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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Potential U.S.-Iran Talks Uncertain As Ceasefire Deadline Looms; Tim Cook To Step Down As Apple CEO; Some MAGA Voices Question Trump Assassination Attempt. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired April 21, 2026 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:30:00]

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: But those potential negotiations still appear far from certain. President Trump is insisting Iran will negotiate and says an extension of the ceasefire is highly unlikely.

All this is playing out as Iran is calling on the United States to immediately release an Iranian-flagged cargo ship it seized on Sunday.

We've got CNN's Paula Hancocks following all these developments for us from Abu Dhabi. Paula, good to see you.

You know, we've seen an escalation in the narrative. There's so much confusion -- frankly, contradictory statements -- before we even get to the substance of what should be discussed.

What more are we learning about these potential talks in Islamabad as, frankly, we know that Pakistan is preparing?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Eleni, things are fairly uncertain at this point. There's definitely more optimism on the Trump administration's side. We -- as you said, hearing from sources that JD Vance, the vice president, along with his delegation will be going to Islamabad.

Now we did hear from sources saying that an Iranian delegation would be going as well. That was earlier this week. A lot has happened since then.

What we've heard publicly from Tehran -- we heard from the Foreign Ministry spokesperson just yesterday saying that there were no plans for talks at this point. We've heard as well from the foreign minister Abbas Araghchi saying that what has been happening with what he called threats and aggression and provocation when it comes to commercial shipping is providing major obstacles to be able to continue these discussions.

So there's no doubt that what has happened with that Iranian-flagged commercial ship which was fired upon and then seized by the United States Navy as it said it was trying to run the blockade -- that has had an impact on the possibilities and the potential for these talks.

Now we're hearing from the Iranian side as well that they want this ship to be released immediately. They want the crew and the families to be released immediately.

And we're also hearing from the potential head of the Iranian delegation. He was last time around. This is Mohammad Ghalibaf, who is also the parliamentary speaker. And he's been talking about what Trump's strategy is when it comes to these talks.

He posted this on social media, which I want to read to you. He said Trump "seeks to turn this negotiating table in his own imagination into a table of surrender or to justify renewed war mongering." He went on to say, "We do not accept negotiations under the shadows of threats and in the past two weeks we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield."

Now we have heard from the Iranian side that they have been consistent in what they are calling for. They have accused the U.S. president and the White House of changing what they want and moving the goal post within this negotiation.

So it is fluid at this point as to whether or not these talks will happen on Wednesday as we are expecting. The White House has said "We expect the delegation to be on the road soon" but unclear when.

Now if all things come together and we do see these security preparations ongoing in Islamabad, and if the two sides do manage to get together and start to negotiate, that's actually when the hard work begins. There are some major sticking points still when it comes to trying to secure this deal.

There is the issue of the enriched uranium, which is still in Iran. The issue of Iran's right to enriched uranium, which Tehran has consistently said they have the right to. The U.S. has said that is a red line. And, of course, that crucial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz -- Eleni.

GIOKOS: There's a lot going on, Paula, and, of course, time is running out so we'll wait to see how things transpire. Whether the two sides can get together and sit around the table to start hammering out these very consequential issues.

Well, Paula Hancocks in Abu Dhabi, thank you so much.

That's it for me. I'm going to hand you over to Erica Hill who is standing by in New York for us.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Eleni, thanks so much as we continue to follow other developments.

Elon Musk's social media platform X is facing growing scrutiny from governments and regulators around the world. Authorities are concerned about its algorithm, AI tools, content moderation, and how the company handles user data. In France, that scrutiny has now evolved into a full-scale criminal investigation.

Here's CNN's Melissa Bell.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No sign of Elon Musk in Paris today after being asked by French authorities for a voluntary interview. This as part of an investigation into X that has over the course of the last more than year now expanded and deepened every step of the way and included at one point a raid on the offices of the company here in Paris.

[05:35:00]

French authorities are looking into initially an investigation that was kicked off because of allegations of algorithmic manipulation. It was then expanded to look into allegations around the AI chatbot Grok and allegations of the dissemination of Holocaust denial material and child abuse material. And it has gone so far now as to explore the possibility that X may have been complicit in the dissemination of sexual abuse material.

Now despite the gravity of the accusations and the expansion of that probe X has so far very little cooperated with investigators even though the company has continued to deny any wrongdoing.

Elon Musk himself has repeatedly tweeted about the fact that he believes that this is an investigation that is politically motivated. He has by choosing not to be in Paris on Monday left these investigators now with the question of what they do next.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: It is the end of an era for Apple as Tim Cook announces he is stepping down as CEO. We'll talk a closer look at what's next for the company and who is taking charge.

(COMMERCIAL)

[05:40:50]

HILL: Welcome back to EARLY START. This is your business breakout.

Let's take a look at where the U.S. futures stand ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street. You see the Dow just barely in the red there but future trending down. We'll keep a close eye on that, of course, as we get a little bit closer to that 9:30 opening bell.

Taking a look at some of today's business headlines, President Trump's pick to head the Federal Reserve will have a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee today. The president is hoping, of course, to have Kevin Warsh confirmed by mid-May when the term ends for the current Fed chair Jerome Powell. Senate Republican Thom Tillis, however, has said he will block Warsh's nomination until the Justice Department drops the criminal probe into Powell.

The satirical news site The Onion has reached an agreement to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars. The move could help to repay the more than $1 billion Jones owes to the families of those killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting following a 2022 defamation ruling. The Onion says it plans to turn Infowars into a spoof network for emerging comedians with the initial licensing fees to be paid monthly to a court-appointed receiver.

FBI Director Kash Patel filing a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic. The magazine cited more than two dozen colleagues and sources who described Patel's alleged excessive drinking and unexplained absences. The lawsuit claims the author knew the statements were false or showed reckless disregard for the truth. The Atlantic calls the suit meritless.

It is the end of an era. After more than a decade leading Apple, Tim Cook is preparing to step aside marking a major shift in leadership at one of the world's most valuable companies.

CNN tech reporter Clare Duffy explains what's next for Apple and also who's taking charge.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: That's right. After 15 years, Apple CEO Tim Cook will be handing over the reins, stepping into the role of executive chairman at the company. And John Ternus, currently Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take over the role of CEO.

Tim Cook has had an incredible run at Apple. He took over from its iconic founder Steve Jobs back in 2011 and had the sort of difficult task of defining the post-jobs era at Apple. He has really overseen building out this whole ecosystem around Apple's products, adding the Apple watch, the air pods. Apple services, like Apple TV+ and games. He also built out Apple's global supply chain and oversaw its rise to become a $4 trillion company.

He also guided Apple through some really difficult periods for the company, including the COVID-19 pandemic which, of course, disrupted production. Also, President Trump's tariffs in both his first and second terms.

But still, this handoff was not totally a surprise. There have been questions that Apple has faced over the future of its leadership, especially amid some high-profile stumbles over the past few years. In particular, the Vision Pro headset. This VR headset that Apple said was going to be the future of computing has remained a very niche product and didn't get widespread adoption among consumers.

And Apple is also seen as behind in artificial intelligence -- and, of course, many in the tech world see as the future of technology.

So there have been some questions and some thinking that Apple may need some fresh leadership and some new tech innovation.

John Turnus is a well-respected, longtime Apple employee. He has been at the company since 2001. And I think this timing of this transition will give him an opportunity to come out and really introduce himself to Apple's consumers at the company's annual iPhone event in September.

And so again, we didn't exactly know this was coming today but not totally surprising timing as Apple tries to look forward and define the next era for the company.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: A growing number of MAGA supporters are now questioning the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. That's up next on EARLY START.

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[05:49:00]

HILL: Well, in just a few minutes polls will open in Virginia for a referendum vote that could drastically alter the state's congressional districts. If state Democrats are successful their push to redraw those lines could win them up to four additional seats in the House, and that would potentially put them at a 10-1 advantage over state Republicans. President Trump called into a Republican tele rally on Monday night and called the push "terrible and so unfair."

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is not expecting a miracle, admitting it will be a close vote since Virginia is a purple state.

CNN will bring you those results as soon as they become available.

U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is stepping down. The White House says she is taking a job in the private sector. And she was also, it's important to note, facing an internal investigation into possible misconduct and allegations of inappropriate behavior. This makes her now the third cabinet member to leave the Trump administration in recent weeks.

Conspiracy theories about President Trump's first assassination attempt have infiltrated a number of people in MAGA world. Some liberals have entertained conspiracies about the Butler shooting since it happened, but more recently it's been notable that figures on the right are asking questions.

[05:50:10]

Here is CNN's Donie O'Sullivan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY MANN, ANTI-TRUMP PROTESTERS: And what really frightens me and scares me and makes me angry is suddenly now I'm in on the conspiracy theory.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you want to really see something that said, take a look at what happened over --

(Gunshots)

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Some liberals have long dabbled in conspiracy theories about the Trump assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania --

MANN: The first thing that ran through my head is because we cannot believe this man ever that is was somehow fake.

O'SULLIVAN (voiceover): -- like these women I met at an anti-Trump protest outside the RNC a couple of days after Butler.

O'SULLIVAN: So you initially thought it was staged?

MANN: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah -- as we all did.

O'SULLIVAN: Do you still believe that?

MANN: Yes. We don't know. I'm not sure. It's not impossible but I couldn't help but wonder because we've been lied to over and over by this man. The way he came up and raised his fist and acted like it was nothing.

O'SULLIVAN (voiceover): Since the early days of the investigation the FBI has repeatedly pushed back on conspiracy theories about Trump's would-be assassin Thomas Crooks. Both justice departments under President Joe Biden and Donald Trump have found the same thing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just to be clear, did Thomas Crooks act alone?

KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: Yes. Based on the evidence that we have that is the conclusive finding of the matter.

O'SULLIVAN (voiceover): But over the last few weeks, as many are speaking out against the Iran war --

TIM DILLON, COMEDIAN: Just admit you staged it in Butler. It was the heat of the campaign. People do crazy things in campaigns.

O'SULLIVAN (voiceover): -- prominent people who supported Trump's re- election campaign, like comedian Tim Dillon, have started to express doubts about what happened in Butler that day. Trump survived but Corey Comperatore, who was standing in the crowd behind him died.

DILLON: Now, of course, a real person died and that's terrible. RIP. And they should say that in high stakes things like this -- stuff like that happens.

TUCKER CARLSON, CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Joe, thanks a lot for joining us.

O'SULLIVAN (voiceover): Butler conspiracy theories really started to pick up in the MAGA world after Joe Kent appeared on the Tucker Carlson show last month. Kent was a high-ranking intelligence official who resigned in protest over the Iran war. JOE KENT, FORMER TRUMP INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL: I mean, we still don't know what happened in Butler. Um, we don't know what happened with Charlie Kirk. And by no means am I saying, like, you know, the Israelis did this or any of that, but I'm saying there's a lot of unanswered questions there.

O'SULLIVAN (voiceover): Trisha Hope, who was a Trump delegate at the RNC in 2024 has been vocal online about her doubts posting, "Since the attempt on his life, Trump has shown no interest investigating what really happened. He never mentions it. It's as if it never happened, except when he tells us he took a bullet for us."

Marjorie Taylor Greene has shared Trisha's post, and she added over the weekend, "I'm not calling the Butler assassination a hoax. But there are a lot of questions that deserve public answers."

CARLSON: The are far more significant story involves the government -- the DOJ and the FBI -- which have hidden from the public what they know about Thomas Crooks.

O'SULLIVAN (voiceover): Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL)

[05:57:40]

HILL: An early experimental trial shows an mRNA-based vaccine is helping to fight pancreatic cancer. It's one of the most deadly forms of the disease. Only about one in four patients live a year after their diagnosis. And if mRNA technology sounds familiar it should. It was also used in some COVID vaccines.

CNN health reporter Jacqueline Howard has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: These are follow-up results for a phase one clinical trial and the reason why this is getting a lot of attention right now -- pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers out there so having treatment possibilities is a big deal.

And in this trial the treatment possibility here is a vaccine. It's administered after a patient has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It's intended to extend survival after that diagnosis. And in this particular trial 16 patients were included. All of these patients already had surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy as cancer treatments.

Among those patients, eight of them showed a response to this vaccine. That means their immune systems showed a response to the vaccine. Among those eight patients who responded nearly 90 percent -- seven of them total -- showed survival six years later.

The reason why that's a big deal -- the estimated five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is around 13 percent. But among those patients who responded to this vaccine, almost 90 percent were still alive six years later. Among the patients who did not show a response to the vaccine, only two were still alive six years later.

Again, this is getting a lot of attention because having treatment possibilities for pancreatic cancer is significant.

Also, we know since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a lot of political tension around mRNA technology and in some states some lawmakers have even introduced measures to ban administering mRNA vaccines.

[06:00:00]

But this phase one clinical trial shows the potential of mRNA technology even outside COVID-19 -- we're looking at this as a potential within cancer treatment options. So this trial again is getting attention because of the mRNA technology and because of the possibilities here for pancreatic cancer patients.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Thanks so much for joining us today on EARLY START. I'm Erica Hill in New York. Stay tuned. "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.