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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Trump Bets Big On Blockade; Comey Surrenders Over Threat Charges; Voting Rights Act Gutted. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired April 30, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:24]
BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all round the world. I'm Brian Abel. Thank you so much for being with us this morning.
It is Thursday, April 30th, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington.
And straight ahead on EARLY START.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Sources say President Donald Trump wants the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports to continue as a way to stifle Tehran's economy.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The blockade is genius. The blockade has been 100 percent foolproof.
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Comey's attorney said that they are planning on arguing to judges that Comey has been singled out unfairly by the Trump administration and the Justice Department.
TODD BLANCHE, ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL: People should be very wary of threatening the life of President Trump.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: A landmark Supreme Court decision has put the 1965 Voting Rights Act on thin ice.
VAN JONES, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: This was the crowning achievement of the civil rights era. To take that, ball it up and throw it in the toilet is devastating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
ABEL: We begin with new developments on the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran. Oil prices have jumped yet again after reports that President Donald Trump is considering an extended blockade of Iranian ports. Brent crude, the global benchmark, surged above $125 a barrel a short time ago, its highest price since 2022. And right now, you see it here sitting at $120, just a little bit more. Sources say President Trump believes the blockade may stifle Tehran's
economy and bring it back to the negotiating table. And his team is already making preparations for a longer term closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The president believes the plan is working.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Well, the blockade is genius. Okay? The blockade has been 100 percent foolproof. It shows how good our navy is. I can tell you that. Nobody's going to play games.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: CNN is covering all the angles of the Iraq war. Nic Robertson standing by for us in Islamabad, Pakistan.
But we begin with Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem.
And, Oren, actions between Israel and Hezbollah seem to have reignited now. Is it safe at this point to say that the cease fire is no more?
OREN LIEERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, the ceasefire right now is hanging on by a thread. The key part here is that the ceasefire is between Israel and Lebanon, the official government of Lebanon, while the continued fighting is between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah is not a party to the ceasefire. They didn't sign the agreement, and they've made very clear what is, frankly now their opposition to it carrying out at least five different attacks with drones and rockets on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and on communities in northern Israel, according to the Israeli military and the interceptions they carried out.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued to carry out strikes across southern Lebanon. They say targeting Hezbollah military infrastructure and Hezbollah militants. But we've also seen the rising toll of that. According to Lebanon's ministry of public health, more than 2,500 people have been killed so far in Lebanon over the course of the past two months or so, and that includes yesterday, according to Lebanese state media, at least five people, including a family of three.
So, you see the rising death toll here. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has indicated he wants to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the White House at some point for what would be a landmark meeting.
But, Brian, from where we sit right now, that looks virtually impossible.
ABEL: And, Oren, what is Iran's reaction to the blockade strategy at this point?
LIEBERMANN: Well, at this point, frankly, they're mocking it. President Donald Trump has pretty clearly indicated that he is not all for another round of strikes reopening the war. Certainly not at full force, he said in an interview yesterday, this is Trump saying the blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig, and it's going to be worse for them. They can't have a nuclear weapon.
So Trump pretty clearly indicating that he prefers the blockade and it may stay in place long term here. Of course, Iran's speaker of parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf, basically mocked that. He's also the chief negotiator here. He said in response on social media. That was the kind of junk advice the U.S. admin gets from people like Bessent, who also pushed the blockade theory and cranked oil up to $120. Next stop, 140. The issue isn't the theory, it's the mindset.
Bessent in that social media post is U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had put forward the idea that once the war is over, oil prices would drop, perhaps even below where they were before the war. But that shows about a zero percent chance of happening right now, especially with the global economy eyeing what might be a long term U.S. blockade ongoing here.
[05:05:07]
ABEL: All right. Oren Liebermann, live for us in Jerusalem -- Oren, thank you.
Let's turn now to Nic Robertson. And, Nic, what are we hearing at this moment about Tehran's peace proposal, which we were told it may come by the end of the week. It may be submitted soon.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah. Look, the public posturing is exactly as Oren laid it out. Iran is essentially saying to the United States, we can withstand your blockade better than you can withstand the economic impact of our blockade. The Iranians said they got 17 vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz, their vessels, CENTCOM said they interdicted 42 vessels.
So it is in the public domain, at least an issue of who believes what and if both sides really believe what they're saying publicly, then it looks as if were set for a long standoff today. Tomorrow is the day when there was an expectation Iran was going to put a new proposal to the mediators in Pakistan, who would then be expected to pass it on to the White House pretty quickly. President Trump has said yes just yesterday that Iran has come a long way, but its not sure if they're going to go far enough.
And he went on to say, just as Oren said, that -- that there is going to be no deal without Iran committing to not having a nuclear weapon on that front. There had been potentially some leeway here remembering that the Iranian foreign minister over the weekend had gone to visit President Putin in Russia. That was on Monday. And President Trump saying when he spoke with Putin yesterday, Putin offered to help with the uranium issue in Iran. President Trump turning him down.
So, what the Iranians had proposed this sort of plan that sort of reset the war, but leave the thornier issue of negotiations around nuclear issues. Leave that till later. President Trump seems to have balked at that, and he really does seem to be sticking to that position that Iran needs to give up something on the nuclear front.
And we're not clear what -- is there a halfway house? Is there a partial deal? Is this what's going to come from Iran?
But take the public posturing at face value. This doesn't look set to be resolved quickly. Take what the diplomats hope will happen, and they hope there will be movement.
ABEL: All right. Nic Robertson in Islamabad for us -- Nic, thank you.
New video into CNN shows Israeli forces intercepting an aid flotilla heading to Gaza. You can see armed security forces boarding one of the boats in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Crete. Organizers accuse the Israeli military of jamming communications and aggressively detaining civilians.
Israel's foreign ministry called the flotilla a P.R. stunt and alleged that condoms and drugs were found on board the vessels, a claim the flotilla spokesperson denies.
To Capitol Hill now. We are now learning that the war with Iran may be costing the U.S. a lot more than the Pentagon is saying. Sources tell CNN that the $25 billion estimate from a top defense official is a lowball figure. One of those sources says the real cost is closer to $40 billion or $50 billion. When accounting for rebuilding U.S. bases and replacing destroyed assets.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna questioned the Pentagon's estimate in a Wednesday hearing on Capitol Hill, where U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fiercely defended his handling of the Iran war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Do you know how much it will cost Americans in terms of their increased cost in gas and food over the next year because of the Iran war?
PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I would simply ask you what the cost is of an Iranian nuclear bomb.
KHANNA: I'm going to give you that --
(CROSSTALK)
HEGSETH: I would simply ask you -- you're playing gotcha questions about domestic things. I'm not --
KHANNA: You're asking -- you're saying its a gotcha question to ask what its going to be in terms of the increase.
HEGSETH: Why won't you answer what it costs to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb?
KHANNA: I'll give you that, sir, but let me --
HEGSETH: What would it cost? What would you pay to ensure Iran doesn't get a nuclear bomb?
KHANNA: Do you -- HEGSETH: What would you pay?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: In the coming hours, King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to wrap up their visit to the U.S., back where it began at the White House. The royals spent Wednesday in New York and visited a community farm in Harlem, where King Charles fed some of the local chickens. You see that moment here.
They began the day, however, at the 9/11 memorial, where they laid a bouquet of white flowers and left a handwritten message.
CNN's Richard Quest has more from New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR AT LARGE: The visit to the national memorial at 9/11 down in Lower Manhattan was the most poignant and solemn part of their majesties day trip visit to New York.
[05:10:01]
Although this is their first visit as king and queen, they have been here before. Back in 2005, when then Prince Charles and the duchess of Cornwall paid a visit to the city.
Today, after they arrived, they laid flowers in memory. They also met the former mayor of New York, Mike Bloomberg, the current mayor, Mamdani, and various leaders like the governor of New York and the governor of New Jersey.
But probably the most important part of the visit for their majesties was meeting the first responders who 25 years ago were here on the scene, along with families, relatives, friends of those who were affected. The majesties are only spending one day in New York, and this is by far the most serious and perhaps most important part of the visit.
Richard Quest, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Next, the suspected gunman at the press gallery here in Washington is set for another court date, as new filings reveal more about his extensive arsenal. We'll have those details.
Plus, the former FBI director makes his first court appearance as President Trump reacts to James Comey's indictment for allegedly threatening him with a message spelled out in seashells.
And later, the dramatic body cam footage of officers confronting the suspect in the stabbing attack of two Jewish men in London.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [05:15:59]
ABEL: The suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner is set to return to court today. Lawyers for Cole Thomas Allen, who is charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump, have complained in a court filing that they're having trouble meeting with him. It's not clear if they'll argue that Allen shouldn't remain in jail ahead of his trial.
Prosecutors are laying out their argument for keeping Allen in custody, at the same time revealing these images of the suspect and his arsenal in a selfie he allegedly took before the attack. The filing also says a secret service officer saw the suspect fire his weapon toward the stairs that led to the ballroom where the dinner was held.
At the same time, "The Washington Post" has reviewed a high quality version of security camera footage and says that video does not show the suspect firing a weapon in the four seconds he entered and ran through security. "The Post" says the footage does show a secret service officer draw his gun and fire at least four shots in the attacker's direction.
Former FBI Director James Comey will make his next court appearance in North Carolina on charges that he threatened President Trump. Comey turned himself in Wednesday in Virginia, where he lives. He spent about ten minutes in court before the judge released him without conditions. The Justice Department says Comey's Instagram post from last year, this one right here, seashells spelling out "86 47" was a threat to kill Trump.
CNN's Kaitlan Collins asked the president about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Eighty-six, you know what 86? That's a mob term for kill him, you know? Do you ever see the movies? Eighty-six him. The mobster says to one of his wonderful associates, 86 him, that means kill him.
People like Comey have created tremendous danger, I think, for politicians and others.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: We have more now on the case against Comey from CNN's crime and justice correspondent Katelyn Polantz.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Now, this is a case that is going to have a lot of arguments before it ever gets to see a trial and a jury. In court on Wednesday, Comey's attorney said that they are planning on arguing to judges in North Carolina. That's who's going to oversee this case, that Comey has been singled out unfairly for prosecution by the Trump administration and the Justice Department. Previously, in the last criminal case he faced, where that case was
dismissed, it was a perjury count. Comey also argued that he was being selectively and vindictively prosecuted because Donald Trump, the president, dislikes him so much and has wanted to see him in jail. That's very likely to be a similar argument that we see in this case. This is the sort of thing that the Justice Department is going to have to respond to extensively.
And the acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, he was asked by a reporter at a separate press conference on Wednesday afternoon, is it the Justice Department's decision that anyone who writes "86, 47" may be investigated and charged?
Here's how Blanche responded.
TODD BLANCE, ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL: Look, every case is different. Every case is different. And so that means that there can -- what is -- what does that mean? That means that the nature of the threat, the person who makes this threat, and then the investigation around the threat.
And so, you cannot -- it is -- it would be ill-advised for anybody to compare a particular statement to another statement that appears similar when there's been a thorough investigation. Nobody in this room has any idea what happened during a grand jury investigation between May 15th and yesterday.
POLANTZ: Now there'll be a long road ahead as Comey's team continues to challenge what Blanche calls a thorough investigation into the former FBI director. We don't have a set of dates yet on when Comey will be appearing again in federal court, but those proceedings will be in New Bern, North Carolina, very near the beach.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Katelyn Polantz, thank you.
Broadcasters here in the U.S. are rallying behind Disney in its fight with the Federal Communications Commission, the FCC and President Trump want the company to fire ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel for a joke last week about First Lady Melania Trump having the glow of an expectant widow. FCC chair Brendan Carr is turning up the heat on Disney, ordering the renewal of its stations broadcast licenses nearly two years early.
The National Association of Broadcasters says the renewal process needs to be fair and predictable.
The Russian president puts Donald Trump on notice about resuming strikes in Iran. Still ahead, why Moscow believes that more military action would be too big a price to pay.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:25:06]
ABEL: U.S. President Donald Trump says the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine could end on a similar timetable. He spoke after a phone call with his Russian counterpart on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I talked about Ukraine, and I talked a little bit about. Iran. I talked about a few different subjects, mostly about Ukraine. And we had a very good conversation. I think were going to come up with a solution relatively quickly, I hope.
REPORTER: What does he want?
TRUMP: I think he'd like to see a solution, I can tell you. And that's good. He told me he'd like to be involved with the enrichment. If we -- if he can help us get it. I said, I'd much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine. To me, that would be more important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: But the Kremlin says President Vladimir Putin also warned Trump that resuming military strikes on Iran would be a bad idea.
CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more from Moscow.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This was the first phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. president Donald Trump since March 9th. And the Russians are saying the phone call lasted over 1.5 hours and was conducted in a businesslike atmosphere.
Now, while the White House says that most of this call dealt with Ukraine, that was the main topics the Russians are saying the main international topic was actually the U.S. war with Iran. Now Russian Leader Vladimir Putin, according to Russian information, praised President Trump extending the cease fire with Iran. But at the same time also warning that if this goes back to being a shooting war, if there's another aerial campaign by the Israelis and the Americans against Iran, that that would have devastating consequences not just for Iran and the Gulf region, but for the entire international community.
Vladimir Putin, according to that same information, also warning against a possible American ground invasion of Iran, saying that that would be unacceptable. At the same time, of course, also very dangerous.
The Russians also acknowledging that Ukraine, of course, was also a major topic in that phone call. The U.S. President calling for a cease fire as fast as possible. The Russians saying that the U.S. believes it is something that can be done in the not too distant future. But at the same time, the Russians acknowledging that they are offering a cease fire for May 9th around May 9th, which is, of course, victory day, where Russia and other former Soviet Union states celebrate the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Now, the interesting thing about that is that the Russians have already scaled back their Victory Day parade on Red Square here in Moscow, which normally is a massive affair due to the fact that they're suffering from a Ukrainian aerial campaign, mostly using drones hitting Russian critical infrastructure and also industrial sites as well.
At the same time, the Russians are saying that Vladimir Putin made clear to U.S. President Donald Trump that the Russians would achieve, as he put it, their goals in what they still call their special military operation in Ukraine. The Russians are saying they would rather achieve that through diplomatic means.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PLEITGEN: Joining us from Kyiv, Ukraine, is Tamar Jacoby, director of the New Ukraine Project at the Progressive Policy Institute. She's also a contributor for "Washington Monthly".
Tamar, it's a pleasure to have you join us. As you just heard, there were some developments and comments here in Washington in the Oval Office about Ukraine that we will talk about in just a moment. But first, my observation has been that with the start of the Iraq war, the war in Ukraine has been significantly overshadowed.
Yes, that war has been waged for four years now, but it was less than a year ago when Vladimir Putin landed in Alaska for that summit amidst a flurry of potential peace talks. Can you, from your perspective, catch us up on the developments in Ukraine? What's the landscape now?
TAMAR JACOBY, CONTRIBUTOR, WASHINGTON MONTHLY: Yeah. Hi, Brian. It's great to be here. Thank you so much.
I mean, the war goes on as it has gone on for, lo, these last several years. There isn't much movement on the eastern front. You know, in the depth of winter. Russia made a little progress more recently in the spring, Ukraine made some progress.
But basically, the land front is where it's been for two years. Ukraine is doing better, hitting Russia with long range missiles for years, Ukraine begged the West if it could use Western long range missiles, and the West wasn't prepared to grant that permission. So Ukraine has developed its own drones and missiles, and it's hitting Russian oil refineries and oil pipelines and oil tankers pretty successfully.
It's not, you know, stopping the Russian oil export machine, but it's having quite a big impact. And it's heartening Ukrainians. I don't think the war is ending anytime soon unfortunately. You know, Ukraine is holding its own against a much bigger, richer, more powerful enemy.
And Ukrainians can't afford to give up. It's their country they're fighting for. And Russia doesn't seem to want to give up.
The conversation in the Oval Office is a little absurd, but perhaps we're going there next.
