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Sources Say, Suspicious Package Makes People Sick at Joint Base Andrews; Hundreds of Flights Canceled as FAA Makes Major Cuts Amid Shutdown; Soon, Trump Meets With Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired November 07, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Breaking overnight, multiple people are taken to the hospital after falling ill when a suspicious package is delivered with a white powder inside to Joint Base Andrews, the base President Trump uses to fly in and out of Washington all the time. We have the latest.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Also breaking this morning, travel chaos. Hundreds of flights already canceled as airlines comply with an FAA order to slash air traffic. The Trump administration insisting it's a safety issue with staffing shortages get worse the longer this shutdown drags on. What we are letting you know about what you need to know before you head to the airport if you're flying this weekend.

And falling into the arms of justice, a suspect trying to hide crashes through a ceiling right into the guy's arms who were searching for him.

I'm Sara Sidner with Kate Bolduan. John Berman is out today, this CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: All right, let's get straight to the breaking news, guys. Multiple people are sick and being treated this morning. They're taken to the hospital after a suspicious package was sent to Joint Base Andrews just outside of Washington. Sources tell CNN that inside that package with some kind of white powder and also what is being described as political propaganda.

CNN's Zach Cohen is joining us now. And as I just said, this is the military base that President Trump, the vice president, foreign leaders, all fly in and out of. What's the latest here?

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, the relevance and importance of this military base really elevating the concerns around this incident that took place yesterday, sort of describing what played out at Joint Base Andrews, which is obviously located just outside D.C. A suspicious package was delivered on Thursday to the base and opened. And inside, we're told that there was an unknown white powder that ultimately caused multiple people to fall ill. They were taken to the hospital and treated.

The extent of their illnesses and symptoms are not really known at this point, but, again, investigators are now looking into the origins of the package, as well as trying to determine what this substance was. An initial field test of that substance did not find anything hazardous. That'll go through multiple other rounds of review.

But Joint Base Andrew is issuing a statement in response to our inquiry about this incident saying, quote, as a precaution, the building and connecting building were evacuated. It goes on to say Joint Base Andrews first responders were dispatched to the scene, determined there was no immediate threats, and have turned the scene over to the Office of Special Investigations, and investigation is ongoing.

Now, as you mentioned, Kate, look, the president of the United States uses Joint Base Andrews pretty regularly when he goes on foreign trips. Donald Trump was actually at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, one day before this incident took place.

BOLDUAN: The calendar also elevating the importance and urgency of this whole situation. Much more to learn today.

Zach, thank you so much. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Breaking this morning, if you are flying, brace yourself for chaos. We're already seeing major disruptions as the Trump administration begins implementing its plan to cut flights in response to the longest shutdown in history. So far, airlines have canceled more than 800 flights across the country. And to give you some perspective, that's four times more than they canceled yesterday. The FAA is slashing 4 percent of air traffic at 40 of the busiest airports from coast to coast beginning today. That number, by the way, will rise to 10 percent by next Friday if the government does not reopen.

All of this coming as air traffic controllers are working without pay during the shutdown ahead of what is always a busy holiday travel season.

CNN's Jason Carroll is live for us at Newark International Airport in New Jersey. What are you seeing this morning? There is a lot of concern from the pictures we've been seeing from places like Houston with thousands standing in lines.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Yes. Well, we're already hearing, Sara, from passengers this morning who are talking about this headache that they're now dealing with in terms of trying to get from point A to point B.

If we look at the travel board here, it's really kind of deceiving because you, look, all these flights here taking off on time, but that's really not telling the whole story of what's been happening out here.

[07:05:04]

As you say, the FAA canceling flights at 40 of the busiest airports all across the country. So, that includes all of the New York City airports, obviously, including Newark, places like Miami, Chicago, Memphis, Los Angeles.

In addition to that, we've already heard from some of the airline carriers. Here are some of their numbers, Delta canceling 170 flights, United, 200, American, 220 Southwest canceling 100 flights.

Now, as I said, we've already heard from some passengers this morning. I want you to listen to this one person that we spoke to. She talked about the nightmare she dealt with last night, and then again this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the middle of the night, Air Canada just canceled my trip. They rebooked me, but I woke up to get to Newark, New Jersey, and I'm in an Uber. As soon as I step into the Uber, I just pull up the new itinerary. You're not anticipating to be rebooked all the way at JFK, an hour earlier in the flight I was on here.

CARROLL: So, what are you going to do?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm renting a car. I have to be back in Utah by Tuesday. And from what I hear with the counters, the airline counters and TSA, they literally said to me, if I were you, I wouldn't travel over the next three days. So --

CARROLL: And who said that to you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People at the TSA, clear, and the counters, the airline counters, because they think it's going to get worse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: So, there you go, Sara. Her decision was, forget what's happening and what may end up happening here. She's going to hop in a car, drive across country to Utah. These are just some of the stories that we're hearing about.

I spoke to another group of passengers who say that, yes, they're going to take off, they're going to get out of here today. Their worry is what's going to happen on the return. They're heading to St. Louis. And that's what we're hearing from a lot of passengers taking off today. What happens on the return end of their leg of their flight? What do they do then? And, of course, if this continues on, what's going to happen for the holiday season?

So, a lot of concerns out here today and what's going to happen over the next few days. Sara?

SIDNER: Yes. A couple of takeaways from what you've shown us is that right now at Newark, things are okay, that lines aren't too long, the flights are going out. But you're hearing from passengers who are being told by the people on the ground there saying, you know what, I wouldn't travel for the next couple of days, for the next three days, because you don't know what's going to happen on the other end.

Jason Carroll, thank you so much for being up early with us this morning. I appreciate you.

All right, the death toll is rising in the horrific crash of that UPS plane in Louisville, Kentucky. What investigators are saying this morning about the investigation into what happened there.

And extreme fear, that's what a top stock indicator is pointing to on Wall Street as concerns grow about a tech bubble and a bleak outlook for the job market.

Plus, the wait is over. Just in time for Thanksgiving, Taco Bell introducing a new Baja Blast Pie. Look at the color of that thing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:10:00]

BOLDUAN: This morning, President Trump is set to welcome his close ally, Viktor Orban of Hungary, to the White House. This visit notable on many fronts, especially as Hungary's authoritarian prime minister has kept close ties with Russia throughout the war in Ukraine. Hungary relies heavily on Russia for oil, and Orban is expected to be pushing the president for an exemption from these new U.S. sanctions setting and inviting new U.S. sanctions, keeping people -- and keep trying to keep people from buying energy and oil and gas from Vladimir Putin.

Last year, Orban visited the president at Mar-a-Lago, and afterward, just as a reminder, he posted this about their friendship.

With dramatic music to boot.

CNN's Alayna Treene is at the White House with more. So, what is expected to happen today between these two leaders?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Kate, I think on its face you could expect the meeting and people would expect the meeting to be kind of a mutual admiration between these two leaders who have long, going back to the president, President Donald Trump's first term, kind of openly embraced each other over some of their shared beliefs including again at this current moment. One thing they definitely have in common is how they differ in some of their views on how Europe is handling the war between Russia and Ukraine.

But today could be different because one of the big sticking points that exists between Trump and Orban is this idea of Russian sanctions. I remind you, the United States recently issued sanctions on Russia's two largest energy companies. And that is something that is deeply affecting Hungary, especially as they have a sluggish economy right now. They rely on much of -- they rely on Russia a lot for all of their energy.

And Orban has said that, you know, he's asked the president for an exemption to some of these tariffs, and it's something that President Donald Trump acknowledged just last week when he was on Air Force One. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: He has asked for an exemption. We haven't granted one, but he has.

[07:15:00]

It's Viktor. He's a friend of mine. He's asked for an exemption.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: So, what you heard there is he's saying he asked for one, I haven't granted it, and that's really going to be the key question today, is whether or not Orban can convince jis friend and ally, Donald Trump, to give him that exemption. And it is going to be a question I think of the Hungarian prime minister's policy push, particularly at a time when he's facing a reelection challenge, and so all of that kind setting the scene for what's going to happen.

But I do want to remind you as well that these two leaders have a long history. The president has often praised him. As you mentioned, he hosted Orban at Mar-a-Lago in March of 2024. Obviously, he was on track to become the Republican nominee at that point. Listen to some of what he has said, though, Donald Trump has said about Orban in the past.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Respected all over Europe. Probably like me, a little bit controversial, but that's okay. That's okay.

Some people don't like him because he's too strong. It's nice to have a strong man running your country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: So, he is acknowledging there that he figures that a lot many people view Orban as strong. Many also view him as an authoritarian leader, but still. So, we'll have to see how this goes today. Again, the key question is going to be over sanctions, whether this administration will grant Hungary that exception. But, still, you should see some warmth between these two just given the close relationship they've had for many years now, Kate.

BOLDUAN: We'll see if they take questions, what questions they take and what is said about Russia, if they are facing questions today.

It's good to see, Alayna, thank you so much.

We've got more breaking news coming in. There's new U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean, three people killed and questions growing about what this ramp up means for President Trump's next moves.

And Tesla shareholders approve a $1 trillion pay package for Elon Musk. Is that hard to wrap your mind around? Absolutely. That could buy the world's largest cruise ship 465 times. Does that help you wrap your mind around it?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

SIDNER: This morning, the Dallas Cowboys are in mourning. They're mourning the loss of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who died by apparent suicide yesterday.

CNN's Andy Sholes is joining us now. This happened, I think, yesterday, if I'm not mistaken. We're all reading about it. What happened here?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. So, Sara, you know, this is obviously devastating news to the Dallas Cowboys. Marshawn Kneeland, he had just scored his first touchdown on Monday Night Football on that block punt against the Cardinals. He's just 24 years old. He was a second round pick last year out of Western Michigan.

Frisco Police say they responded to assist Texas DPS with locating a vehicle that had evaded troopers during a pursuit. They found Kneeland car crash on the highway and began to search for Kneeland. And as authorities were looking for him, they were told that Kneeland sent messages to people saying goodbye and that he was suicidal. At about 1:30 A.M. local time, they found Kneeland deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Now, the Cowboys, they are on a bye this week. And while speaking at event in Louisiana, Quarterback Dak Prescott says, the team is just devastated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAK PRESCOTT, DALLAS COWBOYS QUARTERBACK: Tragic loss, I hurt, heavy, heavy heart today. I hurt from Marshawn. I hurt for his family. I hurt for his girlfriend. I hurt for every single one of my teammates. It's just a pain that you don't wish upon anybody. You wish none of us had to go through this. You wish Marshawn didn't have to go through what he went through. And just thankful for each moment we have in this life and don't take it for granted and hug and love on those that you do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes. Week ten of the NFL season kicking off last night in Denver with the Broncos and the Raiders, and before the game, they did hold a moment of silence for Kneeland.

Now, as for the game, not much scoring in this one. Broncos defense continued their stellar play, sacking Geno Smith six times. They have a league leading 46 sacks this season. The Broncos, they would win 10- 7 to get to 8-2. They've now won seven in a row for the first time since 2015 when they won the Super Bowl.

All right, former NFL Receiver Antonio Brown, meanwhile, was arrested yesterday on an attempted murder charge stemming from a shooting after a celebrity boxing event in Miami back in May. Now, Brown was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Dubai and was then flown to New Jersey where he is being held pending extradition to Miami.

According to an arrest warrant, Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after the boxing match and firing two shots at a man that he had gotten into a fist fight with earlier. It's unclear from court documents whether Brown has an attorney.

All right, the college basketball season meanwhile, now off and running, and Olivier Rioux making his Florida Gator's debut. Rioux is 7'9". He got a standing ovation as he came in for the very first time. Rioux's the tallest player ever to play in a division one basketball game.

And check out North Florida's Trey Cady going up to Rioux and just looking up at him. Cady is 6'8". And look how tall Rioux, just towers over him.

Sara? can you imagine how hard life is at 7'9"? I mean, going through a doorway is just a chore court.

SIDNER: I just -- I don't want to bring up a painful memory, but I remember not too long ago when Houston was Florida Gator bait.

SCHOLES: Oh goodness. Why do you have to bring up that time we watched the national championship together and the Houston was up 12 in the second half? Oh my goodness.

SIDNER: It didn't matter in the end. But you know what? Good luck to you. Good luck to you this year.

SCHOLES: Hey, we've got a great team this year. We'll see. I'll see you again.

SIDNER: All right, see you. Thank you.

All right, ahead, breaking this morning. Hundreds of flight cancelations across the country as the FAA orders flights to be reduced due to the shutdown. We're live at the world's busiest airport.

And a walk out at Miss Universe, contestants protesting after Miss Mexico was berated by an official.

[07:25:03]

That story and more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: We are continuing to follow this wild breaking news out of Joint Base Andrews this morning. Multiple people have been taken to the hospital after a suspicious package was sent there, causing them to fall ill. Sources tell CNN the package had an unknown white powder and also political propaganda inside. It was opened inside a building that houses the Air National Guard Readiness Center. That building and a connecting building were both evacuated. An initial test, though, by a hazmat team found nothing hazardous, but as we learned from Zach Cohen earlier this hour, there are multiple rounds, much more testing, investigating that needs to be done here.

[07:30:08]