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CNN Headlines: Eight Crew Members Dead After B-52 Bomber Crashes In California; President Trump Touts Iran Agreement To World Leaders At G7 Summit; Justice Department Tax Probe Includes Governor Gavin Newsom's Wife. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired June 16, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:27]
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: Eight people died in a B-52 bomber crash at a U.S. Air Force base in California. What we are learning this morning about that incident.
And --
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, you got them. Now just be careful getting out.
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SMITH: A daring rescue in Texas as a person is trapped by flood waters. how much more rain the state is expecting as this could become the first tropical storm of the Atlantic season.
And --
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JIMMY FALLON, COMEDIAN: Thank you for being here. And thank you! Thank you for being here and thank you for bringing a championship to New York!
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SMITH: Chants and cheers for some of the Knicks stars joining Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show as they secured their first NBA championship in 53 years. The excitement is still in the air.
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.
We begin in California. That's where eight crew members are dead after a B-52 bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base. Military officials say that the bomber was on a routine test mission when it went down shortly after takeoff. The cause of the crash is under investigation. One official at the base calls the accident tragic and unsurvivable.
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COL. JAMES HAYES, DEPUTY COMMANDER, 412TH TEST WING: It took off and immediately after takeoff crashed and burst into flames. After reviewing the footage of the crash, It was deemed that this was an unrecoverable crash and unsurvivable. At this point, we don't have any indication as to what the cause was of this. We won't be able to release that information and we don't have an ability to get that anytime soon.
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SMITH: The crash left a plume of black smoke in the air and black scars on the runway.
The crew was a mix of military officials, government civilians, and contractors. Boeing says two of its employees were on the test flight. It is the deadliest crash involving a B-52 bomber since 1982.
World leaders, including President Trump, are in Europe this morning for the G7 summit, and the just-signed memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran is top of mind. Details remain under wraps, though.
CNN's Paula Hancocks joins us live in Abu Dhabi with what we know at this hour.
Paula, what exactly do we know as details have been scarce?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brad, we haven't seen the text itself, nor likely have any of the leaders of the G7 that President Trump is meeting with at the moment. The U.S. president, though, saying that it should be released sometime after Friday. That is when the formal signing ceremony is supposed to happen in Switzerland between Iranian and U.S. officials.
Now, it does mean that both sides are able to spin somewhat what they believe should be Within these discussions, we've heard, for example, the U.S. president say the Strait of Hormuz is permanently toll-free, whereas Iran claims it will be able to control passage and apply fees if necessary.
We did hear more details from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.
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J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So the MOU, Jake, is about a page and a half. So, it is a very general document, but this has been very much part of the conversations that we've had with the Iranians. And on a number of issues, we are going to have to figure this stuff out during the technical negotiation phase.
The important thing about this agreement, Jake, is that everything from what Iran gives us on the nuclear program, and of course, that's the most important thing is the commitment verifiable to never building a nuclear weapon. All of these things come along with benefits if Iran delivers and nothing if Iran doesn't deliver. (END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: So Iran's president has said, though it is significant they have got to this point, saying on social media, the agreement reached is a significant step towards halting the war and initiating negotiations, saying a final agreement has not yet been reached. We've also, though, heard from the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, pointing out just how much distrust there is between the two sides, pointing out that they have had a history of broken promises, non- implementation, and agreements being torn up -- Brad.
SMITH: CNN's Paula Hancocks checking in with us from Abu Dhabi. Thank you so much, Paula.
[05:05:02]
Well, President Trump is also set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other world leaders at the G7 today. Trump said that he would focus on security and the future of Ukraine following a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday. Macron said that he will seek to persuade Trump to continue supporting Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to help reach a peace agreement.
The Department of Justice is investigating Gavin Newsom's wife in a move that the Democratic California governor is blasting as politically motivated. A source tells CNN that the probe involves possible tax crimes and officials are looking into people connected to Newsom and his wife Jennifer. The governor's office believes that investigators subpoenaed financial records linked to the couple, as well as businesses and nonprofits that they have ties to. Newsom had this to say.
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GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D), CALIFORNIA: Federal agents have knocked on the doors of family, friends, and former employees, not because they found a crime, because they're simply trying to find one. They're demanding records. They're abusing the grand jury process.
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SMITH: According to a person familiar with the matter, the DOJ's political leadership was not involved in launching the investigation. They say that the probe was prompted by whistleblower reports last year.
Well, happening today, Luigi Mangione is set to appear in New York state court. He faces second-degree murder and eight other charges in the state's case following the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024. He's also been indicted on federal charges.
Now, jury selection, that's expected to be discussed in today's hearing for his upcoming trial this fall. We are also awaiting a decision from the judge on a matter that had been sealed. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges. New video in this morning of the moment a fighter jet went down in
Washington state.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God. Oh, my God! Oh, my God.
Wow, you could just see that fireball as the plane slammed into the mountainside Saturday. Authorities say that the pilot was able to eject safely and suffered only minor injuries. The U.S. Marine Corps is still investigating what caused the crash. Well, voters in several states, they head to the polls for primary elections today. D.C. and Oklahoma, they have races to watch. And there's also a runoff in Alabama.
Now, in Georgia, Trump-backed Lieutenant Governor Bert Jones and billionaire Rick Jackson, they're facing off in a runoff for the Republican nomination for governor. Whoever wins will take on Democrat and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
Well, I could speak from having a taste of the city myself. New York is still buzzing about the Knicks winning their first title in more than 50 years. Last night, the comeback kings joined Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show" along with the Larry O'Brien Trophy. The last time Finals MVP Jalen Brunson was on the show, he told Fallon if the Knicks won, he would bring the trophy with them.
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JALEN BRUNSON, 2026 NBA FINALS MVP: It hasn't sunk in yet. I don't know if it will for a while, but just the opportunity presented itself. We went out there as a team, we found a way to do it, fighting back all those games, and it was worth it.
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, NEW YORK KNICKS CENTER: I think it just for us is-- we talked about it before the last game was everyone had a different background, had a different story, how they got to this seat to be here on the Knicks of 3-1 in San Antonio. And those stories, you realize it doesn't matter where you come from, what's your background, the trials and tribulations you face. As long as you believe in yourself and you are willing to put the work in, anyone -- kids growing up in New York, kids growing up all around the world have the chance to be a New York Knick as long as they want to do it. And they have to be willing to put the work in.
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SMITH: Now, Fallon also later brought on other Knicks stars for a second interview, including OG Anunoby, who was the hero of game four with his winning tip-in at the very end.
Lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, including this.
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SMITH: Okay, so that is the sound of raging floodwaters and a person desperately clinging to a tree waiting to be rescued. How it all ended, coming up.
Plus, take a look at this. An out-of-control wildfire engulfs an entire house spreading across acres and acres of land. Here you can see some of what was left behind in that destruction.
And later on, why social media giant TikTok is facing yet another lawsuit. We got those details that you need to know coming up.
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[05:14:27]
SMITH: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says former President Joe Biden shouldn't have sought a second term in the White House. During a discussion with David Remnick of "The New Yorker", Clinton called Biden's decision a terrible mistake. The former first lady added that had Biden been a one-term president, a different Democratic candidate would have beaten Donald Trump.
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HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: He made a terrible mistake. He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and for the country. He had said that he would not run again.
[05:15:00]
And, you know, counterfactual narratives are always a bit tricky, but I believe if he had kept to that plan and said in, say, the late summer of '23 that he wasn't going to run, that he was going to pass, you know, the torch to the next generation, we would have had a real contest.
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SMITH: Clinton also said that she was shocked with Biden's infamous debate performance against Trump and wondered if Biden had taken cold medication.
Just gripping video here from first responders in Texas. A major flood threat continues along the Gulf Coast and well inland. Take a look at this.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They come in the water, in the boat. We're going to try to back our way down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, be careful backing down. Richard and Chris, y'all be ready.
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SITH: Now this major flood threat is continuing today along the Gulf, supercharged by a system that may become the first tropical storm of the Atlantic season. At least one person died in Texas Monday as swift water rescue crews across the state. They were rushing into action.
Well, nearly 18 million people are under flood watches at this hour. That's from central Texas to Mississippi.
CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam has your forecast.
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DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Happy Tuesday, everyone. We do have a few different weather stories that we're monitoring today. One across the Midwest with isolated strong thunderstorms that could develop in and around Chicago, Detroit, southward in Indianapolis. But another one unfolding across the southern states.
This is a flood threat. It's all because of an area of low pressure that's going to hug the coastline and bring in a lot of tropical moisture from the Gulf, and that will bring in copious amounts of rain. Just look at this available moisture anytime you see that dark shade of purple or deep red. That means the atmosphere is primed to produce a lot of rainfall.
In fact, that's what we will see in the days to come right along that I-20, I-10 and I-20 corridor here, anywhere between three to six inches of rain, locally higher amounts possible with this surge of moisture moving in. So heads up localized flash flooding a possibility. Houston to New Orleans, even inland towards Shreveport.
You can see the extended rainfall forecast through Saturday. How the heavy rain. extends into Georgia as well. So heads up Atlanta to Birmingham. More precipitation in your forecast to end off the week.
Seventy-three in Atlanta, 81 for D.C., 78 near New York City, will top 73 in the Windy City.
Back to you.
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SMITH: All right. Thank you, Derek.
Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, do you know where your children are in the world of social media? Some of the world's toughest online restrictions for children is about to go into effect. Where and when, we've got those details for you coming up.
And later in the hour, the firestorm over what a UFC fighter said about former First Lady Michelle Obama at what was billed as an official White House event. We've got the reactions and the details.
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[05:22:42]
SMITH: TikTok under fire again. The social media giant now facing another lawsuit over child safety protections and concerns. Florida's attorney general announced yesterday that his office is suing the company over claims it's violating state law by allowing minors under 14 to create accounts.
The filing also accuses TikTok of deceiving parents by allowing their kids to be unprotected from harmful and inappropriate content. The company has already been sued by roughly two dozen states over claims that the app's deliberate addictive algorithms are harming children's mental health.
And the U.K. is unveiling one of the world's toughest social media bans for kids under the age of 16. It's set to begin early next year. Now, the planned measure applies to apps like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and it's also going to block live streaming and gaming sites from allowing strangers to communicate with children.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the goal is to keep kids safe.
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KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The need for action could not be any clearer. Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe. And as a parent, as much as a prime minister, I just can't let that go on anymore.
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SMITH: The ban will not affect messaging services like WhatsApp. The government is planning to put the bill to lawmakers before Christmas.
Turning now to the final frontier and the renewed focus on space exploration. Last week, the space agency unveiled the primary crew for the Artemis III mission and has previously shared plans for the first phase of its moon base.
CNN's Michael Yoshida has more on this new space age and NASA's push to inspire the next generation.
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MICHAEL YOSHIDA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A historic launch, moon base unveiling, and new crew announcement.
KJELL LINDGREN, NASA ASTRONAUT: We are in a golden age of exploration.
YOSHIDA (voice-over): Astronaut Kjell Lindgren says, just as his imagination was captured by watching the Apollo astronauts. Decades later, a new generation is seeing what's possible.
LINDGREN: It is the human and human spaceflight that makes the endeavor so challenging, but it is also decades later, a new generation is seeing what's possible. It is the human and human spaceflight that makes the endeavor so challenging, but it is also the human and human spaceflight that makes it so compelling.
[05:25:01] YOSHIDA (voice-over): Helping make that connection, NASA's embracing digital media. In 2025, the agency overhauled its social media strategy to better connect with audiences, an effort evident during Artemis II, bringing people along for the ride in ways prior moon missions couldn't.
NUJOUD MERANCY, DEPUTY ASSOCIATE ADMINSTRATOR FOR STTRATEGY & ARCHITECTURE, NASA: How cool is that? We get their playlists. We get to see their videos. We get to follow along. You know, the little things that happened during the mission make it real.
YOSHIDA (voice-over): NASA's Nujoud Merancy says going beyond polished, perfectly curated influencer type content and sharing real organic moments and emotions is key.
MERANCY: It's the crew being excited about seeing flashes of micrometeoroids on the moon. The bottle of Nutella floating through the cabin. It's those little things that I think have the most impact.
YOSHIDA (voice-over): And for those inspired but aren't sure where they might fit in this new world of space exploration --
MERANCY: I hope they just keep following along and then let their curiosity guide them. There are so many avenues to supporting this, and it's not just the traditional engineering and scientist roles.
YOSHIDA (voice-over): I'm Michael Yoshida, reporting.
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SMITH: Straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, a terrifying scene at an Air Force base in California. A B-52 bomber crashes, killing eight crew members. We've got the latest coming up.
And as President Trump meets with world leaders at the G7 summit, there are questions swirling around a proposed agreement reached with Iran. We've got more on that ahead.
Stay with us. You're watching CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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