Full transcript of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 26, 2026

On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan: Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont U.S.

Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb A look at new CBS News polling with Anthony Salvanto , CBS News' executive director of elections and surveys MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan in Washington. And this week on Face the Nation: As the U.S.

war with Iran approaches the five-month mark, both sides are searching for a diplomatic off-ramp. MARGARET BRENNAN: After nearly two weeks of striking targets across Iran following the collapse of the short-lived cease-fire earlier this month, the Trump administration paused its bombardment for two straight days for the first time, as diplomatic talks over the Strait of Hormuz show signs of progress. With our new CBS poll showing continued unease about the war's direction, we will ask U.N.

Ambassador Mike Waltz whether a peace deal is any closer. Then: With midterm elections around the corner, Congress faces a daunting to-do list of must-pass legislation to fund the government and the war. We will hear from Senators John Kennedy and Bernie Sanders.

Plus, an update on measles, cyclosporiasis, and more. We will ask former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb.

Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. After 13 straight days of U.S. bombing, U.S.

strikes were halted over the weekend. Regional sources tell CBS that talks between Oman and Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz appear to be headed in a positive direction, although caution more negotiations are needed. As oil prices rose again last week to their highest level in more than a month, a new CBS poll finds two-thirds of Americans believe the U.S.

should end the conflict with Iran now, while just one-third say it should continue until Iran makes further concessions. Only 35 percent approve of President Trump's handling of the war. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is asking Congress for additional funding as the costs of the conflict mount.

We begin this morning with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Welcome back to Face the Nation, Senator. SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS (I-Vermont): 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 I know you want to help the troops. So how do you do that without providing the funding?

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: Well, Margaret, we need $67 billion to build housing, to make sure that all of our people have health care, 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 percent say Trump and the GOP, only 30 percent say Democrats.

So what should the solution be here? Is there an affirmative vision from Democrats on how to get out of this? SENATOR BERNIE 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 have got to do, sit down, negotiate.

Let's end this war. MARGARET BRENNAN: Just cut the losses where they are? Well, we are 100 days out from the midterm races.

I know you have 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 (sic) out in the wake of those sexual assault allegations.

I'm wondering, with 100 days out, can Jackson play catchup here? I think what Troy – and I have 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 have ever had in the history of this country, while 60 percent 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 health care, 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… SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: … the super PAC, billionaire super PACs are 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? MARGARET BRENNAN: Would that have given you a leg up here with Jackson?

SENATOR BERNIE 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 the – 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? SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: Well, look, I think there are hundreds of candidates. I don't know who hasn't been – quote, unquote – "fully vetted." MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you just mentioned two, though.

SENATOR BERNIE 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.

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: We had large rallies for El-Sayed and Peggy Flanagan. MARGARET BRENNAN: There is, as you know, though, concern within Democratic circles that these interparty primary fights are draining resources and sort of 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." He 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? SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: That is what that is what Rahm Emanuel is saying, who no doubt has the support of millions...