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USPS Proposal: No Ballots to States That Don't Hand Over Voter Lists; Graham Platner Wins in Maine Despite Scrutiny Over Past Conduct; Hegseth Visits Troops at Guantanamo Bay with Message for Cuba; Air Canada Pilot Accused of Flying for Years Without Proper License. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired June 10, 2026 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ... well over 200 times That's not going to sit well with some people. Some will love it. Some will want it. Others will not like it at all.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: 12,000 bucks for one of those coins.

FOREMAN: That's a lot for a coin.

SANCHEZ: Yes, Tom Foreman, Thank you so much for that reporting.

So hand over voting lists or risk losing Postal service delivery for mail-in ballots. After the break, the election ultimatum President Trump is trying to impose on certain states.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:35:00]

SANCHEZ: There is a new flashpoint in the battle over mail-in voting. Under a proposal now under consideration, the U.S. Postal Service could stop delivering mail-in ballots to states that refuse to share voter information with the federal government. The move is tied to President Trump's push for greater oversight of voting by mail.

CNN's Fredreka Schouten is here with more on this. Frederica, how could this reshape mail-in voting?

FREDREKA SCHOUTEN, CNN POLITICS NATIONAL POLITICAL WRITER: Oh, it could reshape it entirely. I mean, if states don't agree to go along with this, they face a serious dilemma. They rely on the U.S. Postal Service to send out and sort of return mail-in ballots. And we have so many states around the country, Colorado, California, Washington, that voters really rely on mail to cast their ballots and have their voices heard.

SANCHEZ: Fredreka Schouten -- oh, actually one more question for you. How feasible is the Postal Service's plan?

SCHOUTEN: Well, it's hard to tell right now. I mean, they have to create a portal to bring this information in, these voter lists in. They don't appear to have one at the moment.

And there's a lot of concern that in rural communities, it may be hard for them to comply with this. Consider this, they have to put barcodes on the ballot envelopes. A lot of small places don't already have that.

And so it's going to create a lot of additional work and expense to make that happen.

SANCHEZ: Yes, a story to keep track of. Fredreka Schouten, thanks so much for bringing it to us. Appreciate it -- Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Today, President Trump is weighing in after Democrat Graham Platner easily won his Senate primary in Maine despite a campaign plagued by controversies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I watched that thug that's up in Maine. He's a thug. And they're trying to make excuses for him.

I mean, he's worse than any human being that's ever run for office, probably. He's just an outright pig. He's like a pig.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Platner will face off with Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins in November. Earlier, CNN's Manu Raju caught up with one of Collins's longtime colleagues, independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who downplayed concerns about Platner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): Messages that in Maine, and in fact, throughout this country, people really are sick and tired of status quo politics. They want to take on the establishment.

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

SANDERS: They want real change. And I think that's what Platner will do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: We're joined now by CNN chief political analyst David Axelrod. Platner, of course, David, facing these allegations about unsettling behavior, including getting physical on at least one occasion with a former partner. Republicans, though, they're going to target him, no doubt, for being, as they will describe him, inauthentic.

They're going to say that he's working class. No, they're going to say he's not. They're going to say, yes, he's a combat veteran, but he went to boarding school.

Yes, he's an oyster man. But he said his mom's fancy restaurant is his biggest customer. They're going to say that his wealthy parents still prop him up financially.

How is he going to combat what is coming at him next?

DAVID AXELROD, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I expect he's going to do what he has been doing, Brianna, because, you know, all of these issues were circulating as people went to the polls yesterday. A lot of folks were waiting to see, would there be a drop off between votes that were cast in the governor's race and votes that were cast in the Senate race? Would Governor Mills, who dropped out but then reminded people she was still on the ballot, would she have a sudden surge of support?

Would Platner underperform expectations for himself? None of those things happened. And I suspect they partly didn't happen because he's been around that state quite a bit, 80-something town hall meetings.

It's a very small state. People have seen a lot of him, and they're taking the measure of him. I'm sure there's discomfort about some of these stories, as there should be.

I mean, those raise questions. He tried to address that in his speech last night, but they also have questions about Susan Collins. And, you know, I've said before, there's issues of personal character, and there's issues of public character.

He raised last night that 30 years ago, she said she was only going to serve two terms and leave, and now she's running for her sixth. And there are questions that people have about her, about how she's accommodated a system that they feel has conspired against them. And I think he's going to hone in on that.

The real question is, are there other stories? If there are other stories, I think the load gets more, perhaps, than it can bear. But if not, if this is all they got, I think this is going to be a very competitive race.

KEILAR: Yes, and he said that those allegations are politically motivated.

[14:40:00]

He had a refrain, and we see it here, the sign that he had last night, they don't know Maine. He's out with a new ad talking about taking back the government from what he calls the Epstein class. Let's play a bit of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some of the most powerful Democrats and Republicans in the country are on Epstein Island. It seems the only thing the party establishments can agree on is a love of Jeffrey Epstein and a hatred of Maine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Is that a good message? How do you see that message? AXELROD: Well, he is clearly trying to tap into this anti- establishment feeling that people have that is quite strong. And I think people in Washington make a mistake if they underestimate just how disillusioned people are with a system that 70 percent of Americans feel is corrupt and rigged against them and he is speaking to that.

So, you know, I don't know if that's the way I would go at it, but it's clear where he's going. And, you know, the question, Brianna, at the end of the day is, do people vote on the basis of other people's lives, the lives of the candidates, or do they vote on the basis of their own?

And whether they think a particular candidate is addressing their concerns in an authentic way. And so far, he's done well with that. But this is going to be a battle royale.

Remember, this seat could be the seat that determines the U.S. control of the U.S. Senate. It had been assumed that Collins was among the most vulnerable Republicans. This has put some air in the sails of Republicans in Washington. They think they can beat Platner.

But I'll tell you one thing. I wouldn't necessarily trot the president out as a character reference or a guy who's qualified to judge other people's character. I mean, in some ways, people are offering him as an example of the fact that voters vote on things other than character. And after all, he just propped up Ken Paxton in Texas. So he's an odd person to adjudicate issues of character.

KEILAR: Democratic lawmakers just across the board from all across the country, they're being asked what they think about Graham Platner. And it's really interesting to hear what they think about it, because some of them will say that they don't support his candidacy, but it's not up to them. It's up to the voters of Maine.

And then there are some who, it's not that they're rejecting him, they're fully embracing him. I wonder if you think some of those Democratic politicians who support Platner could eventually look back and regret that they have supported someone with the kind of allegations about his behavior that Platner has, especially if he does end up losing the Senate race to Senator Collins.

AXELROD: Yes, of course, that is a possibility. And as I said, if there are more revelations, that is going to be -- that is going to add bricks to this load. But they also ought to, and I would suggest this to everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat, be very, very aware of just how jaundiced people are about an economy that is thriving for some, and very much not thriving for many others.

This is why the president is in trouble politically. And, you know, so I think the question should be asked, why is Graham Platner doing well in Maine? Why has he gotten all this support?

Why did he pull 30 points ahead of an incumbent Democratic governor in a Democratic primary to the point where she had to drop out of the race? There are powerful things going on out there. But yes, of course, I'm sure there's a great deal of anxiety and nervousness about how this will all turn out.

But there's also some powerful wind behind his sails because of the, you know, the alienation that people feel about the way things are going in this country.

KEILAR: Yes, very important questions to ask. He's clearly resonating with a lot of voters in Maine. David Axelrod, thanks so much. Great to see you.

AXELROD: Always good to see you. Thanks.

KEILAR: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visiting troops at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. What we're learning about his trip amid U.S. tensions with the island next.

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SANCHEZ: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited U.S. troops stationed at Guantanamo Bay today. His visit coming as the Trump administration is pushing for political and economic changes on the island. CNN's Brian Todd is here with more on the secretary's visit and his message, not only to the troops, Brian, but also to Cuba's leaders.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Boris. And this was part PR campaign, but it's also part of the continuing pressure campaign that I know you've been reporting on in recent days regarding the Trump administration and Cuba. The secretary touched down in Cuba today, sporting a T-shirt and shorts as he deplaned there.

You see him in his ball cap coming down the stairs. Just a few minutes after that, after he greeted the troops, he joined them for some PT drills on the island there in the heat of Guantanamo, kind of slugging around some weights there. You see those drills that he's doing with the troops.

He referenced that he served at Guantanamo for about a year in the mid-2000s, and it was really a kind of a mission there to cheer up the troops and get them to kind of stick to the message and the mission there.

[14:50:00]

He is the latest high-ranking U.S. official to visit the island as the Trump administration ramps up its pressure on the regime in Cuba, including, of course, pressure on President Miguel Diaz-Canel and the pressure on former President Raul Castro, who remains hugely influential behind the scenes.

Less than two weeks ago, the top U.S. commander for Latin America, General Francis Donovan, visited Naval Station Guantanamo and met with the top Cuban general in the area there. Earlier in May, CIA Director John Ratcliffe also made a very rare visit to Cuba. Now, there have been reports that Cuba has been acquiring military drones for the past several years, but there are no indications of any Cuban intent to attack the United States with those drones.

Still, Secretary Hegseth today made reference to what he believes might be such an intent. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: That government has decisions to make about what kind of reforms they want to pursue. It's not my job to make that decision for them. It's our job at the War Department to be prepared for whatever our commander-in-chief asks us to do on behalf of defending the American people.

It would be unwise for the government of Cuba to try to procure or get access to the types of weapons that could reach this base or the American homeland. They would be inviting the kind of confrontation not only do they not want, but they could not stand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: And again, despite the reporting that Cuba has obtained drones, military drones in recent years, there is no indication of an intent by Cuba to attack U.S. forces at Guantanamo or the U.S. mainland. Again, Boris, part of this pressure, you know, on May 20th, of course, there was the indictment of Raul Castro on the four counts of murder regarding the 1996 downing of the civilian planes piloted by Cuban exiles. And in January, the Trump administration basically all but cut off Cuba's oil supplies, leading to those crippling blackouts that we've been following.

This is part of that pressure campaign. We'll see what effect that it has and whether tensions rise from here against Cuba.

SANCHEZ: We'll see what comes next. Brian Todd, thanks so much for the update -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Now to some of the other headlines that we're watching this hour. Today, President Trump signed the $70 billion immigration enforcement bill into law. The Secure America Act fully funds the Department of Homeland Security for the rest of Trump's second term.

The GOP push for the legislation came after Democrats successfully blocked Congress from approving money for ICE or Border Patrol after federal agents killed two U.S. citizens in Minnesota earlier this year.

Well, could more than 10 million Americans face shrinking Social Security checks in six years? A new report from Social Security's trustees is urging Congress to cut benefits to help the program.

It says that by late 2032, Social Security will be paying out more than it's taking in from payroll taxes and other sources. That is three months earlier than previously forecast. It's partly because the president cut many taxes on Social Security benefits.

And take a look at these gigantic waves slamming Newport Beach in Southern California, in beautiful Orange County. And I am not unbiased here. I grew up there.

So this is just one of the beaches impacted by what could be the largest surf swell in the region this year. Waves are expected to reach upwards of 10 feet in some areas. The National Weather Service is advising people to stay out of the water. But yes, as you can see, some surfers just could not resist.

Still ahead, a former Air Canada pilot is accused of flying tens of thousands of passengers for years with a fake license. You're watching CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

[14:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: He flew hundreds of flights with tens of thousands of passengers, but this pilot winds up being unlicensed. Air Canada is now trying to explain how a man was able to spend 17 years flying Boeing jets without the proper certifications.

CNN's Pete Muntean joins us now. Pete, how did this happen?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: You know, this sounds like it was ripped from Hollywood, but it's not totally unheard of. In fact, pilots, unlicensed, even unlicensed mechanics have worked for airlines and have simply not been caught for years simply because they were doing their jobs well enough. In this case, police say 59-year- old Jeffrey Wall was flying as an airline captain without the key license known as an ATP, or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Transport Canada, which is Canada's equivalent of the FAA, says inspectors made the discovery during a routine records check last year.

Police say between 2009 and 2025, Wall flew more than 900 flights as a captain of Boeing 767s, 777s, and 787s. He's since retired from the airline. The big thing here is that Air Canada is stressing that Wall was not necessarily untrained and kept going to and passing recurrent training that was repeatedly held by the airline, which is why Air Canada insists that passengers were never in any real danger.

Even still, though, police in the jurisdiction that oversees Toronto Pearson International Airport say this constitutes a major fraud. And here's what they said during a press conference on Tuesday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEPUTY CHIEF NICK MILINOVICH, PEEL REGIONAL POLICE: This is very similar to a doctor that is licensed to practice family medicine but is doing brain surgery in their office. There's additional requirements and regulations to professional designations that exist for a reason. When we breach those, not only when we them, but when we misrepresent the qualifications that we have, to me, that's a safety issue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: Wall is facing a fine, although the amount is undisclosed. Remember, he was making a pretty penny for this work, earned about 2.9 million Canadian dollars during this period of time. That's about $2 million U.S. ...

END