Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Trump Dismisses Reports of Troubling Conditions on USS Lincoln; Critical Primary Races in Florida, Alaska, Wyoming; Trump-Backed Donalds Faces Crowded Field in Florida GOP Governor's Race; Day 2 of Testimony in Tupac Shakur Murder Trial; New 2D Barcodes Aim to Stop Recalled Food at Checkout. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired August 18, 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]

CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: ... school district that was supposed to go to trial earlier this summer. We are expecting to see additional cases brought by families and school districts, Native American tribes. And so Meta is going to face more of these cases. You know, we'll see what they decide. I think, you know, whether or not they lose this case could certainly play a role in how they decide to handle those future cases.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just one of the reasons we're watching it very closely, Clare. It's great to have you on it. Thank you so much.

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

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: The president calling reports of bad conditions for military families and sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln fake news, adding that the aircraft carrier's record-setting nine-month deployment is, in his words, not nearly long enough. This morning, military families are responding to the president's remarks.

Plus, the trial of a man accused of gunning down a Microsoft executive in the middle of a Florida street with the victim's child sitting in a car just feet away. Prosecutors saying it was an elaborate murder for hire plot.

And a house up in flames with people trapped inside, the harrowing moments. An officer made a heroic effort to try and save them.

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

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: New word and new reporting from military families now responding to what the president is now saying about the USS Abraham Lincoln amid the growing concerns of dwindling supplies aboard the aircraft carrier and mental health struggles among sailors there as well. The president flat out dismissing those concerns, despite the fact these families are speaking out on the record talking about it now. The aircraft carrier has been deployed for more than 250 days, redirected to the Middle East for the war with Iran.

Last hour, I spoke to the Military Times reporter who has done extensive work and reporting on this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NATALIE OLIVERIO, PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT, MILITARY TIMES: One military spouse told me last night that it is infuriating to hear the commander in chief speak about our service members this way. The ships are not intended to seamlessly run that long without extreme maintenance every single day, and the sailors that keep that ship going need the same maintenance every day too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: CNN's Betsy Klein is live at the White House for us once again this hour. Betsy, what how is the White House going to respond to this?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, it's a great question, Kate. And the USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for nearly nine months now, 5,000 sailors who could break a record for the longest U.S. carrier deployment. And part of the reason that we know what is happening aboard this ship is because of reporting from our colleagues here at CNN, the Military Times, Stars and Stripes, as well as other outlets.

They have spoken directly with those sailors and members of their families who have painted a picture of both service sacrifice as well as very challenging conditions that includes intermittent food shortages, low supplies of hygiene items, as well as problems with the water system. And we have reported that two of the sailors assigned to the Lincoln Strike Group have jumped overboard in recent months, both rescued alive.

The president was asked on Friday about the conditions aboard the USS Lincoln. He said that the deployment was quote not nearly long enough. Then over the weekend he got an update weighed in on that yesterday. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I was at a group meeting, and an Admiral came up to see me over the weekend. And it was at a big group, and he happened to be an Admiral retired. He said I've been on ships are out there much longer than that, Sir, and I know people on the lake, and they say it's beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of and other people went out and they found out to be true. It was fake news reporting from CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KLEIN: Now there is also a challenge with morale due in part to the uncertainty of this mission. They deployed before President Trump's war with Iran began. And I want to read to you in their own words. One of the sailors who spoke to our colleague Pamela Brown. This message says quote, "We were not supposed to come out here and fight a war. This is a big letdown with consistent extensions that affect our loved ones who have their lives on hold until we return." They go on to say, "The lack of information is us with nothing to tell our families."

Now, we've reported that the USS George Washington is on its way to provide some relief, but that ship has a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour, so it could be some time -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes, Betsy, thank you so much for your reporting. Let's see what the White House has to say about this now -- John.

BERMAN: As Kate well knows, it is election day in America.

[08:05:00]

Three states holding primaries, including President Trump's adopted home state of Florida. Yes, he voted by mail. The races are putting the president's influence to the test at a moment when his numbers really have never been worse.

The new Reuters Ipsos poll shows his approval rating at 33 percent, the lowest of his presidency. Let's get right to CNN's Steve Contorno live outside of polling place in Orlando this morning. A lot of races up and down the peninsula, Steve. Some colorful contests, to say the least.

STEVE CONTORNO, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Absolutely, John. And at the top of the ticket is the race for governor. On the Republican side, this is a really compelling race because you have Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has been one of the most consequential governors, ran for president. He is term limited, and so his replacement will be chosen in the coming months.

And Republicans will have their choice decided today. And Byron Donalds, the representative from Southwest Florida, is the frontrunner. He has Trump's endorsement. In fact, he has had Trump's endorsement going back to last February of 2025, but he doesn't have the support of Governor DeSantis.

DeSantis has made very clear he is not happy with Donald's being his potential successor, but he also hasn't picked another successor in this race. His Lieutenant Governor, Jay Collins, was appointed by DeSantis, but he wasn't endorsed by DeSantis, and neither have any of the other candidates running as well. So Trump's endorsement is expected a pretty big influence in this race.

Although when I've talked to some voters today just outside this polling place, they said that Trump's endorsement wasn't actually a factor for them. Listen to what one voter named Randy told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONTORNO: In the race for governor, how much did President Trump's endorsement factor for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dude, it didn't this time. I think Brian McDonald's is going to win. I think he's going to make a good governor, but I had to go with my gut.

CONTORNO: What is it about Byron Donalds that, you know, couldn't get him over the finish line for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wouldn't do an interview. Or not an interview. He wouldn't do a debate with -- and it just bugged me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CONTORNO: Now, the race to replace Byron Donalds is almost as interesting as this one. John, it's one of the most fascinating primaries I've ever covered. There are six candidates running in this Southwest Florida district who ran for Congress in other states. It includes former Representative Madison Cawthorn, who was a firebrand on the Hill before he lost favor with his own party. Chris Collins, a representative from New York, who was actually indicted as part of an insider trading scheme and was pardoned by Trump. He's running in this race as well.

There are two candidates from Illinois who previously ran for Congress in Illinois against each other, also running in this race. One of those, Catalina Lauf, she actually just picked up President Trump's endorsement in the final days of this race. And that's really going to test whether or not Republican voters are hanging on his every the endorsement and every word in one of the key battlegrounds in his backyard.

BERMAN: Great to have you down there watching all the action today. Steve Contorno, thank you very much -- Sara.

SIDNER: All right, we're standing by for court to resume in the trial of the man accused of orchestrating Tupac Shakur's murder. Who we expect to hear from today after a dramatic day of testimony yesterday?

And new details this morning on the death of Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere as her ex fiance speaks out.

Plus, the barcode you know and see on almost every single thing you buy these days could soon be on its way out. Coming up, we'll tell you what might replace it. Those stories and more ahead.

[08:10:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: In just a few hours, trial resumes for the man accused of orchestrating the fatal drive-by shooting of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas nearly 30 years ago. Prosecutors are trying to try the defendant, Duane Davis, trying to tie him to the killing. He has not pleaded guilty, though. The first day of the testimony gave jurors a glimpse into the chaos of this attack. A witness to the shooting recalled hearing the gunshots ring out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: While you're waving at that light, does anything happen?

INGRID STOKES, WITNESS: Well, me and Shalane were going to change seats. I was going to drive. I'm the more aggressive driver. And after what -- you know, she was nervous with them coming back in front of us so much. So I -- me and Shalane were literally head down, taking our seatbelts off when we heard the gunshots, when it's all hell broken.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And to be fair, you didn't see those gunshots.

STOKES: No, not at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Here with me now, CNN legal analyst and criminal defense attorney Joey Jackson. These are recollections from nearly 30 years ago. In watching the opening statements and the witness testimony that has begun, does it appear that prosecutors are really leaning in and relying mostly on Duane Davis's own statements and confessions, if you will?

JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, indeed, Sara. Good morning. That's exactly what they're relying upon now.

How do they tie it in? This is what they did, which I thought was very good. Number one, they talked about the retaliatory motive.

What motive? Why would Keefe D, Mr. Davis, want to do this? Because his nephew, right?

[08:15:00]

Orlando Anderson was beat up by Tupac and his crew and the timeline earlier, right? Not much earlier, but around that time. That gave him the impetus, the motivation to be angry and to do something about it.

Now, now you got to get to the beef. Where's the evidence? They're now relying, as you say, on his own statements, and they, prosecutors, are trying to say that he said, hey, look, I orchestrated it. I was the big baller. I was a shot caller. I got the gun. I got the Cadillac. I arranged it all.

But not so fast, says the actual defense. And in fact, what I thought was interesting in the opening statement, they put up an actual graphic and it said B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T literally.

SIDNER: Bullshit.

JACKSON: Yes, exactly. And you know, it was just it.

SIDNER: It was unusual to see a slide with just that on it. And what are they linking that to? How are they explaining the confession he made to police, the book that he wrote, the things that he said on a documentary, in a podcast?

JACKSON: Exactly in that way. What they're saying is, is that it's all BS. This is a guy who was just attempting that is Keefe D St., street cred, all about making his money, puffing saying, hey look, I was involved. I know this. I know that when he knew nothing. So the defense is trying to distance themselves. It's an interesting

dynamic. Normally when you're representing someone, you want them to be credible.

You want the jury to buy into whatever they're selling here, the defense is distancing themselves away from their clients saying, this was all part of his persona. He was going on doing these media interviews, etc. And why did he sit for that 2008 interview with law enforcement?

Because he was facing a racketeering drug charge and he would get immunity because of it. So these are the competing narratives. And interestingly, Sara, just to back up to the clip you showed with Miss Stokes, who said all hell broke loose. She was in the car behind Tupac before this happened when the shots rang out. And what she did not do. She explained the chaos, yes, but she didn't identify Keefe D.

And what the defense is saying, and they said in the opening statements and we're waiting to see it, will there be anyone who puts him in the car, much less puts him in Vegas? So prosecutors relying upon Keefe D's own words, the defense relying upon the facts and what I thought they did, which was very clever. They said this is about fact and fiction. And by the way, ladies and gentlemen, trials are about fact.

What facts do they have? No gun, no getaway car, no nothing, so to speak.

SIDNER: I do want to ask you because at one had to tell jurors that Duane Davis is not a suspect in an unsolved murder of another iconic rapper, Biggie Smalls, or The Notorious B.I.G. as people know him. Why did that come up?

JACKSON: Well, because in the actual interview, police were investigating the death of Biggie Smalls, which occurred about six months later. So while they were investigating that, they were trying to tie in pieces and looking at this whole gang issue. Was it the Bloods, the Crips? Was it a rivalry? Who could have done this?

And so they were speaking to him. And in fact, the person, the detective, who was asking about that noted on cross that he had Keefe D nothing at all to do with Biggie's murder. And of course, from the defense perspective, they're arguing he had nothing at all to do with Tupac's murder. It'll be up to the jury to make that determination, but more witnesses to come.

And I suspect they'll get into the informants and the gang activity and what the gang life was all about and what role, if any, Davis played in that.

SIDNER: I mean, this trial just gives you a sense of the sort of the cultural importance of the players in all of this. It is a fascinating one. Joey Jackson, it is a pleasure to have you on it.

You are a part of this full coverage of the trial with Laura Coates. It starts today at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. You can scan the QR code on the screen or watch on cnn.com/tupactrial or the app -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: A tire on a road leads to a police are now calling the ambush killing of a former Microsoft executive. Now the man accused of plotting it all is on trial.

Plus, we are tracking oil prices this morning. Now back over $90 a barrel.

[08:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: That very familiar melodic beep at the checkout line, getting a bit of an upgrade right now. For the first time in 52 years, retailers are rolling out a new type of barcode. Think QR code, but maybe even smarter, giving you instant product details on your phone and even capable of blocking recalled and expired food right at the register before you leave the store.

CNN's David Goldman has much more on this. Fascinating.

DAVID GOLDMAN, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS REPORTER: Yes, I thought we would have this barcode forever, but it turns out that 50 years is probably a --

BOLDUAN: It's enough.

GOLDMAN: It's enough time to sunset the old guy. We've got a new one that is does the same exact thing. It beeps at the register.

We got that, but there's so much more that you can unlock with a 2 dimensional barcode than you can with that one-dimensional barcode. This basically gives you 10 digits and that's it. The 2D barcode can do so much more.

You can track where the package or the food or whatever it is, came from so that if it's recalled it won't even scan at the register or God forbid you actually bring it home. You can look at it with your smartphone and say, yes, this is actually part of a recall.

It's because you only get 10 digits in the 1D barcode. You have 3,000 digits and characters in that 2D barcode. It's capable of a lot more. We all kind of know this. We know what QR codes do. Basically, this is a QR code that also has those digits, and it has the bin and lot number attached to it.

You can detect, you know, whether foods expired.

[08:25:00]

You can make sure that you're giving real good product information like allergens and things that you actually really need to know about the food that you're buying, and you can trace it. And this is the thing that's got folks so excited because we have that big cyclospora, you know, outbreak. BOLDUAN: Any outbreak. I mean, any recall because they happen often and people often are not alerted to it and don't know it until they probably already purchased it in there at home.

GOLDMAN: This is exactly the right thing to because it's not just that the product might be unsafe and that's God forbid you actually have an unsafe product in your home, but you might not have an unsafe jar of peanut butter or bag of lettuce or whatever it is, and you can use it. Food waste costs not just consumers, it costs companies hundreds of millions of dollars for every single recall. So there's a big incentive for companies to actually do something about this.

And certainly, if you have a dangerous product at home, you want to know about it. And if you have a safe product at home, you want to know if you can still use it, too, because it costs you money.

BOLDUAN: Fascinating.

GOLDMAN: All with a little barcode.

BOLDUAN: All the little barcode upgrades. Good to see you, David. Thank you -- Sara.

SIDNER: All right, thank you, guys. All right, you got to watch this. A dramatic rescue caught on body camera. Officers rushing in to pull a man trapped inside a burning home to safety. We will show you the details of what happened there.

And we're sitting down with one of the busiest men in Hollywood to talk about his career and his double Emmy nominations. Our chat with Coleman Domingo ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:30:00]