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Trump to Address the Nation Tonight Centering Elections; Spain- Argentina World Cup Finale Set on Sunday; Former U.S. President Joe Biden to Release His Presidential Memoir. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired July 16, 2026 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

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LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Lynda Kinkade and this is "CNN Newsroom."

Coming up, Iran launching new strikes against U.S. forces and regional partners as the conflict enters another dangerous phase, with both sides digging in where the diplomatic efforts stand.

Plus, U.S. President Trump set to deliver a primetime address to the nation tonight, while he's focusing on election integrity as two of his nominees face tough questions on Capitol Hill.

And the World Cup final is set. What to expect when Spain and Argentina face off for the championship?

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Lynda Kinkade.

KINKADE: We begin in the Middle East where U.S. Central Command says it's completed two waves of strikes on Iran for the fifth consecutive night. Its main target, military assets to prevent Iran from threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reports that explosions were heard in cities across the country, including the capital, Tehran.

Sources say U.S. President Trump has also been receiving options for expanding military operations to undo Tehran's grip on the Strait. Here's more from the President.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I don't like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know, they know the story. They better behave.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Iran's chief negotiator says Tehran must continue to defend itself while also remaining open to diplomacy. Jordan's military says its air defense has shot down eight Iranian missiles that were headed towards the country earlier. Iran claims they were targeting the U.S. military's communication systems as well as fuel storage facilities.

CNN's Paula Hancocks is following all the developments and joins us now live from Abu Dhabi. Good to see you, Paula.

So tonight, the fifth consecutive day of strikes and counter-strikes between the U.S. and Iran. Are these strikes, you know, achieving a clear military objective or is it becoming an open-ended campaign?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Lynda, you could be forgiven for thinking we were back in March or April when you hear what is happening from the Trump administration. We've heard from two people familiar with the situation that President Trump is reviewing options to widen and expand the military options.

He is also having a Situation Room meeting. He is contemplating, according to these two sources, taking over Kharg Island, which is key to Iran's oil facilities.

Now, this is exactly where we were a couple of months ago. We also know that the naval blockade has been reinstated. So there are concerns at this point that this is moving in the wrong direction, that the escalation is continuing.

U.S. Central Command saying that they are targeting military installations along the Strait of Hormuz, although we have been seeing strikes in the capital as well, so that they can try and degrade Iran's ability to hit vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

We also did hear from the U.S. Vice President, J.D. Vance, on Tuesday, talking to Joe Rogan, and he was pointing out that the military option has to be coupled with diplomacy. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You can bomb them. You can take away their radar. You can take away some of their drones and some of their missiles, but it's just too easy to fire at ships in the Straits.

So you've got to actually be willing to talk and to try to figure out the problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: And he was pointing out that the asymmetric threat that Iran poses needs diplomacy as well as the military option. Now, we've heard from Iranian officials saying that they will continue to defend themselves, blaming the United States for not sticking to its side of the deal, saying that they are under no obligation to do what they were supposed to do within the Memorandum of Understanding, namely to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. We also heard from Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian, countering what we have been hearing from the U.S. President.

[03:05:06]

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MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): These comments are continuing and they are doing these acts. So the point is whether they could reach their goal in the field. The people who decided to divide Iran into pieces, where they are standing now finally, we in action, based on what we believe in, will defend our soil every inch of the way. And these disrespectful comments are worthy of them, not us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: So what we're hearing from the Iranian side, from state media, is that there have been explosions heard in the early hours of Thursday morning in Tehran, and also one hospital in the area of Avaz had to be evacuated as strikes were carried out nearby.

KINKADE: Paula Hancocks, we appreciate the update from Abu Dhabi. Thank you very much.

But for more, I want to welcome from Cairo, Egypt, H.A. Hellyer, a Senior Associate Fellow at the World United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies. Thanks for your time.

H.A. HELLYER, SENIOR ASSOCIATE FELLOW, ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE AND SECURITY STUDIES: My pleasure. Thank you for having me on the program.

KINKADE: So neither side is showing any sign of backing down. We're seeing another round of U.S. strikes and Iranian retaliation. Donald Trump said this war would last four or five weeks, we're now in month five.

At this point, is there any realistic off-ramp, and what would have to happen for both sides to move back towards diplomacy?

HELLYER: So the largest problem, I think, with this war since day one is that the Trump administration decided in the course of action without actually understanding how the Iranian regime works. They thought that they could knock out the regime and actually engage in regime change. That was never going to be the case.

They didn't account for the fact that the regime would seize the Strait of Hormuz as leverage, which of course, it was entirely predictable and quite well known in different war games in Washington, but involving experts as opposed to ideologues within the administration. Of course, that's what happened.

And now you see, unfortunately, the same phenomenon playing out where the Trump administration thinks that by striking Iran, by engaging in this sort of kinetic activity, it's somehow going to change the calculus of the regime. It isn't.

The regime has decided that this is a war that is existential, that the main point of leverage that it has against the U.S. is by having leverage against its neighborhood and the international community, and that means the Strait of Hormuz. I'm not saying that any of this is legal, by the way.

The United States, with the Israelis, launched an illegal and unjustified war against the Iranians, and the Iranians are trying to change facts on the water as opposed to the ground in the Strait of Hormuz by moves that are completely thuggish and absent of legitimacy. But it doesn't really matter in terms of facts. The facts are they will try to do this, they will push in this sort of direction.

This sort of military activity I don't think is going to change their calculus. I think the only way that their calculus gets changed is by discussions at the negotiation table, and that's certainly what isn't happening.

I think Donald Trump himself goes between thinking, well, let's use force, let's use negotiation, but on the tactical level. Strategically, I'm afraid that Washington still isn't in a good place.

KINKADE: I want to get your perspective from Cairo. What are you hearing from Arab governments, and are they more concerned about Iran's actions, the expanding U.S. military campaign, the impact on the economy and the Strait of Hormuz, or the possibility of a broader regional conflict?

HELLYER: I think all of the above, quite frankly. The Gulf region in particular, the Arab world more generally, has no interest in Iran taking more control on a geopolitical level.

They're not interested in Iranian hegemony at all, they're also entirely in rejection of Israeli paramountcy, where the Israelis have shown over the last few years in multiple actions, whether it be the genocide in Gaza, whether it be occupation in Lebanon or in Syria, or indeed this war on Iran. They're not interested in that either.

But they're also quite concerned, and I think quite legitimately so, about the impact on their economies if the war starts up again in the same way they did earlier this year. We haven't seen that yet.

[03:10:04]

There have been deleterious effects of the economies already as a result of the last couple of weeks, but nothing like what we saw earlier this year. And they don't want to return to that. That's why even though the MOU was frankly not very well negotiated, you saw the Gulf and the Arab world more generally be quite supportive of efforts to come to an MOU, because the alternative was returning to whole- scale war.

Nobody's interested in that. I should say I don't think the Americans or the Iranians at present are also interested in returning to full- scale war. But unless you get an off-ramp, then the law of unintended consequences becomes more and more dangerous, and you could just slip right back into it.

We've seen that over the last couple of days. Tensions increase. KINKADE: The question is who's going to move to that off-ramp first.

H.A. Hellyer, good to have you with us. Thanks so much.

HELLYER: My pleasure. Thank you so much.

KINKADE: U.S. President Trump posted on social media that Iran has released a dual Iranian-American citizen who had been charged with spying and barred from leaving the country since December 2024, she's been identified by her attorney as Dena Kerari. Trump called Iran's move an act of goodwill.

We're getting word of new Russian strikes on Kyiv just ahead of a visit by Prime Minister of Britain Keir Starmer. He arrived there a short time ago on his final trip as the head of the government.

Iran says the attacks killed two people and set some buildings and vehicles on fire. Mr. Starmer is expected to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the progress made in against Russia. Before the trip, the British leader said his country's iron- cast support for Ukraine will continue.

The Trump administration is slapping new 25 percent tariffs on most goods from Brazil, alleging unfair trade practices. U.S. relations with Brazil have soured since the election and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is President in 2022.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Lula and his government have negotiated in bad faith. President Trump was a supporter of Jair Bolsonaro. He was convicted of attempting a coup to overturn his election loss.

And President Trump is preparing for a primetime address to the nation in the coming hours. He's calling it really big news and says the speech will deal with U.S. elections ahead of November's midterms. Sources tell CNN that he will focus on the security of voting machines and alleged efforts by foreign countries to influence U.S. elections.

CNN's Manu Raju asked Vice President J.D. Vance about the speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A lot of Republicans here want him to focus on the 2026 midterms and not to re-litigate his claims about the 2020 elections. Would you encourage him to steer clear of those unfounded claims that he's actually the true victor of the 2020 elections?

VANCE: I'm obviously not going to get ahead of his remarks, but we can talk about a number of the American people's problems. We can solve a number of the American people's problems. That's exactly what we're going to work with our House colleagues and our Senate friends to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: We'll have more on those confirmation hearings and we'll have much more coming up on that exchange as well as a fire exchange between lawmakers and President Trump's pick to become the new Director of National Intelligence.

Plus the World Cup final is set and for the first time champions of Europe and South America will meet in Sunday's final with Spain versus Argentina. We'll discuss the road to the final with my guest next.

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[03:15:00]

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KINKADE: That was the scene in Buenos Aires as fans erupted in joy after Argentina beat England 2-1 in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final match here in Atlanta. Crowds flocked to the streets in the Argentine capital to celebrate the come-from-behind victory against long-time rival England.

The Three Lions were trying to hold on to an early lead but in the 85th minute Argentina leveled the score 1-1 and then in added time Lionel Messi found another way to score a goal for the game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAUTARO MARTINEZ, ARGENTINA FORWARD (through translator): Today once again we were trailing and we managed to turn it around in stoppage time and that speaks volumes about this group, about this team that is never satisfied. We want more, we want to go for more and in the end that's what counts. So now it's time to rest and enjoy what's to come.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: England now exits the tournament after making a valiant run and delivering one of the strongest tournament performances for the team in years. Captain Harry Kane reflected on the tough loss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRY KANE, ENGLAND CAPTAIN AND STRIKER: We struggled to keep the momentum of the game. We've done so well for that kind of 60 minutes. We scored, we deserved to be ahead and then for one reason or another we struggled to keep the ball, we struggled to put pressure on the ball and it just allowed them to create more momentum.

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KINKADE: Joining me now is Neil Atkinson, host of the podcast "The Anfield Wrap." Great to have you with us.

NEIL ATKINSON, PODCAST HIST, "THE ANFIELD WRAP": Well, hello there.

KINKADE: So Argentina back in the World Cup final after beating England 2-1. England of course scored the first goal. So what went wrong? Was it Messi's influence? Argentina's experience? Or just the inability of England to close out? [03:20:06]

(TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

Neil, I'm so sorry to interrupt. We're going to try and reconnect with you. We're having a lot of technical difficulties understanding you.

We'll try and get you back shortly. Thanks so much.

President Trump's third nominee to lead the CDC in less than two years is facing her confirmation process. When we come back, we're also going to look at the tough questions she got from both Republican and Democratic senators and hear why some are skeptical of Dr. Erica Schwartz, next.

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[03:25:00]

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KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Let's take a look at today's top stories.

U.S. military says it has completed strikes on Iran for a fifth straight night, aimed at degrading Iran's ability to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reports that air defenses were activated earlier in the capital, Tehran. Locations in northern and central Iran were also hit.

U.S. President Trump is preparing to deliver what he calls really big news in a primetime speech to the nation tonight. He says he will focus on free and fair elections and a couple of other things. Sources say the President will talk about voting machine security and alleged efforts by foreign nations to influence elections.

Senate lawmakers will hear testimonies from witnesses today as part of the confirmation hearing for Todd Blanche. President Trump's pick to become the next attorney general made it through questioning, but his confirmation isn't a sure thing. If just one Republican joins Democrats in opposing him, it could be enough to derail his nomination.

Blanche was the subject of one of two high-profile confirmation hearings Wednesday, and he has been serving as acting attorney general since April, after his former boss, Pam Bondi, was fired. Lawmakers questioned him on a range of issues, including the release of the Epstein files and his previous role as President Trump's personal attorney. Blanche also defended the President's authority to pardon January 6 defendants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D-RI): As Senator Durbin said, you denied that Trump encouraged any violence on January 6. You've cleaned house of every attorney who worked on a case related to Trump, and you've bragged that bringing justice for violent rioters meant that every one of them was either pardoned or had their sentence commuted.

TODD BLANCHE, ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: When I talk about what happened with the January, the convicted January 6 defendants, I talk about what President Trump did. He has the absolute right to pardon anybody for any reason he sees fit, and every one of them got pardoned or committed. I am not celebrating that, it is a fact.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Now, the hearing on Wednesday is for Jay Clayton, the President's pick to become the director of national intelligence. His nomination appears to be on track, but the hearing produced some tense moments when Clayton was repeatedly asked about the 2020 election.

CNN's Brian Todd has the details.

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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There were some extraordinary exchanges Wednesday between the nominee for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, and Democratic and independent senators.

The crux of the matter really went to whether Jay Clayton is going to use the office of the director of national intelligence to pursue President Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Jay Clayton's predecessors in that job, Tulsi Gabbard and Bill Pulte, have already done that, have already pursued those claims. The question is whether Jay Clayton is going to do it.

And to that question, he had to face one central question from four different senators. These were Democrat Mark Warner, Independent Angus King, Democrat Mark Kelly, and Democrat John Ossoff. All four of those senators asked him flat out, did Joe Biden win the 2020 election? And to all four senators' questions, he was evasive.

Here is a particularly heated exchange between Clayton and Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.

JAY CLAYTON, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE NOMINEE: I believe we just discussed that. The President provided a pardon.

SEN. JON OSSOFF (D-GA): Yes or no. Did the President of the United States pardon a convicted narco trafficker?

CLAYTON: Yes.

OSSOFF: Who won the 2020 election?

CLAYTON: You know what, I'm not going to do this with you.

OSSOFF: This is a job interview. We've established that you have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee. Yes, you do have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee?

CLAYTON: Yes.

OSSOFF: Who won the 2020 election?

CLAYTON: Like I said, I'm not going to get into that with you.

OSSOFF: But you do have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee?

CLAYTON: Is anything that I just said not honest or forthright?

OSSOFF: Yes, you're not being honest or forthright. Who won the 2020 election?

CLAYTON: I think I've answered the question. We can keep doing this.

OSSOFF: Well, we're going to keep doing it because you're not being honest and forthright.

CLAYTON: I'm not going to engage in the theater.

OSSOFF: It's a simple question, Mr. Clayton.

CLAYTON: And I've answered it.

OSSOFF: Who won the 2020 Presidential election?

CLAYTON: I've answered it.

TODD: And again, repeatedly, he was asked that question by four different senators, Did Joe Biden win the election in 2020? And each time he evaded that answer, he refused to say whether Biden actually won.

[03:30:09]

What he did say was that Biden had been certified as President, that Biden won the majority of the Electoral College votes, that Biden went through the processes, but he never flat out said that Joe Biden won. He knows that if he does say that, he will probably irritate his possible future boss, Donald Trump, if Donald Trump did see him in that hearing saying that Joe Biden won.

Another really interesting exchange there came when Jon Ossoff asked him about Tulsi Gabbard's trip to Georgia in January of this year, where she tagged along with a raid that dealt with 2020 election files, which was totally out of her lane as the director of national intelligence. That was a very controversial visit, very widely reported on.

But Jay Clayton said that he hadn't really heard about that visit, didn't know anything about it until he heard about it from Jon Ossoff in Jon Ossoff's Senate office shortly before the hearing. Pretty extraordinary there.

Still, even with all of this, it looks like Jay Clayton's track to be actually confirmed as director of national intelligence could be on track. Democrats are eager to remove the acting DNI, Bill Pulte, simply because Pulte is so controversial politically, again for doing Donald Trump's bidding on the election question, but also because Bill Pulte has no discernible experience at all in intelligence matters.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: An outbreak of an illness caused by a parasite is surging in parts of the U.S. More than 3000 cases of Cyclospora have been reported in Michigan and Ohio. The parasite causes an intestinal illness that can lead to diarrhea and other symptoms.

Michigan health officials say their investigations suggest lettuce or salad greens may be a possible source. Experts recommend avoiding pre- cut or packaged produce. Nationwide, the CDC says more than 7000 cases have been confirmed or are under investigation in 34 states since May.

President Trump's latest pick to lead the National Maine Public Health Agency is facing a challenging confirmation process. Dr. Erica Schwartz is the President's third nominee for CDC director in less than two years, and she heard from some skeptical senators on Wednesday.

CNN's Meg Tirrell reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): We need a CDC director that will actually stand up to crazy, stupid things being said that undermine faith in immunization. Are you the person?

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dr. Erica Schwartz faced a barrage of questions Wednesday from senators of both political parties about whether as CDC director she'd hold the line for science over potential political pressure.

DR. ERICA SCHWARTZ, CDC DIRECTOR NOMINEE: Chairman, you have my assurances that I will continue to lead by my integrity. I will never compromise on the science. I will always have the public's health in mind, I have spent over 25 years making sure.

CASSIDY: Quite the direct answer I'm hoping for.

TIRRELL (voice-over): Sources tell CNN Schwartz's nomination is an attempt by the White House to stabilize the CDC after months of turmoil under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The public health agency hasn't had a confirmed director for nearly a year after President Trump's last pick was ousted over what she said was her refusal to pre-approve vaccine advisory panel recommendations, an account Kennedy denied.

After so much upheaval, one White House official telling CNN of the choice of Schwartz, quote, "We just need someone who's not crazy." Since early last year, the CDC has faced significant job cuts, a fatal shooting at its headquarters and concerns it doesn't have the resources or latitude to tackle public health issues, including ongoing measles outbreaks, an Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the current outbreak centered in the Midwest of a diarrhea-causing parasite.

SEN. PATTY MURRAY (D-WA): RFK Jr. and Trump's war on the CDC is now landing people in the hospital.

TIRRELL (voice-over): A physician and former deputy surgeon general, Schwartz's credentials have been applauded by the public health world. She doesn't share Kennedy's skepticism of vaccines. Polling had suggested Kennedy's vaccine agenda could hurt Republicans in the midterms, alarming the White House, which did not respond to a request for comment.

More recently, Kennedy has touted the administration's policies focused on healthy food and lowering drug prices. But vaccines remained top of mind Wednesday, as senators repeatedly sought assurances that Schwartz, as CDC director, would stand firm on the science. Many senators remained skeptical.

SEN. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER (D-PA): I think you are immensely qualified. I am very concerned that even qualified people have either had to change their positions or quit. And so, again, I wish us all luck on our public health at this moment.

TIRRELL (voice-over): Meg Tirrell, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he's rolling out a new program to test American troops for low testosterone.

[03:34:57]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Today, I'm authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Secretary Hegseth said troops over 30 will be screened every year and receive testosterone replacement therapy will be voluntary. It appears he's planning to test only men for hormone irregularities. The Pentagon did not respond to questions about what research or academic studies are behind the policy move.

Sources tell CNN President Trump's chief of staff and the FBI director led a security investigation inside the White House. Susie Wiles and Kash Patel were reportedly looking to find who leaked information about the Qatari-gifted plane President Trump wanted to use as the new Air Force One. Apparently, that included asking everyone there for their cell phones, though sources say not every official who was asked turned in their phone.

President Trump has been touting the new plane, which was rebuilt and redesigned, but its defense capabilities aren't as secure as older versions, according to reports. That forced the President to change his travel plans while in Europe last week.

President Trump is ordering federal agents to resume traffic stops in their efforts to deport undocumented migrants. Sources say the President was furious about the pause ordered on Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security.

It came after ICE officers shot and killed two people in less than a week, one in Texas, the other in Maine. Neither was the actual target of an immigration enforcement operation.

The FBI is making new allegations in the shooting death of Lorenzo Saldar Araujo, he is a Mexican national who was killed last week in Houston. An FBI affidavit now claims that drugs were found in the van driven by the victim.

A Latino rights group says the allegations smell of a smear campaign and a cover-up. The Mexican immigrant community is in Houston praying tribute to Araujo and with memorial vigils. Carolina Peguero spoke with his sons.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the last time Lorenzo Saldar Araujo left home. One week ago, an ICE agent shot and killed the father of three in Houston on his way to work.

PEGUERO: It's been a week since your dad's passing.

RONALDO SALGADO, LORENZO SALGADO ARAUJO'S SON: A hard week.

PEGUERO: Everybody wants to know how you guys are doing.

R. SALGADO: We're worried about my mom, first and foremost. She's now left without her best friend and partner of 40 years. This responsibility has been brought upon me and I took charge because I am the oldest.

It's something that my father would have wanted for me to essentially be the head of the household, the man of the house. It's a responsibility that I did not want, but it's a responsibility that I'll undertake. So I'll be okay, I have to be for my dad.

PEGUERO: What is the message that you want to tell to those young adults that are in the same position as you, where you're from here and you're also from there, but you want to be a representation of what it truly is to be a hardworking American -- Mexican American.

LORENZO SALGADO, LORENZO SALGADO ARAUJO'S SON: I think in terms of the American story, ours is a very common American one. The idea that here is the land of opportunity. Once you get here and you put in work, hours of work, you will get paid off what you do, off what you make.

For us, it was education. That's what our parents really stressed and just showing us what it takes to instill that work ethic in us.

PEGUERO (voice-over): The Salgados aren't grieving alone. Hundreds packed a city council meeting this week, demanding accountability.

PEGUERO: All over Houston, all over the country, and people with just wanting answers, wanting to show you guys support, but seeking justice, something that you've been very vocal about. Ronaldo, how are you going to bring that forth?

R. SALGADO: Justice is, of course, something we want. First and foremost, we want to continue pressuring for a full, independent, transparent investigation to be able to get the full story.

One day, I want to live in an America where we don't have to look over our shoulder. We don't have to worry about whether we're coming home or not. That we're guaranteed life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

PEGUERO (voice-over): The family spoke out hoping this wouldn't happen again, but the death of another father in Maine by ICE agents has only compounded that grief.

L. SALGADO: It's truly heartbreaking. It really should not have happened again.

[03:39:56]

The fact that there's another family out there that lost a son, that lost a brother, that lost a father, that three-year-old girl, she can't speak to her father's character the same way that Ronnie and I can speak to our father's character and it's heartbreaking.

R. SALGADO: I want to tell the family that we have millions of people supporting us, and millions of people are going to be having their backs, but they're not alone and again, enough is enough. May that be the last one. May this week be the last week that anything like this happens.

PEGUERO (voice-over): A week of grief, a week of crowds turning out for a family they've never met, and two brothers now carrying a responsibility neither one asked for.

PEGUERO: Ronaldo and Lorenzo shared that although their mother has been heavily devastated by the tragic loss of her husband, she has been surrounded by family members and loved ones, and also by the support of the community, which is why she personally wants to invite the community to attend the public viewing of her husband's funeral on Thursday.

Carolina Peguero, CNN, Houston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: It's value has dropped over the past few years, but that's not stopping a pair of suitors from making a bid to buy PayPal. How much the company's worth, next.

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[03:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: Welcome back, I'm Lynda Kinkade. Here are your business headlines.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh says he's committed to bringing inflation under control, that was one of the key takeaways from his comments on Capitol Hill. He testified before the House and Senate this week. Warsh was questioned about whether the Fed would bow to political pressure, but he said, quote, we're honored to be independent.

President Trump is pushing New York to lift its temporary ban on building new A.I. data centers. His slamming Governor Kathy Hochul further moved, calling it a terrible decision, he claims data centers are, quote, "cash cows," wanting to lower taxes and record job growth. But Hochul warns they could drive up utility bills and strain the water supply.

The U.S. Treasury says it's producing $1 coins with President Trump's face on them. Generally, federal law prohibits living people from appearing on U.S. currency, but the Treasury says it is calling the coins collectibles to mark America's 250th birthday. When the coins will be available and how much they'll cost has not yet been announced.

PayPal is in the spotlight after multiple reports of a $53 billion takeover bid. Payment companies Stripe and private equity firm Advanta apparently made the offer early this month, CNN's Clare Duffy reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: That's right. This would create a massive online payments juggernaut. What Stripe and private equity firm Advent International here are reportedly offering is $60.50 per share for PayPal, that would mark about a 20 percent premium over where PayPal shares closed earlier this week prior to these reports.

But it is lower than where PayPal shares were a year ago, around $73, and much lower than where PayPal shares were five years ago, nearly $300. And I think that speaks to the challenges that PayPal has had in the last few years as it faces increased competition in this digital payment space, especially from players like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The company earlier this year hired a new CEO, Enrique Lloras. It launched this turnaround plan that involved laying off 20 percent of its staff. But all of that said, there is still a lot that PayPal could have to offer in a transaction like this.

Stripe, its business is largely servicing transactions for companies online. PayPal, meanwhile, has a huge consumer business. It owns Venmo, which alone has 90 million users.

Stripe very much might want those valuable consumer relationships, consumer transactions, not to mention that PayPal is a legacy trusted brand. Now, we should say that none of these companies have commented on

these takeover bid reports. It is not clear where this is going. Certainly seems to be early days. But if you look at PayPal shares closing up about 17 percent on Wednesday, it looks like shareholders are in favor of this deal.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: More than 800 active wildfires are burning across Canada right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: This is getting a little scary. Holy (expletive).

UNKNOWN: Okay.

UNKNOWN: Okay. You all need to hurry up here. Like, seriously, we're encased in flames now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: A crew member there describing the hellish scenes outside a train that was halted by a wall of flames. As you can see, they're absolutely frightening.

The train had been evacuating areas affected by the wildfires. A spokesman for the Canadian National Railway says the crew safely escaped the area but did not offer any other details. The union representing the crew criticized the railway for allowing a train to travel through that region.

More than 100 active wildfires in northwestern Ontario have been forced into mandatory evacuation orders this week.

[03:50:07]

Another round of slow-moving storms is causing life-threatening flooding in parts of southern Texas already drenched by the rain. Just 16 inches of rain has fallen in some places, Uvalde County has received about half of a year's worth of rain so far.

The flash flooding has led to dozens of water rescues. Tens of thousands of people are under the highest level of flood warning while others are under mandatory evacuation orders.

More rain is expected from this storm than fell during the deadly flooding last year. The storm also spawned a tornado in San Antonio Wednesday. The governor has declared a disaster in nearly 60 counties, the threat of catastrophic flooding won't ease up until Friday.

Officials say this type of storm pattern where rain repeatedly pounds the same areas is a worst case scenario for flooding.

Still ahead, English football fans seeing double. We'll show you the look-alike contest for one of the team's biggest stars.

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KINKADE: Welcome back.

England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina didn't end the way fans in London had hoped. They did have some fun celebrating one of their team's stars.

Hours before Wednesday's match, crowds of young men gathered for a look-alike contest to see who most resembled midfielder Jude Bellingham. The university student was crowned the winner.

The prize? A food delivery voucher worth more than $2,000 and a Beatles box set, all presented by another look-alike of Norway's star Erling Haaland.

Well, so now the World Cup final is set. Argentina will meet Spain in Sunday's showdown in New Jersey. World Cup history in the making.

The first ever meeting in a final between Europe and South America. Argentina aiming to become the first back-to-back World Cup title holders since 1962.

CNN's Amanda Davies reports from Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: This is an Argentina side who just can't be written off. We knew they weren't going to give up their crown without a fight, but boy, did they turn it into one in an absolute cauldron of an atmosphere here in Atlanta.

I have honestly never heard or not heard, as the case may be, national anthems like it. If noise really could blow off roofs, it would have done.

[03:55:00]

The tone was set from the word go. You could feel every pound of the weight of history and the rivalry. Thomas Tuchel had said he thought the challenge of Messi and Argentina would bring out the best of his side, this was a challenge that just wouldn't allow it.

Neither side managing to find a way through for a decent chance in the first half, but then on 55 minutes, England fans were daring to dream. Barcelona's new signing Anthony Gordon scoring his first World Cup goal, but 35 minutes is a long time.

Too long to defend against this Argentina side. The onslaught began. They hit the woodwork a couple of times and Enzo Fernandez and then ultimately Latouro Martinez found a way through to break England hearts once again and put Argentina into their second straight final.

UNKNOWN: It's Messi. You can't go against him.

UNKNOWN: He's the GOAT, I didn't have anything like nothing to say. He's Jesus, I don't know. He's up there.

UNKNOWN: We're just so full of emotion right now. Just meets the world to us because it's just we're all family here.

UNKNOWN: We all make a comeback.

DAVIES: After the tears of sheer relief from Messi in previous games, this time, like the fans, he had a huge smile on his face at the final whistle. Another chapter in the fiercest of rivalries written. Another Argentina victory to put them into Sunday's decider on the biggest World Cup stage.

Amanda Davies, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Former President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he will release his Presidential memoir in November. The book will be titled "Promise Me, America" and will include his account of major moments during his presidency.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: It's about the challenge we face as a nation, about the decisions I made, and why I made them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: In the video, Biden also said his treatment for stage four prostate cancer is going well. "Promise Me, America" is set for release just two weeks after the midterm elections.

Well, it's never too late to launch a new career. Two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins is kicking off his musical career with the release of his first single as a composer at the ripe old of 88.

Hopkins started playing the piano at age four, and he was composing music for local plays by the time he was a teenager. The new project features works from throughout his life. Take a listen.

(AUDIO PLAYING)

Hopkins is perhaps best known for his role as serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 film "The Silence of the Lambs" and his repressed butler, Stevens, in "The Remains of the Day."

Beautiful composition. Thanks so much for watching, I'm Lynda Kinkade. I'll be back with much more news in just a moment.

Stay with us, you're watching CNN.

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