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Interview with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): House to Vote on War Powers Resolution; WSJ: Russia is Big Winner as Iran War Drains Supplies Ukraine Needs; Investors Brace for Disruption to Oil, Shipping Due to Iran War; GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales Admits to Affair with Staffer, Vows to Stay in Race. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired March 05, 2026 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00]

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: But we have seen quite a few denunciations of this video overnight. Here's Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of Independent Veterans of America, a frequent guest here on CNN.

He said quote, "They think was is a video game. It's inappropriate, juvenile and unacceptable."

More broadly, videos like this are relevant for the following reason. They reach people where they are, scrolling on their phones all day long. And what we've seen so far from the polling in the early days of this conflict is that this is a remarkably unpopular war in America.

Many Americans oppose to this war. So we should continue to watch and see what techniques does the White House use to try to sell this war. And is the White House veering toward propaganda, in this case, a video game montage with real actual combat footage? Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: War is not a game. That is one thing we do know. Brian Stelter, thank you so much.

A new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the breaking news. As of this morning, CNN, the first U.S. network with a reporter inside Iran, were getting the latest from the ground there. As the war has spread to a new country, a new nation hit this morning.

Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales now admits he had an affair with a staffer who ultimately took her own life. Is this the same story he told House Speaker Mike Johnson a few weeks ago? What will the House do now?

And a small plane slams into an Arizona neighborhood triggering evacuations there. We've got new reporting about the passengers and what possibly went wrong.

I'm John Berman with Sara Sidner and Kate Bolduan. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: The breaking news this morning, the war with Iran is widening. A new front today, suspected Iranian drones hitting an airport in Azerbaijan. Authorities there say two people were injured and a terminal building was damaged. This is the first known strike in Azerbaijan since the war began.

And there's also new video coming in from Qatar showing explosions in the sky after suspected Iranian missiles were intercepted over Doha.

And take a look at this. In northern Syria, images of an Iranian missile just stuck in the ground. And we're told it landed near a Kurdish-controlled city without causing any casualties.

And CNN is now in Iran reporting from the ground this morning. The first American network to be inside. We will go there momentarily. But let's begin this hour.

Joining us now is Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. He sits on, well, all of the relevant committees including Senate Armed Services. Senator, thank you for being here.

So, the U.S. is now in this. The Senate, though you disagreed with it, has now given the president the green light to continue with this war, this operation, this conflict. So, what is your understanding, the measure of success is now, when the U.S. will get out of this war with Iran?

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): Kate, that is the key question unanswered by this administration which seems to think that a video game path to war is a reality. In fact, I have emerged from classified briefings deeply concerned and very fearful that we're on the precipice not only of an escalating conflict in that region, but also our putting American troops on the ground, our sons and daughters in harm's way, because that is almost inevitably the path that the administration has chosen by its current tactical approach. And the vote yesterday rejecting the War Powers Resolution was by no means a final green light to the president.

The Republicans are going to be held accountable, but so is the president, because the American people don't want this war, don't understand it, because the administration has failed to explain it. The president said he had a gut instinct. His press secretary said he had a good feeling.

Feelings, whims, instinct seems to be the basis that this administration is going forward. And putting our sons and daughters in harm's way in Iran, which seems to be the path right now, is absolutely abhorrent to the American people.

BOLDUAN: The president is bringing top U.S. defense contractors to the White House tomorrow. He's been pushing them to ramp up production of munitions. The Wall Street Journal is reporting what this war means in terms of Russia.

And here's the reporting, Senator. [08:05:00]

"Russia is one of the biggest winners in the early days of the largest U.S. military confrontation in decades, as Iranian missiles deplete stocks of Patriot interceptors that Ukraine needs for its defense."

And Senator, one deputy chief of Ukraine's Air Force also tells the Wall Street Journal, "The biggest threat to Ukraine are Russia's ballistic missile strikes, and the only solution is the Patriot system."

What does this mean? Not just for U.S. defense in general, but for the war in Ukraine that the United States has been supporting for so long.

BLUMENTHAL: As a longstanding, in fact, one of the leaders in the United States Senate on behalf of aiding Ukraine militarily and economically, I am very fearful that this war is a setback for Ukraine. We've been told again and again and again, one reason that we can't provide interceptors for the Patriot system or other munitions for Ukraine is that they're in short supply.

But the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday, we have plenty of munitions and ordnance. So there is clearly, again, contradictory answers.

BOLDUAN: Do you have a window into this, what the answer is? Yes, what the answer is when there is this contradiction?

BLUMENTHAL: No window whatsoever. No explanation. No transparency or disclosure. In classified settings or in public.

And this confused, chaotic approach to arming the forces in Iran contradicts what we've been told about Ukraine. And I will say, Ukraine is a loser, but so are American consumers because already energy prices are rising.

So will other costs of goods and living because LNG increased prices as well as oil will mean higher costs, not only at the pump, but in supermarkets and other places where American consumers buy their goods. So there's a lose-lose here for America, for Ukraine. Maybe a win for Russia because those energy prices rising will help fuel Russia's war machine.

And we are expending arms in Iran that Ukraine could use in the fight for its life and the fight for freedom, which is our fight as well.

BOLDUAN: I have to ask you there's reporting coming out from Punchbowl this morning that President Trump is quietly asking Republicans on the Hill if he should fire DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. And what's reportedly irked the president so much, according to Punchbowl reporting, is her testimony before your committee, judiciary, this week. Trump especially is unhappy with the tense exchange that she had with Republican senators.

Are you hearing anything of this quiet chatter by the president about wanting to push her out? BLUMENTHAL: I am hearing some not-so-quiet chatter, Kate, about the Republicans' increasing dismay about Kristi Noem. She is one of the most incompetent and seemingly disingenuous witnesses I've ever seen before any committee in my decade and a half in Congress. When I asked her to acknowledge the three victims of ICE brutality and violence, she basically was evasive and unresponsive.

She gave a kind of rote, rehearsed answer without providing any kind of sympathy for these individuals who had been brutally assaulted, and one of them shot a number of times, and refused to even condemn that kind of conduct, which was gloated over by her agents. And then my colleagues, Senators Kennedy and Tillis, in their questions exposed her lack of understanding, as well as her uncaring and abuse of power in, for example, the ad campaign that she did, which primarily elevated herself and her own name recognition. So, yes, there's a lot of not-so-quiet chatter, and I think the president is saying the quiet part out loud that she may be the first of his cabinet secretaries to go.

BOLDUAN: It seems that that performance in front of your committee this week definitely is grabbing more attention than maybe she was hoping. Senator, thank you so much for your time. I appreciate it -- Sara.

SIDNER: All right, ahead. Coming up, a new threat from Iran now, vowing to strike any American vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical passageways for the world's supply of oil.

Also, Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales finally admitting to cheating on his wife with a female staffer who later killed herself. Will he step down? His words on that ahead.

[08:10:00]

Plus, legendary Hall of Fame college football coach Lou Holtz passing away at 89 years old. We take a look back at his life and his legacy.

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BERMAN: All right, happening now, a live look at stock futures. You can see the market's opening a little down, a little down this morning. It has been volatile over the last few days, to say the least.

[08:15:00]

The main concern has been oil and oil prices, and really the choke point of the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the Gulf nations. You can see it right here. About 20 percent of the world's oil normally passes through these straits, about 20 miles wide at their most narrow point. The actual shipping lane is only two miles wide.

You can see all the red and yellow dots. The red dots are strikes inside Iran. The yellow dots are strikes that have been hit by missiles or drones in the Gulf nations on the other side of the straits. This gets about one-fifth, one-fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes through. But this war has brought traffic to a standstill. Iran says the strait is closed to only ships from the United States, Israel, Europe and other Western allies, warning if any of these ships pass through, they will be hit.

But I want to point out you can see that even with just that warning, there's virtually no traffic. This is the most narrow point right here. You can see the red dots and the green dots everywhere backed up.

Those are tanker and cargo ships. They're on either side of the narrow strait here. But right at this most narrow point, almost no ships going through at all, almost completely blank, just open sea.

Let's get to CNN's Eleni Giokos for the latest on what we're seeing with oil. She's in Abu Dhabi watching this at the moment. Good morning to you.

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, morning, John. I mean, super interesting map that you're looking at in terms of the traffic. The experts that I've been speaking to say just a trickle is going through.

And it's interestingly, Greek flag ships that have been able to switch off their satellite systems and get through and what they say in the dark of night. But the reality is, in speaking to shippers, they're saying there is a no-go area in terms of what the insurance companies want to see. And there's a wartime insurance premium that has skyrocketed.

They are waiting to see how President Trump's plan is going to work by activating the Development Finance Corporation to ensure shippers. But also want to see how vessels plan to get through safely even with Naval support. And once they see that, perhaps it's going to alleviate some of the fears.

But the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has said any ships that are affiliated and not just flagged by U.S., Israel or any other Western allies, but any ship that is affiliated with these nations are what they see as fair game. And in terms of targeting, we've already seen some of those vessels targeted. And it's the oil tankers that are at risk, but also a lot of the cargo players as well.

Shippers that I've been speaking to say there is -- and bringing up this map again, super important. Those red little dots you actually see are oil tankers waiting to leave from the Persian Gulf side through the Gulf of Oman and then on the other side as well. And it's basically brought all trade to a standstill. We've got Saudi Arabia saying they're activating the East-West pipeline to get some of that oil through to the Red Sea.

But that is not going to replace that 20 million barrels per day that normally goes to the Strait of Hormuz. When we see the oil price right now, which has increased by around 20 percent over the past week, a lot of traders say this isn't really reflecting the risk and the capacity that has been taken up, but not only the strikes on the critical energy infrastructure in the region, but also the shutting down of the Strait of Hormuz. And they're saying in the next two days, they're hoping that the U.S. is going to act on what they call the mitigation factors that they've announced.

BERMAN: Yes, almost nothing passing through at this time. And these maps really illustrate that. Eleni Giokos, thank you so much for that report -- Sara.

SIDNER: All right, just ahead, the trial of the woman accused of killing her husband with fentanyl. The text messages her former boyfriend revealed in court yesterday.

And two curious children find themselves stuck inside of the same claw machine all within just a few weeks of each other. What is going on here?

[08:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: New this morning, Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales is now acknowledging that he had an affair with a former member of his staff who later died by suicide.

Gonzales has repeatedly denied the allegations and said he had nothing to do with the late staffer's death. But on Wednesday, after a House ethics panel launched an investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct, Gonzales went on a podcast and called the affair a, quote, lapse in judgment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TONY GONZALES (R-TX): I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment and there was a lack of faith. And I take full responsibility for those actions. Since then, I've reconciled with my wife, Angel.

I've asked God to forgive me, which he has. And my faith is as strong as ever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: His words coming after he repeatedly lied about this after being asked about it. He is now facing a primary challenge in South Texas to keep his House seat.

CNN's Annie Grayer is in Washington, D.C. with more on this story. There's a lot of folks talking about this this morning.

ANNIE GRAYER, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Well, Sara, this is a major development from the congressman last night because it is against House rules for a lawmaker to have a relationship with one of their employees. And now with this revelation, we're going to see how does this impact the House ethics probe, which was just open yesterday? And how does it impact the growing calls from even his own Republican colleagues asking him to step aside and resign? We're specifically going to be looking to see how House Speaker Mike Johnson handles this, who has said he's wanted this investigation to play out, but has also called the allegations very serious. The speaker is navigating a very narrow majority here. He can only lose one vote. So right now he wants to see what happens with the Gonzales investigation.

Now, he's also facing a runoff at the end of May, but he has until March 18th to potentially drop out and not move forward that runoff. He said he is not going to step aside. He is staying in this fight.

[08:25:00]

He also mentioned in his interview last night that he had no knowledge of his former staffers death. He is looking forward to the House Ethics Committee's investigation to play out because he wants all of the facts out there -- Sara.

SIDNER: We know that her late ex -- her late husband also says there's a lot more text that he's willing to reveal. We will see what happens in that case.

I do want to ask you about what happened during a hearing in the Senate yesterday. There was a chaotic moment where we saw an antiwar protester in his full uniform calling out this war in Iran and asking them to stop it. What do you know about that?

GRAYER: This was a really intense moment, Sara. It was during a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting, and he stood up and started screaming, calling for the U.S. to not help Israel in this war, and it got really intense, the claims that he was making, and he had to be forcibly removed by police officers, and to the point where Republican Senator Sheehy got involved to try and help get this man out of the room. He has since been charged with assaulting a police officer and for having to be forcibly removed.

And his name is Brian McGinnis. He's from North Carolina. He's actually running in the North Carolina Senate race as part of the Green Party -- Sara.

SIDNER: Those are striking pictures, and we'll see what happens with that investigation. Annie Grayer, thank you. It is always a pleasure. I appreciate your reporting for us from Capitol Hill -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: CNN goes inside Iran, the first U.S. network since the war began. We have a full update from our team now on the ground for you.

And three people are injured after a plane crashes straight into a neighborhood. The latest that we're learning about how they're doing now.

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