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Sherrill Leads Ciattarelli 51-43 in NJ Governor Race; Millions of Americans could lose food stamp benefits tomorrow; Halloween Weekend Terrorist Attack Thwarted in Michigan; Deadly Listeria Outbreak; Flavor Flav Set to be Hype Man of U.S. Bobsled Team. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired October 31, 2025 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: With us now is the Democratic candidate for government of New Jersey, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. Congresswoman, great to see you this morning.

A lot of ink spilled on your race. It really is the marquee race in the country people think. I want to read you a couple quotes and get your reaction. This was from New York Magazine, which did a profile. They say, the shorthand way political observers have described the race is that Ciattarelli, Jack Cittarelli the Republican, is trying to make the campaign about New Jersey, while Sherrill is trying to make it about Trump. What do you think about that?

REP. MIKIE SHERRILL (D-NJ), NEW JERSEY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: You know, I've been focused relentlessly on affordability, because that's what I hear from the thousands of New Jerseyans that I speak to, and that really covers both affordability in Trenton. It's why I've said and I'm going to declare a state of emergency on day one to drive down utility costs, freeze rate hikes, and really immediately take on costs for families, have a plan for first-time homebuyers taking on rental prices which are going up through landlords who are colluding, driving down health care costs at every level.

So, a real focus on affordability here in New Jersey and how cutting through red tape and permitting issues will drive down costs for people. But make no mistake, the administration Donald Trump is running is driving up costs on everyone. From this tariff scheme where he's pocketing billions while people here in New Jersey are paying more from everything from a cup of coffee to the groceries and now gas prices, we see costs going up because of the one big beautiful bill on utility prices, health care prices, that's coming. And certainly, the president has vowed to terminate the Gateway Tunnel Project.

So, it is always affordability. It is both taking on Trenton and taking on Trump. And Jack Ciattarelli, my opponent, doesn't have a plan to drive down costs here in New Jersey. He's not running on his record because it's always been really bad for New Jerseyans against Superstorm Sandy, against raising the minimum wage, against driving down taxes. But he also is refusing to stand up to Trump in any way, shape, or form. BERMAN: One of the things -- one of the tropes about New Jersey politics is that they don't like to elect a party for a third term and Democrats have been in power, Governor Phil Murphy, for two full terms right now. The latest opinion poll, again from Quinnipiac, shows approval at 45 percent, disapproval at 47 percent. Phil Murphy, Governor, a little bit underwater there.

If you were polled, which side would you be on here, approve or disapprove of Governor Murphy? And what would you do differently than the outgoing Democratic governor?

SHERRILL: You know, I wish that was just a trope, but we haven't seen a party get a third term since, I believe, the 1960s. So, it certainly is not the preference always of New Jerseyans, but when you look at this election and what's at stake, what voters, I think, are gauging is the fact that I have a different kind of background. Military service. I'm a mom of four kids. I'm focused on driving down costs. I have a plan to take this as the emergency it is, the crisis that it is for voters, and address these aggressively. And my opponent doesn't.

So, when people are gauging the status quo and who's going to actually make change here, I think that's why they're coalescing around my campaign. Because, as I said, Jack Ciattarelli has given Trump an A. Says he doesn't disagree with him. Was pushed pretty aggressively on whether or not he would stand up for gateway tunnel funding, and he dodged the answer again and again and again.

BERMAN: Just yes or no, approve or disapprove of outgoing Governor Phil Murphy?

SHERRILL: You know, there's things that he's done to fully fund the pension, which I'm supportive of. Our rating, our credit rating has gone up, I think, about nine times on his watch. So, certainly, that's really important and allows us to borrow better at cheaper prices. But I also am really going to take on the energy crisis in a very different way. I think in too many ways under his administration, the can has been kicked down the road and prices have skyrocketed for people.

BERMAN: And then one other sort of national theme or national prism your race has been looked at is sort of this schism within the Democratic Party. Is it going to go the way of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, or Zohran Mamdani in New York City here? And the New York Times writes, her platform, your platform, firmly anti-trope with largely moderate policy prescriptions illustrates one of the central riddles facing the Democratic Party. Mikie or Mamdani? How much of a choice do you think it really is?

SHERRILL: Well, I know what New Jerseyans think because I've been, as I said, talking to thousands of them, ran in a six-way primary, really successful campaign there. We had the largest turnout for any primary the State of New Jersey has run. The momentum on the ground for this race is looking really great so far with the vote by mails and the early voting. So, we've got, I think, four days today. So, we'll continue going on our 21-county bus tour to get out every single vote.

[08:35:00]

New Jerseyans want competence, they want somebody who is going to attack prices, someone who's listening to their concerns. That's how I've always run campaigns. And to me centering a campaign and what you are hearing on the ground, cutting out the noise sometimes from what's going on online or elsewhere but really centering on the very people that you want to serve is incredibly important and I think incredibly successful and that's what I'll continue to focus on as governor.

BERMAN: All right. Four more days. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, nice to see you this morning. Thank you very much. Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Millions of Americans are watching the clock right now because they are now hours away from their federal food assistance benefits starting to run out. At midnight tonight SNAP benefits are set to run dry. This is the government's largest anti- hunger program, long known as food stamps.

We're talking about 42 million Americans, that's one in eight people. 39 percent of them, the largest group of SNAP beneficiaries, are children. 20 percent are adults with children in their home. On top of this today also marks, as we've discussed so much, the first day of open enrollment for Obamacare which has been at the center of the shutdown fight. Federal subsidies set to expire at the end of the year pushing Obamacare health care premiums to jump by some estimates more than 25 percent.

So, what does all of this mean for the nation's health? Joining me right now is Dr. Richard Besser, the president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It's good to see you again Dr. Besser. Let's start with SNAP if we could. When it comes to SNAP, what could be the health consequences? We talk -- keep talking about it in terms of money, but what could be the health consequences of cuts to food stamps and also the food assistance program known as WIC specifically for women and babies?

DR. RICHARD BESSER, FORMER ACTING CDC DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT AND CEO, ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION: Yes. Good to be here, Kate. You know, I am a pediatrician. I'm a parent. I know how important it is for everyone to have access to healthy food, but for children it's so critically important. Young children who are developing rapidly, going hungry is incredibly difficult for their health. For older children going to school without having had a meal, it's impossible to learn.

The impact of these cuts -- you know, 42 million people in our country receive some assistance through the SNAP program. You know, children, veterans, people with disabilities, the elderly, they count on these programs. And tomorrow morning, some of them are going to wake up and their SNAP card is going to be empty and people are going to have to make choices. What do you do? What are you going to give on in order to put food on the table? Are you not going to pay rent? Are you not going to pay for your medications? Something has to give because this program is so critically important to people across the across the country.

BOLDUAN: And then add in at the very same time you have the Kaiser Family Foundation put out a report that on average premiums are going to increase 26 percent for people on Obamacare when federal subsidies expire. Looking at next year, the largest rate increase since 2018. What is that going to look like in reality?

DR. BESSER: Well, you know, in addition to the rates going up, what we're seeing here is an end to tax credits, which were support that was given to 24 million households to pay for their health insurance, to help pay for it. So, these are hardworking people whose jobs don't come with health insurance. The Affordable Care Act is really a work in progress. It clearly is not the end game in terms of health care in America, which we all know cost too much and doesn't deliver enough. But these tax credits at least allowed people to have that safety net of health insurance.

What we're going to see here again is sticker shock. People are entering that that open enrollment period, and they're going to be seeing the increases that are coming to everyone from the insurance industry. But what they're not going to see are the offsets from the government that was helping people who were working pay for that. And again, it's going to mean that people have choices. And a lot of people are going to say, I can't afford health insurance. I need to put food on the table. I need to pay rent.

And so, people are going to have to make those decisions. Do I wait until I'm really, really sick to go see a doctor? Do I hold off on taking medicine? Do I take medicine every other day? Congress has to come together and solve this problem.

BOLDUAN: The combination also of these two things setting in at one time, you just think about how many millions of Americans are going to be seeing these real health impacts in real time. As you mentioned, you're a pediatrician. Is this going to hit kids the most?

[08:40:00]

DR. BESSER: It's going to hit kids particularly hard. And, you know, we look to our government to provide protection and safety for everyone, but in particular, we have to do better by our children. And we're seeing so many systems that are there to help protect children, to help nurture children, to help communities provide for children that are falling apart. And it will hit children incredibly hard.

But it's also hitting people who are working hard, but working in a country that has one of the worst healthcare systems for a wealthy nation in the world. We're the only place where your health insurance tends to be tied to what job you have. And that has to change, because people should not have to make the choice between paying rent, putting food on the table, and having their health taken care of. That's a lot of what we're talking about.

You know, people talk about it in terms of numbers, but I've seen the impact on families in the clinics where I'm seeing a child, I'm seeing a mother who's trying to decide between paying the rent and providing food. You know, I talk to them about healthy food, and they're saying, well, where can I feed my family for $10 except fast food? They know that's not the way to go. And SNAP is one of the ways that families are able to provide healthier food for their children. And that's going to be a big problem for millions of people starting tomorrow.

BOLDUAN: Yes, it's good to see you, Dr. Besser. I really appreciate you coming in. Very important perspective on all this when we talk about numbers, but the real impact on health and wellness.

DR. BESSER: Thank you so much.

BOLDUAN: Thank you. Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Breaking news out of Michigan now. FBI Director Kash Patel just announcing the FBI has thwarted, he says, what he's calling a plan for a violent terror attack over Halloween weekend. Let's go to Brynn Gingras. The details I know are pretty scant here, but what have you learned so far?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So, let's read that full post that the director put on X, Sara. It says, this morning the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend. More details to come. Thanks to the men and women of FBI and law enforcement everywhere standing guard 24/7 and crushing our mission to defend the homeland.

As you can imagine right now, we have number of calls out to different members of law enforcement. And I do want to update you, we did get an update from the Dearborn Police Department who actually put out a public safety update to residents in their city. And it says the Dearborn Police Department has been made aware that the FBI conducted operations in the City of Dearborn earlier this morning. We want to assure our residents that there is no threat to the community at this time. So, we do know that something was happening in Dearborn, Michigan and is likely connected obviously to whatever the FBI is putting out here. But obviously, the details are very thin at this moment.

Of course, like I said, we have calls out, questions we are asking about, are we talking about groups that are with international terrorist groups associated or are we talking about domestic? Obviously, what is the nature of this thwarted plot? Of course, this harkens, Sara, as you know, a terrorist attack that happened in 2017 on this same day when someone rented a U-Haul and drove down the West Side Highway killing eight people. So, certainly this is a day when authorities are on high alert. But of course, we are waiting to get more information on this particular incident that was allegedly thwarted.

SIDNER: Yes. We will check back in with you as soon as you get any of those details. I know you've got all your contacts and you're calling them just before we went on to air. Really appreciate it. Thank you, Bryn.

Still ahead, a deadly and growing Listeria outbreak connected to food sold at Trader Joe's, Kroger, Sprouts, Walmart and more. And Flavor Flav joins the Olympic bobsledding team as its official hype man. And he's going to hype you up this morning. Trust me. Stick around for that. And tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. on CNN, podcaster Jennifer Welch and journalist Max Chafkin weigh in on the biggest headlines of the week on I Got News for You. Tune in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:45:00]

BERMAN: This morning, growing questions about what's next after President Trump announced that he wanted the U.S. to begin testing nuclear weapons again. It came just days after Russia announced that it successfully tested a nuclear power torpedo and a new cruise missile. Now, the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation says that nuclear tests are defined as generally controlled explosions of nuclear device such as bombs or warheads, and that Russia's recent test did not meet that definition.

With us now, the former Energy Secretary, Ernest Moniz. Secretary, thanks so much for being with us. It still is unclear what exactly President Trump meant. Did he mean we're going to be exploding nuclear devices or testing weapons systems? But if he did mean exploding nuclear devices, atomic blasts, what would the impact of that be? How consequential?

ERNEST J. MONIZ, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF ENERGY AND CEO, NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVE: Well, John, let me first just reinforce what you said, that there is ambiguity. And in particular, the president used a phrase on an equal basis, and that's where your statement about Russia and China in particular have not tested nuclear explosives. And so, this could just mean testing a delivery system.

[08:50:00]

Now, however, if there were a nuclear explosive test, it would almost certainly unleash a very consequential and unfortunate turn of events, namely if we were to test explosively -- and by the way, that would be the Department of Defense and not the Department of Energy and not the Department of Defense or the Department of War. But if we were to test explosively, almost certainly Russia and China and probably others like India and Pakistan would follow suit.

The risk is that a serious arms race, nuclear arms race, could result, especially because, as the president also said, China is building up its stockpile quite aggressively, and this leads to a new dynamic which testing could really have spiral in a bad way. And then other testing, like India and Pakistan, for example, it was only this year that they had a military spat, if you like, and we are quite worried about escalation. Testing would certainly exacerbate the tensions between those two countries.

BERMAN: What if it is the delivery systems he is talking about, which is what Russia and China have done? How does that change the global order and situation?

MONIZ: Well, first of all, we, the United States, we have been testing delivery systems quite consistently. Just recently we tested, for example, ballistic missile launches from a ballistic nuclear submarine. The Russians, on the other hand, as you noted, have tested some really new systems, the cruise missile you mentioned, and perhaps even more novel, the underwater drone that could attack our coastal areas.

So, testing delivery systems also adds to the tensions, as have the Russian tests. So, we would urge that those be carried out, if they are being carried out, with a return to strong communications among the great powers. That's been another casualty of the Russian attack on Ukraine, of China's buildup of its strategic nuclear weapons. Communication is not what it has to be. Verification is not what it was. And testing delivery systems just adds to all of that confusion and tension.

BERMAN: Yes. Either way, with this ambiguity, whatever happens next, we are entering this new stage of a nuclear world order that has been in place for quite some time. Former Secretary Ernest Moniz, great to see you this morning. Thank you very much. Sara.

SIDNER: OK. On our radar for you this morning, viewers won't find the House of Mouse on YouTube. Disney pulling all of its channels off the platform for now. That includes ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, National Geographic, and more. The decision comes after the two media giants failed to reach a new carriage agreement before Thursday's deadline. The talks, though, are continuing.

This morning, health officials warning you to check your fridge for items causing a deadly and growing listeria outbreak. The outbreak is linked to recalled pasta salads and ready-to-eat meals sold at major grocery chains. You're seeing some of them now. The chains include Trader Joe's, Kroger, Sprouts, and Walmart. Six people have died, and 24 people across 18 states have gotten sick. The FDA and CDC are urging people to take a look into those refrigerators, throw them all out if you see any of these recalled products.

And at the White House, trick-or-treating on the South Lawn. President Trump and First Lady Melania handed out candy for the annual tradition. A number of costumes, of course, grabbed Trump's attention, but none more than this young man, who was the spitting image of the president. Trump high-fiving his doppelganger and having the boy turn around for a picture.

BOLDUAN: Cool Runnings, the Flavor Flav edition. The rapper known for his distinctive voice, vibe, and, of course, his blinged-out clocks is joining the U.S. bobsled and skeleton team as a sponsor and hype man for the Winter Olympics in Italy next year. He became one of the more unexpected but completely standout stars of the summer games in Paris when he hyped for the U.S. water polo teams. And now, look at that, he's trading in the ice around his neck for the ice on the bobsled track, promoting the games on the socials, and taking a run on the course himself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

FLAVOR FLAV, RAPPER, TEAM USA BOBSLED TEAM "OFFICIAL HYPE MAN": Yes. Yes, boy. I did it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[08:55:00]

BOLDUAN: And the one and only Flavor Flav joins us now. It's so good to see you and have you here. I've had this question since the Paris Olympics, which is --

FLAVOR FLAV: Hi, guys.

BOLDUAN: -- how in the world did this come about? I'm obsessed. I want you to hype everything, but how did this come about?

FLAVOR FLAV: Well, it all started when I met a young lady that -- you know, from the bobsled team. She offered me to come up to -- you know, to take a bobsled ride, you know. So, that's where this whole thing started at, by me being offered a bobsled ride. The next thing you know, I get around the team and I'm like, hey, why -- you know, why don't I sponsor you guys? You know what I'm saying? The whole nine.

So, here I am now, an official sponsor and hype man for the United States Olympic bobsled team. And I still am the sponsor also for the United States Olympic water polo team too, as well. So, it's an honor to be able to be a sponsor, you know. And also, I'm trying to set the trend. You know what I'm saying? Flavor Flav always known to be a trendsetter and I'm trying to set a trend to see if I could get a lot more celebrities like myself to come and sponsor these Olympic teams, because these Olympic teams do need some sponsorship.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: You keep wearing outfits like that, like you did when you rode the skeleton right there. I am sure you will get more people on board. Mr. Flavor, I just have to say, it's an honor to get to speak with you. It's an honor to get to speak with you.

You did get to skeleton and you maybe can answer a question that I've had for a long time. What's the difference between like a good skeleton ride and a bad skeleton ride? Because basically. you're getting on a sled headfirst and going down. So, how do you do it better?

FLAVOR FLAV: Well, I ain't going to lie, but a bad skeleton ride is when you start near the bottom of the mountain. A good skeleton ride is when you start at the top because it's more smoother and you don't feel the bumps as much and you don't bump into the ice walls as much. You know what I mean?

So, I ain't going to lie, but I am a daredevil. I am an adrenaline junkie. I had to do it. I couldn't hold that back. It was on the bucket list. And not only that, but I also joined the team now. So, I'm a member of the bobsled team.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: That's the breaking news, that Flavor Flav is a member of the bobsled team. I cannot wait to see this. I did want to talk to you about what you did for one of the Olympian athletes, Veronica Fraley. You paid her rent when she had posted on Instagram and she posted in social media that she -- you know, she was running out of money. Does it bother you that these athletes, many of them are sort of in these barely making ends meet and here you come and say, hey, let me help you. Let me get you there?

FLAVOR FLAV: Well, let me tell you like this, you know, every athlete, you know, wants to feel comfortable and know that, you know, somebody's got their back. you know what I'm saying? And this girl -- I mean, these athletes are out here really trying hard. You know what I'm saying? And when they're not competing, they're at home living active lives, working like two and three jobs and stuff, you know, and they got renting stuff to pay. You know what I'm saying?

So, when they have to go to practice, that takes them away from their jobs or when they have to go to compete, it takes them away from their jobs. You know what I'm saying? And I knew for a fact that this girl, Veronica, man, she had a real good chance at getting a gold medal. And by her rent not being paid, that would have sent her home and that would have just crushed her dreams.

So, I said, you know what, let me help out and let me help this girl. Stay out here so she could try to get that medal. And that was my purpose for helping her out.

SIDNER: And we see her biting one right there. We just -- it's such a beautiful thing that you did.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Absolutely. OK. So, sponsor, member of the bobsled team and official hype man, could we get some hype? What should people be expecting when the U.S. bobsledded skeleton team take to the ice in the winter?

FLAVOR FLAV: Honestly, to tell you the truth, you might get a surprise because I'm getting ready to go up there and I'm going to I'm going to take some skeleton lessons and I want to learn how to try to compete. Don't be surprised if you all find Flavor Flav out there on the track.

SIDNER: Yes, boy.

BOLDUAN: I mean, that is the only hype one ever needs. We're also looking for sponsors. If you would like to sponsor a very special show called CNN News Central from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. Yes.

SIDNER: We're here for it. We will also -- I here you have a hundred of your clock necklaces, we will also take one of those.

[09:00:00]