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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN Headlines: Scorching Heat Sets In Across U.S. Ahead Of The July 4th Holiday; Search For Nancy Guthrie: FBI Says Some Ransom Notes Are "Extortion Attempts"; 2,000 U.S. Troops Helping With Venezuelan Earthquake Response; USA Advances To Round Of 16 After Beating Bosnia & Herzegovina. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired July 02, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:29]
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: A dangerous heat wave as people are trying to stay cool any way they can. Millions are facing extreme heat risks today.
And a new twist in the case of Nancy Guthrie, the missing mom of "Today Show" host Savannah Gguthrie. We've got new details about those ransom notes.
Plus --
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(CHEERING)
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SMITH: The fans go crazy. Team USA did it. They are advancing in the world cup. We take a look at that wild game. The big controversy as well from last night.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Brad Smith. This is CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. Glad that you're with us this morning.
Let's get started.
A dangerous heat wave tightening its grip on the East Coast as millions get ready to celebrate the 4th of July. The most intense heat is expected to shift into the Interstate 95 corridor, I-95, today and tomorrow after baking the Midwest yesterday. Temperatures are forecast to climb into the upper 90s and low 100s from Washington, D.C. to Boston. The humidity will push the feels-like temperatures as high as 110 degrees or more.
The Department of Energy has issued two emergency orders to help lower the risk of blackouts. Cooling centers are being set up around the Northeast as people flock to the beaches and neighbors are stepping in to help others stay cool.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ROBERT MAGIET, DONATED AIR CONDITIONERS: That's why I'm doing it, right? I just can't imagine living in a place, especially for those that have children or the elderly that have to try to deal with it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you guys so much. I really appreciate it. Have a good one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was going to have to make do with the fan, but this is going to make a real big difference.
REPORTER: It'll be a little easier to sleep tonight?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Man, a lot easier.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Meteorologist Chris Warren has more for us.
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CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We're heading into the most dangerous stretch of this heat wave, with extreme heat risk expanding across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Feels-like temperatures will top 100 degrees in many areas with Washington, D.C. pushing past 110. And there will be little relief at night as lows stay stuck in the 70s and even mid 80s in New York.
That combination of record warm nights and intense daytime heat could help shatter records through the weekend, while increasing the risk of heat-related illness.
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SMITH: Thank you, Chris.
At the Minnesota Zoo, zookeepers are keeping a close watch on the animals. They've set up fans for the llamas, and many are also hanging out by the sprinklers. And some animals just like to lay down in the shade. Can't knock you for that. The zoo is also providing lots of ice water.
Well, the FBI has revealed a new wrinkle in the search for "Today Show" anchor Savannah Guthrie's mother. Five months after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, investigators now say that some of the ransom notes were deemed illegitimate, extortion attempts. Still, investigators emphasize other notes may be authentic and are still being looked into.
This contradicts a "Reuters" report earlier this week that all ransom notes were fakes, citing an unnamed FBI official. Eighty-four-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished back in February. Early on, a ransom note claimed Guthrie died shortly after she was kidnapped, according to sources. CNN was aware, but didn't report it at the time at the request of law enforcement.
Nearly 2,000 American troops are now helping with search, rescue and recovery efforts in earthquake-ravaged Venezuela. Military officials say that their focus remains on finding survivors and delivering critical supplies by land, air and sea. They say that they will continue the mission until Venezuelan officials determine that it's time to move forward. The death toll has climbed to nearly 2,300 people.
Meantime, emergency crews are racing to save a 44-year-old security guard trapped beneath the rubble of a shopping mall, parking garage. He's been there for more than a week. Specialists from Portugal have been able to talk with him as the rescue continues.
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RESCUER (translated): I can see him here and here.
RESCUER (translated): Hernani, speak to me. Good afternoon.
[05:05:01]
HERNAN (translated): Good afternoon.
RESCUER (translated): Can you move toward the light?
HERNAN (translated): I'm lying down, but I can move that way.
RESCUER (translated): But not yet, okay. Stay there, okay.
HERNAN (translated): Okay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Wow, just incredible. And all hands on deck effort.
The international search teams have been providing food and fluids as they try to bring the man to safety. One officer describes him as anxious but hopeful.
Elsewhere, a federal judge has blocked the U.S. Postal Service from moving forward with President Trump's executive order on mail in ballots, saying it violated a 2020 settlement against the agency. Trump's order would have required states to certify mail in voter lists. The judge said that the proposal could have denied some voters ballots if states didn't meet the order's conditions.
Well, two people climbed the Empire State Building in New York City, and they were taken into custody. Their stunt appeared to be an elaborate proposal. At lunchtime yesterday, the pair managed to reach the top of the iconic building that transmits signals for virtually all of the city's local TV and radio stations. It's not clear yet how the couple got to the very top of the 1,454-foot-high landmark.
But here's what we do know about the two.
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REPORTER: This video, posted to Instagram appears to show two people who scaled the empire state building's spire and held up a banner that read, quote, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."
According to another Instagram post, the couple are experienced climbers and were subjects of a 2024 Netflix documentary. Video captured the moment the individuals got engaged. When one person got down on their knee and proposed a photo of the ring was later posted to the Instagram account.
It's unclear how the pair managed to reach the top of the nearly 1,500-foot landmark. They were taken into custody without incident, according to police. Charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing, officials said.
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SMITH: I can hear the -- if he wanted to, he would, coming from a mile away.
Coming up, we'll see what police saw when they went to arrest those two. That body cam video later on this hour.
Well, extra officers will be deployed ahead of the expected wedding celebration for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in the heart of New York City. A source tells us that the couple's rehearsal is tonight, and they expect 100 people for that event.
For tomorrow night, a source says that 500 vehicles will drop off the expected 1,000 guests, and it will be a black tie affair. Crews have been busy around the garden. NYPD plans to have two streets open to traffic, so those sidewalks will be the only space available for any fans who show up.
Well, onward we go, Team USA.
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(CHEERING)
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SMITH: That was the reaction last night in Atlanta and across the country as the stars and stripes advance to the round of 16 in the World Cup. They'll face Belgium on Monday and that is after notching a two-nil win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
CNN's Coy Wire has more on the rollercoaster ride to victory.
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COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, if sports are an emotional rollercoaster, this one skipped the brakes. American fans saw joy, then panic relief and now euphoria. Their World Cup dream is still very much alive, and it is full steam ahead.
Fans wearing stars and stripes were flying high hours before kickoff, and once again, the U.S. team came out breathing fire.
Breakout star Folarin Balogun lit the fuse early, burying the opener and breaking out the LeBron James celebration. King James saw it and gave it his royal seal of approval on social media.
But then plot twist, Balogun given a red card. So, 30 nerve wracking minutes of ten Americans against 11. But Malik Tillman uncorked a laser 20 meters out after a yellow card that hit the back of the net like it had a boarding pass. Cue the bedlam.
The U.S. win two-nil, first World Cup knockout win since 2002, and only their second one ever. America is marching on to the round of 16.
I asked the soft spoken Tillman how he felt after he scored that second goal.
MALIK TILLMAN, U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM: I'm a different type of person on the pitch. Of course, maybe you know it. You don't really see my emotions. But then if you score a goal, I mean, I think also you guys saw my emotions and then that's a great feeling. And, of course, I'm very proud moment for me.
CHRIS RICHARDS, U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM: I think it's a proud moment and it's a moment that we can get a lot of confidence from. But we kept two clean sheets in the last four games. And I think before then we didn't quite have the best record when it came to clean sheets. So again, it gives us a lot of confidence going into the next round.
WIRE: All right, next mountain to climb, Belgium in Seattle. And it comes with a glass case of emotions. Their top goal scorer Balogun suspended after that red card.
For now, though, American fans are floating on cloud nine, maybe ten. Losing your top scorer could crack a team, or it could further forge one. Championship runs are rarely smooth.
[05:10:01]
They are forged in moments exactly like this and the next moment for these fans should also be a good one.
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SMITH: All right. Thank you, Coy.
Well, check this out, as part of the celebrations for America's 250th birthday, the Washington Monument is being illuminated with a projection show. It features the people, places and moments that shaped the American story. You can see this every night through Sunday.
We've got lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, the U.S. Navy searching for a missing airman this morning after a chopper is forced to make an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea. We've got those details ahead. Plus, a social media prank involving this BB gun and teens escalates
quickly into something much more serious. A warning from law enforcement ahead.
Plus, later on, new numbers on how long Americans can expect to live, and a few things you can do right now to improve the quality of your life.
Stick around.
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[05:15:27]
SMITH: Search and rescue operations are resuming this morning after a U.S. Navy crew member has gone missing in the Arabian Sea. Officials say a seahawk helicopter went down yesterday during an emergency water landing. Three of the four crew members were rescued and are in stable condition. No word yet on what caused the crash, but there is no indication that it was caused by hostile action.
Former CIA Director John Brennan is asking a federal court to order the Trump administration to preserve records connected to a Department of Justice inquiry into him. The lawsuit alleges the DOJ investigation is politically motivated. Brennan's attorneys want internal records preserved, arguing the documents may be key if he later decides to challenge a case for improper prosecution.
His attorneys say various Trump officials have already branded Brennan a criminal, even before a full investigation or indictment.
The new Air Force One marked its inaugural flight. The luxury jet brought President Trump to North Dakota, and he was there for the dedication of the new Theodore Roosevelt presidential library. And to celebrate America's 250th birthday.
Here's CNN's Jeff Zeleny with more on this trip.
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JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: It was a day of planes, trains, and a motorcade, even led by horses for President Trump as he traveled here to North Dakota. That plane was the one he's been long waiting for, a new air force one, at least a temporary one from the Qatari royal family. It is a luxury liner of the highest degree.
President Trump has long been complaining about Air Force One. Well, he liked his ride coming here. And once he reached Medora, he did something he has never done as president. And that's riding on a train.
He, of course, was trying to evoke images of presidents gone by going down a whistle stop looking at the end of the train. It's the exact place, of course, where Teddy Roosevelt came when he arrived here in North Dakota, more than 130 years ago. And then as his motorcade went up to the library, Rough Riders in a motorcade.
I've never before seen so many horses or any horses for that matter, riding in a presidential motorcade. So, all in all, as the president heads toward his 250th America celebration, this stop in North Dakota was to pay tribute to Teddy Roosevelt. But it was also to check into some of these new forms of transportation -- a day of planes, trains, and even a few horses.
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SMITH: All right. Thank you, Jeff.
Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, is your savings on track for you to live comfortably in retirement? If not, we've got some ways that you can get ahead now, especially if life expectancy is improving.
And President Trump weighing in on his billion dollar crypto windfall, his recent financial gains, raising some eyebrows. Details on that and more, coming up.
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[05:22:49]
SMITH: New details are emerging about the day that Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized. An EMS recording published by an independent journalist indicates first responders were dispatched to the 84-year-old Washington home last month for an unconscious person. The dispatcher reportedly described it as a cardiac arrest, with a paramedic saying CPR in progress.
McConnell's name isn't mentioned in the audio, and CNN has not independently confirmed those details. His office has not disclosed why he was hospitalized.
On today's health express, Americans may be living longer than ever. That is according to a new federal report. It shows last year, mortality has fallen 22 percent since the height of the pandemic and is about 4 percent lower than right before that.
The top causes of death in 2025 include heart disease, cancer and unintentional injuries. Research says an active lifestyle with adequate sleep and a plant-based diet are the best ways to boost longevity. So go ahead and close those move rings today.
In today's money express, it is never too early to start thinking about retirement. But what do Americans believe is the magic number to retire comfortably?
Maribel Aber has the answer
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MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Maribel Aber here at the Nasdaq market site. The magic number needed for a comfortable retirement just got a lot bigger. Northwestern mutuals latest study finds Americans estimate they'll need about $1.46 million in their golden years, up 200,000 from a year ago. Now, the reasons persistent inflation, longer life expectancies and uncertainty surrounding the future of social security.
The firm surveyed more than 4,300 adults and found nearly half don't expect to be financially prepared for retirement and worry they'll outlive their savings. And among generation X, those generally closest to retirement, more than one in four say they have no retirement savings at all, One-point-four-six million can be a daunting amount for many, and the reality is retirement needs vary widely based on when you plan to retire your lifestyle, health care costs and other factors.
For perspective, 2022 federal data shows the typical household between the ages of 65 and 74 had approximately $200,000 saved for retirement. The Fidelity offers what may be a more practical benchmark. Save ten times your annual salary by age 67 using the Census Bureau's median household income of just over $83,000 in 2024. That works out to roughly $830,000 for retirement.
The takeaway? Don't get discouraged by the big number. Most financial experts agree what's key is simply getting started. Your money matters.
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SMITH: All right. Thank you, Maribel.
Straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, a stunt for love. This couple arrested after somehow managing to scale to the spire atop the empire state building with their own message as well. Details on the other side of the break.
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