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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Announce Engagement; Colleges Rocked by Wave of Active Shooter Hoaxes; Southwest to Require Plus- Sized People to Buy Extra Seat in Advance. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired August 26, 2025 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Worldwide, Swifties are celebrating, some of them even breaking out into dance right here in the studio.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: I don't know who you're talking about.

SANCHEZ: Taylor Swift now entering her engagement era with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

The singer just announcing on her Instagram last hour lighting the platform on fire, a post that in about an hour now has 12 million likes.

KEILAR: OK, it's me. Hi. I was the one dancing. It's me.

SANCHEZ: You with all 12 million.

KEILAR: That's right. Their love story started about two years ago when Kelce shot his shot. He called her out on his New Heights podcast, or was he maybe previewing something? I don't know. There was some discussion about that. He said he was upset he couldn't get backstage at her concert to give her a friendship bracelet with his number on it.

Fast forward. Yes, smooth move, right? Record-breaking Eras tour. Some Super Bowls. There were like some big football game things in there. And her album, The Tortured Poets Department, where she writes about their relationship being so high school and even asked, are you going to marry, kiss or kill me? It's just a game. But really, she was betting on all three.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAYLOR SWIFT, SONG BY TAYLOR SWIFT: And in a blink of a crinkling eye I'm sinking, our fingers entwined Cheeks pink in the twinkling lights Tell me 'bout the first time you saw me

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: I'm so confused.

KEILAR: I'm confused because our writers obviously know more about the lyrics than we do. I know a lot about them, but they know more. So where does one even begin to plan a wedding of this magnitude?

A Swift-Kelce extravaganza? Let's bring in celebrity wedding planner David Tutera. All right, David, what is this? I mean, how would you put this into context? Is this like the wedding of the century?

DAVID TUTERA, CELEBRITY WEDDING PLANNER: I think it is. I actually think people have been waiting for this for quite a long time. And also the energy creates this celebratory moment for our country. And I think it really is a wonderful moment to share with everyone if they wish to do that.

SANCHEZ: And that's a key point because they may want to keep some of it under wraps. We saw another sort of huge, lavish wedding earlier this year with Jeff Bezos and his wife. I wonder how you think Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce might approach this.

Do you have any idea where they might decide to do this?

TUTERA: As of now, it's not been shared with anyone where they'll be having their celebration. And with all of their friends, who knows? They may be having a small gathering, which I hope is not the case because everybody wants to see the fanfare and the beauty and the energy and the emotion.

And for us to all see them enjoying their moment with everyone waiting, I really believe it's a very big moment for everyone.

KEILAR: OK, so normally, you know, when we're thinking, David, about how we might approach a wedding, you know, it's like, is there a balloon arch? Should we do maybe a photo booth? So it's a little different when it's kind of like this.

Take us through the celebrity wedding do's and don'ts.

TUTERA: Well, we do this all the time. So when we're working with a very high profile person or couple, you know, we have to obviously work with them as best as possible so they feel comfortable, confident. You know, we're not leaking anything to anybody out in the media.

It's really important for them to know that we have their back. Our whole team has their back and making sure that the things that they want, like, do they want to have a small celebration, a massive celebration? Do they want to move and go into a different country like Italy or Paris?

So sometimes they choose the right reasons and sometimes people change the moment and then we're racing in front of them to get to another spot if they change. So sometimes they choose the right reasons and sometimes people change the moment and then we're racing in front of them to get to another spot if they change a scenario.

It's a really wonderful moment. I really do believe Taylor has waited so long and she's so excited, I'm sure, to be getting married to the person that she knows she wants to get married to.

KEILAR: Sounds like no balloon arch.

SANCHEZ: No balloon arch is the vibe that we got. No Elvis impersonator, perhaps. David, though, I do wonder about the cultural significance of this kind of wedding. As you're describing it, it is a huge moment and we don't have royalty here in America, but this is about as close as I think, when I think of weddings for American icons or at least cultural behemoths, this is about as close as the U.S. gets to a royal wedding, isn't it?

TUTERA: I would say that's very well said and everyone is really excited and watching. So, you know, I want this to be a moment for all of us and we're thankful for Taylor and Travis. So I'm thinking that this may turn into something as an even bigger moment for them that goes and leads into a whole other scenario for them.

And for all of us that are going to be watching very carefully, as a planner doing weddings all over the country, all over the world, I get excited knowing that they're going to be doing something hopefully unique, memorable, not the predictable. I don't do predictable. So we do things that are really absolutely over-the-top if our clients love that.

SANCHEZ: So what would be your pitch for something unpredictable and over-the-top for this specific wedding?

TUTERA: Do you think I would ever put that out there to tell anybody what I would be doing?

KEILAR: Give us your B, listen.

SANCHEZ: Smart, yes. Good chess move.

KEILAR: OK, well, let's just say this though, David.

TUTERA: I would be losing my power if I did that.

KEILAR: David, you know, family means a lot to them. They have some nieces to think about. I mean, how would you give them advice about how to incorporate all of these meaningful parts of their life, sports, you know, music, family into their wedding?

TUTERA: I love what you just said because, you know, it's not just about the marriage. It's about the moments that they're going to have and create on their own and bringing the people in that love them so much and making sure that they're giving out to the world and to their friends and their families. You know, we need now more positivity in the world.

And I think that this is a way that Travis and Taylor are probably thinking, do we keep it small or do we keep it large? And as my perspective, I would hope they would do a little bit of both and depend on where they're actually picking the location is a big deal.

KEILAR: All right, David Tutera. Available, it sounds like. Should they need some assistance here?

David, thank you very, very much for speaking with us. We appreciate it.

TUTERA: You're looking at November.

KEILAR: Hey, we have his contact information, Taylor and Travis, just FYI.

Stay with CNN. We'll be right back.

[14:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: A wave of active shooter hoaxes has struck colleges and universities across the country, bringing panic and turmoil as students and administrators begin the academic year. Police have responded to at least nine swatting incidents over the last several days. Six schools had active shooter reports just yesterday, all of them unfounded.

CNN security correspondent and former FBI special agent Josh Campbell is here. Josh, these swatting incidents are not only risky in terms of the use of resources, but also we've seen some folks get seriously hurt in previous incidents of swatting.

Why do we think this is happening in this way now?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, back to school in this country sadly means back to school shootings, but it also means back to these waves of threats that we've seen in recent years. And what officials say is that, you know, just yesterday there were six alone at institutions. Last week police were called to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, reports that an armed man had opened fire.

A few hours later there was yet another incident at Villanova University. Authorities are still trying to find out who was responsible but take a listen here to the district attorney there outside Philadelphia who's vowing to find the person who did this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN STOLLSTEIMER, DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR DELAWARE COUNTY, PA: I think literally thousands of people here today who are here because their kids are being dropped off for school, right? And it should be a joyous occasion was ruined by somebody. My office, criminal investigation division, the FBI, we're all going to work to try to get to the bottom of who might have done this, because if this was indeed a cruel hoax, this is a crime.

And we will track you down if it's the last thing we do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: And to your point, Boris, there, you know, authorities still don't know who was responsible. They're trying to wrap their arms around it. We take a look at some of these indicators that authorities have put out in recent years in order to help law enforcement determine whether a threat is real, whether it could be fake.

[14:45:00]

They say that if there's only one active shooter call that's coming in, the police, that could be a red flag because people often flood 911 whenever something real happens. And they also say that they've seen because of the sophistication of these people that they often use the internet to make voiceover internet calls, which oftentimes doesn't allow them to actually access the 911 network. So a lot of these calls are going to non-emergency lines. Again, that is a red flag.

There have been some successes and arrests, but these are so difficult, Boris, because so many of them originate from overseas.

SANCHEZ: Josh Campbell, thanks so much for the reporting.

Southwest Airlines is now changing the way that it charges plus-size passengers who need more than a single seat to fly. The airline says that starting in January, people who do not fit between a seat's armrest must pay for an extra seat prior to travel and that refunds are no longer guaranteed on that extra ticket.

KEILAR: Other airlines have similar rules. CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean is here with more on this. Pete, explain how this policy works, including how a refund works.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: A lot of buzz around this story the last couple of days, but the reality here is that pretty much every major airline already does this. If you can't fit in a seat with both armrests down, American Airlines recommends purchasing a second seat. Alaska, Frontier, Spirit, United all require it, and Delta says it may ask you to move seats or take a different flight.

Here's the bigger story. It's all tied to Southwest preparing to end its infamous unassigned seating policy. Southwest is about to institute assigned seats and upfront seat purchases for the first time in its 50-year history. January 27 is one that goes into effect. So after the holiday rush has come and gone.

But here is how Southwest says that will impact plus-size passengers. Southwest says passengers should buy two seats ahead of time, take the flight, and then Southwest will refund you for the second seat once the trip is over.

But here's the rub. If during boarding airline workers realize that you need a second seat, they will have you get off the plane and change your reservation to include a second seat. You know, you just have to add it to the funeral march of the quirks and the perks that made Southwest Southwest Airlines.

Free check bags ended back in May. The want-to-get-away fare is being replaced by what's called a basic fare. Flight credits, which had no expiration date, that was a huge announcement by Southwest back in 2022, will now be good for only a year.

A real sad run here for Southwest Airlines loyalists. The big thing is the airline's going through a lot of these changes, and so that's why it's instituting this new rule for plus-size passengers.

KEILAR: All right, Pete, we do have to ask you about some Tay-Tay talk. Do we have time to run this sound on? OK, this is the president weighing in on Taylor Swift's engagement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are engaged, and what's your reaction, sir?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I wish him a lot of luck.

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: I think he's a great player. I think he's a great guy, and I think that she's a terrific person. So I wish them a lot of luck.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Glad he took the high road there on that, for what's a real big day.

MUNTEAN: So can I give you my hot take after the president? You need Pete Muntean.

SANCHEZ: We have to point out to folks, Pete does, like, the crazy math, the, like, sacred math to predict all the Easter eggs. You're a huge Swifty.

MUNTEAN: Listen, I'm a Swifty, but I'm not into the QAnon numerology of all of it. That is not me.

SANCHEZ: You knew this was happening today.

MUNTEAN: No, no, no, here is the hot take.

SANCHEZ: You predicted this, Pete.

MUNTEAN: Taylor, give us a single. She's doing anything to give us a single from the new album, and I'm ready for the music. I'm a Swifty at heart, but for the music. I'm not a big, like, celeb engagement person, although if we're doing wedding tips like the previous block, cocktail weenies are a huge hit.

KEILAR: Cocktail weenies!

MUNTEAN: As a licensed reverend from the Universal Life Church, I think you can take my piping hot take on that.

SANCHEZ: He's got that weenie dog in him. Pete Muntean, thank you so much. We'll be right back. Stay with us. [14:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Today is National Dog Day, and we are celebrating our furry four-legged friends with our favorite furry two-legged friend, CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten joins us now for the dog days of summer. Harry, we know that dogs are super popular, but is there a way to quantify their popularity? What do the numbers say?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, what do the numbers say? Well, at least according to this furry individual, I absolutely love dogs. We have Charlie right over here. What a cutie pie. And then we have me with my childhood dog, Cody, over here. We were both so adorable.

Beautiful little Lhasa apso. I was beautiful. He was beautiful. Whatever.

Let's take a look here, though. What about Americans and their views?

They absolutely love dogs. What are we talking about? Well, favorable view of, I've got a founding father here, and then, of course, I've got our 16th president over here, George Washington.

His favorable rating, 78 percent. Abraham Lincoln helped us win the Civil War. Look at that, 83 percent.

But look at dogs. Look at Daisy right over here. Eric Sherling's dog, who, of course, works here.

Look at that, a 90 percent favorable rating for dogs. So dogs are so popular, they'd be arguably the greatest founding father as well as arguably the greatest president of the United States.

SANCHEZ: A lot of bipartisanship behind dogs and having dogs. Obviously, very different things. Loving a dog and having one, one doesn't come with all the responsibility.

Walk us through the numbers of the folks who have decided to bring these furry creatures into their lives.

ENTEN: Yes, the percentage of Americans who now have dogs up like a rocket compared to where we used to be. So take a look here. All right, have a pet dog.

Back in 1947, look at this. It was 32 percent. How about 1987? 38 percent. How about now? Look at this.

[14:55:00]

46 percent of Americans have a pet dog. 14 points higher than back in 1947 when my mother was still alive, believe it or not.

And then, of course, we have the beautiful Annie, who is Lee Waldman's dog. That is one fine, cute-looking, cool pooch. I can't quite do the glasses. Oh, maybe I can. But I think Annie wears it better.

SANCHEZ: Annie, way more stylish than you, Harry. No offense.

ENTEN: I know.

SANCHEZ: I also wonder if right now about 46 percent of Americans have dogs, how does that compare with the rest of the world?

Which country has the most dog ownership?

ENTEN: Yes, OK. Well, it's America, baby. America always wins. America always wins. Get this -- 90 million. 90 million dogs. More dogs in America than any other country on the Earth. What are we talking about here?

We got the beautiful Bella the Shih Tzu over there. We, of course, have L.A. Karen Bronzo's dog, who works with us. And then, of course, Izzy Povich's dog, Oscar. What a sweetheart.

I just love dogs so, so much.

SANCHEZ: Those eyes.

ENTEN: I know, those eyes.

SANCHEZ: So cute. I also want to introduce you to my dogs.

ENTEN: Yes, please.

SANCHEZ: To feed some other dogs. This is Harley. She is a five-year- old golden. She's a five-year-old Rottweiler, I should say, who loves glizzies. Look at that. She loves hot dogs.

She loves long walks. You know what she dislikes, Harley? When I put her in a Dolphins jersey and make her watch Dolphins games with me. She's not a huge fan.

ENTEN: No person, no dog, no being should be subjected to the Miami Dolphins. But hopefully and truthfully, we can all be subjected to beautiful dogs like we were in this segment.

SANCHEZ: Indeed. Harry Enten, thanks so much.

Still to come, more of our continuing coverage of today's big story.

Taylor Swift engaged, getting married to Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce, a wedding for the ages when we come back. So much enthusiasm.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END