Return to Transcripts main page
CNN News Central
Trump Nominates U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton as Permanent National Intel Director; Knicks Go Up 3-1 in Historic NBA Finals Win; U.S. Men Soccer Ready to Make a Statement on the World Stage; Concerns Mount Over Expanding AI Data Centers. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired June 11, 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]
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Turning back to our breaking news in the last few minutes, President Trump naming a new Director of National Intelligence, nominating one, a name perhaps not familiar to most in the intelligence community, but better known in the legal community, Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Larry Pfeiffer is a former Chief of Staff to CIA Director Michael Hayden. Thank you so much for being with us. What's your reaction to this pick, former SEC Chair Jay Clayton being named as the next DNI?
LARRY PFEIFFER, FORMER CIA CHIEF OF STAFF: Well, as Boris said, for those of us who are veterans of the intel community, the name really meant almost nothing to me. I had to scramble a little bit to look him up and see, get reminded about the posts he's held and the career he's had. My initial thoughts are, I don't know if this scratches the itch of concern on the part of those who criticized the Pulte nomination.
Clayton comes to the job as well without extensive national security experience, which is what the law requires. In addition, it appears through his career in the financial world, he's got some pretty interesting ties in the past to Chinese firms that are of some concern to the U.S., to Russian firms as well. I think he helped a Swedish firm acquire some Russian firms at one point.
And then just the other day he was on the television jumping into the fray on election denialism and promoting unfounded conspiracies about election fraud and lack of integrity in California, for example. So I imagine there'll be some who will applaud him as a better choice than Pulte. But I think the jury's still out on those who strongly opposed Pulte and how they'll feel.
SANCHEZ: We are still awaiting reaction from Capitol Hill on this. I do wonder whether you think, as was indicated by reporting around the announcement of Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, the intent from the White House is likely going to be the same, not only in the sense that the president is looking for someone to go in and perhaps restructure the ODNI and fire dozens, as Pulte did as a housing official, and further to your point about election conspiracies, do you think that remains the president's prerogative for the position? PFEIFFER: I would be surprised if he has changed his views on what he wants that position to do.
[14:35:00]
I think we'll probably see some follow-on Truth Social posts from the president or comments at rallies where he'll echo those earlier comments he made about what role Pulte was going to play.
KEILAR: So I'm wondering, and I know this sounds sort of like a dumb question, but it has to be asked because of where we are with these selections. Why does a person need to have an intel background to lead the intel community?
PFEIFFER: So the law doesn't specify an intel background, it specifies extensive national security backgrounds, so we've had other DNIs that did not have intel experience per se. John Negroponte, the very first one, came with a diplomatic background, for example. But I believe the framers of this law, in the wake of the 9-11 commission report, in the aftermath of the tragedy of 9-11, felt compelled to include this in the law, that they saw our intelligence business as being so complex and so complicated.
I think they saw a requirement for an intelligence community to be one that is speaking truth to power and not politically motivated. And a way to ensure both of those things was to require that this individual have an extensive national security background. So I think if we saw somebody with a strong military background, a strong diplomatic background, somebody who'd spent a long time in and out of the intelligence community, or extensive time on Capitol Hill, maybe coming from an Armed Services Committee background or an Intelligence Committee background, I think that would allay a lot of the concerns I and many of my colleagues have as to who should lead the community.
SANCHEZ: Larry Pfeiffer, thanks so much for sharing your expertise.
PFEIFFER: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Of course. The Countdown is on. We're minutes away from Mexico and South Africa, kicking things off with the opening match of the World Cup. Everything you need to know about the biggest sporting event in the world when we come back.
[14:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Yes, call it a comeback. The biggest in NBA Finals history. The New York Knicks electrified Madison Square Garden last night with a historic come-from-behind win against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks are racing a 29-point deficit and winning Game 4 in the final seconds to take a 3-1 series lead. Here was the last shot when they brought crazed fans to their feet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right at the top, one on one, Brunson gets it, fires up a three shot. No good. The tip is gone. Its gone, its gone, with 1.2 remaining. Knicks take the lead Og Anunoby and its 107 106.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: The Nick's fans, including those on Celebrity Row, they could not get enough. They were so hyped, they refused to immediately leave the Garden. One more win and New York will clinch its first NBA title since 1973. Boris is not going to be happy at all about that.
SANCHEZ: Boo.
KEILAR: Listen, I feel you, buddy, because I was also rooting for the Spurs and I went to bed thinking, they got it. Look at this spread. It's fine.
SANCHEZ: Spurs in seven, maybe nine. I don't know. It may not work out.
KEILAR: Maybe.
SANCHEZ: We are also counting down to kick off of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Now less than 20 minutes away from Mexico, taking on South Africa in the opening match of what is set to be the largest tournament of its kind ever. Soccer's biggest stars are getting ready to electrify fans around the globe.
48 teams are going to be competing in stadiums across North America. That includes the U.S. men's national team. And CNN's Coy Wire is live for us in Irvine, California, where the team is gearing up for their first match tomorrow against Paraguay. Coy, I know you're out there giving Team USA some pointers.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Hey, I wish they're out there right now. They just started practice. They don't need me, Boris.
It's good to see you and Brianna. Listen, some of the players, they're feeling this intensity. They're trying to keep it calm.
Star Christian Pulisic, Captain America. He said he had some s'mores last night, a taste of home. He's from Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Alex Freeman, the youngest player on the team. He's 21 years old. He said, I'm nervous. He said the butterflies have arrived.
They unpacked their bags and they are collecting rent. So listen, this World Cup returns to a very different America than when the one that visited when it was last hosted here in 1994.
The biggest difference isn't the stadiums. It's the people filling them. The crowds are bigger.
Passion is louder. Soccer IQ higher. And the expectations for this team are rising faster than blood pressure and stoppage time. As for these players in '94, 14 didn't even have pro clubs. U.S. soccer had to actually pay players just so they could train together. No MLS, no soccer specific stadiums, no generation of kids growing up watching American stars compete at some of the most storied European clubs like we see today.
The kids who grew up with World Cup dreams are now living in one right here on home soil. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANTONEE ROBINSON, USMNT DEFENDER: It's literally a once in a lifetime opportunity. And thankfully I've already played in the World Cup, but like this is going to warm up it for me.
JOE SCALLY, USMNT DEFENDER: We all play when we're younger, acting like we're in the World Cup in our backyard. So to actually living that dream, I think is, yes, especially, you know, it hasn't, it hasn't sunk in yet.
[14:45:00]
WESTON MCKENNIE, USMNT MIDFIELDER: On the biggest stage on home soil and the opportunity just to be able to grow the game here in America based on the performances and what we do here. I think it's a dream come true.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WIRE: Now the U.S. haven't reached a World Cup quarterfinal based on the performances and what we do here. I think it's a dream come true.
WIRE: Now the U.S. haven't reached a World Cup quarterfinal since 2002, but this group known as America's Golden Generation believes this tournament can be a soccer moment that changes how a country sees the game. And if you spend any time around this team, you'll quickly learn that they don't exactly lack confidence or personality. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TYLER ADAMS, USMNT MIDFIELDER: Fearless and ambitious. I think we have so many guys that have that national team experience and we're just trying to take this team to the next level now.
AUSTON TRUSTY, USMNT DEFENDER: Fun, hardworking, dedicated.
GIO REYNA, USMNT MIDFIELDER: Pretty youthful, energetic and like to have fun.
TIM WEAH, USMNT FORWARD: It's really just a tight-knit family and, you know, hopefully we can just translate that to the pitch and take care of business.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WIRE: All right, finally, this is for Brianna and Boris, apparently Spurs super fans. Take a look at the team. The U.S. men, as they're preparing for the biggest tournament of their lives, they were locked into that dramatic finish a game for the NBA Finals. Tyler Adams, a diehard Knicks fan and other players bouncing off the couches like kids on a trampoline after they had too much birthday cake. You would have thought they just scored a World Cup winner, guys. Now they are going to hope to create that same kind of chaos for the rest of the country.
They start their campaign tomorrow against Paraguay right here in Los Angeles. And if this team has anything to say about it, the party might be just getting started.
SANCHEZ: Hey, you're the miracle on ice in 1980. Could 2026 be the miracle on the pitch? We shall see.
Coy Wire, live for us in Irvine, California. Thank you so much.
Still ahead, AI data centers are popping up across the country and people who live in their shadows are fed up with noise and pollution.
Their fight straight ahead.
[14:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: The rise of AI data centers across the country is unleashing growing backlash as residents fear these enormous computing warehouses are taking up local resources. People who live nearby are also left to put up with the noise and pollution they can cause. And as CNN's Shimon Prokupecz found out firsthand, some of the backlash is turning violent with local politicians in the crosshairs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RON GIBSON, INDIANAPOLIS CITY-COUNTY COUNCIL: One, two, three, four.
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ron Gibson counts the bullet holes in his front door.
GIBSON: Twelve, 13, 14, 15. And it was a sign that someone conveniently put up under the Indianapolis Coach's mat and said there's no data center.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Gibson is an Indianapolis city counselor targeted, he says, for supporting a data center in his community.
GIBSON: At some point that night after midnight, we heard loud banging on glass and glass breaking.
I didn't realize that my house had been shot up until daylight. And I saw this door and I could see through the door out. I mean, I could see daylight was coming through the door. Really touching to me was my son's Lego set was on the dining room table where the bullets went around. And I like to think about it. I wonder if he'd have been in that space at that time of night. Scary stuff.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You better vote no. You better vote no.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): The political backlash to data centers has been fierce nationwide, aided by the rise and fear of artificial intelligence.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't need it. We need water.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): In Utah, residents are fighting a proposed 40,000 acre data center that when combined is twice the size of Manhattan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe this decision should be made after the election.
PROKUPECZ: So meetings like this in Union, Missouri are happening all across the country and really showing the fear and concern.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The burdens would stay local. The profits will leave town. We're asking you please stop this theft and rape now.
PROKUPECZ: What could a data center do to a community like this?
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): To find out, we traveled 850 miles from Union, Missouri to a place already familiar with data centers. Loudoun County, Virginia, outside D.C., this is Data Center Alley.
PROKUPECZ: Just in this area alone, there are over 200 buildings that contain data centers, some 50 million square feet, enough to fit eight pentagons.
BUDDY RIZER, EXEC. DIRECTOR, LOUDOUN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Having even one data center can double the amount of tax revenue. We've been able to build 30 some schools and 15 fire stations and six libraries.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): But not everything went right.
GREG PIRIO, LIVES NEAR DATA CENTER: It is like having constant jet airplanes flying overhead.
PROKUPECZ: Because you can hear it right now, right?
PIRIO: Yes, yes.
PROKUPECZ: Like, take a listen here, right? This is --
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): That hum you hear, that's coming from this, a massive data center just feet from these homes.
PROKUPECZ: What's it like when you're trying to sleep?
ETHAN DOUE, LIVES NEAR DATA CENTER: It's like a July 4th fireworks going on. HARI DOUE, LIVES NEAR DATA CENTER: Last night, my son Lucas got up in the middle of the night and said he couldn't sleep and came into our room. So it is affecting their sleep and they have to go to school.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): There's another problem.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If it was a southern wind today, all that would be blowing right over this. Our houses.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Diesel backup generators, when they're tested, they pollute.
PIRIO: Those are the days in particular that I feel irritation in my throat.
PROKUPECZ: How do you respond to them?
RIZER: It's a very unfortunate situation because when it was built and approved, it was intended to be on the grid. Then in 2022, we had Dominion tell us, well, we're out of power. They had already built and leased the building. So the only solution for them was the gas turbines. It is a temporary situation. Eventually the power will be delivered to the site, but that doesn't help them tonight when they're trying to get to sleep.
[14:55:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're opening a Pandora's Box that can't be closed.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Back in Missouri, they're fighting two proposed new data center campuses in Franklin County. Bill Hubbard's century old farm is next to one of them. Recent reports about a Georgia data center draining water from nearby farms has Hubbard worried.
BILL HUBBARD, FARM OWNER: They say they're not going to drill wells. All these guarantees, you know, 737s weren't supposed to crash.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): The company behind one of the campuses says they won't tax local resources.
ROMAN PACEWICZ, PROVIDENT DATA CENTERS: We're developing a closed loop water system, so it conserves water. We believe we could develop them in a conscious way, getting feedback from the community.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Most here are like the Hubbards. They worry because the land is their life.
HUBBARD: This is home. There's no amount of money that could get me to sell this. No amount of money.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Shimon Prokupecz, CNN, Union, Missouri.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Shimon, thank you so much for that. A new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
