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House Minority Leader Jeffries Endorses Mamdani In NYC Race; Letitia James Pleads Not Guilty To Charges Urged By Trump; Many Federal Workers Miss First Full Paychecks Today; Sean Duffy Warns Of Delays Due To Air Traffic Controller Frustration; DHS Funneling $10 Billion Through Navy For Migrant Detention Centers; NBA Teams Affected By Gambling Bust Back In Action Tonight. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired October 24, 2025 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": 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?

DR. DAVID LANGER, CHAIR, NEUROSURGERY, LENOX HILL HOSPITAL: Well, first of all, they're more common, slightly more common in women. They're more common in people who smoke and they're more common in people with hypertension. And so, people who have "stress" might have high blood pressure (inaudible). Maybe they smoke, but stress itself is -- it's hard to correlate. I mean, Kim Kardashian's stress is certainly different than many other people's stress.

But in the end it's the core elements that we know contribute to aneurysms developing and enlarging are primarily blood pressure, female sex, and smoking. So don't smoke. That's the number one thing.

(CROSSTALK)

KEILAR: Yeah, that's a very, very good for many, many reasons. Dr. David Langer, obviously something like this raises a lot of awareness. It's a good thing for us to take a moment to talk about. So thank you so much for being with us.

LANGER: Thank you.

KEILAR: A new hour of "CNN News Central" starts right now.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": A defiant day in court for one of President Trump's adversaries, New York Attorney General, Letitia James insists the charges against her are baseless. No deal, no pay, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are not receiving a paycheck today on the 24th day of the government shutdown. Well, most lawmakers sit at home this weekend.

And inflation equation, prices ticked up last month relative to August but investors see this as good news for one big reason. We're following these major developing stories and many more, all coming in right here to "CNN News Central." KEILAR: Those stories in a moment. But first, we are starting with Breaking News in the New York mayoral race. House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, one of the most important politicians in New York State and in the country, endorsing Zohran Mamdani for mayor. Mamdani is the front runner in that race, despite his politics dividing the Democratic Party and leading some to wait before endorsing him, like Jeffries.

Mamdani also is speaking out as his main rival, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly focused on Mamdani's Muslim faith and background here in recent days. Let's talk about this now with Gloria Pazmino. Gloria, obviously some new developments here.

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Brianna. And I want to start by pointing out the fact that I'm standing in front of the Islamic Cultural Center here in the Bronx where prayers are just wrapping up. Zohran Mamdani just joined the prayers on this Friday afternoon after delivering an address, speaking directly to the comments that have been made about him, about his identity, about his religion, specifically to the comments made by former Governor Andrew Cuomo on a radio station last night, when he essentially suggested and laughed along, while a host said that Mamdani would likely cheer if a 9/11-like terror attack were to happen in New York City.

This is sort of the fever pitch rhetoric that is taking place in this campaign. We have heard a lot of Islamophobia around Mamdani in the last few months, but it increased yesterday with the former governor's comments. So Mamdani taking the opportunity today, he said, to speak directly to Muslim New Yorkers. Mamdani is a New Yorker who grew up here in this city. He was in Manhattan the day of 9/11. He was nine- years-old. And he has spoken throughout this campaign about the way that that shaped him, not just because he is a New Yorker, also because he's a Muslim man. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZOHRAN MAMDANI, (D) MAYORAL CANDIDATE, NEW YORK CITY: Growing up in the shadow of 9/11, I have known what it means to live with an undercurrent of suspicion in this city. I will always remember the disdain that I faced, the way that my name could immediately become Mohammed, and how I could return to my city only to be asked in a double-mirrored room at the airport if I had any plan on attacking it.

And since I was very young, I've also known that I was spared the worst of it. I was never pressured to be an informant like a classmate of mine. I've never had the word terrorist spray painted on my garage as one of my staff had to endure. My mosque has never been set on fire. To be Muslim in New York is to expect indignity, but indignity does not make us distinct. There are many New Yorkers who face it. It is the tolerance of that indignity that does.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: Brianna, Mamdani grew emotional at several points during that address.

[14:05:00]

At one point, talking about his late aunt who he said became afraid to ride the New York City subway after 9/11 because she wore a head covering. And you see the imagery of Mamdani in delivering that speech here today, standing alongside men and women, women wearing head coverings and men dressed in traditional clothing. He was trying to send a message, as he said there, directly to the Muslims of the city.

And I think it's important to mention that Andrew Cuomo in the last few days, has been trying to reach out to these communities and he's been trying to pick away at certain Mamdani positions in an effort to try and get some support.

Now, I want to kind of pivot to the Hakeem Jeffries endorsement because this was sort of long awaited and we have been watching for several weeks at this point to see if the leader would endorse. He made it official today after a long delay, but also making it clear that he and Mamdani do have some disagreements. We have heard the leader praise Mamdani for his messaging on affordability.

But we know that Mamdani's Democratic Socialist of America identity and the fact that some people in that part of the Democratic Party have suggested that Hakeem Jeffries should be primaries is not something that Hakeem Jeffries has liked and that has been part of the tension playing out behind this endorsement. Brianna?

KEILAR: Keeping an eye on that New York mayoral race as early voting is about to get underway there. Gloria, thank you so much for the latest from New York City. Omar?

JIMENEZ: It's also talk New York, New York Attorney General, Letitia James firing back at President Trump today, just moments after a federal judge set her trial date for just three months from now. James accusing the president of "weaponizing the Justice Department" she says to be used as "a tool of revenge."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LETITIA JAMES, (D) ATTORNEY GENERAL, NEW YORK: There's no fear today. No fear.

CROWD: No fear.

JAMES: No fear.

CROWD: No fear.

JAMES: No fear.

CROWD: No fear.

JAMES: Because I believe that justice will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.

(END VIDEO CLIP) JIMENEZ: James, who prosecuted the president in New York, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of bank fraud and making false statements. I want to bring in CNN's Katelyn Polantz, who's with us now. So Katelyn, what more did we hear in court today?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Omar, we heard a judge who said, let's move this along. That's one of the things. Today was a tone-setting hearing, not just an arraignment where James did get to enter her initial pleading of not guilty. The judge here though, he set the trial date for three months almost to the day from now, which is a very, very quick timeline in federal court, even for this district which is known for having quick trials. So that trial date is January 26th.

The prosecutors, the Justice Department, they said, we want to do this in two weeks. The judge said, that's not how we do it here in the Eastern District of Virginia. You're going to have to shorten it. They're going to do it in five days. They say they have eight to 10 witnesses they want to call. But between now and that trial in January, what Letitia James was just saying outside of the court, we're going to hear more of it. This idea that the Justice Department was weaponized, that Donald Trump is on a revenge tour where she's being caught in the crosshairs of it.

We're expecting there to be two hearings, crucial hearings where her defense team is going to come into court and argue to have this case dismissed, making arguments like that. This weaponization argument. Those are both going to be in December. And all of this is going to just gallop through the court system because it is moving so fast. Two hearings in December. There's also going to be a hearing in November where this case is going to sort of join up with the James Comey case, same district of the Justice Department and the court system in the Eastern District of Virginia. And they're both going to be arguing against the prosecutor here, Lindsey Halligan saying this case should be tossed. Comey's case should be tossed because Lindsey Halligan, Donald Trump's pick, to be the U.S. attorney there, she shouldn't have had the authority to bring these cases to begin with.

JIMENEZ: And you talk about a speedy trial, you have a right to a speedy trial, but even moving at this pace in Letitia James' case.

POLANTZ: But you better believe --

JIMENEZ: Yeah.

POLANTZ: -- both Comey and Letitia James, their defense lawyers are coming into court. They know that and they're demanding the speedy trial right now.

JIMENEZ: And I know you'll be on top of it. Katelyn Polantz, appreciate the reporting as always.

Still to come, the Trump administration is turning to the Navy for help building a sprawling network of Migrant Detention Centers across the United States. We're going to bring you the new CNN reporting. Plus, NBA stars, alleged game fixing, and the mafia, all tied together in an FBI probe that really has shocked the sports world and beyond. We'll bring you some more details later on. And Tropical Storm Melissa threatening to become a massive hurricane and a huge disaster. That and much more coming up on "CNN News Central."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:14:39]

KEILAR: Today is supposed to be payday for many federal workers, but hundreds of thousands of them are missing their first full paycheck since the government shutdown. And next week, there will be even more federal workers in that position, including the nation's air traffic controllers. Their payday is next Tuesday. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy says they will get nothing.

[14:15:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN DUFFY, (R) UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: But they just got notice yesterday on what their pay is going to be for this coming Tuesday. And they got notice that their paycheck is going to be a big fat zero.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: A big fat zero though they are required to go to work. CNN's Danny Freeman is in Philadelphia where the transportation secretary was just speaking. What stood out, Danny?

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, the two phrases that really stood out to me were immense stress and the stress levels are unacceptable. And of course, we're talking about air traffic controllers, many of whom have been working all throughout this shutdown but, as you noted, are expecting to miss their first full paycheck at the beginning of next week. So stress is key. That's really the message that the Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, and also the head of the Air Traffic Controller's Union really tried to emphasize here at Philly International today.

They of course, called for the shutdown to end. The secretary placing the blame for the shutdown solely at the feet of Democrats. But now, Brianna, this is interesting because we've been reporting on a lot of these staffing shortages, which have really increased over the course of the shutdown when it comes to air traffic controller facilities. There were 14 yesterday, at least four today. But the question really has been how much of these specific shortages, how much have they impacted, say, delays at airports? Things that you or I the flying public might actually feel out here.

Well, we got some of an answer from the secretary just a little while ago. He said that staffing shortages during the shutdown have caused at most 53 percent of the delays that we've seen. At the low point, it's been about six percent. But I just think it's incredibly notable that staffing shortages have that times, in certain areas caused half of the delays that we are seeing. So Brianna, this impact real certainly for the flying public and of course, with this missed paycheck coming, real for the air traffic controllers who are working as well. Brianna?

KEILAR: Danny Freeman, thank you so much. Omar?

JIMENEZ: Well, as President Trump intensifies his crackdown on illegal immigration, we're learning how the White House is working to build a broad network of Migrant Detention Centers across the country. The effort involves funneling $10 billion through the Navy to fast track construction of these facilities. I want to bring in CNN Correspondent Priscilla Alvarez, who's been following the story closely. So, what more do we know about this?

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a lot of money to play with, $45 billion that Congress has given them for the building of detention facilities. So, Homeland Security officials have had to assess how exactly they do that and especially do that expeditiously, if they want to meet the number of immigration arrests that they're making on a daily basis. So in reviewing documents with my colleague Natasha Bertrand, this is one way in which they're doing it, which is to say that they are leaning on the Defense Department.

This is an arrangement that they have made, the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Department, that is unprecedented according to sources. And the reason that they're doing it this way is because it allows them to get things going faster. The Defense Department has extensive experience with contracting, going this way, leaning on the Navy, and funneling these $10 billion would allow them to narrow the pool of eligible contractors and lessen competition, which means lessening delays.

So this is a way for them to, again, work with a department who has expertise on this and try to, again, leverage the U.S. military for the purpose of these sprawling detention facilities. Now, according to sources, the construction is expected to start as soon as next month. Though we -- the contracting process is still underway and each of these facilities will be around 10,000 people each, potentially soft sided which is often what happens when they're working quickly. And all of this, again, experts say makes sense for the Department of Homeland Security to do. Of course, we'll see how it all plays out, but certainly a preview into how they're using these funds and using them quickly.

JIMENEZ: And one of the dynamics right now is ICE has been facing this growing resistance in many cities across the country. I mean, I've witnessed it on the ground in Chicago. There are a lot of neighborhoods that are pushing forward to that. But, we'll bring you back and we'll talk more about that another time. Priscilla Alvarez, appreciate you being here. Thanks for the reporting.

All right, still to come, how a poker game turned into a gambling scandal for the NBA right as the season tips off. We'll bring you the details coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [14:23:56]

JIMENEZ: Players, fans and sports commentators coast to coast still absorbing the shock of Thursday's stunning FBI announcement, accusing an NBA coach, a current player and others of illegal gambling. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups will both be missing from the sidelines tonight when their teams take the court. They've been arrested and placed on leave for their alleged roles in two separate gambling investigations, one of them allegedly involving the mafia authorities say.

Joining me now to discuss is NBA Commentator and Podcast Host Amin Elhassan. Good to see you. I just want to point out, the start to the season, we've got two back to back double overtime games from the defending champs, reigning MVP SGA scoring 55 in the last one. You've got Victor Wembanyama with the, let's call it, a league on notice performance. Seth Luka, Anthony Edwards, all going for over 40. Aaron Gordon for 50. You've got this alleged gambling mafia scandal. This is like the craziest start to an NBA season in recent memory for me. How are you seeing these charges within the overall dynamic of the NBA to start this season?

[14:25:00]

AMIN ELHASSAN, NBA COMMENTATOR AND PODCAST HOST: Yeah, I mean, beyond the incredible start, the return of the NBA to NBC, a kind of a legacy partner.

JIMENEZ: Yeah.

ELHASSAN: -- and the nostalgia with it, the great performances. There's a lot of excitement. This should be a time we're talking about the NBA in a positive light and instead, we're talking about these charges and it's not a -- I don't think it's an accident or a coincidence that the DOJ and the FBI decide to reveal these charges on the day after basically, the start of the NBA season.

JIMENEZ: Well, you know, Terry Rozier was one of the people charged in this. His name had been floating around for a while, with an announcement earlier this year he was under an investigation by federal prosecutors. His attorney says he was told he wasn't the target of the investigation. But you remember, last year, Jontay Porter, another player at the time, was banned from the NBA for life, pleaded guilty in connection to a gambling case. These latest arrests were allegedly part of that same investigation.

But, how should the NBA be approaching what is now clearly a years- long investigation that, by the way, we might not have seen the end of?

ELHASSAN: Right. With Jontay Porter, it was the most, I guess, you could call it open and shut case of a player. In gambling, they have this thing called prop bets where you can bet on what an individual player is going to do in a game. And so what happened was, there were prop bets on Jontay Porter getting at least X amount of points and Y amount of rebounds. And he basically said, "Hey, I'll just call out sick one minute into my stint, and then if you bet the unders on all those props, we'll win the bet." And they had text message, communications. It was pretty sloppy and straightforward.

With Terry Rozier, it wasn't quite as cut and dry as far as a smoking gun, if you will, with the text messages, but it's the same general concept. These are my stats that I'm supposed to hit. You should bet the unders, I will then leave the game due to an injury. That is the allegation. Terry Rozier, for his part, claims that he was actually injured and left the game. And the NBA, for its part, when it did the investigation, it could not find evidence of the Jontay Porter variety suggesting that there was foul play.

JIMENEZ: And that's one of the things that Jim Trusty, Rozier's attorney, has said that, one, they're going to be pushing back against these charges. We've heard similar from representatives for Chauncey Billups. But I want to talk about the NBA product because if you watch the NBA these days, really a lot of sports these days, you can't miss the sports betting products attached. I mean, to watch my Atlanta Hawks a lot of times, I got to check FanDuel Sports Network.

And so big picture here, do you see any of these leagues and companies toning down on the legitimate betting culture that no doubt has brought business profit and has been on the rise dramatically the last few years? Do you see any of these leagues trying to tone that down or at the very least, re-evaluate their relationships?

ELHASSAN: Omar, the short answer is no because there's just too much money. That's an incredible windfall of cash that didn't exist directly for these leagues before. The gambling always existed, people were always betting on players and on games and on prop bets and on money lines and all that stuff. The difference now is that the league's share in that revenue and it's a lot of revenue.

The other part of it, why I say no, is because the gambling houses, the legitimate gambling houses are a big reason why these things were even caught. These were red flagged by the betting partners saying, "Hey, this is a lot of money betting on Jontay Porter, a guy that most people couldn't pick out of a lineup." This is a lot of money on Terry Rozier who plays for one of the worst teams in the league, who was playing for the Charlotte Hornets at the time of this scandal. So in essence, their involvement, their intimate involvement in the league is part of the reason why these things even got caught.

So, no because the money is big and no because the gambling houses actually helped in the apprehension of any foul play.

JIMENEZ: Yeah. Amin Elhassan, appreciate the time. Thanks for being here.

ELHASSAN: Thanks for having me.

JIMENEZ: Of course. All right. Still to come out of the White House and out of the Democratic Party, former Press Secretary, Karine Jean- Pierre has a message for Democratic leadership. She joins us live, right after this.

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