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CNN International: ICE To Equip Agents With Electrical Shock Gloves; Sources: U.S. Embassies In Middle East Told To Plan On Operating With Small Number Of Staff On The Ground; New Details on Trump's Secret Switch Amid Iran Threat. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired August 13, 2026 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: In Virginia. We've only seen just a few seconds. It would be extremely helpful to see not only more of the video from the civilian perspective, but also something that the officers would potentially be wearing as well. Richard Kolko, we have to leave it there.

I cannot thank you enough for your analysis. As always, really appreciate your time.

RICHARD KOLKO, RETIRED SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT, FBI: Happy to be here, Polo.

SANDOVAL: Life is on hold for many staff members and their families at U.S. embassies across the Middle East. Still ahead of what they're hearing from home, from the State Departments about the war with Iran. And yet another member of the Trump administration leaving the White House. We'll have a report from the White House on Karoline Leavitt's imminent departure.

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SANDOVAL: The war with Iran has put life in limbo for many U.S. embassy staff and their families throughout the Middle East. CNN senior national security reporter Jennifer Hansler with that story.

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: The U.S. State Department is asking its embassies in the Middle East that are under ordered departure, meaning they've been operating with only emergency personnel on the ground, to make plans for a continuation of that reduced staffing. At the same time, sources told CNN that the State Department has increasingly been approving curtailments for diplomats who have been displaced from the region, meaning they can end their assignment early. Taken together, these developments indicate that the department does not expect to be able to return to normal staffing in the region in the near term as the war in Iran continues on.

Now, under State Department rules, after six months of ordered departure, an embassy is required to either return to normal staffing or move into restricted operations. Final plans have not yet been approved. However, once they are, they could grant some clarity to the diplomats and their families who have been dealing with nearly six months of uncertainty.

[04:35:09]

At the start of the war against Iran, the U.S. had not drawn down personnel from the majority of its embassies in the Middle East. It wasn't until weeks into the fighting, as the Iranians were targeting U.S. diplomatic facilities, that they ordered non-emergency personnel and family members to leave and return to the U.S. In that time, these folks have not been able to make long-term plans because they were not sure if they would be returning to the region. One diplomatic spouse described moving from house to house because they weren't sure if they could sign a long-term lease.

Now some families are having to make those decisions to stay, especially with the school year about to begin. That diplomatic spouse told me, quote, "We had no idea when we walked out of our house in March that we not only wouldn't be returning in six months, but now the reality is we won't be returning at all."

Now former diplomats told CNN that there can be an impact when there are fewer diplomats on the ground and that there are some things that just need to be dealt with face to face. This is especially true when it comes to promoting U.S. business interests or finalizing agreements that are made on a higher level, these diplomats said.

The State Department disputed the idea that any U.S. interests were impacted by not having as many diplomats in the region. They also said that they would not comment on internal deliberations, but that the safety and security of their personnel is paramount. Jennifer Hansler, CNN, the State Department.

SANDOVAL: We're learning more about Donald Trump's secret presidential plane switch last month in Turkey after a potential Iranian threat against him. Specifically, according to the source, the threat to Air Force One posed by a possible shoulder-fired missile. Well, now the Washington Post is reporting some new details about that intelligence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN LAMOTHE, NATIONAL SECURITY REPOTER, WASHINGTON POST: The threat, the threat string that raised all these concerns and prompted these extraordinary actions came from information shared from Israel. The CIA had low confidence in that information. But given the threat, given the seriousness of the issue, given the long-running concerns about Iran's interest in going after the president, they put all of this in motion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And according to a source, when the president secretly exited Air Force One through a catering container and onto a military aircraft, he was joined by several close personal aides. You see them there. They included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his executive assistant Natalie Harp, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Stephen Miller. They were among those who remained aboard the other, the actual presidential aircraft, as well as the traveling White House press corps.

One other shakeup in the Trump administration, as the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt is resigning. Here's CNN's Alayna Treene, from the White House.

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump is losing his chief messenger. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt announced on Wednesday that she is going to be departing the role at the end of the month.

Now, this is arguably a major loss for this White House and particularly for the president himself. Karoline Levitt is a part of a very small group of loyal and trusted advisers that serve the president. She's often part of the most sensitive conversations that involve him.

She's also someone that he trusts greatly, and she often has his ear on a number of important issues. It's also a role that has been a key one for this White House and one that the president really struggled to fill in the beginning when thinking about who he wanted to be the person to go and speak from the podium.

Now, both the president and Leavitt posted lengthy statements about her departure on social media, and the reason they gave for her leaving was so that she could spend more time with her family. I'd note that Levitt actually had her second child, a daughter born on May 1st. She only took about a month of maternity leave before coming back to the White House. And through the course of my reporting and speaking with sources, they told me that even then, even when she was out on her short maternity leave, the president would often call her up, trying to check in with her, and at times even asked when she was coming back. So clearly a very demanding job for the press secretary here.

Another thing I think to keep in mind is the timing of this decision. It's only three months until the midterm elections. That's a very difficult time to lose your chief messenger. So unclear as of Wednesday evening who would be replacing her.

I will say I spoke with some White House staffers who said that they were surprised at the decision and also that there was no immediate realization, no immediate plans on who would be the one to replace her. So we'll be staying tuned to see who is going to fill her shoes. Alayna Treene, CNN, The White House.

[04:40:09]

SANDOVAL: Well, crowds gathered on hilltops, beaches, boats, you name it, all there to experience a rare total eclipse of the sun. A look at what they saw, and also when it may happen again.

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SANDOVAL: Welcome back, people across Europe, they were treated to a rare sight on Wednesday as a total solar eclipse crossed over the continent for the first time in more than two decades. You see what it looked like in parts of Europe. The moon aligned perfectly with the sun, sending parts of the planet into varying degrees of darkness. The next total solar eclipse is forecast for next August, with totality expected to last more than six minutes from Spain to the Middle East.

And for the next few hours, sky watchers in the Northern Hemisphere can get an additional treat as the Perseid meteor shower hits its peak. The display has been ramping up since early June.

Alexei Pace is the former president of the Astronomical Society of Malta. He traveled to Valencia, Spain, to view that solar eclipse, and he spoke with us a little earlier about the experience and what made it so extraordinary.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXEI PACE, FORMER PRESIDENT, ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF MANILA: Even though from the point of view of science, we know exactly what's happening, the fact is that nothing prepares you for the actual experience. I mean, you are there, and suddenly you see the light changing. The environment cools down. You see even birds change their behavior, and you see the experience happening right in front of your eyes, and you realize that we are on the speck in space.

The planet Earth aligned perfectly with the moon and the sun, and suddenly the shadow of the moon falls upon us. And the whole thing was very awe inspiring, much better than what I managed to describe to my children before we left.

[04:45:11]

SANDOVAL: The wonder of it all, and this idea of so much of humanity looking up at the sky at the same time. But then you got to experience that with your family. What was that like?

PACE: Yes, it was amazing. I mean, it was my second deadlift, but it was the first for the rest of my family. So, I tried to explain as much as possible the actual experience and how it was going to be felt, but nothing could compare to the actual thing happening right in front of our eyes.

So we were on a beach just a few kilometers north of Valencia in Spain, where we are still right now. And the whole beach was filled up with people from all over the world, People from very different nationalities and localities, all joined together by astronomy, but by space. And the whole thing was really incredible.

SANDOVAL: You know, you mentioned that darkness. What I'm curious if you could tell us what else makes standing in a -- in a solar eclipse path of totality so extraordinary. I mean, it's almost a once in a lifetime opportunity for so many.

PACE: Yes, in fact it is. And one thing which really stands out is that irrespective of how much we study eclipses, there are still things which are still unknown. For example, when the moon covers the sun completely, the corona stands out, the solar corona, which is still one of astronomy's bigger mysteries. Why has this corona measured to be millions of degrees Celsius higher than the actual surface of the sun, which itself is thousands of degrees?

So this, this rare sight, this solar eclipse, helps even astronomers to try to unravel another mystery of space and the universe.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Well, he won the FedEx cup championship last year. And now veteran golfer Tommy Fleetwood is looking for a repeat. How he's giving back to young golfers ahead of today's opening round. Just ahead.

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[04:51:08]

SANDOVAL: Golf's FedEx Cup playoffs tee off today with the St. Jude Championship. It's the first stop of the PGA Tour postseason. Last year, Tommy Fleetwood sealed his first ever win on American soil to become the FedEx cup champion.

Well, now he's giving back. FedEx is making a $1 million donation to First Tee Tennessee in Memphis, with Tommy hosting a clinic for young golfers. CNN's Patrick Snell caught up with the defending champ.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOMMY FLEETWOOD, WORLD NUMBER 6: One of the most important things in life, if not the most important thing, is, is giving back and making a difference. And I think, you know, FedEx have always been so, so good at that, and I think this is such a, this is a special part of the world with St. Jude, and I think we're, we're very lucky to play however big or small part that we do in, in making a difference. Think golf very soon to life.

You know there's things that you can control and there's things that you can't and take care of the things that you can control them and accept what accepts everything else that goes around it I think is, is always great advice but for sure like golf is an amazing game and just enjoy, still trying to hit a great shot then there's nothing bad in hitting in a shot that you remember and that'll bring you back tomorrow.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All roads lead to Atlanta once again and the Tour Championship later on this month, where you had your momentous and career breakthrough victory on American soil. Oscar right there to share the moment with you. How do you reflect back now on the emotions of that day?

FLEETWOOD: It's always just, it's always so lovely looking back like, like looking back to that week. It's amazing that it's been a year nearly, but yes, it's just always so great.

It's so great and so motivating and like to look back and feel like the joy that we had that week and finally breaking through in such a -- in such a great way in such a big tournament. So, yes, a lot of amazing memories from Atlanta, and it's something that, yes, it's something they have for life, by the way. I will always look back on that and think what a special place for us.

So it's great. And I think every time we tear up every year, you know that one of the, one of the goals is to make it to the first of all to make it to the playoffs, but then make it all the way to Atlanta. I think there's a special feeling to that week.

You know, there's only 30 players left right at the end of the year, so to be there again will be great. And what a lovely feeling to go there and try and try and defend a tournament.

SNELL: I wonder, Tommy, can you go back-to-back? What would that mean to you?

FLEETWOOD: Well, we'll give it a go, away. So, yes, it's nice to know that you, you have done it before and something, you're always finding things that motivate you, right?

And to go there and be, and, and to be trying to defend, I think is really, really cool. So, you know, there's two events and eight rounds before we even get there. So, like that, which are all part of, which are all part of the playoffs. But yes, very, very excited to have the opportunity and to tear it up at the start of the week as the defending champion, and I've made it through the year as the FedEx Cup champion, and then we'll just see.

So it'd be amazing to go against, you know, all the great players again and see what we can do. But Atlanta and Eastlake and that tournament and the FedEx Cup are all very special things, and yes, just looking forward to giving it a go again.

SNELL: As we look at your year in 2026, seven top-10 finishes. Scotty Scheffler's had one win as part of his 11 top-10 finishes. How challenging, mentally or otherwise, is it for top players like yourself to consistently remain at the very highest level of the game?

FLEETWOOD: Of course it is. I think -- I think the standard of the game just continues to get higher and higher, and, and the margins get smaller and smaller. So, yes, it's, I mean, I love my job. So I love -- I love that element of always trying to, first of all, try and maintain a level that is as high as -- as high as you can possibly play and then trying to improve on that as well.

[04:55:22]

So Scotty, without question, is the benchmark in our game at the moment. And his consistency and his level of play and, you know, it's amazing. You know, we're very lucky to have him to look up to and to chase.

For me, I value consistency very, very highly and feel great that I've done that over the last few years. I do feel like, yes, I always feel like there's improvement in there and stuff, but you just have to keep going, man. The work just never seems to stop. And there's always players that are there, ready and waiting to take their opportunities and to keep making their way in the game as well. So, yes, like it's a constant grind, but that's how it should be. And

I do. I love -- I love what it takes to try and remain, you know, one of the players that are up here trying to compete week in, week out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: And finally, the Sarah Eurovision changing its rules regarding host countries. The international competition says that countries in an armed conflict or a sensitive geopolitical situation cannot host the contest. That's even if they were the winning country the year before.

Organizers said that those countries could affect the safety of the event. The rule change comes after five countries boycotted Israel's participation in the 2026 contest. And Ukraine winning Eurovision in 2022. The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in, in Bulgaria.

And that's our time. Thank you so much for joining me. The last hour of news for the whole team. Have a great rest of your day. I'm Polo Sandoval. New York CNN Headline Express is next.

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