Return to Transcripts main page
CNN This Morning
U.S. Conducts 'Self-Defense' Strikes in Iran as Talks Continue; Polls Open Soon in Texas for Senate GOP Primary Runoff; UFC Octagon Being Built on White House Lawn for Event. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired May 26, 2026 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[06:00:04]
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: That does it for CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. I'm Brad Smith. CNN THIS MORNING with Audie Cornish starts right now.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: A Texas-sized test of Trump's power. Senator John Cornyn says he refuses to lose. But what does it mean that Trump has backed his opponent? Today, the voters decide.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are some things on Cornyn that I really like, but then there are some things on Paxton that I like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: And the U.S. conducts self-defense strikes as a dispute over language, holds up an agreement with Iran. Could the contents of the deal be almost as divisive as the war itself?
This chaos outside an immigration facility in New Jersey. A senator tear-gassed. The questions about the conditions detainees are facing.
And a race against time. Cave diggers [SIC] -- cave divers searching for seven people trapped underground in a flooded cavern.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have eliminated the threat of a BLEVE.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: So, evacuations reduced; a catastrophic blast prevented. But a toxic leak still possible in California.
And the Knicks sweep the Cavs. For the first time since the '90s, they are returning to the NBA finals. Can they take it all the way?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to hear what everybody has to say about the New York Knicks now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I think, like anything with something like this, it's going to take a couple days to settle on, even down to the disagreements over a word, a sentence.
So, we'll have to work through that. If there's going to be a deal, we're going to have to work through that. But this is a -- you know, it's either going to be a good deal, or there isn't going to be one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The U.S. conducts self-defense strikes in Southern Iran as negotiators fine-tune the framework of a deal with Tehran.
Good morning, everybody. I'm Audie Cornish, and we're going to start with this fresh round of strikes.
The U.S. military targeted Iranian missile launch sites and boats near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command saying it was to, quote, "protect our troops from Iranian forces."
President Trump posted this meme shortly after those strikes. Obama's Iran policy. He shows piles of cash. Trump's Iran policy, missiles flying.
So, bringing in now, CNN global affairs analyst Kim Dozier. Thank you so much for being here.
Needless to say, these presidents do have very different approaches to Iran. But I want to start with this attempt to get to an agreement.
DOZIER: Yes.
CORNISH: This attempt in the talks, because we are really hearing from a wild mix of politicians who are upset with the White House.
I'm going to give you an example. Here is John Bolton, former national security adviser, giving this, as usual, sort of counter textual take.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BOLTON, FORMER TRUMP NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: I hope the negotiations break down, because every day that goes by is a gift to Iran.
I think these negotiations are mistake. I think we're on the verge of something that, ultimately, history will decide was a catastrophic loss for the United States.
We have -- we have done significant damage to the Islamic Republic of Iran. And right now, we're letting them undo the damage.
This is what Iran wants. They want more time: 60 days turns into six months, and then it turns into more than that. (END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: You and I have talked about Iran wanting more time, but can you help me understand what he's saying about this is somehow catastrophic, a loss? The dangers that some people are seeing in the White House approach.
KIM DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: U.S. intelligence has already detected that Iran is using this time to access its nuclear sites, rebuild, and rearm. It has built drones at an amazingly fast pace.
So, every single day it gets a reprieve from bombing means it's more ready to attack again.
Also, Iran has talked about now lifting the ban on the Internet. The interesting thing about that is they don't want to foment dissent, but they're willing to take the risk, because the Iranian economy is under such strain.
And a lot of the economy runs on businesses that use the Internet. So, that shows that the stress is hitting Iran.
CORNISH: Yes.
DOZIER: But it is getting a relief by these days without attacks.
[06:05:02]
CORNISH: It's interesting, because we've talked so much about what the president is dealing with here domestically.
But in Iran, they have an incentive, right? You have a supreme leader who is relatively new. You have people who have been under this bombardment.
Is there any incentive for them to move forward? Or is it, as Bolton says, waiting is all that matters, if it means claiming victory over the U.S.?
DOZIER: There is incentive to draw out the talks, as there always has been. This has been there. M.O. in previous negotiations.
And remember, what they're being asked to do is a sacrifice of what they see as legitimacy. Give up their refined nuclear material and --
CORNISH: All of it.
DOZIER: All of it.
CORNISH: Not just some enriched parts.
DOZIER: Yes.
CORNISH: It's just like everything goes.
DOZIER: And they will pledge never to make a bomb again. But my question is, will these talks produce what the Obama deal did:
intrusive international nuclear inspections --
CORNISH: Intrusive inspections is key, yes.
DOZIER: -- to make sure it doesn't happen again?
So, what Iran is being asked is really hard to say yes to, especially when you've got so many hardliners now empowered by the U.S. attacks.
So, look, what this shows is that President Trump knows, going back to just hammering Iran won't open the Strait of Hormuz. He's feeling the economic pressure.
So, he wants some sort of delay to open the straits. If he can get that, I think we could see talks returning to the JCPOA sort of. It will take weeks. It will take months to get some sort of resolution.
CORNISH: And either way, I get the sense both sides will be spinning it into a win.
DOZIER: Absolutely.
CORNISH: Even though we're looking at a stalemate.
DOZIER: And John Bolton will not be happy. Nor will any of the hardline GOP-ers who wanted to see Iran truly decimated by these attacks.
CORNISH: OK. I'm sure we'll have you back, because there's a lot more complications around these talks that we didn't get to.
Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, for example, President Trump pushing several Muslim countries to ease relations with Israel. And some of those countries are pushing back.
Plus, rescuers racing against time to reach seven people trapped in a cave in Laos.
And today, the battle for the future of Texas and the Texas Republican Party in the Senate runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton. The group chat is going to talk MAGA and how this race could benefit Democrats.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): President Trump has called me a friend and a good man.
In the end, it's Texans who are going to make that decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:12:16] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORNYN: I've represented Texans a long time, and I know Texans are a pretty independent breed. And people will be making their own choices.
KEN PAXTON (R), TEXAS SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I've been asking every voter, whether it's one voter or thousands, what has John accomplished that's good for the state of Texas or the country? And you know what? No one's ever had an answer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: So, the first polls open up just minutes from now for primary day in Texas.
Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have made their final pitches to voters.
Cornyn is in the fight of his political life. He's trying to hang on to the seat he's held since 2002, and the race has already cost more than $100 million.
Last week, President Trump turned the whole thing on its head by endorsing Paxton. But is he the guy who can beat the Democrat, come November?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you vote for Paxton in November if he is the Republican nominee? Or would you consider James Talarico?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it would be Paxton, then.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Die-hard Republican.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we're ready enough that it doesn't matter whether it was Paxton or Cornyn. Whoever the Republican is, is going to win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: OK. Joining me now in the group chat, Isaac Dovere, CNN senior reporter; Chuck Rocha, Democratic strategist; and Brad Todd, CNN political commentator and Republican strategist.
So, I'm excited to talk about this race, because it has been vicious and expensive, basically. And for me, unexpected because it's Texas.
What is it that Cornyn has done to sort of lose the faith of the president? And then I want to turn it to you guys to ask, are voters frustrated with incumbents or Cornyn personally?
EDWARD ISAAC DOVERE, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Well, look, unlike what happened a couple of weeks ago in Louisiana when Bill Cassidy, the senator there, lost his bid for reelection, because Trump endorsed against him, there is not, like, one thing that clearly stands out against Cornyn.
For Cassidy, he voted for impeaching Trump in the second trial after January 6th.
Cornyn has just slowly gotten away from things that Trump wanted, including the most prominent is that he didn't back undoing the filibuster so that a bill that Trump wanted could go through.
CORNISH: Yes.
DOVERE: But this --
CORNISH: Even though there's lots of Republicans who aren't exactly --
DOVERE: Exactly.
CORNISH: -- moving the filibuster forward.
DOVERE: Yes. And so, look, I think that this is another and maybe, in some ways, the purest test of just Trump wanting complete fealty from Republicans still.
And Republicans, Republican officials wanting to give that to him. And so far, we have seen, over and over, that Republican primary voters are going with Trump's choices for the most part.
CORNISH: Yes. So. in the meantime, that does mean an enormous amount of money spent on something that kind of should be a lock and easy. Is John Cornyn a RINO?
[06:15:04]
BRAD TODD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No. And if John Cornyn wins tonight, this Texas Senate race is functionally over. He will be the next U.S. senator from Texas if he wins tonight.
And so, the question is how pragmatic Texas Republicans are.
Polls show that most Republicans actually like both of these guys. And despite the president weighing in at the last minute with what I think -- I think Isaac's right. I think it's a proxy fight with the Senate Republican conference. It's not really a beef with John Cornyn.
CORNISH: Which Cornyn has said. He said, I think he's really mad at the Senate, not at me. But I mean, it's -- I don't know. It just seems kind of like a political punch in the nose and maybe unearned. Again, I'm not Texan. I know somebody who knows a little bit about Texas voters.
CHUCK ROCHA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Pick me, pick me.
CORNISH: There's other things there. Cornyn for a while was, post- Uvalde, talking about gun laws. I mean, there's little -- there's Texas politics here, too, that we're not noticing. ROCHA: Look, I'm not one of those Democrats who say all of a sudden
Texas is going to be blue. This is our year.
But this is probably going to be the closest we ever get to having a year because of --
CORNISH: Oh, really? Because that's a cult with many members.
ROCHA: Let me make my case.
CORNISH: OK. Go ahead.
ROCHA: I've worked in Texas for a long time. And you've had over 100 million, over $160 million spent, these guys attacking each other.
Now, A, that's a dollar that these guys haven't used to beat up us, to the side. But in advertising -- Brad knows this -- is that that's been to the general public of them beating each other up.
This wasn't just micro-targeted for all you nerds out there to -- to Republican primary voters.
CORNISH: Right. Everybody saw --
ROCHA: It went to everybody to see this fight.
TODD: Some of it was micro-targeted. But some of it wasn't.
ROCHA: Some of it was. But most of it was just lit on fire and throw it on TV. Right?
CORNISH: And then that doesn't end once you reach to the general. Right? So, whichever one of these guys wins, again --
ROCHA: Right. And they're going to attack Talarico.
CORNISH: Yes.
ROCHA: There's no doubt about that. And the attacks are coming.
But they've spent the first six months attacking each other. And the reason why -- this is the true reason why Donald Trump is endorsing -- it ain't all these things about policy and who he hates and likes -- is he gave these boys a few weeks. He gave them a few months.
And now somebody has put a poll in front of him saying Cornyn can't win. Get in here now so we can put our fingers on the scale and take credit for this, because I -- they don't think Cornyn can win.
CORNISH: Well, Cornyn can't win, or Talarico is closer than he should be and closer than you think?
ROCHA: I think it's the first.
CORNISH: You think it's really that?
ROCHA: Yes, I think.
CORNISH: Because he doesn't like to pick a loser.
ROCHA: Brad knows this. We talked about this in the green room, is that you have a little bitty group of folks voting in a turnout --
CORNISH: Right.
ROCHA: -- for the runoff. And that's the difference here.
TODD: About 2 million people who voted in the first primary. And typically, Texas runoffs are smaller. So, this would be less than 2 million, in theory.
Well, there are 5 million Republican voters in Texas. And so, who make -- what the makeup of today's election -- electorate will probably determine it more than the endorsement.
CORNISH: Yes. Which is a big problem, come November, frankly.
DOVERE: We'll find out.
CORNISH: By problem, I mean, it's -- it's all well and good to appeal to your primary voter. You have to go to a general. That's the same thing Democrats are arguing about in many races.
DOVERE: That's what you're seeing around the country.
CORNISH: Yes.
DOVERE: As Republicans, in part because Donald Trump is forcing them to stay very much in Donald Trump's corner, whether that plays in the way they want it to as we get to a general election, as the president is in the mid to low 30s in a lot of polls here.
If that continues, in a general election, as the Republicans are completely lassoed to -- to the president.
CORNISH: Lasso, I see what you did there.
DOVERE: Exactly. It's a little Texas from the New Yorker. But as that happens, do voters who are not Republican primary voters, voters who are not making their decisions based on what the president posts about, what -- what do they feel?
CORNISH: Yes. And we're going to talk more about this, because we're talking the Senate race right now. Texas famously did a little redistricting. So, that's had some consequences down ballot. We're going to talk about that tonight.
All eyes are on this runoff. And you can get the election results all night on the CNN app and on CNN.
And after the break on CNN THIS MORNING, a senator says he was pepper- sprayed during a protest outside an ICE detention center in New Jersey. Next, why lawmakers say they want the facility investigated. Plus, this is a live look. Washington, D.C., where America 250
celebrations are kicking off with a fight night. So, what is that you see behind the White House? Could be a UFC Octagon coming soon.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:23:19]
CORNISH: It is now 22 minutes past the hour. Here are five things you might have missed.
Federal immigration officers allegedly tear-gassed New Jersey Senator Andy Kim and other protesters outside an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
Now, Senator Kim and Governor Mike [SIC] Sherrill have questions about the conditions there.
Hundreds of detainees have actually started a hunger strike in protest. Several lawmakers tried to visit yesterday, but say federal authorities turned them away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. MIKIE SHERRILL (D-NJ): Everyone, regardless of your status, should be treated with dignity. Making sure that you make your doctor's appointments, that you get your medication. We're having reports that women who are menstruating have to ask every time they need products. That's humiliating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Again, that's Governor Mikie Sherrill.
In the meantime, the Department of Homeland Security actually defended conditions at the facility, saying in part, there is no hunger strike and there are no subprime conditions -- subprime conditions or abuse.
Officials now saying a chemical tank in Southern California most likely will not explode.
Emergency crews are concerned about a crack in a tank at an aerospace facility near Anaheim. It contains a chemical which could cause a massive explosion if it got too hot.
Safety workers inspected the tank and determined the chance of an explosion is slim, but not none. Officials have significantly scaled back their evacuation orders in the meantime. About 16,000 residents are still displaced.
And today, Vice President J.D. Vance expected to host state attorneys general at the White House for a meeting of his fraud task force. Vance announced the creation of a new position within the Justice Department to investigate allegations of fraud back in January.
About 15 Republican attorneys generals are expected to attend. [06:25:06]
And Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky announced he has filed to run for Congress in 2028. Massie lost last week's primary to a Trump-backed challenger.
And Massie said on social media he hasn't decided if he'll actually run again in two years. But filing the paperwork keeps his options open.
It's going to be a different kind of fight at the White House. Construction has begun on the Octagon, on the South Lawn for the UFC Freedom 250 fight, less than three weeks away.
Now, this arena is expected to hold around 5,000 spectators, and it's believed to be the first professional sporting event ever held on White House grounds.
Chuck, you ready?
ROCHA: Look --
CORNISH: You're a boxer.
ROCHA: I'm all about --
CORNISH: You have a ticket?
ROCHA: I'm all about fighting, and I'm all -- I've been fighting my whole life. Matter of fact, during the break for you at home. I was showing Audie scars on my face about how good I was at it --
CORNISH: Yes.
ROCHA: Which was not that good.
CORNISH: But some were from shaving. I just want this disclosure mentioned.
ROCHA: But it should also be said, is when I see that I'm like, really? Like, nobody can afford a tank of gas. We're going to use my tax dollars to build an Octagon, when just down the street, literally five blocks away is a perfectly good basketball arena that our basketball team certainly is not using. We could have had an Octagon fight without having to build this monstrosity on the White House.
DOVERE: It's a question of whether it comes across as bread and circuses when people are literally --
CORNISH: You're full of references today.
DOVERE: I know.
CORNISH: The lasso, the bread. Yes.
DOVERE: Well, you know, I -- it's all over the place. CORNISH: That's better. Someone else said "Idiocracy." And now I can't unsee it.
But I'm not against UFC, so we're going to talk about it more on the show at some point.
Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, the Democratic candidate in Texas facing backlash ahead of today's primary. Why Democrats are accusing Republican operatives of boosting her campaign.
Plus, why President Trump is pressuring more nations to join the Abraham Accords.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
