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CNN Headlines: Acting A.G. Todd Blanche Faces Senate Committee Confirmation Hearing For A.G. Job; ICE Pausing Most Traffic Stops After Deadly Shootings; Trump Suggests Ground Campaign Possible In Iran But Someone Else Will Go In. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired July 15, 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]
BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: A big day on Capitol Hill for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He's expected to be grilled by lawmakers for his confirmation hearing. The questions he could be facing.
The Department of Homeland Security pausing most traffic stops by ICE agents, and they say they're planning to equip each arrest team with an agent wearing a body camera after the two fatal shootings by ICE officers. What more of the department is doing?
A major rescue operation underway in the San Francisco Bay after a boat capsized. Teams now looking for those missing, but we know so far.
Good morning. I'm Brian Abel. And this is CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. Glad you're with us this morning.
Let's get started.
In just a matter of hours, a series of high-profile confirmation hearings will get underway as lawmakers on Capitol Hill question President Trump's picks for key post. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee.
He's hoping to get the permanent job of attorney general. That's after Trump fired the previous one, Pam Bondi, in April. Blanche is not expected to get any votes from Democrats, and Republicans can only lose a single vote after the sudden death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham on Saturday.
Blanche is expected to be questioned over Trump's $1.8 billion anti- weaponization fund to reward those who the administration feel were unfairly prosecuted by the Justice Department, including January 6th rioters. Blanche says the fund has since been abandoned.
Blanche will also likely be grilled over his takeover of the botched rollout of the Epstein files. Some of Epstein survivors are expected to speak out against Blanche's nomination today.
And the House Oversight Committee will continue its investigation today into the Epstein files as well. Also on the Hill, a Senate Intelligence Committee will grill Jay Clayton as he seeks to become director of National Intelligence. Trump nominated the U.S. attorney for New York Southern District after the uproar over his initial choice, Bill Pulte, following the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard.
And Dr. Erica Schwartz will face questions at a confirmation hearing before Senate committee. Schwartz, a former Coast Guard officer and public health official, is being tapped as Trump's choice as the next director of the CDC.
And turning now to Florida and another deadly encounter involving federal immigration officers, the Florida Highway Patrol says four people fled from a vehicle stopped by ICE on Tuesday. One of them ran across the highway and was hit and killed by a tractor trailer. The Department of Homeland Security is investigating this, and it comes after two other high profile deaths involving immigration officials just this past week. DHS announcing yesterday that most ICE traffic stops are now on pause.
The department is also planning to equip each arrest team with an agent wearing a body camera. Border Czar Tom Homan says the traffic stop pause won't be a permanent change.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM HOMAN, BORDER CZAR: It's not a policy change, it's a temporary pause. I think at the end of this review, which would be a short review, I should be right back to doing what they do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Meanwhile, protests have erupted across the country, condemning ICE tactics and demanding justice. On your left is Maine. To the right, Texas. States that both saw fatal ICE-involved shootings over the course of just a few days.
Maine lawmakers say changes must be made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ANGUS KING (I-ME): No excuse for it. We've known for months that this was something that was necessary. Police forces all over the country have body cameras.
SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME): This incident shows how imperative it is that we have a mandate for body-worn cameras.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Since the shooting in Houston, DHS says that more than half of the field offices have new body cameras and in a couple of months, the remaining half will as well.
Developing this morning, rescue teams urgently searching for at least three people in the San Francisco Bay after a boat capsized near Alcatraz Island. One person died after being pulled from the water. Sixteen others were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital and authorities described the three deck vessel as a pontoon pleasure boat. Initial reports indicated there may have been a fire, but officials say they have found no evidence of that.
[05:05:01]
American forces launching a fourth round of attacks on Iran overnight, just hours after reinstating a naval blockade of ports. All of this happening as President Trump reverses course on a plan to charge a 20 percent fee on vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with Fox News, President Trump suggested a ground campaign in the war is possible, but did not provide details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
INTERVIEWER: Are you ruling out a ground campaign in a limited capacity?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I don't -- I don't want to say that either, but I would say no if I thought it was appropriate. It's like sometimes you need a ground campaign, but we have other people that will do the ground campaign for us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Tehran now says it has no obligation to the 14-point agreement made with the U.S. last month and blames Washington for causing the breakdown of the ceasefire.
Gulf countries, meanwhile, have been on high alert following the fighting between the U.S. and Iran. Video geolocated by CNN that you see here appears to show an Iranian drone striking a warehouse in Kuwait.
Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett made rare appearances in front of Congress to ask for more security funding. Barrett shared some emotional testimony about a swatting attempt at her home and the threats she's faced.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTICE AMY CONEY BARRETT, U.S. SUPREME COURT: I thought I would just share a little bit about how the threats have affected me and my family personally. They have required me to -- my children, to think about and see things that children should not have to see or think about. One example is when threats to my life were particularly intense a few years ago, around the time of the Dobbs leak, my security details sent me home with a bulletproof vest, and I carried it into my house, put it into my bedroom, dropped it down on a table, turned around, and my 12-year-old son was standing in the doorway of my bedroom, and he wanted to know what it was and why I had it.
And I didn't know how to respond, because maybe I lack imagination, but I didn't expect that performing this service was going to put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was and why I had to wear one.
It's also been reported in the news that roughly six weeks ago, I was the victim of a swatting incident. At that point, my teenage son, one of my teenage sons, opened the door to go out with friends and saw in our street, it was full of police cars, who had responded to a false report of gunshots and raised voices in my home.
I was very, very grateful that I had Supreme Court police outside my home because they were able to stop and meet with and explain to the county police that it had been a false alarm, and so the police did not actually attempt to enter our home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: New details this morning. E Jean Carroll has received more than $5 million after a protracted legal battle with President Donald Trump. It's comes three years after a jury found Trump had sexually abused and defamed the former magazine writer. President Trump continues to deny the allegations and accusations. Carroll's lawyer said in a court filing that she would use the money to fund her retirement.
We have lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. First responders happy to act quickly when they saw this car overturned in the water.
Flash flooding in parts of Texas, at least 24 people rescued in just one county. We'll have the latest forecast coming up.
And World Cup mania, what Spain fans are saying after their big win against France. That's coming up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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[05:13:06]
ABEL: America's newest senator has been sworn into office. Darline Graham, sister of late Senator Lindsey Graham, will serve out the remainder of her brother's term after his sudden death. She was chosen by the Republican governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster.
A special primary election will be held August 11th to nominate a Republican to replace Lindsey Graham on the ballot in November's general election.
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh telling lawmakers we're honored to be independent. He was giving his semi-annual report yesterday to the House Financial Services Committee, and he was pressed several times as to whether the Fed's ability to set interest rates is above political influence. Listen to one of the questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NYDIA VELAZQUEZ (D-NY): I would like to start with a straightforward, simple question. Do you work for Donald Trump? Yes or no? KEVIN WARSH, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: If I'm permitted to say -- we're an independent central bank. We're honored to be independent. Our independence came from you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Warsh also reaffirmed the Central Bank's commitment to bringing down inflation. He's scheduled to appear before the Senate Banking Committee later today.
And President Trump is set to make a televised primetime address to the nation tomorrow. And while specifics are still being worked out, Trump telling reporters his speech will include new information on election security. The topic has long been a focus of the president, who continues to assist without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen.
Here's what he said about Thursday's address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: But I'd rather save it, but it's really big news. It's really, really big news and our country has to shape up but that's what we're going to be talking about Thursday is -- it doesn't get bigger, because without free and fair elections, you don't have a country.
[05:15:03]
We'll be discussing other things, too. But it's going to be a very big announcement. Yeah.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff says the president's fixation on his election loss proves he's nervous about the November midterms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JON OSSOFF (D-GA): He fears defeat in the midterms, and that explains his spiral into conspiracy theories, conspiracy theories that put Georgia Republicans in a terrible bind.
REPORTER: What do you say to your Republican colleague, colleagues who may agree with the president on this?
OSSOFF: I don't know of Republican colleagues who agree with the press on this Privately, most elected Republicans in this building think the president has lost it and it's dooming them to dismal losses this fall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: The Georgia lawmaker is facing reelection this November. He'll face off with House Republican Mike Collins, who Ossoff says needs to defend his own election denial claims. Developing this morning, more than six million people in central and
southwest Texas are under flood watches as parts of the state face another day of rare high-risk flooding. Rescue teams have pulled at least 45 people from floodwaters, and this comes after the area was inundated with up to 12 inches of rain on Monday and Tuesday.
Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration in 59 counties to help get resources out.
CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam has the latest forecast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We're following a few different big weather stories today. First, record heat across the eastern seaboard, specifically throughout the mid-Atlantic. Just be prepared for temperatures flirting with the triple digit mark for some locations. And then also a flood threat that is going to be an impactful weather story going forward for the Texas Hill Country and into the Edwards Plateau.
Look at the repeated rounds of rain that will cycle through this area, bringing up to the potential of 10 to 20 inches of local rain that could lead to flash flooding. We've already seen swift water rescues across portions of West Texas, so we'll monitor that situation very closely.
Here's 100-degree temperatures I was talking about 102 in D.C. today. Ouch, 20 or 97 for Chicago, 96 in New York City. We'll see those hot temperatures extend right into the early parts of the weekend for many of the major East Coast cities along the I-95 corridor.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Derek Van Dam, thank you.
For your weather anytime, anywhere, you can download the CNN weather app. Go to cnn.com/cnnweather for the latest forecast tracking.
Still to come for us on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, a new blood test may hold the key to showing your risk of Alzheimer's.
And you may soon be saying goodbye to rolling those clocks back. Why Daylight Saving Time could become permanent.
Stay with CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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[05:22:23]
ABEL: In this morning's Health Express, at least 34 states are now reporting cases in the outbreak linked to a stomach parasite. Confirmed cases have soared beyond last year's level, and now more than 5,000 additional illnesses are being investigated.
My home state, Michigan health officials there say they're looking at lettuce or salad greens as a potential source. And as a precaution, Taco Bell announcing it was removing some ingredients from its menu at various locations. The company says it is closely monitoring the situation and will follow the guidance of health authorities.
Now to a possible breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer's. It's still early, but a new blood test may help determine your risk for the disease. A new study shows that cognitively healthy adults who have a certain biomarker have a 38 percent higher chance of developing early signs of dementia over five years.
At least one expert says the blood tests combined with cognitive testing may quote fill a key gap in the field.
And this comes as the pilot who became famous worldwide for safely landing a plane in the Hudson River in 2009 is going public with the health challenge. Captain Chelsea "Sully" Sullenberger says he's been diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's disease. Sully says he's sharing his diagnosis about the progressive brain disorder to encourage others to speak up about the disease.
A federal appeals court is clearing the way for more than 500 lawsuits against the maker of Tylenol. The suits claim the painkiller is linked to autism and ADHD. This ruling comes after high profile warnings from President Trump and HHS Secretary RFK Jr. They urged pregnant women to avoid Tylenol's active agreement acetaminophen, despite those warnings lacking scientific backing.
If the House has its way, you won't be turning back the clock anymore. It passed the bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. It now heads to the Senate, but it's not clear whether it has enough support to pass.
CNN's Tom Foreman has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After years of this being raised as a debate in Congress, the House has voted resoundingly to ditch the switch, meaning that we would not jump from Daylight Savings Time to not Daylight Savings Time every spring, every fall. Instead, it would be permanently Daylight Savings Time.
The argument for this has long been that it's a meaningless ritual that confuses people, that makes life difficult in a lot of ways. The argument against it has been that doing this in some parts of the country could force more people to take costly measures to deal with more work in the darkness.
[05:25:08]
It could create more hazards for people who have to travel in the darkness, including school kids. The bottom line, though, is this has been considered for a long time,
and now the only debate is, can it survive the Senate where it's prospects are not clear. We do know this, though. Donald Trump has long suggested he doesn't like the idea of Daylight Savings Time. So, if the Senate does pass it, the president will sign it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, intense scrutiny and protest over ICE after two ICE involved fatal shootings in over a week and now an incident in Florida. The latest is coming up.
The U.S. soccer star that got that controversial red card in a crucial World Cup game is speaking out about the ruling. What he had to say ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
Stay with me.
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