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Trump's Effect on Elections; Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) is Interviewed about the Shutdown; Kerry Bird is Interviewed about the Native American Community; Ruby Chen is Interviewed about Son's Body Returned from Gaza. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired November 06, 2025 - 08:30   ET

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

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[08:30:16]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: After what happened during the election, some Dems are saying that they have the momentum and that Tuesday's election shows voters have turned on President Trump.

So, what might this mean for next year's midterms? Because a lot of people are shifting to that now.

CNN's Harry Enten here with us.

I need to make sure I give you your due, chief data correspondent Harry Enten.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Thank you.

SIDNER: What did Tuesday's elections tell you about how important Trump will be for down ballot Republicans?

ENTEN: Yes, I think there are a lot of Republicans who saw those polls that, you know, showed Donald Trump low nationally. And they didn't necessarily believe him. But for Democrats, those polls are real, and they are spectacular.

And the reason I say that is because, take a look here, voted for the Democratic nominee among Trump disapprovals. I got 2017, Trump's first term, and 2025, in New Jersey and Virginia. In 2017, among the Trump disapprovals, the Democratic nominees got 82 percent. In New Jersey, 87 percent in Virginia.

Come over to this side of the screen. If there is any idea that Republicans are going to be able to outrun Donald Trump's low approval ratings, this says, nuh-uh, they're going to be like impalas getting chased down in the African desert by a big lion. Look at this, 93 percent of Trump disapprovals voted for the Democratic nominee in New Jersey, and 92 percent voted for them in the great commonwealth of Virginia.

The bottom line is this, what those results on Tuesday night showed us is that Donald Trump is absolutely a drag on Republican candidates in New Jersey and Virginia, likely nationwide. There -- if you are in a state where Donald Trump is underwater, you are in big, big trouble.

SIDNER: What does this mean nationally, though, because that is what people are really going to be concentrating on now when we look forward to 2026 and the midterms?

ENTEN: Yes. OK. So, the big question is, what does it mean nationally, as you said, Sara. Well, I mean, at this particular point, Donald Trump is at term two lows nationally in terms of his net approval rating.

Look at this. These are polls that are out this week. Look, the CNN, he was 26 points underwater. CBS, 18 points underwater. ABC, 18 points underwater. The NBC heart (ph) public opinion strategies poll, he was 12 points underwater. My goodness gracious. He's down there with the Titanic.

And this is what is turning in for the Republican Party. That result on Tuesday night was a Titanic proportion, just absolutely awful result. New jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, in terms of those judgeships, those Supreme Court judgeships, essentially, you know, retaining those judges, all the Democratic line candidates won. Democrats won their first statewide races that weren't federal in Georgia for the first time in a generation.

What we are talking about at this particular point is Donald Trump is absolutely a drag. I spoke about it on Monday. That's what we thought was going to happen. And that is exactly what did happen. Donald Trump, at this point, is an absolute drag on these Republican candidates. We saw it on Tuesday night. And, nationally, I expect that result to hold because, at this point, Donald Trump is at his term two lows.

SIDNER: You're talking about the Titanic Democrats, before this, right, were on the Titanic. Their approval ratings lower than Republicans. What does that all mean?

ENTEN: OK, what does that all mean, right? I think there are a lot of Republicans who say, OK, Donald Trump ain't that popular. But the Democrats aren't popular either. And those Democratic low favorable ratings, those will save us. Well, we had a test of that on Tuesday night.

So, what do we see here? OK, vote for the Democratic nominee. View neither party favorably. Here's the margin. Look at this. In New Jersey. If you viewed neither party favorably in New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill won that vote by 66 points. How about in Virginia? Abigail Spanberger won that vote by 56 points. It doesn't necessarily matter, it turns out, that the Democrats are viewed that unfavorably, because amongst those who like neither party, the Democrats ran away with it.

You know, I started off with a running analogy talking about the African desert. These folks are like Usain Bolt, despite the fact that Donald Trump is -- despite the fact that Democrats are viewed unfavorably, Democrats are like Usain Bolt because Donald Trump is like rocket fuel and they're able to run away from the pack. And I think Usain Bolt would leave both of us in the dust. SIDNER: You are also like rocket fuel, and you can just run on out of

here after that good segment.

See you, Harry.

ENTEN: See you.

SIDNER: Jessica.

JESSICA DEAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, and this morning, talks of a deal emerging as the government shutdown now hits 37 days. It's the longest in history. Some Democrats, though, riding high after those election wins, say now is not the time to give in to Republicans.

Here's Senator Bernie Sanders last night.

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SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): There is a revolt against Trumpism. I think Democrats have the momentum. And now what has got to happen is Trump has got to come to the table and say, OK, let's make sure that premiums do not go up. Let's make sure that we do not throw millions of people off healthcare. If he does that, we can end the shutdown tomorrow.

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DEAN: Joining us now is Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi of New York.

[08:35:02]

Congressman, good morning. Thanks so much for being here with us.

Senator Sanders is among some Democrats who say, no, hold out, make sure that we get a guarantee of these subsidies being extended, not just the promise of a vote. What do you say to that?

REP. TOM SUOZZI (D-NY): I think the bottom line is that most members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, want to get out of the shutdown. And I think most members of Congress want to do something about fixing these health care premiums that are about to explode because of the expiration of the premium tax credits. So, there's a deal to be made.

And the number one concern people have in America is affordability. And health insurance affordability is one of those big issues. So, I think that the Democrats have made it clear that we're fighting for the people, for their health care affordability. Now is the time to make a deal.

DEAN: And look, this is going to likely become a very familiar dynamic leading up to the midterms and beyond. But we're seeing friction between progressives and centrists within the Democratic Party. Again, Senator Sanders and others are urging your colleagues in the Senate to mobilize against this emerging shutdown deal over there. They think more can be done. I know you're trying to work something out with your House colleagues.

What do you think is acceptable? What is acceptable to end this shutdown for you?

SUOZZI: Well, we laid out a bipartisan framework the other day with myself and Congressman Bacon, along with Congressman Gottheimer and Congressman Hurd out in Colorado. And we said, listen, do a two-year extension of the premium tax credits, OK to put income caps so that people that are wealthy people are not getting this, from $200,000 to $400,000. And let's make sure people are not ripping off the system.

The bottom line is, it doesn't have to be that compromise. It can be any compromise. Just let's get the government back open because people are suffering. People are worried about their -- their food benefits. People are worried about the air traffic controllers and the effect on the airports. People are affected about people who are going to work every day that are not getting paid. Let's fix these problems. Let's address what the people are concerned about. It's not just about the political fight, it's about human beings. And there's a deal to be made if people of goodwill will just sit down with each other and make that deal.

DEAN: And I hear you, but there are some in your own party who are saying, hang on, don't rush to a deal here. This is not the time to capitulate. What do you say to them?

SUOZZI: Well, I'm not saying capitulate. I'm saying make the deal. And even Chris Murphy and Bernie Sanders, in your segment you just showed, said, listen, let's extend the premium tax credits. That's what I'm saying. And that's what a lot of Republicans are saying, let's make that deal to extend the premium tax credits. That's a deal on the table that people want to do. Let's get it done.

DEAN: Do you have support in your legislation from House leadership and Democratic leadership?

SUOZZI: It was reported the other day that the Democratic leadership and the Republican leadership don't hate the deal. So, that's a pretty good step forward. Bottom line is, we went out on a limb --

DEAN: Well, that's a resounding support.

SUOZZI: I mean the bottom line is, you know, it's not easy in this environment to go out on a limb and say, let's make a deal. But people want -- you know, everybody's losing when this is said and done. I know that we just won big nationally, and I'm really excited about that, but the people are sick and tired of Congress just pointing fingers at each other. They want us to get something done. And the thing we want to get done is affordability of health insurance for people, at least more affordable than it will be if these premium tax credits expire. And I think there's a lot of energy behind that idea right now.

DEAN: And, obviously, we've talked a lot about the millions of people, including millions of children, who have lost access to SNAP benefits or restricted access or delayed access. There are over a million federal workers who are not getting paid, who've missed paychecks. Now we have the threat of what might happen tomorrow coming from the secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, that we could see massive cancellations and delays across the country at 40 different airports.

What do you think that might do as a pressure point?

SUOZZI: Well, let me just say, the idea of people not getting their food benefits, especially children and elderly people and disabled people, the money is there. The president can do that. To not give that food benefit is just mean spirited. The courts have said, you have to do it. They're playing a lot of games with this. It's never happened before. Don't hold poor people, children, elderly people, disabled people, hostage in this political battle. That's just -- that's just mean. And Americans do not like that type of mean spiritedness.

As far as the air traffic controllers, these people work very long hours. They are working incredible amounts of overtime, under incredible pressure with people's lives in the balance and they're not getting paid. So, it's not fair to them that they're going to work every day and they're not getting paid.

So, we have to step up here and say, I understand the politics, I understand winning and losing, Democrats, Republican, but we have a job to do to serve the American people. And that's more important than any political battle right now.

[08:40:00]

DEAN: And do you think what you just described, that being more important than the politics of this, do you think that that is the overwhelming opinion of your Democratic colleagues?

SUOZZI: I do. I believe it's the overwhelming opinion of most Democratic and Republican colleagues. I think that most people in public service want to serve the people that they represent. And everybody's hearing from people in their constituency about getting a deal done.

Now, listen, I want to make this very clear. I'm not saying, as you said earlier, to capitulate. Let's not capitulate. I'm not suggesting that at all. I'm saying there's a deal to be made if people will sit down with each other and do the work and actually have a little bit of trust and a little bit of good faith, and we can get this done. Now is the time to do that.

The election results were clear. The fact that the public wants something done and they're sick and tired of everybody just finger pointing is clear. Now just sit down and do the work and get it done.

DEAN: All right, we'll see if that can happen, day 37 of this shutdown with more pain on the horizon.

Congressman Tom Suozzi, thanks for your time. We appreciate it.

Kate. KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: So, the immigration raids in Chicago have

been endless since the administration launched its operation there. But this does, what we're going to tell you, seem to be a first. ICE agents followed an undocumented woman into a daycare facility and then dragged her out to arrest her while parents were dropping off their kids. DHS released a photo of the Colombian national, Diana Galeano, who they say entered the U.S. illegally in 2023, and they say that she then paid smugglers to bring her two teenage children into the country last month. They were detained and sent to a Chicago shelter. ICE says that they tried -- how ICE says how this played out is they tried to pull over a car that was registered in her name. The car did not stop. Instead, pulled up to the daycare where she works, and the people inside the car ran inside. The federal agents followed and forced her out in front of the children, the students. Parents with children at the daycare now want answers.

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MARIA GUZMAN, MOTHER OF STUDENT AT RAYITO DEL SOL: Federal agents have to be held accountable for entering the establishment without consent. They did not have a warrant. There were children in the building. There were babies in the building. They took a teacher and could have left children unattended. Think about that.

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BOLDUAN: Local congressman says Galeano did have a valid work permit. CNN has reached out to the daycare for more comment.

Coming up for us, a seriously close call was caught on camera. A driver says chunks of concrete started falling off a bridge and slammed into his car with his family inside. What happened, that is coming up.

Plus, reports of a lion on the loose sent police on a wild hunt and chase. Turns out that the lion was just a mouse. A dog named Mouse.

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[08:47:45]

DEAN: New this morning, the FDA has sent warning letters to more than a dozen websites selling fake or unapproved versions of Botox and other drugs used to smooth wrinkles. This is according to new reporting from the Associated Press. The FDA said the letters were sent after the agency received reports of injuries in connection with the products, including what it said were symptoms of botulism. Signs of botulism include difficulty swallowing or breathing, slurred speech, muscle weakness. The agency notes patients experiencing signs of botulism should immediately seek medical care.

The Louvre is now under intense scrutiny after a gang of thieves stole France's crown jewels in just a matter of minutes, while the museum was open, in broad daylight. One French newspaper uncovered an examination of past security audits and found a history of flaws, including in 2014 when auditors got access to the museum's video surveillance with the password "louvre." Creative guys. In addition, several operating systems were so outdated they couldn't even get antivirus updates. While several of the theft suspects are now in custody, those jewels have yet to be found.

And in Atlanta, a suspected serial shoplifter caught in the act. Surveillance camera capturing the man taking items from a Nike store. Police say the man also stuffed the stolen goods into a large garbage bag before taking off in a getaway car. He had 18 warrants out for him, all related to shoplifting. The man and his getaway driver were later arrested at a convenience store.

Also this morning, new video shows concrete chunks slamming down onto a vehicle from a bridge as a family of five drove underneath. Dash cam video from that Tesla shows the moment it happened. They said it sounded like an explosion. Officials say inspections had not identified a crack in that piece of concrete.

And there is a lion on the loose in western Ireland. Well, that's what people thought when they saw this animal. It spread like wildfire on social media that an animal with the shaggy mane was running around in the woods. Police caught the lion after about a week. It's actually a dog named Mouse. And the big shaggy newfoundland just got a fresh new haircut and is now looking less lion-like.

Sara.

SIDNER: He is welcome anytime here at C&C (ph).

DEAN: Yes.

SIDNER: We may run around thinking he's a lion, but we will always try to pet him, no matter what.

[08:50:01]

Thank you so much, Jess.

New this morning, Native Americans say this government shutdown is causing a major crisis on several fronts. Native American leaders were in Washington warning senators that the mass federal government layoffs and benefit lapses are not only wreaking havoc on their communities, hurting schools, childhood programs, and people's ability to put food on the table, but it's actually breaching treaty obligations.

Joining us now is Kerry Bird, president of the board of directors of the National Indian Education Association.

Thank you so much for coming in this morning for us.

First to you. What is it that you are demanding of the senators? What did you say to them?

KERRY BIRD, PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: Well, I think for Indian country, it routinely feels the impacts of federal decisions because they affect our community most acutely. Our programs are extremely important to our communities. And any reduction in benefits or any slowing of federal funding to our tribal communities hurts us acutely.

SIDNER: Can you give me a sense of what this means, particularly to the Native American community? What kind of suffering, desperation is happening because of -- partly because of this shutdown. Also because this is the first time ever that SNAP has not been funded during a shutdown.

BIRD: Well, I know my own tribe in Sisseton, South Dakota, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, have had to make decisions and they are -- they have agreed to look at their budget and they are funding child welfare and the law enforcement on that tribal grounds in Lake Traverse Reservation in Sisseton, South Dakota. But they've had to reduce their services for SNAP and other food security items that the community really deserves and is relying upon. So, that's one of the things that's happening on my own tribal community in South Dakota.

I know that for the Leva (ph) community down in North Carolina, when it comes to funding of the Office of Indian Education, the reduction in Title Six Indian education funding means a reduction in drawdowns of disbursements for their native language and cultural programs and other things they have in regards to federal disbursements of those funds.

SIDNER: You know, the ideas in these different Native American communities are different when it comes to politics. You know, you have a diverse viewpoint within your community, like many different communities.

I do want to ask you about what you think about the Democrats who have said, look, we are sort of sticking with this because we want some negotiation when it comes to health care, because premiums are now skyrocketing and they want to get that fixed as a part of opening the government and voting for a bill that would fund the government. What do you think about their stance in all of this and how the Republicans are responding as well?

BIRD: Well, I think, first and foremost, we have to look at a lot of the funding for our tribal communities. These were guaranteed through treaties and other obligations, the loss of land or the -- or the sale of land in our tribal communities. So, we've already paid the price for those services being provided. So, things like education, health care, food security, security itself have already been paid for. So, we don't need to repay what we've already negotiated. And the federal government has obligated themselves to serve our communities.

So, it's unfortunate that they look for other things to maneuver in their political fight with each other. But we believe that there should be bipartisanship in negotiating some of these things, but they shouldn't be involving native communities because we've already paid that obligation to the federal government. And it's time for them to honor those commitments they've already made to our tribal communities.

SIDNER: Yes. And so often there have been, throughout history, the breaking of treaties from the United States with the tribal community. So, I know this is a huge frustration to you. And we will be checking back in with you as this goes on. Hopefully a solution is found and things can be funded.

Kerry Bird, thank you for your time this morning. Do appreciate it.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: So, this week the last and youngest of the American hostages held in Gaza by Hamas is finally home. On Tuesday evening, the body of Itay Chen, an Israeli American citizen, was returned. Itay was just 19 years old and a soldier in the Israeli military when he was killed in the October 7th terror attack. His body then taken by Hamas into Gaza and held for two years, until this week.

[08:55:01]

The Israeli prime minister's office says about this, says that "Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Chen family and of all of the families of the fallen hostages."

Itay Chen's father, Ruby Chen, joins me now.

Ruby, it is good to see you again.

The last time -- I was looking back. The last time we spoke was just three weeks ago. So much has happened since then. And now you have Itay returned to you. How are you doing?

RUBY CHEN, ITAY CHEN'S FATHER: Yes, Kate, thanks for having me.

Indeed three weeks ago we had that agreement for 48 hostages to come out, and we were kind of in shock that after 72 hours so Itay did not come out. And it's, you know, out of the options, all the alternatives that were in front of us, this one is the least worst option. And at least, you know, he's back and now we're not waiting anymore to hope that we will -- we will be reunited again as a family.

BOLDUAN: You know, when we spoke on the anniversary of the terror attacks, you had told me that you and the family were still holding out a piece of hope that Itay was still alive, as there had been no physical evidence of his death. And that -- and that that thought was what had kept you and your wife getting up in the morning. I was thinking of you this morning as I was coming into work. What does it feel like waking up now this morning?

CHEN: Yes, we had that hope. You know, the fact that now it is final removes the doubt that maybe, somehow we will have a different ending. And it just, you know, makes us -- enables us maybe to move forward, finally, after being stuck in this alternative universe where we had no clue about our son. And now we need to learn to walk again in a different way. But at least now we have, you know, the evidence that we were looking for to make sure that indeed it is him and we will be able to be with him and be next to him whenever we would like. Not in the way we would have hoped, but at least, you know, someplace that we have to go to, which is very important for anybody that has lost a sibling or a loved one in his family.

BOLDUAN: Itay is the middle child. He has an older and a younger brother. How are they doing?

CHEN: Yes, thanks for asking. It's also something Steve Witkoff typically asks. He, as you know, also, he lost a son about a decade and a half ago.

They are coping. You know, both of them put their lives on hold. And now, you know, we can reignite, you know, our lives in a different way than we would have hoped. But the fight, you know, was for two years. And you would question anybody, like, you know, these people, these savages. Like, if indeed Itay was killed on October 7th, why do you not allow him the basic dignity of, you know, being brought to burial and you take him as a negotiation chip? Like, who does that? Like, that's so basic principles of human dignity of anyone. I don't care about your religion. And why would you do that? And for what? For what? What did it provide you at the end? You took him. You just provided agony and psychological terrorism to a family that didn't deserve this fate.

And now it's maybe the time to thank the president and his team, Mr. Kushner and Mr. Witkoff, for the fact that they didn't give up when it comes to Itay and all of the U.S. citizens. There were 12 U.S. hostages that were taken. Itay, as you said, was the youngest and the last one to come out. And they focused on Itay the last couple of days and made sure that the teams that were in Gaza looking for hostages would be focused on Itay, and they finally found him.

BOLDUAN: Ruby, you talk about learning to walk again. You know, finding your son and getting him home had really become your whole life. Your relentless mission for two years. Talk to me now about -- about the future or how you look at the future, if you can even, beyond just, you know, today.

CHEN: Well, you know, my interviews with the media, we never talked about the next hostage. We talked about the last hostage coming out. And there are still six families waiting for their loved ones, including the Golden (ph) family that have been waiting 11 years for their loved one to come back.

[09:00:01]

I will continue to advocate for the remaining hostages to come out (INAUDIBLE) possible.