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Former Vice President Dick Cheney Dies at 84; Voters Cast Ballots for NYC Mayor, Governors of New Jersey and Virginia; California Becomes Battleground for Nationwide Redistricting Fight. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired November 04, 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]

JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: So the reason was that 9/11 changed him. As you may remember, President Bush was traveling that day. Vice President Cheney was at the White House. He gets lifted up by his -- by his belt by the secret service, goes down to the bunker, and he has to make some very difficult calls that day, including whether or not to shoot down a plane that might have been coming for the White House filled with U.S. citizens.

He made that call, didn't have to happen in the end, but whenever I asked him about, that he never backed down on these positions, he said my job was to keep the country safe. 9/11 changed me. There's one other way people will remember him. There is a generation that does not know that Dick Cheney, they think of him as Liz Cheney's father. And I spoke to Liz several times in the last couple of weeks, and she said, I want people to also remember that I did what I did with Donald Trump.

I voted for impeachment. I stood up to him because of the way my father raised me, that to have the courage of your convictions. So she -- he voted for Kamala Harris. Can't imagine that Liz Cheney or Dick Cheney ever imagined they would be voting for a Democrat for president. But she wants people to also remember that he picked country over party.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Yeah. And he comes from a state that has now become very much Trump country. But if you go there, it's Cheney, Cheney everywhere --

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Yeah.

KEILAR: -- on buildings. Right? It was very much Cheney country before it was that. I do think his criticism of Trump is now such an enduring part of his legacy that sort of transforms some of his legacy from the global war on terror. How do you see that affecting it?

GANGEL: So, I think that's true and there are a lot of Democrats. I mean, I've been at events with Liz Cheney, where it's primarily Democrats and they just swarm and come over to her and thank her. And I think the fact that her father made this political ad for her when she was running for a re-election where he blasted Donald Trump, where he called him a coward and the greatest threat, I think that that will be part of his legacy now.

SANCHEZ: Former Vice President Dick Cheney passing away at 84 years old. Jamie Gangel, thank you so much for that report.

Still to come this afternoon, it is Election Day in America. What tonight's results could tell us about Donald Trump's presidency, the future of the Democratic Party, and of course, looking forward to next year and the all-important midterms.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:37:08]

SANCHEZ: Voters are casting their ballots today in several key races across the country, including a closely watched mayoral battle in New York City and gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey. We're also keeping a close eye on California where voters are going to weigh in on a Democratic congressional redistricting measure designed to counter similar Republican efforts in Republican-led states ahead of next year's midterms.

Let's get more insight on expectations and what voters are saying through their votes from Michael Smerconish, a CNN Political Commentator and Host of "CNN Smerconish," also the "Michael Smerconish Program" on SiriusXM. Michael, great to see you as always. You have said that you think this New York City mayoral election is going to be closer than predicted. I wonder why and whether you think Andrew Cuomo is going to overperform the current gap in polling.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND HOST OF "SMERCONISH": I think that he will. I'm not saying, Boris, that that he'll win the race. I just think that -- and I base this on experience that I've personally had and have personally observed in big city mayoral races, particularly those that are racially or ethnically charged. The Bradley impact, if you remember many years ago, Tom Bradley anticipated to win a race in California that ultimately he lost, as I recall, to George Duke Maiden. And I see shades of that, elements of that in the New York City mayoral race.

Some maybe don't want to admit exactly who they're voting for and whatever rationale they might have. So, it won't surprise me if it's closer between Cuomo and Mamdani. And I'm interested in that race. I think Democrats will have -- and this is not rocket science, it's just based on the polling data -- a pretty good night tonight whether it's New Jersey, whether it's Virginia, whether it's New York City or Prop. 50. How much of that is a reflection of Donald Trump, which I know is a narrative that many people are discussing. I have doubts. I have doubts.

You'd rather be outside the White House running in this cycle than running as a Republican, I think, but I think all of these races are uniquely local, so I don't read too much into it.

SANCHEZ: It is hard to imagine that we would see something like Prop. 50 on the ballot were it not for the insistence from the White House and President Trump that Republican states redistrict in order to give them, what they see as a more fair shot to win the midterms next year. Historically, incumbent parties never do well in the midterms though. Do you think that effort is going to potentially come back to haunt Republicans?

SMERCONISH: It might. I don't like it. I mean, I think doing it after we have the census every 10 years is just fine. It's a formula that has served the country well. And when these dominoes start to fall, Texas, then California and a number of states of lesser electoral consequence, I just think that it's a concession that this is all gerrymandering, that this is all a rigged process.

[13:40:00]

That 400 of 435 congressional seats in the next year's cycle are probably all predetermined. I just -- I don't like the trend. I wish that Texas had not done it and I wish that California had not followed suit. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, what would be the hottest race in the country, tonight, I would mistakenly have said it'll be Prop. 50. But it seems as if the Republican donors have folded their tent and that is a foregone conclusion tonight.

SANCHEZ: Yeah. Obviously, this is all happening with the backdrop of what is now tied for the longest government shutdown ever. Do you think we might be closer to a resolution after Election Day, after tonight?

SMERCONISH: Boris, what a great question because let's assume that the races turn out the way that the polls suggest that they will. Everybody should go vote. We really don't have any idea. But if it's a sweep for the Democrats, then how is that interpreted? Does that sort of buck the Democrats up, so that in the Senate, they don't provide that handful of votes necessary to the Republicans to reopen? Or is it some other reading of the tea leaves that causes them to fold the tent or for Republicans to fold the tent? I don't know. I suspect that they'll come to contrary conclusions tomorrow, but let's hope that finally, it reopens because this is third world-ish.

SANCHEZ: Wow. I also wanted to give you the opportunity, Michael, to reflect on the passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney who died overnight at 84 years old.

SMERCONISH: So many, many years ago, when I had hair, before your time, Boris, I was in the Washington semester at American University. I was an undergrad at Lehigh, but they had, and they still have this wonderful program where you go to D.C. and you intern a couple of days a week, and then you're in a classroom a couple of days a week, and sometimes it's a hybrid. And I had limited exposure to Vice President Cheney over the years, but I'll never forget my first encounter sitting on the floor in his house office suite and with 20 other students.

I remember I had a view of his cowboy boots. That's something that stands out. And I didn't know anything about him before that encounter, and neither did my classmates, but we were really impressed with his intellect, I have to say that. And in recognition of the fact that he was in his early 30s and he was Gerald Ford's Chief of Staff at the time, we were just really taken back by how knowledgeable he seemed to be on the issues and on Washington generally. I'll let everybody else write their own epitaph for what came thereafter. But he was a smart guy and an engaging guy, and to be in his presence was a special thing.

SANCHEZ: Michael Smerconish, thank you so much for, reflecting on that and for the analysis as always.

SMERCONISH: You too.

SANCHEZ: Thanks.

SMERCONISH: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Still ahead on "CNN News Central," the destruction in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa is simply staggering. Recovery teams have now reached isolated areas and what they are finding in some cases is unimaginable. We'll take you there in just moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:47:43]

KEILAR: We're keeping a close eye on the White House where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was just asked about President Trump's threat to withhold SNAP benefits until the government reopens.

SANCHEZ: Remember, that is despite two judges last week ruling that the White House has to, they're forced to pay out what benefits they can out of a contingency fund. Here's how Leavitt responded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did the administration distribute that money or defy that court order?

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: No. The administration is fully complying with the court order. I just spoke to the president about it. The recipients of these SNAP benefits need to understand, it's going to take some time to receive this money because the Democrats have forced the administration into a very untenable position. We are digging into a contingency fund that is supposed to be for emergencies, catastrophes, for war, and the President does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future. And that's what he was referring to in his Truth Social post.

So the Department of Agriculture, as for the latest SNAP payment and the judge's order, has put out guidance to states today on how to get that money to the recipients of SNAP. But it's going to take some time. The best --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Now, some 42 million Americans depend on SNAP for food and groceries for their families. We'll be discussing this more next hour. In the meantime, people in Jamaica are clinging to what little resources they can find after Hurricane Melissa slammed the island a week ago as a Category 5 storm. 32 people are now confirmed dead and many residents are sheltering amid the rubble of their damaged homes.

SANCHEZ: And those who can make it to a hospital are dealing with emergency rooms without power or running water. CNN's David Culver shows us how some of the worst hit areas are coping.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are catching some water because that's the only way we can get water. We are damaged here in Jamaica real bad.

DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Across much of Western Jamaica, the storm has passed, but you feel it everywhere. Survival mode has kicked in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In here, in Belmont, we are very strained and we really need some help because you have persons who are very homeless and we don't really have any food supplies.

CULVER: This is where you live here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.

CULVER (voice-over): Now they're coming to terms with what's left and for many here, it's not much.

[13:50:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [Foreign Language].

CULVER: This was your bed?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. [Foreign Language].

CULVER: It's all messed up. You're right, you're right.

CULVER (voice-over): As we're heading out, a man points to a nearby house.

CULVER: He just told us that there's somebody in this house up here still, that his body hasn't been recovered yet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, somebody there for sure.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.

CULVER: Right there?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah. [Foreign Language].

CULVER: Did you know this gentleman?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His mom is supposed to be here. His mom lives at Light House.

CULVER: But, nobody has come to collect his body?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, not yet. Everybody knows that he died.

CULVER: It's just lying lifeless in there. I mean, it's absolutely horrible. He's by himself.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And nobody not sure when he died. They're not sure when he died.

CULVER: They're not sure when he died. I mean, seeing that is obviously very, very difficult. And it is worth pointing out, the neighbors there, it's not neglect on their part. They simply don't have cell service or any sort of connectivity to be able to report that. And they say that they were trying to tell passengers by, but they nobody came in to actually inspect. So for them, we were the only ones who they could tell. And we ultimately, once we had connectivity here, our colleague Omar here made the call to report that that body was in fact still in the house.

CULVER (voice-over): Night brings relief from the day's heat and humidity.

CULVER: You get around with the flashlight on your phone, huh?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. Yeah, man. So this -- this is --

CULVER (voice-over): But there's no water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the only water we have here. You see?

CULVER (voice-over): And no power.

ANDREZ ANDERSON, BLACK RIVER RESIDENT: We have no roof there, partially just this alone. So the rain actually coming now, so you feel it inside.

CULVER: I feel the rain, yeah.

ANDERSON: You know, so there'll be more damages, you know, as the rain comes by. So we just keep deteriorating until we can get some --

CULVER: Andrez, how do you live in this?

ANDERSON: Right. It is really rough. It is very hard. It is hard to cope. We just have to try to keep the kids mentally stable and try to tough it out, you know? So, we are just grateful here right now to know that we are alive.

CULVER (voice-over): Mornings bring no rest, just long lines. People here waiting for hours for gas.

CULVER: You've been out here four this morning? Which is seven hours.

CULVER (voice-over): And if water's not running in your home, you go to the source. Nearby, along the river bed, dozens gather.

CULVER: They're saying that nobody has come to help at all.

SIMONE GARDON, MONTEGO BAY RESIDENT: I guess, it doesn't really hit as yet because after two weeks, when it's all settled down and we are all like, wow -- the hunger kick in, (inaudible).

DR. SHERIFF IMORU, SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER, BLACK RIVER HOSPITAL: You have to understand that even up to this point in time, we don't even know what our death toll is.

CULVER: Do you think you're going to find more bodies?

IMORU: Yeah, I would think so. I hope not, but I would think so.

CULVER: The reality?

IMORU: Yeah, man. The reality is there. The reality is there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Yeah, a sobering perspective there. David Culver, thank you so much for that report.

Up next, millions of Americans are voting today in races across the country, and few could have as big an impact as a ballot referendum in California. The latest on that and the possible consequences, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:58:45]

SANCHEZ: Now to some of the other headlines we're watching this hour. Search and rescue efforts are underway after Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in the Philippines earlier today. The heavy rain submerged cars and homes and muddy flood waters forced thousands to evacuate. People can be seen standing on rooftops, pleading for help. At least 40 have died according to officials. And now, officials in Vietnam are urging people there to brace for the typhoon's arrival.

KEILAR: Also, the FBI says two Massachusetts men were arrested today in connection to an intentional explosion at Harvard University Medical School. The 18 and 20-year-old suspects are charged with conspiracy to damage by means of fire or an explosive, according to a criminal complaint. Surveillance footage circulated by police showed two masked individuals fleeing the building early Saturday. Officials say it led to members of the public calling authorities to identify them.

And police in Louisiana are thanking a good Samaritan for helping officers catch a pair of suspected shoplifters and officers' body cam catches one suspect as she runs from police and into an alleged accomplice's car.

When a nearby driver notices the officer wasn't near his patrol car, she offers him a ride to follow the suspects.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get out, stop. Stop the vehicle. Stop it. HBH 031, Mississippi -- HBH 031, Mississippi --