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CNN This Morning

Iran Warns Of Wider War, Demands Release Of Frozen Assets; Dept. Of Justice Sends Prosecutor To Observe LA Ballot Counting; Pope Leo Kicks Off High-Stakes Visit To Spain; Search For Alabama Engineering Student Continues, Trump Selected Acting Director Of National Intelligence With No Intelligence Experience; Knicks Take 2-0 Finals Lead After Wemby Misses Last Shot. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired June 06, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN THIS MORNING WEEKEND. Here's what's happening. The U.S. says it has intercepted new Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. What President Trump is saying about the war, now in its third month. The president was in Wisconsin yesterday to pitch farmers on his trade policy. He kind of did that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Come up here today. I don't need this. I got elected. I don't know what the hell do I have to be here for? I got elected. I'm here because I like the farmer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: We'll talk about the purpose of the visit for both his base and for the GOP efforts to keep the majority. And the family of a man missing in Japan is holding out hope that he will be found alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY HIGGINBOTHAM, MISSING STUDENT'S MOTHER: I know Weston. I know he's in those woods. And I know he's alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: What we know about what led up to his disappearance and the moment his family knew something was wrong. Plus, why NASA ordered the crew aboard the International Space Station to seek shelter in an emergency escape capsule.

Welcome to your weekend. Saturday, June 6. I'm Victor Blackwell.

Iran is threatening to expand its war with the U.S. Peace talks are at a stalemate between the two countries. A top Iranian official tells CNN the Trump administration must agree to end its naval blockade and also release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets to end this war. Overnight, the U.S. military struck several coastal sites in Iran. And the Iranians launched waves of missiles and drones toward the Strait of Hormuz, toward Kuwait, Bahrain, threatening to unravel a very fragile ceasefire.

Israeli forces? They also ramped up attacks against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon that killed more than 20 people. Here's what President Trump had to say about the war during that event in Wisconsin yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We're at a point where we're going to come out of Iran very quickly, and it's going to be very strong one way or the other. Whether it's a piece of paper or the very tough way. OK? The very tough way is maybe the easier way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Let's get more now from CNN'S Oren Liebermann.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: We have seen a number of attacks and intercepts on Saturday morning in the Gulf region and between the U.S. and Iran. And all of that puts into question the fragile ceasefire itself, as well as the diplomatic track around that ceasefire to try to get to a broader agreement.

Early on Saturday morning, Iran's semiofficial news agency says they launched what they called warning shots to what they say may have been U.S. Navy vessels operating in the region. U.S. Central Command, which governs military operations in the Middle East and in the Gulf, says they intercepted four one-way attack drones and then carried out strikes on two surveillance radar sites on Iran's coast that they say will ensure the safety and maritime security in the region there. Iran then launched seven ballistic missiles, according to CENTCOM. Six of those were intercepted, CENTCOM said, while one of those did not reach its target.

The targets of those ballistic missiles were Kuwait and Bahrain. And we saw warning sirens in both of those countries as well as Kuwait, saying they were responding to incoming fire. It was just earlier this week that an Iranian attack struck Kuwait's airport, killing one and wounding more than 60 others. So, you see here, what is a pattern of ongoing fighting around that ceasefire here.

Now, President Donald Trump has said that the ceasefire negotiations and the talks were moving very fast. But it doesn't appear that anything is moving fast here. Certainly, not the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is supposed to be the first step in that ceasefire agreement and the immediate goal of the talks here.

Meanwhile, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader says the talks are deadlocked. Iran continues to operate and negotiate from what they see as a -- as a position of strength. They're not rushing to an agreement, no matter what Trump has claimed about Iran trying to get to an agreement.

And that's why, you see -- at least part of the reason why you see this long, dragged-out process and the fighting that's ongoing around a fragile ceasefire. Oren Liebermann, CNN in Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[07:05:15]

BLACKWELL: Oren, thank you for that report. President Trump was back on the campaign trail yesterday. He's trying to rally his MAGA base for the upcoming midterm elections. The president visited Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, for a rally branded as Fighting for American Farmers. Now, some farmers say that they've been hurt by some of the administration's trade policies and the war with Iran.

But in his remarks, the president seemed more focused on fountains and reflecting pools back in D.C. Even went so far as to say that he didn't need to campaign for Republicans, and suggested he would rather be at home watching TV.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: As president, I fought for the American farmer like no one has ever fought before. Nobodys -- like, I'm up here today. I don't need this.

I got elected. I don't know what the hell do I have to be here for? I got elected. I'm here because I like the farmer.

I mean, when you think about it, I guess there's a lot of truth to that, right? I could be home right now in the beautiful White House, enjoying watching somebody else on television talk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: President Trump is expected to continue campaigning for Republicans over the next five months, as they try to hold on to the House and Senate majorities.

New this morning. CNN projects that democrat and former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra will advance to the November general election in the race for California governor. Ballots in California are still being counted, so it's not clear who Becerra will run against. California has long had a reputation for being really slow to report election results.

It's largely due to the time it takes to count the mail-in ballots. And the slow pace has made it a target for critics, including the president. The Justice Department has now sent one of its attorneys to observe ballot processing in Los Angeles. President Trump has made false claims of election fraud there. Here's CNN'S Evan Perez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: The Justice Department sent an attorney to observe ballot processing in Los Angeles on Friday. The move comes days after President Donald Trump said that the top federal prosecutor there was investigating the vote counting after Tuesday's primary elections. The L.A. County elections office told CNN that it was notified that an assistant U.S. Attorney was being dispatched to watch ballot-counting activities.

Now, it's not uncommon for election results in California to take sometimes weeks before they're finalized, in part because of the processing of mail-in ballots. Trump has claimed, without evidence, that the slow pace of the count from Tuesday's primary was a sign of Democratic "Cheating." Several key races in the state, including for governor and LA mayor, are still being counted.

We haven't seen any public signs that the Justice Department has found any evidence of a crime. Earlier Friday, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, a Trump appointee who leads the U.S. Attorney's office in Los Angeles, said that his office had "Multiple election fraud investigations underway," in a social media post that also bashed California's election system.

County officials have defended their processes, writing on social media on Thursday that the dedicated staff is working to ensure that every vote is accurately processed and verified for counting. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office told CNN that it had not received any complaints from the federal government regarding criminal misconduct related to the vote counting or fraud in the Los Angeles County primary election. Evan Perez, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: All right. Here's what else we're following this morning. Ukraine has launched a major drone strike on Saint Petersburg as Russia hosts President Vladimir Putin's signature economic forum. Russian officials say more than 100 drones were shot down, with damage and fires reported across that region. People were told to stay indoors as air defenses responded.

This is after another strike earlier this week during that same high- profile gathering. It's often called Putin's Davos. It has drawn thousands of attendees from around the world.

The CDC says the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could become the largest on record. It's already the fourth largest, with at least 60 confirmed deaths. Researchers say without rapid public health action, the outbreak could surpass past epidemics. They warned that it could approach the scale of the 2014 to 2016 West Africa outbreak that infected more than 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000.

Five astronauts on the International Space Station were told to take shelter on Friday. Now, this order came after a leak was found in the Russian-controlled side of the orbiting lab. NASA moved them into a SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule so that they could escape quickly if needed. Now, the all-clear was given later after repairs were delayed, in order to assess more information about that leak. Still not clear when repair efforts will resume. [07:10:23]

Pope Leo is in Madrid this morning, the first stop on his six-day tour of Spain. We'll talk about how he's using the trip to address one of the church's biggest controversies.

Also, an American student is missing in Japan. His family says they're now getting extra help in their desperate search. Well explain when we return.

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[07:15:26]

BLACKWELL: This morning, Pope Leo is kicking off a visit to Spain with political polarization and migration front and center. Live pictures for you in Madrid. There's Pope Leo. The pope landed there about half an hour -- half an hour ago. He's expected to visit migrant centers and address Spain's parliament.

CNN Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb joins us now. So, six days. What should we expect during this visit?

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Victor, it is a significant trip by Pope Leo because it's his first major European visit since his election. Spain, traditionally a catholic stronghold of Europe. This is the first papal visit in 15 years.

We're expected to see a strong focus on migration. The pope's going to go to the Canary Islands, which is a major entry point for immigrants from Africa. He's also going to address the political scene here in Spain, which is very polarized.

He's going to be talking to Spain's parliament. That's the first time a pope has done that. He'll also be meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is something of an ally of Pope Leo when it comes to the war in Iran.

Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister, has been outspoken against the war. That's something that Pope Leo has also spoken out against. And Sanchez also defended the pope when President Trump attacked Leo those weeks ago in April.

Leo starting the trip by meeting with the king and queen of Spain and will address the political and civic authorities. He's also here to try and encourage the catholic church in Spain, which, you know, it's a secularized country here, but there are strong catholic roots. I actually spoke to him on board the plane about the rise in numbers that we're seeing in young people converting or showing an interest in Catholicism. And he said he's encouraged by that.

He also pointed out, though, that his trip to Madrid coincides with a concert by the musician Bad Bunny. And he said that, you know, many young people will probably go to see Bad Bunny rather than see the pope. But there are some seeing the pope. So, that is at least something. So, quite a lot for the Pope on this action-packed schedule in Spain. Victor.

BLACKWELL: Yes, competing with Bad Bunny for attention here. Christopher Lamb reporting on the pope's trip to Spain. Thanks so much.

Still ahead. The search continues for that missing American in Japan. Investigators are now getting extra help in their search. We'll get that information for you when we return.

Plus, customers at one restaurant got dinner and a show. More of this amazing video after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:22:44]

BLACKWELL: Peace talks are at an impasse, and the violence is escalating in the war with Iran. Iran's military launched a wave of missile and drone strikes overnight, targeted the Strait of Hormuz, Kuwait, Bahrain. The U.S. countered with strikes on several targets along Iran's coastline.

Let's bring in now Behnam Ben Taleblu. He's the senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Thank you so much for being back.

We have heard from the principals in this war over the last 24 hours. I'm going to play a lot of the sound. I want you to give us the context around it.

Let's start with President Trump, who spoke with NBC News. And Kristen Welker asked him if the Iranians are so desperate to reach a deal, as he has said they are for months, why have they not reached one? Here's what the president said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think they can't believe they're in the situation where they've been virtually decapitated.

KRISTEN WELKER, ANCHOR, NBC NEWS: But if they're so desperate, Mr. President, why haven't they said yes to the terms you're proposing?

TRUMP: Because they're proud. There are things they never thought they'd be doing that they're going to have to do. They've got no choice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: So, what do you think of that? The president says that this is just a delayed resignation to the inevitable.

BEHNAM BEN TALEBLU, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF IRAN PROGRAM, FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES: Well, great to be with you. That seems to be the million-dollar question. But forgive me, that seems to also misunderstand elements of Iran's strategy. Yes, the regime is hubristic and proud. But more importantly, it's ideological. And it's keen to avoid giving America -- not just American presidents, but this American president, a victory image, particularly after not one but two rounds of overt military action against the Islamic Republic. There's that.

But then there's also the larger strategy here at play. And that strategy is to force America either into a bad deal that kind of guarantees more Iranian access to cash or a conflict that doesn't guarantee a military and political outcome that America and/or Israel would be willing to pay for. So, you may remember back in Trump term one, Trump administration officials talked about putting Iran to the choice. The Iranian strategy here by exploiting the gray zone, by continuing low intensity fighting during the ceasefire, and also saying yes, no, and maybe to talks all at the same time, is designed to put America to the choice and see what we'll want versus what we will settle for.

[07:25:06]

BLACKWELL: All right. So, you pointed out the military element and the cash element that Iran is forcing here. Our Fred Pleitgen had an exclusive interview with the military advisor to the Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. And I want to play for you first on the fighting. Here's what he said could happen if this blockade continues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHSEN REZAI, SENIOR MILITARY ADVISER TO IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER (through a translator): If the war continues and the naval blockade is not lifted, we will drag the war to the Indian Ocean, the Bab El Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean. And we will give another dimension to the war by attacking these other American bases that we have been attacking so far.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: And so, what do you know about the capabilities of the Iranians to make good on that threat?

TALEBLU: Well, certainly, the Islamic Republic has proven an ability to export maritime harassment and terrorism. You know, when the Houthis were doing that a few years ago, that was actually because they had learned from their patron and were equipped from weapons from their patron, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the ability to go after these ships, these vessels, and to go after a strategic chokepoint in the Red Sea and the Bab El Mandeb. As we saw the Houthis do, their partners on the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula just a few years back.

Now, that's a sort of Damocles. The regime is dangling over, not just the Arab States, not just over the West, but over the international economy. And in my view, that only heightens the choice before the Trump administration.

And here, actually, we have other tools, not just military, but economic tools against the administration -- against the regime that the administration should consider. The latest data, particularly for the month of May, which is when the full blockade has been in effect, meaning start to finish the whole month was Iran was only able to export 64,000 barrels of oil per day. Meaning, only four vessels -- four smaller vessels got past the U.S. blockade.

When the regime's, you know, major parts of its economy are reliant on hydrocarbons and petrochemical product sales, and they can only export up to 64,000 barrels per day, when just back in February, before the conflict began, they were exporting over 2.1 million barrels of oil per day, they are facing bankruptcy. And that's precisely why they're going to be lashing out and threatening this wider circle of escalation.

BLACKWELL: Yes. And of course, as we reported that the Iranians are demanding a $24 billion release of their assets. $12 billion ahead of the signing and $12 billion later. Control room, let's go to the Christiane Amanpour exclusive interview with the Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun. And this is what he said about the accusations -- strong accusations about the IRGC and their influence on what's happening in Lebanon. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH AOUN, PRESIDENT, LEBANON: Our people being killed. Our people being -- our houses being destroyed. They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with the United States. It's unacceptable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Now, the IRGC denies that. Is he right? You've written that the IRGC is feeling emboldened as it relates to Lebanon.

TALEBLU: Certainly, feeling emboldened as it relates to Lebanon and their proxy -- their Hezbollah, which is their most powerful proxy, and still the one that they're hoping to recreate and rebuild, hoping that America and Israel tire of this conflict. But no, the Lebanese president you mentioned right now is absolutely right. 110 percent right.

The Islamic Republic of Iran's entire military strategy is basically reliant on working by, with, and through downtrodden and dispossessed persons in the heartland of the Arab and Muslim world to continue its fighting for it. And unfortunately, Lebanon, a proud country, has been one of the main theaters that has been sacrificed in this larger, decades-long war against Israel, America, and the West. And certainly, Lebanese citizenry and even Lebanese Shia have been paying a price for being this battleground.

The question is, what kind of capacity does the Lebanese state have to push back? Lebanese society, what can they do to push back, and what can and can't America and Israel do to help them? And this is why it's critical to know who is your friend and who is your ally versus who is a fair-weather friend, and who is your adversary. Because look at what the Islamic Republic of Iran is doing. Its most powerful proxy in Lebanon got clobbered by Israel. And yet still, as much as this regime needs cash, and you mentioned the billions that it wants and is trying to get from America, it is risking losing all of that just to stand by its partner and proxy, Hezbollah. The question is, where are we when it comes to standing with our partners?

BLACKWELL: Behnam Ben Taleblu, always good to have the analysis. Thank you.

TALEBLU: Thank you.

[07:29:57]

BLACKWELL: A desperate search for an Alabama student who was missing -- is still missing in Japan, is continuing this morning after a typhoon impacted those rescue efforts.

20-year-old Auburn University student, James Weston Higginbotham, disappeared last month, while on vacation with his family. They have refused to leave the country without him. His mother, Nancy, spoke last night with our Erin Burnett.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY HIGGINBOTHAM, MOTHER OF MISSING STUDENT: We had a little argument, so, after lunch we reconvened in the hotel and decided, you know, that we all probably needed a little bit of space. So, Weston, we went -- my son -- my husband, and I went to a temple, and Weston chilled out in the hotel room for a little bit. And then, he walked by the river and went to a couple stores, and then he took the train, and that's when, you know, unfortunately, he turned off his location.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: CNN's Hanako Montgomery has the latest details on the search in Kyoto.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Deep in Japan's forests, a search is underway for Weston Higginbotham, a 20-year-old college student from Alabama, who vanished during a family vacation.

MONTGOMERY: So, this is the type of trail that the Japanese police have been investigating to search for Weston. He is known as an avid hiker, so, they think that maybe he might have disappeared into the woods when he went missing on May 29th.

MONTGOMERY (voice over): Police are relying on K-9 units to sniff out any trace of Weston. But the forest search ends for now with no answers. Just more anguish for a family still waiting for news.

HIGGINBOTHAM: There are so many possibilities that we have thought through. KEITH HIGGINBOTHAM, FATHER OF MISSING STUDENT: Yes.

N. HIGGINBOTHAM: Because as a -- you know, as a parent, you don't want to think the worst, and you know, you keep seeing these sightings here and there. It's like, well, maybe, you know, I don't know. I don't know.

MONTGOMERY (voice over): The day Weston disappeared, the Higginbothams were vacationing in Kyoto, Japan, a major tourist destination in one of the world's safest countries.

But after a small disagreement with his mom, they agreed to give each other some space.

Nancy, his mother, tells me, it's not unusual for Weston to clear his head in nature.

N. HIGGINBOTHAM: But I will say that, you know, a local resident --

MONTGOMERY (voice over): But when he seemingly turned off his phone location, panic set in.

N. HIGGINBOTHAM: Well, it was scary, because that's not Weston. I mean, we are just -- we don't do that in our family. Even when we are mad, we don't do that in our family.

MONTGOMERY: Since then, Nancy has posted daily appeals on social media, asking anyone with information to come forward.

N. HIGGINBOTHAM: He has a heart of gold, and we all want him to come back safely.

MONTGOMERY: Strangers have answered her call. Sharing Weston's photo and distributing flyers to help find him.

MANAMI NAKAGAWA, VOLUNTEER (text): The search ends when people stop looking. For as long as it takes, I'll keep doing everything I can until he is found.

MONTGOMERY: The police have told us that until they find Weston, they won't stop looking, and as the search continues, so does a mother's hope.

And today, the search is getting extra help. Citizen hikers are now heading to the mountains after Higginbotham's family organized a search and rescue party of volunteers.

Hanako Montgomery, CNN, Kyoto.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Huge waves had people nearby screaming in Hawaii. Now, officials say that the waves were up to six feet high, but I mean, look at that. The witnesses thought they were even higher.

These big waves started on Tuesday on the west side of the Big Island of Hawaii. Now, a stormy weather system out of New Zealand last week is what generated these huge waves. That looked like more than six feet.

Heat is building up, and so, is the storm threat from the Midwest and the Northeast. Millions of people could see some strong storms today.

Meteorologist Melissa Nord, is tracking it all. That's more than six feet.

MELISSA NORD, PART-TIME CNN METEOROLOGIST: It looks more. And you know, it hits the sea wall, so it all comes crashing over, and it's a little startling.

BLACKWELL: Yes. I mean, it's good entertainment if you are inside. Right?

NORD: Yes.

BLACKWELL: If you are there on the wall, it's not as entertaining.

NORD: Right?

BLACKWELL: Yes.

NORD: And not a good situation as well, for surfers the last couple days with those large swells, as well, dangerous. So, some events were canceled there.

We do have to talk about storms, though, because it's going to be a highly populated area in the risk of severe weather later on today. Victor, we are talking about New York City, we are talking about Philadelphia, even out towards Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and also Columbus, Ohio, in a level two risk of severe weather today.

Now, this is mostly going to be a damaging wind threat. Some of those winds could be easily 60, even 70 miles an hour, but also some hail possible. Quarter size approaching that 95 corridor. The timing for that is going to be later this evening for those big cities on the East Coast, but right now we are already seeing some shower and storm activity in the Corn Belt and the Midwest, as well, right ahead of this cold front.

[07:35:01]

So, that will be the trigger point, along with heat to fire up more storms later on today.

Couple those moving now through the south side of Chicago, we'll see them regenerate this afternoon as we add that daytime heating, lot of spots getting to the 80s and 90s this afternoon, and you can see those storms popping up in interior new east -- New England and northeast, and then, moving in towards the 95 corridor after 8:00 this evening. So, it might be a hot and sunny afternoon, but then those storms will come in, and they could pack a punch to the south, though a lot of moisture coming off the Gulf produces that localized flash flooding threat, even though the severe weather threat is not as high there.

All right. So, little relief coming from some of these cities, for some of these cities. Thanks to this cold front, but it's not going to last for long. I do expect more heat to build in later in the week. Another day in the 90s there, New York, and also Washington, D.C. Boston, 86 degrees, that's about 15 degrees above average for them. Little cool down coming the second half of the weekend, more heat builds later next week. Victor?

BLACKWELL: All right. Melissa, thank you very much.

Still ahead, President Trump is facing backlash over his pick to lead the intelligence community. The president is waving off questions about Bill Pulte's qualifications.

Hey, if you are headed out, I'll ride shotgun. You can watch the show, stream our show from anywhere in the U.S., right from the CNN app. You can also go to cnn.com/watch.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:41:05]

BLACKWELL: Top stories this morning. The chief of staff for Texas Republican Pete Sessions has been charged with carrying a gun onto U.S. Capitol grounds. Capitol police say they found a black pistol and ammunition in the staffer's bag as he was going through a security checkpoint in December.

Police say he admitted he did not have a license to carry that gun. Court documents note the staffer typically enters the House Office Building with Sessions, who is exempt from being screened.

The FAA says President Trump's proposed triumphal arch does not appear to pose a potential risk to air travel.

This is 250 feet tall. Now, it's set to be a place less than two miles from the Ronald Reagan Washington Airport. However, officials at the FAA are recommending that red obstruction lights be added.

President Trump says he is interviewing five well-known people to be the next director of National Intelligence. This is after the bipartisan backlash to his choice of Bill Pulte to succeed Tulsi Gabbard in that position. Now, critics say Pulte has no known national security qualifications. Trump has since said that Pulte, who will continue to head up the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will only serve as acting director of National Intelligence. So, up to 210 days.

We are joined now by Shawn Turner, the former Director of Communications for U.S. National Intelligence.

Sean, welcome back to the show. Let me read here first from the Wall Street Journal's interview with the president about his choice of Bill Pulte. He says, "Frankly, it might be good for him to shake it up before people come. Because if he reduced the size in conjunction with me and in conjunction with possibly the person coming in, he can do a lot of the hard work, and we wouldn't have to saddle somebody that goes in. We've made the Department of Education much smaller, and likewise, this should be much smaller. And this should maybe even be terminated, and we'll make that decision."

What's your reaction to hearing that the president -- once Pulte -- essentially, going to be the hatchet man? Make it smaller, or maybe we'll just get rid of the ODNI.

SHAWN TURNER, FORMER DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION FOR UNITED STATES NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Yes, Victor. Good morning. It's good to see you. Good to be with you again.

When I hear those words, that maybe even the Office of the Director of National Intelligence should be terminated, I will tell you, as a student of history and someone who spent a long time in government national security, and intelligence, that's a scary thought.

We have to remember that there are few places in government where the stakes are higher than in the intelligence community. The most consequential decisions that any president will make about how to protect Americans, about when to put our troops in harm's way, are press -- are decisions that will be made based on intelligence.

So, you know, there are -- there are no scenarios, Victor, where by an objective assessment, having the nation's top intelligence official be someone who has no experience in defense, no experience in intelligence is good for our national security, and unfortunately that's what we have in Mr. Pulte.

BLACKWELL: Yes, the office created in the wake of 9/11 to coordinate communications between these 18 intelligence agencies to eliminate the miscommunication and lack of communication before the attack 25 years ago.

There is nothing in the report from CNN or for The Wall Street Journal that suggests that the president wants Pulte to do that job. Right.

TURNER: Yes.

BLACKWELL: And so, I wonder, you know, we have all worked in -- not all, but many have worked in big bureaucracies or worked in big agencies, where an appointee or new CEO comes in, it really doesn't impact your job. Is there potential for that here, or, or not?

TURNER: Yes, you know, I think -- I think, there is the potential here for the intelligence community to be misused.

And Victor, look, you made a good point, and I think, it's important for people to understand the purpose of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is to make sure that we give the president decision advantage, by integrating intelligence and making sure that those 18 agencies work well together and that they cover gaps. [07:45:16]

The president has all the information that he needs to be able to protect the American people. Look, the intelligence community is a bureaucracy. Our government is a bureaucracy, and, you know, there is nothing wrong with looking at where we can find efficiencies.

But here is the bottom line with regard to the ODNI, and with Mr. Pulte. If he wants history to reflect that he served his country well, that what Mr. Pulte needs to do is he needs to walk through that door at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, he needs to surround himself with the career government professionals who know and understand intelligence, and he needs to dispense with this idea that his first and most important role is to reduce the size of the agency.

Those are things that can be looked at in the background, they can be looked at well down the list of his most important priority. And as DNI, his most important priority is making sure that none of the many threats that our nation faces on a daily basis actually get through the fence line. He has got to focus on that if he's going to be successful.

BLACKWELL: Yes, and maybe these agencies are bloated, right? And maybe there can be some cuts there, but he has no experience in intelligence. So, as you say, your recommendation, he should listen to those intelligence experts there already in these departments.

Shawn Turner, always good to have you. Thank you so much.

Still ahead, a big night for New York, as the Knicks take a two-game lead in the NBA Finals. They had to fight for it, though. Coy Wire has highlights in sports.

And comedian Craig Ferguson hits the road going coast to coast to uncover what it really means to be an American.

Be sure to watch a new episode of "CRAIG FERGUSON AMERICAN ON PURPOSE", premieres tonight, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, on CNN, and tomorrow on the CNN app.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:51:28]

BLACKWELL: Big night in Texas for New York. The Knicks take a two-game lead in the NBA Finals. Coy Wire is here now.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Man, good luck finding a hotter team on the planet right now than the New York Knicks. They still have not lost since April 23rd, Victor. It's crazy.

Second longest playoff winning streak in NBA history. At this point, they are treating losses like spam calls. They are just not answering. Karl-Anthony Towns was huge for the Knicks team high 21 points, 13 rebounds. But the Spurs were not going quietly. Victor Wembanyama dropped the game high, 29. But this last second shot rims out in the Knicks escape 105-104 New York now with a 2-0 series lead, just 13 ever to win the first two NBA Finals games on the road, joining Jordan's Bulls in '93 and Olajuwon's Rockets in '95. Both went on to win the title.

Knicks fans, they haven't celebrated a championship since '73. Bell bottoms were in. The first mobile phones, weighed more than most toddlers. Two more wins in their title drought, and the next two games are in New York.

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KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, CENTER, NEW YORK KNICKS: When things do get tough, and the trials and tribulations do present themselves. This team doesn't, doesn't disband, they don't go away from each other. We lean into each other even more. We trust each other even more to get out of the rut. It's what special teams do.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, CENTER, SAN ANTONIO SPURS: I messed up. We didn't play great as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours, but at this point, it's done. It's -- yes. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel our next game? Absolutely.

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WIRE: All right. At Roland-Garros, world number three, Alex Zverev, advances to the final, defeating Jakub Mensik in four sets. He is headed to the fourth major final of his career, looking though to finally lift that elusive first slam trophy.

Standing across the net, well, sometimes the road to the final is a marathon, sometimes it's an express lane. Matteo Arnaldi forced to withdraw with illness before the semifinal, so Flavio Cobolli advances. He spent his newly found free time practicing with some kids and fans, one player's nightmare became another player's and some kids fairy tale.

Later this morning, 9:00 Eastern, one of the most unlikely stories in sports. Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, takes on Russian teen sensation Mirra Andreeva in the women's final. Chwalinska is just the second qualifier ever to reach a Grand Slam singles final in the open era. If she wins, her ranking, Victor, would skyrocket from 114 all the way to 14.

The Women's Final begins at 9:00 am Eastern. Join me for an all access at Roland-Garros today. We'll take you beyond the baselines and behind the scenes of one of the most iconic tournaments in sports. The tennis is world class. The stories even better. That's "ALL ACCESS AT ROLAND- GARROS" today at 3:30 Eastern, right here on CNN.

And I might get this guy to come into this, because he knows his tennis.

BLACKWELL: This has been the wildest tournament. I mean, to see the final setups, and you know some of the big names who were out because of heat, because of, you know, just some youngsters who challenge them with Djokovic.

WIRE: Yes.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

WIRE: It's like a changing of the guard, it feels like, but as you mentioned earlier, was like anything can happen on that clay.

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BLACKWELL: Anything can happen.

WIRE: That's what makes it exciting.

BLACKWELL: All right, Coy. Thank you.

WIRE: Got it.

BLACKWELL: All right. " FIRST OF ALL" is coming up at the top of the hour.

President Trump says that more of those black jobs he talks about are coming when more factories open in the U.S.

[07:55:02]

Is that really the solution to the persistent disparity in black unemployment? I'll ask an expert who has advised members of Congress and presidential candidates. Plus, Uncle Luke of Don't Stop Get It Get It fame will be here. Luther Campbell is one of four black candidates who met up this week trying to ensure that the lawmaker who represents a minority district in Florida is black and not Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. We'll ask what their plan is now.

And later, a moment of silent prayer at a Minnesota GOP convention for the man convicted of killing George Floyd.

The Floyd family is demanding accountability. We'll show you some of the excuses from party leaders there, and for how this happened.

Those stories and conversations you won't see anywhere else are coming up after a short break on "FIRST OF ALL".

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