CNN This Morning

The whistleblower in the IRS case against Hunter Biden joins to discuss the judges decision to put the president’s eldest son’s plea deal on hold. Prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing. Plus, reports of Senate Leader Mitch McConnell falling more times this year than previously known come as the 81-year-old Republican insists he is fine after he froze mid-speech yesterday for 23 seconds. And, tributes pour in after “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer Sinéad O’Connor dies at age 56. Also this Morning: 150 million Americans are under heat alerts, the US women’s soccer team tie with the Netherlands in a tense World Cup match, and Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is spotted in St. Petersburg.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hunter Biden heads to federal court to plead guilty to tax misdemeanors and resolve a felony gun charge - but in a last-minute twist, House Republicans attempt to block his plea deal over what they say is political interference. Plus, a federal judge blocks asylum policies that were meant to curb illegal border crossings after a Trump-era immigration rule ended. And, LeBron James' son Bronny is in stable condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during basketball practice. Also this morning: a Marine veteran freed by Russia in a prisoner swap is injured fighting in Ukraine, Ron DeSantis fires dozens of staffers in a presidential campaign reset, Harvard reviews its admissions policies following the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action, and Florida ocean water hits hot tub levels, and it’s taking a toll on coral.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN learns exclusively that prosecutors are looking into the details of a February 2022 Oval Office meeting where Trump repeatedly praised how secure elections were, before going on to publicly bash and question them only weeks later. Plus, Speaker Kevin McCarthy says the House investigations into the Biden family business dealings are to rise to the level of an impeachment inquiry. And, Texas, refuses to remove its border buoys as the DOJ sues the state. Also this morning: Israel's doctors strike after a violent night of protests over a new law limiting the power of the nation's supreme court, and the Alabama woman who went missing for 49 hours after making a 911 call now says she was not kidnapped and, in fact, it was all a hoax.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thousands protest ahead of a historic judicial overhaul vote in Israel that would severely limit the power of the country’s Supreme Court to put any checks on the Israeli Parliament’s actions. CNN’s Hadas Gold reports live from Jerusalem. Plus, Ukrainian drones attack Moscow after President Zelensky vowed retaliation for deadly Russian strikes on Odesa. CNN takes a live look at the damage. And, Texas officials face a deadline today to enter talks with the DOJ on removing the floating border barrier in Rio Grande, or face a lawsuit. Also this morning: Elon Musk unveils an “X” logo to replace Twitter’s blue bird, “Barbenheimer” shatters box office expectations and thousands of tourists flee wildfires on the Greek Island of Rhodes.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The deadline is over for Trump to testify about efforts to overturn the 2020 election, but the federal investigation is pushing toward. Plus, Russia targets the world's food again, hitting grain warehouses in Ukraine for the fourth night in a row. And, investigators in the Gilgo Beach murders establish the theory Rex Heuermann murdered women inside of his home, suggesting he lured victims to his house when his family was out of town. Also this morning: Vice President Kamala Harris visits Florida to speak out about the state's new black history standards for schools, and Barbie vs. Oppenheimer is shaping up to be the biggest box office battle we've seen in years.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia fires missiles at Odesa for the third straight night, targeting grain storage and the infrastructure for exporting food to people who need it across the world. The EU's top diplomat calls the strikes barbaric. Plus, Trump has 18-hours left to respond to the special counsel's letter informing him that he's a target in the 2020 election interference probe, as the grand jury reconvenes to deliberate whether he should be indicted. And, we have a winner - a single player in California takes the entire $1 billion Powerball jackpot. Also this morning: the scandal exploding at the Texas border over the treatment of migrants, new details about the US soldier who ran into North Korea, a second IRS whistleblower goes public about the Hunter Biden probe, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More criminal charges against Trump appear to be imminent. The former president says he expects to be indicted and arrested for the third time, announcing himself that the special counsel notified him he's a target of the investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Plus, the Michigan Attorney General charges 16 people with felonies, accusing them of signing certificates falsely claiming Trump won the 2020 election there. Also this morning: a new search warrant is served in the Tupac Shakur murder probe, a US soldier is believed to be in North Korean custody after ‘wilfully” crossing the border, and Ron DeSantis downplays concerns about the state of his presidential campaign.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first hearing in Donald Trump's classified documents case is set for today in Florida. CNN’s Katelyn Polantz discusses the message the judge has for the prosecutors and defense attorneys involved, and how her decision on the timeline could affect Trump’s 2024 presidential run. Plus, Russia unleashes a barrage of missiles and drones on Odesa in retaliation for Ukraine’s attack on a key Crimean bridge yesterday. And, triple-digit temperature records are being shattered across Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. One top climate group says that heat hell is being felt worldwide. Also this morning: new details on the Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect, the Pentagon leaks suspect cites Trump’s release as reason he should be let out of jail ahead of his trial, and your lottery dreams are alive for yet another day. There was no winner last night in the power ball drawings. The jackpot has now reached $1 billion.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine attacks a crucial bridge connecting Russia to Crimea’s peninsula. Ukraine intelligence officials say the damage will hurt Russia's ability to move supplies. Plus, a top investigator in the Gilgo Beach serial killer case describes the suspect as a “Demon”. He tells CNN the investigation remains active with the authorities continuing to gather evidence as they analyze further human remains. And, airlines try to get back on track after another brutal weekend with than 170 flights cancelled yesterday. Also this morning: DeSantis cuts staff and promises his donors a more “nimble campaign”, and the Powerball jackpot has grown to $900 million, the third largest Powerball prize in history.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A culture war fight took center stage last night in a House vote for a normally bipartisan defense policy bill, after Republicans wedged in amendments on access to abortion services and transgender care for troops, and also an amendment that would end diversity rules at the Pentagon. Plus, sources tell CNN that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner testified before the 2020 election interference grand jury. And, actors join writers on the picket line in the first joint strike since 1960, bringing the Hollywood machine to a grinding halt. Also this morning: The Secret Service closes its White House cocaine probe with no suspect, the World Health Organisation warns that widely used artificial sweetener aspartame could cause cancer, and Barbie is pretty in pink, but is she still profitable?To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices