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Senate GOP Beats Back Internal Revolt to Pass $70 Billion ICE Funding Bill; Senate GOP Rejects Efforts to Kill Trump's Anti- Weaponization Fund; Today Marks One Week Since Auburn University Student Went Missing in Japan. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired June 05, 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]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: The Senate version of an all-night rager. Republicans early this morning pushing through President Trump's immigration funding bill, overcoming the revolt and rebellion that was growing within the Republican Party ranks, and that nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund not fully dead yet.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, Maine Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platter responds to accusations of physically threatening behavior in a relationship. What he now says about his candidacy.

And Elmo outrage. Why New York Knicks fans are so, so mad at the Sesame Street legend.

Sara is out today. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan. This is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: The breaking news this morning, Senate Republicans held back their own internal revolt to hand President Trump a major win after pulling an all-nighter on Capitol Hill. In the wee hours this morning, the Senate passed a $70 billion package to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the end of Trump's second term, but it required a marathon voting session that stretched nearly 18 hours.

The bill had been in limbo for weeks, partially over the ballroom funding, then they dropped that, and then partially over Republican opposition to the president's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. Republicans, especially those in tough re-election races, have been very much against it.

But after the outcry, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, remember, said that the fund was not moving forward. But Republican senators, like North Carolina's Thom Tillis, he said that it wasn't enough, and he wanted that in writing and threatened to not vote for the immigration bill unless they got a guarantee.

In the end, though, the rebellion folded, it seems. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski was the lone Republican to vote with Democrats against the ICE funding bill. The bill now heads to the House. CNN's Alayna Treene is live at the White House this morning. I think it's a keep-your-eye-on-President-Trump's-social-media-feeds this morning kind of a morning.

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. And as a former Hill reporter, Kate, I know those late night, all, really all- night vote-a-rama sessions can be very taxing. And this one, though, was very fascinating, particularly with where you find a lot of Republicans in this moment. You know, after so many months over the last year and a half, really, throughout the president's second term, you've seen Republicans do whatever they can to show their loyalty to Donald Trump.

That is starting to change with the midterms now so close, and also after we saw the president really push forward with two very controversial and potentially politically damaging moves. One of them, of course, being that weaponization fund you mentioned, something that so many Republicans publicly were willing to say they were just not okay with, but then also his new appointment of Bill Pulte, a very controversial figure, and someone with no intelligence background, to be the acting director of the National Intelligence.

So, what we saw last night I do think could be a preview to come. What was fascinating was the people you saw really pushing, revolting within the GOP were not your usual suspects, but many of them as well were people that really the president has recently made enemies of.

And this is something I want to touch on, and particularly from the White House side, because I've been talking to officials here, Kate, about this. The president knows that the midterms are likely or potentially not going to go his way, and so they're trying to get as much done in Congress as they can before the new class of congressmen come in next January.

But that is going to be a big problem for them, as we saw play out overnight, because the president, this is a problem of his own making. He's made a lot of enemies out of some of the Republicans there, people like Senator John Cornyn, who, of course, he kind of pushed aside when he endorsed Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, similar things with Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

These are people that the president and particularly I'm told their legislative affairs team here at the White House are working the phones constantly to try to see how they can keep these members on side. I mean, these are people that are just not going to be guaranteed votes for this administration moving forward. So, this is going to be a huge problem in the months ahead.

I think another thing that's really important to keep in mind as well is what happened with FISA, you know, that we saw kind of this failure to pass FISA, which is the government surveillance program.

[07:05:09]

I mean, that is now in danger of going dark, something that is a lot of lawmakers argue is pretty dangerous to the government. So, that's another problem they are facing, a lot of Republicans revolting on that because of this Pulte appointment.

All to say at the same time, Democrats really trying to take advantage of this moment and the rifts within the party to force some of these politically damaging votes for Republicans, recognizing that that could hurt them in the midterm. It's a very messy time right now with this tension between the both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. So, remarkable to see how this all played out.

But in the end, I should argue they were able to get that border funding passed, something, of course, that has been a key priority for this administration. So, we'll have to see what other fights still lay ahead.

BOLDUAN: Yes, you know, tension on both, at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, but in the end, President Trump, he got his win this morning.

Alayna Treene, it's great to see you. John?

BERMAN: All right, breaking news. A Hollywood actor is dead and his girlfriend's son is charged with his murder. An investigation is now underway after actor James Handy was stabbed to death in Los Angeles. Police say the 81-year-old actor, who appeared in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, was stabbed in the chest in the front yard of his home. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Now, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, a 911 caller said, quote, I am the son of man. I just killed the man of sin. According to police, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill told police he was the person they were looking for. Gledhill lived at the home with his mother. Bail is set at $2 million. It is not immediately clear at this time if Gledhill has an attorney.

All right, an American college student missing in Japan for days. We've got new details this morning from inside the investigation.

There are new allegations this morning against Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner published in The New York Times. An ex-girlfriend says he exhibited physically threatening behavior. This morning, the new response from Platner and why this race is so crucial for Democrats.

And the pope getting a surprise payout from an old PayPal account. So, how much did he get?

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[07:10:00]

BOLDUAN: So, today marks exactly one week since Auburn University student James Weston Higginbotham went missing in Japan. His disappearance has sparked a massive search. The 20-year-old was on vacation with his family in Kyoto when he went to explore. His family says that he is an experienced traveler. Security cameras, though, captured him last seen, they believe, walking alone on a path that leads to a hiking trail in a wooded area of Kyoto. That is where CNN's Hanako Montgomery is this morning. And you've been following this search. You've been speaking to the family. You've been speaking to the search teams and with search teams. What is the very latest that you're picking up?

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kate. The Higginbothams have told us that they're looking into hiring a private search party to look for their son, Weston. And also on Saturday, which is tomorrow local time, they're asking volunteers in the Kyoto area to come out and look for their son in these forest areas.

Now, they're asking all volunteers to be experienced hikers because those forests are really dense. That's really, really difficult terrain. And actually, we were with the police earlier on Friday, and we can speak for ourselves, it is very tough terrain that they're working through. They had to use canines to search for any scents that Weston might have left on those trails, to search for any traces that might have been left of him.

Now, also the police have told us that they are concluding their forest search as of Friday for now. And, of course, this is really tough news for the parents to hear because even though he hasn't been found yet, they're holding onto hope that he still will be found.

We spoke to the parents earlier today who expressed just how difficult that news was for them. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY HIGGINBOTHAM, SON JAMES WESTON HIGGINBOTHAM MISSING IN JAPAN: There are so many possibilities that we have thought through because, you know, as a parent, you don't want to think the worst. And, you know, you keep seeing these sightings here and there. It's like, well, maybe, you know, I don't know. I don't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MONTGOMERY: And, Kate, just to kind of briefly touch on the timeline of events that led to Weston's disappearance, we know that the family of four were in Japan traveling on a family vacation that was supposed to be really, really fun, but, of course, quickly turned into a nightmare.

Now, they were in the country from May 22nd, and on May 29th, they were in Kyoto prefecture. And the family had a little spat according to the parents. And in order to get some alone time, to let off some steam they went their separate ways. And Nancy, the mother, told us that it's not unusual for Weston to go into nature, to be alone with himself and to be just surrounded by nature and cool down.

But what was unusual was the fact that his location on his phone was seemingly turned off. Now, this was on May 29th. As you mentioned, Kate, around 6:00 P.M. local time, he was spotted around Kyoto Station, which is a much, much bigger station than the one we're currently in front of.

[07:15:02] And two hours later around 8:00 P.M. local time, he was found around Yamashina Station walking towards a hiking trail, a path that was leading to that hiking trail. So, again, Kate, lots of questions still about Weston's whereabouts, with the parents holding onto hope that he will be back with them soon. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Yes, lots of hope. Hanako, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

We're also standing by for an important new look at the jobs market this morning, a gut check on the state of the economy. What economists are expecting to see with this new jobs report about to come out?

And Elmo is taking some heat online for daring to send a message of kindness about the NBA Finals.

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[07:20:00]

BERMAN: An overtime stunner in the Stanley Cup Finals. Let's get right to CNN's Patrick Snell for all the highlights. Hey, Patrick.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS: Hi there, John, very good morning to you. Yes, after an absolutely thrilling game one of the Stanley Cup Final, which featured, get this, lead changes, nine total goals, and a late winner, Vegas and Carolina producing another classic in game two.

Carolina fans thinking their team would be facing an 0-2 series hole heading back to Vegas after the visitors took a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. Brett Howden scoring both goals for Vegas, the 28- year-old with four points total in this Stanley Cup Final. But the Hurricanes storming back in the third, three unanswered in a five- minute span to take a sharp lead.

It all started with Logan Stankoven's solo effort, then it's Jordan Staal tying it all up on the power play, crowd going absolutely wild there in Raleigh. But this one far from over, with just over a minute to play, the veteran, Mark Stone, coming up clutch yet again with a goalie-pulled stone, putting it in from close range.

To overtime we go, Carolina on the power play, Seth Jarvis ripping a one-timer from the left circle to win it. Series tied at one apiece to Vegas for game three Saturday. Cue the mayhem. Cue the emotion right there.

Now, at the French Open in Paris, Poland's Maja Chwalinska has become just the second qualifier in history to reach a major final in the pro era. The 24-year-old has previously been very, very open indeed about her battle with depression, which kept her out of competition for a year and a half earlier in her career. Well, Chwalinska ranked 114 in the world, beating the Russian player, Diana Shnaider, in straights. Up next in Saturday's final, another Russian, 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva.

And deja vu in the Women's College World Series, where Texas beat rival Texas Tech in the best of three championship series for the second straight year. Kayden Henry homering in the 4-1 Longhorns' title win. Teagan Kavan earning the Most Outstanding Player award as well after striking out five in the final two innings. Kavan the first pitcher with two shutouts and two saves in one Women's College World Series.

Meantime, Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had an eventful night against the Athletics, to say the least. First, he loses a fly ball somewhere up there in the lights, just can't see it, and then Shay Langeliers has enough time to round all the bases for the inside-the- park home run. Athletics taking a 4-0 lead.

But Crow-Armstrong would bounce back in style after hitting a solo home run in the sixth, starting the Cubs' comeback. He wins it in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off single, a night he will never, ever forget.

Meantime, we're set for game two of the NBA Finals Friday night in San Antonio, where the Spurs looking to bounce back after New York's dramatic comeback victory in game one. The red-hot Knicks have won 12 straight playoff games, the last seven by double digits. And get this, even Elmo has taken note. First tweeting, Elmo hopes both teams have fun ahead of the finals. But after some fierce backlash from crusty, ever so crusty New York fans, Elmo tweeting, Knicks, that last message, Elmo didn't mean to Spur you on. Whatever next, we'll see if Elmo tweets again after game two.

And on that note, John, right back to you.

BERMAN: Yes. Look, New York fans were mad at Elmo because Elmo said that both teams should have fun. Knicks fans don't want both teams to have fun. They just want the Knicks fans to have fun, and they think that Sesame Street's in New York, so they took it personally. I mean, Knicks fans, thin-skinned.

SNELL: Yes, very personally.

BERMAN: Very thin-skinned, even bashing Elmo.

SNELL: You just couldn't script it, could you?

BERMAN: No.

SNELL: You just couldn't script this, could you?

BERMAN: No. All right --

SNELL: Whatever's next.

BERMAN: They're going to take on, you know, I don't know, Oscar the Grouch. Thank you very much.

This morning, Maine Democrat, Grand Platner speaks on the new allegations of physically threatening behavior. What he says about whether he will stay in the race.

And the honesty of the bear stuck in the tree. Getting it tranquilized was the easy part. Getting it down, that's a whole other story

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[07:25:00]

BOLDUAN: There is growing fallout this morning for Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner, as he now faces another controversy and further questions about his past, this time in a New York Times report. The paper spoke with six women who previously dated Platner. Three of them described volatile and toxic relationships, including allegations of heavy drinking and infidelity.

One woman accuses Platner of physical intimidation, and told the Times that he knew that his controversial tattoo that he's talked so much about was linked to Nazi symbolism long before he claims that he found out.

Platner is now responding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRAHAM PLATNER (D), MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE: There are some allegations in this piece that I just want to be kind of unequivocal about are simply not true. Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who's politically motivated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[07:30:05]

BOLDUAN: Joining me right now is Errol Lewis.