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Witkoff And Kushner Arrive At White House As Uncertainty Surrounds Iran Negotiations; Iran: U.S. Blockade On Iranian Ports An "Act Of War"; Lawmakers Blast "RFK Jr. Spillover Effect" For Falling Vaccination Rates; Virginians Cast Vote In Redistricting Fight. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired April 21, 2026 - 15:00   ET

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

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Also, some dramatic video to share with you from Russia. Watch as the protective netting around a circus ring collapses mid-performance, and there you see one of the tigers leaping into the crowd. You can hear screams, though the tiger's trainers say that everyone was okay, including the animals. Russian police are now investigating what caused that protective netting to come on down during the show.

A new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Growing uncertainty over the next round of talks between Iran and the U.S. The Vice President was expected to leave for Pakistan this morning, but he didn't. He's still here in Washington discussing the next steps.

Plus, a special election that could shift the balance of power on the Hill. Virginians are heading to the polls. They are going to approve or reject a new congressional map that heavily favors Democrats.

And a new conspiracy theory is starting to gain traction in some corners of the Internet. Voices in the MAGA movement are now asking questions about the assassination attempt on President Trump.

We're following these major developing stories and many more, all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

We're following breaking news this hour, top U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner just arrived at the White House. They were set to go to Pakistan for a second round of peace talks with Iran. And Vice President J.D. Vance was also set to attend. But sources tell CNN those plans have been put on hold as uncertainty is growing over the peace talks, because Iran still has not confirmed if it's going to show up, with the ceasefire set to expire just hours from now.

CNN's Kristen Holmes is live for us from the White House.

Kristen, we saw Vance arrive at the White House earlier today. Tell us where things stand.

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brianna, they are being incredibly tight-lipped, but one thing we know, it is a full house here at the White House. It seems like an all-hands-on-deck situation. We have Vice President Vance. We have Secretary of State Marco Rubio. We have Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense. And as you noted, Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who were supposed to be on a plane from Miami to Islamabad, are now here in the White House as well.

And all we have been told is that Vance was having meetings on Iran, but no real details as to when or if he's even going to go to Pakistan today. One thing to keep in mind here, this is coming at a time in which the relationship between Iran and the U.S. is in an incredibly precarious situation. Our Kevin Liptak reporting that one of the things adding to this uncertainty is the Strait of Hormuz, that Iran, part of the reason they haven't confirmed that they're going to send a delegation and won't agree to negotiations is because they want President Trump to lift the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz before they meet for a second round of negotiations. Unclear if that's something President Trump would do.

We also know, we've been reporting since yesterday, is that there are U.S. officials who have told us that some of President Trump's rhetoric over the last several days, his posts, his flippant interviews that he's done, three to five minutes here or there, he's often contradicting himself, has not been helpful in these negotiations. In fact, there's been several people who are worried about the impact it's had specifically on the Iranians.

So right now, all we know is that the trip, it appears, has not been canceled. There's no notification that the trip is off completely, but it certainly has been put on hold. They're all right now in the West Wing having these meetings. We're told, again, the subject is Iran. That seems pretty obvious given who all is here and where we stand, but we are waiting to figure out what exactly is going to happen next.

KEILAR: All right. Kristen Holmes, they're being tight-lipped there, as you say. Thank you for the report. Boris?

SANCHEZ: So, Iran's foreign minister says the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian ports is a violation of the ceasefire amounting to a, quote, "act of war." This after U.S. forces appeared aboard what's being described as a stateless, sanctioned vessel in the Indian Ocean, and after the U.S. fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday. CNN's Nic Robertson is live for us from Islamabad, Pakistan.

Nic, peace talks appeared to be delayed here. What is the latest that you're hearing?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: I think what we've heard from the foreign minister in Iran, and you just quoted him, an act of war. That's how he describes the U.S. blockade of the Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz. He would be one of the people sitting across the table, potentially, from the Vice President, if the Vice President had come and if the Iranian delegation had come. And that's what he's tweeted in the last few minutes. That tells you where the tone is at.

We've heard a few other things from the Iranian -- from the Iranians. [15:05:03]

The spokesman at the foreign ministry has said again, clearly, we have not yet made a decision whether or not we'll come. So, I think that's significant, because he's not ruling it out. He's saying, again, as we've heard many times before, that they just don't trust the United States, consider them duplicitous, changing their minds. He said we will engage in talks if they are, quote, "results-oriented." He doesn't define what results-oriented is, but presumably that's what talks are all about. Trust is at a complete deficit.

The Pakistani officials here, the mediators in all of this, have been renewing and redoing their diplomacy. The foreign minister had a meeting this afternoon with the U.S. Charge d'Affaires here, Natalie Baker. After that, he tweeted, it would be good if the ceasefire could be extended, because that might get the sides around the table. The information minister here said that the Iranians should make their position clear before the ceasefire expires. And the Pakistanis, who kind of brokered the ceasefire in the beginning, believe that the ceasefire actually expires in five hours. So, on that take, they're giving the Iranians five hours to come up with an answer.

Look, I think when you try to look for positives here, and that's a reflection of what the mediators in Pakistan do, try to look for the positives. The Iranians haven't ruled out that the -- hundred percent, they're not saying we're not going to come. J.D. Vance hasn't announced that it's not going to come.

So, I think there is a degree of positivity in Pakistan, that the talks could still happen. But this afternoon has been an utter diplomatic roller coaster.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Nic Robertson, live for us in Islamabad, thank you so much for the update.

Still to come this afternoon, Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. back on Capitol Hill, sharing his thoughts on the President's new pick for CDC director, whether they'll be able to work together.

Plus, Virginia voters weighing in on a new House map that could dramatically redraw the state's congressional districts and help shape the balance of power.

And later, parents and advocates are on Capitol Hill pushing lawmakers to act on legislation aimed at protecting kids from online dangers. That and much more coming your way next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:11:42]

SANCHEZ: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is back on Capitol Hill today taking questions in both the House and Senate as he makes his case for the Trump administration's 2027 budget requests. Many Democrats are taking issue with Kennedy's long history of vaccine skepticism and how it might be impacting families, leading to moments like this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. KIM SCHRIER (D-WA): Now that you've made parents distrust doctors and shots, some parents are now refusing the vitamin K shot and other routine care, putting these babies at risk for bleeding out. This has a name. It's called the "RFK Jr. Spillover Effect." You spread misinformation, you scare parents and confuse them. Parents don't immunize their children or give them other routine care and then the kids get sick and they might even die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: CNN Medical Correspondent Meg Tirrell has been watching this hearing. Meg, Secretary Kennedy was also asked about President Trump's nominee to lead the CDC. What more did he say?

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Boris, this was an announcement we got from the President last week. His new pick to run the CDC, of course, a seat they've had trouble keeping filled. His new choice, Dr. Erica Schwartz, is seen as a much more straightforward, solid public health choice. She was his deputy surgeon general in President Trump's first term. A lot of experience with public health.

So, one congressman, Representative Ruiz from California, who is also a physician, as was Representative Schrier there in your introduction, asked how Secretary Kennedy will interact with her when it comes to vaccines. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. RAUL RUIZ (D-CA): Mr. Secretary ...

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., HHS SECRETARY: I'm putting a billion dollars in vaccine ...

RUIZ: ... Dr. Schwartz -- do you agree with Dr. Schwartz and her vaccine position?

KENNEDY: I'm putting a billion dollars ...

RUIZ: No, Mr. Secretary, if Dr. Schwartz is confirmed, will you commit on the record today to implement whatever vaccine guidance she issues without interference?

KENNEDY: I'm not going to make that kind of commitment.

RUIZ: Because you probably won't. You'll probably fire her as well as you did Director Monarez because you will not -- you will not accept the recommendations based on science.

KENNEDY: You're getting yourself, Means (ph) ...

RUIZ: Mr. Secretary ...

KENNEDY: ... but you're not getting Schwartz. RUIZ: ... it has ...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TIRRELL: And, Boris, this has been a concern from the public health world, who have largely applauded this nomination of Dr. Schwartz, but they say they are concerned about whether she'll have autonomy as CDC director under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary. They were referring there to Dr. Susan Monarez, who was the previous person to hold that role, who was removed from the position over disagreements with RFK Jr., which seemed to be about vaccine policy. Although RFK Jr. said there they disagreed because he asked her if she was trustworthy, and he says she said she wasn't. There are disputes over what actually happened, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Meg, he's due back again on Capitol Hill tomorrow. What more should we expect?

TIRRELL: Yes, so this will be numbers six and seven hearings from RFK Jr. from just the past week alone. And these are really kind of the big finales. They are the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Health Committee. There we are going to see him face down with Senator Bill Cassidy, who is, of course, a physician himself. They have bumped heads over vaccine policy. And, of course, the Senate Health Committee has not yet taken a vote on Secretary Kennedy's handpicked nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Casey Means.

[15:15:00]

So, a lot of people will be watching those dynamics very closely to see what happens on all of those fronts tomorrow, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Meg Tirrell, thanks so much for all of that reporting. Brianna.

KEILAR: Senators also got a chance to grill President Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Reserve in a key confirmation hearing today. Kevin Warsh was asked directly about maintaining independence at the central bank after President Trump's repeated demands for the Fed to lower interest rates. But Democrats didn't seem satisfied by Warsh's answers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): Name one aspect of President Trump's economic agenda with which you disagree.

KEVIN WARSH: Well, Senator, the Federal Reserve in recent years has wandered outside of its remit, wandered into other areas. That's not something I'm prepared to do.

WARREN: I'm asking for something you disagree with Donald Trump on. Just one economic ...

WARSH: If I'm confirmed, the -- the Federal Reserve should stay in its lane. WARREN: ... just one -- just one little place where you disagree with

Donald Trump.

WARSH: Well, I do have a -- a disagreement, actually, Senator, with the President. I think even this morning he said that he thought I was out of central casting. I think central casting, I'd look older, grayer, and maybe show up here with a cigar of sorts.

WARREN: Quite adorable. But, you know, we need a Fed chair who is independent. That's the only way we preserve the independence of the Federal Reserve.

WARSH: I agree.

WARREN: If you can't answer these questions, you don't have the courage and you don't have the independence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Warsh's confirmation, or certainly a timely confirmation, is already facing serious doubt. The deciding vote on the committee, Republican Senator Thom Tillis, says he's going to block Warsh until the DOJ drops its criminal investigation of the current Fed chair, Jerome Powell, and his term is scheduled to end in mid-May, here in just a little over three weeks.

Virginia voters are heading to the polls right now in a high-stakes election that could shape the midterms. Democrats spent way more than Republicans in the contest, and we are live outside a polling place next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:21:37]

KEILAR: Voters are hitting the polls in Virginia where a controversial redistricting measure is on the ballot. And if passed, Democrats could redraw congressional districts. They could potentially gain up to four seats in Congress and give them an edge ahead of November's highly anticipated midterm elections. CNN's Arlette Saenz is outside a polling place -- polling station, I should say, in Manassas, Virginia.

Arlette, I know there's a lot of mixed emotions about this referendum. What are voters saying to you about it?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brianna, there have been a steady stream of voters coming into this polling location really highlighting the importance of this redistricting issue for supporters and opponents of this measure. We have heard from those who have simply opposed all redistricting efforts across the country. While many Democrats and Independents have argued that they want to try to level the playing field in this redistricting arms race that's taken place after Texas had kicked things off with a Republican-led effort back over the summer.

But take a listen to some of the voices that we have spoken with earlier today as voters cast their ballots here in Manassas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUGLASS TATE, VIRGINIA VOTER: I just feel that it's a constitutional right that we should not be, you know, gerrymandering our districts in order to adjust temporarily for, you know, fairness in the sense that in the way that they're trying to articulate fairness. So, I -- I just don't like the way that they're trying to go about it.

CATHERINE MONROE, VIRGINIA VOTER: What the Republicans have done in some other states is to make them not reflect the makeup of the country accurately.

SAENZ: But what do you think of the arguments that Democrats are essentially doing what Republicans have done in other states?

MONROE: That's true. That's true. But it's temporary and it's because the Republicans did the -- the wrong in the first place. So, we're doing two wrongs to make it right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, if this referendum does pass today, it would essentially make 10 of the 11 congressional districts here in Virginia lean towards Democrat. And earlier today, the chair of the House Republican campaign arm, Congressman Richard Hudson, said it will be very tough for Republicans to hold on to their majority in the U.S. House in November's election, really highlighting if these maps pass, really highlighting the stakes of this election that Virginia voters are deciding on today.

KEILAR: And Arlette, it'll be debatable. You know, everyone will have their opinion on whether two wrongs make a right. But as I understand it, two wrongs definitely make a crustacean of sorts when it comes to one of these districts.

SAENZ: Yes, there's been a lot of attention paid to the way that these maps were drawn. Essentially, what these maps do is they take those heavily Democratic areas in northern Virginia and carve them up into five separate districts that then pinwheel out into more rural conservative areas.

One of the most talked about districts is where we are right here in the proposed seventh congressional district that people have dubbed the lobster of this race. If you take a look to how this is all shaped, it goes up towards just outside the Washington, D.C. suburbs down south. And it kind of goes around the college town of Charlottesville to create those two claws.

Opponents of this measure have argued that those voters who are or who are who are from those more conservative rural areas will now have to share the same congressperson as someone up in northern Virginia, which is a more heavily Democratic area, really highlighting some of the debates over these maps.

[15:25:09] But a lot of attention has been played to this -- paid to this lobster

area that we're in right here in Manassas.

KEILAR: Yes. I don't care what you say. That district belongs in Maine. Perhaps an oyster shaped district would be more appropriate for Virginia. Arlette Saenz, thank you very much for that report.

Next, top U.S. officials were set to travel to Pakistan for talks with Iran. That trip is now on hold. So, what happens now, we'll discuss.

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