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Iran State Media Says Iran Seeks Return to June Agreement With U.S.; Officials Say Iran, Oman Propose Temporary Route Through Hormuz; Rohingya Call for Safe Return to Myanmar After 2017 Exodus; Canada Details Upcoming Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Goods; U.S. Border Reopens to Mexican Cattle After Yearlong Ban; Closing Arguments Could Come as Soon as Thursday in Lindsay Clancy Trial; Instagram Chief Denied Hiding Negative Safety Data; SpaceX Has Announced Plans to Build a $100 Billion Launch Complex on Louisiana's Southern Coast; Dolly Parton, Queen Of Country Music Dies At 80; Darline Graham Wins South Carolina GOP Senate Runoff; Donald Trump Administration Plans To Revoke And Restrict Asylum Seeker Visas. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired August 26, 2026 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:36]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, an outpouring of grief, love, and gratitude for the Queen of Country Music. We remember the life and legacy of Dolly Parton.

Another victory for a Trump-backed candidate. How Democrats are reacting to Senator Darline Graham's win in South Carolina, and what this means for the midterms.

Plus, is Iran ready to go back to its memorandum of understanding with the U.S.? We will have details on that and a new threat from President Trump.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Thank you for joining us. And we begin this hour with the many tributes pouring in for the legendary country music star and humanitarian Dolly Parton. She died on Tuesday at the age of 80 at her home in Nashville. Parton's publicist says the trailblazing singer- songwriter died after a brief battle with cancer. Parton rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most beloved unifying and philanthropic stars in the country, she was a fixture in pop culture in a career that spanned more than half a century across music, television, and movies. Here's part of the statement Parton's family released announcing her death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BRYAN SEAVER, NEPHEW OF DOLLY PARTON: Dolly was a farmer just like her daddy. He farmed the soil, she farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.

Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly, and Granny, Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton and may God bless you all. She will always love you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Later in life, Parton funneled her success into philanthropy, founding the Imagination Library, which has gifted more than 300 million books to children around the world. She also funded research for life-saving vaccines. In 2003, she spoke with CNN about her success and decades-long career.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOLLY PARTON, SINGER: Because of the way I was brought up and my beliefs and principles and values, hopefully that I count my blessings more than I count my money. I just feel like if I'm doing what I am happy doing and doing things to share and to help everybody else, I of course, will make tons of money. And as I've always joked, it costs a lot to look this cheap and I need the money.

But it isn't just about the money. I really love the work. I love the creative end of it. I love seeing and making and helping things happen. And it really is a great thing. I know that I'm very fortunate, but I don't take a bit of that for granted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: President Trump has ordered that the American flag be lowered throughout the country for one week in honor of Dolly Parton. He posted the order on Truth Social, where he called Parton's death a true loss for millions of people.

And at exactly 9:25 Eastern Time Tuesday night, New York City honored Dolly Parton by lighting up the Empire State Building with pink sparkly lights, a nod to her iconic song 9 to 5. A statement on social media read, Dolly was a global cultural icon whose seven-decade career reached generations of fans. We get more on Pardon's life and legacy from CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A beloved country queen known for her vulnerable and poetic lyrics like in her classic hit, Jolene. Dolly Parton's music was as popular as her bold style, composing and performing booming anthems like 9 to 5 that resonated with office workers everywhere.

She ranks among the most successful country recording artists of all time, with nearly 50 albums and more than 25 number one hits. A superstar who often sang about her humble small-town Tennessee roots. [02:05:09]

The fourth of 12 children, she started singing hymns in church. Dolly moved to Nashville after high school graduation, aiming for work as a songwriter.

PARTON: I was just trying to make a living, trying to find what I wanted to do to have my songs recorded.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): The petite singer modeled her signature style after a woman known for her promiscuity in her hometown.

PARTON: She was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. I was very impressed by the big hair she had, the lipstick and the nails and the high heeled shoe.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Dolly got notice quickly, scoring a recording deal and a regular gig on "The Porter Wagoner Show." Their collaboration lasted seven years. She wrote a song about parting ways with Wagoner and it became a smash, first in 1974.

And again when Whitney Houston recorded it nearly two decades later

PARTON: Her version of that was spectacular. I always think of it as being our song.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Dolly said music made her a crossover success.

PARTON: It was a song that got me everywhere I've ever been.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): She wrote the theme to 9 to 5 and landed a lead role in the movie.

PARTON: And I shot a hole clean through my purse.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Some of her other films include "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "Steel Magnolias." Her many job titles included author, theme park owner, and philanthropist, from setting up a literacy program for impoverished children to funding research for a COVID vaccine.

She stayed low key about her charity work, insisting she saw herself as a musician first.

PARTON: My music is everything to me. And I just, that is what I grew from.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Dolly said her career was shaped by her family, faith, and ambition.

PARTON: God first, me second, and I've been able to maneuver and live my life based on that and use my talent to the best of my ability.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Indeed she did, writing an estimated 3,000 songs and earning countless awards and honors, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and enshrinement in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an event Dolly dominated, even out rocking the rock stars in 2022.

She released her first rock album at the age of 77 and often collaborated with younger singers. It all helped make Dolly Parton one of America's most beloved artists with fans and admirers that spanned generations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Incredible, and Dolly Parton's connection to songwriting and her Appalachian heritage was pivotal to her career. My next guest is the author of the book Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton. I want to welcome Lydia Hamessley. She is also professor in the fine arts in music at Hamilton College. Thank you so much for joining us.

LYDIA HAMESSLEY, AUTHOR, UNLIKELY ANGEL: THE SONGS OF DOLLY PARTON: Thank you for having me.

CHURCH: Of course. So, you've actually written two books about the country music legend. The other one is called Dolly Parton's Jolene. So, you've immersed yourself in her life and her story as well as her songwriting prowess. What was your reaction to news of her passing?

HAMESSLEY: Well, my first reaction, as I just saw a little glimpse on my phone, was that it was just a hoax, and I was still shocked, but I was sure that it had to be one of those fake news hoaxes.

But I kept seeing it, and I'm currently not in the United States, so I started texting my back home, asking if it was true, and then there it was. And I immediately -- I was in a restaurant, so I had to hold back. I was ready to just all out cry, but I tried not to.

CHURCH: Yes, totally understandable. And Lydia, how would you describe Dolly Parton's talent as a songwriter specifically, having written more than 3,000 songs throughout her career?

HAMESSLEY: Well, she was prodigious, and she wrote all the time. I mean, there are many, many songs we don't even have that she never even published or recorded, but she said she wrote over 3,000 songs, and she said that many years ago. So, it's probably closer to 4,000.

So, she was always sparking ideas. Someone that I know who knew her well said that in every room of her house she had a pen and a pencil, rather, pad of paper and reading glasses, right ready to jot down anything that came to her mind. And she took inspiration from everyday life, from people that she knew, from things that she saw. She would think of a -- of an idea, see a scene, hear a turn of phrase, and then that would spark an idea for a song.

[02:10:30]

So, she was firing on all cylinders, songwriting, seems like her whole life when she even began writing when she was 5 years old.

CHURCH: It is incredible, isn't it? I mean, she wrote songs that she sang, and of course many songs that other stars sang as well. So, what did you mean when you referred to Dolly Parton in the title of your book as an unlikely angel? What is the meaning behind that?

HAMESSLEY: Well, it has several meanings to me. One that she was always viewed as angelic, even played angels a lot of times in some of the T.V. movies that she made. But she was an unlikely angel, a little kid from the Appalachians, growing up as poor as she did, it was unlikely that she would have this career that she ended up having. So, that was one meaning for unlikely angel.

The other was the way that fans view her, as I said, as a kind of angel, and then it also had a personal meaning for me because it was such a gift, and continues to be such a gift, to have her in my life as someone that I've just studied and spent so much of my thinking and emotional time with that she was a real unlikely angel for me. I wouldn't have predicted that.

CHURCH: Yes, absolutely. And Lydia, what has the world lost with the passing of Dolly Parton, and what's her legacy, given the many other things she was also involved in, including acting, Dolly Wood, and of course her work as a prolific author?

HAMESSLEY: Right. Well, obviously we've lost a great songwriter, and all of the music and everything, but I think even more, what touches people is that we've lost a really lovely, wonderful human being who I think showed people a way and modeled for people a way of how to behave in the world and how to take care of other people, how to give back, how to be optimistic, how to be kind, and how to respect people no matter who they are, where they come from. I think that was a real gift that she gave to everyone, and that will be a real loss as much as the musical loss that we have.

CHURCH: Yes, she was such an incredibly positive force, wasn't she, in her life and the lives of those around her. Lydia Hamessley, author of Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton, thank you so much for spending this time with us. Appreciate it.

HAMESSLEY: Yes, thanks for having me.

CHURCH: Of course. And there's much more to come here on CNN NEWSROOM, including the power of President Trump's endorsement on display in South Carolina. We will have the results of the Republican Senate runoff.

Plus, after weeks of negotiations, Iran and Oman are proposing a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. We'll take a look at the details after the break. Stay with us.

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[02:17:58]

CHURCH: Pakistani police say a devastating fire at the largest hospital in Islamabad has killed at least 13 children, most of them newborns. Hospital staff rescued one child while several other babies remain in critical condition. Sources say an air conditioning compressor explosion appears to have sparked the fire in the nursery. The city's chief commissioner says rescue teams have now brought the blaze under control.

It's election night in America, and CNN projects the new U.S. senator from South Carolina, Darline Graham, will advance to the general election in November. She will defeat Congress member Ralph Norman in the Republican Senate runoff. Graham has only held the seat for about six weeks. She was appointed after the death of her brother, longtime Senator Lindsey Graham. Darline Graham will face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews in November.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DARLINE GRAHAM (R-SC): I want to thank President Trump for all of his support and his endorsement. Mr. President, Lindsey truly loved you and viewed you as one of his closest friends. I appreciate that bond and appreciate all that you've done for our country, our victory would not have been possible without you, and we are truly grateful. South Carolina is truly Trump country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Democrat Annie Andrews took aim at Senator Graham late. Late Tuesday, I should say, saying no appointment, endorsement, or family connection entitles anyone to six years in the United States Senate. This seat belongs to the people of South Carolina.

Well, joining me now from Pasadena, California, Sara Sadhwani is an associate professor of politics at Pomona College. Appreciate you joining us.

[02:20:00]

SARA SADHWANI, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICS, POMONA COLLEGE: Thank you so much for having me.

CHURCH: Of course. So, as Darline Graham admitted herself, South Carolina is truly Trump country, and she says her victory would not have been possible without the president's support. Clearly, respect for her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, also played a role here. But the bigger question is, can she win in November? What do you think?

SADHWANI: Yes, you know, I think absolutely Trump's endorsement helped to bring her across the line tonight. It wasn't that long ago that people really didn't know who Darline Graham was, but she has definitely gained from Trump's political capital and him coming out to stump for her. He literally went out and told people, pretend it's me on the ballot. So that no doubt has helped her get this far.

Will she be able to pull it off in November? Probably. South Carolina is a pretty strong -- pretty much a stronghold for the Republican Party. And though certainly there will -- the Democrat will be mounting a serious campaign against her. This is not necessarily considered a terribly close or toss-up kind of election. There are other places where Democrats might look to try and pick up seats in the Senate. South Carolina isn't necessarily a high priority place for them.

CHURCH: Right, and Sara, critics suggest that Darline Graham might not be up to the task. With many pointing out that since stepping in to replace her late brother after his passing in July, she has made some comments that raise questions about just how prepared she might be for this political role. How much concern is there, do you think, within the Republican Party about that issue?

SADHWANI: You know, look, certainly, there were people that did not support her this evening in this -- in this primary. But what we tend to see in elections is that by the time we get to a general election, we generally assume that those Republican voters, even though they might have been losers in the primary election, that they come home for their party.

Now, the biggest challenge, of course, is whether or not some of these voters choose to stand out of the election and not cast a ballot in November. That would, of course, be a devastating impact for Darline Graham because she's definitely going to need to see turnout of that Republican base come November. So, that would really be the greatest concern for her, is if voters end up staying home.

Now, I do want to note that tonight is a notable win for Donald Trump. Throughout this cycle, he's already racked up 12 losses in this primary stage of candidates that he has endorsed, just nine of those 12 losses came just in the last three weeks.

So, this looks eerily familiar to the 2018 midterm elections, but tonight I think is an important night for Donald Trump. He showed that he was able to stop the bleeding, so to speak. But overall, the cycle still shows that there's more slippage than usual. It's still casting a bit of a dark shadow over this election for November.

CHURCH: And in the end, how wise is it to let an unqualified sibling or perhaps any other family member step in to fill the shoes of a sitting politician who's passed away?

SADHWANI: Perhaps not wise, but we seem to see it happen again and again in American politics. You know, at one point out here in California, when Sonny Bono of Sonny and Cher had passed away, he had served in Congress from Southern California. His wife took over for him. We tend to see this happen.

So, is it a great idea? Probably not. But yet, we seem to find that trend happening from time to time. So, it doesn't come as a major surprise. But of course, you know, Darline Graham certainly was able to bank on her brother's strong name recognition, his long service to South Carolina, and of course the president's backing.

CHURCH: And while I have you with us, I do want to ask about the Senate race in Texas between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton, where a new poll shows Talarico enjoying a narrow lead over Paxton. What's your reaction to those numbers, and of course, the significance of this in the upcoming midterms?

SADHWANI: This is a major development, and analysts have been watching Texas for years, if not decades, anticipating a moment in which Democrats might be able to flip the state of Texas, knowing the demographic change that exists there, knowing also the number of Democrats in the growing urban and suburban areas.

Talarico is a unique candidate. He has that religious background, speaks from his religious background, and may very well be able to make a meaningful pitch to some of these more moderate Republicans throughout the state of Texas. While Paxton, of course, has that strong endorsement from Trump, as I mentioned before, we've also seen a number of the Trump endorsees go down in flames in this election cycle. Tonight being that strong exception to that rule.

[02:25:28]

So, you know, we still have a couple months before the election, and let's see where Talarico can go, and if this will be finally the year that Texas flips.

CHURCH: We'll see what happens. Sara Sadhwani, associate professor of politics at Pomona College, thank you so much for your analysis. Appreciate it.

SADHWANI: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: Of course. Well, CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow on Tuesday to meet with Russian officials, that is according to a U.S. official who spoke to CNN. The official declined to discuss the topics or substance of the meeting, and the CIA also declined to comment.

The Kremlin spokesperson says there are no plans for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. It's Ratcliffe's first known trip to Russia as CIA director, the visit comes as negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine remain at a standstill.

The Trump administration is working to dramatically expand its immigration crackdown. CNN's Jennifer Hansler reports on the latest plans to target visas for asylum seekers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: The U.S. State Department is moving to revoke the visas of potentially hundreds of thousands of foreigners who have applied or are seeking asylum in the United States. The move would go after those who came to the U.S. on temporary visas meant for things like tourism or business, and then stayed and applied for asylum here.

State Department spokesperson said that they are working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify those who would be subject to those visa revocations. And he said that those who come here on a temporary visa and then apply for an asylum case are committing, "Visa fraud."

Now, a source familiar with the matter, said that these revocations would not be done in, "One fell swoop," and they described the number as dynamic.

Now, this all comes as part and parcel of the Trump administration's broader anti-immigration policies, as they've sought to crack down both on who is coming to the U.S. and those who are already in the country.

An immigration attorney and a former consular official told CNN that the revocations would not likely result in the immediate deportation of these individuals. The attorney explained that if there is an asylum case, at the very least, they would have to go before an immigration judge before they could be removed from the country.

They said that this is all part of the administration's efforts to claim that this is a visa system that has been abused and that it is more symbolic than anything else.

Still, we have seen a large number of visa revocations under the Trump administration. Earlier this month, they said they've revoked more than 170,000 visas. We also saw them crack down on attempts to have people use that temporary visa to come into the U.S. and apply for asylum. In order to apply for asylum, you do have to be here in the country and fleeing persecution.

Jennifer Hansler, CNN, the State Department.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Time for a short break. When we come back, Donald Trump is taking his trade war with Canada to a new level by threatening to change the name of Lake Ontario. We'll have the latest on the tariff tit for tat.

And the new world screwworm had been eradicated in Mexico. Now its government is trying to get rid of the flesh-eating parasite once again. We will explain how.

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[02:33:36]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Iran is reportedly seeking a return to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the U.S. back in June.

Iran's semi-official news agency, Tasnim cites an unidentified source who says Tehran's conditions, chief among them Iranian arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, relayed to a Pakistani intermediary who is expected to convey them to the United States.

After weeks of negotiations, Iran and Oman are proposing a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian and Omani foreign ministries say the two nations discussed a framework to facilitate the corridor and to clear it of mines. Now, this comes as President Trump says all mines in the Strait of Hormuz have been removed or detonated, and he's threatening to destroy any Iranian ships that try to place more mines. President Trump has repeatedly claimed that the U.S. Navy has cleared mines from the vital waterway and continues to insist that the U.S. controls the Strait.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Rohingya refugees are calling for justice as they mark nine years since widespread violence and human rights abuses forced them to flee their homes in northern Myanmar.

[02:35:00]

More than one million refugees now live in overcrowded camps in southeastern Bangladesh. The United Nations has described the Rohingya as the most persecuted minority in the world. Thousands rallied in Cox's Bazar on Tuesday, urging international communities to help pave the way for their safe and secure return home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRACOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE, CANADIAN FINANCE MINISTER: Today, I'm announcing that Canada will match the United States tariffs dollar for dollar, rate for rate. Effective September 8, Canada will impose counter tariffs of up to 15, 25 or 50 percent on $27.6 billion in imports from the United States of America. For each product, our tariff would match the American tariff on the same type of Canadian good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Canada's finance minister saying the nation is responding to the Trump administration's trade war in a "proportionate, targeted and strategic way." Canada's announcement of dollar for dollar counter tariffs is not sitting well with the U.S. president. Donald Trump posted on social media that Canada is the most difficult and unreasonable country he's had to deal with.

But he also admitted that the U.S. had added 11th hour demands that derailed the trade talks last week, saying quote, "That sounds like me." While President Trump is also escalating the feud geographically, he posted on Truth Social that the U.S. is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. Canadian officials have declined to comment on that threat.

They say Canada's government has decided not to respond to the Trump administration's social media posts. CNN's Maddie Gannon has more.

MADDIE GANNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rhetoric between the U.S. and Canada over this bubbling trade war has rapidly accelerated over the last 24 hours, and it appears the back and forth in jabs and tariffs is just getting started.

President Donald Trump escalated his criticisms with a series of posts on Truth Social Tuesday morning. That started with a post of Trump saying that the U.S. was seriously considering seeking to rename Lake Ontario, Lake America, followed by a map with the name change.

Trump went on to call Canada the most difficult and unreasonable country to work with, and accused it of ripping off the U.S. for decades. That's despite his administration working out a new trade deal between the U.S., Canada and Mexico during Trump's first term.

In response, the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, accused Trump Tuesday of wanting to hurt Americans with new tariffs on Canada.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG FORD, ONTARIO, CANADA PREMIER: Trump needs to take a couple pages out of Ronald Reagan's book that was dead against tariffs. It just hurts any country when you put tariffs on Canada, especially your number one customer in the entire world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GANNON: Canada is one of America's top trading partners, but the latest trade war was sparked when talks over tariffs fell apart late last week. As a result, the U.S. allowed new 50 percent tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods to take effect.

Trump is now also threatening new 50 percent tariffs on Canadian trucks, cars and more in the new year. For Canada's part, officials Tuesday unveiled new dollar-for-dollar tariffs against the U.S. set to take effect September 8 in response. The tariffs range from 15 percent to 50 percent and target over 700 American goods.

At the White House, I'm Maddie Gannon.

CHURCH: The U.S. border is now back open to live cattle imports from Mexico. This ends a year-long ban due to the spread of the New World Screwworm. As a precaution, Mexican officials are trying to fight the flesh-eating parasite by dispersing sterile flies.

CNN's Valeria Leon went to check out the process in Metapa, Mexico.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This facility in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas plays a key role in the country's efforts to eradicate the New World Screwworm, this flesh-eating parasite that has threatened Mexico's cattle industry and that has recently been detected in the U.S. Here, up to 100 million sterile flies a week will be produced here.

HUMBERTO GOMEZ, FACILITY COORDINATOR (through translator): Once we radiate the pupae, they will be sent to the packaging centers. Currently, these centers are located in Tamaulipas and the United States.

LEON: Here is where they're going to be sterilized and after that they are going to be released into the wild, a strategy that has worked before. GOMEZ (through translator): The female arrives and breeds with a sterile male fly. She then goes through her normal life cycle, visiting a wound to lay eggs. But the eggs never hatch because the male she bred with is sterile.

[02:40:00]

LEON (voice-over): Mexico eliminated the screwworm after a 19-year campaign using this same technique decades ago.

GOMEZ (through translator): Looking back at the history, we can see that the eradication process, specifically pushing the pest back to the Colombian border, took us nearly three decades. However, I believe that today's technological advances could reduce that timeframe.

LEON: Now, official hopes that with this facility and with this technique, they can put a stop to the parasite spread further north.

RON JOHNSON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO: U.S. citizens and Mexican citizens will pay less for hamburgers, less for steak, less for beef, and produce more and be able to move it more quickly back and forth across our borders. That's our goal. That's what we're working toward.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: You're watching "CNN Newsroom." coming up on the show, the latest on the Lindsay Clancy trial, what a psychologist had to say about the mother accused of murdering her three young children.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:45:50]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. GREGORY SAATHOFF, FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST, FBI'S BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS UNIT: Well, what was significant to me is that she had not spoken about hearing voices before that in any of -- to any of the mental health professionals, the psychiatrists, the nurse practitioners. The voice stopped with the death of or the strangling of her youngest son.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And is it typical based on your training experience for someone to hear commands, hallucinations and then for them to stop abruptly?

SAATHOFF: No, committing the act is not curative of the voice. I've not -- I've not ever seen that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Gripping testimony in the trial of Massachusetts mother, Lindsay Clancy, accused of murdering her three children. Attorneys are expected to present final evidence in the day ahead with closing arguments possible on Thursday.

More now from CNN's Jean Casarez. JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What we believe is the final rebuttal witness for the prosecution is currently on the stand. An expert witness, Behavioral Analyst for the FBI testifying that the actions of Lindsay Clancy on that pivotal day, the day that she has admitted that she killed her children, were very deliberate. They were focused and they were particular.

I was in the courtroom to watch the jury during most of the day on Tuesday. And what I saw from beginning to end was before the jury even comes into the courtroom, the defendant comes into the courtroom. And before the defendant comes into the courtroom, her nurses come into the courtroom. Lindsay Clancy has two nurses that are seated in the first row of court. And I saw them.

They walked in and you can tell they are nurses by what they are wearing. They sit on the front row. And then Lindsay Clancy was wheeled in. Now, the camera does not catch this, but she is wheeled in by a court officer. She is wheeled to the defense table.

Her wheelchair is a larger wheelchair than what we normally see. She then took it on her own to wheel herself back a little bit and go into the defense area as she wanted to, the defense table. Then the jury entered. And they are middle-aged to older, conceivably parents, grandparents. They sat down.

The expert witness then began to testify. And I saw notebooks come out. So many notes being written by these jurors. And predominantly the women are taking the notes, but I saw one man that was taking notes. But every juror completely focused on that expert.

And there have been a lot of experts in this trial. Many times it gets so monotonous with the battle of the experts, but this jury focused the whole time. They were dressed casually, but very nice. And one male juror actually had a tweed vest on, a white shirt, and a tie. And Lindsay Clancy would look at the jury, predominantly when they walked in, not while there was testimony.

But there was one point where Mr. Reddington, the Defense Attorney, who is very animated, very combative, he is zealously defending his client, went over to Lindsay, put his hands on her shoulder and questioned the witness. And you're saying, well, I noticed that the jury did not look over to where Lindsay Clancy was. They kept their focus on the expert witness that was testifying.

So Wednesday, the judge has said that he believes it will be the final evidentiary portion of this trial. The evidence will be closed after Wednesday. And what he said beyond that was he believes at this point, it will be closing arguments in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts versus Lindsay Clancy on Thursday.

In Plymouth, Massachusetts, I'm Jean Casarez for CNN.

CHURCH: The head of Instagram denied encouraging his team to hide negative safety data from the public or knowing of any policy to do so.

[02:50:00]

Adam Mosseri is a key witness in Meta's most consequential legal fight yet over child safety. 29 states accused the tech giant of illegally collecting and using the personal data of children under 13. Meta denies the allegations, but if the company loses the case, the states could collectively seek up to $1.4 trillion in penalties.

SpaceX has announced plans to build a $100 billion launch complex on Louisiana's southern coast. Construction on what Elon Musk is calling the biggest launch site on earth is set to begin next year with the first launch targeted for 2029.

The new complex called Starbase, Louisiana will serve as a major hub for SpaceX's massive Starship rocket. It will include multiple launch towers designed to recapture rockets and spacecrafts.

Still to come on this hour of "CNN Newsroom," from Nashville to Hollywood, fans are paying tribute to Dolly Parton. Plus, we will hear what she had to say about her approach to writing songs, more than 3,000 in her career.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, AMERICAN T.V. SHOW HOST AND WRITER: Have you been good when you write something at predicting how well it'll do?

DOLLY PARTON, AMERICAN MUSICIAN: No, I wouldn't know ahead if it jumped up and bit me in the butt.

(LAUGH)

PARTON: You just write and you hope, you know, you just -- I just write what comes out of me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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CHURCH: From the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee to Hollywood Boulevard, fans are paying tribute to the late Dolly Parton. Her star on the Walk of Fame is covered in flowers and remembrances, including a wreath from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Parton passed away Tuesday at the age of 80 after what her publicist called a brief battle with cancer.

"Jolene," "9 to 5" and "Coat of Many Colors," these global hits not only cemented Dolly Parton's status as an iconic singer/songwriter but they also spoke to her power as a captivating storyteller through music. But where did the inspiration come from? Tom Foreman has more on the meaning behind her legendary lyrics.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

"9 to 5" by Dolly Parton playing.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before the fame, the philanthropy, the dazzling Dollyness of it all, Dolly's songs of working people were everything. Her lyrics told the tales of their struggles on the job, in the home.

"To Daddy" by Dolly Parton playing.

[02:55:00]

FOREMAN (voice-over): Her lyrics told the tales of their struggles on the job, in the home and, of course, in the heart. Many of her most memorable tunes, including her greatest commercial hit, were about failed relationships.

"I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton playing.

FOREMAN (voice-over): But there was so much more. Songs about jealousy and longing.

"Jolene" by Dolly Parton playing.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Songs about poverty and pride.

"Coat of Many Colors" by Dolly Parton playing.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Her message could be tough, too. When white supremacists rose in the news, she took the name Dixie off an attraction at her amusement park. She supported LGBTQ rights and the Black Lives Matter movement.

PARTON: Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter?

FOREMAN (voice-over): She promoted reading, access to medical care, education. Her career, life, and lyrics were a constant campaign for women's rights.

"Just Because I'm a Woman" by Dolly Parton playing.

FOREMAN (voice-over): She met Richard Nixon, performed for Jimmy Carter, was honored at the Kennedy Center by George W. Bush, and turned down the Medal of Freedom from both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Through it all, she gently pushed away from any partisan claim to her fame.

PARTON: My joke is that my daddy was a Republican, my mama was a Democrat, and I'm a Hippocrat.

(CROWD CHEERING)

FOREMAN (voice-over): Yet even in tumultuous times, she embraced all who wanted to join her in the kindness and caring of the Dolly Party.

"The Grass Is Blue" by Dolly Parton playing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, many in Hollywood and in the music industry are also honoring Parton. Longtime French singer, Patti LaBelle saying in part, "Her light will forever shine." Fellow country crossover artist, Taylor Swift shared this message about Dolly Parton saying in part, "She was truly the gift that kept on giving. I am so grateful for all of it, for the melodies and lyrics she wrote that thawed even the coldest hearts."

And Beyonce also paid tribute, writing on her website, "You were the barometer, the North Star, bold and brilliant, talented and tenacious." They worked together recently when Beyonce covered Parton's hit song "Jolene" on her album "Cowboy Carter."

She will be greatly missed, may she rest in peace.

Thank you so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. "CNN Newsroom" with Polo Sandoval is next, after a short break.

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