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NBA Teams Affected By Gambling Bust Back In Action Tonight; Hundreds Of Thousands Of Government Workers Miss First Full Paycheck; Mike Johnson Says Republican Proposals Ready On Healthcare Subsidies; Ranchers Against Trump Allowing More Argentina Beef Imports; U.S. Conducts 10th Strike On Alleged Drug Boat, Killing Six; Social Security Benefits Will Inch Up 2.8 Percent In 2026; Trump Finalizes Plan To Open Alaska Refuge To Oil & Gas Drilling; Man Accused Of Setting Palisades Fire Pleads Not Guilty; Kim Kardashian Reveals Aneurysm Diagnosis. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired October 24, 2025 - 13:30   ET

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

[13:30:00]

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Also other places, they talk about using this high technology with the help of the mob, to kind of cheat the game. And what were learning from this indictment is that people like Chauncey Billups, who alleged in this, were sort of, you know, used as, "Hey, come play poker and you can sit next to Chauncey Billups, this Hall of Famer, as you play." And everybody who was sitting around that table for that poker game was in on the scheme except for the "victim."

Looking into these documents, Brianna, I've learned that one victim lost nearly $2 million just from these poker games. The totaling of loss really is almost $8 million. So just incredible details, not just the x-ray machines, but also hidden cameras that were able to read cards, contact lenses, I mean, it really is boggling, and the length and the breadth of this investigation that went underway here, and the charges that have now followed.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Yeah, the details are pretty amazing. Brynn Gingras, thank you for the latest there. We'll continue to follow it.

GINGRAS: Right.

KEILAR: In the meantime, it's supposed to be payday today for federal workers. Instead, hundreds of thousands are getting nothing deposited into their accounts today. We'll have the latest on the government shutdown ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:35:22]

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Today is supposed to be payday for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, but it's not. They're missing their first full paychecks since the government shut down more than three weeks ago. And whatever dollars they do have, buying means less. Moody Analytics, for example, finds inflation, which is now at three percent, forced a typical American household to spend $208 more in September than the same time last year.

And while federal families are forced to pinch, the federal government is spending at historic levels. The AP reports that in the middle of this shutdown, the country's gross national debt surpassed $38 trillion for the first time ever. $1 trillion was added in just the last two months alone. A lot of money talk these days. I want to bring in Republican Congressman Mark Alford of Missouri, who sits on the Appropriations and Small Business Committees.

Congressman, good to see you. Thank you for taking the time. Look, big day today, we've got hundreds of thousands of civilian federal employees --

REP. MARK ALFORD, (R-MO) APPROPRIATIONS AND SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEES: Thank you, Omar.

JIMENEZ: -- set to miss their first full paychecks of this shutdown.

ALFORD: Yeah.

JIMENEZ: As you know, Senate Democrats blocked a GOP-led bill to pay "essential workers" because they believed it should have also paid furloughed employees. And Republicans rejected that idea multiple times. I know it is Senate side, but do you see any space for compromise on that aspect of things, today of all days?

ALFORD: Well, look, I think the federal employees should be paid. That's what the bill did in the Senate. I believe that the Democrats wanted just this pay cycle and the bill, as I understand it, that went forward from the Republicans in the Senate was to pay it through the duration of this shutdown, the Schumer shutdown. We are in Day 24 of America held hostage, and it's all on Chuck Schumer because of his fear, arrogance, and pride. And we've got to get it out of this.

We have 33,000 federal employees in the Kansas City area. Many of them live in the district that I represent just south of Kansas City, and they're going without a paycheck. Soon SNAP benefits here in Missouri and all over the nation will not be able to be paid out, the food stamp program, because of Chuck Schumer. Real Americans are hurting. I think you've heard, Ms. Clark, the Minority Leader for the U.S. House of Representatives, say on another network that, "Hey, this is part of their leverage."

This is part of their political game to cause suffering for the American people so that they can gain support for the Schumer shutdown. We've got to return to regular order. You mentioned the $38 trillion in debt. We're paying more than $1 trillion of that in interest each year, more than we spend on national defense. That's why, Omar, we got all 12 appropriation bills out of committee, three passed on the House floor. All we were asking for was a simple seven- week extension of the current level of government funding. And the Democrats said no and here we are. JIMENEZ: Well, Congressman, I understand that you all passed your clean CR, but at the heart of this shutdown is Democrats don't trust Republicans will negotiate in good faith when it comes to these healthcare subsidies, which in its current expiration track would raise premiums significantly. And again, I know the House has already passed their CR without it, but Senator Josh Hawley, for example, said he is ready to work with Democrats on this issue. He's not happy this is tied to the shutdown, as I know you're not too, but my question for you is, at this stage, would you be willing to have those talks, even if I'm sure again, you're unhappy it's tied to shutdown dynamics. What is the plan?

ALFORD: I think we're happy to talk about it, but not now. We're not going to negotiate with the people holding America hostage.

(CROSSTALK)

JIMENEZ: Well so then, why should Democrats trust that you'll talk about it if this is done?

ALFORD: It is a clean funding bill that they have voted on several times and they need to vote on it again. Look, there are people in my district who are concerned about their subsidies going up. Again, this money is paid to the insurance company. It's not paid to the individual. These were COVID-era subsidies that the Democrats set the expiration date for at the end of this year.

If they thought it needed to be permanent, they should have passed it as a permanent bill when they had power both in the House and the Senate and the presidency. We cannot continue to go down this road. Look, I know people are hurting. They're going to have a tough time paying these subsidies, but we've got to fix the healthcare system in America. Obamacare did not work. The Democrats knew that when they implemented it and they were on the path and hopeful path of theirs to get to universal healthcare, Medicare for all.

We are not doing that. We have to save Medicare. Medicare and Social Security make up 75 percent of our federal budget.

[13:40:00]

In the Appropriations Committee, we only oversee and parse out some 24 percent of the budget. And so, we have done our job -- we have done our job in the U.S. House. It's time for Chuck Schumer to get out of this hole that he has dug for himself. Put his pride, ego and arrogance aside, and mostly his fear of losing to AOC in a future primary. Chuck, put that aside. Open the government. Let us get back to work.

JIMENEZ: House Speaker Mike Johnson told our Kaitlan Collins a few nights ago that Republicans have proposals to address the healthcare subsidies and that they could have them ready "immediately." I mean, look, over 400,000 people in Missouri are enrolled in the marketplace. Have you seen those proposals that Speaker Johnson is talking about?

ALFORD: Yes. JIMENEZ: What are they then? Enlighten me.

ALFORD: No, I have not. I would like to, I'm coming back up to D.C. on Tuesday, to meet with my staff there and check in on them. We have been doing tremendous work in our district, covering all 24 counties. I would like to -- I will tell you this, Omar.

JIMENEZ: Yep.

ALFORD: I don't think the Democrats are serious about this. They are using this as leverage. They want the pain. They want these statements to come out from the insurance companies, come November 1st.

(CROSSTALK)

JIMENEZ: We've heard from Democrats who see these states for healthcare.

ALFORD: And John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, actually proposed to get this on the House -- on the Senate floor for debate and a vote. He promised that to them and they said no to that.

JIMENEZ: And Congressman, just before we go, I want to ask you about American agriculture because the Trump administration, as you know --

ALFORD: Sure.

JIMENEZ: -- put out plans to quadruple the amount of beef from Argentina that can enter the U.S. with low tariffs. And Secretary Rollins said, this is not a massive influx. I know you've been critical of their stances here, at least to this point. What do you believe the administration is not seeing that you are seeing in terms of handling beef and other -- and soybeans? We'll throw that in as well.

ALFORD: Yeah. Omar, I was not wearing a suit yesterday. I was in my wranglers and my snap -- pearl-snap button shirt. And I went down to the auction house about 40 miles south of us in the district here, Mo- Kan Livestock auction. They're -- the ranchers are enjoying these higher prices, but they have not enjoyed in the past five years. We have had extreme drought in Missouri and the Midwest, Oklahoma and Texas. A lot of these herds have had to be sold off and now, they're rebuilding the herds.

The problem are the five large packing houses, which kind of throttle the number of kills they have each day and therefore, control the prices of beef. Americans are suffering because beef prices are so high. The input cost that the farmers and ranchers have had in operating is untenable. We are losing a thousand farms a month in America.

In the three years that I've been in Congress here in Missouri, we've gone from 95,000 --

(CROSSTALK)

JIMENEZ: So you believe investment should be in Americans more than --

ALFORD: -- farms down to 87,000 farms.

JIMENEZ: -- allowing more Argentinean beef, essentially? Not to interrupt, but just throw that in there before we go.

ALFORD: Oh yeah. I firmly -- I stand behind our beef producers here. We do not need more imports from Argentina. And by the way, I was down there last year, visiting with President Milei and their beef isn't that great. I would prefer a Missouri, Kansas City strip any day over an Argentina beef.

JIMENEZ: All right. Well, maybe that's how we settle things in the end. Let's see which beef ends up better on the dinner table.

ALFORD: Yeah.

JIMENEZ: Congressman Mark Alford, really appreciate the time. Thanks for being here.

ALFORD: Thank you, Omar. Take care.

JIMENEZ: All right. The Pentagon says the U.S. has carried out a strike on another alleged drug smuggling boat, the 10th known so far this year. Well, we have more. We'll tell you about what we learned in this latest attack, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:48:23]

KEILAR: Today, Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth announcing the U.S. has conducted another strike against an alleged drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean. It's the 10th known attack so far, and these series of strikes in international waters have killed a total of 43 people. They've been sharply criticized by Colombia, Venezuela, and many critics in the U.S. Let's go to CNN's Jennifer Hansler, who's with us now from the State Department. Jennifer, tell us what you're learning about this.

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: Well, Brianna, Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth alleged that this latest alleged drug boat was tied to the group Tren de Aragua, which is a criminal organization that the administration designated as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year. He said there were six people on board, all of whom were killed. But amid all of these strikes, this was the third one this week alone, are mounting questions about their legality. Particularly as the administration has presented little to no evidence of who these alleged smugglers are, their ties to these alleged criminal organizations.

And there are also mounting questions of whether this is legal to even kill these folks on board. Colombia has come forward and said, these were some of their citizens on board. Families have said that these were fishermen. So, there are a lot of questions with very few answers from the administration. The president says he has had the authority to carry out these strikes and he might go to Congress if these strikes are carried out on land.

Now Brianna, there are also mounting questions about whether there is a broader aim amid this war on trafficking. We have seen just now today, the Secretary of Defense's spokesperson coming out and saying they are dispatching the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, which was currently in Europe to the region, to the Caribbean, to support these counter-narcotics efforts.

[13:50:00]

However, there are questions whether this is a campaign to try to dismantle the leadership of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. And obviously, this is going to ring a lot of alarm bells in Caracas. Brianna?

KEILAR: And what can you tell us about the stepping up of the U.S. military presence in the region?

HANSLER: Well, there are a ton of military assets that are positioned there right now, Brianna. The USS Gerald R. Ford is just the latest. The Pentagon spokesperson said that this is going to increase their capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt the illicit actors on these narcotics efforts. But there is just a massive, massive military buildup here in the region that is potentially the majority of our assets there. So, there are a lot of questions about whether this is just about counter-narcotics or if this is a broader effort to try to de-stabilize Maduro's leadership in the region and potentially push him out of power. Brianna?

KEILAR: All right. Jennifer Hansler, live for us at the State Department. Thank you. Omar?

JIMENEZ: I want to get you all to some other headlines we are watching this hour, including the Social Security Administration says recipients will receive a 2.8 percent cost of living increase in their monthly benefits next year. That means monthly payments for retired workers will rise by about $56 on average. The increase for 2026 is larger than this year's 2.5 percent adjustment. But, many seniors say the recent increases are simply too small to keep up with rising expenses.

Also, the Trump administration is pushing forward with plans to open part of an Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announcing the restoration of all energy leases canceled by the Biden administration. And the decision paves the way for future oil and gas lease sales inside the region's 1.5 million acre coastal plane. Environmental groups are expected to file lawsuits.

And the man accused of starting the deadly Palisades Fire just pleaded not guilty to federal charges. Jonathan Rinderknecht is accused of deliberately starting a small fire on January 1st. And officials say that fire smoldered underground for days before becoming one of the most destructive fires in California history. This is some of that aftermath. More than 30 people were killed, 17,000 homes were destroyed. Rinderknecht is facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted. The trial begins December 16th.

Coming up next, reality star Kim Kardashian opens up about her brain aneurysm diagnosis. Turns out, the condition is a lot more common than you would think. Stick around.

[13:57:23]

KEILAR: We are looking at a health issue involving reality star, Kim Kardashian. In the Season 7 preview of "The Kardashians," she reveals that she is suffering from an aneurysm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIM KARDASHIAN, AMERICAN MEDIA PERSONALITY AND SOCIALITE: There's like a little aneurysm. They're like just stressed. And I'm like --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: So, when could your symptoms go beyond stress? We have Dr. David Langer, who is the Head of Neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, and joins us now. Doctor, obviously I think when a celebrity this high-profile has something like this happened to them, it kind of refocuses attention on certain conditions. I think a lot of people, as they look at this, they think it's incredibly scary, but they may be surprised to learn that one in 50 people actually have an unruptured brain aneurysm. Talk to us about that and how serious it is.

DR. DAVID LANGER, CHAIR, NEUROSURGERY, LENOX HILL HOSPITAL: Well, I think, question of having aneurysm, not having one, (inaudible) rupturing. The real risk of an aneurysm is, not that they exist, but if they do (inaudible) because, essentially, when you bleed from aneurysm, you have got a 50 percent chance of dying from that hemorrhage. But the rates of bleeding, especially small ones, is quite low. So, it's always best to know you have one. The real question is whether it should be treated or not.

KEILAR: And then, how do you decide that?

LANGER: Good question. It's based on the age of the patient, the length of time left in their life, their life expectancy, as well as primarily the size, the configuration of the aneurysm. Not all aneurysms are equal. The smaller they are, the more -- less risky they are. And obviously, as you age, the number of years you have left in your life diminishes. So the overall risk to your lifetime is less. And these are really all prophylactic operations when we treat them. So, you have to balance off the risk of treatment versus the risk of leaving them alone.

And it can be relatively inexact science, but in general, more aneurysms than not, we leave alone. When they're found, if they're found especially when they're small, we follow them longitudinally and conservatively when they're small and we only treat them if they change or grow. On the other hand, if an aneurysm is above a certain size, we tend to be more aggressive because we know that the risk of rupture is higher. And as long as the patient has a life expectancy more about -- more than about 15 or 20 years, we usually go ahead and try to treat them if they're safe.

KEILAR: Yeah. She mentions that hers is little. So to your point about the size here really does matter. She also alludes to outside stress playing a role in her diagnosis. How does that affect aneurysms?

LANGER: Well, first of all, they're more common, slightly more common in women. They're more common in people who smoke.