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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson

Trump and Iranian President Sign Hard Copies of Agreement; Trump Cancels Senate Hearing on Intel Chief Nominee; Serial Killer Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole; New York Prepares for Knicks Victory Celebration; England, Ghana, Colombia Score Group Stage Wins; Qantas to Launch Direct Non-Stop Sydney-London Flights. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired June 18, 2026 - 00:00   ET

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

[00:00:00]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell in Atlanta in today for Elex Michaelson.

Ahead on THE STORY IS, President Trump and Iran signed a deal that could lead to the end of the war. But what did the U.S. have to concede to get oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz?

And the Gilgo Beach serial killer is sentenced to life in prison. You'll hear what families of his victims said to him in court.

Also, the ticker-tape parade is almost here. It's prepped and ready for New York to celebrate the Knicks. In just a few hours the NBA champs will parade up the Canyon of Heroes in front of many, many fans.

THE STORY IS the plan to end the war in Iran. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have now signed a hard copy of the agreement. The 14-point Memorandum of Understanding aims to end the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel has continued to strike. It will also get traffic flowing through the Strait of Hormuz and lift the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.

But it leaves a lot of details for the 60-day negotiation period, including the future of Iran's nuclear program. Here's what President Trump said about the plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And it's a Memorandum of Understanding. If it doesn't get done in 60 days, that's all right. We go back to bombing. You know, I don't want to do that because it's so good. But we might have to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: World leaders are welcoming the agreement, but some U.S. lawmakers are criticizing it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): This will be regarded as one of the biggest American disasters, and it's because Trump started this war. He didn't know how to finish it. And it looks like in too many ways, he has just capitulated to the Iranians.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Pakistan was a key mediator during the U.S.-Iran talks, and its prime minister says the agreement is already in effect. And an official ceremony to mark the start of the technical level of talks will be held in Switzerland on Friday. But we're hearing conflicting reports from the White House and from Tehran.

Here's CNN's Kristen Holmes with details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: There already seems to be some confusion around the signing of this document and whether or not that 60-day negotiating period has officially kicked off. I was just told by sources that President Trump, while at this dinner in the Palace of Versailles, signed a hard copy of the agreement. He then sent a photo or that photo was sent to the Iranians.

Now, what we are being told by U.S. officials, and I want to say this very specifically, they said on Sunday, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed digitally by Vice President J.D. Vance and Speaker Ghalibaf and witnessed by President Trump. Now it has been signed by both president -- the president of Iran and President Trump.

We had originally been told by a U.S. official pretty explicitly that President Trump had also digitally signed a copy. Now, what we're hearing is that this was the first time that he had actually signed a copy, and it was a hard copy.

Now, on the Iranian side, we are hearing something slightly different, which was that they had agreed to a digital signature. It sounds like the president of Iran has signed off on this, according to Iranian spokesperson. But their understanding seems to be that now this 60-day negotiating period has begun. We have reached out to White House officials, U.S. officials trying to get an answer if that is the general understanding. And yet we have still not heard back.

The other part of this is what exactly Vice President J.D. Vance is doing in Switzerland on Friday if everything has already been signed and this negotiating period has already begun. I was told that the vice president is still expected to travel to Switzerland and sign the document on Friday, but the Iranian spokesperson essentially said that whatever happens in Geneva, it's not a signing ceremony, but indicated that there could be ongoing negotiations at that time.

So we're still trying to get to the bottom of what exactly is going on here, what has been signed in terms of digital and hard copy, other than what we know, which is President Trump signed a hard copy during this dinner and sent that photo to the Iranians.

The other question, of course, being, what does that mean for Friday? Will those be the start of the negotiations with Vice President J.D. Vance there on the ground? And will there not be any form of a signing ceremony, which even just moments ago, I was told was still happening? So this has just happened and there are still an enormous amount of questions as to what if these 60-day negotiating period has started.

That would also mean that all of the things that were supposed to happen immediately in this Memorandum of Understanding, including the opening of the strait, the potential lifting of sanctions, that would all have to start in place right now.

[00:05:07]

And that is what we still don't have answers on.

Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Alon Pinkas, former Israeli consul general to New York, joins me for the discussion now.

Mr. Ambassador, thanks for being with me. We've heard the criticism, and as Americans are deciding whether this war was worth it, I'll start from this angle. Is there anything in this agreement that is better for the U.S., better for the world, even better for Israel than the JCPOA, the agreement that President Trump tore up in 2018?

ALON PINKAS, FORMER ISRAELI CONSUL GENERAL IN NEW YORK: No, Victor. Good morning. No, the answer is a flat no and an unequivocal no. Not only is it not better than the JCPOA, but the mere fact, Victor, that President Trump, at the prodding of Prime Minister Netanyahu back in 2018, withdrew from the agreement, accelerated Iran's both nuclear and missile development programs.

So anyone who says this agreement is bad because it takes us, in fact, back to the status quo, the pre-war status quo, that's very popular to say right now, but it's also somewhat misleading because Iran of the 18th of June today is stronger than Iran of the 28th of February, which means it's regressive. It's not really a status quo.

Back to your question, Victor, I failed to see, other than ending a war and a bad agreement is always better than a good war, so to speak, or any day I'll take a bad agreement over a war, however, I fail to see even one of the 14 points that makes America, Israel, indeed the entire region are better off than we all were on the 28th of February.

BLACKWELL: So let's talk about one of those points. And this is the lifting of sanctions and the ability for Iran now to sell its oil. Obviously, that's going to be an economic boom for Iran. But geopolitically, how does that realign Iran's space in the region?

PINKAS: Oh, they have become exponentially stronger. Look, Iran of the day before the war, OK, the 28th of February this year, Iran was weakened. Iran was isolated. Iran was under severe sanctions, and Iran could not export its oil other than using a Black Fleet type of operation and funneling it to China. Iran today is going to be allowed, as you just pointed out correctly, is going to be allowed to export its crude oil, is going to have is going to have access to some, if not all of the $25 billion worth of its frozen assets.

And in one of the other points amongst the 14 points, it says that it will have, "it could tap in," quote-unquote, into a major rehabilitation and economic development fund that is worth approximately $300 billion. That's billion with a B. Now, geopolitically, Iran upended the entire equation. They rattled the so- called business model of the Arab Gulf States of Saudi Arabia to an extent, but mostly the United Arab Emirates and Qatar and Bahrain.

But more importantly and more pertinent to what you just asked, Victor, they discovered or they knew but they used it for the first time, a strategic equalizer. And that's the shutting down of the Strait of Hormuz.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

PINKAS: By doing that, they improved their geopolitical position significantly.

BLACKWELL: And so we'll see the agreement covers obviously 60 days and they've agreed to the free passage of the Strait of Hormuz for that period. If there will be a fee or toll after that, we'll have to see.

Let me ask you about another line here, another element, and that's the ballistic missiles program. I'm going to play first what President Trump says on February 28th, this is the day of the announcement of the first strikes, the joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel, and then what he said on day 110, which was on Wednesday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We are going to destroy their missiles and raise their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated.

[00:10:00]

Other countries have them. It's a little bit unfair for them not to have some. A ballistic missile is not the same thing as what we're talking about when we talk nuclear. But if Saudi Arabia and Qatar and they all have some, I would say in relative proportion, I think it's OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: That's not just an inconsistency or contradiction. That's a reversal. And so what do you make of that element of the conversation?

PINKAS: Well, that's Donald Trump in a nutshell. I mean, all of a sudden he's a ballistics or explosives expert. He did not obliterate them in February, by the way. He claimed to have obliterated Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure back in June of 2025. Then in February, all of a sudden, it was not obliterated. And now he's saying, hey, you know, other countries have missiles.

The next thing or the next logical step, Victor, would be to say, you know, other countries have nuclear weapons, too, so maybe Iran should be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. This, like you said, this is not even inconsistency. This is a rude, crude reversal. This is almost unbelievable. And by the way, it is perceived that way in Israel, something that no one expected, that even those who can roll off their tongue that he's flippant, that he's erratic, that he's inconsistent, that he is unpredictable, and all those euphemisms, even those people are shocked at what they heard from him yesterday.

But because, Victor, because it's Donald Trump, two days from now, he could renege on that, too. So, you know, who knows?

BLACKWELL: What the president has been consistent about, and we'll see if the U.S. and Iran agreement reaches that, is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. We'll see what happens over the next 60 days.

Alon Pinkas, thanks so much.

So the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady after Kevin Warsh's first meeting as chair between 3.5 percent and 3.75 percent. Warsh announced changes that he plans to make. He said the Fed should not have to choose between more jobs and stable prices.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEVIN WARSH, U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: You talked about one of our dual mandates and the employment side. I don't believe that we have a cruel choice. I don't share the view that was expressed a few generations ago that Federal Reserve chairman show up at a podium like this and say, you got to choose, and you're going to have to decide whether you're willing to tolerate higher inflation to put more people at work.

I don't believe in that. What I believe is if we do our job, we can make strong growth, low prices and strong employment mutually compatible. And so what you heard from the committee today is we've got some work to do on this price stability front.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: President Trump appointed Warsh to cut rates. But nine Fed officials are calling for at least one rate hike this year. This is to fight the latest inflation spike tied to the Iran war. Only one official expects a rate cut. President Trump still praised Warsh and said that he's guided by what the new Fed chair wants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We have a very resilient economy. We have the strongest economy we've ever had. Now, the word affordability is a fake word made up by the Democrats. Here's where it's fake because they made it up, because I inherited these prices.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: The news from the Fed knocked stocks, short-term bonds and gold lower. Dow fell 507 points. It's nearly 1 percent. According to Fed Watch, traders are now pricing in a 45 percent chance of a rate hike in October.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill say they have no idea when they might hear from President Trump's pick to be the next director of National Intelligence. The president abruptly canceled a hearing for Jay Clayton on Wednesday. He is also insisting that he won't sign a must pass National Security bill unless Congress passes his voter I.D. bill, the Save America Act.

In the meantime, Bill Pulte will take over as acting DNI on Friday. His appointment has been mired in controversy over his lack of intelligence experience and his record as a Trump attack dog.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: How long do you expect Bill Pulte to be acting DNI?

TRUMP: Well, as long as it takes to get everybody else approved. I mean, they were doing a rush act and we didn't get anything for it. Look, he's a very legitimate guy. He's very smart. He's a brilliant guy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: The Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, Tom Cotton, says it's regrettable that President Trump directed Clayton not to appear. He called the nominee a highly qualified patriot and said he looks forward to his confirmation in the near future.

With me now, Ron Brownstein, CNN senior political analyst and a Bloomberg opinion columnist.

Always good to see you, Ron. Let's start --

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Let's start with this. The president seems to think he's called checkmate on Congress, specifically Republicans in Congress.

[00:15:05]

So here's the question. Do they want FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Bill Pulte out as acting DNI more than they don't want to pass the Save America Act?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, they can't pass the Save America Act without -- and, you know, the Save America Act is at the height of euphemism. I mean, it is basically a Republican wish list on ways to make it tougher to vote, but they can't pass it without ending the filibuster. Just as Democrats could not pass their HR-1 voter reform bill without ending the filibuster. And that is not something that Senate Republicans want to do.

So President Trump rages at them over and over again in different ways, trying to pressure them into doing that. You know, when he walked into the G7 meeting today and he said, I'm the boss, I guess a joke, but actually a reflection of kind of the way he views his role, both in the domestic and international system. I mean, whether we're talking about members of Congress or allies, he essentially views himself as the decision-maker for the world, and he doesn't really see a lot of co-equal participants in that.

And this is, again, him trying to treat Congress as a subordinate rather than a co-equal branch of government. Republicans have mostly gone along with that, especially in the House, where they've completely gone along with it. But every once in a while, enough Senate Republicans say no, and you see this kind of lashing out.

BLACKWELL: Let's talk about the domestic politics of this Memorandum of Understanding. And I want to start this part of it with something that the president says he was considering when agreeing to this MOU. Let's play that from President Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: They're very smart people, very good negotiators. But so are we. So rather than possibly going into a depression, rather than having your favorite president be Herbert Hoover, he was always the one I didn't want to be. He raised taxes too fast and he raised interest rates too fast all at the same time. And it caused the Great Depression. So I don't think I'll make mistakes like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: It really is a stunning acknowledgment, maybe confession from the president who said just a month ago that he doesn't think about Americans' financial situation in the context of the war.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes. I mean, there's so much to unpack there. I mean, essentially what this Memorandum of Understanding does is unravel or diffuse a problem that was created by the war itself, which, as your previous guest noted, Iran, you know, the nuclear program for years was intended to be a deterrent, right? Unless you believe they were going to launch a preemptive strike on Tel Aviv, the goal of their nuclear program was to deter attacks from the U.S. or Israel or others.

And they have found an alternative deterrent, which is their ability to squeeze the global economy through their control over the Strait of Hormuz. That was a problem that was maybe theoretical, but had never been actualized before the war. And what Trump has done is sign an agreement that will provide an enormous amount of resources to Iran over time, potentially, mostly for, you know, undoing the problem that was created by the war itself.

Now, anything that brings down gas prices in the U.S. is going to be greeted favorably by most Americans. But if you look at the reaction on the right to this agreement, you can see the enormous vulnerability here. I mean, you remember when Donald Trump and Marco Rubio in 2016 were loudly complaining about the original Obama agreement that I think transferred $1.7 billion ultimately to Iran.

Here we are talking about potentially hundreds of billions of dollars that they can use to rebuild the regime, rebuild their influence in the region, and I think has stunned many on the right who advocated for this war.

BLACKWELL: Yes. I mean, one of the statements that stands out today is Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy. He tweeted, "Reagan is rolling over in his grave. This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades." Now, you know, Bill Cassidy is no love lost there. Trump backed his challenger and he won't be on the ballot in November. But just talk about the position, the uncomfortable position, this puts Republicans, many of the presidents elected allies and otherwise in into selling this agreement.

BROWNSTEIN: Well, you know, you have to go back a step. I mean, the president made almost no effort to sell the agreement -- to sell the war at the outset to the American people or to international allies. And he basically launched the war only in consultation with Netanyahu, presented it as a fait accompli to the public, made a minimal, the most minimal possible effort to explain why he was doing it.

[00:20:06]

And partly as a result, when Americans faced an actual, immediate, tangible cost in terms of higher gas prices, support for the war crumbled. I mean, we've been looking at 60 percent of voters, sometimes 25 percent or 30 percent of people who say they voted for Trump in '24, saying they opposed the war.

Now, you know, when you're in a hole, stop digging. In that sense, I think that many Americans will welcome the end of this, especially if it leads to any reduction in gas prices. But given that he had so little buy in at the front end, and that he has accomplished so little of what he set out his goals at the beginning, you know, it's hard to -- and there is so much friendly fire from his own side that has been so loath to criticize him on almost anything else.

I think he is going to have a hard time convincing most Americans that the benefits of this war justified the costs, or have left the region and the world in a more secure and stable position.

BLACKWELL: Ron Brownstein, always appreciate the analysis. Thanks so much.

Still to come, the families of the women murdered by the Gilgo Beach serial killer get justice in court. You'll hear what they said to him at his sentencing. And later, the cost of a visa kept the mother of a Cape Verde goalkeeper from attending his really memorable game against Spain. But now she may be headed to the U.S.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [00:25:53]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You make me sick and I don't forgive you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Family members of victims murdered by the Gilgo Beach serial killer faced him in a New York courtroom on Wednesday. A judge sentenced Rex Heuermann to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He pleaded guilty to killing seven women over nearly two decades on Long Island. He admitted to an eighth murder this year.

CNN's Brynn Gingras has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDGE TIMOTHY P. MAZZEL, SUFFOLK COUNTY SUPREME COURT: Get him out of here.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The courtroom erupted in applause at the sentencing of Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann.

MAZZEL: You are a disgusting and despicable small man, if you're a man at all. And you're a coward.

GINGRAS: The judge handing down a life sentence to the serial killer with no chance of getting out.

REX HEUERMANN, CONVICTED SERIAL KILLER: I'm responsible for what was said in this room today. The words I would say have no meaning. And I'm going to leave it there at this time.

MAZZEL: Are you a little bit sorry for what you did to these poor, innocent women? Eight women that you strangled to death? At least eight that we know of. Are you at least a little bit sorry for that? Yes?

HEUERMANN: Yes, I am.

GINGRAS (voice-over): That explosive exchange coming after more than a dozen family members of Heuermann's victims addressed him in court.

MISSY CANN, SISTER OF MAUREEN BRAINARD-BARNES: I hope he is forced to sit with the reality to feel even a fraction of the weight the trauma and the pain I've carried for so long.

GINGRAS (voice-over): The 62-year-old sat quietly head down even as they demanded his attention.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can look at me while I'm talking. ELIZABETH MESERVE, AUNT OF MEGAN WATERMAN: Like the justice system, I

too am banishing the prisoner from occupying any more space in my mind as this day comes to a close. Be gone, cowardly demon.

GINGRAS (voice-over): The sentencing, a final step in a case that stretched decades.

LILIANA WATERMAN, DAUGHTER OF MEGAN WATERMAN: It's a day that I've been thinking of my whole life. The chance to finally speak up for her. It gives me comfort for her knowing she can finally lay down, rest in peace.

GINGRAS (voice-over): Authorities connected Heuermann to the killings of seven women who they say he targeted because they were sex workers.

MESERVE: Their lives had meaning, purpose and value.

GINGRAS (voice-over): A break in the cold case came in 2023 after a task force was formed dedicated to the case. Authorities arrested Heuermann in New York City, linking a pizza crust he threw in the garbage to DNA left on some of the victims.

RAY TIERNEY, SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: I have no doubt that this defendant is very sorry, your honor. He is sorry. He is sorry he got caught.

GINGRAS (voice-over): In April, Heuermann struck a plea deal with prosecutors and admitted to killing eight women.

NICOLETTE BRAINARD-BARNES, DAUGHTER OF MAUREEN BRAINARD-BARNES: Having been given the opportunity to say what I said today, I feel a lot lighter and I have hope for healing.

GINGRAS: At this point, four people whose remains were found along that stretch of Gilgo Beach remain unconnected to Heuermann, and that includes Shannon Gilbert, whose remains were found in 2010. Authorities say they are still working, especially through DNA, to try to make a connection to Heuermann.

Those families that you heard from, well, they are convinced that he is responsible and said in court it's time for him to come clean.

Brynn Gingras, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Tropical Storm Arthur has just been downgraded but is still bringing in a major flood threat to states along the Gulf Coast. This was the first named storm of this year's Atlantic hurricane season. We're learning that the Storm Prediction Center has issued a tornado watch for more than three million people in Louisiana and Mississippi. A heavy rain from Arthur has also triggered flood watches for millions of people from the northern Gulf Coast to parts of Georgia.

It's expected to be a celebration now that rivals New Year's Eve in New York. Hundreds of thousands are expected to pack the streets Thursday for the Knicks championship parade. We're going to have more on those preparations next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Victor Blackwell. Let's take a look at today's top stories.

[00:34:30]

President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart have signed now hard copies of the U.S.-Iran agreement. That 14-point memorandum of understanding aims to end the war on all fronts, reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz, and states that Tehran will not produce or procure or develop a nuclear weapon, among other provisions.

World leaders have welcomed it so far.

Polling stations are scheduled to open soon in a critical by-election in Northwest England. An electorate of about 76,000 in the Makerfield area will vote.

[00:35:05]

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is one of the candidates running to be a member of parliament, and if he wins, he'll likely challenge Britain's prime minister for leadership of the Labour Party.

The Obama Presidential Center will hold its official grand opening ceremony in Chicago in just a few hours. Barack and Michelle Obama are expected to welcome former presidents Biden, Clinton, and Bush.

The ceremony will feature performances by several Grammy Award-winning artists. The campus and museum open to the public Friday on Juneteenth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NEW YORK CITY: This day means so much to New Yorkers. The parade begins at ten. The viewing pens open at 6.

When you tell a Knick fan that, they'll tell you, OK, I'll be there at five. And so, we're prepared for many to come through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: That's the New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, speaking to CNN's Omar Jimenez about Thursday's victory parade for the NBA champion New York Knicks.

Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to jam parts of Broadway. Ten thousand NYPD officers will be along that route.

CNN's Shimon Prokupecz has more on the preparations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You've been waiting for this? JELANI FOSTER, LIFELONG KNICKS FAN: All my life.

PROKUPECZ (voice-over): For the first time ever, the New York Knicks are parading down the Canyon of Heroes, New York's famous avenue of celebration.

MAMDANI: It may well be the largest parade in New York City history.

JESSICA LAPPIN, PRESIDENT, ALLIANCE FOR DOWNTOWN NEW YORK: The pent-up energy, the excitement. It's like nothing we've ever seen. We had the Yankees three times in the '90s. We had the Giants a couple of times. We had the women's World Cup team twice. But the Knicks, we've been waiting a long time.

PROKUPECZ: Twenty-five hundred pounds of this will rain over Lower Manhattan as the players make their way up the Canyon of Heroes.

PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Jessica Lappin is the head of the Downtown Alliance, responsible for the ticker for this ticker tape parade.

LAPPIN: You know, in the old days, everybody could open their windows. Unfortunately, not so much anymore. So, anybody who wanted it who could open the windows, we're happy to provide.

PROKUPECZ (voice-over): These days, it's recycled paper that's shredded into confetti. But that wasn't always the case.

LAPPIN: The very first parade was in 1886, after the opening of the Statue of Liberty, when people marched just spontaneously up Broadway. People opened their windows, back when there were brokerage houses, and they had ticker tape machines. They threw the ticker tape. Hence, the tradition was born.

PROKUPECZ: That shredded paper literally is going to be coming from these windows: office workers using their hands to throw it out the windows.

PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Security will be tight. Everyone who can get in will be screened. Law enforcement officials say there will be road and subway station closures along the route, and every float, bus and vehicle will be screened.

PROKUPECZ: Here's the thing. This area of Lower Manhattan is really tight, and with the millions expected, how is everyone going to fit here? Look at how narrow just the side streets are.

What are you most looking forward to on that -- on Thursday?

FOSTER: I mean, if I can see any of the players, I'll be fine. But just the experience of seeing them, feeling it with other New Yorkers, it's going to be great. I mean, the best I felt was that night, again, but I don't think I can top that. But this is going to be close.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Now ahead of the parade, finals MVP Jalen Brunson and his teammate Josh Hart, they threw out ceremonial first pitches at Wednesday's New York Yankees game.

Knicks owner James Dolan says the team has also accepted an invitation to visit the White House. He says the details there are being worked out.

Now, while we're showing first pitches, here's CNN's Manu Raju living his baseball dreams.

A lot of pressure. Warm that arm up.

Manu is a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, so you can imagine how thrilled he was to throw out that ceremonial first pitch at Tuesday's game. Manu posted this on social media with the caption, "Checked off the bucket list."

So, it's been an exciting day on the pitch for World Cup fans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Just ahead, we'll show you the goal that has England supporters cheering.

Plus, Merlin the duck, the Mexico mascot, has gone viral with this outfit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:44:05]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel good, I feel good. This is the first game, so you can't get too excited. We're building. We're getting momentum.

But yes, let's see how it turns out. But right now, it's a good first outing. I like it, I like it. I like it a lot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's absolutely incredible. Honestly, I see it coming. But Harry Kane, superb. Absolutely incredible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've lost my voice. Work tomorrow. I've lost my voice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, England.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's coming home. England! It's coming home!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Yes. That's the way to celebrate England fans cheering on Captain Harry Kane, who scored twice in the team's 2026 World Cup debut. They beat Croatia 4-to-2 in Arlington, Texas.

Kane is now tied for the most World Cup goals of all time by an England player with ten.

In Houston, the Democratic Republic of Congo scored the equalizer in stoppage time against Portugal. This was the Congo's first World Cup appearance since 1974.

And in Toronto, Ghana have noticed -- notched, rather, their first win in the tournament. Another stoppage time goal made the difference in this match versus Panama. Ghana, one-nil.

And finally, Uzbekistan scored once its World Cup debut in Mexico city, but they were no match for Colombia and Daniel Munoz with a goal late in the first. Colombia added two more to win, 3-to-1.

With me now from Dallas, Henry Winter, football writer and columnist for "World Soccer."

Henry, good to talk to you again.

So, let's start with England beating Croatia 4-2. I've been reading in this evening about kind of the characterizations and reviews of the match, and "The New York Times" called it the best World Cup match so far. What made it that good?

HENRY WINTER, FOOTBALL WRITER/COLUMNIST, "WORLD SOCCER": Oh, that is quite a -- quite a comment.

I mean, I think, probably, France in the -- in the second half of their game were absolutely outstanding.

But yes, I mean England, I mean, talk about a roller coaster. I mean, it was an emotional roller coaster. And for the fans who for so long -- and we can go back 60 years, if you want, in terms of a trophy. But certainly, in the last 20 or 30 years, they've been deprived of really entertaining football, of walking out of a stadium, walking on air, just delighted with the commitment and the skill of their team.

And they showed it, particularly in the second half today. The head coach, Thomas Tuchel, made some changes, made some emotional changes, as well, just got them to raise the game, banished the fear, and just got them to go on the front foot and express themselves.

BLACKWELL: Now, let's talk about what's up next for England: Ghana. Ghana beat Panama today. Nothing for most of that match. And then in minute 95, a score.

How does that match-up look for Tuesday? England and Ghana.

WINTER: Well, I think England against Croatia was always going to be the biggest test in terms of the sort of the highest ranked team that they were going to face.

Croatia and England have a little bit of history. Croatia knocked England out of the World Cup of 2018 in Moscow. And you know, they're a good team.

But you know, everyone was saying, well, this is such an important result that England got. But you have to remember that it was played indoors, as you say, in Arlington.

And I think the temperature and the air-conditioned stadium was only about 23. Now, you know what we're like in England. We're obsessed with the weather. If it goes above 23, 24, that's a heat wave.

So, I think the problem that England have had -- will have when they play against a team like Ghana, if it's really hot, that will be an issue for England. Excuse me.

BLACKWELL: You know that's interesting. I don't think that we've actually had that conversation. The climate influence on some of these matches, obviously, coming from different parts of the world, and the sensitivities to some of these players in their typical environment.

WINTER: Well, you know what the English are like. We love talking about the weather. And I mean, it is huge. And the weather extremes that, that's been seen here.

I mean, England got hit by a tornado the other night in Kansas City. So, you know, there's all those dramas.

But this game indoors was really important that England had that, because Croatia, who keep the ball very well when they've got players like Luka Modric and Kovacic, who came off the bench. That can test England. England don't do great in hot conditions, and they want to play a very competitive premier league style English style up-and-at- em game under this German coach, and that is risky in hot weather.

So, it's going to be interesting to see how they play against Ghana and then Panama. But look, they've got these three points under their belt. They're all but qualified for the next round. But they want to finish top.

BLACKWELL: We haven't spoken since the Portugal-Democratic Republic of Congo ended in a draw, obviously. And Cristiano Ronaldo, a lot of disappointment in his performance. Pretty flat. What happened there?

WINTER: Well, probably not a lot of surprise, because he is, what, 40, 41. been an absolutely magnificent footballer. And I think five Ballon d'Ors.

You look at the performance that he has had, there've basically been three iterations of Cristiano Ronaldo. The flier out wide, the center forward, and the slightly more measured sort of stealth player.

But you know, the one opponent even the greats can't beat is old Father Time.

And I think they have a big call to make with Portugal now, whether they drop this talismanic figure who has a lot of influence on the country and on the team, on the dressing room.

That's a big, big call. But I think it's a call that has to be made.

BLACKWELL: All right. Henry Winter, we'll see what happens for the rest of the day. Thanks so much.

So, the goalkeeper known as Vozinha, who starred in Cape Verde s incredible World Cup draw with Spain, may have a special visitor for his next match in Miami. And that's his mother.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says that she will get a visa in time for the match against Uruguay on Sunday.

[00:50:07]

Now, she says the fees -- or he says, I should say, the fees have been waived.

Now. Vozinha told reporters that his mother was not able to watch his match in person on Monday, because she could not afford the bond for a visa. But she was watching back at home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP).

ANA CANDIDA EVORA, VOZINHA'S MOTHER (through translator): For me, it was very emotional for me. My heart was almost jumping out of my chest. I was nervous but very happy for everything he has achieved in this tournament.

His grandfather would often say, "Let's go to the football field" and would take him there. His father didn't like him playing football.

His grandfather would tell him, "One day, I will see you at the World Cup." And that's exactly what happened.

There is just a whirlwind of support Around Vozinha. He made seven saves against Spain.

And look at this. His Instagram account jumped from about 50,000 followers now to more than 12.5 million.

Team Mexico now has an unofficial mascot for their next World Cup match: Merlin the duck. He's now an overnight sensation. He was seen waddling around Mexico City, wearing a national team jersey and -- and socks, duck socks.

His owner says that locals already knew him. He would accompany her while she was selling drinks as a street vendor. Well, now, Merlin's newfound fame got him a meeting with FIFA representatives for a photo shoot and a commercial.

His owner says it came as a surprise, but Merlin is Mexico's biggest fan.

Still to come, Qantas prepares an ambitious new era of air travel. More details on the plans and the planes at the center of Project Sunshine when we come back.

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[00:56:26]

BLACKWELL: Qantas Airways is commissioning custom planes for what it calls the final frontier of aviation. Their initiative, called Project Sunrise, is a plan for the first nonstop service between Sydney and London and later between Sydney and New York.

The Australian airline has been working towards this for nearly ten years. However, the concept goes back much further.

CNN's Richard Quest has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For nearly a century, airlines have been trying to solve one problem. How do you get from Australia to the other side of the world without stopping on the way?

Qantas believes it finally has the answer. It's called Project Sunrise, and now it's entering its final phase. It promises nonstop flights from Sydney to London, and Sydney to New York.

To understand why this project is so important, go back to where the story began. It is called the Kangaroo Route, a trip from Sydney to London that took four days, with seven stops to complete when it first launched. It was the fastest way at the time.

Even then, airlines were dreaming of something more ambitious: the nonstop flight. Qantas is realizing that ambition by relaunching the Kangaroo Route as a direct flight.

VANESSA HUDSON, CEO, QANTAS: The objective of -- of solving this tyranny of distance we've talked about. That is what Qantas was founded on.

QUEST (voice-over): The airline's specially modified Airbus A350-1000s are designed to fly from Sydney to London or New York without stopping.

QUEST: When you're flying from Sydney to London, every bit of weight counts, which is why Qantas has redesigned everything, trying to get it as light as possible.

These are the usual bowls. These are the new ones, slightly smaller, but considerably lighter. Same with the mugs. Fine. That's the old. This is the new.

Everything from cutlery to crockery has been redesigned and made lighter, because whilst it may be a couple of grams of weight here, or a couple of grams of weight there, once you put hundreds of these on the aircraft, pretty soon you're talking real weight.

QUEST (voice-over): The flights could last as long as 22 hours. It would be the longest commercial journeys ever attempted. To achieve all this, Airbus has added an extra fuel tank and increased the aircraft's range by roughly a thousand nautical miles.

LARS WAGNER, CEO, AIRBUS COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT: Real ultra long-haul flight is more than just range. It's also about the cabin layout. You know, it's the cabin pressure. It's the humidity in the -- in the aircraft.

We redesigned the whole cabin to make it really enjoyable for -- for the passengers.

QUEST (voice-over): Very soon, the kangaroo will be going from Sydney to London and New York. Only this time in one hop.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Thanks for watching and stay with us. The next hour of THE STORY IS starts right now.

Hey there. I'm Victor Blackwell, in for Elex Michaelson.

THE STORY IS memorandum of understanding signed. Did Donald Trump get Iran's total surrender, or is the agreement a concession from the U.S.?