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CNN Headlines: GOP Holdouts Put Blanche Nomination For AG In Jeopardy; Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment 100+ Times At COVID Response Hearing; Officers Shoot Black Teen Who Police Say Called 911 To Report An Armed Person, Sparking Outrage. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired July 30, 2026 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[05:30:45]
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: It is half past the hour. Let's hit the refresh button on our top stories.
The Senate Judiciary committee has postponed today's vote on President Trump's pick for attorney general. Todd Blanche is facing questions over the Justice Department's controversial $1.8 billion anti- weaponization fund and a ban on potential IRS audits of President Trump, his family, and businesses.
And President Trump promised retaliation and also delivered on that. You can see here images from CENTCOM showing what it calls a heavy wave of attacks. After the strikes wrapped up, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard said the U.S. and its Mideast allies will be "punished today."
Also, we are awaiting sentencing for Colin Gray today. He is the father of the Georgia school shooter Colt Gray. It was Colin who purchased the gun that was used in the attack that killed four people and wounded nine others in 2024. Gray could face decades behind bars. He was convicted on two counts of second-degree murder as well as other charges.
And back to Capitol Hill. That's where two Republican senators with only a few months left in office could keep Todd Blanche from becoming the next attorney general.
Here's CNN chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju with where things stand and what comes next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Senate Judiciary committee scrapping a critical vote on Thursday and dealing a major blow to the confirmation prospects of Todd Blanche to be the next attorney general of the United States. This after a revolt from two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis.
But it is really Cornyn who is driving this. Cornyn, who actually lost his re-election bid -- lost his primary bid after Trump backed his primary foe, Ken Paxton. Cornyn has emerged as a thorn in side of President Trump. Tillis is not running for re-election and is also free from those re-election pressures.
But both men are concerned about this so-called anti-weaponization fund -- $1.8 billion. It was part of a deal that was reached between President Trump and the IRS over a separate matter. Trump suing the IRS for $10 billion, claiming that he was injured by the unauthorized release of his tax returns. That led to both the anti-weaponization fund and a deal that would shield the president and his family from tax enforcement -- past tax enforcement actions.
The question that John Cornyn had, in particular -- he wanted in writing that this would not apply to the president in the future -- those -- that tax enforcement also. He wanted to end the weaponization fund once and for all. Kill it altogether. He wanted that written in paper and it did not come. And as a result, Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, deciding to delay that vote.
And I asked Sen. Cornyn whether or not the fact that he is free from those re-election pressures is making it easier to buck the president.
Do you acknowledge though having -- not having to run for re-election anymore has freed you up to more independent from the president? Would you acknowledge that?
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): Have you noticed?
RAJU: So when the president says that you're doing this as a political vendetta, what do you say to him?
CORNYN: That's a convenient excuse and it happens to be untrue.
RAJU: Now can this nomination be salvaged? It is still possible if those demands are met but the timing is so complicated. The Senate goes on recess at the end of next week and the delay means that it is unlikely to hit the Senate floor by next week, which means this could get delayed into the fall. And who knows what the political environment will look like then or if the president will move any closer to meeting the demands laid out by Cornyn and Tillis.
But no doubt about it, a major blow to Todd Blanche, who had been trying to get the support of Republican senators but unable to get the support of two, which means now his nomination will continue to hang in the balance.
Manu Raju, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: All right. Thank you, Manu.
Well, Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a contentious Senate hearing on Capitol Hill, and here is just one of the heated exchanges.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOSH HAWLEY (R-MO): What day of the week is it today?
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, FORMER DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, FORMER CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT: On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
HAWLEY: What color tie are you wearing?
[05:35:00]
FAUCI: On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
HAWLEY: What color is the carpet in front of you.
FAUCI: On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
HAWLEY: Let's just get one thing straight. You don't have any rights under the Fifth Amendment because you've been pardoned, as you very well know. As the Supreme Court has been clear for a century or more, Brown versus Walker, 1896 -- "When he has been pardoned, he may not stand upon his privilege."
You know that. Your lawyers are sitting behind you now shifting nervously in their chairs. They know it. This isn't about the Constitution. This isn't about the law. This is about contempt. Contempt for this body and contempt for the American people.
But I think I know why you're doing it. It's because you don't want to answer questions. It's because you did all kinds of terrible things. It's because during the pandemic you got rich, didn't you? You got rich while people were dying -- hundreds of thousands of Americans -- over a million in the end. And you were getting rich.
And not only were you doing that, you were using federal employees with taxpayer money to apply for and solicit cash prizes for you personally. Cash prizes totaling over $1 million. You did all of that during the pandemic, didn't you? That's a question.
FAUCI: On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: So the hearing did little to advance claims by Sen. Rand Paul and other Republicans that Fauci covered up the origins of the COVID- 19 virus.
Now to a story out of Austin, Texas. That is where police say that the death of a teenager may have been suicide by a cop. Police bodycam video is giving us some insight into the shooting that happened last Friday. We do have a warning that some viewers may find this video disturbing. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POLICE OFFICER: Hey, keep your hands up. What's going on, bro? You got it? You doing alright? You doing alright? Hey, hey, keep your hands up.
(Multiple gunshots)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Police say that there was a 911 call prior to the shooting coming from the 17-year-old victim's phone. The caller reported seeing a young person with a gun outside. And here's a portion of that 911 call.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CALLER: I'm looking out my window and there seems to be a kid. It looks like he has a gun. I'm not sure. But he keeps on -- I'm not sure but he keeps on messing with his waist band and I seen something in his hands. It looked like a firearm but I'm not sure.
911: When you say kid, how old?
CALLER: I'm not sure. He just looks very young.
911: So, like a teenager?
CALLER: Yes, sir.
911: OK. Is it -- is he like brandishing it or does he just happen to have it?
CALLER: Brandishing it -- I'd say yeah. Like, say, brandishing it.
911: Towards someone or is he just by himself?
CALLER: By himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: The bodycam video appears to show Anthoneil Williams II lift his shirt and -- towards his waistband is where he reached as officers yell at him to keep his hand up. The three officers fired multiple shots. Williams died at the scene and police later determined he was unarmed.
The teen's death has sparked outrage and calls for greater police accountability. It also reignited a conversation about what mental support can be provided before deadly force is used.
The three officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. The shooting remains under investigation.
Bodycam footage out of Milwaukee -- it shows former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo being arrested on suspicion of DWI. CNN's Natalie takes it from here.
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TONY ROMO, FORMER DALLAS COWBOYS QUARTERBACK: Did I pass this test?
POLICE OFFICER: Turn around.
ROMO: No, I didn't, right?
NATALIE HITAEN (PH), CNN REPORTER (voiceover): This is the moment former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was questioned by deputies before being arrested on suspicion of driving intoxicated in Wisconsin.
POLICE OFFICER: You are pending an OWI investigation.
ROMO: What does that mean?
POLICE OFFICER: Operating while intoxicated.
HITAEN (voiceover): In the bodycam footage a deputy tells Romo why she pulled him over.
POLICE OFFICER: The reason for my stop today is the unsafe passing on the right and the lane deviation.
ROMO: Could you say it louder? I'm sorry.
POLICE OFFICER: Unsafe passing on the right, cutting across the gore.
[05:40:00]
HITAEN (voiceover): A search warrant obtained by CNN affiliate WISN says the deputy wrote "A strong odor of alcohol was detected from Romo." During the stop, Romo denied he had been drinking.
POLICE OFFICER: How many drinks have you had?
ROMO: Zero.
HITAEN (voiceover): The deputy then took Romo to the Milwaukee County Jail to conduct a series of sobriety tests, according to video released by police. Footage then shows Romo being put through those tests.
POLICE OFFICER: Any head injuries?
ROMO: Excuse me?
POLICE OFFICER: Any head injuries recently? Any concussions?
ROMO: Well, over the years, yes -- but not recently, no.
POLICE OFFICER: OK. You --
ROMO: I'm trying not to --
POLICE OFFICER: Are you willing to submit to a PBT?
ROMO: What is that?
HITAEN (voiceover): In the video he refuses to take a breathalyzer test when asked by a deputy.
POLICE OFFICER: A test.
ROMO: Oh, no. We're not doing that.
POLICE OFFICER: OK.
ROMO: I've heard from all the lawyers don't ever do that.
POLICE OFFICER: OK.
ROMO: So --
POLICE OFFICER: All right.
HITAEN (voiceover): The former quarterback is then arrested by the deputy.
ROMO: Did I pass this test?
POLICE OFFICER: Turn around.
ROMO: No, I didn't, huh? Can I use my phone real quick because there's a plane taking off and my parents are there.
POLICE OFFICER: You're under arrest for --
ROMO: OK.
POLICE OFFICER: -- operating while under the influence, OK?
ROMO: OK.
HITAEN (voiceover): Romo was charged with refusing to take a test for intoxication after arrest, according to Wisconsin court records. WISN reports he was later released. WISN reports that a court date is set for September 21.
CNN has contacted the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, district attorney's office, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, CBS Sports, and Romo's attorney for comment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: We have some new developments this morning as Howard University has readmitted more than 200 students who the Washington, D.C. school says missed tuition and financial aid deadlines. It comes a week after the students found out about their unenrolled status. In an interview with the Associated Press, Howard University's
president said there were no issues in terms of what the school communicated to the incoming freshmen about their financial obligations.
The unpaid balances were due in mid-July. Classes are set to begin next month.
Back to the messy weather in the northeast. Take a look at this. Fire rescue crews in New York -- they had to use a front-end ladder to help rescue a family from rising floodwaters in this Philipstown home.
CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar has the latest forecast.
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ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: We do still have the chance for some lingering showers across portions of the northeast. The good news is once we finally get to tonight, we will start to see things dry back out for much of the New England region, which desperately needs to see that.
The main story as we head into the weekend is really going to be this dome of high pressure that really sets up across the southwest and stays there for most of the weekend. When you look at some of the high temperatures as we go into Thursday, we're already starting to see things rise -- 92 in Denver, 112 in Las Vegas, 114 into Phoenix.
Now, for a lot of these areas though they don't peak until we get to Saturday. Places like Salt Lake, Las Vegas, even around Los Angeles getting into the mid-90s for the high temperatures. Whereas a place like Denver doesn't peak until we get to Sunday where temperatures are expected to reach triple digits -- roughly 10 degrees above average.
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SMITH: All right. Thank you, Allison.
Next up on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS firefighters battling wildfires breaking out all over Greece. We've got the full story. And why popstars BTS say that they won't be submitting music for next year's Grammys. We've got that and more still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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SMITH: Let's go around the globe for a check on the headlines, starting in Poland. That's where some kind of object landed deep inside the country causing an explosion. This was about 60 miles inside Poland, and the explosion came as Russia launched long-range attacks across Ukraine. Poland's prime minister called it a Russian violation of Polish airspace. Its military said the country's air defenses observed at least a dozen missiles over western Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine is bracing for the possibility of another wave of Russian airstrikes. Crowds sheltered in a subway station earlier today. Officials said that Russian missiles targeted the capital and two other cities. At least one person was killed in Kyiv. Ukraine's Air Force later said that another wave of strikes was on the way.
And in Japan, emergency crews are still sifting through the rubble searching for signs of life after Tuesday's earthquake. Dozens of people have died, and authorities are still investigating whether they're all linked to the earthquake. And it is unclear how many are missing and injured. You can see crews delivering hundreds of air conditioners to the many shelters because of the hot temperatures there.
And take a look at these cars buried in feet of snow all the way up to the roofs. A group of tourists had to be rescued Tuesday from the top of a mountain in Argentina. They were on a trail leading to a popular scenic overlook in the Andes when they were caught up in the heavy snow and howling wind. Rescue crews got them all to a safe place to weather the storm.
And now to Europe. Emergency officials are warning that Greece and Italy could soon face the same wildfire threat as Spain and France, seen here a wildfire on the Greek Island of Paros. Two firefighters on the Crete -- on Crete are dead after battling a wildfire there. And on another Greek island people have been urged to leave their homes after a fire broke out there.
[05:50:05]
Also, a young deer is safe after it became trapped in a wildfire- ravaged area of southwestern France. Video shows rescuers carrying the dehydrated animal after they saw the deer caught in a fence. This comes as France battles major wildfires fueled by extreme heat and dry conditions.
It is time for Buzz Express.
A bombshell announcement from BTS. The group revealed that they are taking themselves out of next year's Grammys by choice. Here is more from Lisa Respers France.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA RESPERS FRANCE, CNN SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: BTS just made a major announcement and it's about the Grammys. The K-pop supergroup says they will not submit music for next year's Grammy Awards. The decision comes just weeks after the recording academy confirmed a new category for the 2027 ceremony -- best Asian pop music performance.
In a statement shared by all seven members, the group said, "We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year" adding they "hope music can be heard and loved for what it is, not divided by region or language."
It's a bold move for a group that many view as being responsible for K-pop breaking through in the American music scene. Their latest album "Arirang" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 this spring, topping charts in 23 countries.
Culture-based categories aren't new to the Grammys, but under 2027 rules a song can only compete in one performance category, meaning entering the new Asian category would rule BTS out of the best pop duo group performance race where they've been nominated before.
BTS sitting out the Grammys feels like a statement about how music gets categorized and who gets to decide.
CNN has reached out to the Grammys for comment.
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SMITH: Thank you, Lisa.
Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS a dramatic rescue atop a mountain after a man becomes ill during a hike. We've got the full story there. And Elon Musk's SpaceX gets a billion-dollar government contract. The details on what they will be doing coming up.
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SMITH: In today's Money Express, holding steady. The Federal Reserve votes to leave interest rates where they are but it wasn't unanimous and that spooked markets a little bit here.
Maribel Aber joins us from the Nasdaq MarketSite with that and the rest of your top Money Express headlines. Hey, Maribel.
MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, MONEY MATTERS: Hey, good morning, Brad.
So the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged for a fifth- straight meeting Wednesday. The decision followed a two-day meeting with three policymakers voting for a rate hike. Now, the benchmark lending rate remains between 3.5 and 3.75 percent for now. That means borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans, and credit cards will remain higher for consumers in the near term.
Elon Musk's SpaceX has been awarded two government task orders worth a combined $1.6 billion to launch military satellites into orbit. The U.S. Space Force says the missions are part of an ongoing national security program. The task orders cover 18 Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California through the end of 2027. SpaceX also holds two previous task orders worth about $6.5 billion combined.
And no tickets matched the grand prize in Wednesday night's Powerball drawing. The jackpot rolls over to $707 million for Saturday night's drawing at 10:59 p.m. Eastern. The cash option would be just under $310 million before taxes.
Brad, make sure I'm in the office pool or there will be no cookies this year.
SMITH: Done. Taken care of. We need to make sure that we get those holiday cookies for sure from Maribel. Thank you so much.
ABER: You got it.
SMITH: Let's get a check in on some of the other stories making news across the country. We have to start in Ohio -- a video that you have to see to believe. A shoplifting suspect clings to a moving car. CNN's Patrick Cornell has the full story.
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PATRICK CORNELL, CNN NEWSOURCE (voiceover): Watch as a shoplifting suspect clings to a car traveling down the interstate while trying to escape from the cops. According to WLWT, the man fled from a traffic stop near Miamisburg, Ohio headed to I-75 while video shows police officers gracefully giving chase. Yes, gracefully.
Reportedly, once reaching the road the suspect tried to steal a car, instead breaking the windshield and the hanging on as the driver kept on moving. Eventually the man fell off and was arrested. The driver was not hurt.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Now we go to Arizona. Take a look at this. A man rescued from the top of a mountain near Phoenix. Firefighters say that the 72-year- old became ill while hiking and could not make his way down. But they were able to help and use ropes to get him down, then safely airlift him to waiting paramedics.
And a California woman gave birth in the parking lot of a Jack in the Box after she said the hospital sent her home twice. The couple was heading back for the third time when they had to pull over and just call 911. Firefighters soon arrived and helped deliver a healthy baby girl. Jack in the Box later reached out to send the family a care package.
This is one of the great traditions of the "Cheeseheads" -- those Green Bay Packers. A sweet story to leave you with. The Packers opened training camp by continuing one of the NFL's best traditions -- the DreamDrive. In Green Bay, this event is basically like Christmas Eve. Kids line up with their bikes outside Lambeau Field hoping a player picks them for the ride from Lambeau Field to the practice field across the street.
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They've been doing this for more than 60 years, all the way back to the days of Vince Lombardi. One of the great traditions in the NFL.
I remember images of Brett Favre and some of the greats from the Packers in years past doing this as well.
That does it for CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. I'm Brad Smith. "CNN THIS MORNING WITH AUDIE CORNISH" starts right now.
