Chief; U.S. Senators Question Intel Chief About Reasons for Iran War. Aired 2:00-3p ET


Laura Coates Live
• Gabbard Won't Say if Iran Posed "Imminent Threat"; U.S. Weighs Sending Troops in War's Next Phase; Ex-Trump Intel Official Breaks Silence; Mullin Faces Tough Confirmation Hearing. Aired 11p-12a ET


One World with Zain Asher
• U.S. Senate Intel Committee Hearing on "Worldwide Threats". Aired 11a-12p ET
• U.S. Senate Intel Committee Hearing On "Worldwide Threats"; Trump Intel Officials Questioned In Senate Hearing; Preparations Underway To Celebrate Eid Al-Fitr Amid Iran War; Some Ships Are Still Going Through The Strait Of Hormuz; Senegal Stripped Of "Africa Cup Nations" Title Goes To Morocco. Aired 12-1p ET


Quest Means Business
• Brussels Braces for Fallout of Conflict; Powell: I Won't Step Down Until Investigation Truly Over; E.U. Lawmakers to Hold Vote on U.S. Trade Deal Thursday; Trump Waives U.S. Shipping Law for 60 Days to Ease Oil Prices; Trump Blasts Allies for Not Supporting U.S. war Efforts; E.U. Standard of Living and Regulations; Interview with Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi. Aired 4-5p ET


The Situation Room
• First Hearing on Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to be New DHS Secretary; Senate Hearing on Worldwide Threats With Trump Intel Officials. Aired 10-10:30a ET
• Senate Hearing on Worldwide Threats with Trump Intel Officials; Lawmakers Question top Trump Intel Officials About Iran War; Gabbard Questioned About Foreign Threats to Midterm Elections. Aired 10:30-11a ET
• Markwayne Mullin Grilled in Confirmation Hearing; Senate Holds Hearing on Worldwide Threats. Aired 11-11:30a ET
• Senate Holds Worldwide Threats Hearing; Markwayne Mullin Grilled in Senate Confirmation Hearing. Aired 11:30a-12p ET


The Source with Kaitlan Collins
• Trump's Top Intelligence Officials Testify On Iran War; GOP Sen. Paul Confronts Trump's DHS Pick In Heated Hearing; Bondi Defends DOJ After Dems Storm Out Of Epstein Briefing. Aired 9-10p ET


The Brief with Jim Sciutto
• CNN International: Oil Surges Amid Attacks on Energy Infrastructure; Iran Attacks Gulf Energy Sites; Israel Kills Iran's Intelligence Minister; Top U.S. Intel Officials Testify About Worldwide Threats; Trump Attacks Allies Over Reluctance to Get Involved; Saudi Arabia Intercepts Missiles Over Its Capital; Powell Says He Will Stay Fed Chair Until DOJ Ends Investigation; Senators Grill Trump's Homeland Security Pick. Aired 6-7p ET


The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
• Two Killed by Iranian Missile in Central Israel; Trump Blasts NATO Over Iran; Cuba Works to Restore Power After Nationwide Outage; Passengers Wait in Long Lines as TSA Callouts Rise; Top Trump Intel Official Resigns Over Iran War; Was U.S. Right to Go Into Iran's?; Hormuz Closure Could Spark Global Inflation; Trucks Carry Lifeline with Strait of Hormuz Blocked; Iranians Caught Between U.S.-Israeli Strikes and Government Forces. Aired 12-1a ET
• Iran Vows Revenge For Security Chief Larijani's Killing; Trump Says U.S. Doesn't Need Allies To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz; Iran Negotiates Strait Passage For Yuan-Traded Oil with 8 Countries; Cuba Struggles To Revive Obsolete Power Grid After Nationwide Blackout; Passengers Wait In Long Lines As TSA Callouts Rise; Top Trump Intelligence Official Resigns over Iran War; Dubai Airports CEO Discusses Travel Disruptions; United Farm Workers Union Cancels Cesar Chavez Event; Florida Republican Wants Adult Content Creators to Pay; Venezuela: World Baseball Classic Champs. Aired 1-2a ET


What We Know with Max Foster
• Intel Director Gabbard Questioned About Reasons For Iran War; Trump Mulls Handing Off Hormuz Responsibility To Allies; Iran Vowes Retaliation After Several Senior Leaders Killed; Powell: Too Soon To Tell Impact Of Iran War On Economy; U.K. Lawmakers Question King Charles Visiting The U.S. Aired 3-4p ET