蓝云舟：副总统吉布兰被挪了座位

2026年7月27日 05:01 / 联合早报 蓝云舟

在印度尼西亚重大的演讲和会议场合，印尼副总统吉布兰（左）向来被安排坐在总统普拉博沃（右）旁，但这项安排在日前的内阁会议上被打破。图为今年5月20日，普拉博沃在议会大楼就印尼财政状况发表演说。 （路透社）

上个星期，印度尼西亚内阁会议的座位安排出现一些变化，很快就被眼尖的人发现。在过往会议上，副总统吉布兰坐在总统普拉博沃旁边，但这次却被挪到了一侧，与其他内阁部长并列。普拉博沃逐一与部长握手时，吉布兰也不像过去那样伴随在总统身后，而是留在座位上。外界不禁好奇，两人关系是否已疏远？

普拉博沃和吉布兰之间的互动，更准确地说是缺乏互动，不时被印尼人当作谈资。两人2024年组队参选，是出于政治上的权宜，既让普拉博沃获得吉布兰父亲、前总统佐科背后的民意支持，佐科家族也在他卸任后继续保持政治上的能见度。

上台后的分工也印证这点，因为普拉博沃并未委以吉布兰重任。加上印尼副总统一职向来没有太大实权，所以普拉博沃和吉布兰除了在公开场合一同露面外，几乎没有其他互动，是以给了外界一定的解读空间。

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甘肃渭源县山洪：省长强调把防汛减灾各项措施抓紧抓紧再抓紧

2026年7月27日 07:49 / 联合早报

中国甘肃渭源县星期天（7月26日）发生山洪，省长任振鹤强调把防汛减灾各项措施抓紧抓紧再抓紧、落实落实再落实。

据新甘肃客户端报道，定西市渭源县会川镇罗家磨村双石门沟星期天下午2时许因上游短时强降雨引发山洪，导致附近露营自驾游游客被困。险情发生后，中共甘肃省委书记胡昌升和省委副书记、省长任振鹤第一时间赶到现场指挥救援，并到医院看望慰问受伤人员。

此外，胡昌升在全省重点市州防汛工作视频调度会上指出，当前甘肃省正处于主汛期关键阶段，短时强降雨、局地极端天气多发频发。

他强调，要全面精准掌握自驾游、徒步、放牧等人员分布情况，加强转移后人员安置管理。对临水临崖景区、房车露营、水上交通游乐、徒步探险等业态要落实隐患排查、联防整治，做好游客疏散、撤离和安置工作。

任振鹤则强调，思想认识务必再强化，摒弃麻痹思想、侥幸心理，汲取教训、举一反三，紧盯“七下八上”防汛关键期，“把防汛减灾各项措施抓紧抓紧再抓紧、落实落实再落实”。

他也说，会商调度务必再加密，统筹流域上下游、左右岸、干支流，跨区域及时会商，高效部署重点地区强降雨防范应对和防汛救灾工作。

另据中新社报道，山洪已造成10人遇难、23人受伤。伤员已被送医救治，另有174人已被救出。

柏林冲撞事件嫌疑人已被警方击毙

2026年7月27日 07:18 / 联合早报

柏林警方7月26日公布冲撞事件嫌疑人阿卜杜勒的信息，柏林市中心公车站的电子广告牌显示阿卜杜勒的照片。 （法新社）

德国柏林市中心冲撞事件的在逃嫌疑人已被警方击毙。

综合路透社和彭博社报道，德国警方星期天（7月26日）晚在X平台发布声明说，26日傍晚6时左右（新加坡时间27日零时），在施潘道区（Spandau）一个居民菜园发现这名嫌疑人。

声明说：“根据初步调查结果，嫌疑人持刀冲向现场执勤人员，被柏林特别行动队开枪击毙。”

这起冲撞事件发生在25日晚上10时左右，一小型货车冲撞同性恋游行队伍事件，造成一死29伤。当局说，其中一些伤者是被刀具所伤。肇祸司机事后逃逸。

柏林警方26日公布嫌疑人为21岁男子阿卜杜勒（Abdul B），并呼吁公众提供他的相关线索。

德国内政部长多布林特说，阿卜杜勒过去因犯下大量刑事罪行、激进化以及加入伊斯兰主义团体而引起关注。

多布林特也说，阿卜杜勒是黎巴嫩裔德国公民，2005年出生于德国。

North Carolina woman missing in Grenada as husband heads to join search

July 26, 2026 / 4:01 PM EDT / CBS News

A North Carolina woman disappeared while visiting the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada last week, according to local authorities and her husband.

Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell was last seen at Grand Anse Beach on Wednesday, July 22, the Royal Grenada Police Force said on social media. Police asked anyone with information on Waddell’s whereabouts to immediately contact authorities.

“We specially appeal to fishermen, boat operators, and residents along the southern coastline to report any sightings or relevant information that may assist in locating Ms. Waddell,” the police missing person poster said.

Cailen Waddell, the missing woman’s husband, pleaded to friends on Facebook to share the information and for his wife’s safe return.

“I am on my way there now to help search. I expect nothing less than Liz’s safe return – so please sent [sic] your love, light, thoughts, and prayers our way,” Waddell wrote.

Cailen Waddell also shared an additional photo of his wife with blonde hair.

In a statement to CBS News, the U.S. State Department said it is aware of reports of a missing American in Grenada and referred to local law enforcement in Grenada for questions.

Pentagon lists 4 killed in Iran war under “Overseas Operations Casualties”

July 26, 2026 / 7:58 PM EDT / CBS News

The Pentagon website that informs the public about the dead and wounded in military conflicts now lists four service members killed in Jordan and Iraq in July under “Overseas Operations Casualties” — separate from 14 other service members who have been killed during the war with Iran.

The other 14 appear in the database as casualties of Operation Epic Fury, the Defense Department’s name for the conflict. At one point last week, the four service members’ deaths also appeared on that list, but by last Thursday, their names no longer appeared there, and the database said that 14 were killed in the war with Iran, as opposed to 18.

The New York Times first reported the database’s missing numbers and cited three sources who said it was because the four service members who were most recently killed died after the Trump administration had declared a ceasefire in April.

But the four service members were killed about a week after President Trump notified Congress by letter that the ceasefire was over and military action had resumed on July 7. The four who died are 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton.

Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, in a statement shared on X last Thursday, blamed “site errors on the Defense Casualty Analysis System” on “a temporary data disruption” and said the “site anomalies are currently being resolved in coordination with the Military Services.” Parnell in his statement slammed the New York Times for “colluding with anonymous sources to push a completely fake story.”

When the Pentagon first released the names of two of the three killed in an Iranian attack in Jordan earlier this month, it initially classified them as deaths under Operation Inherent Resolve, the name for the years-long mission targeting ISIS. Later, the Defense Department amended the releases to say the service members had died in “overseas operations.”

Throughout the war with Iran, the Pentagon has been slow to provide information about injuries. After the New York Times reported earlier this week that dozens of troops had been injured in attacks in the Middle East, the Pentagon initially referred reporters with questions on the wounded to the website — even though it had not been updated in several days and did not account for the recent deaths.

Defense officials have not briefed reporters on the Iran war since May, and they have not commented on the categorization of the deaths of the four service members.

CBS News first reported and Parnell confirmed that nearly 100 U.S. service members had been injured since July 7. In a statement on X, he said that among those injured, 96% had returned to duty and the vast majority of injuries experienced “were minor concussions.” Minor concussions can often be traumatic brain injuries that vary in severity and can display symptoms some time after the initial injury.

He concluded by saying that “further updates will be posted on the Defense Casualty Analysis System.”

As of Sunday, the site said 417 service members have been wounded in the war with Iran, which is dozens fewer than the 482 it listed early last week. Now, 207 service members are listed as having been wounded in Overseas Operations.

Pentagon under fire over troop death tally

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/pentagon-under-fire-dropping-tally-troops-killed-iran-18-to-14/

Pentagon under fire for dropping tally of troops killed in Iran from 18 to 14

(01:27)

伊朗外交部：伊朗和美国继续通过调解方交换信息

2026年7月27日 07:22 / 联合早报

伊朗制造的“佐勒菲卡尔”固体燃料弹道导弹，7月24日在首都德黑兰的自由广场公开展示。 （法新社）

伊朗外交部确认美国正通过巴基斯坦和卡塔尔等调解方与伊朗交换信息。

伊朗媒体星期天（7月26日）报道，伊朗外交部发言人巴盖伊接受奥地利广播公司ORF访问时强调，任何对话的开展都必须建立“适当的基础”，并指美国已经破坏这一基础。

他指责华盛顿实际上违反了伊美《谅解备忘录》的“所有条款”。

巴盖伊说，伊朗眼下的首要任务“是捍卫主权和领土完整，并保护人民免受美国战争罪行的侵害”。

美国在连续13晚打击伊朗后暂停军事行动，促使伊朗也暂停对波斯湾地区的报复袭击。美国常驻联合国代表沃尔兹26日告诉福克斯新闻，总统特朗普暂停打击伊朗，是为了给外交斡旋预留更多空间。

伊朗军方发言人阿克拉米尼亚证实，过去两晚美军未对伊朗发动袭击，因此伊朗也按照对等战略暂停反击行动。但他警告：“若美国再次落入犹太复国主义者（以色列）的圈套，或沆瀣一气坚持继续攻击……战事的地理范围将进一步扩大。”

Transcript: Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” July 26, 2026

2026-07-26T12:32:20-0400 / CBS News

The following is the transcript of an interview with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on July 26, 2026.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb. He sits on the boards of Pfizer and UnitedHealth. Dr. Gottlieb, it’s good to have you back. We’ve got cyclospora outbreaks in nine states. It is now one of the nation’s largest foodborne illness outbreaks. HHS Secretary Kennedy says it’s under control. Do you think it is?

DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: I don’t think it’s under control yet, per se. I think that they’ve done a good job, FDA has, isolating this to central Mexico and some specific farms as well. It appears that a lot of these cases are emanating from farms in central Mexico, and there was probably some kind of event there. Remember, this particular parasite-the only known reservoir for it is human fecal matter, so probably sewage got onto those growing fields in central Mexico and contaminated those crops. Nobody’s sure how yet. And so by isolating it to that region, a lot of restaurants, a lot of wholesalers, retailers have been able to cut off supplies from central Mexico, and I think that mitigates the risk. I don’t think this is fully under control yet because we don’t know for sure that that’s the only growing region where this is coming from. But it does seem to be the case at this point. Some of the cases that are being reported right now probably are cases happening from other parts of the- the world and other parts of the country that are normal background cases that you see. There’s probably increased reporting, but clearly the bulk of these cases appear to be coming from that central Mexican region. It’s worth noting that Mexican authorities, public health authorities, deny that they’re responsible for this.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, I saw you recommended people buy heads of lettuce, not pre-chopped bags, buy locally, not from the grocery store. Why aren’t we hearing more from the current FDA commissioner on that kind of advice?

DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Yeah, look, I think that there is some challenges with communications from the FDA. I think FDA has done a good job isolating this, and they were fast to do this. This is a hard pathogen to detect. There’s no really good test for it, so you can’t test for it in food. But there hasn’t been as much communication from the agency as you might expect. There are things that consumers can do. You can buy a whole head of lettuce, like you said, and chop it up rather than buying bag lettuce. There’s higher risk with bag lettuce. You can source locally. There haven’t been known outbreaks from locally sourced produce. Prior to 2016, 2017, we never saw this particular species in U.S. sourced produce. It started to appear in California produce, but certainly in lower levels than what you see in Mexico and South America. There is a weather component here.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There is, though, as you know, a public- public confidence crisis here when it comes to our health agencies. Our polling showed 47% of Americans do not have much confidence in the FDA to deal with the outbreak. That must hit hard as the former FDA commissioner. But it’s also in part in the public space. They’re looking not just at the personnel cuts, but like the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Taylor Farms, one of the companies that is- has been identified as- as selling some of the lettuce, at least that is in question. They contacted the White House to request a delay in announcing a recall, and the White House had the FDA join that call. That is not standard operating procedure, is it?

DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: No, it’s not, and it wasn’t standard operating procedure when I was at FDA. I dealt with outbreaks in romaine lettuce and spinach as well, E. coli in spinach and romaine lettuce. I never heard from the White House on those things, other than to have discussions to inform them of what we were doing, so that they were properly briefed and could respond to questions that they were getting. So it’s unusual. I don’t think it really led to a significant delay in the ability of FDA to communicate in this case, based on that reporting, probably days, certainly not weeks. I think the breakdown here really was with CDC in identifying that initial cluster. By and large, we were dependent upon public health officials in Michigan to isolate that cluster. CDC really didn’t seem to be as involved as the agency normally would be. Michigan public health officials led that response. Once they- once they isolated the cluster, however, the traceback to the farm and to the particular food source happened relatively fast. We had an outbreak of E. coli in romaine lettuce back in 2018. It took us many weeks to isolate that to a specific growing region. They were able to do that in a matter of, maybe days here, certainly weeks. So I think FDA worked pretty quickly to do it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you about the CDC announcement that there are now more measles infections in 2026 than in the past 35 years. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns it’s America’s children that are going to pay the price for this. Ninety-three percent of this year’s cases are among the unvaccinated, or the vaccination status is unknown. Should we, at any point, expect the Trump administration to lead a national campaign to get your kid vaccinated against measles, or did that die with MAHA?

DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Yeah, look, I think we need to accept that measles elimination is no longer the policy of this administration or certainly Secretary Kennedy, and I wouldn’t expect any kind of concerted effort so long as he is in that position. This is his stated policy to, in some cases, discourage vaccination, but certainly not encourage it. And the children who aren’t getting vaccinated right now are babies. Once they age into settings where they can contract that disease – kindergarten, preschool, daycare – you’re going to see cases continue to rise in this country. It’s not going to go down; it’s going to continue to go up. Look at flu, for example. We had a record number of pediatric flu deaths last year, 298 pediatric flu deaths. We have almost 200 this year, and the secretary has said children don’t need to get vaccinated for flu. So this is across the board; it’s not just measles. These infections are very serious. There’s a lot of long-term sequelae, even if you survive the infection.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me quickly ask you. Supplement makers don’t have to do what pharmaceutical companies do in terms of proving through clinical trials that products are safe. There’s this push for this advisory board at the FDA to make, I guess, six peptides be added to a list of substances pharmacies can compound and produce. Is that wider access a good thing or a bad thing?

DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Well, I think it’s a bad thing from the standpoint that there’s not any proven benefits from these compounds that are in question. These are compounds being formulated by pharmacies. They’re compounded products. They’re peptides that people inject. There’s risks associated with that, and there aren’t any proven benefits. The most popular of these is the substance called PBC-157,* which people have ascribed a whole range of health benefits to. The only clinical study that the FDA was able to review was a 30-patient clinical study in a setting of ulcerative colitis, where they found no benefit. So there isn’t clinical data associated with these, so I think there’s risk with no- no demonstrated benefit that people are going to derive.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Dr. Gottlieb, I’ve got to leave it there. Always good to talk to you. We’ll be right back.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This was in reference to the peptide BPC-157, not PBC-157.

Transcript: U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” July 26, 2026

2026-07-26T12:33:00-0400 / CBS News

The following is the transcript of an interview with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on July 26, 2026.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re joined now by the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz. Good to have you here in person. Thanks, Margaret. You just heard our polling. The American people support the goals. The stated goals: opening the Strait, ending a nuclear program, stopping Iran’s ability to threaten other countries. But they don’t think that the U.S. is achieving those goals, and 67% want to end the conflict now. What happens if the U.S. decides to cut its losses?

AMBASSADOR MIKE WALTZ: Well, I don’t think it should surprise anyone that we want the conflict to end. We wanted this conflict to end since 1979. I think that’s incredibly–

[CROSSTALK]

AMB. WALTZ: But I can tell you, as a veteran, you know, Afghanistan, Iraq, these wars– these endless wars, where the policy goals, what were we doing there, drifted so badly. The president has been consistently clear on what our goals are. I think your poll showed that the American people support those goals. Yes, it’s been difficult, but I, for one, am quite thankful that he is taking the difficult right to do the thing that I think historians will look back on and say was the absolute right thing to do to prevent Iran from ever having a nuclear weapon. And sometimes that’s going to be harder than you know, harder than initially planned for. But the president’s laser focused on getting this done and achieving those goals that 78– 70, what 80% of Americans support. And by the way, also important in there, I don’t think anyone else sees a better plan. That–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that’s what I wanted to–

AMB. WALTZ: –Yeah, that Democrats you know complain–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

AMB. WALTZ: –criticize, but no one’s coming with a better plan, and the plans in the past administrations have failed.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, so talk to me about what’s happening because after 13 straight days of bombing, there was no bombing Friday, there was no bombing Saturday. Is that to help the diplomacy that was underway in Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?

AMB. WALTZ: It’s giving diplomacy some space. It’s giving diplomacy a little bit of time. Of course, the president tried diplomacy last year. He’s tried it this year. He is a president of peace. He is giving diplomacy a chance. We’ll see over the next coming days. But make no mistake, assets– additional military assets are moving into the region. They should believe the president. The regime should believe the president when he says they’re locked and loaded, and where all options are on the table.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, but just to be– put a fine point on it, this is a round of discussions just to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with a 30 day pause in the fighting?

AMB. WALTZ: No, all conversations are– are continuing–

MARGARET BRENNAN: With the goal of getting back to–

AMB. WALTZ: –this is at the highest levels, all the way down to the technical levels, to do with the nuclear program, to do with the Straits of Hormuz. The diplomacy has not stopped.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But the bombing did. So how long will the bombing stop for to allow for this–

AMB. WALTZ: Well, to give that– well, I’m not going to take that option off the table for the president. That’s up to him. Let’s see how these conversations go.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the president said to–

AMB. WALTZ: By the way I have to give Aman some- some credit there. They have been engaging in a helpful way.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Oman.

AMB. WALTZ: Oman. Yes, I’m sorry.

MARGARET BRENNAN: About– so, President Trump told Axios that he was close to making a decision and considering a massive attack bigger than ever before. That was Thursday. Did he make a decision yet?

AMB. WALTZ: I wouldn’t advertise that, Margaret but–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it’s widely reported there was a big meeting Friday.

AMB. WALTZ: There– there was a meeting Friday, but there’s ongoing meetings. There was a senior–

MARGARET BRENNAN: There was no final decision.

AMB. WALTZ: Right.

MARGARET BRENNAN: –other than–

AMB. WALTZ: He’ll– he’ll make that decision in– in good time. But I also want to address this nonsense that somehow we don’t have the assets that we need. Not only do we have what we need in theater, there’s more moving into theater.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, specifically, CBS has reported we cannot sustain the rate at which the United States has expended precision munitions, as we did early in the campaign with Iran. That there is a shortage of interceptors.

AMB. WALTZ: Yeah, I wish they would also talk about the massive degradation of Iranian munitions–

MARGARET BRENNAN: No, but–

[CROSSTALK]

AMB. WALTZ: –that has far less– that has far less than what they started with not only in their industrial base but what they have on hand. Number one, but number two–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

AMB. WALTZ: –what if the president had done nothing and they had built that massive conventional shield–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

AMB. WALTZ: –for which they could then hide their breakout behind?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

AMB. WALTZ: –then we would have been in trouble.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me take a break because we need to finish this on the other side of it. Stay with us, Ambassador, if you would. We’ll be right back.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face the Nation. We return to our conversation with UN Ambassador Mike Waltz. So, Ambassador, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is headed to Washington this week for Senator Graham’s memorial ceremony. Zelensky said yesterday that since the beginning of July, Ukraine has recorded active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and the U.S. military installations that are located there, and he says those images then appear in Iran. How deep is the level of Russian involvement in helping Iran target and kill Americans?

AMB. WALTZ: Well, I think you’ve seen this symbiotic relationship with Russia-Iran, particularly with the Iranian drones. Now that manufacturing capability has been devastated in Iran itself. But Iran has been providing drones and drone technology to Russia–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.

AMB. WALTZ: –that they are then using- using on Kyiv. In terms of the active help, look, I’ll just let the president’s statement this week stand on its own that he has spoken to both Putin and Xi about this and has put both on notice, frankly, that they should not be assisting, and that bad things will happen if they are.

MARGARET BRENNAN: This would suggest that they haven’t stopped assisting. Zelensky says that’s happening in July.

AMB. WALTZ: Okay. Well, we’ll let Zelensky’s statement, I think, just stand on its own. But the president’s statement is out there as well.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Let me ask you about Saudi Arabia. We know exporting America’s nuclear technology is a priority for the president. He had an executive order on it. He wants to help build these data centers in the Gulf. Those things rely on nuclear energy. There are partners of ours that have civilian nuclear energy program, but there was blowback against the administration this week when news broke of the commercial deal that was signed between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to build this civilian nuclear program on Saudi soil. Were you surprised at that level of blowback? And–

AMB. WALTZ: Margaret, I think that I think there’s a misunderstanding about what’s in the deal. This is civil nuclear power, just like we have with the United Arab Emirates, the 123 agreement that we’ve had for- for over a decade. There is no enrichment technology being provided to the Saudis. That will be done here in the United States. It’s some of our most sensitive technology, and people, I think, need to understand that countries around the world have been buying from Russia, have been buying from China. President Trump has initiated a nuclear renaissance here at home when it comes to nuclear power. We want our partners buying from us. They will be buying civil nuclear reactors from the United States with full inspections in place and no enrichment happening on Saudi soil.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So on the enrichment point, as I understand it, the deal, which was a version of what the Biden administration had also been working on, but not closed, that it would have a study to look into how much uranium Saudi has and if it’s commercially viable, that they would be able potentially to enrich on their own soil.

AMB. WALTZ: There’s a clause in the deal that says it can be discussed if mutually agreed by both sides sometime in the future.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, two-year study for this to possibly happen.

AMB. WALTZ: For- for some open-ended discussion. But as the deal stands now, there is no enrichment capability being provided to the Saudis for them to do on their own. But there is power, and that’s incredibly important. They want to diversify, and again, I want them buying from us, not the Chinese or Russians.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But- and I focus on the enrichment because that is that key difference from what, for example, the Emirates have. They buy their nuclear fuel elsewhere.

AMB. WALTZ: And that’s what this deal is to buy the nuclear fuel from us.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But it’s got that pathway to enrichment, and that panicked some people this week, it would seem. And there was some criticism as well that the president then posted the next day, Oh, well, now it’s going to be dependent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. Which was not in the deal.

AMB. WALTZ: I mean it shouldn’t surprise anyone. The president’s been talking about the Abraham Accords, having the Saudis–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well it wasn’t in the signed agreement.

AMB. WALTZ: –having the Saudis join, and you know, and the president has made that part of this agreement, which is- he’s absolutely right to do, number one- and number two, there was also these kind of odd comparisons to Iran. How can you have the Saudis having nuclear power when Iran’s trying to seek the same thing, which is just ridiculous. I mean, they’re burying it under hundreds of feet of granite–

MARGARET BRENNAN: In Iran.

AMB. WALTZ: They have kicked out- in Iran- they have kicked out the inspectors. This is the largest state sponsor of terrorism year after year, decade after decade in world history. Completely different issue. It’s actually all of the things that Iran is violating, which is why we are stopping and seeking to stop their pursuit of a nuclear weapon, but having civil nuclear power provided by the United States is perfectly fine and should be applauded.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Just before I let you go, on that, does the U.S. want to help other countries enrich? And then, secondly, doesn’t changing the terms of a deal after it was signed undermine America’s negotiating position with all countries? Like, who’s going to trust us if we say, ah, tomorrow add in a new term after we sign the deal?

AMB. WALTZ: Do we want to help other countries enrich? That is- we do that, and very select countries do that. And there is an entire- there’s a non proliferation treaty–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

AMB. WALTZ: There’s an entire international- the IAEA, the UN agency that sends these inspectors out to ensure that countries cannot do what Iran has been doing, which is enriching–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, but that’s breaking–

AMB. WALTZ: –way past–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –yeah.

AMB. WALTZ: Yeah. Way past what you need for civil nuclear power that can only be used for weapons, and that’s why we are absolutely convinced, and we know Iran is seeking a nuclear weapons program.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. I mean, we could keep going on this, but I know that I have a Republican senator who- who has some thoughts on the matter as well up next. I’ve got to leave it there with you. Thank you, Ambassador Waltz. We’ll be right back.

Transcript: Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” July 26, 2026

2026-07-26T12:37:32-0400 / CBS News

The following is the transcript of an interview with Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on July 26, 2026.

*

MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to Republican Senator John Kennedy, who joins us this morning from Madisonville, Louisiana. Senator, it’s good to have you on the program. I’ve- I’ve got a lot to–

SEN. JOHN KENNEDY: — Good to be with you, Margaret.–

MARGARET BRENNAN: — get to with you. Let me just button up where I left it with Ambassador Waltz, if I could, because that Saudi civil nuclear deal he was just discussing-it’s got to go to you. It’s got to go to Congress for approval. Are you comfortable with it?

SEN. KENNEDY: No. Maybe some someday, but not right now. We’re bombing a country to keep them from getting a nuclear weapon, but we’re signing a deal with another country, I know it’s a commercial agreement, but that the world perceives as possibly someday leading to a nuclear weapon. The world’s on a hair trigger. The world looks at what’s going on in- in Ukraine, the Middle East. The world looks at America’s relationship now with Europe. People are scared. That’s why I say hair trigger. And if you’re running Japan, or South Korea, or Australia, or Brazil, or some countries in Europe, you’re at least thinking about the need to acquire a nuclear weapon, and then you see this deal with Saudi Arabia, and it’s just not good timing. I think someday it might be. I don’t think it’s going to happen anyway because the president’s conditioned it on Iran- on Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel, and they’re not- they’re not going to do that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the Saudis said they’d be willing to, but they want a pathway for the Palestinians. The Israeli politics of the moment don’t make that sound–

SEN. KENNEDY: — I know. And- and the president’s going to say- the president’s going to point out correctly that we’ve got 26 of these one-two-three agreements with other countries.

MARGARET BRENNAN: — Yes–

SEN. KENNEDY: — but the timing’s- the timing’s not good.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. It got a lot of attention this week. You were pretty sharp in your questioning there of the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when he asked for $67 billion in funding for the Iran War. You said, just like our poll shows, you need more information. Did you get an agreement that you will be provided the classified, detailed briefing that you say is necessary?

SEN. KENNEDY: I’m having breakfast next Wednesday with General Caine. I’ve seen the poll. It looks about right. I support the president in Iran. We all need to do a better job messaging. I may end up with a sombrero on my head by saying this, but we all know the president. He- he exists loudly. He- he grows anxious when he has an unexpressed thought. He’s not always disciplined in his messaging. I’m not saying he should stop talking. He’s the president and I’m not. But I would put Rubio and Caine and Ratcliffe and Hegseth out there, either in a speech or in a long press conference, to explain what’s going on in Iran. Why we went in? Why we’re still there? Now the Democrats- I listened to Bernie. Bernie wants to just come home. He wants to turn out the lights, make sure the cat’s inside, and go to bed. That would be a huge, huge mistake.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it’s interesting because 67% of Americans want the war to end now, and during that questioning, you floated the idea to General Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, that the U.S. could stop in Iran, end the blockade, and bring troops home. He didn’t lay out for you the potential consequences. But why did you ask that question? Are you- you’re not advocating it. Why are you asking it?

SEN. KENNEDY: Because I wanted to know the answer. Look, here’s what I think we ought to do. I think we ought to tighten the sanctions on the sale of Iranian oil. I think we ought to continue the blockade and starve them out. I think we ought to bomb Pickaxe Mountain and try to reach what’s underneath it. I don’t know about- I don’t have enough information to know about continuing the attacks. The president likes the daily attacks. He believes that sometimes you have to kill a few chickens to- to scare the monkeys. That’s not- I don’t think that’s going to work with- with the Iranian leadership. These people are more than mildly insane. It’s like dealing with son of Sam or Charles Manson. But I don’t think we ought to just cut and run. If we can stand the pain of the rising cost of energy, we need to stay the course, at least for a few more months. I also don’t think we need to send in troops. That’s my opinion, for what it’s worth.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Lindsey Graham is going to be laid to rest this week in memorial service. One of the things that he wanted up until his death was financial restrictions on the biggest buyers of Russian oil. There are 62 signatories to that bill, filibuster-proof majority. Will it get voted on before the Senate breaks for summer?

SEN. KENNEDY: Don’t know. And let me say, look, with respect to the Senate, doing nothing is hard because you never know when you’re finished. We need to put the- the House budget resolution on the floor. It’s the only chance we have to get money to defense, the farmers, and to take another crack at the SAVE Act. We need to add Iran to the- to the Graham Russian sanctions bill and vote on it. We need to put- put the cryptocurrency market structure bill on the floor and vote on it. I love John Thune–

MARGARET BRENNAN: — All in two weeks?–

SEN. KENNEDY: — and- and maybe take a few extra days. Look, I mean no disrespect. I love John Thune. He’s my leader. He’s got a big brain. He’s- he’s better looking than me, but I think he’s just being too cautious. He wants to spend the rest of our time talking with- with Senator Schumer about shutting down government, and the Graham Platner wing of the party is, his party, is not going to let Schumer agree with us. They- they already want to give Schumer a bathrobe, a popsicle, and an early bedtime, and have him retire. I don’t think Chuck can agree with us.

MARGARET BRENNAN: — I just– I

SEN. KENNEDY: — I think he’s going to shut down government.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to go back- you just said you wanted to move forward on what the House just started the process on.

SEN. KENNEDY: Yes ma’am.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That would be a party line- that would be a party line vote. That would be Republicans jamming this thing through, and the SAVE Act, as you know, or even some version of it, is highly partisan, highly controversial. Bigger picture, isn’t it going to hurt faith in our election process if a Republican-only policy to change how elections are run is ramped through 100 days- you know, less than 100 days out from the election?

SEN. KENNEDY: No, in my opinion, for both sides to have credibility in the elections- in our elections, we need to do two things and only two things. Number one, you have to prove you are who you say you are in order to register to vote and to vote. And number two, however you decide to vote, that’s up to the states, we need to go back to having an election day, not an election month. We’ve got to know the results of election that night or shortly thereafter if it’s close. That to me is what the SAVE Act is all about, and I think we can pass it, and I think we can craft it in a way to survive a Byrd bath.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Grants, in other words–

SEN. KENNEDY: –But we’re not going to- to know if we don’t try.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Grants in other words, to states. To incentivize, not requirements for states to take action. That’s your version?

SEN. KENNEDY: Yeah, but that’s not the only thing. I’ve- I’ve been contacted by some really smart people about a way to do it in addition to the grants. I’m not saying it’ll work, but you’re not going to know unless you try.

MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, Senator- Senator Kennedy, a lot of business to get to. I’m going to have to leave it there, though. Thank you so much for joining us today. Appreciate your time.

SEN. KENNEDY: Thank you, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be right back.

Transcript: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” July 26, 2026

2026-07-26T12:40:00-0400 / CBS News

The following is the full transcription of an interview with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent, a portion of which aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on July 26, 2026.

*

MARGARET BRENNAN: We begin this morning with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Welcome back to Face the Nation, Senator.

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: Good to be with you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress he needs $67 billion on an emergency basis to help pay the troops, to help restock munitions. I know you object to the war, but we’re in this thing now, and- and I know you want to help the troops. So, how do you do that without providing the funding?

SEN. SANDERS: Well, Margaret, we need $67 billion to build housing, to make sure that all of our people have healthcare, that we deal with climate change, that we deal with a middle class- a working class in this country that is struggling. The war in Iran is unconstitutional. It is illegal. Should never have been started. We need to sit down, negotiate, end this war as quickly as possible.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So our polling that we just referenced there show that the president does have low approval ratings, but when it comes to Democrats, they actually fare slightly worse on this. When they were asked by CBS who has the better approach to Iran, 32% say Trump and the GOP, only 30% say Democrats. So, what should the solution be here? Is there an affirmative vision from Democrats on how to get out of it?

SEN. SANDERS: The solution should be A- and by the way, both the House and the Senate have voted for War Powers Resolution that makes it clear what Trump is doing is illegal. But given that we are where we are right now, let’s sit down. Let’s negotiate with them. Let’s stop the killing. Let’s stop the devastation to our economy, which is raising gas prices, prices all across the board. That’s what we’ve got to do. Sit down, negotiate. Let’s end this war.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Just cut the losses where they are?

SEN. SANDERS: Yes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Well, we are 100 days out from the midterm races. I know you’ve been working, going around the country to help boost some of these progressive candidates. Maine is a state that could flip control of the Senate. Yesterday, 600 Maine primary delegates replaced scandal-ridden Graham Platner with Troy Jackson. He’s a logger. He’s a progressive. He had been allied with Platner before he called on him to wake out in the wake of those sexual assault allegations. I’m wondering, with 100 days out, can Jackson play catch-up here?

SEN. SANDERS: I think he can. I think what Troy- and I’ve known Troy for many years. What he understands that the people of Maine are sick and tired of a rigged economy, in which the billionaire class is getting richer and richer, where we have more income and wealth inequality today than we’ve ever had in the history of this country. While 60% of our people, including in Maine, including in Vermont, all over this country, are living paycheck-to-paycheck, trying to put food on the table, trying to pay for healthcare, for housing, put aside a few bucks for retirement. Troy understands that. He’s a working class guy. He’s from the working class. He is very articulate. I think he stands an excellent chance to win. The problem that he has, and the problem that we have in Michigan and Minnesota right now, we have candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Peggy Flanagan- is that the oligarchs, the billionaire class, are throwing unbelievable amounts of money into these campaigns to protect the establishment candidates, and whether we can overcome that, that remains to be seen. But in Michigan right now–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEN. SANDERS: –the super PACs- billionaire super PACs, spending $50 million against El-Sayed.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you were an early supporter in Maine of Graham Platner. You helped him rise. Do you regret not acting earlier to call for him to drop out, given the warning signs? Would that have–

SEN. SANDERS: No, I–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –given you a leg up here with Jackson?

SEN. SANDERS: No, I don’t think so. When we heard the serious allegations made against him, I wanted to get on the phone. I wanted to talk to him. I did. I asked, along with virtually all his supporters, that he should get out of the race, and he did.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But you are confident that with your endorsements, these other candidates have been fully vetted?

SEN. SANDERS: Well, look, I think, you know, there are hundreds of candidates. I don’t know who has been quote unquote fully vetted–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you just mentioned two of them.

SEN. SANDERS: –all I know is the candidates- well, all I know is, Margaret, that the candidates that we are supporting are standing up for the working class of this country. And at a time when so many people are discouraged, deeply discouraged, whether you’re Republicans, Democrats, Independents, about a, not only a rigged economy, but a corrupt campaign finance system in which billionaires are buying elections, I think the candidates that I and other progressives are supporting are generating enormous grassroots excitement and enthusiasm. As you indicated, I was in Michigan, Minnesota.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEN. SANDERS: We had large rallies for El- El-Sayed and Peggy Flanagan.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There is, as you know, though, concern within Democratic circles that these inter-party primary fights are draining resources and sort of, you know, pulling away from what should be a unified message. Rahm Emanuel wrote in the Wall Street Journal, “The Bernie Bros could spoil Democrats’ midterms.” He said the DSA and others are saddling the party with nominees who, as he put it, “wildly unpopular positions will protect Republicans from having to pay the price of Donald Trump’s corruption.” Said it was, “the socialists who led the charge to defund the police, open borders, abolish prisons.” He’s saying those are losing messages that are going to hurt the party overall. How do you respond?

SEN. SANDERS: That is what– that is what Rahm Emanuel is saying, who no doubt has the support of millions of working class people. Look, this is an argument. There’s no- no debate. There is a strong division within the Democratic Party. You have an establishment like Rahm Emanuel, who are dependent on billionaire campaign contributors and want to maintain the status quo. Then you have a progressive movement, which, by the way, what is getting these guys nervous is we are winning all over this country. Suddenly, Mamdani in New York City, it’s in New Jersey, it’s in Ohio, it’s in Colorado. People are sick and tired of the Rahm Emanuels, and the Democratic establishment, and the Republican establishment. They are asking simple questions, Margaret. Why in God’s name are we the only major country on Earth not to guarantee healthcare to all people as a human right? Pretty simple question. Canada does it. Europe does it. Somehow we can’t do it. Why do we have an economy in which one man, Mr. Musk, owns more wealth than the bottom half of American society?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEN. SANDERS: Why do the economists tell us that in the richest country in the history of the world, our kids will likely have a lower standard of living than their parents? The American people are tired of a rigged economy, a corrupt campaign finance system. They want real change. They don’t want Rahm Emanuel and the establishment maintaining the status quo.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But in the meantime, I hear you on the message that you think is resonating on the, you know, the tactical planning here. Do you think in the state of Michigan that you were just talking about with Abdul El-Sayed, he’s a public health official, he’s a populist, but he’s running against a moderate, Haley Stevens. Do you really think that in a state like Michigan, it’s going to be a progressive Democrat who could beat a Republican in November? This was a state Trump narrowly won.

SEN. SANDERS: Absolutely. Whether it’s Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, or any place else in this country, the point I’m trying to make, Margaret, and the polling indicates this, the people are sick and tired of the status quo.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

SEN. SANDERS: We are the richest country in the history of the world. We should have the highest standard of living for all of our people, not massive income and wealth inequality. And by the way, we should not be continuing to get involved in genocidal wars with Israel in Gaza or getting involved in the destruction of Lebanon. People want change in foreign policy and in domestic policy. The status quo is not working.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But for Republicans who are looking at this, they’re saying, ‘that’s great.’ Is Bernie going to tell his supporters not to show up, for example, if Haley Stevens wins out in Michigan, or will you say–

SEN. SANDERS: No–

MARGARET BRENNAN:–it’s- in the end, the Democrats have to unify?

SEN. SANDERS: Margaret, the Republicans, and maybe it’s the Republican establishment, maybe it’s the billionaires who own the Republican Party. Your working-class Republicans are not going to say that they can’t afford to pay for healthcare. They can’t afford to send their kids to college. They can’t afford decent retirements. And more than a few of them, by the way, will be voting for Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota and Abdul in Michigan.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You talked about the cost of living. When we look at polling, it’s healthcare costs that are the public’s top economic worry, according to KFF. Out in Vermont, you’ve got the most expensive ACA premiums in the entire country. I’m hearing from Republican senators now that they want to make changes to healthcare too. Your chair on the HELP committee, you have been championing change. Why aren’t we seeing any traction in Congress if this is the number one issue? Why can’t you guys work on a–

SEN. SANDERS: That is–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –bipartisan basis here?

SEN. SANDERS: Margaret, that is a great, great question, and I have to tell you the answer has everything to do with money and politics. That the function of the current healthcare system is not to do what other countries are doing around the world, guaranteeing healthcare, quality healthcare, to all of our people as a human right. The function of the current American healthcare system is to make billions of dollars in profits for the insurance companies and the drug companies, and they are spending huge amounts in campaign contributions to make sure that that happens. So, when we talk about a political revolution, when we talk about a grassroots movement–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEN. SANDERS: –one of the things we’re talking about is we have got to join every other major country through a Medicare for All single-payer program.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Is there a single-payer program in this country that you think actually worked? I mean, Vermont struggled with it when your state tried it. Is there a model for what you’re talking about?

SEN. SANDERS: No, look we don’t have- no, Vermont. No, there is not. But 50 miles north of where I am talking to you right now, they are spending half as much per capita as we spend, and somehow or another, they manage to guarantee healthcare to every man, woman, and child in that country. You go to the hospital for a month, you come out, there is no bill. Is it a perfect system? No, but we are the only major country that does not guarantee healthcare to all people. That is what we have got to do.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You are the ranking member on the HELP committee. The CDC has been without a Senate confirmed leader now for nearly 11 months. The FDA doesn’t have a chief going on two months now, there’s no surgeon general. Under questioning, Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Trump’s nominee, was repeatedly asked if she would resist political pressure. I know her answers did not win your vote, but do you think that she even has enough support to make it out of committee and ultimately to get confirmed?

SEN. SANDERS: Look, I liked her personally. I mean, she has a very strong background in public health, in the military. She’s an attorney as well. Very impressive resume. But when you’re dealing with the Health and Human Services Department agency, the issue is whether people will stand up to Bobby Kennedy- Secretary Kennedy, and his conspiracy theories regarding vaccines, etc. etc. She did not impress me as somebody who, in fact, would do that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You don’t think she will ultimately make it through?

SEN. SANDERS: I don’t know that she will or not.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

SEN. SANDERS: She may gain Republicans, but I won’t vote for her.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You do have bipartisan support from the MAHA caucus for a bill to require warning labels for ultra-processed foods and to try to restrict marketing to kids. Doesn’t the FDA kind of already do that with all the disclosures on packaging that tell–

SEN. SANDERS: No–

MARGARET BRENNAN:–you the ingredients? I mean–

SEN. SANDERS: Nowhere near enough. You know, nowhere near enough. Look, we have a problem- really serious crisis in this country in terms of obesity. I think one out of five children in America is obese, and that translates into diabetes, which is, as you know, just a terrible illness impacting our country, and very expensive to deal with. We’re spending about $400 billion a year dealing with diabetes, so what I want to see, and I think a lot of people want to see, is strong labeling. You know, so if a mom goes to a grocery store and the kid says, ‘hey, I want that Coca-Cola,’ understand that a 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola has 15 teaspoons of sugar in it. Bad stuff, and it’s not just Coke. Obviously, it’s all these sweetened drinks and all kinds of processed foods. So, what we are trying to do is A, have strong labeling and B, ban TV advertising of junk food to kids.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you do have some Republican support for it. We’ll keep an eye on it. Senator Sanders, thank you for your time this morning.