Top of the Ticker: CNN journalists Fred Pleitgen and Claudia Otto were the first Western journalists to enter Iran since the conflict with Israel began last week. Pleitgen, who is CNN’s senior international correspondent, and Otto, the network’s photojournalist, visited the Iranian State Broadcasting Company (IRIB) television station, which was hit by an Israeli airstrike.
The crew toured parts of the building that took a direct hit, including the main part of the newsroom, where desks, computers, printers, and phones were left charred and melted.
“All of this is playing very big here in Iran,” Pleitgen said. “There’s a lot of public anger that the Israelis attacked this site.”
Pleitgen also filed a report from a protest in central Tehran held on Friday and had an interview with an Iranian Presidential Spokesman, who said President Donald Trump can end the conflict with one call to the Israelis.
FIRST ON CNN
Footage of an Iranian state news bulletin being interrupted by an Israeli airstrike captured attention earlier this week.
CNN’s @fpleitgenCNN goes inside the TV studio in Tehran, Iran which has been left devastated by the attack. pic.twitter.com/hHk6FbOV2n
— CNN International PR (@cnnipr) June 19, 2025
Capitol Hill Acknowledgement: A bipartisan resolution was passed on Wednesday by the U.S. Senate, paying tribute to C-SPAN’s nearly 40 years of covering the Senate. Recognizing the value of unfiltered public access to Senate proceedings, the resolution was introduced on June 2 by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and co-sponsored by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It commemorates the 39th anniversary of C-SPAN2’s first live broadcast from the U.S. Senate, applauds cable and satellite providers for carrying C-SPAN as a public service, and urges all television providers, including major streaming services, to make C-SPAN available to their subscribers.
U.S. Senate unanimously passes resolution calling on streaming services to carry C-SPAN. pic.twitter.com/iQfi8ZuvOz
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 18, 2025
Career recognition: CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Martha Teichner was celebrated at the 50th Annual Gracie Awards Luncheon in New York this past week. Teichner received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to her by colleague and friend Jane Pauley, who said, “How to describe such a woman in a word? The incomparable—Martha Teichner.” The awards ceremony was hosted by ABC News’ Juju Chang.
