Return to Transcripts main page

The Lead with Jake Tapper

Sprint To The Midterms; Armed Man Arrested After Ohio Fair Incident; Epstein Files Hit The Road; Sen. Fetterman Blasts "Disgruntled Staffers" After WSJ Report Details Apathy Toward His Work; King Charles: Prince Harry & Meghan Remain Non-Working Royals. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired September 07, 2026 - 18:00   ET

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: This is The Lead. I'm John Berman, in for Jake Tapper.

Welcome to Labor Day, the unofficial end to the summer and the start of the midterm blitz. President Trump finally getting involved. What we're learning about his plans for his $400 million war chest ahead of the Republican Trumpapalooza later this week.

Plus, a campaign trail scare in Ohio where an armed man was arrested after pushing through a crowd toward the Democratic candidate for governor.

[18:00:02]

The suspect taken down by highway patrol troopers. A man who witnessed the entire encounter joins us live ahead.

Also, more than 3 million pages of the Epstein files are going on tour around the U.S. It's part of a traveling project meant to call attention to the Justice Department and its handling, or mishandling, of the investigation and release of some files. One of the people behind the project is here to explain how it came to be.

And their case was thrust back into the national spotlight thanks to a Netflix documentary. Now, Lyle and Erik Menendez have been granted an early parole hearing 30 years after being convicted of murdering their parents. What this means for the potential of them being released from prison, that's ahead.

All right, the Lead tonight, President Trump just touched back down in Washington as he prepares to start a post-Labor Day campaign blitz. He is slamming Democrats and what he calls the radical left in a happy Labor Day message boasting, quote, we're going to win the midterms big and save America. That's all caps.

Wednesday, he will headline a first-of-its-kind Republican midterm convention in Dallas, where the party is hoping the president's presence will help attract their highest dollar donors. The president's PAC, MAGA Inc, is now wading into the spending game, starting with a $10 million ad buy in Texas to boost the Republican Senate candidate there, Ken Paxton, in his tight race against the Democrat, James Talarico. CNN's Kevin Liptak is at the White House tonight. Kevin, the president says he wants to get out on the trail and spend that war chest this November. What more are you learning about the midterm strategy?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes. When you listen to the president, when you listen to his advisers, they say it will be an imperative to get the president out on the trail, to get him in front of voters, to put his name figuratively on the ballot with the belief that the president's base, you know, those low-propensity voters, won't go out and cast ballots unless he puts himself front and center.

Now, whether that's what many Republican candidates want is a completely different question. Many of them very much want to avoid making this election a referendum on President Trump, just given how historically unpopular he is at the moment, given how his priorities seem to have veered from those of the American public. They may not really have a choice in the matter.

The president says that he will be out on the campaign trail for all of October. He says he'll be campaigning for 30 days straight. He says he has 35 races that he has targeted where he wants to bring these Republicans across the finish line. Many of them feel like they cannot snub the president, and they do, at the end of the day, need something from him, which is his money.

You know, he says he has a billion dollars to spend in his political action committee. He says he's prepared to spend roughly half of that. But so far, the only expenditure that he's put out is that $10 million for Ken Paxton down in Texas. Beyond that infusion, Republicans say they have received relatively little information about where and when the president is going to be spending the rest of that money.

BERMAN: So, Kevin, what more are you hearing a- about this midterm convention later this week, up against, I should note, two football games Wednesday and Thursday night? Will it, in fact, be a Trumpapalooza?

LIPTAK: Yes, those season openers are going to be a tough ratings challenge, I think, for the president. His advisers recognize that as well. But there's no question this is a Trump production. They would not be holding this convention unless the president had sort of conceived of it and gotten Republicans to fall in line behind him. Some Republican candidates are avoiding it altogether. They say they'd rather be in their districts campaigning.

Of course, being there at the convention with President Trump also makes these races much more national, puts Trump into the conversation. That's something that a lot of them want to avoid. President Trump will be speaking on both nights. He's delivering the keynote the first night, the closing remarks the second night. The vice president will deliver the keynote the second night. You will also see a number of cabinet officials, including the treasury secretary, the health secretary, Republican stars like Karoline Leavitt, the former press secretary.

All of this, I think, trying to put President Trump in front of voters, again, to try and get some of his base enthused about an election that many Republicans fear will not feature the turnout that they might need and are hoping for.

BERMAN: Kevin Liptak at the White House this evening. Thank you so much for being with us.

Here now, former Trump White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah Griffin. Alyssa, great to see you. What are you hearing from Republican candidates and maybe campaign staff about how excited they are at the notion of this Trumpapalooza?

ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: So, I've talked to quite a few Republican campaign advisers and consultants, and everyone's just kind of confused by it, and let me tell you why. This is going to cost a lot to put on, money that otherwise could be spent on winning races, but most candidates who are in very competitive races right now are trying to create some sort of strategic distance from Donald Trump, not be walking in lockstep with him.

[18:05:11]

I think it's no surprise that Susan Collins has a conflict and is not going, in Maine, and is not going to be attending this rally.

And I think, listen, in terms of how resources are used, it would maybe make sense for the Democrats, who are likely to win back some seats, to have held a midterm convention, really gin up their base, talk about taking on Donald Trump and what their agenda would look like. But right now, all Republicans need to be doing is being in their districts, being in the states that they represent, and trying to show any kind of concrete things that they've been able to accomplish for their voters. They do not want to be front and center with Donald Trump.

But the reality is this. I actually don't think this convention's going to break through in any major way. I could be wrong, but it's up against the NFL. It's likely going to come off like every other Trump speech and rally, that there's some clippable moments, but it's hard to see how it moves the needle.

BERMAN: Super Bowl rematch Wednesday night, Patriots-Seahawks will be on at the exact same time.

Look, the economy and high prices, front and center in most voters' minds. That's what it says in all the polls right now, and Democrats are attacking the president on his priorities, accusing him of corruption. And while that's going on, this is what the president is posting on social media. He wrote, quote I do this for our country, not myself. I've made hundreds of billions of dollars on stocks and many other type holdings for the USA, not myself.

So, how hard is it to send that message or sell it, you know, with gas prices high, with people saying they're concerned about their own money?

GRIFFIN: It's not going to work. And, listen, Donald Trump's falling into a similar trap that Joe Biden fell into, and that he in fact is very critical of Joe Biden for falling into, which is basically saying, don't believe your eyes, your ears, and your wallet. The economy is better than you think it is. And that's just not a convincing argument to tell voters, especially coming off of summer travel where people are noticing their gas bills are higher. You know, airline tickets are much, much higher because of the gas prices and the war in Iran, and inflation just remains stubbornly high. This is not the message to break through, nor is, you know, all the memes that he's posting now and renaming things. That doesn't get him where he needs to be.

And I just want to say, I feel like it's such a shame because Donald Trump had the greatest political comeback in American political history. When he left office in 2020, we, many of us thought we'd never hear from him again. But he won, and he won the popular vote. And now just two years in, most of the country has turned against him and felt like he hasn't delivered on what he said he was going to do.

The fact that he's trying to rally his base in a midterm convention tells you all you need to know. They should be going after independents and moderate swing voters, but even having to energize his base feels like an uphill task at this point.

BERMAN: Yes. Look, one of the truisms of modern politics is you can't tell people how they feel on the economy. They feel how they feel. They know how they feel.

I want to talk a little bit about foreign policy here. The United States and Iran are trading strikes again. Diplomatic progress appears to be at a standstill. In the meantime, you have U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner going to Moscow and Kyiv to try to reignite trilateral talks there. I mean, I will say there haven't strikes since they both left.

But this notion of foreign policy progress, you know, how helpful would it be -- to be seen as maybe making progress in Ukraine and Russia for the midterm elections for Republicans?

GRIFFIN: I mean, it would be helpful. Listen, I think anyone across the political spectrum would welcome any sort of resolve and any sort of decision toward a ceasefire and peace negotiations with Ukraine and Russia.

And I do think that it's notable that there's a little bit of a refocusing of diplomatic efforts there since they've been so, so focused on Iran lately. It almost in some ways felt like it fell by the wayside. So, I mean, listen, if the president and his negotiating team can pull a hat -- you know, pull a rabbit out of a hat on this and accomplish something there, that certainly is a boost that they would need.

But the real, real issue that I think is front and center when it comes to foreign policy is the war in Iran. So, even some sort of a miracle with Ukraine and Russia, I think folks are still feeling the pain in a more direct way with their pocketbooks because of that war. So, that's where the focus should be. That's where Secretary Rubio should be focused. And it seems like there's just been a stall in progress.

BERMAN: Alyssa Farah Griffin, great to see you this holiday. Thank you so much for being with us.

So, our next guest was at the fair in Canfield, Ohio, when an armed man pushed through a crowd toward a Democratic candidate. The suspect was taken down by police, but two people were injured. That witness will walk us through those moments next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:10:00]

BERMAN: In the National Lead, Ohio's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Amy Acton, says she is grateful to be on the campaign trail today. Acton was campaigning at a fair yesterday when an armed man pushed his way through the crowd, allegedly lunging toward her. Several people were injured.

The suspect, 38-year-old Patrick Havas, is expected to face assault and disorderly conduct charges. Law enforcement says he was carrying two firearms and a pair of brass knuckles, although he did not brandish a weapon during the incident.

Former Democratic Congressman John Boccieri joins me now. He was at this incident on Sunday. Congressman, thank you so much for being with us. Describe where you were and what you saw as this unfolded.

FMR. REP. JOHN BOCCIERI (D-OH): Thank you for having me, John. We were probably about two arms length away from Dr. Acton as she was beginning her campaign speech. And there was a bit of a commotion outside the tent on the other side, and I saw a gentleman direct another gentleman, the assailant, into the tent. He was a rather large man, came barreling through the tent with his camera in hand and filming and yelling Dr. Acton's name.

He proceeded to knock several elderly volunteers and fairgoers to the ground one -- like in a domino effect, and one fell right in front of Dr. Acton. The poor gentleman, I believe, hit his head on the table and face down into the muck on the fairgrounds.

[18:15:04]

So, immediately though, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the security detail jumped into action. They grabbed this gentleman, pulled him out of the tent. Immediately, Dr. Acton's first instinct was to aid and care for the individual that was on his face in front of her.

I went over and helped the gentleman up into a chair, and then there was some commotion outside the tent. We went back outside the tent, myself and Wayne Penny, who's running for state representative, another military veteran. I myself am in the Air Force. But we were outside making sure that everybody was safe and okay there, and that's when we found that the state highway patrol had found weapons on this individual. BERMAN: So, again, there is no evidence that he was brandishing the weapons, I should say that. When you saw the suspect pushing and trying to film the action you say, what did you hear him say exactly, and did you pick up anything that indicated maybe what his motive was there?

BOCCIERI: Well, there's some second and third order effects of what I believe could be his motive. But the most immediate one, the one that the state highway patrol reacted upon, was him barreling through the crowd, knocking fairgoers and volunteers to the ground with a phone. And their instinct was to remove him. Later, we found out that the gentleman had two guns, a brass knuckles, and you don't come barreling through a tent to ask a question to a gubernatorial candidate with two sidearms, two Glocks and a loaded weapon and brass knuckles. There was no expectation that he was there to give Amy Acton a hug.

This was this was malicious, it was violent and you know, I believe that the charges are accurate and very much in line.

BERMAN: Was he asking a question at the time? Could you tell?

BOCCIERI: Well, he was asking -- he was saying, Dr. Acton, I have a question, I have a question, and then pushing fairgoers aside as he was barreling through the crowd.

But, you know, look, this, this incident was frightening and it should alarm every Ohioan. You know, regardless of your political affiliation, there's just no place for this kind of intimidation and violence to volunteers, to fairgoers, to candidates themselves. And I think that these are deeply -- we live in deeply divided times, but our disagreements should never lead to this kind of violence.

BERMAN: No, we've seen an unacceptable rise in political violence over the last few years, there's no question about that.

This race has been tough, I mean, very tough. Dr. Acton has declined any debate with the Republican nominee, Vivek Ramaswamy. The PAC behind him is running a brutal campaign ad right now, including one that alleges that Dr. Acton struggles with alcohol and drug abuse issues. She denies both. Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign did release a statement condemning the incident, with a spokesperson calling it unacceptable and saying candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence.

You know, what role do you think the rhetoric in this particular race may have had, may have contributed, how it might have contributed to what happened?

BOCCIERI: Well, thank you for asking that question, John. Look, the type of campaign that Vivek Ramaswamy has run is built on misinformation and fear-mongering. And the reckless rhetoric that has been used in this campaign can bring out and drive the most dangerous impulses of our citizens. And he owns this. He has run a deeply vicious and personal campaign against her. And, you know, I think it's less than honorable, to be honest with you. And I just think that we ought to get to the issues, we ought to talk about where Ohio can move forward and how we can move the state forward, and less on the personal attacks that he has run.

You know, the Canfield Fair is a cherished community event, and there's lots of traditions with families. There are thousands of fairgoers there. And to have an armed individual run into a tent and bum rush and rush and lunge at a gubernatorial candidate is just out of line with where the, the political dynamic is.

BERMAN: As we noted, Vivek Ramaswamy did -- in his campaign, did condemn the incident at the fairgrounds yesterday.

We do appreciate you being with us. Former Democratic Congressman, John Boccieri, thank you very much.

BERMAN: A number of young engineers say they were recruited from Mexico with the promise of good-paying jobs in the United States, but when they got here, it was a much different story. Hear what happened in the lawsuit that was just settled, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:20:00]

BERMAN: In our World Lead, hundreds of Mexican workers sued some of the auto industry giants for what they say was a bait and switch. Skilled engineers allegedly were lured to the United States to work professional jobs, but when they arrived, were forced into 12-hour assembly line shifts with low pay.

CNN's Rafael Romo spoke with one young man whose dream job turned into a nightmare.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISIDRO ARELLANO, ENGINEER: You are, like, what, 24, 25 years old, and you see an ad that says, hey, you can go to work in the United States. Obviously, it's going to sound like, I don't know, like a dream job, like an amazing offer.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Isidro Arellano says he was in his last year of engineering school when he saw an ad at his college in Mexico. He says the ad was for engineering jobs at car factories in the United States. The ideal candidate, young engineers or technicians from Mexico willing to work north of the border.

Can you tell me what happened after you applied?

ARELLANO: They called me, and they told me that they have a, a job opportunity to work in a plant that makes parts for the automotive industry.

ROMO: Full of dreams, Arellano says he traveled to the United States in 2021 for what he describes as a quality engineering job, whose duties included taking precise measurements for auto parts. Did you, at any point, feel like this was a little too good to be true?

[18:25:03]

ARELLANO: Yes, it crossed my mind like a couple of times.

ROMO: A class action lawsuit filed in 2022 in federal court in Atlanta alleges that Arellano and about 600 other Mexican workers were induced to move to the United States with false promises of a skilled job, but relegated to performing assembly line work, subjected to six 12-hour workdays per week with mandatory overtime while American-born workers were not, and paid half of what American-born workers earned for the same job in the same location.

JULIA SOLORZANO, LEGAL AND POLICY DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR MIGRANT RIGHTS: We're receiving calls from workers talking about issues that they were having in the auto supply industry in Georgia and Alabama.

ROMO: Julia Solorzano is the legal and policy director of an organization that advocates for migrant workers.

SOLORZANO: These workers allege that they were recruited for professional jobs doing engineering and technical work in auto supply plants in Georgia. And so these are workers who had degrees and professional qualifications to do that kind of work. In fact, the terms of their visa required them to do that professional work.

ROMO: According to the class action lawsuit, the workers came to the United States with what is known as a T.N. visa, which, according to the U.S. State Department, allows eligible Canadian and Mexican professionals to work in high-skill jobs in the country under the free trade agreement between all three countries known as the USMCA.

DANIEL WERNER, CIVIL AND LABOR RIGHTS ATTORNEY: What it turned into, as is claimed in the case, was a bait and switch. The workers ended up, these engineers ended up in the United States working at these plants and were doing manual labor. They were not working as engineers.

ROMO: Just before trial last month, the defendants, including Hyundai Mobis and Kia Georgia, as well as Georgia-based staffing agency SPJ Connect and Georgia recruiting firm Allswell, reached an $11.5 million settlement. In a statement to CNN, Kia says they resolved the matter saying, the court made no finding of liability of wrongdoing by Kia and no fines or judgments were entered against the company. Kia denies the allegations and denies it played any role in recruiting the claimants.

CNN reached out to Hyundai Mobis and Allswell, but got no response. SPJ Connect appears as dissolved in State of Georgia documents.

WERNER: The allegation is that they used the T.N. visa program to provide a supply of labor at their plants. And the way they used the T.N. visa program, according to the lawsuit, was to circumvent the immigration laws. ROMO: What is the message that this case sends to foreign workers in general, workers who may be in the same situation these Mexican engineers and technicians were?

WERNER: Even in this environment, we have this group of workers who stepped forward and decided that they were wronged and did something about it, and achieved justice.

ROMO: Isidro Arellano returned to the United States and is legally working as an engineer. Other workers in the class action lawsuit who left jobs and family have not been as fortunate.

Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Our thanks to Rafael for that report.

So, the F.C. files are going on the road. That's right. More than 3 million documents traveling the country as part of a project aimed at calling out the Justice Department's handling of the investigation. Those details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:30:00]

BERMAN: In our Law and Justice Lead, tomorrow, a mobile reading room and bookmobile containing more than 3 million pages of publicly available Epstein files sets out for a multi-state tour. Now, earlier this summer, more than 15,000 people visited the Trump-Epstein installation in New York City and in Washington, D.C. Now, the Institute for Primary Facts and Defiance.org hope to shine a light on survivors and, quote, call out redactions that protect the powerful.

With us now, Epstein survivor Dani Bensky and executive director of the Institute for Primary Facts, David Garrett. Thanks so much for both being with us.

Dani, you went to the installation in New York. What was that like? And how are you feeling about this tour going cross-country?

DANI BENSKY, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: I mean, it's so powerful to walk into a space and just feel the magnitude of being surrounded by all of these files, and understanding that they're now in the public domain for people to see.

So, just to be able to experience that and feel the weight of it is something that I really recommend everybody should do because you see what we do have, but you also want to think about what we don't have, right? At this point, we know that we have over three million files, but we know that's not everything.

And so just to feel how big and the enormity of this case and of the situation, I think it's really important that people come to visit.

BERMAN: David, what do you hope the traveling version of this exhibit accomplishes?

DAVID GARRETT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR PRIMARY FACTS: Well, you know, when we were in D.C., we happened to get quite a few lawmakers that came in. But, unfortunately, we feel like we didn't really, we didn't really make enough of a difference just talking to lawmakers. So, we're out here now talking to their constituents and really educating voters on this topic.

BERMAN: So, Dani, last time you were on The Lead it was as Attorney General Todd Blanche was heading toward confirmation, you said it felt, quote, disheartening and like the wind was knocked out of democracy. Have you heard anything from the Justice Department or confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche since he was sworn in?

[18:35:01]

BENSKY: No, we haven't, or not that I know of at least, definitely not directly to me, which, you know, sits heavy with survivors. But I think that's also the importance of having an installation like this and being in a space like this where you can start to see the gravity. Yes, so I do hope, I hope that lawmakers will come and talk to us, and I hope that the public comes and speaks to us.

And I do want to say that, you know, America's really been on our side with this, and I understand this, you know, this has been 30 years for some of us, it's been 20 years for some of us. It's something that's really not going away. And to see that this is a topic the voters care about and that it's polling so high, we're just really grateful that people are putting pressure on and continuing to ask for the release and continuing to ask for the protection of survivors. So, thank you to America.

BERMAN: So, David we can't help but notice that the, the reading room is in Dallas this week. Also in Dallas this week, the Republican midterm convention. How much of a coincidence was that?

GARRETT: You know, we were always going to come to Dallas and we were always going to start the tour in Dallas. I guess it was just a lucky coincidence that the RNC happened to be here at the same time. I think we planned it before they did.

BERMAN: So, they're chasing you. Not so sure they chose this site because you would be there.

Dani, do you think all of the files will ever be released? Do you think we'll ever see everything that was in there, Dani?

BENSKY: Well, I certainly hope so. Never say never. I think something that we've learned is that hope is alive and, you know, I was feeling very low after, when the last time that I was on The Lead, the last time I spoke with Tapper.

And so, yes, I think that tides do turn, and I think when you look at what this year of advocacy has been for survivors, it's been something really extraordinary to see survivors come forward and the American people really support survivors and continue to reach out with their stories. Like my inbox is flooded with people coming forward maybe for the first time. And that number and that statistic of one in three women in America are survivors, right? I think it's just really -- it really does change things for us when we know that there is so much support.

So, yes, I just -- I hope that we can keep going and maybe one day we will see the files, just the same way that everybody said that the Epstein Files Transparency Act would never pass, and yet here we are. So, yes.

BERMAN: David, what else can you tell us about where the tour is headed and how people can visit if they want to?

GARRETT: Sure. So, we're going to be headed to five or six different spots between now and the end of the year. I think our next stop is Des Moines, Iowa. And people that want to come and visit, they can just go to trumpepsteinreadingroom.com and make a reservation for free.

BERMAN: All right. David Garrett, Dani Bensky, our thanks to both of you. We appreciate you being with us.

So, a top Republican says he expects Senator Mitch McConnell to return to work next week after nearly a three-month absence. But what is McConnell's own staff saying about this? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:40:00]

BERMAN: In our Politics Lead, Senator Mitch McConnell is expected to return to Capitol Hill next week, at least according to his fellow Kentuckian, Congressman James Comer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JAMES COMER (R-KY): According to his staff, they have all said it's their goal for Senator McConnell to be here when the Senate comes in next week.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The 84-year-old has not been seen in public since June. In July, his team said McConnell fell and was in the hospital. Then his team said the senator moved to a rehabilitation center, was discharged in early August, and was recovering at home in Kentucky.

With us now is the Democrat, a Democrat, running for Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District, Zach Dembo. So, thank you so much for being with us.

Congressman Comer says McConnell's expected to return when the Senate reconvenes next Monday, but McConnell's office referred CNN to its latest statement saying they are not scheduling announcements at this time. You said that McConnell deserves medical privacy, but the public deserves answers. So, are these recent statements and the photos and the apparent, you know, lack of clarity over his return, is this the transparency you're looking for?

ZACH DEMBO (D), KENTUCKY CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: John, first of all, thanks for having me and happy Labor Day. But I'm sad to say this story just goes to exactly why folks in Central Kentucky feels like they can't trust D.C. We see members of both parties, including Senator McConnell, getting into office and thinking their only job is to get rich and stay in office until they're incapacitated or pass away. We've seen it from people on both sides of the aisle. And so when we have a senator who came into office before I was born, still in office and not being transparent about his health, it's exactly what gets Central Kentucky fed up with politics as usual. It's what I'm hoping to change.

I've never run for office before, and I've already come out in favor of term limits, and certainly I think there should be age limits considered as well.

BERMAN: You're out on the campaign trail. How much are people really talking about Mitch McConnell? Do they care what he's doing, or do they care more about their own mortgage rates and gas prices?

DEMBO: So, you're absolutely right, John, that the first thing everyone's worried right now, the first thing on their mind is how much everything costs, right? I mean, these tariffs are crushing Kentucky consumers by jacking up the cost of everything. The Canadian tariffs are about to go in at midnight, crushing what's already been a grievously wounded Kentucky bourbon industry.

[18:45:00]

But stories like this about politicians who are clinging to power rather than serving for us make the connection for folks in Central Kentucky about why things are so expensive and they're so expensive, because D.C. is corrupt and it's not working for you and me. It is working for the rich and powerful.

So, you're right. I get asked about Senator McConnell a lot, but it's always after. Why aren't folks standing up for us? We know prices are too high. We know housing is unaffordable. We know the diesel prices are crushing Kentucky farmers. And it's because they recognize stories like this show. It's why the system is not working for us.

BERMAN: In terms of Senator McConnell, what would full transparency look like to you

DEMBO: I will tell you, for anyone who's looking to represent central Kentucky, that means they're your boss. And so in my mind, in any other job in the world, and I just spent time talking to people who work on ups trucks and people who work in the grocery store. A lot of our union members here, if any of them were just going to not show up to work for months, they would have to have a very clear report about what their status was and when they were going to be able to be back at the job.

I don't get the sense that report has been given to Senator McConnell's bosses. And if I'm ever when I am lucky enough to be the congressman from central Kentucky, you can be sure I'll be reporting to my bosses with more regularity.

BERMAN: So, in terms of your own race, your opponent, the Republican doctor, Ralph Alvarado, has said you are anti law enforcement, which is something that you do hear from Republicans campaign against Democrats across the country. How do you respond to that?

DEMBO: I'm the only veteran in this race. I'm the only prosecutor in this race. Unlike my opponent. I have spent my career putting violent criminals behind bars. And in contrast, my opponent signed on to the failed governorship of Matt Bevin as his running mate, Matt Bevin, being a governor who gutted or tried to gut, if it weren't for the attorney general at the time, Andy Beshear, the pensions of every law enforcement officer in the state. Matt Bevin, who gave pardons to a child rapist and a murderer in exchange for donations.

That is my opponent's record. He signed on to all that. And by the way, Matt Bevin, who's spending the night in a jail cell tonight.

I'm not surprised that my opponent would try to distort my own record, but it's very hard to go against the only veteran in the race and the only prosecutor in the race, and claim that he is anti-law enforcement. I've worked side by side with law enforcement, and my opponent, unfortunately, has disrespected law enforcement at every turn.

BERMAN: All right. The Democratic candidate for Kentucky's sixth congressional district, Zach Dembo, we appreciate you being with us.

Thanks very much.

Our panel is with us now.

Just quickly on Senator Mitch McConnell maybe coming back next week. His office isn't saying for sure. Shouldn't they say for sure?

SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I wish the senator well, I hope he comes back with the same vigor he had before. He spent a long time in the senate. He's a lion of the Senate and I think would go down as arguably one of the most tactically positioned senators and majority leaders in the history of this country.

BERMAN: So, Max -- Max Rose with us as well, former Democratic congressman from Staten Island here. On the subject of senators who some people think aren't doing the jobs the way they're supposed to, "The Wall Street Journal" had this brutal takeout on Senator John Fetterman. It was suggested that he's not paying attention to constituents, not meeting with people in his office, skipping things like that.

Now, Fetterman responded to Manu Raju called the article the third hit piece from the disgruntled staffers, and said the text messages lacks context for that. He said he was joking in one of them or whatnot.

But what do you think about this idea of how much he's doing his job, the perception that he's not doing his job? MAX ROSE (D), FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: I'm a partisan Democrat, and

I think that John Fetterman will make a fantastic Democrat in 2027 and 2028 in the United States senate, and we just need to keep it there and not say anything else. Guys, don't screw this up. Winning the Senate is hard enough for Democrats. We shouldn't lose another one by forcing this guy over to the Republican Party.

2028 election, 2028 primary, that's a long ways away. That could be litigated. Then John Fetterman will make a fantastic member of the Democratic Party, United States Senate.

SINGLETON: How the Overton window is moving. We welcome Senator Fetterman onto the Republican side. Come on over and help us with our majority.

We will support you. We will put money into your race. And he might even be able to win as a Republican.

ROSE: Medicare for all John Fetterman.

SINGLETON: Hey, that's okay. We believe in diversity of ideas and opinions in the GOP.

BERMAN: So, Max, how concerned are you that he will flip? And do you think -- look, this is an article from "The Wall Street Journal". This is former staffers were concerned about the job he was doing.

And we're talking about constituent services. And, you know, as a former congressman, there's the partisan stuff. But there's also the stuff that every member does, which is the constituent services.

[18:50:01]

You answer the phone calls from your voters, you meet with people from your district. And that's what the journal is suggesting that he wasn't doing as well. Now he denies that. But what about that?

ROSE: Look, it is very clear that when you're a member of Congress in the House, but particularly when you're a member of the United States Senate, your staff is running an enormous amount of your constituent services. That's the type of stuff where the member establishes a culture. Certainly, some are more involved than others.

But look, Senator Fetterman, this is an apolitical comment, clearly has a problem with his own staff, right? Because those comments, those leaks, they were not coming from anywhere, but his own staff. And that is something that I think every member of Democratic leadership is urging him to fix as quickly as possible.

BERMAN: You know, Shermichael, a group of former Fetterman staffers on that note, have created an anonymous account, and they're vowing to share stories and make re Pennsylvania knows exactly who he is. The account posted set your calendar for September 14th, the day the Senate is back in session for our first drop. Let's be honest, maybe the 15th. He'll skip Monday's votes. SINGLETON: I mean, look, the barrage of attacks I don't think are

anything new for the senator. He's been criticized by many within his party for quite some time, particularly over the Israel issue. I say continue this because at some point, John Fetterman may find himself politically homeless, and I can I can guarantee you there are senators on the Republican side right now, Katie Britt being one of them, who are saying, come on over to the Republican side. We will make space for you.

BERMAN: They're friends. She apparently visited him when he was in the hospital.

ROSE: Come over to the Republicans. They won't criticize you for anything. And even when you're comatose, they'll still compliment you. God bless you.

BERMAN: All right, Congressman, let's talk about Democrats.

Well, I guess John Fetterman is still Democrat. We talked about him.

Let's talk about Hakeem Jeffries, who could, according to Shermichael, be the next speaker of the House, right? Because you conceded the house last hour, you declared Democrats are running the House. Just for context there.

How hard will it be for him to govern a diverse, Democratic you know, coalition there?

ROSE: Sure. Well, first of all, it has --

BERMAN: Can he win? First of all, is he guaranteed to be speaker?

ROSE: Yes. Yeah, 1,000 percent. And good luck to any member of congress in early 2027 who's trying to stand up and oppose the first Black speaker in the history of this country, one who has been a champion of progressive issues for his entire career. But look, let's forget about how difficult his job as speaker will be. Let's look at how difficult and challenging his job has been today to unite this extraordinarily intellectually diverse caucus, move it and steer it in the same direction and at a time where Hakeem Jeffries is not getting attacked in these swing congressional districts, he's not this boogeyman that previous Democratic leaders have been.

This is a guy that has galvanized the party's base, united the caucus, and is helping these tough, challenging frontliners win their seats. These tough challengers win their seats. That's an incredible feat that I think only Leader Jeffries could have been capable of achieving.

BERMAN: Shermichael, so last week, I think it was just last week, I lost track of time at the end of the summer here. But Democratic leadership did lose this party line vote. It was kind of humiliating, right? Two Democrats split. You know, the whole thing went down there.

It made me wonder after the last, what, four or five years the Republicans have had in the majority, where we saw things we'd never seen before. You know, McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, like, booted their rule after rule failing and things never happened like that before. Have we just entered this new era where the parties in the House don't want to be governed with an iron fist?

ROSE: You know, I think that would be a catastrophic mistake if that is the case. I've seen a lot of the progressive attacks against Hakeem Jeffries, some of them, by the way, steeped in racism, which is despicable and disgusting by someone on the far left.

This guy has an opportunity to make history. An attorney, a husband, a father. As an African American man, I may not agree with him on all of the politics, but I am so proud of the moment to make history here, because this is the type of example you want to see more of.

That said, he has to govern. Democratic voters may be angry, but I presume you correct me if I'm wrong here, Max. They want a government that works not just for them, but for the entire country. And Hakeem Jeffries will play a pivotal part in that process.

ROSE: Amen.

BERMAN: Shermichael Singleton, Max Rose, great to see both of you. Thanks so much for coming in. Appreciate it.

They're going to a bar --

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: All right. King Charles making some of his first remarks about his son Harry, as Harry and Meghan return to the United Kingdom. So how happy is this reunion?

That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREKA(

[18:59:01]

BERMAN: Our last lead starts in our law and justice lead. Erik and Lyle Menendez, two brothers who were convicted of first-degree murder for the 1989 killing of their parents, have been granted an early parole hearing last year after a long battle in court. The two were sentenced to 50 years to life in prison, which made them eligible for parole. The hearings are scheduled for March of next year.

In our pop lead, nine months after his tragic death, Rob Reiner won a posthumous Emmy for outstanding guest actor in a comedy for his performance in "The Bear". Reiner was found dead alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in their home in Los Angeles last December. The couple's son, Nick, is charged with their murders and pleaded not guilty.

In our world lead, King Charles confirmed today that Harry and Meghan continue to be non-working royals, despite their return to the U.K. Last month, a royal spokesperson explained a letter that the status of the duke and duchess of Sussex will not change and they will not carry out any official engagements on behalf of the crown, according to the letter, Harry and Meghan's position is, quote, "akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests as opposed to being an actual working royal."

So, you can follow me @JohnBerman on X and on Instagram. You can follow the show on X and Instagram @TheLeadCNN. If you ever miss an episode of THE LEAD, you can watch the show on the CNN app.

The news continues on CNN.