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Marathon Negotiations Underway Between U.S. And Iran In Pakistan; Former Staffer Says Representative Eric Swalwell Raped Her; Rally Supporting Son Of Toppled Iranian Shah Underway in L.A.; Marathon Negotiations Underway Between U.S. And Iran In Pakistan; Rory McIlroy Seeks 2nd Straight Green Jacket. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired April 11, 2026 - 19:00   ET

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

[18:59:39]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hi, everyone. I'm Jessica Dean in Los Angeles.

We do have breaking news tonight from Pakistan where it is just past 4:00 a.m. there. Marathon negotiations between the United States and Iran still underway. These are the highest level face-to-face negotiations between Washington and Tehran since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979.

[19:00:03]

Pakistani sources saying the overall tone of the talks has been positive but a key sticking point remains -- control of the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Now the talks come as the fragile ceasefire between the two nations has the Middle East and the world on edge. Threatening that ceasefire, Israel's strikes on Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, an Iran-backed paramilitary group. There is disagreement over whether Lebanon is part of that current ceasefire agreement. Both Israel and Hezbollah continued exchanging attacks today.

Let's bring in CNN's Julia Benbrook, who is traveling with President Trump in Florida this evening.

Julia, what is the president saying?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Donald Trump, he's going to spend his weekend here in Florida, and he has spent a number of his weekends here since the beginning Operation Epic Fury. Almost all of them at one of his properties here. But while he's here, he has a delegation in Islamabad for these negotiations with Iran. That's led by Vice President J.D. Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

And as Trump left the White House today, he essentially said that it doesn't really matter how talks go because he believes that the United States has already won here. Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We win. No matter what. We've defeated their military. They have no navy, 158 ships are underwater, under sea. All of their minesweepers and all of their -- they call them mine droppers. Can you imagine a country has 28 mine droppers? You think that's nice? With all of that being said, they're all defeated. By the way, they're all at the bottom of the sea.

Now, with all of that, they have no navy. They have no radar. They have no air force. Their leaders are all dead with -- Khamenei is gone. For many years, he ruled. He's gone. With all of that, let's see what happens. But from my standpoint, I don't care.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: Now, it's the middle of the night there where the talks are taking place, and these have gone on for hours. Trump did say that he was receiving updates throughout that time, but that's the latest that we have from the administration prior to these talks, though, Vance did say that he did believe that this could be positive. There could be a positive outcome here. He also said that Trump had given him and the rest of the negotiating team, quote, "clear guidelines" as they went into this.

But there's a lot of questions about if there can be common ground here between these two groups. Going into this there was that agreement, this two-week ceasefire that Trump announced. And at the time, he said that the 10-point plan that he had received from the Iranians was a workable basis on which to negotiate. But as some of those details of this potential plan came out, it was clear that some of those things were just not areas that the United States could agree to, including reparations for war damages, as well as acknowledging its control of the Strait of Hormuz.

And that critical waterway is no doubt a part of these discussions. That's where 20 percent of the world's oil typically passes through. It went to a near complete halt during this conflict, and it was one demand that Trump had for this ceasefire to be in place. Iran's foreign minister said that it would coordinate passage of vessels through that strait, and Trump said the United States would be assisting.

Now, we did learn from U.S. Central Command that Navy guided missile destroyers were going through at this time. They'd begun clearing mines, and those were the first U.S. vessels that we know had been going in the straits since the beginning of this conflict -- Jessica.

DEAN: Julia Benbrook, in Miami, thank you so much for that.

We are joined now by former Energy secretary in the Obama administration. He's also a nuclear physicist, Ernest Moniz. He was a negotiator of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, working with then Secretary of State John Kerry.

Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for being here with us. We do appreciate your time. I want to start first with a central goal of this war from the Trump administration was ensuring Iran would not have a nuclear weapon, that that could not happen.

In your assessment, are we closer to that after the last several weeks? Where does that stand?

ERNEST J. MONIZ, FORMER SECRETARY OF ENERGY: Well, frankly, I don't see much change in these few weeks on that question. Clearly last June with the Israeli and U.S. bombing of the nuclear sites, there was a substantial destruction. We don't know exactly how much, but substantial destruction of their nuclear capabilities. But the main point is that Iran since the president withdrew from the 2015 agreement had reached about a half a ton of 60 percent enriched uranium. I don't want to be too technical on this, but so-called weapons grade is 90 percent.

[19:05:03]

However, there's a misconception that 90 percent or weapons grade uranium is required to build a nuclear explosive. It's not true. The Hiroshima bomb, for example, was not weapons grade. And 60 percent enriched uranium is usable directly in a nuclear explosive.

So my view is that the highest priority is what -- is that we must find where that material is. The analysts claim it's all in Isfahan. I'm not so sure that's a reliable. Secondly, we must understand its form. And third, we must understand how to remove the threat of that material. I believe that will be achieved ultimately only through diplomacy and the restoration of Iranian government cooperation with the international inspectors.

DEAN: And so building off of that, do you think that's something, if you think that that can only come from diplomacy, do you think that's something they can get to in these negotiations? It's a lot.

MONIZ: Well, frankly, I think it would have been easier to get there before these last few weeks, to be honest. I think frankly we could have achieved through negotiations and elimination of that material before the military strikes. Now, frankly, it's probably part of the negotiation, involving tradeoffs. I don't know where the material is. There's a lot of, again, analysts are claiming are touting a satellite observation of unloading canisters in Isfahan.

I'm suspicious that was done in broad daylight in a cloudless sky. And if I were looking for deception, that's exactly what I would do. So I think it's an open question, and I don't see how we can resolve that any way other than having the international inspectors back on the ground with cooperation to identify and remove the material. It's going to be a big lift, but Iran, frankly, I think, crossed a red line in producing that material.

They have never produced a rationale for civilian purposes for that material. And I believe the international community has to come together no matter what you think of the overall, geopolitical dynamics has to come together and say that material must go. DEAN: And we saw from our correspondent the list of some of the things

that Iran is demanding in these negotiations, among them, reparations following this war, and also the acknowledgment that they controlled the Strait of Hormuz, which they had not previously. That was a waterway that was open. That seems like obviously those are things that the U.S. is, I would assume, just not going to be open to. These are -- these talks are difficult. And there's a lot of nuance and the two sides obviously have very different views on this.

MONIZ: I think you're absolutely right that these are difficult questions. But as a negotiator you mentioned that I was involved with John Kerry in 2015.

DEAN: Yes.

MONIZ: And that's quite correct. In fact, by the way, I would call attention to the fact that since 1979, there has been actually very high level contact between Iran and the United States, including in those negotiations that led up to the 2015 agreement, where you had two Cabinet members. I would just add, spend 37 consecutive days together in Europe to reach that agreement. So there's been very high level contact.

But as a negotiator, I think the statements made by Iran in terms of what's required are clearly unacceptable, but I can see ways around it. For example, on the reparations, there won't be reparations, but there is going to be a need for tremendous reconstruction in Iran after this military campaign. Consequently, I could see arrangements where the United States helps to organize international support for that reconstruction.

I wouldn't call it reparations, but I would call it working to try to bring Iran back into the community of nations, which will require geopolitical or political concessions on their part. Secondly, on Hormuz, your implication that the Strait of Hormuz in this conflict has changed the game very profoundly is absolutely correct.

Specifically, I think up until this conflict, despite the obvious risks, Iran's threat of building a nuclear weapon was probably viewed as its primary deterrent against international action.

[19:10:12]

I would say right now, the Strait of Hormuz control is a bigger deterrent against international action than is the nuclear option. In fact, I think the Strait of Hormuz negotiation is going to be a central part of this negotiation. But second -- but thirdly, I guess, I would also add that Iran, there's still another shoe to drop. They have, of course, very strong connections and support for the Houthis in Yemen.

And there's another strait, the Mandab Strait for the Red Sea, ultimately going to the Indian Ocean that hasn't even been brought into play yet. And that also controls a huge part of international trade by shipping. So the reality is these straits have to be dealt with. They have to be open to international commerce. I don't believe the United States and its friends and allies and frankly adversaries can afford anything else.

This is going to be a very, very tough negotiation. But I think there is room for diplomacy here.

DEAN: All right. Secretary Ernest Moniz, thank you so much for your thoughts. We really appreciate it.

MONIZ: Thank you.

DEAN: We're also following breaking news in the California gubernatorial race, as the Manhattan District Attorney's Office says it's now investigating a leading Democratic contender, Congressman Eric Swalwell, over a sexual assault allegation. More on that when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:16:09]

DEAN: Breaking news tonight following CNN's exclusive reporting on sexual misconduct allegations against Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office now saying it's launching an investigation into an allegation the lawmaker sexually assaulted someone.

This coming just a day after CNN reported a former staffer had accused Swalwell of raping her. He denies all accusations. He's also currently running for governor of California. Several prominent Democrats, though, now calling for him to get out of that race.

CNN's Pamela Brown and her team have spoken with four women who alleged sexual misconduct by Swalwell, including that former staffer who went on camera to share her story.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT AND ANCHOR: Well, Jessica, I sat down with one of the four women claiming sexual misconduct by Congressman Eric Swalwell. And in this case, this was the most serious allegation, an allegation of rape.

I want to warn our viewers that what you're about to hear is disturbing and graphic.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I kept figuring out ways to blame myself. I shouldn't have reached out to him at all. I should have left. I should have done this. Well, Eric shouldn't have raped me.

BROWN (voice-over): This Capitol Hill staffer is coming forward for the first time on camera to talk about her experience with Congressman Eric Swalwell. He is now a leading Democratic candidate for governor of California.

REP. ERIC SWALWELL (D-CA): Let's get together. Make the biggest wave this state has ever seen. BROWN (voice-over): Swalwell was in his late 30s and married when she

joined his office as an intern and became a junior staffer. She's speaking in shadow as she fears professional consequences.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was in 2019 I was again driving him to an event. This was my job.

BROWN: And you were 21 years old.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I was 21 years old. We see some sort of parking lot and he says to pull over. He pulls out his penis and instructs me to give him oral sex. And I started to, again, I felt incredibly uncomfortable, and I stopped and I said to him, this feels really uncomfortable and anyone could see us right now. And he said to me, you're right. It's probably not good for a congressman to be caught with his pants down.

BROWN (voice-over): Swalwell calls her allegations false. His campaign responded earlier to vague accusations on social media related to his behavior with staffers.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did you ever behave inappropriately with female staffers?

SWALWELL: No. No. It's false. And also, you know, some of the allegations I've seen, which is that we've had NDAs in the office. Never. There's never been an allegation and there's never been a settlement. And, you know, I will also just take stock that, look, we're 27 days before an election starts.

BROWN: Did he ask you to send him lewd photos?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

BROWN: And did he ever send lewd photos?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. He would send short Snapchat videos of him rubbing his penis through his pants while on the airplane.

BROWN (voice-over): The staffer says she liked Swalwell's attention at first and nervously went along with it, which included sending back nude photos of herself. But in September 2019, she says she and some friends met up with Swalwell. After a night of heavy drinking, she says she woke up naked with Swalwell in a hotel room with no memory of what happened.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The five of us were having some drinks. At some point, it was time to go home. I got in an Uber. I was taken to the Aloft Dublin-Pleasanton, where he was staying. And I don't remember what happened that night, but I know that we -- there was sexual contact because when I woke up in the morning, I could feel that there was. And he said as much, too.

[19:20:00]

BROWN: What did he say.? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That last night was great. It didn't feel great

to me because I didn't remember it.

BROWN: And so you blacked out and you end up in his hotel room and wake up with him?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

BROWN (voice-over): She says another incident occurred in 2024 after this event in New York, where Swalwell gave a speech.

SWALWELL: Some of us are working hard on Capitol Hill.

BROWN (voice-over): At the time, she no longer worked for Swalwell's office.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I decided to ask him to meet me for a drink, and I did this because I was so far removed from what had happened in 2019. I felt safe because I was established. I had a partner. I felt more secure that I could have a strictly professional relationship with this person. After that bar closed, we went to another. I went to the bathroom and I don't remember anything after that.

BROWN: You don't remember anything?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I remember the next day. I can see flashes of that evening of him on top of me, me pushing him off, him grabbing me. It was a lot more aggressive. It was aggressive.

BROWN: Did you say no?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I said no. I said -- in my flash that I can recall I was pushing him off of me saying no.

BROWN: And what did he do?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He didn't stop.

BROWN: He didn't stop. And you woke up the next morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I woke up the next morning naked, alone in his hotel room. I for a moment didn't even know I was in his hotel room. That's how intoxicated I was. And I called my mom, the only person I could think that could help me.

BROWN (voice-over): Her mother confirmed her account in an interview with CNN. CNN also reviewed screenshots of texts she sent to a friend saying she was, quote, "sexually assaulted by Eric." She also shared this note from a physician's assistant, calling her a, quote, "survivor" after she went to get tested for STDs one week later.

Why do you feel like it's so important to speak out now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I found out there were others who might have been impacted by Eric in different ways, I realized I couldn't be scared anymore because that is how he keeps us quiet. The fear, the shame.

BROWN (voice-over): In addition to this former staffer, three other women who spoke with CNN also alleged sexual misconduct by Swalwell. One said he kissed her and touched her without her consent. Two of the women said he sent them unsolicited, explicit messages or nude images of himself, something the others say Swalwell did with them as well.

One shared this message where he commented on her photo and wrote, quote, "That swimsuit," with an expletive. "You like it?" she responded. "Yes, very much like," he wrote. In a statement to CNN, Swalwell said, quote, "These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor. For nearly 20 years, I have served the public as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is another me out there. There is another young girl who dreams of working in this field and believes in him and could fall into this trap.

BROWN: And that's why you're speaking out?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

BROWN: You want to protect others like you when you were young.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No one protected me. Sorry. No one protected me. And I don't want someone else to suffer because I know what I know.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN (on-camera): Now, in response to that specific sex assault allegation you just heard there, Congressman Swalwell released a video on social media and said that it's not true and defended himself. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SWALWELL: A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations, and I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly. These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor in California.

I do not suggest to you in any way that I'm perfect or that I'm a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position. I also apologize to you if in any way you have doubted your support for me. But I think you know who I am. For over 20 years, I have served the public, as a city councilman, as a member of Congress, and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims, particularly on behalf of sexual assault victims. That's who I am and have always been.

[19:25:05] This weekend, I'm going to spend time with my family and friends, and I appreciate those who have reached out to me to show support, and I look forward to updating you very soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Congressman Swalwell is under mounting pressure to withdraw his bid for governor of California. And now, as we've learned, the Manhattan D.A.'s Office is now investigating that sex assault allegation.

Back to you, Jessica.

DEAN: Pamela Brown, thank you so much for your reporting there.

Also, tonight's staffers for the congressman have issued an unsigned statement saying they were, quote, "horrified by the reporting of sexual misconduct allegations." That statement reading in part, quote, "Any decision of staff -- of staff members to remain in their roles in the interim should not be viewed as support for Eric Swalwell. We, more than he, understand that we have obligations to the people we lead and the constituents of California's 14th Congressional District. Those of us that remain on staff do so for the sole purpose of ensuring that as many of those obligations are fulfilled as possible."

Still ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM, it's early Sunday morning in Pakistan, the U.S. and Iranian delegations still in those marathon negotiations. What the Iranian-American community in the U.S. has to say about these talks, when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:30:26]

DEAN: Do not negotiate, that's the message from crowds gathered at a rally here in Los Angeles calling for President Trump and the U.S. military to continue with its war with Iran. They want a regime change and are voicing support for the son of the country's overthrown Shah.

Los Angeles is home to the largest population of Iranians outside of Iran. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones is joining us now. Julia, what are people sharing with you?

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the main point here, Jessica, is that they're saying that they wouldn't trust a deal that came out of these negotiations to begin with, because they are involving the current Iranian government, which they feel is not distant enough from the previous government.

They really want to see, as you mentioned, the former -- the son of the last Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, installed as an interim leader. And that has been their message. This is very much a monarchist crowd that has been gathering for months here now in Los Angeles. Take a listen to what one of them had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HAMED RAZIPOUR, WANTS U.S. TO STOP NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRAN: We don't want any deal. We are tired of that. They always cheat into their people and the world. They said, we're doing this, we're doing that. But at the end they kill the people and we have evidence of that. So, we don't want any deal with them. This is why all the people didn't discontinue and don't give up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Now, I do have to say, Jessica, there is some more nuance. This is one voice. We spoke to other people who say they're kind of feeling between a rock and a hard place here, where they were initially very much in support of these strikes, but now they feel that they haven't accomplished what they were meant to accomplish. But the vast majority of the people here are still saying that they do believe that the President of the United States has their best interests at heart at the end of the day.

DEAN: All right. Julia Vargas jones here in Los Angeles, thank you very much.

Vice President J.D. Vance going face to face with the Iranian delegation to negotiate a potential end to the war. What we know about the marathon talks that are still ongoing, that's just ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:37:06]

DEAN: Breaking news tonight out of Pakistan, talks between the U.S. and Iran still underway. They now have extended into early Sunday morning, that's local time there. Pakistani sources saying the discussions have been positive. One sticking point, and it's a big one, continues to be the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Back in Washington, President Trump had this to say about the talks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We're in very deep negotiations with Iran. We win regardless; we've defeated them militarily. They probably have a couple of mines in the water. We have minesweepers out there with sweeping the Strait. In addition to that, we're negotiating whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: We're joined now by retired Army Major General Randy Manner. General Manner, thank you so much for being here with us. I want to start first with what CENTCOM said earlier today, it announced that two Navy-guided missile destroyers have begun clearing mines in that strait. Walk us through this process. What stands out to you about this announcement and what more people should know? MAJOR GENERAL RANDY MANNER (RET): ARMY: This is actually a substantial announcement. That means that the Iranians are permitting U.S. Navy destroyers to transit the strait. That is a very big deal.

Secondly, we have to remember there are four kinds of mines the Iranians have been using. The first are going to be seabed mines, ones that are on the seabed itself and can be activated by a ship passing over. Moored or tethered mines, the old-fashioned ones, you see in World War II, drifting mines, and then the most sophisticated are the ones that actually detect a ship and rise out of the water and fire a missile.

The destroyers, they're going to have three different capabilities to locate and to neutralize those mines. The first one is going to be Blackhawks to locate them. Also, drones in the air and undersea as well as, of course, on the sea. And then, of course, sensors that are pulled behind the destroyers that will also detect mines. And then, of course, there are electronic means to be able to neutralize the mines that they do find.

DEAN: And in terms of the U.S. capabilities here, can we do this on our own? Do we need support? What does that look like?

MANNER: We don't need any support to do this. We have a significant capability to do it. That's something that the Navy is well trained and well versed at, and we have significant capabilities to clear areas like this because, remember, mines can be used in any harbor in any part of the world. So, the Navy does have extensive capabilities to take care of this by themselves.

DEAN: We've also had this reporting, CNN has, that U.S. Intelligence shows China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks. What does that tell you about how China views this conflict and this current ceasefire?

MANNER: So, it's important to understand that the Russian S-300 air defense system is pretty darn good. But the Chinese HQ-9 systems are far more sophisticated than that. They may even be able to detect the F-35, it's not clear.

I'm sure the Chinese are going to use this as a testing ground to see how well can those aircraft be detected. From a strategic point of view? Remember that the Chinese are being hurt by the increased oil prices. They are a significant buyer of Iranian oil. And remember that we have not been treating them well at all. All the tariffs and everything else. So, our relationship with the Chinese are poor at this time.

It's also important that all the viewers understand that these are defensive weapons. They are not offensive weapons, which the Chinese could sell to them but are not selling to them.

[19:40:52]

DEAN: And so, what should people gather from that piece of information that you just that you just laid out? MANNER: It's an extremely measured response in support of the Iranians. Remember that the Chinese are also about trade, about ensuring that they have options around the world to be able to continue commerce. It's not about pushing necessarily communism. It's about, quite frankly, pushing capitalism. And so, this is one of those things where it's a measured response by the Chinese. And it's not something that's intended to get the ire up of the United States, although, of course, some may be offended with even the selling of defensive weapons.

DEAN: All right, General Manner, thanks for your time. We really do appreciate it.

MANNER: Thank you.

DEAN: Mission accomplished, the Artemis II astronauts back on earth after their historic trip. So, what now? How their findings could create a future for life on the moon. We'll talk about that. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:46:13]

DEAN: They have officially gone where no person has gone before. Just days after traveling to the far side of the moon, the four Artemis II astronauts were honored back on Earth here in Houston this afternoon. The crew sharing a big hug during a celebration at Johnson Space Center after reuniting with their families. And they also reflected on their time and space.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINA KOCH, ARTEMIS II MISSION SPECIALIST: What struck me wasn't necessarily just Earth. It was all the blackness around it. Earth was just this lifeboat hanging on undisturbingly in the universe.

I know I haven't learned everything that this journey has yet to teach me, but there's one new thing I know, and that is Planet Earth, you are a crew.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: The historic mission came to an end on Friday when the Orion splashed down off the coast of San Diego. Joining us now is Adam Frank. He's a professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester. Good to have you here with us.

After that perfect splashdown in the Pacific and then hearing from them today, I just want to get your overall impressions of this mission and where we go from here.

ADAM FRANK, PROFESSOR OF ASTROPHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER: Yes, well, I think the most amazing thing about this mission was how much people responded to it. You know, it could have been possible that people, you know, it's like, oh, yes, we're going to the moon, whatever. But people really came out and really cared. They were following it. I think in many ways, it showed the best of humanity and the United States could look like, given all the other horrible things happening in the world, so, I think what I was really touched by was the way united people and, you know, they were taking an enormous risk and recognizing they weren't doing it for glory or for their own personal benefits. They were doing it for us and our children.

They were opening up a frontier that, you know, it really is the future of humanity. If we can get through the next, you know, a few decades and climate change, et cetera., then the solar system is really the gift we get for that.

DEAN: Yes, I said it earlier in our broadcast, that was kind of, hearing from them and talking about this, the antithesis of so much of what we talk about on our show all the time. It was just so happy and joyful and really gave us all a moment to kind of pause and reflect on, on just, you know, being small, tiny little parts of planet earth here.

If there was one main concern to returning to Earth, it was the heat shield on the Orion. It seems to have performed really well. What are your impressions?

FRANK: Well, absolutely. I mean, the amazing thing about the whole heat shield issue, because we knew that there were issues with it because of the first Artemis mission, the uncrewed one. And we knew that we didn't have time to put in a new one. So, that NASA did, you know, this is the important thing.

We are a country that has science denial at the highest levels. And what this showed was the importance of getting the answer right, right. You know, science denial, you know, is all fine and good until you absolutely have to get the answer right. And whether it was, you know, the heat shield or whether its climate change and the size of your, the height of your sea wall, what this showed was these NASA engineers understood what the problem was, made the adjustments, and they got the answer right. And I think that is a real demonstration of the power of American science when its unleashed.

DEAN: And this mission too, is just step one in what we're going to see. They were, you know, we were hearing today about this is this is just opening up a whole new era of exploration in their words, Artemis III, a docking test mission, actually landing astronauts on the moon, maybe in 2028.

How do you assess where we are in all of that? And do you think we're on track for all of that?

[19:50:16]

FRANK: Yes, well, we, this was a very important step in that direction. You know, remember that the Chinese have a very robust space program. They have been hitting all of their marks. And it really is kind of a race to get there.

But, you know, the United States, China, what really matters here is that we're going back to the moon for good. Humanity is taking its first steps to becoming a space faring civilization. And a hundred years from now, 150 years from now, which is not that long a time, if you look back, right, nobody had ever been on an airplane in 1901 right.

So, that it's more than possible that our grandchildren, our great grandchildren, you know, will be like, oh, honey, I'm, you know, going to be taking the 905 to the moon, I'll see you in a couple of days.

So, this is really the beginning of humanity taking its important next step in its own evolution.

DEAN: It is incredible when you say it like that. It really does sound like something from like, I don't know, "The Jetsons" or a movie, but you're right, like, this is the next step in all of that.

Adam Frank, it's great to see you. Thanks so much, we appreciate it.

FRANK: Thank you.

DEAN: A lot is happening at Augusta National. Andy Scholes is there, what's moving day been like, Andy?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: I mean, Jessica, we thought we may be in for a Rory McIlroy blowout at this Masters. He had the largest lead in 36-hole history here, but that lead is now gone. And we could be in for one exciting Sunday here in Augusta. We'll show you who's in contention, coming up.

DEAN: We'll talk to you soon. Also, influential journalist Kara Swisher dives into the booming longevity industry, becoming both reporter and test subject as she meets Silicon Valley power players and explores anti-aging, biotech, A.I., and more.

The CNN original series "Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever" premieres tonight, and here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARA SWISHER, HOST, "KARA SWISHER WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER": You're going to steal my face for face off right now, aren't you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.

SWISHER: We're going to switch them and then you're going to be me and then I'm going to be you. That's my favorite movie, "Face Off".

So, I'm going to come out 72?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, we're looking at eight different characterization of face like U.V. damaged, browns, reds and a bunch of the markers. And they'll give you a single number for your biological age, good job. You scored one year younger.

SWISHER: Well, I actually am 62, but so good.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Okay, you're -- that's amazing.

SWISHER: Yes, that's so amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your pores are fantastic. So, you're in the 90th percentile.

SWISHER: I'm unscary.

He gets that he's a circus act in a freak show. And I like that about him. At the same time, it's vaguely sad. I find it sad, I do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: The CNN original series. "Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever" premieres tonight at 9:00 Eastern on CNN, and tomorrow on CNN App.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:57:31]

DEAN: The Masters, known as a tradition unlike any other coming into today's third round at Augusta National, defending champion Rory McIlroy had a lead unlike any other. He reached the halfway mark with a record six-shot lead over the rest of the field. CNN sports anchor Andy Scholz is joining us now from Augusta, Georgia. So, then what happened, Andy?

SCHOLES: Well, Jessica, on a day where a lot of guys were making shots and putting up low scores, Rory was out there just trying to hang on for dear life. He had the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history, but that lead is now gone. And Rory's day, it started rough from the very beginning.

He came out and he bogeyed hole number one, and then things got way worse on hole number 11. Rory would end up going into the water. He would end up with a double bogey on the hole and the whole gallery at that point was like, oh no, what is happening? Because the lead was gone.

Now, he was able to weather the storm. I was out there following him on the back nine. The gallery was certainly nervous, but Rory came through on 14 a nice birdie putt. Everyone let out a big cheer at that point.

Rory finished the day one over, so he drops to 11 under for the tournament. He is now tied with Cam Young heading into tomorrow. Young had a fabulous day. Eight birdies, only one bogey on the afternoon. The 28-year-old, he was eight shots back of Rory entering the day. But wow, have things changed for him.

So, Young has three kids under five who travel with him everywhere. He's a really busy guy, but that family could be in for one special Sunday together. Young has never won a major, but he just won the players. The last two people who won the players were Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Both of them went on to win the masters. That's certainly a good sign for young. Now. The shot of the day that belonged to Shane Lowry here on the sixth, Lowry shot going to roll perfectly right at the stick and it goes in for a hole in one

Just the seventh hole in one at six in Masters history. Lowry had himself a nice day. He's at nine under two shots off the lead. So, Jessica, you know we came into today thinking we were maybe going into a Rory blowout here at the Masters. Now, we've got eight guys within four shots of the lead, including Scottie Scheffler, who had an amazing day. And Scheffler said after his round he still thinks he can win this Masters. It's going to be another hot afternoon here in Augusta on Sunday and we look like we are in for one fantastic finish.

DEAN: All right, it's going to be fun. It's going to be hot. It's going to be a lot of golf. Andy Scholz will be there. Thank you so much for that update. We really appreciate it.

And thank you so much for joining me this evening. I'm Jessica Dean and remember, if you're here with us in the U.S., you can now stream CNN whenever you'd like by using the CNN App. Just go to cnn.com/watch for more on that. "Real Time with Bill Maher" is headed your way next. Have a great night, everyone. We'll see you back here tomorrow.

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