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Senator Lindsey Graham Dies At 71; Interview With Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC); Trump Says U.S. Hit Iran "Very Hard Last Night"; Two Killed In Mass Shooting At Toronto Festival; Hundreds In Houston Protest ICE Killing Of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo; Attorney Ben Crump Shares Insight On Nolan Wells' Death; Satellite Images Show Iran May Be Rebuilding Nuclear Sites; Fire Breaks Out At A Pub In Bangkok, Killing At Least 27 People; Record-Breaking Heat Takes Over The U.S. This Week. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired July 12, 2026 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:37]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

And we begin this hour with the death of Senator Lindsey Graham. Last night, paramedics rushed to the senator's home in Washington, D.C., after a report of a person suffering cardiac arrest. Graham's office says the 71-year-old died after a, quote, "brief and sudden illness." Graham recently returned from his 10th visit to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.

President Trump told CNN today that he was speaking to Graham moments before his unexpected death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's devastating. I thought he was fine. He called me last night. He just got back from Ukraine. He was tired. He said, I'm tired because it's a long trip. But other than that, he was fine. And he called me, I guess, just moments before because he called me like at 6:30 or something. And the medical people got there a little bit later, right after that. What a terrible loss it is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Trump has ordered all American flags across the country to be flown at half-staff. Already flags at the White House and the U.S. Capitol have been lowered to honor the South Carolina Republican.

I want to bring in now CNN chief national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny.

Jeff, Lindsey Graham's political journey was quite remarkable. I mean, from one of Donald Trump's sharpest Republican critics to one of his closest allies, and so much before and even after that. And then, of course, in the midst of it all, after the January 6th attack, the dynamics of that relationship seem to change. But then there was a turnaround.

I mean, talk to us more about that's among the most memorable moments of, you know, his legacy, quite frankly.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, I think we all remember that moment on the Senate floor after January 6th when Senator Graham said, count me out, I am done. And that could have been the end of Donald Trump's political career. But of course, that changed and actually fairly quickly. So the critics of Senator Graham will say that he clung to power. He sort of was like a moth to the flame of power. And he really affixed himself to the president and the Trump administration. He will say to try and influence the policies of the administration.

But stepping back a bit, I think the shock is still just settling in here on Senator Graham, 71 years old. And by Senate standards, that is hardly among the oldest senators. He just turned 71 last week, last Thursday, and he was one of the most active senators on domestic policy, on foreign policy, to be sure. But even coming up, this is going to be -- this was going to be an extraordinary week for him.

The president's attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche, is facing his confirmation hearings. Lindsey Graham is a key defender. Now that vote is gone. The defense spending bill is just on the verge of coming to a light as well. He will not be able to lead that. So going forward, his loss will have a significant impact on the Senate. But just thinking back, Lindsey Graham really sort of defines the change in the Republican Party from the George W. Bush era to the Donald Trump era.

He, of course, was a John McCain acolyte. He learned at the foot of John McCain, but he became a true supporter of President Bush. He pushed him -- one of the backers for the immigration reform. But then he ran against Donald Trump in 2016. He really spoke out against him so strongly. But then he made up. And again, he was trying to -- he was one of his closest friends. So supporters of Lindsey Graham will say he was kind of a moth once again to the flame of power.

Some critics will say that he sold out his country to support the Trump administration. But in any respect, Lindsey Graham was one of the most impactful senators of this age.

WHITFIELD: All right. And then, of course, there would be quite the scramble right now.

ZELENY: Right.

WHITFIELD: Right? In order to replace him, the South Carolina governor will appoint someone. But I wonder what kind of lobbying, conversations, suggestions are being made.

ZELENY: Well, look, I mean, he is in the middle of a race himself. He just won a primary very handily. He was favored to win the general election as well in South Carolina. Obviously it's a red state, but all that has changed now. [16:05:01]

So Governor Henry McMaster has not exactly said what he's going to do. He said for this moment, he wants to honor the legacy of Senator Graham, but he also has to work fairly fast here, so he could either appoint someone to be a placeholder, if you will, or appoint someone who would go on to a run for this seat in November. But there will be a new Republican primary, likely in just a few weeks, likely the 11th of August. A new Republican primary for his seat in South Carolina.

So the scramble is certainly on for who the governor is going to replace. But again, a central question is, is it going to be a caretaker position, or is he going to appoint someone who could also run in the fall -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jeff Zeleny, thank you so much, in Washington.

ZELENY: Sure.

WHITFIELD: All right. Joining us right now from South Carolina to talk about Senator Lindsey Graham's legacy, Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace.

Congresswoman, so glad you could be with us. I mean, describe the kind of impact you believe Senator Lindsey Graham has had, not just on your state, but on, you know, the American political landscape?

REP. NANCY MACE (R-SC): Well, Lindsey Graham was a legend. He was a giant. And all of us across South Carolina are shocked today. We are stunned. No one saw this happening. And to us, to those who serve in the state legislature and in Congress today, he was our senior senator and he was a mentor to me, and he was a mentor to many of us in our delegation because he's been around a while.

I think he got his start when I was 17, and he knows the difficulties and traps that are in Washington, D.C., what it takes to be successful. And he mentored myself and many of us. But I think one of the greatest legacies he will leave in South Carolina, where his constituent services, it didn't matter who you were, how much power and money you have, but if you needed something, you could always call Lindsey Graham and his office and they would always call you back.

Everybody in South Carolina knows that now. They knew it then, and that's why he overwhelmingly had support in every one of his elections. And of course, he was very close with the president, and got a chance to golf with him frequently, to have his ear, to influence military policy, foreign policy, chairman of the Budget Committee, et cetera. All of those things. That was Lindsey Graham.

And the one thing I think people are missing today is that he was a family man. He wasn't married, he didn't have children, but he adopted his sister when his parents passed away. And he took care of her. And likewise, she took care of him. And they had a beautiful relationship. And so I don't want that to be lost on people. He was a real family man. WHITFIELD: Well, talk to me, too, about how he was a good mentor for

you. You stressed that, you know, and in what way would you describe, you know, what your experience was like he as the mentor to you?

MACE: Well, like a daughter to a father. I remember getting a couple glasses of Riesling wine and sitting down with him in my living room when I first got elected to Congress six years ago and asking him advice like, how do I navigate this? How do I be successful? Constituent services, you name the thing. And he was always very tuned in on what you needed to do. And even when I got in some tough spots, he always had my back.

And, you know, he always had the back of those in his delegation because he was a good man. He was a good, I think, mentor and a father to many of us who've been in Congress for the last couple of years, too. And he was funny. I mean, even if you were an enemy, he would hug you, you know, and he told jokes and he was self-deprecating, but he fought. I mean, when he walked into a room, he was ready to fight whether it was the Kavanaugh hearing or any other fight, he would walk into that room.

He knew what he was talking about. And he knew what the battlefield was. And he knew how to get what he wanted. And he was very, very good at it. He was very effective. And that's going to be sorely, sorely missed. I thought he'd be in the Senate seat until he was 100. So for us today, it's shocking to see what has transpired in the last couple of hours.

WHITFIELD: I know it is very fresh and it is, you know, a stunning moment to so many. But, you know, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, I mean, he can appoint someone, will have to appoint someone. And as we just heard from Jeff Zeleny, will it be kind of a caretaker for this position through January, or will it be someone who will be able to run?

Who are you hoping the governor might select or do you have anyone in mind?

MACE: I told the governor this morning that I suggested that he should nominate himself. He can't do that, to be a sort of caretaker in between now and January 3rd. And then there would be a special election, which would really, it's only a three or four-week special election, essentially for that nomination for November.

So I suggested to the governor today. I also talked to that he should do it himself, but I also talked to the speaker today. We can't afford to lose any seats in the House. I'm not pursuing it. I'm told that Joe Wilson is not pursuing it, that interim appointment, because we need every vote that we can have for the president in the House as it stands today.

[16:10:01]

WHITFIELD: OK. You're not pursuing it. And I wonder, too, I mean, it's a little awkward to ask you about this, but, you know, early this morning, after learning of Senator Graham's death just a few hours later, you posted, and correct me if I'm wrong, if this is not your post, but you posted on social media a clip of Michael Corleone from "Godfather Three," where he famously says, just when I thought I was out they pull me back in.

MACE: Right.

WHITFIELD: What did you mean by that?

MACE: Well, I love a little self-deprecating humor. I think that right now our focus needs to be on grieving Lindsey Graham. This has been a shock to the system in South Carolina. There will be time to decide, you know, do I want to look at this race or not? None of us will have a lot of time and I know that there are already names being thrown out there right now. And the president is, I'm sure, getting a lot of phone calls, but South Carolina's focus certainly in the next couple of days and weeks, need to be on Senator Graham.

And in honoring his legacy, I thought it was fantastic that President Trump ordered all American flags to half-staff today. But I would be remiss if I didn't look at it. But right now, my focus is going to be on mourning and -- mourning Lindsey Graham and honoring his legacy.

WHITFIELD: OK. And I understood you properly. You said you're not pursuing that position now vacated by the late --

MACE: The interim appointment, we can't -- yes. We can't afford to lose any votes in the House right now. And so I am not. There are media reports that I'm pursuing an appointment and I'm not for that interim role. I think that we can keep every Republican in the House right now. That's best for the president.

WHITFIELD: All right. Congresswoman Nancy Mace, thank you so much for being with us. Our condolences to you as a close colleague and once mentee of the late senator. Thank you so much.

MACE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Still ahead, intensifying strikes. The U.S. and Iran launching a new round of attacks. We've got new details about the extent of the damages in Iran. Plus the latest on the multiple investigations now looking into the fatal ICE shooting in Texas. A congresswoman representing the district where the shooting happened is speaking out to CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:16:45]

WHITFIELD: All right, we're following a renewed intensification in the U.S. war with Iran. Iranian media is now reporting new attacks taking place today on multiple sites in southern Iran. The reports do not identify who launched the strikes, referring only to an enemy attack. The reported strikes come as the U.S. Central Command shares new video of attacks it says were carried out on 140 Iranian targets overnight, and CENTCOM says the U.S. has hit more than 300 military targets in Iran in recent days. President Trump telling CNN today this latest round of strikes is in

retaliation for an Iranian attack on a merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I will say we hit them very hard last night. We had a deal with them yesterday. They were giving up everything. And then all of a sudden, two hours after that, they hit a ship with a drone and I said, these people, there's something wrong with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Iran says it responded to the U.S. attacks by firing drones and missiles at U.S. military targets in multiple Gulf nations.

CNN's Nada Bashir is joining us right now.

Nada, what more are you learning about these latest attacks.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, just in the last few hours, Fredricka, we have seen those reports broadcasted on Iranian state media reporting the sound of several explosions near Iran's Qeshm Island, which is, of course, near the Strait of Hormuz, which has been the focal point, of course, of attacks targeting vessels passing through that key shipping route.

According to Iranian state broadcasters, we're also hearing the sound of explosions near the port city of Bandar Abbas. And this comes just several hours after the U.S. confirmed to have carried out its third round of strikes targeting Iran over the last few days. We had that confirmation earlier in the day from the U.S. Central Command of that earlier round of strikes. At this stage, no confirmation from U.S. military officials with regards to this latest report of explosions taking place in Iran.

But earlier in the day, the U.S. Central Command did confirm that around 140 targets were struck. They said these were primarily military targets. We're talking about missile and drone sites, naval capabilities belonging to the IRGC, ammunition storage facilities, as well as communication networks and coastal surveillance locations.

Now, this comes just after the Iranian regime confirmed or announced that it would be shutting access to the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route. This, according to the Iranian regime, in response to vessels using unauthorized routes through that key strait, essentially not using the coastal corridor on the coastline of Iran, but rather traveling through the coastline of Oman, which shares, of course, the Strait of Hormuz.

But this does come just a day after a meeting between Iran's foreign minister and his Omani counterpart. And according to officials familiar with the discussions which took place in Oman, the focus of those talks was on trying to establish some sort of secure mechanism between the two nations to allow for the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. And that, of course, has been the key stumbling block between the U.S. and Iran in trying to establish a long lasting, mediated peace agreement.

[16:20:09]

Whether those talks will achieve any sort of positive developments to shift the needle, that remains to be seen. We haven't had any official announcements from those talks. But again, this rhetoric that we're hearing from Iranian regime, from the U.S., and now reports of yet more strikes is really raising concern over the efforts being made to negotiate some sort of diplomatic resolution.

WHITFIELD: All right. Nada Bashir, thank you so much.

Straight ahead, a deadly mass shooting in Canada. A manhunt now underway after gunmen opened fire at a popular festival in Toronto.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:25:09]

WHITFIELD: All right. Two people killed and several others injured after at least two shooters opened gunfire amid crowds at a Latin street festival in Toronto. New video shows the crowds running from the gunfire. Officials say several suspects are believed to be at large, but there is no ongoing threat to the public.

CNN's Gloria Pazmino is following this for us.

Gloria, what are you learning?

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fred. And it happened at what is known as one of the largest celebrations of Latin culture in Canada. There were thousands of people that had gathered for this festival that takes place in Toronto. And as you see in the video there, people running after gunshots rang out.

Now, we know from police that this appears to have stemmed from two people that opened fire towards each other. Two people were killed. Several others were injured when at least two shooters exchanged gunfire. There were roughly 13,000 people in attendance at this street festival in Toronto. And as you said, police believe there are multiple suspects and a manhunt is continuing at this hour.

After the shooting, police were able to establish three different crime scenes, and they did recover two firearms. I want you to listen to the local police there talking about the incident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEP. CHIEF FRANK BARREDO, TORONTO POLICE: There were people that were injured. There were people that were down, and there was a lot of activity and a lot of frontline responders that quickly went into action. Two males since that incident began have been pronounced dead. Another four individuals have been transported to local hospitals with serious injuries. Two firearms were recovered at the scene. This was a very active and chaotic scene at times.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: Both the mayor and the prime minister condemning this incident on Saturday and sadly, the festival said it would not be resuming its activities for a second day as they were scheduled to do today now that this police investigation is ongoing -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Gloria Pazmino, thank you so much.

All right. Still ahead, growing outrage in Texas after the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by ICE agents. The latest on what is happening with the detained men who witnessed the deadly incident.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:32:11]

WHITFIELD: All right, days after a Mexican national was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Texas, hundreds gathered outside Houston City Hall to call for an independent investigation into Lorenzo Salgado Araujo hose death. Immigration officials say Salgado Araujo rammed a law enforcement vehicle with his van and refused to follow verbal commands during a targeted operation.

But three men who were in that van and witnessed the shooting dispute that claim. They have since been detained because immigration officials said they were undocumented. CNN's Carolina Peguero is in Houston. Carolina, I mean, what are officials saying about the eyewitness accounts?

CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN MIAMI CORRESPONDENT: I'll have that information in just a second, Fred. Now, the -- it's almost been a week since Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot and killed just a few steps from where I'm standing. And you can see here the memorial site just continues to grow. The community members continue to show their love and support.

Now, in terms of the investigation, we have reached out to local and state officials. There's literally no update since Friday. They have only shared that the federal authorities are resigning existing collaboration. Now, we also went door to door to the local businesses. We spoke to residents and they have said that they've seen detectives here in the area. We tried to also get some video footage, cell phone video. However, we were not successful in that.

Now, we also spoke to Democrat Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia who visited those men at the detention center where they're being held and they shared their first accounts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP SYLVIA GARCIA (D-TX): Only Mr. Salgado said that the FBI, someone from the FBI had come to talk to them, to him. I asked them if there were any questions that might be about this alleged assault to an agent. And he was just what? None of us ever touched them.

(END VIDEO CLIP) PEGUERO: Now as the rage continues to rise across the country here in Houston, there's been several marches, protests and rallies. And some of the protesters also spoke to CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we shouldn't wait for something like this to happen. I'm here because I come from a mixed status family and this could happen to my cousin, my uncle, my dad. And, you know, I do want Houston to touch his heart and realize that it could be any of us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEGUERO: And now the Harris County Institute of Forensic has ruled Salgado Araujo's death as a homicide. The family representatives from the organization LULAC have also shared that they are looking for an independent autopsy on Salgado Araujo's body and also seeking accountability. Fred.

[16:35:12]

WHITFIELD: Still a lot of questions. All right. Carolina Peguero, thank you so much.

We're also getting new details in the mysterious death of Nolan Wells, who went missing during a Fourth of July boat trip with friends in Mississippi and was found dead two days later. Wells' family attorney Ben Crump shared new information on some questions surrounding the 18- year-old cell phone. Speaking during a service at an Atlanta area church today, Crump says friends of Wells' remember him arguing to get his phone back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN CRUMP, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY REPRESENTING WELLS' FAMILY: There's an obvious argument going on where his friends have reported to our office and our investigators that Nolan was saying give me my freaking phone. What are you freaking doing? Suggesting that they would do and had his phone and then that becomes very relevant.

His body is rushed down the coast. It ends up on the coastline dead and he doesn't have his cell phone. His mother tracks his cell phone with her sister on Life360 because people want to know where their children are at and it is at the one of the boys house who owned the boat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Meanwhile, protesters marched in the streets of Wells' hometown calling for more transparency in the case. The local sheriff says there was no immediate or obvious signs of foul play. His comments sparked an independent investigation launched by the family into Wells' death.

Coming up next, a CNN exclusive report finds Iran may be attempting to rebuild some of its nuclear sites. We'll show you those images in moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:41:37]

WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. The U.S. and Iran continue exchanging attacks and counterattacks, testing the fragile cease fire. Iranian media is now reporting new strikes taking place today on multiple sites in southern Iran. The reports did not identify who launched the strikes, referring only to an enemy attack.

The reported strikes come as U.S. Central Command shared new video of attacks it says were carried out on 140 Iranian targets. In all, CENTCOM says the U.S. has hit more than 300 military targets in Iran during attacks in recent days.

Satellite images obtained exclusively by CNN appear to show Iran rebuilding nuclear and missile sites throughout the country in the past several weeks. That time frame would put Iran in violation of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed to by the U.S. and Iran, an agreement that is now in serious jeopardy amid renewed fighting.

Here's CNN investigative reporter Katie Polglase.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATIE POLGLASE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER (voice-over): This image, one of several shared exclusively with CNN, may show signs of Iran attempting to rebuild its nuclear facilities. This is one of several locations across the country where we've identified recent activity both at nuclear and missile sites.

The activity at nuclear sites in particular raises questions as to whether Iran violated the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the U.S. in late June, even before President Trump seemed to signal its end by launching fresh strikes in it, Tehran had agreed not to procure or develop nuclear weapons. This site in Parchin is believed to be holding explosive material for nuclear weapons.

Before the U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iran built this concrete shield around it, a sign of its importance. It was then struck multiple times during the U.S.-Israel bombing campaign this year. The targeting was precise. You can see the holes left behind by bunker busting bombs.

Now in new imagery from June and July analyzed by CNN in conjunction with the Institute for Science and International Security, we can see Iran appeared to be taking steps to repair and reconstruct the site. You can see temporary covers placed over the impact holes. Then weeks later, with the memorandum still in effect, the covers are removed and replaced with a mesh concrete mixing. Trucks are visible nearby. Experts say these trucks are a sign the Iranians are intending to seal the holes.

POLGLASE: For weeks we've only had glimpses of what's been happening on the ground inside Iran. Providers have been withholding satellite imagery across the region at the request of the U.S. government. Now those restrictions are loosening and we've been able to see new images across Iran of which sites they've started to clear and repair. First, a sign perhaps of which they see as the most important.

POLGLASE (voice-over): This is Pickaxe Mountain, another site where Iran is believed to be advancing its nuclear capabilities deep underground. And in recent weeks vehicles could clearly be seen going in and out of the tunnels. Experts told CNN this was likely a violation of the terms signed with the U.S. which required Iran to maintain the status quo regarding the nuclear program.

In contrast, other prominent nuclear sites did not seem to have been touched. Like Isfahan here, Fordow here and Natanz.

[16:45:00]

There has been activity at some missile sites. The U.S. and its allies have long been concerned about Tehran's missile capacity. And the latest imagery suggests Iran has already started repairing some storage sites. This is new paving laid out at Tabriz missile base in recent days. And at another missile base in Kermanshah, we can see excavators and tunnel entrances being cleared.

Lastly, we've also spotted repairs at air bases in recent days. You can see a crater being filled in here at Tabriz Air Base. With the US Resuming its attacks on Iran, a peace agreement is seeming increasingly out of reach.

Katie Polglase, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And the White House told CNN, quote, the administration is watching these sites closely because Iran cannot keep the enriched uranium, end quote. The Iranian government has not responded to a request for comment.

I want to bring in now Nicole Grajewski. She is an associate with the Project on Managing the Atom at the Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center. Nicole, great to. So let's get started with these exclusive satellite images.

What stands out to you? What are your thoughts?

NICOLE GRAJEWSKI, ASSOCIATE WITH THE PROJECT ON MANAGING THE ATOM, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOLS BELFER CENTER: Well, thank you so much for having me. I mean, these satellite images tell us only a part of the story. They don't tell us what's happening inside these facilities and the intent behind them.

A lot of these facilities, for example, like Parchin, are co-located with missile facilities and have been historically involved in the past in Iran's nuclear program, especially the weaponization front prior to 2023. But this is not a smoking gun. That suggests Iran is rebuilding and reconstituting and going even further to have a nuclear weapons program. WHITFIELD: What do these images then suggest to you? Since you said you can't tell what's happening, you know, inside, but on the outside with what appear to be some changes in it, post those bunker busters, what does that indicate to you?

GRAJEWSKI: It certainly indicates that Iran is trying to fortify these facilities. This was already in the works actually prior to this current war. Actually, in the aftermath of the June 2025 war, you saw a lot of momentum and looking for sites that were much more insulated than, for example, for Fordow and Natanz that were hit by the bunker busters.

So these sites are ideal for Iran to kind of fortify and potentially in the future think about developing a nuclear program. But I wouldn't say that this is, you know, for sure where Iran is doing these activities.

WHITFIELD: Then if they were trying to reestablish, you know, any kind of nuclear capabilities, how long generally would it take?

GRAJEWSKI: It really depends on what type of weapon Iran is thinking about. But when we're looking at just kind of the civilian nuclear program, its enrichment program. A lot of the facilities were destroyed, but we haven't had oversight over Iran's centrifuges, which are used to enrich that uranium.

So Iran is very likely that Iran might have remaining centrifuge components and other kind of, you know, knowledge base that wasn't eradicated in the strike. So it would be around, you know, in the short range, maybe one year to really two to three years.

WHITFIELD: OK, so a satellite imagery showing trucks, construction equipment, fresh concrete. But in your view, what are the biggest unknowns?

GRAJEWSKI: I mean, the biggest unknowns is kind of the status of the highly enriched uranium. We do know that it was mainly concentrated at Esfahan. We don't know about the centrifuges, which are really crucial here because that's what you need to enrich uranium. And we also don't know about the purpose of these sites.

I mean, a lot of these sites that are fortified could potentially be used for ballistic missiles as well. And Iran has had a history of actually co locating these facilities. So I would say that also should have imbue a bit of skepticism about what the intentions are there.

And finally, we don't really know what Iran's overall goal is here. I mean, Iran, for all intents purposes is, you know, negotiating on this memorandum of understanding that has been quite flawed. But they haven't really expressed a desire to develop nuclear weapons capability since this war. So that would also be something that is really crucial to understand.

WHITFIELD: All right, Professor Nicole Grajewski, thank you so much for your expertise. Appreciate it.

GRAJEWSKI: Thank you for having me.

WHITFIELD: All right, new today, a large fire has engulfed a pub in Bangkok, killing at least 27 people before firefighters were able to control the flames. Officials say new images show the aftermath of the fire and first responders at the scene. The Thailand prime minister said that a musician performing at the pub reported hearing an explosion after the power went out. The cause of the fire still under investigation. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:54:39]

WHITFIELD: Recovery efforts are still underway in Missouri following catastrophic floods, flooding that has left at least one person dead. The body of a woman in Crawford County who was reported missing was found Saturday two miles downstream from her residence. Hundreds of others have been rescued, including more than 200 campers and counselors who had been evacuated by helicopter.

[16:55:00]

New video shows a Missouri State highway patrol boat capsizing in the floodwaters during recovery efforts. Officials say the two troopers are okay after they self-rescued.

And a heat dome is building across the U.S. with temperatures going well into the triple digits for some locations. People from the Great Basin all the way to the Northern Plains and the Midwest can expect temperatures up to 20 degrees above normal.

Meteorologist Melissa Nord tells us more about these conditions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA NORD, CNN METEOROLOGIST: This expansive heat dome that was building through the west is pushing eastward over the coming days. This is going to send a lot of areas from the Rockies to the upper Midwest 10 to 20 degrees above average. Not just talking about daily records, but some all-time record high temperatures are in jeopardy. Heat alerts on the map, that fuchsia color, those are the extreme heat warnings where we could see the temperature alone be well above 100 degrees.

We see those heat alerts from Utah and the Great Basin all the way up to International Falls, Minnesota through the rest of the weekend. 10 to 20 degrees above average. Billings, Montana. Over the Dakotas into northern Minnesota. You can see that hottest above average temperatures that we're expecting. Those are going to be situated across the upper Midwest through the middle part of the week.

Today's high temperatures Monday and Tuesday. You can see, look at this, Salt Lake City 107 today. That would tie their all-time record high temperature for that city staying above 100 degrees through at least Tuesday. Casper, Wyoming, 102 degrees this afternoon. And then we go a little further east. You can see those 100 degree century mark numbers as well for Rapid City, South Dakota. Billings, Montana, if they make it to 111 degrees today, that would smash the all-time record high of 108 from back in early 2002.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Melissa Nord, thanks so much. All right. Gas prices in the U.S. were on the rise again this week after President Trump declared the cease fire with Iran over. The average cost for a regular gallon of gas today is $3.88. That's an increase of $0.08 from last week.

Oil and gas prices started to slowly decline after the U.S. and Iran signed a peace plan back in June to end the war. According to figures from AAA, gasoline dropped below the $4 threshold last month for the first time since March 30th.

Right. CNN Heroes is kicking off its 20th year celebrating good news and good people. The first CNN Hero of 2026 is building tiny homes in Syracuse, New York offering unhoused people shelter, dignity and support to rebuild their lives.

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ANDREW LUNETTA, TINY HOME FOR GOOD: We take for granted the stability that home affords us. If you were to just imagine doing anything without a house. Like, oh, no, that's what I have to get first. That is where our tenants are coming from constantly. A tiny home is a really, really solid model because it pairs this independent and also private living.

RHEA HOLMES, TINY HOME FOR GOOD RESIDENT: I wish people understood that the homeless population are still human. At any time, circumstances can change. I was living at my husband's grave for eight months. My whole life was turned upside down. When I finally got to the end of the rope and became out of my home, the only place that I felt was home for me was the cemetery where my husband was.

LUNETTA: In its simplest form, stable housing made it so Rhea no longer had to sleep in the cemetery.

HOLMES: Come in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

HOLMES: It's so good to see you.

LUNETTA: The next step after that was long term case management supports to help her address the things that hopefully she's not going to have to deal with anymore.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am so proud of you.

HOLMES: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Y'all help me out.

LUNETTA: Oh, man --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Y'all got me focused.

LUNETTA: Where a tenant moves in, they don't necessarily understand that they're being housed by this organization that cares a whole lot about them.

Yes, dude, you've been knocking it out of the park.

So when all of a sudden we're knocking on their door, there's a little bit of like, well, this is different.

Hey, buddy, you want to walk? But as time goes on and I think that it's seen that we mean it, it's really pretty profound, some of those changes. This wouldn't exist without the tenants.

HOLMES: You're a great leader, sir.

Peace is now what I have. It's like freedom to just exhale. Like your nervous system is now able to rest.

LUNETTA: Let's go get this toilet fixed, shall we?

I still don't love being called a landlord, but it is true. That's what we are. And I think that what this pop needs as landlords who care and absolutely what we do.

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WHITFIELD: And for the full story, go to CNN.com/heroes. Thank you so much for joining me this weekend. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. CNN Newsroom continues with Omar Jimenez right now.