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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN Headlines: Extreme Weather Leaves Major Damage Behind Across Midwest; Trump Declares War Is Over, But Iran Denies Agreement; Mexico Defeats South Africa 2-0 In Opening Match. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired June 12, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:21]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my god, are you okay?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I got a broken leg.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got a broken leg?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my god.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: A man rescued after being trapped under his own home that was destroyed by a tornado. A look at the damage left across the Midwest.
Plus --
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They will not only not have, they will not purchase, develop in any way, any shape, in any way, shape, or form a nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: President Trump cancels strikes against Iran and claims the U.S. ended the war, but Iran says no deal is finalized.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go! Run, run, run, run!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's one more guy up there.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SMITH: A dramatic rescue as officers saved people from a building that was on fire. And get this, some of them were asleep. We've got more in this heart-pounding video.
And --
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SMITH: Mexico defeats South Africa in the World Cup opening match. And get ready, because today, Team USA plays.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Brad Smith. This is CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. Glad that you're with us this morning.
Let's get this started.
A tornado emergency issued last night capped a violent day of severe weather across the Midwest. Millions were under a tornado watch, but it was the hurricane force winds that proved deadly. A 54-year-old man was killed by a falling tree in a Des Moines homeless encampment. Hundreds of thousands lost power in several states as the dangerous storms whipped through.
Compelling drone video here as well. One storm chaser followed this funnel cloud across a farm and into a field of solar panels. That's what you're seeing on your screen. You can actually see panels just flying off their frame, swirling around. And this impressive eyewitness video captured the scene in Northwest Indiana. The National Weather Service has had more than 1,000 reports of hail, damaging wind, and tornadoes across the Midwest since Sunday.
And you have to take a look at this. It's just absolute destruction that you're seeing people's homes, their belongings, strewn about the debris. This is a neighborhood in Illinois from above after a suspected tornado ripped through.
A storm chaser named Scott Lasker was filming the aftermath when he heard a woman screaming for help and he ran over to find that woman's husband trapped in the debris and take a listen to what happened next.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my god, are you okay?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I got a broken leg.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got a broken leg?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my god.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got her out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Okay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't get out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my God.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I tried moving all this stuff. I can't get it out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, hold on. Let me help. Hold on, hold on.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want me to hold your camera?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, oh. He's more important here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Okay. Wait. Wait, which leg? That one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You think his leg is broken?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One second, here. One sec. Here. Try to get in there, excuse me. Hi.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's a news reporter. He just come out and he was coming over to help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One sec. I'll let you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hold on, wait, wait, don't move, don't move, don't move.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, you got it. All right, good. You guys are here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God, thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone's alive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So we got a door back here we can put them on. Watch out for a nail.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take a seat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Well, I'll start to other than your ankle. Okay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
It's just a really moving moment there. Extremely powerful system that moved through and thankfully there were no deaths in this hard-hit community. That's where at least four people were hospitalized. Forecasters say that storms will move into the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast today alongside record-breaking heat from Georgia to New England. Well, President Trump declares the war with Iran is over, although
that claim comes with a very large grain of salt. The apparent breakthrough came just hours after Trump threatened to take control of Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, before again canceling the strikes. He now says a deal could be signed as soon as this weekend.
[05:05:00]
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know if you heard, but we ended the war with Iran today, and they have agreed never to have a nuclear weapon, something that we insisted on. That was the whole purpose. That was 95 percent of it. And they've done it in the most powerful way you can do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: But Iran's foreign ministry says reports of an agreement are merely speculation and insists no final decision has been made.
President Trump is making a new pick for the Director of National Intelligence. Jay Clayton was the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump's first term. He's now a federal prosecutor in New York. This new selection comes after pushback from both parties over his pick of top housing official Bill Pulte to be the acting National Intelligence chief. That is despite Pulte not having demonstrated any national security background. Trump says that Pulte will be the acting DNI for right now.
Nineteen Jeffrey Epstein survivors are raising the red flag, speaking out against Trump's nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche. In a joint statement, the women point to "The New York Times" reporting that Blanche and other senior officials used the White House Situation Room to talk about how to contain the fallout from the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. They say that they are deeply disturbed that the administration appeared more focused on its reputation than on seeking justice for survivors.
Here's what one of them told our Jake Tapper.
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LIZ STEIN, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: It's really concerning to us because at the end of the day, the end of the day, we're victims of a crime, right? And what is the message that we are sending to Americans in this country about how victims of crime should be treated? This is an issue that has been laden with a ton of political emotion, but if we can't count on our government to prosecute crimes, then we're in big trouble.
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SMITH: A White House official tells CNN that the administration is not concerned about Blanche being confirmed. His confirmation hearings could begin in late summer. Well, federal officials are investigating giant grass markings of the
numbers "86 47" on the National Mall. EarthCam footage shows the numbers slowly appearing as dead grass over the course of a few days. The Trump administration has interpreted them as a threat. The Justice Department indicted former FBI Director James Comey in April for posting a picture on Instagram showing the "86 47" spelled out in seashells. The Park Police says that they've collected samples for testing to see what was used to create the markings.
We have an update on a missing five-year-old girl who was missing at sea in California. Her body was found yesterday. Laguna Beach police, they're saying that the child swept into the ocean Tuesday in strong currents and high surf. Now her body was found in a cove near where she had been pulled into the water by a powerful wave while walking with her mom and brother. A bystander jumped in and saved the mother and boy in the family. They held a vigil last night.
You are looking at four people who got stuck on a Six Flags ride in St. Louis. The high angle rescue had started Thursday night on the Sky Screamer ride. A spokeswoman for the park called the problem a malfunction, adding that the people in the swing said they were okay as they were waiting to be rescued.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really wanted to get on there, but once I seen that somebody was stuck, I'm like, no, I'm glad that this was not the first ride that I got on because I would actually be scared.
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SMITH: The thing of my nightmares. A fire crew spokesman says that two adults and two children were left hanging about 120 feet in the air after the ride malfunction. They were all brought down safely, though, about 2 1/2 hours later.
Celebrations in Mexico City's famous Zocalo Plaza. Thousands of fans cheered as Mexico won the opening match of the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa.
Today, the U.S. and Canada, they get to play themselves. Co-host Canada will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. And Team USA will have its own home opener in Southern California.
CNN's Coy Wire has a preview of all the games, plus the new countries whose names we're going to learn how to pronounce as well along the way.
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COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I am here outside of the USA's World Cup practice facility was at their practice just a bit ago. Players chomping at the bit, talked to some of them, some of them saying that they are nervous and they're not afraid to say it.
[05:10:01] This World Cup returns to a very different America than the one that visited when it was last hosted here in 1994. U.S. soccer back then actually had to pay players just so they could train together. There was no MLS, no soccer specific stadiums. There were no generation of kids growing up watching American stars compete at some of Europe's most storied clubs like we have today.
Now crowds are bigger. Passion of fans is more palpable. The football IQ is higher and those kids who grew up with World Cup dreams are now living and about to play in one right here on home soil. They are hyped.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC, UNITED STATES FORWARD: Probably be looking up at my family and friends in the stands who've supported me throughout all this, so there'll be a lot of emotions. It'll be a proud moment representing the U.S. home soil in the World Cup. I mean very special.
SEBASTIAN BERHALTER, UNITED STATES MIDFIELDER: Very happy motion and you know, tears come, tears come. But yeah, I'm -- I'm -- I can't wait for that moment.
WESTON MCKENNIE, UNITED STATES MIDFIELDER: Full circle moment because you know, as a kid dreaming about being in that position, wearing the crest and being able to hear the national anthem, I think it's something that, yeah, it makes dreams come true.
TIMOTHY WEAH, UNITED STATES FORWARD: You get kind of nervous in that moment, but it's a great feeling. I can't wait.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Motivated, inspired, emotional.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure there'll be a tear shed. It's a huge honor.
CHRISTIAN ROLDAN, UNITED STATES MIDFIELDER: L.A. is my hometown, and so being able to play in my hometown for a World Cup, I mean, it just creates an unbelievable story.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grateful for my family, everyone They're going to be there, so that's going to be a special moment for me for sure.
WIRE: All right. The U.S. have not reached a World Cup quarterfinal since 2002, but this group believes this tournament won't just be a soccer event. It'll be a moment changing how their country sees the game and how the rest of the world sees them. America's World Cup journey begins against Paraguay right here in Los Angeles.
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SMITH: Coy Wire, thank you.
We've got lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, including this.
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SMITH: A police chase right in the middle of an Iron Man race. How this story ended.
Plus --
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SMITH: A takedown on the street over a Pokemon card robbery. Got to catch them all applies to the robbers, too. You have to hear this story.
And --
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MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: When President Kennedy announced that we were going to put a man on the moon and return him safely to the Earth, no one thought that was possible.
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SMITH: That's an interesting comparison. Why was Secretary of State Marco Rubio comparing that with the UFC? We've got the full story coming your way.
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[05:17:08]
SMITH: A man charged with killing a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband will avoid the death penalty after striking a plea deal.
CNN's Whitney Wilde has the details for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The man who led Minnesota state, local and federal law enforcement on the biggest manhunt in Minnesota history over 43 hours has pleaded guilty. Vance Luther Boelter shot and killed State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and shot and injured Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
Again, it launched this massive manhunt. He was facing six federal charges for murder, stalking, firearms offenses and attempted murder. He has now taken a plea deal and as part of that plea deal, he will avoid the death penalty.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Thank you, Whitney.
Today, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk is back in court. Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, they want prosecutors held in contempt for speaking to the media about a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk's body, which they argue violated the judge's gag order. Kirk was killed in September while speaking at a university event in Utah. Video shows ICE agents detaining two people outside of a school in
Baltimore. Officials say that they had been searching for an undocumented immigrant who drove into the parking lot of the school. In the video, you can see officers detaining a woman. A man was also taken into custody as school staff rushed to get the children out of the car.
According to Homeland Security, the kids are with their aunts now.
Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, $750,000 spent to evacuate one person linked to that hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. We've got those details for you coming up.
Plus, imagine eating honey from a hive in the sewer. Yes, you heard all that correct. A hive in the sewer. The story of this underground colony of bees coming up.
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[05:23:33]
SMITH: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is turning heads with his comments comparing the founding of the UFC to putting a man on the moon. Rubio made the comparison during a speech at the State Department before signing an agreement making the UFC a tool for U.S. diplomacy. In his speech, Rubio praised the company for its ability to unite people.
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RUBIO: When President Kennedy announced that we were going to put a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth, no one thought that was possible and we did it. We are a nation founded on doing what no one else dared to do and no one else aspired to do. And at some level, that's what this whole company, what UFC has been.
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SMITH: A news conference is expected to be held today at the Lincoln Memorial with UFC President and CEO Dana White, alongside fighters and podcast host Joe Rogan. The White House previewed the UFC Arena on the South Lawn, and that fight is on Sunday, which is President Trump's birthday and also Flag Day.
CNN's Betsy Klein has the story.
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BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Welcome to the White House. This is where President Trump and 125,000 audience members will watch the UFC fight card on Sunday night. $60 million, 900 subcontractors, and months of coordination at the highest levels of government all led to this.
TRUMP: Could have a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20,000, 25,000 people. [05:25:00]
KLEIN: A year later, that number is up substantially. Court documents from a lawsuit filed against the Trump administration over the fight reveal a major undertaking and investment by the UFC, bolstered by support from the federal government to build the brand's signature octagon from the ground up, culminating in a televised fight on Trump's 80th birthday.
That $60 million number spent by the UFC went to production, labor, construction, and promotion, while the federal government is supporting emergency equipment, security, law enforcement, and first aid services. Every day since May 20th, 20 to 30 trucks filled with UFC equipment were screened before entering White House grounds, according to White House Management and Administration Director Joshua Fisher.
The setup has required extensive security features, plus planning for things like food and beverage and at least one port-a-potty for every 300 guests. Right now, there are at least 494 in place.
And just as quickly as it went up, it'll all come down. That custom claw lighting structure and all the other staging and equipment will be disassembled starting early the next morning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: All right. Thank you, Betsy.
Straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, there's this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my god, are you okay?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I got a broken leg.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got a broken leg?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Trapped after a tornado. More in the effort to get him out as the storm slammed parts of the Midwest.
Plus, that crowd just going berserk as Mexico scored in the first big game of the World Cup. We'll take you to one of the biggest fan fests of the tournament.
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