Return to Transcripts main page

The Situation Room

Trump to Iran: Talks Can Continue, But "Cease Fire Is Over!"; Sources: Israel Warns U.S. Of Iranian Plot To Assassinate Trump; Senator Mitch McConnell Hospitalized; Katie Couric Reveals Temporary Amnesia Diagnosis. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired July 10, 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: Welcome back to our Situation Room special report. Just minutes ago, President Trump indicated that diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran are not dead. He posted on social media, and I'm quoting him now, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue talks. We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them in no uncertain terms that the ceasefire is over," end quote.

Also breaking, Israel alerts the U.S. that Iran is plotting to try to assassinate President Trump. We've seen many public calls in Iran for the president to be killed, including during this week's funeral events for the former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That may explain a late change in the president's travel plans this week. During this week's funeral events for the former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That may explain a late change in the president's travel plans this week.

[11:35:00]

On Tuesday, he arrived at the NATO summit in Turkey aboard the new Air Force One, the Qatar-gifted plane that you see on top. And just a day later, he departed Turkey to return to the U.S. aboard the old Air Force One, which you see on the bottom. During that summit, the president said more than once that he was Iran's top target for assassination.

All week, my co-anchor, Pamela Brown, has given us exclusive access aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. Today, she's bringing us onto an advanced defensive ship, the USS Frank Peterson, Jr. It's the closest Navy ship to Iran and is one of 12 destroyers that's been traveling to protect and shield the aircraft carrier. The destroyer is equipped with Tomahawk missiles and also has sea and air missile defensive capabilities. Pamela spoke with the captain of the USS Frank Peterson, Jr. about a previous encounter with an Iranian ship as well as the heightening tensions currently taking place with Iran. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: When this warship went through the Strait of Hormuz -- CAPTAIN CASEY MAHON, COMMANDING OFFICER, USS FRANK PETERSON JR.: This

is where all the action happened?

BROWN: Yes.

MAHON: Because that Strait is so constrained, normally I would be in combat and that's where I fight the ship in combat. But when we get closer to shore and it changes a bit and I have to worry about driving the ship in addition to fighting it with the weapons and the missiles and such, I'll actually sit up here. This is my chair that I have up here, right?

BROWN: OK.

MAHON: I have my screens. I have my radios and a little command center up here.

BROWN: Command center.

MAHON: And so, we did that. And, you know, we had folks that were on the bridge to bridge that were talking and answering the Iranians. We had some gunners on the bridge wings. We had actually one of our pilots was up here as well with me because we had our helicopter up that was keeping watch around us and making sure we were safe and stuff, and it all happened right up here.

BROWN: And so, the Iranians were threatening?

MAHON: Correct, yes. Yes. They told us, hey, you have to turn around within 30 minutes or we'll put fire on you. We kept going, obviously. We went to the other side of the Strait of Hormuz. So, we were in the Gulf for a little bit. We turned on our -- we have a thing called AIS, an information system. It's kind of like IFF but for ships. We turned that on and said, hey, we're out here, this is where we're at, and then we came back.

Had to go through what was potentially a minefield to get there, which was, you know, not something I had in my bingo card for things I would do in my life, go through a minefield, but we did that. We have some systems on board that are able to look at mines and find what they think might be mines, so we would maneuver around them.

BROWN: OK.

MAHON: Also had intelligence --

BROWN: So, you were maneuvering around mines?

MAHON: We did. We were -- if we'd see something, we'd take a hard right, we'd see something and take a hard left, as the case might be. We had a lot of lookouts that were up on topside, including our command master chief, he was up around the bow of the ship, looking out to make sure that if we saw anything in our way, we could move out of the way quickly.

BROWN: That must have felt very dangerous and scary. MAHON: Scary, yes, scary, yes.

BROWN: Yes.

MAHON: But you're trained to do it, you're ready to do it, and you had the systems to do it.

BROWN: Yes. And did they ever fire upon you?

MAHON: I can't get into the details, but we did have to take action a couple times. So, it was -- there was some excitement on the adventure.

BROWN: Are you seeing any change just over the last couple of days? Is this ceasefire, seems to be in tatters?

MAHON: I have not seen any changes, and I couldn't tell you the bigger picture, mostly because the ships that are here probably left weeks ago from their places where they were coming from, so you're kind of seeing the tail end of those voyages and such.

BROWN: I see. So, these ships that we're seeing, we don't know if they're going in or out, basically, right?

MAHON: Yes. I mean, they're there on the screens. We kind of have an idea where they're going, but they can turn around just as easily as they go one way or the other. So, you know, for all we know, they could be going up and then kind of coming back and forth.

BROWN: OK. But basically, where we are now, around 20 commercial vessels, and we are the closest Navy ship to Iran right now.

MAHON: Correct. You're right on what we call the picket line, the firing line right now. So, if Iran were to attack, you know, the U.S. Naval Forces, we'd be the first ones they'd be attacking.

BROWN: Right here, where we are?

MAHON: Right here where we are right now. But don't worry, our radars are working, our guns work, we have a lot of well-trained folks down below. I feel very safe at the moment. So, I wouldn't be here if I didn't.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And our thanks to Pamela for that interview. Thanks for her excellent, excellent reporting all week from the Arabian Sea.

And there's a lot of news happening this morning, including the latest on Senator Mitch McConnell coming up. CNN has brand-new reporting and exclusive new video from the day Senator McConnell ended up in the hospital, where he's been now for weeks. But his office continues to say, stay mum, ask questions, a lot of questions about the senator's health swirl.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [11:40:00]

BLITZER: We'll continue, of course, to monitor the situation in Iran, but another big story we're following this morning, a CNN exclusive. According to eyewitnesses that CNN has spoken with, Senator Mitch McConnell was taken out of his home on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. Those accounts are now backed up by new video that you see here. McConnell was taken to a nearby hospital. That was nearly a month ago and hasn't been seen publicly since, fueling a lot of questions and rumors about the Kentucky Republican's health.

Annie Grayer, the CNN reporter who obtained that video, is back with me here in the Situation Room. So, what else did these eyewitnesses tell you, Annie?

ANNIE GRAYER, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: So, the eyewitness I spoke to, Wolf, came out from their home on McConnell Street at 8.30 in the morning to see a lot of commotion. They saw two ambulances, a fire truck, and Capitol Police had blocked down the whole street.

So, this eyewitness walked over to a Capitol Police officer to ask what was going on, where they were told there is a medical emergency, but wouldn't specify who it was for. So, this person stood on the street along with some other neighbors to see what was going to develop, and about half an hour later, around 9:00 a.m. on June 14th, this eyewitness saw paramedics take somebody out of McConnell's home on a stretcher and into an ambulance.

And somebody nearby was able to get a shot of the person on that stretcher and confirm that it was Senator Mitch McConnell on the stretcher and into an ambulance. And somebody nearby was able to get a shot of the person on that stretcher and confirm that it was Senator Mitch McConnell.

[11:45:00]

Now, the reason why these little bits of information are so important is because we have gotten very little information about why McConnell was brought to the hospital on June 14th and why he remains there. There is EMS audio also from that day that details paramedics responding to somebody at McConnell's home who was apparently suffering from cardiac arrest and needed CPR.

But McConnell's office maintains that the senator is recovering. In fact, Republican senators have said that they've -- some Republican senators said they've spoken to McConnell, including Senate majority leader, John Thune, who said he spoke to McConnell for about 20 minutes.

But this whole episode, Wolf, really just puts into question how much transparency do lawmakers have to provide about their own medical conditions. It's obviously a very personal issue, but what transparency do they owe the public? And so, this firsthand account and the new video that I obtained help piece together a little bit more of this puzzle.

BLITZER: And I think I speak for all of us when we wish Senator McConnell a speedy, speedy recovery. Let's hope for the best.

GRAYER: Absolutely.

BLITZER: All right. Annie Grayer, excellent reporting. Thank you very, very much.

Also happening now, the journalist, Katie Couric, opening up about a really terrifying health scare. The 69-year-old says she was hospitalized recently after experiencing something called transient global amnesia. It is a sudden temporary episode of memory loss. And Katie Couric says, with absolutely no warning, she couldn't remember the date or even the names of her own family members.

I'm joined now by Dr. Leah Croll, the assistant professor of neurology at SUNY Downstate in New York. Dr. Croll, thanks so much for joining us.

Katie had actually moderated two panels earlier that day in Aspen, Colorado. But then suddenly she couldn't recall basic facts, calling the whole experience what she described as a black hole in her memory. And she wrote, and I'm quoting her once again, "It was Saturday, June 27, 2026. But when I was asked the month and the year and who was president, I got them wrong. I wasn't sure of the month. I thought it was 2024. And I believe Joe Biden was president," end quote.

Dr. Croll, walk us through what is physically happening to the brain during an episode, a scary episode like this.

DR. LEAH CROLL, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY, SUNY DOWNSTATE: Well, Wolf, what's going on during an episode like this is a temporary malfunctioning in the hippocampus. That's the brain's memory control system. And what that produces is prominent anterograde amnesia. That means an inability to form new memories or retain new information.

And so, very commonly, patients will have this experience of asking the same questions over and over again because they can't hold on to that piece of information that, hey, something really weird is happening to me. So, you'll hear them ask, where am I? How did I get here? What's going on? To a variable degree, some people may also have retrograde amnesia, which is an inability to recall memories from the recent past as well.

BLITZER: Do we know, Dr. Croll, what actually triggers this, what's called transient global amnesia, or can it just happen out of the blue?

DR. CROLL: It definitely happens out of the blue. By definition, this is a sudden onset episode, meaning one second you're fine, the next you're not. Biologically, we do not have a good understanding of why this happens. It's a real medical mystery. Some triggers have been identified, particularly extreme physical or emotional stress, so something like a really strenuous workout or a big emotional shock may bring this on, but you don't necessarily need a trigger to precipitate this episode.

BLITZER: How long, Dr. Croll, do these episodes typically last? And once it passes, do those lost memories ever come back, or are they gone for good?

DR. CROLL: So, these episodes can last up to 24 hours. Most people are feeling back to their normal selves within six hours, though. And what's really interesting about this is that people will regain their memories, they will go back to their normal selves once the episode is completed, but there will be this sort of black hole or blank spot during the hours that the episode was actually occurring. So, the only memories that end up permanently lost for most people are the memories of the episode itself.

BLITZER: When people hear the word amnesia, they immediately worry about dementia or strokes. Is this tied to any other major health issue, or is it simply a warning sign of perhaps a worse brain health down the road?

DR. CROLL: This is such an important question here, because what TGA is not, it is not a stroke, it is not a seizure, it is not a brain tumor, it is not a harbinger of dementia, and it doesn't increase your risk for problems with brain health or neurologic conditions down the line. So, the prognosis is excellent. People do extremely well with this. For most people, it's just a very strange, terrifying blip that they've experienced.

But I want people to know that if you think this is happening to you or someone near you, you do want to call 911 immediately because these patients have to be looked at for more serious neurologic emergencies like a stroke.

[11:50:00]

So, they have to go to the emergency room, get brain scans, be observed, and make sure we're not missing something more dangerous than transient global amnesia.

BLITZER: Very good advice. Dr. Leah Croll, thank you very much. And Katie, by the way, is a very good friend. We wish her only, only the very, very best. We'll have more news right after this.

DR. CROLL: Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We're continuing to follow the latest developments on a potential assassination plot by Iran against President Trump.

[11:55:00]

Sources tell CNN Israel shared intelligence with the U.S. revealing Iran had devised a new plan to assassinate President Trump. The U.S. has not confirmed the plot, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, and details have not been released.

Joining us now in the Situation Room to discuss is CNN political commentator Michael Smerconish. He's the host of CNN Smerconish and the Michael Smerconish program on SiriusXM. Michael, thanks to have you with us. Some American officials have suggested this Israeli report could be an effort to sway President Trump's decision making. What are your thoughts?

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN HOST, SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND HOST "MICHAEL SMERCONISH PROGRAM" ON SIRIUSXM: I think you have to err on the side that it's credible information and take the Iranians at face value. Don't forget that in the Ahmadi funeral proceeding, they were chanting for Trump's death and they unfurled a banner saying we will kill Trump. The switch of the Air Force Ones I think tells us all wolf that the Secret Service found this to be credible.

At the same time, and as you point out, you know, the intel is being questioned relative to the launch that we initiated on February 28. There's been a lot of reporting suggesting that we were sold the bill of goods because for so long the Israelis were eager for an American president, any American president to take that shot.

BLITZER: Today, President Trump posted on social media that the U.S. has agreed to an ask by the Iranians to continue peace talks. But he reiterated that the ceasefire in his word is, quote, "over." How fruitful do you expect the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran will be, assuming they're resumed?

SMERCONISH: I hope that they are talking. I think it's an important step that not only perhaps the blockade should be reinstituted, the bombing should be reinstituted. But we always want them to talk because the only fourth option that I can think of is boots on the ground. And I'm loathe to see us go in that direction.

So, you know, I take the president at his word. By the same token, he always seems to leave the door open for further negotiation. And I think that's a good thing.

BLITZER: I want to switch gears a little bit and talk about Mitch McConnell, if I can. Michael, new video confirms eyewitness accounts that the Republican senator was loaded onto an ambulance by first responders at his Washington home. He's been in the hospital now hospital now for nearly a month. And some Republicans say they don't even know if he's alive. Take a listen to what Indiana Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman had to say. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MARLIN STUTZMAN (R-IN): As a Republican, I think we need to hold our own party accountable. And so, the fact that we haven't heard anything really from Senator McConnell is very discouraging and concerning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know that he's alive?

STUTZMAN: I don't. You know, just the things that I've heard and seen from some friends is that he's obviously not doing well, but don't know if he's alive or has passed away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: What do you think, Michael, is going on here? Does the public deserve to know what's happening with Senator McConnell's health? SMERCONISH: Absolutely. It is not too much to ask of a public servant with a one-month absence that there is an explanation that's offered to the public. Look, I keep hearing Kenny Rogers in my head. You got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. And I say this with great respect and wishing Godspeed for a recovery for whatever may hail the man.

But too many of them stay too long and, you know, rattle off both sides of the aisle. We can talk about Dianne Feinstein. We can talk about President Biden. We can talk about Mitch McConnell. And they do harm to their legacy. I mean, that's the sad reality, and nobody wants to flat out say it. I'll say it.

And I put blame not only on those individuals, but also on those around them. Why doesn't somebody say it's time? It's a hell of a run, but it's time.

BLITZER: Yes. Good point. Before I let you go, Michael, I want to quickly ask you about Graham Platner. After suspending his campaign this week over accusations of rape, the Democrat, according to a new reporting from Axios, will officially file paperwork to withdraw from the main Senate race on Monday. That's the last day for him to drop out of the race. How big of a mess is this for Democrats?

SMERCONISH: I watched that 11-minute explanation of his, and it was painful. And it was painful because he blames everyone and everything except for himself. He played the victim card as if he's the victim in all of this. He wasn't forthcoming. The vetting was terrible. Too many Democrats stuck with him for far too long, and in my opinion, the tattoo should've been a deal breaker.

BLITZER: Yes, good point. Michael Smerconish, thank you as usual for joining us. And a reminder to our viewers, be sure to check out Michael's show, "Smerconish," tomorrow morning, 9:00 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN. It is excellent.

And thanks to all of you for joining us this morning. You can always keep up with us on social media, @wolfblitzer, @pamelabrowncnn. We'll see you back here Monday morning, 10:00 a.m. Easter. Our special coverage of the escalating war with Iran continues now on Inside Politics with our friend and colleague, Dana Bash.

[12:00:00]