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Severe Storms Push East After Battering Central U.S.; Trump's Retribution Tour; Today: Trump Tries to Unseat Rep. Massie in Kentucky; Trump on the Verge of Launching New Attacks on Iran. Aired 11:30-12p ET

Aired May 19, 2026 - 11:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[11:30:00]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, severe weather is ripping across the country. Days of intense storms have battered the central states with supercell thunderstorms, flash flooding, and dozens of tornadoes, like this massive twister that tore through farmland in Nebraska yesterday.

CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam is tracking all the late-breaking threats for us. Derek, where is this latest system headed?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, as you mentioned, the severe weather threat shifting east. It's diminished compared to yesterday's peak, but this is one of the tornadoes that it dropped from the skies yesterday. And I want to take just a quick moment to talk about it because this is what we call a stovepipe tornado. And why it's called that? Because of its uniform kind of cylindrical shape from the base of the cloud all the way to the ground.

This is moving over very rural farmland. But that stovepipe is an indication to meteorologists that this is a very mature and organized and possibly powerful tornado. Clearly, of course, there was some damage associated with the over 19 tornadoes that were confirmed yesterday.

So, look at the wind reports, lots of hail associated with this system. This is in the past 24 hours. So, the cold front responsible for it is now advancing east. So, you're looking at the current radar and you could see some of the rain that is moving over parts of southern Missouri. This area has just gotten hammered with heavy rainfall over the past day or so, so much so that it's risen the water levels here across some of the local streams and rivers.

So, we have flash flood warnings in place, including Joplin, Missouri. We've had two to four inches of rain with additional rain falling from the sky. That's why the National Weather Service has these flood watches inclusive of St. Louis. Even eastward into southern Indiana as well.

So, here's a look at severe threat today. Remember, yesterday was the peak. Today, it's more of a wind threat. Large hail. Isolated tornado can't be ruled out across the Great Lakes region, but this is generally a wind threat and hail into Texas. So, Dallas, Shreveport to St. Louis to Columbus, you need to keep an eye to the sky.

Be weather aware today because you'll see how these storms kind of blossom throughout the afternoon. And the culprit is a cold front that's going to change the weather patterns along the East Coast. More on that in just one second.

But you can see these areas highlighted and as we head into tomorrow morning. But it's this cold front that is going to allow for warmer weather ahead of it. Record breaking temperatures in places like Philadelphia, near New York City as well. And we're talking about the record May temperature tide potentially in Philadelphia if it reaches 97 today. But that cold front is going to trigger off showers and thunderstorms as it heads eastward. So, we could get some of the stronger storms tomorrow across the I-95 corridor. Wolf.

[11:35:00]

BLITZER: All right. Derek Van Dam on the scene for us reporting. Thank you very, very much. And just ahead, will President Trump's so- called revenge tour claim another big victim? We're live from Kentucky, where Republican congressman and Trump critic Thomas Massie is in a very tough fight to stay in office.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Happening now, voting is underway in six states as the 2026 midterm elections see their busiest day yet of primary races. It's also the latest test of President Trump's grip on the Republican Party as he targets those he views as disloyal.

[11:40:00]

The most watched House contest is in Kentucky right now. The President has targeted Republican Congressman Thomas Massie and thrown his full support behind the challenger, Ed Gallrein. In fact, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth campaigned yesterday for Gallrein. He's also been on the front lines of the Republican Party's campaign against Trump. He's a former Navy SEAL. It's a rare moment for a U.S. defense secretary to become directly involved in politics along these lines. But Hegseth says he was campaigning as a private citizen. And just minutes ago, the president once again tore into Massie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Thomas Massie is a terrible congressman. He's been a terrible congressman from day one. Dealing with him is just horrible. I don't think he's a Republican. I think he's actually a Democrat. He's not a libertarian. You know, sometimes they say he's a -- he's really a Democrat. He votes against us all the time. He voted against the border wall. He voted against men playing in women's sports. He voted against transgender for everybody, the mutilization of your children. He voted against, again, open borders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: All right. Let's go to Kentucky right now. Covington, Kentucky. CNN Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny is covering all this for us. Jeff, President Trump has very much inserted himself in today's primaries in Kentucky, where you are. Let's begin with this number one House target that he has, Thomas Massie. Update us on the latest.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, if you could just hear the obsession in President Trump's voice as he talks endlessly about this Kentucky congressional primary. I mean, this is a Republican primary. So, the winner of this is almost certainly to win in November. So, this race does not affect the balance of power. However, it's a loyalty test for President Trump. Thomas Massie has long been on the list of the White House as the top Republican who infuriates the president more than anyone else.

Why is that? Of course, Thomas Massie led the charge to release the Epstein files. He also has voted against some key pieces of legislation, and he's been a critic of the Iran War. Otherwise, he largely votes the conservative line. There's no doubt that Massie has a contrarian libertarian streak. That is one of the things that voters here say they like about him a lot, actually.

But Donald Trump, the president, has been fixated on this. His attention on this has made this the most expensive or certainly one of the most expensive House races in U.S. history. More than $32 million has now been spent on television ads, largely by supporters and allies of the president. But as we've been talking to voters here in Northern Kentucky, they're viewing this race through a different lens. Yes, they feel loyalty toward the president, but others say they also feel akin toward Thomas Massie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: Why did you vote for Thomas Massie?

ROB BARKLEY, KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN VOTER: Voted because he's pretty much against -- he's on the Republican side, so he does have a conservative mindset, but he's not as far-leaning right as the Trump politics and basically voting against Trump, honestly.

ZELENY: You voted against Trump.

BARKLEY: I did not vote for Trump in the previous election. I voted for him the first time, and then I went against him the second time. But on this one, it's predominantly around just his stuff. The stuff he does.

ZELENY: Who did you support today?

LARRY BRANDSTETTER, KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN VOTER: Gallrein.

ZELENY: Why?

BRANDSTETTER: Well, I don't like Massie's policies. I don't like him voting to impeach Trump. I didn't like him not voting on the tax cut, and he just tries to seem to disrupt things. I just don't think he represents this district. ZELENY: Is that one of the reasons that you supported Ed Gallrein as well, to support the president?

BRANDSTETTER: Well, I support the president, but I would have voted for Ed Gallrein either way, because of his policy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: So, look, there's no question there are a variety of opinions here, Wolf. But for all the presidents of focus on this race, many voters have told us that they actually are going to make up their own minds. And really quick, the president also called Thomas Massie a Democrat just a short time ago. The irony in that is the Democrats actually cannot vote for Thomas Massie here today.

This is a closed primary. That means Republicans only can vote in this race. And I've talked to several Democrats here who say that they would like to support Massie because they think the president has been unfair to him, but that will not happen today. You must be a registered Republican to vote in this race here.

So, Wolf, certainly, all eyes are on Kentucky. The polls are open here until 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Jeff Zeleny on the scene for us in Covington, Kentucky. Jeff, thank you very much. From there, I want to go to Georgia and CNN Senior National Correspondent Ryan Young was there. He's in Acworth. That's just northwest of Atlanta. Ryan, Georgia voters will find a crowded ballot today. What are the key races to watch?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is really unreal how many people are running for election right now in this state. Over a million people have already voted in early voting. A lot of energy behind this election. This state will definitely decide a new governor. The current governor, who's very popular, has not weighed in on who he wants to see to be the next governor.

[11:45:00]

In fact, this race has gotten almost dirty in terms of the fact that the mudslides are going back and forth between the Republican candidates who are running for governor. They have really been taken to the airwaves, spending millions of dollars to say who would be best in terms of the next governor in this race.

But on top of all that, the people here have really been talking about economic issues. The folks that we talked to today say they're concerned about the kitchen table. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY HUTCHISON, GEORGIA VOTER: Economics and we need affordable housing. There are so many challengers on the Republican side, they're beating each other up, which is fine. We need to have the most capable person in the office. It's very important. You know, your governor really affects your life a lot more than anybody up in Washington.

BETTY CARR, GEORGIA VOTER: We all would like prices to be lower. And I don't know the answer to that. I -- you know, all the politicians, of course, say they want lower grocery prices, lower gas prices, lower housing prices. We all want that. But who's going to accomplish it? I don't know who and how.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Yes, really, on the Republican side, Rick Jackson versus Burt Jones is really going it out. They're duking it out. In fact, President Trump has said that he wants Burt Jones to be the candidate for governor in the state

On the Democratic side, Keisha Lance Bottom has really got a large lead in terms of who may win the Democratic candidate so far. But the conversation, even down to the Supreme Court here in the state, Democrats believe they could flip two seats here. So, they're hoping to put additional pressure there. President Obama has asked for a weight into that. The former president trying to help campaign for two of the Democratic candidates. And let's not forget, there's a Senate seat where Jon Ossoff will be facing someone who comes from the Republican side, because that's also a close election there.

But again, over and over again, we've been talking to voters who say they're concerned about gas prices, the war, and what's going to happen with the future when it comes to the economy. So, Wolf, a lot of people paying attention and showing up to the polls.

BLITZER: All right. Ryan Young in Acworth, Georgia, for us on the scene. Thank you very, very much. I want to go from there to Pennsylvania. CNN Correspondent Danny Freeman is in Allentown for us. Danny, the Democratic governor, John Shapiro, is running for reelection, but he's also testing his political power with a rather crowded House race. Tell us about that.

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You bet, Wolf. Really, there are two main storylines that we're following here in Pennsylvania. One is there are a number of swing districts all across Pennsylvania that really will become incredibly important when it comes to Democrats' effort to potentially flip the House in November. And then, as you noted, Wolf, the second storyline we're watching is, what is Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro's influence when it comes to these important races today?

So, I'm right here in Allentown. This is the heart of the 7th Congressional District. It's a district that viewers are going to hear a lot about because it's perhaps one of the swingiest districts in Pennsylvania. A Republican, Ryan MacKenzie, won it from a Democrat back in 2024. Well, now Democrats are trying to flip this seat again this coming November. And so, the marquee race today, Wolf, is the primary for Democrats to see who will ultimately be the nominee on the Democratic ticket to take on Representative MacKenzie.

And the interesting thing, and this is where we get to Shapiro's influence, is that Governor Shapiro actually decided to endorse in this race out of this crowded field of primarily four candidates. He endorsed Bob Brooks, a firefighter. He was out on the trail with him last weekend. We also have seen a lot of ads featuring Brooks and Shapiro. So, the thing that we're going to be looking for really is, can Brooks run up the score really with the wind of Governor Josh Shapiro at his back?

But meanwhile, Wolf, like Ryan said, we are hearing so much from voters on the ground really driving down on affordability. That's the thing that's driving them to the polls. Take a listen to what one single mother told me earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARINA SPEARS, PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATIC VOTER: I'm a single mom, and I work two jobs, and it is almost so I'm going paycheck to paycheck.

FREEMAN: Do you feel like the current administration or makeup of Congress is listening to or addressing that?

SPEARS: No, and I think Donald Trump said that really clearly when he said he doesn't care about the financial status of the American people.

FREEMAN: You heard that soundbite loud and clear?

SPEARS: Yes, very clear.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: That soundbite from the president really echoing here in Pennsylvania. Again, voters, laser-focused on affordability as a lot of other storylines are playing out in Pennsylvania today, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Danny Freeman in Allentown, Pennsylvania for us. Thank you very much. And we're going to be following the primaries in a number of key states as the results continue to roll in. We'll have live special coverage all day and night on CNN and on the CNN app. And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:50:00]

BLITZER: Happening now, President Trump saying he was on the verge of launching new attacks on Iran before key Gulf allies persuaded him to hold off. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I was an hour away. We're all set to go. You're talking about yesterday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

TRUMP: We were going to be striking very -- it would have been happening right now. Yes, it was all done. The boats, the ships are all loaded. They're loaded to the brim, and we're all set to start.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The president also said he was prepared to attack Iran, possibly in the next two to three days if no deal is reached.

Joining us now, CNN military analyst, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton. Colonel, thanks so much for joining us. President Trump said Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, they want the U.S. to hold off on new attacks against Iran because it's close to a deal. He also said the country's leaders told him that Iran was being, quote, "reasonable" in the negotiations. What do you make of that?

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Yes, Wolf, I think what we're dealing with here is the pressure from the Gulf states, like you mentioned, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and other Gulf states basically saying, if you don't fix this, our economies are going to actually be tanked. And that's part of the issue.

And also, from a military perspective, what they're looking at is they're actually trying to make sure that they don't suffer attacks from the Iranians. So, they want peace as much as they can possibly get it. They're not happy with Iran, but they're also not happy with the way this effort has been conducted by the U.S. at this point.

BLITZER: President Trump says he could strike Iran in the coming days if no deal is actually reached. What is the U.S. military offensive posture like right now with the carrier strike group, the USS Gerald, our Ford back here stateside?

LEIGHTON: So, what we have now are two carrier strike groups in the region of the Persian Gulf, just outside of that area.

[11:55:00]

So, with the Ford being back home, that somewhat limits our ability to strike some of these targets. But the president alluded to the fact that they would be using Tomahawk missiles and other naval weapons against Iranian targets, but they would also combine that with air power. And that is, in essence, what we're looking at.

So, you've got air power, you have several hundred aircraft that are based in the Persian Gulf region that are land-based and some that are sea-based. And that is what they would be using in addition to the missiles that would be either destroyer launched or submarine launched.

BLITZER: He said, Trump said, we may have to give them, referring to the Iranians, another big hit. Describe what you think he has in mind.

LEIGHTON: Well, I think what he has in mind is going after more of the infrastructure targets. We're talking bridges, power stations, pipelines, those kinds of things that have perhaps dual military- civilian uses. And I also think he's going to go after more IRGC- related, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps targets. So, it would be an effort to go after the infrastructure as well as command and control, and of course, any missile launch facilities that they might find. So, it would be a major -- potentially a major offensive from the air and, you know, potentially other avenues as well.

BLITZER: Yes. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, recently said there were Iranian proxies as well as remaining Iranian Hezbollah missiles that had to be dealt with. Can Israel go it all alone militarily if need be?

LEIGHTON: That's doubtful. It depends on the military goals that the Israelis have. But if they're looking for regime change or the removal of the highly enriched uranium, that is something they cannot accomplish on their own. They will need U.S. help. They can definitely decimate the Iranian leadership, but they will have difficulty doing other things beyond that.

BLITZER: Colonel Leighton, as usual, thank you very much for joining us.

LEIGHTON: You bet, Wolf.

BLITZER: And to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us this morning. Inside Politics with our friend and colleague Dana Bash starts right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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