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Four Republicans Vote Yes on Iran War Powers Resolution; Knicks Fans Hopeful After Finals Game 1 Win; Blanche Tells Congress DOJ Fund is Dead, But Is It? Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired June 04, 2026 - 06:00   ET

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

[06:00:12]

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Today in the group chat, the Republican rebuke. You've got four people in the president's party who have broken with him on the war with Iran. But will it have any impact?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM BARRETT (R-MI): -- do that. I definitely feel what people are experiencing back home. You know, I go back home to my district every single week. You know, I fill up my gas tank, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: President Trump calls his anti-weaponization fund a, quote, "beautiful thing." Does anyone in Washington believe the plan is really dead?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: I actually said it was going to kick his ass.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Fighting words from the treasury secretary. But a real battle looms over Trump's pick to lead the national intelligence community.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH LONGOOD, RESTRAINED UNRULY PASSENGER: You know, that's why I do Jiu Jitsu. That's why I train martial arts, just so I can handle myself in a real-life situation like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: A do-or-die struggle on a plane. How an MMA fighter saved the day.

And then, of course, the New York Knicks look to pull off something we have not seen since Nixon was in office.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, what a sweet move.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jalen Brunson, the No. 1 player in the country. No. 1 player in the NBA. Knicks in four, baby. That's how I feel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): People are tired of this. They're tired of $5 a gallon gas and $6 a gallon diesel and fertilizer. We can't afford to. I think it sends a good message that the people's House, which represents the people, is tired of this war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: All right. GOP defectors crossing party lines to limit President Trump's war powers. Will anything come of this in the long term?

Good morning, everybody. I'm Audie Cornish. And here's where we start, because this is a rare Republican rebuke on the Hill. You've got four Republicans siding with Democrats on that resolution that directs Trump to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran.

Before the vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson had this warning to members of his party looking to flip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-KY): I think it is a -- a very dangerous prospect to take away from the administration and the commander in chief right now, the ability to negotiate. That's what this does. It -- it weakens us.

CORNISH: But for the Republicans who ended up voting yes, they say several factors weighed into their decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. BRIAN FITZPATRICK (R-pa): We have to follow the law. There's a law on the books. The War Powers Act of '73 says 48-hour notification and 60-day concurrence of Congress. We're past the 60 days. So, you have two choices. You either follow the law or you change the law.

BARRETT: People are frustrated, certainly, but that's not the only consideration in this.

I fill up my gas tank, too. I have four kids.

I share the -- the interest in making sure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. But we have to do this in a way that is done through the use of force authorization that Congress has the exclusive authority over. Congress alone declares war.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CORNISH: Joining me now in the group chat, Eleanor Mueller, White House economics reporter from seminar -- from "Semafor"; of former Trump White House communications director Mike Dubke; and Meghan Hays, former Biden White House director of message planning.

OK, so when it comes to a story like this, it's not the usual suspects, your Thomas Massie of Kentucky, that we are looking at. It's the other folks. Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania; Tom Barrett, Michigan; Warren Davidson, Ohio. All pretty important states, in general, in elections.

Can you talk about what's going on, why these particular people might be the ones to make this shift?

ELEANOR MUELLER, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMICS REPORTER, "SEMAFOR": I think it tells us a lot about how much pressure these Republican congressmen are under to show voters that they're doing something on affordability. You know --

CORNISH: We should be clear, they were just at home.

MUELLER: Exactly.

CORNISH: So, they were just there last week.

MUELLER: They were just hearing from constituents.

Fitzpatrick has been someone that leaders have had their eye on for a long time as somebody who might vote against this war. And I would argue that him and Barrett, specifically, right, are under a ton of pressure to, again, show their districts that they are doing something to bring energy costs down.

And so, in addition to these concerns over constitutionality that I think Davidson and Massie share, Barrett and Fitzpatrick are really feeling the heat. And this vote was a sign of that.

CORNISH: So, then you've got this "New York Times" reporting that even if oil prices peak soon, the global economy is going to slow down. Meaning the damage has been done.

And Secretary Bessent was on the Hill yesterday, and he, of course, was asked about the economy for the same reasons that this war vote saw the erosion of some support, because people are worried. And here is what Bessent had to say on the Hill.

[06:05:07]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TINA SMITH (D-MN): Could you just explain to me and to farmers in Minnesota how those increased prices, driven by the war and Iran, are worth the pain that they are feeling right now?

BESSENT: Senator, do you believe that Iran can have a nuclear weapon? As a former farmer, I will tell you that -- and maybe you know that 75 percent of the fertilizer had already been purchased this year. There --

SMITH: That is not -- not what my farmers in Minnesota are telling me, sir.

BESSENT: They're -- they're --

SMITH: They are telling me that they cannot afford their fertilizer, and they know the reason why. They know the reason.

BESSENT: There is -- there is no doubt --

SMITH: So --

BESSENT: -- that -- that farmers have been struggling. But much of that, that there was a record crop last year, Senator. And what do record crops lead to?

SMITH: What my farmers are telling me --

BESSENT: Lower prices.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: OK. So, our messaging folks, what do you think of that back and forth, both sides of it, frankly?

MEGHAN HAYS, FORMER BIDEN WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF MESSAGE PLANNING: I mean, I think that there's a complete disconnect from how people are feeling. And I think if you're not going to show empathy from people, that's really what gets you here.

It's not necessarily the policy. It's when people don't understand -- don't say to you, I understand where you're coming from. We are doing this for this reason.

CORNISH: But his reply was pretty straightforward.

HAYS: But I -- but I just don't think farmers have already bought fertilizer. They have no -- there's no empathy or humanity for people who are actually suffering, who are actually paying the bills.

These people are multibillionaires. They are taking people for a ride. They are getting money from taxpayers. And that's all the American people see.

We can't afford our gas. We can't afford electricity. We can't afford groceries. But you're down here building a ballroom and having a UFC fight. That is it.

And so, when you sit up there in front of Congress and have no empathy for people, that is what they see. And that's the problem here.

When Trump went to this war, he never went to the American people and said, this is why I'm going, and this is what I'm doing. So, this is what we're left with.

CORNISH: Any lessons learned from the Biden era folks about empathy and the economy?

MIKE DUBKE, FORMER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Really? Yes. Of course. Don't do what Biden did.

HAYS: Here we are.

DUBKE: And that's exactly where we are.

CORNISH: Oh, no, no. I'm being serious. So, when --

DUBKE: I'm being serious, too.

CORNISH: -- you look at his answer, you see it as in the same way?

DUBKE: I see it in the same way.

Look, when I -- when I do, you know, media training or anything on a professional level in communications, one of the things that you need to talk about, especially with public officials, is to show some empathy. And I totally agree with Meghan on that.

Now, I will take -- I will say that these four defectors, defectors on the House side, you know, there are other reasons that are going into it, I think --

CORNISH: For sure.

DUBKE: -- besides affordability. And we can get into that if you want to.

But yes, from -- from the message perspective, this administration does need to understand that there is pain being felt right now.

CORNISH: And I understand what you're saying about someone like Thomas Massie, who's a perennial thorn in the side of the administration.

I want to put up some information about Representative Tom Barrett, who is a first-term Republican. OK? So, you've got a newbie.

But he also is a former Army helicopter pilot. I'm really paying attention to how veterans are behaving politically right now across the political spectrum. And he's facing reelection.

And one other person I want to show you, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, represents the Philadelphia suburbs, which I'm sure we'll hear about ad nauseam come election time.

But more importantly, former FBI agent; has broken away from the administration before.

There is a world of veteran law enforcement -- like, people who kind of speak the lingo and understand the conversation around conflict. And they are not afraid to have a different point of view.

MUELLER: One hundred percent. I mean, they are bringing a perspective to this that not everyone on the Hill is. I think, you know, Republicans, congressional Republicans are

constantly talking to constituents who are veterans. But it's one thing to be having those conversations and another thing to be coming at it, having done this work yourself.

CORNISH: OK, you guys, we're going to talk more about this and some other topics later.

Later on CNN, though, I want to get to this, because it doesn't sound like the president is actually letting go of his plans for some sort of anti-weaponization payout fund. And what could, basically, that mean going forward?

And then there's actually pandemonium on the streets of New York. The Knicks give fans a reason to be rowdy.

And a plane passenger tries to open an exit door mid-flight. Luckily, there was a trained black belt on board.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LONGOOD: The guy tried to, like, attack him and choked him, and I was already ready for something to happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:13:42]

CORNISH: It is 13 minutes past the hour. Here is your morning roundup.

Now, you're looking at the moment an unruly passenger is subdued on a Frontier flight. So, the man allegedly tried to open an exit door, then breached the cockpit, and choked an off-duty flight attendant.

Passengers quickly helped take him down. And it just so happens one of those good Samaritans is a trained fighter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LONGOOD: You can't control what people are going to do and where they're going to do it. So, I think it's just best to be trained, be trained in Jiu Jitsu. At least try out a class so you know how to take care of a real-life situation when something happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: So, the flight was diverted. The suspect was arrested, and he faces multiple charges.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls Cuba a growing security concern for the U.S. Testifying before lawmakers, he says the administration is trying to figure out who they can talk to on the inside.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I think the United States is open to a negotiated situation that puts Cuba on a path towards democracy, prosperity, freedom, normalcy.

We would be open to that, and we would work with whoever is open to doing it. Obviously, it will be challenging.

There are clearly individuals within the apparatus of power in that country that understand that what they have now is not sustainable and needs to be fixed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Cuba is currently facing an unprecedented energy crisis. For the last five months, the island nation has been cut off from almost any fuel supply.

[06:15:10]

And here in the U.S., the New York Knicks taking game one of the NBA finals on the road against the Spurs. Jalen Brunson scored 30 points in New York's 105-to-95 win over San Antonio.

CNN's Omar Jimenez was outside of Madison Square Garden to see New York's characteristic calm response to the event.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: This is the reaction after a game one win in the NBA finals for the New York Knicks.

We have been outside Madison Square Garden throughout all of this. And look, if you doubt any of the enthusiasm, even for an away game for the Knicks, look no further than the crowd that gathered over the course of this game.

But I want to show you what we've been seeing over the course of this as a celebration really begins here in New York City. It's the beginning of a long series. You know that if you're a basketball fan.

But you can't tell the people here who have been chanting "Knicks in four" for hours. I was talking to them beforehand. They were saying "Knicks in four" beforehand, too.

So, this is just the beginning. They got a game one. It came down to a back-and-forth game throughout all of it.

But the excitement in New York City is the chance to do something they have not done in over five decades. Now that they are back in a place they have not been in more than two decades.

So, moving forward, like we said, is a long series, but the enthusiasm here --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes!!!

JIMENEZ: -- it is not going anywhere. It's not going anywhere. See, you can't go far. This is New York.

Back to you guys.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CORNISH: And Omar was never seen again. Omar is fine. He's going to be following game two. Tips off tomorrow night in San Antonio.

I love a happy fandom.

DUBKE: I'm glad you've heard from him, though.

CORNISH: Yes. He's good. He's good.

DUBKE: Yes, OK.

CORNISH: He's also tall. You know, he's very, very lucky.

OK, you guys, after the break on CNN THIS MORNING, the White House Correspondents' Dinner is getting a second act.

Plus, the anti-weaponization fund may be dead, but the president isn't done talking about it.

In the meantime, good morning to our viewers in New York, just waking up or still awake after a Knicks win.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:21:41]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD BLANCHE, U.S. ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL: Look, we're not moving forward with the fund. We are not moving forward with the fund, period.

We are not moving forward with the fund.

REP. GRACE MENG (D-NY): Not moving forward ever?

BLANCHE: Correct. We're not moving forward with the fund.

We're not moving forward with the fund.

We're not moving forward with the fund.

We're not moving forward with the fund.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Here's the thing. Somehow, people are still asking, are they moving forward with the fund?

That $1.776 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund. That was quickly condemned in a bipartisan way when it was rolled out a few weeks ago.

But even as the acting attorney general -- you're seeing him right there -- saying it's over, there are other mixed signals.

So, Lindsey Graham, for instance, suggested another way to pay out the fund. A top DOJ official, Stanley Woodward, replied, saying, "We're on it."

And ABC News reports Woodward posted Tuesday evening in response to Graham's post. And Woodward's post was deleted by Wednesday morning.

President Trump also seems unwilling to let the idea go entirely.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: The weaponization fund, as far as I'm concerned, was a beautiful thing. It was something I was -- I didn't make it, but I was -- I heard that, I thought that was the greatest thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: The group chat is back. I'm under the impression that, under federal law, they can't bring it back. So, help me understand.

MUELLER: They can't. But they also -- it's very hard to find a plaintiff here, right? Because this is a settlement between two government agencies that are both controlled by Trump.

And so, who's the person that can come forward and say they were wronged and challenge this?

CORNISH: What about all those people who raised their hands, like, you know, call me?

MUELLER: We've seen -- exactly.

CORNISH: Michael Cohen.

MUELLER: That's what we've seen folks come out and do, for example. You know, folks who were injured in the January 6th riots have said, if you give money to my former attackers, then that is an attack against me.

And that's part of why we're seeing this held up in the courts, at least temporarily.

CORNISH: Yes.

MUELLER: I think the Trump administration saying that this is, at least for now, dead, is a sign that they know the political opposition is too strong.

CORNISH: But there's -- he's -- you've got Blanche saying, look, I'm not going to do this. And then you've got everyone else being like, well, maybe, maybe. And is that really just, like, to soften the blow of it not happening?

DUBKE: I think we're all missing the -- the -- the active word here that the president used, which was "was." It was a beautiful thing.

CORNISH: That was -- and then --

DUBKE: And he -- he didn't. And he didn't bring that up. That was in a press conference yesterday in the Oval Office.

CORNISH: Nor did he claim it. He said someone else came up with it.

DUBKE: Well, and he was asked a question about it. So, I mean, we're talking about something that I do think is dead for political reasons, especially.

But this also we've got a court order that this thing can't go forward. We have members of Congress, especially senators, who are about to enter a vote-a-rama today.

CORNISH: Yes.

DUBKE: I think Thom Tillis is going to bring his amendment forward. And when he does, I wouldn't be surprised if there's 10 to 15 Republican senators who vote for the Tillis measure to basically kill this thing.

So, we can keep talking about it. But even the president said "was."

CORNISH: Well, then, let me add part two: the IRS settlement that says, thou shalt not do audits of me or my family in perpetuity. Is it -- basically, we've all distracted ourselves with the fund. And so, this part can go forward?

MUELLER: Well, the fund was publicized by DOJ when the settlement was reached. The IRS agreement to not audit Trump or his family for past tax returns was not publicized.

CORNISH: Yes.

MUELLER: Which I think was an implicit acknowledgment by the administration that this is not a standard thing to do.

[06:25:03]

HAYS: I was just going to say, this is smoke and mirrors. Like, look over here to this shiny object that no one's ever going to get money. So, we don't have to pay taxes, and no one will ever know how much money my family and I have made off of the administration and or off of us being in office and off the taxpayers' dime.

So, I actually think that that's right. And I think that there's more -- there should be more upright -- upheaval over the IRS settlement than this -- this fund that's never going to get any -- get any further.

CORNISH: Will there be? Or is there any traction on that conversation on the Republican side?

DUBKE: Well, there was at the beginning.

CORNISH: Yes.

DUBKE: I mean, if you remember when this first came out, that was really what got Republicans off the sideline, was this kind of blanket immunity for the Trump Organization and Trump family.

Again, my understanding, staying at a Holiday Inn Express last night, I guess, and not a lawyer, or watching "Law and Order." I don't know, whatever metaphor I --

CORNISH: You're really selling it.

DUBKE: -- Can sell on this. Right.

CORNISH: You're really selling it to me.

DUBKE: Exactly. But my understanding is when the -- when the judge said we're -- we're putting a hold on -- on this, they put a hold on everything.

CORNISH: On the -- all parts. Yes.

DUBKE: Because it was a -- it was an amendment. Amendment to the larger agreement.

CORNISH: Yes, yes. So, we should say there are some aspects of this that somehow are still in the courts, just because of the way it went down. But for now, we are hearing politically backing down.

Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, we're going to turn to the war with Iran. We're going to talk about whether this is over, whether it's the beginning of a long, bloody conflict.

And then there is some pushback on Pulte. Republicans lashing out against the president's pick for interim director of national intelligence.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:30:00]