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Sources: U.S. & Iran Reach Tentative Deal; Trump Yet to Sign Off; DOJ Launches Criminal Probe into Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll; Young Adults Flock to Prediction Markets, Alarming Specialists; Inside A Ukrainian Long-Range Drone Unit Hitting Russia. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired May 28, 2026 - 15:00   ET

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

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[15:01:41]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Waiting for Sign-Off: The U.S. and Iran reach a tentative deal of sorts to open the Strait of Hormuz and start nuclear talks. The big question is, will President Trump support it?

Plus, Legal Loophole: Concern growing over whether young people are using prediction markets, especially since addiction experts and state regulators are now warning that this could fuel an emerging public health crisis.

And then later, Concerns Over Standards of Care: CDC officials are pushing back on the Trump administration's plan to send Americans exposed to Ebola to Kenya rather than to the U.S.

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

We're following breaking news on a tentative agreement that U.S. officials say has been reached between negotiators handling the war with Iran. This is a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin talks over Iran's nuclear program, but so far President Trump has not signed off on it.

With Karoline Leavitt on maternity leave, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took his turn in the briefing room today behind the podium. Moments ago, he said the U.S. quote, perhaps has the makings of a deal, but he added this.

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SCOTT BESSENT, TREASURY SECRETARY: The teams have been going back and forth, and President Trump has made it very clear. He talked about it at the Cabinet meeting that he -- he has several lines. Nothing is going to be on the table until the Strait of Hormuz open and the Iranians agree that they -- they have to turn over the -- the highly- enriched uranium and that they can't have a nuclear program.

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KEILAR: CNN's Alayna Treene is live for us at the White House. Alayna, the administration seems to want to project some major progress here without actually saying that there is this deal. Help us understand what's going on.

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, look, I think the skepticism almost, or perhaps as you put it, Brianna, in the right way, the hesitancy to over project that this is a done deal at this point, comes because the President himself has not yet given his sign- off for it. And from our understanding, neither has the Supreme Leader of Iran. And so, things could still, of course, fall apart at this stage if either leader really decides that this isn't good enough.

And that's really -- a conversation I was having with one of my sources, Brianna. They said, you know, they're always skeptical, especially because we've had this whiplash of optimism just for talks to fall apart, is that nothing is final until it is on paper and you have that approval and sign-off from the leaders of Washington and Tehran.

But I do want to get into kind of what we know is actually in this framework deal. And I want to be clear that this is just a short-term memorandum of understanding, as this administration likes to refer to it, that that would trigger more negotiations over the next 60 days on some of what we're told is really the hardest things that they've kind of squabbled over the specific details of nuclear -- of Iran committing to never having a nuclear weapon and also the enforcement mechanism for that.

[15:05:14]

But also, the details around retrieving the highly enriched uranium inside Iran, which of course has been a red line for Donald Trump. Other parts of it, of course, would be reopening the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels and, in return, the United States removing the blockade of Iranian ports.

Now, when you heard Bessent talk about this, he was very careful to not say too much. And one thing I actually found kind of, you know, funny was that he said he actually hadn't even spoken with the President today before he came out and briefed reporters. So, an interesting thing, we know Karoline Leavitt likes to often reference that she had just spoken with Trump about something, but he said they hadn't talked yet and -- and was careful to not over-commit to anything, saying, really, it is up to the President of the United States to determine whether or not this is actually a -- a finalized deal.

And to be clear as well, this language around the framework, I mean, that is really the key of this, that the text, the language that they had been working on, the wording that we heard the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, say that was still kind of being finalized and negotiated, that is what is finished here. But again, very important to remember that they need that final sign-off from both leaders of both countries, Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes, certainly, and it seems to be taking time on the Iranian side for sure. Alayna Treene, thank you.

We're learning some new details on how the Justice Department is going after another one of President Trump's perceived enemies. Multiple sources tell CNN that the Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the woman who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a New York department store in the mid- 1990s.

The former magazine columnist was awarded $5 million in 2023 after a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The next year, Carroll was awarded $83 million in a second defamation case against Trump.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: We're told the DOJ probe is focused on whether Carroll committed perjury during one of her depositions, when she testified that her lawsuits were not being funded by outside sources. Carroll's lawyers later revealed that a nonprofit tied to billionaire Reid Hoffman helped cover some of her legal expenses. We're joined now by Kim Wehle. She served as assistant U.S. attorney in the Washington, D.C. office. She's also the author of "The Little Law School with Kim Wehle" on Substack.

Kim, great to see you, as always. Does DOJ have a case here?

KIM WEHLE, FORMER ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY FOR WASHINGTON, D.C.: No, I don't see any basis for a perjury charge or, of course, would have to get through a grand jury, in part because this was raised during these proceedings and the federal judge that was overseeing both of the trials in which produced verdicts against Donald Trump looked into this and the -- apparently the lawyers made it clear to opposing counsel and the judge when this was -- came -- came to light and they refuse -- the judge refused to put it in front of the jury, saying letting the jury know that there was this misunderstanding, those are my words, would be prejudicial to the jury.

So, based on that, and you go into a criminal context, you have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt of a knowing intention to say something false. This looks much more like a retribution type, you know, something to intimidate her rather than a serious criminal probe into something, a crime.

KEILAR: Because the judge actually took this issue quite seriously, right? He allowed Trump's attorneys to depose her again and really took a look at this issue and decided that she was credible. There have also been a couple of appeals and they -- that the case is held, despite obviously this objection that Trump personally has for sure when it comes to this. What's interesting though is that deposition that is the root of all of this that we're talking about. It happened in New York and this investigation is in the -- is at the southern -- it's in Illinois, which district is it in Illinois?

WEHLE: Yes, it's ...

KEILAR: It's in Illinois, but it's not in New York.

WEHLE: Mm-hmm. KEILAR: Why is that?

WEHLE: Well, there could be -- and that -- that raises an obvious issue with respect to venue, but it, you know, it's -- it was brought by this particular U.S. attorney who was a Trump appointee in this administration. And we're seeing, I think, a split in the Justice Department between career prosecutors that follow the letter of the law and understand that you go where the facts lead you, not where the would-be defendant leads you.

And so, you know, it's speculation, but there might be others in the country and in New York that wouldn't be willing to even dip their toe into something like this.

SANCHEZ: The old adage, of course, is that you can indict a ham sandwich. So, the -- the bar for an indictment, relatively low. Do you anticipate DOJ is going to get a grand jury to sign off on one or is just the investigation part of the goal because this undoubtedly will lead to distress in E. Jean Carroll's life?

[15:10:06]

WEHLE: Right. I mean, we've seen grand juries not go along with this Justice Department in the Eastern District of Virginia, as well as in Washington, D.C. So, I think that adage is for prosecutors who act on good faith. Another point here is this is a civil deposition. You know, under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, there is -- there isn't actually this kind of remedy for lying in a deposition. Traditionally, in the civil context, you could have your case dismissed. There would be other kinds of sanctions. But going after perjury in the civil context is exceedingly rare.

We saw it infamously under the Whitewater investigation with Ken Starr, with Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton making a statement, former President Bill Clinton in his deposition. But in a traditional legal routine litigation, this is not the kind of thing that I think any federal prosecutor would -- would look into on a routine basis.

KEILAR: Yes, that's just -- it's strange, right? It's unusual. It's the Northern District of Illinois. That's also kind of odd. How onerous is it when you are, E. Jean Carroll, she's over 80 at this point, and she's got other cases, the -- where she's dealing with Trump -- how onerous is it to be dealing with an investigation by the Department of Justice?

WEHLE: It's psychologically and emotionally difficult. I mean, she's been at this, you know, for many years, and we -- she's referred to as an accuser, but she was actually, a jury found her credible that -- that he did actually engage in what, under New York laws, sexual abuse. But in addition, it costs a lot of money to -- to defend these lawsuits. You know, In a criminal investigation, because of the implications in the criminal context, unlike civil, is you lose your liberty. Ultimately, you would go to jail. I don't think that even close could happen here. But you better lawyer up with really good lawyers. So financially, it's -- it's an extreme strain. In other parts of the

world, you don't have to pay for your own lawyers. In America, justice really does follow money. So, I mean, I don't know what her situation is, but that's a real problem under our system. It works against lower-income people and for people with a lot of money. And in this moment, Donald Trump not only is making billions off the presidency but has the entire Justice Department at his disposal as president. So, that's a really unlevel playing field. And this is -- this is really a, you know, a -- a tragedy for the rule of law, for the Department of Justice, and for Ms. Carroll, who has, I'm sure, long ago said, enough is enough with this man. I just want to live my life.

KEILAR: Kim Wehle, thank you so much for being with us. Really appreciate it.

WEHLE: Yes.

KEILAR: Still to come, they're too young to gamble, too old enough to place bets on prediction markets. We're going to take a look at a legal loophole that's sending 18- to 20-year-olds rushing to those sites.

Plus, for the first time, former first lady Jill Biden reveals the absolute fear that she felt as she watched her husband's disastrous debate performance.

SANCHEZ: And later, we're learning the Trump administration bucked CDC advice with its plans to send Americans in need of Ebola care to Kenya instead of bringing them home. That and much more on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

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[15:17:42]

SANCHEZ: Well, you have to be 21 to gamble most everywhere in the United States. You only have to be 18 to bet on prediction markets. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are not legally classified as gambling, but instead as financial exchanges offering event contracts.

That loophole is worrying addiction specialists who say that these sites are being marketed to vulnerable college-aged young adults. You should know that CNN has a partnership with Kalshi and uses its data to cover major events, though CNN editorial workers, such as myself, are not allowed to bet in those prediction markets. We're joined now by CNN's Elisabeth Buchwald, who has this story.

Elisabeth, you spoke to some young people who were using these platforms. What did they share with you?

ELISABETH BUCHWALD, CNN ECONOMICS REPORTER: Hi, Boris. Yes, so an 18- year-old high school senior that I spoke to, he went to Kalshi looking to make enough money for a Greece trip. He ended up doing really well, and it was a very rewarding experience. He said it felt like having a full-time job. And then things started to go south. Throughout this process, though, he was more interested in trading on Kalshi than going to class in some cases, and it really got out of control for him. The big wake-up call was a big loss.

Now, addiction specialists that I spoke to as well said that they're seeing an uptick in cases like this individual named Andrew. And part of the problem here is the brain isn't fully developed until around 25 years old. What that means is people are taking more risks who are in this 18 to 21 group, and they're not fully evaluating the consequences.

SANCHEZ: And, Elisabeth, how are prediction markets responding to these concerns?

BUCHWALD: So, Kalshi has voluntarily introduced some new gentle guardrails, what they say, and that involves things like deposit limits. But they also told us that they'll continue evaluating approaches to ensure people get the appropriate protections and support that they need.

SANCHEZ: Elisabeth Buchwald, thank you so much for the update on that story.

Listen, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, you should call the National Council on Problem Gambling, the Problem Gambling Helpline, at 1-800-MY-RESET.

[15:20:00]

So, it is a new era of warfare. Up next, CNN is meeting with Ukraine's elite undercover strike unit to see how they're using drones to hit targets deep inside Russian territory. Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back.

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[15:24:47]

KEILAR: In the ever-evolving battlefields of Ukraine, drones are increasingly being utilized in what's become a new era of warfare. Ukrainian drone technology has been able to penetrate defenses striking deep inside Russian territory. In a CNN exclusive, Nick Paton Walsh met with an elite undercover strike unit to see how they're taking the fight into the future.

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NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump once said Ukraine has no cards, but now they've built themselves a new deck.

We're now with perhaps Russia's most keenly sought target in the war, a deep strike Ukrainian drone unit launching this night a wave of 200 attack drones into Russia.

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WALSH (on camera): The issue here is the scale, potentially 20 drones being launched just from here and three or four other locations around here also involved in tonight's attack. The sheer number overwhelming, it seems, much of Russia's air defenses and causing persistent embarrassment to the Kremlin.

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WALSH (voice over): Working fast, in silence, knowing an error with the fuel or explosives or launch could kill them all.

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WALSH (on camera): They are a key target for the Russian Shahed drones flying overhead, constantly interrupting their work, which is going to go on all night.

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WALSH (voice over): Close to here, Russian strikes have just hit Ukrainian civilians. And, in Russian Stavropol, these Ukrainian drones hit, the mayor telling Russians there to stay indoors.

In another field, another technological leap is at work, jet boosters used to get drones to their 120-mile-an-hour speed in just seconds. At their base, one screen is a glimpse of a world order turned on its head, dozens of Ukrainian drones roaming inside Russia, code, coordinates, targets A.I.-powered pulsing on the screen faster than your eyes can read, Russia, often seen as the third largest military power, preyed upon by a series of laptops.

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VECTOR, DEEP STRIKE COMMANDER, UKRAINIAN DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE: It's our biggest advantage and why it's so hard for Russia to destroy this program, because we split up. We don't have any common centers, and we use dozens of places. Also, the software gives us a chance to work with thousands of UAVs.

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WALSH (voice over): The Liutyi drone can take a huge payload over 1,200 miles. There are decoys. And a jet-powered drone, they say, seems to appear like a rocket on Russian radar.

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VECTOR: Those are decoys. We send hundreds of them. Some are empty, some with a payload. The payload is small, but it's enough to destroy air defense systems.

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WALSH (voice over): It is dizzying, the speed of evolution, adaptation, ingenuity. Ukraine two years ago begging for old American missiles to hit just inside Russia's borders, but now it builds itself and launches so many drones, often as deep as Russian Siberia. Even Kremlin loyalists are questioning Putin's endgame. Now, the West wants to learn from what Ukraine had to do to survive when it didn't get the help it needed. Each leap, advantage lasts just months before the other side catches up. Ukraine is ahead for now, but only because it's learned it'll likely be on its own when it's not.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Eastern Ukraine.

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KEILAR: Health experts call it offensive and insane. After the break, we'll talk to a former top CDC official about the Trump administration's plan to send Americans in need of Ebola care to Kenya instead of bringing them home.

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