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Virginia Teacher Testifies in Shooting Lawsuit; Interview With Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY); President Trump Meets With Chinese Leader; New U.S. Nuclear Tests?. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired October 30, 2025 - 13:00   ET

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

[13:00:00]

MAEVE RESTON, "THE WASHINGTON POST": So, it would be fascinating to see that competition play out again, once again.

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN HOST: And they have had the same consultants for years, so they know a lot of the good and the bad about each other.

DANA BASH, CNN HOST: Yes, it's kind of dangerous in many, many ways.

Elex, thank you. Maeve, thank you.

RESTON: Thank you, Dana.

BASH: And don't forget, you can see Elex every weeknight on CNN midnight Eastern/9:00 p.m. Pacific right here on CNN.

Thanks for joining INSIDE POLITICS today.

"CNN NEWS CENTRAL" starts right now.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: The nuclear option. In ambiguous remarks, President Trump seems to suggest the Pentagon restart nuclear tests, despite not doing so for over 30 years. The latest on that and his sit-down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: And lawmakers are focused on SNAP benefits for millions of Americans as the shutdown stretches into its 30th day. A handful of senators see a possible path to ending the shutdown, but it's far from certain.

And Abby Zwerner taking the stand. The first grade teacher shot by her 6-year-old student testifies in her civil trial against a former assistant principal.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

SANCHEZ: Right now, we're following two big headlines, as the president returns to Washington after his critical trip to Asia, first, signs the trade war is cooling down, the president and Chinese leader Xi Jinping striking a trade truce in their first face-to-face meeting in six years. KEILAR: And before that sit-down, President Trump publicly directed

the Pentagon to start testing nuclear weapons on an equal basis with Russia and China. Here's the president on Air Force One when he was asked why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It had to do with others. They seem to all be nuclear testing. We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don't do testing. And we've halted it years, many years ago. But with others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: We have a lot to get to.

First, let's go to CNN's Alayna Treene, who's at the White House.

Alayna, first, what did they agree to?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, and I would also call this more of a truce to try and kind of de-escalate what we have seen be really this increasingly a ratcheted-up trade war between the United States and China.

They said it's a one-year deal, kind of a one-year agreement on a series of different topics. I'm just going to run through them for both of you, Boris and Brianna. One of the biggest priorities for the president was to see if China would suspend its export controls on rare earth minerals.

That is something that Chinese President Xi Jinping did agree to. Of course, rare earths are important from everything from laptops to missiles and have been creating a lot of concern for the United States if China was going to move forward with this. So they knocked that off.

The next is soybeans. We know that that, of course, as well is something that President Donald Trump and his entire administration really have been facing a lot of heat for because of some of the president's tariff policies. China had essentially stopped purchasing soybeans altogether from the United States going back to May.

However, China did agree to begin purchasing a substantial amount, as they have referred to it as, of soybeans moving forward. I would like to note, though, that if you look at the actual numbers, right now, the current agreement says that China will buy 12 million tons for the rest of this season and then 25 million tons for the next three years annually.

But last year, just to put this in perspective, the United States had actually exported roughly 27 million tons of soybeans to China. So this is kind of in line with what they were buying before. For China, what China got out of this, they -- the president agreed to hold off on ratcheting up tariffs even further starting on Saturday. He said he's not going to do that anymore. He's also reducing part of

the tariffs that were applied to China over their kind of refusal to stem the flow of fentanyl to the United States. That is going down from 20 percent to 10 percent now. He also said, the president, that China had pledged to do more to try and stop fentanyl from coming into the U.S.

A couple things that they didn't get to, though, they didn't talk about Taiwan at all. The president essentially said that didn't come up. They did talk about Russia. This isn't part of the agreement, but something that was a priority for the president. They didn't talk about whether China would stop purchasing Russian oil, but the president did say they talked about whether Xi could help kind of convince Putin to come to the table more.

And so all of that as we look ahead to the president, who said he's actually going to go visit China as early as April.

KEILAR: All right, we will be looking for that.

Alayna Treene at the White House, thank you.

Now back to President Trump's announcement that the U.S. will begin testing U.S. nuclear weapons -- quote -- "on an equal basis" with Russia and China. Still not clear if the president meant testing nuclear warheads, something that no country has done since the 1990s, or if he meant testing these weapon systems that are capable of delivering nuclear warheads.

[13:05:16]

SANCHEZ: Earlier, President Trump's nominee to oversee America's nuclear arsenal, Vice Admiral Richard Correll, was testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee and he was asked about this. Listen to his response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICE ADM. RICHARD CORRELL, NOMINATED TO LEAD U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMMAND: I wouldn't presume that the president's words meant nuclear testing.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): Well, that's what he said.

CORRELL: I believe the quote was start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. Neither China or Russia has conducted a nuclear explosive test. So I'm not reading anything into it or reading anything out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: With us now to discuss is Jon Wolfsthal. He served as President -- as special assistant to President Obama for national security, as well as senior director for arms control and nonproliferation at the National Security Council. He's now the director of global risk at the Federation of American Scientists. Jon, thank you so much for sharing part of your afternoon with us.

What do you make of what the president said there and his argument that other countries are testing weapons and so the U.S. should as well?

JON WOLFSTHAL, FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: So, first of all, thank you for having me.

It is with so many of President Trump statements unclear what he's really saying and what's driving this. The best we can figure is that this past week Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia conducted tests of a new cruise missile powered with a small nuclear reactor and an underwater torpedo powered with a nuclear reactor, and President Trump felt he had to respond in some way to say, well, we're also testing new nuclear delivery vehicles.

In fact, the United States tests our missiles and bombers quite regularly. We just tested I think four submarine-launched ballistic missiles last month. But when he talks about an equal basis, we are doing that. And it's unclear whether he really meant nuclear weapons explosive testing or not.

KEILAR: He said on an equal basis, right? So I think you might think if he's sort of talking about a match that he then would not be talking about that nuclear explosive test, as outlined.

But you're saying there is an equal basis. So you're saying there is an equal basis on the sort of nuclear-powered or the nuclear -- I mean, this nuclear-capable delivery. Take us through that because there are different categories here.

WOLFSTHAL: So to take a step back, Russia, the United States, China are all investing tens and billions of dollars on new nuclear delivery platforms, missiles, bombers, submarines. We have returned to the arms race dynamics of the Cold War, where each side believes that nuclear weapons are important and potentially even usable.

So, in that sense, all three of us are already on an equal basis in arms racing. We are not matching like for like, because the United States has more advanced systems in some ways than Russia or China. Russia does some novel systems that are designed to counteract or get around U.S. missile defenses.

The real question is on whether or not the United States needs to resume explosive nuclear testing. Neither Russia nor China, as the STRATCOM commander nominee said, are conducting explosive nuclear tests. And so we're already on an equal basis with those countries as well.

So, again, it's not clear exactly what the president was saying. He also said that the Department of Defense should start testing nuclear weapons again. They're not even responsible for nuclear testing. That's under the Department of Energy.

So this is a very confusing statement and one I think that just adds to the dynamic of oneupmanship we have seen from President Trump and President Putin over the last several years.

SANCHEZ: Let's say for just the hypothetical that the president was talking about an explosive nuclear test. How long would that take to actually happen, because it would not be immediate, right?

WOLFSTHAL: That's right.

So, again, there's so many devils in the details here. If the United States needed to conduct an immediate nuclear test to, say, verify that some of its weapons were working or for political purposes, it could violate a whole number of treaties that ban doing that in the atmosphere. And that could happen in a matter of weeks or maybe months. There would be lawsuits and constraints.

But really what we're asking is, if the United States needed to resume explosive nuclear testing to develop new weapons, how long would that take? And that would take several years. The United States has a test site just outside Nevada where we conducted these tests in the 1990s and before, but it's not poised to conduct testing any time soon.

And it takes years to scientifically instrument a test to make sure you're getting the data out of it that you need. And I also assume that states like Nevada and others would sue to block the president's ability to do this.

[13:10:05]

So we're several years away from being able to conduct explosive nuclear tests.

SANCHEZ: And, again, that's a hypothetical. Hopefully, we will get more clarity from the president, perhaps via social media, or from the White House press office on exactly what he meant.

KEILAR: Because we are all thoroughly confused.

SANCHEZ: One hundred percent.

Jon Wolfsthal, thank you so much for walking us through some of that confusion. Appreciate it.

WOLFSTHAL: No worries. Thank you very much.

SANCHEZ: Still to come: Millions of people are on the brink of losing their SNAP benefits, but a federal judge has just indicated she will intervene, saying -- quote -- "We're not going to make everyone drop dead."

Plus, multiple island nations reeling from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa. We are on the ground in Jamaica with the latest.

KEILAR: And, later, a top Border Patrol official questioned over his agency's enforcement tactics during immigration protests in Chicago.

We will have that and much more coming up on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:15:04]

SANCHEZ: This just into CNN. A federal judge has just indicated that she will intervene in the high-stakes fight over SNAP benefits, or food stamps, specifically whether the Trump administration is obligated to tap into a $6 billion emergency fund in order to keep the program running.

The Trump administration has said that legally it cannot, and this is what the judge in Boston just said about that -- quote -- "Right now, Congress has put money in an emergency fund for an emergency, and it's hard for me to understand how this isn't an emergency when there's no money and a lot of people are needing their SNAP benefits. We're not going to make everyone drop dead because it's a political game."

The judge went further, saying that she would quickly issue an emergency decision. However, she acknowledged that benefits would not be fully paid to millions of Americans by Saturday.

As it stands right now, some 42 million people on SNAP will begin losing food assistance benefits that day because of the government shutdown. That number represents some of our nation's most vulnerable, including one in five children.

With us now to discuss, Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres. His district, New York's 15th, has the highest percentage of SNAP recipients of any district in the country.

Congressman, thank you so much for being with us this afternoon.

Now, I want to start with New York Governor Kathy Hochul declaring a state of emergency, saying that the state is now working to minimize some of that damage. I wonder if you have spoken to the governor and how far, as you're aware, can the state go?

REP. RITCHIE TORRES (D-NY): Well, I know that the governor is making every conceivable effort to address hunger and food insecurity in New York, but ultimately there is no substitute for the SNAP program.

Donald Trump's shutdown of SNAP is a catastrophe for America. As you noted, SNAP provides food to 42 million Americans. Almost all the SNAP benefits go to the most vulnerable Americans, families with children, Americans with disabilities, senior citizens.

Children represent 40 percent of the recipients, senior citizens 20 percent of the recipients, those with disabilities 10 percent of the recipients. And so Donald Trump is effectively holding 42 million Americans hostage. He's treating hunger and food insecurity as bargaining chips, as leverage in his sick political game of extortion.

That, to me, is disgraceful, and he is crossing a line that should never be crossed.

SANCHEZ: It's notable, Congressman, that Republicans are accusing Democrats of exactly what you just said, holding 42 million people hostage.

I want to play for you in exchange from Majority Leader Jon Thune in the Senate. He was responding to Democratic Senator Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, who is trying to pass new legislation directing the Department of Agriculture to use those contingency funds the judge is going to weigh in on to keep SNAP funded. Here is Senator Thune.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): SNAP recipients shouldn't go without food. People should be getting paid in this country. And we tried to do that 13 times. And you voted no 13 times. This isn't a political game. These are real people's lives that we're talking about.

And you all have just figured out 29 days in that, oh, there might be some consequences.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: So you described it as President Trump's shutdown of SNAP. Republicans are criticizing this as a Democratic shutdown. I wonder how much responsibility you think your party should take for SNAP money running out?

TORRES: Well, first of all, Republicans control the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. So the party that wields the power bears the responsibility.

And keep in mind, Donald Trump is claiming that SNAP has run out of funding and that there's nothing he can do to fill that gap. Donald Trump is lying to the American people. And here's why. First, there is a $5 billion multiyear contingency fund for SNAP.

The president can easily use those funds to sustain the SNAP program. Second, there's a much larger Section 32 fund that contains $23 billion. He could easily use those funds to sustain the SNAP program. Third, the Trump administration has generated upward of $100 billion in tariff revenues.

He could easily use those tariff revenues to sustain the SNAP program. So let's be clear. The shutdown of SNAP is not an inevitability. It is a choice made by Donald Trump himself.

SANCHEZ: In your district, we ran the numbers, and there's something like 270,000 residents that are receiving SNAP benefits, compared to less than 1 percent of that number, some 2,500, that are getting enhanced ACA tax credits, which are at the core of Democratic demands to reopen the government.

As you said, Republicans control the White House in both chambers, but they do need 60 votes in the Senate and they do need Democratic support to reopen the government. Just based on those numbers, do you think it's worth prolonging the shutdown if it winds up hurting more of your constituents? There are far more on SNAP than there are receiving these expanded subsidies of ACA.

[13:20:21]

TORRES: Well, first of all, there are far more than 2,500 people who benefit from the enhanced premium tax credit. In New York state, there are 1.7 million people on the Essential Plan, which is primarily funded by those enhanced premium tax credits.

But if Democrats had done nothing and stood by idly, 24 million Americans would have seen their premiums more than double, rising by an average of 114 percent, right? A total of four million people would lose healthier. And when you combine it with the Medicaid cuts, it's 14 million people losing health care.

Hospitals everywhere in America, including the Bronx, would lose $30 billion and more than 300,000 jobs. And so Democrats are not asking for new spending programs. We're asking to preserve the tax credits that provide health care to 24 million Americans. We're asking to preserve SNAP, which provides food to 42 million Americans.

We're asking to preserve WIC, which provides nutritional assistance to seven million women, infants, and children. We're asking for the preservation of the social safety net on which the most vulnerable Americans depend.

SANCHEZ: Now, Congressman, I do want to dig into New York politics for a moment while we have you. There's this new poll from Quinnipiac University that has Zohran Mamdani up 10 points over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the race for New York City mayor.

Who would you rather have as New York's next mayor, Andrew Cuomo or Zohran Mamdani?

TORRES: Yes, I endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the primary. I have not weighed in on the general election. I have no intention of weighing in. And I will be blunt with you. I think endorsements are overrated.

People are going to make up their own minds as to who to vote for. And the people of New York will decide who's going to be the future mayor of New York. And whoever emerges, I'm going to have a working relationship. In politics, I might have disagreements with people, but you have to work with those with whom you disagree.

SANCHEZ: I respect that you don't want to endorse anyone. I wonder, as a citizen of New York City, why not come out in support of either candidate, if it's not an endorsement, at least, who you would rather see as mayor.

TORRES: Again, just like I have a right to endorse, I have a right not to endorse and leave it to the people to make up their own minds. The people are smart enough on their own. They don't need politicians to micromanage their political choices.

SANCHEZ: Congressman Ritchie Torres, we appreciate you sharing your time and your point of view. We look forward to the next conversation.

TORRES: Absolutely. Thanks so much. SANCHEZ: Up next: A hospital worker in Jamaica tells CNN that

waiting for Hurricane Melissa to pass was the most terrifying experience of her life. Others say they have nothing left, homes, hospitals, churches destroyed, cars submerged. We will take you live on the ground in Jamaica.

Plus, another company pointing to A.I. for the reason it is letting staffers out.

And a teacher who was shot by her 6-year-old student takes the stand in her civil trial against a former assistant principal -- details of what we learned in court next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:27:43]

SANCHEZ: That Virginia teacher who was shot by her 6-year-old student just wrapped testimony in her civil trial. Abby Zwerner was a first grade teacher in Newport News when she was shot in the hand and the chest. She alleges that multiple warnings were ignored about the boy bringing a gun to school.

KEILAR: She's suing the former assistant principal, Ebony Parker, for $40 million.

Earlier, Zwerner testified about how the shooting changed her life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABIGAIL ZWERNER, PLAINTIFF: The best I can explain it, it's -- like, I still feel connected and close, but it's also that feeling of distance, a little numbness.

And it's like I know I trust the person I'm with. I love them, I know them, but there's just -- there's something that's just different. It's -- and it's -- I can't necessarily put it into words.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: CNN's Jean Casarez has been following every moment of this trial.

And there have been many really interesting moments here, Jean. Catch us up.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, she took the sand today. This was the star witness for the plaintiff's.

And it's so unusual because normally in a case like this, when someone has been shot in the chest, because that bullet went very close to her aorta, according to her surgeon from Walter Reed, normally, you're talking about a deceased victim, but she miraculously survived and so she was able to testify in this suit.

This is a civil suit. It is for money damages. That is to make the plaintiff whole again, but when she testified for the plaintiff, what she said, at that moment she was shot, she said that she believed that she was dying and then she saw black and she said that she felt she was going to heaven, but then all of a sudden that changed and she felt she wasn't going to die or she was alive, and she -- her colleagues were pressing her wounds to stop the bleeding.

That's what she remembers. So much, she doesn't remember. But the day started when students went to the teacher in her next classroom, another first grade class, saying, somebody in Abby Zwerner's classroom has a gun.