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Raul Castro Expected to be Indicted; Trump Topples Massie; Settlement Bars IRS Probe into Trump; Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) is Interviewed about the IRS Settlement with Trump; Fires Torch California. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired May 20, 2026 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: To the rescue on gas prices. Sort of. So, this Georgia man transformed a pink Power Wheels Barbie dream camper into an actual, workable vehicle that moves. He took a motor from an old power washer and put it in. He says it costs almost nothing to fill the tank. His minivan, he says, cost nearly $60 or so to fill. The real problem, as Kate points out, is getting in and out of the dream camper, which can be quite difficult. Still, for savings like that, it might be worth it.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: You could live in it.

BERMAN: A brand-new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

BOLDUAN: All right, the breaking news this hour, criminal charges are expected against former Cuban President Raul Castro, a man still very much involved with running that country. Why now? We have new reporting ahead.

Plus, Republican CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE loses his seat in Kentucky. What this big primary night is revealing today about the politics of revenge and the president's power in the Republican Party.

And a Tesla driver wanted to see what off road wade mode was all about in his cybertruck. He found out. And he is now facing charges.

I'm Kate Bolduan, with John Berman. Sara is out today. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

BERMAN: All right, live pictures from Capitol Hill where any moment we expect lawmakers to speak in support of an indictment against former Cuban President Raul Castro. Why are they doing this or about to? Well, sources tell CNN the Justice Department is expected to unveil criminal charges against Castro today for his alleged role in ordering the 1996 shoot down of two civilian aircraft belonging to the Cuban American group Brothers to the Rescue. Four people, including three Americans, were killed in the incident. The 94-year-old Castro, of course, is the brother of Fidel Castro.

Let's get right to CNN's Evan Perez for the latest on this.

And Raul Castro, of course, holds enormous symbolic value when it comes to a lot of views about this island.

EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, John. I mean, we expect that the -- those lawmakers there will remind everyone of exactly what happened 30 years ago when the Cuban military shot down these two unarmed civilian aircraft just outside Cuban airspace, in international airspace, and killed those four people. There were three Americans on board. Those two flights being operated by Brothers to the Rescue.

But really, this has been in the works for 30 plus years. The Justice Department prosecutors down in Miami first drew up a draft indictment of Raul Castro back in the early '90s, on the heels of the Manuel Noriega trial. There was testimony in that case that indicated the Cuban military, including Raul Castro himself, were getting paid millions of dollars to allow transshipment of drugs from the Colombian drug cartels.

And so, after the shootdown of 1996, there was another effort. And so what those lawmakers that you're about to -- we're about to hear from this morning, what they did in the past few months was remind the Trump administration that Raul Castro is 94 years old, still very much, you know, at the top of the -- of the elites running the Cuban government, was still someone that they could go after.

And so that's what we are expecting to see. We're expecting that the announcement will be made by the attorney general, the acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, who is on his way down to Miami this morning. And there's going to be an event at the Freedom Tower, which is sort of like the Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty, for the Cuban Americans who came in and were processed there during the big outflow of refugees. We expect that that event is going to go -- will be honoring the memory of these four men who were killed in that shootdown by Cuban MIG pilots.

John.

BERMAN: All right, Evan Perez, obviously, you're all over this, helping break this story. You'll be watching the developments unfold all day. Thank you very much.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Also breaking overnight, another Republican gone for defying President Trump. The question this morning, is the president strengthening the Republican Party and their chances come the midterms in November or weakening it?

In Kentucky, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, he lost his primary to Trump-backed -- the Trump-backed challenger, Ed Gallrein. Massie, who led the charge to force the Justice Department to release the Epstein files, he was, became one of President Trump's top midterm targets.

[09:05:02]

And he has his eye now on a sitting Republican senator next. Taking it to Texas now.

The president gave, just yesterday, his last-minute endorsement to the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, over incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn, ahead of their runoff next week. This had been a huge question. And now we have an answer of where the -- what the president feels. This move has even some Trump allies warning the Republicans this could hurt their chances in statewide elections in Texas and give them the worst chances they have in Texas in more than 30 years.

Let's get to CNN's Jeff Zeleny. He's live this morning in Kentucky for the latest.

And where do you want to begin? I assume, with what last night means for today in that state.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kate, good morning.

I mean May has been one of the biggest primary months of this calendar. And the Kentucky primary last night was indeed a big one. The White House watching this extraordinarily closely as Congressman Thomas Massie becomes the latest Republican to add to the president's list on the revenge and vengeance tour, if you will.

But our eyes are also looking forward to next Tuesday in Texas. That is the runoff primary there between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton. As you said, the president's endorsement of Paxton yesterday is certainly causing much consternation on Capitol Hill as the Republicans try and hold their Senate majority. So, for all the talk of these May victories for the president and the White House, and they are significant, what does that mean for November, when independent voters and Democratic voters can also weigh in? They, of course, view the president much differently.

As for Thomas Massie, his concession speech last night here in Kentucky was anything but. He talked about a forward-looking movement here. There were some shouts of 2028. His supporters were saying, I think that's very much an open question, what party would he run in, in 2028? But he made clear he's going nowhere. He's in Congress for at least the next six months. And he pointed out some of the president's key vulnerabilities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): While gas is almost $5 and diesel is almost $6, they're talking about this big ballroom they're going to build. And it looks -- it looks like Rome -- the Roman Empire. Architecture from the Roman Empire. I see a few analogies there. And people are just trying to make ends meet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: So, look, that was Thomas Massie perhaps giving a hint of what he plans to do for the next few months, remind voters of some issues that are actually front and center in their lives, and still being a bit of an irritant, at least in the eyes of the White House. But, Kate, there is no doubt a big win for President Trump. A defeat,

at least for now, for Thomas Massie. And our eyes are turning to that primary next week in Texas to wrap up a very busy primary month in this midterm election year.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. It's great that you're there. Thank you so much, Jeff. I really appreciate it.

John.

BERMAN: All right, new this morning, reaction and some outrage after we learned that President Trump, his family and their businesses could all be shielded from any IRS investigations for past tax issues. This is part of the Justice Department also establishing a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who claim they've been unfairly targeted by the federal government. This could include some of the president's allies, including potentially people who rioted on January 6th.

A short time ago, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell expressed her concern about this, to say the least.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): How do I feel about that? I think this is one of the most outrageous, unethical things I have yet to see this administration do. And all indications are that they clearly are targeting some of the January 6th people that have been convicted are talking about taking this money and using it to compensate people that were then victims of other crimes that they did. And this deal that he's cutting for immunity is absolutely outrageous. Absolutely outrageous. We've never seen anything like this in the history of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right, and I will say, there are some Republicans not too thrilled with this either.

Let's get to CNN's Alayna Treene at the White House for the latest on what's going on here.

Good morning.

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

Yes, there is a lot of skepticism following the announcement of this settlement that was reached between the president's lawyers, as well as those at the Justice Department and inside IRS.

Look, a couple of things that really stand out to me. One has been, we've seen this now throughout yesterday, when the acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, who if he is ultimately confirmed by the Senate and made permanent, he would be the one overseeing the commission that decides who would actually get these payments for what they argue were, you know, weaponization by previous Justice Departments.

Now, a series of criticism that we have heard, as you mentioned, from Republicans and Democrats alike, has been that this fund is going to disproportionately benefit the president's allies.

[09:10:06]

And one key criticism, like I said, we heard play out yesterday when Blanche was testifying on Capitol Hill, but we've also heard this yesterday when the vice president, J.D. Vance, was doing a press conference in the Briefing Room, was this idea of why not rule out people like those who were convicted for violent crimes for what happened at the Capitol on January 6th. Both Blanche and Vance refused to do that, saying they are going to be looking at each case. Anyone can make a claim and they will later decide what happens there.

Of course, another criticism is, again, the commissioners are expected to be selected by the attorney general. And so Blanche could be the one overseeing all of this. He was the one who refused to rule that out yesterday.

But I do want to get into the new thing that we also saw play out yesterday. This fund, this settlement was announced on Monday. But yesterday, the Trump administration kind of quietly added this addendum that shows that the president, members of his family and his businesses could not be audited and kind of, you know, took down for past tax issues. And this is something that a lot of people, again, are arguing is potentially self-dealing, especially when you look at, you know, you have the president's personal attorneys negotiating with government lawyers about all of this. I think a lot of taxpayers have questions about how this is going to look down the line, John.

BERMAN: Yes. Any past misdeeds, potential, or any irregularities wiped clean at this point, it seems, in perpetuity.

Alayna Treene, thank you very much.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Let's talk about this. Joining us right now is Democratic Congressman Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts.

It's good to see you. Thanks for being here.

Let's talk -- on this DOJ fund, you heard what Congresswoman Debbie Dingell thinks about it. What is your reaction to it overall? And now this new -- this addendum, I guess, if you will, that we're hearing about, which is that it's barring the IRS forever from bringing claims against the president for past tax issues.

REP. JAKE AUCHINCLOSS (D-MA): That's what happens when you make your personal attorney the attorney general of the United States. Corruption's the name of the game for the Trump administration. His crypto coin raised millions from Chinese billionaires. His son-in- law's private equity firm is raising millions from Middle Eastern billionaires. And now the president is seeking to raise millions directly from the United States taxpayer.

And that matters to Americans. One, because the blatant corruption undermines respect for the rule of law. It makes criminals, like those January 6th rioters, think they can get away with it and continue to do harm, as they are currently out in American cities and streets. And two, because the money matters. I mean, the Environmental Protection Administration just cut a couple billion dollars from clean water funds meant to take PFAs, forever chemicals, out of municipal water utilities. That $1.8 billion, that could be funding clean water for schools and for cities. But right now it's funding Donald Trump's vengeance campaign.

BOLDUAN: When the administration, including the acting attorney general, make the case, that this isn't partisan, this isn't just for Trump allies, this could also -- this money could go to compensate, let's -- Democrats as well who aren't Trump allies. You don't believe it.

AUCHINCLOSS: Kate, I mean, do you believe it? I -- you and I both have been watching this thing for ten years now, this administration. Of course, it's hooking up friends, family and felons. That's what he does.

BOLDUAN: Let's talk about the results last night. Huge win for President Trump taking out Congressman -- Republican Congressman Thomas Massie. What is the message that you take from those results?

AUCHINCLOSS: Yes. I mean, MAGA is going to MAGA, right? I mean, this is Donald Trump's party, and he's going to continue to dominate the primaries because they're all afraid of him. And what matters is what are Democrats going to do, because the American public, they know that Democrats are against Donald Trump. They don't yet appreciate what Democrats are for. Democrats are for a new American dream. That everybody in America who's working hard, who's playing by the rules, who's giving back to their community, deserves to have an excellent education by 18, deserves to be able to buy a home by 30, and deserves a dignified retirement by 65. That's the new American dream. That's what Democrats have to deliver. And let MAGA, MAGA, because they're going to tear themselves apart.

BOLDUAN: So, you're actually getting at something I was going to ask you about because, look at the polling. You know that Trump is hurting when it comes to polling pretty much across the board, but especially when it comes to economic policy. Some of his worst numbers of his term. You see that in CNN and CBS polling, in "New York Times" polling most recently, that -- but for all of the trouble that he is facing, and thus the Republican Party, Democrats are not faring much better on who is a better approach to the economy. If he and the Republicans are so bad, how do you decipher why you guys aren't doing better?

[09:15:00]

AUCHINCLOSS: Because Americans think that we took our eye off the ball on America -- on, excuse me, on economic policy, and we have to demonstrate that we can deliver on what for three election cycles now the American public has been crystal clear is their priority, which is it is unaffordable. The American dream is unaffordable. It costs ten times more to put down a down payment on a house now than it did for the baby boom generation. That's just a violation of a compact between Americans about what hard work should mean in this country.

So, Democrats need to deliver tangible economic wins for the middle class. We're not the party of government. We're not the party of the status quo. We are the party of the middle class. And we have to show that to people by making home ownership affordable, by delivering excellent education, regardless of your zip code, and by ensuring that if you spend your career working hard and paying your taxes and playing by the rules, you can retire with dignity and security.

BOLDUAN: I just had Mark Mazzetti of "The New York Times" on. This fascinating, wild reporting that "The New York Times" has out now about the U.S. and Israel having plans going into the war with Iran to install the former president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, back into power as part of the early stages of this war. Essentially, basically, it seemed the plan was be -- to make him, Ahmadinejad, the next Delcy Rodriguez in Iran. But those plans then fell apart. What do you make of that?

AUCHINCLOSS: I'm old enough to remember when a Republican president, in 2003, promised regime change in the Middle East, and we spent trillions of dollars, much blood and treasure and moral capital on a forever war in the Middle East. Well, now we have another Republican president trying to effectuate regime change in the Middle East. And the job of Congress, of all of those of us who served in these wars, who understand how detrimental they are to the United States, is to prevent this from becoming another forever war. We have to pass these war powers resolutions, and we have to put the question to the American public of, do you want a third quagmire in the Middle East and central Asia, or do you want us focused on the American middle class?

BOLDUAN: Important questions. Again, renewing the focus on what is Congress going to do?

Congressman Jake Auchincloss, thanks for coming in. I appreciate your time.

John.

BERMAN: We've got breaking news from California. Tens of thousands under evacuation orders due to a fast-moving wildfire there.

A beloved mural gets painted over for the World Cup. New reporting on why and what happens next.

And they built grandma a wrestling ring. A community comes together to right a wrong in the most creative way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:21:46]

BOLDUAN: New this morning, the U.S. Coast Guard may have figured out what sparked the what is now the biggest wildfire currently burning in California. A stranded boater who set off emergency flares, of course hoping to alert rescuers, you can see SOS written in the ashes there on Santa Rosa Island. That boater was eventually rescued. We are seeing -- there are images here of him being pulled in the basket back up to a helicopter to be rescued, of course. But then there is the fire. It's already burned about a third of the island.

On mainland California, thousands of people are under evacuation orders as more than a dozen wildfires are burning across the state.

CNN's Derek Van Dam is tracking that for us, and he joins us now.

What's the very latest that you're seeing?

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Kate, here's the thing about the Santa Rosa fire. The island their houses species that are specific to that island, right? And there are a lot of historical structures there. So, burning over a third of the acreage is significant for that location. There's also forced evacuations from some of the national park service individuals as well.

I want to show you some astounding video. Don't get to see this every day. This is coming out of the Verona Fire. So, this is back onto mainland southern California. This is known as a smoke devil. Like a dust devil, but it burns over kind of charred landscape. And as the smoke rises from the intense heat on the ground, it can get stretched and it starts to spin. And it creates that funnel that you see. Looks like a tornado. Not.

All right, so another visual here because they're attacking this at all fronts. This is the Sandy Fire. This is the one that destroyed a home within the past 36 hours. And, yes, it's significant as well. You can see the four larger fires here across southern California, including the Santa Rosa Island Fire.

But now you're looking from above. So, this is satellite imagery. One of our meteorologists from the CNN weather team captured this. Incredible because you can see the shift in the wind direction. Santa Ana event means its offshore at first. Then we switch the wind direction to more of an onshore component. Now, that's significant because the firefighters on the ground need to plan accordingly because what that does is it creates new spot fires and new advanced leads for the leading edge of that fire.

So, this is what we're expecting for the next couple of days, a wash, rinse and repeat type wind cycle where we start with the northeasterly wind and then back to the west throughout the course of the day, bringing onshore breezes. So, you couple this with extremely low relative humidity, temperatures running five to 10 degrees above where they should be this time of year. That's the recipe for fire. And that is what we're seeing across southern California, of course, with these blazes battling -- smoking across southern California that is degrading the quality of the air. If you're in Los Angeles, you know what time of the year it is.

Kate. BOLDUAN: Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much for tracking that for us,

Derek. I really appreciate it.

We also have live pictures for you from Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are now speaking ahead of DOJ's expected indictment of former Cuban President Raul Castro. We've got much more on that and new reporting on this. Why now? Ahead.

And later, a beloved and really big mural in Texas has just been painted over for the World Cup. Why it happened and what could happen next. The artist who painted the mural that, well, you no longer can see there, is our guest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:29:22]

BERMAN: All right, happening now, you're seeing lawmakers on Capitol Hill. They are speaking on an expected indictment of former Cuban President Raul Castro.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MARIO DIAZ-BALART (R-FL): This was premeditated murder of three Americans and one U.S. resident. Premeditated murder. Ordered, as was known then, and is known today, by Raul Castro himself.

We expect that the day of justice is finally arriving.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[09:30:00]

BERMAN: What he's talking about, CNN has learned that these criminal charges are connected to Castro's alleged role in ordering the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft belonging to the Cuban American group