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Race To Reach Survivors Trapped In Venezuela Earthquake Rubble; U.S. And Iran Exchange Strikes As Tensions Flare Over Strait Of Hormuz; Europe Gripped By Record-Breaking, Deadly Heat Wave; TX School Board Approves Bible Stores In K-12 Curriculum; Former Trump National Security Adviser Bolton Admits To Retaining Classified Info; U.S. Mints Once-In-A-Lifetime Quarter To Honor America's Birthday. Aired 2- 3p ET

Aired June 27, 2026 - 14:00   ET

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

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FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Racing against time, the desperate effort to find survivors in the catastrophic earthquake aftermath, a live report from Venezuela straight ahead.

Plus, required reading, Texas will now mandate millions of public school students read Bible verses in class.

And, "we almost hit a drone." A United Airlines pilot reports a near miss ahead of landing in Newark, New Jersey. You'll hear the frightening air traffic control audio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

WHITFIELD: Hello everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Breaking news out of Venezuela. Just moments ago, a top lawmaker said the death toll from this week's devastating earthquake has climbed to more than 1,400 people. And time is running out for rescuers to reach survivors trapped in the rubble for 68 hours now. But there is some reason for hope.

This morning, a 15-year-old girl and her dog were pulled alive from the rubble by a team from El Salvador. We know search and rescue teams from more than 10 countries, including the United States, are in Venezuela. And more are on the way, according to the acting president, Delcy Rodriguez.

But teams are struggling to get to the worst hit areas. And they're dealing with near constant aftershocks that threaten to bring down even more buildings. Journalist Mary Triny Mena is now on the ground for us in Caracas. So Mary, what is the latest?

MARY TRINY MENA, JOURNALIST: Yes, some efforts from rescue teams, as you said, that are coming from every part of the world to help Venezuelans and also Venezuelans trying to provide donations. In every corner of Caracas, there are a small group of people gathering food, water. And they are trying to help not only the people that are right now homeless, but also the first responders that are actively working, trying to reach more people alive.

They say even though the window is closing, there's hope that they could find more people alive. And it is quite significant when you hear that someone is being pulled out of the rubble. And the claps of them are amazing because it's a united community that is celebrating this rescue.

But also there's another story, a different one in some other areas, in critical areas where security is a concern for authorities. For example, in La Guaira state, which is the worst and the more devastated place after these earthquakes. And the security forces are asking people to not to go there.

They are trying to control the security after lootings in the area. And they say only qualified workers, rescue teams, first responders and journalists can attend to this area. But of course, with some limitations. Right now, the focus is find more people alive.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Mary Triny Mena, the focus and the hope is just that. And of course, you know, you talk about limitations. Well, because of a lack of machinery in some areas, people are using their bare hands to help find any potential survivors. It's extraordinary. Thank you so much, Mary. We'll check back with you.

And a little later, I'll also be speaking with a deputy director of the International Rescue Committee about their efforts to reach victims of the Venezuela earthquakes.

We now turn to the fragile U.S.-Iran peace truce once again being tested after the two sides exchange another round of attacks. Late Friday, the U.S. launched a series of strikes on military targets in Iran around the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM shared video of one of those strikes, the attacks coming one day after Iran struck a commercial ship in the strait, a move President Trump called a foolish violation of the agreement to end the war with Tehran.

[14:04:56]

And today, Iran says it struck U.S. targets in the Middle East in response to Friday's attacks. Bahrain, which hosts a U.S. military base, reported Iranian drone attacks on its territory early this morning. A U.S. official says those Iranian drones did not reach their targets. CNN's Julia Benbrook is joining us now from the White House. Julia, what more can you tell us about the latest round of attacks and how they might impact the talks aimed at ending this war?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And that's the big question here. How will this impact the ceasefire and how will this impact the ongoing negotiations with Iran? A U.S. official has told CNN that these U.S. strikes do not reflect, at least for now, a return to major combat operations.

A reminder that the agreement that has been signed, the Memorandum of Understanding, is really just a starting point. It kicked off this 60- day period for negotiations on some of the big issues, including addressing Iran's nuclear program and its fate of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Now, Vice President J.D. Vance has been at the front of all of this.

In fact, he traveled to Switzerland just last weekend to help kick off the technical talks. And he said this on social media. He said, Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence.

Now, the U.S. conducted strikes on Friday in response to Tehran's attack on a commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. And prior to the confirmation from U.S. Central Command of the U.S. strikes, President Donald Trump was speaking with reporters. He took a couple of questions before telling them to leave the Oval Office. But I want you to listen to part of this exchange.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You said that Iran violated the ceasefire. Will they face any consequences?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, you'll find out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you consider the ceasefire to still be in place?

TRUMP: I don't like the fact that they took a shot yesterday, actually, four. We knocked down three at a ship. You're going to find out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: And then, as you mentioned, Iran has said that it struck U.S. targets in the Middle East today in response to the U.S. strikes. So all of that tension there near the critical waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, threatens to put a strain on negotiations. A U.S. official says that those drone strikes did not reach their intended targets. We have reached out to the White House for an official response to that most recent development.

WHITFIELD: All right. Keep us posted. Julia Benbrook at the White House. Thanks so much.

All right. Today, countries across Europe are baking under a deadly heat dome. Dozens of deaths on the continent have been linked to record-breaking sweltering heat. In France, temperatures rose above 110 degrees Fahrenheit earlier this week, and Denmark logged its highest temperature ever as the heat wave moves east. CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in Germany, where extreme heat warnings have been issued.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As the massive heat wave continues to move through Europe now, it is Germany's turn to get baked. Something unprecedented has happened here in this country, where on Saturday, all of Germany is under a severe heat warning.

Now, as far as the authorities are concerned, they say that the worst of the heat is in the area where we are right now in the east of Germany, in the Berlin-Brandenburg area. And certainly Berlin is extremely hot on this day. You can see behind me there is actually a tourist boat that's going down the River Spree, which is the main river here in Berlin.

Not too many tourists on it because it is extremely hot on there. And the sun is certainly very heavily shining as well. As far as the authorities are concerned, they're urging people to stay indoors. They're urging people not to do things like sports, especially during the daytime hours, simply because it is so hot and the sun is shining so much.

One of the issues that Germany has, like so many European countries, is that very few homes, very few offices here in Germany actually have air conditioning. Now, normally, German homes are actually built to insulate from the inside to make sure that heat doesn't go out, because this is normally a cold country.

And that, of course, is something that makes it extremely difficult here when it gets as hot as it is right now. As far as the forecast is concerned, especially for international travelers thinking of coming to Europe and specifically to Germany, it's going to be extremely hot on Saturday and then extremely hot on Sunday as well. However, by the end of Sunday, there are some thunderstorms that are forecast, which will lead to some cooling going on, which is much needed for many people living here in this country.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Fred.

All right. Still ahead, Bible stories will become required reading for millions of public school students in Texas. Details on the new mandate.

Plus, hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have been legally living and working in the U.S. are now vulnerable for deportation. The major U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows the Trump administration to remove their protections.

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And the ultimate treasure hunt. Rare limited edition coins are entering circulation for America's 250th birthday. How to spot one in your pocket change.

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WHITFIELD: A key U.S. Senate race is intensifying with just about four months to go until the November midterms. You're looking at a live picture right now of a rally in Savannah, Georgia for incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. It's being billed as the first major event of his reelection campaign. The senator is being joined by the Democratic nominee for Georgia governor, Keisha Lance Bottoms. Senator Ossoff will face Georgia Congressman Mike Collins, who won the Republican nomination after receiving a last-minute endorsement from President Trump. The race could be key in determining the balance of power in the Senate for the remainder of Trump's second term.

And now to Texas, where the Bible will become part of the state- approved curriculum for public school students. On Friday, the State Board of Education voted to include Bible stories and verses in lessons for students in kindergarten through high school. The decision has drawn both support and criticism. Earlier, we spoke with Texas State Board of Education member Tiffany Clark, who says teachers should have more control over what is taught in their classrooms.

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TIFFANY CLARK, BOARD MEMBER, TEXAS BOARD OF EDUCATION: I think it's important for us to remember teachers know what to do. Teachers have been doing this. We are professionals in our industry. We are professional in our craft. So, teachers know what their students need. Not every community looks the same. Not every community believes the same. So, it's important to restore local control and make sure that our educators are getting what they need, so they can compete globally.

Our students need to focus literally on reading comprehension and understanding how to dissect information. But we can't get there through this method.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The changes will take effect in the 2030 school year and impact more than 5 million students. CNN's Ed Lavandera explains critics say the move could violate the separation of church and state.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Over the course of this past week, the Texas State Board of Education heard from hundreds of people over hours and hours of public testimony and whether or not the state should adopt biblical teachings into the state's English and social studies curriculum. This was a debate that lasted for much of the week. But in the end, the Texas State Board of Education has voted to approve this new curriculum, which essentially infuses biblical teachings at every grade level from kindergarten to 12th grade for more than 5 million public school students across the state of Texas.

Supporters say that this goes a long way into teaching the role of Christianity in the development of the United States and its role within Western culture. Critics say this is a clear violation of the separation of church and state, that it excludes the points of view and the teachings of non-Protestant Christians, as well as Jews and Muslims. There was one Republican who voted with Democrats against this curriculum, and this is what she had to say.

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EVELYN BROOKS, BOARD MEMBER, TEXAS BOARD OF EDUCATION: Teachers need to be, have their autonomy. They've been selecting books for decades, for years. This is nothing new. This is not a new concept to teachers. We are simply giving them a mandated list, which I believe is unconstitutional. But regardless of what I believe, let's not take their autonomy away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Now, this new curriculum won't be phased in immediately. It will start in 2030 and then phased into higher grades over the next few years after that. But education experts say they know of no other state in the country that has gone to these lengths to infuse biblical teachings into the public school curriculum.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks, Ed.

[14:18:39]

Still ahead, a man once entrusted with the nation's secrets, now pleading guilty to mishandling them. New reaction from President Trump, next.

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WHITFIELD: President Trump is lashing out after his former National Security Advisor-turned-chief-critic, John Bolton, pleaded guilty to mishandling classified documents. Trump slammed Bolton in a post on social media saying he hopes his one-time aid will be, "dealt with harshly." CNN's Katelyn Polantz has more on what took place in court yesterday and what comes next for Bolton.

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: I'm here at this federal courthouse in Maryland, right outside of Washington, D.C. This is where John Bolton pleaded guilty to a felony criminal charge on Friday. In his hearing, Bolton said that he did indeed retain national security information, classified information, top-secret details about the U.S. government, about foreign adversaries, about military plans. He kept that from when he was the National Security Advisor in the first Trump administration, and then he kept it in an unsecure way.

It was so unsecured that the Iranian hackers, or an Iranian hacker affiliated with the Iranian government, was able to get into his personal e-mail account and put that information of the U.S. at risk, covert stuff that then was in the hands of a foreign adversary. Bolton in court in his 90-minute plea hearing, he said that he did indeed admit to doing this whenever he was National Security Advisor and keeping that information afterwards in an unsecured way. He also said he was sorry about it.

I'm sorry about it. Those were the words he said to the judge today. This wasn't his sentencing, though. We're expecting there to be much more discussion about what is next for Bolton, including whether he's going to be doing prison time. That's something the judge will have to decide at a sentencing hearing in October. But one thing Bolton also agreed to that was a bit of a surprise today, and some real irony, is that he agrees to help the U.S. government now. [14:25:14]

Someone who Donald Trump really, really has hated, has wanted to see convicted, and now he's going to be convicted in this case as part of his agreement with the Justice Department to plead guilty. He's going to be helping the Justice Department remediate any sort of leaks of classified information or national security information that may be insecure. I asked him if President Trump would want that, if that's something that he thinks this White House would want.

He smiled a little bit. He didn't answer. His attorney has given us a public statement saying that this is what leaders do, Bolton pleading guilty and admitting to his crime. And there's a very different contrast that his lawyer is drawing between what Bolton's doing here and willing to say here, and Donald Trump, who was accused of a similar felony charge, set of felony charges, around classified information and mishandling them. Those charges didn't stick. They were dismissed.

Trump was never convicted. He never went to trial. But here with John Bolton in court, he says he's guilty, and he will be sentenced by a federal judge at a later date, becoming a convicted felon. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: Katelyn Polantz, thanks so much.

Back to our breaking news out of Venezuela. The death toll from this week's deadly earthquakes has climbed to more than 1,400. An additional 3,200 people are injured, and the race to find survivors trapped in the rubble is intensifying with each passing hour. Joining us now is Katie Susman, the deputy regional director for Latin America at the International Rescue Committee. Katie, glad you'll be with us. It's been about 68 hours now since the quake hit. So at this point, what is your team seeing? Is there enough of a global response underway even?

KATIE SUSMAN, DEPUTY REGIONAL DIRECTOR LATAM AT INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: Thank you so much, Fredricka. Right now, we're seeing a lot of movement, intentions, and lots of collective response by civil society, by Venezuelans just wanting to help. At this point, we're seeing delivery drivers who normally are, you know, carrying food to people that is being ordered, taking in water and taking in supplies just because they're trying to help their communities.

We're also seeing desperation. And in the shelters, we're seeing people that are showing up with nothing, without their children, without their spouses, and looking for their lost loved ones. We've seen in just 24 hours, 7,000 people thought to be under the rubble now going to over 50,000. And the time, yes, time is of essence right now. We have hours, not days anymore.

WHITFIELD: So I wonder if I could follow up on one of the first things you said. You talked about drivers and vehicles getting around. Talk to me about what obstacles are in the way so that, you know, roads are impassable, so that these vehicles can get around, whether they are making deliveries or whether they are helping to transport people or supplies to assist.

SUSMAN: Yes, well, we know in Venezuela in general, and now in Caracas and the La Guaira is that infrastructure has always been a struggle. And it's been weakened for many, many years. And with the past few years with federal aid cuts, both, you know, U.S. government and international community have drawn out a lot of their support. So that's made, you know, keeping up roads and infrastructure and access difficult in normal circumstances.

So now when we are coming, you know, in the wake of 72 hours of two earthquakes, you can imagine that access is much more difficult for support aid to get in, to reach Caracas, and then also to reach the surrounding affected areas. Some of the biggest issues right now are just being able to get to the area that is most affected.

And then, you know, we're also seeing at the same time, though, those that are there, like these motorbike delivery workers think Uber eats, right, they're coming in on their motorcycles, and they are just bringing in water, bringing in food, bringing in supplies because they care about their.

WHITFIELD: I mean, that's extraordinary. Now, what about, you know, the continued threats of aftershocks? How is that impairing people's abilities to do all those things you just described?

SUSMAN: Yes. Well, the continued threats of aftershocks, I mean, we've seen about 30 aftershocks since the first quake hit. And then beyond the physical and infrastructural limitations, to be able to access those that need it, that need support and response immediately, we also are seeing the effects, the psychological effects, right?

[14:30:08]

People going into shelters and not wanting to leave. Children not sleeping, showing up with no parents and not being able to sleep for days because they are so scared that it's going to happen again. And then in a city like Caracas that's usually full of people, the streets are like a ghost town because people are only leaving to get water and to get food and the most essential supplies because everyone is scared that the moment that they go back in the building, that they try to go back home, that there's going to be another aftershock.

WHITFIELD: Now what about hospitals? I mean, how are they able to do what they do, you know, under these kind of conditions or have there been kind of mobile sites been set up, you know, to triage, help people right in the midst of the rubble?

SUSMAN: Yes, so definitely both, right? If again, we're taking a look at Venezuela before the twin earthquakes and Caracas and surrounding area in general, the health care system was already incredibly debilitated and the pullout of a lot of international support in the past few years had just kind of further debilitated it.

And then so if you're starting at that point, the stress and the ability to kind of absorb any surge is just not there. There's not doctors, there's not enough nurses. You also have in Venezuela, you have a brain drain, right? A lot of the medical professionals left the country. And so there aren't enough basic resources, water, supplies, et cetera, in the hospitals.

And then you will see right now, you know, we're seeing an uptick in these mobile services by humanitarian organizations like the IRC and others popping up in the most needed areas. What will start to happen, though, unfortunately, is we're going to start to see supply chain issues with medicine, with supplies just being available.

And until we kind of bridge the logistical gaps of being able to get into the country, into the area and bring in more supplies, I think that's going to be an issue for medical access.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness. All right. Well, all the best to you and your continued efforts. Katie Susman with the International Rescue Committee and that of others, it's still very inspiring to at least see the video that we have been running over and over again of what is believed to be a 15-year-old who was pulled out of the rubble along with her dog. I mean, those are among the, you know, survivors who miraculously have been able to endure all of this rubble on top of them for some more than 68 hours now. All right. For more information about how you can help Venezuela earthquake victims, go to CNN.com/impact.

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All right. Coming up, a scary moment for a United Airlines plane just minutes before landing at Newark International Airport. What the pilot says is responsible for this midair scare.

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WHITFIELD: All right, a frightening report out of New Jersey's Newark Liberty Airport. A United Airlines jet pilot called the control tower saying the aircraft nearly hit a drone. The plane, with more than 100 passengers and crew on board, was coming in for a landing on Friday, and the pilot describes what he saw.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we almost hit a drone right there at Gimme United 1513, about 100 feet below us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right where you're at now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, and United 1513, do you get a look at it? Do you know the color or any, how much propellers or anything like that, whatever they're called?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it was like a circular shape, and that was about it. Looked like it was about three feet wide.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: All right, the plane traveling from Key West Florida landed safely. Another pilot flying into Newark on a United Express flight also reported seeing a drone at about 2,000 feet. The FAA is investigating the incident and says there are about 100 drone sightings a month near U.S. airports. The agency already has a ban on the use of drones in controlled airspaces or near manned aircraft without permission.

Oh, there's so much excitement. World Cup group matches will wrap up today, in fact, with 32 teams advancing to the knockout rounds, and teams that lose in those rounds will head home. Team USA already clinching its spot, however, which made Thursday's loss to Turkey hurt a little less. The Americans will be joined by the World Cup Cinderella team as Cape Verde makes history.

CNN's Patrick Snell is here with me now. OK, set the scene. A lot of excitement, like over-the-top excitement.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

WHITFIELD: It's good.

SNELL: Yes, this is down to the real business end of the World Cup. Thirty-two teams, that's when it is basically lose or go home. But, you know, Fred, it was in this very studio here just a few weeks before the tournament started that the head coach of Cape Verde, Bubista, came into studio for an interview. And what a story they have been, playing in their first ever World Cup. Just incredible scenes from last night.

[14:40:18]

They were playing Saudi Arabia, this tiny island nation of half a million people. They gathered around the phone there, they get the draw against Saudi Arabia. Look at this, that's the moment they learn that Spain had beaten Uruguay, the other match in their group. And those scenes there, that's the moment they realize they've advanced to the round of 32. Just incredible scenes for all connected with Cape Verde.

And their fans there, that's their capital city in their homeland. Their fans absolutely loving the moment. As I say, they are now the smallest ever nation to advance to the round of 32. Let's hear from some of those truly ecstatic fans there.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is history in the making.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't explain how I feel right now. As you can see, the energy is through the roof. I'm so excited, to be honest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It means absolutely everything, just for our small country to gain just this little bit of fame, just so everybody knows and how hard we work.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel so happy that we still go in. Nobody's going to stop us. We the best. Cape Verde on top.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We haven't lost yet. Messi get ready. Argentina get ready because we coming.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: I just love that moment there. Why did he say Messi get ready? Wow. Because they play Argentina next. The reigning world champions led by superstar icon, Messi.

WHITFIELD: I feel like they've already won the World Cup in enthusiasm.

SNELL: Yes, they've already won the World Cup, no doubt about it. Not just by qualifying, getting to the round of 32. And if anyone underestimates them now, I tell you what, it's going to be very interesting to see.

Now, what about Team USA? Because you mentioned them, they did have that defeat to Turkey, but they'd already won their first two group stage games for the first time in U.S. men's national team history. So they are through to the round of 32.

And our Andy Scholes has been spending time with the U.S. team, and he's been asking fans from other countries what they think of the chances of America's men's team actually winning the World Cup for the first time. Take a listen.

WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Do you give the U.S. any chance of winning?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, sorry guys.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's great, but France is going to win.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, they don't have like that good of a rap sheet, but they're playing really good. You can't deny that they do have a chance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think they're pretty good.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's literally no chance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I look forward to seeing what they can do, but I don't know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they have the potential to go, if not all the way, very close, very close. They're looking very nice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not the sport for any U.S. team.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: Oh my god.

SNELL: There you go.

WHITFIELD: Well, excuse me.

SNELL: So July the 1st, Wednesday, Fred, massive game, the USA taking on Bosnia-Herzegovina. They win that, they'll be through to the round of 16. It's a long way to go yet, but they've had a really good World Cup so far under Maurizio Pochettino.

WHITFIELD: Oh, I like it. Go USA. All right.

SNELL: Yes. Looking good.

[14:43:15]

WHITFIELD: Patrick Snell, good to see you. Thanks so much. We'll be right back.

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WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. Americans are about to get a once- in-a-lifetime chance at a rare coin. You might even call it a nationwide treasure hunt. The U.S. Mint is dropping into circulation 250,000 limited-edition quarters with a July 4th mark to honor the Declaration of Independence. This special quarter now in circulation looks like this. In addition to the special July 4th markings, see the nation's third president, Thomas Jefferson, with the imprint of 1776 to 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of America. And on the back, the Liberty Bell.

With us now is the director of the U.S. Mint, Paul Hollis. Thanks so much for joining us. And happy birthday, America.

PAUL HOLLIS, DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. MINT: Yes, you're right. And my pleasure. It is. It's an exciting time. I mean, the United States Mint has been planning for this celebration for a long time. We're actually seeing more design changes this year than we've seen in over a century. But your term, nationwide treasure hunt, I think you hit the nail on the head. We put a special mark, just as you mentioned, on the obverse of the coin.

It's the third coin of five that we've released so far this year. Thomas Jefferson on the obverse, Liberty Bell on the reverse. It's the Declaration of Independence quarter. But there's a small quantity. I mean, keep in mind, the Mint makes billions and billions of coins every year. But 250,000, that's going to be fun to try to find one of those.

WHITFIELD: I'm telling you, it's going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait. I mean, because this really is a unique way, you know, too, to get everyone who still uses cash and coins kind of involved and having a little fun. I mean, maybe this will kind of reinvigorate some interest in America's hard currency. So why, you know, celebrate America's birthday in this manner? [14:50:18]

HOLLIS: Well, you know, coins are a tangible link to history. I've been a coin collector ever since my grandma gave me a coin when I was seven years old. It was one of my earliest memories in life. She had saved a coin during the Great Depression. And my point is, is anything that we can do to connect America through coins, that's one of the themes of every employee at the United States Mint.

And it's exciting to be at the helm of the Mint, especially right now as we're, what, one week away from, you know, this incredible celebration, 250 years of independence. And we usually put, as you know, the year of manufacture on the coin. This year, all of our coins have two years, 1776-2026. But as you had mentioned on this tiny quantity of coins, we put the actual July 4th, it's called a privy mark. And I feel like the treasure hunt is on to find one.

WHITFIELD: That's right. I mean, what do you kind of envision? Do you think that, you know, people will kind of, you know, make a real game of this, looking, you know, through coins when they're making new purchases, because that's when you're going to see them because they're new, you know, and trying to find them? And what, you know, what do you, what do you kind of envision is going to be happening out there?

HOLLIS: I think that people will start paying attention to their coins. And to me, that's exciting because coins, they tell our history. And this year, again, we make billions of coins. Everything that we manufacture, keep in mind, we are all aware of the fact and reverent to the fact that anything that we produce today, probably going to be around for 50 years or even longer. I mean, 50 years ago, we had the bicentennial and on a rare occasion, people still find bicentennial coins and their change.

But my point is, is we're on the cusp of the 4th of July. We're meant in all these coins, but I know good and well, five years, 10 years, 20 years, people will find these coins. But if you find them this year, it's even that much more exciting.

WHITFIELD: Yes, it's going to be a lot of fun doing that, making games of the whole event. All right, Paul Hollis, thank you so much. And happy birthday, America.

All right, coming up in the next hour, the nation's biggest ongoing wildfire is raging with zero containment. Now, blistering heat and high winds are threatening to make a bad situation worse.

Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court handing a massive defeat to a man claiming the weed killer known as Roundup gave him cancer. What this means for thousands of other pending lawsuits.

And Lady Liberty gets another cover girl moment, the brand new look that she's debuting just in time for America's 250th.

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WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. President Trump scored two major U.S. Supreme Court victories on immigration this week. The decisions carry wide-ranging implications. One ruling allows U.S. officials to turn away migrants at the border before they're able to make asylum claims. The other decision puts a million migrants legally living in the U.S. currently under temporary protected status at risk of immediate deportation. It impacts about 350,000 Haitian nationals, about 6,000 Syrians, and thousands from 11 other countries who had protected status.

This includes about 15,000 Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio, who have been credited with helping to revitalize that community. You'll remember, Springfield became a flashpoint during the 2024 campaign after President Trump and Vice President Vance falsely claimed immigrants in that city were eating pets. Joining us now is Pastor Carl Ruby of Central Christian Church in Springfield. Great to see you, Pastor. You called the ruling the worst-case scenario and a tragedy for Springfield. Tell me what this decision is going to mean for people there.

CARL RUBY, SENIOR PASTOR, CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH: I can't tell you how much. This is not only a tragedy for Haitian families whose lives are going to be put at risk. It's a tragedy for our city. Our city had been shrinking for half a century. And when Haitians showed up, it was the first time that we have grown. They have filled jobs. They've started businesses. It's going to be an economic hit for our city. And it's also going to be a hit for our churches.

There are many churches in town that have grown because of the Haitian families who have started worshiping with us and sit in our pews every week. And this is going to be a huge setback to our community, to our Haitian friends, and to our churches.

WHITFIELD: Taking it further. You know, one of the attorneys who argued for the Haitian TPS holders before the Supreme Court says the decision will, I'm quoting now, "directly result in thousands of innocent people dying violent, needless deaths." How worried are you for people who had temporary protective status being deported and returning to areas that were hostile, which is why they got that protected status?

RUBY: Let me tell you a fresh story of something that happened just last -- just this past week, I had a child in my church come up and there were several children sitting around talking about farm animals and they started talking about pigs. And a Haitian boy very soberly said, I've seen huge pigs in Haiti. And I said, what were they doing? And he said, they were, they were eating the bodies. And I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

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And I asked others about that later and they confirmed that those are things that he had witnessed in Haiti. And I just asked my fellow Americans, especially Christians, imagine being a child who has witnessed that now living in fear of being sent back immediately. This is a young child who survived a kidnapping attempt. And I can't imagine that my fellow Americans and especially Christians would be OK with sending Haitian families back to that. I'm not only worried for the children, but I'm worried about them losing their parents.

And that's exactly what this decision is going to cause. It grieves me when I hear people who claim to be Christian celebrating this. And the Bible isn't a policy manual. I understand that there are people who are going to have different opinions on policy, but any policy that doesn't treat Haitian children and Haitian families the way we would want our families to be treated is not a policy that pleases the Lord.

WHITFIELD: While you are hearing from the children, what are some of the adults, the parents of these children, saying about what recourses they're exploring, how they are bracing themselves for potential inevitability as a result of this decision, I mean, what kind of picture are they painting for you about what their worries are and what they could potentially face?

RUBY: I have to be honest with you, and I've not talked to many since the decision came down because they are all staying in their homes. They're scared. I have had people call asking if they should go to work or not. And I've encouraged them to go until their employer tells them not to. But they're just, there aren't other options for them. They can apply for asylum, but the President's administration, they have been firing immigration judges who don't deport enough people. And when they advertise for replacements, they've advertised for deportation judges. Right now, only 4 percent of people in Ohio who are applying for asylum are getting it. So there are no options. There's nothing to refer them to right now. And that is the heartache that I experience.

WHITFIELD: Yes. We can hear it in your voice. Thank you so much, Pastor Carl Ruby, for being with us for sharing these very impactful stories and now consequences as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Pastor, thank you so much. All the best.

RUBY: Yes. Thank you.