Full transcript of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 12, 2026

Key Points:

• Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Republican figure and strong advocate for Ukraine and U.S. national security, has died suddenly at age 71, prompting tributes from colleagues including Senator Tim Scott who highlighted Graham's dedication and bipartisan efforts.
• The U.S. has resumed military strikes against Iran following Iranian attacks on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively ending a fragile ceasefire; former CENTCOM commander Frank McKenzie emphasized U.S. capabilities to control the Strait if necessary.
• Israeli Ambassador Michael Leiter praised Graham's vision for Middle East peace, including normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, while affirming Israel's readiness to support U.S. actions against Iran but emphasizing conditional progress on Lebanese withdrawals tied to Hezbollah disarmament.
• Former Chicago Mayor and Ambassador Rahm Emanuel criticized the current Israeli government's policies, advocating for a broader regional peace strategy beyond military means, and underscored the importance of U.S.-Israel alliance renewal through diplomatic and economic integration.
• Congressman Mike Turner expressed hope that Graham's bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russian oil buyers will advance in Congress, while discussing ongoing NATO issues with Turkey and domestic concerns over election integrity and immigration policies.