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Today Trump Meets Separately with Zelenskyy and Netanyahu as Wars Intensify; Magnitude 7.1 Quake Rocks Japan Toppling Bridges and Buildings; Savannah Guthrie Issues New Plea for Her Missing Mother; Data Shows Some Veterans Wait Months to See Therapist for First Time. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired July 28, 2026 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Two major intensifying wars, welcoming Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to the White House first next hour, then hosting Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, their first face-to-face since the Iran war began, that put a new strain on their relationship.

Quote, we've done our part. Savannah Guthrie with a new message about her mother's disappearance, details on what led to this fresh plea for the person who did this to come clean.

And a pilot calls in a mayday minutes before being forced to make an emergency landing on a beach that was filled with people.

I'm Sara Sidner with Kate Bolduan and John Berman. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we are standing by at the White House to see President Trump welcome Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and then he sits down with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this morning. Crucial meetings with two wars at inflection points. Ukraine has been increasing pressure on Ukraine, launching nearly 400 drones overnight toward Moscow. That's according to the mayor there.

And for Netanyahu, this will be his first face-to-face meeting with President Trump since the war with Iran began. Their relationship strained a bit by the conflict. Sources tell CNN Netanyahu has been pushing for this meeting for weeks.

Later today, both Netanyahu and Zelenskyy are expected to attend the funeral in Washington for Senator Lindsey Graham. Let's get right to CNN's Betsy Klein live at the White House. We're waiting to see Zelenskyy there.

We're waiting for these meetings to kick off. We're waiting really to see the tenor from the president as he meets with these leaders.

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, John, a very consequential morning here at the White House as President Trump is preparing to meet separately with a pair of key leaders who are here in town for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham. First up is President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. And Senator Graham had been a key ally to Zelenskyy.

He had spent his final days in Ukraine and had been advocating with Trump for an end to this war and for the U.S. facilitating some of that. But it comes as the president has expressed some optimism about a peace deal. But we have seen, as you said, a barrage of drone strikes in recent days, this conflict really increasingly violent.

Then Trump hosting Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That is expected around 11 o'clock this morning. And it comes at this moment of tension and strain for the U.S.-Israeli alliance. Now, the president has been increasingly frustrated by his war with Iran, which is about to hit its sixth month now. And our reporting indicates that Netanyahu is going to present President Trump with some fresh intelligence on Iran's effort to rebuild its nuclear program and its military. Netanyahu here pushing for an escalation in this conflict after we have seen a relatively quiet period after that ceasefire fell apart, those 13 consecutive nights of strikes.

Now the negotiators are giving diplomacy some space here. President Trump weighing in on the state of play yesterday. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Right now, they're talking to us about making a deal. But if we didn't do it tough, there would be no talk. You got to beat them, and we're beating the hell out of them.

But we'll see how it turns out. Right now, they have very friendly negotiations going on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KLEIN: Now Trump has threatened massive attacks on Iran in recent days. He has threatened to target critical infrastructure, things like roads, bridges, that key oil hub of Kharg Island. Doing so, some warn, could constitute war crimes. The president has yet to follow through on that.

It also comes as he was presented options at the White House on Friday in a key meeting to escalate. And one of the concerns General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, raised was concerns about depletion of U.S. munitions stockpiles. President Trump asked about that yesterday. He said that the U.S. could use more sophisticated munitions, but the military has what it needs -- John.

BERMAN: Again, we are standing by to see these meetings. Oftentimes, the president makes news, whether intentionally or inadvertently, as he speaks near those leaders. So we're standing by for that.

Betsy Klein, thank you very much -- Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, let's check in on this breaking news that's really unfolding as we speak. We're following the breaking news out of Japan of a major 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit the southern part of the country just hours ago. We are starting to get some footage in, some reports in of the damage, collapsed bridges, multiple buildings sustaining major damage, thousands of homes across the region are now without power, large cracks have formed in some major roads, authorities are warning that of the potential of more tremors to come.

Rail services in the area have been halted, flights have been grounded.

[08:05:00]

And the early reports, well, at least 50 injuries reported so far, a number sure to rise as this is still very much unfolding. CNN's Hanako Montgomery is gathering the latest reports for us. Hanako, what are hearing?

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kate, so, so far, we know that a mall in the Kumamoto Prefecture, which is in the southern region of the country, has partially collapsed following an explosion after the earthquake. Now, we have confirmed that they believe several employees are unaccounted for in this building. They are still trying to locate these individuals.

Now, across the region, as you said, a very, very powerful magnitude, 7.1 earthquake struck Kyushu. And we're still kind of ascertaining the extent of damage. We have heard that dozens of people are injured.

The prime ministers office is currently checking to see whether we have any updates about death tolls, about any severe injuries. Now, also, we have reports of collapsed homes across the Kyushu region. We're also hearing that rail lines have been suspended following this earthquake, and also the very powerful aftershocks that have struck the country as well.

Now, also, we know that tens of thousands of homes have lost power due to this earthquake. This is something that we do often see following again, massive tremors that hit Japan.

Now, I do want to note here, Kate, that Japan is actually one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world. Something like an earthquake hits every five minutes, which is extremely common for the country.

Now, however, for Kumamoto Prefecture, which is again one of the prefectures very severely affected by this earthquake, these quakes revived painful memories of the 2016 deadly disaster. It killed about 275 people, injured thousands more.

We are also hearing reports that the Kumamoto Castle, which is a huge tourist hotspot in that prefecture, has sustained damage once more. Again, even though 10 years ago it sustained damage and they're still currently trying to renovate that castle. So again, we're getting more information as we speak, confirming the number of injured and also potentially any individuals who lost their lives due to this natural disaster -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes. And we're seeing -- we're showing video right now, Hanako, of think is a mall that's after the earthquake. Somehow some sort of explosion. I mean, the video just looks terrifying. Are you hearing anything about that?

MONTGOMERY: Yes, Kate. So we know, according to authorities, that about 200 people were evacuated from this mall in, again, Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan's southern region after the earthquake. So we do know that a couple hundred people were evacuated.

However, we are hearing reports that there are still people trapped inside that mall. Several are unaccounted for, according to local reports and also authorities. So they're currently trying to contact those individuals, see if they're safe, see if they need rescuing.

And as you mentioned, Kate, that video is truly horrifying to see such a huge building, especially in Japan, which is, again, very used to earthquakes, very used to these types of natural disasters, sustained such massive, massive damage. So again, authorities are currently trying to confirm just how many people are trapped inside and how they can actually get to these individuals, given that, again, it is nighttime now in Japan -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes, absolutely. Hanako, thank you so much for keeping a close watch on this. As Hanako knows and is saying, there's much more to come as the reports are trickling in.

We'll be bringing it to you. Hanako, thank you -- Sara.

SIDNER: Those images are just terrifying. Thank you, Kate.

Ahead this morning, a desperate new plea from Savannah Guthrie to her mother's kidnapper.

Also, new details in the case of the mother on trial for killing her three young children. Lindsay Clancy's ex-husband taking the stand to testify about her mental state before the killings. His emotional testimony is coming up.

Plus, new CNN reporting this morning showing some veterans are waiting months to get a mental health appointment. Just the appointment. We'll talk about it next.

[08:10:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right, Today show anchor, Savannah Guthrie, is issuing a new plea to her missing mother's kidnapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NBC "TODAY" ANCHOR: We have done our part, and we will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts. The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place, and I know that you have tried to do things the right way.

So, I'm asking you, begging you to do the right thing now, make the right choice, help us find her, tell us where to look for her. I truly believe it is never too late to do the right thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: It has been nearly six months since the 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in Arizona. The family received multiple purported ransom notes, and one, the abductor claimed they did not mean to kill Guthrie, but that she died shortly after being kidnapped. With us now, CNN senior law enforcement analyst, former FBI deputy director, Andrew McCabe. And Andy, first of all, it's wrenching, and our hearts go out to Savannah, having to make another video at this point.

[08:15:00]

Very specific language, again, about doing the right thing. Why do you think a message like this is going out now?

ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, first of all, John, it's six months since this torturous experience started for the family. So, it's obviously a good idea to constantly try to keep the story in the front of the public's mind. As far as the theme of do the right thing, you know, that speaks to one of the two audiences that they're targeting here, and that one is anyone who might have actually been associated with this kidnapping.

If you'll recall the second letter that they received, the one that indicated that Ms. Guthrie had passed, it had, I'll say, a subtle note of regret in it. There was no apology or anything like that, but it would seem logical that they would not have -- that person would not have sent that note unless they were experiencing some level of regret. So, this message of do the right thing, we are suffering, you can help us, we just want her back, is meant to appeal to that very long shot, but possibility that that person might be motivated to reveal the whereabouts of Ms. Guthrie's remains.

The other audiences, of course, the general public, and particularly anyone who might have exposure to, or connection to, or is adjacent to anyone who was involved in the kidnapping. Eventually, that's one of the ways that this horrible crime might be solved. When somebody who knows something, or is suspicious of something they've seen or heard, picks up the phone or sends an e-mail and alerts law enforcement to what it is they know.

BERMAN: One other phrase, I think, that caught people's attention, when Savannah said, we have done our part. What did you hear in that?

MCCABE: Yes, again, I think that's that appeal to this person who might be experiencing some regret. It's basically saying, we've done everything that we can do. We are here supporting our mother.

We've received your messages. We have taken them seriously. We've done everything we can.

We simply want to do the last thing that a family, any family, would wish to do. And again, I think that's an effort to try to appear non- threatening. It's an effort to make a connection, a human connection with that person or those people, and one that might build a bridge or be appealing in some way.

BERMAN: Does appealing to the humanity of an alleged or apparent kidnapper, how often does that work?

MCCABE: John, it's a long shot, right? Anyone who chooses to kidnap or be involved with the kidnapping of an 84-year-old woman and ultimately results in her death, this is not someone who is clearly motivated by empathy and compassion for others. But it's a long shot, but it's one of the few shots they have left.

I do think that the other possibility, that someone involved in the kidnapping or has knowledge of it, the chances are that those people, someone around them, is going to end up in trouble at some point in the future. Nobody kidnaps an 84-year-old woman as their first and only crime. And when that happens, when someone who has knowledge gets in trouble, it's possible that they try to use that knowledge to play that card to gain themselves some advantage in whatever trouble they found themselves in.

And that could unearth the lead that leads us to Ms. Guthrie.

BERMAN: And we want this family to get the peace and closure they deserve here. Andrew McCabe, thank you very much -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: The man convicted of killing four college students in Idaho now wants to take back his guilty plea. He wants a jury trial. What could now happen here and what the victim's families are now saying?

Plus, there is new CNN reporting on how long veterans are being forced to wait when seeking mental health care.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: We've got some new CNN reporting for you this morning on veterans' access to mental health services. Data analyzed by CNN shows that some veterans are waiting months to see a therapist for the very first time, a significant amount of time, especially as many suffer from anxiety, depression, and other conditions once they end their military service. CNN's Brian Todd is joining us now with the reporting that you did.

I mean, this is disturbing on a lot of different levels with all the things that veterans have to deal with. And now it's hard for them to get an appointment or it takes a really long time. Brian, what have you learned about all this and the impact?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sara, this is new reporting from myself and our colleagues Tami Luhby and Alex Leeds Matthews. We looked at what veterans really do go through when they try to get seen for mental health appointments since dealing with mental health, obviously, for so many veterans is so critical. The issue here is it is confusing for veterans to figure out whether the VA is consistently providing timely appointments when a veteran wants to schedule a mental health appointment at the VA for the first time. The VA and its secretary, Doug Collins, say it only takes 15 days on average for a veteran to see a provider for a first time mental health appointment. That falls under the VA's own target of 20 days to get an initial appointment. But when a veteran actually goes to look for an appointment by going to a VA website called Access to Care, well, they get a different picture.

We crunched the numbers on the Access to Care website for most of the month of July. We found that based on what Access to Care says, veterans across the country frequently have to wait weeks or even months for initial mental health appointments. Our analysis showed that wait times at 541 VA facilities exceeded the VA's target of 20 days for first time mental health appointments.

[08:25:00]

Those 541 facilities make up two-thirds of those that reported numbers. At a handful of VA facilities, waits stretched nearly five or more months. Another 22 facilities reported wait times of at least three months. That's way more than the 15 days the VA is touting.

The VA's contention? Well, it says the analyzing of those numbers for wait times on its own website, Access to Care, is inaccurate for several reasons, including that a few patients with long wait times skew the numbers, and that the Access to Care website does not reflect certain situations like when mental health appointments are sometimes moved earlier, meaning they ultimately are not waiting as long as the website says. The VA also stresses that new patients only make up roughly 10 percent of all mental health appointments, and that wait times for established patients are generally much shorter. So the VA contends its own website listing wait times for veterans is not a good measure of reality.

We spoke to some veterans who were frustrated with the confusion over all of this. One veteran who only wanted to give his first name, Dennis, says his anxiety grew when it took him a few months to schedule an appointment with a psychologist at his local VA facility. He said, quote, "By the appointment being delayed, I couldn't be helped sooner. My mental state probably declined a little bit more."

Now, there is an important caveat to all this. Under the VA's policy, a veteran having an emergency mental health crisis can be seen the same day that they report it, at an agency facility, an emergency room, or with a private provider.

So any vet who is in a real crisis immediately should still seek help and not worry about those typical wait times -- Sara.

SIDNER: Brian, great reporting from you. All this comes at a time when more and more veterans are seeking mental health services, correct?

TODD: That's right. The numbers have really been soaring in recent years, Sara. According to a VA report from last fall, the number of veterans who received mental health care from the VA jumped 78 percent between 2009 and 2024. That number is expected to keep going up at least through 2033. The number of veterans who are seeking mental health care each year just keeps exponentially growing.

SIDNER: Brian Todd, great reporting from you and your team. Thank you so much. I do appreciate it.

BERMAN: All right, a pilot forced to make an emergency landing right on a public beach. What he now says went wrong.

And what happens when a man opens a FedEx box only to find a six-foot iguana inside? Oh my God.

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