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Lakers Family Feud; Border Construction Project Paused; Iran Makes New Demands. Aired 10:30a-11a ET

Aired August 18, 2026 - 10:30   ET

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

[10:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Happening now: More than a dozen current and former Penn State students face charges over an alleged cocaine ring at off-campus fraternity houses.

Authorities say, between 2023 and 2024, senior members of Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi smuggled kilos of cocaine from Philadelphia and New York and forced new pledges to cut and bag the drugs. In an official statement, Penn State says it's horrified by these allegations, adding that criminal activity, including hazing, has no place there, and that it's cooperating with law enforcement.

[10:35:00]

Other news, in Toledo, Ohio, firefighters are battling a massive fire after an explosion at an industrial recycling facility. The blast ruptured chemical tanks and made part of the building collapse. Two workers are still unaccounted for. Officials are still investigating the cause.

And new never-before-seen footage of El Chapo has just been released. Mexican media say it shows the notorious drug kingpin just moments after his arrest back in 2016. And you can see him washing his hair in a sink while being guarded and what appears to be him undergoing interrogation.

He's serving a life sentence at Colorado's Supermax. CNN has not independently verified the footage -- Pamela.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: All right, Wolf, new this morning, Iran's top negotiator is setting out a new set of demands to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This list has been whittled down to just a few key ones, including removing the blockade of Iran's ports.

President Trump posted on social media a short time ago that: "There are no talks with Iran right now. The blockade remains in full effect and the strait is open."

That appears to contradict what White House envoy and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JARED KUSHNER, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY: But, obviously, they're engaging in a very -- in a very strong way, and that's quite positive. But we're not there yet on an understanding.

And President Trump's going to be very patient. He's -- he doesn't like to make -- he doesn't want to rush to a deal. He will make the right deal when the right deal is ready. But we are having very positive and active conversations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Global confidence in a solution appears shaky right now. You can see the price of oil is more than $90 a barrel both in the U.S. and globally. And that isn't helping gas prices either. The national average creeped up to $4.07 a gallon. That's up from $3.99 a month ago.

So let's go strait to CNN senior White House reporter Betsy Klein.

Where do things stand? What else is the president saying about the Iran war today, Betsy?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Pamela, right now what we are getting are contradictory messages and a real lack of urgency toward ending this conflict.

Yesterday, the memorandum of understanding reached between the U.S. and Iran officially expired with no nuclear deal, no clear strategy to end this conflict, and the Strait of Hormuz, that critical oil thoroughfare, still severely restricted.

Now, the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the thorniest issues in this conflict. Prior to this war, there -- no one had full control over this waterway. But now President Trump says that he wants to declare it a U.S. territory and that the U.S. would own it.

He posted on social media a little while ago a map of the Strait of Hormuz that said -- quote -- "new U.S. territory." But maritime law experts have really been skeptical as to whether he is able to do this.

Meanwhile, we are hearing from Iranian officials spelling out new key demands for that strait, and that includes the end of the U.S. blockade that's been in place for a couple of months now, the release of frozen assets, as well as removal of oil sanctions, and the end of military threats and operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Now, as you just said, top negotiator Jared Kushner has been painting a relatively rosy picture of the state of these negotiations. He said that they are more robust than they had ever been. He described the conversations as active.

President Trump just yesterday said that there were back-channel discussions with the IRGC, but today casting a very different and contradictory tone in this new post to social media, where he says -- quote -- "There are no talks or conversations going on or scheduled with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The naval blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating, and all water mines have been removed or detonated."

Now, yesterday, President Trump specifically said that the midterm elections aren't factoring into his thinking, but this is clearly a political issue for this White House. The president's approval rating stands at just 33 percent, according to a new poll.

Gas prices are at their highest since July, all of that weighing on this White House and Republicans here in Washington and across the country, as the president makes very clear he is in no rush to get to a resolution, Pamela.

BROWN: All right, Betsy Klein, thanks so much -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Let's continue the conversation with CNN senior military analyst the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis.

Admiral, thanks so much for joining U.S.

President Trump says there are no talks ongoing right now. Trump's envoy Jared Kushner, on the other hand, indicated just yesterday that talks were, in fact, taking place. At the same time, Iran is narrowing its demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Is there any way for these two sides to get things back on track?

ADM. JAMES STAVRIDIS (RET.), CNN SENIOR MILITARY ANALYST: Yes. My own assessment is, it's a two in three chance that ultimately we're going to get to a deal here, because neither side, Wolf, has an incentive to continue on and on and on into the war.

[10:40:06]

And I think, if, as reported, this new set of demands, you used the term narrowing, that's a very good sign, because what I didn't see on that list, for example, was a demand that all U.S. forces leave the region. I didn't see a demand for massive reparations.

What you see, and you put it up again, are within the realm of a conversation that I think could lead to a deal. So I think the bad news is, apparently, there are no robust conversations. The good news is, if this is the new narrowed list of demands, I think there's trade space in there to get to yes.

BLITZER: I want to shift to Gaza for a moment, Admiral.

Jared Kushner saying now that he thinks Hamas, Hamas, will begin disarming soon. But he also notes it's on Hamas to follow through if they're really serious about peace. Will that be enough to get Israel back to seriously rejoin these talks over implementing these proposals for a Gaza peace plan?

STAVRIDIS: Short answer is, I hope so. I have seen also reported that a U.S. general officer, a general, will be supervising this disarmament. If Hamas has accepted that, that's a good sign.

But, overall, Wolf -- and you know this as well as I do from decades covering Israel -- we're now in the Israeli election cycle. It is very close to October, just as it is to the midterms here in the United States in November. And you can just feel that dial turning toward all politics are local.

So, the Israeli political cycle is going to begin to activate both here and to the north in Hezbollah and make it more difficult to get to yes until Israel gets through that election, in my view.

BLITZER: Yes, the parliamentary, the Knesset election scheduled for October 27 in Israel, which will be critical to see which party, which leader gets the majority 61 seats in order to form the next government in Israel. Will it be Netanyahu or someone else?

Would success with this agreement help get other countries, first of all, to sign on to what's called the Abraham Accords, which were negotiated during the first Trump administration, normalizing relations between Israel and several key Arab states?

STAVRIDIS: Yes, it would.

And, again, if I'm correct that we have got a two in three chance of ultimately getting to a deal, that augurs well for continued progress toward -- the ultimate prize in the Abraham Accords would be for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel.

Now, that may require steps toward a Palestinian state. That will have additional hurdles to get over. But if we could just get the region calmed down, I think you could then make progress in Gaza, Lebanon, maybe even in the Southern Arabian Peninsula with the Houthis down there.

BLITZER: Good point.

Admiral James Stavridis, thanks, as usual, for joining us.

STAVRIDIS: You bet.

BLITZER: Pamela.

BROWN: And coming up here, Wolf, in THE SITUATION ROOM: The government pauses a controversial border construction project. We have the very latest on why the bulldozers are idle.

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[10:48:03]

BLITZER: Happening now: Federal contractors are pumping the brakes in Big Bend.

The government has paused all construction in the Southwest Texas National Park while the project site is evaluated. Today, the U.S. Border commissioner, Rodney Scott, will meet with a local bipartisan group of officials over the agency's controversial security plans in the region.

Joining us now, former Big Bend National Park Superintendent Bob Krumenaker.

Bob, thanks so much for joining us.

What are your expectations about today's meeting with the CBP commissioner?

BOB KRUMENAKER, FORMER BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK SUPERINTENDENT: Well, Wolf, I'm glad to be here, and I'm very hopeful, but I refuse to have any expectations.

We've seen a lot of statements from CBP and Mr. Scott in the past that have not come to fruition. He last week called the activity in the park something other than construction. So, when he's pausing all construction, we hope he means he's pausing everything.

But I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic that he will realize that there are no benefits and massive costs, both financially and environmentally, and to the spirit of the American people. This is a place that they have thought was forever protected for their benefit, and it's being threatened, if not destroyed, by their actions right now.

BLITZER: The cost of the entire project is expected to exceed $7 billion and will be covered by funds allocated under Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, as it's called.

What would you and other locals like to see instead?

KRUMENAKER: Well, I want to be clear that I, as the former superintendent and also as the chair of Keep Big Bend Wild, which is a small activist group, we are favor -- in favor of border security.

And, in fact, I testified last year before Congress that border security is already working at Big Bend National Park. So we'd like to see the heavy equipment removed. If they would come back with a plan that says, we will augment the existing system of wireless sensors, I think people would be in favor of that.

[10:50:05]

If they want to put more boots on the ground, there's only two or three Border Patrol agents there. They have trouble recruiting and retaining people. So, building all this infrastructure that requires patrol and monitoring when they don't have the staff, it doesn't make sense.

The sheriffs have pointed out that high altitude-drones are working in other parts of the border very effectively, and they're not even detectable on the ground. So, things that enhance border security at reasonable cost that don't actually negatively impact the national park, that's a win for everybody.

BLITZER: We have seen protesters pushing back against the construction, saying the security measures aren't necessary because of the natural terrain.

Were you aware of any early consultation between local officials and the agency?

KRUMENAKER: I am not.

I will say that the park superintendents have traditionally had good relationships with the Border Patrol sector. And I do know that the current park superintendent has been asked for his input, but he also has to work for the current administration, so I'm sure he's somewhat limited in what he can say.

But, really, the border sheriffs of the area, who are very pro-border security, very knowledgeable of the area, bipartisan, they have long said, talk to us. The county judges, which in Texas are the elected county executives, all up and down the border from El Paso to the Gulf of Mexico have all said, talk to us. We know the terrain. We care about border security.

And the National Park Service, which is responsible for not just Big Bend National Park, but the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River downstream, we'd like to be at the table. I'm no longer with the Park Service, but, really, we are representing another hugely important American value.

And, right now, this is all being driven unilaterally by one side. So, Mr. Scott says he's going to meet with stakeholders. That's great. We don't know if the National Park Service will be involved in that meeting. We hope so. We hope that they can speak candidly.

BLITZER: In your view, Bob, what would be the impact if CBP, Customs and Border Protection, resumes construction and moves forward with this project?

KRUMENAKER: Well, first of all, it'd be a huge loss in trust. There isn't very much right now to the federal government.

And having worked for the federal government for 41 years, that really pains me. But the impact to the park, as well as the surrounding communities, would be massive. This is one of the wildest places in the United States. It is Texas' gift to the nation, and they gave it to the United States in the 1930s with the expectation it would be forever protected for their grandchildren and their grandchildren's grandchildren.

Massive impacts on wildlife and massive impacts on groundwater. Presumably, they're going to have to provide water for construction and for man camps and huge visual impacts. We don't know yet whether they plan lighting or not, but this is the darkest night sky in the entire United States. And it's a major part of the tourism industry.

So people who depend on the tourism to Big Bend National Park are really concerned that the attraction of the park because it is so wild will forever be lost if they continue.

BLITZER: Bob Krumenaker, thanks so much for joining us. Appreciate it -- Pamela.

KRUMENAKER: Thank you, Wolf.

BROWN: All right, Wolf, here's what's coming up all new at the top of the hour.

At least one person is dead, more than 100 homes damaged, and tens of thousands of people are without power in Hawaii after Hurricane Lala. We're going to talk to the governor about the biggest needs right now as communities pick up the pieces.

Plus, new information about Hayden Panettiere's death, new audio of the moment authorities arrived on the scene.

And CNN is the first media outlet allowed inside a Patriot missile defense system on Ukrainian soil. Our exclusive reporting on a situation that has put millions of civilians at risk.

That's all new next hour.

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[10:58:46]

BROWN: Happening now: A multibillion-dollar family feud is heating up over the record-breaking sale of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Controlling owner and governor Jeanie Buss is now fighting with her family over the remaining stake in the team.

BLITZER: Let's go live right now to CNN Sports anchor Andy Scholes.

Andy, an intriguing twist here. So where do things stand right now?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, Wolf and Pam, certainly a lot of drama brewing with this Lakers sale now.

Last week, majority owner Mark Walter, he announced he was selling the Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner at a $12.5 billion valuation. Well, the Buss family still owns 17.8 percent of the team. And there was A provision when they sold the team to Walter last year that said, if he sold, they could tag along at the same valuation.

Well, five Buss kids decided to do just that in a vote, but Jeanie Buss didn't join that vote and is now contesting her siblings' right to sell, according to a person familiar with the matter.

And Jeanie maintains that a 2017 court order stated that the Lakers could not be sold without her and Joey Buss' approval. Jeanie had a deal with Walter to remain the governor of the team until 2030, and Iger said he would honor that deal unless things change. Jeanie must maintain at least a 15 percent ownership stake to be the governor of a team, according to NBA rules.

All right, elsewhere, Serena and Venus taking the court together last night for the first time since 2022. [11:00:00]