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Sixth Day of Severe Weather Brings Tornadoes, Hail and Flooding; Ex-FBI Chief Comey Indicted for Seashell Pic DOJ Says Threatened Trump; Hegseth to Testify on Capitol Hill for First Time Since Iran War Began. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired April 29, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Breaking overnight, tornadoes tear through parts of the U.S., one flattening part of a Texas town. That same system also pummeling states with up to grapefruit-sized hail. We're tracking the next severe weather outbreak.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Indictment 2.0, what's the former FBI director, James Comey, going to do today after Trump's Justice Department is going back at him and Comey's initial response is, let's go.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A stolen car, a utility pole, and a wild end to a police chase after one of their most wanted.

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

SIDNER: Breaking overnight, an outbreak of severe weather slamming states for a sixth straight day with tornadoes, hail and flooding. In North Texas overnight, catastrophic damage after a tornado flattened part of the town you see behind me, just west of Dallas. Officials say multiple people were injured when the tornado hit Mineral Wells, Texas.

A similar scene playing out now in Oklahoma, where homes and buildings were reduced to piles of bricks, wood, and siding, the storm so powerful that a series of transmission lines are now bent in half.

Yesterday's storm also spawned a tornado in Arkansas, where heavy rain, also flooded streets there. And elsewhere, hailstorms pounded parts of Missouri.

Man, that is some damaging hail. You can hear the hail there coming down. One storm chaser was in his car when this all began.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah, I got to get out of here.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SIDNER: Oh, that one looked like the grapefruit-sized hail that we were talking about. The damage much worse for other drivers, windshields left with giant holes, others blown out entirely. Some of that hail hit Missouri, it was the size of tennis balls or baseballs in parts of Texas. The hail, as I mentioned there, was the size of a grapefruit.

CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam tracking it all for us. That is enormous and can do so much damage. What are we expecting? Is the storm system over?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Sara, so this is the seventh day in a row of severe weather and it really had it all. There was a report of a 4.5-inch size hailstone. That's what we talk about when we say grapefruits falling from the sky. That can cause damage and it can accumulate very quickly. But there was also flooding on top of that destructive tornado.

So, we're going to look the screen to my left here. You can see in Brinkley, Arkansas, there's one of the tornadoes that drop, but also the slow motion disaster there of the flooding that inundated some of the homes and businesses.

Look at the Mineral Wells, Texas, damage as well, the National Weather Service reporting that they are going to send a survey crew to this storm damage to determine a lot of things, right? They don't just look at the severity of the damage, but they have to look at the patterns of the damage as well to determine just how strong it was. Was it rotating or was it moving in a straight line? That will determine a lot for the National Weather Service. But one thing's for sure, people's lives completely turned upside down with these storms that move through.

Overall, there was over 150 reports of severe weather yesterday, stretching from Mississippi through Missouri, southward into Texas. That's where we had our Mineral Wells, Texas, tornado.

Today, we can take a sigh of relief because the severe weather threat is greatly diminished compared to the past week or so. There is a marginal risk across the Mid-Atlantic and the Deep South where you see those two shades of green, large hail, strong winds, that's the concerns today. But we don't really see the signs of rotation in the atmosphere, so we can kind of breathe a sigh of relief in terms of the tornado threat.

And guess what? Look at where this rain is traversing. We got much needed rain into the drought-stricken south. Remember, just earlier this week and into last week, we have been fighting the fires on the ground in Southeast Georgia, so, much needed precipitation. Hopefully, it can allow the firefighters to gain some new ground on these massive fires. The Highway 82 Fire and the Pineland Fire.

There's the rainfall that will form through the course of the day today. Heads up, Jackson into New Orleans, eventually into Atlanta for the overnight period, but, again, this should remain below severe weather criteria for the most part, with the exception of some straight line winds.

[07:05:11]

And, yes, much needed rain will fall from the sky. We have been praying for it. We have been desperate for it across the southeast, so we welcome it, without a doubt. Sara?

SIDNER: It's nice to see this sort of moving out because that tornado damage in Mineral Wells was extensive.

Thank you so much. I appreciate your reporting for us there, Derek Van Dam. Kate?

BOLDUAN: We're also standing by this morning to see whether the former FBI director, James Comey, will be taken into custody or will possibly turn himself in, now facing a new indictment from the Justice Department under President Trump's watch.

An arrest warrant has been issued all over and we'll show you this, a post that Comey shared on the socials last year of shells on the beach, spelling out 86, 47. According to the DOJ, this was a threat to the life of the 47th president, Donald Trump.

Comey deleted that post the same day, again, this was essentially a year ago, saying that he assumed that the shells were a political message and didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. On the new indictment, James Comey now says this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES COMEY, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: Well, they're back this time about a picture of seashells on a North Carolina beach a year ago, and this won't be the end of it. But nothing has changed with me. I'm still innocent, I'm still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary. So, let's go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: This is the second time that Comey's been indicted. You'll remember last September, he was charged with lying to Congress about leaks in the past to the press but the case was dismissed after a federal judge found that the U.S. attorney who brought the charges was improperly appointed.

But let's stay here in the here and now in the, today. Joining me right now, CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig.

So, Elie, an indictment over seashells, what do you --

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: When you put it that way.

BOLDUAN: When you put it. But what do you see in it, what should people see in it? How did this get through a grand jury?

HONIG: I see a surefire loser. This case is going to fail. And the reason for that, Kate, is the First Amendment. You and I and members of the public have a very broad right to criticize our public officials, especially the president. It is okay to post things that are stupid, that are irresponsible, that are scary, that are silly, that are insulting.

The only line that the criminal law draws and the criminal law gives a very wide berth of the First Amendment is you cannot make a statement that is intended to make a specific threat of death or physical injury to the president or to another public official.

So, let's look at these seashells, 86, 47, right? 47 means Donald Trump, 47th president. But 86 is way too ambiguous to uphold a conviction. 86, yes. Are there examples of people meaning 86 to reference killing or physical injury? Sure. But far more commonly, 86 is just an old fashioned term for get rid of, throw out, cross off the list, what have you.

And remember, prosecutors, you have to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no way they do that.

BOLDUAN: So, you lean on this word as you were saying, specific?

HONIG: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Like it needs to be a specific threat to bodily harm?

HONIG: Yes. The law calls it a true threat. It can't even be something rhetorical, right? So, if you said, boy, I'd like to kick that guy's butt, that's probably not even going to be specific enough to constitute a true threat. If one were to post, hypothetically, when the president comes to this town, I will inflict injury on him, I will kill him, I urge people to assault him, that would probably cross the line. But seashell spelling 86, 47, I don't even think this reaches a jury. I think a judge throws it out.

BOLDUAN: Part of the conversation in the first round was with the indictment against him, as well as the indictment against Tish James, was, do they have an argument of a defense of vindictive prosecution?

HONIG: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Do you see that here?

HONIG: Yes. I don't know that I've ever seen a stronger case for vindictive prosecution. What that means is I'm being selected for prosecution because there's bad blood between someone in the government and me. So, what do we have here? We have the long history, right? Hundreds of times, Jim Comey and Donald Trump have both posted negative things about each other. Donald Trump specifically Truth Socialed in September of last year calling for Jim Comey's prosecution. Then they indicted him once and that failed, and now they've gone back a second time.

And, by the way, that is the sort of paradigmatic example of a vindictive prosecution. You charge the person once. They beat you as a prosecutor. And then I'll charge you again.

BOLDUAN: Even a stronger argument this time than last?

HONIG: Absolutely. Because now he can say, look, I beat him a few months ago. Now they came back with something new to try to get me.

BOLDUAN: All right. It's good to see, Elie.

HONIG: Same.

BOLDUAN: Thank you so much. J.B.?

BERMAN: All right. Breaking overnight a new big jump in gas prices from $4.18 to $4.23 a gallon, that is the highest level in four years with new concerns about just how high they might go next.

And then if anyone doubted it was possible, they have found still a new place to put the president's face and name.

[07:10:02]

Introducing the Trump branded passport.

And then multiple explosions after a car loses control in a wild police chase after one of their most wanted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, you all right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: We are standing by for highly awaited testimony, critics say, overdue.

[07:15:02]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appears before Congress for the first time since the war on Iran began. He could face pointed questions from members of both parties about the path of the conflict and funding requests, and we have seen his peak with some questions at the Pentagon briefings.

As for the war and slow negotiations, the president just posted on social media, quote, no more Mr. Nice Guy, and that Iran, quote, better get smart soon.

Let's get right to CNN's Brian Todd in Washington awaiting these hearings. And I do have to say members of both parties have a lot of questions this morning, Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, John. It's going to be a highly charged couple of days for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, as you mentioned, the first time they will have gone before some key house and Senate panels since the Iran war began. In less than three hours, they go before the House Armed Services Committee. Tomorrow, they get the Senate Armed Services Committee. They're going to face questions about the blockade of Iranian ports during this ceasefire and about the U.S. military's fairly aggressive interceptions of Iranian-linked tankers and cargo ships in recent days, at least a couple of those interceptions extending way out into the Indian Ocean.

Now, Hegseth could well be pushing for the Pentagon's $1.5 trillion budget request in these hearings with the Pentagon asking Congress for a massive supplemental infusion to help fund the production of new weapons. Why do they ask for that? Well, we've got new reporting from our colleagues, Zachary Cohen and Natasha Bertrand, in recent days, citing military experts and three people familiar with recent assessments of internal Defense Department assessments of stockpiles, basically saying this, that the U.S. has significantly depleted its stockpile of important munitions during the Iran war, created a near term risk of running out of ammunition in future wars if they arise in the coming years.

Over seven weeks of war, according to our sources and experts, seven weeks of war ending on April 21st, the U.S. military has expended at least 45 percent of its stockpile of precision strike missiles, has used at least half of its inventory of THAAD missiles, those are missiles designed to intercept ballistic missiles, and expended nearly 15 -- excuse me, 50 percent of its stockpile of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles. Now, that's according to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

In the short-term, according to our sources and experts, the U.S. does have enough missiles and bombs to conduct combat operations in the Iran war, but there is a concern about a possible future war in the coming years of, if one arises in the next few years against an adversary, like China, are they going to have enough to ramp up their supply for that? It could take a few years to ramp that up. The Pentagon has said in a statement to CNN that the military has, quote, everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the president's choosing.

Also, Pete Hegseth is going to likely face questions about some very controversial personnel moves he's made in recent days, including his ouster of Navy Secretary John Phelan last week. CNN reporting that Hegseth believed Phelan moved too slowly with the pace of shipbuilding reforms, but also that Hegseth was upset with John Phelan going around him, allegedly, and going straight to President Trump for some consultations there, Hegseth viewing that, according to our sources, as an attempt to bypass him.

Also, Hegseth moved out a very highly regarded former Army chief of staff, General Randy George. His personnel moves, moving out, these generals and John Phelan, John, have been very controversial in recent days. He's going to face a lot of tough questions about those as well.

BERMAN: Perhaps even from some Republicans there. Brian Todd, thank you so much for that update. Princess Sara?

SIDNER: Yes, darling. That is how I will demand that you call me going forward. All right, dinner and diplomacy, the royal state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla was capped off last night by the ceremonial pomp of a formal state dinner at the White House. The king presented President Trump with a golden bell from a former British submarine and stressed the importance of the relationship between the United States and the U.K.

But this morning, the palace is downplaying comments from President Trump about the king's views on Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we're never going to let that opponent ever. Charles agrees with me even more than I do. We're never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Buckingham Palace says that the king's views on Iran align with the British government's, quote, longstanding and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation. Kate?

BOLDUAN: All right. So, will she or won't she? Simone Biles opening up to CNN about whether or not she will be competing in the Los Angeles Olympics. The main factor, the big factor driving her decision, that is coming up.

Also this, March Madness may be getting bigger, much bigger.

[07:20:00]

There's new details about the possibility of expanding out the NCAA tournament.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Let's talk sports shall we, friends? For the first time since 2017, the Spurs have advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

CNN's Andy Scholes has much more on this. And how did they do it, Andy?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, okay. They did it with one very tall individual. And sometimes I watch Victor Wembanyama, I just wonder how the Spurs ever lose basketball games. I mean, he's so tall, so good defensively. And he had a block last night that was just out of this world. Deni Avdija puts this up in the lane and Wemby goes way up to block. And he probably got that ball 12 feet in the air. Even Wemby was laughing after that one. Look at his dad's reaction. That was great.

Wemby, six blocks in this one Spurs to win 114-95 and take the series in five. They now wait for the winner between the Nuggets and the T- Wolves. The Knicks, they're now a win away from advancing as well, as they put an absolute beat down on the Hawks last night in game five at MSG.

[07:25:01]

Jalen Brunson, he poured in 39 points. Knicks, they shot 57 percent from the field. They can close out that series tomorrow in Atlanta.

The Sixers meanwhile living to fight another day. Joel Embiid dominating in the fourth quarter, he finished with 33 points in just his second game back from an appendectomy. The Celtics, they were ice cold in this one at the end. They missed their last 14 shots. It was the most by a team to close the playoff game since 2005. The final, 113-97. Sixers can try to stay alive again in game six in Philly tomorrow.

In the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Bruins on the brink of elimination lap out against the Sabres. This game went to overtime tied 1-1. David Pastrnak to the rescue for Boston. He's going to get the puck up the ice here, then makes an incredible move for the game-winning goal. Bruins win 2-1. They still trail that series 3-2. Game six is going to be Friday in Boston.

Finally, could the most decorated gymnast of all time have one more run left with Simone Biles? She's going to be 31 years old when the L.A. Games come around in 2028, but she recently sat down with CNN's Amanda Davis and told her the door is still open to compete.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SIMONE BILES, SEVEN-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: I feel like we're still at a 50-50 and that we're still on a time crunch here now. It's almost half of 2026. So, we're going to have to make these decisions pretty quickly. So --

AMANDA DAVIS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: What will it depend on? What are the considerations?

BILES: I think mental health plays a big role in it because, again, physically, my coaches will get me in shape, I can get myself in shape. We believe in that ability. We're really thankful that I'm still healthy, but mental is a huge thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes. Biles already the oldest U.S gymnast to win Olympic gold at 27 years old, Kate, and, you know, the games are going to be in Los Angeles in the U.S. next time around. I think she's going to do it and I think it would certainly would be pretty cool to see her go out there one more time on home soil.

BOLDUAN: It sure would. Man, she is so good. She is so, so good. Whatever she decides is obviously the right thing for her.

Wemby, man, it looked like he was playing volleyball, not basketball.

SCHOLES: Right. I mean, what chance do you have driving in the lane against the Spurs when he's out there?

BOLDUAN: I just hope sometimes I've never been able to see him in the real lives, I would really like to just see myself next to him, because I'm sure everyone at home can guess I'm super tall.

BERMAN: You won't be in the same camera shot. Like you won't -- the camera's not wide enough to get both of you. It's crazy.

BOLDUAN: It'll be fun, fun days. Thanks, Andy.

BERMAN: All right. This morning, new video coming in of treacherous weather overnight, tornadoes and hail leaving a path of devastation, we're getting a new forecast on where the storm moves next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah, I got to get out of here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: And what did Jimmy Kimmel say overnight now that the FCC opened a new front against Disney? And what has Republican Ted Cruz saying, I do not believe the FCC should operate as the speech police?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:00]