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CNN Headlines: Trump To Pause Effort To Guide Ships Through Strait Of Hormuz; Trump-Backed Challengers Dominate Incumbents In Indiana Primaries; NY Police: Antisemitic Graffiti Found On Synagogues And Homes. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired May 06, 2026 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[05:30:08]
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: It is half past the hour. Let's hit the refresh button on our top stories.
President Donald Trump says the U.S. will temporarily pause Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz to see whether a deal with Iran can be finalized. This as Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that the military operation launched in February in Iran is "over." Meanwhile, Iranian state media claims the U.S. failed to achieve its objectives.
And the president demonstrated he maintains a strong grip on the GOP with Tuesday's primary results. In Indiana, for example, at least five state Republicans who broke with the president on redistricting last year lost their races. One is still too close to call. A staunch Trump supporter in the state said of the results "better than I expected."
And Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will meet with the House Oversight committee today about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein's files revealed Lutnick's relationship with the disgraced financier continued long after he publicly claimed it had ended. Lutnick has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
We return back to our top story. The Secretary of State says that the more than two months long combat operations against the Iranian regime and Iran has reached its conclusion. It comes as President Trump announces that the U.S. will temporarily pause its effort to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz but continue to enforce the blockade of the key waterway.
CNN's Paula Hancocks is live in Abu Dhabi for us with more. Paula, what more do we know about these movements?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Brad, it was certainly a swift about-turn from the Trump administration. We heard on Sunday evening that he had announced that he was going to carry out this Project Freedom, as he called it. By Monday morning it was in place. And then 36 hours of escalation in hostilities we then saw Tuesday afternoon that he said that it was going to be paused temporarily. Now there was some mixed messaging as well from the Trump administration itself. We had heard earlier from the U.S. Secretary of State and also the Secretary of Defense saying that this was going to be their main focus and then just hours later it's put on pause. Donald Trump saying that it was because he wanted to give diplomacy a chance, saying that it was mutually agreed. Iran publicly is not acknowledging that, saying that Trump backed down. Saying that they believe he did not achieve his objectives following the firm positions and warnings from Iran.
Now we also know that the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in Beijing. He has met his Chinese counterpart to talk about the war and what is happening. We've heard from the Beijing side. They have said that they want to see the Strait of Hormuz opened -- this critical waterway opened. They want talks to resume between the U.S. and Iran. And they also support Iran's right to have nuclear energy.
So what it shows is that Iran is really trying to shore up support for its side of what it believes should be a final peace deal.
And, of course, this comes just the week before we're going to see the U.S. President Donald Trump heading to China as well. He'll be meeting with Xi Jinping next week -- Brad.
SMITH: Yeah, some mixed messages from both sides coming amid considerable conflict here.
Paula Hancocks, thank you so much for breaking this down for us.
Well, President Trump's domination of the GOP is reflected in his big Indiana primary wins Tuesday night. Take a look at this. Republican voters supported his preferred candidates in at least five of the seven races. Over $13 million was spent in those races compared to about a quarter million last time.
So why so much national attention on local races? CNN's Jeff Zeleny explains.
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JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: So one thing that's clear, it is still Donald Trump's Republican Party. We've heard President Trump talk for so many months now about exacting revenge and retribution. That's exactly what he did Tuesday night in Indiana.
You'll remember the Indiana redistricting push at the end of last year, kind of in the middle of the gerrymandering wars. Republicans stood up to the president and said no, they're not going to redraw the state lines. Well, President Trump and the White House said at that moment that they were going to challenge those Republicans.
On Tuesday night President Trump won, and he won big. Only one of the Trump-endorsed candidates fell short -- the rest won. So clearly, this retribution idea held some sway.
[05:35:00] Indiana is a deeply Republican state -- there is no doubt about that -- but millions of dollars were spent on what usually are local contests. But the president nationalized them. His aides mounted these campaigns, recruited candidates, and in the end, even though the president has seen some cracks in his armor, in Indiana there are very few cracks as shown Tuesday night. It was payback time and President Trump won.
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SMITH: Senate Republicans are looking to give the U.S. Secret Service $1 billion to shore up security for President Trump's proposed ballroom. It's part of a roughly $70 billion funding package for ICE and border patrol -- a bill that could pass with GOP votes alone. Republicans say that the money would be limited to security upgrades.
The administration initially said the project would be paid by private donors, not taxpayers. But in the wake of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last month, Republicans have grown increasingly vocal about the need for a White House ballroom.
Well, there are new developments this morning in the case of the American woman reported missing in the Bahamas last month by her husband. The Coast Guard released these photos of a sailboat that was anchored near the vessel belonging to Brian and Lynette Hooker. Authorities are looking for the owners of the sailboat, but they did not say how it may be connected to the investigation.
Brian Hooker told authorities that his wife fell overboard as the couple was out on the water sailing in the Bahamas. There are still no signs of Lynette Hooker more than a month after she disappeared. Brian Hooker has not been charged with any crime.
Well, police in New York are searching for at least four people in connection with the antisemitic vandalism to several synagogues and homes. Surveillance video showed them crouching down and then running away from a Jewish center early Monday morning.
CNN's Brynn Gingras has the details.
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BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In that surveillance video that is circulating now, taken from one of the places that was targeted, the community there in Queens hoping that someone might recognize these individuals and alert police.
We know though that the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force was at the scene on Monday. They were taking fingerprints. They were also taking photographs. And again, pointing to that surveillance video hoping to possibly catch as many as four people who might be responsible for this incident.
Again, what happened here is that on Monday night -- or Monday morning, rather, a community there in Queens woke up to swastikas, hateful word written on a synagogue, a Jewish center, a home who our affiliate WABC says actually belongs to a Holocaust survivor. That Jewish center, we're also learning -- you know, it houses a daycare.
So people waking up in this community and seeing these antisemitic incidents which, of course, are on the rise across the entire state -- I'm sorry, across the entire country and the entire world.
Mayor Mamdani, who has been criticized about his response to these types of incidents, being very quick though on X on this specific matter -- is calling these incidents horrifying and it says it angered him to see these swastikas painted on home and synagogues in Queens, saying "There is no place for antisemitism in Queens or anywhere in our city. I stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors. Their safety, dignity, and belonging are non-negotiable."
And again, New York not immune to these incidents. What we've learned statistics wise just within the last month, 60 percent of the hate crimes that have actually happened in New York City were to the Jewish community. Only 10 percent of the population of this city are Jewish. So it really is alarming and again, something the community is just trying to put as many feelers out there to hopefully catch these perpetrators.
In New York, I'm Brynn Gingras. Back to you.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's May. I'm like no way it's May and it's snowing right now.
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SMITH: I'd be saying the same thing. This may be hard to believe but yes, it is May and yes, it is snowing. This video is from Colorado. Some areas in that state already have seen a foot of snow. And while Colorado deals with the May snow some of you who live in the south will be on severe weather watch for most of the day.
Let's get right to meteorologist Chris Warren. Chris, what exactly is happening here in Colorado with some fresh pow?
CHRIS WARREN, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Right.
SMITH: Usually a good thing.
WARREN: Yeah, no way in May -- but if it's going to happen, it's going to happen there. And if severe weather is going to happen this time of year in May it's going to happen here in the south.
So we're seeing -- but it is rare to see it this late in spring -- the snow here -- and that's exactly what's happening. Waking up with snow falling in Denver right now. And the purple shows some of the heavier snow moving out closer to Kansas. Winter storm warnings still in effect here and will be through this afternoon from Denver to Cheyenne with the amount of snow still adding to what has already come down overnight -- late yesterday and overnight. Several inches in the mountains and a few in the lower elevations.
[05:40:05]
And then the severe weather threat for the south includes large hail and damaging winds. A few tornadoes a possibility -- even a couple of strong ones. There is going to be a lot of heavy rain with this so it might be very difficult to see some of the tornadoes. And that heavy rain also going to increase the chance Brad there could be some flash flooding throughout parts of the south before this system moves out.
SMITH: All right. Sounds like I'm canceling some tee times, Chris.
WARREN: Perhaps.
SMITH: Thank you.
Time for Buzz Express -- the stories that have people talking.
The Rolling Stones just released a new song. It's called "In The Stars."
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MICK JAGGER, THE ROLLING STONES: I can't hear nothing.
KEITH RICHARDS, THE ROLLING STONES: When I was in it, I was in. I'm not --
RONNIE WOOD, THE ROLLING STONES: I'm playing here as loud as I can. Any clue on what song I'm working on tonight?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: And that will be on the band's new album out this summer called "Foreign Tongues." The Rolling Stones' last album came out in 2023, and this new one will feature several artists including Paul McCartney and Robert Smith of The Cure.
And lots of attention on Stephen Colbert's interview with former President Barack Obama that aired last night on Colbert's show. And the late-night host asked him his opinion about what his next career move should be.
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STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": I'm looking for a new gig soon --
BARACK OBAMA, (D) FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Uh-huh.
COLBERT: -- and a lot of people tell me I should run for president.
OBAMA: Well, you certainly have the look.
COLBERT: Thank you very much.
OBAMA: You have the hair.
COLBERT: Well, for the record, I think it's a stupid idea. How dumb do you -- how dumb do you think it is for people to say that I should run for president?
OBAMA: Well, you know, the bar has changed.
COLBERT: That is true -- at times subterranean.
OBAMA: So --
COLBERT: I don't have to limbo so low?
OBAMA: Let me put it this way. I think that you could perform significantly better than some folks that we've seen.
COLBERT: All right, yeah.
OBAMA: I have -- I have great confidence in that.
COLBERT: Thank you very much.
OBAMA: Yeah.
COLBERT: Is that an endorsement?
OBAMA: It was not.
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SMITH: The final episode of "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT" airs May 21.
Next on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS popular potato chips sold at restaurants and grocery stores are being recalled over a possible salmonella risk. We've got those details coming up.
And total transformation ahead. How Elizabeth Smart's body and body- building journey is helping her to heal decades after her abduction as a teenager. We've got that coming your way.
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[05:47:00]
SMITH: New criticism this week from Donald Trump has Pope Leo XIV pushing back again. On Monday, the president claimed the pontiff thinks it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. That is something the pope has never said. The pope has been pretty vocal against war in general and the war with Iran and said yesterday the mission of the church is to preach the gospel.
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POPE LEO XIV (through translator): If anyone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the gospel let them do so with the truth. The church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, so there is no doubt. I simply hope to be heard because of the value of God's word.
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SMITH: On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to meet with the pope. Rubio, a Catholic, says there's a lot to talk about, but he denies that he's on a mission to improve relations with the Vatican.
Time now for our Global Express. We start in Ukraine. That's where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced a unilateral ceasefire with Russia is now in effect. It came just hours after Ukraine launched a rare long-range missile and a drone strike deep inside Russia more than 600 miles from the border.
And after a day of deadly Russian airstrikes across Eastern Ukraine, Ukraine's interior minister says that 27 people were killed.
The ceasefire also comes days before Moscow hosts its annual Victory Parade on May 9 commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
We take you now to Canada. That's where separatists in Alberta say they now have enough signatures to push for a vote to leave the country. The group behind the petition says it collected more than 300,000 names. That is well above the number needed to trigger consideration of a referendum on separation.
The search for Elizabeth Smart captured the nation's attention decades ago. She survived being abducted as a child and in the years since has become an advocate for missing and exploited children. Well today, Smart is taking on a new challenge -- a physically demanding one -- and she sat down with our Erin Burnett to talk about it.
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ELIZABETH SMART, ACTIVIST AND COMMENTATOR: And I was like I need a goal. I need, like, I need to get better. Like, I -- like, I've always loved my body, I've always appreciated it, but there was a lot of room for improvement. And I was, like, I just need a goal. I need a deadline. Otherwise it'll always be next Monday. I'll start a fresh week Monday -- next Monday.
ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR, "ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT": Yeah.
SMART: Monday I'll go to the gym. Monday I'll start macro matching or macro counting -- whatever. And she was like, OK -- well, you know, like what do you think about bodybuilding? And I was like OK, yeah, let's do it.
[05:50:00]
BURNETT: You talk about loving your body and you -- it -- when you first posted the pictures of yourself bodybuilding you posted with them this. You wrote, "My body has carried me through every worst day, every hellish, grueling experience. My body has risen to every single challenge life has presented it with and carried me through, so I refuse to be ashamed of it." You know, you endured something that very few human beings can comprehend. What does it mean -- how empowering is it to you to walk out on a stage and to share and to show that physical strength?
SMART: I mean, if my body hadn't showed up for me through every bad day, I'd be dead. But it showed up for me every bad day. Every hard experience I went through, day in and day out, showed up for me.
And so now, for me, like getting to the point where I'm at right now and stepping out on stage, I feel like it's a celebration of my body. I feel like it's giving it the attention that it deserves.
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SMITH: Persevering through every challenge thrown her way. Just remarkable there. Thank you so much, Erin and Elizabeth Smart.
Next up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS a shocking video of a woman who drives her car up on a sidewalk and starts chasing a child on a bike. We've got more on that wild and dangerous scene coming up. You're watching CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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SMITH: In today's Money Express UnitedHealthcare says that members will no longer need prior authorization for some of their medical services.
Maribel Aber joins us from the Nasdaq market side with that and the rest of your top Money Express headlines. What do we need to know here, Maribel?
MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, MONEY MATTERS: Brad, big change. UnitedHealthcare eliminating prior authorization for 30 percent of covered services. The company says the move should speed up patient care and reduce administrative delays. The changes will apply to services like outpatient surgeries, diagnostic tests, some therapies, and chiropractic care by year's end. UHC is one of several insurers in the industry reviewing the impact of prior authorizations on care outcomes.
Snack maker Utz is recalling some of its potato chips over possible salmonella contamination. It says several varieties of its Zapp's chips and Dirty potato chips are affected. Utz issued the voluntary recall after the supplier flagged dry milk powder used in the seasoning as a potential risk. So far, company test results have been negative, but the recall was made out of caution. Product details and refund information is listed on the FDA's website.
And McDonald's is serving up a new Happy Meal with a side of Demogorgon. The "STRANGER THINGS" tales from the '85 collection debuted this week. Each comes with a character mini figure from the hit Netflix series. Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max among them along with Demogorgon. The meals celebrate the premiere of the new animated version of the series following the live-action finale last year. They're available now for a limited time.
Brad, I got as far as that season where Hopper was held in a Russian prison. I don't know, was that four?
SMITH: Um, I'm not sure which season that was but I finished them all. And I will say as long as Vecna is not in my Happy Meal box and a Demogorgon hasn't eaten my fries, I'm good.
ABER: You're good.
SMITH: Yes.
Maribel Aber, thank you so much. I'll give it a shot and let you know.
ABER: OK.
SMITH: A car chasing down a child and it's all caught on camera. That story kicks off today's look at news making headlines across the country. We start in Washington State. Take a look at this.
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(Horn blowing)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This lady is crazy.
(Horns blowing)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's trying to run -- oh! Oh my God.
(Car trying to run down child on bike)
(Bleep)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No kidding. Oh my God!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Yeah, bleeps indeed. My goodness. OK, take a look at that.
The good news first. The child was not hit but the woman behind the wheel is now behind bars and facing multiple charges including DUI. Officials say the suspect tried to hit the child while they rode their bike on the sidewalk. And later police say the same woman was seen trying to break into a home. She denies breaking into the home and does not remember the incident with the child. We'll continue to track any developments in that case.
Plus, in Massachusetts, a shelter-in-place order has been lifted at a U.S. Army base near Boston. The SWAT team was called to the Natick Soldier Systems Center yesterday. That's a military research center. An armed security guard was given medical care afterwards. No other details were released.
And now we've got to take you to this insane video out of Michigan. Watch as someone drives their car directly into a pond during a high- speed chase.
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POLICE OFFICER: 42-11, I'm behind him. Has the second one been called out?
DISPATCHER: (INAUDIBLE). Do you want me to (INAUDIBLE).
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[06:00:00]
You can see the aerial video of that crash there. The man then got out of the car and walked onto the grass with his hands up. Deputies say that he sped off after they tried to pull him over for an alleged assault. There you can see him coming out of the brush there and putting himself on the ground, surrendering himself.
We'll continue to track any developments in all of those wild chases and video stories.
That does it for CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. "CNN THIS MORNING WITH AUDIE CORNISH" starts now.
