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Ceremonies today for Senator Lindsey Graham; Trump Meets with Zelenskyy and Netanyahu at the White House; Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) is Interviewed about Trump's Meetings, His Midterm Messaging in Michigan and Michigan's Senate Race; Seats on Boeing 737 Max Jets Installed Incorrectly; Veterans Wait Months to See Therapist. Aired 9- 9:30a ET

Aired July 28, 2026 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Our shower and thunderstorm activity around the periphery of the edges.

So, the atmosphere is primed and ready to produce a lot of rain. There's so much moisture available to it, getting aided by some help from the Atlantic Ocean. And the National Weather Service is picking up on this. They have a level three of four of excessive rain that could lead to flash flooding for the greater tri-state area. So, this includes New York City.

The radar right now is rather active, but we do expect this to pick up in intensity through the course of the afternoon. Breaking this down, it's really this evening into the overnight period and early Wednesday morning when we start to see that rush of heavy rain water that could fall at two to three inch rainfall rates per hour. So, think about the urban landscape here, the I-95 corridor, some of our most populated parts of the country. This could spell problems, especially if you ride the subway to work in the mornings on Wednesday, or if you have a basement -- you live in a basement in New York City, you want to be prepared for the potential of localized urban flash flooding. We've seen this story play out before, and when we see this kind of an event, we have to keep our eyes and our ears aware for the day.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Not good. Coming our way.

Derek Van Dam, thank you very much.

A brand-new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Moments from now, President Trump will hold the first of two crucial meetings at the White House on two separate wars that are still raging. First, sitting down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyyy, then meeting face to face with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since the Iran War began. And we are standing by for the casket of Senator Lindsey Graham to

arrive at the Capitol as lawmakers pay tribute to his life and legacy. President Trump expected to speak at his funeral today.

Also, a dramatic rescue caught on camera. Lifeguards struggling to save a boy swept up in powerful waves.

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

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Moments from now the casket of Senator Lindsey Graham will arrive on Capitol Hill. You're looking at live pictures of the Rotunda right now as Washington and the world and world leaders are preparing to pay respects to the late senator from South Carolina. His remains will be carried into the Capitol Rotunda, as you're looking at where he will be there and when he -- while -- when there and when the ceremonies begin. Vice President J.D. Vance, the Senate majority leader, John Thune, they're set to make remarks as lawmakers will be gathering to bid farewell to their longtime colleague, a man Senator Thune and many on The Hill call irreplaceable.

This afternoon, President Trump will be speaking at Senator Graham's funeral service, which will be held at Washington National Cathedral. Guests in attendance will include many world leaders, like the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will be there as well.

CNN's Annie Grayer is on Capitol Hill, has much more about what is about to unfold.

Annie, what can everyone expect this morning?

ANNIE GRAYER, SENIOR REPORTER: Well, Kate, leaders from around the world, from both parties, are expected to honor the life and legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham today. And very shortly we are expecting his casket to arrive on Capitol Hill behind me, where he will then -- where there will then be a short ceremony to honor him. We are expected Vice President J.D. Vance, the Republican leader of the Senate, John Thune, and the Republican congresswoman from Graham's state -- home state of South Carolina, Sheri Biggs, to all give remarks.

Then from there, after he's being honored at the Capitol, he will head to the National Cathedral, where President Donald Trump is expected to make remarks, as well as Fox News host Sean Hannity and high-profile attendees and world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are expected to attend.

And Graham was a leader on the world stage. In fact, just days before his death, Graham was meeting with Zelenskyy in Ukraine to talk about the U.S. support for Ukraine. Graham was a key ally for Ukraine and part of President Trump's inner circle trying to make the case that the U.S. should remain an ally, should provide resources to Ukraine in its war against Russia. And many Republicans saw Graham as an important counterbalance to a lot of the more isolationist views in the Republican Party.

And Graham was just such a central part of the president's inner circle. He was involved in every major piece of legislation happening on Capitol Hill as the chair of the powerful Budget Committee. And he was key in getting so many Republican priorities over the finish line.

And Republicans and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are not only shocked by Graham's passing, but are really grappling with what his passing means for how to carry his legislative priorities forward.

[09:05:02]

Of course, his sister, Darline Graham, has filled his Senate seat, but she has huge shoes to fill that she's very well aware of. And lawmakers are trying part -- in part to honor the late Senator Graham to try and push forward his bill to provide strict sanctions on Russia as one of -- one of the many ways they want to honor him going forward.

BOLDUAN: Yes. And we're seeing -- these are pictures from the Capitol Rotunda. You can see some -- it will all be beginning a short time from now.

Annie Grayer, right outside, out front. It's good to see you, Annie. Thank you very much.

Sara.

SIDNER: All right, thank you, Kate.

Breaking this morning, President Trump is speaking out ahead of two high stakes meetings today. We are standing by for him to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. And later he'll meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

At the heart of both of these meetings is war. Zelenskyy is pushing for peace in the year's long fight against Russia. And for Netanyahu, this is the first time he'll come face to face with President Trump since the war with Iran began. A conflict that has now strained their relationship.

CNN's Betsy Klein, live for us at the White House this morning.

What are you hearing from the president this morning?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sara, President Trump is set to sit down face to face with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a little while later this morning. And it's going to be the first time since this conflict began five months ago today.

But his comments ahead of that really underscored the tensions in this U.S.-Israeli alliance. But up first, President Trump set to welcome Zelenskyy of Ukraine here to the Oval Office for a meeting. And Senator Graham was very influential with President Trump on the issue of Russia's war in Ukraine, advocating for an end to it. President Trump recently has expressed some optimism about prospects for a peace deal, even as we are seeing an increasingly violent period with strikes between the two countries just overnight.

Then, at 11:00 this morning, the president sitting down with Netanyahu. And it comes as President Trump has been very frustrated by this war with Iran. And our reporting indicates that Netanyahu is expected to present Trump with fresh intelligence about Iran's efforts to rebuild both nuclear and military programs.

And it comes, as we have seen this halt for now in fighting after a ceasefire completely broke down and we saw those 13 consecutive nights of U.S. strikes on Iran. Military operations for now on hold as diplomatic talks play out.

But the president, speaking to "Fox and Friends" just a few moments ago, was asked about his relationship with Netanyahu and what Netanyahu plans to tell him today, really, again, underscoring that strain there.

Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I don't need Bibi to tell me that. Bibi's telling me that because he wants me to stay involved. I mean, I don't necessarily -- we have the finest, because the Space Force, we have the greatest cameras in the world focused on -- we know exactly what's going on.

But, no, I heard Bibi announced that. I said, why don't you just tell it to me? Why do you have to announce it to the world? I know exactly what's going on at Pickaxe. It's not a big problem. We took out their nuclear sites, and we'll have to take out Pickaxe if we don't make a deal. If we don't make a deal, we'll take it out very easily.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KLEIN: Even as President Trump downplayed that pressure from Netanyahu, he again threatened to attack critical infrastructure in Iran. Things like bridges and power plants that could constitute war crimes. The president has little appetite for escalation. He told Fox News, as of now they are having, quote, "some very good talks."

Sara.

SIDNER: It's just really fascinating to see the difference here where it used to be him and Zelenskyy at each other's throats. And now there you can hear the tension there, even in that interview, between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

Thank you so much, Betsy Klein, for your reporting there from the White House.

John.

BERMAN: All right, with us now is Congressman Greg Landsman, a Democrat from Ohio.

Congressman, good morning. Good to see you.

We hear the president claiming he's not susceptible to pressure from the Israeli prime minister. You know, how do you think he might respond if Prime Minister Netanyahu leans on him to reignite the military action against Iran?

REP. GREG LANDSMAN (D-OH): Well, Trump has already reignited the military action, so I don't think he needs any pressure from anyone. Unfortunately, he has done this by himself, alone. And that has caused huge, huge issues. Like, we don't know what the strategy is. And he's never really articulated a strategy. And as you know, he's got no support from Congress, no vote to continue this war. And, you know, at the end of the day, you know, it's on him to figure out how to get out of this. Although I, you know, I think if we end the blockade, it puts pressure on Iran, global pressure, to end the blockade, their blockade, which could bring this to some sort of resolution.

But Trump does not need any -- anyone's help to continue this process.

[09:10:03]

He -- he's in it alone. And unfortunately, that's causing huge issues.

BERMAN: Congressman, the president was in Michigan yesterday. And I know Michigan is not Ohio. I don't want to reignite a regional battle here. But they do have some similarities in terms of the manufacturing base. And I want to play for you a claim he made about the economy.

Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're having the single greatest year we've ever had as a country. We're not going to let these people destroy it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Is that how you see it, the single greatest year?

LANDSMAN: No. I mean the only -- the only group of people that see it that way are the super wealthy. I mean, you know, big corporations have seen record profits. The top one percent, the richest people in the world -- in the country, they've seen things go pretty well. And a large part of that is because of the tax cuts that, you know, Trump and congressional Republicans spent trillions of dollars in tax cuts for the super wealthy. And they've been able to accumulate and keep all this wealth at the expense of the rest of us.

And most Americans, most everybody else, they're working harder than ever. And they are struggling to pay their bills. I mean costs are going up and their wages are stagnant. And so, they're stuck. They're frustrated. They're angry. And I think they're going to take it out on Trump and congressional Republicans this November.

BERMAN: Let me just play one more bit of sound there from that event. He's talking about what he has done for voters.

Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I've done more for you than your parents, OK? Your parents are good. I'm not going to knock your parents. But I have been better to you than your parents, that I can tell you. And they would agree with me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So, he was in Michigan. Michigan's a purple-ish state. Ohio is redder than that. I mean, how much power and sway do you think he has heading into the midterms? Enough that he's better than your parents?

LANDSMAN: No, the -- my parents are wonderful people. And just like everybody else who heard that clip, we're all thinking, gosh, our parents are really decent and caring and they've invested in us. That is not Donald Trump. Donald Trump has proven that when he gets power, he uses it to enrich himself and the people around him, the folks who donate to his campaign and give him money. But I, you know, most everybody here -- and some of these folks like Trump, they know that the economy is not good. It's bad. And a large part of that is because of Trump's tariffs and his, you know, cutting of health care and any number of things that have really hurt folks here in Ohio.

So, my sense is that most people, you know, know that he has some influence on some voters but, you know, more and more people are tuning him out and wanting something new.

BERMAN: All right, one more question sparked by Michigan. My apologies here, but it has to do -- more to do with the national situation right now. This had to do with the Michigan Senate debate last night with Abdul El-Sayed, who was running as a progressive. He is not a socialist, but he was asked about the role that socialism and democratic socialism plays in the country right now.

Listen to his response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDUL EL-SAYED (D), MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE: When it comes to the question of socialism, I'm not a socialist. I'm just a capitalist who understands how capitalism works. The biggest threat to capitalism was never the idea of government regulation, it was always monopoly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Right, so nationally we have seen Democratic socialists and he's not one doing well in some of the Democratic primaries there. And you have heard in these primaries increasing concerns with capitalism as a principle. How fruitful do you think that is politically?

LANDSMAN: I don't think it's terribly, you know, productive. I mean most Americans are still locked in on core American values of fairness and equality, opportunity for all, the rule of law. And, you know, for those folks who are running -- that are really embracing those shared American values, I think they're going to do really well.

If you are, you know, not, you know, focused on those values, I think you're going to struggle because it's just not a shared -- a set of shared values with most voters.

BERMAN: Congressman Greg Landsman, from Ohio, I promise next time I speak to someone from Michigan they will be all Ohio questions. Appreciate your time this morning.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, we continue to follow the breaking news that has been happening in just the last few hours. Japan rocked by a major earthquake that's collapsed buildings, bridges, it's wrecked some roads. There are reports of people still trapped in buildings and still missing after an explosion happened at a partially collapsed mall.

[09:15:01]

We have much more on the new details that are coming in, in just a few minutes.

And a concerning report from the FAA after they say that seats on hundreds of -- possibly hundreds of Boeing 737 Max jets were incorrectly installed and now need fixing.

And a new CNN report on how long veterans are being forced to wait when they are seeking mental health care.

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[09:20:00]

BOLDUAN: A troubling new report is coming out from the FAA about Boeing 737 Max jets. The agency saying seats on hundreds of planes were installed incorrectly and need to be fixed. If they aren't, those seats could injure passengers in an emergency landing.

Let's get over to CNN's Pete Muntean for more on this.

I mean, what is coming from this? What are you hearing from the FAA on this directive? And how urgent is this?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, you know, this is just the latest issue involving Boeing 737 Max jets. Remember, there were major manufacturing quality control concerns after critical bolts were not installed on new Boeing 737 Max's -- actually one Boeing 737 Max at the Boeing factory, leading to that dramatic door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight back in January 2024, and a massive crackdown by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Now there's this new warning from the FAA, prompted by a whistleblower report that it received. The FAA says passenger seats may not be properly secured on as many as 453 Boeing 737 Max-8 and Max-9s in the United States.

Here is the issue. The FAA says as many as 69 seats on each airplane may not be fully locked into the tracks on the cabin floor, leading the agency to propose these mandatory inspections. It's not necessarily a problem when all things are normal, but the FAA says this can become an issue and dangerous during severe turbulence or an emergency landing when acceleration forces are much more high and violent. And the FAA puts this really bluntly, saying that a seat, the entire row, could come loose and hurt those sitting in it or hurt passengers nearby, even potentially blocking the aisle during an evacuation when seconds count.

Now, Boeing has not directly commented on this, and it did alert airlines of this potential problem back in December. But the FAA proposal would simply make these inspections mandatory.

Here are the airlines that fly these planes. United, American, Alaska, Southwest, Allegiant, they all operate 737 Maxs. The FAA is not grounding these airplanes outright. It's a pretty straightforward inspection. It doesn't require new parts. So, this should not result in significant downtime for airlines or major flight disruptions for you, especially during this peak of summer travel.

But it begs pointing out, it's a very different issue from the door plug problem. But once again, raises questions about these basic assembly problems on these planes.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes, but also, I mean, urgent. Look for the bolts. Like, that seems like -- if it's -- let's do it.

It's great to see you, Pete. Thank you very much. My goodness.

John.

BERMAN: We have new CNN reporting 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 first time. That's a significant amount of time since many suffer from anxiety, depression and other conditions once they end their military service.

CNN's Brian Todd is with us this morning.

Brian, you are so laser focused on veterans' issues. What are you learning here?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, this is new reporting from myself and our colleagues, Tami Luhby and Alex Leeds Matthews. We've looked at what veterans really have to go through when they try to get seen for mental health appointments since dealing with mental health, as John mentioned, is so crucial for so many veterans. The issue here is, it's confusing for veterans to figure out whether the V.A. is consistently providing timely appointments when a veteran wants to schedule a mental health appointment at the V.A. for the very first time. The V.A. 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 V.A.'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 V.A. website called Access to Care, they get a different picture. We crunch 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 V.A. facilities exceeded the V.A.'s target of 20 days for first time mental health appointments.

Those 541 facilities make up two-thirds of those that reported numbers. At a handful of V.A. 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 V.A. is touting.

The V.A.'s contention. It says, analyzing the 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 really skew the numbers, and that the Access to Care website doesn't reflect certain situations, like when mental health appointments are sometimes moved earlier, meaning they ultimately aren't waiting as long as the site says.

The V.A. 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.

[09:25:02]

So, the V.A. 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 V.A. facility. Dennis 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 of this. Under the V.A.'s policy, a veteran having an emergency mental health crisis can be seen the same day they report it at an agency facility, an emergency room, or with a private provider. So, any veteran out there who's in a real crisis should still seek help and not worry about those typical wait times.

John.

BERMAN: Well, that is good to know. But Dennis there, who you just quoted, is not alone. I mean more and more veterans are seeking mental health care, right?

TODD: Yes. That's right, John. According to a V.A. report last fall, the number of veterans who received mental health care from the V.A., that jumped 78 percent between 2009 and 2024. That number is expected to keep going up at least through 2033. Just millions of veterans out there, John, who need this and need to be less confused over how to get it.

BERMAN: And they need help. And I think there's wide agreement that they should get that help.

Brian Todd, thank you so much for your continued focus on this. Appreciate it.

Sara.

SIDNER: Thank you, John.

Up ahead, devastating wildfires ripping through Europe, as you've been seeing. There are mass evacuations. Why officials believe this could continue burning for months.

And a passing ship spots a man stuck at sea for nearly a month and pulls him to safety. More on how he survived that long.

Also, let's take some live pictures here. This is Capitol Hill, where they are awaiting the body of Senator Lindsey Graham, who will be honored at the Capitol Rotunda there in a memorial service.

We will be right back.

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[09:30:00]