Return to Transcripts main page
CNN News Central
Jared Isaacman, NASA Chief, Talks About Artemis III Mission in 2027; SpaceX Debuts on Nasdaq at $135 Per Share; UFC White House Fight Approval Rating; One-on-One with Actor, Knicks Fan John Turturro. Aired 9:30-10a ET
Aired June 12, 2026 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:30:00]
JARED ISAACMAN, NASA ADMINISTRATOR: It's very Apollo 9-esque. Learn as much as we can about those landers close to home before 2028, where we go to the surface of the moon.
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: You know, a few months ago, you unveiled a vision that included revamped plans for a permanent moon base. And one of the questions with that is, would this be considered a U.S. territory? How does that fit into where the Outer Space Treaty currently holds?
ISAACMAN: Oh, it's a great question. And as you mentioned, the Outer Space Treaty prohibits sovereignty on the moon. This is about establishing an outpost on the moon for scientific operations.
We're probably going to put a lot of landers and rovers on the surface, maybe with radio telescopes that go to the far side of the moon for economic potential. We're going to be interacting with the lunar regolith, maybe 3D printing satellites, maybe mining helium-3. There's tech demonstrations that are going to be on the moon.
We're going to interact with the water ice to master the skills for where we go next, which is going to be Mars. And then obviously, there is just a lot of inspiration that's going to come out of having humankind's first outpost on another world.
But this isn't about sovereignty. It's about scientific, economic, and tech demonstrations that will take place on the lunar surface.
JIMENEZ: Before we go, I told a space enthusiast friend of mine that we were having this conversation who wanted me to ask you this question. So shout out to Connor Lewis. What would you say is your probability for extraterrestrial life, either single-cell or multicellular, in our solar system?
And what upcoming NASA missions will help us actually answer that question?
ISAACMAN: Oh, what a great question. I mean, this goes at the absolute heart of what we do at NASA, which is answering the question, are we alone? Now, we have a lot of missions that are going out there looking for biosignatures. We have samples on Mars right now that our rovers drilled that I would bet, and I'd say a lot of the scientists at NASA would say, if you were to bring those samples back home to Earth, you probably have better than a 90 percent chance that there was former microbial life on Mars. We've got Europa Clipper that's going out looking for biosignatures. You have Dragonfly, a nuclear-powered octocopter we're sending to Saturn's moon of Titan in 2028 that's looking for biosignatures.
I think it'd be very fascinating because oftentimes people assume life is surely out there across the trillions of galaxies and all the star systems within them, but what if we were to find them in our backyard?
JIMENEZ: NASA Administrator Jared Eisenman, thank you for taking the time. I appreciate you being here.
ISAACMAN: Thank you.
JIMENEZ: All right, we've also got some breaking news.
A historic day on Wall Street as Elon Musk's SpaceX debuts on the Nasdaq. The market's already reacting to the largest IPO on record. CNN's Hadas Gold is outside Nasdaq. What do you see in there?
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Omar, there were cheers here outside of Nasdaq as that bell was rung for officially the largest IPO in history. That's also set to make Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire. Now, Elon Musk was not physically here in New York.
He chose to ring the bell at Starbase, Texas. SpaceX's president, Gwynne Chantel, she's the one that's here ringing the bell here in Nasdaq. Like I said, this is expected to be the biggest IPO in history, setting Elon Musk up to be the world's first trillionaire.
Now, while the price was initially set at $135 per share, we do expect that price to change throughout the day. And keep in mind that SpaceX, which will be listed as SPSX, you won't actually see it listed right away because IPOs, they're not listed right at the opening. We'll see it pop up within the next few hours or so.
But take a listen to what Elon Musk had to say right before he rang that bell.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELON MUSK, SPACEX, CEO: And let me tell you, if people had told me this was going to happen, I was like, man, you must be smoking some really good crack. Because I think this company's going to fail. I mean, I gave SpaceX less than a 10 percent chance of succeeding at all, to be clear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLD: So according to the initial price, SpaceX is hoping to raise something like $75 billion, valuing the company about $1.77 trillion. Now again, we're going to see that change rise and fall as trades actually start happening. What's very different about this IPO compared to others is the number of retail investors.
That's everyday investors who can get a part of it. That's 30 percent, they set aside for retail investors. That's triple the typical amount.
That means that Elon Musk specifically wanted everyday people to be able to get a piece of SpaceX as it really puts out this very futuristic vision of the future. Because if you're buying into this stock, you're not really buying into a company that's minting a lot of money right now. They're burning through a lot of cash.
What you're buying into is Elon Musk's vision of the future, Omar.
JIMENEZ: A different kind of launch for SpaceX today. Hadas Gold, seeing it live. Good to see you.
[09:35:00]
Up ahead for us, a fiery rescue. New body camera footage shows officers saving people from a burning building. We'll bring you that dramatic video.
And then what we're learning about, Dolly Parton's latest coffee adventure. We'll talk about, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JIMENEZ: If a lawsuit ends up being unsuccessful, President Trump will get his wish to host a UFC fight on the White House's South Lawn on Sunday, his 80th birthday. The event is billed as part of the celebration surrounding America's 250th birthday.
CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten is with me now. So, Harry, how do Americans feel about the UFC fights at the White House?
[09:40:00]
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, let's just say this much. They do not like it. They don't like it.
I like you, Omar, but Americans don't find this a thing to be appropriate.
Take a look here. UFC White House fights are appropriate. Just 16 percent.
Just 16 percent overall. And among Republicans, even among Republicans, you know the diehard base, Republican Party, with Trump through thick and thin. Just 31 percent of Republicans.
His approval rating amongst Republicans overall is, you know, usually hovers a little bit north of 80 percent. So, we're talking 50 points lower here. You know, this overall, you know, being 16 percent, you know, what is it, like 28 percent of Americans, you know, believe in telepathy.
So, this is even below that. JIMENEZ: Does this fall into a broader pattern with the White House in voters' minds?
ENTEN: Yes, I think this is the big problem here, Omar, which is, you know, Americans just don't think that Donald Trump and this White House is in touch with them because, you know, they put on stuff like that that Americans don't really care about. Take a look here. Say the White House is out of touch with people like you.
60 percent overall. We're talking about three in five Americans. And look among independents.
80 percent of independents say that the White House is out of touch with people like them. So, all of a sudden, you have a White House that is putting on, potentially putting on events such as these UFC fights. And, you know, America's top issue is inflation, which Trump's net approval rating on that, like minus 50.
And you go to yourself, OK, appropriate. No on the UFC fights. And then you put it together with what they actually care about.
No wonder that the American people say 60 percent say the White House is out of touch with people like them. And 80 percent of independents.
JIMENEZ: I mean, it's a big push. Why do you think Trump loves the UFC so much?
ENTEN: Yes, OK. You know, we've seen Donald Trump go to these UFC fights before, right? We see that there may be UFC fights, you know, on the White House lawn come this weekend.
And, you know, it's because the UFC and MMA is a safe space. It is a safe space. It's a nice place.
It's warm and lovely for the president of the United States. Party ID League among fans of MMA. Look at this.
Republicans hold the lead among MMA fans. Look at that. Plus 14.
Versus soccer. If he goes to the World Cup, I don't think that's going to be friendly territory for the president. Look at that.
Democrats hold the party ID lead there of plus 12. And we know that Donald Trump was booed at the Garden. Look at that.
Democrats hold a 28 point lead on fans of the NBA.
JIMENEZ: So Marco Rubio compared the founding of the UFC to landing on the moon.
ENTEN: Yes, he did.
JIMENEZ: However you feel about that.
ENTEN: Yes.
JIMENEZ: How are the prediction markets viewing his chances as sort of emerging from the 2028 pack?
ENTEN: Yes, one of the most bizarre comparisons I've ever heard. A chance to be the 2028 GOP pres. nominee. Look at this.
Rubio, Vance, neck and neck. And I think part of Rubio appealing in 2028 will be appealing to those young fans, appealing to those MMA fans. And at this point, look at that.
His chances way up. He's really in a dogfight with J.D. Vance for the nomination, according to Kalshi prediction markets at this point.
JIMENEZ: Harry Enten, always appreciate you being here.
ENTEN: Pleasure to be with you, my dear friend. Happy Friday. Happy Friday.
JIMENEZ: Whole lot of news we are following. More coming up.
[09:45:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got to go. Let's go. Let's go.
Oh, let's go.
(SCREAMS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go, let's go. Is there anybody else?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: Some dramatic body camera footage revealing the dramatic moments police officers jumped to the rescue to save people in an apartment complex that caught fire. Police entered the units to find occupants still asleep before ordering them to evacuate as fast as possible. The fire department says the flames spread through a shared attic that connected 20 apartments.
In the end, multiple people were displaced and eight officers went to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
If you need a little caffeine to power through your nine to five, Dolly Parton got you covered. Parton announced she's launching a new coffee brand called Cup of Ambition.
The coffee will be served at her new convenience store located in Cornersville, Tennessee, which is set to open later this month. The new blends will be available nationwide later this year.
And then Taylor Swift and the Haim sisters are going viral for the custom Knicks T-shirts they wore at game four of the NBA finals. The most impressive part, Alana Haim made them herself. And in a new interview, she says Taylor reached out with the idea. And from there, the group went into full pun mode.
The puns, Stevie Nicks, Nickelback and Nicole Kidman. If you're just listening, it's with KN and Nicholas Cage. Haim says the whole thing came together on a cheap craft store tees and DIY screen printing.
You could feel the energy on the eve of game five here in the Big Apple. The New York Knicks are on the precipice of immortality. One win away from their first NBA championship in over 50 years.
They remember losing in the finals game seven to the Rockets in '94. They remember losing in the finals to the Spurs in '99. So generations of fans have been waiting for this moment.
Like legendary actor and star of the upcoming film, "The Only Living Pickpocket in New York," John Turturro. We sat down one-on-one for a pulse check on his nerves ahead of the big game.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[09:50:00]
JIMENEZ: Place your nerves right now. Wedding day, big audition, first audition, chance at a Knicks championship.
JOHN TURTURRO, ACTOR, "THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK": Yes, I guess they're all very comparable. I mean, I've gone on stage and been really nervous. The thing is, when you go on stage, you can control it a little bit.
You're doing it. As a fan, you're watching it. You're giving your support, but you're watching it.
And it's not as when you can actually do something about it. That's actually helpful. You know what I mean?
So it's up there.
JIMENEZ: Yes. That's a high bar though. That's a high bar.
TURTURRO: It's a high bar.
JIMENEZ: I was talking to Spike Lee earlier this week, and you two were born around the same time.
TURTURRO: We're three weeks apart. I'm three weeks older than him.
JIMENEZ: So I'm guessing you started supporting the Knicks around the same time. How did you get into the team?
TURTURRO: Well, his dad took him to the -- I was a sports fan. I sort of fell in love with the game.
You know, I was like 10, Michael 11. So I followed the Knicks through the Bernard King era. And then when they got Patrick, I had a little money at the time.
And I scraped together money. I got tickets that were in the green seats. I had season tickets.
I was on all those games, even the seventh game in '94. I went with Spike and Branford Marsalis. And that was a heartbreaker.
JIMENEZ: You mentioned going with Spike back in '94. Just tell me about that relationship. Obviously, you guys have done a lot of movies together.
TURTURRO: Once we did "Do the Right Thing," and we did "Jungle Fever," and "Mo' Better," and "Clockers," and, you know, so I would go. Sometimes, you know, he would say, listen, I can't pay you a lot of money that you normally get.
So I would say, well, then give me five games. You know what I mean? So at that time.
But yes, we went to a lot of games and had some really fun experiences. Had the Shaq almost kill us once, fall on top of us when he was with Orlando. I mean, I went like this, you know.
JIMENEZ: You covered Spike.
TURTURRO: I covered Spike, yes. Because I figured, well, I'm bigger than him. So maybe I take a --
JIMENEZ: You have a better chance against Shaq.
TURTURRO: Yes, not much.
JIMENEZ: You were with Spike, I think, out in Brooklyn.
TURTURRO: Yes, Fancy Free.
JIMENEZ: Yes, when he's hanging out of the car as the crowd's yelling at him. How would you describe this run in New York City and as a Knicks fan?
TURTURRO: Well, I think we've been building to it. And I think losing to Indiana last year gave us a little bit more of an incentive to know what it's like. We could have beaten Indiana.
We had them. We let them go. And I think that -- but each year they've progressed. It's very exciting. I guess the younger you are, you haven't been through the heartbreak and also the euphoria of winning, too.
But that's what it's like. They've brought a lot of joy to the city. And you know, it's really hard.
I'm glad I'm not doing a job right now because I really can't concentrate. My wife knows that. All around my whole house, it's all Knicks paraphernalia, you know.
I got my Walt Frazier card, you know, my old card in my wallet.
JIMENEZ: Yes, keep it close.
TURTURRO: Yes, I'm keeping it close.
JIMENEZ: I was listening to a previous interview you did, and I think you said one of your favorite things about a Knicks game or a Knicks win is riding the subway after the Knicks win.
TURTURRO: The best.
JIMENEZ: Why is that? Tell me about that.
TURTURRO: Everyone's looking at each other. Everybody's talking, sharing how they felt, whatever. When they came back from 22 down against Cleveland with seven and a half minutes, everyone was smiling, but everyone looked like they were in shock.
So I would look at you for confirmation. Did I just dream that? Did I see that?
You know, it was so much fun. And it's like a small town. All of a sudden, you're like, I'm in this city that no one ever looks at each other, and everyone's talking to each other.
And that's the power of the beauty of sports. You know it can really -- it's egalitarian, and everybody can share that. And I just think that's a great thing.
It's like when the Yankees were in the World Series in 2001. Even though they lost, after 9-11, they brought the city back to life. Because you could focus on something for a couple hours.
And that's irreplaceable. It really is. And it's a great thing.
It's one of the joys of being alive.
JIMENEZ: What would a championship mean to you personally, to the city?
TURTURRO: I think it would be very meaningful for a lot of the lifers, for the young people, for whatever age you're at. You know what I mean. It would be a great thing for the city if they could bring it home. And I'm hoping that they can.
But it's like one quarter at a time, you know, one play at a time. And they've gotten this far. It's a great thing.
And we obviously want them to finish the job. You know what I mean?
JIMENEZ: But it's a big job.
TURTURRO: But you have to win four games.
[09:55:00]
PRODUCER: How much have you spent for just this playoffs or finals?
TURTURRO: How much have I spent what? Traveling for tickets?
PRODUCER: On buying, yes.
TURTURRO: I can't divulge that. I mean, it's embarrassing. I haven't even told my wife.
I haven't even told my wife. I said, don't ask me what I'm doing. I'm not with another woman.
I'm with the Knicks. She knows that's my friend. You know what I mean? She knows to leave me. She's a fan.
JIMENEZ: The Knicks relationship.
TURTURRO: That's my other relationship, yes. But it's the joy of being 10 years old. So if I buy a ticket and I can afford it, it costs me a little money.
I'm sharing that with my son. I wouldn't do that if I wasn't going with my son.
JIMENEZ: Any ritual or anything?
TURTURRO: Superstition. Yes. I sometimes.
JIMENEZ: You got that card.
TURTURRO: I have the card. Don't maybe wash the pants. Maybe the same shoes.
JIMENEZ: I thought I smelled something.
TURTURRO: I got orange underwear. So, you know.
JIMENEZ: The joy of sports. Honestly.
TURTURRO: Yes. I mean, you know, it's great. You know, I didn't dye my hair or anything like that.
So no, I'm too old for that.
JIMENEZ: Yes, yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JIMENEZ (on camera): And we will see what happens very soon. Thank you all for joining us. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL, "THE SITUATION ROOM" up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
