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July Fourth Weekend; Swift-Kelce Wedding. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired July 03, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:31]

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to all of our viewers watching from around the world and in the US, I'm Salma Abdelaziz here in London.

Let's get into the headlines. It's going to be a sweltering Fourth of July weekend as temperatures spike across the US what that means for travelers heading out for the holiday. And the celebration for America's 250th birthday is facing some last minute setbacks. How organizers are adjusting to the potentially dangerous conditions.

Plus, it's being called "America's Royal Wedding." Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are set to tie the knot today. Going to take you to New York to see how the city is preparing for this massive event.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from London, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Salma Abdelaziz.

ABDELAZIZ: Today's top story is the record breaking heat for the Fourth of July weekend with more than 160 million Americans now under a major or extreme heat risks. The heat wave is intensifying across the east coast and it's straining the electric grid as people try to stay cool with air conditioning.

Now, experts say an intense heat dome that is an area of high pressure that locks hot air in place is a phenomenon that is supercharged by global warming. Meantime, many cities are opening cooling centers to help people fight off that heat. Our Allison Chinchar is in Atlanta with more.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One out of every two Americans is under some type of heat alert as the extreme heat is expected to linger through the holiday weekend. We're talking people in the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic, the Northeast, pretty much the entire eastern half of the country is looking at those temperatures above average.

And we're not just talking a few degrees above average. More than 100 locations could end up seeing record breaking temperatures, and a few locations could break records two or even three days in a row. It's not just the high temperatures that are a concern for people, it's also those low temperatures. Some cities will not see that low drop below 80 degrees. This is a problem for your body. It doesn't allow it a chance to rebound and cool down before the temperatures go right back up the next day. There are a lot of outdoor events taking place both Friday and Saturday in celebration of July 4th. And officials are urging people, please don't be outside unless you absolutely have to. And if you do, remember to take frequent water breaks, wear light-colored loose fitting clothing, and try to take at least some air conditioning breaks throughout the day, especially in those peak afternoon hours.

ABDELAZIZ: Now, despite that heat, more than 72 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over this Fourth of July weekend. That is a new record, just above last year's 71 million. Eighty-five percent of those traveling are going to drive instead of flying. That's even though gas prices have been at four-year highs because of the Iran war.

The national average right now is nearing $3.84 per gallon. That's much better than a month ago, but it's still higher than before the conflict. The nation's capital is also on the front burner. Washington, DC is expected to reach 103 degrees today and Saturday, just shy of its all time record of 106. That was set in 1930.

And the heat is stifling activities at the Great American State Fair. Attendance there has already been very sparse in authorities canceled third Thursday night's rehearsal for the annual Capitol Fourth concert. Now, we're expected to hear from organizers today if the concert itself will actually take place. CNN's Brian Todd has more for us from the Great American State Fair in Washington.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in the nation's capital, it is oppressive, punishing heat for the Fourth of July weekend. Forecasters say this three day sequence that we're in Thursday through Saturday could end up being the hottest three day sequence in Washington, DC for almost a century since 1930. Now, for the Fourth of July and here for the Great American State Fair, they're trying to combat it with places like this.

This is a hydration station. These gentlemen have been here all day long from 10:00am to 10:00pm they're here, just giving out free bottles of water. They take it from the pallets, they put it in whole crates over here on the right hand side, then they shift individual bottles to the left that are already cooler.

This is the fourth and fifth pallets delivered here just today. They'd already, excuse me, the fifth and sixth delivered pallets. They'd already gone through four of these entire huge pallets today so far. And these are the fifth and sixth, each pallet containing about 3,000 bottles of water by my count. So you can see just how much the demand is for water here on The Mall.

[04:05:17]

In addition to this, these hydration stations, they're setting up cooling tents, cooling buses with air conditioning for the Fourth of July. And that's going to be key because people here are going to come out to an open mall area, which in the middle at least, does not have much shade. Now you can see trees lining either side of the mall. Those are great, and people are going to be taking shelter under the trees.

But if hundreds of thousands of people are out here on The Mall on July Fourth, there are going to be a lot of people here who are in this open exposed area probably for several hours at a time. That, officials say, is a dangerous idea. DC City officials are telling people to limit your time outdoors. You know, this is just getting to be kind of a dicey situation with the temperatures just consistently, consistently hovering above 100 degrees in this three day sequence.

The air conditioning at these booths, some of these booths at the Great American State Fair broke down on Wednesday, so that was another concern. People were not going into them. And you can see there are kind of sparse crowds out here for the fair. It really is due to the heat.

Now city officials in DC are doing their part to try to combat this and advising people, stay out of the heat, to limit your time outside. They've set up six cooling centers around the city. Those are recreation centers and community centers. In addition to that, they've had spray parks, pools and libraries that are going to be open on the 4th of July for people to go inside and take in the air conditioning or to cool off in the water. Those are the measures that DC officials are taking.

But all of this is adding to the angst inside the White House. CNN has been reporting over the past few days that officials at Trump's White House are getting increasingly anxious that the crowds here on the 4th of July May not turn out to be as high as they had anticipated or they had hoped. Part of that is due to the weather, part of that is because of the politically charged atmosphere surrounding some of these events and some of the Entertainers pulling out, etcetera.

But there is concern here and the White House -- at the White House about possible disappointment with the crowd size on the Fourth. In addition to that, some of the times have shifted for some of the events, lending to some confusion over when some of those events on the Fourth of July are actually going to start and finish. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

ABDELAZIZ: A former Olympic canoeist has been indicted by a grand jury in Washington. He is accused of damaging the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. David Hearn now faces a felony charge and one count of destruction of property that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. US attorney for of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, says Hearn reached into the pool and ripped part of the lining.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANINE PIRRO, US ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: 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)

ABDELAZIZ: Now, Hearn's attorney has blasted the indictment saying, "David Hearn is innocent. These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American." Hearn previously told CNN that police arrested him after he touched a flap of blue material that had detached from the pool. Renovations ordered by President Trump have cost more than $14 million.

Iran is preparing to bid the final goodbye to its slain supreme leader and send a very blunt message to the US in the process. Right now, the casket carrying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remains is at the mosque in Tehran, where foreign dignitaries have been paying their respects. Six days of funeral ceremonies begin on Saturday with millions of mourners expected to attend. Some of them are already on the streets waving flags and holding pictures of the late leader.

The events will overlap with celebrations for the 250th US Independence Day, which appears to be part of Iran's message that it survived the war and stood up to America. CNN's Leila Gharagozlou is following developments for us from Abu Dhabi.

Good morning to you, Leila. We're seeing some of these images of people gathering, of dignitaries gathering, but this is taking place months after the supreme leader was killed. What message is the Islamic Republic trying to send here and how is it also being conveyed inside the country?

LEILA GHARAGOZLOU, CNN REPORTER: Yes. So the message that we're really seeing from the Iranian government around this funeral ceremony and six day kind of mourning processional is strength, resilience and unity. The emblem of the funeral as released by organizers is the fist of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with the words "we will rise."

[04:10:15]

So that really is the messaging. You know, they had four months of a very difficult war against the US and Israel. And before that they also had these widespread protests aimed at regime change internally. So they're saying very clearly, you know, we came out of a very difficult six months, and we've come out stronger than ever. We were not toppled and the Islamic Republic continues.

So over the next six days, we're going to see that message over and over again portrayed through religious symbolism as well as political symbolism. And this really is a hallmark of the Islamic Republic's key messaging that we've seen over the last 47 plus years.

Most importantly, though, what everyone's going to be watching besides that messaging is whether we see the supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. He hasn't been seen since he took over as supreme leader. And it's going to be really important internally specifically that people get a view of him to see the continuation of the Islamic Republic at a very key time.

Because we're very much closing the door on one era of the Islamic Republic and opening the door to a new era where we're already seeing a very distinct difference what came before. So a lot of messaging, a lot of symbolism, which again is a hallmark of this government, and we're going to be looking out for Mojtaba Khamenei.

ABDELAZIZ: That's something very interesting to watch for if we see the new supreme leader. The other thing I wanted to ask you about is we know that Iran's negotiators left Qatar for this funeral, paused talks. Where did they leave things, Leila?

GHARAGOZLOU: Yes. So as of now, things are still very up in the air between the US and Iran. When they were in Qatar, they didn't meet with their American counterparts. There were lower level technical negotiations. And now, as you said, they are on pause for this funeral, which doesn't really help this quite tight turnaround that we have on these 60 days.

We're already seeing it slow rolling. We still haven't figured out the proper implementation of the MOU. So this is only going to delay it further. We're going to have to see what the US reaction is to this pause in negotiations while six days of funeral ceremonies and processions take place. Salma?

ABDELAZIZ: Thank you so much, Leila, there for the breakdown of that multi-day funeral for Iran's killed supreme leader taking place right now. Still ahead, a remarkable rescue in Venezuela, emergency crews pull a survivor from the rubble that is eight days after the deadly earthquakes. We'll hear from one of the rescuers about that moment.

And after months of speculation, it is believed that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will soon wed what people familiar with the planning say is on tap for later today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:16:51]

ABDELAZIZ: You are looking at live images of the New York City skyline where it is believed that city is going to hosting America's biggest wedding of the year, of the century, maybe. Sources say Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are poised to get hitched at Madison Square Garden. It's all very hush-hush, very cloak and dagger, we're told.

The rehearsal dinner wrapped at the famous arena just a few hours ago and fans are eating up all the intrigue. Some Swifties have even been gathering outside the venue. CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister has been there all week.

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 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.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just think it's really special.

WAGMEISTER: The center of the Swifty 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 in my mind how, how is she going to decorate that?

WAGMEISTER: 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 4:30pm Eastern Time, followed by what's expected to be the big Swift-Kelce event, which is scheduled to start at 5:30 on the arena floor, then a reception to follow lasting until the early morning hours. Swift 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: According to the Associated Press, the mayor said a permit application for a "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 celebration.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: 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: Anticipation has reached new heights for the first photos of the event, like the images that the couple released to celebrate their engagement. 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.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we have just been having so much fun celebrating them and their relationship.

[04:20:06]

WAGMEISTER: 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.

There is a heavy security presence here outside of Madison Square Garden. I spotted the National Guard and there is a huge NYPD presence. Also, as you can see behind me, there are barricades set up everywhere with more street closures tomorrow.

Now, for tonight's event, which sources tell us was some sort of rehearsal dinner, we spotted a lot of black SUVs that were pulling in. But this is so secure and intended to be so private that the black SUVs are pulling in underneath the tent. And then when the guest walks out, they are also shielded by a tent. So it's going to be very hard for paparazzi and us to spot different celebrities.

And that is exactly what Taylor intended and probably one of the main reasons why she wanted to get married at Madison Square Garden where she could keep the venue secure. Now, I also want to tell you no detail was left because even behind me, Madison Square Garden, is lit up in lavender. And we know that Taylor has a song, "Lavender Haze." Back to you.

ABDELAZIZ: I want to bring in entertainment journalist Michael Musto for more on all of this. Good morning, first of all, to you. I know it's the middle of the night for you, thank you so much for joining us.

MICHAEL MUSTO, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: My pleasure.

ABDELAZIZ: I'm absolutely obsessed. I'm going to be honest with what is the wedding of the century. You said -- you're saying you live not that far from Madison Square Garden. I want to know everything.

What do we know? What do we not know? What is the atmosphere like?

MUSTO: Well, if this is a ruse, it's the biggest ruse ever perpetrated because there really are barricades everywhere you go in this area. There's fencing. They are clearly prepared for this major event. It's a feel good event.

Taylor Swift is one of the most liked personalities on earth. She's not only talented, but she gives money to charity. She's a decent person, she's smart, and she's had bad luck in romance. Let's face it.

She has broken up with guys and written song after song about the relationships. I pray that this marriage doesn't end in a concept album. But I don't think it will, I think this is the real thing. And it's going to be a huge event.

Apparently, I hear that Stevie Nicks is one of the many people who are going to perform, which is why the Madison Square Garden venue makes sense. Obviously, Taylor Swift is not going to get married at a Taco Bell or a convenience store. She had to pick a large arena. That's where she's comfortable. But it's also a great venue for different celebrity friends to get up and sing and sing their praises of her and Travis.

ABDELAZIZ: And you were talking about her roller coaster romance life. And I think the thing for Swifties is they feel like they're best friends with her, right? They're there for every heartbreak and every milestone. But this is a private, enclosed event.

How is she going to make them feel included? How is she going to bring them in?

MUSTO: Well, there'll be plenty of photos, plenty of videos. Everyone realizes that they can't personally be invited. I personally feel I should have been. But in any case, she's very savvy about making her fans, as you say, feel privy to her personal life as much as is healthy for herself.

And that's what will happen here. And everyone's cheering her on. This is a good event. We need this kind of excess right now as opposed to negative excess.

ABDELAZIZ: And look, I know you said she can't get married at the Taco Mac, fair enough, but there's been a lot of celebrities that have done, like, these very secretive weddings. You know, her best friend or one of her closest friends, Selena Gomez recently did that.

And part of me was wondering, is it possible that this is just the public spectacle event, but there's really some super secret ceremony that's happening at some other time, another place?

MUSTO: I would respect her for doing that, just going to city hall and have a quiet marriage. But I think someone of the magnitude of Taylor Swift knows that whatever she does is going to be massively public, and they're going to steal away their images of it. This is a way for her to control it. Believe it or not, the bigger it is, the more controllable it is because it's a huge event.

MUSTO: It's not just some kind of private ceremony. I think she's doing it the right way. I really have no criticisms about her entire career. She's done everything with the proper foresight. And this is yet another good career move that also is very personally gratifying for both parties involved.

There was a Russian couple, by the way, climbed to the top of the Empire State Building antenna just yesterday, and they threatened to steal the spotlight from Taylor and Travis. But they've been slapped with federal charges and they're now out of the headline. So it's back to Taylor and Travis.

[04:25:11]

ABDELAZIZ: I don't think there is any way you can steal the spotlight. I mean, not even America's 250th anniversary is going to steal the spotlight. But I want to ask you about the Easter Eggs because that is something that Taylor is known for. Tell us all the ones that you've seen, known, heard of so far.

MUSTO: I'm not that plugged into this Easter Egg phenomena. Can you tell me what that's all about?

ABDELAZIZ: Yes. It's that she kind of hides these little clues, if you will. She does this in her music videos, in her songs and her lyrics. And I know we got a little bit of one and I think we're playing the video now where we saw just after it was confirmed by sources that the wedding was going to take place there. We saw on the back of some guys shirts that it said Taylor Swift, Carpenters. And so that's something to watch out for here over the course of this very special weekend. What other little clues will she hide for us? Michael Musto in New York, thank you so much for your time.

MUSTO: Thank you.

ABDELAZIZ: The death toll keeps growing following a deadly barrage of Russian strikes in Kyiv. Still ahead, rescue crews dig through the rubble amid concerns more people could be trapped underneath

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ABDELAZIZ: Welcome back. I'm Salma Abdelaziz. Let's check some of today's top stories.

Wedding bells may be ringing later today for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Sources say the celebrity couple will get married at New York's Madison Square Garden under very heavy security. We're told there will be a cocktail hour, and then a reception that will last late into the night. About a thousand guests are expected to attend.