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CNN Headlines: President Trump Announces an Energy Ceasefire Between Russia and Ukraine; Heavy Rain from the Remnants of Hurricane Isaias Triggered Flash Flooding and Landslides in North Carolina; Pope Leo Set to Undergo Surgery After Doctors Found a Nodule on His Lung. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired October 12, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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BRAD SMITH, ANCHOR, CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS: President Trump announces an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but a source close to Zelenskyy says that Ukraine was caught off guard. And heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Isaias triggered flash flooding and landslides in North Carolina, where the flood threat continues this morning.
Plus, Pope Leo undergoing surgery this week. What doctors found on his lung and what he's saying about it. Good morning, everyone, I'm Brad Smith, this is CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, glad that you're with us today. Let's get this started.
We begin with President Trump insisting that his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts have agreed to what he calls an energy ceasefire. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later revealed that Russia carried out a new attack on an energy facility just after Trump's announcement.
And Ukrainian officials say a separate missile strike hit a residential area in that same district, a warning the video that you are about to see is graphic.
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SMITH: Authorities in Kharkiv say this footage shows the moment a village grocery store was hit. At least, three people were killed and 20 others wounded. Those strikes reportedly came despite President Trump posting this on Truth Social early on Sunday.
He wrote, quote, "effective immediately, there is an energy ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it." But the news appears to have surprised President Zelenskyy, as he posted on social media that Ukraine is still waiting for more details about the arrangement. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is threatening to suspend
Intelligence-sharing as well as European purchases of U.S. weapons for Ukraine unless Kyiv stops its strikes on Russian energy facilities. That's according to two European officials familiar with the matter.
President Zelenskyy says Kyiv supports a ceasefire and that, it's important that Russia does the same.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT, UKRAINE (through translator): Today, there was a statement by the President of the United States that an energy ceasefire has been reached. This is good news for everyone. It is important that it becomes a reality.
Ukraine is ready to refrain from striking Russian energy facilities, and we expect Russia to show the same readiness. We welcome such an agreement. Unfortunately, Russian Shahed drones were in the skies throughout the day today.
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SMITH: We will have more on the energy ceasefire announcement later on in the show. Just over three weeks until Midterm election day, and tonight, President Trump will be campaigning in battleground Ohio. The President still urging supporters to pretend that he is on the November 3rd ballot.
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This is even as his approval ratings reach new lows. He's seen here at a weekend stop in Tennessee.
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If we don't win the Midterms, they're going to blame me. You know that. If we do win them, I will get no credit whatsoever. It's true. I won't get any. But I'm working my ass off. You better get out there and vote. You think this is easy?
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SMITH: After Ohio this evening, the President will visit Alaska, Arizona and Montana in the days to come. Meanwhile, on Sunday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to cancel any further airings of the controversial taxpayer-funded ads that promote the President's agenda.
In an earlier filing, the administration reportedly already spent $19 million. Now, to the surprisingly competitive Senate race that's playing out in South Carolina. That is where Republican Senator Darline Graham and Democratic challenger Annie Andrews took part in the only debate currently on tap.
Libertarian Kasie Whitener also took the debate stage, and the debate was often contentious. Take a listen.
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ANNIE ANDREWS, SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE: My opponent is the only one on this stage who had the opportunity to vote to end the war. But three times in a row, she voted to continue it. And several days after one of those votes, she had the audacity to walk out onto this stage and admit that national security isn't really her thing.
SEN. DARLINE GRAHAM (R-SC): And why in the world would we stop now, when they are still dangerous and we are close to ending the war. Again, I think the President wants to end the war. I know he does. We all want the war to end. But I support a strong military. I believe in peace through strength.
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SMITH: You may recall Senator Graham's gaffe in her runoff debate when she said national security is not my thing. No such missteps for her this time. Graham tried tying Andrews to the political left, while Andrews suggested Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was the choice of political insiders.
In today's weather express, drying out and cleaning up after the remnants of Isaias dumped heavy flooding rains in western North Carolina. This video is from Chimney Rock. It's one of the towns hardest hit by Helene two years ago.
The remnants also spawned tornadoes across eastern North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. This is video from Newington, Georgia, near Savannah on Saturday. And you can see that funnel cloud off in the distance. Now, what's left of Isaias finally moves out today. But as meteorologist Melissa Nord explains, the heat is moving in.
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MELISSA NORD, CNN METEOROLOGIST (on camera): The last of the remnants of Isaias move off the east coast Monday morning. Quiet weather moves back in. There will be a lot of heat to follow with record warmth in the central part of the country, and still another chance of flooding Monday for the Intermountain West, the Four Corners as well.
The remnants of Rachel are kind of winding down, but another upper- level low keeps that moisture trapped in. So, more rounds of rain showers are possible, along with some higher elevation snowfall. Still, some flood watches in effect through early Monday in some parts of the west.
Watch the forecast for the other -- this next upper-level system coming in, helping to produce a lot more rain showers going from southwest to northeast. We'll see them pivoting in that direction throughout the day on Monday. Higher elevations get some snowfall.
Not as much snow as they saw in Montana on Sunday, but still more rain and snow to follow. And that could mean additional rainfall for places like the Grand Canyon. Saint George, Utah, even more rain coming to places like Salt Lake City between Monday and Tuesday.
Now cooler weather is on the backside of that system. On the front side of the system, there is a lot of warmth. Check out these high temperatures close to records in some places, breaking records. We've got 87 in Chicago, Kansas City, 89, even around 90 degrees in Texas.
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SMITH: All right, thank you, Melissa. We've got lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS in Texas. Another incident involving ICE agents lands an immigrant in the hospital. The disturbing video and what authorities are saying happened next.
And Pope Leo announces that he will have to undergo surgery. We've got details on the condition of his health coming up. Stay with us, you're watching CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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SMITH: In Texas, a man officials claim is an undocumented immigrant is now hospitalized after he was hit by a truck driven by ICE agents. We have video of the incident. I do want to warn you that the images could be disturbing to some viewers.
An ICE spokesperson says that the agents were carrying out an enforcement operation for a different man when Miguel Parra-Hernandez was hit. Surveillance video appears to show him and that other man jumping out of a white truck and running away before a black van driven by ICE agents speeds up.
Parra-Hernandez's attorneys say he suffered two broken legs. He was scheduled to undergo surgery on Sunday. Officials say the other man, who was the target of the operation, remains on the run. Pope Leo is set to undergo surgery after doctors discovered a small nodule on his lung.
This is the first health scare since the 71-year-old American became leader of the Roman Catholic faith. CNN's Stefano Pozzebon has the latest on the Pope's condition from Rome.
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STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The announcement by Pope Leo that he is to have an operation to remove a nodule in his lung in the coming days took most people by surprise, especially when they heard it live this Sunday in a very warm October morning here at the Vatican in Rome.
However, this surprise does not necessarily mean there's a cause for anxiety. A lung nodule is a small mass of dense tissue on the lung, and most of them are not cancerous. The procedure is fairly simple, and according to experts that spoke with CNN, the Pontiff is expected to recover in about seven days.
Pope Leo made the announcement at the end of his Angelus on Sunday morning, and he referred to it as a matter of fact. Take a listen.
ROBERT PREVOST, POPE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): Dearest, recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained.
The doctors believe it's advisable to intervene. So, following their advice, I've decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled for the next few days. I thank you for your spiritual support and entrust myself to your prayers.
POZZEBON: Shortly after the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo is due to go to the Gemelli Hospital, the main hospital that is known for treating pontiffs and other high hierarchy in the Catholic Church.
That is just a stone's throw from the Vatican itself, and he will go through the operation in the upcoming days. Before making the announcement, Pope Leo spoke directly to Peruvian faithful who were listening to him in St. Peter's Square, saying that he is looking forward to visiting Peru in the upcoming month.
The pontiff is due to travel to South America, Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between November 6th and November 17th. And at this stage, it does not seem that his upcoming operation will put that travel at risk. For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Rome.
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SMITH: Thank you, Stefano. The judge in the Cornell gang rape civil case is urging everyone to lower the temperature before someone gets hurt. Recent threats against the plaintiff, known as Jane Doe, spurred the judge to take action.
She ordered some court documents be sealed and others be redacted and refiled. This was over recent incidents of doxing, swatting and other threats. The civil lawsuit involves Cornell University, seven former members of the Chi Phi Fraternity and others.
Continue to keep you updated on any updates there. And still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, the possibilities could be grim. That is what one of the biggest tech founders in the world is saying about Artificial Intelligence. Details coming up. Stay with us.
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SMITH: President Trump is considering whether or not to fire Kimberly Guilfoyle after a string of embarrassing revelations about her conduct. That's according to a source familiar with the matter. Now, Trump has been monitoring recent reports, saying Guilfoyle accepted lavish gifts as U.S. Ambassador to Greece and that before she was confirmed, she sought money in exchange for access to administration officials.
She was engaged to Donald Trump Jr. for four years and has remained close to the Trump family since their split. And when the President was asked about the allegations on Friday, he did not defend her. James Talarico is back on the campaign trail and back in a war of words with his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton after a nearly two-week absence.
Talarico was last seen publicly in late September, and in the days since, Republicans have pushed a variety of theories about his whereabouts, including treatment for stress. But the Texas Senate Democratic nominee is telling voters don't believe everything they hear.
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JAMES TALARICO, TEXAS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE: I had the flu. This is the craziest thing I've ever heard. It's wild that someone can just post something on the internet, and then the media just runs with it.
You know, I've heard credible reports that Ken Paxton has a serious medical condition that causes clinical levels of cowardice. He's asked for proof of life from me. I'm asking for proof of spine from him.
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SMITH: Also, on Talarico's campaign-to-do-list this weekend, a Kacey Musgraves concert. The Democratic candidate took in the show at "Austin City Limits", where he gave Musgraves, a fellow Texas native, some campaign merch, including a Talarico for Texas cowboy hat.
And we'll have much more on this race on Wednesday, as Erin Burnett moderates a new CNN Jubilee Town Hall. Senate candidate James Talarico comes face-to-face with Texas voters. Can this Democrat help turn the red state blue? You can watch on CNN and streaming live on All Access with the subscription.
Well, another fight is brewing between the Trump administration and the press. The Justice Department now investigating the five major U.S. TV networks for possible antitrust violations. The probe targets "ABC", "CBS", CNN, "Fox News" and "NBC" for briefly pausing their shared White House pool coverage last month.
That coordinated suspension came after President Trump revoked credentials for CNN and other outlets.
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The DOJ says it's looking into whether the move was an illegal boycott. The Freedom of the Press Foundation calls the investigation nonsense. Bill Gates is warning that there could be some grim possibilities ahead if the world leaders don't keep A.I. under control. The Microsoft co-founder says that the tech industry policing itself
just isn't enough. Jake Tapper asked him to explain.
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JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: You have called A.I. aliens created in a lab that could evolve almost as a species of its own and become to us what quote, "we are to dogs or cats", unquote. And you've said this isn't just a technological leap, it's a quote, "evolutionary event". That sounds scary. That sounds ominous.
BILL GATES, CO-FOUNDER, MICROSOFT: Yes, the arrival of A.I. is both fantastic for things like health care and new tools, you know, really unbelievable. But it's also something that has such profound power and really changes life in a pretty profound way that I always worry when people look back at previous technological advances.
You know, like I was involved in the personal computer and the internet, those were a big deal, but nothing compared to this. You know, this changes the world more than all previous technologies.
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SMITH: Wow. Now, when asked about A.I. job losses, Gates said society will need to decide how to tax A.I. and robot usage, which jobs to preserve for humans. Well, straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, early voting is underway in many states as we get closer to the pivotal Midterm elections. The latest outlook for both parties coming up.
And heavy flooding, debris and other damage left behind from dueling tropical storms that took place over the weekend, hitting both coasts. We've got the latest for you coming up. Keep it right here.
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