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Erin Burnett Outfront
Olympian Indicted On Felony Charge Over Alleged Reflection Pool Damage; Trump Defends $2B Windfall; Senator McConnell's Health Mystery. Aired 7-8p ET
Aired July 02, 2026 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[19:00:25]
ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:
Indicted. A U.S. Olympian now facing federal charges for allegedly vandalizing the reflecting pool. It's the case the DOJ says is all about protecting America's monuments, but is it also about appeasing Trump?
Plus, the breaking news, Trump's billion-dollar windfall. The president just speaking out, addressing accusations that he is profiting off the presidency.
And the mystery over Senator Mitch McConnell's health. New audio reportedly revealing emergency responders were called to the senator's home for an unconscious person. Tonight, a new statement from his office.
Let's go OUTFRONT.
(MUSIC)
HILL: Good evening. I'm Erica Hill, in for Erin Burnett.
OUTFRONT tonight, indicted. President Trump's Justice Department announcing charges against a former Olympian, accusing him of vandalizing the reflecting pool last month.
Take a listen to how U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro laid it out this afternoon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANINE PIRRO, U.S. ATTORNEY: This was a deliberate act to damage the reflecting pool. The National Park Service employees observed Hearn actually forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands. Now, Mr. Hearn's behavior was characterized by witnesses as belligerent, rude, and disrespectful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: So, you heard Jeanine Pirro, though, describing David Hearn in those moments. That's actually not how he described the encounter, telling "The Washington Post" last month he was arrested after picking up a piece of the pool's liner that he saw floating in the water. "I didn't vandalize anything," he told the paper. "I didn't destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on," he said, "I was being put in handcuffs."
Hearn's attorney today blasting the indictment, saying, quote, "These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American. This indictment reflects the administration's effort to shift blame for their own failures."
So, let's remember how we got here. When David Hearn stopped at the reflecting pool last month, there had already been several reports about issues with the pool just days after Trump's $14 million renovation project was finished. So, among the issues, you may recall, the algae, of course, and that also what appeared to be pieces of paint or floating in the pool.
So, this is video from the day before Hearn was arrested, and you can see the peeling that was already happening there in the pool. Hearn was initially charged with a misdemeanor. In response at the time, Trump posted, "These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of national monuments. Years in jail," he wrote.
In another post, Trump wrote, "Please remember, there is a 10-year prison sentence for the destruction or even the attempted destruction of such things."
Oh, it seems Trump's DOJ got the message. Hearn's charges upgraded today to a felony. Hearn could now face at least 10 years in jail if convicted. Pirro said others could still be charged here, although she said those would likely be misdemeanors.
But Pirro was clear today. Protecting national monuments and America's national treasures, that's a top priority.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIRRO: I thought it was important to call this press conference because one of the most offensive images that I hold in my mind Are the images of national monuments that are being defaced, roped, torn down, graffitied and damaged by individuals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Could Pirro perhaps be talking about moments like this?
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
HILL: She claims that protecting America's history is important to President Trump. It's important to remember he pardoned the men and women who you saw defacing the United States Capitol.
When Pirro was asked today about January 6, well, actually, she couldn't even really get the full question because Pirro wouldn't let the reporter finish. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REPORTER: How do you square charging this alleged pool vandal when it's the same Justice Department that --
PIRRO: Already, this is
REPORTER: -- pardoned, you know, over a thousand January 6th rioters who caused millions of dollars at the Capitol?
PIRRO: Are you really talking about January 6th?
REPORTER: Yes.
PIRRO: I'm not.
REPORTER: I mean, there's thousands, millions of damages at the Capitol --
PIRRO: Not you --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Kristen Holmes is OUTFRONT live outside the White House tonight.
So, Kristen Trump has been previewing harsh penalties for alleged vandalism at the reflecting pool. The DOJ seemingly delivering for him today.
What more do we know about these charges?
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Erica, there's something to keep in mind here, which is if you talk to anyone who's close to President Trump within the White House or the administration, anyone who has survived this long and is thriving in the administration, they will tell you the same thing.
[19:05:09]
This, more than any other presidency, is a top-down presidency. And what they mean by that is that there is one person, one man, who dictates what the tone, the focus, the messaging is really across the entire administration. And when it comes to this reflecting pool, President Trump has been clear. He is fixated on it, he is focused on it, and he wants charges brought.
And I've heard a lot of discussion among lawyers for this idea that, yes, perhaps Jeanine Pirro had enough evidence to bring charges, but should she have? This kind of idea of should you bring charges in this case?
And what I would say is that working for Donald Trump, if she had that evidence, then of course I don't think she even had a choice because this again is an administration that works towards a common goal, whatever the goal set out is. And in this case, it was making sure that somebody was charged for what has really been an embarrassing episode for President Trump over the reflecting pool. Just a reminder that President Trump took this effort upon himself to
renovate, to get a contract out, to talk about the reflecting almost incessantly for the last several weeks, even months. We have been in a number of different meetings in the Oval Office where he calls in reporters, where he is set to talk about anything from Iran to astronauts to executive orders that he is signing. And almost every time the conversation veers to this reflecting pool.
And everybody in the administration understands that that is what they are working towards, this idea that the reflecting pool is something that President Trump cares about. And he has said that there are vandals that he wants to see punished. Now they have delivered on that.
HILL: Indeed.
Kristen, appreciate it, as always. Thank you.
OUTFRONT now, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who serves on the House Oversight Committee. He also is an attorney.
Congressman, this person who has been charged now with a felony, facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted for allegedly using, in the words of Jeanine Pirro, both hands to violently rip liner from the reflecting pool. What's your reaction to the indictment?
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): It shows that there are two tiers of justice in this country. I mean, they're prosecuting people who are at the reflecting pool, and they're not prosecuting the Epstein class, people who raped or abused young girls on Epstein's Island.
And just today, their Department of Justice has failed to comply with a judge's order requiring the release of the remaining Epstein files. So, the message in this country is if you're in an ordinary person, if you're going around the monuments, if you get something scraped off the reflecting pool, you could be charged. But if you go abuse underage girls and you're rich and powerful, you'll get away with it.
HILL: There was a clear focus on certain priorities today, which Jeanine Pirro made clear. I want to play a little bit more of what she had to say in announcing these charges.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIRRO: The president, as you heard from him, has been able to improve and to clean up 50 parks. More than 48 monuments that have been repaired, 22 fountains have been returned to service. And these monuments and fountains must be protected. D.C. has experienced a renaissance like it has never experienced before in both safety and in beauty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: You heard her there, the monuments and the fountains must be protected. It's about safety. She also announced that more people are expected to be charged, though not with felonies. This is the focus in this moment.
Do you think this is really about stopping vandalism?
KHANNA: It's about doing the president's wishes. Look, he's embarrassed. He's embarrassed that what he ordered for the reflecting pool didn't work.
He's embarrassed that he didn't consult anyone in Congress and that he's wasted taxpayer dollars. He's embarrassed that we've had a bad jobs report and that people are upset that he -- that we're in a war in Iran that isn't ending and that gas and food prices are up.
And so, he's lashing out and he's trying to distract by telling Pirro to prosecute people, but he's destroying American lives in the process. I mean, we don't have a militarized state where you can get put in jail for 10 years because you happen to take something from the reflecting pool. It's chilling.
HILL: As we wait to see how all of that plays out, I did also want to ask you about this new CNN reporting. So, the FBI adding 260 intelligence officials to its investigation into the 2020 election in Georgia. This is according to a memo seen by CNN.
It calls this matter, when we're talking about priorities, calls this matter in Georgia a, quote, "priority". Of course, there were the raids back in January in Fulton County.
Do you anticipate this is an area of focus and priority that could, in fact, expand beyond Georgia?
[19:10:05]
KHANNA: I am concerned. I'm concerned that the president's team knows all the momentum is with Democrats, that food prices are high, gas prices are high, people are upset at the war. We're going to win 20, 30 seats. And that they're looking to intimidate what could be a fair election.
And the biggest issue is, are we going to have fair and free elections in 2026? The idea that they're trying to relitigate 2020 after the Supreme Court has found that it was perfectly illegal is really scary.
HILL: We'll be watching for the developments. Congresswoman Ro Khanna, I appreciate you taking the time to join us tonight. Thank you.
KHANNA: Thank you. Appreciate it.
HILL: I also want to bring in OUTFRONT legal analyst Ryan Goodman.
Ryan, as we return to this indictment, you have pointed out you believe this fits a pattern of what you see as a gross abuse of power in Piro's office. A little bit of what we heard from the congressman there. She was asked today specifically whether these charges came at the request of the president. She brushed that question off, saying that she charged, in her words, according to the evidence. What do you see there, Ryan?
RYAN GOODMAN, FORMER SPECIAL COUNSEL AT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE: So, I wish I could believe her, and that it was just according to the evidence and not according to the president's behest. But there's a pattern. First, just in the particular case, Mr. Hearn was arrested for whatever he did at the Reflecting Pool and given a misdemeanor citation. That was June 19th.
The next day, the president of the United States said that for people committing that act, they need to spend years in jail. The only way you spend years in jail and then a couple days later, the president of the United States said that people who committed these acts can spend up to 10 years in jail.
And then, lo and behold, we have the shock that the man has been charged for a felony and up to 10 years in jail through a grand jury that -- by pura (ph). And then it fits a much broader pattern in which she has been at the forefront of trying to criminally investigate Jerome Powell, that -- who was the head of the Fed at the time, and the District Court chief judge repudiated that, said that it was all based on a pretext because the president was after Jerome Powell.
She also, in her office, tried to bring to a grand jury seditious conspiracy charges against members of Congress because the president of the United States said that they made a video about the military not having to follow unlawful orders, and he said that they were guilty of seditious conspiracy and should be, like, He didn't say they should be put to death. He said it comes with the penalty of death.
And then she tried to charge them for that at the grand jury in D.C. That grand jury rejected it. But here we have it again with her.
And it's in lockstep with the president on this particular instance, in which it seemed like authorities thought this was just a misdemeanor in the first instance. It smells really bad.
HILL: You say it smells really bad. What is the other message that you think the DOJ sends by charging David Hearn with a felony, one that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars?
GOODMAN: So, the U.S. Attorney Pirro does seem to think that that's the method by which he operates in other ways as well, like just trying to throw the book at somebody. And I think that's just, in some sense, the message is clear, just from the charge alone, whether or not it'll ever stick or it'd ever be convicted beyond a reasonable doubt. And here's another pattern. She is the one who tried to bring, her office, tried to bring the charge against the man who threw a sandwich, a Subway sandwich, at a police officer.
Many people are thinking about that today, but one other piece to think about is the initial charge she tried to bring against that individual was for felony assault for the sandwich, and the grand jury there rejected it. And the district court judges, the magistrate judges, have noticed. There's a particular magistrate judge, he's very well-respected, Judge
Faruqi. He was a former prosecutor himself. And he has said of her office that he's not even sure that they're following the normal DOJ manual, which is only to charge when the DOJ can bring a charge, be on a reasonable doubt. And he said there's been such an unprecedented number of cases that her office has had to dismiss. that he said, quote/unquote, "There is no credibility left."
HILL: Wow.
GOODMAN: That's the situation we're in.
HILL: Not even following the manual, the judge questioning the credibility.
Ryan, always good to see you. Thank you.
GOODMAN: Good to see you.
HILL: OUTFRONT next here, the breaking news, President Trump, in a new interview, responding to claims that he is profiting off the presidency after raking in a reported $2.2 billion last year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't do anything having to do with my business. My kids run it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Plus, what's believed to be Taylor Swift's wedding celebration kicking off tonight in New York, the rehearsal dinner reportedly underway. So, who made the cut? What do we know about this massive top secret wedding event? That's ahead.
And how A.I. is helping to bring one popular president back to life.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:19:21]
HILL: Breaking news, Donald Trump dismissing concerns he has profited off of his second term as president, just days after his financial disclosure form revealed he earned more than $2 billion in income last year, including more than a billion from new crypto ventures and that Trump meme coin, which is tied to World Liberty Financial, the company co-founded by his sons Don Jr. and Eric.
There was also the record $77 million in revenue for Mar-a-Lago. Trump claiming he had no involvement with or any knowledge about the money that he has made over the past year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I don't do anything having to do with my business. My kids run it. It made a tremendous amount of money, more than I would have ever thought I would have made. And I let people invest it.
I don't even speak to -- I don't even know who they are. But it's given to big firms like that are -- on your show all the time. My son, Eric, I don't talk to them about things such as this.
I think I'd be allowed to. I'm not sure even what the status is, but I don't.
INTERVIEWER: In the disclosure this week, the amount of money that you and the family made in crypto, it was an outsized number. I was just asking, did you -- were you know about the crypto venture? So that was just something --
TRUMP: By the way, I could know about it. I didn't. I mean, there's nothing illegal. There's nothing wrong with it. I could know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Doug Heye and Xochitl Hinojosa are both OUTFRONT tonight.
So, Doug, Donald Trump says he's got nothing to do with his business. Eric handles the investments. He knew nothing about the crypto ventures that he made, $1.4 billion off of last year.
He did run, we may remember this back in the day, on draining the swamp.
Do you buy it that he has no knowledge at all about these massive earnings?
DOUG HEYE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: No, but ultimately, I don't think it's an issue that's going to resonate with voters because so much of this is factored in with Donald Trump and has been since he first started running for office.
And, Erica, if we go back to the "Access Hollywood" tape, which I think we can all agree was an awful comment, unpresidential, all of that. But voters looked at it and said, I don't like the comment, but it's not surprising to me that the guy who was on the cover of "Playboy Magazine" said something terrible about women.
The same thing is, I think, true here. with this issue. And the numbers, yes, of course, they're eye-popping. I just don't think they resonate with voters unless Democrats are able to use it to say, as Donald Trump is trying to do X, Y, and Z to enrich himself, you're spending more on X, Y, and Z at the grocery store, at restaurants, healthcare, energy.
If they can make that case, then it's a political issue. But all of this of corruption and greasing the wheels for Donald Trump is so baked in with voters at this point.
HILL: So, you think it's already baked in? Look, even if it's not baked in, we do know the president is very good at deflecting, at brushing off concerns. We have all certainly learned that over the years. Xochitl, Doug, is sort of teeing you up right there, right? Are
Democrats in a place where they can make that message resonate with voters effectively?
XOCHITL HINOJOSA, CNN POLITCAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I think they absolutely can again to and I agree with Doug on this. I think that if you were saying that Donald Trump and his federal government and Republicans are benefiting themselves and doing things to enrich themselves while your gas prices are going up, while your energy costs are going up, while your grocery costs are going up, then yes, I do think it resonates with voters. I have seen polling that has also showed that in many states the issue of corruption is something that really. really resonates with voters as well.
Ultimately, I do agree that, listen, I think Donald Trump got into the race and he decided to run for president for two reasons. One, to get a get out of jail free card because there are two ongoing federal investigations against him, very credible ones that if they would continue, he would have potentially been found guilty on those if they went to a jury.
And the second was to enrich himself. I mean, I truly believed he learned from the first -- the first Trump presidency about how he and his family could enrich themselves. Ultimately, I don't think this is a good message. He doesn't have his eye focus on lowering prices. He brought a war that raised prices. He brought us tariffs, which raised prices. He didn't want to sign the housing bill and still doesn't want to for quite some time because he wants his voting bill.
And so, I think time and time again, president and Republicans have made it harder for Americans as they have looked to and to Trump and voted for him to lower prices. costs.
HILL: When it comes to the economy, Doug, we know this is top of mind for Americans. We know the cost of living is top of mind. The president was also asked about the state of the economy tonight in that interview with CNBC.
Here's his take.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: A lot of people don't understand that right now we are in a golden age. We have more people working today than at any time ever in the history of our country and people making more money than they've ever made. I'm not talking about rich people. I'm talking about people that have, like, normal or normalized jobs, more money than they've ever made before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Perhaps the reason people don't understand it is because the facts don't always support that rosy view from the president. The latest numbers from the Labor Department today show that outside of the COVID era, participation in the labor force is actually its lowest level in 50 years. We know the deal with gas prices higher this July 4th holiday than they've been since 2022. Inflation above 4 percent, wage growth lower than that.
The president wants to project this strong economy, Doug, but the numbers are certainly catching up with him. Is he tone deaf?
HEYE: To some extent, yes. And, look, he has the same problem that the Biden administration had. One, they wanted to say in the Biden administration that it was transitory, inflation was. Sort of the similar language from the president and the administration now.
They also tried to convince voters things are better than you feel. And one of the hardest things for any politician to do, regardless of party, is to convince voters that what they see and what they feel is not the actual truth. And the problem, I think, for the administration and ultimately for Republicans on the ballot here is voters see and feel this every time they get a receipt for anything, whether it's gas, a grocery store, or anything else.
And if they're not able to sufficiently talk about the economy, I want Republican candidates to say, here's what we've done, and here's what we're going to continue to do. That's how they can forge ahead if they're going to talk about the economy as they should.
The problem is when the president says, as he did at the State of the Union, you know, you've never been hotter than ever. Voters aren't feeling hot. Temperature and thermostat aside right now.
HILL: Yeah.
HEYE: They're not feeling that hot about this economy. And that's -- these -- these attitudes are calcifying right now as we get into that point where what voters feel in late summer is what they feel when they go to the polls. And that's a real problem for Republicans moving forward.
A lot of silver linings for Republicans in recent weeks with fundraising and the Supreme Court decision. But they've got a real problem with this messaging.
HILL: Xochitl, you have said there's time for Donald Trump to turn his messaging around, but only if he wants to.
HINOJOSA: He -- and he has had the opportunity over the last year with -- to put policies in place that hurt or that help the American people. I will say that Biden inherited the pandemic and in with that came a bad economy. Donald Trump was inheriting a somewhat better economy and instead -- instead of making policies when putting policies in place to hurt to help the American people, he put policies in place that hurt the American people.
He is not going to turn this economy around by August, but he would have to turn it around by Labor Day because that is when Americans start paying attention.
And it is a problem. If they see higher costs at the grocery store and gas prices heading into the election, they will not be voting for Republicans. HILL: Xochitl, Doug, good to see both of you tonight. Thank you.
HEYE: Thank you.
HILL: OUTFRONT next, the breaking news, Senator Mitch McConnell's office just releasing a statement about the mystery surrounding the senator's health after medics were called to his home.
Plus, Taylor Swift entering her married era. Perhaps? Is she already in the married era? So many questions about the top secret festivities, which are now underway in New York City. We'll take you there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:31:39]
HILL: Tonight, growing questions about Senator Mitch McConnell's health. This is new audio reportedly reveals emergency responders were called to the 84-year-old senator's home in Washington, D.C., called for an unconscious person suffering cardiac arrest. A paramedic is heard on that recording saying, quote, CPR in progress.
McConnell's name is not heard. This was the same day, though, that he was hospitalized 18 days ago. Now, since then, McConnell's office has shared very little about how the senator is doing.
Arlette Saenz is OUTFRONT.
So, Arlette, I know you just got a new statement from McConnell's spokesperson. What more are they telling us?
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Erica, we're learning tonight that Senator Mitch McConnell remains in the hospital recovering after first being admitted on June 14th. The Kentucky senator's team has provided really no insight into his condition or initial reason for the hospitalization.
But tonight, a spokesperson said, quote, "Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he's receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital. The senator continues to improve and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.
Now, when they announced he was admitted to the hospital 18 days ago, his office only said he was receiving excellent care, but did not address the cause of his hospitalization. Eight days later, they said he continued to work with staff on Senate business, but there's still so many questions around his hospitalization.
The 84-year-old Republican senator has faced a series of health issues in recent years. He was hospitalized for a week in February after experiencing flu-like symptoms. In 2023, he suffered a concussion and broken ribs after falling at a DC hotel. And months later, he froze mid-sentence for 30 seconds during a news conference, which raised many concerns at the time. Now, McConnell stepped aside Senate leader when the new Congress came
in last year and announced shortly after that he would not run for reelection in 2026. As for that audio, CNN has not confirmed the details of what dispatchers and medics described in the audio, but the address that paramedics responded to is known to be McConnell's address, and CNN has reached out to the D.C. Fire and DMS department seeking a recording of the 911 call and the incident report.
But for now, we've learned McConnell remains in the hospital, though his team has not disclosed why.
HILL: Arlette, what about other lawmakers? Other senators? Any comments from them on McConnell's health?
SAENZ: Well, the day after he was hospitalized, Republican leaders in the Senate said that they had spoken to McConnell. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he wants to be back, but I'll defer to his staff on when. He's clearly dialed into what's going on. He's following the stuff we're doing this week.
The number two Republican in the Senate, Senator John Barrasso, spoke to him that same day, adding he was engaged on what we were doing on the asked about what's happening the rest of the week and asked about timing of votes.
Now he said McConnell wanted to return to the Capitol that week, which ultimately did not happen. And a little bit earlier today, Senator Ron Johnson said he did not have an update to share on McConnell status, but said it's been hard to watch his health decline. Adding their colleagues are hoping he makes a full recovery, but still so many questions about the health status of Senator Mitch McConnell.
HILL: There really are.
Arlette, appreciate the updates. Thank you.
OUTFRONT now, Dr. Jeremy Faust. He's an emergency physician and associate professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School.
So, Dr. Faust, when you hear what emergency responders are saying on this audio, unconscious, cardiac arrest, CPR in progress, what does that tell you about just how serious that situation was?
DR. JEREMY FAUST, EMERGENCY PHYSCIAN; ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Thanks for having me.
When we hear that, we often get a call like that saying we have a patient coming to the hospital receiving CPR. And what that means is that their heart has stopped. And if CPR does not work, we will have to pronounce them dead. And if it does work and we can restart their heart and their heart is beating spontaneously, that begins a long road to recovery, even for the healthiest of patients.
So, when you have a person who is elderly and who has other underlying medical conditions, it's really concerning. HILL: So when you talk about that long road to recovery, the fact that McConnell's team tonight has now confirmed he remains in the hospital 18 days later, they're saying he continues to improve. They also say that he's working on Senate matters while hospitalized.
Would it be uncommon for someone who does have his health history that we know of to remain hospitalized 18 days later?
FAUST: Well, I obviously am not familiar with the intimate details of what's happening to the senator, but I can give you some numbers about this, which is that a very small number of people, well, actually about a quarter of people who have cardiac arrest outside of the hospital actually survived to the hospital. And then of those people, of tiny fraction survive that hospitalization with cognitive and neurologic intact status, meaning that they're able to even take care of their bodily needs.
So, two percent or three percent maybe who even make it to survival out of the hospital are functionally able to do the things that you and I would consider bodily taking care of your body. So, that would be pretty remarkable.
I -- obviously, we're not there, but and things look, there are patients who have done well. We all saw Damar Hamlin have cardiac arrest and had a wonderful outcome because all the factors were aligned there. The chain of survival is what we call it, which is it was witnessed. Immediate CPR was given without any delay so that the blood was pumping to every organ, including the brain. And basically, he had a reversible condition, and he was an elite athlete. And even that was a long road to recovery.
HILL: Yeah, it's such an interesting comparison and important points. When, you know, Arlette was walking us through some of the senator's recent health scares, so the concussion and broken ribs in 2023, months later, that moment where he froze for 30 seconds during a press conference, we do have that tape, and I just want to play it for everyone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): This week has been good bipartisan cooperation, and a string of --
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO (R-WY): Hey, Mitch, anything else you want to say? I'm sure let's go back to your office. Do you want to say anything else to the press?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: That was a tough moment to watch and to watch again. I know, and it's tough for you. You haven't treated the senator.
But based on what we saw in that moment, based on the health history, are those episodes that could in any way contribute to a cardiac event? FAUST: Well, it's important to acknowledge that the senator and his staff has never really acknowledged what happened there, whether there's they've denied an underlying neurologic condition. But something like that where you lose consciousness, essentially, he maintained posture, but he certainly -- the lights were on, but it's unclear if anyone was home for those 15 or 20 seconds. And I counted them where he was just standing there.
That can happen at any time. And that can lead to all kinds of problems. You can fall and break your ribs and have pneumonia, or you could in your sleep, you're just not protecting your airway as well, and you can develop sepsis and die.
So why if this if that call was Senator McConnell, why did he have cardiac arrest? Was it because something an underlying condition that was already a problem then tipped him over?
The thing with CPR is that it really works nicely if it's just your heart that is the problem. We can -- we can do so many things. But a lot of other things underlying medical conditions make things complicated and pretty much CPR might work in terms of restarting the heart. But in terms of regaining that functional status that's usually a much bigger ask, and it happens far less frequently.
HILL: Dr. Jeremy Faust, appreciate your expertise. Thank you.
OUTFRONT next, Taylor Swift tonight writing the next chapter of her love story. Wedding celebrations underway, and we're there.
Plus, one of America's most popular presidents, as you have never seen him before.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:43:57]
HILL: Tonight, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding celebration kicking off in New York City. Right now, sources telling CNN a rehearsal event for approximately 100 guests is underway inside Madison Square Garden.
Brynn Gingras is OUTFRONT, live outside Madison Square Garden.
I know you didn't make the cut for the 100, but there's always hope for tomorrow, right, with 1,000 people.
Brynn, in all seriousness, what do we know about what is happening in the very secure building behind you?
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Erica, I realized like halfway through the day, I committed the ultimate faux pas and wore white today. So yeah, definitely not making the list.
But what we have seen is just those tinted out SUV's going down 31st Street where we expected the guests to arrive. We've seen security bump up, K9 units, more police officers really protecting this area around MSG while Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift hold that reverse rehearsal dinner, the first of this two-night event in what Swifties are calling, it's America's royal couple getting married.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GINGRAS (voice-over): Star-studded guests arriving at Madison Square Garden through a private tent covered entrance, ready to celebrate Taylor Swift's latest era, bride.
Swift and Travis Kelsey's rehearsal event, reportedly happening now in the theater section of MSG with about 100 guests, and it's expected to last until 10:30, sources say. The artist known for her record- smashing "Red" album appears to have ditched the traditional red carpet. Instead, guests will walk a carpet of lavender haze.
Friday is the main event, a source tells CNN there will be a cocktail hour at 4:30, and the wedding is expected to take place on the arena floor at 5:30, with a reception to follow into the morning hours.
"The New York Times" reports it will be a black tie affair and no phones or cameras are allowed inside. Five hundred vehicles are expected to drop off about 1,000 wedding guests inside the world's most famous arena on Friday, all out of view of the public eye.
STEVIE NICKS, MUSICIAN: Nice to see you.
GINGRAS (voice-over): Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw are expected to perform, according to published reports, and possibly Ed Sheeran, which Swift hinted to during a past interview.
INTERVIEWER: Is he singing at you?
TAYLOR SWIFT, POP SINGER: Oh, I mean, it would be hard to keep him from it.
GINGRAS (voice-over): Preparations for the two-day bash continue as workers plan to transform the iconic venue into what reportedly will be a garden wonderland, echoing the NFL stars' enchanting proposal setting.
Security is ramping up at Midtown, with barricades set up on many streets surrounding the iconic venue.
MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NEW YORK: When it comes to the event at MSG, what I can say is that there's been an application filed for a large event. We are fully prepared. There isn't anything to share beyond that.
GINGRAS (voice-over): And Swifties are already gathering nearby.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love the bright era for her. I'm so excited. I want her to just have a lot of fun. I just hope she gets to enjoy the more simple parts of life. After all, the chaos dies down because she deserves it.
(END VIDEOTAPE) GINGRAS: And look, Erica, there might be some haters out there who don't love the fact that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are getting married in the middle of Manhattan at MSG on July 4th weekend. But it should be important to note that they both have donated to 26 different charities around New York City, one of them being Memorial Sloan Kettering and their kids unit, a million dollars to that charity. So, I think Swifties and the rest of us can appreciate how generous they are on their big weekend -- Erica.
HILL: Yes, they didn't want any gifts. Instead, they're the ones giving out the gifts to a number of charities around the country.
Brynn, appreciate it. Thanks.
OUTFRONT now, Kevin Frazier, co-host of "Entertainment Tonight".
All right, Kevin, I've been looking forward to this conversation with you all day.
So, we know Donna Kelce arrived in New York earlier today. There were some pictures. Beyond the family, who is making the cut for tonight's 100-person event?
KEVIN FRAZIER, CO-HOST OF ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: Okay, Erica, I have a long list here, but let me just give you some of the people that we know will be there. The HAIM sisters, of course. They have been front and center with Taylor this entire run, but I'm just going to read off a few names.
Ed Sheeran, Brittany Mahomes, Zoe Kravitz. This is the interesting one that everybody wants to hear about, Blake Lively.
HILL: Read my mind.
FRAZIER: It's believed that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds -- Ryan Reynolds will be there. That those two will -- they have, they've kind of mended the fences and fixed things, and so they will be there.
And that's the big one because all that with us madness and legal maneuvering that Taylor got pulled into seemed to put a strain on their relationship, but I think they've worked it out.
Let me give you a few more of the names. You know, the ones we expect -- Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Suki Waterhouse.
Of course, on Travis's side, his tight end and friends, guys like George Kittle, his brother, of course, will be there. Patrick and Brittany Mahomes will be there.
Sabrina Carpenter, Ice Spice, and we saw Jessica Alba arriving in New York earlier today.
Now, people may say, What's the connection with Jessica Alba? Well, don't forget, she was in the "Bad Blood" video. So, there's a connection there for Jessica Alba. HILL: Whole lot of connections, and people wishing they had a connection at this point. But, you know, if you haven't heard by now, you're not on the list.
So, for tomorrow's event, we're told about 1,000 people, a party that will last into the wee hours. There are questions about who may perform. I mean, what are you hearing, not just about musical performances, right? But are we also talking about DJ? I feel like there will be multiple sources of entertainment.
FRAZIER: Well, first, let me tell you this. For days we've seen stuff being loaded into MSG so they can turn it into a magical place, something worthy of a wedding or a wedding -- a rehearsal dinner, or even an after party. So, all those things like banquettes, a stairwell, what look like could be possibly a gazebo, and then you figure you'll get the thousand, 1,100 people in there. saying, as you guys reported, 500 SUVs.
Each one of these celebs have an invitation that has an NDA and a digital watermark embedded in it so that they will not give up any goods.
[19:50:02]
And that's the big thing I think that everybody has to understand with this wedding. Taylor Swift has been secretive since beginning.
I remember I did one of her first red carpet interviews when she was a little girl with a guitar. And ever since then, everything has changed. And now, you just have to sit and wait until you hear it from Taylor. The speculation is wild. And this is people trying to get clicks.
Don't mess with that, y'all. Just wait until Taylor tells you.
HILL: Yeah.
FRAZIER: And she will tell you and there will be pictures. But right now, all the craziness and speculation is just out of hand and out of control.
HILL: Taylor is definitely in control. And if people have not learned that by now -- well, then, you haven't been paying attention. Good to know we will eventually see pictures because I know a lot of people do want to see that.
FRAZIER: Yes.
HILL: Real quickly before I let you go. What do you think the chances are they have already tied the knot?
FRAZIER: I don't think so because Donna Kelce just got in town.
HILL: Yes.
FRAZIER: That's the thing, and I don't think Travis's mama is going to miss anything to do with this.
HILL: What if it happened elsewhere?
FRAZIER: I mean, they are traditional folks.
HILL: Like not even this week.
FRAZIER: Well, I don't -- I personally don't think it's happened already. I think they want to do it today or tomorrow. You know, I think they want to do it. It'll be in front of a small gathering and then they'll have this party to end all parties in MSG that, as you mentioned, will go into the wee hours of the night.
They will transform MSG into something magical. That's what Taylor does. Remember, she goes into arenas and she changes things.
But I don't think they're married yet. Lots of people are reporting that. And let me just tell you this -- I want to say this again, these people don't know a damn thing.
All of the -- all of the people that I've talked to that are going or we expect to go, they have been mums the word. They won't say a doggone thing. We just have speculation. So Erica, just tell everybody to calm down.
It's coming. Don't worry. You're going to find out.
HILL: I'll tell them to listen to my friend Kevin Frazier, who says to calm down, just sit tight, be patient. Taytay will share the goods when it's time.
Thank you, my friend.
OUTFRONT next, how A.I. is letting people meet a popular president in a whole new way.
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[19:56:13]
HILL: Tonight, CNN is getting a preview of America's newest presidential library, opening to the public this weekend, bringing Teddy Roosevelt's legacy to life, even making it possible to talk with an A.I. version of America's 26th president.
Jeff Zeleny is OUTFRONT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The bison and the badlands both drew Teddy Roosevelt to North Dakota nearly a century and a half ago, and now a new presidential library paying tribute to his legacy rises in the distance, a $450 million project that somehow seems to blend in to the sweeping vistas until you step inside and begin to see the enormity of it all. ZELENY: One of the first things you see is dirt. These walls are incredible, and they are actual forms of dirt that look like the Badlands.
And when the light comes in from the top, it is really striking how layer upon layer upon layer forms the entry to the country's newest presidential library.
You're taken back to his childhood in New York City, literally looking into the windows of where he grew up on 20th Street in Manhattan.
ZELENY (voice-over): For the first time, Roosevelt's personal diary is on public display, with an X marking the day his life would forever change.
ZELENY: February 14th, 1884, "The light has gone out of my life." Young Theodore Roosevelt wrote those words when his mother and his wife died on the very same day in the very same house.
ED O'KEEFE, CEO, THEODORE ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY: He really, truly thought that his life for the better part was lived and over. He was 25 years old.
ZELENY (voice-over): Ed O'Keefe is CEO of the library.
O'KEEFE: He recovered. He healed in nature. He later said, I never would have been president except for my experiences here in North Dakota. Nature, the outdoors literally saved his life.
ZELENY (voice-over): From a replica cabin of his Elkhorn Ranch to his legendary service in the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt's life unfolds like a storybook and builds toward the presidency.
ZELENY: This room really brings to life Teddy Roosevelt's style on the campaign trail and his oratory as well, including this whistle- stop simulation train tour, where you stand here and visitors really get a sense of what it was like to look out into the crowd and see so many people listening and hanging on every word.
O'KEEFE: Well, when we set out, we said we want to digitize the archive of an analog president. The advent of A.I. during our project gave us the opportunity to make Theodore Roosevelt the first president available in A.I. You can actually talk with TR.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Come on up.
ZELENY: Why was conservation so important to you as president?
ZELENY (voice-over): He thinks for a moment and answers. If you ask a modern-day question, he punts.
ROOSEVELT: I'll leave today's politics to the living.
O'KEEFE: We are building this museum in the 2020s, not the 1920s. We are here to humanize, not lionize, TR. History is not pretty. There are rough spots. There are opinions and statements by even our most treasured leaders that we wish they had never said. But we don't hide them here.
ZELENY: And of course, one of the most famous speeches from Roosevelt is in the arena where he talks about people cannot be on the sidelines.
ROOSEVELT: The credit belongs to the man who's actually in the arena.
ZELENY: -- belongs to the man who's actually in the arena.
ZELENY (voice-over): The library formally opens here Saturday, on the edge of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park outside Medora, a tiny western town with a new landmark.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZELENY: And Roosevelt, of course, was the conservation president, and he said he never would have reached the White House without the time that he spent right here in North Dakota. And that's what this library is celebrating him as a tribute. It formally opens to the public on Saturday.
HILL: All right. Jeff, thank you.
And thanks to all of you for joining us tonight.
"AC360" starts right now.
