Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Event/Special
CNN Headlines: SCOTUS To Rule On Trump's Effort To End Birthright Citizenship; SCOTUS Expands Trump's Power To Fire Independent Agency Officials; Dangerous Temps An Unwanted Guest At July 4th Festivities; Trump: Talks Set For Today, Iran Denies New Negotiations; Rescue Teams Racing To Find Survivors Days After Earthquakes Hit Venezuela. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired June 30, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:19]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Almost 100 years they've been waiting for this decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: We're expecting more major decisions today from the Supreme Court. And one is key to President Trump's immigration policy.
Plus, dangerous fires and heat. And they're not going away. What we can expect as Fourth of July gets closer.
And overnight, police announced arrests in a shocking crime that horrified a community. The victims: a toddler, his mom, and his aunt. We've got that story and much more coming your way.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Brad Smith. This is CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. Glad that you're with us.
Let's get this started.
The Supreme Court is set to rule today on two critical cases that will affect hundreds of thousands of children for years to come. One is Trump's effort to end birthright citizenship, and another is a ban on transgender youth in sports.
So, yesterday, the justices struck down a nearly century-old precedent that required a president to provide cause before firing federal officials. That was one of the decisions that came out, and this is regarding certain independent agencies.
Now, the woman at the center of the case was fired by President Trump last year, and she had this to say:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REBECCA KELLY SLAUGHTER, FORMER FTC COMMISSIONER: It is the largest expansion of executive power in over 100 years, and that is exactly why we should be worried about it. And so, for working people who depend on agencies like the FTC and the other independent agencies, the Supreme Court has said, no, we will not have that independent check. You will not be watchdogs anymore. You will be lapdogs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: The decision is seen as a big win for President Trump, giving him more power to fire at will within the executive branch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: The President has the right to do this, and that has to do with a lot of agencies all throughout the system. So, it was considered, you know, the biggest of the group. And I can understand that this has been going on for almost 100 years. They've been waiting for this decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: So, it remains to be seen how using those executive branch powers that the Supreme Court now has ruled on. But in a separate ruling, the justices rejected his attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.
Now, the court argued that Cook must be given a chance to respond to allegations of mortgage fraud so lower courts can scrutinize the charges with greater context.
Now, also here, the justices upheld state laws that allow mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day to be counted. It varies state by state. But the President is again calling on Congress to pass the Save America Act, which would limit mail-in votes.
And the court denied Trump's appeal in the 2022 E. Jean Carroll defamation case. So now the President will have to pay Carroll the $5 million awarded to her by a jury.
This week, millions will celebrate the country's 250th birthday with dangerous temperatures and unwanted guests out there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINT OSBORN, DIRECTOR, D.C. HOMELAND SECURITY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: We are tracking a multi-day heat wave expected from the 1st to the 4th of July, so it is imperative that you plan for yourself, your family, and your loved ones as you go about your week, whether you're going downtown or you're going to be anywhere in the district this weekend, enjoying the festivities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Now, not just Washington, D.C., which may see its hottest Fourth of July ever, but all across the eastern U.S., records will likely be broken. The heat is on in cities like Chicago, where people are sticking close to the lake as the city remains under an extreme heat warning through tomorrow night.
And in Nashville, emergency crews were packing up cold water to hand out on Monday. A building heat dome is the culprit here.
And to explain further exactly what that is, we have CNN's Derek Van Dam.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Basically, if you're east of the Rockies, you'll likely feel the impacts from this. It's going to trap the heat near the surface of the Earth. And it could be extreme. According to this map from NOAA, that shading of purple, that's a level four of four, meaning all populations underneath this shading are vulnerable to this type of heat, especially if you don't have access to air conditioning and ways to cool yourself off.
And look at how this settles into the Mid-Atlantic, the I-95 corridor, some of the most populated parts of our country for the day on Saturday, Fourth of July weekend. It's going to be toasty.
How warm will it get? Well, let's see the progression of this heat dome. Look at how it will feel on your skin as you step outside in Chicago and Indianapolis. 102, 103 degrees, respectively. That heat shifts further to the east, impacting a large portion of our country. Temperatures well above 100 degrees, at least. The forecast heat index right into the early parts of the holiday weekend.
[05:05:05]
Many people celebrating outdoors, take this seriously. Have many ways to cool yourself off: air conditioning, shade, cool your pets, and have plenty of ways to stay hydrated as well.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: All right. Thank you, Derek.
We've got some new details this morning on the three firefighters killed in a fast-moving wildfire along the Colorado-Utah border. Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson were caught in a burn-over incident with no way to escape, officials say. Two other firefighters were hospitalized with burn injuries.
Dozens of wildfires are burning across the West, at last check, several evacuation orders are in effect as well, affecting thousands of people. And much of Utah is banning fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
Let's go international now and turn to the war with Iran. President Trump says that talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to take place in the hours ahead in Doha. Iran, though, is denying that there are any negotiations scheduled.
U.S. officials tell CNN that special envoy Steve Witkoff is now en route to Doha. It's not clear if he's traveling together with the President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. But all of this is taking place after an escalation of tensions over the weekend near the Strait of Hormuz, as the U.S. and Iran exchange strikes.
On social media, President Trump wrote, Iran had requested a meeting. In the Oval Office, he said this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: The meeting in Doha is going to be perhaps important, perhaps not. We're going to find out. But we're winning militarily. It's almost won militarily, I would say.
And it's really very simple. It's the denuclearization of Iran. We don't want them to have a nuclear weapon, and they're not going to have a nuclear weapon. They've agreed to that, in all fairness.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: There is an Iranian delegation heading to Doha later this week. But Iran's foreign ministry is making clear that any trip by U.S. representatives to Doha has nothing to do with that visit. A spokesperson says that the Iranian team will be focused on carrying out the memorandum of understanding.
Staying international, the death toll from last week's devastating earthquakes in Venezuela now stands at more than 1,700 people, and officials warn that the final number could rise to as many as 10,000. Hundreds of aftershocks are keeping people on edge and slowing down search and rescue efforts.
Across the hardest-hit areas, teams are still digging through the massive amounts of debris, like what you're seeing here on your screen, carefully listening for any signs of life.
And here you can see a 21-year-old man being pulled from the rubble of a building yesterday. But for many families, the search is far from over. Relatives are still desperately looking for loved ones who were deported by the U.S. just hours before the twin quake struck. More than 100 Venezuelans were staying at a hotel north of Caracas when it collapsed. Some of the deportees survived, but many are still trapped in the rubble.
CNN's Stefano Pozzebon is on the ground in Venezuela.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the hours and days go by since the two devastating earthquakes hit Venezuela, the window for finding survivors is beginning to close. There are still glimmers of hope, like these moments when a woman was rescued from under the rubble of a building in La Guaira, surrounded by family yelling they love her. Her 18-day-old baby was also found alive, cradled by the hands that dug through the dust and debris.
For this man, Antonio, pulled from a collapsed building to the sound of cheers and applause. Others continue to dig with the tools they have, hoping for a sign of their loved ones, growing frustrated and angry as rescue efforts stall.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We want support. We want heavy machinery. We want to take our family members with us. I'm not the only one in this situation.
POZZEBON (voice-over): Dozens of international crews are on the ground in Venezuela, bringing highly trained sniffer dogs, supplies, expertise and compassion.
ADALBERTO PASTOR, MEXICAN RESCUE WORKER (through translator): At this moment, we're continuing with our search for possible victims. We have conducted canine searches and we're now using electronic equipment, which allows us to be more accurate.
POZZEBON (voice-over): The so-called golden hour window, the 72-hours after an earthquake when the chance of finding survivors is greater, has now ended. Many who survived are still shaken, and each aftershock brings stark reminders of everything they've lost.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Thank you to Stefano for that report.
Early talks of a potential plea deal for the accused White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter, as defense lawyers for Cole Allen confirmed that plea options have been discussed, though prosecutors stressed no formal offer is on the table.
Authorities say Allen scouted the hotel and armed himself with a shotgun to target the president. The next court date is set for late August.
The FAA is investigating after a JetBlue pilot reported hitting a drone while preparing for landing at JFK yesterday. Now, if confirmed, it could be one of the first known collisions between a drone and a U.S. commercial passenger plane.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JETBLUE PILOT: We are clear to land, 13 left. Just quickly, I couldn't talk to approach, but we collided with a drone back there and the turn, as we were coming to ASALT. Just wanted to pass that to you.
JFK TOWNER: You said you collided?
JETBLUE PILOT: Yep, it hit us right -- right above the cockpit.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SMITH: And that wasn't the only scare near JFK yesterday. A helicopter pilot flying from the airport to Manhattan reported a close call with a remote-controlled model plane. The FAA says it has alerted local authorities about the incident.
We'll continue to monitor any developments there. Lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS here.
Anchors aweigh. Several tall ships set sail to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday, where they will dock straight ahead.
And take a look at this. An entire house leveled after an explosion. The details on what caused it, straight ahead.
And missing in action. A congressman who's been absent from work for several months with no explanation is set to return to the Hill today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:15:56]
SMITH: Overnight, police announced that they arrested two men in a triple homicide in Mississippi that left a two-year-old, his mom, and his aunt dead. The coroner says that all three were shot. Police in Jackson say that the killings appeared to be targeted, and they described the scene as horrifying. They say the suspects, who are 28 years old, face capital murder charges. Investigators say that the arrests were made after they identified a car connected to the shooting, but the driver would not pull over. Officers eventually surrounded them and forced them to stop.
Well, happening today, New Jersey Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is set to return to Washington after a mysterious, nearly four-month absence. The Republican is expected to take to the House floor and explain the medical condition that kept him away, and he says he'll be fully transparent. Kean hasn't cast a vote since early March, and his long absence raised questions, including from fellow Republicans, as he runs for reelection.
Tall ships from around the world are heading to New York Harbor in honor of the nation's birthday on Saturday. CNN's Leigh Waldman got permission to come aboard.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm standing on the bridge of the United States Coast Guard ship Eagle, better known as America's Tall Ship. This is seen as a training vessel for these cadets who are manning this wheel right now. They're known as the Helmsmen. They are steering this massive 90-year-old ship as it makes its journey from Baltimore's Inner Harbor to New York's Harbor. All of this is a part of Sail 250. It's a celebration of America's 250th birthday.
But it's not just this Coast Guard ship, which is seen as the flagship vessel of this parade. There are dozens of other tall ships from countries all across the world supporting them in their journey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: All right, sea legs ready? Get him, Leigh. Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS: the city or town that you live
in could determine your life expectancy. We've got the details on that ahead.
And later, hear how this Texas boy survived a shark attack in the Bahamas. That story and more. Stay with us. You're watching CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:22:38]
SMITH: We've talked about heat in the East and wildfires out in the West, but the upper Plains Monday. Let's talk about that. More extreme weather took the stage, as meteorologist Chris Warren is going to show us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): Drone footage shows just how widespread the damage is across Highmore, South Dakota. Structures destroyed, trees snapped, and power lines down as damage was scattered across much of the town after a small but intense cluster of thunderstorms roared through early Monday morning.
A weather station near Highmore recorded preliminary and remarkable wind gusts of 131 miles per hour. These are the kind of winds that can produce damage similar to a strong EF-2 tornado. On radar, the storm complex was showing those extreme winds. The Hyde County sheriff urged residents to stay off the roads, warning that downed power lines and storm debris have made travel dangerous throughout the area.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Thank you, Chris.
The San Francisco Archdiocese has agreed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to settle child sexual abuse claims against church officials. Attorneys say the diocese will pay $395 million to resolve more than 500 lawsuits. The settlement requires a series of child protection and transparency reforms, including a list of clergy accused of abuse. San Francisco's archbishop will also have to write an apology letter to each survivor.
Let's turn to some health news here. What do you think about this? Your overall health may depend on where you live. There's a new study from a group that monitors health stats based on congressional districts. It says House Republicans outnumber Democrats in representing districts where people seem to face major health problems. It also found that life expectancy lags behind the national average in 70 percent of Republican-held seats.
Straight ahead in CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS: signs of life. Rescuers in Venezuela continue to find survivors amid the rubble of deadly earthquakes. Plus, the high court is expected to release several key rulings today,
including one on birthright citizenship, a decision that could rock the future of many in the U.S. We've got those details coming up. Keep it right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:29:35]
SMITH: It is half past the hour. Let's hit the refresh button on our top stories.
The Supreme Court is set to rule today on two critical cases that will affect hundreds of thousands of children for years to come. One is Trump's effort to end birthright citizenship, and another is to ban transgender youth in sports.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court made sweeping decisions that impact President Trump's power to fire at will. Now, they also upheld state laws that did count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day. We'll wait for those decisions.
