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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Judges Order Trump Administration To Fund Food Stamps Amid Shutdown; Interview With Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN); CNN In Hard Hit Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa; American Academy Of Pediatrics Warns Against Routine Use Of Leucovorin In Children With Autism, Says More Research Needed; One Giant Leap For Kim; "I'm Breaking Stereotypes": Baseball For The Blind. Aired 8-9p ET

Aired October 31, 2025 - 20:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: It is a beautiful, deeply moving, very human and incredibly important hour, and I hope you'll join us for that. Thanks so much for joining us tonight. I'm Erica Hill, AC360 starts right now.

[20:05:07]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER: 360": Tonight on 360, on the eve of 42 million Americans losing food assistance payments, starting tomorrow, President Trump has just weighed in and suddenly seems to be trying to find a way to keep those food payments coming.

Also tonight, what could have been a true Halloween terror, the FBI says it stops an ISIS inspired attack. We have details of what they say the plan entailed.

Plus, small step for Neil Armstrong is a giant leap too far for Kim Kardashian and why she's telling hundreds of millions of her followers one of the longest running conspiracy stories ever, that the moon landing was faked.

Good evening, thanks for joining us.

We begin with breaking news from the President about the SNAP food assistance benefits that nearly 42 million Americans receive and are due to run out tomorrow. It came just hours after two federal judges ordered him to use money from an emergency fund to help pay for them and now the President seems to be saying that he will.

Posting online late today, he writes, "Our government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain moneys we have available. And now two courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do. I do not want Americans to go hungry just because the radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and reopen the government. Therefore, I've instructed our lawyers to ask the court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as soon as possible."

Now, to be clear these two judges, one in Massachusetts and the other in Rhode Island, were not conflicted on the central point. Both rejected the administration's claim that it could not use a contingency fund which the agency says has $5.3 billion remaining in it to help cover the benefits.

After blaming Democrats for the government shutdown, the President goes on to say, "If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the court, it will be my honor to provide the funding, just like I did with military and law enforcement pay." Which again, his administration had been claiming up until now it could not do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKE ROLLINS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: So, there is a contingency fund at USDA, but that contingency fund, by the way, doesn't even cover, I think half of the $9.2 billion that would be required for November SNAP. But it is only allowed to flow if the underlying program is funded. It's called a contingency fund, and by law, contingency fund can only flow when the underlying fund is flowing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: The two judges did not buy that this is happening as we've reported with food banks across the country already under growing strain from the shutdown and the influx of federal workers who've been furloughed or are now working without pay.

According to the most recent data from the USDA, about 39 percent of SNAP food benefits are for children, 20 percent are elderly, and 10 percent are non-elderly and people with disabilities.

As recently as this afternoon, the President had leaning leaned heavily into the notion that this was not an issue affecting all Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Largely, when you talk about SNAP, you're talking about largely Democrats, but I'm President, I want to help everybody. I want to help Democrats and the Republicans. But when you're talking about SNAP, if you look, it's largely Democrats, they're hurting their own people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: What Democrats only have been doing throughout all this is highlighting the administrations choice not to use money it has to fund SNAP benefits. It's also true that a Senate vote to end the shutdown, which Democrats largely oppose, would have rendered that choice moot. And a vote that several Senate democrats have criticized their own party for not taking.

For more, I'm joined now by CNN's Jeff Zeleny at The White House. So, is it clear what the Presidents next move is here?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN, CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, it's clear the President does not want to be seen as the person who is blocking this funding from some 42 million Americans. And, boy, there was a dramatic change in tone from the President there on Air Force One as he flew down to Florida, where he is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort, effectively saying the Democrats are the only people who use food stamps. That simply is not true.

Actually, individually, Democrats use food stamps, but a majority of food stamp users also come from red counties. But setting that aside, he changed his tone significantly once the judges ruled and said that the administration should do something. So this point of leverage, this is something that The White House thought that, you know, might end this stalemate, this shutdown, having Democrats effectively blinked here by having the food stamp program run out of money. When that did not happen, the President clearly said it would be his honor to fund this. We will see how quickly that happens but a dramatic change of tone.

But he said he does not want Americans to go hungry. The bottom line is that's bad politics, everyone realizes that.

COOPER: And what about his demand to eliminate the filibuster now in order to end the shutdown? How are Senate Republicans reacting?

ZELENY: They are not accepting that at all. I mean, the reality here is that that would be a short-term proposition for a President Trump. But Senate Republicans and even House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has nothing to do with the Senate filibuster, he said, "Look, if the shoe is on the other foot and someday it will be, Democrats will control the Senate, they cannot change the filibuster." Because it protects the minority, if you will. It allows 60 votes, you need 60 votes.

And the idea is for there to be some type of compromise for both sides to work together. Of course, that does not always work. Look at this government shutdown that's now stretching into a second month here.

However, every Senate Republican that we spoke to today, the leadership and the rank and file said it simply is not the right thing to do. So, you would think in the middle of all this crisis, the leaders in Washington might be here working on this. Of course, that's not the case. The House has been out for more than a month. Senate Republicans went home yesterday, and President Trump is not here at The White House. He's at Mar-a-Lago -- Anderson.

[20:05:51]

COOPER: Jeff Zeleny, thanks very much. Joining me now is Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar. She's also the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

Senator, thanks for being here. I know you are supportive of the judge's rulings today. The President is saying, he's instructed his lawyers to seek clarity from the courts how they can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. The deadline is tomorrow. I mean, the money, the payments stop. Is it clear if and when the millions who depend on SNAP benefits might actually have that restored?

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): This is absolutely ridiculous, Anderson, because on their own website, the administrations website, USDA, which they mysteriously took down this week, they actually said that they knew that the SNAP contingency fund could be used in the event of a of a shutdown. Actually, they said congressional intent is evident that SNAP operations should continue.

So, I'm not one bit surprised that these two judges, one in Massachusetts, one in Rhode Island, has said that they can do this and should do this. And so, the President himself now has said that it's his honor to do this. Well, His Honor in Rhode Island, this judge already told him he had to do it, ordered him to do it. And the judge in Massachusetts basically said the same thing and said, give us a plan Monday.

People are starving. They're using these people as bargaining chips when all he has to do is come to the table when he knows very well that people's health care premiums are going out of control, and instead he's tweeting out pictures of his newly remodeled bathroom with gold chandeliers and a marble bathtub. That is not where Americans are right now. They're looking at these premiums. They're looking at how they're going to get food on the table and he is completely out-of-touch with what the American people need.

COOPER: In addition to those who desperately need food assistance there are also millions of people around the country feeling the effects of the shutdown. Federal employees missing paychecks, people dealing with delayed or canceled flights. What do you say to them? I mean, how long can this go on? And the Republicans clearly just point the finger at Democrats. Say, look, the Democrats could stop this any time.

KLOBUCHAR: We know that all the federal employees will be paid, and we want to end this shutdown now. I would have been happy to be there over the weekend negotiating with the President. But he went down to Florida after being on a trip to Asia. Instead, he chose to put out the bathroom photos, and so he needs to come to the table. All of these shutdowns or budget debates that came to the edge of a shutdown were resolved through negotiations and compromise.

Our Republican colleagues, many of them publicly, have said they know that these health care premiums are doubling across the country, 75 percent of the people that are on these Affordable Care Act plans, small business owners, farmers, ranchers, 75 percent of them are in states that Donald Trump won. So they're well aware that we need to do something about this as these rates hit tomorrow.

This isn't a January problem or a December problem, this is a now problem. So all he needs to do is invite the congressional leaders to the table. I think this could be resolved in a minute, but he refuses to do that. So, that's why I hope just as he changed his tune on the SNAP issue when he landed, and maybe cooler heads prevailed, he will do the same thing here. He loves the art of the deal. It's time for him to make one.

COOPER: It is remarkable to hear President of the United States so openly talk about, you know, targeting Democratic cities. You know, on the plane there, he was saying, you know, of course I want to help everybody. But he has -- he makes distinctions between Democrats and Republicans all the time in terms of, you know, actual human beings, actual citizens of this country. And he said, you know, numerous times in the past about, you know, going after Democratic cities or Democratic states.

KLOBUCHAR: That's not what a President should be doing. A President should be bringing people together and showing leadership. I just wish that instead of, looking at his bathroom, that he had actually met with the small business owner that I met with today, who has an employee on an Affordable Care Act plan of the employee had cancer, got through that, and now she's looking at how is she going to pay the doubling of his premiums. How is he going to pay his 25 percent part? She wants to keep him on. These are real world decisions that people are making right now.

[20:10:27]

So, maybe now that he's back flying all over the world, he'll realize where people are and listen to people who are actually dealing with this right now, or their grocery prices, whether they're on SNAP or not. What we're seeing because of the tariffs and the escalation of so many of their bills, electricity bills, grocery bills, they don't like it. And it's -- when you look at where people are and when you talk to them, or you look at where people are when they're asked by a pollster, where are you? What do you think of this? Number one thing on their mind is cost and particularly these health care premiums.

COOPER: Senator Amy Klobuchar, thanks so much for being with us. Have a good weekend.

KLOBUCHAR: Happy Halloween.

COOPER: You too.

Meanwhile, three days after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, the true devastation from the storm is now coming to light. Search and rescue teams and air support from the U.S. have started to arrive in Jamaica, as many parts of the country are still inaccessible by road and more than 70 percent of the island is without power.

CNN's David Culver is in Southwest Jamaica, where the hurricane first made landfall. David, what are you seeing there tonight?

DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And without power, Anderson, the only thing that you have to go by are the car lights at this point. And it gets a bit precarious in situations like this where dead stop traffic going into places like Black River because fuel is obviously something that is quite limited and on a lot of folk's minds.

Now, where were headed is towards Black River, and that's an area that you've seen a lot of devastation of some of the homes that have just been totally decimated. And the folks who are on this path headed the direction that we're going, and we can walk just a little bit here to keep traffic going, are folks who are many of them going back to their homes for the first time, or what's left of their homes.

You've got others who are bringing supplies with them, and others who are bringing communication devices to try to see if they can get to individuals who they've not been able to be in touch with so far.

Now, here we are several days out after the storm, and you're at a point where the adrenaline has started to wear down, the shock has started to subside and reality starting to sink in. And I caught up just a few hours ago with Chef Jose Andres, with World Central Kitchen, and he says this is the moment that is most critical after these storms.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE ANDRES, FOUNDER, WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN: And you see the images, they are all desperate equally. So, that's why, right now, in the next 48 hours, is when the increase of aid use has to be exponential, because again, it's day two, day three, day four is when, hey, we need food, hey, we need water, hey, we need -- now is the moment that then people get really very anxious, logically --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CULVER: That anxiety is spreading quickly, and you noticed on the car there he had a map of all the different locations that he's got the sites going up, and you've got a lot of local folks who are taking part in that as well.

And we were talking to some talking to some of our local team here, too. And as we were just sitting here, he looked up and he said, it's not just the homes that were destroyed, but also the beauty of my country.

And he said, you should see what this was before. And this was a beautiful canopy. Bamboo avenue and you can look now and the bamboo is just shredded. I mean, all of it just torn apart. And he said, that's another thing that they're thinking about and mourning even.

COOPER: Has there been, I mean, it's obviously very early days, but what kind of progress has there been in search and recovery efforts?

CULVER: Well, this is the issue, I mean, everyone you speak with will have a story of someone they have yet to be in contact with. And that tells you there are so many areas that are like this corridor, I mean, just so difficult to get through and cut off at this point.

So, they're starting to mobilize quickly. We're starting to see a lot of those efforts come internationally as well. The military here is certainly playing a role in that.

But as of now, the latest death toll that we've seen is at 19, it's expected to rise. but again, it's trying to get to these areas that are next to impossible to go through. I saw an ambulance trying to go through just a few minutes ago, and it was just going as slow as we were. I mean, it's a huge challenge.

COOPER: David Culver I'm glad you're there, thank you. Be careful.

Coming up next, the very latest on what the FBI says was a foiled, ISIS inspired terror attack on U.S. soil this Halloween weekend. Also, more breaking news, a new window into more than $1 billion of Jeffrey Epstein's financial transactions at the major U.S. bank involved, viewed with enough suspicion to report them to the feds.

And later, Kim Kardashian has reached online and on her reality T.V. show extends hundreds of millions of people, says one of the most important events in American history was fake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For the record, do you think that we didn't walk on the moon?

KIM KARDASHIAN, AMERICAN MEDIA PERSONALITY AND SOCIALITE: I don't think we did. I think it was fake.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:19:27]

COOPER: More breaking news tonight, the FBI says it thwarted a potential ISIS inspired terrorist attack targeting Halloween weekend in Michigan. An official tells CNN that two people have been arrested. Three more are being questioned. CNN has learned that an undercover FBI operative was in an online chat with the suspects. Authorities were monitoring the individuals who they say went to a shooting range this weekend with AK47s, practicing high speed reloads, referencing also Pumpkin Day. That's when the FBI moved in, executing search warrants and making arrests this morning in the Detroit suburbs of Dearborn and Inkster.

Former FBI Assistant Director of Public Affairs John Miller is with me. What more do we know about this?

[20:20:07]

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, they've been developing more information today through seizing the phones with the arrest of the suspects, through grabbing computers for looking for things that they weren't able to see or hear as the FBI operative was present for most of those discussions, and a participant in many of them, so do they know what the time, place, and target was? No.

But FBI Director Kash Patel did say, we believe we prevented an attack that may have occurred over Halloween and, you know, the area is safe right now. But the key drivers you describe very well, which is they were doing firearms practice earlier this week. Once that happened, they went under 24 hour a day, seven day a week surveillance, the kind of practice they were doing was emptying a magazine on a long rifle, dropping the magazine, fast reload, open fire again. So it appeared they were getting ready, or at least practicing for training for some kind of event.

And this mention of the Halloween holiday in a cryptic discussion really said, you know, we can't afford to stretch this out any longer, because if even with the 24-seven-day surveillance, you know, if two of them break away and do something, we could have stopped it, so they moved in.

COOPER: I mean, it's certainly -- I don't know if it's comforting is the right word, but the fact that the FBI still has people in chat rooms listening to this stuff, given all the resources which have been taken from the FBI and put into people going on patrol in streets, FBI agents, it's interesting that that's how -- that was the genesis of this.

MILLER: Well, we haven't seen an ISIS-related terrorist plot unfold since New Year's Day, the ramming attack in New Orleans with the pickup truck where 15 people were killed, and I think 57 hurt. But this one is one of those cases where they have started to leave the FBI agents and task force officers in the Joint Terrorism Task Force is out of the migrant sweep operations because they understand these things can spin up very quickly.

COOPER: John Miller, appreciate it, thank you. Have a good weekend.

Get more breaking news remarkable story which began just a month after Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Brooklyn jail cell, but is only now coming to light. A suspicious activity report to federal authorities filed by the megabank JPMorgan Chase about transactions the sex trafficker engaged in from 2003 to 2019, a huge period of time.

Transactions the bank viewed as suspicious to the tune of more than a billion dollars. The reports, which were unsealed today, were part of a lawsuit between the U.S. Virgin Islands and JPMorgan. Other unsealed records include e-mails between a former bank official and Epstein about a 2010 meeting with then Prince Andrew.

As for him today, a day after being stripped of his title, Britain's Prime Minister added to King Charles' royal condemnation and unlike the King, mentioned, Epstein's best known accuser by name, quoting, Keir Starmer spokesperson, "Our hearts go out to the family of Virginia Giuffre and all the victims who suffered from Jeffrey Epstein's despicable crimes."

As you know, Andrew, now simply known as that, is being evicted from his Windsor Mansion, Royal Lodge, and being sent into a kind of unofficial exile at Sandringham, which is isolated, not especially ever warm on the sea, about 100 miles Northeast of London.

The question now, what happens to Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife, whom he still live with at Windsor. She, of course, has her own history with Jeffrey Epstein and now, perhaps her own future. CNN's Max Foster explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They married in 1986. It was the wedding of the year, watched by millions. Prince Andrew introduced to Sarah Ferguson by a close friend Diana, Princess of Wales. For a time, Fergie and Diana epitomized the modern, approachable faces of a new generation of royalty.

SARAH FERGUSON, ANDREW MOUNTBATTEN-WINDSOR'S EX-WIFE: We married for total love and when I went up that aisle, I had -- I married my man. I also married a sailor, and I got a prince.

FOSTER (voice over): Daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie followed, but with Andrew serving in the Royal Navy at sea and long periods apart, strains appeared. They separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996, remaining unusually close. Co-parenting publicly and even holidaying together.

Throughout the 1990s, Ferguson became a regular in the tabloids, including after photographs with American financial adviser John Bryan made scandalous headlines, images that shattered the fairytale image and intensified scrutiny of her private life.

She rebuilt a public career and a much needed income, writing children's books and fronting television projects. In later years, raising awareness for breast cancer and melanoma, both of which she had been treated for. Admirers see resilience, charity, humor. Critics see misjudgment, poor choices and entitlement.

[20:25:16]

In 2010, a tabloid sting filmed Ferguson appearing to offer access to Prince Andrew in exchange for money. She apologized, later describing it as very poor judgment, and said she'd been struggling with debt and that Andrew wasn't aware of the alleged deal.

Then came 2011 reports that Ferguson had accepted money from sex offender and financier, Jeffrey Epstein for help paying off her debts. Ferguson later said she deeply regretted ever knowing him, calling it a gigantic error, and condemned the abuse detailed in his cases.

But fresh controversy followed when a British newspaper reported last month that she had referred to Epstein as a supreme friend in 2011, an e-mail where she apologized for condemning him just weeks after publicly saying she would never contact him again. The revelation led several charities to cut ties with her. A spokesperson said Ferguson wrote that e-mail to stave off a lawsuit from Epstein.

When allegations against Andrew escalated, Ferguson stayed publicly loyal. The now former prince denied the claims and settled a civil case in 2022 without admitting liability.

By Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018, Ferguson was back at major royal events and after Queen Elizabeth II's death, the late monarchs two beloved corgis were entrusted to Andrew and Sarah, a sign friends say of enduring family bonds.

In June of this year, the now former duchess was spotted at the Royal Ascot horse races laughing with King Charles. The message, at least on that day, that Ferguson was back in the Royal fold. CNN has reached out to Ferguson's representative for comment, but she hasn't said anything publicly about her eviction from royal lodge or where her next home might be.

Max Foster, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Up next, America's leading pediatric group, says today is not recommending routine use of a drug called leucovorin, which is a form of vitamin B for kids with autism, which is what the Trump administration recently touted it for. Tonight, well talk to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who has looked into it.

And later, how NASA responded today after Kim Kardashian says she doesn't\ believe one of the most watched television events ever. This man's first walk on the moon actually happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why do you have to say to the people who are going to say you're crazy for saying that?

KARDASHIAN: They're going to say I'm crazy no matter what, but like, go to TikTok, see for yourself.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:32:35]

COOPER: Just last month at the White House, President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touted the use of a drug called leucovorin as a treatment for kids with some forms of autism. It's a chemical cousin of vitamin B9 or folic acid and was initially approved to handle the side effects of certain cancer chemotherapy drugs.

Now, some studies find it also helps certain children on the autism spectrum. But today, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned against leucovorin's wide and routine use in kids with autism, saying that more research is needed.

So how to understand all this or read it? CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is sweet little Jose. He's four years old. When he was 18 months, he was diagnosed with autism.

JOSE, DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM: Look at this.

GUPTA (voice-over): And every week since then, he has worked with a team of therapists to try and strengthen his speech --

JOSE: Jose. GUPTA (voice-over): -- and motor skills and social awareness.

KEITH JOYCE, JOSE'S GUARDIAN: His world was like this big. Like just, you know -- well, physically, he's right here. His world was like this big. Rarely noticed to other kids. If he did, he play like next to him.

GUPTA (voice-over): But then something changed. Jose's guardian Keith said the last six months were somehow different. And he thinks it was because of a new medication Jose has been taking.

JOYCE: I start doing some research and I came across in December a news piece about this leucovorin.

GUPTA (voice-over): Leucovorin. It's actually a pretty simple drug, a form of folate, vitamin B.

JOYCE: The third day after we started it, he started babbling so much.

JOSE: OK.

GUPTA (voice-over): We have long known that folate is essential for brain development. What is new is the recognition that some kids with autism have these antibodies blocking the receptor that lets folate enter the brain. As a result, they have something known as cerebral folate deficiency. But leucovorin, a slightly different form of the vitamin, is able to use a different pathway to enter the brain.

JOSE: Grape series.

JOYCE: He had a personality, but you had to draw it out. And trying to have anything reciprocal with him was just not happening. Now we have reciprocal conversations.

JOSE: T-R-O-L-L-I.

JOYCE: Trolli.

JOSE: Trolli, please.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hello, everyone.

[20:35:05]

GUPTA (voice-over): Last month, President Donald Trump and his Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., publicly recommended the drug.

TRUMP: The FDA will be updating the label of an existing drug to reflect potential benefits in reducing some autism symptoms.

GUPTA (voice-over): Since the president's endorsement, interest in leucovorin has skyrocketed.

JOYCE: My first reaction was, like, better get a refill in. Supplies are tight. GUPTA (voice-over): At the FDA's request, GSK, which is the maker of the original name brand leucovorin, said it will be submitting an application to update the drug's label to include use for patients with cerebral folate deficiency.

GUPTA: Do you treat something like leucovorin differently because we're talking about autism, something that doesn't really have a therapy?

DR. MARTY MAKARY, FDA COMMISSIONER: I think because it's safe, it will go through a different process. And because it's been around for nearly a century, it will go through a different process. And because of the urgency of the unmet public health need of the burden of autism in society.

GUPTA (voice-over): Normally, companies do need to run large trials before a label can change. But in this case, the FDA says smaller existing studies may be enough, even though the data is limited and still needs to be replicated.

JOYCE: All right, there you go.

GUPTA (voice-over): The agency notes that they have reviewed 23 studies since 2009 and found clinical benefit in 85 percent of patients with the deficiency.

DR. ALYCIA HALLADAY, CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER, AUTISM SCIENCE FOUNDATION: The issue is whether or not that is sufficient evidence for the FDA to approve this for treatment of autism when there's very little efficacy data.

GUPTA (voice-over): But Alycia Halladay, chief science officer for the Autism Science Foundation, is mostly worried about this, creating too much false hope.

HALLADAY: The indication that the FDA put out was for autism with cerebral folate deficiency. I don't think that that was understood by the autism community who feels like this is a panacea for all people with autism. Most people with autism do not have a cerebral folate deficiency.

GUPTA (voice-over): Keith is convinced that it helped Jose, but it's still not clear what that means for everyone else.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA (on-camera): Anderson, I will tell you that there is a blood test to determine the presence of these antibodies. And according to some studies, about 40 percent to 60 percent of children with autism do have those antibodies, meaning folate may not properly be entering the brain. And in those cases, leucovorin might be of benefit for them.

COOPER: Sanjay, thanks so much.

Up next, NASA pushes back after Kim Kardashian claims the 1969 moon landing was fake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TELEVISION STAR & ENTREPRENEUR: Maybe we should find Buzz Aldrin. Oh my God, Chloe should get him on her podcast. A conspiracy theory podcast.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: And later, the incredible story of a group of athletes overcoming what some might consider an insurmountable challenge so they can take their turn in America's pastime.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:42:48]

COOPER: I don't know about you, but I didn't have Kim Kardashian as a moon landing conspiracy theorist on my bingo card this week. But here we are.

Look, conspiracy theories about the 1969 Apollo 11 mission have been around since day one. Stanley Kubrick directed it. That's one of the conspiracy theories out there.

So why are we devoting some time to this tonight? Because until now, the people calling BS on Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, you know, American heroes who were on that mission, not to mention the entire ground crew at NASA, haven't had what Kim Kardashian does. Hundreds of millions of followers on her own TV show, in which to talk about some very old lunar lunacy.

Tom Foreman tonight has more on what happened somewhere between the moon and New York City.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two, one, engines full power, and liftoff.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just as the U.S. prepares to go back to the moon, hopefully in the near future, an old conspiracy theory about the first moon landing in 1969 is being relaunched by reality TV star Kim Kardashian.

KARDASHIAN: I think it didn't happen.

FOREMAN (voice-over): How's that again?

KARDASHIAN: I think it didn't happen.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Clearly not keeping up with science, Kardashian laid out a crater full of misleading questions on her show. How was the flag waving with no wind? How come photos of the astronauts don't show stars behind them? She even name-checked the second person to step onto the lunar surface after astronaut Neil Armstrong.

KARDASHIAN: I've seen a few videos on Buzz Aldrin talking about how it didn't happen. He says it all the time now in interviews.

Maybe we should find Buzz Aldrin.

FOREMAN (voice-over): To be clear, Aldrin, now 95, once got into a fight with a landing denier and has described his walk on the moon many times.

BUZZ ALDRIN, FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT/SECOND MAN TO WALK ON THE MOON: I was fascinated by the blueprints, the precision of which that dust on the moon replicated the impression of the booth.

FOREMAN (voice-over): NASA is not having Kardashian's claims. With the acting administrator posting on X, "Yes, we've been to the moon before six times."

[20:45:00]

As for those questions that have long fueled loony lunar conspiracies, the flag had a wire frame inside so it would stand out proudly. Stars cannot be seen in the photos because the moon surface is so bright. Just like we can't see them on Earth in the daytime.

FOREMAN: To be sure, with so many fake images flooding the Internet these days, it's easy to see why some folks might suspect that a moon landing just could not have happened more than 50 years ago, even though it did.

FOREMAN (voice-over): And unlike Robert Goddard, Mary Sherman Morgan or Wernher von Braun, Kardashian is not a rocket scientist.

KARDASHIAN: They're going to say I'm crazy no matter what. But like, go to TikTok, see for yourself.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Even if her opinions might sometimes seem a little spacey.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's one small step for man.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Tom Foreman, CNN --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One giant leap for mankind.

FOREMAN (voice-over): -- Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, still to come tonight, a remarkable lesson in perseverance and teamwork on a field of dreams like no other.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIANA V. GLANTON, BLIND BASEBALL PLAYER: And that crack happens. It's the most gratifying feeling ever for a blind person because somebody told you couldn't play, that this game wasn't designed for you.

(END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:50:56]

COOPER: Tonight, some incredible inspiration and proof you can do even what seems impossible given passion and determination. You're about to meet a team of blind athletes who want to bring their version of baseball to the Paralympics.

Randi Kaye reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's late October.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, lightning (ph), let's make our way out to the field.

KAYE (voice-over): Baseball's biggest stage. But this isn't the World Series. This is something far more remarkable. It's blind baseball.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When that crack happens --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Got it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- it's the most gratifying feeling ever for a blind person because somebody told you couldn't play, that this game wasn't designed for you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get it, get it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming.

KAYE (voice-over): These players aren't waiting for a lead --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like a wave.

KAYE (voice-over): They're building one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One out.

KAYE (voice-over): Their goal? Make blind baseball a Paralympic sport.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The second someone said Paralympics to me, I was like, I will do whatever it takes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get some runs. Let's get some hits, baby.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

GLANTON: I am Kiana Vion Glanton. I am 42.5.

KAYE: How would you describe yourself as captain?

GLANTON: I'm a bit of a taskmaster. Is there someone here that doesn't have something essential?

I see so much potential in my teammates.

Let's go, Janice!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Play ball!

KAYE (voice-over): How do they play blind baseball? The ball itself has a couple of chimes in it so the players can follow the sound, and all the players are blindfolded to even the playing field.

They hold the ball themselves, no pitcher. First base makes a beeping noise to guide them in, and there are two sighted coaches on second and third base with special clappers. The players run toward the noise.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Beautiful. Perfect.

KAYE: Rumor has it you're like the home run king.

ZACH SHIP, BLIND BASEBALL PLAYER: I love -- I mean, I love to hit.

KAYE: Don't be modest.

SHIP: To be on a baseball field, a place that has always brought me nothing but joy, it's like heaven.

KAYE (voice-over): Some of these players were adults by the time they lost their vision. So for them, blind baseball is more than a sport.

GLANTON: I'm a proud mom of one phenomenal little girl, my senile daughter. About 2017, that's when it started getting really, really bad.

KAYE: And so how old was Callie when all this was happening?

GLANTON: The drastic part between two and three.

All right, so this is like cobblestone.

Our life changed big time. I felt like my eyes betrayed me. I did not want this lifestyle, and I certainly didn't want to be in the blind community.

I smacked that ball for everything that I told myself I couldn't do. I'm breaking stereotypes, and my baby is watching.

SHIP: My knife skills have gotten a lot better and, like, using my, like, claw hand to be able to make sure I'm not, like, going to, like, cut into my, like, left hand.

KAYE (voice-over): Baseball helped Zach Ship learn to navigate the world again when he lost his sight two years ago very suddenly.

KAYE: Can you see me right now? SHIP: No.

KAYE: Not at all?

SHIP: If I'm looking straight at you, no.

KAYE: And if you turned your head?

SHIP: If I look this way, yes.

KAYE: But I'm blurry.

SHIP: Yes. The day we found out that my vision was what it was, was the hardest day of my life. I will do whatever I need to do to live the life that I want to live, to do the things that are going to bring me joy and live the fullest, most beautiful life that I want to live.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You lose us a run with your speed. I'll kill you. Should I? Good bless you.

[20:55:13]

KAYE (voice-over): Last year, the team competed in the Blind Baseball International Cup, featured in this upcoming documentary. These games raise the profile of the sport, but they need 16 international teams to compete in the Paralympics.

GLANTON: To represent my city, my country, my friends and my family proudly, it would mean everything to me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Play ball!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a leadoff play ball.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go, blind team!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good job, blind team!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good job.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop, stop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Run, score. Run, score.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop, stop, stop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, 6-3 right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's how you (INAUDIBLE) play the team, yes!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the blind community, there are really no limitations to what we can do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Wow. Remarkable.

You can see an extended version of Randi's story on CNN's new All Access streaming service. Just go to CNN.com/AllAccess.

Also, last night, I launched the first episode of a new weekly online show called All There Is Live. It's a companion show to my podcast about grief and loss. All There Is Live is, I don't know, I think of it like an old-school late-night radio call-in show. I hope it's a place where every Thursday at 9:15, people living with grief and loss can come together, chat in our comments section to each other, leave us voicemails and videos, and everyone not feel so alone in their grief.

One of my guests last night was Mary Lahikainen, who I've gotten to know since she sent me a voicemail three years ago about the death of her son Ian from glioblastoma. Mary was an ICU nurse who nursed Ian until he died in her arms. She and I talk regularly on the phone, but last night, it was the first time I actually saw her.

This is part of our conversation from last night on All There Is Live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: I take my son to school -- I take my son to school in the morning, and, like, I hold my 5-year-old, I hold his hand, and it's the greatest feeling. And I was talking to someone recently, a cameraman I was working with on a shoot, and he was saying that he remembered the moment when his son was 7 that he pulled his hand away when he was walking to school with his dad.

And I literally started to cry, because the -- I like -- I can't imagine that moment. And then it made me think of you. Because I think it's hard for anybody to understand another person's grief. But, yes.

MARY LAHIKAINEN, MOTHER WHO LOST HER SON: I'm so grateful to have been that close with Ian. I'm so lucky that we had that relationship. It was intentional from the moment I had him that his life would be. It's strange. The first thing I said to Ian -- he was in emergency C- section in the hospital, and they didn't give him to me right away, and they brought him in around 1:00 in the morning, and they handed him to me. And I looked down at him, and I went, oh, my God.

And then I said, nothing can ever happen to you, which is so strange to me now, so strange. But that's what I said to him. But --

COOPER: Wow.

LAHIKAINEN: -- oh, my God, I loved him so instantly. And it was just from there, he just filled up my life. He was just -- he needed to know that he was the most important, the most loved human being, and that I adored him and was always going to be there for him. And to be holding him that morning, I just -- something that morning was felt strange to me. Something that morning, the last morning of hospice, and I needed to hold him. And I got in behind him and had him against my chest, and I got in behind him. And I told him, I said, it's OK, Ian, I've got you. I love you.

I could feel his heart beating, and then it stopped. And just to have been able to hold him at that moment, I know I'm lucky, I know I'm lucky. There are parents that wish they were holding their children, if that's what happened. They wish that they were holding their children because there are a lot that were unable to at that moment.

So, I try and look at that that way. I wish it was different, of course. I wish that I never had that, but how lucky am I to have been holding Ian? How lucky am I?

COOPER: And to have had him.

LAHIKAINEN: Oh, yes. What a gift.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: What a gift. Mary Lahikainen talking about her son, Ian.

You can watch the entire episode from last night. It's online at CNN.com/AllThereIs. That's our grief community page. You'll also find the latest episode of the podcast with country music star Luke Bryan. I hope you join me live Thursdays 9:15 p.m. Eastern every week.

Just go to CNN.com/AllThereIsLive. Check it out now.

That's it for us. Have a great weekend.

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