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Darline Graham Wins Senate Primary; Remembering Dolly Parton; Interview With Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI). Aired 10:30a-11a ET
Aired August 26, 2026 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Is it a public relations stunt, a move with real implications, or perhaps just both?
[10:30:05]
REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): It's probably just both, actually.
But I kind of got in trouble with a tweet that I did yesterday and said, why don't we just name it Lake Natalie, and we will know you will pay attention to it then.
Our Great Lakes are more than 20 percent of the freshwater in the world. They are a joint responsibility of the United States and Canada. And it's something I have -- I'm co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force. I have worked very, very closely with Canadians for decades.
I actually testified in Canada two years ago about all of this. It's not OK. It -- while it may be gimmicky for them, it harms our relationship, our partnership that we have to protect those Great Lakes. And I want to say something to you, Wolf.
Water doesn't know if it's in Canada or your state or my state or some other state in America. Birds don't know if they're in America or in Canada. What -- fish don't know which part of it's all in. We are strategically, geographically partners, and what is happening right now is dangerous.
BLITZER: In some other news out of Michigan, Congresswoman, while I have you, I want to get to Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan Abdul El-Sayed, who now appears to be distancing himself somewhat from far left influencer Hasan Piker after Piker's very controversial comments about American Jews.
El-Sayed said in a statement that -- quote -- "Nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople" -- end quote. And he accused politicians and pundits of trying to make this race about a Twitch streamer. Are you satisfied with how El-Sayed has handled this uproar?
DINGELL: Look, I'm going to say this to you. I'm tired of people trying to drag me into it.
I strongly disagree with many of the things that hasp has said from Israel to, quite frankly, if you're a woman who has fought against sexual violence and domestic violence her whole life, what he has said about rape, et cetera, is simply inexcusable.
I don't understand some of the followers and why they foul people. And I got in trouble when I said I -- maybe it's generational. He works out and they say he looks buff. What he has said is just wrong.
I think that what I know that this election's about in November is being able to reverse the health care cuts that we have had in this country, the millions of Americans that don't have health care right now, the kids that are already growing hungry, and the seniors because we have cut the SNAP program.
And we have to elect somebody that is not going to be a rubber stamp to the Trump policies we have seen the last two years. I think it's incumbent upon Abdul to make it very clear to people that he doesn't agree with things that Hasan Piker says.
I pray we're not going to see him in Michigan from now until the election. But I'm focused on getting health care back for the people that I represent and people around this country. I am the sponsor, the lead on Medicare for all in the Congress.
I think, if you're sick in this country, you should be able to go to the doctor when you need to go to the doctor and get the medicine that you need. I don't agree with a lot of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on some things, but I know what my values are, what we need to get done in the Congress, and that's what's at stake in November.
BLITZER: Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan, thanks so much for joining us.
DINGELL: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: In some other political news, South Carolina Senator Darline Graham scored a crucial win for President Trump last night. Darline Graham will now replace her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, on the general election ballot coming up in November, her win demonstrating President Trump's endorsement power with a very narrow victory over Congressman Ralph Norman in a special Republican Senate primary run-off.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. DARLINE GRAHAM (R-SC): I want to thank President Trump for all of his support and his endorsement. Mr. President, Lindsey truly loved you and viewed you as one of his closest friends. Our victory would not have been possible without you, and we are truly grateful.
(CHEERING)
GRAHAM: South Carolina is truly Trump country.
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: And joining us now, Democratic Strategist Chuck Rocha, who served as a senior adviser to Bernie Sanders' 2026 and 2020 presidential campaigns, and Republican strategist Matt Mowers, who served in the first Trump administration.
Matt, first of all, what do we what do you make of this victory for the senator and how important was this win for the White House?
MATT MOWERS, FORMER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AIDE: Well, I think I think it's significant, right? I mean, Donald Trump, President Trump, recruited Darline Graham to run in this race. He asked her to run. He endorsed her even before she got into running.
[10:35:08]
And he saw through. I mean, I think it shows that the White House political team and the president are willing to put his political capital behind folks they believe in, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to push them across the finish line.
I mean, I'm not surprised by the election result. Ralph Norman's been around a long time. He had spent a lot of money on a gubernatorial race he had just run. So I'm not too shocked by that, not to mention Lindsey Graham sometimes had challenges with the Republican base that I think carried over to his sister here, but goes to show you Donald Trump's willing to do what it takes.
You look at Myrtle Beach, Horry County, one of the fastest growing counties in the country. It's the location of the rally they had last week with President Trump. Darline Graham won it by over 40 points. Those are the types of numbers she had to put up to win it, and Donald Trump insured she did.
BLITZER: It certainly showed that President Trump still has a lot of clout in South Carolina right now with his endorsement of her.
Chuck, let's talk a little bit about the Democratic Senate nominee Annie Andrews, who's now challenging senator Darline Graham to at least three TV debates before the general election. Listen to what Graham said about Andrews last night. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRAHAM: For those who are not aware, you need to know that my Democratic opponent, Dr. Annie Andrews, is the most radical liberal ever nominated for a statewide office by the South Carolina Democratic Party. Her views are those of Bernie Sanders and AOC.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: So, Chuck, can Annie Andrews make this a competitive race and how much energy should Democrats in general put into this race?
CHUCK ROCHA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Normally, in South Carolina, we wouldn't want to waste any dollars in South Carolina. But I want to build on something that Matt said that's important, which is even the senator who was there, Graham, the original Graham, got less than 50 percent, less than 60 percent in his own primary.
Opposition got 40 percent. And last night, even with the president's endorsement, she only got 52 percent. That's in -- this is really important for everybody -- in a Republican primary, not a general election. So that means there's people within the Republican Party that aren't happy with their own Republican Party.
And, for my own, there's lots of folks in Democrats, we fight over socialists and conservatives as well. But to the point you were making about, is this really competitive, I think that it's on the table just because we're in an atmosphere where there's been 25 special elections for Statehouse in America where Democrats have flipped Republican seats, and no Republicans have flipped Democratic seats, just because of history and the party in power.
So I think just watch it. I would just keep it on your watch list.
MOWERS: I hope Democrats spent a ton of money in South Carolina because I don't care how much they spend. They tried this against Lindsey Graham six years ago. Didn't work out. Democrats not won in South Carolina since I believe it's 1998 with Fritz Hollings. I don't see that changing this year.
I don't see a single Ralph Norman voter voting for Annie Andrews.
ROCHA: All of them is important. A lot of them won't. The majority of them won't. But if 10 percent of them do, this place seats in play.
BLITZER: So you think it potentially could be in play?
ROCHA: All I'm saying is, if you look at Texas -- and, look, stay with me here in Texas, where you had this John Cornyn fight with Paxton, like, I don't think all the John Cornyn people are running to Talarico.
But if 10 percent do, just like in this race -- at this moment in time, six years ago, you're exactly right, Matt. We got our clock clean when we spent a bunch of money against Graham. It's just a different time now in America, where Republicans have been in charge of everything.
BLITZER: And the president's approval numbers are pretty bad right now.
MOWERS: Yes, but you go to a place like South Carolina, it's still a rock-red Republican state. You got a strong candidate for governor at the top of the ticket. It's a strong party apparatus there, strong congressional delegation.
You look at what Congressman Russell Fry and Congressman William Timmons, who lined up behind Darline Graham did, and delivered, I think you're going to have a strong Republican result there. We're not going to be talking about South Carolina on election night. If I were my good friend Chuck, I would be worrying a lot more about the Michigan race we were just channeling out with Debbie Dingell.
BLITZER: Look at his hat, though.
MOWERS: I'm a little jealous of it. I wish I brought mine today.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: I was just out in Colorado. There's some nice hats out there.
ROCHA: Look, for those of us who are follically challenged, it's good on a summer day like today to keep the sun off your head.
BLITZER: It's very strong.
ROCHA: Thank you.
BLITZER: All right, guys, thank you, thank you very, very much, Chuck and Matt.
ROCHA: Thank you.
MOWERS: Thank you.
BLITZER: Appreciate it very much.
Coming up: She transcended genres. We're going to continue to look back at Dolly Parton's wide-ranging impact across the music industry. Here's one of her biggest hits, "Jolene."
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:43:45]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOLLY PARTON, MUSICIAN: I'm very proud and honored to be a part of anything that is going to make the world a better place. And I just give from my heart. I never know what I'm going to do or why I'm going to do it. I just see a need. And if I can fill it, then I will.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: That was Dolly Parton back in 2022 speaking about working to make the world a better place.
She was much more than a country music icon. Dolly Parton carved an unmatched legacy. Her impact reaches from the Great Smoky Mountains, where she was born, to the houses of children who received free books from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, from the wildfire of flood victims who were helped by her foundations and her donations, to the kids now receiving care at Dolly Parton's Children Hospital.
Joining us now, the former HLN anchor and country music singer Robin Meade.
Robin, great to get together with you again.
ROBIN MEADE, COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER: Hey, Wolf.
BLITZER: I know you met Dolly on several occasions. You collaborated with her as far as her charity work was concerned. Tell us a little bit about your favorite experiences with her.
MEADE: I'll tell you.
So, behind the scenes, well, she is the same person, or she was the same person that you would expect her to be. Behind the scenes on this telethon that she decided she was going to do to help people of her hometown in 2016, her work ethic really shone through.
[10:45:08]
So, she is a huge star. She could have just come and been on the telethon and raised money, but there she was behind the scenes going through the scripts and the rundown of the show with me, up early working on this. This was a woman who was hands-on in her business and a wry sense of humor.
And the funny thing was, though, that she wouldn't make fun of other people. It was more about making fun of herself. And that's not to say that this wasn't a woman who was smart as a whip.
I mean, do you remember the old story that she wrote "I Will Always Love You," and then Elvis wanted to record it, but he wanted -- like, his people wanted a portion of the royalties, and she said no. She said no to Elvis. I mean, this is a smart businesswoman.
Behind the scenes, I just love that she cared about everybody, and she was able to make every person she meets feel very special. Like, I felt like she knew my morning show. Now, this is a woman who came across thousands, millions of people, and I don't think that my experience was any different than anybody else that she met, in that you walked away feeling elevated, is the best way to put it.
BLITZER: Good point.
I know you got to spend some time with her at Dollywood back in 2019, and you interviewed her at that time as well. But it was some of the moments when the live cameras weren't rolling that struck us the most, and I want to play some of that right now. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PARTON: We have a great group of people. I am so proud of everybody. They make me look really good.
(LAUGHTER)
MEADE: Well, like boss, like staff, right?
PARTON: But we do. We have a wonderful group, everybody. No matter where I go, people always talk about how well they were treated here, and that makes you feel good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: That humility really shines through from someone as famous as her. I assume you agree.
And I want to show our viewers also this picture of you putting lipstick on Dolly. Tell us the story behind this photo.
MEADE: Yes, this too was from that 2016 telethon that she did, mind you, where, think about it, she raised all of those millions of dollars, called on the likes of Reba McEntire to come and perform, and Cyndi Lauper came and performed, and Kenny Rogers, all these names, and huge names like the Tennessee Titans, who gave money as well.
And she was able to give these people, each family that had their home devastated in the wildfire, $1,000 for six months every month, and then afterward there was still money left over, and she was able to give those people a lump sum.
So this is a woman who not only did she want to help people, but she also talked the talk. That was just behind the scenes. We didn't have makeup set -- makeup people there on the set, closed, and she saw me putting on lipstick and said, "Can you give me some of that?"
I got to put on lipstick on our patron saint.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: If you could say one thing right now, Robin, to Dolly, what would that be?
MEADE: I will always love you.
BLITZER: Yes, me too. I'll say the same thing.
MEADE: Yes.
BLITZER: I will always love you too.
Robin Meade, thank you so much. I remember watching you on HLN all the time. You were fabulous, and you still are fabulous. Appreciate it very, very much.
MEADE: Thanks to my old team, and thanks to you for keeping on keeping on.
BLITZER: Of course, we're doing our best.
And during her almost seven decades of releasing music, Dolly Parton collaborated with countless artists. One of the most recent, Zac Brown Band, who released a duet with her entitled "Butterfly."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC) (END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Zac Brown released a statement that read in part -- and I'm quoting -- "She was a real angel long before now. Her faith was number one. There will never be another Dolly Parton, pure talent, pure soul, pure love. She lived by example. Thank you, Dolly. And for all the love and music you put into this world. You will live on in your songs and in all of our hearts" -- end quote.
Joining us now, a member of the Zac Brown Band, Coy Bowles.
Coy, thanks so much for joining us.
It seems that Dolly impacted so many people in so many different ways. What is your favorite experience with her?
COY BOWLES, MUSICIAN: We did a rehearsal for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and we inducted her. We were the backing band for her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
And when she walked into the room, the air changed. It was like, this is Dolly Parton. And everybody in the band looked at each other, and there was a smile that like shot across the whole rehearsal room. It's like, this is her. This is really -- and she was so nice. And she knew the song.
[10:50:12]
She had it nailed. She sounded great. And then there was a moment in between where there was a quiet moment, and I looked at her and I said: "My wife's from Knoxville." And she's from Sevierville and from that area. And we started talking about kind of being from the mountains and small towns.
And it was -- she was just so personable, like everybody's been saying. But the moment that she walked into that room, it was like it everything changed. Like, Dolly is here. It was like the real thing. It was so incredible.
BLITZER: Her impact on music certainly extended far beyond her genre of country music.
She wrote to rapper Eminem, congratulating him on being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, writing -- and I'm quoting now -- "Even though I don't know a lot about rap music, I have come to know that you are the very best in it" -- end quote.
And I understand that you have a story of when you met Judas Priest front man Rob Halford. Tell us about that.
BOWLES: Oh, yes.
So we were at the rehearsal, and he walked in and they were going to do "Jolene" together, but she walked over -- he walked over to her, and just you could tell his love and admiration for her. And I'm kind of a metal guy. I grew up on rock 'n' roll. And to see kind of like this superhero of metal come in and kind of praise the queen of country music, her songwriting, it just lets you know that her talent was appreciated across all genres, you know?
BLITZER: And you and Dolly both shared an interest in children's reading. Her Imagination Library provided free books to a lot of kids out there, and you have written multiple children's books yourself.
Tell us what all this means to you.
BOWLES: Oh, so, I mean, just to put this all into perspective, her Imagination Library gives away about three million books a month.
I have been writing children's books for 15 years, and I have only been able to give away 400,000 books in 15 years. So to put it into perspective of her legacy, I mean, her dedication and what she's able to do with Imagination Library of giving books -- and the coolest part about the whole thing is, when the kids get the book, it's delivered to them.
So it's not a task. It's not a homework assignment. It's a gift from Dolly Parton that book -- that reading and imagination and creativities and stories is the key to success.
BLITZER: So special, indeed.
And, Coy, I understand you and your daughter enjoy going to Dollywood. What will that experience be like the next time you go there, since, obviously, she has now passed?
BOWLES: Yes, so I talked to my daughter right after we heard the news, and her first question was like, "What's going to happen to Dollywood?"
And I was like, "Well, Dolly was someone who was very professional and a great businesswoman, and I know her legacy will live on."
But we have been -- we have totally enjoyed our time. My actually -- my daughter's actually turning 10 in October, and her wish is to take her best friend to Dollywood. So we have loved it. It's so clean. It's so well done. Everybody there is so nice, and it's just an example of what a businessperson she was and what a leader she is and what she does for her communities.
BLITZER: What an amazing woman she was, indeed.
All right, Coy Bowles, thanks so much.
And as we head to break, here's one of Dolly Parton's many hits, "Coat of Many Colors." Listen.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:59:43] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
BLITZER: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Pamela Brown is on assignment. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
And we begin this hour with breaking news. Dozens of people are dead, hundreds are missing after a huge flash flood slammed villages in Nepal. That happened in the northern part of the country along its border with China. The Nepalese foreign minister says an earthquake triggered a landslide that blocked a river and sent a wall of water downstream.
