Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Russia Attacks Kyiv; Iran Prepares to Bury Late Supreme Leader; Man Rescued from Rubble; Multi-Day Swift-Kelce Wedding Celebration Thought To Be Underway; The Vatican Excommunicates Ultra- Traditionalist Group. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired July 03, 2026 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hello, wherever you are in the world. You are now in the "CNN Newsroom" with me, Ben Hunte, in Atlanta. It is so good to have you with me.
Coming up on the show, Ukraine's president is calling for more help from U.S. and European allies after Ukraine's capital observes a day of mourning after a massive Russian attack. Iran begins a multi-day funeral for the country's late supreme leader while issuing a stern warning to the U.S. and Israel. And a magical story of survival eight days after back-to-back quakes in Venezuela.
UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom with Ben Hunte."
HUNTE: Ukraine's capital is observing a day of mourning right now to honor the victims of a massive Russian attack. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for a second straight day in the rubble of buildings that took direct hits. Ukraine says the death toll from Thursday's strikes now stands at 27 people with more than 90 others wounded. Officials say Russia fired a key from multiple directions, hitting the city for 11 straight hours. One resident says he didn't even have time to run to the shelter when the airstrikes started to come down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN (through translator): It was terrible. We were at home when reports came in that ballistic missiles were heading towards the city. So, we rushed into the hallway to get to the shelter. But it was already too late. There was one strike, then another, and then the blast blew our front door out. My wife and I grabbed our cat and dog, and went outside to see what had happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Ukraine says it shot down a vast majority of the drones and missiles that were headed its way, but its president still made this appeal after the strikes. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): Unfortunately, there is a shortage of anti-ballistic capabilities, a shortage of patriots. And our partners, primarily the United States and our European partners, need to be more proactive in providing assistance with us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: For more, we're joined by Oleksandr Merezhko from Kyiv. He's the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Ukraine's parliament. Thank you so much for being with me, sir. Russia has launched one of its largest aerial attacks of the war. What message do you believe the Kremlin is trying to send and what impact has this latest attack had on Ukrainians this morning?
OLEKSANDR MEREZHKO, CHAIRMAN OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT: Thank you for having me. Yes, it's one of the most -- deadliest attacks in recent months, at least against Kyiv. Thirty people have been killed. Dozen are injured. In other cities, we also have casualties. It's a very clear sign that Putin is absolutely not interested in negotiations in earnest, he's not interested in peace, and he's the only obstacle to peace.
And, unfortunately, we don't hear strong words from the White House. We don't hear the words from President Trump with regard to this crime committed by Putin.
HUNTE: President Zelenskyy says Ukraine urgently needs more air defense systems and has criticized delays in the delivery of promised western air defenses. What difference would additional systems make after an attack on this scale?
MEREZHKO: The difference is about human lives because when we have reliable air defense systems provided by our American friends in particular and support of our European allies, it helps to save lives of our people, it helps to save lives of our children because, each day, when Ukrainians go to bed, they're not sure whether they will wake up or not because, practically, each night, we are under attacks, and it has been for years. That's why we desperately need air defense systems, in particular, Patriot systems.
HUNTE: The Kremlin says these strikes were a retaliation for recent Ukrainian attacks inside Russia.
[02:05:00]
Ukraine says civilians and residential buildings received most of the attack. What does this tell you about Russia's strategy at this stage of the war?
MEREZHKO: Putin says that he is losing war on the ground. And, to me, it's a sign of weakness and desperation because the truth is that having lost strategically the war against Ukraine, Putin has focused on killing civilian population. He is waging a war right now against children and women, against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
Ukraine is acting in self-defense. And what Putin is doing, it's a war crime. And also, it's a crime against humanity. It's not about retaliation. It's about war crimes committed against civilians and people.
HUNTE: Ukraine has increasingly struck military and energy targets deep inside Russia, putting pressure on Moscow and even disrupting fuel supplies. Do you believe that those operations are changing the course of the war or prompting Russia to escalate even further?
MEREZHKO: I can't imagine more escalation at the moment because this kind of escalation has been for almost five years already on the part of Russia. But the deep strike is something which really hurts Russian war machine. Our goal is to stop Russian war machine, which is killing us, to deprive us of its fuel. And the more deep strikes or middle strikes we have, the closer is peace. These deep strikes make people -- make Putin to start at least thinking about beginning serious negotiations with regard to ceasefire.
HUNTE: President Trump says he wants to end this war. But ceasefire efforts do remain stalled. After another devastating night in Kyiv, do you believe that diplomacy is any closer or has this latest attack pushed peace talks even further away?
MEREZHKO: Unfortunately, such attacks against civilians and critical infrastructure is a very clear sign that Putin has absolutely no intention to give a chance for diplomacy and to negotiate. And we would like to see President Trump to return to his initial idea with regard to unconditional ceasefire. But to do that, we need more pressure from the United States. And President Trump, if he honestly believes in bringing peace to Ukraine, he should put maximum pressure on Putin. That's the only way to peace.
HUNTE: Ukraine has increasingly looked to Europe for military and financial support while continuing to press its allies for more air defenses and security commitments. Has this latest attack strengthened the case for Europe to do more regardless of what Washington decides?
MEREZHKO: Europe understands that the issue of Ukraine is issue of European security. And security of peace in Europe depends right now on Ukraine, which plays the role of shield, which protects Europe from Russian aggression and Russian hybrid war against Europe.
At the same time, we strongly believe in transatlantic solidarity and transatlantic support. We believe in NATO support. And we need more coordination of efforts to stop Russian aggression not only from Europe, but also from the United States. But, of course, we are grateful to the United States since the U.S. continues to share intelligence information and continues to sell weaponry, especially air defense systems, which we need for us, for Ukraine, with the financial help and material support of the European allies.
HUNTE: OK. Oleksandr Merezhko in Kyiv, thank you so much for now. Appreciate it.
MEREZHKO: Thank you.
HUNTE: Iran is preparing to bid the final farewell to its slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hours ago, his casket arrived at a major mosque in Tehran where foreign dignitaries paid him their respects. Six days of official funeral ceremonies are set to begin on Saturday. They are expected to involve millions of people and overlap with celebrations for the 250th U.S. Independence Day. Iran wants to send a message to its enemies that it not only survived the war, but it's also immortalizing its leader, who stood up to the West.
As Jeremy Diamond reports, the ceremonies are affecting the ongoing U.S.-Iran peace talks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, after several days of negotiations in the Qatari capital, we now see a break, it appears, in these negotiations between the United States and Iran in order to allow for what are going to be very grand funeral processions for the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
[02:10:04]
It is indeed rare in Islamic tradition for a funeral to be delayed by so long and it speaks, of course, to the extraordinary circumstances that were taking place in Iran, a wartime Iran, and also, of course, the kind of position of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the reverence that his followers have held for him, of course, for so long and the role he has played in the wider Middle East.
We saw that Qatar said that there was -- quote -- "positive progress" over the course of these negotiations the last few days. It's still unclear exactly what was discussed in Doha. Iranian officials said that they were focused on unfreezing Iranian assets. U.S. officials appear to have been focused on securing free passage for commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. And, of course, we know that the ongoing negotiations and discussions about the continued conflict in Lebanon also factored into those discussions.
But now, the attention, at least inside of Iran, is very much shifting to this funeral procession, which is going to take place over the course of several days in Iran next week. The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, calling on Iranians to turn out in -- quote -- "large numbers" to portray a united front inside of Iran to the world. There are going to be some 100 countries represented at this funeral, according to Iran's foreign ministry, with senior officials from China, Iran, India, and Pakistan expected to attend.
One big question mark here is whether or not the current supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader who's going to be buried next week, whether or not he will attend. And, of course, that question still looms because of the fact that we still have yet to see him in public since his father was killed and he was injured and, ultimately, since he ascended to become Iran's third supreme leader. Now, another question is whether or not there could be any strikes
during this funeral procession. Certainly, it seems very unlikely from the U.S.'s point of view. Also, relatively unlikely from Israel's point of view. But a senior Iranian military official is warning both the United States and Israel against carrying out any military action against Iran during this funeral, vowing a -- quote -- "regret- inducing response" should any strikes take place.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: In Gaza, the Hamas-Iran health ministry says more than 73,000 people have been killed after 1,000 days of war. Of those, more than 21,000 were children. An agreement that went into effect in October called for the war in Gaza to end immediately. But Israel has carried out strikes on a near-daily basis. Hamas has refused to disarm. And an international police force intended to assume control over Gaza's security has yet to materialize. Appearing on TV recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered no prospect of lasting peace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL (through translator): I want to know if it's over, if it's behind us, or if we're continuing, and if the goal of total victory is still valid.
Let me tell you something. It will never be over. Do you want to live? In the Middle East and in the world, you have to be strong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, says the death toll from the twin earthquakes has climbed to nearly 2,600 people. She says that includes almost all of the local government leaders in the hardest-hit area. Venezuela has declared a period of national mourning, but search and rescue efforts are ongoing. Rodriguez is denying accusations that the government's response was slow. Amid the tragedy, a remarkable rescue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(APPLAUSE)
HUNTE: Emergency crews pulled a man alive from the rubble eight days after the quake struck. CNN's Isa Soares spoke with one of the rescuers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: It was really moving seeing Hernan Gil (ph) being pulled out of the rubble. A convoy of rescue workers were carrying him on both sides of the structures, and then the rest created a pathway, of course, after looking after him for something like eight days. And then the look on his face, he was dazed but alert. This was something out of a blockbuster movie. And everyone here could sense it, could feel it.
(APPLAUSE)
Because with applause, and there was a lot, by the way --
(APPLAUSE)
-- also came relief after so many days, of course, of loss right here in Venezuela. For a moment, just imagine being Hernan (ph) stuck under piles, tons of rubble, unable to move, and in pitch black for days.
[02:15:04]
I was really struck by the Herculean effort from teams from all over the world who for days taking turns, were delicately cutting through the cement, trying to get him out. And this was, by the way, an incredibly complex operation.
Hernan (ph) was a security guard at this parking lot here, on level minus two, when the earthquake shook Venezuela. He was in his little cabin. I was told by a rescue worker that he probably was sitting on his chair because they found him under the chair. But that little cabin, imagine that, created an air pocket, and that kept him safe. They kept him alive by giving him fluids, by giving him electrolytes, even baby food through a tube. And while this was all happening, outside, his wife waited day and night to be able to hug her husband.
I can't help but mention this little nugget that was shared with me by a Portuguese rescue worker who, in the early days of the rescue, really bonded with Hernan (ph) over football. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARMANDO MARIA, PORTUGUESE RESCUE WORKER (through translator): We identified ourselves as a rescue team, as usual. And I told him that I'm from Portugal. I told him my name is Armando Maria and that I was there to help him when, almost immediately, he yelled, Cristiano Ronaldo.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Personally, after days reporting on so much loss and misery here in Venezuela, Hernan's (ph) rescue really moved not just me, in fact, but my entire team.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: For more information about how you can help the earthquake victims, please go to cnn.com/impact.
OK, millions of Americans are sweltering through a heatwave. Many places in the eastern half of the country are setting new temperature records. We'll tell you how the hot weather is affecting plans for the July 4th holiday weekend. See you in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUNTE: Welcome back. In the U.S., more than 160 million people are under major or extreme heat risks on the East Coast. From Washington to Boston, at least 20 locations have broken or tied their daily record high temperatures, and more are expected on Friday. Too much demand on the electric grid has caused power outages for hundreds of thousands across multiple regions. The extreme heat may force some cities to postpone or even cancel the July 4th events.
Jenn Sullivan has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENN SULLIVAN, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): A massive heat wave crippling the East Coast. Temperatures soaring into the triple digits with feels like temperatures even hotter. And it's coming as millions of Americans get ready for July 4 celebrations.
MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: These are extremely dangerous conditions, and they will affect every part of our city.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): In New York City, millions of visitors are expected as the Big Apple prepares for its monumental America 250 celebrations, including a special ball drop in Times Square for the countdown to July 4th.
CHRISTINA FARRELL, COMMISSIONER, NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Our teams will be working through every hour of this, and we will keep you updated.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): But the dangerous temperatures aren't just a threat to people's health. There's also fear of possible power outages. Energy company Con Edison warning customers in New York to conserve energy. It could also impact air travel. Delta telling customers the heat could affect flight delays in and out of New York's LaGuardia Airport. And Amtrak warning passengers the high temperatures may cause trains to operate at slower speeds.
In Washington, D.C., it's forecast to reach around 103 degrees Thursday and Friday.
CLINT OSBORN, DIRECTOR, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: This has the potential to have triple digit temperatures, which may break records this week.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): Wednesday, some of the booths at the Great America State Fair had to temporarily close because the air conditioning went out. Many of the cities seeing extreme heat are also hosting FIFA World Cup games like Atlanta, where thousands of fans face sweltering heat at the FIFA Fan Festival Wednesday. RODERICK SMITH, CHIEF, ATLANTA FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT: These heat- related illnesses can escalate very quickly.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): In New York, I'm Jen Sullivan, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Yet another country has booked their ticket to the men's World Cup round of 16. Switzerland made it through not long ago with a 2-0 victory over Algeria in Vancouver, Canada. The Swiss will face the winner of the Colombia-Ghana match, which will happen in the coming hours. There was lots of excitement earlier when Portugal clashed with former World Cup semifinalist Croatia. The match came alive in the second half when the Blazers took a 1-0 lead. But superstar captain Cristiano Ronaldo equalized for Portugal on a penalty kick. And then in extra time came the winning goal that sent Croatia packing. And that sets up a big match-up between Spain and Portugal on Monday. Earlier, Spain advanced to the round of 16, making it look easy with a 3-0 win over Austria.
Meanwhile, fans of Team USA are still bristling over that highly controversial red card against top scorer Folarin Balogun. It means the star striker will have to sit out the United States' high-stakes match against Belgium on Monday. U.S. Soccer says it is unable to appeal that ruling. Earlier, World Sports' Don Riddell spoke to Balogun's USA teammate, Diego Luna, about the ruling.
[02:25:02]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIEGO LUNA, USA MIDFIELDER: Those are just one of those unfortunate situations. Yes, I don't think that's -- I don't think that was a red card. Nothing intentional about it. Just a dumb accident and, you know, wrong -- wrong footing. So, that's -- that's very upsetting to see. I feel for him. He's having a great World Cup. And, you know, he's -- he's one of my friends. To see that happen to him, it's, you know, one of those things that's just unfortunate.
DON RIDDELL, NEWS ANCHOR, CNN WORLD SPORT: How do you think the team responded to that? Because something like that can really set you back. But they finished the game so strong.
LUNA: Yes. I think that gave -- you know that shows that kind of collective mentality in the group. You know, even a man down, even when something is going wrong, something goes against you, which -- which will happen a lot, right? I think that shows the determination and the mentality of the group, to step up when things aren't going your way and, you know, get the job done. So, I think that was really good and it showed a lot about the team that's out there.
RIDDELL: How would you describe Folarin's value to this team? Can you, perhaps for those of our viewers who haven't been following this tournament and the U.S. team's progress so far, kind of describe just how valuable and important he has become to this squad? LUNA: Yes. He basically showed this World Cup that he's that guy. You know, he's the guy that's putting the ball in the back of the net. He's the guy making these sacrificial runs. He's the guy stretching the back line. He's doing everything. He's defending from the front. And it's just unfortunate to see that red card. But he's leading this team from the top, and I think that's super cool to see him do and super -- yes, super good for the team.
RIDDELL: He'll now be hoping that his teammates can win the next game and he can return in the quarter finals. How do you think he will be processing this setback? Last night, it looked as though he didn't even see it coming.
LUNA: Yes. Yes, I think it's going to be definitely -- this is a mental battle. You know, he has been physically challenged with the games. He has been doing the work. But now, it's the mental side of the game where now he's got to respond, he's got to be that teammate for the team, build the confidence, encourage the team, the belief, and now be that guy from off the field to do that. And, hopefully, you know, they can get the job done so he can come back into the squad and keep, you know, killing it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Rumors are swirling about the upcoming wedding era for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. After the break, will American royalty end up tying the knot? The details ahead. See you in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:32:28]
BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back.
New York City is believed to be hosting America's biggest wedding of the year. Sources say Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are tying the knot at Madison Square Garden. We are told the rehearsal dinner wrapped up at the famous arena just a few hours ago.
CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister has the details for us
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's already being dubbed America's royal wedding, the highly anticipated marriage of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One thousand percent excitement. I just think it's really special.
WAGMEISTER (voice-over): The center of the Swift universe is now playing out in Midtown Manhattan at Madison Square Garden. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I heard that it was going to be here, I was
like trying to put it in my in my mind, how? How is she going to decorate that?
WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Tonight, an event believed to be a rehearsal dinner is already underway for approximately 100 guests in MSG's Infosys Theater, according to people familiar with the planning. Celebrity guests were driven into a secluded tent and then admitted through a private entrance. And sources tell CNN there will be an enormous celebrity studded event with as many as 1,000 guests on Friday.
First, a cocktail hour beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by what's expected to be the big Swift Kelce event, which is scheduled to start at 530 on the arena floor. Then a reception to follow, lasting until the early morning hours.
Swift's celebrity friends like Sabrina Carpenter and Suki Waterhouse have already been spotted in the city, as well as Donna Kelce, Travis Kelce's mom, hints about the setting for the lavish event. Seen on the backs of staff and on the boxes being loaded into Madison Square Garden, bearing labels for a garden party with giant tree branches peeking out.
New York officials teased about security and preps for an epic ceremony in a briefing about upcoming events in the city.
JESSICA TISCH, NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: I would be remiss not to mention an event that we are tracking at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, the NYPD will, of course, have a detail in place.
WAGMEISTER (voice-over): According to the "Associated Press", the mayor said a permit application for a, quote, special event at MSG was approved earlier this week, and multiple people familiar with the plans confirmed it is tied to the wedding.
The mayor also warning New Yorkers to prepare for a heat wave amid all the celebrations.
MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NEW YORK: We're ready. We want to make sure you are, too, especially if you're celebrating the World Cup or the Fourth of July, or renting out MSG to get married. Hypothetically.
WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Anticipation has reached new heights for the first photos of the event. Like the images that the couple released to celebrate their engagement.
[02:35:07]
And even more Swiftie celebrations are taking place far away from New York City. Bakeries in Kansas City, home of Travis Kelce's team, the Chiefs, are toasting the happy couple, too.
ERIN BROWN, OWNER, DOLCE BAKERY: And we have just been having so much fun celebrating them and their relationship. WAGMEISTER (voice-over): No word yet on where a honeymoon will take
place. But if this wedding speculation is any indication, get ready for another legendary Easter egg hunt.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Richard Kolko is a retired FBI supervisory special agent. He joins us from Reston, Virginia.
It's good to see you, sir. Thanks for being here.
The NYPD has now announced street closures around Madison Square Garden. What does that tell you about the scale of the security operation and how far beyond the venue itself does that security bubble extend?
RICHARD KOLKO, RETIRED FBI SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT: Well, that security bubble is going to extend as far as NYPD thinks is necessary. Depends on the crowd, depends on what's going on.
This is a crazy weekend in New York City. As a matter of fact, it's been a crazy couple of weeks. Going back to the Knicks. They got the soccer games going on across the river parade, just on and on and on.
And now a very busy July 4th weekend. They've got ships, tall ships coming up the river. They've got fireworks. They've got parades. NYPD has stretched and stretched thin, but they'll be ready. They're experts at this.
HUNTE: Taylor Swift has previously had concerts disrupted by potential terror threats overseas. Does that history change how law enforcement approaches an event like this, even if there's no specific threat right now?
KOLKO: Well, that's a great question. As far as what happened overseas, it was in Austria, I believe. The schedule was posted so far in advance that this person and there were people arrested, had time to think about it, plan out some sort of terrorist attack. In reality, haven't known about this wedding for very long. It's only been a couple of days. So, unless a terrorist is expecting to do something very quick, it's much less likely that something like that is going to occur.
But that doesn't mean that NYPD, FBI, Secret Service, other agencies aren't scouring every under every rock and cranny looking for any potential threat anywhere. They're looking on the internet, they're checking their sources. And of course, they're just seeing if there's any threat that they need to be concerned about.
HUNTE: You have said that Madison Square Garden is built to handle huge crowds. From a security perspective. Is protecting the invited guests actually easier than managing the thousands of fans and influencers and paparazzi that's expected outside?
KOLKO: Oh, yeah. They've got a controlled environment. They control the entrances. The exits, no windows. There's no helicopters, no drones. They've hired their own private security to augment the NYPD that will be there.
So as far as what goes on inside the facility, very controlled, you'll have an excited crowd outside, but it won't be as boisterous as the crowd was for the Knicks. And that's just because there isn't a game playing on a large screen TV. So, while they'll be looking to see what people come in the in the cars and for the event and try and peek into the windows and stuff, and they'll be cheering and hoping for some music and some sightings. It just won't be as crazy as it was with the Knicks.
But they just had the playoffs for the NBA. They just had the parade. And what you see law enforcement do is they've got these crisis plans and emergency response plans. NYPD has them built up all the time, and they're brand new and fresh from the NBA playoffs. So, they didn't have to do a lot to prepare for this.
HUNTE: We are heading into one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year in New York. How do police balance protecting a high-profile private event without bringing the rest of the city to a standstill.
KOLKO: Well, they can't bring the city to a standstill this weekend. There's too many events going on. You've got the -- you've got the ships, you've got the parade. You've got the fireworks. I just looked through the list of NY -- New York City events. There's events happening in every borough.
So, NYPD is going to be very busy, stretched thin. But they've got to do what they've got to do here, and they're going to make sure that Madison Square Garden, this wedding, go off to the best of their ability without a hitch.
HUNTE: One feature of this event is the intense secrecy restricted access NDAs for guests, and reportedly no phones in some parts of the venue. Does that level of privacy make a security operation simpler, or does it create new challenges?
KOLKO: Well, you've got a couple of different things going on here. NYPD is going to be protecting the outside the perimeter -- who can access the facility, who gets in, who gets out. Are there any threats to the building? Once you talk inside, you're talking about cameras and pictures and things like that. That's really the private security of Kelce and Taylor Swift that they've set up for their wedding.
When you think of all the caterers and all the people that are working the event at the venue, they've got to check out for them, they've got to follow the rules as well as the guest list. So, but that's going to come down to private security and just doing a little bit of reading. It looks like they've spent a good deal of money to arrange for private security to augment what NYPD will be doing.
[02:40:02]
HUNTE: Wow. Technology has changed dramatically. How big a concern are drones today compared with someone physically trying to breach the space? And what tools are available to counter that sort of risk KOLKO: Well, the last event I worked in Madison Square Garden was the
pope visit in 2015, when I was an FBI agent assigned to New York. Different time, even just, you know, 10 years ago, 11 years ago, drones were not as much of a problem as they are now.
You can expect drones to probably show up outside the venue, even though they're not allowed to. Police will be looking for them. They've got the technology to take them down, and if they find you with a drone, you're going to lose the drone. You're going to get a ticket and you might get arrested.
A big thing that's changed, though, interestingly enough, in the old days being ten years ago, if police saw a drone over an event like this, they just assumed it was a bad guy drone. Well, they're not all bad guy drones anymore. The media using them, the event security is using them, the people putting on the wedding might be using them.
So, they've got to determine which drones are authorized, which ones aren't. They've got to be prepared for all that, and they'll do everything they can to keep everybody safe. That's just the rules.
HUNTE: This sounds very, very complicated, but I'm excited to see what happens.
Richard Kolko, thank you so much.
KOLKO: Thanks. I hope everybody has a good time and a good Fourth.
HUNTE: A former U.S. Olympic athlete is facing ten years in prison. What a grand jury in Washington says he did to the newly remodeled Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, just ahead.
And the Vatican take serious action against a conservative breakaway group for defying Pope Leo's authority. All the details after this break. See you in a moment
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:46:23]
HUNTE: Welcome back.
A grand jury in Washington has indicted a former Olympic canoeist, accusing him of damaging the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. David Hearn now faces a felony charge. One count of destruction of property. That carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.
U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, says Hearn reached into the pool and ripped part of the lining.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANINE PIRRO, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR D.C.: Our evidence further shows that the National Park Service employees observed Hearn actually forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands. According to witnesses. Hearn damaged approximately two square feet of sealant from the bottom of the pool.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Wow.
Hearn's attorney blasted the indictment, saying, quote, "David Hearn is innocent. These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American. Hearn previously told CNN police arrested him after he touched a flap of blue material that detached from the pool. Renovations ordered by President Trump have now cost more than $14 million.
The first American pope will mark U.S. Independence Day with a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, meeting with migrants and sending a message to the White House.
Ahead of that trip, the Vatican has excommunicated an ultra- traditionalist Catholic group for defying Pope Leo's authority. The leaders of the Society of Saint Pius X have faced excommunication before, but as CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb reports, the Holy See has now gone further than ever before.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: The Vatican is cracking down on the Society of Saint Pius, the 10th in what is a rare intervention which essentially declares the entire group to be in schism. Now, the traditionalists have gone ahead with the ordaining bishops without papal approval, and that is a serious breach of unity.
This ultra traditionalist group rejects certain reforms that the Catholic Church has undertaken in recent years, including on ways of worshiping religious freedom and interreligious dialogue. Now the society were warned not to go ahead with these ordinations by Pope Leo, who said they would be committing a sin of, quote, extreme gravity. But the society ignored the pope's appeals.
Leo XIV has made unity a priority. During his pontificate to the tough reaction by the Vatican, reflects that concern for unity and Leo's willingness to be firm when needed. Now, the society was founded in 1970 and has ordained bishops without papal approval before, and that led to excommunications. But this time, the Vatican insisting that not only the bishops are excommunicated, but priests of the society and lay members who formally adhere to the group.
Now, essentially, the Society of Saint Pius X want the church to go backwards, but Pope Leo has said the church must move forward. And on Saturday he's doing that by coming here to the Italian island of Lampedusa to highlight the plight of migrants and doing so on July the 4th, the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
[02:50:00]
Two senior bishops from the United States told me this week that his visit sends a message about the treatment of migrants in the U.S. and beyond, something that has concerned the pope, who has been critical of the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. Leo, coming here to Lampedusa to highlight the plight of migrants, continue to speak out on those questions of social justice.
Christopher Lamb, CNN, Lampedusa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: All right. They're called clippers, and they're making bank on social media. The trick is most of them aren't even creating their own content.
We'll explain next on CNN NEWSROOM. See you in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUNTE: CNN Creators is a special project that follows a team of digital storytellers navigating the issues that matter most to them. Their reports focus on tech, art, culture, sports, and social trends, too.
Here's Bijan Hosseini.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BIJAN HOSSEINI, CNN PRODUCER: So I'm scrolling through my TikTok account and I came across this video. It shows Ryan Garcia, a pretty famous boxer with Ashton Hall, who is a pretty famous influencer. But if you look really closely at this video, you'll notice that it wasn't posted by either of them. It was posted by someone else entirely, and that person took this clip they put on their own headline and they posted it as their own. This is what's known as a clipper.
And for every view this video gets, they're getting paid for it.
MUSA MUSTAFA, CLIPPER: Every single day you're scrolling, you've got thousands of hours of screen time. You're making me rich. In the last 90 days, I've made over $54,000.
HOSSEINI: This is Musa, and he claims to be one of the most popular clippers alive. At just 19 years old, he made his first million dollars. Now, at 23, he tells me that the money he's made is a lot higher.
Musa? I'm Bijan.
Have you had to put a number on how much money you've made from clipping?
MUSTAFA: Oh, man. Like we're talking top line revenue, easily over $30 million. Like easily.
HOSSEINI: Musa tells me when he first started clipping, he was getting paid directly by the creators themselves. But the industry is really advancing. And so now you get websites like this. This is a content rewards platform, and it basically shows you all of the live clipping campaigns right now. And you have everything from casinos to artists and musicians to influencers. If you look closely at all of these campaigns, they're being run by companies in the middle.
[02:55:03]
I sat down with the founder of Propaganda, which is right here, Eddie Cumberbatch, to kind of find out where the industry is headed.
EDDIE CUMBERBATCH, CO-FOUNDER, PROPAGANDA: I run one of the biggest clipping agencies in the world, Propaganda Media. And in the last few weeks, we've posted over 43,000 clips. From that, we generated 318 million views.
HOSSEINI: Is this killing traditional marketing firms?
CUMBERBATCH: A hundred percent. But once there's been so many case studies and pieces of data to show that this really is the best way to market anything, the bigger companies are now willing to hop on this.
HOSSEINI: According to PwC, more than $1 trillion was spent on global advertising last year. Eddie is banking that a third of that will shift to social media and clipping over the next decade. Big brands, musicians, artists, A.I. startups, even tourism boards are jumping on the trend. And the budgets aren't small either.
CUMBERBATCH: This company is running a $250,000 campaign. This company is running a $249,000 campaign.
HOSSEINI: Most campaigns pay out $1, or $1.50 for every 1,000 views. And Musa says even on a bad day, the math adds up.
MUSTAFA: The average video on TikTok gets like 2,700 views, roughly on average, and that's obviously accounting for 100 million view videos and the 200 view videos. But the average is 2,700. Now, if you get 1,000 views per video and you post 100 videos in a day, you'll get 100,000 views, which is $3,000 a month, which is $36,000 a year, which is your salary.
HOSSEINI: The clipping industry has drawn its fair share of criticism as well, mainly for clippers reposting content without permission and for inflated view counts that can be bought rather than earned. Eddie says his platform and many others run fraud detection to catch clippers who try to fake their numbers. Even Instagram has taken notice.
In April, their company had posted this warning.
ADAM MOSSERI, HEAD OF INSTAGRAM: So if most of what you post to Instagram is someone else's content, your account is no longer going to be recommendable. HOSSEINI: Does any of that worry you? That kind of the success rests
in the hands of these few companies?
CUMBERBATCH: No. There's always going to be like workarounds and like, allegedly there was like some change made to Instagram last month. We have not seen anything. Instagram makes money off of ad revenue. The more time people spend watching on their platform, the more money they make. This is simply helping them. HOSSEINI: Clipping has become a side hustle for some and a full time
job for others. But for Musa, it's become something else entirely.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: A Fourth of July tradition will continue at Coney Island, New York, on Saturday. The annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest will see Joey Chestnut defend his title. Contestants try to eat as many hot dogs as they can in ten minutes. Chestnut has won 17 of the past 20 Nathan's contests.
This year, he needed permission from a judge to leave his home state of Indiana to attend the event. He's on probation for slapping a man in March. Well, that was quite a change. Gosh.
Thanks for joining me in the team. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta. I'll be back for another hour of CNN NEWSROOM after this short break. See you in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
