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Interview with Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE): Trump Administration to Use Emergency Funds to Pay Partial SNAP Benefits; Louvre Heist Suspects are Local Petty Thieves; Trump Administration Not Sending Any U.S. Officials to Climate Summit. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired November 03, 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]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: New today, the Trump administration says it will tap into a contingency fund to pay 50 percent of food stamp benefits in November. Last week two federal judges ordered the administration to use those emergency funds for roughly 42 million SNAP recipients but now there are significant questions about when the payments will go out. In today's court filing the U.S. Department of Agriculture said quote, For at least some states USDA's understanding is that the system changes States -- is that the system changes States must implement to provide the reduced benefit amounts will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months" -- several months.

With us now to discuss we have Democratic Congresswoman Sarah McBride of Delaware. Congresswoman that is a dire warning there. First off do you think this shutdown could go through Thanksgiving.

REP. SARAH MCBRIDE (D-DE): Well, I certainly hope not. I am down in Washington D.C. today and this week ready to work with colleagues to reopen government to solve this health care crisis and a guarantee that there are not disruptions in critical programs like SNAP.

[14:35:00]

Unfortunately, congressional Republicans continue to be on vacation they are nowhere to be seen. I hope we can reopen government before Thanksgiving. I hope we reopen government tomorrow and do so in a bipartisan and compassionate way.

While I'm glad that we will see at least some federal funding move forward during this shutdown for SNAP this was a choice that Donald Trump made, that Republicans made to call into question this life- saving benefit and they are now only partially moving forward with funding because their hands have been forced by the courts.

The cruelty has been the point throughout this for Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. We continue to be ready to reopen government as soon as seemingly possible so federal workers get paid. So that SNAP and other benefits aren't disrupted and to do so in a way that solves this health care crisis that my constituents are already seeing skyrocketing premiums from.

KEILAR: Yes so let's talk about that because at this point open enrollment is underway now. So, people signing up for ACA open enrollment is starting to see what insurance costs without the tax credit. As you were relying on pressure from those folks as they make their voices heard. How long does that take and and what if that isn't enough?

MCBRIDE: Well, I'm already hearing from constituents. I've been hearing from constituents throughout this shutdown that they want to see government open and they want to see us extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Over this last weekend millions and millions of Americans went on to healthcare.gov and started to see premiums that in some cases were increasing 100, 200, 300 percent. And it's incumbent upon those Americans to reach out to their members of Congress to express their outrage at these skyrocketing premiums and to demand that Democrats and Republicans work together to reopen government and extend these ACA premiums.

The Republicans have acknowledged that this is an issue. We have even very far right-wing colleagues in the House admitting that this is an issue. I think that's only going to increase as Americans lift their voices.

But Republicans ultimately are going to have to listen to the American people and join Democrats at the negotiating tables to solve this crisis. Look it's on Republicans to figure this out. They control the House, the Senate, and the White House.

KEILAR: No but let me.

MCBRIDE: And so, I'm not --

KEILAR: But you're in the House --

MCBRIDE: Yes.

KEILAR: -- but you know in the Senate there's a 60 vote threshold. The president is calling for that, the nuclear option to get rid of that.

And I hear you say you're saying Republicans are making a choice. Democrats are also making a choice and it has to do with these Medicaid cuts and it has to do with these ACA subsidies, yes, but it is also a choice, right? And CNN has polling out today that shows 58 percent of Americans are disapproving of, yes, Republican congressional leaders how they're handling this. But 58 percent are disapproving of how Democratic congressional leaders are handling it.

61 percent disapproving of how President Trump is handling it. So, all of you being held to account here what is your read of what that poll is saying?

MCBRIDE: No one wants a shutdown. That's what that poll is saying and time and time again Senate Democrats have voted for a continuing resolution that opens government and solves this health care crisis. Republicans have chosen to vote against that.

They have every opportunity to work with us to do both of these things and they know that we do not have the luxury of waiting. As you mentioned, open enrollment started on the first. There's not the luxury of time here and Republicans need to wake up to that fact. But I think the reality is no one wants a shutdown.

Democrats don't want a shut down. The American people don't want a shut down. We also don't want to see health care premiums skyrocket. And Republicans are so committed to health care being cut that they are willing to resist any kind of negotiation. And they are willing to subject this country to a shutdown because they don't want to protect health care. That's the reality of it and that's the choice that they're making.

KEILAR: But isn't it also true the Democrats don't want those cuts and so they are willing to subject the country to a shutdown as well. I mean this is a choice about different priorities, different values but it requires the votes of both parties.

MCBRIDE: It's a false choice to have to choose between keeping government open and solving this health care crisis. We're choosing to fight for both. Republicans are choosing to fight for only one. And the reality is, is if they want the votes necessary to pass a resolution they have to work with Democrats or go the president's route with a nuclear option of eliminating the filibuster.

They have a choice on how they want to pursue the path forward on that. But if they want votes to have a continuing resolution they're going to have to work with Democrats. That's the reality of democracy. That's the reality of representative government.

That's the reality of the United States Senate. And they they are putting forward to the American people a false choice.

[14:40:00]

We are saying we can do both and we have to do both. That's the choice we are making.

KEILAR: It is obviously such a crucial time right now in the shutdown and we appreciate you being with us Congresswoman Sarah McBride. Thank you.

MCBRIDE: Thank you.

KEILAR: This just in, Paramount has renewed Jon Stewart's deal to continue hosting Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" once a week through the 2026 midterms. Comedy Central says that the show's correspondents will continue to take turns hosting Tuesdays through Thursdays while Stewart hosts on Mondays. Stewart originally returned to his old show in 2024 saying that he wanted a platform to unload thoughts as we get into the election season.

He still had plenty to say after President Trump returned to office in January and he remained a reliable ratings magnate. The move caps off months of speculation about the media company's plan for the late night show.

And still to come, a serious crime by petty criminals. What we're learning about the thieves who pulled off the heist at the Louvre.

[14:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: We are learning more about the four suspects now arrested in connection to that daring daytime Louvre jewel heist. It turns out the three men and one woman are local petty criminals with no ties to organized crime, which all of this is according to French investigators.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Nonetheless, the group was allegedly able to break into two high security display cases last month making off with the French crown jewels.

We're joined now by former FBI investigator Robert Wittman. Robert, thank you so much for being with us. Based on what we know of the crime, were you surprised that these weren't sort of the Ocean's 11 criminal masterminds that you would anticipate would carry out a heist like this at the Louvre?

ROBERT WITTMAN, FOUNDER AND SENIOR INVESTIGATOR, FBI NATIONAL ART CRIME TEAM: You know, my experience over the years has been that these these individuals that rob museums are usually -- not maybe not petty, but they're just criminals. They're not the classic, you know, rich debonair individuals that we see in the movies. Basically, these people are people who are thieves who are doing what we call a gateway crime.

That's a crime that involves an art theft, but they're involved in many different types of criminal activity, car theft, you know, armed robberies, drugs, all that same time.

KEILAR: Yes, and one of the four suspects in custody is a 37-year-old who has 11 previous convictions, 10 of which were for robbery. The Paris prosecutor says he has a, quote, varied criminal record, but not one which would normally suggest involvement with organized crime. How is that determined?

WITTMAN: Well, that would be by his, you know, his cohorts. They would talk to him. They would find out who he works with, who he's been arrested with in the past and what kind of robberies he was doing.

You know, there's certain groups of people, individuals, organized crime individuals who do certain types of robberies. And if this individual was not involved with that type of thing, then he's just a petty criminal doing his own stuff. At that point, he's got no contact.

SANCHEZ: Well, it's interesting you sort of mentioned that two men that were also convicted over their involvement in the same robbery in Paris in 2015 are among the suspects. One of them is in a long term relationship with the 38-year-old woman who's also been detained. I wonder if that tells you something about how these suspects may be connected. And typically, how does this sort of plan come about? Are they just like all sitting around, like, I have a great idea, guys. We're going to go rob the Louvre.

WITTMAN: No, I don't think that they think about that specifically. I think that they're thinking, how do we make the most money for the least amount of work? And in this case, they did a lot of work, but they did a lot of bad work.

In other words, they left so much material behind and so much -- just a terrible sloppy job. And so, you know, I said that back when it happened, there's probably seven to 10 people involved who know about it, who are co-conspirators. Some of them might not have been actually participants, but they were people who knew.

And ultimately, you know, it was a well thought out thing. It was a well thought out robbery, but the execution was horrible as far as what they left behind.

One of the interesting things that I've seen is that the arc cutters, the actual cutters that they used on the cases were pieces that were recommended by the manuals in the museum itself to be used in order to get into the cases, because the cases themselves were impenetrable for bulletproof and for hammers.

But it suggested that the way to get into, if you had to, an emergency would be using these kinds of cutters.

KEILAR: Yes, that is really interesting. You know, I wonder though, as we consider they're petty criminals, or that's what we're being told, the ease with which they were able to do it, even though maybe there was some research that went into it. There's an ease right at doing the robbery, but then not getting caught is a huge part of this. And now they may very much be on the hook for these jewels, which everyone wants back.

What do you think about that? What's the message to other potential criminals who might be contemplating something like this about it's not as easy as it looks?

WITTMAN: Well, here's the thing again, it's not impossible to steal. If you're willing to go take any chance and get the equipment, and if you're willing to do it in broad daylight where people thought they were construction workers.

[14:50:00]

If you won't do all that, you could probably steal something, but the real art's not in the stealing, it's in the selling. What are you going to do with it once you have it?

These types of things are so famous and so well known that you can't do anything with it. There's no money to be made. It's really a stupid crime.

And it's something that I would see petty criminals doing not sophisticated criminals. Because if you're a sophisticated jewel thief, you'd probably go in and say like a very high end jewelry store, and you get away with some of that material and that you could sell. This material, it can't be sold. So, I would think that probably and from my past experience, knowing with these -- dealing with these people, usually it's not, it's not going to be organized crime, it's going to be, you know, low level, but we call you know, mopes, thieves.

SANCHEZ: Mopes.

KEILAR: Don't be a mope.

SANCHEZ: Don't be a mope.

WITTMAN: Mopes.

SANCHEZ: Robert Wittman, appreciate the expertise. Thanks so much.

WITTMAN: All right, guys, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Thank you.

Now to some of the other headlines we're watching this hour, we're learning new details about a stabbing attack aboard a London bound passenger train on Saturday. British police say the heroic actions of a railway worker and the driver of that train saved many lives. And they say the worker put himself in harm's way as he tried to stop the suspect's rampage.

The driver quickly moved the train to a slower track so it could be diverted to a nearby station. The 32 year old British suspect has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder. Police say right now the motive is unclear.

KEILAR: Also, incredible video captured the moment a medieval tower in central Rome partially collapsed during renovations. One worker was critically injured in this and other remains trapped in the rubble. Firefighters trying to rescue that worker were forced to retreat when more of the 13th century tower started to crumble.

And the Dodgers have returned triumphantly to Los Angeles after just an amazing World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays or Tor, T- O-R on the screen as my youngster called it Toronto. But making history after capturing back to fall classic wins for the first time in 25 years. Now fans are crowding L.A. streets.

Look at this so much fun. They're celebrating. Players are riding on double decker buses for a parade through downtown. I love those parades.

SANCHEZ: Good times.

KEILAR: So fun.

SANCHEZ: Good times. Yes, get out there, get some beers, throw things at people. KEILAR: Well, you're always throwing things at people, Boris.

SANCHEZ: It's just for TV. It's a joke. For everybody, just to be clear.

KEILAR: He actually doesn't. I just want to vouch for him. He doesn't.

SANCHEZ: Just to be clear.

Still ahead on CNN NEWS CENTRAL, the White House passing on sending any high level officials to a summit devoted to one of the biggest challenges facing our planet. We're going to talk about the fallout from this decision when we come back.

[14:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Trump administration is not sending any U.S. officials to a major climate summit this month. World leaders will meet at the COP 30 summit and set the agenda for the next 10 years. The U.S. though will not have a voice in that climate conversation.

KEILAR: The Trump administration already fired U.S. climate negotiators earlier this year and withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement for a second time, raising many questions about the country's position on climate issues as the world deals with catastrophic levels of warming.

CNN chief climate correspondent Bill Weir is here now with us. Bill, what does this mean, the absence of the U.S. at this very important stage?

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a trillion dollar question for global economies right now. But there is actually some relief from those who are worried the Trump administration would send people to browbeat negotiators as they did with plastics negotiations, maritime shipping, carbon tax, said if you vote for this, we'll pay for it in tariffs and visa restrictions.

But just to set the table here, this is the number of billion dollar disasters just in the United States this year during climate events, 14 of them now, 174 confirmed fatalities.

The database of this of course retired by the Trump administration now being kept up by a former NOAA administrator right now. But with the U.S. out of negotiations, the head of the European Union's negotiating team, Wopke Hoekstra says, we're talking about the largest, most dominant, most important geopolitical player from the whole world. It is the second largest emitter.

So, if a player of that magnitude basically says, well, I'm going to leave and have it all sorted out by the rest of you. Clearly, that does damage, says Wopke Hoekstra. So, in that sort of a climate, you have people like Gina McCarthy and Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker, Democrats who are trying to show up down in Belem, Brazil. They're right now they're down there for the local leaders summit, which starts before COP 30.

And I just talked to Gina McCarthy, ran the EPA under Obama, climate czar under Joe Biden about what she expects.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WEIR: You just told me that you're glad that the U.S. is not sending high level representatives to this one. Why?

GENA MCCARTHY, FORMER EPA ADMINISTRATOR: OK, if I wished that the Trump administration had folks that didn't deny that climate change is really happening, and that really wanted to engage. But at this point in time, our best option is to look at at the local leaders. This is a difficult time, Bill, that you know, and I've never been at a time when I felt that the federal government was as as much out of the loop as this federal government is.

But that can't be what we focus on because I can't fix that and neither can you. But what I do know is that we have an opportune moment right now. We have a chance to go to Belem and let people know that America is all in.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WEIR (on camera): Even in the first Trump administration, they sent embassy staff down there to help Americans present at the COPs there ...

END