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Chelsea Lowe, a Descendant of Benjamin Franklin, Reflects on the U.S. Today; Democrats' Secret Midterm Weapon. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired June 26, 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]

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Humanitarian relief that the federal government will extend to certain nationals in the United States if they cannot return to their home country because of natural disasters, upheaval, things along those lines.

So, what this means is that the multiple legal challenges that had been playing out in lower courts across the country, challenging, again, the administration ending these designations, well, those are likely to be dismissed, which means that suddenly there will be people from 13 countries, more than a million people, who will find themselves stripped of deportation protections and their work permits. We're talking here, Kate, about people who were legally working in the United States.

So, there are multiple industries who are also bracing for this, like in health care, in nursing homes. We also heard from the Ohio governor, who is concerned about what's going to happen to his state because these were people who were legally working in those communities.

Now, again, this is something that Republicans and Trump officials have repeatedly criticized. They say temporary protected status is supposed to be that, temporary, not permanent solutions. So, they intend to move forward with those terminations like they wanted a while back.

I will say, Kate, all of this will unfold in the coming weeks and months. So, there is still a little bit of time here, but certainly this is going to have massive implications in communities across the country.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, Priscilla, thanks for laying it out for us. I appreciate it.

Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, ahead, America's marking a major milestone, as you well know, it's 250th birthday. We'll speak live with descendants of a few of our founding fathers on the nation's legacy.

And two semi trucks collide and burst into flames. Look at that mess. The latest we're learning about the conditions of the drivers and what happened here in New Jersey.

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[09:36:09]

SIDNER: Next weekend, the United States marks a major milestone, its 250th birthday. But the celebration comes at a complex moment. While our nation has come far since declaring independence in 1776, the country is currently facing deep political divisions, as you well know, I don't have to tell you, and a lot of folks facing economic worries. What would the nation's founding fathers think of the United States that exists today? Is it anything like what they envisioned? Of course, we can't ask them, but we can ask their descendants.

Joining me now, Chelsea Lowe, a descendant of Benjamin Franklin and Roger Sherman. And we're hoping to get Reverend W. Douglas Banks, a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

First to you, Chelsea. Give me some sense of where you think the country is right now as we are about to embark on this milestone, a big one, 250 years.

CHELSEA LOWE, SEVENTH GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: Good morning. Very happy to be here.

I think that we -- you know, we've come a long way. I think that we started off, we don't answer to a king and queen anymore, which is where we started at, which is a great place that we've come from. I don't think that we are where Benjamin Franklin or Roger Sherman necessarily thought we wanted to be. You know, Benjamin Franklin specifically was somebody that really wanted to create a world that was accessible for everybody, that was a world that was based on diplomacy, that was built on science, that was improving things, that was creating a place for better generations. And I'm just not convinced that that's the direction that we're really headed at all. That's not the place that we're building for my children. That's not the place that we're building for my community. And that's not the place that I think that our forefathers had really designed for us to be 250 years later.

SIDNER: I do have to ask you what it's like being a descendant of Benjamin Franklin. I mean, what that means to you because, obviously, when, you know, we all look back in our history, we're like, oh, you know, oh, this interesting story about -- you've got one of the most interesting stories as part of your family.

LOWE: You know, I was born this way. I didn't choose it. But it was -- it was really -- it was really, really fun on the -- on the day in, you know, fifth grade, when you get to show up with your family tree. And instead of just going back one generation, you're like, hold on, I have a whole book that I grew up with. And it's just the story that we always knew.

But being able to teach my kids has been really fun. It's not something that they knew right away. However, it wasn't as believed as easily by their classmates, especially my daughter's classmates. We definitely had the day where I went to pick her up and I had three little boys run up to me and go, um, excuse you, um, is Elizabeth's great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather really Benjamin Franklin? I went, um, yes, yes, he is. And they went, oh, and then ran away really, really fast. So, it's kind of a fun little thing that as they get to develop and learn, it's a really fun piece of our history. And then we get to go and actually have the whole conversation and historical background and really enjoy that piece of our history.

SIDNER: I got to tell you, I'd be bragging about it like all the time if I was your kids. I would be the worst, I will just let you know.

I do want to ask you though, on a more serious note, the country is going through so politically divisive time. You know, one of the most politically divisive times that we've seen in many decades, as well as an economically difficult time. And so, to you, when you look at the history of this country, what would you say to Americans as to what we all should be doing to try to make this a more perfect union?

[09:40:11]

LOWE: I think what you can do as an American is what you can do every single day at home. What I do is I -- I think it'd be really overwhelming to try to solve the nation's problems at my house. I can't do that. So, I solve what I can do for my community and for my kids. And for me that's making it a safe space so that they always have somewhere that they can come, no matter what's going on in the world, no matter what's going on in school, no matter what happened that day, whether it was on the soccer field or at gymnastics or at orchestra or just they're having a hard day. They woke up, it was hard. And they have a safe space to come to, whether it's my kids or my kids' best friends or my friends or myself or my husband coming home from the fire department that day are safe. Our house is a safe space. It's someone walking by in the neighborhood. They know that we're good.

And then we always take that into our community. Whether we can volunteer somewhere. Whether we can help out. It's the little things. And I think those have that ripple effect as we go. And it's those little pieces as you build.

And we've kind of started to find those pieces in our community. And there's -- and we're -- and we're one family and there's so many more families in our community that are doing that. And all of those little pieces start building those blocks. I think that's where we have to start. Nobody can take on the bigger problems. But as you start building all those blocks together, I think that's where the turning point can start.

SIDNER: That's beautifully said. Great advice to start at home. That's the easiest place to start. I mean where else would you start?

Chelsea Lowe, this was such a pleasure. Thank you so much for talking to us.

And you can hear more from descendants of America's founders and their views on America's future right now on cnn.com. There are so many great stories. It's a really good read, I promise.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, jet fuel prices begin to fall, but airfares remain high. Why you should not expect plane tickets to get any cheaper anytime soon.

And new video of a huge jetliner flying just feet above the ground. And now the FAA is investigating.

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[09:46:46]

BERMAN: Affordability such a concern for Americans in all the polling. And in a new poll out this week, something kind of interesting, a list of what they think the number one issue is when it comes to affordability.

With us now, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten.

This Quinnipiac poll out this week listed people's economic concerns. What was number one?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, this, to me, is the Democrats' secret weapon, right? Because we talk about, oh my goodness, gas prices. And we say, hey, that's the big issue of the day when it comes to affordability.

But look at this. What is folks biggest financial concern? Gas is way down here at eight percent Look at what is number one though. It is health care. It is health care. Number one. Twenty-two percent of Americans say their biggest financial concern is health care. That beats food at 18 percent and housing, of course, we've been talking about that housing bill, down there at 14 percent. No, they got nothing on health care, which is the number one financial concern to Americans today.

BERMAN: How do people think the Trump administration is doing on health care?

ENTEN: And this, to me, is why it's one of the big reasons why that health care is the Democrats' secret weapon heading into the midterm elections. Because when it comes to health care costs, look at this, Trump's net approval rating, the net approval rating of the Trump administration on health care, of course, look at this, 36-points underwater. Thirty-six percent, more of the electorate, disapproved than approved of the job that the Trump administration is doing on health care costs. And look at this among independents, 50 points under water.

So, when it comes to American's top financial concern, the Trump administration, 36 points underwater, and with among independents, which we know the Trump administration and Trump in particular is struggling with, 50 points underwater. My goodness gracious.

BERMAN: And the answer might be obvious, but which party is trusted more then on health care?

ENTEN: Yes. So, OK, so you see, you know, Trump really struggling here. But here, even with the obvious, there's an interesting little nugget going on here. The party trusted more on health care. You know, you go back to 2018, right, when they were trying to overturn the ACA. The Democrats had a 17-point advantage on health care. Look at this now. In 2026, the advantage has actually expanded out. It's actually even larger than it was back in 2018 during the Trump first midterm. Look at this, a 21-point advantage.

So, you look at those health care costs when it comes to the Americans top financial concerns. You look at how far underwater Trump is, especially among independents. And you see this big democratically. You go, hey, if you're a Democrat, you'd be taking the ball and running when it comes to health care.

BERMAN: I mean, of course, this also a big Democratic year.

ENTEN: That's exactly right. When the Democrats had a big advantage on health care, they got a net gain of 40 seats in the house. We'll see what happens this time around.

BERMAN: You know, so much has happened in 2026 so far. We forget this year began with the failure to expand the subsidies, the Obamacare subsidies, that millions of people were getting. They were not extended.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: So, people effectively lost some money on health care there. So, the prediction markets, what are they saying that these subsidies will ever get extended?

ENTEN: Yes. Yes. So, you see this huge Democratic advantage and Democrats trying to repeat what happened back in 2018 with those big Democratic gains in the House of Representatives.

And one of the things that comes out is, right, is money coming out of your pocket, money leaving your pocket. Chance the enhanced ACA subsidies will be extended this year.

[09:50:01]

You know, you go back to January 1, it was a 43 percent chance according to the Kalshi prediction market. Look where it is now. It's just seven percent. It's just seven percent. Those health care costs Americans feel are out of control. They really dislike President Trump on it. And Democrats, if this, in fact, turns out to be the case, when you see numbers like this, they may be taking the ball and running with it and running to a House majority and maybe a Senate majority as well.

BERMAN: It'll be interesting to see if Democrats really try to reengage with that issue in the fall.

ENTEN: They absolutely should be running on health care. It is a big win for them.

BERMAN: Harry Enten, thank you very much.

ENTEN: Thank you, my friend.

BERMAN: We do have a lot of news. We'll be right back.

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[09:55:08]

BOLDUAN: It was a pretty wild, viral and now under investigation video. It's quite something to see. A Boeing 777 plane flying just feet from the ground and just feet above people, nearly scraping the runway at an airport in Texas. The FAA caught wind of it and now says it's launching an investigation to figure out what really is going on here. The wing of the 200-foot plane made an extremely low pass on a private runway at this airport, and without any landing gear down, as you can see. Although the paint says Qatar Airways, the plane is actually operated by Jet Tran, which converts planes to cargo freighters. The company released a statement saying that was a test flight that, quote, "does not reflect operational standards."

BERMAN: Test failed.

BOLDUAN: Test -- maybe. Yes. No comment.

Let's move to this. Luigi Mangione's attorneys have discussed the possibility of a plea deal in his federal case. That is according to a source familiar with the talks. Now, such talk -- such discussions not unusual in a federal case like this one. The source also said that the talks did not result in an agreement. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

And then take a look at this video. It was a fiery crash between two semi trucks. And it also backed up traffic in New Jersey for hours yesterday. Not like traffic needs that assistance anyway.

BERMAN: Exactly.

SIDNER: What's new?

BOLDUAN: The video shows flames coming out of one of the trucks that was hauling lumber, which, you know, fueled the fire further. The accident happened around 4 a.m., which then caused traffic to start backing up when commuters hit the road and then led to a second crash.

SIDNER: Oh.

BOLDUAN: It is not clear if any injuries were reported in the accidents. Police all -- have also not said what they believe caused that initial collision. I don't know why we decided to go here (INAUDIBLE).

SIDNER: You know what was also an accident? BOLDUAN: What?

SIDNER: The three of us coming together on this show.

BERMAN: A happy -- a happy accident.

BOLDUAN: It was --

SIDNER: It was a happy accident. It was a --

BERMAN: OK.

SIDNER: It was a one -- we're going to end with a happy accident.

BOLDUAN: You know who also had an -- just kidding. I knew that's where you were going.

BERMAN: Not getting any younger.

BOLDUAN: I knew that's where you were going.

Happy Friday.

BERMAN: Thanks so much for joining us. This has been CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "THE SITUATION ROOM," up next.

BOLDUAN: I also didn't say the word, by the way.

SIDNER: I wanted to say --

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