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U.S. Launches New Wave of Strikes on Iran; Interview with Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI): Senate Democrats Block Defense Policy Package Over Iran War; Argentina, England Renew Historic Rivalry in Semifinal; Confrontational Hearing for Trump's Nominee to Lead the CDC. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired July 15, 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]

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN HOST: The U.S. military confirms a new wave of strikes on Iran today following a fourth straight night of attacks on the country. U.S. Central Command says it's targeting Iran's coastal defenses as well as cruise missile storage and launch sites in an attempt to degrade Tehran's military capabilities and prevent attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Now, Iran says more than 30 civilians and seven troops have been killed in the recent U.S. strikes, and it's retaliating against U.S. allies in the region.

[14:35:00]

So this video appears to show an Iranian drone strike on a warehouse in Kuwait, as President Trump is now threatening to target more Iranian infrastructure, and he's not ruling out the use of U.S. ground troops. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ultimately, we'll hit energy targets. Next week comes the bridges. We're going to knock out all their power plants.

We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you ruling out a ground campaign in a limited capacity?

TRUMP: I don't want to say that either, but I would say no if I thought it was appropriate. Sometimes you need a ground campaign, but we have other people that will do the ground campaign for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: I want to bring in Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. She's also a member of the Armed Services Committee. Thank you for being here, Senator.

I just want to start with this topic of Iran. You were among the Senate Democrats that just blocked the annual defense policy package. Tell me why you decided to vote no.

SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: Yes, I mean, I think, look, the number one thing is we cannot get even basic information on the cost of this war, and it started back up again in July. So, I mean, quite literally, we had the top guy, the guy who wants to be the Comptroller of the Defense Department, here for a committee hearing yesterday for his nomination hearing, and he would not tell us basic information on the cost of the war. So, you're asking for a huge budget, but you're not telling us how much the current operations cost.

And then they've got a ton of unspent money from the Big, Beautiful Bill that they haven't appropriated. They haven't used it. So, it's hard to say that we should have a four-fold increase in defense spending when they can't do some basic accounting.

So, for that reason, I voted against it.

JIMENEZ: You know, Senator Blumenthal essentially said he wants the administration to outline an endgame for Iran and get approval for the War Powers Act before he's willing to vote to advance this. Is that a path that you would support under those circumstances?

SLOTKIN: Sure. I mean, look, I'm open to negotiation. I think we all, you know, want to do right by the military, and it just is a basic thing of oversight.

You know, we had 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we talked about the price of those wars every single week up on the Hill, and we can't get basic information here. So, yes, I think that is a path. There are probably other paths.

But I think, you know, as you just reported on, there's so much going on now. Seven hours per day of, you know, combat operations from the United States. We're back in this thing.

So, I think a bit of transparency for our soldiers and for the price tag is not too much to ask.

JIMENEZ: You know, you also sit on the Homeland Security Committee, and I'm sure you followed the recent ICE shootings and killings that have played out in Maine and Houston over the past week or so. What is your reaction to President Trump overturning the suspension of ICE traffic stops?

SLOTKIN: I mean, I think here you see just a fundamental rejection by the President of even basic reforms for roving bands of law enforcement out in our cities. And I think the thing is, you can't convince the American public that everything's great when they've seen with their own eyes, you know, people murdered in cold blood by law enforcement who isn't trained and isn't prepared to be in these situations. And now, again, we have innocent people killed because they were driving away out of fear.

So, I think the President just can't help himself, and he doesn't understand that the American people aren't stupid. They see with their own eyes what's going on.

JIMENEZ: And, you know, just to tie a little bit to your state, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has said he wants ICE abolished. Do you see that as a winning message in Michigan?

SLOTKIN: Well, look, I think it's clear to everyone in the country that ICE needs to be just drastically reformed. And I didn't vote for money for ICE over and over and over again this past six months when it was presented to me because they're not up to the moment that we need them -- where we need them. I think a country will always need immigration, you know, monitoring.

We'll always need, we get to protect our borders. If you're here illegally, then you shouldn't be. And so the idea that we're not going to have some sort of enforcement, I think, is just not right.

But ICE, as we understand it, their rules of engagement, their lack of training, and then, frankly, just the obscene amount of resources they have, to me, just not past muster. And it is just not what we need as a country right now.

JIMENEZ: And just on that race, look, we're going to see Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Bernie Sanders, they're going to spend the weekend campaigning across Michigan with El-Sayed. Your Senate colleague, Gary Peters, just got off the sidelines to endorse Haley Stevens. Are you still comfortable not endorsing in that race?

SLOTKIN: Yes, it's kind of one of our traditions as a sitting senator, particularly since I'm the person who's going to be serving with whoever wins, right, is to stay out and then try and be a unifying force the day after the primary. Someone's going to win, and we need everyone who's going to be serving with whoever wins, right, is to stay out and then try and be a unifying force the day after the primary. Someone's going to win, and we need everyone to come back together.

It's been a tough race, right? A lot of pot shots taken both ways. We're going to need to come together afterwards for the good of the cause, and I want to play a helpful role there.

So Senator Peters, he's retiring. Senator Stabenow endorsed. She was retired.

I'm going to be the sitting senator next year. So it's important to me to stay out and to kind of pick everybody back up in a unifying way afterwards.

JIMENEZ: You know, just before you go, I'm sure you've seen Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has been testifying on Capitol Hill today as part of his confirmation process. We should mention, while leading DOJ, he oversaw an attempted prosecution against you and other members of Congress for urging service members to disobey legal orders. That said, this morning, Blanche was asked about that nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund that many saw as a slush fund for Trump allies. Blanche says it isn't moving forward and is a quote, moot issue. Do you believe him? SLOTKIN: Well, look, I mean, maybe it's a moot issue because they lost in the courts and they knew that they were going to continue losing in the courts. But what is not in dispute is that this man has been a central figure in weaponizing the Department of Justice against the president's perceived -- excuse me. And I think the idea that he can get through a confirmation hearing and say the right things and all that stuff, fine.

My Republican colleagues, I'm sure, will support him. But that doesn't change the facts that literally they tried to criminally indict me for a 90-second video, and this man was a key actor in that. So I just don't think that that should be rewarded with a big job.

I don't think that that deserves, you know, the sort of the standard we expect from a cabinet-level official. So whatever he says now, frankly, actions speak louder than words.

JIMENEZ: Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, thanks for being here. Really appreciate the time.

SLOTKIN: You bet. Thank you.

JIMENEZ: All right, just ahead for us, the final World Cup semi-final just minutes away, folks. We are live outside the stadium in Atlanta with a look at the buildup, the rivalry, the fan frenzy, all before kickoff. Lots of folks out there.

[14:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JIMENEZ: Let's get you to some of the other headlines we are watching this hour, including smoke from Canadian wildfires set to spread over the Midwest and Northeast, bringing dangerous air quality to more than 100 million people. Canada has seen more than 3,000 fires this summer, look at that, including a dozen in Ontario.

And that smoke, some of what you're seeing here, is now drifting south. Parts of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are under air quality alerts over the next few days. The National Weather Service is advising people to keep windows closed at night and limit outdoor activities.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Also a blood test may predict the risk of Alzheimer's in healthy adults long before signs of cognitive decline. This test measures the levels of a biomarker that is linked to the brain plaque that causes Alzheimer's. A new study found that adults with high levels of the biomarker were almost 40 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's over five years.

Researchers say the test is still being evaluated. Their study will be presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London.

JIMENEZ: And former President Joe Biden announced the release date for his new book about his time in the White House, "Promise Me America," will come out on November 17th. Biden says he wrote about, quote, why I chose to run for re-election and why I chose to step aside. He also gave an update about his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, saying the treatment is going well.

KEILAR: Still to come, another one of President Trump's picks for his administration facing some tough questions on Capitol Hill, the contentious moments for the prospective CDC director.

[14:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JIMENEZ: The next chapter of an incredible World Cup rivalry coming very soon. England and Argentina are about to kick off their semifinal match in Atlanta. Look at those crowds.

The winner earns a spot to take on Spain in the final on Sunday. CNN's Andy Scholes is live at the FIFA fan zone in Atlanta. Andy, what's the scene like there now?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. Well, Omar, so we're actually at the Irish exit pub. And this place was just crawling with fans just moments ago.

But of course, they all just made their way right across the street to go to the stadium because they could not be more excited about this match. You know, I was at the Argentina-Egypt game a week ago. That was the last time Argentina was here in Atlanta.

It was like 95 percent Argentina fans, but all right. Fans excited everywhere. But I tell you what, England fans, they are here in big numbers because, Omar, they think it's finally coming home for the first time since 1966.

And in today's "What A Shot," we're going to one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history. It was the hand of God by Diego Maradona back in 1986, when he scored a goal with his hand. That was against England.

Moments later, then he had the goal of the century, what it's called. And that was when Argentina beat England, sent them out of the World Cup on their way to that championship in 1986. Now this is such a big rivalry, despite these two countries being separated by an ocean.

They met again in 1998. David Beckham sent off by a red card in that one. England fans never forget these moments, Omar.

And I will tell you what, no matter when these two teams get together, you know something's going to happen. So we will see. Argentina and Messi trying to become the first team since the 60s to win back-to- back World Cups.

We'll see if it can happen. But these England fans, they think it's finally coming home. We're hoping for a good match here today in downtown Atlanta. [14:55:00]

JIMENEZ: As that shirtless man told you, he thinks it's coming home. Can we show those crowds one more time for a second there in that fan zone? Because I mean, look, this isn't Atlanta.

These are people who are not in the stadium. They are packed in to watch this semifinal. Going to be some incredible scenes today.

Andy Scholes, appreciate you being out there -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Frustration and confrontation at the hearing today for the president's nominee to lead the CDC. Dr. Erica Schwartz was seeking confirmation before the Senate Health Committee. Schwartz served as deputy surgeon general during President Trump's first term leading vaccine programs.

Now she's the third nominee to be CDC director since Trump took office in his second term. She's been hailed as a public health veteran as the CDC is under a lot of turmoil. But today, Schwartz repeatedly did not directly answer questions about how she would respond if she was ordered to take action that would harm public health.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MAGGIE HASSAN (D-NH), SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE: So just to be clear, if the president of the United States instructs you to take an action that would break the law, will you follow the law or follow the president's instruction, Dr. Schwartz?

DR. ERICA SCHWARTZ, NOMINEE FOR CDC DIRECTOR: The president would never ask me to not follow the law, but I will always follow the law.

HASSAN: So I want to give you a chance to answer again. If the secretary ordered you to stop promoting the flu vaccine during a deadly flu season for children, would you carry out that order? Yes or no?

SCHWARTZ: So, Senator, you know, I don't speak in hypotheticals, but --

HASSAN: This isn't a hypothetical.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Joining us now is former CDC official Dr. Fiona Havers, who resigned after concerns about HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. I know that you're watching this carefully. She said that she does not think the secretary or the president would ask her to do something that's unscientific or that would harm people. What was your personal experience?

DR. FIONA HAVERS, CDC OFFICIAL WHO RESIGNED OVER CONCERNS ABOUT JFK JR.: Well, clearly, there has been unprecedented political interference by HHS into CDC's activities over the last year and a half. We've seen Secretary Kennedy fire the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is a body that makes vaccine recommendations for the United States. And then last summer, he fired Dr. Monarez, who was the CDC director, the only one that we've had for the last year and a half, when she refused to rubber stamp in advance decisions from this committee.

So I do think that there is a major concern that there has been ongoing political interference by this administration at CDC. And CDC is a very important agency for protecting Americans' health, and it really does need to be able to function as an independent scientific agency, but without political interference.

KEILAR: And that has long been the expectation of CDC. Senator Sanders asked Schwartz if she agrees that the scientific evidence shows vaccines do not cause autism. She answered, we do not know what causes autism.

Of course, the vaccines and autism is a focus that is quite pronounced of Secretary Kennedy. What did you think about her response?

HAVERS: I was a little bit disappointed that she didn't -- I was disappointed that she didn't come out with more -- with more clear answers that vaccines do not cause autism. I do think, I mean, Dr. Schwartz is a qualified public health professional. She has a lot of experience.

And I think that there is an opportunity for CDC under her leadership, if she's confirmed, to get back to being an independent scientific agency, if she is able to stand up for science and for evidence. I wish she had been slightly stronger. I wish she had spoken out more strongly to say that there clearly is no connection between vaccines and autism.

KEILAR: She faced a lot of questions. As you mentioned, your opinion is positive of her and her professional experience. And perhaps as you watch this hearing, you didn't necessarily see that match with her answers, but there were a lot of questions, including about criticism from anti-vaxxers because of her past work on vaccine mandates, for instance, in the U.S. military. Schwartz says the desire here is to be a CDC director, not just for people who believe in vaccines. Here's more of what she told Senator Alsobrooks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHWARTZ: I want to be a nation-centered CDC director. I want to make sure I understand why parents have vaccine hesitancy. As Sean mentioned, I don't want to ignore them.

I don't want to dismiss them. I want to have an open conversation with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: What does she need to do to rebuild trust of all Americans, of U.S. public health officials?

HAVERS: Well, I think the first thing that needs to happen is that CDC needs to be able to return to its roots as an agency that's led by science and evidence. And I think that this administration has done a lot of damage to CDC's credibility by doing things like putting up on CDC websites that vaccines are linking vaccines to autism. And that's the kind of political interference that no CDC, career CDC scientists would allow to have happen ...

END