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Kushner Met with Netanyahu to Save Gaza Peace Plan; Trump Suggests Economic Pressure Key Part of Iran Strategy; Sources: Trump's PAC to Help Boost Vulnerable Republicans; Trump Orders U.S. to Scale Back Drills with Ally S. Korea. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired August 17, 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, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now the deadliest that that nation has ever seen. Health officials say the disease has killed at least 2,300 people with nearly 5,000 confirmed cases. There aren't any vaccines or treatments for the strain of Ebola driving this outbreak.

And a Kansas town is paying very close attention to a million dollars to try to end a federal lawsuit over a police raid on a newspaper. Authorities searched the offices of the Marion County Record back in 2023, saying they were investigating the paper's practices. But a former reporter claimed the raid was unconstitutional. The town of Marion is paying $850,000 to end the lawsuit, one of five filed against the county, the city and local officials.

And baseball has lost a man whose career helped revolutionize the sport. Tommy John has died at the age of 83. The legendary pitcher played an incredible 26 seasons, but his greatest legacy may be a career-saving surgery on his pitching elbow back in 1974. The experimental procedure now known as Tommy John surgery has helped preserve or extend many other careers in the big leagues.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. envoy Jared Kushner there will be no Israeli withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed. That's according to a senior official. Kushner and Netanyahu met this morning for four hours. Kushner was also in Cairo just yesterday for a rare meeting with the new Hamas leader. He's trying to salvage a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza.

With us now is Ambassador Dennis Ross. He's a former special assistant to President Obama and was special Middle East coordinator in the Clinton administration. He's also the author of "Statecraft 2.0" and is now counselor at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Thanks for coming on, Ambassador. So, do you think Kushner and Trump can get Israel on board for this agreement?

AMB. DENNIS ROSS, COUNSELOR, THE WASHINGTON INST. FOR NEAR EAST POLICY AND U.S. SPECIAL MIDDLE EAST COORDINATOR, CLINTON ADMIN.: Well, Pamela, there's a paradox because Bibi is saying publicly there'll be no withdrawal until after Hamas is disarmed, and yet the 15 points which publicly he said he hasn't accepted or that Israel won't accept doesn't ask Israel to withdraw from Gaza until after Hamas has been fully disarmed.

He creates, I think, frequently an image that he is not saying yes to the U.S. so that this has a kind of domestic political consumption that's good for him, even at the same time when he actually goes along with many of the things that are being asked. For example, what is being asked in the 15 points was that he would stop, Israel would stop the targeted killings.

For a week or so, they did that. They resumed with a couple, but that was in the aftermath of Hamas actually not doing anything with regard to the decommissioning. He also actually withdrew Israeli forces from what was, had become known as the Orange Line back to the Yellow Line, which is what they are asked to do in the context of the 15 points.

[11:35:00]

And he also went ahead privately and after months of not approving, allowed an area around Rafah to begin to be built by the UAE.

So, on the one hand, publicly, I think for domestic political consumption, he says no to the 15 points, and then privately many of the things that are being asked, he quietly agrees to. Now, I think that Jared Kushner was in Cairo meeting with Hamas, which is itself quite a story. No American administration ever dealt directly with Hamas. The Trump administration is dealing directly with Hamas because they're seen as the critical partner dealing with. It crosses a threshold.

I think his focus with them was you have to begin the process of decommissioning, which is not the same necessarily as disarmament, but it's, Hamas is supposed to turn weapons over to what is a Palestinian- directed group, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. The International Stabilization Force, which is not yet in Gaza, is supposed to then watch over this and ensure that weapons that are turned over, not destroyed but turned over, can't then be accessed by Hamas.

I think the focus of Jared's trip in Cairo was very much to get Hamas to commit to, not just in words but indeed, the process of decommissioning and beginning that in a very visible, open way so he can then use that with Prime Minister Netanyahu to get the Israelis to move on obligations that they must sign up to.

BROWN: All right. So, let's just take a step back. I mean, given everything laid out, do you think it's in America's best interest then to just wait a few months and see what happens in the Israeli elections this fall instead of pushing for a public resolution now?

ROSS: I think it's a really good question. There is no doubt when I say that Bibi is focused very much on addressing his political base in Israel and the election overall, he's not going to do anything in a very visible way between now and October 7th, 27. That said, I think you don't just want everything to be put on hold. If you can begin a process, I think there's value in it. You just shouldn't have a false set of expectations about how much can be achieved before the Israeli election.

BROWN: So, I want to move to the Iran war for a moment. President Trump is now threatening to bomb Oman if it interferes with the U.S., the Strait of Hormuz. Oman has been in talks with Iran, but why threaten to bomb an ally like this? This is actually the second time he has done this since the war started.

ROSS: Well, the only explanation can possibly be that Oman is about to agree to something with Iran that would give the Iranians some continuing control over the Strait of Hormuz. So, clearly the president doesn't want them to do that. It doesn't occur to me that he would actually have to bomb Oman to get them not to go along with an agreement that we oppose. But the president is, shall we say, someone who likes to threaten with strong words and with a threat of force.

I do worry that the more you threaten that, and then when you don't follow through, those kinds of threats increasingly begin to ring hollow.

BROWN: Ambassador Dennis Ross, thank you for your time. Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Pamela, coming up, how the Midwest could be won. Republicans have turned several heartland states red these past few elections, but Democrats think November will be their chance to turn things around. The longtime Democratic insider Rahm Emanuel standing by live to join us. We'll discuss that and more when we come back.

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[11:40:00]

BLITZER: Happening now, President Trump is set to give millions of dollars from his personal political action committee to vulnerable Republicans this November. That, according to two people familiar with his plans. And this comes as some top campaign advisors privately acknowledge that Republicans' chances of keeping control of both the House and the Senate are dwindling.

Joining us now is Rahm Emanuel, CNN's senior political and global affairs commentator. Rahm, thanks very much for joining us.

RAHM EMANUEL, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR, FORMER OBAMA WH CHIEF OF STAFF AND CHICAGO MAYOR AND FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN: Thanks, Wolf. Yes.

BLITZER: One person familiar with the discussions that are ongoing right now says that the first tranche of cash could be some 30 million dollars. Will President Trump's money be enough, you think, to overcome the headwinds facing the Republicans right now?

EMANUEL: No, I don't believe so, because I think the dye is pretty cast out here in the election. And I think this is very similar to '06, unpopular war, unpopular war, spiking gas prices, ethic scandals, dropping income and wages. Very similar to '06.

And there is a burst happening because people, and there's a referendum on Donald Trump and the rubber stamp Republicans, and they're going to get a whooping because people are very angry that the president is doing things like fighting a war in Iran that was a war of choice and not focusing on the economy. And the economy is helping a lot of people that are very wealthy, but not actually helping middle class families that go paycheck to paycheck.

So, I think the $30 million is a Band-Aid on what's coming, and they know it's coming. And inside Republicans are saying it because there is going to be a vote on what the president has done and not done. And you see it in every survey. Very energetic Democratic base, independence breaking two to one for Democrats, and Republicans are going to stay home because they're dejected by how the president has taken his eye off the ball.

[11:45:00]

BLITZER: As you know, there is concern among some top campaign advisors that Republicans may not be able to secure both the House and the Senate after the midterm elections in November. Is there a good reason for that concern for these Republicans?

EMANUEL: A hundred percent. If you look at midterm elections, '94, '06, '08, 2010, 2018, the dynamics of law of physics has set up where, as I said, real energy, you can see it playing across the board among Democratic voters. Independents are breaking two to one for Democrats, and Republicans are staying home. That's why the Democrats have gone 12 for 12 in statewide elections since November.

But Wolf, let me give you a third category nobody's talking about. The state house races, the constitutional officers, governor offices, what I call the farm team bucket. Yes, you look at the House and the Senate, but out in the country, the Iowa governorship, the Ohio governorship, the state capital races for control of the state house in either Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, across the country, that farm team category of races that are not on the Washington media's radar. That's where Democrats are going to create candidates for 2030, 2032, and beyond. And that is also going to be a major Democratic victory.

BLITZER: As you know, Rahm, there is a growing faction of Democrats, the people who are called the Democratic Socialists of America, who could potentially change the direction of the entire party. The House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, said while he does not support the Democratic Socialists of America's agenda, their members would be part of a, quote, "broad caucus should they win general elections in November." Who is the voice of the Democratic Party that can rally all of these various Democrats together?

EMANUEL: Well, that's what a presidential process will happen. You'll get a nominee that will create the direction of the party, the brand for the party, and the agenda for the party. And that will happen in that process.

But I do think, look, this midterm election, Wolf, is a referendum on the Republicans. 2028 is a choice election, not a referendum. And the Democrats, as I said, there's a resistance to all Trump. I believe firmly, which is why I've been laying out ideas, that we have to have a renewal and show the American people we can fight for America, not just fight Donald Trump.

Meaning a $20 minimum wage by 2030, an ethics package where congressmen, presidents, their cabinet, and the Supreme Court and the other court justices, can't trade stocks. An energy policy where 30 percent of our energy is renewables by 2030. An agenda that looks forward. Because the truth is, we've had two presidents who've been looking backwards trying to restore a path that's not coming. We should actually be focused on a future that we can create where more Americans have success.

And the party, there's a pragmatic wing, there's a progressive wing. We both agree the system is rigged against families that go paycheck to paycheck and try to make ends meet. But the Democratic Socialists, you know, three weeks ago in Chicago, they had a convention.

Run on your own ticket. If you're confident people want it, we'll see you in November. If you think they want defunding the police, letting prisoners out, I'll see you in November on the ballot. And if you're confident that that's what people want, go for it. Now, somebody who's created health care for people with pre-existing condition for President Obama, or the 10 million kids without health care and took on the insurance company, we should offer an idea on health care cost control that also allow people, early retirees, to buy in to Medicare. But have an agenda, have it a fight, and the nominee will set the direction for the party going into the battle of 2028 for control of the House, the Senate, and the White House.

BLITZER: In addition to being the former mayor of Chicago, the former Obama White House chief of staff, you're also the former U.S. ambassador to Japan. A question on South Korea, not very far away from Japan, the President. President Trump has decided to scale back traditional joint military exercises with South Korea, and he did so just hours before the drills were supposed to start.

The president cited his positive relationship with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, along with South Korea's lack of assistance to the U.S. in the war with Iran. How significant is this, and what message does this send to the region out there?

EMANUEL: Wolf, this degrades America's deterrence. Full stop. Not just in the Indo-Pacific, there primarily, but also around the world. You have South Korea drill, these are months in planning. You have now South Korea facing a nuclear North Korea, and we just said America's not reliable. Japan, which is the long pole of our policy in the Indo- Pacific, looked at this and how we're making this type of bet on America's credibility, when they're not even with 18,000 U.S. troops based in South Korea pulling back.

[11:50:00]

You have the Philippines constantly being harassed by China in the South China Sea. You have China just recently launching a nuclear- tipped missile in the Indo-Pacific. To our allies, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, this is a degradation of our deterrence and our credibility, and less than 24 hours after saying that, he says he's going to bomb the crap out of Oman. He said something else.

This is horrendous for the country, because the president constantly is putting his own personal interests ahead of America's national security interests. And it's dangerous for the men and women. We have 50,000 troops in Japan, 18,000 in Korea. We have -- Philippines is a treaty ally. This is putting at risk America's national security interests and all the men and women who have sworn to take the oath to defend not only the but pursue our national security interests.

I can't tell you how reckless this is. And what's worse is literally the United States Republican Congress and Senate are like the three monkeys, see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil. There needs to be a checkmate on the president's recklessness, because it is degrading the word of America that's being tested all around by China. All right. Rahm Emanuel, thanks very much for joining us.

BROWN: We'll be right back.

EMANUEL: Thanks, Wolf.

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[11:55:00]

BROWN: A shocking loss this morning. Actress Hayden Panettiere has died just days before her 37th birthday. Her father confirmed the news in a statement calling her an incredible light and force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her.

Panettiere was found unresponsive in a South Carolina apartment complex Sunday and the local coroner says her autopsy is now underway. CNN Entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister joins us now. And Elizabeth, despite her age, she had such a long career.

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Pam. This is such a tragic, tragic story. And as you said, Hayden Panettiere was in the public eye for her entire life. Her mother actually started taking her on auditions when she was just an infant. And by the time that was five years old, she had starred in 50 commercials. She started on soap operas and then she really broke out big on the show "Heroes," which was a massive hit, and then the show "Nashville," which was another big hit. She was also known for the "Scream" franchise.

But despite how successful she was in the entertainment industry, she was really living a very dark personal life. And that is something, Pam, that she came out and spoke about later in her life. In fact, she wrote a memoir that came out just three months ago. And that is part of the reason why her death is so shocking, because fans of her had just seen her on this press tour, where she seemed to be doing a lot better.

She spoke about all of her personal struggles, everything from addiction and substance abuse to domestic violence. She suffered postpartum depression and said that she almost died while she was giving birth. She had a strange relationship with her mother. So, a very tough life.

But I want to show you a clip of her talking on a podcast when she was promoting her book. She was talking about how her role on that television series Nashville mirrored her own life. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAYDEN PANETTIERE, ACTRESS: Everything started matching up from who Juliet Barnes was dating to being an alcoholic, to postpartum depression, to losing her child, basically abandoning her child. Then it was like, OK, this you guys are just mirroring my life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WAGMEISTER: You heard her say there on the show, abandoning her child. But what she was referring to is that in real life, she actually willingly gave up custody of her daughter because she said that was the best thing for her child because she was unable to properly take care of her. Hayden did say that her and her daughter had a great relationship. Her daughter is 11 years old, and she leaves her behind. So just incredibly, incredibly tragic, Pam.

BROWN: So sad. Elizabeth Wagmeister, thank you so much.

BLITZER: And before we go, Pamela, I just want to honor someone who spent so many years with all of us behind the scenes here at CNN, the managing the massive effort of our global coverage that often is required. Alec Miran our longtime colleague and good friend, died unexpectedly on Friday. Alec led our special events department for decades and was behind so many of the stories that helped define CNN over these years, from Tiananmen Square to natural disasters, pandemic town halls, presidential debates and summits, and much, much more.

Alec always made sure we had the people and the resources in place to cover big stories for our global audience. He was the kind of producer everyone wanted to work with and learn from. Alec and I worked together on many, many of the big assignments over the years.

[12:00:00]

Here's a photo of us in the Situation Room set in Geneva, Switzerland, just before his retirement back in 2021. That was Alec's final assignment for CNN. Alec was 69 years old. He's survived by his wife Debbie, his children Blair, Brett, and Mark, and his grandchildren. Our deepest, deepest condolences to his family. May he rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing.

And thank you very much for joining us this morning. You can always keep up with us on social media @wolfblitzer and @pamelabrowncnn.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: We'll see you back here tomorrow morning and every weekday morning at 10 Eastern. Inside Politics with our friend and colleague, Dana Bash, starts now.