Return to Transcripts main page
The Situation Room
Day Three of Talks Between Israel, Lebanon Set for Today; Rubio Looks to Reassure Gulf Allies on U.S.-Iran Agreement; Celebrity Contractor Rebuilding Home to Withstand Fires. Aired 11:30-12p ET
Aired June 25, 2026 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:30:00]
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, inflation hit its highest level here in the United States in three years. New data showing that prices rose more than 4 percent over the past year, driven by high gas and food prices.
And Dolly Parton is officially in the travel stop business. She cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Dolly's Tennessean Travel Spot about an hour from Nashville, complete with butterfly confetti. She also took a little swipe at the competition, Buc-ee's, with a reference to its mascot.
[11:35:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOLLY PARTON, SINGER AND ACTRESS: I'm sure some of you are wondering why I wanted a truck stop. Well, I couldn't leave it to beavers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The Tennessean Travel Spot will also feature Dolly's Cup of Ambition coffee, and it's open 24/7, not 9:00 to 5:00.
And in Pennsylvania, a massive fire engulfed a former furniture factory. People who lived in the area were evacuated. It's unclear if anyone was hurt or how the fire started.
And there's more news happening now. Day three of talks between Israel and Lebanon, as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon threatens fragile diplomacy efforts between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. secretary of state, Marco Rubio, signaled this morning he believes Lebanon and Israel are close to what he called a commitment of intent. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: I think we had a very good day yesterday. I think we are very close in our hopes of getting a commitment of interest, of intent between the two countries that I think begin to outline a promising future. It'll be a process. It'll take some time. It'll take a lot of work. But I can tell you that for the first time in 30 years, the sovereign government of Lebanon is speaking to the government of Israel directly. That's who we're going to be negotiating with. That's who we're going to be working with, not Hezbollah. Hezbollah is not the government of Lebanon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: However, just yesterday, Israel's defense minister said Israel will not withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, even if the U.S. demands it. CNN global affairs analyst and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Karim Sadjadpour, is joining us right now. Karim, Secretary Rubio made a point of saying these talks are between the sovereign governments of Lebanon and Israel. What's your reaction to the U.S. keeping these talks separate from the Iran negotiations?
KARIM SADJADPOUR, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST, SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND IRAN EXPERT: It's a very good question, Wolf. And one of the big questions here is to what extent can the Lebanese government really exercise control over Lebanese Hezbollah? It really hasn't been able to do so before. Hezbollah has oftentimes been called a state within a state, and it seems to me that remains the case.
The other big question is, despite the public statements from Vice President Vance that we see signs of a transformation in the U.S.-Iran relationship, that Iran's revolutionary guards are starting to rethink their longtime animosity towards the United States and Israel. We don't see any signs of that. And in this context, we don't see any signs that Iran intends to exercise restraint over Lebanese Hezbollah.
BLITZER: So, what's your reaction to Israel saying it will not pull out of southern Lebanon, where they have troops, even if the United States demands it?
SADJADPOUR: It's a pretty remarkable development, Wolf, in that when this -- when Trump launched his war against Iran four months ago, it was obviously in conjunction with Israel. And at that time, a lot of critics accused President Trump of putting Israeli national interests before U.S. national interests. Now, you see Israeli officials saying they are not going to subordinate their own national security interests in order to help the United States preserve its deal with Iran.
So, it's just another sign of this really historic tension between two very close allies, the United States and the government of Israel.
BLITZER: Ultimately, Karim, is a nuclear deal possible with Iran if ending fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon is a prerequisite? Do you realistically see this part of the deal being resolved over the coming few weeks?
SADJADPOUR: There's zero chance, Wolf, that it's resolved in the coming few weeks. The question is, can it be resolved in the coming few months, perhaps? And even then, that's a big question mark, because again, I don't see any public signs that the Iranian regime is prepared to depart from its longtime ideology of resistance against the United States and resistance against Israel. BLITZER: As you know, Secretary of State Rubio has been in the region, still is, looking to try to reassure Arab Gulf allies about this U.S.-Iran agreement. He said they did not discuss the potential $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran during his meetings with the allies this week. How would this kind of investment in Tehran, $300 billion, potentially affect the status quo more broadly in the Middle East?
[11:40:00]
SADJADPOUR: Well, in virtually all of my conversations, Wolf, with senior Gulf officials, they are very skeptical of this idea that they should be paying reparations for a war which they didn't want and they were the victims of. You know, they received the incoming missile and drone fire from the Iranian government. And so, the idea that they're supposed to now pay $300 billion in investment in Iran, in all my conversations with them, they reject that idea.
So, I'm a little skeptical that that's going to happen. At the same time, these countries do want to de-conflict with Iran. And so, it's my sense that some of the statements from U.S. officials are a little more optimistic about the idea of both the quick deal being signed and the prospect of regional peace happening anytime soon.
BLITZER: All right. Karim Sadjadpour, thank you very, very much for joining us.
SADJADPOUR: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: And coming up, fireproof homes. We're going to take you inside Jonathan Scott's new project to rebuild houses that can withstand the elements after the Palisades fire destroyed his in-law's home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN SCOTT, CO-HOST, HGTV'S "PROPERTY BROTHERS": It's hard to see your loved ones in pain and everybody's experiencing it. Everybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
BLITZER: Happening now, we're waiting for a jury's verdict in the trial of the man accused of starting the deadly Palisades fire last year in Los Angeles. Prosecutors argue 30-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht was motivated in part by his anger toward wealthy people. Defense attorneys say he's a scapegoat because the fire department did not completely extinguish the initial fire. If convicted, Rinderknecht faces up to 45 years in prison.
As Los Angeles recovers from that fire, people are asking if houses there should be rebuilt differently. CNN's Elex Michaelson got an exclusive tour with the property brother Jonathan Scott showcasing a fireproofing technology that potentially could protect homes in the future.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONATHAN SCOTT, CO-HOST, HGTV'S "PROPERTY BROTHERS": I think it's a beacon of hope.
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Celebrity contractor Jonathan Scott is showing us a way to build homes he says are virtually fireproof, earthquake proof, tornado proof, and hurricane proof.
MICHAELSON: This is something that could be implemented all across the country, right?
SCOTT: Absolutely.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Jonathan and his brother Drew are known as "The Property Brothers." SCOTT: And it just looks fancier.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): For over 15 years, they've renovated hundreds of homes, including many on HGTV, which, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's really special?
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Jonathan is engaged to actress Zooey Deschanel.
ZOOEY DESCHANEL, ACTRESS: Get out. Don't look at me.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): She appeared in the Christmas classic "Elf."
DESCHANEL: So, that happened.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): And starred on FOX's "New Girl" for seven seasons. Zooey and her sister Emily, also an actress, grew up in L.A.'s Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
For 42 years, the Deschanels lived in this 100-year-old Spanish style home. This is what it looked like after January 7, 2025.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): The Palisades Fire killed 12 people and burned nearly 7,000 structures, including the Deschanels'.
SCOTT: It gets emotional.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
SCOTT: It's hard to see your loved ones in pain. And everybody's experiencing that. Everybody.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Soon after the fire, Jonathan returned to that home --
SCOTT: Just know that there is hope.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): -- to film a public service announcement for the city of Los Angeles. Around that same time, he first heard about a technology called RSG 3-D.
SCOTT: This wasn't a technology that was on my radar. I had seen it in, you know, industrial applications, but I didn't know it was available for residential.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Jonathan is now trying out that technology for the first time ever, while rebuilding his in-laws' home.
MICHAELSON: How does it work?
SCOTT: RSG is simply just no wood. You're building a structure that's reinforced steel with a polystyrene core, and it's concrete on the surface, both the inside and the outside.
The entire structure -- roof, walls, floors, everything -- is tied together. So, it's hyper-efficient, incredibly strong, and fireproof from both the inside and the outside.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Here are some examples of completed homes built with RSG 3-D technology. The Deschanel home should look almost identical to the way it did before the fire when construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.
SCOTT: It looks rough. I find it sexy. I think this looks really sexy.
MICHAELSON: It is sexy.
SCOTT: So, this is how it comes from the factory.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Scott says it takes about a third of the time to build like this, versus traditional wood.
SCOTT: So, it's way faster, and the cost is about 10 percent more than the traditional. But I would never have to deal with anything again. If anyone's ever had a flood or termites or rot.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
SCOTT: It doesn't affect us, because there's nothing organic in here.
MICHAELSON: Now, while the Deschanel House is being built over here with the new technology, just across the street, multiple homes are being built with old-school wood.
When you see that, that would literally across the street from you, what goes through your mind?
SCOTT: I'm like, am I crazy? Either we're ignorant or we're stupid.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): On the Same day as our visit, Jonathan shows off the technology to L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. He's also talking with insurance companies.
SCOTT: Tell us, if you build this way, we will make this neighborhood more insurable.
[11:50:00]
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Jonathan doesn't have any financial stake in this technology. He simply wants to use his sizable platform to increase awareness.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It used traditionally if you wanted a fully hardened home, it was going to be like twice the price. That's not the case anymore. It's just a matter of people don't know about it.
MICHAELSON: Right. And now they do. Thanks this the story.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now they do.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Elex Michaelson, CNN, Pacific Palisades, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Our thanks to Elex Michaelson for that report.
Coming up, chasing history. The U.S. has a chance to do what no other American men's soccer team has done in tonight's match against Turkey. That's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:55:00]
BLITZER: Happening now, it's game day for the U.S. soccer team. The Stars and Stripes will be back in action tonight against Turkey. But here's the catch. Because of how well the U.S. did in the first two games, tonight's result has no impact on whether the Americans will advance. They punched their ticket to the round of 32 after their second win against Australia. And Turkey has already been eliminated. Tonight's match could make history. If the U.S. wins, it will be the first time the men's team has won three back-to-back World Cup games.
Joining us now, CNN sports analyst and sports columnist at USA Today, Christine Brennan. Christine, thanks for joining us. What do you think America's strategy is going to be tonight in going into tonight's major match?
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST AND SPORTS COLUMNIST, USA TODAY: Well, if I think it's to not make many mistakes, to not get anyone injured, to make sure to not play the players who are on yellow cards, what that means is if they get another yellow card, they would have to miss the next game, which is the knockout round against Bosnia- Herzegovina. And so, just be smart. If you win, great. If you tie, great. If you lose, great.
Get some players who haven't been on the bench. Get them a chance to start. Again, because of those four players who are -- have yellow cards. Don't chance it. Don't put them in the game where they could possibly get the second one and then miss that all-important round of 32 knockout game next week, July 1st.
And then, you know, just kind of see how the team looks. You don't want to stop the momentum. So, that's the issue here, Wolf, as you know, in sports. It's great. You don't have to win. It doesn't matter. But it matters because you don't want everyone to just stop in their tracks and lose what you've got, which is a pretty good thing right now for the U.S.
BLITZER: Yes. Good, good point. The star attacker, Christian Pulisic, didn't play against Australia because of a calf injury, but he says now he's hoping to play tonight. What do you think?
BRENNAN: That's, again, the same kind of conversation we're having. Totally understandable for him to want to play. If he doesn't play, it will be 19 days from that first game to the game that I mentioned, the July 1st game now, all-important knockout round U.S. in that round of 32. That -- 19, that's almost three weeks of not playing. So, you want to shake off the rust. You want to get a chance to be out there.
But again, the flip side of that is with his calf injury, he says he's feeling good. I think you want to be careful. Obviously, the last thing that the U.S. wants at this moment, as you said, one of the greatest moments, maybe the greatest other than 1930, which even you and I don't remember, we weren't around, that this is this moment. You don't want to derail it by having Captain America injure himself again. So, that's a very tricky decision. It's why the coaching staff makes the money and makes the decisions they make.
I would expect we will see Christian Pulisic for a little bit so he gets out there, gets his chance to get his legs underneath him, but not in a situation where he could get injured again.
BLITZER: South Africa upset South Korea last night, and they are now heading to the knockout round. This would be for the first time. What did you make of that game?
BRENNAN: The soccer is funny. All sports are interesting, right? South Korea benched one of their top players, and everyone's still kind of wondering why they did that. South Korea is a better-known team. Many of their players, most of their players play outside of their country, in other words, in clubs around the world. But for South Africa, only seven of the 26 South African players play outside of South Africa, meaning it's not as well known. These players are not considered to be as good. And yet they rise to the occasion. First time ever South Africa's men are moving on to the knockout round.
Again, you know, when sports are good, they're great, as we say all the time. And this is one of those moments where you kind of can't believe it. But then the South Africans can, of course, cheer and have the joy that we see from so many other nations because they have pulled off a huge upset and they are moving on.
BLITZER: Let's look forward to a big game tomorrow. It's a clash of stars with France's Kylian Mbappe versus Norway's Erling Haaland in this third-round stage game -- third-group stage game, I should say. What's your prediction?
BRENNAN: France is really a terrific team. And Norway is one of the upstarts, one of the surprises of this tournament, for sure. Both have won their first two games. So, you know, undefeated teams coming to face each other, of course, European teams.
The -- you know, what is unique about this for me, because it's a 48- team field that you have superstars, of course, but you don't often see them play each other in the group stage because they're spread out and the best teams might have the best stars. So, therefore, though, you'll see them later in the tournament. In this case, you're seeing two of the greats, 25 years old, 27 years old, young men in their prime playing --
[12:00:00]
