Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Trump Says, Don't Understand Interest in Sordid But Boring Epstein Case; Russia Launches Hundreds of Drones on Key Regions of Ukraine; Slow-Moving Storms Move Across Flood-Weary East Coast. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired July 16, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: New calls from Republicans on Capitol Hill now to release documents from the Epstein investigation. Even the House speaker is now joining in the chorus, just as President Trump calls it sorted and boring and is trying to change the subject.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking just moments ago, brand new numbers from CNN. About the president's huge tax and spending bill, huge opposition.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, an American Idol executive, and her husband shot dead in their Los Angeles home, a 22-year-old man now under arrest. What police are saying the suspect was doing inside that home and what they found at the crime scene?

I'm Sara Sidner with Kate Bolduan and John Berman. This is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: So, this morning, the story that will not go away for President Trump and not go away because Republicans on the Hill are joining in the MAGA chorus, demanding more transparency on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. This is reaching something of a bipartisan fever pitch right now and creating the most bizarre alliances, MAGA influencers, Congressional Republicans and Congressional Democrats essentially teaming up against the Trump administration and its handling of a case that went away in 2019 when Jeffrey Epstein died in jail, sparking a flood of conspiracy theories on the right. Even House Speaker Mike Johnson is now speaking out, calling on the Department of Justice to release whatever files they still have on the sex trafficking investigation.

President Trump, after years suggesting he would release files and wanted them released to the American people now says he just does not get it why people care.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I don't understand it, why they would be so interested. He's dead for a long time. He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don't understand what the interest or what the fascination is. I really don't. It's pretty boring stuff. It's sordid, but it's boring. And I don't understand why it keeps going. But credible information, let them give it. Anything that's credible, I would say let them have it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Attorney General Pam Bondi, for her, part is not budging, maintaining that after their review of the files, there is nothing to see.

House Democrats, as I mentioned, they're really jumping in now. They tried to force the Justice Department's hand here by putting an amendment in an unrelated bill to release the Epstein files. That failed, but that's not stopping Democrats from trying to exploit this break, this fissure between President Trump and his party.

CNN's Kevin Liptak is joining us now from -- starting us off from the White House this morning. Where is this headed today, Kevin?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, it's certainly not dying down, which had been the expectation of people inside the White House when we were talking about this yesterday. Certainly, the president's supporters still very upset a, about all of this, and it's not clear that the president saying that he doesn't understand it, saying that, quote, only very bad people are interested in this, is going to have the effect that he hopes it has.

And a lot of the ire still continues to be directed at the Attorney General,Pam Bondi who, remember, only a few months ago. Said that she had the Epstein client list on her desk ready to review, but then in that memo last week, said that such a list did not exist.

Now, we heard from Mike Johnson, who is about the biggest ally of President Trump's in Washington, he was asked about that comment from Pam Bondi. Listen to what Johnson said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): We should put everything out there and let the people decide.

Pam Bondi, I don't know when she originally made the statement. I think she was talking about documents, as I understood it, they were on her desk. I don't know that she was specific about a list or whatever, but she needs to come forward and explain that to everybody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPTAK: So, clearly, now a lot of pressure mounting on the Justice Department to put out more information on this. And, in fact, you did hear from President Trump yesterday, even as he tried to dismiss all of this, say that he thinks that Bondi should put out more information if it is what he calls credible. But at the same time, he sort of diminished the possibility that such a credible list might exist, saying that it was created by his political rivals.

We've also heard Democrats call for hearings on Capitol Hill people who are associated with Epstein in the Justice Department.

[07:05:05]

We also heard from Tim Burchett, the Tennessee Republican, saying that he wants to hear from the Epstein associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, saying that she should come and testify on Capitol Hill. She's of course, serving 20 years in prison in Tallahassee. Not exactly clear how that would work. But in that interview, Mike Johnson said that he was open to that, saying that he's, quote, all for transparency. Kate?

BOLDUAN: All right, Kevin. Stay close. Thank you so much, starting us off this morning. John?

BERMAN: All right. Breaking overnight, four key regions in Ukraine hit by hundreds of Russian drones targeting energy infrastructure and sparking multiple fires. This attack comes amid a major shift in tone by President Trump who has threatened tariffs on countries that are buying Russian oil if Russia does not move in significant ways towards negotiations, though there is a 50-day deadline on that threat, which is pretty long. The president also announced the U.S. will send Ukraine Patriot missile systems via NATO. Those Patriot batteries can intercept Russian ballistic missiles.

Let's get right to CNN's Nick Paton Walsh for where this goes next. Good morning, Nick.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Okay. Yes, I mean, how crucial are these air defenses? We learned again that overnight, Kharkiv, the second city really in terms of size of Ukraine, hit by 16 drones in just 14 minutes, its officials say in the area around there, two lives lost in the assault of the last 24 hours. Three other cities hit two, one of them being President Zelenskyy hometown of Kryvyi Rih, which the local head there of the military administration saying came under the worst attack it's had since the war.

Russia firing 400 drones, a largest number we've seen for a significant number of days, although short of their record of over 700 that we've seen. A reason clearly why Ukraine needs the Patriots. Donald Trump said overnight that they had already been shipped. His suggestions he may have been referring to some of the interceptors that were perhaps held up in Poland because German officials have indicated the decision-making process for sending Patriot batteries will take days and maybe months for fresh batteries, the things that fire the interceptors to be dispatched.

But clearly motion there as well, and President Trump clarifying suggestions yesterday that he might have discussed the possibility of long range attacks and weapons for that deeper inside of Russia. Remember, Russia's being hit by deep strike Ukrainian drones regularly. Now, he clarified saying that he'd never really suggested sending missiles for that, and also said that he didn't think Zelenskyy should target Moscow.

A huge amount moving here, but ultimately all eyes on this 50-day deadline, look, that has given Russia a huge period here, nearly two months in which to prosecute any summer offensive, signs along the front lines that they have over the past weeks being not just edging forwards, but taking key ground around key towns.

But, really, I think Trump's new perspective on this focusing on China and India to pressure Russia potentially. Is Russia responding at this point? No change at all, just a continued barrage. President Zelenskyy is saying in an interview with Newsmax overnight that it's really strong weapons and strong sanctions that will change Russia's mind. Well, they may get that potentially whether it has any impact on Kremlin thinking. We've not seen any change in the last three years.

BERMAN: No, and that 50 days, a long runway for Moscow to operate.

Nick Paton Walsh for us this morning, Nick, thank you very much. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Thank you, John.

Ahead, heavy rain swamping parts of the country, millions of Americans under flooding threats. A look at the storm that could have a major impact on Florida and the Gulf Coast, that is ahead.

And breaking overnight, a longtime American Idol executive and her husband found murdered in their Hollywood home. This morning, we're learning new details about the murder suspect police now have in custody.

And a busy airport shut down after a small plane was hijacked and began circling the airspace. New audio this morning from air traffic control on what happened there. Those stories and more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:10:00]

SIDNER: Happening now, a flood watch is expected to go back into effect for several counties in New Jersey. Floodwaters have already killed two people there when their vehicle was swept away. Dangerous flash flooding drenched much of the East Coast this week.

The historic torrential rainfall set off scenes like the one you're seeing here, high water rescue in New York State.

CNN's Derek Van Dam is live from the CNN Weather Center for us. What can you tell us about what people need to be concerned about as you're seeing this flooding happening all over the country? First, we saw terrible flooding in Texas, now we're seeing it on the East Coast.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it really does feel like another day, another flood disaster to discuss, Sara. And the beginning of this week really started off with a bang in terms of flash flooding. It has been very active, very busy leading to scenes like this across the Mid-Atlantic. This was shot on Monday, but you can see cars completely stalled out, numerous highwater rescues. And there were actually several daily record rainfall totals that were set at the beginning of the week, including New York City, where we saw some of the water bubbling up across the subway system there on the 28th Street subway.

So, national Weather Service has been extremely active, issuing the most amount of flashflood warnings year-to-date ever.

[07:15:01]

That's really saying something about just how active the flooding has been across the Eastern, two thirds of the country. Here we go again today, showers and thunderstorms will take advantage of this very wet environments, saturated ground, thunderstorms pop up. There'll be slow-moving, could be effective rainfall producers. This is the area that we're concerned of for flash flooding, including Baltimore, D.C. State College, and Pittsburgh. Sara?

SIDNER: What can you tell us about what's coming towards the Gulf Coast? I understand a new storm may be on the way there and there are dangers there potentially.

VAN DAM: Yes. So, the same kind of environment that the East Coast and the Mid-Atlantic has been tapping into the Gulf, we have a potential developing tropical system. There's some specifics here that are important because the actual center of this disorganized invest, we call it 93L, is actually still on shore. So, it is moving westward. If it stays on shore, it won't have the ocean water to work with. But if it evolves offshore, that will allow it for it to take advantage of these warm temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico.

It's going to battle a lot of hostile upper level winds, so it's going to be tough for this to strengthen much past a tropical depression or weak tropical storm. But something we're going to monitor is the potential for very heavy rainfall. So, here we again, wash, rinse, repeat sounds like a broken record, but, really, this is the threat for the Deep South, the Gulf Coast, and specifically into Louisiana as we head into tomorrow, as well as Friday to start off the early weekend. A flashflood threat exists across this area from New Orleans, westward towards the border of Texas and Louisiana. Sara?

SIDNER: Yes. It's hard not to think of these flash flood threats differently after what we saw in the devastation in Texas.

Derek Van Dam, thank you so much for bringing us that. I appreciate it. John?

BERMAN: All right. The murder trial for the dentist accused of poisoning his wife's protein shakes, why the defense argued that his wife knew he was cheating.

And as one writer put it, no All-Star game has ever ended like this, no Major League Baseball game has ever ended like this, unprecedented in every way. This isn't the ending though. None of that is. What just happened at the Midsummer Classic?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00] BOLDUAN: A history-making MLB All-Star Game last night. CNN's Coy Wire is back with us, this time not with a mascot to steal his spotlight. I knew it wasn't going to last long. The moment he upstaged you, you're like, get out of my life.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: No. The Braves Mascot Blooper can steal my shine anytime, Kate. That man has some dance moves.

Atlanta, Georgia, pulling off an incredible week of Midsummer Classic festivities, culminating with the All-Star Game last night, and what a better way to welcome fans from around the world than with the ADL Zone, Ludacris and Jermaine Dupri performing Welcome to Atlanta during player intros. Party was hyped.

The National League were up big, Kate. In the sixth, the Mets' Pete Alonzo smacks a three-run homer extending their lead to five. Looked like a runaway. Nice souvenir for the fans there. But the American League ripped off sixth unanswered runs. And in the ninth, the Kwan and only, the guardian, Steven Kwan, hits this shot to score a runner and tie the game.

So, it went to the first ever swing off in the All-Star Game. And with that, the Phillies, Kyle Schwarber, AKA Schwarbombs, plays the hero, hitting three home runs on just three swings. The National League wins the 95th Midsummer Classic. The ADL had won 22 of the last 27. Schwarber is your 2025 All-Star Game MVP.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYLE SCHWARBER, 2025 MLB ALL-STAR GAME MVP: That was awesome. And the guys were really into it. And they were yelling, screaming, cheer me on every swing. And then that going, that last one goes over, they were all pumped. It was a lot of fun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right. The WNBA All-Star Game is this weekend, and Caitlin Clark Fever has been running so high that the Connecticut Sun moved their game with Indiana to the T.D. Garden where John Berman's Boston Celtics play a sellout crowd. A tough night for Clark, who clearly had some heated words for an official at one point, and then, Kate, in the final minute after completing this bounce pass to Kelsey Mitchell, who scored a team high 20, Clark holding her groin, heads to the bench and is visibly emotional, puts a towel on her head. Fever fans would've been happy about an 85 77 win, but with great concern for their star. Coach Stephanie White says they will see what happens from here.

Before this season, Kate, Clark had never sat out a game in her college or pro career. But her second season at the W has just been riddled with injury. She's missed ten games including a two-week stretch from what she just came back about a week ago with an injured groin. We hope she's okay for that All-Star Game this weekend and beyond.

BOLDUAN: No kidding. I mean, everybody wants to see her, one, healthy and, two, back on the court, for sure. Coy, thank you darling. Thank you so much.

WIRE: You got it.

BOLDUAN: Sara is here.

SIDNER: Well, it's a huge feat to never miss a game in college period. And then she's --

BOLDUAN: Full stop.

SIDNER: Yes. And then she's doing some of that here. So, you know, injuries happen. I'm sure she'll be back.

BOLDUAN: She will absolutely bounce back.

SIDNER: Did you ever miss any games, Coy? Don't answer that. I think you're --

WIRE: Girl, I have a titanium plate in four screws in my neck. Yes, nine seasons in the NFL left their mark and plenty have missed games on this boy.

BOLDUAN: I mean, I thought it was going to be like (INAUDIBLE) obviously, no. I was back in right away.

SIDNER: Your honesty is beautiful. Thank you so much, Coy Wire.

BOLDUAN: We never miss a day in this sport, yes? Good morning, everyone.

SIDNER: All right. Still to come, how Democrats are looking to capitalize on the growing rift in MAGA world over the Trump administration's handling of those Epstein files.

Plus, an American Idol music supervisor killed in an apparent double homicide.

[07:25:02]

Why the victim told neighbors she feared for her life in the days leading up to her death.

Those stories and more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This morning, Democrats are looking to capitalize on the growing rift in President Trump's base over his administration's handling of the Epstein files. House Democrats tried to force a vote calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish all documents related to the case. That vote failed along party lines, but it seems they're not done.

[07:30:00]

Let's get right to CNN's Arlette Saenz with the latest on this. Good morning, Arlette.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. Well, Democrats are trying to keep up the drumbeat on.